Lowell E. English

Lowell E. English - Quick Facts

Profile Overview of Lowell E. English

Lowell Edward English (July 8, 1915 – September 29, 2005) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. He is most noted for his service as assistant division commander of 3rd Marine Division during the Vietnam War and, later, as commander of Task Force Delta. He rose to the rank of major general and completed his career in 1969 as commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.

This profile of Lowell E. English covers Early Career and Breakthrough, World War II, Postwar service, Vietnam War and Later service and retirement.

Early Career and Breakthrough of Lowell E. English

English was born in Fairbury, Nebraska, on July 8, 1915, and completed high school in Lincoln, Nebraska. He attended the University of Nebraska and graduated in summer 1938 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. In college, he was a member of Army ROTC unit and also played three years for the varsity football team, which was one of the Big Six Champions at the time. He turned down an offer to play football with the Chicago Bears to join the Marine Corps.

On July 1, 1938, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marines. English was ordered to the Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard for basic officer training, which he completed in June 1939. During his time at the school, his instructors included many great names of Marine Corps history, including Leonard B. Cresswell, Chesty Puller, Roy M. Gulick, Howard N. Kenyon, and Russell N. Jordahl. Many of his classmates would gain renown or general's rank: Gregory Boyington, Hugh M. Elwood, Carl J. Fleps, Edward H. Hurst, Charles J. Quilter, Donn J. Robertson and Alvin S. Sanders.

English was later attached to the Marine detachment aboard the battleship USS Nevada and participated in the patrol cruises in the Pacific Ocean.

After a year of sea duty, English was ordered to the Marine Corps Base San Diego, California, where he served as a recruit training officer. In December 1940, he joined the new 7th Defense Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Lester A. Dessez. This new kind of Marine unit, created to defend Pacific islands from sea and air attack, had 5"/51 caliber guns, searchlights, aircraft sound locators, and antiaircraft batteries with M2 Browning and M1917 Browning machine guns.

English spent three months in intensive training. During this time, he married Eleanor R. McCallum on February 24, 1941. Their marriage would produce three children—Loellen Kay, Bruce Browning and Becky Lynne—and last until his death.

In March 1941, he sailed as platoon leader to Tutuila, American Samoa, where he participated in the Rainbow Five plans; helped train 1st Samoan Battalion, a native reserve unit; and was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant.

World War II of Lowell E. English

After Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the Headquarters Marine Corps activated the 3rd Marine Regiment and deployed it to American Samoa in September 1942. English was promoted to captain and appointed company commander with 2nd Battalion. The 3rd Marines served in Defense Force, Samoan Group and underwent intensive jungle training. The regiment remained on American Samoa until May 1943, when it was ordered to New Zealand to reinforce the new 3rd Marine Division.

3rd Marine Division moved to the staging area on Guadalcanal in August 1943 and prepared to invade Bougainville in the North Solomon Islands. The 3rd Marine Division units were ordered to combat at the end of October and English participated in the Landing at Cape Torokina on November 1. He and his men faced heavy Japanese resistance and constant attacks of mosquitoes. He fought on Bougainville until Christmas Day of 1943, when 3rd Marines were ordered back to Guadalcanal for rest and refit.

English was promoted to major and transferred to 21st Marine Regiment, where he was appointed executive officer with 2nd Battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Eustace R. Smoak. He supervised the training of the regiment until July 1944, when it sailed to recapture Guam in the Mariana Islands. English went ashore with his battalion on July 21 and remained in the combat area until August 10. For his service on Guam, he was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V".

Even after Guam was declared secure, the 21st Marines patrolled its northern jungles for disorganized remnants of the enemy. After Smoak was promoted in late 1944, English was promoted to lieutenant colonel and appointed commander of 2nd Battalion, 21st Marines. He spent several months in training before the 21st Marines were ordered to Iwo Jima in February 1945.

The whole regiment was kept in reserve until February 21, when they landed under heavy enemy fire with orders to capture the high ground between Airfields No. 1 and No. 2. The scarred and pitted terrain made progress slow and costly. The 2nd Battalion suffered heavy casualties, and English was himself wounded on March 2, when a Japanese bullet went through his knee. His battalion was being rotated to the rear, but instead, he received orders to turn his men around and plug a gap in the front lines.

Postwar service

Due to his wounds, English was relieved by his executive officer, Major George A. Percy, and ordered to the rear for treatment. For his service on Iwo Jima, English was decorated with the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and also received the Purple Heart for his wounds.

He was back to the United States and after full recovery in September 1945, he assumed command of Guard Battalion, Replacement Training Command at Camp Pendleton, California. English held that command until early 1946, when he was ordered to the academic staff at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, as a military psychology and leadership instructor. After three years in that capacity, he was transferred to the same position within United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, and remained there until fall of 1952.

English was then ordered to the instruction at Armed Forces Staff College at Norfolk, Virginia, which he completed in January 1953 and immediately left for Korea. He was attached to the 1st Marine Regiment as an executive officer and participated in the defense actions on the Main line of resistance until April 1953, when he assumed command of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines.

He held that command only for one month; the 1st Marine Regiment was ordered to reserve and English was attached to the headquarters of U.S. Eighth Army under Lieutenant General Maxwell D. Taylor as Marine liaison officer. He remained in Korea until early 1954, when he was ordered back to the United States. English was decorated with his second Legion of Merit with Combat "V" for his service with 1st Marines and also received his second Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" for service with Eight Army.

Source: adapted from Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell_E._English), text available under CC BY-SA 4.0.