Leonard E. Rea
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Leonard Earl Rea (March 14, 1897 – May 12, 1972) was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of major general, who served as
quartermaster Quartermaster is a military term, the meaning of which depends on the country and service. In land army, armies, a quartermaster is an officer who supervises military logistics, logistics and requisitions, manages stores or barracks, and distri ...
of
I Marine Amphibious Corps The I Marine Amphibious Corps, or I MAC, was a formation of the United States Marine Corps. It was created on 1 October 1942, with most of the staff transferred from Amphibious Corps, Pacific Fleet (ACPF). It was then deployed to the South Pacific ...
during
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
. He later served as chief of the supply branch at
Headquarters Marine Corps The Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) is a headquarters staff within the Department of the Navy which includes the offices of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and various staff functions. The funct ...
.


Early career

Leonard E. Rea was born on March 14, 1897, in Auburn in New York, and, after graduation from high school, decided to enlist in the
United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...
on April 19, 1917. Following basic training, Rea was assigned to 17th Company, 1st Battalion,
5th Marine Regiment The 5th Marine Regiment (also referred to as "5th Marines") is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It is the most highly decorated regiment in the Marine Corps and falls ...
, stationed at the
Philadelphia Navy Yard The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard was the first United States Navy shipyard and was historically important for nearly two centuries. Construction of the original Philadelphia Naval Shipyard began during the American Revolution in 1776 at Front ...
. He left for
France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
almost immediately after regiment's activation and arrived in
Saint-Nazaire Saint-Nazaire (; ; ) is a Communes of France, commune in the Loire-Atlantique Departments of France, department in western France, in traditional Brittany. The town has a major harbour on the right bank of the Loire estuary, near the Atlantic Oc ...
in July 1917. Rea was promoted to the rank of corporal and decorated with the
Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal The Good Conduct Medal is one of the oldest military awards of the United States Armed Forces. The U.S. Navy's variant of the Good Conduct Medal was established in 1869, the Marine Corps version in 1896, the Coast Guard version in 1923, the Arm ...
for his enlisted service. He was sent to the trenches of the Toulon Sector near
Verdun Verdun ( , ; ; ; official name before 1970: Verdun-sur-Meuse) is a city in the Meuse (department), Meuse departments of France, department in Grand Est, northeastern France. It is an arrondissement of the department. In 843, the Treaty of V ...
in March 1918 and subsequently participated in the Battles of Belleau Wood and
Soissons Soissons () is a commune in the northern French department of Aisne, in the region of Hauts-de-France. Located on the river Aisne, about northeast of Paris, it is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital ...
. Rea received a provisional
battlefield promotion A battlefield promotion (or field promotion) is an advancement in military rank that occurs while deployed in combat. A standard field promotion is advancement from current rank to the next higher rank; a "jump-step" promotion allows the recipient ...
to second lieutenant on July 29, 1918, and was appointed a platoon commander in 1st Battalion's 66th Company. He participated in the
Battle of Saint-Mihiel The Battle of Saint-Mihiel was a major World War I battle fought from 12 to 15 September 1918, involving the American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) and 110,000 French troops under the command of General John J. Pershing of the United States again ...
in September 1918 and was appointed commander of a combat liaison group between the 5th Marine Regiment and the 5th Infantry Division on the right flank of the defensive line. Despite a rapid movement of the line, Rea led his liaison group between enemy lines and was decorated with two
Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against a ...
s. Rea led his platoon in the
Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge The Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge (3 October to 27 October 1918) occurred during World War I, northeast of Reims, in Champagne, France. The US Army's 2nd Infantry Division and the 36th Infantry Division alongside the French Fourth Army opposed ...
at the end of October 1918 and was wounded by enemy machine gun fire. Despite being unable to move without assistance, he remained in command of his platoon until ordered to the rear by his commanding officer. For his gallantry in action, he was decorated with the
Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries. *Distinguished Service Cross (Australia) *Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) *Distinguished Service Cross (U ...
and later with the
Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Naval Service's second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is equivalent to the Army ...
. After his recovery from his wounds, Rea rejoined his unit and participated in fighting in the Argonne Forest during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive at the beginning of November 1918. Following the
Armistice An armistice is a formal agreement of warring parties to stop fighting. It is not necessarily the end of a war, as it may constitute only a cessation of hostilities while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace. It is derived from t ...
, Rea served in the
Allied occupation of the Rhineland An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not an explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are call ...
until June 1919. He returned to the United States one month later and was
honorably discharged A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve. Each country's military has different types of discharge. They are generally based on whether the persons completed their training and the ...
from the Marine Corps with the rank of first lieutenant in July 1919.


World War II

Rea was ordered to
Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...
, where he was appointed assistant to the officer in charge of the supply division of the Quartermaster Department under General Seth Williams at
Headquarters Marine Corps The Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) is a headquarters staff within the Department of the Navy which includes the offices of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and various staff functions. The funct ...
. He was appointed officer in charge of the supply division in April 1942. He was later transferred to the staff of
I Marine Amphibious Corps The I Marine Amphibious Corps, or I MAC, was a formation of the United States Marine Corps. It was created on 1 October 1942, with most of the staff transferred from Amphibious Corps, Pacific Fleet (ACPF). It was then deployed to the South Pacific ...
under the command of Major General Charles D. Barrett and appointed commanding officer of Corps Supply Services. He was one of the last people who saw Barrett alive, and, after participating in the Bougainville Campaign, he was transferred back to the United States. While serving in the Pacific theater of operations, he was decorated with the Dutch Order of Orange-Nassau with Swords, Commander by the Government of the
Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...
for his service in connection with Dutch troops. On his return to the United States, Rea was assigned back to the Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C. and appointed executive officer at the Quartermaster Department. During his service in this capacity, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general on 30 April 1944. Rea served in this capacity until August 1946, when he was appointed depot quartermaster in
Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
. For his distinguished World War II service, Rea received the
Legion of Merit The Legion of Merit (LOM) is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military award of the United States Armed Forces that is given for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievemen ...
. His last service assignment came in October 1950, when he was appointed chief of the supply branch at Headquarters Marine Corps. Rea was relieved of all active duties and subsequently retired from the Marine Corps in November 1953. He was advanced to the rank of major general for having been specially commended in combat.


Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Major General Leonard E. Rea:


References

: {{DEFAULTSORT:Rea, Leonard E. 1897 births 1972 deaths People from Auburn, New York United States Marine Corps generals American military personnel of the Banana Wars United States Marine Corps World War II generals United States Marine Corps personnel of World War I United States Marine Corps Quartermaster Officers Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States) Recipients of the Silver Star Recipients of the Legion of Merit Commanders of the Order of Orange-Nassau