2014 Maytexas Marine Newsletter
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Robert “Bob” Ogg Department of TEXAS Commandant Marine Corps League May Edition 2014 The “Texas Marine” is a quarterly newsletter published by the Department of Texas Marine Corps League and posted to the Internet at web site www.texasmcl.org. Editor/Publisher - BERNIE & JUANITA O’DELL 515 Hall Street ~ Graham, TX 76450 ~ (940) 549-3944 ~ [email protected] Commandant Robert “Bob” Ogg Robert “Bob” Ogg, Department of Texas Commandant [email protected] (903) 652-5601 (H) • [email protected] Sr. Vice Commandant Amado Trevino [email protected] THE SOUTHERN Jr. Vice Commandant Division Conference in Paris was an Charles Ynman ode to Murphy and his law. The ladies [email protected] of the Auxiliary handled it Judge Advocate beautifully. Improvise, Dennis Bradford adapt and overcome was [email protected] their byword. After every- thing was said and done, the Adjutant/Paymaster Polly Weidenkopf conference was a rounding success. [email protected] A big OORAH to John Henry Mashunkashey from Oklahoma who was selected as Division Sergeant-At-Arms Marine of the Year. The Professional Development Program Ron Tomonelli was excellent. Chuck Bones from Jacksonville gave a [email protected] presentation that was top of the line. Everyone who attended Chaplain the PDP sessions gained something. Another interesting Alex Azar announcement was Oklahoma has bid to host the 2016 [email protected] National Convention in Tulsa. Jr. Past Commandant A major point that I gave during my report at the R.J. “Bob” Quinn Southern Division was the difficulties we have in communi- [email protected] cating information down to Detachments and vice versa. I was stunned during a conversation that I had ceremony in San Diego. For those with a duly elected Detachment of you who have not been back to Adjutant who had never MCRD, Camp Pendleton, and heard of the Department Oceanside you are in for a newsletter and had no idea shocker! Back in the “Old Corps” about the Department web when we graduated we were dressed page. I attribute it to what I in our tropical uniform and only the call the autonomous Honor Marine wore dress blues and syndrome. Some Detachments want to do their he was a PFC. In today’s class they wear dress blue own thing without any attachment or regard for trousers with tropical shirt and they are Lance Department or National. They Corporals. do not attend Department At the Quin Conference National Commandant conferences or even Jim Tuohy, National Jr. Vice Commandant acknowledge that Richard Gore, National Executive Director Mike ByLaws according to the bylaws Blum, and Past National Commandant John Tuohy they are a subordinate unit where present and talked about recruiting and within the structure of the retention. Marine Blum League and are subject to talked a little bit on the the bylaws of the Department and National. Those web site that National is who think they can operate outside of those bylaws working on and said that are sadly mistaken. Does “I do solemnly swear or it was being tried out to affirm that I will enforce and uphold and will make sure everything myself obey the laws of the League” ring any bells? was working. Go check the oath you took when you were I then returned to installed. Texas and attended the Southern Division The Heart of Texas Detachment is working Conference in Paris hosted by the Department of hard on the Department Convention to be held in Texas Auxiliary. They did a fantastic job. Even Waco the 5th – 8th of June. It looks like it will be a with the hotel changing name and owners at the good one. I will see you there. last minute, everything went off without skipping a beat. Paris is a very historic town; they have an Eiffel Tower with a cowboy hat and they even have Jesus with Cowboy boots! I also attended the welcome back ceremony for the “Vietnam Veterans” in Austin and the Amado Trevino unveiling of the new Vietnam Memorial. While at Department of Texas Sr. Vice Cmdt. the Southern Division and the Vietnam Ceremony I (361) 960-0143 (H) was asked if I was ready to run for Department [email protected] Commandant and what I would do if elected. I know that we have to get the Detachments to work I HAVE BEEN A LITTLE busy on recruiting and retention. First we have to work on mutual communication. We need two way these last couple of communications. We months attending the need to hear from the “Marine West Military Detachments on their Exposition” at Camp needs from our Pendleton, CA, and the Department Staff. Quin Conference in Any suggestions, no Oceanside, CA. We also matter how small, attended the MCRD graduation will be looked at. I T EXAS MARINE SPRING Edition - 2 - May 2014 will task the District Vices to communicate with impossible. Our participating Detachment leaders their Detachments. I will expect them to do have agreed that if each current member could whatever it takes to make sure that I and our recruit just one new member every year, we would Department Staff know if any Detachment needs double the size of each Detachment. anything, and make sure they get it. It is critical that our members mentor their new Another thing that we have been hearing at recruits until they can march and contribute to our most of our conventions on recruitment is that we League on their own. As a good Marine Corps need to get out in the community. When I attended Leaguer, please encourage your new recruit to the Vietnam Ceremony in Austin, I was looking become better even than you are at reaching around at all the veterans organizations that were membership objectives. there. They were in uniform with their covers on. I Because I was fortunate know that we had several members of the Marine in having several mentors Corps League there, but I only saw one other who were of great help to member from the League in uniform. We need to me, I will forever make start wearing at least our covers to these types of every effort to work events so other Marines know that there is a towards increasing Marine Corps League out there. membership so I will not disappoint them. Again I am asking for your support at the Remember, one member at a time. upcoming State Convention in My wife Marcia and I have just returned from a Waco on June 5th – 8th, as I wonderful vacation to the Big Island of will be a candidate for Hawaii. During our visit to the Department Commandant, Island, we were guests of the and I know that together Camp Tarawa Detachment we can make a difference #1255 and attended their in making the Department Detachment meeting on of Texas one of the best Saturday, March 15th. Marcia Departments in the Nation. and I were greeted as though we were family and the members’ hospitality was gracious. We were made comfortable and felt honored to be there. Members of Detachment #1255 do not leave their island very often and I don’t blame them. Why leave paradise? Charles Ynman Commandant Dale Ross treated us to a brief Department of Texas history of their Detachment. The Detachment Jr. Vice Commandant received its Charter on October 5th, 2006, and has (281) 496-7424 (H) taken on the mission of keeping alive the history of [email protected] the men of the 2nd and 5th Marine Divisions that trained at old Camp Tarawa on the Big Island AS MEMBERS of the Department of during WW II from 1943–1945. Texas Marine Corps League, we share the common I wish all of you goals of increasing membership and could have been retaining our current membership. with us to retrace Having worked with several with them the Detachments to implement strong history of techniques to accomplish these our beloved goals, I have learned that it is Corps on their extremely important to avoid just being island. content. We Marines have never Camp Tarawa, Hawaii, during As I visit considered any mission to be WWII TEXAS MARINE SPRING Edition - 3 - May 2014 MCL Detachments, I find that all of us come from League. Through them, you afford the children of the same block of wood and I am so proud that our communities a better Christmas, and our God made me a United States Marine. wounded veterans the support that can, and does, I look forward to seeing everyone at the State make life-after-service possible. Further, I applaud Convention in Waco. the opportunities you provide young people through our various programs and scholarships. As a volunteer group, I am especially thankful for your values and integrity. I am thankful as well for the leadership, with whom it has been my honor to laugh, cuss, discuss, and cry during my four years. Together, we worked through issues, challenges, and even a problem or Dennis Bradford two. I can say without hesitation, that I am blessed Department of Texas to have had the benefit of their wisdom and Judge Advocate guidance, without which my efforts would be (936) 569-8789 (H) useless. They are the most honorable people I [email protected] know. Finally, with the blessing of my best girl, Mary GREETINGS FROM Nacogdoches! Frances, I will seek the office of Jr. Vice I write this time with mixed feelings; you see, Commandant at the this is my final installment of the Judge Advocate’s Convention in Waco. I ask column for the award-winning Texas Marine.