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Clifton B. Cates

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Parent: Battle of Iwo Jima Hop 3
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Clifton B. Cates
NameClifton B. Cates
CaptionGeneral Clifton B. Cates, 19th Commandant of the Marine Corps
Birth date31 August 1893
Death date04 June 1970
Birth placeTiptonville, Tennessee
Death placeAnnapolis, Maryland
PlaceofburialArlington National Cemetery
AllegianceUnited States
BranchUnited States Marine Corps
Serviceyears1917–1954
RankGeneral
Commands23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Corps Schools, 2nd Marine Division, Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., Commandant of the Marine Corps
BattlesWorld War I, World War II
AwardsNavy Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star (2), Legion of Merit, Purple Heart (2)

Clifton B. Cates was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps officer who served as the nineteenth Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1948 to 1951. His career spanned both World War I and World War II, where he commanded regiments and divisions in some of the Pacific War's most intense combat. Known for his tactical acumen and leadership, Cates played a pivotal role in shaping the Marine Corps during the early Cold War era.

Early life and education

Clifton Bledsoe Cates was born on August 31, 1893, in Tiptonville, Tennessee. He attended the Missouri Military Academy before receiving an appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. Cates graduated and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in June 1917, as the nation entered World War I.

World War I service

Cates was immediately deployed to France with the American Expeditionary Forces. He served with distinction as a company commander in the 6th Marine Regiment, part of the Army's 2nd Division. He saw heavy action during the Battle of Belleau Wood, the Battle of Soissons, and the Meuse-Argonne offensive. For his valor, particularly during the assault on Blanc Mont Ridge, he was awarded his first Silver Star and the French Croix de Guerre.

Interwar period

During the interwar years, Cates held a variety of command and staff posts that solidified his reputation. He served with the 4th Marines in Shanghai, attended the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, and was an instructor at the Marine Corps Schools in Quantico, Virginia. He also served as the military secretary to Commandant John H. Russell Jr., gaining crucial insight into Headquarters Marine Corps operations.

World War II service

At the outbreak of World War II, Cates commanded the 1st Marines during the Guadalcanal campaign, a pivotal battle in the Solomon Islands. He later took command of the 23rd Marine Regiment of the 4th Marine Division. He led this regiment with exceptional skill during the invasions of Kwajalein, Saipan, and Tinian. Promoted to Major General, he assumed command of the 4th Marine Division for the final, brutal assault on Iwo Jima. His leadership earned him the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and a second Silver Star.

Postwar career and Commandant of the Marine Corps

After the war, Cates commanded the Marine Corps Schools and later the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune. He served as the Commanding General of Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., before his appointment as Commandant of the Marine Corps in 1948. As Commandant, he fiercely defended the Corps' mission and structure during post-war budget cuts and the Unification Debate following the National Security Act of 1947. He advocated for the development of vertical envelopment tactics using helicopters and emphasized amphibious readiness for the Cold War.

Later life and legacy

General Cates retired from active duty in 1954 after 37 years of service. He remained active in veteran affairs, particularly with the Marine Corps Association and the Marine Corps League. He died on June 4, 1970, at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Annapolis, Maryland, and was interred at Arlington National Cemetery. His legacy is that of a quintessential combat leader whose career, from Belleau Wood to Iwo Jima, embodied the ethos of the Marine Corps. The USS Cates (APA-155) was named in his honor.

Category:United States Marine Corps generals Category:Commandants of the United States Marine Corps Category:Recipients of the Silver Star