Sgt Grit Marine Forums

Who were the 2 Marine Corps Commandants who had served in the army?

Well well well...that's a pretty darn good question.

Well Dave, "Technically" there were 3 Commandants, who served in the U.S. Army........[;)]

The two Commandants who served in the Army were: LTC William Burrows, CMC No.2 who served in the Army during the Revolutionary War before joining the Marines in 1798, GEN Leonard F. Chapman, CMC No. Served as a reserve second lieutenant in the Army, 1935-1937 before joining the Marines. Im not sure if this is what you are talking about, but "technically" the third one might be MG John A Lejeune because he attended the Army War College.

-LtCol Burrows was in the South Carolina Militia. -MG George F. Elliot was a 2 year West Point Cadet (technically U.S.A) -Gen. Randolph McC Pate was an U.S.A. Enlisted in 1918, then went to VMI, then commissioned in the USMC 1921. -Gen. David M. Shoup was an Army 2d Lt, before becoming a Marine 2d Lt. [;)]

BTW Gen Chapman was an Army ROTC cadet, but took his commission with the Marine Corps.