Sunday, November 26, 2006
November 24, 2006
The official newsletter of the 6924th Heritage Association. It is sent on/or about the 24th of each month from
Teletiger@myfamily.com
Welcome aboard: Bill Hogan (64-65), Delbert G. Baker (66-67), Vic Pettijohn (63-64), Tom Arneman (64-65), Ron Gilchrist (66-67), Bill Poague (71-72), Hugh D. Foster (64-65), Cash O’Rourke (65-71). Sam Shialabba (69-70), Terry Quick (69-70), Al
Scanlon (67-68) Ed Fryer (63), Jeff Hill (69-70), David Schleidt (65).
Fallen Tigers: We recently learned of the passing of the following Tigers. 180 of our Brothers have now passed that we know about. Rosebrock, Victor C. “Rosie”, “Vic” (65-66), Bath, John M. (66), Boggs, Hugh M. (67), Landers, George S. (65-66), Morgan, Eugene T. “Gene” (62-63).
All about the money? Nope, not this time. The 6924th Heritage Association does rely on donations and membership dues to survive but it also provides the web site free to all who served at the 6924SS or its other unit designations at Da Nang or Ramasun whether or not membership dues are paid. All donations are voluntary and greatly appreciated and membership dues are also voluntary. Participation in Association sponsored reunions and mini-reunions also is available to all whether or not membership dues are paid. The Association does not pressure Tigers to contribute to its cause. Donations are graciously accepted in any amount a Tiger can afford. If not the money what is it all about? Memories. Even more than just memories, it is about preserving our history. It is about meeting new friends. It is about sharing stories with a group of guys who have shared some of the same experiences. It is about renewing old acquaintances, remembering old times and far away places, and sharing our life experiences with others. The 6924th Heritage Association is about a lot more than the money.
6924th Dates as updated by Terry Kearney September, 2006
Dec 61: Team 1A, 6923RSM activated at Clark AB, PI.Jan 62: Team in-place at Da Nang VNAFB, RVN62: Redesignated Det 1, 6923RSM63: Det1, 6923RSM Monkey Mountain (nui Son Tra) Operations Site established64: Redesignated Det2, 6925RGM (6925SG)01 July 65: Redesignated Det2, 6922SW01 Oct 65: Redesignated 6924SSApr 71: Sqdn move to Ramasun Station, THApr 71: MM Ops Site designated 6924SS OLAA Jan 73: OLAA deactivated15 May 76: 6924SS deactivated, Ramasun Station, TH01 Aug 80: Sqdn reactivated at Field Station Kunia, Oahu, HI, as 6924 Electronic Security Sqdn (6924ESS)01 Oct 93: Sqdn redesignated 324th Intelligence Squadron (324IS)PWA Scholarship donation: Gil recently posted this great story on the 6924th web site:
We all know we had a great reunion and received allot of monetary support from our members. Well, here's the KICKER.....!!!!!I had a phone call from an anonymous Tiger who said he wanted to do more for the Association and the Paul Wayne Anthony Scholarship Fund and he was sending me a check.That check was received a few days ago in the amount of $20,000.....!!!!!!I know you too feel chill bumps and the hair may be standing up on your neck too, but the donator does NOT want to be identified or get recognition for his contribution. So all we can say is THANK YOU, TIGER....!!!!!Now...... If you go to the Photos section you'll find the newest financial statement dated 25 October 2006. You'll also note that the "Balance Sheet" reflects $10,240.85 in our CD. That's because the financial report was completed prior to completing our work with the CD's.We negotiated with the bank to pull out the $10K CD (at 2.2%) without a penalty if we added the $20K to the new CD. So what we have now is one CD for $30,726.14 in a 10-month CD, with all accrued interest. That will give us plenty of time to get the UNCC paperwork and decisions made and earn some additional interest in the meantime.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Send orders & payments to: Association contact: Newsletter suggestions:
6924th Heritage Assn. Mike Gilkerson (Gil) Al Raymondi
P. O. Box 132 mikegilkerson@charter.net nonaray1@aol.com
Mascoutah, IL. 62258 (618) 566-7887 (386) 441-8245
Tele Tiger November 24, 2006 Page 2
Vegas Vets Day Parade & Mini-reunion: Our 6924th Heritage Association President, Fred Sepelak (67-68) got to talk to the mayor of Las Vegas. Gil and the gang got VIP passes to the Hospitality Tent at the Air Show later that day (including free Bud Lite). There has been no confirmation that Fred’s conversation with the mayor was on the local evening news. Here’s some of Gil’s Story:
Here's another hat story and they just keep getting better, for one reason or another.Linda and I met up with Fred & Connie Sepelak at the Vet's Day Parade at the corner of 4th Street and Freemont Street. That's right at the end of the Freemont Street Experience. We were standing together with Fred & Connie and their traveling partners, Jack & Judy and just watching the people gather around to watch the parade. I was wearing my 6924th hat of course and I had my green "vest" on too and had followed the VA Secretary's suggestion that us old fogies should wear our ribbons and/or medals at such events. I wore my ribbon rack AND the seven medals that are available in the miniature size. Fred and I were just chatting when this fine looking younger fella approached us wearing a WW II bomber jacket with a unit insignia. Before I could comment about his patch, he said, "DaNang, huh"? Yes sir I responded and said "69-70". I pointed to Fred and said he was also there in the same unit.He followed that by asking if we were there for the parade and if we were going to the Air Show at Nellis AFB, today too. We said YES we were and he asked "how would you like a VIP parking pass and some free passes to the hospitality tent....?" Now that was a silly question to ask Fred, and me because anything FREE is an automatic YES to both of us I do believe.We asked what we had to do for those in a joking manner and he responded that he had the passes to give out and he wanted to thank us for our service with these passes. Well of course we shook his hand and thanked him for his kind offer. I also asked if the Bomber Group patch was his dad's unit and he responded yes. Fred asked him about what he did for a living and he responded he was a pilot for FEDEX during the day but he was the "Special Projects Director" for the Aviation Nation, the group that puts on the air shows annually at many locations around the country.Curtis T. Wilson was his name and he was a very personable and friendly guy. He told us that astronaut Eugene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon was the parade grand Marshall and after they walked the parade route, he, Curtis Wilson would make an attempt to bring him by for a personal introduction and photo opportunity. We told him that would be great but in the end, they were too busy and the limo left before we saw them pass by us in the crowd. Curtis was a busy man and had to run off but he went to the limo and retrieved the VIP parking pass and the six guest passes for the air show hospitality area, which was hosted by Outback Steakhouse.We arrived at Nellis at the "I" Street entrance and were promptly guided right to the Thunderbird's Headquarters and Museum to park the vehicle. A short walk and we were in the Outback Steakhouse tent, out of the wind and very comfortable, not to mention the FREE steak & chicken dinner that was provided for all with access to the area. And then there was that little "extra" too.... FREE Bud Light for the asking...! Jack and I were more than honored to have a glass or two while watching the show. Fred didn't know how his buddy Jack would like the air show portion of our experience because he hadn't been feeling well for a day or so, but old Jack loved all those aircraft flying in review and, since we were right in the hospitality tent, those flyers "drove" right by us after landing and saluted and waved to everyone. They were the distance from the curb to a car on a road as they passed by and the excitement level was high. Jack took streaming video of some of the Thunderbird performance and promised to send it to me. One of the requests we had from Curtis Wilson was that we send him a copy of our photo and any comments that our "hat story" item might get on the website. He keeps a collection of memories and of course of the guys he provided the FREE passes for in a notebook. I'm sure when I send him the photo he'll have some more stuff to send to us of our experience. Had we not received this exciting gift from Curtis we would have had to join the throngs of people traveling to the NASCAR track to park, paying $3 for a bus ride to the flightline and then back again with the crowd when it was over. We walked a couple of hundred yards to our car, drove off base and were on our way in no time compared to what we would have had to endure. I know this from experience last year and it made me even MORE proud that this 6924th hat brings such rewards from total strangers....!!!!
Once again we can't tell ya enough to WEAR THOSE HATS when you're OUT....!!!! You never can tell when BENEFITS beyond belief will come to you just for that 6924th hat...!!! What a great time.
2007 Dues are due. Please help support our organization with your $12.00 annual dues. In addition to the web site we have reunions, mini reunions, the PWA Scholarship Fund and the History documents that have all peen supported by your annual dues and other contributions.
Sunday Chat: is back. Join Clyde Orr and who knows who for group chat Sunday evenings at 8 PM eastern, 7 central and 5 on the left coast. Discuss whatever is on your mind with the guys. Sign on to 6924th “chat” at the upper left of the screen and then click on “launch group chat” and join the guys. We want to hear about the big fish you caught!
6924th PWA ROTC Scholarship During a ceremony at UNC Charlotte November 16, 2006 Cadets Calhoun F. Queener and Ryan T. Huff were named as winners of the fall 2006 PWA Scholarships. The next Awards will be spring of 2007.
Founder’s Message: The fall and winter months are a great time to say "hi" and Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to some ole buddies. And while you're doing that, why not ask about setting up a "mini reunion" after the first of the year to start getting some guys in YOUR local area together. We still have many, many Tigers onboard that have never met up with anyone...! Let’s start getting EVERYONE in the action and going to have coffee, breakfast or just to sit at some location and talk awhile. This IS grass roots 6924th Heritage Assn action. One of the most important tasks we have now is to "bring in more participants" to our activities and to have MORE of those activities. We have CHAPTERS in the making out there. Get them working and moving forward and don't sit on your hands all winter getting the blues. Plan a small get together, contact the troops and go for it. If you want a listing of the Tigers in YOUR STATE, just email me at mikegilkerson@charter.net and I'll send you a listing for you to contact. Let's Roll Tigers....!!!!!
The official newsletter of the 6924th Heritage Association. It is sent on/or about the 24th of each month from
Teletiger@myfamily.com
Welcome aboard: Bill Hogan (64-65), Delbert G. Baker (66-67), Vic Pettijohn (63-64), Tom Arneman (64-65), Ron Gilchrist (66-67), Bill Poague (71-72), Hugh D. Foster (64-65), Cash O’Rourke (65-71). Sam Shialabba (69-70), Terry Quick (69-70), Al
Scanlon (67-68) Ed Fryer (63), Jeff Hill (69-70), David Schleidt (65).
Fallen Tigers: We recently learned of the passing of the following Tigers. 180 of our Brothers have now passed that we know about. Rosebrock, Victor C. “Rosie”, “Vic” (65-66), Bath, John M. (66), Boggs, Hugh M. (67), Landers, George S. (65-66), Morgan, Eugene T. “Gene” (62-63).
All about the money? Nope, not this time. The 6924th Heritage Association does rely on donations and membership dues to survive but it also provides the web site free to all who served at the 6924SS or its other unit designations at Da Nang or Ramasun whether or not membership dues are paid. All donations are voluntary and greatly appreciated and membership dues are also voluntary. Participation in Association sponsored reunions and mini-reunions also is available to all whether or not membership dues are paid. The Association does not pressure Tigers to contribute to its cause. Donations are graciously accepted in any amount a Tiger can afford. If not the money what is it all about? Memories. Even more than just memories, it is about preserving our history. It is about meeting new friends. It is about sharing stories with a group of guys who have shared some of the same experiences. It is about renewing old acquaintances, remembering old times and far away places, and sharing our life experiences with others. The 6924th Heritage Association is about a lot more than the money.
6924th Dates as updated by Terry Kearney September, 2006
Dec 61: Team 1A, 6923RSM activated at Clark AB, PI.Jan 62: Team in-place at Da Nang VNAFB, RVN62: Redesignated Det 1, 6923RSM63: Det1, 6923RSM Monkey Mountain (nui Son Tra) Operations Site established64: Redesignated Det2, 6925RGM (6925SG)01 July 65: Redesignated Det2, 6922SW01 Oct 65: Redesignated 6924SSApr 71: Sqdn move to Ramasun Station, THApr 71: MM Ops Site designated 6924SS OLAA Jan 73: OLAA deactivated15 May 76: 6924SS deactivated, Ramasun Station, TH01 Aug 80: Sqdn reactivated at Field Station Kunia, Oahu, HI, as 6924 Electronic Security Sqdn (6924ESS)01 Oct 93: Sqdn redesignated 324th Intelligence Squadron (324IS)PWA Scholarship donation: Gil recently posted this great story on the 6924th web site:
We all know we had a great reunion and received allot of monetary support from our members. Well, here's the KICKER.....!!!!!I had a phone call from an anonymous Tiger who said he wanted to do more for the Association and the Paul Wayne Anthony Scholarship Fund and he was sending me a check.That check was received a few days ago in the amount of $20,000.....!!!!!!I know you too feel chill bumps and the hair may be standing up on your neck too, but the donator does NOT want to be identified or get recognition for his contribution. So all we can say is THANK YOU, TIGER....!!!!!Now...... If you go to the Photos section you'll find the newest financial statement dated 25 October 2006. You'll also note that the "Balance Sheet" reflects $10,240.85 in our CD. That's because the financial report was completed prior to completing our work with the CD's.We negotiated with the bank to pull out the $10K CD (at 2.2%) without a penalty if we added the $20K to the new CD. So what we have now is one CD for $30,726.14 in a 10-month CD, with all accrued interest. That will give us plenty of time to get the UNCC paperwork and decisions made and earn some additional interest in the meantime.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Send orders & payments to: Association contact: Newsletter suggestions:
6924th Heritage Assn. Mike Gilkerson (Gil) Al Raymondi
P. O. Box 132 mikegilkerson@charter.net nonaray1@aol.com
Mascoutah, IL. 62258 (618) 566-7887 (386) 441-8245
Tele Tiger November 24, 2006 Page 2
Vegas Vets Day Parade & Mini-reunion: Our 6924th Heritage Association President, Fred Sepelak (67-68) got to talk to the mayor of Las Vegas. Gil and the gang got VIP passes to the Hospitality Tent at the Air Show later that day (including free Bud Lite). There has been no confirmation that Fred’s conversation with the mayor was on the local evening news. Here’s some of Gil’s Story:
Here's another hat story and they just keep getting better, for one reason or another.Linda and I met up with Fred & Connie Sepelak at the Vet's Day Parade at the corner of 4th Street and Freemont Street. That's right at the end of the Freemont Street Experience. We were standing together with Fred & Connie and their traveling partners, Jack & Judy and just watching the people gather around to watch the parade. I was wearing my 6924th hat of course and I had my green "vest" on too and had followed the VA Secretary's suggestion that us old fogies should wear our ribbons and/or medals at such events. I wore my ribbon rack AND the seven medals that are available in the miniature size. Fred and I were just chatting when this fine looking younger fella approached us wearing a WW II bomber jacket with a unit insignia. Before I could comment about his patch, he said, "DaNang, huh"? Yes sir I responded and said "69-70". I pointed to Fred and said he was also there in the same unit.He followed that by asking if we were there for the parade and if we were going to the Air Show at Nellis AFB, today too. We said YES we were and he asked "how would you like a VIP parking pass and some free passes to the hospitality tent....?" Now that was a silly question to ask Fred, and me because anything FREE is an automatic YES to both of us I do believe.We asked what we had to do for those in a joking manner and he responded that he had the passes to give out and he wanted to thank us for our service with these passes. Well of course we shook his hand and thanked him for his kind offer. I also asked if the Bomber Group patch was his dad's unit and he responded yes. Fred asked him about what he did for a living and he responded he was a pilot for FEDEX during the day but he was the "Special Projects Director" for the Aviation Nation, the group that puts on the air shows annually at many locations around the country.Curtis T. Wilson was his name and he was a very personable and friendly guy. He told us that astronaut Eugene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon was the parade grand Marshall and after they walked the parade route, he, Curtis Wilson would make an attempt to bring him by for a personal introduction and photo opportunity. We told him that would be great but in the end, they were too busy and the limo left before we saw them pass by us in the crowd. Curtis was a busy man and had to run off but he went to the limo and retrieved the VIP parking pass and the six guest passes for the air show hospitality area, which was hosted by Outback Steakhouse.We arrived at Nellis at the "I" Street entrance and were promptly guided right to the Thunderbird's Headquarters and Museum to park the vehicle. A short walk and we were in the Outback Steakhouse tent, out of the wind and very comfortable, not to mention the FREE steak & chicken dinner that was provided for all with access to the area. And then there was that little "extra" too.... FREE Bud Light for the asking...! Jack and I were more than honored to have a glass or two while watching the show. Fred didn't know how his buddy Jack would like the air show portion of our experience because he hadn't been feeling well for a day or so, but old Jack loved all those aircraft flying in review and, since we were right in the hospitality tent, those flyers "drove" right by us after landing and saluted and waved to everyone. They were the distance from the curb to a car on a road as they passed by and the excitement level was high. Jack took streaming video of some of the Thunderbird performance and promised to send it to me. One of the requests we had from Curtis Wilson was that we send him a copy of our photo and any comments that our "hat story" item might get on the website. He keeps a collection of memories and of course of the guys he provided the FREE passes for in a notebook. I'm sure when I send him the photo he'll have some more stuff to send to us of our experience. Had we not received this exciting gift from Curtis we would have had to join the throngs of people traveling to the NASCAR track to park, paying $3 for a bus ride to the flightline and then back again with the crowd when it was over. We walked a couple of hundred yards to our car, drove off base and were on our way in no time compared to what we would have had to endure. I know this from experience last year and it made me even MORE proud that this 6924th hat brings such rewards from total strangers....!!!!
Once again we can't tell ya enough to WEAR THOSE HATS when you're OUT....!!!! You never can tell when BENEFITS beyond belief will come to you just for that 6924th hat...!!! What a great time.
2007 Dues are due. Please help support our organization with your $12.00 annual dues. In addition to the web site we have reunions, mini reunions, the PWA Scholarship Fund and the History documents that have all peen supported by your annual dues and other contributions.
Sunday Chat: is back. Join Clyde Orr and who knows who for group chat Sunday evenings at 8 PM eastern, 7 central and 5 on the left coast. Discuss whatever is on your mind with the guys. Sign on to 6924th “chat” at the upper left of the screen and then click on “launch group chat” and join the guys. We want to hear about the big fish you caught!
6924th PWA ROTC Scholarship During a ceremony at UNC Charlotte November 16, 2006 Cadets Calhoun F. Queener and Ryan T. Huff were named as winners of the fall 2006 PWA Scholarships. The next Awards will be spring of 2007.
Founder’s Message: The fall and winter months are a great time to say "hi" and Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas to some ole buddies. And while you're doing that, why not ask about setting up a "mini reunion" after the first of the year to start getting some guys in YOUR local area together. We still have many, many Tigers onboard that have never met up with anyone...! Let’s start getting EVERYONE in the action and going to have coffee, breakfast or just to sit at some location and talk awhile. This IS grass roots 6924th Heritage Assn action. One of the most important tasks we have now is to "bring in more participants" to our activities and to have MORE of those activities. We have CHAPTERS in the making out there. Get them working and moving forward and don't sit on your hands all winter getting the blues. Plan a small get together, contact the troops and go for it. If you want a listing of the Tigers in YOUR STATE, just email me at mikegilkerson@charter.net and I'll send you a listing for you to contact. Let's Roll Tigers....!!!!!
