Near Triangle in Prince William County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune

Photographed By Kevin W., October 2, 2007

1. Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune - Front Markers

Inscription.

Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune. . (Marker on front, top) Commissioned and Donated by Patrick F. Taylor, Cpl, USMCR New Orleans, Louisiana. , (Marker on front, bottom) 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) 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, top) Commissioned and Donated
by
Patrick F. Taylor, Cpl, USMCR
New Orleans, Louisiana

(Marker on front, bottom) 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) 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

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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

Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune - Back Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Kevin W., October 2, 2007

2. Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune - Back Marker

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

Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune Monument at the National Museum of the Marine Corps image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Kevin W., October 2, 2007

3. Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune Monument at the National Museum of the Marine Corps

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 2006 by Patrick F. Taylor. (Marker Number 5/6.)

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° 32.604′ N, 77° 20.579′ W. Marker is near Triangle, Virginia, in Prince William County. Marker is located east, and on the grounds, of the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Triangle VA 22172, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Marine Corps Battle Names (a few steps from this marker); Semper Fidelis (within shouting distance of this marker);

Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune Monument image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Kevin W., October 2, 2007

4. Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune Monument

Appropriately, "Leadership" is etched in the concrete leading to this statue.

Once a Marine .... Always a Marine (within shouting distance of this marker); American Gold Star Mothers Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); The Battle of Okinawa (within shouting distance of this marker); 1st Battalion 7th Marines (within shouting distance of this marker); Joe Rosenthal 1911-2006 (within shouting distance of this marker); 7th Engineer Battalion (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Triangle.

Regarding Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune. This is the fifth 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; Marine Corps Base Quantico, 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

Photographed By Kevin W., October 2, 2007

5. Lieutenant General John Archer Lejeune Monument

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

in the series that have been entered in the Historical Marker database.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 26, 2019. It was originally submitted on October 8, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 4,698 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on October 8, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia.