Charles Lauchheimer

This week’s Veterans Spotlight shines on Charles Lauchheimer

Charles Henry “Lauc” Lauchheimer was born in September 1859 in Baltimore, Maryland, to Meyer Henry Lauchheimer and Babbette Eichberg. His military career commenced at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, where he graduated in 1881, finishing in the top quarter of his class.

Lauchheimer’s naval journey began on the USS Richmond from 1881 to 1883. He was then commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps, which enabled him to take command of the USS Ossipee. During this assignment, he patrolled the strategic waters of the Suez Canal and explored the Western Pacific. In the second year of this voyage, Lauchheimer contracted a severe case of typhoid fever, which he attributed to contaminated drinking water in Nagasaki, Japan. The illness was so severe that he spent 70 days on the sick list, a significant portion of his deployment.

In 1884, Lauchheimer earned a law degree from Columbia University, a qualification that greatly benefited his career. His legal skills led to his appointment as the Judge Advocate General of the Navy by 1892, where he excelled in both court-martial cases and civilian litigation. He authored two influential works, “Naval Courts and Naval Law” and “Forms of Procedure for Naval Courts and Boards,” which played a crucial role in shaping naval legal education.

Rising to the rank of brigadier general, Lauchheimer was appointed Adjutant and Inspector of the Marine Corps in 1905. In this capacity, he transformed marksmanship training as the Inspector of Target Practice, overseeing live-fire ranges and establishing competitive shooting programs that greatly improved the Corps’ combat readiness. Lauchheimer’s influence on Marine Corps marksmanship persisted long after his death, with the Lauchheimer Trophy, established by his family in 1921, continuing to honor excellence in small arms proficiency.

The United States Marine Corps Reserve, which marks its 108th anniversary this year, was established on August 29, 1916. Lauchheimer played a key role in the formation of Marine units within state naval militias, efforts that culminated in the Naval Appropriations Act, which officially created the Reserve. This foresight allowed for rapid expansion during World War I, with personnel numbers growing from around 35 to over 6,000.

For his contributions to naval law and marksmanship training during World War I, Lauchheimer was awarded a Victory Medal and was posthumously honored with a Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

Lauchheimer passed away in January 1920 at the Naval Hospital in Washington, D.C., after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage following a third stroke. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Thank you for your service!