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Tom and Betty Chukas

Tom Chukas, JASCO

Tom his wife, Betty, are originally from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  He was the Advertising Director for The Cedar Rapids Gazette for 42 years before he and Betty moved to Arizona in 1988 after retirement. Tom has a son in Nashville, TN and 2 grandchildren

Warren and Enid Connell
Warren Connell  (3-I-23)
 and his wife, Enid, have been married for 63 years.
Warren joined the 4th Division on Iwo Jima as a replacement on D-Day + 5.
Following WW II, Warren was called up for service in the Korean conflict and and served as an infantry instructor.
After his Marine service, he became  a Pepsi Cola Franchise owner in Grand Island, Nebraska. He and Enid came to Arizona in 1996 from Grand Island.
His picture at right was taken in 1944 while on Boot Leave.
Bob and Marge Gerdon
 Bob Gerdon, JASCO

Bob and his wife, Marge spend their summers in Alaska where he used to own an auto parts store. Will be back this fall and we will update this bio sketch.

Bob Gerdon
Bob and Jean Honea
 Emmit R.(Bob) Honea I-3-14

Bob and his wife, Jean  came to Phoenix in 2011 to be near their son, Gary. Enlisted in 1939 and discharged in 1946.
He made a career in Navy Civil Service as an airplane mechanic at North Island Naval Station. Served with 14th artillery in the 4th Division on Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. Proud to be a member of the Fighting Fourth.

Bob in 1945
Jim and Ginnie Keller
Jim Keller, A-1-23

   Jim is shown here with Ginnie. After entering the Marine Corps
in Oklahoma City, he worked in the newspaper business, switched to life insurance for a while, then became a FHA-VA real estate appraiser. These jobs took him from Oklahoma to Colorado to Georgia before settling in Arizona in 1964.
  They enjoy traveling in a 40 ft. diesel motor home.

Jim Keller
Bob and Kathryn Kepler
Bob Kepler,1-Hq-23 (Scout)

   Bob Kepler came to Arizona with his wife, Kathryn, from Detroit, MI, in 1959.They are shown here on their 58th
wedding anniversary. He was in the construction business building commercial and custom homes for 60 years.
   He has a home in Puerta Penasco,  (Rocky Point), Mexico.
   The marine pic was made on LST 512 where he was on duty after making all of the 4th's operations.
   On a tour to Iwo Jima in 2003, Bob found the pill box where he spent the night of Feb. 19, 1945, after being hit during the landing.
See picture below. In the background is Mt. Suribachi.

Bob Kepler






 

Ken and Betty Neary
   Ken Neary, Co D-Hq Bn

   Ken Neary is shown here with his wife, Betty. He served for 20 years with the NYC PD retiring as a 1st Grade detective.
   Following that he went to California and was an E.F.Hutton stockbroker for 13 years before coming home to Arizona

Ken Neary
Don O'Neill
 Don O'neill        3-I-14

   Don was born in Denver, Co. and enlisted in the Marines at age 17.  His boot camp platoon included recruit Tyrone Power.
   After discharge in 1945 he went to the University of Portland, class of 1949.
   He then became a fire truck dealer. First fire truck he sold was for $16,000.00. The last one was $750,000.00. That's inflation.

Don O'Neill
Marvin Puryear
Marvin Puryear,JASCO

    Originally from El Dorado, Arkansas, Marv has had a long and successful career in real estate in Arizona since 1955.
SMC Globe
Don and Lanni Sweeney
Don Sweeney, Machine Gun Plt. F Co 2Bn 24th Mar, here with his wife, Lainie. Don was wounded on Iwo. Called back for the Korean war. Served in Viet Nam. Retired as GySgt in 1969. He and his wife live in New River, AZ.

Don Sweeney in 1944
Paul Weber
 Paul Weber, Co B-Tanks

   Paul is shown here on his patio in Sun City, Arizona. He came to Arizona in 1985 after 36 years of fire fighting in Detroit, MI.

USMC Emb;em
Grover and Dottie Thompson
Grover Thompson 4th Signal Co.
Shown here with his wife, Dottie, Grover hails from Gettysburg, PA, and winters here in Sun City West. Volunteered for Marine Corps and participated in action during all four 4th Division campaigns. After discharge he founded and operated a successful restaurant in Gettysburg. He is a member of The Grand Slam Club and has bagged all four species of American Wild Sheep. God bless American and Semper Fi.
Grover Thompson
Jim Head 5th Division-1st Plt/S&S Co/5th Serv Bn Jim is pictured here with his wife, Norma.
We have made Jim an honorary member of our Chapter. He is a veteran of the Iwo Campaign and has become friends with our Chapter.
He joined the Marine Corps right  out of High School in 1943 and was  discharged in 1946. Following a career as a machinist, he wound up in Phoenix working at Air Research and retired here in 1987.
On the right Jim is posing with a Japanese interpreter in the city of Sasebo on the island of Kyshu in  Japan