David Monroe Shoup was born on 30 December 1904 in Battle Ground, Indiana. Graduating from DePauw University in Indiana, he was appointed a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps from that state in July 1926. Completing the Basic School at Philadelphia Navy Yard, Pennsylvania, he was assigned to various Marine Barracks until reporting to the Marine Detachment on board USS Maryland in June 1929. After a brief assignment at the San Diego Marine Barracks, he was transferred to the Puget Sound Navy Yard at Bremerton, Washington in May 1932 and promoted to First Lieutenant a month later. While at this duty station, he had temporary duty with the Civilian Conservation Corps until serving abroad in China with the Fourth Marines in November 1934. Returning to Puget Sound in June 1936, he was promoted to Captain in the fall.
Following instructor duty at the Marine Corps School at Quantico, Virginia in June 1940, Shoup was assigned to the Sixth Marines at San Diego, California. In April 1941, he was promoted to Major and departed a month later to Iceland with the First Marine Brigade. After commanding Second Battalion, Sixth Marines, he transferred to the Second Marine Division in June 1942. In August 1942, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and departed to the Pacific war zone, serving as an observer at the Guadalcanal and the New Georgia campaigns. Promoted to Colonel in November 1943, Shoup commanded all the Marine Corps troops landing on Betio Island at the Battle of Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands. Wounded in the leg upon landing on 20 November, he fearlessly led his troops for two days under constant enemy fire and was largely responsible for the enemy's defeat. For his "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" on this occasion, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. In December 1943, he became Chief of Staff of Second Division, participating at the Battles of Saipan and Tinian.
Completing duty at Marine Headquarters in June 1947, Shoup served as Commanding Officer, Service Command, Fleet Marine Force. In June 1949, he had staff duty with the First Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, San Diego and commanded the Basic School at Quantico a year later. Returning to Marine Headquarters in April 1952, Shoup was the Assistant Fiscal Director. Promoted to Brigadier General in April 1953, he assumed duties as the Fiscal Director of the Marine Corps three months later. In September, 1955, he was promoted to Major General and was the Inspector General of the Marine Corps the following year. In June 1957, he became the Commanding General of First Marine Division at Camp Pendleton and transferred in March 1958 to command Third Marine Division. Two years later, he served as Commanding General of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island until returning to staff duty back at Marine Headquarters. In November 1959, he was promoted to Lieutenant General. In January 1960, Shoup was promoted to General and became the Twenty-Second Commandant of the Marine Corps, serving on the Joint Chiefs of Staff until his retirement in 1963. David M. Shoup died on 13 January 1983 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.
This page features the only images we have concerning David M. Shoup.
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Photo #: NH 106457 Colonel David M. Shoup, USMC Halftone reproduction of a photograph, copied from the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 259. David M. Shoup was awarded the Medal of Honor for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity" while serving as Commanding Officer of all Marine Corps troops in action against the Japanese on Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, 20-22 November 1943. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 57KB; 580 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: USN 1063931 General David M. Shoup, USMC Photographed while serving as the Twenty-Second Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, 1 January 1960. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 58KB; 580 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 106461 Senior Defense Department Officials Photographed in January 1960, left to right: General Thomas D. White, USAF, Chief of Staff; Mr. Dudley C. Sharp Secretary of the Air Force; General George H. Decker, USA, Chief of Staff; Mr. William M. Brucker, Secretary of the Army; Mr. James H. Douglas, Deputy Defense Secretary; Mr. Thomas S. Gates; Secretary of Defense: Mr. William B. Franke, Secretary of the Navy; Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN; Chief of Naval Operations; General Lyman Lemnitzer, USA, Chief of Staff; General David M. Shoup, USMC, Commandant of the Marine Corps; and Mr. John H. Rubel, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Donation of Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN, (Retired). U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 64KB; 740 x 440 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 106462-KN (Color) Joint Chiefs of Staff Photographed circa early 1960s, left to right: unidentified civilian; General David M. Shoup, USMC, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps; General Thomas D. White, USAF, Chief of Staff; Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN, Chief of Naval Operations; General Lyman Lemnitzer, USA, Chief of Staff; General Nathan Twining, USAF, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and unidentified civilian Donation of Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN, (Retired). U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 580 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 106460 Joint Chiefs of Staff Photographed in January 1960, left to right: General Lyman Lemintzer, USA, Chief of Staff; Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN Chief of National Operations, General Nathan Twining, USAF, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Thomas D. White, USAF, Chief of Staff, and General David M. Shoup, USN, Commandant of the Marine Corps Donation of Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN, (Retired). U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 51KB; 740 x 580 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 106458 United States Capitol Secretary of the Navy, William B. Franke, (fourth from right); Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN, Chief of Naval Operations, (second from left); and General David M. Shoup, USMC, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps (right of Admiral Burke) gather for "Testimony on the Hill", 5 February 1960. The photographs were forwarded to Admiral Burke by Senator Henry S. Bridges, Republican from New Hampshire. Donation of Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN, (Retired). U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 66KB; 740 x 580 pixels |
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Photo #: USN 1047895 The Joint Chiefs of Staff In session at the Pentagon, 10 February 1960. They are (from left to right): General Lyman Lemnitzer, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army; Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, Chief of Naval Operations; General Nathan Twining, USAF, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; General Thomas D. White, Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force; and General David M. Shoup, Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 70KB; 740 x 610 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system as Photo # 428-N-1047895. |
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Photo #: NH 93679 Secretary of Defense Robert S. MacNamara Meets with his Assistant Secretaries of Defense, and the Members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon, April 1961. Speaking at left is Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN. Next right is General David M. Shoup, USMC. Mr. Paul Nitze (Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs) is in the light suit (center). Next four men are: General Thomas D. White, USA, Chief of Staff; Secretary of Defense MacNamara; General Lyman Leminitzer, USA, Chief of Staff; and General Earl G. Wheeler, USA, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Donation of Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, USN, (Retired). U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 51KB; 740 x 505 pixels |
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Photo #: K-26523 (Color) Joint Chiefs of Staff In session at the Pentagon, 13 November 1961. left to right: Admiral George C. Anderson, Jr., USN, Chief of Naval Operations; General George Decker, USA, Chief of Staff; General Lyman Lemnitzer, USA, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; General Curtis Lemay, USAF, Chief of Staff; and General David Shoup, USMC, Commandant of the Marine Corps Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 65KB; 740 x 580 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: USMC A409002 Lieutenant General Alexander A. Vandegrift, USMC and Colonel David M. Shoup, USMC Both Medal of Honor recipients at lunch sometime in 1943. Note: Print made from a copy negative; crops marks to original print. U.S. Marine Corps Photograph. Online Image: 48KB; 740 x 555 pixels |
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Medal of Honor citation of Colonel David Monroe Shoup, USMC (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 259): |
NOTES:
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 18 March 2009