Skinner's Poop Sheet July 2000
Yo Stable Able,
Hope all are doing well. I know that's a tall order for people of your ages but I can hope.
Mac McKellar passed the word that the next reunion for 1st Battalion, 7th Marines (1950-53) will be at Branson, MO, the later part of May 2001. All should have received the initial information by now. He expects several Battalion CO's to be present.
Eddie Arechiga was pleased to see his home town, Victoria, TX, mentiond in my item on "Skinhead" Graham. It's the very first time he has heard of anyone else being affiliated with Victoria. He still has family there. Hang with me Eddie as I seem to come up with surprises. Don't know why.
George Norris checked out my website and logged in on the "Guest Book". Appreciate that George.. Some people scope it out but don't check in. Makes me wonder if they are type that don't shine the back side of their brass. So please log in if you visit so I won't have those impure thots. George and Christina Blair had morning chow with Larry Pawelka on 10Jan00. Says Larry is looking fine. Their US Army Captain son has returned to CONUS from Korea. His next duty station will be Ft Bragg, NC. George's two brothers visited him in April and they had photos in the local paper. One photo Of them in 1952 and a present day one. They had all been in Korea at same time. George says they all still look good. Well,,,Okay George, what ever!!! John "Onti" Ontiverous has almost recovered from his ordeal and hospitalization recently. He heaps praise on Mary Jane's caring for him. She refused go home and slept in a recliner by his hospital bed for three nights. She's a "Keeper" Onti! He received Email and cards from many Stable Able and appreciates the thoughts. He and Mary Jane will be at Las Vegas. "Able Six", Colonel Smith, has finally established communication in the year 2000. Janet, "Sparks", his CommO, sends the Email in fine fashion and the Colonel checks us out occasionally via land-line.. He was very pleased by a visit of another "Able Six", Major Earl Thompson. He reports that the Major gave an excellent talk about A/1/7 after the move to the west coast in 1952, during his visit to the MCRD, SD, museum. He and Janet are looking forward to Las Vegas. Ron York was scheduled to go to Alaska on 17May. He and Joyce are looking forward to Las Vegas in October. SgtMaj Edwin Wehinger sends his new address. His home was flooded out by hurricane "Floyd". He's 78 and veteran of WWII "Battle of Midway. He will see you at Las Vegas. New address: 1440 Mooretown Rd Rocky Point, NC 28457-8232
MGySgt John "Red" McDonough has also shifted his CP to: 130 Mediterranean Dr. Apt 21 Weymouth, MA 02188 "Red' sends that he is in contact with Colonel Worley who was Bn Comm O during the breakout and had recommended "Red" for two "Bronze Stars" which he never received..Action is being taken to get him the awards. The first action was for saving three Marines who were shot on a mountain pass near Fox Company. They had slid down the side of the mountain and "Red" , who was a wireman, with commwire strapped around his waist, went down and pulled them out taking several rounds in his radio battery and telephone which saved his life. The other action took place after leaving Fox company when he went back to Bn to get another telephone and battery with Corporal Combie of the BnMT as shotgun. On the return trip they were ambushed and the Corporal was wounded. "Red" carried him back. Then, after retrieving his pack he broke through the ChiCom lines back to Able company singing "Hello "Red" McDonough!". (That commwire was great stuff and had many uses such as clothes line, securing shelter half's, cooling beer by putting the beer in a mosquito headnet and dropping it into a well attached to commwire, besides linking the phones. The wiremen among us ain't going to see a bit of humor in this!). He just received a "Purple Heart" for wounds in June 1951. He is preparing material concerning his retrieval of the wounded Marines for Martin Russ' book on "Tok Ton Pass" and would appreciate hearing from anyone aware of the event to flesh out details. "Red" is also expecting more awards from his service with 1/3, 1/9, 1/4 and 1/26 after three tours in Nam. He says he's tired and I reckon so. Your ribbon bill must be huge "Red"..
Gerald Ryan sends that he was with Able from May53 and was WIA several days before the truce in Jul53.and medevaced to Yokuska. He returned to Able with the 37th Repldrft. in Jun54. He then attended U of Minnesota and while there worked at Arthur Murray's and got a background in ballroom dancing. The last four years he's been working on cruise ships such as depicted in the movie "Out to Sea". He gets a free trip and treated as a passenger for dancing with the ladies. He looks forward to being at Las Vegas and seeing Tom Size again. He was with Curtis Kern when Kern was KIA on Outpost Ava. I don't know about you fellows but if I was going to Las Vegas with Marie I'd sure keep an eyeball on Gerald!
Had a great chat with Herbert Harvill on 18May00. He called to report a shift in his CP also. New address: Herbert D Harvill.. . 2611 Bayshore Blvd #607 Tampa, FL 33629-7360
Details are dim on our conversation now but my notes say "Reload magazines,draw more grenades, refill canteens and dig hole deeper!"
Larry Pawelka called on 28May00. Seems I was wrong saying he was "Puny" in my last "Poopsheet" because he's fine with minor discrepancies. Apologized profusely. Larry being a machine-gunner and retired postal worker he's not a body I want to get ticked at me. The next day to be 29May and Memorial Day he had the memories strong in his mind of the more then several friends lost on 29May51. Gagne, Clark, Moncrief and etc. My inability to recall more names of the "Fallen" has bugged me since. His call made "Memorial Day" much more meaningful to me. Larry plans a fishing trip to Alaska in July but no firm plans to be at Las Vegas.
Herman Russell has contacted me desiring info on his Dad who was PFC Herman Russel, KIA on 26Oct52. Young Herman was two years old and his Dad was 24 when he was KIA. He would sure like to know more about his Dad. If you can help you can contact him at: (972) 306-9672, (972) 671-5888 (Work), FAX (972) 671-5542 or Email: trpmedia@aol.com He would sure appreciate hearing from any that knew his Dad.
Heard from Charles Haines who was on 1/7 Tactical Air Control Party from Dec51 to Jan53. He's interested in receiving our newsletter. Forwarded his request on to Herb. He can be reached at:
129 Westbridge Rd Columbia, SC 29223 or Email: camafortus@sc.it.com
Sure appreciate the Marine air support thru out the years Charles. Know I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for you fellows. Many thanks!!
Heard from another South Carolinian, Clayton H Collins. He was in Able from 10Apr52 to 12Mar53. He wants to locate the ComCmdr and 60mm Mortar PltLdr between Nov52 and Mar53. The Skipper was Captain Dohler but no name for the PltLdr. If you can help Charles his address is: 826 Arrowwood Rd Columbia, SC 29210
Bob Haney writes that he'll be at Las Vegas. Looks like a good size group will be there. Thanks for info Bob.
"Ice Cream Kid", Bobby Licker and Mickey will be at Las Vegas. Bobby will make sure the names of our "Fallen" will be remembered at the 1/7 reunion in Branson in 2001. He hopes many of us will be there.
Sgt Jack Wagner, 3rd Plt, called. He joined Able from the 2nd RplDrft. Was WIA on 29May51. (What a day that was!) He's now retired from Parole Supervisor of PA. Says he now mows lawn on a golf course three days a week. Another fine conversation.
Called PltSgt Charlie Keith, 3rd Plt, after talking to Jack as he got me wondering how Charlie was doing. Dang good chat with Charlie too and he's doing well enough that he plans to see you all at Las Vegas.
Captain Shifflette made his annual homeage to Emerald Island this year and dropped down to see Marie and me. Enjoyed seeing the good Captain as usual and got my routine free supper. Went easy on him this time and had chopped steak instead of the filet mignon.
Hopefully I'll be able to motor to Myrtle Beach, SC when Gene and Jeanie Merrall visit there later this year. Plan to eyeball to eyeball with Gene James who lives there at same time. Gene is our arty FO that was on 673 with us.
I have started a "ROLL of HONOR" as my way to show respect to those shipmates of ours who paid with their lives serving in Stable Able. It has been posted on my website at: http://users.gibralter.net/~jrskin/rollofhonor.html. Only about eighty names on it now. The 1st MarDiv had 4004 KIA in that war and I know Able lost considerable. I have started the roll with names from my memory, names a few others have sent me, old letters, the Regimental program from the 12Aug51 memorial service at Yang-gu and several Monthly Personnel Rosters given to me by Kenny Stelzel, Ray Musser and Joe Vitak. The MPR's are the source that I intend to use and I am trying to locate the agency that has these on file to procure the thirty or so I need to complete my mission. I will send a print out to anyone desiring such. If you would like to help you can do so by sending me names of KIA's you may recall even if you aren't sure of the correct spelling. Send names of attached personnel and Doc's. Give as much info as you can but don't hold back even if you think it's to skimpy. Also copies of any MPR's which I'll be happy to reimburse for and the cotton picking address of the agency that holds the MPR's! Must thank Mac Mc Kellar, George Blair, Harry Alfeo, Onti, Tom Size, Bill Howes. Bobby Licker, Ken and Caroline Stelzel, Ray Musser, Joe Vitak, Shifty and Darlene Shifflette, Larry Pawelka for the inspiration and my good friend and "Guru" Loy Bean for the help in getting the roll on my website. Got to thank the Barker brothers for the :Korean War Project" and it's data bank. I don't expect to ever complete that roll nor that it will be absolutely correct but am going to try. Hope Las Vegas is the "Grandest" family reunion of Stable Able One Seven yet. Proud of you and proud to have served with you Stable Able!
Semper Fi!,
Jim
Jim Skinner can be reached at:
405 Pine Valley Road, Jacksonville, NC
28546 - (910) 353-4297
Email: jrskin@gibralter.net