Port Royal’s Jack Baggette enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves in 1958 in Starksville, Miss. After Boot camp at Fort Jackson, he transitioned to the PLC program with the United States Marines at Quantico. Commissioned in 1961, he headed to Okinawa with a ground recon unit. His follow-on tours included two more tours in Okinawa, two tours at Parris Island, a tour in Vietnam as an Infantry company commander during the 1967-68 Tet Offensive (Bronze Star w/ Combat V), three years in Chile as the Marine Advisor, advanced schooling at the Naval War College, Naval Postgraduate School and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He also had two assignments at Headquarters Marine Corps. He retired as a Colonel in 1992 after 31 years of service. He and his wife, Sandra, moved 20 times while on active duty.
– Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 9. For nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
