National Commandant James R. Laskey Jim Laskey, a retired Marine Corps First Sergeant and Vietnam Veteran, heads the 76,000 plus Marine Corps League (MCL) as National Commandant, elected at the August 2008 National Convention in Orlando, Florida.Jim has been a member of the Marine Corps League since 1968 and is a member of the Department of Massachusetts William R. Caddy Detachment 124. He held every elected position in the detachment and served two terms as Department Commandant. He also served two terms each as both the New England Division Assistant Vice Commandant and Division Vice Commandant. The Department of Massachusetts named Jim the Department of Massachusetts "Marine of the year 2000." The New England Division has bestowed this prestigious honor by naming Jim the "New England Marine of the Year for 2009". Commandant Laskey served as the National Junior Vice Commandant and National Senior Vice Commandant and has served on several national committees. He is a past Vice President and Director of the Marine Corps League Foundation. He has been awarded numerous MCL awards, including multiple Distinguished Citizen Medals gold, silver and bronze.
Jim enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at Boston, Massachusetts, June 1960. After completing boot camp at Parris Island, S.C., and advanced infantry training at Camp Geiger, N.C., he was assigned to "Sea School" at Portsmouth, Va. That led to his participation aboard the USS Lake Champlain, in the recovery of Commander Alan Sheppard upon completion of his first flight into outer space and his splash down in the Atlantic Ocean. He later participated in the Cuban Blockade aboard the USS Essex in October 1962. He reenlisted while a member of the Second Force Recon at Camp Lejeune. N.C.
Commandant Laskey was assigned as Platoon Sergeant, Security Platoon Headquarters Company, Seventh Marines at Chu Lai, South Vietnam, and was later transferred to the First Marine Division’s Casualty Recovery Center as an operational deployment casualty field reporter.
Returning to the U.S in 1967, Jim served on recruiting duty in Quincy, Mass. Following his tour as a recruiter, he was assigned to the military police and correctional field serving as deputy warden at the Camp Butler Correctional Facility, Okinawa Japan, and warden at the Correctional Facility at the Marine Barracks, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Jim also served at the Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Naval Disciplinary Facility where he served two tours in various non-commissioned officer command positions.
Jim retired from active service in 1980 while serving as First Sergeant of "Charlie" Company at the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia.
Jim’s personal Awards include the Naval Commendation Medal, Naval Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct with silver star and Competitive Marksmanship Rifle and Pistol badges.
Jim is married to the former Therese Maynard of Providence, R. I., and resides in Cumberland, R.I. Our Mission: Members of the Marine Corps League join together in camaraderie and fellowship for the purpose of preserving the traditions and 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 that they may effectively promote the ideals of American freedom and democracy, voluntarily aiding and rendering assistance to all Marines, FMF Corpsmen and former Marines and FMF Corpsmen and to 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.
History:
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-Fifty 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 76,000 men and women, officer and enlisted, active duty, Reserve Marines, honorably discharged Marine Veterans and qualified Navy FMF Corpsmen and is one of the few Veterans Organizations that experiences increases in its membership each year.
The Marine Corps League is headed by an elected National Commandant, with 14 elected National Staff Officers who serve as trustees. The National Board of Trustees coordinates the efforts of 48 Department or State entities and the activities of over 1000 community-based detachments located throughout the United States and overseas. The day-to-day operations of the League are under the control of the National Executive Director with the responsibility for the management and direction of all programs, activities and affairs of the Marine Corps League as well as supervising the National Headquarters staff.
The prime authority of the League is derived from its Congressional charter and from its annual National Convention held each August in different major U.S. cities throughout the nation. It is a not-for-profit organization within the provisions of the Internal Revenue Service Code 501(c) (4), with a special group exemption letter which allows for contributions to the Marine Corps League, its Auxiliary and subsidiary units, to be tax deductible by the donor.
Leadership:
The Marine Corps League leadership is headed by:
National Commandant: James R. Laskey Executive Director: Michael A. Blum National Sr. Vice Commandant: Vic Voltaggio National Jr. Vice Commandant: James J. “Jim” Tuohy National Judge Advocate: John W. Kovalcik Jr. Past National Commandant: John V. Ryan NVC, Central Division: James L. Hackbarth NVC, Mideast Division: Juan D. Graciano NVC, Midwest Division: Bryson L. Allen NVC, New England Division: Richard D. Gore, Sr.
Further, the MCL is divided into 10 geographic divisions:
Central Division: Departments of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin
Mideast Division: Departments of Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Overseas Detachments
Midwest Division: Departments of Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota
New England Division: Departments of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont
Northeast Division: Departments of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania
Northwest Division: Departments of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington
Rocky Mountain Division: Departments of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming
Southeast Division: Departments of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee
Southern Division: Departments of Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas
Southwest Division: Departments of Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada and Overseas
Programs of the Marine Corps League:
Marines Helping Marines – Wounded Marines Program U.S. Marines Youth Physical Fitness Program Young Marines of the Marine Corps League Scholarship Program Legislative Program Veterans Service Officer Program Veterans Affairs Voluntary Service Program (VAVS) Military Order of Devil Dogs Toys-For-Tots Boy Scouts of America Marine-4-Life/Injured Marine Support Program Annual Conventions
National Commandant James R. Laskey
