men

THE MARINES

The heart of any Marine unit is the individual Marine, these are but a few of them.

"There is a destiny that makes us brothers, No one goes his way alone; All that we send into the lives of others, Comes back into our own."

~ Edwin Markham ~

This page is Dedicated to the Marines of VMO-3, HML 367, HMLA 367, and their pursuit of excellence.

As on any team, overall success is not dependent solely upon individual achievement. It is the cumulative efforts of all who participate. Nonetheless every team has its "All-Stars" who through natural gifts, increased attention to detail or through their leadership, augment the whole and take it through the narrow window of success.

* * * * * *

Boyd Barclay VMO-3 USMC

Khe Sanh was cloudy that June day of 1967, which gave some relief from the ever-present energy sucking heat. Khe Sanh's altitude did provide some cool nights, and sleeping bags had been put to use the night before. Captain Boyd L. Barclay, USMC, had experienced a relatively sleepless night. Sound sleep was impossible because of the possibility of mortar attacks and the constant problem of the rats. Once the lights were turned out, rats would climb up the sides of the hooch and run across the rafters above the sleeping Marines. Lying in a mummy sleeping bag and having a rat fall on top of you was not exactly conducive to a good night's sleep.

That morning, the two gunship crews from VMO-3 had already flown support for a recon insert near the Vietnamese-Laotian border. They returned to Khe Sanh for the first hot chow ever served there - sauerkraut and wieners. After lunch, the officers were presented with a roll of oilcloth by one of their men, the ever-present scrounger. The oilcloth was then nailed to the rafters covering the sleeping area so that the rats could not fall on the sleeping officers again. After finishing the hot chow, the air operations officer walked into their quarters and asked if they could get back into the air as soon as possible.

A Marine company was making a sweep through the area near Hill 881 and Hill 861, where a previous company had been severely hit the day before. The clouds, he said, were too low for a fixed wing support effort. Both crews immediately agreed and headed for their helicopters. Laughter and horseplay ceased as they walked by the morgue. There were two rows of body bags waiting to be flown out, a result of the previous day's action. The scene starkly reminded them of their own vulnerability.

Over target, the two gunship crews checked in with the company commander. After popping smoke to show his location, the ground troop commander requested that they check out the tree line north of his troops. Dave Myers, who was the command pilot of Barclay's gunship, exclaimed, "I think I saw something in that tree line! Let's make a gun run and I'll notify our section leader to follow us down!" On the second pass over the tree line, the airship came under heavy anti-aircraft fire. A siren began to scream and the red warning light pulsated. It sounded as if the helicopter was coming apart and the engine had been knocked out.

The next burst of fire blew through the cockpit and knocked Barclay's hand into his face - but as he looked, he saw no hand there! There was only bone and blood. He said, "I'm hit!" Reaching across his armored vest, he tried to find the pressure point on his biceps above the bloody stump. Then he heard, "I'm dead! I'm dead!" Looking to his right, he saw Dave's arms dangling at his side and his head slumped on his chest.

Barclay knew his survival was now up to him alone. Since the ship was pulling up, he had to get the collective down to initiate auto-rotation. He began to use his stub as a battering ram to get the collective down. Once it was as far down as he could jam it with his stub, he braced the collective with his left knee to keep it there. All this time he was guiding the helicopter into some trees near a clearing. Without his left hand he was unable to execute a normal auto-rotation. The ship went into the trees. The airship shuddered as the rotors sliced through treetops. Then, like a huge disabled beast, the ship hit the ground in a swirl of dirt and foliage.

In addition, the chopper rolled to a skidding stop on its left side. Barclay un-strapped himself with his functioning hand and crawled out through the starboard door. Both gunners were squatting on the ground in a daze of disbelief. Barclay shouted, "Get a tourniquet and put it on my arm!" One of the gunners jumped up to retrieve the tail rotor tie down and wrapped it around Barclay's mangled arm.

Glancing at the disabled aircraft, Barclay cried out, "We have to get him out!" He took two steps toward the chopper before falling into a heap. His leg was broken. Peering into the cockpit, one of the gunners shouted, "He's dead, sir! They're shooting at us!" Barclay grabbed the survival radio to try to talk to his section leader, circling above. His ears were ringing so loudly that he could not hear to transmit. He handed the radio to one of the gunners. "Tell them my arm is blown off, my leg is broken, and our pilot is dead! Tell them we need a H-46 and hoist to get us out!"

"There's no H-46 available, sir! They want us on top of the mountain for the pick-up!" Each of the gunners clutched Barclay by his flight suit and began the laborious task of pulling him up the side of the mountain. The mountainside was so steep that the crewmen were on their hands and knees, with the injured Barclay helping in any way he could by pushing off with his one good leg. All of this time he could not bring himself to look at his mangled stump. But now, he felt something tug at his injured arm. He looked down and saw his hand still dangling by about an inch of skin at the thumb. The bloody mess was wrapped around a bush branch. As he untangled the mangled arm, he was amazed to see that although the tourniquet had slipped off, very little blood was still coming out of his arm.

The exhausted trio crested the top of the mountain and watched the H-34 set down in the clearing where they lay. It would be reported later that the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) had control of the downed chopper within five minutes. A reaction platoon later tried to get to the aircraft, but was beaten back by intense enemy fire. When they were back at Khe Sanh at the aid station, the attending doctor lifted up Boyd's arm. With one snip of the scissors, the rest of his hand was gone forever.

Barclay's trip "stateside" started at Charlie Med at Phu Bai, not 50 meters away from where his squadron was quartered. He remembers regaining consciousness from surgery to see one of his pilot friends standing at the foot of his bed. Asked if he needed anything, Barclay croaked out a request for a coke. Propped up on his right side, he felt half of the warm coke go down, hit his stomach, and immediately come back up along with the lunch of wieners and sauerkraut, spraying all over the wounded Marine in the next bed.

From Phu Bai, it was on to Da Nang where a Purple Heart was pinned to his pillow by an unidentified Marine general. The Silver Star would be awarded later for his valor and heroism in bringing the disabled airship down with the loss of only one life. Medical treatment in Japan, Travis Air Force Base Hospital, and Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland would follow with more operations and endless hours of physical therapy. Those long days and weeks gave Captain Barclay ample opportunity for private reflection and the reliving of many memories. He had grown up in Oklahoma City, an only child. High school days were filled with football, track, baseball, and an occasional date or two.

There was the wonderful memory of playing as a 160-pound outside linebacker on the football team that was the Oklahoma State runner-up champion. There were more memories: graduation from Oklahoma State University and a commission in the United States Marine Corps, platoon leaders' school at Quantico, and the crazy set of circumstances that had him end up in artillery instead of the coveted aviation school. He remembered February 14th, 1964, his "bad luck day" while attending basic school. On that day he got a "Dear John" from his girl back at "good old OSU," had a "serious disagreement" with a Marine captain, wrecked his car, and received hastily cut orders for artillery school - all on one bleak and black St. Valentine’s day!

There were also the memories of his first Vietnam tour early in 1965 as a fire support coordinator with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion of the 12th Marines, and with the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Marines. Then there was the recollection of reapplying and getting accepted for flight school for those great 16 months in Pensacola! After the few months at Camp Pendleton with VMO-5, there was the return to Vietnam with VMO-3, with the primary responsibility of working with Special Forces missions in Laos. And then the reality of the present began to sink in. There were months of hospital time with the many surgeries and endless hours of PT that "Captain Hook," as he was affectionately called by his ward mates, would endure. He recalled one incident that would forever stick in his memory:

About noon I had just finished another session of PT, when in wheels this 19 year old Navy corpsman who had lost both legs, an arm, and an eye approached. I mean, this kid just lit up the room with his outstanding never-say-die attitude! He joked about what he would do when he was released from the Navy. He laughed about how a cripple like him seeking employment on the outside could qualify for jobs nobody else could do. What an inspiration he was to everyone around him!"

As Captain Barclay returned to his quarters that day, the noon news was on the local Oakland TV station. The lead story was about an anti-war demonstration at the University of California at Berkeley. The college students who were a part of this particular anti-war group were receiving an engraved plaque, which had been sent from Hanoi through Cuba and signed by Ho Chi Minh himself. The students were marching through the streets carrying North Vietnamese and Viet Cong flags and cheering the speaker for his anti-war pronouncements.

Barclay, who had just spent time with that young Navy corpsman, who was so badly wounded, wondered about the irony of it all. Did these protesters really have a clue about anything? Did they really know (or care) about the bravery and sacrifice of other young people their age? It was a bitter pill to swallow then - and it still is now.*

(with permission of the Military Order of The Purple Heart Magazine)

* * * * * *

Addendum to the story...

Brad,

My computer has been down for almost three weeks and I finally was able to bring up the website and see what you had done about the article in the "Purple Heart Magazine". With humility, it is an honor to have my story published on the "Scarface Website" - thanks.

You said to give you an account of the reunion between our Crew Chief Tom Lanham and myself after thirty-one years:

Each year after The Military Order of the Purple Heart National Convention, the first issue of "The Purple Heart Magazine" highlights the new National Commander, which is the issue you have on the website. That was our November/December 1998 publication.

One Sunday, about a year ago I was working at the office. Judy, my wife called and said, "You aren't going to believe who you have a message from on our recorder!" "Tom Lanham, your Crew Chief when you were shot down has left a message and his phone number".

Naturally, I immediately called Tom. He related that he was a brand new member of The Military Order of the Purple Heart and was reading his first issue of the magazine. While he was reading the article about us being shot down, he suddenly realized that was also his story and he was one of the door gunners I was talking about who had dragged me up to the top of the mountain.

We relived what we had been doing for the last thirty-one years and he told me he was living in West Virginia where he had been raised. I told him that I was coming to Alexandria, VA. for a meeting in February and was there any way he could meet me there? He responded that he had a sister living in Alexandria and could drive up while I was there.

In February of 1999, almost thirty-two years after we had been shot down, we met for the first time. Tom brought his father, sister and brother in-law. For me it was an emotional time, because if it had not been for Cpl. Tom Lanham and L/Cpl. Charles Alexander, I would not have survived.

We had a few drinks, had dinner and relived what had happened that June day and his subsequent time in the Marine Corps. His sister showed me the article which had appeared in the local newspaper about him receiving the Navy Commendation Medal. She had carried that article with her for years. She was in high school when we were shot down and related about how proud she had been at the time and still is proud of her brother. She also said that he had never talked about Viet Nam as much as he did that night and she had learned a lot about her brother she was not aware of.

For me it was interesting to hear his account as a crew member sitting behind the two pilots and his version after we were hit and as we were going down and rolling over after we hit the ground. He saw Dave and I get hit almost simultaneously. Dave's arms fell to the side and my hand was blown off, He thought, "No one is flying this helicopter", which alI happened before I took the controls.

I was only aware of us rolling over once, but he said we rolled several times. Once we were on the ground, I wondered why they didn't get their M-60's? He said that while we rolling everything inside was being thrown around had been thrown out during the crash and they had looked for them and couldn't find them.

One positive result of our reunion was that he said he had never filed a claim for the loss of sight in one eye from that days action. We encouraged him to do so and has now filed a claim and received a disability rating, which is not enough and I have encouraged him to appeal the decision.

"Once a Marine always a Marine", is all so true. It took me most of the evening to get him to stop calling me "Sir". More than once, I told him to call me by my first name. That Marine Corps training of respect for your superiors kept popping up. We still keep in touch and are on a first name basis. Neither one of know where L/Cpl. Alexander is and would like to make contact with him.

Semper Fi

Boyd

* * * * * *

During 1969 HML 367 filed over 200 consecutive negative "NORS" reports. This meant that no aircraft were down due to a shortage of parts, and made it possible for the squadron to maintain about ninety percent aircraft availability most of the time. This high operational readiness was the work of many men, but one man deserves much of the credit for the negative NORS reports which made it possible. Scarface owes a debt of gratitude to Gunnery Sergeant Frederick B. Douglass."

SGT MAJ. Douglass was killed in the bombing of the Marine barracks in Lebanon on November 23, 1983.

* * * * * *

"On 28 December 1969 Captain Roger Henry and Lieutenant Dave Cummings found themselves faced with an agonizing decision. A wounded Marine was dying on a peak in the Que Son Mountains because the weather was so bad that the H-46 medevac helicopter could not reach the landing zone. When he was advised that the Marine would die if left on the mountain overnight Captain Henry made a bold decision to attempt the rescue with his Cobra gunship.

Captain Henry and Lieutenant Cummings literally hovered up the mountain taxiing from tree to tree to keep the ground in sight. Flying so slowly exposed them to the danger of enemy fire in the notorious Que Sons as well as the danger of flying into the mountain side.

After hovering in the clouds for almost an hour they finally found the zone. Cummings leapt from the aircraft and placed the dying Marine in his seat. He then climbed on a rocket pod and flashed a victory sign to the startled Marines on the ground as Captain Henry flew them away to safety.

Hardly a week later, Captain Henry found himself in an identical situation. He and Lieutenant Toby Gritz did what they felt they must. Once again Captain Henry saved the life of a dying Marine with great personal risk. Today two Marines are alive because of the courage of these three brave Marines."

ARTICLE

* * * * * *

General Officers

The following officers all served with HML-367 and continued on to serve our Corps.

General
Michael J. Williams
Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps

Lt. General Michael J. Williams

General Williams was born on July 12, 1943 in Baltimore, Md. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1960 and was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy with a B.S. degree in June 1967. He also holds Masters Degrees from the University of Southern California (1974) and the College of Naval Warfare. Upon completion of Naval Flight Training at Pensacola, Fla., he was designated a Naval Aviator in February 1969.

He next served operational tours in both the continental United States and the Republic of Vietnam before being ordered to the Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, Va., in 1973. Upon graduation in June 1974, he served on Okinawa with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. Returning to the United States in the summer of 1975, General Williams joined Marine Helicopter Squadron One at Quantico. There, he was designated a Presidential Helicopter Pilot while serving in various positions with the Squadron. In July 1978, he was selected to attend the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico.

Following graduation in June 1979, General Williams was ordered to the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., where he served as a Company Officer and Executive Assistant to the Commandant of Midshipmen. He transferred to the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, El Toro, Calif., in July 1982, for duty as Executive Officer of Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 16, and later as Commanding Officer of Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 301.

From June 1984 until June 1985, General Williams attended the Naval War College, Newport, R.I. Following graduation, he was ordered to the 3d Marine Division on Okinawa, where he served as the Assistant Division G-3. Returning to the states in the summer of 1986, he reported to Headquarters, Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., for duty as the Marine Corps Program Development Officer, and later the Head, Program Development Branch, Requirements and Programs Division.

In July 1989, General Williams transferred to the 2d Marine Aircraft Wing at Cherry Point, N.C., as the Wing Inspector before assuming duty as Marine Aircraft Group 26, Executive Officer in April 1990. General Williams assumed command of MAG-26 on July 16, 1990. He deployed the Group to Saudi Arabia to participate in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm, returning to the United States in May 1991.

He was assigned duty as the Vice Director for Operational Plans and Interoperability, J-7, and Vice Director, Joint Staff for Military Education, The Joint Staff, in November 1991. While serving in this capacity, he was selected for promotion to brigadier general in December 1991, and advanced to that grade on April 1, 1992. General Williams served in that capacity until July 16, 1993, when he assumed command of 2d Force Service Support Group. On June 8, 1994, General Williams was appointed Commanding General, Joint Task Force 160, a humanitarian relief effort for Haitian and Cuban migrants at Guantanamo Naval Base, Cuba. He resumed command of the 2d FSSG on October 31, 1994. He was advanced to the grade of Major General in March 1995 and in July was appointed Director of the Marine Corps Staff, Washington, D.C. He assumed assignment on July 23, 1996 as the Commander, Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Va. General Williams served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Programs and Resources, Headquarters,
Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. as his last assignment prior to becoming the Assistant Commandant.

General Williams' personal decorations include: the Defense Superior Service Medal with gold star; Legion of Merit with gold star; Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V"; the Meritorious Service Medal; Air Medal with Strike Flight Numerals "25" and bronze star; and Navy Commendation Medal with gold star and Combat "V".

Lt. General John E. Rhodes

General Rhodes has been qualified in both rotary wing and fixed wing aircraft and has flown over 1,000 combat hours and missions. His personal decorations include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star Medal with gold star, Legion of Merit with Combat "V," Distinguished Flying Cross with three gold stars, Purple Heart, Strike/Flight Air Medal and numeral 45, three single mission Air Medals and Combat "V," and the Combat Action Ribbon.

By: Headquarters Marine Corps, Division of Public Affairs, Marine Corps News, Washington, D.C. 20380-1775, (703) 614-7678 / 7679

Major General Kevin B. Kuklok

General Kuklok enrolled in the Platoon Leaders Class program in March 1965 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Reserve of the United States Marine Corps in August 1968. He earned his wings in October 1969 and was assigned to UH-1E helicopter transition with HML-267, Camp Pendleton, Calif. Lieutenant Kuklok served in the Republic of Vietnam from March 1970 to March 1971 with HML-367, flying the AH-1G Cobra. He also served as a Forward Air Controller with 2d Battalion, 7th Marines. He completed his initial active duty with HMA-169 at Camp Pendleton in 1972.

His decorations include: Air Medal with Numeral "66", Meritorious Service Medal, and Navy Achievement Medal with Combat "V".

By: Headquarters Marine Corps, Division of Public Affairs, Marine Corps News, Washington, D.C. 20380-1775, (703) 614-7678 / 7679

Major General Michael P. DeLong

General DeLong was born on March 15, 1945, in Kinston, N.C. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in June 1967, upon graduation from the Naval Academy. In 1975, he received a master's degree in industrial management from Central Michigan University.

General DeLong's operational assignments includes tours with Helicopter Medium Marine (HMM) Squadron 262, Quang Tri, Republic of Vietnam; standardization instructor, Helicopter Training Squadron 18, Naval Aviation Training Command; maintenance officer, Helicopter Marine Light (HML) Squadron 367, where he participated in Operations Eagle Pull and Frequent Wind (evacuation of Vietnam); operations officer, Helicopter Medium Marine (HMM) 463; Commander, HML 367, Detachment C; executive officer and special projects officer, Marine Air Base Squadron 24; plans and operations officer, Marine Air Group 16; executive/commanding officer, Marine Air Group 30; executive officer, MAG-26, commanding officer, HMM 266; executive office and commanding officer, Marine Aviation Weapons/Tactics Squadron 1, where he participated in Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, assistant chief of staff, operations, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, where he served as the Joint Force Air Component Commander (JFACC) for Operation Restore Hope in Somalia; and the deputy commanding general I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

His principle staff assignments include officer in charge, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific Command Center; intelligence requirements officer, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific; aide de camp to the deputy commander, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific; and the arms control/strategic weapons action officer in the Strategic Requirements Branch of the Plans Division, Headquarters Marine Corps. General DeLong's professional education includes the Basic School, Naval Flight School, Amphibious Warfare School, Defense Intelligence School, Armed Forces Staff College, Army War College and a Defense Department fellow at the Brookings Institute.

General DeLong was promoted to Major General on October 1, 1996.
General DeLong's personal decorations include: two awards of the Legion of Merit, two awards of the Distinguished Flying Cross, two awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with Flight Strike Numerals 69, Navy Achievement Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon. General DeLong has logged more than 5,500 flight hours in all models of aircraft, and more than 800 combat hours.

By: Headquarters Marine Corps, Division of Public Affairs, Marine Corps News, Washington, D.C. 20380-1775, (703) 614-7678 / 7679

United States Marine Corps

Brigadier General

Robert M. Flanagan

Deputy Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune

Brigadier General Flanagan is currently serving as the Deputy Commanding General, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Brigadier General Flanagan, a native of St. Clair Shores, Michigan was commissioned a Marine Second Lieutenant in May, 1971 after graduation from the University of Michigan.

Following his commission he was assigned to the Naval Air Training Command, Pensacola, Florida. Brigadier General Flanagan was designated a Naval Aviator in May, 1972. In June he joined HML-267 at Camp Pendleton, California where he qualified in the UH-1E. In February of 1974, Brigadier General Flanagan was assigned to the First Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan. During his tour in WestPac he also served as the Quality Assurance Officer with HMM-164 (C) and HMH-462 (C) aboard the USS TRIPOLI.

Completing his first Marine Aircraft Wing tour in March of 1975, he was ordered to duty as a Flight Instructor with HT-8 at NAS Whiting Field, Milton, Florida. In August of 1978, Brigadier General Flanagan was selected to attend Amphibious Warfare School at Quantico, Virginia and upon graduation was selected for duty with Marine Helicopter Squadron One at Quantico, Virginia.

In August of 1983, Brigadier General Flanagan was selected to attend the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, MCB Quantico, Virginia where he graduated in 1984. Upon completion of the Command and Staff, he was ordered to the Third Marine Division for duty as the Air Officer for the Fourth Marine Regiment located at Camp Schwab, Okinawa, Japan.

Returning from Okinawa in 1985, Brigadier General Flanagan was ordered to Marine Aircraft Group 39, MCAS Camp Pendleton, California where he served as the Executive Officer of HMT-303. He was further reassigned as the Marine Aircraft Group 39 Personnel Officer in July of 1986.

Brigadier General Flanagan assumed command of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 in February of 1987. In October the squadron attached two CH-46s and deployed aboard the USS OKINAWA to the Persian Gulf. As the air component for Contingency MAGTF 1-88, the squadron participated in numerous Ernest Will operations, minesweeper escort missions, and armed reconnaissance flights.

For its performance in the Persian Gulf the squadron was selected as the Helicopter Squadron of the Year, 1988.

Following his tour as the commanding officer, Brigadier General Flanagan reported to MCCDC Quantico, Virginia for assignment to the Marine Corps Warfighting Center. In March of 1989, Brigadier General Flanagan was reassigned to Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps as part of the newly formed Counter-Narcotics Working Group.

Brigadier General Flanagan was selected to attend the National War College in 1989 and graduated in the summer of 1990. Following the National War College, Brigadier General Flanagan was ordered to a joint assignment with United States Central Command, Mc Dill AFB, Tampa, Florida. Arriving in August of 1990, Brigadier General Flanagan was assigned to the J-5, Plans and Policy Directorate. Following the Gulf War Colonel Flanagan was reassigned as the Chief of Current Operations, Operations Directorate, United States Central Command.

Brigadier General Flanagan took command of Marine Aircraft Group 24 in July of 1993, and transitioned the Group to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Aviation Support Element, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii when MAG-24 deactivated in October 1994.

In June of 1995, Brigadier General Flanagan was ordered to Headquarters, United States Marine Corps for duty as the Head, Aviation Monitor. After one year, Brigadier General Flanagan transferred to the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs to be the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff, M&RA.

In 1997 Brigadier General Flanagan was selected to his current rank and assigned as the Director, Personnel Management Division, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Headquarters, Marine Corps.

Brigadier General Flanagan's personal decorations include: Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy and Marine Commendation Medal, and the Presidential Service Badge.

By: Headquarters Marine Corps, Division of Public Affairs, Marine Corps News, Washington, D.C. 20380-1775, (703) 614-7678 / 7679

Brigadier General William A. Whitlow currently serves as the Director, Public Affairs, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.

1st Lt William Whitlow pre-flights UH-1E of HML-367, Futenma, Okinawa.

Photo courtesy Steve Hornberger

General Whitlow was born in Yokohama, Japan, and reared in Kentucky. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Education, Master of Arts in Procurement Management, Master of Arts in International Affairs, and Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. He was also a MIT Fellow in Foreign Politics and the National Interest.

After he was commissioned in the Marine Corps via the PLC program in June 1971, he attended Naval Flight Officer training and was designated a Naval Aviator in July 1972.

From August 1972 through June 1974, Brigadier General Whitlow was assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. During this time, he served with HMLA-167, HMH-362, HMM-261, and deployed with the 22nd and 24th Marine Amphibious Units (MAUs). His following tour was with 2nd Marine Division where he served as a forward air controller and Weapons Company Commander. In March 1975, he reported to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing and served in HMLA-367 and HMM-165 and deployed with the 31st MAU. Brigadier General Whitlow was transferred to HMX-1 in January 1977 and then assigned to the Amphibious Warfare School in August 1980.

Upon completion of Amphibious Warfare School, Brigadier General Whitlow served as the Marine Liaison Officer/Instructor/Squadron Commander at the U.S. Air Force Academy. In June 1983, he was assigned to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing where he served as Executive Officer of H&MS-36.

After graduation from the Command and Staff College in June 1985, he reported to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and served as the Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of HMH-362. In 1989, Brigadier General Whitlow attended the Naval War College and upon graduation was assigned as the Aviation Monitor at Headquarters Marine Corps. In August 1992, he reported for joint duty with the Department of State. In August 1994, he reported for duty with I Marine Expeditionary Force for assignment as the Commanding Officer of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. His last assignment was as Assistant Wing Commander, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. He recently served as the Commanding General, Task Force, Kenya.

Brigadier General Whitlow's military decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal with gold stars in lieu of second and third award.

Brigadier General Aguilar is currently assigned as Deputy Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces South, Miami, Florida.

Brigadier General Aguilar was born May 10, 1950, in Los Angeles, Calif. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in July 1971 and reported directly to the Naval Air Training Command, Pensacola, Fla. He was designated a Naval Aviator in November 1972.

Brigadier General Aguilar has flown H-1 helicopters throughout his career and held a variety of billets in aviation at the squadron, group and wing level. His initial training was in the UH-1E Huey helicopter with Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 267 prior to being transferred to Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 24, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. There he served as the squadron training officer, Marine Corps property officer and in the Aircraft Group's S-1 office from July 1973-July 1976.

In July 1976 he was transferred overseas and assigned to Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 165 and HMLA-367 filling maintenance billets in both squadrons. Returning from overseas in July 1977, Brigadier General Aguilar was assigned to Marine Attack Helicopter Squadron 369 for conversion training to the AH-1 Cobra. He served as the Quality Assurance Officer and Assistant Maintenance Officer. In March 1979 he was assigned to the Marine Aircraft Group 39 S-3 office.

In March 1980 he attended the Aircraft Maintenance Officer's course and was subsequently assigned to Marine Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 serving as the Aircraft Maintenance Officer. In October, Brigadier General Aguilar deployed aboard the USS Tarawa as the AH-1 Detachment Officer-in-Charge with HMM-265.

Returning from his deployment he returned to college to complete his undergraduate degree. In September 1982, he returned to HMA-169 as the Operation Officer and later took out a second AH-1 Detachment aboard the USS New Orleans attached to HMM-165.

Returning from deployment Brigadier General Aguilar was transferred to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, Calif., in July 1985. Initially assigned as the Executive Officer for the Second Recruit Training Battalion, he later was selected as the Director of the Drill Instructor School, the only aviator to hold that billet.

In August 1988 Brigadier General Aguilar returned to flying, completing refresher training and was transferred overseas where he served on the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing Staff as its TEEP Officer and later Operations Officer.

In August 1989 he was assigned as the MAG-50 Operations Officer. Shortly after Iraq invaded Kuwait, he was assigned to MAG-70 and deployed to Southwest Asia in August 1990. During Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM Brigadier General Aguilar served as the Executive Officer of Marine Aircraft Group 16.

After returning from the Gulf War, he assumed command of Marine Light Attack Squadron 267 serving as the Commanding Officer from June 1991through October 1992. From October 1992 through July 1993 he served as the Marine Aircraft Group 39 Executive Officer.

In August 1993 he attended the Naval War College, graduating in July 1994 with a Master's Degree in Strategic Studies and National Security Affairs.

He returned to MAG-39 in July 1994 serving first as its Executive Officer and then its Commanding Officer from May 1995 to June 1997. In August 1997, he was transferred to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy as the Military Assistant where he served his previous assignment. During his last assignment he served with Joint Staff in the J-3 as the Deputy Director for Operations, National Military Command Center.

His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.

More to come...

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Brad Ryti bryti@scarface-usmc.org .

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