assumed command of the 4th Marine Division in the Marianas operation, the Tinian campaign and the seizure of Iwo Jima. For his services at Tinian, Cates received the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and a Gold Star in lieu of a second award for his service at Iwo Jima. The planning for Tinian included the first complete aerial reconnaissance of an enemy base by the key commanders, including Cates. Near the end of the fighting at Iwo Jima, Cates attempted to persuade the remaining Japanese brigade to surrender honorably rather than fight to the death. After his first tour of duty in the Pacific, Cates returned to the United States to serve as commandant of the Marine Corps Schools at Quantico until 1944. He then returned to the Pacific theater until the end of the war as commander of the 4th Marine Division. Commandant On January 1, 1948, Cates was sworn in as the 19th commandant of the Marine Corps and promoted to the rank of general. He served as commandant for four years, and fought the budgetary erosion of the Fleet Marine Force. As Commandant, Cates continued the push to enlarge the Corps standing forces, eventually getting legislation placing the Corps active strength at three divisions and three air wings, and he brought the first helicopters into service on a test basis of the "new concept" in the Korean War—the usage of which would make an impression on the Commander of the FMF, Pacific, his eventual successor as commandant General Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr. Shepherd and Cates would revive the amphibious assault at Inchon. Upon completion of his tour as Commandant of the Marine Corps, Cates was reverted to his then permanent rank of lieutenant general and was reassigned to serve again as commandant of the Marine Corps Schools. He retired on June 30, 1954, and was eventually promoted on the retired list to the rank of full general. After retirement he was chairman of the National Campaign of the United Service Organizations for two years. Death and legacy Cates died June 4, 1970, at the United States Naval Hospital, Annapolis, Maryland, after a long illness. He was buried with full military honors on June 8, 1970, at Arlington National Cemetery. General Cates also held doctoral law degrees from the University of Tennessee and the University of Chattanooga. Cates' high school alma mater, the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, Missouri,