This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Greg McCourt-Historian
to remember
Marine LtGen Richard Mangrum.
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Contact Info
Last Address Seattle
Date of Passing Sep 28, 1985
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
On October 1, 1965, General Mangrum succeeded to the title "Gray Eagle" of Naval Aviation, and is the first Marine Aviator to attain this distinction. The "Gray Eagle" is the earliest designated aviator on active duty in the Navy and Marine Corps. General Mangrum was designated a Naval Aviator in August 1929.
***At present I do not know LtGen Mangrum's rank for each assignment, so I will enter last known rank. I'll be as accurate as possible.***
Other Comments:
Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Richard C. Mangrum (0-4412), Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession Leader and as a Pilot in Marine Scout-Bombing Squadron TWO HUNDRED THIRTY-TWO (VMSB-232), Marine Air Group TWENTY-THREE (MAG-23), FIRST Marine Aircraft Wing, in aerial combat with enemy Japanese forces in the Solomon Islands Area from 20 August 1942 to 15 September 1942. Commanding a Navy and Marine Corps striking force of sixteen planes, Lieutenant Colonel Mangrum intercepted and attacked an enemy task force of surface craft which was planning to attack our beachhead on Guadalcanal. Striking with lightening-like precision, his planes dropped all their bombs before the enemy surface craft could initiate evasive action, making a direct hit on the largest transport, blasting men and debris into the water, and setting the ship on fire. After a cruiser was also hit and left burning, later to disappear, the Japanese were forced to withdraw and abandon their mission. Lieutenant Colonel Mangrum's high quality of leadership and the aggressive spirit of his command in action contributed in large measure to the success achieved by our forces and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. Approved by the Secretary of the Navy on January 16, 1943 Born: at Seattle, Washington Home Town: Seattle, Washington
Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic (FMFLANT) is an American maritime landing force that is spread across the Atlantic Ocean and reports to the United States Atlantic Command. It is headquartered at Naval Station Norfolk and directs and commands all the subordinate elements of the Navy Expeditionary Strike Force and Marine Air-Ground Task Force components that follow under the 2nd (Disestablished and merged with US Fleet Forces Command on 30 September 2011), 4th, and 6th Fleet and the Marine Forces Command (MarForCom). The Commanding General of Marine Forces Command is dual-posted as the Commanding General of the Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic. FMFLANT is under operational control of the Commander-in-Chief, United States Fleet Forces Command, when deployed.
Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command (COMMARFORCOM), headquartered at the Naval Support Activity Center in Norfolk, Virginia, commands service retained-operating forces; executes force sourcing and synchronization to affect force generation actions in the provisioning of joint capable Marine Corps forces, and directs deployment planning and execution of service retained-operating forces in support of Combatant Commander (CCDR) and service requirements; serves as Commanding General, Fleet Marine Forces Atlantic (CG FMFLANT) and commands embarked Marine Corps forces; coordinates Marine Corps-Navy integration of operational initiatives and advises CDR U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF) on support to Marine Corps forces assigned to naval ships, bases, and installations; conducts Service directed operational tasks as required.
As COMMARFORCOM, commands Service retained-operational forces. As CG FMFLANT, commands Service retained-operational forces embarked aboard Naval shipping.
Status and Command Relationships. MARFORCOM is a Service retained component headquarters with the following command relationships.
COMMARFORCOM reports to the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC).
COMMARFORCOM commands and exercises administrative control (ADCON) of the following subordinate commands:
II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF)
Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group (MCSCG)
Marine Corps Security Force Regiment (MCSFR)
Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF)