First, a very Happy 230th Marine Corps Birthday to you all! Also, a very joyful Veterans Day! I know most of you are in full fledge ball season but I did want to get the update out before all of the event this month. This will serve as the update for November and December unless there is information that I must get out timely and then I’ll send a brief message to all. Please do forward this email to supporters and members that may not be on my email listing.
In Support of Veterans Day both The Home Depot and Lowe’s are offering the following discount to Veterans;
Nov. 7, 2005 - Two of the nation's largest home-improvement retailers are recognizing Veterans Day by offering discounts for military personnel. The Home Depot and Lowe's companies both are offering a 10 percent discount for all active-duty military, reservists, retirees and their families Nov. 10 to 13. At Home Depot stores, the offer is good on purchases of up to $2,000, for a maximum discount of $200. The offer applies to purchases at Home Depot stores, Home Depot Floor Stores, Home Depot Landscape Supply stores and Expo Design Center locations. "This Veterans Day, our nation will honor the brave men and women who have served our country in the military, ensuring many of the freedoms we enjoy each day," said Bob Nardelli, chairman, president and chief executive officer of The Home Depot. "By offering military personnel, veterans and their families a discount, we want to thank them for their outstanding service to this nation and to help make their homes more comfortable and safe." To qualify, individuals must present proof of military service to the Special Services desk at any Home Depot store, where they will receive a coupon redeemable at any cashier's checkout register. Discount coupons are valid on a single receipt, in-store purchase only. Details and exceptions are printed on the coupon. At Lowe's, the discount is available on in-stock purchases up to $2,000. To qualify, individuals must present a valid military ID. Excluded from the discount are online sales, previous sales, special order items, installation fees, gift cards and certain appliances. The military discount program at Lowe's is offered in conjunction with the Defense Department's America Supports You program, an ongoing nationwide campaign that communicates America's support to men and women serving in the U.S. armed forces.
Also, to show support for the United States Armed Forces, every Golden Corral restaurant across the country will be offering a FREE Dinner Buffet with a choice of beverage to any former or active member of the U.S. Military (including National Guard and Reservists) on Monday, November 14th from 5 to 9 PM. If you are a member of the U.S. military, simply identify yourself to the cashier on that night to enjoy your free Dinner Buffet! For more information, visit Golden Corral's website (http://www.goldencorral.net/PromoSpec.htm#military).
Montford Point Marine Association Receives Prestigious Award: On October 25th I traveled to the Army Navy Country Club in Arlington, Virginia to receive the Office of the Secretary of Defense Reserve Policy Board’s Citizen Patriot Award from the Under Secretary of the Navy and Policy Board Chair, The Honorable William A. Navas, Jr. The Honorable William A. Navas, Jr. was a special guest of ours at the 2004 National Convention in Arlington, VA. http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/people/assistsecnav/asn_mra/navas/navasbio.html Accompanying me were Original Montford Pointers and DC-6 Chapter members, Reuben McNair, Lieutenant Colonel, Retired Joseph Carpenter, Richard Walker and Wilmore Perry. Also in attendance were Major Generals Walter Gaskin and Cornell Wilson, Brigadier General Ronald Coleman, DC-6 Chapter member retired Master Sergeant Donna Coursey, National Public Relations Officer retired Master Sergeant Carmen Cordova, Quantico Chapter President CWO-3 James Averhart along with his Vice President Kenneth Crutcher. Additionally, long time supporter and, I hope by publication of this update, Quantico Chapter member Major Tamia Ashley. Also on hand to lend support was retired Marine Colonel H.C. “Barney” Barnum Jr. Colonel Barnum was the fourth Vietnam War recipient of the Medal of Honor for his gallantry in Vietnam. Colonel Barnum is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Reserve Affairs.
Please check out his bio at; http://www.hq.navy.mil/mra/Barnum_bio.htm The Citizen Patriot Award is a very Prestigious Award that has been given annually to an individual and to a unit that “have demonstrated exemplary Service to the Reserve Components at the national level “. Certainly our Association qualifies. Thank you to everyone at the Chapter level that consistently works with the reserve units year in and year out! This award will be turned over to the National Museum for all to see. Thank you all for taking time coming out and supporting The Montford Point Marine Association in receiving this great honor. Also, very special thanks to Lieutenant Colonel Ricky Childs, Senior Policy Advisor for the Reserve Forces Policy Board, who was instrumental in making this award happen!
Major General Jerome Cooper wants to remind us all that every American should be aware of the contributions of Lieutenant General Frank E Petersen. This Naval Officer, a great Marine----What manner of man is this---To have overcome so much? -----Lieutenant General Petersen’s story must be shared with all. Why do you think we never see his book in our PX’s or on reading lists? Let’s get our membership behind supporting this great American. -------Read the book. You will agree. http://www.bookpage.com/9901bp/nonfiction/into_the_tigers_jaw.html Cooper sends
I have read the book, and I do agree. If you live near a PX, ask the manager to stock this book. With our numbers and level of leadership within our ranks, we can make this happen. (Many of you emailed to correct General Cooper’s rank in the last update; I erroneously put Brigadier General vice Major General-my apologies)
KUDOS I mentioned Major General Gaskin’s promotion to his present rank in my last update. Please check out this week’s issue of JET Magazine for a great article on General Gaskin’s Promotion. It’s the Jet with Rosa Parks on the cover. There is also a Marine Advertising page in the magazine. Congratulations again to General Gaskin!! I have attached a scanned copy of this article provided by past National Public Relations Officer, Master Gunnery Sergeant Gilbert Taylor.
230th Marine Corps Birthday Celebrations: It’s still not too late to attend most of the Chapter events listed below. Please call the contact numbers listed if you would like to attend these events.
Philadelphia Chapter #1: the Philly Chapter will celebrate their Marine Birthday Ball Saturday, 12 November at the Sheraton on 36th and Chestnut in Philadelphia. Cost is $55.00 per. Point of contact for tickets is Joe Geeter 610-495-3619. Brigadier General Ronald S. Coleman will be the guest speaker. Los Angeles Chapter #8: will celebrate its 40th Anniversary and the 230th Marine Corps Birthday, from 6:00 p.m. to midnight Saturday November 12, 2005. The celebration takes place at Los Angeles Air Force Base, 2400 El Segundo Blvd Building #120. Dress for the evening is After Five Attire. Please join us as we pay tribute to the United States Marine Corps. Ticket Donation $45.00. For ticket reservation and information contact: L. E. (Mike) Johnson President LA (909) 815-1972. New York Metropolitan Chapter: will conduct their Annual Dinner Dance on Sunday, November 13th at 4:00 pm at Antuns, 9643 Springfield Boulevard-Queens Village NY 11429. For tickets and more information, contact the NY MPMA office at 212-267-3319 email mpma42@verizon.net Major General Cornell Wilson will be the guest of honor. Washington, DC Chapter #6: will celebrate their ball on Friday, November 18th beginning at 7:00 pm at La Fontaine Bleu Restaurant, 7963 Annapolis Road, Lanham, MD. The Key Speaker is the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sergeant Major John L. Estrada, a lifetime Association member. Chapter #6 always puts on a first class event that sells out. For tickets and reservations, please contact Pernel Houston 908 Logwood Road, Capital Heights, MD 20743 or call at: 901-808-6012. Please check out this month’s Naval Proceedings Magazine for an excellent article about the Men of Montford Point. Some of you will recall that freelance writer and author Neal Thompson interviewed a few original Montford Pointers at our National Convention in Chicago. Neal also traveled to our National Museum at Montford Point and was given more research material from our Museum Director, Finney Greggs. The result of his work is this article. If you are not near a base and want a copy of the magazine, Liese Doherty, the Editorial Assistant from Proceedings and Naval History asks you to call Jackie Turner in their Member Services Department. The cost of the magazines would be $3.95 each plus shipping. If you could, please contact Jackie directly at the following email (jturner@usni.org) or phone number (410-571-1715) and provide her with your credit card number and the mailing address where you want the magazines sent. You can also visit Proceedings online at; http://www.usni.org/proceedings/proceedings.html
Also, please visit Neal’s home page at: http://www.nealthompson.com/. Thanks Neal for your research and interest in the Men of Montford Point!
Ronald Bower, Historian who was featured in an earlier documentary film on the Montford Pointers, wanted to make sure our Korean War Veterans were aware of the following project;
My name is Christine Knauer. I am a PhD student at the University of Tuebingen, Germany, and currently a visiting assistant in research at Yale University. I am writing my dissertation on the experience and recollection of Korean War soldiers of the racial integration of the military and the Korean War. With respect to my research I am very much dependent on the willingness of Korean War veterans to share the recollections with me. I was wondering whether you could help with locating and contacting veterans or their families, who would be willing to be interviewed, fill out a questionnaire, write down their story or even provide me with letters (copies) that they wrote during the Korean War. I would appreciate any help and hints. Thank you very much in advance for your time and effort. Kind regards, Christine Knauer christine.knauer@yale.edu My temporary mail address (until December 9) is 265 College Street 8R New Haven, CT 06510 Phone: 203-785-1165
Please assist out Korean War Veterans that would like to contribute to this project. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Colin Powell once said, “If we want the story of African Americans in the Military to be told, we must tell it ourselves”. Let’s take advantage of these opportunities.
“Proud”, the movie about the all black crew of the USS Mason during World War II has been released to a limited number of theaters. Please check out their website for more information. http://www.proudthemovie.com/cast.htm we are very hopeful that upon the release of our documentary film project, the Major Motion Picture community will come calling (or we’ll come calling).
Detroit Chapter Will celebrate Veterans Day (November 11th) at Elmwood Cemetery honoring the 102nd Colored Troops of the Civil War. They will be going to lunch afterwards. For more information, please contact Chapter President Sylvia Riley at USMCSLWR@aol.com
National Quartermaster: National Quartermaster, Elijah Abram still has the 40th MPMA Association Commemorative Coins for sale. Coins are only $8.00 plus shipping and handling. Abe also has the official MPMA patch that can be either worn or displayed. Patches are $10.00 each. Please contact Abe at 843-838-5475 or for more details. Coins make a great presentation to speakers and folks that have contributed to your Chapter’s mission.
As always, please continue to check our official website for more information through the Association at www.montfordpointmarines.com . Please also check chapter sites at: www.mpma28.com , http://www.mpmanyc.com and www.montfordpointchicagochapter2.org
Please continue to do all that you do to Preserve the Legacy of our heroes!
Finally let’s not forget the thousands of Marines and servicemen and women serving in harm’s way as we celebrate the year of the birth of our Corps and Veterans Day. Again a very Happy and Celebratory 230th Marine Corps Birthday to you all!!!
Semper Fidelis! Joe Geeter Master Gunnery Sergeant (retired) National President Montford Point Marine Association 27 Red Tail Court Limerick, PA 19468 geeterj@yahoo.com 610-495-3619
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