Franklin A . Hart General Franklin Augustus Hart ( September 16 , 1894 – June 22 , 1967 ) was a four - star general in the United States Marine Corps who served more than thirty - seven years . His varied and colorful career included service during the two World Wars , sea duty aboard several ships of the Navy , and tours in Haiti , Nicaragua , and the Dominican Republic . During World War II , General Hart was awarded the Navy Cross while commanding the 24th Marines in the assault and capture of Roi - Namur Island , Kwajalein Atoll , and was awarded the Legion of Merit while leading the Regiment in the battles for Saipan and Tinian in the Marianas Islands . As Assistant Division Commander , Fourth Marine Division , during the assault at Iwo Jima , he was awarded the Bronze Star . His citation for the Navy Cross reads in part , " Landing when the assault troops had advanced only one hundred yards from the beach , Colonel Hart fearlessly led his combat team against heavy enemy resistance in a crushing attack toward its first objective . " " After repelling numerous counter attacks during the night , he skillfully reorganized his depleted units and affected a coordinated assault the next morning , rapidly overcoming all remaining opposition , and exterminating a large force of determined and fanatical Japanese . " " By his valiant performance of duty and outstanding leadership throughout this perilous assignment , Colonel Hart inspired all with whom he served . " Biography . Franklin A . Hart was born on 16 September 1894 in Cuthbert , Georgia , and is a native resident of Eufaula , Alabama . He attended Alabama Polytechnic Institute ( now Auburn University ) , graduating in the class of 1915 . He participated in sports at Auburn — he was a member of the varsity football team , varsity track team , and varsity soccer team from 1911 to 1914 . On April 6 , 1917 , he was appointed a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps , and four months later was appointed to the rank of first lieutenant . After completing a course of instruction at the Marine Officers School , Norfolk , Virginia , he was ordered to sea duty as Commanding Officer of the Marine Detachment aboard the . He was promoted to the rank of captain in October 1917 . World War I . In September 1918 , Hart was transferred from sea duty , and in October 1918 , he sailed for France as Commanding Officer , Company " B " , Machine Gun Battalion , Fifth Brigade . He returned to the United States in July 1919 , and was assigned to the Marine Barracks , Quantico , Virginia . Between World Wars . Two months later , the General was again ordered to foreign shore duty , this time to the Dominican Republic where he was assigned duty with the Guardia Nacional Dominicans , as District Commander of Santo Domingo ( then Ciudad Trujillo ) . He returned to the United States in 1921 , and in December of that year was assigned as Commanding Officer , 77th Machine Gun Company , 2nd Battalion , 5th Marines , at Marine Barracks , Quantico , Virginia . In October 1922 , he was transferred to the Marine Barracks , Washington , D . C . , where he served as adjutant and other related duties . In October 1923 , he was assigned to the Army Infantry School , Fort Benning , Georgia , as a student . Graduating in May of the following year , he was ordered to the Marine Barracks , Philadelphia , where he became an instructor at the Marine Corps Basic School . His second tour of sea duty came in June 1926 , when he took command of the Marine Detachment aboard the . In January 1927 , he assumed command of the Detachment aboard the USS " Rochester " ( CA - 1 ) , and the following month , was assigned similar duties aboard the . The Detachment served ashore with a landing force in Nicaragua for the next five months . From June 1927 , until July of the following year , Hart again commanded the Marine Detachment aboard the USS " Rochester " . During the latter six months of this tour , he again served ashore in Nicaragua until August 1928 when he returned to the United States . From 1928 to 1930 , Hart was stationed successively at the Marine Barracks , Norfolk , as Executive Officer , and the Marine Barracks , Quantico . At the latter post , he served as an instructor at the Company Officers Course , Marine Corps Schools . He returned to foreign shore duty in August 1930 , and joined the Constabulary Detachment , Garde d ' Haiti , Gonsaieves , Haiti , where he served as a company commander and district commander . In May 1933 , he was named Assistant Chief of Staff , Garde d ' Haiti , Headquarters , Port - au - Prince , Haiti . Returning to the United States in July 1934 , he was assigned to the Senior Course , Marine Corps Schools , Quantico , as a student . He was promoted to the rank of major as of 29 May 1934 , and successfully completed the Senior Course in May 1935 . In June 1935 , he reported to duty at Headquarters Marine Corps , Washington , D . C . , where he performed duties in the War Plans Section , Division of Operations and Training . He was appointed a lieutenant colonel , in July 1936 , and in October 1937 , he became Officer in Charge , War Plans Section . Hart ' s next assignment was to the Army War College , Washington , D . C . Graduating in June 1939 , he was ordered to the Marine Corps Base , San Diego , California , where he became Chief of the Planning Section . In July 1940 , he was named Commanding Officer , 1st Battalion 8th Marines , 2nd Marine Division . World War II . He went to England in June 1941 , where he was attached to the American Embassy in London as Assistant Naval Attaché . In September of the same year , he assumed duties as Special Naval Observer and additional duty on the staff of the Chief , Combined Operations ( British ) as an instructor in amphibious warfare , and was appointed to the rank of colonel in December 1941 . In July 1942 , Hart participated in the Dieppe Operation , for which he was specially commended for outstanding conduct by Lord Louis Mountbatten , Chief of Combined Operations . He remained in England until October 1942 , when he returned to the United States to become a member of the Staff of the Commander - in - chief , U . S . Fleet , Navy Department , Washington , D . C . , as Chief , Future Plans Section . In June 1943 , Colonel Hart was ordered to the 4th Marine Division where he assumed command of the 24th Marine Regiment . During the following year he led the Regiment in the attack on Roi - Namur , Kwajalein Atoll , Marshall Islands , where he was awarded the Navy Cross , and the assault on Saipan and Tinian and the Marianas Islands where he was awarded the Legion of Merit . Appointed a Brigadier General in August 1944 , he served as Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Marine Division , until late 1945 , and in this capacity participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima , where he was awarded the Bronze Star . Final posts . He returned to the United States in September 1945 , and assumed duties as Director , Division of Reserve , Headquarters , Marine Corps , Washington , D . C . In January 1946 , he became Director , Division of Public Information and in July , Director of Personnel . In October 1946 , he went to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island , South Carolina , as Commanding General of the Post . Appointed a Major General in December 1946 , the General remained at that post until assigned duties as Commanding General of the Second Marine Division , with additional duties as Commanding General , Marine Barracks , Camp Lejeune , North Carolina on 31 January 1948 . He was named Commandant of the Marine Corps Schools at Quantico , Virginia , in July 1950 , and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant general in February of the following year . He became Commanding General , Fleet Marine Force , Pacific , in January 1952 . He retired in August 1954 after 37 years of Marine Corps service and was advanced to the rank of general . General Franklin Hart died on June 22 , 1967 at the U . S . Naval Hospital , Bethesda , Maryland and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery . Awards and decorations . Hart ' s awards include :