Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.
| Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr. | |
|---|---|
20th Commandant of the Marine Corps (1952-1955)
|
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| Birth name | Lemuel Cornick Shepherd Jr. |
| Born |
February 10, 1896 Norfolk, Virginia, U.S. |
| Died | August 6, 1990 (aged 94) La Jolla, California, U.S. |
| Buried at | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1917–1956 |
| Rank |
 General
|
| Commands held |
Commandant of the Marine Corps Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Marine Corps Schools 6th Marine Division 1st Provisional Marine Brigade 9th Marine Regiment 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Navy Cross Distinguished Service Cross Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3) Silver Star (3) Legion of Merit (2) w/ Combat "V" Bronze Star Medal w/ Combat "V" Purple Heart (4) French Croix de guerre French Fourragère |
| Other work | Inter American Defense Board, Chair |
Lemuel Cornick Shepherd Jr. (February 10, 1896 – August 6, 1990) was a four-star general of the United States Marine Corps. A veteran of World War I, World War II, and the Korean War, he was the 20th Commandant of the Marine Corps. As Commandant, he secured a place on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, gaining parity for the Marine Corps with the other military services.
Lemuel Cornick Shepherd Jr. was born February 10, 1896, in Norfolk, Virginia. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute in 1917, graduating a year early so he could enter the Marine Corps. While at VMI, Shepherd became a member of the Beta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Order. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on April 11, 1917 and reported for active duty at the Marine Barracks, Port Royal, South Carolina, on May 19, 1917.
Less than a year after reporting for duty, 2nd Lt. Shepherd sailed for France on June 17, 1917 as a member of the 5th Marine Regiment with the first elements of the American Expeditionary Forces (Army and Marine Corps troops), and arrived at Saint-Nazaire in western France on June 27. The 5th Marines became part of the 4th Marine Brigade, 2nd Division (2nd Infantry Division), when the division was organized on October 26 in France. The 2nd Division was placed under the command of Marine Corps Brigadier General Charles A. Doyen, who had been the 5th Marines commander. The 2nd Division trained with French Army veterans the winter of 1917-18.
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