Segel: Past National President Dies
Master Gunnery Sergeant Thomas D. Segel, USMC (Ret)
Master Gunnery Sergeant Thomas D. Segel, USMC (Ret) – a twice wounded Korean War veteran, Marine Corps combat correspondent, freelance writer and veteran of 26 years’ service- died September 30 in Harlingen, TX. He was 81.Segel was born in Tacoma, WA, combat wounded in the Korean War and served in media-related positions in the United States and Asia. He was director of operations for the AFRT operation in Okinawa, commander of Tuy Hoa Television and Radio in Vietnam, director of operations for the Armed Forces Vietnam Network and main station manager for the Far East Network in Tokyo.He retired and moved to the Rio Grande Valley in 1974 to work as director of information for the Marine Military Academy. He served as the executive director of the Pan American University Alumni Association. His final position was Director, Division of Information, Rio Grande State Center, TX. Arfter retirement he continued as a contract media consultant for the state of Texas.
He held the department of Defense Thomas Jefferson Award for journalistic excellence, was named Military Writer of the Year, and was past national president of the USMC Combat Correspondents Association.
In 1999 when the Association decided to form a Foundation in 1999, Segal was instrumental in getting it incorporated in the State of Texas.