Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
Commandant’s Comments
Despite the really cold weather up north and all
of the rain this winter here in Leesburg, the
detachment officers huddled together and
continued to plan for future events. We will
honor another WWII veteran, Tony Chaikowski
in March and are planning to honor our first
Korean War veteran in May.
Senior Vice-Commandant Earle Benjamin has
set up both the trial “Butterfinger” sale and the
Rose sales for this spring. And of course the
annual golf outing for Injured and Wounded
Warriors is very close at hand. It is important
that every detachment member gets behind our
projects so that we will be able to raise enough
money to reach or exceed our outreach goals
again this year.
Recruitment and retention continues to be
foremost in the goals of the detachment. All of
our members are currently up to date with dues
so we are headed towards another Department
Commendation ribbon. A big Oorah goes out to
Chuck Strehl, Detachment Paymaster for
keeping on top of our membership renewals. It
is behind the scene attention to details like
Chuck’s and Earle’s that keeps our detachment
in good order and on sound financial ground.
I would be remiss in not mentioning the
detachments participation in a very special event
2014
at Cornerstone Hospice in Tavares in February.
Marine Corps trained K-9 Idol Vom Haus Huro
was the very first therapy dog to become a
volunteer at Cornerstone. Idol, along with his
trainer, Missy Ziler participated in a “Salutes”
pinning ceremony led by our own Chaplain
George Wanberg. An Honor Guard from 1240
insured Marine Corps presence. The Honor
Guard members were Chris Debow, Andy
Mincer, Vicki Rezen and Bob Wunsch. Other
detachment members in attendance were Billy
Mitchell, Chuck Lippert, Jeff Carr, Mike
Stewart, Ron Lee and Auxiliary member Taeko
Mincer. I would like to give special thanks to
these fine Marines for taking time out to attend.
It is time to consider who will be selected to lead
1240 into the future. The first round of
nominations for detachment officers will be at
the March meeting, followed by a second
round in April, as well as, the detachment annual
election of officers at the April meeting. Now is
the time to rise to the occasion to step up and
serve our brothers and sister in the detachment
as an officer. The offices to be filled will be
Commandant,
Senior-Vice
Commandant,
Junior-Vice Commandant, and Judge Advocate.
Please seriously consider attending the spring
conference at Safety Harbor Spa, Safety Harbor,
Florida April 10th through April 13th.
Finally, it has been a privilege to serve as your
Commandant for these past two years. I thank
our elected and appointed officers, our members,
and my two mentors Andy Mincer and Carl
Engel for all of your support and hard work in
keeping our detachment active, hard-working
and a premier detachment in the Department of
Florida, Marine Corps League.
Simper Fidelis, Mike
1|Page
Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
2014
pedigree dogs voted on the best joke told by a
Pup. A prize was awarded for the best joke.
Our next meetings, called "growls", are as
follows. On March 3rd, the activity will be
telling of "sea stories" by volunteers, who will
compete for a prize. On May 3rd our Pedigree
Devil Dogs, the most advanced members, will
present short talks on famous Marines. On July
7th Devil Dogs will be asked to share a valuable
lesson learned as a Marine that has served them
well in life.
September is our election night, and we will
again have jokes by volunteers. This group is a
great bunch of guys and they are a pleasure to be
with. If you are an active member of our
detachment and would like to be invited to
become a Devil Dog, just ask me. As the Pound
Keeper (commandant) this year, I could possibly
arrange it. So could Andy Mincer who is SeniorVice-Pound Keeper, or Mike Stewart who is the
pound’s 'Mad Dog". Semper Fi, PDD Carl
Devil Dog Stuff
335 Pound Keeper Carl Engel
In order to introduce more fun and interest into
our gatherings, some changes have been initiated
this year to provide an even better experience for
our members. It was felt that meeting only four
times a year did not provide the camaraderie and
cohesiveness that our organization should have
so the membership voted to meet every other
month instead, on the first Monday of the
month.
It was also decided that we should do more than
just go through the ritual of a business meeting,
so we began to have a theme for each meeting,
to add some spice and variety. The first theme
was "Joke Night", where a committee of
Woof
Woof
2|Page
Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
Chaplain George Wanberg
SERVANT HOOD
I just briefly want to talk to you about being a
SERVANT. On Feb 14 Mike, Jeff and I had the
opportunity to be a part of Jim Bradford's
brother Don Bradford’s Memorial Service at
Hawthorn. Besides being a blessing for us, it
meant a lot to Jim that we were there.
I was able to give a Cornerstone Hospice Salute
to Don through and to his wife. You could see
by her reaction that it meant a lot to her and the
family. Mike then presented one of our Marine
Corps blankets to her with blessings from our
detachment. Again, we were SERVING one of
our own Marine Corps family members. What
an honor!
Please, any time something like this comes up,
whether it is for our fellow Marines, or your
own community, react, get involved, and
SERVE.
Matt 20:28 "Just as the Son of Man did not come
to be served, but to serve………….
Semper Fidelis Chaplin George
2014
News from the Department of Florida
Mike Stewart Dept. of FL Paymaster
Morris F. Dixon, Jr. Detachment 54 members
MCLA unit and MODD will be hosting the
Spring Conference at Safety Harbor Resort and
Spa, Safety Harbor, Florida from 10-13 April
2014. Room rates are a reasonable $89.00 per
night (Run of House) and include a full buffet
breakfast for two. Reservations must be made
by 17 March. Ask for the MCL conference rate.
Registration begins on Thursday, April 10th for
the Conference and the MODD Grand Growl.
The Ship’s Store will be open as well as the
Hospitality Suite until 10:00 PM. Registration
continues on Friday and will be the day for the
Leadership School.
The Detachment
Commandant’s meeting will be chaired by
Senior Vice-Commandant Bill Cona at 4:00 PM.
The MODD Grand Growl will begin at 8:00 PM
and is open to all Devil Dogs in good standing.
Saturday morning begins with a Chapel of the
Four Chaplains Ceremony at 8:30 AM.
Following at 9:00 will be the joint meeting of
the MCLA and MCL and will include a
Memorial Service dedicated to members lost
since the Fall Conference.
The business
meetings of both the MCL and MCLA will
3|Page
Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
begin at 9:40 AM. That is when the business of
the Department takes place and all officer and
committee reports will be given to the
membership. The Uniform of the Day is
undressed blues.
For the first time a Pack Leadership will take
place at 1:00 PM. All MODD members are
invited to attend.
The District ViceCommandants’ meeting will begin at 2:00 PM.
The Ship’s Store will be open from 10:00 am to
4:00 PM on Saturday. The banquet will take
place at 7:00 PM after a Cocktail Hour. Finally
the hospitality Suite will be open from 1:00 AM
to 7:00 PM and then again after the banquet until
11:00 PM
It will again be a very busy conference and a
time to catch up with old friends and enjoy
meeting and making new friends. I encourage
every detachment member to attend, because
there is always something new to be learned at a
conference.
Through the efforts of each detachment, many
forming membership committees, we have been
able to reduce the number of delinquencies in
Florida by over 100 members since September
of 2013. Membership continues to grow in
Florida as we reach out to Marines, FMF
Corpsmen and now FMF Chaplains.
A program is in place for Korean War veterans
to return to Korea. Korea will pay 50% of the
cost to travel to Korea for the veteran. Check it
out!
2014
Information about the scholarships is available
on the National MCL web site.
Money continues to be raised for both the
Florida MCL scholarships and the Injured
Warriors of Florida Fund, LLC. The hope is that
we will be able to raise enough to give each
applicant a $500.00 scholarship this year.
Children and grandchildren are eligible for the
scholarship, but money must have been given by
the detachment to have someone considered for
the scholarship. Check the mclfl.org web site
for applications and more information.
Scholarship applications to the Department of
Florida must be in by April 30th!
The solicitations from the Marine Corps League
that arrive in you male with return addresses,
cards, etc. are very important to the League.
Eighty percent of the money made goes directly
to the Marine Corps League Foundation
scholarship fund. Consider giving even a
modest donation if you are able to. Every little
bit helps and goes to Marine’s and FMF
Corpsman’s families. You might stop and think
before you throw the solicitation into the trash.
Finally, there is a Junior Vice-Commandant’s
award to detachments with the lowest loss of
members. It is time we began to put in for these
rewards to the detachment.
A reminder as the time nears for scholarship
applications to the National Marine Corps
League. The application must be signed by the
detachment Commandant and Paymaster and/or
Paymaster/Adjutant. The application will not be
considered
without
those
signatures!
4|Page
2014
Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
FROM THE JUDGE ADVOCATE:
JOHN MASTERJOHN
Leadership class put on by Honorable Pack
leader Bill Backes and members of the Pack.
JA John R Masterjohn
(The complete text of Judge Advocate Skip
Sponheim’s comments can be found on the
MCL FL website, www.mcJf1.org)
The following bits and piece were pulled
from February RAO bulletin.
Commissary Cuts
The
Pentagon
is
considering
closing
commissaries and a way of saving money. As is
so typical, cuts are made that take away from
our service men and women, hurting those who
serve their nation. According to RAO the
Defense Department is considering the option of
raising prices to slice $1 Billion from the
commissary budget. It should be noted that it is
retired personal that most value the commissary
privileges.
The Florida State Judge Advocate, Skip
Sponheim, has had a busy quarter. There were
three hearing boards that resulted in three
members being expelled from the League. The
Marine Corps League takes pains to insure that
its members live up to the oath they took on
becoming members of the MCL. JA Sponheim
also reports the loss of one detachment in the
state of Florida.
It was also noted that two new by-laws took
effect on January 1, 2014. There has been a two
dollar increase in national dues and a change in
the structure of Life Memberships.
JA Sponheim joins other Florida, National and
local Detachments in urging all members to
attend Leadership Classes at the Spring
Conference. At the spring conference there will
also be, for the first time, a Devil Dog
COLA Repeal
The US Senate has voted 94-0 to move forward
legislation that would restore cost of living
adjustments that were stripped from military
retirees in legislation passed in December.
Service organizations played an important role
in getting this legislation passed.
Supporting our Troops
Over 2.1 Million cards were sent to military
members and their families through the Red
Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes project.
National Guard and Reservists
It should be noted that there are still over 42,000
National Guard and reservists on active duty.
VA Claims Backlog
The VA is always claiming that they are
improving the claims process. There are
5|Page
Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
somewhere between 400,000 and 600,000 cases
backlogged. Add to these numbers, thousands of
vets who have given up fighting the VA after
being told their claims were "lost" or they have
no record of receiving their claims.
One claim stands out among all others. Millard
Sells is a Marine who saw fierce combat on Iwo
Jima. As a WW II veteran he did not file upon
discharge. He put his claim in 20 years ago, and
fought the VA bureaucracy for the next 2
decades. In January, at the age of 87, he was
granted full disability by the VA. It took a court
intervention to move the VA.
2014
concert. The final piece is always Il Silenzio", a
memorial piece commissioned by the Dutch and
first played in 1965 on the 20th anniversary of
Holland's liberation. It has been the concluding
piece of the memorial concert ever since. This
year the soloist was a 13 year old Dutch girl,
Melissa Venema, backed by Andre Rieu and his
orchestra (the Royal Orchestra of the
Netherlands). This beautiful concert piece is
based upon the original version of taps and was
composed by Italian composer Nino Rossi.
Watch the performance at this site in full screen.
http://www.flixxy.com/trumpet-solo-melissavenema.htm.
The Silence by Nino Rossi
Excellent performance
Chuck Lippert detachment member and former
Junior Vice-Commandant sent a piece to be
shared by all detachment members. He wrote “I
think this is worth passing on to the Detachment.
I don't have a complete list of e-mails. Could
you pass it on if you think it deserves it? I do
think that it is something to share so I have
included it in this edition of Mail Call.
About six miles from Maastricht, in the
Netherlands, lay buried 8,301 American soldiers
who died in "Operation Market Garden" in the
battles to liberate Holland in the fall and winter
of 1944-5. Every one of the men buried in the
cemetery, as well as those in the Canadian and
British military cemeteries has been adopted by
a Dutch family who mind the grave, decorate,
and keep alive the memory of the soldier they
have adopted. It is even the custom to keep a
portrait of "their" American soldier in a place of
honor in their home.
Annually on "Liberation Day" Memorial
Services are held for the men who died to
liberate Holland. The day concludes with a
6|Page
Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
2014
Please Support or Sponsors
A Chronicle of Mike Company,
3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine
Division
Vietnam July 1966
FOREWARD
I am a former member of Mike Company, 3rd
Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division,
serving as Company Gunnery Sargent for the
period I am writing this unplanned recount in
varying detail and coherency. The following is
my personal observation and experience of the
time frame. I am writing this as a request from
Jack Richards who also served with Mike 3/7 in
Vietnam during the period of July 2, 1966 to
7|Page
Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
July 16, 1966. Jack Richards was seriously
wounded on July 15, 1966.
July 2, 1966
This odyssey began on Tien Dao Hill about one
mile north of the Song Tra-Bong River at about
coordinate 574924. Tien Dao Hill sat equal
distance between two small hamlets, four
hundred meters to the east and west. Tien Dao
was fifteen kilometers southwest of Chu Lai and
served as a combat base from which squad and
platoon size patrols could extend outward into
the villages, hamlets and beyond. Highway 1,
which in earlier times had served as the main
route between Saigon and Hanoi, sat two
kilometers to the east. To the west, rice paddies
dotted the landscape interspersed with dense
outcroppings of jungle growth and among
irregular groupings of thatch-roofed houses.
Lieutenant Colonel B. B. Dewitt commanded the
3rd Battalion. Mike Company was commanded
by Captain T. V. Draude. (He later retired as a
Brigadier General)
2014
road leading to the village of Phu-Le 3, we
disembarked the vehicles and came under fire.
After two and a half-hours and the clearing of a
roadblock, Mike Company had control of Tien
Dao Hill.
Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel B. B.
Dewitt, along with his party, joined Mike
Company during the taking of Tien Dao Hill.
Colonel Dewitt informed Captain Draude that he
was to occupy the hill and establish a combat
base there.
Shortly after the taking of the hill, we received
sniper fire. Four members of Mike Company
were wounded including me. I received a head
wound. Some of us were medevac’d out.
July 3, 1966
I returned to Tien Dao and Mike Company after
being treated for the head wound. It now
became obvious that Mike Company was in
hostile territory.
July 7, 1966
As the company was clearing brush for what
was soon to be out new home, a booby-trapped
60 MM mortar round which was tied to a tree
was detonated killing two and wounding four
marines.
July 9, 1966
In the early morning of July 2nd, Mike
Company 3/7, using a truck convoy, was making
a third patrol of Phu-Le 3 hamlet area. As we
came to the intersection of Highway 1 and a dirt
Automatic weapon fire near the hill seriously
wounded one marine who later died. When a
Medevac helicopter attempted to land, it was hit
by rounds to the transmission and fuel tank. The
pilot was also wounded by gunfire.
July 10, 1966
8|Page
Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
On this date, another booby-trap wounded one
of our marines.
July 11, 1966
By this time, Mike Company was receiving
continues sniper fire from the east. Three more
marines were wounded.
July 12, 1966
Still under continues sniper fire from three
suspected huts, the men of Mike Company
returned fire with 106 MM recoilless rifles. This
caused a secondary explosion. To reduce the
pressure on Mike Company, a battalion level
operation was planned in conjunction with local
Vietnamese District Forces.
July 13-14, 1966
Marine forces swept hamlets to the south and
west of Tien Dao Hill. During the three-day
operation, the marines received sporadic sniper
fire wounding one marine.
Fixed-wing aircraft had to suppress intensive
rifle fire from the Vietnamese before the
casualties could be medevac’d out. Three more
marines were wounded by booby-traps. The
environment of rice paddies, thick vegetation
and hedgerows provided ideal concealment for
the enemy.
2014
July 15, 1966
NOTE: Events leading up to the July 15th, 0200
assault on Tien Dao Hill are my own
observations and for some reason were not
recorded in the command chronology report for
the month of July, 1966.
On the 13th of July, Battalion S-3 informed
Mike Company commander Captain T. V.
Draude that they were sending an unescorted
civilian in a civilian vehicle to Mike 3/7's
position to discuss with Captain Draude a
special operation. The discussion included
information that on the next day a group of
fifteen Vietnamese special demolition people
would be coming through our position.
The following day, in the late afternoon of July
14th, the group of fifteen Vietnamese arrived by
truck. The carried assorted weapons (30 caliber
carbines, Ml rifles, etc.), and, to my surprise,
some of this Vietnamese group were wearing
camouflaged uniforms of World War II vintage.
These uniforms were issued to marines from
1943 to 1945. They were wearing the brown side
out. I found this to be very unusual to see
uniforms twenty-three years old still being used.
I was informed by my company commander to
supply this group with ammunition and "C"
rations. They requested "C" rations (which they
ate right then) and about ten to fifteen hand
grenades.
Just before the sun was low over the western
horizon, this group departed from our lines.
They headed south toward the Song Tra-Bong
River.
Late that evening, about a half hour after the
group left our lines, one of my radio operators,
using binoculars, observed groups of
9|Page
Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
Vietnamese dressed in black and wearing
traditional head wear (large straw hats) on a
large hill to the south near Binh Son. They were
moving down the mountain. We contacted Binh
Son Special Forces Command and they
informed us that the group was local wood
gathers from the hamlets. Satisfied with
Command explanation, we went about our
business preparing for our night defenses.
Early that day, Captain Draude had ordered up
from the battalion rear, three- squad size and
one-company commander tents to be erected on
the rearward positions of Tien Dao Hill near the
81 mm position. Captain Draude decided that
after thirteen days without baths or even having
taken our jungle boots off, it was time to start
making Tien Dao Hill a more permanent combat
base. We erected a mess tent and a forward
supply tent.
2014
the perimeter of the bunker. Some of these same
beams later gave us shelter from incoming
mortar fire.
Captain Draude instructed the staff to take turns
standing a Command Post Watch. The staff
included the captain, Corpsman 1st Class Petty
Officer Lewis, USN and me. Captain Draude
informed me to take the last watch and if there
was no activity by 0100 or 0200, I was to come
back to the Command Post tent and sack in.
About 0130 I made my inspection of all three
platoons and mortar sections. Then I proceeded
to the C.P. tent. Captain Draude was asleep on
one of the two cots in the tent. The tent flaps on
both sides were rolled up. As I proceeded to
remove my boots, there were two explosions in
rapid succession near our C.P. bunker, followed
by automatic weapons fire. As Captain Draude
came off of his cot, we received machine gun
fire through the top of our tent. At that point, all
hell broke loose.
Both Captain Draude and I made our way to the
C.P. bunker area using the 12” X 12” X l0’
beams as cover from the mortar fire around us.
The Captain got his radio operator and
proceeded to the 1st platoon where the fighting
was the heaviest.
As the day wore on and night fell, the normal
routine of sending out men to listening posts was
performed. Nighttime defense positions were
manned by each platoon. The norm would be
fifty-percent alerts on all positions. An
occasional 81 mm flare was sent up. I
maintained my position at the small command
bunker. On the previous day, the Engineer
Platoon dropped off a load of 12” X 12” X 10’
beams to construct a new larger bunker. The
beams were laid in a rip and rap manner around
The 1st platoon commander, Staff Sargent Reed,
along with his corpsman, radio operator, and
platoon guide, Jack Richards, were at the initial
point of the assault when the V. C. attacked.
From what I understood at the time, V. C.
sappers had sprayed machine gun fire into their
position killing everyone. After a long tedious
firefight in close quarter combat with the enemy,
units reached the 1st platoon position and found
Jack Richards alive, but badly shot up.
10 | P a g e
Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
The Captain instructed me to stay in the C.P.
area and help coordinate ammunition
distribution to the platoons as needed and to also
help with getting the wounded Medevac’d to a
safe area.
2014
night friendly artillery fire was halted to allow
Medevac helicopters to evacuate the wounded.
Fifty or so V.C. also lay dead on the hill. At the
bottom of the hill, more V.C. were also dead.
As recorded in the command chronology report,
an estimated V.C. main force of battalion size
conducted a major ground assault on Tien Dao
Hill. A heavy barrage of 60 mm mortar fire and
57 recoilless rifle fire was followed by hand
grenades and automatic weapons firing from the
south where V.C. forces had earlier crossed the
Song Tra Bong River.
Enemy mortars worked over the company
position from north to south. The 1st platoon
took the brunt of the attack. Fifteen to twenty V.
C. broke through their defenses and fierce hand
to hand combat occurred as the firing lit up the
night. Despite the confusion and the heavy
coordinated V.C. fire, a marine counter attack
pushed the V.C. back. Mike Company returned
fire with all available weapons along with 106
recoilless rifle fire, and directed in an artillery
barrage into the enemy positions.
By the time the company perimeter had been
reestablished, eight marines were dead and
thirty-one were wounded. Most were from the
1st and 3rd platoons. Three times during the
Company ''E'' of the 2nd battalion, 7th Marines
was airlifted to the scene as V.C. rear guards
covered the main force withdrawal by sporadic
contact and snipping into the morning hours.
Twenty-three more V.C. dead were found along
with weapons and an average of five hand
grenades on each man.
Documents on the corpses indicated that the
enemy had devised a thorough attack plan and
possessed excellent intelligence of Mike
Company’s position which included a detailed
sketch of the hill. Sometime later, it was learned
that the marine reconnaissance and site
preparation during the preceding two weeks had
alerted the V.C. to Mike Company’s impending
move. A V.C. defector disclosed that V.C.
scouts had walked the hill before it was
occupied and knew marine weapon positions
and squad locations in great detail.
The attack came on a moonless night, before
Mike Company had completed all defensive
preparations. Two of our squads were posted
11 | P a g e
Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
beyond the hill to secure the road leading from
Highway 1. This left us very shorthanded.
2014
Example: The C.P. tent was just erected that
day. They seemed to know where the 1st platoon
position was located and initiated the attack
from that point.
Tien Dao Hill had justifiably earned a reputation
as a place which could be hazardous to your
health!!!!
1st Sergeant Anthony Figueroa, USMC Retired
Personal Notes:
There are a lot of unanswered questions that
many of us who were there still have.
1. Did the fifteen Vietnamese men from the
special demolition team dressed in World War II
camouflage uniforms who were in our perimeter
the night before the attack have anything to do
with the assault? These people left our perimeter
in the same direction that the battalion size force
came from. After the attack, Captain Draude
received a radio message requesting permission
to come back through our lines. Captain denied
their requests three times and finally informed
them that if they in fact came through the lines,
they would be fired upon.
2. Were the so called "wood gatherers" that were
spotted near Binh Son actually who they
appeared to be or were they part of the V.C.
battalion starting to form?
3. How did the enemy know exactly where to
direct their incoming fire so accurately?
12 | P a g e
Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
2014
organizations. This year’s event will be held on
Friday April 25th with a shotgun start beginning
at 1:30 PM. The event will again take place on
the Crane’s Roost Course. The cost per entry
will be either $40.00 or $45.00 which will be
determined at tonight’s detachment meeting.
Bill Hughes Leathernecks gearing up
for annual golf event to support
Injured and Wounded Warriors
There is plenty of work for everyone in the
Detachment. Tee-Box sponsors are a very
important item and bring in many dollars for us
to give to our Marines and other wounded and
injured veterans.
Both Andy and John
encourage each member to bring in as many
Tee-Box sponsors as is possible. We can never
have too many. The cost for each sponsor to
support us is again only $25.00. A real bargain
when one considers how many players will see
the signs.
We again need donations for prizes to be given
away in our 50/50 event. Golf item and
especially alcoholic beverages always draw a lot
of attention and purchases. You can start hitting
your liquor lockers or look for sales to buy up
products to donate.
We will needs lots of volunteers to help with
registration, selling mulligans and 50/50s and of
course helping with the picnic at the end of the
day when we feed our hungry and thirsty guests.
Please put the date on your calendars, April 25th.
Whether you choose to play in the event, work
the event, contribute prizes or sell Tee-Box signs
if we all pull together we can make this the most
successful golf outing we have held.
Past Commandants Andy Mincer and John
Masterjohn announced the date for detachment
1240’s annual golf event to support injured and
wounded warriors as well as other veterans’
Sign-up sheets will be available at both the
March and April meetings. As Andy likes to say,
“Many hands make light work”. Let’s be “Gung
Ho” behind this year’s fund raiser for our
injured and wounded brothers and sisters.
13 | P a g e
Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
2014
The following are remarks made by General
James N. Mattis, USMC (Ret) on February
22, 2014, as the MCUF Semper Fidelis
Award Recipient for 2014.
There are Members of Congress and staffers
who are here tonight. These are the men and
women to whom we owe our survival when
short-sighted bureaucratic efforts challenged our
existence. Combined, they remind us our Corps
carries more than simply our own hopes
forward.
Thank you, Don for your kind intro and for
sponsoring so many of these dinners, Marine!
General Conway & General Amos spoke about
this Foundation - I'll add a few words.
It has been a long time since we served together
in Brigade, cruised the West Pac. or since I
drank one of your Cokes on the March up to
Baghdad.
Between the Commandant's Reading List and
the Marine Corps University Foundation's
enriching the education of our warrior leaders, I
have never been bewildered for long in any fight
with our enemies. I was armed with Insight. In
the worst of surprises we found our training and
education had prepared us well.
News From Around the Corps
General Gray, General Conway, General Pace,
General Amos, General Paxton - Marines whose
very goodness put ambition out of context.
Sergeant Major Barrett - a Marine's Marine.
Colonel Harvey Barnum, you have by your valor
have inspired us all to be better men.
Ladies! The wonderful ladies who exemplify
grace & courage who represent our better angels
and what we fight for.
Thank all of you for coming out tonight. This is
a night that celebrates our Corps' values, its
legacy and its mission.
A special note of appreciation for President of
the Marine Corps University Foundation
General Tom Draude, USMC Retired
I am a very average Marine, at this podium
tonight because I repeatedly was at the right
place, at the right time to gain war-fighting
positions. I recall a Fleet Commander asking if I
could bring Marines from the Mediterranean
together with a West Coast Marine
Expeditionary Unit and strike 350 Nautical
Miles into Afghanistan. I could, thanks to the
Marines who went before me. My immediate
response was, "Yes"! Thanks to our Corps'
legacy of audacity. Thanks to our Marines in
1950 who brought in KC 130 aircraft.
These men are valiant combat leaders who
brought a Vietnam Vet's reassurance to us as we
filed into our Desert Storm attack positions.
And earned our everlasting respect & affection
Tonight we have Ambassadors present, whom
Marines have stood beside in foreign lands.
14 | P a g e
Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
2014
None of this started with me. Most of the
thinking was done in Quantico. And for me, so
often in the right place at the right time I have an
enormous sense of gratitude for a Corps that
gave me such capability when destiny called on
our Corps to fight.
Thanks to our Amphibs, which our NavyMarine-Corps Team funded. Thanks to our
Marines of the 1960 and 1970s who put air
refueling probes on Heavy Lift Helicopters.
Thanks to our Marines who brought in Light
Armored Vehicles in 1980. Thanks to our
Recruiters who brought in High-Quality
Marines.
Images flash through my mind, and I speak from
my heart: of an Eighth & "I" parade in honor of
John Glenn who remarked that night, He had
been a Marine for 23 years, but not long enough.
That was from a man who fought in WWII &
Korea and was the first American to orbit the
earth. His wingman in Korea, baseball legend
Ted Williams, put it well when asked what was
the best team on which he had ever played.
Without hesitation he said, "The U.S. Marine
Corps".
On evenings like this most of us will remember
the tragedy of losing comrades. Beautiful
Marines whose rambunctious spirits gave us
what F. Scott Fitzgerald called, "Riotous
excursions with privileged glimpses into the
human heart."
And we remember them, every one of them,
who gave their lives so that our experiment
called “America,” could live. And for all of us
who live today in this great Country. We do so
with a sense that each day is a bonus and a
blessing.
Thanks to our Commandant who extended boot
camp and toughened it. I was able to respond in
the positive because of all the prior planning and
training.
To the Veterans who brought up the current
generation of Marines who imbued in us the
spirit "such as Regiments hand down," Thank
you! You raised us well for our grim tasks!
During our apprenticeship you coached us and
honed our skills with a sense of humor in a
tough school. And when the time came for us to
stand and deliver, we never feared the enemy.
15 | P a g e
Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
We only feared we might somehow disappoint
you.
But with good NCO's the outcome was never in
doubt. And the NCO's were superb, Sergeant
Major Barrett! And all Marines, regardless of
rank, stood shoulder-to-shoulder. Stood co-equal
in our commitment to mission. Co-equal, from
boot private to general smiling to one another,
even as we entered Fallujah knowing the enemy
could not stand against the Corps you Veterans
honed.
2014
the Corps would be: Entirely satisfied if we gave
100%, and entirely dissatisfied if we gave 99%.
And those NCOs taught us the great pleasure of
doing what others thought impossible.
As General Amos summed it up so well in his
Marine Birthday message: "The iron discipline
& combat excellence" of our Marines: Marines
who never let each other down, never let the
Corps down, and never let our country down:
Those are the Marines who define our Corps.
We are a Corps whose old-fashioned values
protect a progressive country. Marines who can
do the necessary "rough work", but without
becoming evil by doing so, despite an enemy
who has opened apocalyptically the aperture for
who they target, to include even women and
children.
Because every marine, if he was in a tough spot,
whether in a bar fight, or tonight in Helmand
River Valley, our fellow Marines would get to
us, or die trying.
So long as our Corps fields such Marines,
America has nothing to fear from tyrants, be
they Fascists, Communists or Tyrants with
Medieval Ideology. For we serve in a Corps with
no institutional confusion about our purpose:
To fight! To fight well!
It's all the more important today that we hold to
our precious legacy of ferocious, ethical combatperformance. For in a world awash in change,
Americans need to have confidence in the
everlasting character of our Marines.
And to those Maniacs, the ones who thought that
by hurting us on 9-11 that they could scare us,
we have proven that the descendants of Belleau
Wood, Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Chosin, Hue City &
more,
that
We
don't
scare!
As we say out West where I grew up, "We ride
for the brand", and hold the line until our
country can again feel its unity.
From our first days at San Diego, Parris Island
or Quantico, NCO's bluntly explained to us that
16 | P a g e
Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
2014
And we proved it in Fallujah & Ramadi and in
the Helmand, where foes who had never
reasoned their way into their medieval views and
could not be reasoned out of them found that
American Marines could fight like the dickens.
And for the enemy it proved to be their longest
and worst day against us. Now from a distance I
look back on what the Corps taught me: To think
like men of action, and to act like men of
thought! To live life with intensity, and a
passion for excellence, without losing
compassion for mistakes made, by hi-spirited
young patriots who looked past hot political
rhetoric and joined the Corps - which taught me
to be a "coach" in General Lejeune's style,
summoning the best from our troops as the
Father to Son, Teacher to Scholar bond bringing
out the vicious harmony when together, we
closed on the enemy. We were taught that the
strongest motivation we all have, Whether an
FA -18 pilot or a Huey door gunner, whether a
"cannon cocker" firing a mission or logistics
Marine hurrying supplies forward, the
motivation that binds us is our respect for and
commitment to a 19 year old Lance Corporal
infantryman upon whose young shoulders our
experiment called America ultimately rests.
Now this award can never be mine. And because
we are members of the same tribe, every one of
you knows what I will say next. I am grateful &
humbled to be singled out with you tonight: An
average Marine who always had good fortune to
repeatedly be in the right place at the right time.
A "limited duty officer" as Commandant of the
Marine Corps Jim Jones put it - who only knew
what to do with me when there was a fight.
But this award is truly not made only to a man,
or to one individual, it is made through me for
my work with those who shouldered Rucksacks,
work that was carried forward by our Grunts.
And I will hold it in trust for those lads whose
unfailing loyalty we celebrate tonight, who
chose to live life fully - more than they wanted
longevity. Even when I made mistakes they
saved the day.
And I made them. Like the time I got my
Battalion surrounded in open dessert, with my
mortar Platoon spilling out and setting up 4
17 | P a g e
Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
tubes pointing to the north and 4 tubes pointing
south and, they restored the situation.
2014
More Good News from Around the Corps
Corpsman Up
Injectable sponges stop bleeding in 15 seconds.
Researchers say they have found a way to fight
the leading cause of death on the battlefield –
bleed-outs – using sterile, pellet-shaped sponges
that quickly plug wounds.
Yes, even in a jam of my own making the lads'
spirit, skill and good humor carried us through
when danger loomed. So on behalf of such lads
I hold this award in trust- for the lads who prove
Hemmingway was right when he said, "There
was no one better to have beside you when the
chips were down than a U.S. Marine."
For to Marines, love of liberty is not an empty
phrase ... Rather it's displayed by blood, sweat
and tears for the fallen. I was humbled that our
Corps allowed me to serve over four decades.
Yet as Colonel John Glenn - a fighter pilot,
astronaut and Senator put it, “It wasn't long
enough”.
Semper Fidelis and May God hold our lads
close.
The Army funded XStat uses a light, pocket-size
injector to send 92 sponges into a wound, halting
bleeding in 15 seconds, according to the
manufacturer, RevMedx. The technology is
unique because the sponges expand as they
absorb blood, exerting constant pressure on a
wound.
The Oregon based company has submitted the
technology to the Food and Drug Administration
for approval after working to develop it with $5
million in seed money from the Army and U.S.
Special Operations Command stated John
Steinbaugh, vice president at RevMedx and a
former Special Forces medic.
“If you pack gauze into a wound and take your
hands off, there is no pressure on the blood
vessel,” Steinbaugh said. “Every minute a
corpsman or medic is holding pressure, that’s
time he can’t treat someone else because he is
trying to stop bleeding.”
Lieutenant General “Mad Dog” Mattis USMC
18 | P a g e
2014
Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
Hemorrhages were the leading cause of death in
90 percent of the potentially survivable
battlefield cases, according to a 2012 Army
study. Officials see XStat as a way to treat
wounds at the junction of the trunk and legs and
arms, which pose a challenge for tourniquets.
Xstat is an improvement over combat gauze,
which requires constant pressure and doesn’t get
into wounds very well.
The disc shaped sponges are made of special
sterile cellulose and coated with chitosan, a
clotting agent. They expand into tube shapes
that when saturated with blood clump together
so they can easily be removed by a doctor.
On Boot Camp: “Can I bring my cell Phone?”
“Are we allowed to have a PlayStation?” “Is
‘Full Metal Jacket’ real?” “Are there stress
cards?”
On Fleet Life: “Will I always have to live in an
open squad bay?” “Do Marines get paid?”
“Will I ever have a day off?”
You can’t make this stuff up folks!
Up-coming Calendar of Events
17 March - Saint Patrick’s Day Parade at
Spanish Spring in the Villages
To keep them from becoming lost inside a
patient, they each contain an X-shaped marker
that can be spotted with an X-ray.
The application is meant to treat arterial
bleeding commonly caused by high velocity
rounds, but RevMedx is developing a smaller
version suited to narrow entrance wounds tracks
caused by shrapnel, a knife or handgun.
The Funny Things Poolees Say
Prospective recruits typically walk into
recruiter’s offices armed with good questions.
Most have done a great deal of research. But
from time to time, recruiters get some pretty
funny questions from people as they explore a
possible life in the Marine Corps. Here are
some of the best questions recruiters say they
have been asked.
Before poolees ship out: “Do you get paid to
recruit people?” “When do I get a weapon?”
When learning about the Corps: “There are
female Marines?” “There are planes in the
Marine Corps?”
26 March – Trustee’s meeting at 1900 at
Mike’s house
2 April – Detachment Meeting at 1900 Social
hour at 1730
5 April – Honor ceremony for K-9 Idol and
Missy Ziller, his handler
10 April thru 13 April – Spring Conference at
Safety Harbor Resort and Spa
11 April – Leadership School and Department
of Florida Grand Growl
25 April – Injured and Wounded Warriors of
Florida Annual Detachment Golf Outing at 1330
2 May - Detachment Installation of newly
elected and appointed officers at 1900
5 June thru 8 June – Department of Florida
Convention, election of officers, and installation
of elected and appointed officers at the Banquet
19 | P a g e
Mail Call: The Newsletter of the
Bill Hughes Leatherneck Detachment 1240, MCL
2014
20 | P a g e