70th Anniversary "Sands of Iwo Jima"
Luncheon
The
Fess Parker Hotel in Santa Barbara was overflowing
with men in uniform and their ladies to celebrate the 70th Anniversary
of Iwo Jima and pay homage to four area US Marine Corp and Navy
members who had served at Iwo Jima during WWII. The Pierre Claeyssens
Veterans Foundation in collaboration with the Channel City Club
sponsored the luncheon honoring Cpl. Joseph Hale, USC, PhM2
Kenneth E. Morehouse, US, Cpl. Benedict E. Bellefeuille, USMC
LtCol. Robert P. Beckham, USMC.
Lt.
John Blankenship, Executive Director of PCVF, opened the program
with information on the sacrifices made at Iwo Jima, which included
669,1000 Marines serving during WWII, with more that a quarter
of the total US Marine casualties occurring during the 35-day
battle of Iwo Jima. 27 U.S. military personnel were awarded
the medal of Honor for their action on Iwo Jima; 22 were presented
to Marines and five were awarded to US Navy sailors. Of the
82 Medals if Honor awarded to Marines during WWII in the Pacific,
28% of those were given to Marines on Iwo Jima. BGen. Fred Lopez
shared the strategic implications and ground battle; Col. Phil
Conran talked on AAF Battle and Lt. Stephen E. Penner discussed
the Navy Battle. Carol Kallman Channel City Club Chairan of
the Board opened and closed the program.
Bob
Beckham was an ROTC graduate School who later went to USMC Supply
School and was on Iwo Jima for 36 days, where he worked alongside
Major General Keller E. Rockey who relied on him as Captain/Quarter
Master for his 5th Marine Division, for everything from tanks
to pencils and more. Bob served from 1942 to '46. He retired
from a successful insurance company in LA, and now lives in
Montecito. He is still the owner of the successful Pasadena
restaurant Beckham's Place.
Honorees and their presenters are all present and accounted
for here L to R:
Front row: Ken Morehouse (USN), Bob Beckham(USMC) and Ben Bellefeuille(USMC)
Back row: Steve Penner(USN), *Fred Lopez(USMC), Joe Hale(USMC),
*Phil Conran(USAF), *John Blankenship(USN). * = Board for PCVF
- Phil is President, John's title is Co Founder/Executive Director*
Ben
Bellefeuille enlisted at 17 years of age, and served two years
and three months as a member of the 5ath Marine Division, 26th
Regiment, 3rd Battalion. Ben was a BAR gunner without an ammo-bearer,
and was severely wounded and sent home, where he was awarded
a Purple Heart when he was flown out on the 18th day. Following
WWII he worked in creamery management and also at the Men's
Colony before retiring.
Joe Hale was on Iwo Jima from day one to the end. He was another
young recruit who convinced his mom to sign the papers. He was
in the 5th Marine Division, 13th Regiment, Third Battalion,
H Battery. Joe was called to service in 1942 and discharged
in '46. Joe worked at Disney for 35 years starting as an animator,
working up through the ranks to be a writer, and producer.
Ken
Morehouse was a Navy Corpsman who operated as a medic to the
Marine units he was assigned to; on Iwo Jima it was the 4th
Marine Division for the 36-day battle. This was his fourth invasion,
having served in battles on Roi, TinianiSaipan and finally,
Iwo Jima. Challenges abounded for medics; no water, poor sanitation,
and surgical procedures were primitive. Ken lives in Atascadero
and is retired from owning a grocery store in Paso Robles. He
was cited for "moving into the direct line of enemy fire
to treat his comrades in arms with utter disregard for his own
safety."
The
days speakers included Colonel Phil Conran, (USAF Ret) a highly
decorated Command Pilot who logged more than 6,000 hours in
a single and multi engine fixed wing aircraft as well as helicopters.
Conran retired after 30 years in 1988 with the rank of Colonel.
He was awarded USAF Air Force Cross, The Airman's Medal, four
Distinguished Flying Cross, eight Air Medals, the Purpose Heart
and more. He is also a member of the Legion of Valor and serves
as National Adjutant. Col. Conran is President of the Board
of PCVF.
L to R: Joe Hale, Ben Bellefeuille, Bob Beckham and Ken Morehouse
Brigadier General Frederick Lopez, a Vietnam veteran served
in the US Marine Corps Reserve for 31 years (1967-1988). He
held numerous key commands including Commanding General 4th
marine Division, and Deputy Commanding General 1st Marine Expeditionary
Force. His honors include Navy & Marine Corps Parachutist
Wings, Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal with Combat
"V", Navy Commendation Medal, and many more. This
Iwo Jima program is significant to him because the 4h Marine
Division at Iwo Jim established the legacy of valor and sacrifice
that all Marine Divisions try to emulate to this day. Bgen.
Lopez also had a 29 year career at Raytheon Electronic Warfare
Systems, retiring as Director of Engineering in 2007. He is
a board member for PCVF.
LT
Stephen E. Penner, *USN Ret) is a 1971 graduate of the U.S.
Naval Academy. He served a combat tour during the Vietnam War
from 1972-73, as Gunnery Officer on the USS Turner Joy, which
was one of the two sister ships that started the Vietnam War
in "Tonkin Gulf Incident" August 1964; and after eight
years of war, on January 28 1973 the High Command gave the order
that same destroyer to fire the last shot of the Vietnam War.
Steve is currently an attorney in Santa Barbara County, and
resided in Goleta with his wife.
Following
a short version of "Sands of Iwo Jima" the film, individual
awards were presented. Each of the honorees was presented a
beautiful commemorative plaque and a bottle of special label
Jarhead Red wine created by Firestone Winery.
THE
MARINES BEHIND FIRESTONE JARHEAD RED
ADAM
FIRESTONE - CAPTIN USMC 1984-91
Adam
is a third-generation winegrower and former captain in the Marine
Corps who was deployed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in 1991. Today,
Adam oversees his family's wine making endeavors (including
Curtis Winery, as well as Firestone Walker Brewing Company,
which he founded with his brother-in-law, David Walker. Adam
resides with his family in the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara
County on California's Central Coast.
RUBEN
DOMINGUEZ - SERGEANT USMC 1979-84
Born
in Texas and raised in central Kansas, Ruben joined the Marines
in 1979. He served on guard duty in 60-foot towers at Guantanamo
Bay in Cuba, and later transferred to driving heavy trucks before
returning to the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton. He started
his wine industry career at Firestone Vineyard in 1995. Today,
Ruben is the vineyard foreman for Coastal Vineyard Care Associates.
Ruben resides with his family in Santa Ynez Valley.
According
to Adam Firestone and Ruben Dominguez "The Marine Corps
gave us both a remarkable opportunity to serve our country.
Along the way, we learned invaluable skills and forged friendships
that will last a lifetime. With Jarhead Red, we aim to give
back while honoring the men and women who defend our nation.
Each bottle of Jarhead Red supports the Marine Corps Scholarship
Foundation, which provides educational assistance to children
of U.S. Marines, with special consideration given to families
of fallen Marines. While Jarhead Red is made by Marines, for
Marines, it will appeal to anyone who enjoys a robust red wine
crafted in an approachable style. Semper fi." For wine
information visit: www.jarhead.com.
The
members of the Robert Beckham family all joined together for
a family photo following the award, many of whom live in the
Montecito or nearby areas. I had the pleasure of sitting with
them and was touched by their obvious family love and pride.
All the guests in attendance at the luncheon seemed filled with
pride remembering the sacrifices made by all the brave men who
went to battle in Iwo Jima. My own father fought side-by-side
with these men, and I found myself struggling to hold back tears
throughout the entire program. The first song I learned at five
years of age was "Semper Fidelis" and all I can say
today is "Uh rah" for the United States Marines now
and forever!
For
information on the next program Vietnam Remembered being planned
by the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation please visit: www.PierreClaeyssensVeteransFoundation.com.
PHOTO CREDIT: Rick Carter
Contributed By Bonnie Carroll
http://www.lifebitesnews.com