LOCAL MARINE CORPS LEAGUE FORMS

CAPE GIRARDEAU - There's a new organization in town and it's looking for a few good men.

The organization is the Cape Girardeau detachment of The Marine Corps League, a Marine Corps veterans organization.

On Saturday evening the organization received its charter from Ron Brown, the league's National Midwest Division vice-commandant. Brown presented the charter at the Holiday Inn, where local, state and national league members gathered for the occasion. Officers for the detachment were also installed.

The detachment was formed simply for camaraderie between Marines, said Bill Walker, the detachment's commandant and an associate professor in the accounting and finance department at Southeast Missouri State University.

"All Marines with honorable service or people who have served in the Marine Corps, which would include Corpsmen in particular," are encouraged to join, Walker said. Currently about 30 members make up the detachment.

Walker said the local detachment is named after Darrell S. Cole, a Medal of Honor recipient. Cole was a Marine sergeant from Southeast Missouri who died in action in World War II.

The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest military honor, given by Congress for risk of life in combat beyond the call of duty.

Work on forming the detachment started in earnest in September, Walker said.

Though presented Saturday, Walker said, the district's charter bears the date, Nov. 10, 1990.

"That's also important to the Marines. That's the Marine Corps' birthday."

John A. Lejeune founded The Marine Corps League in 1923. Lejeune was the major general commandant of the corps, a decorated hero of World War I and the former commanding general of the Second Army Division.

In 1937, Congress granted the league a federal charter.

The detachment's officers, in addition to Walker, are: David McElreath, senior vice commandant; Gary Johnson, junior vice commandant; Jim Cartee, sergeant at arms; Al Lowes, judge advocate; Gene Ramsey, chaplain; and Homer Yont, adjutant/paymaster.

Anyone wishing to join the detachment may call Walker at 335-9292. The only membership qualification for the league is honorable service in excess of 90 days.