1893 - 1970

— United States Marine Corps —

(Front):
Clifton B. Cates, born on August 31, 1893, in Cates Landing, Tennessee, attended school in Lake County and the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri. A graduate of the University of Tennessee's School of Law, Cates served as a Marine in both the First and Second World Wars. His service included combat duty in five operations in World War I and four operations in World War II. After service in China with the fabled Fourth Marines, he commanded the Second Battalion, Sixth Marines in 1937. Then Colonel Cates led the First Marine Regiment, First Marine Division, on Guadalcanal during World War II.
Continued on opposite side

(Back):
As a Major General, Cates commanded the Fourth Marine Division during the conquest of Tinian and Iwo Jima in 1944. Cates was the first Tennessean to achieve the rank of full general. From 1948 to 1952, he served as the 19th Commandant of the Marine Corps. Wounded seven times, General Cates received many American and foreign medals. A marine for thirty-seven years, General Cates died on June 4, 1970. His remains are interred in Arlington National Cemetery.

Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.

Show me all markers in:  Tiptonville, TN  |  Lake County  |  38079  |  Tennessee  |  United States of America

Capture of Island No. 10
Tiptonville Presbyterian Church
General Clifton Bledsoe Cates
Reelfoot Lake
Civilian Conservation Corps and Reelfoot Lake State Park
Confederate Burials
Capture of Island No. 10
Confederate Forts & Batteries
New Madrid Earthquake
New Madrid & Island No. Ten

• GPX
• KML
• LOC

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.