HAU - Marine Aviation Night
- Veterans Memorial Park Pensacola
- 08/09/2017

The MarineCorps League’s 5th Annual Heroes Among Us Speaker Series-2017 - Guest of Honor LtCol Chuck Lea, USMC, Republic of Vietnam.
Pensacola,Fla. – The Cpl. J.R. Spears Detachment of the Marine Corps League announces its5th Annual Heroes Among Us speaker series event Marine Aviation Night for 31 August 2017 to be held at Pensacola Veterans MemorialPark.
Charles
D. Lea (Chuck) was born 26 August 1943 inCarthage, AR. After graduating
from high school, he attended Southern StateCollege before enlisting in
the United States Marine Corps as a private inJanuary 1963. He
qualified for flight
school and was ordered to Naval AviationTraining Command in August 1963
with the rank of Marine Aviation Cadet(MARCAD). In May 1965, he
received his commission as a Second Lieutenant andwas designated a Naval
Aviator.
After flight training in May 1965,2Lt Lea was ordered to the First Marine Aircraft Wing for Combat duties in Southeast Asia flying H-34Dhelicopters with Marine Helicopter Squadrons (HMM) 362 and 263, located nearDaNang in South Vietnam. Combat flyingincluded carrying Marine assault forces, emergency medical evacuation, searchand rescue and resupply. In September1966, he returned to the
U.S. for duties as aflight instructor for two years, flying the T-28 Trojan with VT-3. From December 1968 to December 1969, he was ordered to the FirstMarine Aircraft Wing, flying the OV-10 Bronco with Marine Observation Squadron (VMO) 6, located at Quang Tri,Vietnam. The Bronco is a twin-engine, armed reconnaissance aircraft designedfor Forward Air Controller Airborne [FAC(A)] missions, airstrike mission coordination, downed-pilot rescue, assault troop insertion and photo reconnaissance.
Captain
Lea returned toattend the College Degree Program (Bootstrap). After
receiving his Bachelor'sdegree in August 1971, he transitioned to the
A-4M Skyhawk. He flew the A-4Mout of Beaufort, SC with Marine Attack
Squadron (VMA) 324 from November 1971until June 1974. He was ordered to
the First Marine Aircraft wing from June 1974 until July 1975. Major Lea participated in operationalmissions.
Following various training and staffduties, including the Armed Forces Staff College (AFSC) in Norfolk, VA; LtColLea studied at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in Monterey, CA from July1979 until April 1981, where he received his Masters degree and was promoted toLieutenant Colonel (LtCol). After staff duties with the Fourth Marine Air Wingin New Orleans, LA and the First MarineAir Wing in Japan, he was assigned to the Third Marine Air Wing in El Toro, CAin July 1984. He retired from the United States Marine Corps in September 1986.
LtCol
Lea's Military awards include:Three (3) Distinguished Flying Crosses
(DFC), Two (2) Purple Hearts, Seventytwo (72) Air Medals, the
Meritorious Service Medal, Two (2) Navy CommendationMedals with Combat
"V," Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential UnitCitation, Navy Unit
Citation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, National DefenseService Medal,
Vietnamese Campaign Medal with 4 Stars, Sea Service DeploymentMedal,
Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Gold Palm, Republic of
VietnamCivil Action Ribbon and the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal.
Following his retirementfrom the Marine Corps, Mr. Lea was hiredby American Airlines and flew for them for almost 18 years, flying the Boeing727, McDonald Douglas DC-10 and MD-80 and Boeing 757 and ER 767. Along withother airlines, American is obligated to supply airlift for Military forcesduring National emergencies. He participated in these Civil Reserve Fleet(CRAF) missions during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. Mr. Lea made Captain forAmerican in January 2000. He retired from American in September 2003.
Mr. Lea currently resides inPensacola, FL with his wife, Ellen. They have three children: Rhoda Ellen, ofNew Haven, CT; Julia Coleman (Lea) Erickson of Austin, TX and Charles Robertson(Chip) currently serving in Iraq.
Archives
Cancellation Notice
To VMPF - From the Emmanuel Family
ARMY BIOGRAPHY - MAJOR PATRICK G. EMMANUEL, U.S. ARMY
OBSERVANCE FOR WWII VETERAN, BRONZE STAR RECIPIENT AND LOCAL CENTENARIAN, PATRICK G. EMMANUEL
Biography: Colonel John S. Walsh, US Marine Corps
VMPF Announces Memorial Day Essay Contest
Veteran's Day Essay Contest 2017
2017 Veterans Memorial Park Foundation Veterans Day Essay/Art Contest
Proud To Serve Our Community Along Side The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
VMPF Armed Forces Cleanup - Sept. 2017
USMC Aviation Memorial Service Pensacola 2017
HAU - Marine Aviation Night
HAU - Korean War Remembrance Night
Memorial Brick Dedication Ceremony
Commander Scott Moyer
Running for Her 5K
Foundation President's Message
Story of Sacrifice: Vietnam