Wednesday, August 30, 2023

2/24 Is Now located at Fort Sheridan








 

https://www.marforres.marines.mil/Units/4th-Marine-Division/23rd-Marine-Regiment/2nd-Battalion-24th-Marine-Regiment/


BILLET OPPORTUNITIES

The battalion has infantry officer openings across sites in Madison, Des Moines, Milwaukee and Chicago. Officers interested in discussing billet openings with 2/24 should contact the battalion's Inspector-Instructor and the Prior Service Recruiting OIC for 9th Marine Corps District.


2/24 Is Now located at Fort Sheridan.


Joe Brooks <jgbgb2654@gmail.com> wrote:

I checked Google, and the address for 2/24 is reported to be 3155 Blackhawk Dr., Ste 701, Fort Sheridan, Illinois 60037.  It shows the Bn CO as a LtCol. Ryan P. Kenny, an Intel guy, and in 2006 in Al Anbar Province with 3rd Recob.  He now lives in Chicago working for Boeing.  

Also shows the Sgt Major, Bryan J. Axelrod, enlisted in the USMC in 2003, makes me feel really old! He's an 0311, deployed to Fallujah June 2007, and EAS  December 2007, then joined the Reserves, Marine Wing Support Squadron 471.  He later deployed to Afghanistan 2011, Security Plt Sgt for Motor Transport BN.  Promoted to 1st Sgt April 2019, assigned to Wpns Co. 3/23 May 2022.  He was promoted to SgtMaj June 2003, and was reassigned to 2nd Bn 24th Marine Reg.  

Found this and more after googling 2dn Bn 24th Marine regiment.  


Joe Brooks


Check out what Chicago is doing at our former Bn Hq!! 



2nd Battalion, 24th Marines (2/24) is an infantry battalion in the United States Marine Corps based out of Chicago, Illinois, consisting of approximately 1000 Marines and Sailors. The battalion falls under the 23rd Marine Regiment and the 4th Marine Division.

Subordinate units[edit]

NameLocation
Headquarters and Service CompanyFort Sheridan, Illinois
Echo CompanyDes Moines, Iowa
Fox CompanyMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Golf CompanyMadison, Wisconsin
Weapons CompanyJoliet, Illinois

Mission

Provide trained combat and combat support personnel and units to augment and reinforce the active component in time of war, national emergency, and at other times as national security requires; and have the capability to reconstitute the 4th Marine Division, if required.

History

Founding

The origin of 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines can be traced back to the establishment of the 9th Reserve Battalion in 1922. They were mobilized in November 1940 as part of the preparation for World War II. Many of Chicago's reservists became part of the newly founded 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine DivisionFleet Marine Force.

The Mad Ghosts

World War II

2nd Battalion, 24th Marines was activated on 26 March 1943, as part of the 4th Marine Division. Their first action was the invasion of the Marshall Islands on 1 February 1944, securing the first portion of the Japanese Empire to be conquered by the United States in World War II.

Capt.Joseph J. McCarthy of 2/24 G Co..

On 15 June 1944, the battalion landed on Saipan in the Marianas. Fifteen days after Saipan was secured, they assaulted the island of Tinian, securing that island in eight days. 2/24, received its first Presidential Unit Citation for the capture of Saipan and Tinian.

On 19 February 1945, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines landed on Iwo Jima and fought for 35 days until the island was finally secured on 26 March 1945. From D-day until the 24th RCT relieved the 25th RCT the Seabees of the 133rd NCB were the 2nd Battalions Shore party. The Battalion was awarded a second Presidential Unit Citation for its participation in the capture of Iwo Jima. Captain Joseph J. McCarthy, Commanding Officer, Co. G, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, and a Chief in the Chicago Fire Department, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his gallantry during the battle.[1] The battalion was demobilized on 31 October 1945.

Korean War

In October 1950, they were mobilized and sent to Camp PendletonCalifornia, for further transfer to Korea, where Chicago Marines saw combat during the Korean War.

Gulf War

On 30 November 1990, the battalion was mobilized as a result of the Presidential call up in support of Operation Desert Shield. Training and final preparation for the war in the desert was conducted at Camp LejeuneNorth Carolina, during December 1990. Upon the battalion's arrival in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it was assigned the mission of security for critical facilities.

The 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines were initially assigned the mission of protecting the I Marine Expeditionary Force commander's primary bases in Northern Saudi Arabia, to include the Naval Air Field at Al Jubail, the ammunition storage site near Abu Hadriah and the defense of I MEF headquarters at Ras Safanya and Marine Aircraft Group 16 at Tanajib, thus providing security for an area over 40 miles wide and 135 miles deep. Echo company provided security for Ras Al Mishab just south of Khafji and 1st platoon was pulled to the Battle of Ras Al Khadijah. After the town was taken elements of Echo Company provided security for the Navy Seabees while they were in the town. Even after some units took on enemy fire from Iraqi artillery the unit never received a combat action award.

As Operation Desert Storm commenced, the area of responsibility increased further west to Kibrit and north to Al Khanjar. During the ground war, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines provided security to the largest ammunition supply point in the country, at the loss of which would have critically impaired the ground offensive. During the liberation of Kuwait, elements of 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines provided security to I Marine Expeditionary Force Command Post in Kuwait. Additionally, they took up defensive positions at Al Jaber Airfield south of Kuwait City.

While maintaining its mission of providing security, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines was also responsible for the handling and processing of over 10,300 enemy prisoners of war in a 96-hour period. The battalion returned to Chicago on 12 May 1991, after 5 months of deployment, with 3½ months in Southwest Asia.

Global War on Terror

Chicago's Own was mobilized again in June 2004 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). The battalion trained at Camp Pendleton until Sept. of that year when they relocated to Mahmudiyah, in the North Babil Province of Iraq, an area known as the "Triangle of Death". The battalion was engaged in intense combat operations against members of the Iraqi insurgency.[2] 2/24 made Marine Corps history when they became the first reserve infantry battalion of OIF to operate independently, isolated on its own forward operating base.

Two-time Pulitzer Prize Winner John F. Burns, the Chief Foreign Correspondent of The New York Times described his time spent with 2/24 this way: "A week with the 2/24 Marines at their bases 15 to 30 miles south of Baghdad, in the heart of the area known as the Triangle of Death, was a window on the demands being made of reservists, and on the resourcefulness and resilience they bring to the challenges. There is little they cannot do, with hard work and improvisation, the battalion's officers say, reflecting the widely varied backgrounds of the men in the Chicago-based unit - doctors, policemen,[3] engineers, teachers, carpenters, truck drivers, lawyers, computer specialists, community counselors, college students, to name a few."[4]

After establishing additional strong points in the area, working closely with the Iraqi Army and Police, providing security for the first-ever open democratic elections in Iraq and arresting over 1,000 suspected insurgents (with an incredibly high conviction rate,) 2/24 returned to California in March 2005. They deactivated in May 2005.[citation needed]

Company F, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment search a field during a dust storm for weapons caches in Khalidiyah, Iraq on April 17, 2008.

In March 2006, elements of 2/24 participated in Operation Shared Accord in Niger. The Marines taught basic military tactics to groups of soldiers from the Forces Armees Nigeriennes and also provided humanitarian support to some of Niger's neediest citizens.[5] In May 2006, Echo Company of 2/24 participated in Operation Noble Shirley in Israel by conducting desert warfare and joint counter-terrorism training with the Israeli Defense Forces [IDF].

On September 10, 2007, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines were once again activated in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and relocated to Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California. The battalion began another tour in Iraq beginning in January 2008 and operated in the vicinity of Habbaniyah, operating out of base formerly known as RAF Habbaniya. On August 10, 2008, they turned over their area of operations to 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines and returned stateside in late August.[6]


Info from Wikapedia   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Battalion,_24th_Marines




Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Next Drill Weekend - May 2024 Lake Geneva?

Joe Brooks and I are exploring a drill site for Det 4 in the Chicago area in May, 2024. A personal recon of the AO shows that the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa at Lake Geneva grandgeneva.com would be a suitable CP for this drill. The place has two decent chow halls and and two bars. Also has 36 holes on two golf courses, shops and a spa.

Joe is looking into area restaurants and boat dinner cruises. There is also an entertaining private league baseball team (the Milkmen) that play nearby as well as the Brewers or Cubs. Might be easier to deal with MKE traffic than Chicago. 

I’m sure that Billy Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee would be easier to fly into than ORD. The idea of using Lake Geneva is to see some of our surviving colleagues from 2/24 and its respective companies and the air types from Glencoe. I think 2/24 is now relocated but we could try to get a report from that unit.

We have a sales person wanting to work with us from the resort but we need some guidance:

(1) Is there an interest in this drill?; and, 

(2) Do the dates 10-12 May 2023 work for everyone? (The12th is Mother’s Day if that matters)  If not, do the dates 3-5 May work?

Let us know your thoughts on this.    

S/F

Joe Brooks and Larry Anderson

______________

Sounds good to me. I'll be there, Lord willin', and the creek don't rise.

WILKES

______________

Marines,


Sounds wonderful, CondiNest ranks it second in Midwest.  
(Only behind my old house in Griffith, IN.

Sarah/Sally and I are attending, The God Lord willing.
At BWI at moment, nothing conflicts in my phone.
Will check more upon getting back to quarters.

Interrogative, even though we always Drilled on weekend is there some unintended consequence(s), or problem with drilling during one of the weeks?

Love y’all.

S/F,

Ivan/Zim
______________

Good point, Ivan. No magic to the weekend for most of us. And some places might be cheaper during the week.  Why don't we expand the discussion to include the weekdays between the two weekends?  Either weekend and also the weekdays in between work for us. We prefer the second weekend but will come on either one and/or during the week.

This is a great location.  

S / F

Craig

______________

Great idea.  Being retired, every day is a Saturday and every night is Friday night.

Lynn Wardlow

______________

Craig/Ivan make a great point (even if they are zoomies) weekdays with kids still in school would definitely be cheaper and it's not like any of us have "critical work issues" anymore.  I vote for the week between suggested dates.

S/F Mac
______________

Ivan / Homan / Braun are Zoomies.

Woz, Craig Wood RIP, Eric Bennet, Jim Bailey and I are commo's and worked for a living.

We tell the grunts and zoomies what to do, when to do it, and where to go!

Craig
______________

So Craig are you under the illusion that we listened ðŸ¤ª

Byron
_______________

No! No illusions that the grunts and zoomies paid any attention.

Funny story. Drew and I came up with the bright idea to tell TBS Lieutenants about the Marine Reserves. Drew and I were at Quantico for Command and Staff College. 

Most of us did not know anything about the Reserves when we were on active duty.  When I got off active duty I grew my beard and started college.  After a few months I decided to look into the Reserves and went to Glenview. I had a full beard, and I saw a Captain in the hall. I told him I used to be a Marine Lieutenant and did they have any Reserve jobs for a commo.  He said no. I had no idea there was a Comm Squadron near my home!  Almost missed my Marine Reserve career.

Drew and I contacted TBS and volunteered our services for a presentation.

The RLU Col went high and to the right. He caught us at some reception and fired us up! How dare we do this without clearing it with him! He was afraid that the active duty would think this was an effort to steal Lieutenants from the active forces to the Reserves.  Pretty stupid, but he was wound up.

I was apologizing and genuflecting.  Not Drew. He fires up the Col. Great fight!  The dispute went up to the General level, and we were permitted to make our pitch to TBS. 

The RLU Colonel told us our presentation would be closely monitored and we had better watch it. No stealing from the active duty ranks.

They added a Zoomie presentor to Drew and I. He was a CH-46 pilot with two silver stars.

The Zoomie pitched the zoomie business and Drew pitched the grunts. I talked about the air control, comm elec, and electronic warfare units. We told them about Reserve units, how to get a Reserve job, where the units were, and to consider joining the Reserves if they decided against an active duty career.

I used my line about commo's telling the grunts and zoomies what to do and where to go. Got a good response. 

I think those Lieutenants learned much more about the Reserves than we ever knew while we were on active duty. I think it likely we got some good officers in the Reserves.

______________

Interested but too early to say dates work.


Ken Morey,33,PP

______________

Larry/Joe great job...this location looks outstanding.  Either weekend works for Sue and I; Sunday Mothers Day Brunch at this location will be very busy.  We will most likely drive, but MKE is a superior option to ORD.

S/F Mac 

______________

Sounds good to me so far, but Mother's Day is out.

Lynn Wardlow

______________

Gents,

Thanks for the planning…Lake Geneva is a wonderful spot…we have both weekends on our calendar, but prefer the 10th-12th as 3rd Battalion 5th Marines reunion is the following weekend and it would be nice to wrap the trips together

Byron
______________

June & I are in for, during week, Grand Geneva dates…

Comments: MLK is better than ORD but be careful you don’t connect thru ORD!

Last time I played golf there rate is over $100 but Retired/Military rate was $30 cart fee ðŸ¤©

James Homan Col USMC (ret)

______________

Sounds good, but I am unable to travel. 

Semper Fi

Jim Bailey

______________

I would love to attend in Lake Geneva, however, I cannot predict if we will be able to attend.  Jack is still recovering from pancreatitis, et al, that started 15 July 2022. Hopefully final surgery scheduled for next week. 

Thanks for the invite.

AliceMarie Joralemon-Strong

______________

Joanne and I are good for the first week/weekend of May. 

I get to drop off my youngest son at O’Hare tomorrow morning for the first leg of his PCS to Okinawa.  They have changed the tour length from the 12 months when I did it in ’86 to 36 months for him.

 

Semper Fi!  

 

Terry Sebold


_______________


Hey Marines,

The 10-12 May dates would work for us but the weekdays following would be even better. We have our Grandson’s high school graduation Sunday 19 May in Wheaton, IL so we wouldn’t be able to make the Reunion if it was that weekend.

Semper Fi,


Woz & Linda


More info about the resort at:  https://www.grandgeneva.com/














Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Jo Ann Wilkes Rest in Peace.


Today has been the saddest day of my life. After over 8 months of battling Leukemia and fearing this day, I still was not ready for it, At 1330 hours today my Beautiful, smart, and sweet wife died in my arms.

After me surviving over the loss of my parents and all my siblings, as well as very many dear friends, I know that I will probably somehow survive this, but right now I can’t imagine how. We were married for 57 years, six months, and 10 days. I don’t know what I will do without her. Many thanks to all of you for your love and support.

All my love,


John Wilkes


Friday, June 14, 2023 at Zaagman Memorial Chapel, 2800 Burton St. S.E., Grand Rapids, MI.


Visitation 10:00 am, Funeral service 11:00 am Burial after at Woodlawn Cemetery. 


Please forward to anyone who might be interested. Obituary is on Zaagman's web site and below: www.zaagman.com


John Wilkes

_____________


Jo Ann Westover Wilkes was born in Grand Rapids on December 5. 1946 to Ruth and Theodore Westover. She grew up attending Dickinson School, Burton Junior High, South high for a short time, and graduated from Mount Mercy Academy in 1965. 


She first met her husband John when she was only sixteen on a big sail boat in Lake Michigan. He thought she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. After her graduation from Mount Mercy, his graduation from Vanderbilt University, and his acceptance by the Marine Corps to muster into Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia, they decided to marry. 


Once the decision was made, there was little time to plan a wedding before his reporting date of January 6, 1966. Consequently the wedding took place on New Year’s Day. They had a short honeymoon in the nation’s capitol before a friend of John’s took Jo Ann to the airport to fly home and then took John to Quantico making it before his deadline by minutes. The couple could not see each other for three months until she traveled to Quantico for his commissioning as a Marine 2nd lieutenant. 


Jo Ann was a wonderful military wife throughout his five years of active duty and 26 years as an active reserve officer. She was a very talented seamtress making sure his uniforms always fitted perfectly with the appropriate creases. John always claimed to be a good Field Marine, but Jo Ann always kept him out of trouble as a Garrison Marine. She even functioned as his barber. 


In the beginning, it was financially difficult on a lieutenant’s salary. During Officer’s Basic School, she had to spend every winter’s day from dawn to dark in a rundown unfurnished apartment with only John’s German Sheppard to keep her company, but she never complained, and always made the best of it. Somewhere along the line she took up embroidery, knitting, and crocheting and greatly excelled at all of those endeavors. She completed many beautiful projects many of which are framed and still hanging magnificently in her beautiful house. 


Things improved slightly when John was promoted and sent to the State Department’s Vietnamese language school. During the summer and fall of 1967, they lived in a furnished efficiency apartment on the seventh floor of a Dupont Circle high rise, but two people and a big dog were not crowed enough. She purchased a little Silky Terrier puppy, which later started a several years hobby of breeding, raising and showing, Silky Terriers. Eventually the last Silky Terrier died, but she has always been a devoted mother to John’s big dogs, a succession that has lasted up to the present with their 85 pound Dingo. This was probably facilitated by the sad realization that she was not able to bear children, and again she made the best of it. 


While John was in Viet Nam in 1968 and 69, Jo Ann took courses in history and biology at Grand Rapids Junior College and did volunteer work at Blodgett Hospital. When John returned he was accepted to Vanderbilt Law School, so they headed back to Nashville. Jo Ann immediately got a job as a secretary for the Methodist Publishing House to help pay the very expensive bills. Again she excelled at the secretarial skills needed and during the three years of law school and subsequent seven years of John’s law practice in Nashville. She had increasingly fruitful legal secretary jobs with the Tennessee Department of Insurance, one of the biggest and most prestigious Nashville law firms, and even secretary to the Governor of Tennessee for two years. Finally it was not necessary for her to work to pay the bills, and she decided to be her husband’s executive secretary. 


During her time in Nashville, she also became very active with their St, James Episcopal Church and its congregation. Fresh out of law school in 1973, John learned to fly and received a pilot’s license. Jo Ann also decided to take flying lessons. She did very well and after fifteen hours of dual training, she was released to fly solo. But she turned it down, because she said the only reason she took lessons in the first place was to be able to land the airplane if John became incapacitated for any reason. 


Around 1980, John decided to leave the law practice to take the position of general counsel of a local international airline, which initiated his new career as an airline executive. He had always maintained a side career as an active reserve Marine officer. His new career as an airline executive took them back to Michigan, then to Ireland, then to Waco, Texas, then to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Jo Ann loved Ireland. After being there 24 months with only a couple of weeks back in the states to help care for her dying father, she was still reluctant to leave. 


Jo Ann was always ready to support John with every kind of support he needed. He never could have succeeded in all his endeavors without her unfaltering help. As they gradually became retired they both became active in the United States Sail & Power Squadron (recreational boating), and the Civil Air Patrol (US Air Force Auxiliary), both of which required a complete new set of uniforms for Jo Ann to maintain. When John decided to become an author, Jo Ann became his typist, amazingly precise proof reader, and best critic for creating his novels. 


Finally the retired couple returned to Park Township, a suburb of Holland, Michigan in 2007 to be close to their families and the beautiful summers. They lived seasonally between their two houses for several years but finally sold the Gulf Coast house when Jo Ann grew weary of traveling back and forth. 


Early in life, as it was with every endeavor she attempted, Jo Ann also became an outstanding cook. Her potato salad, for example, was legendary amongst her family and friends. She also loved to work on the grounds around her beautiful home which she kept immaculate in spite of one of her husband’s ever present large dogs. 


In recent months, with the onset of the terrible Leukemia, Jo Ann remained stoic with tremendous courage to the very last. She was, and will always be, greatly loved by her husband and siblings, all of which have survived her, and all of which say Jo Ann was her father’s favorite – sisters Kandee VanBelois of Jacksonville, North Carolina, Carolynn Maternowski of Edwardsburg, Michigan, Cathylynn Estes of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and brother, Theodore Westover of Saranac, Michigan. She is already incredibly missed by all. Visitation will be Friday July 14, 2023 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Zaagman Memorial Chapel, 2800 Burton St. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. A funeral service will follow at 11:00 am.

____________


John - we share your grief - May the Angels lead Jo Ann into Paradise! And May God continue to give you strength and grace to deal with your loss. We ask this through Christ- Our Lord - Amen

Love and Prayers


Larry + Medy Magilligan

_________


So very sorry, John.  You and Jo Ann and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.


Semper Fi


Beth and Craig Hullinger

_________


I am so sorry to hear that Jo Ann has passed.  Especially from such a terrible disease.


I can only express my condolences and sympathy.  


I wish for the best for you.


Tom Olsen

____________


John, our prayers go out for you and your family members.

Barb and Joe Brooks

___________________

John, please accept our deepest condolences on Jo Ann. Our prayers are with you and your family.


Frank Johnson

________________

Very sad to hear. My condolences. 

Robert L. Hudon Jnr.

____________________

John,

Please accept our sincere condolences on the loss of your beautiful wife. May she rest in peace 

Byron & Janet Hill

____________________


John 

I guess Jo Ann is back on her main mission watching over you full time! You are in our thoughts and prayers, Brother!

Love 

Jim & June

____________________

John, 

May God be with you as you grieve this loss, rest in peace Jo Ann.

Greg & Sue McLaughlin
____________________

John, 

Kay and I send our deepest sympathy and prayers to you on your loss of Jo Ann. May she rest in peace. God Bless.

Will & Kay Holahan







Thursday, July 06, 2023

Sgt Major Tomaeno - Rest In Peace - Semper Fi


I regret to inform you that SgtMaj. Joseph Tomaeno Jr., USMC (ret) passed away after a long illness on Monday, 3 Jul 2023.  SgtMaj. Tomaeno had been 1st Sgt of MWCS-48 and VMGR-234 at NAS Glenview and SgtMaj of 2/24 in Chicago accompanying them to Desert Shield/Desert Storm.  He joined out Corps in Nov 1963 and was sent to Vietnam as an engineer.  He retired on 30 Nov 1993.


Mass will be held on 
Tuesday 18 Jul 2023, 1000, at St. Peter Damian Catholic Church, 131 S. Crest Ave., Bartlett, Illinois.

Please communicate this information to all Marines.

Semper Fi,


Bob Dart

__________


Sgt Major Tamaeno was an outstanding Marine. He was professional and sharp.  He took care of his Marines. And funny and salty, in a good way. He looked great in uniform, with his hash marks nearly touching his Sgt Major Chevrons. The photo on the right is from the internet - his were closer.

He served in two wars - Vietnam and Desert Storm. And his son was mobilized for Desert Storm with him.

Sgt Major Tomaeno had a great story about tanks. He mobilized with 2/24, the Chicago Marine Infantry Battalion. His son was mobilized with him and they were soon in Iraq for the war.

Sgt Major Tomaeno saw a Marine on an Iraqi tank, and yelled "Get off of that tank. You don't know what you are doing. You will get hurt."

The Marine replied, "Son, I do know what I am doing. I am trying to get this running so we can use it." 

Sgt Major Tomaeno noted that there were few Marines in Iraq that could call him son. But the grizzled old Warrant Officer was one of them.

The Warrant Officer said, "The last time I was on one of these tanks was in Korea. But this is the last time. After this I am going to retire."


Semper Fi, Sgt Major

Craig Hullinger

________

RIP Sgt Major Tomaeno

Keith Carr

_______________

Craig, thanks for the notification. Much appreciated.

Sadly, with our advancing age these notifications will now become much more frequent.
I plan to be at St. Damian's church.

May the Sergeant Major Rest-In-Peace!

s/f

Bob Raclaw

________________

Thank you for this notification. We rolled into Kuwait City together a few years ago.

MGySgt Harper

Semper Fi!

_____________


God Bless the SgtMaj., his family 
& friends.

S/F brother Marine….

Ivan Zimmer

______________

So sorry to hear of Joe Tomaeno’s passing. My favorite time and memory with Joe was at 29 Palms on a CAX. I was the OIC of a small MWCS-48 Detachment of about 28 Marines and Joe, then a Gunny, was my Senior SNCO.

When there was a fatal helicopter crash up on the plateau Joe happened to be at the flight line and he jumped into another chopper to assist the rescue mission anyway he could at the crash site.  That was his heroic moment.

As the year before, our supporting unit was vacating the Expeditionary Air Field (EAF) a day before were to be bussed out of the desert by commercial busses.

Joe got hotel accommodations for us at a Palm Springs motel and we got 2 CH 46 pilots to fly us out of the EAF and to the Palm Springs civilian airport a day before we were scheduled to leave the desert. Joe did an outstanding job organizing and leading the Marines through every evolution on and off the field.
I gained a lot of respect for Joe during that 2 week exercise for his initiative and dedication to duty. That was the start of a relationship we had for many years to come.

Rest in Peace and Semper Fi Marine!

Woz🇺🇸

Ron Wozniak