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Today's Featured Biography

Luther "Nick" Tonkin

I joined the Marine Corps after graduation and in August of 1970 I left my last assignment at HMM-165 to go back to school and stayed in the reserves (HMM-766) while in school. Graduated with a BS in forestry from the University of Michigan in 1974 and started with the U.S. Forest Service as a professional forester in 1975 and immediately married Robyn. I was discharged from the Marine Reserves in 1976 started OCS with the Indiana Amy National Guard. Commissioned as an Infantry Officer in 1977, I served with the Infantry Company in Tell City, Indiana. In March 1980, Robyn gave birth to a daughter, Nora Louise.
I graduated from the JFK Special Warfare School's Special Forces Officer course in 1985. Served in the 12th Special Forces Group (Abn) for over 10 years, 6 years of which were with B company, 1st Battalion as an Operational Detachment Alpha commander. I completed the Military Intelligence Officer Advanced Course in 1989. After leaving the 12th SFGA in 1994, I served as XO of the 13th PSYOP Bn for over 3 years, during which time I finished the Psychological Operations Officer Course as well as the Civil Affairs Officer Advanced Course. In 1997 I joined the 32nd Civil Affairs Bn and left for Bosnia where I was a Team Leader out of Eagle Base for 8 months. After retiring from the Forest Service, I started taking tours as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) assigned to Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) at MacDill AFB, Florida where I was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in May 1999. I deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan before my mandatory retirement in 2005. I was recalled to active duty in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) J5, Security Cooperation division in 2006 where I served as the foreign area officer for Oman and Yemen. I retired for good in February 2009 and have been enjoying it immensely. In 2015 I completed the course of instruction for certification in pipe and structural welding at the Advanced Welding Institute in Eagle River, Wisconsin.
Our daughter, Nora, graduated from the University of Wisconsin and joined the Navy. After promotion to Chief Petty Officer and 11 years in the regular Navy, she was released and transferred to the reserves. She started working in the IT field and has recently accepted a position as the Information Systems Security Manager for Trident Maritime Systems.

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