Earl Cecil Long (November 4, 1883 – August 19, 1983) was a decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps who reached the rank of major general. During the World War II, he served as commanding general of Service Command Fleet Marine Force, Pacific and later as commanding general of Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. Early life and education Earl C. Long was born on November 4, 1883, in Clayton, New Jersey. Following high school, he enrolled at the University of California, where he graduated in 1905 with Bachelor of Science degree in engineering. U.S. Marine Corps After graduating college, Long worked as s resident engineer in California. He entered the Marine Corps on August 5, 1909, and was commissioned second lieutenant. He was sent to Marine Officers School at Port Royal, South Carolina, for further training in September 1909. Upon graduation in January 1911, Long was assigned to the Marine barracks at Mare Island Naval Shipyard and served there until July 1912. He was subsequently attached to the Marine detachment aboard USS Denver and sailed to Nicaragua to fight rebel troops under General Luis Mena. Long went ashore in Corinto, Nicaragua, and participated in combat operations alongside Major Smedley Butler. Long continued to serve aboard the USS Denver and participated in operations off the Mexican Coast during the ongoing Occupation of Veracruz in Mexico. He returned stateside in December 1914 and after one month Christmas leave and was assigned to the newly-created 4th Marine Regiment under Colonel Joseph H. Pendleton. His new unit subsequently sailed in expeditionary duty in Dominican Republic in June 1916, following the Coup d'état there led by the nation's Secretary of War Desiderio Arias. The 4th Marines landed at ][Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic|Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic]] on June 18, 1916, and fought their way to Santo Domingo. Upon withdrawal of rebel forces to Santiago in July of that year, rebel forces were annihilated or captured. Long was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in October 1916 and assigned to Marine detachment aboard USS Charleston, which participated in the escort of the convoys carrying the first troops of the American Expeditionary Force to France during World War I. Interwar period While in France, Long was promoted to captain in April 1917 and returned to the U.S. in June 1918. He was subsequently assigned to the Marine Barracks San Diego and served there until January