Watson, Thomas Eugene, born 18-01-1892 in Oskaloosa, Iowa. 
the son of Thomas Watson (1847 – Unknown) and his wife Elizabeth (Lizzie) Sarah, born Hodge (1856 – Unknown). Thomas had one sister Priscilla Ellicott (1894 – 1984)
the son of Thomas Watson (1847 – Unknown) and his wife Elizabeth (Lizzie) Sarah, born Hodge (1856 – Unknown). Thomas had one sister Priscilla Ellicott (1894 – 1984)Thomas attended Penn College in Oskaloosa and on 11-11-1912, enlisted in the Marine Corps 
. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on 20-10-1916. For the next three years he was a member of the Second Provisional Brigade in the Dominican Republic and on several occasions participated in engagements with bandits in that country. He returned to the States in April 1919, but one year later was again on foreign shore duty. On this occasion with the Guardia Nacional of the Dominican Republic 
. In 1924, the General returned to the States and was assigned to the Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California, where he was Commanding Officer of the Recruit Detachment and Officer-in-Charge, Drills and Instruction. Three years later, in March 1927, he joined the Third Marine Brigade 
in China and saw service in Shanghai, Tientsin, and Hsin Ho. Upon return to this country he attended the Field Officers’ School, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, whereupon completion of the course he remained as an instructor. From October 1930 to February 1934, Thomas was successively U.S. Naval Attache, Santo Domingo City, Dominican Republic, a member of the Major General Commandant’s Department, Headquarters Marine Corps, Director of Operations and Area Commander, Nicaragua National Guard Detachment, and again a member of the Major General Commandant’s Department. After a year as Commanding Officer of the Naval Prison, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California, he assumed duties as Commanding Officer, Second Battalion, Sixth Marine Regiment 
and in July 1936, became Assistant Chief of Staff, Four Section and Chief of the Planning Section, Fleet Marine Force. In August 1937, he was assigned as a student at the Army War College, Washington, D.C. and upon graduation was ordered to Headquarters Marine Corps where he became Chief of the War Plans Section, Division of Plans and Policies. In November 1941, he assumed duties as Executive Officer of the Division of Plans and Policies. Four months after the United States’ entry into World War II, the Watson joined the as Chief of Staff and sailed for Samoa in April 1942, where he took command of the Brigade in August 1942. In November 1943, he became Commanding General of Tactical Group One which included the Twenty-Second Marine Regiment and certain Army Units and led this organization in the assault and capture of Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, from February 6, to 22-03-1944, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. 
General Watson became Commanding General of the Second Marine Division, nickname “The Silent Second” 
in April 1944, and led that organization in active operations against enemy forces at Saipan and Tinian in the Marianas Islands for which he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal. Casualties of the 2nd Marine Division are: Guadalcanal, killed 240, died of wounds 32, wounded 915, total 1.187. Tarawa, killed 894, died of wounds 84, wounded 2.188, total 3.166. Saipan, killed 1102, died of wounds 211, wounded 5.202, total 6.515. Tinian, Killed, 138, died of wounds 36, wounded 903, total 1.077. Okinawa, killed 46, died of wounds 12 and wounded 382, total 450, total casualties 12.395. During the period April 1, – April 13, 1945, the General led the Division as part of Task Group 51.2 in diversionary activities off the coast of Okinawa and as a floating reserve for the U.S. Tenth Army 
. In August 1945, he returned to Headquarters Marine Corps and became Director of Personnel, which position he held until detached in June 1946. At that time he assumed command of the Second Marine Division and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on 20-10-1916. For the next three years he was a member of the Second Provisional Brigade in the Dominican Republic and on several occasions participated in engagements with bandits in that country. He returned to the States in April 1919, but one year later was again on foreign shore duty. On this occasion with the Guardia Nacional of the Dominican Republic . In 1924, the General returned to the States and was assigned to the Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California, where he was Commanding Officer of the Recruit Detachment and Officer-in-Charge, Drills and Instruction. Three years later, in March 1927, he joined the Third Marine Brigade in China and saw service in Shanghai, Tientsin, and Hsin Ho. Upon return to this country he attended the Field Officers’ School, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, whereupon completion of the course he remained as an instructor. From October 1930 to February 1934, Thomas was successively U.S. Naval Attache, Santo Domingo City, Dominican Republic, a member of the Major General Commandant’s Department, Headquarters Marine Corps, Director of Operations and Area Commander, Nicaragua National Guard Detachment, and again a member of the Major General Commandant’s Department. After a year as Commanding Officer of the Naval Prison, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California, he assumed duties as Commanding Officer, Second Battalion, Sixth Marine Regiment and in July 1936, became Assistant Chief of Staff, Four Section and Chief of the Planning Section, Fleet Marine Force. In August 1937, he was assigned as a student at the Army War College, Washington, D.C. and upon graduation was ordered to Headquarters Marine Corps where he became Chief of the War Plans Section, Division of Plans and Policies. In November 1941, he assumed duties as Executive Officer of the Division of Plans and Policies. Four months after the United States’ entry into World War II, the Watson joined the as Chief of Staff and sailed for Samoa in April 1942, where he took command of the Brigade in August 1942. In November 1943, he became Commanding General of Tactical Group One which included the Twenty-Second Marine Regiment and certain Army Units and led this organization in the assault and capture of Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, from February 6, to 22-03-1944, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. General Watson became Commanding General of the Second Marine Division, nickname “The Silent Second” in April 1944, and led that organization in active operations against enemy forces at Saipan and Tinian in the Marianas Islands for which he was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Distinguished Service Medal. Casualties of the 2nd Marine Division are: Guadalcanal, killed 240, died of wounds 32, wounded 915, total 1.187. Tarawa, killed 894, died of wounds 84, wounded 2.188, total 3.166. Saipan, killed 1102, died of wounds 211, wounded 5.202, total 6.515. Tinian, Killed, 138, died of wounds 36, wounded 903, total 1.077. Okinawa, killed 46, died of wounds 12 and wounded 382, total 450, total casualties 12.395. During the period April 1, – April 13, 1945, the General led the Division as part of Task Group 51.2 in diversionary activities off the coast of Okinawa and as a floating reserve for the U.S. Tenth Army . In August 1945, he returned to Headquarters Marine Corps and became Director of Personnel, which position he held until detached in June 1946. At that time he assumed command of the Second Marine Division and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.Death and burial ground of Watson, Thomas Eugene.
Watson died on 06-03- 1966, age 74, in a hospital in the Panama Canal Zone. Watson is buried with his wife Priscilla, born Ellicott, who died age 80, in 1984 and his daughter Priscilla Josephine who was only 2 years old when she died in 1924, on the Arlington National Cemetery, Section 1. In Section 1 also buried, Major General, Commander Air Force, Follet Bradley, Army General. Commander 6th Army Group, Jacob Devers and Army Major General, Commander Twelfth Armoured Division, Roderick Allen and U.S. 4* Army General, Commander VII Artillery Corps in Normandy, nickname, “the Jayhawk Corps, 
, Willistone Palmer, U.S. 1* General, Chief of Staff of the 2nd Armoured Division, Charles Palmer.
Message(s), tips or interesting graves for the webmaster: robhopmans@outlook.com
Leave a Reply