VR-24 Guestbook

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900 Entries
Steve Smith 
Aug 2, 2007

City, State: Lovettsville, VA

Comments:
Took me only 35 years to find this info!  I was stationed Naples, from late 1970 through early 1972.  Worked in admin office for the SLJO's, Lt Alan Adams and LTJG John O'Sullivan (both great guys).  Remember Pat Davis, Ken Collins, Bob Williams, Larry Walker, and our CO CAPT William Hartung. 

Would like to hear from anyone that was in Naples during that time period. 


Dick Prather Email
July 24, 2007

City, State: Ramona, CA

Comments:
I have just this evening uploaded a couple of new Scrapbook Pages for Rota and added one new Ramp Watch page.  Also updated the  Whats New Page to reflect the updates.  Check it for links direct to the new additions and change pages.   Am looking for additional photos and material for the site.  Thanks for your support. 

Dick Prather, web site manager/editor


Dino Deinhardt Email
July 16, 2007

City, State: Wheeling, WV

Comments:

I was in VR-24 from 65/67 @ again in 69 to 74. I would enjoy hearing from anyone who may remember me and our many exploits touring the med.


Tom Borbe 
July 14, 2007

City, State: Watertown, WI

Comments:
Came to VR-24 in `58 as an ET school drop out.  Made YN3 in the maintenance office with CWO Thomas and chiefs Lockwood, Davis, Hayden and AD1 Castegnari.  Great duty for an 18 yr old kid.  Bill Miller and I reenlisted together via Capt Hood. Left VR-24 in 6l and went to VS-3l Quonset, then VA-42 in Oceana.  Made YN2 and figured the airedales weren`t that bad, but wound up for a year in DaNang, then a year on Desron 32 staff.  Except for cruising on a tin can it wasn`t bad although nothing compared to VR-24 a close knit group.  Left the service in Nov 67 as a YN1 but stayed in the reserves for another 12 yrs retiring in Apr 80.  Went to work for UPS  retiring in Aug 2000.  Have a lot of good memories of VR-24 and  Dick Prather included  some of my pictures on the website.  He does a beautiful job on the website. Went to a couple of the reunions and really had a great time.  My wife bought me a laptop computer to finally get me into the 21st century.   Regards to all.


Robert Bruce Robertson Email
June 29, 2007

City, State: Philadelphia, PA

Comments:
I was a CYN3 and a YN2 at VR-24 from summer of 1967 to early 1969, in Naples, Italy (Areoporto di Capodichino).  Those were some of the best years of my life...  Worked in the GMT Office (General Military Training Office).  Afterward, I was stationed at U.S. Naval Hospital, Rota.   Naples and Rota were excellent places to spend the VietNam War!  After my four-year enlistement expired, I left the Navy (figuring that it couldn't possibly get better than VR-24 and U.S. Hospital in Rota, Spain).
So, I went to graduate school and became a college and university librarian (University of Utah, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Haverford College, and Villanova University (latter two near my native Philadelphia)  

    From VR-24 I fondly remember Chief RICCIO, LT John CASTRO, LTJG DEVILBISS, CDR FORD, CAPT SCOTT, LCDR FINN, PN1 JORGENSEN, YN3 Don SMALLIDGE, etc., etc.  Where are all of you now?

            Bruce Robertson
            rbrucerobertson@hotmail.com


Steve Vrana Email
June 26, 2007

City, State: Pensacola, FL

Comments:
Had some bad news last night from Jodi Rotert. One of our friends/shipmates has passed on. Dave Rotert, 57 of Sioux City died June 20, 2007 after a serious car accident. Dave was in VR-24 from 1969 to 1973 as C2A Loadmaster. Dave and I were best friends and in 1972 Dave was also my Best Man when Vicki and I were married in England. He will be dearly missed by his family, friends and all his old shipmates. We were a very close group of friends in Rota and Naples, I think I can speak for Dave and say it was some of the best time in our lives.

Dave Rotert was C2A crewman aboard the aircraft that crashed off the USS Independence on Jan 29, 1972. You can read the article in the Squadron Scrapbook under VR-24 Aircraft Accidents on page 2. Dave was one of the three crewman that helped save the lives of five passages that day and the next day Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt presented Dave Rotert, Bob Ryder and Larry Sellers with the Navy Commendation medal crediting our brave sailors with saving the five passengers aboard the sinking aircraft.

The aircraft was in total darkness, upside down and filling with water sinking with in 6 minutes after impact. I remember Dave telling me that when he released his seat harness he fell on his head and was total confused, but the training and drills truly save his life and the others that day back in 1972. To all that knew Dave you were blessed as he was a great person, a true friend and most of all my best friend & best man.

Anyone who may know Dave or other old friends please pass this on and would love to hear from any of the old friends.



David Saba Email
June 25, 2007

City, State: Savannah, GA

Homepage URL: sabada.sav.mlxchange.com

Comments:

I was in Sig from 76 to 79.  I was a C2 Pilot. Let's hear from anyone who was there at the time. 


Jim Touhey Email
June 24, 2007

City, State: Mattapoisett, Massachusetts

Comments:

I am still looking for Hospital Corpsmen from NAS Port Lyautey . I would like to hear from anyone from the 1951-1953 time frame. Please contact me.  Jim Touhey, Former flight Corpsman , V R 24.


Bill "Red" Hilton Email
June 18, 2007

City, State: Boulder. CO

Comments:

A website for all you shipmates that served in several squadrons during your military career or enlistment.  It is a GREAT reference for reunions .     Sgt Moore  (USAF) of the Retired Enlisted Association helped me to make an entry for the 2007 VR-24 Reunion.  I have also asked the American Legion Magazine, VFW Magazine & www.military.com to publicize this year's reunion.  I encourage you to take a look at the www.trea.com
if you  served in more than a single naval squadron, ship, NAS, NAF, etc.  

The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) is providing the Military
Reunion Listings as a FREE service to the veteran community. They have 1,398 listings on the archived calendar year 2006 listing. With the last listing update, they have over 1250 reunion listings for calendar years 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.


Please take a look at the website, www.trea.org, scroll down the left side and click on Reunions/Buddies, and this will bring up the reunion page. As reunions are completed, they are transferred to the Completed Listing at the end of the month. There, they will remain as a reference point for someone looking for a unit contact. Our intention is that each calendar year reunions will be
individually listed.

We are trying had to get more reunion attendees of  VR-24 DET at the 2007 VR-24 Reunion at Pensacola, FL this year. The VR-24 squadron of Rota and Port Lyautey normally make up the bulk of attendees with maybe 6-10 VR-24 DET attendees.  This year several of us are trying to track down former shipmates of VR-24 DET to encourage them to attend.   So if you see this and are a former VR24-Det shipmate (no matter if you are with  NAPLES or Sigonella  and no matter the year) please consider attending. It will be a great time for all and enable us to renew friendships.

Regards, Bill "Red Hilton",  VR-24 -DET (NAPLES) 1962- 1966


WAYNE CARTER Email
June 12, 2007

City, State: PENHOOK VA.

Comments:
DICK PRATHER
  YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB WITH WEB SITE. PICTURES ARE GREAT, AND ALL DATA IS BETTER THAN EVER, I SURE AM LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REUNION, I HOPE SOME OF THE GUYS FROM 56, 57, 58, WILL BE THERE, TEX WALKER, J.D DALOIA, BILLY LESTER,AND ALL THE OTHERS, LETS MAKE THIS REUNION THE BEST ONE EVER.
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