Oscar F. Peatross

Oscar Franklin Peatross born 2 March 1916 died 26 May 1993, was a United States Marine Corps Major General who served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He is remembered with a plaque on the parade deck at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island

Early life
Peatross was born in Raleigh, North Carolina and graduated from Needham B. Broughton High School in 1934. He later graduated from North Carolina State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1939.

1940s
He joined the Marine Corps in 1940, reporting to Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. In November he entered Officer’s Candidate School. Peatross was commissioned a second lieutenant upon completion of the school in February 1941.

Lieutenant Peatross was assigned to the 2d Marine Division in San Diego, California then joined the 2d Marine Raider Battalion. As a platoon leader with Company B, he earned the Navy Cross for his actions during the Makin Island raid.

During the raid Peatross, leading a dozen Raiders in one of 18 rubber boats, did not receive word on a change of plan in the landing area. He led his 12 men onto the original planned landing site whilst the other 17 boats landed on a different beach. Taking the initiative, his Navy Cross citation read:

''Captain [then Lieutenant] Peatross boldly landed his men behind the enemy lines and attacked a superior enemy force. Continuing to harass the enemy's rear, thereby creating confusion in their ranks, Captain Peatross' daring tactics caused one of the enemy's aerial bombing formations to bomb its own troops. In this forceful and courageous engagement he and his group killed or wounded fifteen Japanese. His resourcefulness, leadership and personal valor were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.''

Peatross was promoted to Captain and then served with the Raiders in the Battle of Guadalcanal and Bougainville campaign where he was executive officer of the 2nd Marine Raider Regiment (Provisional).

Promoted to Major, he attended the Command and Staff School at Quantico in 1944.

During the Battle of Iwo Jima he was the Regimental R-3 Operations Officer of the 28th Marines then became executive officer of 3rd Battalion, 28th Marines.

He returned to Quantico in 1946 as an instructor with the Tactical Section, The Basic School, for the next three years.

1950s
He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1951 whilst serving as the Amphibious Warfare Instructor at the United States Army Armor School in Fort Knox, Kentucky. During the Korean War Peatross commanded the 2nd Battalion 5th Marines with the 1st Marine Division. He was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” in 1952.

Lieutenant Colonel Peatross transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps, where he served as Assistant Head, Officer Procurement Branch, Personnel Department, for the next three years. He assumed command of the 1st Recruit Training Battalion at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island. He later served as the S-3 Officer and Executive Officer of the Recruit Training Regiment. Peatross was promoted to Colonel in July 1959.

1960s
Returning to Quantico, Colonel Peatross attended the Senior School and after graduation in June 1960, commanded the Schools Demonstration Troops. He remained at Quantico until July 1963, serving successively as Chief, Ground Combat Section, Landing Force Development Center, and as Chief, Publications Branch, Marine Corps Education Center. Colonel Peatross then joined the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California, serving for several months as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4, and then as Chief of Staff of the III Marine Expeditionary Force during Exercise “Winter Night.”

In March 1964, he became Commanding Officer of the 7th Marines. When the 7th Marines was redesignated as the 7th Regimental Landing Team, 3d Marine Division, Colonel Peatross sailed with his unit to South Vietnam.

Colonel Peatross was the Landing Force Commander during Operation Starlite at Chu Lai, South Vietnam and employed the Regiment on the Chu Lai Perimeter. The 7th Regimental Landing Team was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its actions during the Operation. For his actions during Operation Starlite, Colonel Peatross was awarded the Silver Star Medal. He commanded eight regimental-size operations and was the Chief of Staff in Operation Utah. He then served for one month as Deputy Chief of Staff, 1st Marine Division. For service in Vietnam, he was also awarded a Gold Star in Lieu of a second Legion of Merit and four Vietnamese Medals; the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm three times and one Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star.

Back in the United States, he reported to Headquarters Marine Corps where he served consecutively as Head, Training Branch, G-3 Division; as Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration); and as Director, Management Anaylsis Group. For his service in the latter capacity, he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a third Legion of Merit. He was promoted to Brigadier General, 3 November 1966. While stationed at Headquarters Marine Corps, General Peatross was ordered to Harvard University to attend the Advance Management Program, Graduate School of Business Administration, during September–December 1966. Prior to his detachment, he was promoted to the rank of Major General, 18 October 1968.

He reported to Parris Island, South Carolina, in November 1968 as Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island, from November 1968 through May 1971.

Quotes
''“We find that the Marine Corps is made up of 99 percent Marines and 1 percent bullshitters. In peacetime, the bullshitters tend to be the ones you hear from. But I waded ashore on Guadalcanal in ’42. I looked all the way down the beach to my right and all the way up the beach to my left. There wasn’t a bullshitter in sight.”''