List of historic United States Marines

The following is a list of the essential 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.

• Vernice Armour – first female African-American combat pilot in United States military
• John Basilone – only enlisted Marine Medal of Honor recipient to return to combat and be killed^[1]
• 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^[2]
• Gregory "Pappy" Boyington – Medal of Honor recipient who commanded the famous "Black Sheep Squadron" (VMA-214) during WWII^[3]
• Frederick C. Branch – first African-American Marine officer
• Smedley Butler – awarded two Medals of Honor for two different acts of heroism;^[4] outspoken critic of war profiteers, testified in Congress regarding a plot to overthrow the government
• Marion Carl – First Marine Ace (18.5 victories), member of the Cactus Air Force, first Marine helicopter pilot
• Evans Carlson – commanded the WWII Marine Raiders
• Louis Cukela – awarded both Navy and Army Medals of Honor^[4]

Alfred Cunningham

• Alfred Cunningham – patron of Marine Corps aviation,^[5] innovative thinker in introducing air support, helped create the Advanced Base Force^[6]
• Dan Daly – awarded two Medals of Honor for two different acts of heroism^[4][7]
• Pedro del Valle – played an instrumental role in defeating Japanese forces during the Battle of Okinawa (1945)
• Lou Diamond – "Mr. Leatherneck," namesake of the actor Lou Diamond Phillips
• Merritt A. Edson – Medal of Honor recipient and commander of the 1st Marine Raiders Battalion
• Earl H. Ellis – conducted espionage missions in Micronesia that influenced the planning of the island-hopping campaigns of World War II
• John L. Estrada – the first person of Hispanic descent promoted to Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps^[8]
• Joe Foss – leading fighter ace of the United States Marine Corps during World War II and a 1943 recipient of the Medal of Honor, recognizing his role in the air combat during the Guadalcanal Campaign
• Guy Gabaldon – captured (or persuaded to surrender) about 1,000 Japanese soldiers and numerous civilians during the Battle of Saipan (1944)
• Annie Neal Graham – first African American woman Marine^[9]
• Carlos Hathcock – renowned Marine sniper with 93 confirmed kills during the Vietnam War
• Ira Hayes – Iwo Jima flag raiser

Archibald Henderson

• Archibald Henderson – "Grand old man of the Marine Corps," longest-serving Commandant of the Marine Corps (1820–1859)^[10][11]
• Albert L. Ireland - received the most Purple Hearts, nine.
• Opha May Johnson – recognized officially as the first woman Marine^[11]
• 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
• Victor H. Krulak – developed new concepts in expeditionary warfare, such as use of Higgins landing craft and helicopters;^[12] 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
• Jacklyn H. Lucas – youngest Marine to receive the Medal of Honor
• John F. Mackie – first Marine awarded the Medal of Honor^[11]
• Alfred Masters – first African American in the United States Marine Corps^[13][14][15]
• Chuck Mawhinney – Marine sniper with most confirmed kills, all occurring during the Vietnam War
• 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^[11]

French Foreign Legion Lieutenant and United States Marine Corps officer Peter J. Ortiz.

• Presley O'Bannon – famous for his exploits in the First Barbary War
• Peter J. Ortiz^[16] – parachuted into France to aid the Resistance, recipient of two Navy Cross Medals
• 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, and first African-American Marine general; also first African-American to command a fighter squadron, a fighter air group, an air wing and a major base.
• Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller – most-decorated Marine in history including five Navy Crosses^[17] 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 "all-Marine" inducted into the Ranger hall of fame
• Angela Salinas – the first Hispanic female to obtain a general rank in the Marines^[18]
• France Silva – the first Marine of Hispanic descent to be awarded the Medal of Honor
• John Lucian Smith - flying ace in the battle of Guadalcanal.
• Dion Williams – patron of naval and amphibious reconnaissance, hoisted the first American flag raised over Spanish soil in the Spanish–American War

See also

• List of United States Marines
• List of United States Marine Corps astronauts
• List of United States Marine Corps four-star generals
• List of Medal of Honor recipients
• USMC History Division Who's Who

Notes

1. "John Basilone Parade Website". Retrieved 2008-05-25.
2. Dorr (2005), p.164–65.
3. "Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington – C.O. VMF-214, Black Sheep Squadron". AcePilots.com. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
4. "Double Recipients". Full List of MOH Recipients. Congressional Medal of Honor Society. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
5. "Lieutenant Colonel Alfred Austell Cunningham, USMC". Marine Corps Legacy Museum. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
6. Allan R. Millett, "Semper Fidelis: The History of the United States Marine Corps", (New York, NY: The New Press, 1991).
7. "Scott, Stephen W.", (2009) Sergeant Major Dan Daly; The Most Outstanding Marine of all Time. Publishamerica Publishers. ISBN 1-60836-465-8.
8. "Sgt. Maj. of Marine Corps sword of office changes hands" (Press release). Division of Public Affairs, United States Marine Corps. July 2, 2003. Release # 0703-03-0537. Retrieved 2007-01-24.
9. "African American Milestones in Naval History". African American Milestones in Naval History. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved 2012-02-12.
10. "Colonel and Brevet Brigadier General Archibald Henderson, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
11. "Marine Corps Board Knowledge". Retrieved 2008-05-25.
12. Miller, Steven (2009-01-03). "Military Innovator Who Sought New Approach to Battle in Vietnam". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2009-01-03.
13. Shaw, Jr., Henry I.; Donnelly, Ralph W. (1995). "Blacks in the Marine Corps". Air University. Retrieved December 1, 2011. p. 2
14. Coral Anika Theill. "WORLD WAR II Montford Point Marines: Honoring And Preserving Their Legacy". Leatherneck Magazine. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
15. Williams, Janette (2011-09-20). "Political activist Isabell Masters, whose presidential ambitions started in Pasadena, dies at 98". Pasadena Star-News. Archived from the original on June 4, 2012. Retrieved 2011-10-08.
16. Wise, James E.; Anne Collier Rehill (1999). "Peter J. Ortiz". Stars in the Corps: Movie Actors in the United States Marines (2nd ed.). Naval Institute Press. pp. 53–66. ISBN 978-1-55750-949-9. Retrieved 21 March 2009.
17. "USMC Knowledge". NROTC, Boston University. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
18. "Official Biography of Angela Salinas". United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2007-12-12. Retrieved 2007-12-28.

References

Bibliography

• Dorr, Robert F. (2005). Marine Air - The History of the Flying Leathernecks in Words and Photos. Penguin Group. ISBN 0-425-20725-0.