Thomas V. Draude

This unit was part of the 30 month Transplacement Program which formed in Camp Pendleton, sailed to Okinawa for 13 months and was designated 1st Battalion 3rd Marines.

At the end of its overseas period, it sailed back to Camp Pendleton and was re-designated 1st Battalion 7th Marines.

Draude began as a weapons platoon commander and then became a rifle platoon commander.

Thomas V. Draude (born April 25, 1940) is a retired United States Marine Brigadier General.

Thomas V. Draude was born on April 25, 1940, in Kankakee, Illinois.

Draude graduated as Valedictorian from St. Patrick Central High School (now Bishop McNamara High School) in 1958 and was captain of his school's first undefeated football team.

He was selected to the McNamara Hall of Honor.

His mother, Marjorie Cloonen Draude, daughter of Irish immigrants, was a registered nurse and the Kankakee County Tuberculosis nurse at the time of her death in 1960.

He graduated with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1962 and was selected to compete as a Rhodes Scholar.

While at the academy he was a member of the Plebe Football team and President of the Cardinal Neuman Club.

He then served as an Assistant Operations officer until reporting to The Basic School in December 1962.

He graduated with honors in June 1963 and reported to 3rd Battalion 1st Marines, Camp Pendleton.

In March 1964 he and his reinforced platoon were deployed from Okinawa to Da Nang, South Vietnam.

The platoon was to provide security for the Marine Air Base Squadron supporting Marine helicopter squadrons which were supporting South Vietnamese Armed Forces.

This platoon also was part of the security for Da Nang Air Base and elements spent time with U.S. Army Special Forces units at Khe Sanh and A Shau.

Upon their return to Okinawa, Draude became the company executive officer and was later selected to be the battalion adjutant.

The battalion mounted out in response to the Gulf of Tonkin attack and remained afloat until its return to Okinawa, then back to California.

In preparation for sure participation in the Vietnam War, the battalion participated in Operation Silver Lance, in January 1965, in amphibious exercise simulating challenges it would face later.

In May 1965 it deployed as the lead element of RLT-7 led by Colonel (later General) Oscar Peatross.

Upon return to Okinawa it was designated the Seventh Fleet Special Landing Force and took part in Operation Starlite, the largest U.S. operation in South Vietnam up to that time.

Draude served as battalion adjutant until October 1965 when he returned to Company "M", where he had started two years earlier, as executive officer.

He was selected to remain after graduation from Annapolis to teach drill and marksmanship to the incoming plebe Class of 1966.

In January 1966 his company commander was wounded and evacuated.

Draude took command and remained until August, extending his tour in Vietnam to remain with his company.

During his tour he was promoted to captain and took part in operations near Chu Lai.

For his actions he received two awards of the Silver Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry Medal with Palm.

Draude was then assigned as one of the first groups of Marine Instructors at the U.S. Army's John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.

For his service he received the Army Commendation Medal.

He then attended the Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School, graduating with honors, and continued at the Marine Advisor Course in preparation for his assignment to the Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps.

Arriving in Saigon in May 1969 he initially joined the 6th Battalion for operations in Tay Ninh to eject People's Army of Vietnam forces.

For his actions, he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat "V".

He served subsequently as an assistant brigade advisor and senior advisor to the 5th Battalion.

This was during the Vietnamization phase of the war with more responsibilities assigned to the Vietnamese units as U.S. forces drew down.

The area of operations for 5th Battalion was primarily IV Corps and eventually Cambodia as part of the 1970 invasion.

His father, Henry Joseph Draude, was a German immigrant who worked as a plumber and steam fitter from age 14 until his death in 1978.

His sister, Helen Ingram, died in 1992.

His other sister, Sharon, resides in Kankakee.

Draude retired in 1993 after 31 years of military service.

Since retirement, Draude served with USAA and the Marine Corps University Foundation.

He is currently an adjunct faculty member of University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, teaching on courses on The Vietnam War and U.S. Military War Doctrine.