Skinner's
Poop Sheet September 2000
Yo Stable Able,
I heard from "Shifty" that the 2000 Las Vegas
reunion was another great
one. Well done Frankie LiCausie!
Also learned "Shifty" is now our "Boss Hero"
for the next several years.
Congratulations Captain!
Thank you Herb and Ellie for your years of devotion and labor to
making
the A/1/7 Assn possible and enabling me to see and/or communicate with many
of the men that mean so much to me due to our service in Korea.
The "ROLL of HONOR" for Able Company, a listing of
our "Fallen
Shipmates" during the war, is now as complete as I can get it. Owe
thanks
to many of you for the aid you gave me. Able Company wasn't the only
contributors to it's construction so want to especially thank Ed McNamara, a
Marine who had served with "Onti", who unselfishly spent hours
researching
the records at the Marine Corps Historical Center at DC copying the
Monthly
Personnel Rosters which I was able to compare with the list of Korea KIA's
Dick Bramm had sent me. My young friend, Loy Bean, also my "Computer
Guru",
placed it on my home page for all to see. Men like that are rare and I feel
very rich to consider them "Friends". Thank you all!
I feel the list is to long for the newsletter and as many of you
aren't
computerized so contact me if you desire a copy.
Marie and I had a surprise visit by SgtMaj Wehinger one weekend.
He looks
great as usual. He was looking forward to mustering at Vegas and
"Shifty"
tells me he did. Fine business!
George Norris, 2ndPlt, heard from "Luke" Laird, 2ndPlt,
about 2Oct00.
Luke has been taking chemo treatments for cancer and a recent CAT scan shows
a 70% reduction. Way to go Luke!
Update on Luke! George had a telcon with Luke the evening of
27Oct00. He
was having one of his best days yet. He sounded optimistic and hopes to see
us at Myrtle Beach in Oct01.
Norris has also called with an "After Action" report on
Vegas. Appreciate
hearing all about it George.
Lately I've had a telcon with George Lovelady, 2ndPlt. I still
have a
photo of him and the wire stock burp gun he relieved a gook of on the Bn
Outpost, Aug/Sep51
Billy Mitchell, 2nd MGs, also called. He's been a magistrate in
the
Norfolk, VA. area for 20 years and in law enforcement 20 years before that.
Have photo of him, Jim Palmer, Batton and me taken on 812..
Received a land-line recently from a LtCol Bill Kent, 2ndMGs,
complaining
about my putting him on mess duty in Korea during 1951. Mess duty builds
character you know! I don't recall but I presume he complained in 1951 when
I committed the foul deed. He was still complaining about it when he joined
1stBn, 8th Marines as a Major to be XO in 1969. .I was the Bn SgtMaj. We
made a 6 month Med cruise together and he never put me on mess duty. He
honored me with an invitation to his retirement parade in 1982. The only
time I was able to sit in a covered stand to watch a parade but dang if it
didn't start to rain. I felt so guilty sitting under shelter with a
battalion of Marines staring right at me that I had to leave the stand and
stand in the rain myself. Very pleased you are back in the perimeter
Colonel.
Ed McNamara, Onti's friend that copied the MPRs for me, hand
delivered
the MPRs to me on 09Sep00. That is service! He wouldn't accept anything for
his trouble. He did it for the love of the Corps and friendship. What a
Marine!
Onti and Mary Jane visited us on 10Sep00 for several days. Their
"Drop-dead Gorgeous" grand daughter drove them here. When I met her
mother
later I could see why she's gorgeous. Onti is surrounded by beautiful
ladies. I had a wonderful time taking them on a windshield tour of Camp
Lejeune and MCAS, New River. The CMC must have known they would be here as
we were able to view the USMC Silent Drill Team and the Drum and Bugle Corps
perform.at the MCAS. I missed them for days after they were gone.
Onti reports that last Sunday they were able to go to a concert by
the
Marine Corps Band in Houston. Onti is having problems walking and has had
some test run and waiting on the results.
Larry Pawelka had a grand fishing trip to Alaska. While at the
airport to
return to Texas he spotted a Marine with the last name of his married sister
on his name tag. Larry learned the lad was his nephew from San Antonio he
hadn't seen in many years. Ain't that something?
Harry Alfeo has finally made Battalion Commander! In the First
Texas
Young Marine Battalion that is! He says it's a great program to get involved
in. Notice we have a lot of Young Marines here too Harry.
Major Bud Hampton has been doing good things for our veterans. He
attended a dedication of a stained glass window to all the Marines who died
in WWII, in a church in Yonkers, NY. It was donated by the company he
commanded in WWII, L/3/23. All 6 MarDivs emblems are shown in the window. He
's also in charge of a fund raising pancake breakfast at the American League
post. Raised over $2000 and submitted that for the WWII National Memorial
monument in DC. He also submitted a Matching Grant to Wal-Mart. Good going
Skipper.
Randy Mills, the college professor in Indiana,infoed me his book
in
regard to the mobilization of the Indiana Marine Reserves, including our
Robert Fitch,is to be published by the Naval Institute Press on 29Oct00.
General Davis was a reviewer of the book, "The Unexpected Journey".
I'm
looking forward to reading it.. .
Saw an article in the Oct00 "Old Breed" by Edward C
Bitner. He was the CO
of Able after Major Thompson. Using all my Hi-speed No-drag smarts I got on
my computer and found his fone number. Got hold of him and had a nice chat.
He wasn't aware of the A/1/7 Assn so sent him info.
I've been overwhelmed with pleasure hearing from you that I've
chatted
and corresponded with. A very big welcome the "New" guys aboard.
Take care of yourselves Stable Able. All the sick, lame and lazys
get
squared away for muster at Myrtle Beach next year.
Semper Fi!
Jim
LAST MUSTER
Sad to report Shifty has learned thru Paul Garst that Charles "Kibby"
Kiblinger, MGs, has passed away. Our deepest sympathy to Shirley.
Jim Skinner can be reached at:
405 Pine Valley Road, Jacksonville, NC
28546 - (910) 353-4297
Email: jrskin@gibralter.net