MAY, 2010 NEWSLETTER

LIVE FIRE EXERCISE
 
We are scheduled to visit 29 Palms on May 5th to observe a live fire exercise with the 1/7 Marines.  Space is limited to the first 10 members that RSVP’d from the last announcement.
 
The 1/7 is scheduled to leave this summer and will follow the 2/7 by being deployed aboard ship and training for amphibious warfare.  Thank you to Sgt. Major Paron Lewis for making the arrangements for our visit.  Our members will be clad in helmets, goggles and flak jackets and board a truck at 0500 for an early day in the boondocks.  We will have MRE’s for lunch in the field with the Marines.
 
MAY 20TH MEETING. 
 
Plan to attend our next meeting at 1130 at the Desert Falls Country Club.  Although the original plan was to have BGen Clardy as the speaker,  he did postpone his appearance until the June meeting.
 
So, we have a wonderful speaker lined up to talk about the NFL. He is James McCallum, Vice President of the St. Louis Rams.  He will share a lot of the insight going on in the NFL and what changes to look forward to in the next few years. Call 901-9454 to make your reservation.
 
JROTC CADET AWARDS
 
May 5th at 1900 the Desert Cities Mitchell Paige MOH Chapter will present the Semper Fi Award to an outstanding graduating cadet from Desert Hot Springs High School.  The ceremony will be in the gym and is run by Lt. Col. Carl Lewke.  We traditionally present a plaque and a savings bond to one of the top graduating cadets. This year, the award will be presented to an outstanding your man who has already enlisted in the Marine Corps and will be off to recruit training this summer.
 
Please plan to attend to show our support for an excellent program run by Lewke.  His leadership continues to produce outstanding young women and men who graduate from high school.
 
LUNCHEON TO HONOR WOMEN MARINES
 
Invitations have been sent to everyone for this event at the beautiful new I W Club in Indian Wells.  The Honorable Mary Roche, former Mayor of Indian Wells will be the Chairwoman and Marilyn Paige will be the guest of honor and speaker.  We will honor a group of Women Marines from 29 Palms and have chartered a bus that will bring these Marines to Indian Wells for the luncheon.
 
If you haven’t visited the new I W Club, this will be a wonderful opportunity to see why it has been billed as the jewel of the desert.
Plan to bring your wife and join fellow members for a delightful luncheon.  Reservations are required:  (760) 901-5494.
 
Please show your support by attending the luncheon.  Wear your name badge so that the Marines and guests will know you are a member of the Desert Cities Mitchell Paige MOH Chapter.
 
 
REPORT FROM BLT 2/7  LtCol John Reed, C0
 
This report came in from Lt. Col. Reed who is the Commanding Officer.
 
Through the month of March, the Marines and Sailors of Battalion Landing Team 2/7 participated in Exercise Balikatan in the Philippines and Amphibious Integration Training that returned us to Okinawa.  Consistent with the honorable warrior ethos of the BLT, we conducted bilateral training aggressively with counterparts of the Philippine Marine Corps and the men did it without incident or swagger.
 
The BLT Command Element, HDQ Company, Echo Company and Weapons  Company trained in Crow Valley between the mountains and in the volcanic ash of Mount Pinatubo. There, the BLT showcased the combined arms integration of fire support with the rotary and fixed wing close air support of the 31st MEU.  Fox Company and the Maritime Raid Force exercised small boat raids and small unit training in Ternate.
Golf Company spent its time ashore in San Miguel as the mechanized company.  Kilo Battery aligned artillery training with units of the Philippine Army and Marine Corps at Fort Magsaysay.  Across all of the sites, training with elements of the Philippine 2nd Ready Force Battalion included live fire of infantry weapons and crew served systems, dismounted patrolling, motorized operations, counter-improvised explosive device operations, jungle survival, martial arts and basic combat skills.
 
At the end of March, BLT 2/7 conducted an amphibious assault onto Okinawa across challenging sea operations.  Weapons Company deployed to Camp Fuji, Japan for a combined arms training package during the month of April. The infantry companies will participate in rifle range qualifications and jungle training packages.  Kilo Battery will deploy to Yausubetsu, Japan for an artillery fires package in two months.  The training during the MEU deployment continues to hone our battle skills and keep the BLT postured as an expeditionary fighting force that is ready for all, and yielding to none.
 
Semper Fi
 
 
APRIL 15TH MEETING
 
At the April meeting the Chapter recognized Denise Goolsby, Reporter for the DESERT SUN for her outstanding series on WW II veterans.  We are the first veterans organization to recognize her for the terrific job.
 
The Chapter also presented Sandy Sandoval with a plaque in appreciation for his service as an officer and director over the past 4 years.  Sandy and his wife are leaving for Corpus Christi on August 30 to being a new life there.  We also had a small going away party for them  before they departed.  We wish them continued happiness with their new life in South Texas.
 
Our speaker, guest of honor was Sgt. Major Ray Wilburn, USMC (Ret.) who gave a great account of his early life in Texas, hitch hiking to Dallas to enlist into the Marine Corps and reporting for his experiences at Guadalcanal and Tarawa. 
 
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE
 
Here is the desert there are several Memorial Day Services at the Coachella Veterans Cemetery, Desert Memorial Park Cemetery and Forest Lawn Memorial Park (across the street from each other) in Cathedral City and at the Indian Wells Civic Center.  Most begin around 0900.  Call ahead to check the one that you plan to attend.
 
Show your support. Wear your chapter shirt and red cap to identify yourself as a veteran Marine and show up at one of the services which last less than an hour.  We should salute our fallen warriors.
 
 
1st MARINE DIVISION NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
 
New address:  403 No. Freeman St., Oceanside, CA 92054. 

Officers & Directors

Quint Villanueva, President Sandy Sandoval, Vice President

Jim Sullivan, Sec./Treasurer Dick Partee, Director Mike Key, Director