The VMB 613 Reunion was held at the Crossroads Inn, Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia during the period of May 14, 15, 16, 17 and departure for home on the 18th.

All told approximately 40 VMB-613 members, guests, widows and children of 613'ers attended.  Members of VMB-613 in attendance were: Bob Polakowski; RL Marx; Foster Cummings; Jim Packard; Cal Russell; Norb Gibbs and George McDearmon.

Widows and children representing their respective VMB–613 family member included Bernice Rudewick; Mary Jane Lewis; Dorothy Evans; June Werz; Doris Siergiewicz; Brooke Ligon; Beth Cullom; Bob Klinke; Chuck Duvall and Robert Yanacek.

While at the reunion, attendees visited the National Museum of the Marine Corps just outside the main gate at Quantico.  This newly-opened facility is a "must see" for any Marine or person interested in the history of our Corps.  The museum's collection included aircraft, uniforms, weapons and artifacts depicting the complete history of the United States Marine Corps.  One of the most significant historical displays included the actual flag that was raised by the Marines on Mount Suribachi in 1945–the one immortalized in Joe Rosehthal's famous photograph.  The only disappoint was the lack of a PBJ on display.

On the museum grounds, the VMB-613 memorial bricks were noticed by many attendees.  Foster Cummings also came across a Memorial Brick dedicated to Wendell Vidito and one dedicated to Donald Pelletier.  These two Marines, along with me and Foster Cummings were from Wakefield, Massachusetts.  Buzz Packard took a couple of pictures of the VMB 613 brick that is at the Museum and will mail it to us for all to see.

Other highlights included visits to the Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Monument), Arlington National Cemetery and the Vietnam War Memorial (The Wall).  On Friday evening members attended the Sunset Parade at the Marine Barracks compound at 8th and "I" where they watched performances of the Marine Corps Band and the Silent Drill Team.

On Saturday afternoon, squadron members and guests were treated to a banquet at the residence of Stan Zack and Linda Duvall.  Linda and her brother Chuck Duvall are the children of VMB-613 squadron member Charles R. Duvall.  They generously hosted this banquet in the memory of their father as a way of saying "thanks" to our men for their service to our country.

The banquet was held at their home, a 35-acre ranch located just outside the Marine Base at Quantico.  Greeting members was a long entry lined with American flags.  The property was beautifully decorated with ample tables and chairs overlooking a swimming pool and a large stocked pond for those who wished to fish.  Lining the area was an enlarged series of photographs, depicting each VMB-613 member in attendance.

Prior to eating, each member of VMB-613 in attendance was presented with an American flag by one of five active-duty Marines in Dress Blues.  Each flag had been flown over the Iwo Jima Monument and was presented with a smart salute  and a message of thanks to each member for their honorable service during the Second World War.  This moving ceremony brought many to tears, especially the ladies who had lost their husbands.

Following the ceremony, attendees enjoyed a very good meal followed by a large VMB-613 cake.  With the meal completed, members enjoyed the remainder of the day sharing numerous wartime memories, viewing Doctor Scott's movies of VMB-613 on Kwajalein in 1945, and looking at hundreds of photographs from the collections of Art Navarre and Jerry Manning.  These photographs were brought to the reunion by our loyal webmaster and historian, Robert Yanacek.

As the event drew to a close, RL Marx posed, to the pleasure of everyone, for a few photographs wearing a vintage Marshall Island native grass-skirt brought to the event by Beth Cullom.  As each member departed, they were also presented with a small flag and colored picture by the youngest Yanacek children on behalf of Beth Cullom's students from California.

Our most sincere thanks goes out to our gracious host and hostess for making this reunion a most memorable and enjoyable event.

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He can raise his arm a little now without getting a lot of pain and is able to sit in a wheel chair almost all day long.  He still has to take pills and is now taking six pills a day which has been of help. 

He maintains a careful procedure when endeavoring to move about in the wheel chair and even when he is able to get out of it.  It is difficult for him to do even simple movements since his ability to control body balance isn't too good.

It is possible that he may be allowed to use a walker in lieu of the wheel chair when it is determined that his overall coordination has improved.

He has some more medical appointments to attend and it may be necessary for him to attend some more rehab sessions at the Medical Center.

Sandy Hudspeth is still at the Nursing Home but is getting back to normal.  He is walking with the help of a Walker following a set rehab program.  The Doctor wants him to continue with the Rehab routines to assure that his system is returning to normal procedure properly.

The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation sent Marine Bombing Squadron VMB 613 a thank you for our gift to them in memory of Isaac Richardson and further said that an acknowledgement of our contribution would be sent to Lola Richardson..

Eric Sperger a friend of VMB 613 sent along a notice that he had recently spoken to Raymond Perry (Nagigator-Bombardier) who wrote the book on the history of VMB-611 "The Bombers of MAGSZAM" which is a collectors item and impossible to find.

Raymond Perry is doing a reprint which will be out in about 60 days.  The new book will have an expanded text and many new photos and some interesting material on the background of the PBJ's and the Marine Corps use of them.

If any one is interested in the new book they can contact the author Raymond Perry who lives in Vero Beach Florida, phone number 772-567-1475 regarding buying a copy of the new book  - The cost will be $25.00 but the cost of postage maybe extra.

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