Major General Ion Maywood Bethel, former Quartermaster General of the Marine Corps, retired from active duty in the Corps on 1 July 1958, after 33 years of commissioned service.
During World War II, the general served in the logistics phase of the major Pacific campaigns, winning the Letter of Commendation for excellent services during the Peleliu operation. He also participated in the Southern Solomons and Bougainville campaigns.
A crack pistol and rifle shot, General Bethel holds the Distinguished Marksman and Distinguished Pistol Medals, two of the Marine Corps' highest shooting awards.
The general was born 8 July 1900 at Mason, Texas, and enlisted in the Marine Corps 1 November 1918. Discharged 9 April 1919, he attended Junior College at John Tarleton, completed his studies there in 1923, and was graduated from Texas A and M in 1925. He re-entered the Marine Corps 1 July 1925, when he was commissioned a second lieutenant.
In his first year-and-a-half in the Corps, General Bethel was stationed consecutively at Quantico, Virginia; the Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard; and the Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California. He also shot on the Marine Corps Rifle Team of 1926. He left San Diego in February 1927, for duty in China with the 4th Marine Regiment.
Returning to the United States in August 1929, the general was stationed at the Navy Yard, Puget Sound, Washington, until November 1930. From there he competed on the 1930 Marine Corps Rifle and Pistol Team. He joined the Marine Detachment of the battleship USS Nevada in December 1930, and in October 1932, was again ordered to the Puget Sound Navy Yard. This time he commanded several CCC companies while assigned to that post. In February 1935, he was ordered to Quantico, from which post he competed again on the Rifle and Pistol Team. He was ordered to the Mare Island (California) Navy Yard in September 1935, and in December of that year he began a second tour of duty in China with the 4th Marines.
In August 1937, General Bethel returned from China to enter the Textile Engineering Course at Lowell Textile Institute, Lowell, Massachusetts. He completed the course in June 1939, and for the next three years was officer in charge of the laboratory and assistant procurement officer
at the Marine Corps Supply Depot, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In July 1942, he was assigned again to the Marine Corps Base at San Diego, where he became supply officer of the 3d Marine Division. He sailed with the division for the Pacific theater in February 1943.
Remaining with the 3d Division until March 1944, the general assisted in the preparations for the Peleliu invasion from April to November 1944. With the invasion he became supply officer of the Island Command, Peleliu.
General Bethel returned to the United States in July 1945, and was in charge of the procurement section at the Philadelphia supply depot until June 1950, when he was named Head of the Procurement Section, Supply Department, at Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington. He became Commanding General of the Marine Corps Clothing Depot (formerly the Depot of Supplies), Philadelphia, 1 October 1952, when his promotion to brigadier general became effective, and served in that capacity until June 1955. He became Commanding General, Marine Corps Supply Depot, Albany, Georgia, the following month. He was promoted to major general and assumed duty as Quartermaster General of the Marine Corps in January 1957.
In addition to the Letter of Commendation, the general's medals and decorations include: the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal; the World War I Victory Medal; the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal; the Yangtze Service Medal; the China Service Medal; the American Defense Service Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars; the American Campaign Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; and the National Defense Service Medal.
See Marine Corps Oral History Transcript, USMC History and Museums Division, 1973.
Military Information: US MARINE CORPS
During World War II, the general served in the logistics phase of the major Pacific campaigns, winning the Letter of Commendation for excellent services during the Peleliu operation. He also participated in the Southern Solomons and Bougainville campaigns.
A crack pistol and rifle shot, General Bethel holds the Distinguished Marksman and Distinguished Pistol Medals, two of the Marine Corps' highest shooting awards.
The general was born 8 July 1900 at Mason, Texas, and enlisted in the Marine Corps 1 November 1918. Discharged 9 April 1919, he attended Junior College at John Tarleton, completed his studies there in 1923, and was graduated from Texas A and M in 1925. He re-entered the Marine Corps 1 July 1925, when he was commissioned a second lieutenant.
In his first year-and-a-half in the Corps, General Bethel was stationed consecutively at Quantico, Virginia; the Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard; and the Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California. He also shot on the Marine Corps Rifle Team of 1926. He left San Diego in February 1927, for duty in China with the 4th Marine Regiment.
Returning to the United States in August 1929, the general was stationed at the Navy Yard, Puget Sound, Washington, until November 1930. From there he competed on the 1930 Marine Corps Rifle and Pistol Team. He joined the Marine Detachment of the battleship USS Nevada in December 1930, and in October 1932, was again ordered to the Puget Sound Navy Yard. This time he commanded several CCC companies while assigned to that post. In February 1935, he was ordered to Quantico, from which post he competed again on the Rifle and Pistol Team. He was ordered to the Mare Island (California) Navy Yard in September 1935, and in December of that year he began a second tour of duty in China with the 4th Marines.
In August 1937, General Bethel returned from China to enter the Textile Engineering Course at Lowell Textile Institute, Lowell, Massachusetts. He completed the course in June 1939, and for the next three years was officer in charge of the laboratory and assistant procurement officer
at the Marine Corps Supply Depot, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In July 1942, he was assigned again to the Marine Corps Base at San Diego, where he became supply officer of the 3d Marine Division. He sailed with the division for the Pacific theater in February 1943.
Remaining with the 3d Division until March 1944, the general assisted in the preparations for the Peleliu invasion from April to November 1944. With the invasion he became supply officer of the Island Command, Peleliu.
General Bethel returned to the United States in July 1945, and was in charge of the procurement section at the Philadelphia supply depot until June 1950, when he was named Head of the Procurement Section, Supply Department, at Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington. He became Commanding General of the Marine Corps Clothing Depot (formerly the Depot of Supplies), Philadelphia, 1 October 1952, when his promotion to brigadier general became effective, and served in that capacity until June 1955. He became Commanding General, Marine Corps Supply Depot, Albany, Georgia, the following month. He was promoted to major general and assumed duty as Quartermaster General of the Marine Corps in January 1957.
In addition to the Letter of Commendation, the general's medals and decorations include: the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal; the World War I Victory Medal; the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal; the Yangtze Service Medal; the China Service Medal; the American Defense Service Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars; the American Campaign Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; and the National Defense Service Medal.
See Marine Corps Oral History Transcript, USMC History and Museums Division, 1973.
Military Information: US MARINE CORPS
Major General Ion Maywood Bethel, former Quartermaster General of the Marine Corps, retired from active duty in the Corps on 1 July 1958, after 33 years of commissioned service.
During World War II, the general served in the logistics phase of the major Pacific campaigns, winning the Letter of Commendation for excellent services during the Peleliu operation. He also participated in the Southern Solomons and Bougainville campaigns.
A crack pistol and rifle shot, General Bethel holds the Distinguished Marksman and Distinguished Pistol Medals, two of the Marine Corps' highest shooting awards.
The general was born 8 July 1900 at Mason, Texas, and enlisted in the Marine Corps 1 November 1918. Discharged 9 April 1919, he attended Junior College at John Tarleton, completed his studies there in 1923, and was graduated from Texas A and M in 1925. He re-entered the Marine Corps 1 July 1925, when he was commissioned a second lieutenant.
In his first year-and-a-half in the Corps, General Bethel was stationed consecutively at Quantico, Virginia; the Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard; and the Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California. He also shot on the Marine Corps Rifle Team of 1926. He left San Diego in February 1927, for duty in China with the 4th Marine Regiment.
Returning to the United States in August 1929, the general was stationed at the Navy Yard, Puget Sound, Washington, until November 1930. From there he competed on the 1930 Marine Corps Rifle and Pistol Team. He joined the Marine Detachment of the battleship USS Nevada in December 1930, and in October 1932, was again ordered to the Puget Sound Navy Yard. This time he commanded several CCC companies while assigned to that post. In February 1935, he was ordered to Quantico, from which post he competed again on the Rifle and Pistol Team. He was ordered to the Mare Island (California) Navy Yard in September 1935, and in December of that year he began a second tour of duty in China with the 4th Marines.
In August 1937, General Bethel returned from China to enter the Textile Engineering Course at Lowell Textile Institute, Lowell, Massachusetts. He completed the course in June 1939, and for the next three years was officer in charge of the laboratory and assistant procurement officer
at the Marine Corps Supply Depot, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In July 1942, he was assigned again to the Marine Corps Base at San Diego, where he became supply officer of the 3d Marine Division. He sailed with the division for the Pacific theater in February 1943.
Remaining with the 3d Division until March 1944, the general assisted in the preparations for the Peleliu invasion from April to November 1944. With the invasion he became supply officer of the Island Command, Peleliu.
General Bethel returned to the United States in July 1945, and was in charge of the procurement section at the Philadelphia supply depot until June 1950, when he was named Head of the Procurement Section, Supply Department, at Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington. He became Commanding General of the Marine Corps Clothing Depot (formerly the Depot of Supplies), Philadelphia, 1 October 1952, when his promotion to brigadier general became effective, and served in that capacity until June 1955. He became Commanding General, Marine Corps Supply Depot, Albany, Georgia, the following month. He was promoted to major general and assumed duty as Quartermaster General of the Marine Corps in January 1957.
In addition to the Letter of Commendation, the general's medals and decorations include: the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal; the World War I Victory Medal; the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal; the Yangtze Service Medal; the China Service Medal; the American Defense Service Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars; the American Campaign Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; and the National Defense Service Medal.
See Marine Corps Oral History Transcript, USMC History and Museums Division, 1973.
Military Information: US MARINE CORPS
During World War II, the general served in the logistics phase of the major Pacific campaigns, winning the Letter of Commendation for excellent services during the Peleliu operation. He also participated in the Southern Solomons and Bougainville campaigns.
A crack pistol and rifle shot, General Bethel holds the Distinguished Marksman and Distinguished Pistol Medals, two of the Marine Corps' highest shooting awards.
The general was born 8 July 1900 at Mason, Texas, and enlisted in the Marine Corps 1 November 1918. Discharged 9 April 1919, he attended Junior College at John Tarleton, completed his studies there in 1923, and was graduated from Texas A and M in 1925. He re-entered the Marine Corps 1 July 1925, when he was commissioned a second lieutenant.
In his first year-and-a-half in the Corps, General Bethel was stationed consecutively at Quantico, Virginia; the Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard; and the Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California. He also shot on the Marine Corps Rifle Team of 1926. He left San Diego in February 1927, for duty in China with the 4th Marine Regiment.
Returning to the United States in August 1929, the general was stationed at the Navy Yard, Puget Sound, Washington, until November 1930. From there he competed on the 1930 Marine Corps Rifle and Pistol Team. He joined the Marine Detachment of the battleship USS Nevada in December 1930, and in October 1932, was again ordered to the Puget Sound Navy Yard. This time he commanded several CCC companies while assigned to that post. In February 1935, he was ordered to Quantico, from which post he competed again on the Rifle and Pistol Team. He was ordered to the Mare Island (California) Navy Yard in September 1935, and in December of that year he began a second tour of duty in China with the 4th Marines.
In August 1937, General Bethel returned from China to enter the Textile Engineering Course at Lowell Textile Institute, Lowell, Massachusetts. He completed the course in June 1939, and for the next three years was officer in charge of the laboratory and assistant procurement officer
at the Marine Corps Supply Depot, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In July 1942, he was assigned again to the Marine Corps Base at San Diego, where he became supply officer of the 3d Marine Division. He sailed with the division for the Pacific theater in February 1943.
Remaining with the 3d Division until March 1944, the general assisted in the preparations for the Peleliu invasion from April to November 1944. With the invasion he became supply officer of the Island Command, Peleliu.
General Bethel returned to the United States in July 1945, and was in charge of the procurement section at the Philadelphia supply depot until June 1950, when he was named Head of the Procurement Section, Supply Department, at Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington. He became Commanding General of the Marine Corps Clothing Depot (formerly the Depot of Supplies), Philadelphia, 1 October 1952, when his promotion to brigadier general became effective, and served in that capacity until June 1955. He became Commanding General, Marine Corps Supply Depot, Albany, Georgia, the following month. He was promoted to major general and assumed duty as Quartermaster General of the Marine Corps in January 1957.
In addition to the Letter of Commendation, the general's medals and decorations include: the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal; the World War I Victory Medal; the Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal; the Yangtze Service Medal; the China Service Medal; the American Defense Service Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Area Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars; the American Campaign Medal; the World War II Victory Medal; and the National Defense Service Medal.
See Marine Corps Oral History Transcript, USMC History and Museums Division, 1973.
Military Information: US MARINE CORPS
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