CATCOM ANNOUNCEMENTS, 2023
1 January 2024
LIST OF ANNOUNCEMENTS: (click to go direct)
CATKILLERS CHECKING IN:
45th MID Jeep:
I noticed a familiar phrase on a banner on a [Key West, FL] parade car in an image on your web site, “Phu Bai Is All Right.” Attached is a photo of the 45th Military Intelligence Detachmnet (45th MID) operations Jeep that I had the use of as the NCOIC of the II Section. Looks familiar. It’s parked in front of our personnel hooch at Camp Bruno A. Hochmuth,✪ at Phu Bai, on Oct. 1968, just after Typhoon Bess had paid us a visit. You can see that some water soaked sand bags had succumbed to gravity. In front of the jeep is the detachment's mascot, Ralph G. Turner, which was actually a female [dog]. In 1968, Camp Hochmuth was still run by the Marines.
✪Source definition:
Whenever we came through the main gate in our jeep, the Marine MPs would give us a one-finger salute. The 45th MID(ARS) had been sent first to Phu Cat in II Corps, but after TET it was moved to upper I Corps to take the pressure off the1st MIBARS B Detachment in Da Nang. Evidently, Phu Bai was preferred over Phu Cat by the 45th.
I work with the Freedom Museum in Manassas, VA. We have an M151A1 that I get to drive occasionally. I'm trying to get them to repaint it like my Phu Bai jeep, but they haven’t bit yet.
Happy New Year!
John T. Nichols (Detachment E, 1st MIBARS
CPT WILLIAM FRANKLIN “Bill” OWEN, DECEASED 20 June 2023, NEWTON, AL:
Addendum: from Ricky Stokes News, Dothan, Alabama, Obituaries:
Ricky Stokes News, Dothan, Alabama, Obituaries:
Mr. Owen was born in Fayetteville, N.C. on April 14, 1946, the son of the late William Broda Owen and Heneritta Owen O’Dell. He graduated from Fayetteville High School and Troy University with a Bachelor of Science degree. He joined the Army in 1966 and served in Vietnam as a reconnaissance pilot in a unit known as the “Catkillers,” receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross, 12 awarded Air Medals, the Bronze Star Medal, and was honorably discharged in 1971 with the rank of Captain. He held several jobs over the years in the magazine and casino business in Mississippi and retired from Player One Amusement Company.
HERITAGE FLIGHT MUSEUM REVISITED (27 October):
I was a guest at Bill Anders 90th birthday celebration this weekend. Below is a photo of Bill, his son Greg and me, Dick Tobiason. I have more photos to send later. Yep, it is still there!
Best!
Dick, CK26
COMMENTS:
CATKILLERS PASS IN REVIEW AT 2023 KEY WEST, FLORIDA, VETERANS DAY PARADE: (13 November):
For the fifth year in a row, faithful Catkillers made an appearance and rode in the Key West Veterans Day Parade. Expertly and safely driving is Trudy Brennan, and her trusty safety gal was Teressa Blevins. Perched high on the back seat were: Pete Blevins, Paul Brennan, Carl Drechsel.
They plan to be there next year, so if you feel like making it on down, perhaps they could arrange for a double–decker, open air bus (or something similar):
CPT JOSEPH WARREN “JOE” DAVIS, DECEASED 29 DECEMBER 2023, NORMAN, OKLAHOMA:
Joseph Warren Davis, of Norman, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully December 29, 2023. Joe was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1941, to his adopted parents, Joseph P. and Maribea S. Davis. He was raised in Des Moines, Iowa, where he graduated from Roosevelt High School, after which he attended the University of Iowa. After one year in Iowa, he saw the light and transferred to the University of Oklahoma where he became a lifelong Sooner. Joe graduated from OU with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and the OU Army ROTC.
Soon after graduation, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army. Joe proudly served his country in Vietnam as an Army pilot in the 220th Aviation company also known as the 'Catkillers' and became a decorated Army pilot.
After his return to Norman, he and two partners began the Airmen, Inc., FBO at Westheimer Field. Joe had a long career in the aviation industry and won many awards including the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. He also served on the Board of the OU Army ROTC and was recently awarded the ROTC Distinguished Alumni.
Joe adored his wife and family. In the fall of 1960, Joe met the love of his life in a class at OU. It was a whirlwind romance. Joe would pick up Nancy at the Kappa Kappa Gamma house in his red TR3 sports car with a candy cane roll bar. Joe loved his cars and Nancy too. Joe and Nancy were married in the fall of 1961, and shortly thereafter began their family. They had three children, whom he was very proud of and would brag to those around him about all their accomplishments. The Davis family had many adventures from snow ski trips in the ‘Mystery Machine’ van to many years spent on the lake, at horse shows, team ropings and later in life golfing. Joe liked to fly the family on their many vacations. When his grandchildren arrived, he was especially proud. He loved spending time with his grandchildren making them laugh.
Joe Davis was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph P. and Maribea S. Davis; his sister, Maribea L. Davis; and his brother James R. McMillen. He is survived by his wife, Nancy L Davis; his children, Barbara L. Black and husband Jeff, Joe W. Davis, Jr. and wife Catherine, Ann M. Blatt and husband Vince; grandchildren, Madison Davis, Jessica Crowder and husband Conner, Alexandra Black, Jordan Blatt and Carter Blatt; and great grandchild, Sloane Crowder.
Joe’s sense of humor and his wittiness will be missed by all who knew him. Joe had a way to make every friend feel like his best friend.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 235 W. Duffy St, Norman. Interment with military honors will follow at Norman I.O.O.F. Cemetery.
Source: Norman Transcript Obituaries
