Meets at 7:00PM, the 2nd Thursday of the Month at “THE SHOW-ME NEWS”
*NEW LOCATION*
Fleet Reserve Association
305 W Park Central Square, Downtown Springfield
November 2007, Volume IX, Number XI
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Commandant's Corner We are in need of more members for the team. If you are interested, please contact Billy Snyder 848-4489 or Ray Glynn 890-9912 ASAP. Our 1st Annual Commandant Team Pistol Shoot went very well. For the shoot next year, our expenses will be less and hopefully we will have more team's competing. I did not hear any complaints about the shoot or the lunch so a job Well Done goes to Paul Primas for his hard work on this project. The Detachment Christmas Dinner is getting close and we just celebrated at the Marine Corp Ball which means it is now time to start thinking about your officers for the next year. Our next meeting at the Fleet Reserve will be upstairs as the fleet is having a field day downstairs in preparation for their Thanksgiving dinner. I am calling this column short this month. I hope to see all at our next meeting. Semper Fi Frank
“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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IN HONOR OF LOCAL FALLEN MARINES
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Photo Courtesy of |
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Chaplain Ray Glynn reports the following local Fallen Marines during October 2007. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of:
10/05 Roy Fredrick Christian; 82; Theodosia, MO; USN in WWII retired; Certificate presented and Final
Tribute paid by Honor Team 10/09.
10/06 Billy Max Carnell, M.D.; 75; Springfield, MO.; USMC served in early 60's; Certificate presented
10/08
10/10 Jack L. Yocom; 81; Springfield, MO; USN in WWII; Certificate presented and Final Tribute paid by
Honor Team 10/13.
10/14 James N. Wilson; 66; Springfield, MO; Life member of Detachment and served in Viet Nam; Certificate
presented on 10/17 and Final Tribute paid by Honor Team 10/18. Chaplain Glynn officiating
10/15 Jackie Lee Shay; 69; Springfield, MO; served in Viet Nam; Certificate presented 10/17, no service
planned.
10/25 Roger E. Tichenor; 79; Rogersville, Mo; served in USAF; Final tribute paid by Honor Team 10/29.
We discovered that we now have another Marine resident, Mr. Robert Reed, who seemed to feel very relaxed and much at
home in his room. When Mr. Chilton saw us come in, he immediately went to his quarters and suited up in his dress blues of
which he is very proud and always looks for the occasion to wear them. He looks pretty sharp.
With this visit we brought another 100 bibs the Logan-Rogersville Community Club and Priscilla Burnett of the Auxiliary
made from the towels I collected. Our gift was a pin with a flag with Marine Corps emblem and the words “The few, the
proud, the Marines”.
The thing I really want to express to you is the great opportunity to serve as the role of Chaplain was to one of our life members that I had never had the honor of meeting prior to this. James N. Wilson, a Lance Corporal serving on his second enlistment
in Viet Nam, while on patrol with his platoon on Christmas day 1965, as they ascended into a ravine, the sustained
heavy fire from a Viet Nam ambush. As James went forward to assist a wounded comrade he sustained a severe head
wound that later left his body partially paralyzed and also affected his speech.
For his gallantry in action James was awarded the Bronze Star and for his wounds, the Purple Heart. James was medically
retired, and although it stopped his desire of going to Quantico and becoming a Marine Officer, it took nothing away from the
fact that James was a Marine. For the next 42 years of his life,James shared it with his mother Ethel, who just turned a beautiful
90 years of age and is still a ball of fire. She allows me to call her GUNNY!!!!!
When I first met James he only had a short time to live, I walked in, in uniform, to meet a total stranger and in two and a
half hours we bonded together and I had gained a brother. I made several visits with James and the League was greatly
involved in gathering the missing pieces of his dress blues that he wanted to be buried in. Both James and his mom asked
me to perform the ceremony as Chaplain, what a honor it was to receive such a request. Our Memorial Team, assisted by
the I and I staff, performed a flawless ceremony.
Since the funeral, Nolan Moody and I have been keeping in contact with Ethel and she is doing fine and is offering a few
items of James' to share with us and to assist other Vets. It was a great pleasure to be involved with such a great family and
loving friends and neighbors.
The best thing to do behind a person's back is to pat it.
May God Bless You All,
Ray Glynn
Chaplain
DETACHMENT #993 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
| Nov 08 @1900 | Detachment #993 Monthly Meeting-Join us@ 1800 for scuttlebutt and beverages prior to the meeting. |
| Nov 10 | Springfield Veteran's Day Parade, info in next newsletter |
| Nov 12 @ 0800-1000 | Veteran's Recognition Breakfast at MSU Student Union West Ballroom. Breakfacst is free to all veterans and their guests. Please call 836-4825 to reserve seats. More info on the event in the attached flyer. |
| Nov 12 @ 1030 | Memorial Team Flag Raising at the north end of the MSU football field. Flag will be lowered to half mast to honor fallen MSU ROTC Alumi. ROTC to fire canon and live bugler to play TAPS. |
| Nov 12 @ 1230 | Memorial Team to conduct a flag ceremony at Sunshine Elementary School. Info in this newsletter. |
| Nov 16 & 17 | Bass Pro Shops Toys For Tots Charity Drive |
| Nov 23 & 24 | Bass Pro Shops Toys For Tots Charity Drive |
| Dec 01 @ 1200 | Visitation Team to Mt Vernon Veterans Home. For info call Chaplain Ray Glynn at 417-890-9912 |
| Dec 13 1800-2000 | Detachment Christmas Dinner at Golden Corral. |
Semper Fidelis
Nolan R. Moody
USMC Cpl. '65-'69
MoANG SFC '74-'92 (Ret.)
Join the Memorial Team and Gov Blunt for a free breakfast from 0800-1000 at the MSU Student Union
West Ballroom. At 1030 the Memorial Team will conduct a Raising of the Colors, which will then be followed
by a memorial for a fallen MSU ROTC graduate. This memorial will include a canon salute and a
live bugler. For more information call Eddie Flores @ 417-883-1895
Sunshine Parents, Grandparents and Veterans are invited to a special Veteran's Day Program on
November 12. The program starts at 12:30pm in the gymacafetorium. Marine Corps League Detachment
993, made up of area Marine veterans, and select students, will be performing a flag folding ceremony
and a class on flag etiquette. The assembly will then escort the flag to the flag pole where it will
be raised. In honor of Fallen Veterans, the flag will be lowered to half-mast and taps will be played. We
invite all parents, grandparents and veterans to join us in honoring those that gave all. For questions
regarding this program contact Eddie Flores @ 417-883-1895
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Marine Corps League Auxiliary Southwest Missouri October Newsletter Hello Ladies |
Our Marine Corps League and Auxiliary Christmas party is on Thursday, December 13, 2007 at Golden
Corral on South Glenstone. A great time should be had by all. The Auxiliary will host the Not-so-Newlywed game. A gift will be given by the Auxiliary to the winning couple. Good Luck to all of the participants.
Vicki Glynn won the 50/50 last month and donated $55.00 back to us. Thank you, Vicki. I know the
money will be put to good use.
As always I remember our Marines and their Families in my prayers each day along with all of you.
Semper Fidelis,
Mickey Dees
President
MCLA Southwest Missiouri
Paul
Tradition, call me at 417- 890-8341
THE MARINES OF WEAPON COMPANY 3/24
Mobile Patrol out of Al-Taquaddum
by
Carl G. Pyper
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Today was Visit-the-Marines day for our friendly MCL Detachment. Ed Higginbotham and I had hung
around the Reserve Center, doing a little business with “The Major,” and getting to know some of the
Marines. I have long been a believer in preserving “war stories.” More important than simply reading or
hearing about adventurous events, are the lessons to be learned, and the sacrifices warriors make on
the battlefield.
In connection with this, I got into a discussion with two of Weapons Company's combat veterans.
S/Sgt. Kenneth Cyr is from Fayetteville Arkansas. He and I originally became friendly during a
rifle/pistol requal at Ft. Chaffee a few years ago. Today, I asked him about any action Weapons Company
got into while they were in Iraq (Jan.-Oct., '04) “Only about two firefights” he said. Members of the
Company were out on a roving patrol, checking vehicles, when one of the civilian Iraqi vehicles they
attempted to inspect took off at high speed. Giving chase, our Marines never caught the fleeing vehicle
but ran into a well-organized ambush. At about this point in the story another Marine in the office, Sgt.
Billy Wallace began to add details. Sgt. Wallace was the M-79 grenade launcher gunner in the lead
humvee when an IED (4xea 155 arty rounds tied together) was set off close aboard. The enemy had
set up a line of small arms, backed by RPG's and 82 mm mortars. Recovering from the shock, Wallace
commenced firing grenades into enemy flash points. We can imagine the hell that broke loose with the
Marines, mounted in six humvees, utilized their own small arms backed by heavy machine guns and M-79's. About 45 minutes into this two-hour fight a squad of Quick Reaction Force Marine reinforcements
showed up from the Company's base at Al-Taqaddum. In another 20 minutes our friendly U.S. Army followed
up with two Bradlys and one M-1 Abrams tank. Being that the enemy had his back to the
Euphrates River, his otherwise well-organized ambush was destined to end up in a day for reporting to
Allah. Ten or 15 minutes later, here comes a couple of Cobras for target practice. Wallace says that
through all the noise and confusion he also heard a low-flying jet circling above the Cobras.
As it turns out, Cyr started the story, but was not present during this firefight so, naturally Wallace filled in the details. Hurrying back and forth, in and out of office doors, during Wallace's account was a certain S/Sgt. Kevin Johnson. As he hurried by our group, Johnson would make “editorial comments” (not appropriate for printing in this report). Now, I discover, S/Sgt. Johnson was the leader of the original mobile patrol team. I bid him to join the conversation to add details (and color). “I'll be right back” was his response ... three or four times.
Weapons Company's base at Al-Taqaddum was an abandoned Iraqi military air field located nine miles west of Fallujah, and just east of Ramadi. Sgt. Billy Wallace was splattered with shrapnel by the IED. Obviously, he recovered to do a proper professional job on the enemy. The IED didn't disable his or any of the other vehicles. He says that he doesn't remember seeing any enemy, just muzzle flashes. S/Sgt. Kevin Johnson never stopped to add more details. On his last skittering pass through the room, I called out “Hey Staff Sergeant, I'm putting you down as the leader of all this s--t you guys did to the enemy that day!“
They told (us) to open up the Embassy, or ”we'll blow you away.“ And
then they looked up and saw the Marines on the roof with these really big
guns, and they said in Somali, ”Igaralli ahow,“ which means ”Excuse
me, I didn't mean it, my mistake“.
Karen Aquilar, in the U.S. Embassy; Mogadishu, Somalia, 1991
Southwest Missouri Detachment #993
Regular Meeting
Date: 11 Oct 2007
NOTES: None
GUESTS: Bill Bowker, Bulldog Detachment, San Diego, CA
Meeting called to order by Commandant Atkinson at 1915 hours.
DETACHMENT OFFICERS PRESENT; SVC Perks, Adjutant, JrVC Webb, Flores, Paymaster Dees,
Chaplain Glynn, Sergeant at Arms Hessler. Commandant Atkinson and Judge Advocate Higgenbotham
were not present. Also attending Past Commandant Nolan Moody.
MEMBERSHIP: GySGT Jeff Bush
Renewing Members: None
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING: Sept minutes presented in Oct 2007 newsletter for review. Motion
to accept Dees, 2nd Glynn, CARRIED by membership.
CORRESPONDENCE: None
REPORT OF PAYMASTER: Written and oral report was given to members.
REPORT OF THE CHAPLAIN: Oral report of his activities over the month to include flowers and cards
sent, and members he had visited. Gave update on Life Member James Wilson, grave condition and
request that Detachment Memorial Team attend his funeral.
REPORT OF PAST ACTIVITIES: None
REPORT OF UPCOMING ACTIVITIES: 1) Pistol Shoot Oct 27th, Primas gave an update. 2) X-mas Dinner-SRvC Perks advised date Dec 13 from 0800-2000 at Golden Corral on S. Glenstone. 4) Marine
Corps Ball tickets $35 each, $50 for civilians. Deadline Oct 21st, contact Cpl Bryson at 417-869-2857 ext
2477. 5) MSU Veteran's Day activities, Memorial Team requested to perform Flag Raising after the
breakfast.
UFINISHED BUSINESS: Uniform items available, contact Bill Webb.
NEW BUSINESS: 1) Memorial Team is in need of additional members due to large increase in requests
for funeral details. 2) Moody MOTION to make Bass Pro Charities Drive 100% for Toys for Tots, Webb
2nd, discussed, CARRIED by membership. Dates are Nov 16,17 & 23, 24 3) Dees MOTION to pay the
Navy concession workers $125, Webb 2nd, discussed, CARRIED by membership. 4) Inventory of Memorial
Team and Chaplain items conducted by Perks/Primas. 5) Ozark Wal-mart gave $429.00 grant
towards Toys for Tots. 6) Dees advised that Wounded Warrior Raffle Tickets are now available. 7) Discussion
of Veteran's Day Parade 8) Moody MOTION to sponsor a Boy's Club Basketball/baseball team
for the season at $300 and $325 for banner, Dees 2nd, discussion, CARRIED by membership. 9) Flores
asked if membership would be interested in purchasing a Marine Birthday ad in the Springfield News-
Leader. Martin MOTION to make $300 available for ad, Hessler 2nd, discussion, CARRIED by membership.
GOOD OF THE LEAGUE: League Charter will be hung on the walls of the new meeting space.
LADIES AUXILIARY:
ANNOUNCEMENTS: 1) Staff meeting 0900 Sat Oct 13. 2) Maj. Johnson reminded membership of Nov
3 Ball date. 3) Kieth Davis sends his regards to the League.
Next regular meeting: 08 Nov 2007.
Meeting adjourned at 2006 hours.
Respectfully submitted; 20 Oct 2007:
Eddie Flores, Adjutant.
