OCTOBERL 2020 Deactivates Tank2nd Bn End of an Era: For More Than aCentury To Marines Aid Red Cross Continues To Keep Peace the Marines Deployed Riots— 1992 LA e a t h e MAGAZINE OF THE MARINES THE OF MAGAZINE r n www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck e c k

Contents LEATHERNECK—MAGAZINE OF THE MARINES

OCTOBER 2020 VOL. 103, No. 10 Features

16 The Call to Volunteer: Veterans Donate Their Time, 36 “A Trusted Symbol”: For More Than a Century, Talents; Uplifting and Uniting Communities the American Red Cross Has Faithfully Served Marines By Charles Nathan Swope Service men and women benefi t in Crisis By Sara W. Bock themselves through service to their communities. Community Service to the Armed Forces has long been an integral part service demonstrates leadership and initiative that may of the Red Cross mission, and Marines have come to trust the appear attractive for promotion and career retention. organization to be there for them during times of need.

24 “Virtually” Unstoppable: Marine Corps Marathon 48 Hot LZ: Vietnam By SSgt Steve Stibbens, USMC Organizers Improvise, Adapt Iconic Race In this article from the Leatherneck archives, Task Element By Jheanel Walters The MCM is recognized among the Marines’ mission was to provide helicopter support to the largest and best organized marathon events in the world. Republic of Vietnam and develop tactics and equipment to This year, the MCM will be conducted as a virtual event. improve the effectiveness of their mission. Marines at Da Nang considered this assignment as “good serious training 30 1992: Rioting in Los Angeles: Examining the under combat conditions.” Sequence of Events, Protocol and Ultimate Call to Send in the Marines By Cpl Kyle Daly, USMC 60 Medal of Honor in a Borrowed Airplane After riots erupted in the streets of Los Angeles in 1992 By MSgt Jeff Dacus, USMCR (Ret) When VMF-124 pilot following the acquittal of police offi cers who were charged Ken Walsh had engine problems, he landed on New Georgia with using excessive force while arresting Rodney King, Island in need of a replacement Corsair to complete a Marines of 3/1 were organized into a Special Purpose MAGTF bombing mission. Months later Walsh was awarded the to help restore order. Medal of Honor for breaking up the Japanese attacks on B-24s.

24 Departments 2 Sound Off 10 In Every Clime and Place 22 & 58 Leatherneck Laffs 42 Sea Stories 44 We—the Marines 47 Crazy Caption 56 Corps Connections 64 Passing the Word 66 In Memoriam 70 Reader Assistance 72 Saved Round

COVER: Marine Corps M1A1 Abrams tanks with 2nd Tank Bn, 2ndMarDiv, sit on railroad cars prior to a farewell ceremony on Camp Lejeune, July 31. Photo by LCpl Patrick King, USMC. Copies of the cover may be obtained by sending $2 (for mailing costs) to Leatherneck Magazine, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134-0775.

LEATHERNECK AND MCA&F MEMBERSHIP PRICES: 1 year $42; 2 years $79; 3 years $119 Toll-free (866) 622-1775 • Email [email protected] SSoundound OOffff Compiled by Patricia Everett

Letter of the Month so much but in different ways to many ethnicity and can be admired around the (Leatherneck will pay $25 for a “Sound Americans. world. And of course, our Marine Corps Off Letter of the Month” submitted by an There is a place for it, and for many of the will be a part of that. MCA&F member or provide a one-year statues that we now see being questioned Keep up the great work at Leatherneck courtesy subscription to a non-member in their placement, in museums, etc., so and my compliments to all the staff. whose letter is selected.) that we can better understand the context Sgt Ken Scallon in which they exist. But I fully agree that USMC, 1961-1966 Colonel Reinwald, my compliments on our Marine Corps is not that place. As Nassau, N.Y. your response to Master Sergeant John the Commandant observed, when we Decker’s letter in the August Leatherneck join the Marine Corps, we join a military I would like to comment on the Sound regarding the Commandant’s letter on the organization that honors our country and Off letter from Master Sergeant John Confederate battle fl ag issue. Being an our own symbol—the eagle, globe and Decker regarding the Commandant’s editor requires, at times, some diffi cult anchor. We do not need other emblems, banning of Confederate displays which decisions to appropriately cover issues symbols, etc., especially those that are was published in the August issue along that arise. Your response in this case was, divisive and insult many of our fellow with the editorial response. General David I feel, most appropriate. Marines. I have already found myself Berger made clear in his April order why Having an interest in history and the citing the Commandant’s letter to others he made the decision. You can’t have di- Civil War from my childhood, I used to as an example of how the Marine Corps v ision when building a warfi ghting team. have my very own Confederate fl ag as a will not shy away from challenges, no And this issue is divisive. I do not pretend kid. It was not until much later, after a few matter how diffi cult they may be. to be an apologist for decisions made by history courses and eventually serving Sadly, this is all going to take more the Marine Corps or our Commandant, with Volunteer In Service to America time as if to emphasize that we are still but here are a few points I made to my (VISTA) in Alabama when Governor a relatively “young” country, carrying Marine buddies who have objected to the George Wallace was still the leading out an experiment by welcoming many Commandant’s position: segregationist in America, that I came from around the world, to build a unique Perception versus intent: Back in the to understand how that fl ag symbolized society that is stronger for its weave of late 1980s, the bank at which I was CEO

Marine Corps Association & Foundation would like to express our special thanks to Navy Federal Credit Union for their ongoing support of our Academic Writing Awards Program which includes:

• Marine Corps War College LtGen P.K. Van Riper Writing Award • Army War College Gen Thomas Holcomb Writing Award • Air War College Gen P.X. Kelley Writing Award • Naval War College LtGen Victor “Brute” Krulak Writing Award • National War College Col Richard A. Christie Writing Award • Command and Staff College Col Bevan G. Cass Awards

These awards include cash prizes as well as plaques and other forms of recognition. Support from corporate and individual donors is vital for these programs for Today’s Marines.

Thank you Navy Federal and to all corporations and individuals who support our programs. www.mcafdn.org • (703) 640-0174

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President/CEO, Say a well-meaning employee compli- embarrassing the master sergeant. They Marine Corps Association & Foundation mented another employee but that com- both believed that if I was opposed to him LtGen W. Mark Faulkner, USMC (Ret) pliment was perceived by the receiving insulting the Commandant, I should not Vice President/COO, employee as harassment. It may not have have published the letter. I stand by my Marine Corps Association & Foundation Col Daniel P. O’Brien, USMC (Ret) been intended as harassment, but if it was decision to publish both the letter and my perceived as such, then the law often said response, and I’m happy to report that in Publisher: Col Christopher Woodbridge, USMC (Ret) that it was. If policy makers did not take both cases, we were able to engage in a Editor: Col Mary H. Reinwald, USMC (Ret) action, it caused disharmony in the work- civilized discussion and ended up agreeing Senior Editor: Nancy S. Lichtman place. Today, the court of popular opinion to disagree—which was the point I made Copy Editor: Jessica B. Brown has judged that the display of the Con- in my response to the letter. And I’m hop- Staff Writer: Sara W. Bock federate fl ag is either an endorsement of ing we see more of that in the months Editorial/Production Coordinator slavery or ignorance that it was permitted ahead.— Editor Patricia Everett under those colors. It matters not that the Art Director: Jason Monroe displayer did not intend either of those. Leatherneck Made My Day ADVERTISING QUERIES: Broad brush policies: In the case of I received the July issue of Leatherneck Defense Related Industries/Business: Contact: LeeAnn Mitchell harassment, policies had to be imple- on June 29 in suburban Philadelphia. On [email protected] 703-640-0169 mented to lessen the possibility that June 29, 1960, I took the oath of enlistment All Other Advertising Contact: someone might be, or perceive to have into the Marine Corps at the U.S. Customs James G. Elliott Co. Inc. New York: (212) 588-9200 been, harassed. Behaviors which had been House, Philadelphia, Pa., for four years Chicago: (312) 236-4900 permissible in an offi ce environment for active and two years inactive reserve. My Los Angeles: (213) 624-0900 years were strictly prohibited. These were late cousin, Sergeant James M. Lynch EDITORIAL OFFICES not popular decisions, but they had to be and I had just graduated from Cardinal Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134 Phone: (703) 640-6161, Ext. 115 made. Now the Marine Corps must also Dougherty High School, in Philadelphia, Toll-Free: (800) 336-0291 prohibit certain behaviors to prevent bad but we did not go in on the buddy system Fax: (703) 630-9147 Email: [email protected] feelings that may result from them. together and were in different battalions Web page: www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck The Corps has changed: I do not have at MCRD, Parris Island. My cousin was TELEPHONE EXTENSIONS statistics to support what I am about to say. later killed in action in Vietnam on July Editorial Offi ces: 115 • Business Offi ce: 121 I just have a gut feeling. When I was on 29, 1967. MEMBER SERVICES active duty in the 1960s, my recollection is In the Saved Round photo featuring Phone: toll-free (866) 622-1775 that most of my fellow Marines were like retired First Lieutenant Jerry Merna, a Email: [email protected] me—male, white, Christian. I knew a few Mustang Marine and Northern Virginia LEATHERNECK AND MCA&F MEMBERSHIP PRICES 1 year $42; 2 years $79; 3 years $119 Hispanic and Native American Marines. postmaster in 1985, was a master sergeant Leatherneck also is available in digital format at www The Black Marines I knew were even fewer from the legal section at HQMC, in 1964. .mca-marines.org/leatherneck. and they tended to socialize with each I was an admin clerk, a corporal, in Sep- All overseas and foreign addresses add $16 postage for other. And in three years, I never knew a arations & Retirement Branch at HQMC each year’s membership except APO and FPO military female Marine or a Muslim Marine. My which was located in the Navy Annex in addresses. Periodicals postage paid at Quantico, Va., USPS #308-080, and additional mailing offi ces. guess is that, today, the demographics Arlington, Va. On June 28, 1966, I re- have changed immensely. We did not have ceived my Honorable Discharge certifi cate CHANGE OF ADDRESS Please send your new address six weeks before the date to worry much about saying something or and an Honorable Discharge pin from 4th of issue with which it is to take effect, if possible. In clude old doing something that might be offensive to MCRD, Philadelphia Navy Base. I was a address with new, enclosing your address label if conven- ient. Send to: Leatherneck Magazine, Box 1775, Quantico, VA another racial, ethnic or religious group. municipal and federal police of fi cer for 22134 or email to: [email protected]. There were hardly any of them to offend. 41 years. I always wore that pin on my POSTMASTER I don’t envy Gen Berger on having to suit coat in court or while socializing. I Send address changes to: Leatherneck Magazine, Box deal with today’s social consciousness is- am a life member of All Divisions 1775, Quantico, VA 22134. sues. But as fresh as the Confederate fl ag Detachment 281, Marine Corps League, matter seems, it is already yesterday’s Philadelphia, Pa. Leatherneck made my challenge. Now it’s Black Lives Matter and day 60 years later. who knows what’s next. There are almost John C. Lynch Leatherneck (ISSN 0023-981X) is published monthly by the Ma rine Corps Association & Foundation, Bldg. #715, certainly more of these types of contentious Cheltenham, Pa. MCB, Quantico, VA 22134. Copyright 2020 by MCA&F. things coming. Things that will continue All rights reserved. Stories, features, pictures and other to test the Corps and its leaders. Article Belonged in material from Leatherneck may be reproduced if they are Sgt Chuck Robertson Marine Corps Gazette not restricted by law or military regulations, provided proper credit is given and specifi c prior permission has USMC, 1966-1969 The July issue of Leatherneck had been granted for each item to be reproduced. Owosso, Mich. an article, “Senator McCarthy: United Opinions of authors whose articles appear in Leather- neck do not necessarily express the attitude of the States Marine.” This, I think, belonged in Navy Department or Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. Thank you for your rebuke of the letter the Marine Corps Gazette not Leather- “Marines” and the Eagle, Globe and Anchor are trade- “Confederate Battle Flag,” by Master neck. The articles in Leatherneck are marks of the U.S. Marine Corps, used with permission. When mailed, manuscripts, art or photographs should Sergeant John Decker, USMC (Ret), in the in formative and let the membership be accompanied by self-addressed envelopes and return July issue. I could not have said it better. know just what is going on in the Corps postage. Query fi rst on all submissions. The publisher Sgt Milt Hazzard today. Political discussions, articles, etc., assumes no responsi bility for return of unsolicited man- uscripts, drawings or photographs. Baltimore, Md. are not enjoyable reading. The Marine Publication of advertisements does not constitute en- Corps Gazette on the other hand publishes dorsement by MCA&F except for such products or serv- ices clearly offered under MCA&F’s name. The publisher • MSgt Decker’s letter and my response controversial articles for discussion of reserves the right to accept or reject any advertising order to it resulted in numerous letters and their membership and possible solutions. at his absolute discretion. www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck PERSONALIZED WITH USMC PRIDE

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They Came In Peace. 10.23.1983

In remembrance of the service and sacrifice of THE 241 SERVICE MEMBERS LOST IN THE BEIRUT BOMBING.

MP20193 62 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 4www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck1 Bill Haase, while visiting the Punchbowl in Hawaii, located Ernie Pyle’s gravesite to pay honor to him and the many others who are interred in the cemetery. Haase was especially drawn to the inscription at the base of the fountain in the ceme- tery. (Photos courtesy of Bill Haase) Front Lines.” Corporal Kyle Daly does pay honor to him and the many others Marines Are Tougher Than Ever an excellent job of illustrating the life who are interred in the cemetery. In the In Memoriam section of the July and times of Ernie. However, I’m not I am especially drawn to the inscription Leatherneck I couldn’t help but notice sure how many people know of his fi nal at the base of the small fountain. It that of the 24 deceased names listed, 14 resting place. His remains were exhumed reads, “THE SOLEMN PRIDE THAT of them were in their 90s—over half! The and fi nally laid to rest at the National MUST BE YOURS TO HAVE LAID SO fi rst person listed was 100 years old. That Cemetery of the Pacifi c, known as the COSTLY A SACRIFICE UPON THE is amazing. I’ve noticed in past issues the Punchbowl Crater in Oahu, Hawaii. A ALTAR OF FREEDOM.” Amen to that! high number of deceased being in their few years ago, my brother, also a Marine, Bill Haase 90s, and the numbers are rising as time and I visited the Punchbowl, and I was USMC, 1965-1966 goes on. able to locate Ernie Pyle’s gravesite to Shelby Twp., Mich. I’m sure there are several factors that

COURTESY OF BILL HAASE THANK YOU

The Marine Corps Association & Foundation would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the following companies for sponsoring awards presented at Marine Corps Recruit Depots Parris Island and San Diego throughout the year.

Sponsor of the Sponsor of the Chesty Puller Honor Graduate Sponsor of the High PFT Awards High Shooter Awards Awards at Parris Island

Thank you to these companies for their ongoing support and to all of our supporters for helping us recognize Marines! To find out how your company can support our award programs, please call 703-640-0169 or email [email protected] www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 7 contribute to this, but certainly healthy can. Then, the dash across the grinder are the memories of great camaraderie diets and lifestyles are included or maybe to our Quonset huts carrying our sea during my three active years and being they’re just making Marines tougher than bags fi lled with uniforms, a double-edge blessed knowing I’m always a Marine! ever. Gillette razor, etc. I was terrifi ed! Sgt Ed Belfy, USMC Jesse Sunderland Dozens of dark mornings I watched Paw Paw, Mich. Meridian, Miss. lights go on in the hills around MCRD San Diego. I thought many times, “What in The Wake Story Luckily, the Air Force Recruiter the hell did I do now?” Boot camp wasn’t I read with interest the story on the Was Out to Lunch total misery. Winning our fi nal fi tness/ Marines reclaiming Wake Island in the While home for Christmas after my fi rst obstacle course test and fi ring expert with August issue. term at college, a buddy invited another my M1 at Camp Matthews Rifl e Range I was surprised that there was no men- friend and me to ride with him to the Air earned me a few “attaboys.” After ITR tion of the fl ag that hangs in the National Force recruiter. The recruiter, fortunately, and technical school, I enjoyed a few Navy Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, was out to lunch, and lucky for me, the cruises including deploying on an LST to Va., and the great story behind it of the Marine recruiter said, “Come in, guys!” Okinawa, Formosa (now Taiwan), and Japanese general who took it home with Two weeks later three 18-year-olds were mainland Japan. him to Japan as a souvenir. After he died, on a bus to Detroit for in-processing. Discharged 10 days after my 21st birth- his wife sent it to the Marines saying, While there, I was informed that my day, I immediately found work, enrolled “This belongs to you.” friend, the Air Force “wannabe,” hadn’t in junior college, then went on to earn my It’s a tattered, old, shot-up fl ag but such qualifi ed to become a Marine and would bachelor’s degree in six years. a treasure that we have it in the museum. be sent home. How would that look in GI Bill? Not a chance. I earned every I was at the dedication of the museum our small town? I immediately protested penny urged on by my experiences in the and have been back two times since then. that if he wasn’t going to boot camp, Corps. Enlisting in the Marines was the There’s always something new to see us two college dropouts weren’t going best decision I ever made as it taught me and every Marine that has served would either. The decision was reversed and a discipline, confi dence and a never-give-up be blown away from a visit and what it week later three pairs of sneakers were attitude that served me well. represents. standing on yellow footprints in San My favorite organization among the Jack Lahrman Diego representing Charlevoix, Mich. four I belong to is the local VFW. We USMC, 1956-1962 It was Jan. 6, 1958. I remember it like speak military often—rank and branch Lafayette, Ind. it was yesterday. Waking up to the ear- are all immaterial, but I detect a subtle splitting cacophony of a glass bottle being difference. • The National Museum of the Marine run around the inside of a galvanized trash At 80 years old what I can enjoy mostly Corps is a must-see for any Marine visit-

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8 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck ing the Quantico or Washington, D.C., stood his ground and replied, “You heard area. Leatherneck and the museum staff me!” and returned into his offi ce. The Finest Marine Rings have worked closely on numerous articles, The captains immediately got to the Out There. Period including the most recent ones, “Bringing sidewalk and left. I turned to my team Back History: Behind the Scenes at the leader, Lance Corporal Ewing, and said, National Museum of the Marine Corps” “That’s Gunny Daniels.” Another Marine and “Combat Artist Kristopher Battles is smiled and replied, “It’s much worse than Anything But Typical” in our August issue. that, that’s First Sergeant Daniels!” We continue to feature unique artifacts For the rest of my time in 3/3, 1stSgt from the museum’s collection in Saved Daniels proved over and over again that Round.—Editor the myths of his leadership, which I felt were exaggerated, had actually been a True Leadership watered-down version of the truth. In June 2001, I arrived at Kaneohe Bay Later, SgtMaj Daniels was up for Ser- ere is a fresh new version of and was assigned to Weapons Co, 3/3. I geant Major of the Marine Corps years HMike Carroll’s original USMC was immediately inundated by my senior after I got out. I wrote him to congratulate ring. We couldn’t change the outstanding design, but we could Marines with what I expected were gross him and he wrote a very personal response enhance it with laser-guided exaggerations of the previous company which proved he remembered me. This technology. And that’s exactly gunny, Gunnery Sergeant Daniels. reinforced his legacy of love for his what we did. A couple months later our section was Marines and what is right over rank. The You won’t find a more perfect running gun drills behind the company lessons this legend taught me are true. rendering of the eagle, globe offi ce. Two captains came strolling through Leadership is by example, love your and anchor. It’s still heavy in weight, extreme in detail and the yard walking on the grass adjacent to brothers and always do what is right guaranteed 100%. Made to the sidewalk. Suddenly, a large Marine I because rank should never trump right and exacting standards, copyrighted had never seen before exited the second truth. SgtMaj Daniels is one of the greatest in the Library of Congress and fl oor of the company offi ce. He began Marines I served with and it was an honor. licensed by the Corps. yelling at the captains to get off the grass. His example of true leadership will The manner in which he did this com- always characterize my own life. He manded respect and authority. arrived at Parris Island on July 21, 1982, The captains turned toward him, no the date of my birth. So, as I write this on www.EagleRings.com CARROLL COLLECTION OF U.S. EAGLE RINGS doubt to fl ash their rank, and replied, the 38th anniversary of that day, I want to 888-512-1333 “Excuse me?” This leviathan of a Marine [continued on page 68]

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Expert Teachers College level PME courses developed and facilitated by certified subject-matter experts in support of 16-20 students.

Eligibility Continuing Education Scholarly Electives are available on a volunteer basis to all Marines, active and reserve.

CEP electives are asynchronous instructor led courses hosted on MarineNet Moodle. [email protected] SCHOLARLY ELECTIVES · AUDIOVISUAL PRODUCTIONS · BATTLEFIELD STAFF RIDES AND TOURS www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 9 IInn EEveryvery CClimelime aandnd PlacePlace Compiled by Sara W. Bock

REPUBLIC OF PALAU With Pandemic Precautions, Task Force Deploys to Strengthen Indo-Pacific Partnership Task Force Koa Moana 20, made up of approximately 100 U.S. Marines and Sailors from I Marine Expeditionary Force, deployed to the Indo-Pacific in July to conduct theater security cooperation activities in the Republic of Palau. Embarked aboard the expeditionary fast ship USNS City of Bismarck (T-EPF-9), the task force includes units from 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Logistics Group, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and I MEF Information Group. It’s task- organized into multiple detachments with expertise in medical, engineering, law enforcement and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD). Koa Moana 20 provides a unique op- portunity to enhance the relationship be- tween the U.S. and the Republic of Palau.

SGT STEPHANIE CERVANTES, USMC At the onset of their deployment, the Ma- Above: SSgt Christopher Madison, left, and Sgt Aaron Meroney, right, EOD technicians rines and Sailors were scheduled to con- with Task Force Koa Moana 20, I MEF, pull fiber optic reel while utilizing the strategic duct various projects and exchanges on robotic system Fusion during littoral operations in Peleliu, Republic of Palau, July 31. the island of Peleliu and the capital island, Koror, in order to affirm the U.S. commit- ment to the Compact of Free Association (COFA) and to enhance interoperability when conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. Additionally, the task force stood ready to conduct key leader engagements and provide subject matter expert exchanges as required. Koa Moana, which means “Ocean War- rior,” is designed to strengthen and en- hance relationships between the U.S. and partner nations in the Indo-Pacific region, improve interoperability with local securi- ty establishments, and serve as a humani- tarian assistance survey team afloat in support of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s strategic and operational objectives. The task force staff diligently planned and adhered to strict COVID-19 mitigation measures to include predeployment quar- antine, screening and testing. Prior to em- barkation, all Marines and Sailors tested negative for COVID-19. During their transit, the task force implemented strict mitigation measures as well. Upon their

LCpl Richard Rivera, a heavy equipment operator with Task Force Koa Moana 20, I MEF, drives a multi terrain loader to clear vegetation on the airfield during a repair project in Peleliu, Republic of

CPL ANABEL ABREU RODRIGUEZ, USMC Palau, July 29.

10 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck CPL ELIJAH ABERNATHY, USMC arrival to Palau, the Palau Ministry of Health retested task force personnel, and Above: Marines with all tests were again negative. 3rd Bn, 6th Marines, As an extra precaution, the task force 2ndMarDiv exit a spent its first 14 days on Peleliu repairing CH-53 Super Stallion the airfield in order to avoid close contact during Exercise Deep with the island’s residents and continuously Water on MCB Camp monitored the health of servicemembers Lejeune, N.C., July 29. throughout the deployment, which was The exercise included scheduled to conclude in September. the largest air assault 1stLt Oscar Castro, USMC conducted on Camp Lejeune in more than a CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. decade. Air Assault Exercise Tests Left: Cpl Michael 2ndMarDiv’s Readiness Doonis, top, Cpl Brian The skies above Marine Corps Base McCullough, center, Camp Lejeune, N.C., flooded with CH-53 and LCpl Joshua Super Stallions and MV-22 Osprey air- Davey, all with “Lima” craft as Marines from elements through- Company, 3/6, provide out the 2nd Marine Division and 2nd security during Marine Aircraft Wing participated in an Exercise Deep Water air insertion, marking the beginning of at MCB Camp Lejeune, Exercise Deep Water, July 29. N.C., Aug. 1. Exercise Deep Water is a 10-day, large- scale training event designed to advance Marine air-ground task force capabilities with the goal of increasing combat effec- tiveness while maneuvering as a MAGTF. Last year, the 8th Marine Regiment con- ducted Exercise Steel Pike—a battalion air assault dubbed the largest air assault

on Camp Lejeune in more than a decade. USMC PARSONS, JACQUELINE LCPL www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 11 This insertion for Exercise Deep Water try ing times is a refl ection of our unit’s was nearly double the size of Steel Pike. commitment to remaining prepared for “There are a lot of units participating,” major combat operations or unexpected said Lieutenant Colonel Patrick V. Lavoie, contingency operations,” said Coyne. “The the 2nd Marine Regiment operations visible enhancement of 2nd Regiment’s offi cer, during the exercise. “[This] makes combat readiness during Deep Water will the whole exercise diffi cult, yet extremely assure the world that the Marine Corps is benefi cial.” always ready.” The exercise placed more than 1,000 At the beginning of the exercise, Marines and Sailors in a realistic training Coyne expressed his confidence that scenario, allowing them to work together Deep Water would provide a unique as a MAGTF capable of rapidly surging opportunity to increase readiness and into an area of operations and execute the mis sion accomplishment. mission in the presence of a peer-level “This training event will improve our threat. warfi ghting profi ciency and prepare us “With Marine air serving as part of a for tomorrow’s battles,” said Coyne. “I robust team that incorporates every am confi dent we will prevail.” element of the MAGTF, this exercise pro- LCpl Patrick King, USMC vides an opportunity to display the un- paralleled lethality of a well-orchestrated CAMP PENDLETON, CALIF. Marine fi ghting force,” said Colonel Brian Scout Sniper Hopefuls Coyne, the commanding offi cer of 2nd Practice Infi ltration Skills Marine Regiment. Marines with the Scout Sniper Course LCPL DRAKE NICKELS, USMC As the entire world navigates the 2-20, Reconnaissance Training Company, Above: A Marine with the Scout Sniper COVID-19 pandemic, Marines continue Advanced Infantry Training Battalion, Course, Reconnaissance Training Co, Ad- to train and view the challenges posed as School of Infantry-West participated in vanced Infantry Training Bn, SOI-West an opportunity to increase readiness by a stalking and infi ltration course in the applies camoufl age paint at MCB Camp developing methods to continue to train Romeo Training Area on Marine Corps Pendle ton, Calif., July 27, while prepar- amidst restrictions. Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 26. ing to participate in a stalking and infi l- “Accepting and embracing the chal- The Marines started at a designated tration exercise designed to test the lenge of such a complex event in these grid point, then moved forward by var- Marines’ concealment skills.

Sgt Joshua Dick, a student with the Scout Sniper Course, conceals himself during an exercise in the Romeo Training Area on MCB Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 27. (Photo by LCpl Drake Nickels, USMC)

12 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck ious means toward two observers. The continued their training schedule and The task force’s main priorities will be objective was to close with a target, fire ensured that the lives and safety of the to integrate with U.S. SOUTHCOM com­ two shots and then exfiltrate from the servicemembers remained a priority. ponents, continue to strengthen relation­ training area—and do it all without being “We have an enduring promise and ships and provide logistics and communi­ detected by the observers, with the help are committed to support the efforts of cation support for the necessary follow­on of camouflage paint and ghillie suits they partner nations in Central America, South missions, Hudgins said. were required to make. America and the Caribbean,” said Major “The SPMAGTF–SC will be preparing “The most important part of this exer­ Don Newberry, the executive officer of to execute training exercises, if and when cise, in my opinion, is learning how to SPMAGTF–SC. “Despite the challenges the countries begin to ease restrictions,” properly utilize camouflage,” said Staff associated with the pandemic, we con­ said Dawson. “We want to be prepared to Sergeant Steven O’Keefe, an instructor tinue to uphold our shared values and get to work in our lines of effort.” with the Scout Sniper Course. “The Ma­ responsibility to increase partner nations’ The SPMAGTF–SC Marines completed rines must also learn to utilize the things institutional capacity in the region.” a 14­day restriction of movement prior in front and around them.” The SPMAGTF–SC sent a forward to deployment, isolating themselves to Some challenges that add to the dif­ liaison team of Marines to ensure a smooth ensure they did not contract the virus, ficulty of stalking exercises are the dif­ transition, said Maj Blake Hudgins, as well as isolating again upon arrival in ferent types and height of vegetation in operations officer of SPMAGTF–SC. country. This was to ensure the task force the area, route selection, size of the area The team conducted various tasks, but took the appropriate mitigation measures and time of day. Camp Pendleton has more the most important was establishing a to deploy a “COVID­19 clean” team into than 25 different stalking lanes for sniper continued partnership with JTF­Bravo. the area of responsibility. training. “The Marines will be integrating with The remaining servicemembers of Prior to the stalking and infiltration JTF­Bravo in order to augment the efforts the SPMAGTF will continue to train course, the students participated in land in providing humanitarian assistance and prepare for the unexpected on navigation, classes on the basic infantry to partner nations as requested,” said Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C. skills, live­fire exercises and other stalk­ Hudgins upon their arrival in Honduras. The task force is on standby to rapidly ing lanes. The pandemic has taken away many respond and assist partner nations with a “The hardest part for me was moving humanitarian support capabilities in the crisis response deployment in the Latin to the final firing point without being area of responsibility due to ongoing travel American and Caribbean region. detected,” said Lance Corporal Norman restrictions. The SPMAGTF–SC civil af­ “We are always ready and prepared Ballard, a student in the course. “The fairs team will assist in filling the gap and to respond to a crisis in the area of vegetation in this lane is also taller, so ensure they provide the support with responsibility when called forward,” said that makes the final firing point difficult partner nations’ COVID­19 response, said Dawson. to find.” Newbery. 1stLt Heather Chairez, USMC The course, which has a high attrition rate due to its difficulty, ends in a cul­ Marines with SPMAGTF–SC arrive at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, July 31. The group minating event that tests all the skills and of approximately 20 Marines acted as a forward liaison team while the rest of the knowledge the Marines gain from their task force remained at MCB Camp Lejeune, N.C., due to the coronavirus pandemic, 12 weeks of training. and continued preparations to deploy to the Latin American and Caribbean region. LCpl Drake Nickels, USMC (Photo by LCpl Jose Gonzalez, USMC)

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, HONDURAS As Pandemic Continues, SPMAGTF–SC Adjusts Operations, Sends Forward Liaison Team Approximately 20 U.S. Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air­Ground Task Force–Southern Command arrived at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras, July 31. The COVID­19 pandemic had delayed the deployment to the region until that point, when a forward liaison team was able to integrate with Joint Task Force– Bravo of U.S. Southern Command. “Marines are deploying to meet specific U.S. SOUTHCOM’s tasks outlined in the campaign plan order in the area of responsibility,” said Colonel Vincent Dawson, the commanding officer of SPMAGTF–SC. “The SPMAGTF–SC is prepared for the unpredictability of COVID­19, new health policies and the restrictions during the deployment. We are honored to assist.” Even with the challenges of the pan­ demic, the elements of the task force www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 13 IWAKUNI, JAPAN first person on scene; it could be another The participants were equipped with Search and Rescue Exercise capable asset who is searching for the the standard aviation survival equipment Is Vital Preparation downed aviator, either over land or over that naval aviators have in their inventory. For “Downed Aviator” Scenarios water,” said Davis. “They are going to U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Juliette U.S. Marines and Japanese airmen get a coordinate or a location for that Ruff, the MAG-12 aeromedical safety participated in a combined search and downed aviator and then report that to officer, coordinated with the naval aviators rescue exercise at Marine Corps Air the air traffic controller agency.” to ensure proper safety mitigations are Station Iwakuni, Japan, June 29. Following the on-scene commander in place and conducted familiarization Servicemembers with Marine Aircraft exercise, Japanese airmen from Nyutabaru training of equipment during the exercise. Group 12, Marine All-Weather Fighter Air Rescue Squadron (Kyunantai) flew “From a safety perspective, one of Attack Squadron (VMFA(AW)-242), and to MCAS Iwakuni to participate in the the things we look at is the type of gear Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force honed pickup exercise, a simulated retrieval of naval aviators wear, especially the gear their skills to improve overall coordination two Marine aviators from the water near that they don’t constantly interact with,” among units in the event of a real-world the air station. said Ruff. This type of realistic exercise search and rescue event. The combined “Training exercises like these increase allows these individuals to actually ex- search and rescue exercise provided [our] mission readiness by identifying perience the pieces of gear they have and realistic training to U.S. Marines and deficiencies in the search and rescue obtain the confidence that their gear is Japanese airmen, further strengthening asset process,” said Captain Yohan Bae, functioning correctly. It required months joint capabilities and a sense of mutual an F/A-18D pilot with VMFA(AW)-242, of precise coordination and planning understanding. who participated in the exercise. “It allows with participating units and also focused Captain Russel Davis, MAG-12 aviation aircrew and search and rescue personnel on equipment familiarity by training safety officer, coordinated with Western to reevaluate and improve the process aircrew to recognize and understand Air Defense Force (WADF) to execute the overall. Emergencies can occur at any their emergency equipment, and to help search and rescue exercise. It consisted of time of day in any weather conditions; WADF personnel understand what they two primary components—an on-scene ensuring readiness and proficiency allows are looking for in a search and rescue commander exercise June 25 and pickup search and rescue assets to rapidly respond scenario. exercise June 29. to emergencies and allows aircrew to be LCpl Tyler Harmon, USMC “The [on-scene] commander is the rescued in a shorter window.” LCPL JACKSON RICKER,LCPL USMC Japanese crew members with JASDF lift Marine Corps Capt Yohan Bae, a pilot with VMFA(AW)-242, into a UH-60J helicopter during a combined search and rescue exercise off the coast of Japan, June 29. The units worked together to improve overall coordination during real-world search and rescue operations.

14 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck YOUR ACTIVE SERVICE MAY BE ENDING BUT YOUR OPPORTUNITIES HAVE NOT Transitioning? We’re listening. See if the Direct Affi liation Program is right for you. You’re a Marine, and that will never change. But Marines feel most like Marines when they’re still in the fi ght. So before you leave the service, we’d like to introduce you to a new way to serve. Through the Direct Affi liation Program, you can stay a Marine in a Reserve unit in your town. Opportunities include: • No cost 6-month Tricare Prime extension • Ability to transfer educational benefi ts • Guaranteed billet • Certain involuntary mobilization deferments for up to two years • Lateral move opportunities Ready to learn more about how the DAP provides transitioning Marines a guaranteed SMCR or IMA billet prior to reaching your EAS? Contact your local Prior Service Recruiter.

*For DAP details reference MARADMIN 279/20 LCPL CARL KING, USMC Sgt Jason Larson fist bumps a child while participating in a community service project in Cagayan Valley, Philippines, Oct. 7, 2016, during Philippine Amphibious Landing Exercise 33 (PHIBLEX). Marines with 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade, III Marine Expeditionary Force, were in the Philippines to participate in an engineering civic assistance project during PHIBLEX 33. TTHEHE CCALLALL TTOO VVOLUNTEER:OLUNTEER: VVeteranseterans DDonateonate TTheirheir TTime,ime, TTalents;alents; UUpliftingplifting aandnd UUnitingniting CCommunitiesommunities

By Charles Nathan Swope the true heart, spirit, and goodness of votion to the welfare of the nation and America … In soup kitchens, shelters, world. Volunteerism and community serv­ “And so, my fellow Americans: ask not schools, hospitals, religious organizations, ice present opportunities to continue serv­ what your country can do for you, ask and countless other venues, volunteers ing and grant powerful legacies to society. what you can do for your country.” foster a spirit of kindness and goodwill As new modernization improvements 35th President of the United States in communities large and small throughout progress our Corps into a nimbler struc­ John F. Kennedy, 1961 the United States. When friends, neigh­ ture, all servicemembers may also increase bors, and strangers unite for a common personal abilities and power through “We are all responsible, whether we cause, it demonstrates that we have the service to their communities, neighbor­ choose to be or not, for the survival and power to change lives and improve our hoods and all the people around them. the success of the American experience world. We have never needed the volun­ and the American dream.” teerism of America more than we do Veterans Volunteering 37th President of the United States today,” wrote President Donald J. Trump. For veterans, the desire to serve doesn’t Richard M. Nixon, 1971 The United States Armed Forces are the cease after departure from the military, exemplar of national public service, striv­ and some active­duty servicemembers his year, the President of the Unit­ ing to exceed expectations of the Ameri­ find peace in serving their c o m m u n i ­t i e s T ed States issued a proclamation can people and forever maintaining a while on liberty. Veterans and service­ on national volunteerism. “Civic superior standard of honor and virtuous members around the world continue to engagement and volunteer service strength­ excellence. Successes in our commitments use whatever powers they possess to help ­­e n s the fabric of our Nation and reflects and obligations are guided by selfless de­ their communities achieve prosperity.

16 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck “Look out for others Project K-9 Hero was founded to care and always lend a helping for retired local, state, and federal agency police and military working hand if you have the dogs by Jason Johnson, CEO of K-9 Solutions International. capacity to do so.” —Jenna Rackerby

Jenna Rackerby, a recent graduate of Columbia University School of General Studies in the City of New York, juris doctor candidate and former U.S. Navy petty officer third class, continues to serve and inspire others to volunteer in their communities. After a commendable en­ listment and time aboard USS George H.W. Bush (CVN­77) as a U.S. Department of Labor credentialed culinary specialist, she found community among other vet­ erans and volunteers supporting The Food Pantry at Columbia. The “Columbia Undergraduate Law Review” print editor networked between veterans, campus and the local government to identify com­ munity needs and organize resource sup­ port to broaden her outreach. She served at other food banks and pantries, piloted innovative environmental solutions and mentored other students while maintaining Dean’s List status. She demonstrates superior time management, leadership, initiative, self­discipline, enthusiasm and empathy skills, all of which enabled her to achieve occupational and academic victories while completing impactful and prosperous community service projects. “Look out for others and always lend a helping hand if you have the capacity to do so,” said the New York University and Borough of Manhattan Community Col­ lege alumna. COURTESY OF PROJECT K-9 HERO Project K­9 Hero was founded to care for local, state and federal agency retired police and military working dogs by Chief Army veteran Executive Officer Jason Johnson of K-9 Jared F. Smith salutes Solutions International. The Detroit­based WW II Medal of Honor nonprofit organization provides the recipient CWO-4 service animals compassion, comfort and Hershel “Woody” an enjoyable retirement. The former U.S. Williams, USMC (Ret), Army corporal spent more than two dec­ at the Mansfield Ohio ades working with government agencies, Gold Star Families including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Memorial Monument Firearms and Explosives, the Department dedication ceremony, of State and the Department of Homeland November 2019. Security. The soldier said he enjoys being “someone to stand up for their rights to ensure they are treated in retirement properly after their service to our country. It brings me a great sense of pride being able to protect those who protected us on

a national level.” COURTESY SMITH OF JARED F. www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 17 Community service gave University of months, we have advocated for positive the struggles and victories, could open Cincinnati graduate student Kristin and against harmful state and federal up a pathway for others.” She presented Dillenburger the strong sense of selfless legislation to the veterans’ community.” a powerful speech to several hundred purpose she sought after completing eight Lindsey Kirchhoff, a graduate student students of the American Legion years in the Marine Corps. The former at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in Auxiliary, Missouri Girls State. Present sergeant and public affairs specialist Malibu, Calif., and former U.S. Air Force among them was soon­to­be cadet and originally of Bangor, Maine, now serves captain, volunteered with military adap­ future intelligence officer Kristi T., who with Habitat for Humanity of Greater tive sports, chaired human rights events today serves at Joint Base Lewis­McChord Cincinnati and said, “Community service and was an influential keynote speaker on in Washington, and volunteered to run a not only fulfilled that need for me, but it Toastmasters International Youth Program did so much more.” Her thesis aims to “I spent years searching for for almost three years at Covenant House improve prison architecture to reach Alaska. She still remembers “Lindsey’s rehabilitation goals, instead of punishment, the kind of purpose and speech” during which she “talked openly to reduce recidivism rates. “To know that about the challenges of military life, the I could make such an impact on an in­ meaning that I’d had as a sacrifices both members and families dividual even after my military service, make, but also about the rewards of that I could also help fill their needs— Marine. I found it in giving meaningful service to the nation and the whether financial, physical or emotional— greater sense of purpose that is shared that is an indescribable feeling.” back to my community among members.” Also, she “set a great “Become a part of something much through volunteerism.” example of what it means to give back to bigger than yourself,” said U.S. Army our cadet support systems, family, friends, veteran and Ohio resident Jared F. Smith, —Mary Beth Bruggeman and the community and to pay it forward.” when asked about the reason he volunteers “I spent years searching for the kind of in the community. Several organizations purpose and meaning that I’d had as a benefit from the former staff sergeant’s Marine. I found it in giving back to my volunteerism and leadership. He held past liberty hours. The United States Air Force community through volunteerism,” said roles as U.S. Army Community Outreach Academy and Boston College alumna Mary Beth Bruggeman, president of The Coordinator, District Committee Chair volunteered to host the “Cadet for a Day” Mission Continues. “And it was only then for the Boy Scouts of America’s National program with Make­A­Wish Foundation that I was able to point my energy in the Eagle Scout Association and event fund­ at the academy, first as a cadet, and years direction of greatest impact.” The former raising chair for two other national organi­ after as an educator and executive officer. Marine Corps captain and combat en­ zations. The compassionate role model She led and organized volunteers to create gineer officer who led Marines during the and combat veteran led the Ohio State and coordinate magical experiences that invasion of Iraq in March 2003 currently Association of Veterans Service Commis­ gave families personalized tours that de­ enables thousands of veterans to find new sioners last year and was named an lighted and amazed them. The profound purpose and meaning through continued Honorary Board Member of the Hershel speaker believes that “while sharing our service. “It’s been an incredible gift to be “Woody” Williams Medal of Honor Foun­ stories can be vulnerable, it’s important a part of uplifting some of our most vul­ dation. The soldier said, “In the last 10 to remember that some part of our journey, nerable community members and to em­ COURTESY SMITH OF JARED F. MAJ Renée Sanjuán, USA, and cadets of the United States Military Academy at West Point participate in a workshop on civics and elections at Memorial High School in West New York, New Jersey, April 2019.

18 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck SSGT GREG THOMAS, USMC Maj Nicole Bastian mentors community members to prove that with effort, positivity, and tenacity, they can accomplish their own goals. On March 1, 2014, she gave a pre-game speech to the Fayetteville State University Lady Broncos before the CIAA women’s basketball finals in the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, N.C. power veterans to do the same.” A United said U.S. Army Major Renée Sanjuán. “I hope to inspire a sense of civic duty States Naval Academy and Georgetown want to help people believe in themselves, through their own individual passions.” University alumna, she coached Marines believe that they can succeed. I want to Former commanding officer of Recruit­ and their spouses at Marine Corps Base provide others with an understanding of ing Station St. Louis, Marine Corps Major Camp Pendleton, taught English to local their own passions and the confidence to Nicole Bastian serves as a director on immigrants, mentored elementary school change the world.” The Columbia Univer­ The Citadel Alumni Association Board athletes and provided family and spouse sity and Kansas State University alumna and has formerly served her community perspective as a volunteer to 1st Air Naval is executive secretary for the graduate as a Girl Scouts of America volunteer, Gunfire Liaison Company before attend­ scholarship program at the United States YMCA soccer coach, Sunday school ing a veteran leadership program at George Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., teacher and grade school volunteer. The W. Bush Institute. “People from all dif­ where she received an undergraduate de­ Citadel, Marshall University and Stetson ferent backgrounds, cultures and com­ gree. She founded an initiative that pro­ University College of Law alumna said munities come together with common vides real­world mentorship opportunities her favorite volunteer experience was at purpose, and for a time, we find something to future officers, where cadets serve a youth camp sponsored by the Florida we can all agree on,” the Marine said. middle and high school children in urban Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc., working “We find a common ground that bridges schools by planning and running classroom with 13­year­old girls on communication the gaps that exist in our lives. We leave workshops. Inspired by former First Lady skills, environmental stewardship, out­ our service projects knowing and un­ Barbara Bush, who she met during her door survival skills and leadership. “Vol­ derstanding each other in a new and participation in the Presidential Leader­ unteering with this age group makes me different way, ready to practice empathy ship Scholars program, the soldier said reflect on how to be the role model for and gratitude.” she consistently finds herself encouraging these young ladies that I would want in “People of various ends of the political future leaders to “dream big.” “Through my own life at that age.” She sought to spectrum become like family when we this work, I watch others grow. But I also provide children with “a mentor to look up all have a desire to help our communities,” grow a great deal myself.” Ultimately, “I to” and prove that with “effort, positivity www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 19 and tenacity, they can accomplish their serving, what I receive in return is im­ Benefits of Volunteerism own goals.” Among those shepherded with measurable. So much so, at times it feels And Community Service mentorship into maturity was 2nd Marine like serving is a selfish act because I know We all possess a responsibility to serve Logistics Group’s 2nd Lieutenant Meghan I’ll earn more from those I have the honor one another. Selfless service, even subtle Rodriguez from Hollywood, Fla. and opportunity to help.” Griffin, a Bronze acts, represents a timeless national tra­ Lieutenant Colonel Darin Powers, Star recipient, said he was motivated by dition that can enhance our country, our USMCR (Ret) is the president and chief the power of volunteerism through his communities and ourselves. In 1961, o p ­e r a t i n g officer of an information tech­ Jesuit high school in Boston, and amplified Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “Down the nology solutions company in the Washing­ by his service leadership influencing long lane of the history yet to be written, ton, D.C., areas called NT Concepts. The America knows that this world of ours, graduate of Naval Postgraduate School “It might be cliché, ever growing smaller, must avoid becom­ held command and staff roles, served as ing a community of dreadful fear and hate, a senior executive for major corporations but I always find that in and be, instead, a proud confederation of and is on the board of directors for 360 mutual trust and respect.” This idea, Veterans’ Association, delivering “Skills serving, what I receive in presented in the 34th President’s “Farewell for Life” to military personnel, veterans Address,” has endured since before our and their family members. His company return is immeasurable. nation’s independence. Even the Mass­ provides paid time off for volunteering, achusetts Bay Colony places of worship financial matching, and sponsors “sacri­ So much so, at times it feels were c h a r ­a c ­t e r i s t i c of modern volunteer­ ficial service” to the community “in the ism during the reign of King Charles I. manner that they are inspired to do so,” like serving is a selfish act From our nation’s earliest conception, also supporting a nationwide Super Serv­ benefits from volunteerism and communi­ ice Challenge that shares inspiring acts because I know I’ll earn ty service abound. of service and donates to the n o n ­p r o fi t s The verdict on volunteerism is conclu­ served. “Authentic service, serving others, more from those I have sive—community service produces pros­ generous giving of personal talent and the honor and perity. Initiative to act on selfless instinct treasure are signs of noble character,” to help another builds individuals mutual­ Powers said. “Those possessing noble opportunity to help.” ly, creates indirect future opulence in character are good, trustworthy, genuine, communities, builds bridges, binds peoples engaging … they make good colleagues.” —LtCol John F. Griffin and unites our nation and the world. “I have always been called and inspired Veterans, especially, are proving their by service to others,” said Lieutenant Col­ USMC (Ret) unique abilities to selflessly apply their onel John F. Griffin, USMC (Ret), who skill sets to aid others. serves as deputy director of Rochefort For more information on volunteerism Group at U.S. Naval War College in and ways to serve, visit the Corporation Newport, R.I. The infantry officer who prestigious military units during his career for National and Community Service earned degrees from Harvard University, in the Marine Corps and U.S. Special website at www.nationalservice.gov. Marine Corps University, Troy University Operations Command. “It doesn’t surprise and the University of Massachusetts, me when I see the tremendous community Author’s bio: Charles Nathan Swope is Boston, taught at Massachusetts Institute outreach demonstrated by Marines around a Harvard University graduate student of Technology and Boston University and the world,” the Appalachia Service Project who served in 1st Recon Bn as a recon­ volunteers for numerous academic and group leader said. “From day one, boot naissance Marine and 2nd Bn, 8th Ma­ religious organizations, including North­ camp or OCS, we learn that Marine rines as an infantry rifleman. eastern University and his church. “It leadership espouses the highest ideals of might be cliché, but I always find that in servant leadership and agape love.” COURTESY DARIN OF LTCOL POWERS, USMCR (RET) Volunteers with LtCol Darin Powers of NT Concepts, supporting Homes of Hope in the Dominican Republic, present a house to a family during The Key Ceremony, Oct. 6, 2018.

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“I guess sending them a friend request is out of the question.”

“It takes time to break them of their cell phone habit.”

“I’ve only got one bar down here.” “And this one’s for not re-Tweeting.”

22 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck “Sounds like Pete’s getting a ‘Dear John’ FaceTime.”

“If I hear a cell phone ring, It’d better be playing ‘The Marines’ Hymn.’ “

“This badge is for having the most ‘likes’ in my platoon.”

“Awesome Wi-Fi!” www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 23 ““Virtually”Virtually” UnsUnstoppabletoppable MarineMarine CCorpsorps MMarathonarathon OOrganizersrganizers IImprovise,mprovise, AAdaptdapt IIconicconic RRaceace

By Jheanel Walters

1978

he Marine Corps Marathon (MCM) is widely recognized The Start of Something Big as one of the largest and best organized marathon events In 1975, Colonel Jim Fowler, USMC (Ret) outlined an Tin the world. More than 30,000 runners from all states and innovative plan to promote community goodwill and increase more than 60 countries participate in the MCM Weekend hosted interest in the Marine Corps as well as in physical fitness. After annually during October in Arlington, Va., and throughout the sharing the idea with General Michael Ryan, the Marine Corps nation’s capital. This year’s race, however, will be very different. Reserve Marathon was established. The MCM will be conducted as a virtual event due to public Under the leadership of Fowler and Ryan, the marathon health concerns surrounding the coronavirus and guidelines welcomed its first 1,175 participants to the start line in Washington, established by local governments. D.C., on Nov. 7, 1976. At the time, this was the largest inaugural Originally known as the Marine Corps Reserve Marathon, the participation for a marathon. Each participant paid an entry fee event that began as one man’s vision to promote the United States of only $2 to enjoy a run through the streets of Washington, Marine Corps by linking Marines and marathoning together has D.C. Two-time Olympian and eventual MCM Hall of Famer grown from a relatively small road race to an event that draws Kenneth Moore was the overall winner with a time of 2:21:14, participants from across the nation and generates tens of millions becoming the first recipient of the Middendorf Trophy, donated of dollars for the local economy. by then-Secretary of the Navy William J. Middendorf, III. Susan

24 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck 1990

www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 25 country’s most prominent sites and significant landmarks and 1984 its iconic finish at the Marine Corps War Memorial. That year, the field more than doubled to 2,655 runners including the addition of a wheelchair division competition. Mallery again took first place among the female runners, becoming the first back-to-back winner, a feat later matched by Hall of Famers Cynthia Lorenzoni, who won in 1981 and 1982, Jim Hage in 1988 and 1989, and Rubén Garcia Gómez in 2005 and 2006. While the 1990 MCM welcomed 13,000 runners to the start line, selling out the race field at that time, it wasn’t until 1994 when talk show host Oprah Winfrey ran the MCM, her first and only marathon, that the second running boom was started. With throngs of spectators, Winfrey proudly completed her MCM on a very rainy Sunday afternoon in 4:29:15. “Its [Marine Corps Marathon] the best feeling I’ve ever had. It’s better than an Emmy, I tell you,” Winfrey said. Since then, many first-time marathoners set their marathon goal, “to beat Oprah.” Now in its 45th year, some of the marathon’s most iconic Mallery won the Women’s Open with a time of 2:56:33. No runner moments over the past four and a half decades include: walked away empty-handed as all finishers received a T-shirt, 1976: The first Marine Corps Reserve Marathon is held with a certificate, and an Eagle, Globe and Anchor finisher’s patch. 1,175 participants becoming the largest first marathon in the “Your efforts in coordinating the entire affair were just United States. magnificent, and I predict you will go down in history as the one 1978: The event name is officially changed to the Marine Corps to receive credit for starting the marathon which will soon outstrip Marathon as responsibility is transferred from the Marine Corps the biggest of them all, the Boston Marathon,” Middendorf wrote Reserve to active-duty Marines. This year also introduces the in a Nov. 8, 1976, letter to Fowler. Challenge Cup, a competition between the U.S. Marine elite This success gave Fowler the motivation to make the second running team and the British Royal Navy/Royal Marines. year even better. Fowler met with the chief of police for the 1979: 1stLt Joanna Martin becomes the first female Marine District of Columbia and was granted a parade permit, allowing to win the MCM with a time of 2:58:14. him to alter the course to include Georgetown and the National 1981: Dean Matthews sets a new course record when he crosses Mall in addition to the Jefferson and Lincoln Memorials. The the finish line in 2:16:31, while Earl Skelton sets his own record new course—the same one enjoyed by participants today—made of sorts by wearing a radio transmitter during the entire race and the route second to none for its scenic beauty and views of the communicating with ham operators around the world. 1985

26 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck 1993 1995

1987: Jeff Scuffins shatters Matthews’ course record with a 2003: Miles the Bulldog is introduced as the MCM mascot. winning time of 2:14:01, a record which still stands. Scuffins, 2004: The MCM does an about-face by running in the opposite in his first marathon, is closely monitored by local and national direction of the Pentagon at the start. The 300,000th finisher news stations televising the race live for the first time. crosses the line. 1989: The event surpasses 10,000 finishers for the first time. 2005: In the closest finish ever recorded, Rubén Garcia Gómez Among them is Bob Wieland, a medically discharged Army of Mexico defeats Michigan native Carl Rundell by 0.08 seconds. medic who lost both of his legs to an 82 mm mortar round in The following year, the two go head-to-head again with Garcia Vietnam. Wieland starts the marathon on the Thursday before Gómez repeating his victory by 3 minutes and 2 seconds. the traditional Sunday start, completing the entire 26.2-mile 2006: The MCM 10K is added to the MCM Weekend schedule. course on his hands in 79 hours and 57 minutes—100 Marines For the first time ever, more than 20,000 participants cross the accompanied him on his last mile. finish line. The MCM Forward is created for servicemembers 1990: The 100,000th finisher in MCM history crosses the line. deployed overseas to be able to run the MCM. Olga Markova, from Leningrad, a sergeant in the Soviet Army, 2007: The Penguin Award is first presented at the MCM. The wins the Women’s Open in 2:37:00 setting the female course award honors public affairs officer and runner, Marine Major record that still stands. Megan McClung, who was killed in action in Iraq in December 1994: To mark her 40th birthday, talk show host Oprah Winfrey 2006 only months after being selected as race director of the runs her first marathon. Wearing Bib #40, Winfrey finishes the MCM Forward. McClung had presented a stuffed penguin named MCM with a time of 4:29:15 placing 8,210 of 12,716 finishers. “Paul” (a character in one of her favorite books) to the final 1996: Bob and Kirt Elling are married at the start line, in the finisher of MCM Forward. Today, the Penguin Award tradition first wedding to occur at the MCM. continues for the final MCM finisher. 1997: The MCM introduces computerized timing chips. Vice 2009: The 400,000th finisher crosses the line. President Al Gore runs the marathon with his daughters, Kristen 2010: The MCM pays tribute to its 35th anniversary and the and Karenna, finishing with a time of 4:54:25. 2,500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon by carrying the 1998: The Armed Forces Marathon Competition is introduced; flame from Marathon, Greece, through a tour of U.S. landmarks military runners from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps fly in from around the world to compete. The MCM’s 1992 200,000th finisher also crosses the line. 2000: The MCM celebrates its silver anniversary and debuts a new event, the Healthy Kids Fun Run, later renamed the MCM Kids Run, a 1-mile fun run to inspire the next generation of young runners. 2001: Just six weeks after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the 26th MCM is ded- icated to the memory of those who died in the attacks, the survivors, and the selfless heroes who worked tirelessly to save lives. Participants show their patriotism carrying flags throughout a course that passes as close as 50 yards from the damaged Pentagon.

www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 27 1996 significant to the Marine Corps in Boston, New York and at 10 years old with a time of 6:48:48. This year is also the Philadelphia before bringing the flame home to the MCM. second time the MCM was awarded Gold-level certification by 2011: At 35 degrees, it’s the coldest MCM start on record. the Council for Responsible Sport, previously earning Silver- Comedian and Marine Corps veteran Drew Carey runs his first level certification in 2009 and again in 2011, and gold in 2014. marathon sharing plenty of great stories about his days in the Corps. Carey finishes with a time of 4:37:11. This year also The Mission Continues brings further advances in technology with the introduction of While the event has grown in size and popularity over the Runner Tracking services. years, one thing remains unchanged: its mission to showcase 2012: The MCM welcomes its largest field to date with 23,519 physical fitness and generate community goodwill in order to finishers despite impending Hurricane Sandy, which causes promote the high standards and discipline of the Marine Corps. severe damage along parts of the East Coast. Today, more than 2,000 Marines and Sailors support participants 2013: Entries for the 38th MCM sell out in a record 2 hours and over a three-day weekend that includes the MCM, MCM 50K, 27 minutes. Registration challenges prompts the reinstatement MCM 10K and MCM Kids Run. Whether they are handing out of a lottery system the following year. cups of water to runners as they pass by, picking up tired stragglers 2014: The Marathon surpasses the half million total finishers or placing the medals around each finisher’s neck, the presence mark. Honorary starter, actor Sean Astin, completes the MCM of Marines along the course and at the finish line is one of the with a time of 4:29:11, and Medal of Honor recipient and retired highlights of the race and a contributing factor to the Marine Marine Corporal Kyle Carpenter skydives into the start before Corps spirit that makes the MCM a one-of-a-kind experience. completing the MCM, his second, in 5:07:45. Another unique distinction: the MCM is the largest marathon 2016: The hottest MCM on record with a temperature of 80 without cash prizes for its top finishers, no elite field and no degrees. qualifying time, earning it the nickname “The People’s Marathon” 2018: The MCM earns recognition from the Association and garnering favor from runners of all backgrounds from the of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS), the seasoned athlete to the first-time marathoner. Remaining true to international running organization, for having the Best Finisher the roots of the race and Fowler’s vision, the MCM is a repository Medal in the World. of inspiration, ambition, desire, stamina, tenacity and resilience. 2019: The inaugural MCM 50K is the largest ultramarathon in the United States with nearly double the participants of the 2018 What to Expect this Year record. Tom Davis sets the wheelchair course record, finishing When 2020 brought unexpected challenges with the novel with a time of 1:07:10. The 600,000th finisher crosses the line and coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), event organizers set about Jordan Ramirez sets the record as the youngest MCM finisher exploring various approaches and scenarios to safely execute

28 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck the anniversary event—coinciding with the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima—but it just wasn’t feasible. Instead, organizers have shifted the annual event to a virtual- only status allowing participants to complete each event any time between Oct. 1-Nov. 10, the Marine Corps Birthday. “We’re not doing it live, but it is alive in the hearts and the souls and the minds of the runners, and sometimes that’s probably more powerful than the physical,” said race director Rick Nealis, who has presided over the event since 1993. “While we are unable to celebrate in-person this October, we are excited about the opportunity to bring the spirit of the United States Marine Corps and the 45th anniversary event to the homes of runners around the world.”

Honoring the Battle of Iwo Jima To remember and honor the Marines who fought and gave 1999 their lives during the historic battle, this year’s Eagle, Globe and Anchor MCM finisher medal will feature volcanic ash, often referred to as black sand, from the island of Iwo Jima. Harvey will be pushed in his wheelchair around a 26.2-mile For Private First Class T. Fred Harvey, the anniversary holds course as part of the virtual MCM by friend Glenn Paige and special meaning. Harvey is a World War II Paramarine, a spe- fellow Marine Michael Lawrence in his hometown. cialized combat unit of the Corps. He fought in the Asiatic-Pacific Motivated individuals may still register for the virtual events Theater and at Iwo Jima. His combat career ended on the island by visiting www.marinemarathon.com. when he was severely wounded by multiple hand grenades while saving the life of a fellow Marine. He later received the Silver Editor’s note: All photos are courtesy of Marine Corps Star for his heroic actions. Harvey is pleased that runners will Marathon Office. be receiving something that commemorates the history he was Author’s bio: Jheanel Walters is the public relations coordinator a part of. for the Marine Corps Marathon Organization. She holds a “I’m glad they didn’t have to run in that volcanic ash to get bachelor’s degree in journalism and creative writing and a it,” said Harvey. “It is such a memorable battle because of the master’s degree in integrated marketing communications. She number of men we lost to secure the island and the freedom of has written articles for publications such as the New York Daily our country and the world. Just remember those men.” News. CHOOSECHOOSE THETHE DISTANCE.DISTANCE. CHOOSECHOOSE THETHE DATE.DATE. 45TH MARINE CORPS MARATHON | MCM10K | MCM50K | SEMPER FUN MILE

COMPLETECOMPLETE VIRTUAL RUN BETWEEN OCT 1-NOV1-NOV 10 MARATHON FINISHERS EARN MEDAL FEATURING ACTUAL VOLCANIC ASH FROM IWO JIMA REGISTERREGISTER NOW!NOW! www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 29 11992:992: RRiotingioting iinn LLosos AngelesAngeles EExaminingxamining thethe SequenceSequence ofof Events,Events, ProtocolProtocol AndAnd UltimateUltimate CallCall toto SendSend inin thethe MarinesMarines

By Cpl Kyle Daly, USMC Determined not to miss the early the awful hangover, in his self-published morning formation, they rushed back book, “The Dirty Little Wars: A Marine Chad Cole had a horrible hangover. to base with Cole vomiting out the truck’s in the Los Angeles Riot and Somalia,” On a Friday morning in May 1992, window along the way. Cole, a Texas which details his time as a Marine Corps the 19-year-old lance corporal stood in native, was a rifl eman in 3rd Battalion, “grunt” during the 1990s. Regimental a large formation on a parade deck at 1st Marines. Dehydrated and suffering commander Colonel Clifford Stanley Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton from a painful headache, the teenager addressed the formation Cole stood in in Southern California. His “Charlies” only had to keep his bearing through the that day, telling the Marines about their displayed a single ribbon on his chest. A formation. He and the other Marines on new mission. trip to the dry cleaner the previous day the parade deck—the entire 1st Marine “After the usual congratulatory re- to pick up the uniform had turned into a Regiment made up of Operation Desert marks, Stanley informed 3/1 that we night of underage drinking at a bar with Storm veterans—were expecting to be had been organized into a special pur- a fellow Marine. The next morning, Cole cut loose for a three-day weekend. pose Marine Air/Ground Task Force had woken in the cab of a truck, outside But that liberty, and Cole’s opportunity (MAGTF), assigned to Operation Peace- the house of a woman the other Marine to nurse his hangover, never came. keeper, Los Angeles,” Cole writes. had spent the night with. Cole describes that morning, including Cole, now in his late 40s, spoke to USMC U.S. Marines in riot gear build a human wall during a riot control class as part of Exercise Cooperative Osprey ‘98 at Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N.C., on June 4, 1998. Marines from 3/1 and 1st LAR received similar training only the day before they responded to the Los Angeles riots in 1992.

30 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck COURTESY OF CHAD COLE

COURTESY OF ANGELES LOS TIMES Chad Cole, 3rd Bn, 1st Marines, is pictured here on liberty in A convoy of Marines from MCB Camp Pendleton moves up I-5 Reno, Nev., following training in Bridgeport, Calif., during on May 1, 1992. the summer of 1992. Leatherneck about the experience and of his regiment had gathered for for- where rioting and looting had taken how his fi rst real-world operation as a mation at Pendleton’s Camp Horno on place. With media watching, the Marines Marine began following a night at the Friday, May 1, the violence had resulted received riot control training and prepped bar. in 31 deaths, more than 1,000 injuries, for their entrance into the streets of LA “It’s so crazy how that happened,” he and about 3,800 structure fi res. They wouldn’t move into the city until said. “I really was hung over that next “It was a pretty quick turnaround be- Saturday, May 2. day. It was a horrible hangover.” tween that formation that morning to The California National Guard had Later that evening, President George already responded to the streets at the H.W. Bush would inform the entire coun- By the time Cole and the order of Governor Pete Wilson. On May try about what Col Stanley had told the 2, the Guard was federalized, and federal Marines. They were “to help restore other Marines of his regiment troops, from both the Army and Marine order” to the streets of Los Angeles, Corps, were called to restore order. where riot ing had taken place after city had gathered for for mation at President Bush had invoked the Insur- police offi cers earlier that week were rection Act, an old law that allows the acquitted of charges that they had used Pendleton’s Camp Horno commander in chief to use the military on excessive force when arresting a Black U.S. soil in response to civil disturbances. man named Rodney King. on Friday, May 1, the violence The Insurrection Act has not been used King had led LA police offi cers on a since the riots of 1992, but the possible high-speed chase in March 1991. When had re sulted in 31 deaths, deployment of federal troops on Ameri- the offi cers stopped the vehicle, a nearby can soil was again a topic of conversation resident recorded his arrest with a video more than 1,000 injuries, and this year when protests and rioting camera. The video showed King being erupted over the killing of a Black man, beaten with batons and kicks. The video about 3,800 structure fi res. George Floyd, by a white police offi cer was later given to the media and fueled in Minnesota. Conversations and opinion a national conversation about police the time we were on white school buses pieces over whether President Donald brutali ty toward the Black community. going up I-5,” Cole said. Trump should or should not deploy When the offi cers were acquitted more The Marines from 3rd Battalion, 1st federal troops in response to the protests than a year later, on Wednesday, April Marines and 1st Light Armored Infantry referenced President Bush’s call to send 29, 1992, anger turned to rage. Violence Battalion, would head to a staging area at in Marines and other troops in 1992. erupted in the streets of Los Angeles. Marine Corps Air Station Tustin, about In an opinion piece published by The By the time Cole and the other Marines 30 miles southeast of Compton, a city New York Times in early June, Republican

www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 31 At sunrise, a lone pedestrian walks by the burned-out shell of a J.J. Newberry building at Vermont Avenue near 59th Street in Los Angeles, April 30, 1992.

Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas wrote that “an overwhelming show of force to dis- perse, detain and ultimately deter law- breakers” would be needed to restore order to American streets. Sen. Cotton called upon President Trump to invoke the Insur rection Act. He referenced past instances in which the act had been used, including 1992. “[President Bush] acknowledged his disgust at Rodney King’s treatment— ‘what I saw made me sick’—but he knew deadly rioting would only multiply the victims of all races and from all walks of life,” Cotton wrote. C.J. Chivers, a New York Times report- er and a Marine Corps officer who deployed to the streets of Los Angeles, also wrote an opinion column for the paper, arguing that President Trump didn’t need to deploy federal troops COURTESY OF ANGELES LOS TIMES because, unlike 1992, the police today as one colonel described it, “basically allowed for the very rattled populace of are equipped with more sophisticated buying back the streets and creating a LA a sense of stability.” weapons and gear than even the Marines sense of order … confi dence on the part Bailey, a reporter who embedded with possessed during the LA riots. of the people that the streets are now the Marines in LA, told Leatherneck Chivers, a company commander at safe.” that judging the situation only from the the time, wrote in the column that the “boredom” experienced by federal troops Marines “did learn one thing fast” when “It Wasn’t a Fix” during their largely uneventful multi- they were sent to LA. Whether it was necessary to send in day deployment on American soil, the “The Marines’ presence in greater Los the U.S. Marines and other federal troops presence of Marines wasn’t needed. Angeles during roughly the next week— in response to the violence that erupted “But, in the bigger sense of all that was part of an operation that included soldiers on the streets of LA in 1992 was a ques- going on, hey, better safe than sorry,” from the Army’s Seventh Light Infantry tion debated both before and immediately he said. Division as well—felt unnecessary,” after Gov. Pete Wilson, a veteran Marine Providing a sense of stability was Chivers wrote. himself, requested federal assistance. something that Lance Blyth recalled from That feeling Chivers describes of not his experience as a company executive being needed stems from the fact that by The approximately 1,500 offi cer during the 1992 response. Blyth, the time the Marines arrived on May 2, then a Marine fi rst lieutenant, remembers the rioting, looting and other violence Marines who deployed to a Vons grocery store near Compton being that had been playing out on TV during able to reopen because the troops were the previous days were over. LA, many of them veterans of on the streets. In his book, “Fires and Furies,” Major “I remember going there and standing General James D. Delk, who oversaw the Operation Desert Storm, outside talking with the manager of the California National Guard’s response to were not trained to store as people were coming in, and they the riots, wrote that by Saturday morning, were thanking the Marines for being things had calmed down. quell riots or respond to there,” he said. “They were there, so the “Fires were all but out, though many store reopened.” were still smoldering,” Delk wrote. civil disturbances. Blyth added, “The average citizen we “There was shooting at night, but that encountered were grateful.” occurs every night. As a consequence of Today, even with the history of the riots Chad Cole, who patrolled LA’s streets the return to relative normalcy, law en- in clearer focus, the question remains. as a lance corporal, said the circum- forcement offi cers were fi nally starting Answers vary based on perspective. stances have to be “pretty dire” for fed- to catch up on their sleep.” “I think it probably was not really nec- eral troops to be sent in, and that they Delk adds that by Saturday, senior essary,” said Eric Bailey, who worked as should be a last resort. mil itary offi cials were moving into the a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times “I believe in law enforcement,” he said. next phase of their response, which was, during the riots. “That said, I think it “I believe that if the law enforcement

32 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck were not capable of doing a job, then prepared, with weapons and equipment proclamation and to restore law and yeah, you need to call in the National delays, and that leaders were beginning order.” Guard. And then if the National Guard to believe the Guard’s response was too A Pentagon spokesman would later tell is not able to the job, and then maybe slow. reporters that the Marines from Camp the situation calls for federal troops to That day, Los Angeles Mayor Tom Pendleton were partly chosen because come in.” Bradley fi rst brought up the possibility of their geographic proximity to the Dwight Sterling, an adjunct professor of using federal troops during a meeting violence. at the University of Southern California’s with local and state offi cials. According to a Los Angeles Times re- law school and a member of the California Delk writes that Warren Christopher, port, GEN Powell told President Bush National Guard, said that in terms of who would become Secretary of State in that the most prepared federal troops what the federal troops are trained to the Clinton administration and who had were the Army’s Ready Brigade of the do, fi ght in combat against an enemy, chaired the commission investigating the 7th Infantry Division based in central their deployment to American streets LAPD after the Rodney King beating, California at Fort Ord in Monterey and didn’t fi t. had called Mayor Bradley and urged him a battalion of Marines from I Marine “One might argue that as you look to use federal troops, arguing that “the Expeditionary Force based at Camp back at what occurred there, and how National Guard is less effective than Pendleton. the Marines were used, and what they federal troops for riots,” according to did when they were deployed, it wasn’t Delk’s book. With Bradley’s permission, “We Can Adapt” a fi x,” Sterling said. “It comes down to Christopher began to make calls to Cole, the lance corporal in 3rd Battal- what’s the training of the force you’re Washington. ion, 1st Marines, recalls receiving a utilizing.” Bradley, Gov. Wilson, Joint Chiefs of “crash course” in riot control training The approximately 1,500 Marines who Staff chairman General Colin Powell, at the Marine air station in Tustin, where deployed to LA, many of them veterans and President Bush became involved the Marines were staged before moving of Operation Desert Storm, were not with those calls. into the streets. trained to quell riots or respond to civil What eventually followed was Wilson’s With camera crews and other members disturbances. request for federal assistance and then a of the media watching, Cole said he and So why were the Marines used? proclamation by President Bush calling the other Marines received riot gear and The decision to use federal troops was for all looters and rioters in Los Angeles learned different riot control formations. partly due to California Gov. Wilson’s to disperse as required by the Insurrection Although the training was quick, lack of faith in the Guard to get the job Act. President Bush issued an ex ecutive Cole didn’t see that as a problem for the done, according to MG Delk’s book. By order in which he authorized fed eral Marines. Thursday, April 30, it was clear that the troops and federal law enforcement to “I think that because we’re Marines, National Guard had been caught un- “suppress the violence described in the we can adapt, we can learn to follow

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The following information comes directly from a January make “direct active use” of military investigators; or (2) when 2020 Congressional Research Services report. the use of military “pervades the activities” of the civilian offi cials; or (3) when the military is used to subject “citizens Using the Military to Enforce Civilian Law to the exercise of military power which was regulatory, Under the Constitution, states retain the primary re- prescriptive, or compulsory in nature.” However, the PCA sponsibility and authority to provide for civil order and the is not violated when the Armed Forces conduct activities for protection of their citizens’ lives and property. a military purpose. Additionally, the PCA does not apply to However, the federal government is responsible for the National Guard unless it is employed in federal service. protecting states against invasion and insurrection, and, if the state (through the legislature governor) requests it, The Insurrection Act protection against “domestic violence.” Insurrections against state governments could be put down under the act only if the state legislature applied for such Posse Comitatus Act (PCA) assistance. The act outlaws the use of the Army or Air Force to execute These provisions were quickly extended to allow for the the law unless expressly authorized by the Constitution or employment of the Armed Forces in domestic circumstances an act of Congress. The Navy and Marine Corps operate where the law already provided the militia could be employed. under similar restrictions pursuant to regulations. After the Civil War, Congress added a new provision Statutory exceptions include legislation that allows the for the use of federal military forces to protect civil rights. President to use military force to suppress insurrection or to The Insurrection Act has been invoked on dozens of enforce federal authority and laws that permit the Department occasions through U.S. history, although its use since the end of Defense to provide federal, state, and local police with of the 1960s civil rights disturbances has become exceedingly information, equipment, and personnel. rare. Its last invocation appears to have occurred in 1992 Case law indicates that “execution of the law” in violation when the acquittal of police offi cers on charges of beating of the PCA occurs (1) when civilian law enforcement offi cials motorist Rodney King sparked rioting in Los Angeles.

www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 33 in structions immediately,” he said. “It’s attempted assaults on military members One of the policemen yelled “Cover me!” all about immediate response to orders. did occur. to the Marines. The Marines then opened Do what you’re told when you’re told Delk’s book includes an appendix that fi re on the residence. to do it. So, when you’re focused that logs the various attempted assaults on “The offi cer had not meant shoot when way, you can learn something on the fl y military members. The California Na- he yelled ‘cover me’ to the Marines,” pretty quickly.” tional Guard reported most of these Delk writes. “The term ‘cover me’ meant Bailey, the Los Angeles Times reporter, activities, but there are a few recorded the same to him as it does to Army (or was among the crowd of media members instances of “sniper shots” and “drive- Army National Guard) soldiers. That and one of the few “notepad carrying by” shootings at Marines. is, point your weapon and be prepared re porter types” from a newspaper who One instance that has become a caution- to respond if necessary. However, the had gathered at the air station to observe ary tale about federal troops working Marines responded instantly in the way the Marines preparing to take they had been trained, where the streets. ‘cover me’ means ‘provide me Bailey was based at the Times’ with cover using fi repower.’ ” Orange County offi ce, which is By Sunday, May 10, the Na- south of LA and an area that had tional Guard was defederalized been “quiet as a church mouse” and the Marines re turned home. during the riots, he said. When word came that the Marines were “There’s a Line” being called to respond, he was Any argument for sending eager to get in on the action. federal troops into American The reporter had previously streets comes with an examina- written about the Marine Corps tion of two federal laws. and military for another news- One law, the Posse Comitatus paper based in Ocean side, near Act, restrains the federal govern- Camp Pendleton. Un like other ment from using the military to reporters, he joined the convoy enforce civilian laws. Its helps of Marines that rode into the maintain civil liberties and the cities of LA County. gov erning independence of in- “I was one of the only people dividual states. The law does going in with them,” he said. not apply to the National Guard “Everyone else, the TV types, unless the Guard is federalized. they weren’t taking the time to But the Posse Comitatus Act do it.” has excep tions, and one of those Bailey joined the troops of exceptions is if a state requests

“India” Company as they traveled COURTESY OF ANGELES LOS TIMES help from the federal government into Compton, dropping off men Marines at a staging area at Alameda and Elm Streets in or if president deems it nec essary at various spots. In an article Compton, May 3, 1992. to send in troops to suppress an published on Monday, May 4, insurrection. This exception is the main theme of the deployment “In a time of chaos and called the Insurrection Act. was captured in the headline for Bailey’s Sterling, a reserve Judge Ad vocate article: “For Marines in LA, it’s a Battle pandemonium, you look Gen eral offi cer in the California National With Boredom.” Guard, said that from a legal standpoint, One of the Marines Bailey met was at what kind of decisions the 1992 riots were not, in his opinion, 1stLt Lance Blyth, the executive offi cer an event that called for the president to of India Co. Blyth, who today serves as were made by our invoke the Insurrection Act. a command historian at North American He explained, however, it is our na- Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. government offi cials, and tional and state leaders who decide what Northern Command, also re mem bers the is an insurrection and what is not. deployment being uneventful. when they’re afraid, they’re “You have on the one hand the Posse He said they relieved members of the going to act from their fear.” Comitatus Act that says they can’t enforce National Guard and worked with local the law,” he said. “That’s the job of the law enforcement offi cials who told them —Dwight Sterling police and the National Guard in state what places and businesses needed status. Then you have on the extreme protecting. with civilian law enforcement is recorded side, the fact that they can protect the “What we really did was free up their in Delk’s book. It involved a group of government in the face of insurrection. offi cers to respond,” Blyth said. “In any Ma rines and two Compton police offi cers Well, what’s an insurrection and what’s place where they needed to have someone who were responding to a domestic dis- civil unrest? And that gets into a gray sit or stand, that’s what we did. Just to be turbance at a local residence. When the area.” seen. Just to have a presence.” offi cers approached the door of the res- He added, “That’s in the eye of the Though Marines like Blyth didn’t see idence, two shotgun rounds burst through beholder.” any action on the streets of LA, reports of the door, striking the offi cers, Delk writes. Sterling, who is the chief executive of-

34 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck GYSGT CLINTON FIRSTBROOK, USMC FIRSTBROOK, CLINTON GYSGT Training in riot control, the use of nonlethal weapons and dealing with civil unrest is regularly included prior to deployments today. A platoon sergeant with Marine Rotational Force-Europe 18.1 analyzes response techniques during non-lethal training at Vaernes Garnison, Norway, April 3, 2018. fi cer of the Center for Law and Military what they could do with law enforcement “They throw us in a situation where we Policy, a nonprofi t think tank based in offi cials on the streets. The military may not have all the variables,” Cole said. Southern California, said in terms of the showed great restraint as it attempted “We may not have all the information 1992 riots, “we didn’t get to the point not to get involved with the enforcement we need, but we fi gure it out on the fl y. where we went from enforcing the law of civilian law. A 2018 Congressional We make basic assessments. And as we in terms of civil unrest to the point of an Research re port suggests that this was gather more information, we can improve insurrection where then we are able to due to a mis understanding of Posse upon our decision making. We learn from tap into the authorities of the Insurrection Comitatus. The troops, in fact, could our mistakes, big and small.” Act. have played a more active role in law Blyth, the veteran Marine and com- “There’s a line there,” he said. “And I enforcement activities since the president mand historian for NORAD and can’t see how we passed by that line to invoked the Insur rection Act. USNORTHCOM, said historical events, get to insurrection.” “After the military force was federal- such as the 1992 riots can provide a Sterling said he thinks that “fear” ulti- ized, many changes were made,” Delk person with a “mental walk-through.” mately fueled the decision. writes. “The change that had the greatest “I think that is the value of history,” “In a time of chaos and pandemonium, impact on law enforcement was the he said. “It gives you fundamentally you look at what kind of decisions were refusal to perform most law enforcement a mental immediate action drill. Pro- made by our government offi cials, and functions.” fessionals think through the bad things when they’re afraid, they’re going to act that are going to happen and what they from their fear, and they’re going to say “Mental Walk-Through” are going to do.” ‘well, we have a force that can be used in After the Los Angeles riots, Chad Cole the case of a true emergency’ so I would would eventually deploy to Somalia and Author’s bio: Cpl Daly is a Southern contend they simply panicked, and they earn the rank of sergeant meritoriously. California native who joined the Marine broke the glass, and they reached into He described himself as a motivated Corps after working as an editor and that case, and they went to the members Marine who loved to pass knowledge reporter for various publications, in- of the Marine Corps,” he said. to the junior Marines. cluding the Pacifi c Daily News in Guam. In his book, MG Delk writes that fed- Cole said his short deployment in Los In 2019, he won the Marine Corps eral troops and the federalized National Angeles prepared him for Somalia in the Heritage Foundation’s Tom Bartlett Guard had their hands tied in terms of way of being prepared for the unknown. Award for Outstanding Writing.

www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 35 ““AA TTrustedrusted SSymbol”ymbol” FForor MMoreore TThanhan a CCentury,entury, tthehe AAmericanmerican RReded CCrossross HHasas FFaithfullyaithfully SServederved MMarinesarines iinn CCrisisrisis

By Sara W. Bock through their example “how to really demonstrate the warmth and comfort for hroughout three decades of service grieving parents, and how to show up and in the Marine Corps Reserve, com- how to help support the Marines that were T bat veteran Mike Jordan noticed wounded and were recovering in the something that made a lasting impression hospital,” he said. on him: in times of crisis, the American Following his assignment at Camp Red Cross always showed up. Lejeune, Jordan left active duty and joined They were there when Jordan, then a the active reserve component while second lieutenant, was assigned to replace launching a career in corporate America. a platoon commander from 1st Battalion, But when the Gulf War began in 1990, he 8th Marines who was killed in the bomb- volunteered to again join the active-duty ing of the Marine Barracks in Beirut, ranks and deploy as a communications Lebanon, in October 1983. Restoring a offi cer and H&S Company Commander communications platoon that had suffered with 7th Engineer Support Battal ion. By heavy losses proved an overwhelming and February 1991, Jordan, then a captain, emotionally draining task for a young COURTESY OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS found himself at the Kuwaiti border, pre- offi cer on his fi rst assignment. pared to participate in the ground attack “I didn’t really feel adequately equipped gram who assisted Jordan with freshening on Iraqi forces in support of Operation to deal with grieving parents who had up his Marines’ barracks at Camp Le- Desert Storm. just lost their sons in that blast, and I jeune, as well as the Quonset hut where “We were told that we were out numbered didn’t feel adequately prepared to tend they worked. For the Marines returning and we would encounter nerve agents and with wounded survivors or Marines who from Beirut who had survived a deeply anthrax attacks when we commenced the came back to Camp Lejeune, N.C., and traumatic event, something as simple as ground war, and that we were to expect were hospitalized and would eventually a new coat of paint and photographs on high casualties,” said Jordan, who was return to the unit,” said Jordan. the walls made their living and working newly married at the time and hadn’t But in the wake of devastation, the Red spaces feel warm, welcoming and a little spoken with his wife in two months. Cross mobilized volunteers from its more like home. And even more import- “Truth is, I think many of us weren’t sure Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) pro- antly, the Red Cross workers taught Jordan if we’d return home.” COURTESY OF LIBRARY OF CONGRESS COURTESY OF LIBRARY OF CONGRESS In September 1918, two Marines (above left) convalescing in a hospital in Auteuil, France, are cared for by a Red Cross nurse who, by pure coincidence, had traveled to Europe on the same boat that they did. By the end of the war, the American Red Cross was well-known for its humanitarian work and care for servicemembers, often going into harm’s way to provide assistance. A Marine (above right) receives fi rst aid in a trench in France during WW I.

36 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck The realization that they might never hear their loved ones’ voices again weighed heavily on Jordan and his Marines during those long days of waiting, but prior to the scheduled invasion they were given an opportunity to load into Humvees and drive 10 kilometers south of their forward operating position. The Red Cross, in a partnership with AT&T, had arranged for a satellite dish to be brought to their austere location in the middle of the desert so that the Marines could call home. Jordan spent four hours in line for his turn to make a 15-minute phone call, but the chance to talk to his wife, Lynn, was more than worth the wait. “It was an amazing call that I’ll never forget because of the intensity and the mix of emotions,” said Jordan. “It was probably one of the most important phone calls of my life.” After he came home from Desert COURTESY OF MAJ MIKE JORDAN, USMCR (RET) As a Marine captain, Mike Jordan, pictured in the back row, second from the right, Storm, Jordan remained in the Marine stands with Marines from 7th ESB during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. As a result Corps Reserve and returned to his career of his various experiences with the Red Cross during his time in the Corps, Jordan now in the private sector until 2004 when he serves as the Vice President of Humanitarian Services for the Red Cross Pacific Division. volunteered to again activate and deploy, this time in support of Operation Iraqi to deliver verified messages to deployed who were medevacked to the battalion Freedom. Then a major, he served as the servicemembers to inform them of family aid station, but through the Red Cross in director of the Civil Military Operations emergencies on the homefront. This Baghdad, Jordan was able to get informa- Center, government support team, 5th message was dire: his wife was terminally tion and updates about their condition. Civil Affairs Group. In 2005, Jordan ill and he needed to return to the U.S. And when Jordan and his unit left Iraq and his team lived and worked “outside immediately. In these situations, the Red to redeploy to the U.S., they spent a week the wire” six days a week, operating out Cross works with a servicemember’s at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait where they of the government center in downtown command to help them make immediate were able to decompress and visit the Red Ramadi, Iraq, with security provided by travel arrangements when a confirmed Cross Rest and Recovery Center there. Weapons Platoon, “Alpha” Company, 1st emergency occurs. “It was nice because we had a chance Battalion, 5th Marines. During that same deployment to Iraq, to talk with really kind staff, we could “My Marines and I were rocketed, two Marines with Jordan’s civil affairs communicate home and we could recover mortared and fired upon routinely as we team were wounded by an improvised from our deployment,” said Jordan. “I was conducted our mission in Ramadi,” said explosive device (IED) blast in Ramadi. struck again by the Red Cross staff, their Jordan. “It is hard to express in words the Jordan relied on his Red Cross first aid kindness and their warmth, and it felt a intensity of being ‘down range’ or ‘outside training to assist the wounded Marines, little bit like home.” the wire’ and how much the Red Cross SAF means when we perform our mission under those circumstances.” Support from the Red Cross came in the form of care packages filled with snacks, toiletries and other essentials, and given their position, Jordan and the other Marines relied heavily on the contents of those packages to meet their basic needs. One of the most meaningful items in the care packages, he recalls, were hand- written notes from patriotic Americans. “When you’re sitting there in that en- vironment and you read a really kind note from somebody that doesn’t even know you, it makes a heck of an impression,” said Jordan. Jordan’s various interactions with the Red Cross in Iraq solidified his apprecia­ tion for their lifesaving mission. At one point during the deployment, one of Marines learn Red Cross methods in the “gentle art of man handling” during a life­ Jordan’s fellow Marines received an emer- saving exhibition at the Pearl Harbor Navy Yard in Hawaii, in 1920. Since its inception, gency communication through the Red the Red Cross has provided training in various lifesaving skills to members of the Cross, which is congressionally chartered military and civilians. (Photo courtesy of Library of Congress) www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 37 A group of Red Cross volunteer workers in Butte, Mont., make face masks for U.S. servicemembers during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic. During WW I, volunteers across the nation joined the Red Cross Production Corps to make masks, warm garments, and medical supplies for the “boys” on the front.

forts” and critical services on bases and in military hospitals, support during de- ployments—particularly when emer- gencies arrive—and service to veterans even after their time on active duty comes to an end. “The American Red Cross has always been a trusted symbol for the U.S. Marine Corps,” said Red Cross archivist Susan COURTESY OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS Watson, adding that the organization’s These small, yet meaningful moments in life-saving skills to prepare people for first direct support of Marines took when Jordan’s life as a Marine intersected emergency situations since its founding in place during the Spanish-American War with the humanitarian work of the Red 1881. An astounding 90 percent of the Red in 1898 when the Red Cross provided Cross are by no means unique, in the Cross workforce are volunteers who are food, medical personnel and nurses to sense that virtually every Marine who has committed to the mission of preventing aid the troops during the conflict. The deployed to a combat zone—and likely and alleviating human suffering as part founder of the American Red Cross, Clara even those who haven’t—have benefited in of the overall mission of the International Barton, was inspired by the International some way from the organization’s Service Red Cross Red Crescent Movement, a Red Cross movement and her work with to the Armed Forces. In Jordan’s case, his global network of societies in 192 different wounded soldiers during the U.S. Civil personal experiences led him to join the countries. War, as well as through her efforts to re- staff of the American Red Cross, where From providing support to victims of connect families through the Office of he serves today as the Vice President of natural disasters and offering first aid Missing Soldiers after the war. In 1881, the Humanitarian Services, Pacific Division. certification courses to organizing blood American Red Cross was first established, “In times of hardship and difficult drives that supply roughly 40 percent of with service to the armed forces a central circumstances, you never forget how you the nation’s blood, the Red Cross mission part of its mission, said Watson. were treated,” said Jordan. “I had a chance extends far beyond its Service to the During World War I, the Red Cross to give back, so I joined them in 2013 and Armed Forces. But supporting military mobilized volunteer workers across the I have not looked back.” servicemembers and their families has nation to join the newly established Pro- With little fanfare, the American Red long been an integral part of its work to duction Corps through its chapters on the Cross has provided relief and support to provide compassionate care, and the Red homefront. The volunteers made gloves, individuals in crisis and offered training Cross continues to provide “home com- sweaters and medical supplies for service- JERRY WALLER JERRY FELICE FUSCO, AMERICAN RED CROSS Wounded, ill and injured Marines on stretchers crowd the deck of a Red Cross members with the D.C. Canteen Corps serve landing craft tank as American Red Cross workers serve them donuts refreshments to a Marine and a Sailor in Washington, and coffee, Sept. 26, 1944. D.C., 1942.

38 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck A Marine talks with an American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces staff member about the helpful services the Red Cross provides.

other services like loans and counseling— an effort that earned the praise of Major General Commandant John A. Lejeune. And a 1926 edition includes a letter of appreciation from Marine Colonel H.C. Snyder, commanding officer of the 2nd Marine Regiment in Port au Prince, Haiti. He expressed his gratitude of the Red Cross “not only in providing each man with a Christmas present each of the two years of my stay in Port au Prince, but for many other substantial services.” When the U.S. entered World War II in COURTESY OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS December 1941, another formative period members overseas including cloth masks shape the organization that we know began for the Red Cross, which not only to help combat the spread of the 1918 today,” said Watson. continued the services it previously estab­ Spanish Flu pandemic. The newly estab­ Articles from the Red Cross Courier lished during WW I, such as the Motor lished Red Cross Motor Corps provided in the 1920s provide insight into the Corps and the Hospital and Recreation transportation support for the sick and organization’s interactions with Marines Corps’ “gray ladies,” but began a number wounded as well as for the movement of following the war. Some are humorous: of new ones as well. These included its nurses and supplies. Through the organi­ a July 1922 article entitled “Devil Dogs first-ever blood donor program, which zation’s local chapters, the Red Cross Eat Up All Chapter’s Jam,” details the would later serve as the model for its Home Service assisted the families of staggering volume of jam sandwiches the civilian blood program, established in troops serving overseas, keeping them Red Cross fed to 5,000 Quantico-based 1948. Even before the U.S. entered the informed about benefits and services Marines who were traveling through war, the Red Cross had anticipated that available to them and acting as a liaison Washington, D.C., on their way to American troops would need blood— for communications between the deployed Gettysburg. Another article published in particularly plasma—in order to save servicemembers and their loved ones. 1922 covered the Red Cross support of lives. Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Meanwhile, across the ocean, the Marines in Santo Domingo by providing the Red Cross already had established 10 American Red Cross helped set up the them a place to read and study, as well as blood donor centers in the U.S. first 50 military hospitals and supplied Red Cross nurses to care for the combat wounded, said Watson. Red Cross workers also staffed canteens that provided food and drinks for the troops and established “Camp Service” to provide needed items as well as recreational opportunities. As injured servicemembers began to return home to convalesce, the Red Cross began a Hospital and Recreation Corps at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washing­ ton, D.C. Staffed entirely by women who wore gray dresses as uniforms, members of the corps quickly earned themselves the nickname “the gray ladies.” The gray ladies provided the wounded with non­ medical services like shopping, reading and writing letters on their behalf. In 1917, the Red Cross Institute for the Blind, also known as Evergreen, opened its doors in Baltimore, Md., to care for the visually impaired returning home from the war. By the end of the war in November 1918, the American Red Cross had grown exponentially and was a household name In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, Marine reservists load buckets of Red Cross cleaning in the U.S., having earned great visibility supplies onto a disaster relief van at the Red Cross warehouse in Beaumont, Texas, for its humanitarian efforts. in September 2017. In addition to being on the receiving end of American Red “World War I really was the defining Cross services, Marines also have worked alongside the Red Cross in humanitarian time for the Red Cross and really helped assistance and disaster relief scenarios. (Photo by LCpl Niles Lee, USMC) www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 39 The American Red Cross Hero Network call center staff members are trained to handle emergency telephone calls from servicemembers and their families. Following the Battle of Tarawa in 1943, during which the Marine Corps suffered mass casualties, Captain French R. Moore, a U.S. Navy doctor serving in the Pacific, reported that “Six thousand units of plasma went ashore at Tarawa [and] 4,000 of them came back in the veins of wounded Marines. At least half of the seriously wounded owe their lives to plasma.” Throughout the European and Pacific theaters, Red Cross field directors who were embedded with the troops continued the WW I-era Camp Service program, offering servicemembers help with emergency communications, financial assistance and supplies. Perhaps one of the Red Cross’ most COURTESY OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS well-known overseas programs during During WW II, the Red Cross no longer tributed to the fighting men in this living WW II was its Club Service, which pro- provided Red Cross nurses overseas, but hell, where the greatest natural enemy vided permanent clubs and traveling instead helped enroll more than 100,000 encountered is volcanic ash.” “clubmobiles”—trucks and buses con­ nurses for the military services. In an effort to support prisoners of war verted into rolling canteens—to bring food A March 8, 1945, article in The Honolulu from the American military as well as the and recreational activities to the troops. Advertiser entitled “Red Cross Masks Aid Allied forces, the American Red Cross Some clubs were large enough that they Marines Win in Fight for Iwo Jima” shed supplied 27 million Prisoner of War (POW) had barbershops, live entertainment and light on the unique role the Red Cross packages, which were sent to the Inter- rooms for the servicemembers to sleep. played in one of the most iconic battles national Committee of the Red Cross for Others, particularly the clubmobiles, pri- in Marine Corps history. distribution in the prison camps. While marily offered donuts and coffee served “The weird ghostliness of the battle POWs held in the European camps gen- by young Red Cross “Clubmobile Girls.” of Iwo Jima was heightened today as erally received their packages—which At the peak of the Red Cross’ wartime Marines fought through clouds of sulphur contained food and basic necessities— activity in 1945, the organization was and volcanic ash garbed in white surgical those imprisoned by the Japanese tended relying on the hard work of 7.5 million masks,” the article read. “Flown from to not be so lucky. The Red Cross also volunteers and 39,000 paid staff to carry Honolulu, 5,000 face masks, provided produced two publications: “Red Cross out its service to the military. by the Hawaiian Red Cross, were dis- News” which was sent to the prisoners to keep them informed, and a Prisoners of War bulletin for their families back home. The Red Cross continued its programs from the Second World War when the U.S. entered the Korean War in 1950, such as Home Service for families, Camp Service led by field directors, and clubs, canteens and non-medical assistance in military and veterans hospitals. As the Korean War came to an end, the Red Cross provided support for the sick and wounded United Nations prisoners of war who were released during the “Operation Little Switch” prisoner exchange and pro­ vided supplies and comfort items to the POWs who were still being held prior to the “Operation Big Switch” exchange as well as additional support upon their eventual release. The wartime services of the American Red Cross emerged yet again in Vietnam

COURTESY OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS in 1965. During the period of eight years A Red Cross volunteer serves refreshments to Marines in Korea during the Korean that American troops were engaged in the War. fighting, the Red Cross facilitated more

40 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck than 2 million emergency communications between the troops and their family members. Supplemental recreational activities overseas (SRAO) workers supplied by the Red Cross were college-educated women who brought entertainment, refreshments and “a touch of home” to the Marines and other servicemembers in secured areas near the front lines in Vietnam, much like the clubmobiles in WW II and Korea. This time, however, they traveled to remote locations via helicopters and jeeps. Much has changed since the Red Cross began its wartime support of the U.S. mil- itary, and the organization has had to adapt its services to reflect the evolution of the nature of warfighting, the landscape of the battlefield and the role of technology in the way people communicate with each other. But they’ve managed to do just that, while remaining true to their original COURTESY OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS mission. American Red Cross SRAO workers say goodbye to the Marines of a reconnaissance “When I think about today, the things platoon departing on a weeklong patrol in Da Nang, Vietnam, December 1967. that we’re doing—the mission continues,” said Mike Jordan. military spouses or workshops and train- way home from Iraq in 2005, the building The Red Cross maintains a large pres- ing for caregivers of wounded, ill and was renamed the “2nd Lieutenant Travis ence on military installations worldwide, injured servicemembers on the home front M. Jordan Resiliency Center.” providing support to nearly half a million or emergency support during deployments, For servicemembers passing through active-duty and veteran servicemembers Marines and their families continue to Kuwait on their way in or out of the and their families each year. It offers count on the Red Cross to be there in their Middle East theater, the Travis M. Jordan programs and services at 147 military time of need. Center offers them resiliency counseling medical facilities and 171 veterans care For Jordan, his personal journey with and training as well as an opportunity to facilities around the globe and is proud the Red Cross came full circle when he participate in the “healing arts” like music to serve 24 hours a day, 365 days a year became a Gold Star Father after his son, and painting. A collection of guitars—his through the American Red Cross Hero Air Force 2nd Lieutenant Travis M. son was an avid guitarist—are available Care Network, which provides emergency Jordan, died while serving on active duty for servicemembers to pick up and play. communication and assistance and is in 2016. In 2017, following a fundraiser For Jordan, who as a Marine relied on available by phone, online, or through in his son’s name to help refurbish the the Red Cross during times of need, there the free Hero Care mobile app. Camp Arifjan Red Cross Rest and Re- couldn’t be a more fitting way to honor Whether it’s through resiliency and covery Center in Kuwait, where Mike his son’s life. reconnection workshops, job training for Jordan had transitioned through on his COURTESY OF MAJ MIKE JORDAN, USMCR (RET) COURTESY OF MAJ MIKE JORDAN, USMCR (RET) Above left: Maj Mike Jordan and his son, Air Force 2ndLt Travis Jordan, before Travis’ tragic 2016 death. Above right: Mike Jordan traveled to Kuwait in 2017 for the dedication of the newly refurbished Camp Arifjan Red Cross Center, which was renamed the “2nd Lieutenant Travis Jordan Resiliency Center.” www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 41 Sea Stories Compiled by Patricia Everett

SEA STORY wake up although others curled up the finger until in my mind as being the OF THE MONTH nearby were beginning to it is useless. Once the fiber most legendary was Bob stir. Next, I tried shaking is weakened enough, the Buckley. He was not The Squatter him and rolling him back curled finger is forcibly only the best wrestler in In 1966, I was sent to and forth with no noticeable straightened, thus tearing his weight class, but he Marine Corps Recruit Depot results, so I punched him the contracted fiber. also became an All-State San Diego for boot camp and told him to get out of Dr. Chandelier had wrestler. with Platoon 361. The first my rack. By now others in given my hand a local pain At the time it was days were very confusing the hut were fully awake and deadening drug that was brought to my attention hurrying here and there, wondered what was going mostly effective but I could that he had an ax to grind learning new terminology, on. Some were thinking feel the needle penetration. with me as I was seeing collecting new gear and I might be a DI thumping The pain was not extreme, the same young ladies that learning new eating and someone for not sleeping at but it was there. He asked, he was seeing. Being that sleeping routines. We were attention. I told them there “Does it hurt?” My response we went to different high billeted in the Quonset huts, was a guy in my rack and was, “I am a United States schools I really which were situated row by I wanted him out NOW! Marine! We do not feel pain. didn’t know him row near the airport. Every They said, “No, that’s John’s Don’t worry about it.” personally, only by hut looked exactly like any rack!” Dr. Chandelier was reputation. Because of his other of the many Quonset About that time, it dawned astonished and continued tough guy persona, I tried huts. on me that I was probably in to work. After two hours, my best to avoid him. Sometime during the the wrong hut, and further, my hand was functioning Following high school, night of the first week, at that I was about to be the once again. His parting I enlisted in the Marine zero-dark-thirty hours, I felt object of a blanket party, words were, “You are the Corps and was stationed the need for a head call even minus the blanket, if I didn’t most courageous person on with the 2nd Marine though our drill instructors get out of there immediately. whom I have ever done this Division at Camp Lejeune. (DIs) had distinctly told us I spun around, ducked down procedure. Thank you for Surprisingly, Bob and I ran that no one would ever feel and made a mad dash for the trusting me to do the work.” into each other in the chow the need to make a head door leaving the mistaken There was a prescription hall and became best of call at night after “Taps.” hut in turmoil. To this day written for a pain killer. It friends. Although some recruits there is a Marine somewhere was filled, but never taken. One night, he suddenly relieved themselves at night wondering who it was that Does being a Marine announced to me that he into the fuel tank of the oil- so rudely interrupted his have lasting influence? Oh had just gotten word that burning stove situated in night of sleep that first week yes! I cannot say I was an his outfit was scheduled the center of the hut, I was of boot camp. outstanding Marine, but I to embark on maneuvers determined to make it to Sgt William “Bill” de Kryger can say the Marine Corps to Vieques, Puerto Rico. the platoon head. I pushed Duluth, Ga. was a lifesaving experience. He said, “This is not a the door open a crack; there At 81 years old, not a day good thing for me. I’m was no one in sight. Slowly I am a Marine! goes by that the Corps does planning on marrying my and quietly I moved through We Do Not Feel Pain not have an influence. high school sweetheart, the platoon area toward I came to Marine Corps PFC Terry Crowell so I have to come up the head—three huts to the Recruit Depot Parris Island Georgetown, Ind. with a strategy that gets north and four to the east. in February 1962 and earned me a reprieve from this I finished with my visit private first class on rifle Truth is Stranger maneuver. I already have and carefully counted my qualification day. I was high Than Fiction this wild scenario played way back through the huts scoring qualifier across When I was in high out in my mind. All I have to my hut. I opened the door the region. Marine Corps school living in Drexel to do is activate it, put it in and quietly made my way training has had a lasting Hills, Pa., prior to joining motion, and with the grace back to my rack—left side, influence. the Marine Corps, I was of God, it will happen.” He end rack, top bunk. Much Fifty-seven years later known for having been then said, “Come on, I’ll to my surprise someone I was in a French doctor’s an accomplished athlete, show you.” had apparently moved from office in Caen, in Normandy, mainly basketball. My With that, he started their rack to mine. It was France, and the doctor was greatest thrills at that walking toward the field occupied! I quietly prodded performing what is called time were playing hoops house. Within a few the squatter, attempting needle aponeurotomy on my and hanging out with all minutes we were in there to wake him and get him dupuytren deformed hands. the exciting young ladies where the wrestling team back into his rack so I could The procedure consisted in town. However, other was working out. The team get back into mine. To this of a needle being pushed accomplished athletes was doing their thing, day I have not seen such through the deformed digit had the same interest and I followed Bob up to a sound sleeper. Despite several times to weaken a and obsessions as I did. where the coach, who was my prodding, he would not contracted fiber which has One guy who stands out a lieutenant, was standing

42 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck observing them. Bob completely dumbfounded. a Sailor challenged him and wanted a corpsman suddenly nudged him and He quickly went over to with, “In the Navy they to come to the office. The said, in his very cocksure Bob and congratulated teach us to wash our hands chief gave me the order and attitude, “Sir, is this the him on his uncanny ability. after using the bathroom.” I packed up a few items and best you’ve got?” The He proceeded to ask him Hal shot back with, “In the headed out. coach sharply turned and more about his background, Marines they teach us not to I crossed the street in a looked at him as though and Bob told him, “I pee on our hands.” bit of a hurry and passed by he was a monster, and was going to Millersville Hal went on to serve a a Marine lieutenant and a said, “Are you a wise guy State in Pennsylvania on combat tour in Korea and gunnery sergeant. After I or something?” Bob said, a wrestling scholarship, was in ordnance during the got a couple steps past the “Well, some people might but I wanted more—to be Vietnam war. pair I heard, “Hey, Sailor.” I call me that, but I really a Marine. So I left, and Sgt Thomas Ring turned quickly and realized think I am a lot more.” here I am.” The coach, USMC, 1975-1980 I had not offered a salute to The coach then looked out of curiosity, asked Virac, Philippines the Marine officer. I froze in at him, and said, “Wise him to wrestle with a few my tracks. guy, do you think you others that were in a higher I Had Been in Japan “Sir, I’m sorry. No could do better?” In a weight class. It took only Far Too Long disrespect meant.” I snapped very sarcastic manner minutes before Bob gained In 1954, I was stationed to and gave a proper salute. Bob replied, “I know I their respect. at the R&R Center with 1st The lieutenant returned the can do better.” The coach He automatically Marine Division at Camp salute. The gunny asked, then said, “What kind of transferred out of his outfit Fisher in Kyoto, Japan. I was “Where you goin’ in such a experience do you have and into the field house off duty one morning, so I hurry, Doc?” went to the pool room which “Actually, Gunny, I’m Cpl Bob Buckley was in a separate building going to see the general and cleverly talked on the main street of the I’m a little nervous. I have his way onto the base. never met a general before.” wrestling team As I left the building The lieutenant smiled and at Camp Lejeune after shooting pool for a said, “Well, we just came in 1957 to avoid few hours, a first lieutenant from there and we left him deployment as he walked by as I stepped out in a rotten mood, good luck, had plans to marry onto the street. Without Doc.” his high school thinking, rather than “Thank you, Sir.” I saluted sweetheart, Joan. saluting him, I immediately again, turned and walked Buckley made the bowed down Japanese style into the building. team and married and said, “Good morning, There was nothing to be Joan in 1958. Lieutenant.” With a look of nervous about. The general’s COURTESY OF BOB CONCORDIA shock and/or surprise, his blood pressure was normal. and where might I ask did which led him to becoming immediate response was, He clearly kept his Marines you get that experience?” unbeaten throughout the “Just how long have you and his Navy corpsmen in Bob said, “Sir, I was Army, Navy, Air Force and been in Japan, Corporal?” high regards. BGen Wheeler an All-State wrestler Marine Corps. At least he had a good sense was a nice man and I at Upper Darby High After all the action was of humor as we both laughed enjoyed the visit. He was not School in Pennsylvania, through, Bob had a very at my new-found habit only the first general I would class of 1955.” The coach large military wedding which I had acquired in a meet in my Naval career, but responded, “Well then, where we were all in year and a half that I had he was the most memorable. how would you like to try our dress blues with our been there. HM2 Bill Sheehan yourself against one of swords. Without question, it Sgt Chris Vail New York, N.Y. my men? I’d like to see truly was a case of truth is Marietta, Ga. for myself you putting stranger than fiction. Do you have an interesting your money where your Bob Concordia My Thoughts story from your time in the mouth is. It’s always nice West Chester, Pa. Were Elsewhere Corps that will give our to have a fresh … sparring I had just finished readers a good chuckle? partner.” The Difference Between FMF training as a Navy We would love to hear The coach matched The Marine Corps corpsman at Camp Lejeune them. Write them down Bob up with a guy who And Navy in 1967 and was serving in (500 words or less) and send he thought was one of his This story was told to me Headquarters Battalion’s them to: Patricia Everett, best. Everybody cleared by CWO-4 Harold Johnson, aid station just across the Leatherneck Magazine, the mat when the coach USMC (Ret), who joined the street from the 2nd Marine P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, gave the command and Marine Corps in 1944 and Division when I was chosen VA 22134, or email them to within seconds Bob was went on to serve in combat to be the assistant to the two p.everett@mca-marines doing his thing. It was in a Stuart tank in the Battle medical officers. .org. We offer $25 or a amazing. He was making of Okinawa. The chief got a call from one-year MCA&F some very powerful moves, While traveling to a base 2ndMarDiv Headquarters membership for the with lightning speed, stateside he was in a train that Brigadier General “Sea Story of the Month.” when suddenly he pinned station bathroom relieving Edwin B. Wheeler needed the guy. The coach was himself. When leaving, his blood pressure checked www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 43 We—the Marines Compiled by Sara W. Bock

Marines Bid Farewell to Tanks sweet, is the next step in the transition of said Davenport. “There’s no stopping it Under New Force Design the Marine Corps into a lighter, more now—it’s real after this.” A sense of sadness was evident from reactive force. As for the dedicated tankers of 2nd the crowd as veterans from past battles “We must divest of legacy capabilities Tanks, also known as the “Iron Horse stood proudly alongside warriors still in that do not meet our future requirements, Battalion” of 2ndMarDiv, they will be uniform, watching together as the last set regardless of their past efficacy,” said given the opportunity to move into other of tanks left Marine Corps Base Camp General David H. Berger, 38th Comman­ military occupational specialties in the Lejeune, N.C., for the very last time. Ma­ dant of the Marine Corps. “There is no Marine Corps, or continue with tanks in rines with 2nd Tank Battalion, 2nd Marine piece of equipment or major defense other branches. Leaving behind the long Division waved goodbye one final time to program that defines us.” tradition of 2nd Tank Bn won’t be easy the battalion’s M1A1 Abrams main battle Gen Berger said the new force design for many, but the battalion’s leaders are tanks, July 31. is his main priority and that it will se­ determined to ensure that the Marines “It’s hard to see them go away. I grew cure the Marine Corps’ position as the are well taken care of. up in tanks,” said Sergeant Reginald world’s premier warfighting institution. “There are Marines who have fought Davenport, a tank commander with 2nd As 2nd Tank Bn continues the process of and died in these tanks; however, these Tank Bn. “Pretty much everything I deactivation, hope for a future for tanks learned about being an adult, I learned prevails among tankers. from someone in tanks.” “It breaks my heart knowing that the In attendance were not only the bat­ legacy of Marine Corps tankers will not talion’s current Marines, but also those live on,” said Master Sergeant Jason who had served with 2nd Tanks in the Pittsley, USMC (Ret), who served 23 past. In accordance with Marine Corps years as a tanker. Force Design 2030, 2nd Tank Bn is being For many, the reality did not sink in deactivated after 79 years of service in a until the day of the ceremony when they move that will optimize the Marine Corps’ watched the tanks slowly roll away on ability to conduct naval expeditionary the railroad tracks aboard Camp Lejeune. warfare. This moment, although bitter­ ‘This is the moment it actually hit me,” LCPL KING, PATRICK USMC LCPL KING, PATRICK USMC The Marines of 2nd Tank Bn (inset) bid farewell to their M1A1 Abrams tanks (above) as the tanks departed on railroad cars during a ceremony at MCB Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 31. The Marine Corps is in the process of deactivating its tank battalions as part of its Force Design 2030.

44 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck Marines will transition from here to dif­ ferent careers and do wonderful things. It’s a new beginning and I’m happy for them,” said Lieutenant Colonel Matthew A. Dowden, the commanding officer of 2nd Tank Bn. “I’m anxiously waiting for what’s in store for these Marines because it’s not about the tanks, it’s about the tankers.” LCpl Brian Bolin Jr., USMC

Newest Amphibious Assault Ship Built With USMC Aviation in Mind The U.S. Navy administratively com­ missioned its newest amphibious assault ship, USS Tripoli (LHA­7), in Pascagoula, Miss., July 15, forgoing the traditional public commissioning ceremony due to public health and safety restrictions on large public gatherings. Following the DEREK FOUNTAIN ceremony, the ship transitioned to normal USS Tripoli (LHA-7) transits the Gulf of Mexico during builder’s trials in 2019. The operations. amphibious assault ship was administratively commissioned July 15 and is designed Meanwhile, the Navy is looking at a to integrate the entire future air combat element of the Marine Corps. future opportunity to commemorate the special event with USS Tripoli’s sponsor, ship’s accomplishments during initial sea pandemic, all Marines and families arriv­ crew and commissioning committee. trials. The hard work and dedication of ing in Okinawa during the permanent “USS Tripoli is proof of what the team­ the entire team during the past few years change of station (PCS) season were work of all our people—civilian, con­ were evident in the successful execution placed on a 14­day ROM cycle and were tractor and military—can accomplish of at­sea testing. thereby unable to leave their rooms for the together,” said Secretary of the Navy “Being the third ship to bear the Tripoli duration of days as a preventative measure Kenneth J. Braithwaite. “This ship will namesake is a profound honor, and this to contain the spread of the virus. extend the maneuverability and lethality crew stands ready to carry on the legacy of “We are preparing to­go meals in order of our fleet to confront the many challenges our longstanding Navy and Marine Corps to help prevent the spread of COVID­19,” of a complex world, from maintaining the amphibious community,” said Meyers. said Gunnery Sergeant Shakelia Woods, sea lanes to countering instability to main­ “These Sailors and Marines will pave acting officer in charge of the mess hall. taining our edge in this era of renewed the way for those still to come. What’s Marines not on ROM are still able to great power competition.” remarkable is seeing the dedication, per­ come into the dining hall, sit down and eat. Rear Admiral Philip E. Sobeck, Com­ severance and resilience these new plank However, they must take precautionary mander of Expeditionary Strike Group 3, owners have shown since day one, and issued a message welcoming the ship and more recently, through uncertain times its crew to the amphibious force. as the Navy and nation work through a “Tripoli is an example of the continued pandemic. There is no doubt in my mind investment in our Navy to increase and that this team is ready to answer the maintain our edge on the battlefield,” said nation’s call at any time or place.” Sobeck. “Congratulations to Tripoli’s crew LHA­7 is named Tripoli in honor of the for all of your hard work, amidst these force of U.S. Marines and approximately challenging times, to reach this milestone. 370 soldiers from 11 other nations who We welcome you to the amphibious force captured the city of Derna, Libya, during of combat­ready ships and battle­minded the 1805 Battle of Derna. The battle re­ crews to go to sea and support sustained sulted in a subsequent peace treaty and combat operations.” the successful conclusion of the combined LHA­7 incorporates key components operations of the First Barbary War and to provide the fleet with a more aviation- was later memorialized in “The Marines’ centric platform. Tripoli’s design features Hymn.” an enlarged hangar deck, realignment and USN expansion of the aviation maintenance facilities, a significant increase in available During Pandemic, To-Go Chow stowage for parts and support equipment, Becomes Vitally Important and increased aviation fuel capacity. The U.S. Marines and civilian employees ship is the first LHA replacement ship with the Camp Foster Mess Hall 488,

to depart the shipyard ready to integrate Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. LCPL ZACHARY LARSEN, USMC the entire future air combat element of Butler, Okinawa, Japan, worked hard An employee at Camp Foster Mess Hall the Marine Corps, to include the Joint during the summer months to prepare 488, MCB Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan, Strike Fighter. to­go chow for Marines on restriction of prepares to-go chow for Marines on ROM Tripoli’s commanding officer, Navy movement (ROM). status due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Captain Kevin Myers, highlighted the In response to the novel coronavirus July 9. www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 45 measures, only sitting two to a table, “We have always prioritized the safety EOD Marines Compete for sanitizing their hands and maintaining a of the food; however, with the new safety Top Team of the Year social distance of 6 feet or more. restrictions, we have implemented a Marines from various East Coast-based “We want Marines to dine in and not higher level of safety precautions,” said units participated in the second annual worry about the risk of spreading the Miller. “Now, we wrap our bread, serve Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) virus,” said Woods. salad to Marines and change out utensils Team of the Year competition at Marine Marines with Mess Hall 488 are tasked every 15 minutes. We also wear gloves Corps Base Camp Lejeune, N.C., July every day to prepare food for the hundreds around the clock, wash our hands after 20-25. of Marines on ROM status. They wake up every glove use, and the condiments are The EOD teams, each consisting of two at 4:30 a.m. to make more than 100 to-go not on tables.” or three Marines, put their skills to the meals. The food is then picked up by the The mess hall does not stop—its staff test through a rigorous series of events in Marine’s sponsor or unit and transported has adapted to the new COVID-19 guide- hope of being the winning team. to the quarantined Marine. lines and worked even harder to get ROM Competitors accumulated points by “It is important to make this food Marines fed. participating in events such as a chemical, because the ROM Marines don’t have “My Marines are doing an awesome biological, radiological and nuclear another source of consistent food,” said job,” said Woods. “They work around the (CBRN) scenario; weapons of mass Corporal Dalton Miller, the assistant chief clock to ensure that these meals get to destruction identification; and removal of cook at the mess hall. the ROM Marines. All of the personnel lodged 155 mm/105 mm projectiles. The According to Miller, proper hygiene here are working hard to support the ROM competition culminated with an 8-mile has always been important in food Marines and the ones coming through “ruck run” to a small arms live-fire range. preparation. It is now more important the doors.” One of the highlights was the relay than ever. LCpl Zachary Larsen, USMC event during which Marines donned the new EOD advanced bomb suit. According to Marine Corps Systems Command, this suit protects against severe injuries caused by blast overpressure, shrapnel, heat and impacts. It also comprises an elaborate integrated ventilation system to reduce heat stress and improve breathing. The Marine Corps EOD mission is to support the Marine air-ground task force, supporting establishment, homeland de- fense, special operations forces and other government agencies by detecting and locating, accessing, diagnosing, rendering safe and neutralizing, recovering, exploit- ing and disposing of hazards from foreign and domestic unexploded explosive ord- nance, improvised explosive devices and weapons of mass destruction that present a threat to operations, installations, per- sonnel or materiel. “This competition is a great way to ensure that the Marines who participate are being trained to the standards needed in order to be an EOD technician,” said Sergeant Kenneth Bourgeois, an EOD technician with 8th Engineer Support Battalion. “Being able to evaluate the Marines on their proficiencies also allows me to see how I would operate if I was in the same scenario as they are.” Although winning was the ultimate goal for all, for one team it was also an oppor- tunity to reconnect and build upon their bond. Sgt Philip Gilbert and Sgt John McNamara, who comprised the 8th ESB

SGT COURTNEY WHITE, USMC WHITE, COURTNEY SGT team, met approximately three years ago LEGACY OF SERVICE—MGySgt Tory Hunck and MSgt Vilmary Hunck pin while attending their MOS school. second lieutenant bars on the collar of their daughter and second-generation “This is actually the first time that we Marine, 2ndLt Ashley Hunck, during her commissioning ceremony at MCB have been able to do something like this Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 10. MGySgt Hunck is the 1stMarDiv communica- together,” said Gilbert. “We get to learn tions chief and MSgt Hunck is the communications security manager for the how to operate as a team, keep each other 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. sane, and he helps me guarantee that we have the best tactics and approaches to each scenario.”

46 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck Sgt John McNamara and Sgt Philip Gilbert, EOD technicians with 8th ESB, 2nd MLG, place a decontaminated sim­ ulated chemical ordnance device in a secure container during the annual East Coast EOD Team of the Year competition at MCB Camp Lejeune, N.C., July 22.

accumulating an overall score of 933 points—17 more than the runner­up. All teams finished the competition in the time allotted, some faster than others, but the driving force among the EOD community was the competitive spirit and thirst for knowledge. “Ultimately, the Marines from each EOD command are learning different methods of approach and tactics from each other, all the while maintaining that fighting spirit,” said Captain James Otto, LCPL FATIMA VILLATORO,LCPL FATIMA USMC officer in charge of the EOD Marines from The team competed in weather con­ few days, you’re able to read each other Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. “They ditions notorious to North Carolina during and notice if we’re not performing to the came here to win—but if they walk away the summer: high humidity and heat reach­ best of our abilities or if something is having learned something new, that is an ing the upper 90s. They continued to work wrong. It comes down to looking out for opportunity to teach the new generation through the heat, stayed in the competition one another,” said McNamara. of EOD technicians.” and built up their camaraderie and con­ At the end, the Marine Corps Special LCpl Fatima Villatoro, USMC fidence in each other. Operations Command team took home “After working with each other for a the title, beating the other five teams and CCrazyrazy CaptionCaption ContestContest

Winner This Month’s Photo LCPL MICHELLE BRUDNICKI, USMC BRUDNICKI, MICHELLE LCPL

“The recruit suddenly had a mental image

of his recruiter, Sgt Goodyear.” CPL ISAAC CANTRELL, USMC

Submitted by: Tom Mahoney Round Rock, Texas (Caption) ______Dream up your own Crazy Caption. Leatherneck will pay $25 or give a one-year MCA&F membership for the craziest one received. It’s easy. Name ______Think up a caption for the photo at the right and either mail or email Address ______it to us. Send your submission to Leatherneck Magazine, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134, or email it, referencing the number at the bottom City/State ______ZIP ______right, to [email protected]. The winning entry will be published in two months. 10-20 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 47 From the Leatherneck Archives: January 1965 HHotot LLZ:Z: VVietnamietnam

Story and photos by SSgt Steve Stibbens, USMC

Task Element Marines based at Da Nang find the surrounding countryside peaceful enough from the air. But the mountaintop landing zones sometimes become “live-fire training problems.”

An aerial view of “Happy Valley,” the nickname given to an area located a few miles west of Da Nang by Marines of the Da Nang Task element.

48 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck he two Army Hueys flew lazy patterns around the strung-out T Marine UH-34Ds as they headed into “Happy Valley.” Then they broke off to the right of the formation and swooped down low. There were a couple of orange flashes at the edge of the tree line ahead. Then came a dry, popping, crackle from the trees beneath the armed helicopters. “This’ll be a hot one,” said the voice on the headset. “We’re getting small arms from the LZ.” The voice paused a moment, then came back. “Sounded like some automatic stuff in there, but I’m not sure.” About the same time, the Huey in the back started spraying the tree line with its four mounted M-60s. Tracers went every which way as the co-pilot/gunner swung the guns right and left. The Marine helicopters, flying high and out of range of the small arms fire, made a pass over the landing zone as if they were going on past. Then the lead helicopter banked right and down into the tiny, tree- surrounded clearing that was marked on maps as “LZ.” Whether transporting wounded personnel or offloading supplies, the daily routines Gunnery Sergeant “Dusty” Rhodes, of the aircrews assigned to the Task Element are often boring, at least until they enter the loadmaster, was the first man to leap a hot LZ. out. He was followed by a handful of Vietnamese soldiers who half fell out of the hovering craft. They frantically jerked off several boxes and straw crates and fanned out into the trees. The gunny waved the helicopter off and tossed a green smoke grenade into the center of the zone to indicate the wind direction for the next helicopter coming in. He glanced at his watch—less than 15 seconds ground time for the first chopper. Just as the second helicopter began to settle, Rhodes cringed. “Mortars!” For a split second it sounded like mortars. Then the gunny realized the UH1B Hueys were pounding the tree line with rockets. Rhodes was breathing pretty hard by the time he scrambled aboard the last helicopter out of the LZ. But once he got up to 3,000 feet, the cold wind whipping through the aircraft’s open hatches had a calming effect. In a quarter of an hour, the helicopters had landed at Da Nang, Vietnam. They eased down the perforated steel taxiway, refueled and parked as ground crewmen clustered around two of the ships to gaze at bullet holes. Rhodes followed the pilots into the ready room for what they called a “regrouping” before the next hop. The ready room was a dirty, screened- in, concrete “hootch” at one end of the The dry red sand of the area near Happy Valley is often kicked up by helicopters re­ parking ramp. The three slow-turning turning from missions. www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 49 overhead fans had more of an air-shifting Right: Col Hardy Hay, a tall, lean Texan, than air-cooling effect. On two walls hung commander of the Task Element at Da oil-stained flak vests and flight helmets. Nang. Grease-penciled plastic covered the map. Weary men in sweat-stained tan and Below: LtCol Oliver Curtis, commander camouflaged flying suits sat slumped on of the Marine medium helicopter squad­ the six rows of hard wooden benches with ron assigned to Da Nang in 1964. school desk armrests on one side. Some wore red or blue baseball caps. Some wore Marine utility caps. A few were hangar-talking with the usual hand gestures and sipping soft drinks, but mostly they just stared at the overhead. Lieutenant Colonel Oliver W. Curtis stepped up on the platform and wiped the drops of perspiration from his brow and nose. He studied his wet finger for a moment, then flung it down beside him, wiping his hand on his flight suit. He grinned from the corner of his mouth at the staring pilots. “Well, we got us a live one this morning, didn’t we?” he said. It seemed to be a signal for the pilots to relax. They shifted in their seats and grins broke out on the sweaty faces. The lieutenant colonel sounded more like a football coach at half-time than the skipper of the squadron. He critiqued the first lift of the morning into Happy Valley, passed the word that no one was hurt, only two ships hit and that was minor “skin” or fuselage damage. He asked for Right: 1stSgt Frank Stevens, sergeant comments on the morning’s mission and major of the Da Nang Task Element. then described the one coming up next— Below: A few of the weary were hangar­ back to Happy Valley. talking with the usual hand gestures Happy Valley isn’t marked as such on and sipping soft drinks, but mostly they maps, but the pilots and crewmen of the just stare at the overhead. (Photo by Marine helicopter squadron know it well. SSgt Steven Stibbens, USMC) It is the name they’ve lovingly given a piece of beautiful Vietnamese countryside a few miles west of Da Nang. There’s nothing special about the place except that there seems to be a bit more lead in the atmosphere there. For Marines in Vietnam, the ride to Happy Valley began a long way off, at New River, N.C., about a year before. The squadron was formed there and stopped briefly at MCAF Futema, Okinawa, en route to Happy Valley. The majority of the Marine task element came to Vietnam from Futema. They say you can be pretty sure you’re heading for Vietnam when the corpsman jabs you with two big needles of gamma globulin. It’s supposed to prevent hepatitis and just about everything else. Then there’s cholera booster, plague booster, yellow fever, typhus ... . When you check in at the passenger terminal there, everybody jumps when you say Vietnam or Da Nang. The PFC on duty won’t even repeat the words but lets you know that from here on, it’s referred

50 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck to as “Flight Five.” Even that is said in hushed tones. Finally, you’re strapped into your bucket seat with your feet propped against a huge generator. The big Hercules winds up its engines, duck-waddling from side to side as it taxis. The craft strains and pushes to get airborne, and the next thing you know you’re at 21,000 feet and the noise has decreased to a smooth roar. After a few hours inside the crowded, stifling hot cargo bay, you don’t seem to mind the nauseating odor of rotting, over- ripe sweet corn which comes from the crates of burlap bags destined to become sand-filled bunker tops around your Da Nang barracks. At Da Nang, you are greeted by the traditional catcalls from that superior set of veterans who got there first. Every other Marine tries to get you aside to give his version of “things-were-rough-before- you-got-here.” From then on, the excitement is over. You settle down to doing your job just as if you were at New River. Da Nang, which is some 375 miles north of Saigon and about 80 miles south of the 17th Parallel Cease-Fire Line, is called the hottest, coldest, wettest and driest section of the country. Weather throughout the I Corps Tactical Zone, where the Marines Above: Helicopter are stationed, is dominated by the pilots, crewmen and Northeast monsoon and its heavy rain corpsmen return to from the middle of October to February. the ready room after The season is just opposite that of the evacuating wounded Mekong Delta south of Saigon. Vietnamese. In the early morning hours before dawn, it’s cold enough to wear a field jacket. By Left: Waldron G. Karp, mid-morning, the sun has burned through a Navy dental the layer of ground fog and things get technician assigned to humid. The abundant red sand is soon the Marines, dried out and by midday begins to swirl gets his share of in the wake of flying helicopters. The medevac missions. uniform of the day is utility trousers and undershirts. Along about 3 p.m., heavy black clouds come in from either the South China Sea or the mountains towering behind Da Nang. Something tilts the heavenly bucket and it pours—sometimes for five minutes, sometimes all night. But the weather is only of passing concern and things seem to continue at the usual tropical snail’s pace. For the non- flying Marines of the task element, the day passes just as it would at Twentynine Palms. Mechanics keep busy wiping sand from rotor heads and transmission gears; the others seek the relative relief of a fan or one of the few palm trees. The Marine Task Element in Vietnam is a major subordinate command of the U.S. Military Assistance Command and is commanded by Colonel Hardy Hay, a tall, www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 51 Left: A Marine security guard patrols the perimeter of the old French Army camp where the Task Element lives.

lean Texan and aviator. The element itself includes a small headquarters, a medium helicopter squadron and a sub-unit of a Marine air base squadron. It shares the air base with U.S. Air Force units, an Army Special Forces activity, and their host, the Vietnamese Air Force. Task Element Marines have stated their mission is to “provide helicopter support to the Government of the Republic of Vietnam and to advise as to the proper employment and suitability of helicopters with regard to counterguerrilla operations.” They also are detailed to further develop and evaluate tactics and equipment to improve the effectiveness of their mission. The Marines occupy an old French Army barracks about 2 miles west of the airstrip and running alongside Highway 1, the only trafficable route from Saigon to the North Vietnam border. The camp consists of about 20 concrete adobe-like buildings and is surrounded by double apron and concertina barbed wire fences. Within a grenade-throw of two sides of the living quarters are two native villages nicknamed “Dogpatch” and “Capehart.” Most of the occupants there are employed at the air base and the others come and go about their business, paying little attention to the Marines. One building has attracted some unwanted attention, however. The task element’s post office, facing the south side of the camp, has a large red and gold sign with so many bullet holes that it looks like Swiss cheese. Sergeant Pedro Silva, Above: Sentries watch villagers’ every movement for signs that could indicate an a postal clerk, says a frustrated Viet Cong impending guerrilla attack. mailman takes pot shots at his sign. The campsite has been carved up by zig-zag trenches and bunkers lined with sandbags. Flak-vested Marine sentries from the security platoon sent down from Okinawa patrol the perimeter at all times. They watch every movement of the villagers across the fence for any scurrying about or closing of wooden shutters which could forewarn of a guerrilla attack on the base. Recreation at Da Nang comes in the form of handball, horseshoes and fiercely fought softball games. On most nights there’s a poker game at the staff NCOs’ “Broken Arrow” club. And then there are movies under the stars on nights when it doesn’t rain. Directly behind the outdoor theater and apparently in some sort of competition is the enlisted men’s club for sergeants and Above: GySgt “Dusty” Rhodes, in T-shirt at right, checks a map with Australian advisor below. They call it the Bamboo Hut. It’s a before a re-supply mission. concrete-decked, bamboo-walled, thatch-

52 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck Above: Vietnamese soldiers stand ready to ward off guerrilla snipers as helicopters land.

Above: Sandbagged bunkers and firing positions surround the helicopter parking ramp at Da Nang. roofed noise factory and comes complete accompany the hourly truck run to and plain horsing around, but an armed guard with cold stateside beer and one loud juke from town. Uniform is civilian clothes or doubles as lifeguard for the Marines. box. The usual girlie magazine pinups tropical worsted uniform. The Marines have their R&R (rest and adorn the walls and two Vietnamese Da Nang, however, Vietnam’s second recreation) elsewhere. A special flight set beauties work there as waitresses. largest city, offers little more than a up by the Military Assistance Command Nights at Da Nang are hot and miserable, break in the monotonous routine back at in Saigon offers five-day trips to Tokyo, yet the Marines must sleep under thick the camp. There are a couple of decent Hong Kong, Bangkok or Okinawa. Most mosquito nets to avoid being eaten alive. restaurants, two hotels and a good 50 or Da Nang troops prefer to spend their five Most sit outside until they can’t stand the 60 bars. days rest in Okinawa. They usually have mosquitoes, then sweat it out under the A favorite recreation on weekends is friends stationed on the island, and besides net until they can no longer stand that. China Beach, otherwise known as the that, the barracks at Futema are free. Barring any civil unrest or security “Viet Cong R&R Center.” China Beach is There are other rewards for duty alerts, the Marines get “Cinderella” a long stretch of sandy white coastline just with the task element in Vietnam. All liberty in town on most nights and all day outside of town on the South China Sea. hands qualify for the Armed Forces on Saturday and Sunday. Armed guards The beach is good for swimming and just Expeditionary Medal, and most squadron www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 53 personnel leave the country with a handful of Air Medals, Distinguished Flying Crosses and combat aircrewman badges. Exciting? Hardly, say those stationed there. In fact, most agree that it is “hot and boring” to say the least except for the few precarious seconds in or over a “hot LZ.” For the pilots and crewmen almost every day goes about the same. It starts with a warm-water shave about the same time the sun starts peeking in from the South China Sea. After breakfast of eggs cooked to order, ham or bacon, the usual hashed potatoes, a variety of juices and hot mess hall coffee, there’s a bouncy 10-minute truck ride to the flight line across the field. Occasionally, there’s a dawn troop lift to start morning operations. Not the as- sault kind into the face of blazing guerrilla fire, but merely a shift of one Vietnamese unit from a staging area to a mountain clearing. Sometimes, however, the “clearing” isn’t really. Then GySgt Rhodes and his loadmaster partner, Staff Sergeant J.S. Coryer, may have to rappel from the heli- Above: Without helicopters for casualty evacuations, it might take days, and some- copter on a 120-foot line and blast out a times weeks, to carry the wounded out of the mountains. spot big enough for the helicopters to land.

Above: Marine helicopter crewmen strive for a 15-second ground time to unload supplies, get wounded Vietnamese aboard, and clear out of the hazardous mountain landing zones.

54 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck If they’re lucky, there are no guerrillas. The physical geography of the area divides it into three sections: plains, foothills and mountains. A flat, sandy coastal plain rolls about five miles inland and from then on it is uphill. The Western two-thirds of the Corps zone consists of mountains with peaks rising up to 5,400 feet. The task element, originally located at Soc Trang in the Mekong Delta, has been operating from Da Nang since September 1962. The unit was moved north to re- place the Army’s now-obsolete H21 “flying banana” helicopters which proved unsuitable for mountain operations. The move north also took the Marines out of the action, so to speak. The Viet- Above: This stretcher-borne soldier, painfully wounded by a guerrilla “panja” spike, namese Army’s I Corps Tactical Zone, was flown to the Vietnamese Army hospital back at Da Nang. for which the Marines are providing their lift, has a less active area. Two years ago, the Viet Cong attempted to move into the theoretical Phase III of guerrilla warfare by attacking in battalion strength at several government outposts in I Corps. They suffered severe defeats and were forced to abandon the idea. Today, they’re content with farming in the remote mountains and maintaining infiltration route way stations along the so-called “Ho Chi Minh Trail.” The Marines these days are flying through the heavily forested mountains of the Central Vietnam Highlands to deliver pigs, ducks, cabbage and rice to Vietnamese troops atop isolated mountain outposts. Heavier supplies are air dropped to the posts by C-123’s flown by U.S. Air Force. Flying escort for the Marines into hot zones is a platoon of Army UH1B armed helicopters. The “Hueys,” as they are called, are armed with four electrically fired 7.62 mm machine guns mounted on each side of the craft. The copilot operates the flexible guns by an optical gunsight. The Huey also carries 16 2.75-inch rockets in tubes mounted on each side. Marines at Da Nang look at their as- signment as “good serious training under combat conditions.” They learn little tricks of the trade as they go along. Like sitting on an extra flak jacket to prevent unwanted body air conditioning; carrying pocket flares no bigger than a pencil in case they’re forced down; designing a better machine gun mount in the hatches, and making sure Vietnamese troopers unload their weapons while riding in the helicopters. And they learn never to take the same route into and out of a landing zone. “It’s like a big training exercise,” said one crew chief. “[On-the-job-training] for the real thing—until the shooting starts.” Above: GySgt “Dusty” Rhodes, loadmaster, supervises loading of cargo bound for Vietnamese outposts. www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 55 CCorpsorps ConnectionsConnections Compiled by Katie Sinclair

with a dedication ceremony on March Twentynine Palms, Calif. 18. A survivor of the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, Barber and his fellow Marines of “George” Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines landed at Inchon in September 1950 and were instrumental in the liberation of Seoul. After learning that two of his fellow Chosin Reservoir veterans were buried in Twentynine Palms Public Cemetery with grave markers that did not recognize their service at the “Frozen Chosin,” Barber began the process of having new plaques installed at their gravesites with support of the 7th Marine Regiment, which also provided a color guard to participate in the ceremony. SSGT BENJAMIN OLSON, USMC Barber, who is from Detroit but At Local Cemetery, Chosin Veteran Leads Effort spends his summers in Twentynine Palms, is an active member of To Accurately Honor Brothers-in-Arms Marine Corps League Dearborn, Mich., Detachment #152, and, at Retired Marine Captain Harold “Hal” Barber, a decorated veteran of the age of 90, organizes volunteer teams at the Twentynine Palms the Korean and Vietnam wars who received a battlefi eld commission Public Cemetery to clean up weeds and debris. in Vietnam, led the charge on a restoration project at the Twentynine Submitted by Chuck Bernard Palms Public Cemetery in Twentynine Palms, Calif., which concluded

York, Pa.

COURTESYOF LAURA J. WRINKLE ALTMAN COURTESYOF LAURA J. WRINKLE ALTMAN Bridge Dedicated in Memory of Fallen Marine, Multi-Purpose Canine A bridge in York, Pa., has been renamed the Sergeant Christopher “Sergeant Wrinkle refused to leave a trusted companion behind, M. Wrinkle and Tosca Memorial Bridge. A formal ceremony held displaying a level of loyalty, courage and dedication that is hard on Oct. 3, 2019, included remarks by Pennsylvania state Senator for most of us to even imagine,” Phillips-Hill said. “This is a fi tting Kristin Phillips-Hill, honoring the local fallen Marine. Phillips-Hill tribute to a local hero who is the embodiment of loyalty, service sponsored the state legislation that named the bridge in memory and sacrifi ce.” of Wrinkle and his multi-purpose canine, Tosca. Also in attendance was 10-month-old golden retriever Wrinkle, While serving in Afghanistan as a multi-purpose canine handler a service dog in training who also was named after the hometown with 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion in July 2011, Wrinkle hero. was killed during a barracks fi re while attempting to rescue Tosca, Leatherneck who also perished.

56 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck Urbana, Ill. four pins. This package was mailed to the 98-year-old Marine veteran, who proudly wears Iwo Jima Veteran Receives Surprise from the cover with a pin on it and the T-shirt. American Legion Post Named for Flag Raiser In a letter enclosed with the gifts, McDaniel James “Jim” Kelly, an Iwo Jima veteran who explained that they were being given to Kelly served with the 5th Service Battalion, 28th Marine “in honor of yourself, our comrade, and your Regiment, 5th Marine Division, recently received dedicated sacrifi ce of military service to the best a surprise in the mail at his home in Urbana, Ill., nation in the world. Your sacrifi ce to service gave from Tony McDaniel, adjutant of the Ira H. Hayes veterans like me the opportunity to serve my American Legion Post #84 in Sacaton, Ariz., and nation as the democratic free country that it is.” Gene Atteberry, a former high school classmate The post is named in honor of Ira Hayes, of Kelly’s son, James Jr. a member of the Pima tribe who was from Atteberry attended a fl ag-raising ceremony Bapchule, Ariz., within the Gila River Indian

for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima community, and who earned a place in Marine COURTESYELLIOTT OF RAY in Sacaton on Feb. 24 and received a Legion Post Corps history as one of the fl ag raisers in Joe challenge coin from a member of the post, which is located on the Rosenthal’s iconic photo on Iwo Jima in February 1945. The leaders Gila River Indian community. He wanted to honor Kelly by giving of the Ira H. Hayes Post have invited Kelly to travel to Arizona and the coin to him and, with the support of the post’s commander, serve as the guest speaker at their ceremony marking the 76th Bill Dixon, who is a member of the Pima tribe, put together a larger anniversary of the Iwo Jima fl ag-raising in 2021. package of two post hats, two T-shirts, four challenge coins, and Submitted by Ray Elliott

Cottonwood, Ariz. Quantico, Va. COURTESY OF COL TIM USMC MUNDY, (RET) Despite Pandemic, MCAF Continues to Recognize Excellence On June 1, Colonel Tom Gordon, Director, Command and Staff College (CSC), DAVID MURPHY DAVID left, and Col Tim Mundy, USMC (Ret), Director of Operations for the Marine Corps Flag Replacement Ceremony Unites Association Foundation (MCAF), right, presented CSC student Major Hannah MCL Detachment, Local American Legion Post Paxton with a fi rst place plaque and a $1,000 check for her winning paper in Members of the Marine Corps League Verde the Colonel Bevan G. Cass writing contest. This writing award is presented Valley Detachment #1176 color guard supported annually at CSC in honor of Cass, who served as the executive director of the the American Legion Post 25 by holding a ceremony Marine Corps Association from 1971-1978. The Cass Award is presented to two on Memorial Day, May 25, in Cottonwood, Ariz., CSC students for papers on a topic concerning the profession of arms bearing during which the post’s old American flag was directly on the Corps. Writing awards like this are one of MCAF’s numerous replaced. From the left, James Vogler, Keith programs for recognizing professional excellence and are given at all Marine Vogler, detachment commandant Mike Noble, and Corps schools and to Marines attending joint and sister service schools, as well Marvin Redeye honored the fallen by retiring the as to junior Marines in unit writing contests across the Corps. MCAF presents old fl ag and raising a new one. It’s a gesture the more than 8,000 awards annually, primarily to enlisted Marines. Presenting this detachment’s Marines say they plan to offer the award served as a reminder that the Marine Corps never ceases to recognize post again in the future. greatness, even during a time of national pandemic concern. Submitted by Keith Vogler MCAF

“Corps Connections” highlights the places and events through which active-duty and veteran Marines connect with one another, honor the traditions of the Corps and recognize the achieve ments of their fellow leathernecks. We welcome submissions of photos from events like the ones featured here. Send them to: Sara W. Bock, Leatherneck Magazine, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134, or email them to [email protected]. Submission does not guarantee publication, and we cannot guarantee the return of photos. www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 57 LLeatherneckeatherneck LLaffsaffs

“Someone watches too much TV news.”

“This is why we don’t text while driving.”

58 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck “When the gunny sees his shadow, it means another two hours of PT.”

“Make sure your positions are socially distant from each other.”

“I never heard of a high-rise foxhole!”

www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 59 Assigned to VMF-124, Ken Walsh (inset) borrowed a Corsair (below) from another squadron on Aug. 30, 1943, to complete a bombing mission over Bougainville when his aircraft had engine problems en route to the target. USMC USMC MMedaledal ooff HHonoronor iinn a BBorrowedorrowed AAirplaneirplane

By MSgt Jeff Dacus, USMCR (Ret)

n the morning of Aug. 30, 1943, Walking purposefully over to the group Early Years in the Corps Major James Neefus, command­ of pilots, they noted he had the look of a Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Walsh grew O ing officer of Marine Fighting hunter—wiry with piercing blue eyes. up in Harrison, N.J., and enjoyed watching Squadron 215, was standing near the coral Neefus recognized the steely­eyed Marine the airplanes taking off and landing at runway at Munda on New Georgia Island. quickly as they were old friends. He was nearby Newark airport. He lied about his He was talking to his four pilots who were Ken Walsh, a former enlisted pilot as­ age to join the Marine Corps in 1933. An assigned the morning alert, their faded signed to VMF-124, and he quickly ex- aficionado of classical music, he started blue F4U Corsair fighters sitting alongside plained his problem to the other Marines. his career as an aircraft mechanic and the end of the runway in preparation for The Corsair he had been flying had super- eventually went through flight school in a quick takeoff. They were ready to defend charger problems, and he wanted to bor­ 1936. He became a naval aviator with the the airfield from a Japanese attack or take row one of the alert fighters to rejoin his rank of private first class and was pro- off for other missions, such as covering squadron mates en route to escort a bomb­ moted to corporal after earning his wings. air-sea rescue attempts. As the five Ma- ing mission to Kahili on Bougainville. Walsh went through landing signal officer rines conversed, the sound of a Pratt and Neefus agreed with alacrity, putting him training as a warrant officer before he was Whitney engine announced the arrival of in his jeep and driving Walsh to the four finally assigned to a fighter squadron. He a Corsair preparing to land. The bent-wing Corsairs on alert. Neefus waved his arms served aboard carriers and various other aircraft came in low over the battered trees and said, “Take your pick!” Eagerly, Walsh commands before the war began. After bordering the recently captured runway, jumped into a Corsair, Bureau Number Pearl Harbor, Walsh joined VMF-124 at with flaps and wheels down, and touched 02486, started it up, and took off through Camp Kearney, Calif., in September of down near the pilots. The unknown avi­ a cloud of coral dust, disappearing quickly 1942. ator brought the big bird to a halt very to the north. He had been on the ground The squadron received its first Corsairs quickly, shut it down and hopped out, for just a few minutes. in October, and Walsh had his first flight looking for someone in charge. in the big fighter on Oct. 31, 1942. There

60 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck USMC VMF­124 pilots display their squadron’s scores on Guadalcanal. Ken Walsh is seated in the center. were few Corsairs, and Walsh recalled, The first aerial fight for VMF-124 was Zero series of fighters—one of which “We deployed with 29 pilots with an aver­ a disappointment, fighting in the so-called collided with Lieutenant Gordon Lyons, age of 20 hours flight time in the F4U-1.” “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre” on Feb. 14, resulting in one of the two Corsairs lost. He lamented the lack of training. “Our 1943, during which they escorted Army Walsh was not in on the disastrous experience … in the essentials of combat B-24 bombers on a raid to Kahili. Inter- mission on Feb. 14. He downed his first flying consisted of one altitude hop, one cepted over the ocean short of their target, enemy planes on April 1, 1943, two Zeke gunnery run on a slow target, and one the formation lost four Army P-38s, two fighters and a Val dive bomber during a night hop.” Walsh himself would have a Army P-39s, and two of the bombers to massive Japanese attack on Guadalcanal. total of 1,600 hours of flight time and 50 swarms of attacking Japanese fighters. After returning from R&R in Australia, he hours on the Corsair when the squadron The Marines claimed three Zekes—the mixed it up with Japanese fighters on May left the States. Allied code name for the famous A6M 13, claiming three Zekes destroyed and Arriving on Guadalcanal on Feb. another damaged. He was the first 12, 1943, they became the first oper- Corsair pilot to down five enemy ational Corsair squadron. Walsh planes, becoming an ace. recalled, “On the morning of Feb. Walsh became one of the best 12, before we were half ready, we hunters among the Marines in the were sent up to Guadalcanal. When Solomons. During the month of we landed, we were rushed into the August 1943, he tore into the Japa- fighter command dugout and nese naval air units. On Aug. 12, he showed a map of the Solomons. The claimed two Zekes and executed a intelligence officer pointed out probable kill of another. He cour- positions of our coastwatchers and ageously led his Division in thwart- other essential information. Before ing 20 Japanese attacking Allied lunch, 12 of our pilots went out on shipping during the Vella LaVella a dumbo mission (escorting a PBY landings on Aug. 15, downing two rescue plane) up to Vella Lavella, Vals, Japanese dive-bombers, and getting in about nine hours that day.” a Zeke. A single Zeke fell to his guns

There was no combat involved in COURTESY OF NATIONAL ARCHIVES on Aug. 21, and two more Zekes their first mission or their second 1stLt Ken Walsh hooks up his communi­ were credited to him on Aug. 23, as mission the next day on an escort to cations cord before flying a mission in well as a probable kill that same day. He Bougainville. the Solomons Campaign in 1943. also had his share of close calls, twice www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 61 he opened fi re on the last of the Zekes. Flames fl ew from the target, and it dis in- tegrated. Con tinuing to call out warn ings, he lined up an unsuspecting Zeke to the left, and the Japanese aircraft fell away to the sea, pour ing smoke in its death dive. Several other Japanese realized the threat and broke off their attack on the bombers to contend with the lone Corsair. Others frantically scattered to avoid his F4U, clash ing with the rest of the escorting Ma rine fi ghters who had turned into the attack. Unable to stop the bombers, Japanese fi ghters turned on the escorting fi ghters. Vicious bursts of fl ak and streams of tracers fi lled the air. Walsh found himself busy dodging Japanese who attacked him from all points of the compass, as well as from above and below. Walsh used every maneuver he could and then fl ew in and out of the B-24s. Briefl y, he thought he had a good shot at a Zeke but was forced to USMC break off by several others attacking him. A Corsair of VMF-124 at Munda in the summer of 1943. Marine aviators referred to the Joining up with several other Corsairs, aircraft as the “U-Bird,” and the “Bent-Wing Bird.” The enemy had another name for he caught a glimpse of Kahili Field far the Corsair—they called it “Whistling Death.” below and noted it was a buzz of activity with Zekes taking off and landing. Answer ing a call for help, the small fl ight of Corsairs found several B-24s over Gizo Island in trouble. Eight or nine of the bomb- ers, with several F4Us, P-40s and P-39s, were fi ghting off at least a dozen Zekes. Diving into a group of six Zekes, Walsh broke up their attack on the B-24s, spray- ing .50-caliber rounds throughout the group of dark green enemy planes. Momen- tarily, he was able to lock on to one of the twisting, turning enemy planes and set it on fi re. Turning to help a P-39 under at- tack, he fi red at a single target and forced it to break off, as it erupted in fl ames. Low over the water, Walsh found himself under attack from four Japanese. Pushing himself to the top of the waves, Walsh felt strikes on his plane, and white smoke poured from the cowling, and his speed decreased. The four enemy pilots closed in for the kill. Suddenly, a pair of P-40s and several Corsairs appeared as if by magic and fi red at the pursuing Japanese, saving Walsh. The disappointed Zeke pilots turned and USMC fl ed toward Kahili. “Had it not been for the Walsh shakes hands with President Franklin D. Roosevelt while ADM Ernest King, cooperation of the P-40s, I wouldn’t have LtGen Alexander A. Vandegrift, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Ralph Bard, and Mrs. got out at all, but with their protection, I Walsh, look on. got down to Vella Lavella before I fi nally avoiding death when forced to crash land he joined a group of fi ghters behind and had to go in,” said Walsh. His aircraft was and once when he actually crashed into above the bombers. Sliding in on the wing in bad shape. “My oil pressure dropped to the ocean. His next action would be on of one of the fi ghters, he was startled to 40 pounds and fuel pressure could only be Aug. 30, after landing to borrow a Corsair discover the planes were Zekes. There maintained by use of the wobble pump.” from Jim Neefus at Munda. were at least 50 of them, and they were Having been shot down and forced to ditch Delayed because of the change of air- diving to attack the bombers. Frantically, previously, Walsh didn’t relish another planes, Walsh didn’t catch up to the Allied Walsh called out a warning to the Corsairs dunking. “I got shot up pretty badly … I formation until they reached Shortland of VMF-123 and VMF-124 that were es- disliked very much going into the water Island. Approaching the B-24s from astern, cort ing the bombers at the same time as again and wanted to bail out, but I didn’t

62 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck have any choice since I was diving from disconcerting position when, en route to the Zeros trying to get away.” Guadalcanal, he watched as several Japa- Exhausted after his long, extended fi ght, nese dive-bombers attacked a destroyer Walsh nursed the battered Corsair along, escorting the LST. Fortunately, the LST but it no longer responded to his control. was not attacked, and there was no damage “I was trying to get all the speed I could to the destroyer. and thought I could make Munda, but by Six months later, Kenneth Walsh was the time I reached Baraikoma Point, Vella presented the Medal of Honor by President Lavella, I had only about 200 feet and Franklin Roosevelt for breaking up the didn’t have much choice in the matter, so Japanese attacks on the B-24s. He returned went in for a water landing.” He skillfully to combat in 1945 with VMF-122 during put the Corsair into the water. “I was the Philippine Campaign. He served with amazed; I hit the water prepared for VMF-222 at Okinawa and would add to another sinking and was holding my his personal score by downing a Zeke, breath, looked up—found I was fl oating giving him 21 victories in World War II. like a cork. I didn’t lose any time, however; After World War II, Walsh would serve I jumped out so hastily that I forgot my in various stateside billets until the Korean boat and everything else and started swim- War. He fl ew again during the Korean War, ming.” Seabees involved in the construc- piloting four-engine C-54s with VMR-152.

tion of the nearby airfi eld at Barakoma USMC He retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1962 saw the crash landing and immediately LtCol Kenneth Walsh retired on Feb. 1, and died on July 30, 1998. He is buried sent a boat out for the tired fl yer, bringing 1962, after a career that included also in Arlington National Cemetery. him back wet but uninjured after less than service in the Korean War. 30 minutes in the water. A long day for Author’s bio: MSgt Jeff Dacus, USMCR Kenneth Walsh and his borrowed fi ghter spent the night in his dugout. Dr. J.H. (Ret) is a retired Marine tanker and public was over. Morten and Dr. D.A. Anderson provided school teacher. He is the recipient of the Walsh stayed only a day at Vella Lavella, me with dry clothes and couldn’t do Marine Corps Heritage Foundation 2020 meeting Army Lieutenant Roy Fowler, enough for me. Since they didn’t have any General Roy S. Geiger award. He is the the P-39 pilot who he had saved earlier in bones to set, they took it out on me by author of the new book, “The Fighting the day. His time at Barakoma proved giv ing me lots of brandy.” Walsh returned Corsairs: The Men of Marine Fighting relaxing. “I received a warm welcome by to Guadalcanal the next day onboard LST- Squadron 215.” He lives in Vancouver, Commander E.R. Wilkinson, USN, and 398. He found himself in an unusual and Wash.

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www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 63 PPassingassing tthehe WWordord Compiled by Sara W. Bock

FOCUS Project Provides variety of reasons such as a desire to im- Resilience Training for Families prove communication, preparing for an In addition to the myriad stressors cur- upcoming deployment or reintegration, rently affecting people across the globe, learning how to problem solve as a family military servicemembers and their families unit, or how to better cope with stress, to also face unique challenges. That’s why name just a few examples of what might resources and support from the Families bring a family to FOCUS. The great thing Overcoming Under Stress (FOCUS) Proj- about FOCUS is that nothing has to be ect are available to them at military in- wrong in order to benefi t from participating stallations, free of charge. in the program. It can be implemented as “Military life comes with a very unique a preventative service!” set of challenges,” said LaNell Mayberry, FOCUS is a family resilience training a FOCUS Family Resilience Trainer at program that teaches skills to help identify Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, and utilize a family’s strengths, while Calif. “Military families also have a strong learning new skills that help families over- set of skills already in place, including come specifi c challenges. The program resourcefulness and resilience. Resilience provides six to eight individual sessions At Quantico, MCCS Develops App training helps families to build on their where couples or families can work to- To Aid Quarantined Marines existing strengths. This program provides ward their goals. According to Mayberry, In the midst of a global pandemic, a skill-building service that is evidence- it’s fun, interactive and personalized, with Marines and civilian employees with based and family-centered for military family friendly hours and fl exible ap- Marine Corps Community Services families and couples.” pointment times. (MCCS), Marine Corps Base Quantico, FOCUS training provides opportunities The program also offers education to Va., stepped up to ensure the safety of the for families to learn key resilience skills, community providers and partners, skill base’s residents. including communication, problem solv- building groups, and educational work- In March, when the United States de- ing, goal setting, emotional regulation shops. FOCUS was adapted for military clared a national emergency due to the and coping with stress and deployment. families by a team from the University of COVID-19 pandemic, the base instituted “These skills can be applied to help California Los Angeles and Harvard quarantine protocols for people checking families and couples address current Medi cal School. in and beginning training. In the early challenges as well as help to prepare them For more information about the FOCUS stages, it was a challenge getting supplies for future transitions,” said Mayberry. Project, visit www.focusproject.org. like hygiene products, clothing and food “Families seek FOCUS services for a Laurie Pearson to quarantined individuals. A team of Marines and civilians at MCCS adapted to the situation and found a way to get supplies more quickly and effi ciently to the people in need, while continuing to adhere to necessary safety measures. Through the development of a mobile app, quarantined personnel on MCB Quantico can now request supplies using their phones and other electronic devices. The MCCS team also changed the delivery process, reducing the risk of exposure during the 14-day quarantine. “When I run out of something that I cannot ask [the] duty for, the app makes it easier. It keeps me sane,” explained Lance Corporal Jacob Dwayne Davis, who was subjected to a 14-day quarantine when he checked in. Ordering through the app is very similar to ordering through other popular apps. Individuals create an account and then can search for items like hygiene supplies, cleaning supplies, uniform items, food and

LAURIE PEARSON drinks to purchase. Once their order is in LaNell Mayberry, a FOCUS Family Resilience Trainer at MCLB Barstow, Calif., showcases the system, the MCCS Vending Section information and tools to help military families navigate stressful situations. The moves into action, gathering and bagging program was developed by a team from UCLA and Harvard Medical School and is the supplies, loading them onto trucks and available free of charge at Marine Corps bases and stations worldwide. heading out for delivery. 64 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck A new mobile app developed by MCCS allows quarantined Marines at MCB Quantico, Va., to order essential items with contactless delivery. The requested items are gathered by MCCS employees and delivered by the MCCS Vending Section. (Photos by LCpl Addysyn H. Tobar, USMC) Before developing the app and stream­ fallen heroes to serve, as well as personal we explore how to struggle well through lining the process, considerable time was trials guests have overcome. With all life’s inevitable challenges.” spent compiling lists of supplies and or­ guests, Manion’s goal will be to focus The Travis Manion Foundation unites ganizing the deliveries. According to on sharing lessons that listeners can use communities to strengthen America’s Master Sergeant Donald Tubbs Jr., the to face adversity more effectively while national character by empowering vet­ MCCS Retail and Services Chief, it was turning challenges into opportunities for erans and families of fallen heroes to clear that something had to change. “We growth. develop and lead future generations. realized we needed to change our plan The podcast, which will host an array of The Resilient Life podcast is available and to adjust fire as needed in order to guests, launched its inaugural episode on on all major podcast streaming platforms, overcome challenges like safety and Aug. 4, featuring Alex Gorsky, Chairman including Apple Music, Spotify and Radio efficiency,” he said. of the Board and CEO of Johnson & .com, as well as through a video version Through use of the app and an improved Johnson. on YouTube. Listeners can subscribe to contactless delivery process, the MCCS “In the years since the loss of my the podcast at http://www.ryanmanion team continues to do its part to ensure brother Travis, I’ve learned that my life .com/podcasts or subscribe to watch on the missions and day­to­day operations need not be defined by a tragic event, but it YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/ of the many commands and organizations can be inspired by it,” said Ryan Manion. TravismanionOrg. aboard MCB Quantico continue safely. “My hope is that listeners will join us on Travis Manion Foundation LCpl Addysyn Tobar, USMC this journey with some amazing guests as

Gold Star Sister’s Podcast Focuses on Stories to Inspire A new podcast hosted Everyone must face adversity at some by Ryan Manion, the point during life. In a new podcast, “The sister of fallen Marine Resilient Life,” leaders from various 1stLt Travis Manion, walks of life discuss how personal and features personal professional struggles have shaped who stories of trials and they are as people and how they learned adversity. It’s Manion’s to respond in the face of trials moving hope that these stories forward. The program is hosted by Ryan will help listeners Manion, President of the Travis Manion learn to navigate the Foundation, co­author of the book “The unexpected challenges Knock at the Door,” and daughter of a of life. retired Marine. Resilience is all about “struggling well,” according to Manion, whose brother, Marine First Lieutenant Travis Manion, was killed in Iraq in 2007. Conversations on the podcast will focus on how that principle relates to current events, the Travis Manion Foundation’s mission of

empowering veterans and families of COURTESY OF TRAVIS MANION FOUNDATION www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 65 In Memoriam Compiled by Nancy S. Lichtman

DPAA Identifi es Tarawa Marine In 2009, History Flight, Inc., a nonprofi t organization, located a site on Betio where numerous casualties had been The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) buried following the battle. The remains recovered at the site announced the positive identifi cation of a Marine who was were transferred to the DPAA laboratory at Joint Base Pearl killed during the Battle of Tarawa. Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Private First Class John E. Gillen, 20, of Champaign, PFC Gillen’s remains were identifi ed using dental and Ill., was assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 6th Marine anthropological analysis as well as circumstantial and material Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, when he landed on the island evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces of Betio in the Tarawa Atoll of the Gilbert Islands. Gillen died Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA and on the third day of the battle, Nov. 22, 1943. PFC Gillen’s autosomal DNA analysis. remains were declared “non-recoverable” in 1949. DPAA

Capt James F. Boesen Sr., 87, of Rodney Brewer, 73, of Orange County, night evading the enemy and was rescued Des Moines, Iowa. He completed OCS Calif. He enlisted in 1966 and served the next day. at Quantico in 1954 and served until in Vietnam. His awards include two Roland J. DeBaker, 94, of Green Bay, 1958. Later he and his family went into Purple Hearts. He later had a career as Wis. After his WW II Marine Corps business together, operating a successful an electrical contractor. service, he had a career in the paper fl orist shop. James T. Connacher, 80, of Corona, industry. He was a member of the VFW. Robert L. “Red” Boulanger, 79, of Calif. He enlisted after his high school Louis S. “Lou” Elam, 88, of Portland, Luxemburg, Wis. Enlisting at age 17, he graduation and served as an aviation Ore. He enlisted in 1950 and served in served from 1958-1961. He later had a mechanic and helicopter crew chief. the Korean War, where he drove a truck career as a fi refi ghter in Green Bay. He During one of his four tours in Vietnam, delivering ammunition to Marines on the was a member of the American Legion. his aircraft was shot down. He spent one front lines.

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66 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck Robert J. Flanagan, 79, of Delaware, retirement, he had a career as a logistician served from 1958-1962. His Marine Corps Ohio. He served in the Marine Corps at MCAS Cherry Point, N.C. experience included two Med cruises. Reserve and later had a 30-year career Sgt Michael D. Hodges, 37, in He was an active member of the MCL, as a creative writing professor at Ohio Naples, Fla. He served for eight years serving as his detachment’s chaplain for Wesleyan University. He wrote numerous and completed two tours in Afghanistan a year. short stories and was the author of the with 1/6. He was assigned to OCS at MCB SgtMaj Paul Stephenson, 94, of book “Maggot,” a novel about boot camp. Quantico as a night navigation instructor. Carlsbad, Calif. During his 32 years in Robert M. “Bob” Hale, 96, of MSgt Thomas E. McBride, 79, of the Marine Corps, he fought in three wars. Hillsboro, Ore. He enlisted in the Marine Farmville, Va. He served from 1959- After he enlisted in 1942, he saw action Corps in 1941 and completed radio school 1983. He was a helicopter mechanic on Guadalcanal and was wounded during one day before the Japanese attacked Pearl and maintenance chief. He completed the Korean War. He served two tours in Harbor. During WW II he served in the two tours in Vietnam, surviving a Vietnam where he was wounded again. Pacifi c with 4thMarDiv and saw action helicopter crash during one tour. After He was a member of the MCA&F. on Roi Namur, Saipan, Tinian and Iwo his retirement, he had a second career Duane D. Trowbridge Sr., 88, of Jima. He received a Purple Heart after with UTC-Sikorsky in Stratford, Conn. Virginia Beach, Va. He was a veteran of he was wounded during the Battle of Iwo He was a member of Pop-a-Smoke, the the Korean War who saw action at the Jima. After the war, he went to college USMC Combat Helicopter and Tiltrotor Chosin Reservoir. His awards include two and earned an advanced degree in physics. Association, and the MCA&F. Purple Hearts. He later had a career in the aerospace Jerome “Jerry” Mincheski, 81, of defense industry where he worked on the Green Bay, Wis. He was a Marine who In Memoriam is run on a space-available development of stronger carbon fi bers. served from 1956-1958. basis. Those wishing to submit items Cpl David Hatch, 97, of Damariscotta, Sgt Maximillian “Max” Mogus, 88, should include full name, age, location at Maine. He enlisted in 1943 and saw action of Sparks, Nev. He served in the early time of death (city and state), last grade during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Later in 1950s and saw action in the Korean War. held, dates of service, units served in, life he was active as a mountain climber GySgt Kirthew J. Parrott Jr., of and, if possible a published obituary. and a cyclist. Kountze, Texas. He was a Marine bands- Allow at least four months for the SgtMaj Robert P. “Bob” Hector man who was a drum major for several notice to appear. Submissions may be Jr., 69, of Havelock, N.C. His 26 years regimental bands. He also completed a sent to Leatherneck Magazine, P.O. Box of service included one tour in Vietnam tour in Vietnam in 1966. He retired in 1775, Quantico, Va., 22134, or emailed and numerous deployments. His awards 1974 and opened up an auto parts store. to [email protected] or include the Navy Achievement Medal and Cpl John A. “Jack” Rice, 82, of [email protected]. the Navy Commendation Medal. After his Knoxville, Tenn. He was a Marine who

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www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 67 COURTESY OF HARLAN ROSVOLD Harlan Rosvold ran across his platoon photo from San Diego in 1943 which prompted many memories of his Marine Corps years.

SOUND OFF different methods of preparing your cot, seriously damaged two other LSTs. Two [continued from page 9] but we were taught two ways, either make hundred lives were lost. up the bunk or make down the bunk. A sight never to be forgotten was when honor SgtMaj Daniels and say thank you When making up the bunk, the mattress the fi rst B-29s fl ew into Saipan. So much for always taking care of us, your Marines. was folded in thirds. The Marine issue larger than any planes we had ever seen. Jonathan L. Trask was easily folded in this manner. The It was amazing to see literally hundreds Bonne Terre, Mo. sheets and blankets were placed in one of those monsters take to the air from of the folds with your stenciled name Saipan and Tinian heading for their daily My Marine Corps Years properly displayed on the blanket. And, bombing runs to Japan. Then, later in the On occasion, I break out a folder from of course, when the bunk was made down, day, the bombers returned, some with an the fi le cabinet labeled, “My Marine Corps the blanket was tucked in tight enough engine or two conked out. Years.” The other day while going through so a quarter tossed on it bounded high An unforgettable remembrance was the papers, I ran into the boot camp picture enough to satisfy the DI. the landing on Iwo Jima and the sight of my old platoon, Plt 905. Just looking at I don’t have a clue why our platoon was of the fl ag following the raising of it on the photo brought back lots of memories, designated as Honor Platoon. I don’t think Mount Suribachi. It seemed every piece of not only of the recruit depot at San Diego, we performed at a higher level than others, munitions in the Navy and Marine arsenal but also memorable events that occurred but nevertheless, it had its advantages. fi red their weapons to celebrate the event. while in the Corps. While at the rifl e range at Camp Mathews, Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945, was a day The parade grounds at that time were we were assigned to barracks rather long to be remembered. We were aboard our campsite and tents covered much of than tents. We were served family style, ship heading for Maui after the Iwo Jima the area. The heavily camoufl aged theater complete with waiters, rather than having campaign and we crossed the international stood prominently on one end. How well to stand in the mess line. date line. The Navy fed us a big Easter I remember the night when our drill As I paged through the fi les, I came dinner and the next day they did it all instructor (DI) decided his troops needed across some other memorable events. On over again. some additional conditioning so he had May 19, 1944, we were aboard an LST in On VJ Day the battalion commander us all fall in around midnight, complete Pearl Harbor preparing to leave within didn’t think it would be a good idea to with sea bags, then had the platoon march the next day or two in a convoy heading permit his troops to ramble around the around the grounds. To add to the misery, for the Central Pacifi c. A few thousand island on Maui so an order was issued that he suggested if we would jog or run, we feet away, a crew was doing some repairs we would be confi ned to our quarters for would get to our tents sooner and get a on another LST. A spark from a welder a couple of days. longer night’s sleep. caused an explosion in the ammunition Harlan Rosvold I’m not certain if the Corps still has supply room and blew up the ship and Oak Park Heights, Minn.

68 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck We don’t have to have a Ball to celeBrate the Birthday! It’s the USMC’s 245th Birthday, and this year we’re all celebrating a little differently. The MARINE SHOP is here to help you do it right, no matter the size of your gathering.

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MCL Helped Establish Basic Training Graduation buildup for the near invasion of Cuba was The Young Marines Spectators hot because of Commander Castro and I would like to clarify a comment in I’ve been wondering when spectators, Nikita. The missiles left and the world the article, “Museum’s New Classroom parents, relatives and friends, began at- was at parade rest. Refl ects Spirit of the Young Marines,” tending basic training graduation cere- As a rookie naval corpsman, I did not [Corps Connection] submitted by Andy monies at MCRD Parris Island and San realize how close America and the com- Richardson in the August issue. Colonel Diego. When I graduated from boot camp rades came to war. William Davis, CEO of the Young Ma- at Parris Island in September 1953, Pla- John Sanchez rines is quoted in this article stating, “The toon 235, there were no spectators in Hanford, Calif. Marine Corps inspired the Young Marines attendance at the parade ground. However, program as it was founded more than 60 when I attended my son’s graduation from Editorial Irish Pennants years ago by Marine Corps veterans.” boot camp at Parris Island, in January John Stoya notifi ed Leatherneck that What was missing from this quote is 1983, Platoon 3007, bleachers had been PFC John Polaro’s name was misspelled in that the Young Marines were developed installed for spectators. the article, “Shoot Out at Hsin Ho China,” by a handful of hard-charging Marines Over the years, my wife and I have in the April issue. Stoya and Polaro had from the Marine Corps League, Brass attended a couple of the graduation cere- served together and were good friends. City Detachment of Connecticut, in 1959. monies and sat in the stands which were In 1965 the Young Marines were packed. When the band marched by and char tered at the National Marine Corps played “The Marines’ Hymn,” tears im- Feel like sounding off? Address your League’s National Convention, thus mediately came to my eyes. It was an letter to: Sound Off, Leatherneck Maga- making the Young Marines a national emotional experience for me. zine, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134, non-profi t youth program. The omission Sgt Lloyd Stimson or send an email to: leatherneck@mca- of providing any credit to the Marine USMC, 1953-1957 marines.org. Due to the heavy volume, Corps League for the development and Fort Washington, Md. we cannot answer every letter received. success of this great youth program was Do not send original photographs, as we disappointing. I am a proud Marine and Comrade, An Unlikeable Word cannot guarantee their return. All letters a proud member of the Marine Corps I do not like to see the word “comrade” must be signed, and emails must contain League and was an adult volunteer for in American magazines or networks. It complete names and postal mailing the Young Marines for 21-plus years. triggers a mental image of Joe Stalin, addresses. Anony mous letters will not Patrick McMahon Nikita Khrushchev, Putin and other be published.—Editor USMC, 1978-1982 enemies of democracies. I was at the old Norwich, Conn. U.S. Naval Hospital in 1962 when the www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 69 ReReaderader AAssistancessistance Edited by Sara W. Bock

Reunions • LtCol James D. Harrison, USAF (Ret), to hear from or Editor’s note: The following reunion information was current about LCpl Greg METZGER, a Marine artillery adjuster as of Sept. 1. Given that things are rapidly changing due to the with ANGLICO who flew in an Air Force OV-10 Bronco out spread of the COVID-19 virus, please continue to check with the of Da Nang, RVN, and was on board when the aircraft made an reunion points of contact for the most up-to-date information. emergency landing on the Tonkin Coast Beach near Hue Phu Bai, in 1971 or 1972. • Marine Corps Engineer Assn., Sept. 23-25, 2021, Fredericks- • Jose R. Godoy, (619) 587-3748, [email protected], to burg, Va. Contact Maj Charlie Dismore, USMC (Ret), (512) 394- hear from or about Walter MORALES, who attended South 9333, www.marcorengasn.org. Gate High School in California. • Marine Corps Cryptologic Assn., September 2021, Las Vegas, Nev. Contact Edgar Kitt, 2250 Heavenly View Dr., Wanted Henderson, NV 89014, (702) 454-1646, [email protected]. Readers should be cautious about sending money without • Marine Corps Disbursing Assn., May 16-20, 2021, Reno, confirming authenticity and availability of products offered. Nev. Contact MGySgt Kevin Gascon, USMC (Ret), (760) 458- • Charles Ross, 2525 E. 104th Ave. Unit 1911, Thornton, CO 2655, [email protected], www.usmcdisbursers.com. 80233, (307) 371-3579, [email protected], wants a • Marine Air Traffic Control Assn., Sept. 19-26, 2021, San recruit graduation book for Plt 1071, San Diego, 1992. Antonio, Texas. Contact Steve Harris, (509) 499-8137, sandkh2@ • Kenneth Knox, (772) 626-3032, 07jeromeharris@gmail gmail.com. .com, wants a recruit graduation book for Plt 2078, Parris • Khe Sanh Veterans, Oct. 25-Nov. 1, Albuquerque, N.M. Island, 1980. Contact Tom Eichler, (773) 625-2101, [email protected]. • Thom Parr, 800 S. Miller Ave., Ada, OK 74820, (903) 815- • 11th Marine Regiment, OIF (20th anniversary), March 8030, [email protected], wants a recruit graduation book 31-April 1, 2023, Camp Pendleton, Calif. Contact Casey Harsh, for Plt 2089, San Diego, 1973. [email protected]. Facebook group: The Cannon Cockers of OIF-1 (20-Year Reunion 2023 Group). Sales, Trades and Giveaways • 3rd Recon Bn Assn., Oct. 6-10, Tucson, Ariz. Contact Floyd • SgtMaj Jay Lott, USMC (Ret), [email protected], has the Nagler, (952) 440-1553, [email protected]. following recruit graduation books (listed in chronological • STA Plt, 2/8 (1989-1993) is planning a reunion. Contact order) to give away for the cost of shipping to anyone who can Mike Moriarty, [email protected]. verify they were a member of that platoon: • 1/27 (1968), July 2021, Las Vegas, Nev. Contact Felix Salmeron, (469) 583-0191, [email protected]. Parris Island • “Stormy’s” 3/3, 2020 reunion postponed until 2021, date Plt 1B, 1967 Plt 3061, 1979 TBD, Branson, Mo. Contact Burrell Landes, (303) 734-1458, Plt 10B, 1970 Plt 1025, 1981 [email protected], www.stormys33.com. Plt 251, 1973 Plt 3002, 1981 • H/2/7 (RVN, 1965-1970), June 24-27, 2021, Jacksonville, Fla. Plt 1A & 1B, 1976 Plt 4034-4035, 1988 Contact Steve Cone, (843) 424-8279, [email protected]. Plt 8A, 1978 Plt 4038-4039, 1988 • 41st OCC/TBS 3-67, Oct. 22, San Diego, Calif. Contact Plt 8B, 1978 Paul Disario, (559) 273-9549, [email protected]. • TBS, Co F, 6-70, Oct. 22-25, Quantico, Va. Contact Tom San Diego Kanasky, (202) 366-3156, [email protected], or Mitch Plt 239, 1961 Plt 2123, 1974 Youngs, (703) 493-9435, [email protected]. Plt 2208, 1966 Plt 2124, 1974 • TBS, Co C, 3-72, is planning a 50th-anniversary reunion. Plt 1032, 1968 Plt 3124, 1974 Contact Col Joe Mueller, USMCR (Ret), (818) 815-8331, Plt 2219, 1969 Plt 3101, 1974 [email protected]. Plt 3141, 1970 Plt 3103, 1974 • Plt 1187, San Diego, 1969, is planning a reunion. Contact Plt 3150, 1970 Plt 3073, 1974 T.E. Miller, (618) 520-9646, or Mark Elder, (314) 322-8516. Plt 1011, 1971 Plt 3075, 1974 • Plt 2057, San Diego, 1971, is planning a reunion. Contact Plt 1013, 1971 Plt 1035, 1975 K.L. Christeson, (816) 830-1498. Plt 1014, 1971 Plt 2055, 1975 • Plt 3028, San Diego, 1966, is planning a reunion. Contact Plt 1015, 1971 Plt 2005, 1977 MSgt Bob Rees, USMC (Ret), (619) 940-9218, bobrees86@ Plt 1018, 1971 Plt 2052, 1979 gmail.com. Plt 1029, 1971 Plt 2026, 1980 Plt 1041, 1971 Plt 2069, 1981 Mail Call Plt 1053, 1971 Plt 3003, 1982 • Jerry Horton, [email protected], to hear from Plt 2027, 1971 Plt 1077-1080, 1983 or about SSgt Paul E. EFFLER, who was injured during jungle Plt 2145, 1972 Plt 3089-3092, 1984 training at MCB Camp Pendleton, Calif., in 1968. Plt 1084, 1974 Plt 1017-1019, 1985 • Niels Slater, (910) 467-1798, [email protected], to hear Plt 1086, 1974 Plt 1105-1107, 1986 from or about William MOODY, who was the commander of Plt 1105, 1974 Plt 1001-1003, 1988 Weapons Plt, Co A, 1/3, 1982-1984. Plt 2081, 1974 Plt 1065-1067, 1991 • Ted Stone, (414) 764-2604, [email protected], to hear from Plt 2094, 1974 or about Raymond C. LORD from Chicago, who was stationed in Denver, Colo., 1968-1969.

70 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck OCTOBER 2020 / LEATHERNECK 71 SSavedaved RouRoundnd By Nancy S. Lichtman USN

A TANKER’S VALOR ON SAIPAN— gun’s muzzle blast. That’s when he Sergeant Grant Timmerman was a spotted a Japanese grenade hurtling small-town boy from Kansas when he toward the tank’s open turret. De- enlisted in the Marine Corps and set termined to protect his crew, Sgt sail for China aboard USS Henderson Timmerman unhesitatingly blocked in 1938. He was assigned to Motor the opening of the tank with his body, Transport Company, 4th Marines taking the brunt of the explosion. He in Woosung, China, where he was was killed instantly. a truck driver and a motorcycle dis- Timmerman posthumously re- patch rider. He enjoyed his overseas ceived the Medal of Honor on July 8, adventure so much that he extended 1945. At a private ceremony in their his tour of duty there. When his four- home on the one-year anniversary year enlistment ended in October of their son’s death, his parents were 1941, he returned to civil ian life, presented with their son’s Medal

working at a shipyard in California. USMC of Honor and a Bronze Star for his After the Japanese attack on Pearl actions earlier in the campaign. Harbor, Timmerman reenlisted. He was assigned to 2nd Timmerman’s sacrifi ce has been honored in several Tank Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division ways since his death. In 1946, Sgt Timmerman’s mother and was sent to the Pacifi c theater where he fought on christened USS Timmerman (DD-828); an elementary Betio during the Battle of Tarawa in 1943. school was named after him in 2003, in Emporia, Kan., He later was a tank commander when he landed on where Sgt Timmerman spent his school years; and Marine Saipan on D-day, June 15, 1944. During an advance on Corps Base Quantico has a road called Timmerman Street Japanese pillboxes and trenches on July 8, 1944, as in its base housing area. Timmerman was preparing to fi re a 75 mm gun, he stood Sgt Grant Timmerman is buried in the National in the open turret of the tank to warn the infantry Marines Cemetery of the Pacifi c, Honolulu, Hawaii. nearby to take cover and protect themselves from the

72 LEATHERNECK / OCTOBER 2020 www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck GET CONSTANT ACCESS TO YOUR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES. Prepare for your future; utilize these resources and more at the Marine Corps Association & Foundation.

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