Erskine, Graves Blanchard, 1897-1973

found: Arlington National Cemetery WWW site, August 1, 2006(Graves Blanchard Erskine, General, United States Marine Corps; b. 1897; d. 1973)

found: Wikipedia, July 13, 2020(Graves B. Erskine; General Graves Blanchard Erskine (June 28, 1897 - May 21, 1973) was a United States Marine Corps officer (1917-1953) who led the 3rd Marine Division during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II; Erskine was born in Columbia, Louisiana and died in Bethesda, Maryland; he is buried at Arlington National Cemetery; upon his retirement from active duty in the Marine Corps, Erskine was advanced to four-star rank, July 1, 1953, by reason of having been specially commended for heroism in combat; he was authorized to retire from active service by a Special Act of the United States Congress, in June 1953, for the purpose of accepting a position as assistant to the Secretary of Defense as director of special operations of the United States Department of Defense, and served in this post for over eight years, until October 31, 1961)