page_title: Clarence R. Wallace
section_title: World War II
hierarchical_section_title: Clarence R. Wallace / World War II
caption_attribution_description: English: This is the last photograph taken of Lt. Gen. Simon B. Buckner, Jr., USA, right, just before he was killed on 18 June, observing the 8th Marines in action on Okinawa for the first time since the regiment entered the lines in the drive to the south. Note the rock and coral outcropping to his left. The shell that exploded hit that outcropping, dispersing fragments into the general, killing him within a few minutes. The other two staff officers were not seriously hurt.
context_page_description: Clarence Rodney Wallace was a decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general. He is most noted for his service as commanding officer of the 8th Marine Regiment during World War II.
context_section_description: Wallace returned stateside in June 1939 and was assigned to the Senior Course at Marine Corps Schools Quantico. He finished the course in May 1940 and spent next year as major at the headquarters of Fleet Marine Force in San Diego. Wallace was subsequently transferred back to Quantico in June 1941 and attached as communications officer to the staff of Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet under Rear Admiral Henry K. Hewitt.
  He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in January 1942 and transferred back to Headquarters Marine Corps, but now to the Division of Plans and Policies. Within this assignment, Wallace made an observation tour to London in England. Following the creation of 4th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California, he was attached to the division staff for another observation duty during the Battle of Kwajalein in February 1944.
  Wallace was later promoted to the rank of colonel and appointed commanding officer of 8th Marine Regiment on April 10, 1944. The 8th Marines were located on Hawaii, to prepare for the upcoming Marianas Islands Campaign. Wallace led his regiment ashore during the Battle of Saipan in June 1944. It landed in the southwestern part of Saipan, not far from Chalan Kanoa village. The 8th Marines assaulted the beach fortifications and later helped seized the airstrip in Chalan Kanoa.
  The 8th Marines under Wallace's command later attacked the Japanese positions along the Lake Susupe and advanced towards the highest point of Saipan, Mount Tapochau. Wallace's marines conquered the summit of Mt. Tapochau, an ideal observation post overlooking central Saipan. The 8th Marines subsequently repelled several small Japanese counter-attacks and advanced to Tanapag Harbor, where it was placed in the reserve on July 4, 1944.
  After a brief rest and refit, Wallace and his 8th Marine Regiment landed on Tinian on the morning of July 25, 1944, and met only light Japanese fire on the beaches. Ushi Point, to the north of the island, was the main objective for this campaign. The 8th Marines captured the abandoned airfield on July 26. The advance of the 8th Marines was slowed down and finally halted by a typhoon, which occurred on July 28. Wallace was ordered to renew the advance on July 30 and subsequently received orders for a final attack on Japanese units fortified on the cliff in the north of the island. Tinian Island was declared secured on August 1, 1944.
  The securing of Tinian helped to established a large bomber base from which U.S. planes could operate over the Philippine Sea and onto Japan. For his service on Saipan and Tinian,  Wallace was decorated with the Legion of Merit with Combat "V".
  Wallace subsequently returned with his regiment to Saipan to prepare for further deployment. However the 8th Marines were later designated as reserve troops for the III Marine Amphibious Corps for the Okinawa landings at the beginning of April 1945. The 8th Marines served only as a deception landing force and did not participate in the battle until the middle of June 1945, when the commanding general of Tenth Army, Simon B. Buckner, requested their deployment.
  Wallace brought his regiment up to the front on June 18, 1945, in order to relieved the exhausted 7th Marine Regiment. The 8th Marine Regiment was tasked with cutting off the lines and reaching the coast. Lieutenant General Bucker had visited Wallace's forward command post to observe the progress of his regiment. While Wallace briefed the general about the situation, a Japanese artillery shell hit nearby coral rock and its fragments mortally wounded the general. Wallace and his executive officer, Major William C. Chamberlin, remained unharmed.
  The 8th Marine Regiment later assaulted Ibaru Ridge and defeated all entrenched Japanese forces there. The regiment later conquered the town of Makabe on June 21, 1945, and the new Tenth Army Commander, Lieutenant General Roy S. Geiger, declared Okinawa secured during the following day. Wallace later led several mopping-up operations in order to destroy or capture remaining minor Japanese units.
  For his part in thi
caption: General Simon B. Buckner shortly before he was killed on Okinawa. Here at 8th Marines observation post with Colonel Clarence R. Wallace (center) and Major William Chamberlin (left).
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