Our Annual Voluntary Contribution drive is in full swing. So, we are asking those who have not yet contributed for the 2014 fiscal year to send in your check. The funds you graciously donate not only provide our operating monies but, more importantly, allow us to continue to support the Semper Fi Fund and The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. During fiscal 2013, we were able to donate $7,000.00 to these two worthy organizations, thanks to your generosity. I would like to see us continue this and maybe increase our contributions. Remember that any contribution you decide to make is tax deductible.

We would like to encourage a nominal $25 donation from every member.

If you would like to donate at a leadership level, those are as follows:

Anchor $1 - $74
Globe $75 - $149
Eagle $150 OR MORE

All contributions are strictly voluntary, tax-deductible and will be recognized on our website. To view the Contributions Honor Roll, please go to the Class website, then click on: Info Library/Class Assn Info/Contributions.

Please consider making your 2014 donation today!

Checks should be made payable to "38th OCC/Basic Class 3-66 Alumni". On the memo line, please insert "Tax ID No. 54-2099257" and mailed to our Treasurer, Steve McComb, at:

Steve McComb
12904 Glenfield Road
Leawood, KS 66209

Thank you for your continued generous support of the Class!

At the Board of Directors meeting it was recommended that the 2015 reunion be held in Norfolk, Virginia. This decision was approved at the General Membership meeting on Saturday. So, our next gathering will indeed be in Norfolk. A 2015 Reunion Committee is being assembled to make the "50th" a great event! The dates for the reunion will be October 7, 2015 to October 11, 2015. So mark your calendar and allow nothing to interfere! As noted, October 10, 2015 will be the 50th Anniversary of the date most of us reported to Quantico (October 10, 1965) to begin the 38th Officer Candidate Course. Start saving your money and make plans to join your fellow Marines in Norfolk. I will have more information on travel, hotels and itinerary in the near future.

I would like to recognize the efforts of those gentlemen who serve as your Officers and Directors. They were elected or reelected at the General Membership Meeting on Saturday, October 19th. Without their hard work and dedication, our organization would cease to function.

Officers:
Vice President: Andy Blenkle
Treasurer: Steve McComb
Secretary/Clerk: Walt Flynn
Sgt. At Arms: Tom Howe

Directors:
Jim Herak
Sam McClinchie
Dave Mellon
Stan Pasieka
Mike StClair
Jack Sheehan
Chuck Sooter
Greg Stockstill

Dave Mellon, who coordinates our website, at the General Membership Meeting on Saturday, October 19th asked for the cooperation of the Class in installing more content on the website. Dave pointed out that our ability to post meaningful content on the website is almost limitless. He encouraged several initiatives and asked that all materials be submitted to him in digital form, so he can have them posted on the website in the appropriate location (Send your information to him at dave.mellon@att.net )

1. Books - Those Classmates who have written books and would like to have them listed on the website, please send in the details.

2. Pictures for all the Galleries - Remember galleries are set up for the following:

OCS/Basic School Photos
Other Active Duty Photos
Reserve Duty Photos
Reunion Photos

Please specify the album in which your pictures should be displayed and provide sufficient information on who, when and where the photos were taken.

3. Profiles - There is a format for Member Profiles on the website. To access it, please go to the website then click on the following:

Info Library → Class Association Info → Member Profile Questionnaire

If you submitted your profile earlier, it is suggested that you update it as the information is probably rather dated at this point. If you have not previously submitted at Member Profile, please do so and share your story with your Classmates.

4 Vietnam War Experiences - While not all of the Class has had the drive to write a book, everyone has interesting and humorous stories of their service in Vietnam. You are encouraged to type up your story and submit it for posting on the website. Each Marine in the Class has unique stories that when combined create the massive quilt of the "Vietnam experience". Please write down your stories so they are not lost to history. Once received, they will be posted on the website.

We also continue to seek members of our class who are "among the missing". Visit the web site and if you see someone you know whose information needs updating please let me know in order that we can maintain current contact information on as many classmates as possible. Send me the updated information at: pvclay@aol.com

Our Reunion will be held at the Crowne Plaza on Hotel Circle in San Diego from Wednesday, October 16 through Sunday, October 20th. The program is as follows:

Wednesday, October 16

• Arrival
• Check In
• Hospitality Suite

Thursday, October 17

• School of Infantry - Camp Pendleton
• Mission Briefing
• Static Displays
• Infantry Platoon Weapons
• Infantry Platoon Communications Equipment
• Hands On Participation
• Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer
• Lunch (Mess Hall)
• Memorial - Mt Soledad Cross - La Jolla
• Class Photo
• Hospitality Suite

Friday, October 18

• Golf
  (OR)
• Tour of Amphibious Navy Ship
• Lunch (Mess Deck)
• PX Visit at MCRD, San Diego
• Hospitality Suite

Saturday, October 19

• Bi-Annual Business Meeting
• Hospitality Suite
• Banquet
• Change of Command
• Guest Speaker: Wounded Warrior Battalion - West
• Semper Fi Fund

Sunday, October 20

• Check Out

To see the complete detailed agenda and learn how to register for the hotel and for the reunion program, please go to the home page of our website: www.usmc-thebasicschool-1966.com. Here is the direct link to the: Class Registration Form. All you have to do is print the form, fill it out and return it to Terry Cox at the address on the form with your check and you will be done.

Here is the direct link for registration at the: Crowne Plaza Hotel

All you have to do is follow the directions on the site to reserve your room at the $109/per night rate. If you prefer to phone, dial 1-800-939-4249, specify the Crowne Plaza, San Diego and give them the Code: "USMC38thOCC" to get the preferred rate.

Our annual voluntary contributions drive is continuing. Right now, our receipts are a little behind the normal pace, so please make your gift soon! Our voluntary dues program funds some very worthy causes, including the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation and the Semper Fi Fund. Your contributions also provide the working capital for our Reunion.

If you haven't already sent in your contribution for this 2012-2013, here is the information:

Nominal - $25
Incentive: Anchor $1 - $74
Globe $75 - $149
Eagle $150 OR MORE

All contributions are strictly voluntary, tax-deductible and will be recognized on our website. To view the Contributions Honor Roll, please go to the Class website, then click on: Info Library/Class Assn Info/Contributions.

Checks should be made payable to "38th OCC/Basic Class 3-66 Alumni", marked "Contribution" on the memo line and mailed to our new Treasurer, Steve McComb, at:
Steve McComb
12904 Glenfield Road
Leawood, KS 66209

Thank you for your continue generous support of the Class!

The Class has recently learned that David M. Ridgway passed away on May 28, 2011. Dave's OCS Platoon was Delta 1 and his TBS Platoon was Echo 4. A memorial contribution in his name will be made to the Semper Fi Fund.

Gone, but not forgotten!

A database of all those whose names appear on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial (The Wall) is nearing completion. It contains significantly more information than the government data base regarding casualties. For example, it contains the unit the deceased served with, MOS, Burial Site, Know Awards, Coordinates of the Event, Others involved in the Event and the DD-1300 (Casualty Report). The Casualty Report describes the fatal wounds, Next of Kin and many other important facts not available anywhere else. The data base also references Command Chronology pages describing the circumstances surrounding the death.

If you have a friend that died in Vietnam and would like to find out more information about the circumstance surrounding his death, go to:

http://www.coffeltdatabase.org/

Our Reunion will be held at the Crowne Plaza on Hotel Circle in San Diego from Wednesday, October 16 through Sunday, October 20th. Wednesday will feature sea stories in the hospitality suite. The formal program for the Reunion will include a visit to the School of Infantry at San Onofre, Camp Pendleton on Thursday. We will have the opportunity to fire current infantry weapons at School's Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer. We will also see the full spectrum of an infantry Battalion's weapons and communication gear. We will have a remembrance memorial at the Mt. Soledad Cross in La Jolla for those we lost in Vietnam and those who have subsequently passed. On Friday, you can choose to play golf at the Admiral Baker course or enjoy a visit to an amphibious ship. Saturday we will have the Bi-Annual Business Meeting in the morning and the closing banquet that evening. As usual, Sunday will be check out day.

There are directions on the website regarding how to register for your room at the Crowne Plaza. To register for the Reunion events, you need to print out the Reunion Registration form, complete it and send it with your check to Terry Cox. All the instructions are on the website.

As you know, we started our Annual Contributions drive on the Marine Corps Birthday 2012. So, we are continuing to accept contributions for the 2012-2013 fiscal year. Right now, our receipts are a little behind the normal pace, so I encourage you to make your gift soon. Our voluntary dues program continue to fund some very worthy causes, including the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation and the Semper Fi Fund.

We would like to encourage a nominal $25 donation from every member.

If you would like to donate at a leadership level, those are as follows:

Anchor $1 - $74
Globe $75 - $149
Eagle $150 OR MORE

All contributions are strictly voluntary, tax-deductible and will be recognized on our website. To view the Contributions Honor Roll, please go to the Class website, then click on: Info Library/Class Assn Info/Contributions.

Please consider making your 2014 donation today!

Checks should be made payable to "38th OCC/Basic Class 3-66 Alumni". On the memo line, please insert "Tax ID No. 54-2099257" and mailed to our Treasurer, Steve McComb, at:

Steve McComb
12904 Glenfield Road
Leawood, KS 66209

Thank you for your continued generous support of the Class!

I am sad to have to report the passing of several of our Marines. Colonel Woodring, who as a Major was the Company Commander for Delta Company at TBS, a resident of Fallbrook, CA passed away in January. Many from our Class, who live in Southern California, were able to attend the Colonel's memorial service at the Mainside Chapel at Camp Pendleton.

Additionally, we have learned that Classmates Stan Hartman, John Herring and William Pfister have also passed.

Gone, but not forgotten!

We have a great website and I hope you have all visited and are enjoying it. Dave Mellon is currently doing the coordination with our webmaster, Sam Patel. When you have a few minutes, please go to the site and look it over:

www.usmc-thebasicschool-1966.com

Please dig out your favorite Marine pictures and send them to Dave at:

dave.mellon@att.net

Dave will have them added to the appropriate album on the website (OCS/Basic School, Vietnam, Active Duty Post-Vietnam or Reserve Duty)

Please send in your pictures for posting on the website.

Ron Mikat is attempting to locate the following Classmates in order to add their contact information to our directory. He could use your help. If you have any information, which may help Ron in locating these Marines, please send him an email at:

Ron Mikat: romeow@nycap.rr.com

Classmate
Last Known State of Residence:

• Koelin, Kenneth: TX or OK
• McCurdy, II, John: CA
• Owens, Jerry: CA
• Quinn, William: NY
• Sokolowski, Richard: IL
• Stack, Thomas: PA
• Terry, Larry: OK
• Yepez, Octavio: CA

Thanks for your help on this project!

Niles McMaster, who was in TBS Platoon D-3 has developed his artistic skills over the years. To see some samples of his artwork, visit his website: www.mcmastergallery.com.