James Gray retired from the Foreign Service in 2011 with the title of Consul General. His Foreign Service career spanned three decades, five continents, six overseas postings and three Washington assignments. As a specialist in consular affairs, he held responsibilities for non-immigrant and immigrant visas, refugee affairs, and consular services for U.S. citizens, including matters pertaining to births, deaths, arrests, and emergency services.

James is a U.S. Navy veteran, serving with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Two with Carrier Air Wing 14 aboard USS Enterprise during Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of Saigon in 1975, and subsequently as the middle east political military analyst for the headquarters of U.S. Naval Forces in Europe.

On June 1, 2018 at Hugh MacRae Park in Wilmington, NC, six area HS seniors were awarded a total of $7000 for university/college expenses by the Military Officers Association of America, SENCLAND Chapter.

SENCLAND Scholarships from left to right: CDR (Ret) Ken Klassen, SENCLAND Chapter President; Brooke Gruber, (Northside High School); Clinton Byrd-Stanley (West Brunswick High School): Felicia Rainwater-Lyons (South Brunswick High School); Kiara Robinson (North Brunswick High School); Ana Cruz (James Kenan High School); Lourdes Martin (James Kenan High School); and LTC (Ret) LeeRoy Hanna, Scholarship Chair.

Two presentations were previously made to Joshua Synakowski (Eugene Ashley High School); and Cyndaisia Ellis (Whiteville High School).

MOAA SENCLAND Chapter awarded a total of $8500 in HS JROTC scholarships this year.

(Synakowski photo) from left to right: Cadet Joshua Synakowski; LTC (Ret) LeeRoy Hanna.

(Ellis photo) from left to right: Cadet Cyndaisia Ellis; LTC (Ret) LeeRoy Hanna.

Left to Right: Leon Rooks and grandson Will, Bob Doleman, Marcia Morgan, Sandi Adams, Roger and Shirley Perkins, Sue Joens and son Scott, Ken Klassen and Bill Flynn

Check StarNews Photo Link for additional photo coverage from July 2, 2018 event.

Our program will feature our very own MOAA member CAPT Allan Turner, USNR (Ret). Allan will give a presentation on “Sea and Air Logistics from Operation Desert Storm to Present”. His talk will focus on assets used to transport material to the Desert Storm Theatre of Operations, the associated challenges incurred, and what lessons learned have been applied.

If you plan to attend the MOAA, SENCLAND luncheon meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 2020, at 11:30 at the Bluewater Restaurant, 4 Marina St. Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480, please RSVP to JoAnn Doleman by January 31, 2020 via email: jdoleman522@gmail.com or phone (910) 540-8459. Members are encouraged to bring their spouse and guests. The cost is $20.00.

At the MOAA Southeastern Atlantic Region Leadership Conference in Greenville, SC Sept. 7-8th, SENCLAND Membership Chairman Al Schroetel was recognized for his support to NC Chapters for his outstanding administration of recruiting, retention, reporting, and promotion of membership benefits to MOAA Chapters in NC. MOAA President and CEO Dana Atkins attended the conference and made the presentation in front of about 120 representatives from NC, SC, GA, AL and eastern TN.

Al will be honored at a SENCLAND monthly meeting in Oct. or Nov. 2018 to show our appreciation for all he manages for our Chapter.

WWAY TV 3 Interview Sept. 25, 2019- Good Morning Carolina

Jeff Rivenbark of WWAY TV 3’s Good Morning Carolina interviewed our own Chrissy Sanford and Lee Roy Hanna regarding our scholarship program. To view the 3 minute video go to www.wwaytv3.com, click on VIDEO at the top menu selections, then select “Video Central” in the dropdown menu. In the Playlists search bar at the top enter “MOAA” and press SEARCH and the clip will appear in the box. Just click to start viewing.

Scholarship Interview on WWAY TV

All,

Your Chapter leadership is very interested in knowing what you enjoy about the Chapter and its activities and what you would like to see added or improved. This survey is intended to gather that information, but your input is always welcome in any form and at any time.

Completing the survey will take only about 10 minutes. Although participation is voluntary, we would like input from as many Chapter members as possible.

Please complete the attached survey and return it to me as soon as convenient, but we would like to compile survey results by April 10th.

Step #1: The survey can be completed in either of these two ways:

• Print it and fill it out in pen or ink

• Save it as a Word document and fill it out

Step #2: Return it to me in any of the following ways:

•Scan it and e-mail it to me (downeast@bellsouth.net) as an attachment

•Attach it as a Word document and e-mail to me (downeastr@bellsouth.net) .

•Bring it to the April 2nd luncheon and I will get it at the door

•Mail it to me at: 161 Spring Creek Lane

Wilmington NC. 28411

Thanks for your help.

Al Schroetel

Membership Chair

910-686-6905

E-Mail: Downeast@bellsouth.net

Cape Fear​ ​Community College named its campus​ ​veterans’​ ​center after longtime student veteran advocate Bob Philpott​ ​as part of a series of events to celebrate Veterans Day on Nov 11, 2014.

Before retiring​ ​as CFCC’s veterans affairs coordinator​ ​earlier this year, Philpott helped establish CFCC’s veterans center on campus three years ago and was well-known for his support of student veterans and their family members.

As a 26-year U.S. Coast Guard veteran,​ ​Philpott commanded​ ​the​ ​US​ ​Coast Guard Cutters​ ​Gallatin​ ​and Vigilant during​ ​search and​ ​rescue missions as well as drug interdiction operations. Bob was​ ​awarded two presidential meritorious service medals​.​

After his service to the Coast Guard, Philpott joined CFCC’s staff in December of 1993, as an economics instructor.​ ​He​ ​then​ ​served​ ​as​ ​dean of​ ​vocational and​ ​technical programs​ ​until 2011. Afterwards, he transitioned into his role as CFCC’s veterans affairs coordinator.

CFCC President Dr. Ted Spring credited Philpott’s dedication to the college’s student veteran population.

“Under Mr. Philpot’s leadership, CFCC was recognized nationally for three consecutive years as a Military Friendly School and is considered a model for schools around the country,” Dr. Spring stated.

Philpott’​s ​distinguished service extends beyond his time in the US Coast Guard.

In fact, in 2007,​ ​he received​ ​the North Carolina Community College System Employee of the Year Award.

The​ ​naming​ ​ceremony was among several veteran-related activities held at the college today. Other events included a forum entitled “Remembering the First World War”, which featured presentations about the creation of war memorials, World War I writers,​ ​and the battle of Verdun. The college also held a ceremony to honor all student veterans and employees on campus.

Military veterans and​ ​their​ ​family members make up nearly​ ​10 percent of CFCC’s student population in degree-seeking programs. CFCC opened the veterans center three years ago to better accommodate to needs of military personnel and their family members who are taking classes at the college.

NVN POWs - 40 years later

Not many know that Diane Sawyer worked as an assistant to Ron Ziegler, Press Secretary to Richard Nixon. This video is pretty neat.

If this doesn't get to you, CHECK YOUR PULSE. YOU MAY BE DEAD. What is not mentioned about Nixon is that he approved operation Rolling Thunder which instigated the heavy bombing of Hanoi and eventually convinced the Vietnamese that it was time to end the war.

No matter what one may think of Nixon now - watch this!

Vietnam Wall

First click on a state. When it opens, scroll down to the city and the names will appear. Then click on their names. It should show you a picture of the person, or at least their bio and medals.

This really is an amazing web site. Someone spent a lot of time and effort to create it.

I hope that everyone who receives this appreciates what those who served in Vietnam sacrificed for our country.

The link below is a virtual wall of all those lost during the Vietnam war with the names, bio's and other information on our lost heroes. Those who remember that time frame, or perhaps lost friends or family can look them up on this site. Pass the link on to others, as many knew wonderful people whose names are listed.

http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm

Leave a lasting LEGACY to MOAA SENCLand.

Please consider a gift to the MOAA's SENCLand Chapter via your will or trust, which will perpetuate the goals and objectives of MOAA. Below is sample codicil that you may attach to your will or use the language in your will or trust: Please send a copy of your signed and witnessed codicil to the treasurer.

“I give, devise and bequeath to the SENCLand Chapter of MOAA, a North Carolina non-profit organization, the sum of $____________________ to be divided $_______________ for the SENCLand scholarship fund, and $______________ for the operating fund for the SENCLand.

In memory of __or in honor of __(please check one)____________________________________

_________________________________ (signature) ___________________________ (witness)

_________________________________ (printed name) _________________ ___(printed name)

DATE: ____________

ADDRESS:_____________________________________________________________”

We are very proud of our history of having extraordinary speakers and programs. Our members contribute great ideas and we believe that this is a major strength of our chapter.