I have great regard for many Marines I am acquainted with. Our Post 142 has Bob Hough who fought in WWII in Guadalcanal as well as other Pacific theater landings. David Brave is a local I yak with on FB frequently. Jamie Clark is another Marine locally I FB with. John Henry up in Pawhuska with the Legion Post is an Osage legend. My former commander Lt. Col. Greg Duke was an amazing leader. Of all the Marines I have met everyone of them are extremely proud to be called “Marine”.

As a “Fly Boy” USAF I was proud to stay in Marriott’s, but someone has to do the hard stuff. Last Sunday was the Marine Corp Birthday and it is celebrated everywhere with cake cutting by the oldest Marine. So, to honor my fellow veteran Marines I did a little research I hope you will enjoy.
The Marine Corps was founded to serve as an infantry unit aboard naval vessels and was responsible for the security of the ship and its crew by conducting offensive and defensive combat during boarding actions and defending the ship’s officers from mutiny; to the latter end, their quarters on ship were often strategically positioned between the officers’ quarters and the rest of the vessel. Continental Marines manned raiding parties, both at sea and ashore. America’s first amphibious assault landing occurred early in the Revolutionary War on 3 March 1776 as the Marines gained control of Fort Montagu and Fort Nassau, a British ammunition depot and naval port in New Providence, the Bahamas.

The role of the Marine Corps has expanded significantly since then; as the importance of its original naval mission declined with changing naval warfare doctrine and the professionalization of the naval service, the Corps adapted by focusing on formerly secondary missions ashore. The Advanced Base Doctrine of the early 20th century codified their combat duties ashore, outlining the use of Marines in the seizure of bases and other duties on land to support naval campaigns.
Throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries, Marine detachments served aboard Navy cruisers, battleships and aircraft carriers. Marine detachments served in their traditional duties as a ship’s landing force, manning the ship’s weapons and providing shipboard security. Marine detachments were augmented by members of the ship’s company for landing parties, such as in the First Sumatran Expedition of 1832, and continuing in the Caribbean and Mexican campaigns of the early 20th centuries. Marines would develop tactics and techniques of amphibious assault on defended coastlines in time for use in World War II. During World War II, Marines continued to serve on capital ships. They often were assigned to man anti-aircraft batteries. When gun cruisers were retired by the 1960s, the remaining Marine detachments were only seen on battleships and carriers. Its original mission of providing shipboard security finally ended in the 1990s. (Credit to Wikipedia)
Get them quickly, raffle tickets! The new raffle tickets are coming out around our usual outlets. Beto is out so no worries on confiscation! We did very well last time and want to do it again. 100 Anniversary American Legion coins are still available as well!
Finally, I met a new member during the Hominy HS Veteran’s Day event. We have a second Jerry Jackson now. We spoke at length and discovered we had similar units and times in the military in our careers, we knew many of the same folks. Welcome onboard Jerry!
Don’t forget our regular meetings continue the first and third Thursdays of the month. November 21st will be the next one at 7:00 PM Monday morning Koffee Klatch 8:00 AM meetings in November are still scheduled for biscuits and gravy and always a cup of Joe (coffee to the civilians). The second Monday of the month will be covered by Mr. Jimmy Himes. The third Monday of the month Dennis Kidder will be picking up donuts for breakfast. Just watch the weather, it is the only factor that my change. If you drive by and no one is there head downtown where there is a great breakfast place. If you are a veteran come on by. If you have a good story it may end up in print. Also keep up with us at website “americanlegion142.org”.