 HISTORICAL ARCHIVES  |
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Historical Profile: Colonel Gilbert R.
Hershey
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Detachments: European Region MOS: OCCUPATION: USMC Retired Colonel Hershey was a Real Estate Broker, and contributed heavily to the Jacksonville, NC communtity in both time and money. Colonel Hershey was instrumental in raising funds for the Beiruit Memorial. he was dedicated to his children and his wife, Frances, who was lost after a vigilant battle with cancer. USMC Bio: Born: Nov. 12 1921 at Camp Lewis Washington, Died: Friday October 31, 2003 at the Layhill Genesis Center, Silver Springs, MD. Father: the late Lieutenant General Lewis B. Hershey, U.S. Army, former Director of the Selective Service System - World War II, . NOTE: Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, served as Director of Selective Service until February 16, 1970, for 33 years. Feb 16, 1970:59th Anniverary of his enlistment in the National Guard, Received his 4th star before assuming his duties as Presidential Advisor on Manpower Mobilization. Mother: Elen Dygert Hershey Wife: Frances Overton, who died in 1988. Wife : Clare Kay Hill, whom he married in August 1994 After High School, he entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.. 1944 Left West Point after his junior year to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps, fight in World War II where he saw combat with the 2nd Marine Division on Saipan and Japan after the dropping of the Atomic Bomb. 1948-49 Norfolk, VA 1950 Camp Lejeune, NC 1951-52 Ttwo tours in Korea with the 1st Brigade at landing on Inchon., With 1st Marines severely wounded by mortar fire. 1952-53 Camp Pendleton, CA recouperating from war wounds 1953-56 Pentagon, Washington, DC,completed undergraduate degree 1956-58 Officer in Charge, MSG Battalion / Eastern Region, Bonn, Germany 1958-61 Camp Lejeune, NC 1961-63 Quantico, Va (Senior School, and Okinawa) 1963-66 Parris Island, SC, Commanding Officer 3rd Battallion 1966-68 Newport R.I., Staff at Naval War College, completed Masters Degree in International Relations. 1969- Regimental Commander in Vietnam 1970-72 Camp Lejeune, NC - Col. Hershey was the Regimental Commander of the 4th Reg, 3rd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune. 1972 retired in Jacksonville, NC---Active in the Chamber of Commerce, the Retired Officers Association and many other organizations. Lineage of the 4th Marine Regiment (Paragraph 13) Email Received from Colonel Hershey's daughter Joan (2/19/2004): Dear Madam or Sir: I am Col. Gilbert R. Hershey's oldest child, Joan. Thank you for portraying some of my Father's accomplishments. If I can provide information or help in any way please let me know. There are some descrepancies in the time frame of Dad's duty stations: 1948-49 Norfolk, VA 1950 Camp Lejeune, NC 1951-52 Korea 1952-53 Camp Pendleton, CA recouperating from war wounds 1953-56 Pentagon, Washington, DC,completed undergraduate degree 1956-58 Bonn, Germany 1958-61 Camp Lejeune, NC 1961-63 Quantico, Va (Senior School, and Okinawa) 1963-66 Parris Island, SC, Commanding Officer 3rd Battallion 1966-68 Newport R.I., Staff at Naval War College, completed Masters Degree in International Relations. 1969- Regimental Commander in Vietnam 1970-72 Camp Lejeune, NC 1972 retired in Jacksonville, NC---Dad was active in the Chamber of Commerce, the Retired Officers Association and many other organizations. He was a Real Estate Broker, and contributed heavily to the Jacksonville communtity in time and money. My father was instrumental in raising funds for the Beiruit Memorial. He was dedicated to his wife, Frances, who lost a vigilant battle with cancer, and his children. Also, my Grandfather, Gen. Lewis B. Hershey, served as Director of Selective Service until February 16, 1970, for 33 years. That was the 59th Anniverary of his enlistment in the National Guard, and he received his 4th star before assuming his duties as Presidential Advisor on Manpower Mobilizat 04/19/2009 - Email received from Doug Bodkin While browsing the internet I came upon the memorial pages on Colonel Hershey. As a young Captain just returned from Vietnam, I had the honor of serving under him at Camp Lejeune in 1970-1 as the Commander of the Air and Naval Gunfire Platoon, H&HS Company, and for a time as acting XO of that Company. My memories of him are most fond, he being one of two commanding officers for whom I had the most respect in my 23 year military career. I would be most grateful if you would convey my belated condolences and heartfelt feelings to his family. Sincerely, Doug Bodkin, CPT USMC and UTARNG (Ret.). |
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