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Jim Mattis

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James N. Mattis
General James N. Mattis, USMC
Nickname(s)"Chaos"
"Warrior Monk"
"Mad Dog Mattis"[1]
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branchUnited States Marine Corps
Years of service1972 - present
RankGeneral
CommandsU.S. Joint Forces Command/Supreme Allied Commander Transformation
I Marine Expeditionary Force
U.S. Marine Forces Central Command
Marine Corps Combat Development Command
1st Marine Division
7th Marine Regiment
1st Battalion 7th Marines
Battles / warsOperation Desert Storm
Operation Enduring Freedom
*2001 invasion of Afghanistan
Operation Iraqi Freedom
*2003 invasion of Iraq
*Operation Vigilant Resolve
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star with V

General James N. Mattis, USMC is the current Commander of United States Joint Forces Command, a post held since November 9, 2007. He previously served concurrently as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation from November 9, 2007 to September 8, 2009. Prior to that, he commanded I Marine Expeditionary Force, United States Marine Forces Central Command, and 1st Marine Division during the Iraq War. He has been appointed the head of Central Command, replacing General David Petraeus.

Marine Corps career

Mattis was born in Pullman, Washington and attended Central Washington University[2] and was commissioned a second lieutenant January 1, 1972.[3] As a lieutenant, he served as a rifle and weapons platoon commander in the 3rd Marine Division. As a captain, he commanded a rifle company and a weapons company in the 1st Marine Brigade, then Recruiting Station Portland as a major. Promoted to lieutenant colonel, he commanded 1st Battalion 7th Marines, one of Task Force Ripper's assault battalions in the Gulf War. As a colonel, he commanded 7th Marine Regiment, then 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade and Task Force 58 during Operation Enduring Freedom in southern Afghanistan as a brigadier general. As the commander of TF-58, he became the first Marine to command a Naval Task Force in combat.[4] As a major general, he commanded the 1st Marine Division during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and subsequent stability operations in during the Iraq War. Mattis played a key role in the April 2004 battle of Fallujah, Operation Vigilant Resolve, by negotiating with the insurgent command inside of the city, as well as playing an important part in planning the subsequent Operation Phantom Fury in November.

After being promoted to lieutenant general, Mattis took command of Marine Corps Combat Development Command. On February 1, 2005, speaking ad libitum at a forum in San Diego, he said "You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil. You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them. Actually, it's a lot of fun to fight. You know, it's a hell of a hoot. It's fun to shoot some people. I'll be right upfront with you, I like brawling." Mattis's remarks sparked controversy and General Michael Hagee, Commandant of the Marine Corps, issued a statement suggesting that Mattis should have chosen his words more carefully, but would not be disciplined.[5] Following a Pentagon survey that showed only 55% of soldiers and 40% of Marines would report a colleague for abusing civilians, Mattis told his Marines in May 2007, “Whenever you show anger or disgust toward civilians, it's a victory for Al Qaeda and other insurgents.” Reflecting an understanding of the need for restraint in war as key to defeating an insurgency, he added that, "Every time you wave at an Iraqi civilian, Al Qaeda rolls over in its grave."[6]

Letter written by Mattis to the 1st Marine Division before the 2003 Iraq War

General Mattis popularized the slogan "no better friend, no worse enemy", (originally coined by the Roman Sulla as his own epitaph in 78 BC) for his command. This phrase became widely publicized during the investigation into the conduct of Lieutenant Ilario Pantano, a platoon commander serving under General Mattis.[7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

The Pentagon announced on May 31, 2006 that LtGen Mattis was chosen to take command of I Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.[14] On 11 September 2007, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced that President George W. Bush had nominated Mattis for appointment to the rank of general to command U.S. Joint Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. NATO agreed to appoint Mattis as Supreme Allied Commander Transformation. On 28 September 2007, the United States Senate confirmed Mattis's nomination, and he relinqished command of I MEF on 5 November 2007 to LtGen Samuel Helland. Mattis was promoted to four-star general and took control of JFCOM/SACT on 9 November 2007. He transferred the job of SACT to French General Stéphane Abrial on 9 September 2009, but continued in command of JFCOM.[15]

In June 2010, Mattis was passed over for selection to replace James T. Conway as Commandant in favor of James F. Amos.[16] In July, he was nominated to replace David Petraeus as commander of United States Central Command in favor of deputy commander John R. Allen.[17]

Awards & education

Bronze oak leaf cluster
V
Gold star
Gold star
File:NavyPres.gif
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Silver star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
First row Defense Distinguished Service Medal w/ 1 oak leaf cluster Navy Distinguished Service Medal Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
Second row Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star w/ valor device Meritorious Service Medal w/ 2 award stars
Third row Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal Combat Action Ribbon Presidential Unit Citation Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Fourth row Navy Unit Commendation Navy and Marine Corps Meritorious Unit Commendation Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal National Defense Service Medal w/ 2 service stars
Fifth row Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 2 service stars Afghanistan Campaign Medal Iraq Campaign Medal Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Sixth row Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal Sea Service Ribbon w/ 7 service stars Marine Corps Recruiting Service Ribbon w/ 1 service star
Seventh Row NATO Meritorious Service Medal[18] NATO Medal for Service with ISAF[18] Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia) Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)

Mattis holds expert rifle and pistol badges. He is a graduate of the Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the National War College.

Portrayals in media

General James Mattis is portrayed by Robert John Burke in the HBO miniseries Generation Kill.[19]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to James N. Mattis.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Jim Mattis.

References

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

Notes
  1. ^ Boot, Max (2006). "The Corps should look to its small-wars past". Armed Forces Journal. Retrieved 2007-06-12. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  2. ^ United States Joint Forces Command Website
  3. ^ Reynolds Basrah, Baghdad and Beyond, p. 4.
  4. ^ Reynolds Basrah, Baghdad and Beyond, p. 5.
  5. ^ Guardiano, John R. (2005). "Breaking the Warrior Code". The American Spectator. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  6. ^ “General Urges Marines To Add A Friendly Wave To Their Arsenal,” Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2007.
  7. ^ "Top 10 Stories of 2005: Pantano, roads, Olchowski are 10-7". Star News Online. December 28, 2005. Retrieved January 24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |yearaccessed= ignored (help)
  8. ^ Quinn-Judge, Paul (February 28, 2005). "Did He Go Too Far?". TIME. Retrieved January 24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |yearaccessed= ignored (help)
  9. ^ Phillips, Stone (April 26, 2005). "Marine charged with murders of Iraqis: Lieutenant claims self-defense in shooting of detainees". MSNBC. Retrieved January 24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |yearaccessed= ignored (help)
  10. ^ Jeff Schogol (November 16, 2005). "Marine acquitted in Iraqi shootings will publish a book". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved January 24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |yearaccessed= ignored (help)
  11. ^ Walker, Mark (July 1, 2006). "Pantano case has parallels to Hamdania incident". North County Times. Retrieved January 24. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |yearaccessed= ignored (help)
  12. ^ Phillips, Phillips (June 14, 2006). "Sending A Message". Retrieved January 24, 2007.
  13. ^ Charen, Mona (February 25, 2005). "Is the Marine Corps P.C.?". townhall.com. Retrieved January 24, 2007.
  14. ^ Lowe, Christian (June 12, 2006). "Popular commander to lead I MEF". Marine Corps Times. p. 24. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  15. ^ Allied Command Transformation Public Affairs Office (September 9, 2009). "French general assumes command of Allied Command Transformation". United States Joint Forces Command. Retrieved September 10. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |yearaccessed= ignored (help)
  16. ^ Gearan, Anne (June 22, 2010). "Gates announces nomination of Amos for CMC". Associated Press. Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  17. ^ Cavallaro, Gina (July 8, 2010). "Pentagon picks Mattis to take over CENTCOM". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  18. ^ a b "French general assumes command of Allied Command Transformation". Allied Command Transformation Public Affairs Office. USS George Washington (CVN-73): NATO. 2009-09-18. Retrieved 2009-09-28.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link) close up image of awards
  19. ^ "Character Bio". HBO. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
Bibliography
  • Reynolds, Nicholas E. (2005). ‘’Basrah, Baghdad and Beyond - The U.S. Marine Corps in the Second Iraq War.’’p. 5. Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-717-4
Web

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