Marine Corps Base Quantico -- On Friday, in a combined ceremony, Marine Corps University dedicated its newest building to Sen. John Warner, unveiled a portrait of Brig. Gen. Edwin Simmons and held a convocation for the new MCU students. Warner was the guest of honor for the ceremony, which was also attended by Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford; Gen. Al Gray, the 29th commandant; Gen. James L. Jones, the 32nd commandant; and Gen. James Amos, the 35th commandant.
Once completed, Warner Hall will provide a home for Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and the School of Advanced Warfighting, and the Brigadier General Edwin H. Simmons Marine Corps History Center.
Brig. Gen. Helen Pratt, the president of MCU, gave the opening remarks and convocation address, stating that in the 2015 National Military Strategy, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey, highlighted a need for innovative leaders to serve our country. Addressing the students, Pratt said, “I challenge all of you to take on that role.”
Following Pratt, Brig. Gen. Simmons’ son, spoke on behalf of his father, who passed away in 2007. Simmons explained his father joined the Marine Corps in 1942 and that during 36 years of active service his father “had command or acting command in combat of every echelon from platoon through division” serving in World War II, China, Korea, the Dominican Republic and Vietnam. Simmons led his engineer platoon across the beach at Guam and took an assault wave over the seawall at Inchon. In Vietnam, he would lead the 9th Marine Regiment, the Third Marine Amphibious Brigade, and the 1st Marine Division.
Brig. Gen. Simmons “judged a man by his character not the color of his skin,” said his son. In 1965, as commander of the 9th Marines in Vietnam, Simmons made history by giving command of a Marine rifle company to a black officer. He also made a Chamorro officer from Guam, Ben Blaz, his regimental operations officer.
Among his many accomplishments over his 53 years of service to the Marine Corps in uniform and as a civilian, Simmons served as the founding director of the Marine Corps History and Museums Division. Clarke said his father “authored some 300 published articles, numerous speeches, the best-selling novel ‘Dog Company Six,’ and several books on Marine Corps history, including his masterwork, ‘Through the Wheat: The U.S. Marines in World War I.’”
Following the unveiling, Dunford introduced Warner, saying he “lived life in the spirit of the citizen soldier.” Dunford described how Warner, following the 1983 Beirut bombing, lobbied for Congress to authorize the awarding of the Purple Heart to service members killed or wounded in terrorist attacks. According to Dunford, Warner also pushed for higher pay and benefits and better healthcare for veterans in the 2004 Defense Authorization Bill and “provided support for the 2008 GI Bill update.”
Warner, a former Republican U.S. senator from Virginia, was recognized for his long history of public service: he enlisted in the Navy and served in World War II, later joining the Marine Corps as an officer and serving in Korea. He earned degrees in engineering and law, served as Secretary of the Navy from 1972 to 1974 and then as a U.S. senator for five terms.
Warner then praised the officers with whom he had served and those he had worked with as a senator. He said he felt “a profound obligation and profound gratitude and humility” for the opportunity to serve with the four commandants in attendance.
Addressing Pratt as “madam president,” Warner stated, “Women are a vital and integral part of the Marine Corps.” He recounted how during his term as Secretary of the Navy, President Nixon had told him to work on integrating women into the military service academies, and he made it happen.
Warner shared the story of taking the train to Great Lakes, Illinois, for Navy recruit training when he was just 17. He recalled an instructor asking about which recruits had trouble reading and writing, and said he was shocked when so many raised their hands. He said he helped them out and then “dedicated his life to helping people get an education.”
He used the GI Bill to get his engineering and law degrees and “wanted to ensure future service members had it too” and that if they didn’t want to use the bill themselves, they could pass it on to their families.
Warner also praised Simmons’ work, saying, “He recorded history for our country and the world,” and he was honored to be sharing the building with him. Warner and Simmons were friends, colleagues and fellow Marines for forty years.
In his final words of the ceremony, to the roomful of service members, Warner referred to a speech he gave in France 42 years ago as Secretary of the Navy and said, “I pass the torch of courage of Belleau Wood to you.”
Reflecting on his legacy after the ceremony, Warner was humble, saying, “This is a great country, and I’ve been privileged to serve over many years. What I learned in the United States Marine Corps formed a foundation for me. I hope we can inspire young men and women who come through here.”
According to Ronald Reese, MCU Facilities and Logistics director, “The dedication ceremony was held Aug. 7 to coincide with the convocation of the new 2015-2016 academic year, though the building is not complete.” Reese continued, “Our plan is to occupy the building when all the conditions for it being ready have been met.” The building is expected to be fully open and operational later this year.
— Writer: ebaker@quanticosentryonline.com