U.S. Marine Corps career
1890s After receiving his Marine Corps commission, Lejeune was assigned to
Marine Barracks, New York, on March 31, 1890, for Marine Corps "indoctrination and instruction". From October 1, 1891, to July 28, 1893, Lejeune served on board and was promoted to
first lieutenant on February 26, 1892. On August 28, 1893, he was assigned to the Norfolk Marine Barracks, where he served until July 31, 1897. While stationed in Norfolk this second time, he married Murdaugh on October 23, 1895. He was reassigned from
Cincinnati on February 17, 1899, and on February 18, 1899, joined the to command the Marine Guard on board. He was promoted to
captain on March 3, 1899, and left his position on the
Massachusetts on May 10, 1900.
1900–1916 From July 3, 1900, to November 12, 1900, Captain Lejeune was assigned to recruiting duty at
Boston, Massachusetts. On November 22, 1900, he reported at the Marine Barracks,
Pensacola, Florida, to command a Marine detachment there. From January 12 to January 21, 1903, Captain Lejeune was on duty at the Norfolk Barracks, he was en route to duty at New York City on January 26, 1903. He was promoted to
major on March 3, 1903, and was on duty assigned
to Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., from May 15, 1903, to August 8, 1903. On August 8, 1903, Major Lejeune was assigned to to command the Marine Battalion on board that vessel, joining the ships company August 16, 1903. On October 23, 1903, the battalion, with Lejeune in command, was transferred to . From December 16 to December 21, 1904, Major Lejeune was on shore duty on the
Isthmus of Panama in command of this battalion, leaving there on the latter date on board . From January 27, 1905, to May 20, 1906, Lejeune served at the
Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. He then returned to
Panama in command of a battalion of Marines from May 29 to July 6, 1906, the battalion being transported both ways on board , returning to Washington Marine Barracks. On March 29, 1907, Major Lejeune was detached from command of the Washington Barracks and ordered to the
Philippines. His family—his wife and three daughters—accompanied him on this overseas duty. He was detached on June 8, 1909, and ordered to return to the United States. He then attended the
United States Army War College, graduating in 1910. After returning to the United States, Lejeune was again called upon for expeditionary duty. He sailed from
Philadelphia, February 20, 1913, as second in command of the First Regiment, Second Provisional Brigade Marines, and disembarked February 27, 1913, at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Then-Lt. Colonel Lejeune became the first head of the
Marine Corps Association with the goal of professional advancement among Marines. He returned to Philadelphia on board USS
Prairie on May 2, 1913. On November 27, 1913, Lejeune sailed from New York with the 2nd Advanced Base Regiment, his ultimate destination
Veracruz,
Mexico, but returned to the United States to receive his promotion to
colonel on February 25, 1914. Col. Lejeune participated in the
Tampico Affair. Colonel Lejeune and his unit eventually landed in Mexico on April 22, 1914, and participated in the
United States occupation of Veracruz. He returned home in December 1914, this time to report to
Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C., to become the
Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps to Major General
George Barnett,
Commandant of the Marine Corps. He was promoted to
brigadier general on August 29, 1916.
World War I With the
American entry into World War I in April 1917, Lejeune assumed command of the newly constructed Marine Barracks,
Quantico, Virginia; however, his overseas service was inevitable, and in June 1918, he arrived at
Brest, France. He was promoted to
major general on July 1, 1918. , former commander of the 2nd Division, and Major General John A. Lejeune of the USMC, the division's current commander, at
Marbache, France, August 11, 1918. Upon reporting to
General John J. Pershing,
Commander-in-chief (CinC) of the
American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) on the
Western Front, he was assigned to succeed Brigadier General
Charles R. Boardman in command of the 64th Infantry Brigade of the
32nd Division but later assumed command of the
4th Marine Brigade, part of the
2nd Division, immediately following the attack of the division in the
Battle of Soissons. Of note,
Earl Hancock Ellis was then serving as the brigade's adjutant. On July 28, 1918, Major General Lejeune assumed command of the 2nd Division after its former commander, Major General
James Harbord, had been reassigned to command the
AEF's Services of Supply. He was the second Marine officer to hold an
Army divisional command,
Brigadier General Charles A. Doyen having previously commanded the division for two weeks. Lejeune commanded the 2nd Division during the victorious action at the
battle of St. Mihiel in September. The operation was a success, and Lejeune sent an order of congratulations to the men of his command: Lejeune emphasized tightly coordinated action that emphasized extensive rehearsal and disciplined artillery gunnery. This discipline enabled infantry elements to follow closely behind barrages that would otherwise be far too risky. This "leaning on the artillery" meant that the enemy faced direct assault while still reverting from the shock of a bombardment. , C-in-C of the AEF, congratulating Major General Lejeune, CG 2nd Division, on the fine noble done by men of the 2nd Division, Heddesdorf, Germany, December 1918. Lejeune stated his philosophy as "The key to combat effectiveness is unity – an esprit that characterizes itself in complete, irrevocable, mutual trust. Now my infantry trusts my artillery and engineers, and my artillery and engineers know this so they will go through hell itself before they let down the infantry. My infantry believe that with such support they are invincible-and they are." ==Retirement, VMI, and death==