User Profile for Danny M. Francis (Eyepublius)

Bio: Danny M. Francis was born in the small rural town of Du Quoin, Illinois on October 11, 1941. After graduating from high school in June 1959, he enlisted in the Marine Corps on July 2, 1959. He served on active for 20 years, retiring in August 1979. He served two tours of duty in combat during the Vietnam War; one as an enlisted Marine (2nd BN, 1st Marines in 1965-66) and as an officer (1st BN, 7th Marines in 1968-69). He received a combat commission under the Marine Corps Exceptional Leadership Program in October 1968 while he was a Staff Sergeant. Dan was wounded in action three times, and received more than a dozen personal and combat decorations. Later in his career he served as an Interrogator-Translator Team Commander all over the world. He speaks Korean and Russian. He retired as a First Lieutenant in 1989.

Danny went on to earn three Associate Degrees and his bachelor’s degree shortly after retiring from the Marine Corps, and then he went on to earn his master’s degree in education from the University of Southern California in 1984 – all on the GI Bill. He has held a number of key education positions with St. Louis High School in Hawaii, and with Los Angeles Community Colleges-Overseas and Central Texas College operating with U.S. Forces in Korea. He ended his public service career with his retirement from the Department of the Army as a civilian educator in Syracuse, New York in December 2006.

He has taught middle school, high school, and at the Community College and college levels. He writes extensively on a number of military and public policy matters, and he is always engaged in public debate on a variety of issues. Danny has run for elected office a few times, including an unsuccessful try for a congressional House seat in Upstate New York in 1994.

Dan is also an author. His first book describes his first tour of duty in Vietnam and adds a personal touch to his distinguished life. The book, "Last Ride Home – A Memoir of the Vietnam War," was published by American Book Publishing, Salt Lake City in February 2004. Dan also is in "Who’s Who in America – 2007."

He lives in Upstate New York with his wife of over 25 years, Katharina. They have a son and a daughter – both college students. He loves the outdoors.

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