| Engineer, Construction And Equipment |
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| TWS Ribbon Bar |
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Current Service Status
USMC Retired
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Current/Last Rank
Colonel
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Current/Last Primary MOS
1302-Combat Engineer Officer
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Current/Last MOSGroup
Engineer, Construction And Equipment
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Previously Held MOS
521-Basic Marine, Enlisted
9901-Basic Officer
5702-Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Officer
1330-Facilities Management Officer
9904-Colonel, Logistician
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Primary Unit
1997-1999, 9904, G-4, III MEF
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Service Years
1967 - 1999
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Other Languages
Spanish
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| Official/Unofficial USMC Certificates
Cold War Certificate
Plank Owner Certificate
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1968, Cold War Veterans Association
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1993, Marine Corps Mustang Association
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1999, Marine Corps Veterans Association
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1999, Marine Corps Engineer Association (MCEA)
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2004, Officers' Christian Fellowship
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2006, Marine Corps Heritage Foundation
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2006, Marine Corps Together We Served
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2007, Marine Corps Association and Foundation (MCA&F)
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2008, Society of American Military Engineers (SAME)
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2012, American Military Retirees Association (AMRA)
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2014, Texas Area Marines
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What are you doing now:
Enjoying retirement on our family homestead in Washington State; In 2016, had to step down as Executive Director/Secretary/webmaster for the Marine Corps Engineer Association due to family healthy issues. After Diana passed away in March 2019, I moved to Spring Texas. Went back to volunteering with MCEA as Permanent Associate Director. In November 2019, elected to the Board of Directors and as Executive Director for Future Operations Base; a Houston non-profit assisting active duty military, veterans, first responders and eligible family members. In February 2020, became a foster dad to Honor, a yellow Lab, in support of The Rescue for PTSD and served as their Vice President and Prez. In October 2020, joined a start-up non-profit, WARRIORS EMPOWERED, as Executive Director and Board Member. In 2020, perchased acreage in WA and began developing it for the family. Moved to here in 2022 and now 10 of us family, 4 generations living on the property.
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Other Comments:
After retiring in '99, operated our 200 Acre cattle ranch in Fla. before retiring again, then moved to N.Y. for seven years before settling in Conroe, Texas in Dec 2011.
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1968-1968, 1st Recruit Training Bn (Cadre/Instructors)
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1968-1969, 521, 1st Infantry Training Bn, 2nd Infantry Training Regiment (Cadre)
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1969-1969, 9901, Officer Candidate School (Cadre/Instructors Only)
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1970-1970, 1302, 8th Engineer Support Bn (ESB)
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1970-1970, 5702, 8th Engineer Support Bn (ESB)
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1971-1972, 1302, 3rd Combat Engineer Bn
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1972-1974, 1302, Marine Corps Engineer School Bn (Cadre), Marine Corps Engineer School (Staff) Camp Lejeune
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1974-1978, 1330, MCRD (Cadre) San Diego, CA
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1978-1979, 1302, WES, 1st MAW
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1979-1979, 1302, Det C MCAS Iwakuni, MWSG-17
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1979-1980, 1302, 5th MAB
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1979-1982, 1302, H&S Co, 1st Combat Engineer Bn (CEB)
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1982-1983, 1302, Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC)
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1985-1988, 1302, HQ FMFLANT/MarForLant (Marine Forces Command)
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1988-1989, 1302, III MEF HQ Group (III MHG)
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1989-1990, 1302, 3rd Combat Engineer Bn
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1990-1991, 9904, III MEF HQ Group (III MHG)
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1991-1992, 9904, Brigade Service Support Group 1 (BSSG-1)
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1992-1993, 9904, H&S Bn
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1993-1997, 9904, Marine Forces Central Command, US Central Command (CENTCOM)
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1997-1999, 9904, G-4, III MEF
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Reflections on Col Frantz's
US Marine Corps Service
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PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MARINE CORPS.
It was 1967 and I had completed my sophomore year at the University of Oklahoma. The Vietnam War was raging and many of my high school friends and college acquaintances were enlisting so I felt compelled to join the fight. I talked to several recruiters, but liked the line the Marine Corps recruiter provided me and the Corps granted me a delayed entry so I could finish another semester of college and work my two part time jobs before I left for boot camp.
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WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
Once Commissioned, I was an Engineer Off until promoted to Colonel, then became a general logistician.
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IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
No: 32 years and never in combat.
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FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Assignment as the 1st MarCent Liaison Officer to CinCent in 1993-1997.
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OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
Pending.
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WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
LtCol Don Comer USMC (Ret) who lives in Pittsboro, NC. He was the Bn S-3 and my boss for most of my 1st tour with 3rd Combat Engr Bn on Okinawa in 1971. He almost single handed convince me to augment into the regular Marine Corps and was the best mentor I had. After becoming the President of the Marine Corps Engineer Assn, I found Don and recruited him to be a member.
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WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
We bought a Florida cattle ranch in 1993 and retired to the ranch in 1999 after 32 years of active duty. Ranched until 2005 at which time we moved again, this time to southwestern NY State. Elected as President and Secretary of the Marine Corps Engr Assn at that time and have been doing that full time ever since. Also assumed the position of Executive Director.
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WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Marine Corps Engineer Assn
Society of American Military Engineers
Marine Corps Assn
Marine Corps Heritage Foundation
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
The training and experiences I received as a Marine have influenced every aspect of my life. I was the epitome of the 'Type A' and being OCD just complicated the situation. The leadership & management skills, learning how to get along with all types of people and multi-tasking were just some of the traits that I've used since I left the Corps.
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BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE MARINE CORPS?
Plan for your retirement
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
I've been able to find a great many Marines that I served with and recruit other Marines to join the Engineer Assn.
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