Samuel C. Cumming
Samuel Calvin Cumming | |
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Brigadier General Cumming in the Wartime photo. | |
Born | Kobe, Empire of Japan | October 14, 1895
Died | January 14, 1983 Sarasota, Florida | (aged 87)
Allegiance | |
Service/ | |
Years of service | 1917–1946 |
Rank | |
Service number | 0-209 |
Commands | 25th Marine Regiment |
Battles/wars | World War I |
Awards | Silver Star (3) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal |
Relations | Hugh S. Cumming (Uncle) Hugh S. Cumming, Jr. (Cousin) |
Samuel Calvin Cumming (October 14, 1895 – January 14, 1983) was an highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of Major General. He is most noted for his service as as Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Marine Division during Mariana Islands Campaign and previously as Commanding officer of 25th Marine Regiment during Battle of Kwajalein. He was a nephew of Hugh S. Cumming, former Surgeon General of the United States.
Early military career
Samuel Calvin Cumming was born on October 14, 1895 in Kobe, Japan[1] as a son of missionary Dr. Calvin Knox Cumming (1854-1935).[2] He spent his first eleven years of age in Japan, before his family moved back to the United States. Samuel attended the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil engineering in April 1917. He was in the same class as later the 20th Commandant of the Marine Corps, Lemuel C. Shepherd. He was commissioned a Second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on April 7, 1917.
Cumming was subsequently attached as Platoon leader to the 51st Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment at Philadelphia Navy Yard and sailed for France. His regiment arrived on June 28, 1917 at Saint-Nazaire and two months after his arrival to the European battlefield, Cumming was promoted to the rank of First lieutenant and transferred to the 51st Company. He led his platoon during the Battle of Belleau Wood, until he was wounded by enemy machine gun fire. His whole platoon was wiped out except himself and another soldier. Cumming later described his engagement as follows:
"Line after line moved off toward a wood six hundred meters away, across an open and level field covered with grass six inches high. The ground became covered with a sheet of machine gun bullets from a Prussian Guard machine gun battalion and their supporting infantry... We moved forward at a slow pace, keeping perfect lines. Men were mowed down like a wheat. A shell hit on my right, and an automatic rifle team, which was there a moment ago disappeared, while men on the right and left were armless, legless, or tearing at their faces." [3]
After his recovery from his wounds, Cumming was assigned back to his unit and participate in the Battle of Château-Thierry.
For his service in World War I, Cumming was decorated with three Silver Stars for bravery in combat, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster (by the Army) for wounds. He also received Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with two Gilt Stars and Fourragère by the Government of France, Knight of Order of the Star of Romania and Silver Medal of Bravery by the Government of Montenegro.[4]
World War II
During the year 1940, Cumming was assigned to the Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C. During his time there, Cumming was promoted to the rank of Colonel, while serving as Acting Adjutant and Inspector of the Marine Corps. He also reorganized Personnel Branch to its present form.
In July 1943, Colonel Cumming was transferred to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, to become a Commanding Officer of the newly created 25th Marine Regiment. His regiment sailed to Pacific Theater in January 1944 and led his regiment during the Battle of Kwajalein.
In April 1944, Cumming was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and was appointed to the capacity of Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Marine Division. In this capacity, he replaced Brigadier General James L. Underhill on April 11, 1944. Cumming subsequently participated in Battle of Saipan and Battle of Tinian and was transferred back to the United States in September 1944. His next assignment was within the Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, where he served as Chief of Staff. Cumming remained on this post for the rest of the war.
For his service in Pacific Theater, Brigadier general Cumming was awarded with Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and Navy Presidential Unit Citation with one star.[5]
Postwar Life
Brigadier General Cumming retired from the active service on November 1, 1946. Upon retirement, he was promoted to the rank of Major General for having been specially commended for performance of duty in actual combat. He and his wife Eula moved to the Upperville, Virginia, where they ran a cattle farm. During his time in Upperville, Cumming was active within the Episcopal Church, where he was active as a layman. He also worked as treasurer and senior warden of Trinity Church in Upperville, Virginia. Cumming was very respectable citizen and was also named to the County planning commission.
He later moved to Sarasota, Florida, where he lived until his death in Sarasota Memorial Hospital on January 14, 1983. He was survived by his wife Eula and two sons, Samuel Jr. and Allan.
Decorations
Here is the ribbon bar of Major general Cumming:
1st Row | Silver Star with two Gold Stars | Legion of Merit | Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" | Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster | ||||||||||||
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2nd Row | Navy Presidential Unit Citation with one star | Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal with two service stars | World War I Victory Medal with four battle clasps | Army of Occupation of Germany Medal | ||||||||||||
3rd Row | Yangtze Service Medal | American Defense Service Medal | American Campaign Medal | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three service stars | ||||||||||||
4th Row | World War II Victory Medal | French Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with two Gilt Stars | Knight of Order of the Star of Romania | Silver Medal of Bravery (Montenegro) |
References
- ^ Clark, Georbe B. (2006). The Six Marine Divisions in the Pacific: Every Campaign of World War II. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 15. ISBN 978-0-7864-2769-7.
- ^ "Rev Calvin Knox Cumming (1853 - 1935) - Find a Grave Memorial". Findagrave.com. 2010-07-04. Retrieved 2015-04-26.
- ^ Clark, Georbe B. (2013). Devil Dogs: Fighting Marines of World War I. Naval Institute Press. p. 148. ISBN 0-89141-653-6.
- ^ "Valor Awards for Samuel C. Cummings". valor.militarytimes.com. 2010-07-04. Retrieved 2015-05-22.
- ^ "Valor Awards for Samuel C. Cummings". valor.militarytimes.com. 2010-07-04. Retrieved 2015-05-22.
- 1895 births
- 1983 deaths
- People from Kobe
- Virginia Military Institute alumni
- United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni
- United States Army War College alumni
- United States Marine Corps generals
- American military personnel of World War I
- American military personnel of World War II
- American Marine Corps personnel of World War I
- United States Marine Corps World War II generals
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Recipients of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)
- Knights of the Order of the Star of Romania