Morton Leo Marks

West Point, 1949

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Terry Powers on April 5, 2023:

Morton L. Marks 1949 Cullum No. 17100-1949 | May 19, 1950 | Died in Columbus, MS Interred in Mount Carmel Cemetery, Philadelphia, PA MORTON LEO MARKS was born in Philadelphia, PA, in 1924. After graduating from Philadelphia's Central High School, he attended the University of Pennsylvania for one year before enlisting in the Army, serving in Germany with the 95th Division in WWII. While there, he was appointed to West Point. Although he never mentioned it in our years together at West Point, and later during our Air Force service, to my knowledge, "Mort" received the Bronze Star while a private first class with the 379th Infantry Regiment. Part of that citation reads, "Morton L. Marks [received the Bronze Star] for heroic achievement in connection with military operations against the enemy on 5 Dec 1944 in the vicinity of Saarlautern Roden, Germany. After an attack on strong German positions at Saarlautern, PFC Marks, although wounded in the shoulder, voluntarily took charge of a group of captured enemy soldiers. When the time came to evacuate them, he volunteered for this hazardous duty. In spite of intense hostile fire from nearby pillboxes, PFC Marks calmly conducted the evacuation, disdaining the pain of his wound. His intrepid devotion to duty reflects distinct credit on PFC Marks and exemplifies high traditions of the military service." Mort's other awards include a Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, and two battle stars in the European Theater. As a cadet, Mort was a good student with a more serious attitude than many of his contemporaries. He had a quiet personality with a subtle sense of humor. Proficient in the French language, he was a member of the French Club and, during both Third Class and Second Class years, he volunteered to tutor deficient cadets. Because he displayed exceptional leadership skills, Mort became a cadet captain and company commander of E-2, and was a member of the Honor Committee during our First Class year. It was my privilege to be Mort's roommate First Class year, along with Ed Wilford. We had been friends all four years, and as a First classman, he became a close friend-always supportive and considerate. I still miss him. Mort graduated and was commissioned in the Air Force. His first assignment, and mine, was to the Air Tactical School at Tyndall AFB, FL. In early 1950, we were both assigned to Kelly AFB, San Antonio, TX. Mort's assignment was in the Directorate of Logistics. My wife janelle and I had good times with Mort during both assignments. While at Kelly AFB, Mort took an opportunity to return to Florida for a weekend in May 1950, as a passenger on a Douglas B-26. The aircraft encountered severe weather on the outbound leg and crashed while attempting to land at Columbus AFB, MS. Mort, who was sitting in the nose of the aircraft, was killed instantly. His remains were returned to Philadelphia, PA, where, following a memorial service on 23 May 1950, he was interred at the Mount Carmel Cemetery in north Philadelphia. All of us who knew him lost a dear friend, and the Air Force lost an exceptional officer who certainly had every quality to be a senior leader. COL Joe B. Tye 49, USAF, Retired

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