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Coquina Dailythe 'blog of Coquina Crossing, St. Augustine, FLyour ultimate source of information about Coquina CrossingCoquinaDaily.com |
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Coquina Veteran's VoiceNews of Coquina Crossing Veterans |
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Volume
1, Number 5 - November 2007
On Thurs. Sept. 20th, a group of Coquina World War II Veterans were treated to a reception, dinner and a preview of Ken Burns ìThe Warî. The event was hosted by State Representative Stan Jordan, the Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' and Military Affairs in Tallahassee. Dr. Proctor, our State Representative, personally called to invite all Coquina's WW II Veterans to the evening's gala. The Coquina Veterans owe Dr. Proctor a big Thank you for inviting us to a truly memorable evening The group was escorted by Coquina residents: Michael Rothfeld, George Milroy, Don Coleman, Bill Bothe, Earl Kidwell, Jack Wentz, Carl Hoefer, Lonnie Blaine & Charlie Gascoyne. The veterans were taken to WJCT in Jacksonville on a beautiful bus donated by the Turning Point at Calvary Church. Joe McDermott and Heather Andrews the St. Johns County Veterans Service Officers helped organize, call and secure the transportation for the Veterans. Thank you both.
The Coquina Crossing Theater Group, directed by Jack Wentz and assisted by Jean Hammer put on a World War II era USO Canteen show on Sept. 28th at the Council on Aging on Marine St. in St. Augustine. The show was a sellout and a great hit. Many Coquina residents enjoyed the show, dinner and the Coquina WW II Veterans Documentary ìServe & Protectî.
Earl Kidwell led a group of Coquina WW II Veterans on a speaking engagement at the new St. Johns County Library on Anastasia Island on Saturday Sept. 29. Participating were Marie Collins, Wally Czechowicz, Mario Patruno, Al Rockafellow and Jerry Green. The group spoke of their experiences during the war and a question and the answer session afterward was led by Earl.
Make sure you remember to watch ìWar Stories from the First Coastî that previews locally on WJCT TV (ch. 7), PBS in Jacksonville. This World War II documentary was filmed in our Clubhouse and will feature Coquina residents: Bob Ong, Mario Patruno, Pete Pinto and Al Rockafellow as they retell many of their war experiences.
On Monday November 12th at 5:00 pm, Flagler College and HACC will present to the general public an evening of entertainment, the first act Directed by Jack Wentz and assisted by Jean Hammer. This show will feature 1940's era Big Band music, the Coquina Theater Players singing World War II songs and a showing of the documentary ìServe & Protectî featuring many of Coquina's WW II veterans. The documentary was recorded by PBS, and edited by Flagler College students under the direction of Prof. James Gilmore. This show will be free to the public. A free trolley shuttle will run to and from the municipal parking garage before and after the show for your convenience.
World War II veteran Al Rockafellow has been contacted by Bartram Trail High School and asked to take a veterans group to the school and speak to the students about their war memories. No date has been made for this event.
Below: at WJCT
Below: at COA
Below: at Anastasia Island Library
Jack's Dad is the first one on the left kneeling in the first row.
My dad, John A. Ernissee Sr., was born in Rochester, NY and he served in the Army Air Corps from 1942 - 1946. Dad was a tail gunner and a Gunnery instructor on a B-24 Liberator during WW 2.
He trained at Ft Myers Air Corps gunnery school and was assigned to the 459th Bomb Group, 757 Bomb Squadron. He first shipped to Naples, Italy and later was assigned to Cerignola, Italy where he was promoted to Master Sergeant. He flew a total of ten bombing missions over Germany, Yugoslavia and northern Italy. He was wounded on one mission and crash landed on another for which he received an Air Medal, and a Purple Heart with 2 Oak leaf clusters. My dad rarely talked about what happened during WW2. He only talked briefly about one mission over Germany when the German anti-aircraft fire was very intense and German Messerschmitts were everywhere. The tail section of his plane got hit and the glass he was looking through fragmented so bad he was unable to see who was behind him. He told me he just kept shooting and hoping that our planes, in the group, stayed in formation and he wouldn't hit one of them.
I guess I can say I'm lucky to be here.
Master Sergeant John A. Ernissee, Sr., Army Air Corps
From the walls of MOSH, Carol's father is standing in front of plane #9
Several years ago my family visited The Museum of Science and History (MOSH) in Jacksonville. After walking through most of the exhibits we entered an area in which the exhibits commemorated the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville (NAS JAX). Right before me on the wall that seemed to go on forever, was a floor to ceiling photograph of Airmen standing at attention near the noses of their W.W. II aircraft. As I looked across this panorama of heroes, one face looked familiar. I walked closer and then backed away. I was excited but didn't want my sister to see it. I didn't want to plant a suggestion in her mind. I turned away from that huge photo and asked her if anything on the wall looked familiar, she carefully looked at the men in the photo, pointed at one and said, ìthat's Daddyî. It was the same person I recognized as being our father! After contacting the NAS Historian, Ron Williamson, we learned that the picture was taken in March 1943. He had no information on the names of the airmen but he identified the planes as SNB's, VA-ATU 4's (a training unit bomber). Dad had enlisted in the Army Air Corp in mid 1942. He had served with the peace time army before my parents were married in 1934. As a result of dad's prior experience he was assigned as an instructor to an airbase in Florida. Later in the war he served in the CBI, (China, Burma, India) Theater. Later looking through our late mother's photo album we found a picture of dad with an Air Corp buddy in front of an aircraft. On the back of the picture, in dad's handwriting were the words Burma and B-25. We knew that dad had been a waist gunner on a B-25. We couldn't ask him about our discoveries as we lost him in 1958 at the age of 45. So there it was; our family history regarding our dad's service to our country, stretching out before us as did the photo on that long wall at MOSH on a day of seeing the sights in our new home state.
On Sept. 23 of this year my husband Michael organized and escorted a group of Coquina World War II Veterans to WJCT TV Jacksonville to preview the new Ken Burns' documentary The War. On the display wall was a picture of you guessed it, my dad. How amazing! Natalie Tomola of WJCT has called to say that she will be bringing the photo to Flagler College on Monday Nov. 12 to give to me as a gift.
Portions of this article first appeared in the Dec. 2003 Inside the Gate
Jack Ernissee, Executive Officer
Russ Mosher. Adjutant
Earl Kidwell, Chaplain, Program Co-ordinator
Michael Rothfeld, Vererans Voice Editor
Next monthly meeting: Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 7:00 p.m.
Don't forget the BIG Veterans Day Show at Flagler College Auditorium on Monday Nov. 12 at 5:00 pm. Many Coquina residents will be performing. It will be produced by Michael Rothfeld, and directed by Jack Wentz and Jean Hammer. There is NO charge for admission. There will be a free shuttle trolley to the Flagler Auditorium and back from the Municipal Garage.
Don't forget to contribute to our AnySoldier Fund. Call -
Patty Worsham or Renie
timewitnesses.org - submitted by Ralph Geiger
Coquina Vets are a Busy Bunch
by Michael RothfeldOn Thurs. Sept. 20th, a group of Coquina World War II Veterans were treated to a reception, dinner and a preview of Ken Burns ìThe Warî. The event was hosted by State Representative Stan Jordan, the Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' and Military Affairs in Tallahassee. Dr. Proctor, our State Representative, personally called to invite all Coquina's WW II Veterans to the evening's gala. The Coquina Veterans owe Dr. Proctor a big Thank you for inviting us to a truly memorable evening The group was escorted by Coquina residents: Michael Rothfeld, George Milroy, Don Coleman, Bill Bothe, Earl Kidwell, Jack Wentz, Carl Hoefer, Lonnie Blaine & Charlie Gascoyne. The veterans were taken to WJCT in Jacksonville on a beautiful bus donated by the Turning Point at Calvary Church. Joe McDermott and Heather Andrews the St. Johns County Veterans Service Officers helped organize, call and secure the transportation for the Veterans. Thank you both.
The Coquina Crossing Theater Group, directed by Jack Wentz and assisted by Jean Hammer put on a World War II era USO Canteen show on Sept. 28th at the Council on Aging on Marine St. in St. Augustine. The show was a sellout and a great hit. Many Coquina residents enjoyed the show, dinner and the Coquina WW II Veterans Documentary ìServe & Protectî.
Earl Kidwell led a group of Coquina WW II Veterans on a speaking engagement at the new St. Johns County Library on Anastasia Island on Saturday Sept. 29. Participating were Marie Collins, Wally Czechowicz, Mario Patruno, Al Rockafellow and Jerry Green. The group spoke of their experiences during the war and a question and the answer session afterward was led by Earl.
Make sure you remember to watch ìWar Stories from the First Coastî that previews locally on WJCT TV (ch. 7), PBS in Jacksonville. This World War II documentary was filmed in our Clubhouse and will feature Coquina residents: Bob Ong, Mario Patruno, Pete Pinto and Al Rockafellow as they retell many of their war experiences.
On Monday November 12th at 5:00 pm, Flagler College and HACC will present to the general public an evening of entertainment, the first act Directed by Jack Wentz and assisted by Jean Hammer. This show will feature 1940's era Big Band music, the Coquina Theater Players singing World War II songs and a showing of the documentary ìServe & Protectî featuring many of Coquina's WW II veterans. The documentary was recorded by PBS, and edited by Flagler College students under the direction of Prof. James Gilmore. This show will be free to the public. A free trolley shuttle will run to and from the municipal parking garage before and after the show for your convenience.
World War II veteran Al Rockafellow has been contacted by Bartram Trail High School and asked to take a veterans group to the school and speak to the students about their war memories. No date has been made for this event.
Below: at WJCT
Below: at COA
Below: at Anastasia Island Library
A Remembrance by Jack Ernissee
Jack's Dad is the first one on the left kneeling in the first row.
My dad, John A. Ernissee Sr., was born in Rochester, NY and he served in the Army Air Corps from 1942 - 1946. Dad was a tail gunner and a Gunnery instructor on a B-24 Liberator during WW 2.
He trained at Ft Myers Air Corps gunnery school and was assigned to the 459th Bomb Group, 757 Bomb Squadron. He first shipped to Naples, Italy and later was assigned to Cerignola, Italy where he was promoted to Master Sergeant. He flew a total of ten bombing missions over Germany, Yugoslavia and northern Italy. He was wounded on one mission and crash landed on another for which he received an Air Medal, and a Purple Heart with 2 Oak leaf clusters. My dad rarely talked about what happened during WW2. He only talked briefly about one mission over Germany when the German anti-aircraft fire was very intense and German Messerschmitts were everywhere. The tail section of his plane got hit and the glass he was looking through fragmented so bad he was unable to see who was behind him. He told me he just kept shooting and hoping that our planes, in the group, stayed in formation and he wouldn't hit one of them.
I guess I can say I'm lucky to be here.
Master Sergeant John A. Ernissee, Sr., Army Air Corps
A Surprise
by Carol RothfeldFrom the walls of MOSH, Carol's father is standing in front of plane #9
Several years ago my family visited The Museum of Science and History (MOSH) in Jacksonville. After walking through most of the exhibits we entered an area in which the exhibits commemorated the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville (NAS JAX). Right before me on the wall that seemed to go on forever, was a floor to ceiling photograph of Airmen standing at attention near the noses of their W.W. II aircraft. As I looked across this panorama of heroes, one face looked familiar. I walked closer and then backed away. I was excited but didn't want my sister to see it. I didn't want to plant a suggestion in her mind. I turned away from that huge photo and asked her if anything on the wall looked familiar, she carefully looked at the men in the photo, pointed at one and said, ìthat's Daddyî. It was the same person I recognized as being our father! After contacting the NAS Historian, Ron Williamson, we learned that the picture was taken in March 1943. He had no information on the names of the airmen but he identified the planes as SNB's, VA-ATU 4's (a training unit bomber). Dad had enlisted in the Army Air Corp in mid 1942. He had served with the peace time army before my parents were married in 1934. As a result of dad's prior experience he was assigned as an instructor to an airbase in Florida. Later in the war he served in the CBI, (China, Burma, India) Theater. Later looking through our late mother's photo album we found a picture of dad with an Air Corp buddy in front of an aircraft. On the back of the picture, in dad's handwriting were the words Burma and B-25. We knew that dad had been a waist gunner on a B-25. We couldn't ask him about our discoveries as we lost him in 1958 at the age of 45. So there it was; our family history regarding our dad's service to our country, stretching out before us as did the photo on that long wall at MOSH on a day of seeing the sights in our new home state.
On Sept. 23 of this year my husband Michael organized and escorted a group of Coquina World War II Veterans to WJCT TV Jacksonville to preview the new Ken Burns' documentary The War. On the display wall was a picture of you guessed it, my dad. How amazing! Natalie Tomola of WJCT has called to say that she will be bringing the photo to Flagler College on Monday Nov. 12 to give to me as a gift.
Portions of this article first appeared in the Dec. 2003 Inside the Gate
Coquina Veterans Officers
Harry Manford, CommanderJack Ernissee, Executive Officer
Russ Mosher. Adjutant
Earl Kidwell, Chaplain, Program Co-ordinator
Michael Rothfeld, Vererans Voice Editor
Next monthly meeting: Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 7:00 p.m.
Don't forget the BIG Veterans Day Show at Flagler College Auditorium on Monday Nov. 12 at 5:00 pm. Many Coquina residents will be performing. It will be produced by Michael Rothfeld, and directed by Jack Wentz and Jean Hammer. There is NO charge for admission. There will be a free shuttle trolley to the Flagler Auditorium and back from the Municipal Garage.
Don't forget to contribute to our AnySoldier Fund. Call -
Patty Worsham or Renie
Websites of the Month:
57thbombwing.com - submitted by Al Rockafellowtimewitnesses.org - submitted by Ralph Geiger
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