NNOA Mission – Operational Historical Reclamation and Documentation 2022 for the 50th Anniversary
By Roosevelt “Rick” Wright, Jr., Ph.D., CAPT., USNR(ret) – “Historian,” National Naval Officers Association
1 July 2022 will be the 50th Anniversary Birthday of the National Naval Officers Association, and with the approaching of this date, the Historical Arm of the National Naval Officers Association is pleased to announce, the launching of “Operation Historical Reclamation and Documentation 2022.” This major operational mission, “will be deployed to research, write, document, and locate the many pieces of historical artifacts, I.e., photographs, written documents, and the vast array of items that have been created and developed over the past 50 years.” For a half century, NNOA has been most successful in carrying out its’ mission of “enhancing sea service operational readiness by providing professional development, mentoring, and recruiting support in an effort to achieve a diverse officer corps that reflects the demographics of the nation.” Now is the time for building the historical documentation framework, that will develop a “network of NNOA Historians and members,” who will prepare, locate, and find our many historical accomplishments.
The proposed operational plan for beginning this, “Historical Reclamation and Documentation Mission” is as follows:
Phase One – The Development of “A Historical Arm of NNOA,” composed of “Dedicated Sea Service Members of NNOA” who are interested in the total documentation of our 50 Year History.
Phase Two – The immediate implementation of conducting “Oral History Interviews,” with “Living Legends, and Family Members,” of our various Sea Services, I.e., U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corp, and U.S. Coast Guard.
Phase Three – A Major “Search Mission” by NNOA members Past, and Present to find all historical materials, I.e., photographs, written documents, audiovisual materials, booklets, official orders, MOU’s, NNOA Newsletters, NNOA Chapter documents, etc.
Phase Four – The signing of a “Memorandum of Co-operation” with the U.S. Navy History and Heritage Command, during our joint Sea Services History session at NNOA Symposium 2019, San Diego, Ca.
Phase Five – The Development of an “Official Depository, and Location” for all NNOA Historical Documents that will be “Captured and Collected by the Historical Arm of NNOA.”
Phase Six – The Production of a “NNOA Audiovisual Documentary, “A Salute to NNOA’s 50Th Anniversary,” to be shown at NNOA 2022 Birthday Annual Symposium at USNA, Annapolis, Maryland.
The accomplishments of “The National Naval Officers Association,” has blazed a tremendous historical trail of outstanding contributions of service to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corp, and The U.S. Coast Guard. The documentation and recording of this history must be done now, for present and future Sea Services Scholars. A further importance of this moment in time, is listed in Article Five of the Articles of Incorporation of NNOA, “Establishing and Maintaining A Positive Image of The Naval Services in Minority Communities Throughout the World,” and this has been a major mission of our organization for the past 48 years. This positive image is best reflected in our “operational history,” and we must continue to tell our story, by using the wonderful technologies that are available in capturing the exciting history of NNOA Now!
A personal reflection for me, was walking into the “Ballroom of the Waterside Hotel in Norfolk, Va.,” on the banks of the Elizabeth River, for my first NNOA Convention, July 1981. It was the opening session, and RDAM Lawrence Chambers, USN was giving the keynote address. Seeing a “Sea of African-American U.S. Navy, Marine Corp, and Coast Guard Officers,” seated, was a most amazing historic moment for me. I had grown up just 40 miles south, in Elizabeth City, N.C., during the 1950’s and 60,’s, and my memories of African-American sailors were that they served mainly as messman. Many of these Naval and Coast Guard Sailors were my “mentors,” providing early leadership for my peer group members, as Boy Scout Troop leaders, Teachers, etc. I learned many positive “life learning experiences,” and especially when they stopped by old homestead to enjoy “food delights,” cooked by my late Mother, Mrs. Lillie Mae Wright, who loved feeding our naval and coast guard visitors. During this period of racial segregation, the African-American Sailors stationed at The Elizabeth City Coast Guard Air Station, and Naval Air Facility, Weeksville, N.C., found a “warm homestead,” when they were off duty.
After receiving my Naval Commission in February 1981, and attending that summer’s NNOA Convention in Norfolk, Va., the many speakers, sessions, meetings, mentoring, was a most productive learning experience for sea services orientation. But the moment for me, was meeting, CDR John D. Fauntleroy, USN, JAG, President of the National Naval Officers Association. He learned of my position as Professor of Radio, Television, and Film at The S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University, and said, “I have a job for you with NNOA.” Judge Fauntleroy, asked me if I would be interested in becoming Public Affairs Officers for NNOA. I answered Yes! At that point he indicated that NNOA needed a “Professional Newsletter,” to communicate our “history and accomplishments.” I assumed the role, and truly enjoyed serving as PAO, and editor of the NNOA Newsletter, the forerunner of “The Meridian.”
The historical significance of attending NNOA 1981 Convention, Norfolk, Va., came full circle for me, when I met one of my “greatest mentors,” from my Elizabeth City, N.C., days, LCDR Milton Moore, USCG, who was serving as the Coast Guard Rep for NNOA. When he was a Petty Officer, serving as a Radarman, and Air Traffic Control Tower Operator, at ECCGAS, he was a great role model for me. He was thrilled to see me, and to know that I had found NNOA, and serving as a LCDR in the Naval Reserve.
There are so many National Naval Officer Association historical stories that must be told, and as we get ready to celebrate, our Birthday of 50 Years of Accomplishments, I am proud to say, “Let’s Launch, ‘Operations Historical Reclamation and Documentation 2022,” now!
I await your responses and productive suggestions for this historical operational mission.
Best, and BZ to all,
V/r