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SUBJ/DEATH OF GENERAL LEONARD F. CHAPMAN, JR., FORMER COMMANDANT OF
/THE MARINE CORPS//
REF/A/ALMAR/CMC/WASHINGTON DC/-/071740ZJAN00//
AMPN/REF A IS ALMAR NOTIFICATION OF GENERAL CHAPMAN'S DEATH//
RMKS/ 1.  THE REFERENCE ANNOUNCED THE DEATH ON JANUARY 6, 2000 OF
GENERAL LEONARD F. CHAPMAN, JR., U.S. MARINE CORPS, RETIRED, WHO
SERVED AS THE TWENTY-FOURTH COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.
2.  GENERAL CHAPMAN WAS BORN NOVEMBER 3, 1913, IN KEY WEST, FLORIDA.
UPON GRADUATION FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN 1935 HE WAS
COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE ARMY FIELD ARTILLERY
RESERVE, RESIGNING A MONTH LATER TO ACCEPT A COMMISSION IN THE
MARINE CORPS.  AFTER BASIC SCHOOL HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 1ST
BATTALION, 10TH MARINES IN QUANTICO FOR A YEAR BEFORE ATTENDING FIELD
ARTILLERY SCHOOL AT FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA.  HE REPORTED TO THE 10TH
MARINES IN SAN DIEGO IN 1938 AND WAS TRANSFERRED IN 1940 TO THE USS
ASTORIA.  AS COMMANDER OF THE MARINE DETACHMENT ON THE ASTORIA, HE
TOOK PART IN THE EARLY PACIFIC RAIDS AND IN THE BATTLES OF CORAL
SEA AND MIDWAY.  IN THE SUMMER OF 1942 HE BECAME AN INSTRUCTOR AT
QUANTICO, DEPARTING IN 1944 TO JOIN THE 1ST MARINE DIVISION.  GENERAL
CHAPMAN PARTICIPATED IN COMBAT ON PELELIU AS THE S-3, 11TH MARINES
AND THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE 4TH BATTALION, EARNING THE LEGION
OF MERIT WITH COMBAT "V".  HE WENT ON TO LEAD THE 4TH BATTALION
IN THE BATTLE FOR OKINAWA, EARNING THE BRONZE STAR MEDAL WITH COMBAT
"V".  HIS POST WAR ASSIGNMENTS INCLUDED SERVING AS THE
SECRETARY OF THE GENERAL STAFF, FLEET MARINE FORCE, PACIFIC; IN THE
DIVISION OF PLANS AND POLICIES, HQMC; AS THE COORDINATOR, RESERVE
ARTILLERY TRAINING UNIT, MARINE CORPS SCHOOLS, QUANTICO; AND CHIEF OF
THE SUPPORTING ARMS GROUP, MARINE CORPS DEVELOPMENT CENTER. HE
COMMANDED THE 12TH MARINES FROM JULY 1952 UNTIL AUGUST 1954 WHEN HE
BECAME COMMANDING OFFICER, MARINE BARRACKS, YOKOSUKA, JAPAN.  GENERAL
CHAPMAN THEN SERVED AS COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE MARINE BARRACKS
IN WASHINGTON, D.C. IN 1956, DEPARTING IN 1958 TO BECOME COMMANDING
GENERAL, FORCE TROOPS, FLEET MARINE FORCE, ATLANTIC.  HE
REPORTED TO HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS FOR DUTY AS ASSISTANT CHIEF OF
STAFF, G-4, IN 1961, AND IN 1964 WAS NAMED CHIEF OF STAFF.  GENERAL
CHAPMAN SERVED AS THE ASSISTANT COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS FROM
JUNE 1967 UNTIL 1 JANUARY 1968 WHEN HE BECAME THE TWENTY-FOURTH
COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.  HE RETIRED ON JANUARY 1, 1972.
3.  A COMPLETE LIST OF GENERAL CHAPMAN'S MEDALS AND DECORATIONS
INCLUDED:  THREE AWARDS OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL; TWO
AWARDS OF THE LEGION OF MERIT, ONE WITH COMBAT "V"; THE BRONZE STAR
MEDAL WITH COMBAT "V"; THE NAVY COMMENDATION RIBBON WITH COMBAT
"V"; TWO PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATIONS; THE AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE
MEDAL WITH FLEET CLASP; THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH ONE
SILVER STAR IN LIEU OF FIVE BRONZE STARS; THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN
MEDAL; THE NATIONAL DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL WITH ONE BRONZE STAR; THE
KOREAN SERVICE MEDAL; THE KOREAN ORDER OF NATIONAL SECURITY MERIT,
FIRST CLASS; THE VIETNAM NATIONAL ORDER, 2D CLASS; AND THE UNITED
NATIONS SERVICE MEDAL.
4.  A MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR GENERAL CHAPMAN WILL BE HELD AT 1300 ON
JANUARY 14, 2000, AT THE NEW CHAPEL ON FT MYERS.  BURIAL WILL FOLLOW
AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY.
5.  PER THE REFERENCE, ALL BASES AND STATIONS ARE DIRECTED TO
MAINTAIN HALF MAST OF THE NATIONAL ENSIGN UNTIL SUNSET ON THE DATE
OF INTERMENT.
6.  J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE
CORPS.//
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