“Let’s have faith that right makes might; and in that faith let us,
to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.”
― Abraham Lincoln
Operation Pipestone Canyon
26 May - 11 Nov 1
Operation Pipestone Canyon was a US Marine Corps, Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) and Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC) operation that took place on Go Noi Island, Quảng Nam Province, lasting from 26 May to 7 November 1969.
Jim Clare ©Stars and Stripes
South Vietnam, June, 1969: U.S. Marines move into position on Go Noi Island, an area about 10 miles south of Da Nang that was long considered to be a Communist haven. It was the start of the third phase of Operation Pipestone Canyon, in which Marines from the 1st and 2nd Battalions, 1st Regiment, 1st Marine Division teamed up with Korean marine units and 2,000 Vietnamese army rangers.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Registrations for the 72nd Annual Reunion this August in Louisville, Kentucky are running ahead of this time last year. It's looking to be a great gathering. I'd love to see lots of you there.

We have a personal note on the AR-10 we will be raffling. Please check it out below.

Semper Fi

Jerry Johs
President
Past Treasurer Jim Zalpis
Past FMDA Treasurer Jim Zalpis has passed away.

The Association offered to send flowers, but his wife Nancy asked that we keep the money in the General Fund. Thank you, Nancy and Jim.
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

Reservations must by booked by June 10 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
Update to Members Regarding Legacy Book

Thank you for being part of the 1st Marine Division Legacy Book. The book is now at press and scheduled for shipment the first week of June. Your book will be shipped immediately upon completion. We appreciate your continued patience.
Thanks again,

Randy

Randy Baumgardner
Acclaim Press
820 N. Main Street
Sikeston, MO 63801
1st Marine Division Association Scholarship Fund, Inc.
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.”
He's Still Running
The Association's Own AR-10
From: Debbie & Jerry Reed
Sent: Friday, May 10, 2019 7:59 PM
Subject: FW: Kenny Fisher 
Here is a brief story about Sgt. Kenny Fischer, USMC and his dog, Drak, when they both got hit by the same IED. Kenny is the Marine who built the Ar-10 for the Association and he is a 1 st Div Marine and a phenomenal father, husband and patriot.
 
S/F
 
Jerry
AR-10 tickets on sale now. Over 100 already spoken for.
Get yours while you can.
MARINE CORPS KA-BAR/EK
Our latest PX item. 6% of sales support your Association.
NEVER FORGET
MIA Recovery in Guadalcanal
Above: Men of the 1st Marine Division – “The Old Breed” – on patrol on Guadalcanal in 1942.
Never Forget Our Veterans Foundation

My name is Kurt Hiete and I am the Managing Director of Never Forget Our Veterans Foundation www.nfovf.org.

I have been involved with finding MIAs from the WWII battle of Tarawa for 9 years, and now we are focusing on Guadalcanal where there are 442 MIAs. I am attaching a one page summary of my recent trip to the Canal, and a picture of Red Beach 2 on Tarawa as it exists today.

Before I left for the Canal I had been told that up through 6th grade children did not have to pay to go to school. After that they had to pay about $200 US a year to go to school.This is a prohibitive cost for most as the typical worker earns only about $1,000 US a year. At one time I understood that FMDA provided scholarships to many of these children, but I was told that no longer is done.

I spent last evening with retired LtGen John Toolan who is a good friend, and tomorrow we are visiting a Marine veteran of the Canal and Tarawa. In any event, I would appreciate it if you could let me know what FMDA is involved with these days, and perhaps what your service was about.

I can't say Semper Fi as I am a Navy Man so I will just say "all the best";

Kurt 

SEE THE WORLD
Recognition to 1 CEB Marines
for Livesaving Effort

The Marine Corps League Detachment 0022 presented Certificates of Recognition to 1st CEB Marines for their lifesaving efforts of a motorcycle victim with an amputated leg.
Cpl Koeneke, Sgt Espinoza, 1stLt Wager, Mickey Christiason (1stMarDivAssoc member) and Ken Brown Col USMC Ret and MCL Commandant 
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
SGT HUGH 'DON' BARNARD, sponsor V.P. Vince Rios
SGTMAJ JAMES A. KUIKEN
CAPT F. DAVID PARKER, sponsor Gordon Morgan
Taps
PFC ROBERT BARRY, 06 Aug 2018
WILLIAM H. BARRY JR, 24 Feb 2014
CPL GEORGE D. BARTRAM, 08 Aug 2009
PHM ROBERT N. BEERS, 26 Nov 1999
CPL D. A. BEFFA, 08 Mar 1997
CPL LAWRENCE N. BENNETT, 05 Jul 2008
MAJ GALE F. BENOIT, 08 Jun 2015
CPL EVAN R. BEYNON, 18 Jul 2018
SGT JOHN J. CEBULA JR, 21 Oct 2011
SGT EARL E. CHADWELL, 17 Aug 2014
SSGT WILLIAM M. CHANEY, 27 May 2002
PVT JOHN C. DUKE, 20 Jul 2009
CPL ROBERT E. HALL JR, 15 Oct 2015
COL MICHAEL H. HARRINGTON, 14 May 2019
LTCOL CALVIN D. HOLCROFT, 10 Jan 2012
SIDNEY LUNA, 13 May 2019
SSGT EDWARD J. MCNALLY, 13 Jul 2016
GYSGT FRANK E. MELL JR, 08 Aug 2009
1STSGT ARTHUR E. PAIGE, 21 Dec 2012
A. LEWIS ROMERO SGT GEORGE S. SARROS, 25 Feb 2015
SGTMAJ RAY SCHUM, 02 Apr 2019
THOMAS M. TOOLEN, 08 Feb 2004
CPL ROBERT B. VIENOT, 19 Sep 2016
SSGT JAMES J. WALSH, 11 Sep 2017
LCPL JAMES L. ZALPIS, 16 May 2019
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