Albertus W . Catlin Brigadier General Albertus Wright Catlin of the United States Marine Corps ( December 1 , 1868 – May 31 , 1933 ) after commanding the 3rd Regiment at Veracruz , Mexico , in 1914 , was issued a commendatory letter by the Secretary of the Navy for courage and skill in leading his command . Later , he received the Medal of Honor for bravery in action . Biography . Born December 1 , 1868 , in Gowanda , New York , Catlin was appointed to the U . S . Naval Academy in May 1886 . He captained the football team at Annapolis and played left halfback for three years . He graduated with the Class of 1890 . As service in the U . S . Marine Corps seemed to offer the best chance of active service , he applied for a commission in the Corps and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on July 1 , 1892 , after serving two years at sea . After serving at various posts and stations in the United States and on board ships of the Navy , he saw action in the Spanish American War as commanding officer of the Marine detachment aboard , when the ship was destroyed in Havana Harbor in February 1898 . While serving in Cuba in 1911 , he commanded a battalion of the 1st Regiment at Guantanamo Bay . He then commanded the 3rd Regiment at Vera Cruz , where he received the Medal of Honor for bravery . Colonel Catlin graduated from the U . S . Army War College one month after the outbreak of World War I . Subsequently , he was placed in charge of the Marine training camp at Quantico , Virginia . In October 1917 , Catlin was sent to France as commanding officer of the 6th Marines . From June 1 – 6 , 1918 , the 6th Regiment saw action in the front lines from Paris - Metz Road through Lucy le Bocage to Hill 142 . On the June 6 , 1918 , with his regiment attacking Bois de Belleau , he was wounded in the chest by a sniper and evacuated to a hospital the next day . Upon returning to the United States , Colonel Catlin served at Headquarters Marine Corps and was appointed brigadier general on August 30 , 1918 . Following his tour at Headquarters , he was assigned to the Marine Barracks at Quantico , and in November 1918 , he sailed for Haiti where he assumed command of the First Brigade of Marines until September 1919 . In December 1919 , Brigadier General Catlin retired from the Marine Corps . As a result of his wound , he was in ill health until his death in Culpeper , Virginia , on May 31 , 1933 . Brigadier General Catlin is buried in Arlington National Cemetery . His wife , Martha Ellen Catlin ( 1880 – 1937 ) is buried with him . In addition to the Medal of Honor , Catlin was awarded two Croix de Guerre , one with palms and one with gilt star for gallantry in action against the enemy at Belleau Wood . He was also made an Officer of the Legion of Honor for his services in the same sector . Later the SS " George Washington " was renamed the " USS Catlin " ( AP - 19 ) during World War II . Soon after his return from France , he summarized his war experiences in a book called " With the Help of God and a Few Marines " [ published by Battery Press , 1919 ( First Edition ) , ISBN 0 - 89839 - 327 - 2 ] . On December 1 , 2006 , RDML Harry Harris Jr . , CAPT Mark Leary , and Marine Maj . George Nunez , unveiled a monument dedicating Quarters M101 Guantanamo Bay to the memory of Catlin . From that day forward , the flag quarters at Marine Site will be known as Catlin House . Medal of Honor citation . CATLIN , Albertus Wright Major , U . S . Marine Corps G . O . Navy Department , No . 177 December 4 , 1915 Citation : For distinguished conduct in battle , engagement of VERA CRUZ , April 22nd , 1914 . Was eminent and conspicuous in command of his battalion . He exhibited courage and skill in leading his men through the action of the 22nd and in the final occupation of the city .