the BADGE Vol. XI May 2026

 

A copy of the most recent Volume of the BADGE newsletter is now available on our website. Simply click on “the BADGE Newsletter” option at the top of this page, and then click on “the BADGE Volume XI May 2026” and the most recent newsletter will open in a separate, new tab for your reading pleasure.

The May 2026 Newsletter includes:

-a report on last year’s 2025 Reunion;

-an excerpt from thecmp.org focusing on the 2025 Junior High Power Rifle Clinic;

-a reprint of a wonderful article from the Garand Collectors Association which was written by Jim Swartz and our own Association member, MajGen James “Hammer” Hartsell USMC (Ret), with the article and photos focusing on “Don Bartlett’s Secretary of Defense Interservice Match Award M1 Garands”

-an excerpt taken out of “From Rifle Team Equiment (RTE) To Precision Weapons Section (PWS)” written by Capt. Jim Hill, USMC (Ret);

and,

-a “look back” that was written by Mike Pietroforte: “Creation of the Distinguished Shooters Organization.”

Our 2026 REUNION is coming up!

16 MAY 2026

Get your Reservations paid in advance, and save! 

(PLEASE SCROLL DOWN AND SEE LAST MONTH’S DETAILED POSTING ON THIS WEBSITE FOR ALL INFORMATION ABOUT OUR UPCOMING REUNION.)

MARINES PLACE FIRST

in

INTERNATIONAL SNIPER COMPETITIION

 

Sgt. Tyler Johnson and Sgt. Spencer Harrell took first place at the 2026 International Sniper Competition. (Daniel Marble/U.S. Army)

Click here to link to the original article in the MILITARY TIMES

UPCOMING REUNION

16 May 2026

 

*****

*****

(The following correspondence about our UPCOMING REUNION is from our MCDSA President, Danny Burke. It is taken from two files which he recently sent out to us all, however, because his email address has changed, some of us did not see his email because our systems did not recognize his new email address, and the correspondence ended up in our Trash/Spam folders.)

Hello everyone,

            Wow, what a wonderful gathering we had at our 2025 MCDSA Reunion/Cookout!  We had 102 in attendance, and what a spread of chow we enjoyed catered by Mission Bar-B-Q. 

            This will be the 4th year that Randy and Leslie have hosted our event, and if you attended last year, you saw that they’ve built a large pavilion capable of seating everyone.  No more tents, tables or chairs to set up or tear down.  Many preparations have already begun, so let’s add the weekend of 16 May to your calendar.  Our event will again be catered by Mission Bar-B-Q.  We took note of the chow that went fast last year, and was left over, and have adjusted the quantities to more align with our desires.

            We will still have the silent auction if you have any items you would like to donate to financially support the association.  We will be selling Red Books Vol I and Vol II.  We will also be selling 50/50 Raffle Tickets, our Fraternal Items, and giving away some door prizes.  The cost of entry to this year’s event will be $30.00 for Life Members and Annual Members (in good standing).  As a reminder, all annual membership dues are payable every January 1^st.  If you plan on attending, please send your RSVP and check to:

MCDSA, P.O. Box 134, Quantico, VA 22134

NLT 09 May 2026, as we need to provide the final numbers to Mission Bar-B-Q.

            If you plan on bringing an RV or Camper, please coordinate with Leslie @ 540-840-2074 (primary), or Randy (540-406-0368).  It will be a great time hanging out for a few days!  Randy will set up his grill Friday evening (15 May) for anyone wanting to arrive early and chow down.  Bring what you want to throw on the grill and bring a side to share.  We’ll sit around the fire and reminisce.

            Capt. Bartlett said many members preferred to stay in Culpeper at the Microtel Inn and Suites, 885 Willis Lane, Culpeper, VA 22701 (540) 829-0330.  His rate is $199.00 for two rooms.  We arranged for a  discount of $125.00 (no tax) for rooms with two double beds at the Days Inn/Baymont Inn & Suites, 791 Madison Rd, Culpeper, VA 22701 (540) 825-1253.  The Group Block Name and Group Block Code are listed in one of the two attachments recently sent out to Members. If you did not receive the email with the two attachments concerning our upcoming Reunion, please email us and let us know — we will confirm your email address on file, and then resend the information.

            Other motels in Culpeper are the Red Roof Inn, 889 Willis Lane, Culpeper, VA 22701 (883) 617-1943; and the Quality Inn, 890 Willis Lane, Culpeper, VA 22701 (540) 825-4900.  All locations offer free breakfast, WIFI and parking.

            Also, the Marine Corps Marksmanship Championships (MCMC) are 13-24 April 2026, with the awards ceremony tentatively taking place on 24 April at 0900 on Range 4.  If you plan to attend, Capt Bodzioch needs to know numbers for the ceremony.  Please send me your name.

            One more thing, if you are interested in serving your MCDSA as a member of the Board of Governors, please let us know.  We will be holding elections this year, with all ballots due NLT June 15^th.  Ballots and boxes will be at the Reunion/Cookout, and ballots will be sent to members that cannot attend.

            Last year, we had many door prizes, dozens of Silent Auction items, the 50/50 Raffle, and the highlight of the day, the “Leg Match” where everyone who RSVP’d and paid their $30.00 entry fee by the cutoff date was entered into the drawing to win either a Gold ($200.00), Silver ($100.00), or Bronze ($50.00) “Leg Medal.”  

            I want to thank MGen James S. “Hammer” Hartsell for his leadership in starting the ball rolling with his donation, prompting others to donate which totally funded the “Leg Match” last year. If you’d like to follow his leadership again this year, please contact Leslie or Danny.          

            Again, this year we will have something special to be entered into for all those who RSVP and send in their entry fee NLT 09 May 2026 (the cutoff date for Mission Bar-B-Q).

            For those interested, there will be a potluck dinner/cookout on Friday, the evening prior to the Reunion/Cookout.  If you plan on bringing an RV or Camper, for coordination please contact Leslie 540-840-2074 (primary), or Randy (540-406-0368).  It will be a great time hanging out for a few days!

            Anyone who would like to donate any items to the Silent Auction please bring them, and we will place them on the table to help generate funds for future use.  If you plan on donating a specific item, let me know, and I’ll get the Silent Auction forms filled out prior to the event to save time.  If you want to place a value and starting bid on your item, that will help.

            Everyone will receive one door prize ticket when they arrive, and those winners will be drawn approximately one hour prior to clean up.  An itinerary will be posted at several locations around the area.  If anyone has a drone they would like to use to take pictures of our event along with the group photo, that would be great.  Leslie will order the cake, there will be plenty of chow, and we will have lots of beverages on hand.

            I mentioned in a previous email sent to our Annual Members, that CWO3 Raymond Coleman had donated another Life Membership ($150.00) for a raffle that will be drawn on 16 May for any Annual Member in arrears that renews their membership by 16 May.  If you know of any Annual Members in arrears, encourage them to renew to get in on this raffle, or better yet, an upgrade to a Life Membership will enter them in the drawing. 

            Anyone interested in a planned fishing trip to SW Virginia at a place called Cedar Springs Sportsman Lodge, in Rural Retreat, VA?  This is a privately owned stream (1.5 miles).  They also own a hatchery and have been in business since the 1950’s.  Vince Sulik is organizing a two-day trip for one of the best fishing experiences in the world on Monday and Tuesday, 18 and 19 May 2026 (two days after our Reunion/Cookout).  If you are interested in joining us for this unforgettable time, you should contact Vince at 804-761-2535, or vincesulik@gmail.com.  Vince has reserved the creek for those two days, which gets stocked for our group.  It will cost $1,750.00 to rent the entire stream, which comes out to $70.00 per person for 25 people.  Call or email Vince if you are interested.  There are videos on YouTube if you would like to check it out.

           

            Camaraderie is the main purpose and function of this association.  As written in our Constitution, Article III states:

 The objectives of the Association are to: 

1. Provide a means to further the camaraderie established among Marines who have distinguished themselves in the Marine Corps Competition-in-Arms Program, as well as those Marines who have tirelessly supported the United States Marine Corps Shooting Teams as Armorers and Ammunition Technicians, and those non-Distinguished Marines who have earned points toward the Distinguished Badge.

2. Foster the preservation and promotion of Marine Corps Marksmanship and the Marine Corps Competition-in-Arms Program history.

3. Act as a vehicle by which Distinguished Marine shooters, those non-Distinguished Marines who have earned points towards the Distinguished Badge and those dedicated Marines who supported the USMC Shooting Teams as Armorers and Ammunition Technicians can maintain continued contact with one another.

4. To hold an annual social gathering for the membership.

 ========================================================

2026 MCDSA Reunion/Cookout

Date – 16 May 2026

Location – Randy Allen’s Bittersweet Farm

Unionville, VA 22567

540-406-0368

***Reservations paid in Advance to:   MCDSA P.O. Box 134, Quantico, VA 22134***

***(RSVP 05/09/26)***

PRICE INCLUDES ADMISSION, FOOD AND DRINKS

$30.00 – (in advance) Life Members and Annual Members (in Good Standing)

$35 Day of Event

$45.00 – (in advance) Annual Members (who are in Arrears) (Brings Membership Current)

$50 Day of Event (Brings Membership Current)

Schedule

(All times subject to change)

0800 – Dedicated Volunteers Set-up

1000 – Arrival of Guests/Cocktails/Social Gathering/Start bidding on Silent Auction Items and 50/50 Raffle (Donations of Silent Auction Items Graciously Accepted)

1100 – MCDSA Membership Competitions (TBD)

1300 – Shared Blessing /Chow Served (Catered by Mission BBQ)

1430 – Introductions

1630 – MCDSA Photo

1700 – Silent Auction Items Winners Announced

1730 – 50/50 Raffle Winner Announced

1730 – Cleanup

1800 –Tear Down – Secure

 

Semper Fi,

Daniel E. Burke, Sr.

MGySgt, USMC (Ret.)

President, MCDSA

(540) 287-3833

 

Happy Birthday, Marines!

 

TIME MACHINE….

Here are some items from the past which may take some of us back in time…

Clipping compliments of Maj. Gen. Hartsell (USMCR Ret.)

The first is a newspaper clipping from 1990 listing the names of those Marines who were selected for the Marine Corps Summer Rifle and Pistol Teams.

Next we have the first and last pages of the results for the “PRE- Preliminary WESTERN DIVISION Rifle and Pistol Matches which were held back in May of 1973.

 

 

 

1973 Match Bulletins compliments of  1st Sgt Ray Del Rio (USMC Ret.)

(…Note who signed the last page of each Bulletin.)

We join all in our Nation as we remember, mourn and honor those U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Beautiful weather, beautiful setting and a beautiful opportunity to reconnect….

 

Many thanks to Leslie Cook and Gene Rucks for providing photos and snapshots of the 2025 Reunion!

All other Photos from Leslie and Gene of our 2025 Reunion are able to be accessed on PhotoBucket.

[To access our albums stored on PhotoBucket, simply click on our “Photos” tab (here, at the top of this website page), and you will be taken to our “Photos” page where you can then select the album you want to view. After you have clicked on the album of your choice, a new window will open up (the PhotoBucket website) where you will be prompted to enter the MarineDSA Membership password which will then grant you access to the Album you want to view.]

Please RSVP by tomorrow, 09 May 2025 if you will be attending the upcoming Reunion on

17 May 2025…

 

Outstanding chow and opportunities to re-connect with fellow Distinguished Shooters, Shooting Team Armorers and Shooting Team Ammo Techs are all right around the corner — and, planned for this year (besides the cookout catered by Mission Bar-B-Q) will be a silent auction, raffle tickets, door prizes, and a drawing for “Leg Medals: 1 Gold (a $200 gift card), 3 Silver ($100 gift cards) and 6 Bronze ($50 gift cards)” which is open to those Members who

RSVP along with paying the $30 for their ticket by tomorrow, 9 May 2025.