Henry D. Linscott

Henry Dallas Linscott (September 3, 1894 - October 17, 1973) was a decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of Lieutenant General. He is most noted for his service on the staff of Amphibious Force Commander, admiral Richmond K. Turner during World War II and later as Commanding general of Department of the Pacific or Camp Lejeune.

Early career
Henry D. Linscott was born on September 3, 1894 in Milford, Kansas as the son of local postmaster Melvin C. Linscott and his wife Mary Ellen. His father served in the Union Army during American Civil War and was discharged with the rank of Captain in the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry. Following the graduation from the high school, young Dallas enrolled the Kansas State Agricultural College in Manhattan, Kansas and graduated in summer 1916 with Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical engineering. During his university years, Linscott was a member Corps of Cadets and was commissioned reserve Second lieutenant in April 1914.

Upon the graduation from the university in 1916, he lived and worked in Texas for some time, before entered the Marine Corps service there on May 9, 1917. Linscott was commissioned Second lieutenant on the same date and was attached to the 29th Company, 4th Provisional Regiment and spent next four months with training at Marine Barracks Quantico, Virginia. He also married Stella May Rich (1896-1989) on September 24, 1918. Linscott sailed with his regiment for his first expeditionary duty to Santo Domingo in November 1917 as fresh First lieutenant and took part in the skirmishes with the rebel forces under the command of Ramón Natera.

He returned to the United States in August 1918 and was attached to the Officer Training Camp at Marine Barracks Quantico. Linscott completed the training two months later and was promoted to the rank of Captain. He subsequently sailed for France and following his arrival during October 1918, he was appointed commander of 65th Marine Guard Company in St. Nazaire. Linscott was transferred to the 11th Marine Regiment in July 1919 and sailed back to the States as commander of Company D. Linscott served back at Quantico until October 1919 and then was attached to the Radio School Detachment at Marine Barracks Parris Island, South Carolina. he remained in that capacity until August 1922, when he sailed again to Santo Domingo for service with 2nd Marine Brigade under Brigadier general Harry Lee. During his second tour of duty in Dominican Republic, he was stationed with Headquarters Company, 1st Marine Regiment in Santo Domingo until July 1924 and subsequently was transferred to the Marine Barracks at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay as Commanding officer of Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment.

In November 1924, Linscott was ordered to the Marine Corps Base San Diego for service as Base Quartermaster and later as an Executive officer of the Recruit Depot. He was detached from San Diego in September 1927 in order to attend Company Officers' Course at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico. Linscott graduated in March 1928 and was appointed Commanding officer of 58th Company, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment under the command of Colonel Robert H. Dunlap. He sailed with the regiment to León, Nicaragua and participated in the jungle patrols against Sandino rebels. Linscott was later transferred to command 60th Company, 3rd Battalion in Puerto Cabezas and finally was attached to the Brigade Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade of Marines under Brigadier general Logan Feland in Managua. He later served as an instructor and executive officer of the Eastern Area, Guardia Nacional de Nicaragua.

Upon his return to the United States in August 1930 and assumed duties with the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy in Washington, D.C. and enrolled the George Washington University Law School, where he obtained Law degree in June of 1933. He was subsequently appointed commander of Headquarters & Service Battery of 1st Battalion, 10th Marines at Marine Barracks Quantico, Virginia and remained in that capacity until April 1934, when he was appointed Assistant Operations Officer with Headquarters & Headquarters Company, Fleet Marine Force under the command of Major general Charles H. Lyman at Coco Solo, Panama Canal Zone. Linscott was also promoted to the rank of Major during that time.

Linscott later moved with that command to San Diego and served as Force Operations Officer until June 1936, when he was appointed Division Marine Officer, Battleship Division One, Battle Force under Vice admiral William D. Leahy. Linscott was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant colonel in May 1938 and left for duty in Washington, D.C. in 1941.

World War II
Linscott was appointed Operations and Training Officer on the staff of Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet under Major general Holland Smith and promoted to the rank of Colonel in October 1941. Following the entry of the United States into the World War II, Linscott was ordered for duty to the South Pacific in June 1942 and attached to the staff of Commander, Amphibious Force South Pacific under Vice admiral Richmond K. Turner. Linscott was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff and took part in the several major campaigns like Solomon Islands campaign, New Georgia Campaign, Bougainville Campaign or Gilbert and Marshall Islands campaign. He remained with admiral Turner following the redesignation of that command to the Third Amphibious Force and distinguished himself in that capacity. Linscott later received two awards of Legion of Merit for his service.

His official citation reads:

"For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the Government of the United States while serving as Assistant Chief of Staff to the Commander, Amphibious Forces, South Pacific from August, 1942, to July, 1943, and as Assistant Chief of Staff to the Commander, Third Amphibious Force, from July, 1943, to March, 1944, Colonel Linscott was awarded the Legion of Merit and a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit. Participating in the initial occupation of Guadalcanal-Tulagi, Colonel Linscott also took part in all subsequent phases of the Solomon Islands campaign, including the seizure of the Russell Islands and the assault on New Georgia. Despite frequent Japanese air attacks and bombardments by hostile shore batteries, he carried out his highly important assignments under the most difficult conditions, thereby contributing in a large measure to the success of our forces in that vital area."

Linscott was ordered back to the United States in April 1944 and assumed duties as Chief of Staff, Troop Training Unit, Amphibious Training Command, Pacific Fleet at Coronado, California. He served under Brigadier general Harry K. Pickett and was co-responsible for the amphibious training of several marines units, including 5th Marine Division. He was later commended for his service at Coronado by Admiral Richmond K. Turner, Commander, Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet and received Navy Commendation Medal. Linscott was also appointed Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his service in Pacific and Coronado.

Later service
In September 1945, Linscott was ordered to Hawaii and appointed commander of 6th Service Depot, Service Command of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific under Brigadier general Merritt A. Edson. His unit was responsible for the supply, salvage, evacuation, construction, personnel management, quartering and sanitation needs of FMFPac units and others marine units in its area.

He was promoted to the rank of Brigadier general in February 1947 and assumed duties as Commanding general of Marine Garrison Forces, Pacific. Linscott was transferred to Camp Lejeune in September of that year and appointed Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander.

During April 1949, Linscott was transferred to Washington, D.C. and appointed Marine Corps Liaison officer in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations under admiral Louis E. Denfeld. He continued in this capacity under admiral Forrest Sherman and following the promotion to the rank of Major general in July 1951, he was appointed Director of Landing Force Development Center at Quantico.

Linscott was appointed Commanding general of Camp Lejeune in August 1952, but was appointed Commanding General of the Department of the Pacific in June 1953. He spent following two years with training and administration of Marine units along the West Coast and retired from the Marine Corps after 38 years of active service on September 30, 1955. He was advanced to the rank of lieutenant general for having been specially commended in combat.

Lieutenant general Henry D. Linscott died on October 17, 1973 in Alameda, California and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia together with his wife May Rich Linscott (1896–1989) and daughter Helen May Linscott(1925–1965). They also had a son, Henry D. Linscott Jr. who served with his father on the staff of admiral Turner and retired as Captain, U.S. Navy in 1968.

Decorations
Here is the ribbon bar of Lieutenant General Henry D. Linscott: