“We make a living by what we get,

but we make a life by what we give.”

– Winston Churchill

Christmas in Kuwait

"Christmas in Kuwait"

Hundreds of US Marines gather at Camp Commando in the Kuwait desert during a Christmas eve visit by

Santa Claus, Dec. 24, 2002.

Photo by Anja Niedringhaus The Associated Press

Winner of Award of Excellence, Pictures of the Year International

Pictures of the Year International  

I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. If you are traveling somewhere for the holidays, please be safe in your travels. I'm hoping to see a lot of you at the 2019 Anniversary on Camp Pendleton. Come one come all.

Semper Fi, 

Jerry Johs 

FMDA President

P.S. Please check out our new website if you have not yet. Our thanks to volunteer webmaster Jud Blakely.

www.1stmardivassociation.com

The 78th Anniversary Registration is available here for download. This latest schedule of activities is now 95% set in concrete.

Previous versions of the form remain valid for registration. Some times and locations have changed. The first registration forms have come in already. We recommend getting your registration and hotel reservations in early.

Click here to download your updated Anniversary Registration form

CALL FOR CANDIDATES

FOR 1ST MARINE DIVISION ASSOCIATION OFFICES

Your Association Needs You

To serve as an officer for the 2019-2021 term.

Please send in a picture and bio to appear in the

January-February-March 2019 edition of The Old Breed News.

They need to be at HQ by 1 February 2019.

Thank you, Bob Bohach for this holidays greeting. The FMDA HQ staff wish for all you members and your families and friends to have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a wonderful and Happy New Year.

Sgt Maj Marty Vasquez

June Cormier

Dennis Coady

Bank Balance as of Sept. 1, 2018 $68,444.65

Income $7,452.59

Expenses $10,121.98

Bank Balance as of Sept. 30, 2018 $65,775.26

The Alamo Chapter met for their Christmas party on Saturday, December 8.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, and

Happy Holidays to All

from Sgt Art Cooke

From: Art Cooke < artcooke2000@yahoo.com>

Date: Sat, Dec 8, 2018, 11:47 AM

Subject: Re: The Blue Diamond News - 7 December 2018

To: 1st Marine Division Association

At this holy time of the year everyone getting ready to hare either their Jewish or Christian religion and any religion I am unaware that celebrate also I would like to tell you of one of the most touching moments I ever had about thanking .

  I am a 87 year young Marine Art Cooke served in Korea from Oct 1952 until Sept 1953 Dog Co 2nd Batt first Marine Div 0300 for the last 8 months we were between on the mar or outposts occasional reserve area , this particular time I am telling about was Dec 24 Christmas Eve , the Lt got us together and said our job tonight is to spend the night on a blocking position near outpost Reno bring allot of warm cloths forced march there use back packs carry parkas don't wear them you don't want to set that we did got there 2 man to a hole 100 percent watch the Chinese are active that thet were old speakers all night songs White Christmas drop your weapons Marines come on over warm food done fight for the war mongers home in their coat houses about that time we would get a fix on the loud speakers and call in motor fire after a few rounds adjustment fore for effect 20 minutes now Marines why did you do that were your friends come over we will treat you well get on the phone again Fire same mission one more time. OK now you know how I spent Christmas Eve 1952 

 My life was a good one married have 5 wonderful daughters 65 years later Christmas eve now I'm in my middle 80s Korea was miles away and forgotten .it was 5pm and I ran out of Chablis wine I buy a jug at a time so I told the wife Pat going to the wine store In Orangeburg, NY where I live in fact Mountain View wine and liquor went in picked up my bottle stood behind another customer By the way Had a glass before I went to store I get talkative after a glass paid my bill by the way the owner was a Korean gentlemen. On my way out I stopped and said Sir I was in your country he looked at me I said I was a Marine 65 Years ago tonight Christmas eve trying to stay warm in a hole in the ground snow falling on me Listening at propaganda the enemy was broadcasting to us to surrender but we did not and a few more words said Merry Christmas but not a word from the Korean man not ever Merry Christmas took my wine and walked about 25 yrs opened the car door and head a voice calling from behind it was the old Korean man he handed me a bottle of wine and said thank you Sir for helping save our country I was a little boy home in my bed sleeping while young the Marines were protecting me thank you very much he had tears in his eyes at this time I had a few my self he hugged me I hugged him and said Merry Christmas sir I will never forget that moment God Bless the US Marine corps for letting me be there and come home to tell that story Merry Christmas Marines , I am enclosing a picture or 2 of myself One I am particular proud of is my love for the Marine Corps Marathon which later years I decided to do and went on to do 25 consecutive Marine Corps Marathons the only Korean war veteran ever to do that , by the way that and $15 dollars gets mover the George Washington Bridge again Merry Christmas Marines remember whenever you think you cant do anymore sat bs I can

From: Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl <armedforcesbowl@espn.com>

Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2018 8:00 AM

Subject: Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl - SOLD OUT

Repeating this because we could all use some more Merry Christmas cheer.

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:

Military Service Records, Awards, and Unit Histories:

A Guide to Locating Sources

by Mese F. DeBruyne and Barbara Salazar Torreon.

 

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.

 

Click here to download the Publication

Capt Thomas P. Marrin,

sponsor: Bob Bohach, Phoenix Chapter

LtCol Keith S. Weinsaft, sponsor: Blue Diamond Bob

Cpl Robert E. Kennedy