 Savannah Council E-Newsletter May 2011 |
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Bright Futures for Young Americans
May Dinner Program Promises Exciting Look at Local High School's NJROTC Unit
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South Effingham NJROTC |
The presentation at our next dinner meeting will be provided by the instructor and members of the South Effingham High School Naval Junior ROTC program. Senior Naval Science Instructor LtCol Terry Stautberg USMC (Ret.) and several of his cadets will give us an engaging, exciting look at the ways this 139-person-strong NJROTC unit prepares young people for excellence in all areas of their lives. The unit performed more than 1700 cumulative hours of community and school service this year. In addition, its Rifle Team placed 14th out of 754 teams nationwide, while the Drill Team finished 15th out of 74 schools in the region.
Members of our council recently presented Navy League Youth Medals to NJROTC cadets from several area high schools; several of these outstanding young people and their families will be joining us for dinner, and the colors will be presented by an NJROTC team. |
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USS Alaska (SSBN 732) Adoption
Several members of our council trekked down to Naval Submarine Station Kings Bay on Saturday, May 7th to officially adopt "our" submarine, USS Alaska (SSBN 732). We had a brief ceremony outside the main gate of the base, during which we presented books and savings bonds to the Blue Crew Sailor and Junior Sailor of the Year. Afterwards, we broke up into small groups and enjoyed guided tours of the sub. The highlight of the evening was dinner with the Commanding Officers, Executive Officers, and Chiefs of the Boat for both the Gold and Blue Crews, along with their spouses. We look forward to a long and enjoyable relationship with this proud submarine and her officers and men.
Click here to see images of the adoption ceremony on our Facebook page. Click here to watch video coverage from all three Savannah TV stations on our Youtube channel. |
 Our council has performed its mission of recognizing outstanding local sea service members on several occasions in the past month. On May 11th, Michael Jordan and Joe Tillman presented Coast Guard Air Station Savannah's Guardian of the Quarter, AMT1 Ben Wallace, with a US Savings Bond and book from the Commandant's
reading list. AMT1 Wallace was singled out for his outstanding help preparing the entire Air Station for its annual standardization team visit. On Thursday, May 12th, Savananh Council President Bob Gephart made a similar presentation to Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Savannah Sailor of the Quarter Petty Officer Shayne Meadows.  On May 2nd, Jim Morrison and Tom Latham attended a recognition ceremony for Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron (MALS)-31 at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, SC, making a presentation to Marine of the Quarter Sgt. Rodger Jenkins. Click here to see photos from the ceremony.  On May 4th, Danica Grone and Bob Gephart presented the Navy League's Theodore Roosevelt Youth Medal to Cadet Michael Brown, a key member of the unit's Drill Team who has accrued more than 70 hours of community service.On May 11th, Michael Jordan and Danica Grone presented the Youth Medal to Jenkins High School Cadet Breyanna Jones, who hopes to major in either Political Science or Nursing when she attends college.  Bob Gephart presented the Youth Medal to Johnson High School Cadet Shaun Smith a few days later.We have invited the Youth Medal recipients and their parents to join us for dinner at our monthly meeting on Tuesday night. |
 Savannah State NROTC Spring Review
Savannah Navy Leaguers supported the Annual Savannah State University NROTC's Spring Review, held on Thursday, April 28th. Frank McCarthy presented awards to Midshipmen Christana Johnson and Anthony Jarvis. Click here to see photos from the event on our Facebook page. |
 New CO for MALS-31Our adopted Marine Corps Unit, MALS-31, has a new Devil Dog in charge. Lt. Col. William Gray assumed command during a May 6th ceremony attended by Savannah Navy Leaguers aboard Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. Outgoing CO Lt. Col. Russell Blauw has transferred to MALS-40, a unit deployed to Afghanistan.
MALS-31 Marines held a squadron run and a barbeque on May 5th to send Blauw off in style. The run began early in the morning with Blauw and the squadron's sergeant major, Thomas Ruppert, leading the squadron on a three-mile run throughout the Air Station. Sgt. Kent Cox, MALS-31 training chief, told base newspaper reporter Pvt. Kevin Clark, "It was all of our way of saying 'thank you' to him [Lt.Col. Blauw]. He has always helped us when we needed it; he expects and demands high quality in everything we do. He is firm yet fair."
Click this link to see photos taken by Savannah Navy Leaguers during the change of command ceremony.
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 Capt. Butler Wows Crowd at April Dinner Meeting
At our last dinner meeting, Savannah native and retired US Navy Captain Frank Butler, Jr. told gripping stories about his days as a leading Joint Special Forces medical officer in Afghanistan--and how his efforts to increase the use of tourniquets on the battlefield are saving thousands of American lives today. Capt. Butler also told us about a new hi-tech handcuff that allows Special Forces troops to immobilize any locals who stumble across their team behind enemy lines; the computerized cuffs are programmed to talk to the detainees in their native language, then release them at a predetermined time.
Click this link to see photos from our last meeting. Click here to watch news coverage of the meeting from WTOC-TV on our Youtube channel. |
 New Flag, $500 Grant for Sea CadetsOur Savannah Sea Cadets proudly carried a new flag when they marched in the Stand Up For America Parade in Port Wentworth on April 30th, 2011. Thanks to Charlotte Hulse of Savannah Sails & Rails for making the flag for us at 1/2 off the normal price!
The Cadets also rcently received a $500 Grant from the nationwide Kim Komando radio show. One of the cadets' instructors, Kim McCumber, applied for the grant, which will be used to send Cadets to summer training camps. The Kim Komando Show runs on more than 450 radio stations and has almost 10 million listeners weekly. |
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Farewell to Jimmy Kehoe
We bid a sad farewell to longtime Savannah Navy Leaguer James Kehoe, Jr., who passed away on April 15th after a brief illness. A Korean War veteran who went on to serve 25 years in the US Air Force, Jimmy eventually earned a PhD in economics. As a Navy Leaguer, Jimmy served as Savannah Council President, Georgia State President and a National Director, and was instrumental in the christening of four US Navy ships in the Port of Savannah.
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The Navy League of the United States is a worldwide organization dedicated to supporting our nation's sea services (US Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and US-Flagged Merchant Marine) and educating our leaders and citizens about the importance of a strong maritime policy. Founded in 1957, the Savannah Council is online at www.savannah.navyleague.us.
This Newsletter is edited by Savannah Council First Vice President Michael Jordan. |
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