The FReeper Foxhole Profiles Major General Wendell C. Neville - Jul. 5th, 2004

hqinet001.hqmc.usmc.mil ^

[SAMWolf]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
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FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.

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Major General Wendell Cushing Neville
(1870 - 1930)

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Few Marines have seen more action in widely scattered parts of the world than the late Major General Wendell C. Neville, fourteenth Commandant of the Marine Corps in 1929 and 1930. The Virginian, who became a "soldier of the sea" chiefly because no one else in his district desired an appointment to Annapolis back in 1886, was one of the most decorated Marines in the history of the Corps.

Major General Wendell Cushing Neville

Outlining the military activities of General Neville is similar to reviewing major Marine Corps activities from 1898 through 1918. During that period, he spent 14 years on military assignments on foreign soil, was in the thick of a dozen military campaigns and expeditions, fought in 14 major engagements recorded as battles, and participated in numerous skirmishes recorded in history as minor incidents.

Major General Wendell Cushing Neville, 14th Commandant of the Marine Corps and Medal of Honor recipient, was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, on 12 May 1870. He entered the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, in 1886 chiefly because no one else in his district desired an appointment to Annapolis that year. He received his diploma in 1890 and following a two-year cruise aboard a warship, as was the practice of the era, was commissioned a Marine Corps second lieutenant.


US Marine Corps, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 1898

At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Lt Neville was assigned to the 1st Marine Battalion, hurriedly organized under LtCol W.R. Huntington for service in Cuba. The battalion staged a daring attack under heavy gunfire at Guantanamo Bay, established a beachhead and routed enemy forces in that area. For outstanding valor and leadership in that action, Lt Neville was awarded the Brevet Medal, highest Marine Corps decoration at that time, and was promoted to the brevet rank of captain.

Promoted to the permanent rank of captain a few months after the war, he was assigned to a battalion of Marines ordered to China to relieve the hard-pressed garrison at Peking during the Boxer Rebellion. He took part in four battles in that area and was again commended for his gallantry.


The Marine Guard of the USS Texas, circa 1896, commanded by 1st Lieutenant W.C. Neville, who later commanded the 4th Brigade of Marines in France during World War I, and, from 1929-30, was Major General Commandant of the Marine Corps.
Courtesy of Colonel Wendell Neville Vest USMC (Ret)

In the Philippine Islands not long afterwards, he was appointed military governor of Basilin Province. Following that assignment he served in Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama and Hawaii. While in command of Marines landing at Vera Cruz, Mexico, on 21 April 1914, he displayed conspicuous gallantry. In that operation, LtCol Neville was awarded the Medal of Honor for his distinguished conduct.

Prior to his embarkation for France in 1917, Col Neville returned to China where he was chosen to command the combined Allied guard at Peking.


Marines of Vera Cruz. Left to right: Captain F.H. Delano, Sergeant-Major John H. Quick, Lieutenant W.C. Neville, Colonel J.A. Lejeune, and Major S.D. Butler.
U.S. Marine Corps, Marine Corps University Archives.

On 1 January 1918, he was placed in command of the 5th Marine Regiment in France and in May moved his regiment into action at Belleau Wood where Germany’s big drive was decisively halted. In July, BGen Neville’s command was enlarged to include the 4th Marine Brigade, which he directed during the remaining days of the war and during its occupation service in Germany.

After service with the Army of Occupation in Germany, BGen Neville and his brigade returned to the United States in July 1919. Promoted to major general in March 1920, he served as assistant to the Commandant of the Marine Corps and later became Commanding General, Department of the Pacific with headquarters in San Francisco. He also commanded the Marine Barracks, Quantico, Virginia.


At Belleau Wood

Major General Neville succeeded MajGen Lejeune as Commandant of the Marine Corps on 5 March 1929. MajGen Neville’s sudden death on 8 July 1930 at Edgewater Beach, Maryland, while in office as Major General Commandant, closed one of the most brilliant military careers of his day - a career of faithful service that extended through many important chapters of Marine Corps history; Guantanamo Bay, the Siege of Peking, Tientsin, the Philippine Insurrection, Panama, Vera Cruz, Belleau Wood, Soissons, St. Mihiel, Meuse-Argonne, the Rhine and Coblenz. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.



During the 38 years he spent as a U. S. Marine, he saw action in Cuba, Mexico, China, the Philippines, Nicaragua, and France. MajGen Neville received the Medal of Honor, Brevet Medal, Army Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Cross of the Legion of Honor, five Croix de Guerre with three stars and two palms, five citation and eight campaign and expeditionary awards.

[SAMWolf]

It reminded me of the communist propaganda from the Soviet era. I though free Europe had gotten rid of that primitive Goebbels-like rhetoric. I was wrong.

Now you know what some of the American Press is like too. Only here they call it "Freedom of the Press". The worst part is the way the DON'T cover stories that make their "candidates" look bad.

[alfa6]

RE: #57, and the only really noticable difference between the XB-52 and the Production B-52s was the switch from the XB-52's Tandem Fighter style cockpit to the Airliner style cockpit of the Production B-52s.

Off to work I go Bump

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[Valin]

Cuss like a sailor

There good reasons why those kind of words can be found in every language

[Boxsford]

I like your tagline. Thanks for the reminder. ;)

[stand watie]

HI, snippy!

free dixie,sw

[writer33]

Here's a link you might find interesting, Sam: http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/bestsellers.shtml.

My novel, Elective Decisions, has been released by the Creek Press. It is a political thriller with a conservative angle. It can be viewed at http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/bestsellers.shtml. You can take a peek at the cover and read a couple of sample chapters at the site. This might be of interest to your listeners as many of them read fiction, but rarely get it from a conservative perspective. Thank you for taking the time to read this e-mail. Here is a short synopsis of the novel.

Chris Davis

“Chris Smith desperately needs this last job for an extravagant retirement; he might just die trying.” Chris Smith, a retired U.S. Army sniper, is now a paid mercenary. Growing up poor, he longs for the wealth he never had as a child. An opportunity arises for him to retire to a lavish lifestyle. This chance pits him against Joe, an old high school foe, running for President of the United States. Chris’s high school friend, Mark Fields, is a journalist seeking an anchor position on network news. His ambition gets him a job as Joe’s campaign manager, and his natural curiosity to get to the truth places him in the line of fire. Hereford Turley, a retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major, hates the changes in the new Army. His obsession and prejudices have led him to Chris Smith. He is forced to take drastic actions to try to prevent the inevitable future. All three men find themselves making ambitious decisions. Over a few months, they will meet each other in a head on collision involving a political conspiracy.

[PhilDragoo]

US Marine Corps: Belleau Wood, June 1-26, 1918

The battle showed the main players in the war that the US was determined to fight; as such, it was a psychological demonstration of intent to the German, British, and French that a new kid had arrived to take over the block.

To quote Ludendorff:

The tremendous superabundance of pent-up, untapped, nervous energy which America’s fresh troops brought into the fray more than balanced the weakness of their allies who were exhausted.

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"Devil Dogs"

In the Belleau Wood fighting in 1918, the Germans received a thorough indoctrination in the fighting ability of the Marines. Fighting through supposedly impenetrable woods and capturing supposedly untakeable terrain, the persistent attacks, delivered with unbelievable courage soon had the Germans calling Marines "teufelhunden," referring to the fierce fighting dogs of legendary origin.

~~~

Belleau Wood still "Retreat Hell" despite French squeamishness.

Belleau Wood Unknown

Belleau Wood

Marine Corps assistant commandant Gen. Michael J. Williams drinks from the Belleau Wood fountain following a Memorial Day ceremony on Sunday. Legend has that a Marine who drinks from the fountain, whose bull mastiff shape led to the Marines adopting the bulldog as a mascot, will live an extra 20 years.

Marines honor fallen comrades at memorial to Belleau Wood battle

USS BELLEAU WOOD, OFF THE COAST OF OKINAWA, Japan (Aug. 12, 1999) -- A 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) Marine fires his MP-5 machine gun with pinpoint accuracy during weapons handling drills on the hangar deck elevator. The Marines and Sailors of the 31st MEU will be training in Amphibious Ready Group Exercises (ARGEX) and Special Operations Capable qualification Exercises (SOCEX) during August. (Official USMC photo by Sgt. Art Geahr)

My grandparents had a stereo viewer and a cigar box of such cards.

B-52 Bomb Bay

In May of 94 we went to Commencement of the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 94 at the Navy and Marine Stadium--which has the battles on the walls--including Belleau Wood.

At the air show at Andrews a rainstorm came up suddenly and we dashed for the open bomb bay of the B-52 on display.

We stood inside here until the storm subsided--obviously the Buff's bomb bay can carry nuclear and conventional bombs and missiles as well as potent metaphors.

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As they were approaching they were met by the French Commander of the troops that were already there who advised Marine Colonel Wendell C. Neville that the discreet thing to do was retreat.

Neville's reply was a characteristic "Retreat Hell! We just got here!"

[snippy_about_it]

Late night hello to you stand watie.

[snippy_about_it]

Excellent post as always Phil. Thanks so much.

[SAMWolf]

Thanks for the heads up on "Elective Decisions", I'll check out the prologue and first chapter. haven't read a good "political thriller" in a while.

[SAMWolf]

Evening Phil Dragoo.

To read about the battle one might believe that the US Army was on another continent! In reality, the Marine Brigade was part of an army division, and army troops did participate in the battle.

It isn't the Marines fault they had better Press agents. ;-)

I didn't know about the legend of living an extra 20 years if you drink from the Devel Dog Fountain. Thanks for finding that.

We stood inside here until the storm subsided--obviously the Buff's bomb bay can carry nuclear and conventional bombs and missiles as well as potent metaphors.

Soemtimes I feel that is all we're dropping on our enemies, potent metaphors, instead of loading up the BUFFs with iron bombs and dropping them. I'm tired of "Religion of Peace", "arrested", "detained" and "being held".

[PhilDragoo]

Actually, the primary metaphor was that the Buff had sheltered the nation from Soviet aggression.

The terrorists may thank Allah that George W. Bush is in charge--

I would have reduced our nuclear stockpile by hundreds of warheads and the Arab street would be a vast parking lot.

I know it's a political year, but I don't feel political.

I think the soup needs a lot more napalm.

[SAMWolf]

Actually, the primary metaphor was that the Buff had sheltered the nation from Soviet aggression.

Not bad for a plane designed over a weekend, huh?

I'm still trying to figure out what happened to defeating your enemy by destrying his means to continue fighting and by killing his forces. It seems today you can't even call the enemy the enemy.

[PhilDragoo]

Countries of concern.

As emperor, I would call them "the nations formerly known as enemies", now, more accurately, "the plain of black glass".

Did I mention I would have gone totally Putin on the "media"?

ABCNNBCBS, meet SWAT.

The last election cycle, this "media" lied that "the polls are closed in Florida"--costing Bush 10,000 votes in the panhandle.

I say it's treason, and I say, to Hell with it.

[SAMWolf]

I'm all for letting them kill each other off in their turd world hellholes if that's what they want to do. Start bothering us though and we do a Carthage on you, Carthaginia hasn't bothered anyone in a long long time.

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!