A/1/7 Newsletter - September Page 1

Coming out Interstate 45 when you cross into Galveston, you will take the 61st Street Exit.

Turn right on 61st Street. Go approximately one mile (you will pass a Jack-in-the Box) and you will come up on Stewart Road (Red Light). Turn right on Stewart and stay in the right lane.
Stewart will veer off to the left at the second red light. You want to stay to the right, going straight.
The road will now be Jones Road, as the entrance to Moody Gardens is on Jones Road.
When you turn onto Stewart off of 61st, it is approximately one mile to the Moody Gardens Entrance.

VERY EASY-------RIGHT ON 61st STREET AND RIGHT ON STEWART (STAYING TO THE RIGHT) Guy/Joan Taylor.

We are looking forward to our 13th annual reunion here in Galveston and we know that each and everyone who attends will have a great reunion. Galveston has lots to offer and to see. So why not register and muster with us during the dates of 26 - 29 October 2008.

REGISTERED REUNION:
Jim/Ginger Dearing
Leroy/Marjorie Ewald
Al/Marion Johnson &
    Andy Rusk/Dotti Johnson
Gene/June Jordan
Arty/Carole King
Bill/Jackie Landers
Warren/Maxine McVey
Roland/Iva Mae O'Con
Shifty/Darlene Shifflette
Bob/Dorothy/Thomas Stevenson
Duane/Nancy St. John

Guy/Joan Taylor
Gebo/Helene Ventrudo
(Cont'd page 6)

We trust this isn't all that intend on mustering with us this year?

FROM MY DESK:
I received this email from Sgt Major Jim Skinner USMC (Ret):
"Dear Mr. Rogers,
My sympathy on the loss of your father. Always saddens me to hear one of ours has passed on. I wasn't with the company during the time of your father's service so don't know first hand of the actions of that period. You might bring up the VA website and look for the procedure to obtain records of veterans. Know you will need to submit form SF 180 to a specific address. You can print that form from the website.

I'm in the process of trying to get my Dad's Navy service from shortly after WWI. He was on a minority enlistment and served
(Cont'd on page 2)

CHECK IT OUT!

• Pg 1: 13th Annual Reunion Info, From My Desk (Cont'd pgs 2 & 3)
• Pg 3: Awards Modifications (Cont'd pg 4)
• Pg 4: VA Burial Benefits Update, Our Angels (Cont'd pgs 5 & 6)
• Pg 6: TAPS -Ode "Fallen Marine", Correction to our roster
• Pg 7: A/1/7 Registration Form
• Pg 8: 13Th Annual Registration Form

A/1/7 Newsletter - September Page 2

aboard a USCG ship Tuscarora when that ship accompanied a German underseaboot UB-88 on a "Show and tell" cruise around the states after WW I. The Tuscarora was serving in the U.S. Navy at that time.

Will Bcc several other A/1/7 Marines and know they will come forth if they can give you any info on your Dad during that time.
Take care! SEMPER FI! JIM"

"Fr: Crogersboy@wmconnect.com
To: jrskin@gibralter.net
Subj: Outpost Warsaw Oct 26, '52
Dear Sir:
My dad -- Charles (jack) Rogers (deceased 7-8-98) was A/1/7 1stMarDiv. wounded on Oct. 26, 1952 on outpost Warsaw--He was a proud Marine.

He did not talk a lot about the war and I can't remember many names of buddies except for one Curtis (Chick) Bowlin. He always told us that only three men survived that night---I found one article that backed his story but have been unable to find any official records of the battle. Can you offer any direction as where I can find records on his service. Thank you, Charlie Rogers"

To: jrskin@gibralter.net Sent: 5/19/2008 9:44:11 PM Subject: Re: Outpost Warsaw Oct. 26, 1952 "
"Jim, Thanks for your help. My family greatly appreciates you. My dad once told me that he felt the lowest on the next day because after they had picked him up and was taking him for medical treatment, that he rode pass the "boys" that was going up there to take the outpost back and he felt like he had let them down. He often wondered how many other marines died because he couldn't hold

his position; this always was a sad point for him. The Corps made a big impression in his life----the pride, honor, bond, brother-hood, was always present in everything. Sir; I (one of sixteen kids) was raised by a UNITED STATES MARINE to the corps. He taught us that freedom is not free---some-where there is an American Soldier on the front line and never--ever disrespect that Soldier or the flag for which he stands.

Sir, thank you for your service to this great country and may God bless you in your quest for your own fathers service records.
Sincerely, Charlie"
If anyone has any information concerning Jack Rogers please contact Charlie.

I received this email from Charlie (Mac) Mc Kellar:
From: cwfm1928@earthlink.net
Subject: Col Litzenberg's Granddaughter writes
Ms Isdell's note is passed on for information. --Mac
Hello, The following person would like to join the Seventh Marines-Korea group:
Email address: annie.laurie12@yahoo.com
Comment from user: My grandfather was Col. (later Lt. Gen.) Homer Laurence Litzenberg Jr. I would very much like to make contact with anyone who knew him.
Thanks, Laurie (Litzenberg) Isdell

This email has been posted and many of our Marines have been notified, so if you have any information please email and get in touch with the General's Granddaughter.
I had an answer to my email from her and is as follows:
From: Laurie Isdell
To: Shifty "Hi Shifty!

Thank you so much for writing. I took a look at your website and a few of the newsletters and enjoyed it very much. I will have to continue exploring them. So how would I go about contacting members who served with my grandfather?

Hey, maybe I could meet some folks at the Oceanside CA reunion in 2009, since I live in San Jose! I attended the Chosin Few 50th in San Diego with my father and my husband in 2000, and it was just amazing. I'd love to get back in touch with some of those folks.

Thanks so much,

Laurie (AnnieLaurie is actually just my email address - after the old song) Her Home Address is: Laurie Isdell
3233 Simberlan Dr.
San Jose CA 95148
Telephone: (408)270-7227"

I received this email from Duane
St John 60mm 10/510 - 12/50:
"Shifty, I believe that this would be a valuable tool to assist all our "Wounded Warriors." Also I'm going to send this to Bob Licker at The Chosin Few and get him crackin' on this. You are a member of many organizations so please get the word to them. Keep your head below the ridgeline!" Duane

I recommend GoodSearch helping the INJURED MARINE SEMPER FI FUND, which will help raise money for our seriously injured Marines and Sailors and their families. You can do it by just searching the Internet or shopping online with GoodSearch.
Ms Karen Guenther, Executive Director

A/1/7 Newsletter - September Page 3

INJURED MARINE SEMPER FI FUND
Wounded Warrior Center
PO Box 555193
Camp Pendleton, CA 92055-5193'

Dear Karen,
Detachment 915 of the Marine Corps League, its members individually and collectively, has tried in a small way to support the wonderful work of IMSFF. You should be very proud of exceeding the $20 million in grants in your first four years - congratulations. I just recently learned of GoodSearch, which supports non-profits by sharing the power of Internet. We see this as a tremendous fundraiser for IMSFF by getting a credit for every Search. They tell their story much better than I so please go to:
www.goodsearch.com (powered by Yahoo) and see if you don't think the potential is significant. I have added IMSFF to the list of non-profits and just today (Day One) in 8 search clicks and a small purchase, which won't be credited until it ships, I will have racked up approx $0.68 for IMSFF.

We have about 50 computer literate members who spend a great deal of time searching and buying on the Internet. Take a look at the companies, over 500 of them that will create a donation to IMSFF when a purchase using the Good-Search search engine is made.
I personally will enlist the help of several USMC veterans associations and The Chosin Few. I get goose bumps when I think of the potential. The tag line below is already added to every e-mail I send: I GoodSearch for the INJURED MARINE SEMPER FI FUND.

Also, check out the IMSFF Website at: www.SemperFiFund.org.

Again, congratulations on your achieve-
ments to this point. I hope you can give this

new potential space in your publications to increase donations to your wonderful cause.
Semper Fidelis,
Duane St. John, USMC(Ret)
One of the Chosin Few
Korea - Nov/Dec 1950
333 Calhoun Avenue, Destin, FL 32541-1507
Tel: 850-654-1013
Fax: 916-252-2573
E-mail: sinjon2@embarqmail.com

LTGEN. L. B. "CHESTY" PULLER USMC (RET) STATUE
I received this email from Duane St John.
"I had a call from 1st Sgt. Barnett. If we could help you in anyway, please let us know. We look forward to hearing from you His e-mail to our posted address (MCL HQ?) was returned and somehow he got my telephone number. Atttached is a flyer re: The "Chesty" statue to be erected at the Museum of the Marine Corp in Quantico. (Not part of this entry).

I'm also sending this to "Shifty" at the A/1/7 Marine Corps Assn and suggest we ask our membership to pass the word to any other MC Assns they belong to. Semper Fi! Duane

Marine Corps League Members of the Emerald Coast Detachment : I am a life member of the Marine Corps League in Oregon , and have formed a committee of former Marines , authorized by LtGen Ron Christmas of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation , and through the Seagoing Marine Association , www.seagoingmarines.com , to honor "Chesty" Puller. It will be the first statue ever built to honor this great Marine, and we feel that it is long past due. It will be placed on a special site at the National Marine Museum at Quantico. We would greatly appreciate it if you could disseminate this to your entire

Detachment, and to any and all that you feel might help us in this worthwhile effort. If you have a Detachment Newsletter, a mention in there would be a plus, and if every one of your members sent this to all of their Marine buddies, that would be fantastic. Marines have always been known to help their fellow Marines in need, and that is why I am asking for your help. "Chesty" is a very important part of our history, but this statue can never be built without the help of all Marines.

AWARD MODIFICATIONS
The Department of Defense announced today that The Institute of Heraldry (TIOH) will remove the word "medal" from four campaign and service medals in order to align their designs with heraldic protocols. The word "medal" will be removed from the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal and Armed Forces Service Medal. In addition, TIOH will resize eight campaign and service medals that were initially designed one-eighth of an inch larger in diameter than required by specification. The larger medals will be gradually replaced over the next several years as current stock levels are depleted. These medals will not be made obsolete and will remain authorized decorations. In addition, the applicable miniature medals will also be re-sized from eleven-sixteenths of an inch diameter to five-eighths of an inch.

The medals being resized are the: Kosovo Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service

A/1/7 Newsletter - September Page 4

Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. Historically, campaign and service medal pendants are 1 1/4 inches in diameter; the only exceptions are the two victory medals commemorating the end of World War I and World War II; these medals were designed at 1 13/32 inches in diameter in order to enhance their heraldic stature given the magnitude of the two world wars. Questions may be directed to Army Public Affairs at (703)692-2000. [Source: DoD News Release 444-08 dtd 23 May 08 ++

VA BURIAL BENEFIT UPDATE
04: The VA has changed the regulation concerning the provision of a VA headstone or marker for a grave already marked in a private cemetery. As a result of passage of the Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act of 2007, the VA can now provide a headstone or marker for those graves already marked in a private cemetery for those Veterans who died after 1 NOV 90. The claimant must pay the cost of the installation of the Government headstone or marker in a private cemetery. Details of the new regulation can be read at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-10635.htm

This article is very long but it has a very important message: Semper Fi! Shifty

OUR ANGELS
The Marine Corps "DOC'S (Marine Corps Ball Speech)
Philip L. Stern, 'Doc Stern'
It's quiet. There is hardly a breeze. The sun shines down through the leaves leaving a patchwork of shadows on the ground. It looks like a perfect day for a picnic, if you were back home.
Suddenly, mortar rounds shake the

land and the stillness is shattered. The roar of machine gun fire mixes with the staccato burst from assault rifles. Within seconds, the moans of the wounded are added to the din.

'Corpsman up!' someone yells, and a young Navy Hospital Corpsman crawls on his belly toward the cry.

If anyone had told this man when he joined the Navy that he would be working with the Fleet Marine Force as a line company corpsman, he probably would have laughed. 'I'm not joining the Marine Corps, I'm joining the Navy', he would have argued.

But now, his Navy uniform has been traded in for Marine cammies.

Under a hail of bullets he must reach the wounded any way he can, usually on his belly. The priorities are simple; apply first aid…without getting killed. He bandage wounds, then summons help moving the injured from the battlefield.

He knows going in that you can't save them all. In a war, you are going to have people die on you, no matter what you do. That's part of war. But you're going to have more people die on you if you don't do anything.

A Corpsman has to move under fire, while everyone else is down. The first time is no problem, but it's a gut check every time after that.

Unfortunately, you can't get you head and your butt inside your helmet at the same time. I know I've tried.
There are very few combat Corpsmen who have not been scratched or nicked, physically or mentally.
All Hospital Corpsman are volunteers.

They want to be Hospital Corpsmen. So they have some feel for the treatment of their fellow man, and the caring of the sick and injured. That element of caring is already there before he comes to the FMF.

Once in combat, a Corpsman earns the title 'Doc'. A Marine will do anything he can for them. It's a special relationship - one bonded in blood and mutual respect.

Yes, there is the spoken bond that all warriors have. You know the usual bravado amongst people in combat, those 'on the line'. But there is also the unspoken bond between Corpsmen and Marines.

In the lobby of the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda Maryland stand the Corpsmen War Memorial. There are pictures of it on the display board. The statue is titled 'Unspoken Bond'.

The inscription at the base reads, 'this memorial is dedicated to the Naval Hospital Corpsmen who served with the Marines in the Pacific during World War II. 'Doc' was the special comrade who pulled them to safety, patched their wounds and shared their foxholes.

Established in war and ennobled in peace. This bond will always endure.'

This statue was a gift to the Navy by a corpsman that just happened to have saved the life of one William 'Wild Bill' Taylor. Wild Bill will be happy to tell you about it Latter this evening.

Doc Laing later went on to become a physician, and he has written three books on Hospital Corpsmen in WWII. Unspoken Bond, Battle

A/1/7 Newsletter - September Page 5

Dressings and Mercy, and Cry Corpsman.

Will Laing cites in the last book, the total number of Naval medical personnel killed in action or wounded during all the Pacific campaigns was an appalling number. 82 Navy doctors, 17 dental officers, 2 hospital corps officers, and 1,046 Hospital Corpsmen were officially listed as 'killed in action'. That's just the Pacific campaigns during WWII, and I think they are missing nurses in their list.

The unspoken bond:
We Corpsmen and Marines know about the unspoken bond. The Marine knows that if he is injured, Doc will come to his aid. Doc will do what he can to make the pain go away. Doc will stop the bleeding. Doc will protect him. Doc will assure him, and Doc will get him to safety.

Doc knows that the Marines will do whatever they can to protect him. And they will be there to help care for him if he should be injured. But, it goes way beyond that.

The unspoken bond is also when a badly hurt Marine knows he is dying and the Doc knows it too. But, Doc makes him comfortable and stays with him.

Men dying in battle often call for their mother or for their God. Sometimes Doc has to be the next best thing.

Doc holds his hand. The Marine doesn't say a word, but he squeezes your hand, and his look tells you what he is thinking, 'Thanks Doc for not letting me die alone'. Sometimes Docs and Chaplains have to trade jobs.
In Vietnam, a month or so before I joined 2nd Platoon, Mike Company, Third Battalion,

Fifth Marines, a Chaplain by the name of Vincent Capodanno was killed in action while in the field with what would later be my Platoon. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor and had a Destroyer named for him.

Chaplain Capodanno was administering last rites and helping the corpsmen treat the wounded. He was killed coming to the aid a wounded Corpsman. Sometimes Chaplains and Docs trade jobs too.

We Docs and Marines are one. Corpsmen take their place alongside Marines. We do our share.

We've humped ammo; we've stood radio watch at night so the Radioman can get some sleep; we've taken our turn walking foxhole perimeters at night so others could get some rest too; we've carried spare rifles so we could provide one if someone's rifle jammed; we've filled sandbags with the guys from our platoon when they needed filling. We help here in the galley and serve the detachment in many areas.

In 1945, Pharmacist Mate 2nd Class John Bradley helped some of his Marine buddies put a pipe in the ground and raised the flag over Iwo Jima. John told others for many years that he was just lending a hand to his buddies.

He did not know how famous Joe Rosenthal's photo would make him, or that his face would be on the Marine Corps Memorial. How fitting. A Corpsman was just helping his buddies. To those of us who followed, John showed us that we Hospital Corpsmen need to be one with the Marines we serve. They are our buddies. We, eat, sleep, fight and die

with them. We have a bond - spoken and unspoken.

Tonight we have with us a variety of Docs. We have amongst us a Dental Technician. Whom we affectionately call 'Gummers Mates'. Dental Techs have long worked alongside Hospital Corpsman, and vice versa. On my first day in Vietnam, I witnessed a mass causality situation at my Battalion Aid Station. I was a little overwhelmed being my first day in country. My wise old Chief told me to go help the Dentist and Dental Techs. I was a little baffled by this.

When I arrived at the Dental Tent, there was a Dentist and Dental Tech removing pieces of shrapnel from the walking wounded.

So my first combat medical experience was at the elbow of a Dental Tech. Earlier this year the Navy did away with the Dental Technician Rating. Technically, they were always a part of the Hospital Corps, but now we're all Hospital Corpsmen. We all attend Hospital Corps School and like Corpsmen who become Lab Techs or X-Ray Techs, some will become Dental Techs. We are now all Docs, and I welcome you.

We also have a Pharmacist Mate with us. Corpsmen have been known by many names since the Revolutionary War. Since the Hospital Corps was founded in 1898, the official name has always been Hospital Corpsman. But the Navy Rating's name has had a number of variations, and Just prior to 1948, Corpsmen were called Pharmacist Mates. We also have a Navy Chaplain who served with the FMF and worked with Corpsmen in the field. He's an Honorary Doc. In any case we're all the ones called Doc.

A/1/7 Newsletter - September Page 6

You know, FMF Corpsmen serves two Corps: The Hospital Corps, and Marine Corps. Corpsmen take their oath from the Hospital Corps. 'I hold the care of the sick and injured to be a privilege and sacred trust. I dedicate my heart, mind, and strength to the work before me.'

What he takes from the Marine Corps is simple, Semper Fidelis - Always faithful.

Who Am I?
I was that which others did not want to be.
I went where others feared to go, and I did what others failed to do.

I asked nothing from those that gave nothing, and reluctantly accepted the fact of eternal loneliness should I fail.
I have seen the face of terror, felt the stinging cold of fear and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moments love.

I have cried, pained, and hoped... but most of all I have lived times others were to say are 'Best Forgotten'.

Today I am able to say I was proud of what I was....
A United States Navy Fleet Marine Force Combat Corpsman.

I am a suave and debonair global soldier of the seas. I am a bald headed, beady eyed, amphibious monster.
I am a professional warrior with a clean body and a dirty mind. I don't rust, bust or collect dust.
My tales are told around a million camp fires on a thousand battle fields and as many fighting ships. Heaven doesn't want me, and Hell won't have me.
'I'm the one called 'doc'
I shall not walk in your footsteps,
But I will walk by your side.

I shall not walk in your image;

I've earned my own title of pride.

We've answered the call together,
On sea and foreign land.
When the cry for help was given,
I've been there right at hand.

Whether I am on the ocean,
Or in the jungle wearing greens,
Giving aid to my fellow man,
Be it sailors or Marine's.

So the next time you see a corpsman
And you think of calling him 'Squid',
Think of the job he is doing
As those before him did.

And if you ever have to go out there, and your life is on the block,
Look at the one right next to you...I'm the one that they call 'Doc'. (Pause)

I would like to thank our brother Doc, Chaplain LeFavor, for being with us tonight, and I would like you to meet the Docs of Detachment 708.

As I call your name, would you stand and remain standing.

Hospital men Joseph Schlosser
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class William Vanya
Dental Technician 2nd Class Arthur Schultz
Pharmacist Mate 1st Class
Michael Baier
and yours truly, Chief Hospital Corpsman Philip Stern

I ask all assembled here to stand and join me in a toast.

If you'll allow me, I've modified the last verse of the Marine Corps Hymn a bit for this occasion.

'Here's health to you and to the Corp's' which we were proud to serve. In many a strife

some Corpsmen lost their life, but they never lost their nerve. If all the other services ever look on heaven's scenes, (Pause)

(Slow) they will find an FMF Corpsman, alongside his United States Marines.
Semper Fi! HMC Philip L. Stern USN
1966-1986 RVN 67-68

REUNION ATTENDEES:
The following Marines have made reservation at the hotel:
Huff, Robert (Shorty)
Jordan, Betty
Thompson, Earl

TAPS
It is with much sadness that I have to report that Sgt Major James (Jim) R. Skinner USMC (Ret) passed away on 5 August 2008. He was our company First Shirt (First Sergeant) 4/51 - 5/52. We shall miss him!!

ODE TO A FALLEN MARINE
They shall grow not old
As we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them!

LtCol. Bill and Linda Kent, Darlene, and I attended Sgt Major Skinner's funeral on Friday the 9th, to pay our respect to this Marine and his family with whom we served with in Korea 1951 & 1952. Ed McNamera (former Assoc Mbr) attended also. Semper Fi! Shifty

CORRECTIONS TO OUR ROSTER:
LtCol William "Bill" Kent's email address:
b-lkent2@charter.net