VPB-111/VP-21 VAGABOND NEWS
John G. Esposito, Editor WINTER 2005
A MESSAGE FROM THE LEFT HAND SEAT:
This will be the last newsletter before the May reunion and I want to remind everyone to get their reservations made, both for the hotel and for the events. Hotel reservations can be made at the $75 rate until 22 April.
After that the price goes to $136 per day. In order to reserve transportation, etc, we need your event reservations as soon as possible.
The weather should be good and we have a great program scheduled. The Casco Bay Luncheon cruise will be beautiful. The new hangar for the MMA at NASB boggles the mind and the new enlisted housing, for both married and single, is extremely impressive. I'm looking forward to seeing you all there.
One thing I should mention. The trip to NASB is for members AND spouses. If you failed to sign up your spouse, and wish to do so, just send a note and check for $12 to Dick Webb at 219 Montoya Drive, Lady Lake, FL 32159-8642.
WEBMASTER'S CORNER:
Squadron Email Addresses
We are still supplying unique VP-21 or VPB-111 email addresses to members who make a donation of $25 or more per year. Just tell us what address you desire when you make your donation. Here are some examples: Bob @VP-21.org...Dick@VPB-111.org...Airmail7@VP-21.org...John.Smith@VPB-111.org...etc. You do not need to make any changes to your computer! This can be just a FORWARDING address only. When someone sends you an email at your new squadron address, it is automatically routed to you at your present primary email address. Donations are made through Dick Webb, Treasurer. His mailing address is at the end of this newsletter. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Biographies
As always, I'm looking for biographies of our members to publish on our website. Take a look at the recent tribute done by Jerry Punches for our departed shipmate Brad Hall, VP-21, 58-60, or the bio of Jack Frost, VP-21 58-61 by his wife Yolanda Frost. Please take a moment and send me your bio, and thanks to all of you who have already done so. They are all wonderful life's stories, which help to characterize VPB-111 and VP-21 to our shipmates, family, and friends. Go to www.vp-21.org/biographies/index.htm.
Webmaster Back-Up.
My back-up, Phillipe Olivier, and his wife are now fully retired and planning on touring the country in their camper. Phil isn't available as a back-up any longer. Any of you out there with some experience in web design and/ or management who would be willing to volunteer to keep our site going in an emergency are asked to contact me.
VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED:
Once again, I encourage as many of you as possible to obtain your copy of the `Vagabond' Newsletter by accessing same directly from our website. This would result in a tremendous savings by defraying both the printing and postage expenses, as well as, assuring that you receive both prompt and damage free delivery. The subject website address is www.VP-21.org.
If you opt to do this, be sure to advise Dale Woods so that he may delete you name from the active mailing list.
DONATIONS RECEIVED:
The following people have graciously made donations to our association since the last edition of the Newsletter:
Gary G. Harvey
James L. Huber
Joseph Sheenan, Sr.
Anthony Eugenia
Raymond Baber
Richard Bates
Merrill Churchill
Gerald W. Connolly
John Esposito
William J. Fitzgerald
Lila Graham
Jerry M. Keltner
Charles C. Nute
Robert B. Schmiedlin
Joseph E. Sheehan
Dale E. Woods
Robert Wolen
Thanks for your help in keeping our association airborne.
TAPS:
It is with great regret that I make mention of the following passings:
Cmdr. Norman P. Huddle, August 16, 2004. Died at his home in Mt. Vernon, Il. Served in VP 21 from '53 to '55.
Captain Charles D. Mott, (Ret.) Past away 30 July, 2004. Died of a massive stoke. He was buried in Arlington National
Cemetery with full military honors. Captain Mott was squadron commander from 25 June, 1948 until 21 October, 1949.
Harold Clayton, Tail Gunner in VPB-111, CAC #3. His Pilot was Gordon Forbes.
Harold passed away on June 15, 2004. He served from 1943 to 1945.
Len Leger passed away 28 October, 03. Cause of death was lung cancer.
George Kos, former member of VPB-111 passed away on August 26, 1999. Cause of death is unknown.
Captain Al Petrich, Passed away December 17,'04. Cause of death was cancer.
May they rest in peace.
LOST AND FOUND:
George E. (Bud) Rushe. Served as a radio operator in VP-21 from 1951 to
1953 in a P4M-1 Mercator, #HC8, buno #124368. George has retained the squadron roster from those days, as well as his squadron patch. There was a pictured article of this plane in the May '79 edition of Air Classics magazine. Those wishing to contact George may reach him at 1527 West D St. Ontario, CA 91762.
Donald Davis, AK2,. Served in VP21 from 2/2/67 to 11/21/69. PO Box 812, Bethlehem, NH 03574.
Welcome back, guys.
REPLACEMENT STOREKEEPER NEEDED:
After several years of hard work, and dedication, our Storekeeper, Gary Gross has felt the need to resign from this position. Consequently, we are seeking a replacement for Gary. If anyone feels like they would like to make a great contribution to our association by filling Gary's shoes (admittedly, a tough act to follow) please contact Gary at the address show on the back page of this Newsletter.
Your efforts will be appreciated by all of us.
ON-LINE COORDINATOR REPORTS:
A recent distribution of the association's Email roster to those that had
previously signed up for it resulted in invalid email addresses being
detected for the following individuals. If you would like to remain on the
email roster, and receive periodic updates to it, please notify Dan Dwyer at
AKINS Carl
ALBERT Don
BAYLES Larry
BELL James
BRUNK Bob
BURNETT M.(Miles)
BUTI Joseph
CARR Dave
CARVER Greg
CARVITTO John
COOK Marty
DANIELS Dan
DAVIS Davey
DESKO Dan
DETTERMAN David
DOUGH Walter
DUESING Ms. Toni
ENGLAND George
FERRISO Peter
FOLSOM Riley
FRYOVER Ken
GABRIEL Henry
GIBBS Mike
GIBEAULT Bernard
GIGNAC Louis
GRACY Ron
HALL Robert
HANISH Bob
HATCHETT Bill
HEBERTSON Verl
HEFFENAN Jim
HEIDNER Erwin
HIEMSTRA Bob
HOLMAN Charles
HORSEFIELD Jack
HUFF Ron
JABBUSCH Jim
JONES Roger (Si)
JOUBERT Tom
KAPOLKA George
KIRBY Charles
KRANER Jim
LATTA Bob
LOFT Fredrick
LYONS Bernie
MORNINGSTAR Cliff
MURPHY P.G.
NIEHOFF Chuck
OSGOOD Ed
OWENS Jerry
PICONE Leo
REDHAGE Jim
RODENBERGER Rod
ROGERS Phil
RUNKLE Thomas
SEIGO Bill
SPEARY Norwood
STOTLER Dave
SULLIVAN Gene
SWOBLAND John
SZMANIA Gerald
THIBOS John
TRIPPETT Karl
TURNER Duke
WATKINS Hal
WEISENBECK Carl
WHATLEY Ron
WILDER Bruce
WOLLMAR Dick
WOOLRIDGE Hal
YANKURA George
Dan Dwyer
FEBRUARY EDITION: 2005
VPB-111/VP-21 VETERANS ASSOCIATION
A non-profit, fraternal, and historical association devoted to the reestablishment of contact with shipmates of the past, to strengthen the camaraderie among its members, to record and preserve the memories and incidents of the Association, to preserve the memory of departed shipmates, and to promote the comfort and welfare of its members and survivors. No dues are assessed!
Directors:
Wallace L. Lightfoot, Chairman Emeritus, 349 McIntosh Ave., Orange Park, FL 32073
William Locke, Chairman, 255 Mere Point Rd., Brunswick, ME 04011
Ron Lenhoff, Director/Secretary, 972 Wedgewood Dr., Independence, KY 41051
Richard S. Webb, Dir/Treasurer, 219 Montoya Dr., Lady Lake, FL 32159-8642
John G. Esposito, Editor/Director, 862 Central Ave., Southampton, PA 18966
Edward LaFontaine, Museum Director, 161 Jackson Dr., Frankfort, KY 40601
Fred Schuster, Dir/Historian, 2713Cabin Creek Rd., Edwardsville, IL 62025
Dan Dwyer, Online Coordinator, Director, #6 Sarah Liberty Lane, Scarborough, ME 04074
Robert Nelson, (To be determined), 49 Woodland Drive, Tequesta FL 33469
Harry Dunlap, 2003 Reunion Coordinator, 5803 Eastshore Dr., Pensacola FL 32505
Gary Gross, Director/Storekeeper, 4595S Robert Blake Ave., Inverness, FL 34452-7820.
Frank Balogh, Web-site/Director1749 Burroughs Dr, Dayton, OH 45406
The `Vagabond News' is the official publication of the Association, and is circulated quarterly in the Winter (January/March), Spring (April/June), Summer (July/September), and Fall (October/December), as a third class bulk-rate mail from Southampton, PA, Post Office (Permit #61). All costs of the publication are supported by voluntary contribution only. To ensure that materials of interest are promptly published, members should submit same prior to the publishing quarter to John G. Esposito, 862 Central Ave., Southampton, PA 18966. All inputs will be published in a timely manner.
