Memo To: All The Survivors Of The Pacific
NOTES FROM MEMBERS
Received a message from Frank Noland who sends his
regards to all. He did some mental research on Fox
Hole Barnett. He remembers when he left us
on Kwajalein when his Guadalcanal Malaria returned.
In later years Bill Hudson, who succeeded him as
Engineering Chief, reported that he had two or three
hardware stores in upstate New York. Although
Frank isn’t positive he thinks that this area was around
Scarsdale, N.Y. He also had
relatives in the Los Angles area whom he visited while
attending school at North American Aviation in
Inglewood, CA.
I made a few checks on the INTERNET but couldn’t make
any connections with the family.
John Gavin says hello and regards to all. All
continues well with him. He receives the Kwajalein
Calendar every year and this year he sent along a
picture of two young children walking under some native
vegetation, large trees. Nothing like we had when
we were there many years ago. I will get the
picture enlarged and put it with this letter for all to
see.
Wayne and Freda Noble called to say hello and regards to
all. They have moved to a Senior Citizen Complex
which they say is wonderful. They also have a new
postal address as follows:
Wayne Noble
4260 Village Dr No. 211
Kissimmee, FL 34736
(Tel. 407-846-1254)
Heard from Doc Protheroe who sent along a picture of
himself standing in front of the Pacific Prowler, a B-25
that does a lot of flying in the Pacific. I will
have a little more data on this once I am able to get
the computer to print his message.
Doc also said that they are heading back to Hilton Head,
leaving Florida on April 3.
Carmine Nasta called and sent his regards to all.
He said that he all he has been seeing on his TV news
coverage is the tornadoes in New Mexico. Hopefully
he said “I hope that they aren’t too close to you.”
The action with the tornadoes was over a 100 miles from
Santa Fe, depending on where the measurements took
place. This is the worst attack of tornadoes in
history the areas that were damaged reported. The
weather organizations must have changed their method of
recording because they had over ten tornadoes in a
couple of hours. Normally it would have taken ten
years to received that many.
Various state organizations are trying to find all the
available techniques to obtain federal dollars to help
in trying to get rid of the debris and then from there
what is available for the property owners who lost
everything.
Jim and Buzz Packard send their regards to all.
Herb and Sue Haroldson say hello and regards to all.
Charlie Ringler sends regards to all. He hopes
that all remain in good health.
Jim Milhousen says hello and good health to all. He
reported that he has been kind of busy. He had the
aortic valve replaced in his heart, in addition to that
he had 12 weeks of physical therapy.
He had to complete 36 sessions to get a diploma and he
only missed a month of bowling. He still bowls but
limits it to two days a week.
RL Marx reported in and said that he had made it to
Arizona for a few weeks. Hopefully he will get
some stick time in on a B-17 which his son is flying
down. When his car arrives in Arizona he will be
able to make a few trips around the southwest.
When his car did arrive he went on a Southwest Trip in
to California and while driving around he remembered
that a 613'er did live around there. After a
little thinking and checking with a telephone book or
two he remembered the name of his friend. It was
DC Clay. He called DC who told him to stay where
he was and he would pick him up.
Dc showed quite quickly and took RL on a tour of the 29
Palms area which included the US Marine Corps Base which
was in the area. They had a great time reminiscing
and RL said that the area was really outstanding.
He mentioned that a friend of his belongs to an
organization that is rebuilding a B25H model aircraft.
They have been able to get two brand new engines for
installation.
They will be offering rides at Fairs for $365.00 a
person. RL was unable to get together for a ride
but his friend is going to arrange for him to get a ride
and also allow him to explain to th public what the
duties of the flight personnel were while on combat
flights.
His medical problem with his arm still continues but is
gradually improving.
He sends his best to all and hopes that all is well with
all hands.
Bob Polakowski sends his regards to all. He has
heard from Jim Packard whom he said sounded great.
He and Buzz are considering a trip to Italy.
Bob also heard from RL Marx whom he said sounded good.
He had an opportunity to talk to Hoss Cummings whom he
said is doing fine.
He also heard from DC Clay who is doing great. DC
mentioned that the dust storm really kicked up the sand
in their area.
He also heard from Doc Protheroe who reported that they
had been back from Florida for a week or so.
Bob said that he and Helene are going to take a trip out
West around the Seattle, WA and plan to visit with
friends they haven’t seen for quite some time.
In his home area of Wisconsin they had a blizzard which
left them with three inches of snow rather than the five
feet that was anticipated.
When they return from their trip he will take his golf clubs
which have been at the ready for quite some time and go out
and hit a few golf balls.
Heard from John Peterson who sends regards to all. He
said that a sign you are getting old is when you stop giving
advice and start throwing out your old books.
He sent me a book to forward to Mary Vanek, Frank Vanek’s
daughter (which I have done). She may have it he said.
He thought that he had thrown it out years ago.
John
keeps busy going to the grand kids baseball games.
They play on two different teams and both are catchers.
With Easter coming up they are going to let him hide his own
Easter eggs due to his old age.
He reported that Jane has her good days but her traveling is
still limited.
Received a nice message from Willis Roose and he mentioned
how Chuck Cannato used to go to Sick Bay for Shots and Waxie
Prankard used to use various techniques to help Chuck
overcome his fear of the needle.
He also mentioned that he remembered that Chuck Cannato was
quite a competitive boxer.
He remembered Frank Vanek as being an outstanding soft ball
catcher. He caught for the Nevil’s Devils, who had
three pitchers:
(1) Ted Murzyn, from the Chicago area who had pitched for
the Zollner Pistons. He threw a “sling - Shot”!
(2) Another one was a tall, slender, Blond fellow, a few
years older and had pitched for Bendix!! He threw a
“wind mill”
(3) Ralph McClain, from Illinois or W. Virginia who was more
of a “trick pitcher”
Frank Vanek had terrible chronic in-grown toe nails on each
of his big toes. They required constant care.
The common technique of stuffing cotton “below” was entirely
ineffective. So periodically Waxie, would squirt on
the Ethyl Chloride and Willis himself would “whittle”.
Waxie and Willis kept him agile, mobile and hostile.
Willie said this was enough for this go round, his pen must
have developed diarrhea!!
IN MEMORIAM
Mary Jane Lewis sent a message thanking us for the
memorial to the American Heart Association in Jim’s
name. She said that he would be pleased.
Received word from the Geslain family that Robert G.
Geslain had passed away on July 13, 2006. Robert
Geslain was assigned to the Materiel Group within the
Quartermaster Section of the Squadron.
HEALTH REPORT
Received an update on Stan Richardson from Peach
Richardson. She said that he is still about the
same as we mentioned last month being limited by his
breathing problem which limits his time to stay up and
move about. Other wise he is alert and seems to be
content. Stan is still physically limited to how
far he can walk and really has to watch it. They
endeavor to get him up for a long walk which he starts
out to do, but then he tires out and has to seek refuge
in resting up.
He would like to be able to walk for a longer period but his
system won’t let him. He continues to feel stronger
and endeavors to try physical activity such as walking by
himself (again paying close attention to the walking
distance).
A guide remains in contact to assure that he doesn’t lose
his balance etc.
I am sure that he would like to hear from you folks, his
address is as follows:
Stan Richardson
Westchester Gardens Rehabilitation & Care Center
Clearwater, Florida 33761
1-727-789-5143
John Aymen is back in the Nursing Center. He hadn’t
been feeling too well which meant he needed some detailed
physical analysis performed on his system. The Doctors
have been reviewing all his medications and are in the
process of making changes. He is hoping that they can
find the proper formulation so that he can get more of his
energy back.
