“ If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward. ”
-- Martin Luther King Jr.
Gunnery Sgt. Charles Restifo, 1st Combat Engineers, 1st MEF, Camp Pendleton, CA, hands out bags of grain from the back end of a 5-ton truck. After the food-for-guns exchanges were done, the surplus grain was handed out to women and old men in an effort to win over the Mogadishu people. Mogadishu has been the most violent and resistant to the US Marine forces. Photos by Tsgt Perry Heimer, USAF Combat Camera.
10 January 1995: The Pentagon announced that 2,600 U.S. Marines would be deployed to Somalia for Operation United Shield to assist in the final withdrawal of UN peacekeeping troops from Somalia. The decision came in response to a UN request for American protection of its peacekeeping forces serving in the war-torn African nation.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Just a short edition of the Blue Diamond News with updates for our upcoming 78th Anniversary Commemoration, aboard Camp Pendleton, California, January 27 through February 2.

Hotel reservations for Pacific Views Lodge and Ward Lodge must be in by 13 January to get the FMDA group rate. After the deadline space is subject to room availability.

We need to send a roster of attendees over to Base Security Battalion a week before the event. So, get your registration form to HQ by the deadline of January 21. You can fax it if needed, or call HQ and we will fill out your form over the phone.

Member Nick Warr is waging a PR campaign. Look out for Anniversary news alerts in the media. We are hoping to bring in some new faces.

A reminder that all who register must be a member or become a member of the Association.

Among the week's activities will be a tour of Marine Aircraft Group 39, featuring close hand looks at Hueys, Cobras, and Ospreys. We will be shooting M-4s, M-16s, and possibly pistols at Range 407. See where the decisions are made on a tour of 1st Marine Division's historic HQ, the White House. Attend the General Membership meeting at Matilda's, the Division's bunker/bar.

Anniversary Week is coming up fast. Get your registration in and join us for a week of fun in California.

Semper Fi, 

Jerry Johs 
FMDA President

The 78th Anniversary Registration is available here for download. This latest schedule of activities was last update 21 December 2018.

Previous versions of the form remain valid for registration. Some times and locations have changed. Registration forms are pouring into HQ .We recommend getting your registration and hotel reservations now. The deadline for receipt at HQ is 21 January 2019.

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.
FROM THE HEADQUARTERS

78th Anniversary Commemoration
1st Division Sergeant Major Terrence Whitcomb and his staff met with us to update the Anniversary plans. New activities and old favorites should make this another great Anniversary Week.

The Registration forms is now ready to download and print.

The schedule runs from check-in Sunday, 27 January, through check-out Saturday, 2 February, 2019, aboard Camp Pendleton, California.

General Membership Meeting
NOTICE of TIME & LOCATION CHANGE:
Friday 1 February 2019 2:00PM
1st Marine Division Headquarters
Camp Pendleton, California

Our General Membership meeting time and location has changed at the request of the Division. After lunch on Friday, February 1, we will be attending the retirement ceremony for MGySgt Kelly at 1300, followed by the General Membership meeting at 1400. The meeting room is yet to be determined.

72nd Annual Reunion
The location will be the Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport Hotel, Louisville, Kentucky.
Check-in: Saturday, August 3, 2019
Check-out: Monday, August 12, 2019


Executive Committee/Board of Directors Meeting

Date: April 7th, 8th, 9th, 2019
Location: Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport
         830 Phillips Lane
         Louisville, KY 40209
Time: Sunday, April 7th
    Free Day, use hotel facilities, free shuttle, and additional information will be provided to explore Louisville
     Monday, April 8th
     AM: Committee Meeting
     PM: Executive Committee Meeting
      Tuesday, April 9th
     AM: Board of Directors Meeting
     PM: Food Tasting

Headquarters Office (760) 763-3268
President Jerry Johs Email: geronamo0122@gmail.com
Please visit our website: www.1stmardivassociation.com

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

(760) 763-3268