Samuel C. Cumming

Samuel Calvin Cumming
Brigadier General Cumming in the Wartime photo.
Born	(1895-10-14)October 14, 1895 Kobe, Empire of Japan
Died	January 14, 1983(1983-01-14) (aged 87) Sarasota, Florida
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1917–1946
Rank	Major General
Service number	0-209
Commands	25th Marine Regiment
Battles/wars	World War I Battle of Belleau Wood Battle of Saint-Mihiel Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge Meuse-Argonne Offensive World War II Battle of Kwajalein Battle of Saipan Battle of Tinian
Awards	Silver Star (3) Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart (2)
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.

World War I

Samuel Calvin Cumming was born on October 14, 1895 in Kobe, Japan as a son of Reverend Dr. Calvin Knox Cumming (1854-1935) and his wife Ona Elizabeth Patterson Cumming (1865-1955). He spent his first eleven years of age in Japan, where his father served as Presbytarian missionary at church in Toyohashi.

His family later moved back to the United States in 1906 and settled in Virginia. 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 subsequently moved to the vicinity of Gondecourt. The 5th Marines underwent training focused on the trench warfare, including trench construction, bayonet fighting, grenade throwing, gas mask drill and weapons firing at land targets and airplanes. The training was conducted by elite french Chasseurs Alpins, which were attached to the training as an instructors. Cumming showed great leadership skills and was promoted to the rank of First lieutenant on August 11, 1917.

In October of that year, 5th Marines were attached to the 4th Marine Brigade under Brigadier general Charles A. Doyen and sent within 2nd Army Infantry Division to took part in joint maneuvers with French troops near Bourmont. Cumming was appointed Adjutant of 2nd Battalion under Major Frederick M. Wise in January 1918 and his regiment moved to the trenches in Toulon sector, just southeast of Verdun in mid-March 1918. The service in the trenches were almost calm for 5th Marines and except several smaller german raids, they spent their time with digging of new trenches and dugouts and repairing of the old ones.

First lieutenant Cumming was appointed again a Platoon Leader in 51st Company on June 1, 1918 and subsquently led his unit to the Battle of Belleau Wood. During the fighting near the town of Château-Thierry, Cumming led his platoon to the attack and was hit by enemy machine gun fire to his right leg on June 11th. 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."

Upon basic treatment at First aid station, Cumming has been taken to the U.S. Army Hospital No. 1 at Vichy for surgery. His recovery took seven weeks and Cumming rejoined 5th Marine as an regimental Intelligence officer on August 1, 1918. For his previous gallantry in action in Belleau Wood, he was decorated with Silver Star citation and Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with Gilt Star by the Government of France.

Following his promotion to the rank of Captain at the beginning of September 1918, Cumming was appointed Commanding officer of his old 51st Company and led his unit during subsequent Battle of Saint-Mihiel. The 5th Marines moved to the trenches east of the town of Fleury and took part in patroling and push of the lines towards the Germans.

During the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge in October 1918, Cumming led his company to the attack under heavy artillery bombardment and machine gun fire. He didn't hesitate to expose himself to enemy fire several times in order to strenghten the morale of his troops. Even if he was wounded again by enemy machine gun fire, he supervised his troops until they consolidate their positions. For this act of valor, Cumming received his second Silver Star.

His wound was not so serious at this time and Cumming was able to return to his unit after two weaks. During the last days of War, he led his company during the combats near the town of Beaumont on November 4th. Loyal but also fanatical german troops encircled his unit and Cumming resisted until the Armistice of 11 November 1918. His repeated act of bravery was awarded with his third Silver Star. Cumming also received Order of the Star of Romania and another French Croix de guerre 1914–1918. He was also authorized to wear Fourragère.

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.

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 Samuel C. Cumming:

1st Row	Silver Star with two Gold Stars				Legion of Merit				Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"				Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
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 two 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)