Marine Corps League

Melvin M. Smith Detachment #586

January 2008

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

COMMANDANTS CORNER

First things first then…December is almost over, which means that another Toys for Tots Campaign has ended. WHEW!!! As of this writing, the 2007 Campaign has collected a lot of Toys and received 3931 requests for those toys. There have been many long hours. I am sending a HEARTFELT and GRACIOUS THANK YOU to all that volunteered at the Warehouse as there isn’t enough room in the newsletter to thank everyone.

Second item up for bid is the MCL breakfast, which is on the 19^th of January from 9:00 am to 11:00 am. The Growl will be held before the meal. Volunteers not MODD may show up at 7:30 to start kitchen set up and cooking…See you there J

Last thing before I put you to sleep with my ramblings…2008 is going to be a busy year for this Detachment. Please mark your calendars in advance for events. Try as you may to attend a function or two or twenty. Bring a friend or even your family. Let’s have fun and enjoy those around us while we can.

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. Sincerely,

Sincerely,

OhhRahh!!!

Semper Fi,

Randy

Abe Lincoln Quote

BINGO at the VA: The December Bingo session had a good turnout; players as well as volunteers. On hand were: Dick Jamieson, Donna Hooft, Randy Ott, Dennis Dressler and Marylou Nelson. Thanks to one and all. Don’t forget—Bingo is always on the 2^nd Wednesday of the month.

From the desk of the Senior Junior Past,

Missed the deadline last month. The T4T setup and getting ready to head south are my only excuses. Poor excuses are better than none in this case.

The journey south was uneventful if you don't take into consideration whiteout snowstorms. Decided to go down Highway 97 to I-5 and miss the predicted storms across I-84. Didn't go as planned. Got as far as Weed, Ca. then hit the snow. From the junction of 97 and I-5 and heading south there was no one behind me for miles. I think I-5 was closed north of Weed to southbound traffic. By the time we got over the pass south of Weed (near Mt Shasta) the snow was still falling, only going from east to west instead of down. I was following the sometimes visible tracks in front of me and hoping whomever it was didn't drive off the road, as I would have followed them into the ditch. A few miles past the summit it cleared a little and the northbound traffic was three then two lanes backed up and standing still for miles. Once at a lower elevation it was rain and snow mixed until Redding. Enough of that.

Attended the December meeting of the Territorial Detachment here in Yuma (same night as Spokane). Attendance at their meeting is up from previous years but still not what we have in Spokane. The League here is not active in the T4T program unless called upon for help which hadn't happened as of their meeting. Did see the Marines in dress blues at a couple of community events though.

Shot a couple of rifle matches in December and hope to be heading for the CamPen EXPO in January.

Your thought for the month: "Flashlights are tubular metal containers used for storing dead batteries".

Semper Fi, Doug

From the desk of the Junior Past:

Marines and members,

I hope this letter finds you in good health and fine spirits. As we close another chapter in the Toys for Tots books I wanted to extend my thanks to all of you who support this service each and every year. I was unable to be there anywhere near as much as previous years. When I did, the same folks who donate their time were always available.

Thank you to the Marines of the I&I Staff and the Reserve Battery. Your willingness to compromise even a day was and is appreciated. I hope that in future events we can come together as in the past, as brothers, not two entities who once shared a uniform. I have used terms such as “old corps” and new corps” and God knows I have helped with the animosity that is evident at times. I do believe in my heart of hearts that there is one Corps, and that is all that matters!

Let’s turn our attention to the New Year and make this the best partnership of efforts for all our members. Like our Commandant stated, this year will see many opportunities to come together in celebration of our beloved Marine Corps and all it represents.

Semper Fi,

Jim Stailey

I WAS THAT WHICH OTHERS DID NOT WANT TO BE.
I WENT WHERE OTHERS FEARED TO GO,
AND DID WHAT OTHERS FAILED TO DO.
I ASKED NOTHING FROM THOSE WHO GAVE NOTHING,
AND RELUCTANTLY ACCEPTED THE FACT OF ETERNAL
LONELINESS. . .SHOULD I FAIL.
I HAVE SEEN THE FACE OF TERROR,
FELT THE STINGING COLD OF FEAR,
AND ENJOYED THE SWEET TASTE OF A MOMENT'S LOVE.
I HAVE CRIED, PAINED, AND HOPED. . .BUT MOST OF ALL,
I HAVE LIVED TIMES OTHERS WERE TO SAY
WERE "BEST FORGOTTEN".
AT LEAST SOME DAY I WILL BE ABLE TO SAY
THAT I WAS PROUD OF WHAT I WAS. . .

A UNITED STATES MARINE

The next growl of the Jim Chamberlain Pound will be a Pound Growl on 19 January 2008. The Growl will be held at VFW Post #51 located at 300 W. Mission. As is usual, this will be a breakfast growl; especially as the All hands breakfast sponsored by the Detachment will be serving from 0900 until 1100.

AUXILIARY ANNUAL WHITE ELEPHANT AUCTION AND DINNER

Thursday, February 14, 2008

(Yes, this is our meeting night)

Menu choices are 8 oz Prime Rib or

Baked Filet of Sole

All dinners include with Potato, Vegetable,

Salad, Rolls, Butter and Dessert

Price is $16.00 per person. Please let Sam know of your dinner preference by February 5, 2008. Send an email to sam.djd@comcast.net or call 953-6267.

Calendar of Coming Events

Date	Event
9 January	Bingo @ VAMC Spokane Nursing Home Care Unit – set up @ 1845
11 -13 January	QUIN Conference – St. Louis, Missouri
16 – 18 January	Marine West (Expo) – Camp Pendleton, Ca.
19 January	Jim Chamberlain Pound MODD Growl @ VFW Post #51
19 January	All Hands Breakfast @ VFW Post #51 – volunteers report at 0730, serve from 9AM to 11AM
7 – 9 February	MidWinter National Staff Conference – Falls Church, VA
13 February	Bingo @ VAMC Spokane Nursing Home Care Unit – set up @ 1845
14 February	Regular Business Meeting of Melvin M. Smith Unit & Det @ 1900 – VFW Post 51 – well not so regular this month. This will be the “abbreviated format” in order that everyone is able to participate in the Auxiliary’s annual Valentines Dinner and White Elephant Auction (see else where in newsletter for more details)
1 March	MODD Growl @ Old Country Buffet – 0830
8 March	MCL All Hands Breakfast 0900 – 1100 (servers at 0730) @ VFW Post 51
12 March	Bingo @ VAMC Nursing Home Care Unit – set up @ 1845
13 March	Regular Business Meeting of MCL/A @ 1900 – VFW Post 51
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 and Suites

SERVICE MEMBERS WHO HAVE BEEN TWICE AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR

LAST NAME	FIRST NAME	SERVICE	ACC	BORN	GENERAL INFORMATION
BALDWIN	FRANK D.	Army	MI	MI	CIVIL WAR/ INDIAN CAMPAIGNS
BUTLER	SMEDLEY	Marine Corps	PA	PA	VERA CRUZ (1914); HAITI (1915)
COOPER	JOHN	Navy	NY	IRELAND	CIVIL WAR (BOTH)
CUKELA	LOUIS	Marine Corps	MN	AUSTRIA	WWI (ARMY & NAVY MEDAL SAME ACTION)
CUSTER	THOMAS	Army	MI	OH	CIVIL WAR (BOTH)
DALY	DANIEL	Marine Corps	NY	NY	BOXER REBELLION (1900); HAITI (1915)
HOGAN	HENRY	Army		IRELAND	INDIAN CAMPAIGNS (BOTH)
JANSON	ERNEST A.	Marine Corps	NY	NY	WWI (ARMY & NAVY MEDAL SAME ACTION) AWARDED ARMY MEDAL UNDER NAME OF CHARLES F. HOFFMAN
KELLY	JOHN JOSEPH	Marine Corps	IL	IL	WWI (ARMY & NAVY MEDAL SAME ACTION)
KING	JOHN	Navy	NY	IRELAND	INTERIM 1901-1910 (BOTH)
KOCAK	MATEJ	Marine Corps	NY	AUSTRIA	WWI (ARMY & NAVY MEDAL SAME ACTION)
LAFFERTY	JOHN	Navy	NY	IRELAND	CIVIL WAR & INTERIM 1871 TO 1898 (aka LAVERTY)
McCLOY	JOHN	Navy	NY	NY	BOXER REBELLION (1900); VERA CRUZ (1915)
MULLEN	PATRICK	Navy	MD	MD	CIVIL WAR (BOTH)
PRUITT	JOHN HENRY	Marine Corps	AZ	AR	WWI (ARMY & NAVY MEDAL SAME ACTION)
SWEENEY	ROBERT	Navy	NJ	CANADA	INTERIM 1871 - 1898 (BOTH)
WEISBOGEL	ALBERT	Navy	LA	LA	INTERIM 1871 - 1898 (BOTH)
WILLIAMS	LOUIS	Navy	CA	NORWAY	INTERIM 1871 - 1898 (BOTH)
WILSON	WILLIAM	Army	PA	PA	INDIAN CAMPAIGNS (BOTH)

SPAGHETTI FEED was, once again, a success. The turn out was a little less than we would have liked but a combination of factors played into that being the case. The food, as is always the case since Doug Jones of the VFW started cooking for the Spaghetti Feed, was superb. Everything in the kitchen went seamlessly, or seemingly so; perhaps because under Doug’s expert eye his crew of Marines has become adept at getting done that which is necessary. The crew of volunteers serving meals and clearing the tables were stalwarts at keeping things moving along nicely and ensuring that everyone had what was needed to make this a good dining experience. Many thanks to Don Crain for once again manning the raffle and ensuring that raffle tickets sales were kept at a brisk pace. Included in a long list of volunteers (I hope I don’t forget anyone): Pat & Diane Rowand, Tim & Colene Rubertt, Don & Thrine Crain, Ann Whitney and daughter Jenny, the Staileys (Jim, Mandi, Jacob & Josh), the Nielsons (Tera, Caroline, Christine, Taylor, Mackenzie and friend Ginny), the Otts (Randy, Taylor & Morgan), Jim Egger, Larry Marks, Bill Town, Hank Melanson, Wayne Mauer, George Barnett, Doug Jones & Bev Abramson (VFW), Dennis & Sam Dressler, Mary Lou Nelson.

The Annual Valentine’s Dinner and White Elephant Auction is scheduled for Thursday, February 14, 2008 (Just happens to be our regular meeting night). Information on the menu will be available soon. (Editor’s note: please remember that this is the Auxiliary’s biggest fund raiser of the year. The money raised at this event funds many projects including sending many CARE packages to deployed Marines.)

We have received a nice letter from Sgt Brown of Papa 5/14 in response to the boxes that were sent to the Battery. From Sgt Cory Dressler (Sam and Dennis’ son, and member of MMSmith Detachment) we received a United States flag that flew over Combat Outpost Okinawa in Iraq and the certificate that authenticates that the flag flew there. The flag was a thank you for the boxes of goodies that were sent to Cory for the Marines in his platoon in Charlie Company, 1^st Battalion, 4^th Marines (actually he was with Bravo Co but his platoon was “chopped” to Charlie Co during deployment).

WINDBREAKERS, ANYONE? Several members at the December meeting expressed an interest in ordering windbreakers. Please give your name, the number of windbreakers you wish to order and the sizes to Commandant Ott so he can compile it and get the information to our Adjutant/Paymaster Marine Tim Rubertt.

Join the Marines…

for Breakfast!

When: 9:00 am to 11:00 am, Saturday, Jan 19^th 2007

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

(off Washington & Mission by North Central High School)

What: Pancakes, Scrambled Eggs,

Hashbrowns, Bacon, Coffee, Milk & Orange Juice

All of this for $6.00 per person

Why: We want to make new friends and

raise money for our charities

Please come join us

enjoy some good times

and the cooking isn’t bad either!

Proceeds go to the Melvin M. Smith Det.,

Ladies Auxiliary, Devil Dogs and VFW Post 51.

January 2008

DETACHMENT OFFICERS 2007 – 2008

AUXILIARY OFFICERS 2007-2008