US Marine Corps Recruit Depot - Yearbook (Parris Island, SC)

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A ! COLONEL RICHARD B. SMITH, USMC Colonel Richard B. Smith, holder of two Bronze Star Medals, is now serving as Commanding Officer, Recruit Training Regiment, Parris Island, S. C. Prior to assuming his present duties on August 16, 1968, he served as commanding officer of the 9th Marine Regiment, 3d Marine Division, in Vietnam. Colonel Smith began his Marine Corps career in 1941, when he entered the Marine Corps through the Platoon Leaders Class, while a student at Duke University, Durham, N. C. He was commissioned a second lieutenant in May 1943 following Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Va. Following his commissioning, he attended a course of instruction at the Portsmouth, Va. Sea School and served two years aboard the USS SPRINGFIELD in the Pacific during World War Il. At the con- clusion of the war, he was assigned as a public information officer and aide to the Commandant of the Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Va., in July 1948. He remained at Quantico in a variety of assignments until ordered to Korea in January of 1952. ln Korea he saw action with l Company, 3rd Battalion, lst Marines, 1st Marine Division, FMF, as a company commander. In addition, during his tour in Korea he also served as S-3, 3d Battalion, lst Marines and later as senior liaison officer and director of the Korean Marine Corps Training Center. Returning to the states, he served with the 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, N. C., as Commanding Officer, NCO School and assistant G-3. Stationed with the British Royal Marines, fhe served as exchange officer in London, England, Malta and the Middle East from September 1954 through June 1955. Following this over- seas duty, he returned to Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps, serving for three years with the personnel department. In August 1959, the colonel reported for duty with the 3rd Marine Division where he first served as Division Adjutant and then Commanding Officer, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion. Transferred to Norfolk, Va., he served as assistant operations officer, FMF, Atlantic, and as plans officer on the staff of Commander in Chief Atlantic Command. Transferred to Camp Leieune, he assumed duties as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, 2nd Marine Division. Ordered to Vietnam with the 3rd Marine Division, he was assigned as Division Inspector. In September 1967, he assumed command of the 9th Marine Regiment which he commanded until his return to the U. S. in August, 1968. In addition to Colonel Smith's two Bronze Star Medals, he holds the Legion of Merit: the Joint Service Commendation Medal: Presi- dential Unit Citation: Navy Unit Commendation Medal: American Defense Service Medal: American Campaign Medal: Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two stars: Navy Occupation Medal: Korean Service Medal with three stars: World War II Victory Medal: China Service Medal: National Defense Service Medal: United Nations Medal: Korean Presidential Unit Citation: Vietnamese Cross of Gal- lantry with palm: Vietnam Service Medal with two stars: Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Philippine Liberation Medal. Colonel Smith is a graduate of Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, Bethhesda, Md., and of Duke University. He is also a graduate of the U. S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leaven- worth, Kansas. He and his wife Carol have six sons: Robert B. Ill, Richard B. Jr., Duncan S., Barton S., and twins Alan B. and Bruce S.

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is 1 A . .ef ' , - 5 ' 511, ,iisr iv ' era 4 j . eg ,Y A- r. ORMOND R. SIMPSON Major General, U. S. Marine Corps Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Major General Ormond Ralph Simpson is now serving as Com- manding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. General Simpson was born March 16, 1915 at Corpus Christi, Texas, and graduated from high school there in 1931. A member of the ROTC unit at Texas A8tM College, he was designated Military Honor Graduate and awarded a bachelor of science degree in Mechanical Engineering upon graduation in June 1936. He held an Army Reserve commission until July 11, 1936, when he was com- missioned a Marine second lieutenant. In November 1940, Lieutenant Simpson was assigned to Marine Corps Base, San Diego, where he served as a company commander with the 8th Marines until the outbreak of World War ll. Shortly after his promotion to captain, in December 1941, he sailed with the 8th Marines, 2d Marine Brigade, for the Pacific area. Stationed on Samoa, Captain Simpson served as Regimental Ad- jutant of the 8th Marines until August 1942, when he was promoted to major and named assistant Operations Officer of the Samoan Group Defense Force. ln March 1944, he joined the Emirau Landing Force, 3d Marine Division. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in April 1944, and returned to the United States the following month. After completing the infantry Course, Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Lieutenant Colonel Simpson returned to the Pacific area in November 1944. He served at Leyte and Manila, Philippines, as assistant G-4, General Headquarters, Southwest Pacific area, and later occupied Japan, joined the Staff of the Supreme Commander, Allied Powers CSCAPJ, as assistant G-4. The Army Legion of Merit was awarded Lieutenant Colonel Simp- son for exceptionally meritorious conduct from December 1944 to January 1946, during the planning for the invasion of Japan and its subsequent occupation. Following his return to the United States, Lieutenant Colonel Simpson was assigned to Marine Corps School, Quantico, Virginia, in March 1946, and served as an instructor in the Logistics Section for over three years. ln June 1949, he was transferred to Heade quarters, U. S. Marine Corps in Washington, D. C. where he served as Special Assistant to the Director of Plans and Policies. He was promoted to Colonel in November 1951, and the following month he was detached from Headquarters. In January 1952, Colonel Simpson joined the 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and was assigned as Regimental Commander of the 6th Marines until April 1953, when he became the Division Assistant Chief of Staff, G-4. ln September 1953, he departed for Korea where he subsequently earned the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service as Commanding Officer, 1st'Marin'es, 1st Marine Division. The following February, he became Division Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3. On his return from Korea in July 1954. Colonel Simpson was as- signed as a student to the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, graduating in June 1955. Ordered to Headquarters Marine Corps that July, he served briefly in the Policy Analysis Division, then was named Secretary of the General Staff in October. ln January 1956, he became Military Secretary to the Commandant of the Marine Corps, serving in that capacity for two and a half years. From July 1958 until June 1960, Colonel Simpson served as Chief of Staff, Marine Corps Schools, Quantico. Following this assignment, he joined the staff at Duke University in July 1960, serving for a year as Commanding Officer, Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps unit and Professor of Naval Science. Departing for Okinawa in August 1961, he assumed duties as Assistant Division Commander oi the 3d Marine Division, and was promoted to Brigadier General. ln May 1962, when American troops were requested by the gov- ernment of Thailand during the Laotion crisis, General Simpson was ordered to Thailand as Commanding General of the 3rd Marine Ex- peditionary Brigade and Naval Component Commander, Joint Task Force 116. He remained in Thailand until August 7, 1962, then re- sumed his duties in Okinawa. ln November 1962, following his return to the United States, he assumed duties at Headquarters Marine Corps as Assistant Director of Personnel. He served in this capacity through March 1963, then assumed duties as Assistant Chief of Staff, G-1, He was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for out- standing performance of duty in this post. He assumed command of the 2d Marine Division on 12 April 1965 and remained in that capacity for 31 months. General Simpson was promoted to Major General in January 1966, He was awarded the Legion of Merit for his performance as Division Commander. During the period of 9 September-11 December, 1966, he concurrently served as Commanding General, Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. On 21 November 1967, he turned over command of the 2d Marine Division and on the following day assumed his present duties as Commanding General, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island. General Simpson and Mrs. Simpson, the former Marjorie Miller of Bryan, Texas, have two children-Richard O., born November 17, 1946 and Martha F., born August 21, 1950. The General's mother is Mrs. Station Fields Simpson of 333 South Morningside Drive, Cor- pus Christi, Texas. General Simpson's father is deceased.

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AFTER CHECKING IN through the main gate, the first stop aboard Parris Island for the recruit is Recruit Receiving, where he turns in his orders and is assigned to a Platoon. After being assigned to a Platoon, the recruit gets a chance to meet his fellow platoon members while waiting to complete his in-processing. He also gets a first look at the spacious grounds, drill fields near the Receiving Barracks and meets his Drill Instruc- tor for the first time as the platoon' is marched to their battalion area. Recruit Receiving