2008 TREASURE COAST MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (MOAA) CHAPTER OFFICERS AREDISTINGUISHED MILITARY AVIATORS
When Treasure Coast MOAA Chapter installed their 2008 Chapter officers December 20, it was like a who's who in American Military Aviation history. Highly decorated Army combat aviators Chief Warrant Officer (Ret) Bill Armstrong,USA (2007 1st Vice President) and CWO Jack Irvin, USA (Vet) are the newly installed President and 2nd Vice President, and Lt Commander(Ret) Jim Robinson, USN, a decorated Vietnam aviator was installed as the new 1st Vice President. Florida Council of Chapters Vice President Colonel (Ret)Bob Kronenbush, USAF, a highly decorated fighter pilot, served as the installation officer. Incumbent Treasurer Carole Fahey, Aux was also installed as Secretary, replacing outgoing 2nd Vice President and Secretary Lt Colonel(Ret) Dennis Fadden, USA. Rear Admiral(Ret) Bill Jenkins, USCG, long time past-President andincumbent Chaplain, andLt Col Fadden were installed as 2008 Directors.
Notably, CWO Armstrong earned the Distinguished Flying Crossand Purple Heart supporting a 1968 ground combat action in Vietnam where the lateMSG Roy Benivedez earned the Congressional Medal of Honor. CWO Irvin won numerous decorations flying sustained missions while severely wounded during the 1968 Tet Offensive. Additionally, outgoing Director Major (Ret)Courtney Payne, USMC, an aviation ground officer earned two bronze stars for valor leading recovery missions of downed aircraft and crews.
Two long time Chapter members, RADM Orvan Smeder, USCG, and his U.S. Coast Guard Academy underclassman RADM Bill Jenkins, were pioneers in Coast Guard Aviation.Following the installation ceremony CWO Armstrong and Col Kronenbush, presentedAdmiral Smeder the National MOAA President's award on behalf of VIce Admiral(Ret) Norb Ryan, USNrecognizing RADM Smeder for his decades of contributionsat the Chapter, State Council and National levels.
Prior to the installation ceremony, outgoingChapter President, Colonel (Ret) Chuck Winn, USA, presented MOAA Certificates of Merit tothe following members fortheir many years of contributions to the Chapter: CAPT Ret) Julie Webster, USN, LtCol (Ret)John Larson, USA, LtCol Billy (Ret) Grabowski, USAF, LtCol (Ret) Dorothy Parillo, USAF, Maj Payne, MAJ (Ret) Fred Siddons,USA. Winnsingled outAuxilliary member Audrey Tuthill for her efforts in recruiting CWO Armstrong into the Chapter who in turn recruited Armstrong. Winn also announced that the Chapter had adopted PFC David Yankwitt, a "fellow Infantryman" who is embarking upon an Army career. The Chapterwill maintain contact with PFC Yankwittindefinitelyas he progresses throughhis future assignments.
SSgt Nathaniel Wells, USMC,and Sgt Tom Morris, USMC,who manage the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program returned as the Chapter's traditional December Guest of Honor. SSgt Wells, who is becoming a regional TV celebrity, led the chapter in the new "Toys for Tots" song.