World War II Chronicle: November 20, 1942

Brig. Gen. Hanford MacNider, commaner of Task Force Buna, is pictured on today's front page. After serving on the Mexican border, MacNider sailed for Europe with the American Expeditionary Force where he earned two Distinguished Service Crosses (DSC) and three Silver Stars while fighting with Gen. John A. Lejeune's 2nd Infantry Division. Between wars MacNider commanded the American Legion, was appointed Assistant Secretary of War by Calvin Coolidge and later was the United States Ambassador to Canada.

MacNider led from the front, earning a third DSC during World War II, and was the first American general to be wounded during World War II. He was blinded in one eye during the Buna campaign by shrapnel, earning him a second Purple Heart. He twice campaigned to become the Republican nominee for president, and later turned down a Cabinet appointment from Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who served as his executive assistant when MacNider was Assistant War Secretary.

Speaking of Gen. Lejeune, page two reports that the "greatest of all leathernecks" has passed away. Lejeune graduated second in his class at the Naval Academy in 1888. A veteran of the Veracruz campaign and the Spanish-American, Philippine-American, and Banana wars. Although Lejeune was a Marine, Gen. John J. Pershing appointed him commander of the Army's 2nd Infantry Division. French Marshal Philippe Pétain, the French Commander-in-Chief during World War I and now head of Vichy France, said Lejeune was "a military genius who could and did do what the other commander said couldn't be done." Lejeune would go on to become Marine Corps Commandant, then founded the Marine Corps League. Marine Barracks New River will soon be renamed Camp Lejeune in his...

World War II Chronicle is a daily commentary series accompanying the newspaper from this day 80 years ago which can be read in full at the original post. In addition to the topics discussed in today's post there are plenty of stories on Guadalcanal and the Operation TORCH landings.

2 posted on 11/20/2022 12:21:43 PM PST by Governor Dinwiddie (LORD, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil.)

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.