BRIGADIER GENERAL FRANK EDMUND GARRETSON
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS (RETIRED)

BRIGADIER GENERAL FRANK EDMUND GARRETSON, USMC – retired, who died on Monday 23 January 2006, received the following military decorations and service medals :

The Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and 2 Gold Stars in lieu of second and third awards; Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"; Purple Heart with one Gold Star; Presidential Unit Citation with one bronze star; American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 4 bronze stars; World War II Victory Medal; National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star; Korean Service Medal with one silver star, denoting 5 campaigns; Vietnam Service Medal with 2 bronze stars; United Nations Korea Service Medal; Korean Presidential Unit Citation and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal.

Frank Edmund Garretson was born in Salem, Iowa, on 27 February 1918. He attended schools in Iowa, California, Illinois and Washington, prior to graduating from the University of Washington in 1940.

He was a member of the varsity football team and Phi Gamma Delta fraternity at UW

A guard, he lettered at Washington in 1938 and 1939, then later was an assistant coach of the Maui (Hawaii) Marines in 1944 who had a 5-0-1 record: 0-0 Aiea Barracks, 12-6 Kaneohe Clippers, 19-0 Transient Center, 34-0 Ford Island, 48-0 Barber's Point and 51-0 Seabees. They outscored opponents, 164-6, and won Central Pacific Armed Forces League title.

After enlisting in the Marine Corps in October 1940, he was assigned to the first class of WW II Officer Candidates and was commissioned a second lieutenant in February 1941

Upon graduation from the 4th Reserve Officers Class, Lieutenant Garretson became a guard company officer and the rifle range officer at Marine Barracks, Bremerton, Washington.

He was promoted to Captain on 7 August 1942, and assigned as Company Commander of the Range Company at Camp Elliot, San Diego, California, shortly thereafter.

May 1943 found Captain Garretson assigned to the 2d Battalion, 24th Marines.

As a rifle company commander, he led his unit through the Marshall Islands, was twice wounded, receiving the Purple Heart, and being awarded the Navy Cross for gallantry at Roi-Namur.

From the Marshalls, he led his unit in the invasion of Saipan as Battalion Executive Officer.

In July 1944, prior to the landings on Tinian, then Major Garretson was given temporary command of the left assault battalion, which he led ashore. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptional performance of duties as Company Commander and Battalion Commander.

He next saw combat at Iwo Jima, where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with "V" for distinguishing himself in action against the enemy. In October 1945, he brought the 3d Battalion, 24th Marines home to the United States for deactivation.

Upon his return to the U.S., he was assigned as Executive Officer of the Guard Battalion at Camp Pendleton. He later became the Commanding Officer.

September 1946 through June 1947 found Major Garretson attending The Infantry School, Advanced Course #1, at Fort Benning, Georgia, followed by assignment to the Staff of the Marine Corps Schools Amphibious Warfare School, Junior Course, at Quantico, an instructor in Infantry Tactics and Quantico and later in the Combined Arms Section.

In June 1950, Major Garretson became the Senior Marine Officer and Marine Assistant Operations and Plans Officer for the Commander of Amphibious Group 3 during operations in Korea.

He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in January 1951.

In April 1952, LTC Garretson became head of the Officer Ground Control Unit, Personnel Branch, Headquarters Marine Corps -- a job he held till August 1953, when he became Officer Coordinator of the Detail Branch.

In August 1953, he was assigned as Executive Officer of the 4th Marines Regiment (Reinforced), and served in that capacity until August 1956, when he became Assistant Chief of Staff G-4 for the 1st Marine Brigade at the MCAS Kane’ohe Bay, Hawaii.

IN JUNE 1958, LTC Garretson was graduated from the Command and General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, and was ordered to Quantico as an instructor at the Senior School.

On 1 July 1959, he was promoted to Colonel and became Senior Instructor at Senior School, Quantico, Virginia, until July 1960, when he was made Assistant Director. Shortly after being appointed Director of Senior School, he was assigned in June 1961 to HqMC as Secretary of the General Staff, Office of the Chief of Staff. In June 1964, Col Garretson completed the National War College in Washington, D. C., and also received a Master of Arts degree in International Affairs from The George Washington University.

Assigned to the 3d Marine Division in the Far East, Col Garretson served as Commanding Officer of the 9th Marine Regiment from August 1964-August 1965. During this time, he was Commanding Officer of a Regimental Landing Team participating with Task Force 76 and the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade in the South China Sea during the Tonkin Gulf crisis.

During July 1965, he landed the 9th Regimental Landing Team in South Vietnam where his regiment operated against the Viet Cong in the Da Nang area. For this action, he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit with Combat "

IN SEPTEMBER 1965, upon return to the U.S., he became the Marine Liaison Officer to the Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, and on 3 Jan 1966, was promoted to Brigadier General.

For his service as Director of Information, HqMC from April 1966-August 1968, BG Garretson earned a Gold Star in lieu of a third Legion of Merit.

Returning to Vietnam later in August 1968, he served concurrently as Assistant Division Commander, 3rd Marine Division and Commanding General, Task Force Hotel.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for meritorious service during this assignment.

After his detachment in April 1969, he reported to Okinawa for duty as Commanding General, Marine Corps Base, Camp S. D. Butler/ Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific (Forward) / Commander, Marine Corps Bases (Forward), and served in this capacity until he returned to the U.S. in September 1969.

He retired on 30 June 1970 while serving as Deputy Commanding General, MCB Camp Pendleton.

Special to www.historicalmilitaria.com – 24 January 2006