Major General Harold Mashburn, Jr., USMC, died 20 November 2004 at Bethesda, Maryland, at the age of 57. At the time of his death he was the commanding general of the Marine Corps Logistics Command, Albany, GA.
General Mashburn was born on November 14, 1947 in Seminole, Oklahoma, and graduated from Seminole High School in 1966, where he was a state tennis champion. He received an appointment to the Naval Academy while in High School, and dedicated himself to being commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. “Junior”, as he was known by his company mates, spent many long hours hitting the books, with good grades as the result. He steadily rose in the ranks of the Brigade of Midshipmen to become the Brigade Deputy Commander for the Fall and Spring sets of his senior year. He dated his high school sweetheart, Susan, all four years at the Academy and they were married following his graduation. She remained his Lady the rest of his life. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy in June 1970 and embarked on his rich USMC career. General Mashburn also held a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from the Air Force Institute of Technology.
General Mashburn passed away just two days after retiring from MCLB, Albany. At a service Thursday, General Mashburn was remembered as a leader who did not show weakness, even in the face of illness, but was extremely tolerant of weakness in other people. Many of those who served under him, as well as friends paid their respects in a memorial service. “The general, while he was a very private person, loved his Marines and sailors under his command and he loved his corps deeply,” Said Navy Chaplain Richards. “He did not want people to see his illness, because he did not want people to see in him a weakness." A second memorial service was held at the Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Maryland. Major General Mashburn was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on December 7, 2004.
General Mashburn was known as the General who had “a heart and a clue”. He was an extraordinary planner, organizer and unifier, one who motivates to improve their leadership abilities. In his honor, a prestigious award, the Major General Harold Mashburn, Jr. Award for Excellence in Leadership, is given annually.
His previous major command assignments included duty as Commandant, Industrial College of the Armed Forces; Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations and Logistics (Plans), and later, Assistant Deputy Commandant for Installations and Logistics (Facilities and Services) at Headquarters, Marine Corps; and Commanding General, 2d Force Service Support Group. He was a graduate of The Basic School, Basic Engineer Officers Course, Engineer Officers Advance Course, Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps Command and Staff College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces.
General Mashburn’s operating force assignments include duties as Construction Officer, Engineer Platoon Leader, Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of an Engineer Company, 1st Engineer Battalion; aide-de-camp to the Commanding General, 1st Marine Division; Utilities Officer, Executive Officer and Commanding Officer, Engineer Support Company, 3rd Engineer Battalion; Engineer Operations Officer, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific; Operations Officer and Executive Officer, 3rd Combat Engineer Battalion, G-3 Plans Officer and Commanding Officer, 8th Engineer Support Battalion, 2nd Force Service Support Group; and Commanding General, 2nd Force Service Support Group. He has also served as Officer in Charge, Officer Selection Team, Oklahoma City Oklahoma; Operations Officer, Depot Maintenance Activity, Barstow, Ca.; Chief Logistics Readiness Center J-4, The Joint Staff; and Director of Logistics, J- 4, US Forces Japan. In addition to ICAF, General Mashburn is a graduate of The Basic School, Basic Engineer Officer Course, Engineer Officer Advanced Course, Amphibious Warfare School, and the Marine Corps Command and Staff College.
His personal decorations included the Defense Superior Service Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal.
Updated: November 12, 2018
Curator: Ed Moore