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NamesakeJacob Zeilin—born in Philadelphia, Pa., on 16 July 1806—entered the Marine Corps as a 2d lieutenant on 1 October 1831 after several years of study at the Military Academy at West Point. By 1836, he reached the rank of 1st lieutenant. Between 1845 and 1848, Lt. Zeilin cruised in Columbus and Congress. During the Mexican War, he commanded the Marine detachment embarked in Congress, which ship was attached to Commodore Robert F. Stockton's force. He took part in the conquest of California and was brevetted to the rank of major for gallantry during the action at the San Gabriel River crossing on 9 January 1847. Later, he took part in the capture of Los Angeles and in the Battle of La Mesa. In 1847, Zeilin served as military commandant at San Diego and, in September, served with the forces that captured Guaymas and those that met the enemy at San Jose on the 30th. For the remainder of the war, Mazatlan was his center of activity, and he fought in several skirmishes with the Mexicans in that area. After the Mexican War, Zeilin served with the Marine detachment in Mississippi in which ship he cruised to Japan with Commodore Matthew C. Perry's expedition. Following that duty, various assignments ashore occupied his time until the outbreak of the Civil War. On 21 July 1861, Zeilin commanded a company of marines during the First Battle of Manassas and received a slight wound. Later, he went to sea again, serving with the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron under Rear Admiral Dahlgren. In 1864, Zeilin assumed command of the Marine Barracks at Portsmouth, N.H. That June, he was appointed Commandant of the Marine Corps in the rank of colonel. In 1874, Zeilin became the Marine Corps' first general officer when he was prompted to brigadier general. Brigadier General Zeilin retired from the Marine Corps on 1 November 1876. Four years later, on 18 November 1880, he died at Washington, D.C.
Photo from US Marine Corps. History Division |
Bill Gonyo. |
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USS Zeilin (APA-3) underway, circa 1943, location unknown.
US Navy photo. |
Joe Radigan MAC USN Ret. |
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Soldiers unload landing craft on the beach at Massacre Bay, Attu, on 13 May 1943. LCVPs in the foreground are from USS Zeilin (APA-3) and USS Heywood (APA-6).
US National Archives photo # 80-G-50921, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives. |
US Naval Historical Center |
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Soldiers pull an ammunition cart along the beach at Massacre Bay, Attu, 12 May 1943. One of the LCVPs in the background is from USS Zeilin (APA-3).
US National Archives photo # 80-G-50827, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives. |
Scott at LBS Products |
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110k |
USS Zeilin (APA-3) underway in San Francisco Bay, CA, circa late 1945.
Photo Courtesy of Donald M. McPherson, 1973.
US Navy photo # NH 78156 now in the collections of the US Naval Historical Center |
US Naval Historical Center |
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31k |
USS Zeilin (APA-3) underway, date and location unknown.
US Navy photo |
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USS Zeilin (APA-3) underway while a part of the Guam amphibious invasion force, July 1944. Photo taken from USS Ringgold (DD-500), Dwight Spayth collection. |
John Chiquoine |
