Detachment Officers
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Charles Ynman
cynman7672@aol.com
Commandant
John Roskosky
jarosk@sbcglobal.net
Sr. Vice Commandant
Bob Hiles
gunny@gunnerysergeant.net
jarosk@sbcglobal.net
Jr. Vice Commandant
Ken Knobelock
kknobelock@haysmcconn.com
Paymaster
Mike Mahady
mmahady@melton-melton.com
Adjutant
Al Kotrla
kotrla@sbcglobal.net
Judge Advocate
Frank Cisneroz
gunnycis@att.net
Chaplain
Jose Rodriguez
cplpunchrod@yahoo.com
Sgt/Arms
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General Graves Blanchard
Erskine (1897-1973) was a Marine officer
who led the 3rd Marine Division 3rd Marine Division during the
Battle of Iwo Jima. Graves Erskine was born in Columbia, LA,
on 28 June, 1897, where he graduated from high school at age
15 as class valedictorian. He entered LSU in the fall of 1912,
and joined the Louisiana National Guard. In 1916, he saw duty
on the Mexican border. He joined the Marine Corps Reserve on
21 May 1917 and graduated in June 1917. Upon graduation he reported
for active duty in the Marine Corps as a second lieutenant on
5 July 1917.
In January 1918, he sailed for France, and as a platoon leader
in the 6th Marine Regiment, participated in the Aisne-Marne Defensive
(Battle of Chateau-Thierry), where he was wounded in action;
also fighting at Belleau Wood, Bouresches, and Soissons. In the
St. Mihiel offensive, he was so seriously wounded that he was
evacuated to the United States in October 1918 for hospitalization,
spending a year in the hospital and undergoing nine surgeries.
For bravery in action, he was awarded the Silver Star, was cited
by the Commander-in-Chief, AEF, and in General Orders of the
War Department, and entitled to wear the French Fourragere as
a member of the 6th Marines.
In March 1928, he was assigned two years' duty in Nicaragua,
serving briefly with the 2nd Marine Brigade, and later with the
Nicaragua National Guard Detachment. During this period, he organized
the Presidential Guard, served as aide and personal bodyguard
to President Jose M. Moncada, and commanded a battalion of the
Guardia Nacionale in jungle operations against organized bandits
in northern Nicaragua. From January 1935 until May 1937, he was
stationed in China, serving as a member of the Marine Detachment
at the American Embassy in Peiping.
When WW II broke out, he was serving as Chief of Staff, Amphibious
Force, Atlantic Fleet. In September 1942, he joined the Amphibious
Corps, Pacific Fleet, in San Diego, California, as Chief of Staff,
and performed duty in Alaska in July and August 1943 during the
planning and training phase of the assault on Attu and Kiska
in the Aleutians. Immediately after this, he assumed duty as
Chief of Staff of the 5th Amphibious Corps and embarked for the
Pacific area. For exceptionally meritorious service during the
assault and capture of Kwajalein, Saipan, and Tinian, he received
two awards of the Legion of Merit, both with combat "V".
He also performed additional duties during the Marianas campaign
as Chief of Staff of East Marine Force, Pacific. He led the 3rd
Division in the battle of Iwo Jima where members of the division
were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation.
In June 1947, upon his request to return to duty with the Marine
Corps, the general assumed command of the Marine Barracks, Marine
Training and Replacement Command, Camp Pendleton, California.
The following month, with the return of the 1st Marine Division
from China to Camp Pendleton, he became Commanding General of
the 1st Mar Div, as well as Commanding General of Camp Pendleton.
In May 1949, he was assigned additional duty as Deputy Commander
of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. During this period, the Marine
air units at El Toro were molded together with the 1st Mar Div
troops at Camp Pendleton, and it was this combination that embarked
for Korea when hostilities erupted in that area.
In June 1950, the Secretary of Defense appointed General Erskine
as Chief of Military Group, Joint State-Defense Mutual Defense
Assistance Program Survey Mission to Southeast Asia. In carrying
out his assigned duties with the Mission, he visited the Philippines,
French Indochina, Malaya, Thailand and Indonesia. Upon completing
this assignment, General Erskine received orders in December
1950 directing him to assume duties as Commanding General of
the Department of the Pacific, San Francisco, California. He
also performed additional duties as Member of the Advisory Group,
Western Sea Frontier; and Commanding General, Marine Corps Emergency
Forces, Western Sea Frontier. In July 1951, as a lieutenant general,
he became Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic. Upon
his retirement from active duty in the Marine Corps, General
Erskine was advanced to four-star rank, 1 July, 1953, by reason
of having been specially commended for heroism in combat.
He was authorized to retire from active service by a Special
Act of the Congress, in June 1953, for the purpose of accepting
a position as Assistant to the Secretary of Defense as Director
of Special Operations of the DoD, and served in this post for
over eight years, until 31 October, 1961 |
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