Earl C. Long

Earl Cecil Long (November 4, 1883 – August 19, 1983) was a decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps who reached the rank of Major General. During the World War II, he served as Commanding General, Service Command Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and later as Commanding General Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.

Early career
Earl C. Long was born on November 4, 1883 in Clayton, New Jersey and following the high school, he enrolled at University of California. He graduated in 1905 with Bachelor of Science degree in engineering and subsequently worked as resident engineer in California. Long entered the Marine Corps on August 5, 1909 and was commissioned Second lieutenant at the same time. He was sent to the Marine Officers School at Port Royal, South Carolina for further training in September 1909.

Upon the graduation in January 1911, Long was assigned to the Marine Barracks at Mare Island Naval Shipyard and served there until July 1912. He was subsequently attached to the Marine Detachment aboard the cruiser USS Denver and sailed to Nicaragua to fight rebel troops under General Luis Mena. Long went ashore in Corinto, Nicaragua and participated in the combat operations alongside Major Smedley Butler.

He continued to serve aboard the USS Denver and participated in operations off the Mexican Coast during the ongoing Occupation of Veracruz in Mexico. Long finally returned stateside in December 1914 and after one month Christmas leave, he was assigned to the newly created 4th Marine Regiment under Colonel Joseph H. Pendleton. His new unit subsequently sailed for expeditionary duty in Dominican Republic in June 1916, following the Coup d'état led by Dominican Republic's Secretary of War Desiderio Arias.

The 4th Marines landed at the town of Monte Cristi on June 18, 1916 and fought their way to Santo Domingo and upon the withdrawal of the rebel forces to Santiago in July of that year, rebel forces were annihilated or captured. Long was promoted to the rank of First lieutenant in October 1916 and assigned to the Marine Detachment aboard the cruiser USS Charleston, which participated in the escort of the convoys carrying the first troops of the American Expeditionary Force to France during World War I.

Interwar period
While in France, Long was promoted to the rank of Captain in April 1917 and returned to the United States in June 1918. He was subsequently assigned to the Marine Barracks San Diego and served there until January 1920, when he was transferred to the Quartermaster Department at Headquarters Marine Corps. Long was transferred to the Marine Barracks Cavite, Philippines at the beginning of May 1920 and spent there next two years. At the beginning of November 1922, he returned to San Diego and following the promotion to the rank of Major in January 1924, Long was transferred to the Marine Barracks Quantico.

The 3rd Marine Brigade was formed there under Brigadier general Smedley Butler and sailed to China in May 1927, where he participated in the defense of the Shanghai International Settlement. Long received orders for return stateside in January 1929 and was attached again to the Quartermaster Department at Headquarters Marine Corps. He was ordered to the Field Officer's Course at Marine Corps Schools within Marine Barracks Quantico and after graduation, Long was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant colonel in October 1934.

In November 1934, he was ordered again to the Marine Barracks San Diego and remained there until the end of June 1936, where he was transferred to San Francisco at Headquarters of Department of Pacific. While in this capacity, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel in June 1938.

World War II
Long has been appointed Assistant Chief of Staff for Supply of the Department of the Pacific (DoP) under Brigadier general Charles F. B. Price in 1940 and while served in this capacity, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in August 1942. He was transferred to the South Pacific Area in May 1943, when he was transferred to the staff of the I Marine Amphibious Corps (IMAC) under Major general Clayton Barney Vogel as Commanding general of Supply Service. Long participated in Bougainville Campaign and later has been transferred to the same capacity within V Amphibious Corps (VAC) under Major general Holland Smith. For his service with I MAC and VAC, Long was decorated with Legion of Merit.

When the Service Command Fleet Marine Force, Pacific (FMFPac) has been formed on 6 April 1944, Long was appointed its first Commanding general. In this capacity, he was responsible for the supply, salvage, evacuation, construction, personnel management, quartering and sanitation needs of all FMFPac units and others marine units in its area. While in this capacity, Long was promoted to the rank of Major General in November 1944.

Shortly before the End of the War in Pacific, Long was relieved by Brigadier general Merritt A. Edson on June 30, 1945 and returned to the United States. He was subsequently sent to San Diego area and relieved Colonel John Groff, who served as temporary commander of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. For his service with Service Command, FMFPac, Long received his second Legion of Merit.

He served in this capacity until the end of January 1946, when he took over the command of the Department of the Pacific, relieving major general Julian C. Smith on February 1, 1946. His command administered Marine activities, barracks and detachments on the West Coast, Hawaii and outlying Pacific islands, Alaska and Aleutian Islands. Long was succeded by Major general Henry L. Larsen on May 17, 1946 and subsequently retired from the active service on August 1, 1946.

Major general Earl C. Long resided in Menlo Park, California and died on August 19, 1983 at the age of 99 years.

Decorations
Here is the ribbon bar of Major General Earl C. Long: