He was promoted to major general in March 1942 and sailed for the South Pacific Area that May as commanding general of the first Marine division to ever leave the shores of the United States.
Han blev forfremmet til generalmajor i marts 1942 og afsejlede til det sydlige stillehav i maj som øverstkommanderende for den første hele marinedivision, der nogensinde forlod USA's kyster.