Memo To: All Winter Marines

NOTES FROM MEMBERS

Received a Sick Bay report on Gerry Gutshall.  He is still in the recuperative stage and still has problems that limit his movements.  He was coming along pretty well, until cellutis set in above his right knee.  It has been very painful and he has had to go back to using the walker or cane.

Medicine wise he still has to be very careful that the drugs he does take don't interact in a negative way.  For sure he can't take anything with Aspirin or Aleve in it.

Spoke to Jim Garls who sends his regards to all.  He said that he is still having a walk problem and uses a special walker out of doors around the property and another walker for inside the house use.  In both instances he maintains patience to make sure that no sudden accidents will occur.

Jim did mention that our Reserves for special affairs are getting low.  It would be appreciated if members could make contributions to VMB 613 so that we can continue our efforts in making contributions to specific special affairs such as we have been doing for many years.  Forward contributions to me and I will coordinate with Jim on funds received.

He thanks Robert Yanacek for his efforts in putting VMB 613's history together.

Bob Polakowski's daughter, Joan, has been working on the plans for our 2009 Reunion but reported that she will have to fall back to the year 2010 due to demanding matters that take precedent. 

She is still definitely willing to head up the reunion and all her planning from now on will be for that year.  She will be very glad to receive any and all e-mails on members recommendations to make the re-union an outstanding event.

Enclosed with this letter is a resume and picture of LtGen Pedro Augusto del Valle USMC (Ret).  VMB 613 had one of his nephews, Raymond Castro, as a member.  Raymond was very eager to learn how to improve his ability to read, write and speak English like his uncle did.  Hence, Bob Geslain and myself spent several hours with him after normal shift hours endeavoring to teach him to speak English without any foreign voice influence, plus how to read and write in English and spell words correctly.

Raymond became a member of the Marine Air Reserves in New York after the war and had developed some limited advancement in the pronouncement of words in English.  His writing was still in the learning level though but he had enrolled in some local public school night classes to improve his ability.

Sam Wolfe sends his regards to all.  He is still fascinated by all the data that he has been reading about VMB 613 events since WWII.  Also the many documents about VMB 613 that happened during WWII while engaged in our tactical training, which went onto actual tactical sorties and special events at Kwajalein and other Pacific islands.

Sam also said that since his discovery of VMB 613 on the Internet he has been in contact with Brooke Ligon and Robert Yanacek.  He really appreciated their efforts in bringing him up to date on the squadron.

Sam also reported that he had a good telephonic reunion with his good buddy Nick Bozic.  In addition he has had the opportunity to get in touch with Foster Cummings and Donald Clay and had great conversations with both of them also.

He has enjoyed his contacts with Robert Yanacek our webmaster via phone and e-mail.  He remembers Robert's father and said that Robert reported that he had pictures of himself, Robert's father and a bunch of other squadron members in a truck at NAS Boca Chica.

He also enjoyed his recent conversation with Brook Ligon and mentioned that he went on many flights of various purposes with her father at the controls.

I sent Sam some pictures of one of the USO Tour groups that went through Kwaj and he said that he is looking forward to viewing them.  He remembers that USO Groups went through Kwaj but he was on extended duty with his plane crew and didn't get to see too many of the USO Groups.

Heard from Donald C. Clay (DC Clay) who reported that there wasn't much to report from his end of the world.  He is still above the sod and living with his aches and pains but is able to get around. 

They are still enjoying shirt sleeve weather in his area of the desert and he is able to get in a nine hole scramble every Wednesday.

He sends his regards to all VMB 613'ers and mentioned that he endeavors to keep in touch with Foster Cummings, Bob Polakowski, and RL Marx.

Heard from Norb and Betty Gibbs who send their regards to all.

Stan Inman sends his best to all the squadron members out there with the best of wishes for the holidays.

Heard from Deborah and Richard Kane who send their regards to all.

Clifford Willis called to say hello to all.  Things are moving well in his area.  He was in the process of moving and said that he should have most of the events completed quite quickly.

Bob Polakowski reported that Helen is doing fine considering what she has been going through.  Surgery is set up for January 15 to repair the tear in the artery caused by her attack.  The Doctors are very optimistic about the planned operation.

Foster Cummings says hello to all.  The weather remains a cold problem in his area of the world and he hopes that they don't get snowed under as the winter months continue. They did receive about 22 inches of snow around the middle of December.

Foster reported that snow hit 29 Palms (DC Clay report) yet the temperature moved back up to almost 60 degrees so it didn't do much to bother life in the area.

He has been in touch with DC Clay and Brooks Kaufman and he heard from Doc Protheroe who has made it to Florida for the winter weather.