DETACHMENT NEWSLETTER MARINE CORPS LEAGUE-TREASURE VALLEY

DETACHMENT #878 Sept 2015 Edition 3

BOISE, IDAHO

OUR OFFICERS

AND STAFF 2015-2017

*COMMANDANT

William (Bill Heyob

IMMED. PAST CMDT

David Swickard

SR. VICE CMDT.

Richard Heyob

JR. VICE CMDT./WEB

MASTER

Walt Modler

JUDGE ADVOCATE

Rondi Miller

ADJUTANT/ PAYMASTER: David Swickard

SGT AT ARMS

Frank Guy

CHAPLAIN Ron Blakeley

NEWSLETTER EDITOR

Bobby J. Lee

208-880-5097

To submit articles send

To:

bobbyjleeusmc@gmail.com

For information or to submit articles to be published/reviewed for this Newsletter

please contact: Bobby J. Lee

bobbyjleeusmc@gmail.com 208-880-5097

The Commandants’ Corner-Bill Heyob

I hope all of our Members, Family and Friends have had a great summer. I have been extremely busy with my job and travels to the VFW National Convention in Pittsburgh, PA, the Marine Corps League National Convention in Scottsdale, AZ and VFW Service Officer Training in An-napolis, MD. I will discuss some important information

concerning Veterans Benefits in my Service Officer Article but here are some high points from the Marine Corps League National Convention. And yes, I was seen wear-ing my studded dog collar, Mardi Gras beads and grass hula skirt while being initiated into becoming a Pedigree Devil Dog within the Military Order of the Devil Dogs. The 2016 National Convention will be held in Tulsa, OK from August 7-13th at the Hyatt Regency Tulsa Hotel. They are now taking reservations and their phone number is (888) 591-1234 and the rate is $103.00/night- which includes breakfast. The Early Bird Reception is going to feature the 4th Marine Division Band with a reception at a local casino and on Thursday, August 11th, there will be a concert to include Toby Keith and two additional headliners for $25/ticket for League Members. Saturday, Au-gust 13th, there will be a "Day at the Range" which will feature 13 different stations. For future planning, the 2017 National Convention will be in Overland Park, Kansas (which is outside of Kansas City) at the Overland Park Sheraton Hotel. After elections at the Convention, Richard Gore is the new National Commandant, Wendell Webb is the National Sr. Vice Commandant, Dennis Tobin is the National Jr. Vice Commandant and Johnny Baker is the National Judge Advocate. Also of note, O.C. Smith is the new Chief Devil Dog and the Military Order of the Devil Dogs was able to donate $31,000 Big Bones (Dollars) to the Children's Hospital in Mesa, AZ. Some of the Bylaw amendments that were voted on included approving the move of 50% of new Life Member Dues into the General Fund for FY 16, 17 & 18 in order to help with the current finances, Rejecting the proposal to remove the Military Order of the Devil Dog Patch from the undress uniform sleeve, Rejected the recommendation to allow Detachment/Department Marine of the Year recipients to wear their Medallions in undress uniforms and approved acceptance of a Ceremonial Guard Detail Ribbon for members of Firing Details (Funerals) and Color Guards. The National Administrative Review Committee also announced that they have com-pleted a new "Welcome Booklet" for new members of the League (which have not gone to print yet), are working on a new Marine Corps League Drill and Ceremonies Manual and are also making a standardized Turnover Book for Detachment and Department Commandants. We have several upcoming events that everyone should be aware of to include:

Continued next page

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VA Announces New Rules Regarding Service Animals

in VA Facilities

WASHINGTON – VIA SERVICE OFFICER BILL HEYOB: Today the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) an-nounced that it has revised its regulation regarding the presence of animals on VA property. The updated regulation will ensure VA practices remain consistent with applicable federal law. It will also assist individuals entering VA facilities in developing a clear and consistent understanding of the criteria governing facility ac-cess for service animals. “As I have traveled to VA facilities throughout the country, I have heard from many Veterans about what a vital role their service animals play in their lives,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald. “The re-vised regulation will ensure Veterans and employees have clear guidance regarding the presence of service animals in our facilities. VA remains committed to ensuring America’s Veterans have access to the health care benefits for which they are eligible.” Under the revised regulation, only dogs that are individually trained to perform work or tasks on behalf of an individual with a disability will be considered service animals. Other animals will not be permitted in VA facili-ties, unless expressly allowed as an exception under the regulation for activities such as animal-assisted ther-apy or for other reasons such as law enforcement purposes. The regulation further confirms that service ani-mals may access VA property subject to the same terms that govern the admission of the public to VA prop-erty, and may be restricted from certain areas on VA properties to ensure that patient care, patient safety, and infection control standards are not compromised. In accordance with required practices, the revised regulation was published in the Federal Register in Novem-ber 2014, to obtain feedback from Veterans, advocacy organizations and other stakeholders. Over the next thirty days, VA will provide training to frontline employees and ensure policies at all facilities are consistent with the new regulation. FACTSHEET - Service Animals on VA property.docx

- Eagle Scout Court of Honor at the LDS Church at 1500 Smith Ave, Nampa on Friday, September 11 th at 1900 (Wear your Red Blazer or Suit)

- Detachment Business Meeting at the Ada County Veterans Memorial Building in Meridian (corner of Broadway and Meridian Rd- Across from the Meridian City Hall) on Thursday, September 17th at 1900.

- Manning a Hospitality Table at the Idaho Veterans Olympics behind the Boise VA Medical Center on Sat-urday, September 19th (Handing out doughnuts, coffee and hot chocolate)

- NW Division Conference at the Red Lion Hotel in Post Falls, ID on Saturday, September 26th (Begins at 0900 and is an all-day event to include the NW Division Growl).

- Idaho State Veterans Home Oktoberfest/Parking Lot Party on Saturday, October 3rd- Requesting that we man the BBQ Grills and provide Chili for a Chili Tasting Contest.

It was great seeing everyone at Stan and Jeanie Meholchick's Juniper Ranch for the Marine Corps League

BBQ on August 22nd and I look forward to seeing everyone at our next meeting or one of the events that I listed! Semper Fidelis Bill Heyob 208-789-4406

weheyob@gmail.com

More information on the National Convention, 2015, can be obtained by reading the “After Action Report” sent out by the Commandant or if you prefer go to the new National website. The new website is up and running at: http://www.mclnational.org/

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VA SERVICE OFFICER’S REPORT

BILL HEYOB

Here are some of the current issues relating to Veteran Benefits: - There has been no movement on the U.S. Senate Bill involving Vietnam Veteran "Blue Water" Veteran Agent Orange Presumptives as of yet (I reported on this issue in the last Detachment Newsletter). With that said, Blue Water-Vietnam Service Navy and Marines who have a diagnosis of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma can submit a claim for service connection through the VA. - The Agent Orange/Herbicide Presumptive Conditions for those who can show that they touched foot in Vietnam during the War (and have a current diagnosis) include: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus AL Amyloidosis Hodgkin's Disease Ischemic Heart Disease/Coronary Artery Disease Chronic B-Cell Leukemias Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Multiple Myeloma Prostate Cancer

Cancer of Lung, Bronchus, Larynx or trachea Parkinson's Disease Soft Tissue Sarcoma - Presumptive Conditions as a result of Tropical Service: Amebiasis Blackwater Fever Cholera Dracontiasis Dysentery Filariasis (to Include Gulf War) Leishmaniasis (to include Gulf War and Afghanistan Service) Loiasis Malaria Onchocerciasis Oroya Fever Pinta Plague Schistosomiasis Yaws Yellow Fever - Nearly all forms of cancer are presumptive to any Veteran on occupation duty in Hiroshima and

Nagasaki or were exposed to Radiation during Atomic Testing - Presumptive Conditions for Former Prisoners of War: Psychosis Dysthymic Disorders Post-traumatic osteoarthritis Atherosclerotic Heart Disease or Hypertensive Vascular Disease Stroke and further complications Avitaminosis Beriberi Chronic Dysentery Helminthiasis Malnutrition Pellagra Any Nutritional Deficiency Irritable Bowel Syndrome Peptic Ulcer Disease Peripheral Neuropathy Cirrhosis of the Liver - Presumptive Conditions for Persian Gulf Veterans (must become manifest to a degree of 10 per-

cent or more no later than December 31, 2016) Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Fibromyalgia Irritable Bowel Syndrome - ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) is Presumptive to Military Service as long as the Veteran has more

than 90 days of active, continuous service). - Children of Male or Female Veterans who served in Vietnam who have Spina Bifida (Not to in-

clude Spina Bifida Occulta) can apply for VA Benefits regardless of age. Affected Children must have been conceived and born AFTER the Veteran returned from service in Vietnam.

- Children born with other Birth Defects whose Mothers were Vietnam Veterans may also file

claims for VA Benefits regardless of age. Birth Defects covered include: Achondroplasia Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Congenital Heart Disease Congenital talipes equinovarus (Clubfoot) Esophageal and intestinal atresia Hallerman-Streiff syndrome Hip Dysplasia Hirschprung's disease Hypospadias Hydrocephalus due to aqueductal stenosis Imperforate anus Neural Tube defects Poland Syndrome Pyloric Stenosis

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Syndactyly (fused digits) Tracheoesophageal fistula Undescended testicle Williams Syndrome -I have previously spoke of the VA Medical Center's Veteran Choice Card Program which is avail-

able to all Veteran's currently enrolled in the VA Medical Care system. One of the recent changes with this program is called the "Choice First Program". What Choice First does is if you live in Nampa but the Boise VAMC has to send you to VA Medical Center Seattle or Portland for treatment, you can request through your VA doctor to use the Choice First Program vice travelling to distant VA Medical Centers. If you are approved for it, then you may be eligible to receive care from a local provider in the community. As al-ways, if you are enrolled in the VA medical care system and are scheduled for an appointment with a pro-vider that is longer than a 30-day wait OR if you live further than 40 miles away from a VA Medical Facil-ity, then call the phone number on the Choice Card and they will work with you to try to get an appoint-ment within the local community. Last comment on the Choice Program- to be eligible, you had to be en-rolled in VA Medical Care PRIOR to August 2014 when the Choice Act was signed into law. If you en-rolled in VA Medical Care after August 2014, you are not eligible to participate in the Choice Card Pro-gram. If anyone has any questions about VA Benefits, needs assistance with claims, burial benefits or Sur-vivor's Benefits, please call me or one of my teammates here at the Boise VA Regional Office at 208-780-1380 and we will assist you. Semper Fidelis

Program Manager/State Service Officer Idaho Division of Veterans Services Boise VA Regional Office

Veteran Job Search

The following is submitted in case any of our League Members knows of a Veteran who could use this in-formation: Transition Workshop September 8-9, 2015 610 Reserve Street Boise, ID 83702

To register, please visit:

https://sept0809twboisewwf.eventbrite.com

Roy Ledesma (POC)

Director of Operations

Wyakin Warrior Foundation

P.O. Box 9924, Boise, Idaho 83707 (208) 995-9952

Greetings fellow Marines, from Senior Vice Commandant, Dick Heyob. As summer comes to an end, and fall begins, many of us look forward to the season when hunting begins. Also, after a 2-month hiatus, we can look forward to resuming our regularly scheduled monthly Marine Corps League Meetings, which fall on the third Thursday of each month. Let’s also keep in mind any special events that are coming up. One of these events is the Annual Idaho Veterans Olympics, being held on September 19th. Volun-teers are needed for this event, as in past years, for the hospitality committee. If you are able to

volunteer, please let Bill or his representative know. I also would like to mention the wonderful barbeque that was put on by Stan and Jeanie Meholchick at their Juniper Ranch. I think that I can speak for all who attended by saying that we had a great time. Relaxing in such a beautiful setting is much appreciated! We give a big thank-you to Stan and his wife for all of the effort that they put into this each year. Lastly, I want to say thank-you to my fellow officers in the Marine Corps League for taking the time out of their busy lives to lead the group as we move forward. Semper Fidelis Dick Heyob

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FROM THE JR. VICE COMMANDANT; WALT MODLER

Hoorah Marines, I decided to write this month's newsletter article on the National Convention held at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort, Scottsdale, AZ from 9 to 14 August. I will only cover my impressions of events that I attended and a little bit of the business that went on. This being my first National Convention, lots of things were very interesting or not. I will break it up over several newsletters hopefully to keep members interested. First impression the casualness of uniforms or non uniform wouldn't be as visual. The Devil Dogs vests covered in all different patches or items. I saw lots of different ap-

parel like "I survived the Phoenix VA!" T-shirts. Day (0) Sunday 9 August Note for next convention Sunday is no uniform casual day anything goes lots of Devil Dog vests. Registration: As usual Chinese file drill, I was at the end of a long line and decided to come back later. As I walked past the head of the line those in charge changed the whole line setup and I ended third from the front. Lots of old faces if only I could remember their names. Visited all three Ships Stores National, Military Order of the Devil Dogs lots of uniform and souve-nir items to buy, pricing wasn't too bad. Day 1 Monday Convention 10 August: Morning Colors Ceremony 0800 giant formation 500 people in a condensed space. Detachment & Department Commandant not available to attend full meetings due to MODD rituals (as he called them reindeer games). Newest member of detachment to be elevated to Devil Dog status. Uniform: Devil Dogs casual with Red Vest and appropriate MODD items.

Regular Members: uniform of your choose (most wear short sleeve casual) Ritual: When entering or departing meeting room salute the Sgt-at-Arms, then flag

To speak stand behind mic salute the chair, when recognized say Sir Commandant (address always the chair) introduce yourself as Name, Department and Position, whether a delegate.

Note for next convention Monday uniform MODD vest and tags, any uniform goes largest selection short sleeve. Opening Session: Welcome, rituals, Commandant Report; John W. Kovalcik discussed issues of the headquarters, website, membership. Stated that a new item on the National website is for suggestions by members should be available over the next 3 months. City Mayor spoke City of Phoenix and state of Arizona declared Aug 9 to 15 as Marine Corps Week. Each day a member of the national staff reads the number of delegates and member votes repre-sented. Div: Northwest Dept: Idaho State: ID Strength Voting: 370 Delegates Registered: 20 Votes Registered: 284 Delegates Present: 4 detachments Present: 3 Department Present: 1 Detachments less then15: 0 Number of members 53,016 represented 12,442 majority 6,222 Report on Website: New website (www.mclnational.org/com, net) up and running on 12 Aug. Hosting warehouse provider. Report on database issues Wendell Webb: Issues of membership failing 3% drop, 361 detach-ments Recruiting looking for ideas need change of doing business. Report on membership: Richard Harrington; Biggest issue is falling membership if Life Member occupy over 25% of members on rolls organization is in trouble. Currently at 17%. Important is members joining and returning. Report on Young Marines: Mike Kessler is retiring in December replacement is Bill Davis, Kessler to stay on staff for next 12 to 18 months. Reports for Divisions: Northwest Div Commandant John Moisaik = Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Ore-gon, Washington Report National Public Relations - NONE Reports for Toys for Tots, MCL Foundation Report National Assistant Chaplain Thomas Minchin, Chapel of the 4 Chaplains 1201 Constitution Avenue The Old Navy Yard, Bldg. 649 Philadelphia, PA 19112-1307 Phone: 215-218-1943 Fax: 215-218-1949 www.fourchaplains.org This ends day one for the September article, more to come with pictures in future Newsletters. Don't miss the images of reindeer games. All the pictures will soon be on the website.

(6 photos from National Convention on last page)

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The 2016 Convention promises to be

an exciting and eventful National

Convention. To stay up on events

such as the live fire shooting and

other activities be sure to log onto

the Albert E. Schwab Detachment’s Web Page at:

www.mclschwabdet857.com

IDAHO VETERANS OLYMPICS

As we do each year for the Idaho Veter-

ans Olympics we serve Coffee, Hot

Chocolate , Tea and Donuts starting at

about daybreak. That means being on

site about 0530 (actual time will be an-

nounced) . We serve anywhere from 100

to 300 people, or until we run out of

goodies.

These Veterans really enjoy the competi-

tion and it is a lot of fun for us too! So,

come out and enjoy the event! Keep an

eye out for further information!!!

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Army Veteran Made Honorary Marine

ROCK HILL -- The Herald, Aug 10, 2015 | by Andrew Dys

"I had just one regret this whole life of mine," John Wentling has told people over the years. "I joined the

Army instead of the Marines." For almost five decades, John Wentling has given much of his life to the

Marines he did not belong to. He sent his two sons and three grandchildren to the Marines. His father-in-

law was a Marine. He served in Marine Corps advocacy groups and veterans corps. He is chaplain of the

Olde English Leathernecks Marines group. In York County, John Wentling is everywhere Marines veterans

are, and even wears the group's red jacket as chaplain. "But I was not a Marine," this 69-year-old, with the

iron hands and hard jaw, said so many times to his family, and friends, and others. "I had this job with the

airlines when I was 19. I got drafted. The Marines wanted me, I wanted them, but they told me at the air-

line that if I served four years in the Marines, my job would not be guaranteed with the airline when I got

out. So I took the Army. "It's the only damn regret I have in my life."

Saturday at the Rock Hill American Legion Post 34, Wentling thought there was a ceremony for

somebody else. He never misses a ceremony for Marines. He was told to be there in his red jacket. He

even gave the prayer as he always does. In the prayer Wentling spoke about his country, and his faith, and

how lucky he is, all of us are, to live in such a place as the United States of America. His voice rose with

emotion about America, and service. "I don't know why we are here today, but I know that it is for a rea-

son," Wentling told the crowd that to a man and woman knew the reason. His wife, Pat, sat nearby. She

held back tears as Pat can keep a secret, but this one had her about to burst. Into the packed room walked

extended family and friends. John Wentling mouthed the words to the guy sitting next to him: "What the

heck is going on?" From a side door marched in Wentling's sons, James and Connor ... Marines both.

John Wentling, who sent both these sons to war so that other people's sons might live in freedom,

stared at his boys as they marched; "So proud," said Capt. Connor Wentling, 35, a combat veteran of Iraq

and Afghanistan who is now a Marines recruiter for South Carolina. "He is an honorable man and Marine,"

said Master Sgt. James Wentling, 46, a Desert Storm and Iraq and Afghanistan combat veteran, of his fa-

ther. The two grandsons and a granddaughter, Derrick and Trevor and Sarah Wentling marched in, all

three Marines, Ages 23, 22, and 20, each beaming with pride at their grandfather who had pushed them

to what they are today ... Marines.

John Wentling, who has held the hands of dying Marines at hospice, who has spent 50 years wish-

ing he was one of them, knew that the day was not for somebody else. John Wentling cried as he stood

Players Wanted

Military Appreciation Hockey Game! If you are you currently serving, or have previously served in any branch of the United States

Armed Forces, we want you to come join Idaho IceWorld in a Military Appreciation Hockey

Game!

Location: Idaho IceWorld: Date& Time: September 12th @ 12:00 PM Cost: Free!

Idaho IceWorld, in an effort to show appreciation to those who serve in our United States Armed Forces, will host a

Military Appreciation Day event on September 12th, 2015. The teams that will play in the Military Appreciation

Day Game will be made up players who are currently serving, or have previously served in the United States Armed

Services. There will be a color guard, national anthem singer, and announcer during the game. There will also be

$1 Public Skating on the other rink from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. If you know anyone who may be interested please

pass this on!

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among the Marines he was about to join. A Marine talked about how in American history only 93 people,

ever, in the whole great nation, have been honored with membership as official Honorary Marines. The

membership includes people such as Bob Hope, Gary Sinise, Jim Nabors, Chuck Norris and others not so

famous, but who gave great service in the 239-year corps history. The honor can only be done by orders of

the Commandant of the Marine Corps, after recommendations from politicians and family and Marines

and others. A Medal of Honor recipient nominated Wentling, because Wentling had done so much for so

many Marines.

Wentling composed himself and was administered the oath of Marines. Not a tall man, maybe 5

feet 8 inches, he seemed to touch the ceiling with his bald and sunburned head turned dark from years of

sun cutting grass in his lawn care business. His trademark bushy moustache will soon have to be cut off as

moustaches are not standard for Marines. Wentling's mind was not on his upper lip, which quivered a lit-

tle bit. His eyes were straight ahead, except when he peeked at his family standing so tall, saluting him.

When the oath was over, Wentling yelled out "Ooh-Rah!" -- the Marines Corps yell. Wentling got a

standing ovation. The applause was for service. It was for selflessness. It was for a man who had spent all

his adult life trying to erase a decision he made that had haunted him, not because he did not love the

Army, but because all he ever wanted in his life was to be a Marine. Saturday afternoon, John Wentling,

69, became Pvt. John Wentling, United States Marine Corps. "I have never been prouder in my life," Wen-

tling said.

A Marine veteran gave Wentling an honorary patch for sergeant; Three minutes and a promotion.

Wentling hugged his kids, and his grandkids, and told them how proud he was of them. They hugged back,

and the sons said to the father, the grandkids to the grandfather who had waited 50 years to hear the

words: "Good job -- Marine."

2015 Annual

Pic-Nic

42 Members and guests were present for the Pic-Nic

Great food and greater people

The catch of the day!??? Ken hauls ‘em in!! Not a bad catch for a Sailor!

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This article is submitted in honor of the Vietnam Veterans. The Vietnam era is the theme of

Veterans Day this year

LBJ And Viet Nam- The Day of Reckoning...

That Lyndon Johnson was a venal SOB has been reported for 40 years.

That Robert McNamara admitted many years later that much of the strategy of the Vietnam War that he and Johnson laid out

was in error is also a matter of record.

But this is still a telling example of politicians not only making a bad strategic choice but of demeaning those who had to carry out

the decision in the bargain.

This is one of those rare insights to a critical turning point for America.

This was the briefing to Lyndon Johnson that sealed the fate of more than 55,000 American soldiers and wasted the vast treasure

of the USA.

The story is short and so compelling, you will not forget it.

Lt. Gen. Charles Cooper, USMC (Ret.) is the author of "Cheers and Tears: A Marine's Story of Combat in Peace and

War" (2002), from which this article is excerpted.

The article recently drew national attention after it was posted on MILINET.

It is reprinted with the author's permission.

"The President will see you at two o'clock."..............

It was a beautiful fall day in November of 1965; early in the Vietnam War --- too beautiful a day to be what many of us, anticipat-

ing it, had been calling "the day of reckoning."

We didn't know how accurate that label would be.

The Pentagon is a busy place. Its workday starts early-especially if, as the expression goes, "there's a war on."

By seven o'clock, the staff of Admiral David L. McDonald, the Navy's senior admiral and Chief of Naval Operations, had started to

work.

Shortly after seven, Admiral McDonald arrived and began making final preparations for a meeting with President Lyndon Baines

Johnson.

The Vietnam War was in its first year, and its uncertain direction troubled Admiral McDonald and the other service chiefs.

They'd had a number of disagreements with Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara about strategy, and had finally requested

a private meeting with the Commander in Chief-a perfectly legitimate procedure.

Now, after many delays, the Joint Chiefs were finally to have that meeting.

They hoped it would determine whether the US military would continue its seemingly directionless buildup to fight a protracted

ground war, or take bold measures that would bring the war to an early and victorious end.

The bold measures they would propose were to apply massive air power to the head of the enemy, Hanoi , and to close North

Vietnam 's harbors by mining them.

The situation was not a simple one, and for several reasons.

The most important reason was that North Vietnam's neighbor to the north was communist China.

Only 12 years had passed since the Korean War had ended in stalemate.

The aggressors in that war had been the North Koreans.

When the North Koreans' defeat had appeared to be inevitable, communist China had sent hundreds of thousands of its Peoples'

Liberation Army "volunteers" to the rescue.

Now, in this new war, the North Vietnamese aggressor had the logistic support of the Soviet Union and, more to the point, of

neighboring communist China.

Although we had the air and naval forces with which to paralyze North Vietnam, we had to consider the possible reactions of the

Chinese and the Russians.

Both China and the Soviet Union had pledged to support North Vietnam in the "war of national liberation" it was fighting to re-

unite the divided country, and both had the wherewithal to cause major problems.

An important unknown was what the Russians would do if prevented from delivering goods to their communist protégé in Hanoi.

A more important question concerned communist China, next-door neighbor to North Vietnam.

How would the Chinese react to a massive pummeling of their ally?

More specifically, would they enter the war as they had done in North Korea?

Or would they let the Vietnamese, for centuries a traditional enemy, fend for themselves?

The service chiefs had considered these and similar questions, and had also asked the Central Intelligence Agency for answers and

estimates.

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The CIA was of little help, though it produced reams of text, executive summaries of the texts, and briefs of the executive summa-

ries-all top secret, all extremely sensitive, and all of little use.

The principal conclusion was that it was impossible to predict with any accuracy what the Chinese or Russians might do.

Despite the lack of a clear-cut intelligence estimate, Admiral McDonald and the other Joint Chiefs did what they were paid to do

and reached a conclusion.

They decided unanimously that the risk of the Chinese or Soviets reacting to massive US measures taken in North Vietnam was

acceptably low, but only if we acted without delay.

Unfortunately, the Secretary of Defense and his coterie of civilian "whiz kids" did not agree with the Joint Chiefs, and McNamara

and his people were the ones who were actually steering military strategy.

In the view of the Joint Chiefs, the United States was piling on forces in Vietnam without understanding the consequences.

In the view of McNamara and his civilian team, we were doing the right thing.

This was the fundamental dispute that had caused the Chiefs to request the seldom-used private audience with the Commander

in Chief in order to present their military recommendations directly to him.

McNamara had finally granted their request.

The 1965 Joint Chiefs of Staff had ample combat experience.

Each was serving in his third war.

The Chairman was General Earle Wheeler, US Army, highly regarded by the other members.

General Harold Johnson was the Army Chief of Staff.

A World War II prisoner of the Japanese, he was a soft-spoken, even-tempered, deeply religious man.

General John P. McConnell, Air Force Chief of Staff, was a native of Arkansas and a 1932 graduate of West Point.

The Commandant of the Marine Corps was General Wallace M. Greene, Jr., a slim, short, all-business Marine.

General Greene was a Naval Academy graduate and a zealous protector of the Marine Corps concept of controlling its own air

resources as part of an integrated air-ground team.

Last and by no means least was Admiral McDonald, a Georgia minister's son, also a Naval Academy graduate, and a naval aviator.

While Admiral McDonald was a most capable leader, he was also a reluctant warrior.

He did not like what he saw emerging as a national commitment. He did not really want the US to get involved with land warfare,

believing as he did that the Navy could apply sea power against North Vietnam very effectively by mining, blockading, and assist-

ing in a bombing campaign and in this way help to bring the war to a swift and satisfactory conclusion.

The Joint Chiefs intended that the prime topics of the meeting with the President would be naval matters-the mining and blockad-

ing of the port of Haiphong and naval support of a bombing campaign aimed at Hanoi.

For that reason, the Navy was to furnish a briefing map, and that became my responsibility.

We mounted a suitable map on a large piece of plywood, and then coated it with clear acetate so that the chiefs could mark on it

with grease pencils during the discussion.

The whole thing weighed about 30 pounds.

The Military Office at the White House agreed to set up an easel in the Oval Office to hold the map.

I would accompany Admiral McDonald to the White House with the map, put the map in place when the meeting started, then

get out.

There would be no strap-hangers at the military summit meeting with Lyndon Johnson.

The map and I joined Admiral McDonald in his staff car for the short drive to the White House, a drive that was memorable only

because of the silence.

My admiral was totally preoccupied.

The chiefs' appointment with the President was for two o'clock, and Admiral McDonald and I arrived about 20 minutes early.

The chiefs were ushered into a fairly large room across the hall from the Oval Office.

I propped the map board on the arms of a fancy chair where all could view it, left two of the grease pencils in the tray attached to

the bottom of the board, and stepped out into the corridor.

One of the chiefs shut the door, and they conferred in private until someone on the White House staff interrupted them about

fifteen minutes later.

As they came out, I retrieved the map, and then joined them in the corridor outside the President's office.

Precisely at two o'clock President Johnson emerged from the Oval Office and greeted the chiefs.

He was all charm. He was also big: at three or more inches over six feet tall and something on the order of 250 pounds, he was

bigger than any of the chiefs.

He personally ushered them into his office, all the while delivering gracious and solicitous comments with a Texas accent far more

pronounced than the one that came through when he spoke on television.

Holding the map board as the chiefs entered, I peered between them, trying to find the easel. There was none.

The President looked at me, grasped the situation at once, and invited me in, adding,

"You can stand right over here." I had become an easel-one with eyes and ears.

To the right of the door, not far inside the office, large windows framed evergreen bushes growing in a nearby garden.

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The President's desk and several chairs were farther in, diagonally across the room from the windows.

The President positioned me near the windows, and then arranged the chiefs in a semicircle in front of the map and its human

easel.

He did not offer them seats: they stood, with those who were to speak-Wheeler, McDonald, and McConnell-standing nearest the

President.

Paradoxically, the two whose services were most affected by a continuation of the ground buildup in Vietnam-Generals Johnson

and Greene-stood farthest from the President.

President Johnson stood nearest the door, about five feet from the map.

In retrospect, the setup-the failure to have an easel in place, the positioning of the chiefs on the outer fringe of the office, the lack

of seating-did not augur well.

The chiefs had expected the meeting to be a short one, and it met that expectation.

They also expected it to be of momentous import, and it met that expectation, too.

Unfortunately, it also proved to be a meeting that was critical to the proper pursuit of what was to become the longest, most

divisive, and least conclusive war in our nation's history-a war that almost tore the nation apart.

As General Wheeler started talking, President Johnson peered at the map.

In five minutes or so, the general summarized our entry into Vietnam, the current status of forces, and the purpose of the meet-

ing.

Then he thanked the President for having given his senior military advisers the opportunity to present their opinions and recom-

mendations.

Finally, he noted that although Secretary McNamara did not subscribe to their views, he did agree that a presidential-level deci-

sion was required.

President Johnson, arms crossed, seemed to be listening carefully.

The essence of General Wheeler's presentation was that we had come to an early moment of truth in our ever-increasing Viet-

nam involvement.

We had to start using our principal strengths-air and naval power-to punish the North Vietnamese, or we would risk becoming

involved in another protracted Asian ground war with no prospects of a satisfactory solution.

Speaking for the chiefs, General Wheeler offered a bold course of action that would avoid protracted land warfare.

He proposed that we isolate the major port of Haiphong through naval mining, blockade the rest of the North Vietnamese coast-

line, and simultaneously start bombing Hanoi with B-52's.

General Wheeler then asked Admiral McDonald to describe how the Navy and Air Force would combine forces to mine the waters

off Haiphong and establish a naval blockade.

When Admiral McDonald finished, General McConnell added that speed of execution would be essential,

and that we would have to make the North Vietnamese believe that we would increase the level of punishment if they did not sue

for peace.

Normally, time dims our memories-but it hasn't dimmed this one.

My memory of Lyndon Johnson on that day remains crystal clear.

While General Wheeler, Admiral McDonald, and General McConnell spoke, he seemed to be listening closely, communicating only

with an occasional nod.

When General McConnell finished, General Wheeler asked the President if he had any questions.

Johnson waited a moment or so, then turned to Generals Johnson and Greene, who had remained silent during the briefing, and

asked,

"Do you fully support these ideas?"

He followed with the thought that it was they who were providing the ground troops, in effect acknowledging that the Army and

the Marines were the services that had most to gain or lose as a result of this discussion.

Both generals indicated their agreement with the proposal.

Seemingly deep in thought, President Johnson turned his back on them for a minute or so, then suddenly discarding the calm,

patient demeanor he had maintained throughout the meeting, whirled to face them and exploded.

I almost dropped the map.

He screamed obscenities, he cursed them personally, he ridiculed them for coming to his office with their "military advice."

Noting that it was he who was carrying the weight of the free world on his shoulders, he called them filthy names-shitheads,

dumb shits, pompous assholes-and used "the F-word" as an adjective more freely than a Marine in boot camp would use it.

He then accused them of trying to pass the buck for World War III to him.

It was unnerving, degrading.

After the tantrum, he resumed the calm, relaxed manner he had displayed earlier and again folded his arms.

It was as though he had punished them, cowed them, and would now control them.

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Using soft-spoken profanities, he said something to the effect that they all knew now that he did not care about their military

advice.

After disparaging their abilities, he added that he did expect their help.

He suggested that each one of them change places with him and assume that five incompetents had just made these "military

recommendations."

He told them that he was going to let them go through what he had to go through when idiots gave him stupid advice, adding that

he had the whole damn world to worry about, and it was time to "see what kind of guts you have."

He paused, as if to let it sink in.

The silence was like a palpable solid, the tension like that in a drumhead.

After thirty or forty seconds of this, he turned to General Wheeler and demanded that Wheeler say what he would do if he were

the President of the United States.

General Wheeler took a deep breath before answering. He was not an easy man to shake: his calm response set the tone for the

others. He had known coming in, as had the others that Lyndon Johnson was an exceptionally strong personality and a venal and

vindictive man as well. He had known that the stakes were high, and now realized that McNamara had prepared Johnson care-

fully for this meeting, which had been a charade.

Looking President Johnson squarely in the eye, General Wheeler told him that he understood the tremendous pressure and sense

of responsibility Johnson felt.

He added that probably no other President in history had had to make a decision of this importance,

and further cushioned his remarks by saying that no matter how much about the presidency he did understand, there were many

things about it that only one human being could ever understand.

General Wheeler closed his remarks by saying something very close to this:

"You, Mr. President, are that one human being.

I cannot take your place, think your thoughts, know all you know, and tell you what I would do if I were you.

I can't do it, Mr. President.

No man can honestly do it.

Respectfully, sir, it is your decision and yours alone."

Apparently unmoved, Johnson asked each of the other Chiefs the same question.

One at a time, they supported General Wheeler and his rationale.

By now, my arms felt as though they were about to break.

The map seemed to weigh a ton, but the end appeared to be near.

General Greene was the last to speak.

When General Greene finished, President Johnson, who was nothing if not a skilled actor, looked sad for a moment, then sud-

denly erupted again, yelling and cursing, again using language that even a Marine seldom hears.

He told them he was disgusted with their naive approach, and that he was not going to let some military idiots talk him into

World War III.

He ended the conference by shouting "Get the hell out of my office!"

The Joint Chiefs of Staff had done their duty.

They knew that the nation was making a strategic military error, and despite the rebuffs of their civilian masters in the Pentagon,

they had insisted on presenting the problem as they saw it to the highest authority and recommending solutions.

They had done so, and they had been rebuffed.

That authority had not only rejected their solutions, but had also insulted and demeaned them.

As Admiral McDonald and I drove back to the Pentagon, he turned to me and said that he had known tough days in his life, and

sad ones as well, but ". . . this has got to have been the worst experience I could ever imagine."

The US involvement in Vietnam lasted another ten years.

The irony is that it began to end only when President Richard Nixon, after some backstage maneuvering on the international

scene, did precisely what the Joint Chiefs of Staff had recommended to President Johnson in 1965.

Why had Johnson not only dismissed their recommendations, but also ridiculed them?

It must have been that Johnson had lacked something.

Maybe it was foresight or boldness.

Maybe it was the sophistication and understanding it took to deal with complex international issues.

Or, since he was clearly a bully, maybe what he lacked was courage.

We will never know.

But had General Wheeler and the others received a fair hearing, and had their recommendations received serious study,

the United States may well have saved the lives of most of its more than 55,000 sons who died in a war that its major architect,

Robert Strange McNamara, now considers to have been a tragic mistake.

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Marines Adding Tanks, Artillery to Black Sea Rotational Force to Reassure Against

Russian Threat

By: Megan Eckstein

August 17, 2015 1:15 PM • Updated: August 17, 2015 3:52 PM

US Marine Corps photo: U.S. Marines now have tanks, artillery and light-armored reconnaissance vehicles in Europe to sup-port NATO allies and international partner countries. This post has been updated to correct the type of artillery the Marines are bringing to Bulgaria. The Black Sea Rotational Force’s combined arms company will use the M777 155mm field artillery piece, not the older M198.

The Marines are shaking up their force in Europe, adding a one-of-a-kind Combined Arms Company to the Black Sea Rota-tional Force to train with local partners and allies on anti-tank capabilities. Four M1A1 Abrams tanks, three M777 155mm field artillery pieces and six light-armored vehicles (LAVs) LAV-25 arrived in Bremerhaven, Germany, on Sunday, and will be boarded onto trains and sent to their new home in Novo Selo Training Area in Bulgaria, according to a U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe statement.

The Black Sea Rotational Force, established in 2010, is based at the Mihail Koglinceanu Air Base in Romania and consists of about 265 Marines. That force rotates semi-annually and has traveled the region doing theater security cooperation (TSC) exercises. It recently was pulled under a common headquarters with the Europe-based Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Crisis Response Africa, which provides a similar capability to U.S. Africa Command. But these forces have never had the capability to do anti-tank training – nor has any other Marine unit around the world.

With the tanks, LAVs and artillery, “combine that with CAAT (combined anti-armor team) platoons, the heavy weapons compa-nies and those sorts of assets, and you’ve got a more comprehensive take and training on anti-armor,” U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe spokesman Capt. Richard Ulsh told USNI News.

Ulsh said the new company is the only of its kind in the Marine Corps and was created specifically for the current situation in Europe. Many close partners and allies, particularly in Eastern Europe, are concerned that Russia’s expansion won’t stop in Ukraine, where columns of tanks poured across the border last year even as Russia denied invading its neighbor.

Earlier this month, when the rotational force turned over, outgoing commander Lt. Col. David Fallon said in the transfer of au-thority ceremony that “this is a complicated and volatile time for this region. Russia’s aggression and influence in Ukraine is real. It has the undivided attention of all of Eastern Europe, and they look for reassurance that they do not stand alone. That is precisely what we provide – reassurance.”

The creation of the new combined arms company is “a demonstration of our resolve to our allies and our partners in the re-gion,” Ulsh said. “Look at it as an increased footprint in the area because that’s how serious we take the territorial integr ity of our allies and our partners.” The heavy equipment and about 160 Marines from II Marine Expeditionary Force are meant to work with European militaries’ mechanized units to improve their collective combined arms skills and anti-armor tactics, the Marine Corps statement said. The combined arms company will be stationed in Bulgaria in part to spread out the force and create a larger footprint, and in part because the Novo Selo Training Area is optimized for the type of exercises the Marines hope to do, Ulsh said.

HAPPENING NOW Courtesy Gary Randel

Vietnam POWs - 40 years later: This is a great video of our military men who were held

in North Vietnam prisons. I had never seen this before and I had no idea how these guys felt all these years about Nixon. No matter what one may think of Nixon now - watch this! http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?

v=LemllfcAY8A&sns=em (Clink Link) https://www.youtube.com/embed/LemllfcAY8A (Copy/Past in Browser)

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For Immediate Release ATTENTION !!! *** August 28, 2015

FREE FLU SHOTS AVAILABLE TO VETERANS

(Boise, Idaho) Free flu shots are now available for all eligible veterans at the Boise VA Medi-

cal Center and Outpatient Clinics. Veterans are encouraged to get a flu shot at their Boise VA Medical Center, Primary Care Team or at one of the flu clinics being offered below.

No appointment is necessary. Please come prepared with a short sleeved shirt or with your arm

accessible for easy access. A form is attached to this advisory that veterans are welcome to fill out and bring with them to expedite the flu shot process.

Veterans not enrolled in the VA system are invited to stop by the Office of Enrollment and Eli-

gibility at the Boise VA with their DD214 discharge papers and register for VA health care.

Other flu shot clinics will be provided as indicated below:

Walk-In Flu Clinic

September 14th – TBD

WHERE: Boise VA Medical Center, Outpatient Entrance, Bldg. 85A

Sept. 14th – TBD 8:30a to 4:00p

Drive-Thru Flu Clinic

September 22nd – September 24th

WHERE: Boise VA Medical Center, Parking Lot #1 (adjacent to flag pole)

Sept. 22nd 9:00a to 3:00p

Sept. 23rd 9:00a to 3:00p

Sept. 24th 9:00a to 3:00p

One Day Drive-Thru Clinics - 2 Separate

September 30th & October 7th

WHERE: Caldwell Community Based Outreach Clinic (CBOC)

Sept. 30th 9:00a to 12:00p & 1:00p to 3:00p

Oct. 7th 9:00a to 12:00p & 1:00p to 3:00p

For more information about flu clinic availability contact your assigned primary care team

or call (208) 422-1000 ext. 7270 & ext. 7190.

Marilyn Hale's 92nd birthday was August 28th and is WW2 veteran. She joined the Marine Corps on her 20th birthday in 1943 in honor of twin brothers who were her neighbors and close friends and died on the USS Arizona in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. She served in the Pentagon and at Hickam field as an air-craft control tower operator and was honorably discharged as a sergeant! She has become quite frail after falling and breaking her hip about 18 months ago. She may not live to see 93. Please feel free to send her a birthday card and make her day. Also, if you could enclose a couple of bucks, as her assisted living costs take up about 110% of her income SHE WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATIVE and you would be most generous. Her address is: (next page; left column)

***A REQUEST BY THE SANDPOINT DETACHMENT***

IN SUPPORT OF A WW II MARINE!

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Marilyn Hale

C/o Sandpoint Assisted Living Room A-7

624 So Division St, Sandpoint, ID 83864

Thank you, and Semper Fi! Bill Collier, Sandpoint Detachment Commandant

NOW HEAR THIS From 3pm-7pm on Friday, September 4th, show your military identification card at the Eckrich tent to receive a free $50 Albertsons Gift Card!

1219 S Broadway

Boise, ID 83706

Live Country Music Performance from Ben Rue

5pm-7pm

Sample delicious deli meats and savory smoked sau-sage, enter to win college football tickets from WOW 104.3 FM, and pick up Eckrich giveaways and cou-pons!

<<<Registration Nat’l Ships Store>>> <<Colors' Formation Devil Dogs’ Reindeer Games>>>>>>>>>> Other ID Marines

something different < <<<<<< Our detachment Col-

ors are included >>>

09/17/2015

AMERICAN LEIGON HALL IN MERIDIAN

1900—2030 HRS 22 W. Broadway Ave

Meridian, ID.

COME EARLY AND VISIT WITH FRIENDS “SEE YOU THERE”

2015 NAT’L

CONVENTION

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