Good News & Announcements
Prayer led by Roland Maier
Song led by Ken Beurmann
Pledge led by Jeff Johnson
Visiting from the West Club was Andy Stanley and our presenters guest was the lovely Jan Drew.
Rob Noriega gave Ben Taft the Dodger tickets he won by donating lots of money during our Havana Nights Fundraiser. Jessie Lopez passed a sign-up sheet for weekly duties in our new year.
The Nicaragua trip has new dates confirmed, November 11 – 19, 2017. If you are interested in joining this trip, contact Jeff Verde.
We welcomed new member Douglas Pierce.
Program
Our speaker today was none other than our very own Joe Drew. While maintaining confidentiality on the specifics of his duty, he did share personal stories that he hasn’t shared in over 37 years.
Joe enlisted out of high school and was soon made second lieutenant in the Armor Branch. He became a pilot and was deployed to Vietnam all in his first 3 years of joining the Army. He served in command positions for more than 5 years during his 20 years of service and held a helicopter flight instructor’s rating for 15 of those years. Joe was the first commander of what is now known as the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (then called Taskforce 229) with the motto “Death waits in the dark”. This remains the regimental motto today. They are affectionately referred to as the “Night Stalkers”. Joe retired from the US Army in 1981.
Joe led a pioneering effort to prove the capability of flying single pilot night vision goggle missions, in formation, with stealth and precision, doing so under difficult, time sensitive conditions. After graduating in 4 years magna cum laude from Park College, he deployed back to Vietnam and received multiple awards.
Joe’s significant military awards include: The Legion of Merit, 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 3 Bronze Stars, 22 Air Medals, 2 purple Hearts, the meritorious Service Medal and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm.
Joe, along with his son Brigadier General Tom Drew, was inducted into the Infantry Officer Candidate Hall of Fame in 2013. His brother Fred was inducted in 2009.
When asked what his proudest moment is, he did not turn to his time in the service, but turned to his very own family. His children make him the proudest.
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