George R . Christmas George Ronald Christmas ( born March 11 , 1940 ) is a retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general . Christmas was awarded the Navy Cross and Purple Heart for his valor in 1968 during the Vietnam War . He served on active duty in the Marine Corps for 34 years , retiring in 1996 . He is currently President and CEO of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation . Biography . Early years and education . General Christmas was born 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 . Marine Corps career . 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 " in Hue City on February 5 , 1968 , he was awarded the Navy Cross . 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 . He was 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 . 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 . , He retired in 1996 after 34 years of active duty service . Post - military career . Christmas serves as a director of Stone Energy Corporation in Louisiana . He also serves on the Board of Advisors of Recruit Military . He is currently the President ( since 1996 ) and CEO of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation . Military awards and decorations . Lt . Gen . Christmas ' s personal decorations and medals include : Navy Cross citation . Citation : The Navy Cross is awarded to Captain George R . Christmas , United States Marine Corps , for extraordinary heroism while serving as the Commanding Officer of Company H , Second Battalion , Fifth Marines , First Marine Division in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam . On the afternoon of 5 February 1968 during Operation Hue City , Company H was attacking a complex of buildings known to be an enemy strong point consisting of mutually supporting bunker s , fighting holes , and trench lines . During the ensuing fire fight , two platoons seized the corner building of a city block , but intense hostile small - arms , automatic weapon s , and B - 40 rocket fire temporarily halted the advance . Realizing the seriousness of the situation and the urgent need to sustain the momentum of the attack , Captain Christmas , undaunted by the heavy volume of enemy fire , completely disregarded his own safety as he moved across thirty - five meters of open area to join the lead element and assess the situation . Returning across the fire - swept area , he rejoined the remaining platoon , issued an attack order , and then ran seventy meters across open terrain , ignoring automatic weapons fire , and satchel charges striking around him to reach a tank he had requested . Braving enemy fire and two B - 40 rockets that hit the tank , he fearlessly stood atop the vehicle to direct accurate fire against the hostile positions until the intensity of enemy fire diminished . Immediately realizing the tactical advantage , he jumped from the tank , and directed his company in an aggressive assault on the hostile positions , personally leading his men in room - to - room fighting until the building complex was secured . In a large measure due to his bold initiative and courageous actions , he provided the impetus which inspired his men to aggressive action and enabled them to successfully accomplish the mission . By his dynamic leadership , unfaltering determination and selfless devotion to duty in the face of extreme personal danger , Captain Christmas upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service .