Clifton Bledsoe Cates (August 31, 1893 – June 4, 1970) was an American general who served as the 19th Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1948 to 1951, holding the rank of a United States Marine Corps four-star general. He earned recognition for his heroism during World War I at the Battle of Belleau Wood and for his exceptional leadership during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II. Cates is widely regarded as one of the most distinguished young officers of World War I. His remarkable career included commanding a platoon, a company, a battalion, a regiment, and a division, making him one of the few officers across all branches of service to have achieved this feat in combat.
Early life Clifton Bledsoe Cates was born August 31, 1893, in Tiptonville, Tennessee. After graduating from the Missouri Military Academy in 1910, and the University of Tennessee College of Law in 1916 with a Bachelor of Law degree, he was admitted to the Tennessee Bar. Cates was a member of the Kappa Tau Chapter of Phi Gamma Delta.
Military career With the entry of the United States into World War I, Cates was commissioned as second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserves. He began active duty on June 13, 1917.
World War I During World War I, Cates served with the 6th Marine Regiment, fighting in France. For his heroism in the Aisne defensive at Boursches and Belleau Wood, he was awarded the Navy Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross with oak leaf cluster—one of only nine Marines to receive two in World War I—in addition to the Purple Heart. He was awarded a Silver Star for his gallantry at Soissons. Cates was also recognized by the French government with the Legion of Honor, one of the greatest compliments that could be paid any officer, and the Croix de Guerre with Gilt Star and two palms. At Belleau Wood, June 6, 1918,Over There: A Marine in the Great War Cates' company was ordered to attack the village of [Bouresches] The company commander was soon mortally wounded, leaving Cates in charge despite his not knowing the attack's intent or objective. Cates organized the available men of his company as well as some other Marines in the vicinity and carried out a successful attack, and subsequent defense of the village. The Germans responded with mustard gas nearly wiping out the entire company. Cates was reassigned to the 80th Company until replacements could reconstitute his 96th. On July 19, 1918, at the Battle of Soissons, most of Cates' company along with the 2nd Battalion was annihilated. The enemy artillery was so intense that Cates lost most of his britches in an explosion that nearly cost him his life. After capturing an old abandoned French trench, he sent a runner to his battalion headquarters with a situation report which read: "From Co. "H" At:? Date: July 19. Hour 10:45A.M. To: Lt. Col Lee. "I am in an old abandoned French trench bordering on the road leading out of your P.C. and 350 yards from an old mill. I have only two men out of my company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try and get it here as we are swept by machine-gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and only a few on my right. I WILL HOLD." "I will hold" became the phrase most identified with Cates as he advanced through the ranks, and is recognized throughout the Marine Corps as a battle cry or slogan intended to improve morale and inspire confidence.
Interbellum Cates returned to the United States in September 1919 after occupation duties in Germany. He was prepared to resign his commission until dissuaded by Major General George Barnett, who took Cates on as his aide-de-camp and he served as a White House aide. In 1920, he stayed as Barnett's aide and followed him to San Francisco, California. From 1923 to 1925, Cates served a tour of sea duty as commander of the Marine Detachment aboard the .
In 1929, Cates was deployed to Shanghai, China, where he rejoined the 4th Marines for three years. He then returned to the United States for training at the Army Industrial College and in the Senior Course in the Marine Corps Schools. In 1935, Cates was assigned to the War Plans Section of the Division of Operations and Training at Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC). In 1936, he returned to Shanghai as a battalion commander with the 6th Marine Regiment. In 1938, he rejoined the 4th Marines in Shanghai.
In 1940, Cates was named the director of the Marine Officers Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. In 1942, Colonel Cates took command of the 1st Marine Regiment.
World War II Cates led the 1st Marines at Guadalcanal, for which he was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat "V". He then assumed command of the 4th Marine Division in the Marianas operation, the Tinian campaign and the seizure of Iwo Jima. For his services at Tinian, Cates received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and a Gold Star in lieu of a second award for his service at Iwo Jima. The planning for Tinian included the first complete aerial reconnaissance of an enemy base by the key commanders, including Cates. Near the end of the fighting at Iwo Jima, Cates attempted to persuade the remaining Japanese brigade to surrender honorably rather than fight to the death.
After his first tour of duty in the Pacific, Cates returned to the United States to serve as commandant of the Marine Corps Schools at Quantico until 1944. He then returned to the Pacific theater until the end of the war as commander of the 4th Marine Division.
Commandant On January 1, 1948, Cates was sworn in as the 19th commandant of the Marine Corps and promoted to the rank of general. He served as commandant for four years, and fought the budgetary erosion of the Fleet Marine Force. As Commandant, Cates continued the push to enlarge the Corps standing forces, eventually getting legislation placing the Corps active strength at three divisions and three air wings, and he brought the first helicopters into service on a test basis of the "new concept" in the Korean War—the usage of which would make an impression on the Commander of the FMF, Pacific, his eventual successor as commandant General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. Shepherd and Cates would revive the amphibious assault at Inchon.
Upon completion of his tour as Commandant of the Marine Corps, Cates was reverted to his then permanent rank of lieutenant general and was reassigned to serve again as commandant of the Marine Corps Schools. He retired on June 30, 1954, and was eventually promoted on the retired list to the rank of full general. After retirement he was chairman of the National Campaign of the United Service Organizations for two years.
Death and legacy
Cates died June 4, 1970, at the United States Naval Hospital, Annapolis, Maryland, after a long illness. He was buried with full military honors on June 8, 1970, at Arlington National Cemetery.
General Cates also held doctoral law degrees from the University of Tennessee and the University of Chattanooga.
Cates' high school alma mater, the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri, honored his memory with the creation of the "General Clifton B. Cates 'I Will Hold' Award for Leadership" during the academy's 125th anniversary celebration in 2014. The award specifically recognizes the leadership traits of perseverance and determination.
Dates of rank + Rank Date Second LieutenantMay 24, 1917 (Provisional/Reserves)Sep, 18, 1917 (Temporary) First LieutenantJuly 1, 1918 (Temporary)Aug, 28, 1918 (authorized-Temporary) CaptainMar, 5, 1919-Sep, 25, 1919 (temporary)Mar, 21, 1921 (appointed-Temporary)Apr, 2, 1921 (permanent)Jun, 4, 1920 (official, retroactive, date of rank) MajorOct, 1, 1931 Lieutenant ColonelJuly 1, 1935authorized on July 26, 1935 ColonelApr, 1, 1940 Brigadier GeneralSep, 16, 1942 (temporary)Apr, 3, 1943 (permanent) Major GeneralFeb, 1, 1944authorized on June 23, 1944 Lieutenant GeneralJan, 1, 1952 GeneralWhile serving as Commandant (until Dec 31, 1951)Dec, 31, 1947 (appointed)Jan 28, 1948 (commission)Jun 30, 1954 (on retired list)
Assignments
+ Unit or Assignment Dates96th Co (H&SC), 2/6 28 Aug 1917 – 1 May 1919Co. "E", Composite Regiment 1 May 1919 – 19 Sep 1919Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.20 Sep 1919 – 14 Feb 1920Aide-de-camp to Commandant Barnett, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps & to President Wilson's White House14 Feb 1920 – 8 Oct 1920Aide-de-camp to Gen. Barnett, commanding general of Department of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA15 Nov 1920 – 10 June 1923Commander, Marine detachment, USS California (BB-44)10 June 1923 – 29 Apr 19254th Marines9 May 1925 – 26 May 1926Recruiting Station, Spokane, WA1 July 1926 – 1 May 1927Recruiting Station, Omaha, NE 6 May 1927 – 23 Feb 1928American Battle Monuments Commission, Washington, D.C.6 Mar 1928 – 3 May 19294th Marines, Shanghai, China5 Aug 1929 – 6 Jun 1932inc. athletic officer, 4th Marines 6 Sep 1929 – 6 Jun 1932attending Army Industrial College17 Aug 1932 – 23 Jun 1933CO 2d Bn, 7th Marines, FMF, serving off CubaLineage of the 7th Marine Regiment and the Caribbean1933/1934attending Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, VA10 Sep 1934 – 26 Jul 1935War Plans, Operations, and Training, Headquarters, Marine Corps30 Sep 1935 – 24 May 19372/5, 2d Brigade, FMF30 Jun 1937 – 1 Feb 1938(CO from Sep)CO, 2/41 Feb 1938 – 18 May 1939XO, 4th Marines18 May 1939 – 6 June 1939attending Army War College, Washington, D.C.1 Sep 1939 – 22 June 1940Director, Marine Officers Basic School, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA6 July 1940 – 23 Apr 1942on Maneuvers with Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet 5 Jan – 16 Jan 1942CO, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division3 May 1942 – 11 Feb 1943Commandant, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, VAMarch 1943 – 20 Jun 1944Command of 4th Marine Division12 Jul 1944 – 19 Nov 1945President, Marine Corps Equipment Board, Quantico, VA14 Jan 1946 – ?Commanding General, Marine Barracks, Quantico1 Jun 1946 – 1 Jan 1948Senior Member of Board, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.24 Jun 1946 – ?President, Advisory Board, Marine Barracks, Quantico, VA24 Jan 1947 –Commandant of the Marine Corps31 Dec 1947 – 31 Dec 1951Commandant, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, VA31 Dec 1951 – 30 Jun 1954President, JLFB? – 30 Jun 1952
Awards and decorations Cates was the recipient of the following awards:
1st RowNavy CrossFrench Fourragère2nd RowDistinguished Service Cross w/ 1 oak leaf clusterNavy Distinguished Service Medal w/ 1 starSilver Star w/ 3 starsLegion of Merit w/ valor device3rd RowPurple Heart w/ 1 starNavy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 3 starsNavy Unit CommendationWorld War I Victory Medal w/ 3 Silver Navy Commendation Stars & 5 campaign stars4th RowArmy of Occupation of Germany MedalMarine Corps Expeditionary MedalYangtze Service MedalChina Service Medal5th RowAmerican Defense Service MedalAmerican Campaign MedalAsiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four Bronze StarsWorld War II Victory Medal6th RowNational Defense Service MedalCroix de Guerre w/ Gilt Star & 2 palmsLegion of Honor, Knight gradeOrder of Orange-Nassau, rank of Grand Officer w/ crossed swords
Navy Cross citation Citation:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to First Lieutenant Clifton Bledsoe Cates (MCSN: 0-155), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 96th Company, 6th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F. in action near Chateau-Thierry, France, 6 June 1918. While advancing with his company on the town of Bouresches their progress was greatly hindered by withering machine-gun and artillery fire of the enemy which caused many casualties, one of whom was his commanding officer. Taking command, Captain Cates led them on to the objective despite the fact that he was rendered temporarily unconscious by a bullet striking his helmet and that this was his first engagement. Exposing himself to the extreme hazard, he reorganized his position with but a handful of men.
First Distinguished Service Cross citation Citation: