WARSAW, Va. — Rappahannock Community College Lifelong Learning program is hosting Argonne: A First-Hand Account of War and Survival on Wednesday, October 21, from 10 a.m. to noon at the college’s Warsaw Campus. The session will be led by retired Marine Corps Lt. Col. John L. Arsenault, who brings decades of military experience to this examination of combat and survival.
The presentation will explore the experiences of U.S. Marines assigned to the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, during intense combat operations along South Vietnam’s northwestern border near Laos and the Demilitarized Zone. Participants will learn about the realities of combat in remote terrain and the physical and emotional endurance required of Marines serving under extreme conditions.
Lt. Col. Arsenault’s military career spans service in Vietnam, Arctic operations, and deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He served as a lance corporal in Vietnam from 1968 to 1969 before leaving active service in 1970. After moving to Alaska in 1971, he re-enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in 1985 following the approval of an age waiver.
During Operation Brim Frost in 1989, then-Sergeant Arsenault received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for rescuing fellow Marines in 70-degree-below-zero weather. In 1990, he received a direct commission as a second lieutenant through the Specialist Officer Program, specializing in Arctic operations. He later returned to active duty in support of the Global War on Terrorism, deploying to Iraq and Afghanistan before retiring in 2008.
Through personal experience and historical perspective, the session will offer participants an opportunity to better understand the challenges faced by Marines in combat and the resilience required to serve in some of the world’s most demanding environments.
There is no cost to attend however we do ask that you register. Email bjenkins@rappahannock.edu or call 804-333-6707.
