About the Lecture Series

The General Raymond E. Mason, Jr. Distinguished Lecture Series on World War II is devoted to the legacy of America’s largest war. Speakers include writers, scholars, distinguished members of the Armed Forces and journalists.
 
The lecture series is open to the public at no cost through the generosity of Major General and Mrs. Raymond E. Mason, Jr. and the Raymond E. Mason Foundation. Mason served in the European Theater of Operations during World War II in the 4th Armored Division of General George S. Patton’s Third Army. Prior to retiring from the military in 1976, he held several high-ranking Pentagon positions, including Assistant Deputy Chief for Operations and Special Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Logistics.

All Mason lectures are free and open to the public. 

Next Speaker

Saturday, February 20, 2010, 1:00pm
The 65th Anniversary of Iwo Jima Veterans Panel

Mike Mervosh - Mike retired from the Marine Corps with the rank of Sergeant Major, after serving over 35 years in the United States Marine Corps. Mike is a veteran of 3 wars, having served with the 4th Marine Division in WWII landings at Roi-Namur, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima. He returned to service in Korea where he fought with the 1st Marine Division for two years. Mike served two tours of combat in Vietnam with the 1st Marine Division before finally retiring in the 70’s.

Jim Goodrich - Jim enlisted in the Marines at the ripe age of 16. His first assignment was to the 2nd Marine Division, which he fought with on Guadalcanal and also Tarawa as a BAR man. Having served his tour of duty, young Goodrich was sent home for the duration of the war. That respite was to be short lived as only a few months later he was ordered to the fledgling 5th Marine Division to serve as cadre. Goodrich joined the 5th in the States and departed with his new unit across the Pacific where he made the landing at Iwo Jima. Jim landed at Red Beach 1, H-Hour, first wave, on February 19, 1945.