Welcome
to the Camden - Kings Bay Council
Navy League of the United States
Special Thanks to Our Community Affiliate Members (click to visit their websites):
News...
June 14th St. Marys River Sunset Cruise
Please join us on Friday, June 14th, for a delightful sunset cruise on Calvin Lang's Cumberland Queen II featuring heavy hors d'oeuvres, beer, wine, soft drinks, and spectacular views of Cumberland Island, Fort Clinch, Fernandina Beach, and downtown St. Marys. The boat departs at 6:30 p.m. and returns at 9:30 p.m..
Our special guests on the cruise will be officers, chiefs and crew of USS WYOMING (Gold) who bid on and won our donation of 30 tickets to the 2012 Silver & Gold Dolphin Scholarship Auction.
The cruise is made possible by the generous donation of the boat for the evening by Calvin Lang of Lang's Marina and Lang's Restaurant.
The cost to attend is $25 per person, which includes heavy hors d'oeuvres, beer, wine, and soft drinks. All attendees must RSVP and pay in advance. The deadline for reservations is Monday, June 10th. Mail the names of all attendees in your group, along with your check in the proper amount (made payable to "Camden-Kings Bay Navy League"), to:
Cheryl Aston
103 Hallowes Drive S
St. Marys, GA 31558
Complete information on the meeting can be found in the left hand column.
Reserve your seats today and join us for one of our most popular programs of the year. We hope to see everyone on June 14th.
* * * *
2013 Sea Services Awards Banquet a Success
VADM Mike Connor, Commander Submarine Forces, and RDML Joe Tofalo, Commander SubGroup 10, joined Council president Dave Burch in recognizing 23 sailors and coastguardsmen of the year from the commands on the Subase and in St. Marys. Those honored were:
EM1 (SS) David Baxley - USS Tennessee (GOLD)
EM 1 (SS) Cody Brooks - USS Georgia (GOLD)/COMSUBRON 16 SEA
STS 1(SS) Roy Craft - USS Alaska (BLUE)
MM 1 (SS) Eric Delgado - Naval Submarine Support Center
EM 1 (SS) Avery Farrish - USS Florida (GOLD)
STS 1(SS) Jason Guy - Trident Training Facility/Submarine Learning Center
MM1 Jace Hastert - USS Florida (BLUE)
MA 1 (SS/IUSS) Allen Holtsford - SWFLANT
HM1 Keisha Jones - Naval Branch Health Clinic
MK1 Robert Kozacek - USCG-USCGC Sea Dragon
MK 3 Roy Larson - USCG MFPU
MA 1 (SW) Jason Main - SUBASE Kings Bay
ITS 1 (SS) Samuel Moore - USS Georgia (BLUE)
STS 1 (SS) Christopher Moulthrop - USS Tennessee (BLUE)
MM1 (SS) Apollo Pedersen - USS Wyoming (GOLD)
MM 1 (SS) Justin Pickering - USS Alaska (GOLD)
YN 1 (SS) Derrick Scott - COMSUBRON 20 SEA/USS RHODE ISLAND (G)/COMSUBGRU TEN SEA
YN1 (SS) Brian Smith - COMSUBRN 16 STAFF
IS 1 (AW) Wilter Tecson - Commander Submarine Group 10 STAFF
EM1 Ricardo Villalba - USCG MSST
MM 1 (SS) Blake White - USS Wyoming (BLUE)
STS 1 (SS) Jason Zirk - COMSUBRON 20 STAFF SHORE/COMSUBGRU TEN SHORE
* * * *
April 11th was "Coast Guard Night"
"Coast Guard Night," on April 11th was a blast and a great opportunity to learn more about the Coast Guard presence in Camden County. Special thanks to LCDR Matt Baer, Commanding Officer, Maritime Safety & Security Team (91108); LCDR Tom Evans, Executive Officer, Maritime Force Protection Unit; LTJG Adam Miller, Commanding Officer, USCGC SEA DOG, and CWO Ian Christian Commanding Officer, USCGC SEA DRAGON, for their participation.
We were pleased to honor the following Coast Guardsmen as Sailors of the Quarter for their respective commands:
FS2 Maria Allen - USCGC Sea Dragon
SN Jerry Woods - USCGC Sea Dog
BM2 Chase McLeod - Maritime Force Protection Unit
YN1 Hiram Maldonado - Maritime Safety & Security Team (91108)
We'll be posting photos of the event to the Photo Gallery on our website soon.
* * * *
The Maritime Transportation System & $$$ for our Sea Cadets at the March 14, 2013, Council meeting
VADM Albert J. Herberger, USN (Retired) gave a fascinating presentation on the Maritime Transportation System on March 14th, connecting the dots between the health of our waterways, ports and their intermodal connections, vessels, vehicles, and systems critical to maritime activity and our future as the world's leading maritime and trading nation. Al's insiders perspective on the challenges facing the MTS had the audience alternating between laughter and serious concern for our future as a maritime nation.
Also on the 14th, we were able to conduct our Dessert Auction to benefit our local Sea Cadet Division, postponed from the cancelled February meeting. It was worth the wait as the 2 dozen delectible desserts and raffles for 3 different gift baskets brought in more than $1,200 to help defray the cost of training, travel, drills, and other expenses for our Sea Cadets.
Thanks to all who attended this meeting for your support of the Council and our local Sea Cadets. You can view photos taken during this meeting in the Photo Gallery on our website.
* * * *
March 2nd Dolphin Scholarship Auction a Huge Success
A great time was had by all (as usual) at the 2013 Silver & Gold Dolphin Scholarship Auction held at the Subase Gym. Our Council donated a package of 30 seats for our June 14, 2013, St. Marys River Sunset Cruise, for the Verbal Auction, which brought in a winning bid of $1,000 from the USS WYOMING (Gold). We can't wait to share this great event with the WYOMING.
In addition to the Verbal Auction contribution, your Council also donated a "Treasure Chest of British Submarine Memorabilia," which brought a winning bid of $80, and a 84-piece flatware and serving set donated by Georgia & Colby Stilson on behalf of the Council, which brought a winning bid of $100.
We are proud of our support of the Dolphin Scholarship, which provides college scholarships to the sons and daughers of the submarine force, and look forward to next year's event.
Photos can be viewed in the Photo Gallery on our website.
* * * *
Carl Vinson VA Medical Center Visit
Six Camden - Kings Bay Council members and more than 70 uniformed sailors and marines traveled to the Carl Vinson VA Medical Center in Dublin, GA, on December 4, 2012, to visit with retired Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Coasties, Airmen, and Merchant Mariners hospitalized during the holiday season, express our thanks for their past service and sacrifice and distribute "Thank You" bags.
A highlight of the visit was meeting Brad Pruitt, a retired Merchant Mariner who was aboard SS Fort Lee when it was torpedoed and sunk in the Indian Ocean by the German U-181 on November 2, 1944. Brad was an 18 year old 2nd Cook who found himself in Lifeboat #2 along with the Master and 14 others who were rescued by the British freighter MS Ernebank on November 7th and landed at Fremantle, Australia on November 14th.
View these and other photos in the Photo Gallery.
* * * *
Annual Toys for Tots Brunch & Installation of 2013 Board of Directors
The Camden - Kings Bay Council held our annual Toys for Tots Brunch on Sunday, December 2, 2012.
Our special guests were LtCOL & Mrs. Kevin Moody, commanding officer, Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, SgtMaj Samuel Heyward Jr. and MACM Gary Burden.
LtCOL Moody explained the Marine Corps' history with Toys for Tots and
thanked the Navy League for our long-standing support of this very special program. Despite the continued sluggish economy and a reduced materiel and manpower capability of the reserves, the 2011 campaign realized its greatest revenue ever at $252 million, a total which is expected to be surpassed in 2012.
Click here to view photos of the event in our Photo Gallery.
More than 50 Navy Leaguers attended the event and donated nine large wardrobe boxes full of toys for underpriviledged kids in Camden County. Attendees also donated bags and bags of personal care items, pens, note pads, books, and other items for our annual "Dublin Road Trip" to visit with with retired Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Coasties, and Airmen hospitalized during the holiday season, express our thanks for their past service and sacrifice and distribute "Thank You" bags. The Road Trip was held on December 4th.
The 2013 Camden - Kings Bay board of Directors was sworn in on December 2, 2012. Click here to view a list of your new officers.
* * * *
Tom Wilkerson Speaks on the Medal of Honor and Character Development at Town Hall Meeting
Major General Thomas L. Wilkerson (USMC RET), President and Chief Executive Officer of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, spoke at a November 17, 2012, town hall meeting on the Medal of Honor and the need for character development programs for all juniors andseniors in American high schools. The event was co-hosted by the Camden - Kings Bay Navy League Council, The Camden Partnership, the Camden County Chamber of Commerce, the Coalition for a Better Community, and Osprey Cove. Photos of the event can be found on our Photo Gallery.
* * * *
Good Times with our British Cousins on November 8th
We had a great time on Thursday, November 8th, with the Officers and Crew of HMS VIGILANT. CDR Mark Lister, CO of HMS VIGILANT, walked us through the proud history of VIGILANT, and shared the excitement of their successful DASO test firing on October 23rd.
Check out some photos from the dinner meeting on our Photo Gallery.
* * * *
CAPT Verbeke Describes the Critical Work Performed at Kings Bay's Trident Refit Facility
Our October 10, 2012, meeting featured our good friend CAPT Richard Verbeke, commanding officer of TRF, who explained the challenges facing the Navy in keeping boats and ships at sea while budgets continue to fall.
Rich and his wife, Ivona, an accomplished artist in acrylics, graphite, oils, ink, and watercolors, have been strong supporters and good friends of our Council since Rich assumed command of TRF in October of 2009. They will soon be moving north to Groton, CT, where Rich will take over as Commander, Regional Support Group, and Ivona will continue creating beautiful works of art.
Photos from the event are on our Photo Gallery.
* * * *
As always, we welcome your comments and contributions for our website. Contact Us to share your thoughts.
- Click here to subscribe to our free, award-winning newsletter, The Trident, and stay up-to-date on all of our events and activities.