[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 68 (Friday, May 26, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E978-E979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING 30 YEARS OF SERVICE BY COLONEL JOHN C. COLEMAN, USMC

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DARRELL E. ISSA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 25, 2006

  Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the 30 years of dedicated 
service of Col John C. Coleman, USMC.
  Col John C. Coleman assumed duties as Commanding Officer, Marine 
Corps Base, Camp Pendleton on 21 October 2005.
  Colonel Coleman was born 11 February 1954 and is a native of Warner 
Robins, Georgia. He was commissioned through the PLC Program following 
graduation from the Virginia Military Institute in May of 1976. Since 
commissioning, he has completed seven tours of duty in the Corps' 
operating forces, two in the supporting establishment, and two with the 
joint community.
  As a Company Grade Officer, Colonel Coleman served tours of duty with 
2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines, and with 3rd 
Battalion, 25th Marines. Assignments during these tours included Rifle 
Platoon Commander, 81mm Mortar Platoon Commander, Company Executive 
Officer, Assistant Battalion Operations Officer, H&S Company Commander, 
Rifle Company Commander, Weapons Company Commander, and Rifle Company 
Inspector/Instructor. In addition to these assignments, he served in 
the supporting establishment as the Training Support Officer, Officer 
Candidate School, and as a Company Grade Monitor, Headquarters Marine 
Corps.
  As a Field Grade Officer, Colonel Coleman served tours of duty with 
1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 2nd and 6th 
Marine Regimental Headquarters, 1st and 2nd Marine Division 
Headquarters, and I Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters. 
Assignments during these tours included Battalion Operations Officer, 
Battalion Executive

[[Page E979]]

Officer, Regimental Operations Officer, Assistant Division Personnel 
Officer, Battalion Commander, MEF (Fwd) Operations Officer, Division 
Operations Officer, and Regimental Commander. In addition to these 
assignments, he completed two joint tours. The first of these was with 
U.S. Central Command serving in the J-3, Command Control, and then 
Joint Exercise Division. Later he served with the Joint Staff, 
Washington, D.C., in the Office of the Vice Chairman.
  On 23 August 2002, Colonel Coleman assumed the duty as Chief of 
Staff, I Marine Expeditionary Force. He initially deployed to Kuwait 
and Iraq with Headquarters, I MEF in conjunction with Operation Iraqi 
Freedom from November 2002 to October 2003. He returned to Iraq with I 
MEF in March 2004 serving there until the MEF redeployed to the U.S. in 
March 2005.
  Colonel Coleman is a graduate of Amphibious Warfare School, U.S. Army 
Command and Staff College, Armed Forces Staff College, U.S. Army School 
of Advanced Military Studies, and the U.S. Naval War College. He is a 
designated Joint Specialty Officer and has been awarded two masters of 
arts degrees, the first in Military Arts and Science, and the second in 
National Security and Strategic Studies. His personal decorations 
include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze 
Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, 
Joint Service Commendation Medal (second award), Navy and Marine Corps 
Commendation Medal (second and third awards), and the Navy and Marine 
Corps Achievement Medal.
  Colonel Coleman and his wife Teri were married in 1976 and have four 
children, Christina, Jay, Robby, and Lara.
  On behalf of the people of the United States whom Colonel Coleman 
spent a career serving, I thank him for his service and commitment to 
the defense of our Nation.

                          ____________________