MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA TRIANGLE CHAPTER P.O. Box 19861 Raleigh, NC 27619 VOLUME LI NUMBER 3 JUNE 2014 Dinner Meeting Wednesday, 16 July 2014 Guest Speaker Ilario Pantano Assistant Secretary of the North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs 1830 Social, Cash Bar, 1915 Dinner Printable Reservation Form Inside Reservations MUST Be Received by Friday, 11 July 2014 RESIDENT'S MESSAGE What’s Happening in Iraq? As Yogi Berra so famously said, “It seems like Deja Vu all over again.” We see our Iraqi allies leaving the field of battle without firing a shot, their discarded uniforms littering the streets. What went wrong? Despite the much touted ethnic and religious complications, I believe part of the problem is ours, or more specifically our governments, in that we have pursued some of the same policies in Iraq that we practiced in Vietnam, with disastrous results. That prescription for failure is: Get involved in a civil war where our vital interests are negligible or nonexistent. Choose a side. Pour massive amounts of money and materials into our allies side, corrupting their leadership. When our allies start to lose the fight, send in massive numbers of US troops. Effectively take the fight away from our allies, encouraging them to become more incompetent. Harden and incentivize the enemy by teaching them to fight against the best military in the world, while our allies grow soft and more incompetent on the sidelines. Stay the course for at least 10 years so the corruption and incompetence becomes irreparably ingrained. Leave only when the American people can tolerate no more loss of blood and treasure. Stand back and watch while a hardened and determined enemy overruns our weak and ineffectual allies. Is this answer too simple given today’s complex world of international terrorism and religious fanaticism? Possibly, but let’s watch and see what happens after we leave Afghanistan. These views are solely my own, and do not reflect those of MOAA nor the Triangle Chapter Board of Directors. John Loving Triangle Chapter to Award Scholarship Checks Bob Penny Three local high school graduates will receive their 2014 MOAA Triangle Chapter JROTC Scholarship checks at our 16 July meeting. The scholarship winners are Cadet Parker Creekmore from Broughton High School’s Air Force JROTC program, and Cadets John Mrozek and Zachary Walker from Sanderson High School’s Air Force JROTC program. Each has been accepted to college next year and plan on becoming military officers though college ROTC programs. Please attend the 16 July meeting so you can meet these impressive future military officers. Thank you for your continuing contributions to the Chapter’s Scholarship Fund! Guest Speaker Mike Flynn Ilario G. Pantano Assistant Secretary of the North Carolina Division of Veterans’ Affairs We have a timely program for our March dinner. Our guest speaker is Ilario Pantano, Assistant Secretary of the North Carolina Division of Veterans’ Affairs. Make your reservations early to hear what our state government has in mind in this important area. Secretary Pantano’s bio sketch is included for your information. This should be an exciting evening. In September of 2013 Mr. Ilario Pantano came aboard as the new Assistant Secretary for North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Pantano enlisted in the US Marine Corps at age 17 and fought in the First Gulf War (1991). He went on to become a sergeant and lead an elite Scout/Sniper team in support of UN Peacekeeping Operations in the former Yugoslavia. He earned his BA in Business in three years, at night, while working as a commodity trader for Goldman-Sachs. He went on to start interactive media businesses until he was an eye witness to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 on the WTC. When the World Trade Centers collapsed, the building where Mr. Pantano worked (4 WTC) was also destroyed. Mr. Pantano rejoined the Marines and after seeking age waivers, he earned a commission in the US Marine Corps at the age of 32. He led a platoon of Infantry Marines in the first fight for Fallujah, Iraq in 2004. After receiving an honorable discharge, Mr. Pantano continued serving his community as a Sheriff’s Deputy, business consultant, Red Cross volunteer (Katrina) and a veterans’ advocate. He has produced films, written books and given speeches to raise money for several veteran’s charities, and has also been a candidate for the US Congress in North Carolina’s 7th Congressional District. Mr. Pantano has provided military commentary on Fox News, CNN, and MSBNC. His numerous articles, profiles and interviews have appeared in American Legion Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, WIRED.com, Soldier of Fortune, and TIME. His first book, Warlord: Broken by War Saved by Grace, details his experiences in Iraq and his spiritual salvation through Christ. His second book is on the American Revolutionary War in the South and will be released in 2014. He is a competitive shooter and an IronMan Triathlete. His greatest achievements are his two wonderful sons and his marriage to his beautiful wife, Jill. He seeks to embody his life’s verse, John 15:13: “Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Mr. Pantano’s desire to make North Carolina the most veteran friendly state in America is contagious. His drive to protect and honor our dedicated servicemen and women has provided North Carolina with a renewed sense of appreciation and pride of our national heroes. Pictures from the Milburnie Fish Camp Dinner Ken Tigges An Inspirational, Fun Morning at USO/RDU Meg Segal Matt and I were on our regular Saturday morning 0700 – 1100 shift very recently with our fellow volunteer and great friend, Lezlee Rutchka (10 year Air Force vet and Adjutant of American Legion Post #95 in Mebane). Things were pretty quiet when in walks a lovely young lady named Sarah, who proceeds to tell us that she just graduated from Marine Corps Basic Training the day before. She’d heard so many wonderful things about the USO, she just had to check us out, and was bowled over by all of our free goodies and the warm, welcoming atmosphere. Seems she’d gone to college for a year, but it just wasn’t what she was looking for. So she decided she wanted a major physical and mental challenge, but also something that would enable her to serve her country, and chose the Marine Corps. The more we talked with her, the more impressed we were with her energy, positivity, and excitement about becoming a Marine. In today’s world where it seems many young people have little on their minds beyond what they can listen to on I-Tunes or what new App they can waste time with on their Smartphones, someone like Sarah, and the many others like her that come through our USO Center, restore your faith in our country’s future. She expects to pass through RDU again on the way to her MOS training, and I sure hope we’re there when she does. Next was the unexpected arrival, en masse, of the All Army Volleyball Team, traveling to Phoenix, AZ for a major tournament. These energetic guests had some time before their plane was departing, and plowed through our toaster waffles, sausage links, bagels, cereal, and of course, coffee. They, too, were impressed with what one of them referred to as the “royal treatment” they received at USO/RDU. The All Army Sports Program is an important part of MWR efforts as well as recruiting, and the Army, just as the other military branches, does not bring in civilians for these teams. These are real Army Soldiers, Reservists, and National Guardsmen/women who join the teams on a TDY basis, then move on to their next assignment when their time on the team is done. They were particularly looking forward to playing the Navy and the Air Force in this large, multi-day tournament. Kudos to these fine young people who represent our Army out there on the volleyball field, then return to the ranks to fulfill their next mission, whatever it may be. Meg and Matt Segal and Lezlee Rutchka (first, second, and fourth from left), with members of the All Army Volleyball Team. HOOAH! Triangle Chapter Officers and Committee Chairs Officers President CPT John C. Loving, USA 919-618-5545 (H) [email protected] 1st Vice President CDR Edgar Dean Block 919-500-9567 [email protected] 2nd Vice President COL Bob Penny 919-847-2453 (H) [email protected] Secretary LTC JoAnn Harrington, USA 919-790-8066 [email protected] Treasurer COL Matthew R. Segal, USA 919-632-4964 (C) [email protected] Committee Chairs Immediate Past LtCol Joseph (Joe) H. Long 919-380-9205 (H) [email protected] President Legislative COL Michael Flynn, USA 919-847-9695 [email protected] Public LTC Ken Tigges 919-781-5610 [email protected] Relations Personal Affairs and Vacant Survivor Assistance Newsletter LTC Ken Tigges 919-781-5610 [email protected] Membership COL Herbert (Herb) Segal, USA 919-845-2686 (H) [email protected] ROTC Awards COL Bob Penny 919-847-2453 (H) [email protected] Chaplain LTC Tracy Maness, USA 919-781-1098 (H) [email protected] Sunshine Kay Stockett 919-788-0300 (H) [email protected] Legal Advisor CAPT David D. Lennon, USN 919-846-7400 (H) [email protected] Scholarship COL Bob Penny 919-847-2453 (H) [email protected] Historian Vacant Auxiliary Vacant USO Support Ken Tigges 919-781-5610 (H) [email protected] TRIANGLE CHAPTER OF MOAA July Dinner Meeting Wednesday, 16 July 2014 North Carolina State University Club 1830 Social (Cash Bar), 1915 Dinner ******************************************************************