Rhineland occupationHaitian CampaignYangtze PatrolWorld War II Samuel Calvin Cumming (October 14, 1895 – January 14, 1983) was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of major general.

[1][2][4] Cumming was subsequently attached as platoon leader to the 51st Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment at Philadelphia Navy Yard and sailed for France.

Cumming was appointed Adjutant of 2nd Battalion under Major Frederick M. Wise in January 1918 and his regiment moved to the trenches in Toulon sector, just southeast of Verdun in mid-March 1918.

[4] First Lieutenant Cumming was appointed again a platoon leader in 51st Company on June 1, 1918, and subsequently led his unit to the Battle of Belleau Wood.

During the fighting near the town of Château-Thierry, he led his platoon to the attack and was hit by enemy machine gun fire to his right leg on June 11.

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.

[6][4] Following his promotion to the rank of captain at the beginning of September 1918, Cumming was appointed commanding officer of his old 51st Company and led his unit during the subsequent Battle of Saint-Mihiel.

During the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge in October 1918, Cumming led his company to the attack under heavy artillery bombardment and machine gun fire.

Following a warm welcome, Cumming and 5th Marines marched up Fifth Avenue, and a few days later took part in the parade in Washington, D.C., where President Woodrow Wilson reviewed the unit.

[2] Upon the disbandment of the 5th Marine Regiment at Quantico, Virginia, on August 13, Captain Cumming joined Lem Shepherd and they were attached to the special party under Major Charles D. Barrett.

[2] In August 1922, Cumming was attached to the First Provisional Marine Brigade under Colonel Theodore P. Kane and sailed for his first expeditionary duty in Haiti.

The next tour of expeditionary duties followed, when Cumming was ordered to China as a member of Third Marine Brigade under Brigadier General Smedley D. Butler.

[2] Cumming then served at the Marine barracks at Puget Sound Navy Yard in Bremerton, Washington, and subsequently went for expeditionary duty to the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean in November 1929.

While in Washington, D.C., Cumming was attached to the office of Adjutant and Inspector of the Marine Corps under Brigadier General Edward A. Ostermann and helped with the reorganization of the Personnel Branch.

Cumming and his regiment were then attached to 4th Marine Division under Major General Harry Schmidt and began with preparations for the upcoming Kwajalein Operation.

[8] Cumming and his Marines were tasked with the capturing of the small off-shore islands, which should serve as artillery sites for fire support of advancing units.

The units under Cumming's command secured the islands of Melu and Ennuebing and allowed the deployment of 14th Marine Regiment 75mm pack howitzers.

[1][8] After Roi-Namur and all nearby islands were declared secured on February 3, Cumming and his regiment were detached from the 4th Marine Division and designated Atoll Garrison Force.

[1][8] An assault on Saipan was commenced on June 15, 1944, and the 4th Marine Division was tasked with capturing Aslito airfield in the southern end of the island and advancing north along the east coast.

The Fourth Division assaulted Hill 500, an enemy strongpoint in the southern part of Saipan, on June 20, and finished the advance by capturing of Marpi Point Field on July 9, when an island was declared secured.

[1][8] Cumming sailed with the 4th Division back to Hawaii for rest and refit, and subsequently was succeeded by Brigadier General Franklin A. Hart on August 29, 1944.

Cumming was then transferred to the Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, where he served as chief of staff under Major General Philip H. Torrey.