"He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help."
Abraham Lincoln
ICQ & Potpourri Mail - 2009
Informal or Partial Messages
Dec 18, 2009
From: Roger McCumber
Subject: Roger was just checking in with a list of Air Force sayings accumulated across the years and I thought I'd add a couple (4) of them here that I liked...GCW
Mankind has a perfect record in aviation - we have never left one up there!
If you hear me yell; "Eject, Eject, Eject!" the last two will be echoes.
The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.
If the enemy is in range, so are you.
[EDITOR aside: "Happy Holidays everyone...but especially Ernie & Sid."]
Dec 14, 2009
From: Harold Hinson
Subject: The late Harold Absher
I was on the 482nd Site yesterday and saw the news that S/Sgt Harold Absher has passed on 9 Sept 09. I met Sgt Absher when arriving at Seymour Johnson on the first day at the Electrical Shop in October 1961 and he was assigned to be my training NCO. I think we hit it off because of our country backgrounds. As I remember he grew up in Tazewell, Va. and I was from Warsaw, Va. That was forty eight years ago and I still have fond memories of the man and his wife Kitty.
When I was looking for a home to move my wife to N.C., Sgt. Absher told me about Robbins Trailer Park where he lived. He asked me if I would be interested in working on the planes at the Base Aero Club, where he was a member. We would spend a Saturday doing maintenance on the planes in exchange for logged flying hours. I remember those flying days with Sgt Absher - one bad day in particular when we were in the NAVY NAVION and the touch and go’s created a big clean up for me. I also remember his kindness in teaching me how to take over the controls and fly.
I recently wrote him an email when I saw Sgt Absher’s posting on the death of Sgt Skipper. I regret that I did not receive a reply and now I know why. God bless you.
Harold Hinson : Oct 1961 - Mar 1965
Dec 7, 2009
From: Steve Smith, engine shop
Subject: Kennedy Escort photo ID - Center Enlargement
Standing top row, 2nd from the left is S/Sgt Jernigan, engine shop.
Dec 6, 2009
From: John Sutton
Subject: 482nd FIS members
I'm still out here in Montana.
I was born in Boardman, NC, in 1936, joined the AF at 18 years old, and retired at Hq TAC on Jan 1, 1975, at age 38. My stateside assignments included Malmstrom, Seymour-Johnson, Havre AFS, MT, and Langley. My overseas were Kadana, Okinawa, Turkey, and Udorn, Thailand.
After retiring, I was still young enough to do some hard work (as I have experienced on the farm). I piddled around about 3 years doing whatever I wanted to and then started buying farm ground. Wound up with 300 plus acres and eventually just over 100 head of mother cows. Needless to say I haven't seen daylight since.
My boss (wife) and I have done it all, but am getting smarter. Got rid of my cows and recently discovered that farming the land isn't as much fun as it was couple years ago. So, I'm looking/waiting for a miracle (buyer/good renter).
Hmm...well, that about sums it up, so I'll sign off for now hoping to hear from anyone who might remember me.
Dec 6, 2009
From: Webmaster
Subject: 1962 Softball Team IDs
Harold Hinson has found his photograph of the softball team that went to the Fort Lee, VA, WADDS tournament in July of 1962. Harold is in process of trying to get a usable copy to us. IDs written on the back are first names only.
SOOOOO ... if anyone was a player, or roomed with a player, who attended this event ... please let us hear from you ... which goes for Don, George, Willie, Eddie, and Billy etc.
But especially if someone has kept the orders set.
SMSgt Lewis Gerald Byrd --- Nov 18, 2009
Charlye Ruth Voges, 76, on Sept. 25, 2009, at Boerne, TX.
Nov 6, 2009
From: Webmaster
Subject: Dean Hillard photo package
I want to acknowledge that I received a photo mailer a couple days ago from Dean Hillard Some of these will be difficult to process and may take some time. I do have three posted under Snapshots, Barracks Life. Most of the rest will trickle along as I'm still working without a scanner and using a self-destructing camera that defies non-profane description.
But many thanks to Dean for taking the time and making the effort on all of our behalfs. I especially like the Jim Pinder/Robert Ferguson shot (posted). GCW
Nov 2, 2009 Miles Colbert died in the Winston Salem, N.C., Hospital on Sunday, Nov. 1. Kenneth Page called me Sunday and told me. I don't know anything except that the funeral will be on Thurs. at 6 PM in Winston Salem. Ken is to preach the funeral. As soon as I find out the details I will e-mail them to you.
I called Miles on Monday a week ago and told him I was coming to see him on Veterans Day, the 11th of Nov,
and he sounded good. He told me to be sure and come that he was looking forward to spending time together. He and I were in the electric shop for 3 1/2 years.
Oct 22, 2009 I recently ran across your email concerning "Doug" in my Verizon mail, never can remember my password to
get in to see all the spam.
I can not remember him even after refreshing my memory looking at his picture but you have enough facts
and information to convince me that you have an obit that "fits the bill".
I enjoyed reading about Sloan Coker's trip your way and his visit to Chanute. It brought back memories and
laughs of all the time I spent on KP at those Large Mess Halls across the street from one of the PX's. This
was Jan-to-Mar, 1945. I was attending a sixteen week Electronics School. Pre-Radar for further training in
Florida on Black Widows and two other aircraft type radars.
So much for now ... more surgery scheduled for 9th of November.
Ernie W.
Oct 6, 2009 Yep, still hanging in there, but its getting a little harder to keep hanging on. At 85 that's to be expected...
Hugh
Oct 6, 2009 Peace has come to our sweet Sylvia, and the pain is gone. My beloved wife of 39 years and the girls beloved mother passed peacefully in her sleep in her bed at home in Colleyville on Friday, Oct 2, 2009, at 1:04 AM; Texas time.
Sylvia Marion (nee Gehl) Fairlamb, was born and raised in Sydney, Australia, and was an Australian and U.S. citizen. A Jewish burial and funeral was held at the U. S. Air Force Academy Cemetery, Colorado Springs, CO, on Monday, Oct 5, 2009.
We will have the traditional gathering for family and friends on Tuesday, Nov. 3rd, 2009, at 7:00 PM. Please RSVP to me (rcfairlamb@tx.rr.com), to Tina (truflmonster@yahoo.com) or to 817-488-5049, so that we will have sufficient seats and food/drink for those who wish to be with us. The location is Congregation Beth Israel, 6100 Pleasant Run Road, Colleyville Texas, 76034 (817-581-5800). It is not Jewish custom to send or bring flowers to the Memorial Ceremony. Charity in lieu of flowers is most appreciated and we ask that you consider a donation in Sylvia's name to either the ALS Division of the MDA at (http://www.als-mda.org/) or to the ALS Association (http://www.alsa.org/). We hope that all who wish to be with us on the evening of November 3rd can do so.
Our love to you all, and please keep Sylvia and us in your thoughts and prayers.
Richard, Tina, and Jackie
Sept 24, 2009 At this time in our lives we all need prayer.
I am going through a course of radiation treatments for a tumor on my sternum.
It has been good to look back and remember the 482nd.
Sept 23, 2009 To all who don't know --- C L died last night around 12:30 on the operating table at Scotland Memorial. He had a ruptured aorta aneurysm and they did everything in the world to save him . . . but after coding twice, and once in O.R., his heart couldn't take it and they couldn't bring him back.
All my love, Sylvia
Aug 25, 2009 From: Elmer Olson Thank you. I even recognized Ted in that photo ... unlike most of my classmates at our 50th reunion. Elmer
From: William Piper When I was in the 482nd I heard that Lemcke was an All-American at Colgate University. He also was an avid golfer and went to the gym often. He did not smoke or drink and yet he passed away from a heart condition. I'm sure that he had taken the masters two step EKG like all of us had to take, but evidently nothing showed up on that.
No one would have thought that Lemcke would have such a situation because to look at him he was a perfect example of one who was in excellent health. Bill
Aug 18, 2009 My Dad --- Robert E. Finez --- is living in Cary, NC.
He was telling me about his buddies from Seymour Johnson 482nd so I thought I would see what I could find on line.
I was sorry to see that A/2C PANGELINAN, Vicente Cruz, AF10814999, was deceased. He was a good friend to my father as well he was my Godfather. He gave me my middle name "Vincent." My Dad and Ben lost touch over the years and he will be sorry to hear about him passing.
Robert V. Finez
"John was my first flight commander after arriving at Seymour Johnson. He was a First Class
Gentleman, with a wife to match. They pulled my A.F. Career out of the dumps and made it fun. All of my
thoughts and wishes for him are the best. Rest his Soul." Pete Petersen
Aug 1, 2009 I got to Chanute about 8:30 after I left your house. I went to as much of the base as I could get to. The only buildings that I remember was an old base Chapel where I had gone to church, and the two story dorm that the permanent party used.
I think that I found the old mess hall and the old base theater. The street that I was on had new dorms and I couldn't tell where the old buildings had been. It was depressing because they had built better dorms than we had at S.J. but when they closed the base just locked everything up and it is now falling apart.
I did find the hangar where I went to school and they are now using parts of it as a museum. When they redid the base they did a good job.
I enjoyed my stay and meeting you. I should have given you notice become I arrived, but it all worked out OK. [Ed Note: Hard to do short-term when I'm not reachable by phone. GCW]
Sloan
July 18, 2009 Had a surprise today ... Sloan Coker dropped by the house on his way to Chanute AFB. I'm not exactly on the beaten path but Sloan has a GPS that he says works like a charm. It must. We had a nice visit and took a couple photos on his and my wife's cameras. Always nice to meet someone from those KP days of the the late 1950s who hated that detail as much as I did. July 11, 2009 Guess you are lucky that she did not promise to strap you to the top like "Granny Clampett"!
Jim
July 10, 2009 Some things are only funny to old men.
Of my six daughters, only two are capable of delivering my ashes to Arlington ... given where they live and temperament. One of the older ones lives locally and I had asked her if she would see to it ... if I died last ... that I was cremated and my ashes placed in Arlington National Cem ... and showed her the data she needed to know and where my required military records were kept (and the location of the fireproof container holding same). She took all of that in and said, "Sure, I'll just mail them."
"They won't accept mailed remains. You will have to present them in person."
"Oh ... I'll have to think about it." (Family and children considerations, etc.)
A month goes by and she bought a used (3 years old) Toyota (Willy's Jeep ripoff). Drove it by to show it to my wife and told me she'd take my ashes to Arlington if I'd pay for the trip.
"Of course ... no problem," I answered.
"You'll have to ride in the back seat, though," she said somberly.
GCW
June 22, 2009 Bill was a Good Man. I think the 482nd was blessed with a lot of good men, all ranks.
When we arrived, with a lot of expectations about working on a new bird called the "Delta Dart," there were a lot of surprises ... like the runway still under construction, the hanger and electronics building not yet accepted, and no Base Housing. "Go out and find someplace to live, get your kids entered into existing schools."
This was not all that bad because Goldsboro welcomed us with open arms. They found or made room for us. My family lived in Country Homes, a small community of bricked up converted WWII barracks that had been moved off the base when it was reactivated. We lived there for twenty months with about ten or fifteen other military families waiting for Base Housing.
The stores downtown extended their Saturday evening hours until 9 pm so that we had some thing to do and
some place to go. We had close ties as a military unit and we formed the same closeness with Goldsboro. Thats why many of us have retired in that area. (My pipe dream for a long time was to retire there and just fish.)
That closeness has remained and will be around for a long while, in part, due to the many reunions held across the years (I attended the first in 1983) managed by airmen like James R. Radford, Hatler Leslie, and Tom Sutton (who started the Pig Roasts), and the 482nd web page, thanks to you.
I once said I hoped I could tell about my twenty seven months with the 482nd --- Now you have heard the rest of the story. Enough ...
Your friend and buddy ... Ernie
May 23, 2009 I am sending along copies of 7 sets of 482nd orders and have stayed in touch with several of my friends who served with me in the instrument/electrical shop under T/Sgt Wirzfeld.
Earl Moore, Ken Page, and I came to the 482nd together in 1957 from Tech School. After we had been at Seymour about a year, orders came for an electrician to go to Japan. Moore wanted to go. He got out about 6 months early and came to see us at the base. He was from Kinston, NC, and returned there after the AF.
Ken Page went to college and taught school for a while ... became a pilot and Inst. Commercial multi-engine. He was a pilot for a company when he retired to Old Fort, NC.
Daniel Arp moved to Maryville, TN, and joined the Air Guard ... retiring as a Master Sgt.
Boyd Chilton was in charge of the battery shop, and when he got out moved back to Norton, WV, and lives there now.
Miles Colbert moved back to Winston-Salem and lives there now.
After I got out of the AF I kept to the trade and worked as an electrician for the Singer Company. It was bought out in 1991 by the Ryobi Company. I continued working there until 2002. I now work for the mental health dept in the maintenance shop and also drive an activities bus part time for the school district. I am 69 and don't plan to retire anytime soon.
Sloan A. Coker, 2405 Villa Ct., Anderson, SC. 29621
May 18, 2009 I went through my past orders which are related to the 482nd FIS and these 3 sets are all I could come up with. Hopefully some of these will be useful to you.
Thank you for the correspondence and keep up the good work. I went to your web site and found it very interesting.
James W. Schlegel, 516 Margin Road, Lebanon, PA 17042
[ED NOTE: They were useful...especially Spec. Order P-2 : Mar 18, 1964. Thanks so much. GCW]
May 15, 2009 Attached is the obituary for Wally that appeared in the SC State newspaper on 5/11/09. He was in the 482nd with me from 1960 - 1963. After we were discharged, we both went to work for the South Carolina Guard for the next 33 years.
Joe
[ED NOTE: I missed this one and am always grateful for any help at this point. The obituary also appeared the same day in The Macon Telegraph...both are copies of the mortuary's free obituary...and containing a b&w thumbnail photo of Dale. I checked the mortuary and they had a larger color print of Dale's photo (in uniform)...but it was badly damaged, which I repaired, and have used (at half size) on the 482nd's In Memorium page. Many thanks Joe...you did good. GCW]
May 6, 2009 No such person while I was there. Their were only two T/Sgts in avionics and they were Wayne Bills, who came down from Seymour in the original bunch, and Jack Dacken, who came straight in from elsewhere after
the initial start-up. Since those two were there till the end, I doubt that a third Tech would have been assigned. But my orders only showed part of the original group.
Does TDY to Detach 1 at the Miami International Airport count? I spent three months there, but do not appear on the roster.
Boy, I don't like seeing all the deceased marks on the rosters.
May 5, 2009 If my memory does not fail me Jack Emch was a TSgt who was assigned to the radar shop. However, he served in Key West and not at Seymour-Johnson. He was the NCOIC of radar at Key West.
James Giffard will know the facts on Emch since he served in Key West at the same time. You have an e-mail address on Giffard.
James Mooring is from NC, I was in school with him at Lowery AFB, Denver. He went to ADC Headquarters and was on an honor guard and was promoted to SSgt on the fast track (under four years on active duty). He came to the 482nd with that rank in 1964 and was assigned to the orderly room.
May 5, 2009 We have around 30 names that are thought to have been members of the 482nd for which I have no paper or personal knowledge from any airman confirming. If you hold orders with data for any of the 19 names listed below, please send me that information ASAP. Thanks...GCW
Brewer (S/Sgt) Weds, April 29, 2009 I was looking around the internet for memories about my father, Charlie P. Blass, and found your website. Great website and information about his Air Force days.
Thanks ... Chuck Blass
April 1, 2009 I am responding to your letter of Dec 14, 2005. Unfortunately, it got put in the background somehow; so sorry for that. Anyhow, now that I am retired I am getting caught up on some of my put off "to do things."
I was a member of the 482nd FIS from Feb. 2004 until they disbanded in 2005. With hind-sight I can tell you it was a great outfit. I was assigned to the Jet Engine shop. When the unit was disbanded, some of us got reassigned to Perrin AFB, Texas. I do have all of my orders. From Perrin, I finally got assigned to Vietnam. I completed my 4 year hitch while there.
At the present time I do not have a computer, but do have access to my daughter's. I will try to access and respond to your web site on her computer.
Thank you for the trouble you went to in locating and corresponding with me.
James W. Schlegel, 516 Margin Road, Lebanon, PA 17042
Mar 10, 2009 Hey, why don't some of you local folks take charge and lets have the reunion.
I will put the word out here in the Langley area. Some one let me know, and
please keep me posted on how Tom is doing.
Don
[ED NOTE: On the face of it ... I agree. But as we age, there is a limit to the number of Jim Radfords, Hatler Leslies, and Tom Suttons still available and/or able to take on the task. I know Tom has tried before to find someone willing to accept the responsibility and had offered to help whoever might volunteer ... but there were no takers locally. Its possible someone could create a 482nd reunion elsewhere, and that has been suggested several times in the past, but its not likely at this point in time. I can think of only one who would/could do it, but he is now occupied with serious family illness. GCW]
Mar 7, 2009 This has gotten way out of hand and is extremely dangerous to the internet as a whole. The codecs passed on in a data-stream have become so complicated, sophisticated, and dangerous that even the very best defenses are being breached and compromised. This web page will DELETE (unread and unopened) ANY email that has a FORWARDed message attached to it. MOST of the programs that can presently be downloaded for free on the internet have mal-ware attached to them ... nobody out there, especially now, is offering you a damn thing for free ... "every worm conceals a hook, say fish" (to paraphrase Rupert Brooke). We understand that your intentions are friendly and well placed. Its the delivery system that has become flawed and criminal. Gullible has to go, folks. But if you're addicted, try reading Gullible Info. GCW
Mar 6, 2009 I was saddened to learn of the death of "Miss June" on Feb 26, 2009, and I know all of the pilots and airman who might remember her from the original 482nd will be also. Her life reads like a movie script. When I wrote to her, she was in her mid 80s and mentally alert and active to a suprising point ... and a most helpful lady. SO ... making an exception in her case, I have linked her obituary/photo to Dad's "In Memoriam" entry at [June's link], which will also work here. GCW
Weds, Mar 4, 2009 Received and appreciate the communication that there will not be a reunion in 2009. I only regret that I did not participate more in the past with this distinguished squadron. I still live in Raleigh and was planning to attend. We owe Tom Sutton a lot for getting this together and pray for him. Who will fill his shoes?
I have terminal cancer but am doing fine right now and hope that the reunion can be continued.
Stacy Finch --- AF13752905
Thursday, Feb 24, 2009 My fault...made two fatal errors in a row and brought my system down to the point that it had to be restored ... recovery was impossible. Presently, I am trying to figure out how much was lost and restoring things as I go along from other computers and key memories. LUCKILY, a couple weeks ago I bought three 4-gig key memories ... one I used to back-up all 482nd photographs. The web page acts as a second data buffer and I use ZIP drives (out of old habit) to work with day to day, month to month, for data lists and research. The 482nd web page and history came away from this total crash in 90% good shape, the 10% was a loss of emails, sent and received, for the last year (for sure) ... my last email backup was a year ago to CD. Unfortunately the rest of my work and projects did not fair as well. Lost all bookmarks and misc. acquired programs ... and for those of you who have reached my age, even REMEMBERING WHAT THEY WERE is one hell of a chore. I may be a tad tardy in responding for a while ... don't use the gwillick email, use the AF16526225@yahoo.com. I needed this? GCW
Thursday, Feb 19, 2009 Please get the word to all members.
Tom Sutton, 251 Mann Lane, Goldsboro, NC. 27530
ED NOTE: If you have an email address and DID NOT receive the above notice ... then I need a copy of your current one to up-date my files (which includes sending along a member's I've not previously seen, please). Thank you. GCW
Monday, Feb 16, 2009 The first TDY to MCAS Cherry Point was very memorable in many ways. But this one incident always stuck in my mind. I had the '55 Ford, red and white, and we went to town the first night. Me, John Cumming, Clyde Brown, and Menifee. Moon, as we always called him, was sitting in the back seat behind me. We were young, and had a good relationship. We went to the drive-in close to the Main Gate for hamburgers or whatever. I pulled into a spot and we sat there, and sat there, until John opened the door and asked the carhop if we were going to get any service. She kept going, and the next time she passed by, John again asked for service. This time she responded, "You ain't getting served here with that BOY in the backseat." We all came unglued and then settled down after Moon insisted that we go somewhere else, which we did.
The last time I saw Menifee was at Tyndall when I was there TDY with one of my F-106 squadrons. He was stationed at Tyndall, by now a T/Sgt, had a good job on the flightline, and came over to visit the various TDY squadrons when they arrived. This time he ran into me. It was good to see him again ... we all enjoyed being with him and will miss his happy face. Luther Menifee was a great person.
ADDENDUM: Sat, 21 Feb 2009
I just talked to Dick Geier. His address is 3660 E Montecito Ave, # 21, Phoenix, AZ 85018. He does not use the computer and was not aware of the website ... but is very interested in news and information of the 482nd FIS. We had a great conversation and I will stay in contact with him.
Robbie
Feb 12, 2009 I've had more requests to locate L S Whitfield than anyone else in the 482nd. Everyone was positive that he was deceased but nobody remembered when. I report with great pride and some emotion that after 7 years of looking and thanks "in total" to a photo of a military grave marker taken by Donna McPherson on Nov 13, 2008, for Find-a-Grave ... Whit has been located in Plant City, FL at Mount Enon Cem. Memorial.
T/Sgt Benj. F. Lambert was a similar, but harder, problem. The service number led to a WWII file that pinned him born in 1920 in NC. Searching the NC death records revealed nothing. Likewise, nothing logical or helpful appeared in the SS records. And there are/were lots of Benj. F. Lamberts. And so it rested. The luck in the above paragraph sent me back to Find-a-Grave and lo & behold there it was...2 photos taken last year by Michelle Woodham at Beal Memorial Cem., Fort Walton Beach, FL, ended the hunt.
A Social Security number was LISTED for "L Whitfield" and by my using the "S" --- it never returned. Likewise, the use of "Ben" (see markers) for "Benjamin" caused similar problems. GCW
Sunday, Feb 8. 2009 I remember when Sgt Fred Archer came in and they had an airman who was always getting into trouble. After his introduction, Fred singled out the young man to meet him behind the orderly room because one of them was going to get the crap beat out of him. The airman made a beeline to the orderly room, not to fight but to yell for help.
That's about my only memory concerning the orderly room except when I reported in. John Bell was First Sgt., chief clerk, and total orderly room staff. He had a desk, a chair, and two trash cans. He told me to get my family settled and pitched my complete 201 file, including pay records on top of other files already piling up in one of the cans. THAT I will never forget. I feel I should remember at least a First Sgt's name, but I don't.
Ernie
Feb 3, 2009 Jan 22, 2009 [It is with heavy heart and great sadness that I advise you of the passing of Dave Bigelow on Friday, January 16th, 2009, on the "Big Island" of Hawaii.]
Dear Richard and Sylvia,
This is one letter I wish I didn't have to write.
I am sending you some links with the information about Dave's last flight. He took off on tow in his sailplane Friday, hoping to set an altitude record and did not return. Conditions were perfect for achieving his goal of 40,000, and he probably did, but the current speculation and most likely scenario is that he had an oxygen failure, blacked out, and then crashed on the slopes of Mauna Loa Volcano.
I am trying to keep myself together and I have a wonderful support system of community and friends here to help me. Our son, Dan, is here and we are trying to get organized and we cry together. Our other son, David will be coming out later this week.
There will be a memorial service Jan 31 at our community clubhouse.
Oh, how I shall miss him! He made my life so rich and wonderful. We celebrated our 48th anniversary in Dec. and are still in love. Everyone says he went out with his boots on, doing what he wanted to do. It came much too soon, but I agree.
We all have read "High Flight" many times, and loved the beautiful word pictures, but it has even more meaning now and is comforting to me ... It helps me "get it."
Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of earth With love, always, Patty
Dan Bigelow said they are hoping to find the sailplane's flight recorder to verify its ultimate altitude. "He got out of the party at the high point. He was at the top of his game. He did it with style and caught the big wave to where he wanted to go."
ED NOTE: I highly recommend that you take the time and view Dave's ultralight and glider photos while they are still posted. I found the volcano/lava flow shots extremely hairy. GCW Jan 18, 2009 Regret to let you know that another member of the 482nd ... and a good friend ... passed away about 9:30 this morning.
Jan 13, 2009 Occasionally (hah!), I piddle . . . trying to find a handle on the still missing or lost members of the 482nd. Its very hard. I hit on this idea a little while ago and thought it might show you a part of the problem for common names. Below is a small list of deceased surnames taken from the current Social Security data lists (and its NOT complete for these names by a long shot).
Baker - 144,872 . . .etc. So even that one set of orders you may have re the 482nd, and haven't bothered with, could make the difference on finding someone listed thereon. We still have unknowns...about 200. Several have been haunting me for years, friends of mine, and their names are just gone from my head...would KNOW those names if I saw them.
Anyway, weather too damned miserable to do anything else...why not take that look for those orders you thought about or even promised several years ago? Please. GCW
Jan 12, 2009 The information you sent was almost correct. The dates were. That is when I re-enlisted (1946). It wasn't Detroit it was Clare, MI. I didn't re-enlist for Hawaii, it was Selfridge Field, MI, and thats where they sent me.
I had enlisted in the Army Air Corps in June of 1942 at Clare, MI, and was sent to Traverse City, MI, for my physical and swearing in. From there I went to Fort Custer, MI, for about 7 days. Then it was off to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, for Basic Training. From there I went to Paine Field, WA, for further training and forming 3 brand new Squadrons. From the unit I was in, "Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron," I was sent to Cold Base Alaska for about 9 months.
Then they sent us clear out on the tip of the Aleutian Islands to a postage stamp called Shemya (2 miles by 4 miles). I spent 15 months on that f------ island. We departed for Alaska on Oct 15, 1942, and returned to the states on Oct 15, 1944. From there I went to a place in Texas called Normal. It was a replacement depot just outside San Antonio. I stayed there about a month and then in January of 1945 I was sent to Wright Field, Ohio. Stayed there until I was separated on Oct 25, 1945. THEN re-enlisted on Jan. 18, 1946.
Sidney A. Stayler, 25647 Mary St., New Baltimore, MI 48051-2820
Jan 11, 2009 Thanks for the new WWII enlisted service # listing. You sure answered a question that I have had for a long time. My discharge from the AUS says I was a Pvt. on Nov. 6, 1945. I did re-enlist on Nov. 7 in the RA, no rank noted on the next discharge except rank at time of discharge was Cpl. On the 7th I took off like a big bird for Washington, DC, to get married.
My problem was we have some snapshots of my wife and I and I had on PFC stripes --- all I could figure out was the 6 Nov. discharge was incorrect or I was too lazy to sew on the Cpl. stripes. The bottom of the discharge also
includes the statement "Discharged Pvt. AUS for the conveniance of the government" (to reenlist). Just goes
to show you we do make mistakes.
Thanks...Ernie
Jan 1, 2009 The small image above shows the pilot photo board (likely arranged by flight) that did not exist during my time period (nor did the panel walls for that matter...the floors stayed the same). The photos are individual portrait shots of each pilot. After 6 years of work, I have EXACTLY one of them, from Col. Les Conwell.
I know that I ought to have some pride and self-respect...semper fi and all that...but gee guys, I could use a little help on this from my friends. Anyone know when the board went up, how long it was up, or where it went when the squadron slid into the ocean? Did anyone besides Les bother to pull down and keep their image? Can anyone copy or scan same?
My scanner died (God rest its magnificent soul) and the computer industry is once again changing everything to align with Microsoft's new Vista system...frankly, given the time I have left on the planet...I'm not at all sure I want the added frustration of learning, yet again, some $&*%#$ system that will upgrade itself in a couple years when sales slow down. Ah...progress.
ADDENDUM: After a good 7 years of doing this, gathering records, obits, and finding graves...I Can Not find that the following people, listed mainly by the various Goldsboro Reunions, Were Ever in the 482nd and they are about to be removed from our lists --- they are Robert Rexford Snodderly (Goldsboro local), John Robert Sears (POW), Jack Hollie Emch, Robert L Sherwood, and Col/BGen Alex B. Andrews (all dec'd)...mostly WWII vets. If anyone can swear they were in the 482nd...you best be speaking up. Which brings up another removal list; the people listed as WWII vets that weren't even of age (17) until after the war. (I KNOW the government extended that deadline considerably but I'm not going to live with it. Sorry. This will effect the present WWII Veteran's list...entirely among those (not all) listed in the grey background part of the list.) I have been working on a second, additional list, which is arranged by service numbers rather than alphabetically and gives some added perspectives. GCW
From: Sloan Coker
Subject: Miles E. Colbert
From: Ernie Willie
Subject: Raymond D. Smith
From: Hugh Parmer, 1957-58 armament NCOIC, WWII Vet
Subject: Query "You still alive?"
Subject: Mrs. Sylvia Fairlamb's fight with ALS has ended.
From: Stacy Finch
Charles L Witmore --- Sept 23, 2009
From: Sylvia A Witmore
Subject: Sad, sad news
Subject: Captain Lemcke's Colgate-U achievements & photo
Robert William "Bill" CURTIS --- May 16, 2009
adding new items as they came up across the years. I shall miss him." GCW
From: Robert V. Finez
Subject: Alive & Still Kicking
Col. John B. FLAGG, age 84 --- April 1, 2009
From: Sloan Coker
Subject: Chanute AFB
From: Webmaster
See photo.
From: Jim Cunningham
Subject: Arlington Trip
From: Webmaster
From: Ernest Willie
Reference: Death of M/Sgt William G. Ellis
From: Sloan Coker
Letter from James Schlegel
ELLIS, William G. "Bill" --- SMSgt, age 88 --- April 25, 2009
ROE, Everett E. --- TSgt, age 88 --- April 28, 2009
WALLACE, Dale H. --- age 67 --- May 11, 2009
From: Joseph Kopack
Re: Dale H. Wallace
From: Jim Giffard
Re: Jack Hollie Emch, T/Sgt Key West
From: Richard H. Miller
From: Webmaster
Cavender, Wilbur J. (Detach 1)
Deem, Marshall F.
Emch, Jack Hollie (dec'd)
Flora, Isaac Henry
Gilbert (T/Sgt)
Hale, Barry
Lawrence, Leon (dec'd)
Locher (various spellings)
Ludolf, Earl (dec'd April 2008)
Massengill, James E. (dec'd April 2009)
McCarthy (A/3C - Oct 7, '64 - parade roster)
Mooring, James (orderly room, reunion photos)
Paller, Robert (Lt)
Pierce, Edward (L. or E.)
Ravell, George H.
Sherwood, Robert L. (dec'd)
Steffens, James W. (dec'd)
Vandiford, Ernest Christopher. Jr.
From: Blass, Charles P. (Halo NPI)
Lt. Col. Herbert L. Sherrill - April 3, 2009
From: James W. Schlegel
Subject: Response to 482nd contact-letter.
William Luther Bateman - Mar 13, 2009
From: Donald Watlington
Subject: Re: 2009 482nd Reunion - CANCELLATION
From: Webmaster
Subject: RESTATEMENT of this web page's policy re Email FORWARDS.
From: Webmaster
Subject: June Evelyn Ingalls, age 87
From: Stacy Finch
Subject: 2009 482nd Reunion - CANCELLATION
From: Webmaster - yeh, sure
Subject: February 23rd Computer Crash - BIG ONE
From: Tom Sutton
Subject: 2009 Reunion
Due to health problems that will continue for a number of weeks, I have to cancel the 2009 reunion. I have been in the hospital twice since January.
From: Ralph Robledo
Subject: A short story about Menifee.
Subject: Sgts L S Whitfield & Ben F. Lambert
From: Ernie Willie
GCW: "Oh my...unusual cluster."
SPILLMAN, Glenn Walter --- Oct 30, 2008
PANGELINAN, Vicente Cruz "Ben" --- Nov 1, 2008
FREEMAN, Thomas Edison --- Nov 7, 2008
JACKSON, Arvel Lee --- Nov 7, 2008
SZEKERESH, Joseph J. --- Nov 7, 2008
CLAYTON, Ralph Alexander --- Nov 8, 2008
MENIFEE, Luther Edward --- Nov 10, 2008
SKULLEY, Reed Ragan --- Nov 17, 2008
From: Richard Fairlamb
by Pilot/Officer Gillespie Magee
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds - and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of - wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, up the long delirious, burning blue,
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew -
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
David Lyman Bigelow - Jan 16, 2009
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16867421@N07/page1/
From: Harold Absher
Charles L. Skipper - Jan 18, 2009
From: Webmaster
Subject: Surname data...
Brown - 462,333 (sp Browne +7,985)
Clark - 192,051 (sp Clarke +21,364)
Davis - 359,643
Green - 139,994 (sp Greene +39,298)
Jackson - 206,834
Johnson - 617,509 (sp Johnston +50,107)
Jones - 453,881
Lewis - 169,153
Mitchell - 124,035
Smith - 826,703
Williams - 478,605
Wilson - 271,654
From: Sidney A. Stayler --- [482nd 1st Sgt '56-58]
Subject: Second WWII list...
From: Ernie Willie
Subject: Second WWII list...
From: Webmaster
Subject: Pilot Photo Board
