"What unites us is far greater than what divides us."
-- President John F. Kennedy."

Our 73rd Annual Reunion
14 - 23 August, 2020
Washington, D.C.
Photo from washington.org, by @michaeldphotos
Hilton Dulles Airport Hotel, Herndon, Virginia
Photo from washington.org, by @timothyharnisch,
1st Marine Division Association returns to our nation's capital for our 73rd Annual Reunion. We have met there before: 1950, 1952, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1979, 1984, 1992, 2004, and 2011.

Our base will be the Hilton Dulles Airport Hotel, Herndon, Virginia.

We will mark the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima (19 February - 26 March 1945), and commemorate the 14 August Victory over Japan Day and the 2 September 1945 Surrender Signing that ended the Pacific Campaign of World War II.


At the Reunion banquet the 1st Division's Last Man Bottle will be opened and shared among those Pacific Campaign Marines gathered there.

Details below.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear Members,
Presidents message:

I hope everyone that attended this years anniversary had a great time. Please join us for the upcoming Reunion taking place at Hilton Dulles Airport hotel. The reservations line and online registration are at the button in the From the Headquarters section below.

Don't forget for those who are on committees or any meetings that there is a handful of important business meetings in April taking place at the hotel above. When we have the dates we will let you all know. 

We are still in the planning stage for the tours that will be taking place while we are there. Keep checking your electronic OBN and BDN for any new updates for planned tours and events. 

If you know of someone who is still not on our electronic OBN and BDN email lists, please have them contact the office to give them their email address.

For information on what took place at the Executive Committee meeting please see below.

Semper Fi,

Jerry Johs 
FMDA President 
EXECUTIVE BOARD
The State of the FMDA Presidency and the 2020 Anniversary Meetings

The last few elections have found the FMDA with only one candidate for President. With multiple candidates our problem would have arisen.
The last election cycle found the Association with one candidate, James Fossos, submitting his application by the deadline. Thus, he was the only candidate which was in accord with the current trend. Before the election Fossos suffered from medical problems but he expressed his desire to be in Louisville and take the reigns of Presidency of the FMDA. Unfortunately, medical problems persisted and he was unable to attend.

This left the FMDA with two alternatives according to the By-laws. Article 5, section B Subsection 1c allows for Officers to remain until their successor is appointed or elected. Although the President was elected, he was unable to assume his duties. Article 5 Section D, Subsection b1 has the Vice-President take over the duties should the President be incapacitated; The President Elect Fossos never assumed his duties. It was decided to have Jerry Johs remain as President until the Anniversary and allow time for James to recover. Conversation with Fossos were optimistic and James expressed a desire to perform his duties.

At the 2020 Anniversary Fossos was still hampered medically and was unable to attend. At the Executive Committee Meeting a unanimous decision by the Officers voted to allow Johs to remain as President until the next election or whenever Fossos is physically fit to take over. This action allows the FMDA maximum continuity and minimal disruption of the Officers. This was especially desirable with the medical problems of Fossos and the deaths of Weisgerber and Lakernick.


The subsequent meetings of the Board of Directors and the Membership that afternoon were unable to have a quorum.
Now let us focus on the future. Support President Johs and the FMDA. Pray for Fossos. Keep marching forward.


--Executive Board

Meeting 31 January 2020 aboard Camp Pendleton, California
From Headquarters
Come join us for our 73rd Annual Reunion in Washington, D.C. We meet 14-23 August at the Hilton Dulles Airport Hotel in Herndon, Virginia. Activities are in the planning stage. We are exploring visits to:

-- National Museum of the Marine Corps
-- Vietnam Memorial Wall for our memorial service
-- Iwo Jima Memorial
-- World War II Memorial

Please let us know of any other sites you would want considered. We are looking into having a bus available to shuttle from the hotel into downtown D.C.

This year's banquet will see the opening of the 1st Division's Last Man Bottle.

Room rates are $127.68 per night (tax included).
Reservations may be cancelled until 1 August.

Click the button below to reserve your room or to check out the hotel.
Check out the sites of the Capital with the second button.

Developing details of the itinerary will printed in upcoming editions of the Blue Diamond News.

You can keep current on the Association events at our website:
Last Man Bottle
Gen Alexander A. Vandegrift, commander of the division during the Guadalcanal and Solomon Island campaigns and 18th Commandant of the Marine Corps, inspects the Last of the First bottle at a division reunion.
Last of the First Bottle
Will Be Opened and Shared
Among the Last Men Standing
from the 1st Division's Pacific Campaign
In 1946 a small group of veteran Marines renewed a tradition hundreds of years old. This "Last of the First Club" met in Atlanta, and dedicated a bottle of French cognac to the Last Man Standing of the 1st Division's role in the Pacific Campaign.

The Association was founded in 1947, and acquired custody of the bottle. It now resides in a glass case in the steakhouse of the Marines Memorial Club & Hotel in San Francisco.

Rather than wait for that last man, surviving members of that venerable "club" will gather this August at the Association's 73rd Annual Reunion in Washington, D.C. At the Farewell Banquet, the bottle will be opened and shared by those able to attend. Those unable to attend will be remembered.


Eligibility for participation is defined thus: “Participated in Active combat operations in the 'Diamond' during WW II."

The youngest will be 94 years old. We have 13 confirmed attending so far, and we are earnestly searching for more. This will be a Reunion banquet to be remembered.

Please contact us if you, or anyone you know, would want to participate. We are asking those unable to travel to mail in a photo and/or note to be posted on a board at the bottle opening ceremony.

Read the bottle's story in Col. Richard P. Rothwell's articles in the links below.
Scholarship
Scholarship Date Announced

Attention Scholarship applicants and awardees:

Applications for school year 2021 scholarships will be accepted on or after 1 March 2020 .

Current awardees are reminded to submit proof of attendance for fall semester 2020.
Memorial
A Celebration of Life for our longtime friend and Chaplain GySgt William "Denny" Weisgerber was held 26 January in Milpitas, California. The Association was represented by President Jerry Johs and Vice President A.J. Burn. Local members attending included LtCol John Stevens, Sgt Don Reid, and SSgt Henry Tassinari.

We lost one of our best.
Semper fi, Denny.
Iwo Jima 75th Anniversary
Veterans honor 75th anniversary of Iwo Jima battle
Marine Corps Lt. General Joseph Osterman, Commanding General of the the I Marine Expeditionary Force, left, and Samuel Prestigiacomo, right, of Newport Beach, who was a Marine in the Battle of Iwo Jima, enjoy a laugh before the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the World War II Battle of Iwo Jima ceremony began at Camp Pendleton, February 15, 2020.
(Howard Lipin/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
A farm boy became a fearsome warrior at Iwo Jima. And he did it with a flamethrower.
Michael Ruane

ONA, W.Va. — The Japanese soldiers came out of their concrete “pill box” with bayonets fixed, determined to get the Marine who had been killing them all afternoon with a flamethrower.

Their target was Hershel Williams. He was 5-foot-6, the youngest of the 11 children of a dairy farmer from Quiet Dell, W.Va. He had a nice smile, and a girl back home named Ruby whom he planned to marry when the war was over.
He was 21, and known as “Woody.”

But 75 years ago this month, on a Godforsaken volcanic island in the Pacific called Iwo Jima, he was a terrifying destroyer of the Japanese, incinerating men in their hideouts with jets of blazing diesel fuel and high-octane gasoline.

They had to stop him.

But he saw them coming, and pulled the two triggers on his fearsome weapon.
He still remembers how they slowed down and fell, their clothes ablaze.

He had no remorse at the time. The Japanese were killing Marines. They would soon kill his best friend. The battle, the war, had to be won. “I had no qualms,” he said.

...
104 Year Old Marine
Operation Valentine: Major Bill White (USMC Ret)

Local US Marine veterans joined-in with the card signing regiment of MCL Burbank Det. #072 and Chgo. Pd#12, Pk of IL at their meeting for “ Operation Valentine ” a request made by a 104-year centenarian and WWII US Marine veteran, for Major Bill White (USMC Ret.), a Purple Heart recipient and Iwo Jima survivor residing in California.
 
Led by Cmdt. Jason Torres, of MCL Burbank Det. #072 was able to garnish over 250 cards in about a week, many with multiple signatures placed across each card in every direction, by its members and community expressing well wishes of gratitude from the heart for this very young US Marine veteran. 
Maj. White had “ Borne the Battle ” storming a beachhead on an island no one heard of practically seventy-five years ago next week (Feb.19) , and later where Ole Glory can be seen from afar placed atop the highest peak on Feb. 23rd. The colors “Scarlet and Gold” runs deeper than the threads under the Dress Blue uniform, it best exemplifies the virtual meaning “We take care of our Own.” Leave no veteran behind, is no longer an option, it has become our inspirational Call-to-Duty. We were Once & Always will be, Marines, the few & proud have answered your call, Sir! 
Welcome Home Major White, Welcome Home and thank you for your service!
 
The “ Once & Always ” continuing to march the veteran’s agenda forward for those who proudly served.  In the Air, on Land and C’ya on the beachhead. charlie-mike out.
V/r     
 
S/F Chicago MARINES
George Mulvaney
773. 704. 2150 
 
 
1st Marine Division Association honored the long life and service of Major Bill White by naming him an Honorary Life Member of the Association.

Our Valentine card to Major White was a complimentary Life Membership Card.

Semper fi, Major
Wounded Warriors
2020 Marine Corps Trials

Members are invited to watch our Wounded Warriors compete in the 2020 Marine Corps Trials aboard Camp Pendleton.

You will never see a more hard-hitting game of basketball.
New Base Access
New for 2020: Commissary, exchanges opening up to 4 million more people
Photo: (Defense Commissary Agency/Kevin Robinson)


Military stores are gearing up for a potential 4 million extra people who will be eligible to shop at commissaries and exchanges, and to use certain morale, welfare and recreation facilities starting Jan. 1.

The new benefit was authorized by law for all veterans with VA service-connected disability ratings; Purple Heart recipients; veterans who are former prisoners of war; and primary family caregivers of eligible veterans under the VA caregiver program.

It’s the largest patronage expansion in more than 60 years. Currently about 6 million total households are eligible for the benefit; this increases that number by 60 percent. Not all of the 4 million people are expected to use the benefit, because of distance and other factors, but officials are working to ensure no out-of-stock situations occur at stores in states with high populations of disabled veterans and in states with higher cost of living.

Federal officials have determined that disabled veterans will use their Veterans Health Identification Card (VHIC) to gain access to military installations, and to shop and use MWR facilities. The VHIC must display the veteran’s eligibility status — Purple Heart recipient, former POW, or service-connected . Current Defense Department policy and the law have long allowed these benefits for Medal of Honor recipients and veterans with 100 percent service-connected disability ratings.

Most installations’ front gate scanning systems now have the capability to scan the VHIC cards. However, these newly-eligible patrons should allow some extra time when they first visit the installation to stop at the visitor control center, where they must pass an on-the-spot background check. Depending on the type of installation, patrons may be enrolled for recurring access to allow them to proceed to the gate without stopping at the visitor control center on future visits. Spouses can’t buy anything, but they and other family members can accompany the veteran into the store.

An estimated 37,000 veterans qualify for the new benefit, but don’t qualify for the VHIC for various reasons. They won’t have access to the installations during the first phase of the rollout. A credentialing solution is being worked out for these veterans, and will be rolled out at an unspecified later date.

Caregivers approved and designated as the primary family caregivers of eligible veterans under the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers will receive an eligibility letter from the VA’s Office of Community Care.

Newly eligible customers who shop in commissaries will pay a fee of 1.9 percent of their transaction if they pay with a commercial credit card, and 0.5 percent if they use a debit card. These fees won’t apply to those paying with a Military Star card, cash or check. By law, the expansion of customers can’t include extra costs associated with using credit cards in commissaries; the cost must be passed on to the customer.

Commercial credit card companies charge transaction fees to retailer when customers use their credit cards. The fees only apply to newly eligible patrons. But as has been the practice for decades, all customers pay a 5 percent surcharge on transactions, required by law to pay for commissary construction, equipment and maintenance.
The benefit extends to revenue-generating MWR activities such as golf courses, bowling centers, movie theaters, RV campgrounds and recreational lodging.
Iwo Jima Association of America
Reunions & Symposium
KA-BAR/EK
The Association receives 6% of each sale of the KA-BAR/EK
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.
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
MAJ BILL WHITE, Honorary Life Member
MGYSGT JUAN F. VELASQUEZ
Taps
We are again updating the database from Social Security records.
Recent reports are boldface.

CPL GALE ALLEN, 15 Sep 2017
SGT ROBERT L. ATKINS, 26 Jul 2019
SGT R. V. BURGIN, 6 Apr 2019
CPL RAUL CAMPBELL, 8 Nov 2018
ROBERT D. CAMPBELL, 29 Jan 2008
1STSGT SANDY H. CAMPER USMCR(RET), 26 Jul 2019
FLORETTA CANADAY, 13 Nov 2002
SGTMAJ RAFAEL ANGEL CANDELARIO, 3 Jun 2019
MRS LEORA CANFIELD, 7 Dec 2017
PLTSGT ROBERT A. CANFIELD DMIN, 3 Aug 2009
CPL JOSEPH F. CANTORE, 6 Apr 2016
SSGT GILBERT CANTU, 17 Feb 2010
PFC J. A. CANTU, 6 Jan 2019
SGT ALFORD C. CARAZZA, 18 May 2009
LEO P. CARDARELLI, 17 Nov 2018
MRS BETTY CARDEN, 6 Mar 2012
ARMANDO R. CARLI JR, 12 Jul 2013
SGT RICHARD D. CARLSON, 26 Nov 2009
GYSGT WILLIAM D. CARNEY USMC(RET), 10 Nov 2013
ROBERT (BOB) CARO USMC, 15 Feb 2014
SGT LYLE D. CARPENTER, 28 Mar 2017
1STLT BERNARD CARR RN, Jul 2019
PFC ANGEL S. CARRANZA, 27 Jul 2008
SGTMAJ JUAN F. CARRANZA USMC(RET), 14 May 2015
PETER A. CARRILES, 16 Apr 2003
RICHARD SPENCER COGSWELL, 7 May 2017
SGT GERALD A. CRAWFORD, 18 Dec 2019
CPL RALPH M. CROVO, 25 Dec 2018
SGT JOHN J. CURTIN JR, 15 Mar 2019
MSGT OMA D. DAY JR, 12 Feb 2019
LTCOL ANDREW DEBONA, 6 Feb 2018
SGT GEORGE H. DUNN, 12 Jul 2019
SGT ORVAL M. ELIASON, 5 Nov 2018
THOMAS F. FARRELL, 30 May 2019
SGT CHARLES R. GARDINER, 9 Sep 2020
SSGT JOSEPH B. GERACE, 6 Mar 2019
SGT HENRY L. GRACA, 5 Nov 2019
MSGT RAYMOND A. HAGLER, 16 Aug 2018
SGT EUGENE M. HAMILTON, 30 Sep 2019
PFC GERALD P. HEALY, 14 Aug 2009
SGT JOE R. HEATH, 13 Aug 2016
SGT TERRENCE W HENRY SR, 15 Nov 2017
CPL LOWELL E. HOCKENSMITH, 29 Oct 2019
HM2 LEWIS JENNINGS, 10 Nov 2017
CPL DAVID G. JOHNSON, 29 Jun 2018
LCPL WILLIAM M. KANKKONEN, 30 Dec 2018
SSGT RON E. KOKAL, 2 Feb 2020
CPL THOMAS M. MALONE, 17 Oct 2018
CPL MANUEL F. MARTINEZ JR, 28 Oct 2018
MRS JEANETTE & ELMER MILLER, 15 Jan 2019
SGT DONALD M. O'CONNOR, 17 Sep 2018
ROBERT E. OLSON, 15 Jul 2019
LCPL JOHN R. ORTIZ, 15 May 2018
SGT LEONARD L. PARTUSCH, 10 Jun 2017
SSGT SID R. PERFETTO, 15 Feb 2018
SGT GARY A. PURO, 29 May 2014
COL ROBERT J. PUTNAM, 6 Feb 2006
PFC ROBERT R. QUANDT, 26 Aug 2018
CPL DANIEL P. RICHARD, 31 Mar 2014
LTCOL LEONARD G. SEWELL, 6 Aug 2015
SSGT RICHARD A. SOPP JR, 13 Oct 2019
SGT BEN H. SPECKELS JR, 13 Jan 2020
CAPT BUDDY B. SPIVEY, 9 Jan 2014
SGT JOHN R. SPOONMORE, 15 Feb 2013
CPL JAMES E. SULLIVAN, 18 Aug 2016
MGYSGT WILBUR E. THOMPSON USMC(RET), 14 Jun 2019
DUANE R. THURSTON, 5 Jan 2019
SSGT CLYDE L. TINKLEPAUGH, 8 Jan 2020
SSGT ROBERT J. TONER, 23 Mar 2019
GYSGT CHARLES J. VICARI, 1 Jan 2017
SSGT JAMES J. VON OISTE USMC, 9 Feb 2019
SSGT GEORGE L. WALKER, 3 May 2012
MSGT WILLIAM R. WERNTZ SR USMC(RET), 18 Dec 2018
SGT RICHARD D. WILEY, 3 Feb 2020
SGT LAWRENCE ROBERT WILKINSON, 9 Aug 2018
SSGT EUGENE A. WITKOWSKI, 10 Sep 2019
SGT ALLAN M. YOUNGREN, 12 Nov 2019



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