"You have enemies? Good.
That means you've stood up for something, some time in your life."
-- Winston Churchill
From 1st Marine Division's Photo Gallery
Jun 16, 2020

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - On June 11, 2020, Marines & Sailors from Headquarters Company, 5th Marine Regiment; 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment; and 3d Marine Air Wing conducted an air assault from Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton to the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in Bridgeport, California as part of Mountain Exercise 5-20.

Photo by Capt Michael Wright, USMC

https://www.1stmardiv.marines.mil/Photos/igphoto/2002317013/
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear Members,
The Executive Committee met yesterday by phone to discuss our Anniversary Commemoration set for this coming January.

All agreed to a motion to cancel the Association's usual group participation in the Anniversary.

Last week 1st Division's SgtMaj Whitcomb met with our staff to discuss the Anniversary. The Division said that USMC is still restricting gatherings. There would be no unit site visits, to reduce virus exposure to Marines. The Pacific Views Event Center is only doing outdoors meal service, so the banquet could be cold and wet.

The Division can only offer to put on a socially-distanced Colors Rededication ceremony. Members would probably be able to attend on their own, as the Corps may allow. We will keep you posted.

All on the Committee agreed that few members would risk travel just to attend a one-hour ceremony. We are all sorry to have another gathering put down by the pandemic. This is the times we are living through.

We discussed holding general membership meetings by Zoom, or other means.

Col Len Hays and LtCol Charlie Kershaw are still working on our 2021 Annual Reunion in August. That planning includes the possibility that the world will not be back to normal by then.

We are still looking for a few good members to run for an Association office for the 2021-2023 term. Along with your bio, please include a copy of your DD-214 (with Social Security Number scratched out). Email to dennis.oldbreed@fmda, or send on paper to the office. Deadline is 31 December, 2020.

Hope these tough times are making you all tougher people. Keep staying safe out there.

Jerry Johs
President

DJC
FROM HEADQUARTERS
Save the date!
First week in August 2021
Oceanside/San Diego, California
 Blue Diamond 80th Birthday Reunion
“Last of the First Bottle” in honor of our WW II Vets

The Reunion Committee welcomes your input. Let us know what you want.

We of the Committee would also welcome your participation. If you want to get involved with the planning, please drop a line to Dennis Coady in the HQ office. email: dennis.oldbreed@fmda.us

For more info contact:
Len Hayes
(760) 760-712 7088
Lenhayes@cox.net
You can keep current on the Association events at our website:
FMDA SCHOLARSHIP
More FMDA Scholarship Awards Announced
Mariah T. Benson, Hiram College
Jamar Benson, The University of Toledo
Alexander J. Koritz, The University of North Dakota
 Deven C. Phillips, American Military University / American Public University
Savannah Rafkin, Colorado State University
Kiarah Nicole Davis, University of California Los Angeles
Julia Eliza Strait, University of Maryland College Park
Brionne M. Woods, Delgado Community College
Scholarship applications are still being accepted. Click the link below for the Scholarship Fund website.
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.
VETERANS LEGACY MEMORIAL WEBSITE
Welcome to the
Veterans Legacy Memorial (VLM)

VLM is an online memorial space managed by the National Cemetery Administration (NCA). NCA manages more than 140 national cemeteries as shrine spaces to honor our Nation's Veterans, and extends memorialization of the 3.7 million Veterans interred in those cemeteries to this digital memorial space by providing a VLM profile page for each Veteran.

To find a Veteran’s memorial profile, please enter the Veteran’s name (First Last with no commas, such as "John Doe"). To search with additional information (branch of service, cemetery name, etc.), please click on Advanced Search.

You may add your own message to a veteran's memorial page.
Health
Coronavirus FAQs: What Veterans need to know
Our call centers and some VA health facilities are currently experiencing very high numbers of calls. To help us address the most urgent needs first, we ask that you use our online tools and frequently asked questions (FAQs) for routine or non-urgent questions. We’ll continue to update this page as the situation changes.
VA coronavirus chatbot
You can also use our VA coronavirus chatbot to get answers to your questions.
Visit the CDC for general coronavirus questions
For general questions about COVID-19, such as symptoms, prevention steps, guidance for travelers, and more, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
On this page
From Veterans Affairs

What should Veterans do?
Veterans with symptoms such as fever, cough, or shortness of breath should immediately contact their local VA facility. VA urges Veterans to contact VA before visiting – you can find contact information for your closest VA facility. Alternatively, Veterans can sign into My HealtheVet to send secure messages to their VA providers or use telehealth options to explain their condition and receive a prompt diagnosis.
Read responses to Veterans' frequently asked questions about accessing their VA benefits.
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.
  • 
What should I do if I have symptoms?
If you have any of the symptoms listed above, call your VA medical center before going to a clinic, urgent care, or emergency room. You can also send your doctor a secure message through My HealtheVet.

Contacting us first helps us protect you, medical staff, and other patients.
If you’re not sure about your symptoms, our Annie text messaging service can help you monitor them and advise you when to contact your VA care team or your facility’s advice nurse.

The messages also provide general wellness tips and steps you can take to protect yourself. You can subscribe to Annie coronavirus precautions messages yourself, or ask your VA care team to assign it to you.

Visit the CDC website to learn more about the symptoms of COVID-19.
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
No new members since last report
Taps
We are again updating the database from Social Security and public records.
Recent reports are boldface.

SGT CLINTON W. ACKERMAN, 26 May 2016
MGYSGT JAY W. DEGRAW USMC(RET), 25 Mar 2018
MSGT JIM E. DEGUENTHER, 31 Mar 2007
PVT CHRISTIAN DEGUIGNE, 20 Oct 2019
SGT ROBERT E. DEJEAN, 27 Dec 2008
EUGENE L. DEKA, 8 Nov 2014
SSGT EDWARD D. DELAGRANGE JR, 12 Jan 2014
CPL JAMES R. DELANEY, 10 Aug 2020
CPL PATRICK P. DELLIGATTI, 27 Dec 2016
CPL GINO F. DELSIGNORE, 2 May 2020
ANTHONY DELZOMPO, 12 Sep 2008
SSGT NORMAN J. DEMOND SR, 15 Apr 2010
SGT RICHARD A. DENHAM, 21 Sep 2019
CPL RON DENKLER, 18 Apr 2014
CPL WILLIAM G. DENNIS, 23 Apr 2012
MRS LORRAINE DENNIS, 29 Jun 2015
CDR DANIEL F. DEPASCALE USN(RET), 11 Nov 2018
SSGT ALPHONSE F. DEPIETRO, 25 Jun 2018
CPL T. M. DERRICO, 26 Aug 2006
SGT MICHAEL J. DESANNO, 4 Oct 2011
SGT EDWARD J. DEVINE, 3 Sep 2011
PFC WILLIAM A. DEVITT, 7 Mar 2014
CPL EDWARD V. DEVLIN JR, 16 Feb 2013
MSGT JERRY M. DEY, 14 Sep 2012
ROBERT J. DEZARN, 5 Dec 2014
MRS BETTY DIAL, 18 Apr 2017
CPL WILLIAM DIAZ JR, 5 Jul 2017
SGT PATRICK N. DICARLO, 28 Sep 2016
TSGT GEORGE E. DICKENS, 11 Aug 2018
CAPT OWEN H. DICKERSON, 4 Mar 2009
SSGT WILLIAM M. DICKERSON, 26 Jul 2018
MRS VIRGINIA L. DICKERSON, 3 Aug 2008
HON. PERRY G. DICKINSON, 2 Apr 2014
PLTSGT ARTHUR R. DICKISON, 26 Oct 2016
PFC WILLIAM F. DIECKMANN, 13 Mar 2007
PFC RUSSELL E. DIEFENBACH, 31 Mar 2019
1STSGT WILLIAM F. DIEFENBACH USMC(RET), 3 Oct 2012
CPL PHILIP A. DIEHL, 20 Oct 2008
CPL ROBERT E. DIERDORF, 13 Aug 2011
MSGT WARREN J. DIGGS, 5 Aug 2006
SGT FRANK C. DILEONARDO, 18 Jul 2010
SGT ROBERT F. DILG, 18 Aug 2006
CPL WILLIAM E. DILLINGHAM, 12 Jan 2018
MRS DOROTHEA A. DILUGLIO, 7 Jun 2017
CPL JOSEPH A. DIMASCIO, 9 Oct 2011
LTCOL WILBUR W. DINEGAR, 25 Jan 2010
RAY J. DINI, 16 Mar 2020
LTCOL A. KING DIXON II, 6 Jul 2020
CPL JOHN R. DLUGOSH, 21 Feb 2018
SGT FRED W. DOCHTER, 13 Sep 2011
JOHN J. DODGE, 3 Feb 2010
LCPL RUSSELL E. DODGE, 19 May 2018
PFC EDWIN H. DOERSCHER, 7 May 2004
COL THOMAS C. DOHERTY USMC(RET), 21 Aug 2007
SGT PAUL DOMI, 22 Jul 2015
CPL JEROME D. DOMIER, 21 Jul 2018
COL ROBERT L. DOMINICK USMC(RET), 17 Jul 2010
MRS DORIS DONACHY, 29 Aug 2000
LCPL MICHAEL L. DONAHUE, 1 Oct 2012
PFC THEODORE C. DONAHUE, 14 Aug 2002
PFC ROY D. DONALD, 16 Apr 2017
SGT MILTON H. DONALDSON MD, 16 Dec 2016
SGT SAMUEL G. DONNELL JR, 16 Nov 2017
MRS LORRAINE DONOIAN, 16 Jul 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.

Our coin supply is replenished.
We'll be fulfilling backorders, and welcome more. 
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