ASSOCIATION - Home - About Us - Mission - Executive Director - Officers - Board of Directors - Chapters - Retired Corner - Corporate Sponsors - Join Us - Contact Us NEWS - Events - e-Word - e-Word Archives - e-Newsletter - e-Newsletter Archives - Legislative News - VA News REPORTS - Guard/Reserve Report - Gulf War Syndrome Marine Forces Reserve - Command Interest News - USMC Reserve Units MISC LINKS - Headquarters Marine Corps - Marine Forces Reserve - Marine Corps Association - Marine Corps League - Marine Heritage Foundation - Marine Corps Engineer Association - USMC/Combat Helicopter Association - DFAS - RAPIDS - Reserve Officers Association - Military Officers Association of America - National Association of Uniformed Services - National Military Family Association - Naval Reserve Association - Naval Enlisted Reserve Association - Fleet Reserve Association - Navy League - Reserve Enlisted Association - National Guard Association of the United States - Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States - Air Force Association - Air Force Sergeants Association - AmVets - VFW F-35 STOVL Variant EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR MARINES The following employment opportunity was received by the Association: We are a moving company located in Alexandria Virginia that conducts local moves in the DC area. We hire Marines and other military to work part time weekends as well as full time. Best Regards, Christy Gutmann-Baucom Business Development Two Marines and a Truck www.twomarinesandatruck.com 202-412-0800 ph The following has been requested to be posted on our Website: First Citizens Bank has a long-standing commitment to equal employment opportunity and affirmative action. It is the policy of the Bank to hire well-qualified people to perform the many tasks in providing high quality products and services at reasonable costs. An integral part of this policy is to provide equal employment oppurtunity to all persons in every aspect of recruiting and employment without regard to race, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, special disabled veteran status, other protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status. We value the service provided by your organization and strongly encourage you to refer candidates for employment by directing interested individuals to view and apply online for open positions via the Bank's Website at www.firstcitizens.com, or call (877) 808-0298 for information. OTHER JOB SITES www.hireahero.org www.disabledperson.com MCRA Life Membership Trust Founders MajGen John Cronin MajGen Albert Harvey MajGen John Salesses MajGen Dean Sangalis Colonel Mark Cancian Colonel Edward Collymore Colonel Robert Donaghue Colonel Robert Henderson Colonel Nick Hirsch Colonel Graham Kreicker Colonel David Leighton Colonel Mike Mitchell Colonel Norm Mueller Colonel Robert Rathert Colonel Harley Skidmore Colonel James Wells, Esq Colonel Rex Williams Colonel Donald Wright LtCol Charles Allen LtCol Robert Brockish LtCol James Craige LtCol John DeHart LtCol Neil Frumkin LtCol Robert Hansel LtCol Thomas Howlett Major Charles Bickley Major James Pelkey Capt David H Rosenthal Ms Iris Pinchart Mr&Mrs Patrick O'Dell Mr Jack Robb Ms Catherine VandenAvond Mr Merlin Wallenfang Mr Philip Westenburg

The e-WORD October - December 2011 HEADLINES Birthday Message On the Impact of Sequestration The Camp LeJeune Contaminated Water Issue The Association Annual Meeting Semper Fi Donation Legislative Affairs Green Bay Celebrates Veterans Day MCRA Life Membership Trust News Member Feedback United States Marine Corps Birthday Message 2011 For ten years now, our Corps has been engaged in continuous combat operations against those who threaten the security of America and our allies. We turned the tide in the Anbar province of Iraq and continue to see success today in southwest Afghanistan. While it has come at a cost, we have much to be proud of. This past year in operations around the world including humanitarian disaster relief, counter-piracy, theater security cooperation, special operations, counter-insurgency and many more, you continued to solidify our place as America's Expeditionary Force in readiness. Since the Continental Congress created two battalions of Marines 236 years ago, our legacy as an ever-ready, ever capable, victory producing organization remains intact. Our rich heritage of selfless service and fidelity to nation and to one another lives on in all who currently wear the eagle, globe and anchor -- those who have answered the clarion call to duty with remarkable courage, dedication and unshakable resolve that Marines are so well known for. To all Marines -- past and present -- and especially to our families I extend my deep gratitude for all you have done and all you continue to do. As we celebrate our 236th birthday, let us look forward to future challenges--whatever they may be -- and reaffirm our pledge to be America's premier crisis response force; to be the first to fight... always ready for the toughest and most challenging assignments. Happy Birthday, Marines and Semper Fidelis. James F. Amos, General, U.S. Marine Corps, Commandant of the Marine Corps. On the Impact of Sequestration The failure of the “Super Committee” to find a compromise on the federal deficit problem will result in serious repercussions for our country’s ability to maintain an adequate military force in the face of a dangerous world entangled in both economic crises and militant religious fanaticism. It has been quoted often that “Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.” Just a cursory look at the past is proof enough that at the root of so many wars are either economic conditions or religious beliefs. This country cannot afford to ignore the realities that threaten our way of life. In November Leon Panetta, Secretary of Defense, speaking out against the looming $600 billion cuts to the Defense Department stated that $1 trillion in total cuts would make the U. S. Military a “paper tiger,” unable to keep pace with its adversaries. The $1 trillion in cuts will be the result of a previous $350 billion in cuts already being implemented combined with one half of the $1.2 trillion in cuts mandated by the Budget Control Act. General James Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps, in an interview stated, “We as a Nation don’t even know, or have not got a sense of appreciation for, the impact that sequestration is going to have on the Department of Defense.” Going on he said, “I don’t think we understand the magnitude of the impact that sequestration would have. Sequestration becomes automatic cuts, and they’re not arbitrary; they’re uniform.” Unless Washington acts in a responsible manner, sequestration will mean significant cuts across everything—manpower, programs, operations and maintenance funds. Ammunition, equipment, people, training as well as research and development are at risk. Equipment that has been strained by a decade of fighting needs to be refurbished or replaced. Weapons programs to fight in an ever changing technology will be killed, and it is that technology in the hands of our trained and skilled Marines that makes the difference on the battlefield. General Amos stated the Marine Corps will have to discontinue development of tilt-rotor technology used in the MV-22 Osprey and short-takeoff and vertical landing of the type used in the F-35B aircraft. He said, “Cuts to these will become irreversible.” General Amos is concerned about the possibility of force reduction below the current target of 186,800 as we draw down from our 202,000 strength. He stated, “Any lower than 186,800 and I start getting nervous.” He has reason to be nervous in view of some in Congress suggesting a cut in manpower to 150,000. Such a cut would result in a total commitment of all our battalions without the possibility of unit rotation in the event of a major crisis. The House Armed Services Committee recently held a hearing with senior members of the Armed Forces. The hearing specifically explored the potentially devastating consequence of hundreds of billions in additional cuts under the Budget Control Act if the “Super Committee” failed to reach an agreement or decides to cut more from defense. General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., Assistant Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps, testified before the committee. In response to questions by the committee chairman's question about the impact of a cut in the Marine Corps end strength to 150,000 Marines if the "Super Committee" cannot agree on spending cuts and the military must take a 50% cut in dollars, the general stated that Marines would be limited in their abilities to perform humanitarian missions, fight pirates, support our friends in the Philippines, support our friends in Japan, and would be unable to contain small crises before they become major crises. In the case of a major conflict, the Marine Corps would need to deploy all its forces without any rotation of units. When questioned about the effect of pulling all our forces back to the continental United States, General Dunford responded, "[I]f you took that [forward deployed] force and moved it back to the Continental United States, in the event of a crisis or contingency, it would take months to move that force to the Western Pacific and seven consecutive miracles in terms of synchronizing the planes, trains and automobiles associated with moving that force." The New Year will require our Association membership to become active in matters of our National Security. Your Association leaders plan to keep the membership informed on Congressional action, and in turn, it will be critically important for members to engage their Senators and Representatives through letters, e-mails, and personal contacts. LPM The Camp LeJeune Contaminated Water Issue On Thursday, 29 September 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report finding that the exposure of Marines, family members, as well as civilian workers at Camp Lejeune to trichloroethylene (TCE) is strongly associated with forms of cancer. The findings of the EPA study indicated that all routes of exposure can be carcinogenic. The report estimated that hundreds of thousands of people living or working at the base may have been exposed to the cancer causing chemical. Even friends and relatives who may have visited Camp Lejeune are at risk. Families that lived at the base from the 1950s through the earlier part of the 1980s were possibly exposed to the TCE that the agency has linked to some rare forms of cancer. Forms of cancer related to TCE include non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, cancers of the liver, prostate, bladder, cervix, breast, esophagus, as well as childhood leukemia. The man-made chemical had been used for decades after World War II to degrease metal parts as well as a dry cleaning agent. Improper handling of the chemical allowed it to percolate into the water table, contaminating wells providing drinking water to the base. For years government officials denied allegations that TCE was a cause of cancer. A 2009 report by the National Research Council denied any clear connection between the base water supply and the abnormal spike in cancer cases. Attempting to get compensation for medical treatment for the government’s alleged negligence in this matter, victims claim that the cancer cases were not simply isolated incidences that just happened to be overlooked by government officials as claimed by the government. This was a clear cut pattern of negligence in the proper handling, use, and disposal of a dangerous toxic chemical. The government’s behavior in this case is tragically similar to the fight by Vietnam veteran victims of exposure to Agent Orange. For years the Veterans Administration denied the carcinogenic effects of exposure to Agent Orange in spite of evidence of spikes in diseases suffered by Vietnam veterans such as prostate cancer, respiratory cancers, Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, chronic B-cell leukemia, acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy, chloracne, Parkinson’s disease, porphyeria cutanea tarda, ischemic heart disease, AL amyloidosis, and diabetes mellitus (type 2). Congressional Representative Brad Miller has been fighting on behalf of the TCE victims, but to date he has been unsuccessful. House Resolution 1742 (H.R. 1742) is also named the Janey Ensminger Act after the 9-year old daughter of former Marine Jerry Ensminger, who died of a rare form of leukemia. Jerry’s research led to the discovery of one of the largest water contamination cover-ups in history. In a manner similar to the Agent Orange issue, the Janey Ensminger Act would establish a presumption of service connection for disabilities or illnesses associated with exposure to toxins in service members stationed at Camp Lejeune during the time of contamination. Family members who have a disability or illness as a result of exposure to the toxins at the base would be entitled to health care by the Department of Veterans affairs. Representative Miller’s bill has been referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs. Currently the bill has only 20 co-sponsors. According to Representative Reid Ribble, one of the co-sponsors, bills typically need fifty or more cosponsors to begin movement out of committee. This is where the membership of the Marine Corps Reserve Association should enter the foray. We, as Marines need to come to the aid of our fellow Marines by pushing the issue through Congress. Your role as a Marine is to write, e-mail, or talk to your Representative in Congress to show your deep concern regarding the injustice to the victims of government negligence and denial. Ask, no, demand that your Representative become a co-sponsor of H.R. 1742. The Association Annual Meeting The Annual Meeting was held at the Marsh Center, Quantico, VA on 21-22 October, 2011 starting with an exchange of information with the staff of the Reserve Affairs Division. One significant item of discussion was the plans for cuts to the Marine Corps budget. There will be some reductions in the Select Marine Corps Reserve; however, most of the cuts will be in headquarters units. The Marine Corps approach to cuts will be across the board; affecting the Reserve Forces no worse than the Active Force. In fact, the Active Force will see much greater cuts in terms of combat units than the Marine Forces Reserve. Reserve manpower specifics also were addressed as a part of the discussion. One area of concern will be the management of officer billets. The plans are to provide a balance of time in primary MOS billets with time in staff assignments including IMA billets. It is felt that it is not in the best interest of the Corps or the individual officer to spend an entire career in a primary MOS billet. Another concern is the long standing problem of filling the junior officer billets in Reserve units. One of the programs as a part of the planned drawdown of Active Forces is to offer bonuses to junior officers to leave Active Duty and join Reserve units. In addition the Marine Corps has been offering the Officer Candidate Course Reserve (OCCR) to qualified college graduates and the Reserve Enlisted Commissioning Program RECP) to qualified members of the Select Marine Corps Reserve. These programs provide a commission as a Second Lieutenant for specified billets in Reserve units. These officers must complete The Basic School as well as appropriate MOS training for the unit to which they have been commissioned. Upon completion of training, they are released from active duty and assigned to a Reserve unit. Also discussed during the meeting with the Reserve Affairs Division (RAD) was the role of the Association in support of the Marine Corps Reserve. Continued contact with the staff of the RAD will be maintained and we will continue to provide communication with members of the Association on matters of importance to the Marine Corps. This will be particularly important in view of the tight budget conditions for the Corps. After a break for lunch, members of the Board of Directors visited the Headquarters of the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund to deliver the proceeds from the Golf Tournament. It was promised that we will continue to conduct the Annual Golf Tournament for the benefit of our injured Marines. (See story and picture below for more information). On Saturday the meeting continued at the Marsh Center to discuss Association plans and financial matters. Communications We have been able to reconstruct the Association database which includes the e-mail addresses of many of our members. The e-mail capability provides a cost effective means of communicating with our membership. Unfortunately we do not have e-mail addresses for more than half of our membership which severely restricts our ability to communicate effectively with many members on a regular basis due to the cost of using the U. S. Postal Service. Plans for 2012 include four mailings to those who do not have a valid e-mail address in the database. Quite obviously we hope to encourage more members to provide e-mail addresses, however the Board recognizes that some older members are not Internet savvy. Legislative Affairs It was agreed that the Website should continue to publish information on bills in congress related to Marine Corps, Marine Corps Reserve, the Marine Corps family and Veterans. Development of appropriate letters regarding bills of interest for Association members to send to members of Congress should be done. The importance of this role of the Association cannot be over-emphasized, especially in light of world conditions and the U.S. economy. (See the article above on the Camp Lejeune water contamination issue. We, as Association members, need to come to the assistance of our fellow Marines). The Association currently does not have a Legislative Affairs Advisor. It would be helpful to have someone in the Washington area to: 1. Participate in The Military Coalition (TMC) Guard and Reserve Committee to develop Marine Reserve agenda items. 2. Re-establish contact with the Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) for possible assistance on unfunded Marine Corps Reserve unfunded priorities. (We’ve done it before. We need to get involved again). 3. Work with Reserve Affairs Division/Marine Forces Reserve issues. Awards Program A short discussion of the Association Awards program confirmed the following: 1. Continue with the Congressional Reception for the Frank Tejeda Award since it is our high visibility program. 2. Contact Marine Forces Reserve to continue the Unit/Individual Awards program 3. Continue with the MCJROTC Awards. 4. Continue with the Keith Wells Land Navigation Awards at TBS. 5. Continue with the newly initiated Reserve SNCO Academy Awards. 6. Develop an award program for the OCCR program. Corporate Fund Raising The budget cuts to the military in general and the Marine Corps specifically has made it much more difficult for the Association to raise funds from the military industrial complex as it did in past years. Cuts in manpower strength is only part of the picture of the cuts in the Marine Corps budget. A much more significant part of the picture will be the cancellation of contracts. SgtMaj Joe Staudt has taken over the job of corporate fundraising formerly done by Joe Vowell, but the current economic situation has made the job more difficult. This difficulty is compounded by the financial problems suffered by the Association a few years ago. Trust is something easily lost and extremely hard to regain when past leadership has squandered what we had. Joe will be able to continue to get some corporate support, but the Association cannot depend on the level of corporate support we enjoyed in the past. The significance of this should not be lost on our members. It means we must be as frugal as possible and work harder on gaining members to increase membership dues revenue. 2012 Budget After some discussion regarding income and expenditures for 2011 the board approved of the proposed budget for 2012 as follows: Awards Programs             $ 5,000.00 Congressional Reception      10,000.00 Database Expense              2,300.00 Donations                     1,500.00 Golf Tournament               5,000.00 Membership Mailings           4,000.00 Office and Misc Expense       1,000.00 Telephone Service             1,200.00 Total Expenses              $30,000.00 Results of Election of Officers Judge Advocate General – LtCol Charles Allen (Expires 2014) Treasurer – Colonel Ken Hopper (Expires 2014) Vice-President (Membership and Chapter Activities) – LtCol Gary Schroeder agreed to extend his term for one year (ordinarily to expire 2014) Board Member at Large – Col Dave Leighton (Expires 2014) Note: one Board Member at Large position remains open. Presentation of Award and Medal to CWO-4 Leubecker Following the adjournment of the annual meeting, members met at the Globe and Laurel for dinner and presentation of a truly deserving award to CWO-4 Vernon Leubecker. By agreement of the Board of Directors, Vern, has been named Executive Director Emeritus and presented with an appropriate plaque and medal in recognition of his service to the Association. Vern has stepped in on several occasions to help the Association as Executive Director when the need presented itself. Vern’s contacts at HQMC and on the Hill have been invaluable to the Association, the Marine Corps Reserve and the Marine Corps. Semper Fi Fund Donation The Association’s Annual Golf Tournament this year was conducted for the benefit of the Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Regiment through the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. The funds raised by this event were delivered to the Semper Fi Fund Headquarters at Quantico, Virginia, by members of the Association Board of Directors during the Annual Meeting held in October. Pictured below are LtCol Thomas “LPM” Howlett, VP-Communications, LtCol Charlie Allen, JAG, Linda Wagner, Semper Fi Representative, CWO-4 Vern Leubecker, Executive Director, and Col Robert Donaghue, President, handing over a check for $4,500.00. LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS In The Senate S. 277 - The Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act. Introduced in the Senate by Senator Richard Burr, this bill is designed to provide help for families experiencing adverse health effects from water contaminated with TCE at Camp Lejeune. The bill currently sits on the legislative calendar. There are nine co-sponsors - Sen Richard Blumenthal, [CT]; Sen Lindsey Graham, [SC]; Sen Chuck Grassley, [IA]; Sen Kay Hagan, [NC]; Sen Tom Harkin, [IA]; Sen Johnny Isakson, [GA]; Sen Mike Johanns, [NE]; Sen Patrick J. Leahy, [VT]; and Sen Bill Nelson, [FL]. This is bill is related to the story about the EPA report noted above. Again this is a case where the membership of the Marine Corps Reserve Association should come to the aid of our fellow Marines by pushing the issue through the Senate. Your role as a Marine is to write, e-mail, or talk to your Senator(s) to show your deep concern regarding the injustice to the victims of government negligence and denial. If your state has a Senator who is not a co-sponsor of this bill, consider it your duty to encourage him/her to become a co-sponsor of S. 277. Text of Senate Bill 277 H.R. 2433 - Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011. This bill has passed the House and currently sits in the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs. Considering that the unemployment rate among veterans of Afganistan and Iraq is well above the Natonal average, This bill is intended to assist our veterans in the transition to civiliam jobs. Text of House Bill 2433 In The House H.R. 2875 - Wounded Veterans Job Security Act. Introduced by Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas, this bill is intended to amend the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) by extending rights to combat-wounded servicemembers. Under ordinary circumstances USERRA provides adequate job protection for servicemembers returning from Active Duty; however, there is no provision in the current law to protect job rights of wounded veterans who have exausted their vacation and sick days and need additional time off for treatment. It would prevent employers from firing, demoting, or denying any other rights and benefits of employment to a veteran seeking time off for treatment. This bill currently has 27 co-sponsors. They are: Rep Timothy H. Bishop [NY-1], Rep Madeleine Z. Bordallo [GU], Rep John Conyers, Jr. [MI-14] Rep Joe Courtney [CT-2], Rep Henry Cuellar, [TX-28], Rep Peter A. DeFazio, [OR-4], Rep Joe Donnelly, [IN-2], Rep Bob Filner [CA-51], Rep Charles A. Gonzalez [TX-20], Rep Al Green [TX-9], Rep Gene Green [TX-29], Rep Raul M. Grijalva [AZ-7], Rep Michael G. Grimm [NY-13], Rep Ruben Hinojosa [TX-15], Rep Sheila Jackson Lee [TX-18], Rep Eddie Bernice Johnson [TX-30], Rep Larry Kissell [NC-8], Rep Barbara Lee [CA-9], Rep Ben Ray Lujan [NM-3], Rep James P. McGovern [MA-3], Rep Charles B. Rangel [NY-15], Rep Silvestre Reyes [TX-16], Rep Laura Richardson, Laura [CA-37] Rep Bobby L. Rush [IL-1], Rep Fortney Pete Stark [CA-13], Rep Betty Sutton [OH-13], Rep Edolphus Towns [NY-10] Text of House Bill 2875 H.R. 3337. Open Burn Pit Registry Act of 2011. Introduced by Representative Todd Akin of Missouri, this bill aims to widen the understanding of exposure, the possible health consequences and the extent of symptoms reported by servicemembers who were exposed to the use of open burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan. It would require the Veterans Affairs Department to create a registry of servicemembers who have health problems claimed to be a result of exposure to the open air burn pits. Included in the waste burned in the pits were plastic bottles. The fumes of burned plastic are a known cause of illness. Hundreds of veterans exposed to these fumes are experiencing symptoms which include severe headaches, migraines, severe breathing problems, fatigue, abdominal pain, and rheumatoid arthritis. In some severe cases military personnel are now 100% disabled due to these fumes. There are 33 co-sponsors to this bill as follows: Rep Roscoe G.Bartlett [MD-6], Rep Dan Benishek [MI-1], Rep Earl Blumenauer [OR-3], Rep Madeleine Z. Bordallo [GU], Rep Russ Carnahan [MO-3], Rep Andre Carson [IN-7], Rep Kathy Castor [FL-11], Rep Judy Chu [CA-32], Rep Gerald E. "Gerry" Connolly [VA-11], Rep John Conyers, Jr. [MI-14], Rep Joe Courtney [CT-2], Rep Trent Franks [AZ-2], Rep Tim Griffin [AR-2], Rep Raul M. Grijalva [AZ-7], Rep Richard L. Hanna [NY-24], Rep Joseph J. Heck [NV-3], Rep Martin Heinrich [NM-1], Rep Walter B. Jones, Jr. [NC-3], Rep Larry Kissell [NC-8], Rep Tom Latham [IA-4], Rep Frank A. LoBiondo [NJ-2], Rep Billy Long [MO-7], Rep Ben Ray Lujan [NM-3], Rep Jim McDermott [WA-7], Rep Michael H. Michaud [ME-2], Rep Tim Murphy [PA-18], Rep Richard Nugent [FL-5], Rep William L. Owens [NY-23], Rep Stevan Pearce [NM-2], Rep David P. Roe [TN-1], Rep Adam B. Schiff [CA-29], Rep Adam Smith [WA-9], Rep Robert J. Wittman [VA-1]. Text of House Bill 3337 Note: the related bill in the Senate is S. 1798. H.R. 3662. Down Payment to Protect National Security Act of 2011. Introduced by Representative Rep Howard P. "Buck" McKeon of California, this bill is intended to offset some of the effects of the sequestration specified in the Budget Control Act as a result of the failure of the "super committee" to reach agreement on budget cuts. (See the article above regarding the effects of sequestration on National Defense). Among the provisions of the bill, a reduction of up to ten percent of federal employees would be required, to wit: "REPLACEMENT HIRE RATE.— "(1) IN GENERAL.—During the period described [in the bill], the head of each agency may hire no more than 1 employee in that agency for every 3 employees who leave employment in that agency. "(2) PERIOD OF REPLACEMENT HIRE RATE.— Paragraph (1) shall apply to each agency during the period beginning 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act through the date on which the Director of the Office of Management and Budget makes a determination that the number of full-time employees employed in that agency is 10 percent less than the number of full-time employees employed in that agency determined [as previously defined]." In view of the significant impact this bill would have on all agencies in the government, the bill has been sent to all affected House committees for review, including the Committee on the Budget, for a period to be determined by the Speaker of the House. At this time there are 25 co-sponsors as follows: Rep W. Todd Akin [MO-2], Rep Marsha Blackburn [TN-7], Rep Mo Brooks [AL-5], Rep Conaway, K. Michael [TX-11] Rep Fleming, John [LA-4] Rep Franks, Trent [AZ-2] Rep Vicky Hartzler [MO-4], Rep Duncan D. Hunter [CA-52], Rep John Kline [MN-2], Rep Doug Lamborn [CO-5], Rep Frank A. LoBiondo [NJ-2], Rep Jeff Miller [FL-1], Rep Steven M. Palazzo [MS-4], Rep Todd Russell Platts, [PA-19], Rep E. Scott Rigell [VA-2], Rep Mike D. Rogers [AL-3], Rep Thomas J. Rooney [FL-16], Rep Jon Runyan [NJ-3], Rep Austin Scott [GA-8], Rep Bill Shuster [PA-9], Rep Mac Thornberry [TX-13], Rep Michael R. Turner [OH-3], Rep Allen B. West [FL-22], Rep Joe Wilson [SC-2], Rep C.W. Bill Young [FL-10]. Considering the drastic effect that sequestration will have on our National Defense, members are strongly urged to contact their representatives to co-sponsor H.R. 3662 if they are not already a co-sponsor. Text of House Bill 3662 Green Bay Celebrates Veterans Day A picture can be worth a thousand words. MCRA Life Membership Trust News CURRENT STATUS: As of 31 December 2011 the Trust assets have increased to a total of $12,264.81. Balance as of 30 September 2011                      $9,085.95 Payment of 2nd quarter earnings to MCRA                 ( 2.25) Donation by Merlin Wallenfang                           150.00 Donation by Colonel Mike Mitchell                       200.00 Donation by LtCol James Craige                          100.00 Donation by Captain D H Rosenthal                        25.00 Donation by Colonel Robert A Henderson                   50.00 Donation by Colonel James R Wells, Esq                   50.00 Donation by Colonel Edward L Collymore                   50.00 Donation by Colonel Rex M Williams                      250.00 Donation by LtCol Charles Allen                         200.00 Donation by Colonel David Leighton                      100.00 Donation by Colonel Robert Donaghue                     100.00 Donation by LtCol Niel Frumpkin                          50.00 Donation by Colonel Robert Rathert                      100.00 Donation by Major Charles Bickley                        50.00 Donation by Colonel Donald Wright                       100.00 Donation by LtCol John P DeHart                         300.00 Donation by MajGen Albert C Harvey                      250.00 Donation by Colonel Harley Skidmore                     500.00 Donation by LtCol Robert Hansel                         100.00 Donation by Major James Pelkey                           25.00 Donation by MajGen John Salesses                        100.00 Donation by LtCol Robert Brockish                       100.00 Donation by MajGen John Cronin                          100.00 Unrealized Capital Gain                                 331.91 Interest earned in October                                0.13 Interest earned in November                             117.95 Interest earned in December                               0.01 Payment of 3rd and 4th quarter earnings to MCRA       ( 118.89) Balance as of 31 December 2011                      $12,264.81 Thanks to the generosity of the founding donors, the first year of the MCRA Life Membership Trust has shown significant growth. Even before the most recent series of donations, the Trust had a 2012 projected income for the benefit of the Association of $424.76. The additional donations recently received combined with dues of several new life members will allow the Trust to make additional investments resulting in increased annual income for the benefit of the Association. Life members are encouraged to become supporting donors to the Trust in order to ensure the financial future of the Association. Please make checks payable to "MCRA Life Membership Trust" and send to: MCRA Life Membership Trust c/o LtCol Thomas M. Howlett, Trustee 1370 Fox River Drive De Pere, WI 54115-2403 Click here to read trust agreement LPM MEMBER FEEDBACK Re: The MCRA Life Membership Trust Glad that you found me. Thanks for all you are doing for the MCRA Life Membership Trust. Wish I could do more, but seven of the ten grandchildren are in college or grad school. Semper Fi - J J Salesses, MajGen(Ret) -------------- I'm happy to be able to support the trust with this contribution. I became a life member in 1988. - Robert F Brockish -------------- The following was received at our hqs e-mail address in response to the News Flash regarding the EPA Report on the water contamination at Camp Lejeune sent by e-mail: Sent to my Representative Dave Reichert, 8th District Washington state. Jim -------------- Gentleman, thank you for this note. I have received and completed two surveys on this issue from the Corps since I happened to serve at Lejeune in 76-77 and 90-91. How is the Association doing? As you know MajGen Drew Davis USMCR is now the new ExecDir of ROA in Washington D.C. I am hopeful that the MCRA board will be attending the ROA national conference in D.C. on Jan 28-31. Please insure I am a fully paid member of MCRA. Thanks and Semper Fi. BH -------------- I want to add my own experience with this problem. Our first child was stillborn while I was stationed at Camp Lejeune, living in Tarawa Terrace. (59). Cause: ancephalus (no brain formation); Our third child was born (61) eight months after my release from active duty, with a related defect: hydrocephalus (enlarging head, unable to smile, speak, walk, paralysis from waist down) and died at the age of five. Both these birth defects have been linked to this chemical, and birth defects also spiked. The birth defect story is similar to the cancer story -- a few people being persistent over a long period of time trying to bring the water contamination problem to light. Only in the last few years have parents been able to understand the "why." I was in seminary at Emory when our third child was born, needed 24/7 care, suffered from bladder infections and other defect-related issues. It was a theological issue for me then. I remember writing a paper for one of my classes on "God's Relationship to Innocent Suffering." It made no sense to me that God had any causal role. God did have a tremendous helping role -- an experience of the lifting the burden of the situation from us, providing a measure of inner peace and love, and daily strength for coping. The discovery of the contamination problem (as recent as 07 or so) was a shock; and the scope of the generational impact is horrific. The not noticing or not investigating the spiking of serious medical issues for so many years is unconscionable. Whatever can be done should be done, even at this late date. Thanks to the Marine Corps Reserve Association and all who write or call elected representatives. Charlie Gipson I would be interested to know of others in our class impacted by this situation. -------------- Please see Dale’s message below. We all need to act! Semper Fi, Ed Many suspicious family illnesses and deaths in our Basic Classes. Entire Dale Hollabaugh family has been affected - it's a disgrace beyond all measure. Bottom line, the water at Camp Lejeune, NC was "poisoned" from about 1957-1987 and I was assigned there 1958-1960. Our daughter Linda was in utero at the time and her current doctors think (documented) that her five cancers were initiated by the water - 10 major operations and another in Jan 12. Son Bret's Crohns and Nada's and some of my problems too. ... It is estimated that from 500,000 to 1M Marines, dependents, contractors, civil servants, even visitors were affected. Just Google it and you'll get more than you care to! Also, go to: TFTPTF.com It is requested that this notice be sent to all our USNA Marine and TBS 4-57 and 5-57 classmates (and/or their families) so that they can "write-in, e-mail, or talk to your (their) Representative in Congress" to attempt to redress these horrible grievances. Thanks. Dale -------------- "Routes of exposure" included drinking, washing, cooking, or bathing in the water. -------------- MEMBERS -- Give us your feedback by filling in the following boxes: Rank:     First Name:     Middle Initial:    Last Name: