Newsletter of the Russel M. Butterweck
Detachment
DEPARTMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA
NORTHEAST DIVISION
(New York-New
Jersey-Pennsylvania)
MARINE CORPS
LEAGUE
RUSSEL M. BUTTERWECK DETACHMENT - MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
DETACHMENT HISTORY
The Deachment is named Russel M. Butterweck in honor of the first Marine from Berks Co. PA killed in action during WWII.
Russel was born 30 Apr. 1920 and joined the Corps on 01 Dec.
1941. After boot camp at P.I. & training at Lejeune he sailed aboard the USS George Elliiot for Guadalcanal.
In Savo Bay the ship was set afire by Japanese planes and all hands abandoned into the sea.
Russel was rescued by a Navy LC and continued the assualt with other Marines who had been rescued.
He was KIA on 21 Aug. 1942 and was given a Christian Burial in the Marine Memorial Cemetery on Guadalcanal.
His younger brother, Nevin, also a Marine, visited his grave on Thanksgiving Day, 1944.
Russel's body was returned to the U.S. on 06 Mar 1948 and he was given a full honors military funeral,led by the members of his namesake detachment, attended by several hundred mourners.
The Original Det. was formed in 1941 and received it's charter 10 Nov. 1942 when Russel became it's namesake.
In 1947 a Home Assc. and Aux. were chartered.
The Det. was very active during WWII, having many WWI "Devil Dogs" in it's ranks, and after WWII it's roster swelled with returning Marines, most who had seen combat in the Pacific war. Activities, including the sponsoring of a performance of the United States Marine Band at the Reading Rajah Symphony Hall, continued until 1951 when it lost many of it's members who were called back to duty for the Korean War.
The Detachment became inactive and in 1980 a group of former members, and interested Korean War and Vietnam War Veterans, came together and applied for a new charter.
A new Charter was granted on 07 Sept. 1980.
A new Aux. was formed in Apr. 1986.
Pound 169 of the Military Order of Devil Dogs was chartered during 1986.
The Detachmet now has 180 members and meets at the
USMC Reserve Training Center, base for India Battery, 14th Marines
615 Kenhorst Blvd., Reading, PA
on the 2nd Tues. of each month commencing at 1930.
All interested Marines from the Berks County PA area can receive information on this dynamic Detachment by
writing the editor at the E-Mail address below.
DETACHMENT PROGRAMS We are interested in the young in spirit Marines who will continue this fine tradition of service to the Corps, the League, and the Community. 1999 - 2000 OFFICERS TOUR MARINE OF THE YEAR POW/MIA CHAIRMAN EARL SUCHOMELLY MEMORIAL DAY ADDRESS 1997 Remarks at the gravesite of Russel M. Butterweck, Cpl. USMC
The Detachment has received many awards for its programs
State and National Scholarships
VAVS (Veterans Administration Volunteer Service)
Regionial Hospital
Toys For Tots (since 1948)
Eagle Scout Awards
Award winning Americanism Program
First Class POW/MIA PRO ACTIVE leadership
Award Winning Newslettter
Scholarship Support for the JR ROTC Detachment at Reading High School
Memorial Ceremonies
Honor Color Guard and Firing Squad
Mess Nights
Championship Rifle & Pistol Teams
Detachment-Inter-Detachment-State Rifle and Pistol Matches
Bingo parties for Veterans confined to VA Hospitala and more
and has sponsored many trips such as 28 Sept. when 42 members traveled to Quantico VA where they met CO Gen Kelley who is a Berks Co. native, toured the great Museum there, visited the Korean and Vietnam Memorials, had dinner in DC (Hogates)
and attended the Evening Parade at 8th&I Barracks.
CommandantIrvin Gehret
Sr. Vice Commandant - PC Albert Beadle
Jr. Vice Commandant - Gary German
Judge Advocate - Robert Berns
Paymaster - PC Herbert Hummel
Adjutant - PC C. David Kline
Chaplain - Pearl Harbor Survivor Carl Kaupp
Sgt. at Arms -Jack Muckey
3 Year Trustee - PC Charles Doganes
2 Year Trustee - PC Semper Fi Det., NJ Joseph Selby
1 Year Trustee - PPL DOY Pack of PA MODD Ferne Lauter
Jr. Past Commandant - PC Vincent Ahrensfield
PEARL HARBOR SURVIVOR CARL KAUPP
MAJOR R.A.GARAY
USMC
Inspector/Instructor
India Battery-14th Marines
Killed in action, Aug, 1942
I stand humbled in the presence of one who has gone before us...in the presence of one who gave the full measure so that I, my family, Marines here today, and all of us present may enjoy the liberties and freedoms of our great Nation.
Like each of you, I am always moved when I come to the final resting place of a fallen hero...a fallen Marine,,,, On this hallowed ground, memories of America's heroes return to us.... Their voices, their tears, their loves, their laughter, their fears..echo in our souls as we remember them...
"stirred up with high hopes of living to be brave and worthy...dear to God...and famous to the ages.
I am grateful that all of you joined with us today to remember and honor Russel Butterweck.... While we take this time to honor those who have gone before us, we must also be mindful of our responsibility to move forward...this will not always be an easy task....Therefore, I read from the 40th chapter of Isaiah, Verse 31;
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength:
they shall mount up with wings as eagles:
they shall run and not be weary:
and they shall walk and not faint
Only through moving forward, improving the world around us, and instilling in the generations to come our Corps values of-- We, the living, must carry their struggle for a better tomorow...every day...in everything we do. Lamenting "fair weather" patriots during the American Revolution Thomas Paine once wrote Our guest of honor, our fallen hero, Russel Butterweck, was no fair weather patriot....he knew the fatique of supporting freedom....He rests here in eternal support of the ideals of freedom contained in the Constitution, and upon which our nation was founded. He will remain an eternal reminder,for us who carry the flame forward....to remain fierce advocates for a strong, capable, national defense that not only meets our nation's needs today, but for the 21st century as well. He knew what honor meant when he voluntarily enlisted in the Marine Corps....he knew what courage meant when he willingly went to an unprotected sandspit and lay, uncovered, in the face of a fierce enemy....and he understood what commitment meant when he made the ultimate sacrifice along the banks of the Tenaru river, on the island of Guadalcanal....he gave his life in service to our country for the preservation of the ideal of America's freedom and might today stand on the shoulders of the patriots ---past and present--- It is up to us to ensure-- Please Join Me In Prayer We pause at this moment O'God, to pray for Our Corps...This band of men and women who serve our nation -and You-with
honor..courage..commitmcent.
Honor...Courage...Commitment...
can we hope to honor the memories of
our Nations fallen comrades,,, our Nations fallen heroes.
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must... undergo the fatique of supporting it."
honor...courage...commitment."
"that their memories shall not grow old, as we that are left will grow old....age will not weary them, nor the years comdemn....At the going down of the sun...and in the morning.,..WE MUST..WE MUST..remember them."
We remember Russel Butterweck who gave his life in the cause of freedom....We honor his memory and are forever grateful for his sacrifice.
It is upon the shoulders of all patriots like him and their selflessness that we stand today...still...
"One nation, under God, Indivisible."
We pray for the families of our Marines....Those who support us with their love and care and allow us to do the job to which we have been called.
We pray for each and every Marine....Keep them safe from all hurt, harm and danger.
Help each of us to know that we need never feel forsaken by you O'God for you remind us in your word....that if we trust and wait on you...our strength will be renewed.
We will run and not be weary....We will walk and never faint.
Hear this our prayer in the name of your son Jesus Christ
TRIBUTE TO WOMEN VETERANS Sunday, 07 March 1999 saw the groundbreaking for the Tribute To The Women Veterans Memorial in Reading PA City Park Veterans' Grove. This splendid monument, sponsored by the Combined Veterans Council of Berks County Pa., and made possible by a grant of $40,000.00 from the Pennsylvania Department of Economic and Community Development, and donations from many Veterans' and Civic groups, will be erected overlooking the other Memorials...WWI..WWII...Korea...Vietnam...in Veterans' Grove. The dedication took place Sunday 07 November 1999.
Members of this Detachment donated $400.00 to this
project.
PATROITS CREED "I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whoes just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign nation of many sovereign states; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice and humanity for which American Patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.
I therefore believe it is my duty, to my country, to love it; to support it's constitution; to obey it's laws; to respect it's flag; and to defend it against all enemies."....William Tyler Page. 1917 Clerk of the House of Representatives...
CHECK OUT THE INFORMATION ON THE FOLLOWING PAGES
Home - Butterweck Broadside Newsletter
Page 2 - Up-coming events & VAVSPage 3 - Military Order Of Devil DogsPage 4 - Nat. Hdqs Officers-Ships Stores-etc.Page 5 - Save the IWO JIMA MemorialPage 6 - Agent Orange InformationPage 7 - Women in the Service
Pg.9 Service/Legislative Officer NOTICE COMMUNITY LIASION OFFICER (CLO) at HEADQUARTERS MARINE CORPS
In a new and important service to the Marine Corps family, the Commandant has directed the
establishment of the Community Liasion Office (CLO) at HQMC to provide for immediate response to questions, problems, and suggestions, etc. related to our entire Marine Corps family.
USMC LIASION OFFICER
At present, Ms. Priscilla Mills, CLO is there to provide information and assistance in all areas of Marine Corps life.
Contact: Office of the Commandant (MH-5), Attn: Community Liaison Officer,
Headquarters USMC, 2 Navy Annex, Washington, D.C. 20380-1775.
Phone 1-800-876-2256 during normal business hours (EST) or email: PMills455@aolcom (Priscilla Mills)
Please copy to ALL Marine Corps League elements per CLO HQMC
request.
VA CEMETERY INFORMATION AND BURIAL REGULATIONS ON PAGE 9
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS NEWSLETTER OR TO COMMENT OR MAKE ADDITIONS/CORRECTIONS E-MAIL THE ADDRESS BELOW
C.David Kline
dk11@webtv.net
(A perfect name for our newsletter)
First the definition from the dictionary
*toward a full side; "a broadside attack" n
1: an
advertisement (usually printed on a page or in a leaflet)
intended for wide distribution; "he mailed the circular to
all subscribers" [syn: {circular}, {handbill}, {bill},
{broadsheet}, {flier}, {flyer}, {throwaway}]
2: a violent denunciation [syn: {tirade}, {philippic}]
3: (naval) all of the armament that is fired from one side of a warship
4: the whole side of a vessel from stem to stern; "the ship was broadside to the dock"
5: (naval) the simultaneous firing of all the armament on one side of a warship
adv: with a side facing an object; "the train hit the truck broadside"; "the wave caught the canoe broadside and capsized it" v : collide with the broad side of; "her car broad-sided mine"
Second, When we chose the name, we were thinking of a term that would convey the spirit of the newsletter and still have a term that would mean something to our Marine readers. - In Great Britain the term "Broadside" is still used mostly to describe the vicious verbal attacks made in the House of Lords and Commons in Parliament. Those tactics were also used in early clandestine meetings during the American Revolution and even in the debates leading up to the Declaration of Independence and the formation of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. (It might be better if our Congressmen, today, would use such tactics instead of the pussyfooting, apologetic speeches, and feeding from the same trough we hear)
Next, as you see above, the term was used as a name for circulars, leaflets, etc. intended for wide distribution. We use the name for our newsletter, and although it is more than just one page, it is distributed to over two hundred Leaguers and gets world wide notice through it's internet web site.
Although we do not use the contents of our "Broadside" in a vicious way, we do some gentle dancing on some subjects intending criticism and disagreement.
Finally, the imprinting of the battleship with it's guns
firing a "Broadside" - and on the internet, the patroitic
music and flying flags are intended to evoke a spirit of
power and defiance. We hope that will capture your
attention and that you too will someday send in a
"Broadside" of your own - on any subject - within the
limits of the matters of the Corps and the League. Take
part in the debate!
Thank you, the editor.
USMC JROTC CEREMONY 2000
04 May 2000: The awards ceremony of the Reading High School, Reading, Pa. USMC JROTC was held Thursday evening at the school. Commandant I, Gehret and Adjutant C.D. Kline, representing the Russel M. Butterweck Det. MCL presented the Detachment's Scholarship award to Cadet JAUN Roman. The award was a check in the amt.. of $250.00. Cadet Roman will be enrolled at Alvernia College, Reading PA., next fall.
Cadet Roman is a fine example of success of the JROTC program at the school. He has worked very hard, for three years, to maintain the academic and Corps standards needed to continue participating, He is most deserving of the award. He expressed many thanks to the Detachment. His mother, Mrs. Roman, who was present at the ceremony, also thanked us and told of the many hours he spends studying and practicing to keep qualified and how proud she is of her son. It was good to realize that this great mom had such a profound influence on her son, and to know that family values still exist with these young men and women.
School Board awards, in the amt. of $300.00, $200.00 and $100.00 went to Cadet Castro, Cadet Moore, and Cadet Banks respectfully.
Representing the Combined Veterans Council of Berks County, Diane Price presented a $250.00 award to Cadet Garcia. (Ms Price is also a member of the Butterweck Detachment) Diane, acting for the Women Veterans Association of Berks County, also presented a beautiful framed certificate/poem to Cadet Staples.
Detachment Trustee, Marine Ferne Lauter, speaking for the Women Marines Association, presented a Certificate and Bond to Cadet Kirby.
Chapter 131 VVA presented a $100.00 award to Cadet Castro as did Dr. Anticoli on behalf of the Military Order of World Wars. An Alumina Award of $50.00/Plaque was presented to Cadet Rogers.
Leigh Tallas, another Detachment member, in his capacity as Commander of the DAV Chapter of Berks County, presented Medals, Scholastic to Cadet Dinh, Leadership to Cadet Pedroza, and Community Service to Cadet K. Rivera. Other Medals were presented by: American Legion, Cadet Lacey - Dadalion, Cadet Dillon - Sojourners, Cadet Popal - Sons of American Revolution, Cadet Almodovar - Daughters of American Revolution, Cadet Livingood - Retired Officers Association, Cadet Kretz.
Plaques presented included, Marine Leadership Award, from Maj. Reynolds, USMC, Director of Recruiting Central PA, to Cadet Calvaresi, Mayor's Community Service Award, from Mayor Eppenhimer of Reading, PA, to Cadet Williams, National Guard Service Award from SFC Burrell to Cadet Rodriguez, Captains Big Dawg Award from Capt. Jimenez USMC, director USMC JROTC, to Cadet Rodgers and Capt. Butler Award from Capt. Butler, Nat. Guard, Assistant JROTC director, and his wife, to Cadet Robles. Certificates Presented included: Police Chief Citizen Award to Cadet Lutz, Military Order of World Wars to Cadet B. Lutz,
US Congressman Tim Holden awards went to these members of the Cadet Color Guard: Sean Banks, Truong Dinh, Amanda Kirby, Barry Lutz, Christina Morales, Hayward Williams. State Senator Mike O'Pake's Color Guard awards went to Brian Lutz, Enrique Velasquez, Thomas Davis, Robert Dillon, Mark Miller, Lacey Bundy, and Brandon Wunderly. The Cadet Color Guard gave a short exhibition performance which included a near perfect trick rifle drill and done at 8th & I.
The Marine Scholarship Excellence Award was presented to Cadet Tien Lie by Major Reynolds. A Community Service Certificate was presented by Mr. Winters, acting for State Reprensative Caltigirone, went to Cadet Yerger. State Representative Santoni presented Community Service Award Certificates to: Cadet Hufford, Cadet Morgan, Cadet Johnson, Cadet Sterner, Cadet Cook, Cadet Buck, Cadet Hahn, Cadet Fackler, Cadet Rodriguez, Cadet Moore, Cadet Andrews and Cadet Cross.
PAL awards, presented by Mr. Pegram went to Cadet Porquim, Cadet Ospina, Cadet Ramos, Cadet Bundy, Cadet Kirby, Cadet Bair, Cadet Gunther, Cadet Jackson, Cadet Morales and Cadet Cross.
JROTC Ribbons were presented by Capt. Jimenez: Officer Leadership, Cadet Yerger - NCO Leadership, Cadet Miller, Best Drill Cadets Moore & Yerger and Best Athlete, Cadet Yerger.
A video of some of the Cadets actvities, including the PI "Boot Camp" experience and Parade and Exhibitions was show and generated much enthusiasm from both the parents and cadets.
A "Change of Command" ceremony preceeded the comments by Capt. Jimeneze during which he thanked all the veteran and civic organizations that support the program, and the parents, whose help and willingness to surrender complete authority to him while the students were in his control, he could not have done without.
The ceremony ended with the cadets giving a tremendous "O-Rah" to the veterans present.
