August is here already! It was nice to have a little bit of cool with the sprinkles as we gathered at The Redwood. Frank greeted us today and gave the program as well! We had 23 members attending with special guest, Frank's wife Kathleen Duserick.

 

President Karen began the meeting with the Pledge. Jack consulted with Frank, deciding that the words of the Navy song may not be well known, and chose "A Grand Old Flag". Rose gave the invocation quoting WWII vet and Boston U. prof and author, Howard Zinn. He encouraged us "to be hopeful in bad times". If we see only the worst, it limits our capacity to do something. If we focus on good times, it gives us energy to act. If we live as we think we should, despite the bad, it is a victory.

 

Birthdays in August are: Liz Yee, Jane Schenk, David Dial, JoAnne Alliet, Wayne Buchar and Karen Schenk. Anniversaries are: Patrice and Bo Lysell and David and Shanna Williams. Congratulations Rotarians!

 

Announcements: *Saturday 10-12 at the Library is a Death Cafe, discussion highly recommended by Rose *Camp O set up is 1-4pm Saturday with camp going until the Carnival on 8/18. Help is still needed for that day. *Jill announced that our outbound Exchange students are on their way - Parker is in Sweden, Eliza in Brazil (reported by Gi!) and Lyra will leave Tuesday for Thailand! *Our Rotary Meet and Greet is Thursday 8/15 at Lynnie Lou's pavilion 6-8pm. Lexie will set up about 5:30, snacks will be provided. Join in to share Rotary fun! *Ballots were distributed on paper for President Elect and Vice President positions. Candidates are Jack for PE and Carrie and Judy for Co-VPs. Paper votes were given to Liz. You can call/text her or email your vote.

928-864-6909, lizardsmith@hotmail.com Deadline is Sunday, 8/11. Results to be announced at Monday's evening meeting on 8/12. *We received a Thank You from the Budding Readers Program for our donation of $200. We give out books to NCS students, UPK through 1st graders every year. Laurie and Patrice enjoy selecting the books and the students love them! *The August Pop-Up Pantry was Monday afternoon at 3 pm. *The BVT art auction closes on Sat 8/10. You can still put in a bid during the shows this week.

 

Frank's program centered on his time in the US Navy during the Vietnam War. After growing up in South Boston near the shipyard, he attended the Naval Academy in Annapolis. During his last summer there he chose to try out the submarine service. He spent 56 days underwater on the USS James Madison. He lived with 150  "best friends", working 18 hour days,  seeing the moon only once through a periscope. Everyday was training, learning about navigation and nuclear energy. At the end of the experience, he decided he'd rather be a blue water sailor and proposed to Kathleen as soon as he got home. After graduating, he was deployed on the USS Evans, a destroyer, from 1966-1968. This was during the Vietnam War. He served two 10 month tours in the Gulf of Tonkin with "time off" in Long Beach CA where the ship was maintained. He had many jobs during this time including detection of enemy activities and security protection for the carriers, helicopters and airplanes. They were tracking enemy subs and doing air traffic control, even rescuing planes that missed their landing or takeoff. Next he was transferred to the Brown Water Navy, in the rivers and canals of Vietnam. The 30 ft long PBRs were manned by 4 people, always two boats in a patrol. Initially the goal was interdiction - preventing movement/action by the Vietcong. Later, the mission was aggression - transporting SEALS and army reconnaissance in and out of small canals. Nearly half of his guys received purple hearts during this time. Frank also told us of a time when supplies and food were not being provided so they had to find a way of getting what they needed from a supply base with bolt cutters and a bit of paint! It was quite a story! He also shared that Kathleen saved his life with a package containing a glass bottle of cranberry juice, packed in popcorn, that got him out of harm's way. Unfortunately the harmonica in the package did not survive! Frank's lasting thoughts about his experience were how he matured, lived through hell, cherished family and that he was not alone in those days. 

 

The Ace of Hearts was at $109. Nancy had the lucky number but drew the 9 of diamonds.

Happy Bills included many, many thanks to Frank for his years of service and for sharing the story of those treacherous times. Carrie was sad that his daughter Heidi (Carrie's good friend) wasn't mentioned in the program, however, Heidi's daughter made it to the pictures!

 

Karen ended the gathering with the Four Way Test and rang the bell to adjourn.