Monday, October 17, 2005

The M.A.C. Salutes Those who Served

Missouri Athletic Club member Rob Wunderlich, a Major in the Illinois Air National Guard, will be the featured speaker at the M.A.C. Veteran’s Day Luncheon on Friday, Nov. 11. Major Wunderlich will talk about the contributions of the Guard and Reserves, as well as the importance of employer support.

He will also share his experiences about some of the air refueling support missions our local Air Guard has conducted worldwide in support of Air Force and joint service operations.

Wunderlich serves as a Pilot in the U. S. Air Force, Illinois Air National Guard, 126th Air Refueling Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. He is rated as an Aircraft Commander in the Boeing KC-135E Stratotanker aircraft, with over 3,500 hours of flight experience.

After Wunderlich graduated from DePauw University in 1988, he was commissioned in the Marines and began Naval Aviation Flight Training at Pensacola, Fla., and Corpus Christi, Texas, eventually earning his Naval Aviator’s gold wings in 1991 as the Honor Graduate in his class.

In 1996, Wunderlich was selected for the Naval Flight Demonstration Squadron “Blue Angels” to be one of the “Fat Albert” C-130 pilots for the 1997 Blue Angels team. In this capacity, he served as one of the Marine Corps pilots flying the world’s only dedicated air show C-130 Hercules aircraft, performing the signature “JATO takeoff” and maneuvers for millions of spectators across North America as part of the world-famous Navy Blue Angels air show performance. Wunderlich’s decorations include the Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation (two awards), National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal and Small Arms Expert badges.

Wunderlich is a third generation M.A.C. member, following in the footsteps of his father Bob and grandfather Al Wunderlich. The Club has been a special place in his life. “I pretty much grew up at the M.A.C.,” said Wunderlich. “It is where I learned how to swim. I spent every Saturday at the Club’s Youth classes. The foundation of athletic training I learned at a young age served me well heading into the Marines.”

Today, Wunderlich works out at the M.A.C. nearly every day. “The Club continues to serve me well in my professional and military life,” said Wunderlich. “It is such an institution. It is like a bedrock, offering a sense of place for me. I am truly honored to be a part of this M.A.C. Veteran’s Day celebration.”

The M.A.C. Veteran’s Day Celebration will begin on Nov. 11, at 11:30 a.m. with cocktails in the Art Lounge. That will be followed by lunch and the program in the Missouri Room beginning at noon. The price is $20, inclusive of service charge. Call 314-539-4470 for reservations.