George L. Bartlett

George Lewis Bartlett (October 13, 1924 – December 19, 2024) was a decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps who attained the rank of Brigadier General. A veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, he served 34 years on active duty, rising from an enlisted navigator-bombardier to the Director of the Facilities and Services Division, Installations and Logistics. Following his retirement in 1977, he served for ten years as the Executive Director of the Marine Corps Association. Bartlett died at age 100, having been one of the oldest living Marine Corps general officers.

Early life and World War II George L. Bartlett was born on October 13, 1924, in Nampa, Idaho. His father worked for the Union Pacific Railroad as a civil engineer but lost his job during the Great Depression. The family moved to Mackay, Idaho, where his father found work engineering roads for the State of Idaho. Young George was sent to Wasatch Academy, a boarding school in Mount Pleasant, Utah, graduating in the summer of 1942.

He subsequently enrolled at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, but left after one semester to serve in the United States military. Bartlett enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in Portland, Oregon, on February 15, 1943, and was immediately sent to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in California for boot camp. After thirteen weeks of training, he was promoted to Private First Class. Bartlett was selected for flight crew training and ordered to the Aviation Mechanic School at Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida for six months.

Bartlett retired a second time in January 1989. He remained active in skiing and traveled extensively to the Galápagos Islands, Australia, Africa, China, Tibet, and Scandinavia. A regular attendee of air shows at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, he flew aboard a B-25 Mitchell Panchito—the same type of aircraft he crewed during World War II—in May 2014 at the age of 89. He resided in Potomac, Maryland, with his second wife, Donna, whom he married in 1995. He was previously married to Dorothy Pryor from 1950 until 1980; they had two sons.

Bartlett died on December 19, 2024, at the age of 100.

Decorations Brigadier General Bartlett's personal decorations include:

Award Notes Naval Aviation Observer Badge Qualification badge Legion of Merit with Combat "V" Air Medal with two gold stars Joint Service Commendation Medal Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" Combat Action Ribbon Navy Presidential Unit Citation Navy Unit Commendation with one star Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal American Campaign Medal Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two service stars World War II Victory Medal National Defense Service Medal with one service star Korean Service Medal with two service stars Vietnam Service Medal with three service stars Korean Presidential Unit Citation Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation United Nations Korea Medal Vietnam Campaign Medal