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FORWARDING AND ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTEDTO:ONCE A MARINE ALWAYS A MARINEAll annual dues expire on August 31st of each year. Ourmembership dues are 40.00 a year and are due prior toAugust 31st. Please make your check payable to "Pvt.George Phillips Detachment" and send to the Detachmentaddress.This newsletter and previous issues can be obtained from the new DetachmentWebsite. http://www.pvtgeophillips.org/Please contact the Editor to receive future issues electronically.As a suggestion, anyone wishing to provide material should try to have it to the editorno later than the fourth Friday of previous month. (This doesn’t mean don’tt is a submit anything at all if you need more time, instead please contact the editor.) If sentvia email, please note that newsletter submission should appear the subject line.Next Meeting will be March 19, 2019 @ 1930

March 2019Volume XV – Issue 3Trustee 3Yr:Vacant999-999-9999Commandant:Ed Rau:636-978-3522Trustee 2Yr:Elliot Glassman314-434-4868Sr. Vice-Commandant/Public InformationOfficer:Hugh Smith636-536-7040Trustee 1Yr:Ja mesG rgu ric h314 -852-9511Jr. Vice-Commandant/Mike Moss818-652-9700Jr. PastCommandantGerald Gerling636-271-3778Adjutant/Paymaster:Dennis Simpson636-230-5976Judge Advocate/Benevolence:John (Jack) Bickerton314-304-4360Sgt at Arms:Gerald Gerlin g636-271-3778Chaplain:Larry Schwartz314-780-3710Web Sgt: Brad achment obal.netMail:Pvt George Phillips DetachmentMarine Corps LeagueP.O. Box #1Ballwin, MO 63022Ways & Means:Elliot Glassman314-434-4868Quartermaster:Rick Shelton314-677-0087Eagle Scout Liaison:VacantEditor/Historian:Carl E. Ramsey314-304-7915Meeting Location:225 Old Sulphur Springs RoadBallwin, MO 63021-5356rdMeetings 3 Tuesday ofEvery Month1930 – 7:30 PMDetachmentMembership asof February 2896Meetings 3rd Tuesdayof Every Month1915 – 7:15 PM

Commandant’s CornerMilitary Humor: I once read in Reader’s Digestabout a Marine drill instructor introducingATTENTION ON DECKhimself to new recruits as Staff Sergeant Stone,and he could crush anyone present. He walkedTo members and associate members of ourfrom terrified recruit to terrified recruit,Private George Phillips detachment, MarineCorps League. I am grateful for the opportunity demanding each to give his name. He eventuallyto serve as your Commandant for this coming stopped before one skinny short fellow who lookedready to faint. Staff Sergeant Stone roared at him,year.“And what’s your name, you trembling piece ofThe officers you have chosen for this year are slime!” “Pvt Stonebreaker, Sir.”pledged to making your membership arewarding experience. With the wide range ofactivities in which we engage, from supportingMarch 2019Toys for Tots, and FOCUS Marine Foundation,to name a couple, we have ways to provide all9 – St. Patrick’s Party – 1800 Post #208members opportunities to participate in(See picture of cake)meaningful activities.12 – Staff Meeting – 1900 Post #20814 – 74th anniversary of Pvt George PhillipsMy goal for this year is to increase ourIwo Jima hand grenade exploit, 1945.membership and to promote greater19 – Membership Meeting – 1930 Post #208participation of our members, many who, forhealth or other legitimate reasons, are unable to 19 – Auxiliary Meeting – 1915 Post #208attend meetings and other activities we promotein service to active duty Marines, veterans andtheir families in need.I invite you to contact me by phone, 636-9783522 or email, thermalflyr@yahoo.com, toshare your ideas as to how we can make yourexperience with the detachment moremeaningful.Ed RauCommandantPvt. George Phillips Detachment 1214Marine Corps LeagueApril 20196 – POW MIA Honor Day at Baseball Stadium– 1315 (See Brochure from Bill Kiefer)9 – Staff Meeting – 1900 Post #20816 – Membership Meeting – 1930 Post #20816 – Auxiliary Meeting – 1915 Post #208May 201914 – Staff Meeting – 1900 Post #20821 – Membership Meeting – 1930 Post #20821 – Auxiliary Meeting – 1915 Post #208June 201911 – Staff Meeting – 1900 Post #20818 – Membership Meeting – 1930 Post #20818 – Auxiliary Meeting – 1915 Post #208

MEMBERS MATTER,Dennis Simpson by Lyle McFarlinI was born in St. Louis, Missouri to a thirdgeneration firefighter, Dennis Sr. and his wifeMargaret. I have one younger sister and twoyounger brothers. I went to St. LouisPreparatory North High School until my familymoved to South St. Louis where I graduatedfrom Bishop DuBourge High School. Afterhigh school I went to Meramec CommunityCollege for one year.I enlisted in the Marine Corp in March 1977. Iwas scheduled to go to boot camp at San Diegobut one of the guys at the recruiting stationwanted to go to Parris Island so the recruitersaid you all will go to PARRIS Island. MyMOS (Military Occupational Specialty code)was 5811, Military Police and I attended MPSchool at Fort McClellan, Alabama. I was thenstationed as an MP at MCAS (Marine CorpsAir Station), Yuma, Arizona.I quickly rose to the rank of sergeant, more afact of the post-Vietnam shortage of Marines,shortage in MOS, and duty station, than anyspecial ability on my part, My best friend,Sergeant Marcus Sinclair, a career Marine wasshipping off to DI School, so I joined him forthe adventure and graduated from DI Class 0479 at Parris Island with an MOS of 8511, DrillInstructor. I had to extend my enlistment to goto School. I became a Drill Instructor in ACo,1st Recruit Training Battalion, MCRDParris Island from 1979 to 1981. I put througheight full and several partial platoons. It wasone of the hardest but most rewardingchallenges of my life (nothing like marching afinely tuned third phase platoon you havetrained across the parade deck).In 1989 I was appointed as a U. S. Postal Inspector,investigating everything from mail theft, robberies,burglaries, mail fraud, narcotics, and financialcrimes. It was a great career. I retired from the PostalInspection Service in 2010.Dennis Simpson, D.I., March, 2012, newsletterOne week after retirement I was in Alexandria,Virginia preparing to ship to Iraq. I was hired byMPRI (Military Professional Services Inc.) as aSenior Law Enforcement Professional (LEP). LEPswere embedded with combat troops in Iraq andAfghanistan to provide law enforcement andinvestigative advice to Unit Commanders. They werein high demand by the military for their expertise andguidance. I was assigned to the Joint SpecialOperations command in Baghdad, Iraq where Iworked in the JSOC (Joint Special OperationsCommand) Warrant and Prosecution Task Force.I spent 21 months in Iraq working alongside SpecialForces, identifying, capturing and prosecuting highvalue terrorists I left Iraq at the end of the drawdownin September of 2011.In 2012 I was rehired by MPRI and was sent toAfghanistan with the U. S. Army 1st InfantryAfter discharge I worked for the USPS, starting Division, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. I wasas a mailman. I went to night school at St.Louis University and got a Bachelors’ Degree.

stationed at FOB (Forward Operating Base)Sharana1 in Paktika Province which is 7,400 ft.high in the mountains on the eastern border ofAfghanistan and Pakistan. I worked directlywith Brigade Command to help set up Rule ofLaw and with the S-2 shop (Intelligence) tohelp with terror cell identification andtargeting. I had twelve LEPs under my controlspread throughout various FOBs and COBs2 inthe 1st’s ID AO. We lost four LEP’s to enemyfired during my time in Afghanistan out of atotal of six throughout the entire war. All weresuccessful law enforcement officers withfamilies who went there hoping to make adifference.world’s laziest dog, Gus, a German Short-HairedPointer/Lab mix.I now operate a Security Consulting and PrivateInvestigation business: Simpson Security andAdvisory Group LLC.I joined the MCL as an at-large member in 2007, andshortly thereafter was invited to join the detachmentby then Commandant Gene Richter. I have held avariety of officer position, including Commandantwhich I was tricked into by then Commandant MikeGollon, when he “unexpectedly” departed for warmerclimes in Arizona, throwing the keys to thedetachment to me on his way out the door.It was through the MCL that I met Mickey Drake andTed Kretschmar who introduced me to FOCUSMarines Foundation. What a wonderful organizationof which I now am blessed to be President of theBoard of Directors. I have met many great men andwomen through my association with the detachmentand the Marine Corps League and it has certainlyimpacted my life for the better.I am Dennis SimpsonPicture of me and Capt. Mike Collins,USMC, standing on the roof of FOB Union,Baghdad, Iraq. (Because we were meetingwith senior Iraqi military officials indowntown Baghdad, uniforms were notworn.) March, 2012, newsletter.I came home in August, 2012 to my lovely wifeof over 30 years, Dee. Dee is an RN at BarnesHospital. We have two grown sons whom Icould not be more-proud of. Sean works andlives in Chicago, IL, and David lives and worksin St. Louis. I also share the house with the1Sharana, also called Kharana, is the capital of Paktika province inAfghanistan.2COB: Contingency Operating BaseDennis Simpson, March 30, 2013

Chaplain’s Corner:Deceased Life Member, we recently learned about.Thomas Paul WalterAugust 7, 1942 - August 6, 2018Thomas P. Walter, Age 75 of DePeres, Mo.Loving husband of Linda, father of Lindsay (Erik) Meyer and Mary Clare (Adam) Taylor,dear grandfather of Kevin Walter Meyer and Zikyra Walter Meyer, brother of Elizabeth(Terry) Diehl and friend to many and his Stifel and Marine Corps Law EnforcementFoundation Family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to MCLEF.VisitationAUG 18. 10:30 AM - 12:00 PMSt. Gerard Majella Parish1969 Dougherty Ferry Rd.Kirkwood, MO, 63122Funeral MassAUG 18. 12:00 PMSt. Gerard Majella Parish1969 Dougherty Ferry Rd.Kirkwood, MO, 63122Photo courtesy ofArchway Memorial ChapelHank Coleman, 2018.Pic of of detachment member Hank Coleman landing on Peleliu in 1942, he is the one with his armhanging over the side. This was his fourth landing by the time he was 19. Shortly after this picturewas taken a mortar hit the craft, killing 10 Marines, Hank was severely wounded, but survived

FebruaryMeetingCandid’sColonel Jackie Jackson, co-author& the last Harrier test pilotMEN INREDCharlie ScottBrad McNeilJerry KisnerJohn Cooper up frontRon SansoneWe have John’sbackGerry Gerling delivers oath of office toofficers who are present: Hugh Smith, EdRau, and Jack Bickerton.