Douglas C. McDougal was born 23 April 1876, in San Francisco, California, and was a resident of Mare Island, California. He was appointed a Naval Cadet 19 May 1893, and resigned 16 June 1894. On the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in April 1898, he enlisted in the Navy, was appointed an Ensign the following month and served in the latter capacity until October 1898, when he was honorably discharged. During the Spanish-American War, he served on the USS St. Paul while that vessel was engaged in scouting for and locating the Spanish fleet at Santiago, Cuba, and later on the USS Hist and USS Marblehead, participating in the Cuban blockade and in an engagement with shore batteries at Manzanillo.[1]
As a lieutenant, he served in the Far East for almost four years (1900-1904), in the Philippine Islands, China, and Korea. He participated in operations incident to the Boxer Rebellion, and commanded the Legation Guard at Seoul, Korea. From 1906 to 1909, he commanded the Marine Detachment, USS Colorado, and was then ordered to Headquarters Marine Corps where he served until the early part of 1911. His principal duty while at Headquarters was an instructor in rifle marksmanship, and he was captain of the first Marine Corps Rifle Team to win the National Match.[1]
From August 1917 to July 1918, he was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps as Inspector of Target Practice. In July 1918, he was ordered to Quantico, Virginia, for duty with the 13th Regiment, and in September of that year sailed for France, as second in command. He returned to the United States in August 1919, and from September 1919 to January 1921, was in charge of ordnance material at the Depot of Supplies, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.[1]
From April 1921 to April 1925, General McDougal served as Chief of the Gendarmerie d'Haiti. In recognition of his services, the President of Haiti conferred upon him the Haitian Distinguished Service Medal. Following his return from Haiti, and until February 1929, he was in charge of War Plans Section, Headquarters Marine Corps, and during the period (in 1928) he was captain of the American International Rifle Team which competed at Rotterdam. Also, during the period (in 1926), he was appointed Aide to the President of Haiti during the latter's visit to Washington, and received the Haitian Medal of Honor and Merit for his contribution to the success of the mission.[1]
From May 1931 to April 1934, General McDougal served at Headquarters Marine Corps as Director of Operations and Training, and from April 1934 to April 1935, as Assistant to the Major General Commandant. In May 1935, he joined the Marine Corps Base, San Diego, California, as Commanding General, and in September of the same year was assigned the additional duty of Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, in which capacity he served until May 1937, when ordered to the Marine Barracks, Parris Island, South Carolina, where he served as Commanding General, and acted as State Administrator of the Works Progress Administration.[1]
Later life
He completed his tour at Parris Island in the late summer of 1939 and was slated to assume command of the Department of the Pacific in the fall. Before the latter assignment came to pass, however, General McDougal was recommended for retirement by reason of physical disability. He retired on 1 January 1940 with the rank of Major General. General McDougal died on 20 January 1964.[1]
