What happened at our El Cajon Rotary Club meeting on Tuesday, March 6th, 2018?
Two words help to define our wonderful speakers on Tuesday, Inspirational and Emotional. Roger and Margaret Hueppchen invited Bill and Betty Ridenour to speak to our club on Tuesday. And what a treat it was!
Bill shared with us that he and Betty have been married for a little over 2 years. He then told us he was married to his first wife for over 75 years. That in itself is pretty incredible. But the rest of their story is even more amazing.
Bill began by explaining to us that he enlisted into the Army when he was 18 at the beginning of our involvement in WWII. Upon completion of training as an infintryman he was immediately shipped off on a 5000 man troop carrier from San Francisco Bay to Layte, an island in the Pacific, and the site of one of the fiercest battles of the war. Here is a Link that will give you a much better understanding of this battle.
From there, Bill told us of his incredible experiences as an infantryman fighting in the Pacific Theatre. In early August of 1945, he was on another troop carrier heading for Japan ti invade Tokyo. Just off of the island of Okinawa, the brass told his ship to stay put. Over the next several days, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. His ship was then instructed to head for Tokyo Bay. As his ship entered the bay, the signing of surrender documents was being completed on the battleship Missouri and the war was over.
We then got to hear a very emotional account of Betty's experience. As a young 18 year old girl in Deming, New Mexico, Betty saw almost every man in her town shipped off to war and later learned that most of them were taken prisoner and suffered incredible torture by the Japanese on the Bataan peninsula in the Philippines. If you know anything about the history of WWII, you know how bad this particular time and place was. Here is another link that gives you a better understanding
Betty wanted to help the war effort, so she packed up and got on a GreyHound bus headed for San Diego. Once in San Diego, she became one of the famous "Rosie, The Riveters". She worked at Consolidated Aircraft making the B24 "Liberator" . Betty shared with us that she was responsible for making 5 ailerons every day.
Here is a great link if your interested in more information about "ROSIE"
We were all so very fortunate to hear Bill and Betty's story. It's important that we know of the sacrifice so many of our young men and women made for our country during that period of our history. They are fewer each day and deserve our immense respect and appreciation.
A huge WELCOME to our wonderful guests on Tuesday!
What a great surprise we all had when the smiling face of Dick Errett showed up on Tuesday. A big thanks to David Johnston for helping Dick get to our meeting.
Roger Hueppchen brought his lovely wife, Margaret to join us on Tuesday. Of course, sometimes we wonder if Margaret is not the Rotary member with how often we get to see her.
Everyone had a great time at our meeting on Tuesday.
Harold is quickly getting to know everyone in the club and helping out just about everywhere. Thanks Harold!
Welcome home Sean from a nice vacation from the beaches of Mexico to the slopes of Mamouth. Not many people can say they do that in a few days.
Susan and Bev can always be counted on for great smiles!
Larry always has a "Happy 5"!
Thank you Dick for a very nice prayer this week.
The El Cajon Rotary Club GALA is Coming!
Get ready Buckaroos and save the date of Saturday, June 9th for a very special evening at the El Cajon Elks Lodge. Put on your Cowboy hats and boots get ready for a HoeDown!
Joe Mackey, Incoming President of the El Cajon Rotary Club, meets with his Gala committee prior to our regular club meeting on Tuesday. Knowing Joe and his committee, this gala is going to be something to remember!
Words To Lead By...!
"Be the LEADER
you would FOLLOW"
And the Winner is.....
No Black Marble this week
Well, as you can see by her face, Jane did not pick the winner this week.
JOIN US AS OUR GUEST NEXT TUESDAY FOR LUNCH (12:00PM) AND A GREAT SPEAKER.
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