Roc’s Firehouse Grille

Tomorrow’s Air Commandos Lunch Takes on Added Importance

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

Tomorrow is our Air Commandos Lunch, but this one takes on some added importance for AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134.

Our Air Commandos Lunches are normally informal gatherings with no agenda, and that has not changed. Good food, good conversation and camaraderie are still very much the idea. But there is a great deal happening at Chapter 134 right now, and tomorrow gives us our first opportunity to get together and talk about it.

We have new Chapter leadership taking shape, modernization already underway, improvements in communications and organization, expanding aviation and Cyber Education activities, new programs and partnerships in development, and greater opportunities for our members to become directly involved.

So while there is no formal agenda tomorrow, there is certainly plenty to talk about.

We want to hear your questions, your ideas and your suggestions. More importantly, we want you to be part of what comes next. The direction and strength of Chapter 134 will depend on members getting involved, participating and bringing their experience and enthusiasm to the table.

Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, August 26 at 11:30 a.m. in our “Ready Room” at ROC’s Firehouse Grille, 36891 Cook Street in Palm Desert.

Everyone is welcome. There is no charge to attend. Simply pay for your own lunch and beverage.

This is a particularly good time to come to an Air Commandos Lunch. There is a lot happening, a lot to discuss, and a great deal ahead for AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134.

We hope to see you tomorrow.

Important Chapter Updates Begin August 26

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

We have made some important changes to what we’ll be discussing at our next AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134 gatherings. There is a great deal happening right now with Chapter operations, modernization, communications, organization and member involvement, along with the expansion of our aviation and Cyber Education activities and development of new programs and partnerships. We want our members to hear about what is already underway and, most importantly, be part of it.

Now we need your participation. Everyone is welcome.

Whether you’ve been a member for years or have recently joined us, we encourage you to attend our events in person as often as possible. Meeting face-to-face builds friendships, generates new ideas, and helps all of us move the Chapter forward together.

We have three great opportunities coming up, all beginning at 11:30 a.m. in what has become our “Ready Room” at ROC’s Firehouse Grille in Palm Desert. It is now equipped with our new 65-inch big screen for presentations, along with an improving sound system and faster internet service to enhance our meetings and gatherings.

Wednesday, August 26 is our Air Commandos Lunch. These lunches are informal, friendly, and have no agenda. But with so much happening at Chapter 134 right now, there will certainly be plenty to talk about. Come have lunch with us, join the conversation and hear more about what is taking place.

Wednesday, September 2 is our monthly Chapter Meeting and Lunch. This will be an important meeting focused on the work now underway throughout Chapter 134. We’ll discuss modernization of our organizational structure and procedures, improved communications and digital resources, preservation of our Chapter history, greater opportunities for member participation, expanded aviation and Cyber Education activities, and new programs and partnerships.

Then, on Wednesday, September 9, we’ll gather again for another Air Commandos Lunch. Every lunch brings new friendships, new stories, new ideas, and another opportunity to enjoy the company of fellow members and guests.

There is no charge to attend. Simply pay for your own lunch and beverage.

We hope you’ll join us for all three of these upcoming gatherings, or as many as you can. Your participation, ideas, and enthusiasm are what will help make AFA Palm Springs Chapter 134 even stronger as we continue to grow.

Thank You!

Air Commandos Lunch Tomorrow July 29, 2026

/ Ian L. Sitren / Leave a comment

Just a reminder that our Air Commandos Lunch is tomorrow, Wednesday, July 29, at 11:30 a.m. at ROC’s Firehouse Grille, 36891 Cook Street in Palm Desert.

The lunches are informal, friendly, no agenda, and a great opportunity to meet fellow members and guests over good food. There is no charge to attend. Simply pay for your own lunch and beverage. Whether you’re a long-time member, a veteran, currently serving, or simply interested in aviation, military history, and the Air and Space Forces, we would enjoy having you join us.

If this will be your first time attending, you’re especially welcome.

We hope to see you tomorrow!

If you’d like to learn how these lunches began and why they have become such a popular tradition for us, read The Story Behind Our Air Commandos Lunch. Thanks!

Air Commandos Tomorrow Lunch July 15th

/ Ian L. Sitren / 1 Comment

Just a reminder that our Air Commandos Lunch is tomorrow, Wednesday, July 15, at 11:30 a.m. at ROC’s Firehouse Grille, 36891 Cook Street in Palm Desert.

The lunches are informal, friendly, no agenda, and a great opportunity to meet fellow members and guests over good food. There is no charge to attend. Simply pay for your own lunch and beverage. Whether you’re a long-time member, a veteran, currently serving, or simply interested in aviation, military history, and the Air and Space Forces, we would enjoy having you join us.

If this will be your first time attending, you’re especially welcome.

We hope to see you tomorrow!

If you’d like to learn how these lunches began and why they have become such a popular tradition for us, read The Story Behind Our Air Commandos Lunch. Thanks!

The Story Behind Our Air Commandos Lunch

/ Ian L. Sitren / 4 Comments

Some of the best ideas begin almost by accident.

Our Air Commandos Lunches began during the COVID years as a simple way for members and friends to get together when many of our normal activities had come to a halt. The idea was straightforward. Pick a local restaurant, have lunch, enjoy good conversation, and keep people connected.

ROC’s Firehouse Grille in Palm Desert became the gathering place.

The name “Air Commandos” was chosen completely in jest. It was a satirical nickname for an unofficial lunch gathering, and somehow it stuck.

We are, of course, fully aware that there are real Air Commandos. They are the highly trained Airmen of the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command, carrying out demanding missions around the world.

Our Air Commandos have a very different mission.

We specialize in hamburgers, sandwiches, coffee, adult beverages, solving the world’s problems, and occasionally telling stories that improve with every retelling.

In a way, our lunches remind me of the famous Algonquin Round Table, the legendary gathering of writers, actors, critics, and humorists who met almost daily at New York City’s Algonquin Hotel from 1919 through 1929. Their conversations became famous for their wit, opinions, storytelling, and friendships. While our lunches certainly do not claim that kind of literary history, they share something just as important. Good conversation and the enjoyment of spending time with interesting people.

Many of our guest speaker ideas, community partnerships, and lasting friendships can trace their beginnings to conversations around those lunch tables. There is something about sharing a meal that encourages people to relax, exchange ideas, and simply enjoy one another’s company. There are no agendas, no speeches, and no formal programs. Just lunch and conversation.

Everyone is welcome. You do not have to be an Air & Space Forces Association member to attend.

We usually meet every other Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at ROC’s Firehouse Grille in Palm Desert. Current dates are always posted on the Calendar page here on our website. If you would like to confirm a date or have any questions, simply email us at AFAPalmSprings@outlook.com

We hope you’ll join us at a future Air Commandos Lunch. Pull up a chair, order your favorite lunch, and become part of the conversation. Thanks!

Every Other Wednesday at ROC’s

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Bacon Double smash. Photo-bombing bartender, additional charge!

Every other Wednesday at 11:30am, we have our unofficial Chapter lunch at ROC’s. We sometimes have presentations by one of our local heroes. Otherwise always good company, tall tales and great food. This is one of our favorites. No reservation required, just pay for your own lunch and beverage. Come join us! Next date is October 29th 2025. Send us an e-mail to AFAPalmSprings@outlook.com to check the schedule. Thanks!

ROC’s Firehouse Grille, 36891 Cook Street Palm Desert CA https://www.rocsfirehouse.com

River Rats Over North Vietnam: AFA Palm Springs Lunch Recap with Major Lee Cohen

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Yesterday’s AFA Palm Springs lunch at ROC’s Firehouse Grille was truly memorable. Sixteen of us filled the meeting room to hear one of our own, Major Lee Cohen, USAF (Ret.), share his experiences as a member of the famed River Rats during the Vietnam War.

Over 100 Missions in an EB-66
Major Cohen flew the EB-66, logging more than 100 combat missions in heavily defended skies over North Vietnam. His firsthand accounts gave us a vivid window into what it was like to fly electronic warfare missions day after day in some of the most hostile airspace in history.

Learning About the River Rats Association
For many of us, one of the most surprising and enlightening parts of Lee’s talk was learning about the River Rats Association, formally known as the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association. Most of the room was unfamiliar with the organization before his presentation.

Lee explained how the group began in 1967 when aircrews from across the services came together to share tactics, improve coordination, and build esprit de corps during the Vietnam War. They took their nickname from the Red River Valley airspace — one of the fiercest aerial battle zones of the conflict. What started as tactical collaboration grew into a lasting fraternity dedicated to preserving bonds of service, honoring sacrifices, and supporting fellow aircrew families.

Scholarship, Legacy & Museum
Lee also shared how, in 1970, the River Rats launched a scholarship program with the mission of “taking care of our own.” Since then, the program has awarded 1,468 scholarship grants, totaling more than $3,274,000 to the children, grandchildren, and spouses of Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Army aircrew members. This was new information to most of us and a powerful reminder of how their mission continues today.

The River Rats also maintain a museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, which preserves their history and tells the story of the men and women who flew in one of the most challenging air campaigns in U.S. history.

For more about the River Rats and their history, visit their website: https://www.river-rats.org

AFA Palm Springs Lunch Tomorrow – Stories from the River Rats

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Join us tomorrow, Wednesday, for our next AFA Palm Springs lunch. Our speaker will again be Major Lee Cohen, USAF (Ret.), one of our own members who many of you know.

This time, Major Cohen will be sharing his experiences as one of the “River Rats”—the pilots who flew high-risk missions over North Vietnam. The River Rats were known for their courage, skill, and close brotherhood, and Lee’s firsthand stories promise to be both moving and illuminating.

Major Cohen is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and decorated combat pilot. He flew the EB-66 electronic warfare “Destroyer” and other aircraft during the Vietnam War, carrying out missions in some of the most contested airspace of the conflict. He later served in leadership roles and continued in the Air Force Reserve. In retirement, he has stayed active in veteran and aviation circles, bringing his experiences to audiences everywhere.

Location: ROC’s Firehouse Grille, 36891 Cook Street, Suite 10, Palm Desert
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Cost: No charge for attendance — just purchase your own lunch.

As always, lunch will offer great company, spirited conversation, and an opportunity to hear directly from one of our members who lived an extraordinary slice of Air Force history.

We look forward to seeing you there. Thanks!

AFA Air Commandos Lunch Recap – Maj. Lee Cohen Shares His Honor Flight Experience

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On Wednesday, June 18, the Palm Springs Chapter of the Air Force Association hosted Maj. Lee Cohen, USAF (Ret.) as our featured speaker at our Air Commandos Luncheon at ROC’s Firehouse Grille in Palm Desert.

Maj. Cohen shared stories from his recent journey with Honor Flight Southland Mission 18, a trip to Washington, D.C., with fellow veterans. The Honor Flight experience included visits to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the World War II Memorial, and Arlington National Cemetery—culminating in an emotional “Welcome Home” reception at LAX.

For Maj. Cohen, a veteran of 119½ combat missions in Vietnam, this trip served as both tribute and healing. For those in attendance, his presentation offered insight into what the Honor Flight means to veterans.

One of the touching moments shared was how each veteran received a bag filled with handmade cards and letters from local schoolchildren—many expressing gratitude, drawing American flags, and writing simple but powerful messages like “Thank you for your service.”

About Honor Flight
The Honor Flight Network is a nonprofit organization that honors America’s veterans by providing free trips to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials dedicated to their service. The program focuses on veterans from WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.

Honor Flight Southland, which coordinated Maj. Cohen’s flight, serves veterans from across Southern California and relies on volunteers and donations to make each mission possible. From airport send-offs to school letters, the experience is designed to give these veterans the tribute they never received.

Thank you to Maj. Lee Cohen for sharing this journey and for his decades of service to the United States Air Force.

For more information or to get involved, visit:
https://www.honorflightsouthland.org

AFA Air Commandos Lunch – Maj. Lee Cohen’s Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

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Join Us – AFA Air Commandos Lunch: Major Lee Cohen’s Honor Flight

On Wednesday, June 18, we welcome Maj. Lee Cohen, USAF (Ret.), for a special AFA Air Commandos luncheon at ROC’s Firehouse Grille in Palm Desert. He’ll be sharing highlights from his recent Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., where veterans visited memorials in their honor and experienced a long-overdue welcome home.

Maj. Cohen’s story is one of service, sacrifice, and reflection—from the Vietnam War and Red River Rat sorties to being recognized decades later during this moving tribute to veterans.

Date: Wednesday, June 18
Location: ROC’s Firehouse Grille, 36891 Cook St., Palm Desert, CA
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
No RSVP required

There is no event charge—just pay for your own food and beverage.

This is a unique chance to hear a veteran’s powerful journey from combat missions to an Honor Flight homecoming. All are welcome—bring a friend or fellow aviation enthusiast.