Dear (Parent/Wife)

 1 July marks the beginning of a new fiscal year for HMM-364.  It also means that the new pay raise of 6% becomes effective, which will be appreciated by all personnel.  Men of this squadron will be extra busy these next few days with the work associated with the ending of one year and the beginning of another.  As they have done in the past, I am sure that all will put forth their best efforts to accomplish the tasks that lie ahead.

Operationally speaking, HMM-364 had an excellent year and June was an outstanding month.  During the fiscal year 1968, we amassed a total of over 10,000 flight hours, while June totals showed a total of over 1300 hours � a lot of flying.  June was the biggest month for flying that the squadron has had since acquiring the Boeing CH-46D.  This amount of flying indicates a large amount of effort on the part of all.  It takes many support personnel to keep a helicopter in the air, as well as the well trained crews that man them.  Only the efforts of these individuals allowed us to achieve this large number of flight hours.  They all do an outstanding job and deserve a great deal of credit for their work.

 June was a good month for promotions and awards at HMM-364.  The following men were promoted to their present ranks:  Staff Sergeants D.L. BODDIE and D.L. KEARNEY, Sergeants C.J. Dempsey, D.L. HARTWIG, B.F. HOLBERT, R.D. JENNINGS, and T.D. PESTOR, Corporal P.V. GOOCH, and Lance Corporal G.A. STRINE.  In the awards department, Corporal F.E. CASE was awarded the Bronze Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross was presented to Capt A.B. ADAMS and Sgt. T.D. PESTOR, and Air Medals were presented to Corporals J.W. ALLEN, R.C. BROOKS, and R.A. CLACK.  Congratulations to all of these men for a job well done.

 As Commanding Officer, I would like to extend a hearty welcome to Major K.P. PALMER, Corporal G.D. LNDFIELD, Lance Corporal L.L. LASAC, and Lance Corporal E.L. Mayberry.  Glad to have you with us.

I also would like to extend my best wishes for success to the following men who have been transferred during June.  They are Capt. R.J. F_____Y, Staff Sergeants G.L. GENTZLER and R.L. LEWIS, Corporal L.J. CHEATHAM, Lance Corporal J.L. ELMES, and Private H.B. KISTNER.  They have done an outstanding job and I wish them all nothing but the best.

The personnel of Marine Aircraft Group 36 and HMM-364 in particular were treated to two USO Shows and a visit by three young movie starlets during June.  The starlets, including Miss Melody Paterson, co-star of TV�s �F-Troop�, were brought to Phu Bai courtesy of Johnny Grant, well known to all servicemen throughout the world.  He has provided many hours of entertainment for us.  Needless to say all of the men . . . .

Submitted by:
    Dean Cohoon, former Sgt. USMC