Lawrence Fontaine Snowden (April 14, 1921 – February 18, 2017) was a lieutenant general in the United States Marine Corps. In 1995, he founded the annual Reunion of Honor, a program honoring those who lost their lives on both sides of the Battle of Iwo Jima. Early life and education Lawrence F. Snowden was born April 14, 1921, in Charlottesville, Virginia, and graduated from the University of Virginia in 1942 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce. He also earned a master's degree in Personnel Administration from Northwestern University in 1950. Career Snowden enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in February 1942. He was called to active duty that May, attended Officer Candidates School and was commissioned a second lieutenant on July 18, 1942. He was promoted to first lieutenant in March 1943 and to captain in October 1944. From February 1944 until March 1945, Snowden was a company commander with the 23rd Marines during the capture of Roi-Namur during the Battle of Kwajalein, the capture of Saipan and the capture of Tinian. During the assault on Iwo Jima, he commanded Company F, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division. During the battle, he was wounded and medically evacuated. In May 1945, he joined the 3rd Marine Division on Guam, serving with the 3rd Marine and 9th Marine Regiments until December 1945. In February 1946, he attended the Administrative School and was then assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, where he served on the staff of G-4, Plans and Policies Division. From August 1950 until March 1953, he served as a member of the Testing and Evaluation Unit until March 1953. During this assignment, in January 1951, he was promoted to the rank of major. Major Snowden was ordered to South Korea in April 1953, assigned to the 7th Marine Regiment, and served there until April 1954. For his service in Korea, he was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat "V." After returning to the United States, he served as officer in charge, Marine Corps Recruiting Station, New York, from May 1954 until June 1956, during which time, in January 1955, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He then served for two years on the staff of the commander in chief. In September 1958, he entered the Senior School at Quantico and, upon graduation, was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps as an action officer for the Marine Corps