Department of the Pacific (USMC)

Department of the Pacific (MarPac) was a United States Marine Corps ground training and administrative command established on November 15, 1920, which was responsible for the administration, training and equipment of the Marine Corps Units on the West Coast, 14th Naval District (Hawaii and outlying Pacific islands), 16th Naval District (the Philippines), 17th Naval District (Alaska and Aleutian Islands) and Marine Forces in Northern China (China Marines).[1]

Department of the Pacific
Active	November 15, 1920 – July 1, 1960
Country	United States of America
Allegiance	United States
Branch	United States Marine Corps
Role	Training and Administration
Part of	Fleet Marine Force, Pacific
Garrison/HQ	San Francisco
Engagements	Banana Wars World War II Korean War

History

The Department of the Pacific was activated as Marine Corps subheadquarters on November 15, 1920 in San Francisco with former Commandant of the Marines, Major general George Barnett, in command. During the World War II, the staff and administrative units consisted of: Headquarters Company, Office of the Paymaster, Personnel Section (G-1), Intelligence Section (G-2), Operations Section (G-3) and Supply Section (G-4). Department of the Pacific administered all marine units and activities on the West Coast of the United States include Supply depots in San Francisco.[1]

Following the end of War, responsibilities of Department of the Pacific were expanded to administration of all non Fleet Marine Force units in the Pacific Ocean Area. Department of the Pacific was deactivated on July 1, 1960 and its responsibilities were transferred to Fleet Marine Force Pacific and Headquarters Marine Corps.[1]

Commanding generals

#	Photo	Name	Rank	Start of tenure	End of tenure	Retired rank	Notes	References
1		George Barnett	Major general	November 15, 1920	August 11, 1923	Major General	Served as the 12th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps between 1914 and 1920
2		Wendell C. Neville	Major general	August 12, 1923	May 15, 1927	Major General	Medal of Honor recipient and 14th Commandant of the Marine Corps between 1929 and 1930.
3		Eli K. Cole	Major general	July 2, 1927	July 4, 1929	Major General	Navy Cross recipient and 1st Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps between 1911 and 1915.
4		Logan Feland	Major general	July 19, 1929	February 25, 1933	Major General	Distinguished Service Cross recipient and veteran of World War I and Banana Wars.
5		John T. Myers	Major general	March 5, 1933	January 29, 1935	Lieutenant General	Marine Corps Brevet Medal recipient and veteran of Boxer Rebellion and Banana Wars.
6		James C. Breckinridge	Major general	January 30, 1935	May 23, 1937	Lieutenant General	Navy Cross recipient and veteran of World War I and Banana Wars.
7		Douglas C. McDougal	Brigadier general	May 24, 1937	June 30, 1937	Major General	Veteran of Banana Wars and 10th Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps between 1934 and 1935.
8		Charles H. Lyman	Major general	July 2, 1937	July 31, 1939	Major General	Veteran of Banana Wars, father of late Rear admiral Charles H. Lyman, III.
9		Richard P. Williams	Brigadier general	September 20, 1939	January 31, 1940	Brigadier General	Navy Distinguished Service Medal recipient and veteran of Banana Wars.
10		Charles F. B. Price	Brigadier general	February 15, 1941	November 1, 1941	Lieutenant General	Navy Distinguished Service Medal recipient and veteran of Banana Wars.
11		William P. Upshur	Major general	January 1, 1942	July 21, 1943	Major General	Medal of Honor recipient, died in Air Crash while in the Office.
12		John Marston	Major general	August 1, 1943	April 20, 1944	Brigadier General	Previously commanded the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade during the Occupation of Iceland and 2nd Marine Division at Guadalcanal.	[2]
13		Joseph C. Fegan	Major general	May 1, 1944	December 2, 1944	Major General	Veteran of Banana Wars and father of late Lieutenant general Joseph C. Fegan Jr.
14		Julian C. Smith	Major general	December 3, 1944	February 1, 1946	Lieutenant General	Navy Cross recipient and previously commanded 2nd Marine Division at Tarawa and Peleliu.	[3]
15		Earl C. Long	Major general	February 1, 1946	May 17, 1946	Major General	Veteran of Banana Wars, previously commanded the Service Command, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
16		Henry L. Larsen	Major general	May 18, 1946	September 1946	Lieutenant General	Two awards of Navy Cross, Veteran of World War I and Banana Wars, the second Military Governor of Guam.	[4]
17		Keller E. Rockey	Major general	September 1946	January 1, 1947	Lieutenant General	Distinguished Service Cross recipient and two awards of Navy Cross, Veteran of World War I and Banana Wars.	[5]
18		LeRoy P. Hunt	Major general	January 1, 1947	July 1, 1949	General	Distinguished Service Cross and Navy Cross recipient, Veteran of World War I and Banana Wars.	[6][7]
19		Keller E. Rockey	Major general	July 1, 1949	September 1, 1950	Lieutenant General	Distinguished Service Cross recipient and two awards of Navy Cross, Veteran of World War I and Banana Wars.	[5]
20		Graves B. Erskine	Major general	December 1950	July 1951	Lieutenant General	Veteran of World War I and Banana Wars, later served with Department of Defense.
21		Alfred H. Noble	Major general	July 1951	August 1952	General	Distinguished Service Cross and Navy Cross recipient, Veteran of World War I and Banana Wars. Later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic.
22		Ray A. Robinson	Major general	August 1952	June 1953	General	Veteran of Yangtze Patrol and Banana Wars. Later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic.
23		Henry D. Linscott	Major general	June 1953	September 30, 1955	Lieutenant General	Veteran of World War I, Banana Wars and Pacific War. Later commanded Camp Lejeune.
24		Robert H. Pepper	Major general	September 30, 1955	May 1, 1957	Lieutenant General	Veteran of Guadalcanal Campaign. Later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
25		George F. Good Jr.	Major general	May 1, 1957	July 1958	Lieutenant General	Veteran of Banana Wars and Pacific War. Two awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V".	[8]
26		James P. Berkeley	Major general	July 1958	November 1959	Lieutenant General	Veteran of Banana Wars and Pacific War. Later commanded Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic. A son of Major general Randolph C. Berkeley.	[9]
27		Francis M. McAlister	Major general	January 1960	July 1, 1960	Major General	Veteran of Banana Wars, Pacific War and Korean War. Silver Star and three awards of Legion of Merit with Combat "V".	[10]

See also

• Marine Air, West Coast
• Fleet Marine Force Pacific

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

1. Rottman, Gordon (2001). U.S. Marine Corps World War II Order of Battle: Ground and Air Units in the Pacific War, 1939–1945. Greenwood. p. 608. ISBN 0313319065. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
2. "Marine Corps Chevron, Volume 2, Number 35, 4 September 1943". historicperiodicals.princeton.edu. Princeton University Library Websites. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
3. "Marine Corps Chevron, Volume 3, Number 48, 2 December 1944". historicperiodicals.princeton.edu. Princeton University Library Websites. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
4. "Marine Corps Chevron, Volume 5, Number 18, 17 May 1946". historicperiodicals.princeton.edu. Princeton University Library Websites. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
5. "Marine Corps Chevron, Volume 5, Number 37, 11 October 1946". historicperiodicals.princeton.edu. Princeton University Library Websites. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
6. Budge, Kent G. "The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia: Hunt, LeRoy P."
7. "General LeRoy P. Hunt – Who is Who in the Marine Corps History". Marine Corps University.
8. "Fortitudine 21, Part 2 – Mentioned in Passing" (PDF). marines.mil. Marines Websites. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
9. "Fortitudine 25, Part 1" (PDF). marines.mil. Militarytimes Websites. Retrieved November 20, 2017.
10. "Francis M. McAlister Papers". USMC Military History Division. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved 2017-11-20.