Military Officer - May 2006 - (Page 41)

chapteractivities During World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen were part of a segregated unit, the 99th Fighter Squadron. Nicknamed the “red-tail angels” because of their airplanes’ brightly painted tails, squadron pilots compiled an impressive combat record, completing more than 200 combat missions without losing a single bomber to enemy ﬁre — a record unmatched by any other ﬁghter group. “Clearly, the Tuskegee Airmen did extraordinary things, but if Colonel Carter is an example, they were extraordinary Americans,” says Col. Steve Linder, USAF-Ret., the chapter’s publicity chair. Hosting interesting speakers at monthly meetings is just one of many activities members of the Montgomery Chapter have undertaken. Since 1991, they’ve presented 15 college scholarships totaling $38,000 to outstanding area students. The chapter also supports more than 12 Junior ROTC units and two ROTC units. Chapter President Col. J. Ray Warren, USA-Ret., says he plans to increase the chapter’s legislative activism, improve member programs, and initiate more activities to help area veterans and the families of deployed servicemembers. Last year, members donated $1,000 in prepaid long-distance phone cards to deployed members of the Alabama National Guard. Warren says he also is encouraging fellow chapter members to provide more assistance to the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), where he has volunteered for seven years. The ESGR was established in 1972 to promote cooperation and understanding between reserve component members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conﬂicts arising from an employee’s military commitment. State AG Elected Southern Maine Chapter President Wichita Falls (Texas) Chapter Vice President Pratt, left, passes the gavel to new President Lombardo. “Our conversations are now dealing with today’s happenings and problems and not quite so many war stories of the past.” Lombardo and Bausano plan to continue increasing the chapter’s active duty membership by reaching out to fellow ofﬁcers at Sheppard AFB. Lombardo says he also is searching for ways the chapter can support the families of deployed servicemembers who are in the Texas National Guard. N ational MOAA President Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret., marked a historic ﬁrst when he installed the Southern Maine Chapter’s new ofﬁcers, including Maine Army National Guard AG Maj. Gen. Bill Libby, the ﬁrst adjutant general to be a chapter president. Libby joined the chapter when it was still a TROA afﬁliate and later went on to join national MOAA. “I’d like to get more national MOAA members who live in the area to join Montgomery (Ala.) Hosts Tuskegee Airman F amed Tuskegee Airman Lt. Col. Herbert Carter, USAF-Ret., spoke to more than 100 members of the Montgomery (Ala.) Chapter at a recent chapter meeting. Carter was among the Tuskegee Airman Carter visited the Montgomery (Ala.) Chapter. ﬁrst airmen to complete pilot training at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in July 1942. Hundreds of other aspiring black pilots followed, and together they became known as the Tuskegee Airmen. New Southern Maine Chapter President Libby, left, listens as Ryan talks about issues affecting the National Guard. the chapter,” says Libby. “I also want to educate Guard and Reserve members, but I need to be careful, given my current position.” More than 110 people attended the installation ceremony. Throughout his speech, Ryan focused on the importance of maintaining the National Guard’s end strength. Several members of the media, including reporters from two newspapers and the local CBS TV news afﬁliate, covered the event. Best of all, the chapter gained four new members. M AY 2 0 0 6 PHOTO: RIGHT, GORDON CHIBROSKI/PORTLAND PRESS HERALD MILITARY OFFICER 41

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - May 2006

Military Officer - May 2006 Contents From the Editor President's Page Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Raising Iraq Dogfight Fun Caring For Our Own Pages of History Information Exchange MOAA Scholarship Donors Member Books Advertising Index MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps Encore

Military Officer - May 2006

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