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Newsletter
Official Publication of the Marine Embassy Guard Association
MISSION OF THE MARINE
EMBASSY GUARD ASSOCIATION
To inspire love of Corps and Country
To encourage Marines to aspire to a career in the Marine Security
Guard program
To render aid to Marines and others when in need
To promote camaraderie and esprit de corps
To provide a forum in which to assemble for social interaction
To serve as a catalyst for communications on matters of mutual interest
To revere the memory of our departed shipmates
To assist in preserving the historical records of Marine Security
Guards and their achievements
To perform any other lawful purpose or purposes
Winter 2008
MEGA Board of Directors 2008
Thomas Butler, Legal Advisor
Cairo, EG 54-56
Serves at the pleasure of the
MEGA Board of Directors
Butler_Dugan@msn.com
Ralph Caton, Director
Calcutta, IN 59-61
Term of Office May 2006- 09
caton8@tx.rr.com
Kevin Earley, Director
Prague, CZ 78-80, Helsinki, FL 80
Term of Office 2007-10
kfeentllc@aol.com
Eugene (Gene) W. Frantz, Jr.,
Vice-Chairman, Director
Moscow, RU 76-77, Dublin, IE 77-79
Term of Office April 2007-10
ewfrantz@verizon.net
Ike Inacker, Director
Warsaw, Pl 1982-83, Hamburg, DE 83-84,
Vienna, AT 84-85
Term of Office April 2008- 2011
ike1013@aol.com
Committee Chairmen:
Stewart Grant, Archivist/Historian
Ankara TK 61-62, Abidjan CI 62-63
Kevin J. Hermening, Treasurer,
Acting Secretary, Director
Virgil M. Johnson, Elections Committee Chairman
Taipei 57-59
Tehran, IR 79-81
Term of Office April 2007-10
kevinh@hermeningfinancialgroup.com
Joe Mitchell, Ship’s Store
Ankara TR 62-65
Charles W. May, Director
Charles (Chuck) Moseman, Newsletter Printer
Singapore 58-60
Moscow 54-55 Stockholm 55-56
Term of Office April 2008-11
mayc@pacifier.com
Lance Parcell, MEGA Website Manager
Paris FR 92-93, Prague CZ 93-94
Joe Mitchell, Director
Ankara, Turkey 62-65
Term of Office April 2008-11
braniff2@sbcglobal.net
Fred Samarelli, Web Administrator
Karachi & Manila 77-79
Charles (Chuck) L. Norris, Director
Ed Vasgerdsian, Newsletter Editor
Cairo 56-59
Paris, FR 58, Warsaw, PL 58-60,
Brussels, BE 60
Term of Office May 2006-09
chuckn38@comcast.net
2009 Alexandria MEGA Reunion Committee:
Mike Lagano, Chair
Jerry Paull
Brussels BE Dar es
Copenhagen DK 58-60
Salaam TZ
mielspatriot@verizon.net
(703) 577-3532
George Schaudel
Terry Adams
Belgrade YU 54-56
georgeusmc@juno.com
Bamako KL 80-81
Sofia BG 84-85
ladams14@yahoo.com
1
Timothy J. Wood, Chairman, Director
New Delhi, IN 84-85, Santiago, CL 85-86
Term of Office 2007-10
jarhead5811@comcast.net
Chairman’s Corner
National Marine Corp
Council (NMCC)
I hope everyone had a joyous holiday season. My best
wishes to all for a happy and healthy New Year.
Fall Meeting - October 18, 2008
Unfortunately, MEGA starts the year with news of
accidental falls. Our Acting Secretary and Director, Charles
May, sustained a serious injury during a fall shortly before
Christmas. His wife, Mary, says he is doing better, and
has been discharged from the hospital. Jim Tracy had an
accident falling in a grocery store fracturing his hip. Wife,
Mary Tracy, reports Jim is home, doing well and expects
to show up for muster at the reunion. Jack McGarry also
had a fall and fractured some ribs. Latest information is he’s
also doing well. We all wish Charles, Jim, and Jack the best
and hope for their complete and speedy recovery.
By Gene Frantz
Commandant’s Update Primarily reviewed the Vision/Strategy for 2025
Marine Corps too rooted in Iraq, which is counter to
concept of “expeditionary” which requires mobile, rapid
response worldwide.
Conflicts of future will be along coastlines where populations with worst problems are moving to today (Africa,
Asia, etc.).
Our Treasurer, Kevin Hermening will handle the
Secretary’s duties until the election in May. If you have
renewed your dues or submitted other correspondence
and not heard anything, please be patient. There will be
some delays and communication breakdowns during this
transition period. Rest assured everything will be handled
in good time.
Strengthen ties with Navy to reinforce expeditionary
concepts.
Focus on needs of individual Marine
• Average age of active duty Marine today is 23 years old.
- Lighten combat loads.
Planning continues for this year’s reunion. Many people have
- More protection/agile movement capabilities.
been asking for info on cost, etc. That is still being finalized.
- Self-sustaining for longer periods of time.
We estimate that the cost will be in line with last year’s.
- Improve training and technology.
Once we have everything locked on we will notify the
membership. Rooms are blocked at the hotel and I encourage • Increased use of [combat] simulation, as units are too
you to make reservations as soon as possible. I also recombusy to practice in person.
mend you call the hotel directly since the Holiday Inn
- Increase operational capabilities/independence at the
toll-free reservation line has misinformed some callers. The
squad level.
Holiday Inn’s direct number is 703-548-6300. The Crown
- Increase use of unmanned vehicles for intelligence
Plaza Hotel will handle any overflow from the Holiday
gathering and surveillance.
Inn and they can be reached at 888-444-0401. The hotels
- Fully integrated communication networks across all
are four blocks apart. The cut off date is April 13th.
operational levels.
Our reunion coincides with the annual Police Week
memorial services in Washington, DC. Police Week
Legislative Affairs USMC 1st to have a senior SNOC
consists of several inspiring and moving ceremonies
assigned to House and Senate to lobby/represent USMC
throughout downtown DC. If you are interested in
interests—assigned to Military Construction/VA
attending any of these events, more info can be found at:
Committees.
http://www.policeweek.org/schedule.html
Total USMC Budget for FY09 - $35B with 65%
The call is still out for candidates for our open Secretary’s
devoted to personnel costs
position as well as the 3 Directors positions. The deadline
Full funding achieved for MV22 (Tilt-rotor); KC130J
for submitting your bio to Virgil is March 1st. This is your
(Armed KC130); CH53K (Replace D/E models)
association. Your active participation is crucial to its success.
• Navy received $933M to build the 10th LPD—plan is
for total of 11 LPDs
Semper Fidelis,
Tim Wood
Chairman
2
USMC exceeding headcount target for FY08 - should
be at 194,000 will end 2008 at 199,000 and 202,000 in
2010 or early 2011.
- Worldwide call center continues to provide
outbound contact to Marines within the WWR
or M4L Program to monitor status and need for
assistance.
• Concern is how to fund additional headcount over
allotted level of 194,000:
• Usual method is by Supplement Budget but $750B
Bailout Package will severely impact the amount of
extra dollars available in FY09.
HQMC Public Affairs Briefing New CMC website to be
launched in Spring 2009
• Staffed by combat experienced retired SNOCs
and family members of wounded Marines.
• Wounded Marines helping wounded Marines.
- Partnering with M4L Program for job placement for
discharged wounded Marines.
Marine For Life (M4L) Program was the origins of
the Wounded Warrior Program and most of their
infrastructure/budget was absorbed into the WWR.
• Communications tool for CMC to speak to USMC
Veteran Service Organizations (VSO) like NMCC,
MEGA, etc. and provide information not made available to the public; password protected with two (2)
user accounts per organization.
- Needs USMC VSOs to help spread the CMC messages.
• M4L program focus is on education and jobs placement
assistance for all discharged Marines regardless if
wounded or not.
- 25,000 Marines leave the Corp each year
- 88% are E5 and below
Special conference call program for USMC VSOs for
specialized briefings to continue in 2009.
With the stand up of the WWR the M4L Program is
restarting in collaboration with the WWR.
• www.m4l.usmc.mil
- Received $5M funding via Rep. John Murtha
(R-PA.) if 30%+ disabled and will qualify for special
job placement help with congressional assistance.
- In Spring 2009 VSOs involvement will be started—
volunteers will receive training and certification and
then be assigned wounded warriors in their area to
contact and assist as necessary.
- If someone has jobs they want posted in M4L contact is Lt.Col Long at maria@corporateleads.com
- Launched Hometown Links concept
• 110 nationwide
• Develop region support infrastructure for the
discharged Marine
• Staff by Drilling USMC Reservists
CMC’s Business Executive Forum to continue in 2009.
Marine Week (copies Fleet Week Program) will hold a
proof-of-concept (POC) event in early 2009 at city yet
to be named.
Wounded Warrior (WW) Regiment and Marine For Life
(M4L) Program Briefing—Operations in Iraqi and in
Afghanistan have resulted in 10,000 Marines wounded
and 1,000 Killed to date.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in both conflicts:
• Testing new treatment (HBOT) - Hyperbaric Oxygen
Treatment that forces extra oxygen into the body to
help speed healing with higher recovery.
WW Regiment based in Quantico two with (2)
Battalions (Camp Pendleton and Camp Lejeune).
• Camp Pendleton received $60M to build new WWR
housing compound with groundbreaking scheduled
for Spring 2009.
- www.woundedwarriorregiment.org
- Program foundation is Marines Taking Care of
Marines and their family.
- November is Warrior Care Month in US for all
services and involves internal DOD awareness
building and marketing of the WW Program.
- Just launched new personnel tracking system to
cover all Marines in WWR regardless of present
location, status or home unit.
(Full report shortened by editor due to limited space)
3
Women Marine MSG
agreed to do our best toward establishing a high
performance level in hopes of serving as a benchmark
for future WM MSGs. We also vowed to be physically
tough in order to gain the confidence and respect of our
male team counterparts.
By Angela Munson
I completed Boot Camp in 1985 then on to Marine
Corps Engineer School at Camp
LeJeune, NC and ending up as a
Water Purification Specialist
(MOS 1171).
Training and interacting at the
FBI Academy was very memorable. I remember firefight
training in a hot fire room,
shooting the Uzi [submachine
gun] and watching the FBI
blow up a car. It seemed like
an eternity before one of the
wheels came back to the ground.
Like all of us, I wanted an
assignment with a little more
zip. Although my first choice
was for White House Duty, I
was told that only infantry
After graduation, the WM
Marines are eligible for that
MSG
School
photograph
taken
near
the
main
MSG
Building
MSGs were given a limited
task. At Camp Pendleton I
at Quantico, 1988
choice of posts. Paris had 35
read a HQMC bulletin authorwatch standers, a detachment
izing women for embassy duty
commander, and an assistant
which was my second choice.
detachment commander. I chose
I handed my request in to the
Paris, the other WMs wanted
company 1st Sgt. who was unaware
smaller posts.
women were now being accepted to
I was posted to Paris 1988. It was
MSG program. He read the buluneventful tour save for a visit by
letin, made a few phone calls, and
President Ronald Reagan and
sent me on my way. I didn’t see myself
Commandant General Alfred Gray,
as a trailblazer, but a Marine embark- President Ronald Reagan and LCpl Angela
Jr. Nearly everyone in the
Hunter (Munson), 1988
ing on an exciting assignment.
embassy came to Post 1 to meet
The only apprehension of
me. But after a month, or so,
attending MSG school was failthe novelty wore off and I was
ing and being shipped back to
simply a Marine Security Guard
my previous duty station. My
and part of the detachment.
arrival was logistically and
On the other hand, many of
administratively interesting.
the male MSG girl friends didn’t
Many, including staff and
like the idea that a woman was
instructors, were not sure on
living in the Marine House and
how to adjust to the needs of
actually let the guys know it. I
American Embassy, Paris France MSG Detachment Group
the newest trainees. For the
met and interacted with a few
Photo with President Ronald Reagan,1988
most part, however, the junior
of the girls and I guess you
NCOs seemed to be more amenable to co-ed training
could say things seemed to calm down.
than the crusty senior NCOs. Command didn’t make
There were a few things that helped earn the detachment’s
much of an issue with women being trained as MSGs.
Soon after our schooling got underway we were working respect. I didn’t date any of the Marines. I worked hard,
performed well and I carried myself with dignity and
in mock-detachment teams and things settled down.
professionalism. I was simply another “Jarhead”. My
Five Women Marines (WM) in that first class (4-88)
second posting was in Sept 1989 to Jan 1990 at the
were assigned to one room. Two dropped out leaving
embassy in Ottawa, Canada. This too was an uneventful
the three of us with a little more elbow room. We
tour. I thoroughly enjoyed MSG duty. I was privileged
4
Continued on next page
MEGA Board of Director Elections
The 2009 MEGA Election for officers and board members will
take place during our next reunion in Alexandria. With the exception of our Legal Counsel, who is appointed, the board and its
officers are elected to three-year terms.
MSG Graduates 1st Class
for Fiscal Year 2009
Photos and Story by Gene Frantz
On December 12,
2008 the Marine
Corps Embassy
Security Group
(MCESG) held
graduation ceremonies for the first
If you are interested in running for the board, please read the
class of fiscal year
Election Process Rules. Of particular interest will be Section IV,
Eligibility of Candidates and Voters, Section V, Declaration of
2009. The class,
Sergeant Major Kimble MCESG
Candidacy, and Section VI, Campaign Literature. The rules can
designated as Class
also be found on the website under the “Member Area” link, found
01-09, consisted of
on the menu on the left hand column of the MEGA home page.
9 Detachment Commanders and 99 watch standers out
of the original 130 candidates that began training in late
If you have any additional questions concerning the
September. Several
election process, please do not hesitate to contact me at
of the graduates are
vjohnson@eticomm.net.
veterans of operaSee you in Alexandria.
tions in Iraq and
Afghanistan. The
Virgil M. Johnson,
guest speaker was
Election Chairman
General Anthony
C. Zinni USMC
Women Marine MSG (cont’d)
(Ret.) who has
to have worked with a lot of outstanding MSGs and I
served in the Corps
continue to remain in contact with both the Paris and
from 1961 until his Class 01-09 entering Little Theater for
Ottawa MSG detachments.
retirement as a four graduation ceremonies
star general in
After completion of MSG duty I was stationed at
2000. General Zinni’s address served to reiterate the
MCAS, New River, NC and later was TDY for Cold
Weather Training in Norway. I was discharged from the qualities expected of Marines in the MSG program
including courage,
Marine Corps in Sep 1992. Today, I am employed as a
Research Analyst for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in devotion to duty,
New London, Connecticut. I’m currently studying for a professionalism and
honor to the Corps.
Doctorate (Technology Education) at West Virginia
General Zinni
University and have a 13-year-old son in the Civil Air
believes the MSG
Patrol who is interested in attending the U.S. Air Force
on Post 1 stands as
Academy.
the symbol of our
Note: Former Woman Marine MSG Angela (Hunter)
country and proMunson holds Charter Membership #49 in the Marine
vides confidence
Outside of Marshall Hall after the graduation
Embassy Guard Association, and is active in both the
and comfort to
ceremony. Marine on left unidentified,
Historical Committee’s archives effort documenting our
Americans overseas. MCESG Commanding Officer Vince E. Cruz
MSG legacy and the Membership Committee working to
(middle) and General Anthony C. Zinni
increase both male and female MEGA membership.
MEGA’s Board is composed of nine members, two of whom,
Secretary and Treasurer serve as Officers Ideally, members
who serve on the board should possess the desire to work in
harmony with others, the knowledge and culture of our history,
and the skills to bring innovative and fresh ideas to board.
5
New Chairman of the
Historical Archive Committee
Current PageMasters:
Detachment
**HQBn
Abidjan
Ankara
Athens
Bangkok
Beijing
Belgrade
Bien Hoa
Bombay
Brussels
Calcutta
Can Tho
Chengdu
DaNang
Dublin
Frankfurt
Geneva
Guangzhou
Hanoi
Hong Kong
Istanbul
Jeddah
Jerusalem
Kabul
London
Madras
Manila
Moscow
New Delhi
Nha Trang
Ottawa
Panama City
Paris
Rangoon
Saigon
Shanghai
Shenyang
Singapore
Sofia
Taipei
Vienna
Vientiane
Yaounde
Zagreb
On October 10, 2008, Stewart Grant replaced Jack
McGarry as Chairman of the Historical Archive
Committee. Stewart served on Embassy Duty as a watch
stander in Ankara, TR (61/62) and Abidjan, CI (62/63).
He is a retired Healthcare and I.T. Executive, and resides
in Kansas City, Mo. Although McGarry will continue to
serve on this committee, it is without saying, his leadership over the years has been appreciated by all.
Semper Fidelis, Jack and well done!
New Archives Photo Gallery
On November 10, 2008, the new Historical Archives
Photo Gallery was introduced to the membership.
We now have the capability of loading pictures/images
much quicker than in the past. Viewer feedback has
been positive. Currently there are over 1,450
pictures/images that have been uploaded and we still
have a backlog to process. Our Page Masters will be
soliciting the membership and other qualified sources
for new photos. So, don’t be surprised when they come
knocking on your door for pictures about the best duty
you ever experienced.
The Role of a PageMaster
An Archives PageMaster is a MEGA member or associate member, who is responsible for the compilation of
detachment information and enters it into the Archives.
The PageMaster is the outward facing representative of
the Archives. The information gathered by the
PageMaster is solicited from the MEGA membership
as well as other qualified sources. PageMasters are
responsible to the Historical Committee Chairman.
...and speaking of PageMasters
PageMaster
Dan Lane
Richard McGuinness
Joe Mitchell
Richard McGuinness
Ken Logue
Bill McClure
Bill Potts
Ken Logue
Bill McClure
Bill Stanson
Bill McClure
Ken Logue
Bill McClure
Ken Logue
Gene Frantz
Jim Tracy
Bill English
Bill McClure
Ken Logue
Bill McClure
Joe Mitchell
Dan Lane
Dave Wojta
Dave Wotja
Bill Potts
Bill McClure
Dan Lane
Gene Frantz
Bill McClure
Ken Logue
Angela Munson
Kevin Jarvis
Joel Hakesley
Ken Logue
Ken Logue
Bill McClure
Bill McClure
Chuck Moseman
Bill Stanson
Bill McClure
Bud Carey
Ken Logue
Kevin Jarvis
Bill Potts
A list of our current PageMasters, by detachment, can
be found on the following Archives website address.
http://www.msg-history.com/pagemasters_roster.html .
We are recruiting for more PageMasters. Currently,
we have 20 members supporting 61 of the 180+
archived detachments. You need not have served at
a given detachment to be a PageMaster. Minimal
equipment required: Desktop or Laptop Computer,
Document Scanner, Photo sizing software, Web page
editing software, Email Account, Headset or speakers &
microphone for participating in VOIP conference calls.
MEGA Newsletter Editor would like to thank Mary
Tracy, Stewart Grant, and Joe Mitchell for this information.
Please note: Those interested in being a PageMaster
contact Stewart Grant at history@embassymarine.org.
6
MEGA Marine House
By Ed Vasgersian
MEGA Marine House is dedicated to bringing you
bits of info about the past, present and future. After
all, if there was anything happening, it happened at
the Marine House.
For the past 5 years, a MEGA group from CA has met
at the Marines Memorial Club in San Francisco. On
December 6, 2008 we were 17 including wives and
friends. Cocktails at 5:30 PM followed by a dinner in the
club’s Flying Leatherneck Room. The club is a busy place
around Christmas time with office parties and people in
general getting into the holiday spirit. Next year we’re
hoping to have a separate Marine House room for a longer
cocktail hour. If you’re planning to be in the City next
December, please join us. The Chatelles and
Summerhausers drove a few hundred miles from SoCal to
join us…outstanding. I’ve often raised the idea of having a
MEGA reunion at the SF Marines Memorial, but the
prices in San Diego as well as their weather can’t be beat.
are multiple government agencies involved and the
question of what department lays claim to Blackwater’s
supervision will be the first issue to determine. It’s a
dicey chance that any one of the accused will walk free.
Even money this trial will have all the ear markings for
confusion, misunderstanding, chaos, and cover-your-ass
attitudes. According to BBC News, “The problem of
private armed guards in Iraq remains unresolved, mainly
because they continue to provide security for the many
American and other foreign officials in the country. US
law is unclear on whether contractors can be charged in
the US or anywhere else for crimes committed overseas.”
Along the subject of mercs, or contract security guards,
comes Steve Fainaru’s Pulitzer Prize
book Big Boy Rules. The author spent
a total of three years in Iraq, so it’s fair
to say he’s earned his stripes and got
his information in the field. Google
the book for a good price (Amazon).
I won’t be surprised if a movie isn’t
made from this very
readable book.
*
I made a Leatherneck Magazine trip to Prague, Czech
Republic last October. The MSGs work in what used to
be a palace. The Marine House isn’t new, but with high
ceilings and large rooms, it’s all very comfortable. There’s
a lot to do in Prague, as the city is one of the most popular
tourist destinations in the world. You could visit museums
for two weeks and still miss a few. Would I want to go
back for another visit? Nah, too nice of a place.
*
We’re coming up on another reunion. It’ll be wonderful
to get together with old friends and meet some of the
new members. I got a favor to ask. If there’s something
you’d like to see or do, or something you think would
make this reunion more memorable, please contact
someone and tell them. The good news is MCESG, both
officers and staff, will have a presence at the reunion. As
you know the reunion will celebrate the Beirut MSG
detachments. A special invitation is also being sent to
State Department’s Beirut desk. There will more detailed
news in the next newsletter, but make reservations for
the hotel and dinner ASAP.
MEGA Dinner at Marines Memorial, San Francisco. Front L to R:
Neane Shetron, Jennifer Ezell, Suzanne Vasgersian, Mary Chatelle,
Betty Summerhauser, Odette Morrow, Vera Loskutoff, Sam Morrow.
Back L to R: John Ezell, Ed Vasgersian, Lou Chatelle, Ray Amend,
Jim Quinn, Chuck Shetron, Chuck Moseman, Marty Desmond,
Jim Sommerhauser
*
I doubt the trial of the Blackwater security guards will be
over and done with by the time this newsletter goes
out— or in the foreseeable future. As you know on Sept
26, 2007 seventeen Iraqi civilians were killed and three
of the five known defendants are former Marines. There
Semper Fi,
edV
7
Marine Embassy Guard Association
P.O. Box 748
Astoria, OR 97103
We’re on the web!
www.embassymarine.org
2009 REUNION NEWS
May 15-17, 2009
Alexandria, VA
ALEXANDRIA-HISTORIC DISTRICT
Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites
625 FIRST STREET
ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314
To make your reservation and get the MEGA special rate of $99.00 per night you must call the hotel
directly 1-703-548-6300 | Hotel Fax: 1-703-548-8032. The 800-reservation number is unreliable.
Cutoff date for making MEGA reservations is April 13, 2009.
Please state you are attending the MEGA Reunion in order to get the special rate.
Opinions of authors published in MEGA Newsletter do not necessarily express opinions of MEGA and
are solely the responsibility of its authors.