About Marine Corps League
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-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. country.
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.
History of the Marine Corps League Detachment 735
Captain Jack Holland
John Wisdom "Jack" Holland was born in Jackson, TN on December 25, 1919. After graduation from college, he voluntarily enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and in July 1941, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant. Jack first saw action August 7th 1942, when he and 18,000 other Marines of the 1st Marine Division performed a combat assault beach landing on Guadalcanal. As a 2nd Lt., he was platoon leader of Charlie Company 1st Battalion 5th Marine Regiment. On November 1st 1942, while leading a reconnaissance patrol, Jack and his patrol were ambushed by the Japanese. Jack was severely wounded in the shoulder during the initial exchange of fire. Jack continued to direct his men until the action had subsided. Only after all his injured personnel had been evacuated did he permit to be removed to the rear. For Jack's actions during that fire fight, he not only earned a Purple Heart, but he was also awarded the Silver Star for his "conspicuous gallantry". The award was pinned on Jack by Admiral William "Bull" Halsey. He was also promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
Jack recovered from his wounded and entered his second battle at Cape Gloucester, New Britain. Jack was promoted to Captain after displaying uncommon bravery at Cape Gloucester.
Jack's third and final campaign was fought on Peleliu. It was during this battle that Jack received the Navy Cross. He was now the Company Commander of Bravo Company 1st Battalion 5th Marines. During the time from 15 to 30 September 1944, Japanese forces launched two counterattacks against his zone of action. Capt. Jack Holland led his assault company in destroying several enemy tanks in repulsing both attacks. In the face of concentrated hostile artillery, mortar and machine gun fire, he maneuvered his company across fourteen-hundred yards of open airfield to drive the enemy from strong defensive positions at the far side, and successfully held the ground. After five days of bitter fighting he launched an aggressive attack against Japanese entrenched on a commanding hill and, when his troops were temporarily pinned down by the intense fire, boldly occupied an exposed position to rally his men to advance and take the hill.
Jack was released from active duty October 1, 1945, where he returned to Jackson, TN to his family business. A point of fact was that he actually stayed in the reserved after leaving active duty and obtained the rank of Colonel before retiring.