World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseClifton Bledsoe Cates was born in Tiptonville, Tennessee, United States in 1893. In 1910, he graduated from the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri, United States. In 1916, he graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law. He was commissioned into the US Marine Corps Reserves as the United States entered into WW1; with the 6th Marine Regiment, he fought in France and was awarded the Navy Cross, Distinguished Service Cross with oak leaf cluster, Silver Star, among other decorations. He returned to the United States in Sep 1919 and remained in the military, serving as Major General George Barnett's aide-de-camp until 1925, aboard USS California as the commanding officer of her Marine Detachment, with the 4th Marine Regiment in Shanghai in China between 1929 and 1932, studied at the Army Industrial College and the Marine Corps Schools, and with the War Plans Section of the Division of Operations and Training at Headquarters Marine Corps in 1935.

ww2dbaseAfter the outbreak of WW2 in Asia in 1937, in 1938, Cates was assigned to the 4th Marine Regiment as a battalion commander in Shanghai, rising to be the regimental executive officer in 1939. In 1940, Cates returned to the United States. After studies at the Army War College, he served as the director of the Marine Officers Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, United States. After the US entry into WW2, in 1942, he was made the commanding officer of the 1st Marine Regiment, which he commanded during the Guadalcanal campaign. Returning to the US, he served as the commandant of the Marine Corps Schools at Quantico, Virginia, United States until 1944. Later in the war, he served on Iwo Jima as the commanding general of the 4the Marine Division during the campaigns in the Mariana Islands and on Iwo Jima; he received a Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his service on Tinian and a Gold Star in lieu of a second award for his service on Iwo Jima. Among his foreign decorations included the Légion d'honneur of France and the Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau of the Netherlands.

ww2dbaseAfter WW2, Cates was promoted to the rank of general and was made the 19th commandant of the United States Marine Corps. After serving in that role between 1948 and 1952, his rank was reverted to his permanent rank of lieutenant general and served as the commandant of the Marine Corps Schools. He retired from service in 1954 and was later promoted to the rank of general on the retirement list. He passed away from illness at the United States Naval Hospital in Annapolis, Maryland, United States in 1970 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, United States.

ww2dbaseHis son, Clifton Cates, Jr., followed his footsteps and entered military service. An officer with the US Navy, the younger Cates would command USS Cassin Young, which saw combat in WW2, in the 1950s.

Clifton Cates Interactive Map

Clifton Cates Timeline

Photographs