"Leadership is not about being the best.
Leadership is about making everyone else better."
― Sheryl Sanberg
In this photo provided by the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Marines and sailors carry a casket inside a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, in Calif., Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020.

The remains of seven Marines and a sailor, who died after a seafaring tank sank off the coast of Southern California last month, were transferred to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware for burial preparations. (Lance Cpl. Brendan Mullin/U.S. Marine Corps via AP)
The U.S. Marine Corps has identified all nine people killed when a Marine landing craft sank in hundreds of feet of water off the Southern California coast. They include, top row, Pfc. Bryan J. Baltierra, Pfc. Evan A. Bath, Navy Seaman Christopher Gnem; middle row, Lance Cpl. Guillermo S. Perez, Lance Cpl. Chase D. Sweetwood, and Cpl. Wesley A. Rodd; and bottom row, Cpl. Cesar A. Villanueva, Pfc. Jack Ryan Ostrovsky, and Lance Cpl. Marco A. Barranco.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear Members,
There above are the names and faces of the young Marines and Sailor lost in the AAV tragedy off of San Clemente Island on 30 July. God bless them.

Last week Phil Peeler resigned his office of Deputy Vice President Central.

Thank you, Phil, for your time and contributions to the Executive Committee meetings.

I have appointed Cpl William Godfrey to fill out the term as Deputy Vice President Central. I notified the Executive Committee of my intention, and no one objected.

William has volunteered in the HQ office. We look forward to working with him again. Welcome aboard the Executive Committee, William.

Planning continues on next year's Annual Reunion. We have made up an online survey to gather your ideas on what makes a Reunion a great event. You may take the survey anonymously, or identify yourself as you please. The button below takes you to the survey.

This is our first time trying out the survey software. Please give it a try, and leave a comment at the end to tell us how we are doing.

Our virtual Annual Reunion banquet is tomorrow, Saturday 22 August. We'll check our mailbox for the last arriving entries, then pull the winner.

Have a beverage tomorrow night. Toast the United States of America, the United States Marine Corps, the 1st Marine Division, and all who have served our nation.

And, that next year, we may be back to normal, and enjoy a real get-together.

Now the drill: Please, keep washing your hands, wearing your masks in public, and looking out for each other.
 
Semper Fi

Jerry Johs
President, 1st Marine Division Association



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

For more info contact:
Len Hayes
(760) 760-712 7088
Lenhayes@cox.net
You can keep current on the Association events at our website:
VJ Day
15 August 1945
Thanks to all who were there for us.
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.
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
Dear 1st Marine Division Association,
 
Thank you for taking care of veterans and military families, especially during this period of crisis and uncertainty. The First Marine Division Association’s services, fundraising and donations are meeting critical needs. On behalf of USAA’s more than 35,000 employees, please accept my sincere gratitude.
 
One of the many downsides this pandemic brings is the cancellation of gatherings – particularly your 73rd Annual Reunion, which I know USAA representatives were eager to support. We look forward to supporting next year’s event at the Home of the First Marine Division in Oceanside.
 
These are difficult times for all of us, and we know that military families are hard hit. That is why USAA just announced a donation of $30 million to offer relief and support through the Military Family Relief Initiative. This will help military aid societies provide zero-interest loans and emergency grants to eligible service members and their families, enhance veteran and spouse employment prospects, assist with child-care costs, support virtual delivery of education and offer emotional support for children.
 
We hope this contribution gives military aid organizations a lasting benefit. As interest-free loans are repaid, the funds can help new recipients well into the future.
 
The Military Family Relief Initiative is USAA’s largest one-time philanthropic contribution to date and expands our giving from the $11 million we donated earlier this year to military-oriented nonprofit organizations and our local communities.
 
To directly help our members, we’ve also returned more than $1 billion to our auto policyholders since stay-at-home trends have drastically reduced driving. And we’ve provided special assistance to more than 1 million members who are struggling during the pandemic.
 
We stand alongside you and the FMDA in supporting our military community through this crisis. Thank you for being an important ally in serving military and veteran families.

Best regards,

Wayne Peacock | CEO
9800 Fredericksburg Road, San Antonio, TX 78288
Office: (210) 498-7757 Cell: (210) 913-7757
New Members
MRS. SHARON A. LANCASTER, Associate,
Sponsor: LCPL TOM J. LANCASTER
CPL JOHN MONCK
Taps
We are again updating the database from Social Security records.
Recent reports are boldface.


WILFORD BRIMLEY, 1 AUG 2020
HM1 WILBUR O. COX, 23 Jul 2010
PFC ALEX H. COY, 7 May 2012
SGT JOHN M. COYNE, 22 Dec 2019
MAJ GARY W. COZZENS, 31 Jul 2018
PFC WILLIAM E. CRABTREE, 10 Nov 2016
MAJ JOHN CRAIG USMC(RET), 11 Oct 2017
SGT KENNETH E. CRAIG, 27 Feb 2008
CPL RICHARD J. CRAIG, 21 Nov 2010
MSGT ROBERT J. CRAUGH, 29 Jul 2007
SGT RICHARD L. CRAVEN, 18 Jun 2012
CAPT WILLIAM A. CRAVEN, 1 Dec 2004
SGT ROBERT R. CRAVENS, 11 Oct 2007
CPL BARTON E. CRAWFORD, 16 Jul 2012
PFC HARRY R. CRAWFORD, 1 May 2013
CHARLES R. CREECH, 27 May 2020
MSGT JEFF O. CRESSIONNIE, 8 Jul 2020
CPL CHARLES H. CRESWELL, 25 Oct 2018
GYSGT LAWRENCE CRETIN, 12 Feb 2010
MEGAN E. CRILLY, 31 Jan 2019
GYSGT JOHN M. CRIMLISK, 25 Sep 2019
SGT AGOSTINO J. CRISAFULLI, 16 Jul 2020
GORDON D. CROCKER JR, 29 Apr 2009
MAURICE ALLEN CROCKER, 20 Jul 2020
CPL GEORGE D. CROCKETT, 11 Apr 2020
SGTMAJ JAMES R. CROCKETT USMC(RET), 27 Mar 2008
SGT ROBERT OWEN CROFT, 13 May 2020
PFC HOMER H. CROSS, 25 Aug 2017
PFC WYMAN O. CROUCH, 6 Apr 2012
CPL WILLIAM C. CROW, 12 Dec 2014
CWO4 H. W. CROWELL USMC(RET), 2 May 2016
SGT ROBERT F. CROWLEY, 4 Jul 2013
PVT ROY D. CRUIKSHANK, 6 Sep 2009
CPL EMERY G. CSEHAK, 19 Aug 2006
SGT JOHN P. CSIKOS, 11 Feb 2014
CPL SALOME JIM CUELLAR, 5 Jul 2020
MSGT CHESTER E. CUKROWICZ, 11 Jul 2020
COL THOMAS J. CULKIN USMC(RET), 16 Sep 2012
CAPT BILL P. CUMBAA, 21 Aug 2018
CPL JAMES E. CUMBERWORTH, 16 Feb 2018
CPL CHARLES F. CUMMINGS, 20 Feb 2016
PFC EDWIN L. CUMMINGS, 25 May 2008
LT TRAVIS A. CURD II, 2 Apr 2017
SGT RALPH M. DELANEY JR, 7 May 2020
ROBERT Y. GONZALES, 20 Jan 2004
CPL RALPH LAMAR HOWELL, 26 May 2020
SGT ROBERT J. JOHNSON USMC, 12 Aug 2014
CPL ROBERT W. JOHNSON, 2 Mar 2016
LTCOL WILLIAM 'WIGGY' JOHNSON JR USMCR(RET), 31 May 2020
TSGT RICHARD A. JOHNSTON, 28 Aug 2019
CAPT WILLIAM YOUNG JOHNSTON, 9 Feb 2020
CARROL HUGH JONES, 11 Apr 2008
CPL DANIEL H. JONES, 4 Jun 2020
PHM2 DARRELL S. JONES JR, 7 Jan 2015
DONALD ROSS JONES, 14 Sep 2003
DONALD 'MIKE' JONES, 28 May 2020
CPL ALFRED ROBERT JORDAN, 14 Jul 2020
SGT HOWARD A. MICHEL, 2 Aug 2011
ISRAEL MICHELSON, 27 Dec 2003
SSGT F. E. MIDDAUGH, 22 Feb 2003
CPL JOHN R. MIECZNIKOWSKI, 28 Dec 2006
HN EDWIN K. MIEDEMA, 21 Apr 2004
CPL ALBERT (BILL) W. MIKEL, 23 Oct 2018
CPL JOHN A. MIKOLAINIS, 25 Aug 2008
ANTHONY F. MILANES, 30 Apr 2016
PLTSGT FRED E. MILES, 3 Oct 2012
CPL JOHN B. MILES, 30 Jul 2016
SGT ANGUS M. MILLER, 3 Nov 2004
CPL STEPHEN R. NEACE, 25 Apr 2020
CPL WILLIAM F. PEER, 24 May 2020
MAJ RAYMOND E. RUSSELL, 4 Jul 2019
ANDREW 'ANDY' JACOB SCHINDELE, 1 Apr 2020
RONALD LEWIS TEED JR, 6 Jul 2020
BETTY ARLENE THOMPSON, 31 Jul 2020
SGT LEWIS E. WEINSTEIN, 17 Jul 2018
CPL WILLIAM R. WEIR, 20 Aug 2011
PFC BRUNO ZWIAZEK, 14 Jan 2019
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