I am writing to inform you of the passing of Edwin Sharpe on September 9, 2008 at approximately 5:30 A.M. He had been fighting pancreatic cancer for almost a year.

Many of you may have received this news from other sources; however, I knew many of you communicated with Edwin via e-mail and wanted to be sure you knew. And there may be others who receive this email in error; I ask that you overlook any inconvenience.

A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Burlington, NC on Saturday, September 13, 2008 at 1:00 P.M.  The following link will give you access to Edwin's obituary.

http://www.richandthompson.com/obituaries.php

I invite you to forward this note to anyone you know who may be a friend or colleague of Edwin's.

Best regards,

Sally Fulbright (Niece)

Quite a few of the attendees at the reunion asked about my new  address and e-mail address.  As the last membership directory was in  2005, it only shows my Georgia information.  Would you please post my  present information on your computer so they all can update their  address books? it is 525 McElree Lane, Coatesville, Pa. 19320   610-383-5658     LWLRKL@VERIZON.NET    Thank you. Bill Lambert

Hello. My name is Kyle Nappi. I am 18 years old and I live in Ostrander, Ohio ( USA ). I was wondering if you could do me a favor.

I have a big interest in history, specifically W.W.II. I collect military medals, patches, badges, insignia, field gear, and a very unique thing, veteran autographs. I have a scrapbook collection of autographs from military veterans who served during W.W.I, W.W.II, Korea , Vietnam , Gulf War, and the present war in Iraq .

I have been interested in history for over 6 years now, and I have collected the autographs and stories from nearly 1,600 veterans in 20 countries. The oldest veteran is currently 112 years old and the youngest enlisted at age 14. I have autographs from Pearl Harbor survivors, D-Day veterans, airman, POWs, USS Indianapolis survivors, Holocaust survivors, and even German soldiers!

Back in June (of 2007), I was interview by PBS, to talk about my collection for an interview that was to be shown online (YouTube). After that, I was interviewed for "The Columbus World War II Roadshow." They mentioned that it was to come on (in Central-Ohio) before some of the episodes of Ken Burns? "The War." You can find this interview on YouTube under "Kyle Nappi."

I have attached an article that was published in The Turret (a Ft. Knox, KY newspaper) about my collection with this E-mail (Published in November).

There have been several other people have taken the time to post my request online and in newspapers. There are too many for me to list, but if you go to Google or Yahoo and search "Kyle Nappi" you can find most of them.

I have attached a questionnaire with this E-mail. It includes some basic questions I have for those that flew in the bombers of W.W.II (B-17s, B-24s, B-26s, B-29s, etc) about their service time. I was wondering if it is possible to provide any veterans (who are interested) with my questionnaire, put me in touch with them, or pass along the word about my collection. Please let me know if this is possible.

My main purpose for writing it to share with you that there are people from my generation who do remember the past and the sacrifices that were made for our great country. I would greatly appreciate it if you could pass the word around that there are people who remember, along with the information about my collection. Thank you very much for your time.

To download a Military Questionnaire click here Down load Questionnaire

Sincerely,
Kyle Nappi
1890 Warren Rd.
Ostrander, OH 43061 USA
Phone Number: 740-363-8095
E-mail: knap607@yahoo.com
 

Webmasters note:  I have not included the files Kyle attached but if you contact him directly he can send them to you.    I for one appreciate this young gentleman's effort to preserve history as it actually happened not as they tend to portray it now.

About 2 weeks ago an urgent and unexpected ‘Call to Arms’ came in.

The Honorary Reserve Troops of the 500th Bomb Sqdn Association stationed in Townsville Australia, needed to be activated. Prepare for an imminent incoming raid from beyond our shores – was the Order. The Order came with an unwritten, unheard expectation of ‘you must perform and bring home the bacon’ on this one.

My wife has a fairly different take on all this – maintaining the ‘Call’ was made and answered by the same guy – and any perceived expectation to ‘Perform’ was just a figment of his fertile imagination.

So be it – Reserve Private Murray took command (self appointed) and began seeking and sorting any ‘intelligence’ that was to be had, preparing a defence plan. What tactics and strategy would be required to ensure a successful mission etc. Unlike the WW2 environment – we had a firm time and place for when the raid would take place and there were no guns involved either. The only other Townsville Association Reservist, Private Scott Roby was activated to assist with the mission.

Intelligence soon revealed that this supposed raider from across the Pacific was ‘a friendly’ – on a recce to Townsville Australia, hoping to see and learn first hand, where it was that his late Great Uncle gave up his life in 1943.

Stephen Dzury from Toronto Canada was coming to Townsville, to learn and take home to his extended family – more pieces for/of the jig-saw they have been ever so slowly building for many years – but their jig-saw was still very lacking of its main pieces. They had the outside border done but the centre ‘picture’ part was still a blank canvass.

Steve is the great nephew and name sake of the late T/Sgt Stephen D Dzury, who was Crew Chief on the 500ths B-25 ‘Bedroom Commando’ immediately prior to loosing his life in the crash of a C-47 Troop Carrier – when he and 19 others from the 500th BS were on an R & R flight from Townsville to Sydney Australia – on the 7th August 1943.

It was my great honour to host Steves visit on behalf of the 500th (albeit in an unofficial role).

We were able to visit the Cemetery where his uncle laid for a couple of years before finally being repatriated, to see and stand under the flag pole he was buried under, to see where the 500th’s B-25s were converted to strafers at the long defunct 4th Air Depot here. A photo of the 345ths aircraft is actually used on the monument to that huge facility. And to walk by the WW2 era Gate House at the Garbutt Airfield – now the local RAAF Museum.

He was able to take in the whole flight path of that fateful flight – from a lookout that provides an unimpeded panoramic view of it.

Naturally we spoke at length about the 500th BS, and I was able to reasonably answer most of his questions. Remembering – his family was like that of Edna Geohring (in her account in the great oral history DVD) – they just got the dreaded telegram – that explained very little. Stephens family have tried unsuccessfully over many years to find out more. Other than – from what Tal Epps had already told them – after I brought Stephen and Tal together a few years ago. Tal served with Sgt Dzury on the ‘Bedroom Commando’ – up until the C-47 Tragedy.

I was also able to arrange for Steve to meet the other Townsville Honorary Rough Raider – Scott Roby – the Great Nephew of Tal & Ruth Epps. Steve was incredibly moved to have come half way across the world, and to meet someone of his own generation and relationship – of/to someone who served with and together on the same B-25 those 60 plus years ago.

Steve had also brought out some of his family’s WW2 artefacts – which he donated to our North Queensland Military Museum – for preservation and future display. The Museum Curator (Rod Burgess) came in especially - to gratefully accept the Dzury Family donation.

Before Steve left on his flight south from Townsville on Monday morning, he was guest of our City Council (local government) where we had a specially convened morning tea with our Deputy Mayor (David Chrisafulli) and our Citys International Envoy (Elliot Hannay). Steve was able to see and feel the C-47 Crash Memorial Plaque – which was unveiled by the US 5th AF Commander in 2005. The actual Memorial proper is still some time off – as the area where it will eventually be placed is subject to a long and ongoing property transfer process.

However – that progress is almost complete, and Steve was officially briefed on that at Mondays meeting. The above mentioned ‘property thing’ also involves a $40M redevelopment project – turning an Historic Military Base in to a Public Park Land while fully restoring and preserving some of the significant buildings and pieces of the old Base. The C-47 Crash Memorial will have pride of place, along with the existing 5th Air Force Memorial – and a whole raft of other military history including a World Class Military Museum, all to be part of that redevelopment project.

In fact – Steve was guaranteed an official invite to the ‘Official Opening Ceremony – when ever it happens. Mr Elliot Hannay was the man appointed by the City Council, who did the great job of having the C-47 Memorial Plaque designed and made in 2005, and who arranged for the US 5th AF to come out from Japan for the Dedication Service that same year. Elliot is now a key advisor on the Jezzine Barracks/Kissing Point redevelopment Trust – so we are still in very good hands in to the future.

After parting ways after almost 2 days together –I arrived home from that to find an unexpected DVD in my post box. I was dumfounded to discover it was - the amazing Oral History Doco DVD of the 500th BS. Then to immediately sit down and view it – was something else. To see and hear the first hand accounts of topics we had discussed over the previous 2 days, and to actually hear some of the great people of the 500th that I only know from e-mails, a photo and reputation – was incredible.

I’ve attached a couple of photos from Steves visit. They are branded (in the file name), with the names of those appearing in the shot. I’m the greying one with a beard in the shot with 4 of us in it.

Kind Regards
Peter R Murray
24 Pankina Street           Phone (All Hours):  07-47-745355
Mount Louisa
Townsville                        Mob:  0408-743001
Queensland
AUSTRALIA    4814           Inter Dir Dial:  +617-47-745355

Dear Rough Raider Family,

I recently received a letter from President Lynn Daker about Squadron and Group patches.

He is having some more made up. As I understand it they are both four inches in diameter.

The costs are as follows:

500th Squadron "Rough Raider" patch will $6.50 including postage and envelope.

345th Group "Air Apache " patch will be $5.50 including postage and envelope.

Contact Lynn Directly for more information.

Lynn Daker
329 Lakeshore Park Road
Boulder CO 80302

email  Lwdwed@aol.com

Fellow Rough Raiders, we received this generous offer from Jeff Weiss.  I'm sure many of you do not have records of your combat experience.  This would be a fantastic opportunity to receive them.  With luck they still exist, I know they do for many people at least.  If you have an interest in obtaining this information  please contact Jeff directly at the address below or send me (Warbird) the information and I can forward it to him.  Furnish as much information as possible, such as Name, Rank, Service Number, Dates, Units, etc. as the more information he has the more apt he is to find the records.  Please furnish this in a timely manner say within the next month.

Thank you and keep the memory alive,
Harlan N. Hatfield   aka   The Warbird
 

I received a call from William Cavoli today, asking how he might also be able to get a copy of his combat experience record.  I don't think the archives is really set up to provide that service on an individual basis, and I don't think there is an alternative to simply going down there and reviewing the records.  I don't currently have a plan to go back there, but if there are enough people in his position, I would be happy to make it a point to make a special trip.  If you think it makes sense, I would be happy for you guys to circulate to the squadron the invitation for people to request their (or their relative's) record -- if it exists.  Once there are a bunch of names, I will make a special trip back to the archives, and simply copy as many of the records as exist for names on the list.

Of course, I have no intention of charging for any of this.  The only favor I would ask in return is if you could spread the word that I am interested in communicating with any squadron members out there who may have known Stan Andrews.

If this seems interesting, please let me know.  Best regards.

Jeffrey Weiss
1101 14th St., N.W.
Suite 500
Washington, D.C. 20005
(202) 682-1722 (office)
(202) 682-1723 (fax)
(202) 352-3226 (cell)
jweiss@weissiplaw.com