Our June Social Luncheon was another great success; about 85 were in attendance at Atlantic Shores. Our speaker was Captain Patrick J. Lorge, USN, Commanding Officer, NAS, Oceana.

He discussed the current status of Oceana and the BRAC implication. He basically stated that he’s conducting business as usual. CAPT Lorge is an excellent and forthright speaker and he went to each table to answer the questions that were asked. The luncheon meal was outstanding. Both the chicken and salmon dishes were delicious. 

In my last commentary in May, I discussed the advantages of being both a member of MOAA and our Chapter. 

I believe that it answered the question, “What’s in it for me?” I urge you to use those points and start to recruit new members for our chapter and MOAA. As you are aware, numbers count if we are going to be successful with legislators on military and retiree issues, to continue to support our community in various ways and to keep you informed via our Newsletter, Web site, and email communications. I know that I’m preaching to the choir but now we need your dedication. If you haven’t noticed, we are losing over 100 members per year due to deaths, age, moving out of the area, and military transfers. We need to fill these vacancies with new members. 

HELP! We need you to sign up a new member now! Use the membership application in this Newsletter to do it. 

MOAA kicks off the 2006 “Give Me 10” Campaign.  MOAA issued a challenge to each of the association’s 415 chapters to recruit 10 new national MOAA members. Our Hampton Roads Chapter is participating in this campaign. We’ll also be giving an incentive to a new member who joins national MOAA to join our chapter. Some of the recruiting techniques that we are considering are to: 

1.  Personally contact potential members who live in our jurisdiction from a list given to us by MOAA. To do this successfully, we need some member volunteers to make these recruiting phone calls. Call or email me, if you are able to do this.

2. Recruit at events that attract potential members, such as the United States Naval Institute warfare symposium in October 2006. 

3.  Encourage our chapter members to volunteer to recruit at least 1 new potential member: active military, retired, or auxiliary.  If you have any constructive ideas on how to recruit new members, please let us know ASAP. 

As you can see from my comments this month, I am very concerned about the health and welfare of our Hampton Roads Chapter of MOAA. If we do not replace and increase our membership, then the Chapter could cease to exist along with all our good works. We need your help to retain our “One Powerful Voice” both locally and nationally.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you and seeing many of you at the August 19th Luncheon (picnic style) inside with air conditioning at Fort Story. 

Smooth Sailing,

From the Editor

For the past 2 issues we have carried a notice asking for a survivor or family member of a survivor, who served onboard the USS Franklin during WWII.  The purpose of this exercise was to find someone who would be interested in receiving 2 bookends that were made from the wooden deck of the aircraft carrier.  We were successful.  Tom Shoemaker, son of Captain James M. Shoemaker, USN who was the Commanding Officer when the USS Franklin (CV-13) Essex Class Aircraft Carrier was commissioned on 31 January 1944.  Tom also pointed out that the USS Franklin was not damaged in Pearl Harbor.  It was damaged in the South Pacific during the war.  The Franklin’s initial assignment was with TG 58.2 at Eniwetok.  Carrier strikes were carried out in support of the Marianas assault and against IwoJima.  Her planes scored well against enemy aircraft both on the ground and in the air, and against radio stations, seaplane bases, airstrips and ships.  During air strikes in support of operations at Leyte, Luzon, and Manila Bay, she was damaged by an enemy bomb hit.  She was still able to continue operations.  In support of the Leyte operation  Franklin, with  Task Groups 38.2, 38.3, and 38.4, sailed to  intercept an advancing Japanese Carrier force and attack at dawn.  The Franklin’s four strike groups and an other carrier strike group managed to sink four Japanese carriers.   On 30 October, during the Leyte action, the Franklin was attacked by  3 enemy bombers one managing to crash through the gallery deck, killing 56 and wounding 60.  She retired to Ulithi for repairs. It was determined that the damage was extensive enough to send her to Puget Sound Navy Yard for repairs.  Captain Gehres relieved Captain Shoemaker as command officer on 9 November 1944.    In February 1945, the Franklin joined TG58.2 for strikes on the Japanese homeland in support of the Okinawa landings.  While conducting operations against Honshu and Kobe Harbor, a single Japanese plane dropped through the cloud cover and managed to drop 2 semi-armor piercing bombs on the Franklin hitting the flight deck centerline and penetrating on through to the 3rd deck causing major damage and secondary explosions.  Total casualties were 724 killed and 265 wounded.  The Franklin was towed by the Pittsburg until she was able to proceed on her own to Pearl Harbor.  After minor repairs she proceeded on her own to Brooklyn, NY and was placed out of commission on 15 May 1949.   The Franklin was eventually scrapped.  I thank Tom Shoemaker for providing this Battle history of the USS Franklin.

"It is a shame that certain groups have taken it upon themselves to target the grieving family and friends of our fallen warfighters with their political rhetoric," said Rep. Drake. "These courageous men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of freedom. Their loved ones deserve to bid their final farewells in peace and with dignity. It is a sad statement that some would disrupt such a solemn ceremony in order to promote their political agendas."

Ccontact your Chapter coordinator: CAPT James Hereford, USN (Ret) at 486-7639 to participate and offer your services. No experience is required; we'll train you. 

The next meeting will be held on October 13, 2006.

This event is sponsored annually by the Mayor’s Veterans Committee.  Wreaths are laid in honor of today’s military and all veterans by the tidewater Mayoral Representatives, Fraternal and Veterans Organizations.  Our own Col. Floyd Gilbert was the program MC.  The Virginia Beach City Mayor, Meyera Oberndorf provided the opening remarks, and the Keynote address was given by Captain William Sizemore, USN. 

The theme of this year’s ceremony is “Honoring Today’s Military” as we honor the men and women of the armed forces who sacrificed their lives defending our great country.

And speaking of quality, the final listing for the 2006 MOAA Leadership awards is shown in the next column.

I know the chapter members will be every bit as helpful to Bill in presenting the awards next year as you were to me this year.  I wish all of you fair winds and following seas. 

Tim Stark