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Volume 1 , Issue 31
VP-2
April 2016
Special Points of
Interest
VP 2 goes to sea
Hello all,
Where to in 2018?
Emails needed
Treasurers Notes
Reunion Info
Reunion Attendees
Chaplains Corner
VP Officers and
Appointments
Officers
President
Greg Kelley
1st VP
Dino Vlahakis
2nd VP
Jim Welch
Director
Vic Gulliver
Director
Nick Niccum
Director
Floyd Palmer
Secretary/
Treasurer
Bob Behrend
I hope you have come through the winter and are enjoying Spring weather. The
newsletter is earlier than usual due to our reunion in August. Nick Niccum along
with Dave and Connie Bowen have a great time planned. The details begin on page
6 and include the list of those already signed up. Nick tells me there are over 100
already. If you are not registered, I encourage to do so now and join your shipmates in a return to Oak Harbor and see the Patrol Squadron Memorial.
A special note to those who have signed up for Tour Number One at the reunion.
This is the visit to Ault Field and lunch with a special speaker. Because of security
rules, Nick must submit a list of those attending to the base two weeks before the
tour. There is a note later in the newsletter but you must get your drivers license
number to Nick by July 15. The DL number does not apply if you have a retired
military ID. But he needs the other information.
We have a change in the newsletter distribution. After many years of outstanding
service Sheila Opsal has resigned as our editor and publisher. I have taken over that
responsibility and hope you will bear with me. With the transition the Executive
board decided now was the time to switch to electronic distribution by email for
those who have it. This significantly reduces costs and also the labor effort to assemble, seal, label and mail. If you are receiving this as a paper copy, it is probably
because we do not have a valid email address for you. If you do have an email
please send an email to Patron2assn@yahoo.com. That will allow us to add you to
the electronic version in the future and further reduce costs. It will also provide a
way to contact you for any urgent updates of special items between newsletters.
We have received a few more bios for the website, but we need more. You guys all
have interesting stories. Write them up and submit.
We have several new members since the last reunion. Welcome to: #601 Ken Price
(52-54), #602 Frank and Rossy Collins ((6367), #603 Bob and Irma Guthrie (5052), #604 Anthony and Simmi Mills (65-67), #605 Cleo and Teresa Paine (67-69),
#606 Dan and Philomena Salfisberg (63-65), #607 Garfield Van Aller (62-65) and
#608 John and Pat Callahan (67-69).
Sue and I look forward to seeing you all in Oak Harbor.
Greg Kelley, President, Patrol Squadron Two Association.
VP-2
Page 2
The first week of February of 2016 there was a mini-muster of VP-2. On board the
Emerald Princess sailing out of Fort Lauderdale were four members of our great
organization and their spouses; Vic and Pat Gulliver, Jim and Pat Welch, Arley and
Ann Hamilton and Dave and Barbara Finley. Being proud veterans of our fighting
forces during the Cold War (we won the cold war for America) we early on assured
the Captain of the ship that should problems develop, Vic has extensive piloting
experience ( and piloting a ship is not much different than piloting an A/C according
to Vic ) and the ATs Jim, Arley and Dave could help if any of his electronics broke
down that still have VACUUM tubes in them. Has it really been 58 years ??
This was an island hopping cruise of the eastern Caribbean with stops in Princess
Cays in the Bahamas, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Grand Turk. The sand was
soft, the water warm, the company delightful and the Princess Cruise line is undoubtedly ordering an emergency restocking of a certain Pinot Noir.
As always during the dinners adventures were remembered from times in training
and deployments in Iwakuni and Kodiak. With Captain Gulliver present sea stories
maintained something similar to the truth ( and we were ordered to believe the
ones he told ). As the tales unfolded one of the dinner wait staff, Nadia, was continually raising her eyebrows and repeatedly looking at the mild mannered Arley Edgar Hamilton. In her Argentine accented English she would say hem deed dat?
We assured her it was all true. His wife Ann told her it was not. Twenty-two year
old Nadia is confused about Americans at this point but is thinking of joining the
Navy. We have done our recruiting duty.
Volume 1, Issue 31
Page 3
In the past I think we have stayed away from some areas because of perceived cost. New
York, Boston, Washington D.C. and San Francisco come to mind. Any location within the contiguous US is possible with good planning. And FUNDS !
Having mentioned some previous and believed to be expensive locations also think of San Jose, Reno, Las Vegas, Denver, Phoenix, Tucson, Nashville, Orlando, and New Orleans.
We all enjoy a special bond from our VP 2 duty and lets continue to have a great time in a location we all want.
**********Please send your vote to my attention at japwelch751@gmail.com **********
The votes will be counted and the top 3 locations will be voted on in Oak Harbor.
And while I sometimes forget to say it, Thank you AND your family for your service to our
country.
Jim Welch
VP-2
Page 4
VP 2 Items
Caps, Cups and Shirts
Jim Welch has arranged for these items to be made and is selling them. Order
directly from him and he will deliver at the reunion. ORDER AND PAY NOT
LATER THAN JULY 15.
Cup
Cap
Polo Shirts
To order send a check to Jim Welch , 8601 Terrrll Dr., North Richland Hills,
TX 76182 or call him at 817-788-2204 with questions. Email
japwelch751@gmail.com
If you are not attending the reunion, Jim will send for the cost of postage.
Volume 1, Issue 31
Page 5
Tour #1
NAS and Ault Field
Treasurer's
Notes
By Bob Behrend
Important
behrendr001@hawaii.rr.com
VP-2
Page 6
Our Hotel: If you are planning (or just hoping) to attend the reunion, there are some things you need to do soon. One is to
make your reservation with the Best Western Hotel by calling them at 360-679-4567. Tell them you are with the VP-2 reunion
group in order to get our special discounted room rate of $90 per night. Most attendees will likely arrive on Thursday, August
25th and depart on Monday, August 29th,, but you may arrive earlier or stay later with the same great room rate. We have 60
rooms set aside at our low rate, so we emphasize the need to book your room early to guarantee that rate. The hotel will require a
credit card to book the room, but the card will not be charged until you check-out after the reunion. You may cancel the hotel
reservation up to three days prior to your first day without a cancellation fee. Again, your hotel reservations are up to you and
are separate from your reunion reservations.
Reunion Reservations: Your reunion committee needs to know how many will be attending the reunion, so we ask that you
use the form provided in this newsletter to send in your reservation for the reunion, for your choices of optional tours, and with
your full payment. You'll have a choice of entree for the Sunday night banquet, so we'll need to hear your selections. The form
and your check should be mailed to Nick Niccum at 18821 185th Ave., Woodinville, WA 98077. Make checks payable to "VP
-2 Reunion." The cost of the reunion is $120 per person plus the cost of the tours chosen. A deadline of April 1, 2016 is set for
reservations, but earlier submissions are needed and greatly appreciated so that we can do our detailed planning.
Transportation: For those coming in via SeaTac airport, there is scheduled shuttle service from the airport to Oak Harbor for
$80 per person round-trip with an added $2.50 drop off charge for stopping at the Best Western. The Whidbey-SeaTac Shuttle is
available with nine trips a day up to Oak Harbor. They depart SeaTac every two hours starting at 6:45 am, seven days a
week. Reservations are required, and can be made online at www.seatacshuttle.com or call 877-679-4003 toll free. They do give
discounts for military, seniors, youth and round trips.
Saturday: Optional tour #2 of the Boeing plant and the Paul Allen Flying Heritage Collection at Paine Field in Everett. A good
deal of walking required. OR Optional tour #3 to For t Casey, Admir alty Head Lighthouse, Por t Townsend
and Coupeville for sightseeing, shopping and wine tasting. A good deal of walking required.
Dinner on your own at your choice of a local restaurant
Sunday:
Volume 1, Issue 31
Page 7
Tour Descriptions:
Tour #1 Friday: Travel by bus to the Naval Air Station where we will first notice the newly refurbished A3D
on display at the main gate. Inside the gate, we expect to have a quick tour of the airfield and the old familiar
flight line where we will see P-3 Orions, EA-18 Growlers, and maybe the new P-8 Poseidons. We'll have lunch
at the O' Club, and hopefully a guest speaker to fill us in on Navy current events. Then back on the bus for a
short trip to the Veterans Memorial Park to participate in the ceremony of the city's rededication of the park after
its summer-long remodeling. We'll have time to visit the famous Whidbey Patrol Squadron Memorial that we all
worked so hard to create. Before returning to the hotel, we'll visit the PBY Museum and get up close and personal with the PBY that is undergoing renovation at the site. The cost of this tour is $39 per person which includes lunch. If going on Tour #1, see important note on page 5. Email Nick with subject: VP2 Reunion.
Tour #2 Saturday: Travel by bus to Paine Field near Everett to visit the Flying Heritage Collection owned by
Paul Allen of Microsoft fame. This is an amazing collection of vintage aircraft in two hangars full of history. Most of these aircraft have been restored to flying condition. Then on to the Boeing plant for a walking tour
of where the 787 aircraft are assembled. A box lunch will be provided during this day-long tour. The cost of
this tour is $63 per person which includes a box lunch. There will be considerable walking on this tour.
OR
Tour #3 Saturday: Note that this is an alternate tour. One can take Tour #2 or Tour #3, but not
both. Bring your cameras as you may see whales, seals, sea lions, porpoises or Orcas... but maybe not. The first
stop is Fort Casey, which was an important defense facility in World War I, guarding the Puget Sound. Then on
to the Admiralty Head lighthouse, which was recently restored and is quite picturesque. Then off to the ferry
terminal to walk onto the ferry to Port Townsend on the Olympic Peninsula. Port Townsend is a quaint old town
from the windjammer days with numerous gift and antique shops, snack and coffee shops. We'll browse and
walkabout for two hours before again boarding the Coupeville (Keystone) ferry back to Whidbey Island. We'll
bus to Coupeville for another walkabout, with more shops, an historic museum and a great pier where you can
see the skeleton of "Rosie" the whale that washed up on Whidbey Island and was cleaned and reassembled for
display. Then wander one block to the Bay Leaf Wine and Cheese Shop to sample some wine and nibbles before
heading back to our hotel. The cost of this tour is $15 per person, and there will be additional charges on
the tour for ferry tickets (under $2 each way) and optional food and wine tasting. There will be considerable walking on this tour.
Tour #4 Sunday: We'll board shuttle buses to Deception Pass and Bowman Bay, where we'll be picked up for
a boat cruise around and through Deception Pass. An on-board guide will tell us about the history of the Pass,
the bridge, the wildlife and surrounding area. Bowman Bay has a great history with structures built during the
Great Depression era by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). We'll have a catered picnic at the shelter in the
park with a variety of hot foods and cold salads. It can be chilly near the water, so jackets are advised. The cost
of this tour is $56 per person which includes the picnic lunch and the boat ride.
VP-2
The following Shipmates and wives have signed up for the reunion. Now is your time to register and join them. The reservation form is on the next page.
Bailey, Robert
65-68
Kosbab, Neil/Linnea
56-59
Behrend, Bob/Sue
63-66
Kraper., Bill/Kathleen
60-61
Bowen, David/Connie
62-65
Mann, Jerry/B.J.
52-55
Bowman. Wayne/Arlene
62-64
Michel, Dave/Dorothy
58-62
Brougham, Dave
64-66
Millar, Doug/Anne
62-65
Campbell. Bruce
66-67
Sommer, Marvin/Carolyn
54-57
Casey, Bob/Sunny
58-59
Mills, Anthony
63-67
Christ, Dennis/Ann
64-67
60-63
58-62
Niccum, Nick/Linda
65-67
61-63
68-69
Davey, Daniel/Juanita
60-62
Palmer. Floyd/Lois
61-65
DeBoer, Ken/Kathy
63-66
Porterfield, Gary/Lynda
63-66
Donohue, Doug
59-62
Pruett, Bill/Heidi
66-69
Doyle, Lawrence
65-68
Rhodes. Thomas/Carol
62-65
Finley, Dave/Barbara
57-60
Russell, Jerry/Sharon
61-65
Fuller, Steven/Karen
66-69
Rustad, Irvin/Lynn
62-66
Gilbertson, D/Pat
65-69
Schneider, Bill/Myrna
51-54
Growney. Richard/Sharon
68-69
Tate, Thompson/Juanita
54-57
Gulliver, Vic/Pat
59-63
Tucker, Joseph/Rosemary
62-64
Guthrie, Robert/Irma
48-52
Vaccarro, Al plus 2
59-62
Hamilton, Arley/Ann
55-69
Vavrek, John/Mary
65-67
Hand, Ernest/Anne
59-61
Viahakis. Dino
59-61
Hanson, Faye
58-61
Walker, Bruce/Mary Jo
56-59
Hungerford, Dennis/Gail
65-67
Welch, Jim/Pat
56-59
Johnson, Bill/Linda
65-66
Will, George/Shirley
66-69
Kelley, Greg/Sue
63-66
Wolfe, Bob/Pat
64-66
Klett, Bill/Julie
59-62
Zambriski, Bill/Eileen
56-58
VP 2
City
State
Zip
$ 39.00 ***
X _________ = $__________
$63.00
X _________ = $__________
$15.00**
X _________ = $__________
Tour #4 Bowman/Deception
$56.00
X _________ = $__________
Total Payment: $__________
** There will be some additional costs for Ferry Tickets, Lunch and Wine Tasting on this tour.
*** IMPORTANT. This tour requires preapproval for admission to the base. See Note on Page 5.
Submit this form and your total payment to Nick Niccum at 18821 185th Avenue, Woodinville, WA
98077. Make checks payable to VP-2 Reunion.
REMEMBER: The sooner you can r egister for the r eunion, the better !
VP-2
Page 10
In Memoriam
We have learned of the
loss of the following
association and associate members (***)
since our
December 15 newsletter.
John
(Jack)
Burrell
(squadron 50-53)(Oct 14)
Donald Gill (squadron 5861(Sep 15)
Ken Sanford (squadron 54
-56)(Sep 15)
Robert "Jake" Jacobs
(squadron 65-66)(Nov 15)
Carl L. Hansen (squadron
67-69)(Dec 15)
***Patsy Lee Branscomb
(wife of Max Branscomb)
(squadron 57-60)(Mar 16)
Non-Members:
Capt. Thomas "Jack"
Keene (squadron 62-65)
(Feb 16)
Steven
W.
Kraling
(squadron 65-67)(Feb 16)
Volume 1, Issue 31
Page 11
Greg Kelley
274 Plantation Rd. Houston, TX 77024
713-419-5799 gregnsue@sbcglobal.net
Dino Vlahakis
54 Westview Lane, Lebanon, NH 03766
603-448-3729 cgv601@comcast.net
Jim Welch
8601 Terrell Dr., North Richland Hills, TX 76182
817-788-2204 japwelch751@gmail.com
Secretary/Treasurer
Robert Behrend
98-1820 Kaahumanu St. Apt P, Pearl City, HI 96782
808-455-7670 behrendr001@hawaii.rr.com
Director
Vic Gulliver
1900 Franklin Drive, Glenview, IL 60026
847-296-6907 vicgulliver@comcast.net
Director
Nick Niccum
18821 185th Ave. NE, Woodinville, WA 98077
425-788-9834 nickniccum@hotmail.com
Director
Floyd D. Palmer
213 Woodhill Ct., Mankato, MN 56001
507-327-6761 floydp@palmerbusservice.com
Website Coordinator
Doug Donohue
PO Box 2894, Gardnerville, NV 89410
775-781-3737 nvsoar@charter.net
Association Chaplain
Doug Millar
12515 Maple Street, Leavenworth, WA 98826
509-888-1910 dna@dnamillar.com
Association Historian
Skip Forseth
2319 Brewster, Redwood City, CA 94062
650-365-2806
p2flyer@pacbell.net
Association Parliamentarian
Bob Bender
197 Mill Pond Drive, Middleville, MI 49333
616-450-6790
bobender@yahoo.com
Membership Chairman
Bob Champoux
286 145th Place SE, Bellevue, WA 98007
425-502-9883
rchampoux@comcast.net
Looking to Share
Information
in the
VP 2 Neptune
Newsletter?
If any of our members would
like to contribute news,
thoughts,
experiences, etc.,
We want to hear from you.
Email:
Greg Kelley