Dear Members,
Happy 235th birthday to all Marines! And, in honor of Veterans Day a special thank you to ALL veterans for their service to our country.
November has been eventful for MCA. Thanks to Robert Coram, author of Brute: The Life of Victor Krulak, U.S. Marine for making himself available for a “Meet the Author / Book Signing” events to our members and visitors at both The MARINE Shop in Quantico and at our MCA Bookstore at Camp Lejeune on 16 and 18 November respectively.
The 17 November MCAF Annual Dinner featured Dr. David Kilcullen, renowned counterinsurgency warfare expert and author of Counterinsurgency and also The Accidental Guerilla as the guest speaker. His unique perspective and thought provoking remarks made the event a valuable experience for all in attendance.
Coming up on 2 December, I am pleased to report that our MCAF Ground Dinner features our new Commandant, General James F. Amos as the guest speaker and, a few days later, on 9 December MCA will host Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Wes Fox, USMC (Ret), author of Marine Rifleman and Courage and Fear: A Primer at a book signing at The MARINE Shop at Quantico.
After the New Year the MCA professional events team heads to the West Coast. On 26 January, we will hold the West Coast MCA Dinner just south of Camp Pendleton at the Sheraton Hotel in Carlsbad, California. The Honorable Robert O. Work, Undersecretary of the Navy will be the guest speaker for the event. I look forward to seeing a number of our MCA members at this West Coast event.
I encourage all of our members and readers who are able to make every effort to attend MCA’s professional events. In addition to being enjoyable, they are a great way to stay connected and informed. Bring a friend! Visit our events schedule HERE for details.
As a final thought, I also want to encourage all of our members and readers to visit MCA’s continually evolving family of web sites. All are dynamic with constantly updated content, are graphically pleasing to the eye, easy to navigate and provide information you can use. Visit the MCA home page HERE and from there visit the Leatherneck, Marine Corps Gazette, MCA Foundation and MARINESHOP.NET websites.
Thanks for your support and please let me hear from you. You can do that by emailing MCA at comments@mca-marines.org.
Semper Fi,
Edward G. Usher, III
Major General, USMC (Ret)
President and Chief Executive Officer
Member Section
- Reader / Member Input. Do YOU have something newsworthy to share with your fellow MCA Members? Send it to us for consideration and possible posting in YOUR Member Update! Anniversaries, Reunions, unit news, major milestones?? Send to comments@mca-marines.org and our Member Update Coordinator will consider including your item.
Of Interest to Marines
- The President’s Own. The best military band on planet Earth has a great web site. Check out their schedule to see when they will be touring near you. Also check out their free educational recordings, performance videos and much more. http://www.marineband.usmc.mil/
Birthday Ball Photos. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Marine Corps Association Foundation Board of Governors member, General Peter Pace, USMC (Ret) with MCA West Coast Area Representative SgtMaj Frank Pulley at USMC Birthday Ball in San Diego, California. Happy Birthday everyone!
A.
How to Win. Send your answers to comments@mca-marines.org and please include your name and address so we can send you your prize. We will hold a drawing of all CORRECT responses one week from the Member Update release date and then announce the winner in the next edition of the Update.
The Prize! In addition to the highly coveted Marine Corps Association Coin, we are now including our handy new Four in One gadget as a bonus. Be the first in your neighborhood to get one!
Here’s a short version of our trivia question from October:
Question: Fun with nicknames! What are these nicknames and to which Marine units do they apply?
1) Really stupendous and wondrous, but sadly reputed to be of dubious parentage.
2) Capable of perambulation, though expired
3) Sounds like Jarheads from an oriental country but are really ours
4) This nation’s very own unit
5) One more than 2 and loud with the sound made by lightning
Answer:
1) The Magnificent Bastards – 2nd Bn, 4th Marines
2) The Walking Dead – 1st Bn, 9th Marines
3) The China Marines – 1st Bn, 4th Marines (also 4th Marine Regiment)
4) America’s Battalion – 3rd Bn, 3rd Marines (Also 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines)
5) Thundering Third – 3rd Bn, 4th Marines (also 3rd Bn, 1st Marines)
Congratulations to LCpl Colleen McGlin of Schenectady, NY for wining October’s contest!
Thanks to Marine, Vietnam veteran Larry Caldwell for reminding us that Boot Camp drill instructors instructed recruits to use “Chesty Puller” as the answer to questions they could not answer. That could definitely account for getting that answer to almost every trivia contest question at least once each month.
ONLINE access to BOTH Leatherneck and Marine Corps Gazette is a KEY Benefit that comes with EVERY Membership / Subscription at no extra charge!
Click on the Links below to Visit Each magazine’s website TODAY.
Leatherneck
Happy Holidays from Leatherneck and we thank you for your support in 2010, and look forward to 2011.
To finish off the year, we've looked back 60 years to the Battle of the Chosin Reservoir and included two articles in the December issue -- one summarizing the action and one devoted to air delivery of a bridge to close a seemingly impassible gap blown in the single road leading from the reservoir to safety at the North Korean port of Hungnam. These two Korean War articles, plus the conclusion of the two-part article on the 2004 Battle of Najaf [Iraq] provide a good look into the indomitable spirit of the individual Marine.
We add an overview on Information Operations in the Corps, an article on the Combat Marine Outdoors organization's unique efforts supporting wounded warriors and our continuing coverage of Marines in the war on terrorism and training and operations around the Corps.
http://www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck/
Marine Corps Gazette
The December Gazette digital edition has the 35th Commandant's Planning Guidance. In it he outlines the future security environment, the Marine Corps' role and the way ahead for the Corps over the next several years. It is also available on our website.
December also contains the three award winning Hogaboom Leadership Essay Contests. They are well worth reading and the honorable mention penned by Captain Jonathan Wong is particularly thought provoking. In "Enhanced Company Operations" MGySgt Dennis Stieber illuminates the vastly changed role of the Company Gunnery Sergeant on today's battlefield. No longer the company logistician, his role has transformed into that of the company operations chief in a complex command and control environment. The Master Gunny makes specific recommendations on the education and training required to prepare the infantry gunnery sergeant for this sea change in his billet responsibilities.
Finally articles on culture, tactics, techniques, and procedures round out this edition of your Gazette.
http://www.mca-marines.org/gazette
Corps Daily News. Read the latest breaking news about or affecting Marines at Corps Daily News featured prominently on BOTH the Marine Corps Gazette and Leatherneck. Visit daily to stay connected and informed on the happenings in YOUR Corps!
http://www.mca-marines.org/gazette
http://www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck/
Other Sites of Interest. Check out our large list of external sites that Marines will find interesting and useful. http://www.mca-marines.org/leatherneck/other-sites-interest
This Month in Marine Corps History
4 Nov 1976
The first Marine Corps Marathon was run this date. The 26.2 mile race transits Washington, D.C. and Arlington, VA and is now the 4th largest marathon race in the United States with many thousands of participants annually.
10 Nov 1775
The Continental Congress authorized the creation of the Marine Corps. Click HERE to read the Birthday message from our new Commandant, General James F. Amos and also that of LtGen John A. Lejeune who formalized the birthday celebration tradition in 1921. Happy 235th to ALL Marines!
11 Nov 1918
Armistice Day is celebrated at the end of World War-I which ended on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of the year.
20 Nov 1947
On or about this date Marine reservists started the uniquely Marine Toys for Tots charity program in Los Angeles and the Marine Corps Reserve adopted the program the next year. Since inception the program has brought motivating Christmas cheer to millions of underprivileged children. Click HERE for the Toys for Tots Foundation website to read about their worthy program and this year’s campaign.
22 Nov 1943
The Japanese held atoll of Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands group in the central Pacific was secured after 72 hours of bitter fighting by the 2nd Marine Division, along with elements of the U.S. Army 27th Infantry Division. Here are some images of the battle from MCA archives:
27 Nov 1950 Chinese communist forces launched an attack on Marines in the Chosin Reservoir area of North Korea. The 30,000 strong U.N. forces, including Marines, were surrounded by over 60,000 attacking Chinese who surrounded the force leading to a bitter and hard fought, 17-day battle in sub zero weather. The U.N. forces ultimately fought their way through the encirclement after inflicting ruinous casualties on the Chinese and were then evacuated from North Korea through the port of Hungnam. Here is an image from the MCA archives which helps illustrate why the “Frozen Chosin” is indelibly etched in Corps history.
MCA’s projected events are detailed for you below. You’re Invited. Bring a Friend!
2 December
MCAF Ground Dinner
Guest Speaker – General James F. Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps
Crystal Gateway Marriott
Arlington, VA
9 December
Book Signing with Col Wes Fox, USMC (Ret) author of Courage and Fear: A Primer and also Marine Rifleman: Forty-Three Years in the Corps
The MARINE Shop
Quantico, VA
21 January
Book signing with Frank Cox, author of Lullabies for Lieutenants
The MARINE Shop
Quantico, VA
26 January
West Coast MCA Dinner
Guest Speaker –The Honorable Robert O. Work, Undersecretary of the Navy
Sheraton Carlsbad
Carlsbad, CA3 February
MCAF Ground Logistics Awards Dinner
Guest Speaker – TBD
Crystal Gateway Marriott
Arlington, VA
Visit the MCAF website: www.mcafdn.org for more information on our events and our programs.
The Marine Corps Association Foundation
Thanks our Sponsors and Donors who have helped support our Marine Excellence Awards and Leadership Programs this year.
If you haven't made your tax-deductible donation to our Foundation for 2010 yet and are able to, please call 877-469-6223 or donate online at our secure site: http://www.mcafdn.org/donations
The Foundation welcomes corporate support for our professional programs. Interested sponsors are invited to contact LeeAnn Mitchell at l.mitchell@mca-marines.org for more information.
Click HERE to visit the MCAF Sponsor page and see a complete list of the companies currently helping MCAF support Marines!
Main Number: Call Us toll-free: 877-469-6223 (877-4MY-MCAF) or 703-640-0174 (mcaf@mca-marines.org)
JOIN the Marine Corps Association - THE Professional Association for ALL Marines? It’s easy.
Call us toll free at 866-622-1775 or click HERE!
REMINDER
When You Move – We Move!
Keep MCA informed of your address change to ensure delivery of your MCA magazines. Go ONLINE and update your record or call us at 866-622-1775.
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Comments
COMMENTS? Send them to: comments@mca-marines.org. Let us know what you think about MCA’s Member Update. We would love to hear from you!
Disclaimers
“Marines” and the Eagle, Globe and Anchor are trademarks of the U.S. Marine Corps, used with permission.
Neither the U.S. Marine Corps nor any other component of the Department of Defense has approved, endorsed or authorized this newsletter.
