Tribute to Lt. General Louis Metzger, USMC (Ret.)

11/18/1916 - 07/28/2005


At promotion to Lt. General December 10, 1971

When we first developed our website I contacted Gen. Metzger and told him I wanted to write a tribute to him to post on our website. The General sent me information but was straight forward and requested that I only post a tribute to him after his death. We lost our General on July 28, 2005.

Writing a tribute to a person to include a long and distinguished career in the US Marine Corps is not the object of this tribute. Our tribute is solely to reflect the General's leadership in forming our unit, the First Armored Amphibian Battalion, for battle in World War II. General Metzger wrote two articles reflecting our unit in battle. The first article was titled, Getting the job done with un-artillery, published in the Marine Corps Gazette, November 1978. This article concerning the battle of Okinawa. The second article was titled, GUAM 1944, published in the Marine Corps Gazette, July 1994. This was about our experience before, during and after the invasion of Guam.

General Metzger wrote many remarks in our book, Hitting the Beaches, which when read will update the reader about how he was thinking at the time we were overseas. General Metzger was a well organized person, which reflects in his leadership in organizing the First Armored Amphibian Battalion into a fighting unit in just a few short months. Handling a single battalion during World War II being attached to various units for battle and training was not an easy task, but General Metzger rose to the occasion and we benefitted from his presence.


	At time taking over 1st Armored august 1943

General Metzger was a 26 year old Major with four years of active duty in the Marine Corps when he took command of the First Armored Amphibian Battalion. As described in our book, Hitting the Beaches, "he moved vigorously to bring the Battalion up to full strength in men and equipment. He addressed with equal vigor to problems of the morale, discipline, performance, and living conditions of the men already present at the Boat Basin." He initiated a schedule for basic and advance training. He took command in a positive manner and set an example in real leadership.

In January 1945 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. After the battle of Okinawa we lost our commander as in August, 1945 when Lt. Col Metzger was assigned as Chief of Staff of the Third Fleet Landing Force which made the initial landing at Yokosuka, Japan. Starting in August 1943, he had commanded the First Armored Amphibian Battalion for 25 months.

The 50th anniversary of the liberation of Guam was celebrated with much fanfare and General Metzger was the guest of the Commandant of the Marine Corps. During the parade while General Metzger was in the reviewing stand, Jerry Thompson, Chick Cutright and Al Vogel walked by with a sign reading,"First Armored Amphibian Battalion." In a letter to Jerry Thompson and a posting in our book, Hitting the Beaches, General Metzger said it all."It was so very special! You have my thanks, and the thanks of all of us you represented, for seeing that our contribution to that battle and to the war was not forgotten."

So we say to our General- you have our thanks! May your soul rest in peace.

Grady Coker

Louis Metzger joined the Marines
July 1, 1939