Wilbur Bestwick

Sergeant Major Wilbur Bestwick c. 1957

Born| (1911-11-27)November 27, 1911
Sabetha, Kansas, U.S.
Died| July 10, 1972(1972-07-10) (aged 60)
Palo Alto, California, U.S.
Buried|

Skylawn Memorial Park[1]

Allegiance| United States
Service / branch| United States Marine Corps
Years of service| 1934–1959
Rank| Sergeant major
Commands| Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
Battles / wars| World War II

* Battle of Bougainville
* Battle of Guam

Korean War
Awards| Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal

Wilbur Bestwick (November 27, 1911 – July 10, 1972) was a United States Marine who served as the first Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps from 1957 to 1959.[2]

## Early life

[edit]

Bestwick was born on November 27, 1911, in Sabetha, Kansas, and graduated from high school there in 1932.

## Military career

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Bestwick enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1934 and received his basic training at San Diego, California.[2]

Bestwick saw pre-World War II duty at sea aboard the USS Louisville, and served at Marine posts in Bremerton, Washington; San Diego, and Camp Elliott, California. Appointed a sergeant major in 1943, he saw World War II combat with the 3rd Marine Division in the Bougainville and Guam campaigns.[2]

On his return to the United States, in December 1944, Bestwick served as sergeant major of the Mare Island (California) Shipyard. He was transferred to San Francisco in 1945 and completed a four-year tour of duty there as sergeant major of the Marine Corps Depot of Supplies. In 1949, he became sergeant major of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.[2]

During the Korean War, Bestwick joined the 1st Marine Division in Korea in October 1952 as a division sergeant major, and after a year overseas returned to the States. For excellent service in Korea, he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V". In 1954, he began a two-year assignment as a sergeant major, Inspector, and Instructor Staff, 1st Air Delivery Company, San Jose, California.[2]

Transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., in June 1956, Bestwick served as sergeant major to the Secretary of the General Staff until May 23, 1957, when he assumed the newly established post of Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps until he retired from active duty on September 1, 1959.[2]

## Later life

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A rifle detail of Marines from Inspector-Instructor staff San Jose, Calif., fire a 21-gun salute in honor of the first Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. Wilbur Bestwick, at Skylawn Memorial Park Nov. 11, 2008

Bestwick worked at Varian Associates a number of years after his service in the Marine Corps.

Bestwick died July 10, 1972, at Stanford University Hospital and according to official records, was interred at the Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto, California. However, this was later revealed to be a mistake, and he was found to have been buried at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo, California.[1]

## Awards

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Bestwick's military decorations include:[3][4]

|  |

|  |  |
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ valor device | Navy Unit Commendation | Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal w/ 7 service stars | American Defense Service Medal

|
|
|

American Campaign Medal | Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 4 service stars  | World War II Victory Medal | National Defense Service Medal
Korean Service Medal w/ 3 service stars  | Korean Presidential Unit Citation | United Nations Korea Medal | Republic of Korea War Service Medal

## References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wilbur Bestwick.

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.

1. ^ a b Zimmerman, Gunnery Sgt. F.B. (2009-03-10). "Marines use resources to locate, properly honor first sergeant major of the Marine Corps". Headquarters Marine Corps. United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2013-03-11. Retrieved 2012-12-23.
2. ^ a b c d e f "Wilbur Bestwick: 1st Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps". Headquarters Marine Corps.
3. ^ Chapin, John (1993). Uncommon Men – The Sergeants Major of the Marine Corps (1st ed.). Shippensburg, Pennsylvania: Burd Street Press. p. 335\. ISBN 0-942597-45-1.
4. ^ "Republic of Korea Korean War Service Medal". Air Force's Personnel Center. U.S. Air Force. Archived from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 9 October 2018.

## External links

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* Official Marine Corps biography Archived 2011-06-15 at the Wayback Machine
* "Sergeant Major Wilbur Bestwick, USMC". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. History Division, United States Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2007-10-28.

Military offices

New office |  Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps
1957–1959  | Succeeded by

Francis D. Rauber

Leadership of the United States Marine Corps

Commandants|

* Nicholas
* Burrows
* Wharton
* Gale
* Henderson
* Harris
* Zeilin
* McCawley
* Heywood
* Elliott
* Biddle
* Barnett
* Lejeune
* Neville
* Fuller
* Russell
* Holcomb
* Vandegrift
* Cates
* Shepherd
* Pate
* Shoup
* Greene
* Chapman
* Cushman
* Wilson
* Barrow
* Kelley
* Gray
* Mundy
* Krulak
* Jones
* Hagee
* Conway
* Amos
* Dunford
* Neller
* Berger
* Smith

Assistant
Commandants|

* Cole
* Lejeune
* Long
* Neville
* Feland
* Williams
* Fuller
* Myers
* Russell
* McDougal
* Little
* H. Smith
* Vandegrift
* Barrett
* Keyser
* Schmidt
* Rockey
* Peck
* Turnage
* Shepherd
* O. Smith
* Silverthorn
* G. C. Thomas
* Pate
* Megee
* McCaul
* Munn
* Hayes
* Mangrum
* Chapman
* Walt
* McCutcheon
* R. Davis
* Anderson
* Jaskilka
* Barrow
* McLennan
* Kelley
* J. Davis
* Morgan
* Went
* J. R. Dailey
* Boomer
* Hearney
* Neal
* Dake
* Williams
* Nyland
* Magnus
* Amos
* Dunford
* Paxton
* Walters
* G. L. Thomas
* E. M. Smith
* Mahoney

Sergeants Major|

* Bestwick
* Rauber
* McHugh
* Sweet
* J. W. Daily
* Puckett
* Black
* Massaro
* Crawford
* Cleary
* Sommers
* Overstreet
* Lee
* McMichael
* Estrada
* Kent
* Barrett
* Green
* Black
* Ruiz

* Secretary of the Navy (navbox)
* Four-star generals
* Headquarters Marine Corps
* Category

*[c.]: circa