Charles Augustus Doyen Memorial

Charles Augustus Doyen. 

Charles A. Doyen graduated from the United States Naval Academy in the class of 1881. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps in 1883 and afterward served in many seas and countries with both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. 

He organized and commanded the 5th Marine Regiment in World War I, and in France took command of the 4th Brigade, 2d Division, composed of the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments and the 6th Gun Battalion. From 26 October to 8 November 1917, he served as Commanding General, US 2d Division(RA), the first Marine officer to command a US Army division. It was under his command as Brigidere General that the Marines received the vigorous training that proved to be an exceptional preparation for their later glorious exploits.

However, he did not see the fruits of his labor, as he was forced to go home due to deteriorating health. He died on 6 October 1918 and subsequently laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. But because his 4th Brigade went on to win a historic victory in Belleau Wood (France), he was recognized by the posthumous award of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the first to ever be awarded.

Navy Distinguished Service Medal

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal (Posthumously) to Brigadier General Charles Augustus Doyen, United States Marine Corps, for exceptionally meritorious and distinguished services. By reason of his abilities and personal efforts, Brigadier General Doyen brought this brigade to the very high state of efficiency, which enabled it to successfully resist the German Army in the Chateau-Thierry sector and Belleau Woods. The strong efforts on his part for nearly a year, undermined his health, and necessitated his being invalided to the United States before having the opportunity to command the brigade in action, but his work was shown by the excellent service rendered by the brigade, not only at Belleau Woods, but during the entire campaign when they fought in many battles. 

Charles Augustus Doyen Memorial 

(currently located at the southeast corner of the original Merrimack County Superior Court building).

Inscription: 

1914 World War 1918

erected by

City of Concord New Hampshire

Dedicated Nov. 11, 1919

In Memory of

Brigadier General

Charles Augustus Doyen

Commanding Officer – First

Regiment of Marines to go

to France, June 1917

Born at Concord New Hampshire

September 2, 1859

Died at Quantico Virginia

October 6, 1918

Erected 1919 by City of Concord, New Hampshire.

As well, two ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Doyen for Charles A. Doyen:

• USS Doyen (DD-280), a Clemson-class destroyer, commissioned in 1919 and decommissioned in 1930.
• USS Doyen (APA-1) (originally AP-2), a transport, commissioned in 1943 and decommissioned in 1946. 

"Charles Augustus Doyen." The Historical Marker Database. hmdb.org. Accessed October 28, 2019. https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=141076

"Charles A. Doyen: Brigadier General, United States Marine Corps." Arlington National Cemetery Website. arlingtoncemetery.net. Accessed October 28, 2019. http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net

"Doyen II (APA-1)." Naval History and Heritage Command. navy.mil. Accessed October 28, 2019. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/d/doyen-ii.html