George O. Van Orden

George Owen Van Orden (September 9, 1906 – May 13, 1967) was a decorated U.S. Marine brigadier general. He is most noted for his service as executive officer of the 3rd Marine Regiment during the Bougainville Campaign, where he received the Navy Cross, the United States military's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat. Van Orden completed his career as director of First Marine Corps Reserve District in Boston, Massachusetts.

He is considered to be the "Father of Marine Snipers" due to co-authoring in 1942 a Marine Corps report recommending adoption of the M70 rifle with Unertl 8X scope for military use (ultimately unsuccessful) and his subsequent role establishing the training program for USMC snipers.

Early career

George Owen Van Orden was born on September 9, 1906, at the Marine Barracks, Pensacola, Florida, as the son of late marine colonel George Van Orden and his wife Stella Leone Owen. His father served as commanding officer of the Marine barracks at that time, and young George spent his childhood between marines. He later attended Manlius School in DeWitt, New York and subsequently received appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. However, Van Orden left the academy in May 1925 after two years of study and enlisted as private in the Marine Corps on May 25, 1925, at Baltimore, Maryland. He served for two years as enlisted man, reached the rank of sergeant and later qualified as Expert rifleman for rifle competitions at Quantico. Van Orden received the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal for his exemplary behavior and was selected to attend Officer Candidates School at Quantico, Virginia, in July 1927 and completed the Meritorious Commissioning Program in March 1928.

He was commissioned second lieutenant during that time and ordered to the Basic School at Philadelphia Navy Yard for additional officer training. Van Orden completed the school one year later and sailed for Haiti as a member of 1st Marine Brigade. He remained in the Caribbean until summer 1931 and subsequently served with the Marine detachment aboard the battleship USS Oklahoma in the Pacific Ocean.

Following his return to the United States, Van Orden served consecutively as commanding officer of Marine Rifle Ranges at Cape May, New Jersey, Wakefield, Massachusetts, and Quantico, Virginia. He graduated from the Artillery Course, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico and had extensive experience in naval antiaircraft and seacoast gunnery. Improving small arms marksmanship and techniques of weapons of all types were all consuming interest with him. A Distinguished Marksman, he has been active in competitive marksmanship, ordnance design, and weapons training, since early in his career.

His official Navy Cross citation reads:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Colonel George Owen Van Orden (MCSN: 0-4335), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service while serving as Executive Officer of the Third Marines, THIRD Marine Division (Reinforced), during action against enemy Japanese forces in the Cape Torokina Area, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, on 1 November 1943. Landing in a free boat which was repeatedly struck by enemy fire during its approach to the beach, Lieutenant Colonel Van Orden discovered our fighting units in disorder and, fearlessly exposing himself to hostile gun emplacements, promptly reorganized the forces, appointed new leaders and reestablished control, enabling our troops to continue the attack. Later, when severe enemy machine-gun fire drove the shore party from the beach and interrupted ship unloading activities essential to the success of our landing operations, he unhesitatingly proceeded to the area and, with utter disregard for his own safety, inspired and encouraged the men to complete their vital task. Lieutenant Colonel Van Orden's intrepid leadership and resolute devotion to duty in the face of grave peril were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

He was then attached to the I Marine Amphibious Corps Task Group (composed of I Marine Amphibious Corps staff) and participated in the Landing on Emirau in March–April 1944. The landing was unopposed and Van Orden joined the staff of 3rd Marine Division under Major General Allen H. Turnage. He was appointed Division Infantry Training Officer and participated in the Recapture of Guam in July–August 1944.

Despite the initial success of the landing, Japanese launched a counterattack during the night of July 25–26, and some enemy troops slipped through the front lines. General Turnage ordered Van Orden to assume command of two companies from 3rd Pioneer Battalion to eliminate this threat. In three hours the pioneers killed 33 of the assailants and lost three of their own men. Van Orden was slightly wounded and received the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" for his merits during Guam operation. Guam was declared secure on August 10, 1944.

Van Orden was ordered back to the United States in November 1944 and assumed command of Marine Barracks at Klamath Falls, Oregon, which served as the rehabilitation center for tropical diseases. He served in this capacity until July 1945, when he was ordered back to the Pacific area as commanding officer of 5th Field Service Depot at Guam. Within this capacity, he was responsible for the clothing, ordnance, equipment and supplies for the V Amphibious Corps units. He was also promoted to the rank of colonel for his new assignment.

Postwar service

Following the surrender of Japan in August 1945, Van Orden and his depot moved to Sasebo, Japan, and participated in the occupation duties until February 1946, when he was attached to the staff of Fleet Marine Force, West Pacific under Brigadier General Gerald C. Thomas as logistics officer. During this assignment, Van Orden came into conflict with the regulations, when he was accused of improper handling of military rations. He received instruction about handling of rations in peculiarly worded order and did what the letter of the order said. However his superiors insisted, that what he did wasn't what the order meant.

Although Inspector general of the Marine Corps, Robert Blake, didn't find the accusation legitimate, because Van Orden did what the letter of the order said, both quartermaster general William P. T. Hill and director of personnel Pedro del Valle, overruled him and Van Orden received a Letter of reprimand. Van Orden was subsequently transferred back to the United States and attached to the Marine Corps Base Quantico.

He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, together with his wife Flora Mason Van Orden (1907–1990). They had a daughter, Flora, and a son, George Mason Van Orden (1939–2013), who also served in the Marines and retired as lieutenant colonel in 1983. George O. Van Orden's grandson, George Kelley Van Orden, served in the Marines and retired in 2003 as chief warrant officer W-3.