Albert Sidney McLemore (May 23, 1869—July 13, 1921) was an American officer serving in the
United States Marine Corps during the
Spanish–American War. He was approved to receive the
Marine Corps Brevet Medal for bravery but died before it could be presented.
Biography
McLemore was born in
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro is a city in and county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 152,769 according to the 2020 census, up from 108,755 residents certified in 2010. Murfreesboro is located in the Nashville metropol ...
on May 23, 1869, the son of
William Sugars McLemore.
History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present
'. Nashville: The Goodspeed Publishing Co. p. 997. After graduating from the
United States Naval Academy in 1891 he accepted a commission in the
United States Marine Corps. McLemore served in the Spanish–American War and during
World War I was the officer in Charge of Marine Corps recruiting. He was approved to receive the Brevet Medal for gallantry in the Spanish–American War, but died before it could be presented. Since the brevet medal was not presented posthumously it was never given to his family and instead placed on display in the National Museum.
Major McLemore is credited with coining the Marine Corps recruiting slogan "First to Fight" ca. 1911 while assigned to the Marine Corps Recruiting Service.
This phrase became part of the lyrics of The Marines Hymn.
He died at the Naval Hospital at
Mare Island in
Vallejo, California, on July 13, 1921, and is buried in
Arlington National Cemetery.
Marine Corps Brevet Medal citation
Secretary of the Navy citation
Citation
:The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in transmitting to First Lieutenant, United States Marine Corps, the Brevet Medal which is awarded in accordance with Marine Corps Order No. 26 (1921), for distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy while serving with Company E, First Marine (Huntington's) Battalion, at Guantanamo, Cuba, on 11 June 1898. On 18 March 1901, First Lieutenant McLemore is appointed Captain, by brevet, to take rank from 11 June 1898.
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See also
References
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External links
Colonel Albert S. McLemore biography
2009-10-25)
Marine Corps League Detachment 324
{{DEFAULTSORT:McLemore, Albert S.
1869 births
1921 deaths
United States Marine Corps officers
People from Murfreesboro, Tennessee
United States Naval Academy alumni
American military personnel of the Spanish–American War
United States Marine Corps personnel of World War I
Burials at Arlington National Cemetery