Memo To:   All The Santa Claus Participants

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Heard from Frank Robinson who extends his regards to all.  He still manages to get his daily walking in to maintain his health posture.

Foster Cummings says hello to all.  Along with Bob Polakowski, Joe McDonald and John Siergiewicz they attended the Semper Fi Marine Corps Birthday banquet in Boston on the Marine Corps Birthday.  The guest speaker was the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, General W.L. Nyland.

It was another outstanding event, packed with Marines, including the guest of honor Marines.  The total attendance was estimated to be 1400.

On the 13th of November, Foster had his annual Marine Corps Birthday celebration at his home and had an overflowing crowd of approximately 25 plus Marines in attendance.

Joe and Rita McDonald, Bob and Helen Polakowski and John and Doris Siergiewicz were VMB 613 members in attendance.  Other attendees were from Wakefield and surrounding areas.  Again all had a great time.

Bob and Helene Polakowski say hello and regards to all.  They had a great time visiting with Foster and Doris.  Bob enjoyed gong to the Marine Corps Birthday Banquet.  He said that it appears to get better every year. 

Foster's Marine Corps Birthday celebration at his home was again fantastic he reported.

Doc and Jane Protheroe spent the entire day commemorating the 229th Birthday of the Marine Corps at Parris Island.  In the morning the base had organized a big time 229th Birthday celebration on the parade grounds with the Marine Corps Band and every recruit on the base with the possible exception of those in Sick Bay.

They even had the walking wounded in attendance with crutches and wheel chairs.  Most of the brass and DI's were in Blues...the scope of the event was really impressive.

In the afternoon they dined on steak and lobster in the Headquarters Mess Hall.  This was topped off with an abundance of birthday cake.  They digested the meal sitting in the sun in the stands while watching six platoons practicing for Fridays graduation. 

When all platoons marched onto the field, Doc thought they were all as sharp as could be.  Surely he thought all the families who will attend the graduation will hardly believe their eyes.  However, the Sergeant in charge saw it saw it otherwise and had all platoons including all the DI's on and off the parade grounds four times before he was satisfied.  Often announcing.."We are not going any where till we get it fight and that's My right".

Doc also attached three photos and other publications of the days events which will be enclosures to this letter.

John "Chico" Duarte called to say hello and regards to all.  His operation was successful and he is now home recuperating.  He just has to remember not try and do severe physical work for a few weeks and he will be up and fully operating.

Lloyd McDaniel sends regards to all.  He is now the proud owner of another book on Marine PBJ's, "PBJ Mitchell Units of the Pacific War" which was sent to him through his son and grandson from a William Ward of the Read Eagle Airshows, Inc.

Willard Ward flies a MIG 17F in this show.  Willard had met his grandson who helped him one summer when they had an air show in Battle Creek.  Willard told his grandson he had seen this book, but could not recall the entire title, and if he ever ran into it again he would get it.

Mac sent along a copy of the front and back covers and the inside story on VMB 613.  He did say that this book does not cover as well as the other one he has on VMB 613.

Cliff Willis called and said greetings to all.  He reported that he still hasn't fully recovered from his severe truck accident but his work requirements necessitated that he continue the march and keep his customers fully supplied with their agricultural needs.

He gave a very fascinating report on his agricultural products which farmers in his state and other states close by claim are outstanding.  His products allow the farmers/ranchers to get an outstanding yield on their plant growth. I just wish that I could fully understand the total magnitude of the  products which he described.

Prior to joining VMB 613 Cliff was attached to the 4th MAW Headquarters at Kwajalein.  Recently he was looking though his Marine Scrap Book and noticed that he had duplicates of a picture or two and offered them to us.  I accepted his offer and will use them in a future letter to bring back memories of another part of the island that we undoubtedly passed many a time without realizing who unit owned the tents.

Harlan and Mary Jason send their regards to all.  They have continued to remain busy in getting squared away in their new quarters.  Harlan reported that he is still hanging in there.

Jim and Mary Jane Lewis reported in and send their regards to all.  Jim is starting to feel better and has even started to put some weight on.  He is going to be cautious though and try to remain slim, he has grown to like the "slim" look.

Mary Jane has tried to become her old self in regards to traveling.  She realized that the seats at the airports were meant to be used so she got in the habit of using them whenever she saw an empty one.

John and Wilda Chappell send their best to all.  Although things continue well with them John still has to watch his movements.  He is very frail and gets along with a cane while Wilda uses a walker.

Carmine Nasta says hello and regards to all. He is still around.  Edith reported that her fingers which were hit by the storm door several months ago are almost on the mend.  One finger is still a little bothersome and hopefully it will get around to being normal soon.

Carmine said his medical routine with the VA ended up with no requirement for a pacemaker so he was enthused over that.  If he could figure out how to walk and move around without using a cane he would really be happier.

He is still able to drive but has to use caution to prevent any mishaps on the road.  This allows him some freedom from house confinement but he still limits the length of his trips.

He also mentioned that his area of Staten Island has been getting some 40 mph winds.  Hopefully it won't turn into a Florida routine.

Walter and Avis Gravello say hello and regards to all.  They have a good year health wise and reported that they now have two more great granddaughters.

Bob Longenberger says hello and regards to all.  He is still kicking, able to get up and go but he doesn't go far just to make sure that he can get back.

Walt Brown sends his best to all and reports that all continues well with him.

Mike Pasachnik says hi to all.  He is doing pretty good and hopes that he can do even better in the future.  His wife has been having health problems and appears to be on the road to recovery.

Nick Bozic says hello and regards to all.  He is feeling fairly decent and has to accommodate the idiosyncrasy of his legs failing to respond to certain commands when moving.  Going up or down a step or trying to maintain his balance on uneven ground requires the use of a cane.  He is scheduled for a cataract operation which will give him more confidence in reading or watching TV.

Spoke to Frank Robinson who says that he is feeling pretty good and sends his best to all.  He endeavors to get some exercise with walking on the grounds.

Bob Riggle says hello and regards to all.  Every thing is continuing well with him.

Mike Jacus says hello and best wishes to all and that all is OK with him.  Alice has been fighting some health problems but it appears that they will be disappearing soon.

He has heard from John Peterson who reported that all is well with him but Jane isn't doing too well and needs our support in the way of prayers.

Mike's granddaughter went on line and pulled up the VMB 613 Website and she ran off a lot of pages for him.  He said "Way to go". 

Mike sent along some articles one on the Warbirds who have a B-25D (flying) and one other is about a resurrected SBD.

Charlie Cosbey says hello and best regards to all.  He is still working in his son's shop for three or four hours a day and than goes home to recuperate.  Arthritis is starting to plague his legs which slows him down when walking, however, he can still drive the car without any problems.

He received a roster of the Motor Transport Section from Robert Yanacek which brought back a lot of memories when he saw the names and was able to identify them with some pictures. He was able to come up with his MOS from reading the roster.  He didn't know what he was numerically until he reviewed the roster.

Vern Beggs says hello and regards to all.  He is still waiting for a roofer to show up and make permanent repairs to his roof damage.  Shingles are scarce and roofers are very busy.  He and Anne are thankful that the rains are few and the light so far.

Robert Yanacek, our webmaster, reported that VMB 613's website received another compliment when a person from New Britain, CT who is active in The Library of Congress Oral History Projects  pulled it down and fully reviewed it.

Our web site provided this person with a wealth of information about the unit and the compliment was "what a terrific web site".  This person was conducting interviews with veterans and was able to video tape an interview with a member of VMB 613.

Our webmaster, Robert Yanacek, found the following website which is full of information on the World War II Marine Corps.  The webmaster, Mark Flowers, a former Navy corpsman.  This link also contains other great Marine Corps web sites.  Robert is going to request that VMB 613 be given a link on his website.  Here is the link: http://www.ww2gyrene.org

In corresponding with Mark "Doc" Flowers of the aforementioned website he was told that Doc had lived on Ponape during the 1990's and saw the excellent work done by the squadron.

His wife lived in Pohnpei in 1996-1997 while she was working on the Federated States of Micronesia Cultural Museum (which later got wrecked in a typhoon).  While there she went up to the old Japanese AA positions outside of Kolonia, the Capital.  Although his wife is no military expert she sure knew those things were blown all to heck.  He said that he bets VMB 613 did some of the shooting at them.

The VMB 613 website will have a link on the Marine Corps Legacy Museum Web Site in Harrison, Arkansas which is about 150 miles from Newport, Arkansas.

Robert Yanacek has also written to the author of the book entitled Leatherneck Bombers and outlined errors on the cover illustration of his book regarding our PBJ-1H aircraft.  His comments were acknowledged by the author Alan Carey.

Some one is hitting our website with a Google Search looking for Oscar C. Allifie who was a armorer-turret gunner with VMB 613.  He transferred out prior to Newport.  If any one can recall where he lived perhaps we can get in touch with him and let him know that someone is trying to reach him.

A few years ago a member of VMB 613 who was in the video recording business was able to copy Doc Scott's colored 8mm movie films taken at Kwaj onto a video tape.  Members were invited to purchase them and I was one of them.

I recently loaned it to Robert Yanacek for possible inclusion of some shots in our WEB page and he was able to make copies of it with some of his equipment.  He said that it was an outstanding video.

If any member desires to purchase a copy the price is $6.25.  Please forward your payment to Robert Yanacek at:

Robert J. Yanacek

104 Radio Road

Powells Point, NC 27966-9601