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 Author  Topic: Robert Bende PT 367
Gary Paulsen

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Gary Paulsen   Send Email To Gary Paulsen Posted on: Jun 3, 2010 - 9:26pm
Hey Gang,
Just got an email from Roberts daughter Rebecca that he is in the hospital and will be there for a while. Thought maybe a few cards from some PT buddies might cheer him up.
Address is:

Robert Bende
23 Huntington Drive
Southampton, NJ 08088

Thanks in advance,
Gary


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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Jun 6, 2010 - 8:39am
Gary

I will be mailing my letter to him on Monday. Keep us posted as to his condition. We wish him all the best............


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  Gary Paulsen

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Gary Paulsen   Send Email To Gary Paulsen Posted on: Jun 6, 2010 - 9:47am
Frank,
Thanks for sending a card. Last email from Rebecca said Robert took a nasty fall and has a broken hip and shoulder. Will be laid up for some time to come. Figure a card or 2 might help brighten his day.
Gary


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Will Day

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Will Day   Send Email To Will Day Posted on: Jun 6, 2010 - 4:30pm
Thanks for posting, Gary.

Will

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Scott Swiger

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Scott Swiger   Send Email To Scott Swiger Posted on: Jun 7, 2010 - 8:06am
Please excuse my ignorance,but is he a PT Vet? I want to send a card, but do not want to say something wrong.


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Gary Paulsen

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Gary Paulsen   Send Email To Gary Paulsen Posted on: Jun 7, 2010 - 10:10am
Scott,
Yes he is a PT Vet. Served as a torpedoman on the 367.
Thanks,
Gary



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Rebecca Stout

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Jun 7, 2010 - 12:04pm
Hi, this is Robert Bende's youngest daughter, Rebecca. I wanted to pop in and thank Gary, et al for thinking about my dad during this difficult time.

Dad survived the war and so many other things during his 86 years. Even a heavy duty heart surgery three years ago didn't stop him. He was driving tractors, trimming trees, and out running my husband on my brothers property not a year later. He normally spends his time kareening about town in a convertable and writing for fun nowadays. He's a trip. It's inconcievable that a "fall" could put him out of commision so badly. It's the first time he's been affected mentally. But for some reason, this thing has left him totally bed ridden and confused. All of the sudden, he seems to finally be on the mend some this week. Old dad is back to debating "my states moron governer down here and Obama's triumphs" among other things. What a relief.

Dad says his naval service was the best part of his life. He always feels a bit guilty saying that the years on the PT boat was "fun". It was a horrible war after all. He wears a tiny gold anchor on his necklace and is so proud of everything. He never talked in detail about the war until my nephew joined the Coast Guard. Then after mom died, his stories just took off and we are fascinated (she hated war stores, moviese, etc). He's written them down, but not in as great detail as I'd like. Still, its better than nothing. What a gem of history he is.

Anyway, Bob Bende of PT 367 will be thrilled at the cards. It will really blow him away. So thank you.

Oh and if you want to see his saucy self ... check him out telling jokes on my YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uqq3ATLMApU

And if you look further, there are four movies of him reading notes about the war and his life there too. Maybe a bit boring to others.

Ps ..... Pink Lady and Jungle Juice is not a legend. As dad who was caught creating it out of the fuel.

Rebecca Stout

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Will Day

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Will Day   Send Email To Will Day Posted on: Jun 7, 2010 - 2:07pm
Fascinating stuff, Rebecca. Thanks so much for sharing....

Will

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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Jun 7, 2010 - 2:11pm
Thanks Rebecca, my Letter to him went out this morning. I had seen your Pops on You Tube once before, he really is a card. Seems like a fantastic guy and a wonderful Dad. Hope he does well after his fall.........


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Rebecca Stout

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message   Posted on: Jun 21, 2010 - 1:31pm
Guys, dad spoke to me yesterday. And he was excited. He sat there and started counting "one, two three ..." And goes, "14 cards". Now he might have accidently counted a couple that came in that day or something along with the PT ones. But IF he did it was only by a couple. I fell over. I told my sister, "dang, are there even 14 WWII vets left?" (being sarcastic and funny). "Let alone PT guys? I mean dad joined when he was SEVENTEEN for gosh sakes." :D Very cool to know. And I cant' imagine how comforting it is for him to know that there are plenty of guys left out there in his PT family. He doesn't feel alone.

Can't thank you enough. I'm humbled by all of your generosity. You have no idea.

Rebecca
-- yes the jungle juice is real ... just not the visions thereafter

Rebecca Stout

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