Allen H. Turnage
| Allen Hal Turnage | |
|---|---|
Allen H. Turnage
|
|
| Born |
January 3, 1891 Farmville, North Carolina |
| Died | October 22, 1971 (aged 80) |
| Allegiance |
 United States |
| Service/branch |
 United States Marine Corps
|
| Years of service | 1913-1948 |
| Rank |
 General
|
| Service number | 0-997 |
| Commands held | Machine Gun Battalion, 5th Marine Brigade 1st Battalion, 5th Marines Camp Lejeune 3rd Marine Division Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Fleet Marine Force, Pacific |
| Battles/wars |
Banana Wars World War I World War II *Battle of Bougainville *Battle of Guam (1944) |
| Awards |
Navy Cross Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit |
Allen Hal Turnage (January 3, 1891 – October 22, 1971) was a United States Marine Corps General who earned the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal while leading the 3rd Marine Division on Bougainville and Guam in World War II.
General Turnage was born on January 3, 1891, in Farmville, North Carolina. He attended the University of North Carolina before entering the Marine Corps as a second lieutenant on November 17, 1913. Following instruction for 17 months at the Marine Officers' School, Norfolk, Virginia, he joined the First Brigade in Haiti in 1915 and participated in expeditions against hostile Cacos in Northern Haiti, then was assigned to duty with the Haitian Constabulary until August 1918.
Almost immediately, he was sent to France where he served as Commanding Officer, Machine Gun Battalion, 5th Marine Brigade. Following World War I, he was an instructor at the Marine Officers' School, Quantico; served with the Gendarmerie d'Haiti again from 1922 to 1925; and completed the Field Officers' Course at Quantico. Later, between two tours of duty at Headquarters Marine Corps, he was assigned sea duty on the staff of Battleship Divisions Four and Three.
In 1935, General Turnage was appointed Director of the Marine Officers' Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, following which he served with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, as Battalion Commander and Regimental Executive Officer, respectively. Ordered overseas in 1939, he served as Commanding Officer of Marine Forces in North China, and Commanding Officer of the Marine Detachment, American Embassy, Peiping. He returned to Headquarters Marine Corps in April 1941, and was serving as Director of the Division of Plans and Policies when World War II broke out.
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