A 100 years ago in the Battle of
Belleau Wood in 1918 during World War I the legacy of U.S.
Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Merwin H. Silverthorn began ... and
respectfully referred to as "A Marine's Marine".
Merwin Silverthorn was assigned to the newly created 5th
Marine Regiment. Silverthorn after basic training in 1917
and sailed to France as a member of 16th Company, 3rd
Battalion, 5th Marines. He was promoted to Sergeant and
transferred to the 45th Company of the same Battalion and
participated in the Battle of Belleau Wood ... where he
distinguished himself, receiving a Battlefield Commission as
a second lieutenant on June 9, 1918 and being decorated with
Silver Star for gallatry in action.
Silverthorn also
performed heroically in other World War I battles earning a
second Silver Star, the Distinguished Service Cross and the
Navy Cross.along with being decorated with the French Croix
de guerre 1914–1918 with Gilt Star.
He serverd in
World War I World War II; became Assistant Commandant of the
Marine Corps in 1950; appointed commanding general of the
Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in 1952, and,
retired from his distinguished Marine Corps career in 1954.
U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Cedric Haller May
2018
