Posted by Carl Gerhardt on Aug 13, 2019
On 8/13/2019, long time Magnolia Rotary Club member, Frank Parker spoke to the Magnolia Rotary Club membership some about his life story. Pictured above is Frank Parker.
 
Frank told everyone that he was born and raised in south central Pennsylvania near the town of Gettysburg. He later completed college and then went on to get a Master Degree before going into the U.S. Air Force. In the Air Force, he was told that he was going to be a Bio Medical Engineer. However, at that time, there were no degree programs for Bio Medical Engineers so the Air Force set up their own class at Brooks AFB in San Antonio, Texas. After class, Frank was stationed at Hickam AFB in Hawaii which is home to the Pacific Command, PACAF.
 
It was at Hickam AFB that the Apollo 11 Astronauts were brought to after their mid ocean return to earth after landing the lunar module Eagle on July 20, 1969 on the moon. Frank brought the photos below for everyone to view:
 
This 1st photo below from left to right is of the USS Hornet coming into Pearl Harbor with the Apollo 11 Astronauts in their Mobil Quarantine Facility (MQF). The 2nd photo is of the Mobil Quarantine Facility being moved to Hickam AFB with the Astronauts inside. The 3rd photo is of both the MQF and the Columbus Space Craft used by the Astronauts to go to and return from the moon.
 
       
 
The three photos below are all of President Richard Nixon who greeted the Astronauts aboard the USS Hornet and later spoke at Hickam AFB:
 
   
 
 
Frank finished his talk by stating that in his life experience, he has noted that communities are at their best when there are good minded volunteers willing to help their fellow man. To that end, Rotary is an organization that does just that on a world wide basis. Therefore, Rotary is a force for good in the world and Frank is proud to be a member of the Rotary Club.
Sponsors