John A. Lejeune

John Archer Lejeune
Major General John A. Lejeune, U.S. Marines Corps, 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps (1920–1929)
Nickname(s)	"Greatest of all Leathernecks" "The Marine's Marine"
Born	(1867-01-10)January 10, 1867 Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	November 20, 1942(1942-11-20) (aged 75) Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Place of burial	Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1890–1929
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	1st Brigade of Marines 4th Brigade of Marines 2nd Infantry Division Commandant of the Marine Corps
Battles/wars	Spanish–American War *Cuban Campaign *Puerto Rico Campaign Philippine–American War Mexican Revolution *Battle of Veracruz World War I *Western Front
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal French Legion of Honor French Croix de guerre
Relations	Lt. Eugenia Lejeune, USMC
Other work	Superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute (1929–1937)

John Archer Lejeune (January 10, 1867 – November 20, 1942) was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general and the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps. Lejeune had nearly 40 years service in the Marine Corps including commanding the U.S. Army's 2nd Division during World War I. His service with the Marine Corps after he retired was as the 5th Superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute.

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina was named in his honor during World War II. Lejeune is often referred to in the present day as being the "greatest of all Leathernecks" and the "Marine's Marine."

Lejeune (/ləˈʒɜːrn/ lə-ZHURN) was born on January 10, 1867 at the Old Hickory Plantation near Lacour, Louisiana in Pointe Coupee Parish. He was the son of Confederate States Army Captain Ovide Lejeune. He attended the preparatory program at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge from September 1881 to April 1884, leaving to prepare for the entrance exam for the U.S. Naval Academy. Subsequently, he secured an appointment as a midshipman at the United States Naval Academy, from which he graduated in 1888, ranking second academically in his class of thirty-two midshipmen. At the completion of a two-year cruise as a midshipman, he chose service in the Marine Corps. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on 25 July 1890.