Marine Corps names league for Major General Hammond's grandfather

Lieutenant James Joy McClelland was a young Marine Corps sergeant in fall of 1918 in France when fate and a German machine gun emplacement combined to thrust him into hero status.

Recently, the heroic efforts of the Findlay, Ohio native, and the grandfather of Maj. Gen. Scott A. Hammond, Commander, Georgia Air Guard, were recognized when the Marine Corps League detachment in Findlay formally renamed itself to honor its hometown hero.

James Joy McClelland became a military hero during the battle of Belleau Wood, France, 1918. History shows that the battle halted a German push to Paris, fifty miles away.

The Marine Second Division was tasked to a murderous trek across an open wheat field, swept from end-to-end by German machine gun fire, and ultimately capture the village of Belleau.  Casualties numbered more than 1,800 killed and 7,000 wounded, the highest in Marine Corps history until the capture of Japanese held Tarawa in 1942.

A sergeant at the time of the battle, Sgt. McClelland’s company, advanced across the field amidst fierce enemy fire. When Sgt McClelland saw his platoon leader hit he took charge of what was left of his platoon and continued the advance.  Sighting a German machine gun nest, McClelland and his men charged it. The Germans retreated.

Four hours later, when the Sergeant’s Company Commander arrived to congratulate his war-weary Marines, he greeted McClelland with a note of astonishment, exclaiming: "hello McClelland, how did you get here? “since the sergeant had been reported killed.  Hearing the sergeant’s report, the captain commented, "That's damn fine work."  The Germans had been held at bay until the reinforcements arrived.

For his valiant effort, McClelland received a promotion to a Marine second lieutenant and was subsequently awarded the French Croix de Guerre, the official French war medal for distinguished service. He was also awarded five bronze stars and two silver stars for courage under fire.  His unit subsequently participated in the military occupation of Germany.

At the Ohio ceremony more than 100 people attended the service to rename the Marine Corps League after James Joy McClelland including members of the Hammond family.

"He seldom spoke about the War”, recalls Maj. Gen. Hammond of this grandfather.  “When he did, it was almost always about the horrid living conditions in the trenches and what he tried to do to take care of the men under him."

While Maj Gen Hammond was unable to attend the ceremony, he said of his grandfather, “He was the kind of military leader who was far more impressed by what you did than what your rank was."