ICQ & Potpourri Mail - 2004
Informal or Partial Messages
Most recent first; more or less...
Dec 22, 2004
From: Joe Basinger
Happened to notice your website during a family genealogy search. My father, Albert E. Basinger, was the 1st Lt. assigned as Armaments Officer in your squadron, and is alive and well at the age of 74 in Bartlesville, OK.
Thank you for doing such a nice job pulling together records and photos.
Take care,
Joseph B. Basinger, MD, Capt - USAFR,
Flight Surgeon, 16th Special Operations Squadron, 1994-1998
Dec 1, 2004
From: Jim Day
Subject: Marshall Deem
I saw on your web page that you were having problems trying to locate people. I don't know how you have found the large number that you list. Anyway, I have been contacting Deem each Christmas so I gave him a call today. He is living in Ohio most of the time. Told me he had gotten something from you but didn't answer your mail. You have to know Dizz as we all knew him.
His new address is: Marshall Deem, 1540 Maple Street, Barberton, OH 44203 ---Phone: 330-825-4482
Keep up the great work and have a Happy Holiday...Jim
Nov 14, 2004
From: Jim Cunningham
Subject: Clovis A. "Junior" Cooper.
Just returned from Jr's. He was not doing well at all. Was stuck in Nashville and got a call from his daughter with bad news. He has 24 to 72 hours left. We are going back tomorrow for the duration. We will be leaving here about 0900 CST heading back. Say a prayer that it will be merciful and pain free.
[After two hours...this followed] Clovis A. Cooper Jr., departed us this night at app 22:50 hrs EST in Morgan County, TN. Jim
Oct 26, 2004
From:
Steven L. Smith
[Enclosure: quarter-inch stack of orders.]
Your 482nd web site is outstanding. I was both pleased and surprised to find it. I was assigned to the 482nd FIS from November 1959 to May 1965...including Det 2 at Key West. I have searched my military records for orders that are in any way connected to the 482nd. I have made copies of everything and they are included in this package. I hope they will be of some help to you in your personnel roster reconstruction efforts.
During this order search, I found I was missing special order T-346 (25 July 1961) and T-414 (31 October 1961). The subject is TDY to Homestead AFB (Miami International). If you, or anyone, should have copies of these orders I would greatly appreciate it if you would send me copies in order to complete my set. [GCW: I looked, and have neither. Anyone else?]
Steve L. Smith, 11544 Davis St., Moreno Valley, CA 92557
Oct 18, 2004 (rec'd)
From: Mrs. Charles C. Darnell
Thanks for the email to Charlie. He lost his battle to cancer 9/13.
He had inquired about a Copeland in the Air Force. We had a bad storm and my computer was hit by lightning. So waiting to replace.
Beverly Darnell, 13511 Coverly Road, Amelia Courthouse, VA 23002
Oct 15, 2004
From:
GCW for Charles M. Sirosky,
I hadn't been able to find Charlie. While working on the "6 for 6" article this week, I tried again...nothing, not a trace...nohow, nowhere. That means spelling error. Orders said "Siroskey." Later, I was to learn that this was an error from his birth certificate which the military used. I began running the variables, and it took a while, but I eventually found several returns on SS for the spelling "Sirosky." Chasing that, I found a home address for Chas M. Sirosky in New Hampshire but the street number was missing. So I bit back my phobia and made a phone call...got the answering machine. But Charles returned the call this afternoon. As usual, I don't remember what he said but I did write the street address down...and he doesn't have a computer, so you can call or write him a letter. I don't like publishing phone numbers (except when requested) but since all of you are on computer, go to the online phone books or send me an email and I'll forward his # to you. GCW
Charles M. Sirosky, 34 Cary St., Newport, NH 03773
Oct 10, 2004
From:
Dr. George R. Halliwell, Jr.
You guessed right! Dad is survived by his wife Mercedes A. (Betty) Halliwell of Hampton, TN and 3 sons: George R. Jr. of Palmetto Bay, FL, James F. of Hampton TN, and John W. of Oak Ridge TN. Dad is buried in Elizabethton, TN. I do not remember the name of the cemetery, but I have cc'd this message to my mother and brother Jim who can provide this information. Do not hesitate to contact any of us for more information.
Dr. George R. Halliwell, Jr., Research Associate Professor
Division of Meteorology and Physical Oceanography
Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL, 33149-1098
Oct 7, 2004
From: Hubert G. Wetherington
Alive and well. My daughter said you old 482nd people were looking for me. I have been looking at your web site and I am amazed. I am still in contact with A3C Omar W. Capps. He lives in South Carolina. I live in Washington state. I saw many, many names that I recognize. Any info I can help with, let me know.
Thanks, Hubert Wetherington, CMSgt retired
Oct 4, 2004
From: William A. Craver
40 years. Well, what do you know. I plum forgot and I sure didn't want to remember them. Yes, you found me. I was with the 482nd from Aug 1962 to about Sept/Oct 1964. Then I was sent to Stewart AFB where I got out in '68.
I'm retired now but don't spend any time on this computer...my wife has it to do her banking.
Looking foward to hearing from you or anyone who remembers me.
Bill Craver, 4016 Croydon Ln, Bowie, MD 20715
Sept 25, 2004
From: Don Fink
I was in the 482nd from early 1962 until separation in 1964. Worked on the flight line on T33s and 102s under MSgt Jackson and SSgt Wally Burke. I was on deployment to Homestead AFB during the Cuban missile crisis and also to 482nd Det. 1 at Key West.
I'm interested in attending the reunion and will be there if at all possible. I do not have a computer but my home address is 6317 Miller Rd., Kannapolis, NC 28081
Sept 21, 2004
From: Jim Sippel
As an ex 482nd airman I can make patches with my commercial embroidery machine if anyone would be interested.
I am in Florida and we were at the cross roads of Charley & Francis . We live 180 ft above sea level and water drains well from here. Lost a tree and lots of limbs, but house came through OK. Lots of people not so lucky.
Jim
Sept 20, 2004
From: Ray Epperson
I just got off the phone with Donald Fink who was in the 482nd. He does not have a computer but here's his address....
Donald D. Fink, 6317 Miller Road, Kannapolis, NC. 28081-9067 --- (704) 932-6025
Also found my scrapbook after 60 days of looking, and will be sending some pictures soon...Ray
Sept 9, 2004
From: William B. Murray
Hello! I was in the 482nd, from Sept. '61 to Dec. '64. I was in the Radar group. M/Sgt. Dillis Brooks was the NCOIC of the group. I was in S/Sgt John Cheney's flight. I was in the 1st group to attend Fig 8 school. After the school, not having any of the birds changed to Fig 8, I was assigned to NADAR for a period of time. There I worked for T/Sgt Downs. During that time period, I remember a Tac-Eval. that lasted for about 3 days. Being a radar troop, I was also an aux-load crew member. I believe that a M/Sgt Webster was NCOIC of the Missile Shop during the time I was an aux-load crew member.
I remember one humorous incident about a "broken air hose" on one of the Joy compressors. The troop that saw it got all excited and shouted into the radio. It came out sounding like "broken arrow." I remember the sqdn. men that were on duty at that time gathering at the assembly area on the edge of the golf course, and a "not so happy" CO (I believe at the time was Lt. Col. Weaver) pacing back and forth trying to sort things out and find out who called a "broken arrow."
After my discharge from the AF, I spent some time in the reserves. I was assigned to the Comm/Nav Field Maint. group at Pope AFB. I was quite surprised to see M/Sgt. Hasselbach there. He, Jerry Wade, and Don Price are the only members of the 482nd that I have seen since leaving the AF.
Bill Murray
Aug 31, 2004
From: Edward J. Trainor, 19 Gordon Mountain Road, Windham, NH 03087-1322
What a surprise to hear about the 482nd after so many years. I served in the 482nd in 1960-61.
I tried to get on the web site but was unsuccessful. I will keep trying.
I did want to let you know your efforts paid off and to provide contact data to you for future correspondence.
Thanks for your efforts...Ted
Aug 31, 2004
From: Ruben E. Silence, 1906 N. Harrison St., San Angelo, TX 76901-1336
Received your e-mail, it really was a suprise. I was assigned to the 482nd FIS from October 15, 1957 to latter part of August 1959. I was reassigned to Germany. My next assignments were England, Larson AFB, Homestead AFB, England, Griffis AFB, Remote Alaska, England, Goodfellow AFB, where I retired June 30, 1981.
I am 71 years old now, will be 72 in December of this year. What records that I have are not available at this time, I will try to get them and have a look, if I find anything that looks promising I will make copies and send them to you. Thanks for the contact.
Aug 31, 2004
From: Ray J. Epperson, 3806 Immanuel Road, Greensboro, NC 27407
I was in the 482nd from 1962-1965. I was a crew chief on one of the T-33s (we had 3) and was sent to Key West, where I worked on F-102s. I have some pictures of Seymour-Johnson I will send you, but none of Key West, as they keep us very busy. I also have some orders that I will copy and send you. I did not know that you had re-unions in Goldsboro. I still have friends there that I visit every year. I would like to come to the next meeting.
Aug 27, 2004
From: Ernie E. Smith
I am the youngest son of M/Sgt Herman A. Smith, USAF. My cousin, Jeanny Smith, kindly forwarded your email to me. As you already know, the last 3 children of Herman A. Smith & Mary Maxine (Ladnier) Smith were born at Goldsboro, NC, in Seymour Johnson AFB Hospital: Gregory L. Smith (1959), Jessie E. Smith (1961), & Ernie E. Smith (1963). My father is buried in Beaufort National Cemetery, SC, as per his final wishes. All his children, grandchildren, and wife are alive and doing well.
My father passed away in 1987 from cancer. We suspect he was exposed to agent orange while working in Vietnam in the early 70's. My mother and 4 of us children still live here in Charleston, SC, where we have been since Goldsboro and his 1967 retirement from the Air Force. My father loved to travel so after Vietnam he found work in Tehran, Iran, with an aircraft company. My father, mother, and us 3 younger kids lived in Tehran from 1975-1977, then came home for a school year, and went back in 1978 where we were told to leave due to the uprising with the Shaw. We lived about a block away from the American Embassy where they held the American hostages so I always felt weird about that since we went to the Embassy many times to shop and take care of business.
Anything you guys need we will certainly try to provide the unit. My son, who will be 7 in November, is so fascinated with airplanes that I figure he has some of his grandfather in him.
Ernie Smith, Charleston, SC
rec'd Aug 27, 2004
From: Phil H. Norman, 960 Sunup Ct., Carson City, NV 89705-6012
It was a real pleasure hearing from you. I must admit those days in N.C. were a long time ago and I do not recall your name or face.
I've enclosed a photo taken in Jan/Feb 57 in the Jet Engine Shop prior to getting the 102s. I wish you would return it please. All of the orders I could find I have enclosed. A/1C Zick & A/1C Tom Anderson were very close friends and I wish I could locate them or know of their whereabouts. Zick was discharged with me in Nov. 57 and returned to his home in Indiana. Anderson spent 20 years in the AF and was from Virginia.
I spent 20 years in the AF, retiring as a CMSgt in 1974. I was stationed with some of the web site names on different occasions. I never did return to Seymour Johnson but, if possible, I would attend next year's reunion.
Aug 26, 2004
From: Frank Blaskis,
Wow, what a flash-back !!! Well, I am alive and well. Miss those days. I was on that TDY during the Cuban Missile Crisis, sitting on Miami International Airport alert. I never kept contact with anyone. Shipped out to Fairbanks, Alaska, and was discharged in Dec. '63.
I'm living in Las Vegas now but have picked Thailand for my retirement. Have a place over there and only stay in the USA for short periods.
Well, I was not much of an airman but a very good mechanic! Some pilots questioned my military appearance but never my work... I was just thinking about my ole First Sergeant, M/Sgt John R. Nelson. He was one of the few I really respected. Think he would be about 80 now, if alive...tell him I'm just as hard headed as ever. I'm almost 62, as of November.
Thanks for your work putting this together.
Aug 16, 2004
From: Lee Cearley, CWO4 (WEPS), USCG Ret.
I don't know how you tracked me down to my current address, but in this day and age of Information linkage, I am not surprised. I am also grateful to have been contacted.
I did not realize that the 482nd had a reunion, in fact I was unaware that it was deactivated in 1965, nevertheless I was pleasantly surprised when I visited the web site to see so much history laid out for this Squadron.
The 482nd was my first assignment in the USAF after bootcamp. I was an Air Operations Specialist working in the Command Post coordinating the ADC scramble alerts. After all these years, I have other memories of this very special 'first PCS assignment', but that can wait; for now I will be researching my old USAF records file to see if I can find some official correspondence associated with my PCS assignment to the 482nd FIS (and my TDY to Miami International and to Homestead AFB during the Cuban Missile Crisis).
As you may conclude for my signature below, I did not make the USAF my career, I did give it a good full 4 years that overall, I enjoyed tremendously.
Now that you have my email address, please keep me updated on the upcoming reunion as I believe it would be nice to see some very old acquaintances from the 482nd.
Lee T. Cearley, 382 Hawkin Rd., Southampton, NJ 08088-9129
A2C - USAF - AF19712947 - Air Operations Specialist
August 15, 2004
From: Harold M Roop, 4890 Hwy 126, Blountville,TN 37617 --- (423) 323-8064
I received your mailing about the 482nd Reunion and I sure will be happy to attend the next one. I have been trying to find the Reunion listed in the American Legion Magazine but I have not seen anything on it.
I arrived at Seymour Johnson AFB in June 1957 and stayed there until August 1962. Upon leaving in '62, I was sent to Iceland for one year. I was in Iceland during the Cuban Crisis, we had F102s there at that time. I was next assigned to the F4C aircraft at MacDill AFB and I was there from Sept. 1963 till July 1964. The training squadron moved to Davis Monathon in Tucson, AZ, stayed there until June 1965, when I left the Air Force.
While at Seymour Johnson I was an a/c Mechanic in the hangar as a Dock Chief working for T/Sgt Heying ,under M/Sgt Bamrick. I did inspection for the 102's for about 4 years. When the Squadron went to nuclear weapons. I was forced to cross train to Weapons Mechanic under S/MSgt Webster. As soon as I was designated a Weapons Mechanic I received orders to go to Iceland. I did not like being a Weapons Mechanic and tried to go back to the a/c Mechanic, but this was not allowed because I was trained on the F4C.
Upon leaving the Air Force, I started working for Eastman in Kingsport, Tenn., and retired in 1989.
I married Jackie Lamb before arriving at Seymour Johnson AFB, while in Goldsboro we had a son, Mitchell Roop, and a daughter, Judy Roop. We have lots of wonderful memories of Goldsboro and the area. We have visited the area several times, since we have many friends there.
I have also attended Reunions from Manston AFB in England , I was stationed there from 1953 till 1956.Thanks again for the mailing on the Reunion. I sure hope to get to the next Reunion.
August 14, 2004
From: Herbert W. Perry, 2408 Sequoia Park Dr, Yukon, OK 73099-5822
Thank you for your correspondence, which was joyfully received on Saturday, 14 August, 2004. My name is Herbert W. Perry and I served with the 482nd from 1957-1959 as a staff sergeant. I retired from the Air Force at Davis Montham AFB, AZ as a senior master sergeant in June of 1972.
I have reviewed the names on your website, and would like to know how I might go about contacting some of them.
August 10, 2004
From: Johnny W. LeVasseur, 9505 Meadow Lane, Oscar, Louisiana 70762
Received your letter of 8-5-04, and thought I would respond via e-mail.
I left basic training at San Antonio, and went to Tech School at Lowry AFB in Denver, Colo. I went through the Weapons and Munitions School. My first duty assignment was at Seymour Johnson AFB in Goldsboro. I arrived there around Sept. 1958. I was assigned to the A & E section. I can't remember my first NCOIC's name, but I do remember that our work shop was in the same building as the flight simulator and across the street from one of the hangars. We went TDY to Oceana Naval Air Station in Portsmouth, Va. for a period of about 3 months and this was for the lengthening of the runway because SAC was moving in and the extra length was needed. When we came back, our work area had moved to another building, but I cannot remember much about it except that this was when we were assigned a new NCOIC and this was the time I had the pleasure of serving under SMS Fred Archer. To this day I can still remember the man, for I thought, even being just a young kid, that this was the most dedicated man I had ever met. He took up for his men, and treated everybody as an intelligent person. I was married (newly) and lived most of my stay there off base in what was called "The War Housing Project."
In early 1960, I received orders and shipped out to Johnson Air Base, Japan, and then to Yokota Air Base in Fusa, Japan, and then in late 1960 I was discharged. (hardship). I remember a few names, and possibly home towns, but have nothing left of those years except my DD-214.
August 7, 2004
From: Bill J.Acock, RR 1, Jerico Springs, MO 64756-9802
Well you got me...this is my email. I live in Missouri, a little place called Jerico Springs about 100 mile nw of Branson, near Stockton Lake. How are you doing...have you located many? I know about a few...Jamie Justus died a couple years ago and I still stay in touch with his wife, Judy.
I went to one sqd. reunion about five years ago and got to see a few guys, but there wasn't too many there that year...maybe ten. I went on an off year. I talked to Harold Roop a couple years ago, and Ovid Adcock, Ralph North, Ted Shoemaker, Don Worley, and Leonard McCleary. Goldsboro sure had changed when I was there.
I am retired or should I say disabled since 1995...stay in touch.
August 6, 2004
From: Dean Boan, 6048 Blueberry Ln., Crestview, FL 32536
This is Trammell Dean Boan. I served with the 482nd from July 1957 until Oct. 1958. I was transferred to Bitburg AF Base in Germany and remained there until discharged in June 1960. I started college in Sept. 1960 and finished in 1964. I worked 35 years as an accountant.
Joseph Sears was discharged after 4 year and remained in Goldsboro. He died about 8 years ago.
Jerry B. Crutchfield is at 156 Ponce DeLeon St., Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411-1213. He retired with 20 years of service and became a minister.
Good to hear from you.
July 31, 2004
From: Ray E. Robitaille, 48 Rosewood Trail, Deland, FL 32724
Had computor problems so my wife bought a Dell computor. She says it's a good model but I don't know a lot about them. I'm trying to learn so bear with me.
We sold our house in Naples, FL, and are renting a house until a new house we are having built is completed, which will be about 8 months. I'll send you our new address when we move. The area is called Quail Hollow just outside DeLand, FL. We are just about 45 miles north of Orlando.
My wife and I joined the local American Legion yesterday and we met a few really nice people. I am looking forward to having a few beers and listening to some old war stories and maybe telling a couple myself. It's always good to hear from you and I'll try to keep in touch.
July 29, 2004
From: Mrs Charles Darnell, 13511 Coverly Rd, Amelia Court House, VA 23002-4026
482nd,
Charlie is taking chemo and radiation for lung cancer. Will be back in touch re your letter. Hope we can be of some help...
C. C. & B. Darnell
July 29, 2004
From:
Legare L "Lee" Wilson, 3235 Ten Acre Rd., Andrews, SC 29510
I looked at the picture of the hanger and it brought back some memories. We were changing an engine in a 102 and it was very hot in there. I told the guys I'd open some of those overhead windows on the side. I ran over there, climbed up and they were stuck. I hit the frame of one with the heal of my hand, the hand slipped off the frame, the window exploded, and my hand keep going. The bone in my arm kept my arm from falling on the floor. Henry Sykes and Ruben Silence rushed me to the base hospital. They lifted me to Womack Army Hospital at Fort Bragg were I spent a few months. Anyway it still works so I guess all is well.
I left Seymour-Johnson and went to Charleston AFB where I was discharged. I left Charleston and moved to Milan, Ill., where I became a Milan Police Officer. After a few years, I joined the Rock Island County Sheriff's office. Some time later, I move back to my native state of South Carolina and joined the SC State Troopers. I was a Trooper for over 10 years. I then spent about 3 1/2 years as Chief of Police of Clemson, SC.
Finally had enough of the uniform thing and started a sporting goods business... ran it for 6 or 7 years and did very well. Finally got bored with that and sold out. Went to college at Midlands Technical College, studying data processing. Was a computer programmer for 20 years and retired from Wachovia Bank as an Information Services Officer.
I am now happily retired, even though my health is not very good. Have been married to the former Sandra Bauer for 35 years.( neice to Major General Harold Bauer USA Retired and deceased). Have a fine son in business for himself and seems to be doing very well.
Don't have very many pictures of myself without dead animals. This one of me was taken about 2 years ago. Take care...
July 25, 2004
From: Kenneth A. Fraley, Newport, TN
This is to let you know I am alive and well. Was surprised to get your letter.
I transferred to the 482nd from Langley AFB. I will need to check and see if I have the date I came there. I was discharged from the 482nd in October, 1957. About 30 days later I reenlisted for 6 more years and went to Orlando AFB, and remained there for 5 years and was transfered to Vandenberg AFB, CA. Any way here I am.
Wish you luck on locating more former 482nd members.
July 20, 2004
From: Bobby Menius
George: I finally got the page up. You have really done a great job on the thing. I had not seen the pictures from the year book before. I don't remember posing for them either. I do remember many of the faces. I didn't remember Lt. Col Thomas having such a big nose. I remember him flying an F102 up to Washington to watch us play in the 85th Air Division Softball Tournament in 1957. The last thing he said to me as I was preparing PCS to the Azores was, "You aren't going anywhere. We need you to play ball."
My service number was 14482757 and I left for the Azores on January 3, 1958. Guess Col. Thomas didn't have all that much pull.
July 19, 2004
From: Bill Gilliam
George: Got your letter today and understand now why I could never find the site after I had to replace a hard drive. As you can see I changed my email address as they finally got DSL service to this little town. I am doing well and hope the same for you.
July 15, 2004
From:
Dean A. Hillard, Boothwyn, Pa. 19061
"Come back if you were there late 50's."
George; You bet I was there! From early 1957 to June 15th of 1960 when I was discharged. When I got to SJAFB the squadron had two T33 trainers, and thats all. I was in the missile section (AFCS 31150e), located away from the hanger in a fenced in block house.The photos of the first William Tell sure bring back memories. I went to Tyndall to help set up the procedures for checking out the missiles and loading them for the forth coming 1st William Tell. After the testing I returned to SJAFB and the two fellows you show in the support pic went to the real compatition (Jimmy Pinder from Key West and Cary Jones of GA.). I have a lot of photos,and would love to share them with you on your web site. Will look them over and get back to you.
July 5, 2004
Note from the Webmaster:
From time to time, I go through the Social Security death list and check names that I have been in contact with but that have up and disappeared. Doing that this morning. Found...Robert J. O'Grady, Feb 4, 1932 - Dec 25, 2003; Victorville (San Bernardino) 92392 CA - SS 025-22-7054 MA. Died on Christmas day.
"Rosie" was a fun correspondent and contributed to these pages, both personally and in squadron history. He quit writing early last year and I couldn't raise him. So its not surprising...but very sad. That it took me six months to find the information is going to make it hard to find an obituary, if any other than a death notice exists.
Men...Bob liked his cups. Next time you have a beer or cordial...lift a thought to the memory of Lt. Col. O'Grady. GCW
May 29, 2004
From: Elmer R. Olson
Thank you for finding so many 482nders. Tom said there were about 15 there for the first time that you were responsible for. Sorry you weren't there. I would have liked to have thanked you in person. Maybe next year. Tom suggested, and most everyone agreed, that we should have one on the 40th anniversary of the deactivation, next year. So we will, I guess.
Cheers! Elmer
May 28, 2004
From: Gary Barnak
George, I missed you at the reunion. Without your web site, I would never had found out about the reunion. I had a good time there and met some very nice people. I hope to have some pictures that were taken at the reunion and if I can figure out how to scan and e-mail them to you, I will do that.
May 26, 2004
From: Jim Cunningham
Subject: Reunion Notes
Have not seen any new postings lately until Bobby's tonight. Was not sure what might have happened too you. I echo Bobby's sentiments in that had hoped you would be able to attend. Would have liked to eye ball the man that hooked me up on the web site.
The reunion was good. Did not see that many folks I know, however heard numerous "war stories" that I was familiar with. Some of them we were involved with as well.
We resolved to begin holding the reunions annually as many of us are approaching the age where we may not be able to attend that many more comfortably. Time is set for the 3rd week end in May 2005. Tom Sutton is going to honcho it again next year. I plan to use the addresses you provided and try reaching some more of the ground power folks and induce them to come. If you get the opportunity, see if you can locate anything on James Switzer and John Roshar again please. Andy DeCuzzi and I would particularly like to communicate with them.
Was perusing the picture album of the 1983 reunion (the first) and found a pix of Joe Edens and Dot. If you have one they are on the second page of pics, bottom right corner. His address was listed as Joe A. Edens, 209 Iris Court, Tullahoma TN 37388. Did not find a pix album for the 1985 one, but did find a list of deceased members. If memory is correct he was listed as deceased on that one. It was either 85 or the 87 one. They had three children a boy and two girls. The youngest (a girl) Joe used to call "punkin" or "punk" for short. Still cannot remember their names.
OPERATION CASTRO WATCH -- Do not have any orders for the TDY, nor do I remember ever getting any. Have found several pix of the birds on the flight line at Boca Chica NAS. We spent three months there (from Aug to Dec '64). Will sit down and recall some "memories" for you if you wish.
Jim
May 25, 2004
Bobby Banks
Subject: Fun Time!
Hi. Just touching base. Was hoping you could make it to the Reunion so that we could meet you. Heard you were at the last one before this. If it wasn't for you, we would not have known about this one. We had a great time!!! Took the wife out to the base on Saturday and just rode around. Showed her where I formerly worked. Other folks were doing the same. Friday evening, we just went straight to the park, picked the pig and went back out. I was glad to see Andy, Jim C. & wife. We also saw Jean Leslie. My wife became friendly with her years back when we first started having reunions. Then we lost touch.
So long for now. Bobby
Apr 7, 2004
Lee Ruggels
Subject: Assignments, etc.
George,
I pulled a folder with my AF orders from storage in California--I'm in Kansas now--and there may be some other things re 482nd back there. Mostly, my orders just refer to me and others not in the 482nd, but I did find a few with other 482nd names, e.g.
BOQ assignments, 21 OCT 57
Name..............................................Room/Building
Captain Rexford Moore................124-126/3804
1st Lt Richard M. McCabe...........128-130/3803
1st Lt Howard McWhorter............223-225/3804
1st Lt Robert W. Stonestreet........201/3803
2nd Lt William L. Ruggels.............112/3803
I also made a list of my duties at the 482nd.
Primary assignment: Intelligence Officer
Additional Duties: Adjutant, Information Services Officer, Personnel Officer, Classified Documents Control Officer, Postal Officer, Custodian of Building #4904, Certifying Officer, Class A Pay agent, Casualty Reporting Officer, Overseas project officer, Asst. Security Officer, Squadron Historian, Associate Editor Division Paper (Hotline). I also had some temporary additional duties such as Team ISO for Tyndall shootouts
Neither the division Intelligence Officer nor the division Information Services Officer could understand how I could be assigned the most reclusive and the most public duties at the same time, but Colonel Thomas thought it was a good idea and I knew with whom to agree.
Lee
Mar 14, 2004
CONTACT: Just a note to let everyone know that Lt Robert L. Elder (pilot, 1958-60) made contact yesterday. He's using Earthlink and its spam blocker is kicking back my emails. So he's alive and apparently well. He wrote to tell me that he was sitting alert with Ted Lemcke the day of Ted's death. GCW
Mar 11, 2004
Ralph Robledo
Hello George, How is every thing going?
I took a trip last week to find some parts for the F102 that we are restoring at the Castle Air Museum and it was like going to find some head stones at a cemetery. 70871 was at SJAFB from 1957 to 1965 then it went to the ANG at South Carolina and Vermont. From there it went to the Bone yard and then made into a drone. It flew out of HAFB in NM and was shot down 25 to thirty years ago. Part of 70871 is going to be used to restore our aircraft. I was really surprised when I found the complete Vertical Stabilizer intact with the numbers in plain view. Would you be interested in this information, and do you think that we could find out who was the Crew Chief on this Aircraft? It was interesting to me as now I can say that here is a part of one of the 482nd's F102s.
If anyone is interested, I am going to try and get some pictures of the tail.
Take care, Ralph
Feb 23, 2004
Lee Ruggels
Subject: Lemcke
I attended his funeral in Arlington and he was interred, not cremated.
A few months ago, I decided to look for 482nd on Google and found it but the site was really messed up -- did find that Col. Thomas had just died. Today, I decided to try it again and this time it worked -- Really Worked.
I will be out of the country for a couple of weeks and then will try remembering again.
Lee Ruggels
482nd FIS 57-61
[Lee was one of the people I was REALLY looking for. I am delighted I made a mistake that irked him enough to make contact. All thanks to Ted Lemcke, 46 years later. But I had been spelling Ruggels as RUGGLES, with the variation never occurring to me. Lee was our Intelligence Officer (and Ops catch-all officer), and a gentleman without an act of congress. GCW]
Feb 14, 2004
Phillip L. Cahill
Subject: Original Boca Chica group
Hello George,
I stumbled on to your excellent web site last night. You've obviously invested a lot of time on it. It shows. I'm enclosing a copy of the orders sending the first group to Key West NAS (Boca Chica Bar). Our job was to set up the facilities for the arrival of the F-102s.
The Navy guys weren't quite sure what to do with us. On arrival we were assigned to an empty Marine barracks. It was very basic but had a door on the second floor overlooking the runway so at least we had some entertainment. A few days later we were assigned a more comfortable place to live. We had to learn to live with assigning "fire watches" (our equivalent to CQ) and such, but got used to it.
On the day after our arrival we had some time on our hands due to the fact that we had no shop or hangar space as yet so a bunch of us (in fatigues) decided to explore the base.We found ourselves on Admiral's Row. We were admiring the buildings and quarters when we suddenly found ourselves being loaded into the bed of an SP pickup. The SP took us back to the barracks and explained that only Class A uniforms were allowed on that street. That was the beginning of a Navy learning experience. In the Base Ops building there was a stairwell going up to the second story with a sign prominently displayed saying "Officer Country, No Enlisted Personnel Allowed." We knew we were in a different world.
When we finally got the very basic shop and the alert facilities set up the planes arrived. We rotated the night-time alert duties in two attached trailers. The Navy and Marine guys were flabbergasted that our enlisted men and officers shared connected sleeping quarters.
One of the morning tasks of the alert guys was to go out and clear our part of the runways of land crabs. We'd usually just drop them into a coffee can and release them by the water. No one was willing to cook one to see if they were of any use. A big dread of all of us was having to go to our flight line at or after dusk. As the sun dropped a black cloud would arise over the water and descend on the base. I once had to go out to fire up a generator and A/C unit to check out an MG-10 radar and by the time I got back to the trailer I was able to count 125 mosquito bites. By morning all evidence of the bites were gone. Those guys could get to you right through your stripes and patches.
The Navy and Marine guys were really great once they decided we were OK. I had a Marine RADAR tech show me the F-4 radar system and a Navy crew chief offered to try to get me a ride on a S3-A on a routine flight. Unfortunately, I left before the S3-A flight.
The highway to Key West was long but walkable. Key West was a very interesting place but that's a story for a different e-mail. I'm sure I have some pics of Boca Chica. If you wish I'll scan them and send them to you. If the order scans don't work I'll be happy to copy them and send them by snail-mail
Thanks for your efforts and keep up the good work....Phil
Jan 8, 2004
Robert J. Treubert
I am in receipt of your letter of November 21, 2003. Sorry for not responding sooner but had many items on my agenda. I am the Robert J. Treubert that served in the 482nd from 1962-1963.
I looked for the webpage but was unable to locate it.
I left the service in '63 and went on the NYC Police Department where I spent the next 26 Years and retired in '88 as a Lieutenant. From there I became a Fire Safety Director and finally went to work for JP Morgan Chase where I retired as the Captain of Security for the Downtown Region of New York. in 2003.
Let me know about the reunion and if you need any additional information.
Look forward to hearing from you....Bob T.
Jan 4, 2004
Geo. C. Willick
Here's a piece of very odd history. I had forgotten about it. At New Years 61/62, I moved my wife in with my folks and drove to New York City to make my way in the world. Three people, all deceased and all science fiction folks, helped me a great deal...my boss, Allen Glasser, at Cantor Publications, Avram Davidson, who put me up and arranged for me to acquire an apartment next door, and Donald A. Wollhiem, the editor of Ace books (remember the Ace doubleback paperback books, he invented them). By April my wife had long since joined me and been employed, the car returned to Indiana, and we had a decent selection of clothes. I would stop by Ace Books about once a week to see Don and he invited me and my wife out to dinner on April 19th.
Things were a little slow after 2004 holidays so I had been going over old letters and creating a New York City timeline for me and the Mrs. I must admit that I do not remember this event and was VERY surprised to run across it. Stunned, you might say. High odds here.
....the letter to my mother says, "We had dinner at the Wollheim's last night and Don showed some slides he'd taken at Tyndall AFB during the missile meet while we were there. He had shots of all of our planes and two of my buddies, in color. It was quite a kick."
Wow, I sure wish I could live that evening over again. A real Herman Melville approach to life here. The event was random, Don had no idea that I had been there.
George C.