Henry D. Linscott

Henry Dallas Linscott (September 3, 1894 – October 17, 1973) was a decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of lieutenant general. He is most noted for his service on the staff of Amphibious Force Commander, Admiral Richmond K. Turner during World War II and later as the commanding general of the Department of the Pacific and Camp Lejeune.

Early career

Henry D. Linscott was born on September 3, 1894, in the town of Milford, Kansas, the son of local postmaster Melvin C. Linscott and his wife Mary Ellen. His father served in the 74th Pennsylvania Infantry of the Union Army during the American Civil War and was discharged with the rank of captain. Following graduation from high school, Linscott enrolled in Kansas State Agricultural College from which he graduated in summer 1916 with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering. During his university years, Linscott was a member of the Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps, in which he was commissioned a second lieutenant, in April 1914.

After graduation from college, Linscott lived and worked in Texas for a period of time before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps on May 9, 1917. He was commissioned second lieutenant on the same date and posted to the 29th Company, 4th Provisional Regiment, and spent next four months in training at the Marine Barracks in Quantico, Virginia. Linscott sailed with his regiment for his first expeditionary duty to Santo Domingo in November 1917, having been promoted to first lieutenant, and took part in the skirmishes with the rebel forces under the command of Ramón Natera.

Linscott returned to the United States in August 1918 and the following month married Stella May Rich (1896–1989). He was posted to the Officer Training Camp at Marine Barracks Quantico, completing the training two months later and receiving a promotion to the rank of captain. He subsequently sailed for France and following his arrival in October 1918, he was appointed commander of the 65th Marine Guard Company in St. Nazaire. Linscott was transferred to the 11th Marine Regiment in July 1919 and sailed back to the States as commander of Company D.

Linscott served back at Quantico until October 1919 and was then attached to the Radio School Detachment at Marine Barracks Parris Island, South Carolina. He remained in that capacity until August 1922, when he sailed again to Santo Domingo for service with 2nd Marine Brigade under Brigadier General Harry Lee. During his second tour of duty in the Dominican Republic, he was posted to the headquarters company of the 1st Marine Regiment until July 1924 and was subsequently transferred to the Marine barracks at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay as commanding officer of Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment.

In November 1924, Linscott was ordered to the Marine Corps Base San Diego for service as the base quartermaster and later as the executive officer of the Recruit Depot. He was detached from San Diego in September 1927 in order to attend a training course for company officers at Quantico. Linscott graduated in March 1928 and was appointed commander of 58th Company, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment under the command of Colonel Robert H. Dunlap. He sailed with the regiment to León, Nicaragua and participated in jungle patrols against Sandino rebels. Linscott was later transferred to command 60th Company, 3rd Battalion in Puerto Cabezas and finally was attached to 2nd Brigade Headquarters under Brigadier General Logan Feland in Managua. He later served as an instructor and executive officer of the Eastern Area, Guardia Nacional de Nicaragua.

Upon his return to the United States in August 1930, Linscott assumed duties with the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy in Washington, D.C., and enrolled in the George Washington University Law School, earning a law degree in June 1933. He was subsequently appointed commander of Headquarters & Service Battery of 1st Battalion, 10th Marines at the Marine barracks in Quantico and remained in that capacity until April 1934, when he was appointed assistant operations officer with Headquarters & Headquarters Company, Fleet Marine Force under the command of Major General Charles H. Lyman at Coco Solo in the Panama Canal Zone. Linscott was also promoted to the rank of major during that time.

His official citation reads:

Quote|text=For exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the Government of the United States while serving as Assistant Chief of Staff to the Commander, Amphibious Forces, South Pacific from August, 1942, to July, 1943, and as Assistant Chief of Staff to the Commander, Third Amphibious Force, from July, 1943, to March, 1944, Colonel Linscott was awarded the Legion of Merit and a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit. Participating in the initial occupation of Guadalcanal-Tulagi, Colonel Linscott also took part in all subsequent phases of the Solomon Islands campaign, including the seizure of the Russell Islands and the assault on New Georgia. Despite frequent Japanese air attacks and bombardments by hostile shore batteries, he carried out his highly important assignments under the most difficult conditions, thereby contributing in a large measure to the success of our forces in that vital area.

Later service

In September 1945, Linscott was ordered to Hawaii and appointed commander of 6th Service Depot, Service Command of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific (FMFPac) under Brigadier General Merritt A. Edson. His unit was responsible for the supply, salvage, evacuation, construction, personnel management, quartering and sanitation needs of FMFPac units and others marine units in its area. After her death in 1989, his wife was interred alongside him. Linscott also had a son, Henry D. Linscott Jr. who served in the United States Navy and was posted to the staff of Admiral Turner at the same time as his father; he retired as a captain in 1968.

Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Lieutenant General Henry D. Linscott: