Sidney S. Wade

Sidney Scott Wade (September 30, 1909 – November 24, 2002) was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps who attained the rank of major general. He is most noted as commanding general of all Marine forces during 1958 Lebanon crisis and previously as commanding officer of the 1st Marine Regiment during Korean War. Wade later served as commanding general of the Force Troops, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic and MCRD San Diego.

Early career

Sidney S. Wade was born on September 30, 1909, in Bloomington, Illinois, and attended local high school in 1927. He subsequently enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in May 1928 and after one year of enlisted service, he was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, in July 1929. Wade graduated in 1933, and was commissioned second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on the same date. He was then sent to the Basic School at Philadelphia Navy Yard for further officers training.

Following the completing of the course, he was subsequently assigned to the Marine detachment aboard the cruiser USS Pennsylvania and later served aboard the heavy cruiser USS Salt Lake City. Wade was transferred to the 4th Marine Regiment under Colonel John C. Beaumont and sailed for China in 1935. He was stationed in Shanghai and participated in the defense of the Shanghai International Settlement. During his service there, he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in 1936.

He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in April 1943, and when IMAC was redesignated III Amphibious Corps under Major General Roy Geiger in April 1944, he participated in the planning and execution of the Bougainville Campaign, Landing on Emirau, Recapture of Guam or Battle of Okinawa. For his service in this capacity, Wade was decorated with the Legion of Merit with Combat "V".

He remained in Korea until the beginning of April 1952, when he was ordered back to the United States. During his service in Korea, Wade also received Air Medal and Navy Presidential Unit Citation.

Another staff assignment came in June 1956, when he was attached to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, as assistant to the director of Long Range objectives group, Rear Admiral Roy L. Johnson. While still serving in this capacity, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in May 1957.

He subsequently relieved Brigadier General Jack P. Juhan in July 1957 as commanding general of the Force Troops, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic based at Camp Lejeune. In this capacity, he was responsible for all independent units under FMFLANT such as support artillery units, antiaircraft artillery units, military police battalions, separate engineer units and other miscellaneous force units of the Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic.

General Wade returned to Camp Lejeune at the beginning of October 1958 and relieved Brigadier General Randall M. Victory as assistant division commander of the 2nd Marine Division stationed there. He relieved Major General James P. Riseley as commanding general of the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in July 1959 and remained in this capacity until October 1960. Meanwhile, he was promoted to the rank of major general in July 1960.