Lawrence Fontaine Snowden (April 14, 1921 – February 18, 2017) was a
lieutenant general
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
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 ...
. In 1995, he founded the annual Reunion of Honor, a program honoring those who lost their lives on both sides of the
Battle of Iwo Jima.
Early life and education
Lawrence F. Snowden was born April 14, 1921, in
Charlottesville, Virginia, and graduated from the
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia (UVA) is a public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia. Founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the university is ranked among the top academic institutions in the United States, with highly selective ad ...
in 1942 with a
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years.
The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University o ...
degree in Commerce. He also earned a
master's degree
A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice. in
Personnel Administration
Employment is a relationship between two parties regulating the provision of paid labour services. Usually based on a contract, one party, the employer, which might be a corporation, a not-for-profit organization, a co-operative, or any oth ...
from
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world.
Charte ...
in 1950.
Career
Snowden enlisted in the
Marine Corps Reserve
The Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES or MFR), also known as the United States Marine Corps Reserve (USMCR) and the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve, is the reserve force of the United States Marine Corps. It is the largest command, by assigned p ...
in February 1942. He was called to active duty that May, attended
Officer Candidates School and was commissioned a
second lieutenant on July 18, 1942. He was promoted to first lieutenant in March 1943 and to captain in October 1944.
From February 1944 until March 1945, Snowden was a company commander with the 23rd Marines during the capture of Roi-Namur
Roi-Namur ( ) is an island in the north part of the Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Today it is a major part of the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, hosting several radar systems used for tracking and characterizing missi ...
during the Battle of Kwajalein
The Battle of Kwajalein was fought as part of the Pacific campaign of World War II. It took place from 31 January – 3 February 1944, on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. Employing the hard-learned lessons of the Battle of Tarawa, the Un ...
, the capture of Saipan and the capture of Tinian. During the assault on Iwo Jima,[ he commanded Company F, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, ]4th Marine Division
The 4th Marine Division is a reserve division in the United States Marine Corps. It was raised in 1943 for service during World War II, and subsequently fought in the Pacific against the Japanese. Deactivated after the war, the division was re-fo ...
. During the battle, he was wounded and medically evacuated. In May 1945, he joined the 3rd Marine Division
The 3rd Marine Division is a division of the United States Marine Corps based at Camp Courtney, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler in Okinawa, Japan. It is one of three active duty infantry divisions in the Marine Corps and together with th ...
on Guam, serving with the 3rd Marine and 9th Marine Regiments until December 1945.[
In February 1946, he attended the Administrative School and was then assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, where he served on the staff of G-4, Plans and Policies Division. From August 1950 until March 1953, he served as a member of the Testing and Evaluation Unit until March 1953. During this assignment, in January 1951, he was promoted to the rank of major.][
Major Snowden was ordered to ]South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea. Its western border is formed by the Yellow Sea, while its eas ...
in April 1953, assigned to the 7th Marine Regiment
The 7th Marine Regiment is an infantry regiment of the United States Marine Corps based at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. Nicknamed the "Magnificent Seventh", the regiment falls under the command of the 1 ...
, and served there until April 1954. For his service in Korea, he was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat "V."[ After returning to the United States, he served as officer in charge, Marine Corps Recruiting Station, New York, from May 1954 until June 1956, during which time, in January 1955, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel.][ He then served for two years on the staff of the commander in chief.][ In September 1958, he entered the ]Senior School
A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...
at Quantico and, upon graduation, was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps as an action officer for the Marine Corps participation in Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) is the body of the most senior uniformed leaders within the United States Department of Defense, that advises the president of the United States, the secretary of defense, the Homeland Security Council and the ...
matters.[
In August 1962, Snowden became the commanding officer, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines and later commanded Battalion Landing Team 3/1 aboard the for deployment to the Caribbean during the Cuban crisis in October 1962. From May 1963 until June 1964, he served with the 1st Marine Division at ]Camp Pendleton, California
Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton is the major West Coast base of the United States Marine Corps and is one of the largest Marine Corps bases in the United States. It is on the Southern California coast in San Diego County and is bordered by O ...
, as deputy G-4, logistics officer
A logistics officer is a member of an armed force or coast guard responsible for overseeing the support of an army, air force, marine corps, navy or coast guard fleet, both at home and abroad. Logistics officers can be stationary on military base ...
and later as assistant chief of staff, G-4. He was promoted to 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 ...
in February 1964. In July 1964, he was assigned as deputy assistant chief of staff, G-4, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific in Hawaii
Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...
. Ordered to South Vietnam in August 1966, he saw duty as a commanding officer, 7th Marines, and as operations officer
Military operations is a concept and application of military science that involves planning the operations for the projected maneuvering forces' provisions, services, training, and administrative functions—to allow them to commence, insert, t ...
, III Marine Amphibious Force
III Marine Expeditionary Force (III MEF) is a formation of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force of the United States Marine Corps. It is forward-deployed and able to rapidly conduct operations across the spectrum from humanitarian assistance and ...
. He was awarded gold stars in lieu of a second and third Legion of Merit for his service in Vietnam.[
After returning from Vietnam, Colonel Snowden attended the ]Industrial College of the Armed Forces
The Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy (Eisenhower School), formerly known as the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF), is a part of the National Defense University. It was renamed on September 6, 20 ...
. Graduating in June 1968, he was then assigned as assistant director of personnel at Headquarters Marine Corps
Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) is a headquarters staff within the Department of the Navy which includes the offices of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and various staff functions. The function, ...
. On August 20, 1968, he was promoted to brigadier general
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
. From September to December 1968, General Snowden attended the Advanced Management Course of the Graduate School of Business at Harvard University prior to being assigned duty in the Office of the chief of staff as director of Management Analysis Group, which in February 1970, was re-designated the Systems Support Group. He served additionally, from March to September 1969, as the Inspector General of the Marine Corps. For his service as the organizer and first director of the Systems Support Group, he was awarded a gold star in lieu of a fourth Legion of Merit.[ Assigned to Quantico in June 1970, he served for almost two years as director, Development Center, Marine Corps Development and Education Command, earning a gold star in lieu of a fifth Legion of Merit. On April 1, 1972, he was promoted to ]major general
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...
.[
In June 1972, Major General Snowden was ordered to Tokyo where he served for three years as chief of staff, ]United States Forces Japan
is a subordinate unified command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). It was activated at Fuchū Air Station in Tokyo, Japan, on 1 July 1957 to replace the Far East Command. USFJ is commanded by the Commander, US Forces ...
. For his contributions to Japan's security interests, he was awarded the Second Order of the Sacred Treasure by the Emperor of Japan. He was also awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his service. He was promoted to lieutenant general
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
on August 6, 1975.[
Lieutenant General Snowden assumed the assignment of chief of staff, Headquarters Marine Corps, on May 21, 1977, and served in that capacity until his retirement on May 31, 1979. For his service at HQMC, he was awarded a second Distinguished Service Medal.][
]
In 1995, on the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, Snowden founded the annual Reunion of Honor, a program honoring the sacrifices veterans from both sides made during the battle. The ceremony is held annually in both Japan and the United States.[
]
Honors and awards
His military decorations include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal with gold star, Legion of Merit with 'V' for Valor device and four gold stars, Purple Heart
The Purple Heart (PH) is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving, on or after 5 April 1917, with the U.S. military. With its forerunner, the Badge of Military Merit, ...
with one gold star, Joint Service Commendation Medal
The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issues its own version of the Commendation Medal, with a fifth ...
, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issues its own version of the Commendation Medal, with a fifth ...
, Army Commendation Medal
The Commendation Medal is a mid-level United States military decoration presented for sustained acts of heroism or meritorious service. Each branch of the United States Armed Forces issues its own version of the Commendation Medal, with a fifth ...
, the Combat Action Ribbon
The Combat Action Ribbon (CAR, ), is a high precedence United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States Marine Corps military decoration awarded to United States sea service members "who have actively participated in ground or ...
and the Second Order of the Sacred Treasure.
In 1974, Snowden was recognized with the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award (DESA) is a distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). It is awarded to an Eagle Scout for distinguished service in his profession and to his community for a period of at least 25 years aft ...
by the Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America (BSA, colloquially the Boy Scouts) is one of the largest scouting organizations and one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with about 1.2 million youth participants. The BSA was founded ...
. Snowden had achieved the rank of Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout is the highest achievement or rank attainable in the Scouts BSA program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Since its inception in 1911, only four percent of Scouts have earned this rank after a lengthy review process. The Eagle S ...
in 1937.
In 2015, he was inducted into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame.
In March 2016, Snowden was awarded the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service
The Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service is the highest award that is presented by the Secretary of Defense, to a private citizen, politician, non-career federal employee, or foreign national. It is presented for exceptiona ...
and the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award
The Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, established in 1951, is an award presented by the U.S. Secretary of the Navy to civilians for specific courageous or heroic acts or exceptionally outstanding service of substantial and long-term benef ...
. The awards were presented to him by then Commandant of the Marine Corps Robert Neller
Robert Blake Neller (born February 9, 1953) is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general who served as the 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps. He assumed his assignment on September 24, 2015 and retired on July 11, 2019. He was succ ...
.
In 2016, he published his memoir, ''Snowden's Story: One Marine's Indebtedness to the Corps'', recounting important events in his life that developed his character and philosophy.
In January 2017, Snowden was named the ''Tallahassee Democrat
The ''Tallahassee Democrat'' is a daily broadsheet newspaper. It covers the area centered on Tallahassee in Leon County, Florida, as well as adjacent Gadsden County, Jefferson County, and Wakulla County. The newspaper is owned by Gannett Co., ...
''s annual " Person of the Year" for 2016.[
In April 2017, his memorial service was attended by ]United States Secretary of Defense
The United States secretary of defense (SecDef) is the head of the United States Department of Defense, the executive department of the U.S. Armed Forces, and is a high ranking member of the federal cabinet. DoDD 5100.1: Enclosure 2: a The ...
James Mattis
James Norman Mattis (born September 8, 1950) is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general who served as the 26th US secretary of defense from 2017 to 2019. During his 44 years in the Marine Corps, he commanded forces in the Persian ...
, as well as the commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller, who presented the traditional folded flag to Snowden's family members in attendance.
Decorations
Below is the ribbon bar of Lieutenant General Snowden:
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Snowden, Lawrence F.
1921 births
2017 deaths
People from Charlottesville, Virginia
University of Virginia alumni
Harvard Business School alumni
Northwestern University alumni
Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy alumni
United States Marine Corps generals
United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II
United States Marine Corps personnel of the Korean War
United States Marine Corps personnel of the Vietnam War
Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Recipients of the Legion of Merit
Recipients of the Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)
Recipients of the Order of the Sacred Treasure
American expatriates in Japan