Veterans of Foreign Wars
VFW Post 1093
Ipswich, MA
Leadership Profiles
Commander Bill Duke
I joined the Marine Corps Reserve in my home town of Rockford, Illinois in March of 1954. The reserve unit had just returned from Korea a few months earlier and had been part of the 1st Marine Division trapped at the Chosen Reservoir. The following year I went on active duty as a regular and immediately sent to Boot Camp at San Diego, California. After Boot Camp I spent the early 1950's with the 1st Division at Camp Pendleton, California, 3rd Division at Camp Fuji, Japan and Camp Hanson Okinawa. From December 1957 thru April 1959 I was assigned to the Military Police Unit at Camp Lejeune North Carolina and then did a short assignment with the Inspector-Instructor staff for the Marine Reserve unit in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Inspector-Instructor tour was cut short in that the Marine Corps saw fit to send me to the National Security Agency (NSA) at Fort Meade Maryland and I was there until December 1962. While with the National Security Agency, I was selected for Warrant Officer and then sent to Warrant Officer School at Quantico, Virginia, then on to advanced Logistics Officer School. For the period of 1964-1965 I was assigned to the 2nd Medical Battalion and also the 10th Marines (a artillery Battalion) for duty. From February 1966 thru April 1967 I did a tour of duty with the 3rd Marine Division at DaNang, 1st Marine Division at ChuLai and the FLSG-B unit at ChuLai, Vietnam. Upon return from Vietnam I was assigned to the Marine Barracks, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for the period of May 1967 thru May 1970. For the period of June 1970 thru 30 June 1976 I served with the 4th Marine Corps Recruiting District and Causality Assistance Headquarters at Philadelphia, Camp Garcia, Vieques, PR. and Headquarters, Marine Corps Field Supply and Maintenance Analysis Office located at Camp Lejeune. I retired on July 1, 1976 after approximately 22 years service to my Corps and Country.
Enlisted and Officer ranks that I achieved include: PFC, Corporal E-3 (2 stripes), Buck Sergeant E-4 (3 striper), Staff Sergeant E-5 (3 stripes and rocker) which then reverted to Sergeant E-5 (3 stripes and crossed rifles) After my selection to Warrant Officer I advanced to CWO-2, CWO-3, 2nd Lt, 1st Lt., Captain and Major. My Enlisted, Warrant and Major ranks were all permanent. The 2nd Lt. thru Captain ranks were temporary in order to fill out the officer ranks due to officer shortages during the Vietnam war.
I joined the Marine Corps Reserve in my home town of Rockford, Illinois in March of 1954. The reserve unit had just returned from Korea a few months earlier and had been part of the 1st Marine Division trapped at the Chosen Reservoir. The following year I went on active duty as a regular and immediately sent to Boot Camp at San Diego, California. After Boot Camp I spent the early 1950's with the 1st Division at Camp Pendleton, California, 3rd Division at Camp Fuji, Japan and Camp Hanson Okinawa. From December 1957 thru April 1959 I was assigned to the Military Police Unit at Camp Lejeune North Carolina and then did a short assignment with the Inspector-Instructor staff for the Marine Reserve unit in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Inspector-Instructor tour was cut short in that the Marine Corps saw fit to send me to the National Security Agency (NSA) at Fort Meade Maryland and I was there until December 1962. While with the National Security Agency, I was selected for Warrant Officer and then sent to Warrant Officer School at Quantico, Virginia, then on to advanced Logistics Officer School. For the period of 1964-1965 I was assigned to the 2nd Medical Battalion and also the 10th Marines (a artillery Battalion) for duty. From February 1966 thru April 1967 I did a tour of duty with the 3rd Marine Division at DaNang, 1st Marine Division at ChuLai and the FLSG-B unit at ChuLai, Vietnam. Upon return from Vietnam I was assigned to the Marine Barracks, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for the period of May 1967 thru May 1970. For the period of June 1970 thru 30 June 1976 I served with the 4th Marine Corps Recruiting District and Causality Assistance Headquarters at Philadelphia, Camp Garcia, Vieques, PR. and Headquarters, Marine Corps Field Supply and Maintenance Analysis Office located at Camp Lejeune. I retired on July 1, 1976 after approximately 22 years service to my Corps and Country.
Enlisted and Officer ranks that I achieved include: PFC, Corporal E-3 (2 stripes), Buck Sergeant E-4 (3 striper), Staff Sergeant E-5 (3 stripes and rocker) which then reverted to Sergeant E-5 (3 stripes and crossed rifles) After my selection to Warrant Officer I advanced to CWO-2, CWO-3, 2nd Lt, 1st Lt., Captain and Major. My Enlisted, Warrant and Major ranks were all permanent. The 2nd Lt. thru Captain ranks were temporary in order to fill out the officer ranks due to officer shortages during the Vietnam war.
