History of the Townsend Detachment #920 Marine Corps League

Townsend Detachment 920

Montgomery, Alabama

Department of Alabama, Marine Corps League

(Updated 10/28/16)

Townsend Detachment, Marine Corps League was granted a Charter by the Commandant of the Marine Corps League on May 23, 1995, with twenty (20) Charter Members signing the charter.  The detachment was named in HONOR of Corporal Henry ‘Ben’ Townsend, a Montgomery native son.

Ben Townsend enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1981. After basic training and ITR he was assigned the Military Occupational Specialty – 0311, Rifleman.  On October 23, 1983, Lance Corporal Townsend was assigned to 1st Battalion 8th Marines and was stationed in Beirut Lebanon as part of an International Peace Keeping Force.  That morning a terrorist bomber ran the gates of the compound in a truck filled with explosives and detonated in the barracks building.  LCpl. Townsend survived the initial attack; however, he died of his injuries at Bethesda Naval Hospital on December 2, 1983.

Townsend Detachment is located in Alabama’s capital city, Montgomery.  Montgomery is the home of the Alabama Legislature, a Veterans Hospital, Maxwell Air Force Base and a USMC Reserve Company.

In 1996 the newly formed Detachment initiated a liaison with the Air War College and the Air Command and Staff College housed on Maxwell Air Force Base.  Active duty Marines are assigned to attend these programs and the Townsend Detachment wanted to welcome these Marines to the greater Montgomery community. Townsend Detachment’s Annual Welcome Aboard Picnic for Marines and their families was founded and has become an annual tradition.  This event is hosted in August on the Base with food, games and door prizes to welcome the incoming USMC students and their families to the Montgomery area.

The Marines on Maxwell AFB have invited the Detachment members to join with them on November 10th each year for the Traditional Cake Cutting Ceremonies for the Marine Corps Birthday.  Additionally, the Marines of Maxwell invite the Detachment members to join them for the Annual USMC Birthday Ball.  The Townsend Detachment has been honored at these events by providing the “Oldest Marine”.

Some key events in the Detachment’s history include:

• 1995 – Detachment members were special guests of an Alabama Joint Legislative session honoring the retirement of Native Son, General Carl Mundy, 30th Commandant USMC.
• 1997:
  • Detachment member Fred Baker was awarded a ‘belated’ Silver Star for actions in the Republic of Vietnam in April of 1967.
  • Detachment members assisted in erecting playground equipment at a local park.
• 1998:
  • Detachment collected and sent Christmas Care Packages to Marines in Iraq.
  • Detachment participated in Toys for Tots collections with USMCR Lima Company.
  • Detachment hosted Department of Alabama Annual meeting
• 2000:
  • Participated in the inaugural Montgomery area Veteran’s Day Parade
  • Marines Helping Marines traditions started, monies collected to assist an active duty Marine’s family after the Marine was in a serious accident. Townsend Detachment members did not ask for outside help with financial supports, they took the concept of ‘Marines Helping Marines’ personally.
• 2002 – Co-sponsored the “Traveling Vietnam Wall” in Montgomery Alabama; Keynote speaker, Detachment member Dale Barnes, Vietnam Veteran with 12 surgeries for wounds from the conflict.  The traveling wall was ‘Guarded 24/7’ by Detachment members while it was in Montgomery, and the public attendance was constant day and night.
• 2003 – Participated in flag raising event at the local VA Hospital, a coalition effort with JROTC cadets, Detachment members, active duty Marines.
• 2003 / 2004 / 2010 – Honored local Reserve Marines and their families with picnics and Honor Lines at the Airport in support of their activations to and from Iraq
• 2005 – Detachment in conjunction with the Department of Alabama participated in a Caribbean Cruise, which was coordinated by Detachment Commandant Bob Cheney.   
• 2006 – Detachment sponsored bus tour to MCRD PISC – most of the Detachment members participating in this event were WW II or Korean Era veterans and this was their first return to MCRD PISC 
• 2010 – Detachment served as the lead veterans service organization in the Veterans Day Parade
• 2014 – Detachment hosted the State Department Convention
• 2016 – Placed a foot stone memorial marker at the grave of Corporal Henry Townsend, Jr.
• 2018 – Placed a wreath at the grave of Corporal Henry Townsend, Jr. on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the Beirut Barracks Bombinig which took Cpl Townsend’s life.

Three Townsend Detachment members have served as State Department Commandant over the years.

Five Townsend Detachment members have been honored to be elected as the “State Department Marine of the Year.”

Townsend Detachment has sent 36 members on to the ‘Supreme Commandant’ over the years.

AWARDS RECEIVED:

• National Jr. Vice Commandant Citation – 1996/1997/2003 (membership retention award)
• Meritorious Service & Interest in National Objectives Award – 2004

Townsend Detachment currently:

• Stands Honor Guard at MCL and USMC funerals in the greater Montgomery area.
• Hosts an annual Welcome Aboard Picnic for Marines& their Families assigned to Maxwell AFB
• Collects Toys for Tots annually in conjunction with the local USMC Reserve unit
• Participates in the Annual Montgomery Area Veterans Day Parade
• Places over 500 flags on USMC graves at 6 cemeteries in the greater Montgomery Area on Memorial Day
• Participates in the Goodwyn Middle School ‘Constitution Day’ Program
• Supports ‘Marines Helping Marines’ with financial supports and referrals
• Recognizes Boy Scouts who attain the rank of ‘Eagle Scout’ and JROTC ‘Cadets of the Year’
• Participates in the State POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony

Casualty Info 

Townsend Detachment commissioned the creation of a footstone for the grave site of the Marine we are named for. Detachment member Brooks Barrow created the foot stone. The Townsend family and the greater Montgomery community joined us for the Dedication ceremony.