The brass visits Bonham

Bonham, Texas -- Recently retired Marine Lt. General Mark R. Wise and his wife Terri visited Bonham relatives and shared pictures from the exclusive showing of the movie “Top Gun: Maverick.” General Wise was among the prestigious military personnel invited to the event. The movie was of particular interest to Mark, since he flew the F/18 Hornet, which was featured in the movie.

Actor Tom Cruise with Lt. Gen. Wise in the background.

Screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie, Lt. General Wise, Tom Cruise, Director Joseph Kosinski, and Producer Jerry Bruckheimer

Public Affairs Officer of the Navy Matthew Stroup, Deputy Commandant for Aviation Lt. General Wise, Tom Cruise, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro, and Commander of Naval Air Forces Kenneth Whitesell.

Retired Lt. General Mark R. Wise

From Wikipedia: Mark R. Wise is a retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general who last served as the Deputy Commandant for Aviation of the United States Marine Corps. Previously, he was the Assistant Deputy Commandant for Combat Development and Integration of the United States Marine Corps and Deputy Commanding General of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command.

Lt. Gen. Wise served as the Commanding Officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 122 Crusaders from 2003 to 2004 during which the squadron deployed in support of the Unit Deployment Program. He commanded Marine Aircraft Group (MAG) 12 from 2008 to 2009 during which he supported numerous exercises throughout the Western Pacific Region. From 2011 to 2013, he served as Commanding General, Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA. From 2016 to 2018,

Lt. Gen. Wise served as Commanding General, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) aboard Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. Lt. Gen. Wise's operational tours include service with VMFA333 during Operation DESERT SHIELD and Operation DESERT STORM; VMFA-312 with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 aboard the USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT during Operation DENY FLIGHT and Operation SOUTHERN WATCH (OSW); the 58th Fighter Squadron during OSW; and VMFA251 with CVW-1 and the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON in support of OSW. Lt. Gen. Wise's staff tours include various billets with MAG-31 and MAG-12 between 1998 and 2008 as well as assignment to Headquarters Marine Corps, Aviation from 1999 to 2001. In 2009, he deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, as an individual augment to the International Security Assistance Force. In 2010, Lt. Gen. Wise returned to Headquarters Marine Corps and served as the Deputy Branch Head for Aviation Plans, Policies, Budget, and Joint Matters until 2011. From 2011 to 2013, while serving as the Commanding General of the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory, he also served as the Vice Chief of Naval Research. In 2013, Lt. Gen. Wise was assigned as the Assistant Wing Commander, 3rd MAW and in 2014, he was assigned as the Deputy Commander, United States Forces Japan. From 2018-2020, he served as the Assistant Deputy Commandant for Combat Development & Integration and Deputy Commanding General Marine Corps Combat Development Command. Lt. Gen. Wise assumed his current position as the Deputy Commandant for Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps in July 2020. Lt. Gen. Wise's personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, Air Medal - individual action with combat "V", Strike Flight Air Medal eighth award, Joint Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, and Air Force Commendation Medal. He has more than 4,000 flight hours, primarily in the F/A-18 Hornet and F15C Eagle.

While in Bonham, Mark and Terri visited focal points of interest. Lanny Burnett gave them a tour of Bois d’Arc Lake, and Mark’s cousin Dusty Baker took them to Red River. Mark’s cousin Cindy Baker Burnett and Mark’s wife Terri toured the newly-restored Fannin County Courthouse.

1888 Fannin County Courthouse

Red River

Bois d'Arc Lake

Lanny and Cindy Burnett treated the Wises to breakfast at the Butterfly Cafe. Mark ordered Eggs Benedict and exclaimed, "This hollandaise sauce is homemade!"

The Wises and Burnetts visited the Debbie and John Gove Lake Bonham home, which had belonged to Mark's great uncle and aunt, Travis and Arline Currin.

Owner of the house John Gove and Lanny Burnett

The weekend culminated in Mulberry where Dusty Baker fed the family his specialty, smoked ribs. Enjoying the ribs, besides the Wises and Burnetts, were Bo Baker, Brock Baker, Blair Baker, Braden Oliver, and Johnny & Kelly Baker.

Terri Wise, Dusty Baker, Lanny Burnett, and Mark Wise in Mulberry.

Mark and his cousin Brock Baker

More than a motto, Semper Fidelis is a way of life. It distinguishes the Marine Corps bond from any other military bond. Latin for “Always Faithful,” Semper Fidelis became the Marine Corps motto in 1883. It guides Marines to remain faithful to the mission at hand, to each other, to the Corps and to country, no matter what.

Semper Fi, General Wise.