QUANTICO, Va. — Retired Sgt. Maj. Henry H. Black, 83, the 7th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, died Friday, Aug. 24, at his home in Fredericksburg, Va.
Sgt. Maj. Black served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and as the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps from 1975 to 1977. His personal awards include the Silver Star, three Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart and Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
A memorial service, open to the media, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, at the Marine Memorial Chapel in Quantico, Va. Burial with full military honors will follow at 11 a.m. in Quantico National Cemetery.
Ordered to Vietnam in January 1966, Sergeant Major Black served as First Sergeant of Company A, 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division until February 1967. He was then assigned as First Sergeant of Casual Company, and later, as Sergeant Major, Headquarters Battalion, Marine Corps Development and Education Command, Quantico.
Sergeant Major Black began his second Vietnam tour in June 1969, serving as Sergeant Major of the 2d Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. He was awarded his second and third Bronze Star Medals during his tour.
Sergeant Major Henry H. Black assumed the post of 7th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps on 1 June 1975.
Sergeant Major Black was born in Imperial, Pennsylvania, on 9 February 1929. A high school graduate of Findley High School in 1947, he enlisted in the Marine Corps on 12 April 1948 and underwent recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. He was assigned to the 2d Marine Division at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina after completing boot camp and served with Company C, 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, and later, with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment.
His personal awards and decorations include: Silver Star, Bronze Star w/ valor device & 2 award stars, Purple Heart, Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 3 service stars, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal w/ 7 service stars, Navy Occupation Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal w/ 1 service star, Korean Service Medal w/ 4 service stars, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/ 4 service stars, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross unit citation, Vietnam Civil Actions unit citation, United Nations Korea Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal.
-Press releaseÂ
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