John Archer Lejeune, a U.S. Marine Corps officer born in Pointe Coupee Parish in 1867, served the Marine Corps for more than forty years and took part in campaigns in Panama, Cuba, Mexico, France, and Germany. After attending Louisiana State University, he entered the United States Naval Academy, graduated in 1888, and began his Marine career aboard the USS Vandalia, receiving his commission as a second lieutenant in 1890 while at sea. He excelled during the Spanish-American War, quelled uprisings in Panama, graduated from the U.S. Army War College after service in the Philippines, commanded in Vera Cruz, and later led forces in Cuba. In World War I he commanded a brigade of the 32nd Division at Brest, then the 4th Marine Brigade after the Soissons offensive, was promoted to major general, and became the first Marine officer to command a division in combat as commander of the 2nd Division, American Expeditionary Force. He led the division in the drive on St. Mihiel, stormed Blanc Mont Ridge during the Champagne offensive, and led the 2nd Division into Germany after its surrender; his leadership at St. Mihiel earned him the French Legion of Honor. As major general commandant of the Marine Corps from 1920 to 1929, he developed the Fleet Marine Force concept, established formal Marine officers schools at Quantico, founded the Marine Corps Association, Marine Corps Institute, and Marine Corps League, and helped preserve the Marine Corps by defining its future role in amphibious expeditionary operations. He retired from active duty in 1929, then served as superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute until 1937, was promoted to lieutenant general on the retired list in 1942 as the first Marine to hold that rank, and died that year in Baltimore before burial with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.