MAIL CALL September 2011

Semper Fi

September 2011

Editor Joe Hughes

Meetings: 4th Wed. of the Month American Legion Post 327 6521 Nieman Road, Shawnee, KS 913-631-7710 http://www.mclopks.org/ Officers: Commandant: Marcia Sands [email protected] Senior Vice: Jim Denton [email protected] Junior Vice: John Byrnes [email protected] J.A.G.: Rick Hinrichs [email protected] PAY./ADJ.: Bill Clinton [email protected] Chaplain: Joe Hughes [email protected] SGT. at Arms: Kevin Elmer [email protected]

The weather is getting cooler, football season has started, and we are getting into our fall activities. These include parades and the Marine Corps Birthday celebration dinner, and soon it will be time to start with Toys for Tots. Be sure to volunteer to help with whatever you can. Each and every event that I have done as a member of the Marine Corps League has been rewarding to me. I have made new friends at these activities, and they mean a lot to me. The Shriners' Drill competition was on Friday, September 2nd. We had seven of our Marines there as judges. Thanks to all of you: Steve Thomas, Gonzalo Reyes, Bob McFadden, David Yurkovich, Frank McGough, Joe Padilla, and me. The Shriners were very appreciative of our efforts, and they fed us a very enjoyable lunch afterwards. On Saturday, September 3rd, three of our Marines went back to act as judges during the Shriners' parade: Steve Thomas, Gonzalo Reyes, and Bob McFadden. Thank you, thank you, to these motivated, dedicated Marines.

Detachment Commandant’s MessageToys for Tots is a great thing to get involved with. We help the 24th Marines to distribute boxes and collect toys, and BiIl Clinton has been in charge of our (MCL) part of it. He puts in many hours to make it all run smoothly. He does a great job (Thank you, Bill!), but cannot do it without the help of many of our members, so consider volunteering to help with Toys for Tots. The next parade is the Overland Park Fall Festival. Come on out and march with us! Semper Fi , Marcia Sands

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 Page 2 of 10

September 2011

Gen. Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025

Dunford was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1955, and raised in Quincy, Massachusetts. He graduated from St. Michael's College in June 1977, and earned his commission that month. He is a graduate of the United States Army War College, Ranger School, and Amphibious Warfare School. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Government from Georgetown University and a second Master of Arts in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

In 1978, Dunford served in the 1st Marine Division as a platoon and company commander in 3rd Battalion 1st Marines and a company commander in 1st Battalion 9th Marines unit 1981. He served as the aide to the commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force for a year, then transferred to the Officer Assignment Branch at Headquarters Marine Corps in Washington, D.C.. He reported to the 2nd Marine Division in June 1985 and commanded L Company of 3rd Battalion 6th Marines. In 1987, he was reassigned to 2nd Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company as the Operations, Plans, and Training Officer.

From 1988-1991, Dunford was assigned as the Marine Officer Instructor at the College of the Holy Cross and Officer Candidates School at Marine Corps Base Quantico. In 1992, he was assigned to HQMC as a member of the Commandant’s staff group and subsequently as the Senior Aide to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. In 1995, he joined the 6th Marine Regiment as the executive officer, then went on to command 2nd Battalion 6th Marines from 1996 until 1998.

In 1999, Dunford was the executive assistant to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (under both Generals Joseph Ralston and Richard Myers) and as Chief, Global and Multilateral Affairs Division (J-5) until 2001. He next served in the 1st Marine Division where he was assigned to command the 5th Marine Regiment, then as the division's chief of staff and assistant commander. During this time, he served 22 months in Iraq.[4] During his command of RCT-5 in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, he earned the nickname "Fighting Joe" under James Mattis.

From 2005-2007, Dunford returned to Headquarters Marine Corps to serve as the Director of the Operations Division of the

Tour of Duty

Plans, Policies and Operations staff, and eventually became the Vice Director for Operations (J-3) at the Joint Staff in 2008. In December 2007, Dunford was nominated for promotion to the rank of major general. In February, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates announced that President George W. Bush had nominated Dunford for promotion to lieutenant general and appointment as Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations, to succeed LtGen Richard F. Natonski. In April 2008, his appointment to the permanent rank of major general was confirmed by the United States Senate, and simultaneously appointed in the grade of lieutenant general for his new assignment.

Dunford served a dual role in his assignment as Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations:

“ Is the Operations Deputy (OpsDep) for the Commandant on all Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) matters. Serves as the focal point for the interface between the Marine Corps (as one of the four Services) and the joint and combined activities of the JCS and the unified Commanders-in-Chief, and various allied and other foreign Defense agencies.

Is responsible for coordinating the development and execution of service plans and policies related to the structure, deployment, and employment of Marine Corps forces in general.

” On May 1, 2009, the Pentagon announced that President Barack Obama had appointed Dunford to serve as the commanding general of I Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Forces Central Command.

Less than a year into that assignment, Dunford was nominated by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to succeed James F. Amos as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, who had been nominated to succeed James Conway as Commandant. President Obama approved his promotion and Dunford assumed the duties and new rank on 23 October 2010.[3]

USMC History: Assistant Commandant

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assistant_Commandant_of_the_Marine_Corps

General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. Assistant Commandant

of the Marine Corps

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September 2011


This month in Marine Corps History

2 September 1945: The Japanese officially surrendered to the Allies on board the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay. With General Holland Smith transferred home in July 1945, the senior Marine Corps representative at the historic ceremony was LtGen Roy S. Geiger, who had succeeded Smith as Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.

5 September 1956: Eleven Marines from the 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division, stationed near Naha, Okinawa, drowned while swimming, from an undercurrent caused by Typhoon Emma. The violent storm, with 140 mph winds, struck the Philippine Islands, Okinawa, Korea, and Japan, causing some 55 deaths and millions of dollars in property damage.

6 September 1983: Two Marines were killed and two were wounded when rockets hit their compound in Beirut, Lebanon. Heavy fighting continued for the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit peacekeeping force in the area near their positions around the Beirut International Airport.

8 September 1942: On Guadalcanal, the 1st Raider Battalion and the 1st Parachute Battalion, supported by planes of MAG-23 and two destroyer transports, landed east of Tasimboko, advanced west into the rear of Japanese positions, and carried out a successful raid on a Japanese supply base.

11 September 1992: Hurricane Iniki devastated the island of Kauai in Hawaii in one of the worst storms the islands had seen in over a century. Marines of the 1st Marine Brigade based at Kaneohe Bay, spearheaded Operation Garden Sweep, the massive cleanup effort.

11 September 2001: At 9:38a.m. a commercial airliner, piloted by terrorists, slammed into the Pentagon, the headquarters of the Department of Defense, located across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. The Marines Corps was fortunate in that no Marines were killed or seriously injured in this attack. The weekend before, most of the Department of Marine Aviation, located directly above the site of impact, had been relocated to another area of the Pentagon, during building renovation. Immediately following the attack, Marines set up a “command center” under an overpass of Interstate 395, which runs beside the Pentagon. Working alongside fellow servicemen and civilians for hours, days, and weeks after the tragedy, Marines played a large role in the rescue and recovery effort. Including those aboard the hijacked Boeing 757, 189 men, women, and children were killed in the terrorist attack on the Pentagon.

15 September 1950: The 3d Battalion, 5th Marines landed on Wolmi-do Island in Inchon Harbor and secured it prior to the main landing. The 1st Marine Division under the command of Major General Oliver P. Smith landed at Inchon and began the Inchon-Seoul campaign.

16 September 1814: A detachment of Marines under Major Daniel Carmick from the Naval Station at New Orleans, together with an Army detachment, destroyed a pirate stronghold at Barataria, on the Island of Grande Terre, near New Orleans.

18 September 1990: A new 40-acre training facility for Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) was dedicated at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, by General Alfred M. Gray, Commandant of the Marine Corps.

20 September 1950: Marines of the 1st Marine Division crossed the Han River along a six-mile beachhead, eight miles northwest of Seoul, Korea. Five days later, the 1st and 5th Marines would attack Seoul and the city would be captured by 27 September.

24 September 1873: One hundred and ninety Marines and seamen from the USS Pensacola and Benicia landed at the Bay of Panama, Columbia, to protect the railroad and American lives and property during the revolution.

27 September 1944: The American flag was raised over Peleliu, Palau Islands, at the 1st Marine Division Command Post. Although the flag raising symbolized that the island was secured, pockets of determined Japanese defenders continued to fight on. As late as 21 April 1947, 27 Japanese holdouts finally surrendered to the American naval commander on the scene.

Mail Call


September 2011


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 David Yurkovich) Jan 22, 2011 - Sylvester Weitkamp (one of our new members in this last year)

Jan 25, 2011 - Paul R. Carpenter, MD

Feb 2, 2011 - Alva Byars (one of ours, of course)

Feb 7, 2011 - John M. Kissane

June 18, 2011 - John Steven Kearns

June 28, 2011 - Charles F. Walters

July 31, 2011 - Micheal R. Scherer 7-31-11

August 8, 2011 - William D. Kinsella 8-811

August 10, 2011 - David G Smith

August 31, 2011 - David M. Christy

September 9, 2011 - William R. Lyerla (certificate mailed)

Marine in Need Any member who is aware of a Marine or his family in need is asked to first submit a request in writing to Marine Pat O’Malley, of our Financial Assistance Review Committee, including a statement of the purpose, a cost estimate and the time period. Pat’s email is [email protected]; his address is 12412 Flint, Overland Park, KS 66213-2120. Phone (913) 451-1925 Marine Corps Scholarships & Funds Marine Corps League Foundation www.mclfoundation.org/scholarship_program.html Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation http://www.mcsf.org/ Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund http://semperfifund.org/

“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."

Mail Call


September 2011


Personal Plaque: Have you ever wished that along with the memories, photos and other items that you cherish of your Marine Corps career, you had a beautiful plaque of that special unit that you served in? Well, now you can! Marine Dennis Armstrong, one of our detachment members, is an expert at custom woodworking as you can see! He has graciously offered to make custom plaques (about 12" x 24") for any or all of our membership. Keeping in the Marine Corps brotherhood tradition, he is only going to charge our detachment for the actual materials; he is providing his talent at no charge! He can be reached at 913-244-7302. Cost $75.00. HyVee Gentlemen & Ladies, This fund raiser couldn't be easier and its beneficial to everyone you know including yourselves! The coupon book only costs you or a neighbor $5.00 and as you can see with the first coupon with a purchase of just $50.00 you or your neighbor gets their $5.00 back and has a whole book of valuable grocery coupons!Contact: Jim O'Connor - (913) 262-6661 - [email protected]

Detachment Fundraising

Upcoming Events Wednesday Sept 14 We will have CPR/First Aid training at our scheduled meeting time. Saturday Sept 17 GE Vet Appreciation 10-2 Details to follow Saturday Sept 24. We will be marching in the Overland Park Parade with the Marine Corps League. Details to follow Sunday Sept 25 Leavenworth Road Association Parade. Color Guard/Posting Colors Meet at 1:00 in front of Washington High School 7400 Leavenworth Road Full uniform, red shirts.

New Century Young Marines

Saturday Oct 29 Neewollah Parade in Independence, Ks with Tornado Alley YM, and Salty Dawgs YM Upcoming Events We will be doing a Veterans Appreciation in Olathe in November. Be watching for communication on this event. Notes Reminder, we will be having meetings every Wednesday from 6-8:30 pm EXCEPT the 4th Wednesday of the month. Unit: www.ncymks.com/ National: www.youngmarines.com MCL Contacts: Marcia Sands Steve Thomas Jim Welchert

Mail Call


September 2011


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 SEPTEMBER MCL MEETING. Thank you, Contact: Gonzalo Reyes

Mail Call


September 2011


Monday, September 19 - Marine Corps Scholarship Golf Tournament (contact Bill Clinton) Saturday, September 24, 2011 – Overland Park Fall Festival – the parade starts at 1000, and we will meet at 0900 in the area of 79th and Floyd. Wednesday, September 28, 2011 Marine Corps League Detachment Meeting at 1900 October 7, 8, 9, 2011 Race Track Fundraiser (help needed, sign-up sheet at next meeting – our major fundraiser) Saturday, October 15, 2011 – Maple Leaf Festival in Baldwin City, KS – the parade starts at 1100, we will meet at 1000. Saturday, November 5, 2011 – Veterans Day parade in Ottawa, KS – parade starts at 1045, and we will meet at 0945. Wednesday, November 9, 2011 Marine Corps League Detachment USMC Birthday Party – Drinks 1800, Dinner 1900 Cost: 20 per person Veterans' Day Appreciation Event: Friday, November 11, 2011 Armour Oaks Senior Living Center, 8100 Wornall Road, Kansas City, Mo. Time: 1300-1600 Free refreshments Wear your M.C. League Uniform 5 Star Jazz Band will perform December, Toy’s for Tot’s @ Toy’s R Us – Dec 2, 3, 4 – Dec 9,10, 11 – Dec 16, 17, 18 Volunteers needed Contact Bill Clinton ([email protected] / (913) 484-3078 for AM (0900 – 1300) or PM (1300 – 1800) shifts available at both the Overland Park & Olathe stores

Detachment Calendar

Community Activities A volunteer is still needed for the Community Activities position if you are interested, please Contact Commandant Marcia Sands @ 913- 341-4339 [email protected]

Volunteers Needed

VA Volunteer Services Help in Clinics, Escort Patients, Bingo & Activities, Shuttle Drivers, etc…. Volunteer Orientation: Every Wed 9a.m-11a.m. RM M1-271 816-922-2025 ext 135 [email protected] Or: Mr. Art Peter at 816- 331-4622 (MCL Deputy VS at KC VA Med)

Mail Call


September 2011


I encourage submissions of any announcements, pictures, stories, to the editor from detachment members. Deadline for all submissions by the 10th of every month. Remember, if you are involved in any community service work on behalf of our beloved Marine Corps, please send me a photo and some information for the Mail Call. Email: Joe Hughes – [email protected], Phone: 913-894-2006

From the Desk of the Editor

Calling: Rick Hinrichs

Ceremonial: Marcia Sands (pro tem)

Community Affairs: OPEN – volunteer needed

Donations: Bill Clinton

Facilities: Billy Goodson

Fallen Marines: David Yurkovich

Fundraising: Jim O’Connor

Historian: Lee Reynolds

Marines In Need: Bill Clinton

Mail Call: Joe Hughes

Supply: John Byrnes

Toy’s for Tot’s Bill Clinton

Veteran’s Affairs (VA): Gonzalo Reyes

Young Marines: Marcia Sands / Steve Thomas / Jim Welchert

Youth: Mike Swearingen

Standing Committees

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September 2011


PLEASE PATRONIZE OUR LOYAL SUPPORTERS

Mail Call


September 2011


Available to Rent

Available to Rent

PLEASE PATRONIZE OUR LOYAL SUPPORTERS

Documents

MAIL CALL September 2011