Retired Marine CO John Calvin Munn

Retired Lt. Gen. John Calvin (Toby) Munn, former commanding officer of the Camp Pendleton and El Toro Marine Corps bases, has died at a San Diego County hospital, mortuary officials said. He was 79.

Munn, who also once was assistant commandant of the entire Marine Corps, was commander of Pendleton in 1963-64, a year after leaving the Pentagon. He commanded the El Toro base in 1954.

Munn died Monday, said Eternal Hills mortuary officials, who are handling cremation arrangements.

Born in Prescott, Ark., Munn was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps upon his graduation in 1927 from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.

In 1931, Munn earned his wings as a Marine aviator, and between 1931 and 1937 he served aboard the aircraft carriers Saratoga, Lexington and Langley.

Between 1938 and the outbreak of World War II, Munn served as naval attache and naval attache for air in Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador and Peru.

During World War II, Munn was a commander in the Pacific, heading Marine Aircraft Group 31, which destroyed 180 Japanese planes during the battle for Okinawa. He later was chief of staff of the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing during the Korean War.

Munn was awarded the Silver Star and two Legion of Merit decorations.

At Munn’s request, there will be no service. He is survived by his wife, Marine Lt. Col. Alice Munn, who retired with him in 1964.