Milwaukee Symposium Reunion

AMONG MY SOUVENIRS

Congressman Sam Johnson and Dr. Kay Tracy

 
I am attaching a copy of my "bracelet speech". I belonged to an organization in DC called Capitol Speakers. Women in the public eye, such as ambassadors' wives, as well as TV personalities, etc., joined to take a speech course and then practice speaking at monthly meetings. I wrote this little talk to give to that group. Sam Johnson, Congressman, from Texas, was supposed to attend for the presentation but that was the day when the Capitol was evacuated because of an anthrax (?) scare, so he didn't make it. Subsequently, I, along with George and some friends, went to his office and had the presentation there.

Sam Johnson read the little talk into the Congressional Record. As you will gather, I had his bracelet. I am attaching a picture as well. Sam has a bad arm, suffered as a result of torture while imprisoned in the Hanoi Hilton, where he was John McCain's roommate.


 
I still find the whole thing moving. By the way, a nun had John McCain's bracelet.

Dr. Kay Blythe Tracy
_______________________________

[Congressional Record: December 20, 2001 (Extensions)
Page E2347] From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access  [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:cr20de01pt2-31]


AMONG MY SOUVENIRS

______


HON. SAM JOHNSON
of Texas
in the House of Representatives
Wednesday, December 19, 2001


Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following article by Kay Blythe Tracy, Ph.D.:

_______________________

Americans now are inspired and united by every musical note of "God Bless America.'' But back in the sixties, we were a nation in discord, singing many different tunes. Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote songs of Camelot, while Pete Seeger asked, "Where have all the young men gone?''

The story I'm going to tell you today is about what happened to one of those young men. This story began in the sixties, when POW/MIA bracelets were conceived as a way to remember missing or captive American prisoners of war in Southeast Asia. Traditionally, a POW/MIA bracelet is worn until the man named on the bracelet is accounted for, whether it be 30 days or 35 years.

I bought my bracelet in 1970 for $2.50. It has, "Lt. Col. Samuel Johnson, April 16, 1966'' engraved on it. I wore the bracelet faithfully for many years, but eventually took it off and put it away. But every time I opened my jewelry box, I saw it. And every time I saw it, I was saddened, and I thought of Lt. Col. Johnson, and I said a little prayer.

The bracelet led to my first foray into the wonderful world of e-Bay, the on-line auction service, where I listed it for sale. I thought that anyone who would buy it would treasure it and it would be out of my sight, out of my mind. To my surprise, bidding on the bracelet was brisk.

On the seventh, and final, day of the auction, my husband George asked me if I knew what had happened to Col. Johnson.

"No,'' I replied. "I never wanted to know.'' But George went to the Internet, and returned with information. Of the more than twenty-five hundred POWs, and the three to six thousand MIAs, only 591 men returned. My brother, a Marine Lieutenant, did not.

After spending seven years as a prisoner of war, Sam Johnson did.

I was so happy I cried.

When I contacted Congressman Johnson's office, his aide, McCall Cameron, told me that he and Mrs. Johnson were on vacation with their grandchildren.

Grandchildren! More tears.

Congressman Johnson said he would very much like to have his bracelet. So, I cancelled the e-Bay auction, and today I am returning this souvenir. In the words of Randy Sparks, "A million tomorrows will all pass away, ere I forget all the joy that is mine today.''

And in my own words, I say to Sam, finally,

"Welcome home.''

_______________

To Dr. Tracy, I say, "Thank you. We will never forget. God bless you.''

Congressman Sam Johnson

MOAA Stories

Military Stories

We are collecting stories by and about military personnel. 
The stories will be on www.militarystories.us  

If you would like to have your story published email your story to Craig Hullinger at:  

    sarasotamoaa@gmail.com

Your story can be long or short. The story can cover an interesting event or your entire life. You can write about yourself or a friend or relative that you would like to honor. 

Pictures are worth a thousand words. You can write the story for a relative, friend, or ancestor. You can add to your story. We look forward to publishing your story on the blog.

Take a look at the stories to see what people have already written. There is a link on our MOAA blog to the stories:-

sarasotamoaa.us  Look for our MOAA Emblem.

Thank you for your stories.

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Norwegian Viking Valkeries in the Military 

ELVERUM, Norway — An explosion just a few feet away rocks the unmarked station wagon as it travels along a dirt road in the Norwegian woodland.

Immediately, two soldiers jump from their front seats and run for cover behind the carcass of an old, rusty tank. Firing their weapons at targets along the snow-covered hillside, they call for support from the rest of their unit.

This firefight is just a drill, but the soldiers taking part are battling to break down one of the final barriers to women serving in the armed forces. They are training to become part of Norway's Jegertroppen or "Hunter Troops" — the world's first all-female military special forces unit.



More than a year after the U.S. Department of Defense repealed a longtime ban on women serving in ground combat assignments, relatively few have been trained or assigned to these jobs in the U.S. military.

Norway has moved a lot faster to break down military gender barriers. Its parliament introduced legislation in the 1980s that opened up all military roles to women. Last year, Norway became the first NATO country to introduce female conscription.

PHOTOS: World's First Female Special Forces Unit

But the introduction of the all-female special forces unit in 2014 raised the profile of women in the Norwegian military the most.

The unit was started after Norway's Armed Forces' Special Command saw an increased need for female special operations soldiers — particularly in places like Afghanistan where male troops were forbidden from communicating with women. The exclusion of half the population was having a detrimental impact on intelligence gathering and building community relations.

"When [Norway] deployed to Afghanistan we saw that we needed female soldiers. Both as female advisers for the Afghan special police unit that we mentored, but also when we did an arrest," said Col. Frode Kristofferson, the commander of Norway's special forces. "We needed female soldiers to take care of the women and children in the buildings that we searched."

So they created the all-female unit specifically designed to train them.

"One of the advantages that we see with an all-female unit is that we can have a tailored program and a tailored selection for the female operators," Kristofferson said, adding that at the end of the one-year program the female soldiers are just as capable as their male counterparts.

One of the unit's members, 22-year-old Tonje, said the unit is proof that women can do the same job as men, even in the male-dominated world of the military.

"We're carrying the same weight in the backpack as the boys," said Tonje, who did not provide her full name due to the unit's rules. "We do the same tasks."

Click to read the full story:

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/inside-world-s-first-all-female-special-forces-unit-norway-n746041

Love those Norsky Valkyrie Shieldmaiden Vikings

Come Down to Florida To Mix It Up With Your Green Amphibious Comrades

Come Down to Florida To Mix It Up With Your Green Amphibious Comrades

Draining the Swamp = Green Amphibious Monster 

Enormous Green Amphibious Monster Gator on my sidewalk in Sarasota, Florida. He was at least 12 feet long and 300 lbs.

I wrestled him. It was a tough and fierce battle, but I closed with and captured him and finally got him back to the swamp where he belonged.

Eat your heart out, Jim Nesci coldbloodedcreatures.com

OK, OK, so maybe he was not quite 12 feet long. But I still bravely confronted him and drove him back to the swamp.

From One Green Amphibious Marine Monster to Another.

Semper Amphibious Gator

Craig Hullinger Marine

Kaboom !!!

US Forces dropped a very large bomb on ISIS tunnels in Afghanistan from a C-130 a few days ago. 

         en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BLU-82


The Marines dropped a similar bomb in Vietnam from a C-130 in 1970. The Air Support Radar Team on top of Hill 327 controlled the mission.  

We listened to the count down - 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Standby, Standby, Mark Mark.  We ran outside the van before the end of the countdown to watch the show.

The C-130 moved into a steep climb, then a parachute deployed and pulled the very large bomb out of the 130. The bomb swung wildly, then fell to the jungle below, with an enormous explosion.

         KABOOM !!

The drop was an effort to create an instant Landing Zone by blowing the trees out of the way. But the word came back that the trees were in such disarray the effort failed - there were too many fallen trees in the way for an effective LZ.

Sgt Major Phil Malarski, Rest in Peace

Wake Friday Countryside Funeral Home 1640 Green Meadow Blvd Streamwood, IL

 

Yesterday I received a call from Barbara Malarski informing me that Phil had gone into Northwestern Hospital for a minor corrective procedure but during or after had a heart attack which left him in hospice. Just now I received another call from her advising that the Sgt Major has gone to the battalion eternal. Semper Fi... to the end and beyond. Barbara has been a great wingman and supporting arm for Phil throughout his Parkinson's episode.
 
Those that saw him in Milwaukee last fall know of his spirit and camaraderie relating to 2/24, HQ Det-4, and the 4th Marine Division. His resume is attached. Phil left details for Barb to follow through with and provided that his brain was to be given for Parkinson's Research. He will be buried at Fort Sheridan and the rest of the details I will forward as they become available. Please forward to any not on this list that you can think of as interested.
 
Although Barb was sad and knew it was coming, she knew that Phil wanted to live but not to endure the frustration and decreasing capability he was aware of happening to him.
The rest of us will "carry on"   

Colonel George Braun, USMC (ret).... Sends, with appropriate sadness and respect.

_____

George, deeply sorry to hear of the Sgt. Major's passing.  What a great Marine but, more importantly, a great individual.  He has touched so many lives in such a positive manner.  May he rest in peace.
 
s/f

Bob Raclaw
______

Sad news indeed; SgtMaj Malarski will be remembered by all of us for leadership, courage, moral compass, and as the backbone of every organization he was in; rest in peace brother.

S/F

Mac McLaughlin

_____

Thanks for the notification, George. One of my fondest memories of the Sgt Major was him prefacing all his constructive and often harsh but always on target criticisms of us officers with the words, "with all due respect, sir..."
He'll be missed. 

Margaret and I will say a prayer.
 

SF 

Drew Davis 

 _____

It is a sad to receive this news, however, I am so thankful to have had the chance to share time in Milwaukee with the Sergeant Major and Barb last September.

We are all better Marines and better Men having had the opportunity to serve alongside Sergeant Major Phil Malarski. Phil was a living symbol of "Marine leadership" in every positive sense of the phrase.

Rest In Peace my friend,

Byron Hill

_____ 

Marines, I join all of you in reflecting my feelings about the Sergeant Major. Great Marine, husband and father. A privilege to serve with him in 2/24. Always had the Battalion and his Marines first in his thoughts. Semper Fi, Phil.

Robert L. Hudon, Jr.________

An Outstanding Marine. Rest in Peace, Sgt Major Malarski

Semper Fi

Craig Hullinger

______

Marines, I join all of you in reflecting my feelings about the Sergeant Major. Great Marine, husband and father. A privilege to serve with him in 2/24. Always had the Battalion and his Marines first in his thoughts. 

Semper Fi, Phil.

Robert L. Hudon, Jr.
________ Its difficult to express with words the sadness this news brings. I'm so grateful that we were allowed to spend some time with the SgtMajor and Barb in Milwaukee last fall.   In 1978 Fox Company was blessed with several outstanding NCO's, not one over the rank of E-5. The 2/24 CO sent then 1st Sgt Malarski to provide leadership, energy, and knowledge to my group of young warriors. That was more successful than anyone could imagine. Several of those NCO's became E-8s and 9s. The scary part is, he and Mitch are together again.  Rest in peace Sergeant Major.        Semper Fidelis,         Larry Anderson

_____ 


"WITH ALL DUE RESPECT"......SGT MAJOR!! SEMPER FI! 

We all learned much from Phil Malarski who started out most of his instructional leadership lessons with those four words. 
Take care of your Marines was his core belief and now he will be able take charge and care of many who have gone before. 

God Bless Phil and Carry On.

William Holahan

_______

Found out yesterday that the SgtMaj has received his final orders.  Needless to say I am legitimately saddened.  I could not have asked for a better enlisted mentor when I was a "pup".

SgtMaj Allermann

_______

Very saddened to hear of the Sgt Major's passing. A man of exceptional character who was always forthright, loyal and "aggressively tactful" - he was a Marine's Marine and inspired all with whom he came in touch. ALL listened to him - and we were all better Marines because of him. Requiescat in pacem! 

Larry Magilligan
_____





Sergeant Major Philip Malarski, USMC Ret…

Joined the Marine Corps in 1954 attending boot camp at MCRD San Diego. Assigned to an Amtrak unit in Okinawa initially, and later spending 6 months at Camp Lejeune, NC before joining the USMCR at Chicago, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Division, in 1958.

As a drilling reservist for 27 years and as the Sergeant Major of 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines in 1980-81, he was very influential in motivating key enlisted NCO’s in each company of 2/24… located in Illinois , Wisconsin and Iowa, to train to a readiness standard that resulted in 2/24 being the first reserve Battalion in 9 years to meet the Marine Corps Combat Readiness Standards (MCRES). For that leadership he was recommended for and awarded a Navy Commendation Medal.

In 1985, SgtMajor Malarski was selected to be the first Reserve Division Sergeant Major ever. He was the senior enlisted reserve advisor to the Chief of Staff of Reserve Affairs, a Major General, at that time.

As his legacy he and Barbara, his wife of 59 years here with us today epitomizing the Marine Corps family, had adopted three foster children along the way, Antonio Lebron Malarski, a First Sgt, USMC, now based at Iwakuni, Japan, Joseph Malarski, US Army, and Anna Malarski, Chicago Police Dept.

He is also entitled to the Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin which is was authorized by Congress and signed by the President in 2012 to honor veterans who served during the Vietnam War at any time anywhere during November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975

Please stand and applaud to honor his service as a US Marine, with us today!

Written by Colonel George Braun, USMC Ret., former C.O of 2/24 1980-81.

 

Books by Colonel John Burwell Wilkes

http://johnburwellwilkes.com/

Marine Corps Birthday Celebrations

Marine Corps Birthday MacDill Air Force Base 

U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General Joseph Osterman, deputy commander, U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) cuts a cake at the 241st Marine Corps Birthday Cake Cutting Celebration on MacDill Air Force Base.

Formal commemoration of the birthday of the Marine Corps began on 10 November 1921. That particular date was chosen because on that day the Second Continental Congress resolved in 1775 to raise two battalions of Continental Marines.

Throughout the world on 10 November, U.S. Marines celebrate the birth of their Corps -- the most loyal, most feared, most revered, and most professional fighting force the world has ever known.

(Photos by Tom Gagnier)

 
___________________________________________

Very nice Marine Corps Birthday celebration at MacDill Air Force Base put on by CentCom and SoCom at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa today.  They had a cake cutting ceremony at 10:00 am on Nov 9 for all the Marines. The Commandant's message is read, then they bring out the cake.  

Centcom (US Central Command) centcom.mil is a principle fighting Command of the US. They are in charge of Central Asia - Iraq and Afghanistan and surrounding areas. So the best and the brightest are here. It is commanded by a 4 Star - usually an Army or Marine General.

SoCom Special Operations Command. This is the Command of all the special forces - the Navy Seals, Delta Force, Marines Raiders, etc  socom.mil/default.aspx 

So the two top war fighting commands in the US are in Tampa. All the Marines from the two commands were there. Looking good. The Marines now wear their blue trousers with red stripe and the khaki shirt for formal occasions - short of the full dress blues.

The cake cutting ceremony cuts the cake with a sword, and involves giving the youngest and oldest Marines there a piece of cake. The oldest Marine was a retired guy working for Centcom - he was born in 1957.  Made me feel a bit old.

Semper Fi

Craig Hullinger, Marine

Another Birthday Celebration, this time in Sarasota on Nov 10, 2016.  Above, from left to right: Ron and Linda Wozniak, Craig Hullinger, Byron and Janet Hill.

The crowd was a bit older in Sarasota.  Woz and Craig were among the oldest Marines at CentCom. We were among the younger at Sarasota.

The oldest Marine was on Iwo Jima and was 96 years old. The youngest was 19.

Semper Fi

A father and son team at the Sarastoa Birthday event.