OUR HONORARY MEMBERS

  OUR HONORARY MEMBERS  

John was raised in Lonsdale, Rhode Island. At eighteen years old, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and completed Recruit Training at Parris Island, S.C. in 1961.

After Advanced Infantry Training, Private First Class Konicki was assigned to Hotel Company, 2/6, Weapons Platoon as a Machine Gunner. During his tour with 2/6, Corporal Konicki’s Company participated in the Cuban Missile Blockade.

After two and one-half years with the infantry, Sergeant Konicki was ordered to Brunswick, Maine, Naval Air Station, Marine Barracks. After a successful tour at the Marine Barracks, he was ordered to Explosive Ordnance Disposal School, Indian Head, Maryland in 1966 as a student. Following training, Sergeant Konicki was assigned to Okinawa, Japan as an Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Technician.

While serving in Okinawa, he made numerous trips to Vietnam to assist EOD Techs in Ammunition Dump cleanups in Da Nang and Don Ha, as well as other Marine Units throughout Vietnam.

After his assignment in Okinawa, he was ordered to Camp Pendleton, California. After six months, he was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 24 in Kaneohe Bay, HI.

At the conclusion of his tour in Hawaii, Staff Sergeant Konicki was ordered to the Force Logistics Command (FLC), Vietnam; spending 13 months as an EOD Tech supporting Infantry Units throughout Vietnam.

Upon his return to Camp Pendleton, Gunnery Sergeant Konicki was assigned to EOD School as an Instructor in Ground Ordnance and IEDs.

GySgt Konicki applied for the Warrant Officer Program, and was subsequently selected for promotion to Warrant Officer in 1975. Warrant Officer Konicki was ordered to Quantico, Virginia to complete Officers Candidate School (OCS). Upon completion of training, Warrant Officer Konicki was re-assigned to Camp Pendleton, California.

After a two and one-half year assignment at Camp Pendleton, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Konicki was ordered to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Security, Training Center as an EOD Officer. CWO-2 Konicki trained Basic Agents, Foreign Service Officers, and Marine Security Guards in Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs); also assigned as an Instructor at the Training Center Firearms Range.

On January 2, 1982, Captain (LDO) Konicki retired from the United States Marine Corps after 21 years of Honorable Service.

In March of 1982, Mr. Konicki was assigned as Department of State Instructor at Marine Security Guard School in Quantico, Virginia where he would subsequently be responsible for training over 15,000 Marine Security Guard School Students, before his retirement in May of 2006.

 

  AWARDS   

Mr. Konicki’s Military Awards include the Combat Action Ribbon, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal w/ 3 bronze stars (4th Award), Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/ 3 bronze stars, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ palm, Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation Emblem with Palm and Frame (in the color of the Civil Actions Medal, First Class), Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Emblem with Palm and Frame (in the colors of the Gallantry Cross with Palm and Frame), Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ “1960” clasp, Explosive Ordinance Disposal Master Badge, Rifle Expert Badge, Pistol Expert Badge and numerous Letters of Appreciation.

His Department of State Awards include the Secretary Of State Career Achievement Award (1978 – 2006), The Franklin Award, The Superior Honor Award, The Meritotrius Honor Award and Certificate of Appreciation for his service from 1982-2006.

Wesley Lee Fox (September 30, 1931 – November 24, 2017) was a United States Marine Corps colonel with 43 years of service. Fox received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Vietnam War, and is considered to be one of the Marine Corps’ legendary heroes. After retiring from the Marines Corps, he wrote a book about his career — Marine Rifleman: Forty-Three Years in the Corps; and, he served for 8 years as Deputy Commandant for the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets.

Fox retired from the Marine Corps as a colonel in September 1993 at the mandatory age of 62. He continued to wear the uniform for eight more years as a deputy commandant of cadets for the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. During and following his time as a deputy commandant, Fox was a regular guest speaker at Virginia Tech, sharing his experiences with America’s next generation of military officers, business executives, and civic leaders.

Fox wrote a book about his experiences in the military, Marine Rifleman: Forty-Three Years in the Corps (2002)(ISBN 1-57488-425-5), and was featured on the 2003 PBS program American Valor. He wrote a second book Six Essential Elements of Leadership: Marine Corps Wisdom from a Medal of Honor Recipient (2011)(ISBN 1-61251-024-8), which is required reading for first-year cadets at Virginia Tech.

Fox resided in Blacksburg, Virginia, with his wife, Dotti (formerly Dotti Lu Bossinger). They have three daughters. He died in Blacksburg on the evening of November 24, 2017, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

 

MEDAL OF HONOR CITATION

The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR to

CAPTAIN WESLEY L. FOX
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as commanding officer of Company A, in action against the enemy in the northern A Shau Valley. Capt. (then 1st Lt.) Fox’s company came under intense fire from a large well concealed enemy force. Capt. Fox maneuvered to a position from which he could assess the situation and confer with his platoon leaders. As they departed to execute the plan he had devised, the enemy attacked and Capt. Fox was wounded along with all of the other members of the command group, except the executive officer. Capt. Fox continued to direct the activity of his company. Advancing through heavy enemy fire, he personally neutralized 1 enemy position and calmly ordered an assault against the hostile emplacements. He then moved through the hazardous area coordinating aircraft support with the activities of his men. When his executive officer was mortally wounded, Capt. Fox reorganized the company and directed the fire of his men as they hurled grenades against the enemy and drove the hostile forces into retreat. Wounded again in the final assault, Capt. Fox refused medical attention, established a defensive posture, and supervised the preparation of casualties for medical evacuation. His indomitable courage, inspiring initiative, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger inspired his Marines to such aggressive action that they overcame all enemy resistance and destroyed a large bunker complex. Capt. Fox’s heroic actions reflect great credit upon himself and the Marine Corps, and uphold the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

RICHARD M. NIXON
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

 

Chuck is the creator of “SemperToons“. He penned the beautiful “MSG School” print featuring Marshall Hall, the former MSG Schoolhouse and Battalion [ Group ] Headquarters ON HIS OWN INITIATIVE which we sell in our store, and has made several other SemperToons featuring Marine Security Guards. He takes the time to PERSONALIZE each print for our Membership. He is currently working on a print featuring the new schoolhouse and HQ located at 27275 Browning Road, Quantico, VA 22134. Chuck is a HUGE supporter of the MSG Duty Program and often offers his personal time for photo shoots at the schoolhouse.

“SemperToons have always proven to be an invaluable asset to ensure the proud legacy of our Marine Corps. SemperToons are not merely cartoons, but a living attestation of our Marine Corps; from the changes and accomplishments of our Marine Corps as an Organization, all the way down to the individual Marine. SemperToons have, in a way, immortalized our Marine Corps. It is often said that ‘America needs the Marines Corps to fight and win wars’, and Director Carleo submits that the Marine Corps most certainly needs SemperToons.”

Corporal MARSHALL was the first Marine Security Guard killed in the defense of an American Embassy. He was 21 years old. The Marine Security Guard School building (Marshall Hall) at MCB Quantico was named in his honor.

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Sergeant TURBERVILLE was killed and other Marine Security Guards were wounded during a terrorist attack on the U.S. Embassy softball game in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

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Lance Corporal JUDGE and Corporal McMahon, Marines from the Marine Security Detachment in Saigon, were killed during an artillery attack while providing security for the Defense Attaché Office, at Tan Son Nhut Airport, Saigon. They were the last two Americans killed in Vietnam.

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Corporal MCMAHON and Lance Corporal Judge, Marines from the Marine Security Detachment in Saigon, were killed during an artillery attack while providing security for the Defense Attaché Office, at Tan Son Nhut Airport, Saigon. They were the last two Americans killed in Vietnam.

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Sergeant ROMERO died while fighting a fire at his post at the U.S. Mission to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris.

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Corporal CROWLEY was killed by sniper fire during a mob attack on the American Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan.

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Corporal MCMAUGH was manning Post 1 when the embassy was attacked on April 18, 1983. He lost his life along with 16 other Americans and dozens of Lebanese citizens when terrorists slammed a van with 2,000 pounds of explosives into the embassy.

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Staff Sergeant DICKSON, Staff Sergeant Handwork, Sergeant Kwiatkowski and Sergeant Weber were off-duty Marines assigned to the Marine Security Guard Detachment in San Salvador. They were killed by terrorists armed with automatic weapons at a cafe in the Zona Rosa District of San Salvador.

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Staff Sergeant HANDWORK, Staff Sergeant Dickson, Sergeant Kwiatkowski and Sergeant Weber were off-duty Marines assigned to the Marine Security Guard Detachment in San Salvador. They were killed by terrorists armed with automatic weapons at a cafe in the Zona Rosa District of San Salvador.

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Sergeant KWIATKOWSKI, Staff Sergeant Handwork, Staff Sergeant Dickson, and  Sergeant Weber were off-duty Marines assigned to the Marine Security Guard Detachment in San Salvador. They were killed by terrorists armed with automatic weapons at a cafe in the Zona Rosa District of San Salvador.

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Sergeant WEBER, Staff Sergeant Handwork, Staff Sergeant Dickson, and Sergeant Kwiatkowski were off-duty Marines assigned to the Marine Security Guard Detachment in San Salvador. They were killed by terrorists armed with automatic weapons at a cafe in the Zona Rosa District of San Salvador.

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Sergeant ALIGANGA was killed in the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Nairobi, Kenya. He was the only U.S. Marine killed in the bombings. Aliganga was working at the American embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. On August 7, 1998, at the age of 21, Aliganga was killed by a car-bomb explosion, along with eleven fellow Americans, in the suicide bomb attack. This was part of a simultaneous suicide bomb attack in which car bombs were exploded at U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, killing 257 people and wounding over 4,000. The attack was later determined to be conducted by the al-Qaeda network and Osama bin Laden.

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