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McIlhenny led a patrol of approximately twenty men to reconnoiter the enemy's right flank and, moving through dense jungle, cleared the zone of hostile snipers and finally reached his objective. Completing his mission, he started to lead his patrol back to their own lines when they were spotted by the enemy who immediately opened fire, pinning them down. When almost all of his men were wounded, including two runners who had been dispatched to the battalion, Captain McIlhenny, despite his own injury, determined to carry the message himself and finally succeeded in reaching our lines. His great courage and unswerving devotion to duty enabled his company to attack the enemy's flank and capture their position. His superb leadership and indomitable fighting spirit were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval
Service.
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interrupted McIlhenny's training at McIlhenny
Company, but he returned to the organization in 1946, assumed its presidency in 1949, and retained that office until his own death in 1985. During his tenure as head of the company, McIlhenny expanded and modernized the production and marketing of Tabasco
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fire, covered the advance and withdrawal of the rescue party, gallantly drawing enemy fire and silencing a
Japanese machine gun nest. Although ill at the time and suffering shock from concussion of an enemy mortar shell, he returned to a vantage point close to enemy lines and, in the face of fierce
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fire, acted as an observer, relaying accurate information necessary for fire control until ordered by his superior officer to leave his post. His great personal valor, above and beyond the call of duty, not only made possible the rescue of nine wounded men but also contributed to the success of
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For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action while in command of
Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, in combat against enemy Japanese forces on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on November 2, 1942. After a previous attempt to secure information had failed, Captain
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812:, Solomon Islands, August 27, 1942. After organizing a volunteer party to advance and evacuate the wounded from the hazardous position well forward of the company, First Lieutenant Mcllhenny, armed only with a rifle, and while under heavy enemy
488:. Bundled with a 2-ounce bottle of Tabasco sauce within a waterproof container, the humorous cookbook offered recipes for the production of diverse meals from standard C-Rations, combined with Tabasco sauce and other ingredients.
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929:(Lafayette, La.: Center for Louisiana Studies, University of Southwestern Louisiana/Louisiana Historical Association, 1998), s.v., McIlhenny, Walter Stauffer.
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Despite his interest in military service, McIlhenny felt obliged to enter the family business around 1940, when he began executive training at
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McIlhenny was an avid hunter, participated in many big game hunts in the U.S. and Canada, and went on several
African
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in 1931 and served on its rifle team, McIlhenny transferred to the U.S. Marine Corps
Reserve in 1935, attended
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brand pepper sauce, from 1949 until his death in 1985. He also distinguished himself as a member of the
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Upon retirement from the Marine Corps
Reserve, McIlhenny received a promotion to brigadier general.
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and gourmet, McIlhenny was closely acquainted with many luminaries of the food world, such as
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brand pepper sauce and helped to mold the brand into an international culinary icon.
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353:, McIlhenny spent 31 months in the western Pacific as a member of B Company,
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Captain Walter
Stauffer McIlhenny's combat helmet and the captured Japanese
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A partial list of Walter S. McIlhenny's medals and decorations includes:
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For extraordinary heroism and courage as
Executive Officer of Company B,
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Major Walter
Stauffer McIlhenny, USMCR, at Quantico, Virginia, ca. 1945
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Charlie Ration Cookbook or No Food Is Too Good for the Man Up Front
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866:"Semper Fi, Mac", Pg. 315, Henry Berry, Tabasco Mac, Major USMCR
318:. He was a co-founder, trustee, and president emeritus of the
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McIlhenny would draw on his experience with the mid-century "
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McIlhenny's combat helmet, along with the captured Japanese
294:(October 22, 1910 â June 22, 1985) served as president of
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His citation on receiving the Silver Star reads thus:
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United States Marine Corps personnel of World War II
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American chief executives of food industry companies
470:, had presided over the company from 1890 to 1898.
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936:. Louisiana Secretary of State, State of Louisiana
884:"Tabasco and the war against bland military meals"
762:McIlhenny is also the recipient of the following
466:, had invented the fiery condiment. His father,
549:. Unmarried, he left much of his estate to the
957:. History Division, United States Marine Corps
491:In the early 1980s the US Army began to issue
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951:"Brigadier General Walter S. McIhenny, USMCR"
934:"Brigadier General Walter S. McIhenny, USMCR"
8:
1029:Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States)
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403:sword that dented it, are on display at the
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792:His Navy Cross citation reads as follows:
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69:Learn how and when to remove this message
1019:Military personnel from Washington, D.C.
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407:(formerly the National D-Day Museum) in
32:This article includes a list of general
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899:"W. M'ILHENNY DIES, MAKER OF TABASCO"
532:National Rifle Association of America
97:Brigadier General Walter S. McIlhenny
7:
1044:20th-century American businesspeople
1014:People from Iberia Parish, Louisiana
989:United States Marine Corps generals
189:1931â1935 (VNG); 1935â1959 (USMCR)
38:it lacks sufficient corresponding
16:United States Marine Corps general
14:
1024:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
955:Who's Who in Marine Corps History
927:Dictionary of Louisiana Biography
541:McIlhenny died June 22, 1985, in
897:Wolfgang Saxon (June 24, 1985).
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781:National Individual Rifle Match
728:Navy Presidential Unit Citation
345:Called to active duty when the
749:Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
737:American Defense Service Medal
1:
1039:University of Virginia alumni
1034:Recipients of the Silver Star
462:. McIlhenny's grandfather,
436:National World War II Museum
405:National World War II Museum
530:. A lifetime member of the
310:for his actions during the
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755:World War II Victory Medal
180:United States Marine Corps
381:. He also saw action at
304:U.S. Marine Corps Reserve
292:Walter Stauffer McIlhenny
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85:Walter Stauffer McIlhenny
454:, maker of world-famous
162:United States of America
744:American Campaign Medal
551:Marine Military Academy
547:Avery Island, Louisiana
538:rifle and pistol team.
460:Avery Island, Louisiana
336:Virginia National Guard
320:Marine Military Academy
280:Marine Military Academy
151:Avery Island, Louisiana
53:more precise citations.
856:Edward Avery McIlhenny
557:Medals and decorations
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458:brand pepper sauce at
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440:New Orleans, Louisiana
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409:New Orleans, Louisiana
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306:— receiving the
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340:Platoon Leaders Class
312:Battle of Guadalcanal
221:Battle of Guadalcanal
186:Years of service
861:John Avery McIlhenny
831:Silver Star citation
779:Bronze medal in the
773:Roumanian Trophy x 2
543:Lafayette, Louisiana
468:John Avery McIlhenny
140:Lafayette, Louisiana
826:Marine mortar fire.
806:1st Marine Division
788:Navy Cross citation
764:marksmanship awards
751:w/ 4 service stars
363:1st Marine Division
349:became involved in
776:Rattlesnake Trophy
493:Meals Ready to Eat
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369:, he received the
334:Having joined the
314:and retiring as a
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484:" to produce the
452:McIlhenny Company
316:brigadier general
296:McIlhenny Company
289:
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274:McIlhenny Company
231:Battle of Peleliu
203:Brigadier general
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999:American hunters
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905:. Archived from
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886:. 29 April 2015.
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851:Edmund McIlhenny
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434:that dented it,
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330:Military service
324:Harlingen, Texas
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124:Washington, D.C.
121:October 22, 1910
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40:inline citations
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133:June 22, 1985
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106:'Tabasco Mac'
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59:February 2013
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959:. Retrieved
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938:. Retrieved
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913:19 September
911:. Retrieved
907:the original
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719:Purple Heart
560:
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474:World War II
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394:
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379:Purple Heart
351:World War II
344:
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291:
290:
282:, co-founder
257:Purple Heart
216:World War II
209:Battles/wars
135:(1985-06-22)
65:
56:
37:
984:1985 deaths
979:1910 births
818:machine gun
810:Guadalcanal
802:5th Marines
707:Silver Star
526:and Indian
513:James Beard
383:New Britain
375:Silver Star
367:Guadalcanal
359:5th Marines
298:, maker of
276:, president
252:Silver Star
226:New Britain
103:Nickname(s)
51:introducing
973:Categories
961:2007-11-11
940:2007-11-11
870:References
723:award star
702:Navy Cross
507:bon vivant
430:shin guntÅ
399:shin guntÅ
377:, and the
371:Navy Cross
308:Navy Cross
247:Navy Cross
158:Allegiance
117:1910-10-22
34:references
845:See also
482:C-Ration
168:Service/
536:Olympic
528:shikars
524:safaris
456:Tabasco
387:Peleliu
385:and at
300:Tabasco
47:improve
823:sniper
814:mortar
373:, the
365:. At
240:Awards
178:
170:branch
146:Buried
36:, but
730:w/ 2
721:w/ 1
915:2023
816:and
515:and
194:Rank
130:Died
111:Born
322:in
259:(2)
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503:A
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