The Adventurers' Club of Los Angeles

April 1, 2010 - Bus Cornelius - Experiences of World War II

Bus Cornelius will share his varied experiences of WWII while assigned to General Patton's Mobil Ordnance Group. Bus will tell of his adventures while following General Patton in North Africa, building a POW camp for the Germans and Italians and using them to assist in prepping the daily arrivals of the crated military vehicles and there assembly before being assigned for combat units. On one occassion 600 tanks were sent to Russia via Iran.

Bus worked with the OSS men, The Red Ball Express, delivered tanks to the front, and captured a German supply depot. You won't want to miss Bus relate his story of walking into a bar in France where he and some buddies wanted only to have a beer, but they encountered some German soldiers who were doing the same thing.

The Adventurers' Club of Los Angeles

April 8, 2010 - Major General William J. Mall, Jr, USAF (ret.) - Grenada Invasion

Ride with MajGen William Mall for a front seat account of what it was like to be first in with the special forces at the Grenada invasion landing. A cold war warrior who flew and commanded during some of our Country's most threatening times.

Major General William J. Mall, Jr, USAF (ret.) began his military career with a commission as a second lieutenant From the Reserve Officer Training Program at the University of Pittsburgh in 1954. After graduation from pilot training at Greenville Air Force Base, Mississippi, first assignment was to the 310th Bomb Wing, Schilling AFB, KS. flew strategic bombers. Attended Air Command and Staff College, graduating in 1966.

Following graduation was assigned to the 436th Military Airlift Wing, flying the C-141 jet cargo plane. From Dec. 1970 to Jan. 1972 was stationed in Vietnam at Bien Hoa and Phan Rang Air Bases and at Korat Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand. During the Vietnam War, flew 156 combat missions and more than 900 combat hours in 3 different types of aircraft. Upon return to United States, was assigned to Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C.

Returned to the Military Airlift Command in 1974 as Deputy Commander of Operations at Norton AFB, Ca. Transferred to Scott AFB, IL and from 1977 to 1978 was Inspector General for the Military Airlift Command. Then returned to Dover AFB, Del. as Commander of the 436th Military Airlift Wing, the nation’s only all C-5A wing. Returned to Scott AFB, Il, as Commander of the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service in 1981.

In 1983, became first Commander of 23rd Air Force (Combat Rescue and Special Forces) and later that year, commanded the Air Force Special Forces during the invasion of Grenada.

Culminated 32 year Air Force career with Pentagon assignment as Air Force Director of Personnel Plans, responsible for planning and policy to assure Air Force the quantity and quality of personnel to meet its worldwide mission.

Command Pilot with over 8000 flying hours in 43 different aircraft, including four different helicopters, from Huey to Blackhawk. Flew the prototype of the CV-22 Osprey now coming into service in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Awards and Decorations: Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Air Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm.

Education: BBA, University of Pittsburgh. MBA, The George Washington University. Graduate of the JFK School at Harvard University Senior Managers in Government Program.

The Adventurers' Club of Los Angeles

April 15, 2010 - Nancy Caruso - Get Inspired!

Nancy Caruso is a marine biologist and Founder of Get Inspired! a non profit organization dedicated to inspiring passion and purpose through the discovery of arts and sciences. Nancy has been directing a project for eight years to restore Orange County's coastal underwater kelp forests. Through this program, Nancy teaches students to grow giant kelp in their classrooms and then trains volunteer divers to plant it and monitor it in the ocean. Over the last 8 years, Nancy has taught 4000 students and trained 250 volunteer divers.

For more information about Nancy and her programs please visit www.getinspiredinc.org

The Adventurers' Club of Los Angeles

April 22, 2010 - Mike Leum - Train Like Your Life Depends On It,
Because Someday Mine Might Depend On You

Mike Leum is the Reserve Chief of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Search and Rescue Division Reserve Forces Bureau. Mike will provide a description of the Search and Rescue program, including the application and training process, and an overview of the types of rescues the Search and Rescue team gets involved in.

The Adventurers' Club of Los Angeles

April 29, 2010 - Ladies Night
Yue Chi - Drive the Silk Road: From Istanbul to Beijing

Up Close to Different Cultures through Overland Expeditions

Ever since Yue’s talk on the Silk Road overland expedition two years ago at the club, she has been working on developing new overland expedition programs with new routes and destinations. In 2008, she and her teammates operated a 4x4 adventure throughout South Africa and Swaziland. In 2009, she travelled on her own across Sudan into Egypt to check on roads and en route facilities. She has also familiarized herself with Mozambique, Lesotho and Botswana. In March this year, an overland program in Nepal was conducted.

The renowned "Drive the Silk Road: from Istanbul to Beijing" overland journey has entered its fifth year of operation. An European route from Munich to Istanbul has been developed and the countries en route are Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Turkey; at the end of the Silk Road trip, from Beijing to Irkutsk will bring travelers driving across the Mongolia Gobi and prairies, through Genghis Khan’s home land all the way to Lake Baikal in Siberia of remote Russia.

Through these overland expeditions, travelers will be brought up close to the local culture and lives, discover the unexpected and unveiled. This time at the club, Yue will talk about these expeditions through a fine selection of slide. Photos were taken firsthand through each trip. For more information about Yue Chi and the overland programs that her company offers, please visit www.aast-expeditions.com.

Born and brought up in Northeastern China, educated at Beijing University with a Master degree in history, married to a Zimbabwe-born South African adventurer, Yue has also travelled overland in South and Southern Africa, Sudan, Morocco as well as led expeditions in Tibet and Nepal.

Audience will find Yue’s presentation on these overland expeditions inspirational, educational and entertaining.

Website: www.DriveTheSilkRoad.com
Website: www.aast-journeys.com