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MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- In the dynamic realm of modern warfare, adaptability is critical to maintaining an edge on the battlefield. Weapons Airmen assigned to the 23rd Maintenance Group are ensuring our A-10C Thunderbolt II pilots remain adaptable by incorporating training on the Miniature Air-Launched Decoy.

MALDs are designed to mimic other aircraft, making them invaluable assets in diverting enemy fire away from pilots. Prior to training with these decoys, Team Moody weapons load crews practice arming A-10s with MALDs to bolster pilots’ ability to safely navigate hostile environments.

“At this point, it feels like second nature loading the MALDs,” said Staff Sgt. Brian Dorsey, 74th Fighter Generation Squadron lead crew chief. “Luckily, the loading process is very similar to a couple other munitions that most of us, experienced Airmen, are familiar with. For those who may not have that experience, it's still very easy.”

When MALDs are fired they deceive defense systems and enemy cruise missiles giving the illusion the decoy is an aircraft. MALDs can mimic the signal of various aircraft such as F-16s, B-52s, and F-35s. To get the decoy in the air, weapons Airmen quickly adapted to loading the new munition onto the A-10 and continuously work to keep it a potent force in warfare scenarios.

“Now the A-10 has more munitions and can support whatever the mission tasking is demanding,” said Carlos Carias-Rodriguez, 476th Maintenance Group supervisor. “The A-10s can now support other airframes by launching these decoys, or do what it's best known for, which is close air support. I believe this strategic move is what helps employ the A-10s mission going forward.”

The load crews – Airmen and evaluators – are working hard to continuously ensure that when loading the MALDs and other munitions, are able to be used in the capacity.

“It's hours of tedious watching and evaluating for us,” said Master Sgt. Mark Webber, 23rd Maintenance Group weapons standardization superintendent. “Making sure these crews know how to load every munition correctly and safely, so when the pilot pushes the button, the bomb or munition they're launching hits the target, or in the MALD’s case, draws the attention of enemy defense systems away from our A-10 and ally aircraft.”

Webber elaborated that incorporating the additional munitions to the A-10 demands Airmen to acquire a new mastery of skills. Nevertheless, load crews have demonstrated commendable dedication to guarantee the success of future missions.

Together, these Airmen play a pivotal role in keeping our A-10s prepared for the challenges of tomorrow's conflicts, exemplifying their commitment to staying ahead of the curve and showcasing how Tigers lead.

Anna Maria Thomas remembers dancing the night away on River Drive as brass bands played along the Wilmington River. It’s been decades since the Town of Thunderbolt hosted its Blessing of the Fleet festival, a three-day affair that paid homage to the city’s shrimping history.

Shrimping and fishing boats would fill the marsh-lined river, waiting to be blessed by the Catholic bishop before heading out to sea.

“Our help is in the name of the Lord,” were the priest’s first words before wishing the fisherman a bountiful catch. That’s according to the 1998 brochure of the last celebration that took place. Thomas keeps the paper pamphlet in her car.

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According to Thomas, the Blessing of the Fleet, which began in 1949, was "hard work, but a lot of fun." It was the culmination of the sweat and effort of a small group of dedicated Thunderbolt residents.

“It was just fantastic. Both sides of the River Drive block was filled, vendors were everywhere,” Thomas recalled.

For more than 20 years, the town, including Thomas who served as mayor in the early 2000s, had tried to bring some semblance of the ritual back, but it never quite gathered enough momentum. This year, after a two-month sprint of preparation and planning, Thunderbolt is reviving the Blessing of the Fleet.

The event will take place on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. along the original stomping grounds, River Drive. Live music, entertainment, a beer garden and vendors of all kinds will be present.

The parade, which will feature local businesses, nonprofits and public service groups, will kick off the celebration. The blessing by Bishop Parkes of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist will take place at 4 p.m.

“We’re paying homage to the people who paved the way for us to have the town that we have today," said Mayor Dana Williams, "And also to preserve and promote our history and our heritage of being tied to the water."

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Thunderbolt’s origins hearken back to the height of the local shrimping and fishing industry. The community grew along the Wilmington River’s banks. Traditional fishing cottages are still the dominant architectural style in its neighborhoods.

Williams acknowledged that the small town has lost that sense of community over the years. The population has gradually dwindled to its current 2,500. Once-active neighborhood associations have aged out or were stamped out by the pandemic.

But the decline had begun decades before, with the dissipation of the Blessing of the Fleet being one of its biggest indicators. A combination of an aging community; development along River Drive, where the festival was held; and an overall decline in the local shrimping industry had all contributed to the fading of tradition.

But Williams, as well as other city officials and residents, have been striving to thread the once close-knit community back together again.

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"It falls into what was my biggest platform, and council as well: getting out and meeting your neighbors, knowing them and being there for them when they need you," said Williams.

The other day, Williams said he witnessed several residents picking up scraps of trash off the streets. They were anticipating the return of the Blessing of the Fleet, he said, and wanted to help beautify the town.

Michael Smith, who had grown up in Thunderbolt from the ‘50s to ‘90s, helped organize the Blessing of the Fleet as part of the city's volunteer firefighter crew. He remembers setting up arts and crafts booths and standing in the river to help regulate the boat parade. Every year, they’d host different events such as foot races and dunking booths.

But just like Thomas, he cherished memories of dancing on the street during a summery Friday evening the most, and listening to the bands he helped pick out in the weeks before as an event organizer.

Smith describes the event as being a labor of love.

"It would take months to get everything organized, there was a lot of people involved in making it happened," said Smith.

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After 22 years, the Blessing of the Fleet’s celebrations will look different. The river won’t hold the 50 or so boats as it once had. There’s maybe half a dozen pontoons and other recreational vessels docked along the banks now. Anyone sailing in the river is welcome to receive their blessing, though, said Williams.

What’s important, Williams notes, is that the Thunderbolt is bringing back its most beloved tradition after decades of pleas from residents. The mayor credits city staff and Simply Savannah Marketing for the expedited preparations.

“We’re rekindling that sense of community,” said Williams. "This is just the start, this is the beginning.”

Nancy Guan is the general assignment reporter covering Chatham County municipalities. Reach her at nguan@gannett.com or on Twitter @nancyguann.

During the Civil War, the city of Savannah was protected by a number of forts and water batteries, most notably Fort Jackson and Fort Pulaski on the Savannah River.

But there's another Civil War-era fort that's rarely talked about - one that played a role in America's defense as recently as World War II.

Fort Thunderbolt - also known as the Thunderbolt Battery - was designed to help protect the city against Union forces approaching from Whitemarsh Island.

An 1861 entry in the personal diary of Savannahian, journalist and Confederate soldier Cornelius R. Hanleiter noted the location of the Battery at Thunderbolt as "on a high bluff, commanding the river at this point."

Two years later, the fort was visited by Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, whoinspected the Phoenix Riflemen of the 63rd Georgia Regiment, one of the oldest volunteer militia companies in Savannah.

Following the war, the area underwent a variety of incarnations, including the Thunderbolt Casino, which burned down in 1930, and the Thunderbolt Yacht Basin, which opened in 1939. The yacht basin would quickly play a new role in the country's defense when, as early as November, 1941, it was reported that the Army Air Corps stationed at Hunter Field had three "crash boats" stationed there, with more anticipated.

Crash boats, more formally known as rescue boats, were deployed to save air crews who crashed or had to ditch their planes over water.

By 1942, the air corps had acquired the yacht basin for use as a Rescue Boat Station in support of its airborne bombing and gunnery training.

The Thunderbolt station housed the crash rescue boats of Operations Platoon No. 9 of the 922nd Quartermaster Co., eventually becoming part of the Third Air Force Staging Wing at Hunter Field until the mid-1950s.

In 1965 William E. Honey and the Latex Construction Company purchased the property to support the Company's dredging operations. Through the ensuing years, the facilities have been used by Lockheed Shipbuilding Company to construct military watercraft and by Palmer-Johnson for repairs to private and commercial vessels. More recently, Thunderbolt Marine, Inc., has resumed operations on the site for service and repair of luxury yachts.

But Bill Palmer, whose father, the late Staff Sergeant William J. Palmer, served at the Rescue Boat Station and later settled in Thunderbolt, didn't want to see that important piece of the town's history fade away.

"My father, who was serving with the Army Air Corps at Hunter Field, had a merchant marine background," he said. "When he learned about the Rescue Boat Station, he immediately got a transfer there. He married a local girl and settled into life in Thunderbolt, which is where I was raised."

Always interested in military history, the younger Palmer had started doing research for family members when he wasn't busy traveling for International Paper.

"It occurred to me that I should be researching ways to tell the story and preserve the history of Thunderbolt's contribution to World War II," he said.

A commemorative marker seemed like the best bet, buthe quickly learned that individuals cannot sponsor historic markers. He went to the town of Thunderbolt and the marina owners, who were immediately on board.

After several years of careful research, he presented his findings to the Georgia Historical Society. The historic marker was approved early this year and will be installed in a small park just outside of the boatyard fence.

A dedication has been set for Oct. 7 and Palmer is reaching out to any veterans of the Rescue Boat Station or their relatives to be a part of the ceremony. He can be reached at 912-897-4329.

Senior business reporter Mary Carr Mayle covers the ports for the Savannah Morning News and savannahnow. She can be reached at 912-652-0324 or at mary.mayle@savannahnow.com.

While the Saturday morning sun beat down on Savannah during one of its hottest weekends this summer, Maria Vaughan and her husband Michael Wedum chatted outside to Thunderbolt residents for hours about the benefits of recycling their food waste.

The couple, co-founders of Savannah-based food waste composting program Code of Return (COR) Compost, kicked off a pilot program with Thunderbolt as part of the city's larger conservation effort in the works. After the weekend, Vaughan said they had eight resident sign-ups and at least three restaurants willing to participate in the 60-day composting pilot.

Not only is it an easy way to combat climate change, Vaughan explained, but it's also, ultimately, cost effective for the city.

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Edward Drohan, Thunderbolt council member, said he is in the early stages of formulating a conservation plan for the town of about 2,600 and cites slowly increasing water costs as one of the reasons for doing so.

"There's a dual purpose," said Drohan. "There's an overarching conservation goal, which has to do with being good to the earth. Whereas it relates to the water system, it is known that compostables that go down the drain are damaging to the system. Therefore, compostables that don't go down the drain actually help the system last longer and work better."

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"I never thought about composting because I only thought about it in the context of a garden," said Stephen Yost, a Thunderbolt resident. "Knowing that somebody is collecting stuff, it helped spark that idea that maybe we should be doing this."

Vaughan and Wedum laid out the process for households that want to participate: All it takes is throwing your food scraps into a different container instead of in the trash where it will be taken to methane-producing landfills or down the sink where it's bound to damage pipes.

COR Compost, which started its operations in 2019, has had over 600 resident sign-ups and 20 commercial accounts, most of which are downtown Savannah restaurants.

Residents who sign up receive a commercial food-grade bucket in which they can place their kitchen waste. They can either drop the contents off at the Forsyth Farmers' Market every Saturday at COR Compost's stand or at one of three self-serve stations across the city. Curbside pick-up is also available to residents for a fee.

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Those who use the newest self-serve station by Wesley Oak United Methodist Church in Thunderbolt can receive a free cup of coffee from Finches Sandwiches and Sundries, the restaurant across the street.

Those who would still like to sign up can do so online (corcompost.com/signup) or at the Forsyth Farmers' Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

"We had a lot of residents from the islands interested, but logistically it didn't make sense," said Vaughan.

Now, with a closer drop-off station in Thunderbolt, Chatham County residents on the east side can participate much easier.

Town restaurants, Finches, Chiriya's Thai Cuisine and Tubby's Tank House will be taking part in a free two-month composting trial, which is about how long it takes for food waste to fully decompose on COR Compost's farm. The usual process takes four to five months, but COR's solar-powered aeration system cuts that time in half, said Vaughan.

At the end of the trial, restaurants will get to see their previous food waste in composted form — a dark, nutrient-rich soil.

Depending on the results from this trial period, COR Compost and Atlantic Waste, which handles waste management for the city, could potentially coordinate and work with businesses in a more formal arrangement.

"They're pioneering this right now for the restaurants," said Finches co-owner Rebecca Matthews. "There's been nobody else who's approached us and said, 'hey there's a better way.'"

Matthews, who composts at home already, said she's excited to start incorporating it into her business, as well.

"For our millennial toast that we do, which is an avocado toast, we go through like a hundred avocados every couple of days, so that's a lot of waste," said Matthews.

Chiriya Moore, who runs Chiriya's Thai Cuisine, said she does her own composting in her garden behind the restaurant, but is participating in the pilot program because she believes the city needs to do more with recycling and composting.

"I don't throw anything away," she said as she crushed a bag of egg shells beneath her feet and gestured towards the dirt, which, along with the egg shells, is speckled with scraps of vegetables and banana leaves.

"If you don't do it now [recycling, composting], it's going to become a big problem," said Moore. "I do what I can now."

Saving dollars and the earth

According to the USDA, a person, on average, produces about a pound of food waste per day.

Using conservative estimates based on that statistic, the town of Thunderbolt produces about 91,000 pounds (or 45.5 tons) of food waste per year that goes down the drain, said Drohan.

Extrapolate that to the rest of the county, and that's a lot of food waste in the pipes.

A study from Georgia Southern University's Center for Business Analytics and Economic Research found that the city of Savannah produced about a total of 60,900 tons of compostable waste and, within that, 22,800 tons of food waste in 2016.

Right now, COR composts about 480 tons on their one acre farm.

"With the right support for this movement we could take away 10% of the city landfill's compostable material on just the first tier of becoming a commercially regulated facility," said Wedum.

Along with composting, the city is mapping out a plan to conserve water, a long-term effort that municipalities around Savannah are working on.

"For a water system, you've got to be thinking 50 years down the road," said Drohan, "you can't let it get to a point where, it doesn't matter how much money you have or how hard you work, you're going to have a crisis."

On a local level, Drohan said this will save Thunderbolt resident's tax dollars. Conserving water means drawing less from the City Savannah as well, which costs about 2.5 times as much as the city's main source of water.

"We're trying to avoid damage to the infrastructure, we're trying to stretch tax dollars and we're trying to do well for the earth," said Drohan.

Vaughan echoes that idea when it comes to composting. In addition to environmental benefits, it can be a fiscal advantage.

"There's actually a large revenue that we're missing out on by just throwing it in a landfill," said Vaughan. "We can literally take half of what our waste is and turn it into a product. This is the solution to reamend our soil and have something for the future."

COR Compost received a donation of 40 composting buckets. Those who would like to sign up for free can do so while supplies last by visiting corcompost.com/signup. To support the organization, go to corcompost.com/support.

Nancy Guan is the general assignment reporter covering Chatham County municipalities. Reach her at nguan@gannett.com or on Twitter @nancyguann.

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Cliff Miller walked the timeworn halls of Thunderbolt Elementary School on Sunday afternoon and reminisced with the staff, students and alumni who gathered for a closing ceremony.

"I was in Mrs. McCracken's fifth-grade class right here," he said. "Mrs. McCracken used to let my dog come in and sit with me during the day. Everywhere I went, the dog went, except the lunch room. She wouldn't allow that."

Sixty-one-year-old Thunderbolt School will close at the end of the 2016-2017 school year. Students from the old school in the small fishing village will attend the newly constructed Low Elementary school next year. Passage of an education sales tax extension in 2011 enabled the district to generate $30.6 million to rebuild the Low Elementary campus large enough to accommodate both the Low and Thunderbolt student populations.

The Thunderbolt community came out to say goodbye Sunday.

"This is the only school I've ever gone to and to me it is my family," said Aiden Mason Harvey, a Thunderbolt student.

Thunderbolt's first public school was a one-room school house. When it opened in 1890, there was one teacher with 68 students. Nancy Edinger Hiers remembers when the current school first opened in 1956.

"I was in third grade and Mrs. Carter was my teacher," Hiers said. "I remember coming over from the old school on Mechanics Avenue."

Her cousin Beth Feltovic Toomer lived just across from Thunderbolt School and went to school there from first through sixth grade.

"It was a lot different then," she said. "This gym wasn't here and the library was just an old classroom. I've got certificates for helping to put books away."

Current Principal Susan Ambrose organized Sunday's ceremony like a reunion. Former students were given alumni ribbons. Students decorated the halls with photos and school history details. Classrooms were opened so teachers could reminisce with their past students. Former faculty and staff returned to take one last look at the leaky, flood-prone school they had all grown to love.

Past principals Camille O'Neill, Shannon Floyd, Vicki Bryant and Kim Newman returned for the celebration and Jacob Wilson, III, who was hired earlier this year to serve as principal of the merged Low and Thunderbolt student bodies, attended the ceremony as well.

Thunderbolt parent Elizabeth Powell said she is sad that a school that created so many happy memories is closing, but she is happy the large new Low School will be able to provide even more children with love, care and a firm academic foundation.

Markayla Green ran up and hugged teacher Emily Morgan. She was in Morgan's third grade class when she first started teaching at Thunderbolt.

"Thunderbolt was just what I imagined when I changed careers and went back to school to get a master's degree in special education," Morgan said. "Thunderbolt was just what I imagined teaching should be. There will never be another school like it."