Jonas Mansfield Platt – Major General, United States Marine Corps

From a contemporary press report:

Jonas M. “Joe” Platt, 80, a retired Marine Corps major general who was a heavily decorated veteran of three wars, died of heart and lung ailments July 28, 2000 at the Falcons Landing retirement community’s nursing home in Sterling, Virginia.

He served in the Marine Corps for 30 years before retiring from active duty in 1970. He then spent seven years as a civilian Defense Department official, retiring in 1977 as a personnel management director.

General Platt joined the Marine Corps and was commissioned in 1940. During World War II, he served on the battleship Washington and later in the Pacific with Marine infantry in Peleliu and Okinawa. He was a battalion commander in Korea during the Korean conflict. In the late 1950s, he commanded the Marine Barracks in Washington.

He was promoted to brigadier general in 1965 was made an assistant commander of the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam, where he also commanded Task Force Delta in several key operations.

In 1966, he became chief of staff to Lieutenant General Lewis W. Walt, commander of the Marine forces in Vietnam. General Platt was promoted to major general in 1968 and retired as deputy assistant chief of staff for personnel.

His decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, three awards of the Legion of Merit with combat “V,” the Bronze Star with combat “V” and the Purple Heart. He also held the Distinguished Civilian Service Award.

Jonas Mansfield Platt, a New York native, was a civil engineering graduate of Norwich University in Vermont and received a master’s degree in psychology from Ohio State University.

He graduated from the National War College and Marine Corps Command and Staff College.

He settled in the Washington area in the late 1960s and moved to Vermont in 1984. He returned in 1998 to live at Falcons Landing and spent the last three months at its nursing home.

His memberships included the Council on Foreign Relations and the council of advisers on professional education for the Marine Corps University at Quantico.

His first wife, the former Nina Fernandez, died in 1975. His marriage to the former Betty Bower ended in divorce.

Survivors include his wife of 16 years, Anne Baker Platt of Sterling; a daughter from his first marriage, Joanne Platt Kilgore of Alexandria; five stepchildren, James Baker of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Cathy Baker of Charlotte, Vt., Lori Baker of Marshfield, Vt., Randi Baker of Mohrsville, Pa., and Betsy Baker of Burlington, Vt.; and seven grandchildren.


Maj. Gen. Jonas M. PlattMajor General Jonas Mansfield Platt, USMC (Ret.) of Sterling died Thursday, July 28. Born September 21, 1919 in Brooklyn, New York, graduated from Norwich University with a B.S. degree and Ohio State University with an M.A. degree. He served for 30 years in the Marine Corps, retiring in 1970. He served on the USS Washington during World War II in the Atlantic and Pacific. He participated in infantry amphibious assaults of Pelellu and Okinkawa. He commanded an infantry battalion during the Korean Conflict. He went to Vietnam in 1965 and served as Assistant Division Commander of the 3rd Marine Division and later Chief of Staff of the 3rd Marine Amphibious Force. He was a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the National War College.
Decorations and awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, three Legions of Merit with Combat V, Bronze Star with Combat V and the Purple Heart.

Following retirement from the Marine Corps, General Platt served for seven years in the Office of the Assistance Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, where he was awarded the Defense Meritorious Civilian Award and the Defense Distinguished Civilian Service Award. Other activities included the Council of Advisors on Professional Education for the Marine Corps University, Norwich University’s Board of Trustees, Council on Foreign Relations and the New York Yacht Club. Survivors include his wife, Anne Baker Platt of Sterling; a daugher, Joanne Platt Kilgore and son-in-law Gary Kilgore of Alexandria; four step-daughters, Cathy Baker of Charlotte, Vermont, Lori Baker of Plainfield, Vermont, Randi Baker of Mohrsville, Pennsylvania and Betsy Baker of Burlington, Vermont; and his stepson, James Baker of Saratoga Springs, New York.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 10 at Fort Myer Chapel, with interment at Arlington National Cemetery with military honors. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Norwich University, Northfield, Vermont 05663. Arrangements are by Loudoun Funeral Chapel in Leesburg.

 


PLATT, JONAS MANSFIELD

Major General, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.)

On Thursday, July 28, 2000, at Sterling, Virginia. Survivors include his wife, Anne Baker Platt of Sterling, VA; his daughter, Joanne Platt Kilgore, and husband, Gary, of Alexandria, VA; four step-daughters, Kathy Baker of Charlotte, VT, Lori Baker of Plainfield, VT, Randi Baker of Mohrsville, PA, and Betsy Baker of Burlington, VT; and his step-son, James Baker of Saratoga Springs, NY. Memorial services will be at Ft. Myer Chapel on Thursday, August 10, 2000, at 11 a.m. Interment, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA, with full military honors. Those who wish may make contributions, in lieu of flowers, to Norwich University, Northfield, VT 05663.


Courtesy of the United States Marine Corps

Major General Jonas M. Platt, decorated veteran of three wars, died on July 28, 2000 at the age of 80. For meritorious service as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, from March 1968 through June 1970, his final assignment, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.

Born September 21, 1919 in Brooklyn, New York, he graduated from high school in Cranston, Rhode Island. He attended Norwich University in Vermont, graduating in 1940 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, and was commissioned a Marine second lieutenant in June 1940.

While serving in the Marine Detachment aboard the battleship USS Washington during World War II, he rose from lieutenant to major, participating in Russian convoy operations in the Norwegian Sea, and six operations in the Pacific, including Guadalcanal, Tarawa, and Kwajalein. In 1944, after four months in the United States, he returned to the Pacific area. As a member of the 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, he participated in the assault landings on Peleliu and Okinawa, earning the Navy Commendation and Bronze Star Medals, both with Combat “V”, and the Purple Heart.

Following the war, he organized and commanded the Provisional Marine Guard at United Nations Headquarters in New York. He later served at Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., earned a Master’s degree in Psychology at Ohio State University in 1949; and taught infantry tactics and instructional techniques at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, until December 1952.

During the Korean Conflict, he earned the Legion of Merit with Combat “V” as Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, and Assistant G-3, 1st Marine Division.

During subsequent assignments, he served again at Headquarters Marine Corps; was assigned to a joint staff in London; served briefly in the Mediterranean during the Suez crisis in 1956; and from 1958-60 commanded the Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. – the oldest Post in the Corps.

Upon graduation from the National War College in 1961, he was assigned as Regimental Commander, 6th Marines, followed by duty as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3 2d Marine Division. During his period the Division deployed for the Cuban Crisis in October 1962.

From 1963 to 1965, he served as Commanding Officer of The Basic School, Quantico, which trains the Marine Corps’ new second lieutenants.

General Platt was promoted to brigadier general on November 1, 1965, while en route to Vietnam. Upon his arrival, he became Assistant Division Commander, 3d Marine Division, at Chu Lai. While serving with the Division, he commanded Task Force Delta in operations Harvest Moon, Double Eagle I, Double Eagle II and Utah. In March 1966, he moved to Danang and became Chief of Staff for Lieutenant General Walt – commander of the Marine Forces in Vietnam.

While serving in Vietnam, he was awarded three United States decorations – the Silver Star Medal, and a second and third Legion of Merit with Combat “V”. He was also awarded three decorations by the Government of Vietnam – the National Order of Vietnam, and two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses with Palm.

Detached in December 1966, General Platt reported to Headquarters Marine Corps in January 1967, and was assigned duty as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1. He was promoted to major general on March 19, 1968. He retired from active duty on June 30, 1970.

A complete list of his medals and decorations includes: the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star Medal, the Legion of Merit with two Gold Stars in lieu of second and third awards, the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V”, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V”, the Purple Heart Medal, the Presidential Unit Citation with two bronze stars, the Navy Unit Commendation, the American Defense Service Medal with Fleet clasp, the American Defense Service Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one bronze star, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver star and three bronze stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the China Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star, the Korean Service Medal with two bronze stars, the Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze stars, the United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Vietnamese National Order, two Vietnamese Gallantry Crosses with Palm, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

jmplatt-usmcphoto

PLATT, JONAS M

  • MAJ GEN   US MARINE CORPS
  • DATE OF BIRTH: 09/21/1919
  • DATE OF DEATH: 07/28/2000
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 7  SITE 10093ALH
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

PLATT, NINA F

  • DATE OF BIRTH: 01/07/1919
  • DATE OF DEATH: 05/20/1975
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 7  SITE 10093ALH
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
  • WIFE OF PLATT, JONAS M MAJ GEN   US MARINE CORPS

PLATT, JONAS HENRY

  • CAPT USMC NY
  • DATE OF DEATH: 07/30/1931
  • BURIED AT: SECTION 7  SITE 8167-S H
  • ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

jmplatt-gravesite-photo-october-2007-001

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