Alexander Vandegrift

Alexander Archer Vandegrift (March 13, 1887 – May 8, 1973) was a highly decorated United States Marine Corps four-star general, Medal of Honor recipient, and a Commandant of the Marine Corps. During World War II, he commanded the 1st Marine Division to victory in its first ground offensive of the war, the Battle of Guadalcanal. For his actions on August 7, 1942 in the Solomon Islands, he was awarded the Navy Cross; and, for his actions from August 7 to December 9, 1942, during the Solomon Islands campaign, he received the Medal of Honor. From from January 1, 1944 to December 31, 1947, Vandegrift served as the 18th Commandant of the Marine Corps, becoming the first active-duty U.S. Marine to be promoted four-star general in April 1945.

Later in Vandegrift's tenure as Commandant of the Marine Corps, the U.S. Marines became caught up in a political struggle as the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Army Air Forces fought over roles and responsibilities in the aftermath of World War II. Proponents of disbanding the Marines in favor of the U.S. Army absorbing their mission and specialties included President Harry S. Truman and General Dwight D. Eisenhower. On May 6, 1946, Vandegrift appeared before the Senate Committee on Naval Affairs to make what became known as the "Bended Knee Speech," arguing that a dedicated marine service cannot be replaced by a conventional army. His testimony was successful in swaying enough members of the U.S. Congress, and subsequently the idea of disbanding the U.S. Marine Corps was dropped.

Vandegrift retired from active duty on April 1, 1949, by which time he had been in the Marines for 40 years. In his retirement, Vandegrift prepared and published his memoirs, Once A Marine, in 1964. He died in 1973 at the age of 85, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.