| Middle Tennessee Chapter Newsletter
August 2011
Editor: Doug Minton
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MOAA Middle Tennessee Chapter Meeting
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RADM Jerry Breast, USN (Ret)
"Libya, the Last Time”
August 23, 2011 11:30 AM
Old Natchez Country Club
115 Gardengate Drive
Franklin TN 37069
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On April 14, 1985, nine days after the La Belle Discotheque bombing in Berlin, U.S. military forces conducted Operation ELDORADO CANYON, a night air strike against five targets in Libya. Eighteen Air Force F-111s from the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing bombed three targets in Tripoli, while a force of over seventy Navy and Marine Corps strike, fighter, and support aircraft from the carriers Coral Sea and America simultaneously struck two targets in Benghazi. RADM Breast commanded Carrier Battle Group Two during this and subsequent punitive strikes against Libya in the winter and spring of 1986.
Jerry Breast was born and raised in Shelbyville, Tennessee; graduating from Vanderbilt University in 1958, with a commission in the Navy and a degree in Physics. After receiving his naval aviator wings in 1959, he married Van Kirtley of Nashville, Tennessee. RADM and Mrs. Breast have three children: Jerry Jr., John and Kelly. Mrs. Breast passed away in December of 2006.
While on active duty, RADM Breast continued his education by graduating from the Naval Postgraduate School, the School of Naval Justice, the Naval War College, the Naval Test Pilot School, and received a Master’s Degree in Political Science from Catholic University.
Other shore duty tours included testing and development of weapons systems at VX-5 in China Lake and two years of flight testing at Patuxent River, MD. As a Weapons Systems Advocate he spent three years in the Pentagon as the F/A-18 Program Sponsor. As his initial flag posting he was head of the Naval Safety Center from 1983 through 1985.
During 32 years as a naval aviator, RADM Breast flew light attack jets (A-4's and A-7's) from 13 different aircraft carriers. His combat experience was accumulated from 1967 through 1973 flying 336 combat missions over North Vietnam. After tours in VA-66 and VA-163 he commanded the Marauders of VA-82. His command tours include the USS Savannah (AOR-4) and the aircraft carrier, USS Independence (CV-62). As a two star admiral, he was the Director of Operations for the US Space Command.
RADM Breast retired in March of 1990. Since retiring he has had three jobs in education and was executive vice president of the National Federation of Independent Business. He lives in Middle Tennessee where he nurtures his wife’s rose gardens; fishes for trout and bass; strikes the golf ball too many times; takes care of two old dogs; and thanks the Lord for a life full of blessings.
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MTC President's Letter
The strength, and therefore the effectiveness of MOAA is in large part dependent on its chapters. Member participation and involvement is the single most significant determinant of chapter success. The opportunity to become involved in your chapter is present throughout the year, not just at the annual organizational meeting each year where we have traditionally asked members to identify the committees and chapter functions in which they would like to become involved.
Our program committee, chaired by 1st VP Wanda Graham is always receptive to member suggestions and additional members on the committee. We know that attendance at chapter meeting is highest when there is strong interest in the programs. Wanda also chairs our Personal Affairs Committee, which conducts at least one outstanding program per year.
We are actively looking for an understudy to take over Jan. 1, 2012 for Charles Stewart in his role as ROTC / JROTC liaison. Our support of the college and high school ROTC units in the area has long been a hallmark of our chapter, and the board has just reaffirmed that commitment.
Separately, we also are seeking someone to head our chapter’s scholarship committee. Through member contributions, we continue to fund our 3rd MOAA scholarship (awarded to service juniors) and the MTC MOAA Veterans Scholarships at Lipscomb and Belmont Universities (awarded to wounded vets).
Legislative Affairs, a vital MOAA concern, is a long unfilled role in our chapter. We are looking for a committee chairman.
Chapter Secretary (and past president) Doug Minton would welcome help with the Public Affairs function. Publicity is critical to our member recruiting and Community Outreach programs.
I urge you to make yourself available in an area of interest.
Dana McLendon
July 6, 2011
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| The USS William P. Lawrence
DDG 110
The Navy commissioned the newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, William P. Lawrence, on Saturday, June 4, 2011, during an 11 a.m. CDT ceremony at Pier 2, Alabama State Docks, Mobile, Ala.
Designated DDG 110, the new destroyer honors the late Vice Adm. William P. Lawrence, of Nashville, TN. During the Vietnam War, as commanding officer of Fighter Squadron 143, Lawrence earned the Silver Star for a strike against a heavily defended target in North Vietnam. He completed his mission, but was captured after his aircraft went down in June 1967 and he remained a POW until March 1973. He earned the Distinguished Service Medal for his leadership to fellow POWs.
Adm. James A. Winnefeld Jr., commander, U.S. Northern Command will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Diane Lawrence, widow of the ship's namesake and Vice Adm. Lawrence's daughters, Dr. Laurie Lawrence, and retired Navy Capt. Wendy Lawrence, will serve as sponsors of the ship.
William P. Lawrence,the 60th Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, will be able to conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis management to sea control and power projection. William P. Lawrence will be capable of fighting air, surface and subsurface battles simultaneously and will contain myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime warfare.
Cmdr. Thomas R. Williams II will become the first commanding officer of the ship. The 9,200-ton William P. Lawrence was built by Huntington Ingalls Industries in Pascagoula, Miss. The ship is 509 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet, and a navigational draft of 31 feet. Four gas turbine engines will power the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots. © DOD 2011
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Upcoming Events and Programs:
Aug 12, 2011; 1500 Hrs.
7th Annual Fallen Soldiers March
TN ARNG, Lebanon Armory
Lebanon, TN
Aug 23, 2011
MTC Monthly Luncheon Meeting
RADM Jerry Breast “Libya”
Sep 27, 2011MTC Monthly Luncheon Meeting
LtCol Roy Simmons, USAF (Ret)
WW2 P-51 Pilot
2010 Recipient of the French Legion of Honor
Oct 14-16, 2011
TN Council of Chapters Statewide Meeting
Arnold AFB, Tullahoma, TN
Oct 25, 2011
MTC Monthly Luncheon Meeting
Bob Tuke and Mike Jones “Operation Standdown” & “Not Alone”
November 4-6, 2011
19th Annual Operation Stand Down
November 11, 2011
Veterans Day
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