Louis H. Wilson, Jr., a recipient of the Medal of Honor, became Commandant on 1 July 1975.

Born 11 February 1920, in Brandon, Mississippi, he earned a B.A. degree from Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi in 1941. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in May 1941 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in November of the same year. Following basic officer training, he was assigned to the 9th Marines and went overseas with the regiment in 1943. He was promoted to captain in 1943.

During the assault on Guam in July 1944, he commanded a rifle company and earned the nation's highest honor for heroism in combat. Returning to the United States, Captain Wilson served tours at Camp Pendleton, California, and Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. While stationed at Quantico, Virginia, in November 1951, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel. He completed the Officer's Senior Course there in 1954.

In Korea, he was Assistant G-3, 1st Marine Division, and in August 1955, returned to the United States with the division. Following a tour at Headquarters Marine Corps, he commanded The Basic School at Quantico. He graduated from the National War College in June 1962 and served in Vietnam in 1965-1966. In November 1966, he was promoted to brigadier general and became Legislative Assistant to the Commandant, followed by a tour as Chief of Staff, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.

After promotion to major general in March 1970, he commanded the I Marine Amphibious Force on Okinawa, and was Deputy for Education, Marine Corps Development and Education Command. After becoming lieutenant general, he commanded Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.

On becoming Commandant, General Wilson repeatedly stressed modernization of the post-Vietnam Marine Corps. He insisted on force readiness, responsiveness, and mobility by maintaining fast-moving hard-hitting expeditionary units, each consisting of a single integrated system of modern ground- and air-delivered firepower, tactical mobility, and electronic countermeasures. General Wilson retired on 30 June 1979 and returned to his home in Mississippi.