Harold E. Rosecrans

Harold Ellett Rosecrans (March 1, 1897 – April 13, 1980) was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general, who commanded 2nd Battalion 5th Marines during the assault on Tulagi Island. He later commanded 17th Marine Regiment during Battle of Cape Gloucester.

Early years

Rosecrans was born to machinist Benjamin Rosecrans Jr. and his wife Mary Ellett on March 1, 1897, in Cohoes, New York. Following his high school graduation and United States entry into World War I, Rosecrans went to Albany, New York, and enlisted to the Marine Corps on April 20, 1917. He attended his basic training at Marine barracks within Philadelphia Navy Yard and subsequently was assigned to 23rd Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment on June 3, 1917. Rosecrans and his unit were deployed to France on June 27, and, while most of his company was used to form 6th Machine Gun Battalion, he was transferred to the 55th Company, 2nd Battalion at the end of August.

The 55th Company was sent to the trenches in [Toulon?] sector in March 1918, and Rosecrans participated in several defensive actions there. He was promoted to the rank of corporal on April 5, 1918, and also received Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal for his enlisted service. While he participated in the Battle of Belleau Wood in June 1918, Rosecrans was wounded by enemy fire on June 7 and sent to field hospital for treatment. After his recovery, he was assigned to the Replacement Battalion on June 30, before he was transferred back to his 55th Company at the end of August 1918.

He subsequently participated in the Battle of Saint-Mihiel, Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge and Meuse-Argonne Offensive, and, after the Armistice, he served with the Occupation Forces during the Allied occupation of the Rhineland. While stationed in Germany, Rosecrans was appointed second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve on March 10, 1919. He also received Fourragère for his service in World War I by the Government of France.

Interwar period

Rosecrans and his unit were ordered back to the United States in August 1919 and stationed at Marine Barracks Quantico, where he attended the School of Application. He was subsequently commissioned second lieutenant in the regular Marine Corps and assigned to the Second Brigade of Marines. Rosecrans sailed for Haiti and subsequently also for Dominican Republic and participated in the marine expeditionary duties in these countries. He led this regiment during the Battle of Cape Gloucester and was relieved by Colonel Francis I. Fenton on February 19, 1944.

He was subsequently ordered back to the United States and assigned to Marine Corps Base Quantico, where he was appointed director of the Marine Corps Command & Staff School. Rosecrans remained in this capacity until November 1944, when he was transferred back to the Pacific and appointed commanding officer of the 7th Field Depot within III Marine Amphibious Corps. Rosecrans' unit was redesignated 7th Service Regiment, and he sailed with that unit to Okinawa in June 1945. His regiment consisted of engineer company, signal company, military police company, ordnance company, supply company, transport company and several Marine ammo companies. For his service on Okinawa, Rosecrans was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V".

Later life

After the surrender of Japan in September 1945, Rosecrans led his regiment to China, where Civil war broke out. However, he was transferred to the staff of the III Marine Amphibious Corps in February and ordered back to the United States in May 1946. For his leadership of 7th Service Regiment in China, Rosecrans was decorated with the Legion of Merit with Combat "V". 2nd Row