Organization

Assigned as the squadron pilot training officer, Tom deployed in 1990-1991 to Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm where he flew (40) combat missions. From 1991-1994, he served as an F/A-18 instructor pilot at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron (MAWTS-1) in Yuma, AZ. Returning to MAG-31 / 2ND MAW, Tom joined the VMFA-115 “Silver Eagles” flying the Hornet as the Operations Officer, then as the Maintenance Officer for a WESTPAC deployment. Tom retired as a Major in 1997 with (21) years of service.

Tom flew with United Airlines from 1998-2020. Over the years, he was qualified in the 727/737/757/767 and the Airbus 319/320. He retired in 2020 as a Captain with (23) years of service and 17,000 hours of flight time.

Tom’s awards include the Air Medal with Combat ‘V’ and numeral ‘4’, the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal with (2) Gold Stars, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with (2) Stars, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal with (1) Star.

He enjoys playing guitar and riding his Harley Street Glide.

Tom is married to the former Cheryl Mims of Columbia, SC. They have four grown children and ten grandchildren. They are members of Hillcrest Baptist Church, Pensacola, FL.

Tom met the love of his life at Seville Quarters and has been happily married for over ten years to a Marine daughter, Crystal Stanley. Tom trained and impacted hundreds of Sailors and Marines during his tenure as an ATC instructor, earning him a Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal for 4 years of exemplary instruction. Tom attained the rank of Staff Sergeant in 2016 and separated from the Marine Corps in 2017 to take care of his special needs daughter, Gemma Mae Stanley. Tragically, she passed away at the age of 3 in 2018, but she fought like a Marine and will always be remembered and loved for her fighter’s spirit. God blessed Tom with another daughter, full of life and rambunctious, Jade Addison Stanley. He enjoys playing guitar, golfing, spoiling Jade, and riding on autopilot in his Cybertruck. An avid adopter of technology, Tom loves to revel in the future and foresees a positive future for humanity that must be preserved by strong, brave warriors such as the United States Marines. “Peace through Strength”

When his initial commitment was finished, he applied for Naval Flight School. Upon completion, Tom was assigned to fly CH-53’s at MCAS Tustin, CA. He made several West-Pac deployments and was later assigned to NAS Whiting Field, Milton, FL as a fixed wing Instructor Pilot (IP). He was assigned back to the west coast when Operation Desert Storm required him to deploy to Saudi Arabia. Major Fitzgerald was with 1MEF and experienced combat in border skirmishes and the Battle of Khafji. He received the Bronze Star and Combat Action Ribbon. He retired in 1994.

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David also serves as Chaplain for Pensacola’s professional Hockey Team—the Ice Flyers and our beloved local Gold Star Families. He and his wife Megan have six children and reside in the Pensacola, Florida area.

Drawing upon both his military experience and academic achievements, Joe built a successful civilian career in aviation and air traffic control maintenance. He currently serves as an Airway Transportation Systems Specialist and coordinator with the Federal Aviation Administration’s System Support Center in Pensacola, Florida, where he continues to support the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System.

Joe met his soulmate, Katie Winschief, through a chance encounter at a Mardi Gras ball in Mobile, Alabama, in 2013. They have been happily married since 2015 and together have raised three children and five beloved dogs. A lifelong musician, Joe enjoys playing piano, creating music with his wife, woodworking, boating, saltwater fishing, yard work, and supporting local musicians throughout the Pensacola area.

Joe is honored to serve as Historian for the Pensacola Marine Corps League Detachment and looks forward to preserving the stories and traditions of Marines while continuing to give back to the community and the Corps that have played such an important role in his life.

Chris enjoys a dream and joy filled marriage to wife and soul mate, Sue. Her father, Norman Crowther (also deceased), was a Marine Veteran of Guadalcanal, and many other South Pacific battles during World War II. Chris and Sue have four grown children including two daughters, and two sons with one being an Army Veteran of the Afghanistan War. He also enjoys seven grandchildren.

Currently Chris is Chaplain for Pensacola / Gulf Breeze Chapter 566 of the Military Order of Purple Heart, is Florida State Chaplain for MOPH, Florida MOPH Patriot of the year, and has been involved with a variety of 12 step programs for the past four decades. Efforts have been focused on helping returning veterans with combat related issues while maintaining a sober Christian life. He has experienced all areas of combat related issues and can readily relate to veterans in crisis having been the son of a veteran, has a son who is a veteran, and one himself.

Chris has spoken before a Congressional Sub-committee regarding the value of Veterans Centers. In 2012 and 2014 he was the guest speaker at the Sacramento, California Capital on Memorial Purple Heart Day, and spoke to 300 doctors and medical staff at David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, California relaying the importance of empathy, and speaking to the Veteran and not at them. In 2014 Chris was the Guest of Honor and main speaker at the Marine Corp Ball held at Harvey’s, Lake Tahoe, California with over a thousand marines and their guests in attendance. Current projects include working to reintroduce combat Veterans and their families transitioning into civilian life. Chris and his wife draw from three generations of combat family history, father, father-in-law, self, and son.

Since moving to Gulf Breeze, Florida in April, 2020 Chris has been involved as a mentor in Escambia’s County Veteran Court, and reinstated his volunteer status at the Pensacola’s Out Patient VA. He has 12 years and over 6,000 hours volunteer experience at numerous VAs, and has enjoyed speaking about patriotism to students ranging from the 5th grade through college. Chris has adopted his own creed of: “No One Left Behind does not stop when our combat boots walk on American soil.”

Chris gives all glory to God and understands he is only the messenger and vehicle of Jesus Christ’s love and forgiveness for us all.

First Lieutenant Casey then reported to Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina for training as a Bombardier/Navigator in the A-6E Intruder at Marine All-Weather Attack Training Squadron-202. While at MCAS Cherry Point, 1stLt Casey also temporarily served as the Assistant Administration Officer at Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron-14 and as the Flight Duty Officer at Station Operations and Engineering Squadron. 1stLt Casey’s dream of being an aviator and Marine officer was ended, when in March of 1979, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. He was discharged honorably for medical reasons on 31 August 1979.

Mr. Casey then began his civilian Navy career in September of 1980. He spent 11 years with the Naval Audit Service where he was Auditor of the Year in 1984; then transferring to the Naval Education and Training Command as a Program/Management Analyst for 19 years, ending his 30-year career in February of 2010 after earning many citations and awards to include the Meritorious Civilian Service award. During his civilian service, Mr. Casey also earned a Master’s Degree in Management from Troy University, completed coursework at the Naval Postgraduate School and Naval War College, and became a Senior Executive Fellow of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Mr. Casey then worked an additional 9 years as an instructor at the NETSAFA International Training Center, where he instructed students from over 50 allied nations in military manpower, personnel and training.

Brian is married to the former Ruth Mohr of Milton, Florida since January of 1979. They have three sons and two grandchildren. His interests include golf, hunting, fishing and farming. He volunteers with three Marine Corps related organizations: the Marine Corps League Detachment 066, the Pensacola Yacht Club Marines and the TBS Class 1-77 Association.