About Us

Our membership is MARINES and friends of the Corps.  We SERVE our community as we served our country.  We maintain our Corps' VALUES as citizens, and we preserve the TRADITIONS of our Marine Corps.
 
A hearty welcome to you from the Marines, former and present, of the Gainesville area.  Our detachment, with over 100 members continues to grow and become more actively involved in the affairs of our community.   To join us, print out our Membership Application.

THE LEADERSHIP

Gator Det Staff 2009-2010

COMMANDANT.....................................Scott DuPree  352-359-6211 ssgtd@cox.net

SR. VICE COMMANDANT................... Bob Gasche  352-376-0402  bobmcl990@gmail.com
JR. VICE COMMANDANT....................Jim Yakubsin  386-462-0493  yakmarine@aol.com
JUDGE ADVOCATE............................ John Murdoch  352-372-4599  jmurdoch@bellsouth.net
ADJUTANT/PAYMASTER....................Bob Barnas  352-538-7355  bobbarnas@bosshardtrealty.com
JR PAST COMMANDANT....................Cary Hill  352-495-2710  usa056@aol.com
SGT AT ARMS........................................Greg Williams  352-215-3237  gutvols@aol.com
CHAPLAIN...............................................Mary Hildebrande  352-338-1538  
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER................Norm Froscher  352-378-4975  normfro@aol.com
HONOR GUARD COMMANDER..........Bob Curti  352-384-0173   rcurti@cox.net
MASTER CHEF ......................................Michael O'Brien 352-481-6031  
SOCIAL DIRECTOR ..............................Kay Quinn  352-332-9219  kayquinnfl@bellsouth.net
QUARTERMASTER.............................Tom Sklens  352-384-1807  tom.sklens@gmail.com
PHOTOGRAPHER ................................. Phil Newman  352-372-8217  philnewwwii@webtv.net  
LIBRARIAN...............................................Anne Zecca   anne_sb04@yahoo.com
HISTORIAN...............................................Steve Homewood  lhomewood@cox.net
TOYS FOR TOTS CHAIRMAN..............Eric Kidwell  352-262-7717  kidwellusmc@yahoo.com
LIAISON TO THE ALACHUA COUNTY
   VETERAN ADVISORY BOARD .......Greg Williams  352-215-3237  gutvols@gmail.com
AMERICANISM & EDUCATION..........Phil Newman  352-372-8217  philnewwwii@webtv.net
BIRTHDAY BALL CHAIRMAN............Scott DuPree  352-359-6211  ssgtd@cox.net
FUNDRAISING CHAIRMAN................TBA
WEB SERGEANT................................. Scott DuPree 352-359-6211  ssgtd@cox.net
NEWSLETTER EDITOR ..................... Scott DuPree  352-359-6211  ssgtd@cox.net
WEBMASTER (NEW SITE) ................ Mark Stringfellow  1-877-252-3602 (toll free)  solutions@mcswebtech.com

DEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA LEADERSHIP 2009-2010
COMMANDANT ........................Dick Sargent (Ocoee)
SR VICE COMMANDANT ........William Backes (Ocala)
JR VICE COMMANDANT .........Lou Calleja (Tequesta)
JUDGE ADVOCATE ................ Willis "Bill" Maher (Clermont)
ADJUTANT ................................Robert Beale (The Villages)
PAYMASTER ..............................Skip Sponheim(Spring Hill)
DIST 2 VICE COMMANDANT...Scott DuPree (Gainesville)
A complete list of Department Officers can be found at www.mclfl.org.

 
 

Regular membership is open to Marines who have spent at least 90 days on active duty and to those Corpsman who served in the Fleet Marine Force.  Associate membership is open to wives and friends of the Marine Corps.
Our Programs
The GatorDet is dedicated to impacting our community.  Following are some of our programs that have enabled us to accomplish our missions.

*  Provided leadership to the veteran community through participation with the county Veteran Advisory Board.
*  Registered with our local Emergency Management system and have provided help during community emergencies.
* Assisted other groups such as Peaceful Paths (for battered women) and Vet Space (for homeless veterans).
* Collected clothes and food for needy children and needy veterans.
* Collected magazines for a dialysis center.
* Adopted a section of a city street to keep clean.
* Accepted numerous proclamations from the city and county on patriotic holidays.
* Named a local football stadium after a local WWII hero, Cpl Milton Lewis, USMC.
* Participate in most local patriotic events
*  Represented the USMC and veterans in the University of Florida Homecoming Parade each year.
* Raised the Marine Corps flag over City Hall in Gainesville on November 10th each year.
* Put on a Birthday Ball each year to celebrate our Marine heritage.
* Brought the TOYS FOR TOTS Program back to Gainesville in a big way, serving thousands of kids each year.
* Recognized local business owners who demonstrate a sense of pride and patriotism that are in line with Marine Corps values. 

 
*  In 2002 we founded (and now sponsor) the MILTON LEWIS YOUNG MARINES unit, a group for strengthening the lives of our community's youth.  They were the 2009 National Unit of the Year and their senior Young Marine, SgtMaj Kayle Hill, was the 2009 National Young Marine of the Year.    For more information on their unit, click here to go to their web site.
1998 to now

In the spring of 1997, Jim Yakubsin (then a GySgt, USMCR), initiated the idea for a detachment of the Marine Corps League in Gainesville.  After many formative meetings and building support, we were officially chartered in February 1998 with the presentation being made the next month.  Each year we endeavor to expand our group to the ends of providing a great place to belong as well as working toward our goals of supporting Marines and their families.