Soundings (11/20/12)

Posted by G. Stowe Talbot 
on Nov 20, 2012
 
 

Flag Salute & Invocation by Frank Chmelik

Visiting Rotarians: None

Guests: Matt Rose, Jeff Johnson, David Barrett (Barrett Designs), Dr. Lily Driskoll (St Paul's Academy), Mark Shintaffer (Sound Beverage), today's speaker Major Kirby Jones and his relatives, and Sheriff Bill Elfo.

Announcements:  

Mike Werner says G&G ail net around $43,000.

Rotary Year 2013-14 slate of nominees for board officers/directors:
President elect nominee: Bob Moles
VP / Program Chair: Bill Geyer
Secretary: Stowe Talbot
Treasurer: Orphalee Smith
Director for two years: Dannon Traxler.

Bucks in the Bay

  • Eddie gone last week, but wanted to say how grateful he was to our club, and Mike Hammesin particular, for our Food Bank Thanksgiving donation;
  • Brad Cornwell with big welcome to Jones family (speaker), also he had relatives hiking on the Pacific Coast Trail, and football bucks;
  • Gordon Plume sorry had to bale out on G&G, but important potential project in CA;
  • Steve Spitzer missed meetings while on business in Europe, celebrated wife's birthday at Sorrento Hotel in Seattle;
  • Tim Krell happy bucks for Sounders game with daughter;
  • John Templeton missed meeting, so much to be grateful for, welcome Jones family;
  • Frank Chmelik son's success in running, Montana football game;
  • Aaron Lemperes for Hospice auction, daughter Sophia turned two yesterday;
  • Doug Wight missed G&G while "on business" in Palm Desert, Hospice auction will clear close to $250K!
  • Stan Dyer with another IOU, concerning Eddie?
  • Mike Hammes $100 for Foundation, opportunity for us to sponsor a farm for Food Bank, also opportunity for us to try wine called "Colby Red" proceeds will go to heart research;
  • Bob Tull for Hospice House auction a great success, especially thanks to Bryant E, Donna E and many others.
 

Sergeant at Arms by Chuck Luttrell
Fines for Steve Brummell, Tony Freeland, trivia on Thanksgiving, Bob Becker, Tonja Myers, Stan Dyer, Oregon football fans, Husky & Cougar fans, Doug Wight, happy Thanksgiving!

Program

Sheriff Bill Elfo introduced today's speaker, Kirby Jones.  Kirby was born and raised in Whatcom County.  Graduated from Hillsdale College in 2001.  Enlisted in Army two weeks before 2001 terrorist attacks.  Served first at Fort Benning.  In 2002, became second Lieutenant in infantry. Served in Kosovo. In 2005 became a captain.  In 2008 in Italy then deployed to Afghanistan.  2010 deployed again in Afghanistan, wounded and evacuated, then Louisiana after recouperating.  Promoted to Major last year, awarded both bronze star and purple heart, service ended earlier this year.

Why join the army? Had grandfather who served in WWII.  In August 2001 decided on army.  Joined infrantry.  Fort Benning Georgia for officer candidate school (also attended other schools there) 2001-2.  The training reflected the fact there was going to be prolonged military campaign.  There was a rush of people who joined military after 9/11.  Went to Germany as a 2nd Lieutenant, then quickly to Kosovo for the tail end of the peacekeeping mission.  While in Kosovo learned of Iraq mission, very excited to go there.  2004 deployed to Iraq (Diyala Province) after some training in Kuwait.  It was very much a power vacuum then in Iraq.  He served 13 months there.  Then went to Ranger School back in the US - this was very tough; mental and physical training.  Also small infantry tactic training.  They taught you how to be a leader when you are cold, hungry and tired.  Then he was assigned to train soldiers at Fort Polk, Louisiana for a year, doing war games the whole time.  His first son was born there.  Then deployed to Afghanistan for 5 months in 2008.  He remembers the enormous humanitarian outreach from the American forces, which gets underreported in the media.  He was deployed back to Italy in 2009 commanding 125 paratroopers.  Amazing facility and an amazing unit.    Then deployed back to Afghanistan December 2009-10.  Combat outpost in the countryside population of a couple hundred soldiers - like a self-sustained city.  No roads.  Mission to sustain stability for transition to civilian control.  Infrastructure building.  

Kirby also talked about hiring veterans as very positive thing.  Thank you to the men who lost their lives.

Stew wins the raffle.

Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot