Frank J. Breth (October 12, 1937 – December 6, 2003) was a

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 ...

brigadier general who was the commanding general, Marine Corps Recruit Depot and the Western Recruiting Region,

San Diego, California San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the eighth most populous city in the United States ...

Early years

Frank Breth was born in Fairmont, West Virginia. He graduated from

Shades Valley High School Shades Valley High School (SVHS) is a four-year public secondary school in the Birmingham, Alabama suburb of Irondale. The school was established in 1948 near Homewood and moved to its present location in 1996. SVHS is the largest of 14 high sc ...

Homewood, Alabama Homewood is a city in southeastern Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It is a suburb of Birmingham, located on the other side of Red Mountain due south of the city center. As of the 2010 census its population was 25,167, and in 2019 th ...

, and the

Virginia Military Institute la, Consilio et Animis (on seal) , mottoeng = "In peace a glorious asset, In war a tower of strength""By courage and wisdom" (on seal) , established = , type = Public senior military college , accreditation = SACS , endowment = $696.8 mill ...

Lexington, Virginia Lexington is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. At the 2020 census, the population was 7,320. It is the county seat of Rockbridge County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines ...

, where he earned his

B.S. 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 ...

degree in chemistry. He also earned a

M.A. A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...

in personnel administration from

George Washington University , mottoeng = "God is Our Trust" , established = , type = Private federally chartered research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $2.8 billion (2022) , preside ...

Marine Corps career

He was commissioned in 1959, following the completion of the platoon Leaders Class Program. Upon completion of

The Basic School The Basic School (TBS) is where all newly commissioned and appointed (for warrant officers) United States Marine Corps officers are taught the basics of being an "Officer of Marines". The Basic School is located at Camp Barrett, Quantico, Vir ...

at Quantico, Virginia in March 1960, he assigned as a platoon commander in the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, which transplaced to the Western Pacific as the

2nd Battalion, 9th Marines 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines (2/9) was an infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. Formed during World War I, the unit played an instrumental role in the defeat of the Japanese forces in the Battles of Guam and Iwo Jima during World ...

. While overseas, he was promoted to

first lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a s ...

in December 1960. Returning from overseas in 1961, he reported to the 2nd Marine Division,

Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune () is a United States military training facility in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Its of beaches make the base a major area for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports ( Wilming ...

, North Carolina for duty as weapons platoon commander, 81mm mortar platoon commander, company executive officer and company commander in the 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. In 1963, he was assigned as executive officer of the Marine Detachment, aboard in the Western Pacific. Promoted to

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

in February 1964, he reported to The Basic School and served as a company officer, leadership instructor, and tactics instructor. Subsequently, Breth attended the Canadian Army Staff College,

Kingston, Ontario Kingston is a city in Ontario, Canada. It is located on the north-eastern end of Lake Ontario, at the beginning of the St. Lawrence River and at the mouth of the Cataraqui River (south end of the Rideau Canal). The city is midway between Toro ...

, where he was recognized as a Distinguished Graduate. Upon completion of his studies in August 1967, he was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division in the I Corps sector of the

Republic of Vietnam South Vietnam, officially the Republic of Vietnam ( vi, Việt Nam Cộng hòa), was a state in Southeast Asia that existed from 1955 to 1975, the period when the southern portion of Vietnam was a member of the Western Bloc during part of th ...

, where he served with the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines as a rifle company commander and operations officer. During the tour he also served as the 3rd Marine Division liaison officer to the 1st ARVN Division in

Huế Huế () is the capital of Thừa Thiên Huế province in central Vietnam and was the capital of Đàng Trong from 1738 to 1775 and of Vietnam during the Nguyễn dynasty from 1802 to 1945. The city served as the old Imperial City and admi ...

. He was promoted to

major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

in November 1967. Breth returned to the United States in September 1968, and was assigned to Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., where he served as Guard Company Commander and executive officer,

Marine Corps Institute The Marine Corps Institute, commonly referred to as MCI, developed and maintained a curriculum of Marine Corps education. Subjects included infantry strategy/tactics, leadership skills, MOS qualifications, personal finance, and mathematics. Compl ...

. During April 1972, he reported to

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, ...

, Washington, D.C., as Head Special Officer Programs Section, Personnel Procurement Branch in the Manpower Department. Upon completion of the Marine Corps Staff and Command College at Quantico in June 1975, Breth was assigned to the Commander, Naval Forces Korea, as the liaison officer to the 1st Marine Division, Republic of Korea Marine Corps in

Pohang Pohang () is a city in the province of North Gyeongsang, South Korea, and a main seaport in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk region. The built-up area of Pohang is located on the alluvium of the mouth of the Hyeongsan River. The city is divided into two wa ...

, Korea. He was promoted to

lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

in September 1975. In July 1976, Breth assumed command of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division,

Camp Pendleton 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 Oc ...

, California, and later, served as assistant chief of staff, G-1. He subsequently attended the

United States Army War College The United States Army War College (USAWC) is a U.S. Army educational institution in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, on the 500-acre (2 km2) campus of the historic Carlisle Barracks. It provides graduate-level instruction to senior military offic ...

Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania Carlisle Barracks is a United States Army facility located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The site of the U.S. Army War College, it is the nation's second-oldest active military base. The first structures were built in 1757, during the French and I ...

, graduating in June 1979. He then returned to Korea to serve as Chief, Contingency Plans Branch(C-5), of the newly formed

ROK-US Combined Forces Command ROK/US Combined Forces Command (CFC) was established in 1978. South Korean forces remain independent unless during a time of war in which they will subordinate themselves to the command. It is commanded by a four-star U.S. general and its Deputy ...

, Seoul, Korea. 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 of ...

in May 1981, he returned to the United States the following month for duties as the deputy director, 9th Marine Corps District, Kansas City, Kansas. In August 1982, he assumed command of the 9th Marine Corps District. He returned to Camp Pendleton in July, for duty as the assistant chief for staff, G-3, I Marine Amphibious Force. In June 1985, 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 ...

and assumed the duty as the director of Intelligence, Headquarters Marine Corps. In January 1988, he was assigned as director of the C412 Department/Director of

Marine Corps Intelligence Marine Corps Intelligence is an element of the United States Intelligence Community. The Director of Intelligence supervises the Intelligence Department of HQMC and is responsible for policy, plans, programming, budgets, and staff supervision o ...

, Headquarters Marine Corps. He assumed the duties of commanding general, MCRD/WRR, San Diego in September 1988, and completed military service and retired in September 1989. General Breth died of

cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...

on December 6, 2003, and is 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 ...

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

Online resources *

External links

BGen Frank J. Breth Passes
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Breth, Frank J. 1937 births 2003 deaths Deaths from cancer in Virginia Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Recipients of the Legion of Merit United States Marine Corps generals United States Marine Corps personnel of the Vietnam War George Washington University School of Business alumni People from Fairmont, West Virginia Military personnel from West Virginia