This Military Service Page was created/owned by
CWO2 Philip E. Montroy
to remember
Marine Gen Wallace Greene, Jr..
If you knew or served with this Marine and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Waterbury
Last Address Alexandria, VA
Date of Passing Mar 08, 2003
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Gen. Greene retired as the 23d Commandant of the Marine Corps on Dec. 31, 1967. During his retirement he would go on to be a founding member of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation in 1979.
In addition to the awards shown, Gen. Greene was also awarded the Order of Service Merit, First Class and the Order of theSouthern Cross, Grand Officer.
Other Comments:
Gen. Greene was the Commandant when I enlisted in the USMC in 1965. Upon my return from Vietnam in 1967 I was assigned to HqBn, HQMC (Henderson Hall & Naval Security Station, WashDC). In 1967 I saw Gen. Greene a number of times in the Naval Annex area in Arlington. What first "jumped out at you" was how short Gen. Greene was. BUT, his ribbons spoke loud for his dedication, professionalism and experience as a true Marine Corps Officer.
Description Operation Flintlock was the campaign against the Japanese in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific theatre of World War II, from 31 January to 4 February 1944. The operation involved the invasions of Kwajalein, Eniwetok, and Majuro atolls. Admiral Nimitz, Commander of the U. S. Pacific Fleet, chose two islands in Kwajalein Atoll, Roi-Namur Island and Kwajalein Island, as primary targets in the U. S. invasion of the Marshall Islands. Kwajalein Atoll contained communication and weather observation units and two Japanese airstrips on Roi-Namur and Kwajalein Islands, a seaplane base situated at Ebeye Island, a submarine base at Roi-Namur Island, and other Japanese installations scattered on various islands throughout Kwajalein atoll. Kwajalein atoll, particularly Roi-Namur and Kwajalein Islands, were subjected to heavy bombardment. This attack also sank a large number of Japanese ships in Kwajalein Lagoon. Bitter fighting between Japanese forces and the U. S. 4th Marine Division on Roi-Namur, and the U. S. 7th Infantry Division on Kwajalein, resulted in a U. S. victory on 4 February 1944. The attack of the Japanese in the Marshall Islands was the first US attack, and capture, of Japanese territory, since the land was held by Japan before the start of World War II. The capture of Kwajalein Atoll during Operation Flintlock provided American forces with a base of operations that assured the recapture of the Philippines and eventually the fall of Japan.