Marine West Expo

The Expo at Area 22 on Camp Pendlton went smoothly and was well attended.  Teresa wouldn’t let me take home any of the real cool toys like remote control tracked IED seeking robot or aerial drone with exchangeable payloads.  The standard payload is a high def video camera, but I got them to admit that “experimental” projectile weapons are possible…But she probably would have let me keep the injured dummy.

South West Division Conference

Leagueres attended from all three departments as well as a visit and address by the National Judge Advocate and the COO of the League.

National JA Griffin reported that they have had to deal with some Chapter 9 issues, but most should have been handled at the local detachment level.
He emphasized the need to follow the bylaws.
The proper uniform -> there have been questions about photographs in Semper Fi; many are denied due to improper uniforms. Uniform Regs
—Remember that to be “in uniform” means to wear, at a minimum, the MCL cover.

Chief Operating Officer Bob Berka had a lot to say, and answered several questions.
Toys for Tots: – Everyone is doing a great job! Rarely any issue with the program.  The Commandant of the Corps wants us to participate in this program as much as we can.
Covers/Blazers: Shortage of covers in the Ship’s Store. 7 ¼ and 7 ½ are very hard to get. Orders will be doubled in an attempt to take care of the shortage. Blazers are also a problem. Hardwick, the company used in the past has been bought out and no longer offers the blazer. He will bring a solution to mid-winter. The jacket will be bright red.
Detachment Level Bylaw Templates: No detachment level bylaws on the website.  Use what is on the website but tailor to the individual detachment.  Make them simple. Adjust over time as needed. Should be short.  
—editor’s note: The latest National bylaws have had the Policies and Procedures separated from the bylaws into its own document.  We may want to consider doing the same.
Full Minutes

The 68th Anniversary of the Korean War “Chosin Few”…..The Tootsie Roll Marines

On November 26, 1950, 10,000 men of the First Marine Division, along with elements of two Army regimental combat teams, a detachment of British Royal Marine commandos and some South Korean policemen were completely surrounded by over ten divisions of Chinese troops in rugged mountains near the Chosin Reservoir. Chairman Mao himself had ordered the Marines annihilated, and Chinese General Song Shi-Lun gave it his best shot, throwing human waves of his 120,000 soldiers against the heavily outnumbered allied forces. A massive cold front blew in from Siberia, and with it, the coldest winter in recorded Korean history. For the encircled allies at the Chosin Reservoir, daytime temperatures averaged five degrees below zero, while nights plunged to minus 35 and lower.

Jeep batteries froze and split. C-rations ran dangerously low and the cans were frozen solid. Fuel could not be spared to thaw them. If truck engines stopped, their fuel lines froze. Automatic weapons wouldn’t cycle. Morphine syrettes had to be thawed in a medical corpsman’s mouth before they could be injected. Precious bottles of blood plasma were frozen and useless. Resupply could only come by air, and that was spotty and erratic because of the foul weather.

High Command virtually wrote them off, believing their situation was hopeless. Washington braced for imminent news of slaughter and defeat. Retreat was hardly an option; not through that wall of Chinese troops. If the Marines defended, they would be wiped out So they formed a 12-mile long column and attacked.

There were 78 miles of narrow, crumbling, steeply-angled road and 100,000 Chinese soldiers between the Marines and the sea at Hungnam. Both sides fought savagely for every inch of it. The march out became one monstrous, moving battle.

The Chinese used the ravines between ridges, protected from rifle fire, to marshal their forces between attacks. The Marines’ 60-millimeter mortars, capable of delivering high, arcing fire over the ridgelines, breaking up those human waves, became perhaps the most valuable weapon the Marines had. But their supply of mortar rounds was quickly depleted. Emergency requests for resupply were sent by radio, using code words for specific items. The code for 60mm mortar ammo was “Tootsie Rolls”but the radio operator receiving that urgent request didn’t have the Marines’ code sheets. All he knew was that the request came from command authority, it was extremely urgent and there were tons of Tootsie Rolls at supply bases in Japan.

Tootsie Rolls had been issued with other rations to US troops since World War I, earning preferred status because they held up so well to heat, cold and rough handling compared to other candies.

Tearing through the clouds and fog, parachutes bearing pallet-loads of Tootsie Rolls descended on the Marines. After initial shocked reactions, the freezing, starving troops rejoiced. Frozen Tootsies were thawed in armpits, popped in mouths, and their sugar provided instant energy. For many, Tootsie Rolls were their only nourishment for days. The troops also learned they could use warmed Tootsie Rolls to plug bullet holes in fuel drums, gas tanks, cans and radiators, where they would freeze solid again, sealing the leaks.

Over two weeks of unspeakable misery, movement and murderous fighting, the 15,000-man column suffered 3,000 killed in action, 6,000 wounded and thousands of severe frostbite cases. But they reached the sea, demolishing several Chinese divisions in the process. Hundreds credited their very survival to Tootsie Rolls. Surviving Marines called themselves “The Chosin Few,” and among themselves, another name: The Tootsie Roll Marines. Join me in sharing their story and some Tootsie Rolls.

http://www.usmc-mccs.org/articles/how-tootsie-rolls-accidentally-saved-marines-during-war/

Upcoming Events:

Detachment Meeting, Spring Valley Lake, Feb 28th

Dept of Calif Spring Conference, Los Angeles: March 16th

Division Conference, Las Vegas: April 27th

Dept of Calif Convention, San Diego: June 2019