William C. James

William Capers James (June 22, 1896 – September 30, 1974) was an officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of brigadier general, who served as chief of staff, 1st Marine Division during the Guadalcanal Campaign and later as commanding officer, Marine Corps Base San Diego.

James spent most of his career in administrative positions and never held field command until he was appointed chief of staff, 1st Marine Division. He sailed with that division to Guadalcanal in August 1942, but was relieved the next month due to poor performance and ordered back to the United States. James never held combat command again and spent the remainder of his career in administrative positions.

Early career William C. James was born on June 22, 1896, in Florence, South Carolina, and following high school, he attended the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. He graduated in June 1916 and entered the Marine Corps service as second lieutenant and was ordered to the Marine Officer's School at Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, for further officer training. Following the completion of the school, James was ordered to Santo Domingo in April 1917 for his first tour of expeditionary duty which lasted until February 1919. He then returned stateside as first lieutenant for duty at Marine Barracks Quantico.

James was ordered to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in February 1922 and served with local Marine Barracks at Naval Base Guanatanamo until June 1924. He then served at Marine Barracks, Philadelphia Navy Yard until he was ordered to the Marine Barracks, Charleston Navy Yard in September 1926.

World War II James (extreme right) during the staff meeting with Major General Vandegrift (extreme left) during the Guadalcanal Campaign. The others are: Gerald C. Thomas (Operations officer), Randolph M. Pate (Logistics officer) and Frank B. Goettge (Intelligence officers). James (sitting in the front row, third from left) with the staff of 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal in late 1942. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, James was still stationed at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., and appointed as Military Secretary to the Commandant, Thomas Holcomb in March 1940. In this capacity, he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Office of the Commandant, supervision of the schedule of the commandant and other duties connected with administration of Commandants officer. He also simultaneously served as officer in charge, Marine Corps Public Information.

Although they were distant cousins, James left Guadalcanal as bitter enemy of Thomas. Vandegrift recommended James for the promotion of brigadier general, which was ultimately not approved. Upon his return, James assumed command of Marine Corps Base San Diego, California, and had the opportunity to train the men who benefited from his experience during the Guadalcanal Campaign. He held this assignment until the end of April 1944, when he was replaced by Brigadier General Matthew H. Kingman.

He was ordered back to the Pacific area in May 1944 and attached to the staff of V Amphibious Corps under Major General Harry Schmidt as deputy chief of staff, Military Government Section. James participated in the Marianas Islands Campaign and subsequently was attached to Military Government command on Tinian as deputy chief civil affairs officer.

Later career

James assumed command of Forward Echelon, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, on Oahu, Hawaii, and held this assignment until June 1945. However, his career gained some satisfaction when he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in July 1945 and appointed assistant director of personnel and deputy to Major General Thomas E. Watson at Headquarters Marine Corps.

Decorations

Here is the ribbon bar of Brigadier General William C. James: