Robbie Robertson, Ralph Sterley, and Fred Ensslin
Fred And His Wife Joise Ennslin
WWII Submarine Veteran
Terri and Robbie Robertson
Robbie and Terri Robertson
WWII Submarine Veteran
Paul and his wife Aecha Christofferson
WWII Submarine Veteran
WWII Submarine Veteran
Robbie Robertson, Ralph Sterley, and Fred Ensslin
Ted Taylor and Ralph Sterley
WWII Submarine Veterans
WWII Submarine Veterans
Andrea G. Don Ulmer
Dave and Lynn Schueler
Doug Abramson, Steve Shelton, Bill Thompson
Cliff Nutter WWII Submarine Veteran
Pat Householder and Dave Goodson
Ying and Valeree Ye with son Elias
Float Display
Submarine Veterans Group Photo
Submarine Veterans Group Photo
Submarine Veterans Group Photo
Jim Harper and Don Ulmer Submarine Veterans
Saturday, October 11, 2014
October 2014 Reminder Shipmates
The next Seattle Base Wednesday, October 15. VFW Post #2995(4330 148th Ave N.E., Redmond WA 98052).
 |
| Alligator being lowered into the water, by Jim Christley |
Private First Class THOMAS "COTTON" BILLINGSLEY
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
STATIONED IN MARSHALL ISLANDS, SAIPAN, TINIAN, IWO JIMA
YEARS OF SERVICE: 2
MEMORY/STORY
In January 1943, Private Billingsley volunteered for service in the USMC and underwent basic training at Parris Island. He was attached to the 4th Marine Division and deployed directly to the Pacific Theater of Operations. Billingsley participated in four amphibious combat landings onto the Marshall Islands, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima. He endured extreme combat conditions as the Japanese adopted a full defensive posture, designed to inflict maximum casualties on the attacking American troops. In February 1944, Billingsley and the 4th Marine Division invaded and captured the small island of Saipan. Later, he and the 4th Marine Division assisted in the capture of Tinian in July 1944 which ultimately saved the lives of Americans as the bomber Enola Gay forced the unconditional surrender of the Japanese Empire. On February 19, 1945, Billingsley landed on the island of Iwo Jima and fought under intense enemy fire for 36 days. Following the Battle of Iwo Jima, he was honorably discharged on November 27, 1945. Among numerous medals received, Billingsley was awarded two Presidential Unit Citations and the Congressional Veteran Commendation.
Sergeant Major "IRON" MIKE MERVOSH
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
STATIONED IN ROI NAMUR, MARSHALL ISLANDS, SAIPAN, TINIAN, IWO JIMA, KOREA, VIETNAM
MEDALS/HONORS RECEIVED
Three Navy Commendation Medals, Three Purple Hearts, Bronze StarMEMORY/STORY
At age 19, Sergeant Major Mervosh enlisted in the USMC in September 1942. Following boot camp at Parris Island and Infantry Training in North Carolina, Mervosh was sent to Camp Pendleton and activated into the 4th Marine Division. In February 1945, Mervosh fought on Iwo Jima as a Machine Gun Section Leader, Rifle Platoon Commander, and Company Commander. He received two Purple Hearts for wounds received in battle and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for his heroic actions on Iwo Jima. Following World War II, Mervosh reenlisted in the USMC, joining the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Battalion, G Company, and was sent to Korea. He was awarded the Bronze Star and his second Navy Commendation Medal for heroic actions in Korea. After two tours in Vietnam with the 1st Marine Division, he was awarded his third Navy Commendation Medal and third Purple Heart. Between wars, he served in five different Marine Divisions making countless operations and deployments in the Atlantic, Pacific, Caribbean, and Mediterranean. His final assignment was as the Fleet Marine Force Pacific Sergeant Major, the largest field command in the USMC. His rank as of February 14, 1958 as a Sergeant Major made him the most senior enlisted man of all the Armed Forces when he retired on September 1, 1977 after 35 years of service.Seattle USSVI Base: Eternal Patrol: Dick Moe: Richard "Dick" Moe departed on Eternal Patrol on July 12, 2011. Dick was born May 6, 1924 and served as a Radioman in the Navy from 1944
Eternal Patrol: Dick Moe
Sailor, rest your oars.
There will be visitations at the Hulbush Funeral Home (281 S. Burlington Boulevard, Burlington, WA. 98233) from 9-5 on Wednesday and Thursday July 20 and 21.
Service will be held Friday, July 22 at noon in the Bay View Cemetery in Bay View, WA.
Directions to Cemetery:
- From Interstate 5, take Exit 230 - turn onto Highway 20 heading West
- Turn right onto Farm to Market Road (Highway 237)
- Turn Left onto Josh Wilson Road; follow the road into Bay View.
- Turn right onto Bayview-Edison Road
- Turn right onto Bayview Cemetery Road and straight to destination.
A Memorial and Reception follows the service at 1:30 at the Burlington Lutheran Church (134 East Victoria Street, Burlington, WA. 98233, 360-755-0729)
Directions to Church:
- From Interstate 5, take Exit 230 - turn onto Highway 20 headed East
- Turn left on S Burlington Blvd
- Turn right on East Victoria Ave to church on the right
If you are planning on attending -please wear your vest or cap so we can show solidarity from our Fraternity.
Thanks,
To Mark Eberle
__________________________________________________________________
The San Juan’s Final Hours: The Loss of an Argentine Submarine
“We have everything we need to live underwater,” an Argentine submariner assured his mother early last month. By mid-month he and 43 fellow crew members were dead after what Argentine Navy officials and outside experts suspect was an blast caused by a battery mishap.
“We have everything we need to live underwater,” an Argentine submariner assured his mother early last month. By mid-month he and 43 fellow crew members were dead after what Argentine Navy officials and outside experts suspect was an blast caused by a battery mishap.
Lake Washington VFW Post 2995 Reaches Milestone Support Box
The local VFW post packed troop support box #10,000. A World War II veteran started the program six years ago as a way to bring some of the comforts of home to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
| Updated
World War II veteran John Kenny still remembers what it was like
serving as an infantryman in the Pacific — the disease, the lack of
showers, not knowing whether he would survive to return to the comforts
of life at home.
Kenny, 85, of Bothell, had a quick response when asked what he missed the most during his time in combat.
"Just about everything—because you had nothing," he said.
Six years ago, Kenny
decided to help provide some basic comforts to front-line troops in Iraq
and Afghanistan. Since then, he and an expansive team of volunteers
from all over the Eastside have gathered twice a month at VFW post #2995 in Redmond to pack and ship boxes full of junk food, hygiene items and other personal comforts to the Middle East.
On Thursday evening, about 100 people were at the post to pack and ship their 10,000th box. The milestone marked a total donation of $500,000 in merchandise and $105,000 in postage. All of the snacks and other items items that go into the boxes have been donated by shoppers at local grocery stores.
Kirkland resident Linda Clanin-Swanberg, mother of Marine Lance Cpl. Shane Clanin-Swanberg, has helped with the packing and shipping from time to time since her son was killed in Iraq in 2005.
"I wanted to do something to help out," she said of the support box effort. "Ever since Shane died, I wanted to help the ones that are still over there."
Clanin-Swanberg was joined by Robyn White in packing boxes 10,000 and 10,001 on Thursday. White's son, Spc. Joseph V. White of Bellevue, was killed in Afghanistan in 2009.
Kenny and other support box organizers said their effort has always focused on getting supplies to front-line troops, who often go without basic necessities such as fresh socks or nail clippers. One of the boxes packed Thursday will be going to Sgt. Jonathan Park of Issaquah, who is serving his second tour in Afghanistan after already completing two tours in Iraq.
His parents, Dave and Georgeanne Park, have been involved with the VFW project ever since Georgeanne found out about the effort through a mothers' support group. She said service members like her son are always grateful to receive reminders of home.
"(They're) thankful ... knowing people are thinking of them in their thoughts and prayers," she said.
Despite his own service, Kenny said he is especially grateful to those who have served or are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Back in World War II, troops had a clear vision of why they were fighting and a homefront that was solidly behind their efforts, he said.
Now, he said, things aren't so simple.
"These guys are truly the American heroes," Kenny said. "You get a special feeling when the postman picks up those boxes and you know the next stop is Afghanistan."
Kenny, 85, of Bothell, had a quick response when asked what he missed the most during his time in combat.
"Just about everything—because you had nothing," he said.
On Thursday evening, about 100 people were at the post to pack and ship their 10,000th box. The milestone marked a total donation of $500,000 in merchandise and $105,000 in postage. All of the snacks and other items items that go into the boxes have been donated by shoppers at local grocery stores.
Kirkland resident Linda Clanin-Swanberg, mother of Marine Lance Cpl. Shane Clanin-Swanberg, has helped with the packing and shipping from time to time since her son was killed in Iraq in 2005.
"I wanted to do something to help out," she said of the support box effort. "Ever since Shane died, I wanted to help the ones that are still over there."
Clanin-Swanberg was joined by Robyn White in packing boxes 10,000 and 10,001 on Thursday. White's son, Spc. Joseph V. White of Bellevue, was killed in Afghanistan in 2009.
Kenny and other support box organizers said their effort has always focused on getting supplies to front-line troops, who often go without basic necessities such as fresh socks or nail clippers. One of the boxes packed Thursday will be going to Sgt. Jonathan Park of Issaquah, who is serving his second tour in Afghanistan after already completing two tours in Iraq.
His parents, Dave and Georgeanne Park, have been involved with the VFW project ever since Georgeanne found out about the effort through a mothers' support group. She said service members like her son are always grateful to receive reminders of home.
"(They're) thankful ... knowing people are thinking of them in their thoughts and prayers," she said.
Despite his own service, Kenny said he is especially grateful to those who have served or are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Back in World War II, troops had a clear vision of why they were fighting and a homefront that was solidly behind their efforts, he said.
Now, he said, things aren't so simple.
"These guys are truly the American heroes," Kenny said. "You get a special feeling when the postman picks up those boxes and you know the next stop is Afghanistan."
VFW 2995 packs its 10,000th care package for troops overseas
On the first and third Thursday of each month,
veterans, family, friends and other volunteers from VFW 2995 in Redmond
have been packing care packages with personal items, food and candy to
be shipped to the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
On the first and third Thursday of each month, veterans, family, friends and other volunteers from VFW 2995 in Redmond have been packing care packages with personal items, food and candy to be shipped to the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
John Kenny, a World War II combat veteran who served in the Pacific on New Guinea, Leyte and Luzon, organized the Troop Support Program eight years ago and on March 21, VFW 2995 marked the milestone of packing its 10,000th box.
Kirkland 4th of July Parade Grand Marshall
John Kenny will be the Grand Marshall for Kirkland’s 4th of July Parade 2018. He is an amazing 92 year young WWII combat veteran.
Bio in John Kenny’s words
At age 17 in 1943 I enlisted in the United States Army. I was called to active duty two weeks after my 18th birthday. I completed 17 weeks of basic infantry training. Along with five of my basic training buddies, we were assigned to the 32nd infantry div. in New Guinea. At the time they were defending the West side of the Drinumor River. Our defense line was very sparsely defended as it was not expected the Japanese could muster enough men to break through our lines. This was a Major mistake.The Japanese general was able to gather force of 18,000 men. On July 10, 1944 this force overwhelmed our E company. My C company was ordered to abandon our position and try to assist E company. There were no roads in the interior of New Guinea only trails. We were only about 1 mile down the trail when we walked into an ambush. The Japanese had machine guns on both sides of the trail so we were caught in a crossfire. Two of my basic training buddies were killed that day and the third one was seriously wounded. Their platoon leader Gerry Endl gave his life trying to rescue his men. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Our company was completely surrounded for several days with our backs to the sea. We were extremely low on ammunition and probably one more attack would have been the end. We were very fortunate the 31st infantry division just landed to assist us. The Japanese retreated as their losses were devastating. After a few days, the records showed that 9300 Japanese were killed. Our division lost 420 killed. The scene was unbelievable. The bodies of Japanese soldiers were floating down the Drinumor river like logs floating out to sea. The Navy reported seeing bodies 10 miles out in the sea.
While in New Guinea most of us including me had malaria, dengue fever, jungle rot and dysentery. As bad as New Guinea was it was mild in comparison to the next two campaigns Leyte and Luzon.
Leyte
We landed in the island in the height of the typhoon season. Our division was assigned to take on the Japanese first Imperial division. They were the most elite division in the Japanese forces. The Japanese first Imperial division were well known for their skills and brutality. For 47 days we battled these skilled fighters as well as the terrible weather conditions. The island was a sea of mud. Every day you are exposed to torrential rain then the sun would come out and bake all the mud on your clothing and then the rains would come washing the mud off. That process repeated itself every day. In the meantime you’re fighting a very tough enemy. We were never sure who was going to win in the end. We were the winners because we had more firepower. We broke through their line on Christmas day 1944. We had over 50% casualties. As soon as we won this battle we were sent to the island of Luzon, to once again take on General, Yamashia who had now established a major defense line in the mountains of Luzon.Luzon
The battle for Luzon was the very worst of the three campaigns I was in. General Yamashita had four years to prepare an elaborate defense for his mountain fortress. To get to his headquarters on the highest mountain we had to get through a series of smaller mountains. We lost many men before we got to the main mountain. In mid-March, A company and our C company were several hundred yards from the crest of the main mountaintop. On March 28 A company was assigned to take the mountaintop. They were almost totally annihilated and did not make it. On March 29 our company was assigned to take the mountaintop. We succeeded in doing this but we only had 30 men left to hold that mountaintop. A few hours later I made the mistake of standing up to get a good line of fire for our machine-gun and as a result I was shot in the right arm and my assistant gunner was shot in the leg. That left only 28 men to secure that area. Lucky for us the Japanese were in even worse shape so there was no counter attack. Also reinforcements arrived the next day. They were lucky they didn’t have to fight their way up that mountain.When we arrived at the field hospital it was an overwhelming sight. The doctors and nurses were almost totally exhausted and they were treating over 250 men that were wounded that day. Only the more serious wounded were inside the hospital tent as there was no more room for the rest of us. We were on stretchers outside.
The nurses were almost totally exhausted yet they were just fantastic. They stopped by each and every one of us. They cleaned up our wounds gave us a shot of morphine and stayed to chat a few minutes. They were true Angels. The final count on this particular campaign was the Japanese had 8,900 killed and 50 POWs. We had 891 killed in action. That included my best friend Donald Thomas and 56 other members of my company. We had no count of our wounded but it was at least double the number of KIA’s.
I was fortunate enough to return from the hospital in time to witness general Yamashita surrendered to our division. He was hanged one year later.
Once again I was fortunate enough to be part of the occupation of Japan for three months. It was a fitting end to my war experience.
In the final count, it is estimated we killed over 34,000 Japanese and had roughly 10,000 of our own casualties including killed and wounded.
My first year home it was very difficult to adjust to civilian life. I had a severe problem with reoccurring malaria attacks. Another recently discharged infantry veteran and I decided to visit our old buddies around the country. I wanted to see Donald Thomas’ widow in Waterloo Iowa and my old assistant gunner in California. We were gone for almost a year with a 1933 DODGE for our transportation. We did odd jobs in various cities to finance the trip.
In 1948 I took a civil service test and was hired by the immigration service on Ellis Island New York. I was there six years until the island was closed in 1954. I transferred to the Federal Bureau of prisons as a correctional officer. When I graduated college I became a parole officer and I retired in 1977.
I was the legislative chairman for the VFW Department of Washington for eight years. Prior to her death, my wife and I ran a feed the homeless veterans program for five years.
In August of this year we begin year number 14 of our troop support program shipping care packages to our troops on the front lines, in Afghanistan and Iraq. Only Barbara Prejean and Ron Hartmark are left of our original group. In July we will fill box number 20,000.
I organized the troop support program and have been the one and only Chairman. In year 2000, the state Veterans Affairs committee elected me veteran volunteer of the year so I got to ride in a car in the AUBURN parade. Two years ago at the VFW state convention I was awarded the state lifetime achievement award.
I receive all of these awards on behalf of our great volunteers who make the troop support program work, without them we would have nothing.
JOHN KENNY
June 2018
For information about how you can support or volunteer with the VFW Post 2995 Troop Support Program, please call the Post at: 425-883-2995
20,000th care package sent from Washington volunteers to troops overseas
Updated:
REDMOND, Wash. - This week, the 20,000th care package for troops overseas was boxed up by volunteers at the VFW Post 2995 in Redmond, Washington.
It’s been 15 years there of boxing up goods for troops.
Clear plastic bins were on long tables framing the room.
Content Continues Below
Bins held Nutter Butters, cotton swabs, nail clippers, Starbursts, neon lollipops, Skittles, beef jerky, magazines and Beanie Babies.
Children and adults packed the mail with bright, crinkling goods.
When a volunteer reached the 20,000th box, he stuffed the package to its brim and then more; candy spilled from its top.
There was a round of applause at the box, which was marked in bright colors reading "# 20,000," "We love our troops," and "Prayers lead the way."
At the event, volunteers sang in a circle around an American flag the size of three bodies. The flag waved placidly before the group, who held hands on their hearts.
>> Watch video report from care packages for troops event
John Kenny, a 92-year-old World War II veteran, complimented a singer named Peggy before she began the song for the group.
He put his hand on her arm and talked on how she once sang for orchestras.
She grinned and laughed and then sang.
“God bless America,” she sang, and the group joined her. “Land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her through the night, with the light from above.”
The care packages, a bit of its own light, go to front-line troops, volunteer John Klym said.
VFW Post members, Fred Meyer and volunteers helped in the effort through the years.
Klym said the Beanie Babies are often given to local children by service members.
"It makes somebody's day better," Klym said.
Klym said the group needs more volunteers and could use donations, too, especially Beanie Babies.
When asked why he volunteers, Klym said because "it's the right thing to do."
Klym started volunteering years ago, originally brought in by veteran John Kenny.
"I can't begin to tell you what an inspiration he is," Klym said of Kenny. "And a motivator. We don't say no to John."
Kenny was wearing a light blue shirt the same color as his light eyes. On his head, he wore a black, triangular side cap lined with red.
Kenny spoke proudly of Redmond's VFW Post 2995.
He moved the group charismatically during the event and described the care packages as "very important."
"They're not token boxes," Kenny said. "They're five pounds of goods. Things you would never pay attention to. Like a fingernail clipper. That is essential. I was in New Guinea, and we'd all, we had one guy that had a fingernail clipper. That would have been, we'd all look like Howard Hughes."
After Kenny said that, he sat forward, chuckling.
"It's very important," Kenny then said, after a moment. "What's most important is, when a guy gets a package, he understands that he's not forgotten."
If you want to volunteer or donate to help the VFW Post, you can call them at (425) 883-2995 or email kjjkenny@aol.com.
If you have items to donate, you can drop them off to VFW Post 2995, 4330 148th Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052.
Organizers ask that you contact the post for a list of items being collected that month.
Fred Meyer Redmond and Kirkland stores! Make your donations on the dates below and for volunteer opportunities please email: PGPhillips@comcast.net.
Volunteers send care packages to American soliders overseas
Maggie Brooks, 12, puts items into a care package
while volunteering with American Heritage Girls Troop No. 1946 at the
VFW Post 2995 last Thursday.
Maggie Brooks, 12, puts items into a care package while
volunteering with American Heritage Girls Troop No. 1946 at the VFW Post
2995 last Thursday. Members of the American Heritage Girls Troop No.
1946 and Boy Scout Troop No. 946 were part of a group of volunteers who
put together 100 care packages to be shipped to American soldiers
overseas. During this meeting, the group assembled its 5,000th package.
Items being packed included those from a recent collection of $18,000
worth of merchandise donated by shoppers at the Redmond Fred Meyer
store. VFW volunteers handed out lists at the store, and shoppers
purchased items and donated them on the spot. VFW Post 2995 will be
holding another fundraiser at the Bellevue Fred Meyer store on Feb. 20
from 5-8 p.m. and Feb. 21- 22 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information,
contact John Kenny at kjjkenny@aol.com.
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