Memo To:  All the Cider Makers

Members have been letting me know that they have received the initial release of information relative to the Year 2006 Reunion which will be held in Chattanooga, TN at the Choo-Choo Holiday Inn Complex from Wednesday, October 18, 2006 through Saturday October 21, 2006 with Check Out on October 22, 2006.

Let's Mark Our Calendars so that reservations can be made in time to attend the Reunion.  Reservations should be made as early as possible.  Be sure to book for every night you will be there.  Make Reservations by September 15, 2006 (The Inn will endeavor to make Reservations after this date on a space available basis).

Remember "unless you are there it will not be complete."

For those members who have access to the Internet, the Reunion information is also available on our website.

This information will be updated periodically as required.

All family members in addition to the squadron members are welcome to attend the reunion.

A number of members have indicated in e-mail messages that they will be in attendance at the reunion.

We have already received Squadron Reunion Registration affirmation from the following members:

Randy and Roberta Clow

Foster and Doris Cummings

Charles F. Knapp

Calvin and Joyce Russell

NOTES FROM MEMBERS

Robert Klinke, son of Alvin Klinke, sent us a picture of the PBJ that crashed at National Airport in Washington DC in April 1944.  A picture of the crashed PBJ will be part of this newsletter.

The words accompanying the picture attributed the problem to the wings being weighted down with snow and ice and the fact that the aircraft overshot a landing strip and rammed into the side of a 20 foot gully.  Five Marines and a member of the Marine Corps Womens' Reserve escaped with only minor injuries.  A wing was crumpled and the fuselage buckled.  Slightly bruised in the accident were Corp. M.F. Pasachnik and Pfc A.J. Klinke, members of VMB 613.

Robert Klinke also reported that he attended the Air Show at Oshkosh, WI and ran into a friend of mine who said that he was in VMB 613 for a short while.  This friend was George Bartlett.  Robert said that he was honored to meet him.  George gave him an exclusive hands on tour of their B-25 including letting him sit in the radio gunner's seat and explaining what his Dad would have been doing there.  As a bonus, Robert was allowed into the pilot or co-pilots seat.  He was sorry that he couldn't have spent more time talking to George.

When members of VMB 613 attended the Battle of Kwajalein Ceremonies in 1994, they proceeded to Ponape for another important event for 613--to see the site of our lost plane.  At the motel where we stayed on Ponape I walked by the reception desk on the first evening and the phone was ringing.  A clerk picked up the phone and started asking questions of the caller and he mentioned 613.  I went over and asked if I could help and he said yes.  The caller was from a Guam newspaper looking for a Willie Cullom from VMB 613.  I signaled Willie and he came over and took the call.  Then the clerk asked I was from 613 also and I responded in the affirmative.  Then he asked if I had seen the book written by Gene Ashby who lives on the island because on page 92 he mentions VMB 613.  That lead to several more words and he called Gene Ashby who said he would see us in the AM.

Gene Ashby became an instant friend of VMB 613, and I'm sorry to say he passed away on April 20, 2006.  We were sorry to get the news.  Gene was a U.S. Marine, four years active duty during the Korean War, and a professor at the College of Micronesia.  Working with Foster Cummings he set up a VMB 613 Memorial Display area in the College Library and covered it with many historic items of VMB 613,  many of which were donated by Foster Cummings.

Some of the donations made by Foster consisted of the nylon map that crew members wore on the back of their flight suits and flight jackets, and a copy of the VMB 613 history.  Gene had this VMB 613 history circulated among the staff at the college and had an acknowledgment written therein.

Foster and Doris Cummings went to Ponape a few more times after our group left and they were always warmly welcomed by Gene.  A copy of his life activities is attached to this newsletter.  Condolences from all of VMB 613 have been sent to his family and friends on Ponape.

Lloyd McDaniel says hello and regards to all.  He read with interest about the book Ed Alling received about Marine Corps PBJs and was very happy when his son gave him a copy of the book.  For a catalogue of Osprey Publishing titles contact Osprey Direct USA, c/o MBI Publishing, 729 Prospect Ave, PO Box 1, Osceola, WI 54020.

He made a copy of some of the pages in his book which included a write up on VMB 613.  He also found a mistake in the book wherein they give the incorrect date for the loss of our plane.  The write up on VMB 613 will be in the next newsletter.  Lloyd did not have the cost of the book, soft cover, but is of the opinion that anyone who can get it would enjoy it.

Cliff Dotson sends his regards to all.  He sent along a summary of a talk that Tom Brokaw gave to the Class of 2006 at Stanford.  Tom Brokaw told the class that they were the children of privilege, fortunate to be attending one of the finest educational institutions in the country, and added a few more adjectives about their abilities and the fact that their parents could afford to pay for their education.  At this the class was beaming and then Brokaw reminded them that the liberties and freedoms they enjoyed were being defended by young people their age who did not have their advantages.  He reminded them that at this time thousands of men and women were fighting, dying and suffering debilitating injury to ensure that the rest of us could live the American dream.  Following this there was an uncomfortable shifting in the seats, followed by slow growing applause from the audience.  John Peterson, who attended this graduation ceremony, had a grandson in the class and heard all of Tom Brokaw's words.

Randy Clow says hello and regards to all.  He said that the local temperature was 103 degrees and thank goodness for air conditioning.   All remains well with them and they are looking forward for the reunion coming up.

George McDearmon called to let us know that they have sold their home in Virginia and are in the process of moving to Georgia where they purchased a new home.  At present, they are staying with their son and he gave me a temporary address to use until they get settled in their hew home.  He said hello to all.

Jim Garls says hello to all.  He reported that weather remains the big thing in his area--from the extreme heat to the excessive rain storms.  To stay away from them he stays inside the house most of the time only venturing out to obtain required supplies.

Bob Polakowski says hello to all.  Even though they have been having hot weather off and on over the past few weeks he has been out doing pick and shovel work.  He decided they needed to replace their existing driveway so he did the majority of digging and removing of material.  After some more thinking he decided on go blacktop and is now in the contractor selectee mode.  He has been able to maintain some golf activity and with their fairly decent weather rain hasn't been a problem to hold him back.

On a visit with his children in Illinois they had an opportunity pull down the VMB 613 website and take a look at all the data available.  He was amazed at the number of contacts that have been made to our site and yet we have such a short time being on the Internet.  He has been in touch with Doc Protheroe and said that all was well with them.

Doc Protheroe called to say hello and regards to all.  He has been reviewing pictures that Al Klinke's son sent to the webmaster.  He has identified practically all and is still checking on one or two members.  It took him a while to identify Foster but he managed to do so.

Wayne Noble says hello to all.  All continues well in Florida and he hopes that the hurricanes come up with a different game plan this year if they decided to hit the air again.

Mike Pasachnik says hello to all.  He is feeling pretty good but is still recuperating from a surprise stroke of over 13 years ago.  The ability to take nourishment keeps him moving on his wheel chair and also allows him to use the walker.   Since he thinks positively he continues to have his car outside the house to use in an emergency.  However, he may have to take things a little less serious about being able to drive it and put it up for retirement.

Stan Inman sends his best to all.  Since he is our aircraft history mentor I mailed to him an article on the Pacific Clipper just in case he hadn't seen or read it.  He enjoyed reading it particularly when he hadn't seen it before.

Stan says he is in good health and is still doing his volunteer job at the Hartford Hospital.  He has been doing this for 16 years and has put in pretty close to 5000 hours.

Heard from Stan Richardson who sends his best to all.  He continues to have problems with his breathing and is required to keep the oxygen tank going at all times.  I limited the conversation because he started to have problems with his breathing and talking.  Hopefully he will be able to improve.