Retired Medically.............. Commandant Department of Arizona, Marine Corps League
Past Commandant 2013 to 2015, and 2018, White Tank Mountain Detachment 1246
Past Departments Commander of Arizona, Military Order of the Purple Heart, 1999-2002
Other Comments:
Veterans Advorsary. And a Inductee of the; Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame, Class of 2007,
Purle Heart Patriot of the year Department of Arizona, 2013,
Marine of the Year Department of Arizona, 2015,
Vietnam Veterans of America Achivement Medal 2016,
Dog of the Year, Military Order of the Devil Dog, 2017-2018,
Senator Martha McSally, Veterans Distinction of the Year Award August 24,2019,
The 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines (3/9) is an infantry battalion of the United States Marine Corps. Formed during World War I it served until the early 1990s when it was redesignated as 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines (3/4) during a realignment and renumbering of the Marine Corps' infantry battalions, following the deactivation of the 9th Marine Regiment. The 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines was initially a subordinate unit of the 9th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, but was later operationally transferred to the 1st Marine Division as a subordinate unit of the 7th Marine Regiment where it remained until its redesignation as 3/4.
3/9 was reactivated under the 2nd Marine Division in May 2008 as the Marines expanded as a result of the continuing War on Terror.
Best Friends Joe Francis, and Jack Franklin we were known as the three musketeers. they where the best gunner and assistant gunner a squad leader could have. Dave Martin F/O with heart and a great Marine from New Jersey.
Best Moment Received the Silver Star Medal in a parade in Okinawa by General Krulack Sr. As well as my first Purprl Heart.
Worst Moment March 30, 1967, so much in coming came in that day I was so sacred and thought sure I was going to die, I was crawling around on my hands and knees trying to dig a hole with my bare hands. Some 600 mortar rounds fell on us that day. Truly a night to remember.
Chain of Command Lt. Pope H&S 81's Plt CMDR Gunny DiGuardi PLt. Sgt. 81's CO India CO. Capt. George Navadell CO Kilo CO. Capt. Jerry Giles CO Lima CO. Capt. Troy Shirley CO Mike CO. ? BN CO Major Woodring
Other Memories Getting my third Purple Heart, July 27, 1967 amd being told I was going home, August 17th I departed DaNang, on the Continental Freedom Bird for El Toro, CA. The worst is, that I can't remember a lot of what took place, because of a head wound, memory comes and goes. I do know I was on 27 combat missions as a Forward Observer.
