List of historic United States Marines

The following is a list of the prominent names in U. S. Marine Corps lore—the people who make up what the Marines call "Knowledge". Names in this list are notable for actions made as a Marine; individuals whose notability is unrelated to service in uniform can be found at List of United States Marines.

Archibald Henderson, longest-serving Commandant of the Marine Corps

Medal of Honor recipients

Jack Lucas, 17, youngest Medal of Honor recipient

• Smedley Butler – awarded two Medals of Honor for two different acts^[1] outspoken critic of war profiteers, testified in Congress regarding a plot to overthrow the government
• Dan Daly – awarded two Medals of Honor for two different acts^[1][2]
• John Basilone – only enlisted Marine Medal of Honor recipient to return to combat and be killed^[3]
• Gregory "Pappy" Boyington – Medal of Honor recipient who commanded the famous "Black Sheep Squadron" (VMA-214) during WWII^[4]
• Louis Cukela – awarded both Navy and Army Medals of Honor^[1]
• Merritt A. Edson – Medal of Honor recipient and commander of the 1st Marine Raiders Battalion
• Joe Foss – leading fighter ace of the Marine Corps during World War II and Medal of Honor recipient, recognizing his role in the air combat during the Guadalcanal Campaign
• Jacklyn H. Lucas – youngest Marine to receive the Medal of Honor^[5]
• John Lucian Smith – Medal of Honor recipient and flying ace in the battle of Guadalcanal

Marine Corps firsts

John Glenn, first Marine Corps astronaut

Minnie Spotted-Wolf, first Native American woman to enlist in the Marine Corps

• Vernice Armour – first female African-American combat pilot in United States military
• Frederick C. Branch – first African-American Marine officer
• Marion Carl – First Marine Ace (18.5 victories), member of the Cactus Air Force, first Marine helicopter pilot
• John L. Estrada – the first person of Hispanic descent promoted to Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps^[6]
• Annie Neal Graham – first African American woman Marine^[7]
• Opha May Johnson – recognized officially as the first woman Marine^[8]
• James L. Jones, Sr. – commanded the Observer Group, the first amphibious reconnaissance unit in the United States; father of James L. Jones, Jr., the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps
• John F. Mackie – first Marine awarded the Medal of Honor^[8]
• Alfred Masters – first African American in the United States Marine Corps^[9][10][11]
• Dennis M. McCarthy – first Reserve General Officer to command an active duty Marine Division
• Alford L. McMichael – first African American Marine to serve as Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
• Samuel Nicholas – first Commandant of the Marine Corps^[8]
• Peter Pace – first Marine to become the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (2005–2007), previously the Vice Chairman (2001–2005)
• Frank E. Petersen – first African-American aviator Marine, first African-American Marine general, first African-American to command a fighter squadron, a fighter air group, an air wing and a major base.^[12]
• Angela Salinas – the first Hispanic female to obtain a general rank in the Marines^[13]
• France Silva – the first Marine of Hispanic descent to be awarded the Medal of Honor
• Pedro del Valle – first Hispanic to reach the rank of lieutenant general, played an instrumental role in defeating Japanese forces during the Battle of Okinawa
• John Glenn – first Marine astronaut, first American and fly the Project Mercury spacecraft, first American to orbit the Earth
• Minnie Spotted-Wolf – first enlisted Native American woman Marine^[14]

Other prominent Marines

Alfred Cunningham, patron of Marine Corps aviation

Chesty Puller, only Marine to receive 5 Navy Crosses

• John Bolt – only Marine aviator to achieve the title of ace in both WWII and the Korean War; remains to this day the only Marine jet aircraft ace^[15]
• Evans Carlson – commanded the World War II Marine Raiders, also credited with introducing the term Gung-ho into the Marine Corps.
• Alfred Cunningham – patron of Marine Corps aviation,^[16] innovative thinker in introducing air support, helped create the Advanced Base Force^[17]
• Lou Diamond – "Mr. Leatherneck," namesake of the actor Lou Diamond Phillips
• Earl H. Ellis – conducted espionage missions in Micronesia that influenced the planning of the island-hopping campaigns of World War II
• Guy Gabaldon – captured (or persuaded to surrender) about 1,000 Japanese soldiers and numerous civilians during the Battle of Saipan (1944)
• Carlos Hathcock – renowned Marine sniper with 93 confirmed kills during the Vietnam War
• Ira Hayes – Native American flag raiser on Iwo Jima during World War II^[18]
• Archibald Henderson – "Grand old man of the Marine Corps," longest-serving Commandant of the Marine Corps (1820–1859)^[8][19]
• Albert L. Ireland – received the most Purple Hearts, nine.
• Victor H. Krulak – developed new concepts in expeditionary warfare, such as use of Higgins landing craft and helicopters;^[20] father of Charles C. Krulak, 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps
• John A. Lejeune – 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Commanding General of the U.S. Army's 2nd Infantry Division, and author of the birthday message read aloud at every Marine Corps Birthday Ball ceremony
• Chuck Mawhinney – Marine sniper with most confirmed kills, all occurring during the Vietnam War^[21]
• Presley O'Bannon – famous for his exploits in the First Barbary War^[22]
• Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller – received five Navy Crosses,^[23] and the Army Distinguished Service Cross
• John Ripley – highly decorated Marine, only living person (at the time) to be memorialized in the Naval Academy's museum, first Marine inducted into the Ranger hall of fame
• Dion Williams – patron of naval and amphibious reconnaissance, hoisted the first American flag raised over Spanish soil in the Spanish–American War

See also

References

Sources

External links

• USMC History Division Who's Who

Wikimedia Commons has media related to People of the United States Marine Corps.

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