Joseph Henry Pendleton Major General Joseph Henry Pendleton ( June 2 , 1860 – February 4 , 1942 ) was a United States Marine Corps general for whom Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is named . Pendleton served in the Marine Corps for over 40 years . Biography . Joseph Henry Pendleton was born on June 2 , 1860 in Rochester , Pennsylvania which is today a suburb of Pittsburgh , to Joseph Rhodes Pendleton and Martha Jane Cross . He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1878 . He graduated from the Naval Academy and was appointed a second lieutenant on July 1 , 1884 . Early Marine Corps career . His first duty was performed at the Marine Barracks , Brooklyn Navy Yard where he served from August 31 , 1884 to February 7 , 1885 . From here Second Lieutenant Pendleton went to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth , New Hampshire , and joined the USS " Pensacola " on March 20 , 1885 . On March 6 , 1888 , Lieutenant Pendleton reported to the Marine Barracks , Brooklyn Navy Yard . His next duty was at the Marine Barracks , Mare Island Naval Shipyard , California , where he served from May 24 , 1889 to May 12 , 1892 , but between June 21 and October 14 , 1891 , he was on temporary detached duty on board the AL - KI , cruising the Bering Sea . First Lieutenant Pendleton served at the Marine Barracks , Sitka , Alaska , from June 5 , 1892 to June 28 , 1894 and also from November 3 , 1899 to March 21 , 1904 . On June 28 , 1891 , Pendleton was promoted to the grade of first lieutenant . During the period intervening between these two tours of duty in Alaska , Lieutenant Pendleton served at Marine Barracks Washington Navy Yard , New York , Annapolis , and on board the USS " Yankee " . First Lieutenant Pendleton was promoted to captain on March 3 , 1899 and to major on March 3 , 1903 . After being detached from the Marine Barracks , Sitka , Alaska , on March 21 , 1904 , Major Pendleton reported to the Marine Barracks , Mare Island , California , on April 2 , 1904 . On May 28 , 1904 , he joined the First Brigade of Marines in the Philippines and on April 7 , 1905 . reported to Olongapo City , where he served until January 27 , 1906 . From February 5 , to July 26 , 1906 , Major Pendleton commanded the Marines on the Island of Guam . From September 29 , 1906 to September 20 , 1909 , Major Pendleton commanded the Marine Barracks at Navy Yard Puget Sound , Bremerton , Washington . Service in Cuba and the Philippines . On January 1 , 1908 , Major Pendleton was promoted to the grade of lieutenant colonel . Lieutenant Colonel Pendleton joined the First Brigade of Marines in the Philippines for his second tour of duty there , on November 4 , 1902 . He performed duty as the Commanding Officer of the First Brigade and the Post Commander , and Commanding Officer of the First Brigade and the Post Commander , and Commanding Officer of the First Regiment , at Olongapo City . On May 23 , 1911 , Lieutenant Colonel Pendleton was promoted to the grade of colonel . Service in Nicaragua and Cuba , 1912 – 1913 . He was detached from the Philippine Islands on May 6 , 1912 and returned to the United States via the Suez Canal and Europe , reporting to the Marine Barracks Portsmouth , New Hampshire , on August 1 , 1912 . Colonel Pendleton was detached on temporary foreign shore service from August 23 , 1912 , until December 16 , 1912 . This foreign service covered the period of the 1912 operations in Nicaragua . Colonel Pendleton was in command of the Marines during this campaign in the skirmishes at Massaya and Chichigalpa , and the capture of Coyotepe and Leon . From February 19 , to June 1 , 1913 , Colonel Pendleton was absent with an expeditionary force at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base , Cuba . On August 20 , 1913 , he was detached from the Marine Barracks at Portsmouth . From September 13 , 1913 to December 19 , 1914 , Colonel Pendleton was in command of the Marine Barracks at Puget Sound , Washington , and was absent on expeditionary duty for a good part of this period . Service in San Diego . He was absent in command of the Fourth Regiment from April 17 , to December 19 , 1914 , on board the USS " South Dakota " , and at Camp Howard , North Island , San Diego . From December 19 , 1914 to February 3 , 1916 , Colonel Pendleton was in command of the Fourth Regiment at San Diego , part of the time being absent on expeditionary duty and temporary sea duty with the Pacific Fleet . From February 3 , to December 31 , 1916 , Colonel Pendleton was in command of the Marine Barracks at San Diego , but from June 6 , to December 31 , 1916 , he was absent on expeditionary duty in command of the Fourth Regiment . He was placed in command of all Naval Forces ashore in Santo Domingo on June 19 , 1916 as part of the occupation of the Dominican Republic . Colonel Pendleton was promoted to Brigadier General on August 29 , 1916 . The Navy Cross was awarded to Brigadier General Pendleton for " exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility June 18 to 31 December 1916 , as Commanding Officer of the Second Provisional Brigade of Marines in support of the Government of Santo Domingo ; for the wise and successful administration of important offices in the Government entrusted to his charge ; and in general , for unfailing efforts to promote good order and material prosperity throughout the Dominican Republic , " according to the Military Times . On November 22 , 1916 , Brigadier General Pendleton was detailed to command the Second Provisional Brigade in Santo Domingo , and on December 31 , 1916 was detached from the Marine Barracks , San Diego , and assigned to permanent duty in Santo Domingo . Brigadier General Pendleton was acting Military Governor of Santo Domingo from October 29 , to November 29 , 1917 , and on March 18 , 1918 was designated Military Governor of Santo Domingo , temporarily in the absence of the Military Governor . He was detached from Santo Domingo on October 21 , 1918 and reported to Headquarters , Marine Corps , Washington , D . C . on October 28 , 1918 . From November 11 , 1918 to September 25 , 1919 , Brigadier General Pendleton commanded the Marine Barracks at Parris Island , South Carolina , and on October 1 , 1919 , joined the Second Advanced Base Force at San Diego , as its Commanding General . From October 1 , to November 7 , 1921 , General Pendleton was in command of the Department of the Pacific at San Francisco . Upon the establishment of the Fifth Brigade of Marines on October 4 , 1921 , General Pendleton was assigned to that organization as the commanding officer . In addition to these duties he was assigned the additional duty as Commanding General Department of the Pacific in the absence of General Barnett , from May 13 , 1922 to September 2 , 1922 . Pendleton was promoted to Major General on December 10 , 1923 . From February 9 , to March 29 , 1924 , General Pendleton was on duty inspecting Marine Corps stations and organizations in Central America and West Indies . After this inspection trip , he was on a short tour of duty at Headquarters Marine Corps and on May 12 , 1924 , he resumed duties at San Diego , as Commanding Officer of the Fifth Brigade Marines . Retirement . On June 2 , 1924 , at the age of 64 , Pendleton retired after 40 years of service in the Marine Corps . He settled in Coronado , California and served as mayor from 1928 to 1930 . He died on February 4 , 1942 , at his home at age 81 . Awards and honors . Pendleton ' s awards include the Navy Cross and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal . The following were named for Pendleton :