For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon They shall grow not old.
As we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun ... and in the
morning ...
we will remember them.
Raymond Iseli Sr.
1919 - 2009
95th. Infantry Division 379th. F Company 4th Plt.
1942 - 1945
This is a special tribute to my Father who
fought in the European Theater of WWII.
He
fought valiantly against tremendous
fire
and was woounded twice. I dedicate
this in
his honor and to those in his company
who
never returned. May you all rest in
peace.
SSgt. Tim Francis Died on 2008
Unknown cause at this time Photo supplied by: Marc Iseli
-Marc Iseli- You may be as shocked as I was to hear about
the passing of Tim Francis. For many
of us
who had the pleasure to serve with
Tim, this
news leaves me with a very heavy heart.
He
passed away in the Summer of 2008 causes
currently unknown. Tim was my NCOIC
for my
entire stay with VMFP-3 and we served
together
on many deployments including Det-C
1981
to Japan. For me Tim will always hold
a special
place in my memories of my time serving
in
the Marine Corps.
Semper Fi my brother, until we meet
again.
-Mark "No Load" Nothelfer- Tim was a good friend to all of us and would
give you a hard time when you first
met him
but it all focused on learning what
he knew
with you. He has been one that I have
always
wondered where he was off to, what
adventure
he might be on he drew a person to
him with
his humerous way. I wish we could have
met
one more time. He gave me my nickname
"NoLoad"
what more can be said about a friend
then
that. Semper Fi
Sgt. Oscar Moreno Died on August 17, 1983 Killed in motorcycle accident Photo supplied by: Mark Nothelfer
-Mike & Claudia Clifton- Oscar was engaged to be married on August
15, 1983. Oscar left work around 0400 after
working a 12 hour shift. Driving up the freeway
he simply couldn't remember what happened.
Some people thought he just fell asleep.
The last time I saw him was a couple of days
before he died. He was in the hospital in
Tustin. He was still cracking jokes and making
people around him laugh! Oscar was the one
who would always get everyone laughing again
and break the tension just about the time
you didn't think you could take it anymore.
He could feel the tension sometimes. And
with a big old grin on his face, he would
take his hand, palm down under his chin,
then move his hand away from his face and
say, "Hey! Just Gaff It!!!" By
"Gaff it!" He meant, just blow
it off. Don't worry about it. It'll be alright.
And with that goofy look on his face, he'd
have the whole shop laughing their asses
off! I do know that there has not been a
day in my life that I have not thought about
Oscar. He had that type of effect on people.
I guess the years take the edge off of us
and allows us to shed a tear for those left
behind. Rest In Peace Oscar
-Fred Inman- Probably my saddest memory is of Oscar Moreno.
Oscar came to work for me as a young Pfc.
His potential was apparent from the very
beginning. He advanced rapidly and soon made
SGT. With his obvious leadership ability
it was a no brainier to put him in charge
of night crew. I recently came across a program
from his funeral service and felt his loss
anew.
-CPL ALFREDO CARREON-
VMFP-3 US MARINE 1979-1983
Oscar and I became best of friends . There
was never a dull day around him.He would
call me bonehead,ha.I remember we were in
pattya beach Thailand and he woke up with
a blackeye and cheek scratched.He told me
3 guys had jumped him in the alley at nite.
It turns out he was pretty drunk and jumped
head first into the shallow end of swimming
Pool.But he let me believe the first part
till we set sail to the Indian Ocean.I was
to be in His wedding Iwas looking forward
to that day,I was already discharged and
moved back home to South Texas.I received
the sad news from his fiancé she called me
at home. I cried for my good friend .I think
about him often and he is still in my prayers
.I know He is up in heaven keeping an eye
on us.Probably still calling me a BONEHEAD.
SEMPER FI,
Lt. Pete Keenan (Pilot)
Lt. Bill Lauerman (RSO) Died in 1981 Their RF-4B crashed just outside of Ely,
Nevada killing both aircrew
-Jim O'Donnell-
Bill Lauerman was on his last cross-country
trip before reporting to Pensacola,
Fl..
for flight training as a Pilot. Pete
Keenan
would have joined Det-C, 1981-82 Overseas
with Maj. Thomas as Commanding Officer.
-Marc Iseli- It was a Friday morning and we were launching
out cross-country hops for the weekend.
I
was a Plane Captain and I was assigned
to
Lt. Keenan's aircraft. I just happened
to
be carrying a camera that day and took
a
picture of Lt. Lauerman just before
he climbed
into the back seat. Little did I know
that
the photo above would be the last time
we
would ever see them again. They were
well
liked by everyone. They were sadly
missed.
If anyone has information or a picture
of
them both. please contact me so I can
post
a proper tribute to them on this page.
Thank
You
-Capt. Dave McNally- The pilot was my roomate. 1/Lt Fred McClendon.
I accompanied his body back to Odessa,
Texas.
I believe that the RSO was 2nd Lt.
Dave Asbury.
The crash was an over rotation on take-off.
I think that the safety board found
that
the primary factors were the high altitude
and pilot error. This was the second
take
off of the morning. 1/LT Ron Chrichley
was
airborne at the time. The plane over
rotated
into a classic "Sabre Dance".
The
Pilot, Fred McClendon, apparently never
attempted
to eject and was killed during the
crash
and Dave ejected during the crash.
I was
the Flight Line officer at the time
and this
crash occurred at NAS Fallon Nevada
while
the entire squadron, VMCJ-3 at the
time,
was on a 30-day training deployment
to Fallon.
-Lt.Col.Larry D. Rannals- Lt Asbury did successfully eject as the aircraft
stalled at about 75-100 above ground,
and
he got a good chute. However as the
aircraft
crashed back to the ground and exploded
into
a fireball, Lt. Asbury was unfortunately
decending in his chute immediately
over the
area of the crash; and the resulting
fireball
melted/collapsed his chute causing
him to
fall to the ground from a great height
and
he was subsequently killed due to injuries
sustained on ground impact. I, a Captain at the time, was in another
RF-4 holding short of the runway awaiting
Tower clearance as the next aircraft
for
takeoff... immediately after Fred McClendon's
aircraft departed. Being number one
for takeoff,
I set there and watched the entire
event
as it happened... truly not believing
what
my eyes were seeing. Of course as soon
as
the crash happened, the Tower immediately
closed the runway and instructed all
other
aircraft in the hold short area to
taxi back
to the Line. I still remember to this
day,
how after just watching this crash
occur,
that as I set there at the hold-short
line
with feet on the brakes, how both of
my knees
just started steadily shaking. It was
actually
a relief to be told by the Tower to
taxi
back to the line, as I was certainly
in no
mood to go flying after just witnessing
this
tragedy. As I recall, I think my knees
continued
to shake all the way back to the squadron
line
-LtCol. Bill Westfall- It was a flight of two, John Heath and I were
dash two, had briefed to roll as Fred
broke
ground, we were dissimilar configurations.
We were carrying ECM pods. It was the
third
day of a very fun deployment, great
weather,
great flying. Fred had not flown yet,
I believe
he was part of the 4 shop and had been
involved
with the movement of the squadron to
Fallon
up to that point. I had flown a late
hop
with Joe Fox the evening before. I
remember
Ron Critchley and Rick Reno landing
on the
off duty while the aircraft burned
about
mid-field. I can still see almost the
entire
sequence in my mind like it was yesterday.
Fred and Dave were both very good friends.
I also still remember my first fkight
after
the accident with Ben Collins -- Gentle
Ben
didn't want to rotate. We were the
fastest
moving tricycle in Nevada.
Lt. Paul Duncan
Died on 1973
RF-4B crashed into the Pacific Ocean. Info supplied by: Dave Smith, Fred Inman -Dave Smith- Iremember watching Lt. Paul Duncan accompany
his RF4B into the Pacific after a bolter.
They never recovered him or the aircraft.
He was the RIO on the plane. The pilot
ejected
and I can't recall his name. This was
late
'73 or early '74.
-Fred Inman- I was on the flight deck when his plane went
in. He was the pilot and, I believe, his
RSO was Capt. Reno. The last transmission
that was received from him was when he called
the ball. He missed the hook and was going
around on his downwind leg, when he over
rotated and fell into the water. There was
an attempt to eject. The RSO was retrieved
from the water uninjured. Lt. Duncan was
never found. His helmet with a broken chin
strap was recovered. It was his first operational
landing attempt aboard the USS Midway.
Scott H. MacIntire
Died on ?
passed away due to leukemia. Info supplied by: 1/Lt Dave McNally He was dual qualified in both the EA6A and
RF4B. He got out of the Marine Corps
and
flew with the Texas Air National Guard.
His
last assignment was as Commanding Officer
of the 182nd Fighter Squadron, "Lone
Star Gunfighters" at Kelly AFB.
Great
guy and good friend. I was also the
best
man at his wedding.
Steven Paul Vifian
Died on March 03 2000
Killed in an automobile accident
Photo and info supplied by:
Bryan and Rozlyn Erpelding
Steven Paul Vifian, 33, of rural Anamosa,
Iowa died from injuries suffered from an
accident, which happened at 11:35 P.M. Thurs.
Steven Paul Vifian and a friend were apparently
heading home from fishing when their car
lost control on a curve. The car skidded
onto the shoulder, where it overturned several
times. Both men were ejected from the vehicle.
Vifian was pronounced dead at the scene. Steven Paul Vifian leaves behind a wife, Kimberly,
and two daughters, Marissa and Janelle. Steven
was born Sept. 8, 1967, in Cedar Rapids.
He worked for American Profol and was a member
of AIM Local 831. He was an avid outdoorsman;
he loved to fish and hunt. Steven was a good
father, son and friend to all. He will be
greatly missed by all.
Passed on March 2007
passed away due to lung cancer. Info supplied by: Shirley Kelly My name is Shirley Kelly. My husband was Captain
Thomas (T.P.) Kelly and was in the
VMCJ squadrons
for many years. Tom died in March 2007
from
lung cancer. He actually flew in the
RF4B
that is on display at the Tourist &
Event
Center. He and Col Keller flew the
first
hop in it. We live here in Havelock.
Actually
I have been here since we got married
in
1958.
Passed on Aug. 10 2006 Info supplied by: Dawn Porras Murray He is buried in the national cemetery in Dallas.
I don't know what other info you want,
but
I probably know the answer. His (our)
son
is on active duty in the Coast Guard.
He
left behind 3 children and 2 grandchildren,
and was unmarried at the time of his
death.
Died by heart attack Born 4/30/56,
died 8/10/2006.
-Tim McCarthy - Lou Porras was an outstanding Marine and a
good friend. I was shocked to hear
of his
passing a while back. He had a good
sense
of humor I thought and I feel he was
well
liked. He will be missed but remembered
as a Brother!
Passed on Nov. 1990
passed away due to lung cancer. Info supplied by: Jon Halfin Sgt Al Brashears, died November 1990 in an
off-base car accident after
transferring to MAG-11 IMA facility in July
1990. Sgt Brashears was
wll known and a respected Marine for those
of us who served in VMFP-3
from 1985-1990.
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Government or the United States Marine Corps in any way. This website is a copyright and the property of the Phabulous Phantom Productions and the information and photos gathered for
this website are intended for the purpose
of providing un-official information and entertainment for those interested in the history of Marine Corps RF-4B Squadrons and the RF-4B Phantom II aircraft.
