Jack P. Juhan

Jack Phillip Juhan (December 28, 1904 – February 24, 2002) was a decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps, who reached the rank of major general. He is most noted for his service as executive officer of 8th Marine Regiment during the Pacific War. Juhan later served as commanding general of the Force Troops, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic and headed UN Personnel and Medical Processing Unit or 7th Marine Regiment during Korean War.

Early career

Jack P. Juhan was born on December 28, 1904, in Wapanucka, Oklahoma, the son of blacksmith Francis Nelson Juhan and his wife Elizabeth. His family moved to Glenwood Springs, Colorado, when he was 13 years old, and young Jack attended the local high school. Following his graduation in 1922, Juhan enrolled at the University of Denver, but after one year, he received an appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, by U.S. Senator Edward T. Taylor, who was also from Glenwood Springs.

As any other newly commissioned marine officer, Juhan was sent to the Basic School at Philadelphia Navy Yard, where he earned further officer education. He graduated from the school in January 1928 and was assigned to the 11th Marine Regiment under Colonel Robert H. Dunlap. His regiment was subsequently attached to the 2nd Marine Brigade and sailed to Nicaragua to fight rebel forces under Augusto César Sandino. After his arrival, Juhan was stationed in Matagalpa Department and his duty consisted of supervision of the elections, training of Guardia Nacional men and extensive jungle patrolling.

In November 1928, Juhan was ordered back to the United States and subsequently served in Marine Barracks at Quantico, Virginia, and Pensacola, Florida. This peaceful duties were terminated in September, when he was assigned to the 4th Marine Regiment and sailed for another expeditionary duty in Shanghai, China. Juhan served during the emergency there until May 1933 and participated in the defense of the Shanghai International Settlement.

This assignment was interrupted in November 1942, when Juhan was assigned to the instruction at Army Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon his graduation in February 1943, he returned to the Marine Corps Schools at Quantico and was appointed Assistant Chief of Operations and Training section. Juhan was later promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and appointed commanding officer of the Training battalion there.

Juhan was finally ordered overseas in February 1944, when he was appointed executive officer of the 8th Marine Regiment, under Colonel Clarence R. Wallace. However, the 8th Marines were transferred for rest and refit to Hawaii after heavy fighting in the Battle of Tarawa. Juhan oversaw the regiment during the training for their next campaign in Pacific: the Battle of Saipan.

The 8th Marines arrived there on morning of June 15, 1944 and participated in the initial landing. Shortly before the end of the battle, Lieutenant Colonel Rathvon M. Tompkins, the commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, 29th Marine Regiment, was wounded by enemy fire on July 2, 1944. Juhan became temporary commander of the battalion and distinguished himself during the heavy fighting in the next two days. For his service in this capacity, he was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V".

On July 4, Juhan was relieved by Major William W. McKinley and returned to the 8th Marine Regiment as executive officer. He participated in the subsequent landing on Tinian at the end of July 1944 and following his promotion to the rank of colonel, he was appointed an Intelligence officer (S-2) of the 2nd Marine Division under Major General Thomas E. Watson. Juhan also simultaneously served as director of the Marine Corps Institute located there. However, he left this capacity in June 1953, when he was appointed commander of the United Nations Personnel and Medical Processing Unit in Korea. He was responsible for the exchange of the prisoners of war and also for the clothing issue, security, food, communication, motor transport and the operation of the unit headquarters.

Juhan was appointed commanding officer of the 7th Marine Regiment in August 1953, but following the Armistice, he participated only in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone and was finally succeeded by Colonel Wendell H. Duplantis in December 1953. However, he stayed in Korea and was appointed Chief of Staff of the 1st Marine Division under Major General Randolph M. Pate. For his service in Korea, Juhan received his second Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and also the Order of Military Merit, Eulji Medal with Silver Star by the Government of South Korea.