Shoup, David M.
General David M. Shoup, USMC (Retired), (1904-1983)
David Monroe Shoup was born on 30 December 1904 in Battle Ground, Indiana. Graduating from DePauw University in Indiana, he was appointed a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps from that state in July 1926. Completing the Basic School at Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, he was assigned to various Marine Barracks until reporting to the Marine Detachment on board USS Maryland in June 1929. After a brief assignment at the San Diego Marine Barracks, he was transferred to the Puget Sound Navy Yard at Bremerton, Washington in May 1932 and promoted to First Lieutenant a month later. While at this duty station, he had temporary duty with the Civilian Conservation Corps until serving abroad in China with the Fourth Marines in November 1934. Returning to Puget Sound in June 1936, he was promoted to Captain in the fall.
Following instructor duty at the Marine Corps School at Quantico, Virginia in June 1940, Shoup was assigned to the Sixth Marines at San Diego, California. In April 1941, he was promoted to Major and departed a month later to Iceland with the First Marine Brigade. After commanding Second Battalion, Sixth Marines, he transferred to the Second Marine Division in June 1942. In August 1942, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and departed to the Pacific war zone, serving as an observer at the Guadalcanal and the New Georgia campaigns. Promoted to Colonel in November 1943, Shoup commanded all the Marine Corps troops landing on Betio Island at the Battle of Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands. Wounded in the leg upon landing on 20 November, he fearlessly led his troops for two days under constant enemy fire and was largely responsible for the enemy's defeat. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" on this occasion, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. In December 1943, he became Chief of Staff of Second Division, participating at the Battles of Saipan and Tinian.
Completing duty at Marine Headquarters in June 1947, Shoup served as Commanding Officer, Service Command, Fleet Marine Force. In June 1949, he had staff duty with the First Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, San Diego and commanded the Basic School at Quantico a year later. Returning to Marine Headquarters in April 1952, Shoup was the Assistant Fiscal Director. Promoted to Brigadier General in April 1953, he assumed duties as the Fiscal Director of the Marine Corps three months later. In September, 1955, he was promoted to Major General and was the Inspector General of the Marine Corps the following year. In June 1957, he became the Commanding General of First Marine Division at Camp Pendleton and transferred in March 1958 to command Third Marine Division. Two years later, he served as Commanding General of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island until returning to staff duty back at Marine Headquarters. In November 1959, he was promoted to Lieutenant General. In January 1960, Shoup was promoted to General and became the Twenty-Second Commandant of the Marine Corps, serving on the Joint Chiefs of Staff until his retirement in 1963. David M. Shoup died on 13 January 1983 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
