1. Art and Diseño

Meet the Historian / Researcher Tim Frank
Presenting an Informative Brief on Military Antiques
On 18 February 2015 at The Fairfax
In This Issue
2
3
4
5
8
9
10
11
The Prez Sez
Secretary’s Notes
Officers/Directors
Chapter Annual Financials
Legislative Issues
Gate Testing Begins late Jan
War Stories
A Missed Opportunity Fixed
im Frank, professional historian and researcher, is
the owner of Military Research Associates LLC.
He has been interested in military history and
antiques since he was ten years old, after finding his
grandfather’s insignia in the attic. His grandfather,
Alden Klovdahl, served as an airplane mechanic in
the Army Air Corps during the early 1930s and later
in the Navy during World War II. Tim’s father his
encouraged interest by taking him to the museums
in and around Washington, D.C.
T
In 1994, Frank graduated from St. John’s College
High School in Washington D.C., and traveled to
Normandy for the 50th anniversary of D-Day. In
1998, Frank earned a BA in history from The Catholic
University of America and spent the next year
working as a research historian for History
Associates, Inc.
He went on to earn a MA in history from Kansas State in 2002, and spent the next two
years working as a contract historian for The Congressional Medal of Honor Society,
where he interviewed 60 Medal of Honor recipients. He worked for a military
antiques business from 2004-2006, and then started his own company selling military
antiques and researching records at various government archives. From 2010 until
January 2015, Frank worked as a historian for the Naval History and Heritage
Command, where he interviewed Sailors and spent time on board various ships
documenting their history.
As a researcher, Tim has spent innumerable hours assisting various writers, including
James Cooke’s book Chewing Gum, Candy Bars, and Beer: The Army PX in World
War II; Leo Barron’s book, Patton at the Battle of the Bulge: How the General’s Tanks
Turned the Tide; and Andrew DeKever’s book, Here Rests in Honored Glory: Life
Stories Of Our Country’s Medal of Honor Recipients.
Volume 43 Number 2
February 2015
Frank will offer insights into the business of military antiques and offer suggestions on
what to do with the items in your attic, i.e., preserve, sell, or donate. He will also
have a show-and-tell on a few military artifacts from his own collection of military
memorabilia.
Frank lives in Silver Spring, Maryland with his wife Clarissa and son Daniel.
Page 2 February 2015
The Prez Sez
Membership
Your membership in The Military Officers Association
of America (MOAA) can bring you more than a
magazine once a month. It can also give you the
opportunity to meet and socialize with other
members of the Mt. Vernon Chapter through
participation in the monthly dinner meetings, parties
and other activities. Of course, many will claim that
late hours or going out at night prevent their
participation, and that is understandable. Our main
concern is that the speakers offer valuable
information, insights into legislation or a look at the
world of the men and women currently on active
duty. Some are not sophisticated speakers, but we
often learn a lot from those who have “been there
and done that”. Recently there was a letter to the
editor in a popular publication in which the writer
commented on the great work that is taking place at
the individual level in Iraq, an issue that was raised by
VADM Ryan when he addressed the chapter in
November of last year.
The Give Me Ten program is the result of several
issues. Obviously, the membership in a militaryoriented organization depends upon the size of the
military. A retired military organization has an aging
issue as well. Our association, MOAA, and its One
Powerful Voice® promotes a strong national defense
by lobbying for equitable benefits for those who serve
and have served their country in the military;
including health care, pay, allowances, and family
issues. Many of these benefits are directly the result
of legislation. The more members we have, the more
strength we have when talking with the government
in Washington and in Richmond. In writing this article,
I am addressing each form of YOU.
When we were on active duty, our chain of command
was through military channels, but today in
supporting national defense and our hard earned
benefits, our chain of command as a citizen is through
our elected representatives.
It takes individual participation and involvement to make
any organization stay alive. Paying your dues helps our
functions to continue and your donations help the Mount
Vernon Chapter’s scholarship program continue to grow.
Taking the time to have a fine meal and gathering with
other chapter members helps us to become an extension
of the military community we once were a part of and
should continue to serve. Being a member of the board of
directors, stuffing bags for the USO and attending the
personal affairs seminars, are all good uses of your time
and energy, but there are many other equally important
activities in which chapter members can participate. It is
likely you may have other ideas, such as participating in
the veterans oral history program conducted by the
Library of Congress. Now is the time for you to let the
board of directors know your thoughts for continuing the
strong showing and meaningful work of the Mount Vernon
Chapter. We are currently in need of participation in the
personal affairs seminars and community outreach
programs such as the Hearts Apart program for families of
deployed service personnel, please contact a member of
the board if you are interested.
All of this is great participation, but the area that is at the
top of the MOAA list is legislation at both the national
level and within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Before
getting into that subject, you are urged to go to the MOAA
Website, www.moaa.org, and sign up for the various
MOAA online newsletters. Being alerted to any or all of
these national issues will let you know about such servicerelated events as the free meal for veterans on Veterans
Day but, more importantly, they will keep you up-to-date
on legislation and lead you to the website where you can
contact your elected officials so items of interest to you
will become items of interest to them. Can you imagine
what 385,000 messages would say? A tenth of that
number gets the Congress to listen. If the membership of
MOAA stood united your elected officials would have to
take notice. In our recent survey taking care of the active
force was a supported issue and adding your voice is how
we can do that, so YOU need to do it. Our soldiers in
harm’s way would get supported. Our wounded would get
the medical support they need. Serving warriors could
continue to realize that at the end of their military careers
there would be continued support; and through it all their
families would truly be a part of this country’s relentless
pursuit of freedom for its citizens.
Page 3 February 2015
Mount Vernon Chapter
Chapter Officers
President: CDR Rex Maddox, USN
1st VP: CDR George Wallace, USN
2ndVP: Lt Col Earl Henderson, USAF
Secretary: LCDR William Broome, USCG
Treasurer: LT Mark Cohen, USN
Past President: LCDR William Broome, USCG
Standing Committees (2015)
7 03-765-8819
703-354-4647
850-819-3193
703-395-4317
7 03-847-8900
703-395-4317
Directors (2014-2015)
COL Russ Henderson, USA
LTC Cerie Kimball, USA
Mrs. Joyce Davis Aux
703-780-1068
7 03-310-4605
703-360-0748
Directors (2015-2016)
COL Bob Patrick, USA
LCDR Marty Schaller, USN
LT James Ivey, USN
703-690-9336
7 03-323-7339
5 71-499-7738
Arrangements: LCDR Marty Schaller, USN 703-323-7339
Auxiliary: Mrs Joyce Davis
703-372-2564
Despatch Editor: LT James Ivey, USN
571-499-7738
JROTC Awards: COL Arnie Porter, USAF
703-780-4310
Legislative: COL Stuart Williams, USA
703-644-4126
Membership: Lt Col Earl Henderson, USAF 850-819-3193
Personal Affairs: MAJ Nick Sottler, USMC
703-360-9295
Program Admin: Vacant
Program Speakers: LTC Cerie Kimball, USA 703-310-4605
Public Affairs: CDR George Wallace, USN
703-354-4647
Scholarship Fund: LCDR Marty Schaller, USN 703-323-7339
TOPS Liaison: Vacant
VCOC: COL Robert Patrick, USA
703-690-9336
Veterans Affairs: Vacant
Webmaster: LT James Ivey, USN
571-499-7738
Other Duties
MOAA Liaison: COL Robert Patrick, USA
Chaplain: COL Arnie Porter, USAF
Fairfax Liaison: Mrs. Joyce Davis
703-690-9336
703-780-4310
703-372-2564
Secretary’s Notes
Reminder ..... Members of MVC/MOAA Board of Directors....
A meeting of the Board of Directors is scheduled for every first Tuesday of the month (except July), at 7:00 P.M. at
the South County Government Center 8350 Richmond Hwy. Alexandria, VA (Room 217 or 219).
If you are unable to attend, please call Rex Maddox at (703) 765-8819 Email: [email protected].
All members are welcome to attend.
Welcome New Members
MAJ Robert J. Au Buchon, ARNG
Spouse: Michel
MVC #3076
Capt Jarvis L. Conic, USMC
MVC #3085
Lt Col Jose Harris, USAF
Spouse: Maggie
MVC #3087
COL Thomas E. Evans, USA
Spouse: Joan
MVC #3088
Continued on page 4
Page 4 February 2015
Continued from page 3
Current Members Address Changes
New Address:
CDR Michael A. Zidek, USN (Ret) MVC # 1869
6040 Chapman Road, Mason Neck, VA 22079-4137 (703) 339-8733
MAJ Dennis L. Kellen, USA-Retired MVC #2037
23065 Pecos Ln, Brambleton, VA 20148-7262 (703) 422-7265
LTC Lisa Cramer, USA-Retired MVC #1912
17835 Salado Draw, San Antonio, TX 78258-1602
Change of Phone or Email:
CAPT James A. Thur, USN (Ret)
LCDR James Brado, USN (Ret)
COL Richard Breen, USA-Retired
Col Brandy Johnson, USAF (Ret)
CW4 Laura Kelly, USA-Retired
MVC #2259
MVC #1859
MVC #2144
MVC #2302
MVC #3031
(703) 881-8223
[email protected]
(703) 307-3211
(703) 924-6699
(202) 531-6819
Corrections to the January Despatch:
New members should read:
COL Rupert Murray, USA-Retired - SHOULD READ - COL Murray Rupert, USA-Retired.
LtCol Matt Woodfield, USMC – SHOULD READ – LtCol Matt Howard, 5910 Woodfield Estates Dr.
Future Dinner Meetings - 2015
On 18 March, we will be at The Fairfax. Our very own COL Russ Henderson along with Dorothy Cantor
will tell us about the history of Fort Hunt, Then and Now. Just what is this Fort Hunt in our back yard?
Chapter Trivia
The Mount Vernon Chapter presently has 334 members - 267 are regular members and 67 are Auxiliary
members. The average age is 71, the oldest is 100, and the youngest is 28.
Of the 267 officers, 125 are Army; 65 are Navy; 51 are Air Force; 21 are M arines;
4 are Coast Guard; 1 is PHS; there is no one from NOAA.
Of the 267 officers, we have 10 - Generals; 2 - Admirals; 92 - Colonels; 32 - USN/CG Captains; 59
Lieutenant Colonels; 22 - Commanders; 15 - Majors; 7 - Lieutenant Commanders; 8
Captains; 4 - USN/CG Lieutenants; 1 - 1st Lieutenant; 2 - USN/CG Lieutenant (Junior Grade); 0
2nd Lieutenants; 0 - USN/CG Ensign; and 13 - Chief Warrant Officers.
Page 5 February 2015
Page 6 February 2015
http://optifour.com
www.militaryresearchassociates.com
The Mount Vernon Chapter thanks its sponsors for their support by supporting them.
Please identify yourself as a chapter member when you contact them.
www.aalaw.com
www.George-Wallace.com
www.IndianRiverColonyClub.com/usmilitary
Page 7 February 2015
Mail to: [email protected]
www.potadv.com
www.thefairfaxretirement.com
www.merchantcircle.com/business/Fort.Hunt.Service.Center.Inc.703-799-7320
Page 8 February 2015
Legislative Issues
Virginia
The 2015 Virginia legislative season was kicked off on 14
January with the opening of the General Assembly followed
by the Sate of the Commonwealth by the Governor that
evening.
In his speech the Governor highlighted several areas
related to economic growth and workforce development for
the Commonwealth. In both of these ares Defense spending
and veterans were specifically identified.
Regarding Defense spending he stated “When I presented
my budget proposal to you last month, I spoke of the impact
our sluggish economy has had on state revenues. Virtually all
of that drag has been created by federal policy decisions, the
most damaging of which is sequestration.
Automatic federal budget cuts reduced military contracts
in Virginia by $9.8 billion between 2011 and 2013 and,
according to a George Mason University study, they threaten
to eliminate 154,000 jobs in the commonwealth, or 4 percent
of our workforce.
And if congress does not act by October 1st, we could be
looking at around $50 billion in additional cuts nationwide.
That would have a disproportionate effect on our economy,
particularly in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.
Even in the face of these cuts, our close relationship with
the Department of Defense and the federal government will
continue, and I intend to continue fighting for every dollar we
can get.”
Regarding veterans and workforce development he stated
“I am proud of the work my administration is doing
encouraging the hiring of veterans, particularly through the
Virginia Values Veterans program. In just over 2 years, the V3
Program’s 234 member companies have hired nearly 7,000
Veterans.”
“This session I am proposing to further enhance the V3
program by offering a Performance Grant, which will
recognize employers who meet goals for hiring,
compensating, and retaining veterans.
Additionally, we should ease the transition from military to
civilian life by passing legislation requiring the Virginia
Community College System to award greater credit for the
skills and training veterans receive during their time in the
service. These men and women have served and sacrificed for
us. Let’s work together to get them the skills, training and
economic opportunity that they deserve.”
On 15 January the Joint Leadership Council (JLC)
representing 23 veterans organizations within Virginia met at
the General Assembly Building and the Virginia Capitol to
advocate for issues previously identified as important to
Virginia’s veterans. Your legislative chair, Col Stu Williams,
USA Ret., attended as the MOAA rep to the JLC.
During the day we were addressed by numerous speakers.
These included Governor McAuliffe, Lt. Gov. Northam, Att.
Gen. Herring, Secretary of Defense and Veterans Affairs,
Admiral John Harvey, USN Ret., Virginia’s Adjutant General
BG Timothy Williams, USA, along with six senators and nine
delegates. These included Senate President Pro-tem Stosch,
and Speaker of the House Howell.
Many of the same speakers also addressed MOAA
members of the Virginia Council at the 26 January
“Storming” event at the General Assembly.
National
January 9, 2015 MOAA Legislative Update
This year promises to be a difficult one for the military
community. Congress will face proposals to overhaul military
pay and compensation while sequestration threatens to cut
billions out of the FY 2016 defense budget.
Below is an estimated time-line of major events in 2015,
including the defense bill process, Military Compensation
and Retirement Modernization Commission (MCRMC)
report, and the return of sequestration:
g February 1: The congressionally mandated MCRMC will
release its report detailing proposals to overhaul military
pay, retirement, and other forms of compensation. The
details of the report could become available as early as
January 30.
g February 2: The president announced he will submit his
budget proposal on time to Congress, despite the fact that
the MCRMC report will be released at the same time. It’s
unclear whether the president’s budget request will include
MCRMC recommendations given the narrow time frame.
However, the proposal is likely to at least include a third
consecutive year of military pay raise caps, dramatic TRICARE
fee increases, and other controversial measures.
g Mid-March: Six weeks after the president delivers his
budget to Congress, congressional committees are required
to submit their “views and estimates” of spending and
revenues within their respective jurisdictions to the House
and Senate Budget Committees. [MOAA Storms the Hill in
April]
g May-June: The House and Senate Armed Services
Committees will begin work on the FY 2016 defense bill. The
committees will need to consider recommendations from
the MCRMC and how to deal with the specter of
sequestration returning in FY 2016. [Virginia Council
Congressional Luncheon – 21 May.]
Further, an early January note from MOAA’s board of
director’s chairman Gen Charles T. Robertson, USAF (Ret)
includes a statement of concern: “the nation continues to
face the same challenges that we know only too well: global
insecurity, competing claims for our national resources,
sequestration, and calls to reduce military spending. Now
more than ever, we need a strong national defense.
Continued on page 9
Page 9 February 2015
Continued from page 8
Unfortunately, the piecemeal reduction of compensation
and benefits like we experienced with the FY 2015 defense
bill compromise, may jeopardize the recruitment, retention
and readiness of our all-volunteer force (AVF) and is doubly
worrying since the Military Compensation and Retirement
Reform Commission will be offering more comprehensive
reform proposals in just a few months. Recent surveys are
already highlighting the negative impact on the AVF’s morale.
Our strength depends upon our numbers and the resources to
work with and educate Congress.”
All members of MOAA and the Mt. Vernon Chapter are
essential to the effort to mitigate these potential impacts. If
not already signed up to receive MOAA periodic updates –
please do so by calling MOAA at (800) 234-6622.
Automated Installation Entry (AIE)
testing at gates begins late January
Beginning in late January, and throughout February, Fort
Belvoir will be testing the Army’s Automated Installation Entry
at Fort Belvoir's gates.
AIE is used to enhance security, said Maj. Amber Flores,
Directorate of Emergency Services Belvoir police supervisor,
and eventually, expedite access to the installation.
Department of Defense ID card holders will be directed to
one of the AIE pedestals at the gate.
“It’s starting out with testing at each of the gates at
different times … but, it will eventually be at all of the gates,”
said Frank Hentschel, Directorate of Emergency Services
director. “All of the lanes will have AIE capability.”
Testing at the gates
should not have an
impact on people
coming to the
installation, he said.
Visitors will be
directed to the Visitor
Center at the Tulley
Gate, where they will
be vetted through the
FBI’s National Crime Information Center law enforcement
files, Flores said. After visitors are registered, they will be able
to access the installation by scanning their state driver’s
license. AIE scans drivers’ ID cards through the Department of
Defense and federal authoritative databases for criminal
backgrounds, security alerts or installation debarment.
“AIE leverages technology that will increase security for
Soldiers, Family members, DOD civilians, retirees, contract
employees and guests by verifying the identity of the
individual and ensuring they meet Army-approved access
standards against FBI criminal and terrorist authoritative
databases,” Flores said. “The system automates processes
that might otherwise be vulnerable to human error, such as
missing expired identification cards or driver access
restrictions.”
Training begins for gate guards and visitor’s center staff
Jan. 23. After the training, testing at all gates begins.
“After the training, then we’re going to start turning lanes
on,” Hentschel said. “So, there may be two lanes open at the
gate and one of the two lanes will say ‘AIE testing in
progress, please use both lanes.’ You’ll come up to the AIE
where a guard will instruct you how to scan your ID, or
maybe the guard will take your CAC or ID card and scan it for
you, and we will say this
is the new process and
this is how it’s done.”
AIE prevents piggybacking, or two vehicles
going through the gate
at the same time, by
using a sensor that
quickly lifts and lowers
the gate arm one
vehicle at a time, Flores
said.
Around 75,000 people access Fort Belvoir each day. When
the AIE registers a vehicle with a DOD card holder, it takes 510 seconds for the process, Flores said. After the vehicle is
registered, it will take less than three seconds to go through
the gate.
“The testing will download your information to Fort
Belvoir specifically. That way, the next time you go through
… and now you know how to do it … you should be ready to
breeze right on through,” Hentschel said. During Fort
Belvoir’s busiest hours, gate guards will be able to use AIE
handheld card readers, doubling the amount of cars going
through the gate. One vehicle will access the AIE pedestal,
while the second car’s driver will have their card scanned by
the gate guard. If both scans are successful, both cars will be
allowed to go through the gate.
Flores said after the tests, the system will be gradually
implemented over the next couple of months.
“More information will be disseminated as firm dates and
specific changes for
procedures are
implemented,” Flores
said. “We assure you,
there will be no drastic
changes without proper
notification and time to
be in compliance.”
According to Flores, AIE
is currently being tested
at 35 locations across the
Army.
Page 10 February 2015
War Stories
CDR Rex Maddox, USN, Ret
Airborne Early Warning Squadron Thirteen (VW-13)
Pat stayed in Glynco long enough to pin on my wings
and to attend the graduation party then we started off
to the Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland and
the duty in VW-13. We arrived without event and I was
able to visit with my parents and stay with the family for
a few days before reporting for duty. I found the
squadron located on the northwest side of the base in
what had originally been intended to be a seaplane
hangar and reported in to the Duty Officer for duty as an
airborne Combat Information Center Officer (CICO). My
assignment to a crew did not take place right away as I
was scheduled for a few training flights with a qualified
CICO to ensure I was qualified to take my own crew out
on missions.
During my time in training, I was called into the
Administrative Officer’s office where I was queried as to my
intent to attend the coming squadron Officer’s party at the
Officers club. This being a good opportunity to meet other
officers of the squadron who were in other departments, I
gave an affirmative answer to the request and made two
reservations. Pat and I made arrangements for a baby sitter
(which was no small task as there seemed to be a high
demand for sitters on the night of the affair) and drove to the
Officers Club which was located several miles from our
quarters, on the east side of the base. There was no problem
locating the VW-13 party as it seemed everyone we met was
going to the event. We found a table for four and sat there
for the longest time before anyone approached us for a seat
at the table. The young couple turned out to be a new officer
and his wife who lived very near to us in Lexington Park. We
enjoyed talking with the young couple (he was an Ensign and
this was his first duty assignment after finishing school) and I
found out he was a navigator who would be assigned to a
crew after his qualification. We thought the buffet dinner was
somewhat lacking with a poor choice of the available items,
but we managed to fill our plates to satisfaction. Following
the dinner, there was entertainment with several squadron
members and some of the wives doing the honors. I was
pleasantly surprised to find the person playing the piano to be
Commander Al McPhillips, the officer who had been in charge
of the GCA unit at Atsugi, Japan when I had been transferred
there from the USS Yorktown and he had notified me of my
selection for the Limited Duty Officer and Warrant Officer
programs. He, along with several other Commanders, were
assigned to the squadron as aircraft commanders, this group
included Commander Donald Heberling who had been the
Officer in Charge of the Officers Club in Corpus Christi, Texas
and with whom we had bowled at that base and become fast
friends.
My qualification took only two flights with my instructor
signing me off to be assigned to a crew. There were no CICO
billets available at that time so I was put in a group of
qualified officers who were assigned to crews on an “as
required” basis.
About that time, the squadron received notification of its
requirement to perform early warning flights in the straits
between the Florida Keys and Cuba. It seems the Cubans had
accepted an offer from the Russians to establish several bases
from which short and long range missiles could operate. I was
assigned to a crew commanded by the squadron Admin
Officer and was to have as my CIC crew a group of radar and
ECM operators who had never worked together before. We
had a training session on the flight to NAS Key West from
where we would operate and I found the men on this mission
who were to operate the radar equipment were quite
competent. We had little opportunity to check the
qualifications of the two ECM operators on the flight down to
Key West, except with the radars and other emitters we found
by flying past US military bases, but there would be an
opportunity to listen to other emitters later. Upon our arrival
at NAS Key West, the aircraft commander determined I was
the person who would make arrangements for the crew
billeting and messing. I managed to accomplish this task fairly
easily as the base housing Officer was an LDO whom I had
known while attending training in Rhode Island. We were
assigned to make our first flight two days after our arrival
which allowed me time to explore the base and make contact
with some old friends. One of these was a former Chief Petty
Officer who was in the RATTC at NAS Corpus Christi who had
worked for me and whom I had recommended for the Limited
Duty Officer program. This individual, Sam Virden, now a
Lieutenant Junior Grade, had been assigned to the GCA Unit
at NAS Key West as the Officer controller and we had a good
time talking over old times. (I was to run into Sam on several
occasions after this meeting.)
Our first mission watching the coast of Cuba for any
possible intruders and the waters of the Atlantic Ocean for
any shipping which might be making its way to the port of
Havana went without event, the only aircraft we saw were a
few commercial planes flying from other islands to Miami and
cities north of that in the continental US. Upon returning
from this mission we were to have 24 hours before the next
opportunity to earn our pay. I took the opportunity to
contact Sam Virden and he insisted I have dinner that evening
with him, Jean and the girls. We had a pleasant evening
discussing our time at NAS Corpus Christi where his girls had
gone to school with several of mine and Jean had been on a
bowling team that had competed with one in which Pat had
been a member.
The next mission proved not to be quite as routine as our
first. We took off and proceeded to our assigned operating
area and had been on station about three hours when I
received a call over the intercom (the internal
Continued on page 11
Page 11 February 2015
Continued from page 10
communications capability within the radar compartment)
from the ECM operator. “Hey, Mr. Maddox”, he said, “I’ve
got a signal here that I don’t recognize maybe you’d like to
listen to it”. I got up from my radar scope and walked over to
the ECM operator’s position where he handed me his
headset. Upon putting the headset on, I immediately
identified the signal I heard as a fire control radar signal and
IT HAD LOCKED ON TO OUR PLANE! I dropped the operator’s
headset and ran forward to the cockpit where I told the
aircraft commander that we had a fire control radar locked on
us. Without hesitation, the pilot put the aircraft into a diving
turn, losing about three thousand feet and ending up on a
heading to the reverse of the one we had been on. I had to
grab onto the co-pilot’s seat to keep from ending up on the
flight engineer’s lap and found my radar crew, at least those
who were not in their seats with belt fastened, had been
thrown all over the CIC compartment by the aircraft
commander’s action. The fighter aircraft that had been “on
our tail” did not follow us and evidently was satisfied with our
maneuver which took us away from the island. I made a
written report of the incident but heard no more of the
encounter after our landing back at NAS Key West. We made
one more mission before the crew was recalled to NAS Pax
River.
A few days after our return to NAS Patuxent River we were
notified by COMNAVAIRLANT (Commander Naval Aircraft
Atlantic area) to move the squadron to the Naval Facility at
Argentia, Newfoundland. You can imagine the scramble by
our mainly senior aircraft commanders who had time in the
squadron, to be transferred to other organizations at
Patuxent River and not go to Argentia. Many of them were
successful and crews were set up with mainly Lieutenant
Commanders as the new aircraft commanders. I was assigned
to a crew with Lieutenant Commander Ed Henderson as my
boss and, with great delight; I found my crew chief to be the
recently arrived Senior Chief Joe Shelby. We flew up to ARG
(NF Argentia) and set up the squadron in a hangar next to the
one VW-11 occupied. There were to be two squadrons of
WV’s stationed at Argentia to operate out of NAS Keflavik,
Iceland and to provide radar coverage in the Iceland/UK/
Greenland gaps, an operation in support of the cold war.
There was no immediate housing available for our families but
new quarters were being built and occupation was expected
in a month or so. Well, the “or so”, turned out to be several
months due to weather delays, etc. In the meantime, I was
given leave and returned to NAS Patuxent River where I
packed up everything and moved the family to occupy our
house in Anaheim, California. Our trip west went off without
incident and we enjoyed stopping off at military bases or
motels with swimming pools. After getting the family settled
in our house, Pat and I drove up to the Lockheed Air Service
location in Oxnard, California where one of our aircraft had
been for overhaul and installation of new equipment. The
aircraft was completed with its servicing and a crew from the
squadron had been sent to fly it to Argentia. I joined this crew
and made my way back to the squadron, leaving my family in
Anaheim until housing was available in Argentia. More on the
cold war operations of the squadron and my involvement in
another article.
A Missed Opportunity Fixed
In our January Despatch we included a woodworking
story featuring one of our long time Mount Vernon Chapter
members Doug Borden. We missed an opportunity to really
introduce him to our newer Mount Vernon Chapter members.
After twenty-five years of service, including Naval
Postgraduate School, the Army War College, six ships, and
tours at four different DC-area commands, Doug retired as a
Commander in February 1980. Almost immediately he joined
what was then TROA, and the MV Chapter. Within two years
he was inducted as a member of the Chapter Board of
Directors, and has remained
actively engaged ever since. He
served two years as Chapter
President, initiated the Chapter
Scholarship program an held
several different positions
related to that most successful
program, and served as Chapter
representative to the MOAA
Virginia Council of Chapters
(VCOC). Still involved, to a lesser
extent, he helps represent the Chapter at annual Wreaths
Across America ceremonies, has served as a member of the
Chapter Audit Board for several years, and attends most
monthly chapter dinner meetings.
Doug and his wife Joan who are long time Virginia
residents moved into Westminister at Lake Ridge in
September of 2012. There Doug found kindred woodworking
spirits Edward Pearthree and Joe Fleig and the residents of
Westminster are fortunate to have their “Westminister
Woodworkers.”
ST Martin History Club Schedule
All events are scheduled for the second Tuesday of
month September thru June are you interested?
This is your invitation to our dinners. We meet in
the Ft Belvoir Officers Club Washington Room(pub)
at 6:00 P.M. Then we move to a Dining Room for
dinner(steak , salmon or chicken) w/red or white
wine of choice. After dinner our speaker will present
an interesting and original presentation with our
discussion of flight history. We adjourn at 9PM.
Please RSVP to me at: [email protected] or, 703590-6508 with your dinner order by the Friday
before the dinner.
You pay $23. Including tip after dinner.
Hope to see you there.
Best, Jim Ralph