"Semper Gumby"
-- Latin for "always flexible"
1st Marine Division Association
Annual Reunion
Cancelled
Fallujah, Iraq, 2004

Cpl. Will McDermott from Phoenix, Arizona, provides security as Marines from the 1st Battalion 5th Marines break down a door while searching buildings for weapons in Fallujah, Iraq, 2004.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
2021 Annual Reunion

Dear Members, 
It is with deep regret that I must tell you that our 2021 Annual Reunion is cancelled.

The Executive Committee met by telephone last Friday, and the Reunion Committee reported the situation. A Reunion this year just would not work out.

First issue was hotels. A decent room, after taxes and fees, would be $200. Rooms on base were available only in very small number. Hotels off base are expensive, rooms are limited, and multiple sites present a transportation problem. 
 
Aboard base, the Division offered to assist in any way they could. However, it is too early to commit buses to us, and we would likely be paying $800 to $1,000 a day per bus. MCCS has no plans yet to serve banquet meals in August.

We have about one hundred forty persons stating interest to attend. Running the numbers, for a small attendance, to a big attendance, the chance of spending more than we would bring in is too great. A big bust on the Reunion could spell the end of our Association.

Other military associations have put their gatherings off to 2022, so we are not alone.
1st Recon and 1/5 Chapter may be meeting this year. We will keep you informed.

The Nominating Committee is making plans for the ballot counting. That might include meeting aboard Camp Pendleton in August.

If you are still coming to Oceanside in August, we could meet up informally and have dinner. Let us know if that interests you.

The opening of the Last Man Bottle is still in play. Details will be printed here as that develops.

We are mailing out 50/50 tickets with the ballots. That will be our major fundraising this year, so I hope you will participate.

This August is the end of my term as Association President. I would love to leave this office at the banquet of a grand Annual Reunion, but I do not want to hand over a broke budget to our next President. We cannot meet next year if there is no Association surviving.

One more to remember this Memorial Day: Longtime friend and member LtCol John R. Stevens, veteran of Okinawa, China, Pusan, Inchon, and the Chosin Reservoir, passed away this morning.

Hope you enjoy a safe Memorial Day Holiday.

Semper Fi

Jerry Johs
President

DJC
FROM HEADQUARTERS
We are preparing the FMDA officers election ballots for mailing.
Ballots mail out in two weeks. Watch this space for updates.
CHAPTERS
Here's the news from Central Florida Chapter:
MEMBERS
LtCol John R. Stevens
1921 - 2021
Dear FOJs (Friends of John Stevens),
It is with a heavy heart that I tell you that John completed his final earthly duty assignment this morning, May 25, 2021 at 10:25am. He wants to be cremated, so I will keep his urn at home temporarily. When the current situation improves enough, I will have a memorial gathering for him. 

Your friendship meant a lot to him and to me. He really appreciated it, and so do I. I will miss him terribly.

Thank you and God bless to all of his friends and family.

Jody Stevens
MEMORIAL DAY
From Military Times:
VA to lift all restrictions on cemetery visits ahead of Memorial Day
Leo Shane III
Ahead of Memorial Day weekend, Veterans Affairs officials are lifting all restrictions on visitors to veterans cemeteries across the country provided that they have been vaccinated against coronavirus.

That means no masks, no social distancing and no limits on group size at any of the 155 national cemeteries, starting May 26. Individuals who are not fully vaccinated are expected to continue wearing masks and avoiding crowds, in keeping with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Officials at Arlington National Cemetery — arguably the best known veterans cemetery in America, but actually operated by the Army — are expected to announce new visitation rules for next week’s holiday soon. That site typically drew tens of thousands of visitors in the week before and after Memorial Day, but saw far fewer last year because of pandemic restrictions.

The mask and crowd size restrictions have been in place since last June, following a 10-week partial closure of the cemetery sites at the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Funeral services have been ongoing but limited to small numbers of immediate family members. Public gatherings have been curtailed...
From Mike Galyean:
Marines and Friends,
This just came to me from John Matthews, our representative on the Veterans Council of Indian River County. John is also the chair of this Memorial Day event. You may notice in the attached program that our Central Florida Chapter, 1st Marine Division Assoc. is one of the sponsoring organizations.

Kudos to John for representing us and doing such a tremendous job again this year.
For those of you on the coast, this will be an event to make on Memorial Day.

Semper Fi,
Mike
Our man at USAA, Gino Montagno, invites you to join with USAA for their Memorial Day remembrance. The kick-off video is now posted:
‌
VETERANS AFFAIRS
From: Veterans Benefits Administration <Veteransbenefits@messages.va.gov>
Sent: Friday, May 14, 2021 6:42 AM

Subject: Update: Blue Water Navy - Nehmer 
 
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it will readjudicate claims for Veterans who served in the offshore waters of the Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

This review is part of the Veterans Benefits Administration’s implementation of the November 5, 2020, U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California decision to readjudicate previously denied claims as applied in Nehmer vs. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Veterans who were previously denied service connection for an herbicide related presumptive condition due to lack of in-country Vietnam service will automatically have their claims readjudicated.

Readjudication means VA will review the evidence of record and provide replacement decisions in the cases of Veterans who were previously denied service connection for one or more herbicide related conditions on the basis that military service was not performed on the landmass of the Republic of Vietnam or on its inland waterways.

This review will also apply to eligible survivors of deceased Vietnam era Veterans.VA is dedicated to ensuring all Veterans receive the benefits they have earned.

VA ensures that we have the proper resources in place to meet the needs of the Veteran community. Eligible survivors of deceased Veterans may also benefit from the policy and may be eligible for benefits based on the Veterans’ service.
Veterans who have a condition caused by herbicide exposure during military service can learn more about Agent Orange exposure at this website.
MARINE MUSEUM
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.
GENERAL FUND DONATIONS
USAA
New Members
Welcome Aboard to our newest members:


SGT CHARLES G HAWKINS, Colorado River Chapter
LCPL ROBERT VANZANDT HORAN
MRS MARIANNA MISHIK, Honorary Life Member
SGT CHARLES W ROBERTSON
Taps Report

We are updating the membership roll from public records.
Recent passing are in boldface.
This long report covers a month since the last edition,
and we have been searching for those eligible to share
the Last of the First Bottle.


CAPT FRED BALMES, 24 Apr 2021
SGT THOMAS R. BEYER, 13 Apr 2014
CPL ALBERT J. BOULEY, 18 Apr 2020
PFC WILLIAM (BILL) H. BOWEN, 16 Oct 2016
GYSGT JACK CANNAL
SSGT RONALD C. CARROW, 28 Feb 2009
GYSGT EARL B. CLARK, 2 May 2010
HMC ELBERT H "COLLIE" COLLINS, 15 Apr 2021
PFC PAUL A. COLOMBO, 26 Nov 2014
CPL FRANCIS E. COOPER, 15 Jan 2007
SGT BERNARD W. COURTNEY, 19 Dec 2012
SGT P. T. CREAMER, 24 Apr 2021
CPL RICHARD F. CROSS, 20 Jan 2021
JAMES F. DAILEY, 30 Mar 2019
MSGT CARL M. DEVERE SR USMC(RET), 31 Jul 2020
JAMES DIMIT, 1 MAY 2021
BRIAN THOMAS DUDDY, 24 Dec 2020
CPL MANUEL R. GARZA JR, 12 Jul 2006
CPL ROBERT A. GARZA, 10 Sep 2002
CPL BOB T. GASCHE, 30 Jul 2019
CPL VICTOR J. GASTIGER, 27 Jul 2006
G. GORDON GATCHELL JR, 7 May 2012
HM3 W. G. GATHERIGHT, 30 Sep 2016
CPL JAMES J. GATTI, 25 Oct 2004
SGT THEODORE F. GAUDREAU, 26 Nov 2016
CPL GLEN W. GAUER JR, 20 Nov 2015
MR. DILLON R. GAULDING, 11 Sep 2018
WILLIAM J. GAVIN, 15 Sep 2015
PFC DONALD J. GAW, 6 Jan 2006
RONALD (KANSAS) D. GAWTHROP, 3 Dec 2013
MAJ JOE A. GAYLE, 1 Aug 2014
JOSEPH P. GEAR, 13 Apr 2007
MRS BARBARA GEARHART, 12 Mar 2020
CHARLES GORDON GEARHART, 31 Mar 2014
PFC EUGENE M. GEBERT, 19 Jun 2013
SN CHARLES J. GEBRON, 20 Feb 2020
DOUGLAS F. GEERDES, 1 Jan 2008
CPL DARRELL V. GEMMELL, 5 Jun 2010
SSGT FRANK A. GENOCHIO, 10 Nov 2008
SGT JON C. GENRICH, 2015
SSGT AUBREY E. GENTLE, 21 Aug 2007
PFC JAMES E. GEORGE, 8 Mar 2011
MSGT RAYMOND ALLAN GEORGE, 7 Aug 2016
SGT ROBERT L. GEORGE, 26 Sep 2005
SGT WILLIAM F. GEORGE, 25 Apr 2013
SGT HANK L. GERACE SR, 14 Jun 2020
DR STANFORD N. GERBER, 20 Aug 2020
SGT J.B. (HANK) GERLACH, 11 Feb 2019
CPL HERMAN P. GERO, 20 Jun 2017
LCDR WILLIAM J. GERRITY USN(RET), 27 Sep 2006
SGT WARREN J. GERWECK, 19 Dec 2013
SGT GARY F. GEURTS, 27 Apr 2015
CPL PAUL E. GIBEAU, 1 Jul 2017
CAPT DAVID C. GIBSON
CPL DONALD A. GIBSON JR, 8 Oct 2015
MARVIN GIBSON, Jul 1994
PFC STAN J. GIERCZNSKI, 9 May 2007
CPL WILLIAM P. GIGUERE, 9 Dec 2020
SGTMAJ ARTHUR N. GILBERT USMC(RET), 23 Mar 2021
CPL WALTER A. GILBERTSON, 14 Jul 2013
CPL TRACY GILBRETH JR, 17 Sep 2009
CLAUDE A. GILES, 24 Sep 2002
CPL DONALD E. GILKER, 8 Sep 2012
SGT MARLIN D. GILL, 9 Jul 2015
CPL TRUMAN F. GILL, 14 Jan 2009
CPL PATRICK GILLESPIE, 10 Mar 2020
SSGT HAROLD H. GILLILAND, 2 Jan 2009
CPL RICHARD A. GILLING, 19 Dec 2019
CPL JAMES W. GILLIS, 1 Nov 2020
CPL HERSHEL O. GILPIN, 7 Jan 2009
1STLT WILLIAM J. GILWEE JR, 11 Sep 2017
CPL ADOLPH GIRMUS, 24 Jan 2010
SGT JOHN A. GIULIANO, 9 Dec 2015
MRS EDNA GIVENS, 31 May 2013
CPL THOMAS H. GLANCY, 19 Sep 2016
MAJGEN HAROLD G. GLASGOW USMC(RET), 19 Jan 2020
SGT H. ROBERT GLASS, 26 Jul 2009
J. GLASSFORD, 2 Jun 2018
SGT GEORGE J. GLATZ JR, 2 Apr 2004
CPL DENNIS L. GLAZE, 2 May 2008
TSGT BILL GOBER, 23 Mar 2016
CHARLES T. GOEBEL, 2 Jul 2020
HMC JOSEPH H. GOGNAT USN(RET), 29 Jun 1997
MAJ SAMUEL G. GOICH, 13 Aug 2020
DR. JULIUS E. GOLDBLATT, 12 Apr 2010
PFC CLAUDE M. GOLDEN, 17 Aug 2008
GYSGT A STEVE GOLLNICK, 25 May 2018
CPL CLIFTON W. GONCE, 16 Jun 2020
CPL ALFRED F. GONZALES SR, 21 Feb 2013
CPL EDWARD V. GONZALES, 8 Nov 2008
CPL JOSE J. GONZALES, 5 May 2009
SGT RODNEY W. GOOD, 30 Dec 2019
JOSEPH T. GOODE, 27 May 2014
2NDLT WARREN B. GOODE, 24 Feb 2010
GYSGT LEO G. GRAHAM, 4 Apr 2021
PFC LOUIS W. GROSSMANN, 23 Oct 2002
SGT FRED J. GUARINO JR, 11 Aug 2019
SGT JOE L. GUERENA SR, Apr 2007
STANLEY B. GWIZDAK, 15 Apr 2021
SSGT JOHN F. HARLEY, 17 Nov 2020
PFC PAUL F. HARMON, 2 Aug 2005
MSGT RONALD F. HARMON, 16 Aug 2010
SGT EARL JEROME HARPER, 28 Apr 2021
SSGT JESSE R. HARPER, 27 Jun 2019
SGT EDGAR HARRELL, 8 May 2021
MAJGEN JOSEPH P. HEGARTY USA(RET), 10 Jan 2019
SSGT WILLIAM H. HEISHMAN USMC(RET), 16 Sep 2018
CPL CHARLES W. HEMENWAY, 20 Apr 2008
CPL RONALD L. HERMAN, Oct 2011
BGEN JACK L. HIGGONS ARNG (Ret), 17 Dec 2008
RICHARD T. HOLBROOK, 11 Feb 1921
GYSGT EWALD E. HOLZINGER, 7 Nov 2016
SSGT JOHN K. HOMAN, 18 Nov 2020
CPL JOSEPH HOODAK, 26 Oct 2012
CPL DOUGLAS WAYNE HOOK SR, 29 Sep 2011
SGT MARTIN J. HOUCK, 15 Dec 2009
CPL JERRY M. HUBERT, 12 Feb 2010
SSGT RICHARD A. JACKSON, 7 May 2021
TSGT JOHN H. JONES, Jan 2007
RICHARD T. JORDAN, 27 Mar 2009
2NDLT R. W. KAPPEL, 15 Sep 2007
SSGT THOMAS KAY, 26 Apr 2014
STUART OSCAR KENDALL, 8 May 2021
GERALD L. KING, 4 Sep 2019
SGT ALBERT R. KOSS, 21 May 2010
SGT WILLIAM J. KUENZEL, 28 Oct 2008
TSGT JOSEPH R. KVORIAK, 10 Nov 2015
HMC HENRY E. LACY, 2 Jun 2002
WILLIAM H. LAING MD, PHD, Jun 2010
PFC EVERETT L. LEATHERMAN, 12 Jul 2014
PFC ANTHONY P. LIBRI, 6 Jun 2009
MSGT CHARLES W. LINDSAY, 7 Mar 2021
1STSGT HERBERT H. LIVINGSTON, 9 Feb 2020
SGT HARVEY S. LOY, 28 May 2008
LTC JAMES E. MAHER, 12 Apr 2010
LTCOL DONALD C. MAHLER, 29 Nov 2020
CAPT THOMAS J. MAHLUM, 14 Jan 2020
MRS ELEANOR MAHONEY, 2 Apr 2017
SGT HILBERT A. MAJSZAK, 30 Jun 2015
CARL R. MALACHOWSKI, 8 Jul 2019
CPL ERNEST MALETICH SR, 2 Apr 2015
PFC ORRIN F. MALONE, 12 Jan 2010
SGTMAJ ROQUE E. MARQUEZ USMC(RET), 7 Feb 2016
CPL JOE W. MARTIN, 3 Sep 2006
PHM2 ROBERT A. MESSENGER, 2 Mar 2000
GYSGT NEAL P. MISHIK USMCR(RET), 21 Apr 2021
HENRY MONAHAN, 8 Jan 2021
ERNEST MUNOZ
SGT ROBERT M. OTTO, 13 Apr 2021
CPL ARTHUR L. PENDLETON, 8 Jul 2019
SGT NEAL F. PENDLETON JR, 21 Jan 2017
MRS LAURIE E. PRESCOTT, 28 Feb 2021
NORRIS RILEY "LEE" REYNOLDS, 4 Mar 2021
THOMAS RUDDY, 18 Mar 2021
DINO RUFFONI, 16 May 2021
PFC ROBERT "BOB" SCHMITZ
COL ROBERT W. 'BOB' SCHONING USMC (Ret), 14 Feb 2020
HAROLD WALTER SMITH, 19 Apr 2021
HERVIE A. STATLER, 7 Feb 2020
COL JOHN F. STENNICK, 14 Apr 2021
LTCOL JOHN R. STEVENS, 25 May 2021
REV. KARL K. TANGEMAN, 21 Jul 2020
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