Clifton B. Cates

Clifton B. Cates
19th Commandant of the Marine Corps
Birth name	Clifton Bledsoe Cates
Nickname(s)	"Lucky"[1]
Born	August 31, 1893 Tiptonville, Tennessee, U.S.[2]
Died	June 4, 1970 (aged 76) Annapolis, Maryland, U.S.
Buried at	Arlington National Cemetery Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1917–1954
Rank	General
Commands held	1st Marine Regiment 4th Marine Division Commandant of the Marine Corps
Battles/wars	World War I Battle of Belleau Wood World War II Battle of Guadalcanal Mariana and Palau Islands campaign Battle of Tinian Battle of Iwo Jima
Awards	Navy Cross Distinguished Service Cross Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2) Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit Purple Heart Legion of Honor (France) Croix de Guerre (France)
Spouse(s)	Jane McIlhenny[1]
Other work	National Campaign Chairman, U.S.O.

Clifton Bledsoe Cates (August 31, 1893 – June 4, 1970) was an American general who served as the 19th Commandant of the Marine Corps (1948–1951). He was honored for his heroism during World War I at Belleau Wood and in World War II for inspired combat leadership at Iwo Jima. He is considered one of the most distinguished young officers of the first world War.^[3] He was one of the few officers from any branch of service to have commanded a platoon, a company, a battalion, a regiment, and a division each in combat.^[4][5][6][7]

Early life

Clifton Bledsoe Cates was born August 31, 1893, in Tiptonville, Tennessee. After graduating from the Missouri Military Academy in 1910, and the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1916 with a Bachelor of Law degree, he was admitted to the Tennessee Bar.^[1]

Military career

With the entry of the United States into the Great War, Cates sought to join up. He was commissioned as second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserves. He began active duty on June 13, 1917.^[1]

World War I

During World War I, Cates served with the 6th Marine Regiment, fighting in France. For his heroism in the Aisne defensive at Boursches and Belleau Wood, he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster^[8] - one of only 9 Marines to receive 2 in WWI^[9] - in addition to the Purple Heart. He was awarded a Silver Star for his gallantry at Soissons. In addition to his medals from the U.S. military, he was recognized by the French government with the Legion of Honor, one of the greatest compliments that could be paid any officer,^[3] and the Croix de Guerre with Gilt Star and two palms. Lt. Cates and his men were credited with saving Bouresches.^[3]

Post-war service

Cates returned to the United States in September 1919 after occupation in Germany, and was prepared to resign his commission until dissuaded by Commandant Barnett who took him on as his Aide-de-Camp and he served as a White House aide.^[1] In 1920, he stayed as Gen. Barnett's aide and followed him to San Francisco, California.^[1] From 1923 to 1925, he served a tour of sea duty as commander of the Marine Detachment aboard the USS California (BB-44).^[2]

In 1929, Cates was deployed to Shanghai, China, where he rejoined the 4th Marines, where he served for three years. He then returned to the U.S. for training at the Army Industrial College and in the Senior Course in the Marine Corps Schools. In 1935, was assigned to the War Plans Section of the Division of Operations and Training at Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC). In 1936, he returned to Shanghai as a battalion commander with the 6th Marine Regiment. In 1938, he rejoined the 4th Marines in Shanghai.^[10]

In 1940, and he was named the Director of the Marine Officers Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. In 1942, Col Cates took command of the 1st Marines.^[10]

World War II

Colonel Cates led the 1st Marine Regiment at Guadalcanal, for which he was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat “V". He then took command of the 4th Marine Division in the Marianas operation, the Tinian campaign and the seizure of Iwo Jima. For his services at Tinian he received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and a Gold Star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal for his service at Iwo Jima. The planning for Tinian included the first complete aerial reconnaissance of an enemy base by the key commanders, including Gen. Cates.^[11] Near the end of the fighting at Iwo Jima Gen. Cates attempted to persuade the remaining Japanese Brigade to surrender honorably rather than fight to the death.^[12]

After his first tour of duty in the Pacific, returned to the United States to serve as Commandant of the Marine Corps Schools at Quantico until 1944. He then returned to the Pacific theater until the end of the war as commander of the 4th Marine Division.^[10]

Commandant

On January 1, 1948, he was sworn in as the 19th Commandant of the Marine Corps and promoted to the rank of General for his time as Commandant. He served as Commandant for four years, 1948–1951 and fought the budgetary erosion of the Fleet Marine Force.^[1] As Commandant, Gen Cates continued the push to enlarge the Corps standing forces, eventually getting legislation placing the Corps active strength at three divisions and three air wings, and he brought the first helicopters into service on a test basis of the "new concept"^[1] in the Korean War^[4] - The usage of which would make an impression on the Commander of the FMF, Pacific - his eventual successor as commandant Gen. Shepherd. Shepherd and Cates would revive the amphibious assault at Inchon.^[1]

Upon completion of his tour as Commandant of the Marine Corps he was reverted to his then permanent rank of Lieutenant General and was reassigned to serve again as Commandant of the Marine Corps Schools. He retired on June 30, 1954 and was eventually promoted on the retired list to the rank of full General.^[2] After retirement he was chairman of the National Campaign of the USO for two years.^[1]

Death

General Cates died June 4, 1970 at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Annapolis, Maryland, after a long illness. He was buried with full military honors on June 8, 1970 at Arlington National Cemetery.^[2][4]

General Cates also held doctoral law degrees from the University of Tennessee and the University of Chattanooga.^[4]

Cates Award

Cates' high school alma mater, the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri, honored his memory with the creation of the "General Clifton B. Cates 'I Will Hold' Award for Leadership" during the Academy's 125th anniversary celebration in 2014. The award specifically recognizes the leadership traits of perseverance and determination.

Awards and decorations

Cates was the recipient of the following awards:^{[4][7][9][13]}

1st Row		Navy Cross			French Fourragère
2nd Row	Distinguished Service Cross w/ 1 oak leaf cluster[8]	Navy Distinguished Service Medal w/ 1 star	Silver Star w/ 1 oak leaf cluster	Legion of Merit w/ valor device
3rd Row	Purple Heart w/ 1 oak leaf cluster	Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 3 stars	Navy Unit Commendation[14][15]	World War I Victory Medal w/ 3 Silver Navy Commendation Stars & 5 campaign stars
4th Row	Army of Occupation of Germany Medal	Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal	Yangtze Service Medal	China Service Medal
5th Row	American Defense Service Medal	American Campaign Medal	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four Bronze Stars	World War II Victory Medal
6th Row	National Defense Service Medal	Croix de Guerre w/ Gilt Star & 2 palms	Legion of Honor, Knight grade[3]	Order of Orange-Nassau, rank of Grand Officer w/ crossed swords

Date of Rank

Rank	Date[10][16]
Second Lieutenant	May 24, 1917 (Provisional/Reserves)
	Sep, 18, 1917 (Temporary)
First Lieutenant	July 1, 1918 (Temporary) Aug, 28, 1918 (authorized-Temporary)
Captain	Mar, 5, 1919-Sep, 25, 1919 (temporary) Mar, 21, 1921 (appointed-Temporary) Apr, 2, 1921 (permanent) Jun, 4, 1920 (official, retroactive, date of rank)
Major	Oct, 1, 1931
Lieutenant Colonel	July 1, 1935 authorized on July 26, 1935
Colonel	Apr, 1, 1940
Brigadier General	Sep, 16, 1942 (temporary) Apr, 3, 1943 (permanent)
Major General	Feb, 1, 1944 authorized on June 23, 1944
Lieutenant General	Jan, 1, 1952
General	While serving as Commandant (until Dec 31, 1951) Dec, 31, 1947 (appointed) Jan 28, 1948 (commission)
	Jun 30, 1954 (on retired list)

Significant Assignments

^[1][4][10]

Unit or Assignment	Dates
96th Co (H&SC), 2/6	28 Aug 1917-1 May 1919
Co. "E", Composite Regiment	1 May 1919-19 Sep 1919
Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.	20 Sep 1919-14 Feb 1920
Aide-de-camp to Commandant Barnett, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps & to President Wilson's White House	14 Feb 1920-8 Oct 1920
Aide-de-camp to Gen. Barnett, Commanding General of Department of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA	15 Nov 1920-10 June 1923
Commander, Marine Detachment, USS California (BB-44)	10 June 1923-29 Apr 1925
4th Marines	9 May 1925 – 26 May 1926
Recruiting Station, Spokane, WA	1 July 1926 – 1 May 1927
Recruiting Station, Omaha, NE	6 May 1927-23 Feb 1928
American Battle Monuments Commission, Washington, D.C.	6 Mar 1928-3 May 1929
4th Marines, Shanghai, China	5 Aug 1929-6 Jun 1932
inc. athletic officer, 4th Marines 6 Sep 1929-6 Jun 1932
attending Army Industrial College	17 Aug 1932-23 Jun 1933
CO 2d Bn, 7th Marines, FMF, serving off Cuba[17] and the Caribbean	1933/1934
attending Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, VA	10 Sep 1934-26 Jul 1935
War Plans, Operations, and Training, Headquarters, Marine Corps	30 Sep 1935-24 May 1937
2/5, 2d Brigade, FMF	30 Jun 1937-1 Feb 1938 (CO from Sep)
CO, 2/4	1 Feb 1938-18 May 1939
XO, 4th Marines	18 May 1939 – 6 June 1939
attending Army War College, Washington, D.C.	1 Sep 1939-22 June 1940
Director, Marine Officers Basic School, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA	6 July 1940-23 Apr 1942
on Maneuvers with Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet 5 Jan-16 Jan 1942
CO, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division	3 May 1942-11 Feb 1943
Commandant, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, VA	March 1943-20 Jun 1944
Command of 4th Marine Division	12 Jul 1944-19 Nov 1945
President, Marine Corps Equipment Board, Quantico, VA[2]	14 Jan 1946-?
Commanding General, Marine Barracks, Quantico	1 Jun 1946-1 Jan 1948
Senior Member of Board, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.	24 Jun 1946-?
President, Advisory Board, Marine Barracks, Quantico, VA	24 Jan 1947-
Commandant of the Marine Corps	31 Dec 1947-31 Dec 1951
Commandant, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, VA	31 Dec 1951-30 Jun 1954
President, JLFB	?-30 Jun 1952

See also

• List of United States Marine Corps four-star generals

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

1. Allan Reed Millett and Jack Shulimson, eds. (2004). Commandants of the Marine Corps. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. pp. 311–327. ISBN 978-0-87021-012-9.
2. "US People--Cates, Clifton B., General, USMC". Naval History & Heritage Command. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
3. Board of Trustees of the Fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta (January 17, 1920). The Phi Gamma Delta 45. Knoxville Sentinel. p. 612. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
4. United States Marine Corps History Division. "General Clifton B Cates, USMC (Deceased)". Who's Who. Retrieved May 12, 2014.
5. Harwood, Richard (1994). A Close Encounter: The Marine Landing on Tinian. Marines in World War II Commemorative Series. Transcribed and formatted by Jerry Holden for the HyperWar Foundation. Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC: Marine Corps Historical Center. p. 5.
6. Alexander, Col. Joseph H., UMC (Ret) (1994). "The Assault Commanders at Iwo Jima". Closing In: Marines in the Seizure of Iwo Jima. Marines in World War II Commemorative Series. Transcribed and formatted by Emily Brickhouse for the HyperWar Foundation. Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC: Marine Corps Historical Center. p. 10.
7. Flowers, Mark (2004). "The Dress Blue Uniform Image Gallery". World War II Gyrene. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
8. Stringer, Harry R., ed. (1919). Heroes All! A Compendium of the Names and Official Citations of the Soldiers and Citizens of the United States and of Her Allies who Were Decorated by the American Government for Exceptional Heroism and Conspicuous Service Above and Beyond the Call of Duty in the War with Germany, 1917-1919. The Du Bois Press, Rochester, N.Y.: Fassett Publishing Company. p. 93. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
9. Sterner, C. Douglas (2014). "Marine Corps Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross - World War I". HomeofHeroes.com.
10. "Appendix I: Chronology", Clifton Bledsoe Cates 1893-1970 Register of His Personal Papers (PDF), Marine Corps Manuscript Register Series, Compiled by Charles Anthony Wood, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.: History and Museums Division, 1985, pp. 19–28, retrieved May 3, 2014
11. Fourth Marine Division Association. "Division History - Tinian: Home of the Enola Gay". The Fighting Fourth. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
12. Fourth Marine Division Association. "Division History - Iowa Jima: Red Blood on Black Sand". The Fighting Fourth. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
13. Hall of Valor. "Valor awards for Clifton Bledssoe Cates". Military Times. Gannett Government Media Corporation. Retrieved May 25, 2014. External link in |publisher= (help)
14. "Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual NAVPERS 15,790". Transcribed by HyperWar Foundation. 1953. p. 25. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
15. Department of the Navy (24 Apr 2014). "United States Marine Corps Unit Awards Manual (NAVMC 2922)" (PDF). p. 65. Retrieved May 25, 2014.
16. Auditor for the Navy Department (May 9, 1921). "Decision by Comptroller Warwick, May 23, 1921: The Auditor for the Navy Department submitted his decision of May 9, 1921, as follows". In United States Comptroller of the Treasury. Decisions of the Comptroller of the Treasury 27. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 1001–2. Retrieved May 5, 2014. Cates accepted temporary appointment as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on September 18, 1917, and served continuously in a temporary capacity until April 2, 1921, on which date he accepted appointment as a captain in the Marine Corps, having been appointed a captain in the Marine Corps, subject to confirmation, on March 21, 1921, with rank from June 4, 1920.
17. Lineage of the 7th Marine Regiment

External links