San Antonio Reunion, April 2016 - Marine Embassy Guard Association

Newsletter
Official Publication of the Marine Embassy Guard Association
Mission of the
Marine Embassy
Guard Association
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To inspire love of Corps and
Country
To encourage Marines to
aspire to a career in the Marine
Security Guard program
To render aid to Marines and
others when in need
To promote camaraderie and
esprit de corps
To provide a forum in which to
assemble for social interaction
To serve as a catalyst for
communications on matters of
mutual interest
To revere the memory of our
departed shipmates
To assist in preserving the
historical records of Marine
Security Guards and their
achievements
To perform any other lawful
purpose or purposes
Winter 2016
San Antonio Reunion, April 2016
The registration deadline is approaching
fast! Register now for the MEGA
REUNION 2016, in San Antonio,
Texas – Wednesday, April 6th through
Sunday, April 10th.
San Antonio captures the spirit of Texas.
Now the eighth largest in the United
States, this city has retained its sense of history and tradition, while carefully
blending in cosmopolitan progress. The city has always been a crossroads and
meeting place. Sounds and flavors of Native Americans, Old Mexico, Germans, the
Wild West, and the Deep South mingle and merge. Close to twenty million visitors
a year delight in the discovery of San Antonio’s charm.
The MEGA Reunion 2016 excursions will give you the opportunity to experience
this wonderful city and provide an unforgettable visit to San Antonio.
Register for the Reunion online at: www.embassymarine.org/Reunion/2016_SAT_
Reunion_Materials.pdf
The hotel is the full-service Holiday Inn River Walk, and is priced at just $125, plus
tax, per night, for single or double occupancy. Hot breakfast buffet coupons ordered
in advance will be available for a special price of $12 inclusive per person daily.
Unlike other years, the Banquet and MEGA Scholarship Auction will be held on
Friday night. Saturday night features an off-site dinner and professional rodeo. All
the usual events are still planned – Welcome Dinner, amazing tours, Saturday Ladies
Breakfast (with Zelda Rocha returning to coordinate this special time) and the
General Membership Meeting.
What can you bring to San Antonio?
• Items to donate to the Auction – please let Tim Wood in advance;
• Your fellow watchstanders who may not be members of MEGA;
• Yourself. Register today!
Hotel details: Call the hotel directly between 9-4 CST at (210) 224-2500 and ask
for “in-house reservations” for the smoothest booking experience. Reference the
MEGA Reunion to assure you are associated with the group and if they ask for a
booking code us MEG. If you have any trouble getting a room at the $125 rate, call
MRP (Military Reunion Planners) at (817) 251-6633.
For general questions, please contact Reunion 2016 Chairman Kevin Hermening at
kevinhermening@gmail.com, or (715) 571-0950.
1
From the Mail Bag
Dear MEGA Members,
Former Marine Looking for Buddies,
I have two Leatherneck Magazine articles on MSG posts.
March 1988:Nairoba, Kenya (6 pages), this one includes an
article about MSG Edmundo Mireles who served at a couple
of post and later became a Special Agent FBI. The other is
April 1993: London, England (6 pages). Tom Bartlett wrote
both MSG articles. I will mail these to the first MSG that
sends me a letter requesting the magazine and all I would like
is reimbursement of the mailing cost.
I’m hoping to get some help trying to locate two former
Marines that went back to Canada. They were from the
Hamilton area and I think one is in Toronto now. I don’t
know if there are any organizations in {Canada} that former
Marines might join? I have their information as rank and
service number and full names. I do hope you are able to
help. They are the last two from our boot camp platoon to
be found. (Alive I hope). L/Cpl. Leonard George Graham,
April 27, 1966 to March 5, 1969 was discharged at Camp
Pendleton, Ca.
If interested please contact me:
Jack Hott
jhott@fairpoint.net
25323 Shiloh Trail
Cleveland, MO 64734
L/Cpl. Henry James Prokop, April 27, 1966 to August 30,
1976 was discharged in Washington, DC
Thanks for your help.
Semper Fi
SSgt. Marvin Fortney fortneyjr@msn.com
USMC 1966--1974
Membership Report
Stewart Grant, Chairman
As of January 1, 2016 there are 621 active MEGA members.The MEGA Board of Directors welcomes the following new
members who have joined since the last newsletter:
John W. W. Calvert,
Regular Member, Paris FR 60-60, Cairo EG 60-62
Harry T. Kronenberg,
Regular Member, London GB 64-64, Warsaw PL 64-65,
Madrid ES 65-66
Charles (Rick) R. Flynn,
Life Member, Belgrade CS 75-76, Rome IT 76-77
John D. Moore,
Regular Member, Pretoria ZA 85-86, Kinshasa CD 86-87,
Moscow RU 87-87
Curtis R. Hadnot,
Regular Member, Cairo EG 82-83, Buenos Aires AR 83-84
Wayne A. Otte,
Life Member, Monrovia LR 59-60, Nicosia CY 60-61
Thomas M. Hobbs,
Regular Member, Sana’a YE 83-84, Dublin IE 84-86
John H. Spence,
Regular Member, Sofia BG 69-70, Munich DE 70-71
Ed E. Kaatz Jr.,
Regular Member, New Delhi IN 74-76,
Tegucigalpa HN 76-77
In Memoriam:
THOMAS J. BOROWITZ
Regular Member, Manila RP 63-66
FRANKLIN B. COLLIER
Regular Member, London GB 51-53
JOHN S. JEFFERSON
Regular Member, Khartoum SD 76-77,
Paris FR 77-79, Helsinki FI 79-80
2
PETER J. LYNCH
Life Member, Jakarta ID 56-58
RONALD W. RYAN
Charter Member, Paris FR 54-57
Mega Officer and
Board Of Director Elections
Marine Detachment at
Lakeline Oaks Celebrates
Birthday
The 2016 MEGA election for Officers and Board of Directors
members will take place during our annual reunion. With the
exception of our Legal Counsel, who is appointed, members
serving in positions of MEGA leadership are normally elected
to three-year terms. The following positions are open:
Lakeline Oaks Retirement Community
Cedar Park, Texas – November 10, 2015
Sometime in October, Lakeline Oaks
Retirement Community residents
Jim Taylor and Tom Sewell were
reminiscing about past Marine Corps
celebrations commemorating the
birthday of our Corps.
2016-2019
Three Board Members – each for a three year term
One Treasurer – three year term
An ideal board is comprised of members who possess
computer communication skills, and have some knowledge
of our historical culture about what has taken place in the
past. New members seeking to serve are encouraged to bring
innovative, fresh ideas and suggestions to the board. Have a
wiliness to focus on managing the organization effectively and
efficiently.
The Lakeline Oaks facility is located in Cedar Park, a
small community north of Austin, Texas. As the only Marines
within the community of 200 or so residents, both had fond
memories of the past Marine birthday festivities and sadly
had not participated in years. Jim was hoping to surprise his
91 year old Iwo Marine friend with a function they would
both be proud of.
It is suggested that those interested in running for any
position should read the Election Process Rules. Of particular
interest will be Section IV, Eligibility of Candidate and
Voters, Section V, declaration of Candidacy, and Section
VI, Campaign Literature. The rules can be found on the
website under the “Member Area” link, found on the menu
on the left hand column of the MEGA home page (www.
embassymarine.org).
As a former Marine Security Guard, Jim was also a member
of the Marine Embassy Guard Association and sought help
from his fellow Texan, Joe Mitchell to help produce “their
own private ball”. Joe then set into motion a project which
culminated in a “Birthday Ball” style dinner hosted by the
Lakeline Oaks Dining Staff.
Jack McGarry crafted an invitation, and guests were presented
formal copies of the Commandant’s birthday message, General
Lejeune’s birthday message and the Marine Corps Hymn.
All interested members in good standing must submit a
biographical sketch of 125 words or less along with an
indication of which position you are seeking. Although a
photo is not required, it is recommended.
To enhance the ceremony, Denny Kraus recruited a MEGA
key sponsor, “Sgt. Grit” who gladly provided materials to
dress up the occasion.
Please send to: Ray Kunkle, Chairperson, Election
Committee, at 510 Via Florida, San Clemente, CA 92672 or
rlkunkle1@cox.net by March 1, 2016.
If you have any additional questions concerning the election
process, please do not hesitate to contact me by e-mail;
rlkunkle1@cox.net, or telephone; (949) 492-0105.
R/S
Ray Kunkle
Election Committee Chairman
On November 10th, 2015 Sgt. Jim Taylor and his guests
(Ms. Carolyn Taylor & Ms. Jan Carter along with Cpl.
Tom Sewell and his guests (Mr. Scott Sewell, and Ms. Linda
Sewell) joined thousands of other Marines around the world
in honoring all who have served and serve the United States
Marine Corps.
P.S. Please contact me if you are willing to serve on the
Election Committee.
3
MSG History
Associate MEGA Member Captain John Koniki USMC
(Ret) 1961-82 served along side Master Sgt. Miller at MSG
Bn. A mustang in his own right John rose from Pvt to GySgt
to Warrant Officer, Lieutenant to Captain.
On August 30, 2012 seventy-one year-old Master Gunnery
Sergeant Loyd D. Miller died from lung cancer. He served
in the United States Marine Corps from 1959 to 1984 with
worldwide duty assignments including Japan, Vietnam,
Indonesia, Malaysia, and Pakistan. He served as a combat
engineer and Drill Instructor. In 1978 he graduated from
MSG School and assigned to Islamabad, Pakistan as NCOIC
of the Marine Detachment. On November 21, 1979 the
embassy came under terrorist attacks resulting in the death of
Marine Watchstander Cpl. Steven Crowley.
He retired from Department of State, Diplomatic Security
Service Training Center, MSG School, 30 May 2005. John
lives in Virginia, enjoys his retirement with a little fishing,
woodworking, and travel.
In 1982 Master Sergeant Miller became Chief Instructor at
the Marine Security Guard Battalion at Quantico. He retired
from the Marine Corps in 1984 and began work for the
Department of State, Foreign Buildings and Grounds, Fire
Safety.
In 1996 Loyd D. Miller was assigned to the Diplomatic
Security Training Center as State Department Instructor at
MSG Bn. Quantico.
*
MSG School Officers and Instructors Class 2-04 February 29, 2004
4
Marine Security Guard’s Story
of Seoul During Beginning of
Korean War
Pusan (now Busan) and to alert embassy families in outlying
residences that the decision had made to evacuate all
dependents.
By the afternoon of the 25th, the Marines began burning
classified material. Due to the amount of material to be
destroyed, not only were the embassy basement furnaces used,
but the Marines also built a homemade wire cage to burn
documents in the parking lot.
Defense Media Activity at Fort Meade, MD…
The 20 Marines who would eventually serve as the first
Marine Security Guard detachment at the U.S. Embassy in
Seoul, Korea were selected from approximately 100 Marines
who were mostly veterans of World War II and had responded
to an ALMAR ( a notice to all Marines) issued by the Marine
Corps Headquarters in 1948.
These Marines, picked for a “special assignment,” were all
ordered to, and quartered at, Henderson Hall in Arlington,
Virginia. Their reporting date was November 10, 1948, the
173rd anniversary of the Marine Corps’ founding.
Trained for several weeks by State Department security
officers on 1515 Jefferson Street in Washington, DC, the
MSG designees were taken to Kahn’s clothing store (closed in
1960) and fitted for civilian attire (suits, shirts, ties, overcoats,
hats, etc.) because, according to retired Warrant Officer
George Lampman, a member of that MSG detachment, “We
would not be allowed to wear our Marine Corps uniforms
where we would be going.” (This was due to a provision that
resulted from the Yalta Conference in 1945 that limited the
number of uniformed Russian military in the north and U.S.
armed force personnel in the south). The Marines were also
instructed not to tell anyone where they were to be assigned.
Photo of George Lampman.taken on 12/23/15 at Greenspring Retirement Center
in Springfield, VA.
The next morning (26th), the Marines were tasked with
destroying all embassy vehicles by firing rounds from their
M-1s and Browning Automatic Rifles (BARs) into the engine
blocks. Due to the size of the motor pool, it took several
hours to destroy them all. During this time, American
dependents and nonessential employees were assembling
at the embassy for evacuation. The Marines escorted and
controlled the bus convoy to Inchon, where the women and
children boarded the only available ship and were sent to
Japan.
After being flown to California (staying at the Marine
Memorial Club in San Francisco on New Year’s Eve, 1948),
the detachment then headed to the Far East with stops in
Hawaii, Midway Island, and Japan.
When the Korea-bound Marines arrived at Kimpo Airfield
near Seoul on January 10, 1949, they had no military
uniforms, no identification cards, and no dog tags. After
reaching the building (the Bando Hotel) that housed the
Embassy, the detachment went right to work, setting up a
security posture quickly and were rapidly accepted into the
Embassy community. On November 10, 1949, the newlyestablished MSG detachment conducted the first Marine
Corps Ball, celebrated by more than 200 guests.
On the 27th, the Marines escorted the remaining nonessential
personnel to the Kimpo airfield. Once they returned to
the embassy, they finished burning all classified material,
destroyed switchboards, and disabled code machines. They
were then instructed to head south to Pusan in the only jeeps
still operational.
George Lampman, who would retire from the Corps in July
of 1967, is one of two surviving members of the 20-person
Marine Security Guard Detachment at Embassy Seoul (19491950).
After that, their duties became fairly routine and time passed
by quickly until June 25, 1950.
At 8:45 that morning, the Marines were notified that North
Korean forces had crossed the 38th Parallel at 4:00 a.m. A
few of the Marines were then sent to the main railroad
station to pick up embassy staffers who were arriving from
Submitted by Fred C. Lash. A retired Marine Corps officer,
most recently served in the Office of Public Affairs, Bureau of
Diplomatic Security, U.S. Department of State.
5
Former MSGs Help Welcome Medal of Honor Society to Boston
Hershel “Woody” Williams
MOH fought the Japanese
with a flame thrower during
the battle on Iwo Jima. On
February 23, 1945, the same
day that the flag was raised
on top of Mount Suribach.
Woody Williams and Navajo Code Talker, Along with 3-4 Marine
Samuel Holiday – March, 2015
riflemen who provided
cover for him, Woody was able to destroy 4 Japanese bunkers
on Iwo Jima that afternoon. For his bravery and heroism, he
was awarded the Medal of Honor along with 26 other Marines
and Sailors for their actions during the 36 battle on Iwo Jima.
Woody is now 92 years old and the last surviving Medal of
Honor recipient from the battle of Iwo Jima.
William’s Medal of Honor citation reads, “For conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and
beyond the call of duty as demolition sergeant serving with
the 21st Marines, 3d Marine Division, in action against
enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 23
February 1945. Quick to volunteer his services when our
tanks were maneuvering vainly to open a lane for the infantry
through the network of reinforced concrete pillboxes, buried
mines, and black volcanic sands, Cpl. Williams daringly
went forward alone to attempt the reduction of devastating
machine gun fire from the unyielding positions…covered
only by 4 riflemen, he fought desperately for 4 hours under
terrific enemy small-arms fire and repeatedly returned to his
own lines to prepare demolition charges and obtain serviced
flamethrowers, struggling back, frequently to the rear of
hostile emplacements, to wipe out 1 position after another.
On one occasion, he daringly mounted a pillbox to insert
the nozzle of his flamethrower through the air vent, killing
the occupants and silencing the gun; on another he grimly
charged enemy riflemen who attempted to stop him with
bayonets and destroyed them with a burst of flame from his
weapon. His unyielding determination and extraordinary
heroism in the face of ruthless enemy resistance were directly
instrumental in neutralizing one of the most fanatically
defended Japanese strong points encountered by his regiment
and aided vitally in enabling his company to reach its
objective. Cpl. Williams’ aggressive fighting spirit and valiant
devotion to duty throughout this fiercely contested action
sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval
Service.”
Semper Fi!
Kevin Jarvis
Director of Veterans’ Services, City of Malden, MA
Former MSGs, Albert Kelleher (Cairo 77-78 San Salvador 7879) and Kevin Jarvis (Yaounde 76-78 Panama City 78-79),
helped welcome Hershel “Woody’ Williams MOH Iwo Jima
and nearly 50 other Medal of Honor recipients to Boston,
MA in September 2015. Woody is the only living Medal of
Honor recipient of the 27 Marines and Sailors awarded our
nation’s highest honor for bravery at Iwo Jima. He was also
the only WWII MOH recipient able to attend the convention
in Boston.
The day after
the welcome
reception,
the Medal
of Honor
recipients,
traveling in
groups of
2, flew in
black hawk
helicopters to
various high
schools in the
greater Boston
area to speak
to the students.
What better
way to get the
word out about
bravery and
heroism to our
young students
and grab their
attention than
to land outside
their schools in
a Blackhawk
helicopter!
Top Photo: MSGs Albert Kelleher (Cairo 77-78, San
Salvidore 78-79), Woody Williams and Kevin Jarvis
(Yaounda 76-78, Panama City 78-79) at the reception
for Medal of Honor Society Convention, September 2015.
Woody had just autographed Al’s Iwo Jima K-Bar; Middle:
Kevin Jarvis holding his father’s license plate on Iwo Jima;
Bottom: MOH recipient Walter (Joe) Marm and MOH
recipient Brian Thacker at the reception.
Kevin greeted
Vietnam veterans Walter “Joe” Marm Medal of Honor
recipient and Brian Thacker Medal Of Honor recipient as
they stepped off the helicopter on the baseball field behind
Malden High School, Malden MA. It was an incredible day.
The photo of the license plate is my father’s license plate for
25-30 years. I brought it to Iwo Jima in March and carried it
with me along the 2 mile stretch of invasion beach and to the
top of Mt. Suribachi.
I don’t think he ever got a traffic ticket!!
6
MEGA Marine House
Ya say your wife sent your old Dress Blues to the cleaners and
they took off your Sergeant’s stripes with three hash marks
By Ed Vasgerdsian, Newsletter Editor
and returned it with Pfc. Stripes and left the hash marks on,
MEGA Marine House is dedicated to bringing you bits of
is that what’s bothering ya Gyrene…and your upper bridge
info about the past, present and future. After all, if there was
just broke and ya pasted it together with bubble gum and ya
anything happening, it happened at the Marine House.
hope it don’t fall apart while you’re doing some fast talking
Hi Marine. Ya say Christmas Dinner was a bust because your
to the traffic cop that stopped ya for driving too slow. Is that
grandson said he was joining the Army because the Army
what’s bothering you, you John Basilone wanna be? And the
was the best. Is that what’s bothering you Bunkie…and ya
heel of your shoe broke off and now you wobble when you
tired of hearing about all the medals and ribbons the Corps
walk…and the beard you’ve been trying to grow for twenty-
is giving out because after your six-year hitch you only have
years still looks like a five o’clock shadow? Is that what’s
a Presidential Unit Citation and no Good Conduct ribbon
bothering you, you spit shined dress shoe poster boy of a
because of what happened in Jacksonville? Is that what’s
Cold War Warriord?
bothering you?
Well lift your head up high and take a walk. Strut, strut,
And ya say ya lost your job to a guy who turned out to be ya
strut, lean back remember John Wayne when he said, Saddle
former D.I at Parris Island?...and your DD214 got lost and
Up, Marines, Ya gotta show the world, ya show the world
the VA ain’t taking anymore complaints…and ya say your
where to get off. Youll never give up, never give up, and never
wife said she was going to Jack In-The-Box for a take out
give up...that ship!
order of S.O.S last weekend and never came back and ya still
***
waiting…and she took the TV remote with her and that’s
what hurts most. Is that what’s troubling ya fellow, who once
Hey there Devil Dog, ya still hoping the green tie tie skivvies
stood guard at an American Embassy in Moscow?
will make a come back and the USMC tattoo doesn’t
Well lift your head up high and take a walk in the sun
continue to sag and fade? Is that what’s bothering you?
remember Chesty Puller who once said ya gotta show the
Well lift your head up high and take the starch outta those
world, ya show the world where to get off. You’ll never give
shorts. Head up chest out, shoulders back both of them and
up, never give up, and never give up...that ship!
remember this you Leathernecks, ya gotta show the world, ya
show the world where to get off. You’ll never give up, never
***
give up, and never give up...that ship!
Hey Jar Head. Ya say your gall bladder is acting up and your
Comprised thoughts accredited to Eddie Lawrence, the Great Philosopher.
tummy gurgled during a movie and the lady sitting next to
edV
you thinks you farted. Is that what’s bothering ya, you the
squared away Paris Marine that once asked the American
Ambassador’s wife for her ID?
***
7
Marine Embassy Guard Association
P.O. Box 6226
Wausau, WI 54402
We’re on the web!
www.embassymarine.org
MEGA Board of Directors 2015-16
MEGA Committees/Key Contacts
Timothy J. Wood, Chairman, Director
Shelton S. Mackey III, MCESG Liaison
New Delhi, IN 84-85, Santiago, CL 85-86
Term of Office: 2013-2016
twood01@gmail.com
Stewart M. Grant, Vice-Chairman,
Director
Jim K. Harkins, Jr., Director
Algiers, DZ, 65-65; Monrovia, LR 66-66;
Calcutta, IN, 74-75, Luxembourg, LU, 76-76
Term of Office: 2013-2016
guzziteam@earthlink.net
Virgil M. Johnson, Director
Ankara, TR 61-62; Abidjan, CI 62-63
Term of Office: 2015-2018
stewartgrant@prodigy.net
Taipei, TW 57-59
Term of Office: 2014-2016
vjohnson316@hotmail.com
Kevin J. Hermening, Treasurer, Director
Shelton S. Mackey III, Director
Tehran, IR 79-81
Term of Office: 2013-2016
kevinh@hermeningfinancialgroup.com
Kabul, AF 84-85; Rio de Janeiro, BR 85-86
Term of Office: 2014-2017
mackeyss@verizon.net
Vincent O. Downes, Secretary
Lance M. Parcell, Director
Kabul, AF 84-85; Rio de Janeiro, BR 85-86
Stewart Grant, Membership, Webmaster,
Historical Archives
Ankara TR 61-62, Abidjan, CI 62-63
Raymond Kunkle, Elections
Kabul, AF 61-62; Ankara, TR 62-63;
Abidjan, CI 63-64
Michael J. Laumann, Strategic Planning
Chairman
Beirut, LB 70-73; Addis Ababa, ET 71-71
Paul Robinson, Ship’s Store
Kabul, AF 60-61; Ankara, TR 61-63
Budapest, HU 81-82; Tokyo JP 82-83;
Moscow RU 85-87
Term of Office: 2014-2017
embmarine@gmail.com
Paris, FR 92-93; Prague, CZ 93-94
Term of Office: 2014-2017
usmc03@gmail.com
Charles (Chuck) Moseman,
Newsletter Printer
Paul (Doc) W. Doolittle, Director
Juan Rocha, MEGA Chaplain
Thomas A. Butler, Legal Advisor
Beijing, RC 84-85; Beirut, LB 85-86
Term of Office 2015-2018
doc.dolittle@lmco.com
Kabul 64-65, Leopoldville 65-66
Ed Vasgerdsian, Director
Karachi, PK 77-78, Manila, PI 78-79
Cairo, EG 54-56
Serves at the pleasure of the
MEGA Board of Directors
Butler_Dugan@msn.com
Jeff R. Covert, Director
Jeddah, SA 85-86; Port-au-Prince, HT 86-87;
MSGBn Co. G Abidjan, CI 2000-2002;
Term of Office: 2014-2017
jcovert@cruiseshipcenters.com
Cairo, EG 56-59
Term of Office: 2015-2018
evgrunt@aol.com
Singapore, SN 58-60
Fred Samarelli, Technology
Administrator
Ed Vasgerdsian, Newsletter Editor
Cairo, EG 56-59
Tim Wood, Scholarship Selection
New Delhi, IN 84-85, Santiago, CL 85-86