Clarence R. Wallace

Clarence Rodney Wallace (January 11, 1897 - August 1, 1988) was an decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of Brigadier General. He is most noted for his service as Commanding officer of the 8th Marine Regiment during World War II.

Early career
Clarence R. Wallace was born on January 11, 1897 in Manitou, Colorado and later attended Manitou High School there. He received appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland in June 1916 and following the graduation with Bachelor of Science degree in June 1919, he was commissioned Second lieutenant in the Marine Corps at the same time.

To get some basics of being an „Officer of Marines“, Wallace was ordered to the Basic School at Marine Barracks Quantico, Virginia at the beginning of July 1919. He spent almost six months there and upon the completion of his course in December of that year, Wallace was transferred to the Marine Corps Aviation. He was subsequently ordered to the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida one month later and entered Naval aviator training.

However he left aviation service in January 1921 and was transferred to the Marine Barracks at Parris Island, South Carolina. While there, Wallace was attached to the First Marine Brigade under Brigadier general John H. Russell Jr. and sailed for Haiti. He spent next two years with fighting the Cacos rebels until he was ordered back to the United States in July 1923.

His next service assignment was at Marine Corps Base San Diego, California, where he was assigned to the Fifth Marine Brigade under Joseph H. Pendleton. During this assignment, Wallace was stationed in San Diego and received promotion to the rank of First lieutenant in April 1925. He was subsequently transferred to the Marine Barracks Quantico, Virginia in May 1926 and later attended the Company Officers course at Marine Corps Schools in March 1928.

Following the graduation, Wallace was attached to the 4th Marine Regiment and sailed for China in October 1928. He was stationed in Tientsin and later took part in the guard duties at Shanghai International Settlement. He was ordered back to the United States during January 1929 and assigned to the Marine Detachment aboard the Receiving Ship in San Francisco.

Wallace rejoined Marine Barracks at Quantico in August 1929 and subsequently was sent to the course at Army Signal School at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. He was then transferred to Washington, D.C., where he served at Headquarters Marine Corps until April 1931.

He then served his second expeditionary tour of duty in Haiti until September 1933, when he returned to Headquarters Marine Corps. This time Wallace was assigned to the Office of the Quartermaster of the Marine Corps under Brigadier general Hugh L. Matthews and while in this capacity, he was promoted to the rank of Captain in November 1934. He then spent brief period in the Office of Chief, Bureau of Engineering, Navy Department under Rear admiral Samuel M. Robinson, before he was appointed Commander of Marine Detachment aboard the battleship USS West Virginia in May 1937.

World War II
Wallace returned stateside in June 1939 and was assigned to the Senior Course at Marine Corps Schools Quantico. He finished the course in May 1940 and spent next year as Major at the headquarters of Fleet Marine Force in San Diego. Wallace was subsequently transferred back to Quantico in June 1941 and attached to the staff of Amphibious Forces, Atlantic Fleet under Major general Holland Smith.

He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in January 1942 and transferred back to Headquarters Marine Corps, but now to the Division of Plans and Policies. Within this assignment, Wallace made observation tour to London, England and following the creation of 4th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California, he was attached to the division staff for another observation duty during the Battle of Kwajalein in February 1944.

Wallace was later promoted to the rank of Colonel and appointed Commanding officer of 8th Marine Regiment on April 10, 1944. The 8th Marines were located on Hawaii, where was regiment prepared for upcoming Marianas Islands Campaign. Wallace led his regiment ashore during the Battle of Saipan in June 1944. His regiment under his command landed in the southwestern part of the island, not far from Chalan Kanoa village. The 8th Marines assaulted the beach fortifications and later helped seized the airstrip in Chalan Kanoa.

The 8th Marines under his command later attacked enemy's positions along the Lake Susupe and advanced towards the highest point of Saipan, Mount Tapochau. Wallace's marines conquered summit of Mt. Tapochau and get the finest observation post over central Saipan. The 8th Marines subsequently repelled several smaller Japanese counter-attacks and advanced to the Tanapag Harbor, where he was placed in the reserve on July 4, 1944.

After brief rest and refit, Wallace and his 8th Marine Regiment landed on Tinian on the morning of July 25, 1944 and met only small enemy fire on the beaches. As the main objective for this campaign, Ushi Point - the northernmost peninsula was designated its target. The 8th Marines captured abandoned Ushi Point Airfield on July 26th. The advanced of 8th Marines was slowed down and finally halted by typhoon, which occurred on July 28th. Wallace ordered to renew the advance on July 30th and subsequently received orders for final attack on Japanese units fortified on the cliff in the North of the island. Tinian Island was declared secured on August 1, 1944.

The securing of the Tinian, helped to established a large bomber base from which U.S. planes operated over the Philippine Sea and Japan. For his service on Saipan and Tinian, Colonel Wallace was decorated with Legion of Merit with Combat "V".

Wallace subsequently remained with his regiment on Saipan, where he intensively prepared for further deployment, however 8th Marines were later designated as Reserve troops for III Marine Amphibious Corps for the Okinawa operation at the beginning of April 1945. The 8th Marines served only as deception landing force and did not participated in the battle until the mid-June 1945, when Commanding General of Tenth Army, Simon B. Buckner, requested their deployment.

Colonel Wallace brought his regiment up to the front on June 18, 1945 in order to relieved heavily exhausted 7th Marine Regiment under Colonel Edward W. Snedeker. The 8th Marine Regiment under Colonel Wallace was tasked with the cutting off the lines and reached another coast. Lieutenant general Bucker had visited Colonel Wallace's forward command post to observe the progress of his regiment. While Colonel Wallace briefed the general Buckner about the situation, Japanese artillery shell had hit the nearby coral rock, whose fragments mortally wounded general Bucker. Wallace and his Executive officer, Major William C. Chamberlin remained unharmed.

The 8th Marine Regiment later assaulted Ibaru Ridge and defeated all entrenched Japanese forces there. His regiment later conquered the town of Makabe on June 21, 1945 and new Tenth Army Commander, Lieutenant general Roy S. Geiger declared Okinawa secured during the following day. Wallace later led several mopping up operations in order to destroy or capture remaining minor Japanese units.

For his part in this battle, Colonel Wallace received his second Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and also received Navy Presidential Unit Citation.

Later career
At the beginning of July 1945, Wallace assumed duties as Chief of Staff of the 5th Marine Division under Major general Thomas E. Bourke and took part in the Occupation duties in Japan. Wallace was later decorated with Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" for his service in Japan.

He returned to the United States in February 1946 and was assigned to the Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., where he served with Postwar Personnel Reorganization board under Brigadier general Robert Blake. His responsibility was to study military records of all marine officers who want to stay in active service and made recommendations based on their records.

Wallace was transferred to the Camp Lejeune in July 1946, where he was appointed Chief of Staff of 2nd Marine Division under Major general Thomas E. Watson. The 2nd Marine Division just arrived from occupation duties in Japan and subsequently participated in training activities on the East Coast. He was transferred to Chicago in June 1948 and appointed Officer in Charge of Central Recruiting Division.

Colonel Wallace finally retired from active service on June 30, 1949 after 33 years of Marine Corps service. He was advanced to the rank of Brigadier general for having been specially commended in combat.

Decorations
Here is the ribbon bar of Brigadier General Clarence R. Wallace: