Eugene Sara Detachment Marine Corps League PO Box 2051 Billings, MT 59103 WEB www.eugenesara.com email esmarinecorpsleague@gmail.com Commandant - Thomas Lowry Editor - Tim Bender Distribution Bill Bishop Advertising Jim Borner, Tim Bender, Mike Wyrwas Photos Tim & Patricia Bender, Ashley Borner, Jim Borner, Pete Siegel Commandants Message This month we have some catching up to do because we didn t have a formal meeting in April. Thanks to all who came to the installation. All seemed to enjoy the evening. I was pleased to have a representative from our squad B join us. Thanks to Ed Heinle for making the trip and I hope you had a safe trip home. By the time this is printed, I will have also visited their meeting in Miles City. Also, thanks to Jim Benner for joining us and conducting the swearing in of the new members and the oath to the officers. The May meeting will have the final information for Memorial Day ceremonies and the times of each. I think at this point, that we will have four ceremonies to do, so I hope many of you will be able to help. The weather has finally given us a break, so work has started at the Riverside cemetery. If you have some time to assist, contact Ralph McKinney. There are many stones to set so let s get it done before the heat gets to us. I know several funerals have been postponed for the weather to improve, so expect to get called on fire details and color guards in the future days to come. Department convention is in Bozeman this month also. If anyone is interested in going, plans should be getting made. It is the 18 th and 19 th. If anyone has anything that should be brought up and is not going to be there, let me know so I can carry your concerns forward. 1 Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Eugene Sara Marine Corps League Detachment #418 The officers table at the installation dinner, Pat Bender, Tom & Donna Lowry, Scott Dunlap and Don & Bev Huffman not pictured Tim Bender National convention plans are progressing and soon will be picking up. Everything breaks loose in August this year when the Buffalo N.Y. winds down. Numbers are important. Everyone, help with getting new and more active members. See you at the meeting. Tom Lowry, Commandant (406)366-1347 sevenn@midrivers.com
Senior Vice Commandant Report: Hello all, The Military Order of the Devil Dogs has officially had its first growl in Billings. Thank you to PDD Mike Lawson, Pound 374 Butte, MT. and PDD Jim Benner, Pound 290 Great Falls, MT. for coming into Billings to initiate our new members. WOOF WOOF! More good times ahead. State convention kicks off May 18th in Bozeman. They are opening to the early comers with a handgun and rifle shoot. The Past Department Commandant BBQ officially starts the weekend at 1800 hours. Saturday May 19 will be the annual meetings and Banquet. Sunday May 20 will host the Growl at 1000 hours, following the morning e-board meeting. You can view at the schedule/agenda on the Montana MCL website on the department calendar. You will note that it includes late night drinking followed by early morning PT, just like back in the day. www.montanamcl.org Stay Motivated, Scott Dunlap, Sr. Vice spdunl01@msn.com (406) 281-1271 Chaplains Report: Fellow Marines & families, Getting into summer and yard work and headstones will be topping our list of things to do. I went to the cemetery this past Friday and got twenty plots string lined and sod cut and ready to dig. Anybody that is capable of digging a rectangle hole is certainly welcome. We get a good return from this as a fund raiser. This is my ninth year and the body is telling me to back off a little. Since I started there hasn't been much of a response as far as help. I'm sure everyone is aware that the league gets the money. From the beginning I've used my pickup, lawn mower and wagon, and of course myself. No I'm not complaining, just letting everyone know who is earning the money for the league. Now for Chaplain business, on the 22nd of April we lost a life member, Charles Doolittle. Many didn't know him, but he wasn't just a fellow Marine. He was instrumental in keeping me going as Chaplain, as well as a brother in Christ. I will miss him dearly, for he won't be there directly to share his wisdom when it comes to the "Lord ". I probably wrote more than necessary so I will close with blessings to all. James D. Borner (Chaplain) (406)850-1802 jimborner@gmail.com Devil Dog screenshot courtesy of Dakota Leathernecks in Mandan, ND. 2 Jr. Vice Commandants Report: The April meeting was combined with the installation dinner at the America Restaurant as many of you know. We had a very good turn out for the dinner and swearing in. Shortly after that held the detachments first growl with the new pups getting swore at & sworn in (LOL). Thanks Scott and Jim. It is time to start thinking about the summer patio parties. If you want to host one let me know! Semper Fi Tim Bender (406)697-5968 tim.mtlonegunman@gmail.com
Paymasters Report: May saw a renewed officer slate being installed by Department Commandant Jim Benner. Congratulations to all elected and appointed officers. Jim also swore in new members Tom Smith and Troy Wagner, welcome aboard. Thanks to all that attended the ceremony. It was a good turnout. A Devil Dog growl was held in Billings at the Elks Club with new members sworn in. We are closer to having a pound in Billings. If you have more than a year membership in the Marine Corps League and want to have some fun helping youth medical facilities, you should consider joining the Devil Dogs. Meanwhile, work continues on the 2019 National Convention. I have ordered a Henry.44mag. Big Boy Rifle for a rifle raffle. Semper Fi Tom Jones, Paymaster (406)670-4364 tcgysgt21@yahoo.com Waitress! get Dennis another cup of coffee please. He must have had a long day. 3
Marine Corps League Eugene Sara Detachment #418 Meeting Minutes April 7th, 2018 Meeting called to order @ 1809 Ritual followed Officers present: Tom Lowry, Tom Jones, Jim Borner, Tim Bender, Wilbur Jensen, Scott Dunlap, Keith Thompson, Joe Aguilar (excused). New Applications for membership : Last Meeting Minutes: Suspended 1815 hrs. Motion made to suspend meeting for Installation dinner, 2 nd and voted aye. 1934hrs. Meeting called back to order for swearing in of new members and officers Commandant - Tom Lowry, Senior Vice - Scott Dunlap, Jr. Vice - Tim Bender, Judge Advocate - Don Huffman, Paymaster - Tom Jones New members sworn in Troy Wagner, Tom Smith Miles City Squad minutes: See Miles City Page Correspondence: Senior Vice: None Junior Vice: None Jr. Past Commandant: None Adjutant: None Judge Advocate: None Detail Commander: None Report of any member or family member s family sick or in distress: Eva Aguilar broke a leg and is now back home. Wally Hammond (Roundup detachment) had a leg amputated due to medical complications. Barb Sitzler had stents put in. Best wishes and prayers to Eva, Wally and Barb. Good of the League The following Awards were presented during the meeting: Randy Grow (bugler) - Distinguished Citizen award for his service to the league and the community-at-large. Ed Heinle (Miles City) Individual Meritorious Commendation for assisting in coordination of presentations and funeral services in Miles City. John Reed (Miles City) Community Service Award (to be presented at a later time), for working with Boy scouts & Cub scouts on marksmanship. Keith Thompson Distinguished Citizen Award for coordinating funeral services and services to the community-at-large. Tom Lowry- Commandants ribbon for service to the detachment. New Business None Meeting closed at 1957 hrs. Next meeting will be @ 1900 on May 14th, 2018 4
Judge Advocates Report: No Report Don Huffman, Judge Advocate Sergeant at Arms Report: The only details that we have at this time are on May 25th at the Laurel Veterans Cemetery. Service for (life member) Alton Simpson (no time yet). Service for Pete Silva at 1300. Color guard at Laurel Ford for a Wounded Warrior event on July 28th. Commandant Tom Lowry receives the Commandants ribbon for his service to the detachment. Below Jim Benner from MCL MT Dept. assisted with swearing in the officers and new members 5
Miles City Squad B Meeting Minutes April 3rd, 2018 Meeting called to order by acting Squad leader Leonard Rodell Roll call Squad leader Dee Murray excused, all other officers present Last minutes read & accepted No new member applications No members sick or under the weather Old business The Boy Scouts Cowboy Action Shooting will hopefully be held in May, at the Sunday Creek Range. John would like to invite the girl scout troop and the LDS boy scout troop. Firearms will be single action pistols and lever action rifles and we will furnish the.22 ammunition. A motion was made and passed to budget $250 to that project. We were also asked to assist with their bicycling badge, which was put on hold until we can get more details and fewer snow banks. New Business Depending on the weather, some will try to make it to the Detachment meeting in Billings on April 7th. The 4th of July Parade meeting will be held April 11th at 1500 in the Cellar back room. Naomi Jones, Keith Brownfield and Leonard Rodell received their 15 year pins with Keith also getting National Meritorious Commendation with star. adjourned at 2000 Next meeting May 1st, 2018 1900hrs at the Spur Respectfully submitted by Thomas Ketchum, Adj. Thanks again, to all of our members and sponsors for all of your continuing support throughout the past and current year. You are all important to our continuing programs and events. 6
Buy, Sell or Trade any of your unused uniform items in this column of the newsletter. Just send the item description to me and I will list them for you. Tim Tom Lowry has two pairs of shoes. One leather and one patent leather, both size 10.5. Also a cover without the EGA. size 7 ¼. Tom Jones has one red blazer in excellent shape, size 46 You can have it for a $50.00 donation to Toys for Tots. Commendations given out at the Installation dinner included Distinguished Citizen award to Randy Grow for service to the league and the community. Individual Meritorious Commendation to Ed Heinle for assisting in coordination of presentations and funeral services in Miles City. Distinguished Citizen Award to Keith Thompson for coordinating funeral services and services to the community-at-large. 7