Thomas Holcomb
| Thomas Holcomb | |
|---|---|
17th Commandant of the Marine Corps (1936-1943)
|
|
| Born |
August 5, 1879 New Castle, Delaware, U.S. |
| Died | May 24, 1965 (aged 85) New Castle, Delaware, U.S. |
| Buried at | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America |
| Service/branch |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1900-1944 |
| Rank |
 General
|
| Commands held |
2nd Battalion 6th Marines Marine Corps Schools Commandant of the Marine Corps |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (4) Purple Heart Legion of Honor Croix de Guerre |
| Other work | Minister to South Africa |
Thomas Holcomb (August 5, 1879 – May 24, 1965) was the seventeenth Commandant of the United States Marine Corps (1936–1943). He was the first Marine to achieve the rank of General. After retiring from the Marine Corps, Holcomb served as Minister to South Africa (1944–1948). Among his ancestors is Commodore Joshua Barney famous Naval hero.
Holcomb was born on August 5, 1879 in New Castle, Delaware, one of 4 children, the son of Elizabeth Hindman Barney Daughter of US Navy Captain Nicolas Barney and Thomas Holcomb an Attorney and Speaker of the House of Delaware. He attended private schools there until 1893 when his family moved to Washington, D.C. to work in the Treasury Department of second president Cleveland administration. He graduated from Western High School in 1897. His curriculum included Military drills in uniform, here Holcomb learned about military discipline .
His father encouraged Holcomb to enter the business world. In 1898 Holcomb took a job as a cost clerk at the Bethlehem Steel works in Sparrows Point, Maryland for two years.
Holcomb was appointed a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps from civilian life on April 13, 1900. Second Lieutenant Holcomb was on detached duty with a company of Marines organized for service with a Marine battalion attached to the North Atlantic Fleet from September 1902 to April 1903.Holcumb first claim to fame was winning the International long distance rifle championship in 1902 Montrel Canada. He was promoted to first lieutenant March 3, 1903 and put in charge of the US Marine Corps rifle team bringing to championship in 1911. He served in the Philippine Islands from April 1904 to August 1905, and in October and November 1906.
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