GyBill
01-18-2009, 12:34 AM
Colonel James W. (Wes) Hammond, Jr. USMC (Ret.) passed away on January 14, 2009 with his family at his side. He was born March 6, 1929 in New York City.
Upon graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1951, he was commissioned in the Marine Corps. During 25 years of service, he fought in Korea and Vietnam and was assigned to posts throughout the world. In 1959 he married the former Donna Selby. He retired from active duty in 1975 and moved to Reno.
He initially worked as the Executive Director for the Reno Board of Realtors, followed by earning his Masters degree in Journalism and teaching at the University of Nevada. In 1983, he and Donna moved to Annapolis, Md., where he edited the Naval Academy Alumni Association magazine. In 1995, they fully retired and returned to Reno. He continued to write and publish a number of articles for military journals and newspapers along with four books. Besides travel, he was a devoted runner and in later years a walker along the Truckee River. He was a parishioner at St. Albert the Great Church.
In addition to his wife of almost 50 years, he is survived by his sons, LtCol James W. Hammond, III USMC (Ret.) of Stafford, VA and John Hammond of Reno; his daughter, Torii Campbell of Annapolis, MD; his sister, Dolores and his brother, Richard of Scottsdale, AZ, and seven grandchildren.
A funeral mass and burial with full military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, 825 College Blvd, Suite 102, PMB 609, Oceanside, CA 92057, www.semperfifund.org
Upon graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1951, he was commissioned in the Marine Corps. During 25 years of service, he fought in Korea and Vietnam and was assigned to posts throughout the world. In 1959 he married the former Donna Selby. He retired from active duty in 1975 and moved to Reno.
He initially worked as the Executive Director for the Reno Board of Realtors, followed by earning his Masters degree in Journalism and teaching at the University of Nevada. In 1983, he and Donna moved to Annapolis, Md., where he edited the Naval Academy Alumni Association magazine. In 1995, they fully retired and returned to Reno. He continued to write and publish a number of articles for military journals and newspapers along with four books. Besides travel, he was a devoted runner and in later years a walker along the Truckee River. He was a parishioner at St. Albert the Great Church.
In addition to his wife of almost 50 years, he is survived by his sons, LtCol James W. Hammond, III USMC (Ret.) of Stafford, VA and John Hammond of Reno; his daughter, Torii Campbell of Annapolis, MD; his sister, Dolores and his brother, Richard of Scottsdale, AZ, and seven grandchildren.
A funeral mass and burial with full military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, 825 College Blvd, Suite 102, PMB 609, Oceanside, CA 92057, www.semperfifund.org