Lets face it, we would all like to be remembered for what we use to look like in our younger days, well get over it!!! The reality is we all ate one too many cupcakes since then and those size thirties don't fit anymore. Some of us have even less hair now then when it was high and tight. We follow a new motto that goes like this "Not as mean, Not as lean, But still a marine" Below are some former VMFP-3 Marines who were brave enough to send me their before and after photos. Thanks to them and Semper Fi! (Click on any image to enlarge) -SSgt. Dean Akkerman- (Plane Captain , 1979-1989) dkakkerman@gmail.com Ifinally retired in 99 and moved around a bit. Chicago, Alabama, Iowa, Oregon, Texas, Idaho. I now reside in WA state, living in the foothills of the blue mnts. I have to say looking at all the photos sure brought a smile to my face. Alot of memories. Thanks. (Click on image to enlarge) -Sgt. Thomas Hotchkiss- (Plain Captain) bighotkiss@hotmail.com I've worked for Parker Haniffin Aerospace my adult life, which is about 23 yrs I guess. I'm the Sr Quality Engineer on the New Programs team for a large company that makes all the flight controls for damn near everything that flies...pictures are attached in case I can't make it...which would be sad!!!! I am single, 2 kids at home. (Click on any image to enlarge) -Sgt. Marc E. Iseli- (Plane Captain , 1979-1983) RF4bphantom.sc.rr.com Served with VMFP-3 from 1979 to 1983 as a Plane Captain, after getting out I went back home to Pa. Even though I did not like living in Pa I did it to be closier to my family. I got into construction and I have been living a pretty good since. I just recently relocated to Myrtle Beach, SC. and started working for a new company. We just finished building the worlds first rock n roll theme park called Hard Rock Park. I am a Superintendent now and basically I am doing what I did as a Plane Captain. I control all the subs working on the jobsite ensure the job gets done safe and on time. My company is trying to get some defense contract work and I just recently made a trip to Marine Corps Air Station, New River, NC. to look at a building to bid on. They are planning on upgrading the base at Camp Lejeune, NC and Air Base, which we all know could use it. Semper Fi! (Click on image to enlarge) -SSgt. Fred Wingo- (Plain Captain, 1980-1983) fwingonfc@msn.com life has been very interesting and relatively good to me as well...its what you make it...I recently married a Norwegian woman, my second marriage. I just relocated to Norway, I live about 45 minutes southeast of Oslo. It is beautiful here...I am in the security business....I spent 16 years in the Marines got out of the reserves after gulf war one as a staff sergeant offered gunny just as I got out but never put it on. I spent most of my life in the security business, with Fed Ex and DHL then started my own security firm during the second gulf war, Look forward to hearing from all of you...any photos of the good old days welcome...Fred (Click on any image to enlarge) -SgtMaj. Randy D. Motz- (GSE , 1979-1985) r.motz@tabc.state.tx.us Randy D. Motz started his career in the Marine Corps as a GSE (Ground Support Equipment) NCO with VMFP-3. He is currently living in Texas serving with VMGR-234, Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron which fly the C-130. I am currently a Sgt Major at MAG-41 SMCR. I live in Texas. I'm glad you found me. RF's Forever!!! (Click on any image to enlarge) -Cpl. Ron "Recon" Russik- (Plane Captain , 1980-1983) phantomsrfun2@comcast.net After P-3, in 1983 I transferred to the Marine Corps Inactive Reserve, was Honorably Discharged in 1983, and in 1985 I re-entered the Active Marine Corps Reserve where I was a Plane Captian for the El Toro Transient Alert Line (or back in the day VAL - Visiting Aircraft Line). I was also a System Engineer for TRW in Redondo Beach CA. I went down to the Air Force recruiting office, in my Marine Corps uniform and signed up. I was honorably discharged from the USMCR in 1987. spent 2 years (1987-1989) as a Crew Chief on KC-10 452 ARW SAC at March Air Force base. In 2006 my company out-sourced the entire Information Technology department and I found myself without a job. On Sept 30, 2006 I married my wife, Kristina, near Tulsa, and two weeks later was working as a contractor at Yellow Freight in Overland Park KS. Dec 2006 I was hired permanently, bought a house in Peculiar, MO, moved my family, and here we are… Today I spend much of my time with my wife and as much time with "our" children as possible. I like working on my Harley because every time I'm out in the "shop" I think about the times at P-3 and the brotherhood of young Marines (Click on image to enlarge) -Cpl. Mark "Noload" Nothelfer- I left S.California in 84 and traveled back to my hometown where I married a girl I've known all of my life. We just celebrated our sons graduation from Michigin State, and life is good. I worked in a high performance motorcycle shop for awhile then got into building products which I now am a manager of a Northern Michigan Location. My employer is great, we are 11 stores strong and growing. I fish allot on Lake Huron, and snowmobile in the winter, golf when I can, it's not too bad of a way to go, Mark, Deann, Ramon --- on with the adventure (Click on image to enlarge) -Sgt. William F. Buckalew- At the time I got out, I thought the Marine Corps was about the worst thing in the world. In retrospect, the best people I will ever meet in my life, I met in VMFP-3. In 1988 I was offered a job at DuPont as an industrial electrician (I couldn't even get an interview to work on aircraft). I did that for a few years and moved to another job within DuPont as a computer support person. That job grew into a network position. In 1997 I took a job at a startup network integration company where I am the GM. I have been there since. I reenlisted for the Persian Gulf War, but was never deployed. Then I got out for good. In the meantime I got married to a woman (Leslie) I met at DuPont and we have a boy and a girl. Life has been good to us. (Click on any image to enlarge) -SSgt. Robert G. Hoffman- I was the Maintenance Admin Chief for P-3 from August 80 to August 82, was attached to Det Charlie in 81-82. I retired as a GySgt in January of 92 after 20 yrs, 7 months and 21 days of service to our Corps. I went back to school to finish off my degree in history, thought I would take up teaching....WRONG! Found out I had no patience for the kids in Jr. High School. I currently work for a major trucking firm as a Fleet Manager and an account representative for one of the companies major customers, I really enjoy this work. I found it allot easier to get results from truck drivers than from school students, and, I don't have to worry about going to jail if I feel the need to hurl a mouth full of colorful language at them. Currently I'm on-site at the customers corporate facility in St. Cloud Minnesota, its not Southern California, but I really like it up here. I'm currently married to my 3rd wife, have a 12 yr old daughter and, from my 22 yr old son (from wife #2), I have a 3 year old grandson. (Click on any image to enlarge) -Sgt. Timothy J. McCarthy- Saddlebackmac@comcast.net I was with VMFP-3 Maintenance Admin from 1982 to 1986. VMFP-3 was the greatest squadron I was ever with. The men from P-3 were the best of the best! After leaving P-3, I went to Okinawa (H&HS ACM) for a year tour, then to Iwakuni (MCC-1) which was my last duty station. After discharge, I married my present wife from the Philippines and have 2 fine son's and a lovely daughter. I continued my education and went into business. I am currently self employed as a computer consultant in Salem, New Hampshire. I never got the Marine Corps out of my blood. To this day, I am still talking young people into signing up! Semper Fi! (Click on any image to enlarge) -GySgt. Douglas Sivigny- kdsdjs@comcast.net Just wanted to say hello to all my old Rat F---ers and see what you all have been up to. I still live in Stafford VA, near Quantico where I work for a contractor to the Marine Corps. I have done two tours in Iraq and I am going back for a third soon. My wife says that I never have left the Corp but I miss the times being with P-3 and the many Dets. At the new Marine Corps mussem thay will be putting a RF4 up on one of the pedestall for the different types of aircraft. You all take care if you are ever in the area drop me a line or call I am in the book. Doug (Skivee-Drawers) Sivigny -Cpl. Randy M Williams- (Power Plants, 1980-1984) Man4dman@aol.com Randy is doing well today living in Waterbury, Connecticut raising his daughter and son by himself for the past twenty years. Meg is 20 and in college and Ryan is 17 and a senior in high school this year. Randy is a head mechanic for U.P.S. been there 18 years now. Drop him a line, he would be glad to hear from you. -Sgt. Al Dirden- GSE (1981 - 1983) aldirden@hotmail.com I did separation from the Marine Corps (VMFP-3) in February of 1983 and I moved back to my home town of St. Louis, MO. A local aircraft manufacturer was expanding one of their production lines about that time and I hired on with them as a mechanic. I’m divorced and I have two kids. I live just east of St. Louis in the small town of Fairview Heights, IL. Semper Fi! -Cpl. David Lindsay- I served in the Marines from 1974-78. I was an engine mechanic with P-3 from 75-78. Served aboard the Midway from 9/77-3/78. After leaving the Corps I went to Prescott, AZ. where I helped my father start a business. I was also a foreman for a landscape company. I was going to school on the GI Bill when things got tough so I went back into the service. I served 14 years in the Air Force and retired early in 94 during the force reduction. I tried truck driving for a couple of years but, eventually went back to school and got a degree in Human Services. I'm now a County Veterans Representative in N. Calif. I'm married with 4 kids. The oldest was born on the Marine Corps birthday in 1978. She was married this past June. The oldest son is in the Army Reserves. The younger daughter is working at a Title Co. in Riverside,CA. The youngest son is a junior in HS. 3 down 1 to go -Sgt. Mark Henson- I took a job in Pasadena Building Anti-echo chambers for the aero-space industries. This company brought me to Colorado to work at a company called Ball Aerospace, in Boulder. I loved it here and decided that I would stay that was in Dec. 1987, And I've been here every since. I remarried have two wonderful children with this marriage, and a daughter from my first. I work for the University Of Colorado, and enjoy my job very much. -Sgt. Michael Morehead- I served in the Marines from 1981 until 1988, the entire time, with the exception of school, was with P-3 Seat Shop. I went on 4 dets overseas, including 1 on the Midway (Det 'C' 1983, Det 'B' 1984, Det 'A' 1985, and Det 'C' 1986). I was on a WTI det. in Yuma, when I received orders to Recruiting School. Since I didn't have enough time left to accept the orders, I would have had to reenlist. Obviously, Yuma is NOT the place where one readily reenlists, so I decided to pack up my seabag and ship out. Not wanting to return to Chicago, I left on a dreary January evening for Fayetteville, Arkansas with Sgt. Phil Griscom of electric shop to embark upon the unchartered journey into collegiate life. The years and beers slipped by and I found myself armed with a Bachelor degree in Philosophy and even more of an uncertain future. So I went to law school. Three more years of study and beer landed me in Oklahoma, where I now practice as a public defender doing death penalty appeals. Since Oklahoma is second only to Texas in its drive to kill its citizens, my employment future looks fairly secure. I recently married a wonderful girl I met in law school. We have no kids, but we do have 3 dogs and 2 cats.. -Sgt. Jack Minor- My name is Jack Minor, and I am currently the pastor of Rocky Mountain Baptist church in Kersey, Colorado. Today on a whim I entered "VMFP-3" on the yahoo search engine. It brought up your site and I could not beleive what I saw. Your site brought tears to my eyes when I saw it. With the exception of my last few months of my time in the Marine Corps, I served my entire time in VMFP-3 photo line. They transfered me across the way to VMFA(AW)-121 because of personell cutbacks in the months preceeding the decommisioning. They in turn sent me TAD to the fuel pits. Although I was physically transfered my heart was still in P-3. -Cpl. Jim (JJ) Johnson- Ialmost hate to tell you this, but after I got out of the Marine Corps (discharged from P-3), I went to college and then got a commission in the Navy Reserve - only because the Marine Corps did not offer reserve commissions. I'm currently a Commander and am assigned as the Deputy Commander, Supply Support Battalion -1 out of Phoenix, AZ. I live in Sacramento, CA. Should be putting on my eagles in another year or two. Recommended Screen Resolution 1024 x 768 Enable pop-ups to fully enjoy this site. This website is not affiliated with the U.S. 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.