Division Association. The appeal was
placed by Annette Loper, the newsletter
coordinator, on behalf of Laura and Dale
Millard whose daughter Angie needed a
kidney. Ken and Diane and the Millards
met at the Third Marine Division Reunion
in Milwaukee in August 2006.
While family members were tested, for
various reasons, none were acceptable
donors. Would anyone step up and help?
The Millard family knew it was a lot to ask.
Ken Vos stepped forward. “A brother
Marine was in trouble and needed help.
So I volunteered. It’s what Marines do.”
The tests, which Vos said were less fun
“than my first day of boot camp,” confirmed he was a match.
He also had to go through long discussions with a psychologist, a social worker
and the surgeon. They, too, wanted to know
if he was sure. “Yeah, I’m sure,” he told
them. “I’m a Marine. It’s what we do.”
And if Angie’s body rejects the kidney?
“I’ll have no regrets knowing I’ve done
all I could,” Vos said. “Someone else will
have to step up to the plate.”
Now, both patients are healing nicely
and looking forward to summer and the
future. Angie thanks God every day for
Ken Vos’ generosity and kindness, and they
will forever be part of each other’s families.
Robert A. Hall
Member, Third Marine Division Association
Editor’s note: This story was previously
published in the Wisconsin State Journal
in March 2008. Leatherneck readers will
recognize Robert Hall’s name—he is a
frequent contributor to “Gyrene Gyngles.”
Quick Shots Around the Corps
Cincinnati Marines Raffle Rifle
■ Jimmy Matheson, a former Navy corpsman and current president of the Greater
Cincinnati Chapter of the First Marine
Division Association, reports that the
chapter earned $5,000 by selling raffle
tickets for an M- 1 rifle donated by now-deceased Marine veteran Dale Schmidt—
a Chosin Reservoir Marine. Mr. Schmidt,
who passed away in July 2007, had requested that the rifle be used for a worthy cause. The money was donated to the
Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. Visit the
Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund to find
out how your organization or you can
help: www.semperfifund.org/.
Crazy Caption Contest
Silent Drill Platoon
Garners Service Crown
■ Marine Barracks Washington combat
correspondent Corporal John J. Parry reports that the Barracks’ Silent Drill Platoon marched into the Washington, D.C.,
National Guard Armory to win the U.S.
Armed Forces Joint Ceremonial Drill
Competition, which occurred April 12.
Also competing were the U.S. Army Drill
Team, the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard
Drill Team and the U.S. Coast Guard Silent Drill Platoon.
Footer Places First
■ Lance Corporal Meg Varvil, II Marine
Expeditionary Force combat correspondent, reports that Corporal Benjamin Footer, Headquarters and Service Company,
Marine Corps Security Force Battalion,
II MEF, won a trophy rifle when he fired
for first place in the individual pistol competition during the 2008 Marine Corps
Eastern Division Rifle and Pistol Matches
held March 7-April 4 at Marine Corps
Base Quantico, Va. Footer previously
earned his Distinguished badge in shooting competitions.
Winner
CPL BRANDON L. ROACH
“Why do I always have to pick up the new second lieutenants?”
Submitted by
Nat Holmes
Bella Vista, Ariz.
Dream up your own Crazy Caption. Leatherneck will pay $25 for the craziest one received. It's easy. Think up a caption for the photo at the right and
either mail or e-mail it to us. Send your submission to Leatherneck Magazine, P.O. Box 1775, Quantico, VA 22134, or e-mail it, referencing the number at the bottom right, to leatherneck@mca-marines.org. The winning entry
will be published in two months.
This Month’s Photo
CPL SETH E. MAGGARD
(Caption) ___________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Name _____________________________________________
Address ___________________________________________
City/State _________________________ ZIP ______________
6-08
