in August 1943, to support the New Georgia and Bougainville operations. The group became the nucleus of the Solomons Fighter Command, and that October Brice was assigned additional duties as head of that organization. He relinquished his command of the group in January 1944, but continued to head the Fighter Command until he returned to the United States in March 1944. In September 1944, after service in various capacities at the Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina, General Brice reported to Marine Corps Headquarters, where he served as executive officer of the Division of Plans and Policies until June 1945. The same year he was promoted to brigadier general at the age of 46, which made him the youngest general officer then in the Marine Corps, and that July he arrived in Hawaii to take over as chief of staff, air, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. He held that post until May 1947, and the following month, returned to Marine Corps Headquarters as assistant director of Marine Aviation. Leaving headquarters in May 1949, the general's next tour of duty was at Glenview, Illinois, as a commander of Marine Air Reserve Training from that July until April 1951, when he left for Korea to become assistant commander of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Promoted to major general that August, he returned to Hawaii in October as deputy commander, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, serving in that capacity until March 1952, when he returned to the United States. He became Director of Aviation the following month, and in August 1953, when that post was elevated to a lieutenant general's billet, he was promoted to that rank. He left Washington, D.C., in July 1955, and assumed his final command on September 9 of that year. He retired in 1956 and was advanced to the rank of general. Brice died on January 30, 1972, at the U.S. Army Hospital, Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. Awards Brice was awarded: See also List of United States Marine Corps four-star generals References 1898 births 1972 deaths United States Army personnel of World War I United States Marine Corps personnel of the Korean War United States Marine Corps World War II generals United States Naval Aviators Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Recipients of the Legion of Merit Honorary Commanders of the Order of the British Empire The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina alumni United States