George Michael Wastila Jr.

Major George Michael Wastila Jr., USMC (Ret.) passed away peacefully in his Coronado home on October 16, 2025, after a lengthy battle on hospice. He was preceded in death by his wife Grace Elizabeth (Annotti) Wastila in 2005. They were happily married for 37 years and made their home here in Coronado since 1973. A Funeral Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 11AM followed by a reception at VFW Post 2422.

George was born on December 9, 1935 in New York and spent his youth in Brooklyn. He recounted sneaking into Ebbets Field with his sister and watching Jackie Robinson play for the Dodgers. During his formative years he moved with his family to Superior, Wisconsin. There he developed into a prolific multi-sport athlete, graduating from Superior’s Central High School in 1954. George received a full athletic scholarship from Superior State College (now the University of Wisconsin-Superior) where he played football and baseball and was a member of the boxing team.

George was a four-year letterman and graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in biology with minors in chemistry and physics. He was a two-way starter on the football team. George was renowned for his speed and punishing play as a pulling guard and a linebacker. He was team co-captain and earned First Team, All Wisconsin State College Conference honors. George was a versatile baseball player as well, known for a big arm and power at the plate. He also played semi-pro baseball for the Superior Independents which won its league and district in 1956, ultimately playing in the regional tournament at the famed Milwaukee County Stadium. As a boxer, George won the Superior State Golden Gloves Tournament at 170 pounds. His highlight match was at Michigan State University where he laughingly recalled losing to the reigning collegiate national champion in front of thousands of spectators; by the final bell he said he was bloodied and unsure where he was but refused to go down. In 1974, George was inducted into the University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletic Hall of Fame for Football and Baseball.

Following graduation, he was admitted to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to pursue graduate studies in Physical Education. While at Madison, he was appointed as the Assistant Athletic Trainer and cared for the Badger Football team at the 1960 Rose Bowl Game. Highlights included speaking on sports injuries, conditioning and training before the State Medical Society of Wisconsin, and later alongside legendary NFL Coach Vince Lombardi at the annual Superior State College Clinic. He received his Master’s Degree in Physical Education in 1960.

In 1961, George entered the Marine Corps Officer Candidates Course at Quantico, VA and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Subsequently, he completed the Basic School in Quantico, VA and Artillery Officers’ School at Fort Sill, OK in 1962. He then reported to the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, CA where he was assigned to the 11th Marines and deployed to the Caribbean during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1963, George completed Air Observation School at Camp Pendleton and received designation and Gold Wings as a Naval Air Observer Tactical (NAOT). He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and Captain while with 11th Marines.

In 1965, George deployed with the first regimental landing team (RLT) from the continental U.S. to go to Vietnam. During this tour he served as Intelligence Officer for 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines and Air Observer (AO) for RLT-7 from Chu Lai. Due to losses of Marine observation aircraft, he then flew AO combat missions with the Army 220th Aviation Company (the Cat Killers) from Quang Ngai. He was later transferred to Headquarters, 12th Marines at Da Nang because of further AO shortages where he flew AO missions with Marine Observation Squadrons 2 and 6 (VMO-2 and 6). George would also serve as the Target Information Officer for the 3rd Marine Division and was responsible for all long-range targeting in the Quang Nam special sector.

George returned to U.S. in 1966 where he served as the Executive Officer of Marine Barracks, Quonset Point, RI. While in Rhode Island, he met and fell in love with Grace Elizabeth Annotti of Providence, RI. After a year-long courtship they were married in 1968. The couple then proceeded to Quantico, VA where George attended Amphibious Warfare School (AWS). Following AWS, George was redeployed to Vietnam where he served as Fire Support Coordinator for the 3rd Marines. He was promoted to Major shortly thereafter. Later he would serve as Operations Officer for 1st Battalion, 12th Marines and ultimately as the Regimental Intelligence Officer for the 12 Marines. This tour focused largely on the defense of South Vietnam in the Quang Tri Province along the Demilitarized Zone.

In 1970, George returned stateside to reunite with Grace and meet his newborn son, Michael. He was assigned to Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. where he served in the G-1 Division. He and Grace welcomed their second son, Derek, in 1972. In 1973, the family moved west as he was assigned to LFTC-Pac in Coronado, CA where they settled. George then served subsequent tours at Camp Pendleton as Executive Officer of 1st Battalion, 11th Marines, and then as Officer-In-Charge of the Nucleus Landing Force Staff aboard LHA-1, USS Tarawa. Notably, he deployed aboard the Tarawa on its maiden cruise to WestPac. During the cruise, they encountered and rescued teams of Vietnamese refugees escaping certain death using dilapidated boats on the high seas. He often spoke of a Vietnamese child born aboard ship whose parents gave her the middle name Tarawa. Following the deployment, he returned to LFTC-Pac in Coronado from which he retired in 1982, a Major on 26 years including reserve time credited from college and graduate school.

While in the Marine Corps, George maintained his athletic prowess. He played for the highly regarded Marine Corps Football Team while at Quantico competing against various college teams. At HQMC, he was formally recognized for performing a standing military press of 125% of his body weight, which was tops for his unit despite being its oldest member. He was the Officer-In-Charge/Manager of the All-Marine Fastpitch Softball Team that competed at the Inter-service Tournament. Additionally, he won numerous intramural and base championships in swimming, diving, and softball. George also took pride coaching his sons’ teams here on the Island. He coached youth soccer and Little League baseball. He is responsible for teaching an entire generation of Coronado kids how to properly throw a curveball.

Following his retirement in 1982, George entered the civilian workforce with Science Applications Incorporated Comsystems as an analyst developing shipboard spaces for the Marine Corps on the new LHD Class Ships. In 1984, he moved to Telemedia, Inc. where he taught the Egyptian Army how to employ and maintain the 155mm self-propelled howitzer for which he was recognized by the Egyptian Government. In 1986, George received his California Teacher Credential and taught science classes at San Diego’s Lincoln High School where he also coached the offensive line for the powerhouse Hornet football team. Finally, he returned to the defense industry where he worked for General Dynamics Convair Division on the Tomahawk missile program as Senior Tooling Specialist and Cost Account Manager. In 1987, he was recognized as the Convair Manufacturing Engineering Employee of the Year. He moved with the missile program when it was sold to General Motors, Hughes Aircraft Division in 1993. In 1995, he facilitated transfer of the program to its new plant in Tucson, AZ after which he retired.

George was a loving husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather.

He took great joy celebrating the academic and athletic achievements of his sons and his grandchildren, all of whom were accomplished athletes in their own rights who matriculated at the likes of UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UCLA, Loyola Marymount, and the University of Washington. George is survived by sons Col Michael Wastila (Lisa), USMCR (Ret.) and LtCol Derek Wastila (Hilori), USMC (Ret.), and six grandchildren: Christine, Matthew, Katherine, Caraline, Alexander and Vincent.

Major George Michael Wastila Jr. USMC (Ret.) will be interned at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA at a scheduled time and date to be determined. His decorations include the Bronze Star with Combat “V”, Meritorious Service Medal, four Air Medals, Navy Commendation Medals with Combat “V” and Gold Star, Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, two Presidential Unit Citations, two Navy Unit Commendations, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnamese Service Medal with four Stars, two Sea Service Deployment ribbons, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Color), Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Actions Color, 1st Class), and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. He wears the wings of a Tactical Air Observer and was initiated into the Field Artillery’s Honorable Order of Saint Barbara. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the “Henry Styer VFW Post 2422,” 577 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92118.