“The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.”
― Gaylord Nelson
23 October 1983
Beirut Barracks Bombings
The Beirut barracks bombing (October 23, 1983 in Beirut, Lebanon) occurred during the Lebanese Civil War, when two truck bombs struck separate buildings housing United States and French military forces—members of the Multinational Force in Lebanon—killing 299 American and French servicemen. The organization Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the bombing.

http://www.usmcvietnam.net/MARINES-KIA-IN--BEIRUT.html
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear Members,
We remember our 241 brother Marines and Sailors, and 58 French allies, lost 37 years ago today, 23 October 1983, in the Beirut barracks bombings. That was the worst single day for the Corps since the the Battle of Iwo Jima, and the worst day for U.S. armed forces since the first day of the Tet Offensive in the Vietnam war.

Again this week I ask for members to stand for election for an Association office for the 2021-2023 term. The offices of President and Treasurer take a fair bit of dedicated time, but the other offices need only an hour or two a month. Please consider putting your name in for the future of the 1st Marine Division Association.

To run, send in your short bio, and a copy of your DD-214 (with Social Security Number scratched out). Email to dennis.oldbreed@fmda.us, or send on paper to the office. Deadline is 31 December, 2020.

Let's hope we can meet for the Annual Reunion in August 2021. We are making plans on the assumption that meetings will again be possible by then.

Keep on keeping on. Stay strong and stay safe.

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
Luke Barr, San Joaquin Delta College
Emily E. Audsley, Louisiana Tech University
Elle Pittman, Portland State University
Through today, The Fund has expended a total of $50,000 for 2020/2021 scholarships for 20 approved students.

Scholarship applications are still being accepted. Click the link below for the Scholarship Fund website.
CHAPTERS
Gary Brannan reports for the Oregon / Columbia River Chapter:
MEMBERS
16 July 2019

Sir,
In July 1956 I was in D-2-11. D 6 was Capt J.T. Cutler. At that time there was no helicopter that could move a 105MM howitzer. We were issued 4.2” mortars, to find out if artillery people could achieve enough accuracy to replace the 105.

I left active duty before the results were in.

If you could forward this note to D-2-11, then, as a favor to a very old Marine, see how it came out and enlighten me. It became a moot point, as that was the year they built a copter that could do the job.

Sgt R.H. Hall
Little Rock AR


Readers, please email dennis.oldbreed@fmda.us if you can enlighten an old cannon cocker.
1st RECON
From Military Times
‘Greater Love Hath No Man:’ Marines in Congress request Camp Reasoner sign be sent from Vietnam to the US
Marines with 1st Reconnaissance Battalion stand by the sign marking the entrance of their Vietnam headquarters. (Courtesy of Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Wis.)
Philip Athey

On a hill near Da Nang, Vietnam, sat Camp Reasoner ― home of the Marine Corps' 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion and later 1st Reconnaissance Battalion during the Vietnam War.

The camp was named after 1st Lt. Frank Reasoner, the second Marine to receive the Medal of Honor during the war, and was marked by a stone that bore a hand-lettered message to the fallen Marine.

“'First Lieutenant Reasoner sacrificed his life to save one of his wounded Marines. ‘Greater Love Hath No Man,’” the stone said, according to the Marine Corps University.

On Monday 12 Marine veterans and members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calling on him to begin negotiations with Vietnam to have the stone sent to the U.S. where the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion will host it on Camp Pendleton, California.
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.

DONALD RAY BENNETT, 5 Oct 2020
1STSGT PHILIP S. CELELLA, 20 Oct 2020
SGT HENRY L. DOODY, 7 May 2019
SGT STANLEY K. DORIUS, 12 Jun 2009
LEROY J. DORNACKER, 4 Nov 2003
PFC ROBERT L. DOSH, 18 Jun 2015
MRS MILDRED DOSHIER, 4 Apr 2014
COL A. J. DOUBLET USMC(RET), 18 Nov 2019
HM1 GEORGE J. DOUGLAS, 18 Feb 2013
CPL LEROY M. DOUGLAS, 3 Feb 2012
CPL ROBERT F. DOWDY, 5 Dec 2015
PFC THOMAS B. DOWLEARN, 6 Jun 2008
MRS LA VONNE DOWNING, 31 May 2019
SGTMAJ PAUL A. DOWNS USMC(RET)
SGT ROBERT P. DOWNS, 1 Aug 2004
SGT DON L. DOXSEY, 10 Jun 2017
PFC THOMAS J. DOYLE, 1 May 2007
SGT JACK W. DRAY, 24 Feb 2004
DR. TOM P. DREW DMIN, Aug 2011
SGT JOHN H. DRISCOLL, 18 Dec 2008
LTCOL MILTON D. DRUMMOND JR USMC(RET), 25 Dec 2019
MR. MICHAEL DRURY, 6 Aug 2020
GYSGT JOSEPH A. DUBE USMC(RET), 5 Jan 2020
MAJ SERGE R. DUBE USMC(RET), 2 Oct 2008
CPL EUGENE J. DUCA, 24 Jan 2009
JOSEPH N. DUCANTO, 8 Feb 2013
SGT DONALD L. DUCSAI, 23 May 2006
SGT JERRY L. DUDDING, 16 Sep 2010
SGT JORGEN C. DUE, 23 Jan 2014
PFC ROBERT S. DUFFY, 2 Dec 2019
MGYSGT THOMAS J. DUFFY, 10 Oct 2020
SGT LEO F. DUGAN, 20 Jun 2005
SSGT ROBERT EUGENE DUGAN, 1 Jun 2017
SGT JOSEPH W. DUH, 9 Jan 2015
DON R. DUNFORD, 21 Dec 2016
PFC ERNEST S. DUNHAM, 26 May 2007
CAPT JOHN F. DUNN USMC(RET), 6 Sep 2018
LCPL MIKE P. DUNN, 26 Aug 2020
SGT CHARLES A. DUNNING, 20 Jul 2014
SGT ROBERT T. DUPONT, 3 May 2015
SGT CARL C. DUVALL, 22 Nov 2005
CPL NORMAN DYER, 14 Oct 2020
PHM2 HARRY W. EARHART, 8 Sep 2017
DONALD 'MIKE' JONES, 28 May 2020
CPL HEDLEY E. LEBLANC
SGT PAUL E. LEBLANC, 6 Jun 2010
SSGT ALYSON COREY BOWERS PEREZ, 6 Oct 2020
SGT JERRY L. PERO, 8 Oct 2020
NORMAN STACK, 9 Oct 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.

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