We were visited in January by the Makowski's from Huntsville, Alabama (Rick and Betty) and their daughter, Jennifer Saviano who lives in Ft Lauderdale and works in USCG Sector Miami. Her husband is a USCG pilot flying HH-65s, so wave next time you see a USCG-Helo fly by!
The Makowski's have strong ties to the Doolittle Raiders and the 8th USAF Historical Association and made the connection with a Doolittle letter inside Herbert A. Weigand's footlocker who was an aircraft mechanic in the 8th USAF. The Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum donated an extra copy of this letter to the Makowski's, and they in turn showed it to a Doolittle Raiders historian who verified it. One of these original letters will be maintained by the 385th Bomb Group of the 8th USAF, as the members of this group had not received the original letter signed by Jimmy Doolittle. A copy of this original will be maintained by the Raiders historical archives in Texas. The Makowski's filled us in on the history and recent background and status of the Raiders and its surviving members, who are planning a final public reunion and goblet ceremony.
We also exchanged notes with the Makowski's on the history of Lt. Alexander R. Nininger (resident of Fort Lauderdale), who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an assault on Japanese positions; and the first American Army soldier to be so honored in the Second World War. The Makowski's connected us with the National Philippine Scout Heritage Society with which we have been carrying on a dialog to compare notes. Through them we learned that Lt. Nininger's nephew was searching for his remains in the Philippines, less than 2 years ago.
The Makowski's are part of numerous organizations, and also staunch supporters of activities to bring our youth together with their "living history" projects fostering a mutual learning experience, and better citizenship and patriotism among our youth. The North Alabama area formed a coalition of over 52 Veteran's Groups to muster capabilities across all organizations to better the community and Veteran support efforts.
Visit their website: http://navfoc.org
The Makowski's have strong ties to the Doolittle Raiders and the 8th USAF Historical Association and made the connection with a Doolittle letter inside Herbert A. Weigand's footlocker who was an aircraft mechanic in the 8th USAF. The Naval Air Station Fort Lauderdale Museum donated an extra copy of this letter to the Makowski's, and they in turn showed it to a Doolittle Raiders historian who verified it. One of these original letters will be maintained by the 385th Bomb Group of the 8th USAF, as the members of this group had not received the original letter signed by Jimmy Doolittle. A copy of this original will be maintained by the Raiders historical archives in Texas. The Makowski's filled us in on the history and recent background and status of the Raiders and its surviving members, who are planning a final public reunion and goblet ceremony.
We also exchanged notes with the Makowski's on the history of Lt. Alexander R. Nininger (resident of Fort Lauderdale), who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an assault on Japanese positions; and the first American Army soldier to be so honored in the Second World War. The Makowski's connected us with the National Philippine Scout Heritage Society with which we have been carrying on a dialog to compare notes. Through them we learned that Lt. Nininger's nephew was searching for his remains in the Philippines, less than 2 years ago.
The Makowski's are part of numerous organizations, and also staunch supporters of activities to bring our youth together with their "living history" projects fostering a mutual learning experience, and better citizenship and patriotism among our youth. The North Alabama area formed a coalition of over 52 Veteran's Groups to muster capabilities across all organizations to better the community and Veteran support efforts.
Visit their website: http://navfoc.org
The Makowski Family
