Thomas E. Bourke

Thomas Eugene Bourke
Thomas E. Bourke, USMC
Born	(1896-05-05)May 5, 1896 Robinson, Maryland
Died	January 9, 1978(1978-01-09) (aged 81) Santa Clara, California
Buried	Arlington National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1917-1946
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands	10th Marine Regiment 5th Marine Division Inspector General of FMFPac
Battles/wars	World War II Battle of Guadalcanal Battle of Tarawa Battle of Saipan Battle of Leyte
Awards	Legion of Merit Bronze Star (2)

Thomas Eugene Bourke (May 5, 1896 – January 9, 1978) was a United States Marine Corps general who, during World War II, commanded Marine artillery units at the Battle of Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Leyte. At the end of World War II, he commanded the 5th Marine Division in the occupation of Japan, and the Fleet Marine Force, Pacific

Biography

Bourke was a native of Robinson, Maryland, and a graduate of St. Johns College, Annapolis, Maryland. He was commissioned in 1917 after service in the Maryland National Guard along the Mexican border. While en route to Santo Domingo for his first tour, he and 50 recruits were diverted to St. Croix, becoming the first U.S. troops to land on what had just become the American Virgin Islands. Post-World War I tours included service at Quantico, Parris Island, San Diego, and Headquarters Marine Corps. He also served at Pearl Harbor; was commanding officer of the Legation Guard in Managua, Nicaragua; saw sea duty on board the battleship USS West Virginia (BB-48); and commanded the 10th Marine Regiment.

Following the Guadalcanal and Tarawa campaigns, General Bourke was assigned as the V Amphibious Corps artillery officer for the invasion of Saipan. He next trained combined Army-Marine artillery units for the XXIV Army Corps, then preparing for the Leyte operation. With Leyte secured, he assumed command of the 5th Marine Division which was planning for the invasion of Japan.

After the war's sudden end, the division landed at Sasebo, Kyūshū, and assumed occupation duties. With disbandment of the 5th Marine Division, General Bourke became Deputy Commander and Inspector General of Fleet Marine Force Pacific. Bourke retired from the Marine Corps in 1946 with a rank of Lieutenant General.

General Bourke died in 1978. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Awards

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Legion of Merit	Bronze Star w/ 1 award star	Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 1 service star	Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal
Mexican Border Service Medal	World War I Victory Medal w/ 1 service star	Nicaraguan Campaign Medal (1933)	American Defense Service Medal w/ Fleet clasp
American Campaign Medal	Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/ 4 service stars	World War II Victory Medal	Philippine Liberation Medal w/ 2 service stars

External links

• NPS biography of Thomas Bourke
• Thomas Eugene Bourke, Lieutenant General, United States Marine Corps, Arlington National Cemetery profile.