Welcome to Tomcats Jan. 2008 Newsletter

VMA-311 UPDATE 4-20-2008

----- Original Message -----

From: Cane LtCol John H (ACE VMA-311 CO)

Sent: Wednesday, April 16, 2008 2:43 PM

Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

Here are some comments for your newsletter, I embedded into the e-mail in case the attachment gets stripped. Scroll down in the attachment for pics
**( I couldn't get the pics, MS WORD and I have problems understanding each other! s/SSgt. Fred PS: It's WORD's fault!)**

Fellow TOMCATS,

2008 is turning out to be a busy year for Marine Attack Squadron 311

On April 03, 2008 one hundred and seventy-two TOMCATS and ten jets arrived at Al Asad Air Base, Iraq to conduct flight operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was a long trip, as we had to travel through air bases of Cherry Point North Carolina, Lajes Portugal and Sigonella Sicily. The Squadron and ten jets travelled over 12,000 miles in six different groups to get to Al Asad Airbase - and though getting the squadron to Iraq in itself was no simple task; the Tomcats made it look easy - and were ready to conduct flight operations within forty-eight hours after arrival. The Squadron exhausted a considerable amount of effort preparing for this deployment - all their hard work paid off - and I am tremendously proud of the Marines and magnificent job they accomplished. Though I am certain all the Marines would rather be home with Family – the TOMCATS are ready to fight and proud to be serving their Country.

We conducted a Transfer of Authority with VMA-542 on 05 April. Once the Tigers departed Iraq it only took a few hours for the TOMCATS to “mark” their territory with all things TOMCAT. One of the more significant markings is a massive “VMA-311 TOMCATS” sign made from sandbags and arranged on top of one of our hardened concrete hangars at the approach end of runway 27L. If you fly into Al Asad Air Base, there is no way to miss that the TOMCATS have returned to Iraq.

REUNION 2008 PHILADELPHIA

WE FINALLY GOT THE HOTEL CONTRACT SIGNED AND WE ARE ON OUR WAY. THE FOLLOWING IS ALL THE INFO I HAVE THUS FAR AS TO HOW THE REUNION IS SHAPING UP. HOTEL: THE INN AT CHESTER SPRINGS, 815 NORTH POTTSTOWN PIKE, EXTON, PA 19341-1597. FOR RESERVATIONS CALL 610-363-1100 OR 1-888-253-6119. IDENTIFY YOURSELF AS A MEMBER OF THE VMF/VMA-311 REUNION ASSN. IN ORDER TO GET THE GROUP RATE. THESE RATES ARE GOOD FOR 3 DAYS PRIOR AND AFTER OUR REUNION DATES. THE REUNION DATES ARE 10-14 SEPTEMBER 2008. RATES ARE $109.00 PER NIGHT. THE RATE IS A GOOD ONE AROUND THE PHILLY AREA WHICH DOES A LANDSLIDE BUSINESS IN CATERING TO THE PROFESSIONAL MARKET. WE LINED UP 3 HOTELS TO INSPECT IN NOVEMBER AND THIS ONE BY FAR IS THE BEST. WE KNOW YOU’LL BE SATISFIED. THEY WERE VERY RECEPTIVE TO OUR NEEDS. IF YOU HAVE A COMPUTER (with internet capabilities), CHECK OUT THE HOTEL AT http://www.innatchestersprings.com. Tours: THURSDAY WE WILL TOUR THE PHILADELPHIA AREA AND HIGHLIGHTS. THIS WILL BE AN ALL DAYER. FRIDAY WE WILL LINE UP A HALF DAY TO SOMEWHERE AND SATURDAY WE WILL SEE IF THERE IS ENOUGH INTEREST FOR A SHORT TOUR AFTER THE BUSINESS MEETING. SHUTTLE: THIS WAS A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK. THE HOTEL SHUTTLE WILL TAKE YOU ANYWHERE WITHIN A THREE MILE RADIUS WHICH THERE IS A LOT TO SEE IN THAT AREA. UNFORTUNATLY PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS 30 MILES AWAY. WE HAVEN’T COME UP WITH A CHEAPER WAY TO GET YOU FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE HOTEL. COST IS $20.00 A HEAD. IF WE COME UP WITH ANYTHING ELSE WE’LL PASS IT ON AS REUNION TIME APPROACHES. BANQUET: GOING OVER THE MENU IT LOOKS LIKE ABOUT THE SAME PRICE AS SAN DIEGO. SIT DOWN DINNER OF BEEF, CHIX, SEAFOOD OR VEGGIE. WINE, SALAD, DESSERT. AROUND $50.00 A HEAD. ENTERTAINMENT: GEORGE’S SON MARK AND NEPHEW ROB ARE GOING TO DO THE DJ WORK FOR US.. YOU MAY REMEMBER ALL THE HELP THEY GAVE AT ARLINGTON IN 2004. THANKS BOYS!! ONE LESS CONTRACT TO SIGN AND WORRY ABOUT. GUEST SPEAKER: NONE AS OF YET. HAD TO WAIT FOR CONFIRMED DATES. WILL CONTRACT MAG-13 CO AND SQUADRON CO TO SEE IF THE SQUADRON OR ANYONE FROM THE SQUADRON OR MAG WILL BE AVAILABLE. THEY HAVE BEEN A GOOD ADDITION TO OUR REUNIONS AND I HOPE WE CAN GET THEM BACK AGAIN. AUCTION: FRIDAY NIGHT. TIME TBA. WENT WELL IN SAN DIEGO FOR THE FIRST ONE WE EVER HAD. AGAIN, IF YIOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WISH TO CONTRIBUTE PLEASE CALL GEORGE PHANDER AND LET HIM KNOW. WE HAVE BEEN PICKING UP SOME THINGS HITHER AND YON FROM AUCTIONS AND EBAY SINCE LAST REUNION. WE ALWAYS CAN USE MORE. WE HAVE TO KEEP RALPHIE READ IN MERCHANDISE FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE HOURS. I’VE BEEN WORKING ON THE “GREAT CHIEF” FROM OLYMPIA, WA AND HAVE PRAYED TO THE SALMON GODS FOR A GREAT HARVEST. AUCTION NOTE: GEORGE SCHRIENER FOUND THE LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY FOR THE “DEVIL DOG” FIGURINE BY THE BRADFORD EXCHANGE THAT HE DONATED TO LAST AUCTION. WILL THE NEW OWNER CONTACT ME AND I’LL SEND THAT ALONG. REUNION PACKETS: IF YOU ARE GOING TO THE REUNION YOU WILL NEED A PACKET. THIS CONTAINS REGISTRATION SHEET, BANQUET MENUS AND TOUR SELECTIONS. THIS IS HOW WE KEEP TRACK OF EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING. I WILL MAIL THE PACKETS OUT IN MARCH. SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY INDICATED THAT YOU WILL BE COMING AND I HAVE PUT YOU ON THE LIST. IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND PLEASE EMAIL OR CALL ME

ALREADY HAVE RECEIVED GOOD RESPONSE ON REUNION 2008. LOOKING FOR A GREAT TURNOUT AND, GOD WILLING, WE WILL MEET AGAIN IN PHILLY AND HAVE A GREAT TIME. WE ALWAYS DO.

NOTE: SUE AND I WISH TO THANK ALL THOSE WHO SENT CHRISTMAS CARDS AND EMAILS OVER THE HOLIDAYS. MAY 2008 BRING US ALL HEALTH AND HAPPINESS!!!)

JEANETTE ARNOLD, BEMUS POINT, NY: I CALLED MORRIS MCCAULEY IN WINONA, MN AND SENT HIM ONE OF RICHARD’S DIARYS. HE HAND WROTE A THANK-YOU NOTE. HE IS A PROFESSOR EMERITUS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, ALSO A FORMER LEGISLATOR AND NOW CONSULTANT FOR GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS. HE WAS TAKING THE DIARY TO THE MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY BANQUET. HE SAID HE WAS ON ROI NAMUR WITH VMF-311…WE PLAN ON BEING IN PHILLY IN SEPTEMBER. SEMPER FI.”

PAT MCCORMICK, ABINGTON, PA: I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU THAT MY BELOVED HUSBAND, MAJOR GENE MCCORMICK, DIED LAST YEAR ON NOVEMBER 18TH. I THOUGHT MY SON HAD WRITTEN TO YOU. WE ALWAYS LOVED COMING TO THE REUNIONS AND, THIS YEAR, IN PHILADELPHIA ABOUT 30 MINUTES AWAY. I HAVE PEACE ABOUT MY DEAR HUSBAND, AND MY BROTHER WHO DIED TWO DAYS BEFORE HIM IN MICHIGAN AND MY SISTER THREE MONTHS BEFORE HIM. I HAVE A “GROUP” UPSTAIRS AND GENE CAN GET THEM TO KEEP OUR BELOVED MARINES IN PRAYER. SEMPER FI.

DAVID ROSOWSKI, YULEE, FL: “WE ARE GLAD TO MAKE THE AQUAINTANCE OF FELLOW “TOMCATS”. CYNDA AND I WERE IN BEAUFORT THIS PAST APRIL FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MCDONALD DOUGLAS A-4 SKYHAWK. THE OLD HANGER THERE DOES NOT LOOK THE SAME. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THERE ISN’T MUCH THERE THAT I RECOGNIZED. MUCH HAS CHANGED SINCE I WAS STATIONED THERE BACK IN THE SEVENTIES. WE SPENT TWO DAYS TOURING P.I. AND ONE DAY AT THE AIR STATION. WE WERE THERE FOR THE CRASH OF #6. AFTER, I WAS TOO DEPRESSED TO ATTEND THE FESTIVITIES OF THE REUNION.
I JOINED THE MARINES IN 1971, WENT TO BOOT CAMP AT PARRIS ISLAND THEN TO ITR AT CAMP GIEGER, MECH FUND P IN MILLINGTON AND THEN REPORTED TO CHERRY POINT IN THE LATE SUMMER DURING A HURRICANE. WHEN THE HURRICANE WAS OVER I FOUND MYSELF ON THE BUS, ORDERS IN HAND, FOR VMA-324, BEAUFORT. I WAS WITH 324 WORKING FOR SSGT BOB ORTIZ UNTIL THEY RETIRED HER COLORS AND WE MERGED WITH 311 RETURNING FROM VIETNAM. I WAS A 6052 HYDRAULICS TECH., WORKED FOR SSGT JERRY BOUILLON, BUT SPENT MUCH OR MY TIME IN PHASE MAINTENANCE CHECK CREW.
I STAYED WITH 311 WHEN THEY MOVED TO EL TORO IN EARLY 1977, I BELIEVE. SHORTLY AFTER REACHING CA, I MOVED INTO THE ADMIN DEPT TAKING CHARGE OF THE CMCC WORKING FOR GYSGT NICK MICHAELIDES. I THEN MOVED TO THE MAG-13 HQ TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR CMCC AND WORKED FOR LT. JOHN HIGGINS. AFTER 2 YEARS AT HQ I HAD A GREAT DESIRE TO RETURN TO THE FLIGHT LINE SO THEY SENT ME TO H&MS-13 TO BE THE FLIGHT LINE QAO.
I LEFT ACTIVE DUTY IN SEPT 1980 AND MOVED TO NJ TO TAKE A POSITION AT THE PHILADELPHIA NAVAL SHIP YARD. I WORKED THERE UNTIL JAN 1990 WHEN I MOVED TO FLORIDA TO WORK ON TRIDENT SUBMARINES IN KINGS BAY, GA. I’M PROUD TO BE IN MY 37TH YEAR OF LOYAL SERVICE TO OUR “UNCLE SAM”…A LONG CAREER FROM MARINES TO SUBMARINES,”

CECIL CHEEKA, OLYMPIA, WA: “I WAS JUST GETTING CLOSE TO ASKING WHEN THE REUNION DATES WOULD BE POSTED. CHRIS HAS A TIMELINE NOW ON WHEN TO ASK FOR HER VACATION DATES. SO..LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYONE AGAIN PLUS SOME NEW FACES EVEN…OVER ALL I DIDN’T DO TOO BAD FOR AN ACTOR LIVING OUTSIDE THE LA/NY AREA. HAD 8 DIFFERENT JOBS, EXTRA, FEATURED, PRINCIPAL AND VOICE OVER. I HAVE MY HEADSHOT AND RESUME POSTED AT www.reelcastingonline.com/ccheeka, PLUS SEVERAL OTHER SITES. COUPLE OTHER JOBS ON THE HORIZON…DON’T THINK I’LL BE ABLE TO CARRY MUCH SALMON ON THE PLANE SO IS THERE AN ADDRESS FOR THE AUCTION STUFF TO BE MAILED TO? WE ARE ALSO THINKING OF A SIDE TRIP TO D.C. AND THE MARINE MUSEUM, TIME ALLOWING. SEMPER FI.”

CLAYTON CUSHMAN, ROCHESTER, NY: “I AM ONE OF THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF VMF-311. JOINED THE UNIT IN JANUARY 1943. WENT TO PARRIS ISLAND, PAGE AIRFIELD AND FROM THERE TO SAN DIEGO. ON SEPTEMBER 29TH WE SHIPPED OUT TO WALLIS ISLAND. FROM THERE I WENT TO ROI-NAMUR. RETURNED TO THE STATES DECEMBER OF 1944. STARTED OUR SMALL REUNIONS WITH GEORGE ZABOROWSKI. ALONG WITH GEORGE WE SAT UP OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY INVITING ALL YOU PEOPLE TO ATTEND. SORRY I CAN’T MAKE THE REUNIONS NOW DUE TO MY HEALTH, BUT I AM SO GLAD THAT YOU ARE CARRYING ON THE REUNIONS. THAT MEANS SO MUCH TO ALL THE OLD-TIMERS. GOD BLESS.”

GEORGE SCHRIENER, DAVIS, IL: (THROUGH GEORGE PHANDER) “EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE BEEN IN THIS LOCATION FOR A COUPLE YEARS NOW, WE STILL HAVEN’T OPENED UP ALL THE BOXES. (SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN RID OF A LOT OF THIS STUFF BEFORE WE MOVED!). I HOPE YOU CAN LOCATE THE OWNER OF THAT USMC “BULL DOG”. IT’S WORTH MORE TO THE OWNER IF HE HAS THE CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY.
AS YOU CAN SEE, MY PENMANSHIP IS POOR NOW. I HAVE WHAT IS KNOWN IN MEDICAL CIRCLES AS AN “ESSENTIAL TREMOR” IN MY RIGHT HAND AND SOMETIMES I CAN’T EVEN WRITE AT ALL. JOAN HAS TO SIGN ALL THE CHECKS. WHY IT’S “ESSENTIAL” I DON’T KNOW…I DON’T NEED IT! MY STROKE AFFECTED MY LEFT SIDE BUT IV’E MADE A FAIRLY GOOD IMPROVEMENT. FOR THE MOST PART I DON’T USE MY CANE NOW BUT AM STILL VERY WOBBLY ON MY FEET. HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL. I AM BACK TO SINGING WITH THE BARBERSHOP CHORUS LOCALLY BUT ON A VERY LIMITED BASIS. MY FORMER CHORUS IS ABOUT 150 MILES AWAY SO I AM TRANSFERRING TO A SMALLER CHORUS. OVERALL I’M IN GREAT SHAPE FOR THE SHAPE I’M IN. AM NOW 78 YEARS YOUNG AND JOAN IS STILL “39” AND HOLDING. HAVEN’T BEEN ABLE TO DO MUCH TRAVELING DUE TO MY CONDITION BUT, AM ENJOYING LIFE AND DOING WHAT I CAN.
IF I CAN MAKE THE REUNION IN PHILLY I WILL BUT AM NOT PROMISING ANYTHING. SAY HELLO TO THE GUYS FOR ME. I MISS IT!”

GLENN KESSLER: “MY FATHER JOINED VMF-311 IN 1943 AND LEFT THE MARINES AFTER OKINAWA. I HAVE MANY PHOTOS AND PAPERS OF THE EARLY YEARS OF THE SQUADRON. I WOULD BE PLEASED TO SHARE THEM AND WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY MEN FROM THE SQUADRON STILL LIVING WHO SERVED FROM 1943-45? (Haven’t heard this name before. Any of you who were with the squadron in 43-45 wish to contact Mr. Kessler do so at Glenn.Kessler@hcdi.net or phone: 908-483-9118. I’m sure he would like to talk to anyone who knew his father. jg)

GUS PIERCE, GREERS FERRY, AR: (RE: WHO HAS THE LONGEST TIME IN 311?) WELL, THE 214s DON’T SHOW ANYTHING SO I’M GOING TO PUNT. I FIGURE FROM 1957 TO 1963…WENT TO IWAKUNI TWICE WITH THEM AND STAYED WITH THEM UNTIL THEY TRANSFERRED ME TO VMCJ BEFORE THEY DEPARTED FOR A BREAK AND ENDED UP IN NAM ANYWAY A FEW MONTHS LATER…WENT TO THE REGULAR 2 WEEK VACATIONS AT FALLON, YUMA, MOHAVE AND SAN CLEMENTE…WAS WITH GENERAL FITCH WHEN HE WAS A PILOT WITH 311 IN JAPAN…LOOKING THROUGH ALL THE STUFF I SENT TO THE HISTORY DEPT THERE WAS FRED SIMMONS, “RAT” RYAN…JUST CAN’T REMEMBER NAMES ANYMORE…HOPE THIS HELPS…SEMPER FI”

MIKE HILE, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO: “THE HILE FAMILY HAS SETTLED QUITE NICELY INTO OUR NEW HOME IN COLORADO. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR LIVES WE DO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MOVING, IT IS A COMFORTING FEELING. WE LIVE IN A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD AND WONDERFUL SCHOOLS WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE. MY WIFE’S FAMILY LIVES CLOSE BY, SO WE ALWAYS HAVE FAMILY TOGETHER FOR EVERY MAJOR OCCASION. OUR GIRLS JUST LOVE IT!
AS FOR ME, AFTER 3.5 YEARS WORKING AT NORAD-USNORTHCOM I DECIDED THAT A CHANGE WAS IN ORDER, SO I TOOK A JOB OFFER FROM LOCKHEED MARTIN. THOUGH IT IS NOT FLYING MY BELOVED HARRIER, I ENJOY THE CHALLENGES OF THIS NEW JOB. TO TOP IT OFF, WORK IS ONLY 2 MILES FROM MY FRONT DOOR, SO THE PENTAGON COMMUTE IS ONLY A FAINT MEMORY OF THE PAST.
THANKS AGAIN FOR KEEPING EVERYONE “IN THE KNOW”. I TRULY ENJOY READING EVERY ARTICLE. AS I REFLECT BACK, SOME OF MY BEST MARINE CORPS MEMORIES WERE WITH THE TOMCATS, AND YOUR NEWSLETTERS REAFFIRM THAT THINGS HAVE NOT CHANGED! (I’ll have to confirm this with Mike but, somewhere in the back of my mind, feeble as it is, I think Mike flew the Harrier with Col. Yunck’s name on it in Iraq. jg)

LYLE PROUSE, STOCKBRIDGE, GA: “THANKS FOR ALL YOUR WORK ON THE REUNIONS. DEPENDING ON WHEN YOU SET THIS FOR 2008 I MAY BE ABLE TO ATTEND, MORE LIKELY IF IT’S IN AUGUST THAN SEPTEMBER. HOWEVER, BOTH MONTHS HAVE SEVERAL COMMITMENTS ALREADY LOCKED IN SO WE’LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT DATES YOU FOLKS COME UP WITH. IF POSSIBLE, I’D LOVE TO SHOW UP.
I SEE VERY FEW PEOPLE IN YOUR GROUP THAT I ACTULLY KNOW BUT IT WOULD BE FUN TO MEET AND GREET THEM. I WAS A TOMCAT PILOT FROM MAR 63 TO NOV 65 AND WAS WITH 311 IN THE STATES WHEN WE MOVED INTO CHU LAI, RVN.
YOU FOLKS LOOK LIKE YOU PUT ON A GOOD EVENT AND THE INTEREST LEVEL SEEMS TO RUN CONSISTANTLY HIGH, SO I APPLAUD ALL OF YOU FOR THAT…BLUE SKIES.”

IT SEEMED TO GO WELL FIRST TIME AROUND AND WE SAVED OURSELVES SOME MONEY. IF YOU HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS AND ARE GETTING A HARDCOPY AND YOU WOULDN'T MIND GETTING ONE BY EMAIL LET ssgt_fred@sbcglobal.net or oldsargfred@gmail.com OR SOMEONE ELSE ON TOP THIS NEWSLETTER KNOW. ALSO, THE OTHER WAY AROUND.

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If you can't do this, call Jim and tell him to mail you the Newsletter as I can't notify you if your mail program will not accept E-MAILS from me.