Silver Star recipient, wife to speak at Gunfighter Club

Published June 24, 2011
By Senior Airman Alyssa C. Wallace
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- The base chapel is scheduled to host a Silver Star recipient and his wife during separate events in July at the Gunfighter Club.

Navy Capt. (ret) Roy Cash will speak during the men's event titled "Top Gun to Gunfighter: Understanding Our True Freedoms" from 6-8 p.m. July 8 while his wife, Billie, will be the guest speaker from 10 a.m. to noon July 9 during the women's "Prayer Surge" event. The casual events will have several giveaways and refreshments, including wings and pizza for the men.

This will be the first men's event of its kind, and the second for the women.

"Here we have a guy who has been to combat, has walked the same paths that some of us have walked," said Chaplain (Maj.) Charles Montoya, 366th Fighter Wing deputy chaplain. "He will be able to be an encouragement to our men and some of the things they're going through. I saw the excitement last year with Billie, and to have her husband come is phenomenal. He's a hero, he's earned a Silver Star, he understands the military, he understands God, and of course, although it's a minor thing, he's the nephew of Johnny Cash!"

Captain Cash was deployed 13 out of 30 years in the Navy, and understands the mass deployments and being away from home. Yet as a couple, he and his wife continued to thrive - something that can be difficult for some military families.

"As a woman and wife, Billie was able to encourage her husband and say, 'You can do it, you can stay strong, keep motivated!' and she can help women understand who they are in the midst of change," said Laura Bondurant, base protestant religious education coordinator.

Ms. Bondurant feels the events are being held at a great time.

"It's our job here at the chapel to give encouragement, to help others stay strong in all aspects of life," Ms. Bondurant said. "We've got the men covered now, we've got the women covered -- we can have a good day and be encouraged. Sometimes just one word of encouragement can get us through the next day, the next week, or the next six months or through the rest of this deployment. I know right now a lot of spouses are coming in with the deployments and they're down right now - they're really down. It's been a hard deployment cycle these last few years.

Child Evangelism Fellowship will also hold an event for children between 5 and 12 during the women's event.

To sign up for the events or for more information, call the base chapel at 828-6417.

Navy Capt. Roy Cash (ret.)

Silver Star recipient, wife to speak at Gunfighter Club

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