Jonas M. Platt

Jonas Mansfield Platt (September 21, 1919 – July 28, 2000) was highly decorated officer in the

After a three-months course there, he was attached to the Marine detachment aboard the battleship USS Washington. Platt participated in the Russian convoy operations in the Norwegian Sea in April 1942. He was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant and captain consecutively and assumed command of the detachment, when he relieved James D. Hittle.^[2][4]

Platt sailed with Washington to the Pacific theater and took part in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942, support actions during Battle of Tarawa in November 1943 and Battle of Kwajalein in January 1944. He then served in the United States for four months before joined 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines at Pavuvu, Russell Islands as major and battalion operations officer.

His battalion participated as the part of

Following the War, Platt spent brief period in the

The existence of the Marine Corps as the independent service was in question in 1945–1947, because newly appointed President Harry S. Truman intended the reorganize the United States Armed Forces. Due to cuts in Marine Corps budget, the threat of merging in the United States Army was more realistic. Platt was meanwhile transferred to the Division of Plans and Policies at Headquarters Marine Corps under Brigadier General Gerald C. Thomas and was attached to the so-called "Chowder Society", special Marine Corps Board under general Thomas, which was tasked by Commandant Alexander Vandegrift to conduct research and prepare material relative to postwar legislation concerning the role of the Marine Corps in national defense.^[7][8]

While in this assignment, Platt had the opportunity to cooperate with great names of modern Marine history such as: Merrill B. Twining, Victor H. Krulak, Merritt A. Edson, Robert E. Hogaboom, James E. Kerr, James C. Murray, James D. Hittle, DeWolf Schatzel, Samuel R. Shaw, Robert D. Heinl, Edward H. Hurst or Marine Corps Reserve officers John R. Blandford, Arthur B. Hanson, Lyford Hutchins, and William McCahill.^[8]

Their effort contributed to the preservation of the Constitution's provision of civilian oversight of the military and we can say they helped to save Marine Corps. Platt later earned master's degree in psychology at Ohio State University during summer 1949 and subsequently was appointed instructor of infantry tactics and instructional techniques at the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel on August 1, 1948.^[2][3]

Korea

Platt served in this capacity until December 1952 and then was ordered for combat duty to

The Chinese communists forces activity consisted mainly of patrolling and there was no significant enemy activity. However situation has changed in the night on March 26, 1953, when Chinese launched offensive against outposts Vegas, Carson, and Reno. Under constant enemy artillery and mortar fire and with no contact with front units, Platt and his battalion had keep their sector and drove all Chinese troops back to their lines.^[9]

In mid-April 1953, regimental commander, Colonel Walt, was appointed 1st Marine Division Operations officer. Aware of Platt's organizational qualities, he requested him to be attached to the operations section under his command. Platt relinquished command of 1st Battalion to lieutenant colonel Jackson B. Butterfield on April 29, 1953, and joined Divisional Operations section (G-3). He served in this capacity during the

Platt then briefly served at the Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., before joined U.S. Joint Staff in London, United Kingdom. While in this capacity, he served briefly as an observer in the Mediterranean during the Suez Crisis in fall 1956. While in London, Platt was promoted to the rank of colonel on July 1, 1957.^[3]

He returned to the United States in summer 1958 and assumed command of

Platt assumed command of the Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, in summer 1963 and was responsible for the training of newly commissioned marine officers. He remained in this capacity until mid-October 1965, when he received word of his promotion to the rank of brigadier general and deployment to Vietnam.^[2][3]

Vietnam War

Operation Harvest Moon

Recently promoted Platt arrived to

Platt shared this responsibility with brigadier general

General Walt was not pleased with the situation and replaced Henderson with Platt on December 10. Platt ordered another battalion to reinforce to struggling marines near Highway 534, but the VC had meanwhile retreated to the mountains. He ordered a search for the VC, finding only large quantities of abandoned supplies and equipment but few VC. Task Force Delta was ambushed by VC guerillas near the village of Ky Phu on December 18 and after two days of heavy fighting, the operation was declared successful. Platt was decorated with the Silver Star for his leadership and bravery during the operation.^[10][12]

Platt then served as single Assistant Division Commander, 3rd Marine Division until December 22, when brigadier general

The operation commenced on January 28, 1966, and Platt went ashore during the mid-afternoon of that day and assumed operational command. However, the PAVN and VC had largely withdrawn from the area and the operation had minimal results.[13] By February 17 Marines killed 312 enemy combatants and captured 19 others. General Platt's men also captured 20 tons of rice, 6 tons of salt, and 4 tons of miscellaneous supplies including barley, copra, corn, concrete, and fertilizer. In addition, the Marines captured 18 weapons and 868 rounds of am munition. These results were achieved at the cost of 24 Marines killed and 156 wounded.^[13]

Although the operation was declared over, commander of

On February 27, the VC tried to assault Platt's headquarters near the village of Tam Ky, but were repulsed. The opportunity to kill Platt was too attractive for VC, that they tried to ambushed his headquarters one day later. They dressed in ARVN uniforms and tried to assault Platt's command post, but were recognized by Marines and killed just short of his tent.[13]^[14]

Operation Utah

Following the Operation Double Eagle, which brought inconclusive results, Platt had received intelligence report that PAVN 21st Regiment moved into a region seven miles northwest of

Platt had ordered 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines to deploy in the landing zone. They came under intense fire from two PAVN infantry battalions, which were entrenched on Hill 50. The subsequent combats lasted all night and marines were supplied by air. Platt ordered an attack on the PAVN's anti-aircraft positions and his marines killed 20 PAVN soldiers. They also marked the PAVN positions for air support and artillery fire.^[13]

The PAVN forces planned to attack the marine position, which Platt quickly realized and ordered the deployment of

This act caused an immediate shock wave throughout I Corps area on the announcement of his removal, approximately 2,000 persons, including ARVN soldiers, marched through the streets of Da Nang and Huế in protest and a general strike was launched. Marines tried to calm down the situation, but without success. Platt took part in the negotiations with rebel ARVN officers and tried to persuade them to cease the rebellion. During a visit to ARVN 1st Division headquarters in Huế, Platt accompanied Major General Huỳnh Văn Cao, who tried to persuade division commander, Brigadier General Pham Xuan Nhuan, to cooperate with Government forces. Their attempt was not successful and Platt and his companions were attacked by angry crowd, which had broken into the division compound. They hastily boarded the U.S. Army helicopter waiting for them and as the aircraft lifted off, a rebel ARVN lieutenant fired two pistol shots at it at point blank range. Although not hitting any of the occupants, both rounds struck the helicopter. After the second shot, the U.S. Army helicopter gunner fired a six-round burst killing the rebel ARVN lieutenant and wounding two other Vietnamese soldiers. The rebel forces immediately made the dead lieutenant a "martyr" to their cause and accused the Americans of blatant interference in South Vietnamese internal affairs. The unrest which was later known as the Buddhist Uprising lasted until June 8, 1966, when Saigon government forces regained control of Da Nang and Huế.^[13]

Platt remained in Vietnam until the beginning of December 1966, when he was succeeded by brigadier general

Shortly after his retirement from the Marine Corps, Platt was offered the position in the Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, where he served as a personnel management director until 1977. During his service in this capacity, he was decorated with Department of Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award and Secretary of Defense Meritorious Civilian Service Award.^[3] He was also active in the Marine Corps Historical Foundation, where he received a Certificate of Appreciation by then-Commandant Robert H. Barrow for his contributions to the Oral History Program.^[15]

He then served on the Council of Advisors on Professional Education for the Marine Corps University, Norwich University’s Board of Trustees, Council on Foreign Relations and the New York Yacht Club.

Platt returned to Vermont in 1984 and died of heart and lung ailments July 28, 2000 at the Falcons Landing retirement community's nursing home in Sterling, Virginia, where he lived last three months of his life. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, together with both of his wives, Nina Fernandez Platt and Anne Dolores Kasony Platt. Platt had a daughter, Joanne Platt Kilgore, from his first marriage.^[1][16]

Decorations

A complete list of the general's medals and decorations include:^[10]

References