John C . Munn John Calvin Munn ( 17 October 1906 — 14 April 1986 ) was the 8th Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and United States Naval Aviator . He served for 37 years in the United States Marine Corps . Biography . Munn was born October 17 , 1906 in Prescott , Arkansas , and after graduating from high school in 1923 , he attended the United States Naval Academy . After graduating on 2 June 1927 , he was commissioned as a second lieutenant , he attended Officers ' Basic Course at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and was assigned to the 2nd Marine Brigade to participate in the United States occupation of Nicaragua . Returning to the United States in September 1929 , he was assigned to the guard force at Herbert Hoover ' s summer camp near Criglersville for three months , then was ordered to attend aviation training at Hampton Roads . In May 1930 , Munn was sent for more training at Naval Air Station Pensacola and was winged the next January , serving there for two more months , then transferring to Naval Air Station San Diego . In October 1931 , he joined Scouting Squadron 14 - M , which embarked aboard the following month ( one of the first two Marine squadrons to serve aboard Navy carriers ) . He was promoted to first lieutenant in January 1934 , then left the " Saratoga " in June to return to San Diego . There , he joined Bombing Squadron 4 - M for two years ' duty aboard and . In June 1936 , he was assigned to aviation duty at Marine Corps Base Quantico , and promoted to captain in August . In May 1938 , Munn sailed for Colombia to serve as a Naval attaché at numerous American embassies in South America , including Colombia , Panama , Venezuela , Ecuador , and Peru . He returned to the United States in March 1941 , and was stationed briefly in Washington , D . C . before being assigned to Marine Observation Squadron 151 of Marine Aircraft Group 11 at Quantico . He was promoted to major in July 1941 , and would embark upon several times until VMO - 151 sailed for San Diego in December upon the United States ' s entry into World War II . Munn was promoted to lieutenant colonel in August 1942 , and departed for the Pacific War . On 3 September 1942 , he arrived on Guadalcanal in the first transport plane of the Cactus Air Force to land at Henderson Field during the Guadalcanal Campaign . While on Guadalcanal , he served in staff roles for the 1st 2nd Marine Aircraft Wings ( G - 2 and G - 3 , respectively ) . He would be awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with valor device for his role in the fighting there . In March 1943 , Munn assumed command of Marine Aircraft Group 11 in the New Hebrides , but returned to the United States in July , serving as the Assistant Head of the Aviation Planning Section for the United States Fleet in Washington until February 1945 . While serving in this capacity , he was promoted to colonel in November 1943 . In March 1945 , Colonel Munn returned to the Pacific to take command of Marine Aircraft Group 31 . Under his command , the unit destroyed 180 Japanese planes in the Battle of Okinawa , landing at Yontan Airfield on April 7 . He was awarded the Silver Star and his first Legion of Merit , and commanded MAG - 31 after the war ' s end until April 1946 . After a month ' s temporary duty in Washington , he reported to Pearl Harbor in June 1946 as Aviation Plans Officer and Fleet Marine Officer for United States Pacific Fleet . In June 1948 , Dunn transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point to command Marine Wing Service Group Two ( Provisional ) , serve as Chief of Staff of Air for Fleet Marine Force , Atlantic and 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing . He attended the National War College in August 1950 and graduated the following summer . In June 1951 , he was named a member of the Joint Strategic Plans Group , of the Joint Staff , and served in that capacity until February 1952 . He then served in the Division of Aviation at Headquarters Marine Corps as Assistant Director . Munn was named Chief of Staff of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing , and embarked for the Korean War in April 1953 . While in Korea , he was awarded his second Legion of Merit and returned home in April 1954 to assume command of Marine Corps Air Station El Toro . While there , he was promoted to brigadier general in August 1954 , then in October 1954 , was transferred to Naval Station Norfolk as Assistant Commanding General for Aircraft for Fleet Marine Force , Atlantic . Ordered to Washington in February 1955 , he was assigned to the Office of the Vice Chief of Naval Operations as Marine Corps Liaison Officer , until October of the same year . He then served as Inspector General of the Marine Corps until January 1956 , when he returned to Cherry Point to assume command of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing . He was promoted to major general in August 1956 . In February 1958 , Munn became Director of Aviation at Headquarters Marine Corps , until 1 January 1960 , when he assumed the post of Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps . With the post came a temporary promotion to lieutenant general , and served in this capacity through March 1963 . Taking command of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton , he reverted to his permanent grade of major general . Upon his retirement on 1 July 1964 , he was appointed by the President , and confirmed by the Senate , to the grade of lieutenant general on the retired list . Munn died 14 April 1986 in Encinitas , California . Awards and decorations . Known decorations and medals include :