Former* Marine Corps officer Nicholas Warr shared a range of thoughts and information about his duty with the Marine Corps in Vietnam where as a young officer he commanded a platoon of 50 Marines plus additional support of medical corpsmen and radio operators in the infamous Tet Offensive of 1968. In the Battle of Hue, the retaking from the North Vietnamese Army of the ancient Citadel, history has shown us that this particular battle was one of the most significant battles of the Vietnam War. Why? In part because American forces faced 11,000 hardened NVA troops, and in part because the battle was one of urban warfare where prevailing meant taking back the city by clearing the enemy in house by house fighting. Lt. Warr’s platoon took heavy casualties on 13 Feb 68. Only 22 Marines survived their first day in the Battle of Hue.
As a prelude to his talk, Nicholas Warr asked the question, “What’s the big deal about the Vietnam War?” He went on to say the outcome is still affecting us today. He added that lessons were learned, and that some of those lessons were the wrong lessons. The inference was that politicians should not have controlled the war. He noted, in his opinion, that the then Commander in Chief and the then Secretary of Defense were shameful. They understood little about how to engage an insurgent enemy and prevail.
Nicholas Warr’s personal account of his experiences can be read in his first book, “Phase Line Green – The Battle for Hue, 1968.”
With due respect, Nicholas Warr does not regard himself as a former Marine. He stated he is a Marine. Once a Marine, always a Marine. Semper Fi.
*The words former Marine were used widely for decades until the 35th Commandant of the Marine Corps General Amos declared, “Once a Marine, always a Marine.” Circa 2010.
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Meeting Opener
Guests of Rotarians:
Rev. Deacon Patty Parks – St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Auburn
Geoff Davis – Retired biotechnology executive; approved for membership by the Board of Directors. Co-owner with his wife, Sylvia, of Auburn Kennels.
Joe Maloney– Litigation Lawyer; former Director with Placer County Bar Board of Directors. Mr. Maloney’s daughter received a Rotary Scholarship from our club in 2017.
Weekly Meeting Question-
In 1911 the first Rotary Club was established outside of N. America. What was the first country not in N. America to establish a Rotary Club? An incorrect answer was offered. The correct answer was Ireland. The Rotary Club of Dublin was established on February 22, 1911 in Dublin, Ireland.
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New Member Speech
Vickie Weldon
Vickie shared much in her five-minute self-introduction:
Born in San Francisco.
Single child, though later joined by a step-sister when her mother remarried.
Attended SF School of the Arts and loves music, theater and the arts. Also attended Oregon State University for a time but left school to attend to her terminally ill father.
Married in Year 2000. Loves her teenagers, daughter Katy and son Carter.
Has worked in mortgage banking and sales management but with her current employer, Umpqua Bank, she is a Relationship Banker and enjoys working with 1st Time Home Buyers.
Greatly appreciates Auburn Rotary for the opportunity to give back to her community.
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Anouncements
The Sergeant at Arm wicker basket is missing. If you know where it might be found, lend a hand and help it find its proper home.
Betty Bennett has learned our 2019-20 RYE student, Jada will be arriving in early August from France. Three host families are needed. Please contact Betty.
Mike Holmes received his Paul Harris +5 pin.
“Party in the Park” is scheduled for Friday, June 21st. Lori Twardus seeks signups for Set-up, Clean up, Ticket Sales and the Beer Booth. Check your email of April 23 from Lori for details.
Larry Roluffs is organizing a Rotary Club Trap Shoot that will run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., possibly on June 2. Watch for an email from Larry on this matter.
Preston Marx is coordinating the 4th Annual String Fling Guitar Fest. A Friday even May 3 concert at the State Theater will feature the Keith Little Band and Dr. David Evans from Memphis, TN. See Preston for details. On Saturday May 4 there will be workshops with Keith and David and six other guitar instructors, starting at 9:00 a.m. Lunch will be served.
Forrest and Cindy Eklund have contributed $100 to Rotary Fund D in memory of the passing of local businessman Reece Browning’s father. They challenge other Rotarians to join them in making an honorarium.
thoughts and information about his duty with the Marine Corps in Vietnam where as a young officer he commanded a platoon of 50 Marines plus additional support of medical corpsmen and radio operators in the infamous Tet Offensive of 1968. In the Battle of Hue, the retaking from the North Vietnamese Army of the ancient Citadel, history has shown us that this particular battle was one of the most significant battles of the Vietnam War. Why? In part because American forces faced 11,000 hardened NVA troops, and in part because the battle was one of urban warfare where prevailing meant taking back the city by clearing the enemy in house by house fighting. Lt. Warr’s platoon took heavy casualties on 13 Feb 68. Only 22 Marines survived their first day in the Battle of Hue.
