George L. Bartlett

George Lewis Bartlett (October 13, 1924 – December 19, 2024) was a decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps who attained the rank of Brigadier General. A veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, he served 34 years on active duty, rising from an enlisted navigator-bombardier to the Director of the Facilities and Services Division, Installations and Logistics. Following his retirement in 1977, he served for ten years as the Executive Director of the Marine Corps Association. Bartlett died at age 100, having been one of the oldest living Marine Corps general officers.

George L. Bartlett was born on October 13, 1924, in Nampa, Idaho. His father worked for the Union Pacific Railroad as a civil engineer but lost his job during the Great Depression. The family moved to Mackay, Idaho, where his father found work engineering roads for the State of Idaho. Young George was sent to Wasatch Academy, a boarding school in Mount Pleasant, Utah, graduating in the summer of 1942.^[1][2][3][4]

He subsequently enrolled at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, but left after one semester to serve in the United States military. Bartlett enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in Portland, Oregon, on February 15, 1943, and was immediately sent to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in California for boot camp. After thirteen weeks of training, he was promoted to Private First Class. Bartlett was selected for flight crew training and ordered to the Aviation Mechanic School at Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida for six months.^[2][3][4]

Bartlett completed the school with honors in November 1943 and was promoted to Corporal. He was then ordered to the Navigator Bombardier School at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina for an additional sixteen weeks of training. After graduating in April 1944, Bartlett joined Marine Bomber Squadron 443 at Marine Corps Air Station El Centro in California, deploying to the South Pacific one month later. Stationed at Green Island, New Guinea, he flew patrol missions on B-25 Mitchell bombers, serving successively as a nose gunner and navigator-bombardier.^[2][3][4]

He participated in bombing missions against cut-off Japanese garrisons on New Ireland, Rabaul, and New Britain, as well as search-and-rescue missions for downed Allied crews. Bartlett rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant and flew a total of 75 combat missions, for which he was decorated with three Air Medals and the Good Conduct Medal.^[2][3][4]

Bartlett returned to the United States and was released to inactive duty in February 1946. Under the G.I. Bill, he enrolled at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. However, he left after one semester due to poor grades and transferred to the University of Oregon in Eugene, where he was active in the football program. Bartlett remained active in the Marine Corps Reserve and was recalled to active duty during the Korean War on November 6, 1950.^[1][2][3][4]

He served at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro in California and later as a navigator with Marine Ground Control Intercept Squadron 1, transporting medical personnel to Korea, Hawaii, Guam, and Japan. Bartlett was selected for the Reserve Officer's Course at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. After twelve weeks of training, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve in May 1951. He simultaneously completed his studies at the University of Oregon, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Architecture.^[2][3][4]

Upon commissioning, Bartlett attended The Basic School at Quantico for additional officer instruction, completing the course in September. He then entered the Air Controller School at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, qualifying as an Air controller in November 1951. He joined the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing at El Toro as an Air Defense Control Officer. Later transferred to Marine Ground Control Intercept Squadron 4 as an Adjutant, he was integrated into the regular Marine Corps in February 1952.^[2][3][4]

In July 1952, Bartlett deployed to Korea as Senior Air Controller, Marine Ground Control Interception Squadron 1, attached to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. He also held temporary duty with Detachment No. 2, 608th Aircraft and Warning Squadron, U.S. Air Force on Cho Do, an island off the west coast of Korea, approximately 100 miles north of the 38th parallel. While serving in this capacity, he was promoted to first lieutenant in November 1952.^[2][3][4]

Bartlett returned to the United States in June 1953, assuming duty as an instructor at the Non-commissioned Officer School at Camp Pendleton, California. Promoted to captain in March 1954, he was ordered to Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., as a project officer in the Personnel Department. Bartlett served under Major Generals Reginald H. Ridgely Jr. and Robert O. Bare until November 1956, when he attended the Associate Engineer School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.^[2][3][4]

Upon graduation in March 1957, he returned to Camp Pendleton as the Personnel Officer (G-1) for the 4th Atomic Exercise Brigade, 1st Marine Division, again serving under Major General Bare. In July, Bartlett was appointed commander of Company "C", 7th Engineer Battalion, and later transferred to the division headquarters. He served as the Division Staff Secretary under Major General David M. Shoup until June 1959, when he was ordered to Okinawa as a company commander in the 7th Engineer Battalion, 3rd Marine Division.^[2][3][4]

In August 1960, Bartlett returned to the U.S. to attend the Advanced Engineer Course at Fort Belvoir, graduating in February 1961. He was then assigned to the headquarters of Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, serving as Staff Secretary and Aide to the Commandant of the Schools, Lieutenant General Edward W. Snedeker. During this assignment, Bartlett was promoted to major in November 1961.^[2][3][4]

Bartlett entered the Command and Staff College at Quantico in June 1963. Upon graduation a year later, he was appointed logistics officer for the 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton. In June 1965, elements of the 1st Marine Division were ordered to Okinawa to prepare for deployment to South Vietnam. Bartlett was transferred to the 7th Marine Regiment under Colonel Oscar F. Peatross, assuming duty as the Regimental Plans Officer.^[2][3][4]

He participated in planning the landing at Chu Lai in August 1965 and Operation Starlite, the first major offensive action by a purely U.S. military unit during the war. Bartlett remained in Vietnam until July 1966 and received the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V" for his service.^[2][3][4]

Returning to the United States, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and ordered to Portland, Oregon, as Inspector-Instructor for the 10th Engineer Battalion, 4th Marine Division, under Major General Robert E. Cushman. His primary duty was providing administrative and logistic support to the reserve unit, whose men later served as replacements for combat units in Vietnam.^[2][4]

In August 1968, Bartlett attended the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, completing the Senior Course in June 1969. He then joined the 5th Marine Division under Major General Ross T. Dwyer at Camp Pendleton, serving as Commanding Officer, 13th Engineer Battalion. Following the division's deactivation in December 1969, Bartlett was appointed Plans Officer for the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade.^[2][3][4]

Bartlett returned to Vietnam in August 1970, joining the headquarters of the III Marine Amphibious Force under Lieutenant General Keith B. McCutcheon. He served as Assistant Plans and Operations Officer (G-3) and Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel (G-1) in Da Nang, overseeing the reduction of Marine troops and the redeployment of the force to Okinawa. Bartlett was promoted to colonel in February 1971 and received the Legion of Merit with Combat "V" for his second tour.^[1][2][3][4]

In July 1971, he was ordered to Naples, Italy, as Chief, Plans and Operations Branch, Logistics Division, Allied Force, Southern Europe. For his service, he received the Joint Service Commendation Medal. He returned to the U.S. in September 1974, appointed Head, Plans and Policy Branch in the Installation and Logistics Department under Major General Edward J. Miller.^[2][3][4]

Following his promotion to brigadier general on July 3, 1975, Bartlett was appointed Director, Facilities and Services Division, Installations and Logistics Department, Headquarters Marine Corps. He served in this capacity until his retirement on June 1, 1977.^[2][3][4][5]

Upon retiring after 36 years of service, Bartlett worked for the American Gas Association in Washington, D.C., until January 1979. He was then recruited by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Robert H. Barrow, to lead the Marine Corps Association. Bartlett served as Executive Director for ten years, revitalizing the association, renovating its facilities, and establishing new magazines and a life insurance program. In recognition of his leadership, the Marine Corps Association headquarters building at Marine Corps Base Quantico was named Bartlett Hall in his honor on November 10, 1986.^{[2][6][3][4][5]}

Bartlett retired a second time in January 1989. He remained active in skiing and traveled extensively to the Galápagos Islands, Australia, Africa, China, Tibet, and Scandinavia. A regular attendee of air shows at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, he flew aboard a B-25 Mitchell Panchito—the same type of aircraft he crewed during World War II—in May 2014 at the age of 89. He resided in Potomac, Maryland, with his second wife, Donna, whom he married in 1995. He was previously married to Dorothy Pryor from 1950 until 1980; they had two sons.^[2][3][4][7]

Bartlett died on December 19, 2024, at the age of 100.^[8]

Brigadier General Bartlett's personal decorations include:^[1][2]

• Veterans History Project oral history
• American Veterans Center interview on YouTube