Beaufort’s Jim Rathbun, 75, was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps in 1969 after graduating from The Citadel. Earlier he had played football for Beaufort High School. After Basic training be became an Artillery Officer stationed on Okinawa. He next was an officer recruiter in Richmond, Va., covering the state.
He was then assigned to duty at Camp Lejeune that included deployments, followed by duty in Kaneohe, Hawaii, with deployments to Southeast Asia. He next taught at the Marine Corps University followed by duty at the Armed Forces Staff College.
As a senior officer, he served on the Joint Chiefs staff in the National Military Command Center in the Pentagon. He then returned to Lejeune as the Fire Support Coordinator for the 2nd Marine Division.
His final active duty assignment was at Quantico in charge of writing Ground Training Standards. He retired in 1991 as a Lieutenant Colonel with 23 years of service. He continued to work for 15 years as a civilian at the Marine Corps Headquarters where he was in charge of the Separation and Retirement Branch. Today he operates Brickyard Point Farms on Lady’s Island.
– Compiled by John Chubb, American Legion Post 9.
For nominations, contact jechubb1@gmail.com.
