Infantry 15% of the Marine Corps

Every Marine is a Rifleman 

"the Marine Corps infantry accounts for over 21,600 active duty and 7,200 reserve Marines—roughly 15 percent of the Corps."

https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/2020/october/marine-corps-infantry-dilemma#:~:text=This%20requires%20no%20small%20amount,15%20percent%20of%20the%20Corps.

"Infantry Soldiers make up 15 percent of the Army force."

https://www.army.mil/article/45200/

Beth Ruyle Hullinger Rest In Peace

  

My lovely and talented wife, Beth Ruyle-Hullinger, died on Sep 30, 2024 from complications from Multiple Myeloma and Acute Myeloid Leukemia. She fought the good fight at Moffitt Hospital in Tampa.

Beth thanks everyone for their kindness and friendship over the years.  More about Beth at https://bethruylehullinger.blogspot.com/

Rest in Peace

Craig Hullinger

BACKGANNET By John Burwell Wilkes

Dear Family and Friends,

I wanted you to know that my third novel in the Cabal of Clairvaux trilogy is now completed and available. Its title is Backgannet, and you can read about it. and the prequels, on my web site:

www.johnburwellwilkes.com

Backgannet is the sequel to Frigatefire. If you should take a notion to read the novels, please understand that they should be read in order; Raventross first, Frigatefire second, and Backgannet last. The story is a continuing saga, and I did not waste a lot of space, or the readers’ time, by rehashing events that occurred in the previous novel.

It represents a huge milestone in my life to have finished this project. It has taken countless hours of my time over many years of writing and researching the technology and history for the story, and I wanted everuone I care about to know that I finally reached this milestone. Please also know that I do not expect you to order the books. If you are not interested in reading the novels, I promise I will have no bad feelings about it.

On the other hand, if you do want to order any, or all, of the books in paper form, I would appreciate it very much if you would order them directly from the publisher. They can be ordered through Amazon, and the price is the same, but all Amazon does is pass the order on to the publisher while keeping half of the purchase price and insuring that the publisher makes absolutely nothing on the sale. The publisher is a small company owned by a very good friend of mine, and I would very much like his company to succeed, along with my novels. If you want to acquire Kindle versions of the novel, you will have to order those from Amazon, but that is an entirely different ball game for the publisher. An audio version of Raventross is available from the publisher, and we are hoping to have audio versions for the other two novels sometime soon.

These days it is impossible to make much money selling books. My big hope is that some Hollywood investor will pick up on the saga and decide to make movies out of it. That my novels would make a great movie is usually one of the first comments out of the mouth of a new reader. The novels can be ordered direct from the publisher through my web site (see above) or the publisher’s web site: www.cdespublishing.com. If you need or want all three novels, I believe the publisher is doing a discounted package price, at least for orders within the USA.

If you do decide to read my novels, I would love to know what you think about them. If you have already read Raventross and Frigatefire, and you enjoyed them, please tell your friends about the trilogy. Forward this letter if you would like. I characterize the story as aviation adventure, but many readers have said that what they enjoyed the most was the personal lives the characters, most of which were patterned after real people and actual events.

I have always wanted to be a writer of fiction. I had enjoyed some success at writing as a student at Vanderbilt. I was selected to represent the university at the Southern Literary Festival. However, after I graduated in 1965, the Viet Nam war and my being imminently subject to the draft, caused me to apply for the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School. I never made it back to the fun of writing fiction until I approached retirement age, but better late than never.

Very best regards,


JOHN WILKES

 

Schedule of Events

Click to See the Schedule of Events - Subject to Change!

Who is coming as of Sep 4, 2024
Marine	Total Coming	Dates at Mariner House
Ron Wozniak	2	Sep 13-20
Larry Anderson	2	Sep 16-22
Will Holahan	2	Sep 16-19
Jim Homan	2	Sep 15-21
Ken Morey	2	Sep 15-19
Ivan Zimmer	2	Sep 16-19
Jim Dunne	1	Sep 15-19
Bob Raclow	1	Sep 15-17
Total	14

S/F

Our Next Marine Corps Symposium 16-19 September 2024

The Mariners House in Boston. 

Arrive 16 Sep 2024 Monday, Depart Thursday Sep 19 2024

We are making our reservations individually. This is a great location, and you may want to come earlier / leave later.

The Mariners House is The North End, a historic and now Italian neighorhood, next to Paul Revere's home.  Owned by a not for profit for seamen and naval retirees - Marines included. Rooms about $100+- includes a cooked to order breakfast.  Dozens of Italian restaurants nearby, everything is walking distance. No car needed, close to the Boston Airport. Walk to the USS Constitution, waterfront, downtown.  marinershouse.org 

The neighborhood is The North End. (Little Italy)

https://gocity.com/en/boston/blog/guide-boston-little-italy

https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/09/01/north-end-boston-massachusetts-locals-field-guide

Directions from the Mariners House to Faneuil Hall in downtown Boston. Eight Minute Walk.

Directions from the Mariners House to the USS Constitution. 26 minute walk or uber ride.

Logan Airport is 2.4 miles from the Mariners House - Uber, Cab, or transit.

The Freedom Trail runs past the Mariners house and connects to the historic sites in Boston.

https://www.thefreedomtrail.org/visit/maps

Schedule of Events - Under Construction

The gray house above is Paul Revere's home. The historic Mariners House marinershouse.org is next to and behind it. 11 North Square, Boston, MA 02113 (617) 227-3979, 1-877-SEA-9494

Marines, Command of Preparation !

First day of our Boston Symposium is Sept 16, 2024 so you are likely to arrive Sep 15.  You can make your reservations 6 months before your arrival date.  If you think you might come, make your reservations. You can always cancel them. And let us know if you are coming and when so we can get a rough count for our dinners.

This is a link to a Google Document that we can all edit - our developing Schedule of Events.  You can all edit and improve it. Please do so. Don't worry about screwing it up - it is Grunt, Zoomie and Arty guy proof.  It is kind of a Group Grope planning document.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FQYhfXl46dLomPwUqcDTi3CXp5HGzrG1nNS67xJINW0/edit?usp=sharing

Such a Deal!

​Semper Fi

Info below is copied from the Google Document above for your convenience.

The Mariners House

Affordable Luxury When You’re Anchored In Boston Mariners House is a mission reserved exclusively for the men and women who work at sea, including but not limited to merchant mariners, afloat military personnel, maritime institution affiliates, and other professional seafarers and their families. Mariners House offers a variety of rooms, including full and queen rooms and suites.  • In the heart of Boston's famous North End • Private air-conditioned rooms with private baths • Custom furnishings, large work desks • In-room telephones, work desk, flat screen TV, complimentary WiFi • Comfortable library with a business centerwith internet access • Garden courtyard • Complimentary breakfast, with lunch and dinner available in our galley • Elevator to all floors • Smoke-free environment • Conference room and packages available All guests must show documented proof of active service or retired status after a full 20-year service in order to make reservations. No alcohol permitted in the hotel. _______________________ Friday - Monday 13-15 Sep 2024 Advance Party Arrive Mariners House 0800-1000 - Breakfast, to order, Mariners House Connect with others from the advance party, Recon the area. Monday 16 Sep 2024 0800-1000 - Breakfast, to order, Mariners House Arrive at the historic Mariners House  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariners_House      marinershouse.org  1300+- Meet in the Front Parlors of the House. Smooze, recon the neighborhood, have a drink. Visit Paul Revere's home next door - free admission for people staying in the Mariners House.   The neighborhood - The North End   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_End,_Boston The North End, Boston’s Little Italy, is a maze of narrow streets with some of the city’s oldest buildings. On the self-guided Freedom Trail thefreedomtrail.org, tourists pass historic sites like the 1680 Paul Revere House and the Old North Church, which played a key role at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. Italian restaurants, coffeehouses, pastry shops and old-school delis pack the area, especially on lively Hanover. 1700 Meet in the front parlor of the Mariners House 1800 Dinner - Location TBD, North Square MAMMA MARIA.  Across the square from the Mariners House. mammamaria.com. We can get a private room for our party once we get a rough count of who is coming. _____________________ Tuesday 17 Sep 2024 0800-1000 - Breakfast, to order, Mariners House 1000 - We are working on it. 1700 - Meet in the front parlor 1800 - Dinner - Location TBD SEAFOOD - UNION Oyster House - short walking distance in downtown near  Faneuil Hall Market Place  https://faneuilhallmarketplace.com/ http://unionoysterhouse.com/ ½ mile from Mariners House by formation run, forced march, stroll, or Uber. Google Map Directions below: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Mariners+House,+North+Square,+Boston,+MA/41+Union+St,+Boston,+MA+02108/@42.3625044,-71.0579698,17z/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x89e370891af57247:0x9933ff6ea3c63d84!2m2!1d-71.0535791!2d42.3638881!1m5!1m1!1s0x89e371eca897b9bb:0x337cbec87b222671!2m2!1d-71.0568908!2d42.3612817!3e0?entry=ttu __________________ Wednesday 18 Sep 2024  0800-1000 Breakfast at the Mariners House 1030 - Meet in the front lobby. Force March or Formation Run on the Freedom Trail or take an Uber to the USS Constitution, Old Ironsides. 25 minute walk 1.1 miles, or 10 minute Uber Ride. Google map directions below: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/USS+Constitution,+93+Chelsea+St,+Charlestown,+MA+02129/11+N+Square,+Boston,+MA+02113/@42.3680841,-71.0628778,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x89e371c1d3418353:0x569bc2c0a80c542c!2m2!1d-71.0566095!2d42.3724712!1m5!1m1!1s0x89e370891af0f0f7:0x2b3862ce03de2243!2m2!1d-71.0536303!2d42.3638941!3e2?entry=ttu Tour the ship. And also visit the Museum. The ship tour is free - it is the oldest Naval Warship afloat in the world..   https://www.navy.mil/USS-CONSTITUTION/Hours-Visitor-Info/ https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org/ Wander back to the hootch on your own at your own pace. 1800 - Meet in the front parlor  1900 - Dinner Location - LImoncello 200 feet south of the Mariners House/ Paul Revere’s house. https://www.ristorantelimoncello.com/ _________________________ Thursday 19 Sep 2024  0500 - All infantry officers fall out for PT. All others sleep in. 0800-1000 - Breakfast, to order, Mariners House, Smooze. 1000 - Depart, or Walk to Faneuil Hall Market Place  https://faneuilhallmarketplace.com/ Adios, Amigo, Semper Fi _________________ Things to do: The North End neighborhood https://www.boston-discovery-guide.com/north-end.html Walk to downtown Boston, the waterfront, wander back to the hootch. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g60745-Activities-Boston_Massachusetts.html _________________________ Restaurant Recommendations From Will Holahan's sister who lives in the neighborhood. North Square MAMMA MARIE -easy walking distance. Great reviews private room seats up to 50. Limoncello -only about 100 yds from the hotel.  ITALIAN -DAVIOS in the seaport ..short Uber ride. SEAFOOD - UNION Oyster House.. short walking distance. _______________ Things to do - recommended by John Wilkes friend As far as your group’s plans go, I include a link to a good summary article on things to do in Boston. https://www.planetware.com/tourist-attractions-/boston-us-ma-boston.htm#US-MA-BBH. Given where you will be, I suggest # 7 (the Constitution is a pretty amazing ship, great tour), some part of # 1 (the Freedom Trail), linked to a walk in the Pubic Garden (forget the Swan Boats), a ferry boat ride out and back to Castle Island (strangely not on the list of places to see, but readily internet searchable) where military defenses have been repeatedly deployed over a couple centuries (also gets you views of many of Boston’s 32 Harbor Islands), the Harborwalk (# 19) . Also, when I first moved to Boston, I lived in Concord, a bit west of the City, in a house bordering the historic MinuteMan National Historic Park/North Bridge - where the Revolutionary War Battle of Lex and Concord took place. Wonderful tour/museum there, a couple good restaurants, interesting town architecturally/historically. Also, if you are into the Arts, there is a great Fine Arts Museum. I could go on.    Please let your colleagues know they should feel free to call about your plans or the pros and cons of differing sites/choices, given your objectives.   Hope you are managing well,  Bill   Bill TenHoor Red dot in Center is the Mariners House / Paul Revere's Home You can take an affordable ferry boat ride:  https://www.mbta.com/schedules/ferry There are also numerous short tours by boat:   https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Products-g60745-zfg11865-Boston_Massachusetts.html OPTION - Take a Cruise From Boston right after our Reunion

https://www.vacationstogo.com/ticker.cfm?incCT=y&d=35&sm=20249&tm=202410&sp=y

https://www.vacationstogo.com/

There is a small Coast Guard Station in the North End Has a CLass 6 store.

https://www.basedirectory.com/uscg-sector-boston-directory/coast-guard-exchange-cgx