MAIL CALL March 2013

March 2013 Vol. 3Editor Joe Hughes

Meetings:

4th Wed. of the MonthVFW Post 73979550 Pflumm in Lenexa, KS 66215

http://www.mclopks.org

Officers:

Commandant:Marcia [email protected]

Senior Vice:Jim [email protected]

Junior Vice: John Byrnes [email protected]

J.A.G.: Rick Hinrichs [email protected]

PAY./ADJ.: Bill Clinton [email protected]

Chaplain: Joe [email protected]

SGT. at Arms: Dave [email protected]

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

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.

mailto:[email protected]







http://www.mclopks.org/

March 2013 Vol. 3Mail

Page 2 of 8Gen. Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025

Semper Fi

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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: Lee Reynolds



Semper Fi

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.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergeant_Major#United_States

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



Semper Fi

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 submittedJim 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



Semper Fi

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

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, 2013

Thank you to those who showed up for Tom Pollock's Fallen Marine Ceremony - Joe Hughes, Joe Padilla, Steve Thomas, Gonzalo Reyes.

“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 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

http://www.youngmarines.com/

http://www.ncymks.com/




Semper Fi

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



Semper Fi

Bob Allen Ford9239 Metcalf Ave.

Overland Park, KS 66212(913) 381-3000

“Toys for Tot’s Sponsor”



Semper Fi

413 Delaware

ERIN CECIL, REALTORCell: 913.707.6154E-Mail: [email protected]: 913.631.2904Website: www.erincecil.cbkc.com

“Daughter of a Marine”

REGAN REALTORS

11800 Shawnee Mission PkwyShawnee, KS 66203

http://www.erincecil.cbkc.com/


Documents

MAIL CALL March 2013