William G . Thrash William Gay Thrash ( September 17 , 1916 – July 4 , 2011 ) was a retired United States Marine Corps three - star general and highly decorated Naval Aviator . He retired from active duty on June 30 , 1972 after more than 30 years of distinguished service . Thrash earned the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit during the Korean War , and a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct as senior United Nations officer in a Chinese Communist prisoner of war camp . Biography . Early years . William Gay Thrash was born in Tifton , Georgia on September 17 , 1916 . He graduated from Boys ' High School in Atlanta , Georgia , in 1934 . He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia School of Technology in 1939 . During his senior year , he was a member of Georgia Tech ' s famed gridiron squad , the Yellow Jackets . Thrash was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on July 14 , 1939 . He was assigned to the Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard until June 1940 , when he was transferred to Camp Elliott in California . He remained at Camp Elliott serving in various assignments as an engineering officer until transferred to Naval Air Station Pensacola , Florida in September 1941 for flight training . World War II . Promoted to first lieutenant in January 1942 , Thrash received his wings as a Naval Aviator on March 18 , of the same year . He was promoted to Captain that May , then remained at Pensacola until September 1942 as an instructor . Captain Thrash joined the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in October and was deployed overseas with the Wing in November . While overseas , he was promoted to major in April 1943 . During the period June to September 1943 , he flew more than 100 combat reconnaissance missions over enemy territory in the Gilbert - Solomon islands area , earning the Distinguished Flying Cross and five Air Medals . Returning to the United States in January 1944 , he was assigned to Marine Fleet Air , West Coast , until June 1945 when he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel . Following another tour of overseas duty , where he saw service at Pearl Harbor , Saipan , and Okinawa , he was assigned to the Division of Aviation at Headquarters Marine Corps in January 1946 . That October , he began a two - year assignment in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington , D . C . In August 1948 , he entered the Naval War College at Newport , Rhode Island . Upon graduation from its logistics course in May 1949 , he was assigned as an instructor in the Aviation Section , Marine Corps Schools , Quantico , Virginia . 1950s . Transferred to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in June 1951 , Lieutenant Colonel Thrash earned the Silver Star for gallantry in action , October 25 , 1951 , as Tactical Officer and pilot of a plane in Marine Aircraft Group 12 . Encountering 24 hostile jets while leading his flight of 11 Corsairs on a strike against a strategic enemy supply point , he led his flight in an aggressive attack , forcing the enemy planes to break off the engagement and retire . On reaching the target area , he succeeded in scoring direct hits , inflicting serious damage on the enemy . While serving as Tactical Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 12 , Thrash was engaged in a reconnaissance flight over enemy anti - aircraft positions in Korea on December 21 , 1951 . When his plane was struck by enemy fire , he parachuted after radioing his base that he was bailing out . Taken prisoner after landing in the heavily fortified enemy area , he remained a prisoner for almost two years . Thras was awarded his first Legion of Merit with Combat " V " and his sixth and seventh Air Medals prior to being captured and imprisoned by the Chinese Communists in December 1951 . Following his repatriation in September 1953 , he returned to the United States and was subsequently assigned as Executive Officer , and later , Commander of Marine Wing Service Group 37 . From May 1955 to July 1958 , he was attached to the Division of Aviation , Headquarters Marine Corps , serving consecutively as Assistant Head , and Head , Plans and Readiness Branch , and Deputy Assistant Director of Aviation . While there , he was promoted to colonel in November 1955 . In June 1959 , he completed the National War College in Washington , D . C . In July 1959 , Colonel Thrash reported to the Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay , Hawaii , as Commanding Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 13 . During this assiqnment , he led a trans - Pacific flight of Marine light attack jet aircraft in a record - making first flight from Kaneohe Bay , Hawaii , to Naval Air Station Alameda , California . 1960s . In August 1960 , he was named Chief of Staff of the 1st Marine Brigade at Kaneohe . He served in this capacity until May 1962 when he was deployed to Thailand as Chief of Staff of the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Unit . He returned from Thailand in August 1962 and assumed duty as Chief of Staff of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing , Aircraft , FMF , Pacific , Iwakuni , Japan . The following June , he arrived in the United States , and assumed duty at Norfolk , Virginia , as Assistant Chief of Staff , G - 3 , Fleet Marine Force , Atlantic . In March 1964 , he was promoted to brigadier general and assigned as Legislative Assistant to the Commandant of the Marine Corps , and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for service during this assignment . Following his promotion to major general onJanuary 19 , 1967 , he assumed duties the following month as Commander , Marine Corps Air Bases , Western Area / Commanding General , Marine Corps Air Station El Toro , California and earned his third Legion of Merit . Vietnam War . Major General Thrash was ordered to the Republic of Vietnam in July 1969 , for a one year tour of duty as Commanding General , 1st Marine Aircraft Wing in the I Corps Tactical Zone , and earned the Distinguished Service Medal for his outstanding performance of duty during this tour . 1970s . Upon his return to the United States in July 1970 , he reported to the Marine Corps Base , Quantico , for duty as Deputy for Education / Director , Education Center , Marine Corps Development and Education Command . MajGen Thrash was nominated for promotion to three - star rank and his nomination was approved by President Richard Nixon in February 1971 . On March 12 , 1971 , his promotion was confirmed by the U . S . Senate and he received his third star upon assignment as commanding General , Marine Corps Development and Education Command at Quantico . He served in this capacity until he retired from active duty on June 30 , 1972 . For exceptionally meritorious service during his last tour of duty while stationed at Quantico , he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal . Present day . LtGen Thrash and his wife , the former Virginia Merryman of Atlanta , Georgia , have two sons , William Gay Jr . , and Ralph Merryman Thrash , both Marine Corps officers . LtGen and Mrs . Thrash have resided in Newport Beach , Calif , but presently live in Hilton Head , South Carolina . Thrash died on July 4 , 2011 at the Hilton Head Hospital in Hilton Head Island , South Carolina .