"Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to rock every outfit."
-- attributed to Gen James Mattis, USMC(Ret)
From the Navy Times
‘Most gratifying thing I’ve done in the Marine Corps’ — Roosevelt sailors thank Marines in video


USS Theodore Roosevelt

Click below to watch the video
Sailors from the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt may be isolated in quarantine on Guam, but that hasn’t prevented them from expressing gratitude to the Marines and staff tasked with assisting the nearly-4,200 personnel who have been evacuated from the ship.

A video shared by the Facebook page of the Navy’s Commander Task Force 75 highlighted a recent swarm of letters sailors have left outside their hotel doors for the Marines of 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Information Group.

“My Marines started making sure that all the sailors here receive everything that they need,” Capt. Vicente Huerta said in the video, which was first spotted by Just the News .

“And as the sailors started seeing that, we just started getting flooded with a bunch of letters, them showing their appreciation. Quotes that they had given to us. ... It just meant a lot to us.”

But the show of solidarity didn’t stop there.

Roosevelt sailors quarantined in one hotel coordinated a group cheer from each of the sailors’ respective balconies.

“They all came out on their balconies and just started cheering loudly,” Huerta said. “I started getting goosebumps and I was like, OK, this is a different type of deployment.”
In response, Huerta told sailors in the video, "Showing your appreciation for what we’re doing for you has been probably the most gratifying thing that I’ve done so far in the Marine Corps.”
...
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear Members,

Another week in lockdown. Hope you are all finding time for your hobbies. Below you'll find photos on the 1st Division's website. There are many more online. They'll help you feel like your are back in the field.

The Executive Committee meets again by phone next on 15 May. It may be time to make the decision on the August Reunion. You'll be among the first to know.

We asked those unable to travel for the Last Man Bottle to send in photos and notes to be posted on a board at the ceremony. We can post those here in the Blue Diamond News even without gathering for a ceremony. Keep them coming in. Ask old WWII 1st Division vets you know; chances are they do not do email.

Steve 'Doc' Lakernick was buried today at Arlington National Cemetery. We wanted to be there to see him off. Thank you, Doc, for all you did for our nation, our Corps, and our Association.

That's it for now. Keep your hands clean and masks on when out in the world.

Stay safe. This too shall pass.

Semper Fi,

Jerry Johs 
FMDA President 


DJC
From Headquarters
Our August plans are subject to change, as above. Please hold off making reservations until we know the state of the world this summer.

Come join us for our 73rd Annual Reunion in Washington, D.C. We meet 14-23 August at the Hilton Dulles Airport Hotel in Herndon, Virginia. Activities are in the planning stage. We are exploring visits to:

-- National Museum of the Marine Corps
-- Vietnam Memorial Wall for our memorial service
-- Iwo Jima Memorial
-- World War II Memorial
-- Korean War Memorial
-- Friday Evening Parade at 8th & I

Please let us know of any other sites you would want considered. Email the Site Destination Committee at geronamo0122@gmail.com We are looking into having a bus available to shuttle from the hotel into downtown D.C.

This year's banquet will see the opening of the 1st Division's Last Man Bottle.

Room rates are $127.68 per night (tax included).
Reservations may be cancelled until 1 August.

Click the button below to reserve your room or to check out the hotel.
Check out the sites of the Capital with the second button.

Developing details of the itinerary will printed in upcoming editions of the Blue Diamond News.

You can keep current on the Association events at our website:
Members
From MilitaryTimes.com

Gen.(tlemen’s Quarterly) Jim Mattis,
the patron saint of ... modeling?


by J.D. Simpkins
Retired Marine Gen. Jim Mattis was never given the nickname “the warrior hunk,” but a years-old photo making the rounds online could warrant a two-letter alteration to the moniker that once denoted his devotion to war history.

Mattis’ response to the “warrior monk” moniker — “the only monastery he’d enjoy is one supplied with ‘beer and ladies,’” New Yorker writer Dexter Filkins noted in 2017 — may not bode well for the adoption of a new rendition, but with a dash of semper gumby, anything is possible.

The rarely seen photo of the general — part of a photoshoot for a clothing line started by Australian Special Air Service Regiment veteran Mark Wales — features the widely-respected Marine modeling a black kangaroo leather jacket produced by Wales’ company, Kill Kapture.

“I did this one to help a vet in his business start up,” Mattis told Military Times. “Nothing more to it.”

“Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to rock every outfit.”

The Mattis-Wales introduction was made years ago when a classmate of Wales at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School invited the revered Marine general to talk to the school’s veteran’s group, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation first reported .

Mattis was recently retired and still years away from being named secretary of defense by President Donald Trump.

...

The “Pathfinder” jacket, which runs for a little over $1,300, is billed as being “ten times the strength of normal leather, at half the weight,” according to Wales’ company website . It takes approximately 10 to 12 weeks to make by hand, comes equipped with a tracking beacon that can sync with the wearer’s mobile phone, and features a brass logo handmade by a Brooklyn jeweler.

A portion of the sales from each jacket are donated to the Semper Fi Fund , Wales told Military Times.
Wales, left, on deployment. (Photo courtesy of Mark Wales)
The “Pathfinder” jacket, which runs for a little over $1,300, is billed as being “ten times the strength of normal leather, at half the weight,” according to Wales’ company website . It takes approximately 10 to 12 weeks to make by hand, comes equipped with a tracking beacon that can sync with the wearer’s mobile phone, and features a brass logo handmade by a Brooklyn jeweler.

A portion of the sales from each jacket are donated to the Semper Fi Fund , Wales told Military Times.
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.
1st Marine Division
1st Marine Division has a Photo Gallery on their website. Here are a few of them.

Details and photographer credits are on the website. All photos USMC.
Jan 24, 2019
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Retired U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Paul Stephenson participates as part of a 1st Marine Division 78th Anniversary feature collection at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, Jan.14, 2019. Stephenson served 32 years. He fought in WWII, in Korea with 1st Amphibian Tractor Battalion, and the Vietnam War.
(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Roxanna Gonzalez)
See all the photos on the Division's website.
Scholarship
Scholarship Date Announced

Attention Scholarship applicants and awardees:

Applications for school year 2021 scholarships will be accepted on or after 1 March 2020 .

Current awardees are reminded to submit proof of attendance for fall semester 2020.
Health
From Veterans Affairs

What should Veterans do?
Any Veteran with symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath should immediately contact their local VA facility. VA urges Veterans to call before visiting – you can find contact information for your closest VA facility .
Alternatively, Veterans can sign into  My HealtheVet to send a secure message to VA or use  telehealth options to explain their condition and receive a prompt diagnosis.
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.
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
None
Taps
We are again updating the database from Social Security records.
Recent reports are boldface.

SGT DAVID APGAR, 27 Dec 2019
SGT GEORGE J. BOUBEL, 29 Jun 2018
SSGT JACK T. COLMAN, 7 Jun 2017
SGT RONALD S. COLOMBANI, 12 Jul 2018
1STSGT DON D. COMPITELLO, 28 Apr 2012
CPL CHARLES X. CONBOY, 1 Sep 2009
SGT GABRIEL C. CONDE, 24 Jan 2006
Mrs DAVID F. CONDON, 31 Dec 2008
WILLIAM J. CONNELL, 14 Nov 2012
SSGT CLOYD T. CONNELLY JR, 2 May 2019
LTCOL E. J. CONNELLY JR, 1 May 2011
SGT GLENN MARVIN CONNER, 28 Mar 2003
MAJ ROBERT A. CONNLY JR USMC(RET), 24 Jul 2006
CAPT HOWARD J. CONNOLLY, 12 Jun 2012
CPL RAYMOND H. CONNOLLY, 17 Jul 2009
SGT WILLIAM T. CONNORS, 9 Feb 2020
CPL PETER M. CONRAD, 20 May 2004
SSGT JOSEPH R. CONSENTINO, 28 Jun 2018
MAJ THOMAS J. CONSODINE USMC(RET), 29 Mar 2011
SGT MATHEW C. CONSTANTINO, 4 Jun 2017
CPL DAVID W. COOK, 10 Dec 2016
COL GORTON C. COOK USMC(RET), 5 Feb 2020
PFC M. P. COOK, 26 Sep 2006
SSGT ALLEN R. COOKE, 25 Aug 2006
DR BILL H. COOKE, 6 Feb 2010
CPL ROBERT G. COOKE, 26 Sep 2008
2NDLT PHILIP W. COOMBE USMC(RET), 12 Jan 2018
CHARLES C. COONEY, 2 Aug 2019
SGT FLOYD A. COOPER, 29 Jul 2017
LTCOL FRANCIS LOREN "GUS" COOPER, 15 Dec 2007
JEROME A. COPPICUS, 7 Jul 2013
COL LEROY V. CORBETT USMC(RET), 16 Feb 2014
SGT ROBERT J. CORBETT, 12 Dec 2018
SGT RICHARD L. CORBLY, 7 May 2003
JOSEPH M. HART, 18 Jun 2014
PFC BLAIR HUNTER, 7 Mar 2020
HENRY O. JONES III, 29 May 2019
PFC J. BRUCE JONES, 19 Dec 2019
CPL JIM J. JONES, 7 Sep 2016
SGT JOSEPH W. JONES JR, 5 Jan 2014
CPL JAMES E. KRONAIZL, 28 Mar 2017
MSGT ROBERT J. MORGAN USAF(RET), 4 May 2013
THOMAS E. MORGAN, 21 Apr 2020
CPL WILMER J. MORGANI, 26 Jun 2015
SGT ROBERT J. QUINLIN, 24 Jul 2017
1STSGT WILLIE C. SHOEMAKER USMC(RET), 6 Jun 2008
LCPL GUS EDWARD SMITH, 16 Feb 2016
SGT RICHARD S. STEFANIK SR, 8 Apr 2008
MRS JOSEPHINE STEFANOWICZ, 23 Jan 2010
SSGT WILLIAM C. WALLING, 1 Dec 2016
CPL JOSEPH D. WALLS, 26 Dec 2019
SGT JAMES R. WALMSLEY, 2 Apr 2009
MRS CECILE WALSH, 8 Dec 2018
EDWARD L. WALSH, 9 Apr 2013
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.
 
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