Mark W. Lance – Major General, United States Army

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Mark W. Lance

Born: 27 April 1898
Marshall, North Carolina
Died: 17 June 1966
St. Augustine, Florida
Entered Florida Service: 1927
Retired: 27 April 1962

Although Mark Lance entered the Florida National Guard in 1927 as a Captain of Infantry, this was not the beginning of his military service. He had joined the U.S. Naval Reserve during the First World War, rising to chief machinist’s mate by the time he was released from active and reserve duty in 1921. As an officer of the Florida National Guard, he was mobilized for active federal duty in 1940. He later saw combat service with the 31st (Dixie) Division in the New Guinea and Mindanao Campaigns of World War II.

Following the war, he returned to duty with the Florida National Guard and was appointed Adjutant General in 1947. During his tenure the Guard went through many changes. There were the manpower demands of the Korean War, and the substantial changes in Guard policy and organization consequent to the passage of the Armed Forces Reserve Act of 1952 and its various modifications. Under his direction and in spite of the changes in national law, the Florida Guard retained its position as one of the ten best state Guard formations in the country.

General Lance received the following medals and decorations:

  • Legion of Merit
  • Bronze Star Medal
  • Air Medal
  • World War I Victory Medal (Bars Unknown)
  • American Defense Service Medal
  • American Campaign Medal
  • Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (with Bronze Arrowhead)
  • World War II Victory Medal
  • Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with two Hourglass Devices)
  • Philippine Liberation Ribbon
  • Florida Cross
  • Florida Distinguished Service Medal
  • Florida Service Medal
  • Florida Active State Service Medal (with Bronze Cluster)

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