Marine Military Academy - Pass In Review Yearbook (Harlingen, TX)

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UPERI TE QEN T f presenting Cadet of the Month Awards to Cadet Greisel and Cadet Fontaine. . Left-Gen. Spanjer at the Women Marine Association Parade. Above-Gen. Spanjer Major General Ralph H. Spanjer. United States M - Corps fRetiredj, is the fifth Superintendent of Maine He assumed his position in May l978. l 'A' As a teen-ager in New Jersey, he was Golden Gloy State Champion. ln college, he played basketbams wrestled and swam for New York University, ' He joined the Marine Corps in June, I94l, and com- pleted flight training in l942. During his 365 years in the Corps. he has lead every size Marine aviation unii from the smallest fighter-bomber squadron to jhg Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic. During this time, he piloted 47 types of aircraft, ranging from early bi. planes to latest Harrier Vertical Take-Off jets. His combat flying ranged from the WW. ll battles of Peleliu and Okinawa to Korea and Vietnam. General Spanjer is also a devoted scholar. He has earned a BA from George Washington University: and is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College and the National War College. He earned his Masters degree in International Relations at George Washing- ton University and is a graduate of Harvard Business School's Advance Management Course. Once devol- ed to the Marine Corps, General Spanjer is now whol- ly dedicated to Marine Military Academy, and pro- vides the school with strong leadership and spirit. Mrs. Sally Halpin General Spanjer's Secretary 1 - , ,v l 5 E

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DEPUTY SUPERI TE DE T Colonel James R. O'Mara. USMC QRet.J ioined the Academy in I976 to fill the position of Chief of Staff. ln November of l977 he became Com- mandant of Cadets and in August of I979 he became Deputy Superintendent. Y I 1 ' Colonel O'Mara, a veteran of 34 years in the Marine Corps, was Professor of Naval Science and Commander. Naval ROTC unit at the Uni- versity of New Mexico prior to his retirement in l975. He enlisted in the Marine Corps, in July l94l. and spent most of W.W. ll in the Pacific in various communications and electronic assign- ments in Marine Aviation. He was recalled back to active duty at outbreak of the Korean War. He later served in Vietnam as the Communica- tion Electronics Officer of the First Marine Div. X Colonel O'Mara awards include the Region of Merit, Navy Conmendation Medal. both with combat V and the Joint Services Conmenda- tion Medal. , K Colonel O'Mara earned his Master of Arts De- V gree from George Washington Univ. STAFF SECRETARY MSGT Frank J. Tiona. Jr.. USMC QRet.3 Staff Secretary, Marine Military Academy joined the Academy in June l98l after 22 yrs. of Active Duty. Before retirement. he was the White House Liaison Chief for Marine One. the Presi- dent ofthe United States Helicopter. His duties as White House Liaison Chief had the distinc- tion of scheduling and coordinating all helicop- ter service between the White House and Ma- rine Helicopter Squadron One QHMX-Ib who purpose is providing helicopter support to the President. Vice President, Cabinet Members. and Heads of State. HMX-I is also referred to as the Executive Flight Detachment. MSGT. Tiona served in HMX-I under Presidents Carter. and President Reagan, many times on a personal basis. , I. ifiiviwi I 1 ,f- 5532, n Currently MSGT. Tiona is coordinator for the y A , tg 's' 'i Texas Iwo Jima Memorial, he is responsible for 'few' 6 gf , . if assisting Dr. Felix deWeldon in the planning and rebuilding of the original Iwo Jima Statue on the campus of M.M.A. He was also in charge of the Freedom Convoy to bring the Statue from Rhode Island. 4' a ,gl ,pg Wg, 4, 1- :inn-M.,-.suvtul-V W - - YH ..,- -- . - . U... - .as-4-s....a.-nn. '