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COLONEL TULLIS J. WOODHAM, JR., U. S. Marine Corps (Retired) Colonel Tullis J. Woodham, Jr (US Marine Corps Retired) 89, died Monday, January 15, 2018 at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center in Myrtle Beach. He was predeceased by his wife , Joanne, of 59 years. _ He was born in Fort Myers, Florida, 7 September, 1928 , graduated from Robert E .Lee High School in Jacksonville, Florida in 1946 and enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps, serving as a weapons instructor at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, SC. Upon release from the Marine Corps in 1948 he attended, and in 1951, graduated from, the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida. In April 1951,during the Korean Conflict, he was recalled to active duty , ordered to OCS at Parris Island, S. C., commissioned a Second Lieutenant in June 1951 and from April 1952 until March 1953, was assigned to the 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Marine Division in Korea. . He was the Staff Secretary, MCRD Parris Island, in 1956, during the infamous Ribbon Creek /McKeon trial. In October 1961, he was assigned to The Basic School, MCS, Quantico, Virginia and served as the Chief Instructor, Military Law Section, and Company Commander, Student Officer Company., After attending the Marine Corps Command and Staff College he was transferred in August 1965 to the NROTC Unit, University of Oklahoma as Senior Marine Officer and Marine Officer Instructor. Colonel Woodham served in, and commanded, numerous infantry, tank, engineer and logistic units/organizations prior to his attaining senior officer rank Colonel Woodham was transferred to the 5th Marine Division, Camp Pendleton ,CA in 1968 and was designated as the Commanding Officer, 3rd Battalion, 27th Marines.. It was while serving in this capacity in February 1968, that his Battalion, as part of Regimental Landing Team 27, was airlifted from the continental limits of the United States (El Toro, California) to Vietnam to become part of the lst Marine Division’s campaign against the Tet offensive. As Battalion Commander, Colonel Woodham received the Silver Star for Gallantry in action and the Legion of Merit with Combat "V” for exceptionally meritorious service. Additionally, his Battalion was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for valorous achievement in action against enemy forces. Subsequently, while serving as Assistant Chief of Staff Manpower for the Third Marine Amphibious Force (Danang) he was designated the Chief of the NVA/US Prisoner Release Team. Colonel Woodham attended the Defense Language Institute, Monterey, California, in preparation for his assignment in December 1969 as Senior Marine Officer, U. S. Naval Mission to Brazil.. He was awarded the Brazilian Naval Order of Merit and the Joint Services Commendation Medal for duties performed while serving as advisor to the Brazilian Marine Corps and Amphibious Warfare Instructor to the Brazilian. Naval War College. Upon termination of his assignment in Brazil, in August 1972, Colonel Woodham was ordered to Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton and was named Base Manpower Coordinator. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his duties as Senior West Coast Coordinator for the planning, coordination and supervision of returning US prisoners of war from Viet Nam.(Operation Homecoming) On I July 1974, he was designated as Chief of Staff, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Colonel Woodham received the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star in lieu of the second award for his services involved in the planning, coordination and execution of the Vietnamese/Cambodian refugee resettlement program (Operation New Arrivals). In July 1976, Colonel Woodham was ordered to Marine Barracks Yokosuka, Japan for duty as Commanding Officer and Senior Marine Officer, U. S. Naval Forces, Japan. He was awarded his third Meritorious Service Medal upon termination of his duties. He and his wife were awarded the keys to the city of Yokosuka and were the first husband/wife foreigners to be designated Honorary Citizens of Yokosuka. Reporting to MCS, Camp Butler, he assumed the office of Chief of Staff on 11 July 1979. In October 1981, he was also named as Deputy Base Commander and additionally assigned the function as Deputy Okinawa Area Coordinator within the U. S. Forces Japan Joint Forces Coordination Authority. Upon completion of his tour on Okinawa in June 1982, Colonel Woodham was awarded the Legion of Merit with gold star In lieu of the second award for his leadership and managerial control over the diverse and complex staff functions which sustained the day to day operations of the Marine Corps’ largest overseas support base. He completed thirty-six years of military service I July, 1982. A partial list of his medals and decorations includes; Silver Star Legion of Merit with Combat "V”- with gold star in lieu of second award Bronze Star with Combat "V” Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars in lieu of second and third awards Joint Services Commendation Medal Combat Action Ribbon Presidential Unit Citation Navy Unit Citation Meritorious Unit Commendation Brazilian Naval Order of Merit Following retirement he became active in the Myrtle Beach golfing community serving as President of The Deertrack Men’s Golf Association, Chairman of the Prestwick Country Club Golf Committee, and member of the Prestwick Board of Governors. He was a student in the Horry Georgetown Technical College Golf Course Management and Operation Program and founded and coordinated a men’s traveling golf group called Woodham’s Warriors. Colonel Woodham was a 32nd degree Mason and a Master Gardener. He was a Founding member of Prestwick Country Club. Survivors are his three children : Jan C. formerly Lt USMC and married to Colonel John Metterle USMC(Ret) Tampa, FL and their children, Tracee and Michael; Scott A., Major USAF(Ret) and daughter, Melis currently residing in Izmir, Turkey; and Brian L. formerly Captain USMC and wife Pam of Tampa, FL and their children, Christopher and TJ. The family will receive friends from 3:30-5-30 PM on February 16th at Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel. Memorial services will be held the following morning at 11AM at Garden City Baptist Church. Inurnment with military honors will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. where he will be placed with his wife, Joanne. Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

Tributes

COLONEL Tullis J Woodham, Jr., U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)

September 7, 1928 - January 15, 2018