# Department of the Pacific (USMC)

Department of the Pacific (MarPac) was a United States Marine Corps ground training and administrative command established on 15 November 1920, which was responsible for the administration, training and equipment of the Marine Corps Units on the West Coast, 14th Naval District (Hawaii and outlying Pacific islands), 16th Naval District (the Philippines), 17th Naval District (Alaska and Aleutian Islands) and Marine Forces in Northern China (China Marines).

## History

The Department of the Pacific was activated as Marine Corps subheadquarters on 15 November 1920 in San Francisco with former Commandant of the Marines, Major general George Barnett, in command. During the World War II, the staff and administrative units consisted of: Headquarters Company, Office of the Paymaster, Personnel Section (G-1), Intelligence Section (G-2), Operations Section (G-3) and Supply Section (G-4). Department of the Pacific administered all marine units and activities on the West Coast of the United States include Supply depots in San Francisco.
Following the end of War, responsibilities of Department of the Pacific were expanded to administration of all non Fleet Marine Force units in the Pacific Ocean Area. Department of the Pacific was deactivated on 1 July 1960 and its responsibilities were transferred to Fleet Marine Force Pacific and Headquarters Marine Corps.

## Commanding generals

| # | Name | Rank | Start of tenure | End of tenure | Retired rank | Notes |
| 1 | George Barnett | Major general | 15 November 1920 | 11 August 1923 | Major General | Served as the 12th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps between 1914 and 1920 |
| 2 | Wendell C. Neville | Major general | 12 August 1923 | 15 May 1927 | Major General | Medal of Honor recipient and 14th Commandant of the Marine Corps between 1929 and 1930. |
| 3 | Eli K. Cole | Major general | 2 July 1927 | 4 July 1929 | Major General | Navy Cross recipient and 1st Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps between 1911 and 1915. |
| 4 | Logan Feland | Major general | 19 July 1929 | 25 February 1933 | Major General | Distinguished Service Cross recipient and veteran of World War I and Banana Wars. |
| 5 | John T. Myers | Major general | 5 March 1933 | 29 January 1935 | Lieutenant General | Marine Corps Brevet Medal recipient and veteran of Boxer Rebellion and Banana Wars. |
| 6 | James C. Breckinridge | Major general | 30 January 1935 | 23 May 1937 | Lieutenant General | Navy Cross recipient and veteran of World War I and Banana Wars. |
| 7 | Douglas C. McDougal | Brigadier general | 24 May 1937 | 30 June 1937 | Major General | Veteran of Banana Wars and 10th Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps between 1934 and 1935. |
| 8 | Charles H. Lyman II | Major general | 2 July 1937 | 31 July 1939 | Major General | Veteran of Banana Wars, father of late Rear admiral Charles H. Lyman III. |
| 9 | Richard P. Williams | Brigadier general | 20 September 1939 | 31 January 1940 | Brigadier General | Navy Distinguished Service Medal recipient and veteran of Banana Wars. |
| 10 | Charles F. B. Price | Brigadier general | 15 February 1941 | 1 November 1941 | Lieutenant General | Navy Distinguished Service Medal recipient and veteran of Banana Wars. |
| 11 | William P. Upshur | Major general | 1 January 1942 | 21 July 1943 | Major General | Medal of Honor recipient, died in Air Crash while in the Office. |
| 12 | John Marston | Major general | 1 August 1943 | 20 April 1944 | Brigadier General | Previously commanded the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade during the Occupation of Iceland and 2nd Marine Division at Guadalcanal. |
| 13 | Joseph C. Fegan | Major general | 1 May 1944 | 2 December 1944 | Major General | Veteran of Banana Wars and father of late Lieutenant general Joseph C. Fegan Jr. |
| 14 | Julian C. Smith | Major general | 3 December 1944 | 1 February 1946 | Lieutenant General | Navy Cross recipient and previously commanded 2nd Marine Division at Tarawa and Peleliu. |
| 15 | Earl C. Long | Major general | 1 February 1946 | 17 May 1946 | Major General | Veteran of Banana Wars, previously commanded the Service Command, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. |
| 16 | Henry L. Larsen | Major general | 18 May 1946 | September 1946 | Lieutenant General | Two awards of Navy Cross, Veteran of World War I and Banana Wars, the second Military Governor of Guam. |
| 17 | Keller E. Rockey | Major general | September 1946 | 1 January 1947 | Lieutenant General | Distinguished Service Cross recipient and two awards of Navy Cross, Veteran of World War I and Banana Wars. |
| 18 | LeRoy P. Hunt | Major general | 1 January 1947 | 1 July 1949 | General | Distinguished Service Cross and Navy Cross recipient, Veteran of World War I and Banana Wars. |
| 19 | Keller E. Rockey | Major general | 1 July 1949 | 1 September 1950 | Lieutenant General | Distinguished Service Cross recipient and two awards of Navy Cross, Veteran of World War I and Banana Wars. |
| 20 | Graves B. Erskine | Major general | December 1950 | July 1951 | Lieutenant General | Veteran of World War I and Banana Wars, later served with Department of Defense. |
| 21 | Alfred H. Noble | Major general | July 1951 | August 1952 | General | Distinguished Service Cross and Navy Cross recipient, Veteran of World War I and Banana Wars. Later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic. |
| 22 | Ray A. Robinson | Major general | August 1952 | June 1953 | General | Veteran of Yangtze Patrol and Banana Wars. Later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic. |
| 23 | Henry D. Linscott | Major general | June 1953 | 30 September 1955 | Lieutenant General | Veteran of World War I, Banana Wars and Pacific War. Later commanded Camp Lejeune. |
| 24 | Robert H. Pepper | Major general | 30 September 1955 | 1 May 1957 | Lieutenant General | Veteran of Guadalcanal Campaign. Later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. |
| 25 | George F. Good Jr. | Major general | 1 May 1957 | July 1958 | Lieutenant General | Veteran of Banana Wars and Pacific War. Two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V". |
| 26 | James P. Berkeley | Major general | July 1958 | November 1959 | Lieutenant General | Veteran of Banana Wars and Pacific War. Later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic. A son of Major general Randolph C. Berkeley. |
| 27 | Francis M. McAlister | Major general | January 1960 | 1 July 1960 | Major General | Veteran of Banana Wars, Pacific War and Korean War. Silver Star and three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V". |