SUBMITTED BY:
Name: Catherine Hensley McMullen
From: Tallahassee, Florida
E-mail: Contact

COMMENTS:
My Dad, Mordecai Walter Hensley, served as a radio gunner in Marine Aircraft Group 61 - Squadron VMB 433 on Emirau during WWII. Some of the men in his squadron were John Dunaj, Donald Keefe, Philip Viehmann, Paul Dudley, Bob Bohanon, Gerald Merz, Pilot Jim Butler, and Pilot ? Smith. Dad passed away January 29, 2016 at the age of 91. He was buried with full military honors. It was a beautiful ceremony and so wonderful to see the young Marines in their dress blues who so faithfully serve. Dad would have been pleased and so very proud! Thank you to all who have served and who are serving our country! Semper Fi!

Added: February 27, 2016

SUBMITTED BY:
Name: Jane Parks-McKay
From: Santa Cruz, CA
E-mail: Contact

COMMENTS:
Carol Ann McDaniel: I am now just seeing your post from 2014 about wanting to donate your Dad's VMB433 logbook. I'd be happy to have it or perhaps I could direct it to someone, one of the "kids" who perhaps has some of the scrapbooks. Contact me on the contact me button and I can see what I can do.

Robert O'Reilly: I am so sorry for the loss of your Dad. I remember him well and enjoyed him. My Dad was Bill Parks who helped put on some of the reunions. We are definitely all family even as Marine "kids". Thanks for posting!

Jane Parks-McKay

Added: February 12, 2016

SUBMITTED BY:
Name: Jane Parks-McKay
From: Santa Cruz, CA
E-mail: Contact

COMMENTS:
Carol Ann McDaniel: I am now just seeing your post from 2014 about wanting to donate your Dad's VMB433 logbook. I'd be happy to have it or perhaps I could direct it to someone, one of the "kids" who perhaps has some of the scrapbooks. Contact me on the contact me button and I can see what I can do.

Robert O'Reilly: I am so sorry for the loss of your Dad. I remember him well and enjoyed him. My Dad was Bill Parks who helped put on some of the reunions. We are definitely all family even as Marine "kids". Thanks for posting!

Jane Parks-McKay

Added: February 12, 2016

SUBMITTED BY:
Name: Jane Parks-McKay
From: Santa Cruz, CA
E-mail: Contact

COMMENTS:
Alex: thank you so much for sharing such lovely memories about your Grandfather. Your Grandaddy and my Dad, William R. Parks, served in WWII together. I would love to see a photo of your Grandfather if you don't mind? I am not sure how you can get it to me but my email should be on the Squadron posts.

Colonel Hsyes: I really enjoyed reading about the memories of your Dad. Thank you for following your Dad in the service and Semper Fi. I, too, enjoyed seeing the Sqaudron photos and albums so much.

Semper Fi!

Added: January 7, 2016

SUBMITTED BY:
Name: Alex Escalante
From: Texas
E-mail: Contact

COMMENTS:
Hello,

I can't believe I'm just now discovering this website. For many long years I knew my grandfather had been a Marine during the Pacific campaigns and knew he had flown in the PBJ variant of the B-25. It was because of him that I developed a childhood fascination for the B-25 and most things military. He was always a cheerful and gentle fellow and the greatest friend I had ever had.

Hall, James D.
Sergeant
Radio-Gunner, Aviation

Left us on October 20th 2013, a few days shy of his 57th wedding anniversary, a victim of pancreatic cancer. A few months prior to his passing, after the hospital had told us that he only had 6 months to live, we took him down to the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, TX. I have a picture of him posing next to the plaque dedicated to VMB-433. If you would like to receive it, please let me know.

Thank you all for your service, and God bless.

Added: October 26, 2015

SUBMITTED BY:
Name: Bob Haney
From: New Jersey
E-mail: Contact

COMMENTS:
Looking to match up the squadron numbers on the PBJ-1Js used toward the end of the war with the BUNOs of the aircraft. Knowing the BUNO of all the PBJ-1Js that served with VMB433 I'd like to know what the corresponding squadron numbers like 306, 308, 309 etc were attached to what BUNO aircraft. All help appreciated.

Thanks

Bob Haney

Added: August 21, 2015

SUBMITTED BY:
Name: Colonel Charles Hsyes USMC (Ret)
From: Aledo TX
E-mail: Contact

COMMENTS:
Gentlemen,
My father was member of VMB 433 and attended several squadron reunions in the past. I just wanted you to know that my father passed away on April 23, 2015, he was 92. He was buried at the Dallas/Ft Worth National Cemetery with full military honors. He was buried in his Dress Blues. I made a few phone calls and able to get an all Marine Honor Guard and my son Captain Hunter S Hayes USMC also participated in his funeral, I think my father would have been proud. My father spoke to me many times about his tour in this squadron and I have seen his squadron cruise book on numerous occasions.

Semper Fi
Colonel Charles Hayes
United States Marine Corps (Ret)

Added: June 2, 2015

SUBMITTED BY:
Name: Jane Parks-McKay
From: Santa Cruz, CA
E-mail: Contact

COMMENTS:
Happy Memorial Day. We spent the day celebrating our fallen Heroes but let us remember them, if we can, all year round. You are all heroes to us AND those who served for your country so that we can have the freedom that we have.

If anyone else is viewing the logbook, would love to see comments from others. Let us not forget the fine, fine people who served in VMB433.

God Bless.

Added: May 25, 2015

SUBMITTED BY:
Name: Jane Parks-McKay
From: Santa Cruz, CA
E-mail: Contact

COMMENTS:
VMB433 Member wrote me last night about some sad news:

Fred Stokes passed away January 5th at 9:30 p.m. Services will be this Friday, June 9th. I'm sure the family would like to receive messages of sympathy.

Glen Albright's wife, Irene, passed away last September from what Don said.

I will be sending sympathy cards to both families and will, of course, mention VMB433 family.

God Bless their souls and the hearts of their families and friends.

Added: January 7, 2015

SUBMITTED BY:
Name: Jane Parks-McKay
From: Santa Cruz, CA
E-mail: Contact

COMMENTS:
We have had two passings of wives, both of whom attended many Marine squadron reunions and were well-loved by a ll of us.

Polly Wilson, widow of Bill Wilson, passed away recently in Texas. Her daughter who attended many reunions did a fine job of taking care of her beloved Mother to the end. Polly lived in Texas.

Kitty Leonard, widow of Bill Leonard, passed away and her services were held in South Carolina this past Saturday. Graham, her daughter who attended reunions and helped coordinate a few for the group and family did a fine job taking care of their Mom too. Don and Maxine Tatreau who live in North Carolina attended and I learned what a wonderful service it was.

Cards would be appreciated to both families. The 2009 roster, the last one published, correctly has the addresses that interested people can send words of sympathy to. God rest the souls of these very nice ladies, I enjoyed both myself over the years.

Added: December 1, 2014