This Military Service Page was created/owned by
CWO2 Philip E. Montroy
to remember
Marine BGen David Brewster.
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Contact Info
Last Address Washington, D.C.
Date of Passing Jul 10, 1945
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Due to his failing health, BGen Brewster was granted a medical retirement in June 1945. The General died amonth later. He was buried with full-honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
Other Comments:
BGen Brewster is officially listed as the 6th USMC Pilot/Aviator and the 55th Naval Aviator.
Brigadier General (BGEN) David Lukens Shoemaker Brewster, United States Marine Corps, Service Number: (Unknown)
Early Life
David Lukens Shoemaker Brewster was born on 31 December 1887 in the District of Columbia. His father, Robert John Walker Deslonde-Brewster, born 28 May 1864 in the City of Paris, Île-de-France, France, died 28 November 1919 in (unknown), was an Agent for the U.S. Department of Justice. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1880. His mother, Leila Shoemaker Brewster was born on 14 July 1864 in Washington, District of Columbia and died on 20 September 1948 in Washington, District of Columbia. David’s parents were married on 19 October 1885 in the District of Columbia. David was the younger of two children in the family; he had an older sister.
In 1918 in Maryland, he married Mercer Brockenborough Taliaferro, born 31 July 1896 in Baltimore, Maryland, died 23 August 1959 in Washington, District of Columbia. They had a son who was a Major in the Marine Corps during World War II and a daughter who died at age 30.
Military
David Lukens Shoemaker Brewster joined the United States Marine Corps in 1910 and by 1917, had qualified as an airplane pilot, a dirigible pilot and a balloon pilot. During World War I, he flew anti-submarine missions in the Azores Islands and later served in Nicaragua. He served as the first Commanding Officer of the Marine Barracks at New River, now known as Marine Corps Base at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. From 1943-1944, he served with the 1st Marine Amphibious Corps in the Pacific Theater. He then was assigned as the Chief of Staff of the administrative staff of the Fleet Marine Force.
Death and Burial
David Lukens Shoemaker Brewster died on 10 July 1945 at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Washington, District of Columbia (although his wife’s obituary states he died in 1944). During his career, he was awarded the Legion of Merit for his actions in the Marianas Islands. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, Section: 6, Site: 5689 on 12 July 1945.
This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org/). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Together We Served and Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen person's name and read his/her story.
If you have any details, photos, or corrections for this story, please email me by clicking on my name. CDR Robert "Red" Mulvanny-Contributing Author, Stories Behind the Stars
The activation of the Fifth Marines dates back to June 1917, just prior to the U.S. force deployment to France during World War I. The Regiment won its nickname, the “Fighting Fifth,” on the battlefields of western Europe. So fierce were its efforts in the Battle of Belleau Wood and subsequent victories that the French government awarded the Regiment the Croix de Guerre with two palms and one gilt star. Today, each Marine serving in the Regiment also wears the Fourragere, a French unit award, on the left shoulder of his uniform to recognize the legacy and valor of his predecessors.
5th Marines and 6th Marines – 1918 Battle of Belleau Wood – Awarded the Fourragere aux couleurs de la Croix de guerre with palm leaf three times.
Briefly deactivated, the Regiment was reactivated in June 1920, to guard the delivery of the U.S. Mail against domestic bandits. While they were on the job, not one Marine was killed and not one piece of mail was lost to thieves. In March 1927, the Regiment deployed to South America and fought in support of the Nicaraguan government against rebel bands until April 1930. Shortly thereafter, the Regiment was again briefly deactivated. Troubled times and small conflicts in the Americas however, led to the Regiment’s reactivation on 1 September 1934.
After further service in the U.S. and in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Fifth Marines deployed to New Zealand in 1942 as part of the U.S. Pacific Campaign against Japan. During the course of World War II, the Regiment further distinguished itself in action at Guadalcanal, Eastern New Guinea, Peleliu and Okinawa. The post-war years found the Regiment on occupation duty in North China until May 1947, when it relocated to Guam. In August 1950, it moved to its current home, Camp Pendleton, California.
The country again called upon the Fifth Marines in August 1950, when the Regiment found itself in combat on the Pusan Perimeter in Korea. During the next three years the Regiment fought at Inchon and Seoul, the Chosin Reservoir, and on both the East Central and Western Fronts. The Fifth Marine Regiment returned to Camp Pendleton in March 1955, and remained there for the next eleven years.
In May 1966, the Fifth Marines arrived in the Republic of South Vietnam where it would remain until April 1971. Vietnam era Marines added the names Rung Sat, Chu Lai, Phu Bai, Hue, Khe Sahn, An Hoa, Tam Ky, and Da Nang to the Regiment’s long list of distinguished battle actions.
In August 1990, the nation again called on the “Fighting Fifth” – this time in support of Operation Desert Shield. On 26 January 1991, while embarked with the largest amphibious task force since World War II, Regimental Landing Team (RLT) Five, in conjunction with RLT-2, conducted heliborne and surface assaults for Exercise Sea Soldier IV in Southern Oman. On 25 February 1991, the Regiment disembarked in direct support of Operation Desert Storm and the liberation of Kuwait. Less than three months later, Fifth Marines received an executive order to conduct humanitarian assistance and relief operations in Bangladesh. The Regiment returned to Camp Pendleton on 29 June 1991.
In the decade following Operation Desert Storm, the Regiment deployed to Yellowstone National Park, the Umatilla National Forest in Oregon and Clear Creek, Idaho to combat wild fires. Simultaneously it sourced the battalion landing teams for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), or MEU (SOC).
In January of 2003, the Fifth Marines deployed to Kuwait to take part in Operation Iraqi Freedom. On 21 March, the Regiment became the first unit to cross the line of departure into Iraq as it moved to seize the Rumayllah Oilfields. During the course of the next few weeks, the Regiment repeatedly distinguished itself in combat actions as it continued the offensive to liberate Baghdad and collapse the regime of Saddam Hussein. During much of the attack north, the Regiment led the 1st Marine Division in the deepest attack in Marine Corps history.
Today, the Regiment continues to participate in exercises and contingency deployments with the 1st Marine Division, and to prepare forces for deployment with the 31st MEU (SOC). Ever ready to answer the nation’s call, the “Fighting Fifth” is recognized as the Marine Corps’ most highly decorated regiment.
