New Roads in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana — The American South (West South Central)

John Archer LeJeune

Lieutenant General, U.S. Marine Corps

— 1867-1942 —

John Archer LeJeune Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cajun Scrambler, December 18, 2009

1. John Archer LeJeune Marker

Inscription.

John Archer LeJeune. Lieutenant General, U.S. Marine Corps. , During his more than forty years of service with the Marine Corps, John A. Lejeune participated in campaigns in Panama, Cuba, Mexico, France and Germany. He led the famed 2nd Division, American Expeditionary Force, during World War I with valor and distinction. His leadership of his Marines in the critical action at St. Mihiel earned him the French Legion of Honor., As Major General Commandant of the Marine Corps, he foresaw a unique mission for the Corps in amphibious expeditionary operations. By doing so, he single-handedly saved the Corps from extinction and preserved it for the service of our nation in war and peace., He was born in Pointe Coupee Parish on 10 January 1867. After attending Louisiana State University, he obtained an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Upon his graduation from the Academy in 1888, he was assigned sea duty aboard the USS Vandalia and Midshipman Lejeune began his exemplary career as a United States Marine., . 1890: Commissioned Second Lieutenant while at sea. , . 1898: Captain Lejeune excels at sea during the Spanish-American War. , . 1903: Major Lejeune and his battalion quell uprisings in Panama. , . 1910: Graduates U.S. Army War College following tour in the Philippines. , . 1919: Lieutenant Colonel Lejeune and his 2nd Provisional Brigade quell uprisings in Cuba. , . 1914: Commands the 2nd Advanced Base Regiment in Vera Cruz, Mexico. , . 1917: promoted to Brigadier General, first commander of Marine Barracks, Quantico, Va. , . 1918: World War I, France , - Commanded a brigade of the 32nd Division at Brest. , - Commanded 4th Marine Brigade following Soissons offensive. , - Promoted to Major General. , - Commander of 2nd Division, American Expeditionary Force. , - Became the first Marine officer to command a division in combat. , - Assaulted Marbeche sector during drive on St. Mihiel. , - Stormed Blanc Mont Ridge during Champagne offensive. , - Led 2nd Division triumphantly into Germany following its surrender. , . 1919: Commands Marine Barracks, Quantico, VA. for second time. , . 1920: Named Major General Commandant of the Marine Corps. , - Developed Fleet Marine Force concept. , - Established formal Marine Officers schools at Quantico, Va. , - Founded Marine Corps Association, Marine Corps Institute and Marine Corps League. , - Provided sound leadership and much needed vision for the Marine Corps at a time when efforts were underway to dissolve the service. , - Carved a unique path for the Marine Corps in amphibious operations thereby ensuring its long-term future. , . 1929: Major General Lejeune retired from active duty. , . 1929: Became Superintendent for the Virginia Military Institute, a position he held until poor health forced his resignation in 1937. , . 1942: Promoted to Lieutenant General while on retired list. , - Became first Marine to hold that rank. , - The assault against the Japanese on Guadalcanal proved his amphibious concepts and substantiated his service. , - November 20, at the age of 75, John A. Lejeune died in Baltimore, Md. , - Buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery., Today, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., not only bears the name of one of the Corps’ finest officers, but the name of one of the most able officers of American military history., Presented by Patrick F. Taylor

During his more than forty years of service with the Marine Corps, John A. Lejeune participated in campaigns in Panama, Cuba, Mexico, France and Germany. He led the famed 2nd Division, American Expeditionary Force, during World War I with valor and distinction. His leadership of his Marines in the critical action at St. Mihiel earned him the French Legion of Honor.

As Major General Commandant of the Marine Corps, he foresaw a unique mission for the Corps in amphibious expeditionary operations. By doing so, he single-handedly saved the Corps from extinction and preserved it for the service of our nation in war and peace.

He was born in Pointe Coupee Parish on 10 January 1867. After attending Louisiana State University, he obtained an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Upon his graduation from the Academy in 1888, he was assigned sea duty aboard the USS Vandalia and Midshipman Lejeune began his exemplary career as a United States Marine.

• 1890: Commissioned Second Lieutenant while at sea.
• 1898: Captain Lejeune excels at sea during the Spanish-American War.
• 1903: Major Lejeune and his battalion quell uprisings in Panama.
• 1910: Graduates U.S. Army War College following tour in the Philippines.
• 1919: Lieutenant Colonel Lejeune and his 2nd Provisional Brigade quell

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uprisings in Cuba.
• 1914: Commands the 2nd Advanced Base Regiment in Vera Cruz, Mexico.
• 1917: promoted to Brigadier General, first commander of Marine Barracks, Quantico, Va.
• 1918: World War I, France
- Commanded a brigade of the 32nd Division at Brest.
- Commanded 4th Marine Brigade following Soissons offensive.
- Promoted to Major General.
- Commander of 2nd Division, American Expeditionary Force.
- Became the first Marine officer to command a division in combat.
- Assaulted Marbeche sector during drive on St. Mihiel.
- Stormed Blanc Mont Ridge during Champagne offensive.
- Led 2nd Division triumphantly into Germany following its surrender.
• 1919: Commands Marine Barracks, Quantico, VA. for second time.
• 1920: Named Major General Commandant of the Marine Corps.
- Developed Fleet Marine Force concept.
- Established formal Marine Officers schools at Quantico, Va.
- Founded Marine Corps Association, Marine Corps Institute and Marine Corps League.
- Provided sound leadership and much needed vision for the Marine Corps at a time when efforts were underway to dissolve the service.
- Carved a unique path for the Marine Corps in amphibious operations thereby ensuring its long-term future.
•

John Archer LeJeune Statue and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cajun Scrambler, December 18, 2009

2. John Archer LeJeune Statue and Marker

1929: Major General Lejeune retired from active duty.
• 1929: Became Superintendent for the Virginia Military Institute, a position he held until poor health forced his resignation in 1937.
• 1942: Promoted to Lieutenant General while on retired list.
- Became first Marine to hold that rank.
- The assault against the Japanese on Guadalcanal proved his amphibious concepts and substantiated his service.
- November 20, at the age of 75, John A. Lejeune died in Baltimore, Md.
- Buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Today, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., not only bears the name of one of the Corps’ finest officers, but the name of one of the most able officers of American military history.

Presented by Patrick F. Taylor

Erected 2000 by Patrick F. Taylor. (Marker Number 1/6.)

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Heroes • War, World I. A significant historical date for this entry is January 10, 1867.

Location. 30° 41.62′ N, 91° 25.956′ W. Marker is in New Roads, Louisiana, in Pointe Coupee Parish. Memorial is on Court Street, 0.1 miles south of East Main Street (Louisiana Highway 413), on the left when traveling north. Located in front of Point Coupee Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: New Roads LA 70760, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Lejeune, Lejern and How to Say It (here, next to this marker); Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Catherine D. "Kitty" Kimball (a few steps from this marker); Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune (approx. 0.2 miles away); Major General Stephen C. Dabadie (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lieutenant General Russel L. Honoré (approx. 0.2 miles away); Major General Damian K. Waddell (approx. 0.2 miles away); Brigadier General William H. Hogan (approx. 0.2 miles away); Brigadier General Joseph Levy Dabadie Jr. (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Roads.

Regarding John Archer LeJeune. This is the first of six monuments of General Lejeune sculpted by Patrick Miller. Others are located at the Marine Corps Base in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia; the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia; the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; and the USS Kidd Memorial in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Others in the series that have been entered in the Historical Marker database.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 12, 2015. This page has been viewed 479 times since then and 19 times this year. Last updated on July 31, 2015. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 12, 2015. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.