Knoxville in Knox County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
General Clifton Bledsoe Cates
1893-1970
— United States Marine Corps —
Photographed By Tom Bosse, December 26, 2016
1. General Clifton Bledsoe Cates Marker (Side A)
Side A
Born in Cates Landing, Tennessee, on August 31, 1893, Clifton B. Cates attended school in Tiptonville and the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri. While excelling in varsity football and baseball, he received his law degree from the University of Tennessee in 1916. His early Marine service included combat commander duties in World War I and World War II. Wounded seven times in World War I, Cares received over thirty American and foreign medals. In 1942, he led the First Marine Regiment, First Marine Division on Guadalcanal.
Side B
Major General Cates commanded the Fourth Marine Division during the conquest of Tinian and Iwo Jima in 1944. From 1948 to 1952, General Cates served as the 19th Commandant of the Marine Corps. The first Tennessean to achieve the rank of full general, he was highly commended for his military service during the Korean War. General Cates died on June 4, 1970 in Annapolis, Maryland. A Marine for thirty-seven years, his body was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 1E 111.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, Korean • War, World I
this page online
Location. 35° 57.483′ N, 83° 55.717′ W. Marker is in Knoxville, Tennessee, in Knox County. Marker is at the intersection of Cumberland Ave. and James Agee Street, on the left when traveling east on Cumberland Ave.. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Knoxville TN 37916, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. James Rufus Agee (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Byington (within shouting distance of this marker); Wait Field (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort Sanders (about 600 feet away); Desegregation of the University of Tennessee (about 700 feet away); 79th New York Infantry (Highlanders) Monument (approx. 0.2 miles away); Land Grant University (approx. 0.2 miles away); Carl Sublett (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Knoxville.
Photographed By Tom Bosse, December 26, 2016
2. General Clifton Bledsoe Cates Marker (Side B)
Photographed By Tom Bosse, December 26, 2016
3. General Clifton Bledsoe Cates Marker
Photographed By Joel Seewald, May 30, 2018
4. General Clifton Bledsoe Cates Marker
View looking northwesterly from the intersection of Cumberland Ave. and James Agee St.
5. General Clifton Bledsoe Cates
Credits. This page was last revised on September 22, 2020. It was originally submitted on March 6, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 582 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 6, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 4. submitted on June 5, 2018, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 5. submitted on March 6, 2017, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
