Herman Poggemeyer Jr. (April 22, 1919 – April 2, 2007) was a decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of major general. A veteran of three wars, he was severely wounded during the Recapture of Guam in July 1944. Poggemeyer later distinguished himself during Korean War and Vietnam and reached the general's rank in early 1970s. He completed his career as commanding general, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
Early life and World War II
Poggemeyer was born on April 22, 1919, in Leavenworth, Kansas, as the son of Herman H. Poggemeyer and his wife Dorcas E. Thompson. His father was a veteran of World War I and operated a jewelry store in Leavenworth, where Herman worked as a young boy. Herman attended the local high school and following the graduation, he enrolled in the Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas. He left the university in the summer of 1938 in order to accept an appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. During his time at the academy, Poggemeyer was active on the football team and also was a member of the academy magazine, The Log.
He graduated on June 19, 1942, with a bachelor's degree and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. He was subsequently ordered to the Officer Candidates School at Quantico where he completed the Platoon Leaders Class three months later. Following completion of the course, Poggemeyer was ordered to the Pacific area, where he was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in January 1943. He later took part in the Bougainville Campaign in the Northern Solomons and following the reactivation of 4th Marine Regiment on Guadalcanal in February 1944, he was attached to the Pack Howitzer Battalion as a reconnaissance officer.
Poggemeyer was promoted to captain in April 1944 and assumed command of Battery C. While in this capacity he took part in the Recapture of Guam at the end of July 1944 and was wounded on July 26. Poggemeyer was evacuated to the United States and following the treatment, he was attached to the Marine Barracks Klamath Falls, Oregon which served as the treatment barracks for tropical diseases. He was decorated with the Purple Heart for his wounds sustained at Guam.
Korea and postwar service
Poggemeyer remained there until March 1946 and subsequently was attached to the Artillery Section, Plans and Policies Branch at Headquarters Marine Corps under Brigadier General Gerald C. Thomas. He was ordered for instruction at the Army Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in early 1948 and completed the advanced field artillery officers course in July that year. Poggemeyer was then ordered back to Guam, where he was attached to the 1st Provisional Marine Brigade under Brigadier General Edward A. Craig and served as battery commander with 1st Provisional Artillery Battalion.
He was promoted to the rank of major in January 1950 and returned to the United States for duty as officer instructor and executive officer of the Navy ROTC unit at University of Kansas. Poggemeyer served in this capacity until June 1953, when he returned to Korea for duty as an executive officer, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Artillery Regiment. The Eleventh Marines served as the main artillery component of 1st Marine Division and its activity consisted of supporting of patrols, fired propaganda leaflets and counterbattery fire during the defense of the marine outposts on the main line of resistance.
When the Armistice was signed on July 27, 1953, the 11th Marines moved to Incheon, where it trained and undertook peacetime garrison duty. Poggemeyer was appointed assistant regimental training officer under Colonel Lewis J. Fields. He remained in that capacity until April 1954 and received the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" for his service in Korea.
Poggemeyer returned to the United States in May 1954 and assumed duties as an artillery instructor within Marine Corps Educational Center at Quantico, Virginia. While in this capacity, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in December of that year.