USMC General Robert E. Cushman Jr. Commandant of the Marine Corps Mess Dress

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Original Mess Dress uniform of the 25th Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Robert Everton Cushman, Jr. Never before offered to the general public, this uniform has only passed from the estate to one collector, and then to me. All original uniform, purchased while Cushman was a Colonel on 13 Jan 1958. Original to the group is the tunic, shirt, mini-medals, collar ega's and the trousers. I have added since the red cumberbund and shirt anadoized brass buttons to finish the restoration. What is missing are all the foreign decoration mini medals, very hard to find and very expensive, they were not with the group when I purchased it. Very solid provenance, letter is shown in auction and I have the original letter with full names disclosed. Included in the auction to the winner of the auction. Also included is a picture of Cushman in this uniform, as well as a book titled 'Home of the Commandants' in which Cushman's original signature can be found. This famous Marine has a long and distinguished career, earning a Navy Cross for his service to his country on the island of Guam in 1944, as well as a Legion of Merit with combat V and the Bronze Star with combat V. Cushman was a Marine who earned 3 valor awards and multiple other medals for service duing a career which lasted from June 6, 1935 and culminated with Cushmand becoming the 25th Commandant of the Marine Corps on January 1, 1972. I will guarantee the authenticity of this uniform and will fully honor the 14 day money back guarantee as offered in the auction. Below is a full bio for General Cushman: Biography Early life Cushman was born December 24, 1914, in St. Paul, Minnesota , the son of Jennie Lind (Cumley) and Robert Everton Cushman. [2 ] He attended Central High School and at sixteen, before graduating, was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy . Cushman graduated tenth in his class of 442 from the Academy. Early career He was commissioned a Marine second lieutenant on June 6, 1935. Second Lieutenant Cushman completed the Basic School for Marine officers at the Philadelphia Navy Yard , then served briefly at the Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California . In February 1936, he arrived in Shanghai, China, and served as a platoon commander with the 4th Marines and later the 2nd Marine Brigade. On his return to the United States in March 1938, he served at naval shipyards in Brooklyn, New York and Portsmouth, Virginia . He was promoted to First Lieutenant in August 1938.In April 1939, 1stLt Cushman was assigned to the Marine Detachment at the New York World’s Fair , and was subsequently stationed at the Marine Barracks, Quantico , Virginia . He was promoted to Captain in March 1941. World War II In June 1941, Capt. Cushman reported aboard USS Pennsylvania in San Diego , en route to Pearl Harbor , as Commanding Officer of the ship’s Marine Detachment. He was serving in this capacity when the Japanese attacked the ship and other naval installations at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Upon his transfer from the Pennsylvania, he joined the 9th Marine Regiment at San Diego as a battalion executive officer in May 1942 and was promoted to major that same month.Major Cushman hiked from San Diego to Camp Pendleton with his unit in September 1942, and embarked for the Pacific Area in January 1943. That month, Maj Cushman was appointed Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines , and in May 1943 was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel . During the two years he held that post, he led his battalion repeatedly into combat, earning the Bronze Star with Combat “V” on Bougainville , the Navy Cross during the Battle of Guam , and the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” during the Battle of Iwo Jima , where two of his companies were nearly wiped out (9 survivors - 3 from F Co, and 9 from E Co) when they were trapped in a defilade later called "Cushman's Pocket.” Post war years Upon his return to the United States in May 1945, LtCol Cushman was stationed at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, for three years. During that period he co... read more

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