Captain Robert Rasmussen USN (Retired)
Director, National Naval Aviation Museum
1750 Radford Blvd., Suite C
Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL 32508

Dear Captain Rasmussen,

To introduce myself, I am Joe McNamara, a retired Naval Flight Officer and President of the VAW-VRC Foundation. The VAW-VRC Foundation is a not for profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2005 with the mission to promote the VAW-VRC community as an integral part of Naval aviation and honor those that have flown, maintained and championed the VAW-VRC community over the years. To learn more about the VAW-VRC Foundation I invite you to go to our website: http://www.vaw-vrcreadyroom.org/

The Foundation was responsible for building a Ready Room on the San Diego aircraft carrier museum, USS Midway, to honor our community. The Foundation also conducts community reunions (latest one Oct 2011 in San Diego), publishes newsletters, honors those that have made their last flight, and provides a central point for communication for community members. The Foundation currently has 142 members and was involved in placing an E-2 aircraft onboard Midway as part of their display aircraft portfolio.

The centennial of Naval aviation has passed and Naval aviation celebrated its rich heritage. The E-2 aircraft is now the longest serving carrier-based aircraft in the history of Naval aviation celebrating its 46th year.

The National Naval Aviation Museum is a great success story and all of those associated with Naval aviation – past and present – are inspired by the magnificent displays there. Since 1963 the Museum has showcased the history and accomplishments of Naval aviation, gathering and displaying over 150 aircraft and priceless memorabilia of our proud heritage.

The intent of this letter is to inquire about the plans the National Naval Aviation Museum has for displaying an E-2 and a C-2 aircraft.

The Foundation would also like to offer our help in obtaining an E-2 and a C-2 for display at the Museum to commemorate the contributions of the VAW-VRC community to Naval aviation and to ensure visitors have a chance to see the longest serving carrier-based aircraft in Naval aviation history.

Thank you for all your efforts in establishing the National Naval Aviation Museum as a tribute to Naval aviation and evolving it to one of the finest aircraft museums in the world.

The Foundation looks forward to hearing from you and engaging on bringing an E-2 and C-2 to the museum’s display.

Sincerely,
Joe McNamara, President, VAW-VRC Foundation

In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his memory to either of the following organizations.

   *    The Baldwin Fund of The Williams School,419 Colonial Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23507   (757)627-1383

  *    VAW/VRC Memorial Scholarship Fund<http://www.vaw-vrc-memorialfund.org/Home.html>, Post Office Box 15322, Norfolk, VA 23511-0322

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Born in Oreland, Pa., he is the oldest son of Edward F. Caffrey, Sr. of Marmora, N.J., and the late Mary V.(Sullivan) Caffrey.

He is survived by his wife, Rosemary J. (Danks) Caffrey of Oley, Pa.; a daughter, Jeannine, wife of Anthony Jacobs, of Allen, Texas; a daughter, Joan, of Newport, R.I.; a son, Sean, husband of Angela, of Tampa, Fla.; grandsons Ryan and Noah Jacobs of Allen, Texas; sisters Margaret Sullivan of Mystic, Conn., and Suzanne Bryce of Ocean City, N.J.; and brothers Thomas of Moorestown, N.J., and Eugene of Medford, N.J.

Captain Caffrey retired from the U.S. Navy in 2001 after 30 years of proudly serving our country. He was a carrier naval aviator flying the E2-C Hawkeye. He had the privilege of commanding VAW 121, VAW 120, and Airborne Early Warning Wing Atlantic. During his tenure as Commodore, he established the VAW/VRC Memorial Scholarship Fund to honor fallen aviators.

His other duties included Navigation Officer aboard the USS John F. Kennedy, deployed to the Red Sea in support of Operations Desert Shield/Storm; Chief of Staff to the USS George Washington, deployed to the Med/Persian Gulf; and Joint Military Operations Department Faculty Director, Naval Operational Planner Course, at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I.

Following his naval career, Ed worked as Director of Operations at Valley Forge Military Academy and as Business Development Leader at Engineered Arresting Systems Corporation.

Ed was a graduate of Bishop McDevitt High School in 1966. He earned a B.S. in Finance from La Salle College in 1970 and an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, College of Naval Warfare in Newport, R.I., in 1998.

A viewing will be held at Lutz Funeral Home, Inc., 2100 Perkiomen Ave., Reading, PA 19606 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 11, 2012. On Monday, March 12, 2012, Ed’s Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St Catharine of Siena Catholic Church, 4975 Boyertown Pike (Rt. 562), Reading, PA 19606. Mass will begin at 10:30 a.m. with viewing prior to the Mass at 9 a.m. The burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery at 11 a.m. on April 2, 2012.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to VAW/VRC Memorial Scholarship Fund, PO Box 15322, Norfolk, VA 23511-0322, http://www.vaw-vrc-memorialfund.org/Home.html; or Astra Zeneca Hope Lodge , 110 W. Laurel Avenue, Cheltenham, PA 19012.

Arrangements are made by Lutz Funeral Home Inc., Mount Penn, Pa. For online condolences, please visit www.lutzfuneralhome.com.

Jim Victor, CDR, USN Retired, will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery on 15 May 2012.  The service will begin at 1100 at the Fort Meyer Chapel.

Demaine Funeral Home
5308 Backlick Rd
Springfield, VA 22151-3311
(703) 549-0074

James Alan Victor (Age 83) of Falls Church, VA, died Sunday, January 29, 2012 at his residence. Beloved husband of Helen Victor; devoted father of James M. Victor (Priscilla) and Jack A. Victor (Kathy); loving grandfather of 2 and great-grandfather of 1. Jim is also survived by a brother, Glen Kirk (Bonnie).

A visitation will be held, Saturday, February 4, 2012 from 2:00-4:00pm & 6:00pm-8:00pm at DEMAINE FUNERAL HOME (address above). A funeral service will be held with full military honors at a later date at Ft. Myer Chapel in Arlington, Va. Interment will follow in Arlington National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Jame’s honor to the Parkinson’s Foundation of National Capital Area, 7700 Leesburg Pike, Ste.208, Falls Church, VA 22043

Virginia Beach – Captain James J. Kennedy, 82, USN (retired), died October 22, 2011 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Captain Kennedy served our country in the Navy for 37 years.

He is survived by his childhood sweetheart of 61 years, Marion Murphy Kennedy; four children, Thomas (Lynn), Gary, Susan (Bobby), Jimmy and his wife Lea Anne; nine grandchildren, Gary, Danny (Bianca), Tommy (Rachel), Lindsay, Amanda, Sarah (Jereme), Kelsi, Dallas, and Walker; seven great grandchildren, Colin, Caleb, Finn, Jameson, Maci, Griffin, and JJ; favorite niece, Marion Murphy Guilford; cousins; and many good friends.

Jim Kennedy’s hobbies included master gardening, woodworking, volunteering at the Central Library, camping, fishing, and enjoying activities with his grandchildren. Jim and Marion enjoyed traveling throughout Europe, Canada, Hong Kong, Alaska, and the United States.

He joined the Navy in 1951 as an airman apprentice and quickly advanced to Chief Petty Officer in less than ten years, an achievement that was rare for that era. Having reached the pinnacle of the enlisted rate structure, he applied for and was accepted into the Limited Duty Officer (LDO) Program. Once again, he excelled in his assignments advancing to the rank of Captain. He was the FIRST LDO to achieve that rank.

During his thirty-seven years of service, Captain Kennedy was assigned to various ships, aircraft squadrons, and staff positions within the Naval Aviation community (FASRON 2, ATKRON 83, USS Intrepid, USS Raleigh [LPD 1], Attack Squadron 76, USS Enterprise, Naval Air Station Oceana, Attack Squadron 75, USS Saratoga, Attack Squadron 42, CARAIRWING 8, USS Nimitz, Naval Safety Center, CAEWWING 12, NAVAIRSYSCOMHQ [AIR-411]). He received numerous awards during his career; among those were the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V,” Meritorious Unit Commendation (2),
Good Conduct Medal (3), National Defense Service Medal (2), Vietnam Service Medal (3), Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (4), Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device, and the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation.

Many thanks to Liza’s Residential Care; Dr. Ellen Peterman; Cardiovascular Associates; Becky Stephen and the third floor nursing staff; Palliative Care Specialists; and Hospice at Sentara Princess Anne Hospital.

A mass will be held on Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, Oceana Naval Air Station. The family will meet with friends at the Knights of Columbus, 1236 Prosperity Road, Virginia Beach, VA 23451, following the mass.

Internment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors on Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Disease Research or the .
To Jim: Now, Always, and Forever……M
For an online guestbook, please visit www.cremate.org.