About Mark

Growing up in Virginia Mark developed a passion for history, especially early Colonial America and Civil War history. As a young teenager, he visited Colonial Williamsburg. There, he watched the Colonial militia and Williamsburg fife and drum corps drill which started his interest in re-enacting and military history. At age 18, he purchased his first musket, a reproduction M1863 Springfield and his reenacting hobby started and continues on today. A highlight was participating as a background extra in Ted Turner’s 1991 movie Gettysburg.

There was no doubt Mark was destined to serve in the military and in 1982 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the USAF upon graduating from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He attended Undergraduate Navigator Training and received his wings in 1984 - this launched him on a career flying C-130 transport, VC-137 Presidential aircraft, and working various headquarters staff jobs. He retired as a Colonel in 2011 after serving for 29 years.

Mark’s freelance writing career started in 1994 when he was a major stationed at the Pentagon. He published his first two articles on the Washington Times Saturday Civil War page.  In 2015, he self-published his first book-length manuscript: Winfield Scott’s Vision for the Army - Mobilizing the North to Preserve the Union. A unique speaking opportunity in 2018 launched Mark’s research and writing career in a different direction. Getting back to his USAF tactical airlift roots, his focus shifted to USAAF World War II Airborne Troop Carrier and Glider Operations.

Mark was asked to return to Little Rock, Arkansas Air Force Base, to be the keynote speaker for the 75th Birthday of the 62nd Airlift Squadron. The 62nd Airlift Squadron was one of four original C-47 squadrons that was assigned to the 314th Troop Carrier Group (314th TCG) in World War II. Mark has deep ties to the unit, flying with 3 of the 4 original squadrons during his career and serving as the Vice Wing Commander in 2007 - 2009. He also has fond memories of talking to and meeting over 40 World War II 314th TCG Veterans he met at various squadron reunions during the 1980s and 1990s. It was these encounters that motivated mark to ensure their stories would not be forgotten. Thus, Mark began an intense, 3-year research effort on the 314th TCG. Mark befriended the family of the World War II 314th TCG Commander - Colonel Clayton Stiles; who shared Colonel Stiles papers with him.

Mark has a unique ability to bring history alive. Utilizing the “first-person” technique he learned in Civil War reenacting. Mark put together an all original World War II USAAF “pinks n greens” uniform and during live presentations, he assumed the character of Colonel Clayton Stiles. Talking as Colonel Clayton Stiles, in 2018 and 2019 Mark gave presentations on the 314th TCG participating in the D-Day paratroop drops for major audiences at both the Airlift Tanker Association Symposium and at the Air Mobility Command Museum for the 75th Anniversary of D-day.

During this time Mark also became a member of the National World War II Glider Pilot Association (NWWIIGPA). Most people are not only unaware that the U.S. had glider pilots in World War II, but these glider pilots were also an integral part of the C-47s Troop Carrier squadrons in the United States Army Air Corps. Asked to be a member of the NWWIIGPA’s coveted Leon B. Spencer Research Team, Mark does free research for family members of World War II glider pilots and assists with updating their database of over 6,000 glider pilots. Read more about this great organization mark supports at www.ww2gp.org He also has authored many detailed articles for their publication The Briefing. He is also a member of the Troop Carrier/Tactical Airlift Association https://www.troopcarrier.org/ and the British Glider Pilot Regiment Society, which can be found at https://www.gliderpilotregiment.org.uk/ Mark is now one of the leading experts on WWII Airborne and Glider Operations in the world.