When World War II started Edson was sent as the commanding officer of the Marine Raiders and earned his second Navy Cross on Tulagi.

On June 27, 1916, he left college as a member of the First Infantry Regiment, Vermont National Guard and was sent to Eagle Pass, Texas, for duty on the Mexican border.

[2] Edson's first deployment had an inauspicious beginning, as he immediately became sick with mumps and spent the rest of the month in Brest's Camp Hospital #33 before rejoining B Company at Issoudun on November 9th.

[2] This regiment saw no combat, but during the last six months of his European tour, he commanded Company D, 15th Separate Marine Battalion, which had been organized for the express purpose of assisting in the holding of a plebiscite in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.

In March of 1926, Edson received orders to the U.S. Army Air Service's Advanced Flying School at Kelly Field, Texas.

[2] Unable to complete Advanced Flying School, Edson received new orders for the Company Officers' Course scheduled to begin in September at Quantico.

[2] The flight surgeon recommended that Edson be grounded for several months with weekly depth perception tests to see if the condition improved.

Edson admitted he overshot the field, but the investigation found even with the motor cut out the plane had enough power and elevation that he could have circled around to make another attempt rather than crashed.

Following this, Marine Corps Aviation Section head Edwin Brainard requested that Edson be transferred to a line organization.

In command of 160 hand-picked and specially trained Marines, he fought twelve separate engagements with the Sandino-led guerrilla fighters and denied them the use of the Poteca and Coco River valleys.

Here, he received his first Navy Cross for actions in which "his exhibition of coolness, intrepidity, and dash so inspired his men that superior forces of bandits were driven from their prepared positions and severe losses inflicted upon them."

[1] In September 1929, he returned to the United States and was assigned as tactics instructor to fledgling Marine lieutenants at The Basic School in Philadelphia.

The training exercises which he conducted in the succeeding months with Navy high speed transports (APDs) led to the organization of the 1st Marine Raider Battalion in early 1942.

[1] Colonel Edson's introduction to the Pacific theater of operations began with the overseas training of his raider command in American Samoa.

[1] To the men of the 1st Raider Battalion, however, who sustained 256 casualties, it became "Edson's Ridge",[1] in high honor of the officer who "was all over the place, encouraging, cajoling, and correcting as he continually exposed himself to enemy fire.

"[1] It was also said that he was not readily given to a show of emotion but when his personal runner of several months' service was killed at the Matanikau River on Guadalcanal, witnesses said he "cried like a baby",[1] and later stated that the man could never be replaced.

[1] Brigadier General Edson became chief of staff, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and in October 1944 was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit.

When a young officer asked him when he might expect to be rotated back to the United States, BGen Edson replied, "When the war's over; when the job's done.

On January 9th, 1947, Edson was admitted to Bethesda Naval Hospital, ultimately receiving a hemilaminectomy at the end of the month, and would remain there in recovery until March 10th.

[2] After the Truman administration required all criticism of the legislation from active military to be routed through the White House rather than go directly to Congress, Edson retired and delivered a blistering critique of it in hearings.

[4][5] At the time of his death, in addition to his duties at the NRA, he was the navy representative on the Defense Advisory Committee on Prisoner of War Problems.

[6] Major General Edson's decorations included:[1] The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

Captain Edson upon encountering a force of bandits entrenched upon both sides of the river, personally led his advance guard against the enemy, engaging in hand-to-hand conflict with them, and by his exhibition of coolness, intrepidity, and dash, so inspired his men that the superior force of bandits were driven from their prepared position, and severe losses inflicted upon them.Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Merritt Austin Edson (0–257), Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty while serving as Commanding Officer of the Tulagi Combat Group during the landing assault and seizure of enemy Japanese-held Tulagi Island, British Solomon Islands, 7 to August 9, 1942.

Responsible for the supervision and training of the SECOND Marine Division, Brigadier General Edson brought the regiments of his fighting organization to a high state of combat readiness in preparation for the Marianas Campaign.

Cool and courageous, he repeatedly risked his life to visit the front line units, rallying his men and providing expert tactical advice during critical stages of the battle as the Second Division forces pushed relentlessly against fanatic Japanese resistance to render valiant service during the assault and aid in the ultimate capture of Saipan on 9 July.

Participating in the invasion of Tinian on 24 July, Brigadier General Edson again demonstrated outstanding qualities of leadership, military acumen and personal valor during the aggressive, sustained drive which resulted in the seizure of this second fiercely defended enemy base in the strategically important Marianas Group on 1 August 1944.

Stouthearted and indomitable, Brigadier General Edson contributes substantially to the success of our offensive operations in the Pacific Theater and, his brilliant combat skill, unfailing judgment and iron determination in the face of tremendous opposition reflect the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

The volunteers used rocks and recycled [ammunition] stripper clips and brass shells from throughout Edson Range in the cement when making the monument.