Carl Epting Mundy Jr.
Carl Epting Mundy Jr. | |
|---|---|
 30th Commandant of the Marine Corps (1991-1995) | |
| Allegiance | USMC |
| Years of service | 1953-1995 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines 2nd Marine Regiment 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade II Marine Expeditionary Force Marine Forces Atlantic Commandant of the Marine Corps |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Purple Heart Legion of Honor |
| Other work | Schering-Plough General Dynamics Council on Foreign Relations |
Carl Epting Mundy Jr. (born July 16, 1935) was the Commandant of the United States Marine Corps and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from July 1, 1991 until his retirement on June 30, 1995. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, he currently serves on the boards of directors of Schering-Plough and General Dynamics. Mundy is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Marine Corps service
General Mundy enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve and enrolled in the Platoon Leaders Class Program in December 1953. He served in the 38th Special Infantry Company, Montgomery, Alabama, and rose to the grade of sergeant. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in June 1957, following graduation from Auburn University. Earlier assignments included service in the 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division; duty aboard the aircraft carrier USS Tarawa and the cruiser USS Little Rock; instructor at the The Basic School; and as Officer Selection Officer, Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1966-67, he served in Vietnam as operations and executive officer of the 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, and as an intelligence officer in the Headquarters, III Marine Amphibious Force.
After Vietnam, his principal assignments were:
- Aide de Camp to the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
- Inspector Instructor, 4th Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, Miami, Florida
- Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3d Marine Division
- Plans Officer, Headquarters Marine Corps
- Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, 2nd Marine Division
- Chief of Staff, Sixth Marine Amphibious Brigade
- Commanding Officer, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, and 36th and 38th Marine Amphibious Units
Following advancement to Brigadier General in April 1982, General Mundy's assignments were:
- Director of Personnel Procurement, Headquarters Marine Corps
- Commanding General, Landing Force Training Command, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and Commanding General, 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade
- Advanced to major general in April 1986
- Director of Operations, Headquarters Marine Corps
- Advanced to lieutenant general in March 1988
- Deputy Chief of Plans, Policies and Operations, Headquarters Marine Corps Operations Deputy to the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- Commanding General of the Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, the II Marine Expeditionary Force, the Allied Command Atlantic Marine Striking Force, and designated to command Fleet Marine Forces which might be employed in Europe
- Promoted to general on July 1, 1991
- Commandant of the Marine Corps from July 1, 1991 to June 30, 1995
General Mundy is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, but spent his formative years in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama. He graduated from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the Naval War College. His United States decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal and the Distinguished Service Medals of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard; the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, and two Navy Commendation Medals. His foreign decorations include Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, the Colombian Distinguished Service, the Spanish Grand Cross of Naval Merit; the French Legion of Honor, Grade of Commander, the Argentinean Grand Cross, the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, Grand Cross; and the Netherlands Medal of Merit.
Allegations of Racism
In a October 31, 1993 segment on the CBS program 60 Minutes on the dearth of minority promotions in the Marine Corps, General Mundy was quoted as saying, "In the military skills, we find that the minority officers do not shoot as well as the non-minorities. They don't swim as well. And when you give them a compass and send them across the terrain at night in a land navigation exercise, they don't do as well at that sort of thing." [1] On November 3, 1993, the New York Times reported that the general apologized for "any offense that may have been taken" from his remarks. [2] According to the Times of London, the general elaborated on this question at a 1993 commemoration of the battle of Iwo Jima, repudiating the idea "that some marines were not as capable as others because of the color of their skin”. [3]