The Proud Warrior - 19marinesnetwork.org

The Proud Warrior
WORLD WAR II * VIETNAM * GULF WAR * SOMALIA * IRAQ * AFGHANISTAN * PEACE TIME
National Newsletter of the 1/9 Network, Inc.
March 2012
“As to war, I am and always was a great enemy, at the
same time a warrior the greater part of my life and were I
young again, should still be a warrior while ever this country should be invaded and I lived.”
Daniel Morgan
Brigadier General
Continental Army
The Proud Warrior
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Dear Brothers,
O
n February 24th I and my wife Jill had the privilege of attending the 1 st Battalion 9th
Marines Staff NCO/Officers Dining Out Mess Night held in Wilmington NC. Also attending were Ric Neumann and Karen, Frank and Barbara Healy, David and Peggy
Murray, Johnnie and Debra Beamon, Robert and Sandy Grubb, Dan Latham, Pat Dixon
and his brother Bob Dickson. Dining in and Dining out is a long time tradition of the
Corps held to celebrate victories and successful campaigns adopted by the Corps from
the British with roots going back to the Viking and Roman armies. Our Battalion has
recently returned from a successful deployment in Afghanistan “WELCOME HOME MARINES”. Lt Colonel Tyler Zagurski advised that ALL returned home: 13 Marines were
wounded in action but there were no losses even though contact with the Taliban occurred on almost a daily basis. This is a testament to the superior training and abilities of the Marines who today
carry on the name of “The Walking Dead” along with outstanding leadership by the NCO’s and Officers. It is also the
answer to all the prayers said on behalf of our Brothers for their safe return—thank you Marines and Thank You
Lord.
We are fast approaching the time for our National Reunion in San Diego Sept 12-16 2012. Look for Registration
forms and hotel booking information via direct mail in April. I hope to see all of you there.
Semper Fi and God Bless,
Roger
2012 Reunion
Here’s the Latest Scoop!
September 12th to the 16th
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
Marines,
I
t’s hard to believe that we are only six months away from another reunion. It seems
like it was just a few months ago that we gathered in our nation’s capital to renew
old friendships, see the sights of Washington D.C., drink beer and swap sea stories.
The planning by Doc Speak and his reunion committee is now moving into high gear
and the list of activities has been completed. Contracts were signed with the Town and
Country Resort in San Diego last year. That’s the major stuff, now comes all the small
details to make the whole thing come together, which is where the real work comes in.
Just as a preview here is the schedule of events:
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Wednesday: check-in and reception
Thursday: Morning tour of the San Diego harbor. Relax aboard the boat and cruise past the ships and facilities,
both Navy and civilian (includes suds).
Afternoon visit to restored Old Town San Diego. This place is really interest and a good place to pick up gifts for
grandkids etc. A real step back in time.
Evening memorial service.
Friday: Morning we will be guests for a recruit graduation from MCRD San Diego which should bring back many
memories for all enlisted Marines. We will watch as a series of hard chargers is addressed as “Marine” for the
first time and see the same pride in their faces as we once had on ours at the same event. We will then have
time to visit the great USMC museum on base and grab some grub as we like.
Afternoon: Tour the USS Midway. The ship has been turned into a great floating museum and is often used by
active Navy and Marine personal for retirement ceremonies. Plenty of vintage naval aircraft aboard as well as
being able to move freely about the ships living and working areas.
Saturday: As usual most of the day will be free time except for the general membership business meeting. Let
me suggest that you make time to visit Balboa Park, it’s quite a place.
Saturday night is the banquet. “Dress blues, tennis shoes and a light coat of oil” as we used to say.
Transportation around San Diego is a breeze. The city has a trolley system that will take you just about anywhere
you need to go for only a couple of dollars a day. That’s right, a day. You by a day pass and get on and off as much
as you like. There is a trolley stop directly behind our hotel so you can leave your car in the parking lot if you
brought one.
Let’s talk safety, everything I hear from those who live there is that you stay away from Tijuana. It’s a lot nicer than
when we were there 40+ years ago but far more dangerous. The chances of getting caught in a crossfire between
drug gangs is small but the real danger is kidnapping. It’s gotten so common that it’s not even making the news
anymore. Stay on the US side for your own sake and that of your loved ones.
We still have plenty of raffle tickets available for those two beautiful 45’s that were so generously donated. Sales
from the raffle will be used to offset the expenses of the reunion just as we did in DC in 2010. Call Don Hanson at
205-664-8085 and he’ll get them out to you.
Semper Fidelis,
Ric Neumann, Chairman
MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR
Marines,
With the March Issue of the Proud Warrior, we are back on our desired publication schedule. I’ve
received several messages asking when the next issue will be out so here’s the schedule going forward; four issues a year with a target date of the last Friday of March, June, September and December for the electronic version and about a week later for the hard copy to be mailed.
If you are reading this in your copy that arrived courtesy of the U.S. Postal Service, please consider switching to the electronic version. If nothing else, the photographs that our members send
in for publication will be seen in living color, kind of like the time the nation was switching over to
color television. That said, we realize a number of you don’t use e-mail so we will continue to provide the hard copy version.
This issue features several articles sent in by 1/9 Network members. It is these articles that keep the publication
lively and interesting to our members. Thanks to all who took the time and effort to provide the material.
Semper Fi,
Joe Heater - Editor
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The Proud Warrior
Message from the “Skipper”
G
reeting to the Walking Dead and their friends and families!
A quick update to let everyone know that the Battalion has returned from Afghanistan…and I mean EVERYONE has returned! Despite a stubborn enemy, harsh
conditions, and a massive area of responsibility, the Marines and Sailors of 1/9 did a
tremendous job and truly set the conditions for a lasting peace in their part of Afghanistan. The Battalion was spread over hundreds of square kilometers and most
were living in small units with their Afghan counterparts aboard joint bases. The key
tenets each Marine held to were; Protect the population, Partner with Afghan Security
Forces, and Ruthlessly close with the enemy whenever he dares show himself. I
couldn’t be more proud of these men and their example of bravery and professionalism will stay with me forever.
I would like to extend a personal “thank you” to all the family and friends that kept
faith with the Walking Dead. The cards, packages, emails and prayers were overwhelming and never stopped.
Each and every Marine knew that loved-ones back home were proud of them and praying for their safety, and
that goes a long ways during tough days. I’ve been in several Battalions during my career but never one that
held so true to its legacy and acted like one large family.
It’s hard to say exactly what’s next for the Walking Dead. As you know, the Marine Corps has decided to fold the
flag once again, but that will probably be in a couple of years. For now, the Marines and Sailors are just getting
back in the groove from some well deserved time off and our training cycle is beginning fresh. The men are
rightfully proud of their accomplishments and many are preparing to move on to other challenges while new
members begin to arrive slowly. I’ll keep you updated on the Battalion’s progress and missions as they come.
Till then, I thank you again for your support and look forward to seeing you all soon.
Semper Fi, and God Bless,
LtCol Tyler Zagurski
Pistol Raffle Update
Hello Marines,
T
o date, 280 tickets have been sold. You still have time to
purchase your raffle ticket but keep in mind, that sales
will be terminated on the 31st of August. So don’t miss out on
the chance to own one of these extraordinary fire arms. Your
odd’s of winning are much better than betting on the pony’s at
your local race track, and the money goes for a great cause,
the 1/9 Network, Inc.
The winning ticket will be drawn at the 2012 Reunion in San
Diego.
YOU
WILL FIND THE RAFFLE ENTRY FORM
AND CONTEST RULES ON PAGES
Page 4
32-34.
The Proud Warrior
500 Hotel Cir N
San Diego, CA 92108
Getting Around San Diego
Light Rail Trolley
Just a short stroll from the Town and Country Resort Hotel will take you to the San Diego Trolley pick-up. The trolley is a great way to get around San Diego when you’re sightseeing, shopping, or going to specific events. Travel
by trolley to the Gaslamp Quarter, Old Town, Downtown San Diego, the Convention Center and Seaport Village.
You can also reach San Diego’s sporting event venues - Qualcomm Stadium, Petco Park, San Diego State and Viejas Arena by trolley.
Old Town Trolley
With pick-up and ticket purchase available at the Town and Country Resort Hotel, the Old Town Trolley will show
you California’s second largest city, exciting attractions and where 70 miles of beaches come together to create a
vacationer’s paradise. For over 20 years, Old Town Trolley Tours has been providing sightseeing tours which highlight the best of San Diego.
Taxi
For about the same price as a rental car, gas, and parking, you can take a taxi to Sea World or La Jolla. Unfortunately these destinations are not en route with the trolley. Unless you plan on renting a car, a taxi would be your
best option.
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USS Midway Museum — San Diego
A
boat trip through San Diego harbor provides
visitors with tangible proof of America's military might. San Diego is one of the U.S. Navy's
largest home port and the headquarters of all
naval air forces, including its aircraft carriers.
One any given day, one might see everything
from nuclear powered aircraft carriers to hospital
ships anchored at the port. Nearby are the Marine
Corps' Miramar air station and the Marine Corps
Recruit Depot San Diego.
Camp Pendleton,
where thousands of Americans have made the
grueling transformation into Marines, is just a few
miles north. Standing on the deck of a tour boat
in the harbor center, one is literally surrounded
by the awesome power of the United States military.
Nestled in the middle of the harbor is a visible
marker of the heritage of the sailors and Marines
who made the Navy into the respected and feared
force it is today. The USS Midway floating museum stands as a tribute to those who served
aboard her and all of the other flattops America has sent into battle, as well as those who pioneered carrier aviation,
ushering in a new era of naval combat.
Midway was built in Newport News, Virginia, at an original cost of $90 million. She was commissioned on September 10, 1945, just days after World War II ended. When built, she displaced 45,000 tons, much larger than the
30,000 ton Essex class carriers preceding her.
While she entered service too late for World War II, Midway went on to serve throughout the Cold War, including
combat tours in Vietnam and Operation Deseret Shield/Storm in 1991.
Arriving off the shores of Vietnam in the spring of 1965, pilots from Midway were the first Americans to shoot down
an enemy MiG fighter jet in the war. Returning to the United States for a modernization, Midway went back to Vietnam in 1971 to conduct further combat missions. On January 12, 1973, two of her flyers shot down a MiG-17 with a
Sidewinder heat seeking missile.
It was perhaps fitting that a carrier with so much service in Vietnam returned in 1975 along with three other carriers
and numerous other ships to evacuate South Vietnam citizens and former soldiers, taking over 3,000 refugees on
board.
The final combat missions of her air group were flown over Iraq and Kuwait where Midway served as the flagship of
the Persian Gulf Battle Force.
Returning to the San Diego in 1992, Midway was decommissioned and towed to Bremerton, Washington, to join the
inactive fleet. Meanwhile in San Diego, interest grew in acquiring Midway as a floating museum. An agreement
was reached in September 2003 and subsequently she was towed back to San Diego arriving there in January 2004
and finally opening her decks and passageways to visitor in June of the same year. More than 3,000 visitors toured
the ship on her first day.
Visitors to Midway enter the ship via a gantry that leads to the ship's hanger deck, where they can pick up an electronic tour guide with a set of earphones. As you walk through the ship, you will see number posted next to various
exhibits. Simply punch the number on the guide's keypad and press the play button. Many of the audio files include
audio recordings of former Midway sailors describing their personal experiences. The museum has gone to great
lengths to portray the everyday lives of sailors which numbered over 4,500 when the ship was fully staffed. As a
self paced tour you can linger a while at exhibits that hold a greater interest for you.
The exhibits run the gamut of the ship's service, from the post-World War II period through Desert storm and the
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USS Midway Museum — San Diego
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early 1990's. There are over 25 aircraft displayed on Midway's
hanger and flight decks. They include World War II aircraft including the SBD Dauntless dive bomber and TBM Avenger, Korean War
aircraft such as the F9F-8P Cougar and AD Skyraider, Vietnam aircraft including the F-4 Phantom and Huey gunship. Desert Storm
aircraft displayed are the A-6 Intruder and F/A-18 Hornet.
There are several flight simulators to entertain the more adventurous visitor and include double-seat simulators (pilot and co-pilot),
and single seat simulators. They are the actual military trainers
used by aviators during the Vietnam War era to train new pilots.
Mach Combat software provides a level of realism that will appeal
to aviation enthusiasts of all kinds. The cockpits consist of 3 F-4
A-3 Skywarrior
Phantoms and 1 F-8 Crusader. Each flight can take up to 40 minutes, which includes an approximate ten minute pre-flight brief,
and then thirty minutes of flight time. During the flight time pilots will be engaged in basic aircraft maneuvering,
dogfighting, and an occasional navigational exercise. This usually lasts about twenty minutes, before the ground
controller will call the pilot and he/she will be instructed to complete multiple touch and go landings, and if the pilot
is qualified, will do a final simulated landing aboard an aircraft carrier. Flights range from $25 to $30 dollars for one or
two people respectively.
F-8 Crusader
You will also tour the living spaces, the various working
spaces to gain an understanding of just how complex a modern warship is. Literally thousand so sailors had to work at
hundreds of different tasks to keep Midway functioning at
peak efficiency. Touring the engine room, electrical control
spaces, machine shops, sick bay, mess, and laundry facilities,
highlights just how many separate tasks a warship required.
Besides the planes, docents explain the working of the Midway's steam catapults and the complex operations of launching and landing aircraft aboard what is essentially a giant
floating airfield that rose and fell constantly. The carrier's
island offers looks at the bridge, admiral's quarters, and radio
room. The bridge is the only space aboard ship where visitors must wait for a guided tour, which occur frequently.
A visit to the Midway and other military museums in San Diego harbor can easily fill your day so be sure to plan accordingly. You won't be disappointed.
This article was adapted, with permission, from the February 2012 issue of Military Heritage. Sovereign Media Company, Inc., 6731 Whitier Ave.,
Suite A-100, McLean, VA 22101
F-4 Phantom
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QUOTE OF THE MONTH
O
n Nov 13, 2010, Lt. General John Kelly, USMC, gave a speech to the
Semper Fi Society of St. Louis, MO. This was four days after his son,
Lt Robert Kelly, USMC, was killed by an IED while on his 3rd Combat
tour. During his speech, General Kelly spoke about the dedication and
valor of our young men and women who step forward each and every
day to protect us. During the speech, he never mentioned the loss of his
own son. He closed the speech with the moving account of the last six
seconds in the lives of two young Marines who died with rifles blazing to
protect their brother Marines.
“I will leave you with a story about the kind of people they are, about the quality
of the steel in their backs, about the kind of dedication they bring to our country
while they serve in uniform and forever after as veterans. Two years ago when I
was the Commander of all U.S. and Iraqi forces, in fact, the 22 ND of April 2008,
two Marine infantry battalions, 1/9 "The Walking Dead," and 2/8 were switching
out in Ramadi. One battalion in the closing days of their deployment going home
very soon, the other just starting its seven-month combat tour. Two Marines,
Corporal Jonathan Yale and Lance Corporal Jordan Haerter, 22 and 20 years old
respectively, one from each battalion, were assuming the watch together at the entrance gate of an outpost that
contained a makeshift barracks housing 50 Marines. The same broken down ramshackle building was also home to
100 Iraqi police, also my men and our allies in the fight against the terrorists in Ramadi, a city until recently the
most dangerous city on earth and owned by Al Qaeda.
Yale was a dirt-poor, mixed-race kid from Virginia with a wife and daughter, and a mother and sister who lived
with him and whom he supported as well. He did this on a yearly salary of less than $23,000. Haerter, on the
other hand, was a middle class white kid from Long Island. They were from two completely different worlds. Had
they not joined the Marines they would never have met each other, or understood that multiple America's exist
simultaneously depending on one's race, education level, economic status, and where you might have been born.
But they were Marines, combat Marines, forged in the same crucible of Marine training, and because of this bond
they were brothers as close, or closer, than if they were born of the same woman.
The mission orders they received from the sergeant squad leader I am sure went something like, "Okay you two
clowns, stand this post and let no unauthorized personnel or vehicles pass. You clear?"
I am also sure Yale and Haerter then rolled their eyes and said in unison something like, "Yes Sergeant," with just
enough attitude that made the point without saying the words, "No kidding ‘sweetheart’, we know what we're doing." They then relieved two other Marines on watch and took up their post at the entry control point of Joint Security Station Nasser, in the Sophia section of Ramadi, Al Anbar, Iraq.
A few minutes later a large blue truck turned down the alleyway—perhaps 60-70 yards in length, and sped its way
through the serpentine of concrete jersey walls. The truck stopped just short of where the two were posted and
detonated, killing them both catastrophically. Twenty-four brick masonry houses were damaged or destroyed. A
mosque 100 yards away collapsed. The truck's engine came to rest two hundred yards away knocking most of a
house down before it stopped. Our explosive experts reckoned the blast was made of 2,000 pounds of explosives.
Two died, and because these two young infantrymen didn't have it in their DNA to run from danger, they saved
150 of their Iraqi and American brothers-in-arms.
When I read the situation report about the incident a few hours after it happened I called the regimental commander for details as something about this struck me as different.
Marines dying or being seriously wounded is commonplace in combat. We expect Marines regardless of rank or
MOS to stand their ground and do their duty, and even die in the process, if that is what the mission takes. But
this just seemed different. The regimental commander had just returned from the site and he agreed, but reported
that there were no American witnesses to the event—just Iraqi police. I figured if there was any chance of finding
out what actually happened and then to decorate the two Marines to acknowledge their bravery, I'd have to do it
as a combat award that requires two eye-witnesses and we figured the bureaucrats back in Washington would
never buy Iraqi statements. If it had any chance at all, it had to come under the signature of a general officer.
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I traveled to Ramadi the next day and spoke individually to a half-dozen Iraqi police all of whom told the same
story. The blue truck turned down into the alley and immediately sped up as it made its way through the serpentine. They all said, "We knew immediately what was going on as soon as the two Marines began firing." The Iraqi
police then related that some of them also fired, and then to a man, ran for safety just prior to the explosion. All
survived. Many were injured, some seriously. One of the Iraqis elaborated and with tears welling up said, "They'd
run like any normal man would to save his life." "What he didn't know until then," he said, "And what he learned
that very instant, was that Marines are not normal."
Choking past the emotion he said, "Sir, in the name of God no sane man would have stood there and done what
they did." "No sane man." "They saved us all."
What we didn't know at the time, and only learned a couple of days later after I wrote a summary and submitted
both Yale and Haerter for posthumous Navy Crosses, was that one of our security cameras, damaged initially in the
blast, recorded some of the suicide attack. It happened exactly as the Iraqis had described it. It took exactly six seconds from when the truck entered the alley until it detonated.
You can watch the last six seconds of their young lives. Putting myself in their heads I supposed it took about a
second for the two Marines to separately come to the same conclusion about what was going on once the truck
came into their view at the far end of the alley. Exactly no time to talk it over, or call the sergeant to ask what they
should do. Only enough time to take half an instant and think about what the sergeant told them to do only a few
minutes before, "Let no unauthorized personnel or vehicles pass." The two Marines had about five seconds left to
live.
It took maybe another two seconds for them to present their weapons, take aim, and open up. By this time the
truck was half way through the barriers and gaining speed the whole time. Here, the recording shows a number of
Iraqi police, some of whom had fired their AKs, now scattering like the normal and rational men they were—some
running right past the Marines. They had three seconds left to live.
For about two seconds more, the recording shows the Marines' weapons firing non-stop the truck's windshield exploding into shards of glass as their rounds take it apart and tore in to the body of the (I deleted) who is trying to
get past them to kill their brothers—American and Iraqi-bedded down in the barracks totally unaware of the fact
that their lives at that moment depended entirely on two Marines standing their ground.
If they had been aware, they would have known they were safe because two Marines stood between them and a
crazed suicide bomber. The recording shows the truck careening to a stop immediately in front of the two Marines.
In all of the instantaneous violence Yale and Haerter never hesitated. By all reports and by the recording, they never
stepped back. They never even started to step aside. They never even shifted their weight. With their feet spread
shoulder width apart, they leaned into the danger, firing as fast as they could work their weapons. They had only
one second left to live.
The truck explodes. The camera goes blank. Two young men go to their God. Six seconds. Not enough time to think
about their families, their country, their flag, or about their lives or their deaths, but more than enough time for two
very brave young men to do their duty into eternity. That is the kind of people who are on watch all over the world
tonight—for you.
We Marines believe that God gave America the greatest gift he could bestow to man while he lived on this earth—
freedom. We also believe he gave us another gift nearly as precious—our soldiers, sailors, airmen, U S Customs and
Border Patrol, Coast Guardsmen, and Marines—to safeguard that gift and guarantee no force on this earth can ever
steal it away.
It has been my distinct honor to have been with you here today. Rest assured our America, this experiment in democracy started over two centuries ago, will forever remain the "land of the free and home of the brave" so long as
we never run out of tough young Americans who are willing to look beyond their own self-interest and comfortable
lives, and go into the darkest and most dangerous places on earth to hunt down, and kill, those who would do us
harm.
God Bless America, and SEMPER FIDELIS!
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Dining Out Mess Night - Wilmington, NC
From Left to Right:
Bob Dickson, Frank Healey, David Murray,
Pat Dickson, Roger Good, Dan Latham,
Johnnie Beamon
From Left to Right:
Sgt Maj Patrick Tracy, Roger Good, Lt Col
Tyler Zagurski, Ric Neumann, Maj Sean
Hankard
From Left to Right:
Peggy Murray, Barbara Healey, Jill Good,
Debra Beamon
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1/9 GRANDDAUGHTER RECOGNIZED FOR ACHIEVEMENTS!
L
ieutenant Alison R. Wagner U. S. Navy, Granddaughter of SSgt. Dan Latham D1-9, 1st. Platoon Sgt. 1967, was the recipient at a Wetting Down Party given in
her honor by Grandfather Dan Latham of Beaufort, South Carolina.
The event took place, Saturday, February 11, 2011 at The Globe & Laurel Restaurant in Triangle, Virginia, just outside the gates of Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia.
Lieutenant Wagner was celebrating three (3) achievements:
(1) Her appointment to the rank of Lieutenant in the U. S. Navy.
(2) Her Deployment Orders to Afghanistan.
(3) Her January 2012 engagement to her Fiancée, Lieutenant Michael McCabe, U. S.
Navy Aviator.
Lt. Wagner & Dan Latham
Lieutenant Wagner had only one request to make the evening complete, SSgt.
Latham's Delta Company Commander, LtGen. William Keys, USMC, Retired, should
receive an invitation to the ceremony. Over the years, she had heard and read of his
great leadership in Viet-Nam and The Gulf War. As a Captain in Viet Nam, General
Keys was one of the reasons Dan made it back to the States alive. He told her about
Operation Prairie where Captain Keys was awarded the Navy Cross one day, and the
very next day a Silver Star. General Keys was most certainly his hero.
To everyone's surprise and pleasure, Lieutenant General Keys was able to attend the ceremony along with his
brother Dennis Keys, a Retired Police Officer from the D. C. Metro Area.
Other Viet Nam era Delta Company attendees include was GySgt. Ben Baldwin, Company Gunnery Sgt., 66-67, accompanied by his girlfriend Dottie
Antonelli, and Sgt. Frank "Irish"
Healey, D Company 67-68, and
his wife Barbara.
Out of town attendees included
Alison's father and mother Steve
and Maria Wagner, Alison's
grandparents Harold, Capt. USN
(Ret.), and Virginia Rutherford, all
from Bristol, Tennessee.
They
also were fortunate to have her
Fiancée's father and mother
Stephen and Angle McCabe from
Connecticut in attendance.
Ben Baldwin,
Dan Latham,
Lt. Wagner,
Frank Healy,
Lt. General (ret.) William Keys
Much to their surprise and joy,
twenty-five of Alison and Michael's naval comrades from their
home base in the Washington D.
C. area joined the happy couple
for the evening.
Her Fiancée, Lieutenant McCabe, is currently attending Top Gun School.
The couple is planning a wedding in Charleston, South Carolina in October 2013
Footnote: Lieutenant Wagner arrived in Afghanistan on Thursday March 1, 2012. She will be deployed as an Intelligence Officer for the U. S. Navy for six months.
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T
he Phoenix 1/9 Marines/Corpsmen welcomed M/
Sgt. Dennis (Top) Lee and his Brother-in-Law,
Larry into town on February 16, 2012 at the Original
Wineburger, Phoenix AZ. A great get together was had
by all in attendance, Top Lee was surprised by all the
Marines that turned out, the 1/9 Flag draped from the
wall and the great reception received from the owners
and patrons of the Wineburger. He learned that the
Marines are loved in this part of the country, Arizona,
the home of Sheriff Joe. We are all looking forward to
September and the National Reunion.
Front: Carlos Gutierrez, Bob Beckwsith, Eddy Valenzuela.
Back: Tom Stubbs, Oscar Borboa, Dennis 'Top' Lee
Front: Chuck Sawyer, Oscae Borboa, Carlos Valenzuela, Top's
Brother-in-Law.
Back: Doc Stubbs, Dennis 'Top' Lee, Bob Beckwith
Left: Oscar Borboa, Right: Eddy Valenzuela
Front: Carlos, Bob, Eddy.
Back: Tom, Oscar, Top Lee, Chuck, John Nolan.
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“Lest we Forget”
Documents below are from a memorial service in 1968 while in the Field in Viet Nam
for all the 1/9 casualties at Khe Sahn provided by John Skabrak of Bravo Company .
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The Proud Warrior
Member Request and “Things for Sale”
My name is Jack Neeley I was with "C" co 1st 68-69. I had a book published last Memorial Day. The book, "The Petrified Mind," contains 50 short versed poems about the realities and mental scars of war. I will sign all copies ordered. The book is available on amazon.com for $7.99 + $3.99 S+H. Send orders to: Jack Neeley, 1401 South Bryon Road,
Lennon MI 48449-9621.
Semper FI Jack, out
DURNGOOD SPICES
Dave Hochstrasser owns Durn Good Seasonings in North Carolina.
The website
www.durngood.com. Dave says he can ship anywhere in the continental USA for minimal costs.
is
Dave Hochstrasser —- 1/9 RVN 1966 Bn Comm. Hill 55
1/9 PINS, T-SHIRTS ETC.
Dave Demick has a whole catalog of 1/9 related items he is offering for sale. The catalog includes, 1/9
pins, T-shirts, hats, shadow boxes etc. His catalog is on the 1/9 Website or you can contact Dave direct
at: Dave Demick 35240 Perret Plantation Road, Callahan FL 32011, Phone (904) 879-3907 or [email protected]
VIETNAM TRADING CARDS
Richard White has the Vietnam trading cards from Dart flip cards. Richard has #1 sets and sealed #2
sets numbered 0001 to 10,000! Richard also has singles to complete your set. You can contact Richard
at: Richard White, 1946 Ritter Avenue, Bristol, PA 19007 or phone 215-788-5735 (H&S Comm 69-70)
NEW BOOK — “395 DAYS”
The book begins two days before I leave the states for Vietnam. I joined 1/9, Charlie Co., 2nd Platoon in
March 1967 up to December 15, 1967. Then I transferred to Echo Co., 3rd Recon until the end of my
tour on April 1, 1968.
You can order the book through me for $25.00 each, plus shipping Priority Mail (For 1 book- $5.50, for 2
to 4 books - $11.00). Address: Gary Kasten, 120 Leonard Dr., Blanchester, OH 45107. Make check payable to Gary Kasten. If you order it through a book store or on line, the book costs $32.00 plus shipping
and handling.
Semper Fi, Gary Kasten “The Hammer”
1/9 FMF FLAGS FOR SALE
The Network is selling 1/9 FMF flags. Cost is $50.00 with $3.00 for S&H for a total of $53.00. The flag is
nylon and is 3'x5'. Money should be sent to: Bill Hesse 66 Clinton St. Meriden CT 06450-4517. Please
include a note telling Bill it's for a flag
(Continued on page 17)
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The Proud Warrior
Member Request and “Things for Sale”
(Continued from page 16)
4LIFE TOGETHER BUILDING PEOPLE
Do you want to improve your health and your wealth? You can with Transfer Factor and 4Life Research,
THE Immune System Company. Contact Susan at 330-832-3047 for more information or email us at
[email protected] see our website at: www.susanbeckham.my4life.com
MORE THAN A FEW GOOD MEN
I have just published a book, "More Than A Few Good Men," that includes the formation of the Battalion
at Camp Pendleton in December, 1964, where we were 3/1, and then became 1/9 on our arrival on Okinawa, when we relieved the old 1/9. I was the CO of A/1/9. My book also covers the early actions of 1/9
until I was transferred to 2/9 during the “mixmaster.” The book includes my tour as CO of H&S & E/2/9,
and my 2nd tour, 1969-70 with 2/5 & 2/7. 556 pages, about 200 (including all of the original A/1/9) pictures, maps, etc. Members can order the book from me. They are $49.95 plus $5.00 Priority Mail. Robert
Driver, P. O. Box 7, Brownsburg, Va. 24415. 540-348-5969. I would like to hear from any member of
1/9 that I served with.
Semper Fi!
Bob Driver
1/9 T-SHIRTS
Frenchy Laverriere, has the “old style” 1/9 T-shirts with the original Grim Reaper look. The T-shirts are
red or black, with the Grim Reaper inside a gold shield with a banner underneath that says “The Walking
Dead”. Med-L-XL, $16.25 plus $3.25 shipping, XXL $18.25 plus $3.25 shipping XXXL $22.00 plus $3.25
shipping. If you’re ordering more than one shirt, add $3.00 shipping for each additional shirt. Thanks
Billy “FRENCHY” Laverriere Order from: Billy Laverriere, 5 Celia Circle, Methuen, MA 08144 His phone
number is (978) 687-1992.
CAT TALES AND OTHER MEMORIES
I wanted to 1/9er's know that I have written my life story. It is called “Cat Tales and Other Memories.” I wrote it primarily for my family history, but hope others would like it. It is my first attempt at a
prose-type book.
This is the story of an ordinary, main street American. From my first contact with the animal world,
growing up a country boy in 1950s rural Wisconsin, through my experiences in the Marine Corps and the
Vietnam War, to my faith in Jesus Christ. It is not a story of major accomplishments; just the story of
one American searching to define himself in our world that has changed from the dusty roads of his
childhood to his international travels in war and peace.
The hardcover sells for $12.95 and is available at buybooksontheweb.com, Amazon, and Barnes & Nobles. It is also available at Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Nobles Book Nook at reduced prices.
Semper Fi! John "Shortround" Barrenger
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The Proud Warrior
Member Request and “Things for Sale”
Bill Keely Charlie Company "67-68" has a request
This photograph appeared on the cover of the March 2011
issue of the Proud Warrior. Bill Keely is looking for help or
anyone with knowledge about the photo.
You may get in touch with him via e-mail at the following address: [email protected]
If you don't have e-mail, please contact the Editor at the
phone number listed on the back page of this Newsletter.
Vietnam Moving Wall
I would like to let everyone know that the Vietnam moving wall is coming to Springfield Vermont July 12, 2012.
I could use some help and donations as this is a big under taking. I think with a lot of good help it will happen.
To make donation make you check out to:
va732 Moving Wall
c/o Ron Walker 870 Baltimore Rd.
Baltimore Vt.05143
I know I can count on you guys as always. Thanks again,
Ron & Vermont Governor Shumlin
FO1 RON WALKER
PS: would like to see you all there.
Cpl Jerry Burkhead
The family of Cpl Jerry Burkhead 2271254 would like to hear from anyone who knew or served with Jerry in Alpha
Co., 1/9. Cpl. Burkhead was a M60 Machine Gunner KIA 8 Feb 68 Hill 64 and the youngest of 12 children.
If you knew Jerry or served with Alpha Co in the Battle of Hill 64, please contact Robert Williams (nephew)
email: [email protected] Phone: 757-625-1530 Address: 1434 Lafayette Blvd Norfolk, VA 23509
God Bless and Thank You for your service.
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The Proud Warrior
1st Battalion 9th Marines
Cook Book
Ok, Marines, today we are going to get beyond C Rations or in today's vernacular,
MRE's. This is your opportunity to let your fellow Marines know you have skills that
were hidden from view and contribute your favorite recipe(s) to a 1/9 Cookbook that is
currently in the works.
It's really quite simple, just submit your favorite recipe(s) on the form shown below
and please be sure to follow the instructions shown along side of the Recipe Collection
Sheet. You may also have members of your family provide their favorites as well; all
you have to do is give them the credit let us know their relationship to you, i.e. S.O.,
Wife, Son, Daughter, etc.
Please be sure you submission includes the following information:
a) Name, b) Rank, c) Unit (Example: 1st Platoon, Alpha Company) c) Year(s) served in 1/9, d) current
phone number, e) mailing address, and if you have one, f) an e-mail address. All address/contact information will be kept confidential and not be distributed to any 3 rd party.
If we receive enough dietetic recipes, we will attempt to establish a category for them or alternately
place them in a "This & That" category.
We will do our best to publish all recipes submitted based on the available space however if we run out
of space you will be contacted and advised of the situation.
Please submit or Mail your recipes to:
John Pastuszka
12452 Richfield Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32218
If you wish to use e-mail, please use the following address: [email protected]
Semper Fi!
John Pastuszka
H&S Company "66-67
Page 19
The Proud Warrior
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The Proud Warrior
A Proud American
I
t looks like we did some good after all! On Saturday, July 24th, 2010 the town of Prescott
Valley, AZ, hosted a Freedom Rally. Quang Nguyen was asked to speak on his experience
of coming to America and what it means. He spoke the following in dedication to all Vietnam
Veterans. Thought you might enjoy hearing what he had to say:
35 years ago, if you were to tell me that I am going to stand up here speaking to a couple
thousand patriots, in English, I'd laugh at you. Man, every morning I wake up thanking God
for putting me and my family in the greatest country on earth.
I just want you all to know that the American dream does exist and I am living the American
dream. I was asked to speak to you about my experience as a first generation VietnameseAmerican, but I'd rather speak to you as an American.
If you hadn't noticed, I am not white and I feel pretty comfortable with my people.
I am a proud US citizen and here is my proof. It took me 8 years to get it,
waiting in endless lines, but I got it, and I am very proud of it.
I still remember the images of the Tet offensive in 1968, I was six years old. Now you might want to question how
a 6-year-old boy could remember anything. Trust me, those images can never be erased. I can't even imagine
what it was like for young American soldiers, 10,000 miles away from home, fighting on my behalf.
35 years ago, I left South Vietnam for political asylum. The war had ended. At the age of 13, I left with the understanding that I may or may not ever get to see my siblings or parents again. I was one of the first lucky 100,000
Vietnamese allowed to come to the US . Somehow, my family and I were reunited 5 months later, amazingly, in
California . It was a miracle from God.
If you haven't heard lately that this is the greatest country on earth, I am telling you that right now. It was the
freedom and the opportunities presented to me that put me here with all of you tonight. I also remember the barriers that I had to overcome every step of the way. My high school counselor told me that I cannot make it to college due to my poor communication skills. I proved him wrong. I finished college. You see, all you have to do is to
give this little boy an opportunity and encourage him to take and run with it. Well, I took the opportunity and here
I am.
This person standing tonight in front of you could not exist under a socialist/ communist environment. By the way,
if you think socialism is the way to go, I am sure many people here will chip in to get you a one-way ticket out of
here. And if you didn't know, the only difference between socialism and communism is an AK-47 aimed at your
head. That was my experience.
In 1982, I stood with a thousand new immigrants, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and listening to the National
Anthem for the first time as an American. To this day, I can't remember anything sweeter and more patriotic than
that moment in my life.
Fast forwarding, somehow I finished high school, finished college, and like any other goofball 21 year old kid, I
was having a great time with my life. I had a nice job and a nice apartment in Southern California. In some way
and somehow, I had forgotten how I got here and why I was here.
One day I was at a gas station, I saw a veteran pumping gas on the other side of the island. I don't know what
made me do it, but I walked over and asked if he had served in Vietnam. He smiled and said yes. I shook and held
his hand. The grown man began to well up. I walked away as fast as I could and at that very moment, I was emotionally rocked. This was a profound moment in my life. I knew something had to change in my life. It was time
for me to learn how to be a good citizen. It was time for me to give back.
You see, America is not just a place on the map, it isn't just a physical location. It is an ideal, a concept. And if
you are an American, you must understand the concept, you must accept this concept, and most importantly, you
have to fight and defend this concept. This is about Freedom and not free stuff. And that is why I am standing up
here.
Brothers and sisters, to be a real American, the very least you must do is to learn English and understand it well.
(Continued on page 22)
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The Proud Warrior
A Proud American — Continued
(Continued from page 21)
In my humble opinion, you cannot be a faithful patriotic citizen if you can't speak the language of the country you
live in. Take this document of 46 pages - last I looked on the Internet, there wasn't a Vietnamese translation of the
US Constitution. It took me a long time to get to the point of being able to converse and until this day, I still struggle to come up with the right words. It's not easy, but if it's too easy, it's not worth doing.
Before I knew this 46-page document, I learned of the 500,000 Americans who fought for this little boy. I learned of
the 58,000 names scribed on the black wall at the Vietnam Memorial. You are my heroes. You are my founders.
At this time, I would like to ask all the Vietnam veterans to please stand. I thank you for my life. I thank you for
your sacrifices, and I thank you for giving me the freedom and liberty I have today. I now ask all veterans, firefighters, and police officers, to please stand. On behalf of all first generation immigrants, I thank you for your services
and may God bless you all.
Quang Nguyen
Creative Director/Founder
Caddis Advertising, LLC
A Scholarship Award “Thank you” Note
Dear Roger:
On behalf of my son, KYLE M. COLLISON, he and I wish to
humbly thank the Scholarship Committee, Officers, Board
and members of the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines Network, Inc.
for his selection as a 2011 Scholarship Recipient. We are
deeply grateful and honored to receive this award.
Kyle is my youngest son (21) and is my third son to receive a 1/9 Scholarship! Kyle is majoring in Criminology
at the State College of Florida and graduates in May. He will
be attending the University of South Florida (USF) in September to complete his Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice.
My middle son, Neil (24), is also a 1/9 Scholarship recipient
and graduated Cum Laude from USF in December 2010 with
his Bachelors degree in Criminal Justice. He is a Deputy
Sheriff with the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. My eldest
son, Stephen (27), was the first 1/9 Scholarship recipient
along with Phil Sutherland's son. Stephen also graduated
from USF with a Criminal Justice degree. He, too, is a deputy
with the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office and has been a
member of their SWAT Team for the past two years - the
youngest deputy so far to make the unit.
Again, I wish to thank everyone for honoring Kyle with this
scholarship this year and for honoring my sons Neil and
Stephen in prior years. This award has helped all three with
their college expenses that culminated in their receiving their
degree(s).
Semper Fidelis,
Bruce "Doc" Collison
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The Proud Warrior
Federal law barring lies about medals is tested
T
he federal courts are wrestling with a question of both liberty and patriotism: Does the First Amendment right to
free speech protect people who lie about being war heroes?
At issue is a three-year-old federal law called the Stolen Valor Act that makes it a crime punishable by up to a year
in jail to falsely claim to have received a medal from the U.S. military. It is a crime even if the liar makes no effort
to profit from his stolen glory. Attorneys in Colorado and California are challenging the law on behalf of two men
charged, saying the First Amendment protects almost all speech that doesn't hurt someone else. Neither man has
been accused by prosecutors of seeking financial gain for himself.
Jonathan Turley, a professor at George Washington University Law School who is not involved in the two cases, said
the Stolen Valor Act raises serious constitutional questions because it in effect bans bragging or exaggerating about
yourself. "Half the pickup lines in bars across the country could be criminalized under that concept," he said.
Craig Missakian, a federal prosecutor in the California case, argued that deliberate lies are not protected. He also
said the Constitution gives Congress the authority to raise and support an army, and that includes, by extension,
"protecting the worth and value of these medals."
The Stolen Valor Act revised and toughened a law that forbids anyone to wear a military medal that was not earned.
The revised measure sailed through Congress in late 2006, receiving unanimous approval in the Senate.
Dozens of people have been arrested under the law at a time when veterans coming home from wars in Afghanistan
and Iraq are being embraced as heroes. Many of the cases involve men who simply got caught living a lie without
profiting from it. Virtually all the impostors were ordered to perform community service. In one case, a man posing
as a Marine war hero was accused of using his hero status to receive discount airline tickets and a free place to stay
near Phoenix.
Defense attorneys say the law is problematic in the way it does not require the lie to be part of a scheme for gain.
Turley said someone lying about having a medal to profit financially should instead be charged with fraud.
One of the men challenging the law is Xavier Alvarez of Pomona, Calif. He had just been elected to a water district
board in 2007 when he said at a public meeting that he was a retired Marine who received the Medal of Honor, the
nation's highest military decoration. His claim aroused suspicion, and he was indicted 2007. Alvarez, who apparently never served in the military, pleaded guilty on condition that he be allowed to appeal on the First Amendment
question. He was sentenced to more than 400 hours of community service at a veterans hospital and fined $5,000.
The case is now before a federal appeals court.
The other person challenging the law is Rick Glen Strandlof, who claimed he was an ex-Marine wounded in Iraq and
received the Purple Heart and Silver Star. He founded an organization in Colorado Springs that helped homeless veterans. Military officials said they had no record that he ever served. He has pleaded not guilty, and a judge is considering whether to throw out the charge.
The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin in California quoted Alvarez as saying in 2007, "I must have mis-said things. It wasn't supposed to go that way." Strandlof's lawyer has said his client may suffer from bipolar disorder or other problems.
Attorneys challenging the law say that lying about getting a medal doesn't fit any of the categories of speech that
the U.S. Supreme Court has said can be banned: lewd, obscene, profane, libelous or creating imminent danger to
others, such as yelling fire in a crowded theater.
Army veteran Pete Lemon of Colorado Springs, who received the Medal of Honor for turning back an enemy assault
and rescuing wounded comrades in Vietnam while injured himself, supports the law, saying that pretending to have
a medal can bring undeserved rewards. "It gives you the power to entice somebody into marriage," he said. "It
could give you the power to be able to join an organization, get special treatment with regards to getting tickets to a
football game, getting license plates, getting preferential treatment in a job situation."
Doug Sterner, a military historian, said the law embodies the wishes of the nation's first commander in chief, George
Washington. Sterner noted that Washington created the Purple Heart, the nation's first military decoration, and
wrote: "Should any who are not entitled to these honors have the insolence to assume the badges of them, they
shall be severely punished."
"I think that speaks to the intent of the framers," Sterner said, "that George Washington saw this kind of lie outside
the scope of this freedom-of-speech issue."
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The Proud Warrior
“Military Intelligence”, an Oxymoron?
I
was in class some time ago when a professor made a joke about the meaning of what an oxymoron is. It
means a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. She gave some like “Act Naturally” and “Aunt Jemima Light”, but then she mentioned another that struck a chord with me. The last she said was “Military Intelligence.” The class, full of college freshmen like myself laughed at that one too. The professor knew that I was a Marine and that I had served two tours, one of which ended less than six months before, so she knew this was a mistake I would not take lightly. I saw the look on her face as she saw the look on mine.
“Ma’am, are you aware of what it takes to re-calculate the trajectory of an object traveling at 3,110 ft/s for a three inch change in
elevation at 5 times the length of a standard football field when
factoring in for wind speed and direction as well as differences in
elevation?” (Marine recruits do in week six of their basic training.)
“Furthermore, I feel that it is important to note at this time, that
by the time many military people have reached the age of 22 they
Effects of trajectory on a round and point of aim
have become experts in a field of study that takes years for civilians to achieve.” This is true, be it Infantry (0300 Military Occupation Specialty series), Engineers (MOS 1300 series) a data network specialist (MOS 0650 series) or (here’s a fun
one) 2834– Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Technician. Most have by that time achieved the rank of E-4 or E-5
and been given responsibility of a small team of 4 up to a squad of 13 (that’s like an assistant manager for people in
college working at the fry kitchen.) And many have learned to perform their job under harsh climate, horrible living
conditions and the treat of someone shooting at them.
“And while wars like Iraq and Afghanistan have gone on for far too long, you may be hard pressed to find a military
battle since Korea that ended in an American defeat. As you may also know, since so many students declined military service because you don’t like taking orders, the military is not free to go about and do as it will freely. They
are following orders. Orders given to them by politicians. Politicians…you voted for.”
“And as an additional note, I am making an A in this class, as well as all my others.”
I felt I made my point clearly, in spite of my lack of modesty.
The issue stuck with me though. It does bother me that people
perceive the Military as being stupid. Oh they always thank us
when they see us at church or the bar. “I sure do respect what
you boys did for us over there,” but they still don’t believe we
could carry a conversation with a cat, much less anyone else.
What they do know is that most of the military is made up of
people who went straight to the military and have received little
or no college education, and since college is equivalent to educated, that doesn’t shine a very bright light on military folks.
That is all most have to go on.
What they don’t understand is that most MOS schools require a
grade of 80 or above on each and every test or you fail out of
the course (and they were as hard as anything I took in college). They also don’t know that by the time they are 19 many
have been deployed overseas where they did the most extreme
version of their particular specialty in the world. For myself, I
was a Data Network Specialist ( 0656). That is the equivalent
to the network administrator at a company who sets up the
Calculation sheet used to make marksmanship "less complicomputers in the office and runs the switches and servers for
cated."
the company. Yeah, the Marines have computer nerds too, but
our computer nerds can shoot an open sights rifle from 500
yards away, run 3 miles in less than 20 minutes and have green belts in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program
(that’s like mixed martial arts, except the ultimate goal is that the other guy stops fighting for good.) The only other
difference between what I did in the military and what a civilian does is that I also dug the three mile trench for the
(Continued on page 25)
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The Proud Warrior
Military Intelligence, an Oxymoron? - Cont.
(Continued from page 24)
fiber optic cable as well as replaced a relay station when it was hit by rocket fire. I ran code and ran convoys. Oh,
but a civilian made 3 times my salary as well. By the time I was 21 I was on my second deployment and headed a
small team. I worked as a part of a security team and in a week learned over 400 words in Arabic that I needed to
communicate with locals. That is enough to have a conversation with someone. Like, for instance, if you need to
communicate with Iraqi army personnel, are curious how much your iPod or sister-in-law would go for on the Iraqi
market, or if anyone around has heard of a men with bombs (pronounced ka-na-buhl in Arabic. Go ahead, Google it
if you don’t believe me.) When I was 22 I was responsible for ensuring that over $3 million worth of gear in the form
of new laptops, switchboards, servers and accessories safely and completely changed hands along with all necessary
updates, installs and user modifications.
What I think is interesting is that in the military, this isn’t that special. Many military people reading this are saying
to themselves “I had it harder” or “My job was a lot worse than that” and they are right. I suppose you could ask an
engineer about how to build a house, or like ours who build forty living spaces in a week. You could also ask a 40
year old department manager what it takes to handle fifteen thousand units through the warehouse in a month, or
you could ask a 26 year old army logistics chief to do the same thing. For those real academics out there I will ask it
this way “If two vessels are traveling towards each other, one heading east at 40 knots with a 10 knot headwind and
the other traveling west at 32 knots and a 6 knot headwind and they are 4200 miles apart, how long before they
meet? A “butterbar” Ensign in the Navy could tell you that. So what I am curious about is “What ignorant person
thinks these people are stupid?”
As a special note, I graduated three years after that conversation with that professor and the class. I earned a degree in business administration. In my school that is a four year degree that takes most people 5 years to get and I
got it 3 1/2. I also graduated cum laude in the top 15% of my class. That is out of the 50 or so percent that made it
to graduation from when they laughed at that funny joke. Although my family was instrumental in me pushing
through, I think that really set me apart in achieving this was my intelligence, my military intelligence.
The Author:
Jon Davis is a recent graduate of the University of North Texas school of Business. He currently operates his own business development firm, Bamcis Business Solutions for entrepreneurs wishing to develop a stable business plan for their new companies and
helping veteran small business owners to take advantage of specific opportunities to them. And he is a Marine!
Dewey Canyon
I
n 1992 a book by Michael R. Conroy was published. It tells the story of Dewey Canyon
fought in 1969 by the 9th Marines. It went out of print and copies were very hard to
find and terribly expensive. it is now being reprinted by Trafford. Here is the link to the
company and link to the book. it's 36.50 plus shipping. All you have to do is contact Trafford with the ISBN # 9781412001571 and order with a credit card. comes quickly.
http://bookstore.trafford.com/AdvancedSearch/Default.aspx?SearchTerm=9781412001571
http://www.trafford.com
This notice courtesy of Wood Postle
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The Proud Warrior
BEREAVEMENT
Frank Pavone. February 29, 2012
Frank was born and raised in Chicago and loved "Chi Town". He always said that Al Capone and Chesty Puller were
his idols. Frank was one of the original 1/9 Walking Dead Marines that landed at Da Nang aboard LST's on June 17,
1965. L/Cpl Terry Debrois and Pvt Frank Marchese grew up with Frank from Elementary School to High School in Chicago and then into the Marines in 1964. So keep them in your prayers along with Frank's family. Frank died on February 29, 2012 at 0600 hours of cancer in Tennessee. Frank was 65 years old.
John E . Miller remembers Frank:
I was in rockets and Frank was in machine guns and loved to be out with the troops, He was wounded and received a
purple heart, he also contacted agent orange pathogens which ultimately caused the cancer that struck him down. He
was a good Marine, as all of us are to one another. I always smile and laugh whenever I talk about or hear about
Frank. To add to all this drama, his family had to ride out several tornadoes just after Frank's death. MAY HIS
NAME BE ETERNAL and NEVER FORGOTTEN
Address: 402 Old Eagle Creek Road,
Smithville, Tn. 37166-7072.
(615) 597 4880
I am sure his family would love to hear from Franks friends and fellow warriors.
Woody Postle is asking that members contact him for any notice of death or illness
of any member.
Phone: 302-678-2410
Email: [email protected]
THE CHAPLIN’S CORNER
Greetings 1/9 Brothers
I’ll get right to it. As I said before Jesus taught more on the kingdom of God than anything
else. Heaven is a literal place.
At the last supper meal, Jesus told his disciples He would be cruicified the next day. No doubt
misery, fear, dread and death filled their hearts. So to comfort them Jesus told them about a
literal place, Heaven
John 14:1-4
“In my Fathers house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you, because I
am going to prepare a place for you I will come again and take you home with me so that you will be where I am.”
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The Proud Warrior
THE CHAPLIN’S CORNER
The kingdom of God is real. The dying thief, along side Jesus, confessed his sins and appealed to Jesus, “remember
me!” this criminal didn’t know much, but he did know about the promised Kingdom Jesus talked about so often!
“Today”, Jesus said, you shall be with me in paradise. He entered Heaven that day.
In Heaven not only will we know each other, but we will know what is happening on earth. We will have the same
interest as the Savior has.
Luke 15:7
“I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine who
need no repentance.”
Hebrew 12:1-2
“wherefore we also are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses” in view of many other scriptures we can see
that the ones gone before us gaze with concern upon us who are left here to run our race. There’s an old saying
“everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.” To a Christian death is not a tragedy but a glorious promotion.
Revelations 14:13,
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on. “Yes, says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors,
and their works follow them.”.
Paul said it best. “To die is gain” Paul knew it was better to depart and be with Christ. Paul also knew that to live
would produce more souls for the kingdom of God. Paul is now one of that great cloud of witnesses cheering all of us
on to the finish line, read Phillipians 1:21-26.
Jesus did not try to sell Heaven or try to talk anyone into salvation. He simply said, I am the way to salvation and
heaven. No man ever came to the Father but by Him. Jesus would tell a story then say, “He who has ears to hear,
let him hear!” read Luke 8:4-18 for just one of His stories.
I hope this is a comfort to friends and families of all the 1/9 walker, young and older, who have gone on before us.
Their lives have meant so much to all of us. We will never forget them.
Looking forward to seeing you all at the
reunion!
With Love and Respect,
Ray Linebaugh
For Prayer Request
Email: [email protected]
719-369-5692
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The Proud Warrior
On the "Lighter Side"
Hot-shot F-16 Fighter vs. B-52 Bomber
A young guy in an F-16 fighter was flying escort for a B-52 bomber
and generally being a nuisance, acting like a hotdog, flying rolls
around the lumbering bomber. The hotdog said over the air,
"Anything you can do, I can do better."
The veteran in the tanker pilot answered, "Try this hot-shot."
The B-52 continued its flight, straight and level.
Perplexed, the hotdog asked, "So? What did you do?"
"I just shut down two engines, kid."
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The Proud Warrior
NEW MEMBERS
The names submitted to the Network should not be reproduced and given to other sources for
commercial use. Please respect the privacy of our Brothers and their families.
First
MI
Last
David
Lee
Williamson
Jerry
Lee
Mudra
Roger
Glen
Jack
Leroy
Date Served
Company
Platoon
65-66
Alpha
Weapons
65
Charlie
—
Spurgeon
69-70
Charlie
2nd
Gallardo
68-69
Delta
1st
Send address changes to: James Stogner, 217 East Park Drive, Onalaska, TX 77360
Jim Stogner
Your DI's say, it's time to "Re-Up" so mail in your dues for 2012 to keep your membership current!
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The Proud Warrior
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
If you would like to apply for membership in the 1/9 Network, please return this form to:
FIRST BATTALION NINTH MARINES NETWORK, INC.
National Membership Committee Chairman
James Stogner
217 East Park Drive
Onalaska, TX 77360
(936) 646-4648
[email protected]
Please attach DD-214,NAVMC 118 (3) and NAVMC 118 (9) confirming service with 1 st Battalion 9th Marines unless verified by an active member of the 1/9 Network, Inc. organization. In the absence of
documentation list the names of members of your fire team, squad or platoon, however, be advised this
may delay processing of your application while verifying your service with 1/9 with our active membership rolls. Providing documentation allows much faster processing toward membership approval .
Full Legal Name: __ ____________________________________________________
*note: If you have legally changed your name since serving in the Marine Corps you must provide your
Military Service name, and a document of proof that your name has since been legally changed in a
court of law.
SS# (Last Four)/Service # : __________________ “Nickname” (if any)___________
Mandatory
Address:______________________________________________________________
City/State: __________________________ Zip Code: _____________
Company: ____________Platoon: __________ Squad: _______or Section__________
Dates assigned to 1/9: FROM:___ _________________
TO:____________________
Phone #: (____)_________________________ List in Directory? Yes____ No____
Active (Y/N) Rank:_____ Retired (Y/N) Rank:_____ Medically Retired (Y/N) Rank:_____
Email Address:__________ _______________________
Signature
Date
Don't forget to attach documentation to this application *A copy of any official document such as Orders,
SRB entry, Citation, Promotion Warrant, Letterhead paperwork, or orders that indicate you served with
the 1st Battalion 9th Marines.
A copy of your DD-214 would be appreciated to keep on file (not mandatory). Also required is a NAVMC
118 (9) and a NAVMC 118 (3) which can be obtained from NPRC St Louis.
Please submit Membership Dues of $20.00 with your application. The IRS requires Dues to
maintain our tax status, (Mandatory).
2012 Dues are now due ($20.00). New membership cards are ready to go
out. Lifetime Membership are available for $250.00 which can be paid for
over one year.
Make your check payable to:
1st Bn 9th Marines Network, Inc.
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Mail your check and this sheet to:
National Headquarters
1/9 Network
66 Clinton St
Meriden CT 06450-4517
PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY
2012 Dues
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
+
Phone:
$20.00 annual dues
Apply to Lifetime Membership
Email Address:
Please check this box if you would like to receive The
2012
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The Proud Warrior
1st Battalion 9th Marines Gun Raffle
1. Raffle tickets are $10.00 each
2. One ticket has two chances to win. One drawing for each pistol.
3. First Pistol Raffle Prize is an engraved New Colt Model 1911 United States Marine Corps Silver
Tribute in hard nickel plate, Ser#.USMC0108.
4. Second Pistol Raffle Prize is a New Colt Model 1918 (WWI version Colt 1911) Ser.# 3919WWI
5. There is no limit to the amount of tickets one may purchase. Only 2,000 tickets will be sold.
6. YOU MUST BE 21 years old and a legal resident of the United States to purchase a ticket.
7. You do NOT need to be present to win.
8. The winner of each raffle has the option of accepting $1,000 in lieu of accepting the firearm. If
the cash is chosen the firearm remains the property of the 1st Battalion 9 th Marines Network Inc.
Once a prize is chosen the decision is final. No further changes will be made.
9. The drawing will take place at the 2012 1st Battalion 9th Marines Reunion Banquet scheduled to be
held in September 2012.
10. Raffle is void where prohibited and ALL Federal Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (BATF)
rules apply. NO exceptions.
11. By obtaining a raffle ticket you attest that you are a law abiding citizen of good moral character,
may legally possess the firearm won, have intention of using the firearm only in a legal and safe
manner, and will or already have obtained instruction on the safe use and operation of the firearm
won.
12. All proceeds of each raffle will be used to help lower the cost of the Reunion. The 1 st Battalion 9th
Marines Board of Directors will determine how the proceeds will be applied to best benefit the
members attending.
13. The winner will be announced at the Reunion Banquet and the name of the winner will be published in the first Network Newsletter following the reunion and posted on the official Network
webpage.
14. All firearm transfers will be handled through a Federal Firearms Licensed (FFL) dealer, and all applicable Federal and State laws will apply, including all local firearm laws for the legal residence of
the winning ticket holder.
15. All firearms will be shipped to a local federally licensed dealer (FFL) for transfer to the winner. The
1st Battalion 9th Marines Network Inc will pay for shipping costs only. Any additional costs for insurance or other services requested by the winner will be the responsibility of the winner and paid
by the winner. The winner is responsible to identify and contact the local dealer requesting their
assistance in completing the transfer, Once the winner has obtained commitment from the local
FFL dealer to assist with the transfer, the winner is responsible for contacting the 1 st Battalion 9th
Marines Network Inc. to supply the name and contact information of their local FFL dealer. The
Winner is responsible for any and all transfer fees charged by his/her chosen FFL. The 1 st Battalion
9th Marines Network Inc will make arrangements to ship the firearm to the local FFL dealer as required by federal law.
16. The winner of each raffle will be responsible for any Federal, State, or Municipal expenses incurred
(Continued on page 33)
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The Proud Warrior
(Continued from page 32)
for the registration of the weapon as applicable and is responsible for any Federal, State, or Municipal taxes.
17. Winners are responsible to verify that ownership of the firearm won is legal in their state, city or
town prior to taking possession of the prize won. This responsibility falls solely on the winner.
18. ALL PRIZES MUST BE CLAIMED AND TRANSFER COMPLETED WITHIN 90 DAYS OF THE DATE THE
TICKET IS DRAWN.
19. The 1st Battalion 9th Marines Network Inc., its officers, members and business affiliates makes no
warranty, written or implied, on any of the firearms offered in this raffle. All manufacturers’ warranties apply. Winners are to deal directly with the manufacturer in the event of a warranty claim
or if a problem arises with the firearm.
20. The 1st Battalion 9th Marines Network Inc makes no claim of the firearm suitability of purpose of
any firearm won.
21. The 1st Battalion 9th Marines Network Inc sole liability is limited only to the purchase price published on a valid ticket.
22. In the event of a dispute, all decisions by the Board of Directors of the 1 st Battalion 9th Marines are
absolute final.
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The Proud Warrior
GUN RAFFLE TICKET REQUEST
TICKETS $10.00 EACH
Each ticket is good for both drawings. The first drawing is for a Colt, engraved hard nickel,
USMC Silver Tribute model 1918 (WW I 1911), Reg.# USMC0108. The second drawing is for a
Colt model 1918 (WW I, 1911) Ser.#3919WWI.
FOR COMPLETE RAFFLE RULES go to the battalion website
TICKETS ARE LIMITED SO DON’T MISS OUT ON THIS. BOTH FIREARMS ARE NEW, DONATED
BY ONE OF OUR MEMBERS WHO WISHES TO REMAIN ANNONYMOUS.
SEND ME THE FOLLOWING TICKETS
(Please Print)
YOUR NAME: _____________________________________________________________
ADDRESS:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
PHONE:
___________
________________________________
NUMBER OF TICKETS_____________
TOTAL ENCLOSED
$____________
MAKE YOUR CHECK OR MONEY ORDER PAYABLE TO:
FIRST BATTALION NINTH MARINES NETWORK INC.
SEND YOUR PAYMENT AND TICKET REQUEST AND A SELF ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE
TO:
DON HANSON
1010 Camp Branch Rd.
Alabaster, AL 35007
YOUR TICKET RECIEPTS WILL BE MAILED BACK TO YOU.
SEMPER FI
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The Proud Warrior
NETWORK OFFICERS AND COORDINATORS 2010-2011
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bill Bennett
Bob Fowles
Donald Hanson
George Malone
David Murray
Ric Neumann
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Bob Palisay
Col. Mac Radcliff, Ret.
Louis W. Robesch, Jr.
James Speak
Marco Polo Smigliani
Phil Sutherland
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
NATIONAL PRESIDENT:
VICE PRESIDENT:
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD:
SECRETARY:
TREASURER:
MEMBERSHIP CHAIRMAN:
Roger Good
Woody Postle
Ric Neumann
Robert Moxley
Bill Hesse
James Stogner
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
REGIONAL COORDINATORS, as of August 2010
Tom (Doc) Stubbs
Joe Heater
Robert Moxley
George Malone
Ron Walker
Johnny Beamon
Robert Taylor
Chuck Olson
South/West
Central/West
North/West
Central/East
North/East
South/East
Central/South
Central/North
(602)
(847)
(841)
(301)
(802)
(757)
(985)
(218)
795-5405
991-2160
568-8203
868-4087
263-9472
627-7701
228-0758
838-0985
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
CHAPLAIN: Ray Linebaugh
NATIONAL NEWSLETTER EDITOR: Joe Heater (847) 991-2160 [email protected]
WEBMASTER(s): Casey Piatt
John Geisler
[email protected]
[email protected]
First Battalion Ninth Marines Network, Inc.
This newsletter is published for the members
of the First battalion Ninth Marines Network,
Inc. Articles and comments do not necessarily represent the views of the officers and
members, but are those of the author. The
editor with the support of the President has
the right to refuse any article that brings discredit to this organization or the United
States Marine Corps.
National Headquarters
66 Clinton St.
Meriden CT 06450-4517
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
www.1stbattalion9thmarinesfirebase.net
NETWORK PHONE # 203-238-1999
This is a dedicated line for members to call. There is also an
answering machine for members to leave messages.
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The Proud Warrior
THE PROUD WARRIOR
% Joe Heater
1256 East Cooper Drive
Palatine, IL 60074
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