Douglas A. Wagner

Biography of Douglas Wagner:

Born 1931, Oplin, Texas on a cotton farm. 
-    1948, Joined the Marine Corps Reserve Infantry Battalion at the University of Houston Attended Platoon Leaders Class at Quantico, VA where he earned the nickname Tex. 
Met his wife, Therese Marie Couture, while in Quantico and knew that was the woman he wanted to marry.
-    1953 Doug was assigned to Camp Pendleton, 3rd Marine Division and was sent to Okinawa for training for a year. 
-    1954 as a 2nd Lieutenant with 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, he was the XO, second in command of Charlie Company and ran a platoon size recon unit which was inserted into South Korea on Hill El Paso along the Imjin River. 
-    1954 Doug received orders for MCRD as the Company Commander, 2nd Battalion, Charlie Company. Transferred to another Battalion to fill a Major’s billet. 
-    At MCRD he built the very first General’s Retraining Unit to save recruits that had special training needs. It was a success and turned into a whole Unit of retraining within the Corps. 
-    1957 he headed to Supply School at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for six months, then was assigned to Camp Pendleton as a Supply Officer for the 1st Infantry Division. The Colonel assigned Doug Command of the 2nd Light Support Company where he supported the 5th Marines with approximately 5,000 guys that he was responsible for the “care and feeding”.
-    He then reported as a Captain to the 5th Marines with Bravo Company as a Company Commander on Camp Pendleton. As the Company Commander In 1959, he completed a 13-month tour as an infantry unit in Okinawa. He had a famous saying of “Git ‘Er Done” and then move on. 
-    5th Marines came back to Camp Pendleton. Had orders to go on Recruiting for 3 years in San Antonio, TX. where he was promoted to Major and recruited officers at colleges across the state.
-    In 1963, he went to Jr. School at Quantico for one year then was transferred to Sr. School at Quantico as an Asst. to the Col and LtCol in 1964-65. 
-    From 1967-1968 Doug was the Battalion XO with 1st Battalion 7th Marines with about 1,000 men. Headquartered at Hill 10 and Hill 55. In country for 13 months in places such as Operation Pecos, Phu Bai, Danang, and Marble Mountain. He was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor and was promoted to Lt. Col while in Vietnam.
-    In 1968 he headed to Headquarters Marine Corps for 3 years in G3 Operations as a Plans Officer. 
-    After 3 years at Headquarters Marine Corps he was heading to MCRD San Diego in 1971 for his last duty assignment as 3rd Battalion Commander. 
-    Retired in May, 1973 as a LtCol with 24 years. Best day in the Marine Corps “when I met my wife”. I knew right then what I wanted.