{North Side}Was born in Rutland Vermont on April 25, 1897. Soon after his birth, the Edson family returned to their native Chester. In 1915 he graduated from Chester High School. While attending the University of Vermont, in 1915, he joined the Vermont National Guard.{West Side}Military ServiceSummer 1916Mobilized with National Guard to pursue Poncho Villa. Eagle Pass, TexasJune 1917Enlisted in the Marine Corps during WWIOctober 1918Deployed to France with 11th MarinesJune 1922Earned wings as naval aviator1928-1929Led the Coco River patrol in Nicaragua1937-1939Served with the 4th Marines in Shanghai during the Sino-Japanese WarFebruary 1942Formed the 1st Raider BattalionAugust 7-8, 1942Battle of Tulagi in the Solomon IslandsSeptember 12-14, 1942Battle of Lunga Ridge on GuadalcanalNovember 1943Chief of Staff, 2nd Marine DivisionBattle of Tarawa
December 1943Promoted to Brigadier GeneralJune-August 1944Assistant Division Commander2nd Marine DivisionBattles of Saipan and TinianJuly-December 1945Commanding General Service Comand FleetMarine Force PacificAugust 1, 1947Retired from the Marine Corps as Major General{South Side}Medals and AwardsMedal of HonorNavy
Cross with Gold StarSilver Star MedalLegion of Merit with Combat Distinguishing Device (Bronze V) and Gold StarCombat Action RibbonPresidential Unit Citation with two Bronze StarsMexican Border Service MedalWorld War I Victory Medal with France ClaspSecond Nicaraguan Campaign MedalChina Service Medal with Bronze StarAmerican Defense Service Medal with Fleet ClaspAsiatic - Pacific Campaign Medal with Silver StarAmerican Campaign MedalVictory Medal WWIIMedal of Merit with Silver StarBritish Distinguished Service Order Distinguished Rifleman Badge{East Side}Civilian Life1947Testified before Congress against the unification of the Armed ServicesJuly 1, 1947Formed the Vermont State Police1949-1951President of the National Rifle AssociationJuly 1951Executive Director, National Rifle Association1952-1954President, Marine Corps War Memorial Foundation (erected Iwo Jima Memorial in Arlington VA)August 14, 1955Died in Washington DC
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