How McDonald's coffee led to a new Marine Corps League detachment for veterans in Fairview

Marine Corps operations can involve years of meticulous planning, rigorous training and painstaking detail.

Veterans Gary McElhiney and Stan Kozich launched their latest mission over a cup of coffee at McDonald's.

Both men were members of the Marine Corps League, a national organization for Marine Corps servicemen, veterans and Navy corpsmen. Their "local" detachment, however, was in Columbia, 50 miles away from their homes (and their local McDonald's). They had a simple idea: Why not start a detachment for Marines around Williamson, Dickson, Hickman and Cheatham Counties?

"We took that idea from McDonald's and, as we bumped into fellow Marines, we said, 'Hey, would you be interested?'" McElhiney remembered. "It's amazing what you can accomplish over a cup of coffee."

Four months later, the fledgling Marine Corps League detachment in Fairview has nearly enough members to officially launch. McElhiney said the organization will promote community service and lasting camaraderie among local veterans.

"People don't realize, in Williamson County and surrounding areas here, just how many veterans there are," McElhiney said. "It's a brother and sisterhood. It doesn't make any difference which branch of service you served in, we all have something in common."

Veterans in Williamson County

McElhiney, like many Marines, has strong family ties to the Marine Corps. His father, who served in WWII and the Korean War, and his brother, who served in the Vietnam War, were both Marines, and he met his wife while serving from 1972 to 1995. He grew up in Williamson County and has a unique nautical connection to Middle Tennessee: The first and last ship he served on as a Marine was the USS Nashville, a landing craft.

McElhiney said organizations such as the League can provide an important sense of community for veterans. Though he is now retired, he said he initially found it difficult to adjust to civilian life after he was honorably discharged in 1995.

"There's a lot of things that veterans have done that they'll only talk to another veteran about. It's much easier to sit there and have that camaraderie," McElhiney said. "If a fellow Marine has a problem or something, or something happened to him while he was in service, that comes up. And then that's how you help solve their problems."

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The Fairview detachment will officially be named the Lance Cpl. Jeffrey "Adam" Bishop Detachment after a Marine from Dickson who died in Iraq in 2007. Wesley Otts grew up with Bishop and joined the Marines at the same time. The two attended boot camp, were stationed at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina and eventually served in Afghanistan together.

"He'd give you the shirt off his back if you needed it," Otts said. "(From) growing up to the day he passed, I don't think I ever met anybody who didn't like him. He was just a great guy."

The group members voted to name their Marine Corps League detachment after Bishop after consulting with his mother and getting her blessing. Otts said it brought "a great sense of pride" to keep his memory alive.

"He'll still be able to do the good that he enjoyed doing, and we'll be able to do it in his name," Otts said. "His name's not fading away. Everybody still remembers."

The Marines in Fairview hope to fund a scholarship in Bishop's memory for a high school student. They also hope to perform acts of community service and stay active in community events around Fairview.

"Communities need the veterans to get out and make a presence there. You know, we have a lot of talent, a lot of experiences, world travel, that we can share with people," McElhiney said. "It's just a good thing for us to do for our community. We're always giving."

What's next?

Marine Corps League detachments must have 20 regular members to gain official recognition from the national organization. McElhiney said the group has 18 regular members and three associate members, so they've submitted paperwork to the Tennessee Marine Corps League department to continue their path toward official status. Members will then vote on group officers.

The group's next meeting is 6:30 p.m. April 6 at the Fairview Recreation Center (2714 Fairview Blvd. W., Fairview, TN 37062).

Cole Villena covers Williamson County at The Tennessean, part of the USA Today Network — Tennessee. Reach Cole at cvillena@tennessean.com or 615-925-0493. Follow Cole on Twitter at @ColeVillena and on Instagram at @CVinTennessee.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Marine Corps League builds community among veterans around Fairview