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Luh-Jern
September 1, 2018 Grunt.com Admin

Luh-Jern

When I was in boot camp in 1945, our DI instilled in us the correct way to mention the name of one of the Corps greatest leaders. That being Lt Gen John Archer Lejeune and he emphasized that the General and his family called it as Luh-Jern.

Well I called his name and the base Luh-jern for the next 22 years. During the 60s I found out that the civilian populace and the media in the Jacksonville area started calling it again as La-joon.

This not only infuriated me, but also dismayed the family that they couldn’t respect the General’s name and the way they pronounced it.

I even read an article later in the Leatherneck magazine that some GySgt stated that there was a Marine he knew that had the same name as his great Grandfather General Lejeune, being his Great Grandson and that they called it La-Joon. The most interesting part of the information is the fact that General Luh-Jern never had any sons, so how on earth could he be his Great Grandson.

Go to Wikepia dictionary or to the U-tube and print in Laura Lejeune 2929, and hear what his daughter had to say when questioned by a reporter from Raleigh, NC.

George M. Barrows Ret USMC

Respect and honor the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps by saying his name correctly.

John Archer Lejeune (Luh-Jern)

Filed in: Marine Corps Stories
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Comments

Sgt. Robert L Sisson - April 30, 2020

I have a good friend that never had any kids BUT has 3 sons all adopted with his last name. All 3 are good men today.

James Meadows - April 30, 2020

You have to remember though, that unless the grandsons are born out of wedlock and the daughter keeps her family last name, or she marries someone with your same surname, that they will have the last name of the father. I also know that the Marine Corps is currently pronouncing the last name as Mr. George M. Barrows Ret USMC states in his article above, “Luh-Jern” and is encouraging all Marines to do the same.

‘ol Sgt Bub Cavell - April 30, 2020

It’s pronounced “Luh-Jern”, Ma-rines! We have all made that mistake at one time or another. Family preference, that’s it. I am Sgt. Cavell (rhymes with travel). But in my laziness, I say Cavell, (rhymes with hell) People are only human. To Gen. Lejeune, I say…………….hand “SALUTE” Sir!!!

Larry Whittington - April 30, 2020

To answer your question about how you can have great grandsons without having sons is very simple. I have three daughters, no sons, five grandsons, and two great grandsons. You forgot that a daughters children are your grandchildren, too.

Patrick Hirtle - April 30, 2020

I was stationed there in 1976. In hq 2nd Marines hate to tell you but everyone I met called it the latter the way it reads .From general’s on down . If I was the family what greater honor is it to have one of the largest Marine bases named after your family member no matter how others see it!

Henry - April 30, 2020

A family has the right to pronounce their surname however they see fit. So if the General’s family (and by extension, the Corps) prefers the “Luh-Jern” pronunciation, so be it. However, “jeune” is an adjective in Frrnch the means “young”. There is no letter “r” in its spelling or pronunciation, so it is understandable that people who are not aware of the family’s preference might make a mistake when saying the name. So I guess further education about the preferted pronunciation is in order.

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