Marc Leepson
Encyclopedia
Marc Leepson is an American
journalist
, historian
, and author
. His books include Lafayette: Lessons in Leadership from the Idealist General (Palgrave/Macmillan, 2011); Desperate Engagement: How a Little Known Civil War Battle Saved Washington, D.C. and Changed American History (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press, 2007); Flag: An American Biography (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press, 2005; Saving Monticello (Free Press/Simon & Schuster, 2001, hardcover; University of Virginia Press, 2003, paperback); and Webster's New World Dictionary of the Vietnam War(Macmillan, 1998).
Leepson was educated at Hillside High School
in Hillside, New Jersey
(Class of 1963) and George Washington University
where he received his Bachelor of Arts
degree in history in 1967 and his Master's degree
in European History in 1971. He was drafted into the United States Army
in 1967 and served for two years, including a year (December 1967-December 1968) in the Vietnam War
with the 527th Personnel Service Company in Qui Nhon
. He received his honorable discharge
in 1969.
Leepson was a staff writer at Congressional Quarterly
in Washington, D.C.
from 1976 to 1986. He has been a full-time freelance
writer since 1986. He has been Arts Editor and columnist for The VVA Veteran, the newspaper published by Vietnam Veterans of America
since 1986.
His work has appeared in many magazines and newspapers, including The Washington Post
, The New York Times
, The New York Times Book Review
, Chicago Tribune
, The Baltimore Sun
, and Smithsonian
, Preservation
, and Military History magazines. He has been interviewed many times on radio and television, including on The Today Show, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, The History Channel, The Discovery Channel, All Things Considered
, Talk of the Nation, To The Point, Morning Edition, The Diane Rehm Show, Irish Radio, and CBC (Canada).
Since the early 1990s he has been active in many non-profit groups. That includes board memberships on the Middleburg (Virginia) Library Advisory Board (President and Vice President), the Loudoun County (Virginia) Library Board of Trustees, the Library of Virginia
Foundation (Treasurer), the Virginia State Library Board, the Friends of Thomas Balch Library, the YMCA of Loudoun County (Virginia), the Goose Creek Association (Secretary), and the Mosby Heritage Area Association
(Treasurer, President). He teaches U.S. history at Lord Fairfax Community College
in Warrenton, Virginia
.
Leepson lives in Loudoun County, Virginia
. He and his wife, Janna (Murphy) Leepson, have two children, Devin and Cara. He also has a brother, Evan.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. His books include Lafayette: Lessons in Leadership from the Idealist General (Palgrave/Macmillan, 2011); Desperate Engagement: How a Little Known Civil War Battle Saved Washington, D.C. and Changed American History (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press, 2007); Flag: An American Biography (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press, 2005; Saving Monticello (Free Press/Simon & Schuster, 2001, hardcover; University of Virginia Press, 2003, paperback); and Webster's New World Dictionary of the Vietnam War(Macmillan, 1998).
Leepson was educated at Hillside High School
Hillside High School (New Jersey)
Hillside High School is a comprehensive community four-year public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Hillside, in Union County, New Jersey, United States, as part of the Hillside Public Schools....
in Hillside, New Jersey
Hillside, New Jersey
Hillside is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 21,404.Hillside was incorporated as a township on April 3, 1913, from portions of Union Township, based on the results of a referendum held on April 29, 1913.The town...
(Class of 1963) and George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
where he received his Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in history in 1967 and his Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in European History in 1971. He was drafted into the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1967 and served for two years, including a year (December 1967-December 1968) in the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
with the 527th Personnel Service Company in Qui Nhon
Qui Nhon
Qui Nhơn , also Quy Nhơn, is a coastal city in Binh Dinh province in central Vietnam. It is composed of 16 wards and five communes with a total of 286 km². Quy Nhon is the capital of Bình Định province. As of 2009 its population was 280,900. Historically, the commercial activities of the city...
. He received his honorable discharge
Military discharge
A military discharge is given when a member of the armed forces is released from their obligation to serve.-United States:Discharge or separation should not be confused with retirement; career U.S...
in 1969.
Leepson was a staff writer at Congressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly
Congressional Quarterly, Inc., or CQ, is a privately owned publishing company that produces a number of publications reporting primarily on the United States Congress...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
from 1976 to 1986. He has been a full-time freelance
Freelancer
A freelancer, freelance worker, or freelance is somebody who is self-employed and is not committed to a particular employer long term. These workers are often represented by a company or an agency that resells their labor and that of others to its clients with or without project management and...
writer since 1986. He has been Arts Editor and columnist for The VVA Veteran, the newspaper published by Vietnam Veterans of America
Vietnam Veterans of America
Vietnam Veterans of America Inc. is a national non-profit corporation founded in 1978 in the United States that promotes the interests of United States military veterans of the Vietnam War era. It is funded without any contribution from any branch of government...
since 1986.
His work has appeared in many magazines and newspapers, including The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, The New York Times Book Review
The New York Times Book Review
The New York Times Book Review is a weekly paper-magazine supplement to The New York Times in which current non-fiction and fiction books are reviewed. It is one of the most influential and widely read book review publications in the industry. The offices are located near Times Square in New York...
, Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
, The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun
The Baltimore Sun is the U.S. state of Maryland’s largest general circulation daily newspaper and provides coverage of local and regional news, events, issues, people, and industries....
, and Smithsonian
Smithsonian (magazine)
Smithsonian is the official journal published by the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. The first issue was published in 1970.-History:...
, Preservation
National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is an American member-supported organization that was founded in 1949 by congressional charter to support preservation of historic buildings and neighborhoods through a range of programs and activities, including the publication of Preservation...
, and Military History magazines. He has been interviewed many times on radio and television, including on The Today Show, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, The History Channel, The Discovery Channel, All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
, Talk of the Nation, To The Point, Morning Edition, The Diane Rehm Show, Irish Radio, and CBC (Canada).
Since the early 1990s he has been active in many non-profit groups. That includes board memberships on the Middleburg (Virginia) Library Advisory Board (President and Vice President), the Loudoun County (Virginia) Library Board of Trustees, the Library of Virginia
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia, is the library agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia, its archival agency, and the reference library at the seat of government. The Library moved into a new building in 1997 and is located at 800 East Broad Street, 2 blocks from the Virginia State...
Foundation (Treasurer), the Virginia State Library Board, the Friends of Thomas Balch Library, the YMCA of Loudoun County (Virginia), the Goose Creek Association (Secretary), and the Mosby Heritage Area Association
Mosby Heritage Area Association
The Mosby Heritage Area Association was founded in 1995 in Middleburg, Virginia, as a membership-driven 501 3 nonprofit preservation and historic organization...
(Treasurer, President). He teaches U.S. history at Lord Fairfax Community College
Lord Fairfax Community College
Located in the Shenandoah Valley and Piedmont regions of Virginia, Lord Fairfax Community College operates three locations — the Fauquier and Middletown Campuses and the Luray-Page County Center — that serve seven counties and one city in the area....
in Warrenton, Virginia
Warrenton, Virginia
Warrenton is a town in Fauquier County, Virginia, United States. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census, and 14,634 at the 2010 estimate. It is the county seat of Fauquier County. Public schools in the town include Fauquier High School, Warrenton Middle School, Taylor Middle School and two...
.
Leepson lives in Loudoun County, Virginia
Loudoun County, Virginia
Loudoun County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county is estimated to be home to 312,311 people, an 84 percent increase over the 2000 figure of 169,599. That increase makes the county the fourth...
. He and his wife, Janna (Murphy) Leepson, have two children, Devin and Cara. He also has a brother, Evan.
External links
- Marc Leepson’s official website
- Marc Leepson's Facebook page
- Marc Leepson on Twitter
- Pritzker Military Library, March 8, 2008, talk on Desperate Engagement, Podcast and video
- Book TV Battlefield Tour Documentary, January 2008, C-SPAN2C-SPANC-SPAN , an acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network, is an American cable television network that offers coverage of federal government proceedings and other public affairs programming via its three television channels , one radio station and a group of websites that provide streaming...
video - Flag Day 2005 interview, NPR's All Things ConsideredAll Things ConsideredAll Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
- "New Book Traces History of American Flag", "The Beardsley Report," on Voice of AmericaVoice of AmericaVoice of America is the official external broadcast institution of the United States federal government. It is one of five civilian U.S. international broadcasters working under the umbrella of the Broadcasting Board of Governors . VOA provides a wide range of programming for broadcast on radio...
, July 4, 2005 - "Capture the Flag", NPR's On the MediaOn the MediaOn the Media is an hour-long weekly radio program, hosted by Bob Garfield and Brooke Gladstone, covering journalism, technology, and First Amendment issues. It is produced by WNYC in New York City...
, June 30, 2006 - Live Chat on Saving Monticello Transcription washingtonpost.com, November 19, 2001