Thomas Eugene Bourke(May 5, 1896 – January 9, 1978) was aUnited States Marine Corpsgeneral who, duringWorld War II,commanded Marine artillery units at theBattle of Guadalcanal,Tarawaand Leyte. At the end of World War II, he commanded the5th Marine Divisionin the occupation ofJapan,and the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
Thomas Eugene Bourke | |
|---|---|
 Thomas E. Bourke, USMC | |
| Born | May 5, 1896 Robinson,Maryland |
| Died | January 9, 1978(aged 81) Santa Clara, California |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service |  Maryland National Guard United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1917–1946 |
| Rank |  Lieutenant general |
| Service number | 0-96 |
| Commands | 5th Marine Division 10th Marine Regiment Inspector General ofFMFPac |
| Battles / wars | Pancho Villa Expedition World War I Nicaraguan Campaign World War II |
| Awards | Legion of Merit Bronze Star(2) |
Biography
editBourke was born on May 5, 1896, in Robinson,Maryland,and later attended high school inBoonsboro, Maryland.He later attended theSt. John's College,Annapolis, Maryland,and graduated withBachelor of Artsdegree. Following his graduation, Bourke served with theMaryland National Guardalong theMexicanborder, before he accepted the commission as second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on February 5, 1917.
While en route toSanto Domingofor his first tour, he and 50 recruits were diverted toSt. Croix,becoming the first U.S. troops to land on what had just become theAmerican Virgin Islands.
Post-World War Itours included service atQuantico,Parris Island,San Diego,andHeadquarters Marine Corps.He also served atPearl Harbor;was commanding officer of the Legation Guard inManagua,Nicaragua;saw sea duty on board thebattleshipUSSWest Virginia(BB-48);and commanded the10th Marine Regiment.
Following theGuadalcanalandTarawa campaigns,General Bourke was assigned as theV Amphibious Corpsartilleryofficer for theinvasion of Saipan.He next trained combinedArmy-Marineartillery units for theXXIV Army Corps,then preparing for theLeyte operation.WithLeytesecured, he assumed command of the 5th Marine Division which was planning for theinvasion of Japan.
After the war's sudden end, the division landed atSasebo,Kyūshū,and assumed occupation duties. With disbandment of the5th Marine Division,General Bourke became deputy commander and inspector general ofFleet Marine Force Pacific.Bourke retired from the Marine Corps in 1946 with a rank of lieutenant general.
Bourke died in 1978. He is buried inArlington National Cemetery.
Awards
edit  | |||
  |
  |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
| 1st row | Legion of MeritwithCombat "V" | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd row | Bronze Starwith one5⁄16"gold star | Navy Presidential Unit Citationwith one star | Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal | Mexican Border Service Medal | ||||||||||||
| 3rd row | World War I Victory Medalwith one clasp | Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal | American Defense Service Medalwith Fleetclasp | American Campaign Medal | ||||||||||||
| 4th row | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medalwith four3/16 inch service stars | World War II Victory Medal | Navy Occupation Service Medal | Philippine Liberation Medalwith two stars | ||||||||||||
External links
edit- NPS biography of Thomas Bourke
- Thomas Eugene Bourke, Lieutenant General, United States Marine Corps,Arlington National Cemetery profile.
