Samuel C. Cumming

Samuel Calvin Cumming (October 14, 1895 – January 14, 1983) was a decorated Major General in the United States Marine Corps, who served as Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Marine Division during World War II. He was a nephew of Hugh S. Cumming, former Surgeon General of the United States.

Samuel Calvin Cumming was born on October 14, 1895 in Kobe, Japan as a son of missionary Dr. Calvin Knox Cumming (1854-1935). He spent his first eleven years of age in Japan, before his family moved back to the United States. Samuel attended the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil engineering in 1917. He was commissioned a Second lieutenant of the Marine Corps on August 10, 1917.

He was subsequently assigned to the 5th Marine Regiment and sent to the France within American Expeditionary Forces. There he was appointed a platoon leader with 55th Company. Two months after his arrival to the European battlefield, Cumming was promoted to the rank of First lieutenant and transferred to the 51st Company. He led his platoon during the Battle of Belleau Wood, until he was wounded by enemy machine gun fire. His whole platoon was wiped out except himself and another soldier. Cumming later described his engagement as follows:

"Line after line moved off toward a wood six hundred meters away, across an open and level field covered with grass six inches high. The ground became covered with a sheet of machine gun bullets from a Prussian Guard machine gun battalion and their supporting infantry... We moved forward at a slow pace, keeping perfect lines. Men were mowed down like a wheat. A shell hit on my right, and an automatic rifle team, which was there a moment ago disappeared, while men on the right and left were armless, legless, or tearing at their faces."

After his recovery from his wounds, Cumming was assigned back to his unit and participate in the Battle of Château-Thierry.

For his service in World War I, Cumming was decorated with three Silver Stars for bravery in combat, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster (by the Army) for wounds. He also received Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with two Gilt Stars and Fourragère by the Government of France, Knight of Order of the Star of Romania and Silver Medal of Bravery by the Government of Montenegro.

During the year 1940, Cumming was assigned to the Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C. During his time there, Cumming was promoted to the rank of Colonel, while serving as Acting Adjutant and Inspector of the Marine Corps. He also reorganized Personnel Branch to its present form.

In July 1943, Colonel Cumming was transferred to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, to become a Commanding Officer of the newly created 25th Marine Regiment. His regiment sailed to Pacific Theater in January 1944 and led his regiment during the Battle of Kwajalein.

In April 1944, Cumming was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General and was appointed to the capacity of Assistant Division Commander of the 4th Marine Division. In this capacity, he replaced Brigadier General James L. Underhill on April 11, 1944. Cumming subsequently participated in Battle of Saipan and Battle of Tinian and was transferred back to the United States in September 1944. His next assignment was within the Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, where he served as Chief of Staff. Cumming remained on this post for the rest of the war.

For his service in Pacific Theater, Brigadier general Cumming was awarded with Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" and Navy Presidential Unit Citation with one star.

Brigadier General Cumming retired from the active service on November 1, 1946. Upon retirement, he was promoted to the rank of Major General for having been specially commended for performance of duty in actual combat. He and his wife Eula moved to the Upperville, Virginia, where they ran a cattle farm. During his time in Upperville, Cumming was active within the Episcopal Church, where he was active as a layman. He also worked as treasurer and senior warden of Trinity Church in Upperville, Virginia. Cumming was very respectable citizen and was also named to the County planning commission.

He later moved to Sarasota, Florida, where he lived until his death in Sarasota Memorial Hospital on January 14, 1983. He was survived by his wife Eula and two sons, Samuel Jr. and Allan.

Here is the ribbon bar of Major general Cumming: