The USS Indianapolis - A Story of Human Resilience

April 17, 2025 (Thursday, 1900 EST)

Barry Levine, Author and Lecturer

Barry Levine’s presentation covers the incredible story of the W. W. II cruiser USS Indianapolis.  Topics will include the ship’s naval service before and during the war, including the July 1945 delivery of nuclear weapon components to Tinian on a top-secret mission.  The Indianapolis was sunk by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945, going down in about twelve minutes.  Almost 1,200 men were on board, but only 316 survived the ordeal - making this tragedy the worst at-sea loss in the Navy’s history.  Barry will discuss the nightmare the surviving sailors experienced in their four plus days in the Philippine Sea before their miraculous rescue.  He then recaps the court martial of the ship’s Captain, Charles McVay and the experiences of some of these survivors after they came home – with life lessons for all of us.

From Hartford, Connecticut, Barry Levine works part-time at the Henry Ford Museum (Dearborn, MI) and volunteers at the Michigan Flight Museum (Belleville, MI), formerly known as the Yankee Air Museum.  While his career has largely been in finance and accounting, he has also written two books (Yankee Air Museum and Michigan Aviation: People and Places that Changed History) and has been published in periodicals such as Michigan History, Aviation History, and Vietnam magazines – covering automotive, aviation, and the sea services, with both civilian and military topics. Levine has delivered numerous presentations on a wide range of subjects.

"Desert Storm - The Forgotten War"

May 22, 2025 (Thursday, 1900 EST)

MGySgt Abiud "Abi" Montes, USMC (ret.)

Abiud Montes enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on September 11, 1989, demonstrating a deep commitment to serving his country. His career in the Marine Corps has been defined by unwavering dedication, exemplary leadership, and a steadfast devotion to duty. In 1990, Montes deployed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for combat operations during Operation Desert Storm, serving with distinction as a TOW Gunner with the 8th Tank Battalion (Anti-Tank) TOW Company. His courage and expertise played a critical role in the success of his unit during this pivotal operation. Join us as we hear more about his experiences.

Throughout his distinguished 30-year Marine Corps career, Montes held varied leadership roles across multiple deployments. In 2003, he was activated for combat duty once again, serving as a Vehicle Commander with the 1st Marine Division, Regimental Combat Team (RCT-5), 2nd Tank Battalion, Scout Platoon during Operation Iraqi Freedom. His tactical expertise and leadership were instrumental in the unit’s main combat advance toward Baghdad...

After his combat deployment, Montes transitioned to the Selected Marine Corps Reserve, continuing his ethos of service. In 1994, he embarked on a second career as a Firefighter/Paramedic with the City of Hollywood Fire Department, where he served for 30 years until his retirement in 2024. His military background and honor guard expertise led to his selection as an Honor Guard member, representing the department at solemn ceremonies, including the 9/11 Memorial Ceremony in New York City, honoring fallen New York City firefighters.

In addition to his military and public safety careers, Montes is a highly sought-after inspirational speaker, delivering impactful presentations on leadership, faith, team building, empowerment, anti-terrorism, and conflict resolution. Committed to community service, Montes actively volunteers and leads numerous organizations. He currently serves as the President of the Navy League, Fort Lauderdale Council, and is a Past President of the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, Broward County Chapter, where he has contributed significantly since 2012.

"Henry Breault's Life and Times"

June 19, 2025 (Thursday, 1900 EST)

Ryan C. Walker, Author and Lecturer

As the subject of a microhistory, Medal of Honor recipient Henry Breault's life is reconstructed as lived through his Official Military Personnel File, census records, newspaper clippings, and connecting previous research from 1900-41. Breault's childhood, his enlistments in the Royal Navy Canadian Volunteer Reserve and the United States Navy and the conditions aboard the submarines are analysed using the perspective of an enlisted submariner in the Interwar Period where the submarine force found its identity. 

Celebrating 100 years since the first submariner received the Congressional Medal of Honor, dive into pre-World War II submarine history through the first comprehensive, analytical, investigation into the life and times of Henry Breault. This book provides a new template for microhistorical observations into subjects whose primary sources are official military documentation to help better understand enlisted submariners.

Ryan C Walker served as a submariner in the USN from 2014-19. After being honorably discharged, he worked full time in the defense industry and attended Southern New Hampshire University and University of Portsmouth, receiving in the former his BA in History and in the latter his MA in Naval History. Ryan is currently a PhD researcher at the University of Portsmouth and an Adjunct Naval History Professor at the United States Naval Community College. He has published several articles and chapters in edited collections on American submariners, American Naval-Capital towns, and British Private-Men-of-War.