CAPT Scott Shackleton, USN Social Hour: 11:00 AM a Very Dangerous Environment…
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Silicon Valley Chapter Military Ofcers Association of America Volume IX Issue 9 September 2017 SEPTEMBER LUNCHEONThe SPEAKER Bulletin Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton was a polar Luncheon explorer who led three British expeditions 21 September 2017 to the Antarctic, and one of the principal figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. More recently CAPT Scott E. Shackleton, USN, a descendent of that family, made a historic voyage to Antarctica and the South Pole. The extreme environment had a huge impact on the operation; the ice and cold created a very treacherous and dangerous working environment. Safety had to be the number-one concern. CAPT Scott Shackleton, USN Social Hour: 11:00 AM A very dangerous environment…. Luncheon: 11:45 AM The chapter’s September luncheon speaker will be CAPT Scott Shackleton, Luncheon is $26.00 USN, Commanding Officer, Office of See Back Page for Reservations Naval Research (ONR) Reserve Unit, Navy Form and Directions Operational Support Center (NOSC) San Jose. A licensed Third Assistant Engineer in the US Merchant Marine and Navy Reservist assigned to the Military Sealift Command at the time, he served as a Ships CALENDAR OF EVENTS Operations Officer. He will provide an illustrated presentation about OPERATION 7 Sept Board Meeting 10:30 AM DEEP FREEZE, the Defense Department’s 21 Sept Luncheon 11:00 AM Cont'd pg 3 5 Oct Board Meeting 10:30 AM 19 Oct Luncheon 11:00 AM PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE Hi All, Football season is starting and it reminds us that it is time to prepare to elect a new Board. As you are aware, the average age of our membership is about 80 years old. Yes, old. We need to get younger members and younger Board Members. Several times I have asked for members to volunteer for the Board and to let a Board Member know your desire to contribute. To date, to the best of my knowledge, only one member has expressed their desire in OFFICERS, BOARD, AND CHAIRS joining the leadership of the Chapter – sad; very sad PRESIDENT: CAPT Gil Borgardt USN 650-342-1270 response. The attendance at the Aug lunch, held at the 1st VP: CDR Ralph Hunt USN Morgan Hill Winery, may have been the highest lunch 650-967-8467 2nd VP: CWO5 Robert Landgraf USMC attendance in recent times. Mike and Maryclaire hosted a 408-323-8838 catered lunch that was enjoyed by all. Great comradeship! Secretary: COL Warren Enos AUS 408-245-2217 Juanita Morales-Euresti, director, VA Vet Center, San Jose, Treasurer: CAPT Keith Ott USN 530-219-2404 gave a very informative coverage of the benefits and Past President: Lt Col Mike Sampognaro USAF activities of the Vet Center. She also was able to assist 408-779-7389 several attendees with their concerns. If you have any DIRECTORS & COMMITTEE CHAIRS questions/needs regarding vets, she has offered to assist CALMOAA CAPT Gil Borgardt USN 650-342-1270 you. Two of our Board members, Keith Ott and Neil Miles Chaplain Col Don Bradley USAF 650-592-0915 contribute their volunteer time at the center. Chapter Outreach Again, we need new members on the Board. ASAP, contact CWO5 Robert Landgraf USMC 408-323-8838 Commissary/Exchange Advisory a Board member for info!! CDR Ralph Hunt USN 650-967-8467 Directors at Large Lt. Col. Jesse Craddock USAF 650-968-0446 Gil CAPT Lloyd McBeth USN 408-241-3514 Friends-in-Need (FIN) Program CDR Al Mouns USN 408-257-5629 Navy League Liaison LCDR Tom Winant USN 650-678-7120 Membership/Recruitment CWO5 Robert Landgraf USMC 408-323-8838 Personal Affairs WELCOME NEW MEMBERS CAPT Robert French USN 650-363-1188 Programs CDR Ralph Hunt USN 650-967-8467 ROTC CWO4 Patrick Clark USA 831-402-8548 Surviving Spouse Liason LtCol Charlene Lee USA 510-427-7145 Colonel John Fontana - USA (Ret), Scholarship CAPT Paul Barrish USN 408-356-7531 Travel (Space-A Advisory) vacant Veteran Affairs Lt Col Neil Miles USAF 408-929-1142 Capt Peter Klaus Yorck USA Web Master Lt Col Mike Sampognaro USAF 408-779-7389 See page 4 Sergeant at Arms Capt Chris Kachulis USAF 408-395-2853 Strategic Planning Capt David Down ARNG 408-202-9360 Legislation Capt Refugio "Joseph" Picazo USAF (Ret) Capt Charles McDougald USA 415-722-4009 See page 7 The Chapter Board meets at the Moffett Air Traffic Control Tower, Moffett Federal Airfield RETIREE ACTIVITIES OFFICE (RAO) Bldg 587 on Wescoat Court, 650-603-8047 Bulletin Editor Lt. Col. Mike Sampognaro, USAF [email protected] 408-779-7389 - 2 - September LUNCHEON cont'd support of National Science Foundation research in Antarctica, details of his mission to the Antarctic, and some of unique challenges of living and working in that part of the world. McMurdo Station…. The Endurance… In August 1914, polar explorer Ernest Shackleton boarded the Endurance and set sail for Antarctica, where he planned to cross the last uncharted continent on foot. In January 1915, after battling its way through a thousand miles of pack ice and only a day's sail short of its destination, the Endurance became locked in an island of ice. Thus began the legendary ordeal of Shackleton and his crew of twenty-seven men. Scott Shackleton says, “I have strong family ties to Antarctica, being a distant relative of Sir Ernest Shackleton, the famous The South Pole today…. Antarctic Explorer. I have heard the stories of his During the mission, Scott also visited a hut that great adventures since I was a small child… I have Sir Ernest twice called home - first as part of always wanted to venture down to Antarctica and explorer Robert Scott's 1902-1903 Discovery experience it for myself.” expedition and again during Sir Ernest's own 1907 CAPT Shackleton was selected to participate in -1909 Nimrod Expedition. Sir Ernest is most the Department of Defense‘s annual delivery of fuel, remembered for his famous Endurance Expedition equipment and supplies required to sustain the of 1914-1916. During that unsuccessful attempt to scientist and support personnel conducting vital the South Pole, he and his crew of 27 were stranded research across the Antarctic continent. The on the ice for nearly 15 months. Remarkably, all of descriptions of travel to McMurdo Station, efforts to the Endurance crew survived. Sir Ernest died of a sustain life in a very unforgiving environment, and a heart attack in 1922 during his third lead expedition continuation to the South Pole will be both to Antarctica. enlightening and entertaining. In McMurdo Shackleton’s assignment in part was to serve as the "I've always felt a kinship with Sir Ernest," said liaison between the Military Sealift Command Scott. "It's been an honor for me to have this tie to vessels (United States Naval Ship Paul Buck, and the him and the name Shackleton." cargo ship American Tern), the Navy sailors ___________________________________ offloading the vessel and the scientific support staff SOURCE: DoD Armed With Science Blog receiving the materials. - 3 - New GI Bill Vocational Rehabilitation and The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Employment (VR&E) benefits, to Educational Assistance Act of 2017, "pause" their eligibility so their time H.R. 3218, passed by the House and under the VR&E program is not Senate was signed by the President negatively affected while called up on August 16, 2017. Also known as for active duty orders. This provision the Forever G.I. Bill, the legislation takes effect immediately. improves provisions in the existing G.I. Bill and provides more To see the complete text of the flexibility for using educational Forever G.I. Bill benefits. The measure contains a https://www.votervoice. number of provisions that net/BroadcastLinks/cISqLJ2H9aHlr1 specifically impact disabled AHgAf7ig veterans and their families, including: WELCOME NEW MEMBER • Increases monthly Capt Peter Klaus Yorck Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) payments by about 40 National MOAA Member, 11/01/2015 percent effective October 1, 2018 5 years active duty - (note: effective August 1, 2018, DEA -2 years 101st Airborne Division (PL/XO), decreases from 45 to 36 months to Deployment to Afghanistan, 2013 be consistent with other VA -2 years 3rd Ranger Battalion (PL), educational programs); Deployment to Afghanistan, 2014 • Eliminates the 15-year limit for using the G.I. Bill, allowing 2 years, HFF San Francisco, Commercial for the use of the educational Real Estate benefits for life, for those who were -Analyst, 2016 discharged after January 1, 2013; • Grants full G.I. Bill -Associate, 2017 benefits to Purple Heart Recipients, regardless of total time in service effective August 1, 2018; Only in This • Provides G.I. Bill eligibility for reservists undergoing medical care for active duty injuries Stupid World effective August 1, 2018; • Restores used G.I. bill .....do people benefits to enrolled students whose school permanently closes after order double January 1, 2015, effective November 14, 2017; and cheeseburgers, • Allows veterans who are National Guard members and large fries, and a Reservists who are receiving diet Coke. - 4 - SPACE A MILITARY FLIGHTS HERMAN THE GERMAN Since 2002, MilitaryHops.com has been Gerhard Neumann (October 8, 1917 – dedicated to being the premier index of information November 2, 1997) was a German-American about space available military flights (Space A) that aviation engineer and executive for General qualified people can travel on. Our goal is that if the Electric's aircraft engine division (which today is information you seek on this subject is on the World called GE Aviation). Born and raised in Wide Web then you can find it from here. Here’s Germany, as a young man he went to China the link http://www.militaryhops.com/ shortly before World War II and ended up being an aircraft mechanic for the United States Army Air Forces there.