A rolling log of updates from the front page
in reverse chronological as they are taken off.
eMail from the NEW COMMANDING OFFICER of VMM-364:
Dear Purple Fox Family,
If possible I would like to be added to the records as serving in VMM-364 from 09 August 2018 to present.
Additionally, please extend my heartfelt gratitude for their service and warmest wishes to all members of HMM & VMM-364 this upcoming week at the Pop-A-Smoke reunion.
I regret not being able to make it to Kansas City this year as my wife Moo and I just took over the helm of the squadron August 9th and we have been busy getting snapped into the new job. Moo is enjoying her new found duties as Mama Fox and I am honored to be a Papa Fox in the most iconic squadron in Marine Corps history.
The men and women of 364 are getting into full on preparations over the next several months as we ready ourselves to deploy in April 2019 for the Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force, Crisis Response, Central Command (SPMAGTF-CR-CC) 19.2 in support of combat operations for Operation INHERENT RESOLVE.
I had the pleasure of celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Ted Williams’ birth recently and gave his daughter Claudia a baseball signed by the Purple Foxes upon the occasion. She was grateful and honored to receive a piece of the Purple Foxes memorabilia in honor of her dad, a WWII and Korea Marine Pilot as many of you would recall.
The Purple Foxes also did a Warrior Night in the field together at San Onofre aboard Camp Pendleton recently and it was well received as Marines had chow in the field for dinner and breakfast and slept under the stars in our bivouac sacks as a squadron.
As a tribute to our legacy, Staff Non-Commissioned Officers read to our junior Marines some of the Vietnam era chronicles of your heroic efforts by fireside light from Marine Corps archives under the tutelage of our Squadron Sergeant Major, Sergeant Major Albert Martinez (Purple Heart recipient and combat meritorious Sergeant at the Second Battle of Fallujah) in this particular field event. The roar from the Marines’ response was hair raising and piercing in the night air.
Motivation is high and the Marines are being given clear reminders as we groom for battle of who they are, where they come from, and what is expected of them as a Purple Fox.
From all of your brothers and sisters at the hangar I wish you all health and happiness.
If you are ever in the area, please do stop by. Coffee is on the stove and we’ll keep the light on.
Give A Shit! and Semper Fi!
Humbly Yours,
Sticks
LtCol Bill “Sticks” Walker USMC
CO VMM-364
The World Famous Purple Foxes
The Purple Foxes Are Off To Combat Again! from LtCol Walker
Fellow Foxes,
A brief note of correspondence to update the family.
The flag will be moving to Kuwait in a couple weeks to take on the mission
of Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force, Crisis Response, Central
Command (SPMAGTF-CR-CC 19.2) in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE. From
there we will leap frog aircraft north throughout Iraq and Syria as tasking
dictates. We are well prepared and ready to execute.
The Marines have performed tremendously over the past several months and I
would like to highlight a few stand out performances for you:
September 2018: Maintenance Department Scores a 97.8% (#1 of any Type/Model/Series Aircraft in 3d MAW) on the ALMAT Inspection.
December 2018: Maintenance Department Scores a 98.2% (Top Ten of all Navy and all Marine Corps Squadrons of an Type/Model/Series Aircraft) on the CNAF Inspection.
January-February 2019: Squadron performs superbly by supporting the Marine Corps' Integrated Training Exercise (ITX) for 5 weeks at 29 Palms.
For Fiscal Year 2019, October to present, The Purple Foxes are #1 in Aircraft Readiness and #1 in most Flight Hours of any V-22 squadron not currently deployed. Of the 8 squadrons that are currently deployed at various places around the globe, only one of those squadrons is producing more flight hours and readiness than VMM-364 and they are FAD II status for parts while the Foxes remain FAD III until we take over the mission forward.
Four Meritorious Promotions for our Marines that have been won at the Wing level in the last four months.
The Marines are humble and hungry to make you all proud and add to the legacy you have built for us.
We'll be back in late October and look forward to hosting some of you if you are in the San Diego area during the holidays. Feel free to stop on by at any time to the Fox Den. The coffee pot is on the stove and we'll leave the light on for you.
Semper Fi & Give A Shit!
-Sticks
LtCol Bill "Sticks" Walker USMC
Commanding Officer VMM-364
The World Famous Purple Foxes
(email address and phone omitted)
"G.A.S.!"
DD-214s are NOW Online.
The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided the following website for veterans to gain access to their DD-214s online:
http://vetrecs.archives.gov/ or try http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/
This may be particularly helpful when a veteran needs a copy of his DD-214 for employment purposes. NPRC is working to make it easier for veterans with computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents from their military files.
Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents. Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete the Standard Form 180, which can be downloaded from the online web site.
Because the requester will be asked to supply all information essential for NPRC to process the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask veterans for additional information will be minimized. The new web-based application was designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating the records centers mailroom and processing time. Please pass this information on to former military personnel you may know and their dependents.
Pop-A-Smoke 2020 Reunion
(CANCELED DUE TO COVID-19)
Fiftieth Anniversary of YK-13 Crash BUNO 153379 28 DEC 1969
Frank Gulledge views the YK-13 logo now in the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Quantico, Va. Medevac Helo Destoyed Near Hue City YK-13 Slams Into the Hai-Van Pass at Night
Pictured here in the darkness of the triple canopy which engulfed YK-13 are the seven Purple Foxes and six grunts who were providing securityfor the recovery mission.
The ARMY NAVY Game.
NAVY 31 - ARMY 7
THE STREAK IS BROKEN!
Navy broke Army's three game winning streak.
Navy leads the series 61-52-7
The 2nd Bn 1st Mar reunion banquet at which Jim Smith and I were guests of honor and guest speakers was 10 November 2019, an auspicious date. We were invited to their reunion specifically to speak on the topic of helicopter support during their operations in Vietnam. I am enclosing a copy of that presentation. The details of DASC operations were taken from the Direct Air Support Center Handbook and historical content related to Korean operations was taken from reliable historic sources. Most of the medevac discussion was a collective compilation from Squadron members. For what it's worth, here is (a download of) the presentation as offered to 2/1.
In 1970 Jim Smith conducted a medevac mission in the Da Nang AO, flying a grievously wounded Marine to USS SANCTUARY. That Marine lived and in 2017, with assistance from Dan Kellum who had included this mission in a book he wrote, learned who the medevac pilot was who had airlifted him to safety. That story was told in a report by the local San Diego CBS affiliate on the evening news on 14 November 2019. Jim Smith and I were guest speakers at a reunion of 2ndBn 1stMar here in San Diego last week and their reunion and our involvement was the impetus for the TV report.
Added videos from Maj Gen Combs interment which can be found on his PF page.
PURPLE FOXES ARE INVITED (Hill 881S) 3d Bn, 26th Marines 2019 Reunion Cruise 10-17 NOVEMBER 2019
The 3/26 2019 reunion will be on a Holland America 7 night Caribbean Cruise from November 10-17, 2019, leaving from and returning to Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Jim Sigman has arranged an outstanding deal for this cruise. Get details at the 3/26 website at www.326marines.org. Click on the 2019 Reunion Cruise button, or call Shelley at (850) 386-7327, Ext 208
Roster additions, correction, and changes:
UDELL, FARRELL (RANK?) 69-69 added 24 NOVEMBER 2019
HUDSON, MICHAEL R. LTCOL, XO 2001-2002, CO 2004-2006<---Updated Email Address 15 September 2019.
Two CH-46's were launched on a resupply mission to the Coal Mines. The weather was awful, the aircraft had to resort to low-level flight at less than 100 feet (AGL). Devlin (history index) was killed by a single AK-47 round, Maj Locke (history index) was struck in the right arm by the same round. Crew chief JV Johnson was able to save the flight and get the aircraft safely back to DaNang, where they landed at NSA. We are looking for the names of the two gunners who were on JV's aircraft. We are also looking for any information on the second aircraft that launched on this mission. If you still have your Aviators Flight Log Book, look up any flights that you made on March 8, 1970. The Mission code for this flight would have been 1R9 (resupply).
"Another Purple Fox pilot (Richard Bianchino) has been named as a Golden Eagle...."
"...The total from HMM 364 who have been chosen is now at six (6). The other Foxes are Colonel Brady, Ernie Cunningham , Pat Donovan, Dave Legas, and John Harris. We all should be exceedingly proud that the Golden Eagles, a very selective and extraordinary group of noted Naval Aviators, has repeatedly chosen new members from the ranks of HMM 364. It is a remarkable accomplishment to be chosen and I feel very comfortable in saying that no other rotary wing Marine squadron is as represented as is HMM 364." - Alan T. Robillard
The Golden Eagles are…
The “Early and Pioneer Naval Aviation Association”, better known
as “The Golden Eagles” was established in 1956 as a living
memorial to Naval Aviation, and is the most prestigious group of
Naval Aviators. Its membership includes admirals, generals,
astronauts, aces, innovators, inventors and leaders, who during
their service were pioneers in the development of new concepts,
received special recognition for outstanding performance, or who
otherwise warrant special consideration for meeting select criteria.
Their careers are defined by continuously exhibiting performance
as the best of the best. Membership is limited to only 200 active
members.
The system used to edit the website has been suffering a hard drive failure. Slowly the copy of the site used for editing has been migrated OFF the bad drive. Now the work begins to migrate it to a replacement drive. The site itself is not endangered by this, nor the repository of changes in Github; just the editing system.
In the meantime a much less labor intensive way of adding, and editing members of the roster has been discovered. It will take some work to convert things under the covers, but once set in place it will drastically reduce the time to add or edit any entry to any page that lists personel.
TAPS
DAVIS TERRY J."TJ" CPL 67-68 (passed 06/19)updated 25 June 2019
BYRNE, RANDALL L. 70-71 SGT (passed NOV 2002)added 23 JUNE 2019
COX,RICHARD JAMES CPL. 66-70 (passed May 2001)updated 23 June 2019
PECUKONIS, NICHOLAS S. SSGT 70-71 (Passed in 2007)(Photo)updated 23 June 2019
From Mike Smith: I flew with HM-167 in 1969-70 and went to OCS/Flight School with Ben Williams who flew with the Purple Fox's at Marble Mountain at the same time.
Unfortunately both the phone number and email I have for Ben are not good ones. I am heading to Southern California this coming week and am hoping that you or one of the other Purple Fox's can provide me some updated contact info for Ben so that we can hopefully connect.
Squadron Members we are aware of that need you encouragement and prayers or positive thoughts and energy. If you have an update please let us know. (FYI: we cannot and will not post any medical diagnosis, nor actual room number or direct contact information. This violates VHA privacy policy, and we are going to honor their code in this instance. IF you would like to be a conduit of information for those listed, I will list your email address if you would like me to.)
Jack Pipa: Had surgery on 8 Aug at Mobile Infirmary Hostpital. No word on his condition.
Pat Kenny.
Pat Donovan: (from his daughter Eileen: "I'm happy to report that my dad is home and in excellent spirits. He is well down the road to recovery and will continue with physical therapy to gain further strength." S/F, Eileen
let me know who else should be listed.
TAPS
These 4 men passed some time ago. Dave Magee let us know their entries were not up to date.
A lost report from the website transition in 2013 about the crash of YK-16. This was the report from one of the 1st Recon Marines who was a passenger. The oversite was reported by Stephanie Hanson Caisse on Facebook. Thank you, Stephanie.
Please check in on Patrick Donovan. We have a report that he was recently in the Hines VA Medical Center at 5000 5th Ave, Hines, IL. He received 2 Navy Crosses, 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Silver Star, and Purple Heart. He is a retired Federal Judge.
from Alan Robillard: "It has come to my attention that John Harris was inducted into the Golden Eagles. I’m not sure of when that happened, but it is noteworthy enough for a blurb on the website. We from 364 should be particularly proud since the Golden Eagles are a pretty damn selective group and its membership reads like The Who’s Who of Naval Aviation. Interestingly, there is not an abundance of helo drivers as members, but there are four from HMM 364 alone ...Brady, Cunningham, Donovan and now Harris."
John Harris' Page. LtCol John Harris Inducted into the Golden Eagles.
Added the Marines and Sailors killed on 19 MAY 2003 and 7 FEB 2007 to the KIA page. Updated several of their roster entries with a picture and link to narratives as well as minor corrections to spellings. We do not have our own narrative of the 2003 crash, so the link goes to an external website.
I have been doing a ton of old code clean up in the index pages. Stuff you don't see, but it makes it hard to edit when I have to navigate through old acumulated code that is no longer useful.
Dale Johnson identified himself in two photos from the 1969 album pages. Some general information is that he was the avionics guy who did all the work on JV Johnson’s aircraft.
I'm Dan Kellum, 1stLt. with Echo 2/1 in Vietnam in 1970-71, and I was good friends with Earl Masaji "Pineapple" Miyamoto who was a Purple Fox pilot in Vietnam in 1970-71, when we were both ECPs at Pendleton and later attended the same C-69 TBS class at Quantico.
What I'm missing to complete my submission to the magazine is their required 8-10 photos related to Pineapple and his service in Vietnam.
I would also like to have a photo of "Flyin' Doc" John V. Kickham Jr. who sustained burns in the crash Feb. 5, 1971 attempting to save a ROK medevac patient from Pineapple's burning helicopter. For his efforts Pineapple put Kickham in for the Navy Cross. The Navy Department in its infinite wisdom......downgraded the medal to a Silver Star...go figure.
I would appreciate anyone who could help me out in locating those photos of Kickham or Pineapple. Note the attachment of Pineapple and me at the C-69 Reunion awhile back at Quantico. Semper Fi, Dan Kellum
"I'd like to contact D.E. Nadal. I was stationed with him in 1968 with HMM162.
I'd like to tell him somethings before I can't. I wanted to tell Charles Burdick
some things, but it was too late.
Any help would be appreciated. Thank You. Sincerely, John Britt"
Updated with pictures sent from Warren, some emails, and arragements. entry 26 October 2017
Roster additions, corrections, and changes:
Naval Corpsmen. These women and men were crewmates of those lost on Morphine 12. Special thanks to Shannon Dittlinger for this list.
DITTLINGER, SHANNON, HMC 07 (Retired 2017 HMCM)added 9 October 2017
LAPALM, JERRY HM1 07 (retired. now working for the VA.)added 9 October 2017
NETHERTON, CLINTON HM3, 07added 9 October 2017
BERGMAN, JOSHUA HM1 07 (still active duty. Camp LeJeune Naval Hospital)added 9 October 2017
JENKINS (now Salazar), BRANDY HN, 07added 9 October 2017
KEEFE (now LaBeau), CHRISTINA, HM3, 07 (now working as Acute Dialysis RN)added 9 October 2017
CALUBAQUIB, ARNEL HM2 07 (Now at ASTC, Jacksonville, FL)added 9 October 2017
BLANKENSHIP, JERRY HM2, 07 (now instructor at ASTC in Jacksonville, FL)added 9 October 2017
PHILLIPS, JAMES HM3 07 (Broken service, joined the army, with B Co 19th Special Forces Group training team attending SFAS in May 2017.)added 9 October 2017
Fixed a link FROM the Gary Norman Young page on the virtualwall.org that pointed TO Stephanie Hanson's Dinner Presentation from 25 Sep.,2000 on our site. Apparently there is no one to fix the link on the Virtual Wall website. The fix is made at the OS level on the webserver, so hopefully all browsers (Firefox, Chrome, IE) will be able to pick up on it since there is no fix at the level of website code.
Roster additions, corrections, and changes:
HILL 881S: Bowman, Michael LCpl Rifleman, M/3/26 <---Updated Email Address.modified 16 Sept 2017
Paul Souza sent in a correction about the crash of his bird, YK-20, that was caused by an aft rotor blade fracture, not the quill shaft failure. Pictures.
Corrected the spelling of Paul Souza's last name on the history page, and all pages in the 1967 photo album.
TAPS
KUKLIS, JOHN R. "JACK THE CAT" CPL 67-68(Photo)modified 24 August 2017. deceased 2 August 2017
ESTRUP, ROBERT W. CAPT ALO/FAC 68-69(Photo)modified 16 August 2017. deceased 27 June 2017
McDONALD, ROSS A. 1STLT 68-69(Photo)modified 2 August 2017. deceased 1 April 2017
My name is HMCM(FMF/CAC) Shannon Dittlinger and was assigned with the purple foxes Jan 16 2007 until
mid march 2007 when they turned over with HMM 161.
We lost 2 Corpsman on 7 February 2007 when morphine 12 was shot down. I had a friend visit the
monument at the Marine Corps Museum and was sad to see that those 2 Corpsman were left off. I had
originally said well perhaps it's because we were Augmented to them and not organic. Then they said
that CPL Saba was included who was not 364 he was HMM 262 flying with us just for the day to get the
lay of the landing zones for his squadron. I was confused at that point and could not answer the
question.
Any help you could provide or guidance on how to correct the oversight would be greatly appreciated.
Warm regards and never forget
HMCM Dittlinger
If you have any information about this or who to contact for more information, please send an email to the SLJNCO.
Ross G GUY, SGT 70-71 Passed away 14 January 2017.
He was so very proud to be a part of Purple Fox, and of serving with the misguided children.
They are having a memorial service at 1600 at the Elks Lodge in Riverside, CA on 28 January 2017.
All are welcome to come. Guy served with the Foxes at Marble Mountain 70-71.
From: ctank_98@yahoo.com
=======
Added two sites to the Research and Health links page
The Mesothelioma Fund helps patients and families obtain compensation from asbestos trust funds.
“I’d like to thank everyone who sent me supportive messages back in January and February
regarding my recent stroke. I wasn’t able to respond then, and I don’t want anyone to
think I didn’t appreciate their concern and sympathy. Thanks so much for thinking about me.
I want you all to know I truly appreciated being contacted by my old buddies.”
Semper Fi
George “Pappy” Taylor
From: smokeb364@gmail.com
To: George N. Gitcho
Subject: Jim Stewart
Shakey,
Cindy and I visited Jim and his daughter, Jane, yesterday in Raleigh, NC. I have copy
and pasted her email to me for info. I found Jim to look much healthier than my last visit
with him although he still cannot communicate or feed himself. It was surprising to see him
recognize Cindy and me (although he seemed to fade in and out) as that was not the case in
the past . Thought you might want to pass on to the rest of the Foxes.
S/F
Smoke
Thank you so much for making time to visit with Dad today. It was wonderful to see
him so happy and engaged with both you and Cindy. I am thankful I am able to witness these
moments of clarity and to share in Dad’s true happiness. It means more to us both than you
will ever know. Hope the drive home was smooth and uneventful. Please give our best to all
of the Purple Foxes. Dad and I thank you for “giving a shit”.
Still working on the backend changes. These changes will allow greater control of the changes made to the website over time, so they can be better tracked.
Today (15 Oct) a major step was made to convert the version control system from a single, private SVN repository to a decentralized GIT based system.
Successfully posted the files under version control to a private repository on Github
Still working out how to handle some of the other changes mostly concerning media files.
Spent this month working on some changes to the backend structure of the website. Long story short: there were some significant technical challenges to overcome,
as well as some steep learning curves to get through. I am still not finished with it, but significant progress was made during the month. Unfortunately, working on
the backend takes up time to make changes to the frontend.
(link fixed 27June2016) Add the Mesothelioma Lawyer Center to the Vietnam Research page. Not only has lawyers, but can help with Patient Advocates. They might be worth a look.
An email from LtCol Anthony (Ret)
"It's ironic that 3/26, Vietnam 66-70 era is also holding its' By Annual Reunion on the same date that the Purple Foxes are also holding their reunion. Ours will be held in San Diego. Too bad we couldn'thave had the reunion in the same city as several India Company, 3/26 Marines who were on 881 South during the siege of Khe Sanh will be at our Reunion. Good luck on your Reunion and thank you for your outstanding support! Many of those attending our Reunion are alive today because of the courageous support of your flight crews! Thank you!"
"We'll toast you at our banquet on Saturday evening, 27 August."
"I was medivac'd by a Purple Fox from a small valley at the base of the Que Son mountains in August 1970. The crewman, maybe corpsman, who assisted me inside the CH-46 placed a calling card in my jungle utility pocket. On the card was the Purple Fox with the HMM left of the face and 364 to the right. The arc across the top read PURPLE FOXES and the arch at the bottom read "WE GIVE A SHIT". I was wondering if anyone recalls that particular card or a patch. They delivered me directly to the USS Sanctuary in Danang harbor. Surprisingly the card was still among my property when I was discharged back to Mike 3/7. I kept that card for a very long time, but after a few moves thru the years have lost track of it."
Oral Histories are being relocated from Vimeo to Youtube by Dave Magee and Pat Kenny. We are updating those links as they get them edited and moved over.
Added more names on the reunion attending list.added 15 MAY 2016
Added a new album for Jerry "Weasel" White. This has one picture, and documents that were submitted as jpeg images. If you have ANY more stories about Weasel, please send them along. added 15 MAY 2016
John Wayne Allen. I set up an new album for John, that includes all the photos we already had, plus some from Jim Reed (via Steiny's collection). Also included are images of several of the citations he received in Vietnam for his very heroic actions; these are recently submitted curteousy of his family.added 15 MAY 2016
Added a LOT of new names on the reunion attending list.added 2 MAY 2016
I uploaded several CDs/DVDs worth of images over the weekend, and am working them into the new photo galleries. Most of it is older reunion images.added 2 MAY 2016
The first is the addition of the LTA2RVN Reunion from last year.added 2 MAY 2016
The wife of Maj G. Lee Radford (Ret): Marlene Suzanne Radford
NOTES, CHANGES, & UPDATES:
Started an Operations and Deployments gallery, and added two pictures of the HMM-364 plaque for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
Concerning "John Wayne" Allen: "I want to inform all my Dad's history making, America protecting friends that he had a major bleed in his brain on January 7 2016 he is in stable condition at this time. He is in ICU at Copper Hospital in Camden N.J."
I still have a backlog of projects to do for the page, and tons of pictures to add as well. I am working on them, but it is difficult making time lately. Stay tuned.
After the update in March, I went to the couple of Facebook group pages dedicated to the Purple Foxes, and posted a note and link about the coming reunion. I also expressed that we want to see the guys that came after Vietnam at the reuion and on the roster. Whether you can make it to the reunion or not, it would be very good if you could encourage more guys to go and/or get on the roster.
It seems that some edits I made in February did not make it up to the public website.
All Eyes on Khe Sanh by John T. Correll, Air Force Magazine. Some time ago, Mike Tsukamoto, the Photo Editor at Air Force Magazine, asked to use one of Jim Reed's arial photos of Khe Sanh base. Jim graciously agreed. The photo used was Photo 331 from that album. Thanks to Mike for sending use the link!
Roster additions, corrections, and changes:
PERRY, PETER A. CPL 61-63 (One of the first 20 men in the squadron, under CAPT ALLGOOD)added 21 March 2016
Added a link to the Mesothelioma Prognosis Network to the Research page which maybe needs to be called a resource page now. It is called the most extensive prognosis support and information source online. Since many vetrans suffer from this disease, I thought it might be appropriate for our site.
RJ Keeney sent in an update on what he is doing these days. It is on the "Foxes Today" page.
Another "Foxes Today" entry about a picture Jim Reed took 48 years ago.
Roster additions, corrections, and changes:
KENNEDY, BRIAN (CAPT ?) 20??-20??added 30 January 2016
STULL, PAIGE CAPT 20?? - 20??added 30 January 2016
CH-46 Last Official USMC Flight: HMM-364.org Tribute Page
<--updated 12 September 2015
For Final Flight, send photos, stories, and other material to George Gitcho who is helping to sort and organize items before passing them on to the website. (FYI: I fixed George's email link. Thanks, Pat)
For the Reunion, please send photos and stories to the SLJNCO.
Seeking contact and/or disposition of:
Cpl Eric P. Litchfield, HMM-364 70-71 (retired as GySgt?).
Please let me know if you have any information or contact with the above persons: SLJNCO.
From time to time I get asked for information about particular persons. I will always verify with the person whose information is being asked for, if it is okay to forward their contact info on to the requesting party first. NOTICE: This is not a guaranteed service of the site, and is only facilitated based on the freetime of the volunteer staff (of one.)
Frank, Don Carlos LCpl - Rifleman, I/3/26Hill 881S Roster added 21 SEP 15
BELFANTI Jr, ROBERT E, SGT 68-69added 21 October 2015
GRAHAM, MICHAEL ALAN, GySgt 07-09added 21 October 2015
DODD, MATTHEW CPL 97-04added 21 October 2015
NOTES from the SLJNCO:
21 October 2015
Okay, I am back from Guard Duty, and I apologize for my absence and lack of attention to the website over the past weeks. Personal and professional obligations were a bit overbearing recently.
Today's updates were mostly a bit cosmetic for the home page, and adding Marines to the roster.
UPDATES for 16 - 30 September 2015
It has been a busy and trying half month. But, things should be back to normal shortly. -Dave H.
UPDATES for 1 - 15 September 2015
For those in Southern California including active Marines:
The City of Tustin is a co-sponsor for the Orange County Stand Down and Veteran Resource Expo. It will be held inside the large blimp hangers in Tustin use by Marine Helicopter Squadrons for many years. It is to be held on Oct.22-25th. The contract for additional information is Brooke Edwards Stagg, 714-796-7963, bstaggs@ocregister.com.
For those that have served at this location or have always wanted to have a look inside, this would be a good opportunity.
Warren Smith
Roster additions, corrections, and changes:
CARTER, MICHAEL JOHN, SGT 00-04added 12 September 2015
Put in new header section and lined up elements a bit better. Saves space using CSS.
Added a link on our Final Flight tribute page to George Gitcho's Replay. Nicely done, George!
Finally settled on an initial design for our tribute page to the final CH-46 flight ceremony. It can be found HERE. There is a LOT more material to add to it, so this is just a start.
Started design work on a page for the LTS2RVN reunion. It will probably look very similar to the Final Flight page.
Working on design work for the main index page as well. I am trying to keep it close-ish to the look it had when I took over, but bring it more up to code with the latest web page standards.
Along with the main index, I am also planning to tackle a code update for the Roster pages as well.
Roster additions, corrections, and changes: WARD, MICHAEL SGT 88-93 added 9 August 2015 GOERING, TIM CAPT 93-95 added 9 August 2015 DAMON, MICHAEL CPL 90-94 added 8 August 2015 <---Added Email Address 9 August 2015. CAISSE, RICK SGTMAJ 08-09
<---Updated Email Address. modified 8 August 2015 DARR, ROBERT TED CPL 92-94updated 8 August 2015 CARDONA, MARK CPL 92-96added 8 August 2015 OSBURN, WILLIAM, CPL 90-94added 8 August 2015 STEEVES, PAUL S., 01-05added 2 August 2015 DEEL, JOSHUA CPL 13-16
added 2 August 2015 MACKIN, JONATHAN CAPT 03-06
added 2 August 2015
NOTES:
Edits to reunion information, and attendee list. added 3 August 2015
HANGAR TOUR at LTA during the 2015 reunion!!
On FRIDAY, 7 AUGUST there will be a tour of the South hangar only.
(it's August: hot. No water; bring your own.
NO working restrooms in the hangar.)
Roster additions, corrections, and changes:
NOTES: Edits to reunion information, and attendee list.
Added a link to the AviationWeek.com article: The Phabulous Life of the Phrog
Major disk lost on the site's editing system: website files are safe.
UPDATES for 1 - 15 July 2015
TAPS:
LACY, FRED MAJ 68-69, passed on 28 June 2015, in Suffolk, VA.
CORRECTION: I have been informed that this is NOT the aircraft being inducted into the National Air & Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center. Either way we can honor the actual aircraft we flew in and/or worked on while we served as Purple Foxes with these photo albums of specific aircraft. If you have pictures of any model aircraft that was assigned to the squadron, that can be specifically identified, please send them. aircraft BUNO 153989. This is a special section for photos highlighting specific, identifyable aircraft. (Link corrected 5 July)
Roster additions, corrections, and changes: REINECKE, RICHARD C. LT COL 98-99
added 4 July 2015 KEHOE, DAVID F. SGT 69-70 <---Added Email Address.
modified 4 July 2015 RUSSELL, JAMES ROBERT LCPL 13-15
added 4 July 2015
UPDATES for 16 - 30 June 2015
Roster additions, corrections, and changes: MUSCHETTE, JAMES JR. 2NDLT 69TAPS
modified 27 June 2015 LINKOUS, JERRY L. - Sgt. 65-66
TAPS(Photo)(Photo)
modified 27 June 2015 JOHNSON, DALE L. SGT 69-70
(Narrative)<---Updated Email Address.
modified 20 June 2015 ANDERSON, BOBBIE G. SSGT 70-71 added 20 June 2015 WISTRAND, STEPHEN M."STEVE" 1STLT 69-70
(4 Narratives) <---Updated Email Address.
modified 20 June 2015
UPDATES for 1 - 15 June 2015
Roster additions, corrections, and changes: CARSON, EMMETT L. JR. CAPT 67-68
(4, Narratives)<---Updated Email Address.
modified 7 June 2015 TURLEY, SHAINA M. CAPT 14-PRESENT
added 6 June 2015 SCHWARZ, WILLIAM O. "BILL" CAPT 69-70 <---Updated Email Address.
modified 6 June 2015 ROSSI, DANNY P. CPL 69
added 6 June 2015 LYONS, LUKE KENT JR. CPL 13-14
added 6 June 2015 JOHNSON, JAMES E. JR. GYSGT 98-90
added 6 June 2015 CHRETIEN, DONALD R. 1STLT 70 (Narrative)<--Linked Narrative
modified 6 June 2015 BISHOP, BRETT N. CAPT 13-15
added 6 June 2015
UPDATES for 16 - 31 May 2015
Taken by my wife last Sunday, 17 May, in parking lot in Fredericksburg Va.
Don't know of any local foxes. Someone said that Digger Burns lives nearby,
but not sure if that's up to date info. Pls post on site to see if someone
can elaborate.
SF Bill Schwarz, '69--70
Roster additions, corrections, and changes: WIGLESWORTH, CARL LEE CPL 95-99
added 25 May 2015 BAYCROFT, MATT LCPL 88-90
added 25 May 2015 MORDHORST, JORDAN SGT 02-04
added 25 May 2015 CHRETIEN, DONALD R. 1STLT 70
added 25 May 2015 LAMCZYK, MARK A CAPT 91-95(BIO)
added 25 May 2015
UPDATES for 1 - 15 May 2015
Marines, Guests, and Confirmations added to the Reunion list. 3 May 2015
Marines, Guests, and Confirmations added to the Reunion list. 13 May 2015
MAJOR update to the CH-46 Retirement Ceremony. See the link above.
Emails and Notes sent to ALL of us in care of the website:
NOTE 1
Does anyone have contact information for Donald R. Chretien? He was in squadron in 70/71.
NOTE 2
I liked your essay on this magnificent machine. I love history. Especially Aircraft History.
Well done. Thank you for you service for the U.S of America... All of you... http://hmm-364.org
Sent from James K. McDonald
Additional information added to Floyd Anderson's TAPS page.
Roster additions, corrections, and changes: AYCOCK, PHILLIP E. SGT 90-93 GAEDE, MARC CPL 67(Photo) <---Added a photo. BACKOVSKY, JOHN R CPL 69-70 DROZDA, CLIFFORD E CAPT 93-97 RECTOR, KEVIN M CAPT 08-13 LOEBS, TERRY R. SGT 67-69
Marines, Guests, and Confirmations added to the Reunion list. 11 April 2015
Marines, Guests, and Confirmations added to the Reunion list. 19 April 2015
TAPS: ANDERSON, FLOYD L. CPL 65-66 TAPS Noticed removed from index on 19 April 2015.
Roster additions, corrections, and changes: SKOUFIS, MILTON SGT 89-92
Marines, Guests, and Confirmations added to the Reunion list. 30 March 2015
Roster additions, corrections, and changes: HOTALING, DAVID L CPL 11-12 OLIVE, BENNIS CPL 98-99 JOHNSTON, WILLIAM E II SGT 09-13 VILLANUEVA, JOHNATHAN CPL 01-02 EGAN, BRIAN E, HM2 06-07 PARTON, GEORGE CPL 61-62
UPDATES for 1 - 15 March 2015
If you own the originals of any of our pictures of Col Donovan, please contact the SLJNCO.
Marines and Guests added to the Reunion list. 1 March 2015
Marines and Guests added to the Reunion list. 11 March 2015
UPDATES for 16 - 28 February 2015
Added links to Recruit Graduation schedules under the reunion info.
A few more Marines and Guests added to the Reunion list, with more confirmations.
Added LtCol G.H. Keating (Feb 1995 - Jun 1996) to the CO's list. I got this info via email on TogetherWeServed.com from SgtMaj G. Turnbeau who served with the Squadron during that time.
Finally added an update to the history page about the redesignation from HMM-364 to VMM-364, and the change of command from LtCol Field to LtCol Kopacz.
FYI: we own the site URL of VMM-364.org, so going to that site will lead you right us.
Announced that we will be taking reunion sign up forms from other units and squadrons besides just HMM/VMM-364. Updated the Reunion form and signed-up list to include the Unit that Marine will be representing.
Roster Additions and corrections: TURNBEAU, GARY SGTMAJ 95-96 Added on 7 Feb '15.
UPDATES for 16 - 31 January 2015
Added new VMM-364 Swifty patches to the collections of patches, and put one of them on the main page.
