Years of service 1917 - 1951 Battles and wars World War II | Name LeRoy Hunt Rank General | |
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Born March 17, 1892
Newark, New Jersey ( 1892-03-17 ) Battles/wars World War I
World War II
*Battle of Guadalcanal
*Battle of Okinawa Awards Navy Cross
Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star
Legion of Merit (2)
Bronze Star
Purple Heart
Croix de Guerre
French Fourragere Died February 8, 1968, San Francisco, California, United States Service/branch United States Marine Corps Commands held 5th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic | ||
Allegiance United States of America | ||
General LeRoy Philip Hunt (March 17, 1892 – February 8, 1968) was a United States Marine Corps general, who served with distinction during World War I in France and later commanded the 2nd Marine Division at the end of World War II.
Biography
Hunt was born in 1892 in Newark, New Jersey, and was a graduate of the University of California. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1917 and served with great distinction with the 5th Marines during World War I, receiving the Navy Cross and Distinguished Service Cross for his actions.
Postwar assignments were varied, ranging from sea duty to commanding officer of the Western Mail Guard Detachment and work with the Work Projects Administration's Matanuska Colonization venture in Alaska.
Following a short tour in Iceland, he was given command of the 5th Marines which he led during the early stages of the Battle of Guadalcanal. As the 2nd Marine Division's assistant division commander, he participated in mopping-up operations on Saipan and Tinian and in the Okinawa Campaign. Appointed division commander, he led the division in the occupation of Japan and for a period was Commanding General, I Army Corps. Returning to the United States, Hunt assumed duties as Commanding General, Department of the Pacific and then Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic.
General Hunt died in 1968 in San Francisco, California.