82nd Fighter Group Association Newsletter
PRESIDENTMarc Buonaguidi
VICE PRESIDENTSteve Powell
TREASURERJohn Netzer Parliman
SECRETARYNancy Medley Manduano
PRESIDENT EMERITUSHarley C. Vaughn
PAST PRESIDENTSW.S. Will HattendorfGeorge C. MarvinJohn C.
HendrixR.M. Monty Powers, Jr.Donald T. FoleyJohn J. KaneLeo
Fisher
UNIT REPRESENTATIVES
HEADQUARTERSWilliam T. Mason
95TH SQUADRONOlen L. Medley
96TH SQUADRONRichard Ostronik
97TH SQUADRONR.E. Dick Gadbury (Emeritus)G.L. Jerry Powell
NEWSLETTER/ROSTEROpen
WEBMASTERDarren Buonaguidi
Presidents ReportPilots and Crew in attendance in Tulsa
By Marc Buonaguidi
1270 W 75th Street website: www.82ndFighterGroup.orgMarathon, FL
33050 email: [email protected] 82nd Fighter
Group Association is a non-profit, 501(c)(19) Organization2 |
PageThe 82nd Fighter Group Association is a non-profit, 501(c)(19)
Organization
The Tulsa ReunionAnother successful reunion! Thanks to those
that were able to attend, and those that could not attend were
missed. Tulsa is a wonderful town with art-deco buildings and good
beef! We attended an Oktoberfest Thursday night and were
entertained by Oompah bands, good beer, sauerkraut, bratwurst
sausages, and pretzels. Fridays trip to the Oklahoma Air National
Guard included watching the taxi and take-off of twelve F-16
fighter jets, a nice lunch at the chow hall, and a walk through the
local Air and Space museum.
Executive MeetingAt the executive meeting we agreed to the
proposal of closing the memorial fund and refunding memorial
donations back to the donors. The donors also have the option of
having their donations rolled into the general account. We also
discussed the idea of having the current officers remain in office
through 2016 if needed. This would ensure consistency of leadership
in the event no other members are interested in running for office
in 2016.
To share the responsibility, we decided to allow two officers to
have access to the Association Banking statements. This will help
with tracking income and expenses, and also help next years reunion
hosts by having multiple sources of guidance for event budgeting
and payments.
A beautiful day in a beautiful cityMember Meeting The member
meeting we voted on and passed both proposals discussed at the
Executive meeting. The memorial fund will be closed and the donors
will have the option of having their donation refunded or rolling
their donation into the general fund. A letter will be sent to each
of the donors. The current officers will remain in office, unless
challenged, through 2016.We also discussed the reunion for 2015
which is being held in Salt Lake City, Utah. My wife Mary and I
volunteered to host the 2016 reunion in San Diego, and that was
passed by the members as well.ReceptionThe reception BBQ Friday
night was a big hit! Great food, good cocktails, and lots of
friendly chat. We held a silent auction with several items that had
been donated. It was a very popular event and we raised over
$300.00 for the Association.
BanquetThe banquet was homerun for the Association! The food was
excellent. I had the tenderloin and it was cooked perfectly and
delicious. Prior to dinner service, the Oklahoma National Guard
color guard presented the flag. After presenting the flag, a
National Guard member gave a very moving description of the Table
of Remembrance. The Table of Remembrance is a table set for all
four branches of the Military, but left empty in honor of those
that are not able to join us.Following dinner, we had the honor of
having General Ferguson, the Commanding Officer of the Oklahoma
National Guard, as our guest speaker. He gave a very sincere thanks
to the pilots in the room who had fought a war as young men with
heart and determination as their most powerful weapon.
OtherOn Thursday night we had what seemed to be an intruder
enter the Hospitality room. I spoke with him immediately and
learned he had no connection to our group. He had found out about
our event through the internet and found his way to the hotel. I
made it clear that
this was a private event and politely asked him to leave.As a
general rule to prevent this situation from happening again, I
would ask that no unregistered guests be allowed access to any of
our events without my personal approval.
ClosingIt was a wonderful event with wonderful people. Tulsa was
beautiful, the people were friendly and the skies were clear
(mostly). It is an honor to be associated with all of you, and I
feel very lucky to have had a father that served with such great
men.
Memorial bricks
Members relax by a campfire conserving their energy for the
reunion
82nd Fighter Group Association Annual Meeting MinutesThe meeting
was called to order at 0900 by President Marc Buonaguidi.Present,
in addition to approximately 30 members were the following members
of the Executive Committee: Leo Fisher, Marc Buonaguidi, Dick
Ostronik, Olen Medley, Nancy Medley Manduano, John Netzer Parliman,
John Kane, Jerry Powell, Bill Hattendorf, Will Hattendorf, Hank
Phillips and Lute Thompson.
Secretarys Report: Nancy Medley Manduano presented the minutes
from the 2013 annual meeting. A motion was made by John Parliman to
accept as written and motion carried unanimously.
Treasurer's Report: The Treasurers Report was presented and
reviewed by John Parliman. Corrections were made on the Financial
statement from July 2012-June 2013-June 2014 Financial Report is
attached. The dues are less to date and post cards asking for
tuition will be mailed out to members in March. The Memorial fund
checking account has been closed after all bills were paid. This
fund is 3 years old and is felt this organization is small and 4
other memorial funds currently exist honoring the 82 FG: Wright
Patterson Museum, March Airfield, the 82 FG has their own hangar at
March Field, Riverside ,CA . The Air Force Academy as of this month
completed the walkway of the New Orleans Museum by placing bricks
with names of 82nd FG members on a specific walkway. John Parliman
proposed to send letters to the donors of the memorial fund telling
of the termination of the memorial fund. The donors will be asked
if they wish to donate the money to the group or have money
returned to donors since is felt enough memorials already exist.
Will Hattendorf made motion to terminate funding this memorial and
accept treasure's report and Olen Medley seconded the motion which
was unanimously carried.
Nominating Committee: No election is needed at this time as all
current officers are willing to continue in office unless any
objections noted. There were no objections.
Next Reunion: Steve and Peggy Powell plan to host the next
reunion to be held September 9-13, 2015in Salt Lake City, Utah at
the DoubleTree Hotel. The 388 Fighter Squadron is located there and
plan to exhibit the new Lightning II or F-35's. Steve asked for
ideas for next year in Salt Lake and a city tour was requested.
Some members requested organized activities to be planned. San
Diego was discussed as possible location for 2016 Reunion.
The motion to adjourn the meeting at9:30was made by President
Marc Buonaguidi.
Treasurers Report
82nd FIGHTER GROUP ASSOCIATIONFINANCIAL STATEMENTJULY 1, 2013
JUNE 30, 2014Beginning Balance (all accounts):
$11,088.95Receipts:Donations Regular $ 100.00Memorial 295.00Total
395.00Dues Associate $ 15.00Honorary/Heritage 60.00Family
600.00Sustaining 265.00Total 940.00Reunions Profit 2013 $
285.45Total 285.45
Total Receipts $ 1,620.45Payments:Supplies $ 417.33Postage
158.90Newsletter/Memo 359.71WWII Museum Brick Program 7,751.31Total
Payments 8,687.25Ending Balance (all accounts): $
8,938.61Individual Account Balances:Memorial $ 4,916.46Operating $
4,022.15Respectfully Submitted,
John Parliman, Treasurer
Keeping in TouchMessages from Members & InquiriesNewsletter
90
We have had numerous contacts through the reunion and
commemorative brick program notes, the website, Face Book messages
and phone calls that are excerpted below. Keep them coming. We love
hearing from you.
Katie Kroger 96th, called to say she enjoys getting the
newsletter & appreciates all who are helping to keep the 82nd
going. She helped her home town restore the old courthouse to a
museum & also helped at the Veterans' Day observance there.
Hope Swanson, 96th, called to say she attended many reunions
with her husband, misses everyone, is very pleased that the
'youngsters' are keeping it going and really looks forward to the
newsletter.
Al Schneider, 97th, called to say he thinks of everyone and is
just not able to attend the reunions at this time.
Blythe Pratt, 97th family member, has shingles but is otherwise
doing well and hoping to attend next year.
Bob Carpenter, 95th, said he and Pat are well, unable to attend
the reunion this year; but hoping to next year,
Sylvia Ostronik talked with George Rivest, 97th, who conveyed
that he and Grace would not be attending this year. We wish them
well and hope to see them in Salt Lake City.
Matt O'Toole sends hugs to all. His web design work prevented
him from attending this years reunion. Maybe next year Matt.
Jerry Powell, 97th, is doing well after a tumble. He is looking
forward to the Salt Lake City reunion next year which will be in
his backyard. The bigger news is that he and Nan were married this
past February.
Lois and Mel Roalsvig, 97th, report they visited Nona Isaacson,
96th, and enjoyed both conversation and Pinot Grigio.
Fran Kane, 96th, emailed she was holding down things in NH and
missed being with us.
Donna Deforge Face Booked that her husband, Alvah, and mother in
law Claire, 97th, were at the reunion in spirit, carrying their
challenge coins and sending cheers.
Tim Turner, son of Mary and Amos Turner, 82nd notified us of the
death of his mother. He also mentioned with pride that his son,
Clayton, graduated from the Air Force Academy and served as a
Captain.
The family of Charles R Thompson, Jr., 96th, writes that they
are very appreciative of the job the 82nd did, cherish the many
tales he conveyed including being on the Queen Mary and that they
are proud of all of you who served.
The following requests for information came through our Face
Book page. Contact John Parliman if you have any information you
would like to share with their family members.
Rick Bergman wants to know if William Bill Franke was in the
82nd.
Natalie Brandon wants to know more about Lt Gerald L Rounds,
97th, Cedar City, UT. Deceased 10/4/07. We can tell you, Natalie,
that he was a Flying Sergeant when he left March Field in the fall
of 1942 and that he went overseas on the Queen Mary.
Leslie Donohue Shilling wants to know if anyone remembers her
dad, Sylvan Rene 'Buster Vidrine, 95th pilot. We can tell you,
Leslie, that he was deployed after the fall of 1942 and that he was
not an active member of the association since his name does not
appear in either the March Field deployment list or the folded
wings listing of the association membership. We are trying to find
more about him.
Chris Hillman, grandson of Harold 'Harry' Hillman, a crewman,
posted a brochure from the 2nd 82nd Overseas Reunion. He would like
any info people have about Harry. We can tell you, Chris, that he
was a Sergeant with the 97th when he left March Field, Riverside,
CA in the fall of 1942 and went overseas on the Queen Mary.
Kensey Russell wants to know about his grandfather, crewman
Victor A Walker. He posted some fantastic photos from N Africa and
Italy handed down from his grandfather. Anyone with info please
contact John Parliman. We can tell you, Kensey that he left March
Field, Riverside, CA in the fall of 1942 as a Staff Sgt with the
97th Fighter Squadron which means he initially was a Flying
Sergeant and that he went overseas on the Queen Mary.
It is so gratifying to see new contacts through social media
from family members. We hope they will join us in perpetuating the
memory of their 82nd family members by attending reunions and
becoming members. Membership is $25 annual. They can contact Nancy
Medley Manduano at [email protected], secretary.The link to the
82nd Fighter Group Facebook is www.facebook.com/Adorimini.
Folded Wings since Newsletter 89
Fred Graham, 96thJuly 2014
Rosalie Heller, 97thJuly 2014
Jake Hendrix, 95th October 2014
Charles R Thompson, Jr., 96th May 2014
Mary Turner, 82ndJuly 2014
