"Like all Marines before, you continue to rise above and accept the call to action."

- General Eric M. Smith

Call for Reunion Journal Ads

The Path Forward

Force Design 2030

General Eric M. Smith

Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric M. Smith addresses attendees at the Department of the Navy IT Conference East 2024. Gen. Smith highlighted the Marine Corps' efforts towards technological modernization through efforts including digital transformation, integration of artificial intelligence, and continued collaboration with the Joint Forces, our Allies and partners, industry and academia.

Dear Marine Family,

We are still accepting Registrations for our upcoming Reunion in San Antonio, Texas. We meet August 18-25 at the Riverwalk San Antonio Holiday Inn.

Orlando Garza, President of our Alamo Chapter, is putting together a program/journal for the Annual Reunion.

We are selling program ads to cover the printing costs. The ad sheet may be downloaded below. Please consider buying an ad, if even just to say "Greetings" to the Reunion attendees.

You may use the Registration Form below to order 50/50 tickets. You can have a stake at banquet, even if you are not attending. The drawing will be the evening of Saturday, August 24. Winner need not be present.

We extended the deadline for Registration to June 21. The deadline allows us to better plan bus charters and the like. However, with mail delivery taking longer, we will accept your Registration anytime.

Hope you all are staying safe and cool as possible this week. It is going to be a hot one for many of us.

God bless the United States Marine Corps.

Semper Fi

William S. Godfrey

President, 1st Marine Division Association

wsgsr9454@aol.com

(505)554-9635

Join us in San Antonio, Texas for at our 77th Annual Reunion, 18-25 August.

Location: San Antonio Riverwalk Holiday Inn

217 Saint Mary's Street, San Antonio, Texas 78025

Front desk phone: (210)224-2500

Reservations: (888)465-4329

Our Group Code: FMD

50/50 drawing ticket application is included in the Registration Form.

One ticket for $10, 3 for $20.

Download your Reunion Registration Form below.

For a paper form by mail, or to register by phone, please call HQ at (760)763-3268.

Deadline for our Group Rate at the hotel is 18 July.

Click here for direct link to the hotel and our group discount:

FMDA Group at Riverwalk San Antonio Holiday Inn

Tun Tavern Legacy Foundation

Our Mission:  To rebuild and re-establish The Tun™ as it was, a functioning mariner’s tavern reminiscent of colonial Philadelphia, serving period-influenced refreshments, food, and entertainment and offering an educational experience through exhibits, historical documents, and special events. 

All profits from operations of The Tun™ will be donated in perpetuity to support veteran causes, Masonic charities, educational scholarships, and qualified charities as determined by The Tun Tavern Legacy Foundation’s independent Board of Directors.

77th Annual Reunion

1st Marine Division Association will gather 18-25 August 2024 for our 77th Annual Reunion in San Antonio, Texas, at the San Antonio Riverwalk Holiday Inn.

E-3 PFC PAUL D. CARPENTER

MAJ CARLOS CUEVAS

FRANK LOUIS FUJARSKI

MRS NANCY GALYEAN, Sponsor: Mike Galyean

PFC KEVIN J. GRAY

SGT ROBERT E. LOTZGESELL

MGYSGT HERMAN W. PLATZKE USMC(RET), Sponsor: Robert Puente

LCPL MARK W. SORENSON

1STLT FRANK OLIN STEELE

We continue to check public records to create the Taps Report.

Please report the passing of any Marine, Association member or not, so that our comrades may be remembered here. More recent passings are noted by boldface.

CPL U. S. ANDERSON, 31 Aug 2014

SGT GARLAND BAILEY JR, 18 Dec 2023

JOSEPH 'JOE' BRINSON, 3 May 2024

SGT GLENN K. BROWN, 21 Mar 2013

SGT GEORGE F. CARY, 27 Apr 2024

PFC RICHARD A. CONNELL, 22 Dec 2022

CAPT HARRY BEN DROLLINGER, 22 Feb 2024

CAPT CHARLES J. FITZGERALD USMC(RET), 22 Jun 2022

SGT PAUL E. ILLMAN, 3 Dec 2018

SGT W. G. JABUSCH, 9 Nov 1991

SGT RICHARD L. JACK, 9 Feb 2014

LCPL RICHARD EUGENE JENKINS, 20 Sep 2021

CDR ROBERT H. JENKS USN(RET), 31 Mar 2024

CAPT JAMES D. JERRELL USMC(RET), 24 Feb 2021

MRS MOZELLE JOBLIN, 12 Sep 2014

SGT DEMPSEY M. JONES, 14 Mar 2010

SGT RAYMOND W. JONES JR, 24 Mar 2023

SSGT ROBERT W. KACHEL, 16 Sep 2018

CPL CECIL W. KAHLA, 19 Feb 2014

SSGT HERBERT C. KAHRER, 2 Dec 2020

SGT RANDALL C. KANIA, 21 Nov 2021

1STSGT RUSSELL W. KAUFFMAN USMC(RET), 17 Jul 2023

CPL ROBERT J. MCCLORY, 27 Sep 2022

JACK S. MCCLURE, 31 Oct 2023

SGTMAJ ROBERT L. MCCOLLEY USMC(RET), 6 Dec 2017

LTCOL RAY T. PACE, 11 Feb 2024

SGT ENRICO S. ROMANINO, 31 Jan 2023

SGT JOHN F. SCHMIDT, 25 Feb 2017

SGT ARTHUR J. SMURAVA, 24 Sep 2004

MAJ WAYNE EDWIN STEELE, 14 Aug 2007

CPL EDWARD TAMER, 16 Oct 1998

MGYSGT LOUIS M. TURANO, 30 Jan 2021

Reported last run 23 April 2024

Headquarters Office telephone numbers

(760)763-3267 June Cormier

(760)763-3268 Dennis Coady, and general information

(760)763-3269 SgtMaj Marty Vasquez

(760)763-3270 fax

President William S. Godfrey's email: wsgr9454@aol.com

Please visit our website: www.1stMarineDivisionAssociation.org

Mailing address:

First Marine Division Association

P.O. Box 9000, Box # 902

Oceanside CA 92051

Thank you for reading the Blue Diamond News.

Please contact us with corrections, suggestions, and content you would like to see.

Semper Fidelis