Monthly NewsletterInto Our Second Century · Organized 1899 · Boston, Massachusetts

Board of GovernorsPresident .......................................................................................................CAPT Michael A. Cicalese, USCGR (Ret) Vice President ................................................................................................CAPT Mary Jo Majors, NC, USNR (Ret) Secretary ............................................................................................................ Col Robert S. Donaghue, USMC (Ret) Assistant Secretary ................................................................................................. CAPT Robert Pickett, USNR (Ret) Treasurer .......................................................................................................................Col David F. Wall, USMCR (Ret) Assistant Treasurer ................................................................................................... CDR Earl Watson III USNR (Ret) Member-at-Large ...............................................................................................Maj Richard D. Brown, USMCR (Ret) Active Service Liaison.................................................................................................CAPT Andrew S. Brown, USCGImmediate Past President .................................................................................CAPT Randall D. Preston, USN (Ret)Chaplain ............................................................................................................ CAPT Stephen L. Castinetti, USN (Ret)Historian ......................................................................................................................... LCDR John H. Lok, USNR (Ret) Newsletter Editor ................................................................................................LCDR David W. Graham, USNR (Ret)

www.wardroomclub.org

THE WARDROOM CLUB Monthly NewsletterInto Our Second Century · Organized 1899 · Boston, Massachusetts

Board of GovernorsPresident ...................................................................................................................CAPT Michael E. Field, USN (Ret)Vice President ............................................................................................................... CDR Colby Rottler, USNR (Ret)Secretary ........................................................................................................................COL Joseph F. Collins, USMCR Treasurer ......................................................................................................................CAPT Paul P. Daley, USNR (Ret)Member-at-Large .................................................................................................CDR Robert J. Zemaitis, USNR (Ret)Active Services Liaison.........................................................................................................CAPT Scott Keene, USCGImmediate Past President ............................................................... CAPT James L. McGuinness Jr., USMCR (Ret)Wine Steward .......................................................................................................CDR Charles W. Collins, USNR (Ret)Chaplain ...............................................................................................................CAPT George A. Ripsom, USNR (Ret)Assistant Secretary ..............................................................................................CAPT Robert D. Holland, USN (Ret)Assistant Treasurer .........................................................................................LCDR Stephen T. Witowski, USN (Ret)Historian ......................................................................................................................... LCDR John H. Lok, USNR (Ret)Newsletter Editor ................................................................................................LCDR David W. Graham, USNR (Ret)

www.wardroomclub.org

MARCH 2020 NEWSLETTER Also available online at www.wardroomclub.org

MEETING DATE: WEDNESDAY, 18 MARCH 2020 (Please note: Third Wednesday of the month)

LOCATION: Coast Guard Base Boston – The Function Hall 427 Commercial Street Boston, MA

TIME: Social Hour from 1730 Dinner at 1900

PRICE: Members and Guests - $50.00 Walk-ins - $65.00

SPEAKER: CAPT Paul E. Mawn, USN (Ret) “Oil and War”

ENTRÉE: Old Fashioned Irish Boiled Dinner Corned Beef and Cabbage

MESSAGES FROM THE CLUB PRESIDENT

Despite “Ole Man Winter” and the Boston traffic, our monthly meeting attendance has been quite honorable. “Bravo Zulu” to over 100 members and guests who braved the elements, bundled up, and attended the February meeting!

As promised, our guest speaker Colonel Christopher J. Kidd, USA (retired), a noted professor at the Naval War College in Newport and security expert, gave an excellent presentation on Joint Military and Counter Insurgent Operations in the Middle East. He fully engaged all who attended and left us with plenty to ponder regarding America’s security. President “Mike” presenting a Paul Revere

bowl to Col. Kidd

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For this upcoming March meeting, we have one of our own, CAPT. Paul E. Mawn, USN (Ret), who will be presenting on the topic “Oil and War,” which has a long and interesting history, dating back to the first World War! Originally scheduled, was Admiral Daniel MacDonnell, USN, but recent operational demands trumped our dinner meeting and he was forced to cancel. My many thanks to Paul for “taking the oars” at the last minute, and we wish Adm. MacDonnell God Speed in his ventures. I can assure you that Paul’s presentation will be excellent!

I also want to remind the membership that the window is quickly closing if you have guests who wish to become WRC members. If you have an eligible candidate for the Class of 2020, I urge you to please get your application package to our Vice-President ASAP; preferably before the March meeting. Many thanks to Captain Majors for shepherding the effort; Way to go, Mary Jo!

Additionally, I regret to report that despite many follow-up e-mails and phone calls, there remain 15 members who have not paid their 2020 dues. Of 320 Regular and Associate dues paying members, 90% have paid and I expect the 15 members who have not paid their dues by 29 February, will be dropped from the roster and removed from our mailing list prior to the club’s annual May business meeting.

Also, it’s last call to register on the club trip being planned to Sweden during the May-June time frame being hosted by the Swedish Naval Officers Club, exploring the waterfront and other historical cultural sights. If you are interested in making the trip across, please email Goran Lindhal immediately at goran_lindhal@hotmail.com.

As the dinner meetings are winding down, spring and the business meeting will be upon us sooner than we think. The Board of Governors is looking for volunteers to fill the Assistant Secretary and Assistant Treasurer and Webmaster posts. please contact me if you are interested.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day. We are one day short of meeting on the first day of Spring, let’s still give it our all to welcome the season in good spirits. I hope to see everyone then.

Captain Michael A. Cicalese, USCGR (Ret), President 67 Duck Hill Road

Duxbury, MA 02332E-Mail: michaelacicalese@gmail.com

Cell Phone: 617-797-3361Home Phone: 781-452-7367

NOTES FROM THE VICE-PRESIDENT

Happy St. Patrick’s Day to everyone this month! It is the month for the Irish (and those who want to be) so I hope that you are enjoying the good fortune of staying healthy and happy!

Class of 2020: The deadline for nominations of new members for the class of 2020 is here. All nominations submitted from here forward will be held for the Class of 2021. Thank you to all those members who have sponsored nominees for this year’s class. The sponsors and nominees will be invited by email to attend a WRC hosted reception to introduce themselves to the Board of Governors on Monday evening, 27 April 2020 at 1800 at the USCG Club. Parking will be requested on the Base. The Class of 2020 will then be listed in the May newsletter and their names will be presented for a vote by the members who attend the May Annual Meeting on 20 May of this year.

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Congratulations to one of our members, CAPT C. Andrew McCawley, USN (RET), President and CEO, of “The New England Center and Home for Veterans” (former named “New England Center for Homeless Veterans”) who will be recognized for the work that his organization does to help veterans in Boston. They have been selected as 1 of 2 organizations to receive funds raised from the “St. Patrick’s Day Gala”, sponsored by the local “Ahern Family Charitable Foundation”, on 3/14/20 at the Boston Marriott Burlington Hotel in Burlington, MA. You can find out more information about this event and to support the Center at: https://ahernfoundation.org/

Take care of yourselves and stay well.

CAPT Mary Jo Majors, NC, USNR (Ret), Vice-President30 Dudley Street

North Cambridge, MA 02140E-Mail: CAPTMAJOD@aol.com

Cell Phone: 617-285-2571

NOTES FROM THE CLUB SECRETARY

I hope everyone enjoyed the February meeting as much as I did. What great friends with whom to have a great dinner!

The new online payment system is up and running nicely. To use it, please go to the Club website and follow the simple instructions. Please note that the online system will remain optional, and if you choose to keep using the Postal Service and paper checks, you are welcome to do so. As the same calendar protocols and pricing will be used by both the online and the mailed reservation systems, we will continue to need your dinner reservation by the Wednesday before the meeting - - or you will be considered a “Walk In” - - and the fee will be $65.

Please also note that if you are bringing a guest, we need to know that - - and who they are - - to get the guest on the Coast Guard Base and to be seated. Please either e-mail me the guest’s name, rank and branch of service or mail me your response card containing that information. Please also bring your guest to the Registration Table so that he/she can be checked-in. (Guests need not sign in, just check-in). All others need to sign-in please! If you have to cancel a reservation, please call or e-mail me, even if it is on a last-minute basis!

As stated, you can receive the Newsletter either online, or by U.S. Mail. If you want to change your preference, you can either note it on your response card, or send me an e-mail, so indicating your request. If any of your contact information changes, please e-mail me the new information.

Club ties and ball caps will be for sale at each meeting. Ties are $25 and caps are $20. Cash or Check only please. I hope to see you on 18 March!

Col. Robert S. Donaghue, USMC (Ret), Secretary51 Sugar Hill CircleMethuen, MA 01844

E-Mail: ip350haven@comcast.netCell Phone: 617-840-0267

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NOTES FROM THE CLUB ASSISTANT TREASURER

In accordance with our Club policy, all Regular and all Associate members are required to pay their annual club dues by NLT 31 December of each year. As of this past 31 January, we had collected dues from 90% of our members. We extend our sincere appreciation to those who have made timely dues payments and additionally to a strong effort by the Board of Governors. On the basis of not wanting to lose anyone from the membership rolls, the effort put forth by the Board of Governors has included numerous personal e-mails and telephone calls to those who have failed to pay 2020 dues. On January 31, 2020, I provided our club president and the Board of Governors the final list of members who have not paid their 2020 dues. Club membership of these members is now subject to termination at the discretion of the club president and the Board of Governors.

For a brief explanation on the importance of club dues, the Wardroom Club depends entirely on the annual dues for the Club’s operating expenses, which includes printing monthly newsletters, website management, insurance, postage, new member reception, general administrative expenses and when possible, a small addition to the club’s reserve.

These operating expenses are “fixed” and are payable when invoiced. This makes the timely collection of annual dues critically important for the Club to meet its financial obligations and to avoid the necessity of drawing-down our modest reserves. The Board of Governors is required to practice sound fiscal management on behalf of the Wardroom Club membership.

Thus, I urge all members who have not paid their 2020 dues to do so at once! If you have not received your copy of the annual dues notice, issued this past October - - or if you are unsure whether you paid - - or if there are extenuating circumstances that you would like us to consider - - or you have any questions pertaining to the subject of annual membership dues, please do not delay contacting me.

CDR Earl “Bud” Watson III, USNR (RET), Assistant Treasurer21 North Gateway

Winchester, MA 01890E-Mail: eew6280@gmail.comHome Phone: 781-729-3624Cell Phone: 617-694-2688

CLUB NOTES

We now have a new Commanding Officer at the helm of the USS Constitution. He is her immediate past Executive Officer, CDR John A. Benda, USN, a Roslindale and Dedham (MA) native. In a moving up from being her XO to assuming command, a USS Constitution move that hasn’t occurred in recent memory, John has now become her 76th Commanding Officer. The Change-of-Watch ceremony occurred aboard ship on 29 February 2020.

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Her new CO is a WPI Mechanical Engineering graduate with the Class of 2001. Following several tours of duty, he then earned a MS degree in Leadership at the University of San Diego. John met his wife, Susan, who is originally from Westwood, Massachusetts while attending graduate school at the Naval War College. The couple married in 2012 and now reside in Holliston, MA.

A MESSAGE FROM THE NEWSLETTER EDITOR

As in the recent past, I am extending a call to all club members who have an interesting and newsworthy piece of interesting information that would be appropriate for publishing in an upcoming edition of your newsletter. If so, please send it along to me, either as a scan or in a “MS Word” format. Please indicate the month when you would like to have it published. In turn, I ask that you must be willing to allow your newsletter editor to do any necessary “tweaking”, so that your data will be a proper fit into the newsletter.

Please send your material to me at either the e-mail address of the postal address listed below.

LCDR David W. Graham, USNR (Ret), Newsletter Editor7 Batchelder Road

Marblehead, MA 01945E-Mail: dwg@shore.net

Cell Phone: 617-335-2198

Commander John Benda and a gold star family member chat aboard the USS Constitution

Special recognition and appreciation this month to all our members who served during the Vietnam War era! The United States of America Vietnam War 50th Commemoration honors all United States veterans who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces from November 1, 1955 to May 15, 1975, regardless of location.

On March 28, 2017, President Donald J. Trump, signed into law The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017, designating every March 29 as National Vietnam War Veterans Day. March 29 was chosen to be celebrated in perpetuity as March 29, 1973 was the day Military Assistance Command Vietnam was deactivated.

(https://www.vietnamwar50th.com/about/national_vietnam_war_veterans_day/)

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