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 of America
Service/branch	Maryland National Guard United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1917–1946
Rank	Lieutenant general
Service number	0-96
Commands held	5th Marine Division 10th Marine Regiment Inspector General of FMFPac
Battles/wars	Pancho Villa Expedition World War I Nicaraguan Campaign 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 born on May 5, 1896, in Robinson, Maryland, and later attended high school in Boonsboro, Maryland. He later attended the St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland, and graduated with Bachelor of Arts degree. Following his graduation, Bourke served with the Maryland National Guard along the Mexican border, before he accepted the commission as second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on February 5, 1917.

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.

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

Awards[]

See also[]

External links[]

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

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