I just received 2 Obits from former VP40 people. They are posted on this site.

I am sorry to hear of them. I suspect there are more that I am not aware of. 

Lets ALL meet at the 2025 Reunion in Branson Mo. and remember our fallen comrades and

those of us still kicking.

see ya there

Guy Fisk

here is the form for reunion.

2025-reunion-registration-form

James (Jim) John Lawlor, Sr., died May 3, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. He was 84. 

Jim was a voracious reader, particularly of American history and aviation, and a voracious collector of all related things. He was an all-weather pilot, military enthusiast, and animal lover. He was also an eager participant in family shenanigans, adventures, and game nights.

He loved visiting museums, more so in the company of friends, children, and grandchildren who he’d regale as a de facto docent until finally dragged away. His storytelling was legendary — and his family is pretty sure all the stories were true. 

Jim was sweet, optimistic, and generous man with a heart of gold. He couldn’t drive past a stranded motorist or a hitchhiker much to the chagrin of his first wife, Mary. He would literally give a stranger the shirt off his back, money for a meal, or a ride to their destination. 

Jim was born May 4, 1939, in St. Joseph, Mo., to Vincent and Marguerite (Sullivan) Lawlor.

Education was a hallmark of Jim’s life. He attended a one-room schoolhouse, Victory School, in Plattsburg, Mo., then blew up his high school’s chemistry lab, drawing the ire of the president of the school board, his father. He was forgiven and graduated from Plattsburg High School in 1957 then attended the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, from where he graduated in 1961 with a degree in nautical science, then commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. In 1972, he graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a master’s degree in business administration. 

In the Navy, Jim navigated the skies instead of the seas. He earned the top spot in his aviation class in 1963 and became a patrol plane pilot. From 1963 to 1966, Jim proudly served his country from the cockpit of a P-5M “Marlin” during three tours of Vietnam. During his tours, he earned a Vietnam Service medal, an Air Medal, and a National Defense Medal, all serving as a testimony to his character, valor, and unwavering patriotism. 

Jim’s love of flying took him to TWA in 1966, where his aviation career continued to soar. As a commercial airline pilot, he captained thousands safely to destinations around the world. He was famous for his cockpit commentaries, covering the historic and geographical details of the Earth passing below.  

Aviation was more than a career for Jim — it was his lifelong passion until his retirement. There wasn’t a colleague who didn’t respect Jim’s expertise and attitude during his long career in the sky. Even after retiring in 1999, Jim’s unflappability as a traveling companion reassured even the most anxious flyer. 

As much as he loved to fly, his devotion to his family came first. Jim married Mary (Young) on August 4, 1962, with whom he had four children: James Jr. (JR), Kean, Maureen, and Justin. Jim and Mary fostered a love of history, flying, and travel in all their children, which will remain with them forever.

Jim was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary (Young); his parents, Vincent and Marguerite (Sullivan) Lawlor; his brother, William (Bill) Lawlor; and sister-in-law, Shirley Lawlor. 

He is survived by his second wife: Patricia Winter, whom he married on August 15, 2003; his brother and best friend, Tom Lawlor (with whom he discussed everything but politics); his sister-in-law, Linda Lawlor; his sons: James ( JR) (Catherine) Lawlor, Jr.; Kean (Claudine) Lawlor; Justin (Bao-Tram) Lawlor; his daughter: Maureen (Kelly Cannon) Lawlor; two bonus sons, Kevin Brown (Diane Michaels) and Chris Gehm (Holly Gehm); and his 14 grandchildren: Christine Gahn, Bryan Gahn, James Lawlor III  (Trey), Caroline Lawlor, Caden Lawlor, Rowan Lawlor, Fiona Hunter, Annalise Lawlor, Scarlett Lawlor, Noelle Lawlor, Eva Stanley, Auggie Gehm, Remi Gehm, and Tommy Gehm. 

The family will receive family and friends during the visitation from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 8, at Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 East 39^th St., in Independence, Mo.

Services to honor Jim’s memory will begin at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 9, at St. Mark Catholic Church, 3736 Lee’s Summit Rd., in Independence, Mo., followed by burial at Calvary Cemetery in Plattsburg, Mo.

Fair winds and following seas, Captain Jim. Your spirit will forever soar above us. Rest easy, your legacy and your stories live on in our hearts

LaVerne Carlos “Skip” Atteberry, 93, passed away on Wednesday, December 18th, 2024 in Munford Tennessee. Skip was born in Galt, Iowa to Harold Thomas and Naomi Ethelda Atteberry, on February 24, 1931. Since 1950 Skip loved being in the Navy and serving his country. He retired an E-9 Master Chief. During his Naval career, he spoke fondly of all his comrades, travels, adventures to faraway places, and on the open seas. He noted that it made him stronger, and grateful to be back in his home country. He loved his westerns, horses, card games, officiating football, basketball, volleyball and badminton. He enjoyed hours of jogging, working out, and riding his bike. Another pleasure was playing senior Olympic badminton. Skip was a member of Central Church in Brighton TN where he served many years as a Sunday school teacher. Skip has left behind his loving wife of 48 years Rebena Atteberry, children; Ricky Atteberry, Jason V. Atteberry (Patience Atteberry) of St. Augustine, Florida, Shawn K. Atteberry, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Lori L. Reed of Covington, Georgia, step children Renae Smith(Woody) Ranette Cutler(Randy) and Terri Raye Devitt all of Tipton County, TN, 17 Grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, a brother Larry Atteberry, children Randy C. Atteberry, Erin K. Columbia, Jeffery Atteberry and a great grandson Wyatt Cole Stafford. A visitation will be held on Monday, December 23, 2024, at Maley Yarbrough Funeral Home from 10:00am to 11:00am with a service to follow. Military honors will be rendered at Morrison cemetery.
Cemetery

LaVerne Carlos “Skip” Atteberry, 93, passed away on Wednesday, December 18th, 2024 in Munford Tennessee. Skip was born in Galt, Iowa to Harold Thomas and Naomi Ethelda Atteberry, on February 24, 1931. Since 1950 Skip loved being in the Navy and serving his country. He retired an E-9 Master Chief. During his Naval career, he spoke fondly of all his comrades, travels, adventures to faraway places, and on the open seas. He noted that it made him stronger, and grateful to be back in his home country. He loved his westerns, horses, card games, officiating football, basketball, volleyball and badminton. He enjoyed hours of jogging, working out, and riding his bike. Another pleasure was playing senior Olympic badminton. Skip was a member of Central Church in Brighton TN where he served many years as a Sunday school teacher. Skip has left behind his loving wife of 48 years Rebena Atteberry, children; Ricky Atteberry, Jason V. Atteberry (Patience Atteberry) of St. Augustine, Florida, Shawn K. Atteberry, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Lori L. Reed of Covington, Georgia, step children Renae Smith(Woody) Ranette Cutler(Randy) and Terri Raye Devitt all of Tipton County, TN, 17 Grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, a brother Larry Atteberry, children Randy C. Atteberry, Erin K. Columbia, Jeffery Atteberry and a great grandson Wyatt Cole Stafford. A visitation will be held on Monday, December 23, 2024, at Maley Yarbrough Funeral Home from 10:00am to 11:00am with a service to follow. Military honors will be rendered at Morrison cemetery.
Cemetery

Finally the reunion is ON for this year. I am emailing and snailmail the registration form for you to fill out and hopefully send back and ATTEND it.
Date is Sept 25-28-2025 in Branson MO. I will post it also on our reunion page on this website today.
PLEASE respond if you are attending or not. I had to commit to 20 people attending the events as well as 10 rooms for the time period. Normally this would not be a problem, BUT
our attendance has been getting smaller each year and they now require payment upfront.
Anyway we will have fun fun fun so plan on attending. We do not have many more in our future I think.
hope to see ya all there. Branson is a great place to visit.

Laging Handa
Guy Fisk

I am finally ready to announce we have a date for our 2025 reunion.
It will be held in Branson MS from Sept 25-28,2025.
As I am sure you are aware the cost of everything has increased and that will include this event as well.
Although the hotel price is $109/night plus tax, which is great. The hotel we had it in before is closed but this one looks good. That price is with a minimum of 10 paid rooms.
it has a bar/restaurant, free parking etc.
here is their website.
https://www.thousandhillsresorthotel.com/en/. DO NMOT book your room until I get the code for the discounted rate.
This year we will start reunion on Thurs and end it with dinner on Sat. ( 3 days instead of 4)
We will have a luncheon and show on the Showboat Branson Belle on Friday.
Sat we will visit the Veterans Museum and College on the Ozarks to include Patriots Park.
The closest airport is Springfield, MS.
more info to follow.
I will email and snailmail the registration forms out next week as well as post them on this website.
Fill it out and mail back to me ASAP
PLEASE email or call me if you are planning on attending ASAP
hope to see ya’ll there. If you want to see and talk to any of your old VP40 shipmates, now would be the time.
We are dropping like flies it seems.

Guy Fisk
(828) 423-2106
gfisk575@gmail.com
ggfisk@vp40.com

my new address is
Guy Fisk
115 Snowy Egret Way
Hendersonville, NC 28792

I just learned from John Hall that Larry Kauble passed away
om Oct 23,2023.
Although Larry was not a member of our group I am sure a l lot of us remember him.
He was an ADR3, worked in the shop I do not think he was in any flight crew. Someone can correct me if I am wrong about that.

I also received notice that Tom Paden passed away in Oct 2024 He was in VP40 in 1966. He also was not in our group but I am
including ANY former VP40 personnel that I get info on them.

I received this today.

I need to report the passing of your shipmate Malcolm F. Swall on 3,2,2025.
Sincerely, Sylvia Bate-Swall, his wife.

Mike was in VP40 as a LTJG from 1955-1958.
You can contact his wife Sylvia @ ggsylvia2@gmail.com

here is his Obit.

Birth: 1932

Death: 2025

Malcolm “Mike” Francis Swall
OBITUARY
Captain Mike sailed off into the sunset one last time. He was born in Oakland, CA but went to grade school in Hawaii. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, his family evacuated to Pasadena, CA. As soon as he could, he joined the Navy with the NavCad pilots’ program, where he got his BS degree and a Commission in the United States Navy. He flew P5 Marlin seaplanes and did two deployments to the South China Sea with squadron VP40 out of San Diego. He then finished 20 years in the reserves, flying P2 Neptunes.

During his time in the reserves, Mike started one of San Diego’s first recycling companies, A1 Paper Company. After retirement, he earned his 100-ton Coast Guard License and started his boat charter business, using his faithful Cavalier 39 sloop, Kiwi.

With an active and engaged mind, Mike and his wife, Sylvia, were co-founders of the non-profit organization Challenged Sailors, providing adaptive sailing opportunities for vets and others with disabilities. Founding and participating in Challenged Sailors enriched Mike’s life amazingly.

Mike is survived by his loving wife, Sylvia Bate. He leaves behind three children, Malcolm Thomas (wife Susan), Megan (wife Patricia), and Leah (wife Dr. Kim). He also leaves two stepchildren, Sue and Angela. He enjoyed ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren: Chelsea; Jessica (husband Sean) with great-grandson Seamus; Deserre; Nena; Brooke (husband Andrew) with great-grandson Adam; Sage and Michael; Marcelo (wife Jennifer) with great-grandchildren Cameron and Elyse; Jennifer; Manny (wife Katie) with great-granddaughters Betty and twin girls Roxie and Maeve – the last two born into this world on the same day Mike passed out of it.

Mike was predeceased by his parents Malcolm and Frances Swall, brother Don Swall, his first wife Mary Ellen, and numerous fellow Naval Aviators from Squadron VP40.

A celebration of Life will be held on April 5, 2025, from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. at Southwestern Yacht Club, 2702 Qualtrough St., SD 92106.

I wish all of you and your families a
MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY and HEALTHY NEW YEARS.
se ya’ll for our 2024 reunion in Branson, Mo. sept/oct time frame.
more info when available.

Here is link for more info published by VA
https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/publications/agent-orange/agent-orange-2023/index.asp

please read and pass it on
Guy

Another successful reunion comes to a close.
We had 30 people attend our 2023 reunion in Nashville, Tn.
9/11-14/2023.
Although I must say our drinking has vastly diminished. (which is probably good for us).
The Grand Ole Opry was great as usual.
At our business meeting we voted on hosting our 2024 reunion in Branson, MS.
We had been there a few years ago and it is a great military reunion town.
I have requested an RFP and I will post the findings and dates when it is decided, probably end of Sept or early Oct, 2024.
I hope everyone made it home OK from the reunion and it was decided to continue as long as we have people attend. We had 2 new P3 people sign up for it but unfortunately 1 couple had to cancel due to health problems. Remember we are now accepting ALL VP squadrons and ( active and inactive).
thanks to all attendees and I look forward to seeing you again in Branson in 2024
Guy Fisk