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Established in 1801, Marine Barracks Washington, is the "Oldest Post of the Corps" and has been the residence of every commandant of the Marine Corps since 1806. The selection of the site for the Barracks was a matter of personal interest to President Thomas Jefferson, who rode through Washington with Lt. Col. William Ward Burrows, the second commandant of the Marine Corps, in search of a suitable location. The site now occupied was approved due to its proximity to the Washington Navy Yard and because it was within easy marching distance of the Capitol.

Marine Barracks, 8th and I

Washington, D.C.

Tag: Korean War veteran

Retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran Sgt. William Parks stands with the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon during a Marine Week celebration in Nashville, Tenn., June 4, 2025. Parks, recognized as the oldest Marine in attendance, participated in the ceremony honoring the service and legacy of Marines past and present. Marine Week offers communities the opportunity to connect with Marines through performances, static displays, and community outreach. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brynn L. Bouchard) - Retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran Sgt. William Parks stands with the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon during a Marine Week celebration in Nashville, Tenn., June 4, 2025. Parks, recognized as the oldest Marine in attendance, participated in the ceremony honoring the service and legacy of Marines past and present. Marine Week offers communities the opportunity to connect with Marines through performances, static displays, and community outreach. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Brynn L. Bouchard)

A Marine's Last Day, Spent Among His Own

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. William Marvin Parks, a Korean War veteran and survivor of the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir, passed away peacefully on June 5, 2025, at the age of 94. Just one day earlier, he was honored as the oldest Marine present during a 250th Marine Corps birthday ceremony at City Hall in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as part of Marine Week Nashville.

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