Scuttlebutt- November 2021

Scuttlebutt — February 2019

Scuttlebutt — February 2019

NEXT CHAPTER MEETING

February 21, 2019
1130 HOURS

Please make your reservations early by calling

760 901 5494
Speak slowly, loudly and clearly.

Or email Jim Olson at
Olsoncj5@aol.com to make a reservation.
As usual, our meeting will take place at the Classic Club in Palm Desert.

 VOTE FOR
CHAPTER OFFICERS

You should have received a ballot by email for the election of Chapter Officers and Board members. Please mark your ballots and return them in a stamped envelope to: FMDA, PO Box 10856, Palm Desert, CA 92255.

 

 

WELCOME ABOARD - Newest Member

Craig Sunquist

Craig hails from Castle Rock, Colorado and wisely spends his winter in the Coachella Valley. He served with the 1st Shore Party Battalion from 1966 to 1969.

Craig is active in the the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.
Welcome aboard, Craig!

PROVIDING EMERGENCY RELIEF TO MARINE FAMILIES

Opportunities for carrying out our Chapter’s mission of providing support to Marines and their families, present themselves in various ways. In particular the support our Chapter gives to the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC), 29 Palms exemplifies those opportunities.

Last November our Chapter donated $7500 to the ASYMCA to be used for emergency relief for 7th Marine Regiment families, primarily. Emergency relief can be in the form of paying for air fare for emergency home leave; gas for Marines private vehicles for day trips to Desert Regional Hospital in Palm Springs for families to receive medical treatment; and related expenses for billeting families at Fisher House near Desert Regional Hospital in Palm Springs when Marines or family members have been admitted as patients there.

Thus far, of our Chapter’s $7500 donation made in November, $3500 has been used to provide emergency relief to Marine families.

GUEST SPEAKER JOE GONZALES: UNMANNED AERIAL SURVEILLANCE

We were very fortunate to have as our January guest speaker 27 year active duty Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant Jose Gonzalez who was accompanied by his wife Heather.

Master Guns is on the leading edge of developing applications of unmanned aerial surveillance technology for use by ground troops in battle. His comprehensive presentation included the evolution of unmanned aerial surveillance equipment from its early beginning of high altitude long range surveillance to small unmanned drones carried by individual Marines for surveying the enemy when engaged in close combat situations.

Marine Corps Veterans Desert Chapter FMDA Chapter Luncheon!

FRIENDLY REMINDER -- DUES DUE IN JANUARY!

Fifty Dollars

ANNUAL DUES: $50.

FOR TUN TAVERN SWASHBUCKLERS
ANNUAL DONATION IS $100.

SUBMIT PAYMENTS TO: FMDA DESERT CITIES
P.O. BOX 10856
PALM DESERT, CA 92255

Picture of Uncle Sam Asking for Dues Some Folks haven’t been heard from
…you know who you are. Get hot!

78th ANNIVERSARY REPORT

Picture of Paperboy Saying Extra!The Blue Diamond Division Celebrated
78 Years of Outstanding Service to the Nation
on February 1 2019

The 1st Marine Division, formed on February 1 1941, celebrated its 78th anniversary on Feb 1.2019 at Camp Pendleton culminating five days of hosting Marine veterans from the 1st Marine Division Association.

The Blue Diamond Division Regimental Commands rolled out the red carpet for 1stMarDiv Association veteran Marines at 1st, 5th and 11th Marine Regiments, the Light Armored Reconnaissance Bn, the Landing Track Vehicle Bn and the a MAW squadron.

Marines from various Association chapters were hosted for lunch at Battalion Mess Halls where they broke bread with young Marines and mesmerized the young Marines with sea stories of yesteryear.

Chapter members Quint Villanueva and Dave Franklin participated in all the activities offered during the five day event including live firing on a range with M16 rifles. Highlights of the week were the ceremonial parade with battle streamers on the Division Colors. Our long time Chapter member Dave Franklin presented the Vietnam War battle streamer to the Commanding General to attached on the Regimental Colors, A Regimental birthday party rounded out weeks activity.

All in all, it was one heck of a fine week!

Pictured: Quint Villanueva, Secretary of the Desert Cities Mitchell Paige Chapter and Major General Castellvi, Commanding General, 1st Marine Division, in front of the 1st MarDiv HQ just prior to the Battle Streamer ceremony.

 

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CAPTION

DID YOU KNOW...

Did you know…
Picture of President TrumanPresident Truman was not the first United States President who planned to do away with the Marine Corps. George Washington, our first President, saw no further need for the country to have a Marine Corps after peace was made with England so he took action to abolish it.

It was John Adams, a supporter of the Corps and instrumental in its birth, who saved the Marine Corps when he became President by convincing Congress to establish the Marine Corps as a permanent military force.

TALES FROM THE TUN -- RECAP

TALES FROM THE TUN — RECAP

The Tun Tavern crew convened at the Firehouse restaurant in Palm Desert on January 9th for food, grog, camaraderie and sea stories. Bob Ferris, Vietnam veteran and former lecturer at the Naval Academy, gave an outstanding presentation on the Marines battle at the Chosin Reservoir.

Picture of Atom Bomb ExplodingThe Tun Tavern group will meet again on February 27 at which time Gene Mooring will share with us his experience as one of the Marines involved in the atom bomb experiment in White Sands, New Mexico way back in the ’50s. It’s sure to be an interesting meeting.

UP NEXT: TUN TAVERN CLUB MEETINGS

TUN TAVERN GROUP MEETING

Picture of Tun TavernThe Tun Tavern Club meets several times a year for dinner, fellowship, camaraderie, to swap sea stories and to pig out on food and grog. The few shekels accumulated by the club, if any, are turned over to the Chapter to use at its discretion. There are no club officers or rules or regulations guiding the demeanor of members and guests other than military courtesy extended to each other.

From time to time members may be tasked with sharing their military experiences with the members. Tun Tavern meetings are open to guests both military and civilian.

CURRENT TUN TAVERN MEMBERS

Wes Ahlgren | Michael Bales (in memoriam)| Harry Covert| Joe Daily | Dave Dangwillo | Dave Franklin | Charlie Garbarini | Bob Ferris | Frank Gillette | Charlie Hall | Sam Huttenhower| Jim Irwin | Franz Jevene |Howard Lehman | Jimmy Martin | Vince Mast| Gene McClendon | Jack Mennis | George Moffatt | Hank Monahan | Gene Mooring | James Olson | Mike Ostrom | Marilyn Paige | Richard Partee | Henry Sanchez | Sandy Sandoval |Ray Schum | Bob Shepard | Buddy Sklar | George Stettler | Dale Turner | Quint Villanueva | Mike Walker | Michael Walker | Myrl Wallace | Linn Wiley

 

CHAPTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT | Vince Mast
VICE PRESIDENT | George Stettler
SECRETARY | Quint Villanueva
TREASURER | Richard Partee
SERGEANT AT ARMS | James Olson
DIRECTORS |
Michael Holquin, Robert Shepard, Harry Covert, Hank Monahan,
Dave Dangwillo.
PAST PRESIDENTS
Bill Ping (RIP) 1998-2002 | Joseph A. Daily 2002-2006 | James Sullivan (RIP) 2006-2009
Quint Villanueva 2009-2012 | Richard Partee 2012-2014 | George Stettler 2014-2016
THANK YOU FROM THE EDITOR
We hope you find this newsletter of benefit. We appreciate your continued membership and support of the chapter. If you are interested in contributing to this newsletter with news or stories, or if interested in helping edit and produce the newsletter please email the editor.
Quint Villanueva, qlv@aol.com

Guest Speaker at Chapter Meeting

Guest Speaker at Chapter Meeting

LAST MONTHS – Guest of Honor and Speaker Master Gunnery Sergeant Jose Gonzalez combat veteran of both Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom Campaigns!  He is an expert on “UAV’s” – Unmanned Aerial Vehicles!  He gave us the history and brought us up to date on all levels of UAV models and capabilities.  Including squad level miniature drones that Marines carry into the field today!  Outstanding presentation.