USSOCOM Honors Marines for Their Enduring Legacy in SOF

Credit: Sgt. Evan Jones | Date Taken: 04/17/2024
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. (Ret) Wesley Rice and Col. (Ret) Craig Kozeniesky are inducted into the U.S. Special Operations Command, Commando Hall of Honor on MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, April 17, 2024. Between 1951-1988, Rice served as the Pathfinder Detachment Commander of 1st Force Reconnaissance Battalion, the Company Commander of O Company, 43 Commando, British Royal Marines, the Deputy Commander of Naval Advisory Detachment, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam – Studies and Observations Group, the first Director of the Joint Special Operations Agency, and assisted in the development of the Fulton Sky-Hook system as well as the initial barometric opening device, and had over 200 free fall parachute jumps. Between 1992-2016, Kozeniesky served as the Operations and Executive Officer of Marine Corps Special Operations Command Detachment One, the Company Second-in-Command, X Company and Officer Commanding, Support Weapons Company, 45 Commando, British Royal Marines, the Deputy Director, Operations, Joint Special Operations Command, and the Deputy Commander, Marine Forces Special Operations Command. The Commando Hall of Honor was established in 2010 and recognizes those who have served with great distinction and have demonstrated leadership and selfless service within the special operations forces community. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Evan Jones, Cpl. Joshua Munsen, and Lance Cpl. Sadiel Cortes Guevara)