Doug was not a formal member of the Association but few devoted more time and effort to our reunions.
Douglas C. Hilton of Kingsport, Tennessee died on Saturday, October 7, 2023 after months of pain.
Per his wishes he will be cremated and there will not be a formal funeral.

He would like for his family and friends to remember him as he was before he became ill. And he was always so proud to be a U.S. Marine.
Carter-Trent Funeral Home of Kingsport is serving the Hilton family.

Msgt. Charles W. Harnest, 4 March 1945 - 2 August 2023
Chuck was an adoring husband, father, grandfather, brother, and mentor. He was also a proud veteran of the US Marine Corps. On August 2nd, he passed away surrounded by family. He was preceded in death by his amazing wife Gayle and his brother George.

He is survived by his daughter Katherine, his daughter Jennifer, his son-in-law Robert, his granddaughters Lillian and Amelia, and his siblings Peggy, David & Angela.

Chuck will be put to rest with full military honors at Quantico National Cemetery in Virginia on Tuesday 10/10/2023 at 2pm; before the service there will be a memorial gathering at the National Museum of the Marine Corps from 11:30 - 1:30 in the Medal of Honor 2nd Deck Lobby. with the rank of first sergeant and moved to Central Florida to be near his widowed mother.

Russell W Kauffman, retired Marine who became known for his volunteer work with civic organizations and who achieved local fame as Santa Claus in the Orlando area, passed away on July 17 at the age of 88.
A Pennsylvania native, Russ was born August 6, 1934 to Robert and Pauline (Johnson) Kauffman in a small rural community near Allentown. He began his education in a one-room school house, and attended public schools until early 1952, when, in his junior year of high school, he enlisted in the Marines.
Russ would spend the next 22 years in the Marines, serving two tours in Vietnam and Med cruises aboard the aircraft carriers Intrepid and Valley Forge. But the highlight of his career was the 2-1/2 years he spent as a drill instructor at Parris Island during the height of the Vietnam era.
Other postings included Quantico, Camp Lejeune, Camp Pendleton, I & I duty at Gulfport, Mississippi, and sergeant major of the Marine Air Reserve Training Detachment at NAS Lakehurst, NJ. He retired at Camp Pendleton in 1974 with the rank of first sergeant and moved to Central Florida to be near his widowed mother.
Never one to sit still, Russ took a job with Martin Marietta and took an active role in organizations such as the American Legion and the USMC East Coast Drill Instructors Association. He was Past Commandant of the Marine Corps League in Central Florida, and was awarded the Quilt of Valor for his work and dedication.
After retiring from Martin Marietta, he took on the role of Santa Claus at Orlando's Fashion Square Mall and later at Walt Disney World. He was also featured as Santa in Universal Orlando's ad campaigns, and appeared in commercials and billboards throughout the Eastern United States.
He loved bringing the joy and happiness of Christmas to children, but due to health issues he had to retire in 2010.
Russ was active until his final day - distributing refreshments at church, keeping in touch with his Marine buddies, and playing his favorite role as patriarch of a growing family. He spoke often of his beloved wife, Jo Ann, who preceded him in death three years earlier, and he joins her now, along with his parents and his sister, Betty Bortz.
He leaves behind three children: Larry, of Orlando; Michael (Mary) of Owings, Maryland; and Kathy Hiracheta of Kissimmee. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Simon (Lisa) Hiracheta, Shannon (Aric) Johnson; Kyle, Robert, Emily, and Brian Kauffman; six great- grandchildren: Halle Galvez, Mason and Leila Johnson; Andrew, Audrey, and Hayden Hiracheta; and one great-great-grandchild, Elijah Galvez.

Robert J. Roller (Butch) was born on February 1, 1952 in Davenport, Iowa and was adopted to work on a farm.

Butch was a hard worker all through his life and very athletic. He joined the Marine Corps in 1971 right out of high school. While in the Marine Corps, he earned a bachelor’s degree at Embry-Riddle in Aerospace and Aeronautics. He excelled to the rank of Captain O3 and was in charge of the maintenance crew for F4 and F18 fighter aircraft.

After 22 years of serving his country he retired and worked for several companies throughout his career. Butch was the VP of the Western Region at Siemens, President of MCS Fire & Security, GM of G4S and CEO of WPCS International.

If there was one phrase to describe Butch it was “go big or go home.”

Butch was a staunch conservative, strong with his convictions and loved Rush Limbaugh. Rush used to say he was talent on loan from God. It could be said Butch was leadership on loan from God.

Butch had this gift. The only way to can explain it was he made it so “you didn’t want to disappoint him.” Butch had this ability to get people to do things beyond in some cases their own capability. He made you want to work harder, he made you want to succeed, he wanted everybody to be their best ever!

One of Butch’s favorite sayings was “there’s a reason and then there’s the real reason”

On the weekend if he wasn’t working, you would find Butch enjoying college football. He loved having a good cigar and bottle of Silver Oak or Caymus after a good meal at one of his favorite restaurants. He was a regular at the Montage in Laguna Beach and J-Prime in San Antonio.

Butch was the kind of person that you only meet once in a lifetime and we miss him.

The memory and spirit of Butch lives on in each of us. We enjoyed having him in our lives for a part of the 69 that he was on this earth. Now he belongs to the ages.

Butch was survived by all that knew him.

Graveside services will be held on Thursday, April 8th at 10:45 A.M. at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery with military honors.

Retired MSgt. (USMC) John W. "Jack" Starr Jr., 81. Jack was born on December 14, 1941. From the age of 17 years + 1 day Jack lead an extraordinary life. He dropped out of high school and then joined his beloved Marine Corps. During his 20 year career with the Marine Corps, among his many tours of duty MSgt Starr served as an Embassy Guard in Afghanistan and Morocco, fought in the Viet Nam war, served as a Drill Instructor for 3 years, receiving a meritorious promotion during this tour. Many tours of duty overseas, the honor of representing MCRD San Diego at a World Wide SNCO symposium, Jack finally retired after his last tour of duty training Marine reservists aboard Treasure Island, SF.

Jack then went on to complete his college studies receiving his MBA at Golden Gate University. He worked another 20 years in Corporate America. After his second retirement he and his wife Brenda traveled throughout the US and the world continuing to enjoy their lives together. They had met in Morocco and married in Gibraltar after a whirlwind romance of 6 weeks, beginning a glorious life together for the next 56 years.

One of Jacks proudest moments was the birth of his son Marcus one beautiful Christmas Day! His love of his son was unconditional, and their bond great. He succumbed to a culmination of cancers due to his exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Viet Nam. When Jack closed his eyes for the last time on December 22, 2022 he was being held close and told how much he was loved by his most favorite and loved people, Brenda, Marcus and Rebekah. To say Jack is missed is an understatement. A proud Marine, the best husband and Dad, father in law, son in law, brother in law, uncle, great uncle and good good friend to all who had the pleasure of knowing him {he had a wicked sense of humor} all that can now be said is "we love you dearly", and "at ease Marine. Semper Fi. My heart will always look for you my love, remember "slow and easy".

Published by East Bay Times from Jan. 20 to Jan. 22, 2023.