Jewish War veterans visit Hunter Army Airfield

By Nancy Gould, Hunter Army Airfield Public AffairsAugust 19, 2010

Jewish War veterans visit Hunter
Lieutenant junior grade James Emrich, an Air Station Savannah pilot and public affairs representative, explains how the MH-65C Dolphin helicopter is used in the Coast Guard's search and rescue missions to 55 members of the Jewish War Veterans of Amer... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, Ga. - Fifty-five members of the Jewish War Veterans of the USA visited Hunter Army Airfield to get a snapshot of the installation's mission, Aug. 12. The group's members included veterans from all the branches of the Armed Forces - most of whom served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War.

Lieutenant Colonel Jose Aguilar, Hunter garrison commander, greeted the men and women as they exited the bus that brought them from the Desoto Hilton in Savannah, the location of the convention, to the Hunter Club. He briefed the group on Hunter's history, its present mission, and what's forecasted for Hunter's future. After answering questions from the group, the Jewish War Veterans' National Commander Edwin Robins, presented the garrison commander with a book of the veterans' organizational history and a formal 'thank you' for supporting his group.

"We thank you and the 3rd Infantry Division color guard for supporting our opening ceremony yesterday," he said. "We appreciate you taking additional time to be with us today."

Lieutenant Colonel Aguilar told the veterans and their spouses that he was honored to be among so many warriors who have served our country so well.

The group also visited the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Life Cycle Management Commandon post, where Jim Murphy, a retired command sergeant major, showed-off the UH- 60 helicopter under repair. He explained how his staff breaks each one down when it returns from Afghanistan for 'reset' to remove debris and sand that erodes the parts. Veterans and spouses climbed into the cockpit of the aircraft to examine them up close. Debra Stern, a World War II Army veteran who was among them, said she appreciated the opportunity to relive the feeling of being in combat.

The last stop of the day was the Coast Guard's Air Station Savannah, where the group examined another aircraft, the MH-65C Dolphin, and learned how it's used in search and rescue missions. Before leaving, the veterans thanked Lt. j.g. James Emrich, an Air Station Savannah pilot and public affairs representative, for his time, and for enlightening them on the aircraft and the tenant unit's mission.