A Marine's Story: Major General Wendell Cushing Neville

On May 12, 1870, in Portsmouth, Virginia, Major General Wendell Cushing Neville was born.

He entered the military academy at Annapolis in 1886, graduating in 1890, beginning a military career that would span almost 40 years, many of them in combat roles.

While still a cadet, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion during the Spanish American War and took part in the Naval attack on Guantanamo Bay. Major General Wendell Neville was transferred to China for the Boxer Rebellion.

After his China post, he was then assigned to the Philippines, Cuba, Nicaragua, Panama, and finally, Hawaii before taking part in the Occupation of Veracruz. Major General Wendell Neville commanded the 2nd Advance base and earned a Congressional Medal of Honor for the Veracruz Intervention on April 21, 1914. He returned to China in 1915 to oversee the Allied Guard.

In January of 1918, Major General Wendell Neville was assigned the command of the 5th Regiment and deployed to France for World War I. He coordinated the taking of Hill 142, giving the Marines a foothold and halting the enemy advance at Belleau Wood.

Major General Wendell Neville returned to the U.S. after World War I serving as the assistant to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, then as the Commanding General of the Fleet Marine Force. Finally, on March 5, 1929, he was assigned as the Commandant of the Marine Corps.  

He died suddenly on July 8, 1930, and rests in Arlington.

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a.d. elliott is a wanderer, writer, and photographer currently living in Salem, Virginia. 

In addition to the travel writings at www.takethebackroads.com, you can also read her book reviews at www.riteoffancy.com and US military biographies at www.everydaypatriot.com

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