John Hopkins was a leader on the athletic field and on the battlefield.  He came to the Academy from Brooklyn, and put his talents to superb use on the lacrosse and football teams.  John captained our football team first class year.  As a Marine infantry officer, he rose to the rank of Major General via a series of distinguished tours, including Germany, two in Vietnam, one of which was as an advisor to the Vietnamese Marine Corps, a special assignment in Cambodia, and the recovery of MAYAGUEZ.  His commands included the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines; 5th Marine Regiment; Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center; Commanding General, 2nd Force Service Support Group and Director of Operations, HQMC.  As a two-star, John deployed to the MidEast as CG, 7th Marine Expeditionary Brigade and later Deputy CG, I-MEF, leading combat troops in Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  His final duty tour was as CG, MCB Twenty-Nine Palms, CA.

John’s awards include the Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Combat “V” and 3 gold stars, and the Combat Action Ribbon.  John retired to his home in Fallbrook, CA. He spent many hours working on his 38 foot Shannon at the Marine Corps Marina, Camp Pendleton, where he became an expert on varnish. John made a cruise to Mexico spending several months in La Paz. The return was a source of many of his sea stories.  His wife Dorothy Ann predeceased him.  John died in April 1998 of complications from diabetes.  He is survived by daughter Barbara Jean and son John.  Here was a Marine’s Marine.  Semper Fi, John.