Former State Senator and USMC combat pilot, the Honorable John Astle, held an "Invitation Only" inaugural book signing ceremony in Annapolis on the evening of March 29, 2022. Unveiled was Astle's personal account as a USMC combat pilot in Vietnam, aka "Jungle Combat".
Most know the good Senator, among other things, as the "First" Senate Co-Chair of the bi-partisan Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus and the "First" President of the National Assembly of State Sportsmen's Caucuses. Senator Astle is a true American military hero and avid sportsman. The HUNTERS OF MARYLAND were most honored to have been invited (pictured is Founder, Steve Keithley, receiving his signed copy).
Few know outside of Annapolis that Senator Astle and our Advocate, Bill Miles, have known each other almost 4 decades. Together, along with now President of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (Jeff Crane), created the bi-partisan Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus back in 2002. Among their many adventures afield together was a classic wild hog hunt on horseback in Texas. Astle and Miles both took down 300 plus pound wild hogs, respectively, with knives. At the book signing event, both recounted this experience in terms of being one of their most, if not all-time, intense adrenaline-rushed experiences of their life afield.
Founder Keithley and Advocate Miles -- joined by one of our own, Beth Hill, pictured herein as well with others -- had a unique opportunity to confer with the Honorable Bill Ferguson, President of the Maryland State Senate...seems we have much more in common with this good man than we thought.
All in all, it was a great evening in Annapolis with Senator Astle, et al.
