“Don’t forget that you’re First Marines! Not all the Communists in hell can overrun you!”
― Lewis Burwell Puller at Chosin Reservoir
Operation Jay
begins June 26, 1966
On June 25, 1966, Operation Jay began approximately 20 miles northwest of the central Vietnamese city of Hue. The operation, which lasted nine days, saw the 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines land north of the North Vietnamese 812th Main Force Battalion, while the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines landed south of the enemy's position. Caught between the two Marine units, the North Vietnamese battalion suffered more than 80 dead during the course of the operation.
2/1 Marines
Books I & II, American Heroes: Grunts, Pilots & "Docs"
By Michael Dan Kellum
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear Members,
Last time in this space I made a special plea for your support. Responses are coming in. Please accept my most sincere thanks to all of you who help keep this Association alive.

A special Thank You to our early responders:
CAPT WD BAINES
COL EDGAR M. BAIR
MS. CAROL BEESON
SGT BOB BELZ
SGT ARTHUR JOHN BURN
SGT BERL D. DAHLSTROM
DESERT CITIES/MITCHELL PAIGE MOH CHAPTER
CPL LAWRENCE MICHAEL LANGE
CAPT NORMAN W. LARSON
CAROL MALONE
CAPT JIMMIE D. MARTIN
1STLT GREGORY E. MELNICK JR
HM3 THOMAS L. MASTERSON JR
SGT CHARLES NIZIOL
MGYSGT CHARLES D. PICKERING
MAJ ROBERT H. SMITH
CAPT GEORGE STETTLER
COL ERIC P. VISSER
and any others we have yet to process.

In other good news, our 2019 Legacy Book has shipped. You should be getting yours soon if you subscribed. Thanks for your patience, and enjoy the book.

We will be raffling off three great prizes at our Annual Reunion this August in Louisville, Kentucky:
Cash: 50% of ticket sales for our 50/50 drawing. Tickets $10, or 3 for $20

K-Bar/EK Serial No. 1: tickets $10, or 6 for $50

AR-10, one-of-a-kind: tickets $25, or 5 for $100, limited to 500 tickets

See below for details on the knife and rifle. Please call into HQ to get your winning tickets.

See y'all in Kentucky.


Semper Fi

Jerry Johs
President
June 6, 1944
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHESTY
Lewis "Chesty" Puller is Born

On June 26, 1898, Lewis "Chesty" Puller, the most decorated Marine in history, was born in West Point, Virginia.

Puller would enlist in the Marine Corps in 1918 during World War I (although he didn't see action during that war) and in 37 years of service, he served in numerous conflicts during the "Banana Wars," including the Occupation of Haiti and the Occupation of Nicaragua, World War II, including the Battles of Guadalcanal and Peleliu, and the Korean War, including the Battle of Inchon and the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir.

By the time he retired in 1955, Puller was (and still remains) the most decorated Marine in the history of the Corps. Puller is one of only two American servicemen to be awarded five Navy Crosses (the other being Rear Admiral Roy Davenport) and, with the Distinguished Service Cross awarded to him by the U.S. Army, he is the only serviceman to have been awarded the nation's second-highest military awards for valor six times.

Association President 1960 - 1961
FROM THE HEADQUARTERS
72nd Annual Reunion
Louisville, Kentucky
Our 72nd Annual Reunion is set for August 3 through 12, 2019, in Louisville, Kentucky, at the Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport Hotel.

We'll see old friends, make new friends, and see the sights of the Blue Grass State.

The Registration Form and Program for the week is
now available.





Please start making your plans to join us in a week of tradition, fun, and comradery.
Hotel Reservation Deadline
EXTENDED

Reservations must by booked by June 30 to receive the Group Rate.
Banquet Dinner
We sampled the Banquet menu on our visit to the Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport in April. They can cook in the South. It was delicious.
COME AND ENJOY AN EVENING WITH JOE GALLOWAY  

  At the 1st Marine Division Association 72nd Annual Reunion   
Wednesday August 7th, 2019 from 19:00 hrs until   
in Louisville, Kentucky, at the Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport Hotel.  

Joe Galloway will be talking to all veterans attending and will have his latest book available to be purchase and will be signed by him.  
An American newspaper correspondent and columnist. Since 2013, he has worked as a special consultant for the  Vietnam War  50th anniversary Commemoration project run out of the Office of the Secretary of Defense and has also served as consultant to  Ken Burns ' production of a  documentary history of the Vietnam War  broadcast in the fall of 2017 by  PBS . He is also the former Military Affairs consultant for the  Knight-Ridder  chain of newspapers and was a columnist with  McClatchy Newspapers  
From: Steve "Doc" Lakernick

Let's Go Bowling!

UPDATE: Challenge issued
1 Recon vs. 1/5

Get your group involved too.
Send your challenge in to HQ.

Thursday, August 8
6:30PM - 11:00PM
Louisville, Kentucky

Join us for Association Bowling Fun Night. We'll have a private section of the bowling alley. We'll dine on chili, hot dogs, chips, soda, and beer. Bowling shoes included.

Price $50. Please pay to Association HQ in advance by July 8.
Hello Ladies! Update!
I'm hoping to see a lot of you at the upcoming Louisville, KY reunion luncheon. I will not be doing BINGO this year as last year didn't have a very good turnout. I am hoping to have someone their for entertainment, and I will be donating a really nice item to be a door prize. Attendees will receive one ticket upon entering the place where the luncheon will take place. You must be registered for the luncheon to be part of the door prize giveaway.

There will be a Silent Auction during the week of the Reunion, instead of the Chinese Raffle that was previously mentioned.
I am reaching out to everyone for donations of new items you may have laying around that you would like to donate for this silent auction. It doesn't have to be Marine Corps related. I am going to have women and men items up for this. If you have something you would like to donate, please contact me through Jerry Johs email at Geronamo0122@gmail.com or you can mail your items to the office. Please include a note that it for the silent auction.

Thank you, 

Cheryl Johs
Legacy Book Shipped

It has been a long time coming, but the Legacy Book as finally shipped. Thank you to all who submitted their story for the book. Thank you all for hanging on with us. Thank you, publisher Randy Baumgardner.
Chapters
Goodbye, Houston

Chapter President Larry Wells, and Treasurer CPL John Keeling informed us that our Houston Chapter voted to disband. Once again, not enough members are available for a meeting. The original charter and chapter funds will be sent in to FMDA Headquarters.
Bowl for the Brave
Bowl For The Brave To Be Played On Saturday, January 4, 2020
 
 The 17th edition of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl will be played on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020 with kickoff set for 10:30 a.m. CT at TCU’s Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, on ESPN. 
The game is slated to feature schools from the Mountain West Conference and Big Ten Conference.
“The last time our game was post-New Year we had the greatest fourth quarter comeback in the history of NCAA bowl games,” said Brant Ringler, executive director of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. “This year we look forward to selling out once again and continuing with our run of phenomenal games while honoring all those in the armed forces that make this game possible.”
Books
The Association's Own AR-10
AR-10 raffle tickets on sale now. Over 160 already spoken for.
Get yours while you can.
Call HQ at (760)763-3268.
MARINE CORPS KA-BAR/EK
Our latest PX item. 6% of sales support your Association.
Update: Previous brochure said the K-Bar Serial No. 1 would be auctioned. The K-Bar will raffled at the Reunion Banquet Dinner, Saturday, August 10, 2019, in Louisville, Kentucky.

Tickets $10 each, or 6 tickets for $50. Please call or write FMDA HQ for your tickets.
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.
REUNIONS
1st Battalion 3rd Marines

Reunion in Branson, Missouri, September 17-22, 2019. All eras welcome.
Contact: Don Bumgarner, dbumc13usmc@verizon.net (562)897-2437
26th Marines Association

26th Marines Association Annual Reunion. August 23, 24 and 25th, 2019 in New Orleans, La. 26’ers of all times, Iwo to current (Regiment, MEU, and supporting units) are welcome. See www.26thMarines.com for details. Or call Sonny at 512-825-4730 or email sonnyusmc@gmail.com .
Marine Corps Recruiting Service

Reunion, September 11 - 14, 2019, Bluffton SC. This event is for any Marine who served in a Recruiting Command either Officer or Enlisted, please visit our website for more information: 
Our guest speaker for our Banquet is retired General, former Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Walter Boomer. 
This will be our third annual reunion and would love to see many West Coast Marines join us. 

Larry B. Risvold
Sergeant Major, USMC Retired
Organizer
Samuel Ortiz Verdeja
Delta Company
‘69/’70
A HISTORICAL REMEMBRANCE
The 1/1 Reunion Committee has been planning a great schedule for the October 23rd -26th 1st Battalion, 1st Marines Reunion to be held in San Diego . One of the highlights during the Reunion is the “Day at MCRD” where a special section for the Recruit Graduation and Parade Ceremony has been designated for the 1/1 group.

The Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD), Brigadier General Ryan P. Heritage has been invited to help welcome the 1/1 Vietnam Veterans, their families and invited guest, and to speak about the history and significance of MCRD as a military depot. Gunnery Sergeant John L. Canley, the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient will be acknowledged and recognized for his heroic actions in Hue City during the Vietnam War. Immediately after the ceremony we will be transported to the Bayview Café for a luncheon. After the luncheon there will be plenty of FREE TIME to wander and explore MCRD Museum and other sites. The day will end with a spectacular sunset view from Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial.

We are getting a positive response and are beginning to receive registrations for the Reunion. As Board Chairman, along with the Reunion Committee Board of Directors we invite you to register ASAP, and also ask that you contact other 1/1-Marines and encourage them to register and attend the Reunion. Please visit the 1stbn1stmarinesvietnamreunion.com website for registration form and all details regarding the 2019 Reunion.

This Reunion promises to be a Historical Remembrance for many reasons. However, I continue to be reminded that this may be the last time that some of us may go back to our beginnings as young Marine recruits. That in itself is worth attending!

Finally, an update will be posted first week of every month on the web site until reunion time. Meanwhile if you have any questions or thoughts, please let us know via the website: 1stbn1stmarinesvietnamreunion.com
Questions?
If you have questions or comments please send an email to: info@1stbn1stmarinesvietnamreunion.com
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
New Members
CWO4 BARBARA CHOVENAC
1STLT BOB FERRIS
PVT DAVID NANKIN, USA
STELLA TICE, Associate
SGT JOE WHITE
Taps
LTCOL NATE L. ADAMS II, 20 Nov 2013
PFC THOMAS P. ALICANDRO, 16 Jan 2012
MGYSGT JIMMIE D. BOGUE, 15 Jun 2018
SF1C RONALD L. CHRISTENSEN, 26 Apr 2014
SGT RALPH O. CHRISTIE, 21 Mar 2019
HM2 JAMES R. FERRIS, 30 Jan 2014
SGT BILLY E. FOX, 10 Feb 2018
SGT JAMES A. OLSON, 29 Jan 2019
GERALD C. THOMAS, 21 Oct 2003
Challenge Coin
71st Annual Reunion Challenge Coins Available
From: Steve "Doc" Lakernick

These Challenge Coins commemorating the 50th anniversary of Tet 1968 are available to members. The price is $5 per coin, plus shipping and handling.
Pictured here are front and back of the coin.
 
1 coin: total $7.00
2 - 5 coins: $5.00 per coin + $7.00
7 - 12 coins $5.00 per coin + $15.00
More than 12 coins ship via UPS Ground. Please call the office or write for a quote. Mailing address and phone at bottom of this page.
Headquarters Office (760) 763-3268
President Jerry Johs Email: geronamo0122@gmail.com
Please visit our website: www.1stmardivassociation.com

First Marine Division Association
P.O. Box 9000, Box # 902
Oceanside CA 92051

(760) 763-3268