Charles D. Mize

Charles D. Mize was born on December 4, 1921, in Cave Spring, Georgia, as the son of farmer Hershel Edgar and Annie Ruth Mize. He attended the local high school and subsequently entered the Darlington School in Rome, Georgia, in summer 1939. However, Mize left the school during the following year in order to accept appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. Upon his graduation, Mize completed the Reserve Officers Course at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico in January 1945 and was ordered to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, where he joined 55th Replacement Draft as platoon leader. He was attached as Rifle platoon leader to the Company F, 2nd Battalion, 29th Marines under Colonel Victor Bleasdale and sailed with 6th Marine Division for Okinawa in March 1945. Mize went ashore at the beginning of April, but was shot in the upper arm by a Japanese soldier he was flushing out of a cave. He was ordered to the United States for treatment and was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in July 1945. Mize received the Purple Heart medal for his wounds and Navy Presidential Unit Citation for participation of his division in Okinawa. ==Postwar career==

His recovery lasted until November of that year and subsequently joined Marine detachment at Charleston Navy Yard for duty as Company Officer in Guard Company. Mize was transferred to the Marine Barracks Parris Island, South Carolina in January 1946 and served as Commander of Military Police Company until June of that year. Mize and his company were subsequently ordered to the area near Masan, for rest and he was promoted to the rank of captain in January 1951. He remained with his company until the beginning of March 1951 and then returned to the United States. Mize also received another three Navy Presidential Unit Citations during his service in Korea. ==Later career==

Following his return to the States and brief vacation with family, Mize joined Executive department of United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. He served in this capacity until June 1954 when he was ordered to the Junior Course, Amphibious Warfare School Quantico. During his instruction there, he was promoted to the rank of major in December of that year and completed the school in June 1955. Mize was transferred to Hawaii in August of that year and served as company commander with 3rd Shore Party Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. He later served as Regimental logistics and mess officer and left Hawaii in October 1957. He then focused on programs for attaining the increased combat readiness and also ordered extensive amphibious training. Mize was decorated with his second Legion of Merit for his service with the division and was succeeded by Major General Edward A. Wilcox on July 29, 1976. He retired two days later completing 32 years of active service. ==Retirement==

After retiring from the Marine Corps, Mize settled in Falls Church, Virginia, and became local builder. He was a partner in the Wilson-Mize Construction Company for next 18 years and also was a member of the Army-Navy Country Club, the Capital Exchange Club and the Naval Academy Alumni Association. ==Decorations==

Below is the ribbon bar of Major General Charles D. Mize: ==References==