George R. Christmas

George Ronald Christmas was born on March 11, 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1962. He earned a Master of Science degree from Shippensburg University in 1982.[4]

Christmas was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1962 through the NROTC program. After completion of The Basic School at MCB Quantico in Virginia, he was assigned as a platoon leader in Company L, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He later served as the Battalion Personnel Officer. While at Camp Lejeune, he was promoted to first lieutenant in December 1963. He augmented into the regular Marine Corps in 1965.

In May 1965, he was assigned to the Marine Barracks, 8th & I in Washington, D.C., where he served as the Executive Officer, and upon promotion to captain in June 1966, as Commanding Officer, Headquarters and Service Company.

He transferred to South Vietnam in July 1967, where he served successively as Commanding Officer, Service Company, Headquarters Battalion, and Commanding Officer, Company H, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, FMF. During the Battle for Hue City in 1968, Christmas was seriously wounded and evacuated to the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. For his actions of "extraordinary heroism"[5] in Hue City on February 5, 1968, he was awarded the Navy Cross.[6]

After recovering from his wounds, in October 1968, he was assigned to the staff of The Basic School in Quantico, Virginia; he subsequently attended the Amphibious Warfare School, graduating with distinction. Following graduation in July 1969, he was assigned as an instructor at the U.S. Army's John F. Kennedy Institute for Military Assistance, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

In July 1971, Christmas was transferred to Washington, D.C. to serve at Headquarters Marine Corps as the Special Assistant and Aide to the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. He remained in this post until April 1973. He was promoted to major in February 1972.

He returned to The Basic School where he served successively as the Company Tactics Chief; Commanding Officer, Student Company A; and the Tactics Group Chief. From The Basic School, he transferred to the Marine Corps Command and Staff College as a student.

Christmas returned overseas in July 1975, for duty as the Operations Officer and, later, Executive Officer, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, FMF, on Okinawa, Japan. He transferred back to the United States in August 1976 and was assigned as the Commanding Officer, Marine Barracks, Annapolis, Maryland. While there, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in September 1978.

From August 1979 until May 1981, he was assigned as the Commanding Officer, First Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island in South Carolina.

Christmas was then selected to attend the Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania and participated in the Cooperative Degree Program at Shippensburg University, leading to his master's degree in Public Administration.

In July 1982, Christmas served for a year as a Naval Operations Officer, J3 Directorate, USCINCPAC, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii, and upon selection to colonel assumed duties as Chief of Protocol, USCINCPAC. In September 1984, he was reassigned as Commanding Officer, 3rd Marine Regiment (Reinforced), 1st Marine Amphibious Brigade.

Col. George W. Christmas, commanding officer of 3rd Marines

In July 1986, Christmas was assigned duty as Director, Amphibious Warfare School. He was advanced to brigadier general on May 13, 1988, and assigned duty as the Assistant Division Commander, 3rd Marine Division, FMF/Commanding General, 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Okinawa, Japan in June 1988. He assumed command of the 3rd Force Service Support Group on August 18, 1989. On May 18, 1990, he again took command of the 9th MEB in addition to his duties as Commanding General, 3rd FSSG.

Christmas was advanced to major general on June 27, 1991. Christmas was assigned duty as the Director for Operations (J3), U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii on July 26, 1991. He was advanced to lieutenant general on July 8, 1993, and assumed duty as Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, California; serving in this capacity until July 1994.

On July 15, 1994, he assumed his final active duty Marine Corps post as Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs.,[2][7] He retired in 1996 after 34 years of active duty service.[2]

Christmas serves as a director of Stone Energy Corporation in Louisiana.[8] He also serves on the Board of Advisors of Recruit Military.[9][2]

He served as the President and CEO of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation (1996-2011).[10] During his tenure, he led the multimillion-dollar fundraising effort for building the National Museum of the Marine Corps.[3]

Lt. Gen. Christmas's personal decorations and medals include:

	Navy Cross	Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal	Defense Superior Service Medal	Purple Heart	Meritorious Service Medal w/ 3 award stars
Joint Service Achievement Medal	Combat Action Ribbon w/ 1 award star	Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 1 service star	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star	Vietnam Service Medal w/ 2 service stars	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon	Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon
Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ palm	Vietnam Gallantry Cross unit citation	Vietnam Civil Actions unit citation	Vietnam Campaign Medal

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps.

• "Interview — Lt. Gen. Ron Christmas". Vietnam Magazine. HistoryNet.com. October 11, 2011. Retrieved 2018-03-04.

• Christmas, LtGen George R. (25 February 2005). "Interview with LTGEN George R. Christmas, USMC (Ret.), commanding officer of Hotel Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines" (txt) (Interview). Interviewed by Jan K. Herman. Retrieved 2018-03-04.