Edwin H. Simmons
Edwin Howard Simmons | |
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Marine Corps History and Museums, Director Emeritus |
Edwin Howard Simmons (August 25, 1921 – May 5, 2007) was a United States Marine Corps brigadier general. He was a career officer who served in combat during three wars — including landing at Inchon and fighting at the Chosin Reservoir in the Korean War. He was renowned as the official Marine Corps historian, being called "the collective memory of the Marine Corps". His 1974 book The United States Marines: A History is a seminal reference text.
Biography
Edwin Howard Simmons was born on August 25, 1921, in
During World War II, he trained at Marine Corps Schools, Marine Corps Base Quantico, and Camp Lejeune, N.C., prior to serving overseas with the 5th Field Depot in the South and Central Pacific. He took part in combat during the capture of Guam and later served with the 7th Service Regiment on Okinawa and in China. He was promoted to captain in January 1944 and to major in June 1949.
Following the war, he served for three and one-half years as
At the outbreak of the
Returning to the United States in July 1951, he served in various assignments with the Training and Replacement Command at
From July 1965 until July 1966, he served in
Returning from Vietnam, he was a student at the National War College for the next year prior to reporting to Headquarters Marine Corps where he served as Deputy Fiscal Director of the Marine Corps from August 1967 until May 1970. He was advanced to the rank of brigadier general on June 1, 1968.
Brigadier General Simmons returned to Vietnam for another one-year tour, and served as
He returned to Headquarters Marine Corps on July 20, 1971, where he became special assistant to the chief of staff for strategic studies.
On December 1, 1971, he assumed duties as director of Marine Corps History and Museums. He went on the retired list on July 1, 1972, but continued on active duty without interruption of service as director of Marine Corps History and Museums.
On July 1, 1978, he reverted to inactive status on the retired list. In late October 1978, he returned as a
Brigadier General Simmons died on May 5, 2007, at his home in Alexandria, Virginia. He is survived by his wife, the former Frances G. Bliss of Denver, Colorado, two sons, Edwin H. Jr., and Clarke V., and two daughters, Bliss and Courtney.[1][4]
Memberships
He was a fellow, governor, and treasurer of the
He also served as president of the
In 1970, he received a Centennial Distinguished Graduate Medallion from Ohio State University.
Publications
Simmons wrote for numerous military and general publications, including the Naval Review, Naval Institute Proceedings, Marine Corps Gazette, Sea Power, and Army. He was the author of the history, 'The United States Marines (published in London, 1974; and New York, 1976) and contributed extensively to various histories and standard works including the Encyclopædia Britannica and the Dictionary of American History.
His novel, Dog Company Six, received the
Honors
In May 2013, construction began for the Senator John W. Warner Center for Advanced Military Studies at Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia. A portion of this facility will house the Brigadier General Edwin H. Simmons Center for Marine Corps History. The Simmons Center will consolidate resources from the Marine Corps History Division and the Archives and Special Collections Branch, currently held in three locations, into one facility.[8]
Military awards
Simmons's military decorations and awards include:
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| 1st Row | Navy Distinguished Service Medal | Silver Star | Combat "V"
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Bronze Star with 1 gold 5/16 inch star and Combat "V" |
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| 2nd Row | Purple Heart | Meritorious Service Medal | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat "V" | Combat Action Ribbon |
| 3rd Row | Navy Presidential Unit Citation with 3 service stars |
Navy Unit Commendation with 1 service star | China Service Medal | American Campaign Medal |
| 4th Row | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
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World War II Victory Medal
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National Defense Service Medal with 1 service star | Korean Service Medal with 5 service stars |
| 5th Row | Vietnam Service Medal with 5 service stars | National Order of Vietnam, Knight | Vietnam Gallantry Cross with 2 palms and 1 silver star
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Korean Presidential Unit Citation
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| 6th Row | Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with palm and frame
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Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation with palm and frame
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United Nations Service Medal for Korea
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Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960- device |
Selected works by Edwin H. Simmons
- Simmons, Edwin H. (1976). United States Marines: the First Two Hundred Years 1775–1975. ISBN 978-0-670-74101-4.
- Simmons, Edwin H. (2000). Dog Company Six. ISBN 9781557508980. A novel about the Korean War.
- Simmons, Edwin H. (2000). Over the Seawall: U.S. Marines at Inchon. ISBN 978-0-16-050452-5.
- Simmons, Edwin H. (2003). The United States Marines: A History (4th ed.). Naval Institute Press.
- Simmons, Edwin H. (December 30, 2005). "Leathernecks at Soissons". Naval History. Retrieved March 5, 2009. History of Marines at the Battle of Soissons during World War I.
- Simmons, Edwin H; Alexander, Joseph H. (2008). Through the Wheat: the U.S. Marines in World War I. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press.
See also
Notes
- ^ a b Ewing, Marine Corps Times, 2007.
- Washington, DC: National Security Archive, George Washington University. Retrieved 2012-01-31. episode 5, Korea
- ISBN 9780393055887. Retrieved 19 February 2015.)
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ Six, Jim (May 10, 2007). "To the core, he was of the Corps". Gloucester County Times. Archived from the original on 2007-05-12. Retrieved 2006-05-17.
- ^ http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/awards/2/all_years Boyd Award Recipients List
- ^ "Latest NOUS Awards". Naval Order of the United States. Archived from the original on 2017-06-03. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
- ^ "Previous Morison Book Awards". Naval Order of the United States, New York Commandery. Archived from the original on August 27, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
- ^ DiCicco, Mike (4 April 2013). "Marine Corps University campus expansion to affect parking, traffic". Quantico Sentry. BH Media Group Holdings, Inc. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- Ewing, Philip (May 12, 2007). "'Memory of the Marine Corps' dies at 85". Marine Corps Times. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-12.
- "Official Biography: Brigadier General Edwin H. Simmons, Sr". General Officers and Senior Executives Biographies. Manpower and Reserve Affairs, United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2007-07-15. Retrieved 2007-05-12.
- Sullivan, Patricia (May 9, 2007). "General Edwin Simmons; called memory of Marine Corps". The Washington Post. pp. B07. Retrieved 2007-05-13.
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