Marine Corps Base Quantico in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune

Photographed by Kevin W., November 16, 2007

1. Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune Marker

Inscription.

Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune. . (Marker on front) Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune United States Marine Corps, Major General Commanding Second Division American Expeditionary Force France, World War I 1918-1919, Major General Commandant United States Marine Corps 1920-1929. , (Marker on back, top) Commissioned and Donated by Patrick F. Taylor, Cpl, USMCR New Orleans, Louisiana. , (Marker on adjacent pedestal) John Archer Lejeune Lieutenant General, U.S. Marine Corps 1867 – 1942. 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

(Marker on front) Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune
United States Marine Corps

Major General Commanding Second Division
American Expeditionary Force
France, World War I
1918-1919

Major General Commandant
United States Marine Corps
1920-1929

(Marker on back, top) Commissioned and Donated
by
Patrick F. Taylor, Cpl, USMCR
New Orleans, Louisiana

(Marker on adjacent pedestal) John Archer Lejeune
Lieutenant General, U.S. Marine Corps
1867 – 1942
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

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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

Photographed by Kevin W., November 16, 2007

2. Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune Marker

Note also the sculptor's mark behind and below the left foot of this statue, signifying it is the sixth of six identical monuments.

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

Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune Adjacent Pedestal Marker" image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin W., November 16, 2007

3. Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune Adjacent Pedestal Marker"

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

Photographed by Kevin W., November 16, 2007

4. Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune Marker

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 2001 by Patrick F. Taylor. (Marker Number 6/6.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • War, Spanish-American • War, World I. A significant historical date for this entry is January 10, 1867.

Location. 38° 30.817′ N, 77° 18.66′ W. Marker is in Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, in Prince William County. It is on Mullen Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located adjacent to Lejeune Hall, the headquarters building of the Quantico Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3250 Catlin Ave, Quantico VA 22134, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area,

in Northern Virginia,

and in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American

Photographed by Kevin W., November 16, 2007

5. Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune Marker

South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Bicentennial Commemoration (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); John Henry Balch (approx. 0.2 miles away); Barber Fitness Center (approx. half a mile away); In Commemoration of the Secretaries' First Conference (approx. ¾ mile away); Jordan Hall (approx. 0.8 miles away); Mann Hall (approx. 0.9 miles away); Kelly Hall (approx. 0.9 miles away); H-3-7 Korea 1950 (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all

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markers in Marine Corps Base Quantico.

Regarding Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune. This is the sixth of six monuments of General Lejeune sculpted by Patrick Miller. Others are located at General Lejeune's birthplace in New Roads, Louisiana; the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; National Museum of the Marine Corps Base Triangle, Virginia; U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland; and the USS Kidd Memorial, 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 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,827 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 16, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.