SSgt Walter F. "Trae" Cohee III
Detachment # 115
Salisbury, MD
Detachment News
Detachment Marines 'Honored'
Pictured above is Detachment Member Staff Sergeant Ralph
Smith USMC (Retired)
Now
read the "rest of the story"
Broken
anchor kept Princess Anne man from Iwo Jima
By Candice Evans Latshaw • Special To The Times •
November 6, 2010
PRINCESS
ANNE -- Ralph Smith almost took part in the invasion of Iwo Jima with his fellow
U.S. Marines on Feb. 19, 1945. But a shipwreck off the coast of Maui, Hawaii,
kept the Marine from carrying out the mission.
"They
told me to stay with the ship," said Smith, now 85, who slept aboard the
Landing Ship Tank, or LST, which was stationed outside Maui the night before his
unit was scheduled to begin its journey to Japan.
The
North Carolina native says a storm brought a torrential downpour and strong
winds that evening. The ship lost its anchor when its chain snapped, and the LST
started drifting toward a coral reef. There was no time to rescue the vessel
before it crashed. "Our ship was laying sideways on the reef," Smith
said.
Smith
received orders to secure the equipment on the ship, while the rest of the
Marines boarded another LST destined for Iwo Jima.
"I
wanted to be with my outfit, but you have to do what you're told to do,"
said Smith, who explained that it took two weeks for the crew to move the vessel
from the reef.
Drafted
into the military at the age of 18, Smith says he picked the U.S. Marine Corps
because he believes it to be the best branch in the country's armed forces. In
fact, after World War II ended, Smith decided to remain in the military and
eventually served in the Korean War. That was an entirely different experience
for the Princess Anne resident.
"That's
the coldest I've ever been in my life," said Smith, who withstood frigid
temperatures that dropped below zero at night. He didn't have that problem in
Maui.
Smith
has vacationed in Hawaii for the last five years during the winter months. He
just makes sure to avoid pineapple while he's there."We had pineapple three
times a day during the war," he said. "You had to eat it until you got
sick of it. I won't eat it anymore."
Award's Presented On October 13, 2010
 |
 |
 |
|
Commandant Andy Bouma presenting Jimmy Lee Howard with yet another MODD award. I don't believe there are any honor's left for Jimmy to receive as he should have them all by now but he is highly deserving of them. |
Commandant Andy Bouma presenting Ed Hearthway with a similar MODD award. |
Commandant Andy Bouma holding the National Newspaper Award received for "The Scuttlebutt" |
|
|
|
|
|
MODD Award |
Congrat's to each of you |
"The Scuttlebutt" Award |
PDD Jimmie Lee Howard
For those of you that are not familiar with the MODD (Military Order of Devil Dogs) it is the "Fun and Honor Society" of the Marine Corps League. Jimmie Lee Howard joined the MODD in 1975 and is the epitome of what every Pedigree Devil Dog would desire to be. While in attendance at the MCL Mid-Winter Staff conference in Falls Church, VA on February 13, 2010 the Kennel Staff honored him by making him an "Honorary Chief Devil Dog" for his years of faithful and dedicated service to the Kennel and MODD. If my research is correct PDD Jimmie Lee Howard is only the 3rd Dog to be honored with the title "Honorary Chief Devil Dog" in the 70 years history of the MODD. Congratulations Jimmie Lee for another job "Well Done".
PFC CHARLES "JOSH" KELLEY SELECTED AS THE 2009 NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH OFFICER OF THE YEAR
"Josh" is second from left. Congratulations "Josh"
The Ocean City Neighborhood Watch Association recently selected Police Officer First Class (Pfc.) Charles "Josh" Kelley to be the honorable recipient of the 2009 Ocean City Neighborhood Watch "Officer of the Year" award. Nearly 130 guests attended the event, which was held Monday, January 11, 2010 at the Elks Lodge on 137th Street and Coastal Highway. The Neighborhood Watch Association is made up of seven Ocean City neighborhoods including residents from Caine Woods, Caine Keys II, Montego Bay, Little Salisbury, Bayshore Drive, Edgewater Avenue and Sundowner Park. Pfc. Kelley was born and raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. After graduating high school, he attended West Virginia University where he studied Wildlife Management. His education continued at Wor-Wic Community College, where he studied Business Management and Criminal Justice. Perhaps one of Pfc. Kelley’s biggest accomplishments was his service in the United States Marine Corps. Aboard the USS Oak Hill during Operation Enduring Freedom, Pfc. Kelley was meritoriously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. His role as a Platoon Sergeant earned him the Navy Commendation Medal in Combat Operations in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Pfc. Kelley was deployed for nearly two years overseas where he served as a Communications Systems Specialist. He was discharged from the Marine Corps in May of 2008 where he obtained the rank of Staff Sergeant, after eight years of honorable military service. Pfc. Kelley returned to his education at Salisbury University and earned a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Interpersonal Communications & Conflict Resolution. In addition to completing his degree, Kelley completed two successful summers as a Seasonal Police Officer, before joining the Ocean City Police Department as a full-time Police Officer in July of 2006. Pfc. Kelly was Class Leader at the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy, achieved a perfect pistol score as the class High Shooter Award, earned the highest Physical Fitness Award, and received the Leadership Award for his service to the Academy. Pfc. Kelley was promoted to the rank of Police Officer First Class in January 2009. He is active in the Training & Recruiting of seasonal Police Officers, an instructor at the entrance level and seasonal police academy as a member of the Drill & Discipline Team, and serves as a mentor to Officers within the department. Pfc. Kelley’s "Hard-Charger" sense of Esprit de Corps keeps him motivated while actively involving himself as an Instructor in the Citizen’s Police Academy, member of the R.A.A.M Enforcement, Plain Clothes Operations, Police Mountain Bike, and School Bus Special Enforcement. Pfc. Kelley also volunteered and provided security during the 56th Inauguration of the President of the United States in Washington, D.C. in January of 2009. He is actively involved in the Marine Corps League, Toys for Tots Foundation, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the United States Marine Corps Executive Association. Pfc. Kelley is also a Marine4Life Hometown Link Liaison, an active member of his Neighborhood Watch Community Initiative, and actively supports the Wounded Warrior Project and Special Olympics. In addition to being a proactive patrol Officer, Pfc. Kelley has volunteered and actively participated in training to include, Asset Forfeiture, Homicide Scene Management, and Narcotics Interdiction. Pfc. Kelley currently lives in Salisbury, Maryland with his wife, Renee, adorable daughter Gia, and their Yorkshire Terrier, "Pepper." When he is not working, he enjoys home improvements, cooking, hunting, fishing, and working outside. When asked how he felt about receiving the Neighborhood Watch Officer of the Year Award he stated, "I am truly humbled. It is very motivating to come to work for a community like Ocean City because of the residents in our Neighborhood Watch Association, along with the men and women in the OCPD.
Return to Home Page
