Biography
James "Jim" Laskey
National Commandant

Jim Laskey, a retired Marine Corps First Sergeant and Vietnam Veteran, heads the 76,000 plus Marine Corps League (MCL) as National Commandant, elected at the August 2008 National Convention in Orlando, Florida.Jim has been a member of the Marine Corps League since 1968 and is a member of the Department of Massachusetts William R. Caddy Detachment 124. He held every elected position in the detachment and served two terms as Department Commandant. He also served two terms each as both the New England Division Assistant Vice Commandant and Division Vice Commandant.  The Department of Massachusetts named Jim the Department of Massachusetts "Marine of the year 2000."   The New England Division has bestowed this prestigious honor by naming Jim the "New England Marine of the Year for 2009". Commandant Laskey served as the National Junior Vice Commandant and National Senior Vice Commandant and has served on several national committees. He is a past Vice President and Director of the Marine Corps League Foundation. He has been awarded numerous MCL awards, including multiple Distinguished Citizen Medals gold, silver and bronze.

Jim enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at Boston, Massachusetts, June 1960.  After completing boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., and advanced infantry training at Camp Geiger, N.C., he was assigned to "Sea School" at Portsmouth, Va.  That led to his participation aboard the USS Lake Champlain, in the recovery of Commander Alan Sheppard upon completion of his first flight into outer space and his splash down in the Atlantic Ocean.  He later participated in the Cuban Blockade aboard the USS Essex in October 1962.  He reenlisted while a member of the Second Force Recon at Camp Lejeune. N.C.

Commandant Laskey was assigned as Platoon Sergeant, Security Platoon Headquarters Company, Seventh Marines at Chu Lai, South Vietnam, and was later transferred to the First Marine Division’s Casualty Recovery Center as an operational deployment casualty field reporter.

Returning to the U.S in 1967, Jim served on recruiting duty in Quincy, Mass. Following his tour as a recruiter, he was assigned to the military police and correctional field serving as deputy warden at the Camp Butler Correctional Facility, Okinawa Japan, and warden at the Correctional Facility at the Marine Barracks, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  Jim also served at the Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Naval Disciplinary Facility where he served two tours in various non-commissioned officer command positions.

Jim retired from active service in 1980 while serving as First Sergeant of "Charlie" Company at the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia.

Jim’s personal Awards include the Naval Commendation Medal, Naval Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct with silver star and Competitive Marksmanship Rifle and Pistol badges.

Jim is married to the former Therese Maynard of Providence, R. I., and resides in Cumberland, R.I.