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Scuttlebutt- November 2021

by Vince Mast | Nov 24, 2021 | Miscellaneous | 0 comments

Desert Cities, Mitchell Paige
MOH Chapter
SCUTTLEBUTT
1st Marine Division Association
November 2021
VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT FMDADESERT.org
HAPPY 246TH BIRTHDAY MARINES!!!
“I believe in my soul that Marines are different. Our identity is firmly rooted in our warrior ethos. This is the force that will always adapt and overcome no matter what the circumstances. We fight and win in any clime and place.”
-General David H. Berger
Commandant USMC

NEXT CHAPTER MEETING,  DECEMBER 16

GUESTS ARE WELCOME

MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY BALLS CANCELLED
Citing an “abundance of caution due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David Berger is canceling his Marine Corps birthday ball in the nation’s capital, a Marine Corps spokesman confirmed Wednesday.
It’s a move echoed across the Corps.
For the second consecutive year, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted Marine Corps birthday celebrations, generally held on or around the Corps’ birthday on Nov. 10. In 2020 most units in the Marine Corps had to adjust birthday celebrations, limit travel plans or outright cancel them.
CHAPTER NEWS & UPDATES
DEAN HUNTER
Lt. Col. Dean Hunter
Commonly known among FMDA Marines is the name Mitchell Paige, Founder of our Chapter, Medal of Honor recipient and long time Coachella Valley resident.  Less familiar to our members my be the name Dean Hunter.
Lt. Colonel Dean Hunter, US Air Force. former Marine, is a long time member of our Chapter, resident of Rancho Mirage and candidate for the Medal of Honor.
Dean has a most interesting and unique 26 year military background that began as a Marine grunt and closed out as an Air Force fighter pilot (Dean embraces the credo once a Marine, always a Marine).
Marine Private Hunter, by some bureaucratic snafu was shipped out to Korea at the early part of the Korean war where he served as a rifleman without having first received any training to prepare him for combat. Surviving Korea and receiving an Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corps, Dean joined the Air Force, trained as a fighter pilot, and flew 166 combat missions during the Viet Nam war to become one of the highest-decorated officers for heroism in the US Air Force.
Dean Hunter is currently a candidate for the Medal of Honor for a flight flown on June 25, 1964 in South Vietnam.
CHECK THIS OUT: Author, educator, and American hero, Lt Colonel Dean Hunter will relate his experiences from ground pounder to fighter pilot in his spellbinding presentation, “For Love of Life” at the Palm Springs Air Museum on November 16 at 1:00PM. This is a unique event for hosting family and friends and an opportunity to meet an amazing American hero.
CHAPTER KICKS OFF NEW FUND RAISING SEASON
Kudos to Chapter members Harry Covert, Vince Mast, Jim Irwin, Jim Olson, Dominick Ramos, Tom Woulfe, Quint Villanueva, Mike Ostrom and Jack Rabinowtiz who turned out on Oct 8 and 9 to staff our donation tables at Jensen’s Palm Desert and Palm Springs markets kicking off our Chapter’s fund raising season.
As was anticipated, Jensen’s shoppers dug deep in their pockets and contributed generously to our program which provide Christmas dinner gifts to 180 Marine and Sailor families stationed at the Marine Base at Twenty Nine Palms; supports Desert Hot Springs High School Marine Corps JrROTC cadets and maintains an emergency fund at the Armed Services YMCA for use by Marine and Sailor families in their time of need.
Twenty twenty one is the fifteenth year that Matt Zack, General Manager of Jensen’s Market’s invited us to set up our donation tables in front Jensen’s Markets. Mucho thanks Matt for your unswerving support!
FYI each boxed, already cooked Christmas dinner, contains enough food for eight meals. A quick calculation tells us our Chapter donated 2700 boxed Christmas dinners or 21,600 meals to Marine and Sailor families since we began this program 15 years ago.
Well done shipmates!
But let’s not rest on our laurels. Now is the time for all Chapter members to pitch in a few hours time to stand watch at one of our donation tables during November and December.
The following tribute to Mitchell Paige appeared as part of an essay by Nicholas Warr,
Deputy Vice President – West, FMDA
A WORD ABOUT MITCHELL PAIGE
FOUNDER OF THE DESERT CITIES
MITCHELL PAIGE MEDAL OF HONOR CHAPTER
Nicholas Warr
I’ll never forget the day that I first met Colonel Mitch Paige, USMC (MOH). I was attending an FMDA Anniversary celebration many years ago at Camp Pendleton. It was a rather dreary day with a light but persistent rain falling on those of us who had participated in and observed our annual “Rededication of Colors” ceremony at 1st Marine Division Headquarters. I had invited my son, Brent, and we were both soaking wet, so we ducked into the Quonset hut behind the White House where I knew there was a historical display of various artifacts displaying some of the legendary history of our division.
As I began to show him around, I noticed that Mitch Paige was also in the Quonset hut, so I introduced my son to him. After a brief conversation, Mitch asked Brent if he would like to walk around the museum with him, so he could expand on the displays surrounding us. Brent was in awe of this kind, soft-spoken man who was wearing the beautiful starred blue and white decoration, proof of the fact that we were in the presence of a true hero, and so was I.
I’ll never forget his kindness that day, and the humility that Colonel Paige demonstrated. It capped off a very memorable day for all of us.
MARINE CORPS 246TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
A celebration of the 246th birthday of the U. S. Marine Corps and “Last of the First” Salute to 1st Marine Division WW II combat veterans.
The 1st Marine Division Association (FMDA) and Camp Pendleton Historical Society (CPHS) cordially invite you to celebrate the 246th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps and to salute World War II combat veterans of the 1st Marine Division.
All Marines (active duty, Reserve, retired, veteran) and their spouses and friends of the Corps are invited.
Nov. 6, 2021
Omni La Costa Resort & Spa.
Carlsbad. CA
  • Pre-Ceremony Cocktail Hour (5 p.m. – 6 p.m.)
  • Birthday Ceremony (6 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.)
  • Dinner (6:45 p.m. – 8 p.m.)
  • Tickets: Single $100 Couple $175
Attire
TUN TAVERN UPDATES
TUN TAVERN GROUP
The 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 memorium)|  Harry Covert|
Dave Dangwillo |  Charlie Garbarini | Bob Ferris | Frank Gillette | Charlie Hall
| Jim Irwin | Howard Lehman | Vince Mast|  | Jack Mennis | George Moffatt |
Gene Mooring | James Olson | Mike Ostrom |  Henry Sanchez | Bob Shepard |
George Stettler | Dale Turner | Quint Villanueva | Mike Walker |
Myrl Wallace | Linn Wiley | Tom Woulfe
CHAPTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT | Harry Covert
VICE PRESIDENT | Vince Mast
SECRETARY | Quint Villanueva
TREASURER | Tom Woulfe
SERGEANT AT ARMS | James Olson
DIRECTORS |
Robert Shepard
George Stettler
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 (RIP) 2012-2014 | George Stettler 2014-2016
Vince Mast (2016-2019)
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
1st Marine Division Association Desert Cities | PO Box 10856, Palm Desert, CA 92255
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Copyright © 2018 1st Marine Division Association

Bob Shepard

2 + 12 =

Tom Woulfe

5 + 2 =

Vincent L. Mast

10 + 1 =

David Dawgwillo

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Dick Partee

11 + 1 =

Harry Covert

5 + 13 =

Jim Olson

7 + 6 =

Quintin Villanueva

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George Stettler

6 + 7 =

Our Mission

Desert Cities Mitchell Paige Medal of Honor Chapter’s primary mission is to support the Marines and their families of the 7th Marines Reinforced Regiment at USMC Base 29 Palms, CA. This Regiment consists of four Battalions–1st Battalion (Prepare to March), 2nd Battalion (Ready for All, Yielding to None), 3rd Battalion (The Cutting Edge) and Third Battalion Fourth Marines (Thundering Third).

These Marine Battalions are presently rotating deployments every seven months serving in Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, and Yemen. While one Batallion is deployed the other three Battalions are conducting intensive training schedules at 29 Palms.
How we support and contribute to these Marines and their families.

Our Chapter raises funds to supply Holiday (Christmas) meals, Exchange gift certificates, emergency relief funds and child care for the young Marines and their families. These contributions are distributed by the ASYMCA from recommendations by the Regimental Sgt. Major and/or the Battalion Sgt.Majors and approval from three Officers or Board Members from our Chapter. Priority is given to enlisted Marines with the rank of Corporal, Lance Corporal, Private First Class and Private.

Secondly, our mission is to support the Desert Hot Springs High School Marine Corps Jr. ROTC Program

This successful cadet program annually leads over our male and female students consisting of up to six platoons of cadets. These cadets march, drill, study and conform to military type discipline on top of their regular academic High School curriculum; achieving rand and promotion upon graduation. Many of these cadets go on to college, military academy, or enlistments in the branches of military service. This is a Marine Corps sanctioned and monitored curriculum led by Lt. Colonel Carl Lewke and 1st Sgt. Nichelle Webb.

How we support and contribute to these Cadets.

Our Chapter supplies funds for field trips, awards, uniforms, Honor Guard & Drill equipment, Holiday meal support, and scholarships to these young cadets. This program then regularly supports Community events throughout the Coachella Valley with Honor Guards, marching in the parade, and volunteering at Holiday and Country Club Events.

Our Chapter also supports the Devil Pups Program here in the Coachella Valley by funding field trips and summer camps for the Junior High School participants.

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