“Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors,
and let every new year find you a better man.”
― Benjamin Franklin
Special New Years Eve Edition
Enjoy beautiful Camp Pendleton and Southern California This Winter

Come Join Us for Our 78th Anniversary Commemoration
Sunday, January 27
through
Saturday, February 2
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
This is a short and special edition of the Blue Diamond News.
Wishing you and yours the Happiest of New Years, and hoping to see as many of you as possible next month at our Anniversary Commemoration aboard Camp Pendleton, California.

The special hotel rate for members must be reserved by
13 January.

Please get your registration and reservations in soon. It is always a great week of activities and a fun crowd.

Semper Fi, 

Jerry Johs 
FMDA President

HOTEL INFORMATION
Pacific Views Lodge (Host Hotel)
(760) 763-7805
(5) One King bed Deluxe rooms- $114.00 per night
(13) Two Queen bed Deluxe rooms - $114.00 per night
Cut-off date/First night's due: 13 January 2019
Cancellation for refund: 20 January 2019
   
Ward Lodge
(760) 725-5304
(5) Two Queen-beds Standard rooms for $84/per night
(2) King-size ADA Deluxe rooms for $94/per night
(8) Two Queen beds Deluxe rooms for $94/per night
(20) Two Queen beds with Kitchenette rooms for $104/per night
Reservations must be made by 13 January 2019
Cancellation date is one week prior to the for the refund
 
Standard check-in time is any time after 1500 and check-out is at 1100
No smoking allowed. If smoking occurs during the stay, a $250 cleaning fee will be automatically added to the account.
 
No pets with exception of service dogs. Ward Lodge offers pet-friendly rooms based on availability, restrictions and fees apply, contact Reservations for details.
 
When making your hotel reservations please say that you are with the First Marine Division Association.
 
For those who do not have active or retired ID card, SgtMaj Marty Vasquez can sponsor you for Pacific Views Lodge or Ward Lodge.

See the 78th Anniversary Registration from for more information.
The 78th Anniversary Registration is available here for download. This latest schedule of activities is now 95% set in concrete.

Previous versions of the form remain valid for registration. Some times and locations have changed. The first registration forms have come in already. We recommend getting your registration and hotel reservations in early.

FROM THE HEADQUARTERS

78th Anniversary Commemoration
1st Division Sergeant Major Terrence Whitcomb and his staff met with us to update the Anniversary plans. New activities and old favorites should make this another great Anniversary Week.

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 2:00PM
1st Marine Division Headquarters
Camp Pendleton, California

Our General Membership meeting time and location has changed at the request of the Division. After lunch on Friday, February 1, we will be attending the retirement ceremony for MGySgt Kelly at 1300, followed by the General Membership meeting at 1400. The meeting room is yet to be determined.

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

MARINE CORPS STILETTO
Members
Greetings from Mickey Christiason

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years and thanks for everything the FMDA does for our Marines and their families. Attached are a couple of pictures I would like to share 1) Toys collected for 1st CEB , Wounded Warriors Bn and MC League projects 2) LtCol Macander CO of 1st CEB, Col Ken Brown , Ret and myself in Red jacket! We had several Vietnam Veterans assist us plus generosity of civilians
.                         
Semper Fi

Mickey Christiason
FMDA and Marine Corps League Det 0022
GENERAL FUND DONATIONS
USAA
Challenge Coin
We received an order this week for 10 coins.
They are going fast.

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