Merwin H. Silverthorn
| Merwin Hancock Silverthorn | |
|---|---|
 Merwin H. Silverthorn as a Lieutenant general | |
| Born |
September 22, 1896 Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Died |
August 14, 1985 (aged 88) Bethesda, Maryland |
| Place of burial | Arlington National Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1917–1954 |
| Rank |
 Lieutenant General |
| Commands held |
Assist. Commandant USMC Marine Corps Reserve MCRD Parris Island CoS of Fleet Marine Force Pacific CoS of III Amphibious Corps |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Navy Cross Distinguished Service Cross Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Silver Star (2) Purple Heart |
Merwin Hancock Silverthorn (September 22, 1896 – August 14, 1985) was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of Lieutenant General.
He was an expert in amphibious warfare and taught courses at Marine Corps training facilities in the 1930s. He served in numerous conflicts including World War I as Field Commander and during World War II as high staff officer. Following a World War II, Silverthorn served in many important capacities like Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, Director of the Marine Corps Reserve or Commanding General of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.
Early career
Silverthorn was born on 22 September 1896 in Minneapolis, Minnesota as the son of Civil War veteran, Asahel C. Silverthorn (1844-1940) and his wife Emma C. Silverthorn (1861-1921). He studied at University of Minnesota, but left the University before graduation and enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard. Serving on Mexican Border during the Pancho Villa Expedition, Silverthorn subsequently enlisted in the Marine Corps as a Private on 27 April 1917.[1]
World War I
He attended the basic training and was assigned to the newly created 5th Marine Regiment. Silverthorn sailed to France as a member of 16th Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. He was promoted to Sergeant and transferred to the 45th Company of the same Battalion and participated in the Battle of Belleau Wood.
Silverthorn distinguished himself and received a Battlefield Commission as a Second lieutenant on 9 June 1918. To his new rank, he was appointed Platoon leader in the 20th Company, 3rd Battalion. Silverthorn subsequently led his platoon during the battle and was decorated with Silver Star for gallatry in action.
He commanded his platoon during the Battle of Château-Thierry, Battle of Soissons and Second Battle of the Marne. Silverthorn was ordered to Army school for further training during the August 1918.
He returned back in the middle of September and subsequently commanded his platoon during the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge. Silverthorn was decorated with his second Silver Star for his leadership during the beginning of the battle. During the combats near the village of St. Etienne on 4 October 1918, he carried an important message, at a critical time, to his battalion commander under heavy machine-gun and shell fire, exhibiting extraordinary heroism and disregard for his personal safety. After being wounded, he then continued the attack.[2] For his actions, Silverthorn was decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross and later with the Navy Cross. He was also decorated with the French Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with Gilt Star and promoted to the rank of First lieutenant.[3]
Interwar period
After the war, Silverthorn remained in the Europe and participated in the Allied occupation of the Rhineland until September 1919. He subsequently returned back to the United States and was assigned to the Marine Barracks at Mare Island, California. Silverthorn served there until April 1921, when he was transferred to the Marine Barracks at Quantico. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of Captain on 1 July 1921.
At the beginning of May 1923, Silverthorn was assigned to the 1st Brigade of Marines and sent to Haiti in March 1924, where he served as District commander within Gendarmerie d'Haïti at Aux Cayes and later as Chief of Police at Port-au-Prince. In this capacities, Silverthorn was responsible for the training and organizing of police units. He returned back to the States in May 1926 and was appointed Assistant Quartermaster at Quantico Base, Virginia.
Silverthorn was transferred to the Marine Barracks at Guam in April 1930 and appointed to the same role as at Quantico.
Later career
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Silverthorn remained on active service after the War and was appointed to the capacity of Chief of Staff, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. He served in this capacity until September 1946, when he was reassigned as Commander of the Troop Training Unit, Training Command, Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet, located at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia.
During the September 1947, Silverthorn was transferred to Washington, D.C., where he was appointed a Marine Corps Liaison officer with the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations under Fleet admiral Chester W. Nimitz. He remained in this capacity until May 1949, when he was promoted to the rank of Major general and appointed Director of the Marine Corps Reserve within Headquarters Marine Corps. Under his command, Marine Corps Reserve grew from 38.403 to 123.000 reservists.[4]
A great honor and also responsibility came in July 1950, when Silverthorn was appointed Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, succeeding Major general Oliver P. Smith in this capacity. For his new duties, he was promoted to the temporary rank of Lieutenant general on 22 February 1951. Final duties came in February 1952, when he was appointed Commanding general of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina.
Retirement
He was placed on the retired list on 30 June 1954 and was also advanced to the rank of Lieutenant general for having been specially commended in combat.[1]
After his retirement from the Marine Corps, Silverthorn served as an Assistant Director of the Office of Defense Mobilization within Executive Office of the President from July 1956. He resigned from this capacity during the September 1957. He was later active in the International Christian Leadership and served as its Vice President.
Lieutenant general Merwin Hancock Silverthorn died of cancer on 14 August 1985, in Bethesda Naval Hospital, Maryland and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He was survived by his wife Marie A. (1895 - 1990) and three sons. Each of his sons were career Marine Officers:[1]
- Colonel Merwin H. Silverthorn Jr. (1920-2008)
- Lieutenant Colonel Russell Lane Silverthorn (1922-2013)
- Captain Robert Sterner Silverthorn (1928-2013)
Decorations
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See also
References
- 1 2 3 "Find a Grave Memorial". findagrave.com. Find a Grave Memorial Websites. Retrieved 23 October 2016.
- ↑ Clark, George B. (2007). Decorated Marines in Fourth Brigade in World War I. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-7864-2826-7. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
- ↑ "Arlington Cemetery Record". arlingtoncemetery.net. Arlington Cemetery Websites. Retrieved 21 October 2016.
- ↑ Clark, George B. (2008). United States Marine Corps Generals of World War II. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 192. ISBN 978-0-7864-9543-6. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- "Major General Merwin Hancock Silverthorn, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Retrieved June 30, 2009.
