WELCOME
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MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
CPL LARRY E. SMEDLEY
Medal of Honor Detachment 064 - Orlando, Florida USA
On behalf of the members of the Cpl Larry E. Smedley Detachment, welcome to our website.  We're the premier veteran's organization of the United States Marine Corps.  Since our founding in 1923, the Marine Corps League's  purpose has been to perpetuate the traditions and "esprit de corps" through the continuous association of Marines who served under the Eagle, Globe and Anchor at any time in war or peace.   We also welcome Associate Members who were not Marines but support our League.

Our Detachment was named after  Cpl. Larry E. Smedley,  who at the age of 17 dropped  out  of  Colonial High School  here  in  Orlando  in  1966 to join the Marines.   In September of 1967 he arrived in Vietnam and three months later would earn the nation's top military decoration . . . the Medal of Honor.

On  December 21, 1967,   after  leading  his  six-man  squad   to  an  ambush position   in  Quang Nam province,  Smedley spotted about 100 enemy troops heavily  armed   with  rocket  launchers  and  mortars.   Realizing  they were preparing  to  attack,  he radioed  for  reinforcements,  moved  his squad into better position, and . . . though he was roundly outnumbered
. . . attacked.

The Military Order of Devil Dogs
                                                  

  This is the fun and honor society of the Marine                                                                 Corps League.   The Order provides amusement                                                              and entertainment at all gatherings of the League                                                           when and where  advisable.  The  Order  is  also                                                             very active in raising funds for different charities.

     Any of thee members desiring membership in the Order must  be  recommended  by  the  Detachment Commandant and sponsored by two Devil Dogs or Pedigreed Devil Dogs.



The Order's many charitable donations not only help people in need, but also build
public relations for the Order, the League and the United States Marine Corps
.WHAT IS THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE?
It's an organization for all Marines
The MCL takes great pride in  crediting its  founding  in 1923  to  World War I  hero,  then Major General
Commandant John A. Lejeune.  It  takes  equal  pride  in  its  Federal Charter, approved by an Act of the Seventy-Fifth Congress  of  the United States of America and signed and approved by President Franklin
D. Roosevelt on August 4, 1937. Since its earliest days the Marine Corps League has enjoyed the support and encouragement of the active duty and Reserve establishments of the U.S. Marine Corps.

PURPOSES:  The purposes of the Marine Corps League as prescribed in it Federal Charter are:

, , , to preserve the traditions and to promote the interests of the United States Marine Corps;

. . . to band those who are now serving in the United States Marine Corps and those who have been honorably discharged from that service together in fellowship that they may effectively promote the ideals of American freedom and democracy;

. . . to fit its members for the duties of citizenship and to encourage them; to serve as ably as citizens as they have served the Nation under arms;

. . . to hold sacred the history and memory of the men who have given their lives to the Nation;

. . . to foster love for the principals which they have supported by blood and valor since the founding of the republic;

. . . to maintain true allegiance to American institutions;

. . . to create a bond of comradeship between those in the service and those who have returned to civilian life;

. . . to aid voluntarily and to render assistance to all Marines and former Marines as well as to their widows and orphans;

. . . to perpetuate the history of the United States Marine Corps and by filling acts to observe the anniversaries of historical occasions of peculiar interest to Marines.


  THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE . . . The Organization for ALL MARINES
            active duty . . . reserve . . . . former . . . retired . . . officer . . . enlisted
As machine-gun fire ripped Smedley's men , a grenade exploded and knocked him down.  He realized the blast had blown away part of his right foot.  Still he rose, rallying his men, as he charged the machine-gunner, firing his rifle and  lobbing grenades.
Enemy fire dropped him,  once,  but Smedley,  bloody  and  fading,  resumed  his  assault.  With  a  grenade,  he  finished off the machine  gunner.  But  struck  in  the  chest  by enemy fire,  Smedley,  too,  was finished.  Today,  Smedley  rests  in  Arlington National Cemetery,  but  his memory  still walks the halls of Colonial High School, and stirs the hearts of each member of our Detachment.  He was Central Florida's youngest Medal of Honor recipient.

Again, we "Welcome" you to our website and hope you will join us either as a member or associate member. We'd love to have
you as a part of our League.
                                                                                                            
                                    

FOR CURRENT ACTIVITIES OF DETACHMENT  . . . . .  CLICK HERE
THE BACKGROUND BEHIND OUR DETACHMENT'S NAME
                                            
                                          
                                             IN MEMORIUM
                            Former Commandant STEVE NOBLE
                             September 5, 1961 – March 1, 2012

                           




   




Commandant Richard Booth

Commandant Booth has served in many positions in the Detachment during his twenty-five years as a member of the Marine Corps League.

From 2007-2009  Commandant  Booth  served  as  the  Department of Florida Commandant.  He is also very active currently as Treasurer of the Cpl. Larry E. Smedley National Vietnam War Museum. He serves as the Paymaster of the local Young Marines of the Marine Corps League and Paymaster of the 1st Florida Regiment.

Commandant Booth is also a Charter member of the Central Florida Marine Corps Foundation.




There Is No Death
He lives on in your life and the lives of others who knew him
          3000 Curry Ford Road - Orlando, FL
  SW Corner of Curry Ford Rd & Crystal Lake Dr.
         (To the Left of Winn Dixie Supermarket)
       THIS IS OUR NEW MEETING LOCATION
       
            NEXT MEETING
  Tuesday, June 12th - 1900hrs
                    * * * * *
Come early and enjoy dinner & drinks from the menu.
          Visit  Steve's Memorial website at:
                   http://Steve-Noble.com
INSTALLATION OF NEW OFFICERS HIGHLIGHTED OUR APRIL 10th MEETING
Our new meeting place, Holy Smoke BBQ provided the setting for the installation of new officers by
Dave Sargent, Dept of Florida Jr. Past Commandant. Officers for the new year are: Richard Booth,
Commandant; Ed Topoleski, Sr. Vice Commandant;  Williiam Broadhead, Jr. Vice Commandant;
Lew Fallon, Judge Advocate; Jerry Topoleski, Chaplain; Marie Noble, Adjutant/Paymaster and Bob
Noble, Web Sgt.  Dept of Florida Spring Conference will be April 20-22 at the Orlando Wyndham Resort.
"For all Dogs, next Growl is scheduled for Sunday 20 May.  Dog House location is at the Mai Tai Village clubhouse, 1330 is the time.  Chow is following the Growl, so bring a bowl and some bones."

  Dave Sargent
Dept of Florida
       

For DEPT. of FLORIDA SPRING CONFERENCE photos, click "What's Happening" above.