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| Charles H. Stallard receives 2011 Rodney Williams, Jr. Memorial Award |
| MONTFORD POINT MARINE ASSOCIATION CHAPTER 22 LOUISVILLE, KY |
Lexington, Kentucky, April 30, 2011: Presented annually at the Officer Selection Officer (OSO)
Colonel William "Rich" Higgins Memorial Mess Night/Dining-In to an individual selected by the
Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Kentucky (MCCCK) Board of Directors, who has
demonstrated exemplary community leadership and commitment, with a long history of
dedicated service to Marine Corps related activities within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The
presentation of a personalized engraved Marine Corps plaque was made by Major Rory B. Quinn,
USMC, Commanding Officer, Marine Corps recruiting Station Louisville and Mr. Ed Armento,
Secretary, MCCCK.
Colonel William "Rich" Higgins Memorial Mess Night/Dining-In to an individual selected by the
Marine Corps Coordinating Council of Kentucky (MCCCK) Board of Directors, who has
demonstrated exemplary community leadership and commitment, with a long history of
dedicated service to Marine Corps related activities within the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The
presentation of a personalized engraved Marine Corps plaque was made by Major Rory B. Quinn,
USMC, Commanding Officer, Marine Corps recruiting Station Louisville and Mr. Ed Armento,
Secretary, MCCCK.
Throughout a 32 year career with the United States Postal Service at Louisville, Kentucky, Mr.
Stallard frequently relied upon the values and discipline imbued in him by his Marine Corps
experience. Following in the footsteps of other African-American patriots, who endured
discrimination to integrate the Marine Corps through segregated training at Camp Montford
Point, New River, North Carolina 1942-1949, he has endeavored to preserve and honor their
legacy, through his dedicated involvement with the Montford Point Marine Association. Serving
in various capacities, both on a local and national level, he has been recognized for his untiring
efforts to represent the Marine Corps in our African-American community. For the past 18 years,
he has served as president of the Montford Point Marine Association, Louisville Chapter #22,
organizing and executing various community wide projects, such as academic scholarships to
deserving African-American students pursuing higher education, visitations of and food
distributions to homebound veterans, and annual fundraising roadblocks critical to the success of
our Marine Corps Reserve “Toys for Tots” program, all of which have served to improve the
social conditions of veterans, youth and senior citizens, regardless of race, creed, or national
origin. Mr. Stallard currently serves as national treasurer of the Montford Point Marine
Association and in 2008 was enshrined in that organization’s Hall of Fame based upon his
dedication to its mission and outstanding selfless service.
Recognizing the need to honor and remember military personnel, who have lost their lives in the
service of their nation, but not as a result of combat or other hostile actions, Mr. Stallard served
from 2002 – 2009 on the founding committee and later the board of directors of the Patriots
Peace Memorial at Louisville, Kentucky, which today is recognized as a truly unique edifice
providing solace and closure to families and loved ones of those enshrined. Each year, he visits
local high schools with Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps units, to discuss with
cadets the many opportunities for African-American youth in the United States Marine Corps,
made available to them through the dedication and sacrifice of those who trained at Camp
Montford Point, prior to the full integration of the Marine Corps. As a young man, who himself
benefited from the hardships endured by those original Montford Point Marines, Mr. Stallard
continues to honor their legacy by serving tirelessly to enhance the lives of fellow veterans within
our community, earning the respect and admiration of other veterans’ groups and those who are
affected by his contagious enthusiasm
Stallard frequently relied upon the values and discipline imbued in him by his Marine Corps
experience. Following in the footsteps of other African-American patriots, who endured
discrimination to integrate the Marine Corps through segregated training at Camp Montford
Point, New River, North Carolina 1942-1949, he has endeavored to preserve and honor their
legacy, through his dedicated involvement with the Montford Point Marine Association. Serving
in various capacities, both on a local and national level, he has been recognized for his untiring
efforts to represent the Marine Corps in our African-American community. For the past 18 years,
he has served as president of the Montford Point Marine Association, Louisville Chapter #22,
organizing and executing various community wide projects, such as academic scholarships to
deserving African-American students pursuing higher education, visitations of and food
distributions to homebound veterans, and annual fundraising roadblocks critical to the success of
our Marine Corps Reserve “Toys for Tots” program, all of which have served to improve the
social conditions of veterans, youth and senior citizens, regardless of race, creed, or national
origin. Mr. Stallard currently serves as national treasurer of the Montford Point Marine
Association and in 2008 was enshrined in that organization’s Hall of Fame based upon his
dedication to its mission and outstanding selfless service.
Recognizing the need to honor and remember military personnel, who have lost their lives in the
service of their nation, but not as a result of combat or other hostile actions, Mr. Stallard served
from 2002 – 2009 on the founding committee and later the board of directors of the Patriots
Peace Memorial at Louisville, Kentucky, which today is recognized as a truly unique edifice
providing solace and closure to families and loved ones of those enshrined. Each year, he visits
local high schools with Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps units, to discuss with
cadets the many opportunities for African-American youth in the United States Marine Corps,
made available to them through the dedication and sacrifice of those who trained at Camp
Montford Point, prior to the full integration of the Marine Corps. As a young man, who himself
benefited from the hardships endured by those original Montford Point Marines, Mr. Stallard
continues to honor their legacy by serving tirelessly to enhance the lives of fellow veterans within
our community, earning the respect and admiration of other veterans’ groups and those who are
affected by his contagious enthusiasm
With the Vietnam War
escalating and many of his
friends being drafted, Mr.
Charles H. Stallard of
Frankfort, Kentucky, chose
to enlist in the branch of
service, which he believed
would provide him with the
best training for his
ultimate survival. Upon
completion of basic recruit
training, he soon found
himself in the thick of the
Vietnam War as a
replacement rifleman in the
Third Marine Division at
Dong Ha, where he was
escalating and many of his
friends being drafted, Mr.
Charles H. Stallard of
Frankfort, Kentucky, chose
to enlist in the branch of
service, which he believed
would provide him with the
best training for his
ultimate survival. Upon
completion of basic recruit
training, he soon found
himself in the thick of the
Vietnam War as a
replacement rifleman in the
Third Marine Division at
Dong Ha, where he was
unceremoniously welcomed by a North Vietnamese Army artillery barrage. After seeking safety
in an airfield bunker, without a weapon, flak jacket, or helmet, he quickly came to realize that he
was replacing a fellow Marine, waiting nearby in a black plastic bag for the long journey home.
Thirteen months later, he himself came home to a hostile civilian reception, unlike anything he
expected or had prepared for. His experience as a Marine, like countless others who have earned
the privilege of wearing the eagle, globe and anchor, changed his life forever and gave him the
tools to succeed in whatever he chose to pursue.
in an airfield bunker, without a weapon, flak jacket, or helmet, he quickly came to realize that he
was replacing a fellow Marine, waiting nearby in a black plastic bag for the long journey home.
Thirteen months later, he himself came home to a hostile civilian reception, unlike anything he
expected or had prepared for. His experience as a Marine, like countless others who have earned
the privilege of wearing the eagle, globe and anchor, changed his life forever and gave him the
tools to succeed in whatever he chose to pursue.
| WELL DONE CHARLES!!! |