Recon Marine Passes at Age 80

Dr. Dale Wayne Langford, 80, of Conway died Saturday, May 8, 2010, at his home, surrounded by his family and friends. He was born Feb. 21, 1930, in Jefferson, Ia., a son of the late Thomas L. and Ester (Gline) Langford. Five brothers and four sisters also preceded him in death.

Dr. Langford was a United States Recon Marine Veteran of the Korean War, a member of the Marine Corps League Faulkner County Detachment #1323 and a retired chiropractor. He was a member of Calvary Chapel Church in Conway and served as a deacon. He was a member of the Conway Noon Lions Club for 25 years and served as a past president.

Dale graduated in 1958 from Palmer Chiropractic College in Davenport, Ia. He practiced in Conway for 37 years before retiring in 1995. He had served as President of the Arkansas Chiropractic Association and also served on the Arkansas Board of Examiners. In his retirement years, he enjoyed being a member of Nail Benders for Jesus.

Survivors are his wife, Frances (Anderson) Langford; daughters, Beth Brown (Darvin) of Mountain View; Sharon Butler (Rob) of Magnolia; Joan Swaffar (Charles) of Conway; step-son, Brian Miller (Monica) of Clarksville; Jason Miller of Atkins; Chris Miller (Sarah Jo) of Morrilton; sisters, Jean Burk of Iowa; Kay Buswell of Kentucky; 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

The Faulkner County Detachment #1323, in a unanimous vote, has passed a motion to rename the detachment after this Korean War hero.  The family has given their permission to name the Conway, AR based detachment the Dale W. Langford Detachment #1323.  Once approved by MCL National HQ, a new charter ceremony will be announced.

NW Arkansas Detachment #834 Awards

During the Marine Corps League 2010 Department Convention in Conway, AR, the NW Arkansas Detachment #834 received the following awards:

MCL Jr. Vice Commandant’s Award – 100% Membership

MCL Dept. of Arkansas – Commandant’s Award

MCL Dept. of Arkansas – Jr. Vice Commandant’s Award – 2010 greatest percentage gain of membership – 237%

MCL Dept of Arkansas – Meritorious Unit Commendation



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NW Arkansas Det. #834 Individual Awards

MCL Distinguished Service Award – Lewis D. Kaslow – Department Recruiter of the Year

MCL Distinguished Service Award – Lewis D. Kaslow

MCL Distinguished Citizen Award (Silver) – James H. Bolin

MCL Distinguished Citizen Award (Silver) – Thomas R. Morrow

MCL Distinguished Service Award – James H. Bolin

MCL Distinguished Service Award – Thomas R. Morrow

MCL Cert of Completion of Leadership Training – Richard James

MCL Cert of Completion of Leadership Training – David Bisbee

MCL Cert of Completion of Leadership Training – Lewis D. Kaslow

35th Anniversay of the Fall of Saigon

On Saturday May 1 at 14:00 , at the Vietnam Veterans Chapter House in Chaffee Crossing -  Fort Smith, Arkansas, the Local Vietnamese Community held an anniversary of the June 30, 1975 fall of Saigon. The Marine Corps League Detachment #1248 was asked to provide Color Guard, rifle salute and taps, for the event.

It was also attended by Department of Arkansas Commandant, Johnny Gothard, Department Paymaster, Randy Rigg, Department Assistant Chaplin, Chris Remaley, and Department Sargent at Arms Tom Payne. The color guard and firing detail was under the Direction of Detachment #1248 Commandant, Robert Rivera. Taps was played by Michael Kimble.

Several Leaders from the Vietnam’s local community spoke. “It was very moving to hear them speak of how important freedom is and how it must be defended at all cost.” said Department of AR Commandant, Johhny Gothard “The also displayed gratitude they have for those you have fought and died for freedom, and how easily it can be lost. They were very appreciative and grateful for their new life in the U.S.A.”

Faulkner County Detachment Announces Marine of the Year

Dwight Witcher - Faulkner County Detachment #1323 Marine of the Year

The Faulkner County Detachment #1323 in Conway, Arkansas conducted its annual awards ceremony during a specially called detachment meeting on Thursday, April 29, 2010. David Skelton, the chairman of the detachment Marine of the Year committee announced that this year’s recipient was Dwight Witcher , the current Sr. Vice Commandant.
Detachment Commandant, David Dubois commented, “The Marine of the Year committee made a great selection… Dwight is a hard working and dedicated Marine and I attribute much of the detachment’s success this past year to his sound leadership.”

Other Marine Corps League Awards Presented:

Marine Corps League Distinguished Citizen Medal (Bronze)

• Dwight Witcher
• Frank Lambert

Marine Corps League Distinguished Service Medal

• David Skelton
• W.T. Thomas
• Donnie Hay
• Al Meyer
• Jim Stroud

Marine Corps League Meritorious Commendation (Individual)

• James Gibson

AR Veterans Breakfast – Business Owner Opportunities

When: Tuesday, April 27th, 2010
Where: Statehouse Convention Center, Little Rock

If you are a veteran and a small business owner, you are invited to enjoy a continental breakfast and hear Mr. Tim Foreman, executive director of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Center for Veterans Enterprise in Washington, D.C., discuss the VA Veterans Verification program.

VA has unique buying authority to support veteran-owned small businesses. Businesses wishing to benefit from VA’s Veterans First Contracting Program must agree to be verified. Only Verified Veteran-Owned Small Business or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB or SDVOSB) have the opportunity to compete for VA contracts under the Veterans First Contracting Program. The program defines priorities for contracting preferences within VA, placing SDVOSBs and VOSBs first and second, respectively, in satisfying VA’s acquisition requirements.

Click HERE to learn more and register for this event.

Dept Convention Guest Speaker Announced

The Department of Arkansas annual convention for the Marine Corps League is scheduled for May 14-15, 2010 in Conway, Arkansas. Faulkner County Detachment #1323 Commandant, David Dubois, announced today that Marine Colonel Patrick Ferral has accepted an invitation to be the guest speaker at the convention.

“We are very excited to have Col. Ferral for this year’s guest speaker,” commented Commandant Dubois. “Col. Ferral has had a distinguished Marine Corps career,” added Dubois, “His personal decorations include The Legion of Merit, three Bronze Stars and two Defense Meritorious Service Medals.”

Col. Ferral has recently relocated to Arkansas after accepting the position of MJROTC Senior Marine Instructor at Catholic High School for Boys in Little Rock, AR. To learn more about the colonel and meet him in person, MCL members need to contact your detachment for Dept 2010 convention registration forms or contact David Dubois at drdubois@gmail.com or by phone at 501.733.2592.

An Iwo Jima Veteran

It seems like the subject of Iwo Jima has come up quite a bit lately here in Central Arkansas, and they say things happen in “threes”. First, Young Marine SgtMaj Sara Stovall visited Iwo Jima and said it was the trip of a lifetime; 2nd the NW Arkansas detachment received a U.S. flag flown over the US Marine Corps Memorial (the statue of the flag raising over Iwo Jima); and now, #3, the topic of this post.

Yesterday, I received a call that there was a Marine Veteran in the hospital here in Central Arkansas who was feeling down and could use a visit from another Marine. No other information was available. I was, of course, more than happy to respond.

Today I had the honor of meeting and visiting with that Marine Veteran who served in the Pacific and fought the battles of Tinian, Sipan and Iwo Jima. Mr. Roland Coleman is currently in a rehab hospital undergoing therapy after breaking a hip last week in his home. His daughter, Debbie, was there at the hospital during our visit. Mr. Coleman has a long road to full recovery and the family will need some help. I had a great visit with Mr. Coleman. He is wonderful man with a great demeanor.

Mr. Coleman’s daughter shared with me that her father refused the Purple Heart Medal for wounds he received on Iwo Jima. Her uncle has started the process to get that medal awarded from the Department of Defense. I asked her to pass my contact information along to her uncle for the purpose of joining in his efforts to get this Marine the award(s) he so greatly deserves.

I call on all Marine Corps League members in the area to join with me (as their schedule’s allow) in visiting with this Iwo Jima hero and keeping his spirits high. For security/privacy reasons, details will not be posted online. You can contact me at 501-733-2592 or email me at drdubois@gmail.com for more info.

Semper Fidelis!

–
David R. Dubois
Judge Advocate
Marine Corps League, Department of Arkansas

Marine Corps War Memorial Flag

Commandant Lewis Kaslow of the Northwest Arkansas Detachment #854 received a very special FedEx package today. The return address was that of Headquarters & Service Battalion, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C.

The package contained an American flag which was flown atop the Marine Corps War Memorial in Washington, D.C. on November 10th, 2009 — the 234th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. The accompanying Certificate of Flag Presentation was signed and authenticated by J.F. Schumacher, Adjutant – Headquarters Marine Corps.

“As I read the certificate,” commented Commandant Kaslow, “I had cold chills go down my back as I read the history and significance of the Marine Corps Memorial. To hold a flag that had been flown on that great Memorial was inspirational and humbling. If you have ever been to Washington D.C. and seen the Memorial, you know what I mean,” added Kaslow. “Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz captured the essence of the moment when he said ‘Uncommon Valor Was A Common Virtue’.”

“This honor would not have been possible,” said Commandant Kaslow, “if it were not for the effort and tenacity of Mr. Zachary Hartman, Legislative Assistant to Congressman John Boozman. He filed the necessary paperwork and completed the follow-up to make it happen.”

The Flag will be dedicated at the next Detachment meeting on Tuesday, 16 March 2010 and a color copy of the Certificate of Flag Presentation will be given to a every Marine and Corpsman in attendance.

For more information, contact Lewis Kaslow at 479-254-0005 or email him at LewisKaslow@aol.com

Vietnam Portraits – MacArthur Museum

Today’s press conference marked the opening of Warriors: Vietnam Portraits by Two Guys from Hall at the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History in Little Rock.

This exhibit focuses on the photographs taken by former Governor Jim Guy Tucker and Bruce Wesson during their tours in Vietnam. The exhibit runs through August 8, 2010.

MCL Deptartment of AR Judge Advocate, David Dubois, accompanied by Dub Allen, American Legion Department of Arkansas Adjutant and Stephen McAteer, Executive Director of the museum, viewed the exhibit prior to the press conference. “The exhibit was moving and very well done,” commented Dept J.A. David Dubois. “I highly recommend everyone passing through the Little Rock area to stop by and tour the MacArthur Museum. What a collection of history honoring those who served.”

The MacArthur Museum is located at 503 E. 9th Street in Little Rock and is open Tues – Fri, 0900 – 1600 | Sat 1000 – 1600 | Sunday 1300 – 1600

Iwo Jima – Message Home

15 year old Young Marine Sgt. Major Sara Stovall of the Razorback Young Marines visited the islands of Guam and Iwo Jima this week as part of the 65 anniversary of the battle for the Pacific. On March 2nd, Sara flew to Iwo Jima with veterans of the battle. Upon her return to Guam she sent the following message (below picture) to her mom, Frankie Stoval, the C.O. of the Razorback unit.

“Today we went to Iwo Jima and it was a blast! We went to the top of Mount Surabachi and I saw the memorials for the Americans and the Japanese. It brought tears to my eyes when I saw how the veterans reacted to being on the island again. I met the oldest veteran that was there, and yes I took my picture with him. He is 97 years old and is one of the three living commanders left. There was also a ceremony and they had honors with the flag and gun fire. They retired the colors with Young Marine Hill and another Young Marine (Durban) laid a wreath at the end of the memorial. I went down to the beach to get some black sand.
I also met the Commandant of the Marine Corps and we got a group picture with him because he was in a hurry. I also met the Admiral of the Navy. I took plenty of pictures and I think they are pretty good. I will tell you about the trip in detail when I get home.
I love you very much mom and hafa adai (hello) from Guam!!! LOVE YOU MOM! Tell dad that I said “Hi” and that I love him too!”

- Sara

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YM SgtMaj Stovall walking the Sands of Iwo Jima with Mt. Surabachi in the background.

YM SgtMaj Stovall holding U.S. Flag atop Mount Surabachi