Welcome to Townsley Family Information

Willis Lester Townsley (Dad) was born Feb. 20, 1903 three miles east of the Lincoln County Courthouse in Chandler, Oklahoma Territory. Dad died Sept. 15, 1990 in Prague, OK. (Hospital.) He married mother (Zella Iva Bowman) on Oct. 21,1925 in Chandler, OK. Mom was born June 14, 1903 on the Jasper Newton Bowman homestead two and one half miles east of Sparks, Oklahoma Territory. Mom died Sept. 18, 1993 in a nursing home in Prague, OK. They are buried in White Dove Cemetery south east of Sparks, OK.

Fredrick Ellsworth Townsley (grandfather) Born Sept. 28,1863 in Coleta, Whiteside County, Ill. and died Dec. 13,1922 at Davenport, Lincoln County, Okla. and is buried in New Zion Cemetery west of Davenport.

Grandfather married Norah Alice Bradley (grandmother) in 1889 or 1890 in Orlando, Okla. Territory.

Grandmother was born May 15,1870 in Ill. She died Nov. 15,1962 at Chandler, Okla. They are buried in New Zion Cemetery west of Davenport.

Read about the Bradley History in a letter from a cousin of Norah Alice Bradley*

Sanford Townsley was born Sept. 16, 1816 in New York and died in 1902 near Davenport, Okla. He is buried in New Zion Cemetery west of town and south of 66 highway.

Elizabeth W. Vest Townsley was born about Feb.14, 1830 in Ill.(?) and died in Orlando, O.T. at age 67 on Feb. 24, 1897. She is buried in the Zion Cemetery just south and about 2 miles west of Orlando, OK on the east side of the cemetery. The monument is the oldest one I could find in the cemetery on Sept. 19, 1998 when I first visited with DORIS ARLENE HARRAH O'NEIL GREEN (2nd cousin),who is also her greatgrandchild.

College: University of California at Santabarbara and MA degree from Cal Lutheran at Thousand Oaks, CA.

Community College: Ventura College, on staff at the Ventura College Press from February 1986 through October 1987

If you can provide any update to my information,

PLEASE send it to me.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!

Bowman Family tree information

(7) Grandparents: Edmund/Edmond Bowman

Born abt. 1700 St. Giles Cripplegate, Middlesex, England Died Aft. January 30, 1769 Somerset County, New Jersey

(6) Grandparents: Richard Bowman, Sr. married Sara died abt 1776-1779

Born ???? Died 1789 Bridgewater Township, Somerset County, New Jersey

(5) Grandparents: Richard Bowman, Jr.

Born October 20, 1767 Somerset County, New Jersey      Died May 09, 1829 Sycamore Township, Hamilton County, Ohio Buried in Plainfield Cemetery

Marrried. Mary Ann Senteney of Somerset County, New Jersey December 08, 1770

Died: January 11, 1854   Lincoln, Logan County, Illinois-Buried Steenbergen Cemetery, aged 83 years 1 month 3

(4) Grandparents: Hiram Bowman, Rev

Born: July 07, 1796 in Somerset County, New Jersey    Died: January 30, 1877 in Grain Valley, Jackson County, Missouri. Buried Perdee Cemetery.

Married on October 12, 1820 in Greene County, Ohio to Isabell Hoblit
Born: September 27, 1799 in Kentucky            Died: June 02, 1854 in Grain Valley, Jackson County, Missouri. Buried Perdee Cemetery.

(3) Grandparents: Boston Hiram Bowman

Born: December 21, 1821 in Clinton County, Ohio              Died: April 05, 1868 in Bates County, Mound Township-West of Passiac, Missouri.

Married on February 17, 1842 in Knox County, Illinois to Sarah Clarrisa Raiper Talbert
Born: November 04, 1814 in South Carolina              Died on October 29, 1901 in Sparks, Lincoln County, Oklahoma and buried in Irwin/Bethel Grove Cemetery.

(2) Grandparents: Jasper Newton Bowman

Born: March 16, 1852 in ???          Died: February 26, 1940 in Sparks, Lincoln County, Oklahoma-buried in Irwin/Bethel Grove Cemetery.

Married on February 08, 1883 in Paris, Lamar County, Texas to Martha Alice Powell
Born: February 04, 1866 in Missippissi Died: December 04, 1930 in Sparks, Lincoln County, Oklahoma and buried in Irwin/Bethel Grove Cemetery.

(1) Parents: Zella Iva Bowman

Born: June 14, 1903 at the Bowman homestead two and one half miles east of Sparks, Lincoln County, Oklahoma Territory
Died: September 18, 1993 at a nursing home in Prague, OK.
Mother is buried White Dove Cemetery south east of Sparks,Lincoln County, Oklahoma.

Zella was married on October 21, 1925 in Chandler, Lincoln County, Okla. to Willis Lester Townsley.

Willis Lester Townsley born February 20, 1903 three miles east of the Lincoln County Court House in Chandler, Lincoln County, Oklahoma Territory just south of the Stone School.
Dad died September 18, 1993 in the Hospital at Prague, OK. He is buried in the White Dove Cemetery south east of Sparks, OK next to Mother and daughter Alice Rose (Townsley) Rollins.

Alice Rose died of heart problems on February 17, 1993 in St.Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

My younger sister Willa Jean (Townsley) Hogan died at 3:48 AM September 10, 2000 of heart problems in the Southwest Medical Center in Oklahoma City, OK.
Her body was creamated and Services were held in the Baptist Church in Sparks, OK and again in Oxnard, Ventura County, CA a few days later.

My U.S. Marine Corps service
I was born in Davenport, Lincoln County, Oklahoma during the middle of the depression. I guess we were poor while I was growing up, but since everyone else was in the same fix, it didn't bother me. We lived in Pryor, Okla. when Dad worked at the IE Du Pont Powder Plant at Choteau, Okla. In the summer of 1943 we moved to Mott, North Dakota, Jerome, Idaho and back to Davenport. --We moved to Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California after staying in the home where Dad was rooming in Port Hueneme, Ventura County Calif. and then into the Government Housing Project (San Miguel) in Oxnard, Ventura County, Calif. at the end of school in 1944. This was during World War II. I attended school in Oxnard until joining the US MARINE CORPS in
April 1952.

It was from Oxnard (the Marine Corps Recuiters Office was in Ventura at that time) when I joined the US MARINE CORPS in April 1952.

I went by train to Los Angelas on April 4, 1952 to take my Physical Exam and the USMC put four new recuite's up for the weekend in the Myjestic Hotel in downtown LA for the weekend. We were given meal tickets good for our meals at the hotel.

We along with some more enlistee's & draftee's were sworn into the UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS on Monday April 7. 1952 and sent to San Daigo for Boot Camp/Recuite Trainning.

MOS: Jet Aircraft Engine Mechanic/secondary Liquid Oxygen Plant Operator

Recruited at Ventura, Calif. April 7, 1952 I was put up at the Majestic Hotel in downtown

Los Angeles the weekend before swearing in after passing Physical Exam on April 4, 1952
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Duty Stations for the next 19 years 6 months and 23 days were as follows:

Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, Calif.

Plt. 333 2nd RTBn MCRD San Diego, Calif. (April '52 to June '52)

My DI's were Sgt.'s. Bell, Sgt. Nobel, Cpl. Canwright and Cpl. George (ex T/Sgt. George). 2ndRTBn Plt 333 1952 San Diego, CA

Casual Company H&S Bn. MCRD San Diego, Calif. (June '52)

Naval Aviation Technical Training Center Schools

AN-P School MAD NATTC NAS Jacksonville, Fla. (Jul 52-Sep 52)

AD-A School MAD NATTC NAS Memphis, Tenn. (Sep 52-Feb 53)
One month of Mess Duty and then A School

First Overseas Tour

A visit to the Exotic Far East paid for by the US Taxpayer.

32nd Av. Replacement Draft MCAS El Toro (Santa Ana), Calif.) (Mar 53-Apr 53)

USNS Gen. Nelson M. Walker (15Apr53 to 1May53)

VMF-311, MAG-33, 1stMAW c/o FPO San Francisco, Calif. ( 3May53 to 15Sep54)

(K-3 Airfield Po'Hang, Korea) F9F-5 Grumman Panther Jet & J-48 P&W jet engine.

Some of the men I served with were: M/Sgt's Greco, Jack C. Eberle, Denny, T/Sgt. Borrows, S/Sgt. Herman Kelly,

Sgt's Charlie Wise, Eugene Brah, Cpl. Lonsdale, Pfc O.J. Pisano and many many others.

Read some stories about this tour

Check out the links to Photos at

USNS Gen. Nelson M. Walker (15Sep54 to 29Sep54) USNS GEN NELSON WALKER

Marine Corps Air Station El Toro (Santa Ana, Calif.)

VMFT-10, MTG-10 MCAS El Toro (Santa Ana), Calif. (Oct54-Aug55)

F9F-2 Grumman Panther Jet & P&W J-42 Jet engine.

Some of the men I remember are: Cpl. and later M/Sgt.Roy A. Hopkins, Hoppie had a Court Matrial overturned and was reinstated to his former rank and transfered to the VMR Squadron at MCAS El Toro at that time. Others were T/Sgt. Farr, T/Sgt. Fred Priest, M/Sgt. Joe Urban, Sgt. Ben Cole, Pfc Matson, Pvt. (Whitty) Shikitis and others.

My Second Overseas Tour

Another visit to the Exotic Far East paid for by the US Taxpayer.

Sept. Av. Replacement Draft MCAS El Toro (Santa Ana), Calif. (Sept.55)

USNS Gen. Nelson M. Walker (15Sep55 to 29Sep55)

Naval Air Station Atsugi, Japan

H&MS-11, MAG-11, 1stMAW c/o FPO San Francisco, Calif. (Oct55-Dec56)

The Lockeed TV-2 Shooting Star Trainer, F2H-2 McDonald Banchee, FJ-2 North American Fury, J-33, J-34, & J-35 Jet Engines are some of the aircraft & engines that I worked on.
Some of the men I remember are Line Chief - T/Sgt. Gus Messina, A/C Maint.Officer - Capt. John L. Self, S/Sgt. "Dusty" DeSteffino, S/Sgt. Chet Slade, S/Sgt. Don Mc Fee, Cpl. Melvin O. Parker, Lowell Dincan and others.

It was during this time that the CMC visited units in the Far East and sent the dependents home that had joined their sponsors at their own expence. The CMC said if anyone didn't like the was that he was running the MARINE CORPS that they should get OUT of the Marine Corps.

USNH Yokosuka, Japan (15Oct55-25Nov55)

I had an appendicitis attack on the morning of Oct. 15 just before th CMC was to inspect the flight line and was sent to sick call. I thought that I had an upset stomach from a couple of beers & a hamburger I'd eaten the night before. Got to sick bay just as they were closing down sick call. A Corpsman told me to go back to the barracks and sack out for the rest of the morning, but told me I could stay in the sick call waiting room since the barracks were closed due to the CMC inspetio. A few minutes later I got naucious and went outside with the dry heaves. The corpsman was there to hand me a paper towel to wipe my face and then said I needed to be seen by a Doctor. The Dr. pushed in on my right abdomin and when he raised his hand, I felt like I jumped up about a foot
from flat on my back. The Dr. didn't say anything to me, but told the corpsman to call Yokosuka and tell them he was sending them a patient. Got put in the back on an ambulance on the deck without a streacher or anything to cushion my ride. I think it was about a 35-40 minute ride and was hurting all the way. By this time I realized that I had appendicitis. They quiclly addmitted me to the US Naval Hospital at YOKOSUKA, Japan. I had to wait for a replacement to get released from Hospital as they needed to have so many men in the hospital to be able to remain a USNH! We had money problems back then too. I remember the Nurse who smelled like she bought her perfume in 55 gallon drumbs. Also the Chief who put me on a paint detail because of a spitting incident. It seems we were to muster in this parking shed and I had to get rid of a "hocker", so I spit toward the dirt outside of the shed. My aim wasn't to good and it landed on the cement deck under the shed. The Chief then asked me "do you do that at home". I asked him "WHAT"? The Chief said "Spit on the deck". I replied "My home doesn't look like this", and he went ballistic and put me on a paint detail even though I was wearin my Dress Uniform. One of the 1st Classes changed my detail after the Chief left and told me that the Chief didn't like Marine Sgt's. If seems that some Marine ran off with his wife. It seems to me he should have said "THANKS" to every MARINE he ran into!

USS Lexington CVA-16

Transported from Navy Receiving Barracks at the Naval Station in Yokosuka, Japan to NAS Alameda, CA. San Francisco Bay even thought I had a set of "Fly-A-Way" orders.
It was during late 1956 that the Marine Corps started flying the Staff Non Commissioned Officers to and from the Far East instead of sending them by ship.

Naval Aviation Technical Training Center Memphis

AD-B School MAD NATTC NAS Memphis, Tenn. (Feb57-Jul57)

We were the first Class to be taught the Pratt & Whitney J-57 Jet Engine.

Marine Corps Air Station Miami, Fla.

Tough duty, but I survived

VMF-251, MAG-31 (Reinf) MCAS Miami, Fla. (Aug57-May58)

TRAEX 1-58 NAS Roosevelt Rhodes, Puerto Rico Feb. '58 North American FJ-3 Fury .

I was NCOIC of a Flight Line Section (6 Aircraft) S/Sgt. Don Beavers, T/Sgt. Vinc Holland, Capt. Kelly and Capt. Cary were some of the people I remember from my tour in Miami. I served with Maj. Cary at MARTD NAS Dallas, Texas and LtCol Kelly was my CO in VMA-311 at Chu Lai in 1969. Don Beavers was with me again in H&MS-33 at MCAS El Toro in 1961-'63.

H&MS-31, MAG-31 (Reinf) MCAS Miami, Fla. (May58-Sep58)

Crew chief on the Beechcraft SNJ-4 with S/Sgt. Jose Burgos under M/Sgt. Paul (?) Reed. The only F7U Cuttless assgned to the USMC was here in MCAS Miami.

The day I left MCAS Miami (Sept. 15, 1958) was it's last day as a Marine Corps Air Station. It became a Navy Aux. Air Station for the training of the Navel Air Reserves.

My Third Overseas Tour

Another visit to the Exotic Far East paid for by the US Taxpayer.

Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

MARS-17, MWSG-17, 1st MAW c/o FPO San Francisco, Calif. (Oct58-Jan60)

I worked on the Grumman F9F-8T Panther, Douglas R4D-8 & R5D-3 Transports, AD-7 Skyraider and A4D-1 Sky Hawk and the SNJ-4.
I was assigned to the Flight Line, Jet Check Crew and the Recp. Check Crew.

Marine Corps Air Station El Toro (Santa Ana, Calif.)

H&MS-33, MAG-33, 3rdMAW MCAS El Toro (Santa Ana), Calif. (Feb60-Aug62)
I worked on the Chance Vought F8U-1, 1E, 2, 2N, & F8U-2NE Crusader A/C & J-57 Engines.

Compressed Gasses School USNS Portsmouth, Virginia (Aug60-Nov60)

Schooled in the manufacture Liquid Oxygen & Nitrogen and the HT-1 Liquid Oxygen Plant and was assigned the 8071 MOS as a secondary MOS.

VMF-312, MAG-33, 3rdMAW MCAS El Toro (Santa Ana), Calif. (Aug62-Jun63)
Worked on the Chance Vought F8U-2NE Crusader Reformed the Squadron upon it's return from Japan.
We were in a training status when the Cuban Missile Crisis began. All of our trained pilots were transferred to other squadrons headed for Florida or the East Coast.

Naval Air Station Dallas, Texas

MARTD NAS Dallas, Tex. (Jul63-Feb66 )

Worked on the Chance Vought F8U-1E Crusader and the Pratt & Whitney J-57 Engine.
Worked in the Navy Engine Shop as they hadn't even seen a J-57 Engine.
It was a real experience working with the "TAR'S" (Navy Reservist on active duty for Training Reserves).
They were only stationed at Reserve Air Stations.

I almost got locked in the Engine Shop one evening while working on a J-57 jet engine when the 1630 (4:30 PM) whistle went off as the TAR's were gone at the first sound and almost had the door locked before I could get out from under the engine I was working on. Of course, I was allowed to work much later over on the Marine side of the hanger, early too!

My Fourth Overseas Tour

Another visit to the Exotic Far East paid for by the US Taxpayer.

Marine Corps Expeditionary Air Field Chu Lai, RVN (Apr66-May67)

Squadrons in MAG-12

VMA-223, MAG-12, 1stMAW c/o FPO San Francisco, Calif. (Apr66-May66)

Was not in VMA-223 but a couple of weeks & was transfered to the Blacksheep.

VMA-214, MAG-12, 1stMAW c/o FPO San Francisco, Calif. (May66-Apr67)

A4D-1E Sky Hawk & J-65 Jet Engine's

I was TAD from the "Blacksheep" to the MAG-12 Visiting Aircraft Line from VMA-214 from Sept. 66 till Apr.67

I was transferred to MAG-12 BASE Operations when VMA-214 went back to the to the states in April 1967.
VMA-214 returned from Vietnam for a final time in April 1967.
The Blacksheep flew 14,000 hours in combat, 13,200 sorties, and dropped more than 10,000 tons of ordnance.

I think that the proudest time was one day while I was getting a drink of water at the Water Buffalo near the main service road (MSR), three Marine's who were coming from the USO located on the beach shouted at me. "Hey Sarg, are those planes with the black tails and white stars yours"? I said "YES" and one of them said "some of those birds saved our asses one day".
I repeated this to all my men . It sure improved morale on the flight line.

MABS-12, MAG-12, 1stMAW c/o FPO San Francisco, Calif. (Apr67-May67)

While at the Visiting Aircraft Line I had the privilege of serving with men of the Korean Marine Corps, Blue Dragon Brigade (Chung Yung).
I also made one flight with the USAF dropping Chu Hoi leaflets in and area north of the Chu Lai complex. Not the swiftest thing I ever did in my life.
An operation was started in the area where I had dropped the leaflets a couple of days later.

Naval Aviation Technical Training Center Memphis

MAD NATTC NAS Memphis, Tenn. (Jun67-Sept69)

Instructor the Aviation Mechanical Fundamentals School (AMFU).

"You know, this is a screwdriver, it is a tool for turning screws and/or slotted fasteners."
You would be surprissed at how many young Marines and sailors had never held a tool in their hands before coming to Memphis.
When I left Memphis, I had to go through an indoctrination class before I could leave for my second tour in RVN. The first time, they just sent us over.

My Fifth Overseas Tour

Yet another visit to the Exotic Far East paid for by the US Taxpayer.

Marine Corps Expeditionary Air Field Chu Lai, RVN (Sep69-Aug70)

VMA-311, MAG-12, 1stMAW c/o FPO San Francisco, Calif. (Sep69-Mar70)

Flight Line NCOIC, A4E Sky Hawk and Ground Support Equipment NCOIC.

The Last of the BEST

VMA-311, MAG-13, 1stMAW c/o FPO San Francisco, Calif. (Mar70-Aug70)

DaNang Airfield, RVN

VMA-311, MAG-11, 1stMAW c/o FPO San Francisco, Calif. (Aug70-Sep70)

When we moved to Da Nang, RVN prior to MAG-13 returning to CONUS (The World),
we continued combat operations during the move. We sent our A4's from Chu Lai on a
mission, then upon landing at Da Nang, they were reloaded/armed/fueled and then sent right
out on another mission.

VMF-311 was my first Combat Squadron at K-3 Airfield in South Korea in 1953 and...

VMA-311 was my last Combat Squadron in Chu Lai & Danang South Viet Nam in 1970.

Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, AZ

VMFT-103, MTG-10 MCAS Yuma, Arizona (Sep70-Oct71)

Worked on the TA4 Sky Hawk Trainer. It wasn't my first choice of duty, but was an enjoyable tour of duty.
MOS: Jet Aircraft Engine Mechanic/secondary Liquid Oxygen Plant Operator

I transferred to the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve on 31 October 1971.
I transferred to the United States Marine Corps Retired List on 1 May of 1982.

Reunion in Korea Tour 1984

Another visit to the Exotic Far East paid for by ME!!!!

I returned to Korea in November 1984 to visit my oldest son Stephen on a "Reunion in Korea Tour". It was sponsored by the Korean Tourist Commission. I got to see more of Korea in 10 days than I did in 17 months back in 1953 & 1954. It was sure a beautiful country. I spent a few extra days and returned to Po'hang and K-3 Airfield. after 29 years of "Peace", it hardly resembled the place I was stationed in 1953-54. It was a pleasant surprise

NOTE: K-3 (PoHang) is the home of the Korean Marine Corps.

The Food/Drink/Company/fellowship was great even if my sisters and their children couldn't attend.

My favorite daughter used some of her air miles to provide tickets on American Airlines so Ethel & I could attend.

I think that David Hogan was the main instigator in setting this Townsley Family Reunion and I hope we can do it again in a few more years.

Aaron_.IMG_1187                                             Brad_T,Marvin_R._Brendan_(Buddy)_V,Ray_V,Martha_L.Manual_V.&_x.IMG_1202

Brad T, LW Rollins, Steve Townsley Bradley_T,_&_David_H.

Need Names of these children. Chris & Julie Naugle

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David_H,_Margaret_G,_&_Marvin_R.IMG_1235

David Hogan, Aaron L, Manual V, Victor L, Nathaniel V. Mark H, Larry H, norvella H, Ethrl T, Larry Wayne Rollins

David_H,Aaron_L,Manual_V,Victor_L &Ray_V.IMG_1189 / David_H, Larry_H, Norvella_H, Ethel_T,Larry_Wayne_R.&Chip_C.IMG_1207 / David_H._Tim_C,Dawn_H.Margaret_G.Aaron_L,Manual_V.IMG_1196