april 2016 commandant · 2016. 3. 30. · accept the february 2016 minutes. marine steve swartz...

Marine Corps League Pikes Peak Detachment

P.O. Box 10536 Colorado Springs, CO 80932-1536

www.pikespeakmcl.org April 2016

Marine Corps League Pikes Peak Detachment April 2016 Newsletter

Editor/Web Sergeant: Terry Crum, 719-432-7340, Email: [email protected]

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Commandant Russ Miller [email protected] 719-235-1058 Hello Marines, Navy FMF Corpsmen, associate members, and families. Thanks everyone for such an

amazing turnout at the Saint Patrick’s Day Parade and high attendance (51) at the detachment monthly meeting in March. It was wonderful to have some new faces, some that we hadn’t seen in a while, as well as our special guests Joe and Sandy Esposito and Sandy’s awesome four legged partner Bobbie. Sandy gave us a report of the monies raised at the Guide Dogs of the Desert / Operation Freedom Paws benefit dinner which a number of our detachment attended some weeks ago, and gave a plug for the Collin Raye benefit concert coming up on 17 September down in Pueblo. Please read JVC/Adjutant Terry Crum’s minutes for a snapshot of all that was discussed at the March meeting.

A dog can be Irish at the St Patrick’s Day Parade.

I greatly appreciate all of the volunteers that have stepped forward to help with the MCL Dept. of Colorado Convention that our detachment is hosting on 5-8 May at the Colorado Springs Embassy Suites. I will be in touch with delegates, alternates, and volunteers as the date approaches to discuss duties and schedules of events. In addition, there is still lots of room for area businesses to place ads in the convention book. The money raised from such ads will help greatly in offsetting the costs of putting together an event of this size. This past week I was fortunate to sit with our own Dr. Charles Corry as we attended the monthly Colorado Integrated Military Support network (CIMS) meeting that is hosted by Drew Aquino and the YMCA. Thank you Drew for making this possible. I was able to discover a great deal about a number of organizations that are working together to help veterans in all areas of daily living and the struggles that they may be facing. Marine Corry introduced me to among many, Leo Martinez, CSM, USA, (ret) who serves as the program manager with the Veteran Trauma Court (VTC). On a number of occasions, Marine Corry has shared with us at our monthly meetings the work of the VTC and cases that

have come up and how we can come alongside some of our area Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines who have had some struggles and discovered themselves drawn into some bad situations. Leo Martinez shared a need in the community for more Peer Mentors for the Veteran’s Court and Marine Corry asked me to please pass the need on to the detachment and solicit the assistance of any who might be willing to be a role model to some of these unfortunate men and women. Any who would like to attend any of these meetings with me in the future, please contact me and I will get you the dates and times. Please remember to talk to Paymaster Denise Wickersheim regarding your membership dues if you are not a life member. We will again be sending out a very friendly reminder to all those whose dues have lapsed or are in danger of doing so in the next ninety days. Also, we can now accept credit/debit card payments for dues, cash sales, and donations to the Marines Helping Marines Fund, Scholarship Fund and Marine Corps Ball Fund (to include purchasing tickets). These purchases are not available online or over the phone, only in person at a meeting or cash sales event. Don’t forget to look for details on the upcoming events in the Senior Vice’s article. Semper Fi! Russ

Young Marines at the St Pat’s Day Parade.

Senior Vice Commandant Paul Hinojosa [email protected] 719-573-2185 Well, we had a successful St. Patrick’s Day parade. I want to take this moment to thank everyone in attendance and to show my appreciation for making my first event

as your Senior Vice Commandant a success. In particular, I want to thank the Pikes Peak Young Marines for leading us with our Color guard. No events for April, but May will be a very busy month for our Detachment and we are in need of volunteers to help in these events. On May 5 to 8, we will be hosting the 2016 Department of Colorado Convention at the Embassy Suites located






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at 7290 Commerce Center Drive. We are still in need of volunteers; our Commandant has a roster going for those interested in helping out. Territory days is coming: May 20 - 30! Food, food and more food! Our Quartermaster will have sales going; we are in need of volunteers. The event is a blast, but it’s a lot of work when the same folks have to stand there for more than 8 hours a day, three days in a row. Please help out by volunteering to help man cash sales. Finally, on May 30, we have the Memorial Day Wreath laying ceremony at Memorial park, which usually starts around 1000. As the date gets closer, I am sure I will have more information to give. If you’re free, please come and help represent the MCL for this event. So let’s rest up next month and get ready for May! I hope and pray we all stay in good health. Semper Fi! Paul J Hinojosa

Junior Vice Commandant Terry Crum [email protected] 719-432-7340 NSTR Semper Fi, Terry

The Detachment’s Bike Brigade, riding for Paddy!

Judge Advocate Gary George [email protected] 719-597-3054 NSTR.

Chaplain’s Corner Pat Carty [email protected] 719-337-7179 Greetings Marines, FMF Corpsmen, Associates, and Friends; The Bereavement Team was again

called upon during March, attending funeral services for Marines Ronald Paul Schmidt and, Lawrence Dupree

Wade. Thank you to all Team members that participated. Good to see members, attending meetings on a regular basis, who not long ago were having serious health issues. Your thoughts and prayers are working but, we have members who still need our continued thoughts and prayers. Among them Jim Maurer, Bob Roper, Iris Rudesill and, those that I may not be aware of, so please contact me, anytime, if you know of any members, member’s families, Marines, or FMF Corpsmen residing in our community that are sick or in distress at (719) 337-7179. When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, so when you are safe and happy, remember that someone is praying for you. - Author unknown Hope everyone had a blessed Easter. Semper Fi, Pat Carty

Paymaster Denise Wickersheim [email protected] 719-590-9109 Please send your membership dues (annual renewal) to the Pikes Peak

Detachment address. New Member and Renewal Dues - $36.00 Think about becoming a Life Member!!! Life Membership Costs:

Age 35 - below - $500.00 36 – 50 - $400.00 51 – 64 - $300.00 65 & over - $200.00

Semper Fi, Denise

Many Attend the April meeting.

Adjutant Terry Crum [email protected] 719-432-7340 Minutes of the 19 March 2016 meeting of the Marine Corps League Pikes Peak Detachment

(Note: Draft until accepted at the 16 April 2016 meeting).






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Commandant, Russ Miller, opened the 19 March 2016 meeting of the Marine Corps League Pikes Peak Detachment for Official business at 0900 with Salute to Colors and opening prayer. All officers were present. Guests / Application for Membership: Donna Rae applied for membership as an associate member. A motion was made by Member Roger Baty and seconded by Sgt. at Arms Osa Tuck to accept her as an associate member. The motion carried unanimously. Matt Broker served in the Marine Corps from 2000–2005. He deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan with VMA-542. A motion was made by Commandant Russ Miller and seconded by Member Roger Baty to accept Matt Broker as a member of the MCL upon verification of eligibility. The motion carried unanimously. Antonio Barrera Jr. was a guest of his father Member Antonio Barrera Sr. Antonio Barrera Jr. is shipping out to Marine Corps boot camp in two weeks. He has enlisted in the Corps for the infantry. Joe and Sandy Esposito from Guide Dogs of the Desert attended the meeting in order to update the detachment membership of the Guide Dogs of the Desert program. Minutes: Marine Barry Farris made a motion to accept the February 2016 minutes. Marine Steve Swartz seconded the motion and the motion carried. New Correspondence: Commandant informed the membership that a thank you card was received from Bob Cowan, treasurer for Dept. of CO Scholarship Committee thanks the Pikes Peak detachment for recent contributions. Sandy Esposito from “Guide Dogs for the Desert” informed the Detachment that $6,500.00 profit was raised from the resent banquet in Cañon City. This was enough money to sponsor 40 dogs for guide, PTSD, and alert dogs. Sandy also spoke about a concert this fall to raise more money for guide dogs. Country music star Collin Raye will perform a concert Saturday, 17 September 2016 at 7pm (1900). She can get tickets for the detachment for $45.00 each. Paymaster: NSTR. Sick and in Distress: Marine Paul Darrow asked for prayers for his recently departed sister. Chaplain Pat Carty thanked the bereavement team for attending two funerals this last month, Marine Lawrence Wade and Marine Ronald Schmidt. More members are always welcome for the bereavement team. We are asked to keep the following people in our thoughts and prayers: Marianne Smith Iris Rudesill Jim woods’ wife Holly

Bob and Helen Hill, whom recently returned home from their granddaughter’s funeral. Bob Roper, as most of you are aware his son passed away in China not long ago and his remains have not returned to the U.S.A yet.

Breakfast of champions.

Report of Officers Commandant: Commandant Miller - Volunteer sign-up sheets are on the tables for the upcoming state convention. Please consider helping. - We need members willing to be delegates for the convention. - Convention book ads can now be purchased. - Marines Helping Marines Fund (MHM): recently MHM assisted James Gair (served in the Marines in the 1970s). James Gair had been displaced from his apartment along with other tenants due to black mold in the building. As a result of prolonged exposure to black mold, Gair was in and out of Memorial Hospital. Commandant Russ Miller was instrumental in arranging transportation and helping find a new apartment for Gair. The detachment MHM spent $178.00 for a bus ticket and $53.95 for a $50.00 dollar prepaid gift card ($223.45 total) for Gair to live temporarily with his daughter in Eureka California. Senior Vice Commandant: - March 12th St. Patrick’s Day parade downtown was a success! Thanks to all who provided support. - Sr. Vice requested volunteers from the Pikes Peak Detachment to help with the Young Marines. He would like to get both units together, requesting the volunteers to provide to words of encouragement, advice, etc. as these kids prepare for high school and college. Date to be determined, the Sr. Vice will work with Division 4 commander to set a date and time. - Colorado convention 5-8 May 2016 at the Embassy Suites 7290 Commerce Center Dr. - Territory Days will take place 28 – 30 May 2016 in Old Colorado City. Our Quartermaster will need help. - The month of May is rounded out with the wreath laying ceremony at Memorial park. The Memorial Day event usually happens at 1000. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend. Junior Vice Commandant / Adjutant:






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JV heaped praise upon the Young Marines for their contribution to the St. Patrick’s Day parade and reminded the detachment that these young people really add something to the Detachments’ parade entries and to consider supporting the Young Marines as possible. Extra praise went to the two outstanding Young Marines who participated as riflemen for the color guard. Judge Advocate: NSTR. Junior Past Commandant: NSTR Quartermaster: Looking for volunteers to help with cash sales. Trammell Davis would like a minimum of 2-3 members to man the cash sales booth at all times. The Quartermaster has a sign up sheet for the cash sales booth for Territory Days. Sergeant at Arms: NSTR. Web Sergeant: Web Sgt. asked that members check their email Spam/Junk folders if not receiving email concerning Detachment events. Reminded members that if snail mail is required for the Detachment newsletter all the members need to do is ask for it. Toys for Tots: We are still looking for a road worthy semi-trailer. We have a few ideas to try in our search for a suitable and affordable trailer. Military Order of Devil Dogs (MODD): NSTR Standing Committees: Scholarship. As a reminder from the last meeting, the scholarship committee is made up of: Jim Woods, Roger Baty, and Peggy Baldwin. The scholarship committee has received only one application at this time and hope for a few more. Editor’s comment: Information on applying for the scholarship can be found at http://www.pikespeakmcl.org/forms-links and selecting Pikes Peak Detachment Scholarship Administrative Procedures. Report of Special Committees: The work for the upcoming MCL Colorado State Department convention is “on track”. We have received request for delegates, meals, and ads. Good of the League: Junior Past Commandant Garry Gibson reported the next divisional conference of the Rocky Mountain Division of the MCL will take place on the weekend of 17 June in Cheyenne WY. The only confirmed delates are Junior Past Commandant Gibson and Commandant Miller. Detachment members are welcome to be delegates. With no additional business at hand, the 50/50 drawing was held. The total amount collected was $118. Member Frank “Doc” Evans was the lucky winner of $59. Doc donated the money to the MCL. With all business being completed Commandant Miller

closed the meeting at 1000. The next meeting will take place on 16 April 2016. Respectfully submitted, Terry Crum, Adjutant Pikes Peak Detachment, Marine Corps League

Sergeant-at-Arms Osa Tuck [email protected] 719-332-0557(C) The next detachment monthly meeting will be 16 April 2016. Come early for Coffee (0730) Breakfast begins at 0800 ($10.00)

The meeting begins at 0900 The Enlisted Association (formally TREA) 834 Emory Circle. Colorado Springs, CO 80915-3402

Here we have the young and young at heart.

Toys for Tots Russ Miller [email protected] 719-235-1058 Volunteers are needed for registration table and to assist with selling raffle tickets at the First (hopefully annual)

Toys for Tots Golf Tournament to be held on Friday, 13 May at the Silver Spruce Golf Course on- board Peterson Air Force Base. If you know of any duffers that would like to play, please have them contact Marine Gary Green at the course pro-shop, (719)556-7414. We are still looking for more hole sponsors ($100) and donations of door prizes, so please send any businesses that you may be aware of my way. Please find my contact info throughout the newsletter or on our detachment website. Semper Fi, Russ

Quarter Master Trammel Davis [email protected] 719-576-8207






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We still need volunteers for territory days. Also, look for a new monthly special at cash sales next meeting. Semper Fi, Trammel

Get your “Ooh Rah” stuff from cash sales.

Garry D. Gibson Pedigree Devil Dog (PDD) Senior Vice Pack Leader Pound Keeper [email protected] 719-495-9640 WOOF! WOOF! To all you mangy

flea bitten Karnivorous Kanines of Pikes Peak; here is the latest doggie scoop (no pun intended) on Pound #150. The upcoming Colorado Pack Growl is a Big WOOF! WOOF! As in the past, it will be held in conjunction with this year’s 5-8 May Department of Colorado Convention. This Pack Growl is scheduled for Friday 6 May 2016 - this is where you Pups with at least one year in grade can advance to Devil Dog (DD) Red Collar. It looks like Pups August “Toby” Bolender and Curt Charboneau are the only flea infested mutts who are qualified. I will post additional info as to the exact times this Growl so we, the Karnivorous Kanines of Pikes Peak, can attend as a group and show them misfit mongrels that our Pound is the Leader of the Pack - WOOF! WOOF! Till then...keep your paws on the ground…sniff the Rocky Mountain air…laugh…have fun snarling and chasing future Pound #150 wannabes… Help all those mutts out there less fortunate than your measly flea infested selves. Most importantly, stay away from those electrified fences & frozen fire hydrants - this may be hazardous to your health. Semper Fi & WOOF! WOOF! PDD Garry D. Gibson, This Month in History April Dates of Marine Corps Historical Significance 3 April 1945: On Okinawa, Marines of the III Amphibious Corps continued to make good progress all along their front, clearing Zampa Misaki and seizing the Katchin Peninsula, thus effectively cutting the island in two. By this date (D+2), III AC elements had reached

objectives thought originally to require 11 days to take. 5 April 1947: Five Marine guards were killed and eight wounded when attacked by Communist Chinese raiders near the Hsin Ho ammunition depot in Northern China. This last major clash between Marines of the 1st Marine Division and Communist forces occurred shortly after withdrawal and redeployment plans from China were issued for the 1st Division and 1st Marine Aircraft Wing on 1 April. 10 April 1959: Lieutenant Colonel John H. Glenn, Jr. was named as one of the original seven Project Mercury astronauts selected for space training. The seven astronauts, all volunteers, were selected by NASA from an initial group of 110 leading military test pilots. Three years later, on 20 February 1962, Col Glenn would become the first American to orbit the Earth. 12-13 April 1918: Marines of the 4th Brigade suffered their first gas attack on the night and early morning hours of 12-13 April when the Germans bombarded the 74th Company, 6th Marines near Verdun with mustard gas. Nine Marine officers and 305 enlisted Marines were gassed and evacuated, and 30 Marines died from the effects of the gas shells which hit in the middle of the reserve area cantonments in which they were sleeping. 15 April 1962: Marine Corps operational involvement in the Vietnam War began on Palm Sunday when HMM-362 with its Sikorsky UH-34s arrived at Soc Trang in the Delta south of Saigon. The task unit was called "Shufly" and its first operational employment involved lifting Vietnamese troops into battle. 18 April 1983: One Marine Security Guard was killed and seven were wounded when a large car bomb exploded just outside the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. Lance Corporal Robert McMaugh was standing guard at Post 1, just inside the front entrance when the bomb exploded outside the door. The explosion killed 61 people including 17 Americans. LCpl McMaugh was buried at Arlington National Cemetery on 26 April. 21 April 1951: Marine carrier-based airplanes made their first aerial contact with enemy planes over the Korean front lines. Captain Philip C. Delong shot down two YAK fighters and 1st Lieutenant Harold D. Daigh destroyed one more and damaged another in the heavily defended Pyongyang-Chinnanpo area. Both pilots were with VMF-312 flying from the USS Bataan. 27 April 1805: First Lieutenant Presley N. O'Bannon, who with seven other Marines was part of a force of Greeks and Arabs led by American Consul William Eaton, raised the United States flag for the first time over a conquered fortress of the Old World at Derne, a stronghold of the Tripolitan pirates. Two Marines were killed and one wounded in the assault on the walled city.

april 2016 commandant · 2016. 3. 30. · accept the february 2016 minutes. marine steve swartz...

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