Congratulations to all Tailhookers and a special “BZ” to all those who attended our overwhelmingly successful convention in Reno. The event was the biggest in years, thanks to the strong backing given our symposium by the active-duty leadership. As a result, more active-duty members than ever, more than 40 percent of the 3,200 in attendance, traveled to Reno to savor the professionalism and camaraderie that have been the hallmark of our gatherings over 45 years.
Our success in Reno was due in no small measure to the hard work and dedication of the full- and part-time staff members and volunteers so ably led by our executive director, CAPT J.R. Davis. We simply could not stage a reunion of this magnitude without the help of those wonderful volunteers who are too numerous to mention, but whose efforts are sincerely appreciated.
It was with great pride and pleasure that we welcomed the Chief of Naval Operations, whose strong leadership includes solid support of Naval Aviation. ADM Clark, as we heard during his comments, has a very deep appreciation for the fact that it was the carriers and their air wings that delivered the biggest punch to the Taliban and the al-Qaeda madmen. His remarks at the banquet warmed and inspired us. More importantly, he was able to be at the center of the energy and dynamism of this gathering of warriors, especially those who performed so admirably during Operation Enduring Freedom.
New Initiatives Introduced at Membership Meeting
At our membership meeting, I had an opportunity to outline a few initiatives your Association has embarked upon. Once reconciliation occurred with the Navy and the Marine Corps in January 2000, we found ourselves in a position to move smartly forward to more fully carry out all aspects of our Association’s mission. One very important aspect of our mission includes honoring the service and sacrifices of all those who are or have been part of carrier-based aviation.
As part of that particular commitment to our members and any others who have served with carrier-based aviation, we began working to assist those who might have been unjustly treated during the investigation of the alleged misconduct that occurred in 1991. A tremendous amount of effort by a few dedicated Tailhookers in this cause has resulted in the development of an acceptable strategy for action and preparation for whatever course is chosen.
After several options were examined, it was strongly felt that the proper course was to encourage those involved in the 1991 incident who desired to seek relief to petition the Board of Corrections of Naval Records. The petitioning process has long been in place and may be used by anyone in the Naval service to redress a grievance. It is an individual process that is initiated by the person involved and is reviewed by the all-civilian board on a case-by-case basis.
An open letter on this subject was published in the Su ’02 issue of The Hook and placed on this Website. We believe that injustices in fact occurred during the emotional upheaval following the 1991 incident, and we believe that those who received unfair treatment should have their names cleared and their reputations restored.
We Never Leave Anyone Behind
At the very core of our credo as Naval Aviators and American fighting men and women is that in combat we never leave anyone behind. Even following our departure from active duty, we will never abandon those who have been left behind. This resolve is indeed another aspect of our mission as an Association.
There have been numerous instances of self-sacrifice throughout the history of Naval Aviation in which shipmates or squadronmates have risked everything to save another. Tom Hudner’s daring crash landing of his F4U Corsair during the Korean War alongside the wreckage of Jesse Brown’s aircraft in an effort to rescue him, and Clyde Lassen’s incredible night rescue of an F-4 Phantom crew in North Vietnam in 1968 are classic examples of this fervently held belief.
All of the old hands know and understand this, but I believe it is very important to reaffirm this to those who follow, such as the young Naval Aviator warriors who have performed so well in places like Afghanistan. We will never leave any of them behind, and we will do all in our power to see them safely home.
Our efforts in the case of LCDR Scott Speicher, who was shot down over Iraq on the first night of Desert Storm, are true to our core belief. It is still not known positively whether Speicher is alive and being held in an Iraqi prison or whether he perished the night he was shot down. There appears to be sufficient credible evidence that he may have survived, however, to cause the Department of Defense to have changed his status from KIA to MIA and, most recently, to MIA(POW). His case must not be forgotten — it must be a priority issue when dealing with the Iraqis, and it must remain in the public eye.
To that end, we ask all Tailhookers to write to their Congressional leaders to inform them of our continuing concern for LCDR Speicher and to demand an answer. A sample letter and appropriate addresses may be obtained by clicking here.
Family Assistance Program Launched
There are other issues that we have undertaken, such as development of a Family Assistance program intended to help surviving spouses of Tailhook Association members through the transition following the death of a loved one. Though this initiative has great merit, it has not developed fully enough to explain specifics at this time. More details will be published as we put this program together.
As the Chairman of the Board, I am proud to say that your Association is fully committed to carrying out our mission, whether it be running the best reunion of its kind in the world or maintaining and promoting our heritage through this wonderful magazine to ensuring that those who have made the commitment to serve their country and have sacrificed so much are not forgotten.