MARINE CORPS LEAGUE TORNADO RELIEF EFFORTS UNDERWAY

THE DAYS SINCE THE STORMS OF 27 APRIL HAVE BEEN DIFFICULT FOR MANY DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE STORMS AND BUSY FOR THOSE WORKING TO ASSIST THOSE IN NEED.  IN THE HOURS AFTER THE STORM, COMMUNICATIONS WITH MARINES THROUGHOUT THE STATE WERE DIFFICULT, WITH POWER OUTAGES AND CELL PHONE TOWERS DAMAGED.  IN THE ENSUING DAYS, A CLEARER PICTURE OF THE DEVASTATION EMERGED AND THANKFULLY, NO MARINE OR MARINE CORPS LEAGUE MEMBER WAS INJURED OR KILLED IN THE STORMS.  MANY TREES WERE DOWN, FORTUNATELY NOT ON MEMBERS HOMES, AND ONLY ONE MEMBER IN THE TUSCALOOSA AREA REPORTED THE LOSS OF THEIR HOME AND BELONGINGS.  UNFORTUNATELY, THE PARENTS OF AN ACTIVE DUTY MARINE DEPLOYED IN AFGHANISTAN WERE KILLED IN OHATCHEE, ALABAMA.  (THE MARINE HAS SINCE RETURNED HOME.)

AS SO OFTEN HAPPENS, DISASTERS BRING OUT THE BEST IN OUR FELLOW MAN AND MARINES, AND MEMBERS OF THE MARINE CORPS LEAGUE THROUGHOUT THE STATE AND THE NATION SPRANG INTO ACTION IN THE DAYS AFTER THE STORMS.  DETACHMENT COMMANDANTS FROM TUSCALOOSA TO GADSDEN HAVE REPORTED ON THE SITUATION ON THE GROUND IN THEIR AREAS AND COMPILED LISTS OF THOSE IN NEED AND WAYS TO HELP.

WITH THE HELP OF MCL MEMBER CARL JONES FROM THE HOWLIN’ MAD SMITH DETACHMENT, A NETWORK OF EMAIL AND INTERNET SUPPORT WAS ESTABLISHED TO RAISE FUNDS IN SUPPORT OF THOSE AFFECTED.  THE P.L. WILSON DETACHMENT IN MOBILE, ALABAMA WAS SPARED THE WRATH OF THE STORMS, AND WE ARE ACCEPTING CREDIT CARD DONATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ALABAMA THROUGH OUR DETACHMENT WEBSITE, WWW.MOBILEMARINES.ORG.  PLEASE CLICK ON THE ‘DONATE’ BUTTON TO ACCESS OUR SECURE DONATION SERVER.  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE ON THE WEBSITE AND ADDITIONAL DONATIONS CAN BE MADE TO DEPARTMENT OF ALABAMA, 169 LYONS PARK AVE, MOBILE, AL 36604.  THE DONATIONS HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT AND ARE FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT MARINES TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN.

ADDITIONALLY, TWO 53 FOOT TRUCKS OF SUPPLIES WERE DELIVERED TO TUSCALOOSA FROM THE MCL IN WASHINGTON STATE AND A TRUCKLOAD OF DONATIONS HAS BEEN RECEIVED FROM SGT. GRIT TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE MARINES AT THE BESSEMER RESERVE UNIT AND THE GADSDEN AND ANNISTON AREA.  THE MARINE RECRUITERS IN MOBILE WILL BE HOLDING A CAR WASH TO RAISE ADDITIONAL FUNDS THIS WEEKEND. BASED ON RESPONSES FROM THE FIELD, WE WILL LIKELY BE ASKED TO FORM WORKING PARTIES AND TRAVEL TO AFFECTED AREAS IN THE WEEKS TO COME AS NEEDED TO WORK OR RESUPPLY THOSE IN NEED.  MORE INFORMATION WILL FOLLOW.

WE ARE CONTINUING TO RECON THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO FIND MARINES AND THEIR FAMILIES IN NEED.  AS OF TODAY, WE HAVE PROCESSED THREE REQUESTS TO THE MCL FOUNDATION FOR MARINES IN NEED AND EXPECT ANOTHER HANDFUL AT LEAST.  PLEASE NOTE THAT THE APPLICANTS DO NOT HAVE TO BE MEMBERS OF THE LEAGUE TO QUALIFY.  IF YOU ARE AWARE OF A MEMBER OF THE LEAGUE OR A MARINE OR MARINE’S FAMILY IN DISTRESS, PLEASE EMAIL A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THEIR SITUATION ALONG WITH THEIR NAME AND CONTACT INFO TO CAL WALTERS AT MOBILEMCL@HOTMAIL.COM FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FROM THE MCL FOUNDATION!

THE STORMS THAT STRUCK THE STATE OF ALABAMA ON 27 APRIL DID INDEED LEAVE A PATH OF DESTRUCTION AND IMPACTED THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS.  WE REMEMBER AND MOURN THOSE LOST IN THE TRAGEDY AND CONTINUE TO STAND READY TO ASSIST THOSE IN NEED.  FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR QUESTIONS, PLEASE EMAIL DEPARTMENT COMMANDANT CAL WALTERS AT MOBILEMCL@HOTMAIL.COM OR CALL 251-689-7167.  SEMPER FI!