Henry John Poole

Lt Col Henry "John" Poole USMC retired, 82 of Emerald Isle, formerly of Camp Lejeune, passed away Monday, May 19, 2025, at ECU Medical Center in Greenville, NC. He was the son of the late Henry Gordon and Mary Bosshart Poole. His brother, William Poole, preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Beth Gaffney Poole, and sister Mary Poole Molina of San Antonio, Tx.
After 25 years as a commissioned or non-commissioned infantry officer, John Poole retired from the United States Marine Corps in 1993. As a Marine, he practiced and taught small-unit tactics for ten years. This included service in Vietnam from 1966-69 as a platoon commander, a regimental headquarters company commander, and as a rifle company commander. This was followed by five and a half years as an instructor with the Advanced Infantry Training Company (AITC) at Camp Lejeune, and a year at the 3rd Marine Division Combat Squad Leaders Course (CSLC) on Okinawa. His USMC Decorations include: Silver Star Medal; Bronze Star Medal w/Combat V; Purple Heart; several Vietnam Service Medals w/stars; and other medals and awards.
Since his retirement, he has researched the small-unit tactics of other nations and written twenty-five tactics-and-intelligence manual supplements (books). He has also conducted multi-day training sessions for forty-one battalions, nine schools, and seven Special Operations units on how to conduct 3rd-Generation, Maneuver, Asymmetric, and Unconventional Warfare at the small-unit level.
He and his wife have traveled extensively across six continents to promote global understanding and peace.
He is an active member of the Infant of Prague Catholic Church in Jacksonville, where he sponsors the "Children are a Gift from God" charity. Additionally, he supports many children's charities throughout the world, including Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity and Notre Dame University-Bangladesh.
A Rosary and Visitation will be held at Infant of Prague Catholic Church, Jacksonville, NC, on Monday, June 9, 2025, from 6:30-8:30 pm. The Funeral Mass will be held at the church on Tuesday, June 10th at 9:00 am, celebrated by his brother-in-law, Fr. Patrick Gaffney CSC, and Deacon James Maripoti. Burial with military honors will follow at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery. A reception will be held at the Infant of Prague Parish Hall at 10:40 am following the Internment.
In place of flowers, if you wish, contributions may be made in memory of John Poole to Notre Dame University Bangladesh. Information and links for donations can be found at this website: ndubfund.org/donate. Or checks may be sent directly to this address: NDUB Fund, P.O. Box 705, Notre Dame, IN 46556.