05.30.17

Hoeven Honors Minot Marine Corps Veterans for Work to Establish New Marine Corps League Detachment in Minot

MINOT, N.D. – At the charter presentation ceremony for the John M. Joyce Detachment #1445 of the Marine Corps League (MCL) in Minot today, Senator John Hoeven honored the detachment’s members for their service and their work to establish the detachment. The detachment is named in honor of John M. Joyce of Minot who was killed in action in Vietnam in April 1969 at the age of 24.

“Our veterans have done so much in service to our country to protect our liberty and secure our way of life,” Hoeven said. “Yesterday, Memorial Day, we celebrated those who have died for our country. John M. Joyce was one of those who cherished freedom so much that he was willing to give his life to preserve it. This detachment is named in his honor, and we thank those who have worked to create this detachment in Minot to support our Marine Corps veterans.”

A Bronze Star recipient, John M. Joyce was a 1st Lieutenant with the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) and served in Vietnam with “K” Company, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Joyce grew up in Minot and was active in sports, receiving a scholarship to play baseball in college. He was a teacher in Great Falls, Mont. before he enlisted in the Marines.

The MCL was established in June 1923 and is one of the earliest Veterans organizations. It was chartered by an Act of Congress in 1937 to assist and aid veterans and is the only federally-chartered USMC related Veterans organization in the country. The John M. Joyce Detachment #1445 was chartered by the Dakota Leathernecks Detachment #1419 of the Bismarck-Mandan area.

Hoeven has been working to provide veterans with timely, quality health care options closer to home. Earlier this month, Hoeven secured a commitment from Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Dr. David Shulkin to support his Veterans Access to Long Term Care and Health Services Act, which would expand veterans’ access to long-term care services. Hoeven is also working to build on the success of the Veterans Care Coordination initiative at the Fargo VA which has decreased the wait time from an initial call to scheduling an appointment from 24 days a year ago to five or six days currently.

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