One of the two generals forced to retire by the Marine Corps Commandant yesterday once served as the commanding general of the Twentynine Palms Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center. Major General Mark Gurganus, who served as CG from May 2008 to September 2009, had his promotion to lieutenant general rescinded by the Commandant, General Jim Amos, for failing to prevent a massive attack on a base in southern Afghanistan in 2012. Amos said that Gurganus and Major General Gregg Sturdevant “did not take adequate force protection measures within the range of responses proportionate to the threat.” Two Marines were killed, eight others were wounded, and six aircraft were destroyed in the attack by insurgents on Camp Bastion, a British base that adjoins Camp Leatherneck. Gurganus, who was the overall commander of Regional Command Southwest at the time, had reduced the number of Marines patrolling the base perimeter by two-thirds one month before the attack. Both Gurganus and Sturdevant will be allowed to retire honorably with full benefits.
