RETURN to REUNIONS

Rev. 04/17/03

315^th Troop Carrier Group Reunion 2002 San Diego, CA 18 - 21 September Handlery Hotel & Resort · 950 Hotel Circle North, San Diego, CA 92108 1-800-676-6567 or 619-298-0511

The San Diego Reunion was an unqualified success with 120 plus attendees, including many daughters, sons, siblings, and friends of the members. The bustling city of San Diego provided great weather in which to enjoy the scheduled activities including city tour, bay cruise and zoo visit. Our President Dick Ford passed the baton to Bernard Brown and planning is already underway for the 2004 gathering.

Scroll down to find: · Photos from the Harbor Cruise · Photos from the Hospitality Suite · Photos and narrative from the Banquet · Schedule of events · Description of reunion activities

(Above) San Diego from the harbor

Harbor Cruise

(Left) Nita sheets and Ray McManus

(Above) Helen and John Andracek (Left) Ray McManus

(Above) Harold Slack, Rick Slack, Bud Pence, Mike McIntyre (Left) Wayne ?, George Cholowcynski, Georgieane Byrd, Marie?

(Above) Pat and John Edney, Ted Stweart, Joannne Edney, Mary Lynn Edney, John Edney

(Above) Mary Lou Hodgson, Phil Hood

(Below)

(Right) Russ Lane (Jr), Russ Lane, Bernard Brown, Bette Brown

(Above) Doc Cloer, Arthur and Jean Ertel (Right) Doc Cloer

(Above) Dorothy Hamby (Below) Henry Hamby

(Above) Ted Stewart, Joann Edney, Mary Lynn Edney, John Edney

Hospital Ship in San Diego Harbor

Hospitality Suite Overlooking the hotel pool, our Hospitality Suite welcomed all with an unusually large memorabilia display (much thanks to outgoing president Dick Ford) along with computers demonstrating our 315 Group Website produced by ‘Chip’ Hamby’s (son of member Henry Hamby, 310 TCS), George Chlowescynski autographing copies of Bill Brinson’s book Three-One-Five Group which he revised, and, of course, an always friendly bar.

(Above) Stan Smith and Henry Hamby (Left)

(Above) George Cholowcynski (Right) George Cholowcynski, Doc Cloer, ?

(Above) Henry Hamby (Right) Chip, Dorothy, and Henry Hamby

(Below) Marc Sandall and Henry Hamby

(Above) Bernie Brown

(Above) Bill Braun

(Above) Russ Lane and Katherine Dols (Right)

(Above) Stan Smith and daughter Valerie

(Above) John Andracek

The Banquet (Names presented clockwise from left foreground)

(Right) Cocktails before dinner.

315^th HQ Max Phil, Sandy

34^th TCS Tom Fahey, John Andrachek, Art Ertel, Bud Pnece, Newman Riechman, Raymond McManus, Ricahrd B. Kithcart, William Bruce, William Perkins

(picture forthcoming0

43^rd TCS Eugene wheeler, Robert Lutes, Robert Cook, Russell Myrom

309th TCS Bill Braun, J.W. Wy, Pete Teresi, Richard Adani, goud Watkins, Cal Enderlin, Jack Geist

310th TCS Ziggy Zartman, Russell Lane, Henry Hamby

Table 1. Georanne byrd, Eva Barody, Wayne Byrd, Bob sharp, Suzanne Sharp, Tom Johnson, Barb Johnson, Dave Benfield

Table 2. John J. Edney, Pat Edney, Joanne Edney, John A. Edney (310), Mary Lynn Schwietz Edney, Ted Stewart (310)

Table 3. Pete Teresi, Pat Teresi, Alice Braun, Bill Braun, Robert Braun, Lulu Fontes, Rogelia Burroughs, John E. Burroughs

Table 4. George Doll, Lavon doll, Pat Arthur, Shirley Paley, Max Arthur, Marie Cholewczynski, George F. Cholewczynski

Table 5. Dorothy Hamby, Henry Hamby (310), ‘Ziggy’ Zartman (310), Mrs. Zartman, Zartman, Jr., Katherine Dols

Table 6. Minnie Sternhoff, Irving ‘Jake’ Sternohoff, Ilse Schwartz, Ray Schwartz, [Ger Zmaken (sp?)], Chaya Halivni (sp?), Kathleen Sandall, Marc Sandall

Table 7. Evelyn Adami, Richard Adami, Glenn Ulrich, Roger Glenn Ulrich, Robert Glen Ulrich, Raymond Glenn Ulrich

Table 8. Nita sheets, Ray McManus, Jr., Ray McManus, Russell Lane, Russel Lane, Jr., Rick Clack, Harold Slack, Tom Fahey

Table 9. Russell Myrom (43/37-316^th), Barabara McArthur, Ed McArthur (310/37-316^th), Betty Rice, Julian Bud Rice, Nancy Ingrasano, Michael Ingrasano (37-316^th)

Table 10. Don Chalufant, J.W. Way, Priscilla Chalufant, Isabel Way, Doug Watkins, Dot Watkins

Table 11. Marty Campbell, Will Duke, Ruth Duke, William Bruce, Jewel D. Bruce, David E. Bruce, Julen Andrachek, John Andrachek

Table 12. Newman Riechman, Nadine Riechman, Philip Hodgdon, May Lou Hodgdon, William Perkins, Gussie Perkins, Richard Kithcart, Rachel Kithcart.

Table 13. Woody Olsen, Genevieve Olsen, Bill Andrews, Iddy Andrews, Jack Mancinelli, Sue Mancinelli, Stan Smith, Valerie Smith

Table 14. Jean Ertel, Art Ertel, Bud Pence, Mary Ann Pence, Marc Sandall

Table 15. Sharon Schubitzke, Vesta Matzdorff, Jan and Hilda Geist, Cal Enderlin

Table 16. Tracy Lutes, Kathy Lutes, Connie Lutes, Genie Wheeler, Eugene Wheeler (43), Robert D. Lutes (43), Robert (43) and Phyllis Cook

Guest speaker at the Saturday night banquet was remarks from Dr. William Olson, who heads Florida State University Institute on WWII and the Human Experience. The Institute recently received author Tom Brokaw’s extensive document collection which served as a basis for his WWII book. Dr. Olson, noting that today’s college students are generations removed from that war, emphasized the importance to future scholars and historians the need to preserve both written and oral histories of the those who were a part of that war. He urged the veterans present to contribute whatever documents they may have by forwarding them to the Institute (see Newsletter October 2002 for details) First, however, members are encouraged to contact Chip Hamby for possible inclusion of these memorabilia and documents on our website. (Right) Dr. William Olson

What has become a tradition, highlights included Jake Sternoff (below, left) serenading us with our old favorites. What a voice!

”To the men of the 315^th Troop Carrier Group: The veterans of the 82^nd Airborne Division during World War II are deeply grateful for your skills and sheer determination to fulfill our mission in dropping us behind enemy lines during numerous operations in Europe. Our hearts are saddened by the fact that some of our troopers, your planes and crews were lost accomplishing these missions. We will never forget them. You are the true heroes of the war and, again, we are so grateful that we had the 315^th as our pilots and crews. As we troopers from the 505^th, 504^th, 507^th, and other regiments and also the glidermen of the 325^th Glider Infantry Regiment, we thank you for your daring deeds from the first drop until the last one. Have a tremendous time reminiscing during your reunion and let us not forget those who have gone before us.” Sincerely, The 82^nd airborne Division ‘the All-American Division’

(Above right) Marc Sandall, WWII 82^nd Airborne Division reenactor and son of late member Walter D. Sandall, 34^th TCS, read a letter (left) written by troopers of the 82^nd Airborne Division expressing their deepest appreciation for the work of the 315^th Troop Carrier Group during the war

(Above and right) Dick Ford presenting ‘Doc’ Cloer with a plaque expressing the Association’s appreciation for longstanding service as corresponding secretary.

Dick Ford presented plaques to ‘Doc’ Cloer (corresponding secretary) and Stan Smith (Newsletter editor) in recognition of tireless and long service to the Association.

(Left) Dick Ford presenting Stan Smith with a plaque expressing the Association’s appreciation for longstanding service as editor of the 315^th TCD Newsletter.

Schedule of Events Wed, Sep 18 1400 – 1800 ~ Registration open; Hospitality room open; evening on your own. Thu, Sep 19 0900 – 1000 am ~ Registration open 10:30 – 1630 ~City tour/Seaport Village (description below) Evening ~ Hospitality suite open; View 315 Group Website Fri, Sep 20 1030 – 1500 ~ Cruise/Old Town (description below) 1600 – 1700 Board of Directors Meeting Evening ~ Hospitality suite open; View 315 Group Website; “The 315 Group” revision booksigning Sat, Sep 21 0900 – 1030 ~ Business meeting 1100 – 1500 ~ San Diego Zoo (description below) 1800 ~ Banquet - cocktails (cash bar) 1830 ~ Banquet – squadron/unit photos 1900 – 2300 ~ Banquet & entertainments featuring a little USO number Sun, Sep 22 Departures 0930 – 1500 ~ Tijuana trip (description below)

Activities Descriptions City tour/Seaport Village (Thu, Sep 19). Board bus for guided tour of San Deigo. Begin the day in La Jolla, the 38^th wealthiest community in the country and drive up to Mount Soledad, the tallest mountain in the city. See 360 degree views of the city and surrounding areas. Drive downtown along Harbor Drive and see the Star of India, the oldest sailing ship in the world. Hear about her history, along with information about the other vessels that make up the Maritime Museum. Enjoy lunch on you r won at Seaport Village, a replica of three seaports. After lunch visit Balboa Park, home to museums, art galleries, and the Veterans Memorial Museum center. Most of the architecture in the Park is Spanish-Moorish origin, and the California Tower, a city landmark, chimes every quarter hour. 1030 board bus, return to Hotel at 21620. $26 pp, includes bus and guide. Lunch on your own. Cruise/Old Town (Fri, Sep 20). Board bus for one hour, narrated harbor cruise of San Diego Bay. See the Naval Base and parts of San Diego Harbor. Cruise by the navy piers and under the Coronado Bay Bridge. The oldest iron-hulled vessel afloat, the Star of India, is also berthed in this harbor. Afterwards, continue on the Old Town, which has flourished since it purchase by the State of California in 1969. This historic area was the site of the first European settlement in California. In addition to historic buildings, the park also contains specialty shops and restaurants with Mexican cuisine a favorite. Bus departs at 1100, returns to Hotel at 1500. $29 pp includes bus, guide and admission. Lunch on your own. San Diego Zoo (Sat, Sep 21). Board bus for the San Diego Zoo, the world’s largest, with over 3,400 rare birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Enjoy a 35-minute guided, double-deck bus tour for an overview of the various exhibits. Dining options include Albert’s Full-service Dining Restaurant, the Peacock and Raven Dining Room, Treehouse Café, and Sydney’s Grill. Snack bars and gift shops available. Bus leaves at 0930, returns to Hotel at 1500. $48 pp includes bus and guide. Lunch on your own. Tijuana, Mexico (Sun, Sep 22). Board bus for a day trip to Tijuana, Mexico, the most visited border city in the world and fourth largest in Mexico. Tour parts of Tijuana most visitors never see. Shopping areas, quaint shops, handcrafted items of Old Mexico. Lunch on your own. Bus leaves at 0930, returns to Hotel at 1500. $27 pp includes bus and guide. Lunch on your own. Valid picture ID is required for US Citizens to cross the border.