MCVTHF, 707 S.W. 350th Ct., Ste. #1 

Robert Rieder Boardman, at age 85, passed away on Saturday, September 19th, exactly three years ago today as I "pen" this book review piece for the Foundation's "Breech Block". Bob's wife, Jean, moved to an assistant living facility and - sadly enough - she's also died.

Bob Boardman is a Marine Tanker who fought in the Pacific in World War II with the First Tank Battalion, 1st Marine Division. He was wounded on Peleliu and again, gravely, on Okinawa and was decorated with Purple Hearts and the Silver Star for gallantry in action. His second was a wounded in the throat where he lost his voice. He regained his ability to speak - gravelly-voiced and with some difficulty - and he spoke for his Lord through his deep Christian faith. He became a voice for his beliefs. Bob served as Chaplain of the 1st Marine Division Association and the Marine Corps Tanker's Association.

Pastor Boardman and his wife ministered throughout the Pacific, primarily in Japan, where he and Jean raised their family of five children. Bob left a legacy everywhere he and his wife travelled but the one he left that will continue his work is his books. "C-Rations for the Warrior's Heart", which is a collection of 20 stories about "men from different branches of the Armed Forces who put their lives on the line". The majority of the stories are about WWII followed by Viet-Nam, Korea and Desert Storm. Most of the stories are by the author, a few by the individual himself. As noted by one Marine mentioned in both this book and his "Unforgettable Men in Unforgettable Times," the stories "clearly reveal that the key element in winning wars resides inside spirit of man."

These collections of combat stories are filled with examples of courage, character, and victory where Bob has captured the pathos and trauma of war in telling stories from America's principal wars of outstanding warriors of the American Armed Forces, many of whom were decorated and/or wounded. The sacrificial duty and exploits of all these men reveal by example that the principle ingredient in any battle is the condition of the spirit inside a man's heart. These stories are truly food for the inner man - graphic accounts that provide "C-Rations" for today's great battles and small skirmishes.

"C-Rations for the Warrior's Heart" and "Unforgettable Men in Unforgettable Times," are available in paperback through Amazon for mere pennies. Be kind to yourself and order these up for really great reads.

Ray Stewart

  USMC Vietnam Tankers Association

  October 31 to November 5, 2013

             San Antonio, Texas

May 8 - 11, 2013, Quantico

Details: Click here for tentative agenda

______________________________________________________ 

2012 Mustang Reunion

September 13 - 16, 2012  

Fossil Creek, Fort Worth, Texas

Contact: Phil Ray or Jimmy Perry, 5953 Feather Wind Way, Fort Worth, TX 76135    

David Luis Pe�a, Houiston, TX

Dave passed away at the VA Hospital in Houston. David was born in Brownsville, Texas, to Adolfo Pe�a Jr. (deceased) and Berta Trevi�o Pe�aSept. 21, 1942. Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 25 years, Lidia San Miguel Pe�a of Houston; his only child, David Luis Pe�a Jr. (Iris) of Houston; his beautiful and much loved grandchildren, Lily, Jazzy and David III; his 90-year-old mother, Berta, of Mission; brothers, Adolfo Pe�a III (Fito) of Santa Monica, Calif., Ruben Pe�a of Riverside, Calif., Ben Pena of Katy, Texas; sisters, Alma Bailey of Mission, Melinda Garza of Houston, Dilia Giguere (Dd) of Wheatland, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

David graduated from Brownsville High in May 1961. In June 1961 he, along with five other close friends, enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. Since the time he was a child, he had been interested in tanks, and when he joined the Marines, he was assigned to a tank company and eventually designated as tank commander for the 1st Tank Battalion (Flame Platoon) in Camp Pendleton, Calif. He served overseas in Okinawa, 3rd Tank Battalion, Bravo Company, he was active Marine Corps Vietnam Tankers Historical Foundation, and he was very active with members of the Class of '61 of Brownsville High, helping plan many of their reunions. David loved keeping up with friends via email, phone calls and visits.  

Paul Edward Doherty, Sr, 

Tewksbury, MA, 

He was a 47 year Tewksbury resident, and retired Tewksbury Police Officer.  He was the beloved husband of Carol C. (Lantz) Doherty.   Born in Malden on January 5, 1938, he was the son of the late Charles J. and Mildred (Hannon) Doherty. Paul was raised in Malden, attended Malden schools and graduated from Malden High School. He later attended Springfield College and Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill. In 1955, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served during the Vietnam War as a Tank Crewman with Company B, 3rd Tank Battalion. Prior to his retirement, he served as a Tewksbury Police Officer for over 30 years. Paul resided in Malden until moving to Tewksbury in 1962. 

Mr. Doherty is survived by his children, Paul E. Doherty, Jr. and his wife Michele of Tewksbury, Michael J. Doherty and his wife Patricia of Westford, Kelli Wentzell and her husband Mark of Dracut, Patrick S. Doherty and his wife Lisa of Dracut and Ryan O. Doherty and his wife Tarzia of Tewksbury; two sisters, Mary Brown and Ann Brown both of Malden; also eleven grandchildren, three great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews. 

Edward Thomas Melz, Jr.

Torrance, California, 

Ed was born June 16, 1940, the only child of Edward T. Melz, Sr, a California state correctional sergeant, and Myrtle Perkin Melz. Ed grew up in Chino, California and throughout elementary school and into high school was an enthusiastic member of the Boy Scouts of America, earning the rank of Eagle Scout in 1955. He graduated from Chino High School in 1958 with both academic and athletic honors. He played varsity football all four years of high school.

During his years at San Jose State University, Ed was known for his leadership in the Police Cadet program while earning a degree in administration of justice. On October 15, 1961, Ed joined the San Jose (CA) Police Department as a Patrol Officer. On August 18, 1962, he married Christine Erickson. During his college years, he participated in the United States Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Course, through which he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1963. He requested and was granted a 3-year Leave of Absence from the San Jose Police Department to serve his active duty as a Marine Officer beginning in June, 1963. He entered the Marine Officers Basic Course (The Basic School) at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia, on June 20, 1963, where he served as a member of Third Platoon, Company C, Basic Class 1-64. Upon graduation on December 19, 1963, Ed was assigned to the 3d Marine Division, based at Camp Hansen, Okinawa. In preparation for that assignment he was ordered to attend Marine Corps Tank Officer Training at Camp Pendleton, CA, where he earned the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of Tank Officer in March, 1964.

In March 1964, Ed was transferred to the island of Okinawa, where he assumed his first Marine Corps command as Tank Platoon Commander, Company A, 3d Tank Battalion, 3d Marine Division, and was promoted to First Lieutenant on August 28, 1964. Soon after his promotion, Ed moved up to assume command of a Tank Company, and in that capacity he commanded the first Marine tanks to land in Viet Nam, at Da Nang on March 18, 1965. When his 13-month overseas tour time expired in May 1965, Ed returned to Camp Pendleton where he spent the next year with the 2d Infantry Training Regiment. He was released from active duty in the Marine Corps Reserve on June 15, 1966. At that time he ended his Leave of Absence and returned to active service with the San Jose Police Department.

Ironically, Ed served as a uniformed member of the San Jose Police Department's response team on the campuses of UC Berkeley, Stanford University, San Francisco State and San Jose State when the student anti-war movement dissolved into riots in 1967 and 1968. Ed and Christine's son Stephen was born in 1967 and their daughter Catherine Ellen was born in 1972. With the San Jose Police Department, Ed rose through the ranks to become a Lieutenant in 1974. In his career as in his personal life, Ed was well known for his focus on precision and detail, as well as for his commitment to achieve the results that were needed. As some have said, "Ed was intense and took control to get the job done. For this some loved him and some did not." Over time, Ed became more and more involved in his avocation of fishing and in 1978 as he began to prepare for his eventual retirement from the Police Department, he started a commercial fishing enterprise and in 1979 he designed and bought his own commercial fishing boat, the "Sunrise," which he berthed in the Santa Cruz (CA) small craft and commercial fishing harbor. In order to carry out some required maintenance, Ed had the boat pulled out of the water in 1986, where it stood high above the ground. On March 22, 1986, when he was working on the outside of the boat from a ladder, Ed unfortunately fell backwards from high on the ladder and incurred a fatal and tragic head injury. After emergency surgery he was on life support for two days and was declared dead on March 24, 1986 at the age of 45.

At that time his son Stephen was 18 and had become quite familiar with the commercial fishing enterprise while working with his father. Soon after Ed's sudden death, the young son took over the boat and made commercial fishing his own career. Over the years, Stephen married Jacqueline Austin and they have two sons, Jason Edward and Aaron Thomas. Ed's daughter Catherine married Trever Roddick and they have a daughter, Rebecca Irene, born in 2009. Unfortunately, Ed never met his three grandchildren. Following Ed's death, his wife of 26 years, Christine, eventually married John E. Trussler, who had been a good friend of Ed's for many years before Ed's death.

While on active duty in the Marine Corps, 1/LT Melz was awarded the Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Viet Nam Campaign Medal, and the Republic of Viet Nam Service Medal with Device.

Semper Fidelis, from Larry's fellow members of Third Platoon, C Company, The Basic School Class 1-64, September 27, 2010.

One of the toughest job in any organization is keeping membership information up-to-date.  

You might believe we have all your information since you are already receiving the Breech Block newsletter but, the simple facts are we do not. Even though your membership in the Historical Foundation is free when you join the USMC Vietnam Tankers Association that information is not automatically shared with the Foundation.

From time to time we send out pertinent information to those that served in the various Tank Battalions, i.e. 1st Tanks, 3rd Anti-Tanks, etc. 

You guys are great; we appreciate your support.

Semper Fidelis,

Dick Carey,

Vice President

Director Public Relations