This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Cpl David R. Evans (D.R.)
to remember
Marine MGen Jonas Mansfield Platt (Joe).
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
Last Address Brooklyn
Date of Passing Jul 28, 2000
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
Major General Jonas M. Platt, decorated veteran of three wars, died on July 28, 2000 at the age of 80. For meritorious service as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, from March 1968 through June 1970, his final assignment, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.
Other Comments:
Born September 21, 1919 in Brooklyn, New York, he graduated from high school in Cranston, Rhode Island. He attended Norwich University in Vermont, graduating in 1940 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, and was commissioned a Marine second lieutenant in June 1940.
While serving in the Marine Detachment aboard the battleship USS Washington during World War II, he rose from lieutenant to major, participating in Russian convoy operations in the Norwegian Sea, and six operations in the Pacific, including Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and Kwajalein. In 1944, after four months in the United States, he returned to the Pacific area. As a member of the 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, he participated in the assault landings on Peleliu and Okinawa, earning the Navy Commendation and Bronze Star Medals, both with Combat V, and the Purple Heart.
Following the war, he organized and commanded the Provisional Marine Guard at United Nations Headquarters in New York. He later served at Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., earned a Master's degree in Psychology at Ohio State University in 1949; and taught infantry tactics and instructional techniques at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, until December 1952.
During the Korean Conflict, he earned the Legion of Merit with Combat V as Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, and Assistant G-3, 1st Marine Division.
During subsequent assignments, he served again at Headquarters Marine Corps; was assigned to a joint staff in London; served briefly in the Mediterranean during the Suez crisis in 1956; and from 1958-60 commanded the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. - the oldest Post in the Corps.
Upon graduation from the National War College in 1961, he was assigned as Regimental Commander, 6th Marines, followed by duty as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 2d Marine Division. During his period the Division deployed for the Cuban Crisis in October 1962.
From 1963 to 1965, he served as Commanding Officer of The Basic School, Quantico, which trains the Marine Corps new second lieutenants.
General Platt was promoted to brigadier general on November 1, 1965, while en route to Vietnam. Upon his arrival, he became Assistant Division Commander, 3d Marine Division, at Chu Lai. While serving with the Division, he commanded Task Force Delta in operations Harvest Moon, Double Eagle I, Double Eagle II and Utah. In March 1966, he moved to Danang and became Chief of Staff for Lieutenant General Walt - commander of the Marine Forces in Vietnam.
While serving in Vietnam, he was awarded three United States decorations - the Silver Star Medal, and a second and third Legion of Merit with Combat V. He was also awarded three decorations by the Government of Vietnam - the National Order of Vietnam, and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses with Palm.
Detached in December 1966, General Platt reported to Headquarters Marine Corps in January 1967, and was assigned duty as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1. He was promoted to major general on March 19, 1968. He retired from active duty on June 30, 1970.
A complete list of his medals and decorations includes: the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Gold Stars in lieu of second and third awards, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat V, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V, the Purple Heart Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation with two bronze stars, the Navy Unit Commendation, the American Defense Service Medal with Fleet clasp, the American Defense Service Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one bronze star, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver star and three bronze stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the China Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, the Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars, the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars, the United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Vietnamese National Order, two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Western Pacific Campaign (1944-45)/Battle of Peleliu
From Month/Year
September / 1944
To Month/Year
October / 1944
Description The Battle of Peleliu, codenamed Operation Stalemate II, was fought between the United States and the Empire of Japan in the Pacific Theater of World War II, from September–November 1944 on the island of Peleliu, present-day Palau. U.S. Marines of the First Marine Division and later soldiers of the U.S. Army's 81st Infantry Division, fought to capture an airstrip on the small coral island. This battle was part of a larger offensive campaign known as Operation Forager which ran from June–November 1944 in the Pacific Theater of Operations.
Major General William Rupertus, USMC—commander of 1st Marine Division—predicted the island would be secured within four days. However, due to Japan's well-crafted fortifications and stiff resistance, the battle lasted over two months. In the United States, it was a controversial battle because of the island's questionable strategic value and the high casualty rate, which exceeded all other amphibious operations during the Pacific War. The National Museum of the Marine Corps called it "the bitterest battle of the war for the Marines".
