Turnbow-Higgs American Legion Post 240 & Auxiliary Unit 240 began its American Legion 100th Centennial year celebration Tuesday evening, July 17, 2018 by inducting 2019 membership year officers. Preparations for meeting concluded Monday when Auxiliary members Joanna Lay, Julie Littlefield, Francine Pratt, Johnny Ratliff and Jean Moon were joined by Post 240 members Jerry Littlefield, Willis Moon and Roger Easter to mount centennial year posters, flag, and decorate The Brad Thompson Meeting Room with a red, white and blue patriotic theme.
Post 240 was honored on this evening to have as our guest and Installing Officer the 17th District Commander of the American Legion Department of Texas Michael Bob Starr, here after referred to as Michael Bob. Michael Bob now serves as the commander of the 17th District of the American Legion Department of Texas and the commander of the Marshall Scott Jamar Post 61, in Abilene.
A retired colonel, he recently concluded a 23-year Air Force career as the commander of Dyess Air Force Base, in Abilene and accumulated over 2,000 flying hours as a B-1 instructor and evaluator pilot. He is a distinguished graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and Air Command and Staff College. He also received Masters Degrees from Air University’s School of Advanced Air and Space Studies and Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
His staff assignments included tours on a Congressional commission, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Air Staff, Central Command Air Forces, and Multi-National Force—Iraq. He flew in one of the first airstrikes to open Operation Enduring Freedom, and deployed for over 1,100 days after 9/11, including a year in Baghdad on General Petraeus’ staff during the “surge” and a tour as the vice commander of the largest Air Expeditionary Wing in the Middle East.
He flew in over 50 combat and combat support sorties and collected over 600 combat hours in five different aircraft. Most of his combat time was in the B-1. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, three Bronze Star Medals, and four Air Medals, among other personal and campaign decorations.
Mr. Starr also serves as the Executive Director of Global Samaritan Resources, a Christian humanitarian aid organization specializing in providing logistics services for other local, regional, and international aid providers. He and his wife, Kim, have been married for 26 years and have two grown sons and a daughter-in-law.
In his opening remarks, Michael Bob referenced 1919 statistics, events and other data, to remind Legionnaires of how the Nation has evolved during the past 100 years, and the positive impact the American Legion programs have had on American society. He commended Post 240 for being one of the most active Posts in the District and challenged the Post to commemorate this Centennial year by striving to earn the National and Texas Post Excellence Awards. He encouraged the Post membership to continue The American Legion legacy for the next 100 years by implementing a variety of programs that benefit our nation’s veterans, its service members, their families, the youth of America and ordinary citizens, encompassed within The Four Pillars of The American Legion which are; Veterans Affairs & Rehabilitation, National Security, Americanism, and Children & Youth.
American legion Department of Texas, 17th District Commander, Michael Bob Starr, from Post 61 in Abilene, shown in photo administering the oath of office to 2019 Post 240 Officers. They are: (L-R) Sid Moon, Sgt At Arms; Don Corbin, Historian; Matt Hallgarth, Chaplain; Michael Pratt II, Adjutant; Eddie Torres, 2nd Vice Commander; Jimmy Finney, 1st Vice Commander and Ron Henry, Commander. 2019 Officers to be inducted later & not shown in photo are; Service Officer, Justin Finney; Judge Advocate, Keith Fredrickson and Finance Officer, Burton Smith.
