Kwaj News & Messages |
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Updated: 05/12/2008 01:06 PM EST |
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| News from Shermie about Glenn Matsumura
- May 12, 2008 I spoke with Mary Matsumura today and she informed that Glenn is very strong and but not doing well. He wants to talk to people but he can't and starts crying. Although, he has spoken to his daughter very slowly on the phone, and she understands him. Mary say that Glen misses everyone. He tries to speak and is almost understandable without his tongue. The doctor was really impressed with his determination to speak, but now he's really depressed but still fighting. Mary says, "He's still stubborn as he always has been. He smoked over 40 years and his lungs are still clean, believe it or not, an this puzzled the doctors." Their daughter Joanna is back in Austin, Texas and their son Michael is in Prescott, AZ. The Matsumura's left Kwajalein in 1999 for a job in Japan for 5 years, 1.5 years in the Middle East, Arizona and then to Pueblo, CO. Mary does not know the release date for him to go home and she plans to show him how to use the laptop verses a desk top for him to read his emails. Glen's email address is as follows: matsumura13@excite.com. Mary's email is as follows: matsumuramj@excite.com. Mary will be reading her emails several times a week. She also checks his emails. She would love to hear from his friends to pass to Glenn. Glenn Matsumura would love to hear from you "Word has been received from Glenn & Mary's daughter. Joanna. that Glenn is not doing well. Glenn was diagnosed with Oral Cancer. His tongue is gone. The cancer has moved into the throat. At this time Glenn would love to hear from you. He can not talk, but Mary can and is willing to take calls for Glenn. Glenn and Mary live in Pueblo, CO. Their phone number is 719-251-0969. We do not have a home address as they recently move. We will be in touch with Mary in the near future to get their address. Many of us knew Glenn either socially or through work. If you knew him through work, you knew him socially. That's just the way he was.'' |
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| U.S. Announces $21M Cutback At Kwajalein Missile Range - Pacific Magazine, March 7, 2008 | |||
| Marshall Islands
Government dismayed by abrupt USAKA Reduction in Force RMI News: http://www.yokwe.net/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2094 Marshall Islands Government dismayed by abrupt USAKA Reduction in Force Barely 50 days have passed since the new government settled into its first term of office when it was given notice by the United States of a USAKA (United States Army at Kwajalein Atoll) Transformation scheme which will have direct and immediate adverse impact on Marshallese employees in Kwajalein Atoll. In his briefing of the President and Cabinet last Thursday, the USAKA/RTS Commander, Col. Stevenson Reed, accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Clyde Bishop, laid out the details of the scheme and the impact of what he called 'transformation activities" of USAKA. The current RMI workforce of 1001 will be reduced to 912 by the end of this financial year when 89 workers will be laid off, and 650 will work on a reduced hour basis to match actual work requirement. Those who will be affected the most are employees working in areas such as public works, custodial, shipping and receiving. The end of FY08 will similarly affect the US Workforce on island when 64 positions of the present 946 will be eliminated, and 350 with reduced hours. The cumulative net loss to the RMI Govt in tax revenue resulting from the planned lay off in FY 08 is estimated to be $ 400,000. The reduction in workforce is expected to continue over four years, beginning from FY 08 through FY2011. Col. Stevenson Reed stated in his briefing that the transformation scheme which will result in workforce reduction was approved at the highest level and that there was 'little room to wiggle.' He said it is part of a Department of Defense strategy to ensure USAKA's relevancy and viability, and to increase its efficiency and capability through technological improvements; a clear reference to the use of fiber optic cable technology which will make it possible to distribute certain operations from Kwajalein to Huntsville, Alabama. The Minister in Assistance to the President, Christopher Loeak, said the subject was first intimated to him by US Ambassador Bishop a few days before the briefing. He said that while the RMI government appreciated the briefing from Col. Reed, the whole thing was a surprise. Mr. Loeak said the Government has just come to learn that the transformation scheme process has been under discussion by the various agencies of the US Government since 2004. The government, Minister Loeak said has no idea either whether the last government was aware of the scheme and its implications. Or, if it was aware, why it did not bring the matter to the attention of the Nitijela and the public. He said it is a remarkable coincidence that the length of the period at which the lay-offs begins and estimated to end is exactly the length of the period of the first term of office of this government, that is from FY2008 to FY2011. He said the elements of our special and strategic relationship embodied in the Compact agreement should have been enough to trigger an earlier consultation between the US and the RMI government. However, Minister Christopher Loeak, said he appreciated the frank statement from the USAKA Commander and particularly the actions that are being considered by USAKA to mitigate the impact of the reduction in Marshallese workforce. These include providing incentives to the contractors to keep RMI workforce, initiating formalized training programs to improve skill levels, and seeking other opportunities for future mitigation. He said the government wanted to assure those whose livelihood would be affected that it will do everything possible to help cushion the effect of the lay-offs. Government officials met shortly after the briefing by the USAKA Commander to assess the impact of the anticipated transformation activities, and to explore the various options to offset the adverse consequences. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tony deBrum, said there is no doubt that the reduction in the RMI workforce at USAKA over the next four years will have immediate impact on families of the employees who will be laid off. He said the problem is a national issue and not a matter strictly for the Kwajalein population. Many of the workers are originally from other islands of the country, and what is going to happen to them will obviously affect the support they have been giving their families members living outside of Kwajalein. Minister de Brum said he was particularly dismayed by the fact that when he inquired from the US military representative last year at the JCM meeting in Ebeye to confirm whether or not there was going to be any reduction in the RMI workforce, the answer was in the negative. He said the government is looking closely at a range of options to determine the extent of their effective contribution towards providing viable solutions to the problem. - RMI President's Office, Majuro, Marshall Islands, March 3, 2008 |
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Surprise 50th Birthday Present The quilt in the attached photo was made in secret and
presented to me as a surprise 50th birthday present at the November 2007 Kwajalein Running
Club monthly "Fun Run". I will cherish the quilt and thought some of you KRC
veterans might appreciate the photo.
Wendy Gray made the quilt at Kwajalein. Wendy is a good friend of my wife Jane and volunteered to do the sewing. Wendy is the woman at one side of the photo. The chubby balding guy on the other side is me. Debbie Kirby did some of the center panel stitching with a special machine she has. Many of you on the addressee list have at least one T-Shirt design in the quilt. The oldest shirt is the 1980 RustMan One shirt, which is the very orange one in the top row. The newest shirt is the 2007 RustMan 28 shirt right by Wendy's face. The other 30 shirts are of ages scattered in between. Cris Lindborg and Leigh Vander Veen account for ten of the shirt panels and did even more designs than those included in the quilt. Leigh is currently working on the 2008 RustMan 29 shirt design. She lives in CA near Vandenberg AFB now, but will send the art over the internet. All the shirts in the quilt are from either RustMan Triathlons, Columbus Day Runs or the New Year's Eve Midnight runs. This is not all of the custom KRC event shirts from the last 28 years. I think that would be more like ~75 shirts. Thanks Jane & Wendy! Bob Sholar, Kwajalein Island |
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| The news is out, the Yokwe Yuk Club is history. Yokwe Yuk Club The Yokwe Yuk Club was built in 1952 as an "Officers Mess & Club". It will close permanently at end of October 2007 and await demolition funds. As far back as the early 1970s, the building showed signs of damage from long term water intrusion into the reinforced concrete. This was largely due to a design that allowed rain water ponding on the roof. The water rusts the steel rebar and the rebar expands, cracking the concrete: "spalling". There have been several major repair projects over the decades. The kitchen area was shut down several years ago after a large piece of concrete fell in a store room while the kitchen was in use. It was realized that someone could have been killed. The bar area was declared safer and the Yokwe Yuk Club was reduced to just a Bar. Recently, the spalling of the ceiling in the Main Entrance area has worsened. The Command has just recently come to more clearly understand that there are several large 50+ year old buildings on Kwajalein that place larger than expected loads on the Power System. Much of this is due to the retrofit Air Conditioning and poor wall insulation. The Yuk and Surfway are prime examples. With the tickler of shutting down the power to one of those old hogs, plus the safety concerns, the Commander gave the order yesterday to shut the Yuk and power it down. | |||
| Hourglass from September 1945 A few years ago, I had the opportunity to go through some of
my father's belongings at my mother's house. As a child I knew that he had been a radio
operator on Kwaj at the end of the war. Also as a child, I had seen a few photographs of
him, which have since disappeared. While I was visiting at home, I took a scanner and
notebook computer and scanned whatever I could get my hands on... In the papers was a copy
of the Hourglass from
September 1945. I found it interesting as an artifact and priceless as a piece of my
father's history and experience. Since that time, I've done a fair amount of web surfing,
and have found the page and various references to the Hourglass posted on this page. I
thought perhaps someone else would enjoy the opportunity to share it, particularly in
light of the content and date. If it just so happens that anyone would have any information at all pertaining to my father's service time on Kwajalein, I would be most appreciative.. beyond that, I would just like to express my heart-felt appreciation for the sacrifices of those who have struggled there, died there and continue to serve. God Bless... My father was: Frank (nmn) Kremm, Radioman (PO3 I believe at that time), USN. He continued in the service of his country, retiring from the Navy in 1970. He passed away from cancer in 1970. Sincerely, Frank J. Kremm |
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| Wherever there's a female mountain goat,
there's bound to be an old Billy goat too! View their latest pictures of Tom & Marie Overman's hiking adventures >  |
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Email Shermie - your name, years resident at Kwaj, city, state of residence
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Would you like to help?
Submit input |
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Planning the Event
Shermie Wiehe (Website, Musician, Coordinator)
Sherry Sherrill (Coordinator)
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| New Book in Print, written by my friend, Steven C. Buren: Physics and Geology of Earth. Twenty-Nine primary Discoveries, Theories, and Observations that will make some major differences in the examination of Earth. These discoveries identify the causes of many mysteries in Geology as well as some plausible future events. The assembly of all Continents form a perfect sphere 56% the size of the Earth. This evidence indicates that the Earth expanded to current size in one move. The Mantle material drew into the sphere after the expansion, through the Deep Ocean Trenches. This unique view of the Physics of Geology and Meteorology may reveal our true history and future changes of Earth. Email comments or questions to Steven Buren at: scburen@gmail.com | ||||||||||||||
| KWAJ Reunion Link Updated - June 30, 2007 > GO LOOK | ||||||||||||||
| Shermie Then & Now PDF & Word, or html - from Kwajaletter, Spring 2007 Edition, Shermie | ||||||||||||||
| Passing of Zach Huckabay, a former employee of Global Associates (Resident Manager in Hawaii 1968 - 1980) and part of the resident management team for Global on the island during the early seventies passed away on April 19, 2007. Notice provided by:.Warren Huckabay, 21422 SE 37th Street, Sammamish, WA 98075, (425) 392-8905 (h), (425) 830-5282 (c), email huckwarren@comcast.net - Obituary information - Obits & Notices | ||||||||||||||
KEARBY – ATKINSON’S FROST
PUNCH RECIPE - the famous Kentron Punch served at
Christmas and other special occasions. This was provided by John Willcox after he
came across the recipe in his old files. Caution drink only one cup or you
cannot drive. "Thanks John, for sharing this popular punch recipe of the early
70s when I was there working for Kentron, Hawaii, LTD, Shermie." John's email: JJwillcox@aol.com
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| Looking for information, record marlin catches at Kwaj Rob Gray (Kwajkid 1965-72, 2002-present) here. We are having a discussion regarding record marlin catches here on Kwaj. As a kid, I remember a large marline catch that I have a picture (somewhere I storage) of me standing on. I recall an 800# + Black Marlin in the 69-71 time frame. Does anyone know or have any info on this? Rob Robert.Gray@smdck.smdc.army.mil | ||||||||||||||
| Marriage Announcement - Shannon Stafford
& Jeff Klevorn Shannon Stafford (Kwaj from 1986-1990) shannonds@yahoo.com and Jeff Klevorn (Kwaj 1986-1988) became engaged on New Years Eve and will be getting married on Saturday, September 15th. They will be married in Hazel Green, AL and living in Toney, AL. (approximately 15 minutes outside of Huntsville, AL). |
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| KWAJALEIN WORKERS RELOCATING TO ALABAMA MAJURO, Marshall Islands (Yokwe Online, June 22) - Thirty-six employees at the Kwajalein missile range facility, including 6 Marshallese, will be relocating to Huntsville, Alabama, before the end of the summer. "Kwajalein Range Services is currently working with the Marshallese employees, some with family members, on quality of life issues such as English as a Second Language and drivers license, etc., to prepare them for an easier transition to the United States," according to Colonel Beverly Stipe, United States Army at Kwajalein Atoll Commander. Kwajalein Atoll has been a premiere asset within the Department of Defense Major Range and Test Facility Base, leasing eleven islands from the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Nicknamed "the world's largest catcher's mitt," the Kwajalein lagoon is used for testing and tweaking of intercontinental ballistic missiles launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. Stipe said United States Army at Kwajalein Atoll is committed to moving the majority of the operational space mission to Huntsville. Functions that can be performed remotely will now operate out of Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, the hub of the Space and Missile Defense Command Test and Evaluation Directorate. United States Army at Kwajalein Atoll took a substantial budget cut in 2004, and the assessment team helped find paths to the way ahead, Stipe said, according to the June issue of the Eagle, a Defense Command newspaper. A new undersea fiber optic cable, from Kwajalein to Guam with a direct link to the Mainland, scheduled for completion in March 2008, will "enable United States Army at Kwajalein Atoll to distribute some missions operations and positions back to Huntsville, said Stipe. Presently, the supporting contracted; non-military workforce is comprised of 3,400 employees and family members. 1400 are Marshallese who commute three-miles by ferry from Ebeye to the base. Since news of the plans for site downsizing, relocation of the workforce has been an issue of community concern at Kwajalein, stated the Kwajalein Hourglass recently. In a town hall meeting, on April 12, John Pickler, said Kwajalein Range Services was tasked by United States Army at Kwajalein Atoll to identify between 30 and 50 positions to be relocated to the Huntsville facilities, find locations for staff and develop a compensation package for relocating personnel. At that time, Picker said 35 positions had been identified for relocation, 16 people had accepted the relocation package and four of those positions are currently vacant. June 23, 2006 Larry Note: The Ronald Reagan Test Site at Kwajalein Atoll has been for many years has been a major test site for all of the military services since WWII when it played a major role in U.S. Atomic tests at Bikini and Enewetak. Many of the modern military weapons were developed and tested at both WSMR and Kwaj. For many years the Marshall Islands Government and local land owners have consistently been demanding increased compensation utilizing the atoll for development testing - Kwajalein has been one of the largest employers of local Marshall Island residents, but modern technology has developed in such a manner the repeated demands for increased compensation may make portions of such R & D testing most cost effective to be conducted by other means at other military installations. However, Kwajalein's large lagoon will no doubt remain the principal landing site for launch testing of missiles. |
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| FYI: Kentron, Hawaii LTD
Retirement Benefits For those who have worked for Kentron, Hawaii, LTD at Kwajalein, the Retirement Pension contact is as follows:
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| Clara Renee Roth born
on Dec. 1st, 2005, 7 lb. 11 oz. Everyone is doing well. Congratulations to Kelly & Jeff Roth! More pictures of Clara, double-click following links: Clara & Mom - Clara 1 - Clara 2 - Clara & Dad
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| KWAJALEIN TO INSTALL FIBER-OPTIC DATA LINK, Jane's Missiles and Rockets, October 27, 2005. By the end of 2006, cable laying will have begun in a project to link the US Pacific Missile Range at Kwajalein Atoll to the continental US... The new fiber-optic cable will allow launches at the range to be controlled from the US facilities. A route for the new cable is currently being surveyed between Kwajalein and Guam, which is already linked to the US mainland via fibre-optic cable. Once the new link has been laid and connected to the existing Guam-US cable, a low data-latency connection will be possible between US facilities and those at the range. This will be available for use probably by late 2007... Once a fibre-optic data link has been created between Kwajalein and a US facility - probably at Huntsville, Alabama - it will be possible to conduct launches at the Pacific Missile Range from a control room at Huntsville. At first, this may be done for space launches; work is already under way on a first space launch from the Pacific Missile Range... At a later stage, the data link will be used for ballistic-missile defense trials. By separating the control facilities from the launchers, the number of personnel who need to be sent to the Pacific would be minimized. Most engineering staff could remain in the US, with only the engineers and technicians involved in preparing the missile and installing it on the launcher being at Kwajalein. It would also be more practical for politicians and high-ranking officials to watch Ballistic Missile Defense trials, a factor that might help maintain support for US missile-defense programs. | ||||||||||||||
| Granny held for $2.5m cocaine 19/10/2005 12:51 Majuro - A 57-year-old grandmother on a remote central Pacific island has been arrested for allegedly trying to sell cocaine with a United States street value of about $2.5m. A judge in the tiny state of the Marshall Islands on Wednesday refused bail for Meriba Bulele, saying she was a danger to the public after police presented evidence that she was selling 20kg of the drug to local dealers. The cocaine was being sold at about 10% of the US street value and some of it was going to workers on a nearby top-secret US missile testing range on Kwajalein Atoll. Police said the cocaine was part of a much larger consignment which Bubele and her husband - who committed suicide last month - found on a boat which drifted onto a small island near their home on the island of Carlos in March 2004. Packages of cocaine have washed ashore on the beaches of remote islands in the Marshalls at least five times since the early 1990s. Police got a tip-off A tip-off pointed police to the cache of cocaine the Bulele's had buried on Carlos, which has a population of about 150 and is a 15-minute boat ride from the missile-testing range and Ebeye, an island where many of the missile range workers live. Since mid-2004, police have arrested more than 15 people on both Ebeye and the Marshalls capital of Majuro for cocaine possession and distribution but the latest haul is the largest. Charged at the same time as Bulele were an Ebeye resident Mark Kaia and two Americans, Richard Kopache and Bruce Lundmark, who are contract workers on the missile range. Kaia told police he sold about 34g of cocaine to Lundmark for $400 in early October. This worked out at about $10 a gram, or less than 10% of the street sale price in the US. Police said Lundmark had admitted that with Kopache between June and September this year, he bought about 50 small amounts of cocaine for about $20 000 on Ebeye. Preliminary court hearings for the four are set for November 11. |
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| U.S. computer operator charged A missile site worker loses his job and his security clearance over hacking allegations By Debra Barayuga, dbarayuga@starbulletin.com. A former civilian computer operator at a federal defense test site on Kwajalein Atoll has been charged with hacking into a U.S. government computer to disable the antivirus software so he could play computer games and watch pirated videos. A criminal complaint filed Friday in U.S. District Court charged Stephen C. Johnson, 27, of Alabama, with unauthorized access to a government computer, a misdemeanor punishable by a year in prison. Johnson made his first appearance in U.S. District Court in Honolulu Friday and was released on his own recognizance. Federal Public Defender Peter Wolff told the court that the case is expected to be transferred to Alabama, where Johnson lives, and that he will enter a guilty plea to the charge. According to court documents, Johnson worked at a communications center at the Ronald Reagan Missile Defense Test Site, where he had access to nonclassified and classified government documents and computer systems. He had been working there for about 10 months. During an interview with the FBI on Oct. 5, Johnson admitted to using keystroke logging and password cracking software to obtain and change his supervisor's password, and disabled the antivirus software so that he could play computer games such as "Heroes of Might and Magic" and "Red Alert: Command and Conquer." He also said that everyday for the past five months, he connected a USB hard drive to the government computer so that he could watch pirated movies that he downloaded from the Internet. Johnson has had his security clearance revoked and has since been fired from his job. Article URL: http://starbulletin.com/2005/10/09/news/story10.html © 1996-2005 The Honolulu Star-Bulletin | www.starbulletin.com | ||||||||||||||
| Ex Kwajer Helps the Needy Kwaj 1977-79, 83-85, & 91-96, Marilyn (Olson) Fratangelo founder of home for abused, neglected, or abandoned children in Alabama. Check out the website at http://moriahchildrenshome.org | ||||||||||||||
Fire on Ebeye, Kwajalein, Marshall
Islands Pictures of a fire that occurred on
Ebeye, Marshall Islands, Kwajalein Atoll, approximately March 31, 2005. I was
informed it was started from kerosene stove but luckily no one was hurt. These
photographs show the intense heat and damaged caused by the fire. I have received
many request for an address in sending donations to assist in helping victims of the
fire. I'm not aware of one as yet. If I do find one, I'll post it here. Shermie
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| Note to Shermie Hi Shermie, I'm sitting here listening to you play "Ain't Misbehavin". It's great. You played piano with a one time group Sid Gaddy put together. There was Sid, Dick Shields, Jeff Childers, me (Dave Sublette) and I don't know who else. We played about two hours on the stage at the Richardson in the mid-80's one Sunday afternoon. I have a video of it!! I was a pretty poor trumpet player at the time. Since then I've taken lessons for ten years and now play lead trumpet in a 15 piece 'Big Band". One of the arrangements we play is "Ain't Misbehavin". I've been retired ten years now and play my horn in several groups, sometimes playing up to 20 hours a week. Enjoyed your website. Loved your piano. Thanks, Dave Sublette | ||||||||||||||
| GREETINGS TO KWAJ I WAS STATIONED AT KWAJ IN 1957-1958 WITH THE UNITED STATES MARINE DETACHMENT. IT WAS A NAVY BASE AT THE TIME. WE WOULD DRIVE AROUND THE ISLAND AFTER A TYPHOON AND PICK UP JAPANESE WW11 HAND GRENADES AND OTHER WEAPONS THAT WASHED UP. THERE WERE SOME OLD JAPANESE BUNKERS JUST EAST OF THE AIRSTRIP WHERE WE STORED THEM. WE WENT SNORKELING AND SWIMMING ON OUR DAYS OFF. THE ISLANDERS THAT WORKED ON KWAJ WERE TAKEN OFF OF AND SHIPPED BACK TO EBEYE ISLAND AT NIGHT SINCE ONLY MILITARY WAS ALLOWED TO STAY OVERNIGHT AT KWAJ. THESE PEOPLE WERE VERY POOR AND LIVED IN SHANTYS. MANY OF THEM SUFFERED FROM RADIATION SICKNESS. KWAJ WAS A VERY QUITE AND BEAUTIFUL PLACE AT THAT TIME AND WE ALL ENJOYED THE WONDERFUL TROPICAL WEATHER AND BEAUTIFUL THE BLUE SKY AND CLOUDS THAT BROUGHT MANY INCHES OF RAIN. GOD BLESS YOU LUCKY PEOPLE. ALBERT NEWTON SSGT/USMC RET, aluliu@juno.com | ||||||||||||||
| Note from Herbert H. Hice I was on Roi-Namur for ll Months, from the 5th of Feb. 1944 to the last week of Dec. 1944. I was in Headquarters Squadron of Marine Aircraft Group 31, Thats M A G 31. I went ashore on the 5th of Feb. 1944. A young man who worked on Kwajalein and Roi-Namur for 25 years has a website with lots of data. His name is Shermie Wiehe and the title is Veterans of Roi-Namur, Kwajalein and the Pacific www.wiehes.com/vets/vets.html. Shermie was gracious enough to put my history in the Marines on his website and my time spent on Roi-Namur. Yes, I was on Roi-Namur when Charles Lindbergh came for a visit. I and other Marines watched as Charles Lindbergh demonstrated to the Marine pilots how to take off in the F4U Fighter with a 2000 lb. Bomb load. I was not a pilot, but I knew a few of the Marine pilots and they said he used the landing Flaps to get more lift on take off. That was in Sept. 1944 and that's a lot of years gone by to remember everything (58 yrs.). I do not recall if Charles Lindbergh went on bombing missions over Wotje with MAG 31 pilots, but I will always remember his visit to Roi-Namur. I did not get close to Lindbergh because I was only a Staff Sergeant and he was always surrounded by BIG BRASS, but it was a thrill to see him. | ||||||||||||||
| Missing, Help Needed My uncle PFC Willie Cleo Thompson age
19 at the time was a member of a crew that went down in the Marshall Islands on February
14, 1944. He belonged to the Marine Torpedo Bombing Group233, Marine Aircraft Group11,
Marine Aircraft South Pacific. The crew also had a PVT Arthur Patrickus and was piloted by
1st Lieutenant James W Boyden. Their plane had failed to return after a successful mission
of mine laying in enemy harbors in the Marshall Islands. When we find my uncle it will
give the family much peace. Thank you, Winston D. Wilson 140 Springhill Drive Bardstown
Kentucky 40004, 502 350-3842, winston.d.wilson@worldnet.att.net.
Here is the latest on my uncle's plane. Thank You, Winston This is correspondence between Winston Wilson and Rod Pearce. My uncle's plane went down when he was age 19 (Willie Cleo Thompson) when on Feb 14, 1944 as a member of the first marine aircraft wing fmaw #140 of the torpedo bomber group 233 VMTB233 MAG-11 was missing in action after his plane disappear at Rebaul with two others the plane had the markings on it 111 on its side. The plane was a TBF-1 Torpedo bomber 1944 Gruman Wright 3-crew avenger mid wing monoplane single engine. It lies somewhere in Simpson Harbor, 6 planes went down that day while dropping mines at 800 ft at a very slow speed in Simpson harbor there should be evidence of their evidence and surely someone saw them while diving in the waters, Have you seen this plane or do you know of anybody reporting the existence of the plane in the harbor. Thank You, Winston Wilson 140 SpringHill Drive Bardstown, Kentucky 40004 502 350 3842 winston.d.wilson@worldnet.att.net From Rod to Winston Dear Winston, Thanks for the info and will get back to you when my mate replies. Your e-mail was to long for my on board system and only part of it came through. The last paragraph that came through was "Well, maybe I will contact you further and ask you." Any thing after that did not come through. Could you resend after that sentence please? I often wondered about that raid on Rabaul by those planes. I will do a dive on that plane again in October / November if you like and try and get a I.D. for you. If my memory serves me correctly, and I I.D. it as an American TBM Avenger. It is some 15 to 18 years but American I am positive about, and a single engine and 2-3 seats. I will do everything I can for you on this and even give it to a mate in Rabaul to get his teeth into and to follow it through, also I shall inform SIL-HI for you. Give me about a week or until my mate e-mail's me back. Thanks so much for the info. How did you get my name and how did you know I was interested in this sought of thing. Please do me one favor and send a copy of our correspondance to Richard Leahy at smleahy869@yahoo.com esp. all about the plane. I work in very closely with Richard on these matters. I am unable to do alot of things on this system as I am on a vessel in the middle of the waters around PNG. Hence have to ask you to forward for me . Thanks, Regards, Rod. ------------------------------------------------- Do not push the "reply" button to respond to this message if that includes the text of this original message in your response. Messages are sent over a very low-speed radio link. The most concise way to reply is to send a NEW message to: P2V4260@sailmail.com. If you DO use your reply button, be sure to delete the original message text and these instructions from your reply. This email was delivered by an HF private coast station in the Maritime Mobile Radio Service, operated by the SailMail Association, a non-profit association of yacht owners. For more information on this service or on the SailMail Association, please see the web site at: http://www.sailmail.com Two days previously Rod, I really appreciate the help and again wanted to thank you, Winston ----- Original Message ----- From: <P2V4260@sailmail.com> To: <winston.d.wilson@worldnet.att.net> Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 2:06 AM Subject: Uncles Plane. Dear Winston, Thanks so much for your e-mail. I often wondered how long it would be before someone asked me about that flight. The answer is yes, I have found a plane of that description in about 30 feet of water if my memory serves me correctly some 15-18 years ago. I remember taking the torpedo sight from the plane and still have it. I will find out more and let you know shortly. As it so happens this is your lucky day. I have today along with your e-mail received one from a mate who was with me on the day we found that plane and I will ask him to fill me in on details, as after 15 years the memory goes dimmer. Another thing, I will be participating in a sonar search of Rabaul harbor in October so will cert. keep my eyes open. If you have the official report of the raid I would love a copy for my files and it may shed some light on the flight and where to look. Regards, Rod Pearce (Niugini Diving) This e-mail is direct to my vessel and the other is the office. ------------------------------------------------- Do not push the "reply" button to respond to this message if that includes the text of this original message in your response. Messages are sent over a very low-speed radio link. The most concise way to reply is to send a NEW message to: P2V4260@sailmail.com. If you DO use your reply button, be sure to delete the original message text and these instructions from your reply. This email was delivered by an HF private coast station in the Maritime Mobile Radio Service, operated by the SailMail Association, a non-profit association of yacht owners. For more information on this service or on the SailMail Association, please see the web site at: http://www.sailmail.com From Rod to Winston Here is the last picture of PFC Willie Cleo Thompson who died February 14, 1944 at Simpson Harbor Rabaul, New Britain. I appreciate your helps so much, Thank you again, Winston Wilson Thank you so much, I have been searching for years and asking various divers without much success. I am eternally grateful to you and any information I have I will send gladly. The archives and personnel records in St. Louis have not been very helpful as they seem to lose records or are unable to found them. I have researched and talked with many people to try and find Cleo. I have enclosed the last picture of him in this file. I am still trying to get the report, which seems not to exist but has been written in a book. Sent by email by Michael Moskow Original Message ----- From: Michael Moskow To: Wilson, Winston VMTB-233 Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2002 8:57 PM Subject: Your Uncle Hello Mr. Wilson, Well, I had a chance to look at my material pertaining to VMTB-233 in general, and the mission on which your uncle was shot down, in particular. In answer to the most important question of all. "Was your Uncle taken captive, and executed/murdered with the other POWs at "Tunnel Hill"? I can state with a very, very high degree of confidence. No, he was not. I am certain that he lost his life when his TBF was shot down. If there is any small solace in it, know that he did not suffer as a POW of the Japanese. You mentioned that his pilot and fellow crewman were 1 Lt. James W. Boyden and PFC Arthur J. Patrickus, respectively. Those men were definitely on the mission of 2/14/44, but according to my records, your uncle was not in their TBF, because I show their third crewman as PFC Bernard C, Pardun. Rather, my records indicate that your uncle flew in a TBF piloted by 1 Lt. Alonzo N. Hathway, with Cpl. John J. Edwards as gunner and his Avenger had the squadron number of "111" on its side. However, I don't know the plane's serial number. I have no information about what specifically happened to his Avenger, but I feel certain that it was shot down by AA fire, like the others, and crashed into Simpson Harbor. Here is information about the mission from Foster's book, "Hell in the Heavens": Somebody back in Washington, D.C., had a bright idea to sow some mines in Simpson Harbor at Rabaul with the purpose of impeding Jap shipping by their nuisance value. Consequently, orders were received at Bouganville. One torpedo bomber squadron was assigned the mission, but when the time came another was given the hop, because they had had previous experience in laying mines. At the briefing they were told, "Make it good, because Washington has its eye on us tonight." In the dark hours of February 14, 1944, the torpedo bombers of VMTB 233 and Major Roland F. Smith's VMTB 232 took off on the operation that was to result in tragedy for 233. The Commanding Officer of VMTB 233, Major Coln, found the Japs unusually interested in what was happening that night. For several previous nights the bombers had followed the prescribed route and altitude to drop their bombs, and the Japs were able to predict easily enough where the Americans would fly. The TBMs were to fly up in three groups of eight each. The first group lost one plane. As they headed back home the C.O. tried to radio the other TBFs to warn them to turn back but he couldn't make radio contact. The second group lost two planes. Before the third group arrived at its assigned interval of nearly an hour, the B-24 which had been harassing Rabaul to distract the attention of the Japs was shot down. The third group of planes found every searchlight and AA gun in the area pointed their way when they flew at 800 feet over the water at the slow speed of 160 knots to drop their parachute-mines, weighing 1,600 pounds a piece. Plane after plane disintegrated in mid-air and fell in flames. Only three of them got away. One pilot failed to be in the correct location on his first pass and had the nerve to turn around and go back to do it. He had the luck to escape. And the next night the Army wanted them to go up again! One of the majors was ready to give up his wings and his commission rather than have his boys try it again. There was such a stink that the high command thought it wise to drop the affair. My good friend and former classmate of cadet days, Cornelius, never came back from that mission. A total of six planes and eighteen men were senselessly lost that night. The military "chain of command" comes in handy in such untidy affairs. The bright idea originates from on high and is transmitted through the generals and the colonels to the majors who give the orders to the men who do the dying. It is all very impersonal, so that if a mistake has been made, few are the people who know where to place the heavy finger of responsibility - and the finger is rarely pointed. To the best of my knowledge, a total of four men survived the loss of the six TBF's that evening. (4 men of 18) Of the four, none survived captivity. One seems to have been murdered at Tunnel Hill, two died of starvation / disease / medical neglect, and I think that a fourth was murdered by the Japanese Navy some time in April. But again, your uncle's name never, ever came up in any of the documents I've seen about the Rabaul POWs, so I am certain he was spared those fates. Well, maybe I will contact you further, and ask you some questions about your uncle.! By the way, where did you find my name? Thank you again and I will look forward to anything you find. Winston D. Wilson 140 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill Estates, Bardstown, Kentucky 40004, 502 350-3842, winston.d.wilson@worldnet.att.net. Thank you so much, I have been searching for years and asking various divers without much success. I am eternally grateful to you and any information I have I will send gladly. The archives and personnel records in St. Louis have not been very helpful as they seem to lose records or are unable to found them. I have researched and talked with many people to try and find Cleo. I have enclosed the last picture of him in this file. I am still trying to get the report, which seems not to exist but has been written in a book. Sent by email by Michael Moskow Original Message From: Michael Moskow To: Wilson, Winston VMTB-233 Sent: Thursday, August 08, 2002 8:57 PM Subject: Your Uncle Hello Mr. Wilson, Well, I had a chance to look at my material pertaining to VMTB-233 in general, and the mission on which your uncle was shot down, in particular. In answer to the most important question of all. "Was your uncle taken captive, and executed/murdered with the other POWs at "Tunnel Hill"? I can state with a very, very high degree of confidence. No, he was not. I am certain that he lost his life when his TBF was shot down. If there is any small solace in it, know that he did not suffer as a POW of the Japanese. You mentioned that his pilot and fellow crewman were 1 Lt. James W. Boyden and PFC Arthur J. Patrickus, respectively. Those men were definitely on the mission of 2/14/44, but according to my records, your uncle was not in their TBF, because I show their third crewman as PFC Bernard C, Pardun. Rather, my records indicate that your uncle flew in a TBF piloted by 1 Lt. Alonzo N. Hathway, with Cpl. John J. Edwards as gunner and his Avenger had the squadron number of "111" on its side. However, I don't know the plane's serial number. I have no information about what specifically happened to his Avenger, but I feel certain that it was shot down by AA fire, like the others, and crashed into Simpson Harbor. Here is information about the mission from Foster's book, "Hell in the Heavens": Somebody back in Washington, D.C., had a bright idea to sow some mines in Simpson Harbor at Rabaul with the purpose of impeding Jap shipping by their nuisance value. Consequently, orders were received at Bouganville. One torpedo bomber squadron was assigned the mission, but when the time came another was given the hop, because they had had previous experience in laying mines. At the briefing they were told, "Make it good, because Washington has its eye on us tonight." In the dark hours of February 14, 1944, the torpedo bombers of VMTB 233 and Major Roland F. Smith's VMTB 232 took off on the operation that was to result in tragedy for 233. The Commanding Officer of VMTB 233, Major Coln, found the Japs unusually interested in what was happening that night. For several previous nights the bombers had followed the prescribed route and altitude to drop their bombs, and the Japs were able to predict easily enough where the Americans would fly. The TBMs were to fly up in three groups of eight each. The first group lost one plane. As they headed back home the C.O. tried to radio the other TBFs to warn them to turn back but he couldn't make radio contact. The second group lost two planes. Before the third group arrived at its assigned interval of nearly an hour, the B-24 which had been harassing Rabaul to distract the attention of the Japs was shot down. The third group of planes found every searchlight and AA gun in the area pointed their way when they flew at 800 feet over the water at the slow speed of 160 knots to drop their parachute-mines, weighing 1,600 pounds apiece. Plane after plane disintegrated in mid-air and fell in flames. Only three of them got away. One pilot failed to be in the correct location on his first pass and had the nerve to turn around and go back to do it. He had the luck to escape. And the next night the Army wanted them to go up again! One of the majors was ready to give up his wings and his commission rather than have his boys try it again. There was such a stink that the high command thought it wise to drop the affair. My good friend and former classmate of cadet days, Cornelius, never came back from that mission. A total of six planes and eighteen men were senselessly lost that night. The military "chain of command" comes in handy in such untidy affairs. The bright idea originates from on high and is transmitted through the generals and the colonels to the majors who give the orders to the men who do the dying. It is all very impersonal, so that if a mistake has been made, few are the people who know where to place the heavy finger of responsibility - and the finger is rarely pointed. To the best of my knowledge, a total of four men survived the loss of the six TBF's that evening. (4 men of 18) Of the four, none survived captivity. One seems to have been murdered at Tunnel Hill, two died of starvation / disease / medical neglect, and I think that a fourth was murdered by the Japanese Navy some time in April. But again, your uncle's name never, ever came up in any of the documents I've seen about the Rabaul POWs, so I am certain he was spared those fates. Well, maybe I will contact you further, and ask you some questions about your uncle.! By the way, where did you find my name? Thank you again and I will look forward to anything you find. Winston D. Wilson 140 SpringHill Drive, SpringHill Estates, Bardstown, Kentucky 40004, 502 350-3842 winston.d.wilson@worldnet.att.net ----- Original Message ----- From: <P2V4260@sailmail.com> To: <winston.d.wilson@worldnet.att.net> Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 2:06 AM Subject: Uncles Plane. Dear Winston, Thanks so much for your e-mail. I often wondered how long it would be before someone asked me about that flight. The answer is yes, I have found a plane of that description in about 30 feet of water if my memory serves me correctly some 15-18 years ago. I remember taking the torpedo sight from the plane and still have it. I will find out more and let you know shortly. As it so happens this is your lucky day. I have today along with your e-mail received one from a mate who was with me on the day we found that plane and I will ask him to fill me in on details, as after 15 years the memory grows dimmer. Another thing, I will be participating in a sonar search of Rabaul harbor in October so will cert. keep my eyes open. If you have the official report of the raid I would love a copy for my files and it may shed some light on the flight. and where to look. Regards Rod Pearce (Niugini Diving) This e-mail is direct to my vessel and the other is the office. ----- Original Message ----- From: <P2V4260@sailmail.com> To: <winston.d.wilson@worldnet.att.net> Sent: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 2:06 AM Subject: Uncles Plane. Dear Winston, Thanks so much for your e-mail. I often wondered how long it would be before someone ask ed me about that flt. The answer is yes, I have found a plane of that description in about 30 feet of water if my memory serves me correctly some 15-18 years ago. I remember taking the torpedo sight from the plane and still have it. I will find out more and let you know shortly. As it so happens this is your lucky day. I have today along with your e-mail received one from a mate who was with me on the day we found that plane and I will ask him to fill me in on details, as after 15 years the memory grows dimmer. Another thing, I will be participating in a sonar search of Rabaul harbor in October so will cert. keep my eyes open. If you have the official report of the raid I would love a copy for my files and it may shead some light on the flt. and where to look. Regards Rod Pearce (Niugini Diving) This e-mail is direct to my vessel. the other is the office. ------------------------------------------------- Do not push the "reply" button to respond to this message if that includes the text of this original message in your response. Messages are sent over a very low-speed radio link. The most concise way to reply is to send a NEW message to: P2V4260@sailmail.com. If you DO use your reply button, be sure to delete the original message text and these instructions from your reply. Replies should not contain attachments and should be less than 5K Bytes (2 text pages) in length. This email was delivered by an HF private coast station in the Maritime Mobile Radio Service, operated by the SailMail Association, a non-profit association of yacht owners. For more information on this service or on the SailMail Association, please see the web site at: http://www.sailmail.com ----- Original Message ----- From: Shermie Wiehe To: WINSTON WILSON Cc: Hice, Herbert H. Sent: Sunday, July 28, 2002 6:16 AM Subject: Re: Message from Kwaj Community Web Site Dear Winston, Thanks for your information and I posted it on two links of the Kwaj Community Web Site. I worked at Kwaj from 72-97 and many look at my site each week. I posted your letter below on the site and I'm sure you'll hear from someone in interest of your needs. I added the links, KwajNews & Vet Album, http://www.wiehes.com//kwajnews.html, http://www.wiehes.com/vetalbum.html Hope this is helpful in your research. I receive about a 1000 hits a month from Kwaj information seekers on my site. Have a nice day, Shermie Wiehe, http://www.wiehes.com (Shermie's Place) ----- Original Message ----- From: WINSTON WILSON To: Kwajalein@att.net Sent: Sunday, July 28, 2002 8:26 AM Subject: Message from Kwaj Community Web Site My uncle PFC Willie Cleo Thompson age 19 at the time was a member of a crew that went down in the Marshall Islands on February 14, 1944. He belonged to the Marine Torpedo Bombing Group233, Marine Aircraft Group11, Marine Aircraft South Pacific. The crew also had a PVT Arthur Patrickus and was piloted by 1st Lieutenant James W Boyden. their plane had failed to return after a succesful mission of mine laying in enemy harbors in the Marshall Islands. When we find my uncle it will give the family much peace. Thank you, Winston D. Wilson 140 Springhill Drive Bardstown Kentucky 40004, 502 350-3842, winston.d.wilson@worldnet.att.net |
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| VET News / Correspondence Letter From: Jeanne Box/Gerald Wuetcher To: herbiger@gmail.com Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2002 12:24 AM Subject: Kwajalein Dear Mr. Hice, I got your e-address from a Kwajalein Web Site. My dad, Lark Box, was with VMF 111 - MAG 31, and, like you, was on Roi on Feb. 12, 1944. Dad died 3 years ago and, unfortunately, we were never quite able to find the right questions or time to get him to talk seriously about his time overseas. I recently received a copy of his records from the National Records Center -- but they are pretty sparse. I have been trying to piece together my dad's movements with MAG 31 and I'd appreciate any help you could give. He joined VMF 111 in Dec. 1943, and received a battle star for the Gilberts operations -- but I'm not sure where he was in Dec. of 43. He was on Roi on Feb. 12, but I'm not sure when he got there. He also received Battle Stars for the Marshalls and Marianas operations. Dad told us lots of stories about his time in the Marines --but they were always G-rated and always had a funny ending. His best buddy -- Bonnie Daily - was also a Marine and they were together through most of their time overseas. They could get together and spin some tales -- but they were usually a little short on details. I'd like to be able to piece together an idea of when and where VMF-111 went (to pass along to Dad's namesake grandson) and I'd appreciate any help you could give. Thanks, Jeanne Box 107 Old Hickory Lane Versailles, Kentucky 40383 Dear Jeanne Box, Thank you for your inquire about VMF 111 Mag 31. I am in contact on a regular basis with LeRoy Rice and he was in VMF111 MAG31 on Roi-Namur, Feb. 1944. He may well know Lark Box and I will give him your E-Mail address. I will also contact LeRoy Rice and ask him to get in touch with you. His E-Mail address is jazzyrice@aol.com I will also send a copy of this message on to the young Man who owns the Kwajalein Web Site, His name is Shermie Wiehe, And he may also be of help to you. His web site address is http://www.wiehes.com/vetalbum.html. I urge you to click on to this Web Site because VMF111 Devil Dogs are on there. Shermie also has another web site link and that one is http://www.wiehes.com/kwajvet.html Click on to this one also. Keep in touch and lets see if we can help you? Semper Fi Herb Hice |
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| To Shermie From Anthony Molica Jr., PO Box 360 Hudson, NH 03051, (603)
598-1960, ajmolica@yahoo.com, Kwaj 69-71 and
74-76. I have fond memories of Kwaj mostly as a 10 yr old (74-76). I enjoyed playing baseball, having birthday parties at Emon beach, going to Ponape (now Pohnpei), walking to Ebeye when the tide was low (the boy scouts), watching movies free at Ivy Theatre, eating Coconuts, breadfruit and fried bananas. I enjoyed wearing shorts and sandals to school (I walked there). I also played the piano and took lessons for a while on Kwaj. My Dad managed to buy and ship a Red Wurlitzer electric piano. As a young boy, I was inspired by my Dad telling me about Shermie and his band on Kwaj, and remember meeting Shermie in 1975. I ended up majoring in Music at University Mass in 1983 and eventually played in night-club and wedding bands in my 20s (85-95). Now I own a recording facility in Southern NH and put on local concerts occasionally with local musician friends, mostly gospel Christian contemporary music. I work for an organization called Thrivent Financial for Lutherans as an Investment and Insurance Representative for the greater Boston area and have a wife and 3 sons. Well, when our family visited Ponape in 75, I was selected by the locals among many the young visitors to be part of the local ceremonies by the natives. As a result I was invited to try a brewed root drink which apparently made me feel quite good, my parents said I must've gotten a good buzz off the stuff and slept like a baby that night. |
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| To Shermie I ran across your website this morning and enjoyed it very much. I was quite surprised to find a picture of me in Photo Album 2. In the picture titled "MSR Support team, Meck Island, December 1975". I am the second person from the left in the bottom row. I recognize most all the people in the photo, but do not remember all their names. I was the Lead Engineer of the Digital Group for Raytheon. I left in December of 1975 when the contract was over. I started to work at Meck Island for Raytheon in July 1969. I left in January 1973 to help setup the first MSR in North Dakota. I came back to Kwajalein in December 1974 and stayed until December 1975. I now live in Melbourne Florida where I retired from the Kennedy Space Center three years ago. There is a picture of me in in the picture titled "MSR Support team, Meck Island, December 1975". I am the second person from the left in the bottom row. I recognize most all the people in the photo, but do not remember all their names. I was the Lead Engineer of the Digital Group for Raytheon. I left in December of 1975 when the contract was over. I started to work at Meck Island for Raytheon in July 1969. I left in January 1973 to help setup the first MSR in North Dakota. I came back to Kwajalein in December 1974 and stayed until December 1975. I now live in Melbourne Florida where I retired from the Kennedy Space Center three years ago. Clyde W. Rowe clyde.rowe@earthlink.net | ||||||||||||||
| To Shermie I was just lurking around found a Kwaj site (Planet-Ed) and found your note. What a surprise. Let me now if your have heard from anyone on Semi-Tough (Team), Frank Wallace, Mike Ainey, or Jeremy Toby. Love to hear something about Tammy Bartholomew. Take Care, Roger Emerson, emersonr@charter.net, Kwajalein (73-76) | ||||||||||||||
| To Shermie from Marie Harrell. Your web page came in handy. The Edingers were in town and Pat and Nancy used it to find my email and they, daughter Kirstin, Vicki Acuff and I had a wonderful dinner together. It was great to reminisce about all the Kwaj folks. They are doing very well. He works in the computer department of a bank and Nancy is teaching music. Kirstin starts college in Florida this year. Thanks for helping us all keep in touch. | ||||||||||||||
| To Shermie from Dennis DeSloover. I found your site during a www.google.com search of Roi-Rat I'm living in Bucyrus, KS. During my tour at Kwajalein, I lived in Reef BQ, R101 from 1973-1978. You were my neighbor for awhile. I knew all of the members of your band. Email: ddesloover@earthlink.net |
