Although not an active CC, Gary Daugherty a retired public affairs master sergeant.  was seriously injured while trying to stop a couple of fleeing drug dealers in Johnson City, TN. He retired out of Cherry Point in 2004 after 20 yrs as a CC. He was one of those golden voices on AFN for many years. There may be quite a few folks out there who would like to know how he is doing. Manny Pacheco spoke to him this morning and he is in a rehab center but should be going home sometime next week.

Below is a news story about the incident and what his community is doing to help him through what may be a long rehabilitation process. http://www.wcyb.com/news/30200314/detail.html

Capt. Clark Carpenter relinquished command of Marine Detachment Fort Meade, Md., to Maj. Beatriz Yarrish

FORT MEADE, Md. (Jan. 12, 2012) – Capt. Clark Carpenter relinquished command of Marine Detachment Fort Meade, Md., to Maj. Beatriz Yarrish during a change-of-command ceremony at the detachment here Jan. 12.

Carpenter, who has commanded the detachment since July 2010, will continue his assignment here as a full-time instructor in the Public Affairs Leadership Department at the Defense Information School here.  He served as an adjunct instructor to the department throughout his tenure as the detachment commander.

Prior to taking command of the detachment, Yarrish served as an instructor in PALD since August 2010 where she was a team lead managing a 4-person instructor team. She also served as a member of the Public Affairs Qualification Course development team, which was responsible for developing new course curriculum. 

Carol Rees, new Foundation Treasurer

John Dodd, Treasurer since the USMCCCA Foundation was revitalized several years ago, will resign that position at the end of the First Quarter, 2012.  As most know, he is a master instructor at the Defense Information School (DINFOS) and the time constraints of that job preclude him serving any longer.   

In reality, the Foundation is also losing the valuable services of John’s wife, Dale, who is a CPA and has served unofficially as an advisor to the Foundation throughout John’s tenure as Treasurer.

Vicki Turney, Foundation President, expressed her thanks to both Dodds for the tremendous help they have given us as the Foundation moved from infancy to financial stability.  “Without their day-to-day hands-on help we certainly could not have achieved our tremendous  growth.”  

Turney announced that Carol J. Rees of  Belleville, IL has volunteered to take on the Treasurer duties and will transition with the John Dodd over the next month or so. 

Carol  served from 1979 to 1986 as a broadcast journalist with assignments at the Far East Network, Okinawa; MCB Camp Lejeune; MCAS El Toro; FEN,  Republic of the Philippines, and MCLB, Barstow. 

She has been an active volunteer in many organizations, including:  The League of Women Voters, Presbyterian Church USA, North Jersey Information Service and National Association of Parliamentarians.  She led a successful petition initiative in Sherwood, Ark., for by-ward election of the city council. 

Carol is married to Alan Ables, a retired U.S. Navy public affairs officer.   Both have been active with us at the last three USMCCCA Conferences.

The letter below contained these photos: an amputee with his new adaptive truck. A pair of newlyweds, one recently released from Walter Reed/Bethesda in front of their new adaptive home and a service person rehabbing on special equipment provided.

(Ed. Note:  The following letter from the Semper Fi Fund  was received at CCHQ January 6 addressed to our Foundation Treasurer John Dodd).  We re-print it in part  to show that your Foundation funds are reaching desired recipients.)

Dear USMCCCA Foundation and Mr. Dodd:

During this Holiday Season and on behalf of our Board of Directors, our staff and volunteers, we thank you for your gift from the USMCCCA Foundation of $5,000 on December 9, 2011.
Your support makes a tremendous difference in the lives of our young service members who have bravely served their country during a critical time in history. 

We are forever grateful for your continuance of your financial support and love for our young veterans and their families.  Bless you for your belief in our mission of “serving those who preserve our freedom.”

Sincerely, /s/ Karen Guenther, Founder, President and CEO

Denig Memorial Site: Directly across from the Denig Memorial are two benches and a stone retaining wall. You can see the Chapel in the background. (Photos by Red Carpenter).

Denig Memorial Site: This is the approved site for the Brig. Gen. Robert L. Denig Sr. Memorial at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Very close by on the left side of the site will be the Puller Overlook with a statue of the famous Marine. To the right is the parking lot.

If you are following the contribution totals to the Denig Memorial on the left side of this page you can see that we are now at $8,232.  Initially, we had set an interim goal of $10,000 as a “go-no-go” point, meaning if we did not reach it by May 1, we would halt all planning.  Given the great initial response we are waiving that point and proceeding to an overall goal of $25,000.

Our energetic Denig Demon’s Memorial committee of Sally Pritchett, Bill Hauptfleisch, Fred Lash and Walt Ford have made several walk-throughs with Museum officials and have solidified the site of the memorial.  As shown in very recent photos by Red Carpenter the site is quite close to both the Museum Chapel and the proposed Puller Overlook which will contain a statue of that famed leader. 

Bricks may be obtained for a $300 donation.

The committee is working closely with a local monument company and a final price of the memorial is expected this month, January.  Due to the unique site of the Denig Memorial, there is room surrounding the memorial for 80 engraved bricks, similar to the ones initially placed on Semper Fidelis Trail by the Florida and Rosenthal Chapters.  As a special inducement, we are offering a free three-line engraved brick with each contribution of $750 or more.  Bricks alone cost $300.  For those who cannot afford the $750 contribution, bricks may be obtained at a donation of $300.  Please consider sponsoring a brick in someone’s name:  Example:  Saluting Mr. Leatherneck, Tom Bartlett.  Or IMO Bob Morrisey, first Exec. Director of the USMCCCA.  You are allowed three engraved lines on each brick, each line containing 20 characters.   Once a contribution is made CCHQ will forward to donors the form for requesting an engraved brick.

The committee feels strongly that the memorial can be ready for dedication by the Marine Corps Birthday, November 10 this year.