The REAL CO of VMF-323

[Ripsnort]

                  I emailed the real CO of the historic VMF-323 and here's the correspondence (My original email is
                  in italic)

                  Is this the George C. Axtell, CO of VMF-323? I I am just dropping a note
                  to him to show my admiration for he and his men of VMF-323.

                  Hi Brian

                  Yes, you have reached George Axtell who was the CO of VMF 323 from the date
                  of its commissioning on August 1, 1943, until July 1945.

                  I am flattered to receive your message. I am also curious as to what act,
                  occasion or your study of aviation history that led you to sending the
                  inquiry.

                  In the meantime I will provide you sources that you may not have seen that
                  provide info on the Squadron activities during WW II.

                  Web Sites: VMF 323, 1943-1945 http://meltingpot.fortunecity.com/samoa/737/  
                  and VMF/A 323, August1943 to present: http://home.inreach.com/tc/  

                  The book "Death Rattlers" by Dr. Wolf (WW II History of the Squadron, how it
                  began with green kids, how we trained, our goals, many pictures, names of all
                  members of the Squadron, operational reports of engagement enemy aircraft,
                  twelve Aces, 124 kills in six weeks) is available from Barnes and Noble:
                  The Internet site: www//bn.com for $ 34.95 plus postage or Retail Stores
                  $49.95 plus postage.

                  Video "Death Rattlers" the story of VMF 323 during the WW II battle for
                  Okinawa by Donald Di Lorito, Video Scene, 1803 Susquehannock Drive, McLean.

                  Looking forward to hearing about the level and specifics of your areas of
                  interest.

                  Sorry about delay in responding.

                  George C. Axtell

[Swager]

Hey Rip!

That is pretty cool!

Keep in touch with this gentleman!

Maybe you can talk him into being a guest speaker at the next AH convention!

So what did ya write back to him??

[Ripsnort]

I responded with a bunch of ass-kissing, etc. basically thanked he and his men for defending freedom blah blah... it really made my day to hear from him, hope to get to correspond more  with him in the future, but I don't want to over step my boundaries, he is, afterall, 80 something.

[Ripsnort]

My reply:

Thank you for the reply , sir, I have  read that book from cover to cover (VMF-323 Death Rattlers).

I have always been in awe of men who fought for the freedom of our country, in particular the aviation side.  My father was a Staff Sgt. in the Army during Korea,Father-in-law as a flight line mechanic for the Airforce in Korea, frontline fighters, and  my grandfather worked on bi-plane front line fighters in WW1.

After reading 'VMF-323 Death Rattlers' by William Wolf, I came to admire and respect you as the men that served under you did.  I  am currently the Commanding Officer of a virtual online WW2 combat simulator called 'Aces High' and have 20 members in my historic 'VMF-323' squadron.  I run a tight ship (like you had) and some of my men have had real life combat(40% are Vets).  This time it's an online flight simulator dealing with WW2 aircraft.  We' re all just nuts about aviation.

Again, thank you for serving our country and keeping the 4-F's in place, Freedom,  Family, Faith, and Flag.
We all Salute you!

Regards,

Footnote: These fellows  in my opinion  are  the real 'super heros' that we see in cartoons, they are the back bone of our country, without them, I can't imagine where we'd be in the world today.

[DrSoya]

 

Originally posted by Ripsnort:
Footnote: These fellows  in my opinion  are  the real 'super heros' that we see in cartoons, they are the back bone of our country, without them, I can't imagine where we'd be in the world today.

This reminds me of what Col. Francis "Gabby" Gabreski (56th FG in WWII), invited speaker at WBCon this summer, said when Stiglr (the WB player and member of the WBCon2k crew, not the real Stigler, who was also a guest) presented him as a "true American hero".

"I'm not a hero. We all had a job to do, and we did it. The heroes, we left behind."

(Not his exact words, but that's the gist of it.)

------------------
DrSoya
308 (Polish) Squadron "City of Cracow" RAF
Part of the Northolt Wing (First Polish Fighter Wing)

[This message has been edited by DrSoya (edited 09-11-2000).]

[Ripsnort]

Pretty much sums up my feelings as well, Doc...but alot of 'kids' look for living hero's not dead ones, in America.  I feel it my personal responsibility for letting the 'next' generation to know what sacrifices have been made, both living and dead, for the lifestyles they live in today.  So, the real heros are dead, but the living earn as much respect from me, since fate had alot to do with their survival.

[DrSoya]

No, you get me wrong. No matter how many times Gabby will say he's no hero, I will still consider him a hero.

But true heroes never think they are such.


------------------
DrSoya
308 (Polish) Squadron "City of Cracow" RAF
Part of the Northolt Wing (First Polish Fighter Wing)

[madhogg]

Wow..... 

[Shifty]

Great stuff Rip. 

[The Fugitive]

Holy necro-bump! unfortunately George C. Axtell, CO of VMF-323 passed away August 20, 2011. Would have been nice to get more info when this thread was first started.