W. H. Nichols Detachment #940
Folsom, California

Welcome New Members for
January 2012

Miguel Garibay - Regular Member

Richard Caron - Associate Member

New Life Members

Jon Garman - Life Members

Gregory McNeill - Life Members

236th Annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball

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This photo was taken at the U.S.A.F. Air Show held at Mather Field, 10, 11, Sept. 2011. Pictured standing are left to right,
Wayne Bellows, Det #940, George Blount, Lisa Medina, California Marine Families Chairperson. Det # 023, Jim Butler, Commandant Det. # 1238 and Bruce Kaspari, Det # 1238. Seated front and center is Richard Fulwider, Det # 023.
Mrs. Medina's son was on site too. He reports to MCRD boot camp shortly. Bruce bought him a cap with a U.S.M.C. logo.

Elk Grove Detachment #1238 had asked for volunteers to staff their merchandise booth during the two day event. Marines from the three Detachments worked 3 hour shifts selling Tees, Caps, and misc merchandise.

Memorial Day Color Guard Ceremony

Ride to Recovery Texas Challenge
Making a Difference in the Lives of Injured Veterans

Ride 2 Recovery- Texas Challenge from Ride 2 Recovery on Vimeo.

Creekside Oaks Retirement Center Flag Day Ceremony 2010
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These are some pictures taken at a celebration for the 61st Birthday of the Korean Marine Corps. Five members from various leagues were invited to the event. Jim Murphy and Jay Wiley from our Detachment. Click here to view more photos.

A Marine Icon!

When he enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1917, he was just Serial No.135517. From that modest beginning, the young man rose through the ranks to later become Lieutenant General Puller. But in the annals of military valor, he is known as "Chesty" Puller, not only for his bull chest but also for his absolute fearlessness and devotion to duty. "Chesty" Puller came to the Marine Corps out of Virginia Military Institute, the college where General Stonewall Jackson taught before the Civil War. The school itself had a history of wartime valor. VMI cadets fought as a unit in Jackson's Army, the only time in American history when a student body was committed to a pitched battle. Cadet Puller may have been inspired by their heroism. Or perhaps it was the example of a cadet four years ahead of Puller - Lemuel C. Shepherd. In either case, with World War I raging in Europe, Puller left VMI at the end of his freshman year to enlist in the Marines, saying simply, "I want to go where the guns are!"

He didn't see service in Europe: the war was over before he could ship overseas. But he saw plenty of action before and during World War II and during the Korean War. Slowly and steadily, he worked his way up the ranks. He received a direct commission. And he began collecting awards for valor.

By the time he retired from the Corps in 1951 he had earned more awards than any Marine in history: five Navy Crosses, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, two Legions of Merit with "V" device, the Bronze Star with "V" device, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

"Chesty" Puller became more than a hero: he was an American Legend. His gruff, give 'em hell attitude was admired throughout the Marine Corps. His bravery and his nickname, were known to the millions of Americans on the home front. He was a man's man. He was a Marine's Marine!