Lewie G. Merritt
Lewie Griffith Merritt was a major general and early aviator in the United States Marine Corps. Merritt served overyears in the Marine Corps, including service in World War I at Belleau Wood and as an aviator during World War II in both the European and Pacific Theaters. After retiring from the Marine Corps, Merritt practiced law in South Carolina.
Lewie Merritt was born on June 26, 1897 in Ridge Springs, South Carolina. In 1917, Merritt graduated from The Citadel at the age ofand received a commission in the Marine Corps. He served in the Dominican Republic that same year, and in 1918 served in France during World War I. He and several other Citadel graduates became a part of the famous Devil Dogs of Marine Corps legend at the Battle of Belleau Wood in 1918. Following the war Merritt served on the staff ofMarine Corps Commandants and was commander of the Marine detachment on the battleship USS New Mexico. In 1923, Merritt began training as a naval aviator at Pensacola Naval Air Station he received his Wings of Gold in January, 1924. In 1928 he received a law degree from George Washington University followed by service with the Navy Judge Advocate Generals Office in Washington, DC. Merritt became one of the first Marine aviators qualified to fly off aircraft carriers and is credited with developing the concepts of dive bom
Source: Wikipedia