Colonel James E Betts
James Emmet Betts was born on January 28th, 1892 in Keokuk, Iowa to Bertha Henneman and Sylvester Betts. He was the second oldest of their four children, and upon completing high school, was accepted into the US Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland in 1912. Midshipman Betts was heavily involved at the academy, including duties as Class Secretary, Treasurer of the YMCA, played football and swam. His classmates nicknamed him “Colonel” and had the following to say about his character.
“There is not a man in all ‘16 that has a word against Emmet, for he has been free and above board with them all. “Cap” is confidence inspiring. You can recognize a big man by those unmistakable symptoms that can’t just be described. He has a way with his inferiors that makes him their idol…and he is eminently a sailor man, with no frills or furbelows, but lots of manhood. There’s nothing but horse sense in that noble knot of his…no swank, no tougeness, but the level-headed stuff that puts the boys safe abed when the cup has been passed once too often, is what makes him dear to all of us.”
Although Betts had high marks and was well liked, he was unfortunately expelled from the class on March 20th, 1916 during his fourth year for gross disobedience by not taking a classmate to sick quarters when ordered. “Lyle came into an informal dance under the influence of liquor…and created a scene. Betts was ordered to take him out and failed to do so.” Undeterred from a military career, Betts used his prior academy experience to gain a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps on April 5th, 1917, one day prior to the US declaration of war on Germany, and began studying at the Marine Corps Officers’ School. He graduated within a few months with a certificate of proficiency for Drill Regulations, Military Field Engineering, Minor Tactics, and Military Topography. 2nd Lieutenant Betts was now ready for his first assignment of World War One.
USS Wyoming / Uss Huntington
On July 6th, 1917, Betts joined the Marine Detachment, USS Wyoming as their new commander, which operated out of the Chesapeake Bay area training engine crews for duty with the American fleet. Betts was quickly promoted to 1st Lieutenant, then Captain in the span of just two months, and transferred off the ship on November 15th. His new command was the Marine Detachment, USS Huntington, which he joined after the ship returned from England on December 18th. The cruiser’s job was to escort convoys of troops and supplies to Europe, and Captain Betts’ extensive training with the Navy prior to his commission made him an easy choice for a job at sea. The USS Huntington made six such trips throughout the span of February and October of 1918, including three shorter trips through the submarine zone off the Atlantic Coast of the United States. Captain Betts eventually left the ship to join the 135th Anti Aircraft Battalion at Quantico, Virginia on October 8th, where he learned of the Armistice that ended World War One just a month later. Taking advantage of a furlough, Betts traveled to Washington DC and married Geraldine M Combs on November 23rd of the same year.
During 1919, Captain Betts completed Infantry Officers’ School and took charge of the Recruit District, Central Recruiting Division until November of 1921. He then was sent to the Barracks Detachment at Pearl Harbor Naval base on February 1st, 1922 as their commanding officer, PE officer, and Post Quartermaster. Service in Hawaii was uneventful for Captain Betts, however the tropical climate and proximity to the sea made the two years he was stationed there enjoyable. Finally, he left on the USAT Thomas on February 21st, 1924 and after a furlough and delay, arrived at Headquarters Detachment, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California on April 26th as assistant quartermaster, later becoming the head quartermaster by the end of the year. 1925 and 1926 were spent doing the same duties, until turmoil in China erupted.
China
Chinese Nationalists and warlords clashed around the Yangtze River Valley as the former began consolidating their grip on the country. Captain Betts was quickly rushed to San Diego to join the 25th Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, WCEF on January 28th, 1927 in preparation for the regiment’s deployment to protect American interests. The following month, they left on the USS Chaumont and arrived at Shanghai, China on the 24th to a calm and quiet city. The Nationalists had no intention of ransacking the city or causing trouble with the foreign powers based from there, so the next month was spent attempting to find proper billets for the newly arrived Marines. However, fighting between communists and forces loyal to Chiang Kai Shek allowed Captain Betts and the Marines to disembark from the USS Chaumont on March 21st and make their home at the Nieh Chih Kuei School until moving to Billet #6, 33 Nanyang Road on May 14th. The Marines were largely left alone during the fighting and simply waited, drilled, and patrolled. Captain Betts transferred to Headquarters Company of his battalion on October 7th to become their executive officer and adjutant as the regiment settled into garrison duties and gained the coveted nickname, “China Marines”.
Captain Betts’ time as a China Marine came to an end on January 12th, 1929, when he left Shanghai on the SS President Jefferson and arrived in the US on February 9th. After a few quick stations, he joined the Marine Barracks, Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island as their post quartermaster, PE officer, and range instructor. In August, he began the Marine Corps Institute’s Company Officer’s Course and the Spanish Course, receiving a diploma for both after completion by June of 1930. On October 12th, 1931, Captain Betts was ordered back to his old station, Barracks Detachment, NOB, Pearl Harbor, to become their commanding officer and acting judge advocate, arriving on the SS Matsonia on December 22nd. After a year at Hawaii, Betts’ judge duty was extended to the 14th Naval District as their assistant legal officer, and he also underwent examination for a promotion.
He returned to the US on November 22nd, 1934, and after joining the Marine Barracks, Naval Powder Factory, at Indian Head, Maryland, was promoted to Major on January 24th, 1935. In addition to commanding the unit, Betts also acted as the post quartermaster and police officer until early 1936. On July 20th, 1936, he was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and immediately transferred to the Marine Corps School at Quantico to take the Student Senior Course, graduating in May of 1937, and becoming the new F-4 section instructor. Lieutenant Colonel Betts instructed classes for the next three years, rising to chief of his section and giving occasional presentations to the Naval War College in Newport. With World War Two breaking out in Europe and tensions rising between the US and Axis powers, Betts joined the 3rd Battalion, USMCR, 3rd Naval District on May 29th, 1940 as their inspector instructor, and visited Yale and Cornell University to procure candidates for the Training Center at Quantico. He later joined their Headquarters Company as executive officer and commanded Candidate Group A until his transfer on January 25th, 1941.
World War Two
Lieutenant Colonel Betts received orders for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on January 25th, 1941 to become the D4 officer of Headquarters Company, 1st Marine Brigade. He arrived on February 8th and joined them conducting training exercises throughout March and April. In May, Betts returned to Quantico aboard the USS Wyoming and the following month joined Headquarters Company, Atlantic Amphibious Corps at the post. Due to his very lengthy service and experience as a quartermaster, Betts was promoted to Colonel and given the responsibility of G4 officer in charge of supplies. He immediately was dispatched to the Army Port of Embarkation conference in New York, and took part in joint training exercises aboard the USS Wyoming in April. A few days after returning from the Board of Salvage and Reclamation in Washington DC, Japan launched their surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and other US territories in the Pacific, prompting America to declare war on the Axis powers.
Colonel Betts was sent to inspect the readiness and capacity of the 1st Base Depot three days later, and then attended another conference at the Port of Embarkation, New York to assess their supply and troop situations. Although the Atlantic Amphibious Corps was a Marine unit, their knowledge of amphibious landings were needed with the Army too. Between April and August of 1942, Colonel Betts oversaw the training of the 9th Infantry Division in beach landing tactics and rehearsals for the upcoming North Africa Campaign. After his observer job was finished, Betts transferred to Headquarters, Amphibious Corps, Pacific Fleet at Camp Elliott, California in October as their new Assistant Area Chief of Staff, and G4 officer. This job included previewing the design of a transport in connection with training exercises on January 13th through 15th, 1943. Unfortunately, Colonel Betts’ health began to decline after July, keeping him in the hospital for nearly the rest of the year. In December, he did manage to get well enough for a transfer to the Barracks Detachment, Navy Yard, Mare Island as district commander of the 12th Reserve District for the year 1944. His sickness returned in July of 1945 and it was in a hospital that he learned of the Japanese’s unconditional surrender, ending Betts’ second war. On December 8th, he was sent home to be with his wife while awaiting retirement, which was finalized on April 1st, 1946 due to his disability, ending a career that spanned 29 years. The Betts enjoyed a life or retirement in Manhasset, New York, until his wife Geraldine sadly passed away in 1955. Although James remarried shortly after, he reserved a spot next to her in Arlington Cemetery. After moving to Florida in the 1960’s, James passed away on April 17th, 1968 in Naples and was buried alongside Geraldine a few days later.
“There is not a man in all ‘16 that has a word against Emmet, for he has been free and above board with them all. “Cap” is confidence inspiring. You can recognize a big man by those unmistakable symptoms that can’t just be described. He has a way with his inferiors that makes him their idol…and he is eminently a sailor man, with no frills or furbelows, but lots of manhood. There’s nothing but horse sense in that noble knot of his…no swank, no tougeness, but the level-headed stuff that puts the boys safe abed when the cup has been passed once too often, is what makes him dear to all of us.”
Although Betts had high marks and was well liked, he was unfortunately expelled from the class on March 20th, 1916 during his fourth year for gross disobedience by not taking a classmate to sick quarters when ordered. “Lyle came into an informal dance under the influence of liquor…and created a scene. Betts was ordered to take him out and failed to do so.” Undeterred from a military career, Betts used his prior academy experience to gain a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps on April 5th, 1917, one day prior to the US declaration of war on Germany, and began studying at the Marine Corps Officers’ School. He graduated within a few months with a certificate of proficiency for Drill Regulations, Military Field Engineering, Minor Tactics, and Military Topography. 2nd Lieutenant Betts was now ready for his first assignment of World War One.
USS Wyoming / Uss Huntington
On July 6th, 1917, Betts joined the Marine Detachment, USS Wyoming as their new commander, which operated out of the Chesapeake Bay area training engine crews for duty with the American fleet. Betts was quickly promoted to 1st Lieutenant, then Captain in the span of just two months, and transferred off the ship on November 15th. His new command was the Marine Detachment, USS Huntington, which he joined after the ship returned from England on December 18th. The cruiser’s job was to escort convoys of troops and supplies to Europe, and Captain Betts’ extensive training with the Navy prior to his commission made him an easy choice for a job at sea. The USS Huntington made six such trips throughout the span of February and October of 1918, including three shorter trips through the submarine zone off the Atlantic Coast of the United States. Captain Betts eventually left the ship to join the 135th Anti Aircraft Battalion at Quantico, Virginia on October 8th, where he learned of the Armistice that ended World War One just a month later. Taking advantage of a furlough, Betts traveled to Washington DC and married Geraldine M Combs on November 23rd of the same year.
During 1919, Captain Betts completed Infantry Officers’ School and took charge of the Recruit District, Central Recruiting Division until November of 1921. He then was sent to the Barracks Detachment at Pearl Harbor Naval base on February 1st, 1922 as their commanding officer, PE officer, and Post Quartermaster. Service in Hawaii was uneventful for Captain Betts, however the tropical climate and proximity to the sea made the two years he was stationed there enjoyable. Finally, he left on the USAT Thomas on February 21st, 1924 and after a furlough and delay, arrived at Headquarters Detachment, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California on April 26th as assistant quartermaster, later becoming the head quartermaster by the end of the year. 1925 and 1926 were spent doing the same duties, until turmoil in China erupted.
China
Chinese Nationalists and warlords clashed around the Yangtze River Valley as the former began consolidating their grip on the country. Captain Betts was quickly rushed to San Diego to join the 25th Company, 1st Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, WCEF on January 28th, 1927 in preparation for the regiment’s deployment to protect American interests. The following month, they left on the USS Chaumont and arrived at Shanghai, China on the 24th to a calm and quiet city. The Nationalists had no intention of ransacking the city or causing trouble with the foreign powers based from there, so the next month was spent attempting to find proper billets for the newly arrived Marines. However, fighting between communists and forces loyal to Chiang Kai Shek allowed Captain Betts and the Marines to disembark from the USS Chaumont on March 21st and make their home at the Nieh Chih Kuei School until moving to Billet #6, 33 Nanyang Road on May 14th. The Marines were largely left alone during the fighting and simply waited, drilled, and patrolled. Captain Betts transferred to Headquarters Company of his battalion on October 7th to become their executive officer and adjutant as the regiment settled into garrison duties and gained the coveted nickname, “China Marines”.
Captain Betts’ time as a China Marine came to an end on January 12th, 1929, when he left Shanghai on the SS President Jefferson and arrived in the US on February 9th. After a few quick stations, he joined the Marine Barracks, Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island as their post quartermaster, PE officer, and range instructor. In August, he began the Marine Corps Institute’s Company Officer’s Course and the Spanish Course, receiving a diploma for both after completion by June of 1930. On October 12th, 1931, Captain Betts was ordered back to his old station, Barracks Detachment, NOB, Pearl Harbor, to become their commanding officer and acting judge advocate, arriving on the SS Matsonia on December 22nd. After a year at Hawaii, Betts’ judge duty was extended to the 14th Naval District as their assistant legal officer, and he also underwent examination for a promotion.
He returned to the US on November 22nd, 1934, and after joining the Marine Barracks, Naval Powder Factory, at Indian Head, Maryland, was promoted to Major on January 24th, 1935. In addition to commanding the unit, Betts also acted as the post quartermaster and police officer until early 1936. On July 20th, 1936, he was appointed to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and immediately transferred to the Marine Corps School at Quantico to take the Student Senior Course, graduating in May of 1937, and becoming the new F-4 section instructor. Lieutenant Colonel Betts instructed classes for the next three years, rising to chief of his section and giving occasional presentations to the Naval War College in Newport. With World War Two breaking out in Europe and tensions rising between the US and Axis powers, Betts joined the 3rd Battalion, USMCR, 3rd Naval District on May 29th, 1940 as their inspector instructor, and visited Yale and Cornell University to procure candidates for the Training Center at Quantico. He later joined their Headquarters Company as executive officer and commanded Candidate Group A until his transfer on January 25th, 1941.
World War Two
Lieutenant Colonel Betts received orders for Guantanamo Bay, Cuba on January 25th, 1941 to become the D4 officer of Headquarters Company, 1st Marine Brigade. He arrived on February 8th and joined them conducting training exercises throughout March and April. In May, Betts returned to Quantico aboard the USS Wyoming and the following month joined Headquarters Company, Atlantic Amphibious Corps at the post. Due to his very lengthy service and experience as a quartermaster, Betts was promoted to Colonel and given the responsibility of G4 officer in charge of supplies. He immediately was dispatched to the Army Port of Embarkation conference in New York, and took part in joint training exercises aboard the USS Wyoming in April. A few days after returning from the Board of Salvage and Reclamation in Washington DC, Japan launched their surprise attack on Pearl Harbor and other US territories in the Pacific, prompting America to declare war on the Axis powers.
Colonel Betts was sent to inspect the readiness and capacity of the 1st Base Depot three days later, and then attended another conference at the Port of Embarkation, New York to assess their supply and troop situations. Although the Atlantic Amphibious Corps was a Marine unit, their knowledge of amphibious landings were needed with the Army too. Between April and August of 1942, Colonel Betts oversaw the training of the 9th Infantry Division in beach landing tactics and rehearsals for the upcoming North Africa Campaign. After his observer job was finished, Betts transferred to Headquarters, Amphibious Corps, Pacific Fleet at Camp Elliott, California in October as their new Assistant Area Chief of Staff, and G4 officer. This job included previewing the design of a transport in connection with training exercises on January 13th through 15th, 1943. Unfortunately, Colonel Betts’ health began to decline after July, keeping him in the hospital for nearly the rest of the year. In December, he did manage to get well enough for a transfer to the Barracks Detachment, Navy Yard, Mare Island as district commander of the 12th Reserve District for the year 1944. His sickness returned in July of 1945 and it was in a hospital that he learned of the Japanese’s unconditional surrender, ending Betts’ second war. On December 8th, he was sent home to be with his wife while awaiting retirement, which was finalized on April 1st, 1946 due to his disability, ending a career that spanned 29 years. The Betts enjoyed a life or retirement in Manhasset, New York, until his wife Geraldine sadly passed away in 1955. Although James remarried shortly after, he reserved a spot next to her in Arlington Cemetery. After moving to Florida in the 1960’s, James passed away on April 17th, 1968 in Naples and was buried alongside Geraldine a few days later.