Distinguished Speaker Program

Transcription

1 The Official Newsletter of the Navy League of the United States Greater Austin Council September October 2011 Citizens in Support of the Sea Services COUNCIL OFFICERS Randy Patterson President Lee Hagan President-Elect Bruce Byron Vice President for Administration Stephen Smith Vice President for Business Partnerships Kathy Pillmore Vice President for Communications Tim Hunsberger Vice President for Education & Community Outreach LuAnn Reyes Treasurer &Vice President for Finance Jim Brotherton Vice President for Military Affairs Jeanie Coffey Vice President for Legislative Affairs Lee Hagan Vice President for Youth Programs Brian Colfack Secretary Kaye Johanson Assistant Secretary Tom Griffy Chaplain Michael Murray Judge Advocate General NATIONAL DIRECTORS Glenn Looney Max Miller Jack Ritter BOARD OF DIRECTORS Max Miller, Chairman Jim Brotherton Bruce Byron Jeanie Coffey Glenn Looney Jack Mayo Kathy Pillmore Jack Ritter Steve Smith Randy Patterson(Ex Officio) LIAISONS Brian Colfack Military Services Coalition Steve Smith Marine Corps Jack Ritter UT NROTC CAPT Daniel N. Dixon, USN CO UT NROTC CDR Chris White, USN CO Naval Operations Support Center Lee Hagan Navy & Marine Corps JROTC Jack Mayo Commissionings OUR NEXT Distinguished Speaker Program THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13 Thomas M. Hatfield Director of the Military History Institute Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas Who was Earl Rudder and Why Should We Care? Thomas M. Hatfield is director of the Military History Institute in the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin. After earning his M.A. in history and Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin, he was a college president for eight years. A former military intelligence officer, he was the founding president of Austin Community College and dean of Continuing Education at UT Austin from 1977 to From his undergraduate days, Tom Hatfield has found understanding and adventure by going to the scene of great historic events. He has trailed the great campaigns of the Second World War from the Atlantic coast across Western Europe into Germany, along the North African shore, around Sicily, up the Italian boot, and into southern France. His narratives of the Normandy Invasion and the Battle of the Bulge have been widely praised. In the Pacific he has walked the beaches of island fighting from Guadalcanal to Tarawa to Pelelieu and swum with scuba gear through the sunken Japanese fleet on the bottom of the Truk Lagoon. He is a national media consultant and writer on World Continued on page 3 DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER PROGRAM Austin Woman s Club, Chateau Bellevue 8th and San Antonio (Parking entrance on Nueces between 7th & 8th Streets) Social 1815 Dinner 1915 Program 2015 Members & their Guests- $30 Military in Uniform & their Guests - $20 Cadets & Midshipmen and their Guests - $15 RESERVATIONS REQUIRED CALL OR luann@luannreyes.com PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL BE A $5 ADDITIONAL CHARGE WITHOUT A RESERVATION

2 President s Message Continuing uncertainty about the future national budget poses challenges and potential crises for all of our military services. Speculation as to what impacts may fall on the Defense Department has been ominous, even though we can hope that the worst will not come to pass if the Congress cannot meet the requirements of the debt Randy Patterson President, Greater Austin Council ceiling deal that was worked out earlier this year. Under almost any scenario, however, it seems possible that the current goal of a 313+ ship Navy, as established by senior commanders in the Navy and long supported by the Navy League, will be under significant pressure for some time to come. (Some have predicted that ship numbers under the mandated cuts contemplated could fall to 238, instead of the 283 we now have far short of the 313 level endorsed by the CNO). The Navy League has been fortunate to have folks like our Legislative Affairs team under Jack Ritter, Jeannie Coffee and Max Miller, along with many others in councils throughout the Navy League, who have been relentless in their briefings and explanations to the Congress of the clear need for this minimum force level. With the increased attention on reducing federal spending and controlling the ballooning national debt, the mission of the Navy League in this regard has taken on a more critical importance; although probably obvious to most of our members and supporters, the maintenance of a strong Navy and Marine Corps is as vital as it has ever been. Shrinking of our sea services has increased the pressure on operations, caused more serious material maintenance issues, more stress on personnel and their families, and will inevitably reduce the abilities of our Navy and Marine Corps team to protect our interests and provide for the common defense. The looming 2012 election will affect the course and intensity of all these things and thus increase the importance of the basic Navy League message. Not all of us can participate in the grassroots legislative program, but we can increase our support of the Navy among our neighbors, colleagues at work, in schools and churches, and in other community organizations. Building ships, airplanes and other necessary implements of defense is not an immediate thing the abilities of our manufacturing sector are not as agile as in the past. We may well find our nation in a situation where we will be forced to fight with what we have available, and find out too late that we are lacking. The leadership and members of the Navy League have been challenged by our organization s national president to respond to an urgent call to action, precipitated by the deliberations of the Congressional Special Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction now at work to identify $1.5 billion in budgetary savings. These savings can come through direct action on the part of the committee, or by mandated cuts if they fail to agree on the deficit reduction plan. These cuts could amount to DoD reductions of $750 billion, in addition to the $350 billion savings the services have already committed. If these mandated cuts to budgets come to pass, they will be unacceptable for the nation and, as many responsible leaders have said publicly, can be catastrophic for national security. An automated approach like this to a major national problem makes no sense. No council has a more important task right now than to support the Navy League s Call to Action. This is the heart and soul of the Navy League s prime directive to support sea power through strong sea services. I urge all of you to answer the call by whatever means available to you letters to Congress, the local papers wherever you can get someone to listen! The future of our Navy and Marine Corps depends upon it more than it has in many years. Randy UPDATE... WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE USS AUSTIN? In May, the Austin City Council passed a resolution supporting the commissioning of a new USS Austin (The Anchor, May-June 2011). In September, Congressman Mike McCaul was asked and agreed to help us in our efforts to have a new ship named for the City of Austin, and on September 16, McCaul sent a letter to the Secretary of the Navy, who is responsible for naming US Navy ships. Congressman McCaul s letter of support is a significant step in the process of seeing that a USS Austin once again sails with the Navy fleet. Past President Bruce Byron continues to shepherd this effort on behalf of the GAC. 2 The Anchor, September October

3 IS IT TIME TO RENEW YOUR NAVY LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP? ~ 2011~ Thomas M. Lasseter Jesse W. Essinger Charlie J. Strange Charles E. Ferguson Mack E. Palmer LCPL John Felix, USMC* CPL Christopher Cody Dahl, USMC* LCDR Jonas Kelsall, USN* PO(HM) Brian Lundy, USN* *KIA Afghanistan 2011 The Greater Austin Council has made a $100 donation to the George T. Jones Scholarship Fund in honor of each of the above individuals Getting out the Navy League s message Tim Hunsberger, Council Vice President for Education and Community Outreach, took the Navy League s message to the Rotary Club of Northwest Austin at their weekly meeting at the Balcones Country Club on 26 August. Council member Ray Roark sponsored the briefing to the Rotary Club, which is the first of many the council hopes to make in the coming months. There were approximately 50 persons in attendance. Following the presentation there was a question were taken from the audience. The purpose of the briefings is to broaden the public s understanding of the mission of the sea services and the role the Navy League plays in their support. Navy League and the Greater Austin Council doesn t want to lose you as a member. Check below and see if your name appears. It may be time to re-up. September 30, 2011 Expirations Sylvester M. Shelton Ross Snyder Wesley A. Lokken Donald L. Jones November 30, 2011 Expirations Robert Buckley Donald H. Cooper R. F. Nolan James D. Schwarting October 31, 2011 Expirations Jimmy C. Durst John T. Engstrom Milton R. Felger Wayne D. Gusman Walter Hinkle Dean W. Nobles Sharon Kay Nobles J.W. Studak John W. Walters December 31, 2011 Expirations James M. and Sarah S. Brightman James A. Broaddus James D. Brotherton Donna L. DiLoreto Vincent D. DiLoreto Joe L. Gathright Welcome Aboard! New Members Mike McNamara (May) Douglas G. Gardner (June) James R. Lovering (August) Eric Clark (September) Pamela Simchick (September) John C. Burkhardt (September) Dan Shelley (September) Hatfield, cont d from p. 1 War II affairs. His most recent scholarship is Rudder: From Leader to Leader, a biography of James Earl Rudder, one of America s most decorated soldiers of World War II, and later a reform-minded president of Texas A&M University ( ). The book was published by the Texas A&M Press in April At the Oct. 13 meeting, Hatfield will discuss his book, which will also be available for purchase at the meeting. The Anchor, September October

4 Snapshots from the September 1, 2011 Distinguished Speaker Program &Dinner Guests of former ADM Weldon Koenig, USN Ret, Eric Batchelder, Mike Turner and Richard Dixon drove in from LaGrange for the dinner. The Coffey family, son Rich, mom Jeanie and daughter Beth were eager to hear the speakers. Council President Randy Patterson presents distinguished speakers ADM Bobby Inman and Congressman Mike McCaul with a Navy League mug, sans beer. Council JAG Mike Murray (l) brings Bruce Byron up to date. Guest John Hauren (r) chatted with the bartender before dinner. (l-r) SGT Joshua Primm, USA Ret and CPL Marco de la Rosa, USMC Ret were personally interested in the speakers topic. LT Jake Sorenson, USN Navy Recruiting, Austin; CPT Kenneth J. Tofel, USMC (Ret) Senior Instructor Brenham MCJROTC and Max Miller stop for a picture. Frequent guest Rick Coneway brought his wife Cathy to hear Inman and McCaul Mike and Julie McNamara enjoyed their tablemates conversation. Sam Sorenson, a member of the Fredericksburg Council, came to hear GAC s speakers. Cadet 1st Lt. Karl Holzer, Cadet Staff SGT Tyler Eickenhorst, Cadet Staff SGT Jon Gaskamp and Cadet LCPL Justin Waggoner from the Brenham Marine Corps JROTC posted colors for the dinner. 4 The Anchor, September October

5 GEORGE T. JONES Scholarship Fund Call for Applications ~ Class of 2012 In 2003, the Greater Austin Council established the George T. Jones Scholarship Fund to honor the memory of Jones, a Navy veteran and long-time, dedicated member of the council who passed away September 21, The fund was intended to provide scholarships to deserving high school graduates. The first scholarship will be awarded in the Spring of The Council created the George T. Jones Scholarship Fund Management and Oversight Committee (JSFMOC.) The committee is composed of two or more active members of the GAC and includes a member of the Jones family and reports to the GAC Chairman. In addtion to monitoring and reporting on the growth of the fund and providing recommendations for direction in investment and distribution, the JSFMOC will: Monitor receipt and disbursement transactions of the Fund. Recommend to GAC strategies for investing the Fund s assets. Review financial status of the Fund and provide periodic reports to the GAC administration and membership. Determine the dollar amount and number of scholarships to be awarded each year. Coordinate with Naval/Marine Corps JROTC and Sea Cadet leadership to provide instructions and to request nominations for a scholarship. Review and/or coordinate the review of applicants and select a recipient(s). Arrange a presentation ceremony each Spring. Ensure the overall integrity of the program. The Fund is maintained separately from GAC operating funds and scholarship(s) will be issued for a minimum of $500. A minimum of one scholarship per academic year will be awarded. As the fund matures, additional scholarships or increased dollar values will be considered. Funds to date were accrued through donations from individuals and the GAC which pledged a minimum of $1,000 per year plus $100 in memory of each deceased members. The fund will be replenished via donations, fundraising campaigns, soliciations and interest accrual. Scholarships will be awarded to students who demonstrate support of the sea services, basic citizenship and academic proficiency. Candidates must be graduating high school seniors who have applied to or have been accepted at a community college or university and are a member of a GAC Navy League-sponsored Sea Cadet or JROTC unit and nominated by the respective unit commanding officer or senior instructor. Criteria for a scholarship includes: High school GPA of 3.0 (on 4.0 scale) (verified by school counselor.) Active Navy League Sea Cadet or a member of a GACsponsored NJROTC/MCJROTC unit. a letter from candidate high school graduation date why he/she is a deserving candidate education funding resources (scholarships, savings, family ability to support) description of public service involvement/projects educational/career aspirations, name of college/university accepted to copy of high school grade and class-ranking transcript Letter of recommendation/nomination from Navy League Sea Cadet or NJROTC/MCJROTC Commanding Officer or Senior Instructor. Two letters of recommendation from people who know candidate well and can support citizenship and moral conduct of candidate. Nomination packages are due annually by 1 March Scholarship interviews will be conducted during March by the JSFMOC and will be awarded at the April/May GAC dinner/ business meeting. Application forms are available at and once completed should be sent to George T. Jones Scholarship Fund, c/o James D. Brotherton, 5108 Scottish Thistle Dr., Austin, TX The Anchor, September October

6 The Chaplain s Corner by Tom Griffy Where there is no vision, the people perish. (Proverbs 29:18a, KJV) would perish. Those of you who listen to the invocation at the opening ceremonies of every Navy League meeting (I recognize this is not the high point of the meeting for most of you!), might recall that it usually includes a phrase such as Grant us leaders who are attentive to your word who will guide us in the path you would have us follow. In other words we pray for leaders with vision. For the next year this country will be engaged in a political campaign culminating in the choice of our future leaders. Many of you no doubt wish we could avoid all the debates, the charges and counter charges and the endless TV ads which are a part of such campaigns. But we can t. We have to pay attention to the debate, to the positions advocated by the candidates and to the vision they have for this country. Early in the history of Israel, the people depended on the patriarchs and prophets to bring them the God s vision, the word of God. Frequently these prophetic statements begin with the phrase thus saith the LORD. The voice of the prophets eventually grew faint and the people had to depend on kings and other officials, what we might call political leaders, to mediate God s message, to provide the necessary vision. The writer of Proverbs recognized this might be fruitless and, if so, the people Barbara Jordan once said More is required of public officials than slogans and handshakes and press releases. More is required. We must hold ourselves strictly accountable. We must provide the people with a vision of the future. We can only hope that the candidates in the upcoming election follow her advice. If they do, we might to able to choose leaders who are truly attentive to God s voice and who will lead us in the path he would have us follow. HOUSING4TEXAS HEROES Gov. Rick Perry announced Housing4TexasHeroes, a new $3 million grant program to help veterans buy, build, rehabilitate or rent a home. The governor spoke at the Veterans of Foreign Wars 112th National Convention, where he also thanked our nation s veterans for their sacrifices, courage and leadership to protect freedom around the world. Administered by the Texas Veterans Commission, Housing4TexasHeroes will issue grants to help veterans buy or repair their home, or renovate a home to meet special needs caused by service-related disabilities. The sacrifices made by the veterans and their families who will benefit from these housing grants are nothing short of extraordinary, Thomas Palladino, executive director of the Texas Veterans Commission, said. Gov. Perry is committed to ensuring our service men and women receive the opportunities and benefits they deserve, and appreciates the efforts of leaders, like Sen. Williams and Sen.Van De Putte, who make the welfare of our veterans and service members a top priority. Following the 82nd Legislative Session, Gov. Perry signed legislation establishing the College Credit for Heroes program, helping veterans graduate college more quickly and save money on tuition. He also signed legislation that ensures the votes of active-duty military members overseas will be counted, extends the property tax exemption for fully disabled veterans to their surviving spouse, and ensures the property tax exemption follows disabled veterans to a new property if they move. 6 The Anchor, September October st Annual Hendrickson High School MCJROTC Veterans Day Golf Tournament Saturday, November 12th 2011 Black Hawk Golf Course Four Man Scramble Shotgun Start 8 a.m. Lunch 1:30 p.m. $75 per person or $275 per team *Price includes green fee, cart, range and lunch $250 hole sponsor $500 hole and team sponsor Mulligan s available $5 per or 3 for $10 Prizes Longest Drive Hole in One Closest to the Pin Silent Auction P.O.C. 1st Sgt Ed Amadis (512) For registration information visit For more information about the governor s veterans initiatives, please visit For more information on Housing4TexasHeroes, please visit

7 Greenert takes over for retiring CNO Roughead Admiral Jon Greenert assumed the helm of the Navy in a ceremony before hundreds at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD Friday, 23 September, becoming the 30th chief of naval operations. The change of command was held in Alumni Hall before an audience of roughly 1,000, including many Navy leaders, relatives and friends. Greenert stated, I am honored to be afforded the opportunity to lead the world s most capable navy at a crossroads in our nation s history. As our country adjusts to a new strategic paradigm in the coming years, we will adapt to change and defend national security interests with the same spirit and warrior ethos that have been embeddede within the very fabric of our culture and heritage since our founding. The event also marked the retirement of outgoing CNO Admiral Gary Roughead, who lauded the people he led. There is nothing a sailor cannot do, nothing they cannot make better, he said. They are remarkable human beings. GAC Calendar Oct 13 Dec 15 Jan 27 (Friday) ~2011~ 236 TH BIRTHDAY OF THE U.S. NAVY! Distinguished Speaker Program Tom Hatfield, senior research fellow at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin and director of the Center s Military History Institute. Distinguished Speaker Program Gen. Michael W. Hagee, 33rd Commandant of the Marine Corps ~2012~ Jeffery Addicott, Center for Terrorism Law St. Mary s University, San Antonio Additional speakers invited but not yet confirmed include: Greenert (right w/ sword) accepts the command from outgoing CNO ADM Roughead (left) US Navy Photo Author, columnist Austin Bay Author and VP STRATFOR Fred Burton RADM Karl Schultz, USCG Professor Edwin Dorn, LBJ School of Public Affairs RADM Garry Bonelli, USN, Deputy Commander, Naval Special Warfare Command VADM William H. McRaven, SOCOM, UT Graduate Dates are subject to change to accommodate the speaker. For calendar updates go to Advertise your business in The Anchor. Info at asp Happy 236th Birthday United States Navy George T. Jones, U. S. Navy WWII Veteran and Navy League Member George T. Jones Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to graduating seniors in Navy and Marine JROTC and Sea Cadet programs Contribute Now! Send your tax deductible contributions to Greater Austin Council NLUS George T. Jones Scholarship Fund c/o Lu Ann Reyes W. Parmer Lane, #2203 Cedar Park, TX The Anchor, September October

8 The ANCHOR Kathy Pillmore, Editor Jupiter Hills Drive Austin, TX The ANCHOR is the official newsletter of the Greater Austin Council of the Navy League of the United States. It is published six times annually and distributed free of charge to all its members and to other interested parties. The Greater Austin Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and as such is exempt from Limited Sales, Excise and Use Taxes per the IRS Code. FIRST CLASS MAIL RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Citizens in Support of the Sea Services The Navy League of the United States is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating our citizens about the importance of sea power to U. S. national security, and supporting the men and women of the sea services and their families. SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY AFFILIATES Ricon Products HELP US BUILD OUR MEMBERSHIP Use the form below and sign up a new member. Bring it and your new member to our next council meeting, or mail the form, together with the fee (check or money order payable to NLUS,) to Kathy Pillmore, Jupiter Hills Drive, Austin, TX 78747; or Lu Ann Reyes, W. Parmer Lane, Cedar Park, TX The new member will be added to our mailing list immediately. YES! Please enroll me as a Navy Leaguer Today I am a U.S. Citizen I am not a U. S. Citizen Name: (Mr., Mrs., Dr., Etc.) First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name Name of Spouse: (Mr., Mrs., Dr., Etc.) First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name Address: Number, Street, Name (Apt., Suite, P.O. Box) Date of Birth City State Zip Code (+4) Type of Membership (please check one) Individual One-Year Membership...$50 Joint Husband/Wife One-Year...$85 Individual Two-Year Membership...$90 Individual Three-Year Membership...$125 Individual Life Membership...$500 Joint Husband/Wife Life Membership...$750 Some NLUS Councils may charge local dues Method of Payment Check enclosed (Make payable to NLUS or Please charge my Visa MC AMEX Home Phone Business Phone Card# Exp. Date Sponsor s Last Name Sponsor s Membership # New Member s Council Signature Billing Zip Code