2008 KWVA National Election Candidate Profile

For more information on George Lawhon, please go to kwva_more_info_2008_lawhon.html

Candidate:	George E. Lawhon LR18750
From Chapter:	California 6, Santa Clara County
For Office of:	Director

My name is George E. Lawhon.    I am a candidate for the office of Director of the Korean War Veterans Association, for the period 2008-2011.    My dues are current, Life Member # LR18750.    I have signed the KWVA Code of Conduct.

My motivation to serve as a KWVA Director is that I believe in the KWVA and its mission, and will vigorously defend it against all attacks, external or internal.  There has been an ongoing, vicious e-mail campaign; an assault on the Korean War Veterans Association itself.    This has included attacks on the administration, its officers, the KWVA Bylaws, and the KWVA Standard Procedure Manual.    That distorts and inhibits the real progress and accomplishments that have been made by volunteer member veterans, and delays our legitimate efforts to get a Federal Charter.    I will work tirelessly to improve the organization where needed, to serve the membership in a constructive manner, by working with, rather than against my fellow Directors. 

My conviction and support for the Korean War Veterans Association is expressed in the California Department Mission Statement on its website: http://www.dcakwva.org/dcakwva_bylaws_1.html    It is in harmony with the KWVA’s own Mission Statement.    I respectfully ask you, the members of the KWVA, to support me with your vote, to allow me the privilege of serving our common interests.

MILITARY EXPERIENCE
My military service began with my enlistment on August 1, 1950, in the United States Air Force.    Following Basic Training at Lackland AFB, Texas, I completed the 32-week curriculum at the Electronics & Communications School at Scott AFB, Illinois, as a Ground Electronics & Communications Technician.

I arrived in Taegu, Korea, in June, 1951, and was assigned to the 605th Tactical Control Squadron, a USAF reserve unit shipped out of Pope Field in North Carolina, hurriedly deployed to South Korea in 1950, shortly after the war began.  When I joined the 605th, the next youngest man was 25!    Following that was a year when, like many of you, I was transformed from an 18-year old boy into manhood.    During that year there were experiences that no one would wish for, but since then I never served in a better outfit, or with a finer group of men.    I am proud to have known, served with, and learned from them, all who served with honor and a sense of dedicated duty.    Those men showed and taught me what ‘duty, honor, country’ means.

CIVILIAN WORK EXPERIENCE
Following my Honorable Discharge in 1954 at Patrick AFB, Florida, I worked at Cape Canaveral, Florida for Boeing, as an Electronic Technician, and later for The Martin Company (now known as Lockheed Martin) on defense contracts, first as a Test Engineer; later as a Quality Engineer.  Presently I hold a current California license as a Professional Engineer in Quality Engineering, # QU3927, issued July 12th, 1978.  I am a working consultant in that field.  In the 1960’s, I worked at the Kennedy Space Center for Grumman Aerospace Engineering as a Technical Writer, writing test procedures for Apollo astronauts for the LEM (Lunar Excursion Module), on the Apollo Moon Program.  Later, working as a design engineer, I designed test equipment and wrote test procedures for the Navy’s Grumman F-14 Fighter’s flight control system.

KWVA SERVICE

• Last year (2007), I worked with the KWVA Resolution Committee Chairman, helping in the review and analysis of resolutions submitted by KWVA members.  The review I wrote was submitted to the Board of Directors, and approved.
• In addition, I assisted the KWVA Bylaws Committee Chairman with constructive changes and additions to the Bylaws, which were also approved by the KWVA Board of Directors, at the 2007 Annual Convention in Reno.
• Last year, I took part, with our Chapter (6, Santa Clara County) in its tasks for the formation of the KWVA California State Department.  We received our Department charter at the Reno Convention.  You can see all the history and details on the Department website at http://www.dcakwva.org/  I am both the Department’s Webmaster & its Secretary.

I accept the KWVA Bylaws and Standard Procedure Manual, subscribe to our KWVA Code Of Conduct, and will support any effort dedicated to the progress of the KWVA.    I will attend and participate in all called meetings of the Board of Directors and understand that two (2) unexcused absences may be cause for my removal from the Board.

I am dedicated to preserving what has been achieved thus far, and helping those who want to implement improvements in a manner that protects the Good of the Order, and hold performance of duty first, ahead of self-interest.  I expressed my principles about our duty and our obligation to the KWVA in an article I wrote for The Graybeards.  You can read it on Pages 70-71 of the November-December 2007 issue.  If you believe that my goals and standards are in harmony with yours, I respectfully request your support and your vote.  If elected, I will work diligently to preserve and protect the KWVA. 

My performance standards will be the membership’s interests; and duty, honor, country.

Respectfully yours,

George E. Lawhon LR18750
600 E. Weddell Drive #91
Sunnyvale, CA 94089-1731
408-734-0305   e-mail: george@lawhon.org