"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands
in moments of comfort and convenience,
but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
—Martin Luther King, Jr.
SSGT NICHOLS presents
The Pain That Goes Into Your Body. OOH RAH Drill Instructor Part 9.

Click above to view the video.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear Members,
We are marching into the future. This past Wednesday the Executive Committee convened over the electric telephone, and made official our 2021 Reunion destination: Oceanside, California (or nearby as suitable hotels are available.) We will be celebrating the 1st Marine Division's 80th Anniversary on home ground, and honor our World War II vets with the opening of the Last Man Bottle.

Col Len Hays and Col Charlie Kershaw are already at work planning for a great event.

The Executive Committee then discussed how we can fairly form our Nominating Committee for its 2020-2022 term. This group will oversee the Association's election of officers for the 2021-2023 term.

In normal times the Board of Directors would appoint the Nominating Committee. As a quorum of Directors would seldom be gathered even in the "before times", we needed to hash out a workable solution that would satisfy the spirit of our Bylaws.

This is what we worked out, and all agreed to: The Deputy Vice Presidents will contact the Chapter Presidents in their respective Region (East, Central, West), asking each for two eligible candidates.

Also, this call for candidates will be printed here and in The Old Breed News. DVPs and members are requested to submit their candidates to Headquarters by 31 August.

The final five will be appointed by the Executive Committee from the submitted member names.

The Annual Reunion usually gives a needed boost to our treasury. This year we will do what we can as we all stay safe at home. We will be running a 50/50 raffle. Get your tickets below.

Thank you in advance for your support of the Association.

That's the news for now.

Persevere.

Semper Fi,

Jerry Johs 
FMDA President 


DJC
From Headquarters
Save the date!
First week in August 2021
Oceanside, California
 Blue Diamond Birthday Reunion
“Last of the First Bottle” in honor of our WW II Vets

For more info contact:
Len Hayes
(760) 760-712 7088
Lenhayes@cox.net 

73rd Annual (Virtual) Reunion 2020
50/50 Raffle     
Prize: 1/2 of ticket sales
 
Tickets: $10 or 3 for $20

To be drawn on our “Banquet” date:  August 22, 2020
Winner need not be present
 
 
Mail stub and check to
FMDA, PO Box 9000, Box #902, Oceanside CA 92051
 
Or leave a message at (760)763-3268.
Your call will be returned for your contact and credit card information.

You can keep current on the Association events at our website:
1ST MARINE DIVISION
SCHOLARSHIP FUND, INC.
8 June 2020

Marines:
 
As the country begins to reopen broadly after the Covid-19 economic shutdown, your scholarship investments are responding to the favorable market expectations and are recovering value temporarily lost due to the Covid-19 shutdown. At the close of business today, your Scholarship Fund is blessed with assets totaling $1,105,568. 

Your wise investment decision to engage Mr. Doug Dameron and Capitol Securities to manage and guide your Scholarship Fund’s investments continues to bear significant fruit that will benefit the qualified sons and daughters of our 1 st Division Marines.
 
Semper Fidelis,

Jerry Reed
Chief Financial Officer
1st Marine Division Association Scholarship Fund, Inc.
SEMPER FI FUND

The Semper Fi Fund is caring for veterans from all U.S. military service branches. See below for details of services provided.
US Navy Hospital Corps Birthday
On 17 June 1898 President William McKinley signed into law a bill that created the
US Navy Hospital Corps.
 
God Bless Our Corpsmen! 
Happy Birthday "Devil Docs"!

 
R 162009Z JUN 20
ALMAR 012/20
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS(UC)//
SUBJ/122ND HOSPITAL CORPS BIRTHDAY MESSAGE//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/

1. As the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps commemorates 122 years of honorable and faithful service, Marines pay tribute to the courage and devotion of our “Docs.”

2. When the Continental Congress directed the organization of medical stations during the Revolutionary War, a longstanding tradition of exceptional medical support was born. Throughout the century that followed the Revolution, surgeons and other medical personnel tended to the wounds and illnesses of Sailors and Marines on and off the battlefield. On June 17, 1898, President William McKinley formally approved the establishment of the U.S. Navy Hospital Corps. Since then, Navy Hospital Corpsmen have continued the tradition of caring for Marines and Sailors in our military hospitals, onboard ships, and on battlefields around the world.

3. The U.S. Navy Hospital Corps remains the largest and most decorated rate in the Navy, with more than 30,000 active duty and reserve Corpsmen serving within our units across the naval force. Marines take great pride in serving alongside the Docs who are always there when we call “Corpsman Up.” We are grateful for your dedication and sacrifices, and we join you in celebrating the impressive legacy of Navy Hospital Corpsmen past and present. Congratulations on 122 years of exceptional service.

4. Semper Fidelis, David H. Berger, General, U.S. Marine Corps, Commandant of the Marine Corps.//
Members
Birthday Greetings
Paul Wojan, MajGen Robert F. Castellvi, and Elmer Hawkins at the 72nd Annual Reunion in Louisville, Kentucky. August 2019.
Happy 99th Birthday to Paul Wojahn (today June 19) and Happy 97th Birthday to Elmer Hawkins (June 15). Ooh-rah!, brothers.
USMC Archives
Newest FMDA Member

1st Marine Division Association Membership, 26 June 1960

"First in the First-Edwin C. Clarke, (left) secretary-treasurer of the 1st Marine Division Association, pins a membership card on Lieutenant General Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller while Colonel Jonas M. Platt, Association Vice-president looks on. General Puller was the first Marine to sign the "blotter" at Division Headquarters in the Sheraton Park Hotel. The general was later elected president of the 1st Division Association."
 
From the Cyril O'Brien Collection (COLL/2887) at the Marine Corps Archives and Special Collections
 
OFFICIAL USMC PHOTOGRAPH
Health
Department of Veterans Affairs
Summary of VA Employee COVID-19 Related Deaths

36 Employees In Service to Veterans Have Died of COVID-19

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is the largest integrated health system in the United States with more than nine million enrolled Veterans and over six million Veterans receiving healthcare each year. VA employs nearly 380,000 individuals including more than 350,000 professionals within the Veterans Health Administration.

The following list comprises total COVID-19-related employee deaths and the locations where they worked. These numbers are self-reported by VISNs, as the majority of these individuals received their care outside of VA facilities.

As of 6/19/2020:
Farewell, and God bless you all. Thank you for your service.
 
VA News Releases
 
 
06/05/2020 10:00 AM EDT
 
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national cemeteries will resume committal services starting June 9 in all but two VA national cemeteries.  
 
Keep updated & let us know how we're doing.
From Veterans Affairs

What should Veterans do?
Any Veteran with symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath should immediately contact their local VA facility. VA urges Veterans to call before visiting – you can find contact information for your closest VA facility .
Alternatively, Veterans can sign into  My HealtheVet to send a secure message to VA or use  telehealth options to explain their condition and receive a prompt diagnosis.
Upon arriving at VA, all patients will be screened for flu-like symptoms before they enter in order to protect other patients and staff. A VA health care professional will assist you with next steps once this screening process is complete.
At this time, VA is urging all visitors who do not feel well to please postpone their visits to VA facilities.

How to protect yourself
Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent the COVID-19 infection and no medication to treat it. CDC believes symptoms appear 2 to 14 days after exposure. Avoid exposure and avoid exposing others to an infection with these simple steps.
  • Learn to use VA Video Connect through the VA mobile app store or by contacting your VA care team, before any urgent problems arise.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. An easy way to mark the time is to hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice while scrubbing.
  • Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Stay home when you are sick or becoming sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue (not your hands) and throw the tissue in the trash.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
  • Getting a flu shot is recommended.
BOOKS
The Long Journey Home: The Untold Story of Forgotten Soldiers
by Craig Blackman
With the support of VFW Commander Chris Mulholland (Post 2894) and many others, I completed a book entitled The Long Journey home: The Untold Story of Forgotten Soldiers.

The book, which took me 6.5 years to write, was based on a 2014 Advanced Placement United States History class project that honored the twenty-five men killed in Vietnam (12 were Marines) from our city of Chesapeake, VA. They battled at Dao Do, Khe Sanh, Con Tien, and many other places. Black and white, single and married, these soldiers were farm boys, construction workers, mechanics, bus boys, college students, and business managers who deployed to the jungles of Southeast Asia never to return.

Like other teenagers of their time, these soldiers enjoyed hunting, fishing, singing, surfing, baseball, ham radios, and riding motorcycles. The Long Journey home: The Untold Story of Forgotten Soldiers (https://www.amazon.com) is the story of tears and sadness, patriotism and sacrifice, heroism and comradery. The high school students who engaged in this project will never be the same. Interacting with the Gold Star families forever sculpted them emotionally and intellectually.

May we always remember that sacrifice without remembrance is meaningless!

With Gratitude,

Craig Blackman

2015 VFW National Teacher of the Year

MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS
MILITARY SERVICE RECORDS, AWARDS, AND UNIT HISTORIES
(See the attached pdf file, or go to the URL at bottom here)
 
A New Congressional Research Service Publication on U.S. Military Service Records, Awards, and Unit Histories
 
The Congressional Research Service has just published a short reference document that might be of interest to many:
 
The guide provides information on locating military unit histories and individual service records of discharged, retired, and deceased military personnel. It also provides information on locating and replacing military awards and medals. Included is contact information for military history centers, websites for additional sources of research, and a bibliography of other publications, including related CRS reports.

 
GENERAL FUND DONATIONS
USAA
New Members
CPL WILLIAM S. GODFREY,
Sponsor COL Len Hayes
Taps
We are again updating the database from Social Security records.
Recent reports are boldface.

SGT JOHN R. ARNESON, 7 Mar 2009
CWO4 OLIVER W. BAILEY, 5 Feb 2020
CPL FRED C. BAIRD, 30 Apr 2008
CPL PETER T. BELZ, 20 Oct 2008
SSGT JOHN P. CIMINELLI SR, 13 Jun 2020
LCPL ALBERT J. COUTURE, 2 Sep 2019
LCPL JOSEPH C. FUNARO, 17 Dec 2016
FLDCK MELVIN M. GREENBERG, 15 Nov 2007
CAPT VERNON J. HALE, 7 Nov 2007
FRANK T. MORRIS, 26 Oct 2001
GYSGT MICHAEL R. PICARELLO USMC(RET), 21 Jul 2016
EDWARD P. PRONEVITZ, 26 Aug 2019
JOHN O. SOUTHMAYD, 2 Feb 2020
LTCOL THOMAS MARK YACKLEY USMC(RET), 30 May 2020
Challenge Coin
Association's Challenge Coins Available
Contact HQ at (760)763-3268

These Challenge Coins commemorating the 50th anniversary of Tet 1968 are available to members. The price is $5 per coin, plus shipping.
 
Headquarters Office (760) 763-3268
President Jerry Johs Email: geronamo0122@gmail.com
Please visit our website: www.firstmardivassoc.com

First Marine Division Association
P.O. Box 9000, Box # 902
Oceanside CA 92051

(760) 763-3268