“As Marines, it's drilled into us...to take care of fellow Marines."

--Cpl Kyle Carpenter, MOH

Report of 77th Annual Reunion

77th Annual Reunion

We gathered last month, August 19-25, in San Antonio, Texas, for our 77th Annual Reunion. Our base was the San Antonio Riverwalk Holiday Inn. About 180 members, family, and friends attended, up slightly from last year. Daytime temperatures in the low 100s, cooling off to 90 at night, kept a lot of the action in the hospitality room.

Our first activity was a tour of the National Museum of the Pacific War, in Fredericksburg, Texas. At the entrance we saw the Japanese Midget Submarine that ran aground during the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Museum staff interviewed Guadalcanal veteran Sgt Elmer Hawkins.

Friday morning we gathered at Veterans where Chaplain Carlos Mariscal lead the Memorial Service. Alamo Chapter President Orlando Garza was the keynote speaker. GySgt Leann Splitter sounded Taps. A wreath was laid at the Korean War monument.

Friday Night we enjoyed a concert with Las Campañas de América.

Saturday afternoon saw the General Membership meeting and the Ladies Lunch. That evening we assembled for the Farewell Banquet.

MGen Robert C. Fulford served as guest speaker.

MGen (Ret) Juan G. Ayala presented Korean peace medals and coins to the specially honored veterans, here to SgtMaj(ret) Marty Vasquez

The 1st Marine Division Band provided us with a brass quintet. They were excellent, as usual. During the playing of Waltzing Matilda, quintet leader GySgt Leann Splitter heard someone singing. That was Sgt Elmer Hawkins. He learned it long ago in Australia. After the meal, GySgt Splitter arranged the band and Elmer for a sing along of the Division's adopted song.

Dear Marine Family,

We had great week at our Reunion in San Antonio, as you see above.

Turnout was slightly above last year. That is a trend we are working to continue.

The accounting is just about final. We netted $4,866 this year. The Reunion is run as a fundraiser, so that is a win.

The Saturday night banquet was dedicated to our Korean War veterans. We were able to gather ten for special honors, and of course our Guadalcanal veteran Sgt Elmer Hawkins.

Our guest speaker was Division CG MGen Robert C. Fulford. He showed us the new video highlighting the Divison's history, and gave some insights into the Korean War.

Then, our special guest speaker, Retired MGen G. Juan Ayala, spoke on the city of San Antonio's veterans programs. MGen Ayala presented to each WWII and Korean War veterans present with a medal and coin from the government of the Republic of Korea.

We cannot be more grateful to the Alamo Chapter for their awesome work preparing and supporting his Reunion. To Chapter President Felix Conde, Orlando Garza, Tex Stiteler, and all the Chapter members who pitched in to make this a great event, a thousand thanks.

Our Sergeant-at-Arms Susan Finnigan served as MC at the banquet. Thank you Susan, for doing a great job.

Susan is spearheading the planning for next year's Reunion in Arlington, Virginia. Our Nation's Capital puts us close to important Marine Corps sites, and always has more for visitors to explore.

Most importantly, thanks to all the members and friends who attended. You all made this Reunion the great time that is was. Hope to see you all, and many more, next year.

Members and friends, serving as the Association President is a great honor for me. I want to hear from you. Please send an email, or give me a phone call, if you want to discuss anything about our Association.

God bless the United States Marine Corps.

Semper Fi

William S. Godfrey

President, 1st Marine Division Association

wsgsr9454@aol.com

(505)554-9635

Our 78th Annual Reunion is set for 10-17 August 2025. Please see EVENTS section below for details.

A reminder of our new mailing address:

1st Marine Division Association

3784 Mission Ave Suite 148/608

Oceanside, California 92058

New members may also apply, and members may renew their dues,

on our website: www.1stMarineDivisionAssociation.org

HQ remains located in Building 33421, Camp Margarita, Camp Pendleton.

We welcome visits by members, but please call ahead.

Tun Tavern Legacy Foundation

Our Mission:  To rebuild and re-establish The Tun™ as it was, a functioning mariner’s tavern reminiscent of colonial Philadelphia, serving period-influenced refreshments, food, and entertainment and offering an educational experience through exhibits, historical documents, and special events. 

All profits from operations of The Tun™ will be donated in perpetuity to support veteran causes, Masonic charities, educational scholarships, and qualified charities as determined by The Tun Tavern Legacy Foundation’s independent Board of Directors.

78th Annual Reunion

1st Marine Division Association

10 - 17 August, 2025

Hotel: Sheraton Pentagon City

Link: https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1727800902471&key=GRP&guestreslink2=true

Group Code: FI4539 (Foxtrot India 4539)

Reservations: 1-888-627-7101

Sales: 703-271-6602

Complimentary WiFi, Overnight parking $15

Hotel Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines

Vietnam Veterans (1965-1970) 

Reunion at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Downtown Des Moines, IA 50309

May 29 - June 1, 2025

POC: Jerry Moorehead 515.999.2690, gamoorehead@msn.com

COL TIMOTHY BRYANT

E-5 SGT ASHLEY M. DAVIS

SSGT CECIL D. DAVIS, Sponsor: William Godfrey

LTCOL ALLEN PRINCE FORBES (RET), Sponsor: Dane Kucera

CPL THOMAS J. GABBA

MSGT GUSTAVO GOMEZ, Sponsor: SgtMaj Juan Duff

SGT PAT OPPELT

1STSGT MICHAEL RICHARD

LTCOL JAMES WATSON (RET)

We continue to check public records to create the Taps Report.

Please report the passing of any Marine, Association member or not, so that our comrades may be remembered here. More recent passings are noted by boldface.

PFC NORMAN R. BRADSHAW, 11 Apr 2022

GYSGT TERRY COBLENTZ, 5 Sep 2021

SGT EUGENE J. DALEY, 5 Aug 2012

SGT RONNIE M. FUKUOKA, 1 Dec 2021

CPL JERALD R. GREEN, 13 Aug 2009

CPL CHARLES R. LABORDE, 22 Mar 2024

COL ELLIOTT R 'SONNY' LAINE JR USMC(RET), 8 Jan 2020

CPL ROBERT H. LAING, 16 Aug 2020

SSGT CARL V. LAMB, 7 Sep 2020

SGT ELVAN D. LANE, 12 Aug 2015

SSGT DONALD R. LANGE, 18 Feb 2014

1STSGT JAMES L. LANGFORD, 26 Feb 2017

CPL THOMAS A. LAVELLE, 12 Sep 2010

SGTMAJ RICHARD L. LAVELLO USMC(RET), 6 Sep 2009

HM3 JOHN T. LEVI JR, 8 Jan 2024

MSGT THOMAS WILLIAM LEWIS USMC(RET), 7 Feb 2015

SGT WILLIAM W. LEWIS, 22 Oct 2023

COL CHESTER A. LIDDLE JR, 7 Apr 2024

SGT KARL EDWARD LIMNER, 19 Jul 2019

CAPT HENRY 'PETE' LINSERT JR, 13 Mar 2023

SGT GEORGE R. LIPPONER USMC, 25 Jul 2024

LCPL ROBERT J. LIPSKY, 29 May 2019

CPL LARRY M. LITRICH, 9 Apr 2023

LTCOL JOHN LOCKIE, 16 Jun 2023

CPL RAY A. LORIO SR, 21 Jan 2009

MRS HELEN LUCAS, 29 Jun 2006

CPL ALEXANDER W. MACKEY, 10 Apr 2020

DANIEL M. MACKEY, 3 Nov 1996

SSGT CHARLES H. MANN, 23 May 2006

LCPL RALPH R. MANNINEN, 2 Jul 2024

EMIL C. MANOTT, 5 Apr 2014

SGT TONIO S. MANUELLO, 20 Apr 2021

CPL PETER MARICH, 28 May 2023

SGT WILLIAM H. MARKLEY, 4 Feb 2022

ANNE MARSH, 25 Apr 2020

CAPT CLARENCE 'RUSS' MARTIN, 22 Mar 2010

MGYSGT LARRY G. MARTIN, 5 Jul 2024

GYSGT DONALD LEE MASON, 17 Aug 2024

SGT THADDEUS M. MAZURSKI, 6 Jun 2023

COL STEWART B. MCCARTY USMC(RET), 21 Nov 2011

CPL GENE MCCLENDON, 25 Dec 2020

SGT JOHN F. MCCLOSKEY JR, 26 Apr 2023

MRS DELIGHT MCCLURE, 13 Nov 2022

MARY E. MCCOOK, 15 Aug 2009

PHYLLIS MCCOOL, 18 Apr 2008

PFC HERDIS W. MCCRARY, 1 Aug 2016

CPL JIM T. MCCURTAIN, 9 May 2020

SGT DENZIL 'MAC' H. MCCUSKEY, 27 Jan 2022

JACQUELINE A. MCDANIEL, 13 Oct 2001

MGYSGT BOB L. MCDANIELS, 6 Aug 2018

SGT DONALD J. MCDERMOTT, 4 Nov 2011

SGTMAJ EDWARD MAC MCDERMOTT, 25 Jun 2019

LTCOL JOHN J. MCDERMOTT USMC(RET), 2 May 2023

THERESA A. MCDERMOTT, 1 Dec 2009

SGT FREDERICK J. MCDONALD, 17 Jul 2002

SGT R. H. MCDONALD, 25 Mar 2018

CPL RODERICK W. MCDONALD, 21 May 2010

SGT JOHN J. MCDONOUGH, 16 Nov 2015

SSGT THOMAS L. MCDONOUGH, 23 Dec 2017

GYSGT GERALD MCDOWELL, 25 Feb 2016

PFC DAN W. MCEACHERN, 16 May 2018

J. W. MCFARLAND, 4 Feb 2018

CPL MICHAEL L. MCGARVEY, 13 Jan 2020

CPL RALEIGH E. MCGARY, 6 Sep 2016

ARTHUR L. MCGEE, 16 Nov 2007

SGT CHARLES F. MCGEE, 19 Dec 2007

LTCOL JAMES M. MCGEE USMCR(RET), 21 Mar 2010

PFC JOSEPH T. MCGEE, 27 May 2015

PHM2 HAROLD D. MCGHEE USN(RET), 3 Jan 2020

SGT WILLIAM P. MCGINN, 13 Nov 2013

CPL WILLIAM F. MCGOVERN, 17 Nov 2002

SGT JOHN R. MCGOWAN, 11 May 2012

CPL DOUGLAS JACKSON (JACK) MCGRADY, 27 Nov 2009

PFC JOHN E. MCGRAIL, 28 Oct 2021

SSGT FRANK B. MERRILL, 18 Feb 2013

PHM3 BURNETT NAPIER, 29 Aug 2024

CPL ARTURO NUNO, 2 Sep 2010

CPL ROBERT S. O'BURKE, 1 Nov 2013

WILFORD E. PRYER, 27 Oct 2021

CPL ORUS C. PUCKETT, 26 Nov 2021

MRS RUTH PUDAS, 5 Sep 2013

PFC LAWRENCE J. PUGLIESE, 12 Sep 2015

SGT PHILIP A. PUNCHARD, 24 Apr 2022

CPL JAMES M. PURNICK, 13 Jul 2015

CPL JAMES M. RAYBURN, 4 Jun 2010

WALTER B. ROACH, 22 Mar 1998

CAPT LAURENCE B. ROBBINS, 15 Dec 2009

WILFRED L. ROBBINS, 17 Aug 2019

CPL THOMAS F. ROCHE, 24 Mar 2009

SGT HAROLD J. SANDVIK, 21 Aug 2018

EFRAIN G. SAVALA

CPL MICHAEL SEGURA

CAPT ALBERT L. SELLECK JR, 28 Oct 2004

PATRICIA SELLECK, 22 Jul 2019

CPL WILLIAM R. SIZER, 7 Apr 2017

CAPT STANLEY A. SKALSKI USMC(RET), 6 Apr 2019

CPL C. J. SKINNER, 23 Jan 2000

PFC RONALD J. SLOMA, 12 Oct 2012

CPL RALPH W. SOUDER, 11 Nov 2014

LT JOHN H. STAPLETON, 15 Aug 1998

GYSGT DAMASO H. SUTIS, 19 Dec 2018

SSGT BOBBY G. TAYLOR

MAJ DAVID T. TIERNEY USMC(RET), 25 Apr 2014

LTCOL MARK F. TIERNEY USMC(RET), 13 Feb 2005

CPL ELDON L. TIETJE, 31 May 2020

CPL CALVIN C TILLERY, 7 Feb 2017

PFC EUGENE R. TILLEY, 10 Apr 2018

SSGT WILLIAM J. TIMMINS, 28 Mar 2020

SGT BURL K. TIMMONS, 22 Jun 2021

SGT ROY P. TINDER JR, 7 Feb 2019

SSGT ANTHONY J. TINELLI, 6 Oct 2021

SGT RAY H. TINGLE, 31 Dec 2021

SSGT THOMAS W. TOBIN JR, 3 Oct 2012

CPL RONALD E. TOMASZEWSKI, 21 Jul 2012

MAJ W. M. TRACY, 17 Oct 2005

CPL JAMES C. TROWBRIDGE, 11 Jun 2018

SGT BOBBY J. TUCKER, 30 Jul 2021

MAJ G.B. TUCKER, 30 Oct 2012

SSGT STEPHEN D TUCKER, 17 Jun 2013

SSGT JOHN H. VON BRAUNSBERG, 13 Mar 2022

CPL CLIFFORD B. WILLIAMSON, 29 Jul 2007

LCPL JOHNNY M. WILLIAMSON, 15 Oct 2002

Report last run 30 July 2024

Headquarters Office telephone numbers

(760)763-3267 June Cormier

(760)763-3268 Dennis Coady, and general information

(760)763-3269 SgtMaj Marty Vasquez

(760)763-3270 fax

President William S. Godfrey's email: wsgr9454@aol.com

Please visit our website: www.1stMarineDivisionAssociation.org

Mailing address:

1st Marine Division Association

3784 Mission Ave Suite 148/608

Oceanside, California 92058

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Semper Fidelis