NEWSLETTER OF THE HARFORD COUNTY DETACHMENT, MARINE CORPS LEAGUE. Commandant s Comments. Greetings Marines, Corpsmen and Associates:

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1 T H E L A S H U P NEWSLETTER OF THE HARFORD COUNTY DETACHMENT, MARINE CORPS LEAGUE Pete Arnold, Commandant Raymond F. Ayres, Newsletter Editor July 2012 Detachment Officers: Pete Arnold, Commandant Gene Wlock, Sr. Vice Commandant Evie Remines, Jr. Vice Commandant Jeff Beavers, Judge Advocate Donald Benson, Jr. Past Commandant & VAVS Representative Charles Warns, Jr., Fallen Marine/ Ceremonial Unit Coordinator Craig Reeling, Adjutant/ Scouting Coordinator Dick Wischhusen, Paymaster Bill Yarbrough, Chaplain Warren McNicholas, Sergeant at-arms VACANT Public Information Bud Reick, Quartermaster Dave Franz, Historian Larry Dietrich, Harford County Veterans Commission Representative James F. Ports, Legislative Officer Inside this issue: Commandant s Comments, From the Sr. Vice Commandant Supreme Court Ruling and TRICARE, Drawing for Rifle Raffle Detachment Business and Activities, MODD Pound 333 Update, National Convention Information A Marine Corps Icon, Marine Corps History VFW Lounge, Det Shirts, Det History, and Cell Phones for Soldiers VA Deploys New Processing Model for Compensation Claims LashUp Supporters Ads 9-10 About The LashUp, Submissions Commandant s Comments Greetings Marines, Corpsmen and Associates: The Detachment Color Guard again took first place in The Bel Air 4 th of July Parade. Congratulations to ceremonial unit coordinators Charlie Warns, Don Benson and the ceremonial unit. You did an outstanding job. To top it off the unit beat out an active duty Army unit that had a two star general marching with their unit. Marines Evie Remines, Don Benson and I did a Fallen Marine presentation for a Marine in Cecil County. This Marine left a wife and nine children. Needless to say we are keeping in touch with this family to lend any help we can. It s a very sad situation. We need Volunteers to work both the Bel Air BBQ bash and the Havre de Grace Seafood Festival. For the BBQ Bash contact Gene Wlock and for the seafood festival contact Jeff Beavers. Please keep on the lookout for new members. From the Sr. Vice Commandant Marines, Corpsmen and Associates, Semper Fidelis, Pete Arnold Well July is working out to be a very busy month. We had the 4th. of July parade and a couple of fallen marine programs to do and they went very well. Thank you to all who were able to attend. First Fri. are going well and we could use the help for all the up coming ones. If you are able to help please contact me. the big one is the BBQ bash and Sea food festival in Aug. We really need the help. I have a schedule made up so don't hesitate to call me at and I will sign you up for the times you request if they are not taken. There are two events that will be coming up this fall one will be a chilly cook off that is being run by EVERY THING GOES at the Dark Horse Tavern in Bel Air. All proceeds will be going to our TOYS FOR TOTS program. I will be giving more details at our meeting. The second is a bull and shrimp at the VFW Post that will be given for TOYS FOR TOTS by me in October. I am working with the VFW on a couple of dates. Congratulations to our honor guard for taking 1st place again in the 4th of July parade. Remember we can't be successful without everyone s help. Semper Fi, Gene Wlock

2 PAGE 2 NEWSLETTER OF THE HARFORD COUNTY DETACHMENT, MARINE CORPS Detachment Calendar July 24 Detachment Meeting at VFW Post, 7:00 p.m. August 7 Purple Heart Day MCL National Convention, Mobile AL 28 Detachment Meeting at VFW Post, 7:00 p.m. September 4 Labor Day 8 Department of Maryland Staff Meeting/Maryland Pack Growl, American Legion Post 11, 1450 Taney Avenue, Frederick, MD, 9:00 a.m. 11 Patriot Day 25 Detachment Meeting at VFW Post, 7:00 p.m. October 23 Detachment Meeting at VFW Post, 7:00 p.m. November 6 Election Day VOTE 10 Marine Corps Birthday 11 Veterans Day 22 Thanksgiving Day 27 Detachment Meeting at VFW Post, 7:00 p.m. Detachment Rifle Raffle Fund Raiser Drawing Supreme Court Health Care Ruling & TRICARE The June Supreme Court decision upholding the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has no impact on TRICARE health benefits for service members, military retirees and their families. TRICARE s commitment to providing the best possible health care to its more than 9.7 million beneficiaries remains unchanged. TRICARE is authorized by independent statutes, and remains under sole authority of the Defense Department and the Secretary of Defense. TRICARE benefits meet or exceed the minimum requirements provided in the ACA for creditable coverage, including coverage for pre-existing conditions and serious illnesses, preventive care services with no cost shares, reasonable out-of-pocket costs with no or low deductibles and copayments, and no annual or lifetime caps on coverage. For more information about TRICARE s covered clinical preventive services, go to Further, Congress also passed the TRICARE Affirmation Act, signed into law in April This law explicitly states that Department of Defense health coverage, including TRICARE, qualifies as "minimum essential coverage" under the ACA. Finally, TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) extends TRICARE coverage to the children of beneficiaries up to age 26. Congress authorized this program in the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act, which became law in January TYA, implemented in April 2011, gives eligible uniformed services dependents under 26 who are unmarried and not eligible for employer-sponsored health care coverage the option to purchase TRICARE coverage. As of May 31, 2012, more than 17,000 beneficiaries are enrolled in TYA. For more information about TYA and how to purchase it, go to To read more about TRICARE and the ACA, visit ppaca. On July 4th, the winning ticket for this years rifle raffle fund raiser was drawn. The winner was William S. Bell from Linthicum, MD. The winning ticket was bought at the Bel Air Gun Show. Mr. Bell already has a friend loading some 8mm ammo so they can go shooting. I should have had sunglasses on for the way he was beaming when notified he was the winner. Semper Fi, Dick Wischhusen

3 NEWSLETTER OF THE HARFORD COUNTY DETACHMENT, MARINE CORPS PAGE 3 Detachment Business and Activities Detachment Membership Report The detachment strength according to the June general meeting has the detachment at 91 members of 85 are paid and 6 in arrears. Of the 91 members 45 are paid life members. RENEWALS: With the exception of life members each member must pay a $35.00 annual renewal each year. This is due during the anniversary of the month that the member joined the detachment. Members who receive a renewal due notice in the mail from National Headquarters should submit their payment to the detachment adjutant/paymaster at the next monthly meeting or by mailing your check to: Marine Corps League Harford County Detachment Attn: Paymaster P.O. Box 656 Jarrettsville, MD If you don t want to deal with annual renewal of your membership think about life membership. Life Membership Dues are as follows: EFFECTIVE 1/1/2009 AGE $ $ $ and over $150 Chaplain s Home family members. I have not been notified of any members or member s family sick or in distress this past month. Please remember to give me a call at or me at billyarbroughjr@gmail.com to notify me of any illness or passing of a member or For God, Country, Corps and League, Bill Yarbrough Chaplain Fallen Marine Report I am happy to state we have not receive any notification of any Fallen Marine in Harford County this past month. We did conduct a Fallen Marine presentation on 6 July for Marine John Thomas JT Jensen of North East, MD in Cecil County. Our thoughts and prayers remain with all the Fallen Marines and their families, especially those we have recognized since establishing our Fallen Marine Program and all the Marines of the past who have reported to the Supreme Commandant; Rest in Peace Mighty Warriors. Respectfully Submitted, Charlie Warns Don t forget, every Marine Corps League member is a Marine Corps League recruiter. Semper Fidelis, Dick Wischhusen Paymaster

4 PAGE 4 NEWSLETTER OF THE HARFORD COUNTY DETACHMENT, MARINE CORPS Detachment Business and Activities Continued Operation Welcome Home Our next Operation Welcome Home event is scheduled for Thursday, 26 July and need to be at the airport at 5:45 PM. We will meet at the Outback Restaurant in Perry Hall at 4:45 PM. PLEASE MARK YOU CALENDARS AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ABOVE EVENT. WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS DETAIL. IF INTERESTED PLEASE LET ME KNOW. I can be reached by phone at or apetearnold@aol.com. Thursday, 26 July. Airport at 5:45 PM Outback at 4:45 PM Marine Corps League License Plates and motorcycle). Any members who is in good standing in the Marine Corps League may purchase Marine Corps League license plate (auto Detachment point of contact for MCL license plates is Marine Bill Collins or you can contact Past Department Commandant Jack Colleran of the Baltimore Detachment. Jack is the state chairman for the Marine Corps League License Program. If interested in obtaining these organizational plates, please contact Jack at (410) or at 44 Benfield Rd, Severna Park, MD These are a great recruiting tool for the Marine Corps League. Bel Air 4th of July Independence Day Parade The detachment again this year participated in the Bel Air 4th of July parade. Hats off to the Bel Air parade committee for putting together a fantastic Independence Day parade. Despite hot weather, the parade route was lined with parade goers celebrating our nation's independence. I am happy to report that the detachment ceremonial unit came in first place among the color guard units in the parade. Great Job. This makes three years straight for taking first place. The Army unit in the parade 2nd and the Bel Air American Legion Post 39 was third. Charlie Warns Ceremonial Unit Coordinator

5 NEWSLETTER OF THE HARFORD COUNTY DETACHMENT, MARINE CORPS PAGE 5 Military Order of the Devil Dogs Pound 333 Update Woof Woof, Our next Pound Growl is July 28th at the Jarrettsville VFW Post. Following the growl will be our annual Pound Picnic (Dogs Only). The growl will start at 10:00 a.m. with the picnic starting at 11:00 a.m. Pups are to report to the Mad Dog at 9:00 a.m. prior to the start of the growl for some needed obedience training. Over the summer months, I want you Dogs to think about our election of new Pound officers for that will take place at our September 22nd Pound Growl. That growl will be held at the Cecil County Dog House at American Legion Post 15, 129 West Main Street, Elkton, MD. Breakfast will be available at 8:00 a.m. and the growl will commence at 9:00 a.m. Pups will report to the Mad Dog at 8:30 a.m. to see how many well behaved Dogs we have after the July obedience training. A big Woof Woof and congratulations to PDD Don Benson for becoming Maryland Pack Leader. Woof Woof, Charlie Warns, Pound Keeper Dog Patch Pound #333 Marine Corps League National Convention 2012 August Mobile, Alabama P.L. Wilson Detachment #447 The Battle House Renaissance Hotel & Spa 26 North Royal Street Mobile, Alabama (866) Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel 64 South Water Street Mobile, Alabama (800) The P.L. Wilson Detachment is happy to offer two unique choices for our 2012 convention attendees. Both hotels are Renaissance properties (a Marriot brand). They are located one block from each other and directly across the street from the Arthur Outlaw Convention Center, which will be the site of all MCL & MCLA business sessions and the MODD Supreme Growl. (see map for more details.) Cross charge privileges apply at both hotels for your convenience. ROOM RATE at BOTH HOTELS - $107 plus 14% occupancy tax INCLUDES: Hot breakfast buffet in both hotels - Free self parking - Free wireless internet in guest rooms - 42" flat screen TVs in all rooms - Fitness center - In-room safe - micro fridge in all rooms

6 PAGE 6 NEWSLETTER OF THE HARFORD COUNTY DETACHMENT, MARINE CORPS A Marine Icon - LtCol Earl Hancock Pete Ellis In 1913, while a student at the Naval War College, LtCol Pete Ellis participated in drafting a part of the War Department s Rainbow Plan for eventual war against Germany, Italy, and Japan. The Orange section dealt with war in the Pacific-something Ellis believed was inevitable-and his contribution to it was Operation Plan 712, Advanced Base Operations in Micronesia, a plan for seizure of enemy bases that would eventually be implemented with great success during World War II. During World War I, as a staff officer for Major General John A. Lejeune, Commanding General of the U.S. Army 2nd Infantry Division, Ellis proved to be a brilliant tactician and strategist. After his service in World War I, Colonel Ellis served as an intelligence officer in the Dominican Republic from April to December 1920, followed by service as head of the intelligence section of the Division of Operations and Training with Headquarters Marine Corps from December 1920 to May His next assignment was as the FIRST SPY in the U.S. Marine Corps, when he took on clandestine reconnaissance missions in the Pacific to monitor Japanese military buildup there. He died under mysterious circumstances on the Japanese-held island of Palau in the Caroline Islands on May 12, Ellis Hall, at the Command and Staff School of the Marine Corps Education Command at Quantic, is named in his honor. This Month in Marine Corps History 4 July 1801: President Thomas Jefferson reviewed the Marines, led by the Commandant of the Marine Corps, LtCol William W. Burrows and the Marine Band, on the White House grounds. The smartly uniformed Marines performed drills and fired various salutes in observance of the new nation's 25th anniversary. 7 July 1941: The 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW) was activated at Quantico, Virginia. Within a year of activation, the Wing would participate in the Marine Corps offensive at Guadalcanal. That bitter campaign would be the first in a series of legendary battles in which the Wing would add luster to its reputation. The 1st MAW would earn five Presidential Unit Citations for gallantry in campaigns spanning World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. 11 July 1798: President John Adams approved "An Act for Establishing and Organizing a Marine Corps", and it became law. The following day, the President appointed William Ward Burrows the Major Commandant of the new Corps. In August, Major Burrows opened his headquarters in Philadelphia, at that time still the capital of the new nation. 18 July 1918: The 4th Brigade of Marines began an attack near Soissons, France, as part of a threedivision counterattack against the Germans. In the first two days of battle, the brigade sustained 1,972 casualties. 24 July 1944: The V Amphibious Corps, commanded by Major General Harry Schmidt, landed on Tinian, in the Mariana Islands. The following morning, the 2d and 4th Marine Divisions began a shoulder-to-shoulder southward sweep of the island. Organized enemy resistance faded within a week, and on 1 August, MajGen Schmidt declared the island secure. 26 July 1947: The National Security Act of 1947 became effective, reaffirming the status of the Marine Corps as a separate military service within the Department of the Navy. The Act provided for Fleet Marine Forces, and confirmed the Corps' mission of seizing and defending advanced bases, as well as land operation incident to naval campaigns.

7 NEWSLETTER OF THE HARFORD COUNTY DETACHMENT, MARINE CORPS PAGE 7 In the Lounge at the VFW We welcome the Marine Corps League members to the Lounge, we always need your support. Please keep in mind if you are not a VFW member you MUST sign our guest book upon entering the lounge. If you bring a friend be sure that they sign the guest book as well. Harford County is watching all private clubs, we do not want to make the newspaper for any reason. Come on out the 3rd Tuesday at 6:30 for shrimp night, and bring some friends. We have 1/2 lb. shrimp, fries, and cole slaw for $ We have a signup sheet in the lounge, you can sign up when you come in or call between 6:60 and 9:30 Tuesday- Saturday and to be put on the signup sheet. Cut off is the Saturday night before the shrimp night. Every Thursday night is ladies night and all drinks for ladies are 1/2 price. Perfect for a ladies night out. Detachment Shirts Available Don Benson can furnished detachment members with some very nice detachment golf shirts and sweatshirts with the name Harford County Detachment, Marine Corps League, and the Eagle, Goble and Anchor on the shirts. The price of the golf shirts are approximately $ There are several types of shirts and colors to select from and I would suggest that you check directly with Don at a detachment meetings, call him at or msgte8don@yahoo.com to inquire or order a shirt. Detachment History Book I am always looking for articles, items and photographs from any of our detachment activities to include in our Detachment History Book. If you have any of these items please share them with me. Any original photographs will be copied and returned. Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday CLOSED CLOSED 6:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. 6:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Don t forget to stop by and look through our history book before or after any of our monthly meetings. Dave Franz, Historian The Cell Phones for Soldiers program is a viable way for us to show our support to the deployed troops. We collected 245 phones this past month. To date and since June 2005, the detachment has collected over 11,935 cell phones. These phones are sent to a collection point and exchanged for Telephone Calling Cards which are then sent overseas to our deployed troops. This enables them to call family and friends at no cost to them. If you have collected any phone donations please be sure to bring them to our next meeting. Pete Arnold, CPS Coordinator

8 PAGE 8 NEWSLETTER OF THE HARFORD COUNTY DETACHMENT, MARINE CORPS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 11, 2012 VA Deploys New Processing Model for Compensation Claims New Procedures Ensure Benefits Delivery to Veterans in Need WASHINGTON The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today it is deploying a new model for processing compensation benefits claims at 16 VA regional offices. The new model is part of a comprehensive transformation plan designed to yield an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 additional compensation claim decisions annually, while ensuring Veterans most in need receive priority attention. This new model is a part of our comprehensive plan to eliminate the compensation claims backlog," said Under Secretary for Benefits, Allison A. Hickey. Our redesigned model follows comprehensive planning and testing to ensure we have the right recipe for success. The new organizational model involves special handling of claims from Veterans who are facing the most serious injuries or illnesses or experiencing financial hardships or homelessness, and therefore need immediate attention. Through a new intake processing center, claims are routed to one of three segmented lanes: Express: Claims that have only one or two medical conditions, or have all the supporting documentation, medical evidence and service records needed for an expeditious rating decision referred to as fully developed claims. Special Operations: Claims requiring special handling because of the unique circumstances of the Veterans. These include financial hardship; homelessness; serious wounds, injuries or illnesses; Post Traumatic Stress Disorder associated with military sexual trauma; and former prisoner of war status. Core: Claims with more than two medical conditions, or those that will need additional evidence to make a compensation decision. The segmented-lanes approach helps increase speed and accuracy because the claims specialists become familiar with processing claims of similar complexity. Veterans and their Veterans Service Organization representatives are encouraged to provide all the needed evidence along with their application in a fully developed claim in order to expedite the process. Sixteen regional offices have received the new organizational and process model, including Huntington, W.Va.; Hartford, Conn.; Portland, Ore.; Houston, Texas; Cleveland, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; Boise, Idaho; Phoenix, Ariz.; New Orleans, La.; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Atlanta, Ga.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Wichita, Kan.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Newark, New Jersey and Fort Harrison, Mont. These offices will also receive new technology systems and software upgrades over the next 3 months. All 56 VA regional offices will have fully implemented all of the people, process, and technology initiatives in VA s transformation plan by the end of To learn more about how to file fully developed claims using VA s new Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQs), visit

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10 PAGE 10 NEWSLETTER OF THE HARFORD COUNTY DETACHMENT, MARINE CORPS LASHUP SUPPORTER CLUB Help support our newsletter by getting some area businesses to place an advertisement in the newsletter. A full page advertisement cost $40.00, half a page $25.00, and a business card advertisement cost $ All advertisements will run for one year. The advertisements help offset the cost of publication and postage for the newsletter. Detachment members who own a business advertise for free. We wish to thank our local business supporters. With their assistance, we are able to publish the newsletter! Thanks! Ray Ayres

11 THE LASHUP Marine Corps League Harford County Detachment #1198 P.O. Box 656 Jarrettsville, MD Phone: About the Lashup This newsletter is published monthly by the Harford County Detachment #1198, Marine Corps League. Lashup is Marine slang from the World War II era that was used to refer to a Marine s outfit or unit. Copies of the newsletters will be distributed to all detachment members and selected Marine Corps League organizations. The views and opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Department of Defense, the U.S. Marine Corps, or the Marine Corps League. Submissions Once a Marine, Always a Marine Website Deadline for articles to be published in the detachment newsletter is by the first of each month. All detachment officers are encouraged to put an article in each issue of the newsletter. your articles and stories to Info@HarfordCountyMarines.org or submit article by mail to: MARINE CORPS LEAGUE HARFORD COUNTY DETACHMENT ATTN: NEWSLETTER EDITOR P.O. BOX 656 JARRETTSVILLE, MD Marine Corps League Harford County Detachment #1198 P.O. Box 656 Jarrettsville, MD