lieutenant general del august april united_states marine_corps officer hispanic reach rank lieutenant general military career included service world war haiti nicaragua banana wars 1920s seizure later commanding general 1st world war early years born august san_juan puerto_rico island spanish colonial rule related surgeon served mayor san_juan years spanish american war del family moved maryland citizens jones act later gave puerto born island received primary secondary education maryland june graduated high school del received appointment served appointed governor puerto_rico attend maryland graduated academy june commissioned second lieutenant marine_corps june military career del helped marine_corps capture santo domingo dominican_republic awarded legion merit commanded marine detachment board uss texas north_atlantic world war participated surrender german high seas fleet later served aide camp major general serving tour sea duty aboard uss wyoming job included inspection tour west_indies company served haiti years time active war nicaragua returned united_states attended virginia brigadier general appointed del organizational step taken marines develop working doctrine amphibious assault wrote essay titled ship shore amphibious operations published essay stressed importance coordinated amphibious assault execution opposed landing worked intelligence officer havana cuba admiral following del attached italy rome duty del participated observer second italo war experiences del gained observer led author book roman eagles describes events leading italian expedition complete movements combat operations generals ordered attend washington graduating named executive officer world war march del commanding officer 11th marine regiment artillery outbreak world war del led regiment participated providing artillery support 1st marine division battle firepower provided del artillery units killed assaulting japanese soldiers reached marine positions attackers killed man outcome battle stunning japanese commander colonel committed shortly major general impressed del leadership recommended promotion october brigadier general retained del head 11th marines time regiment general commanding officer served commander russell april commanding general took awarded award star lieu second legion merit men command good job heavy artillery man singled instead man given letter del carried record books late october succeeded commanding general 1st personally greeted new command colonel time 1st training island invasion okinawa subsequently led division campaign awarded distinguished service medal leadership battle subsequent occupation reorganization okinawa world war ended del ordered named position held retired january february new mexico senator held meeting president white house recommended del position governor puerto_rico governors island officials appointed president united_states local puerto rican politicians opposed naming del favor eventually asked president withdraw considered position civilian native puerto rican appointed governor puerto_rico congress approved legislation allowing elect governor del appointed governorship later years retiring marine_corps worked representative company office cairo egypt time company named president south_america buenos_aires argentina position held believing united_states danger communist threat del tried convince form group believed cia operate russian chinese lines ideas turned decided form group del met brigadier general major general form defenders american constitution main goal purge united_states communist influence idea group organize citizens state sabotage forms treason link national headquarters ran governor maryland defeated attempt nominated republican primary election controversial views shared members blame organization decline popularity april invoked elders hoax speech attempt prove communism socialism introduced russia intention destroy country belonged group known established maryland named secret patriotic society directed actions december lieutenant general married died april maryland buried del death age ceased exist books diary reports naval observer italian operations march washington government printing office military service pub autobiography lieutenant general marine_corps retired oral history program classical amphibious operation military review fires guam marine corps gazette awards lieutenant general decorations medals following
Pedro del Valle