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June 2013 Vol. 6Editor Joe Hughes
Meetings:
4th Wed. of the MonthVFW Post 73979550 Pflumm in Lenexa, KS 66215
http://www.mclopks.org
Officers:
Commandant:Jim [email protected]
Senior Vice:John Byrnes [email protected]
Junior Vice: Steve [email protected]
J.A.G.: Rick Hinrichs rhinrichs@[email protected]
PAY./ADJ.: Bill Clinton [email protected]
Chaplain: Joe [email protected]
SGT. at Arms: Ken [email protected]
Hello, and welcome to my first letter as your new Commandant. First, let me congratulate Marcia Sands on two productive years as Commandant. She’s made a hard act to follow. Thanks, Marcia.
I wanted to take a minute and ease your minds about the walker and cane…as most of you know, I had neck vertebrae fused in January, and at my age (heck, any age!) it’s a long road back. I had to learn to walk, hold a fork, and just perform daily chores that we all take for granted. More importantly, I lost 40# and all of my upper body strength. It’s been a long road back, but I’m coming around, and WILL hit a golf ball before the first snowfall (unless my wife hides my clubs, or hits me with one of them). As they say on NBC, the more you know….
We are introducing a Mentor Program to aid in recruitment and retention of new members. Steve Thomas is in charge of the pairings, and matches will be made based on age and experience in the Corps. Interested volunteers should get in touch with Steve with ideas, suggestions, etc. Young new
Detachment Commandant’s Message
Mail CallMarine Corps League - Gen. Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025
Marine Corps League Mission Statement:Members of the Marine Corps League join together in camaraderie and fellowship for the purpose of preserving the traditions and promoting the interests of the United States Marine Corps, banding together those who are now serving in the United States Marine Corps and those who have been honorably discharged from that service that they may effectively promote the ideals of American freedom and democracy, voluntarily aiding and rendering assistance to all Marines and former Marines and to their widows and orphans; and to perpetuate the history of the United States Marine Corps and by fitting acts to observe the anniversaries of historical occasions of particular interest to Marines.
June 2013 Vol. 6Mail
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Semper Fi
Detachment Calendar ******* PLEASE READ***********June 26, 2013 – MCL Meeting @ VFW 06:00PM Picnic – Bring a side dish $5.00 / person
Reservations: Contact Bill Clinton by June 23
June 20, 2013 – MCL Fundraiser “Rawhide Bike Night”, Olathe @ 04:30 Volunteers Needed: Contact Bill Clinton by June 23
July 10, 2013 – MCL Officers Meeting @ VFW 07:00PM
July 24, 2013 – MCL Meeting @ VFW 07:00PM
July 28, 2013 – MCL Fundraiser – Breakfast @ VFW 08:00 = 12:00 (Volunteers & donations needed)
September 18, 2013 – MCL Meeting @ VFW 07:00PM ‘Marine of the Year’ presentation
Future MCL Pancake Breakfast has been planned for October 27th. We need donations & volunteers.
We have a new P.O. Box address for the Detachment: P.O. Box 14362, Lenexa, Ks. 66285
Standing Committees – Volunteers NeededCalling: Rick Hinrichs Marines In Need: Bill ClintonCeremonial: Marcia Sands (pro tem) Mail Call: Joe HughesCommunity Affairs: Gonzalo Reyes Supply: John ByrnesDonations: Bill Clinton Toy’s for Tot’s Bill ClintonFacilities: Jim Denton Veteran’s Affairs (VA): Gonzalo ReyesFallen Marines: Ken Fain Young Marines: Jim Welchert / Marcia Sands Fundraising: Lee Nelson Youth: Mike SwearingenHistorian: Joe Hughes
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Semper Fi
Marine Corps League - Gen. Larry Oppenheimer Detachment
DRAWING – Ticket $5 or 5 for $202013 Fundraiser
Smith and Wesson SD9 VE9mm, semi-automatic, 16+1 magazine
Hand Gun Drawing October 26, 2013
Danny’s Bar & Grill - 13350 College Blvd. · Overland Park @ 07:00PMWinner does not have to be present to win
Winner must comply with all Federal, ATF, and local laws.Transfers will only be done through Federal FFL holders & Winner pays fee
Ticket has no cash value
June 2013 Vol. 6Mail
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Semper Fi
Belleau Wood
Explaining the Battle for Belleau Wood is a doubly difficult challenge. The three-week long action was simply a confused mess tactically. None of the participants ever quite knew where they, the front line or the enemy were inside that mile-square dark forest. This has made it almost impossible to create an hour-by-hour account of what transpired during the action.
Chronology: Belleau Wood, Day-by-Day
1 June 19182nd Division troops dig in along a defensive line just north of the village of Lucy-le-Bocage. Marine Captain Lloyd Williams when advised to withdraw, replies, "Retreat, Hell! We just got here!" Capt. Williams would not survive the ensuing battle.
The line was centered on Lucy-le-Bocage. Although the initial disposition of troops was haphazard at first due the emergency, the front settled eventually with the 5th Marines to the west and the 6th Marines to the east. Most of the units deployed without machine guns in support. At Les Mares Farm, members of 2nd Bn, 5th Marines began to show the Germans the effects of long distance marksmanship.
2 June 1918Vanguard of the German advance reaches Belleau Wood. 3 June 1918Units of German 237th Division occupy Belleau Wood.
4 June 1918Determined German assault against American line turned back. .There as significant failure in coordination between 2dn Bn, 5th Marines around Les Mares Farm and 1st Bn, 5th Marine, on the right of 2/5's position near Champillon. The German attack failed to take advantage of this gap between the units and attacked directly against the farm. By this time, the divisional artillery brigade and machine gun battalions had arrived. Many Marines, however, were feeling hungry because their kitchens were still stuck on the road trying to catchup. The failure of the attack on 4 June at the farm is generally acknowledged a the high water mark of the German offensive. It is the closest the Germans got to Paris, about 50 miles away. Future Commandant, Lt. Lemuel Shepard distinguished himself as the 55th Company defended the farm itself.
June 1918French XXI Corps commander orders the 2nd Division to recapture of Belleau Wood indicating the enemy only holds a corner of the Wood. The main assault falls to the unit in that sector, the 4th [Marine] Brigade of the 2nd Division. Actually, the German Army had taken the entire wood and turned it into a bastion. No reconnaissance is made to confirm the position of the opposition.
6 June 1918Arguably, this was the most catastrophic day in Marine Corps
history to this date. Two assaults take place. At 0500, the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment attacks west of Belleau Wood straightening the front and capturing strategic Hill 142 to support an assault on the wooded area. The attack was successful despite the lack of preparation and poor timing. It went off with only 2 companies and timely arrival of the other two avoided a defeat. Gunnery Sgt E. A. Janson's was awarded a Medal of Honor for his service in this assault. A member of Capt. Hamilton's 49th Co., he was responsible for effectively stopping a German counterattack.
Twelve hours later battalions of the 5th and 6th Marine Regiments frontally assault the woods from the south and west and attempt to capture Bouresches on the east edge of the woods. This afternoon attack was to be coordinated between the 3rd Batt, 5th Marines [3/5] and 3rd Batt, 6th Marines [3/6] with the latter eventually taking the village of Bouresches.
The attack against the woods proper goes grimly. Crossing a wheat field where they are exposed to machine gun fire. Gunnery Sgt Dan Daly asks his men, "Come on ya sons-of-bitches, ya want to live forever?' The attack is only able to seize a small corner of the wood. The army 2nd Engineer Regiment is called on to provide reinforcements.
The poorly coordinated attack on the woods left the 3/5 decimated and the 3/6 struggling to get into the southern edge of the woods. The Brigade order was amended and the 2/6 (in reserve around Triangle Farm) was directed to take Bouresches. Capt Duncan's 96th Company led the way with future Corps Commandant Lt. Clifton Cates. Lead elements of the company got into the village and were then reinforced by Capt Zane's 79th Company. The retention of the village was a real struggle due to the fact that the Marine flanks were wide-open fields and any attempt to reinforce received heavy German fire. Personal bravery kept the Marines supplied with needed supplies. US Navy Dental Service Officer Lt. JG. Weedon Osborne's received the Medal of Honor after being killed trying to save Capt Duncan. Today there is street in Bouresches named for him.
In addition to the village, the Brigade was directed to take the railroad station just outside. However, it was heavily manned and protected by a railroad embankment providing the Germans excellent fields of fire and the attack failed. On this day, the Marine Brigade suffered the worst single day's casualties in USMC history with 1087 men killed or wounded.
7 June 1918Mostly a quiet day as US forces prepare to renew the offensive and the German units bring in relief.
8 June 1918A renewed American assault fails to gain ground.
9 June 1918Orders are issued for an attack the next morning. Late in the
June 2013 Vol. 6Mail
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Semper Fi
evening the assault units move into position.
10 June 1918New attacks at 4:30 am with first use of heavy artillery. Units deep in the woods are ordered to withdraw to the south edge of the trees to avoid the shelling.
11 June 1918The assault following the bombardment succeeds in capturing two-thirds of Belleau Wood, but again with heavy casualties. A battalion commander, Lt. Col. Frederick Wise erroneously reports his men were in control of the woods, but has misread his maps and position. Brigade Commander James Harbord requests relief for his men reporting their near physical exhaustion. Another Navy medical officer Lt Orlando Petty received the Medal of Honor for his service this day.
12 June 1918Brigade command holds a council of war and conclude the German hold on the northern third of the wood is tenuous. An attack at 6 pm achieves a breakthrough, but they are now exposed.
13 June 1918Marines plug the line in their exposed area. German counterattack begins supported by the artillery from three divisions and almost recaptures Bouresches. Heavy gas casualties. A planned relief of 2/5 goes for naught as 2/6 is caught in the open by a artillery barrage with gas. Gunnery Sgt F. Stockham is nominated for the Medal of Honor for putting his gas mask on a wounded Marine while continuing to assist others. Stockham died a few days later from the effects of the gas, but his medal was not awarded until 1939 following a unit reunion at which it was discovered that the recommendation from the then Lt. Clifton Cates was never acted on.
14 June 1918Continued German counterattack fails. The 23rd Infantry extends its line to the edge of Bouresches freeing up Marines for the woods.
15 June 1918Heavy bombardment from Germans.
Marines from Belleau Being Relieved June 16th
16 June 1918Relief of Marine Units by 3rd Division's 7th Infantry.
17 June 1918Three battalions of the 7th Infantry deploy in the woods under 5th Marines commander Colonel Wendell Neville.
18 June 1918Series attacks and maneuvers by 7th Infantry begin, All fail with Army officers complaining about tactics ordered of them.
19 June 1918Continuous operations by 7th Infantry.
20 June 1918French III Corps assumes direction of the sector.
21 June 1918The last battalion-scale attack by Army units fail leaving the woods open. 7th Infantry deployments hit with heavy bombardment and machine gun fire.
22 June 1918Marine units back in line replacing 7th Infantry relief forces. French commanders reiterate demands that the woods be seized.
23 June 19183rd Battalion of 5th Regiment begins final assault with minimal gains and terrible losses. Two hundred ambulances are needed to evacuate the wounded. 24 June 1918French command commits sufficient artillery to reduce the woods. The guns are brought in to prepare for a renewed assault. 25 June 1918Major 14-hour bombardment starting at 0300 makes clearance of the remaining woods possible. The following attack swamps the remaining machine gun outposts of the enemy. Marines and Army machine-gunners participate in the assault. une 1918After beating off some early morning counterattacks, Major Maurice Shearer sends signal, "Woods now entirely -- US Marine Corps."
Marine Corps League 2013 - 2014 Officers Installation Dinner
March 16th we are having
If you have anyone people between the age of 8-18, we need recruits. Please have them contact Lisa King at 913-221-4273 or Jim Welchert at 913-207-8569
Please convey information on sick and distressed to Chaplain Joe Hughes at 913/ 894-2006 or email: [email protected]
Sick & Distressed
Fallen Marine (Reported by Marcia Sands)
Brian M. Carman - Jan 7, 2013Ray Bombardier - Jan 23, 2013George Davis, Jr. - Jan 26, 2013Bob Maynard - Feb 1, 2013James T. Adamson - Feb 8, 2013Harold E. Huggins - Feb 12, 2013Thomas A. Pollack - March 1, 2013Roy P. Stevens - 29 March 2013Paul J. McGovern - 1 April 2013Dorothy McNeil - 17 April 2013Donald Duggins - 18 April 2013James H. Brock - 30 April 2013Paul R. Stahl - May 16, 2013Anselm J. Robles - May 27, 2013
“There's no such thing as a former Marine. You're a Marine, just in a different uniform and you're in a different phase of your life. But you'll always be a Marine because you went to Parris Island, San Diego, or the hills of Quantico. So there's no such thing as a former Marine."
Unit: www.ncymks.com/National: www.youngmarines.comMCL Contacts:Jim WelchertMarcia Sands
New Century Young Marines
Veterans Affairs – KC VA Hospital
Per Voluntary Services, the VA now needs women's hair products, disposable men's razors, and coffee along with the usual men's underwear & socks needs. Note, this is an ongoing need.
PLEASE BRING SOME ITEMS TO OUR MCL MEETING.
Thank you,Contact: Gonzalo Reyes
Veterans Affairs – KC VA HospitalPer Voluntary Services, the VA now needs women's hair products, disposable men's razors, and coffee along with the usual men's underwear & socks needs. Note, this is an ongoing need.
PLEASE BRING SOME ITEMS TO OUR MCL MEETING.
Thank you,Contact: Gonzalo Reyes
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Overland Park, KS 66212(913) 381-3000
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