Detachment #1486 was first organized by Joseph Desmarais Jr. on June 3, 2021, who served as the Detachment Organizing Officer until we were formally chartered on October 26, 2021. A formal Charter Ceremony was held on December 1, 2021, with the Department of California MCL Commandant presenting the detachment with the official charter and swearing in of our Eighteen Charter Members.

• Ulysses Adams
• Frank Alarcon
• Billy Brasher
• Brian Chapman
• Dan Chapman
• Dennis Chapman
• Sean Chapman
• Joseph Desmarais
• Juan Desmarais
• Todd Harris
• Jose Hernandez
• Orlando Jeminez
• Rex Moffett
• Rory Nichols (
• Jason Quintero
• Edward Rapisarda
• Anthony Reina
• Daniel Reina
• Chris Schafer

The Hallam Detachment held its first election on January 5, 2022, Detachment Commandant Rory Nichols, Detachment Senior Vice Commandant Jason Quintero, Detachment Junior Vice Commandant Juan Desmarais, and Detachment Judge Advocate Joe Desmarais being formally installed by Past Department of California Commandant, Jess Fernandez on February 2, 2022.  The Hallam Detachment has grown our membership to 39 motivated Marines and one FMF Corpsman.  

A formal dedication of the Detachment was held on September 7, 2022, in honor of the Detachment’s 

namesake, Charles ‘Bud’ Hallam’s 100th birthday (September 8, 2022).  Resolutions from Solano County and the City of Vacaville were presented during the ceremony and the Detachment Display was unveiled at the Vacaville Veterans Memorial Building.

Currently, the League boasts a membership of over 60,000 men and women, officer and enlisted, active duty, Reserve Marines, honorably discharged Marine Veterans and qualified FMF Navy Personnel. There are 48 Departments in the League with more than 1100 Detachments chartered. The League is supported by an Auxiliary with a membership of approximately 4000. A National network of over 400 accredited Service Officers assist veterans in adjudicating claims against the government as a result of active-duty service.  The Marine Corps League is headed by an elected National Commandant (CEO) with 14 elected National Staff Officers who serve as trustees. The National Executive Director (COO) is employed by the National Board of Trustees and is responsible for the management and direction of National Headquarters as well as all programs, activities and affairs of the Marine Corps League.

Dependents of League members are granted many scholarships by the National and Department Scholarship Committees.

Over 300 members of the Marine Corps League support the Veterans Administration Volunteer Service (VAVS) program. These dedicated Volunteers go into the VA Medical Centers and provide service and assistance to the paid professional staffs. The VA credits these Volunteers with personal service that cannot be provided to patients by the VA Staff. In the League’s National VAVS program over 60,000 volunteer hours are credited each year.

The Young Marines of the Marine Corps League Program is open to all youths 8 to 18 years of age (male & female). The Young Marines are given training in physical fitness, lifesaving, swimming, camping and taught self-reliance along the lines of Marine Corps training by volunteer Leaguers and associate leaders.

In addition, the League‘s Boy Scout program is making tremendous strides to become a vital part of our support of the Youth of America.

Our National Executive Director works out of National HQ and provides representation to the U. S. Congress in legislative matters affecting the Marine Corps.

The bi-monthly Marine Corps League magazine “Semper Fi” is among the finest military publications currently in print.

In August of 1942, Bud enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served his country for four years during WWII.  After Boot Camp, Bud volunteered for the Marine Raiders who were a special operations force originally established by the United States Marine Corps during World War II to conduct amphibious light infantry warfare. As a member of the 4th Raider Battalion, Bud received his first Purple Heart for wounds sustained on July 20, 1943, during Operation Cartwheel on the island of New Georgia, part of the Solomon Islands campaign.  While recovering from his injuries back in the States, Bud served as an instructor at Raider Training School.  After he fully recovered, Bud volunteered to return to combat, and was assigned to the 5th Marine Division.  On February 19, 1945, as a member of the 28th Marine Regiment, Bud was one of the first Marines to land on Iwo Jima at the base of Mount Suribachi.  On March 9, 1945, after 19 days of fierce fighting, Bud received his second Purple Heart, having been shot while evacuating an injured Marine and checking on members of his squad.  Bud returned to the States to recover from his wounds at Oak Knoll Naval Hospital in Oakland and was eventually transferred to Mare Island Navy Yard and then to Naval Station Treasure Island where Bud was discharged from the Marines on June 28, 1946.   

Bud met and married his wife of 58 years, Joella Jackson on June 19,1955.  He worked for over 40 years for Atlas Foundry and ended up being an owner. Bud worked part time for East Bay Brass Company until he retired at the age of 75 in 1997.  Bud passed away peacefully at home on October 12, 2013. He was 91 when he reached the end of a long and happy life.

• Assisted Warfighter Overwatch with fundraising and Yellow Ribbon Event on September 12, 2021, for Sgt Tyler Andrews, a Vacaville native who was injured during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan on August 26, 2021.
• Annual support for Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots
• Annual support for the Vacaville’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony at Elmira Cemetery
• Annual support for the Vacaville’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony at Andrews Park
• Annual support for the Vacaville’s annual POW/MIA Day Ceremony
• Quarterly visits to veterans at county assisted living facilities
• Support Local Marines and Veterans by providing outreach and information on available resources and benefits
• Promote the History and Traditions of the Marine Corps through our meetings, supporting local Veteran events, and our annual Marine Corps Birthday Celebration
• Provide college scholarships to Highschool Seniors throughout Solano County

• Veteran Homelessness
• Veteran Suicide
• Local Youth

https://www.mcleaguelibrary.org/

https://www.marines.com/

https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/veterans/

https://e5therapy.org/

https://www.vfwpost7244.org/

https://www.davcal.org/