I received notice from Mrs Richard Roggansack that her husband Richard Roggansack passed away on 11/9/2012 from COPD after a short illness.
Richard was in VP40 in the 50′s I do not have his dates of service, nor his rate. He is listed as 1st ordinance only in my database, his wife did not know the dates either. If anyone remembers him and can send me his info I will post it here.
thanks

I have posted the July 2014 Newsletter to this site. (look under Pictures Video’s & More/VP40 NEWSLETTERS TAB.
It is in PDF format.

I have also emailed ALL members that I have a valid email address for.
I got some bounced back, here is the list
Clyde Woempner
Mike Wood
Robert Smith
Glenn McCormac
Bill Landreth
Bob Hook
James Jackson
If anyone can provide updated info on these members please send to me
thank you
I also snailmailed ALL of the members who DONOT have a valid email address in my database.

This will be the last newsletter until after the 15th VP40 reunion.
I will keep posting updates for the reunion on this web site under the REUNIONS/2014 Reunion @ Pensacola FL TAB
see you all there !!!!!!
Guy Fisk
LAGING HANDA

I received this the other day from Paul Romano. I have invited Richard’s family to attend our reunion.
Guy

Subject: Richard F. Romano ATN2 62-63
Good Day Mr. Fisk,
My name is Paul Romano and I am the son of Richard F. Romano. I’m sorry to report that my father died on October 26, 2013 three days shy of his 74th birthday. He was laid to rest in the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL on November 4, 2013 where he had his military funeral. He is survived by his wife Elise A. Romano, five children and six grandchildren.
I myself am a Navy veteran and served onboard the U.S.S. Mauna Kea AE-22 as a Radioman Third Class, RM3, from 1985-1988. I know my father would have enjoyed attending theVP40 reunion on October 8, 2014. Please keep him in mind on that date and please add him to your TAPS list. If you could send a copy of the newsletter with him listed on TAPS I would appreciate it.
If you wish to contact me my address and information is:
Paul Romano
4840 N.E. 6th Street
Ocala, FL 34470
pjromano@cox.net
(352) 425-6682
Thank you Mr. Fisk and I wish you, your family and the rest of the members of VP40 all the best.

Best Regards,
Paul Romano

As of yesterday 7/14/2014
our web site www.vp40.com
has received 50,026 page views since it began 2 years ago.
that is very impressive as I am not advertising it outside of military sites.
We are now averaging over 175 views a day. Keep up the good work!!!!
Please send me more info to post on it. This site is for you and the info you want to share among our fellow members, family, and friends.
thanks
Guy Fisk
LAGING HANDA

I will be snailmailing out the 2014 summer newsletter to those members that do not have a valid email address registered in our database this month. For those that do have an email I will be emailing you out the newsletter this month. I will also post the newsletter on this web site.
Just a reminder to check the 2014 Reunion tab on here as it is updated each week, with news items about the reunion, as well as a list of attendees. Also just a gentle reminder , if you have NOT made your reservations for the reunion (either at the hotel OR to me) please do not wait. WE will have some guests and events you will not want to miss. So far we have 130 members and guests committed to attend. We have room for more, so lets keep beating the bushes. Recently I have talked to Dave Seltzer and Alvin Dinnsen (thanks to Jim Thayer), both of who are joining our group and hope to attend the reunion as well.

Stay healthy and I will see you in Pensacola in October.
Guy Fisk
Laging Handa

Independence Day July 4th
On July 4, 1776, we claimed our independence from Britain and Democracy was born. Every day thousands leave their homeland to come to the “land of the free and the home of the brave” so they can begin their American Dream.

The United States is truly a diverse nation made up of dynamic people. Each year on July 4, Americans celebrate that freedom and independence with barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings. Through the Internet we are learning about and communicating with people of different nations, with different languages and different races throughout the world. Bringing the world closer with understanding and knowledge can only benefit all nations.

We invite all nations to celebrate with Americans online this Fourth of July.

Happy Birthday, America!

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/july-4th

“The Star Spangled Banner”

The Defense of Fort McHenry
by Francis Scott Key
20 September 1814

Oh, say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, now conceals, now discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines on the stream:
‘Tis the star-spangled banner! O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wiped out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner forever shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

WELCOME ABOARD RONNIE BOZEMAN.
Ron was in VP40 from 1965-June 1967. He was in crew 10 and a AX3.

I am pleased to welcome our newest member to our group
DAN YANCEY
Dan was in VP40 from 1963-1966 and was an AE3 with crew 8.
WELCOME ABOARD Dan

I am sorry to announce that DAN HOFF passed away April 24, 2014. He had a long bout of cancer and he lost.
He as in VP40 from 1965-1967 and was an AT1.

We have a NEW MEMBER in our group.
BRYCE BILLINGS is our newest member. Brice was in VP40 from 1964 to 1967. He was a LT and was in crew 7 & crew 12.
WELCOME ABOARD Brice. If folks want to welcome him his email address is mmbgbill@centurylink.net