Marine Corps League - Gen. Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025
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Marine Corps League Mission Statement: March 2013 Vol. 3 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.rr.com PAY./ADJ.: Bill Clinton bdclint@sbcglobal.net Chaplain: Joe Hughes jmhughes@everestkc.net SGT. at Arms:
Dave Wood dwood1903@gmail.com
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.
Detachment Commandant’s Message It’s March already, and the weather is starting to look nice. I hope you all survived the snowstorms. It reminded me of my childhood growing up in Minnesota. We always enjoyed the snow. The Iwo Jima ceremony that was scheduled in February and was postponed due to the weather, has been rescheduled for Friday, March 29th at 1100. It is at the Leavenworth National Cemetery (NOT on the Army base). Let’s show support for our own Iwo Jima survivors, Jerry Ingram and Ed Boswell, by attending this ceremony. Contact me if you’d like to carpool. Our next fundraiser breakfast will be on Sunday, April 28th. We would appreciate all the help we can get. If you cannot help with the set-up, cooking, or the cleanup, please support your detachment by coming to breakfast and bringing your family and friends. It is a lot of
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March 2013 Vol. 3
This Month Marine Corps History 2 March 1867: Jacob Zeilin, Colonel Commandant of the Marine Corps from 30 June 1864, was this date promoted to the rank of Brigadier General Commandant, the first time Congress authorized this rank for the Marine Corps. The statute, however, was repealed in June 1874 so that the rank of Commandant would again revert to colonel upon Zeilin's retirement.
Colonels, Ruth Reinholz and Ruth O'Holleran, served as historians with the Military History Branch, Secretary Joint Staff, MACV. 25 March 1945: After 35 days of bitter fighting, the amphibious assault on the rocky fortress of Iwo Jima finally appeared over. On the night of 25 March, however, a 300-man Japanese force launched a vicious final counterattack in the vicinity of Airfield Number 2. Army pilots, Seabees and Marines of the 5th Pioneer Battalion and 28th Marines fought the fanatical Japanese force till morning but suffered heavy casualties --more than l00 killed and another 200 American wounded. Nearly all of the Japanese force was killed in the battle.
8 March 1965: The 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade landed at DaNang, Republic of Vietnam as the first U.S. ground combat troops to be committed to that conflict. The 3,500 men arrived both across the beach with Battalion Landing Team 3/9, and at DaNang Airfield with Battalion Landing Team 1/3. 13 March 1943: The first group of71 Women Marine officer candidates arrived at the U.S. Midshipmen School (Women's Reserve) at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. The Navy's willingness to share training facilities enabled the Marine Corps to begin training Marine Corps Women's Reserve officers just one month after the creation of the MCWR was announced.
27 March 1953: The 5th Marines, supported by the 2d Battalion, 7th Marines, in the first full day of fighting after the Chinese assault the previous evening of Outpost Vegas on Korea's western front, counterattacked to regain enemy-held positions. Companies E and F of 2/7 , down to only three platoons between them, managed to regain partial control of Outpost Vegas that day. 31 March 1801: On this date, LtCol Commandant William W. Burrows rode with president Thomas Jefferson to look for "a proper place to fix the Marine Barracks on." President Jefferson was a personal friend of the Commandant, and deeply interested in the welfare of the Corps and accompanied Burrows on horseback on the morning of 31 March. They chose a square in Southeast Washington, bounded by 8th and 9th streets, and a & I streets, because it lay near the Navy Yard and was within easy marching distance of the Capitol.
17 March 1967: The first woman Marine to report to Vietnam for duty, Master Sergeant Barbara J. Dulinsky, began her 18-hour flight to Bien Hoa, 30 miles north of Saigon. MSgt Dulinsky and the other officer and enlisted Women Marines that followed were assigned to the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) based in Saigon. Most worked with the Marine Corps Personnel Section providing administrative support to Marines assigned as far north as the DMZ, but two Lieutenant
Standing Committees – Volunteers Needed Calling: Ceremonial: Community Affairs: Donations: Facilities: Fallen Marines: Fundraising: Historian:
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Rick Hinrichs Marcia Sands (pro tem) Gonzalo Reyes Bill Clinton Jim Denton Ken Fain Lee Nelson Lee Reynolds
Marines In Need: Mail Call: Supply: Toy’s for Tot’s Veteran’s Affairs (VA): Young Marines: Youth:
Bill Clinton Joe Hughes John Byrnes Bill Clinton Gonzalo Reyes Jim Welchert / Marcia Sands Mike Swearingen
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Gen. Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025
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March 2013 Vol. 3
The Greatest Competitive Rifle Shooter in Marine Corps History Morris Fisher, (born May 4, 1892, Youngstown, Ohio, U.S.—died May 23, 1968), American rifle shooter who won five Olympic gold medals during the 1920s. At the 1920 Olympics in Antwerp, Fisher, apparently feeling the pressure of the competition in the three-position free rifle event, took 20 minutes before
firing his first shot at the target, which was placed 300 m away.
Although he missed the mark, he was close enough to score points. He then shot well enough from the required positions—prone, kneeling, and standing—to win the gold by 12 points. Fisher also won gold medals in the military rifle and free rifle team events, as the United States swept those competitions. Fisher added two more gold medals at the 1924 Olympics in Paris. He again won the individual free rifle gold medal, despite the distance being doubled to 600 m, edging out fellow American Carl Osburn. Fisher was again a part of the victorious American free rifle team in the three-position (all-around) event, which had competitors firing from 400, 600, and 800 m. Fisher also held five international records and was a six-time world champion. Enlisting in the Marines in 1911, he apparently served on Haiti in 1915. As member of the 13th Marines, 5th Brigade, Fisher went to France in September 1918. His unit was assigned to a logistical role during WWI’s final two months. Returning to active duty in March 1942, Fisher was in charge of rifle training at Parris Island, S.C. until July 1945. His only son was KIA on Okinawa. Fisher frequently competed in shooting tournaments while on duty as a United States Marine. He retired from the Marine Corps as a Sergeant Major. The USA Shooting Hall of Fame inducted him as a charter member in 1991. He was inducted into the United States Marine Corps Sports Hall of Fame in 2009. He won a total of five Olympic gold medals. He was the author of two popular books on marksmanship.
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Gen. Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025
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March 2013 Vol. 3
68th Iwo Jima Memorial Ceremony - Leavenworth National Cemetery at the 4 Marine Division Monument Site (Behind V.A. center)
RESCHEDULED TO: Friday March 29, 2013 11:00 hours Come help us honor our fallen heroes of all Services and Wars. Guest Speaker : Lt. Col. Andrew Dietz, USMC Jerry Ingram, President Chapter 39, 4th Marine Division Assoc. Of WWII
913-709-5014
** Note** Parking will be restricted to the cordoned off road area to the east of monument.
Detachment Calendar
******* PLEASE READ***********
March 27, 2013 – MCL Meeting @ VFW 07:00PM Final names for nominations to be submitted Jim O'Connor, Lee Nelson and Gonzalo Reyes will be calling qualified members to run for office in our League elections. Friday March 29, 2013 Iwo Jima Memorial - Leavenworth Nat'l Cemetary 1100. Thursday April 11, 2013 - Rawhide H-D fundraising meal to be served to support local Scholarship Program April 20, 2013 – MCL Officers Meeting @ VFW 07:00PM April 24, 2013 – MCL Meeting @ VFW 07:00PM Election of Officers April 28, 2013 – MCL Pancake Breakfast MCL Fundraiser 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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Gen. Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025
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March 2013 Vol. 3
Sick & Distressed Please convey information on sick and distressed to Chaplain Joe Hughes at 913/ 894-2006 or email: jmhughes@everestkc.net
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 Thank you to those who showed up for Tom Pollock's Fallen Marine Ceremony - Joe Hughes, Joe Padilla, Steve Thomas, Gonzalo Reyes.
New Century Young Marines
“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
March 16th we are having a May 16th fund raiser Price Chopper in Gardner. Please come have lunch 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
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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Gen. Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025
Mail Call
March 2013 Vol. 3
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.
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Thank you, Contact: Gonzalo Reyes
Veterans Affairs – KC VA Hospital
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Gen. Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025
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March 2013 Vol. 3
Bob Allen Ford 9239 Metcalf Ave. Overland Park, KS 66212 (913) 381-3000 “Toys for Tot’s Sponsor”
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Gen. Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025
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March 2013 Vol. 3
413 Delaware
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”
11800 Shawnee Mission Pkwy Shawnee, KS 66203 REGAN REALTORS
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Gen. Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025