The star-progress., 1921-04-20
MAJoR agN. JNo. 4. LEJEUNE
a One Thousand Word Sketch Of the
Career and Personality Of the Com
u,andant Of the United States
Marine Corps


Major General John Archer Lejeune,
who assumed his duties as major gem
eral commandant Of the marine corps
on June 80, 1920, relieving Major Gei'-
eral George Barnett, is Louisianian
by birth, and, as his name suggests,
is OF French descent. His appoint
ment as major general commandant
by Woodrow Wilson, in recognition of
his distinguished service overseas In
command of the second division was
recess appointment. When President
Harding assumed office he submitted
the appointment to the senate for con.
firmation. It is worthy OF note of the
esteem in which his services wers
held that the senate Immediately con-
firmd him, waving the usual formali-
ty cf carrying the nomination over for
one executive session, and his new
commission was the first military or
naval commission to receive the sigma
ture of President Harding, being al
fixed at a session OF the cabinet.
General Lejeune was born in Pointe
Coupee parish, Louisiana, on Janu-
ary 10, 1857, and graduated from the
naval academy in 1888. During his
two years service at sea as naval
cadet he was on the Vandalia in the
memorable hurricane that ragged for
three days in the harbor Of Apia, Sa.
moa. Four officers and thirty-nine
men were lost on the Vandalia and
her commanding officer officially COM
mended Naval Cadet Lejeune to Adj
miral Kimberly for cool and gallant
conduct. At the expiration OF his
two years. cruise he was commission
ed as second lieutenant of marines. |
In the Spanish-American war Lejeuno
commanded the marine detachment Of
the Cincinnati.
Twice in the course of the opera
tions in Cuban waters he was official
ly commended to the navy department
first, for his conduct at Matanzas,
where the Cincinnati engaged the
shore batteries, and, again as in COM
mand Of a landing party that rescued
the force beleagured by the enemy
in the lighthouse, San Juan point, Por-
to Rico. AS intelligence officer of the
South Atlantic squadron he also won
mentioned for the able performance Of
his duties.
In the fall OF 1903 Major Lejeune
was despatched with a battalion to
Panama, where conditions had be-
come critical through the revolution
Of Panama against Columbia He re-
turned to the isthmus three years lat
er and the following year was assign
ed to duty in command at Cavite bar
racks, in the Philippines, later assunl-
ing command of the brigade OF ma.
rines in the islands. On his return
from the far east he graduated, with
the rank of Lieutenant colonel, from
the army war college in Washington
in 1910.
Troubled conditions in Cuba in 1912
and 1918 found him on duty there with
the expeditionary brigade of the sea
soldiers. There followed serious troG-
BILE in Mexico in the closing months
of Huerta's regime and when the
navy directed operations on Vera
Cruz, Colonel Lejeune landed at the
head Of the first force of marines on
April %, 1914, and served with his
usual efficiency and courage in the
engagements that wrested Vera Cruz
from Mexican hands.
Following this picturesque service,
Colonel Lejeune was ordered to Wash
ingtOn as assistant to the command
ant Of the corps, serving as such for
three years with great ability. His
assignment to duty overseas was ineg-
liable and on July 26, 1918, after COM
manding brigade in the thirty-second
division in the field he assumed COM
mand of the marine brigade Of the
famous second division under General
Harbord, Immediately following the
brilliant attack Of the second division
: in the great Scissor offensive. Three
days later he was in command of the
division and remained in command
through the operations in August in
the Marbache sector, the st. Mihiel
drive, the brilliant attack of the div
ision under General Gouraud's COM
mand when the second stormed Mon,
Blanc ridge in the Champagne, and in
the Meuse-Argonne offensive. Fol.
lowing the armistice, General Lejeune
marched at the head OF his now fam.
GUS combat division to the Rhine. to
Join the army of occuuation