Marine Corps League

Melvin M. Smith Detachment #586

April 2008

Editors: Dennis and Sam Dressler (509) 953-6266 (Dennis), (509) 953-6267 (Sam) sam.djd@comcast.net

COMMANDANTS CORNER

First things first then…Thanks to our Marines who made time for our MCL Breakfast. We served 42 by my counts and had quite a few new faces as well. The breakfast for April will be the weekend after the Dept Staff meeting. Mark your calendars now for the 19^th at 0900 to 1100. Volunteers are always welcome to join us. We had a strong crew in the kitchen and an even better support staff on the tables. Thanks one and all. In May, my ambition is to help support the Operation Spokane Heroes Breakfast. Standby for more details….

As a reminder, Papa Battery Marines will be returning soon (April). With the support of the Auxiliary, MCL and the Marine Wives, we are going to support their return with pride and make them glad to be home

Next item up for bid is the Memorial Day Ceremony which this Detachment supports. Ideas are welcome and a need for volunteers as we get closer to the big event.

I will continue to be available for any suggestions or the need for help. My phone is 998-9031 and my email is randyottjr@yahoo.com. Thank you for your support, continue to enjoy life and those around you.

Semper Fi,

Randy

PS. The thinking that got you into the problem isn’t the thinking you’ll need to get the solution.

From our Junior Vice Commandant,

No longer on assignment in sunny Arizona:

Greetings Marines! It’s good to be home again. It's funny, I don't remember Spokane being covered in snow in late March. Oorah! We take it as we get it. I've had the pleasure to visit with some of you and look forward to next weeks meeting. As I just put in a long day at the Police Dept. I don't feel very witty so I will just pass on this advice:

"A slipping gear could let your M203 grenade launcher fire when you least expect it. That would make you quite unpopular in what's left of your unit." (Army's magazine of preventive maintenance)

Semper Fi!

Jim Bennett

Abe Lincoln Quote

BINGO at the VA: What a marvelous change from the last several months; in March there were 11 volunteers that showed up to work with the patients at the Nursing Home! On hand were Donna and Dick Jamieson, Mary Lou Nelson, Pat Rowand, Sam and Dennis Dressler, Tera, Christine and Caroline Nielson and Randy and Taylor Ott.

There is a growl of the Washington Pack on Saturday the 12^th of April at the Oxford Inn and Suites in Yakima; the next Pound growl is scheduled for Saturday 10 May at Old Country Buffet.

SICK REPORT FROM OUR CHAPLAIN: Chaplain Bill Town reports that Ben Taylor is doing fine and just waiting for Ann to be well enough to care for him at home. Otis Dennis has been feeling a lot better since the weather in the Tri-Cities has warmed up. Dave Hamm is still experiencing dizziness from the fall he took. Val Ritter was to go in for an infusion of platelets on the 26^th of March so that he could have cataract surgery on the 27^th; he has been feeling really tired most of the time. Norm Sanborn reports that his cold is gone and he was supposed to go have his eostomy bag removed. Tim Rubertt has been feeling tired; he was hospitalized recently due to his stents having collapsed; he reports that he is cutting down on his smoking.

Calendar of Coming Events

Date	Event
9 April	Bingo @ VAMC Nursing Home Care Unit – set up at 1845
10 April	Regular Business Meeting of MCL/A @ 1900 – VFW Post 51
11 – 13 April	Dept of WA MCL/MCLA Staff Meeting in Yakima @ Oxford Inn & Suites
12 April	Pack of Washington Growl following Department Staff meeting
19 April	MCL All Hands Breakfast VFW Post 51 0900 to 1100 (servers report at 0730)
26 May	Memorial Day Ceremony at Fairmont Memorial Cemetery TBA

AUXILIARY MEMBERS

Sure signs of Spring—the snow is melting—most places at least, days

are getting longer, tulips and daffodils are sprouting and… it’s time for those pesky Activity Reports. Please be ready at the April meeting to report what it is you have been up to. Remember, the hours we report go a long way to show Congress what the Auxiliary is all about.

Open to the Public

The Marines are serving Breakfast!

When: 9:00 to 11:00, Saturday, Mar 15^th 2008

Where: VFW Post 51, 300 W. Mission Ave.

What: Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs,

Hash browns, Bacon, Coffee,

Milk, OJ & Toast

Cost: $6.00 per person

Please come join us!

Enjoy some good times

and okay cooking!

Proceeds go to the Melvin M. Smith Det.,

Ladies Auxiliary, Devil Dogs and VFW Post 51.

MEDAL OF HONOR MOMENT: Of all Marines to have been the recipient of the Medal of Honor from Washington only one claimed eastern Washington as home. Although born in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Gregory Boyington listed Okanogan, Washington as his home town on his official records. (The entire list of Washington Marines that are Medal of Honor recipients are: Winans, Roswell (town not listed); Arlington - Van Winkle, Archie; Okanogan - Boyington, Gregory "Pappy"; Seattle - Galer, Robert Edward; Seattle - Monegan, Walter Carleton and Tacoma - Anderson, Richard Beatty)

BOYINGTON, GREGORY "PAPPY" (POW)

Major, U.S. Marine Corps (Reserve)

Marine Fighting Squadron 214 (VMF-214), Marine Air Group 11 (MAG-11),

1st Marine Aircraft Wing

Date of Action: September 12, 1943 - January 03, 1944

Citation:

The Medal of Honor is presented to Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, Major, U.S. Marine Corps

(Reserve), for extraordinary heroism and valiant devotion to duty as commanding officer of Marine Fighting Squadron Two Hundred Fourteen (VMF-214) in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Central Solomons area from 12 September 1943 to 3 January 1944. Consistently outnumbered throughout successive hazardous flights over heavily defended hostile territory, Major Boyington struck at the enemy with daring and courageous persistence, leading his squadron into combat with devastating results to Japanese shipping, shore installations, and aerial forces. Resolute in his efforts to inflict crippling damage on the enemy, Major Boyington led a formation of 24 fighters over Kahili on 17 October and, persistently circling the airdrome where 60 hostile aircraft were grounded, boldly challenged the Japanese to send up planes. Under his brilliant command, our fighters shot down 20 enemy craft in the ensuing action without the loss of a single ship. A superb airman and determined fighter against overwhelming odds, Major Boyington personally destroyed 26 of the many Japanese planes shot down by his squadron and, by his forceful leadership, developed the combat readiness in his command which was a distinctive factor in the Allied aerial achievements in this vitally strategic area.

Born: 12/4/1912 at Coeur D'Alene, Idaho

Home Town: Okanogan, Washington

Other Award: Navy Cross (WWII) On October 5, 1945 President Harry S Truman presented the Medal of Honor to Major Boyington, his first award having been post-humusly presented to his mother. Boyington was a pilot in Clair Chennault's famed "Flying Tigers" in the early days of the war, before returning to duty with the Marine Corps.