Thomas Holcomb
USMC general and Commandant of the Corps (1879–1965) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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For the member of the Michigan House of Representatives, see Thomas M. Holcomb.
General Thomas Holcomb (August 5, 1879 – May 24, 1965) was a United States Marine Corps officer who served as the seventeenth Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1936 to 1943. He was the first Marine to achieve the rank of general, and was a strong supporter of racial segregation in the Marine Corps. After retiring from the Marine Corps, Holcomb served as the U.S. Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to South Africa from 1944 to 1948.[1] One of his ancestors was Joshua Barney, a naval hero of the War of 1812.[2]
Quick Facts Born, Died ...
Thomas Holcomb | |
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Born | (1879-08-05)August 5, 1879 New Castle, Delaware, U.S. |
Died | May 24, 1965(1965-05-24) (aged 85) New Castle, Delaware, U.S. |
Buried | |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/ | Marine Corps |
Years of service | 1900–1944 |
Rank | General |
Commands held | 2nd Battalion 6th Marines Marine Corps Schools Commandant of the Marine Corps |
Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
Awards | Navy Cross Navy Distinguished Service Medal Silver Star (4) Purple Heart Legion of Honor Croix de Guerre |
Relations | BGen Bankson T. Holcomb Jr. (cousin) |
Other work | Minister to South Africa |
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