New Chapters in the Second Marine Division Association
Greetings Fellow Second Marine Division Association Members, I am writing to you and eleven other members who had served on active duty with the 2dMarine Division sometime in the 1970s up to the present and who had provided me with an email address. You are one of several exclusive groups who I firmly believe are the future of our association. I need your help to ensure that future. Let me explain why and how.
Most of the established chapters of our association were formed after WW II and organized by state or group of states, such as the Texas Chapter or the New England Chapter. Recruitment by the geographical chapters varied but was generally passive in nature. With improved transportation and communications, times have changed.
For a variety of reasons, most Marines identify more with their former active-duty unit than with the state they came from. I know that from both personal experience and interacting with Marines here at Lejeune on a daily basis. That’s why last year we initiated chartering new chapters associated with division organizations, i.e. regiments and battalions.
Today we have two recently-chartered chapters, who directly support their former battalion. They are the “First Wave Chapter” (2d AA Bn) and “The Destroyers” Chapter” (2dLAR). The First Wave chapter is assisting the 2d AA Bn with invitations to the battalion’s Gator Ball, held in May in Morehead City. The Destroyers Chapter is raising money to expand the battalion’s war memorial in front of the battalion headquarters. The chapter officers, most of who served in the 1990s, are having a great time getting to help their old outfit and interacting with the Marines assigned there today.
For those of you who read Follow Me, you are no doubt aware that I visit one or two battalions a month to tell them about our fine association. My objective is to make sure they know we exist so that in the future-perhaps after they leave active service-they can join up or, possibly, join at that time.
Here’s my request. I need three or four of you to help found and serve as officers of a chapter comprised of men from your former battalion of the 2d Marine Division. What I learned with the first two chapters is that you will have many men-already SMDA members-eager to join. I can assure you that the duties for founding the chapter are not time consuming. I have drafted a set of by laws that can be used for when you first get going more or less as a club and another set for when you want to incorporate. The biggest job will be contacting vets and asking them to join the association and then the chapter. SMDA has over 60 1/8 members who would be interested. Also, I have been authorized to give $500 to assist you with mailings and other start-up costs. You will have my total.
If you are interested, please contact me by phone or email.
Semper Fidelis,
LtCol David B. Brown, USMC (Ret.)
Executive Director
Second Marine Division Association
(Off) 910-451-3167
(Cell) 919-649-5279
http://www.2dmardiv.com/
