Commandant Mike DeBauche Editor John Sims   

 

 

   It is with great sorrow that we said goodbye to one of our original and most-valued members this month. J.O. Smith passed away recently and was given a hero's sendoff by twenty-eight members of our detachment, the Overland Park Police Department, as well as family and friends. Rest in peace Marine! You performed your duties well and have earned your eternal reward. You will not be forgotten. At our officer’s meeting this month, the subject of volunteerism was discussed. I am requesting each member to get involved in “something” during the year. Whether it be parades, fund-raising, VAVS, or just bringing items for our raffles or Platoons Forward, let’s all make an attempt to contribute to the community, the league, or our fellow Marines. Marines are known for “getting the job done” and I applaud those who do respond to the needs of the detachment. Let’s ALL get involved! Please check out our fund-raising opportunities contained in the newsletters. The pens and wooden dog tags make excellent gifts, considering the holidays are right around the corner (they’re closer than you think). These items are being provided by members of our detachment who are donating their time to make them available to help the detachment. Hopefully the heat wave will break soon and cooler weather will prevail. Remember as fall approaches, OUR season heats up. The golf tournament is right around the corner; fall festivals and their associated parades; Veterans Day activities; and of course the culmination of our yearly activities: Toys for Tots. I’m proud to be part of this detachment and of each and every member. Semper Fi. Mike DeBauche Commandant   

              Mail Call 

Gen. Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025

6521 Nieman Road, Shawnee, KS     www. mklops.org 

Commandant’s message

Volume 9 Issue 9      September, 2010 

 

It looks like the summer heat is finally starting to wane a bit and give us some welcome cooler weather. As I’ve said before, the activities of our detachment are just heating up. We are coming into our busy season with the racetrack activities, parades, and of course, Toys for Tots in November and December.

Volunteers are still needed for the racetrack at the end of the month. Please contact Marine O’Connor if you can help during this time period. Remember, this is our major fundraiser for the detachment for the year. Also, we have some parades coming up. Marine Sands will give us an update at our meeting. These are an excellent opportunity for us to get some exposure in the community and support our on-going recruiting efforts.

This last month, we participated in the Overland Park POW/MIA awareness event. My thanks go out to Marine Campbell for her assistance in setting up and tearing down the event. This event continues to alert our community that there are still those presumed missing and held in captivity from past wars.

Don’t forget to bring any items you can to the meeting for Platoons Forward to assist those ‘boots on the ground’. We cannot let them feel we are not thinking of them and supporting them. Also remember that the 50-50 raffle begins this month. It is just another way to help our detachment raise funds in order to continue our good work for the League and our communities.

Please convey info. on sick and distressed to Chaplain Reyes at 913/432-3688.

Fortunately I don't have any news to report this month .

Separately, keep in mind that your VA disability rating can be increased if your service connected condition has worsened. You may also file for secondary issues if they are a cause of your service connected condition. Contact a service officer, or I can assist too, if you wish.

As always, I stand ready to be of any assistance that any of you may need.

Semper Fi

Gonzalo Reyes

Chaplain - Gen Oppenheimer Detachment

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025 Vol 9, No.9 September 2010 pg 2

 

New Century Young Marines 

Upcoming Events 

 

October 13 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOUNG MARINES! This will be a potluck dinner/fun meeting. Parents to bring a covered dish and stay if you like. Details as date draws nearer. 

 

October 30 ‐ Saturday 

Neewollah, Parade in Independence. Report at 9:00 am. More details as it gets closer. If you need hotel reservations and have not made them, I highly suggest you do so. If your Young Marine needs a ride to this event, PLEASE contact CO to make arrangements as soon as possible. 

 

 

 

 

 

Fallen Marines There is no finer compliment than being called a United States Marine. It represents the highest honor & tradition bound together with courage & sacrifice on behalf of all mankind. Our Fallen Marine Honor Guard had the distinct honor of performing at the services of these marine who have answered the call.

 January 2010 Robert Lynn Peterson Tom Dervin Bobby G. Carter Paul K. Smith February 2010 Karl Kenneth Mairs Donald L. Beashore John Archer March 2010 Daniel Weaver Jack Gibbs Jim Graham April 2010 Robert F. Brunsky James Mendenhall Vernon McQuerry

May 2010 Ralph Baker John H. Siebers June 2010 Chuck Taliano Larry Joe Cox July 2010 Earl Martin Sieggen Robert E. Orrick August 2010 J.O. Smith Jesse McClane Longworth

Fallen Marines Month of September 2010

:  Lester Kessler‐USMC    Certificate sent to family ‐ no service performed 

General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025 Vol 9, No. 9 September 2010 pg 3

General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025 Vol 9, No. 9 September 2010 pg 4

 

When  it  became  known that  one  of  our  fellow Marines was  in need of a refrigerator  the  call went out    and  several  of  our members  Marines  Paul Cummings(provided  the frig),  Dennis  Armstrong (provided  the  truck), Gonzalo Reyes and   yours truly were  able  to  lend  a helping hand moving it. 

Thanks  to  all  of  you  that responded to help! 

    Semper Fi

Any member who is aware of a Marine or his family in need is asked to first submit a request in writing to Marine Pat O’Malley, of our Financial Assistance Review Committee, including a statement of the purpose, a cost estimate and the time period. Pat’s email is ksirish@yahoo.com; his address is 12412 Flint, Overland Park, KS 66213-2120.

COMMANDANT: Mike DeBauche packerbacker@pipeline.com SENIOR VICE: Marcia Sands masands1@aol.com JUNIOR VICE: John Byrnes jj-byrnes@sbcglobal.net J.A.G.: Rick Hinrichs rhinrichs@kc.rr.com PAY./ADJ.: Steve Yoakum shyspy82@comcast.net CHAPLAIN: Gonzalo Reyes usmcnam@earthlink.net SGT. AT ARMS: David Yurkovich davidpy@aol.com

 

 

 VAVS (VA Volunteer Service) 

Anyone interested in learning more about the VA volunteer service, please contact Mr. Art Peter at 816-331-4622

http://www.volunteer.va.gov/docs/monthlynewsletter.pdf

Annual Overland Park Fall Festival Parade SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2010, we will meet at 0900 (at 79th and Floyd. You may want to park at the

American Legion at 75th and Conser).

General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025 Vol 9, No. 9 September 2010 pg 5

 

 

You can see the direction of the parade route at the website listed below.  It is forming up on 79th street and moving west on 79th to Santa Fe Dr. where it will turn left and proceed down Santa Fe Dr. ending past the Old Market. 

http://www.opkansas.org/Resource_/PageResource/Things‐to‐See‐And‐Do/Arts‐and‐Music/Overland‐Park‐Fall‐Festival/Fall_Festival_2010_Map.pdf 

Hey everyone let's go march in a parade!!! Let's get as many of us out there as we can. 

General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025 Vol 9, No. 9 September 2010 pg 6

On July 28th 

Marine Joe G Padilla 

Reenlisted for the duration! 

Welcome aboard Joe! 

 

 

General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025 Vol 9, No. 9 September 2010 pg 7

 

Thurs., Sept. 30

8:00 AM Parking lots and gates B & C open

9:00 AM ARCA practice

1:00 PM ARCA qualifying

3:30 PM ARCA driver introductions

4:00 PM ARCA Kansas Lottery 150 

Friday, Oct. 1

8:00 AM Parking lots open

9:00 AM Gates open

Noon NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice

2:00 PM NASCAR Nationwide Series practice

3:40 PM NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying

5:00 PM NASCAR Nationwide Series practice

Saturday, Oct. 2

6:00 AM Parking lots open

8:00 AM Gates open

9:05 AM NASCAR Nationwide Series qualifying

11:30 AM NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice

12:50 PM NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice

2:00 PM NASCAR Nationwide Series driver introductions

2:30 PM NASCAR Nationwide Series Kansas Lottery 300 

Sunday, Oct. 3

6:00 AM Parking lots open

8:00 AM Gates open

9:00 AM Crossover gates for Track Pass holders opens

10:20 AM 38 Special pre‐race concert

11:00 AM Crossover gates for ENTRANCE into infield close

11:20 AM NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver introductions

Noon NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Price Chopper 400 

 

 

If you can volunteer some of your time to this very worthy fund raiser please contact Marine Jim O'Conner 

at  913‐262‐6661  joconkc@everestkc.net

This is our main fund raiser for the year! 

Marine Corps History

General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025 Vol 9, No. 9 September 2010 pg 8

The history of the Marine Corps emblem is a story related to the history of the Corps itself. The emblem of today traces its roots to the designs and ornaments of early Continental Marines as well as British Royal Marines. The emblem took its present form in 1868. Before that time many devices, ornaments, and distinguishing marks followed one another as official marks of the Corps.

In 1776, the device consisted of a "foul anchor" of silver or pewter. The foul anchor still forms a part of the emblem today. (A foul anchor is an anchor which has one or more turns of the chain around it). Changes were made in 1798, 1821, and 1824. In 1834 it was prescribed that a brass eagle be worn on the hat, the eagle to measure 3 ½ inches from wingtip to wingtip.

During the early years numerous distinguishing marks were prescribed, including "black cockades", "scarlet plumes," and "yellow bands and tassels." In 1859 the origin of the present color scheme for the officer's dress uniform ornaments appeared on an elaborate device of solid white metal and yellow metal. The design included a United States shield, half wreath, a bugle, and the letter "M."

In 1868, Brigadier General Commandant Jacob Zeilin appointed a board "to decide and report upon the various devices of cap ornaments of the Marine Corps." On 13 November 1868, the board turned in its report. It was approved by the Commandant four days later, and on 19 November 1868 was signed by the Secretary of the Navy.

Reference Branch USMC History Division Oct 2006

The large "living" emblem (left) is actually composed of thousands of Marines as shown below. The photo was taken aboard MCRD Parris Island in 1919.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025 Vol 9, No. 9 September 2010 pg 9

 

The emblem recommended by this board consists of a globe (showing the Western Hemisphere) intersected by a foul anchor, and surmounted by a spread eagle. On the emblem itself, the device is topped by a ribbon inscribed with the Latin motto "Semper Fidelis" (Always Faithful). The uniform ornaments omit the motto ribbon.

The general design of the emblem was probably derived from the British Royal Marines' "Globe and Laurel." The globe on the U.S. Marine emblem signifies service in any part of the world. The eagle also indirectly signifies service worldwide, although this may not have been the intention of the designers in 1868. The eagle which they selected for the Marine emblem is a crested eagle, a type found all over the world. On the other hand, the eagle pictured on the great seal and the currency of the United States is the bald eagle, strictly a North American variety. The anchor, whose origin dates back to the founding of the Marine Corps in 1775, indicates the amphibious nature of Marines' duties.

On 22 June 1954, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed an Executive Order, which approved the design of an official seal for the United States Marine Corps. The new seal had been designed at the request of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.  

The new seal consisted of the traditional Marine Corps emblem in bronze; however, an American bald eagle replaced the crested eagle depicted on the 1868 emblem, and is depicted with wings displayed, standing upon the western hemisphere of the terrestrial globe, and holding in his beak a scroll inscribed with the Marine Corps motto "Semper Fidelis" (Ever Faithful) with the hemisphere superimposed on a foul anchor. The seal is displayed on a scarlet background encircled with a Navy blue band edged in a gold rope rim and inscribed "Department of the Navy, United States Marine Corps" in gold letters. Coincident with the approval of this seal by the President, the emblem centered on the seal was adopted in 1955 as the official Marine Corps Emblem.

“Semper Fidelis” (“Always Faithful”) is the motto of the Corps. That Marines have lived up to this motto is proved by the fact that there has never been a mutiny, or even the thought of one, among U.S. Marines. Semper Fidelis was adopted about 1883 as the motto of the Corps. Before that, there had been three mottoes, all traditional rather than official. The first, antedating the War of 1812, was “Fortitudine” (“With Fortitude”). The second, “By Sea and by Land,” was obviously a translation of the Royal Marine’s “Per Mare, Per Terram.” Until 1848, the third motto was “To the Shores of Tripoli,” in commemoration of O’Bannon’s capture of Derna in 1805. In 1848, after the return to Washington of the Marine battalion that took part in the capture of Mexico City, this motto was revised to: “From the Halls of the Montezumas to the Shores of Tripoli" – a line now familiar to all Americans. This revision of the Corps motto in Mexico has encouraged speculation that the first stanza of “The Marines’ Hymn” was composed by members of the Marine battalion who stormed Chapultepec Castle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                        k                                                                                                    

Have  you  ever  wished  that along  with  the  memories, photo's and other items that you  cherish  of  your Marine Corps  career,  you  had  a beautiful  plaque  of  that special unit  that you  served in?   

General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025 Vol 9, No. 9 September 2010 pg 10

Well, now you can!  Marine Dennis Armstrong one of our detachment members is an expert at custom woodworking as you can see!  He has graciously offered to make custom plaques (about 12" x 24") for any or all of our membership.  Keeping in the Marine Corps brotherhood tradition, he is only going to charge our detachment for the actual materials, he is providing his talent at no charge!  He can be reached at 913‐244‐7302. 

 

Gold Plated 30‐06 cartridge with the top Blood Wood copper plated bullet tip.  Membership cost $25.00 

Both pens have a solid brass 30‐06 cartridge on the bottom and solid brass 30‐08 top and a copper plated bullet tip.   The pen with the rifle clip is $25.00 and the bottom one with the straight clip is $20.00. 

These pens are hand crafted by Marine Charlie Morris.  Charlie is a master wood craftsman who specializes in pens like these.  If you would like to own one of these beautiful pens and who wouldn't!  Please contact Charlie at 913‐299‐1412.  He is donating his talent at no charge to our detachment! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025 Vol 9, No. 9 September 2010 pg 11

2 September 1945: The Japanese officially surrendered to the Allies on board the battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay. With General Holland Smith transferred home in July 1945, the senior Marine Corps representative at the historic ceremony was LtGen Roy S. Geiger, who had succeeded Smith as Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.

5 September 1956: Eleven Marines from the 9th Marines, 3d Marine Division, stationed near Naha, Okinawa, drowned while swimming, from an undercurrent caused by Typhoon Emma. The violent storm, with 140 mph winds, struck the Philippine Islands, Okinawa, Korea, and Japan, causing some 55 deaths and millions of dollars in property damage.

6 September 1983: Two Marines were killed and two were wounded when rockets hit their compound in Beirut, Lebanon. Heavy fighting continued for the 24th Marine Amphibious Unit peacekeeping force in the area near their positions around the Beirut International Airport.

8 September 1942: On Guadalcanal, the 1st Raider Battalion and the 1st Parachute Battalion, supported by planes of MAG-23 and two destroyer transports, landed east of Tasimboko, advanced west into the rear of Japanese positions, and carried out a successful raid on a Japanese supply base.

11 September 1992: Hurricane Iniki devastated the island of Kauai in Hawaii in one of the worst storms the islands had seen in over a century. Marines of the 1st Marine Brigade based at Kaneohe Bay, spearheaded Operation Garden Sweep, the massive cleanup effort.

15 September 1950: The 3d Battalion, 5th Marines landed on Wolmi-do Island in Inchon Harbor and secured it prior to the main landing. The 1st Marine Division under the command of Major General Oliver P. Smith landed at Inchon and began the Inchon-Seoul campaign.

16 September 1814: A detachment of Marines under Major Daniel Carmick from the Naval Station at New Orleans, together with an Army detachment, destroyed a pirate stronghold at Barataria, on the Island of Grande Terre, near New Orleans.

20 September 1950: Marines of the 1st Marine Division crossed the Han River along a six-mile beachhead, eight miles northwest of Seoul, Korea. Five days later, the 1st and 5th Marines would attack Seoul and the city would be captured by 27 September. 24 September 1873: One hundred and ninety Marines and seamen from the USS Pensacola and Benicia landed at the Bay of Panama, Columbia, to protect the railroad and American lives and property during the revolution.

27 September 1944: The American flag was raised over Peleliu, Palau Islands, at the 1st Marine Division Command Post. Although the flag raising

On September 27, 1950 a Marine raises the U.S. flag at the American consulate in Seoul, Korea while fighting for the city raged around the compound.  (Official Marine Corps photo #A3386)   Photo provided by Marine Corps History Division. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As we begin to enjoy our fall weather in the 60's and 70's, let us not forget about our brothers and sisters not only in harm's way but, having to endure some of the most awful weather on this earth!!

 

Isadore Hoehn VFW Post #7397

Two years ago Post 7397, VFW began a program called Platoons Forward.  They continue this great work providing comfort items to Infantry Platoons and Companies deployed to remote mountain top Combat Out Posts.  Some of these items that we take for granted are listed below. 

• Hygiene Items ‐ Wipes, soap, razors, shaving cream 

• Candy ‐ Gum, hard candy, gummy bears, skittles 

• Snacks ‐ Mixed nuts, dried fruit, trail mix, power bard, fruit bars, granola bars 

• Ground coffee, creamers and sugar packets 

• Hand Warmers: For gunners sitting in open turrets holding the cold medal of their weapons all night

• Books and Magazines ‐ Paperback books, Outdoor magazines 

Bring your donated items to our monthly meeting. 

General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025 Vol 9, No. 9 September 2010 pg 12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is very important that you support our advertisers. The rate to advertise in the Mail Call is just $40.00 per year for 12 issues.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025 Vol 9, No. 9 September 2010 pg 13

 

 

 

 

 

 

    General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025 Vol 9, No. 9 September 2010 pg 14 

 

Available to Rent 

 

Available to Rent 

REMEMBER RECRUIT - RECRUIT - RECRUIT - RECRUIT

One final request, PLEASE BRING YOUR DUES TO THE MONTHLY MEETING WHEN THEY ARE DUE!

Our next meeting is on Wednesday, September 22nd, 2010, and will start at 1900 hours. Don’t forget to bring items for Platoons Forward, and any raffle items you would like to donate. See everyone at the meeting. Semper Fi, John Sims - Mail Call Editor

    General Larry Oppenheimer Detachment #1025 Vol 9, No. 9 September 2010 pg 15

I encourages submissions of any announcements, pictures, stories, to the editor from detachment members. Deadline for all submissions by the 10th of every month. Email: usmcquangtri69@gmail.com or Call: John Sims @ 913.530.2535. Mail Address: 14004 west 72nd Terrace, Shawnee, KS 66216. Also, we have two new advertisers this month

DONOVAN'S SERVICE they provide very good automobile repairs and are located right in our Shawnee area. Stop by and tell them you appreciate their supporting our detachment and maybe get your car serviced while you are there!

Military Memorabilia owned by Gary & Jan Raby they can be reached at 913.682.3979. Give them a call and ask them "What they have that you might be interested in!"