John Marston (USMC)

John Marston VI
Born	(1884-08-03)August 3, 1884 Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Died	November 25, 1957(1957-11-25) (aged 73) Lexington, Virginia
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1908 - 1946
Rank	Major General
Commands	Camp Lejeune 2nd Marine Division 1st Provisional Marine Brigade China Marines
Battles / wars	Veracruz Expedition World War I Haitian Campaign Nicaraguan Campaign World War II Occupation of Iceland Guadalcanal Campaign
Relations	RADM John Marston III (Great-Grandfather) LTCOL John Marston VII (Son)

John Marston VI (August 3, 1884 - November 25, 1957) was an officer in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of Major General, who is most noted as Commanding General of 1st Provisional Marine Brigade during the Occupation of Iceland and later as Commanding General of 2nd Marine Division at Guadalcanal.

Early life

John Marston VI was born on August 3, 1884 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania to a family with long military tradition. His great-great-great-grandfather John Marston I (1715-1786) was a Captain within 3rd Massachusetts Bay Artillery and participated in Siege of Louisburg within War of the Austrian Succession. Marston's great-great-grandfather John Marston II (1756-1846) served as Major in Massachusetts Militia during the American Revolutionary War and his great-grandfather was John Marston III, future Rear Admiral, who commanded the Steam frigate USS Roanoke during Battle of Hampton Roads in American Civil War.

Only Marston's father, John Marston V, didn't serve in the military and worked as Chief Engineer in Williamsport and North Branch Railroad Company. Marston VI attended the University of Pennsylvania as his father did and graduated in June 1904. However Marston chose to served to his country as his ancestors did and entered Marine Corps on June 4, 1908. Because of his University education, he was appointed Second lieutenant on the same date.

After his appoitment to the Corps, Marston attended Marine School of Aplication then in Washington, D.C. and after graduation in January 1909 he sailed for shore duty to Hawaii, where he served at Marine Barracks in Honolulu until October. Marston was subsequently transferred to the Portsmouth Naval Prison, Maine, where he served within Marine Barracks there until May 1912. During his times here, he was also promoted to the rank of First lieutenant in March 1911.

Marston was subsequently assigned to the Marine Detachment aboard battleship USS Michigan and remained there until he was transferred to the Marine Barracks at Philadelphia Navy Yard. While stationed there, he was assigned to the Advanced Base Force within the 1st Brigade of Marines and sailed for Veracruz, Mexico in April 1914. He subsequently served with occupation forces until the summer 1915.

However during August 1915, Marston was sent to Haiti within Garde d'Haïti and participated in the Battle of Fort Rivière. During the battle, Marston commanded small detachment of Benét–Mercié machine guns and cover advance of Major Smedley Butler and his men. He subsequently served on Haiti until August 1918, when he returned back to the Unites States. While served on Haiti, Marston was promoted to Captain on August 29, 1916.

Interwar period

After his return back to the States, he was appointed Commanding Officer of Marine Detachment within Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. Following two years of service there, Marston was promoted to the rank of Major on July 22, 1920 and transferred to the Marine Barracks Quantico, Virginia.

World War II

Wake Island Premiere, San Diego, August 24, 1942. L to R: Actor Brian Donlevy, Mrs. Venepha P. Hermle, Major General John Marston, Colonel Leo D. Hermle, Major Raymond W. Hanson.

With the increasing threat of German occupation of Iceland in May 1940, British Government sent Royal Marines under the command of Colonel Robert Sturges, to prevent Germans to occupy strategic island in Atlantic Ocean. Because of critical need of troops on the other battlefields, Great Britain requested United States to occupy Iceland in June 1941, which was approved. The 1st Provisional Marine Brigade was reactivated under the command of Brigadier general Marston in San Diego area and sailed for Iceland. Marston arrived there at the beginning of July 1941 and remained there for next six months.

With the Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, 1st Provisional Marine Brigade was ordered back to the United States and finally disbanded in January 1942. Its units were transferred to 2nd Marine Division and Marston was appointed its Commanding General on April 15, 1942. In this capacity, he succeeded Brigadier general Joseph C. Fegan. Marston was also promoted to the rank of Major general on March 20, 1942.

The 2nd Division was ordered to Pacific theater, arriving on American Samoa in September 1942. The Division subsequently participated in Battle of Guadalcanal, but Marston personally was ordered to stayed in New Zealand. The main reason for this order was to maintain a good relationship with the United States Army, because Guadalcanal Campaign should be an Army operation and General Marston was in fact superior to Commander of XIV Corps, Major general Alexander Patch. He relinquished his Command to his Assistant Division Commander, Brigadier General Alphonse DeCarre and after few months in Pacific, Marston was ordered back to the United States in April 1943.

After his arrival, he was diagnosed with Malaria and sent to Naval Hospital San Diego for treatment. Following his recovery, Marston was appointed Commander of Marine Activities in San Diego area with Headquarters at Camp Elliott. During the August 1943, he was appointed Commanding general of Department of Pacific and succeded Major general William P. Upshur in this capacity, who was killed in Air crash near Sitka, Alaska.

Marston served in this capacity until 20 April 1944, when he was appointed Commanding General of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He remained in this capacity for the rest of War and finally retired from the Marine Corps in 1946.

After his retirement, Marston lived in Lexington, Virginia and died on November 25, 1957. He is buried at local Stonewall Jackson Memorial Cemetery together with his wife, Elizabeth Worthington Marston (1889-1961). They had together one son, John Marston VII (1917-1978), who also served in the Marine Corps and was decorated with Silver Star while served with 6th Marine Division on Okinawa. Marston VII retired as Lieutenant Colonel.

Decorations

Here is the list of Major General Marston's decorations. It is not clear, if general Marston received any decorations for merit during World War II.

1st Row	Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal with two stars						Mexican Service Medal
2nd Row	Haitian Campaign Medal			World War I Victory Medal with West Indies clasp			Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal			China Service Medal
3rd Row	American Defense Service Medal			European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal			American Campaign Medal			Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
4th Row	World War II Victory Medal			Nicaraguan Presidential Medal of Merit with Diploma			Nicaraguan Cross of Valor			Nicaraguan Medal for Merit