VF-653 Fighter Squadron

Unit Casualty List By Last Name

Unit Casualty List By Date

Navy BBS

Legacy Messages - 1995-1999

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Neil O. Myers wrote on April 17, 2020

Send Email To NEIL O. MYERS

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City and State: AIKEN SC

Unit: VF-653 ON USS VALLEY FORGE, VF-151 ON USS BOXER

Service or Relationship: USN

Comments: I have communicated with a number of men I served with. All of those have gone on to a better place with the exception of Al Gabor and Everett Cook. Al and I e-mail daily. Everett (Cookie) and I speak by phone about once/year.

I happened to find a diary I kept during our first cruise. Words from a wide-eyed boy far from home who served with some of our country's finest.

The best to all of you.

Neil
4/17/2020

Keywords: VF-653, VF-151, USS Valley Forge, USS Boxer, Al Gabor, Everett Cook, Korean War.

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Neil O. Myers wrote on November 11, 2014

Send Email To NEIL O. MYERS

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City and State: AIKEN SC

Unit: VF-653, VF151

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: I just received this e-mail from Capt. Raymond Edinger's e-mail address from his son, Charles:

On Thursday November 6th, 2014 at 5:55 pm Raymond S. Edinger passed away at home peacefully. His service will be held at the Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary on Noverber 15th, at 12:00 noon at 466 N. Winchester Blvd.

Son,
Charles Edinger

Then Lt. Raymond Edinger was the Executive Officer of VF-653 when I was assigned to it in 1951 and served under him on my first cruise aboard the USS Valley Forge. A fine officer and gentleman. God Bless.

Keywords: VF-653, VF-151, USS Valley Forge, USS Boxer.

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Dick Cook wrote on November 27, 2012

Send Email To DICK COOK

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City and State: AUBURN AL

Unit: VA-172

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: There is a great article in the latest issue of Air and
Space Mag on VF-/653. Of particular interest to me was
the fact that James Michner was embedded with the
squadron and wrote the book Bridges of Toko Ri based
on combat action involving VF-653. I saw the movie
based on the book while in school and signed up the
next week to go to flight school.

Keywords: A4A/B
VA-172
USS FDR CVA-42

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Grady Lisk JR. wrote on July 14, 2012

Send Email To GRADY LISK

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City and State: SEBRING FL

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: I am a crew member on a restored F4U-4 CORSAIR that
flew with VF-653 while on the USS VALLEY FORGE CV-
45.We are
always looking for history,personal stories,photos
anything dealing with VF-653. feel free to contact me
at my email or phone number . we also have a
facebook page called KOREAN WAR HERO and a website
www.koreanwarhero.com come by and say hi.

BEST REGARDS
GRADY

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Neil O. Myers wrote on December 17, 2010

Send Email To NEIL O. MYERS

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City and State: AIKEN SC

Unit: VF-653 AND VF-151

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: I made an error in Message 74715 regarding Executive Officer Raymond Edinger of VF-653. I have just found a letter from him postmarked 29 June, 2004. Therefore, the Raymond Edinger I mentioned in Message 74715 above is not correct. He is currently listed as living at 1739 Jeffery Cr., Santa Clara, CA 95051

Keywords: VF-653 Raymond Edinger USS Valley Forge

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Neil O. Myers wrote on December 15, 2010

Send Email To NEIL O. MYERS

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City and State: AIKEN SC

Unit: VF-653, VF-151

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran

Comments: If I can answer any questions regarding these people or places, you may contact me.
By the way, our Exec. Officer in VF-653, Ray Edinger, died 17, Dec 2000 at age 90 in Stockton, CA. I corresponded with him some. He was later a Captain. Chief Ray Spraggins died 23 May, 1988 in San Jose, CA. Commander, later Captain, Cook Cleland died July 13, 2007 at age 90 in Pensacola, FL. He and his wife operated an antique shop after he retired from the service. Cleland won the Navy Cross.

Neil O. Myers
Aiken, SC

Keywords: USS Valley Forge, USS Boxer, VF-653, VF-151, Exec. Officer Ray Edinger, Commander Cook Cleland, John Motty, Everett Cook, Brozovich, Ott, Gordon Brown, Alan Bedford, Tom Ledford, Chief Ray Spraggins, Chief Zalinski, Yeoman Uhle, Yeoman John Reynolds, Barbour's Point, Oahu, Yokosuka.

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Larry Masterman wrote on May 17, 2010

Send Email To LARRY MASTERMAN

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City and State: WEAVERVILLE CA

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: I'm working on a tribute to my father, who served aboard CV 45 for two Korea cruises. I have his cruise books and a few photos, but would like to obtain more photos of VF 653 Corsairs from the period, either on the boat or in the air. Scans via email will be perfectly acceptable and greatly appreciated. Prints by mail are also welcome.

Thank you to any who can help, and to all who have served.

Keywords: VF-653, F4U-4, U.S.S. Valley Forge, CV 45, Korea Cruise

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Thomas Hunt wrote on November 25, 2003

Send Email To THOMAS HUNT

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City and State: PALM BEACH FL

Unit:

Service or Relationship: Family Member

Comments: I'm trying to gather information for my mother concerning her brother. His name was Hull Leroy Wright. He was a lieutenant in the US Naval Reserve and flew with VF 653 off the Valley Forge. On 11 March 1952, while flying a F4U, he was hit by AA, parachuted from the plane at low altitude and struck the ground with a partially opened burning parachute. He was reported as KIA. A response from anyone with any memories of him would be greatly appreciated.

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Kimm Maillet wrote on May 2, 2002

Send Email To KIMM MAILLET

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City and State: MANHATTAN BEACH CA

Unit:

Service or Relationship: -

Comments:

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Sandra Gilbert wrote on August 19, 2001

Email Update Needed

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City and State:

Unit: ATG-1. VF-653

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran - Korea

Comments: Looking for former squadron members of VF-653. Want to put history together to go with rebuilt 308. Please e-mail me.

Keywords: Valley Forge, F4U-4

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Neil O. Myers wrote on July 24, 2001

Send Email To NEIL O. MYERS

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City and State: HIGHLANDS NC

Unit: VF-653 - VF-151

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran - Korea

Comments: Gordon A. Brown who provided message 7499 passed away in November 2000. He was a good friend. I located him 6 months too late.

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Leonard DeFranco wrote on July 5, 2001

Send Email To LEONARD DEFRANCO

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City and State: CLEVELAND OH

Unit: VF-653

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran - Korea

Comments: My father, Leonard DeFranco is looking for former squadron members: VF 653. Served from '51 to 53'. Cook Cleland and Corsairs. Looking for A. Baker; Colter; Hatherhill; Ott; or Wilcox ( or anyone who might remember him!) E-mail me with info.

Keywords: Valley Forge

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Neil O. Myers wrote on June 6, 2001

Send Email To NEIL O. MYERS

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City and State: HIGHLANDS NC

Unit: VF-653 - VF-151

Service or Relationship: Navy Veteran - Korea

Comments: Served with VF-653 on Valley Forge 1951-1952 with F4U4 Corsairs and many from that squadron and I served with VF-151 on the Boxer in 1953. I would like to communicate with any who served from those squadrons. If anyone knows the current location of Gordon A. Brown or John Motty or Everett Cook or John Reynolds I'd like to get that information.

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Alexander Gabor wrote on May 17, 2001

Email Update Needed

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City and State: OAK HARBOR WA

Unit: MATERIAL

Service or Relationship: -

Comments:

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Gordon Brown wrote on October 31, 1999

Deceased

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City and State: OAKDALE CA

Unit: V F-653

Service or Relationship: Navy

Comments: Contact wanted

Keywords: Editor: Gordon passed in 2000 per Neil Myers

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