Author: George L. Thornton Jr.

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor

Lynn A. Bolte, Detachment Commandant

Columbia River Detachment #826 MARINE CORPS LEAGUE

Volume 04/21
April 2021

Here are some big changes that may be coming to the Marine Corps
By: Todd South, Marine Times

The Marine Corps’ second round of changes to how it fights shows moves in command, aviation, logistics and ground combat, and shifts that might see stateside Marine reservists operating drones for active units overseas, ditching weapons companies from infantry battalions, and a host of other moves. Those are some highlights of what Marine Corps leaders unveiled recently to media with a Force Design 2030 annual update. The service’s first announcement in 2020 made sweeping changes that included shedding tanks from the ranks, swapping loads of conventional artillery for rockets and reducing the overall manpower from it s 2020 level of 186,000 to 174,000 by 2030. In the 2021 update, the Corps reviewed decisions leadership already had made, laid out next steps and hinted at adjustments that could have impact on forces large and small. And whatever choices they make, it appears that leaders don’t intend to look back. “We will succeed and we will create irreversible momentum with our modernization efforts over the next 24 months,” Commandant Gen. David Berger wrote in the document’s introduction. The update also may have finally answered lingering questions as to how the Marine Corps will replace its aging light armored vehicle, used primarily for manned, mobile reconnaissance. The document specified that Marines have “invalidated the requirement to replace existing LAV-25s with a similar armored, wheeled or tracked manned vehicle in a one-for-one ratio.” Over the past two years, combined efforts with the Office of Naval Research and the Marine Corps Land Systems office were evaluating a vehicle replacement for the LAV. But Berger had said publicly that an armored ground vehicle might not fit into the small team, island-hopping strategy that the Corps is pursuing.
Continued on Page - 4

Inside this issue:

From the Desk of the Commandant	2
Make a Mask from a Skivvy Shirt	3
Minutes of April 16th Meeting	4
Annual Dinner Information flyer	9
Reading List Book Review	10
MCL Anniversaries	11
MCL Birthdays	12
POW/MIA Agency’s Mission	13
VA News May	15
Detachment Polo Shirt Order Form	16/17
TAPS	18
This Month in History -May2021	14

Columbia River Detachment #826
Department of Washington, Marine Corps League Est. 28 September, 1992
Send all Correspondence to: 15509 SE Mill Plain Blvd, #8, Vancouver, WA 98684-4644
Non-Profit: Ein: 91-1647649 Secretary of State: Ubi# 60149220 http://www.mcleague-crd826.org
Newsletter Editor—Marine Pete Thornton

We Meet the 3rd Friday of the month: 1700 Dinner/1830 Meeting @ American Legion, Post No. 14
4607 NE St. Johns Rd, Vancouver WA 98663

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor

Page #

FROM THE DESK OF THE COMMANDANT

Marines
At the end of my two-year tenure as your Commandant, I want to say it was a pleasure serving, in spite of all the problems we have faced due to COVID 19. Both my wife and I have had our COVID vaccines and experienced no ill side-affects. I hope you and your spouses have gotten yours as well. That is how we will protect our families from this pandemic.
I attended the Dept. of Washington MCL Staff meeting in Yakima representing our detachment and was accompanied by Bill Hauser, Rex Hopper and John Stofiel. It was a good meeting with excellent camaraderie.
On 24 April 2021, I and Ron Brandon presented a Distinguished Service Award to Fox’s Car Wash and Fuel. Erica and Michael Fox have provided positive support to Clark County Veterans since they opened their family business in Hazel Dell providing a means for fundraising to assist Veterans in need. This is highly appreciated, not only by the Veterans organizations they have offered this to, but also those Veterans who are in need of support.
I was part of a group of Veterans that assembled to help lower the damaged American flag at the Arco gas station at the corner of 78th St and St. John’s Rd. The owner then provided a new Flag for us to raise in its place. It was a beautiful sight to see the new colors, snapping in the wind!
Up-coming Events: Annual Installation and Awards Dinner - Saturday 15 May 2021 at the American Legion Smith-Reynolds Post 14, 1600 Opening Ceremony. $25.00 per person. Please send check made out to CRD826MCL mailed by 8 May 2021 to: John Stofiel, Adj/Paymaster, 6204 Kansas St., Vancouver, WA 98661-6924.
I see brighter skies ahead!
Semper Fi,
Lynn Bolte, Commandant
Columbia River Detachment

IMPORTANT— OUR NEXT DETACHMENT MEETING WILL BE
15 MAY 2021, AT THE AMERICAN LEGION, (SEE INFO. ABOVE) VANCOUVER.
HOPE TO SEE YOUR THERE!
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE... NOVEMBER 2017 NOTICE

Page #

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor

Here’s how to make a face mask out of that Marine green skivvy shirt.
By: Shawn Snow, Marine Times

Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools posted an image showing a no-sew skivvy shirt face mask. (Marine Corps)
If you saw the Defense Department memo directing service members to wear a face covering over COVID-19 concerns, fear not, you can make one out of your green skivvy shirt with no sewing skills required. Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools headquartered at Camp Johnson, North Carolina, posted a short image tutorial showing Marines stationed aboard Camp Johnson how they can make a skivvy shirt face mask. MCCSSS posted this to Facebook
(I will continue to post this until we are no longer required to wear masks)

Old Breed? New Breed? There’s not a damn bit of difference so long as it’s the Marine Breed
Chesty Puller

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor

Page #

Here are some big changes that may be coming to the Marine Corps
(continued from page 1)

In a phone interview with various media outlets, LtGen Eric Smith, deputy commandant for Combat Development and Integration, said that the Corps is looking at capabilities, not platforms, for whatever comes after the LAV. “What it will be replaced with is not necessarily another vehicle,” Smith said. “It could be, but the capability is to also control air and ground robotics and provide reconnaissance.” Brig. General Ben Watson, head of the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab, added that some of what comes next with an LAV replacement will come out of war gaming and experimentation, for both reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance. Another experiment, the Infantry Battalion Experiment 2030, will take one battalion from each active duty division and run different configurations of forces. A change being evaluated is to shift to an “arms room” concept. That would mean getting rid of weapons company within the battalion and pushing those weapons such as 81 mm mortars and Javelin missiles to either the headquarters or rifle companies. That would mean Marines ready to fall in on any weapon system, from machine guns to mortars or missiles, when they arrive at the battalion from the School of Infantry. That’s partly begun, as Training and Education Command adjust the curriculum at the two SOIs, according to the document. Major moves on the aviation side have already been announced, such as trimming the number of light, heavy and tilt-rotor helicopter squadrons and moving toward a 40 percent crewed and 60 percent un-crewed aircraft composition. But leaders are also looking at how they can operate some of those un-crewed drones, and they’re looking to their reservists to help out. They’re looking at two models to use reservists. One would take a traditional approach, where 4th Marine Air Wing would operate and maintain the drones with active duty and active reservists doing the work. That would mean reservists drone pilots supporting active duty training and missions in U.S. Northern Command. Another would mirror the Air National Guard, which would have Marine reservist drone pilots flying drones globally in support of active duty missions. “Either proposal would see mission control elements established in Alaska and Michigan or in areas with known pilot densities, such as Dallas, San Diego, Honolulu, Atlanta or Washington D.C., according to the document. Summary of current, major changes:
- Command Element -Established the Marine Forces Space component command
-Continued divestment of active duty law enforcement, keeping a single law enforcement battalion in the Marine Corps Reserve. -Examined a Marine Information Group redesign to support Marine Expeditionary Force.

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor

Page #

Here are some big changes that may be coming to the Marine Corps
(continued from page 4)

Ground Combat Element - Infantry Battalion Experiment 2030 preparations that will experiment with one battalion for each of the three active duty divisions over the next two years. - Organic precision fires for infantry battalions, which will include loitering munitions. - Started enhanced infantry training program. - Preparing to shed three active duty and two reserve infantry battalions. - Began elimination of two Assault Amphibian companies. - Started fielding Amphibious Combat Vehicle - Decided not to replace the Light Armored Vehicle with a similar armored, wheeled or tracked manned vehicle. Examining options to convert light armored reconnaissance capabilities to a “more broadly capable Mobile Reconnaissance.”
Aviation Combat Element
- Finished divestment of all heavy bridging capabilities.
- Examined options for LCE capabilities/capacity redesign
- Begin studies and analysis for creating unmanned logistics

THE MARINE CORPS IS LIKE AMERICA’S LITTLE PIT BULL.
THE FEED US, MISTREAT US, AND EVERY NOW AND THEN, THEY LET US OUT TO ATTACK SOMEONE.

Page #

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor

COLUMBIA RIVER DETACHMENT #826
Department Of Washington, Marine Corps League
American Legion Smith-Reynolds Post 14 4607 NE St James Rd, Vancouver, WA 98663
MINUTES OF 16 April 2021
OPENING CEREMONY – 1830 Appropriate.
ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: All present and accounted for.
INTRODUCTION OF DIGNITARIES: Detachment Marine of the Year Doc Toby Clairmont; Department WA Officers: Paymaster Bill Hauser; Past Department Cmndnt’s: John Stofiel, & Rex Hopper; Past Department Marines of the Year: John Stofiel, & Rex Hopper; Past Detachment Cmndnt’s: John Stofiel, Lynn Bolte, George LaFrazia, Rex Hopper; Past Detachment Marines of the Year: John Stofiel, George LaFrazia, Lynn Bolte, Rex Hopper, John Hudson, Steven Slegers, and Pete Thornton
INTRODUCTION OF GUESTS: None.
APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP: None.
CORRESPONDENCE: Nat’l and Dept. messages forwarded via email. Received a Letter from the Commanding Officer noting the recipient of the MCCC Award (Officers Sword) who is Marine Midshipman Kyla Rosales. (SEE ATTACHMENT)
ADJUTANTS REPORT: The minutes of the previous meeting were sent via email & posted in the newsletter (Eagle, Globe & Anchor. PAYMASTER REPORT: We currently have 81 members 33 dues paying & 48 PLM’s- (1 ASSOC) = 80 Voting mbrs divided by 15 = 5.33 = 6 voting delegates. Read Paymasters report. Motion to accept Rex Hopper, 2nd Toby Clairmont. If any want a more detail report contact the Paymaster. CHAPLAIN’S REPORT: Toby Clairmont - Marine Ralph Peabody who joined our detachment in 2006 assumed duties at Heaven’s Gate on 1 April 2021. He was interred at Evergreen Memorial Gardens in the Veteran section on 8 April with appropriate Military Honors. John Hudson shared that Marine Alex Bara is currently suffering from kidney stones and is not in good shape.
REPORT OF OFFICERS: Commandant Lynn Bolte – I attended the Department of WA MCL Staff meeting in Yakima representing our detachment and was accompanied by Bill Hauser, Rex Hopper and John Stofiel it was a good meeting with excellent camaraderie. No other Officer report.
REPORT OF STANDING COMMITTEES:
Clark County Veterans Advisory Board: John Stofiel/Steve Slegers – WDVA Veteran Service Officers VSO) Veteran Services Administrator for the WDVA gave an update on the Clark County Service Officers that work out of the Center. Clark County Veteran benefits are now on par with the state average (29%) of Veterans who are receiving VA benefits compared to before the contract. In 2020, the VSOs filed 1,767 claims which resulted in over $2M in VA benefit payments to Clark County Veterans; VAC- The fund assisted 33 Veteran households in January with $33,595 in assistance provided. The Veterans Assistance Center saw 119 Veteran visits for essentials and food. The Free Clinic billed $649. The fund balance at the end of January was $727,258; CCVAC has partnered with TMG on Operation Home Rescue. This program will provide volunteer labor to Veterans over 55 who own their home and need minor improvements such as landscaping, clean up, or accessibility modifications. We are looking for a new service officer to help qualify Veterans for assistance and provide federal rental assistance to respond to COVID.
Marine Corps Coordinating Council of OR/WA: Bill Hauser/John Stofiel – Submitted minutes of last month’s meeting to our members via email.
Veterans Affairs Voluntary Services: Rex Hopper – I attended the Dept. Staff meeting on 3 April and gave the following report: The Portland/Vancouver VAVS activities have been shut down since the 16th of March 2020. During that time there have been no volunteers working at either of the Centers. One exception has been the partitioning of the four Shuttle Carts in Vancouver which were outfitted with vision glass partitions separating the driver and each passenger to the covid-19 protocol requirements. The work was begun in early June and completed in Nov. The work was completed by the Golf cart vendor supported on campus by the Volunteer Cart program coordinator and his deputy with limited presents on campus and observing all covid-19 protocol requirements. The Vancouver Shuttle Cart program was started up again on March 1, 2021. Voluntary services will gradually bring back other activities as they are able while still observing covid-19 safety requirements. There has been an announcement by the Director of Voluntary Services that due to the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, co-payments for medical care and pharmacy services by the Veterans Health Administration during the period of April 6, 2020 through Sept. 30, 2021, all will be canceled. All those co-payments that have been paid to the VA for medical care and prescriptions for the period 4/6/2020 to the present will be refunded. Reported in the Portland April Newsletter,

the Voluntary Service Department will be changing its name from VAVS to CDCE (Center for Development & Civic Engagement). The Center for Development and Civic Engagement was part of the original Office of Communications, formed in 1998. The Program Office was realigned to Assistant under Secretary for Health Operations (AUSHO) to more accurately reflect the scopes of its services. The Center for Development and Civic Engagement’s mission is to strategically integrate volunteers, donations and community partners into Department of Veterans Affairs for the purpose of supplementing staff and increasing care and services for veterans. I asked how this change would affect the National and local service organizations VAVS designation. I have not received an answer as of this date. All Vets Health Administration Clinics are currently offering covid-19 shots to all veterans who are signed up. You need to call your caretaker for an appointment.
Community Military Appreciation Committee (CMAC): Bill Hauser – Absent – medical event
Lewis & Clark Young Marines: John Hudson – We are starting up with face-face meetings/events with appropriate distancing and masking. The YM Physical Fitness test is coming up this weekend. Our next Recruit Class starts January 8th 2022.
Battle Ground Young Marines: Adjutant for Alex Baran – Battle Ground Young Marines: Alex Baran – As requested, the start of the Battle Ground Young Marines is pending. Due to Covid-19 our program had been forced to delay its start date. With the support of the community we hope to start again during the summer of 2021. In the meantime, we'll continue to engage interested families and advertise our progress. • WA Marine Cadets: Andrew ‘Mo’ Maceo – Shared that the Cadet Program lost their meeting location and non-profit status, many of the staff volunteers have moved away the program is not functioning at this report. Will be looking at perhaps joining with the Battle Ground Young Marine Program that is still waiting for the COVID restrictions to be lifted so they can operate.
OLD BUSINESS: None.
NEW BUSINESS:
• Ron Brandon Car Wash fundraising program: Schedule: a. Saturday 15 May (Armed Forces Day) 0800-1700 Car Wash Fundraiser by MCL/VVA/Young Marines; Alternate date Saturday 22 May 0800-1700. b. Saturday 3 July 0800-1700 Car Wash Fundraiser by VVA/MCL/Young Marines; Alternate date Saturday 10 July 0800- 1700. c. Food, Drinks & water will be provided by Fox’s car wash; Shifts will be arranged in 3 hour stretches from 0800-
1100; 1100-1400; 1400-1700. TO VOLUNTEER/ASSIST IN THIS EVENT PLEASE CONTACT RON BRANDON @ donnaronb@comcast.net 360-721-4310 and let him know your selected times. • John Stofiel – a. Motion to provide for room and board for our Installing officer Dept. Cmndn’t George Hilbish on 15 May. 2 Meals & Room not to exceed $140.00, 2nd Rex Hopper, discussion, call 4 vote, Carried. b. Motion to purchase 200 Post 14 Raffle Tickets in support. 2nd Steve Slegers, discussion, call 4 vote Carried.
LAST ORDER OF BUSINESS - ELECTION: Cmndn’t Lynn Bolte The following members have been nominated and have stated they would serve if elected: Cmndn’t: Henry Lasch, SrVice Cmndn’t Pete Thornton, JrVice Cmndn’t Toby Clairmont, and Judge Advocate Dickson Lee. Are there any other nominations (stated three times), there were no other nominations. John Hudson motion for our Adjutant to cast one vote in acclamation for the slate of Officers who have stated they would serve, 2nd Rex Hopper, carried. Adjutant casted one vote in acclamation. GOOD OF THE LEAGUE/ANNOUNCEMENTS:
• Ron Brandon Thanking FOX’s Car Wash – 0800 24 April Vietnam Veterans of America presenting plaque and card presentation to the owners for their support of local Veterans programs. A drive by presented by the Sherriff’s Dept., Fire Department, EMT’s, and members of the Patriot Guard. • Our Community Salutes – 2021 24 April ~ Artillery Barracks 600 Hatheway Rd Will be held outdoor on porch of the bar racks… no seating available. Groups will be honored by service 30 minutes apart • Veterans Meetup: April 25 @ 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm Recurring Event ~ The Fort Vancouver Regional Library invites Veterans to join a casual meetup for coffee and conversation. The meetings occur on the second Thursday and fourth Sunday of each month in the Klickitat Room at the downtown library, 901 C Street, Vancouver, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor

Page #

IF I CHARGE, FOLLOW ME - IF I RETREAT, KILL ME - IF I DIE, REVENGE ME.
-US MARINE CORPS-

Page #

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor

Installation of Elected and Appointed Officers Dinner 1500 - 1600 on Saturday 15 May 2021; our installing officer is the Dept. Commandant George Hilbish. (See Flyer)
2021 Department of Idaho Convention – Pocatello, ID, May 21-23 hosted by the Steven D Merrell Det. #698 fr Vancouver 662 miles
Memorial Day Monday, May 31, 2021 - 12:00am City Hall 415 W. 6th St. Vancouver, WA
2021 Department of Washington Convention – June 3-6, 2021. Hosted by the MM Smith Detachment 586/Auxiliary Unit 305 @ the Mirabeau Park Hotel & Convention Center 1100 N Sullivan Rd., Spokane Valley, WA 99037-9551 MCL price $119. + tax Reservations 509-924-9000 (Registration forms available on table) and will be sent to all members via email. 363 miles by horseback; PDX Air 1 hour $257.00
2021 Department of Montana Convention – Butte, MT June 11-12 hosted by the SW Montana Det. 724 Horseback 666 miles from Vancouver…
2021 Department of Oregon Convention – Klamath Falls, OR July 9-10 hosted by Crater Lake Detachment 373 in Klamath Falls (Friday July 9th meet & greet at the Leatherneck lounge at 1700. Informal buffet dinner at 1800. Meno Pork Ribs or Chicken Quarter, salad, roll, beans, tea, soda, and coffee. Cost $16.00. Horseback 290 miles from…
2021 MCL National Convention – August 8-14, 2021. at the WYNDHAM Springfield City Centre 700 E. Adams Street Springfield, IL 62701 Host Dept. Il and Det. 993 https://springfieldmarines.com/events/2021-mcl-ational-convention
2021 Department Fall Staff Meeting – October 1-2, 2021 Oxford Suites 1701 E. Yakima Ave., Yakima, WA 98801 Reservations 509-457-9000 for group price $96.00 = tax, mention Marine Corps League.
Next gathering is Saturday 15 May 2021 (1500-1900) for our 29th Annual Installation and Awards dinner. [SEE ATTACHED FLYER]
MEETING RAFFLE:
$70.00; winner-Ron Brandon: (½) $35.00 donated to the Detachment; Detachment (½): $70.00;
IN ATTENDANCE: (17) Ron Brandon, Eddie Bogle, Lynn Bolte, Toby Clairmont, Rex Hopper, John Hudson, George LaFrazia, Henry Lasch, Dickson Lee, AJ Moceo, Don Newell, Geri Roberts, Al Schmeits, Chad Spahr, Steve Slegers, John Stofiel, Pete Thornton,

Any officer can get by on his Sergeants.
In order to be a Sergeant you have to know your stuff.
I’d rather be an outstanding Sergeant than just another officer.
- SgtMaj Daniel Daly 1873-1937-

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor

Page #

Columbia River Lewis & Clark Columbia River Lewis & Clark
Det. #826 Pound #225 Unit 398 Unit
Commandant Pound Keeper President Commanding Officer Lynn Bolte PDD John Stofiel Jeanette Bolte Devin Lewis
Columbia River Detachment # 826 and Auxiliary Unit # 398
Our 29th Annual Installation and Awards Dinner

Commandant Lynn A Bolte
Cordially invites all Members & Guests to join with us on
Saturday 15 May 2021 @
The American Legion Smith-Reynolds Post 14
4607 NE St James Rd Vancouver, Washington
Agenda
1500-1600 Social hour (no host bar)
1600-1630 Opening Ceremony
1630-1730 Dinner
1730-1800 Auxiliary installation/Awards
1800-1900 Detachment installation/Awards
1900… be safe on your drive home…
Buffet Dinner
The menu includes:
2 Meat selections Chicken and Ham
W/ Salad, Potatoes, gravy, vegetables, rolls & Coffee $25.00 per person
Please send check or Money order made out to CRD826MCL mailed by 8 May 2019
To: John Stofiel Adj/Paymaster 6204 Kansas St. Vancouver, WA 98661-6924
Inquiries: 360-907-5342 jfstofiel@comcast.net

In the Belleau Wood fighting in 1918, the Germans received a thorough indoctrination in the fighting ability of the Marines. Fighting through supposedly impenetrable woods and capturing supposedly untakeable terrain, the persistent attacks, delivered with unbelievable courage soon had the Germans calling Marines “Teufelhunden,” referring to the fierce fighting dogs of legendary origin. Ooohhh Raaah!

Page #

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor

COLUMBIA RIVER DETACHMENT #826,
DEPARTMENT OF WASHINGTON, MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
Elks Lodge #823 11605 SE McGillivray Blvd. Vancouver, WA 98683-5203
Our next gathering of the Marine Corps League, Columbia River Detachment will be Friday May 15th 2021 at the
American Legion, Smith-Reynolds Post 14,
4607 NE St. James Road, Vancouver, WA 98663
Gathering/Dinner 1500 Opening1600
Installation of 2021-2022 Detachment Officers - 1800
As commander of Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), General Stanley McChrystal played a crucial role in the War on Terror. But when he took the helm in 2004, America was losing that war badly: despite vastly inferior resources and technology, Al Qaeda was outmaneuvering America’s most elite warriors. McChrystal came to realize that today’s faster, more interdependent world had overwhelmed the conventional, top-down hierarchy of the US military. Al Qaeda had seen the future: a decentralized network that could move quickly and strike ruthlessly. To defeat such an enemy, JSOC would have to discard a century of management wisdom, and pivot from a pursuit of mechanical efficiency to organic adaptability. Under McChrystal’s leadership, JSOC remade itself, in the midst of a grueling war, into something entirely new: a network that combined robust centralized communication with decentralized managerial authority. As a result, they beat back Al Qaeda. In this book, McChrystal shows not only how the military made that transition, but also how similar shifts are possible in all organizations, from large companies to startups to charities to governments. In a turbulent world, the best organizations think and act like a team of teams, embracing small groups that combine the freedom to experiment with a relentless drive to share what they’ve learned. Drawing on a wealth of evidence from his military career, the private sector, and sources as diverse as hospital emergency rooms and NASA’s space program, McChrystal frames the existential challenge facing today’s organizations, and presents a compelling, effective solution.

Team of Teams
New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World
By: General Stanley A McCrystal

Old Breed? New Breed? There’s not a damn bit of difference so long as it’s the Marine Breed
Chesty Puller

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor

Page #

Marine Corps League Anniversaries for May 2021

Wendy L. Baker 05/01/2005
Floyd L. Towne 05/02/2016
William C. Barnes 05/03/2005
David G. Hancock 05/05/2001

A Marine is a Marine. I set that policy two weeks ago - there’s no such thing as a former Marine. You’re a Marine, just in a different uniform and you’re in a different phase of your life. But you’ll always be a Marine because you went to Parris Island. San Diego or the hills of Quantico. There’s no such thing as a former Marine.
General James F. Amos, 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps

Why Join the Marine Corps League and Marine Corps League Auxiliary?

When you join and/or invite someone you know to join the Marine Corps League and the Marine Corps League Auxiliary, you do more than increase our ability to help America's Veterans and their families; you could be helping that new member live a longer, more fulfilling life.
In recent years, U.S. populations have become more solitary, and more than a quarter of U.S. households are made up of people living by themselves.

Sadly, research has found that 25 percent of Americans said they had no one to talk to about important matters and social isolation may increase a persons risk of early death
The good news is that every Marine Corps League and Marine Corps League Auxiliary member has the opportunity to help ebb the loneliness epidemic! Most of our members take time to visit those veterans at VA

Hospitals and Veterans homes. Our Veterans feel loved and appreciated when our members visit them and feel useful and connected. Your involvement is key to the success of each one of our Detachments, Auxiliary Units and our Organization. It takes each and every one of us pulling together to get the important work done of serving our Veterans and their families, our communities, and our country.

Page #

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

TBD MCLA Meeting, TBA
15 April Marine Corps League Officer Installation and Dinner Smith-Reynolds Post 14

MAY 2021
BIRTHDAYS WISHES

David W. Tanner Sr. 05/02/1955
Lynn A. Bolte 05/03/1948
Donald D. Newell 05/03/1952
John F. Russell 05/04/1946
Dickson V. Lee 05/05/1931
Ruth A. Falconbury 05/12/1928
Janet E. Spence 05/30/1959

PUBLISHER’S
DISCLAMER
NOTICE
The Articles
published in this
medium are the
expressed opinions of
the authors and do
not necessarily
reflect the opinion of
any US Govt. agency
or private
organization.

"Uncommon Valor" Refers to the victories in World War II, especially at Iwo Jima, the largest all-Marine battle in history. Admiral Nimitz's ringing epitome of Marine fighting on Iwo Jima was applied to the entire Marine Corps in World War II: "Uncommon valor was a common virtue."

RENEWAL TIME

Membership Renewals
$30.00 Annually by 31 August
Life Membership Fee:
17-35 years $ 500.00
36-50 $ 400.00
51-64 $ 300.00
65 + $ 200.00
Make check/money orders payable to;
CRD-MCL mail to:
John Stofiel Paymaster CRD-MCL
6204 Kansas Street
Vancouver, WA 98661-6924

PAST DETACHMENT
MARINES OF THE YEAR
John Stofiel 1997 – 1998
1998 - 1999
George LaFranzia 1999 – 2000
2000 - 2001
Lynn Bolte 2001 – 2002
Phil Ruhmshottel 2002 – 2003
George Pobi 2003 – 2004
Rex Hopper 2004 – 2005
Keith Fitch 2005 – 2006
Bob Rector 2006 – 2007
Mike Wilson 2007 – 2008
Jim Renton 2008 – 2009
Wendy Baker 2009 – 2010
Lou Baste 2010 – 2011

Roger Rueckert 2011 – 2012
Bill Hauser 2012 – 2013
George Zeleznik 2013 - 2014
Florin Zeviar 2014 - 2015
Lucian Baker 2015 - 2016
John Hudson 2016 - 2017
Steven Slegers - 2017 - 2018
Pete Thornton - 2018-2019
DEPTMENT Of WASHINGTON MARINES OF THE YEAR FROM CRD #826
John F. Stofiel
Philip E. Ruhmshottel
Rex Hopper
Jim Renton
Bill Hauser

Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they really make a difference in the world. But Marines don't have that problem.

Ronald Reagan
President of the United States
1985

Don’t you forget that you're Marines - First Marines! Not all the communists in hell can overrun you!
-Col. Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, rallying his 1st Marines near Chosin Reservoir, Korea, December 1950

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor

Page #

Austin Says POW/MIA Agency’s Mission Gives Confidence to Service Members in War
By: C. Todd Lopez, DOD News

During a Friday visit to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hicham, Hawaii the secretary of defense visited the agency charged with attempting to locate, identify and return to families the remains of service members who were lost in combat.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III told the civilian and military personnel at the
Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency that their mission not only brings closure to families whose loved one never came home from conflict, but it also provides confidence to those who are in the fight today. “You have a more profound impact on the business than you can imagine,” said Austin. “I spent a lot of time in combat and told them that whatever happens, I would never leave them if they went down; I would come to get them. That instills great confidence in them and allows them to fight fiercely. No other country in the world can make that claim.” During his tour of DPAA, Austin was able to see the research areas and labs and meet the professionals who work to return home the U.S. service members who were lost during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Cold War. Today, more than 81,000 Americans remain missing from those conflicts. DPAA aims to locate them and return them to the United States.
Our Missions to recover remains, DPAA personnel travel around the globe to locations where service members once fought or where aircraft may have gone down. Many times those locations are still
dangerous decades after the conflict has ended. “It’s dangerous: it’s hard; it’s tedious… but the fact that we have people like you who are committed to do what you’re doing is just absolutely terrific, and sets us apart and it makes us different, so I want to thank you for what you do,” Austin said. “I want to encourage you to keep doing it, and I really applaud the teamwork and the camaraderie,”

“UNTIL THEY ALL COME HOME”

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor

Page #

VA IN THE NEWS
MAY 2021
News Releases

VA.gov site becomes central login for accessing benefits - Veterans and their families may begin accessing their Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits and services on the new and user-friendly VA.gov website starting April 30. (4/29/21)
VA establishes 120-day task force on inclusion, diversity, equity and access - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough established a 120-day task force April 1 to conduct a whole-of-VA review and to design and implement a holistic and integrated VA mission on inclusion, diversity, equity and access. (4/14/21)
Secretaries of VA, HUD joint statement on ending Veteran homelessness - The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress found that on a single night in January 2020, there were 37,252 Veterans experiencing homelessness in America, an increase of 0.4% over 2019. (4/12/21) VA provides free support to help Veterans heal from military sexual trauma - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is launching a national outreach effort during Sexual Assault Awareness Month to inform Veterans of free counseling and treatment being offered at VA for mental and physical health conditions related to military sexual trauma (MST). (4/5/210
VA partners with National Archives to vaccinate NARA staff - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced today that it has reached an agreement with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) to assist in providing COVID-19 vaccines to NARA staff supporting VA claims processing. (4/1/21)
VA seeks feedback to guide new suicide prevention grant program - The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published a notice in the Federal Register April 1, to solicit public feedback to guide implementation of the new VA Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program (SSG Fox SPGP). (4/1/21
VA strengthens PTSD claims process training - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) started implementing in March steps to improve its posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) claims processing. (3/25/21)

“They (Women Marines) don’t have a nickname, and they don’t need one. They get their basic training in a Marine atmosphere, at a Marine Post. They inherit the traditions of the Marines. They are Marines.”
Lieutenant General Thomas Holcomb, USMC 1943

Page #

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor

COLUMBIA RIVER DETACHMENT MARINE CORPS LEAGUE ADOPTED SHIRT FOR WEAR AT FUNCTIONS OF THE DETACHMENT

JERZEES® - Spot Shield™ 5.6-Ounce Jersey Knit Sport Shirt. 437M
50/50 cotton/poly preshrunk jersey with stain resistant finish w/Embroidered Logo
The shirt embroidery is done by Excel Designs 6019 NE 109th Ave Vancouver, WA 98662 360 892 8465
Please make your check payable to CRD826MCL
Mail to Paymaster John Stofiel 6204 Kansas St Vancouver, WA 98661-6924

Indicate size desired in “for” line
SMALL – X-LARGE $30.00	2X $32.00	3X 34.00	4X 36.00

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE UNIFORM
Order online @ https://the-semper-fi-store.myshopify.com/
Marine Corps League Uniform Garrison Cover

Male OR Female 31.00

COVER ORNAMENT	REGULAR MBR	ASSOCIATE MBR	05.50
			36.50
		Standard Shipping/Handling	11.99
As of 2/22/2021		TOTAL	48.49

NOTE: The league does not authorize any pins and or patches on the uniform cover exceptions have been made for Office patches, i. e. Life Member, Cmndn’t, SrVice, JrVice etc. and for the MODD patch

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor

Page #

COLUMBIA RIVER DETACHMENT MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
ADOPTED SHIRT FOR WEAR AT FUNCTIONS OF THE DETACHMENT

50/50 cotton/poly preshrunk jersey with stain resistant finish w/Embroidered Logo (name optional)
The shirt embroidery is done by Excel Designs 6019 NE 109th Ave Vancouver, WA 98662 360 892 8465
http://www.exceldesigns.com/
Prices are based on a minimum order of 5 shirts per order. Please make your check payable to CRD826MCLand Mail to Paymaster John Stofiel 6204 Kansas St Vancouver, WA 98661-6924 indicate by letter described below and if w/name indicate spelling of same on the for line of your check and the Paymaster.

JERZEES® - Spot Shield™ 5.6-Ounce Jersey Knit Sport Shirt. 437M

WITH NAME		A	B	C	D
Shirt		Small thru XL is 12.99	2XL 16.45	3XL 18.83	4XL 21.25
EGA		09.75	09.75	09.75	09.75
Name (10 Characters)		07.50	07.50	07.50	07.50
		30.24	33.70	36.08	38.50
WA sales tax is .084		02.54	02.83	03.03	03.23
TOTAL COST:		32.78	36.53	39.11	41.73
WITHOUT NAME		E	F	G	H
Shirt / EGA		Small thru XL is 12.99 / 09.75	2XL 16.45 / 09.75	3XL 18.83 / 09.75	4XL 21.25 / 09.75
		22.74	26.20	28.58	31.00
WA sales tax is .084		01.91	02.20	02.40	02.60
TOTAL COST:		24.65	28.40	30.98	33.60

NO ONE EVER DROWNED IN SWEAT
USMC(UNKNOWN)

Page #

The Eagle, Globe and Anchor

TAPS
Gone But Never Forgotten
Updated: 03/29/2020

Charles W. Bailey 05/31 - 12/14
Noah D. Baird 03/95 - 12/13
Daniel P. Brennan 10/32 - 05/10
Cedric Bruns 04/81 - 05/03 - Kuwait
Harry Callicote 05/31 - 12/04
Donald H. Cheney 02/38-08/20
Louis A. Claudio 09/47 - 01/15
Jack N. Clark 07/39 - 06/19
Lyle E. Cornwall 09/25 - 07/10
Robert R. Costello 03/19 - 01/98
Roger Dahl 07/17 - 08/10
Jefferson E. Dean 06/25 - 12/11
Robert E. Dean 07/23 - 03/14
David W Dowdakin 03/25 - 04/16
Theodore L. Dravis 08/32 - 05/17
Adam Q. Emul 04-87 - 01/07 - Iraq
Robert Fish 06/19 - 04/05
Carnett L. Falconbury 2/28 - 10/18
Robert Fish 06/19 - 04/05

Carnett L. Falconbury 2/28 - 10/18
Kane M. Funke 06/84 - 08/04 – Iraq
Fenton A. Grahnert 06/23 - 12/12
Samuel P Grooms 07/39 - 08/17
William J. Hendricks 2/42 - 6/18
Walter J. Hicks 01/23 - 10/12
William W. Hillgaertner 08/39 - 10/18
Bernard H. Kendall 12/32 - 5/18
Michael C. Leinweber 11/47 - 07/09
Jack L. Lewis 04/25 - 02/10
Charles J. Louviere 08/45 - 08/18
Richard A. McKenzie Jr. 09/54 - 01/12
Jerome Merrill 01/28 - 09/10
Alan Miksch 10/51-11/01
Gladyce Moeller 10/21- 08/12,
Jeffrey A. Paullin 08/86 - 11/13
Sherrill W. Parson 03/23 - 02/05
Ralph V. Peabody 06/32 - 04/21

Joward W. Pearson 03/12 - 03/96
Jason D. Peto 01/79 - 12/10 - Afghanistan
Lee A. Phillips - 07/36 - 10/18
Charles H. Quatier 01/36 - 12/08
Harry Rea 06/46 - 01/12
David G. Reis 06/75 - 11/04 - Iraq
James L. Renton II 12/49—12/20
Philip Ruhmshottel 03/41 - 03/20
David E. Sailer 01/53 - 10/ Michael Scholl 05/85 - 11/06 - Iraq
William Stofiel 04/21 - 12/98
Robert D. Storey 10/28 - 07/95
Blaine L. Turner 03/20 - 05/01
Robert Vollmer 06/33 - 11/13
Arlos Waters 03/20 - 02/09
Fiorin Zeviar 01/37 - 01/14
Richard Zoller 03/20 - 11/04

Marines take pride in our heritage. Every Marine knows the Corps’ motto: Semper Fidelis, and we’re all quick to correct someone when they call us soldiers or sailors.

Columbia River Detachment #826
Department of Washington
Marine Corps League
American Legion, Smith-Reynolds Post 14
4607 NE St. Johns Road
Vancouver WA. 98663
Vancouver, Washington 98684-4644

PLACE
POSTAGE HERE

MARINES AND NAVY CORPSMAN
CONTINUING SERVICE TO THE
NATION DAILY

We’re on the Web at
https://www.mcleague-crd826.org

NAME, MEMBER NUMBER
STREET ADDRESS
CITY, STATE, ZIP

We welcome all Marines and Navy Corpsman for community service, social interaction and camaraderie. We have
members from all eras of service and lots of experience and community resources to share. Meetings are held at 7pm on the third Friday of each month at the American Legion, Smith-Reynolds Post 14
Dinner 1700, League Business Meeting 1800
(4607 NE St. James Road, Vancouver, WA 98663)
Semper Fidelis!

“THIS MONTH IN MARINE CORPS HISTORY”

This area contains only snippets of the vast history of our Corps & is not a complete listing of all events throughout our history for the Month

23 April 1778	John Paul Jones and sailors and Marines of the sloop Ranger make a dawn raid on the British port of Whitehaven, setting fire to ships and spiking the cannon of the fort. Later that day they land at St. Mary’s Isle to capture a British earl, but find him away from home and instead take the family silver.
1 April 1899	British and American forces siding with one of the Samoan parties are ambushed during a raid. Twenty U.S. Marines protect the rear of the outfit as it withdraws to the coast. Sergeants Michael J. McNally and Bruno A. Forstere and Private Henry L. Hulbert subsequently are awarded the Medal of Honor.
21 April 1914	In an effort to forestall delivery of munitions to revolutionary forces in Mexico, lead elements of the 2nd Regiment go ashore at Veracruz, Mexico, from auxiliary cruiser Prairie. They are reinforced by Marines and sailors of the fleet. Fighting erupts in the city with Mexican soldiers.
28 April 1922	Cruiser Albany (CL-23) lands her Marines in China to reinforce the Legation Guard in Peking.
9 April 1942	U.S. and Filipino forces on Bataan surrender to Japanese. Battery “C” of the 4th Marines escapes to Corregidor. Japanese heavy artillery begins bombarding Corregidor.
7 April1943	Allied fighters repel the largest Japanese air raid (about 170 planes) on Guadalcanal in months. 1stLt James E. Swett of VMF-221 shoots down seven dive bombers before crash landing his damaged plane in the water. For this he receives the Medal of Honor.
22 April 1944	Company “A”, 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division, supports Army assault forces in the landing at Tanahmerah Bay, part of MacArthur’s campaign around Hollandia, New Guinea.
18 April 1945	Transport planes of VMR-252 make their first flight to Okinawa with vital supplies. VMR-253, 353 join in over the next four days.
15 April 1946	The provisional Marine detachment on Peleliu is designated a Marine barracks. To achieve peacetime manning levels, the 1st Marine Division disbands one battalion in each of its three infantry regiments and one firing battery in each of the four battalions of the 11th Marines.
1 April 1952	Chinese forces launch strong attacks against the KMC portion of the 1st Marine Division line and are repulsed.
8 April 1959	SSgt Matthew C. McKeon marches Platoon 71 of Company A, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion into Ribbon Creek, a tidal estuary at Parris Island. The night march is designed to discipline the recruits. Six of them drown.
10 April 1965	BLT 2/3 goes ashore to reinforce 9th MEB, while VMFA-531 flies onto the airfield. A company of 2/3 helicopters to the airbase at Phu Bai bout 50 miles north of Da Nang, near Hue City.
22 April 1970	President Nixon announces he will withdraw 150,000 more U.S. troops over the next year from Vietnam.

In the Vietnam War the average age of soldiers killed in action had declined to 23 years and twenty percent of those killed were less than twenty years old. Whilst it is tempting to be distracted by the use of the term average which ultimately benefits future recruiters, the simple fact is that sixty-one percent of those killed were under the allowable age for drinking in the USA, twenty-one years old.
A snapshot of this evolving paradigm came on 10 July 2009 when five UK servicemen with an average age of twenty years were killed in the very dangerous Helmand province of Afghanistan. Three of the dead soldiers were only eighteen.
Perhaps the best conclusion was given by President Franklin D. Roosevelt who pronounced this verdict from a familiar seat to some returning veterans, his wheelchair:
“War is young men dying and old men talking.”
SFC David D. Hack, US Army (Ret.) came up with this analysis of Vietnam War casualties:
• Five men killed in Vietnam were only 16 years old.
• Of those killed, 61% were younger than 21 years old.
• 11,465 of those killed were younger than 20 years old.
• The average age of the 58,148 killed in Vietnam was 23.11 years.
The transgression that is military service by too young a person is not erased by the fact of repetition over the centuries based not on the human right thing to do but military theory adopted by rote. The fact of hundreds of thousands of underage males in service must of necessity mean exposure to harsh military discipline in that event or capture and imprisonment as a prisoner of war.
If U.S. Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl had taken a more extreme position in 2009 with the Taliban and actually joined them as a combatant, then he could have ended up on the Leavenworth death row with Nadal Hasan, the Fort Hood mass shooter from that same year. Any eighteen year old soldier in those similar positions would face the same penalty.
The U.S, Military seems to agree with the concept of older recruits with a policy change by the Air Force in June 2014 when the maximum age for enlistment was raised from 27 to 39 years of age. The enlistment age restrictions for the Army, Navy and Marines are 35, 34 and 28.
In a version of the moving goal post of necessity the U.S. Army announced in 2006 that they were increasing the maximum enlistment age to forty-two years old, the second time in six months having previously raised it to 40 years old.
The UK Ministry of Defense raised the enlistment age limit for its Army Reserve in November 2014 to 52 from 43, individuals with specific qualifications or experience 45 to 50. The announcement included references to older soldiers sharing knowledge and experience as well as widening the recruitment pool. It was stated that this was part of a plan to reduce the regular Army by bolstering the number of Reservists.
It is a clear example of the law of supply and demand. The military is rarely this nimble except in the cases of urgent manpower shortage. There can be no argument that the large investment over time in the very capable non-commissioned officer ranks in all branches of service should justify opportunities for extension of service by the willing for the needy. Similarly, if persons of advanced age are already serving in country in combat zones, there can be no reason to deny access to experienced volunteers at elevated pay despite diminished rank. If soldiers are serving their country at fifty or fifty-five there should be no bar on enlistment.
The United States will allow enlistment of a seventeen year old teenager into their military with parental consent and eighteen year old without that consent. There are many aspects of law where certain individuals such as underage girls and more recently, boys, are incapable of consent. Surely this should apply to an equally dangerous scenario with even greater potential harm to the underage person.
There is a greater debate in Britain than in America over the minimum enlistment age of boys into the military perhaps because the age is so low in the United Kingdom. A boy can apply for military enlistment in England at the age of fifteen years and seven months with parental consent to join at sixteen years old.
Lack of employment opportunity, drug use or gang activity cannot be a stanchion in the age enlistment debate. There can be no reasonable objection for a widening of the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps to an extended and expanded non-combat military cadet corps that would provide a ready pool of informed volunteers in that event and at a proper age. The surprise may be a possible massive recruitment from such a new paradigm of millennials or boys from the U.S. northern states hereto before the glaring hole in U.S. military enlistment or properly, the elephant in the Pentagon.
One realistic point of view is that a large majority of potential underage recruits fail early for health, academic or criminal history reasons. A senior military officer put the actual recruitment pool at less than five percent of the available under twenty-five year old's and even down from that for deduction of failures in the Armed Forces Qualification Test.
The most glaring contradiction comes from comparison with the enlistment age for the equally dangerous and demanding job of police officer. While some rules vary, the general minimum requirement is twenty-one years of age with many forces having extended maximum age limits. In this the police services have shown a greater understanding of youth and the necessity of a mature mind for a difficult job.
What is called for is an open discourse and transparency for recruits in a meaningful way that the following may befall them: training injury or death, battlefield injury or death, capture and imprisonment, abuse or death in captivity, dismemberment and disability, lifetime confinement to a wheelchair, personal upheaval, PTSD, suicide, chemical or biological injury and lately, confronting fellow citizens during protests, peaceful and violent which may be the greatest of conundrums.
The compelling necessity to raise the enlistment age takes on a new urgency in a world awash with demonstrations and protesters often facing the military. The only thing more dangerous than a young soldier in Afghanistan is a too young soldier in a city protest. The general public should consider the likely age of the military confronting them on their next peaceful march and whether they would prefer confrontation with enlisted personnel of similar age rather than an armed teenager. The modern paradigm demands a more mature military.
Finally and to be clear, this is no promotion of anti-war sentiment. War has been a necessary evil for centuries most of it unnecessary but often inescapable like the American Civil War or The Second World War.
The two greatest threats to the free world will come from the East and they must not face young, inexperienced and weak minded opposition. They must be met with seasoned men wishing to protect family, home, neighbor, town and nation to the last. A philosophical but realistic approach to what will be a war of wills at all levels over extended areas and time. Preparation must start by the early assembly of mature enlistment who know what is to be lost.
Lions to the battle, not lambs to the slaughter.
Peter Polack is a former criminal lawyer in the Cayman Islands for several decades. His books are “The Last Hot Battle of the Cold War: South Africa vs. Cuba in the Angolan Civil War” (2013), “Jamaica, The Land of Film” (2017) and “Guerrilla Warfare: Kings of Revolution” (2019). He was a contributor to the “Encyclopedia of Warfare” (2013). Research on the Angolan book led to the first international release of Cuban casualties of the Angola War published in the Miami Herald on Feb. 20, 2010. His article, Syria: The Evolution Revolution was published in the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center magazine June 2014. He was a reporter for Reuters News Agency in the Cayman Islands, 2014 -2019.
Jack McCain is a United States Navy Reserve helicopter pilot with HSC-85. McCain served in Afghanistan with the 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group helping to build the Afghan Air Force’s first Black Hawk squadron in Kandahar, Helmand and Urozgan. He is the latest soldier descendant of a distinguished multi-generational military family. His first book was “Angola, Clausewitz, and the American Way of War” (2017) and he has published articles in Small Wars Journal, including one on the famed Buffalo Soldiers of the South African 32 Battalion. He has combined an unceasing interest in all things military with sacrifice for the nation being part of his DNA. He is married with one son.

Around The Web

#