Samuel C. Cumming
| Samuel Calvin Cumming | |
|---|---|
Brigadier General Cumming in the Wartime photo.
|
|
| Born |
October 14, 1895 Kobe, Empire of Japan |
| Died | January 14, 1983 (aged 87) Sarasota, Florida |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Marine Corps
|
| Years of service | 1917-1946 |
| Rank |
 Major General
|
| Service number | 0-209 |
| Commands held | 25th Marine Regiment |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Silver Star (3) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal |
| Relations |
Hugh S. Cumming (Uncle) Hugh S. Cumming, Jr. (Cousin) |
Samuel Calvin Cumming (October 14, 1895 – January 14, 1983) was a decorated Major General in the United States Marine Corps, who served as Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Marine Division during World War II. He was a nephew of Hugh S. Cumming, former Surgeon General of the United States.
Samuel Calvin Cumming was born on October 14, 1895 in Kobe, Japan as a son of missionary Dr. Calvin Knox Cumming (1854-1935). He spent his first eleven years of age in Japan, before his family moved back to the United States. Samuel attended the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil engineering in 1917. He was commissioned a Second lieutenant of the Marine Corps on August 10, 1917.
He was subsequently assigned to the 5th Marine Regiment and sent to the France within American Expeditionary Forces. There he was appointed a platoon leader with 55th Company. Two months after his arrival to the European battlefield, Cumming was promoted to the rank of First lieutenant and transferred to the 51st Company. He led his platoon during the Battle of Belleau Wood, until he was wounded by enemy machine gun fire. His whole platoon was wiped out except himself and another soldier. Cumming later described his engagement as follows:
"Line after line moved off toward a wood six hundred meters away, across an open and level field covered with grass six inches high. The ground became covered with a sheet of machine gun bullets from a Prussian Guard machine gun battalion and their supporting infantry... We moved forward at a slow pace, keeping perfect lines. Men were mowed down like a wheat. A shell hit on my right, and an automatic rifle team, which was there a moment ago disappeared, while men on the right and left were armless, legless, or tearing at their faces."
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