Samuel Calvin Cumming (October 14, 1895 – January 14, 1983) was a highly decorated officer of the United States Marine Corps with the rank of major general. He is most noted for his service as assistant division commander of the 4th Marine Division during Mariana Islands Campaign and previously as commanding officer of 25th Marine Regiment during Battle of Kwajalein. He was a nephew of Hugh S. Cumming, former Surgeon General of the United States.
World War I
Samuel Calvin Cumming was born on October 14, 1895, in Kobe, Japan as a son of Reverend Dr. Calvin Knox Cumming (1854–1935) and his wife Ona Elizabeth Patterson Cumming (1865–1955). He spent his first eleven years of age in Japan, where his father served as Presbyterian missionary at church in Toyohashi.
His family later moved back to the United States in 1906 and settled in Virginia. Cumming attended the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering in April 1917. He was in the same class as later the 20th commandant of the Marine Corps, Lemuel C. Shepherd. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on April 7, 1917.
Cumming was subsequently attached as platoon leader to the 51st Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment at Philadelphia Navy Yard and sailed for France. His regiment arrived on June 28, 1917, at Saint-Nazaire and subsequently moved to the vicinity of Gondecourt. The 5th Marines underwent training focused on trench warfare, including trench construction, bayonet fighting, grenade throwing, gas mask drill and weapons firing at land targets and airplanes. The training was conducted by elite French Chasseurs Alpins, which were attached to the training as an instructor. Cumming showed great leadership skills and was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant on August 11, 1917.
In October of that year, 5th Marines were attached to the 4th Marine Brigade under Brigadier General Charles A. Doyen and sent within 2nd Army Infantry Division to take part in joint maneuvers with French troops near Bourmont. Cumming was appointed Adjutant of 2nd Battalion under Major Frederick M. Wise in January 1918 and his regiment moved to the trenches in Toulon sector, just southeast of Verdun in mid-March 1918. The service in the trenches were almost calm for 5th Marines, and apart from several smaller German raids, they spent their time digging new trenches and dugouts and repairing the old ones.
First Lieutenant Cumming was appointed again a platoon leader in 51st Company on June 1, 1918, and subsequently led his unit to the Battle of Belleau Wood. During the fighting near the town of Château-Thierry, he led his platoon to the attack and was hit by enemy machine gun fire to his right leg on June 11. His whole platoon was wiped out except himself and another soldier. Cumming later described his engagement as follows:
Upon basic treatment at a first aid station, Cumming was taken to the U.S. Army Hospital No. 1 at Vichy for surgery. His recovery took seven weeks and he rejoined the 5th Marine as a regimental intelligence officer on August 1, 1918. For his previous gallantry in action in Belleau Wood, he was decorated with the Silver Star citation and Croix de guerre 1914–1918 with Gilt Star by the Government of France.
Following his promotion to the rank of captain at the beginning of September 1918, Cumming was appointed commanding officer of his old 51st Company and led his unit during the subsequent Battle of Saint-Mihiel. The 5th Marines moved to the trenches east of the town of Fleury and took part in the patrolling and push of the lines towards the Germans.
During the Battle of Blanc Mont Ridge in October 1918, Cumming led his company to the attack under heavy artillery bombardment and machine gun fire. He did not hesitate to expose himself to enemy fire several times in order to strengthen the morale of his troops. Although he was wounded again by enemy machine gun fire, he supervised his troops until they consolidated their positions. For this act of valor, Cumming received his second Silver Star.
His wound was not so serious at this time and Cumming was able to return to his unit after two weeks. During the last days of War, he led his company during the combats near the town of Beaumont on November 4. Loyal but also fanatical German troops encircled his unit and Cumming resisted until the Armistice of 11 November 1918. His repeated acts of bravery were awarded with his third Silver Star. He also received the Order of the Star of Romania and another French Croix de guerre 1914–1918. He was also authorized to wear Fourragère.