Bob Vincent at Iwo Jima

Last updated April 4, 2011.

(Editor's Note: this article was written over a number of days as events unfolded.
Because events changed over the course of the flight, reading this article is difficult "after the fact.")

Readers complain when I start a story and don't get around to finishing it the same day. We're about to launch into another one of those episodes, but the events of the story haven't all unfolded yet so I have a good excuse this time. The story's next chapter will take place in Benton April 1 or 2 when an spotter aircraft--the only aircraft to survive from a Marine Observation Squadron on Iwo Jima--lands at the Benton airport to honor a local man who knew the aircraft well from his days in the Marine Corps. We'll start the story at the beginning.

We all know where Red Rock Mountain in Luzerne County is located and basically what the side of the mountain looks like and how high it is. In order to better understand the story we are about to tell, please imagine that you are standing on Route 118 at the base of Red Rock Mountain looking toward the mountain. Imagine that instead of the hard pavement of Route 118, you are arriving at the mountain from the East by water--by very choppy, ocean water. Assume that the mountain was essentially devoid of any vegetation and that a bunch of evil doers were buried in the ground and waiting in ambush on the side of the mountain. Imagine that there were about 22,000 of these evil doers in the ground just waiting to kill you, but that you were not in the situation by yourself. Imagine that 60,000 Marines were ready to do battle to capture the hill to reach an airfield at the top. If you can imagine these things, you then realize that you are at a tiny island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean known as Iwo Jima.

To begin, let's head directly to video of life on Iwo Jima for the people in this story. Stop now and watch these scenes.

We'll get around to telling portions of this story, but we'll tell you now that you'll learn about

flimsy little slow-moving planes of the Fourth Marine Division observation squadron which skimmed only 500 feet above Japanese positions on Iwo Jima. The brave pilots took great chances in directing American artillery fire and sizing up enemy strong points. The squadron was installed on Montoyama airfield No. 1, which only a few days before had been wrestled away from the "Nipponese" in bloody fighting. Over the headquarters' door hung a crudely lettered sign reading, "You name it, we'll do it!" It was the motto of the squadron and the members of the squadron meant it. Cpl. Robert Vincent, Benton, was a member of that group. Bob, who would be 86 if still alive, later built the Mill Race Golf Course, Benton.

To appreciate the story, you should know that Marine pilots were instrumental in support of military operations during the seizure of the volcanic island of Japanese held Iwo Jima February 10 to 28, 1945. As spotter planes flew overhead, the 

Japanese bombarded the beaches on Iwo Jima with artillery, rocket and mortar fire. The Amphibious Corps shuttled between thousands of assault troops and supply ships in the choppy waters.

There isn't much time today to tell much of this story and its local implications, so we suggest that to refresh your memory of Iwo Jima and take the time to view the videos at www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVg0fs-d_Bs&feature=watch_response and www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWcDIMrd6eE . When we tell you the story, you'll learn about 

Marine Observation Squadron 4 (VMO-4) which played an important role during World War II and later in the Marine Corps Reserve.

Iwo Jima is one island in a chain of volcanic island groups some 750 miles south of Japan. At the beginning of World War II , the island belonged to the Japanese who named the island Iwo Jima (Sulfur Island in Japanese). The island is shaped a little like a pork chop. It is about four miles long from southwest to northeast and is about 2 1/2 miles across at its widest and 700 yards wide at its narrowest. The island is only 7 1/2 square miles. Its dominant feature is Mount Suribachi, an extinct volcano 550 feet high on the southwest tail of the island.

I visited the island about thirteen years ago and remember the mosquitoes, the lack of vegetation on the side hills and the high concentrations of tall grass--somewhat akin to saw grass--at the top of Mount Suribachi in the area known as the Motoyama Plateau. The old Japanese airfield at the top of the mountain, Motoyama airfield #2, was nearly overgrown in the years following the battle. My memory of Suribachi is that the summit was much higher than it apparently is, possibly because my drive up the mountain was slowed by outcroppings and draws that crisscrossed the badly eroded mountainside. Any trees remaining on the island were simply scrubs, probably from damage inflicted by the heavy shelling and the sulfur vents in the side of the mountain.

It was in this side hill where Bob Vincent and many others buried into the earth for protection. Greg Sutliff, Camp Hill, spent three weeks in a tent on Iwo Jima during a Marine landing event in 1945. The consistency of the ground was somewhat skin to digging a hole in a bushel of wheat. It was in foxholes like this where Bob spend his sleepless nights with vegetation pulled over his underground shelter. Bob slept restlessly in fear that a member of the Japanese military would detect him in the ground. Esther, Bob's wife, said that for years after Bob returned to Benton he would shake his feet violently during the middle of the night until he would wake from his bad dream. He would tell Esther than he was dreaming of running away from Japanese who were trying to kill him.

Soldiers and sailors on the island of Iwo Jima typically came ashore fighting heavy waves and strong undertows. As I remember the island from my visit there many years after the battle, the narrow and not very pretty beach climbed sharply, then leveled, then broke into terraces making it difficult to walk, let alone drive a Jeep. There were no palm trees as one might expect on an island such as this. The ground was all volcanic. The cards were stacked in favor of the Japanese who occupied the island. The assault was somewhat like making an assault on the side of Red Rock Mountain to capture an airfield on top of the mountain--with no road to get to it and no natural water available. To get to the top, you had to get by people trying to kill you, people dug-in and unseen. More US Marines earned the Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima than in any other battle in US history. In 36 days of fighting, there were 25,851 US casualties (1 in 3 were killed or wounded). Of these, 6,825 American boys were killed. 

Virtually all 22,000 Japanese perished while defending the island's two airfields from reinforced concrete blockhouses, using artillery, mortars and machine guns pointed toward the landing beaches. There was an interlocking network of tunnels, trenches and deep caverns. You can get a good overview of the battle by going here and the building of airfields by going here. American aircraft used for spotting enemy positions played an important role in this campaign. 

The U.S. military turned to the Stinson Division of the consolidated Vultee Corporation between 1942 and 1945 to come up with an "Aircraft Jeep." The Navy and the Marine Corps used a version of the aircraft known as the OY-1, while the Air Corps used a version known as the LB-5 . Nearly 4,000 were built in Wayne, Michigan. 

Seven spotter aircraft were used by VMO-4 on Iwo Jima, the outfit in which Bob Vincent served. The tail number of the OY-1 which survived in Bob's squadron was 02766. This was the only surviving spotter aircraft and will be the one that flies into Benton on April 1 or 2. The logbook for the squadron also survives. You can view it here.

The volcanic island of Iwo Jima is about a hundred nautical miles southwest of the mid-point of the direct air route between Tokyo and Saipan in the Mariana Islands. Iwo Jima was unique in the chain of islands in that it had flat land on top of a mountain usable as an airfield. From Iwo Jima, combat missions by P-51 fighters and B-24 bombers could cover a large fraction of Japan. B-29 bombers could reach targets in all of Japan. The problem was that the Japanese controlled the island. In Japanese possession, it facilitated fighter interception of B-29s en route from the Marianas to Japan. In American hands, the airfield was a haven for emergency landings of B-29s and Japan would be much assessable. 

Bob Vincent was one of 60 men who served in VMO-4 . Bob's role as an enlisted man was as a parachute rigger or "PR" (currently known as "Aircrew Survival Equipmentman"). He was trained and licensed to pack, maintain and repair parachutes. He had to understand fabrics, hardware, webbing, regulations, sewing and packing. As a rigger, Bob played an important role in dropping troops, supplies and equipment onto Iwo Jima. Riggers had the distinction of wearing a special red baseball cap as their military headgear when on duty as a rigger.   Learn more about the squadron by going to http://wn.com/VMO-4 .

After Bob was discharged and returned to Benton he got his pilot's license in 1945 or 1946 and owned an operated small planes until the time that he died.

[As the story progressed into the next day, it was clear that the plane might not be able to make it to Benton Airport in April because of weather]

The pilot indicated that "We fly at 90 MPH and have only a compass for navigation..." The trip north is based on weather entirely.  The quote for the squadron was "You name it, we'll aim it." We suspected that the plane will be able to make the trip.

Pilot Chris LeFave and owner Mike Polley, Upland, California, have just under two weeks to fly the OY-1 from California to Florida. If weather holds he will fly on to Pennsylvania, with stops in Virginia and Maryland. Chris says that "If the stars are aligned and the weather gods smile on us, we will be aiming for Pottstown and Lavelle to meet Robert Guss and Asher Banning, fellow Marines from Bob's squadron." Chris will see Esther and Rodney Vincent in Florida when they meet Bob's squadron commander, Tom Rozga, a man who recently got to fly the plane 65 years after he had last flown it.

Chris said "We will do all we can to make it into Benton.  We want to honor every hero of VMO-4 but are fighting time, weather and distance.  If we cannot push north after Florida, we may try and leave the plane on the east coast and come back in early summer or spring. We hope you understand if we can't get up there this round." Chris went on to thank the people of Benton, relatives of Bob Vincent and airport manager Monte Hittle who showed a lot of "interest and hospitality

Bob Vincent, like others that saw real action in the military, "never talked much about time served," Harry Ritter recalls. "However," he continued, "it was clear that he and Bobby T. had been through some bad times. Each served in the Marines." Harry knew Bob well, saying that "Bob was not one to back down and was not afraid to tackle a new venture." Bob was willing to "jump in and learn as he went." 

Harry's long association with Bob began when Bob came to Ritter's Nursery and asked Mac Ritter if he could spare his son to help build Bob's first golf course--Frosty Valley, Danville. Building a golf course was new to both of them. Sometime later while Harry was in Maryland in the motel business, Bob asked if Harry would come back to work for him at the golf course he was building. Bob had been building golf courses for three years  by that time. Harry came back and stayed for another 18 yrs. Harry and Bob often flew to golf-course construction sites, although Bob called Harry a "fair-weather flyer." Harry remembers there were "times we both did some sweating." Harry remembers that he was "never afraid to fly with Bob."

If you can credit someone with Bob's success in the construction of golf courses, perhaps it was L. Ray Appleman. Bob get expelled from high school once and Mr. Appleman told Bob to "start digging ditches for a living because you won't amount to anything." Bob left high school (later obtaining his GED with the class of 1951) and joined the Marine Corps. Bob took Mr. Appleman's advice to heart when he returned from the war. He bought a backhoe and started digging ditches. By the time he was done, he had built more than 20 golf courses and was president of the Golf Course Builders Association of America. Local courses that Bob built include Frosty Valley; White Deer, Williamsport; Sugarloaf, Hazelton, Tofftrees, State College; and Mill Race, Benton. He built golf courses in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and West Virginia. 

Esther and Rod Vincent will meet with Lt. Tom Rozga, former commanding officer of VMO-4, next Wednesday evening or Thursday in Lakeland, Florida. Pictures of Rozga visiting Marine OY-1, bureau number 02766, are available at http://vmo4heroes.com/rozga.html . This aircraft is painted with the nose art "Lady Satan." Razga, who lives in The Villages in Florida, recently retired from his family business at the age of 88. Rozga had the unusual honor and distinction of flying his aircraft on the 65th anniversary of the landing on Iwo Jima.

The OY-1 was scheduled to leave Cable Field, www.cableairport.com/index.shtml , the "World's Largest Family-Owned, Public-Use Airport," in California on March 25 to fly to Lakeland, Florida. Weather concerns forced the ancient aircraft to begin its three-day flight across the United States to Lakeland, Florida, early. The Florida destination is the Sun-N-Fun Air show at Lakeland-Linder Airport in Lakeland, http://www.sun-n-fun.org/ . The Fly-In will celebrate the 100th anniversary of naval aviation, including performances by the U.S. Navy “Blue Angels,” an evening program hosted by NASA Space Shuttle Commander and Naval Aviator Robert “Hoot” Gibson and more than 500 commercial exhibitors.  

The OY-1 will depart, weather conditions permitting, so as to arrive at the Benton airport on April 1 or 2. Monte Hittle, airport manager, contracted  the Benton VFW and the American Legion Millville Post. The Legion is very interested in this event and have already pledged full support. The Color Guard has been requested. The Press Enterprise will include an article. Many people are turning out knowing that it is an honor to honor Bob Vincent.

[The story moved to a new day at this point]

Runway conditions at Benton PA40 are very sloppy as the frost leaves the ground, followed by rain, sleet and snow and cold weather. The water table is very high and the North end will probably be too soft to use when the plane arrives here on April 1 or 2. The runway is marked with white barrels every 200 feet. Flights landing in Benton use the Southern 1400 feet for takeoffs and landings. The first 600 feet will probably be unusable and the plane will have to land long. 

The L5-B Sentinal "Lady Satan" is traveling 2,500 miles to attend the Sun n Fun fly-in at Lakeland, Florida, and visit her original pilot during WWII, Lt. Tom Rozga. The plane's pilot and observer are trudging along at the lightning speed of 90 knots at 3,500 feet for the 3-4 day trip across the Southern United States. The trip began early ahead of a brisk-storm system which swept across Southern California.

Mike and Chris made it to Stellar, AZ (Phoenix) Wednesday. Thursday night they were in Pecos, Texas, waiting out high winds in West Texas. The plane has new observation glass in the roof and has replica bazookas which are creating a lot of drag and are causing consternation for FAA officials. You can follow the flight to Florida and the subsequent flight to Benton and the return to California by going to and bookmarking www.victorygirl.com/blog/ .

[The continuing story begins a new day at this point.]

A cross-country trip in the 1944 Marine spotter aircraft L5-B Sentinal "Lady Satan" to pay respects to a former member of a Marine squadron on Iwo Jima has captured a great deal of attention. We followed the plane as it left California and worked its way across Texas and into Leesburg, Florida. We held our breath when we heard the weather forecast for its interim destination of Lakeland, Florida at the Sun-N-Fun Airshow. We watched in horror as plane after plane was destroyed when a tornado touched down at the airport at the worst possible time. As we heard the reports, little did we know that the former spotter aircraft was safely housed in a hanger in Leesburg. 

The last thing that we thought would happen when we talked with plane personnel in Florida early Friday morning was that the plane would head toward Benton, the home of former resident and a former member of the squadron of Iwo Jima fame, Bob Vincent.

The aircraft left Leesburg heading north thanks to a break in the weather in order to arrive in Pennsylvania to see Robert Guss and Asher Banning in Lavelle--guys who worked on the airplane on Iwo Jima-- and the crew at Benton Airport that Bob Vincent used to call home as well as the veterans who will turn out for the event when the plane lands in Benton.

The crew has been treated royally on their trip north. In Waycross, Georgia, their airport stop featured free BBQ and sweet tea. The two-man crew fueled, ate and continued north. They stopped next in Barnwell, South Carolina, at an old WWII army field. A check of weather over North Carolina, Virginia and Pennsylvania showed a color that the California pilots were not familiar with--snow.

A pilot from Advance, North Carolina, insisted that the crew fly to his private airstrip and keep the plane in his hangar with his L-5.  He told the crew that the airport was on the map but "all we had to do was take off from Twin Lakes, turn 030 degrees and go 3 miles." He said that "when we get there make sure you come in over the river and watch out for the trees, then taxi up the road to his house." The crew searched for the airport for 15 minutes without finding it. Larry finally took off in his L-5 and met the crew in the air to guide them in. This is the same airfield where Pier Holcombe lives and parks his plane. Larry and the crew of the plane bound for Benton plan a “dawn patrol” in the North Carolina countryside Sunday morning before heading 400 miles north to Benton.

Pilot Chris LeFave and owner Mike Polley, Upland, California, plan to fly north Sunday morning departing about 6:30. The plane will arrive at the Benton airport Sunday night about 5 PM. You can track the progress of the plane by going here . The plane will be escorted from Lavelle by pilots from the local area and will be met by an honor guard of veterans from the area when the plane touches down in Benton.

They flew on to Layette, Pennsylvania, where they were met by Asher Banning and Robert Gus, two additional crew members of the original WWII VM0-4 unit on Iwo Jima. The pair had not seen each other in more than 30 years and ‘Lady Satan’ for 66 years!

The plane and the crew will spend Sunday night in Benton thanks to the hospitality of some "crop dusters."

Chris LeFave and Mike Polley successfully arrived in Benton with their OY-1 "Lady Satan" Sunday about 5:45 PM, the last stop on their east coast ‘VMO-4′ journey. They flew in clear weather from Advance, North Carolina with Larry Melton, a neighbor of Pier and Beth Holcombe, in his Korean-era L-5 off their wing.

After greetings, Mike and Chris made the 30-minute hop in the OY-1 to Benton where much of the town turned out to meet the plane, with the mayor, the president of the local VFW unit and many residents of the town at the airport. Mike and Chris spent the night Sunday and Monday, enjoying dinner and a well-deserved rest. There was no cell service for these non-Verizon users and no internet access.

Monday morning, April 3, 2011, they will either fly to Tennessee or if weather is bad will leave the plane in Benton at the airport until later in the spring, then fly it back to California. Pilot Chris pointed out that "we are still playing it by ear because of the 50 mile per hour winds in North Carolina.

Activities for Sunday's activities for the L5-B aircraft that flew from Advance, North Carolina, to Benton are covered in the Press Enterprise today and here.  Lady Satin arrived in Benton around 5:45 PM Sunday. Mike Evans and Monte Hittle escorted them from Schuylkill County Airport to Benton. The planes did some very tight formation flying along the way, which airport manager Monte Hittle termed "very cool." About 200 people showed up to welcome the guests, and they got a history lesson about this particular Stinson OY-1. They honored Bob Vincent very well. Doug Vincent and Shannon Hartkorn were present for the arrival. As airport manager, Monte was very pleased with the turnout and guests, Chris and Mike, pilot and owner of the plane, were in awe at the support and interest that they received. 

Monte was so into the events of the day that, as he described it, "we did a low pass fly by, I was so surprised to see so many people there that I forgot to check the windsock to see the wind direction, which Monte termed "not cool." There were very favorable comments on the fly by and everyone seemed to appreciate the historical importance of this visit.  

Thanks to everyone who took valuable time from their schedules to be there for this very fortunate event. 

Chris and Mike are looking at a possible departure this morning when the weather clears.

Photos are available here , thanks to Bob Maynes. Pictures will be available for viewing until July 2, 2011.

The flight crew enjoyed their trip immensely, and thank everybody for the amazing generosity and cordiality of everyone they’ve met.   Pilots Chris Bergen and Jerri Bergen are in the planning stages of bringing ‘Lady Satan’ home in July, possibly detouring through Wisconsin for a Marine Corps VMO reunion.

Afterthought from April 6, 2011...

The crew arrived back in California Tuesday night after skirting snow in Pennsylvania. The pilot and co-pilot found out the hard way that Stinson designed that airplane for the desert--not 10 degree Celsius in Northern Virginia and Pennsylvania.  

The crew flew back to California on a commercial flight from Philadelphia and left their plane in the "safe hands of all the Benton Airport crew staying warm in Monte Hittle's hangar." Monte "didn't want the old girl to feel lonely so they all wanted to make sure the crew knew they would 'sacrifice' and exercise her legs if needed." The Benton folks certainly are givers aren't they!   

Rather than writing anything on the subject, I am going to simply let Chris LeFave give you his impressions of his visit to Pennsylvania, with only minor additions or clarifications on my part.

"About 2-3 years ago, Mike Polley, Bob Cable and Chris Bergen purchased OY-1 02766 knowing she had a WWII history on Iwo Jima. Not much had been verified. One morning over coffee at Maniac Mikes at Cable Airport (in California), Mike Polley showed Chris the combat diary for VMO-4 that came with the airplane. It showed that this airplane was delivered to VMO-4 with other airplanes all out of the same construction-block numbers. We started to see the same names over and over again.  Names like Lt. Thomas Rozga, Lt. K. E. Kelley, Pfc Asher Banning and Pfc Robert Guss. As we read on, we wondered if we could find these guys still alive. We didn't have a grand plan like what has come out of this, we just wanted to hear their story.  

"When you read the diary and realize what these fine men did, you realize that not much we can do will repay what they did.  Knowing that, this trip and bringing them their airplane was all we could come up with. It just had to be done and that was that. None of us questioned bringing them their airplane. It is a tremendous honor to be allowed to do this. I suspect that anyone would do the same thing and not take a second thought."

"The plane owners "first found Tom Rozga, Robert Guss, Asher Banning, Grover Pickell and Virgil Herring. We visited Grover Pickell last year near his home in San Marcos. When I started to talk with these guys, they gave me the names of other crew members and Robert Guss sent me a picture of the VMO-4 logo with the signatures of all the members. That is how we found Robert "Bob" Vincent.  Robert Guss told me that Bob lived in Benton. More names came up and I found families of guys who had passed (Kelley, Hutchins, Bergeron, Sutkus, Drabot, Hull, Tomes, Eckler). But to this day I can only find 5 living members. The sons of Lt. John Sutkus found their dad's logbook and he logged 6 hours of combat missions on Iwo Jima flying OY-1 #02766. Amazing. We hope that when the word spreads, more members will be found.  I would like to feel that this trip closed the journey but until I can find all the members, living or dead, we will just keep searching.

"On Sunday, Mike and Chris saw a break in the storm that was just west of us and left Advance, North Carolina, for Pennsylvania.  We decided that we would push all the way north then attempt Virginia and Maryland if the weather held later. We started early from Twin Lakes Airport and were escorted north by Larry Melton and Bill Englert in Larry's L-5G.  What a beautiful start to a day that will stay with me forever. Thanks for flying our wing, gents! They broke off after about 50 miles and we made our first stop at Falwell Airport in Virginia. Some of the locals at Advance had warned me not to go in there at night if not familiar. That had gone in one ear out the other right up until the time I turned base leg to land and I saw the up hill 5 degree slope on the side of a mountain.  'So that's why he warned me not to go there at night.' The old girl handled it fine and was stopped in about 200 feet. After the owner of the field came out and fueled us, Mike flew the next leg into Maryland--head winds all the way, of course.

"Let me back up. The day before, I had called the airport manager of Joe Zerbey Airport, Bill Willard.  I explained for about 30 seconds what we were doing and he was very appreciative and said the weather looked good there. He told us that anything we needed he would get for us.  Robert Guss and his brother in law agreed to drive from Pottstown to Lavelle where we were headed and Asher and Marlene Banning were meeting us. Asher doesn't drive anymore and Marlene agreed to drive him there. When we arrived, Bill had about 30 people on the ramp waiting for us including reporters and locals. Upon parking, Mike and I were met by two of the most genuine men around, Asher Banning and Robert Guss. Both were very excited to see their plane from 66 years ago. The two of them had not seen each other since 1981 at the VMO-4 reunion. After talking with them by phone for two years, it was amazing to finally meet them this far away from home. Both of them told us about their experiences and I hope they can stay in touch with each other after we leave.  

"Robert Guss told us that Bob Vincent held the squadron speed record for time it took to run from the hut to his foxhole (couple hundred feet) in 7 seconds. They both spoke very highly of the other men in their squadron and Bob Vincent. Apparently in 1981 when the guys got together for the reunion, Bob Vincent told all the members of the squadron "you guys don't pay for a thing. It's all on me." Two years later Bob Vincent passed away.  I'm sorry we did not meet Bob.  I hope he knows.

"Asher said that he joined the Marines a month after high-school graduation and went to Paris Island, South Carolina, for boot camp as did Robert Guss. He said he was 118 pounds at the time and was just at the weight limit. Robert Guss said he was also about 125 pounds and just squeaked by. Both of them were fabric repairmen on VMO-4 aircraft and patched bullet holes after returning flights. They said that however many bullet holes you see when the plane lands, you always double it. What goes in one side goes right through the other. They stayed busy. Both of them were injured on Saipan after a Japanese air raid according to the combat diary but when asked if they got the purple heart they said they refused it.  It was during that raid that Mtsgt. William King, Cpl Frank "Fili" Fedele and Cpl. Cyril D. Kass were killed.

"After spending a hour or so with them at the airport, the Bannings treated us to lunch in Cressona, PA., the heart of 'Coalcracker Country.' It was very nice and much appreciated. I offered both of them a flight in the plane but they both thought they got enough of it back in 1945.

About that time, Mike Evans and Monte Hittle flew to meet us from Benton and escort us back by air. The weather and darkness were approaching fast so we had to cut the meeting short with the Bannings and Robert Guss. I could have spent weeks with both of them.  If you met them, you would just want to give them a big hug. That's just the type of guys they are. I hope we meet again.

"On to Benton. Boy were we surprised. A more fitting end to the journey could not have been imagined. When we followed Monte and Mike on the upwind, we were able to see about 100+ people lined up along the runway. I couldn't help but give one more pass before landing. It's the law anyway.  FAR 91.02766 reads: 'When flying a cool airplane from WWII and completing a 30-hour flight, the pilot in command must complete a photo flyby. Don't want to break any laws.' 

"After making the best landing I could on the grass strip (no pressure), we parked and were greeted by what seemed to be the whole town. We met Bob Vincent's son, Doug, and Bob's granddaughter, Shannon Hartkorn.  Esther Vincent was still in Florida as was Rodney Vincent. Everyone was excited to see it and Mike and I were able to toast the squadron with ice cold Yuengling Beer, given to us by Bill Willard at Joe Zerbey Airport. 

"The feeling that came over me when we arrived was overwhelming. We were so honored to have the town come out. What a fitting tribute to these men. The media was there also via www.bentonnews.net , the Pottstown Republican and The Press Enterprise). After spending the next hour or so talking with those who came out to see the plane, we put her in the hangar and were treated to dinner by the our new Benton family. We went to the Sub Shop on the river (sic) for a killer "Cheeseburger Sub" with peppers. We then were adopted by the Farwell family who lives in the hills above town and run a crop-dusting business. The Farwells have taken an area that is hard for traditional fixed-wing dusters and made it possible by using a Bell 47 helicopter. The whole family is involved. I don't think I have come across a family so devoted to "Faith, Family and Flying." The hospitality they showed us was something I can't do justice by writing about it in just one paragraph. Needless to say Mike and I got along fine with them. They run their operation out of their home and the hangar is filled with project airplanes and helicopters because they can't see aircraft parts just get thrown away. We got fed 3-4 times a day while we watched weather to fly out. We stayed at Joe and Becky Farwell's house for two nights and felt very welcome. Joe Farwell is a former Army helicopter pilot and served two tours in Iraq. Rick Farwell took Mike and I on a simulated spray run in the helicopter and we both decided we are in the wrong business. What a blast.  On our last night we were treated to a great home cooked meal at the home of Joanne and Dick Kirchner who live next to the Farwells. I will start the diet tomorrow--and this time I mean it. The Farwells and Monte Hittle shuttled us around for two days waiting for good weather. We can't thank you guys enough for all you have done for us.  I measured the distance to Cable Airport and it's only 1,988 miles away.  See you next week?

"This quest covered about 3,000 miles, 31 hours of flying, a case of oil, 350 gallons of fuel, 23 glasses of sweet tea and lots of fried okra and 2 cop cars. We gained 100s of new friends, saw America the way it should be seen--from 500-1000 feet--and hopefully showed the heroes of VMO-4 that the real America loves them and treasures every day of freedom they gave to us. Every place we stopped and were taken care of was good for the soul. I still believe I cannot write in a way that really explains what this trip was. But please ask us when you see us and we will try and tell you. 

"Pass the word to all the Marines you know and maybe we can find the rest of VMO-4."