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

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MAJOR GENERAL ARTHUR J. POILLON, USMC COMMANDINC GENERAL, MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT MAJOR GENERAL ARTHUR J. POILLON was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He is a graduate of Princeton Uni- versity, the Amphibious Warfare School, the US. Army Command and General Staff College and the US. Army War College. He entered the Marine Corps Reserve in February 1943; attended Recruit Training at Parris Island in 1944 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in August 1945. After World War II he served as a platoon and company commander and as a battalion and division staff officer in the First Marine Division in China and California. Following an assignment as the Marine Officer Instructor at Princeton University in 1952, he participated in combat operations in Korea as a company commander and staff officer with the Fifth Marines. He has served as an instructor at both the Amphibious Warfare School and the US. Army Command and General Staff College and as the Commanding Officer of the Marine Barracks, Quonset Point, Rhode Island. In 1966, Lieutenant Colonel Poillon formed and com- manded the 27th Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton, Ca- lifornia. In 1967 he became the Assistant C-3, lst Marine Division in Vietnam and subsequently the G-3 of Task Force X-Ray at Hue during the 1968 TET Offensive. After a tour in the G-1 Division, Headquarters Marine Corps, he was promoted to Brigadier General and assigned first as Assistant Division Commander, 2nd Marine Divi- sion and subsequently as its Commanding General until July 1973. In October 1973 he assumed command of Force Troops Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, which command he relin- quished on 28 May 1975. General Poillonis personal decorations include two Le- gions of Merit, the Army Commendation Medal, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal and Vietnamese Cross of Cal- lentry with palm and silver star.

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COLONEL GARY WILDER, USMC COMMANDING OFFICER, RECRUIT TRAINING REGIMENT COLONEL GARY WILDER assumed command of the Re- cruit Training Regiment here June 6, 1975. The Assistant Chief of Staff, Comptroller-Management Systems at Parris Island prior to his new assigment. Col. Wilder is a former enlisted man with 29 years of service including combat ac- tion in Korea and Vietnam. Col. Wilder enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1946 and attended recruit training at Parris Island. He served three years active duty, obtaining the rank of sergeant, and was recalled to service during the Korean conflict after' a two- year, nine months period of inactive duty. Colonel Wilder was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1951 and attended The Basic School and the Amphibious Warfare School at Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Va. He was then assigned duties as a rifle platoon commander with the lst Marine Division in Korea where he was wounded in action and evacuated to Japan. Col. Wilder attended Supply Officer School at Camp Le- jeune, NC. and served as Supply Officer for the 8th Engin- eer Battalion, Force Troops. Assigned to Vietnam in 1958 as a military advisor to the South Vietnamese Marine Corps, Col. Wilder returned to the United States in 1960 as an instructor at The Basic School, Quantico, Va. He later served as the Executive Officer to the 2nd Reconnaissance Batta- lion, 2nd Marine Division and Commanding Officer to the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division and Commanding Officer of 3rd Force Reconnaissance Com- pany, Fleet Marine Force at Camp Lejeuene before returning to Vietnam in 1966 as commander of the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, and CO, 3rd Bn, 3rd Marine Division where he was again wounded in action. For distinguishing himself by demonstrating exceptional meritorious conduct in performing outstanding service as a Commanding Officer in Vietnam, Col. Wilder was awarded the Legion of Merit. He returned to duty in the United States in 1967 and has since served as a directing staff member at the Canadian Staff College, Kingston, Ontario, and an Un- conventional Warfare Plans Officer for the Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet. Col. Wilder is married to the former Miss Harue Imaizumi of Osaka, Japan. The Wilderis have two daughters, Linda, 19, and Cynthia, 18. Both are students at the University of Florida, Gainesville.