CONTENTS NOMINATIONS Nomination of Lt. Gen. Leonard F. Chapman, Jr., To Be Commandant of the Marine Corps Nomination of Charles A. Bowsher To Be an Assistant Secretary of the Navy TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1967 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES, The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:30 a.m., in room 212, Old Senate Office Building, Senator Richard B. Russell (chairman) presiding. Present: Senators Russell, Stennis, Ervin, Cannon, Byrd of Virginia, Smith, Thurmond, Miller, and Pearson. Also present: William H. Darden, chief of staff; T. Edward Braswell, Jr., and Gordon A. Nease, professional staff members; Charles B. Kirbow, chief clerk, and Herbert S. Atkinson, assistant chief clerk. Chairman RUSSELL. The committee will come to order. We have before us two nominations this morning. First, Lt. Gen. Leonard F. Chapman, Jr., who has been nominated by the President of the United States to serve as Commandant of the Marine Corps, with the rank of general, for a period of 4 years beginning January 1 next. As a result of his service as Chief of Staff for the Marine Corps, and more recently as an Assistant Commandant, General Chapman is, of course, known to the members of this committee. All of us welcome you here, General Chapman, and we extend our congratulations on your selection to this very important position. The members of the committee have been furnished with printed copies of your biography. (The nomination reference and biography follow:) NOMINATION REFERENCE AND REPORT IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, December 4, 1967. Ordered, That the following nomination be referred to the Committee on Armed Services: Lieutenant General Leonard F. Chapman, Junior, United States Marine Corps, to be Commandant of the Marine Corps with the rank of general for a period of four years from the first day of January 1968 in accordance with the provisions of title 10, United States Code, section 5201. TRANSCRIPT OF MILITARY SERVICE RECORD OF LIEUTENANT GENERAL LEONARD F. CHAPMAN, JR., 05105 USMC For use in connection with Senate confirmation for appointment as Commandant of the Marine Corps, with rank of General, for a period of four years from 1 January 1968. Date and place of birth.-3 November 1913: Key West, Florida. Appointments and Promotions.-10 Jul 1935, Second Lieutenant; 1 Jul 1938, First Lieutenant; 1 Oct 1939, Captain; 16 May 1942, Major; 1 May 1943, Lieutenant Colonel; 1 Jul 1950, Colonel; 1 Jul 1958, Brigadier General; 1 Nov 1961, Major General; 1 Jan 1964, Lieutenant General. Ships and stations Marine barracks, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pa.... Marine barracks, Quantico, Va. Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Okla... Marine Corps Base, Naval Operation Base, San Diego, Calif. Marine detachment, U.S.S. "Astoria". Marine barracks, Quantico, Va.... 1st Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. Headquarters, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific_ Marine Corps schools, Quantico, Va..... 3d Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force. Marine barracks, U.S. Fleet activities, Yokosuka, Japan Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.... Force troops, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic (commanding general). Headquarters, Marine Corps (Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4, September 1961-December 1963); (Chief of Staff, HO, MC, January 1964-June 1967); (Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, July 1967 to present). Schools Completed Field Artillery School, Ft. Sill, Okla Anti-Aircraft Gunnery School, Pearl Harbor, T.H.. Basic School, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Philadelphia, Pa... Feb 1938. Jun 1938. Jul 1940. Senior Course, Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, Va...... Jun 1950 Medals Distinguished Service Medal. Legion of Merit with combat "V." Gold Star in lieu of Second Legion of Merit. Bronze Star with combat "V." Navy Commendation Medal with combat "V." Presidential Unit Citation. American Defense Service Medal with Fleet clasp. Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four bronze stars. American Campaign Medal. Victory Medal, World War II. National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star. Korean Service Medal. United Nations Service Medal. LIEUTENANT GENERAL LEONARD F. CHAPMAN, JR., USMC Lieutenant General Leonard Chapman, Jr., assumed his current assignment as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps on July 1, 1967. Leonard Fielding Chapman, Jr., was born November 3, 1913, at Key West, Florida, and graduated from high school at Deland, Florida. In 1931 he entered the University of Florida where he was a member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps unit for four years. Upon graduation in June 1935, he was commissioned in the Army Field Artillery Reserve. He resigned that commission to accept appointment as a Marine second lieutenant, July 8, 1935. After completing Basic School at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, Lieutenant Chapman served with the 1st Battalion, 10th Marines, at Quantico, Virginia, from April 1936 until August 1937. In June 1938, after completing Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, he was assigned to the 10th Marines at the Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California. He was promoted to first lieutenant in Sep tember 1938. In June 1940, Lieutenant Chapman departed San Diego for Honolulu. There he completed Gunnery School aboard the USS New Orleans prior to reporting on board the USS Astoria in July 1940 for a two-year assignment as Commanding Officer of the Marine Detachment. He was promoted to captain in April 1941. Aboard the Astoria following the outbreak of World War II, Captain Chapman took part in the early Pacific raids culminating in the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway, and earned the Navy Commendation Ribbon with Combat "V". He was promoted to major in May 1942, and returned to the United States late that June. Major Chapman was assigned to Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, in August 1942 as an instructor in the Artillery Course. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in May 1943, and that October was named Executive Office of the Artillery Section at Marine Corps Schools. In June 1944, Lieutenant Colonel Chapman again departed for combat duty. Joining the 1st Marine Division in the Pacific area, he earned the Legion of Merit - with Combat "V" for meritorious service as R-3, 11th Marine Artillery Regiment, and Commanding officer, 4th Battalion, 11th Marines, during combat at Peleliu in September and October 1944; and the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" as 4th Battalion Commander at Okinawa, April to July 1945. Following the war Lieutenant Colonel Chapman served as Secretary of the General Staff, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, from September 1945 to July 1946, when he returned to the continental United States. From August 1946 until May 1949, he was stationed at Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., serving as Executive Officer, G-3 Section, Division of Plans and Policies. Ordered to Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Lieutenant Colonel Chapman served as Coordinator, Reserve Artillery Training Unit; completed the Amphibious Warfare School, Senior Course, in June 1950; then served as Chief of the Supporting Arms Group, Marine Corps Development Center. While at Quantico, he was promoted to colonel in July 1950. In July 1952, Colonel Chapman departed Quantico for Camp Pendleton, California, where he joined the 3d Marine Division as Regimental Commander, 12th Marine. He sailed with the division in August 1953 for Japan, where he continued to command the 12th Marines. In August 1954, he was named Commanding Officer, Marine Barracks, U.S. Fleet Activities, Yokosuka, Japan, serving in this capacity until May 1956. In July 1956, Colonel Chapman assumed duties in Washington, D.C., as Commanding Officer, Marine Barracks, and Director of the Marine Corps Institute. Two years after assuming these duties, he was promoted to brigadier general, Julv 1, 1958. Following his promotion, General Chapman was assigned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, serving as Commanding G General, Force Troops, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, until August 1961. He reported to Headquarters Marine Corps in September 1961 for duty as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4, and was promoted to major general on November 1, 1961. For exceptionally meritorious service in this capacity from September 1961 through December 1963, he was awarded his second Legion of Merit. On January 1, 1964, General Chapman was named Chief of Staff, Headquarters Marine Corps, with the rank of lieutenant general. For service in this capacity, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. He became Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps on July 1, 1967. A complete list of the general's medals and decorations include: the Distinguished Service Medal, two awards of the Legion of Merit, one with Combat "V"; the Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"; the Navy Commendation Ribbon with Combat "V"; two Presidential Unit Citations; the American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver star in lieu of five bronze stars; the American Campaign Medal; the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star; the Korean Service Medal; and the United Nations Service Medal. General Chapman and his wife, the former Emily Ford of Birmingham, Alabama, have two sons, both Marine officers; Leonard F. Chapman, III, commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1964 upon graduation from Duke University; and Walton Ford Chapman, commissioned in the Marine Corps in 1966 upon graduation from Duke University. Chairman RuSSELL. Secretary of the Navy Ignatius is with General Chapman this morning and, Mr. Secretary, if you desire to make any statement, we will be glad to hear from you before calling on General Chapman. |