“Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds.”
 – Theodore Roosevelt

Thanksgiving in Korea
23 November 1950. Marines of the 1st Division
celebrate Thanksgiving Day in Korea

Marines who had been marching, patrolling, and struggling to stay warm in the snow-covered, windswept mountains of North Korea for days were unexpectedly treated to a feast that even mom would have approved of: roast turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, green peas and buttered corn, stuffing, and pumpkin pie. The food - and how it got there - was impressive.

From air drops, to truck and jeep convoys, to mess cooks personally delivering cans of chow to men on the front lines, everyone had a Thanksgiving dinner. But as hard as the top brass had tried to make the Marines feel at home, the men from big and small towns across America knew they weren’t back in Jersey, Philly, Abilene or LA. They were in one of the most god-awful places on the planet.

The Battle of Chosin Reservoir begins 27 November, with a surprise attack by the Chinese 9th Army.

FROM THE COMMANDANT

THANKSGIVING SAFETY MESSAGE 2018

Date Signed: 11/16/2018
ALMARS Number: 033/18
R 161845Z NOV 18
ALMAR 033/18
MSGID/CMC WASHINGTON DC DMCS//
SUBJ/THANKSGIVING SAFETY MESSAGE 2018//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/

1. Thanksgiving Day is the line of departure into the holiday season. It is a wonderful time to socialize with family and friends. As you enjoy this well-earned holiday, please keep in your thoughts those Marines who cannot celebrate with family or are forward deployed protecting our great Nation.

2. Since the Thanksgiving holiday weekend is one of the most dangerous for travel, we must seize the initiative to “combat the blue threat.” Plan for mission success by managing the risks – assess road terrain and weather conditions, get sleep, and allow adequate time for traffic. If conditions change, change your plan for the well-being of your family, friends, unit and yourself. Always communicate changes to others. When you socialize with friends and family, and alcohol is part of the event,please drink responsibly.

3. Every Marine, Sailor, and Civilian Marine has contributed to our reputation as the world's most formidable, capable, and respected military organization. I am proud and thankful for each of you. Enjoy the holiday and take care of yourselves, your family, and your fellow Marines and Sailors. Have a safe, fun, and happy Thanksgiving. PWYE.

4. Robert B. Neller, General, U.S. Marine Corps, Commandant of the Marine Corps.//

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. Hope we all enjoy the day with friends and family. I am thankful for the support from all you members to keep this Association moving forward.

Please start planning to join us for the upcoming 2019 Anniversary at Camp Pendleton. The registration form for the Anniversary can be downloaded here.



CALL FOR CANDIDATES
FOR 1ST MARINE DIVISION ASSOCIATION OFFICES

Your Association Needs You
To serve as an officer for the 2019-2021 term.

Please send in a picture and bio to appear in the
January-February-March 2019 edition of The Old Breed News.
They need to be at HQ by 1 February 2019.


Semper Fi, 
Jerry Johs
FMDA President 
FROM THE HEADQUARTERS

78th Anniversary Commemoration

Headquarters staff continues working with 1st Division Sergeant Major Terrence Whitcomb to plan the itinerary. We are developing some new activities we hope the attendees will enjoy.

The Registration forms is now ready to download and print.

The schedule runs from check-in Sunday, 27 January, through check-out Saturday, 2 February, 2019, aboard Camp Pendleton, California.

General Membership Meeting
NOTICE of TIME & LOCATION CHANGE:
Friday 1 February 2019 1:00PM
1st Marine Division Headquarters
Camp Pendleton, California

Our General Membership meeting time and location has changed to better fit the Anniversary Commemoration schedule. The meeting will be Friday, 1 February 2019 at 1:00PM, at 1st Marine Division Headquarters, Camp Pendleton, California.

72nd Annual Reunion

The location will be the Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport Hotel, Louisville, Kentucky.
Check-in: Saturday, August 3, 2019
Check-out: Monday, August 12, 2019


Executive Committee/Board of Directors Meeting

Date: April 7th, 8th, 9th, 2019
Location: Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport
         830 Phillips Lane
         Louisville, KY 40209
Time: Sunday, April 7th
    Free Day, use hotel facilities, free shuttle, and additional information will be provided to explore Louisville
     Monday, April 8th
     AM: Committee Meeting
     PM: Executive Committee Meeting
      Tuesday, April 9th
     AM: Board of Directors Meeting
     PM: Food Tasting

WILLIAM M. KURTZ ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP
Attention FMDA membership!

One of our Life Members has left the FMDASF a Wonderful endowment! SSgt. William M. Kurtz, 89, passed away on Saturday, May 20, 2017. William proudly served in the US Marine Corps during the Korean War and was a Life Member of the FMDA. He later worked for Case New Holland for over 44 years. As evidenced by the check below William's estate has made the largest contribution to our Scholarship Fund in history. The check payable to the FMDSF for $599,296.10 has been received and deposited and the development of a plan will be shared with and approved by the FMDASF Board in February to include “William M. Kurtz Annual Scholarship Award” each year.

The total assets of the FMDASF is now at $931,000. Our scholarship account is doing extremely well for the last two years.


Jerry Johs
FMDA President 
MONEY MATTERS
Bank Balance as of Sept. 1, 2018 $68,444.65
Income $7,452.59
Expenses $10,121.98
Bank Balance as of Sept. 30, 2018 $65,775.26
MARINE CORPS STILETTO
Chapters
Los Angeles County Chapter Signs Off
Southern California Chapter
Toys For Tots Christmas Party
1 December

Southern California Chapter will host its annual Toys For Tots Christmas Party on Saturday, 1 December, at 1100, aboard Camp Pendleton. We will be feasting on turkey and ham with all the trimmings, and serving to active duty Marines and their families. Santa Claus will be there with gifts for the kids.

All Association members are welcome.  We ask for a $10 donation per guest to help cover the meal, and an unwrapped toy to go under the tree. Please RSVP to dansmith117@yahoo.com by 26 November. 

Those without military ID can be sponsored through the gate.
Gunny R. Lee Emrey Avenue, Palmdale, California
From Past HQ Administrative Assistant Lindsay Parra:

Sent: Monday, November 12, 2018
Subject: Gunny Lee  

Hi June and SGTMAJ Vasquez!
Hope all is well at the office...
Anyways this past Saturday (November 10) a road in Palmdale CA was named after R. Lee Ermey! (Gunny Lee) from full metal jacket!
I’ll attach some picture and a video of the ceremony you maybe use it on one of the news letters.
:)
-Lindsey Parra
Click here to read more in the local newspaper
New Books on Marine Corps History
From Pen and Sword Books Limited

US Marine Corps Uniforms and Equipment in World War II
 
Highlights
• First ever comprehensive guide to US Marine Corps uniforms and equipment in the Second World War
• Written with the full co-operation of the US Marine Corps Historical Division and the encouragement and support of numerous Marine veterans
• Over 300 photographs, comprising 200 photographs of surviving examples of uniforms and equipment in full colour, and 100 period photographs
• Covers the little known Raiders, Paramarines and Women's Reserve in addition to the basic Marine infantry
The United States Marine Corps was one of the phenomena of the Second World War. Greatly expanded from its pre-war order of battle of scattered defence battalions, overseas garrisons and ship detachments, it became a multi-division force bearing the brunt of the hardest fighting across the whole vast expanse of the Pacific theatre of operations.
In August 1942 Marines were among the first to strike back at the Japanese in the jungles of Guadalcanal; Marine Raider battalions were formed to carry the fight to the enemy; and from the Central Solomon's landings of mid-1943 it was the Marines who spearheaded the 'island – hopping' amphibious campaign which brought them to Okinawa, on Japan's doorstep, by VJ-Day. This epic story has been well documented in most respects – except one: the uniforms, insignia and personal equipment of the Marines who fought their way across the Pacific. Authoritative, illustrated reference works of this important aspect of World War II's physical history have been notoriously lacking.
In this book, long-time collector and researcher Jim Moran fills the gap, with a systematic, detailed guide illustrated with more than 300 photographs, including some 200 close-ups of surviving items in private collections on both sides of the Atlantic. The author covers service and field uniforms at the outbreak of war; the development of the Marine's ‘dungaree's’; the introduction and development of the camouflage uniforms which became the Marine's trademark in the popular imagination; the ‘782 gear’ webbing equipment; the various packs and other load-carrying items; the uniforms, insignia and equipment special to the elite Marine Raiders and Paramarines; the uniforms and accoutrements of the US Marine Corps Women's Reserve; and a range of issue and personal small kit items which collectors may encounter. His research is supported by some 100 wartime photographs showing the identified item in use. Assisted and encouraged by the US Marine Corps Historical Center at Quantico, Virginia, Jim Moran has produced an essential reference for the collector, modeller, illustrator and uniform historian.
 
US Marine Corps Women’s Reserve
 
Highlights
• First ever comprehensive guide to the uniforms and equipment of the US Marine Corps’ Women’s Reserve in the Second World War.
• Highly-illustrated with over 150 colour and black and white archive photographs.
• Detailed colour photographs of many rare items.
• Written with the full support of the US Marine Women’s Association and the Museums Division of the United States Marine Corps.
When the US Marine Commandant, Major General Thomas Holcomb, announced the formation of what became the US Marine Corps’ Women’s Reserve, legend has it that the portrait of the fifth Commandant, Archibald Henderson, fell off the wall and crashed to the floor – ‘in disbelief’. This branch of the US Marines was authorized by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on 30 July 1942.
This law allowed for the acceptance of women into the reserve as commissioned officers and at the enlisted level, effective for the duration of the war plus six months. The purpose of the law was to release officers and men for combat and to replace them with women in shore stations. The result was that between 1943 and 1945 the women of America enlisted in their thousands to ‘Free A Marine to Fight’.
This book, the first of its kind, explores in detail the role of Women Marines, or WRs as they were known at the time. It also presents a detailed study of the uniforms of the WRs supported by numerous colour photographs.
This book has been written with the full support of the US Marine Corps Histories Division, the Women Marine Association and surviving WR veterans.
About the Author
Born in 1954 in Sheffield, England, Jim Moran lives in Yorkshire with his wife and daughter. Following a grammar school education, Jim has had a forty-year-long career as a civil engineering surveyor working on major highway and airbase construction projects, both in the UK and overseas. Jim has been a student of the history of the United States Marine Corps, massing a huge collection over the past forty years. He has assisted Hollywood productions on uniform and equipment details for Flags of our Fathers, The Pacific (HBO mini-series) and Windtalkers. Jim is an associate member of the Second Marine Division Association, US Marine Raider Association, Marine Corps Association, and US Marine Corps League as well as being the 'on-board ' historian to the US Marine Corps League, Det 1088 (UK).
 
If you would like copies for review or would like to use some editorial content please feel free to contact me on the details below. I am also more than happy to discuss member discount promotions and/or prize copies further.
 
Best Wishes,
Tara Moran
Marketing Executive
Pen & Sword Military, Frontline Books & Greenhill Books
01226 734241
psmarketing@pen-and-sword.co.uk
“We respect your privacy. We use personal information you provide us with to send you information about our products, maintain records and for marketing purposes. For more information explaining how we use your information please see our privacy policy at www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/privacy. You can opt out of our mailing list at any time via our website or by calling 01226 734222.
The information in this email is confidential and may be legally privileged. It is intended solely for the addressee. Access to this email by anyone else is unauthorised. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying or distribution is prohibited and may be unlawful.
Pen & Sword Books Limited is registered in England, number 2527258, registered office: 47 Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S70 2AS”
Fundraising in Camp Pendleton Area
From: Bridget Letts < bridget@groupraise.org >
Date: Thu, Nov 8, 2018, 10:27 AM
Subject: Fundraising Opportunity for First Marine Division Association
To: Jerry < geronamo0122@gmail.com >


Hi Jerry,
A friendly reminder about the fall fundraising opportunities where you can raise money for First Marine Division Association just by eating at local restaurants.

Throughout October, November and December First Marine Division Association is invited to host give back nights at restaurants like Go Go Japan Sushi and Bento, where they are donating back 20% of sales to charitable Camp Pendleton North groups.

To get started all you do is:
1. View restaurant locations
2. Choose your fundraiser dates
3. Submit your request online


Bridget Letts
GroupRaise
Chapter Financial Reports
To all Chapters:

Below is a list of the chapters that have already sent in their 2017 financial reports. Thank you to all who have sent their reports in.

If your chapter is not listed here, please email your 2017 chapter financial report to June Cormier (june.oldbreed@fmda.us) at Headquarters as soon as possible.   

1/5 Vietnam Veterans
Alamo San Antonio
California Delta
Central Florida
Colorado River
Dallas Texas
Desert Cities Mitchell Paige MOH
Golden Gate
Greater Boston
Houston Texas
New York
Old Dominion Virginia
Oregon/Columbia River
Phoenix
Redwood Empire
Rocky Mountain
Silicon Valley
Southern California
Wisconsin
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

MAJ Michael "Tommy" Clark, sponsor: Vince Rios
SGT Robert L. Beatty, sponsor: Vince Rios
SGT Joshua E. Lindstrom, sponsor: Late Past President Frank E. Lindstrom

Sponsored by Korean Marines War Veterans Chapter:
SGT Chen-Bok Kang
SGT Chulkyung Kim
SSGT Chang-Gn Kim
SGT1st Class Byung-Sup Yoo
CAPT Eung-Chang Kwon
SGT Jung Gu Cho

Taps

Name and Date
CAPT William H. Alley 12 November 2018
PFC Nicholas Irsuto 13 March 2013
PFC Jesse Hernandez 23 September 2018
CAPT Robert L. Eckert 11 November 2018


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 $10 per coin, plus shipping and handling.
Pictured here are front and back of the coin.
 
1 coin: total $12.00
2 - 5 coins: $10.00 per coin + $7.00
7 - 12 coins $10.00 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: 1stmarinedivisionassociation.org

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

(760) 763-3268