"It wasn't a matter of living or dying.
It was a matter of helping your friends." 
--Corpsman Robert Degeus
HM3 Steve "Doc" Lakernick
1948 - 2019
Doc at the 2018 Reunion in Colorado Springs
Donna and Doc at Disney World
Longtime member and officer of the Association, Steve "Doc" Lakernick, passed away at his home in Macungie, Pennsylvania on December 11.
Services: 2 PM Monday at STEPHENS FUNERAL HOME, INC. 274 N. Krocks Rd. Allentown. Visitation will be 12 PM until service time. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery. ( www.stephensfuneral.com)
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Dear Members,
Another sad news edition. Our longtime comrade and friend Steve "Doc" Lakernick passed away on December 11. He served us in several offices and committees. His most notable work was his dedication in making our Annual Reunions the great events they are.

You will be missed, Doc, along with Denny.

Now we'll be talking of memories of lost friends at the Anniversary Commemoration next month. It will be good to be in the company friends and comrades. Please try to get out to Camp Pendleton and join us.



Semper Fi, 

Jerry Johs


DJC
From Headquarters
We are planning farewell articles on our recently lost members, Denny Weisgerber and Doc Lakernick, for the next edition of The Old Breed News. If you have any stories or photos to share please mail or email them to us.

Come join us for our 79th Anniversary Commemoration aboard Camp Pendleton, California in late January and enjoy a mild winter among friends. January 29-31, 2020.

Click the button below to download your Registration Form.

Our next big event is this summer's 73rd Annual Reunion. Set for Washington, D.C., Friday, Aug 14 - Sunday Aug 23, 2020. Details to come.

You can keep current on the Association events at our website:
Chapters
Dallas Chapter Honors
RS Dallas
Rookie Recruiter of the Year

Each year the Dallas Chapter Recognized the RS Dallas Rookie Recruiter of the Year with the Bob Jebavy Award. Named in honor of our former chapter secretary.

This year the award was presented to GySgt Jorge Rodrigues Pires, Commander of RSS Frisco, TX.
Presenting the award is Linda Jebavy (daughter of the late Bob Jevavy), along with Walt Schmick (Chapter President).
Next pic is the chapter members present - Walt Schmick, Ed Morbitzer and Bob Montgomery.
The final pic - Captain Haglund (RS XO), Walt Schmick, Ed Morbitzer, Bob Montgomery, GySgt RodriguesPires, and SgtMaj Aguirre (RS SgtMaj).
Members
Operation Santa
14 December, Long Beach, California
From: BILL SANDLIN <billsandlin@yahoo.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 23, 2019, 04:04:42 PM PST
Subject: Long Beach VA's Operation Santa

Three of us attended the Operation Santa meeting at the Long Beach VA a couple weeks ago. I attended another meeting at the VA a few days ago to get an update on Operation Santa. Sorry, I am a little late getting this out to you.

The Operation Santa event will be December 14th . This is for the veteran families that would not have Christmas if it wasn’t for this help from other veterans. The event will have food, games, music, toys, face painting, and Santa and elves.

Contact Ellis if you would like to sponsor a family or want to become more involved with this event. You are welcome to come to the party if you are sponsoring a family. They need donations for toys and could use someone to pass out hot chocolate to the families. Let Ellis know if you can help or have some other ideas. I will be taking pictures.

Bill Sandlin
**************
Good morning Everyone,
 If you haven’t reached out to the family you have adopted, please do so. Please reach out to the family and let them know that you received their information from the VA stating that the social worker requested them to be a part of Operation Santa and that you are their sponsor. Go over what is on the form and clarify any questions or concerns, ensure what they are asking for is correct and if it the item is to high dollar, ask for a second gift request, as you are only allowed to spend a certain amount of money. 

Also relay to them, that they will receive another invitation to our event on Dec 14 th.

Ellis McClure,  B.S HCM, MPA
Service Specialist, Voluntary Services
Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center
5901 E. 7 th  Street
Long Beach, CA 90822
Office: (562) 826-8000 Ext. 4672
Iwo Jima Association of America
Reunions & Symposium
Books
Football
Bring your family to the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
4 January 2020, Fort Worth, Texas

KA-BAR/EK
The Association receives 6% of each sale of the KA-BAR/EK
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.
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 DENNIS E. SEDLACK,
Sponsor: Grady Birdsong
Taps
We are again updating the database from Social Security records.
Recent reports are in boldface.

PFC J. C. BOWEN, 30 Jun 2010
SGT JOSEPH A. BOWIE, 14 Nov 2004
CPL DONALD K. BOWMAN, 19 Apr 2012
CPL HOWARD F. BOWMAN, 18 Feb 2009
TRISH A. BOWMAN, 10 Feb 2016
CPL CHARLES E. BOX, 11 Mar 2014
SGT CLYDE A. BOYD, 21 Jun 2009
SGT GARY D. BOYER, 17 Mar 2018
SGT LEE ALLEN BOYER, 12 Mar 2017
CPL GEORGE R. BOYETT, 26 Sep 2015
PFC THOMAS R. BOYLE, 21 Jun 2010
PFC ADRIAN F. BOYLSTON, 29 Aug 2014
CPL RALPH W. BRABAW, 24 Dec 2018
TSGT JOHN T. BRABAZON, 13 Jun 2008
CAPT JOHN E. BRACKEEN USMC, 24 Jun 2010
SGT ALLEN W. BRADLEY, 22 Oct 2006
CPL WILLIAM A. BRADLEY, 30 Aug 2007
PFC JOHN J. BRADLY USMC(RET), 5 Nov 2011
LCPL RONALD B. BRADSHAW, 24 Mar 2013
CPL JACK T. BRADY, 19 Jun 2013
SGT JOSEPH J. BRADY, 22 Nov 2016
SGT RONALD E. BRAGG, 16 Jan 2013
SGT SALVATORE F. BRANDINO, 25 Jan 2013
CPL DONALD C. BRANNIGAN, 25 Aug 2016
MARGARET BRATCHER, 8 May 2008
SSGT EARL J. BRAUN, 5 Jan 2013
CPL RICHARD E. BRAY, 20 Dec 2008
SGT NEIL G. BREMSETH, 15 Feb 2018
D. W. BRENNAMAN, 4 Mar 2003
CPL LAWRENCE E. BRENNAN, 17 Jan 2013
1STSGT TOM BRETT, 22 Nov 2005
CPL DENNIS L. BREU USMC, 25 Jun 2016
SGT CLYDE L. BREWSTER, 18 Jul 2005
LCPL MARK L. BRIGGS, 4 Mar 2007
PFC SHERY B. BRINKLEY, 25 Dec 2012
CPL MARTIN T. BRITTINGHAM JR, 9 Dec 2016
SGT THOMAS A. BROCK, 8 Oct 2009
CPL CYRIL E. BROCKMAN, 5 Jan 2009
SSGT PATRICK R. BROGAN, 15 Jan 2018
COL GEORGE M. BROOKE III USMC(RET), 27 Mar 2018
HMCS CHARLES L. BROOKS USN(RET), 27 Mar 2006
CLIFFORD W. BROOKS, 21 Oct 2019
CAPT H. W. BROOKSHIRE, 27 Jan 2016
GYSGT WILLIAM A. BROSCHAY, 12 Dec 2015
REV. GEORGE R. BROSIUS, 2 Sep 2014
TSGT ALFRED J. BROSSEAU, 1 Aug 2015
JUSTIN W. BROSSETTE SR, 9 Dec 2004
MRS MARIE BROUGHTON, 7 Dec 2016
CPL AARON BROWN, 4 Sep 2013
SGT CHARLES E. BROWN JR, 2 Aug 2007
CPL DARREL L. BROWN, 26 Jun 2003
MR. DAVID L. BROWN, 29 May 2014
CPL DERRELL BROWN, 19 Oct 2014
SGT FLOYD L. BROWN, 27 Mar 2017
SGT MERRILL J. FORBES, 18 Oct 2012
SGTMAJ EDDIE L. KAISER USMC(RET), 21 Mar 2009
SGT ROBERT L. KEITH JR, 14 Aug 2011
HM3 STEVE "DOC" P. LAKERNICK, 11 Dec 2019
SGT ROSS H. MANN JR, 1 Nov 2009
COL THOMAS M. MCCABE USMCR(RET), 10 Feb 2019
SGT D. W. MCCAULEY, 28 Dec 2005
BGEN WILLIAM L. MCCULLOCH USMC(RET), 26 May 2017
PFC CLYDE MCDERMEIT, 1 Jun 2015
SGT GEORGE E. MCGARITY, 24 Nov 2018
PFC JOHN A. MCMURRY, 5 Feb 2010
SSGT A. J. MENDONSA, 17 Dec 2003
CPL R. (KANSAS JACK) MILLER, 26 Aug 2011
PFC JOHN P. MOONEY, 26 Jul 2014
SGT WALLACE M. NAGEL, 2 Jun 2004
SGT HERBERT C. NAPPIER JR, 7 Dec 2009
LTCOL RAYMOND J. O'LEARY USMC(RET), 24 Jan 2019
CWO3 VINCENT J. ODDO USMC(RET), 1 Feb 2015
CPL LOWELL H. PINKSTON, 23 May 2017
MSGT THOMAS W. SPRY USMC(RET), 16 Jan 2017


Challenge Coin
Association's Challenge Coins Available
In memory of 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.
 
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