Chester R. Allen
Chester Robinson Allen | |
|---|---|
 MG Chester R. Allen, USMC | |
| Born | February 6, 1905 Somerville, Tennessee, US |
| Died | April 10, 1972 (aged 67) Bethesda, Maryland, US |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1929–1963 |
| Rank | Major general |
| Service number | 0-4464 |
| Commands held | Quartermaster General of the Marine Corps Marine Supply Center Barstow |
| Battles/wars | Yangtze Patrol World War II |
| Awards | Legion of Merit Navy Commendation Medal |
Chester Robinson Allen (February 6, 1905 – April 10, 1972) was decorated officer of the
Early career
Chester R. Allen was born on February 6, 1905, in Somerville, Tennessee. But his family later moved to Florida, where he attended public schools in Auburndale and Lakeland. Allen then enrolled the University of Florida in Gainesville and graduated in June 1929 with bachelor's degree. While at University, he was a member of varsity football and boxing teams and also received army reserve commission as a member of Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps unit in May 1929. Allen was also a member of Sigma Lambda Tau social fraternity.[1]
He resigned his reserve commission in order to be appointed second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on July 25, 1929, and as any other newly commissioned marine officer, he was ordered to
In June 1932, Allen was attached to the Marine detachment aboard the battleship
Allen was ordered to the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico in August 1936 and attended Company Officers Course, which he completed in August 1937. He was subsequently promoted to the rank of captain and sailed to
World War II
Upon his return to the United States in August 1940, Allen was stationed at
Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Allen was promoted to the rank of major in January 1942 and ordered to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina for duty as commanding officer, 2nd Barrage Balloon Squadron. After few months of training, he sailed with his squadron to Samoa in April 1942 and remained there as the part of Samoan Defense Force until the end of August of that year.[3]
Allen then returned to the United States, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and served temporary duty at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., until February 1943, when he was attached to the Depot of Supplies, San Francisco under Brigadier General Arnold W. Jacobsen. He served as chief of the Ordnance Division there and received the Navy Commendation Medal for his meritorious service.[1][4]
Later service
Allen was promoted to the rank of colonel in August 1945 and ordered back to the Pacific area. He served with
In August 1947, Allen assumed command of Marine Corps Depot of Supplies Barstow, California and served in this capacity until he was ordered to Far East, during the ongoing Korean War in June 1951.[1]
He joined
Allen returned to the United States in May 1952 and assumed duty as supply officer at
He was appointed Assistant Quartermaster General of the Marine Corps and deputy to Quartermaster Major generals
Allen was named director, Marksmanship Training Division at Headquarters Marine Corps in March 1959 and resumed his former post as Assistant Quartermaster General of the Marine Corps in September of that year. He finally succeeded Roy M. Gulick as Quartermaster General of the Marine Corps on January 1, 1960, and served in this capacity until June 30, 1963, when he retired from the Marine Corps after 34 years of active service.[1]
Retirement
Following his retirement, Allen returned to Auburndale, Florida, and worked as member, executive committee of Armed Forces Management Association and member and honorary national president, Defense Supply Association. He was also active in his alma mater's institutions and worked as Executive Council, Alumni Association, University of Florida and was awarded with honorary membership, Florida Blue Key Society and also received University's Distinguished Alumni Award in 1961.[1]
Major General Chester A. Allen died on April 10, 1972, in Naval Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, following a brief illness. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, together with his wife, Faith Elizabeth Watson Allen.
Decorations
Here is the ribbon bar of Major General Chester R. Allen:[5]
  | |||
|
  |
| |
 |
|
| |
|
|
 | |
 |
|
.svg){kind=small}
| |
| 1st Row |
Combat "V"
| |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Row |
Navy Commendation Medal | Navy Presidential Unit Citation with one star | China Service Medal | |||||||||||
| 3rd Row |
American Defense Service Medal with Base Clasp | American Campaign Medal | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
| |||||||||||
| 4th Row |
World War II Victory Medal
|
Navy Occupation Service Medal | National Defense Service Medal with one star | |||||||||||
| 5th Row |
Korean Service Medal with three 3/16 inch service stars | United Nations Korea Medal
|
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
| |||||||||||
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Chester R. Allen Papers – USMC Military History Division". USMC Military History Division. Archived from the original on 2013-08-01. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
- ^ Quantico Football: 1918 through 1942 Archived 2016-03-08 at the Wayback Machine (PDF), Quantico Marine Athletes Reunion Group, Retrieved August 3, 2018.
- ^ "Special Marine Units of World War II – USMC Military History Division" (PDF). USMC Military History Division. Retrieved 2017-12-18.
- ^ "M-1 Development Earns Praise Of Gen. Vandegrift – Marine Corps Chevron, 26 August 1944". historicperiodicals.princeton.edu. Marine Corps Chevron – Princeton University Library. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
- ^ a b "Valor awards for Chester R. Allen". valor.militarytimes.com. Militarytimes Websites. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.External links
Media related to Chester R. Allen at Wikimedia Commons
