Hammond, Jr.: Leader of famed “Magnificent Bastards” in Vietnam, dies

Wes Hammond

USMCCCA member, Colonel James W. (Wes) Hammond, Jr. USMC (Ret.) passed away on January 14, 2009 in 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, the former enlisted leatherneck was commissioned in the Marine Corps. During 25 years of service, he fought in Korea and Vietnam and was assigned to posts from Hawaii, to Washington, to Camp Lejeune.
 
He commanded the famed “Magnificent Bastards” in Vietnam, turning the battalion over to Lt. Col. P. X. Kelley when Hammond was wounded in combat and forced to evacuate.  Later, he was editor of the Marine Corps Gazette at a time when the Marine Corps Association filled many of its Gazette and Leatherneck billets with active duty members.
 
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, Shipmate.
 

In 1995, the Hammonds 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 (which always included an annual trek to Annapolis during football season), Wes  was a devoted runner and in later years a walker along the Truckee River. He was a parishioner at St. Albert the Great Church.

"A Few Marines" is a must read for active duty Marines and an emotional march down memory lane for retired Marines. The true spirit of the Marine Corps is burned into that every segment of this work; it's all here, leadership, gut-wrenching emotion, history and that love of Corps and country, which have added strength, character and color to our Corps for over two centuries. Historian, author and distinguished Marine, James W. Hammond, Jr. has drawn deeply from his sea-bag (read treasure chest) of talent and experience. -- Major Rick Spooner USMC (Ret.)

In addition to his wife of almost 50 years, he is survived by his sons, Lt. Col. 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, Ariz., 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, Calif.  92057.