TEXAS Marine Corps League Commandant
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Charles Ynman Department of TEXAS Marine Corps League Commandant Edition February 2016 The “Texas Marine” is a quarterly newsletter published by the Department of Texas Marine Corps League Editor/Publisher - BERNIE & JUANITA O’DELL 515 Hall Street ~ Graham, TX 76450 ~ (940) 549-3944 ~ [email protected] Commandant Judge Advocate Chaplain Charles Ynman James Gulley Melody Bronson [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Sr. Vice Commandant Adjutant/Paymaster Jr. Past Commandant Robert Way Polly Weidenkopf Amado Trevino [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Jr. Vice Commandant Sergeant -At-Arms Webmaster Charles “Chuck” Bones Chris Borel Nick Weidenkopf [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Charles Ynman, Department of Texas Commandant (281) 496-7424 (H) • [email protected] begins the calendar year with THE DEPARTMENT of texas the unexpected passing of our Department Chaplain, Dennis Bradford. We not only lost an important member of our Board of Trustees, but also a dear fellow member and friend, who in his caring and thoughtful way, contributed tirelessly to our League. We worked on many projects together and I will miss him very much. To serve as Department Chaplain, I have selected Melody Bronson to fill the remainder of Chaplain Bradford’s term. Melody is the Commandant of the Big D Detachment and has continuously demonstrated sound leadership. I ask each member to give her all the support possible. Welcome aboard Chaplain Melody Bronson. Your Board of Trustees has been I will personally take delivery of the flag on behalf enthusiastically working to improve and grow the of the Department. Department Our focus is now the Department of Texas of Texas. State Convention, hosted by the Capt. John Yancey Each Board Detachment. The dates for the Convention are June member has 23rd, 24th, and 25th, 2016. It will be held at the their own Elegante Hotel in Dallas. responsibilities, but they have all worked I encourage all members cooperatively as a group. Sometimes, the work they to make plans to attend perform goes unnoticed. While we owe them our and join us for a terrific gratitude, we also recognize that they cannot do time. Please consult the their jobs without the support and active Department of Texas participation of all our members. website for registration The Department of Texas remains in good order and hotel information. and on budget. Along with solving many day-to- I find it so interesting that the United States day issues for the membership, we are working on Marine Corps was the formation of two additional Detachments and formed in a bar attempting to reinstate the non-profit status of named Tun Tavern. another. We continue to increase our membership Marines still gather and assist existing Detachments with membership in pubs, bars and and retention. The Board of Trustees is here to taverns to share sea serve you and I encourage you to contact your stories. Let us not Board when assistance is necessary. break this tradition. As all of you are aware, we embarked on the As always, I am project of replacing our Department flags, poles, humbled to walk Tun Tavern stands, etc. With the help of our Sergeant-At-Arms among the ranks of other Marines and I hope that Chris Borel, we received a donation of our the Department of Texas Officers and Board of American Flag, poles and stand. We were still Trustees can continue to exceed your expectations. lacking the Department Flag. We entrusted Chris with the duty of procuring this flag, and he has done a terrific job of finding a provider. Over the last three months, he reviewed and investigated twelve proposals. The final decision and purchase order Robert D. Way was given to Kronberg’s Flags and Flagpoles in Houston, Texas. The final price was $1,400 for the Department of Texas Sr. Vice Commandant flag and $95 for art and layout. We expect to take delivery in six to eight weeks. Our plan is to have a (915) 593-9370 (H) Flag presentation at the State Convention with the (915) 227-8617 (C) new flags. We thank everyone who worked on this [email protected] project, and especially our Sergeant-At-Arms Chris Borel. I must also extend a “Thank You” to his wife Robin who sewed happy new year marines! two new flag carrying 2015 was one busy and educational year for me cases. Please inform your and I do not expect Detachments of our that 2016 will be any progress with our flags different. The good and inform them of the thing is that most opportunity to assist the everything I was involved in was productive and Department with the cost. usually enjoyable. TEXAS MARINE WINTER Edition - 2 - February 2016 At the Department’s Fall Conference we conducted classes on many of the administrative requirements and reports that MCL Detachments need to submit. Charles “Chuck” Bones As usual some units are very Department of Texas good about submitting the Jr. Vice Commandant required paper work. Then we (903) 721-1279 (H) have the others that fail to charles.bones@ submit or submit incomplete texasmcl.org or inaccurate forms, which then places an additional burden on the person who is receiving. hello my friends,:... As the Department of Texas I pray that you and your families had a Merry Sr. Vice one of my respon- Christmas and a Happy New Year. sibilities is the management of Thank you for your service and your time that the Activities Reports submitted you give to the League. I know that sometimes we by the Department Detachments and have conflicts with our schedules Youth Activities within the Department. between work, family and The Activity Report has been redone and is on League functions but the Department of Texas website. All that is don’t be discouraged… required is going to the menu on the website and we are a Brother and clicking on “Documents and Forms.” Then go to Sisterhood of Marines. the form needed and click on This cannot be undone; we “Download.” It is not a hard are connected from that day we form to fill out. If you have first earned the title Marine. Many problems, assistance is a phone have tried but we earned it with call away. Honor, Courage and Commitment. We are At present, less than 40% of the MARINES. Detachments are submitting activity reports. That Be on the lookout for other Jarheads, ask is unsatisfactory and unfortunate for these them why they haven’t Detachments. There is a lot of good work going on joined the Marine Corps within these Detachments and it is unfair to their League yet. You see them membership that they do not get recognized for every day; they have a their efforts because someone does not fulfill the patch, tattoo, jacket, cover, responsibilities of their billet. We can do better. bumper sticker that proudly says Additionally, youth activities are now reported Marine. Chase them down, strike up a on the activity report. The old Youth Activity conversation or leave a MCL business card on their Report has been deleted. I have not found too many vehicle. Detachments reporting any youth activities and I Let this be the year we end the MCL being know that units work with the best kept secret in the Corps. With the the Young Marines, Boy new order that National will pay for and Girl Scouts as well as Active Duty Marines’ memberships JROTC units. and the USMC spreading the word I’ve been working on to Marines about the League, we guidelines and instructions should see an increase in member- for the Activity Report and ship with new blood and hopefully hope to have something completed in three or four new generations that will keep our weeks; however, time is my main enemy. League going for many years to come. Hope to see you all at the Department of Texas The League is about Marines, family Convention. members of Marines, and our community. No TEXAS MARINE WINTER Edition - 3 - February 2016 matter what you do, remember that you have at the very least helped by joining the League. If you have questions or concerns please feel free to call or email me. Melody Bronson Until we meet again, be safe, and keep your Department of Texas Chaplain powder dry. (469) 853-7681 (H) [email protected] marines.. It is with saddened but honored heart that I have accepted the position as the Department Chaplain. James Gulley Dennis Bradford was very Department of Texas near and dear to me and I Judge Advocate miss him greatly. I know we (832) 741-6961 (H) all were so saddened and [email protected] shocked as we learned the news that Dennis had been During the last quarter called to his final duty station on December 10, I continued to interact with the Department 2015. As Dennis stated in the last newsletter: Commandant, District Vice Commandants, “Semper Fi not only means ‘Always Faithful,’ it and Detachment Commandants on also means ‘Always Remember’ and Dennis will issues which I will not enumerate here. always be remembered. He was an outstanding The issues all involved the proper Marine! Semper Fi Dennis! interpretation and application of both I will do my best to take up where he left off. I Department and Detachment By-Laws. can never fill his shoes but I will do my best to I am happy to report that all issues honor him and make him proud as I carry on the were resolved at the lowest possible level through duties of the Department Chaplain.