| 2008 Mail bag | ||
To
post a MAIL
CALL entry email the webmaster
at retcmsgtatcox.net Important Note: To help cut down on harvesting of email addresses I will use at instead of the @ sign in e-mail addresses. Remember to change the at to @ when sending an email to someone you want to correspond with. Previous Mail Bags: 2005, 2006, 2007 2008 My uncle was Thomas Lubbers I came across this site a few months ago, and sat down to read the
story again on Veterans' Day. Sincerely, Jeanine Finn Austin, TX Urgent Request for those who knew Howard Emerson Wright - 52-H Vance / 18th SOS 69-70 My Grandfather is Howard Emerson Wright, Col USAF (Ret) and from what
I can see was a member of the 52-H Vance flight program in Enid. He
also piloted many Vietnam missions in the AC-119k Stinger gunship. They have four children: Debbie (my mother), Becky, David and Paul. Each of whom is married with children. Debbie (and husband Neil Westby) and Becky (and husband Brad Sutton) each have two adult boys (Jeremy/Nathan; DJ/Ben), and David (and wife Carol) has three (Joshua/Andrew/Jordan). Paul was busy - he and Sara have two girls (Andrea/Jessica) and three boys (Joel/Timothy/Caleb). All of us cousins affectionately call them Granny and Grumps. I would love for some of his surviving classmates and those who might
have flown missions with him to call or write letters of remembrance
as an encouragement and final goodbye (tactfully of course - still
praying that he'll stay with us for a long while). He's still
coherent and sharp as a tack, but movement is rather limited. He has
been undergoing radiation and chemotherapy - which has taken a major If you do not have email addresses or phones for surviving members, I would be more than happy to send personal letters with this information as well. Howard Emerson (Em) and Carol (Cay) Wright Please let them know it's fine to have them call and/or email directly - but I would also like to know who's getting in touch with him, if any. Respectfully, Today is Sept 1, 2008 our holiday, Labor Day. In honor of some labor friends of mine I would like to pay tribute to their sacrifices. On Sept 1, 1969 the last AC-47 SPOOKY GUNSHIP was shot down and all lost aboard EN 021 flying out of Bien Hoa: Capt Robert Acher Jr, pilot; 1st Lt Roy Williams, copilot; Capt James Pitches, nav;Tsgt Albert McBride, flt eng.; Msgt Harry Wecker, flt mech;Ssgt Lester Cavallin, loadmaster; Tsgt Willie Alley, gunner; Ssgt Fred Smith, gunner. Update on the loss of Ray Gravitte – Ray's funeral is at 2pm Wednesday August 27, 2008 at the Mobley-Dodson Funeral Home, 211 E Broadway Street, Sand Springs, OK 74063 phone (918 245-6644) in case anyone wishes to send flowers. Ray's family respectfully requests that if you wish to make a donation on Ray's behalf please make the donation to the D.A.V. They said Ray would like that. The AC-119 Gunship Association Association Loses a brother- The association is sad to announce the loss of brother Ray Gravitte to a massive heart attack. Ray flew with both the 17th and 18th SOS and was a strong supporter of the AC-119 Gunship association and it's reunions. Not only was Ray a fellow crewmember, he was a fellow Oklahoman. His wife Rosie has asked me to say a few words at the memorial service. If anyone who flew with Ray or knew Ray, and has some words to share, especially if you have a humorous story to share, please send them to me by email as soon as possible at retcmsgtatcox.net. A date for the memorial service has not been set but I should know that by tomorrow (Monday) and I will pass that along. AC-47 Brother falls Ill – RonRogers has been sick since April 20. He cannot eat or drink anything. He has a feeding tube helping him stay alive. And he keeps getting infections in his lungs. Right now he is in a nursing home {Lima Manor} to help him get well again. We could use your prayers. Hopefully he we be able to get back with you soon. His wife Barb Another Serious Illness in the family – We have received word that Dale Cullop's wife Somjai has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. We always look to seeing the two of them at our reunions and they will be sorely missed this year. Please keep Dale and Somjai in your thoughts and prayers as they make their way this diffcult time. Your
Webmaster Looking
to Share a Room at Reunion – I'm Looking for someone to share
a room at the reunion on Friday and Saturday night. I'm a non-smoker
and a very light drinker. I haven't made any reservations yet. If interested
please contact me at yarjjataol.com. Looking for Allen Kidney – My father flew on the AC-47's along with the AC-119's, AC-130's. While on the AC-119's he flew with a guy by the name of Gerald "Mingo" Marshland, anyways, Mingo would like to know if you remember, or knew, a guy by the name Allen Kidney? If you could let me know it would be greatly appreciated. I do not know how he knows Mr. Kidney, but he would like to know if you do. Thank
you again for any help. Posted per request of AC-47 member To my gunship brothers and fellow members - Your kind and thoughtful expressions of sympathy are deeply appreciated and gratefully acknowledged for the gift to Covenant Hospice in Jeannine's name. Thank you all for your prayers, phone calls, and e-mails. I appreciate each and every one of them. Brother Gus A
heartfelt Thank you – The family of Barbara Jeannine Sininger and
her husband, Gus, would like to express our gratitude to all of you
for your many kindnesses." Your
prayers, your cards, your flowers, your visits, your gifts of food; all
you did was greatly appreciated. We hope you will continue to remember
us, especially Gus, in your prayers during this difficult time. Mini-gun
pins Sold Out but more can be made available I just sent out
the last of the minigun pins from the first order. If there is still
interest please send me your name and I will keep a list as I need
to order 50 pins at a time. Let me know if you are interested and I
will order more when we get close to 50. Thanks Hello to all 17th/18th Gunshipers: Some news of interest to all Association folks. Staying
in touch: In case anyone would like to get in touch, I've changed
to davidgalvanatbtinternet.com I sure would like to make contact with Ben Collins and Terry Bott – if
you have any information on them I sure would like to give them a call.
If you could put this on the gunship web site so maybe they could
contact me, I sure would be grateful. I Would like to thank them for
bringing us all home safe and sound. Ben always left it up to the whole
crew whether or not we should go back in over target when we were under
heavy antiarcraft attack. I remember we had lots of party's together
after missions, I think we are all thanking GOD that we made it back
safe and sound. Sometimes I don't remember alot of things from over
there, and then something happens and I go oh yeah I remember that.
I didn't talk about it for years but now I think I'm ready. To
all those who served with Pollman's Pirates:
Hello from Knoxville, TN from that idiot from the back of the plane! Illness in the family– We have received word that Gus Sininger's wife Jeannie has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I know I don't need to remind anyone what a workhorse fellow crewmate and charter association member Gus has been for us. Always, right there beside him has been his wonderful wife jeannie supporting him as he faithfully supports us. Please join me and the rest of the Association officers in keeping Jeannie and Gus in your thoughts and prayers as they travel through this diffcult time. Your Webmaster Attention
all 71-72 Stinger Crewmembers – My Name is Frank L. Bartlett.
I was a Lead Gunner out of NKP, assigned to DaNang for 11 months, mostly
flew with Capt. Polman, as Polmans Pirates.
I have lost all records (everything) that accounted for all of my
flights. I wanted to make it part of my DD-214. I logged over 200 plus
combat missions and would like to know if anyone has a record of the
flights that I was on as a Gunner. I also flew missions at An Loc .
If any one has a frag sheet, FORM 93, or anything
that contains my name, I'd appreciate getting a copy very much. I was
there in the Nov 1971 to Nov 1972 time frame... give a month or two. PS don't forget to change the at for @ in the email address. OK
you Yankee Air Pirates you, two short up-dates:
Col Mac I was searching C-119 aircraft and came across the AC-119 Gunship website. I have enjoyed going through and reading about all of the events. lhartogatsbcglobal.net Some History | The Gunships | Photos
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