"Being ready is not what matters. What matters is winning after you get there."

Lieutenant General Victor H. Krulak, USMC, April 1965

Annual Reunion Update

Photo credit: Department of Defense, SSgt John Wright

What It Takes to Get This Photo

Dear Members,

Our 78th 1st Marine Division Association reunion is almost upon us. We are ready for a great reunion with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a visit to the National Museum of the Marine Corps where 1^st Recon Bn. will conduct a Memorial Service for the Team Rush Act, and a visit to the Udvar-Hazy Center for Air and Space Museum.

Like you, I am looking forward to meeting and hearing remarks from MajGen. Thomas Savage, commanding general of our famed “Blue Diamond” Division at the Saturday night banquet.

For those of you who are arriving by air at Reagan National Airport, there is a shuttle from the airport to the Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel. The shuttle begins at 6:15 am and runs every 30 minutes until 9:15 am. After 9:15 it runs every hour at the __:15 time. Shuttle pick-up will be at Terminal #1 by the hotel shuttle kiosk, or Terminal #4 or Terminal #7. You may reach the hotel front desk at 703.521.1900.

Upon checking in for the reunion on the 15^th floor, near the hospitality rooms, you will receive information in your packet regarding shuttle schedules from the hotel back to the airport and to Crystal City Mall.

Below in the EVENTS section are two new links that will download a Reunion Information packet and the latest Schedule of Events. Hardcopies will be provided at check-in.

Please be advised that reservations for the wreath laying, Museum of the Marine Corps, Air and Space Museum, and Ladies Lunch events are nearing capacity. If you have not already sent in your registration form, the remaining seats will go first-come first-served at the check-in desk.

I look forward to seeing many of you in Arlington, Virginia next week, and I wish you safe travels from where ever you will be traveling.

Semper Fi

Mike Galyean

President

(321)276-7515

galyeanmike@gmail.com

Our 78th Annual Reunion is set for 11-17 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 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.

78th Annual Reunion

1st Marine Division Association

11 - 17 August, 2025

Our contracted block of hotel rooms have all been reserved, but you might still be able to make room reservations.

You may register for the Reunion at the hotel.

Hotel: Sheraton Pentagon City

Link: Marriott/Sheraton Reservations

Room rate: $159

Group Code: FMDFMDB

Reservations: 1-888-236-2427

Front desk: 703-521-1900

Complimentary WiFi, Overnight parking $15

Download the Registration Form:

78th Annual Reunion Registration Form

You may call HQ at (760)763-3267, or email june.oldbreed@fmda.us to complete your Registration and credit card information by phone.

Time for registration by mail has passed. Deadline for registration by phone is tomorrow, Friday, at 3:00PM Pacific time.

Our website www.1stMarineDivisionAssociation.org has a link that will take you to an online Registration Form.

SILENT AUCTION

Past President Jerry Corrento, Sr, and Secretary Pierre Sims are organizing a Silent Auction for the Reunion. If you have suitable items that other Marines would treasure, please bring them to the Reunion

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.

COL ROBERT J. FAWCETT, Sponsor: Michael Fallon

E-6 SSGT BYRON LAM

E-5 SGT LAWRENCE PARISH

We continue to search public records to produce our Taps Report. Older dates here were missed in routine matching with USPS records.

An important source is the VA's Gravesite Locator database. Veterans and family will be listed there if the VA paid for a marker from 1997 on.

https://www.cem.va.gov/nationwide-gravesite-locator/

Please report the passing of any Marine, Association member or not, so that we may honor our comrades here.

More recent passings are indicated by boldface.

DT2 RODNEY O. ALLEN, 5 Feb 2018

SGTMAJ STANLEY E. BUCZKOWSKI USMC(RET), 31 Jul 2024

CAPT VERLE E. BURCH, 10 Oct 2020

GYSGT FRANCIS D. BURKE USMC(RET), 6 Dec 2023

GYSGT GEORGE R. BURMEISTER USMC(RET), 13 Jan 2015

SGT RONALD A. CLARK, 20 Jul 2016

SSGT JOSEPH CURTO, 1 Nov 2017

SSGT ROBERT R. DION SR, 25 Jul 2014

1STSGT JOHN F. FARRITOR USMC(RET), 3 Mar 2020

1STLT LORNE FROATS, 30 Nov 2022

PHILIP E. HAHN, 13 Jul 2022

SSGT DAVE E. HAWKINS, 19 Feb 2025

GYSGT W. E. HOKAMA USMC(RET), 14 Dec 2014

SGTMAJ L. C. JOHNSON USMC(RET), 15 Jun 2016

SSGT MANERT H. KENNEDY, 18 Mar 2024

SGT TOM J. KIRKER USMC(RET), 18 Feb 2025

JAMES W. KOVAR, 23 Jul 2003

CPL EDMOND F. KUENSTER, 4 Jun 2025

PFC HERBERT L. KUHNKE, 29 Jul 2009

MGYSGT WILLIAM R. LENTZ, 29 Apr 2011

R. E. MELBOURNE, 24 Dec 2020

SSGT BURLEY GLENN NATIONS, 7 Mar 2017

SGT ALLEN G. NEALY, 2 Aug 2010

PFC ROBERT V. NEAR, 11 Mar 2014

CPL ROBERT H. NEFF, 19 Mar 2020

SGT VICTOR NEGRON JR, 21 Aug 2019

SGT J. F. NEHILA JR, 16 Dec 2014

SSGT ALVIN T. NELSON JR, 15 Jan 2016

SGT MANUEL J. PALOMINO, 3 Feb 2021

SGT ROBERT D. PAYTON, 7 July 2003

COL EDWARD H. PESELY USMC(RET), 6 Jul 2010

CAPT MURRY C. PINNELL USMC(RET), 20 Feb 2023

HMCS CONRAD L. POPE, 26 Aug 2015

SGT RUBEN R. RAINS, 31 Dec 2014

MGYSGT THEODORE S. RASKIN USMC(RET), 10 Oct 2021

SGT JOSEPH E. ROACH USMC(RET), 3 Jun 2023

MRS LAUDINE THERESE SCHMICK, 28 Jul 2025

GYSGT CHARLES F. SHARP, 5 Jun 2015

HM2 AUGUST GUS SUSZKO, 30 Oct 2022

GYSGT H. UNDERHILL USMC(RET), 3 Feb 1996

SSGT PETE VAN VECHTEN, 2 Sep 2017

HENRY T. WADA, 20 Dec 2023

SPEC3 GEORGE R. WALSH, 3 Aug 2000

HM3 BARRETT J. WILLIAMS, 25 Dec 2023

SGT JOSEPH D. WOODS, 2 Jun 2024

Taps Report was last run on 3 July 2025

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 Mike Galyean's email: galyeanmike@gmail.com

Please visit our website: www.1stMarineDivisionAssociation.org

Mailing address:

1st Marine Division Association

3784 Mission Ave Suite 148/608

Oceanside, California 92058

Thank you for reading the Blue Diamond News.

Please contact us with corrections, suggestions, and content you would like to see.

Semper Fidelis