John Sweeney

SWEENEY Col. JOHN B. SWEENEY World War II Marine Raider Col. John B. Sweeney, 90, USMC (Ret), of Durango, C0., and formerly of Sun City, Summerlin, Las Vegas, passed away peacefully August 15, 2009 from natural causes with family by his side. He was born in Columbus, Ohio on December 2,1918 to Mary Elizabeth Creenane and James Michael Sweeney. He graduated from Rosery High School and attended Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio where he played basketball. He graduated in 1940 with a degree in Economics and went on to receive his Masters Degree in Psychology from The Ohio State University in 1952. He was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in May 1941 in Quantico, Va. and was interviewed by and volunteered for duty with then Lt. Col. Merritt A. Edson (Red Mike), Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. Later it became the 1st Marine Raider Battalion, an elite, special unit commissioned by President Franklin Roosevelt to fight the Japanese in close quarters jungle combat. As one of "Edson''s Raiders", Col. Sweeney served as a combat troop leader from August 7 to September 20, 1942 in the South Pacific Col. Sweeney, a twenty three year old Commander of "B" Company, was awarded the Navy Cross for his "brilliant leadership and unyielding defiance of danger" in defending the strategic airfield, Henderson Field, in the jungle on Guadalcanal, during the epic battle of"Bloody Ridge" (now known and dedicated as Edson''s Ridge") on the nights of September 12,13,14. His "heroic leadership, extraordinary heroism, great personal valor and unswerving devotion to duty" was instrumental in helping Edson''s Raiders and the attached 1st Parachute Battalion, a combined force of 800 Marines, soundly defeat the formidable Japanese army of some 2,400 men whose objective was to seize the airfield and push the Marines into the sea. Col. Sweeney also engaged in further combat on Guadalcanal, as well as on New Georgia and Emaira Island. He was also awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal and the World War 11 Victory Medal. Admiral Halsey, Commander South Pacific Force, Maj. General Vandergrift, Commander First Marine Division and Mr. Frank Knox, Secretary of the Navy, wrote letters of appreciation and commendation for his actions on Tulagi Island (August 7-10) and Tasimboko Village on Guadalcanal. On September 28,1946, Col. Sweeney married Helen Marie Amrhein (Bronx, NY) . He was immediately assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, part of the China Marines, from October 1946, where he received the Chinese Service Medal and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four bronze stars. In 1957, he served in the Korean conflict as the Senior Advisor to the Republic of Korea Marine Corps Schools. Col. Sweeney had an illustrious and exemplary 26 year career in the Marine Corps culminating in Vietnam, where he served as Chief of Staff, 3rd Marine Division in Danang and Phu Bai. He was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat "V", the Cross of Gallantry with Palm from the Republic of Vietnam, as well as the Republic of Vietnam Service Medal with one star and the Campaign Medal with device. He went on to have a second career as a college administrator in Columbus, Ohio at Ohio Dominican College and sixteen years as Registrar at California State University at Fullerton. During this time he served as Chairman of the Planning Commission for the City of San Juan Capistrano and was elected to their City Council from 1974-76. Col. Sweeney is survived by his daughters Kate Sweeney of Durango; Kristine Sweeney (John Grau) of Bethesda, Maryland; Helen Mary Sweeney of Garden Grove, California; son John B. Sweeney, Jr.,partner, Danielle Dalley and their daughter, Luna of Durango; and grandson Brendan Sweeney Grau of Bethesda, Maryland. A Mass of Christian Burial has taken place at St. Columba''s Catholic Church, Durango. Col. Sweeney will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife of 58 years, Helen, at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors, May 14, 2010 during the 62nd Annual USMC Raider Reunion in Quantico, VA. The family requests that memorial donations be made to the National Museum of the Marine Corps, c/o The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, 3800 Fittler Park Drive, Suite 104, Dumfries, Va. 22025. For further information call 301.704.1462. The family requests that memorial donations be made to the National Museum of the Marine Corps, c/o The Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, 3800 Fittler Park Drive, Suite 104, Dumfries, Va. 22025. For further information call 301.704.1462.