John Archer was born in Pointe Coupee Parish, Louisiana back in 1867. He attended the preparatory program at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge from 1881 to 1884. He studied for the entrance exam for the U.S. Naval Academy. He was accepted graduating in 1888 as a midshipman. He ranked second in the class.
After the completion of a two-year cruise he wanted to join the Marine Corps. He tried going to his senator eventually the Secretary of the Navy arranged his transfer to the Marines. He saw action in WWII against the Axis powers of Nazi German and Japan. By 1900, he was a captain and in 1903 was a major. In 1918 he was promoted to major general, he saw action on the Western Front. For his actions he received the Legion of Honor and the Croix de guerre from the French government. He retired from the Marine Corps after thirty-nine years of service. He died in 1942, he was 75.
What you may not know about Major General John is that his last name was Lejeune which of course is the name of the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina that was named in his honor during WWII. He is regarded as the “greatest of all Leathernecks” and the Marine’s Marine.
NW Arkansas, come for a visit, stay for a lifetime.
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