May 2013 Vol. 5

Editor Joe Hughes

Meetings: 4th Wed. of the Month VFW Post 7397

9550 Pflumm in Lenexa, KS 66215 http://www.mclopks.org

Officers: Commandant:

Marcia Sands masands1@aol.com Senior Vice:

Jim Denton dentondelivery@aol.com Junior Vice: John Byrnes

jj-byrnes@sbcglobal.net J.A.G.: Rick Hinrichs

rhinrichs@kc.surewest.net PAY./ADJ.: Bill Clinton

bdclint@sbcglobal.net Chaplain: Joe Hughes

jmhughes@everestkc.net SGT. at Arms:

Dave Wood dwood1903@gmail.com

Spring has finally arrived! It seemed like winter was NEVER going to be over. Hopefully we won't go straight into the hot, sticky days of summer too soon. I have learned a lot over the last two years as Commandant of the detachment, and I have enjoyed getting to know all of you. Thanks go to all of you who supported me in my endeavors, especially my fellow officers. It has been a team effort, and as a team, we were successful. At our next meeting on May 22, we will be installing our new officers. Please be sure to come to the meeting and dinner, and show your support for these Marines who will be leading you for this next year. I want to encourage each of you to find some new way to contribute to the Marine Corps League and to our detachment over the next year. We get better with YOUR help.

Detachment Commandant’s Message

We have several events coming up: The drawing for the Hawaii trip benefitting the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation is on May 18 at 1900 at Danny's Bar and Grill. If you are in town on Memorial Day, the Lenexa VFW Post 7397 will have a ceremony at 1300 in the parking lot. Wear your uniform or just your cover and come early. The June meeting is our annual picnic, which will be held at 1800, on June 26, at the Lenexa VFW. There will be hot dogs, hamburgers, and sodas for $5.00 per person. Bring your favorite side dish or dessert to share.

Semper Fi! Marcia Sands, Commandant

Mail Call

Marine 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.

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Semper Fi

Marcia Sands

Special Recognition & Thank You for Serving as Commandant

the Past Two Years

Detachment Calendar ******* PLEASE READ*********** May 22, 2013 – MCL Meeting – Installation of Officers Dinner @ VFW 07:00PM May 23, 2013 – Fundraiser @ Rawhide Harley Davidson at 16:30. Contact John Byrnes to volunteer May 27, 2013 – Memorial Day Ceremony @ VFW 01:00PM June 12, 2013 – MCL Officers Meeting @ VFW 07:00PM June 26, 2013 – MCL Meeting @ VFW 06:00PM Picnic – Bring a side dish September 18, 2013 – MCL Meeting @ VFW 07:00PM ‘Marine of the Year’ presentation Future MCL Pancake Breakfasts have been planned for July 28th and October 27th. We need donations & volunteers.

We have a new P.O. Box address for the Detachment: P.O. Box 14362, Lenexa, Ks. 66285

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Semper Fi

This Month Marine Corps History

2 May 1946: Marines from Treasure Island Marine Barracks,

under the command of Warrant Officer Charles L. Buckner, aided in suppressing the three-day prison riot at Alcatraz Penitentiary in San Francisco Bay. WO Buckner, a veteran of the Bougainville and Guam campaigns, ably led his force of Marines without suffering a single casualty. 5 May 1983: In Beirut, Lebanon, a UH-1N helicopter carrying the commander of the American peace-keeping force, Colonel James Mead, was hit by machine gun fire. The six Marines aboard escaped injury. Colonel Mead and his crew had taken off in the helicopter to investigate artillery and rocket duels between rival Syrian-backed Druze Moslem militiamen and Christian Phalangists that endangered French members of the multinational force. 8 May 1995: In the wake of the most devastating storm to hit the New Orleans area in more than 200 years, a group of Marines and sailors from Marine Forces Reserve demonstrated the quick response synonymous with the Navy/Marine Corps team. Within 24 hours of being called, Marines assisted in the evacuation of 2,500 civilians, and Navy corpsmen treated scores of flood victims. 10 May 1945: The 22d Marines, 6th Marine Division, executed a pre-dawn attack south across the Asa River Estuary and seized a bridgehead from which to continue the attack toward Naha, the capital of Okinawa. 15 May 1862: Corporal John Mackie, the first Marine to earn

the Medal of Honor, was commended for service in the USS GALENA during action against Confederate shore batteries at Drewry's Bluff which blocked the James River approaches to Richmond.

16 May 1945: The 22d and 29th Marines continued the attack

against Half Moon Hill, a day characterized by the 6th Marine Division as the "bitterest" of the Okinawa campaign. By the 18th, the famed "Shuri line" had been broached. 22 May 1912: First Lieutenant Alfred A. Cunningham, the first

Marine officer to be assigned to "duty in connection with aviation" by Major General Commandant William P. Biddle, reported for aviation training at the Naval Aviation Camp at Annapolis, Maryland, and Marine aviation had its official beginning. 23 May 1988: The V-22 Osprey, the world's first production tilt-rotor aircraft, made its debut during rollout ceremonies at Bell Helicopter Textron's Arlington, Texas, facility. More than 1,000 representatives from the military, industry, and media, gathered to hear various speakers, including Gen Alfred Gray, Commandant of the Marine Corps, praise the versatile rotor craft designed to meet the needs of 21st Century battlefields. 26 May 1969: Operation Pipestone Canyon began when the 1st Battalion, 26th Marines and 3d Battalion, 5th Marines began sweeps in the Dodge City/Go Noi areas southwest of Da Nang. It terminated at the end of June with 610 enemy killed in action at a cost of 34 Marines killed. 29 May 1991: Elements of a joint task force that included the 5th Marine Expeditionary Brigade departed the Bay of Bengal off the coast of Bangladesh after nearly two weeks of disaster relief operations following a devastating cyclone. The joint task force delivered tons of relief supplies using helicopters, C-130s, and landing craft in Operation Sea Angel.

Standing Committees – Volunteers Needed

Calling: Rick Hinrichs Marines In Need: Bill Clinton

Ceremonial: Marcia Sands (pro tem) Mail Call: Joe Hughes

Community Affairs: Gonzalo Reyes Supply: John Byrnes

Donations: Bill Clinton Toy’s for Tot’s Bill Clinton

Facilities: Jim Denton Veteran’s Affairs (VA): Gonzalo Reyes

Fallen Marines: Ken Fain Young Marines: Jim Welchert / Marcia Sands

Fundraising: Lee Nelson Youth: Mike Swearingen

Historian: Lee Reynolds

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Semper Fi

Marine Corps League Breakfast Fundraiser – April 28

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Semper Fi

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: jmhughes@everestkc.net

Sick & Distressed

Fallen Marine (Reported by Marcia Sands)

Brian M. Carman - Jan 7, 2013 Ray Bombardier - Jan 23, 2013 George Davis, Jr. - Jan 26, 2013 Bob Maynard - Feb 1, 2013 James T. Adamson - Feb 8, 2013 Harold E. Huggins - Feb 12, 2013 Thomas A. Pollack - March 1, 2013 Roy P. Stevens - 29 March 2013 Paul J. McGovern - 1 April 2013 Dorothy McNeil - 17 April 2013 Donald Duggins - 18 April 2013 James H. Brock - 30 April 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.com

MCL Contacts:

Jim Welchert Marcia 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

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Semper Fi

Bob Allen Ford

9239 Metcalf Ave. Overland Park, KS 66212

(913) 381-3000

“Toys for Tot’s Sponsor”

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Semper Fi

El Patron is located at: 2905 S.W. Blvd.

Kansas City, Missouri 64108

816-931-6400

ERIN CECIL, REALTOR

Cell: 913.707.6154 E-Mail: ececil@cbregan.com Fax: 913.631.2904 Website: www.erincecil.cbkc.com

“Daughter of a Marine”

REGAN REALTORS

11800 Shawnee Mission Pkwy Shawnee, KS 66203