What’s Been Going On?

Detachment Membership, end October: 31

POOLEE – An unofficial rank assigned by Marine recruiters to newly enlisted recruits in the delayed entry program and awaiting departure to recruit training.

Detachment Programs/Actions/Events - These items are either in discussion among our members, staged for implementation or underway:

Member News:

Junior Vice Commandant, Paul Strehan, has had serious medical issues and the Detachment is asked to keep Paul and his family in it’s prayers. [Last news from Paul is that he his at home, recovering nicely…has good days/bad days, and would like to get back to work soon.]

Chaplain, John Strauss married a high school friend on 14Oct07. His new wife, Betty of Mayerstown, PA and the Chaplain met in Bethel High School in Bethel, PA in 1945. Though they never dated back then, in fact each married and lost their spouses, in the interim, they rekindled their relationship roughly a year and a half ago. We congratulate Chaplain Strauss and look forward to welcoming Betty as an Associate Member.

Late Breaking News:

The Detachment was devastated to hear that Member, Tom Fentress, passed away suddenly on Sunday, 11November07. Tom, a Sergeant of Marines and Purple Heart veteran of Iwo Jima, had been our Guest Speaker for our 232^{nd Marine Corps Birthday celebration, the day prior. We are so happy that we had the opportunity to chat with Tom and his lovely wife, Ann, for a brief time on 10Nov07. Please keep Tom’s family in your hearts and prayers and know that Tom is busy pulling guard duty for the Supreme Commandant in Detachment Everlasting.}

NEXT GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING:

11Dec07, 1900, Thomas A. Baum Center

Detachment Officer nominations and elections will take place. Be there to give your inputs and cast your vote.

Be advised that the Commandant has elected to change the format of the monthly meetings to allow for more member exchange/socializing. It’s felt that since we are now nearly a year old, the full MCL ritual, which has been taking up the lion’s share of our meetings can be modified to make the meetings less formal/more fun and informative for our members. We’ve got a wide variety of experiences and expertise in our membership and it’s important that we get to know one another better. The full MCL ritual will be utilized for special occasions such as Officer Installation, Funeral services, etc., and as requested by the Commandant. We hope Detachment members view these changes positively and will result in increased recruiting and feeling of Brotherhood by all.

YOU WANT TO JOIN MY BELOVED CORPS?

SO YOU WANT TO JOIN MY BELOVED CORPS? To be part of a brotherhood of warriors, a unique breed of men and women; the most magnificent fighting men in the world? A United States Marine? Men and women who have served and gone before you added to the honor, glory, and traditions of the Corps.

SO YOU WANT TO JOIN MY BELOVED CORPS? You will find yourself on a huge parade field, and the DI will call you the most miserable bunch of feather merchants he (or she) has ever seen in all their years in the Corps. And as he bellows out, "THIS is your left; THIS is your right," you’ll see a senior platoon march by, and you will ask yourself, "Will be ever look like them?"

SO YOU WANT TO JOIN MY BELOVED CORPS? I have met and served with Marines who fought on Wake Island, Bataan, Guadalcanal, Saipan, Tarawa, Okinawa, and Iwo Jima. I met a German veteran of WWI. When he learned that I had served as a Marine, he said, "I can still remember the time we fought you Marines. It was fearsome. The Marines were ordered to disengage and pull back and as they withdrew, a Marine of German descent called out, ‘We will be back tomorrow.’ And they came back the next day; they came and they came and they came, those devil dogs."

SO YOU WANT TO JOIN MY BELOVED CORPS? I’ve stood beside a living legend on the frozen hills of Chosin as "Taps" sounded over our fallen brothers. My heart was heavy in the cold air. My best friend is still there. We went through boot camp together and maneuvered and went to Coronado Island. My best friend arrived in Korea a half-day before me. That is why I was not at his side. He went to Hagaru, and I stayed at Koto-Ri. And as "Taps" sounded, tears streamed down my face. I looked over my left shoulder and saw tears streaming down General Puller’s face. Our brothers will never be forgotten by those of us who survived.

SO YOU WANT TO JOIN MY BELOVED CORPS? A day will come when you will find yourself marching on a huge parade field. Yours is the senior platoon passing others. The Marine band will play "The Marines Hymn" and your chest will swell with pride. Your platoon will march in perfect unison, and out of the corner of your eye you will see a new platoon, and you’ll hear the DI bellow, "THIS is your left, and THIS is your right."

SO YOU WANT TO JOIN MY BELOVED CORPS? Then step up to the cauldron and pour into it your blood, your sweat, and your tears. Then mix it with those who have gone before you. THEN might you rate the title of "United States Marine."

Pete Moraza, Jr.

Marine Corps Mustang Association

NOTE:

The Detachment [read Commandant, and by happen-stance Adjutant/Paymaster] has acquired a large collection of Leatherneck Magazines and other Marine related books. Some are full-year collections… It is felt that they would be an excellent contribution to the Wounded Warrior Barracks in Camp Lejeune, NC, or potentially of interest to the National Museum of the Marine Corps or the new Museum of the Marine in Jacksonville, NC. The Commandant is exploring appropriate distribution. If any member has other suggestions, please contact Doug Wendling at wendling.d@obxmarines.com .

On a final note:

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all Members and Families!

We’ve got so much to be thankful for, especially the freedoms we enjoy and the new breed of Marine and other services who are engaged in the struggle to maintain those freedoms.

SEMPER FIDELIS!

Note: This document is meant to be a communications vehicle of the Marine Corps League, Outer Banks Detachment 1264. Contents have not been approved by, nor edited by, the Marine Corps League or the United States Marine Corps. Should you wish to be removed from the distribution of this document you are encouraged to email your request to wendling.d@obxmarines.com.