* SPECIAL TIME* “THE SHOW-ME NEWS”
Meets at 6:00PM, Thursday February 14 at
Fleet Reserve Association, 305 W Park Central
Square, Downtown Springfield Pot Luck Dinner
at 6pm followed by meeting afterwards
February 2008, Volume X, Number II
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Commandant's Corner Happy Valentines to all Ladies and Happy 10th Anniversary to the
Detachment which had its charter signed 10 Feb. 1998. In the 10
years, we have seen a lot of good times together and have helped
out several different organizations and individuals. With many
accomplishments behind us, we continue to face additional challenges.
Our next meeting will have the recommendations from our
nominating committee and the floor will be open for nominations.
Our Request to MO Department of Transportation for the 2008 Safety
Breaks has been prepared by Paul and will be delivered. If
approved, we will be doing three holidays this year. Nolan will handle
the sign up with Ed Higgenbotham in charge at the rest area. At
our last funeral held at the MO Veteran's Cemetary, we were invited
to set up special services for Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, and other
special occasions as the National Cemetary will pass some of
these services on to the MO Veteran's Cemetary. As of yet, we have
made no commitment to this but it is something to think about. This Semper Fi
“The Show-Me News”: Published monthly by Marine Corps League, Southwest MO Detachment #993. Submit updates, news, events, and monthly information by the 1st of each month to: |
2007 Officers |
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Photo courtesy of Arlington National Cemetery |
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Chaplain Ray Glynn reports the following local Fallen Marines during January 2008. Our
thoughts and prayers go out to the families of:
12/30 George “Jerry” Schutz; 74; USMC, MCL Det 993 member; Springfield, MO.; Final tribute paid by
Honor Team
01/05 Clyde Earnest Coonce; 89; USMC; WWII; Springfield, MO.; Certificate presented 01/09
01/06 Prentis Custer Jr; USN, WWII; Houston, MO.; Certificate presented and final tribute paid by Honor
Team 01/11
01/10 Jack Snodgrass; 77; Korea; Springfield, MO.; Certificate presented 01/13
12/01 Richard Eugene deBord; 80, WWII USN; Springfield, MO; Certificate presented and final tribute
paid by Honor Team 01/25
Mt. Vernon Visitation Team Report
On the 5th of January, connie Hammons and I visited our Marines at the Mount Vernon Veteran's Home. What a great visit, we started as usual, visiting in the dinning hall and then started on our rounds.
We found most folks happy to see us and wanting to talk. We were excited to that Mr. Arvil Chilton finally had his book published. He spent several years writing it. The book is titled, “Why the Chickens Came Home to Roost”. It is a family biography. God Job Arvil!!
We also had the opportunity to review a tape of Mr. Coulson where he was professionally interviewed as a WWII veteran. It was a great tape and a copy is on file at the Library of Congress. Betty was once again our “Take Charge Girl” and as always, full of info to share.
As we walked in to see Glen, we saw a lovely young lady standing by him and I immediately said, “this must be the granddaughter you've been bragging about all year”. She had just gotten married the day before our visit. We took the opportunity to wish both her and her husband health and successful marriage.
We all had a ball with Glen. just think, you guys missed out on a truly great visit.
If God had wanted a permissive society, he would have given us the “Ten Suggestions”.
God Bless You All,
Ray Glynn
Chaplain
DETACHMENT #993 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
| Feb 02 @ 1200 | Visitation Team to Mt Vernon Veterans Home. For info call Chaplain Ray Glynn at 417-890-9912. |
| Feb 14 @ 1800 | Detachment #993 Monthly Meeting-Join us@ 1800 for scuttlebutt and beverages prior to the meeting. |
| Feb 16 @ 0900 | Detachment Staff Meeting at the home of Billy Snider, 332 E Glenwood St. Springfield. Coffee and doughnuts provided. All welcome and encouraged to attend. |
| Mar 13 @ 1900 | Detachment #993 Monthly Meeting-Join us@ 1800 for scuttlebutt and beverages prior to the meeting. |
| Apr 10 @ 1900 | Detachment #993 Monthly Meeting-Join us@ 1800 for scuttlebutt and beverages prior to the meeting. |
| May 08@ 1900 | Detachment #993 Monthly Meeting-Join us@ 1800 for scuttlebutt and beverages prior to the meeting. |
| May 23-26 | Memorial Day Safety Break |
| Jun 6-8 | Department of Missouri Convention Host: Kansas City Detachment 766 |
| Jun 12 @ 1900 | Detachment #993 Monthly Meeting-Join us@ 1800 for scuttlebutt and beverages prior to the meeting. |
| Jun 14 @ 1200 | Detachment Pig Roast - Details to be announced!! |
| Jun 21 | Detachment Pistol Shoot |
| Jul 03-06 | July 4th Safety Break |
| Jul 10 @ 1900 | Detachment #993 Monthly Meeting-Join us@ 1800 for scuttlebutt and beverages prior to the meeting. |
A Note from Past Commandant Moody
“I received a grant check from Wal-Mart in Ozark today and deposited in our bank account. I will mail
copies to the Paymaster before the next meeting.
Due to an unexpected and unsolicited work schedule change I will not be attending our Marine Corps
League meetings any longer. For you that are members of the Fleet Reserve Branch 316 and VFW
3404 I will not be attending those meetings also. And I will not be running for Commander of VFW 3404
as I told some of you”.
Semper Fidelis
Nolan R. Moody
USMC Cpl. '65-'69
MoANG SFC '74-'92 (Ret.)
Military Retiree Alert
Military retirees need to check their beneficiary information on the reverse side of their Military Retiree Account Statement. Some retirees have reported an unauthorized beneficiary name change. The Defense Finance and Accounting Service said it has no way of ascertaining whose identity may have been stolen, resulting in a beneficiary change. If this becomes a widespread issue, they most likely will put out at notice. Those retirees that have the wrong beneficiary on their statement should contact DFAS immediately to change their beneficiary, and let them know it was changed without their authorization. The DFAS number is: 1-800-321-1080.
Recovering Sailors and Marines Want to Hear from Members of Detachment 993
The Marine Liaison at Bethesda Hospital, where wounded Marines and Sailors return state side to
recover or for rehabilitation, reports they have not been receiving enough Thinking of You cards for the
number of wounded at the hospital. The cards have been found to boost the morale of a wounded warrior
by knowing that Marine Veteran's appreciate their sacrifice, care about them , and wish for their
speedy and full recovery. Send the cards to:
A Recovering Marine or Sailor
National Naval Medical Center
Marine Corps Liaison
8901 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20889
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Marine Corps League Auxiliary: February Newsletter Hello and Happy Birthday to everyone whose birthday falls in February. Our Mount
Vernon Veteran’s Home visit was on January 19, 2008. I was not able to go but
talked to MaryLou Webb who said all want well. |
selling them. If you have not gotten on ye,t just let us know and we will be happy to sell you one.
A flyer was passed out for the February meeting to have a pot luck dinner and play the not-so-newlywed
game. The dinner will start at 6:00 P.M. instead of 7:00PM. We have a great many people bring
food. A good time should be had by all.
Semper Fi
Mickey Dees
President
MCLA Southwest Missouri
Mark Your Calendars
The Detachment's annual picnic has been set for June 14. Th is event will be held at the home of SrVC Menno Perks. This year's picnic will be a PIG ROAST. If you attended last summers CAJUN BOIL, you know you do not want to miss this event. To help offset the cost, we are collecting aluminum cans. Cans will be collected by SrVC Perks at detachment meetings.
Staff Meeting Notes:
Atkinson plans to run for Commandant if nominated. Plans to relinquish Memorial Team responsibilities
to Glynn and Perks. Plans to be at all funerals as a MCL representative.
Mickey Dees Auxiliary will pay for half the flowers for Jerry Schutz funeral, confirmed plans for the pot
luck dinner.
Primas: Letter sent to MO DOT regarding safety breaks. Open at 6pm on thursday and closes 6pm on
last day. Working on color guard for Cards vs Cards.
Webb: Working on Cards info.
Hessee: If you have filled out paperwork for Vietnam medal, let Hessee know so he can expedite the
process.
Perks: Working on address book w/info from MCL Det. Asked that members check with appropriate
member in charge before making Detachment commitments for event/appearances. Discussion on
keeping meetings orderly and on agenda.
Discussion held on the emergency for marines in need funding. Questions was raised whether our
501c(4) prohibits giving to individuals as it is for 501c(3). To be determined before making a decision on
how to proceed.
Note from the Adjutant:
In the event of your death, does your family know what you want done and what burial benefits
you've earned? Veteran's who desire burial in a MO Veteran's Cemetary may request that eligibility
for themselves be established in advance. Requirements: Resident of MO for 180 days, sometime
in your life. Service Verification with a copy of DD214. Completed Pre-Certification Application.
The Pre-Certification Application is available at every meeting, just ask
Welcome Aboard to New Members:
Eugene Emerson and Jan McKinnon
Man who keyed car gets day in court; so do Marines
Jay Grodner, the Chicago lawyer who keyed a Marine's car in anger because the car had military
plates and a Marine insignia, finally got his day in court last week. Grodner pleaded guilty in a Chicago
courtroom packed with former Marines. Some had Marine pins on their coats, or baseball jackets with
the Marine insignia. They didn't yellor call him names. They came to support Marine Sgt. Michael McNulty,
whose car Grodner defaced in December, but who couldn't attend because he's preparing for his second
tour in Iraq.
Grodner was late to court for the second time in the case. Grodner called Assistant State's Attorney
Patrick Kelly, (Marine Corps/Vietnam 1969-1972), informing Kelly that he would be late to court. “He
wanted to avoid the media,” Kelly said Friday. “So he's coming a half hour late.” “I don't run my courtroom
that way!” responded Judge William O'Malley, ordering Grodner be arrested and held on $20,000
bail when he arrived. Finally, Grodner strolled in. A short man, wide, wearing a black fedora, dark glasses,
a divorce lawyer dressed like some tough guy in the movies.
Grodner told me he'd describe himself as a “radical liberal” who's ready to leave Chicago now with all
this negative publicity and move to the south of France and do some traveling. Judge O'Malley has also
traveled, but in his youth. He was a police officer on the West Side during the riots before law school.
And before that, he performed another public service. Judge O'Malley served in the U.S. Marine Corps
from 1961-1964.
During the proceedings, the judge described the offense as anger rose in his voice, especially as Grodner started balking on a plea arrangement he'd made with prosecutors. “Is this what you did? Yes or
no,” Judge O'Malley asked Grodner. “Without knowing, yes,” Grodner said, sticking to his I-might-have-done-it-but-didn't-really-mean-it defense. O'Malley asked again, in a stronger voice, not that of a judge
but of a cop on the street or a Marine who meant business. “DID YOU KNOWINGLY CAUSE DAMAGE
TO THIS CAR?” O'Malley asked. Grodner bowed his head, meekly, and responded in an equally meek
voice: “Yes,” he said.
After the admission, came the details and Grodner was lucky, getting off with a misdemeanor and no
jail time, and not a felony even though he caused $2,400 in damage to Sgt. McNulty's car. So Grodner
received a $600 fine, which will go to a Marine charity, 30 hours of community service and a year of
court supervision. If he doesn't pay up in a month, the judge promised to put him in jail for a year.
Judge O'Malley had something to say. He looked out into his courtroom, at all those men who'd come
to support a Marine they didn't know. “You caused damage to this young Marine sergeant's car because
you were offended by his Marine Corps license plates,” said Judge O'Malley.
Grodner stood there, hands behind his back. He grasped the fingers of his left hand with his right, and
held it there, so they wouldn't wiggle. “You're probably also wondering why there was a whole crowd of
people here, Mr. Grodner,” said Judge O'Malley.
“I don't want to wonder,” said Grodner, continuing in his new meek voice, not in his tough divorce lawyer
voice, but the gentle, inside voice he'd just learned. “That's because there is a little principle that the
Marine Corps has had since 1775,” the judge continued. “When they fought and lost their lives so that
people like you could enjoy the freedom of this country. It is a little proverb that we follow: ”No Marine is
left behind.
“So Sgt. McNulty couldn't be here. But other Marines showed up in his stead. Take him away,” said
the judge and former Marine. They took Grodner away, he was processed, and everyone left. The lobby
was dark, quiet, except for two court deputies running the metal detector. Then Grodner came through
an inside door, put his fedora back on, the dark glasses, a tough guy again.
We stood outside, in the parking lot, talking for 20 minutes. He smoked, and I didn't. He explained that
he wasn't anti-military and why he pleaded guilty. “The judge, he's the guy with the black robes,” Grodner
said. He could have been slapped with a felony, but Sgt. McNulty's family said they wanted to put
this behind them and let it go as a misdemeanor. Grodner showed no remorse, and I asked if he'd apologize.
“Yes, I'd say, 'I'm sorry if I scratched your car.' It escalated. That's when he wanted me locked up and
thrown away,” said Grodner, always the victim. Grodner tells me he plans to leave for the French Riviera
and get some sun.
Sgt. McNulty will get some sun, too. In Iraq.
5 THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW YOUR CELL PHONE COULD DO
There are a few things that can be done in times of grave emergencies. Your mobile phone can
actually be a life saver or an emergency tool for survival. Check out the things that you can do
with it:
FIRST Emergency
The Emergency Number worldwide for Mobile is 112. If you find yourself out of the coverage
area of your mobile, network and there is an emergency, dial 112 and the mobile will search any
existing network to establish the emergency number for you, and interestingly this number 112
can be dialed even if the keypad is locked. Try it out.
SECOND Have you locked your keys in the car?
Does your car have remote keyless entry? This may come in handy someday. Good reason to
own a cell phone: If you lock your keys in the car and the spare keys are at home, call someone
at home on their cell phone from your cell phone. Hold your cell phone about a foot from your
car door and have the person at your home press the unlock button, holding it near the mobile
phone on their end. Your car will unlock.
Saves someone from having to drive your keys to you. Distance is no object. You could be hundreds
of miles away, a nd if you c a n reach someone who has the other “remote” for your car,
you can unlock the doors (or the trunk).
Editor's Note: “It works fine! We tried it out and it unlocked our car over a cell phone!”
THIRD Hidden Battery Power. Imagine your cell battery is very low. To activate, press the keys *3370# Your cell will restart with this reserve and the instrument will s how a 50% inc rease in battery. This reserve will get charged when you charge your cell next time.
FOURTH How to disable a STOLEN mobile phone?
To check your Mobile phone's serial number, key in the following digits on your phone: * # 0 6 #,
a 15 digit code a ppears on the screen. ;This number is unique to your handset. Write it down
and keep it somewhere safe. When your phone gets stolen, you can phone your service provider
and give them this code. They will then be able to block your handset so even if the thief
changes the SIM card, your phone will be totally useless. You probably won't get your phone
back, but at least you know that whoever stole it can't use/sell it either. If everybody does this,
there would be no point in people stealing mobile phones.
And Finally....
FIFTH Free Directory Service for Cells Cell phone companies are charging us $1.00 to $1.75 or more for 411 information calls when they don't have to. Most of us do not carry a telephone directory in our vehicle, which makes this situation even more of a problem. When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial: (800) FREE 411, or (800) 373-3411 without incurring any charge at all. Program this into your cell phone now.
Marine Corps League
Southwest Missouri Detachment #993
Regular Meeting
Date: 10 Jan 2008
NOTES: Moment of Silence in honor of Jerry Schutz
GUESTS: None
Meeting called to order by Commandant Atkinson at 1903 hours.
DETACHMENT OFFICERS PRESENT; Commandant Atkinson, SVC Perks, Adjutant Flores, Paymaster
Dees, Chaplain Glynn, Sergeant at Arms Hessler. JrVC Webb. Judge Advocate Higgenbotham was
not present. Also attending Past Commandant Nolan Moody.
MEMBERSHIP: Eugene Emerson and Jan McKinnon
Renewing Members:
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: There were no minutes as December meeting was the Christmas
Dinner
CORRESPONDENCE: Letter from Phylis Schutz read a load by Commandant Atkinson. Bruner Family
card read by the adjutant.
REPORT OF PAYMASTER: Written and oral report was given to members. Moody asked about totals
for 2007 safety breaks.
REPORT OF THE CHAPLAIN: Oral report of his activities over the month. Advised that the wife of Don
Foreman was ill as is member Billy Snider. Advised the home of member Dean Bruton was damaged in
recent storm. Call if you can help with clean-up. Contact was made of the recruiting office.
REPORT OF PAST ACTIVITIES: 1) Christmas Dinner went well. Thanks to the Detachment Santa 2)
Memorial Team received info from KC on changes in procedures regarding notification of services completed.
3) Letter from KC thanking the memorial Team for a job Well Done!
REPORT OF UPCOMING ACTIVITIES: 1) Primas in contact with Cardinals regarding a Color Guard for
Opening Day. 2) February meeting will be a Pot Luck Dinner with a game. 3) February meeting will also
be the 10th Anniversary of the Detachment Charter. 4) Nominating committee of Primas, Mahoney, and
Stolfus will present the slate of new officers at the February meeting. 5) Election to be held in March. 6)
There are 3 Safety Breaks with 4 day weekends this year.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:None
NEW BUSINESS: 1) Discussion regarding having a 3 member board to detrmine needs of Marines in
need. Moody Motion to keep to keep discussion to provide emergency help to Marines in need to a quorum
of the staff, 2nd Burchell, discussion, motion withdrawn. Staff to discuss and present at next meeting.
2) $410 was received from the Schutz memorial fund.
GOOD OF THE LEAGUE: Moody advised a Certificate of Appreciation was given to Wal Mart for recent
grants awarded.
LADIES AUXILIARY: Passed a sign up sheet for the pot luck dinner
ANNOUNCEMENTS: 1)Maj Johnson advised 3/24 drill and inspection completed. Weapons Company
will be headed to Bridgeport, CA for Moutain Warfare School this summer. 2) Members are to contact
SrVC Perks if you are a 5 or 10 year member. 5 and 10 year awards to be handed out during Installation
Meeting. 3) Phone tree to be updated. 4) VFW 3404 is serving Friday night Meals, all welcome. 5)
Glynn to obtain info on a WWII Tour.
Next regular meeting: 2-14-07 at 1800, Pot Luck Dinner
Meeting adjourned at 2006 hours.
Respectfully submitted; 12 Jan 2008:
Eddie Flores, Adjutant.