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First Name: Charles

Last Name: Krulak

Birthplace: Quantico, VA, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Marines (present)



Middle Name: Chandler



Date of Birth: 04 March 1942



Rank: General

Years Served: 1963-1999
Charles Chandler Krulak

   
Graduate, U.S. Naval Academy, Class of 1964

Engagements:
•  Vietnam War (1960 - 1973)
•  Gulf War (1990 - 1991)

Biography:

Charles Chandler Krulak
General, U.S. Marine Corps

Charles Chandler Krulak was born on 4 March 1942 in Quantico, VA. He is the son of Lieutenant General Victor H. "Brute" Krulak, Sr., USMC, who served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.

After graduating from Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, NH, Krulak attended the U.S. Naval Academy, graduating in 1964 with a Bachelor's degree and a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Krulak also holds a master's degree in labor relations from George Washington University (1973). He is a graduate of the Amphibious Warfare School (1968); the Army Command and General Staff College (1976); and the National War College (1982).

Marine Corps Career

After his graduation from The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Krulak held a variety of command and staff positions. His command positions included: Commanding Officer of a platoon and two rifle companies during two tours of duty in Vietnam; Commanding Officer of Special Training Branch and Recruit Series at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, CA (1966-68); Commanding Officer of Counter-Guerilla Warfare School, Northern Training Area on Okinawa (1970), Company Officer at the U.S. Naval Academy (1970-73); Commanding Officer of the Marine Barracks at Naval Air Station North Island, CA (1973-76); and Commanding Officer, 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines (1983-85).

Krulak's staff assignments included: Operations Officer, 2nd Battalion 9th Marines (1977-78); Chief of the Combat Arms Monitor Section at Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, DC. (1978-79); Executive Assistant to the Director of Personnel Management, Headquarters Marine Corps (1979-81); Plans Office, Fleet Marine Forces Pacific, Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii (1982-83); Executive Officer, 3rd Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade; Assistant Chief of Staff, Maritime Pre-positioning Ships, 1st MEB; Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations, 1st MEB; and the Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence, Office of the Secretary of Defense.

He was assigned duty as the Deputy Director of the White House Military Office in September 1987. While serving in this capacity, he was selected for promotion to Brigadier General in November 1988. He was advanced to that grade on 5 June 1989 and assigned duties as the Commanding General, 10th MEB/Assistant Division Commander, 2nd Marine Division, FMF Atlantic, at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC on 10 July 1989. On 1 June 1990, he assumed duties as the Commanding General, 2nd Force Service Support Group Group/Commanding General, 6th MEB, FMF Atlantic and commanded the 2d FSSG during the Gulf War. He served in this capacity until 12 July 1991, and was assigned duty as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (Personnel Management/Personnel Procurement), Headquarters Marine Corps on 5 August 1991. He was advanced to Major General on 20 March 1992. Krulak was assigned as Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, on 24 August 1992, and was promoted to Lieutenant General on 1 September 1992. On 22 July 1994, he was assigned as Commander of Marine Forces Pacific/Commanding General, FMF Pacific and, in March 1995, he was nominated to serve as the Commandant of the Marine Corps. On 29 June he was promoted to General and assumed duties as the 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps on 30 June 1995.

He was relieved on 30 June 1999, by General James L. Jones and retired from the Marine Corps.

General Krulak attracted some attention during his tenure as Commandant by his custom of delivering Christmas cookies to each Marine duty post in the Washington area.

Medals and Awards

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Silver Star Medal
Bronze Star Medal w/ Valor Device & 2 Award Stars
Purple Heart with Gold Star
Meritorious Service Medal
Navy Commendation Medal
Combat Action Ribbon
Presidential Unit Citation w/ 1 Service Star
National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 Service Star
Vietnam Service Medal w/ 6 Service Star
Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 3 Service Star
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 2 Service Star
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Silver Star, & Bronze Star
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)

Badges

Presidential Service Badge
Office of the Secretary of Defense Identification Badge
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

In Retirement

General Krulak joined MBNA America in September 1999 as Chief Administrative Officer, responsible for personnel, benefits, compensation, education, and other administrative services. Krulak has served as the Senior Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MBNA Europe (2001-2005) and was based at the Chester campus in the UK. He was the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Administration Officer of MBNA Corporation (2004-2005). He retired from MBNA in 2005.

Following the takeover of English Football Club Aston Villa by MBNA Chairman Randy Lerner in August 2006; as of 19 September 2006, General Krulak joined the Board of Aston Villa as Non-Executive Director, where he quickly earned the approval of the fans by taking the time to post on various Aston Villa messageboards. Krulak is generally referred to as "The General" by fans on these boards.

Krulak also serves on the boards of ConocoPhillips, Freeport-McMoran (formerly known as Phelps Dodge Corporation) and Union Pacific Corporation.

General Charles C. Krulak was elected as the 13th President of Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama on 21 March 2011.

General Krulak famously referred to the Strategic Corporal and the Three Block War as two of the key lessons identified from the deployments in Somalia, Haiti and Bosnia. These concepts are still considered vital in understanding the increasing complexity of modern battlefields.

General Krulak explained some of his warfighting philosophy in an interview with Tom Clancy in Clancy's nonfiction book Marine. Clancy referred to General Krulak as "Warrior Prince of the Corps."

General Krulak also rewrote the Marine Corps' basic combat study text, MCDP-1: Warfighting, incorporating his theories on operations in the modern battlefield.

Personal

General Krulak is married to Zandi Meyers from Annapolis, MD. They have two sons, David and Todd.

He is the younger brother of Commander Victor H. Krulak, Jr., Navy Chaplain Corps and Colonel William Krulak, USMCR.



Honoree ID: 403   Created by: MHOH

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