William Putnam Battell | |
|---|---|
 MG William P. Battell, USMC | |
| Born | (1906-12-26)December 26, 1906 Mediapolis, Iowa, US |
| Died | July 20, 1980(1980-07-20) (aged 73) Ruskin, Florida, US |
| Buried | Ruskin Memorial Park, Florida |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Service years | 1927–1965 |
| Rank | Major general |
| Service number | 0-4486 |
| Commands | Quartermaster General of the Marine Corps Marine Supply Center Albany |
| Conflicts | World War II |
| Awards | Bronze Star Medal Navy Commendation Medal |
William Putnam Battell (December 26, 1906 – July 20, 1980) was amustang officer in theUnited States Marine Corps, who is most noted for his service asQuartermaster General of the Marine Corps between dates July 1, 1963 – March 1, 1965. He began his career as enlisted man and was commissioned later. During World War II, Battell served as Signal Supply Officer in the Pacific theater and was decorated for bravery.[1][2][3]
Battell was born on December 26, 1906, inMediapolis, Iowa, as the son of Frederic Louis and Harriet Chapman Battell. His father served as freight auditor and postal inspector inDes Moines County, and young William attended high school inAmes, Iowa. Also both his grandfathers wereCivil war veterans – paternal Louis T. Battell served as captain and commander of Company D,24th Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry and maternal, Samuel M. Chapman, served with1st Iowa Volunteer Infantry and participated in theBattle of Wilson's Creek.
Upon the graduation in summer of 1924, he remained in Ames and entered theIowa State College there. However, college studies did not satisfy him, and Battell left the college in April 1927 in order to enter Marine Corps Service.[2]
He subsequently enlisted the Marine Corps as private on April 15, 1927, and following theboot camp, Battell was sent to theNaval Radio Material School atAnacostia for instruction. Upon the completion of the school, he was appointed an instructor and his daily classwork consisted of memorizing the wiring diagrams of every radio set then used by the navy.
Battell served in this capacity until June 1929, reached the rank of sergeant and receivedMarine Corps Good Conduct Medal for his exemplary behavior and efficiency. He was also selected for theOfficer Candidates School atQuantico, Virginia, and graduated from the Meritorious Commissioning Program on January 31, 1930, as second lieutenant in the Marine Corps.[1]
He then served for brief period at Marine Barracks,Norfolk Navy Yard, before he was sent tothe Basic School atPhiladelphia Navy Yard in August 1930 for further officer training. He completed the school in June 1931 and was attached to the Marine barracks atWashington Navy Yard. Battell sailed forChina in May 1932 and served with the Marine detachment inPeking until November of that year.[1][2]
Battell was then stationed atMare Island Navy Yard until July 1933, when he was attached to the Marine detachment aboard the aircraft carrierUSSSaratoga and participated in the Fleet Problem XV in theGulf of Panama and theCaribbean in April–May 1934.[1]
He was transferred to theMarine Corps Base San Diego in July 1934 and then toMarine Corps Base Quantico upon his promotion to first lieutenant in January 1935. Battell attended the Army Signal School atFort Monmouth,New Jersey, and completed the ten-month course in June 1936. He then served as an instructor atthe Basic School until July 1937, when he was promoted to the rank of captain and ordered back to Quantico.[1][2]
Battell was ordered for another tour of sea duties in May 1938, when he was appointed commanding officer of the Marine detachment aboard the battleshipUSSArkansas and participated in the patrol cruises in the western Atlantic until July 1939, when he was ordered to theMarine Corps Depot of Supplies, Philadelphia.
Battell served inPhiladelphia under Brigadier GeneralMaurice C. Gregory as signal supply officer until September 1941, when he was transferred toWashington, D.C., for service with theNavy Department. He was attached to the Radio Division,Bureau of Ships as head of the Marine Corps Installation and Maintenance Group. While in this capacity Battell served under Rear AdmiralEdward L. Cochrane and was responsible for satisfying thesignal supply needs of theFleet Marine Force.[1][2]
He was promoted to major in January 1942 and to lieutenant colonel in August of that year. Battell was decorated withNavy Commendation Medal for his at Navy Department and sailed for duty in Pacific area in February 1944 and was attached to the Headquarters Marine,Fleet Marine Force, Pacific atPearl Harbor as signal supply officer, Service Command, under Brigadier GeneralEarl C. Long.[1][4]
While in this capacity, Battell took part in the several inspection tours in combat areas and directed his subordinate units during the support ofPalau Islands Campaign andIwo Jima Operation. For his service in the Pacific, he was decorated with theBronze Star Medal withCombat "V".[1][2]
Battell returned to the United States in October 1946 and was attached to the Depot of Supplies, San Francisco, under Brigadier GeneralArnold W. Jacobsen. He was promoted to the rank of colonel in March 1948 and left San Francisco in August 1951 in order to attend theNaval War College inNewport, Rhode Island.[1]
He completed the instruction in June 1952 and assumed duty as supply officer at the staff ofMarine Corps Schools, Quantico, under Lieutenant GeneralClifton B. Cates. In October 1954, Battell moved to theCamp Pendleton,California, and served as base supply officer under Major GeneralJohn T. Selden until December 1955.
Battell then sailed forJapan and assumed duty as commanding officer, 3rd Service Regiment,3rd Marine Division under Major GeneralThomas A. Wornham. His regiment consisted of engineer company, signal company, military police company, ordnance company, supply company, transport company and several Marine ammo companies and Battell was responsible for division's daily running.[1]
He left Japan in December 1956 and assumed duty as director, Material Division, Supply Department atHeadquarters Marine Corps. For his new capacity, Battell was promoted to the rank ofbrigadier general in January 1957. He assumed command ofMarine Corps Supply Center Albany,Georgia in July 1958 and held this command until the beginning of September 1962. Shortly before the end of his tour at Albany, Battell was promoted to the rank ofmajor general.[1]
Battell was then attached back to Headquarters Marine Corps and served as assistant quartermaster general and deputy to Major GeneralChester R. Allen. He succeeded Allen as Quartermaster General of the Marine Corps in July 1963 and was responsible for the support of development, production, acquisition, and sustainment of general supply,Mortuary Affairs,subsistences,petroleum andwater, material and distribution management during peace and war to provide combat power to the U.S. Marine Corps units.[1]
He retired from active service on March 1, 1965, and settled inRuskin, Florida. Major General William P. Battell died on July 20, 1980, after a long illness in Ruskin and is buried together with his wife, Esther L. Martin Battell.[1]
Here is the ribbon bar of Major General William P. Battell:
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| Military offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Quartermaster General of the Marine Corps July 1, 1963 - March 1, 1965 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commanding General of theMarine Corps Supply Center Albany July 1, 1958 - September 1, 1962 | Succeeded by |
This article incorporatespublic domain material from websites or documents of theUnited States Marine Corps.