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MSgt Ed Grabenya Rest in Peace

With the deepest of regrets I have to inform you that MSgt. Ed Gabrenya assumed his duties as NCOIC of heaven's Marine detail today at approximately 1600 local Wed, Sep 2019. Services are pending. I will communicate the details of them when received.

Say a prayer to accompany Ed on his journey.

Semper Fi,

Bob Dart

________________

Very sorry to hear it. Ed was a great Marine and a plank holder with the Squadron. He always had a can do attitude and always got the job done.

He saved the day at Operation High Intercept at Cherry Point. The exercise was badly screwed up. The helicopters were on ships and we did not have the correct frequencies. Ed went out to the TRC-75 in the field and took it through the frequency spectrum until he found the Navy. Without Ed that exercise would have been a disaster.

Ed was the Squadron Comm Chief for many years. He was very knowledgeable about all that MWCS-48 did, and always worked hard to make sure we accomplished our mission.

Ed had a great Marine family as shown by the photo below. Rest in Peace, Marine.

Semper Fi

Craig Hullinger

MSgt Ed Grabenya, Sons, Son in Law, and Grand Sons

Christmas 2014

Ed is in the center. The first two Marines to the right are his sons. The Marine to the left is his son in law. The Marines on the outside, left and right, are his grandsons. And he has another Marine grandson who enlisted in the Marines after this photo was taken.

MSgt Gabrenya spent almost 28 years in the Marines, Regular and Reserve. He was a member of Marine Wing Communication Squadron at Glenview, Illinois for 25 years. He was the Communication Chief of the Squadron.

The extended Gabrenya family impresses us and General Amos, Commandant of the Marine Corps.

Semper Fi

Ed Gabrenya June 1, 2019

Semper Fi

Posted 20th September 2019 by C Hullinger

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Ron WozniakSeptember 19, 2019 at 11:48 AM

MSgt Ed Gabrenya, may he rest in piece with all the good Marines we have known, loved and lost over the years.
MSgt Gabrenya was always the professional with a good heart, a quick wit, and a broad smile.
We were all better Marines because of the influence Top Gabrenya had on us.
Semper Fi,
Woz
Ron Wozniak, LtCol USMCR, Retired
MWCS-48 1976-1987
Bradenton, FL
ReplyDelete
UnknownSeptember 19, 2019 at 1:42 PM

I will miss our conversations as we drove to and from Ft. McCoy. His voice and laughter would fill the ride while we shared stories of our younger years from the start of our careers through retirement and beyond.

Trips to Ft. McCoy will never be the same without him.

You are already missed by many.

R.I.P.

Semper Fi,

Keith Carrizosa, GySgt-(Acting FirstSgt) USMC, Retired
MWCS-48 1976-1993
Oak Park, IL

Louis Conti

1919 - 2014 | Obituary | Condolences

General Louis Conti passed away peacefully at home on February 14, 2014. He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, the former Miss Dorothy Kellogg of Utica, New York who passed away on January 30, 2014.

General Conti was born on November 28, 1919 in Philadelphia, PA. He graduated from Cornell University in June 1941. While attending Cornell, he played guard on the outstanding Cornell football teams in the 1938-1940 seasons. He also participated in the famous "5th down" game in 1940 between Cornell and Dartmouth where Cornell lost by forfeit. He was selected to play in the 1941 East-West Game.

His military career commenced in August 1941, when he enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve as a Seaman, Second Class. From this period until the end of World War II, he joined Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 243 (VMSB 243), Goleta, CA, in January 1943 and went with that squadron to Ewa, Oahu, Hawaii, in February.

During combat operation he was attached to the following: Marine Fighter Squadron 211 and Headquarters Squadron, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing, Base Defense Wing (VMSB 236), serving on Palmyra from March to July, 1943, Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 236, as a pilot and material officer of these squadrons at Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, Guadalcanal, Munda, Bougainville, and Green Island in the Solomon Islands. He participated as a dive bomber pilot in four campaigns during this period.

In May of 1944 he returned to the United States and joined Marine Photographic Squadron 354 until March 1945 when he returned to the Central Pacific with this Unit and was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 24 on Guam in the Marianas. He was then assigned to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing on Okinawa as commanding officer of the photo detachment in support of air operations on Okinawa and photo missions over Japan.

In March 1949, General Conti resigned from the Regular Marine Corps to accept a position on the Football Staff at Cornell University, and at the same time he accepted a Reserve Commission in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. He then joined Marine Fighter Squadron 441 (VMF 441), Marine Air Reserve Training Command, Niagara Falls, NY, as its executive officer.

From August 1952 until April 1953, he served as operations and executive officer of Marine Photographic Squadron 1 (VMJ-1), Marine Aircraft Group 33, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Korea, completing 102 combat missions. In

1956 he resigned from Cornell University to accept a position with General American Transportation Company (GATX) in Chicago. He was elected a Vice President of the corporation in 1967, director in 1969, President of GATX Terminals Corporation in 1975, and Sr. Vice President of GATX Corporation in 1976. GATX spun off Marine Transport Lines (MTL) in 1983. He took on the role of Chairman and CEO of this new company until his retirement in April, 1985. While serving on the GATX and MTL Board of Directors, he served as a Director for Emerson Electric Company, Roadmaster Corporation, Roadmaster Industries, Inc., and ESCO Electronics Corporation.

He was inducted into the Cornell University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1983. He was inducted as Cornell University's honoree into the Ivy Football Association in 2007. While furthering his civilian career, General Conti continued to be active with the USMCR. In 1958, he participated in the formation of the first Marine Air Reserve Group at Glenview, IL and served as its commanding officer through 1960. He subsequently served as Commanding Officer, Headquarters, Marine Air Reserve Training (Reserve) from 1962 until 1964.

After his elevation to Major General in 1973, he was reassigned as Assistant Director, Marine Corps Reserve. He then became a special assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for I&L at Headquarters Marine Corps. He was President of the Marine Corps Reserve Policy Board from 1974-75. He was also appointed to the Reserve Forces Policy Board in March of 1974.

In 1977, he was appointed by the Secretary of Defense as the civilian Chairman of the Reserve Policy Board and served until 1985 in this capacity. In addition to the Distinguished Flying Cross and five Air Medals, he received the Presidential Unit Citation, the Navy Unit Commendation, the American Defense Service Medal, the American Campaign, Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with one silver star in lieu of five bronze stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal with three bronze stars, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Organized Marine Corps Reserve Medal, the Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon, the United Nations Service Medal, and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.

He is survived by five children: Paul L., Bruce A., Barbara A., Suzanne M. Saint Germain, and Michael S. A son, 1st Lieutenant Robert F. Conti, USMCR, was killed in the Vietnam War in November 1969. Major General Conti has ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Memorial Mass, 9:30 AM, Monday, February 24, 2014 at St. Theresa's Catholic Church in Palatine.In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Robert F.Conti '68 Scholarship, Lafayette College, 307 Markle Hall, Easton, PA 18042. Funeral information and condolences www.GlueckertFH.com or (847) 253-0168.

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chicagotribune/obituary.aspx?n=louis-conti&pid=169771635&fhid=6139&eid=sp_shareobit#sthash.HFuEYhMm.dpuf

WW II American Spitfire Recon

Here is a real cool video about Spirfire photo recons in WW2. This guy found some 16MM film never seen before and takes it back to the pilot who had never seen it, it's great!

Don't miss this great story-

Thanks to Ron Veenstra MPHS Alumni for sending.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=ie3SrjLlcUY&sns=em

LiveLeak.com - 83 year old American Spitfire pilot sees his crash ...
►►
www.liveleak.com/view?i=759_1370809886‎
83 year old American Spitfire pilot sees his crash landing for the first time. For aviation history fans. Hero (won the DFC) recon pilot flew Spitfires ...

FULL MILITARY HONORS

Fellow Marines I have a story to tell.

It’s called: “FULL MILITARY HONORS”

By Colonel George Braun, USMCR-Ret

No one encounters Arlington National Cemetery without being engulfed in the history of our country and the realization that freedom is not free. Its cost is priceless and we alive… are the much vested beneficiaries.

On June 5th, 2006, 62 years, less one day, after the invasion of Normandy, World War II, Major General Jack M. Frisbie, a United States Marine, was interned at Arlington National Cemetery, with his formerly deceased and beloved wife Shirley in one appropriate casket. She had been exhumed from her grave in Waukegan, Illinois and shipped to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia to fulfill the General’s final will, by Tim Frisbie, his youngest son.

Major General Frisbie had been confined to a rest home, having been overcome with Alzheimer’s disease for the previous ten or so years. He was literally out of touch with the patriotic intensity and dedication that comprised most of his adult life, enduring wars and pursuing dual careers in finance, the Marine Corps reserve, while raising a family.

A small, but not insignificant, gathering of mourners assembled in the Arlington National Cemetery administration building at 0830 that day, and became quickly acquainted with Cindy, his oldest daughter; Tim, one of his two sons; and the three grand-children of two Frisbie daughters.

Attending were a few civilian business friends and respectful representatives of General Frisbie’s distinguished military career. His military service included WW-II (Pacific), as an enlisted Marine, and later as a reserve Marine, mobilized to serve in Korea. He became a 2nd Lieutenant via the meritorious NCO program in 1949.

Highly decorated from combat experience in two wars, he was promoted appropriately as he dedicated the rest of his Marine Corps career interfacing with Commandants to lead and craft the Marine Corps Reserve into a state of well-equipped and trained readiness, unlike the Korean war USMCR mobilization experience. He had set the standards for unit performance and effective officer leadership as President of the Marine Corps Reserve Officer Association (MCROA), and a former C.O. of 2nd Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th MARDIV, headquartered in Chicago.

Major General Dean Sangalis, USMC, (ret) also a decorated WW-II and Korea veteran, and I had previously collaborated on meeting up at the Sheraton National Hotel near the old Pentagon Navy Annex the day before the internment. We, too, had also commanded 2nd Battalion, after Jack and were in the 15th Staff Group under him afterwards, which became HQ Det-4.

I had previously flown into Washington Reagan many times as a Captain for United airlines, but had not for several years. Looking out the window on the circling approach I saw the Pentagon from the air and it brought back memories of the attacks on September 11th, 2001. Innocent people, some contemporaries of mine, were wasted by uncivilized, religiously misguided, conspiring, amoral human criminals. They were purposely trained in America at its flight schools, and were certified as commercial pilots to gain access; using cockpit travel privileges, to hijack the airliners by surprising and slashing the throats of the pilots with box cutters concealed in their flight bags allowed in the cockpit. They then navigated those winged cocoons to crash into buildings in New York and the Pentagon for the world to see and to attempt to understand.

After landing and a short taxi ride to the hotel, the clerk ironically handed me a key folder with the room number 911 written on it. Our eyes met acknowledging the significance of the coincidence. Much world changing history had been recorded with American blood and resolve since that date. General Jack’s Alzheimer’s had spared him from that experience.

We followed the hearse that following morning to high terrain at Arlington National Cemetery where the road split going around a statue in a field surrounded by mature trees. A Marine Corps Band element and two rifle platoons from Marine Barracks, 8th and “I”, formed on the right fork in parade dress uniforms, their respective red and blue tunics occasionally illuminated by the morning sun randomly bursting through the clouds.

On the left fork we observed the U.S. Army caisson, a partially enclosed wood wagon with buckboard-like wooden wheels hitched to six white horses. Four of them were saddled with US Army riders in their dress uniforms and were awaiting the receipt of the flag draped casket. The casket was soon to be transferred from the hearse by six large, strong, Marine Corps pallbearers in Dress Blue uniforms, highly polished black shoes and white quadrifoiled covers. The pallbearers carefully transferred the casket containing Jack and Shirley’s remains to the caisson with a perfect 5-step synchronous turning maneuver.

A cannon was fired in the distance and the procession, lead by the band element drumming cadence, embarked on the 10-minute trek to the grave site. A saddled, but rider-less black horse followed the caisson, A red flag with two embroidered stars and black streamer was paraded by a lone Marine in Dress Blues. At equal intervals the cannon was fired in the distance 12 times more during the march to the grave site.

At the grave site family and friends assembled to hear a short eulogy expressed by a Navy Chaplain of Captain rank, as part of the burial ceremony.

The pallbearers retrieved the casket from the caisson and carried it to the grave site, but before placing it on the supports spanning the dug-out, they lifted it high over their heads in a gesture of posthumous loyalty. Three volleys from seven riflemen were fired on command, sounding like it came from one Marine…one rifle.

The American flag, taken from the top of the casket, was meticulously folded. Each fold was ceremoniously creased, cupped, and pressed by the white leather gloves of the pallbearers. After inspection the flag was presented to Major General David Bice, Inspector General of the Marine Corps, the active duty representative for the Commandant, General Carl Mundy. With lingering ceremonial slowness depicting the sadness of the occasion, he saluted the flag and the spirit of Major General Jack and Shirley Frisbie.

Exuding unmistakable sincerity and capturing the attention of Cindy’s teen-aged children, Dylan and Aubrey, Major General Bice presented the flag to Tim, (seated) saying softly, “From the President of the United States, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and on behalf of a grateful nation, this flag is presented to you as a token of appreciation for the honorable and faithful service rendered by your loved one.”

Removing his white glove from his right hand he conveyed condolences with a hand shake and brief privately spoken words to each of the family. Colonel Terry Lockard, Commanding Officer, Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. followed, with personal condolences, in similar fashion; as did the Chaplain and an unidentified but equally sincere Staff Non- Commissioned Officer from the Barracks. We were ushered away with young Aubrey remaining behind to reflect a bit. She watched Major General Sangalis take a rose from the floral arrangement and throw it in the grave on the lowered casket,.. and she did the same… so did I. We reassembled at the entrance, said our good-byes and went our separate ways.

END- GFB

Colonel Ken Elmendorf

COLONEL KEN ELMENDORF

ONE GREAT MARINE

Ken Elmendorf was an outstanding Marine. A natural leader and motivator, he was a superb commander and a fine friend. Confident and aggressive, he put his troops at ease with humorous comments. He strutted and swaggered and thoroughly enjoyed leading his Marines, who likewise enjoyed his swashbuckling style of leadership. I served as Lt Colonel Elmendorf's Executive Officer in the mid 1980's, when he Commanded Marine Wing Communication Squadron – 48 (MWCS-48). He did a terrific job leading the Squadron, which was selected as the Squadron of the Year in large part because of his efforts.

Ken commanded the Marine Wing Communication Squadron-48 at the Glenview Naval Air Station when he was still a Lieutenant Colonel. His first drill weekend was also the change of command for the Marine Air Control Group. Each Squadron marched in review before the incoming and outgoing regular Commander of the Group. Lt Colonel Elmendorf and the troops practiced until they were perfect. But there was a problem. The active duty officers did not like the large gold bracelet that the Colonel wore on his arm. They asked me to ask him to take it off. I did so. "Oh they want me to take off my bracelet, do they?” said Ken Elmendorf. “My wife NJ gave me this bracelet. I am going to wear it. To hell with them." And wear it he did, with the bracelet sliding up and down his arm as he raised and lowered his sword in the parade, strutting in front of his Squadron and the entire Marine Group.

Lieutenant Colonel Elmendorf assumed command of the unit at a time when the Squadron was suffering from a morale and attendance problem. Colonel Elmendorf seldom raised his voice, but just expressed confidence that his officers and Staff NCO's could solve the problem. And following his direction they did.

Colonel Elmendorf was famous for his ventriloquist dummy, Elmer. The troops loved to be entertained by the irreverent dummy. Elmer was dressed in a Lance Corporal Marine Dress Blue Uniform, with a very non-Marine like long hair cut. Elmer was salty and cocky and not afraid to insult anyone. He insulted senior officers, which was not politically correct, and a bad overall career move. Lt. Colonel Elmendorf always pointed out that it was not him but rather Elmer who was the wise ass culprit. LtCol Elmendorf also called the Executive Officer (Me) of the Squadron an asshole when the XO told Elmer to get a haircut. The troops loved that.

No one pushed the Dorf around. He was surrounded by aggressive and tough Chicago Marines, but he was the Bull Marine. He could dominate people with wit and humor and just a hint of good natured menace. And he thoroughly enjoyed doing it.

Colonel Elmendorf commanded a unit exercise at Cherry Point, North Carolina. It was one of the most difficult operations ever undertaken by the Squadron, with a large Naval Task force. Everything went badly. Communications were poor, and the top leadership lost their confidence. The morning briefings were embarrassing – downcast senior officers mumbling and shuffling and hoping things would get better. Into the fray charged Dorf. His Communication Squadron was just a small part of the exercise, but he started giving aggressive, dynamic, confident briefs. He took over the entire briefing and was the only positive and upbeat force in a defeated group. "Everything is coming around", said the Colonel. "It is all working now. Everything will work and work well." His briefing was not accurate – things were terrible – but his confidence and dynamism were contagious. Everyone became more confident. Things started to work. Lt. Colonel Elmendorf's leadership and positive attitude were contagious, and the situation turned around and the exercise became a success.

Another Lt. Colonel, a pilot and commander, was bad mouthing our unit and its performance. Word got back to Elmendorf. "I am going to hunt him down and kill him" said Dorf. I did not know Ken well at that point – I thought his comments were just braggadocio. Dorf met with the officer and then reported back that he had threatened him and reported that the officer would cease to criticize us. And he did. It was not until the next year that I met the infamous Marine Officer in California. He said, "Your boss is Lt. Colonel Elemdorf? I thought he was going to kill me. He is huge guy, and he was really pissed off. I thought I would not get out of there alive". After this our unit began to call Ken Attila-Dorf, or just Dorf for short.

Dorf took care of his troops and they took care of him. He made sure they worked hard, but also made sure that they had fun on liberty. He worked hard to ensure that all members of the unit got along. And he did not let any outsiders harass his troops. He liked to refer to his twelve Marine Officers as the "Dirty Dozen". He led a number of legendary escapades that involved doing unseemly things to and on the Admirals Cannon with some of his Dirty Dozen.

Dorf did not talk much about his experiences as a Lieutenant in AMTRAKs in Vietnam where he earned a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, but he did tell us a few humorous war stories. His favorite was when he survived a near miss in the field and noted to his Commanding Officer that "I could have been killed out there." Dorf reported that the Colonel dryly commented that, "Well, Lieutenant, there is a war going on, you know."

As a young Lieutenant he commanded an AMTRAC Platoon in Vietnam, and spent considerable time on patrols. Dorf was wounded when the AMTRAC (Amphibious Tractor) he was commanding was destroyed in combat.

Colonel Elmendorf had a safe, draft deferred job, but gave that up to become a Marine. He was always proud of that decision.

Dorf was proud of his sons and his beautiful wife, NJ. He talked about them a great deal, and was very proud of all of them. He told us that his wife was a camp follower and enjoyed bringing his family to training exercises. He was also happy to take his family to Annapolis when he returned to active duty to teach at Annapolis, to give them a look at the wider world.

Colonel Elmendorf was an outstanding Marine, a great Commander and a fine friend. He is remembered and missed by all his Marine Comrades.

Semper Fi,

Colonel Craig Hullinger

On 7/6/05, NJ (Mrs. Ken) Elmendorf wrote:

Wow, what a nice gesture. I received your letter and promptly sent it to Brett, Dirk and Beth for Father's Day. Thanks loads! We have lots of memories and laughs and fully recognize your "tales" of the swarthy Marine who made life better for us all.

We can hardly believe that it is more than six years since Ken left us......the boys have truly grown up and the grandson who was not quite six months is now six years old and coming to stay with us for a week at "The Big E Ranch" for "camp" with another six year old named Jack.

The grandson - Grant, has his room decorated in military colors and attire, so maybe he'll grow up to be more like Grandpa. He has the personality to handle "Elmer Duff", so we're watching to see how it goes. So far he's a storyteller and jokester.

No we don't really live on a ranch, but in a house in town.....we got it in 2000 but this was my first full winter here as I hadn't sold out of Indiana until last Aug. Several years ago I had some friends visit from Indiana and they thought everyone who lived in Texas had a ranch so we

decided to oblidge them.......it's an Elmendorf thing I guess....

Anyway, we have guest rooms so you are welcome to show up anytime you come this way...it's a great place to live or visit. We're 10 minutes from the airport.

Dirk came here to college and stayed and started a business (Rackspace Managed Hosting) with two friends, then got some investors, hired his brother Brett, began the process to go public, backed off before the dot com crash, and now they have 600 employees. I had planned to have us retire here, so looks like I got my wish......we are happy here. Dirk will be getting married next April 8th to Annie and setting up his home here.

Brett and I live in the same house, so far so good, we have a deal to give each other 6 months notice if our lives change.....so far nothing on the horizon.

I hope you and Beth are well and are enjoying the fruits of your labor with your family.

Thanks again for sharing with us.

Semper Fi

NJ

* No corrections other than NJ never has dots......that was my 40th birthday present from Ken to go to court and become NJ no dots so computers would accept my name as they wouldn't initials.....it's an Elmendorf thing.....

_

Dear NJ

I am glad you enjoyed the letter. Dorf was a super guy, and I always wanted to write it.

And he very much loved you and the boys.

Glad that you and your family are doing well.

Semper Fi,

Craig Hullinger

Glenview Marines