‘Carrying the tradition’
Published 9:07 am Thursday, November 15, 2018
Jim Land, left, guest speaker during the 243rd anniversary celebration of the United States Marine Corps, stands with the eldest Marine participant Roland Parris, and the youngest Marine participant, Lionel Bowles. Photos by Emily Hollingsworth.
Kirby Moore speaks during the United States Marine Corps birthday celebration held at Charley’s Waterfront Cafe.
Pictured at left, Tom Hicks, who served in the Vietnam War, wears a sweater that reads, “Not as lean, not as mean, but still a Marine.”
Pictured at left, Mary and John Sigman take part in the United States Marine Corps birthday celebration Saturday.
Pictured at left, Bill and Helen Talbert, of Buckingham, prepare for the United States Marine Corps birthday celebration held Saturday.
A celebration of the 243rd anniversary of the United States Marine Corps (USMC) held at Charley’s Waterfront Cafe and organized by the Farmville Jarheads on Saturday featured a speaker considered a living legend among service members.
Major (Ret.) Jim Land is a founder of the Scout Sniper program, and was instrumental in establishing the Scout Sniper school located in Quantico. Land, during his 24 years with the USMC, oversaw the sniper courses during the Vietnam War, which had famed veteran Carlos Hathcock. Land is the former National Secretary of the National Rifle Association of America.
To view more photos of the celebration, click here.
A GROWING CELEBRATION
What started as a party between two couples at their homes has blossomed into a full-blown celebration in the town of Farmville.
Dotty Lash said she and Dick Lash, her husband, met with a neighbor who were fellow Marines to celebrate the anniversary of the USMC, which takes place Nov. 10. As they met more Marine neighbors, the celebration outgrew the Lashes’ home. They began meeting at restaurants. The informal celebration has now grown to the approximately more than 50 participants who attended Saturday’s party at Charley’s Waterfront Cafe.
Dotty said the celebration has warranted many fond memories, including one participant she remembers playing Marine hymns on his harmonica.
Prentice Phelps, who has been a long time participant of the get-together, said as far as he knows, the tradition that was started by the Lashes has remained unbroken, that the U. S. Marine Corps anniversary has been celebrated each year in Farmville since.
Kirby Moore, an organizer for the event and for the Farmville Jarheads group, said what makes the Farmville celebration significant was that their celebration reflected celebrations of the USMC taking place all around the world, from Japan, to Iraq, to Afghanistan.
“We’re carrying the tradition,” Moore said.
The celebration features a customary cutting of the cake using a military sword. The cake was decorated with the USMC symbol.
The first slice of the cake was given to Roland Parris, who was born in 1927 and was considered the eldest service member attending the celebration, serving in World War II. The second slice was given to the youngest service member, Lionel Bowles who was born in 1998.
CHANGE OF PLANS
Land said it was an adjustment in his assignment that afforded him the chance to make a profound impact in the USMC.
He said he was initially set to be transferred to Panama to attend what was called Jungle Warfare School, which he was hoping to attend.
Land said two weeks before the orders to travel to Panama were going to be executed, he got a call from the battalion commander’s office and was told he was not going to Jungle Warfare School, but to the Pacific Division Rifle and Pistol Matches in Hawaii.
While disappointed, Land said his role in Hawaii led to he and a Chief Warrant Officer laying the groundwork for the scout sniper school program.
Land said he and Chief Warrant Officer Arthur Terry shared similar concerns that rifle and pistol team in Hawaii wasn’t providing proper service for the Marine Corps. They had the idea to organize a sniper school in 1961.
When Land was transferred to Vietnam during the Vietnam War, he was assigned to create a similar sniper program with few resources.
“I had no instructors, no guns, no reliable ammunition, no range,” Land said. He said he had a list of distinguished shooters in the Marine division that he contacted to begin the program.
The sniper program he oversaw had a notable service member, Carlos Hathcox, who was responsible for 93 confirmed kills during the Vietnam War.
Land said his experience could be an example of how one’s path can change in life.
“If you want to hear God laugh, tell him your plans,” Land said, quoting a phrase his mother used to say.
“If I had gone through the Jungle Warfare School in Panama, none of this would have ever happened,” Land said.
Tom Hicks, a member of the Farmville Veterans of Foreign Wars Chapter 7059, said he served in the Vietnam War and was in the sniper program.
Hicks brought two photos taken of him in Vietnam. He also brought a plaque he received for his service in the sniper program.
