Eugene Sara Detachment Marine Corps League

PO Box 2051 Billings, MT 59103

www.eugenesara.com

Commandant - Dan Taylor Editor - Tim Bender

Distribution—Joe Aguilar Advertising—Jim Borner

& Joe Aguilar Photos— Tim & Pat Bender & Judy Demaree

Greetings Marines and Friends of the League, We continue to make progress on all fronts. Thanks to all who have donated their time and effort to the Riverside Cemetery project, especially Jim Borner and Joe Aguilar.

We are coming into the busy fall season, which includes continuing fund raising efforts for the Honor flight, the Marine Corps Ball and Toys for Tots. Now, more than ever, we need your help. I continue to be dismayed by the fact that we have over 100 members, and consistently only have a dozen or so that do all of the work, to include only a handful of Marines at our monthly meetings. We cannot continue to operate this way. If we do, I can easily predict the demise of the Eugene Sara Detachment. Recruitment is key – if we don’t continue to actively recruit new members, we will fade away. Even with our success of the Roundup squad becoming a detachment, and the new Miles City squad B, if we don’t start paying attention here in Billings, we will be no more. The Marine Corps has never been an “army of one,” yet lately, it sure seems that way! We also need to improve on our communication among our members. If there is a scheduled event that is cancelled, or moved to another date, please email, or call as many members as possible to spread the word! When we don’t, we risk people losing interest, and

becoming unwilling to help us in our efforts. Finally, I encourage each of you to remember that no matter where you are, every Marine is your brother/sister. Because the Marine Corps lives forever, you live forever!

Dan Taylor, Commandant taylor7304@hotmail.com

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR— The new

membership application forms in the Semper Fi Magazine are the ones that National will take, please make use of them for recruiting new members. Remembering those we lost Dena Borner Charles Doolittle Walter Pfister (Roundup) Charles Willowby Jo Ann Heins

Senior Vice Commandant Report:

Marines,

There is nothing to report at this time.

Chris Grubs

(406)698-9009 grubs79@gmail.com

Junior Vice Commandant Report:

Hello Marines, As everyone knows it was a busy summer with people being busy with vacations and trips. This next month we will return to our regular schedule of business meetings and SOS breakfasts near the end of the month.

The memorial for Dena Borner was very well attended by league members and Bill Kennedy, a good friend to the league, it’s members and Jim. Bill gave a eulogy which reminded us how Dena was involved with not just us, but the community, too. Jim told me that he felt Dena was watching all of the event with a smile on her face. Myself & my wife Patricia and Judy Demaree have stepped in to fill the very large shoes of Dena, in taking pictures of the league happenings. We still encourage members to volunteer to help on color guards and firing details. Please let us know if you can help. Thanks and Semper Fi

Tim Bender 406-697-5968 tim.mtlonegunman@gmail.com

Chaplains Report:

Dear fellow marines and families, As everyone knows, my lovely, wonderful wife passed away this last month. Her passing has left a hole in my heart and those of our family and friends. This past month has been very challenging for me, dealing with her loss and all the paperwork that comes along with the passing of a loved one.

I must say that the support of the league, friends and family have helped me cope and for that I am very grateful. The memorial to Dena held on August 25th was a great remembrance of Dena and all she did for the league, the Marines and the Young Marines. She enjoyed helping where she could and loved to take pictures for this newsletter and share them. The turnout for the service, the color guard and the food was fantastic. I have not taken a leave of absence, but have cut back on all the things I was involved in for the time being. As things become easier I will become more involved again. I want to thank everyone once again for the support during the last month and thank everyone for allowing me to be your Chaplain. God Bless James D. Borner (406) 850-1802 cell jimborner@hotmail.com

Paymasters Report: Devil Dogs, August has turned out to be a busy month for me. I am currently working a few extra shifts trying to get a little overtime in. Vacations tend to be expensive. Oh-rah? Our trip over to Idaho to take Sonson over to Silverwood was a nice get away.

Thankfully we were unaffected by fire and smoke. On our way home we detoured though Phillipsburg to stop at the sapphire mine. I love this place, however, it would seem that they may be running low on stones over there, as the buckets have shrank and the price has doubled. Besides that western Montana remains a beautiful place. As I write this article I have the Leagues bills current. I will have the transmittals current by the time the newsletter is printed. Semper Fi Leathernecks, Scott Dunlap Adjutant/Paymaster spdunl01@msn.com 406 281 1271

MCL Events: 0900 Saturdays through September or October @ Riverside Cemetery—Headstone detail- dress to work (or play) in the dirt- come if you can! Aug 25th -- Patio Party @ Jim Borner’s residence in honor of Jim and in memorial to Dena for all she did for the league. Aug 30th – Honor Flight Bucket Brigade @ Burn the Point, downtown senior citizens center, meet at 1730, BBQ @ Q2 Bldg September 8th – Swearing in of Squad B Detachment members @ Murray Ranch outside Miles City BBQ to follow Directions to follow in the Squad B Minutes September 8th – Honor Flight Departs to DC September 9th – Honor Flight Returns @2030 September 9th – Regular MCL business meeting @1930, Armed Forces Reserve Center September 21st – SOS Breakfast @ Western Empire Emporium

The following pictures are from the Memorial service for Dena Borner on August 25th. The day was beautiful and hot.

Marines from the I& I Staff, Recruiters and the Young Marines were there.

Color Guard gets ready for its detail and Commissioner Bill Kennedy looks on.

The color guard detail on the march

Bill Kennedy Delivers the eulogy

Jim Surrounded by Family and Friends

Marine Corps League Eugene Sara Detachment #418

Meeting Minutes 12 August, 2013

1930: Called to Order All officers present, except Chris Grubs(excused) and Paymaster Scott Dunlap(excused). Meeting Ritual continued:

Applications for membership: Ralph McKinney, John Pachl - applicants approved. Minutes of previous meeting: Accepted as read Correspondence: County contract (Riverside Cemetery), Dept. Commandant report to National Convention was read to members present. Report of Paymaster: Read and accepted. Report of any member or family member’s family sick or in distress: JoAnn Heins passed 30 July, Dena Borner passed 9 July Walter Pfister mentioned. Memorial for Dena Borner 25 August

Officers Reports: Sr. Vice: No Report Jr. Vice: Patio Party/Memorial service for Dena Borner held on August 25th at noon MCL color guard opening and eulogy by Bill Kennedy (County Commissioner), MCL, USMC I&I staff and Young Marines were in attendance as well as many of Jim’s family and friends.

Jr. Past Commandant: Rifle Range with reserves and wanted to meet with 1st Sgt concerning Birthday Ball 1st part of September. Detail Commander: July 28th-Fundraiser at Blue Creek Shooting Sports Facility at Big Sky State Games/IDPA Shoot (Tiny Metcalf, Burt Gigoux, JoeAguilar). August 3rd- Laurel Veterans Cemetery- Color Guard/ Shooting Detail(Dan Taylor, Joe Aguilar, Jim Borner, Scott Dunlap, Tim Bender, Dennis Sitzler, Tom Jones, Chris Grubs, Nick Nemsgerm, Burt Gigoux, Wilber Jensen). August 9th - Laurel Veterans Cemetery- Joe Aguilar, Wilber Jensen, Tiny Metcalf, Jim Borner, Tim Bender, Alex Ward, Nick Nemsgerm, Burt Gigoux & Wally Hammett(Roundup). Riverside Cemetery- Throughout the end of July and the month of August, Jim Borner & Joe Aguilar put in many days and hours of labor tobring us near to completion at the cemetery for the contracted 100 gravestones. August 25th- Jim Borner residence - Dena Borner Memorial service– Color Guard(Joe Aguilar, Tim Bender, Wilber Jensen, Dennis Sitzler). Veteran’s Council: No Report- Out until 13 September Riverside Cemetery: 76 stone pads poured, 25 remain. Thanks to Jim & Joe Aguilar for most of the work this last month also to any others not mentioned here who also helped. Young Marines: No report Toys for Tots: No report Birthday Ball: Celebration scheduled for 16 November, meeting with 1st Sgt set for the first part of September

Unfinished business: Bylaws vote and approval. Members present: Ralph Mc Kinny, Jim Borner,

Tim Bender, Wilber Jensen, Dan Taylor, Lloyd Metcalf, Joe Aguilar, Bill Van Wieren, Dennis Sitzler.

New Business: Motion to have 1/2 the proceeds from cemetery fund to go to Wounded Warriors, Marine Corps Ball, Honor Flight,etc… approx $2500.

Good of the League: News letter submissions due 23-24 August.

Announcements: NONE! Final vote on bylaw acceptance or changes at the August 12th meeting, please attend if possible!

Meeting adjourned 2037.

Meeting Notes Continued: Motion that 50% of proceeds from Riverside project go to charities we normally contribute to subject to the Finance Committee concurrence. Motion that Dennis Sitzler become a member of said Finance Committee - approved. Motion was to buy fuel for the vehicle that goes to Miles City 8 September, 2013 for function of new member initiation and Firing Detail practice. The Families of Marines are welcome to attend.

Young Marines at Dena’s memorial service

Captain Diana Salmela of the I&I Staff greets Herb Livingston a the memorial

SQUAD "B" MILES CITY

EUGENE SARA DETACHMENT #418 MARINE CORPS LEAGUE

BILLINGS, MONTANA August 6, 2013 Minutes of August 6th, 2013 meeting at Golden Spur, Miles City, Montana Meeting called to order by Squad Leader Dee Murray 1900 hours. Marine Corps League Ritual was followed. Roll Call: Squad Leader- Present; Chaplain excused; Sgt at Arms excused. No others appointed yet. Application for John Pachl received, to be presented at next Eugene Sara Meeting. Minutes from July Meeting read and approved. Dept of Montana national Convention report read. No one ill Report to Squad that there was $185.00 collected at 4th of July for Honor Flight. Proceeds turned over to Honor Flight officials by Custer County Commissioner Keith Homland. Discussion was held on getting Flags and support gear for Squad "B". Blayne Watts will a chair committee to do a fundraiser so that Squad can purchase the Color Guard gear. Discussion was held on getting a Color Guard appearance at the Miles City Fair. John Pachl will head the committee to make arrangements to accomplish this. The target date is Aug 22nd, 2013. Next meeting to be held September 8th at the Dee Murray Ranch. Wilber Jensen will get several MCL members from Billings to travel to Miles City and they will conduct the initiation ceremony. We will make it a Family affair and have a hamburger, beans and something to quench the thirst. Wilber Jensen will also get permission from the Eugene Sara Detachment to bring seven to eight M-1s with Blank ammo so that the squad members can practice for a firing detail if and when called upon to do so. Location is the Dee Murray Ranch at 1:00 PM. Take Hwy 89 E toward Baker, Turn right at the 13 mile marker, then four and one half 4 1/2 miles to the gate that says MURRAY CATTLE RANCH. You will see his ranch home and Dee Murray has decided to have it at the house. Eight members present, Leonard Rodell and Naomi Jones showing they were members already. There being no other business - meeting adjourned. Submitted and prepared by Wilber Jensen

Howdy Marines, We lost a very caring Marine in Jo Ann Hines, she will be missed by the League and I am sure there is a big hole in Mike’s heart in her loss. The By-Law ‘s changes were voted for and approved at the last general meeting and a copy has been sent to the Department of Montana.

The Headstone’s at Riverside are coming along, I wish to Thank both Jim Borner and Joe Aguilar for the hard work and the time that these two men have put into the work at Riverside, the ground is rock hard and they are using the water system there to soften up the ground so as to make the digging easier. Wilbur has been busy with working with Squad B in Miles City. Wilbur has been a great recruiter for the Detachment and he has put on a lot of miles just driving to and from Miles City. The Birthday ball is the next big thing we are working on, this year it is going to be on the 16th of November, There is a Model 116 Savage rifle to be raffled off, I will have tickets at the next meeting, The rifle is a 30-06 with a Nikon 3 x 9x 40 spot on scope stainless steel, $5.00 ea. or 5 for $20.00, this is the same rifle that we had last year. Alex Ward donated it back to the league to raffle off for this year, I hope to sell 500 tickets. We as the detachment members need to try and get at least one new Member, this is a must for the league to keep getting new members, we are in need of some younger members for the Color Guard and Rifle details.

Semper Fi,

Lloyd “Tiny” Metcalf (406) 248-4190 tinym@optimum.net

Department Junior Vice

Dept Of Montana Jr.Vice Commandant Wilber Jensen

Our Newest squad members are

ready to be sworn in and become official members of the detachment. We are hoping to have members from Billings and other communities that would to come and join us welcoming them onboard.

The directions on how to reach the Murray ranch are in the Miles City Squad B minutes. There will be a BBQ and firing detail practice after the swearing in.

Squad B color guard with Dennis Sitzler

Keep the "Flag of Freedom Flying". Semper Fi

Semper Fi. Wilber Jensen 406-652-1610 hplainsins@yahoo.com

The Pledge of Allegiance

Captain Diana Salmela, I&I Billings Marines & MCL Commandant Dan Taylor

Following photos are from Dena’s Memorial, the Jo Ann Heins and Walt Pfister Services at the Yellowstone County Veterans Cemetery in Laurel

MCL member Mike Heins & family

Folding the flag at JoAnns service

Burt Gigoux Bugles “Taps”

Mike Heins receives the flag

Walter Pfister (Roundup Detachment) services at the Yellowstone County Veterans Cemetery in Laurel

Firing Detail Prepares

Uncovering the casket

At present arms

Greetings fellow Marines, Sailors and family members, Well another month has flown by and to be honest I have no idea where the time went. Things around the center have been pretty much business as usual without not a lot of excitement. Which to be honest is the way I like it. However with that being said, as most of you that have been around know things are about to get crazy. The two main things that I would like to bring up is the upcoming Marine Corps Ball and of course Toys for Tots. Just yesterday higher headquarters started to push down guidance with regards to the cost of bringing in a guest speaker of guest of honor. I am not sure how it was done in the past but for this year we can go ahead and plan to have that expense added to the cost of the Ball. With that being said we here on the staff have already started to fund raise and will continue to do so. I also had the opportunity to talk with Tiny the other day and he brought me up to speed on a few of the projects that he is working. I am sure that everything is going to be fine and I have no doubt that we will all have a great time and if push comes to shove we have plenty of MRE’s here to feed everyone. The last thing that I wanted to let you guys know about is that one of our very own Marines will receive the Marine Corps League sponsored Gunnery Sergeant Carlos N. Hathcock II award. This annual award is given to the one Marine that has had a great impact on his unit’s marksmanship training. This year Corporal Joseph A. Wirtz was not only nominated but won the award. He will now have the opportunity along with the winners of the other awards to join the Marine Corps league, the Commandant of the Marine Corps and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps at an awards banquet which he will receive his award. Respectfully, Alex J. Leibfried 1stSgt/ USMC

On A much lighter note on July 28th I participated in the Big Sky State Games/ IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) Shoot at the Blue Creek Shooting Sports facility, just outside Billings. Numerous medals were awarded across different classes. I received two bronzes and a silver. Ben Ostermiller, another MCL member and his wife also participated, both of them also received medals.