Frank D. Creamer 1898 - 1940 USMC ret.

[teufelhunde.ret]

 

I was fascinated upon seeing this photo the first time, who was this SgtMaj? The album is likely the best early China album I've seen for quality and preservation. The SgtMaj viewed here is Frank D. Creamer. Checking the muster rolls for Sgt Major's in China, there was but one. Creamer enlisted march 1898 Marine Barracks Newport RI. By June 1898 is in Camp Mccalla Guantanamo Cuba under command Wendell Neville. The First Marine Battalion saw service in Cuba, being the first unit to actually land and become engaged in the War. He is listed he http://www.spanamwar.com/1stmarineroster.html and the rolls.

 

Creamer returned from Cuba Marine to Marine Barracks ,US Naval Training Station, Newport, P I until spring of 1899 and set sail aboard the

USS Yosemite, to Agana, Guam, and arrives in the Philippines Jan 1901 to participate in the Campaign for Samar. A great forum thread on the Campaign is located here: http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...01&hl=Samar

 

A superb first-hand unpublished account is here "The history of the Pioneer Marine Battalion" is located here: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/gdc/scd0001/...051020001hi.pdf

 

Creamer returns to Marine Barracks Newport RI in June 1902 (John Quick is Co Gunny) And by the fall of 03 is back in the PI as a Sergeant and in Nov 1904 is promoted to Gunnery Sergeant and acting SgtMaj 2nd Regiment (brigade warrant) and subsequently Sgt Maj in the 1st Regiment under them Major Joseph Pendelton. Ross L. Iams a future CMoH recipient is also a member of the Company

 

June 06 finds Gunnery Sergeant Creamer in Peking China with the Legation serving under Thomas Holcomb and rotates back to the stated in Jan 1907. to the Marine Barracks Mare Island. The following year finds him posted at Marine Barracks San Fransisco. And receives his permanent Promotion to 1stSgt. July 08. Finally in July 1910 the SgtMaj receives order to his own Detachment at The U S Naval Magazine, Iona Island, NY and in December 1911 Creamer arrives at the US Naval Academy, Marine Barracks, and once again acting SgtMaj. And serves under then Capt Henry Lee from the SpanAm war days. In September 1912 he is promoted to SgtMaj.

 

April 1913 finds him posted as the SgtMaj for the American Legation, China under the Maj Dion Williams, also on the Legation staff are Holcomb, Geiger, Little and Upshur. 1915-16 finds Creamer assigned to Marine Barracks Mare Is. In June 1917 the SgtMaj accepts an appointment to "Marine Gunner" the following month a 2nd Lt and Recruit Co Commander. And November, promoted to Captain and CO of 59th Company, 2nd Batt 7th Regiment, San Juan Hill, Santiago De Cuba. After WW1 he as so many others are, demoted to 2nd Lt and makes Captain in 1921. Attends Company Officers School in 1923 and in the spring of 1924 becomes CO of 56th Company, Marine Barracks, Saint Croix, Virgin Islands. 1926 brings a new assignment as XO of Marine Barracks, Naval Station, Olongapo, Philippines and than as tour as CO Marine Barracks Yorktown Va. In Feb 1929 he becomes the CO of Twenty Third Company, First Battalion, Fifth Regiment, Second Brigade, Leon, Nicaragua.

 

1931 brings dramatic change to his assignments as he become AQM and Paymaster at Depot of Supplies, Naval Operating Base, Hampton Roads, Virginia and subsequently Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Post Troops, Mb, Parris Island, SC. Following several years at Parris Island the Captain lands at Headquarter Washington DC in charge of the Quartermaster Division and June 1939 finds the Captain awaiting retirement orders. September of that year finds him recalled to active duty and assigned XO Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, Boston, Massachusetts. Major Creamer (Ret) was still on the muster rolls December 1940.

[teufelhunde.ret]

a blow-up

[Dirk]

Darrell: Very nice follow up on him...that was a wonderful album.

[Dirk]

Darrell: I see this one has gone off to China....last we will see of it...glad you copied some images from it.

[teufelhunde.ret]

Darrell: I see this one has gone off to China....last we will see of it...glad you copied some images from it.

 

Certainly would have been nice to have determined who's album this was before leaving the country. For anyone who did not view it - or those who will come later, it can be viewed here:

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/ind...c=76369&hl=

Truly the most impressive album I've ever seen...

[faecreamerl]

Major Frank D. Creamer is my grandfather. He was a profilic writer and kept journals of many of his experiences in the Marine Corp and photo albums with pictures of his various duty stations. I have a copy of the photo that was posted with the article "Frank D. Creamer 1898-1940 USMC ret". He was a marine to his very core and was proud of his service record. He emigrated to the United States from Oughterard, County Galway, Ireland with his family in 1899. If you would like more information I could possibly add some more details about his military career. Fae Creamer Laurie [email protected]

[teufelhunde.ret]

Hello Fae, what a pleasant surprise to have you hear! We would all like to know more of Major Frank's life and times. I found the early history of the "Pioneer Marine Battalion" especially intriguing! Do you happen to know if this album was his? Look forward to more history! s/f Darrell

[Dirk]

Well this is a great opportunity!....the major spent a number of years in China and would very much much love to hear if he has anything to say about the years 1910-14 as so much happened during those years and the Marines in Peking were kept so busy building up the Marine Detachment in the city.

[teufelhunde.ret]

TTT