Brig. Gen. Edwin Howard Simmons; 'Collective Memory' of Marine Corps

After World War II ended, he served as managing editor of the Marine Corps Gazette. After completing amphibious warfare school, he was ordered to Korea, where he was a weapons company commander, battalion operations officer and executive officer.

In 1955, he received a master's degree in journalism from Ohio State University.

He was in Vietnam from mid-1965 to mid-1966 and returned in 1970 for another year's tour as assistant division commander of the 1st Marine Division, then deputy commander of the 3rd Marine Amphibious Brigade.

In 1971, he became director of Marine Corps History and Museums, an organization he put together on a shoestring, Melson said. Gen. Simmons retired from active duty in 1978 but became a civilian employee in the same position.

Upon his 1996 retirement, he was named director emeritus and kept office hours at the Marine Corps Historical Center at Washington Navy Yard. At the time of his death, he was at work on a history of Marines in World War I.

Gen. Simmons wrote more than 300 articles and contributed to histories and books such as the Encyclopaedia Britannica and the Dictionary of American History.

His military awards include a Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, three awards of the Legion of Merit, two awards of the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal and a Purple Heart.

Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Frances G. Bliss Simmons of Alexandria; four children, Edwin H. Simmons Jr. of Hanover, Va., and Clark V. Simmons, Bliss Robinson and Courtney Simmons Elwood, all of Alexandria; and five grandchildren.