Memo
To:
The Marine Patriots
All
of you know that the reunion will be held from 5 May
through 8 May 2004. The Committee and myself will
be on hand to welcome all members as they arrive.
If
you are flying in please call Beach Boy Trolley
1-850-494-2270 from your home and let them know the Air
Line and what time your flight will be arriving so that
they can be on hand to pick you up. Remember the
fare is $10.00 per person. (Note: Try
1-888-462-1026 first this should be there “800" number”)
Remember to call the Reunion Reservations Desk at NAS
Pensacola and place your reservations for the year 2004
VMB 613 Reunion. Members have already started
to make reservations so please continue the march.
Telephone number for Reservations is 1-850-456-8676.
REUNION 2004 - MEETING OF OLD FRIENDS
|
MEMBERS
WHO HAVE MADE REUNION RESERVATIONS OR SENT MESSAGE
THEY WILL BE THERE |
|
Kehr, William & Marian |
Dotson, Ray M. |
Noble, Wayne & Freda |
|
Alling, Ed & Jean |
Evans, Dottie |
Ohlson, Alex & Jennie |
|
Beggs, Rick & Katherine |
Honan, Thomas & Margaret |
Richardson, Stan & Peaches |
|
Barber, William |
Hudspeth, Sandy & Marie |
McDearmon, George & Doris |
|
Beggs, John & Laura |
Garls, James D. |
Rudewick, Bernice |
|
Beggs, Vernon and Anne |
Gehris, Arden |
McDonald, Joseph & Rita |
|
Clay, D.C. |
Gutshall, Jerry and Peggy |
Felton, Pat |
|
Coleman, Casey & Mary |
Kennedy, John M. Sr. |
Russell, Calvin & Joyce |
|
Comer, George |
Kennedy, John M. Jr. |
Siergewicz, John & Doris |
|
Cullom, Marty |
Knapp, Charles F. |
Packard, Jim & Buzz
|
|
Cullom, Beth |
Lewis, James & Mary Jane |
Polakowski, Bob & Helen |
|
Beck, Jordan R. |
Marx, R.L. & Alice |
Protheroe, Alan & Jane |
|
Cummings, Foster & Doris |
McCune, Don & Margie |
Robinson, Frank & Betty |
|
Delviccio, Leonard & Teresa |
McDaniel, Lloyd |
Yanacek, Robert |
|
Dotson, Cliff |
McDaniel, Thomas |
|
REMINDER: Since the Air Station is an active duty Naval
Base all squadron military retirees should remember to
bring along their Military I.D. cards to show to the
S.P.’s at the Main Gate when they enter.
I
will submit a listing of all non-military personnel to
the Station Police Chief so that it can be used to allow
quick processing of other reunion attendees.
WEB NEWS
Here
is some good news on VMB 613, Robert Yanacek, who is our
webmaster has informed me that members can pull up the
VMB 613 website at any time from now on. Although
he is still editing his effort will not be interrupted.
The
address is
http://www.vmb-613.com. One can also pull up
GOOGLE and ask for VMB 613.
Members who are on the squadron e-mail list have already
received the above address. Members who are not on
e-mail list and do have a computer available shouldn’t
have any problems in pulling down the address. If
one doesn’t have a personal computer go the local public
library and ask the librarian how to pull down the
address, also ask how to use the mouse and the pointer
and you are on the way to a few hours of history.
Several members have already e-mailed me to say what a
great job Robert Yanacek has done. They know that
it was a task that took a lot time. To list all
the squadron members (570 names) and the flight crews
was a major effort in itself. Some members said
that they spent well over an hour and will have to back
for more reading.
Robert is presently working on converting about 20
Aircraft Action Reports to special files so that they
can be put onto the webste.
Robert told me that he is only about 33% completed so we
will have an outstanding file for review by ALL HANDS
and their family members when he completes his effort.
In
addition he was reviewing some web data to see who was
visiting the squadron’s web site and we had numerous
visits from Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy and the U.S.
Military. Now even the world has access to VMB
613's story.
Here
is how VMB 613 looks in the following search engines:
Google: Number 1 for VMB 613
Yahoo: Number for VMB 613
Excite: Number 77 for VMB 613
AltaVista: Not yet listed for VMB 613
Google: Number 11 for Marine bombing Squadron
Six-Thirteen
Yahoo: Number 9 for Marine Bombing Squadron
Six-Thirteen
Excite: Not yet listed for Marine bombing Squadron
Six-Thirteen
AltaVista: Not yet listed for Marine Bombing
Squadron Six-Thirteen
Google: Number 1 for Marine Bombing Squadron
six-Thirteen
Yahoo: Number 1 for Marine Bombing Squadron
Six-Thirteen
Excite: Not yet listed for Marine Bombing Squadron
Six Thirteen
AltaVista: Not yet listed for Marine Bombing
Squadron Six Thirteen
Google: Number 7 for PBJ-1H
Yahoo: Number 6 for PBJ-1H
Excite: Not yet listed for PBJ-1H
Alta-Vista: Not yet listed for PBJ-1H
NOTES FROM MEMBERS
Heard
from Foster Cummings who says hello and regards to all.
He
went onto say that they had some excitement in his
neighborhood. Doris happened to look out the front
window and saw that the street in their area was covered
with State Police Cars and local Police Department cars.
They went outdoors to see what was going on and the
State Police came over and asked them if they heard any
noises in the neighborhood during the prior evening.
They
hadn’t and inquired what was going on. Across the
street from their house is a MA National Guard Motor
Transport Facility AKA Camp Curtis Guild. They
were told that during the prior evening individuals
managed get into the fenced area break a chain and locks
holding a gate shut, open the gate and make off with two
HUMVEES. The two HUMVEES had been fully loaded
with gasoline having just been serviced by the day crew.
Prior
to breaking out of the area one of the HUMVEES struck a
deuce and one half on a bumper. The investigation
revealed that military vehicles of this type do not have
ignition keys so it is merely a matter of turning a
switch to get them into an operating mode.
Then
local TV crews and reporters showed up. Doris made
the local news programs when she was interviewed as the
TV star of the day. Foster asked the photographers
and TV men to take a picture of the American flag in
front of his house and the Marine Corps colors which
they did.
They
also mentioned in one of the stories that a retired
Marine who lived close by was not aware of any incidents
occurring during prior evening.
In
talking to the State Police Foster inquired as to why
the Guard Shack personnel didn’t respond to the incident
since there was some noise on that side of the road.
He was told that the Guard Shack is only manned during
day time working hours.
The
HUMVEES were found later in the day in the woods of a
town ten miles north of the National Guard location.
Received a sad message from Allan “Doc” Protheroe who
had some sad 613 family news. Bob and Helene
Palokowski lost their son Paul who lived next door to
them. Paul was a fine young man, 42 years old, who
died suddenly and unexpectedly. Their family
wanted Doc to let our very close 613 family know of this
sad news.
Heard
from Bob Grice who says hello and regards to all.
He mentioned that they sold their place on the lake and
moved to Ludington, MI. The address is on the
Roster Addendum section at the bottom of the news
letter.
He
had to arrive back home from his southern excursion a
little earlier this year than usual to have some rotor
cuff surgery. All is coming along OK he reported.
Stan
Richardson says hello and regards to all. He hopes
to see all at the Reunion. Their area started to
receive some nice weather which they all appreciated.
This has made it necessary to stop procrastinating and
break out the rake and start to rake up the leaves.
His estimate is that he will be able to fill up a ten
ton truck.
Heard
from Tracie and Margaret Bell who send their best to
all. In taking to Tracie he said that they were
still busy moving items from the beach home to the new
residence. It takes time he said but they hope to
complete the task real soon.
His
son pulled down the VMB 613 webpage and was very
surprised to see where his Dad was stationed during WWII
and read of the various flights that the squadron went
on.
Jim
and Mary Jane Lewis returned home from Texas and are now
getting ready to to go the Reunion. They send
their best to all.
They
had a great time in Texas taking in all entertainment
from memories of Elvis Presley to some country music via
Branson.
Now
that they are back in MN they realize that they did miss
a lot of snow storms and are now being surrounded by
various animals and birds plus insects coming out of
hiding.
Jack
Schwertfagfer says hello and regards to all. He
has had to slow down his pace due to a severe fall.
He was going up a walk way to a local shop when he
tripped over an obstacle and went flying through the
air.
With
the help of a local shop owner and another person he was
able to get up. Although he didn’t suffer any
broken bones his body was badly bruised and this has
caused him to be very careful in attempting to do any
physical exercise. He hopes that things will
improve so that he can get out to play golf.
Heard
from Chuck Cannato who says that he has decided to retire
again. After eleven years on the golf course and with
his many physical problems all healed up properly he thught
it was time to retire so that he and Lee could take a few
short trips around the state.
They also
made a decision along with their children to move back to
New York or Connecticut soon. As a result he is
in the process of packing and getting rid of a lot of junk.
A VERY TOUGH JOB.
He wishes
all his buddies a great time at the reunion. The
location of the reunion is great he says and the weather
super.
Lester
Robinson sends his best to all. Things are continuing
well with him.
George
Bartlett received an e mail from Larry D. Kelley who owns
the B-25 Panchito. Larry told George that he had met a
former member of VMB 613 at the Punta Gorda Florida air show
last weekend.
His name
was Leonard Delvecchio. I called the telephone number
that Larry Kelley sent along left a message and Leonard
called back. Leonard asked about several members,
names that he remembered and I was able to give him some
data on them. He remembered Carmine Nasta getting in
touch with him several years ago and was wondering if he was
still on the Fire Department.
His name
and address are listed under the Roster Addendum section of
this newsletter.
Leonard
said to say hello and regards to all and he will see us at
the reunion.
Carmine
Nasta was in touch with us and sends his best to all.
He has mailed me some pictures of Kwaj that his son obtained
and I will have a set at the reunion for all to see.
These pictures are primarily of the squadron living area
with some shots of air crews and the various athletic teams.
Carmine
also said that he has been in touch with Gene Hansen.
All is well with him but he still has minor problems in
walking. Recently he received an award from the
Baltimore Orioles who recognized him as the most outstanding
temporary employee. He has been working for them
ushering at baseball games for over twenty five years.
Carmine
played baseball for the Cherry Point Base Team in 1951 and
1952, Korean War era, and was pleasantly surprised when he
heard from several of them a few weeks ago. He said it
makes you realize that once a Marine always a Marine.
Joe
Yakawich sent his regards to all. He was forced to
pass on the reunion this year. His son is being
promoted to Lt Colonel in the U.S. Army and he had to attend
that function. He will be pinning on his sons silver
leaves at a ceremony at Fort Hood, TX.
Joe did
make a contribution to our Raffle. There will be a
marker on the display table which will denote a Yakawich
Western Oil Painting. Joe will ship the oil painting
to the winner. This will be another of his famous
westerns which are well thought of by visitors to Montana.
Some of
the members have mentioned reading the book Fly Boys written
by James Bradley and their fantastic opinion of it. A
neighbor brought it over to me and I started with the last
chapter and now have progressed to the first chapter.
I have to agree with the members who have rad it, it
is an outstanding book. If you get a chance endeavor
to read it.
