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January 13, 2020 Volume 7, Number 7 The Grinder Table of Contents Page 1—2020 Golf Tournament Page 2—Commandant’s Letter Jim Hayes, Commandant Alan G. Atwell, Editor Page 3—Chaplain’s Corner & Com- munity Service Squad Page 4-6—Christmas Party Pics Page 7— Calendar & Petsmart 2020 Military Golf Tournament Page 8—The Marines have Landed Page 10—Golf Comm. Minutes We are pleased to announce that we are the recipient of our first Spon- sorship for the 13th annual event. The Hutchison Family Foundation has given $10,000 and becomes the first Medal of Honor gift. Officer Corps 2019 Steve Hutchison has been a great supporter of the tournament for years. He has had a four player team for many years and this past year he gave Jim Hayes, Commandant 202-285-4141, [email protected] us $5000 to help with the work of the detachment in the community. Sharon Reddick, Sr. Vice Commandant 336-252-9253 Thank you Steve for your ongoing support. [email protected] Adjutant Jack Masarie was selected as the 2019 Jim Nehlsen, Junior Vice Commandant 336-707-2476, [email protected] Marine of the Year by his peers. Jack has been Harold Turner, Judge Advocate the quiet and modest (except for his horn play- 336-292-8883 ing) adjutant for years. He has chaired the golf Jack Masarie, Adjutant tournament and each year handles the goody 336-292-8883, [email protected] bags at the tournament. Congratulations Jack. Rebecca Tyree, Paymaster 336-644-2026, [email protected] KBen Nash was named Associate of the Year. Gerald Peek, Sgt-at-Arms 336-314-5251, [email protected] KBen has helped with many projects and assists Rich Carrera, Jr. Past Commandant our photographer and her husband Steve . 336-362-6552, [email protected] Congratulations to KBen. Harry Thetford, Historian 336-681-0545, htolharry @gmail.com Steve Nash, Photographer 702-883-5461, greenseal @ earthlink.net Alan Atwell, Editor, Military Charity Golf Tournament, Chair and Chaplain Greater Greensboro Detachment 260 336-706-7675, [email protected] 2

Commandant’s Letter

I hope each of you had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

As we enter this new decade, let’s resolve to do more for our veterans in need in the Tri- Jim Hayes, Commandant ad. Your Community Services Squad had a very busy year filling requests for assistance. The Belk volunteers and the Golf Committee were busy raising money to allow the CSS to do its good work. Were you part of one of those teams, if not, why not? The one thing of which we find ourselves short occa- sionally is volunteers. Please include in your New Year’s Resolutions to be a part of at least one of the teams at Marine Corps League, Det 260! Jim Burgio has been busy getting donations of stuffed animals for . We presented Certificates of Appreciation to two Pet Smart stores for donations of almost 1,000 stuffed animals.Ward Black Law hosted a toy drive with the Marines of Comm Company. We had a couple of volunteers that assisted with the event.

We had a great Christmas party! Please thank Becky Tyree and her team for all of the hard work that went into putting that event together. We had good entertainment, good food and good friends! Not sure it gets much better than that! Another thing that was great about the evening was recognizing our Associate of the Year, K-Ben Nash and our Marine of the Year, Mr. Reliable, Jack Masarie. Our sincere thanks go to each of them for all of their work and our congratulations on being recognized by their fellow members for their contributions to the 260.

Great news!! On December 30, 2019, Steve Hutchinson of Hutchinson Family Foundation donated $10,000 to become our first Medal of Honor donor for the 2020 Military Charity Golf Tournament. What a wonder- ful way to start the new year.

We will have our regular monthly meeting on January 13th. In February we will celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Barn Dinner Theater again. Let’s get 2020 off to a great start with your attendance at our meetings, our socials and our projects. I look forward to working with all of you as we begin this new year and this new decade.

Semper Fidelis,

Jim Hayes 3

Chaplain’s Corner

If you need someone to talk to, please call me at 336-706-7675.

I am not one for making New Year’s Resolutions as I very rarely keep them. It seems to be a lesson in futility or I forget that I made them in the first place. If I were to make any, it would be to be a little more tolerant of those whose beliefs differ from mine. Alan Atwell, Chaplain The other would be to enjoy each day as we don’t know how many more days we have to enjoy life on our green planet.

Let us all thank God for the blessings of our families, our communities and our country. Let’s all move toward our goals with determination and always with a smile. Our smiles do so much to ally the fears and uncertainties of those around us. Keep a sense of humor as it is like the frosting on the cake.

Be there for those who have suffered recently by sickness, loss of jobs, deaths in their families, loneliness or anything else that has left them feeling sad or depressed. If you know of someone who needs your caring touch, give them a call or go see them. It does wonders for you and them.

We have entered a new decade, in fact the third one in the 21st Century. What will we do to make the new year and the new decade better in Guilford County? You are the judge and the jury on how it will turn out. I hope that it is going to be great.

God’s richest blessings to you and your family.

Semper Fidelis,

Alan

Community Services Squad to Meet

The next meeting of the Community Services Squad will be on Monday, January 6, at 5:30 p.m. They will be meeting at George Orfanedes’ home, 100 Cedarwood Drive, Jamestown. All are welcome to attend.

MCL 260 will be presenting a check for $5000 to Tiny Houses at our regular membership meeting on the 13th. The donation was made possible by a $5000 donation to the 2019 Golf Tournament from Purple Heart Homes

We received a substantial donation of over 1000 plush animals by the PetSmart store at 265 Eastchester Drive and it’s manager, Oscar and from PetSmart, 1206 Bridford Parkway in Greensboro. This was a donation to Toys for Tots. Jim Burgio made the contact and arrangements for the gift. 4 Annual Christmas Party at Triad 5 Annual Christmas Party at Triad Park 6 7 Calendar of Upcoming Events January 2020 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 2 3 4

5 6 X 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 X 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 X 30 31

January 6, 5:30 p.m. Community Services Squad meeting

January 13, 5:30-8:00 Monthly meeting of the Detachment, Wyndham Garden Hotel, Swing Rd.

January 29, 5:00-7:00 Marine Night at KickBack Jack’s, New Garden Road

February 12, Veterans Coffee for Women Vets at K&W Cafeteria, 3710 South Holden Road 8:30-10:30 a.m.

February 13, Veterans Coffee at Golden Corral at 4404 Landview Drive off of I-40 and West Wendover Ave. 8:30-10:30 a.m. PETSMART STORES

Left, Jim Burgio with PetSmart manager, Oscar

Gathering gifts is Rob O’Hanlon with Oscar on right 8

THE MARINES HAVE LANDED—WITH THE PRESIDENT Harry Thetford A lot about HMX-1 can be gleaned from the Internet. It was the first Marine Corps helicopter squadron. Formed in 1947, it was tasked to test and evaluate helicopters and how they might have application and purpose for the Marine Corps. The squadron originated on Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA. As of 2020, it remains the solitary aviation squadron on the Base. Even though it has assumed additional duties, it is still testing and evaluating helicopters along the banks of the meandering Potomac River. Who would have ever thought HMX-1 helicopters would be the most photographed helicopters in the world? Key to the rash of photo-ops may have originated with a problem facing President Eisenhow- er in 1957. Needing to return to Washington as soon as possible, he enlisted a strategically located Marine Corps heli- copter for travel assistance – the rest is history. Many presidents and many presidential helicopters later, the iconic flying machines of HMX-1 have few equals when it comes to branding the U.S. Marine Corps. Who hasn’t seen the dress-blued Marine Corps Crew Chief pop out of and render the sharpest salute in the armed services? Interestingly, former President Obama says the presidential perk he misses most is Marine One. There is a lot about HMX-1 that you cannot learn from the Internet. I did not find public tours of HMX-1 listed on the Internet, although there were sprinklings of happy comments from those who had. Through family connections, however, I was fortunate to meet Master Gunnery Sergeant Craig Dauphinee, HMX-1 Maintenance Chief. A 25-year Marine, MGySgt Dauphinee is in his second four-year assignment with HMX-1. It might be over-reach to report that he loves his Marine One Helicopters as some folks love their kids and dogs – but it’s close. He gave my family two hours of his Christmas weekend to show us his pride and joy – an arsenal of White Top VH-3D Sea Kings (which came online in1978), and VH-60N White Hawks (of 1987 vintage). He knew I needed nomenclature help, “Think of the Sea King as a Cadillac and the White Hawk as a Ferrari.” Coming soon as presidential lift vehicle will be the VH-92 – trust the Marine Corps to ensure that the VH-92 is not self- flyable. HMX-1 also has a fleet of VH-22 Ospreys, which complement the unit’s presidential lift chores. I compared the seats in the Marine One helicopters with the Osprey seats customarily used by members of the press – justice is done!

Melania Trump is the only First Lady to have flown in an HMX-Osprey -- at her request. Just as there’s a lot about HMX-1 you cannot learn from the Internet, there’s a lot about the unit you cannot learn – even from a personal tour by the Maintenance Chief. He’s a likeable guy even with his non-answers. Chevrons up and down his arm speak to his discretion with classified information.

Author Harry Thetford and his wife Harry Thetford, MGySgt. Craig Dauphinee & Scott Sprouse 9

Bob Marino

General Manager

21 Branch Drive

Greensboro, NC 27407

Corporate Parties Telephone: 336-292-0181 Special Events Facsimile: 336-854-5835 Birthday Parties Bumper Cars [email protected]

Located across from CarMax on W. Wendover Ave. All Veterans Receive a Military Discount

Suicide Prevention Hotline 1 (800) 273-8255 or Call the Kernersville VA clinic at 1 (336) 515-5000 Extension 21255 If you or a veteran need counseling or assistance don’t hesitate to talk with someone immediately. The worst thing you can do is do nothing. The VA is there to help. DD214 Advertise in the Grinder Do you need a copy of your release from service docu- Company Name in the Grinder in the printed ment? Listed below are the ways to make a request. edition If you were released from active duty before 2000, Company Name goes out in electronic print to contact the government at: hundreds of Marines and their families Director Advertise by the month, half year or full year Navy Personnel Command—312D2 Monthly rate for a business card size is $25, Room 5409 9700 Page Avenue Quarter page $65 St. Louis, Mo. 63132 Half a page $120 Full page $175 Those released after 1999 can contact: Headquarters USMC Half year rates begin at $125 to $895 Manpower Management Support Branch Full year rates begin at $175 to $1395 2008 Elliot Rd. Suite 205 Quantico, VA 22314-5030 Contact Alan Atwell at 336-706-7675 10

Minutes of the Golf Tournament Committee

November 16, 2019

Members present: Alan Atwell, Chairman, Jim Hayes, Commandant, Jim Nehlsen,

George Orfanedes, XL Beard, Jack Masarie, Guest and New Member: Brian Flowers, who helps with the Salvation Army as Board Chair, Purple Heart Homes, and Crescent Rotary Club.

*Brian has organized several golf tournaments, and is part of the Purple Heart Homes Jack Masarie, Adjutant organization. He has contacts at HAECO and High Point University. He is willing to

contact them on our behalf. He stressed the importance of setting specific targets which

define who we are and what we intend to accomplish (i.e. raising a specific amount

for a specific organization). He suggested that we give expectations to our members

(i.e. sell ten tickets or buy them, yourself).

*Tournament Manpower Chair, XL Beard reported having 28 volunteers and 8 additional

"back up volunteers" at the last tournament. Manpower needs were met.

*George Orfanedes suggested that raffle ticket be sold by Detachment members in advance

of the Tournament date.

*Jim Nehlsen emphasized the need for "decent" raffle prizes.

*Alan Atwell suggested a need for a "missions statement" to be created by the members

present.

*Jim Nehlsen reminded us that Marines should be our primary focus.

* We discussed the idea of selling "raffle books" as early as June, with significant prizes, such

as an automobile, or vacation (airplane) tickets.

*Alan suggested utilization of Greensboro Chamber of Commerce members as Honorary Tourney Chair possibilities.

*Jim Nehlsen accepted Sponsor Chairmanship, with Brian Flowers as Co-Chair.

*Luke Glascock has agreed to continue as Prize Chair.

*XL Beard and Jack Masarie have agreed to continue as Manpower and Goody Bag chairs,

respectively.

*The Committee agreed to produce a December "Save the Date" email to all this year's

tournament golfers.

*Alan Atwell agreed to continue as Tournament Chair.

There wasn’t a general membership meeting in December due to the Christmas Party.