Birmingham Marines – Howlin' Mad Smith Detachment 1192, Marine Corps League
Mission Statement
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 FMF Navy Chaplains and former Marines, FMF Corpsmen, and FMF Navy Chaplains 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.
Announcements
Next Meeting: Our next meeting will be on 18 July 2026 at 1000.
Monthly Business Meetings
Our meetings are held on the 3rd Saturday of each month, except one month in the Spring for our annual picnic and December for our Christmas Party (see Calendar for those events). Breakfast is served at 0900 followed by the business meeting at 1000. The meeting location is the American Legion Post 255, 1834 Carson Rd North, Birmingham, AL 35217.
Department of Alabama Quarterly Meeting
0930 on Saturday September 12, 2026 | American Legion Post 133 | 4980 Main St, MILLBROOK, AL 36054
Twelfth Annual Veterans Golf Tournament
NOW HEAR THIS!
FIRST CALL
WEDNESDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2026 • 0900 AT BENT BROOK
HOWLIN' MAD SMITH'S TWELFTH ANNUAL VETERANS GOLF TOURNAMENT
In Memory of Jack Hopping, Jr & Paul H Kellogg
Click here for more information or to play or sponsor a hole
Pre-Need Burial Eligibility
You can apply to find out in advance for what benefits you are eligible and save your loved ones the task of locating the information required after you are gone. Find out in advance if you are eligible for burial in a VA cemetery or eligible for other burial benefits.
Click here for more information and access Pre-Need forms.
Honoring Korean War Veterans
The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking Korean War veterans for the Korean Ambassador of Peace medal. The Korean government would like to show their respect and gratitude for the devotion and sacrifice of the U.S. troops during the Korean War by presenting the medals to veterans. Sometimes called “The Forgotten War,” in part because its memory is often overshadowed by World War II and the Vietnam War, it began after some 75,000 North Korean soldiers poured into South Korea on June 25, 1950. By the time the war ended in July 1953, an estimated 5 million soldiers and civilians had died, including more than 700 from Alabama. South Korea’s government began offering the medals in 1975 to veterans who visited the country through its “Revisit Program,” which was meant to show gratitude for the vets’ service, as well as see how the country has prospered since the armistice was signed. In Alabama, there are 21,991 Korean War veterans, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. But the state does not have a list of their names and addresses, so has to rely on word of mouth and local media to alert veterans to the honor. Veterans should call 334-242-5084 to receive an application for the medal.
Marksmanship Information
- The Marine Corps League (MCL) features two primary types of marksmanship events: the National Marksmanship Postal Matches and regional or department-level in-person matches.The National Postal Matches run annually from March 1st through October 31st. These are friendly, detachment-level events rather than elite professional matches, designed to promote camaraderie, recruitment, and retention.Postal Match Classes: Include Service Pistol, Service Rifle, Open Pistol, Optics Rifle, and .22 LR Pistol/Rifle.Cost: Standard individual registration is roughly $10 per shooter per class, with no extra charge for team categories.Courses of Fire: Pistol events typically feature slow, timed, and rapid-fire stages fired from 25 yards on standard targets, while rifles are shot at 200 yards. Scores are verified by detachment commandants and submitted to national directors.
- ▶ Match Rules – National Rifle and Pistol Match (PDF)
Who was “Howlin' Mad” Smith?
Holland McTyeire “Howlin' Mad” Smith (April 20, 1882 – January 12, 1967) was a general in the United States Marine Corps during World War II. He is sometimes called the “father” of modern U.S. amphibious warfare. His nickname, “Howlin' Mad” Smith, had been given to him by his troops in the Dominican Republic in 1916 for his famously short temper and ferocious demeanor. The moniker, which played on his initials “H.M.”, was coined by those men.
On the eve of World War II, General Smith directed extensive Army, Navy, and Marine amphibious training, which was a major factor in successful U.S. landings in both the Atlantic and Pacific. He subsequently helped prepare U.S. Army and Canadian troops for the Kiska and Attu landings, then led the V Amphibious Corps in the assaults on the Gilbert Islands, the Marshall Islands, the island of Saipan, and Tinian in the Marianas. During the Marianas operation, besides the V Amphibious Corps, he commanded all Expeditionary Troops, including those that recaptured Guam.
He then served as the first commanding general of Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, and headed Task Force 56 (Expeditionary Troops) at Iwo Jima, which included all the assault troops in that battle.
Veterans Crisis Line
If you or a veteran you know is in crisis, free, confidential support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Call: 988, then Press 1
Text: 838255 | Chat: veteranscrisisline.net
Links of Interest
Download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat to view PDF documents.