About Detachment #1073
The Commiskey-Wheat Detachment #1073 was formally chartered on 20 March, 2001. Prior to that time, there were several organizational meetings to recruit members, the first one taking place at the Camp Shelby Officers’ Club. Some of those first attendees included Jack Lucas (Iwo Jima MOH), Betty Drake, Frank Milling, Steve Campbell, Steve Headrick, and active duty recruiters (SSGT. Channing Broussard and Sgt. Ben Dill). A group of individuals met several times at the home of Jack Lucas to move forward in establishing a detachment in Hattiesburg.
As detachments cannot be named for living individuals, it was decided to name our detachment after two local Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients: Major Henry A. Commiskey, Sr. (Korean War) and Lance Corporal Roy M. Wheat (Vietnam War). Marines Jack Lucas and Betty Drake were active in organizing, submitting application for charter, and fiscal matters related to membership. The detachment was chartered and got underway with our first official meeting on 13 April, 2001.
GENERAL MEETINGS
The Commiskey-Wheat Detachment #1073 meets on the first Thursday of the month at 660 Weathersby Rd in Hattiesburg, MS. The meeting starts at 1800 hours. All Marines veterans who have a honorable discharge are welcome to attend.
About the Marine Corps League
The Marine Corps League perpetuates the traditions and spirit of ALL Marines and Navy FMF Corpsmen, who proudly wear or who have worn the eagle, globe and anchor of the Corps. It 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.
The League is the only Federally Chartered Marine Corps related veterans organization in the country. 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. Today, the League boasts a membership of more than 60,000 men and women, officer and enlisted, active duty, Reserve Marines, honorably discharged Marine Veterans, qualified Navy FMF Corpsmen and qualified Navy FMF Chaplains and is one of the few Veterans Organizations that experiences increases in its membership each year.
Join Us
Members of the Marine Corps League join in camaraderie and fellowship for the purpose of preserving traditions, promoting the interests of the United States Marine Corps, banding together those who are now serving in the United States Marine Corps and those who have been honorably discharged from that service. Effectively promote the ideals of American freedom and democracy. Voluntarily aiding and rendering assistance to all Marines, FMF Corpsmen, FMF Chaplains, and former Marines, FMF Corpsmen and FMF Chaplains and their widows and orphans; and to perpetuate the history of the United States Marine Corps and by fitting acts to observe the anniversaries of historical occasions of particular interest to Marines.