The Headquarters Marine Corps, Division of Public Affairs, is currently organizing a series of commemorative events in honor of the 50th anniversary of Operation SHUFLY, the first U.S. Marine Corps engagement in combat operations leading to the Vietnam War.

In an effort to honor all Marines who served in support of Operation SHUFLY, our office is in the process of locating Marines from the squadrons that participated in this Operation. We are contacting Marine publications in hopes you can help by including the short paragraph below in your upcoming publication of the Marine Corps Gazette. We desire to get in contact with as many Marines as possible in hopes they can participate in Operation SHUFLY commemorative events next year.

If you served in one of the squadrons listed below as part of this Operation, DivPA is interested in speaking with you to discuss your possible participation in a commemorative event in 2012.

Interested Marines should contact Jeanette Casselano at 703-614-1034 or by email at jeanette.casselano.ctr@usmc.mil

USMC Squadron Time of Rotation
MABS-16, Sub Unit 2 9 Apr 1962 – 30 Nov 1964
HMM-362 9 Apr 1962 – 31 Jul 1962
HMM-163 1 Aug 1962 – 11 Jan 1963
HMM-162 12 Jan – 6 Jun 1963, 1 Jul – 7 Oct 1964
HMM-261 7 Jun 1963 – 30 Sep 1963
HMM-361 1 Oct 1963 – 31 Jan 1964
HMM-364 1 Feb 1964 – 30 Jun 1964
HMM-365 8 Oct 1964 – 30 Nov 1964

Your assistance in spreading this message is greatly appreciated and we hope you can support. Thanks in advance, and we look forward to hearing from you.

Lina Suarez
Headquarters Marine Corps
Division of Public Affairs
Community Relations
703.614.8010

What is it about November 11…mmmm…hey, that’s a holiday…maybe I don’t have to go to work or school today; banks and government office will probably be closed…I can sleep in.

That’s what many Americans think about Veteran’s Day today. Many never even give it a second thought. Veteran’s Day doesn’t always fall on the 11th. If the 11th is a Sunday, Veteran’s Day will be recognized on the following Monday, but most have forgotten what it’s all about.

Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11 each year, originally in commemoration of the armistice of World War I. When most of us were young our parents taught us what Veteran’s Day was all about. It marked the end of World War I and  was always a solemn day to all Americans who had just come through World War II, because the First World War was to have been “The War to End All Wars” .

Read the Article Here

Welcome to
Veterans Homecoming Week
Nov 5 – 11, 2011
“An American tribute to ALL Veterans and First Responders”

Saturday, Nov 5:
-Flag Retreat: 5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Veterans Registry, Tactical Operations & Veterans Village: 9am-5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
Day Room: 9am-6pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: 8am-6pm at Welk Resort Branson – free
-Tribute to Bob Hope and the USO performance & concert: 2pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-571st Air Force Band Concert: 2pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Veteran Walls of Heroes Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
-KISS Statue on Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
-2nd Annual Branson West Veterans Parade and Flag Lighting Ceremony: 5:30pm in Branson West – free
-Veterans History Project: Stories needed for Library of Congress – call Dick Erickson 417-231-3866
-General Tommy Franks Traveling Road Show and Classroom: located at Branson Mall – free
-Candlelight Memorial Service: 6pm at Branson Landing sponsored by Submarine Association – free
-Sail the USS Branson Belle “Troop Ship”: 8pm at Showboat Branson Belle – 417-338-3911 – $44 per
-The B-25J Mitchell Medium Bomber of the Commemorative Air Force will on display and providing rides at the Branson West Airport. Rides will cost. Display – free
-Book signing: Dick Hrebik with: Corps Vet and The Warrior Among Us, Veterans Museum. Call 336-2300

Sunday, Nov 6:
-Reveille and Retreat: 7am & 5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Veterans Registry, Tactical Operations & Veterans Village: 9am-5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Day Room: 9am-6pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: 8am-6pm at Welk Resort Branson – free
-Veterans Museum serving Hot Dogs: 11:30am – 2:00pm. Donations accepted for Ave of Freedom – free
-Veteran Walls of Heroes Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
-KISS Statue on Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Veterans History Project: Stories needed for Library of Congress – call Dick Erickson 417-231-3866
-General Tommy Franks Traveling Road Show and Classroom: located at Branson Mall – free
-Veterans Sporting Clays Shoot: 9am at Ozark Shooters Sports Complex – $75 per person
-The B-25J Mitchell Medium Bomber of the Commemorative Air Force will on display and providing rides at the Branson West Airport. Rides will cost. Display – free
-Book signing: Denzil Batson with: Korea We Called It War. Veterans Museum. Call 336-2300

Monday, Nov 7:
-Reveille and Retreat: 7am & 5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Veterans Registry, Tactical Operations & Veterans Village: 9am-5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Day Room: 9am-6pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Army Special Forces “A” Team from Ft. Campbell KY: 9am-5pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Veteran Walls of Heroes Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
-KISS Statue on Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Veterans History Project: Stories needed for Library of Congress – call Dick Erickson 417-231-3866
-Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: 8am-6pm at Welk Resort Branson – free
-All-American Lunch: 11:30-1:00 at Factory Merchants Branson sponsored by Steve’s Treehouse – free for all veterans and active duty personnel, $4 donation for all others.
-Persian Gulf War Veterans Mini-Reunion: 9am-noon at Golden Corral – free
-Flag Retiring Ceremony performed by local Boy Scout Troop 2001: 7pm at Veterans Museum – free
-The B-25J Mitchell Medium Bomber of the Commemorative Air Force will on display and providing rides at the Branson West Airport. Rides will cost. Display – free

Tuesday, Nov 8:
-Reveille and Retreat: 7am & 5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Veterans Registry, Tactical Operations & Veterans Village: 9am-5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Day Room: 9am-6pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-USAF Band of Mid-American “Shade of Blue” Concert: 2pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Army Special Forces “A” Team from Ft. Campbell KY: 9am-4pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Veterans History Project: Stories needed for Library of Congress – call Dick Erickson 417-231-3866
-Veteran Walls of Heroes Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
-KISS Statue on Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: 8am-6pm at Welk Resort Branson – free
-Gold Star Mother and Blue Star Mother Brunch: Steve’s Treehouse hosted by Ozark Mountain Blue Star Mothers. Free 417-272-0630
-Korean War Mini-Reunion: 2pm-5pm Stone Castle Inn, 3050 Green Mountain Dr. 417-230-2278
-POW/MIA Service of Remembrance: Welk Resort Theatre, 8am, 417-336-4232
-The B-25J Mitchell Medium Bomber of the Commemorative Air Force will on display and providing rides at the Branson West Airport. Rides will cost. Display – free

Wednesday, Nov 9:
-Reveille and Retreat: 7am & 5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Veterans Registry, Tactical Operations & Veterans Village: 9am-5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Day Room: 9am-6pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Veterans History Project: Stories needed for Library of Congress – call Dick Erickson 417-231-3866
-Veteran Walls of Heroes Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
-KISS Statue on Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: 8am-6pm at Welk Resort Branson – free
-Rose Petal Ceremony and Women Veterans Appreciation Luncheon: 11am-1pm, Stone Castle Hotel & Conference Center, $20 for lunch and ceremony. 417-339-6823 for reservations
15th Annual Military Gala & Banquet Saluting Strategic Air Command: 5pm, Chateau on the lake. $51 per person 866-481-GALA
4TH Infantry Division Special Hospitality Room: 4pm-10pm, Savannah House. 920-684-0147
-Women Veterans Mini-Reunion: 5pm-8pm, Golden Corral. Free for women veterans/spouse $15 for others 417-230-2278 (RSVP)
-Army Special Forces “A” Team from Ft. Campbell KY: 8am-11:30am The Keeter Center College of the Ozarks
-The B-25J Mitchell Medium Bomber of the Commemorative Air Force will on display and providing rides at the Branson West Airport. Rides will cost. Display – free

Thursday, Nov 10:
-Reveille and Retreat: 7am & 5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Veterans Registry, Tactical Operations & Veterans Village: 9am-5pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Day Room: 9am-6pm at Factory Merchants Branson – free
-Veterans History Project: Stories needed for Library of Congress – call Dick Erickson 417-231-3866
-Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall: 8am-6pm at Welk Resort Branson – free
-Veteran Walls of Heroes Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
-KISS Statue on Display: 9am-6pm, Factory Merchants Branson – free
-WWII Mini-Reunion: 4pm-6pm, College of the Ozarks Reunion and Taps Ceremony –Free
-236th Marine Corps Birthday Ball: 5pm -12midnight, The Hilton-Branson Convention Center 417-334-2360
-Wal-Mart Tribute to Veterans: 9am Wal-Mart Super Center Ceremony, entertainment – Free to Veterans
-Vietnam Veterans Mini-Reunion: 2pm-5pm Camden Hotel and Conference Center 417-338-4048
-The B-25J Mitchell Medium Bomber of the Commemorative Air Force will on display and providing rides at the Branson West Airport. Rides will cost. Display – free
-Book signing – Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge boys to sign: G.I. Joe & Lillie. Veterans Museum – free

Friday, Nov 11:
-78th Annual Veteran’s Day Parade Historic Downtown Branson: 11am, 417-779-3602 or 334-2296
-The Tony Orlando Salute to the Veterans: 2pm, Welk Resort Theatre, 1984 St Hwy 165, A Branson tradition and a chance for Tony to say “Thanks to all our veterans. Free seating in limited call for reservations 800-808-9355.
-The B-25J Mitchell Medium Bomber of the Commemorative Air Force will on display and providing rides at the Branson West Airport. Rides will cost. Display – free
-The Day Room and Vendor Village will be Closed at Factory Merchants Branson
-Book signing: Tom Van Hees with: Life Interrupted by War and Disability Compensation guide. Veterans Museum. Call 336-2300

Saturday, Nov 12:
-Book Signing and Lecture by Dr. Todd Baker at 9am IMAX Entertainment Complex 3562 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway. Dr Baker is the author of “Baghdad ER” free and open to the public 417-335-3533.
-The B-25J Mitchell Medium Bomber of the Commemorative Air Force will on display and providing rides at the Branson West Airport. Rides will cost. Display – free

There are two ways to request your DD214: online and by mail/fax

1) GO HERE : To request your DD214 online: click on ‘Launch the eVetRecs System to start your online request’. Follow the instructions in the pop-up window. The DD214 will be mailed to you after completing the form.

2) You can also download a form to mail or fax your request for your DD214 by clicking on the ‘Download form SF-180 to Mail or Fax your request’. Click the link ‘Download form SF-180 to mail or fax your request’ to download a PDF of SF-180 to your computer. The return addresses for the completed form are located on page three (3) of the form.

Remember, a DD214 Record of Military Service is always free to obtain for the member and family members.

For more information about U.S. Army Human Resources Command, visit:  www.hrc.army.mil

On November 9, 2011, from 11am – 1pm, the Rose Petal Memorial Service and Women Veterans Appreciation Lunch will honor women who have served their country. Held at the Stone Castle Hotel & Conference Center, Draw Bridge Room, 3050 Green Mountain Drive, Branson, the event is open to
women and men who wish to honor women veterans.

Amy Bennett, Missouri Women Veterans Coordinator, will speak at the Rose Petal Service. Bennett has been with the Missouri Veterans Commission since 2010, first as a Veterans Service Officer and as of April, 2011, Women Veterans Coordinator. In her current position she conducts outreaches for women veterans in Missouri, prepares reports to include statistical data reflecting the number of women veterans and is senior editor for the quarterly Missouri Women Veterans Newsletter.

Major (Retired) Vicki Lynn Jones, a decorated US Army veteran, will also be speaking at the Women Veterans Appreciation Lunch. She has the distinction of being the first female helicopter pilot in the Oklahoma Army National Guard, and the first Native American female helicopter pilot in both the Oklahoma Army National Guard, and the U.S. Army.

For the seventh year, the service will pay tribute to women by dropping rose petals into water in remembrance of those who gave their lives.

For registration information, contact Barb Riggle at babsriggle@suddenlink.net or
bvtf1@suddenlinkmail.com, 417-339-6823 or 417-337-8387. The cost of the lunch is $20.00. The registration form will be on the www.bransonveterans.com website.