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Eastex Detachment Christmas Party
7pm, Thursday, December 18, 2014
Haciendas Mis Padres Mexican Grill (Formerly Hyden’s)
Please Bring A Toy For A Tot
Fajita Buffet - $12.00
Live Entertainment Provided
Please Bring A Gift For The Optional Gift Exchange
You Will Have A Good Time!
Eastex Detachment #779 "Semper Fi"
Newsletter, December, 2014
P.O. Box 523, Conroe, TX. 77305 WWW.MCLEASTEX.COM
Officers and Staff
Commandant – James Andrews – 936-520-4722 –[email protected]
Sr. Vice Comm. – Russell Shoup – 404-313-7149 – [email protected]
Jr. Vice Comm. – Steve Thomas – 281-292-0792 – [email protected]
Judge Adv.– Enrique Uribe – [email protected]
Paymaster – Bob Warren – 713-818-2150 – [email protected]
Adjutant – Bill Collins – 936-499-6877 – [email protected]
Chaplain – Mel Mouton – 936-377-4484 – [email protected]
Historian – Open
Color Guard, Bugler, & Events Coordinator – Ray Priest - 936-441-7947
Sgt. At Arms – Emory Brown – 936-756-1840
Photographer – Bob Lucas – 936-582-0929
Veteran's Affairs – John Murphy – 936-597-4735
Webmaster – David Jackson – [email protected]
Bingo Coordinator – Stan Cillessen – 936-203-2819
Newsletter Editor - Ray Priest – 936-441-7947 – [email protected]
Next meeting: Thursday, December 18th, 7pm, Detachment
Christmas Party, Haciendas Mis Padres Mexican Grill (Formerly
Hyden’s) For information, call Ray at 936-441-7947.
Commandant’s Comments
We have made it to the end of another great year. This Detachment has been so active over the
last few months, that I haven't been able to catch up with printing all of the Certificates of
Appreciation. Don't worry, I will get them printed and passed out. I want to take a moment to
thank each and every member, Associate and friend for all of the work you have put into this
year. When we paid our dues and took the oath to the Marine Corps League we all acknowledge
that there was a greater service than to ourselves. Each and everyone of you, in your own way has
supported the efforts of this Detachment. It's certainly not for the paycheck that none of us
receive and it cannot be for the accolades that are bestowed upon us, so I can only surmise that it
is for the since of accomplishment and a job well done, knowing that our efforts to serve our
community are greatly successful. This year has had its ups and downs and in true Marine Esprit
De Corps fashion, you all have pulled through and made it happen.
It is this “can do” attitude that makes me excited to see what can be accomplished in the new
year. Our membership will continue to grow and along with that, new leadership and new ideas
will come forward. I truly have been honored to serve as the Detachment Commandant and can
honestly say that it has been the leadership surrounding the Commandant that has made this
Detachment so successful. Those who set at the head table to my right and left, make being the
Commandant one of the easiest jobs.
Enough “Thank You's”, now let's get back to work. 2015 is going to be a busy year with it's
own challenges. I highly recommend that you rest up during the Christmas and New Year
holidays, so that we can come out in force at the beginning of the year.
Be Safe in your travels.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
Semper Fi, James Andrews
District 5 Vice Commandant
Commandant Eastex Detachment
[email protected]
cell (936) 520-4722
Sick Bay Commandos
Bob Costanzo, John Murphy, Stan Cillessen, John Strawberry
Eastex Detachment Associate Member Lucinda Salazar passed away
recently. Her funeral was held Saturday, December 13th at Cashner’s Funeral
Home in Conroe.
Toys For Tots Activity
Several Eastex Detachment Members and Associates welcomed bikers to the
American Legion Facility in Willis Saturday, December 6th. The Toys For
Tots Fun Run is an annual event where bikers from all over Montgomery
County raise money to help our Tots For Tots effort. Thanks to all who
participated!
Origin and Evolution of Toys for Tots
The Foundation was able to satisfy the six needs identified by the Marine Corps. First, the Foundation
could provide toys to supplement the collections of local units that had fewer Marines due to military
cutbacks of the ‘80s and ‘90s. Second, the Foundation could arrange and pay for the creation, publication,
manufacture and distribution of promotion and support materials to Toys for Tots Coordinators. Third, the
Foundation could enable individual and corporate donors to Toys for Tots to take a charitable deduction on
their income tax returns. Fourth, the Foundation could enter into contracts with corporations to conduct
promotions, which would produce royalties for Toys for Tots. (Needs three and four were two important
elements of this charitable endeavor that the Marine Corps, as a federal agency, could not fulfill). Fifth, the
Foundation could ensure that the Toys for Tots program operates in compliance with IRS regulations, state
laws and regulations and charitable standards. Finally, the Foundation took responsibility for the day to
day operations of the Marine Toys for Tots Program, thus relieving the Reserve Headquarters Staff of that
responsibility and allowing them to focus on training, organizing, and equipping the reserve force.
In 1995, the Secretary of Defense approved Toys for Tots as an official activity of the U. S. Marine Corps
and an official mission of the Marine Corps Reserve.
In 1996, the Commander, Marine Forces Reserve expanded Toys for Tots to cover all 50 states by
authorizing selected Marine Corps League Detachments and selected local community organizations
(generally veteran Marine), located in communities without a Marine Reserve Center, to conduct toy
collection and distribution campaigns in their communities as part of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys
for Tots Program.
2001: Despite the trauma the nation experienced as a result of the September 11th attacks in New York
City, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania, the economic downturn and the anthrax scare, the 2001 U. S.
Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Campaign was the second best in the previous 54 year history of the
program. Local campaigns were conducted in 388 communities covering all 50 states, the District of
Columbia and Puerto Rico. This was the most extensive coverage to date.
The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary as the fundraising and support
organization for Toys for Tots in 2001. The highlights of the year were that the Foundation had its most
successful campaign to date plus was ranked #289 in the 2001 “ Philanthropy 400”. This was the first time
the Foundation earned a ranking in the “Philanthropy 400”.
In 2002, Charity Navigator awarded the Foundation a 4-star rating and the Chronicle of Philanthropy
ranked the Foundation #267 in the “Philanthropy 400”.
In 2003, the DMA Nonprofit Federation named the Foundation the “Outstanding Nonprofit Organization of
the Year” for 2003. The Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked the Foundation #341 in the “Philanthropy 400”.
Starburst ranked the Foundation website #9 of the “Top 100 Toy Websites”. Reader’s Digest, in the
November 2003 edition, named Marine Toys for Tots Foundation “America’s Best Children’s Charity”. In
December 2003 edition, Forbes included Marine Toys for Tots Foundation in its “Gold Star List” of
charities.
In 2005, the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance reported that Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
had met all 20 of its standards and had been designated as an accredited charity.
From 2006 to the present the Foundation has continued to receive, on an annual basis, the accolades noted
above. Over its life span, the Marine Toys for Tots Program distributed over 469 million toys to over 216
million less fortunate children.
A New Mission For Marines
Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force Central Command will be based out of
Kuwait, a Marine official said. Here, senior Marine leaders thank members of Special
Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response at Naval Air Station Sigonella,
Italy, on Sept. 3.
QUANTICO, VA. — The US Marine Corps is preparing to deploy about
2,100 grunts to be based out of Kuwait in a new unit configuration designed
to respond to crises in the region, according to Corps officials.
Special-Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force (SPMAGTF) Central
Command will be equipped to perform noncombat evacuation, humanitarian
assistance, infrastructure support, tactical aircraft recovery, fixed-site
security and theater sustainment missions, said Brig. Gen. John Love,
assistant deputy commandant for plans, policies and operations.
Plans to deploy the unit predate the conflict in Iraq and Syria with the
Islamic State. Love, who spoke Sept. 25 at the Modern Day Marine expo,
made no reference to the militant Islamic group or where the unit would be
deployed, and a Marine Corps spokesman would say only that the Marines
would be based in multiple locations.
Marine Corps Times, a sister publication of Defense News, had reported that
the unit would likely be based at an existing military installation. The service
stood up a command element in Bahrain in 2011, which is built around
about 150 headquarters staff personnel. The Air Force has a forward
presence at an air base in the United Arab Emirates and the Army in Kuwait.
But speaking at the Pentagon on Sept. 25, Col. Kenneth DeTreux,
commanding officer of 8th Marine Regiment and the commander of
SPMAGTF-Crisis Response, said the new unit’s headquarters will be based
out of Kuwait.
DeTreux’s unit coordinated the evacuation of the US Embassy in Libya on
July 26. He said that while his force numbered about 1,200 Marines, the new
unit would roughly double that in size.
But size is only part of the story. “Any MAGTF is a tailored force to meet a
mission set within a combatant commander’s area of responsibility,” he said.
“No one size fits all.”
He added that the new Kuwait-based unit “is to be deployed in [fiscal] ’15].”
The unit’s air assets will include attack aircraft, the AV-8B Harrier, and
support aircraft such as the MV-22 Osprey and KC-130 Super Hercules,
Love said. The unit’s operations are funded through overseas contingency
operations dollars.
In line with the Marine Corps’ positioning of itself at the nation’s crisisresponse force, the Corps envisions itself forward deploying more
SPMAGTF units of the sort already postured at Morón Air Base in Spain for
operations in Africa.
On July 26, after taking mortar, small arms and rocket fire in the US
Embassy compound for several days, a group of 80 Marines led more than
150 embassy personnel on a six-hour drive across the Libyan desert to the
Tunisian border after the US ambassador to Libya, Deborah Jones, decided
that evacuating staff via MV-22 helicopters was too risky.
The security team led by Capt. Jim Oliveto — who described the operation
on Sept. 25 — packed everyone into 40 sport utility vehicles after the
embassy negotiated safe passage to the border with the militias that held the
ground along the route.
At the border, the Tunisian military escorted the convoy to the airport for
flights to Europe.
The convoy was shadowed by two MV-22B Ospreys, a KC-130J and two F16 jets. The Marines, on the ambassador’s request, wore civilian clothes
under their body armor instead of uniforms.
While the Marines wouldn’t comment on the discussions between the Corps
and the civilian ambassador, DeTreux said that “I think as a military guy,
you understand there’s going to be political and diplomatic lenses you look
through. We just have to remain flexible, agile and responsive.”
Love said another such unit is planned for US Southern Command, with
troops due to be deployed on an episodic basis, and elements of AfricaEurope SPMAGTF are due for operations off the west coast of Africa.
“We believe that by having multiple, forward-deployed, tailored MAGTFs,
the efficiencies they gain will provide a sustainable and enduring worldwide
crisis-response capability,” Love said.
Beyond Central Command, the Europe-Africa MAGTF, which began its
deployment in 2013, has grown to full operational capability of about 1,400
Marines, with an infantry battalion and a custom squadron of MV-22s and
C-130s. It provides security cooperation and assistance, but could provide
two crisis-response elements with its aviation assets, Love said.
In the Pacific, III Marine Expeditionary Force has been reconstituted with
three battalions and an additional battalion for the 31st Marine
Expeditionary Unit. In Darwin, Australia, the Corps plans to grow from a
company to a battalion-sized rotation — with a similar rotation planned for
Guam.
In the Western Hemisphere, the 1st and 2nd Marine expeditionary brigades
serve as the US-based crisis force.
Serving Our Country
Some chose to join the Army, wearing berets of black and
tan,
Others joined the Navy and sailed to foreign lands.
I chose to join the Marine Corps, the first to fight and die,
From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli–
Our motto: Semper Fi!
Some chose to join the Air Force, soaring the skies of blue,
Others joined the Coast Guard–the littoral security crew.
I chose to join the Marine Corps, the first to fight and die,
No worse enemy, no better friend–
Our motto: Semper Fi!
Regardless of our branch, we serve freedom every day–
And those who never served trust us to pay their way.
I chose to join the Marine Corps, the first to fight and die,
Once a Marine, always a Marine,
Our motto: Semper Fi!
Merry Christmas and A Happy, Healthy, Prosperous New Year