pedro del valle

Lieutenant General Pedro del Valle (August 28, 1893 – April 28, 1978) in San Juan, Puerto Rico) was the first hispanic in the history of the United States Marine Corps to reach the rank of lieutenant general (three star general). Del Valle (born Pedro Antonio del Valle) received his primary and secondary education in San Juan. Upon graduation, he attended the University of Puerto Rico and was a member of its ROTC. After graduating with a Bachelors Degree, he was accepted in the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Del Valle graduated from the academy in June 1915 and was commissioned a second lieutenant on June 5, 1915. Pedro del Valle helped the Marine Corps in the capture of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in 1916 and was awarded his first Legion of Merit. In 1919, he participated in the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet. In 1926, del Valle served with the Gendarmerie of Haiti for three years and in 1928 when he returned to the U.S., he attended the Field Officers Course at the Marine Corps School in MCB Quantico, Virginia. From 1935–37, del Valle was Assistant Naval Attache, attached to the American Embassy in Rome, Italy. In 1939, he was ordered to attend the Army War College in Washington, D.C. and after graduating was named Executive Officer of the Division of Plans and Policies. On March 1941, del Valle became the Commanding Officer of the 11th Marines, (artillery). Upon the outbreak of World War II, del Valle led his regiment and participated in the seizure and defense of Guadacanal as part of the First Marine Division. In 1943, he served as Commander of Marine Forces overseeing Guadalcanal, Tulagi, Russell and Florida Islands. On April 1, 1944, del Valle, as Commanding General of the Third Corps Artillery, Third Amphibious Corps, took part in the Guam operation and was awarded a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit. He then became the Commanding General of the First Marine Division and was awarded a Distinguished Service Medal for his leadership in the reorganization of Okinawa. After WWII ended, del Valle was ordered back to Headquarters Marine Corps, where he was named Inspector General, position which he held until he retired on January 1, 1948. Lieutenant General Pedro del Valle died on April 28, 1978 in Annapolis, Maryland. Among Lieutenant General Pedro del Valle's decorations and medals were the following:

Distinguished Service Medal,
Legion of Merit with a Gold Star,
Navy and Marine Corps Medal, Ethiopia 1936-36,
Presidential Unit Citation, Guadacanal 1942, Okinawa 1945,
Expeditionary Medal with Bronze Star, Haiti 1916,
Dominican Campaign Medal, Dominican Republic 1916,
World War I Victory Medal 1918,
Second Nicaraguan Campaign Medal, Nicaragua 1930,
American Defense Service Medal,
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with five Bronze Stars,
American Campaign Medal,
World War II Victory Medal,
Order of the Crown of Italy, Italy 1936,
East African Medal,
Colonial Order of the Star of Italy,
Italian Bronze Medal for Military Valor,
Cuban Naval Order of Merit second class, Cuba 1938,
Ecuadorian Decoration of Abdon Calderon Star first class with Diploma, Ecuador 1942.

Pedro Del Valle

See also