Marine Corps League

Melvin M. Smith Detachment #586

Editors: Dennis and Sam Dressler

(509) 953-6266 (Dennis) or (509) 953-6267 (Sam)

sam.djd@comcast.net

COMMANDANTS CORNER

          Please make the time to come to the monthly meeting on 12^th of February as I have been advised that the battery will be making a presentation of the awards for Toys for Tots; perhaps we will also get an update on the number of orders filled, children served, toys handed out, toys donated, et cetera.

            I was somewhat surprised by the low turn out for the January meeting considering all those that attended got a free spaghetti dinner.  I will continue to look for ways to entice you into coming. 

Semper Fi!

Your Commandant,

Randy

998-9031

MELVIN M. SMITH DETACHMENT AND UNIT made a very nice donation to the Toys for Tots campaign.  After the Spaghetti Feed costs were taken care of a check for $2,138 was presented to the I& I First Sergeant.  This is in addition to donations that Sam and Dennis got from lawyers at Superior Court and staff at the Court of Appeals that were in the vicinity of $450.  When those two contributions are combined MCL & MCLA had a combined contribution of almost $2,600 to the Spokane Toys for Tots campaign.  This of course does not account for all the toys, time and money that our individual members have given to the cause.

UNDER THE WEATHER (SICK REPORT)

Chaplain Bill Town reports that Ben Taylor is experiencing no problems and is just waiting for the day that Ann is well enough to assist him so he can go home.  Val Ritter spent two weeks in the hospital – having gone in to have three skin cancers removed; while he was there he had a gall bladder attack, his back went out, he had a urinary track infection and he caught the flu.  The good news is that his platelet count is as high as it has ever been since being diagnosed with leukemia.  Otis Dennis is staying inside because as he and Bill spoke it was snowing in the Tri-Cities.  Norm Sanborn is doing well.  Ray Moon is back in town; he is having trouble with his back although he does not know why and he is seeing a doctor at the VA.  Wayne and Dora Fish are getting along “fine” and their neighbors are helping them out.  Kay Morse is recovering well from his knee replacement --- he is out hunting.  Dave and Carol Hamm are “doing fine”.  Chaplain Town reports that he had his carpal tunnel surgery on the 22^nd of January and the procedure went okay; the update on his left wrist that was injured in the fall he took just before Christmas is that the ligaments and nerves are “mangled” and needs to be fused to keep it from getting worse.

Calendar of Coming Events

Just in case you didn’t read the note in my article above, please come to the February meeting.  Papa Battery will have the Toys for Tots awards to present that evening.

SENIOR VICE COMMANDANT’S MESSAGE: 

My son sent me this info on Col. James Swett, Medal of Honor, United States Marine Corps:

You can get a sense of the man from this account of his first day of combat in the Second World War:

His first mission was as a division leader on a combat air patrol over the Russell Islands early on the morning of April 7 in expectation of a large Japanese air attack. Landing to refuel, the four plane division of F4F Wildcats he was leading was scrambled after other aircraft reported 150 planes approaching Ironbottom Sound, and intercepted a large formation of Japanese Aichi D3A dive bombers attacking Tulagi harbor.

When the fight became a general melee, Swett pursued three Vals diving on the harbor. After shooting down two, and while taken under fire from the rear gunner of the third, the left wing of his F4F was holed by U.S. antiaircraft fire directed at the Japanese. Despite this he shot down the third Val and turned toward a second formation of six Vals leaving the area.

Swett repeatedly attacked the line of dive bombers, downing each in turn with short bursts. He brought down four and was attacking a fifth when his ammunition was depleted and he had his cockpit shot up by return fire. Wounded, he decided to ditch his damaged fighter off the coast of Florida Island, after it became clear that his oil cooler had been hit and he would not make it back to base. After a few seconds of further flight, his engine seized, and despite initially being trapped in his cockpit, Swett extricated himself and was subsequently rescued in Tulagi harbor after crash-landing his Wildcat. This feat made the 22-year old Marine aviator an ace on his first combat mission.

Jim Bennett

Senior Vice Commandant

From the Arizona desk of the Senior Junior Past

Not much to report, the league here in Yuma does not assist with T4T.  Active duty Marines and their families do it all.  Did attend the last Territorial Detachment meeting.  It was member appreciation night, which I wasn't aware of until I got there.  Tables set with plates and silver for the Texas size T-Bone steak, baked potato and salad feast. The league provided the vittles and the culinary class from one of the high schools did the cooking.  Business meeting was held while we ate, not much said by those in attendance as it's tough to talk with your mouth full of steak.

With the Expo and Quin conference coming up the first week in February, Linda and I are planning a trip into the Golden state.  Something we attempt to avoid except for rifle matches and MCL meetings.  Weather here is cooler than usual, thanks to all of you up there for sending the cold front south.  Been wearing my hoody and looking like a native of the area, however not wearing a stocking cap under the hood.  Still not having to shovel the walks though.  Cold wind from the north nearly every day and lots of rain, over double the normal so far.

Did manage to find a part-time job. Now flagging truck traffic on the night shift on the new truck highway coming out of Mexico (can you say NAFTA?).  Standing out in the desert at night is interesting; the Border Patrol is active with searchlights and flashers going, chasing illegals in the distance.  The highway (195 north connecting to 95 north just east of Yuma) is about 25 miles long and is a divided 4-lane and has to be completed by November 2009.  I only work 2 nights a week as a relief so it's not too bad. The contractor is working the crews 24/6 with equipment maintenance on the 7th.

Your thought for the month:  "Borrow money from pessimists--they don't expect it back." (Steven Wright)
Semper Fi, Doug

Senior Junior Past Commandant

MARINE HISTORY

FEBRUARY

So what do White Elephants and Shamrocks have to do with each other?—

probably nothing, but this year the Auxiliary’s annual

White Elephant Auction and Dinner

will be on March 12^th

in place of the regular business meetings.

Dinner will be served at 6:30pm

Start planning and shopping now, those white elephants go fast. 

Meal choices are Roast Beef or Baked Chicken Breast

Both include baked potato, vegetable, salad, roll and dessert 

All this for only $16.00

(Hey!  That’s inflation proof; no price increase from last year’s dinner)

Bring your wallet loaded with cash, or your checkbook, and a wrapped contribution, or two, to the auction that follows the meal.  A major part of the fun is bidding on something when you have no idea what is in the box or bag.  This is the major fund raiser for the Auxiliary for the year.

Please call Sam Dressler at 953-6267 no later than Saturday 7 March 2009 to RSVP and to let her know what meals you are choosing for dinner.

DETACHMENT OFFICERS 2008 – 2009

UNIT OFFICERS 2008 - 2009

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