FALCONS LANDING CHAPTER
MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (MOAA)
The Falcon Flyer
Falcons Landing MOAA
Chapter Newsletter
September 2016
CHAPTER PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE, September 2016
This quarterly edition of The Falcons Flyer highlights some of the
activities that MOAA has sponsored both at Falcons Landing and
in the Loudoun community.
One of our most significant activities is our sponsorship of “The
Gathering” which provides an opportunity to present topical and
historical presentations to the Falcons Landing community,
arranged by Bill Hilsman. Highlighted in this edition are the
Lt Col James Mullen
presentation by John Pustay on the Iranian Hostage Rescue
Attempt, the presentation by Fred Moore on the history of America’s
Air Traffic Control, and a forum discussion on the Middle East featuring moderator John
Pustay and panelists Mick Trainor, John Countryman, and Ed Heinz.
The Falcons Flyer also includes an article on chapter support to a WWII historical event at
Oatlands Plantation and on a meeting of the Loudoun Veterans and Family Support (LVFS)
consortium, the non-profit veterans support program that we sponsor with Community
Lutheran Church.
During this quarter our Speakers Bureau had three presentations in the Loudoun community
by John Pustay (The Iranian Hostage Rescue Attempt) and has scheduled four more this year
from various speakers.
We look forward to our annual meeting in November and the opportunity to discuss all of our
activities with the general membership and to seek your continuing support and most
important- your involvement.
Oatlands Military Display, July 9 & 10, 2016
The Falcons Landing Chapter recently participated
with an exhibit in a WWII historical
remembrance program at Oatlands Plantation in
Leesburg Virginia. This program was entitled
“From the Front Lines to the Homefront”. This
provided an opportunity to provide visitors with
information about MOAA and its major
programs as well as a presentation on the
Chapter and the Falcons Landing military
retirement community contributions to Loudoun
County. A highlight was a video of interviews with
several of the many past and present residents who
L-R, Peter Scott, Jim Mullen, Howard Schue
were WWII veterans, including Col Elmer Smith
who was a pilot for FDR (the earliest Air Force One,
C-54C, aka “The Sacred Cow”) on his trip to Russia for The Yalta Conference and later for
President Truman on his trip to Berlin for The Potsdam Conference.
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MOAA Chapter Board Meeting, July 21, 2016
Jim reported on the celebration of veterans at Oatlands in Leesburg on July 9 and 10. The Falcons
Landing exhibit included three parts: MOAA Mission and Activities, Falcons Landing Chapter, and a
video of 4 Falcons Landing WWII veterans that included Hank Bodson, Clem Irons, Elmer Smith and
Herb Sterns. This was very well received. We made good contact with other non-profit groups.
MOAA sponsored a Falcons Landing bus to the event on July 10. Thanks to Peter Scott, Howard
Schue, and Tiffany Plante (Falcons Landing Resident Services) for their support.
Treasurer’s Report – Peter Scott Balances: 31 May - $14,995.29, 30 June - $15,377.29
Discussion on request for donations to support programs: 1) Will dues cover all expenses of current
programs? 2) Should the Chapter request endowments for scholarships? 3) Does request conflict with
Falcons Landing fundraising programs?
Membership Report - Lowell Jones
December 2015 - 184 members. July 2016 - 192 members. We had 2 0f 2 renewals in May and 2 of 3
in June – one non-resident moved. There were no renewals in June and 37 due in July - 22 renewed to
date. Now working on two good potentials and recent new residents. We can use any suggestions of
potentials or help with renewals from the Board.
Public Affairs Report – Don McCarthy
Don put an article in the July 14 issue of the Loudoun Times-Mirror in Kathie Felix’s column titled
COUNTRYSIDE/CASCADES/STERLING. The article covered a look at history: The Falcons
Landing Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) presents “An Insider’s
Critique of the Failed Mission to Free U.S. Hostages in Tehran,” presented by Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John S.
Pustay. The session will be this evening, July 21, in our ballroom. Don stated he may also do this for
the Gathering meetings.
Report on Speakers Bureau – Stan King
John Pustay made presentations on the 1980 Iranian hostage rescue attempt to the Shepherd Center of
Oakton-Vienna, Adventures in Learning World Affairs Class on June 23 and at the Vienna
Presbyterian Church, Seniors with Available Time and Talent luncheon on July 20. On September 29,
Peter Scott addressed the Shepard Center group on his subject: “The Vietnam War in Retrospect.”
The following future presentations are scheduled: 1. October 20th - Oliver Carter will speak to the
Ashburn Rotary Club ("Perspective on the Viet-Nam War") 2. October 27th - Rich Picanso will
speak at the Shepherd Center ("Air Force Hurricane Reconnaissance") 3. November 8th - Howard
Schue will address The Over 50 Club of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Great Falls ("An
Introduction to the U.S. Intelligence Community") 4. November 9th - John Pustay will address a
large "Salute to Veterans" group at The Aerospace Corporation in Chantilly. This listing does not
include our speakers who participate in "The Gathering" events.
Fred Moore has joined the Speakers Bureau recently ("China-Burma-India Theater: WWII" and
"Air Traffic Control"). He has made both presentations at The Gathering for residents.
Stan requested that Board members recommend potential speakers, provide occasional assistance in
preparing visual aids and lending laptops, updating the Speakers tab on the web site, provide PIO
support, and suggest venues for speaking engagements.
Veterans Program – Jim Mullen on MOAA in Loudoun County/Loudoun Veterans and Family
Support (LVFS). We have been working with members of the Community Lutheran Church for 9
months now. On July 28 Falcons Landing will host the meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the ballroom. Jim said
he did ask Chaplain Jeff Payne and Frank McMullen. It was decided to ask all MOAA members
(Goal more direct involvement of members).
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The Gathering Presentation, July 21, 2016
The date was April 25, 1980, “Day148 of the Iranian Hostage Crisis,”
as reported by ABC News. Lt. Gen. John Pustay, the Assistant to the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was preparing to brief 150
reporters and Congress about the failure of a hostage rescue attempt
un the Iranian desert. It began in 1978 as revolutionaries pressured
the Shah of Iran regarding his Western lifestyle. The Shah left Iran
in January 1979, and the cleric, Ayatollah Khomeini, returned from
exile in February. The U.S. had evacuated all but 60 staff of the
Speaker John Pustay (left)
Embassy. As Iran’s government dissolved in November 1979, angry
Chapter VP, Bill Hilsman
students stormed the Embassy and took the staff hostage. The U.S.
sought a diplomatic solution without success, and in early 1980, examined other options. What
evolved became a highly classified execution order code-named “Eagle Claw”.
Unfortunately, the plan failed early. Two helicopters developed problems en route to Iran. A
third had mechanical problems at the interim site, meaning that the number available was below
the minimum for continuing the mission. Thus, several White House criteria were breached, and
the mission was aborted. As the helicopters refueled to return to the carrier, one collided with a
C-130 aircraft containing fuel, causing an explosion that killed eight U.S. crewmembers. Back in
Washington, the President, John, and the staffs received the news. Someone had to brief the press
and Congress. John drew that assignment, and he handled it with fact and diplomacy.
John ended the presentation with a discussion of lessons learned: Better coordination of joint
forces was required; there was no clear chain of command on site; several “dress rehearsals” had
been needed; and effective ground intelligence was inadequate. His final comment was one that
we must remember: “In time of crisis, A Great Nation Needed to Try!”
The Gathering Presentation, July 28, 2016
Our chapter hosted a meeting of our veterans support program, Loudoun Veterans and Family
Support. It was an opportunity to learn more about Veterans in Loudoun County and to identify
efforts that are on-going by our MOAA chapter to provide assistance to those Vets in need. The
guest speaker for the meeting was a fellow Veteran, Chaplain Wollom (Wally) Jensen (a Vietnam
Veteran and later Navy chaplain for 25 years). He has recently written a book entitled “Moral
Warriors, Moral Wounds” and discussed with the audience the challenge of balancing combat
decisions with an individuals moral perspective and the potential for post traumatic stress.
L-R, Dennis Siepmann (Loudoun County,
Jim Mullen, Mike Ball (Loudoun County),
Chad Bates (Community Lutheran
Church), Wollom Jensen (Speaker)
“Vets Serving Vets”
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Peter Scott presents
Chapter donation to
Chad Bates (left) for
Veterans
MOAA Chapter Board Meeting, August 18, 2016
Secretary Report—Sally Burdick: July corrected minutes have been approved and distributed.
Treasurer Report - Peter Scott
Balance 30 June: $15,377.29 (Income-$637, Expenses-$2,000)
Balance 31 July: $14,014.29
Designated fund balances (included above): General-$475, Scholarship-$3,700, Veterans-$300
Membership Report – Lowell Jones
Premium Members: 12/31/15 – 125
08/15/16 - 130
Surviving Spouses: 12/31/15 – 58
08/15/16 – 60
Honorary Members: 12/31/15 – 1
08/15/16 – 1
Total:
12/31/15 – 184
08/15/16 – 191
Legislative Report – Oliver Carter
Oliver sent his report directly to Board members in 2 emails on Thursday, August 18.
VCOC Quarterly Meeting, August 2016 – Jim Mullen
Report on the Joint Legislative Committee of the Virginia Legislature – Legislative Objectives
for General Assembly 2017
Prioritized Objectives: One of direct interest: Fund new staff members for Virginia Veterans
and Family Support
VCOC members briefed by Virginia WWI and WWII Commemorative Commission
Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of WWI and 75th Anniversary of WWII
First event December 8, University of Richmond, commemorates Pearl Harbor
MOAA in Loudoun County/Loudoun Veterans and Family Support (LVFS)
A meeting was held on 28 July 2016 to learn more about Veterans in Loudoun County, discuss efforts
that are on-going to provide assistance to those Vets in need, and learn about a new book that our fellow
veteran Chaplain Wollom (Wally) Jensen (Viet Nam veteran) wrote titled “Moral Warriors, Moral
Wounds”.
MOAA National Recognition – Jim announced that the chapter had received Level of Excellence (5-Star
level) for 2015. The award will be made at the annual meeting in October. We also received the
certificate of recognition (5-Star level) for the newsletter.
Oatlands Lecture – Jim said that Oatlands would have a lecture on October 8 by an Archaeologist that
specialized in working with aircraft lost in combat in Korea and Viet Nam. Board did not suggest any
direct participation in the event.
Wreaths Across America – Jim presented information on programs at Balls Bluff and Arlington. There
was considerable discussion about MOAA chapter participation. The majority felt that participation in
the program at either Arlington or Balls Bluff was an individual decision and not a major role for the
chapter.
General Membership Meetings - The purpose is to provide an opportunity for members to meet as an
organization and to update members on chapter activities. It can also provide special event sessions.
MOAA National requires 10 programs/events during the year for recognition as a program of
excellence. This includes our Board meetings, special event meetings (e.g. Memorial Day), our annual
meeting, and our sponsorship of the monthly Gathering sessions. Our Chapter well exceeds the basic
requirement.
New Business – John Pustay identified an opportunity to support active troops through a program
called “Adopt a Platoon”. This charity appears to provide support to troops deployed outside CONUS
with some sorts of “items from home”. John felt that it is a key element of chapter goals to support
troops. This would be a follow on activity to previous efforts by MOAA to support troops in past years
– cookies for troops. Support for the program was approved after an amendment that action make it
dependent on a satisfactory review by charity watch groups.
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The Gathering, August 18, 2016
Keep ‘Em’ Flying
Fred Moore, a Falcons Landing resident, brought the
story of America’s Air Traffic Control program to our
Gathering on 18 August. After completing 285 missions
supplying British, Chinese, and American units (Merrill’s
Marauders) in the combat areas of the China, Burma,
India theater of WWII including multiple missions over
the India-China hump. Fred decided to enter the Air
Traffic Control business where he served for over forty
years.
L-R, Jean & Bill Hilsman, Marina Hambric,
In his presentation, Fred told the story of the dedication
Fred Moore, Wes & Donna Link
and courage of the men and women who operate our Air
Traffic Control system both here and abroad. He hopes
that this information will offer a clear understanding of how we have created a safe and efficient
Air Traffic Control system. When we fly the airlines of today, we take for granted that we will
have a safe trip. It is an amazing story of what is behind the safety and security for all of us.
The Gathering Forum, September 15, 2016
Led by John Pustay, as moderator, the Forum panel included Mick Trainor, John Countryman,
and Ed Heinz. All four have many years experience in considering the strategic policy issues of
the United States. Their views and opinions created an interesting blend of experiences, to
include John Pustay’s extensive time in the White House and Pentagon as the Assistant to the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mick’s post military life as an author and journalist, John
Countryman’s long State Department career with focus on the Middle East, and Ed’s deep
experience with intelligence assessment of the region and the world. The audience also had a
lifetime of experience in considering the global significance of the region, as was reflected in their
questions. A general consensus from the evening developed, as reviewed by the moderator and
the rest of the superbly qualified panel: it was considered that this time period might call for a
change of focus from the Middle East to Asia, i.e., that a policy of containment without
commitment of major resources might be sufficient in order to allow us to focus more of our
strategic thinking and policy development toward Asia.
The Forum provided the opportunity to reflect on the
changing nature of the Middle East, it’s people, their
policies, and their religion. How should a new
administration, about to emerge in 2017, develop a
strategy for the region? What factors should be
considered? What options would be realistic in 2017,
given the dynamics of the region?
L-R, Ed Heinz, John Countryman,
Mick Trainor, John Pustay
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Legislative Affairs Report Information
Our Chapter’s monthly Legislative Report (electronic version) is a well-known,
comprehensive coverage of important bills and issues being addressed by the Congress.
If you are not receiving this document (by email), please contact Oliver Carter or Lowell
Jones to put your name and email address on our list. To review MOAA legislative
activities visit MOAA.org and select the “Take Action” tab. National MOAA and The
Falcons Landing Chapter, MOAA, are politically non-partisan but seek to remain
informed on political matters of concern to veterans at both the state and local levels.
Chapter Membership Information
MOAA membership is open to those who hold, or have ever held, a warrant or
commission in any component of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast
Guard, Public Health Service, NOAA, and their surviving spouses.
This is an opportune time to convert to a MOAA Life Membership, because MOAA is
still giving a 10% discount on a membership conversion. In addition, you would ensure
that your surviving spouse would be given full MOAA membership for the rest of her/his
life. The cost of your Life Membership will also be reduced by any unused portion of
your current MOAA annual membership. A MOAA life Membership indicates your
strong support for MOAA’s goals. For more information, you can talk to a MOAA
representative at (800) 234-6622. You may need to specify that you are a MOAA and
Falcons Landing Chapter member (code VA-20). Or call our Membership Director,
Lowell Jones, (703) 444-9530.
Members Losses (3rd Quarter/2016) - Mary Jane Stone (09/10/16
Welcome New Members (3rd Quarter/2016)
Rodney Wright (08/02/16)
Jay Weides (08/04/16)
Joan Gray (08/30/16)
Bruce Brown (09/01/16)
Vito Bruno (09/19/16)
Kenneth Evans (09/29/16)
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Important Chapter Events
General Membership Meets Quarterly
The Gathering (The Forum) - special briefings open to all Chapter members and Falcons
Landing residents (sponsored by the MOAA Chapter), nominally one event per month
Board of Directors (BOD) meets monthly
Chapter Executive Committee (President, 1st VP; 2d VP, Secretary, Treasurer) meets as
required;
acts on behalf of Board on immediate issues
Committees meet at discretion of Committee Chairs
2016 Meeting Schedule:
BOD nominally 10:00 A.M. on third Thursday of scheduled month
General Membership Meetings at 2:00 or 7:30 PM
January 7 – BOD: Swearing-In
July 21—BOD
February 18 – BOD
August 18—BOD
March 16 - General Membership Mtg.
September 21—General Membership Mtg.
April 21 – BOD
October 20—BOD
May 19 – BOD
November 16 -Annual Meeting
June 16 - General Membership Mtg.
December 15—BOD
2016 Officer and Directors
President: James Mullen, Lt Col, USA, Ret. (703) 444-4741
First Vice President (Acting): Bill Hilsman, Lt Gen, USA, Ret. (703) 433-1284
Second Vice President: Oliver Carter, Lt Col, USAF, Ret. (703) 444-6938
Treasurer: Peter Scott, Col, USA, Ret. (703) 715-7396
Secretary: Ms. Sally Burdick, USN, (Aux) (703) 430-9104
Director/Chairman Personal Affairs: Ms Kathy Trossbach (703) 430-1342
Director/Chairman Public Affairs: Capt Don McCarthy, USN, Ret. (703) 430-5608
Director/Chairman Auxiliary Affairs: Ms. Emily Bright, DoD, (Aux) (703) 433-2606
Director/Chairman Membership: Lowell Jones, Col, USAF, Ret. (703) 444-9530
Director/Scholarships & Speakers Bureau: Stanley King, Col, USA, Ret. (703) 281-0825
Director/The Gathering Coordinator: Bill Hilsman, Lt Gen, USA, Ret. (703) 433-1284
Director/MOAA and VCOC Liaison: Marvin Murray, Lt Col USA, Ret. (703) 430-1786
Director-at-Large: David Belden, Col, USAF, Ret. (703) 444-4820
Founder, Past President: John Pustay, Lt Gen, USAF, Ret. (703) 444-5284
Past President: Glenn Carus, Col, USAF, Ret. (703) 444-3269
Past President: Leo Childs, Maj Gen, USA, Ret. (703) 430-2884
Past President: Howard Schue, Col, USAF, Ret. (703) 433-2220
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