MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
Lt. Alexander Bonnyman Detachment 924

Monthly Officer/Committee meetings are held the 2nd Monday of each month at 17:00. All detachment members are welcome to attend. 2651 Hobbs Rd, Louisville, TN

Detachment meeting is held the last Tuesday of each month at the VFW post 5154 w/ Social Hour from 17:30-18:15 and meeting from 18:15-19:30, all welcome. 2651 Hobbs Rd. Louisville, TN 

On November 9th, 2025 at the Lt. Alexander Bonnyman Marine Corps League Detachment 924 will be hosting the 250th Marine Corps Birthday Celebration. Tickets have sold out, but to view the bio of our guest speaker, Steve Zotti, Col, USMC (ret), click here

Donate for your chance to win one of three 250th Marine Corps Anniversary Coins/Coin Set valued at up to $1200. Drawing to be held at the Marine Corps Birthday Celebration on November 9th , 2025.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS AND TO MAKE YOUR DONATION FOR TICKET(S)

The Marine Corps League Honor Guard is available to support funerals for Marine Corps League Members and upon request can also support non-members. Click here for details

In preparation of the 250th Marine Corps Birthday Celebration, we are making the Rocks Glasses available for pre-order. You will get ONE glass per ticket to the event, but if you want more…maybe a single, a pair or even a set of four, you can pre-order those now to ensure you don’t miss out. Click here to pre-order

Tuesday, November 11th, the detachment will be giving out roses at three locations around Knoxville and collecting donations. We will need numerous volunteers to support this effort. As a reminder, Associate members are required to work a door with a regular member. To sign up to volunteer, click here.

On 13 December 0900-1130, the detachment will be hosting our annual Christmas Breakfast and Ugly Sweater/Outfit Event. We will also be collecting Toys for Tots so bring an unwrapped toy to donate and be sure to bring your family and friends. To RSVP and get your tickets, click here. 

Detachment 924 honors the Knoxville native and Medal of Honor recipient First Lieutenant Alexander Bonnyman Jr. who gallantly gave his life in battle for Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll and Gilbert Islands on November 22,

In October 1942, Bonnyman sailed for the South Pacific aboard the SS Matsonia. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Guadalcanal as part of a Marine pioneer unit (lightly equipped combat engineers).

Bonnyman’s civilian background, temperament and skills would come to play an important role at Tarawa in November 1943, where he was assigned to a shore party handling beachhead logistics. When the assault troops were pinned down by heavy enemy artillery fire at the seaward end of the long Betio Pier, on his own initiative Bonnyman organized and led five men over the open pier to the beach. There he voluntarily obtained flame throwers and demolitions and directed the blowing up of several hostile installations.

On the second day of the struggle, Bonnyman, determined to breach the enemy’s strong defensive line, led a demolition team of 21 Marines in an assault on the entrance to a huge bombproof shelter which contained approximately 150 Japanese soldiers. Bonnyman advanced his team to the mouth of the position and killed many of the defenders. Bonnyman again pressed his attack and gained the top of the structure, thereby flushing more than one hundred of its occupants into the open where they were cut down by Marine infantry and a supporting tank. When the Japanese returned fire, Bonnyman stood on the forward edge of the position and killed three of the attackers, but was himself killed as he ordered more charges brought forward. Of Bonnyman’s original assault party of 21 Marines, 13 had survived. Betio Island was declared secured on the same day.