March 5, 2019: Nick Wackym, retired USAF, joined our meeting and gave a gripping first-hand account of the early stage of the War on Terror in 
Afghanistan in the days after September 11, 2001. In addition to being a USAF pilot, Nick was Special Operations Forces (SOF), Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and more recently a private counter-intelligence advisor in Afghanistan, Iraq, Africa, and South America.
Nick told of how and where he first heard about the 9/11 attacks and being told to “get planning” for the response. JSOC had developed plans for numerous bad actors and scenarios worldwide, but there was not a plan for response to an attack emanating from Afghanistan. The enhanced capabilities of Al Qaeda operating in that country had been overlooked by the intelligence community. The group had gained access to encrypted satellite communication, international banking, and had freedom of movement internationally through Pakistan. Ahmad Massoud, nicknamed the “Lion of Panjshir”, was a CIA asset who was raising the flag about Al-Qaeda’s capabilities and reach. He warned that if he was killed, it would mean a major attack would occur within 72 hours. Massoud was assassinated by a bomb carried by attackers posing as a foreign television crew on September 9, 2001.
Nick was mobilized as part of Task Force Dagger to a former Soviet air base in Uzbekistan, approximately 30 miles north of Afghan border. The base, known as K2, was a primitive site that became a tent city during the buildup in September and October 2001. A massive air-bridge operation, assisted by Charleston-based C-17’s, supplied the new base. At one point, C-17’s were landing every 45 minutes, 24 hours a day!
Task Force Dagger, depicted in the movie: 12 Strong, would insert small teams of special operators who would coordinate with local warlords to attack Taliban and Al-Queda forces and target bombings by US air support. These ground forces blended into the local forces, even using horses to traverse the mountainous terrain. One of the main warlords was Addul Dostum, General of the Northern Alliance, who was allied with the Soviets during their war in Afghanistan in the 1980s. In late November, Dostum accepted surrender of many Taliban fighters, who were imprisoned near Mazar-e-Sharif. However many were not searched for weapons and conducted a “trojan horse” type uprising within the prison. CIA Officer Mike Spann, who was interrogating “American Taliban” John Walker Lindh, was killed in the attack. In the subsequent battle to regain control of the prison, Nick provided air support. The prison was divided in half by a long wall, and Nick was told he could bomb the entire area on one side of the wall. When the battle was over, and prison retaken, Lindh was one of the few survivors found and he was captured, and ultimately pled guilty to conspiracy and providing support to terrorist organizations. Soon after the successful battle at Mazar-e-Sharif, on November 13, the Northern Alliance with US air support, retook Kabul which was a major blow to the Taliban.
After closing, Nick took some time to answer several great questions from members and thanked the club for inviting him.
Jeff Webb, Keyway Committee
IN OTHER MEETING NEWS
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- Tom Leonard gave the Invocation and led us in the pledge.
- Virginia Lee introduced Visiting Rotarians and guests.
- President Alex Dallis presented Health and Happiness.
- President Alex DAllis introduced our keynote speaker, Nick Wackym, who discussed first-hand the war on terror in Afghanistan.
MORE IN THIS WEEK’S KEYWAY
March 12, 2019 | Issue 4922 | President: Alex Dallis
COMING EVENTS
- March 12 – Off-site meeting @ American College of Building Arts
- March 19 – Chief Dan Curia, Charleston Fire Department
- March 26 – No Meeting
- April 2 – Dr. Dondi Costin, President of CSU / Board Meeting @ 11am
- April 9 – No Meeting
NEWS BRIEFS
Off-Site Meeting at American College of Building Arts on March 12
Our weekly meeting this Tuesday, March 12th will be held at the American College of Building Arts, 649 Meeting Street. Lt. General Colby Broadwater, President of the college, will be giving a talk during lunch and a tour following. Swig N Swine will cater a barbeque lunch. The deadline for RSVPs was last Tuesday, so reservations are now closed. We cannot accept any additional reservations. Members attending can either park in the small lot right in front of the school or we have been granted permission to use the old SCE&G lot across the street at the corner of Meeting & Cool Blow (beside Meeting Street Academy) at no charge.
“Women in Rotary”
Rotarians need to be on the lookout for the next issue of Skirt magazine. The incredible women of our Rotary club will be featured in a profile of the “Women at Work” section. A fun evening and pampering session was enjoyed by all the women of our club this past Tuesday’s at McKees where photos were taken and Rotary fellowship was enjoyed over drinks and hors d’oeuvres. What a wonderful opportunity for Rotary and our Rotary club to have some of its members spotlighted in this publication.
Rotary Assists The Salvation Army
As many of you may remember, our Rotary Club through the RCCF supported The Salvation Army of Charleston during the grant process this past Fall. Our club made a donation, which would be used to purchase a freezer and refrigerator to help them qualify for the USDA Emergency Food Assistance Program. The Salvation Army was able to take advantage of a sale and actually purchased two refrigerators and a freezer! The first shipment of food was received last Friday and they were able to get the freezer and refrigerators fully stocked!
This is a great way your contributions to the Rotary Club of Charleston Fund (RCCF) is helping others in our community!
January Dues Statements Past Due
If you have not paid January dues, please do so as soon as possible. Past due notices were distributed yesterday via email. If you received one, please be sure to pay promptly. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Carroll.
Our Club is on Instagram
Our club launched an Instagram account this week. Please be sure to follow us at @ChasRotaryClub, which is our Twitter handle, as well.
Members are encourage to follow all of our social media channels and share posts with their followers too! We also need members to send us picture of anything they do that relates to Rotary – service projects, meetings, events, etc. We would love to keep our accounts full of smiling Rotarians! Photos can be send to Mike Sottak, mikesottak@gmail.com, or Rob Byko, rob@bykorealty.com.
MEMBER NEWS
Member News
President Alex inducted two new members into our club this past Tuesday …. Madeleine Frume and Marjorie Hanger. Madeleine is a former Rotarian and transfers into our club from the Santa Domingo Rotary Club in the Dominican Republic. She was sponsored by Karl Riner and will hold the classification of Development. Marjorie was introduced by Membership Chair, Heidi Finniff and sponsored by Charlie Palmer, who couldn’t be in attendance on Tuesday. Marjorie joins us under the classification of Securities/Financial Planning. We are excited to have both of these ladies as members! Welcome Madeleine and Marjorie!
Congratulations to Sam Steinberg, who was presented his Paul Harris + 6 recognition pin by our Rotary Foundation Chair, Karl Riner. The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of US$1,000 or more to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. We appreciate his dedication and continuous support of The Rotary Foundation.
With much regret, the Board accepted the resignations of Chris Kerrigan and Mike Schmidt. We will miss these two Rotarians and wish them all the best! Jim Geffert was approved to join the ranks of our “Excused” members.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Campbell Coxe
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- Joined: 2018
- Sponsor: Heidi Finniff
- Membership Involvement: Education Committee – Educator/Student of the Month Committee & CCSD Teacher of Year Committee
- Classification: Law/Estate Planning
- Profession: The Rutledge Law Firm, Estate Planning Attorney and Trust Administrator
- Something Unique About Yourself: I plan on completing my Falconer’s apprenticeship to obtain my Falconer’s License and own my own bird.
Birthdays
- March 14 – Rich Dukes
- March 18 – Sue Sommer-Kresse
By the numbers
Attendance on March 5, 2019: 64
Not in attendance: Allan, Baggs, Bailey, Barry, Baus, Beam, Brack, Carico, Channell, Coghill, Cole, Cooper, E., Cooper, J., Cooper, M., Coxe, Crouch, Deavenport, DeGraff, Donnellon, Drafts, Embry, Geffert, Gill, Hudnall, Johnson, Jones, C., Kaynard, Lucy, Matheny, Moring, Morris, Palmer, Raver, Riley, Ruettiger, Rust, Saboe, Seguer, Shahid, Sidebottom, Smith, M., Strickland, Sullivan, Taylor, Tecklenburg, John, Thomas, Whitaker, Willey, Williams, A.
Out of Town Make-ups: None
WELLNESS TIP
Give Yourself a Sleep Break After the Time Change
If you feel sleepy after the change to daylight saving time, take a short nap in the afternoon — not too close to bedtime. Avoid sleeping in an hour longer in the mornings. Your internal clock will adjust on its own in several days.
AREA CLUB MEETINGS
Mondays
- Summerville – Oakbrook: 7:30 a.m., Monday, Westcott County Club, 5000 Wescott Club Drive, North Charleston
- North Charleston: 12:30 a.m., Monday, Hilton Garden Inn, 5265 International Blvd, North Charleston.
- Summerville Evening: 5:30 p.m., Monday, Montreux Bar and Grill, 127 W. Richardson Ave., Summerville
Tuesdays
- East Cooper Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Cooper River Room at Waterfront Park, Mount Pleasant
- Charleston: 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, Hall’s Signature Events, 5 Faber, Charleston
- Goose Creek: 12:45 m. Tuesday, Gilligan’s, 219 St. James Ave., Goose Creek
Wednesdays
- Daniel Island: 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Daniel Island Club, 600 Island Park Dr., Daniel Island
- St. John’s Parish (John’s Island): 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, 2817 Maybank Highway, Unit 1, John’s Island
- Mount Pleasant: 12:30 p.m., Wednesday, Harbor Breeze Restaurant, 176 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant
- Summerville: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sticky Fingers, Summerville
Thursdays
- North Charleston Breakfast: 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Embassy Suites, 5055 International Blvd., North Charleston
- Moncks Corner: 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Gilligan’s Restaurant, Moncks Corner
- St. Andrews (West Ashley): 12:30 p.m., Thursday, Bessinger’s BBQ, 1602 Savannah Highway, Charleston.
Fridays
- Charleston Breakfast: 7:30 a.m., Friday, Harbour Club, 35 Prioleau St., Charleston
SOCIAL MEDIA
Our Rotary club actively uses social media — and we encourage you to interact with us through social media.
- We’re on Facebook. Take a look at our page and be sure to “like us”.
- We’re on Twitter. You can follow us @chasrotaryclub.
ABOUT THE KEYWAY
The Keyway has been published weekly as a newsletter for the Rotary Club of Charleston for more than 90 years.
- President: Alex Dallis
- Keyway editor: Don Baus don@sgaarchitecture.com
- Executive secretary: Carroll Schweers, carrollschweers@gmail.com
- Mailing address: Rotary Club of Charleston, P.O. Box 21029 ,Charleston, SC 29413-1029
- Copyright 2018, Rotary Club of Charleston. All rights reserved.