Mail Call Page 1
Letters to the vfp62.com webmaster

• (1/23/12):Hi Ken
  
  My name is Michelle Griffin-Frier. I am working with Ed Randolph with the City of Jacksonville to have the POW MIA memorial at Cecil Field cleaned & repaired and I came across your site.
  
  I never enlisted in the Navy but I spent my entire life in it. My dad enlisted in 1975 & I was 18 when he retired in 1995. Cecil Field was not my home...it is my home. I moved into enlisted housing on Cecil Field when I started the 1st grade (summer of1984) and lived there until I was in the 7th grade (Christmas of 1991). My dad was stationed at Cecil Field all but about 3 years of his 20 year career. He worked on the S3 air plane and was in most if not all of the VS squadrons. I will let him and many of our "Navy family" know about this site.
  
  I have a lot of memories from Cecil Field that I cherish. I enjoyed reading the stories and memories of prior enlisted men. I will keep an eye on your site to see what pops up next!
  
  Sincerely,
  Michelle



• (10/2/11): I was a Yeoman on the CAG-10 Staff (USS Shangri La)in 1961-1962. I saw your website, did some browsing and thought I'd send you the attachment so that you can post it on the website.
  
  All of the people of Detachment 38 were great people and if you know where any of the Officers listed in the attachment are currently, I'd appreciate knowing.
  
  Thank You,
  John Roderick
  YN2 USNR
  
  Webmaster's Note: I posted photos sent by John to "Faces of VFP-62" pages 1 and 13.



• (6/4/11):Hi,I just found your website. I was at Cecil back in the 1960's. My time at Cecil field was with VA-106 from 1964-1967. We started out in the Old hangers and then after our last Med cruise we were in the new hangers right in back of the old chow hall.
  
  WE varied barracks on the circle. I was back at the base a few years ago and saddened that all the barracks and chow hall were torn down. There are other buildings missing too. I remember VFP-62 very well. Your outfit was with us on the 64 & 65 Med cruises On USS Shangri-La CVA-38.
  
  Great bunch of Guys. One guy in particular was Mike Dowdy. Has he ever showed up in your reunion group? I'll come back and look often.
  
  I remember Cecil well. I still don't understand our government shutting the base down. It was a master jet base for the east coast. I just didn't make sense to me to close Cecil and put all our East coast planes all in one location where 1 good bomb could take out all our East coast Naval Aviation operations. I thought it a stupid move.
  
  I've been back to the base a number of times since its closure. I'm glad to see its been used for civil aviation and some military applications. I often thought it would become a northern commercial aviation field to be able to handle commercial flights like all the major airlines. Jacksonvuille didn't see it that way. Oh well!! Now they are talking about making it into a Space Port. Why they didn't allow the Air Force or Army to have it I don't know either.
  
  They could have allowed to have some of the VP outfits at NAS Jax move over there. Wow, the mind set of our goverment I'll never understand. We leave many military decisions to civilions who don't have a clue. A lot of the problem is the bean counters GAO.
  
  Here is a picture I think you guys would like to have. I saw some of the pictures you have up on your site and I'd like to be able to get a copy of them for our squadron reunions.
  
  Regards and thank you,
  Roger Del Turco



• (4/21/11):Hi,
  
  Sorry to bother you, but I wanted to tell you that as a teacher, I've been using your resource page referencing naval history: (http://www.vfp62.com/links.html) for compiling a resource guide, I hope that's okay! I'm a teacher and I have been compiling a resource guide for students to further learn and research. One of my students in particular really enjoys naval and fleet information.
  
  Here's another good page my student, Steven, found that you might want to include: "USA Naval History: The USS Monitor" - http://www.usa-people-search.com/content-usa-naval-history-the-uss-monitor.aspx.
  
  I figured you might have a use for it as an additional resource on your page above-there's some great information on war fleets and their pivotal role within the war. I thought your visitors might find it beneficial as well. (Plus, I would love to show my student, Steven that his hard work paid off) I hope this helped!
  
  Happy 2011
  Mrs. Kelly Harris
  
  [Webmaster's Note: This link is posted to our "Links and Acknowledgements" Page]



• 1/20/11: [Webmaster's Note: Once in awhile, I get a personally gratifying email that is special. In the years I taught advanced high school mathematics I had the great fortune to touch many future leaders. In this case, Cliff became a Navy Captain, serving our nation for 26 years. Does it get better than that?]
  
  Hi Mr Jack,
  
  On the off chance you might remember me, my name is Cliff Pish, and I was a student of yours in the late 70's. Surfing the web and found your site on VFP-62....I remember you talking about the Navy in class. Anyway, I went on to serve a career in the Navy myself; retired a couple months ago. Enjoyed your site and hope you are well.
  
  All the best,
  
  Cliff Pish
  CAPT, USN(ret)



• 1/11/11: [Webmaster's Note: This is an example of children finding their fathers on vfp62.com.]
  
  Greetings: As is my custom from time to time, I "Google" my father (CAPT Eugene "Bz" Bezore); I was pleasantly surprised to come across the VFP-62 site.
  
  I believe Bz cruised with the squadron in '58 (Lebanon?) and '61 (Det CO). My Papa passed away on 7 April 2007. I have photos of him & aircraft from the period and I may be able to locate some old cruise books, etc. If you are interested, please don't hesitate to respond.
  
  Great site, keep up the good work.
  
  1SG Jeffrey "Beez" Bezore, AUS (Ret)



• 12/30/10: [Webmaster's Note: This is an example of the requests I get from young people interested in the squadron and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Name and phone number disguised because the writer is underaged.]
  
  Dear Sirs,
  
  My name is A*** B***, I am a student at Pensacola High School. I am doing a project on the Cuban Missile Crisis, and would like to interview someone who was involved with the reconnaissance or war preparation for the crisis.
  
  Please respond to this e-mail or call me at ***-***-**** if you would like to provide me with a source to help me with my documentary. Sincerely, A*** B***



• 9/30/10: Ken,
  
  This is Todd Counter, son of LTJG Chuck Counter, VFP-62, Det. 43-58.
  
  Through your efforts with this website I have been able to find out the status of all the pilots my father flew with on the Sara in 1958 during operation Blue Bat. After over 50 years my father spoke with Charlie Chitty and Bucky Walters. We found out that Hank North , Jack Hennessey, and Charlie Ray may be gone. Marion Swinford, also in 43-58 has also spoke with my dad and has been a real help and pleasure to connect with and gave me in-site of what my dad was like back then. It's been a real boost to my father and myself.
  
  I want my dad to tell you about him flying under the St. Johns River Bridge. He tells a great story of it. "I turned my lights off, flew under, booked out and monitored the radio for traffic of what I did" ... real funny stuff. His email is chucktx1@yahoo.com
  
  Anyway, he has a few photos that Im going to get scanned and will send to you around Christmas time. Again, thank you and the folks who assist with the website. Ya'll are doing a great thing. I look forward to getting two copies of your book.
  
  Best Regards and Kill em' with Fil m'.
  Todd Counter, P.G.
  Proud Son of Chuck Counter, VFP-62
  
  

• Sept. 12, 1010:After going through all the info I have received from you & John Sees and the Log Books, I have come to the conclusion that plane [RF8] 913 Bu. No. 145645 is the most likely plane LCDR Larry flew for the filming of the AAM [Air-to-air missile] launch [see Sea Stories for the story]. If I were building this model for myself, that is the plane I would make it. However, Larry's daughters have a photo of him with plane 921 Bu. No. 146864. So, I am going to build it as that aircraft. Laura will be the recipient of it, and I will send photos of it to Diane.
  
  Thank you so very much for all the info and help you have given me concerning this project. Once it is completed, I will send you photos. And please give my thanks and regards to John Sees.
  
  Thanks again!
  ...Macy VanDeusen
  
• February 6, 1010: Dear Sir:
  I am an old Marine Air Winger, who was a Crew Chief on CH-46's from 75 to 79 with HMM-264 and HMM-162. I crewed on both the F and E models. I am now just an ardent student of Naval Aviation.
  
  I was watching a section on the History Channel about your squadron on the History Channel. As I was watching it, I remembered that my Uncle Jimmy Clayton was with photo recon F-8's during the Vietnam War. I used the goggle search engine and came up with you web site. Sure enough, he was with that squadron.
  
  I forwarded your web site to him and I hope that he makes contact with you, if he hasn't already.
  
  Thank You,
  Ron Mann
  
  
• January 26, 2010: Hi Ken:
  This is Scott Scarborough. Went by your site and have to say that it is one of the best sites going. Looks like you have more and more people showing up for it now. My dad finally got around to getting a computer but still needs to be shown some things with it. He wants very much to contact you guys as he really misses those days. He is intimated by the ON switch though.
  
  I noticed on Carl Dugger's in memoriam page that Dana Yates, Carl’s grand daughter wanted to get in touch with me. That would be great, as my folks haven’t seen Donna Dugger in years. Carl and my dad were close and on the 1963 Saratoga cruise. So Donna and my mother use to get together all the time. I use to play with Carl’s kids, Mike and Linda, Dana's mother now. Mike taught me how to ride a bicycle. Please send Dana’s email or let her have mine either way.
  
  Since I am going back to NH, I can now get my dad to go to some reunions. Any coming up? Nice to see your hard work pay [off].
  
  Scott
  
  [Webmaster's Note: Scott provided the interface to our site for his father, Chief Art Scarborough, and his photos are all over the site.]
  
  
• Ken,
  I can't get enough of the website and our past, I really appreciate everything you have accomplished and the efforts that you are still making, I truly feel lucky to be part of VFP-62. I am planning to visit with Robert Strong hopefully this June, see the old Cecil Field if possible and maybe meet with others who still live in the area. This only became possible after I punched in VFP-62 and searched!! What a Great Surprise! You can imagine what I felt while reading Bob Strong's page and at the end he asked if anyone knew of my where-abouts!
  
  Thank You,
  Sincerely,
  Robert R. King
  

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