Memo To: All the Arm Chair Quarterbacks
Happy New Year!
Many thanks to all for the phone calls, e-mail messages,
cards and letters.
Doc Protheroe reported that they had the opportunity to
spend November 10th, at the Recruit Depot on PI
in celebration of our 230th birthday. The
weather was perfect and as an added attraction, graduation,
which is normally held on Friday, was moved up to Thursday
to further commemorate the anniversary, adding to the
festivities.
This change in date also provided those platoons graduating
an extra special day, as well as, the many family members
who have often come from far away to witness their sons and
daughters graduation day.
The last few birthdays the Depot has also put on a pageant
which most often depicts a moment in Marine Corps
history...Always interesting.
Of course they had to top off their day, in the mess hall,
chowing down on steak and lobster. They, as always,
made the attempt to save room for a double helping of
birthday cake. The attached menu shows the super meal.
He hopes that all goes well with all 613'ers and told me to
stay off the ice.
With the Xmas season coming on the scene Doc reported that
they would be on Hilton Head for the holidays. Their
family will be coming down to spend the holidays with them.
If the weather continues to hold up after the Xmas Season
they will consider going down to Punta Gorda in January for
a few months.
Verl Scott reported that he is in good shape although the
ground is covered with snow. He says hello to all.
Ray Hickey sends greetings to all, and at this time,
especially Holiday Greetings and Best Wishes for a better
New Year to All!
He reported that 2005 was not a good year for Betty and
himself. They both spent time in the hospital for
various types of medical treatments, some of which caused
more problems and a lot of time in the hospital plus home
recovery time. Even visiting the doctors office and sitting
in the waiting room caused Betty to pick up the flu bug.
This series of events took over nine months and now both of
them are trying to enjoy their old age by keeping busy,
cutting firewood and continuing to be ready to combat any
and all events that can erupt from another winter - snow and
colder weather.
Some satisfaction is that they do not have any hurricanes
and tornadoes, damaging earthquakes or other Mother Nature
disasters - not even flooding.
Jerry Gutshall reported that they are now settled in their
lovely upscale apartment where they can look out the windows
and watch someone else rake
“our”
leaves and snow shovel
“our”
snow. He and Peggy send their best to all.
Lloyd McDaniel says hello and regards to all. He
mentioned that his son would like for the both of them to go
to the opening of the Heritage Foundation next year.
Lloyd said that he told him he would have to wait for the
time and then make a determination. His son also
mentioned to him that he had met a WWII Marine Pilot who had
trained in the PBJ but never got sent over seas because of
his age and spent his stateside time as a training pilot.
His son is going to try and find out what outfit he was
with.
Mike Jacus sends his greetings to all. He sent along a
number of articles on a B-25 as published in their local
papers. These will be included in our newsletter.
This material doesn’t
get too much wide spread publicity since it concerns a plane
that was resurrected at Sugar Grove Airport, northwest of
Chicago.
Jim Brotherton sends his regards to all. All is well
with them in Daytona except for general health problems that
all seem to get once they achieve a certain age level.
Even his golfing buddy says that everything about him HURTS
and that which doesn’t
hurt - doesn’t
work! His son Jim, Jr., the Golf Pro was inducted into
the P.G.A. Golf Professional
“Hall
of Fame”
for outstanding work over the past 25 years as a Club Pro.
This honor is awarded each year out of 28,000 golf-club
professionals.
Willis Roose sent his Holiday Greetings to us and they will
be a part of this News Letter. He also said Happy
Holidays to all 613'ers.
RL Marx sends his greetings to all. He is still in
Iowa endeavoring to get ready for their annual trek to
Arizona and hopes to make it before the end of the year.
He wants to avoid the possibility of having to drive through
snow since he doesn’t
have front wheel drive on his car so he maintains a watch on
all weather bulletins. He showed off his knowledge of
Latin by describing various problems associated with a back
problem that doesn’t
want to disappear. This has slowed him down a little
but he doesn’t
think it will prevent him from making the trek.
Bob Geslain sends regards to all. He went to Parris
Island to see his grandson graduate. They now have
three generations in the Corps.
Cliff Willis called to say hello and greetings to all.
He reported that the weather in his section of the world is
terrible. They have had a lot of snow, 8-12", than
6-10" more, strong winds and a sudden shortage of
electricity when the wind blew down trees which in turn hit
the electrical wires and snapped them off the poles, and
then the poles themselves went down. They had been
without electricity for over a week and work crews were
still running behind schedule trying to correct the
problems.
George Comer says hello to all. He is still involved
with the work of keeping his farm going. Due to some
injuries received with a tractor he moves a bit slower than
usual but endeavors to maintain a schedule. He
remembers the repair work involved with the second plane
over the target at Ponape to make it flyable. There
was a lot of mechanical effort expended he recalled to
restore the strength of the fuselage which had been damaged
by explosives. This included the area occupied by the
Navigator.
George is also an avid reader of military history and he
mentioned several books that he has recently finished
reading. They covered USMC activity and some Civil War
events.
Dotti Roberson sent along an update on John. Starting
in April he found out he had a perforated gastric ulcer
brought on by prednisone he had been taking for a breathing
problem.
The required surgery was not performed properly, hence a
change of doctors, more surgery, more medical analysis, and
several close calls in his three month stay at the hospital
before he finally made it through. It is only by the
grace of God that John is here said Dotti. He is now
doing well and is able to work in his wood shop. For
this to have been his very 1st hospital stay in
his 81 years he really did it up. He never lost his
great spirit that he has always had. They both hope
that everyone has a Merry Christmas and Holiday season.
John Kennedy sends happy holidays greetings to all. He
was aware that I needed wood for my fireplace and mentioned
that he had some really fine wood available. He has a
40' oak tree that Wilma dropped in his backyard. It’s
free if I’ll
come and cut it up.
Bob and Helen Polakowski send greetings. They sent me
a new type Christmas card that allows one to color it
themselves. They were fighting a -26 wind chill and
decided to say inside and do some required chores where it
is warm.
Ned Carmichael sends seasons greetings to all from the land
of down under. He has retired, for the third time,
from the Goolva Christian Fellowship when the new Pastor was
installed. They have a small house boat moored in the
front yard and they usually take it out about every ten days
weather permitting and go on half day trips on the river
around Goolwa and Hindmarsh Island. They take any
where from 2-6 people with them but can and have taken up to
12 people. Ned said it isn’t
a large boat but large enough for their activity.
Received a message from Ostell Scarborough JR whose
Dad was in 613 as a metalsmith. He said I have
recently visited the web site for Marine Bombing Squadron
613. First congratulations on an excellent design and
a well deserved tribute to those who served so valiantly
during WWII. When his father returned from war in 1945
he never mentioned the war until very later in his life and
then in only small bits and pieces. He was curious
about his father’s
experience and wondered how he would go about uncovering any
information about his friends and experiences while station
in the Pacific. I have recommended his reading the
information available on the website which encompasses the
assignments that the squadron had. For any further
information perhaps members of the squadron who worked with
his Dad could correspond with him and give him more personal
data. His address is:
Ostell Scarborough Jr.
1519 Evans Pond Road
Greenwood, South Carolina 29649
He also said that he had about a dozen photographs that his
father had left in an old box. None of them are
notated with dates or names. They are photos of
Marines at camp and a few are photos of airplanes that have
been damaged or crashed. Since he said that he would
scan the photos and send them for review I suggested that he
send them to our Webmaster and Historian. Once they
are put into the Web page all can see them.
Don’t
forget our
“MYSTERY
PICTURE."
I was able to get in touch with Milt Schatan and he said
that he would like to see the picture and try to identify
the island location and the personnel.
The picture went out to him in the next mail.
