Peoria -
sunny, warm, cloudless, beautiful weather - where we enjoyed our reunion of
friends, one more time, but, also fretted where Ivan (hurricane) would come
ashore and who of our friends it would destroy. (Reunion reports will
follow in a separate mailing.)
(We have
finally been able to reach Bob and Kitty Dimmitt in Pensacola. They did
amazingly well despite all the damage around them. Terry Dell
tells me that he and Mom Delphine, have no damage. Chuck Maginn’s roof
lost shingles allowing moisture in so he has damage to a few rooms. The
Kazmaiers also suffered damage. We truly hope that none of our
Florida members have suffered truly serious harm from these terribly
destructive storms.)
At our
Saturday evening dinner dance, I, Louise Thoman had the great privilege of
speaking, reminding all of the enormous amount of work Bob Kirk has done for
us over the past 28 years and the many hours Nita has had to give up while Bob
did his research, record keeping and the planning and execution of 3 reunions.
We wanted to award Bob the Medal of Honor for service beyond the norm AND the
Purple Heart for all the bumps we have inflicted on him over these many years,
BUT, since Congress has not seen fit to award us this privilege, we exercised
the only honor left to us - say a heartfelt thank you to Bob and Nita for 28
years of devotion and present him with an engraved pewter tankard from a
grateful group of friends..
Thank you
Bob, one more time, and thanks to the “Special Assistants to the
Coordinator”, Dick Brown and Chuck Maginn, for the support they gave Bob at
Peoria.
During the
evening, Jack Leonard did his mandatory tap dance for us, one more time.
This year he was joined by Clarita Thompson and Barbara Peters. BRAVO!!
Would the person who forgot to return the PICTORIAL BOOKLET OF BOSTON II
2002, PLEASE RETURN IT TO The Thomans, 86 Driftwood La. Trumbull, CT
06611-1861. This booklet was donated for the Squadron records by
Rob Elliott, son of Neal. It is a part of our history.
The
following is an example of the requests we receive. This one was
received by Jack Leonard. - “Hello, my name is Melanie. I am 17 years
old and my grandfather was Lt Cdr Bruce A VanVoorhis. For the
past 2 weeks I have been in a desperate search for anyone who knew my
grandfather because my grandfather passed away. In his memory, I decided
to do a research paper on his time in squadron 102..... Thank you so much for your time, you will never know just how much I
appreciate what you have done. A Thankful Grandaughter. PS Thank
you for helping to keep my grandfather’s memory alive....”
A note from
the editor: Don’t let your family be one of those who have to turn to
strangers to learn about you. All we can do is give them the cold facts
and dates, IF we have them. It’s up to you to share the personal side
of your experience.
Those of you who took pictures at Peoria, please send copies, as soon as
possible, to me, Louise Thoman, 86 Driftwood Lane, Trumbull, CT 06611-1861.
I am hoping to complete the scrapbook within the next few months. Your
pictures are needed more than ever, as I was not able to take all I wanted,
due to restricted mobility. Thank you in advance.Bob Kirk sends word that 43 members failed to reply to reunion mailings; 36
failed to submit dues for 2003-4; 2 failed to submit dues for 2001-2 &
2003-4... We are in dire need of these funds if you expect to continue
to receive any news about reunions or The Tale Spins. Please send your
dues directly to Bob Kirk, 4371 Logrono Dr., San Diego, CA 92115-5623.
Also, please let us know if you are no longer interested. Mailings are
expensive.............
Now for news from and about your friends:
“Squadron
Mates and Friends: One of the cofounders of our organization, GUS DAVID
MARTIN, formerly of VPB-102, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 3,
2004. Gus was a strong supporter of the organization for more than 28 years.
He and Robbie Roberts co-hosted the first reunion in Seminole, Oklahoma during
the summer of 1976. Gus attended 14 consecutive reunions until his very
serious health problems prevented his attendance at the Peoria Reunion last
month. He had a nagging heart problem for the last two years that pretty much
immobilized him. We shall miss this extremely honest, caring and gentle man.
To know Gus was to know one of the finest.” Bob Kirk
Bo
Kilner writes that John is still cognizant, but, his interests have lessened.
They have help so they can keep him at home. She wondered if John was
the last of the VP-14 at 89. NO
Bo - there are 37 VP-14 alumni still listed in our active roster. 7 were
in attendance at Peoria! Here’s to the future guys!! Bo
and John say hello to all.
Diggs
and Beverly Walton were not able to attend. Doctor’s orders.
Beverly’s health did not allow. Sorry guys. We missed you.
Marlin
and Linde Waechter also sent regrets. Linde has had a very difficult
time with back surgery and subsequent recovery. Best wishes from all of
us Linde.
Hal
Warnimont has suffered severe health problems, including pneumonia and
hospitalization, but, is out and in a new apartment. (See address changes)
Chuck
Whelan is recovering from open-heart surgery. He and Barbara Peters
attended despite his ailments. What troopers! It was great having
you with us Chuck and Barbara.
Herschel
Blackwell is living with Parkinsons. We’re told that he still enjoys
The New Tale Spins when daughter Peggy reads it to him.
Jim
Keith is also living with Parkinsons and loss of vision.
Robbie
and Vera Roberts could not attend as Vera has suffered a second, more severe,
stroke. There is paralysis and she was in rehab at the time Robbie
wrote. They were also the other half of the team that launched our
reunions. Thank you. We missed you.
Frederick
Westford is recovering from hip surgery.
Sadly
Betty Harle writes, from Oxford, England, that Jim died 6/27/2004. He
had been hospitalized since April and succumbed to pneumonia. Jim
planned on being with us in Peoria right up to the end. Our condolences
to Betty.
Bill
Alcorn called this morning - Pat now has 2 new knees and is in the process of
recovery. While she was in hospital, Bill fell and cracked a vertebrae.
Pat is now home and doing PT. AND speaking of knees, Louise Thoman also
has had a partial knee replacement - attended Peoria with cane and
wheelchair. ( No dancing - ugh!) Doing great, thank you.........
San
Diego County celebrated John Finn Day, July 24 - his 95th birthday. John
was still in the California Veterans Home recovering from injuries suffered in
DC while a guest at the WWII Monument dedication ceremonies. Recently,
Gordon Jones and 3 others took John to Reno, NV for an Ordnance Reunion.
We’re told that he’s “one tough old bird”.
Nita
Kirk is coming along. Cheerful as ever. Keeping up with Bob is not
easy. She
also attended the reunion with the help of a wheel chair.
Martha Washburn is living in a healthcare facility - still cheerful and much
loved. She can be reached through daughter Ginny Hopcroft.. (See address
changes)
Grace
Hahn writes that she is doing well and sends greetings to all.
We wish all those who are struggling with health issues the very best we can
offer. Keep up the good fight. Also, we extend our condolences to
those who have lost one of our friends.
If
I may quote Marlin Waechter, “Damn, this gettin’ old is the pits!
And whomever labeled these the “Golden Years” was off his cotton pickin”
rocker!!!”
Please
continue to keep Bob Kirk, at 4371 Logrono Drive, San Diego, CA 92115-5623, OR
Louise Thoman, 86 Driftwood Lane, Trumbull, CT 06611-1861 informed - where you
are living, your health, things your friends, who care, really want to know.
If you are no longer interested, please let us know that too......
ADDRESS
CHANGES - Please add to your roster:
Leslie
James Cole, 1320 12th Ave. #114, Menomonie, WI 54751
Robert
Davis, 4908 Old Faison Rd, Knightdale, NC 27545
Neal
Elliott, 2347 W Mariposa Loop, Redmond, OR 97756
Robert
Geer, PO Box 9, Cleveland, NY 13042
Chuck
Haddenham, 3020 Austin Dr #C204, Bremerton, WA 98312
Forrest
Hartman, 59152 County Line Rd, Three Rivers, MI 49093
John
Kilner, PO Box 44, Glendale, MA 01229
Phil
Knights, 11421 East Fox Circle, Mesa, AZ 85207
Wayne
Rorman, 3036 Dunbar Avenue, #6 Fort Collins, CO 80526
Jason
Schuch, 521 Mountainview Road, New Florence, PA 15944
William
Schur, 7061 Alviso Ave, Riverside, CA 92509
Edwin
R Smith 302 W Benton, Winterset, IA 50273
Hal
Warnimont, 125 56th Ave #46, St Petersburg, FL 33705
Ginny
Hopcroft (Washburn) 27 Libby Lane, Brunswick, ME 04011
Barbara
Capdevielle Minnick, 1770 N Causeway Blvd, #209,
Mandeville,
LA 70471
Friendship - what would life be without it.........
Louise Thoman, Editor
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