It was my pleasure to present the Robert F. DeMeter Chapter Service Award for 2025 to Past Chapter President Colonel (Ret) Richard "Rich" A. Underwood at our Awards and Recognition Luncheon on the 14th of March 2026. The DeMeter award is the most prestigious award the Chapter can bestow upon one of its members.

The award consists of a rotating trophy which the recipient retains for a year, and a certificate.

Keeping with tradition, the DeMeter trophy was passed on to Rich (assisted by his daughter Joy) by Jerry Croll the previous year's recipient.

Congratulations Rich, you have earned our eternal gratitude for your dedicated service and unselfish contributions to the chapter.

It was my pleasure to present the Robert F. DeMeter Chapter Service Award for 2025 to Past Chapter President Colonel (Ret) Richard "Rich" A. Underwood at our Awards and Recognition Luncheon on the 14th of March 2026. The DeMeter award is the most prestigious award the Chapter can bestow upon one of its members.

The award consists of a rotating trophy which the recipient retains for a year, and a certificate.

Keeping with tradition, the DeMeter trophy was passed on to Rich (assisted by his daughter Joy) by Jerry Croll the previous year's recipient.

Congratulations Rich, you have earned our eternal gratitude for your dedicated service and unselfish contributions to the chapter.

It was my pleasure to present the Robert F. DeMeter Chapter Service Award for 2025 to Past Chapter President Colonel (Ret) Richard "Rich" A. Underwood at our Awards and Recognition Luncheon on the 14th of March 2026. The DeMeter award is the most prestigious award the Chapter can bestow upon one of its members.

The award consists of a rotating trophy which the recipient retains for a year, and a certificate.

Keeping with tradition, the DeMeter trophy was passed on to Rich (assisted by his daughter Joy) by Jerry Croll the previous year's recipient.

Congratulations Rich, you have earned our eternal gratitude for your dedicated service and unselfish contributions to the chapter.

Several chapter members were recognized for special acts and/or contributions to the chapter during CY 2025 at the Annual Awards and Recognition Luncheon on 14 March 2026.

Colonel (Ret) Richard A. Underwood was presented the Robert F. DeMeter Chapter Service Award for his sustained outstanding service as Chapter President for two consecutive 2-year terms.

T eresa Vaughn was conferred Honorary Membership in the Chapter for her sustained contributions to the chapter over several years.

Other chapter members (listed in alphabetical order) were awarded certificates for the following:

Tim Atkinson

For serving with distinction as the Chapter's Chaplain by extending pastoral outreach as well as supporting our community outreach and scholarship programs.

Eli Ballard

For serving with distinction on the Membership Committee and in community outreach.

Bill Bell

For serving with distinction as the Chapter's Second Vice President including the development of great programs and community outreach support.

George Bond

For serving with distinction as the Chapter's First Vice President and expert liaison with our Community and Military partners.

Bruce Brown

For serving with distinction in support of the Golf Tournament Working Group as well ongoing outreach work.

Steve Cage

For serving with distinction as the Chapter's Secretary and extraordinary efforts in updating our membership rolls and fielding our new Life Membership program.

Juan Chavez

For serving the Chapter with distinction as Assistant Treasurer and as the "Go to" guy for Chapter financial and administrative requirements.

Jerry Croll

For serving with distinction on our Golf Tournament Working Group and scholarship committee along with work on community outreach grants.

Ken Godwin

For serving with distinction on our ROTC scholarship committee and in community outreach .

Mondrey McLaurin

For serving with distinction to date as the Golf Co-Tournament Director.

Hal Thacker

For rejuvenating and serving as Editor of the Chapter's monthly newsletter.

Joe Tichich

Presentation of the President’s Service Award.

Trina Tiffany

For serving with distinction on our Golf Tournament Working Group along with past and ongoing support as a tournament fundraiser.

David Vroom

For serving with distinction as the Chapter Treasurer as well as ongoing Chapter liaison with Fayetteville

Marty Williams

For serving with distinction as the Chapter's Third Vice President including leading the ROTC scholarship committee along with supporting local ROTC and community outreach programs.

Lee Young

For serving with distinction in support of the Golf Tournament Working Group as well ongoing Chapter liaison with Fort Bragg.

The Cape Fear Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America celebrated its anniversary of its founding on 21 March 2026 completing 65 years of continuous dedicated service to our nation.

The Cape Fear Chapter’s long record of exemplary service to the surrounding military community representing active duty, reserve component, veterans and ROTC/JROTC is widely acknowledged and praised.

The Chapter’s steadfast support of MOAA’s military advocacy mission and legislative goals year in and year out has been instrumental in the passage of significant legislation benefiting our all-volunteer force, our military retirees and our veterans.

Every Chapter member can be justifiably proud of being a part of this great organization that remains true to the MOAA motto "Never Stop Serving". Happy Anniversary!

Review the Chapter’s history of its founding by clicking on the History tab below.

Renewal Options: There are two ways to renew. The easiest and fastest way to renew is by going online ( https://cfmoaa.org/membership/ ) and clicking on “Renew online HERE” to follow the prompts and add your card data, which takes less than five minutes. Or, if you prefer, you can send a check made out to CFC MOAA to CFC MOAA, PO Box 53621, Fayetteville, NC 28305.

This year’s golf tournament held at Gates Four Golf & Country Club on 20 September 2025 was an unprecedented success, raising a record $36,178.33 for our ROTC Scholarships Program Fund, and other philanthropic programs. Thanks to all our commercial sponsors, supporters, and chapter members for their loyalty and generous contributions. Special kudos to our chapter’s Golf Tournament Committee and tournament day volunteers who helped make this event a resounding success. A list of all sponsors and donors will appear in the next issue of our chapter’s newsletter “Infogram”.

The following officers were elected by the general membership to serve 2-year terms in leadership positions indicated effective January 2025.

COL (Ret) Gregory (Greg) K. Williamson, USA - President

MAJ (Ret) George Bond, USA - 1st Vice President

COL (Ret) William (Bill) H. Bell, II, USA - 2nd Vice President

LTC (Ret) Martin (Marty) C. Williams, USA - 3rd Vice President

CPT (Ret) David S. Vroom, USA - Treasurer

COL (Ret) Steven D. Cage, USA - Secretary

Congratulations are extended to these members who volunteered to lead our chapter for the next two years. They will be officially installed on 11 January 2025 during the biennial Installation Meeting/Dinner at the Iron Mike Conference Center, Fort Liberty.

A rough looking crew of CFC volunteers clad in construction work garb and MOAA Team t-shirts assembled at a Fayetteville Area Habitat for Humanity Veterans Build (FAHFHVB) worksite in Fayetteville, NC on a brisk autumn morning to repair and paint the home of a US Army veteran.

Watch a video showing members at work (Click HERE).

The project, an initiative undertaken by CFC COL (Ret) Greg Williamson and funded with a $3,000 MOAA Community Outreach Grant, was a first for the Cape Fear Chapter which has committed to sponsor FAHBHVB on a regular basis in support of veterans in our community.

The idea morphed into reality because of a collaboration between the Cape Fear Chapter headed by COL (Ret) Greg Williamson, and FAHFHVB headed by CW4 (Ret) Richard “Rick” Callaway its Chief of Operations and a newly recruited CFC member.

The Cape Fear Chapter volunteers in alphabetical order were: Tim Atkinson, Eli Ballard, Bill Bell, George Bond, Bruce Brown, Steve Cage, Rick Callaway, Juan Chavez, Bob Covalucci, Jerry Croll, Rich Underwood, Marty Williams, and Greg Williamson.

Several chapter members were recognized for special acts and/or contributions to the chapter during CY 2023 at the Annual Awards and Recognition Luncheon on 23 March 2024.

Colonel Tad Davis was presented the Robert F. DeMeter Chapter Service Award for his sustained outstanding service to the chapter the past two years.

Other chapter members were awarded chapter coffee mugs for the following:

Bruce Brown – For his consistent service as a MOAA Leadership Medal Presenter as well as a loyal business (Brown & Associates Investments Services) sponsor of the chapter.

Tad and Diane Davis – For handling the chapter’s “Evening at the Ballpark” event at Segra Stadium last year.

Don Gersh – For serving on the chapter’s ROTC Scholarships Review Committee for several years.

John Hazlett – For exemplary attendance at chapter events.

Art Macaltao – For his consistent service as a MOAA Leadership Medal Presenter. (Not present to accept award.)

Steve Mannell – For his loyal support as a business (AAFMAA) sponsor of the chapter.

Charles Pimble – For his staunch and generous support of the chapter’s ROTC Scholarship Fund. (Not present to accept award.)

Art & Argie Rodriguez – For serving in the Programs Committee responsible for table decorations for several years until 2023. Art is also recognized for conducting the annual reconciliation of the chapter’s financial books for several years through 2023.

Teresa Vaughn – For serving as the chapter’s check-in receptionist at all chapter events last year.

David Vroom – For exemplary attendance at chapter events in 2023.

Ira Watkins – For serving as the chapter’s photographer at chapter events in 2023.

The streak stays intact! For the twelve year in a row, the Cape Fear Chapter was awarded a MOAA 5-Star Levels of Excellence Award for the year 2024.

We owe a debt of gratitude to those who went above and beyond to make things happen and keep the string of excellence unbroken.

Congratulations and thanks to all our chapter members who so loyally supported everything the chapter undertook during the year. It was a total team effort!

President Williamson will pin the 5-Star medallion on the Chapter colors awards streamer at our annual meeting on 15 November 2025.

For the twelve consecutive year, our chapter has repeated as a 5-Star Colonel Marvin Harris Communications Award winner in the website category. We can all pad ourselves on the back for another noteworthy achievement.

Our chapter was founded on the 22nd of March 1961 at Fort Bragg and became the first affiliate of The Retired Officers Association (TROA) in North Carolina. On January 1, 2003, the National organization changed its name from The Retired Officers Association (TROA) to the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).

To commemorate the anniversary, the chapter received a handsome certificate (at download bar at right) from National MOAA accompanied by a personal note from Lt Gen Dana T. Atkins, USAF (Ret) President and CEO. The note reads as follows:

“Dear Colonel Underwood,

President and CEO”

We belatedly observed our anniversary during the May 7, 2021 luncheon at the Mash House Restaurant being the first opportunity to meet in person this year.

It is my fervent hope that our chapter will continue doing great work in support of our military, our veterans, and our future military leaders for many more years to come.

There is a dire need for volunteers to step up and fill some of the vacant positions on the chapter’s Executive Board. Some of these positions have been vacant for over 2 years, and some have been filled by the same person for as long as 8 years and new blood is needed.

While all the positions are important (they would not exist otherwise) some are more critical than others. The following positions need to be filled post haste:

Surviving Spouse Liaison – A must-have position, a spoke person and advocate for our 25 or so surviving spouses. The position has been vacant for 6 years.

Personal Affairs Officer – Another must-have position to advise and assist our members regarding benefits, entitlements, and survivor’s assistance. Position has been vacant for 6 years, but but the duties have been executed by the Chapter Chaplain as an additional duty.

Transition Liaison Officer – This position has the potential to be a great recruiting tool for the chapter. Active duty officers transitioning to civilian life can be attracted to a chapter that offers an effective transition program. This position has been vacant for over 4 years and is being filled by George Bond as an additional duty.

Newsletter Editor – An organization must be able to communicate with its members to be successful. A newsletter is one of the most important and effective tools to stay in touch. Don Gersh was the Editor for more than 6 years until he had to lay down his quill because of health reasons. The last issue of the Infogram was published in January 2021.

Any of the above positions can be filled by a regular member or a spouse thereof, or a surviving spouse. Most of the work can be performed from home via telephone and computer. The Executive Board meets physically at the Fort Liberty Iron Mike Conference Center on the first Tuesday of each month, and meetings normally last approximately 2 hours.

The continued shortage of officers to lead the chapter forward constitutes an existential threat to the chapter. We simply cannot continue to keep the chapter afloat like this. We need an infusion of new blood, new ideas and new energy.

As we observe the 64th anniversary of the chapter’s founding, the first affiliate in the state, we should keep in mind all those who came before us and who worked so hard to make the chapter what it is. It is our collective responsibility to keep the organization viable for future generations of military officers.

Our prayers for a chapter treasurer were answered, Jerry Croll answered the call and no one was more relieved than President Rich Underwood. Jerry will fill the large void created with the unexpected death of Ralph Hinrichs on 23 February 2021.

President Rich Underwood officially installed Jerry at the monthly Board of Directors meeting on 6 April 2021 by administering the oath of office in the presence of the Board of Directors.

We all owe a great debt of gratitude to Jerry for stepping up to the plate. We wish him the best of success in a position of paramount importance to our organization.

We need someone to volunteer to be our Newsletter Editor. Don Gersh who has been our editor for the past 6+ years can no longer do it because of health problems. The January 2021 issue was the last one Don could put together and unless we find someone to takeover, it will sadly be the last.

Wishfully, anyone who had prior experience in editing a publication at any level, e.g., high school, college, military, etc., would be ideal, but practically, we are asking for any literate person who would just like to help and has the enthusiasm (and a computer) to take on the challenge and make this experience a fulfilling one.

The chapter newsletter “Infogram” has been a monthly digital publication, disseminated to the general membership. The software program “Art Explosion Publisher Pro 3” is currently used to compile the publication, but the editor will have wide discretion as to what tools he or she prefers to use.

Anyone interested in taking on this job is requested to call President Rich Underwood at (910) 309-3568.