Frank E. Garretson

Frank Edmund Garretson (February 27, 1918 – January 23, 2006) was an American military officer who served in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general.

Frank E. Garretson was born on February 27, 1918, in Salem, Iowa, as the oldest son of farmer and football coach of Iowa Wesleyan Tigers, Herman John Garretson and Marion Scott Becker.

His mother died, when Frank was only seven years old, and his family moved to California, where his father later remarried to woman named Helen Huston.

The whole family moved to Seattle, Washington, where young Garretsons attended the Garfield High School.

While at the high school, Frank excelled in football and track and was recruited by the Washington Huskies football, representing the University of Washington.

Garretson earned a scholarship and played for Huskies as Guard, Center, and also Quarterback and was nicknamed "Daisy" by teammates.

He was also a member of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and was active in Big "W" Club, uniting all athletes who won "W" Letter in any university sport.

Must be mentioned, that Garretson was also a member of the Oval Club, whose members aided High School Leaders' Conference in Washington state and sponsored the Ballet Moose.

The 24th Marines sailed for Saipan, which served as a Japanese forward base and was located only 1,270 miles from Tokyo.

By the end of campaign, the 24th Marines took part in the mooping up operations against scattered remnants of Japanese infantry.

Following Saipan, lieutenant colonel Rothwell was detached for another assignment and Garretson assumed command of 2nd Battalion and was ordered to Tinian, neighboring island.

The objective was to capture another Japanese Airfield on the island and cut the main road to the Airfield.

Garretson and his unit met only occasional small arms fire before the battalion dug in for the night, when Japanese launched night counter-attack with tanks and infantry.

The 24th Marines then operated near the west coast of the island and ran into Japanese positions that included a series of mutually supporting bunkers.

For his service in the Mariana Islands campaign, Garretson was decorated with the Legion of Merit with Combat "V".

The Fourth Marine Division was then ordered to Maui, Hawaii, where Garretson participated in the intensive training of replacements for casualties sustained in the Marianas.

He resumed his duties as 2nd Battalion's executive officer, when lieutenant colonel Rothwell rejoined the battalion.

Upon the graduation with Bachelor of Arts degree in summer of 1940, Garretson enlisted the United States Marine Corps on October 25, 1940, and was ordered to Officer Candidates School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.

Upon completion of the officers' instruction in February 1941, he was commissioned second lieutenant and ordered to the Marine barracks at Bremerton Navy Yard, Washington, where he served as a guard company officer and the rifle range officer.

He was also promoted to first lieutenant during that time.

Garretson married Cecily Forbes of Seattle in August 1941.

Following the United States entry into World War II, Garretson was still serving in Bremerton, before he was promoted to captain on August 7, 1942, and transferred to Camp Elliott near San Diego, California.

Camp Elliot served as the Fleet Marine Force Training Center and Garretson served under Colonel William B. Croka as company commander of the Rifle Range Company, co-responsible for the rifle, pistol, and machine gun training.

In May 1943, Garretson was transferred to Camp Pendleton, California, where he joined recently formed 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, a part of 4th Marine Division.

He assumed command of Company "F" and participated in the intensive training focused on scouting and patrolling, firing of weapons, landings from LCVP's, night attacks and defenses, the use of cover, concealment, and camouflage, map work, close combat with bayonet, knife, and Judo.

A veteran of World War II, he distinguished himself as commanding officer of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division during the attack on Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll, on February 1–2, 1944 and received the Navy Cross, the United States' second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.

Garretson remained in the Marines and participated in battles in the Korean War and Vietnam War.

Following landing exercise at San Clemente Island, the units of 4th Marine Division departed for South Pacific area, and after brief stop on Hawaii in January 1944, it sailed for Marshall Islands.

The 24th's objective was Roi-Namur island, serving as strategic Japanese Airfield and base, and 2nd Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Francis H. Brink landed on February 1, 1944, on the right flank, where the preponderance of warehouses, barracks and pillboxes was situated.

Although Garretson was twice wounded when his company sustained heavy casualties as a result of a blockhouse explosion, he refused evacuation and valiantly led the remains of his forces to the battalion objective where, in the face of heavy enemy machine-gun and rifle fire, he directed scattered elements of the landing team in the reorganization and consolidation of the position.

Later, after a coordinated attack by tanks and infantry had been ordered, he intercepted the tank support which had opened fire prematurely before reaching the line of departure and, fearlessly exposing himself to fire from the Japanese and from friendly tanks, succeeded in having the word relayed to cease all tank firing and at the same time gave instructions for the tank deployment during the impending attack.

Garretson was decorated with the Navy Cross, the United States' second-highest decoration awarded for his valor in combat.

He also received two Purple Hearts for his wounds.

Garretson and his regiment were ordered back to Hawaii for rest and refit and later began with the preparations for new objective – Mariana Islands.

The 24th Marines landed on Saipan on June 16, 1944, and was in Division Reserve for first two days.

Garretson was promoted to major and assumed duty as 2nd Battalion's executive officer under lieutenant colonel Richard Rothwell.

The battalion met heavy resistance from caves along Magicienne Bay and then returned to Division Reserve.

On February 19, 1945, the 24th Marines went ashore on Iwo Jima and Garretson participated in the attacks on Motoyama Airfields No. 1 and No. 2. and assault on Hill 382, where he and his troops encountered numerous pillboxes with mortars and infantry.

He served as commander of Task Force Hotel, which was assigned the task of maintaining the defense of Khe Sanh Combat Base and the surrounding outposts in 1968–1969.

Garretson retired as deputy commander, Camp Pendleton in June 1970.