Marine Corps League

Last updated
Marine Corps League
EstablishedNovember 10, 1922;100 years ago (1922-11-10)
Founders
Founded at New York City
Type 501(c)(4)U.S. Marines Corps veterans organization
23-1598250
Legal status 36 U.S.C. 1401U.S. chartered corporation
Headquarters Stafford, Virginia
Coordinates 39°46′37″N86°09′22″W / 39.776996°N 86.156201°W / 39.776996; -86.156201
Region served
Worldwide
Membership (2019)
c. 63,250
Warren Griffin
TJ Morgan
Russ Miller
David Porter
National Division Vice Commandants
Key people
Chief Operating Officer
  • Robert J. Borka
Main organ
National Convention
Subsidiaries
Website mclnational.org
Formerly called
Marine Corps Veterans Association (MCVA)

The Marine Corps League is the only congressionally chartered United States Marine Corps-related veterans organization in the United States. Its congressional charter was approved by the 75th U.S. Congress and signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on August 4, 1937. The organization credits Major General John A. Lejeune, the 13th Marine Corps commandant, as one of its founding members.

Contents

The League holds a congressional charter under Title 36 of the United States Code.

Mission statement

The mission of the Marine Corps League is to promote the interest and to preserve traditions of the United States Marine Corps; strengthen the fraternity of Marines and their families; serve Marines, FMF Corpsmen, and FMF Chaplains who wear or who have worn the Eagle, Globe and Anchor; and foster the ideals of Americanism and patriotic volunteerism. [1]

History

The Marine Corps League perpetuates the traditions and spirit of all Marines, Navy FMF corpsmen and Navy FMF chaplains who wear or have worn the Eagle, Globe and Anchor of the Marine Corps. The League is the only federally chartered Marine Corps-related veterans organization in the country. Since its earliest days, the League has enjoyed the support and encouragement of the active duty and reserve establishments of the Marine Corps. The League boasts a membership of more than 60,000 men and women, officer and enlisted, active duty, reserve Marines, honorably discharged Marine veterans, qualified Navy FMF corpsmen and qualified Navy FMF chaplains. It is one of the few veterans organizations that experiences annual membership increases. [2]

Marine Corps Veterans Conference of 1922 (November 10, 1922)

In 1922, retired Major Sidney W. Brewster had a vision in which appeared thousands of Marines marching in a parade. Until February 1923, his vision was an obsession until others with whom Brewster talked became impressed. From 1919-23, veteran organizations sprang up in all parts of the country. Clubs, associations and groups for Marine veterans were formed in keeping with the prevalent feeling of esprit de corps and good fellowship. They had served and fought together and now they met to recount the days of 1917-19 spent in Parris Island, Quantico, France and Germany.

A gathering convened on November 10, 1922 at the Hotel McAlpin in New York City to discuss establishing relationships with other Marine Corps veteran organizations. Among attendees were retired First Lt. Paul Howard, retired First Lt. James Duffy, Second Lt. Frank D'Ipoli, Albert Lages, Milton Solomon, Roy Hagan, Frank Lambert, Miss Ray Sawyer, Mrs. Mae Garner, Webster de S. Smith, Merle McAlister and Rev. J. H. Clifford. After lengthy discussion, Brewster's vision materialized and he was elected temporary chairman. Sawyer was elected temporary secretary and Raymond Wills was elected temporary treasurer.

A committee was appointed to plan a national organization and the name "Marine Corps Veterans Association" was adopted. The titles of officers were then changed to Commandant, Adjutant, Paymaster, etc.

Brewster was elected as commandant by acclamation, holding that position until the election of Major General John A. Lejeune at the second annual convention. Sawyer worked almost day and night during those early days to obtain a place for the new organization. [3]

The Marine Corps Veterans Association began to organize posts across the country. The first New York post unanimously elected Colonel George C. Reid as post commandant on December 11, 1922. [4] Detachments began to organize in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Cleveland, Chicago, Indianapolis, Houston and Pittsburgh.

The New York post and the McLemore detachment [5] are the only remaining units of the Marine Corps Veterans Association that predate the Marine Corps League.

The following list of units is arranged in order of first publication appearance in the Leatherneck Magazine (no organization or charter dates mentioned):

MARINE CORPS VETERANS ASSOCIATION DETACHMENTS
No.Post/Detachment nameCityStateOrganization dateCharter dateStatusLeatherneck Magazine issue
1New York (Post) DetachmentNew York CityNew YorkUnknownUnknownActiveDecember 1922
2Anthony-Fagan DetachmentAlbanyNew YorkUnknownUnknownDeactivatedFebruary 1923
3Elias Jay Messinger DetachmentTacomaWashingtonUnknownUnknownDeactivatedApril 1923
4McLemore DetachmentHoustonTexasUnknownUnknownActiveMay 1923

All-Marine Caucus of 1923 (June 3–6, 1923)

The Marine Corps League was organized at the All-Marine caucus held at the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City from June 3–6, 1923. It was the offspring of the Marine Corps Veterans Association headed by Brewster, who presided at the caucus.

Marine Corps veterans from many states attended. LeJeune, Commandant of the Marine Corps at the time, was unable to be present, but was kept informed of the proceedings by telephone. Brigadier General James G. Harbord, U.S. Army, who commanded the Second Division, American Expeditionary Force (A.E.F.), which included the Fifth Marine Regiment and Sixth Marine Regiment, addressed the closing session and was made an honorary member. At the end of the caucus, the Marine Corps Veterans Association would change its name after a bitter battle on the floor to the "Marine Corps League."

Lejeune was unanimously elected to the position of national commandant and Brewster became the first past national commandant. An amendment to the constitution was also passed at this convention: "All Past National Commandants shall be members of the Staff for life, with vote, and shall also be life delegates to the National Assembly with vote." [6]

Progression of the Marine Corps League

Marine Corps League in Staten Island Memorial Day Parade, 2021 Marine Corps League on Mem Day 2021 SI jeh.jpg
Marine Corps League in Staten Island Memorial Day Parade, 2021

The New York detachment would be the first chartered at the "All Marine Caucus" under the national organization's new name as New York Detachment No. 1, thus making it the League's oldest continuous detachment. Colonel George C. Reid continued as the detachment commandant. After the conclusion of the caucus, other detachments began to organize. Buffalo, New York was the second and Newark, New Jersey the third. Other detachments quickly followed in the east and midwest. By 1928, detachments reached to the west coast. The second national convention was held in Washington, DC, the third in Philadelphia, the fourth in Cleveland and the fifth in Erie, Pennsylvania. LeJeune remained as national commandant until 1929, when Maj. Gen. Wendell C. Neville succeeded him as Marine Corps Commandant. LeJeune then appointed Neville as the National Commandant of the Marine Corps League for the duration of his term until the next national convention in St. Louis, MO in 1930. At the St. Louis convention, W. Karl Lations of Worcester, Massachusetts was elected the first civilian commandant of the League.

The League prospered and expanded under the leadership of Lations, who was national commandant until 1931, when the ninth national convention in Buffalo, New York elected Carlton A. Fisher of the Niagara-Frontier detachment to succeed Lations.

The Great Depression handicapped the League and other veteran and fraternal groups. In 1932, a movement was started in Washington under the guise of economy to abolish the Marine Corps. This was frustrated when New York Detachment No. 1 began a newspaper campaign of protest, followed by contact with every senator and congressman in the United States Congress by letter and personal visits, which ended the movement.

John F. Manning of Methuen, Massachusetts succeeded Fisher as national commandant at the convention in Denver, Colorado in 1934. Manning was succeeded by Maurice A. Illch of Albany, New York at the national convention in Boston, Massachusetts in 1936. During his administration, the "Corrigan Will" contest was settled, which enriched the national treasury by $10,000. On August 4, 1937, the League was chartered by Congress.

Florence E. O'Leary of Cincinnati, Ohio succeeded Illch as national commandant at the national convention in Washington, DC in 1938. He was succeeded by Chris J. Cunningham of Albany, New York at the national convention in Detroit in 1940. During Cunningham's tenure, League membership more than doubled, the number of detachments increased to more than 160 and the first monthly national bulletin was launched. Cunningham was succeeded by Judge Alexander F. Ormsby of Jersey City, New Jersey at the national convention in Chicago. Cunningham was succeeded by Thomas E. Wood at the national convention held in the New Yorker Hotel in September 1943. [7]

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE DETACHMENTS
No.Detachment NameCityStateOrganization DateCharter DateStatus
1New York Detachment No. 1New York CityNew YorkJune 3, 1923June 6, 1923Active
2Buffalo Detachment No. 2BuffaloNew YorkUnknownUnknownDeactivated
3Newark Detachment No. 3NewarkNew JerseyUnknownUnknownDeactivated

Programs

The Marine Corps League supports various programs to promote and honor the spirit and traditions of the Marines:

Injured Marines

Youth programs

Veterans benefits

Miscellaneous

Publication

Initially, the official bulletin of the League was the Leatherneck magazine, which carried League news in every issue [8] and had a circulation of over 5,200. Through the magazine and the recruiting services of the Marine Corps, information about the League's activities was disseminated with the hope of building the Marine Corps Reserve to an appreciable size.

Eventually, the League would produce its own official publication, Semper Fi magazine, but the League is allowed to contribute articles to Leatherneck magazine. Semper Fi magazine is published on a quarterly basis.

Organization

The Marine Corps League is headed by an elected National Commandant, with 14 elected national staff officers who serve as trustees. The National Board of Trustees coordinates the efforts of 48 department, or state, entities and the activities of over 1,000 community-based detachments located throughout the United States and overseas. The day-to-day operations of the League are under the control of the National Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, with the responsibility for the management and direction of all programs, activities and affairs as well the supervision of the national headquarters staff.

National

The prime authority of the League is derived from its congressional charter and from its annual national convention held each August in a different major U.S. city. It is a not-for-profit organization within the provisions of the Internal Revenue Service Code 501(c) (4). A special group exemption letter allows contributions to the Marine Corps League, its auxiliary and subsidiary units to be tax deductible by the donor.

Divisions

For more effective administration, the United States is divided into geographical units called divisions whose function is solely administrative. The duties and authority of the national vice commandants of divisions are covered in the national bylaws. [9] The divisions of the Marine Corps League are:

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE DIVISIONS
CentralMideastMidwestNew EnglandNortheastNorthwestRocky MountainSoutheastSouthernSouthwest

Departments

A State in which there are three or more Detachments with a combined membership of sixty (60) or more members may be chartered as a Department by the National Board of Trustees upon receiving a written request from such Detachments via the jurisdictional National Division Vice Commandant. [10]

Area

The function of an Area is administrative only and is formed at the discretion of the Department. The Area Vice Commandant will be responsible for the Area.

Detachments

The Detachment is the basic unit of the League and usually represents a small geographic area such as a single town or part of a county. There are over 1000 community-based Detachments located throughout the United States and overseas, supporting veterans and their families while being active and involved in the local community. The Detachment is used for formal business such as meetings and a coordination point for community service projects. A Detachment member is distinguished by a Red garrison cap with gold piping.

Notable members

List of Past National Commandants and Convention Sites

MARINE CORPS VETERANS ASSOCIATION
NATIONAL COMMANDANT AND CONFERENCE SITE
No.DateSiteCommandant
1November 10, 1922New York, NY*Sidney W. Brewster
MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
NATIONAL COMMANDANTS AND CONVENTION SITES [11]
No.YearSiteCommandant
11923New York, NY*John A. Lejeune
21924Washington, DC*John A. Lejeune
31925Philadelphia, PA*John A. Lejeune
41926Cleveland, OH*John A. Lejeune
51927Erie, PA*John A. Lejeune
61928Dallas, TX*John A. Lejeune
71929Cincinnati, OH*John A. Lejeune
*Wendell C. Neville
81930St Louis, MO*W. Karl Lations
91931Buffalo, NY*W. Karl Lations
1932NO CONVENTION*Carlton A. Fisher
101933Chicago, IL*Carlton A. Fisher
111934Denver, CO*Carlton A. Fisher
121935Newark, NJ*John F. Manning
131936Boston, MA*John F. Manning
141937Akron, OH*Maurice A. Illich
151938Washington, DC*Maurice A. Illich
161939Boston, MA*Florence O'Leary
171940Detroit, MI*Florence O'Leary
181941Indianapolis, IN*Chris Cunningham
191942Chicago, IL*Chris Cunningham
201943New York, NY*Alexander Ormsby
211944Sacramento, CA*Thomas E. Wood
221945Springfield, IL*Alan A. Stevenson
231946Atlantic City, NJ*Thomas F. Sweeny
241947Miami, Fl*Joseph F. Alverez
251948Milwaukee, WI*George T. Bullen
261949Boston, MA*Theus J. McQueen
271950Washington, DC*Clay Nixon
281951Savannah, GA*Maurice J. Fagan
291952Los Angeles, CA*John C. O'Brien
301953Cleveland, OH*John C. O'Brien
311954Baltimore, MD*Charles A. Weaver
321955St Louis, MO*George Shamgochian
331956Miami, FL*William D. Webster
341957San Jose, CA*William Derderian
351958Omaha, NE*John G. Hosko
361959Buffalo, NY*William Gardiner
371960Grand Rapids, MI*Hyman Rosen
381961Atlantic City, NJ*Walter Churchill Sr.
391962Tampa, FL*Wilson L. Peck
401963Cleveland, OH*Raymond B. Butts
411964Wichita, KS*Raymond B. Butts
421965Harrisburg, PA*Burton Daugherty
431966Albany, NY*Burton Daugherty
441967Kansas City, MO*Claude H. Downing
451968Bridgeport, CT*Claude H. Downing
461969Miami, FL*Edward J. Bange
471970St Louis, MO*Edward J. Bange
481971San Antonio, TX*Sydney S. McMath
491972Anaheim, CA*H. Lynn Cavin
501973Miami, FL*Gilbert E. Gray
511974Tucson, AZ*Gilbert E. Gray
521975Philadelphia, PA*Richard J. O'Brien
531976Washington, DC*Patrick J. Cody
541977Indianapolis, IN*Edward A. Schramm
551978Atlantic City, NJ*James H. Frost
561979Milwaukee, WI*James H. Frost
571980Orlando, FLPaul F. Hastings
581981Tucson, AZPaul F. Hastings
591982Dearborn, MI*Joseph Mammone
601983Nashville, TN*James C. Kelly
611984Colorado Springs, CO*James C. Kelly
621985Lafayette, LA*Robert N. Forsyth
631986Boston, MA*Edward D. MacIntyre
641987Phoenix, AZ*William J. Galvin
651988Cincinnati, OH*William J. Galvin
661989Dallas, TXLinwood P. Liner
671990Sacramento, CA*Raymond R. Berling
681991King of Prussia, PA*Raymond R. Berling
691992St Louis, MO*Lamar Golden
701993Orlando, FL*Lamar Golden
711994Cherry Hill, NJ*Francis J. Meakem
721995Milwaukee, WILewis W. Loeven
731996Fort Mitchell, KY*PAULA’s J. Seton
741997Nashville, TN*Paul J. Seton
751998Syracuse, NYRobert E. Becker Jr
761999Denver, CORobert E. Becker Jr
772000New Orleans, LADiana Dils
782001Dearborn, MI*Diana Dils
792002Harrisburg, PAJohn P. Tuohy
802003Spokane, WAJohn P. Tuohy
812004Irving, TXHelen F. Hicks
822005Cleveland, OHHelen F. Hicks
832006Quincy, MA*Frank S. Kish
842007Albuquerque, NMJohn V. Ryan
852008Orlando, FLJohn V. Ryan
862009Rochester, MN*James R. Laskey
872010Greensboro, NC*James R. Laskey
882011Boise, IDVito Voltaggio
892012Mobile, ALVito Voltaggio
902013Grand Rapids, MIJames Tuohy
912014Charleston, WVJames Tuohy
922015Scottsdale, AZ*John W. Kovalcik
932016Tulsa, OK*Richard D. Gore, Sr.
942017Overland Park, Kansas*Richard D. Gore, Sr.
952018Buffalo, NYWendell Webb
962019Billings, MontanaWendell Webb
2020NO CONVENTIONDennis Tobin
972021Springfield, IllinoisJohnny Baker
982022Daytona Beach FloridaJohnny Baker
992023Oklahoma City OklahomaWarren Griffin

List of Honorary Past National Commandants Of The Marine Corps League

HONORARY PAST NATIONAL COMMANDANTS OF THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE [12]
YearName
1945*Stephen Brown
1958*Basil Pollitt
1965*Francis X. Lorbecki
1978*Jack Brennan
1987*Clem D. Russell
1995*Victor T. Fisher
1995*Charles D. Horn
1996*Raymond R. Wilkowski
1998*Johanna Glasrud
1999*John "Jay" P. Kacsan
1999*William "Bill" R. Reichstein
2001*Benny Dotson
2007Barry Georgopulos
2009E. "Bud" Randall
2009*John D. Serpa
2010Michael A. Blum
2019Neil B. Corley

List of Military Order Of Devil Dogs (Founded 1939 Boston, Massachusetts)

MILITARY ORDER OF DEVIL DOGS (FOUNDED 1939 BOSTON, MA) [13]
YearChief DogsYearDog Robbers
39-41*Gerald L. Bakelaar39-40*Charles Vaccaro
40-41*Raymond Canfield
41-43*C. A. Gallagher41-43*Erastas Darling
43-44*Joseph T. Alvarez43-44*Eugene P. Corey
44-45*Walter Donnelly44-45*John Zak
45-46*Clarence G. Young45-46*John Van de Woude
46-47*John Zak46-47*Mortimer S. Libien
47-48*John Van de Woude47-48*Clarence G. Young
48-49*Joseph Probst48-49*John L. Baker
49-50*Carl Burger49-50*Betty J. Mooney
50-51*Francis X. Lorbecki50-51*Paul Corbin
51-52*Stanley Bunn51-52*Charles A. Hellyer
52-53*Charles A. Hellyer52-53*George W. Jorgenson
53-54*George W. Jorgenson53-54*William W. Hurrell
54-55*William Harvey54-55*Joseph L.T. Fortier
55-56*William S. Craig55-56*Hyman Rosen
56-58*Mason D. Wade56-58*Claude H. Downing
58-59*Claude H. Downing58-59*James T. Fowler
59-60*James Koenig59-60*Paul Plache
60-61*William Hurrell60-61*H. E. Allamon
61-63*John P. Kacsan61-63*H. E. Allamon
63-64*Joseph Peterson63-64*H. E. Allamon
64-65*John R. Spain64-65*John J. McNamara
65-66*Arthur M. Brokenshire, Jr.65-66*Steven Downey
66-67*John J. McNamara66-67*Marshall Lundgren
67-68*Marshall D. Lundgren67-68*John J. McNamara
68-69*#Hugh A. Maus68-69*Antoinette H. Baisden
69-70*Philip A. Calabrese69-70*Antoinette H. Baisden
70-71*#Antoinette H. Baisden70-71*James J. Armstrong
71-72*James J. Armstrong71-72*Hugh A. Maus
72-73*C. A. Boedigheimer72-73Virginia L. McDougall
73-75#Virginia McDougall73-75*C. A. Boedigheimer
75-76*Jack R. Liddell75-76*Manuel Valdez
76-78*William H. Brooks76-78*#Kenneth E. Farris
78-79*Fred Agosta78-79*#Kenneth E. Farris
79-80*#Kenneth E. Farris79-80Raymond E. Kania
80-82#Edwin F. Gallagher80-82Paul L. Sutton
82-84#Paul L. Sutton82-84John C. Muerdler
83-84*#Francis A. English
84-85*#Gilbert E. Gray84-85Edwin F. Gallagher
85-86*#Francis A. English85-86*#Kenneth E. Farris
86-87*Donald L. Frost86-87*#Kenneth E. Farris
87-88*Thomas A. Banks87-88*#Kenneth E. Farris
88-90*Mary B. Krauss88-90*#Kenneth E. Farris
90-92Clifton F. Williams, Jr.90-92*#Kenneth E. Farris
92-94*Gary O. Chartrand92-94*#Kenneth E. Farris
94-96William C. Taylor94-96*#Kenneth E. Farris
96-98Jack Nash96-98*#Kenneth E. Farris
98-00Lamar Golden98-00*Robert McCallum
00-02Robert Lent00-02Phil Ruhmshottel
4-FebDouglas Fisk4-FebPhil Ruhmshottel
5-AprGeorge Barrows5-AprPhil Ruhmshottel
7-MayDonald R. Garland Jr.7-MayPhil Ruhmshottel
9-JulLaurel A. Hull9-JulSteven Joppa
11-Sep#Phil Rumshottel11-SepSteven Joppa
11-13Michael English13-NovSteven Joppa
13-14*Ken Travis13-14Steven Joppa
14-15Leanna L. Dietrich14-15Steven Joppa
15-16C. O. Smith15-16Steven Joppa
16-17C. O. Smith15-16Steven Joppa
17-18Leonard Spicer15-16Steven Joppa
18-19Leonard Spicer15-16Steven Joppa
19-20Thomas Hazlett15-16Steven Joppa

D who served as KDR

See also

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References

  1. "About the Marine Corps League - Mission Statement". Marine Corps League. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  2. "About the Marine Corps League - History". Marine Corps League.
  3. Clifford, John (July 1929). "The Marine Corps League". The Leatherneck Magazine. Marine Corps Association & Foundation. 12 (7): 22, 23.
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  7. "Greater New York Detachment Marine Corps League 168th Anniversary United States Marine Corps 1775-1943 Program Book". Greater New York Detachment Marine Corps League 168th Anniversary United States Marine Corps 1775-1943 Program Book. New York City: Greater New York Detachment Marine Corps League: 40. November 1943 [1943].
  8. "Marine Corps League News" . The Leatherneck Magazine. Marine Corps Association & Foundation (published May 31, 1924). 7 (23): 5. May 1924 [1924].
  9. "Chapter 4 - Divisions". Marine Corps League National Bylaws & Administrative Procedures (PDF) (1987 ed.). Marine Corps League. 2017 [1987]. p. AP 4-1.
  10. "Chapter 5 - Departments". Marine Corps League National Bylaws & Administrative Procedures (PDF) (1987 ed.). Marine Corps League. 2017 [1987]. p. AP 5-1.
  11. https://www.mclnational.org/uploads/1/0/3/1/103183322/national_commandants_and_convention_sites.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  12. https://www.mclnational.org/uploads/1/0/3/1/103183322/honorary_past_national_commandants_of_the_marine_corps_league.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  13. https://www.mclnational.org/uploads/1/0/3/1/103183322/military_order_of_devil_dogs__founded_1939_boston_ma_.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]