- Thomas E. Bourke
Infobox Military Person
name= Thomas Eugene Bourke
born= birth date|1896|5|5
died= death date and age|1978|1|9|1896|5|5
placeofbirth= Robinson,Maryland
placeofdeath=Santa Clara, California
placeofburial=Arlington National Cemetery
caption= Thomas E. Bourke, USMC
nickname=
allegiance= United States of America
branch=United States Marine Corps
serviceyears=1917-1946
rank= Lieutenant General
commands=10th Marine Regiment5th Marine Division Inspector General of FMFPac
unit=
battles=World War II
*Battle of Guadalcanal
*Battle of Tarawa
*Battle of Saipan
*Battle of Leyte
awards=Legion of Merit Bronze Star (2)
laterwork=Thomas Eugene Bourke (May 5, 1896 – January 9, 1978) was a
United States Marine Corps general who, duringWorld War II , commanded Marine artillery units commanded World War on Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Leyte. At the end of World War II, he commanded the5th Marine Division in the occupation ofJapan , and the Fleet Marine Force, PacificBourke was a native of Robinson,
Maryland , and a graduate of St. Johns College,Annapolis, Maryland . He was commissioned in 1917 after service in theMaryland National Guard along the Mexican border. While en route toSanto Domingo for his first tour, he and 50 recruits were diverted toSt. Croix , becoming the first U.S. troops to land on what had just become theAmerican Virgin Islands . Post-World War I tours included service at Quantico, Parris Island, San Diego, andHeadquarters Marine Corps . He also served atPearl Harbor ; was commanding officer of the Legation Guard inManagua ,Nicaragua ; saw sea duty on board thebattleship "West Virginia" (BB-48); and commanded the10th Marine Regiment .Following the Guadalcanal and Tarawa campaigns, General Bourke was assigned as the V Amphibious Corps
artillery officer for the invasion of Saipan. He next trained combined Army-Marine artillery units for the XXIV Army Corps, then preparing for the Leyte operation. With Leyte secured, he assumed command of the 5th Marine Division which was planning for the invasion of Japan.After the war's sudden end, the division landed at Sasebo,
Kyūshū , and assumed occupation duties. With disbandment of the5th Marine Division , General Bourke became Deputy Commander and Inspector General ofFleet Marine Force Pacific . Bourke retired from the Marine Corps in 1946 with a rank of Lieutenant General.General Bourke died in 1978. He is buried in
Arlington National Cemetery .ee also
External links
* [http://www.nps.gov/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003143-00/sec1d.htm#senior NPS biography of Thomas Bourke]
* [http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/tebourke.htm Thomas Eugene Bourke, Lieutenant General, United States Marine Corps] , Arlington National Cemetery profile.
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