DINNER MEETING APRIL 9, 2024

Paige Sawyer spoke to us about patriotism and how it is currently out of favor with much of our population.  What better representation of our patriotism than the United States flag.  He gave many examples where citizens have stood up for the principals of our country in war, in poetry, essays, etc. (Star Spangled Banner).  To desecrate our flag and what it represents is an affront to those who have given their lives fighting for our freedom.  He looked with disfavor at the flag burning, use of the flag in clothing, improper display of the flag, taking a knee in front of the  flag at sporting events, etc.  These are all indications that we have lost our way, and he hopes for a return to more respect for our country and the freedoms it provides.  He thanked all service members for their unselfish service to our country.

Patriotism was an apt theme for this evening as we celebrated and honored twelve CCU ROTC cadets who were graduating and obtaining their Army commissions in 2024.  In addition, the Colonel Robert Hawkins award ($3,000) was given to Cadet Scott Boster who will graduate May 2nd and will be commissioned in the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant, Military Intelligence Branch.

                             Honored CCU Cadets

     Cadet Scott Boster

DINNER MEETING, MARCH 12 2024 

We were once again fortunate to have one of our members, Captain Norm Henslee, USCG (Ret.) to speak about one of the lesser-known military services that serve our country. Incorporated in his presentation were unique historical facts, and duties/responsibilities of the Coast Guard, and then some sea stories based on his firsthand experiences. In his case, upon graduation from high school, Norm was accepted into the US Naval Academy and the Guard Academy, but chose the latter because he felt it  would be more rewarding to immediately help others rather then spending most of his time training to perform wartime duties, if such an event occurred.  Besides, during wartime, the  US Coast Guard became part of the Department of the Navy. During peacetime, the Coast Guard has been a member of the Commerce and Treasury Departments, but now resides in the Department of Homeland Security. Here are some of the interesting facts covered in his presentation.

                The duties of the Coast Guard include:

• ·        Search and rescue!
• ·        Law enforcement
• ·        Safety of vessels
• ·        Maintenance of seamarks
• ·        Border control!
• ·        Saving lives and assisting people in distress
• ·        Protecting public property
• ·        Launching small boat and aircraft missions

          Here are some interesting facts about the history of the US Coast Guard:

• ·        The Coast Guard was founded on August 4, 1790, after Congress commissioned the construction of 10 ships to             help enforce federal tariffs and prevent smuggling.
• ·        The Coast Guard is the longest continuous serving military maritime force.
• ·        The Coast Guard has served valiantly in 17 wars and conflicts in US history.
• ·        The Coast Guard icebreaker Eastwind became the first cutter to ever sail around Antarctica in 1967.
• ·        Coast Guard officers train aboard a captured Nazi sailing ship.

The USCGC Eagle began its life in 1936 in Nazi Germany as the SSS Horst Wessel. Christened by Adolf Hitler, the Horst Wessel was intended to serve as a training ship for the German Kriegsmarine. It served the Germans for three years, but when World War II kicked off, it was sidelined. The ship later became the training ship for the US Coast Guard Academy.

Dinner Meeting, February 13, 2024

The Air Force to the rescue! Early on the date of our dinner, Vice President Brown was informed by the scheduled speaker that he had been evaluated positive for Covid. Calls were made and one of our chapter members, retired Colonel Denny Yount volunteered to fill in for the event. Reading today’s newspapers, there is much written on the F-35, F-16, and F-22, but one of our most successful battle- tested planes, the A-10 Warthog is invisible. Denny served on this plane for 18 years and related his firsthand experiences through assignments during Desert Storm, Bosnia, and the Middle East.

The A-10 was designed specifically for close air support of ground forces. The A-10 is very maneuverable at low speeds and low altitudes to ensure accurate weapon delivery, and it carries the systems and armor needed to survive in this environment. It is intended for use against all ground targets but is particularly effective against tanks and other armored vehicles. The Thunderbolt II's great endurance gives it a large combat radius and long loiter time in a battle area. Its short takeoff and landing capability permits operation from airstrips close to the front lines.

Developed during the Cold War to tear through Soviet tanks trying to make their way through the Fulda Gap between East and West Germany, the A-10 was a vital component of the AirLand Battle doctrine. The idea was to maintain the balance of forces, use technology to overcome the Warsaw Pact's numerical superiority and be an effective deterrent to aggression.

Even before the plane's design really began, planners built the A-10 Thunderbolt II around its main armament, the GAU-8 Avenger. The Avenger is a powerful seven-barrel, hydraulic-driven gatling gun that fires PGU-14/B Incendiary rounds with a depleted uranium armor piercing core or PGU-13/B High Explosive Incendiary rounds, each longer than 11 inches. It fires the projectiles at a rate of 2,100 to 4,200 rounds per minute. The Air Force argues that such a slow-moving and single-role aircraft is not necessary for today's battlefields. The A-10 wasn't built to fly against today's air superiority fighters like China's J-20. The Air Force would much prefer to free up the funds used to maintain 45-year-old fighters like the A-10 to use on its newer aircraft, airframes it believes have a much bigger role in the long run.

It remains in service today because of its popularity with our Marines and Army Infantry.  With its unique cannon, the A-10 is a lethal partner that is unmatched in our current military arsenal.