The Scoop December 2015

Transcription

1 Marine Corps League South St. Louis Detachment 183 The Scoop December 2015 Commandant s Corner: Bob Scannell As the year winds, down I wish to take a few moments to reflect on the year that we all just shared. Volume 1 Issue 12 There were many happy events, but yet we had to experience many sad events with the passing of several of our brother Marines. They gave us many fond memories and much inspiration in their examples. They will be missed, but well remembered. We had a few issues with our building which was expected, but we worked through them without much difficulty or expense. Our roof being one of them. Tuck pointing will be coming soon and that too will be dealt with. We are fortunate to be a Not For Profit organization and several souls have come forward and donated money and services. Keep in mind, all donations to us are tax deductible and greatly appreciated. I wish to thank all my Staff and the many members that step forward throughout the year and give of their time, knowledge and energy to help keep our Detachment running as best we can make it. Thanks to all for another wonderful Toys4Tots Campaign and please have a Merry Christmas. Chaplain s Desk: Ken Dieckmann We hear so much about the big sales of Christmas gifts and all the decorations being made to help celebrate the season. But my thoughts are about the reason for the season. Christ our King. We so easily forget to pay tribute to God, our country and our beloved Marine Corps. If we just stop the rushing and think about when we were small children, Now I lay me down to sleep. You know the verse. I then think about being in combat and if you were lucky as I was, we had a very small two foot tree. I decorated it with foil gum wrappers and prayed that I would somehow make it back home. In closing let me remind everyone we still have our brother Marines, brave men and women and those of other service branches that would be happy to know we are thinking and praying for their safe return. Merry Christmas to each of you and a blessed New Year for good health and peace to us all. Remember our food pantry; it is always in need of your help. Our sick and injured members and families need your prayers. Gene Blasé, Larry Geisler, Alfred Krupski, Jim Maquire, Ken Peterson and Dick Sopp. As of this writing, our brother in arms, Hal Holmes, was hospitalized and subsequently moved to a rehabilitation center for recovery. Keep him your prayers Inside this issue: Commandants Corner 1 Chaplain s Desk 1 Auxiliary Notes 2 Toys For Tots 2 This Month in Marine Corps History 3 Honor and 3 Color Guard Associates View 3 State 4 Convention State Convention Registration 5 Food Pantry 6 Awrards 7 and New Members League 7 Calendar General Notices 7 Hal Holmes 7

2 Page 2 The Scoop LADIES AUXILIARY MISSION: The Marine Corps Auxiliary was formed for the purposes of promoting the interests of the Marine Corps, the Marine Corps League and to protect and advance the welfare of Marines and their dependents. Auxiliary members participate in a wide variety of programs that benefit and preserve the fundamental rights and freedoms of every person of this Nation, young and old. Ladies Auxiliary: Sharon Easter What a nice day we had on Saturday, November 14, for our pot luck lunch where we (Pvt. George Phillips and our own South St. Louis Auxiliary members) were able to present several of the FOCUS Marines Foundation team with a $3,825 donation from the sale of the raffle tickets for the Side of Beef. THANKS AGAIN to each of you who bought or sold tickets. We do appreciate your support. And, as promised, the WINNER of the Side of Beef Raffle was John Bickerton from the Pvt. George Phillips Detachment. In addition, we were very happy to present a $900 donation to the FOCUS team from our September Marine Rose Day collection. Our Auxiliary Christmas party took place on Monday, December 7, at Pierre s in the Laclede Groves complex where we had a wonderful buffet dinner and a very decadent, delicious dessert. It was great to see everyone, and as you can see by the photos, we had a bit of fun doing a holiday photo booth photo in addition to one where we were all behaving! Many thanks to those who gave of their timeand efforts to help collect monies and then purchase toys for the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program. The first week of collections found the area in a downpour, only one corner of our assigned three corners was able to collect. Thanks to Bob Jost and his team as they weathered the storm at Linbergh and LeMay. Total funds collected for the two week drive was $11,360.72, our GrandMaster of Barbecue, Kris Steller (Stel) sold smoked meats and raised another $600. Commandant Bob Scannell delivered a check for $12, to the Marine Corps Reserve. Toys Purchased and sorted by members of MCL 183. Marine reservists from the 3rd Battalion, 23rd Marines help to sort and deliver toys.

3 Volume 1 Issue 12 Page 3 This Month in Marine Corps History Honors and Color Guard: Bob Jost, Bob Kinney, Jim Appelbaum 4 December 1950: LtCol Raymond G. Davis led his battalion into Hagaru-Ri, Korea after four days of intense fighting in the mountain passes against a numerically superior hostile force. His battalion, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, helped clear the way for the 5th and 7th Marines, and LtCol Davis was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism. 6 December 1928: A small detail of Marines under Captain Maurice G. Holmes defeated Nicaraguan bandits near Chuyelite. GySgt Charles Williams was mortally wounded during the fighting. Capt Holmes was later awarded the Navy Cross for gallantry, and a posthumous award was given to GySgt Williams. 8 December 1941: Japanese aircraft attacked Wake Island within hours of the fateful attack on Pearl Harbor. Marines of the 1st Defense Battalion and Marine Fighting Squadron 211 resisted Japanese invasion attempts for over two weeks before finally succumbing to an overwhelming force. 19 December 1972: The Marine detachment of the USS Ticonderoga provided shipboard security for three U.S. astronauts, Eugene Cernan, Ronald Evans, Harrison Schmitt, and their Apollo-17 space capsule. The astronauts had successfully completed a (then) record lunar stay of more than 75 hours. 20 December 1989: Operation Just Cause was launched in Panama to protect American lives, restore the democratic process, preserve the integrity of the Panama Canal Treaty, and apprehend dictator General Manuel Antonio Noriega. One Marine, Corporal Garreth C. Isaak, was killed and three other were wounded during the operation. 23 December 1941: Japanese forces launched a predawn landing on Wake Island and Wilkes Island, while their carriers launched air strikes against Wilkes, Wake, and Peale islands in support of the landing force. After nearly 12 hours of desperate fighting, the three islands were surrendered. 726 December 1950: Twenty helicopters from Marine Light Helicopter Squadron 162, were rushed to Ceylon onboard the USS Princeton where Marines participated in the rescue and evacuation of flood victims WE NEED YOU. Step up Marines! Contact one of our team leaders, volunteer to be a part of one of these teams. An Associates View: Larry Idoux Nancy and I spend some of the winter months at Ranchero Village which is in Largo, Florida. When everyone is there the number of families is about 900. On Nov 28th it was announced that they had collected enough money to purchase 30 bicycles and helmets for the Toys for Tots program in Largo. They also have over $300 to purchase additional toys or bikes and they were still collecting. Congratulations to MCL 183 in collecting over $12,000 for the Toys For Tots Nancy and I want to wish the Marines and their families and the Auxiliary and their families a very Merry Christmas and a healthy and Happy New Year. Semper Fi Larry Idoux Three Spent Shells, One for Duty, One for Country, One for Honor. Presented to the Deceased s next of kin.

4 Department of Missouri Annual Convention June 10-11, 2016 AGENDA FRIDAY 10 June Registration Ships Store Hospitality Room TBA 1500 Nominating Committee Breakout Room Commandant s Council Breakout Room Auction Salon F (Colonnade) Hospitality Room Re-opens St Louis City Center Hotel SATURDAY 11 June 2016 Breakfast on your own Registration Continues 0830 MCL-MCLA Joint Session Salon B 0915 Memorial Service On-Site 1000 MCL Meeting Salon B 1001 MCLA Meeting Salon C Lunch Sun Deck 1300 MCL MCLA Meetings Reconvene 1400 MCLA Presidents Meeting Breakout Room MODD Growl Salon C 1430 Flea Scratch Breakout Room Hospitality Room Cocktail Hour Ballroom Foyer 1900 Grand Banquet Salon B or City View C Hospitality Room Reopens after Grand Banquet Located in Downtown St. Louis, just minutes from the Arch, Laclede s Landing, Lumiere Place Casino, Busch Stadium, The Edward Jones Dome, and numerous great restaurants. Use group code MAF09A. Room rate, $ per night, 10% off meals at the hotel restaurants, includes parking, (have ticket validated at the front desk). Call direct for reservations. 400 S. 14th Street St. Louis, MO

5 Volume 1 Issue 12 Department of Missouri Annual Convention June 10-11, 2016 Page 5 MCL MEMBERS Name: Detachment: Title Office: Phone: AUXILIARY MEMBERS Name: Unit: Title Office: Phone: GUESTS Name: Phone: Banquet and $60.00 Hospitality $20.00 Banquet $40.00 MCL Registration Fee $3.00 Make Checks Payable To: South St. Louis Detachment 183 Mail To: Steve Michalski 3670 Wyoming St. St. Louis, MO Total $ Total $ Total $ Total $ Total Enclosed $

6 Food Pantry Ken Dieckmann The local Food Pantry is only open eight or nine days a month, but the number of individuals served during this short time is amazing. Each month, your denotations make an immeasurable difference in the lives of these families. Thank you for sharing your abundance with this worthwhile program. May God bless you for your selfless giving. Here are the latest figures and also pictures of the pantry. Volume 1 Issue 12 Page 6 Month Families Helped Total Individuals July August September Month Total 224 2,038 Gary Marshal (far right) speaks on behalf of Commandant Bob Scannell (2nd from right) in honoring Mark Reinert USMC Retired Captain (2nd from left) and Bill Hammerly USN retired Lt Commander. As co-workers of Gary, they collected the largest amount of individual funds for Toys for Tots. Thanks from MCL 183 and the Toys for Tots program. Jr Vice Commandant Steve Michalski addresses the selection committee at the recent National Convention Commandant Bob Scannell swears in Associate Members Ronald Damrey (L) and Mark Duncan (R.)

7 Volume 1 Issue 12 Page 7 MCL Leona Avenue St. Louis, MO (314)352-USMC Monthly Meetings Last Tuesday of the month 1900 Hrs Dinner Bell 18:00 Hrs Commandant Robert J. Scannell (314) bobscannell@hotmail.com Senior Vice Commandant James Applebaum (314) Junior Vice Commandant Steve Michalski (314) Paymaster Dr. John Hamilton. PhD (314) Adjutant David (Moose) McArthur (314) Chaplain Ken Dieckmann (314) Sergeant At Arms Gary Marshall (314) Jr. Past Commandant James L. Vance (314) Judge Advocate Eric Salabay (314) Advisers Hal Holmes David Rowley Lee Wisniewski Auxiliary President Sharon Easter Scoop Editor Michael Lee (314) theeditor.mcl183@att.net Honors Commander Robert Jost (636) The Scoop, the newsletter of Marine Corps League 183, South St. Louis Detachment is a monthly publication, self-published Leona St. Louis, MO Marine of The Year: 2009 Jack Steinke 2010 Dick Sopp 2011 James Vance 2012 Dave Winkler 2013 Dick Sopp 2014 Mike Lee League Calendar: James Applebaum Sr. Vice Date Event Location January 12 Staff Meeting Detachment January 26 Monthly Detachment Meeting Detachment Remember to support your Detachment Events. Much time and effort goes in to planning these events. Let s not be an 80/20 organization, where 80% of the efforts and participation are done by 20% of the members. Are you an 80 or 20 percenter? General Notices December 2015 Detachment Annual Dues If you have received a notification from National that your dues are payable at $55.00, this is an error. Your annual dues are only $ Please do not pay dues directly to National. Send your dues to Paymaster John Hamilton at the detachment. Save the time of writing that annual check. Sign up now for Life Membership. Life Membership Fees Age 36 and below $500, $400, $ plus $200. As mentioned by Chaplain Ken Dieckmann, Sgt. Hal Holmes, (Honorary Air Wing), was hospitalized in December. Fortunately, as of this date, Hal is in recovery at a local rehabilitation center and will be able to be home for Christmas. As you can see, our detachment, (Bill Rinehart and Rick Frazier), were able to perk up Hal with a gift commemorating his stay.

8 Once A Marine, Always A Marine United States Marine Corps Established 10 November 1775 MCL 183 South St. Louis Detachment Marine Corps League South St. Louis Detachment Leona Street St. Louis, MO Non-Profit Organization U. S. Postage Paid St. LOUIS, MO PERMIT No. 1845