22 Facts About Alexander Vandegrift

Alexander Archer Vandegrift was a United States Marine Corps four-star general.

Alexander Vandegrift was the first four-star general on active duty in the Marine Corps.

Alexander Archer Vandegrift was born on March 13,1887, in Charlottesville, Virginia, where his father was an architect and contractor.

Alexander Vandegrift was of Dutch ancestry, all of which had been in North America since the 1600s.

Alexander Vandegrift attended the University of Virginia from 1906 to 1908.

Alexander Vandegrift then received his commission in the US Marine Corps through a week-long competitive examination in 1908.

Alexander Vandegrift became a second lieutenant on January 22,1909.

Alexander Vandegrift returned to Haiti again in July 1919, to serve with the Gendarmerie d'Haiti as an Inspector of Constabulary.

Major Alexander Vandegrift returned to the US in April 1923 and was assigned to the Marine Barracks, Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.

Alexander Vandegrift completed the Field Officers' Course, Marine Corps Schools, in May 1926.

Alexander Vandegrift was then transferred to the Marine Corps Base San Diego, California, as assistant chief of staff.

Alexander Vandegrift was ordered to Washington, DC, in September 1928, where he became assistant chief coordinator, Bureau of the Budget.

Brigadier General Alexander Vandegrift was ordered to the 1st Marine Division in November 1941.

In March and April 1942, Alexander Vandegrift was promoted to major general and assumed command of the First Marine Division.

In July 1943, Alexander Vandegrift commanded the 1st Marine Amphibious Corps in the landing at Empress Augusta Bay, Bougainville, in the northern Solomon Islands, on November 1,1943.

For outstanding service as Commandant of the Marine Corps from January 1,1944, to June 30,1946, General Alexander Vandegrift was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

Alexander Vandegrift was relieved as Commandant on December 31,1947, but was not formally retired and placed on the retired list until April 1,1949.

Together with Robert B Asprey, General Vandegrift co-authored a book chronicling his experiences in World War II.

General Alexander Vandegrift died on May 8,1973, at the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, after a long illness.

Alexander Vandegrift's interment was on May 10,1973, at the Arlington National Cemetery.

General Alexander Vandegrift held an honorary degree of Doctor of Military Science from Pennsylvania Military College and honorary degrees of Doctor of Law from Harvard, Colgate, Brown, Columbia, and Maryland Universities and John Marshall College.

Alexander Vandegrift was portrayed in the 1960 film The Gallant Hours by Raymond Bailey, the 2006 film Flags of Our Fathers by Chris Bauer, and briefly in episode 8 of the 2010 miniseries The Pacific by Stephen Leeder.