Carl Epting Mundy Jr. Facts for Kids

Carl Epting Mundy Jr. (July 16, 1935 – April 2, 2014) was a highly respected four-star general in the United States Marine Corps. He served as the 30th Commandant of the Marine Corps and was a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1991 until his retirement in 1995. General Mundy dedicated 42 years of his life to serving his country.

After his military career, General Mundy led the United Service Organizations (USO) from 1996 to 2000. The USO is a non-profit organization that provides entertainment and support to U.S. troops and their families. He also chaired the Marine Corps University Foundation and served on the boards of several companies.

Quick facts for kids Carl E. Mundy Jr.
30th Commandant of the Marine Corps (1991–1995)
Born	(1935-07-16)July 16, 1935 Atlanta, Georgia
Died	April 2, 2014(2014-04-02) (aged 78) Alexandria, Virginia
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1953–1995
Rank	General
Commands held	Commandant of the Marine Corps Marine Forces Atlantic II Marine Expeditionary Force 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade 2nd Marine Regiment 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines
Battles/wars	Vietnam War Cold War
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart
Alma mater	Auburn University
Other work	USO Marine Corps University Foundation Schering-Plough General Dynamics Council on Foreign Relations

Early Life and Education
Marine Career
Awards and Decorations
Personal Life
Death
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Education

Carl E. Mundy Jr. was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on July 16, 1935. His family moved often when he was young. They finally settled in Waynesville, North Carolina, when he was about 10 years old. He finished high school at Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama. At 18, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.

Marine Career

Mundy joined the Marine Corps Reserve in December 1953 while attending college. He was part of the Platoon Leaders Class Program. He rose to the rank of sergeant. After graduating from Auburn University in June 1957, he became a second lieutenant. He continued his military education at the Command and General Staff College and the Naval War College.

General Mundy visiting Marines in Somalia during Operation Restore Hope in 1993.

General Mundy visiting a survivor of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.

Early Assignments

General Mundy's first jobs included serving in the 2nd Marine Regiment. He also served on the aircraft carrier USS Tarawa (CV-40) and the cruiser USS Little Rock (CLG-4). He was an instructor at The Basic School and an officer recruiter in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Vietnam War Service

From 1966 to 1967, Mundy served in Vietnam. He was an operations and executive officer for the 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines. He also worked as an intelligence officer.

Key Roles After Vietnam

After the Vietnam War, General Mundy held many important positions. These included:

Helping the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps.
Commanding the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines.
Working as a plans officer at Headquarters Marine Corps.
Serving as Chief of Staff for the Sixth Marine Amphibious Brigade.
Commanding the 2nd Marine Regiment.

Promotions and Leadership

In April 1982, Mundy became a brigadier general. His roles then included:

Director of Personnel Procurement for the Marine Corps.
Commanding General of the Landing Force Training Command.
Leading the 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade.

He was promoted to Major General in April 1986. In March 1988, he became a Lieutenant General. He served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, Policies, and Operations. He also commanded the Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic. On July 1, 1991, he was promoted to General. He then became the Commandant of the Marine Corps, serving until June 30, 1995.

Awards and Decorations

General Mundy received many awards for his service. Some of his top awards include:

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal
Purple Heart

He also earned various unit awards and service medals from his time in Vietnam. General Mundy was also recognized with awards from other countries, including France, Argentina, Norway, and Spain. He was an expert in both rifle and pistol shooting, earning the Rifle Expert Badge and Pistol Expert Badge.

Personal Life

General Mundy (right) in May 2013.

General Mundy was married and had three children: two sons and one daughter. Both of his sons became officers in the United States Marine Corps. One son, Carl E. Mundy III, also became a retired Marine Corps lieutenant general.

Death

General Carl E. Mundy Jr. passed away at his home in Alexandria, Virginia, on April 2, 2014. He was 78 years old. A memorial service was held for him at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. His funeral and burial took place in Waynesville, North Carolina.