On 15 January, ArkLaTex welcomed Maj Gen (ret) John Closner, former Air Force Reserve Commander, to its first luncheon of 2013. Maj Gen Closner served Active, Guard, and Reserve positions totaling 300 combat sorties and over 6,000 hours flying the A-10, F-100, F-105, and F-16 aircraft. He had a long and distinguished 32-year Air Force career, retiring in 1994 as Chief of the Air Force Reserve and Air Force Reserve Commander.
In his address entitled “Today’s Challenges We Are Facing as a Nation,” Maj Gen Closner provided his opinions of how American society has changed since WWII, the current problems we face, and their root causes--illustrating his points with entertaining and relevant stories from his rich personal experiences in the Air Force. With his direct speaking style and strong personal convictions, Maj Gen Closner unabashedly cited the significance of God and family throughout his life and the importance of good parenting on today’s youth. He concluded with a message of hope that as our Nation's leaders address the current political challenges, our Nation will ultimately be stronger as citizens determine their personal positions on the many issues that require debate.
