 Phil Matuzic 1944-46 |
 Gerald Stratton 1948-56 |
 Jim Vander Moere 1945-46 |
 Ed Block 1944-49 |  John Votrobek 1945-46 |  Morrel Hatt 1945 |
 Ed Ferris 1946-49 |  Frank Toon 1945-46 |  Bill McGuire 1944-45 |
 Dean Gillespie 1952 |  Tom Atienza 1950-54 |  John Huseman 1945 |
 Dave Callow 1944-46 |  John Campbell 1944-45 |  Capt Hazzard 1944-45 |
 Weikko Wesala 1945-46 |  Charles Haislip 1945-46 |  John Yacko 1945 |
 John Batty 1944-46 |
You call this the old Fun Times Crew ?
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The following was submitted by Dick Schropp (USS ROCK SS-274) to the "Polaris" and appeared in the October 1997 issue.
KUDOS FROM A COMBAT MARINE
In a newspaper clipping, detailing the festivities aboard the USS PAMPANITO (SS-383) over the (1997) Memorial Day holiday, there was also the clipping of a "letter to the editor" from a WWII combat marine, making observations that could hardly be expected from such a source.
He wrote "I served as a combat marine during WWII and despite some of the horrors I witnessed, I never envied the sailors who fought the Japanese in their frail submarines. That represents thousands of young Americans who gave their lives, trapped in the 52 steel coffins, dying by inches. The picture accompanying the Pampanito story showed only gray-haired, obviously WWII vintage Americans. Where were the children who should have been there to learn from these aging heroes? Where were the teachers who could educate their students about history more in one hour of listening to these patriots than in a full semester of history? The WWII generation of tough, long-suffering Americans, victims of the worst depression and the most horrible war in mankind's memory are rapidly dying out. If our children are not helped to learn from what our generation endured, then don't be surprised if history repeats itself."
Well said Mr. Leonard, F Comapny, 2nd BN, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.