Lowell English Major General Lowell Edward English ( July 8 , 1915 – September 29 , 2005 ) was a United States Marine Corps general who served in World War II , Korea and Vietnam . Biography . Lowell English was born in Fairbury , Nebraska , on July 8 , 1915 . He received a B . A . degree in 1938 from the University of Nebraska , where he was a three - year member of the varsity football team , which was one of the Big Six Champions at the time . He turned down an offer to play football with the Chicago Bears in favor of the Marine Corps . Military career . In July 1938 , he was commissioned in the Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant and underwent training until the following June at the Basic School for Marine Corps officers at the Philadelphia Navy Yard . After completing his training , he was stationed on board the USS " Nevada " for one year . He then returned to San Diego as a recruit training officer , then became a platoon leader in the 7th Defense Battalion . On February 24 , 1941 , English married Eleanor R . McCallum , and they remained married until his death , having three children together : Loellen Kay , Bruce Browning and Becky Lynne . After the outbreak of World War II in December 1941 , Captain English was given command of a company in the 3rd Marine Division , 2nd Brigade . He led his unit into combat at Guadalcanal and Bougainville , and was then assigned as the executive officer for the 2nd Battalion with whom he took part in the capture of Guam and was awarded a Bronze Star . In 1945 , he participated in the battle of Iwo Jima and was awarded the Legion of Merit for his actions in the battle . Promoted by now to lieutenant colonel , he was subsequently wounded and evacuated back to the United States . By September , he was assigned to the Marine Training and Replacement Center in San Diego before commanding California ' s Guard Battalion at Camp Pendleton . From May 1946 until June 1949 , English served as Battalion Officer and Head of the Academic Section at the U . S . Naval Academy in Annapolis , before transferring to West Point as an instructor in Military Psychology and Leadership . This was followed by the completion of a five - month course at the Armed Forces Staff College , Norfolk , Virginia , in January 1953 . From January to July 1953 , English was the commanding officer of the 3rd Battalion and executive officer of the 1st Marines in Korea . For " exceptionally meritorious service " he was awarded a second Legion of Merit . English returned to the United States in December 1953 and was assigned to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego once more until June 1957 . While there he was promoted to full colonel in May 1954 . In July 1957 , English became commander of the Training and Test Regiment at the Marine Corps Schools , Quantico and later commanded The Basic School for two years . In July 1961 , he completed the Army War College in Pennsylvania , and in 1962 he earned a Master ' s Degree in International Relations . He was then transferred to Washington to serve as assistant to the Director , Policy and Planning Staff , Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs . In August 1963 , English was transferred to London , England , and promoted to brigadier general , working for the Commander in Chief , U . S . Naval Forces , Eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean . He returned to the United States in January 1964 when he was assigned to Strike Command , Macdill Air Force Base , Tampa , Florida , and earned the Navy Commendation Medal for his service . English was sent to Vietnam in December 1965 and served as Assistant Division Commander , 3rd Marine Division . He commanded American forces at the Khe Sanh Marine base during the siege . English regarded Khe Sanh as " a trap " to force Westmoreland to " expend absolutely unreasonable amounts of men and material to defend a piece of terrain that wasn ' t worth a damn " . English resented the order to defend the area , and the fact that it allowed Westmoreland to place the Marine Corps under U . S . Army command . In 1966 , he commanded a task force in the five - day - long " Texas Operation " . English returned to the United States in 1967 and was promoted to Major General on the January 13 , becoming the 25th commander of the Marine Training and Replacement Center . He retired from active service in 1969 . Retirement and death . In 1972 , English became the director of the San Diego Museum of Man , serving in that capacity for ten years . In 1991 , English was diagnosed with Alzheimer ' s disease , and on September 29 , 2005 , he died at the age of 90 at the Silverado Senior Living assisted living community in San Diego , California . He is survived by his wife Eleanor R . English and three children . Military awards and decorations . Maj Gen English ' s awards include :