Following the Okinawa campaign, he was assigned as the commanding officer of Marine Carrier Air Group-16, operating from the USS Badoeng Strait.

Returning to MCAS, Cherry Point, for a three-year period, he was initially assigned as 2nd Wing legal officer and then reassigned as assistant chief of staff, G-3.

After completing the National War College, Washington, D.C., in June 1964, Axtell was assigned in July as chief of staff of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific until September 1965.

Ordered to the Far East in September 1965, he served as chief of staff of III Marine Amphibious Force until March 1966 and was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat "V".

Upon his return to the United States in December 1966, he was promoted to the rank of brigadier general, and assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps.

From late June 1970 to March 1972, he served as commanding general of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Cherry Point, North Carolina.

By his gallant fighting spirit and expert airmanship, Major Axtell enabled our fighters to deliver a crushing blow to the Japanese without loss of aircraft or injury to our personnel, and his devotion to duty reflects the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.