MARINE CORPS LEAGUE LAKE COUNTY DETACHMENT 801

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January 2016, Volume 39

the Jarhead journal Mel Ellingsen, Commandant (Commandant@lakecountymarines.com)

www.lakecountymarines.com

Good to see Jim Boyle in attendance again!

Marine Tom Mann practicing his dance moves?

Marine Eddie Krawczyk smiling for the camera!

Our Eagle Scout Team was recognized by the North East Illinois Council, BSA.

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE LAKE COUNTY DETACHMENT 801

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The Jarhead Journal

Published monthly

Editor: Erich Richey editor@lakecountymarines.com 847-644-5695 Artistic Director: Stephanie Richey

www.lakecountymarines.com

Detachment Officers Commandant: Mel Ellingsen Senior Vice-Commandant: Richard Butler Junior Vice-Commandant: Jerry Pedrin Judge Advocate: Peter Karlovics Paymaster: Ed Mampe Adjutant: Gary Braun Sgt. at Arms: Art Castillo Asst. Sgt. at Arms: Steve Kelly Chaplain: Hank Landrau Quartermaster: Toy Keeton Asst. Quartermaster: (open) Historian: (open) Web Sgt.: Erich Richey

The Editor’s Area by Erich S.L. Richey

Happy February everyone! Have we broken winter’s back yet? I’m afraid, probably not but we’re getting closer to spring every day!

Don’t forget to Like us here on Facebook!

I welcome all suggestions for articles, content, photos, lies and rumors! Send your ideas via email to: editor@lakecountymarines.com In the subject of your email, please put the word Jarhead.

Where Stuff Is

1. Cover page, recent highlights

2. Officers, this list

3. Commandants’ Corner

4. Chaplain’s Chat

5. Sr. Vice Commandant’s Corner

6. Birthdays and Membership

7. Statistics and Humor

8. VA Hospital Visits

9. Color Guard

10. Eagle Court of Honor Report

11. Boat Load of Booze Raffle

12. Raffle Update

13. Foundation Board and Committee members

14. Links to Military Information

Who is this Mystery Marine of 801?

O u r M y s t e r y Marine last month w a s S g t M a j Ronald Green, t h e c u r r e n t SgtMaj o f the Marine Corps.

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE LAKE COUNTY DETACHMENT 801

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[Commandant’s Corner] Mel Ellingsen

Greetings Detachment Members!!!

Sorry about this Jarhead Journal being a bit late. Five of your detachment’s staff just returned from a joint quarterly meeting of all the detachments in 1st and 2nd Districts. There were forty leaguers sharing info and ideas during this three hour meeting. Thanks to 2nd District Commandant Marty Snappy Smith for getting us together. So here’s the scoop from the meeting.

1) Everyone is looking for new members and ways to keep current members. 2) 2nd District (that’s us) is doing a great job with the Eagle Scout program. 3) Some detachments are working with nearby VA hospitals and homes. Some visit once a year and some once a week. Lake County is at James Lovell twice a month. 4) 2016 is the 100th anniversary of the Marine Reserves. Col. Ames (former CO of MACG 48, he’s a McHenry Detachment member) is heading up a program for a big party at Navy Pier in conjunction with the 2016 Air and Water Show. They already have the top restaurant area reserved at the end of the Pier. Mark 20 AUG, 1000 to 1500 on your calendars. 5) Let’s think about marching in the Chicago Memorial Day Parade on Saturday, 28 MAY. Maybe we can get a bus to take us down there to march with the Chicago Marines Detachment. 6) There will be a motorcycle run on 30 JUL. We’ll get more details from Marty Smith. 7) Our detachment needs to nominate one or more members for the Four Chaplains Honor. As I lean more about this, I’ll share with the detachment. 8) And yes, Al Seyler presented our raffle, Boat Load of Booze. I think we sold almost twenty tickets.

This Saturday, 13 FEB at 0900, Gold Star brother Dylan Morris (our own Kirk Morris’ son) will be presented his Eagle Scout Award. Please join us (red shirts and red covers) at GURNEE COMMUNITY CHURCH 4555 Old Grand Ave, Gurnee.

Our list of expired memberships (go to page 6) is getting smaller and smaller thanks to the phone calls being made by our Jr. Vice, Jerry Pedrin. If your name is on that list or the about to expire list on page 5, please send in your $35 to us at P.O. Box 7732, Gurnee, IL 60031.

Our next meeting is on 15 FEB at Primo’s. Join us for refreshments around 1830.

Semper Fi,

Mel Ellingsen (847) 274-8144

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE LAKE COUNTY DETACHMENT 801

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To All Members of “The Best Damned Detachment in The Nation!”

I have several dates for you to circle in your calendars………………..

Saturday, February 20th will be the Toys for Tots Appreciation Party for those members who helped with that campaign. It will be held at Onan’s TIKI Club, located at 3500 Sunset Ave in Waukegan (west of Green Bay Road) beginning at 1700 hrs. We will be serving pizza and assorted adult beverages. This is the same location at which we celebrated the Marine Corps 240th Birthday. (Thanks to J.Sroka for setting this up.)

Four of the nine spring fund raising dates/locations have been “nailed down”…Sunday, May 1st at Highland Park Jewel/Osco;Saturday, June 4th at Round Lake Beach Jewel/Osco;Saturday, June 18th at Grayslake Jewel/Osco; andSaturday, June 25th at Fox Lake Jewel/Osco.

I expect the remaining five locations to be finalized in the next month.

Also, three of the nine dates/locations for next fall’s Toys for Tots campaign have been scheduled …

Saturday, October 22nd at Round Lake Beach Jewel/Osco;Saturday, October 29th at Fox Lake Jewel/Osco; andSaturday, November 26th at Grayslake Jewel/Osco.

BOATLOAD OF BOOZE RAFFLE!!

Acceptance of tickets within the “community” has been phenomenal! Once approached and explained, very few refuse to buy at least one ticket. If every active member in our Detachment sold only 24 tickets (two books), we would easily meet our goal of one thousand tickets sold.

I don’t consider myself a “salesman,” but am already into my second book. It really is not that difficult to sell once the explanation is given that 100% of all proceeds will go to assist Veterans, and, also tell them that I expect to be invited to the “Yard Party” to help celebrate their winning ticket number once it is drawn. Am also keeping a record of all ticket numbers to determine which of the winning tickets I sold.

Good Luck to all of you! Hope you each sell a couple of dozen tickets.Semper FidelisSmedley

[Sr. vice Commandant’s Corner] Richard Butler

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE LAKE COUNTY DETACHMENT 801

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Now that the New Year is underway, its time to get to work, time to get on with our Father’s business!

What is that business, you may ask? Simply put, to carry out HIS will.

In order to know HIS will, we must go to HIM in prayer, open our hearts, our minds, be still, and “listen!”

Prayer is the conduit that brings us to our Lord. Through prayer we can “talk” to HIM and HE listens. HE knows what we need, and what’s good for us. HE knows our heart, HE knows if we are sincere!

So what should we pray for? Pray for a world without strife, without war. Pray for our country and its leaders. Pray for understanding and tolerance. Pray for health and peace of mind. Pray for our families, friends and enemies.

Pray that our efforts, and those of our Marine Corps League, meet with success. Pray that as we deliberate the business of our League we do so with devotion and sincerity. Pray for the forgiveness of our sins.

Pour out your heart and soul, as our LORD poured out HIS blood for the forgiveness of our sins.

PRAYER IS THIS ANSWER TO ALL!

If you, your loved ones, and or friends are in need of prayer, please don’t hesitate to contact me. My contact information is as follows:

Hank LandrauCell number (voice and text): 847-652-7764Email: landrauhank@gmail.com

God bless and Semper Fi

[Chaplains chat]

Hank Landrau

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE LAKE COUNTY DETACHMENT 801

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Upcoming Birthdays Expired Memberships

Age Group Life Membership

0-35 $500

36-50 $400

51-64 $300

64-over $200

Life Membership Rates

Braun Gary 24-Feb

Bremner William 20-Mar

Castillo Arthur 13-Feb

Davidson Oliver 11-Mar

DeGroot Raymond 14-Feb

Grinton Robert 2-Mar

Hook George 7-Feb

Idleburg John 12-Mar

Koncan Thomas 7-Mar

Lepisto Earl 1-Mar

Lietzow Scott 21-Mar

McCabe Timothy 13-Mar

Moffitt Russ 2-Mar

Mrozinski Ed 31-Mar

Pudlo Joseph 6-Mar

Repp Robert 19-Mar

Richey Erich 12-Mar

Sroka James 26-Mar

Staben Lori 3-Feb

White Jack 12-Feb

Bastean Scott Dec-15

Bowley John Jun-15

Calef Marshall May-15

George Chad Jan-15

Jaeger Jeffery Jun-15

Lietzow Scott Jul-15

Major Charles Jun-15

Rahn Nick May-15

Rahn Steve May-15

Sorrentino Ross May-15

Thommes Mark Oct-15

Vaughn Steve Nov-15

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE LAKE COUNTY DETACHMENT 801

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Upcoming Expirations Membership Statistics

Humor

The National Science Foundation announced the following study results on U.S. military recreation preferences:

Sport of choice for Marines: bowling. Sport of choice for Sailors: football. Sport of choice for Soldiers: baseball. Sport of choice for Coast Guardsmen: tennis. Sport of choice for Airmen: golf.

Notice how the farther down the list you go, the smaller their balls get.

Bartz Charles Mar-16

Geske Tom Mar-16

Gretz William Feb-16

McCabe Tina Mar-16

Rankin Scott Feb-16

Repp Robert Feb-16

Sindermann Eric Mar-16

Sinsun Frank Mar-16

Villarreal Stanley Feb-16

Wagner Euriel Mar-16

Welch Thomas Apr-16

Regular 76Reg-Dual 1Regular Marines 2Life 66Associate 8Associate-Life 1Assoc. Life Dual 2Associate-Honor 1Youth Active 1Total 158

Regular 79Life 66Associate 13Total 158

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE LAKE COUNTY DETACHMENT 801

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VA Hospital Visits

Hospital Visits: The Hospital Visitation team visited the Lovell Health Center on Thursday, January 14 and January 28.

We visited wards in Bldgs 133 and 134, as well as two of the Greenhouses.

This month we received donations of 14 books from Al (Kathi) Seyler, 144 travel size Crest toothpaste and 144 Oral B toothbrushes from Dr Mackey, delivered by Jim Sroka. In addition we received three, 2-cup gift sets from the ship's store.

They're back! Troop 40075 has prepared valentines for each of the patients which will be delivered at our visit on Thursday February 11.

Our next visits are scheduled for Feb. 11 and 25.

Bob Hames

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE LAKE COUNTY DETACHMENT 801

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The  Color Guard continues to train on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. On January 23rd, the Guard  presented colors at a hockey game in Niles.

One of the teams consisted of young men missing either legs or arms and would play on sleds against teams with no handicap, but they had to be on sleds also, needless to say the handicap team won each game.

Thanks to Al Seyler, Smedly Butler, Tom Mann, Ed Mampe,and Geidy Chia for participating in that event.                               

Semper Fi-John Pickelman-- Color Guard Commander       

Color Guard

Lake County Detachment 801 presenting Colors at the Skokie ice arena for the NightHawks vs Hornets.

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE LAKE COUNTY DETACHMENT 801

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Eagle Scouts

Eagle Scout Presentations

During January we made seven Eagle Scout presentations. Please let me know if you are interested in serving on this committee. _Mel Ellingsen

Scheduled for February and March

2/13 Dylan M. Morris, Troop 677, 9:00 AM, Gurnee Comm. Church, 4555 Old Grand Ave., Gurnee, (Ellingsen, Stack and Barclay)

2/21 Zachery Isaac Frye and Noah Jeffery Frye, Troop 190, 1:30 PM, VFW Antioch, 75 North Ave., Antioch. (Butler - Art Boyle)

2/27 Evan Michael Simonds, Kyle Michael Pietrusiewicz and Carl David Schoenfield, Troop 198, 1:00 PM, St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 10 S. Lake St. (Rt. 45), Mundelein (Landrau, Pedrin, Seyler)

3/6 Kevin William Karahalios, Troop 60, 2:30 PM, Adler Park Lodge (behind the pool) 1500 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville

boatload of booze raffle

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boatload of booze raffle

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Ticket sales have Started !!!

At the last Meeting, January 18th, we made the Raffle tickets available along with a new Flyer (see attached). The new Flyer shows the real boat, donated by Bass Pro, filled with Booze. It also names some of the many brands that are in the boat. A description of the boat is included. Fourth and Fifth place prizes have been added. The Prize List is as follows:

1ST Place--- Boat Load of Booze—50+bottles and the boat 2nd Place--- 25+ bottles of Booze 3rd Place--- Case of Wine 4th Place--- Case of Wine 5th Place--- Case of Wine

Success Stories

Joe Auth called me and needed more tickets. Members of his Church think it’s a great idea. I want to join his Church!

Tom Mann called and needed more. The Firehouse bought all of his. Tom is tearing up Highwood and the surrounding area. He also picked up 8 bottles so far!

I have sold 60 tickets, $540.00 so far. What seems to be working is this: Tell them Who we are--Marine Corps League of Lake County. What we will do with the money--100% to Veterans, their Widows and kids in Lake County.

Show them the Flyer—Explain how wonderful people have donated the booze, the boat and the printing. Zero costs means it all goes to the Vets in Lake County.

Collect the money !!!!

Donations

We are still in need of more booze. Ask your local Liquor store, Bar, or Restaurant to help us. They will.

Semper Fi Al Seyler 847-220-1525

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE LAKE COUNTY DETACHMENT 801

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Detachment Marine Corps League Foundation Officers

President- Al Seyler Treasurer- Mel Ellingsen Secretary- (open)

Directors Bob Hames, Randy Christopher, Ed Mampe, Dave Bowman, Warren Blacklock and Jim Boyle

Purpose of the Foundation as a 501 3 (c) tax exempt organization is to provide comfort, support, financial assistance and educational aid to improve the quality of life for military personnel in all branches of the United States Armed Forces and veterans who have served and their families.

We donated $1,000 to the Veterans Closet on Greenbay Road in North Chicago. They are doing an excellent job of collecting clothes, shoes, coats and household items that they in turn provide to needy Veterans at no cost. They have given over 100 suits to assist Vets in going on job interviews. Our donation of cash helps pay the rent and utilities.

We received an Anonymous donation of $1,000.00. Thank you very much Mr. or Mrs. Anonymous. You are

very generous and we all greatly appreciate your kindness.

We are continuing to seek grants from large Corporations in Lake County.

Links to Military RELATED information

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US Department of Veterans Affairs

VFW Action Corps Weekly

Veterans Administration Home Page

Honor Flight

Veterans R & R

Marine Corps League Hdqrs

Illinois Marine

Sgt Grit