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Leatherneck helps connect you with Corps history, those who served with you, and the Marines of today. Join today at www.mca-marines.org ONCE A MARINE, ALWAYS A MARINE 34 FEATURE ARTICLES 14 IN MEMORIAM 17 NAMED IN HONOR OF: JOHN BASILONE DETACHMENT 190 KAREN NEARY 29 AROUND THE LEAGUE 30 INTERVIEW: KIM GALSKE—MOTIVATED IN LIFE; LIFE MOTIVATOR MILES VINING 34 TRUTH IS STRANGER THAN FICTION BOB CONCORDIA 4 S|F SPRING 2021 ONCE A MARINE, ALWAYS A MARINE Vol. 77 No. 2 • SPRING 2021 ON THE COVER: From Sergeant to entrepreneur and pageant winner with a purpose, Marine and MCL member Kim Galske applied lessons learned in the military and focused on veterans’ issues while There’s No “I” in “Team” overcoming struggles along the way. How Kim Galske Lives up to the Mantra Photo: Roxanne Elise Photography Determined to Wed One Marine’s Crazy Antics See story on page 30. In Memoriam 6 SF Pays Tribute to League Members SemperFi_V77N2 A.indd 1 3/4/21 14:16 COLUMNS 6 NATIONAL COMMANDANT’S LETTER 49 MARINE CORPS LEAGUE EVENT CALENDAR DENNIS TOBIN 50 TAPS 8 HONOR GUARD THE SEMPER FI STORE JOHN CLICKENER 52 9 NATIONAL PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE VICTORIA McCOY FORMS & RAFFLES 10 NATIONAL CONVENTION 2021 INFO PAGE 11 NATIONAL CONVENTION REGISTRATION 18 CHIEF DEVIL DOG FORM THOMAS W. HAZLETT 12 NATIONAL CONVENTION ADVERTISING 20 MCLA NATIONAL PRESIDENT ORDER FORM EVELYN JOPPA 54 THE SEMPER FI STORE ORDER FORM 21 MCL FOUNDATION PRESIDENT 55 MILITARY HISTORICAL TOURS RAFFLE FORM HOWARD SCHAEFFER 57 MARINE CORPS LEAGUE APPLICATION FOR 21 YOUNG MARINES CEO BILL DAVIS MEMBERSHIP 22 NATIONAL SR. VICE COMMANDANT JOHNNY B. BAKER 22 NATIONAL JR. VICE COMMANDANT WARREN C. GRIFFIN 23 NATIONAL JUDGE ADVOCATE T.J. MORGAN 24 DIVISION REPORTS Founded in 1923 37 JUNIOR PAST NATIONAL COMMANDANT by Lieutenant WENDELL W. WEBB General John 38 ROLL CALL A. Lejeune (\’LUH-jern\ ), 47 BOOK REVIEW the Marine BOB BORKA Corps League is 48 NATIONAL UNIFORM COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN the only federally chartered ROBERT “BUTCH” RAYNES Marine Corps-related veterans organization 49 REUNIONS in the United States. S|F THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE 5 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ 5 1 1 3 3 5 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 4 4 4 4 ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ ⁄ 1 1 3 3 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 13 10 ⁄8 10 ⁄8 13 3 10 ⁄16 10 ⁄16 3 10 ⁄4 10 ⁄4 1 1 10 ⁄2 10 ⁄2 ONCE A MARINE, ALWAYS A MARINE NATIONAL COMMANDANT’S LETTER USMC AMERICAN PRIDE DENNIS TOBIN Decanter and Stand We stand by ready to assist ✰Glass decanter bears the Eagle, Globe you but be polite CALL (703) 207-9588 and Anchor of the USMC for any issues related to Marine Corps MARINES: This has been a year to remember, and League membership, Semper Fi to forget. The COVID virus has had us locked down subscriptions or changes of address. ✰Handsome bronze-finished eagle and since February 2020, and our Mid-Winter Confer- To change your address, please contact ence was cancelled. Hopefully by the time you read your detachment Paymaster. Additionally, American Flag feature hand-sculpted this we are mostly back to normal. While we’ve been send an email to [email protected]. locked down, conditions in our country have changed To pay your dues, please contact and hand-painted details rapidly, causing us as a veterans’ organization to your detachment Paymaster. change how we operate. THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE While others have been shut down, we’ve been ✰A mahogany-finished The Marine Corps League Inc. is a Congressionally doing what Marines do best: Improvising, Adapt- chartered, non-profit organization. base adds stature ing and Overcoming the obstacles in front of us. National Commandant: Dennis Tobin I’m positive that when we come out of the other side of this, we will be a better, Chief Operating Officer: Bob Borka to this timeless more proficient organization due to the leadership of our Division, Department Executive Editor General Manager and Detachment Commandants and their staff in holding their units together Bob Borka Deborah L. Shea presentation and keeping the lines of communication open and flowing. Meetings and confer- Publisher Editors ences seem to be starting up slowly. Megan M. Vukodinovich Lisa Weder / Megan M. Vukodinovich As you are aware, things have been tough at Headquarters. With the shut- Art Director Production Coordinator down, most of the work is being done remotely, but the work is getting done. It Adam Bucci Rachel Hoefing does appear, however, that due to the rising stress levels caused by the pandem- Administration ic, attitudes and tempers are running on a short fuse. Everyone at Headquarters Sara Lund ONLY FROM THE BRADFORD and every National Officer stands ready to assist any member at any time. All we Advertising Representatives EXCHANGE — ORDER NOW! ask is that you be respectful when talking to any Headquarters Staff, any Nation- NEARLY Megan M. Vukodinovich, Jayne Wynes Act now to order your fine al Officer or to anyone else in the chain of command. There is no problem or issue [email protected] • Ph: (702) 565-0746 1 FOOT that cannot be worked out. limited edition decanter and Semper Fi is published quarterly for the HIGH! Also please remember to keep a close track on all your members, young and Marine Corps League by: stand honoring all those old, especially those who may live alone. Quarantine confinement is bad enough Chipotle Publishing, LLC when you have family around, but it can be deadly when you’re alone. Suicide Ph: (702) 565-0746 • www.chipotlepublishing.com who have served our awareness = suicide prevention. Semper Fi, The Magazine of the Marine Corps League™ nation as United States We are currently at approximately 61% of detachments that have filed their (ISSN 1933-2327), copyright ©2021 by the Marine Corps League, is Marines at issue price, banking information with Bob Borka for electronic deposits for PLM disburse- published quarterly (4 times per year) in January, April, July and October by Chipotle Publishing, LLC for the Marine Corps League. Marine Corps payable in three convenient ments and any other transactions. Thanks to all who are assisting in getting this League Business Office: MCL National Headquarters, 3619 Jefferson done; let’s get it to 100% before the National Convention. There will be no more Davis Highway, Suite 115, Stafford, VA 22554. Telephone: (703) 207-9588. installments of $39.99, paper checks. Website: www.mclnational.org. Email: [email protected] totalling $119.99* .There’s Another big problem is bad addresses. They are starting to affect membership Subscriptions: Members’ national dues include a free subscription to Semper Fi. For non-members, single-copy price is $10; yearly no risk; our unconditional, cards which are being returned to Headquarters.