Mess Duty For A Cause

The main course being prepared

   As an organization steeped in history, the Marine Corps infuses new Marines with respect for tradition and the lineage that has gone before them.  The Marine Corps Ball is a demonstration of the Corps’ focus on tradition as the event is built around long standing practices.  From the annual address by the Commandant, to the ritual of cutting the cake, the Marine Corps Ball is a highlight of the year for many Marines. 

The opportunity to don dress blues or formal attire and participate in this tradition is sometimes out of financial reach for Marines, especially among the junior ranks.  While providing a fine meal in a distinguished facility is appropriate to the scope of the event, it can result in ticket prices being a big stretch for some Marines.

The leadership of the 25^th Marines at Fort Devens, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Marine Corps League has taken action to address the cost of the ball and make it more accessible to unit Marines.  On weekends when this reserve unit has drill, the Marine Corps League provides food and preparers to serve lunch to the Marines.  For $5.00, Marines receive a fresh cooked hamburger, a grilled hot dog, chips and a drink.  All monies received are put toward subsidizing tickets to the Marine Corps Ball, making it more affordable for the troops.  The unit Family Services Office works with the Marine Corps League to staff the chow line and collect and manage the funds.

Marine Spouse, Danielle Sabourin manned the chow line

On April 12^th, the first of these “burger burns” was conducted during a scheduled drill weekend.  A small, but dedicated and efficient group of Marine Corps League members from Metrowest Detachment #1037 and the Shutt Detachment from Watertown stepped up to handle mess duty for the day.  With a grill provided by Special Services, this stalwart crew prepared and cooked over 200 hamburgers and cheeseburgers, 150 hot dogs, and a number of Kielbasa that was the highlight of the day.  The entire operation was conducted without injuries, with the exception of a few burgers that were sacrificed to the flames.

 With efficiency and style that would be the envy of most food channel reality shows, the Marine Corps League fed 150 troops of the Communications and Motor Transport units who were scheduled for drill.  While the meal was progressing, there was opportunity to see some of the newer equipment that is being fielded today.  The latest “flak jacket” was demonstrated by some of the Communications troops who were training on setting up and using new comm gear.  The protective equipment is much more comfortable and flexible than its predecessors, allowing a greater range of motion and expanded carrying capability.  The opportunity to chat with the Marines during the day was a high point for the League members who attended.  The unit Chaplain and leadership were complimentary in pointing out how much the participation of the Marine Corps League is appreciated.

Metrowest and Shutt Detachment members ready for mess duty

For this first luncheon, a fire team of Marine Corps League members was able to feed 150 Marines while being on base from 10:00 to 2:00.  Future drill weekends will involve larger numbers of Marines, requiring more MCL members to participate.  The next scheduled date is May 17.  Keeping in mind that many hands make light work, it is hoped that the Marine Corps League can deliver a squad sized team for mess duty for a few hours.  Detachments are encouraged to donate funding or to work with merchants to arrange donations.  Like the Marine Corps Ball, Marines pulling together to accomplish the mission is a time honored tradition.  The opportunity is here to show that that spirit still thrives in the Marine Corps League.  Massachusetts State Chief of Staff Jim Hastings is the point person on this project and can be reached at 508 366 0634 or at snopymike@aol.com.

Massachusetts Marine Corps League Marines of the Year

Each year, Marine Corps League Detachments select a member to be Marine of the Year.  In this space, we will recognize those Marines who have been chosen by their peers as having gone the extra mile in exemplifying the ideals of the Marine Corps.

Leading By Example 

Richard Seguin, Marine of the Year

  Somehow Marines find each other.  That was the case in New Bedford for a number of years when local Marines would get together for an informal Marine Corps Birthday celebration.  Through word of mouth and networking, the event expanded, providing a unifying event for local area Marines.

As this informal event grew, there began to be discussion among attendees about creating a formal organization.  With some initial awareness of the Marine Corps League, inquiries were made, committees were formed, and the process of applying for a charter began.  In October 2012, a charter was awarded and the Greater New Bedford Marine Corps League Detachment #1399 was initiated.  Stepping up from the original committee, Rick Sequin assumed the role of Detachment Commandant.

John Verrier is another of the initial members of the new detachment and serves as the Senior Vice Commandant.  John attests that much of the success that detachment can be attributed directly to the efforts  and talents of Rick Seguin.  According to John, Rick has been a class act and a true leader of men.  He has demonstrated a strong commitment to the Marine Corps League and a real sense of community.  John credits Rick with having started the detachment from the ground, having led by example.  For his contributions to the founding and ongoing success of the Greater New Bedford Marine Corps League Detachment, Rick Seguin has been selected as Marine of the Year by his colleagues.

A native of New Bedford, Rick Seguin was still in high school when he and a group of his friends joined the Marine Corps on the 90 day delay program in 1966.  Influenced by some older friends and the recruiting posters, they chose to take the tougher choice to challenge themselves.  After completing boot camp at Parris Island together, the friends were separated for advanced training. Some were sent off for infantry training while Rick was selected for aviation school at Cherry Point and Whidbey Island in Washington.  Once training was completed, Seguin was assigned to the air wing at Cherry Point, working as a jet engine mechanic, progressing to Plane Captain.  From Cherry Point, he was transferred to sea duty on the aircraft carrier, Intrepid.   While assigned to this ship, he made port calls up and down the East Coast.  Following a brief assignment at Quonset Point, Rick Seguin departed the Marine Corps and returned to New Bedford.  In addition to his experiences in the air wing, Rick returned to New Bedford with his wife, Julia, whom he had met while on active duty.  The daughter of an Army family, she and Rick would raise two children in the New Bedford area.

Having returned back home, Rick worked in a few different roles before getting on to the Massachusetts State Police.  While on the job, he was assigned to various duties and locations.  He spent time patrolling the Mass Turnpike, worked as a detective, and was part of the State Police equivalent of a SWAT Team.  His career culminated in assignment as the Station Chief for the Station in Bourne.  From that assignment, Rick Seguin took retirement and started on the next phase of his life.

When discussion began about a Marine Corps League Detachment in New Bedford, Rick Seguin was one of the active participants in moving it forward.  The initial group of seven Marines was expanded to the twenty that is necessary to obtain a charter.  Upon award of the charter, Rick assumed the role of Commandant and has continued to grow the detachment since then.  He has taken lessons that he learned in the Marine Corps and the State Police and used them to breed success for detachment.  One practice that has been noted by detachment members is the Rick Seguin leads by example.  A man who has spent most of his life in uniform, Rick attends all meetings in a well prepared Marine Corp League uniform.  This attention to appearance has spread through the detachment where members have adopted a uniform of black trousers and a detachment designed polo shirt.   When there is a detachment event, the uniform reinforces the camaraderie of the detachment and makes them stand out among other veterans’ groups and organizations.  This has become a source of pride for the detachment.

Rick has invested time and energy in seeing that there is an active social component to the detachment.  Members attend social dinners and hold events like group attendance at Providence Bruins games.   There are events that are meant to include family members and others.  This has built a sense of unity that spills over to fundraisers and other Marine Corps League events, as well as increasing attendance at regular meetings.  When the detachment is called upon to attend a wake, it is common for over a dozen Marines to attend in uniform.  Members participate in fundraisers like Texas Hold ‘Em tournaments and 50/50 raffles to fund the detachment outreach.   By insuring that there are numerous ways for member to interact, Rick increases the participation at all events.  Rick is working on the development of a detachment Honor Guard that will further expand the activities of the detachment.  Detachment Commandant Seguin is proud of the diversity of the detachment.  Members range from WWII veterans to Marines who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.  There are a number of Woman Marines who are members. 

While Rick Seguin is quick to credit the success of the New Bedford Detachment to a strong group of officers, John Verrier and his colleagues are also quick to acknowledge that the actions and presence of Rick Seguin have been a big part of the detachment’s growth and success.   The New Bedford Detachment takes pride in having taking action to reach out to their counterparts in New York and New Jersey when Marines in those areas were impacted by Hurricane Sandy.   By contacting state Marine Corps League leaders in those areas,  Rick was able to identify needs and initiate a donation from his detachment to assist brethren in need.   That is a prime example of the leadership, initiative, and orientation to action that has led his colleagues to select Rick Seguin as the Greater New Bedford Marine Corps League Detachment #1399 Marine of the Year.  We join his colleagues in saluting Rick for all that he has done.