Features Flight Of Four Lands On Arthur Ashe Stadium Court By CAPT Joellen Drag-Oslund, USNR (Ret.)
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t’s “Oh Dark Thirty” on September 2, 2023, and I’m one of a handful of active duty and former military members exiting our shuttle van at the President’s Gate at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, NY. Our very long day at the U.S. Open tennis is about to begin for what will become one of our most thrilling and memorable experiences ever. On Saturday of Labor Day weekend, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) celebrates "LT Joe Hunt U.S. Open Military Appreciation Day." LT Hunt graduated from the Naval Academy and is the only tennis player in history to win the U.S. National Boys’, Junior, Collegiate and Men’s Singles titles. He won the U.S. Nationals in 1943 while on leave from the Navy. Two years later, he died in service to his country when his fighter plane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean.
RADM Shoshana Chatfield, USN, (SH-3, CH-46D, MH-60S) LT Audrey Mackovjak, USN (F/A-18E), LT Julia Baily, USN (MH-60S, CMV-22B), and CAPT Joellen Drag Oslund, USN (Ret.), pose as military veterans are honored on court.
Throughout this year’s U.S. Open, the USTA commemorated and celebrated "50 Years of Equal Prize Money" for all its tennis competitors. And for their Military Appreciation Day, they also saluted "50 Years of Women Flying in the U.S. Navy."
Each year, the U.S. Open invites veterans from all the U.S. military branches to watch day and evening session matches; participate in pre-match coin tosses; take part in a tennis clinic in Arthur Ashe Stadium; and other opportunities on-site. Upon our arrival, we were escorted through the players locker room and down the same hall that the players walk through to reach the Arthur Ashe Stadium Court. When we emerged on the court, the experience was a lot to take in and we all had to pause for a moment and pinch ourselves to be sure we were really there. We were then joined by Joe Hunt, LT Hunt’s great nephew, and treated to a 90-minute tennis clinic. I was honored to be joined by RADM Shoshana Chatfield (SH-3, CH-46D, MH-60S) and LTs Julia Baily (MH-60S, CMV-22B) and Audrey Mackovjak (F/A-18E) to tell our stories as Navy women pilots, past and present. It’s worth noting that the LTs were also Naval Academy graduates and former members of the varsity tennis team. After the clinic and breakfast in the players lounge, we ventured out onto the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. With them wearing their summer whites and flight suits, and me in my 50+ year old Navy leather flight jacket, we attracted a lot of attention and interest. We were proud to interact directly with hundreds of guests and to Rotor Review #162 Fall '23
be seen by thousands of spectators. Everyone we met and spoke with was very interested to hear of our experiences, ask questions about today’s Navy, and thank us for our service. For the rest of the day, we were hosted by Brian Hainline, USTA Chairman and President, and met several Board Members, other USTA leaders from around the country, and distinguished guests. RADM Chatfield and I were warmly received as we presented remarks to over 200 guests at lunch and dinner. Other engagements included an opportunity to meet with and answer questions posed by tournament referees and umpires, several of whom were veterans. LT Baily and LT Mackovjak were the stars of that meet and greet. We also met with veterans, military families and military support groups Black Veterans for Social Justice, Blue Star Families, Four Block, Hope for the Warriors, and Zero Mills in the Veteran's Suite and a photo op at the Artur Ashe statue on the Tennis Center grounds. The Navy's "50 Years of Women Flying in the U.S. Navy" celebration was a perfect complement to the USTA's theme "Commemorating 50 Years of Equal Prize Money," an achievement championed by Billie Jean King in 1973. Board members of the USTA were so inspired by the Navy presence and our remarks, they rearranged the schedule for Labor Day to make a meet and greet with Billie Jean for RADM Chatfield and me. Getting to meet BJK was incredible--a brave and tenacious trailblazer in her own right and a hero of mine. We fought 66
