William H. Rupertus

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William H. Rupertus
November 14, 1889 – March 25, 1945

MajGen William H. Rupertus, author of the "Rifleman's Creed"
Place of birth Washington, D.C.
Place of death Quantico, Virginia
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branch United States Marine Corps
Years of service 1913-1945
Rank Major General
Commands held 4th Marine Regiment
1st Marine Division
Battles/wars World War I
Banana Wars
* Occupation of Haiti
Second Sino-Japanese War
World War II
* Guadalcanal campaign
* Battle of Tulagi and Gavutu-Tanambogo
* Battle of Cape Gloucester
* Battle of Peleliu
Awards Navy Cross
Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2)

Major General William Henry Rupertus (November 14, 1889 – March 25, 1945) was a general officer of the United States Marine Corps. He is most famous for being the author of the Rifleman's Creed.

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[edit] Military career

Rupertus began his military career immediately after high school, originally intending to serve as a cutter captain in the United States Revenue Cutter Service (the earlier version of the modern Coast Guard. However, his excellent marksmanship led to his being recruited by the Marine Corps. He accepted a commission in November 1913, then attended the Marine Corps Officers School, graduating first in his class of 1915.

Rupertus served on the Marine Corps rifle team, earning the Distinguished Marksman badge and winning a number of shooting matches.

Rupertus was serving aboard the USS Florida (BB-30) when the United States entered World War I. He was called back to the U.S. to command a detachment of Marines headed for Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Rupertus served in Haiti until after the war, when he was sent to staff officer training and then made Inspector of Target Practice in the Operations and Training Division at Marine Corps Headquarters.

In July 1937, Rupertus was a battalion commander in the 4th Marines when the Japanese attacked Shanghai in the Second Sino-Japanese War.

During World War II, he served as Assistant Division Commander of the 1st Marine Division under Major General Alexander Vandegrift. It was around this time that Rupertus is said to have penned The Rifleman's Creed, with the intent of encouraging expert marksmanship and Marines' trust in their weapons.

Rupertus commanded the Landing Task Force Organization which captured the islands of Tulagi, Gavutu and Tanambogo in the Guadalcanal campaign. After Vandegrift left the division in 1943, Rupertus took command. He led the 1st Marine Division during the Battle of Cape Gloucester and the Battle of Peleliu.

In November 1944, Major General Rupertus became Commandant of the Marine Corps Schools at Quantico, Virginia. The tenure was short, however, as he died of a heart attack on 25 March 1945, just four months later. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[1]

[edit] Awards and honors

Major General Rupertus' decorations included the Navy Cross, two Distinguished Service Medals, the Presidential Unit Citation with one blue star, the Victory Medal with the Grand Fleet Clasp, Haitian Campaign Medal, Expeditionary Medal with one bronze star, China Service Medal, American Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four bronze stars, American Theatre Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal and the Haitian Distinguished Service Medal.

[edit] Namesake

In 1945, the destroyer USS Rupertus (DD-851) was named in his honor.[2]

[edit] See also

United States Marine Corps Portal

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "William Henry Rupertus", ArlingtonCemetery.net, 2006.
  2. ^ "Rupertus", Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships 2005.

[edit] References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.

[edit] External links

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