Individual Details

San Diego Union-Tribune, San Diego, California, January 29, 2006: Garretson, Frank Edmund, BGEN USMC (ret) On Monday, January 23, 2006, one month before his 88th birthday, Frank Edmund Garretson, BGEN USMC (RET), passed away peacefully at his home in San Diego, California. He had been ill for three weeks and succumbed to renal failure. His three children and their spouses were at his side. Born in Salem, Iowa, February 27, 1918, he was the first of three boys born to H.J. "Gary" Garretson and Marion Becker. His mother died when he was seven after which he and his brothers attended schools in Iowa, California and Illinois. His father then married Helen Huston and the family moved to Seattle where Frank starred in football and track for Garfield High. He was recruited to the University of Washington Husky football team becoming a standout player on the varsity for several years. A member of Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity, he graduated with a BA degree in 1940. In October of that year, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, receiving a commission in February 1941. In August 1941 he married Cecily Forbes of Seattle. During World War II he led his men ashore on landings at Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima. Wounded twice, he was awarded the Navy Cross, Legion of Merit and Bronze Star for his combat leadership and gallantry under fire. Over his Marine Corps career he distinguished himself as a leader in the Korean and Vietnam conflicts and as an instructor in a variety of Marine officer training schools. Promoted to Brigadier General in 1966 he became the Director of Information, Headquarters Marine Corps and in 1968 returned to Vietnam as Commanding General Task Force Hotel. He retired in 1970. Since his retirement, General Garretson has been living in San Diego with his wife Cecily, who died in July 2002. Last year he was proud to attend the launching of the "Frank Edmund", his daughter Cecily's and her husband Leland Parsons' backyard-built 65 foot schooner they named for him. He will always be remembered for his kindness, his strength of personality, his honesty and integrity, his irreverent humor, his generosity and his quiet steadfast devotion to his wife, his extended family and the Marines. He is survived by his brother Ronnie of Pasadena, three children, Sarah Garretson, Cecily Parsons RN, and John Garretson MD, CAPT MC USN (RET), all of San Diego, eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and four step-grandchildren. Services will be at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, February 6th for family and invited guests. Donations to Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society or San Diego Hospice are requested in lieu of flowers.

Birth	27 Feb 1918	Salem, Henry Co., Iowa
Marriage	2 Aug 1941	Seattle, King Co., Washington - Cecily Fleetwood Forbes
Death	23 Jan 2006	San Diego, San Diego Co., California
Burial		Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, San Diego Co., California

Spouse	Cecily Fleetwood Forbes (1920 - 2002)
Child	Cecily Garretson (1947 - )
Child	Sarah Garretson ( - )
Child	John Garretson ( - )

Father	Herman John "Gary" Garretson (1890 - 1972)
Mother	Marion Scott Becker (1895 - 1925)
Sibling	Herman John Garretson Jr. (1919 - 1998)
Sibling	Ronald Becker Garretson (1920 - 2007)