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    W. Andrew Robinson

    Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps
    Incumbent
    Daniel Vazquez Colon
    since January 2025
    StyleColor Sergeant/Rank
    Member ofUnited States Marine Corps Color Guard Platoon
    Term length2 years straight
    FormationFriday, January 1, 1965
    First holderGunnery Sgt. Shelton L. Eakin

    The Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps billet was created in 1965 in the United States Marine Corps held by a non-commissioned officer posted at Marine Barracks Washington. He is responsible for carrying the official Colors of The United States Marine Corps while leading "The Commandant's Four", members of which are part of the United States Marine Corps Color Guard Platoon. The post of Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps was first launched since January 1, 1965 and first held by Shelton L. Eakin, who was killed in action the following year during the Vietnam War.[1]

    Duties

    The Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps is considered the senior-most sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps and serves as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of "Parade Four", the U.S. Marine Corps' principal color guard.[1] During state events, he is responsible for carrying the flag of the president of the United States.[1] The Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps is also expected to serve as an example of correct appearance to all Marines.[2]

    Qualifications

    Kenneth Newton, 37th Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps, is pictured holding the national ensign of the United States during annual memorial observances at the tomb of John Philip Sousa in 2017

    The Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps is appointed by the commanding officer of Marine Barracks Washington and applicants from throughout the Marine Corps are considered.[3][4] He must be a sergeant between 6-foot 2-inches and 6-foot 6-inches in height, meet Marine Corps weight standards, and be eligible for clearance to the Top Secret Sensitive Compartmented Information level.[3] The appointment to Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps is for a two-year, non-renewable term.[3]

    List of Color Sergeants

    No. Image Name Term start Term end
    1st Year Gunnery Sgt. Shelton L. Eakin January 1965 December 1965
    2nd Staff Sgt. J.D. Coco January 1966 August 1966
    3rd Sgt. L.C. Pittman September 1966 January 1967
    4th Sgt. R.E. Brothers February 1967 June 1967
    5th Sgt. M.T. Kane July 1967 December 1967
    6th Sgt. W.J. Monahan January 1968 June 1968
    7th Sgt. J.C. McCord July 1968 September 1968
    8th Cpl. E.W. Williams October 1968 February 1969
    9th Cpl. C.A. Kern March 1969 June 1969
    10th Sgt. D.G. Thorpe July 1969 December 1969
    11th Sgt. T.A. Strasberg January 1970 December 1970
    12th Sgt. Tim W. Hughes January 1971 December 1972
    13th Sgt. J.E. Brown January 1973 December 1974
    14th Sgt. L.M. Baade January 1975 September 1976
    15th Sgt. E.A. Chavez October 1976 December 1978
    16th Sgt. J.W. Walters January 1979 December 1980
    17th Sgt. M.J. Watkins January 1981 December 1982
    18th Sgt. P.L. Peironello January 1983 December 1983
    19th Sgt. J.E. Capua January 1984 December 1985
    20th Sgt. T.H. McMahon January 1986 December 1987
    21st Sgt. D.R. Boyd January 1988 September 1989
    22nd Sgt. Dean R. Keck October 1989 April 1993
    23rd Sgt. Daniel J. Charlier April 1993 January 1995
    24th Sgt. Thomas W. Rollinson January 1995 June 1996
    25th Sgt. R.R. Robinson June 1996 May 1997
    26th Sgt. Heath F. Kuhlmann May 1997 August 1998
    27th Sgt. James D. Reed August 1998 December 1999
    28th (2000s) Sgt. Blake L. Richardson January 2000 August 2001
    29th Sgt. Trevor H. Johnson August 2001 December 2003
    30th Sgt. Brian T. Strickland December 2003 November 2005
    31st Sgt. Andrel C. Rutherford November 2005 December 2006
    32nd Sgt. Scott A. Jewel January 2007 August 2008
    33rd Sgt. Corey R. Wünderlich August 2008 December 2009
    34th (2010s) Sgt. Eric A. Humer January 2010 October 2011
    35th Sgt. Timothy A. Spreder[5] November 2011 September 2013
    36th Sgt. Allen J. Banks Jr.[6] October 2013 January 2016
    37th Sgt. Kenneth J. Newton[7] February 2016 December 2017
    38th Sgt. Francis S. Frazier[citation needed] January 2018 December 2019
    39th (Covid-19) Sgt. Franklin D. Taft January 2020 June 2021
    40th Sgt. Cameron L. Williams[8] May 2021 June 2023
    41st Sgt. Steven A. Sexton April 2023 Last Chance
    42nd (Latest Release) Sgt. Daniel V. Colon 1 January 2025 Release

    See also

    References

    1. ^ a b c "United States Marine Corps Color Guard". marines.mil. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
    2. ^ Peck, Tony (April 5, 2018). "Colorado Springs native completes tour as Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps". The Gazette. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
    3. ^ a b c Schehl, Matthew (August 26, 2015). "Next color sergeant of the Marine Corps billet opened". Marine Corps Times. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
    4. ^ Oliver, Keith (2014). Command Attention: Promoting Your Organization the Marine Corps Way. Naval Institute Press. p. 41. ISBN 978-1612519005.
    5. ^ "Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps to play integral role in 57th Presidential Inauguration". Marine Barracks. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
    6. ^ "Next color sergeant of the Marine Corps billet opened". 26 August 2015.
    7. ^ Peck, Tony (5 April 2018). "Colorado Springs native completes tour as Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
    8. ^ "Color Sergeant of the Marine Corps". DVIDS. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
    Credit: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_Sergeant_of_the_Marine_Corps

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