Allow me to be the first to welcome you to our first ever newsletter. I am confident you will find this to be informative and educational. The information provided is additional and more informative to our website which has launched nearly two years ago. Please feel free to contact us if you have information that is beneficial to all members.  

      Allow me to introduce myself, Marine Marvin W Haines Jr, Commander of this chapter. I served in the Marine Corps for 20 years. I enlisted in July 1980 completed boot camp at MCRD San Diego, CA Oct 1980. Upon completion, I was reassigned to 5th Marine Regt Camp Pendleton, CA as a radio operator where then later completed radio operators' course in April 1981. I deployed to MCB Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan in Sept 1981. For the next two years, I worked as a MARS (Military Affiliate Radio Systems) station as a ham radio operator. September 1983, I was reassigned once again to Camp Pendleton, CA for duty with 1st Marine Regt. In 1984. I reenlisted for three years and assigned to MCAS Yuma, AZ where I spent the next three years. During my assignment, in Yuma, I attended NCO Academy was instrumental in the ongoing operations of my command. I reenlisted in June 1987 and by the end of the year was reassigned to MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI. I served the next 3 ½ years assigned to an artillery regiment with several roles. During my tenure, I was shipped to the Middle East in direct support combat operation during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm Aug 1990 thru April 1991. Upon my return from the Middle East, I reenlisted yet again for four years. Shortly after I reenlisted, reassigned to Okinawa, Japan for one year followed by reassignment to Camp Pendleton, CA for the next eight years until my retirement July 2000. During my tenure, I served in several roles including, Communication Officer billet, deployed on six month Westpac float seeing many countries, and Career Planner for the last four years.  

    

     Upon my retirement, I worked in the telecom industry as a contractor. After 2 ½ years, I worked for Swift Trucking Company, driving cross-country for seven months until I was hired by the U.S. Postal Service as a city letter carrier. I had since retired from the USPS in February 2013.  

     I have been volunteering with DAV for more than 6 years, I started as a regular member by appointment on the title of Adjutant for more than one year. I was elected to my current position. We strive with pride in keeping with the highest traditions of the principles for which this organization stands: comradeship; friendship; loyalty to principle and our comrades and devotion to our cause.  

     This chapter engages in many events and fundraisers throughout the east valley that include Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Apache Junction and more. We always need volunteers to fulfill obligations within our community. After all, this cannot be accomplished without volunteerism in raising funds to support our veterans and families of veterans in need. Furthermore, this organization is an all-volunteer force.  

     On this Veterans Day, November 11, 2016, let’s remember all our veteran’s past, present and future. Veterans Day is not just a day to have parties, bar-b-ques and a day off rather remember what this day stands for. On this day, let us be mindful of the men and women who have served and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Henceforth, take a moment of silence to honor our veterans and their families who have made sacrifices.

Thank you and God bless America!

Marvin Haines Jr.

Commander

I was recently diagnosed with mesothelioma, which is a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. From automotive to demolition work, I’ve had many jobs in my life that contributed to my exposure. On some jobs, the air was so thick with debris and asbestos you could taste it in your mouth.

Many other groups of people come in contact with a lot of asbestos and are also at risk. One such group are Veterans who were usually exposed aboard asbestos laden Navy ships. In fact, about 30% of mesothelioma victims are Veterans.

When I was diagnosed with mesothelioma I needed immediate medical attention. I found a few websites on the internet that are supposed to help people with my type of cancer but nobody got back to me.

Then I found Mesothelioma.net. Even though I contacted them on a Sunday one of their patient advocates gave me a call back within minutes. They gave me a great deal of helpful information on doctors and resources available to me.

As a result of their website I am now being treated at the National Cancer Institute and the patient advocates have even provided me with financial assistance so I could afford a place to live during my cancer treatments. If I had not reached out to this website I would likely be homeless and more importantly in hospice waiting to die. These people gave me my only chance at survival.

  Mesothelioma.net. The website is filled with information on mesothelioma treatments and doctors, asbestos trust funds for victims, and a lot more. They also sponsor The American Cancer Society, the MD Cancer Center, and the Make a Wish Foundation.