February 2015 Meeting

Returned & Services League of Australia,

Washington Sub-Branch,

1601 Massachusetts Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20036

202-352-8550    

www.rsl-dc.com, dmward1973 (at) gmail dot com

Invitation to February 12, 2015 meeting

Time - Noon to 2:00 pm.

Where: Amenities Room

Embassy of Australia,

1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW.,

Washington, DC 20036

Guest speaker:   Mr. Ron Davis (Biography attached).

Topic - Col Ray Davis’ war years in Australia and New Guinea (1942-1945) (Taken from the video “My Dad's Call to Duty 1931 – 1945).”   The presentation will include photographs of WWII Australia and New Guinea.

Charge - $15.00, including buffet lunch and sodas.  Alcoholic beverages- $2.00 each.

NOTE: Valid photo ID required.  Attire: Business casual

RSVP by noon on Wednesday February 11, 2015 , to David, Ward

202-352-8550 or via e-mail to dmward1973 (at) gmail dot com.

Parking: While there is no parking at the Embassy, paid off street parking is available behind and under the Airline Pilots Association- 17th and Mass, and at 15th and Mass (1240 15th street). On street two hour metered parking is also available.

2015 monthly meetings - 8 Jan, 12 Feb, 12 Mar, 9 Apr, 14 May, 11 Jun, 9 Jul, 13 Aug, 10 Sep, 8 Oct, 12 Nov, 10 Dec.

2015 membership.  The membership year for the RSL is from 1 Jan to 31 December.  The annual subscription for the sub-branch is at present $30.00 (AUD 25.00 capitation fee is paid to the ACT RSL). If your name is not on the attached list it means we have no record of receiving your membership dues. Please contact Dave Ward with payment details, or alternatively send us a check for $30.00 (Made out to R&SL) to R&SL, C/O Dave Ward, 2308 November Lane, Reston, VA 20191. 

2015 Office Holder and Board of Governors:  President: Colonel Dr. Richard Southby, Vice President   Mr. Aurelio Azpiazu, Treasurer: Mr. Ross Crunkhorn, Honorary Secretary: Mr. Dave Ward, Program Chair: Mr. Mario Mirarchi, Legal Advisor:  Mr. William (Bill) Bennett, Selection Committee Chair:  Mr. Edward Connor.  Australian Defence Representative:   Vacant.  Members:  Mr. Walt Dow, Mr. David Gudes, Mr. Harrison (Harry) McAlpine, Mr. Allan Hickling, Mr. Bill Strandberg.

BIO for Ron Davis

                Ron Davis is a retired career intelligence officer who worked as an economic intelligence analyst for 41 years, including 20 years in various defense-economic positions at the Defense Intelligence Agency. This work involved economic sanctions and embargos and Soviet defense expenditure analysis.

                In 1988 he transferred to the State Department’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research where he continued to focus on economic intelligence issues for anogther 21 years.  He spent the first part of his career figuring out how to eliminate the “Soviet threat” and the 2^nd half trying to bring market economics and democracy to Russia and its former Republics. Ron is from an Army family and moved a lot during the first 15 years of his life.  Although a native of Detroit, Mich, he has lived in Arlington and Fairfax since 1955 and is a graduate of Washington-Lee HS and Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

Bio for Col. Ray Davis

My father enlisted in the Michigan National Guard in 1931 as a buck private and over the next 10 years served in infantry, motor transport and field artillery units. During this period he was employed in the Auditing Department of the Chrysler Corp in Detroit.

 He entered Federal Service as a 1^st Lt. when the National Guard was federalized in early 1941.  Immediately after the Pearl Harbor attack, Dec 6, 1941, his unit was sent to the Southwest Pacific area where for three years he served in logistics positions including 2 years in Melbourne Australia as the Base Transportation Officer  responsible for all US transportation in the Southeastern area of Australia. He then served as the Port Commander in Lae, New Guinea in command of several thousand U.S. and Australian troops.

He went on to several more assignments until his retirement in 1961 including being Chief of Operations at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey directly responsible for the receipt, processing and homeward movement of millions of US WW II troops returning from Europe. He was also an original member of the American Military Advisory Group in London and Frankfurt (1950-1954) responsible for re-equipping and training the armies of the newly- formed NATO alliance.  He retired in 1961 concluding a 30-year military career.