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Leonard F. Chapman Jr.
Leonard Fielding Chapman Jr. (November 3, 1913 – January 6, 2000) was a United States Marine Corps general who served as the 24th Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1968 to 1972. He was a World War II combat veteran, decorated for his actions in the Battle of Peleliu and the Battle of Okinawa. He retired from the Marine Corps after 37 years of service. In retirement, he served as the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Chapman was born in Key West, Florida, on November 3, 1913, and graduated from high school and had a 4.0 GPA in DeLand, Florida. In 1931, he entered the University of Florida, where he became a member of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps unit for four years, was initiated into Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, and was tapped into the Florida Blue Key leadership honorary. Upon graduation in June 1935, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.
After completing The Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Chapman served with the 1st Battalion, 10th Marines at Quantico, Virginia, from April 1936 until August 1937. In June 1938, after completing Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, he was assigned to the 10th Marines at Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California. He was promoted to first lieutenant in September 1938.
In June 1940, Chapman departed San Diego for Honolulu. There he completed Gunnery School aboard USS New Orleans before reporting to USS Astoria in July 1940 for a two-year assignment as commanding officer of the Marine detachment. He was promoted to captain in April 1941.
On board Astoria following the outbreak of World War II, Chapman took part in the early Pacific raids culminating in the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway, and earned the Navy Commendation Ribbon with Combat "V". He was promoted to major in May 1942 and returned to the United States in June.
Chapman was assigned to Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, in August 1942 as an instructor in the Artillery Course. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in May 1943, and that October was named executive officer of the Artillery Section at Marine Corps Schools.
In June 1944, Chapman again departed for combat duty, joining the 1st Marine Division in the Pacific area. He earned the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" for meritorious service as operations officer, 11th Marines, and commanding officer, 4th Battalion, 11th Marines, during combat at Peleliu in September and October 1944; and the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" as 4th Battalion commander at Okinawa, April to July 1945.
Following the war, Chapman served as secretary of the general staff, Fleet Marine Force (FMF) Pacific from September 1945 to July 1946. From August 1946 until May 1949, he was stationed at Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC), Washington, D.C., serving as executive officer, G-3 Section, Division of Plans and Policies. Ordered to Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Chapman served as coordinator, Reserve Artillery Training Unit; completed the Amphibious Warfare School, Senior Course, in June 1950; and then served as chief of the Supporting Arms Group, Marine Corps Development Center. While at Quantico, he was promoted to colonel in July 1950.
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Leonard F. Chapman Jr.
Leonard Fielding Chapman Jr. (November 3, 1913 – January 6, 2000) was a United States Marine Corps general who served as the 24th Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1968 to 1972. He was a World War II combat veteran, decorated for his actions in the Battle of Peleliu and the Battle of Okinawa. He retired from the Marine Corps after 37 years of service. In retirement, he served as the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Chapman was born in Key West, Florida, on November 3, 1913, and graduated from high school and had a 4.0 GPA in DeLand, Florida. In 1931, he entered the University of Florida, where he became a member of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps unit for four years, was initiated into Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, and was tapped into the Florida Blue Key leadership honorary. Upon graduation in June 1935, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.
After completing The Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Chapman served with the 1st Battalion, 10th Marines at Quantico, Virginia, from April 1936 until August 1937. In June 1938, after completing Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, he was assigned to the 10th Marines at Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California. He was promoted to first lieutenant in September 1938.
In June 1940, Chapman departed San Diego for Honolulu. There he completed Gunnery School aboard USS New Orleans before reporting to USS Astoria in July 1940 for a two-year assignment as commanding officer of the Marine detachment. He was promoted to captain in April 1941.
On board Astoria following the outbreak of World War II, Chapman took part in the early Pacific raids culminating in the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway, and earned the Navy Commendation Ribbon with Combat "V". He was promoted to major in May 1942 and returned to the United States in June.
Chapman was assigned to Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, in August 1942 as an instructor in the Artillery Course. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in May 1943, and that October was named executive officer of the Artillery Section at Marine Corps Schools.
In June 1944, Chapman again departed for combat duty, joining the 1st Marine Division in the Pacific area. He earned the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" for meritorious service as operations officer, 11th Marines, and commanding officer, 4th Battalion, 11th Marines, during combat at Peleliu in September and October 1944; and the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" as 4th Battalion commander at Okinawa, April to July 1945.
Following the war, Chapman served as secretary of the general staff, Fleet Marine Force (FMF) Pacific from September 1945 to July 1946. From August 1946 until May 1949, he was stationed at Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC), Washington, D.C., serving as executive officer, G-3 Section, Division of Plans and Policies. Ordered to Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Chapman served as coordinator, Reserve Artillery Training Unit; completed the Amphibious Warfare School, Senior Course, in June 1950; and then served as chief of the Supporting Arms Group, Marine Corps Development Center. While at Quantico, he was promoted to colonel in July 1950.