Alexander Vandegrift

Alexander Vandegrift
Alexander Vandegrift
	18th Commandant of the Marine Corps (1944–1947)
Birth name	Alexander Archer Vandegrift
Nickname(s)	Archie
Born	March 13, 1887; Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S.
Died	May 8, 1973 (aged 86); Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service / branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1909–1949
Rank	General
Commands	Commandant of the Marine Corps; I Marine Amphibious Corps; 1st Marine Division
Battles / wars	Banana Wars Occupation of Veracruz; Nicaraguan Intervention; Haitian Intervention; ; World War I; Chinese Civil War; World War II Battle of Guadalcanal; Battle of Bougainville; ;
Awards	Medal of Honor; Navy Cross; Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (United Kingdom); Companion of the Order of the Bath (United Kingdom); Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands); Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour (France);
Spouse(s)	Mildred Strode (m. 1909-1952); Kathryn Henson (m. 1953);
Children	Col. Alexander Vandegrift, Jr.

Alexander Archer Vandegrift (March 13, 1887 – May 8, 1973) was a United States Marine Corps highly decorated 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. Vandegrift later served as the 18th Commandant of the Marine Corps. He was the first four-star general on active duty in the Marine Corps.