Military Officer - October 2007 - (Page 26)

rapidfire Spotlight Retiree Attention! Check out these military-related entertainment offerings. BOOK Montgomery: D-Day Commander (Potomac Books Inc., 2007): This study of military leadership follows British Gen. Bernard Law Montgomery’s military career from his cadet days and service in World War I to his great victories of World War II, including his defeat of the German panzer commander Erwin Rommel at Alamein. DVD Comics on Duty: We Love You, Mrs. Bevins (Koch Records, 2007): This DVD features comedians Danny Bevins, Sarah Tiana, Dave Mishevitz, and John Bizarre as they take you on their journey while traveling and performing throughout Iraq as part of the Comics On Duty tour. BOOK The Wars of the Green Berets: Amazing Stories From Vietnam to the Present (Sterling Publishing Co., 2007): Robin Moore and Michael Lennon team up to tell fictionalized stories of the Green Berets. They take us from firefights on the Cambodian border in the Vietnam War to the streets of Iraq today. This book continues the saga of Moore’s The Green Berets (St. Martin’s Paperbacks, 2002). L t. Col. Leaford Bearskin, USAFRet., served in World War II as a crew chief aircraft commander on a B-24 Liberator Bomber, ﬂying more than 46 missions in the Army Air Corps and supporting the Berlin Airlift by ﬂying 29 missions. He also served in the Asiatic Paciﬁc and Korea. In 1953, he participated in the ﬁrst jet aircraft ﬂight across the Paciﬁc Ocean from the U.S. to Japan. Bearskin is currently chief of the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma. What was your most memorable experience? [It was] the moment our wheels touched the runway on our last mission. In 46 missions of combat, we all came home together. I felt that the Great Spirit [God] was in the cockpit with us every time we ﬂew. What is your goal for the future of the Wyandotte Nation? We want our tribal members to be able to support themselves. To do this, we plan to furnish education to our youngsters and medical services to all tribal members. They will be taught to be proud of their heritage. — Maria T. Taynton Extraordinary Effort C ol. Brad Smith, USA (featured as Military Ofﬁcer’s May 2006 Active Duty Spotlight), hiked nearly half of the Appalachian Trail between chemotherapy treatments to raise money for The Scholarship Fund of MOAA. Companies and individuals made pledges and donated money for each mile he hiked. Smith’s passion for life, dedication to those who serve in the U.S. military, and loyalty to his country are evident in his determination to hike the Appalachian Trail after being diagnosed with stage-4 colon cancer. Smith lost his valiant battle with cancer July 20 — less than one month short of completing a 30-year career in the Army. In September, The Scholarship Fund of MOAA awarded the ﬁrst Col. Brad Smith, USA, American Patriot Scholarship Designated Grant to a student whose parent died serving on active duty. The Scholarship Fund of MOAA is grateful to Smith’s family for its support. MO PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT 26 MILITARY OFFICER OCTOBER 2007

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Military Officer - October 2007

Military Officer - October 2007 Contents From the Editor From the President Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Cover Story: A Hero's Welcome? Partners in Patriotism Tales from Beyond the Battlefield Financial Results of MOAA Pages of History Information Exchange Faces of MOAA Member Books MOAA Scholarship Donors Advertising Index MOAA Member Services MOAA Calendar Sounding Taps Encore

Military Officer - October 2007

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