Frank E. Garretson

Frank Edmund Garretson (February 27, 1918 – January 23, 2006) was an American military officer who served in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general. A veteran of World War II, he distinguished himself as commanding officer of Company F, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division during the attack on Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll, on February 1–2, 1944 and received the Navy Cross, the United States' second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.

Garretson remained in the Marines and participated in battles in the Korean War and Vietnam War. He served as commander of Task Force Hotel, which was assigned the task of maintaining the defense of Khe Sanh Combat Base and the surrounding outposts in 1968–1969. Garretson retired as deputy commander, Camp Pendleton in June 1970.

Early career Frank E. Garretson was born on February 27, 1918, in Salem, Iowa, as the oldest son of farmer and football coach of Iowa Wesleyan Tigers, Herman John Garretson and Marion Scott Becker. His mother died, when Frank was only seven years old, and his family moved to California, where his father later remarried to woman named Helen Huston. The whole family moved to Seattle, Washington, where young Garretsons attended the Garfield High School. While at the high school, Frank excelled in football and track and was recruited by the Washington Huskies football, representing the University of Washington.

The Fourth Marine Division was then ordered to Maui, Hawaii, where Garretson participated in the intensive training of replacements for casualties sustained in the Marianas. He resumed his duties as 2nd Battalion's executive officer, when lieutenant colonel Rothwell rejoined the battalion.

In October that year, Garretson and his Task Force Hotel took part in the Operation Scotland II, where his forces uncovered various North Vietnamese Army (PAVN) supply caches and graves but saw only minor skirmishes with the enemy. For the rest of the year, Task Force Hotel conducted search and clear operations in an area generally bounded by Route 561, Route 9, the Vietnamese Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), and the Laotian border.

For his service as assistant division commander, 3rd Marine Division and additional duty as commanding general, Task Force Hotel, Garretson was decorated with the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and also received National Order of Vietnam and Gallantry Cross with Palm by the Government of Republic of Vietnam.

Brigadier General Frank E. Garretson died of renal failure after three weeks of illness on January 23, 2006, aged 87, at his home in San Diego. He was buried with full military honors at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery beside his wife Cecily, who died in July 2002. They had together three children: daughters Sarah and Cecily; and son John, who served in the Navy Medical Corps and retired as captain, USN.