June 2019

Gunnar S. Carlson a recent graduate of the U.S. Military Academy shows off his West Point ring, with his proud father, Eric Carlson. The pair attended a formal banquet preceding graduation. Gunnar is now heading to the Army infantry officers course followed by Ranger School and Airborne jump school at Read more…

CC Jerry Payne had sad news for us. His wife, Marcia Kay Payne, 72, of Spotsylvania passed away on Thursday, June 13 at Mary Washington Hospital. Mrs. Payne was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Survivors include her husband, Benjamin Jerry Payne; children Alisa K. Thompson (Ethan) and Scott Payne (Rachel); Read more…

Happy Birthday later this month to USMCCCA Tribal Elder and proven Association workhorse Don Knight in Kensington, Maryland. Don, who will be 95 on June 25, was born and raised in Weymouth, Massachusetts, and upon graduation from high school, he and five classmates “escaped” the draft by joining the U.S. Read more…

National VP Shawn Rhodes and affiliate member Linda Oliver are among the Florida-based media covering the educator workshop at MCRD Parris Island this week. Special thanks to RS Tampa MAC Marine Sgt. Calvin Shamoon and RS Jacksonville MAC Marine Cpl. Mike Hernandez for the invite.  Watch this space for an Read more…

Next month the Smithsonian is hosting “Toward a More Inclusive Women’s Military History,” a symposium considering the past and future of women’s military history. As part of the event, Breanne Robertson Chen will be moderating a roundtable discussion on female Marines’ history that will feature the wonderful Col Mary Henry Read more…

Terry Lydell writes: I am looking for some help in locating some WWll correspondents or their files or family. Our family is trying to find the remains of our uncle who went MIA November 29, 1943 in Bougainville Solomon Islands. He was a Marine Corps Paratrooper with Company B, 1st Read more…

Foundation President Fred “Flash” Lash, has has joined Military Historical Tours, Inc. (MHT) as its Vice President for Communications.

Veteran public relations and communications professional Fred Lash has joined Military Historical Tours, Inc. (MHT) as its Vice President for Communications.

A career Marine officer, Fred’s first assignment was as a platoon commander with the 26^th Marines in South Vietnam.  He later served as a reconnaissance company commander and battalion executive officer with the 3^rd Marine Division on Okinawa.  He also was a company commander at both the Presidential Retreat at Camp David, Maryland and Marine Barracks, Washington, DC (8^th and I).  Later, he was assigned as the director of the Joint Public Affairs Bureau in Beirut, Lebanon (1983) and spokesman at the Defense Department for Latin American Affairs from 1984-1986.

A Silver Owl member (25 years) of the National Press Club, Fred has also been an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) since 1988. 

“Not only is Fred regarded as a consummate communicator who has years of experience with both national and international news media, but he also is extremely knowledgeable of veterans organizations and their members’ needs, interests, and concerns,” said MHT founder and CEO Colonel Warren Wiedhahn, USMC (Retired).

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