Charles Laurie McCawley (August 24, 1865 – April 29, 1935) was an American officer who served in the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...

during the

Spanish–American War , partof = the Philippine Revolution, the decolonization of the Americas, and the Cuban War of Independence , image = Collage infobox for Spanish-American War.jpg , image_size = 300px , caption = (cloc ...

and

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. He who was one of only 23 Marine Corps officers awarded the

Marine Corps Brevet Medal The Marine Corps Brevet Medal, also known as the Brevet Medal, was a military decoration of the United States Marine Corps; it was created in 1921 as a result of Marine Corps Order Number 26. The decoration was a one-time issuance and retroactivel ...

for bravery.

Early life and marriage

McCawley was born August 24, 1865, in

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...

to Charles G. McCawley who became the 8th Commandant of the Marine Corps. He married Sarah Helen Frelinghuysen Davis July 24, 1906, at

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

Military career

McCawley worked in the Commandant of the Marine Corps office as Chief Clerk from 1881 to 1897. His father

Colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

Charles Grymes McCawley assumed the duties as the Commandant in 1876, being appointed colonel commandant, the highest post in the Marine Corps, and served in that position until he retired in 1891. The younger McCawley remained on as the Chief Clerk for six years after his father retired, serving under

Charles Heywood Major General Charles Heywood (October 3, 1839 – February 26, 1915) was the ninth Commandant of the Marine Corps. He served as an officer for over 45 years and was the first Marine to reach the rank of major general. During Heywood's term as ...

. Following his father's death, McCawley became a Hereditary Companion of the

Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), or simply the Loyal Legion is a United States patriotic order, organized April 15, 1865, by three veteran officers of the Army. The original membership was composed of members ...

by right of his father's service in the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

. He was also a member of the District of Columbia Society of the

Sons of the Revolution Sons of the Revolution is a hereditary society which was founded in 1876 and educates the public about the American Revolution. The General Society Sons of the Revolution headquarters is a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation located at Willia ...

. In June 1897, Charles L. McCawley was appointed a direct commission in the Marine Corps as a captain. Captain McCawley was assigned as quartermaster (supply and logistics officer) of the First Marine Battalion on April 19, 1898, at New York Navy Yard in

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

. The First Marine Battalion (Reinforced) was transferred to the North Atlantic Squadron on April 22 and boarded the transport USS ''Panther'' for shipment to Key West, Florida. He served as the battalion's quartermaster until September 23, 1898. During that time he participated in battles with the Spanish Army and Cuban irregulars on June 11, 12, and 13 at and near Camp McCalla during operations to capture Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He also participated, while on board USS ''Resolute'' with his unit, in the bombardment of Manzanillo, Cuba, on August 12 to support the planned invasion of Manzanillo. The invasion was cancelled when a dispatch was received stating that President McKinley had proclaimed an armistice with Spain. On September 23 McCawley was transferred to Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C. On March 3, 1899, he was promoted to major and assigned as an assistant quartermaster. On April 1, he was assigned to duty in the Philippines and arrived in Manila on May 23. After brief service in the Philippines, he was ordered on October 4 to inspect the public buildings at Mare Island, California, and Puget Sound, Washington. Upon completion of that duty, he reported to the Commandant of the Marine Corps on November 20, 1899. On March 18, 1900, McCawley received a brevet (honorary promotion) to major for distinguished conduct and public services in the presence of the enemy at Guantanamo Bay on June 11, 1898. As a result of this brevet, McCawley would later be awarded the

. On July 1, 1900, he reported as ordered to the

Philadelphia Navy Yard The Philadelphia Naval Shipyard was an important naval shipyard of the United States for almost two centuries. Philadelphia's original navy yard, begun in 1776 on Front Street and Federal Street in what is now the Pennsport section of the ci ...

. On July 25, 1901, he was assigned to temporary duty with the Office of the Quartermaster at Marine Corps Headquarters. He held this assignment until December 31. On November 17, 1902, he was ordered to report to Colonel Theodore A. Bingham, United States Army, Office of Public Buildings and Grounds, Washington, D.C., for duty in connection with social functions of the winter season at the

White House The White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., and has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in ...

, in addition to other duties. On July 24, 1906, Major McCawley was married to Mrs. Sarah Helen Frelinghuysen Davis at Washington, D.C. McCawley was appointed Assistant Quartermaster of the Marine Corps on May 23, 1908. The new position came with a promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel (to rank from May 13, 1908). On July 19, 1910, he assumed charge of the Quartermaster’s Department of the Marine Corps during the absence of Colonel F. L. Denny, Quartermaster, a position he held until Denny's return on April 17, 1913. On June 24, 1913, Lieutenant Colonel McCawley was appointed as Quartermaster of the Marine Corps, with the rank of colonel (to rank from June 2, 1913). On September 8, 1916, he was appointed as the Quartermaster of the Marine Corps, with the rank of brigadier general (to rank from August 29, 1916). On September 27, 1918, McCawley accompanied Major General Commandant

George Barnett George Barnett (December 9, 1859April 27, 1930) was the 12th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. He was a pioneer of amphibious warfare and the U.S. Marine Commandant during American involvement in World War I. Early life and educatio ...

to France on a tour of inspection before resuming his duties on December 16, 1918, as The Quartermaster of the Marine Corps. On November 11, 1920, Brigadier General McCawley was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal by President

Woodrow Wilson Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. A member of the Democratic Party, Wilson served as the president of ...

. He retired from the Marine Corps August 24, 1929, having reached the mandatory retirement age of 64. He died April 29, 1935, at his home in Washington, D.C., and was buried at

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is one of two national cemeteries run by the United States Army. Nearly 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington, Virginia. There are about 30 funerals conducted on weekdays and 7 held on Sa ...

May 1, 1935. His grave can be found in the south section, site 3888. His wife Sarah was buried beside him when she died.

Awards

Presidential citation

Citation: :The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Marine Corps Brevet Medal to Charles Laurie McCawley, Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, for distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy at Guantanamo, Cuba, 11 June 1898. On 18 March 1901, appointed Major by brevet.

Secretary of the Navy citation

Citation :The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in transmitting to Captain Charles Laurie McCawley, 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 as Quartermaster, First Marine (Huntington's) Battalion, at Guantanamo, Cuba, on 11 June 1898. On 18 March 1901, Captain McCawley is appointed Major, by brevet, to take rank from 11 June 1898.

Navy Distinguished Service Medal

Citation: :The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Brigadier General Charles Laurie McCawley, United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility in the organization and administration of the Quartermaster's Department of the Marine Corps during World War I. Through his energy and efficient management this Department was able successfully to meet the various emergencies and difficulties connected with the transportation, subsistence, housing and clothing of the personnel of the Marine Corps throughout the period of the war.

Medals

* Navy Distinguished Service Medal *

Sampson Medal The Sampson Medal was a U.S. Navy campaign medal. The medal was authorized by an Act of Congress in 1901. The medal was awarded to those personnel who served on ships in the fleet of Rear Admiral William T. Sampson during combat operations in ...

Spanish Campaign Medal The Spanish Campaign Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces which recognized those men of the U.S. military who had served in the Spanish–American War. Although a single decoration, there were two versions of the Spanish C ...

Philippine Campaign Medal The Philippine Campaign Medal is a Awards and decorations of the United States military, medal of the United States Armed Forces which was created to denote service of U.S. military men in the Philippine–American War between the years of 1899 an ...

* World War I Victory Medal

References

;General * * * ;Specific {{DEFAULTSORT:McCawley, Charles L. 1865 births 1935 deaths United States Marine Corps generals American people of the Spanish–American War American people of World War I Military personnel from Massachusetts Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Burials at Arlington National Cemetery