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June 2006 Newsletter
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Subic Bay Marines is to perpetuate memories of our duty in the Philippines and to foster
camaraderie among Subic Bay Marines at an annual reunion. The Subic Bay Marines will serve as a role model for all
Marines, past, present and future.
We will honor our commitment to this mission until there is no longer a Subic Bay Marine standing.
SEMPER FI!
PRESIDENT'S REPORT
Summer is upon
us and it’s time to start thinking about our reunion in San Diego at the end of August.
It is promising to be one of our better attended get-togethers. This is a good opportunity to
bring the wife and kids to a reunion and enjoy the festivities and the attractions that San Diego
provides. Good weather, old friends. . . does it get any better than that? Besides, who else
will believe those “war stories” you have from your tour in the PI.Our
organization is growing by leaps and bounds, but we still fall short in our finances. If you
haven’t
done so yet, please send in your dues or make a contribution to support us. Most important, make
your reservations with the Doubletree Hotel and make plans to join us in August. I look forward
to seeing you in San Diego.
Semper
Fi
Steve Yagasits
, 64-66 & 72-74
THE 14TH ANNUAL REUNION OF SUBIC BAY MARINES
will return to San Diego in 2006 during the period Wednesday, August 23 thru Sunday August 27th, 2006. The highlight event will be the banquet, Saturday August 26, 2006. Jim Hernandez, the reunion coordinator, has been working on this reunion for the past year. This will be the 4th reunion in San Diego and they have historically been well attended, probably due in part to the large number of Subic Bay Marines living in the Southern California area.
The reunion will be held at the Doubletree Golf Resort Hotel, 14455 Penasquitos Dr, San Diego, CA 92129-1603 just off
I-15 in San Diegos Inland North County. This facility has earned a 3-diamond rating by AAA. As you would expect, there
are amenities consistent with the AAA rating, leading with an Arnold Palmer managed 18 hole golf course, pool, spa,
tennis, fitness center, a business center with high speed internet, several restaurants, etc. Room rates are locked
in at $119.00 per night plus tax. Rate good 3 days before and after. Call 858-672-9100 to make reservations. Mention
Subic Bay Marines Reunion. To learn more about the resort, you can do so on line at www.sandiegogolfresort.doubletree.com.
If you plan to fly to San Diego, we recommend renting a car, as there is so much to see and do. The San Diego International Airport, the main gate of Camp Pendleton, the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, the aircraft carrier USS Midway at the Broadway pier as a permanent museum, major shopping at the largest indoor mall in the area, the world famous San Diego Zoo (3 pandas on display), and Wild Animal Park, Sea World, and for the lucky ones, 8 Indian casinos, and more are generally located within 30 minutes (non-rush hour) of the resort.
The active Marine Corps is still very involved in other than garrison duties. While most past reunions have had several
optional events scheduled at military units, we regret that at this time we were unable, until now, to get firm
commitments.
On Thursday
August 24th we plan to leave the hotel at 0700 and travel to Camp Pendleton by chartered bus. Several
things are on tap. First, is a visit to the Crucible, established by General Krulak when he was Commandant. This
is near the end of Recruit training, a very grueling and intense endeavor of food and sleep deprivation where Marines
learn what they have and eventually earn the globe and anchor.
In
the afternoon, we will go to the beach side of the freeway to visit the Navy LCAC unit (Landing Craft Air Cushion). “No
Beach out of Reach” is their motto. For those of you/us used to going ashore in a Mike boat or Amtrac, this
should be an enlightening event. Technology is wonderful.
MCRD will not have a recruit graduation parade
during our reunion, but arrangements have been made to visit MCRD on Friday August 25th, take a guided
tour of the MCRD museum, have time for a PX call, eat lunch and then tour RTR (The Recruit Training Regiment) in
the afternoon.
Security has become a big thing in the world we now live in. We have done this before,
and will probably do it again. We just can’t waltz around bases, units, etc. We have to be pre-approved. Anyone
going on the tours will have to submit their full name and social security number. Sorry about that, but it is
the way it is.
See the DUES STATEMENT
AND REUNION RESERVATION FORM at the end of this Newsletter. It has been revised. Many have already made their reunion
reservations. If you desire to take the tours, there is an additional cost for the commercial buses and you should
look at that. There is also a place for the names and social security numbers of those going on the tours. Send
the DUES STATEMENT AND REUNION RESERVATION FORM, with names, social security numbers and appropriate funds to our
Treasurer, Tony Amundsen, 4353 Scenic Drive, Pittsburg, CA 94565.
Saturday morning
will be our annual business meeting where we will elect new officers and take care of other business for the
Subic Bay Marines. If you aren’t there, you won’t have a say.
If you are not regular reunion attendees, or can only be available for the banquet, we earnestly suggest you take advantage of the banquet only option. There will undoubtedly be someone there you know. Who knows, you may want to be a regular reunion attendee. See
Mission Statement above.
TAPS
We regret to announce the death of
the following Subic Bay Marines.
Lewis C. Bernard – 1959-1961 SepGdCo KIA 7-18-06 RVN Gadsen, AL Retd LtCol Dick Merritt reported.
.Philip Blosser – Cpl, 1950-1951 Died 11-12-99 Defiance, OH. Wife reported.
Jeffrey D. Capps – LCpl, 1971 Died 8-15-2005. Wife Cathy reported.
Winston C. Crabtree – SSgt Died 10-00-2004. Kansas City, MO - Wife reported. Retired GySgt
Michael Deaton – Cpl, 08-1968 08-0970 SepGdCo Indianapolis, IN - Jan 2006 N/L retd by USPS - deceased.
J.E. (Jack) Estes – LtCol, 1959-1961- XO and Commanding Officer 6-15-61 to 16 Aug 1961 Oceanside, CA - Retired LtCol Estes died May 3, 2006 off Cabo San Lucas while on Panama Canal cruise. Obituary in North County Times.
Leroy W. Flink, Sr – PFC, 1951-1952 Died 4-23-2006. Omaha,NE - Reported by wife
A. C. Grable, Jr – PFC, 1971 Died 1986 Buffalo, NY Reported by sister Janice.
Bernard Holl, Sr – TSgt, 1949 Died Unknown Shawnee Mission, KS Jan 2006 N/L retd by USPS - deceased. Retired SSgt Joseph E. Klosowski – Rank/Dates Unknown Died 8-27-2001 Auburn, MI Chuck Vitek reported Michael V. House – Rank/Dates Unknown Died 8-09-2004 Elkhart, IN Mother Helen reported.
Thurman Lewis – PFC, 1946-1948 Died 8-27-2005 - Jacksonville, AR Reported by wife Wilma.
Kenneth J. Mabry, Jr – LCpl, HqCo Died 10-22-2003 Plattsburgh, NY Reported by Chuck Vitek.
Charlie R. Martin – Sgt, 1972-1973 KIA Beirut, 1983 John Greer reported.
John McComesky – LCpl, 1980-1981 Died 8-21-2004 - Oregon, OH Reported by mother Dolores McComesky
James P. Merola, Sr – Cpl, 1961 Died 1984 Reported by Chuck Vitek and son James P., Jr
Gary M. Morris – LCpl, 1967-1968 Died 3-11-2004 - Waukesha, WI Reported by wife.
Keith Pershing – GySgt 1960-1962 Died June 1981 Santa Ana, CA - SocSecurity Death Index.
Robert L. Scharton – LCpl, HqCo Died 2003 Vista, CA Chuck Vitek reported.
Havert Scott – Cpl, 1971 Died 1996- Dallas, TX reported by wife Helen. H
Harry V. Shoemaker – PFC, 1968 Died 1996 Natrona Heights, PA Reported by wife Carole.
SECRETARY NOTES
Im still here. As I said in the last Newsletter, I would turn over Secretary duties to
John Thomas on January 1st, 2006. . Unfortunately, severe medical problems, none of you would want, precluded
John from taking over so I am still here. It will have been 10 years in August. Anyone want a fun job?
Semper Fi Jim Bassett
Note from Chuck Vitek, our Finder of Missing Subic Bay Marines. He is working with a new search engine. Please search your PCS orders or address books from their PI Tours and if you are in touch with any old buddies not on the Web Site roster, please let Chuck know at chuckvitek@cox.net.
Dues. Our dues year
runs from January 1 to December 31.
Dues pay primarily for the web site, the periodic Newsletters and the recruiting effort. If you are philosophically opposed to paying dues and would wish to make a voluntary contribution to defray expenses, the Subic Bay Marines will appreciate it.
Please send checks
or money orders to: Subic Bay Marines, c/o Tony Amundsen, 4353 Scenic Dr, Pittsburg, CA 94565. THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE PAID DUES OR MADE A VOLUNTARY CONTRIBITION DURING
2005!!!
E-Mail The e-mail address
for the Secretary or for regular Subic Bay Marines business is johnt6964@aol.com or jimsbm@cox.net for the Assistant Secretary. Please make a note of it. Always glad to hear
from Subic Bay Marines.
The Subic Bay Marines Web Site can be found
at http://www.subicbaymarines.com
Check it out. Read the Bulletin Board and Newsletters. Sign the Guest Book. Find
friends in the Guest Book and read the comments on one of the finest duty stations available
to Marines.
The roster of Subic Bay Marines is available on the web site. The latest roster, consisting
of over 3,100 lines contains info known to us as of December 31, 2005.
As you look through the roster, you will find many
blank spaces. We only have what we were given. We wish to fill in these spaces in order to better
enable Subic Bay Marines and others to identify who they may be looking for. One look at the Guest
Book entries will indicate people looking for those they have lost contact with. Hopefully they will
be able to find those they seek.
The roster continually changes. Rather
than try to keep the official roster and also the web site roster, it was decided that periodically,
every 2-3 months, an entire newly updated roster would replace the present one. We will play
this by ear and hope the roster provides information you can use.
If you see any erroneous info, any missing
info that you can provide, please forward it so it can make the next roster update. If you have any
suggestions, please furnish them also.
THE LADIES CORNER
If
you would like to add a name to the Ladies Birthday and/or wedding anniversary list, please provide names,
address, event and dates and also please notify the Ladies Corner for anyone who has suffered a loss,
illness, or just needs a note of cheer. This information should be sent to the Ladies Corner of the Subic
Bay Marines to TJ Amundsen, 4353, Scenic Avenue, Pittsburg, CA 94565 or e-mail at intuit3@comcast.net.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
If you have an e-mail address and received this Newsletter by U.S. Mail, the
Secretary does not have a current e-mail address for you. And once more, if you have not already
done so, PLEASE forward your e-mail address to john6964@aol.com or jimsbm@cox.net.
Also, if you use block sender, etc, or
other devices that will not let you receive e-mail, PLEASE put john6964@aol.com or jimsbm@cox.net as a sender you will accept
from and also PLEASE include john6964@aol.com or jimsbm@cox.net in your Address Book so that you can advise of address changes,
etc.
PLEASE!!! AND THANKS!!!
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DUES STATEMENT AND REUNION RESERVATION FORM
REUNION CONFIRMATION
| |
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| I will attend the 14 th Annual Reunion in San Diego, CA - Total in my party will
be: |
____ |
|
I will make my own room reservations at the Doubletree Golf Resort Hotel, San
Diego, CA |
____ |
|
| Reunion Package – Drinks, Snacks, Banquet |
Per Person ___ x $95.00 = |
$_____ |
|
| Banquet only
|
Per Person ___ x $50.00 = |
$_____ |
|
|
|
DUES STATEMENT |
|
| Year 2006 dues @ $25.00 per year |
|
$ 25.00 |
|
| Voluntary Contribution - to support N/L, Web Site, recruiting, |
etc. |
$_____ |
|
| |
TOTAL ENCLOSED |
$_____ |
| |
| Name ________________________________ |
|
| Address ______________________________ |
|
| _____________________________________ |
|
| Spouse _________ Email Address ______________ |
| |
| |
Make check payable to: Subic Bay Marines
Send check to: Tony Amundsen, 4353 Scenic Dr, Pittsburg,
CA 94565
If you have copies of the missing Newsletters, please send a copy to: Rick Reynolds, webmaster, (818)
700-8221 or email: webmaster
DD-214 NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE: The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided the following website for veterans to gain access their DD-214 online: http://vetrecs.archives.gov/. This may be particularly helpful when a veteran needs a copy of the DD-214 for employment purposes. NPRC is working to make it easier for veterans with computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents from their military files. Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents. Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete the Standard Form 180, which can be downloaded from the online website. Because the requester will be asked to supply all information essential for NPRC to process the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans for additional information will be minimized. The new web-based application was designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating the records center's mailroom processing time.
A Subic Bay Marine sent a copy of Citation for a MUC,
thought some of you would like to see what we did.
“The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in presenting the MERITORIOUS UNIT
COMMENDATION to MARINE BARRACKS, SUBIC BAY REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES for service as set forth
in the following Citation: For meritorious achievement while providing security for the U.S.
Facility Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines from 1 September 1984 to 31 March 1986. The
unparalleled professional achievement of the Marine Barracks, Subic Bay in providing superb
security for the US Facility distinguished itself as a model Marine Corps security command.
Over 4,700 security patrols were conducted during this period resulting in the apprehension
of 980 intruders. The new security measures employed by the Barracks and the professionalism
of the Marines that enforced these measures greatly deterred intruder activity. Assuming the
role of the Ground Defense Force (GDF), the Marine Barracks, during Exercise KENNEL GUARD 85,
clearly demonstrated its ability to defend the US Facility if the need arises. During an eleven-day
strike by armed and agitated Filipinos who barricaded the entry and exit gates to the base
in March 1986, the esprit-de-corps and sense of mission of the Marine Barracks was clearly
demonstrated when over 290 Marines infiltrated through the perimeter to protect the US Facility.
Despite numerous operational commitments, the Marines of the Barracks generously dedicated
their time and financial support to humanitarian projects. By providing regular meals on a
weekly basis and coordinating medical care, many lives of starving Filipino children were saved.
The enthusiasm and unselfishness of the Barrack's Marines won the hearts and respect of the
communities with whom they worked. By their continuous display of professionalism, steadfast
initiative, and uncompromising devotion to duty, the officers and enlisted personnel of the
Marine Barracks, Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines reflected credit upon themselves and
upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.
John Lehman
Secretary
of the Navy
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