Masterclass Military History: Commemorating the Vietnam War: Origins, Objectives and Perspectives

On October 23, 2024, INISEG’s Military History Research Group will host a master class on «Commemorating the Vietnam War: Origins, Objectives and Perspectives» by US Army Colonel (ret.) Mark Franklin, Chief, History & Legacy Branch. United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration. Office of the Director, Administration & Management (OSD)

Mark Franklin, is graduating with a B.A. in Philosophy from Western Maryland College Mark was commissioned a 2^nd Lieutenant Infantry Officer through ROTC in 1980. Following Infantry Officer training at Ft. Benning, GA, he was assigned to the 9^th Infantry Division, Ft. Lewis Washington where he served as a weapons platoon leader, Light Attack Vehicle platoon leader and finally as the Battalion S4 for the 2/1 Infantry Battalion, 3^rd Brigade. Following two Company Command tours at Ft. Leonard Wood MO, Mark was accepted into the Army’s Foreign Area Officer (FAO) training program. He obtained a M.A. in East Asian Languages and Cultures from Indiana University and attended the Korean Basic Language Course at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. After additional language training in Seoul, Korea, his FAO training culminated with his attendance at the Republic of Korea Army Staff College in Jinhae, ROK. He was then assigned as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commander, ROK-US Combined Forces Command (A Korean 4-star General). He continued to serve in a variety of Army and Joint FAO staff positions including the Joint Staff, J2 (Intelligence) during the 9-11 attack on the Pentagon in 2001. Following that assignment, he served the China Policy Officer, Defense Prisoner of War / Missing Personnel Office, and in 2004 he led a 4-man team into North Korea on a 10-day oversight mission to monitor the recovery efforts of missing Korean War veterans.

In 2008, he deployed to Pakistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where he served as the U.S. Army Liaison Officer to the Pakistan Army and then as the Chief of Staff for the Office, Defense Representative Pakistan. His last assignment in the Army was to the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Asia and Pacific Security Affairs, as the Senior Country Director for China, where he was responsible for developing U.S. policy for the military-to-military relationship with China. He retired from the Army on January 1^st, 2012 after 30 years of service.

He currently leads the History and Legacy Branch for the 50^th Anniversary of the Vietnam War Commemoration and is tasked to provide the American public with a clearer understanding and appreciation of the service and sacrifice of our Vietnam War veterans and to tell the story about their service during that period of our nation’s history. Mark resides in National Harbor, Maryland with his wife, the former Catherine Merchant of Walkersville, Maryland and they have two adult children, Tara and Matthew.

Colonel (Ret.) Mark Franklin, will discuss the 50th Anniversary Commemoration project for the end of the Vietnam War. Across the country, Americans are coming together to thank and honor Vietnam veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice. This is the primary focus of the Vietnam War Commemoration of the United States of America, a national 50th anniversary commemoration authorized by Congress and established at the direction of the Secretary of Defense and launched by President Barack Obama in 2012. Congress drafted a total of five objectives , the primary one being to thank and honor our Vietnam veterans and their families for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the Nation. Thousands and thousands of organizations (our Memorial Partners) have joined us in the noble mission to honor our 7 million Vietnam veterans, living at home and abroad, and the 10 million families of all who served.