Francis M. McAlister

Francis Marion McAlister (March 29, 1905 - September 2, 1965) was an highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of Major General. He distinguished himself several times during World War II and later received Silver Star for gallantry in action in Korean War. McAlister concluded his career as Commanding General of Department of the Pacific.

Early career
Francis M. McAlister was born on March 29, 1905 at Houck, Arizona, but his family later moved to Mississippi. He attended the Mississippi Heights Academy at Blue Mountain and following the graduation in 1922, he spent a year at Mississippi State College, before he entered the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland.

Following the four years of studies, McAlister graduated on June 2, 1927 and was commissioned Second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on the same date. He was ordered to the Basic School at Philadelphia Navy Yard for his officer training and after finishing the instruction in January 1928, he was assigned to the 11th Marine Regiment under Colonel Robert H. Dunlap at Norfolk, Virginia. His regiment was recently reactivated and attached to the 2nd Marine Brigade under Brigadier general Logan Feland.

The 2nd Marine Brigade subsequently sailed to Nicaragua and participated in the operations against rebel forces under Augusto César Sandino in the vicinity of Corinto. McAlister distinguished himself and received Nicaraguan Presidential Medal of Merit with Diploma from the Government of Nicaragua. The 11th Marines were ordered stateside in August 1929 and subsequently deactivated.

After a brief stay at Marine Corps Base Quantico, McAlister was assigned to the prestigious job with Marine Detachment at President Hoover summer camp near Criglersville, Virginia during September 1929. He remained in this capacity until the end of October 1932, when he received orders for another tour of expeditionary duty.

McAlister was assigned to the 4th Marine Regiment under Colonel Emile P. Moses and sailed for China. While there, he participated in the guard duties at Shanghai International Settlement and was promoted to the rank of First lieutenant in November 1933. One month later, McAlister was appointed Commander of the Marine Detachment abord the gunboat USS Asheville. This vessel already served within Special Service Squadron, Asiatic Fleet in the Chinese waters and was tasked with the „protection of american lives and property“.

He finally returned stateside in June 1935, when he was assigned to the Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. McAlister received promotion to Captain in July 1936 and remained in Quantico until he was transferred to the Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C. in July 1937. While there, he served with the War Plans Section until July 1940.

World War II
McAlister subsequently embarked for Hawaii and following the promotion to Major in July 1941, he was appointed Commanding Officer of the Marine Barracks at Naval Ammunition Depot, Oahu. He served in this capacity when Japanese attack the Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He returned stateside during the summer 1942 and following the activation of the I Marine Amphibious Corps under Major general Clayton B. Vogel at San Diego, California at the beginning of October 1942, he was appointed Corps Engineer Officer. Meanwhile he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in August 1942.

He sailed with that command to the South Pacific Area in October 1942 and after brief stay at Hawaii and later at New Caledonia, he took part in the fighting in Southern Solomons, Bougainville and New Georgia. For his service in this capacity, McAlister was decorated with Legion of Merit with Combat "V". When I MAC was redesignated III Marine Amphibious Corps in April 1944 under Major general Roy Geiger, he served in the same capacity as with IMAC. During the Battle of Guam in July 1944, he commanded all engineer units during that operation and distinguished himself again. He was decorated with his second Legion of Merit for his service on Guam.

McAlister later took part in the Peleliu Operation in September 1944 and after high casulties suffered in this operation, units of III MAC was sent to Russell Islands for rest and refit.

His command was designated leading force of all marine ground units for the upcoming Battle of Okinawa at the beginning of April 1945. McAlister took part in the planning phase and skillfully combined engineer units of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps into a effective engineer group. He later went ashore and personally directed the construction of the bridges and roads despite adverse weather conditions. His units also participated in the defusing of land mines placed by the Japanese defenders. For his service on Okinawa, McAlister received Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and Navy Presidential Unit Citation.

Korean War
Colonel McAlister returned to the United States in July 1945 and served fir next two years as Officer in Charge of Engineer Supply Division, Marine Corps Depot of Supplies at San Francisco under Brigadier general Arnold W. Jacobsen. McAlister subsequently left San Francisco and attended Logistics course at Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas and later senior course at Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. He completed all courses in August 1949 and assumed duties as Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics at Camp Pendleton under the command of Major general Graves B. Erskine.

He was attached to the staff of 1st Marine Division under Major general Oliver P. Smith in July 1950 and subsequently sailed for Korea as Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics. McAlister participated in the Inchon Landing at the beginning of September 1950. Thank to his efforts, he organized and capably developed the G-4 section into a smoothly functioning and highly efficient organization. Constantly alert and aggressive, he provided the Commanding General with accurate information on the extent of logistical support that could be given to any proposed tactical course of action and made sound recommendations concerning necessary decisions regarding supply, thereby contributing essentially to the success achieved by his Division in operations against the enemy. McAlister also took part in the Second Battle of Seoul at the end of September of the same year and later also Battle of Chosin Reservoir.

At the end of January 1951, McAlister was attached to the 1st Marine Regiment, where he relieved Commanding officer, Chesty Puller, who was promoted to the general's rank and appointed Assistant Division Commander. Chinese Army launched a series of counterattacks in the vicinity of Horseshoe Ridge and Hill 902 and advanced toward the town of Yangdongwon-ni. First Marines under McAlister's command took the defensive positions and during the fierce fighting of vital bridge in the area, McAlister suffered wounds by enemy's mortar fire. However, he refused the evacuation and continued to lead and direct his units until the numerically superior enemy forces were repulsed.

McAlister received basic treatment and remained in command of the regiment until May 1951, when he was relieved by Colonel Wilburt S. Brown. For his gallantry in action, while with 1st Marines, he was decorated with Silver Star. McAlister also received Purple Heart for his wounds and another two Navy Presidential Unit Citations.

Later career
Upon his return to the United States in June 1951, McAlister was appointed President of the Marine Corps Equipment Board with the seat at Quantico, Virginia. His job was to consider, whether new equipment for the Marines will be approved for the use or not. After almost two years of service in this capacity, McAlister was ordered to Hawaii in April 1953, where he was appointed Chief of Staff, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific under Lieutenant general Franklin A. Hart. While in this capacity, he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General in March 1954.

For his new rank, he was ordered to Washington, D.C. in August 1954 and attached to the Headquarters Marine Corps as Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics under General Lemuel C. Shepherd. McAlister was promoted to the rank of Major General in January 1956.

McAlister subsequently relieved Major general Alan Shapley as Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Division stationed at Camp Courtney, Okinawa at the beginning of July 1957 and commanded 3rd Division during the defense duties of the Far Eastern area until the end of March 1958, when he was relieved by Major general David M. Shoup.

He then served as Deputy Commander, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific at Hawaii under Lieutenant general Vernon E. Megee, before he transferred to San Francisco at the beginning of January 1960. McAlister assumed his final duties, when he was appointed Commanding general of Department of the Pacific. Unfortunatelly he only oversaw the already decided deactivation of the command, which finished at the beginning of July 1960 and their responsibilities were transferred to Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and Headquarters Marine Corps.

Major general Francis M. McAlister subsequently retired from the Marine Corps, after 33 years of commissioned service and settled in Blue Mountain, Mississippi. He died there on September 2, 1965 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia.

Decorations
Here is the ribbon bar of Major General Francis M. McAlister: