My wife, Cathy, and I are volunteers aboard my old battleship, USS Missouri (BB-63). I am one of the Volunteer Supervisors. During 2008, I had the privilege of working with "Wounded Warriors" (Marines) back from Afghanistan/Iraq. A group of those warriors volunteered to come aboard and help in the repair and preservation of the ship.
I am frequently called upon to speak to groups visiting the Mighty Mo. I spoke to 57 newly appointed CPO's at the third CPO Legacy Academy held aboard the ship (2008). On 30 Aug 2011, I was guest speaker for the CPO Legacy Academy Class of 43 new CPO's. Command Master Chief of the Naval Surface Group, Middle Pacific, Patricia M. Roebuck and 7 Senior Chiefs from local commands were also in attendance. I was asked to speak during the CPO Legacy Classes of 2010, 2011, two classes in 2012, and will be speaking with the two classes of 2013.
I was asked to be the Keynote Speaker at the Veterans Day Sunset Ceremony held aboard the battleship USS Missouri on 11/11/11. More than 250 people attended; including a dozen or so active duty Flag & General Officers. I heard one of the best renditions of our National Anthem, sung by a TSgt Laura Murdzia, USAF. I was completely surprised when, at the conclusion of the Flag ceremony performed by the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Old Glory Detail, the ceremonial Flag was presented to me. It was, to say the least, an awesome experience! Please see "Family New" section for some photos.
As a result of an article I submitted to AMVETS Magazine, the Commander of Post #1 in Honolulu, Hawaii contacted me. After a rather lengthy discussion, I was offered the position of Post Legislative Director and Editor of the Post's Newsletter. I agreed, with one proviso; I would be a volunteer.
Other Comments:
In 1970, I was personally selected by RADM Dean L. Axene to be his Writer and Administrative Assistant. I was later officially assigned the duties as his Enlisted Flag Officer Personal Aide. I was, at that time, the first and only Enlisted Flag Officer Personal Aide in the U.S. Navy and I was issued shoulder Aiguillettes signifying that I was a Personal Aide to a Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy.
I also served aboard the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) in the Operations Office (1957/59), a couple shore duty assignments, 10 years with NATO Commands (including NATO HQ Paris, France and Brussels, Belgium) and a tour of duty as a Naval Advisor in Vietnam (1966/67) with MACV/SOG.
I am a member of The Battleship Missouri Association and am a Plank Owner/Crewmember of the "Friends of the Mighty Mo." I am also a member of the USS Missouri Association Legacy Society. I am a member of the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) Association .
As a former crewmember of the ship during its first combat deployment, I'm often asked to be a Guest Speaker at dinners or during visits by various groups of civilians. When I started receiving Challange Coins subsequent to those occasions, I thought it appropriate to have a Coin of my own.
When I designed my Coin, I provided the engraver with a photo of the ship in combat action at Chonjin, N. Korea on 19 October 1950. I was onboard the ship when the photo was taken.
So far, I have been priviliged to exchange personal challenge coins with:
Medal of Honor Recipient, Colonel H.C. "Barney" Barnum, USMC(Ret); Secretary of the Navy, Ray Mabus; Secretary of Defense, Leon E. Panetta; Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric K Shinseki; Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen; Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr.; Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert; Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Gary Roughead; Commandant USMC, General James F. Amos; Commandant USMC, General Robert B. Neller; Air Force Chief of Staff, General Norton A. Schwartz; Army Chief of Staff, General George W. Casey, Jr; Army Chief of Staff, General Mark A. Milley; Com Fleet Forces Command Admiral J.C. Harvey; Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Patrick M. Walsh; Commander, Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), Maj. Gen. Kelly K. McKeague; Commandant USCG Admiral R.J. Papp, Jr; Vice Commandant USCG Vice Admiral Sally Brice-O'Hara; Commander Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, Rear Admiral Dixon Smith; Com Nav Ed/Training Com, Rear Admiral J.F. Kilkenny; SMA U.S. Army, Raymond F. Chandler III; MCPO U.S.C.G. Michael P. Leavitt; Senior Enlisted Leader, National Guard Bureau, Denise M. Jelinski-Hall CMSgt, USAF; 11th Navy MCPO, Joe R. Campa, Jr; 17th SgtMaj of the U.S.M. C. Michael Patrick Barrett; MCPO Pacific Fleet Tom Howard; CMDCM(SW) Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, Patricia M. Roebuck; DOD Rep Europe, Brussels, Belgium; Director Peter Berg, of the movie "Battleship"; Mighty Mo Legacy Society Navy Chiefs, USS Missouri SSN-780 Korean War Veterans Memorial
History has it that a WWI flying ace had a Squadron Medallion struck for his pilots. A WWII U.S. pilot, shot down and captured by Germans, escaped in civilian clothes and was challenged by French Resistance Group. When the pilot showed his Squadron Challenge Coin, he was given safe passage.
I located a coin rack on the web. It is four rows deep (like a spectator stand at ball games) and I had it stained cherry to match my DVD wall storage library. Photo attached.
I now have a seperate coin rack for coins listed above. It has a glass door for ease of viewing and to keep out dust.
During three days of filming in November 2011, Peter Berg and I spoke at length about my tour aboard the ship. I handed him my Challange Coin and during additional filming in April for the Special Features on the upcoming DVD (Blue Ray only), Director Berg handed me his "Battleship Coin!" On each side of the coin, famous quotes by John Paul Jones appears. I am privileged to be one of the few who received this coin.
FLASH! A unique "challenge coin" has been struck by the USS Missouri Memorial Association.
The coin is unique in that it is made from the teak wood being used in the restoration of this historic battleship. My wife, Cathy, and I each received one of these coins as a result of our donations to help in the restoration and preservation of this floating museum.
On 04/24/14, I was Guest Speaker at the graduation of eight Wounded Warriors who had completed 8 weeks of counseling and group discussions at Wounded Warriors, West located at the Tripler Army Medical Center. Although Col Barnum was not present, he had one of the Warriors present me his MOH Challenge Coin. I asked the Warrior if he would present my personal coin to Barney. I was totally humbled!
