Rathvon McClure Tompkins (August 23, 1912 – September 17, 1999) was a highly decorated

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 ...

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 ...

. He saw combat in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

, the

Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

, the

Vietnam War The Vietnam War (also known by other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam a ...

and led Marine units during the

Dominican Civil War The Dominican Civil War (), also known as the April Revolution (), took place between April 24, 1965, and September 3, 1965, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. It started when civilian and military supporters of the overthrown democraticall ...

. Tompkins is well known for his part as commander of 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 ...

during the

Battle of Khe Sanh The Battle of Khe Sanh (21 January – 9 July 1968) was conducted in the Khe Sanh area of northwestern Quảng Trị Province, Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), during the Vietnam War. The main US forces defending Khe Sanh Combat Base (KSC ...

in Vietnam. During his 36 years of Marine Corps service, Tompkins was awarded the

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...

, the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

military's second-highest decoration awarded for

valor Valor, valour, or valorous may mean: * Courage, a similar meaning * Virtue ethics, roughly "courage in defense of a noble cause" Entertainment * Valor (band), a Christian gospel music group * Valor Kand, a member of the band Christian Death * ' ...

in combat, for his actions during the

Battle of Saipan The Battle of Saipan was a battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the island of Saipan in the Mariana Islands from 15 June to 9 July 1944 as part of Operation Forager. It has been referred to as the "Pacific D-Day" with the ...

and the Silver Star for actions during the Battle of Tarawa.

Early years

Rathvon M. Tompkins was born on August 23, 1912, in Boulder, Colorado,. He was the son of Anne Cochran Rathvon (1887–1924) and Howard Richard Kelsey Tompkins (1882–1945). His father served in the 89th Division during World War I, commanding a battery of field artillery and rising to the rank of major. In the Fall of 1925 Tompkins was sent to a private boarding school for boys in South Kent, Connecticut where he lettered in football and hockey. He planned to attend Yale, but subsequently enrolled at the

University of Colorado The University of Colorado (CU) is a system of public universities in Colorado. It consists of four institutions: University of Colorado Boulder, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, University of Colorado Denver, and the University o ...

. Tompkins graduated with a

Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four year ...

degree in the summer of 1935 and subsequently 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 ...

on June 5 of that year. He was subsequently selected for the Reserve Platoon leaders' course at

Marine Corps Base San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot (commonly referred to as MCRD) San Diego is a United States Marine Corps military installation in San Diego, California. It lies between San Diego Bay and Interstate 5, adjacent to San Diego International Airport and th ...

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

during July and August 1935 and commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve on March 25, 1936.

World War II

Tompkins worked three years in a private sector, before he was recalled to active service in October 1939. He was attached to the Reserve Officers Class within the Marine Corps Schools Quantico,

Virginia Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States, between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth ar ...

, and graduated during the following month of that year. Tompkins was subsequently sent to

San Diego 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 State ...

, and attached to the

2nd Battalion, 6th Marines 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines (2/6) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Also known as "The Ready Battalion" or "2/6 Spartans", it consists of approximately 800 Marines and Sailors and ...

, under Lieutenant Colonel John Thomason, as a platoon leader. He was promoted to first lieutenant in February 1940 and later appointed 2nd Battalion Personnel officer (Bn-1). During May 1941, his regiment was attached to the

1st Provisional Marine Brigade The 1st Provisional Marine Brigade was a Marine infantry brigade of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) that existed periodically from 1912 to 1950. It was an ad hoc unit formed for specific operations and not considered a "permanent" USMC unit ...

under Brigadier General John Marston and sailed for

Iceland Iceland ( is, Ísland; ) is a Nordic island country in the North Atlantic Ocean and in the Arctic Ocean. Iceland is the most sparsely populated country in Europe. Iceland's capital and largest city is Reykjavík, which (along with its s ...

to prevent Germans from occupying the island. Tompkins spent almost eight months with occupation duties in

Reykjavík Reykjavík ( ; ) is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói bay. Its latitude is 64°08' N, making it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. With a po ...

and returned to the United States in March 1942 as a captain. Upon his return, the 6th Marines was attached to the

2nd Marine Division The 2nd Marine Division (2nd MARDIV) is a division of the United States Marine Corps, which forms the ground combat element of the II Marine Expeditionary Force (II MEF). The division is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Caroli ...

and began preparations for combat deployment. Tompkins was promoted to major in August 1942 and appointed regimental

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 ...

. He sailed to the Pacific area one month later under the command of World War I hero Colonel Gilder D. Jackson. Tompkins and his unit arrived in

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by metr ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

, at the end of October 1942 and began training. The Marine units from the

1st Marine Division The 1st Marine Division (1st MARDIV) is a Marine division of the United States Marine Corps headquartered at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California. It is the ground combat element of the I Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF). It is th ...

had already fought on Guadalcanal and the 6th Marines, together with the forward echelon of the 2nd Marine Division under Brigadier General

Alphonse DeCarre Alphonse DeCarre (November 15, 1892 – May 3, 1977) was a highly decorated Major General in the United States Marine Corps. He was a recipient of the second highest decorations of the Army and Navy, the Distinguished Service Cross and the Navy C ...

, were ordered to reinforce them on December 26, 1942. They arrived on Guadalcanal at the beginning of January 1943 and took part in the final attack inland and in the Battle of Gifu. The 6th and 8th Marines encircled the remnants of two Japanese regiments from the 2nd Imperial Japanese Army Division and subsequently killed 642 Japanese troops, capturing only two. After the island was declared secured at the beginning of February 1943, the 6th Marines were ordered to the rear area near the beach for hot showers and some rest. For his service at Guadalcanal, he was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal with

Combat "V" Combat ( French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, or ...

. The 6th Marines subsequently returned to New Zealand on February 19, 1943, for rest and refit. Besides wounded men from combat, many of Tompkins' men suffered from

malaria Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease that affects humans and other animals. Malaria causes symptoms that typically include fever, tiredness, vomiting, and headaches. In severe cases, it can cause jaundice, seizures, coma, or death. S ...

. It took almost several months to transform them back into an effective combat force. While in New Zealand, Tompkins was transferred to the 2nd Marine Division staff and appointed assistant operations officer. He then took part in the preparing of the division for a new mission,

Tarawa Atoll Tarawa is an atoll and the capital of the Republic of Kiribati,Kiribati
'' Gilbert Islands. The Japanese had built a large air base there, and the Allies needed to secure that island for the next advance toward the

Marshall Islands The Marshall Islands ( mh, Ṃajeḷ), officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands ( mh, Aolepān Aorōkin Ṃajeḷ),'' () is an independent island country and microstate near the Equator in the Pacific Ocean, slightly west of the Intern ...

. On November 20, units of the 2nd Marine Division landed on

Betio Island Betio is the largest township of Kiribati's capital city, South Tarawa, and the country's main port. The settlement is located on a separate islet at the extreme southwest of the atoll. Betio Post Office opened on 5 April 1957 and closed in 1964. ...

South Tarawa South Tarawa ( gil, Tarawa Teinainano) is the capital and hub of the Republic of Kiribati and home to more than half of Kiribati's population. The South Tarawa population centre consists of all the small islets from Betio in the west to Bonrik ...

under heavy enemy machine gun and mortar fire. Tompkins landed on Red beach on D-Day and was informed that:

elements of a Marine battalion were pinned under Betio Pier by continuous Japanese machine gun, sniper and intermittent cannon fire and that numerous casualties were helpless in the water, Major Tompkins unhesitatingly braved the savage bombardment to swim to a native skiff and returning under the blasting salvos of deadly fire rescued three wounded men from the treacherous waters under the pier and transported them to a Higgins boat, subsequently proceeding to a reef off the beach where he evacuated four additional casualties from a damaged landing craft. By his daring initiative resolute fortitude and persevering efforts in the face of overwhelming odds, Major Tompkins saved seven Marines from almost certain death.

Tompkins was decorated with the Silver Star for his acts of valor at Tarawa and also received promotion to the rank of lieutenant colonel in December 1943. The 2nd Marine Division suffered heavy casualties, with 1,009

dead Death is the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism. For organisms with a brain, death can also be defined as the irreversible cessation of functioning of the whole brain, including brainstem, and brain ...

and another 2,101 wounded and was ordered to

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 ...

for rest and refit. Tompkins remained in the capacity of assistant operations officer under new division commander Thomas E. Watson, who joined the 2nd Division in April 1944. The 2nd Division conducted intensive training in order to prepare for an upcoming operation in the

Marianas Islands The Mariana Islands (; also the Marianas; in Chamorro: ''Manislan Mariånas'') are a crescent-shaped archipelago comprising the summits of fifteen longitudinally oriented, mostly dormant volcanic mountains in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, betw ...

. The capture of the Marianas could provide a new air base that could be used for attacks on Japan. The main assault on the island of Saipan began on June 15, 1944, and Tompkins landed on the same day. On June 17, Lieutenant Colonel Guy E. Tannyhill, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, 29th Marines, which was attached to the 2nd Marine Division, was wounded by an enemy sniper and evacuated. Tompkins subsequently assumed command of the battalion on the same day and promptly reorganized the heavily depleted unit. His new battalion was located in a swamp area and pinned down by enemy snipers and gun emplacements. Tompkins made a hasty reconnaissance of the front lines and subsequently ordered his men and several tanks to the attack. During the attack, his troops captured vital objectives and overrun Japanese strongpoints according to plan. During the fierce fighting on July 3, Tompkins was hit by the fragments of enemy shell and subsequently evacuated to the United States. For his heroism in combat on Saipan, Tompkins was decorated with the

, the

military's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat. He also received the

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, ...

for his wounds. His wounds were so serious that he spent next five months in the Naval Hospital in

. Tompkins was released from the hospital at the beginning of February 1945 and after the brief vacation at home, he was attached to the Division of Plans and Policies 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, ...

under Brigadier General

Gerald C. Thomas Gerald Carthrae Thomas (October 29, 1894 – April 7, 1984) was a United States Marine Corps general officer, general who served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. He retired from the Marine Corps in 1956 with more than 38 years ...

Postwar career

In January 1947, Tompkins was ordered to

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

, and assigned to instruction at Joint Services Staff College. Upon the graduation, Tompkins served as naval observer within the Office of the U.S. Naval Attaché in London and later as an instructor at School of Combined Operations. His tenure in

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

ended in April 1948, when he was ordered to the staff of Marine Corps Schools, Quantico as Chief of Infantry Section at Amphibious Warfare School. While at Quantico, Tompkins was appointed an instructor within the Tactical Operations Group, Combined Arms section, and received promotion to the rank of

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 1951. In August 1951, Tompkins was ordered to

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, ...

, and attached to the War Plans section, Joint Strategic and Operations Group within

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 ...

under General

Omar Bradley Omar Nelson Bradley (February 12, 1893April 8, 1981) was a senior officer of the United States Army during and after World War II, rising to the rank of General of the Army. Bradley was the first chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and over ...

. Within this assignment was responsibility for the coordination of

communication Communication (from la, communicare, meaning "to share" or "to be in relation with") is usually defined as the transmission of information. The term may also refer to the message communicated through such transmissions or the field of inqui ...

and interaction between the various

United States armed forces The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. The armed forces consists of six service branches: the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. The president of the United States is ...

. Tompkins was transferred to

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

in June 1953 and attached to the staff of the

under Major General Randolph M. Pate. At the time of his arrival, the 1st Division was stationed along the U.N. lines and was tasked with the fortifying the outposts cities in the defensive line. During the night on July 24, Chinese forces launched a massive attack in the Outpost Esther sector and broke through the lines. The 5th Marines subsequently repelled the enemy attack. Tompkins was then appointed commanding officer of the 5th Marine Regiment on August 2, but the

Korean Armistice Agreement The Korean Armistice Agreement ( ko, 한국정전협정 / 조선정전협정; zh, t=韓國停戰協定 / 朝鮮停戰協定) is an armistice that brought about a complete cessation of hostilities of the Korean War. It was signed by United Sta ...

was already in effect. His regiment then served as the defense force of the

Korean Demilitarized Zone The Korean Demilitarized Zone ( Korean: ; Hanbando Bimujang Jidae) is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula near the 38th parallel north. The demilitarized zone (DMZ) is a border barrier that divides the peninsula roughly in ...

and took part in several training and athletic programs in order to improve morale and combat preparedness. He was relieved by Colonel Elby D. Martin on February 1, 1954, and transferred to the division staff as an

intelligence officer An intelligence officer is a person employed by an organization to collect, compile or analyze information (known as intelligence) which is of use to that organization. The word of ''officer'' is a working title, not a rank, used in the same way ...

. Tompkins was ordered back to the States in July and received his second Bronze Star Medal with

for his service in Korea. Upon his return stateside, Tompkins took the Senior Course at

Naval War College The Naval War College (NWC or NAVWARCOL) is the staff college and "Home of Thought" for the United States Navy at Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island. The NWC educates and develops leaders, supports defining the future Navy and associ ...

Newport, Rhode Island Newport is an American seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island. It is located in Narragansett Bay, approximately southeast of Providence, south of Fall River, Massachusetts, south of Boston, and northeast of New Yor ...

, beginning August 1954. He graduated in June 1955 and was appointed to the staff of the Naval War College as assistant head of Strategy and Tactics Department. Tompkins later promoted to the head of this department and also served as senior Marine member on the staff of the college. In July 1957, he was ordered to

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 O ...

, to assume command of 1st Marine Service Battalion (Reinforced), 1st Marine Division. His battalion consisted of an engineer company, signal company, military police company, ordnance company, supply company, transport company and several Marine ammo platoons. Tompkins was then appointed the division's operations officer in December 1957 and served in this capacity until March 1958. Tompkins was subsequently ordered to

Okinawa is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi). Naha is the capital and largest city ...

, Japan, and appointed chief of staff,

under Major General

David M. Shoup David Monroe Shoup ( December, 30 1904 – January, 13 1983) was a general of the United States Marine Corps who was awarded the Medal of Honor in World War II, served as the 22nd Commandant of the Marine Corps, and, after retiring, be ...

. An unusual situation came up when General Shoup was ordered to the United States for new assignment and there was no assistant division commander at the same time. Tompkins, although only a colonel, assumed temporary command of the division on April 2, 1959. He was relieved by Brigadier Lewis C. Hudson on May 8 and resumed his duties as chief of staff. Although Tompkins was not promoted to general's rank immediately, he had drawn attention to himself. He was ordered stateside in June 1959 and subsequently appointed head of Military Personnel Procurement Branch, Personnel Division at

under Major General

August Larson August Larson (July 2, 1904 – November 4, 1981) was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of major general, who is most noted for his service as commanding officer of 22nd Marine Regiment during the Battle ...

, director of personnel. In June 1960, Tompkins was appointed assistant director to General Larson and finally promoted to the rank of

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 ...

one month later. He left Washington in September 1962 for an appointment as assistant division commander, 2nd Marine Division at

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 North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and ...

. Tompkins served under Major General Frederick L. Wieseman, and when the Cuban Missile Crisis occurred in October 1962, he was deployed with the division to Guantanamo Bay,

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

. He returned with the division to the United States in December. Tompkins was appointed temporary 2nd Division commander in June 1963, when General Wieseman was ordered to Quantico for a new assignment. He was relieved by Major General

William J. Van Ryzin William John Van Ryzin (April 20, 1914 – July 1, 2002) was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of Lieutenant general (United States), lieutenant general. He is most noted as Headquarters Marine Corps, Chie ...

on September 27, 1963. Tompkins then resumed his duties as assistant division commander until March 1964. For his service with the 2nd Division, Tompkins was decorated with the

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 ...

Dominican Crisis

His promotion to

came on March 1, 1964, and Tompkins became deputy chief of staff,

United States Atlantic Fleet United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...

, under Admiral Harold P. Smith. He was serving with the Atlantic Fleet at the headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, when the

broke out in April 1965. Joint Task Force 122 (JTF-122) was activated on April 28, 1964, to protect Americans in the

Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares with ...

, with Vice Admiral Kleber S. Masterson in command and Major General Tompkins as his deputy. The command staff of JTF-122 departed Norfolk by air early on April 29 and, after a short briefing by Rear Admiral Henry H. Caldwell, Commander of Caribbean Sea Frontier, at

Ramey Air Force Base Ramey Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. It was named after United States Army Air Forces Brigadier General Howard Knox Ramey. Following its closure, it was redeveloped into Rafael Hernandez Airp ...

Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and unincorporated ...

, they sailed for the Dominican Republic aboard the destroyer . Masterson, Tompkins and the staff of JTF-122 began planning the operation. The mission was to secure airfield with the 3rd Army Brigade and advance east and north to search for rebel forces. Then they would establish a roadblock and cooperate with loyal Dominican Republic forces. Tompkins participated in the negotiating between U.S. Ambassador William T. Bennett and Colonel

Pedro Bartolomé Benoit Pedro Bartolomé Benoit Vanderhorst (February 13, 1921, Samaná – April 5, 2012) was a politician and military officer from the Dominican Republic. He served as the 7th provisional president of the Dominican Republic The president of th ...

, president of the junta. On May 7, Tompkins was ordered back to the United States and decorated with the Legion of Merit with

for his service in Dominican Republic. He then resumed his duties in Norfolk, Virginia, until June 1966.

Vietnam War

General Tompkins was appointed commanding general of the

Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island (often abbreviated as MCRD PI) is an military installation located within Port Royal, South Carolina, approximately south of Beaufort, the community that is typically associated with the installation. ...

South Carolina )'' Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...

. In this capacity, he was responsible for the training of new marine recruits for the units deployed in South Vietnam. Under his command, approximately over 20,000 recruits were trained. Tompkins received his second Legion of Merit for his service at Parris Island. Nguyen Cao Ky and general Rathvon M

On November 14, 1967, Major General

Bruno Hochmuth Bruno Arthur Hochmuth (May 10, 1911 – November 14, 1967) was a United States Marine Corps major general who was killed in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He was the first and only Marine Corps division commander to be killed in any ...

, commander of the

, died when his helicopter crashed northwest of

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 ...

. When Chief of Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps Lieutenant General

Henry W. Buse Jr. Henry William Buse Jr. (April 12, 1912 – October 18, 1988) was a Lieutenant general (United States), lieutenant general in the United States Marine Corps. He was Headquarters Marine Corps, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps and later com ...

called from Washington one week later to ask Tompkins how soon he could leave for Vietnam, the new 3rd Marine Division commander replied: "Tomorrow." Tompkins arrived at Da Nang on November 28 and relieved Brigadier General Louis Metzger, division assistant commander, who had assumed temporary command of the division. After familiarizing himself with the situation, Tompkins ordered the units of the 3rd Division to take part in the clearing operation around

Con Thien Con Thien (Vietnamese: Cồn Tiên, meaning the "Hill of Angels") was a military base that started out as a U.S. Army Special Forces camp before transitioning to a United States Marine Corps combat base. It was located near the Vietnamese Dem ...

and Gio Linh. It was small-unit fighting which lasted until December; the Marines killed almost 200 People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) soldiers and destroyed three extensive bunker systems.

Khe Sanh

At the end of December 1967, Tompkins received intelligence reports that the forward echelon of the PAVN 304th Division had crossed the border with Laos and the 325th Division was advancing southward from the

Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone The Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone was a demilitarized zone established as a dividing line between North and South Vietnam from July 1954 to 1976 as a result of the First Indochina War. During the Vietnam War (1955-1975) it became important as t ...

. Both divisions moved to the

Khe Sanh Khe Sanh is the district capital of Hướng Hoá District, Quảng Trị Province, Vietnam, located 63 km west of Đông Hà. During the Vietnam War, the Khe Sanh Combat Base was located to the north of the city. The Battle of Khe San ...

region and Tompkins began to strengthen the

Khe Sanh Combat Base Khe Sanh Combat Base (also known as Ta Con) was a United States Marine Corps outpost south of the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) used during the Vietnam War. History US Army Special Forces (Detachment A-101, Company C, 5th Special Forces G ...

with another battalion and prepared it for deployment of more reinforcements. With the beginning of new year, PAVN troops increased their activity in the region and all indications pointed to the beginning of an offensive similar to the one in 1967, only on a much larger scale. The intelligence reports pointed to the influx of individual regiments, division headquarters and other support units. The PAVN switched from reconnaissance to attacks on Marine outposts and began shelling them with artillery. Tompkins, who had 24,000 men under his command, placed a high priority to on the construction of base fortifications. MG Rathvon M

PAVN commander General

Võ Nguyên Giáp Võ Nguyên Giáp (; 25 August 1911 – 4 October 2013) was a Vietnamese general and communist politician who is regarded as having been one of the greatest military strategists of the 20th century. He served as interior minister in President ...

ordered the capture of the base at the end of January 1968, and the Khe Sanh base was quickly encircled. PAVN troops tried to penetrate the base, but every attack was repelled. The only possible way to bring in reinforcements and supplies was by air. PAVN sappers penetrated the perimeter at night to place mines and traps in the target zone. Marine combat engineers were tasked every morning with the cleaning of the zone. Moreover, the weather was very bad and the northeast monsoon hit the whole Khe Sanh Valley. Despite all these factors, Tompkins did not hesitate to make daily inspection trips of the frontline units, even the most isolated ones, which provided him first-hand knowledge of the tactical situation in the area. The 3rd Marine Division, under his command, successfully defended the Khe Sanh base until the beginning of April 1968, when the PAVN encirclement was broken. Tompkins was subsequently decorated with the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his defense of Khe Sanh. He also received numerous decorations from South Vietnamese government.

Later service in Vietnam

Historian Max Hastings, in his analysis of the Battle of Dai Do (27 April to 2 May 1968) where Marines were repeatedly order to attack dug in PAVN positions, states that Tompkins and Colonel Milton Hull, were guilty of "sustained folly of Crimean proportions". The 2/4th Marine battalion sustained 378 casualties, of which 81 were killed, one platoon started off with 48 Marines and ended up with three. Hastings found it extraordinary that Tompkins and Hull insisted on continuing the frontal assaults when they had little idea what enemy were present and despite repeated requests to break off the action by the commanders on the spot. In May 1968, Deputy Commander of the

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 ...

Major General

was transferred back to

, and appointed Chief of Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps. The commanding general of the III MAF, Lieutenant General Robert E. Cushman, selected Tompkins as Van Ryzin's successor. Tompkins served in this capacity until he was ordered back to the United States in December 1968 under the rotation policy.

Stateside duty

Tompkins returned to the United States at the beginning of January 1969 and relieved Major General

Joseph O. Butcher Joseph Orville Butcher (September 16, 1912 – February 15, 1988) was decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps who reached the rank of major general. He spent his career mostly in Quartermaster Department of the Marine Corps beginning ...

as commanding general of

. In this capacity, he was responsible for the training of Marine personnel in amphibious warfare. Men trained under his command were usually ordered to Vietnam to reinforce Marine units. Tompkins remained in this capacity until June 30, 1971, when he was relieved by another

veteran, Major General Carl A. Youngdale. He retired after more than 36 years of Marine Corps service and received his second Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his excellent service at Camp Lejeune during his retirement ceremony.

Retirement

Following his retirement, Tompkins settled in

Beaufort, South Carolina Beaufort ( , a different pronunciation from that used by the city with the same name in North Carolina) is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South ...

, where he lived until his death. In his retirement, he was a member of the commandant's advisory committee on Marine Corps History. Tompkins participated in the annual sessions, together with Louis H. Wilson Jr.,

Alpha L. Bowser Alpha Lyons Bowser (August 21, 1910 – July 13, 2003) was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general. He was a combat veteran of World War II and the Korean War – decorated for his actions during the Battle of Iwo Jima and in the Ba ...

, Norman J. Anderson and

Richard C. Mangrum Richard C. Mangrum (October 27, 1906 – September 28, 1985) was a United States Marine Corps lieutenant general who served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from 1965 to 1967. Mangrum was a Marine Corps aviator who was awarded the Na ...

and Edwin H. Simmons. Major General Rathvon M. Tompkins died on September 17, 1999, following a stroke. He 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 ...

, together with his wife, Julia Lindsly Vogel Tompkins (1920–2013), daughter of Major General Clayton B. Vogel.

Decorations

Tompkins was decorated with the

, the

military's second-highest decoration awarded for

in combat for his heroism during the

on June 17, 1944. He was then a lieutenant colonel serving as commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, 29th Marine Regiment, attached to the 2nd Marine Division. His citation states in part: His citation states in part:

Summoned from a distant section of the front when the commanding officer of a hard-pressed battalion became a casualty, Lieutenant Colonel Tompkins found that the unit's advance had been held up by a swamp heavily infested with Japanese snipers, a cliff honeycombed with powerful hostile gun emplacements, and an elaborate trench system in a coconut grove. Determined to seize these terrain features before dusk, he unhesitatingly risked his life to make a hasty reconnaissance of the front lines. Rallying the weary troops who had fought bitterly all day with but slight gain, he skillfully disposed his tanks for maximum combat efficiency and led his men in a brilliantly executed attack against these vital objectives, waging battle with relentless fury and reducing the Japanese strongpoints according to plan. An inspiring leader, Lieutenant Colonel Tompkins, by his bold tactics, decisive judgment and indomitable fighting spirit in the face of overwhelming opposition, contributed essentially to the ultimate conquest of this important enemy base, and his great personal valor and constant devotion to duty throughout a period of fierce hostilities reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.

Here is the ribbon bar of Major General Rathvon M. Tompkins:

Publications

* Tompkins, Rathvon M. ''Ubique.'' Marine Corps Gazette 49, no. 9 (Sept. 1965): 32–39.

References

: {{DEFAULTSORT:Tompkins, Rathvon M. 1912 births 1999 deaths 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 Cross (United States) Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Recipients of the Silver Star Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the National Order of Vietnam Recipients of the Gallantry Cross (Vietnam) Recipients of the Distinguished Service Order (Vietnam) South Kent School alumni University of Colorado alumni University of Colorado Boulder alumni Naval War College alumni Naval War College faculty People from Boulder, Colorado Burials at Arlington National Cemetery Military personnel from Colorado

Early years

World War II

Postwar career

Dominican Crisis

Vietnam War

Khe Sanh

Later service in Vietnam

Stateside duty

Retirement

Decorations

See also

Publications

References