Carl Epting Mundy Jr.

{{for|his son, also a Marine Corps general officer|Carl E. Mundy III}} {{Infobox military person |name= Carl E. Mundy Jr. |image= GEN Carl E. Mundy, Jr.JPG{{!}}border |image_size= |alt= |caption= Official portrait, 1991 |nickname= |birth_date= {{Birth date |1935|07|16}} |birth_place= Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |death_date= {{Death date and age|2014|04|02|1935|07|16}} |death_place= Alexandria, Virginia, U.S. |burial_place= |alma_mater= Auburn University |allegiance= United States |branch= United States Marine Corps |service_years= 1953–1995 |rank= General |unit= |commands= Commandant of the Marine Corps Marine Forces Atlantic II Marine Expeditionary Force 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade 2nd Marine Regiment 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines |battles= Vietnam War Cold War |awards= Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal Army Distinguished Service Medal Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart |relations= |other_work= USO Marine Corps University Foundation Schering-Plough General Dynamics Council on Foreign Relations }} '''Carl Epting Mundy Jr.''' (July 16, 1935 – April 2, 2014) was a United States Marine Corps four-star general who served as the 30th Commandant of the Marine Corps and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from July 1, 1991, until his retirement on June 30, 1995, after 42 years of service. He was notable for his opposition to military service by gay people and for helping to shape the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy of 1993.<ref name="Yardley2014" />

From 1996 to 2000, Mundy served as president and CEO of the United Service Organizations.<ref name=BusinessWeek>{{cite web|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/businessweek/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=628568&capId=274561&previousCapId=139673&previousTitle=Schering-Plough%20Corp.|title=Carl Mundy: Executive Profile & Biography|access-date=22 February 2009|work=Business Week}}{{dead link|date=April 2023|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> He was also the chairman of the Marine Corps University Foundation,<ref name=MCUF>{{cite web|access-date=22 February 2009 |url=http://www.mcuf.org/bio_mundy.html |title=Board of Trustees: General Carl E. Mundy Jr. USMC (Ret) – Chairman |publisher=Marine Corps University Foundation |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825062859/http://www.mcuf.org/bio_mundy.html |archive-date=25 August 2009 }}</ref> and served on a number of corporate boards.

==Early life and education== Mundy was born on July 16, 1935, in Atlanta, Georgia.<ref name=WashingtonPost_Ruane_19990605>{{cite news|access-date=22 February 2009|url=http://www.patriotfiles.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24915|title=Four Years Ago, Carl Mundy Hung Up His Sword. His Life Would Never Be the Same.|first=Michael E. |last=Ruane|newspaper=Washington Post |date=June 5, 1999 |page=C01|format=Reprinted on www.patriotfiles.com}}</ref> His family moved frequently when he was a young child, settling in Waynesville, North Carolina, when Mundy was about 10 years old.<ref name=WashingtonPost_Ruane_19990605/> He graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama. At age 18, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve.<ref name=AuburnAward>{{cite web|access-date=22 February 2009 |url=http://www.alumni.auburn.edu/awards/lifetime-recipients2007.html |title=2007 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients: Carl E. Mundy Jr. '57 |publisher=Auburn University |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825155943/http://www.alumni.auburn.edu/awards/lifetime-recipients2007.html |archive-date=25 August 2009 }}</ref>

==Marine career== thumb|upright|right|Mundy visiting Marines in Somalia that are assigned to the mission of Operation Restore Hope thumb|upright|right|Mundy visiting a survivor of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Mundy enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve and enrolled in the Platoon Leaders Class Program in December 1953 while attending college – serving in the 38th Special Infantry Company, Montgomery, Alabama, and rising to the rank of sergeant. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in June 1957, following graduation from Auburn University. His later military education included the Command and General Staff College and the Naval War College.

Mundy's early assignments included service in the 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division; duty aboard the aircraft carrier {{USS|Tarawa|CV-40}} and the cruiser {{USS|Little Rock|CLG-4}}; instructor at The Basic School; and as Officer Selection Officer, Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1966–67, Mundy served in Vietnam as operations and executive officer of the 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, and as an intelligence officer in the Headquarters, III Marine Amphibious Force.

After the Vietnam War, Mundy's principal assignments were: *Aide de Camp to the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps *Inspector & Instructor, 4th Air-Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, Miami, Florida *Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division. *Plans Officer, Headquarters Marine Corps *Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence, 2nd Marine Division *Chief of Staff, Sixth Marine Amphibious Brigade *Commanding Officer, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division from 27 March 1981 - 30 April 1982 and 36th and 38th Marine Amphibious Units.

Following advancement to brigadier general in April 1982, Mundy's assignments were: *Director of Personnel Procurement, Headquarters Marine Corps *Commanding General, Landing Force Training Command, United States Atlantic Fleet, and Commanding General, 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade. In late February and early March 1986, 2nd/4th Marines deployed to Nordland and Troms counties of Norway, near Evenes and Brøstadbotn, as the main US ski-mobile maneuver element of the 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade commanded by then Brigadier General Carl E. Mundy Jr., taking a leading role in the multi-national NATO winter exercise, "Anchor Express". The wintry, subfreezing weather, unprecedented level of snow, and the rugged terrain in the operating area of "Anchor Express" astride Salangenfjord, Faksfjorden and Lavangenfjord tested 2/4's ski-borne Marines to their limits. Such was the deep snow, extremely steep mountains in fjord country and gusty subzero winds that on 5 March 1986, a devastating avalanche in Vassdalen, Nordland, struck 31 fellow-Norwegian soldiers, killing sixteen engineers from the elite Norwegian Army unit Brigade North, many of whose soldiers operating with 2/4 during the exercise. The Vassdalen avalanche was Norway's worst disaster involving the military since the German invasion of Norway (1940). As a result, Norway went into mourning and the force-on-force exercise prematurely ended. *Advanced to Major General in April 1986 *Director of Operations, Plans, Policies and Operations Department, Headquarters Marine Corps *Advanced to Lieutenant General in March 1988 *Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans, Policies and Operations, Headquarters Marine Corps; Operations Deputy to the Joint Chiefs of Staff *Commanding General of the Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, the II Marine Expeditionary Force, the Allied Command Atlantic Marine Striking Force, and designated to command Fleet Marine Forces which might be employed in Europe *Promoted to General on July 1, 1991 *Commandant of the Marine Corps from July 1, 1991, to June 30, 1995

===Remarks on minority officers=== In an October 31, 1993, segment on the CBS program ''60 Minutes'' on the dearth of minority promotions in the U.S. Marine Corps, General Mundy was quoted as saying, "In the military skills, we find that the minority officers do not shoot as well as the non-minorities. They don't swim as well. And when you give them a compass and send them across the terrain at night in a land navigation exercise, they don't do as well at that sort of thing."<ref name=60Minutes1999>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1999/06/02/60II/main4800.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825124502/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1999/06/02/60II/main4800.shtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 25, 2009|title=A Few Good Men|work=60 Minutes |publisher=CBS News |date=2 June 1999}}</ref> Mundy, noted for being blunt, though possibly the "victim of selective editing", apologized for "any offense that may have been taken" from his remarks.<ref name=NYT>{{cite news|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE1DD1F30F930A35752C1A965958260&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fOrganizations%2fM%2fMarine%20Corps|title= Apology for Remarks On Minority Marines|date=November 3, 1993 |work=New York Times}}</ref> According to ''The Times'', the general elaborated on this question at a 1993 commemoration of the Battle of Iwo Jima, when commenting on Ira Hayes, he said "Were Ira Hayes here today ... I would tell him that although my words on another occasion have given the impression that I believe some Marines ... because of their color ... are not as capable as other Marines ... that those were not the thoughts of my mind ... and that they are not the thoughts of my heart.<ref name=SeattleTimes_Thompson_19931128>{{cite news|access-date=22 February 2009|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19931128/1734142/commandant-of-marine-corps-doesnt-mince-words----mundys-comments-wonderfully-blunt-or-just-insensitive|work=Seattle Times |date=28 November 1993|title=Commandant Of Marine Corps Doesn't Mince Words – Mundy's Comments: Wonderfully Blunt Or Just Insensitive?|first=Mark |last=Thompson}}</ref><ref name=TimesOnline>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,2089-2415491,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505142811/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,2089-2415491,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-05-05 |title=''The Times'' |location=London |first1=Anushka |last1=Asthana |first2=Richard |last2=Ford |first3=Roland |last3=Watson }}</ref>

===Position on married Marines=== Mundy issued an order in 1993 to cut down (and eventually eliminate) the recruitment category for married Marines; the order was rescinded following a public outcry.

===Opposition to gay people serving in the military=== Mundy was an outspoken opponent of allowing gay people to serve in the military. As a compromise with others who were less strongly opposed, Mundy shaped the "Don't ask, don't tell" (DADT) policy,<ref name="Yardley2014">{{cite news |last=Yardley |first=William |date=April 9, 2014 |title=Gen. Carl E. Mundy Jr., Outspoken Marine Corps Leader, Dies at 78 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/09/us/gen-carl-e-mundy-jr-outspoken-marine-corps-commandant-dies-at-78.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=May 7, 2021}}</ref> a 1993 law stating that self-identified homosexuals are not eligible for military service. Mundy distributed copies of ''The Gay Agenda'', a 1992 video asserting that homosexuality is an unnatural sickness, to the other members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in an effort to persuade them.<ref>{{cite news |last=Colker |first=David |date=February 22, 1993 |title=Anti-Gay Video Highlights Church's Agenda |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-02-22-mn-444-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=May 7, 2021}}</ref> In a January 1993 meeting with President Clinton and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mundy said that those who admit to being gay or who associate with Gay Pride "will have a negative effect" and that it "fractures teamwork." For a person to "proclaim: I'm gay" is the "same as I'm KKK, Nazi, rapist."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/10/10/politics/clinton-documents/index.html?hpt=hp_t2|title=Clinton presidential documents cover Kagan, gays, email - CNNPolitics.com|author=Eric Bradner, CNN|date=10 October 2014|work=CNN|access-date=27 April 2016}}</ref>

Mundy was signatory to an open letter delivered to President Barack Obama and Members of Congress expressing continued support for DADT.<ref>[http://www.cmrlink.org/HMilitary.asp?docID=350 "Homosexuals in the Military"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720025044/http://cmrlink.org/HMilitary.asp?docID=350 |date=2009-07-20 }}, Center for Military Readiness, April 9, 2009.</ref> The letter said in part, "We believe that imposing this burden on our men and women in uniform would undermine recruiting and retention, impact leadership at all echelons, have adverse effects on the willingness of parents who lend their sons and daughters to military service, and eventually break the All-Volunteer Force."<ref>[http://cmrlink.org/CMRDocuments/FlagOfficersLetterPOTUS-033109.pdf "Flag and General Officers for the Military"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423205330/http://cmrlink.org/CMRDocuments/FlagOfficersLetterPOTUS-033109.pdf |date=2009-04-23 }}, April 9, 2009.</ref> However unlike the 34th commandant, General James T. Conway, Mundy has said that if the restriction were repealed the troops should not be segregated.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100825173241/http://worldblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/08/24/4960859-marines-will-still-be-hammering-afghanistan-next-year Marines will still be 'hammering' Afghanistan next year]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123412229|title=What Would It Take To End 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'?|date=5 February 2010|work=NPR.org|access-date=27 April 2016}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations== Mundy's awards include:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gen Carl Epting Mundy, Jr. |url=https://militaryhallofhonor.com/honoree-record.php?id=410 |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=militaryhallofhonor.com}}</ref> {| style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- |colspan="4" align="center"style="text-align:center;"|200px |- |colspan="4"|{{Ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} | |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Navy Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Air Force Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Coast Guard Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|width=106|ribbon=Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|width=106|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|other_device=nv}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Bronze Star Medal ribbon with "V" device, 3rd award.svg|width=106|type=award-star}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Purple Heart ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|width=106|type=award-star|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=106|other_device=nv}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|width=106|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|type=award-star}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Combat Action Ribbon, 2nd award.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=U.S. Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=2|width=106|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=106}} |- |{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Vietnam Service Ribbon (With Two Bronze Stars).jpg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=5|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Vietnamese Gallantry Cross ribbon.svg|width=106}} |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d.svg|width=106}} |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Legion Honneur Commandeur ribbon.svg|width=106}} |106px |106px |106px |- |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|ribbon=Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg|width=106}} |106px |106px |{{Ribbon devices|number=0|width=106|ribbon=Order of the Polar Star - Ribbon bar.svg}} |- |colspan="2"|150px |colspan="2"|150px |- |colspan="4"|center|125px |} {| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; text-align:center;" |- !Badge |colspan="7"|Marine Corps Parachutist badge |- !1st Row | colspan="4" |Defense Distinguished Service Medal |- !2nd Row |Navy Distinguished Service Medal |Army Distinguished Service Medal |Air Force Distinguished Service Medal |Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal |- !3rd Row |Defense Superior Service Medal |Legion of Merit w/ valor device & 1 award star |Bronze Star w/ valor device |Purple Heart Medal |- !4th Row |Meritorious Service Medal |Navy Commendation Medal w/ valor device & 1 award star |Navy Achievement Medal |Combat Action Ribbon w/ 1 award star |- !5th Row |Navy Presidential Unit Citation |Navy Unit Commendation |National Defense Service Medal w/ 2 service stars |Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal |- !6th Row |Vietnam Service Medal w/ 2 service stars |Sea Service Ribbon w/ 5 service stars |Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry w/ 1 gold star |Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry Unit Citation |- !7th Row |French Legion of Honor, Grade of Commander |Argentinian Order of the Liberator General San Martin, Grand Cross |Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, Grand Officer |Netherlands Medal of Merit in silver |- !8th Row |Vietnam Campaign Medal |Distinguished Service Medal of the Colombian Marine Corps |Spanish White Cross of Naval Merit |Swedish Order of the Polar Star |- !Badges | colspan="2"|Rifle Expert Badge | colspan="5"|Pistol Expert Badge |- !Badge |colspan="7"|Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge |} *Mundy also held several awards of both the Rifle and Pistol Expert Badges. *Note: The gold US Navy Parachute Rigger badge was worn unofficially by USMC personnel in place of US Army parachutist badge from 1942 to 1963 before it officially became the Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist insignia on July 12, 1963, per BuPers Notice 1020. Members of the Marine Corps who attended jump school before 1963 were issued the silver Army parachutist badge but may be depicted wearing the gold Navy Parachute Rigger badge as it was common practice during this time period.

==Personal life== thumb|right|Mundy in May 2013 Mundy was married and had three children – two sons and a daughter. Both sons were United States Marine Corps officers. One, Carl E. Mundy III, is a retired Marine Corps lieutenant general.<ref name=NVD>{{cite web|access-date=20 January 2015 |url=https://www.cusnc.navy.mil/Leadership/ctf51_59/ |title=Major General Carl E. Mundy, III Commander, Task Force 51 |publisher=U.S. Navy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150120154437/http://www.cusnc.navy.mil/leadership/ctf51_59.html |archive-date=20 January 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/GOSA/biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID%3D2982%26PERSON_TYPE%3DGeneral |title=Official Biography: Brigadier General Carl e. Mundy, III |access-date=2011-10-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401234012/https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/GOSA/biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=2982&PERSON_TYPE=General |archive-date=2012-04-01 }}</ref>

==Death== Mundy died of Merkel cell carcinoma at his home in Alexandria, Virginia, on April 2, 2014, at the age of 78.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://misguidedchildren.com/veterans-affairs/2014/04/commandant-carl-mundy-passes-away/18151 |title=Uncle Sams Misguided Children – Commandant Carl Mundy passes away |access-date=2014-04-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717034753/http://misguidedchildren.com/veterans-affairs/2014/04/commandant-carl-mundy-passes-away/18151 |archive-date=2014-07-17 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20140403/NEWS/304030063 |title=Gen. Carl Mundy, 30th commandant of the Marine Corps, dies | Marine Corps Times | marinecorpstimes.com |access-date=2014-04-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406195701/http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/article/20140403/NEWS/304030063 |archive-date=2014-04-06 }}</ref> A memorial service was held for Mundy on April 12 at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.<ref name=ALMAR00914/> His funeral and burial service, at First United Methodist Church and Greenhill Cemetery respectively, were held on April 19 in Waynesville, North Carolina.<ref name=ALMAR00914>{{cite web|title=Passing of and Services for General Carl E. Mundy, Jr., 30th Commandant of the Marine Corps|url=https://www.marines.mil/News/Messages/Messages-Display/Article/896318/passing-of-and-services-for-general-carl-e-mundy-jr-30th-commandant-of-the-mari/|date=April 7, 2014|work=ALMARS Number: 009/14|publisher=United States Marine Corps}}</ref><ref name=FuneralService>{{youTube|H4pm8W_PKGg|title=General Carl Mundy Funeral Service, Commandant of the Marine Corps}}. Published April 27, 2014. Accessed 2018-02-28.</ref>

==Notes== {{Reflist}}

==References== *{{cite web|title=Official Biography: General Carl E. Mundy Jr.|url=https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/GOSA/Biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=244&PERSON_TYPE=General|publisher=United States Marine Corps|access-date=9 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120220042804/https://slsp.manpower.usmc.mil/GOSA/Biographies/rptBiography.asp?PERSON_ID=244&PERSON_TYPE=General|archive-date=20 February 2012}}

==Further reading== *{{cite web |access-date = 22 February 2009 |url = http://www.heritage.org/research/nationalsecurity/hl475.cfm |date = November 1, 1993 |title = The Role of the Marine Corps in the Post-Cold War Era |first = General Carl E. Jr. |last = Mundy |work = Heritage Lecture #475 |publisher = Heritage Foundation |url-status = unfit |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090219221518/http://www.heritage.org/Research/NationalSecurity/HL475.cfm |archive-date = 19 February 2009 }}

==External links== {{Commons category|Carl Epting Mundy, Jr.}} *{{C-SPAN|21780}}

{{S-start}} {{S-mil}} {{Succession box |before = Alfred M. Gray Jr. |title = Commandant of the Marine Corps |years = 1991–1995 |after = Charles C. Krulak}} {{S-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mundy, Carl E. Jr.}} Category:1935 births Category:2014 deaths Category:General Dynamics Category:Recipients of the Defense Distinguished Service Medal Category:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal Category:Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army) Category:Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Category:Recipients of the Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Vietnam War Category:Commandants of the United States Marine Corps Category:United States Marine Corps generals Category:Auburn University alumni Category:Naval War College alumni Category:American recipients of the Gallantry Cross (Vietnam) Category:Commanders of the Legion of Honour Category:Grand Crosses of Naval Merit Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of the Liberator General San Martin Category:Recipients of the Decoration of Merit Category:Military personnel from Atlanta Category:United States Army Command and General Staff College alumni Category:Deaths from Merkel-cell carcinoma