Operation Just Cause ...for as long as it takes
*On another note, I would like to ask that if you need to contact me please send a message to opjc@hotmail.com My other email address is temporarily down.
Thanks, Barb Malone
This month we celebrate "Old Glory'. Americans celebrated the first Flag Day two-hundred and twenty-three years ago. For over two centuries, our Flag has served as a symbol of this great country's Freedom. The Flag also represents the men and women who have risked their lives to ensure that Freedom. When we salute the Flag, we salute those who made it possible for us to live and be Free.
"Star and Stripes Forever"
The Colors of the American Flag Signify:
White:
Purity and Innocence The
Stars are considered a symbol of the heavens The
Stripes are symbolic of the rays of light emanating from the sun.
Info taken from Symbols of U.S. Government: The Flag
"Resolved that the flag of the 13 United States shall be 13 stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be 13 stars, white on a blue field, representing a new constellation," said John Adams, at a meeting of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, PA. And so, the first Flag Day was celebrated in the US of America.
"What So Proudly We Hail..."
Flag Etiquette
The following links are geared for kids. The POW/MIA Flag
On National POW/MIA Recognition Day
POW/MIA's on Flag Day
06/14/72 Francis J. Davis USN Montrose, IA From Chuck *Doc* Stewart Hope you enjoy... Please also visit:
Nikki's POW/MIA Vigil
The return of the POW/MIA(s) is a job that everyone associated with OJC is very dedicated to and involved in by doing many different things. As part of the Adoption Team, one of the things I appreciate most is meeting other people as dedicated, caring and determine as we are.
Last month I had the opportunity to correspond with SSG James Varvais who is presently stationed in Kosovo. Very quickly I realized the determination, dedication, caring and the desire to make a difference that SSG Varyais has for the POW/MIA issue. During the month my admiration and respect has grown for him. I asked him to write a short piece telling us something about him, what he is doing and his hopes in being able to gain information that will bring about the return of the POW/ MIA(s). It is encouraging for me to find other people who are working to bring about the return of the POW/MIA(s) and for that reason I wanted to share this information with you.
Marilyn Grote
I am SSG James C. Varvais and I am currently on active duty with the US Army. I am a helicopter structural repairer. I have been asked to write for OJC's Newsletter a little about myself, and what I am doing to help bring about the return of the POW/MIA(s).
I have always wanted to serve my country since I can remember. I guess you could say it is my father's fault. He and I would watch war movies together so besides my father who is my all time true hero I was also exposed to John Wayne, Audie Murphy, and a host of other actors that showed me what serving was all about.
The task that I have set before me is simple in keeping in tradition of the KISS philosophy (keep it simple stupid). I am going to account for as many POW/MIA service members as possible.
I know that there are people thinking how is one small group going to do what others have been unable to do. I have some ideas and one of them was to get a few of my co-workers involved. We have received lists of members from all the services with their full name, date of birth, branch of service, and date of birth. Our next step is to find all of the last known locations of these members and their last assigned unit, company, squad.
After all this data is gathered we will begin to plot all locations on military maps of that time period then we will transfer all that information to updated maps. The concept behind this is that studying the terrain will give us a clue as to where they might have gone to avoid capture. As a graduate of the Army SERE school I really believe that if I have a reference point to start I may be able to get inside their head at that time and try to determine which way they may have went.
I know there have been many trips to various areas to locate remains of members. My little team of searchers are very motivated and dedicated to this mission. We will do our best to locate our fellow warriors who have gone before us. As far as we are concerned there is no reason why any of our fellow services members should be left behind and unaccounted for.
Why I got started into this is actually a failure on my part. I have served the military for the last 13 years. For the last 9 years I have been a Non Commissioned Officer. One of my primary duties is to take care of soldiers and their families and under general military authority that includes all sailors, marines, and air force personnel. I have not been dong that and I apologize to all to all the POW/MIA's and their families.
I am very proud to serve my country and yet at the same time ashamed that my fellow brothers and sisters who have served have been left behind in countries that we fought in at the behest of our appointed political leaders. Yes we can call on those same leaders to ensure that an accurate counted is made of all our POW/MIA's but we should also take some of the blame ourselves.
Situation and circumstances do not always allow us to do what we know we need to do yet we all can remember. We have left not only a piece of ourselves in these far away places but we have also left a piece of our country, a piece of our souls, a piece of our children, and a piece of our future. We MUST find these people no matter the costs.
SSG James C. Varvais
"A Widener has been killed in every major war since the Revolutionary days.
One, two, three, four, five Wideners have died for their country.
And now ......they will mourn a sixth."
Name: James Edward Widener
Other Personnel In Incident: Dennis R. Christie, Curtis R. Bohlscheid; John
J. Foley; Jose J. Gonzales; Thomas M. Hanratty; Michael W. Havranek; James
W. Kooi, Jim E. Moshier; John S. Oldham; Charles D. Chomel (all missing)
[Source: Compiled by Homecoming II Project 15 June 1990 from one or more of the
following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with
POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews.
NETWORK NOTE: In May of 1997, we received a note from a woman correcting an
error in the birth date of this biography. That note generated a "Did you
know him?" question that brought the following memories and then the
additonal news copy - which we asked permission to add here. Unfortunately,
none of the articles had a source noted. Updated Memorial Day 1997]
REMARKS: A/C CRASH-EXPLODED-NO SURVS OBS-J
SYNOPSIS: On 11 June 1967, 1LT Curtis Bohlscheid was the pilot of a CH46A
helicopter inserting a seven-man Marine Force Recon team into a predesignated
area 11 1/2 nautical miles northwest of Dong Ha, South Vietnam -- right on the
Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). A total of four aircraft were involved in the mission,
two CH46's and two UH1E helicopter gunships. Bohlscheid flew the lead aircraft.
His crew included MAJ John S. Oldham, LCPL Jose J. Gonzales (crew chief), and
PFC Thomas M. Hanratty (crew chief).
Members of the 3rd Recon Company, 3rd Recon Battalion, 3rd Marine Division who
were being inserted were CPL Jim E. Moshier, LCPL Dennis R. Christie, LCPL John
J. Foley III, LCPL Michael W. Havranek, LCPL James W. Kooi, PFC Charles D.
Chomel, and PFC James E. Widener.
The flight departed Dong Ha at about 11:15 a.m. and proceeded to the insertion
location. The gunships made low strafing runs over the landing zone to clear
booby traps and to locate any enemy troops in the area. No enemy fire was
received and no activity was observed. The lead aircraft then began its approach
to the landing zone. At an estimated altitude of 400-600 feet, the helicopter
was observed to climb erratically, similar to an aircraft commencing a loop.
Machinegunmen had been waiting for the opportune time to fire on the aircraft.
Portions of the rear blades were seen to separate from the aircraft and a radio
transmission was received from the aircraft indicating that it had been hit. The
helicopter became inverted and continued out of control until it was seen to
crash by a stream in a steep ravine.
Subsequent efforts by ground units to reach the crash area failed due to a heavy
bunker complex surrounding the site. The ground units inspected the site from
within 500 meters through binoculars and observed no survivors. All eleven
personnel aboard the helicopter were therefore classified Killed In Action, Body
Not Recovered. Other USMC records indicate that the helicopter also burst into
flames just prior to impacting the ground.
Marine Pfc. James E. Widener, 18, of 135 Scottsville-Chili Road, Chili
Center, has been killed in action in Vietnam just 14 months after his
graduation from Churchville-Chili High School.
He was killed near Dong Ha, South Vietnam, on June 11 when a helicopter he
was aboard was shot down. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jay C. Widener, were
informed he was missing on June 15 and were notified of his death on
Tuesday.
Mrs. Widener said that her son had a long time ambition to join the Marine
Corps and he enlisted Aug. 25, 1966, two months after his graduation. He
was sent to Vietnam on Jan. 20 with the Third Marine Division.
Pfc. Widener was a high school athlete, earning letters in track,
wrestling and soccer. He played on the 1965 Section 5 championship soccer
team and was selected for All-County soccer and wrestling teams.
His parents were informed in a telegram from Gen. Wallace M Greene, Jr.,
Marine Corps commandant, that Pfc. Widener was returning with five other
Marines from a five-day reconnaissance foot patrol into hostile territory.
The helicopter was shot down just south of the Demilitarized Zone and 12
miles north of Dong Ha.
His father is a Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. employee and a former
professional middleweight boxer and semi-professional football player.
One of Private Widener's brothers, Peter, 21, a senior in the New York
State University College at Buffalo, won the lightweight boxing district
championship in the Niagra District of the Amateur Athletic Union in 1965
and 1966.
Besides his parents, Pfc. Widener is survived by three brothers, Jay Jr.,
Peter and Mark; and a sister, Julie. He was a member of the Lutheran Church
of Our Savior in Gates.
November 1967
LEST WE FORGET
As we celebrate Thanksgiving this year, many of us in the Town of Chili will
have different memories. There are many kinds of memories - Happy and sad
ones. Thanksgiving Day this year will be one of sad memories at the home of
the Jay C. Wideners' on Chili-Scottsville Road, formerly the Stage Road.
The tragic news of the death of their young son, James E. Widener reached
them on July 4, 1967. He was killed on his mother's birthday, the 11th of
June.
The family will be remembering, with pride in their hearts, that Christmas
day of 1966 at the dusky hour of 5 p.m., when James waved to them from the
window of the airplane which airbore him to his destination in service to
his country.
Memories for James' father, Jay, will be of those silent thoughts of his
brother, Richard S., who was killed during the invasion of Guam while
serving with the 1st Marine Corps. Memories of other Thanksgiving days will
be with James' grandmother, Mrs. Edith Widener. Her husband was gassed and
machine gunned in World War I. Jay Widener served in World War II in the Air
Force.
The James E. Widener Memorial Fund, opened at the Marine Midland Bank,
Chili-Paul Plaza, Chili Avenue, by the graduating class, will make it
possible for a scholarship bond and symbolic trophy to be presented each
year to an outstanding athlete of good character and Scholastic record. The
presentation will be made at the Father-Son Banquet. A memorial honor
plaque is to be installed in the school with the names of those students who
have given their lives for their country.
HOWARD H. Widener, Jay's grandfather, lived in our area. In his younger
years he was a farmer, but a wound in the leg, suffered in a hunting
accident, marked the end of farming and the beginning of the study of law.
He majored in criminal law, often going to Washington to try a case in the
Supreme Court. He was District Attorney of Monroe County. He was
tremendously interested in genealogy and spent half his lifetime traveling
the cities and towns of the United States, from coast to coast collecting,
searching, and compiling any and all information he could obtain of those
whose name was Widener. The Widener book shows the results of years of work.
'We must stop somewhere'
By JOHN McALEENAN
A Widener has been killed in every major war since the Revolutionary days.
One, two, three, four, five Wideners have died for their country.
And now this Memorial Day they will mourn a sixth.
Marine Pvt. James Widener, 18, his last breath a sheet of flame as the
blazing helicopter in which he was riding screamed into a jungle hilltop in
Vietnam.
That was last year, on June 11, and the anguish at the Jay Widener home at
Scottsville-Chili Road has had a chance to dip below the surface a
little.
But today, Memorial Day, it will be new again, and there will be moments for
both reappraisal and a search for something to fill the void.
Jay Widener and his wife are very much involved in this Memorial Day.
Mrs. Widener will be a Gold Star Mother, and will ride in the parade.
There will be a ceremony it the Chill Town Hall. Their son's high school
graduating class will present them something. They are not sure what.
It is not enough, the words, parades, but it's all there is, so you do the
best you can.
"This is a very big day for us," says Widener. "God knows it was a
sacrifice, but I have to think it was a necessary sacrifice. We have to
stop this somewhere."
Jim called his parents from California just before he left for Vietnam. "He
never whimpered or talked bad about the war, but toward the end I could tell
he was scared. I know he was in a hurry to hang up before he cried, or
something like that."
The U.S. Marine Corps regrets to announce there was nothing left of Pvt.
James Widener to send home.
But his presence in the Widener home is everywhere. In the living room, a
giant color portrait, very stiff and formal in his Marine dress blues. More
pictures on the mantel. In the dining room, a wall of medals. Outside, the
pool he helped to build. His canoe down by the brook. And out on the very
edge of the patio, a memorial built by his brother.
A memorial that tells of love. "Pete wanted to do something. He just
couldn't stand to sit around. They were very close. So Pete went to all the
places they had been together, the Boy Scout camps, the woods where they
went rabbit hunting, the mountains, and he gathered a rock from each place,
and he built this for his brother.
The memorial has an old M-1 rifle stuck in it, with a helmet riveted to the
butt end, a flagpole, and small brass plaque that tells when James Widener
was born, and when he died. KIA, it says. Killed in action.
"Jim could have gone on to college, but he saw what was happening to Pete.
He saw Pete really sweat every time his marks dropped a little, so he
decided to enlist and get it out of the way. He came and asked me to sign
the papers, and I said if that's your decision I'll go along with it."
The Vietnam war is right because our country is right, Widener feels. "If I
thought all this was just political, I'd be tremendously upset. But then,
it's hard to separate the anguish you feel from your ideas about the war.
You can't help but be a little bitter, do you know what I mean?"
Because the war has become so personal to Jay Widener, he knows exactly how
he feels about those people who oppose the war.
"They are just cowards. They are not like my son. He wrote us a letter and
said he would throw them in the river if they were still around when he got
home. He thought he was doing an awful lot of good over there. And he
couldn't understand what the demonstrators hoped to prove. He asked us in a
letter: 'What do they expect to get out of this?'
When the two Marine officers came to tell the Wideners their son was dead, a
not uncurious thing happened.
Jay Widener, on the far side of 40, went to see about enlisting in the
Seabees. His oldest son, Pete, turned in his student deferment and asked
about enlisting in the Air Force.
In the end, they decided it was revenge, and it would kill Mrs. Widener if
anything happened to them.
Widener, who has another son, Mark, 15, says he thinks one boy is enough
for the Vietnam cause.
"If one of my other sons had to go. I'd say no. I'd say that's enough.
Let me go instead. My beliefs should not be their beliefs. There are other
boys who can go."
Country and community are very important to the Wideners. On Memorial Day,
it becomes even more important.
Widener says; "A man, to be any good, has to love his country, and uphold
its laws. Otherwise, he's a misfit, don't you see?"
1986
It has been nearly 19 years since U.S. Marine Corps Pvt. James Edward
Widener disappeared while on a helicopter reconnaissance mission in Vietnam.
But tomorrow, Widener's family, friends and veterans in his hometown of
Chili will gather at a special ceremony to remember him.
At the ceremony, Widener's parents, Lenore and Jay Widener, will present
American Legion Post 1830 with a POW-MIA medal they were awarded by Congress
a year ago in honor of their son. The medal, engraved with 'Honoring
Americans still missing. You are not forgotten,' is one of a series
awarded by congressional act in 1983 to families of war prisoners and
missing servicemen.
The medal, in turn, will be placed in a case inside the post's Widener Room,
a memorial established in honor of Widener and his uncle, Richard Widener,
who was killed in World War II. The ceremony will be at 1 p.m. at the post,
450 Chili-Scottsville Road.
Lenore Widener called the ceremony 'a very nice gesture,' and said the
family hadn't participated much in post activities since her son's death
"because of all the memories." Anticipation of tomorrow's ceremony, planned
by post Commander Ramond Goodburlet, has left her with mixed emotions - both
pride that her son will be remembered by others and the grief of remembering
him herself.
"It brings memories back and sets you back," she said. "Of course, you can
never forget."
Widener had joined the Marines in his senior year at Churchville-Chili High
School, and had gone into the service upon graduation. He was 18 when the
heliicopter he and seven others were flying in over Quang Tri province was
shot down in June 1967. He is officially listed as missing in action.
"I guess they were just blown up," she said. "The details are sketchy. His
body has never been found."
Goodburlet said the ceremony honors Widener and others who were lost during
the war.
"We have to stick with the POW-MIAs who are in southeast Asia, " Goodburlet
said. "We can't let it get out of the public's mind."
When I was a year old, my mom went back to work. She found the best sitter
possible. This wonderful woman had four sons. Jimmy was the third one. He
was born a few months before my older sister. Jimmy's younger brother Mark,
was six months older than I was. I became a member of their family, and it
lasted for many, many years.
Jimmy was five years older than me, and in those days, that was a big
difference.
I still can picture the smile he always had, that will never change.
The family had the only pool in the area, so you can imagine that on the hot
days of the summer months, it was filled will all sorts of people. What
fun. By the way, Jimmy did get a sister. His mom had a fifth child, Julie,
in 1965. Julie was one lucky little girl, with those four brothers. Before
Jimmy left, there was a promise that she wouldn't cut her hair til he
returned home. It grew real long, and then some years later, Julie did cut
her hair.
I turned 14 on June 9, 1967, and two days later Jimmy was shot down in
VietNam.
It also happened to be his mother's birthday. I will never forget that day,
nor will I ever forget Jimmy. He will always be there in my mind as a
brother and I will never forget him for as long as I live.
I am going to be 44 in June, and my son, Adam James, turns 18 in August. I
often look in his face and wonder what Jimmy would of come to be, and thank
God that there is no war like VietNam, and hope there never will be again.
In answer to your original question, "do you know him?" Yes, I do. And I
remember him like it was yesterday.
November 12, 1948 is the correct date of his birthday. Thanks for helping to
correct this for him.
I would love for everyone to know that behind the name there is a person.
Over the years, sadly, I have lost contact with the family. The oldest
brother passed away, along with Jimmy's mom. And they have had a few tragic
things happen, but above all that, hope was never given up that he would
return. I guess it never is.
Kathleen
For the crew of the CH46A lost on June 11, 1967, death seems a certainty.
For hundreds of others, however, simple answers are not possible. Adding to
the torment of nearly 10,000 reports relating to Americans missing in
Southeast Asia is the certain knowledge that some Americans who were known
to be prisoners of war were not released at the end of the war. Others were
suspected to be prisoners, and still others were in radio contact with
would-be rescuers when last seen alive. Many were known to have survived
their loss incidents, only to disappear without a trace.
The problem of Americans still missing torments not only the families of
those who are missing, but the men who fought by their sides, and those in
the general public who realize the full implication of leaving men
unaccounted for at the end of a war.
Tragically, many authorities believe there are hundreds of Americans still
alive in captivity in Southeast Asia today. What must they be thinking of
us? What will our next generation say if called to fight if we are unable to
bring these men home from Southeast Asia?
The Vietnam War To read about the Official Time Ball and other interesting facts, please visit:
Timekeeping at the U.S. Naval Observatory
Also visit the main site: Time Service Department, US Naval Observatory, Washington, DC
"Our real problem, then, is not our strength today; - Dwight D. Eisenhower
What we do today, right now, will have an accumulated effect
on all our tomorrows.
- Alexandra Stoddard
If anyone wishes to send snail mail to Operation Just Cause, the address is:
Operation Just Cause Back issues of "The Moonduster Chronicles" 1998
Feel free to use this banner to link back to The Moonduster Chronicles' Main Page:
Credits
Thanks to Karl Kristiansen for the Moonduster Chronicles Banner, the Moonduster Chronicles Recognition Award, and the POW/MIA Related News
Graphic Thanks to
Ron's POW/MIA and Patriotic Graphics
Trivia and Quotes Courtesy of Mailbits.com, ShagMail, and Gagler.com
is updated daily to include new items of interest, new announcements, and new submissions. So be sure to bookmark this page and stop by every day for the latest version of the Operation Just Cause Newsletter.
June 2000
"The First Flag Day of the New Millennium"
June 14, 2000
Animated US Flag Courtesy of:
Riad Dagher
Graphic Courtesy of:
Doc
Red:
Hardiness and Valor
Blue:
Vigilance, Perseverance, and Justice
and the divine goal to which man has aspired from time immemorial.
1777
For Kids
However, they are interesting and informative enough for adults as well:
06/14/69 James W. Grace USAF New Iberia, LA
06/14/65 Lawrence N. Guarino USAF NVN Newark, NJ
06/14/69 Harold Kahler USAF Lincoln, NE
06/14/73 David V. McLeod, Jr. USAF Jacksonville, FL
06/14/67 Kevin J. McManus USAF Babylon, NY
06/14/67 Edward J. Mechenbier USAF Dayton, OH
06/14/71 Richard Wilson, Jr. ARMY Crawfordsville, AR
Doc
Gecko Country
Presently Stationed in Kosovo
A Company 601st DASB(FWD)
Operation Joint Guardian II
Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo
APO AE 09340
JAMES EDWARD WIDENER
(Thanks to Jodi Harris for bringing this to our attention)
Rank/Branch: E2/US Marine Corps
Unit: 3rd Recon Company, 3rd Recon Battalion, 3rd Marine Division
Date of Birth: 12 November 1948
Home City of Record: Churchville NY
Date of Loss: 11 June 1967
Country of Loss: South Vietnam
Loss Coordinates: 165454N 1065530E (YD048689)
Status (in 1973): Killed In Action/Body Not Recovered
Category: 2
Acft/Vehicle/Ground: CH46A
MARINE JAMES E. WIDENER, CHILI CENTER, KILLED IN WAR
Faces and Places in Chili
by Betty Greenfield
War-scarred Family Looks Back
May 30, 1968
Ceremony to honor soldier missing in Vietnam War
By ELLEN ROSEN
Please click on the graphic to see how you can help make this year...
Battlefield: Vietnam
Features a timeline and an article about the Siege of Khe Sanh
"A picture essay featuring images by the legendary combat photographer, Tim Page".
The official time ball for the U.S. is on top of the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. As early as 1845, the U.S. Navy dropped a time ball every day at noon from atop a building on a hill overlooking Washington, D.C. People from many miles away could set their watches at noon. Ships anchored in the Potomac River could check their chronometers.
it is
rather the vital necessity of action today to ensure our
strength tomorrow."
"Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others...he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." ...Robert Francis Kennedy (1925-1968)
There are ways for us to work together to start tearing down those 'mighty walls of oppression and resistance' and gain a full accountability of our POW/MIA's.
Please feel free to browse through the following links to see what you can do to help.
PO Box 264
Stockholm, NJ 07460
2000
1999
http://www.ojc.org/NL
"The Moonduster Chronicles"
NL@ojc.org
Click on POW graphic to return to the Main Index of "The Moonduster Chronicles"
