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Virginia Military Institute Archives
VMI ArchivesPreston Library
Lexington, VA 24450
Business Number: 540-464-7516
archives@vmi.edu
URL: http://www.vmi.edu/archives
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use
Manuscript collections in the VMI Archives are made available for educational and research use. The VMI Archives should be cited as the source. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any copyright holders. Materials from our collections may not be redistributed, published or reproduced without permission from the VMI Archives. Contact the VMI Archives for additional information.
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions.
Online Access
Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr.'s World War I memoirs, diary, and letters are available online .
Preferred Citation
Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. papers, 1913-1990. MS 0006. VMI Archives, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia.
Biographical / Historical
Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. (1896-1990) was a United States Marine Corps four-star general, and saw distinguished service in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. He was appointed the 20th Commandant of the Marine Corps in 1952.
| 1896 February 10 | Born in Norfolk, Virginia | |
| 1917 May | Graduated from the VMI. Shepherd, along with many other classmates, were declared graduates a month early, having been called into active duty. | |
| 1917-1919 | Served with the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, American Expeditionary Forces, France | |
| 1920-1922 | Aide to the Commandant of the Marines Corps | |
| Junior White House aide | ||
| 1922 | Married Virginia Tunstall Driver and the couple had four children. | |
| 1922-1925 | Served on United States ships Idaho and Nevada | |
| 1927-1929 | Served with the 4th Marines in China | |
| 1937-1939 | Commander, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Brigade, Fleet Marine Force | |
| 1939-1942 | Staff member, Marine Corps School | |
| 1942-1943 | Regimental Commander, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division | |
| 1943-1944 | Assistant Division Commander, 1st Marine Division | |
| 1944-1945 | Commanding General, 6th Marine Division | |
| 1946-1948 | Assistant Commandant and Chief of Staff, Marine Corps | |
| 1948-1950 | Commandant, Marine Corps Schools | |
| 1950-1951 | Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific | |
| 1952-1956 | Commandant, Marine Corps | |
| 1956 January 1 | Retired from Marine Corps | |
| 1956 March | Recalled to active duty | |
| Chairman, Inter-American Defense Board, 1956-1959 | ||
| 1959 October | Retired from active duty for second time | |
| 1990 August 6 | Died at his home in La Jolla, California, and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia. |
Scope and Contents
The Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. papers consist primarily of the following: Unpublished memoirs and accompanying documents Photograph albums and scrapbooks dating from Shepherd's years as a VMI cadet, as Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, and from his service as President of the Inter-American Defense Board An interview with Shepherd conducted by the archivist of the MacArthur Library regarding Shepherd's role during the Korean War, assault at Inchon Correspondence Clippings Certificates and resolutions Printed material The unpublished memoirs include detailed information about Shepherd's early Marine Corps career and his participation in World War I. They include copies of his World War I diary and personal correspondence.
Related Material
Other repositories holding papers relating to Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. include the United States Marine Corps History Division (Quantico, Virginia).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Generals—United States—Biography
- Inter-American Defense Board
- Photographs
- Scrapbooks
- United States. Marine Corps—History—World War, 1939-1945
- United States. Marine Corps—Officers—Biography
- World War, 1914-1918
- World War, 1939-1945
Existence and Location of Originals
The memoirs and addenda were copied from originals that are no longer extant, according to family sources. The Shepherd family believes that the originals once held by Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. were lost following his death.
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- MacArthur, Douglas, 1880-1964
- Shepherd, Lemuel C., Jr. (Lemuel Cornick), 1896-1990
Container List
Correspondents and topics include: Mobert Bonhomme Nagano Eiji (Japanese General) Chaplain W. F. McClain Mrs. Lemuel C. Shepherd Guam Liberation Day A form letter for the sympathy message sent to parents of soldiers killed in action
Transcripts of two oral history interviews conducted during 1966 and 1967. One covers Lemuel C. Shepherd's entire career while the other covers the Korean War and the Battle of Inchon.
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Interview transcript covering the Korean War1966 August 24English.Scope and Contents
Transcript of an oral history interview conducted by the archivist at the MacArthur Library, regarding Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.'s role during amphibious assault at Inchon (South Korea) during the Korean War.
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Interview transcript covering Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.'s military career1966-1967English.Conditions Governing Use
This item must be read in person and may not be reproduced. For copies, contact the United States Marine Corps History Division (Quantico, VA).
Existence and Location of OriginalsThe original recordings and transcript were created and are held by the United States Marine Corps History Division.
A report on Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.'s trip to Japan.
Notes concerning origin of Japanese sword of surrender, a circular, Japanese propaganda, and a citation for distinguished service medal.
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VMI cadet scrapbook1913-1917English.Scope and Contents
Scrapbook compiled by Lemuel C. Shepherd during his VMI cadetship. Includes photographs and memorabilia for the period 1913-1917.
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Pre-World War II career scrapbook1920-1939English.Scope and Contents
Primarily clippings. The scrapbook also contains some memorabilia, including invitations from Mrs. Roosevelt and a thank you note signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
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United States Marines in World War II scrapbookEnglish.Scope and Contents
Primarily newspaper clippings concerning Guam and New Britain.
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World War II, 6th Marine Division scrapbookEnglish.Scope and Contents
Primarily clippings concerning Okinawa (Japan) and limited memorabilia.
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Japanese inspection trip scrapbook1955 AprilEnglish.Scope and Contents
Includes clippings, postcards, photographs, and printed materials.
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Military insignia of French Colonial Troops scrapbook1955 AprilEnglish.Scope and Contents
A collection of approximately 35 metal insignias.
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Visit to Korea photograph album1953English.Biographical / Historical
"From the officers and men of the First Marine Division, FMF"
Scope and ContentsContains photographs with detailed captions commemorating General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.'s visit to Korea.
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Inter-American Defense Board trip photo album1956-1959English.Scope and Contents
Contains photos of Argentina, Bolivia, Cuba, Haiti, Paraguay, and Peru.
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Peruvian submarines launching ceremonies photographs1957 February 5English.
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Douglas MacArthur at Pearl Harbor photographs1951 April 16-17English.
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Surrender Ceremony in Tsingtao, China photographs1945 October 25English.
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Marine Corps inspection of United States forces trip photographs1953-1955English.Scope and Contents
Includes photographs from visits to Korea, Yokosura Marine Barracks, Camp Pendleton, and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing in Miami, Florida.
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Marines Corps trip photographs1955 MarchEnglish.Scope and Contents
Includes photographs from trips to Argentina and Brazil.
One three ring binder containing a copy of the typescript of "My Memoirs," the unpublished autobiography of General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr., along with copies of related documents.
"Volume I" (written circa 1964) of the autobiography provides a detailed narrative beginning with Shepherd's early life, VMI cadetship, entrance into the United States Marine Corps and early training, a thorough account of his combat service in France during World War I, and activities in the immediate post-War period through 1920. The emphasis is on a detailed account of his World War I service. This narrative is accompanied by related documents, including the typescript of a diary kept during the early part of World War I (August 1917-March 1918), letters written home during the War, and other documents.
"Volume II" relates to the post-World War I era (1921 and foward). It contains fewer pages of narrative; most of this section consists of documents, records of citations, articles, clippings, and correspondence.
Includes various pamphlets, magazines, and yearbooks, most relating to the United States Marine Corps during World War II.