by khurst2@gmail.com | Jan 16, 2023 | News
In the 60th anniversary year of the March on Washington and Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, NNOA is honored to recognize and celebrate the birth of one of the greatest champions’ for civil rights, nonviolent protest and equality the world has ever known, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
In Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, he stated what still rings true today, “So even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
NNOA embodies Dr. King’s vision in its endeavor to ensure that all men and women in the Sea Services have an equal opportunity to succeed, advance and live up to the best of their abilities. This nation is strongest when we stand together. And as Dr. King profoundly noted, the nation’s freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. And as so, success of the Sea Services is also inextricably bound to the equality and success of all of its members, regardless of race, sex, creed or sexual orientation.
Please take a moment to reflect what part you can or do play to honor his legacy and ideals, as we celebrate the 94th year of the birth of this great man and leader for equality. Happy Birthday Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
by khurst2@gmail.com | Jan 5, 2023 | Chaplain, News
Philippians 3:13-14
“…I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize…”
Happy New Year!
Typically, around this time of year many set goals or make resolutions. A lot of churches like to start the year off with the Daniel Fast which usually lasts about 21 days or some just take the entire month of January. And of course, there are those “new year, new me” or “new year, same me” social media posts, and those who make declarations about who and what has been cut out of their lives. The point is this is a time of new beginnings for many.
As the months go by, many fall off the wagon and give up on their goals. Life happens and plans change. Proverbs 16:9 says, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” Does that mean we should not plan or set goals? Absolutely not. It means we must be in alignment with God’s will for our lives. Our goals and desires come from God. Not us. So if things are not working out, then it may be time for a realignment. Examine your motive behind the goals you set. Were the goals set out of selfish ambition or out of the need to fulfill a calling or purpose? When you are not in alignment with God’s will for your life, you will continue to meet with failure. Trust me. Been there. Done that. Got the swag bag.
One of my favorite songs is Moving Forward, written by Ricardo Sanchez and recorded by Israel Houghton. The chorus says,
“You make all things new.
And I will follow you forward.”
We don’t have to wait until the new year to make changes in our lives. We can make a change at any moment. The time does not matter. All that matters is that we are moving forward. Things may not happen on the timeline we desire, but if we are in the will of God, they will happen. “…no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”[1]
Keep pressing. You’ll get there if it’s in God’s will.
Happy New Year!
[1] Psalm 84:11
by khurst2@gmail.com | Dec 30, 2022 | News, Presidents Msg
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
Dear Members, Family, and Friends of NNOA,
Happy Holidays and Season’s Greetings! On behalf of our Board of Directors, I wish each of you and your families excellent health, enduring happiness, and abundant prosperity throughout the season and the upcoming year. As I reflect on the many successes of 2022 for our association, I am humbled by our collective accomplishments, which will be captured in my upcoming State of NNOA and Strategic Guidance message
Our expectations continue to rise since 2023 will be the 75th anniversary of the signing of Executive Orders 9980 (Fair Employment Practices of the Federal Government) and 9981 (Desegregation of the Forces). Next year will also mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of our All-Volunteer Force. Those documents serve as the foundation for NNOA’s very existence and, in many ways, moved our nation towards a more perfect union.
In recognition of those anniversaries, I ask that you acknowledge those documents in any NNOA-related speaking engagement, such as Black History Month programs, scholarship banquet speeches, or professional military education events, where appropriate. My objective is to educate, inspire, and remind members and non-members of the positive aspects of our country’s history as we get better in 2023. Additionally, those documents will contribute to developing the theme of our 51st National Symposium which will be held at Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California July 31-August 4, 2023.
In closing, as you make resolutions for 2023, I ask that each of you to do the following…reflect, reconnect, and renew:
First and foremost…reflect. Please reflect on the many good things that NNOA has done for you and your career and think about how you can pay it forward to help others. Additionally, let us never forget our founders and their servant leadership that paved the way for us. We especially remember Captain Claude A. Williams, one of the founding members of NNOA, and Captain Harold R. Wise, former NNOA president, who recently passed.
Second…reconnect. Please get the word out about NNOA to both members and non-members, as well as to co-workers, friends, and family. There are too many officers who need our mentoring and coaching but are unaware of the power of our organization. Reach out to them and invite them to a local meeting and connect them with someone who can advise and assist accordingly.
Third…. renew. Renew your effort to support NNOA! Volunteer your time and your talents to be a mentor or a protégé at your local chapter and continue to support our mission of Recruitment, Retention, and Career Development. NNOA has come a long way, but greater work is yet to be done. Our calling is to keep pushing forward into the next 50 years!
Again, thank you for all that you do and please “…do not become weary in doing good.”
Enjoy your holidays and stay safe!
Cedric E. Pringle
RDML USN, Retired
25th President NNOA
by khurst2@gmail.com | Dec 10, 2022 | Chaplain, News
Hebrews 11:1 (King James Version)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
The holiday season is upon us, and I have already overplayed the Temptations’ infamous gospel version of Silent Night!
I have always loved this time of the year! Like most, my love for the season started during childhood. I remember the Christmas I got my Nintendo NES™ and my Barbie™ Rock Cafe. But more than the gifts, I LOVED the family gatherings at my grandparents’ house where everyone would come! My Family gatherings are exactly like those portrayed in the hilarious #ThanksgivingWithBlackFamilies on Twitter™!
As the years have passed, family gatherings have changed, especially in light of COVID. My parents’ house has now become the gathering place as the former generation are now gone. While there is a new generation gathering at the table, the absence of those who have gone on to glory is still felt. I swore off sweet potato pie for years after my grandmother died because no one could make it like her. But we honor the memory of our ancestors and still know they are with us as we look at each other. Their blood runs in our veins and we look like them. Plus, some of the secret recipes are still in the family.
Being active duty, I cannot make it home to every family gathering and that saddens me at times. But my understanding of family has evolved. Family is not limited to the biological. My family has actually increased. I may not always get to go home for the holidays, but I never have to be alone because I have a global family that will take care of me thanks to the military. These are the things that give me comfort and hope.
The holidays mean different things to everyone and can trigger a host of emotions. However, I pray one of those emotions is faith. This holiday season, I pray that you will have the faith to believe that good days are ahead. You do not have to wait until the New Year to make a resolution. Resolve now to have faith that even if things are not the way you want them to be, at the right time, the path forward will be revealed and your circumstances will change. Remember, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Have faith!
Happy Holidays!
by khurst2@gmail.com | Nov 29, 2022 | Memoriam, News
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of former NNOA president, Captain Harold R. (Bob) Wise on November 20, 2022.
During his 30 plus year career in both active and reserve duty assignments, he served in several leadership positions including Commanding Officer, Auxiliary Floating Drydock Medium 104, Trenton, NJ; Assistant Programs Officer, Naval Reserve Readiness Command Region Four, Philadelphia, PA.; Plans Officer, CINCEASTLANT 108, Atlanta, GA; Communications Officer, SACLANT Det. 205, Buffalo, NY; Director of Training, Naval Reserve Center, Buffalo, NY; Management Information and Retention Officer, Naval Reserve Readiness Command Region Eight, Jacksonville, FL.; Commanding Officer, Naval Reserve Voluntary Training Unit 0801, Atlanta, GA; Assistant Inspector General and Assistant Director of Plans for Readiness, Naval Reserve Readiness Command Region Eight, Jacksonville, FL.; Commanding Officer, Naval Reserve Readiness Unit “C”, Atlanta, GA; Director of Selected Reserve Training, Naval Reserve Readiness Center, Atlanta, GA; and Explosives Safety Inspector, Naval Ordnance Center, Indian Head Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC.
Captain Wise attended the Naval War College, served as a member of the Secretary of the Navy’s National Naval Reserve Policy Board for three years, served on the Naval Reserve Readiness Command Region Eight, Jacksonville, FL’s Reserve Policy Board for three years, completed the Reserve Components National Security Course presented by the National Defense University, attended the Armed Forces Staff College, attended the Naval War College War Gaming course and served on several Navy Reserve Officer line and staff selection boards.
Captain Wise was awarded the Navy Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy “E”, the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two stars, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hourglass, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Expert Rifle Medal, the Sharpshooter Pistol Ribbon, and Command Ashore Pin.
by khurst2@gmail.com | Nov 29, 2022 | Memoriam, News
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of NNOA founding member, Captain Claude R. Williams. Dr. Claude R. Williams, Sr., 93, Orthodontist, Navy Captain, and Civil Rights Champion was born in Marshall, Texas in February 1929 died in Dallas, Texas. Williams was educated in the segregated schools of Marshall, Texas where he graduated from H.B. Pemberton High School. He attended Wiley College where he pledged Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity but transferred to and graduated from Howard University in Washington DC with a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology, a Doctorate in Dental Surgery, and a Certificate in Orthodontics. Upon graduation, Dr. Williams joined the United States Naval Reserves and served on active duty in Bainbridge, Maryland. Dr. Williams became the First African American Dental Commanding Officer and the First African American Navy Dentist to achieve the rank of 0-6 (Captain).
Dr. Claude R. Williams Sr. Endowed Scholarship fund at Texas A&M University School of Dentistry
How to give to the Dr. Claude R. Williams Sr. Endowed Scholarship fund at Texas A&M University School of Dentistry. The scholarship is endowed to exist in perpetuity, and the funds are managed through the Texas A&M Foundation:
Online:
- Go to www.txamfoundation.com.
- Click on the Give Now button.
- Where it says “Select a Unit or College” select: An Unlisted Account
- Where it says “Giving Account Name or Number” type: Dr. Claude R. Williams Scholarship – 23-076011
- Follow the rest of the instructions regarding donation, contact and payment information
By check:
Make check payable to: Texas A&M Foundation
In memo/notes section write: Dr. Williams Scholarship -23-076011
Mail check to: Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, TX 77840
