It’s time for the next generation of Marine veterans to step up

When a group of Marine veterans got together in 2006 to form a local Marine Corps League, James “Jim” Kelly of Urbana was one of the founding members. He was one of six World War II Iwo Jima veterans in the league at the time and was the last one to pass away May 30 at 102 years old. Appropriately, May 30 was the original date of Memorial Day.

Kelly had spent 36 days on the island of Iwo Jima in one of the bloodiest and costliest battles in Marine Corps history that claimed the lives of 6,821 Americans, mostly Marines, and about 20,000 were wounded. All of the 22,000 Japanese defenders, except 216 who were captured, died.

Richard L. Pittman of Urbana, Illinois, was killed in the World War II battle of Iwo Jima.

When the area Marine veterans, some active-duty Marines and NROTC students were considering what to name the league, Kelly listened to the discussion and then suggested that it be named after Dick Pittman, his high school friend, football and basketball teammate, and fellow Marine who was killed on Iwo Jima Feb. 21, 1945, two days after the Marines landed on the beaches. Kelly was nearby and said he went to see his friend’s body but then had to go back to work delivering ammunition and goods needed by the troops in the midst of battle. His friend was gone in a moment nearly 80 years ago, but his memory remains.

And that’s how the Urbana-Champaign Richard L. Pittman Marine Corps League #1231 got its name. Kelly specifically requested that it be the “Urbana-Champaign” MCL. He’d lived in Urbana most of his life after his family moved from Findlay in 1925 and reasoned, “Urbana was here first.”

The purpose of a veterans’ service organization like the Marine Corps League is for active, reserve, retired and veteran Marines and Navy corpsmen to “continue the faithful tradition of looking out for the Marines to their left and right” by promoting the Marine Corps, its history and traditions; strengthening their fraternity; and supporting those in need through volunteerism.

And that’s just what #1231 league members have done since its formation. They have organized fund-raising events to help veteran families in need, stood by the caskets of fallen members during funerals, placed flags on veterans’ graves on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and generally honored and raised awareness of all veterans’ service and contributions, not just that of Marines.

In addition to Kelly, the other five Iwo Jima veterans who were once in the league were Edgar R. Barstow, Roy Charles, William Hoag, Lawrence “Slats” Trower and Frank “Sammy” L. Weldon Jr.  There were other World War II veterans in the league who are gone, now, too: USS Indianapolis survivor Earl Riggins, Thomas “Tom” Henderson and Donald “Don” Pittman (Dick’s brother). At one time, the league had about 75 members, including men and women who served in wartime and peacetime since World War II.

In recent years, however, and particularly after the Covid pandemic, the numbers have dwindled as more have died, moved away or just stopped being involved for one reason or another.

Framed documents and artifacts on the wall of the VFW in Urbana, Illinois, attest to the positive impact the local Marine Corps League chapter has had on the community. It is a legacy it hopes to continue with future generations of veterans.

Now, it’s anyone’s guess whether enough people will attend a meeting to make it worthwhile. Dick Pittman’s photo with information about his service still hangs on the wall in the VFW’s meeting room, where the league meetings have been held since the beginning. Surrounding Dick’s photo are the Marine Corps League’s Certificate of Formation; a Certificate of Appreciation for supporting the Illini Veterans and the Annual Memorial 5k Run/Walk; the Marine Corps League Meritorious Unit Commendation “in appreciation and gratitude for meritorious service in the interests of the United States of America, the United States Marine Corps and the Marine Corps League”; a National Jr. Vice Commandant’s Citation for 100 Percent Membership (for the league’s first year); and a photo signed to the league of R. Lee Ermey, the retired Marine gunnery sergeant, actor and author.

Perhaps the older veterans were more interested in taking part in a local Marine Corps League chapter because they wanted to pay it forward and help their fellow Marines when so many did not get to make it back. Life today seems so much busier for people, but the Marine motto of Semper Fidelis – always faithful – has never waned. Hopefully, more of the active, reserve, retired and veteran Marines still here will reignite their interest in coming together in camaraderie and support for each other once again.

The Richard L. Pittman Marine Corps League will meet next at 7 p.m., June 20, at the Urbana VFW and every third Thursday of the month. New members, old members and associates (of which the league now has three) are welcome. Emails have been sent to past members encouraging them to attend.

It will be strange and sad to not see Jim Kelly now. He was an iconic figure around Urbana-Champaign and the veteran community. He traveled to the Iwo Jima Association of America’s reunion and ceremony in Washington, D.C., to remember and honor those who died on the island and in World War II. He attended 5th Marine Division Association reunions for the same reason.

He was often recognized for his service, as well. He went to St. Louis for a baseball game with his favorite team, the Chicago Cubs, and had fans hear the announcers welcome him to the game. He attended numerous local ceremonies honoring veterans, and he always said the people at home during the war needed to be recognized, too, because “if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have had what we needed.” Just this past Memorial Day, my wife and I stood beside Kelly, his daughter and grandson as people greeted him and shook his hand during the ceremony and wreath-laying at the Field of Honor in Urbana’s Woodlawn Cemetery, where Kelly was buried nine days later.

“With Jim Kelly just passing and the other Iwo Jima veterans and World War II veterans in the league now gone, it’s our turn to lead by example,” the league’s four-time commandant and current Vice Commandant Bob Kappes said, “We owe it to them, and the service and support they exemplified, to be there for each other and our community.”