Speaker Recap of May 21, 2012

In honor of our troops and in early celebration of Memorial Day, the lovely and talented Kitty O’Neal shared an educational and emotional account of the servicemen in her life at our Monday meeting.  We all know Ms. O’Neal from her over 25 years as a top broadcaster at KFBK and her many humanitarian efforts in our communities, but few (if any) of us knew of her rich family background of military service to our country.  Kitty shared heartwarming family photographs and read from several family wartime letters in helping us all appreciate how fortunate we are to have followed behind so many brave and selfless soldiers.

She told us of her beloved late grandfather, Brigadier General Auby Strickland, and his distinguished service record from May, 1917 until his retirement in July, 1953.  She recalled how he went to France in 1917 during WWI with the 32nd Infantry, and then with the 30th Infantry regiment fought in Germany until 1919.  She shared how he became a first rate pilot in 1921 and later became a flying instructor.  She showed us photographs of the general aboard the plane called the “Question Mark” as it set records for endurance flights in January, 1929.  (The plane had a question mark painted on its side because no one could guess how long it might stay aloft with proper mid-air refueling!)

Kitty recounted her grandfather’s participation in WWII in 1942 as the commander of the IX Fighter Squadron in the North African Theater of Operations.  He went on to serve as Chief of Staff of the Desert Air Task Force, and was later named deputy air staff officer of the U.S. component of the Allied Expeditionary Air Force based in England.  General Strickland was part of that mass of brave men that crashed the beaches in Normandy and secured our eventual victory in the European theater.  Through men like General Strickland – part of what many feel was America’s greatest generation – our country prevailed and our hallowed freedoms were preserved.

Kitty shared other endearing tales and photos of her late beloved father’s honorable military service, as well as stories about her beloved uncle’s distinguished record.  We thank her for allowing us to view a glimpse of her very personal family history.  And we especially thank her for reminding us all that freedom is far from free, it is a privilege paid for by the sacrifices of many of our forefathers, and one that we must preserve for our children and grand-children.