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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic:
Update: Weekend with Skipper Liebenow & Welford West
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It looks like this book signing is turning into a mini-reunion of sorts. The list of attending folks keeps growing and so is the list of attending modelers. Anyone that might be hesitating about making the trip and making reservation, check out the Best Western Bryson Inn in Mount Airy. The motel is in an awesome location right off I-77 and only 9 miles from the center of town. With room rates at $67.99, it makes a great place for more PT Boaters to come and join us for this event. Only 2 weeks left. Sure would love to meet some more of you guys !!
Posted By: Roy Forbes | Posted on: May 12, 2013 - 4:27pm
Total Posts: 371 | Joined: Sep 5, 2012 - 4:57pm
Wish I could have made this get together with you guys. I would have like that very much. I am in hopes that you will take plenty of photo's to share with us. My last meeting with Mr. Liebenow was in 1993.
Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: May 13, 2013 - 1:24am
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am
Hey guys we heard about the wonderful weekend coming up, but have not heard anything about how it went. Can you guys that were there shed some light and or photos of the get together.
Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: May 29, 2013 - 3:09pm
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am
Frank,
To be honest, I've not been able to formulate into words yet the spectacular time my wife and I had. Bridge was a great "Master of Ceremonies" for the weekend, Roy and Susan Forbes and Wayne and Linda Traxel were fine company.
Skipper Liebenow and his wife Lucy, along with Welford West and his nephew Don, and also for the three days of activity, Miss Betty Lynn..."Thelma Lou" herself!!! She was very complimentary of the models Roy and I took. Bud and Welford were appreciative of our efforts, too. The weather couldn't have been nicer, either.
All in all, a weekend I won't forget.
I'm sure one of the guys will be posting some pics. Maybe some day I'll take the time to learn!
Pat
Posted By: Pat Hutchens | Posted on: May 29, 2013 - 4:43pm
Total Posts: 36 | Joined: Nov 24, 2012 - 6:03am
Memorial Day week end 2013. Was A memorable experience. Couldn't say it any better than Pat did.
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Wayne%20Traxel/DSCN5300.jpg[/image]
Pages Bookstore, Mt Airy, NC., Memorial Day signing of "First Up" pictured R to L are PT-157's Skipper, William F. (Bud) Liebenow, TM1/c Welford West and "First Up" Author Bridge Carney
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Wayne%20Traxel/DSCN5303.jpg[/image]
Pat Hutchens photo of the Memorial Day signing of "First Up" at Pages Book Store. L to R Author, Bridge
Carney, PT166 Modeler, Pat Hutchens, Welford West, Modeler W. Traxel, and Bud Leibenow.
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Wayne%20Traxel/DSCN5250.jpg[/image]
Italeri 1/35th scale PT Models by Roy Forbes PT-157 and Pat Hutchens PT-166.
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Wayne%20Traxel/DSCN5272.jpg[/image]
Only picture I have of Roy Forbes. As Bridge mentioned Roy was documenting Saturdays VFW and Sundays Ridgecrest presentations.
Wayne
Posted By: Wayne Traxel | Posted on: May 30, 2013 - 11:34am
Total Posts: 248 | Joined: Oct 11, 2006 - 5:40am
Thanks guys for posting a few photo's. I bet you had fantastic day. By the way, where is Roy in some of these photos. Thanks Pat for sending me the photo's. WISH I COULD HAVE COME............
Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: May 30, 2013 - 1:38pm
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am
All told I think we spent about 10-12 hours together as a group. We all got to know each other and, as Pat said, it was indescribable memorial day weekend and it's still sinking in!
[Note: Mount Airy is the boyhood home of Andy Griffith and it is the setting from which the town of Mayberry of the Andy Griffith Show show was based. This comes into play as you read on]
At this time, the first thing I can give you is the schedule of events we had...other details will come out as Pat, Wayne and Roy may post.
[b]Saturday Evening[/b]: I made a two hour presentation to the local VFW/American Legion in Mount Airy. Although the Skipper of the 157 (Bud Liebenow) and West were of course at this presentation, I had set this up for myself to do most of the talking as Liebenow is more or less a ‘yup – nope’ not too talkative type guy and West’s tidewater Virginia accent is hard for someone, not accustomed to hearing him talk, to understand. I spoke about PTs in general, PTs in the Solomons and then the PT-157 and reviewed a couple of their more notable missions. The models brought in byRoy and Pat were on display. About 40-people attended this presentation.
Betty Lynn is the actress who played the part of Thelma Lou on the Andy Griffith Show that ran from 1960-68. That show, now some 50-years later, is still in reruns on TV and loved by many. Betty happens to lives in the same are as the Liebenows and she stayed with us throughout the whole weekend. She was a real pleasure to be around.
[b]Sunday AM[/b]: all us 'out-of-towners' + the West and his nephew Don all stayed at the Hampton Inn Hotel so we all met at breakfast and talked PT talk with West.
[b] Sunday afternoon[/b]: Liebenow, West and the ‘out-of-towners’ plus some of the residences of the retirement community met in their Club House room where we showed some color film that happened to be taken off the PT-157 in July by combat photographers. The more riveting part of the afternoon came after this when West recalled (after Liebenow asked him to) in detail two of the missions (including the rescue of the crew of the PT-109) that occurred in the summer of ’43. Roy filmed this event so we do have this for posterity. I gave some enlarged, mounted photos to Bud and Welford of the PT-157 under at high speed as can been seen on the front of the FIRST-UP book. They really like that photo!
[b]Sunday evening[[/b]: all the 'out-of-towners', the Liebenows, West, Don, Betty Lynn went out to dinner.
[b]Monday morning:[/b] The same group that went to the Sunday dinner now converged on a place called Pages book & coffee shop in the town of Mount Airy. Liebenow, West and myself began immediately signing books. Roy, Pat and Wayne took photos. We were told at the end that twice as many books were sold in this book signing session then any other book signing event at this store. As an added surprise, West’s granddaughter (and boyfriend) had driven 5 hours to Mount Airy to surprise him during the book signing!
[b]Monday 12:30[/b]: With the book signing over, We all left the book store and we all walked a half block to Barney’s restaurant. They had the real deal, all-American menu (BLT’s, burgers, club sandwich, and so on) and at unreal prices [a BLT with chips and pickle for $3:00!], There were 16 of us at the table and everyone got a lunch...unbelievably bill, including the sodas, was just under $50!
As lunch broke-up, we stepped outside and said our good byes and began the separate journeys home. It had been an extraordinary two-and-a-half days.
Bridge
Posted By: TheBridge | Posted on: May 30, 2013 - 2:32pm
Total Posts: 318 | Joined: Nov 22, 2009 - 3:04pm
All told I think we spent about 10-12 hours together as a group. We all got to know each other and, as Pat said, it was indescribable memorial day weekend and it's still sinking in!
[Note: Mount Airy is the boyhood home of Andy Griffith and it is the setting from which the town of Mayberry of the Andy Griffith Show show was based. This comes into play as you read on]
At this time, the first thing I can give you is the schedule of events we had...other details will come out as Pat, Wayne and Roy may post.
[b]Saturday Evening[/b]: I made a two hour presentation to the local VFW/American Legion in Mount Airy. Although the Skipper of the 157 (Bud Liebenow) and West were of course at this presentation, I had set this up for myself to do most of the talking as Liebenow is more or less a ‘yup – nope’ not too talkative type guy and West’s tidewater Virginia accent is hard for someone, not accustomed to hearing him talk, to understand. I spoke about PTs in general, PTs in the Solomons and then the PT-157 and reviewed a couple of their more notable missions. The models brought in byRoy and Pat were on display. About 40-people attended this presentation.
Betty Lynn is the actress who played the part of Thelma Lou on the Andy Griffith Show that ran from 1960-68. That show, now some 50-years later, is still in reruns on TV and loved by many. Betty happens to lives in the same are as the Liebenows and she stayed with us throughout the whole weekend. She was a real pleasure to be around.
[b]Sunday AM[/b]: all us 'out-of-towners' + the West and his nephew Don all stayed at the Hampton Inn Hotel so we all met at breakfast and talked PT talk with West.
[b] Sunday afternoon[/b]: Liebenow, West and the ‘out-of-towners’ plus some of the residences of the retirement community met in their Club House room where we showed some color film that happened to be taken off the PT-157 in July by combat photographers. The more riveting part of the afternoon came after this when West recalled (after Liebenow asked him to) in detail two of the missions (including the rescue of the crew of the PT-109) that occurred in the summer of ’43. Roy filmed this event so we do have this for posterity. I gave some enlarged, mounted photos to Bud and Welford of the PT-157 under at high speed as can been seen on the front of the FIRST-UP book. They really like that photo!
[b]Sunday evening[[/b]: all the 'out-of-towners', the Liebenows, West, Don, Betty Lynn went out to dinner.
[b]Monday morning:[/b] The same group that went to the Sunday dinner now converged on a place called Pages book & coffee shop in the town of Mount Airy. Liebenow, West and myself began immediately signing books. Roy, Pat and Wayne took photos. We were told at the end that twice as many books were sold in this book signing session then any other book signing event at this store. As an added surprise, West’s granddaughter (and boyfriend) had driven 5 hours to Mount Airy to surprise him during the book signing!
[b]Monday 12:30[/b]: With the book signing over, We all left the book store and we all walked a half block to Barney’s restaurant. They had the real deal, all-American menu (BLT’s, burgers, club sandwich, and so on) and at unreal prices [a BLT with chips and pickle for $3:00!], There were 16 of us at the table and everyone got a lunch...unbelievably bill, including the sodas, was just under $50!
As lunch broke-up, we stepped outside and said our good byes and began the separate journeys home. It had been an extraordinary two-and-a-half days.
Bridge
Posted By: TheBridge | Posted on: May 30, 2013 - 3:03pm
Total Posts: 318 | Joined: Nov 22, 2009 - 3:04pm
Bridge, thanks so much for your commentary on the days events. I can not imagine a better time then spending time with PT BOATERS and Friends, which I have done many times over the past 40 years. I can't wait to hear from Roy, who if I know him will have taken some great shots of this event. I am so glad you did this Bridge, and that your books went well.
Posted By: Frank Andruss | Posted on: May 30, 2013 - 4:15pm
Total Posts: 3964 | Joined: Feb 9, 2007 - 11:41am
A fine looking group of distinguished gentlemen, I'm glad all of you had such a good time! Thanks for posting the photos Wayne.
Posted By: Jeff D | Posted on: May 31, 2013 - 6:59am
Total Posts: 2200 | Joined: Dec 21, 2006 - 1:30am
Bridge and Roy; You sure did a great job setting this up!! Wayne the photos are outstanding! With all the miles you guys travelled to make this happen, I know one thing for sure, If I asked Bud if he enjoyed the weekend, I know his reply would be "Yup" with a big smile on his face!!
Bravo Zulu to all envolved!
Take care,
TED
Posted By: TED WALTHER | Posted on: May 31, 2013 - 7:26am
Total Posts: 3059 | Joined: Oct 16, 2006 - 7:42am
I gave you our schedule of events of our weekend in this post. So much of it is sinking in but here is some more as I shake myself back to reality....
Still getting over what a marvelous time we all had over the Memorial Day weekend. And this being the 70th summer since their first push into Rendova and Lever Harbor, made this a most special time. Roy, Wayne and Pat can fill in any details as I'm still numb with joy..and was so busy I didn't get to take one photo. [BTW, Roy & Susan, Pat & Missy and Wayne & Linda make the best company one could find. I was so glad they came...and later wished everyone that loves PTs could have been there as this became a weekend to remember!]
I had hoped that Betty Lynn, who played Thelma Lou on the Andy Griffith Show, might make an appearance sometime over the weekend. She lives in the same building as Bud and Lucy (Liebenow) and I asked them if they might ask her to spend a few minutes with us all sometime. She did show up right, from the start, and spent the whole weekend with us. It was an expected but really delightful and pleasant surprise! She's is charming to say the least. Betty spent all weekend with us and she wore her USO pin, she got 70-years ago, the whole time to signify that she went on USO tours to entertain troops in the Far East during the War; so bravo to her for doing that and becoming a part of our 'history remembered' time together
Roy did some video filming so that might be posted at a later time. This included Welford, with Bud at his side, telling of two missions from the summer of '43. One was 'Squeeze Play' which is when they were caught between to Jap destroyers on a moonless night, and the other is about the rescue of the 109 crew and how Welford and Bud navigate (with Welford using a lead line and Bud at the wheel) the uncharted waters to get to the island where the crew were huddled.
Seeing Bud and Welford together again was great for us but frankly even greater for them. Especially Welford who has been tending, for the past five years to his bed-bound wife Rita, who passed away in January. This trip was a tonic for him. When Bud and Welford saw each other it just put the biggest smiles on their faces (and Bud, who is a fairly reserved type guy, actually grabbed Welford and gave him a hug). The smiles kept on throughout the whole weekend long.
And at the Saturday night presentation and on Monday, while we were book signing, all sorts of strangers put out their hand to shake theirs and say 'Thank You' to Bud and Welford; it was most wonderful. The guys know now that it's been 70 years....and yes, the world still remembers!
Bridge
Posted By: TheBridge | Posted on: Jun 2, 2013 - 7:18am
Total Posts: 318 | Joined: Nov 22, 2009 - 3:04pm
Linda Traxel became acquainted with Cindy Martin who writes for SV South magazine who sent pictures of Saturdays VFW presentation and Mondays book signing. These Pictures fill in the scenes that were missed
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Wayne%20Traxel/BridgeCarneys-FirstUp-PresentationatMtAiryVFWHall.jpg[/image]
Bridge's Saturday VFW Presentation
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Wayne%20Traxel/RoyDoucumentingBrigespresentation.jpg[/image]
Roy Forbes documenting Bridge's "First Up" VFW presentation.
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Wayne%20Traxel/LucyBudActress-BettyLin-ThelmaLuandWelfordWestVFWHallMTAiry.jpg[/image]
VFW Post 2190 L-R Lucy and Bud Liebenow, Actress Betty Lynn (Thelma Lu) and Welford West.
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Wayne%20Traxel/WelfordWestandhisnephewDonDufault.jpg[/image]
VFW Hall Welford West sitting and nephew Don Dufault view Pat and Roy's Models
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Wayne%20Traxel/RoyForbsPT-157modelatVFWHallPresentation.jpg[/image]
Roy Forbs PT-157 model display at VFW Hall presentation.
Wayne Traxel
Posted By: Wayne Traxel | Posted on: Jun 3, 2013 - 6:18am
Total Posts: 248 | Joined: Oct 11, 2006 - 5:40am
Cindy Martin Pages Book Store "First Up" photos.
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Wayne%20Traxel/PagesBooksigning1stRowL-RBudLeibenowWelfordWestAuthorofFirstUpBridgeCarney.jpg[/image]
Book signing at Pages 1st Row R to L. PT-157, Skipper Bud Liebenow and Tm1/c Welford West, Author of "First Up" Bridge Carney. Row two Wayne and Cindy Martin.
[image]http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/ptboats/Wayne%20Traxel/DSC011451R.jpg[/image]
Pages Book Store Actress Betty Lynn, Cindy Martin, Linda Traxel and Lucy Liebenow.
Posted By: Wayne Traxel | Posted on: Jun 3, 2013 - 6:19am
Total Posts: 248 | Joined: Oct 11, 2006 - 5:40am
WOW !! What an amazing trip and Memorial Day Weekend. There is not much more I can add than what has been said but this was a weekend to remember for sure. Meeting these 2 WWII Hero"s along with Lucy, Don, Bridge, Pat, Missy, Wayne, Linda and of course Betty Lynn was just an honor. This trip was the perfect way to spend such a holiday and my only regret was that I didn't record Betty Lynn's story of her service to our country during WWII as a member of the USO in Burma & China during 1945. Mayberry was such a great place and driving around this beautiful little town was like opening gifts on Christmas morning. You never knew what the next corner would offer.
For us, the trip started with passing through Moore, OK 2 days after that event and then again driving through El Reno where we always stop for gas and lunch again 2 days after that one as well was just truly unbelievable. So after 4700 miles, alligators waiting for me to fall off the Battleship North Carolina, humidity and really big storms chasing me down the highway, I must say it's good to be back in AZ. I think we should all try thinking about putting together a re-reunion somewhere in the middle of the country where we can all meet once again.
Well done Bridge for all your hard work in making this happen !!
The crew at the VFW Hall
Bridge and the boys looking at photos
Signing Tom Freeman's painting "Collision with Destiny"
Listing to their first hand account of the Kennedy mission
Dinner at 13 Bones
Posted By: Roy Forbes | Posted on: Jun 6, 2013 - 2:01pm
Total Posts: 371 | Joined: Sep 5, 2012 - 4:57pm