Newsletter - Current  January 03, 2006

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The Rotary Club of Middletown

Rotary District 5130

Chartered June 22, 1985

PO Box 981, Middletown, CA  95461

www.MiddletownCARotary.org

January 3, 2006

Happy New Year Everyone!

Our speaker on Thursday 1/5/2006  will be past President Walter Green- don’t miss this one, very inspiring.

Below is a summary of last week’s program courtesy of Helen:

“All in all, I’m glad we’re there, getting rid of some of the bad guys, doing some good,” summed up 34-year old USMC Gunnery Sgt. Nathan Smith, (a.k.a. Susan Dunseth’s son.)  Smith was the special guest speaker at the 12/29/05 meeting.  Smith and his platoon of 23 suffered no casualties during their 7-month tour of duty in Iraq from April to October, 2005 in the area between Al Falujah and Baghdad

            Smith served 9 months in 1991 during the Gulf War.  Then, he said, they just waited around for a very long time and were in and out of Kuwait in 4 days.  This tour was quite different.  Withstanding sandstorms and snipers, living in villages and towns for days or a week at a time, eating local food and going without sleep for days at a time, they learned to act as police, seeking out intelligence that led to identifying and arresting insurgents.  They also trained Iraqis to act as police, but with caution.

They kept on the move; otherwise, they would end up having mortars shot at their headquarters after a few days.  Most weapons seized were Soviet or Chinese made, some from Yugoslavia; however, some US Army missiles were found and these were returned to the Army.  Handmade bombs were detonated in place where found.  Many of the weapon caches are buried in palm groves, which dot the landscape everywhere.

The kids, boys and pre-pubescent girls, received a lot of attention, adding a personal touch of fun.  The kids received pens, pencils and toys sent by platoon members’ friends and relatives.  Soccer is the big sport there, and anyone with a soccer ball was an instant friend.  How friendly the kids acted was also an indicator of friend or foe, mimicking adult attitudes. 

Temperatures ranged from the 50’s to a high of 130 degrees. 

After a photo slide show and a video, and after answering many questions, Smith added, “For us, it’s better; for them, there will probably be civil war.  They need to work things out politically.” 

Smith is now stationed in Florida, still working “in the mail room” as he likes to tell his mother. 

The raffle is at $ 357.00 and growing! Don’t gamble responsibly at your Rotary Meetings.

Happy Anniversary Rich and Nancy !

Upcoming Programs:                        

1/05/06      Mr. Walter Green “Bootlegger speech”

1/12/06      Mr. Craig Bainbridge “ Craft talk”

1/19/06      Karen Turcotte

1/26/06       Final Crab Feed prep meeting

2/02/06       Crab Feed analysis.

The Four Way Test

Of the things we think, say or do:

Is it the TRUTH?

Is it FAIR to all concerned?

Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?"

Meetings

Where: Hidden Valley Lake Greenview Rm

              HVL CC Golf Course

              19210 Hartman Road

              Middletown, CA  95461

When:  Thursdays, 7:00 A. M

NEED TO ATTEND A MAKEUP? Or just visit the local Rotary Clubs?