ROBERT WEFALD
Cmdr. Doug Gordon, commander of the future USS North Dakota, is flanked
on the left by North Dakota Council President Robert Wefald and on the right
by Council Director Dave Rice and East Vice President Dave Johnston during
the council’s first quarter dinner Jan. 11 in Bismarck.
On Jan. 12, he spoke at a press
conference organized by the
Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of
Commerce and the USS North Da -
kota Committee, which the chamber supports, and a luncheon and
reception that were attended by
Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., and
Gov. Jack Dalrymple.
That afternoon, USS North
Dakota Committee Vice Chairman
Bill Butcher and Council President
and Committee Chairman Robert
Wefald gave the Gordons a tour of
Mandan and Bismarck, including a
visit to the Heritage Center and the
silver service of the first USS North
Dakota, a Dakota-class battleship
that served as a training vessel during World War I.
That evening, the Gordons attended the Chamber Annual Dinner, at
which he gave brief remarks.
“I have been incredibly awed by
the effort from North Dakota,”
Gordon told the Bismarck Tribune.
“Truly, I have not seen this kind of
generous support before.”
Construction of the North Dakota
began in March 2009. The submarine
is about half finished and scheduled
to be commissioned in 2014. North
Dakota’s chief-of-boat, Tim Preabt, is
a Mandan High School graduate.
Thailand Eastern Seaboard
Presents Scroll of Honor
Khun Somsak Tanruengsri, the
general manager of the Pattaya,
Thailand, Marriott Resort & Spa,
was presented a Navy League Scroll
of Honor Award during a ceremony
Jan. 6 aboard the visiting aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln.
He was honored as testimony
and tribute to outstanding service
to the Navy League’s Thailand
Eastern Seaboard Council and in
recognition of achievements that
exemplify the organization’s highest
ideals. The presentation was made
by retired Rear Adm. Jim Grune -
wald, a Navy League director, on
behalf of National President Philip
L. Dunmire.
Atlanta Metropolitan
Installs New Officers
Harley Jones relieved Frank Campbell as president of Atlanta Metropolitan Council Jan. 10 as its 2012
slate of officers and directors was
installed. State Rep. Joe Wilkinson,
from Georgia District 52, was keynote speaker and installing officer.
U.S. NAVY
From the left, Chief Master-at-Arms Jesse D. Izdepski, Thailand Eastern
Seaboard Council President Peter Thorand, Cmdr. Joe Valecruz, retired Rear
Adm. James Grunewald and Capt. Timothy Kuehhas stand with Khun Somsak
Tanruengsri, who was presented with a Navy League Scroll of Honor aboard
the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln Jan. 6.
