Jim Traner, Vietnam combat veteran, Past Edmonds VFW Post 8870 and VFW District1 Commander and an extremely valued member of our Post, as well as the entire VFW Department of Washington, died of a sudden heart attack Saturday, morning while out fishing.
Jim will be greatly missed by our Post and all of us who depended on him for his friendship and to keep us on course financially and organizationally.
There will be two memorial services for Jim.
August 20, 2023 12:00 pm Edmonds Waterfront Center 220 Railroad Avenue Edmonds, WA
August 29, 2023 1:00 pm Tahoma National Cemetery 18600 SE 240th St Kent, WA 98042
We lost our long time comrade and friend on July 22. Jim died of a sudden heart attack while, of all things, attempting to boat a large salmon. Jim was a 50 year VFW member and a key member of our leadership staff for many years. His organizational and accounting skills will be sorely missed.
From the 11th Armored Cavalry Veterans: (Addressed to Terry Traner & family)
Please accept the condolences of the Troopers of the 11th Armored Cavalry’s veterans of Vietnam and Cambodia. Jim was a dedicated and courageous warrior, and in a crucial time, became one of us, one of our own. He served honorably and faithfully with the Legendary Blackhorse Regiment in the Howitzer Battery of the 1st Squadron from August 1967 thru March 1969. Exhibiting daring and courageous acumen, he was in the fore front, as the regiment completed its mission throughout large areas of Vietnam. James Michael Traner’s name will be published in our newsletter, Thunder Run, acknowledged solemnly during the Memorial Service at our annual reunion, and be enrolled on the scroll with our honored dead. As grateful Americans, we pause and salute a brave man, a recipient of the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry; he proudly honored our regiment. He wore the uniform, was willing to sacrifice, and even put his life on the line for his country, his family and his fellow man. Chaplain Bill Karabinos (11th ACVVC).
Al’s widow Jo Boyette informs us that a celebration of Al’s life will be held at 12:00 Noon, on Sunday, June 4 at Northlake Lutheran Church, 6620 NE 185th St. in Kenmore.
As we announced in the December issue of this newsletter, Al passed away late last year following a long bout with cancer. Al, an Army veteran, was long time active member of Post 8870, and his wife Jo a leader of the Auxilliary where she continues.
Al Boyett We lost another of our brothers when Al Boyett, who had served as our Post Surgeon for a number of years, passed away recently. Al had been suffering from a long bout with cancer.
Boyett was born June 30, 1937 in Williamsburg Alabama and moved to Seattle in 1948. Married Jo Nazworthy December 6, 1963 to Jo Nazworthy he became father to Tahnya Boyett 1966. The family moved to Bothell 1973, where they have lived since.
Al was drafted into the Army and served in Korea. After the war, he joined BBoys Auto Parts from 1956 until he purchased the auto parts store which he owned from 1974 to 1981. He then worked for an auto parts warehouse, Mar- Lac Distributing until he retired after 2011.
B-Boys was a founding member of the Washington Automotive Industry Association, in a effort to bring support to the automotive industry and to provide health insurance to employees.
Al graduated in 1955 from Lincoln HS and later technical school for space and missile electronics. He became a pilot in 1970 and belonged to Bellevue Air club. Al was a Member of Northlake Lutheran Church since 1974 and a past member of the Bellevue Air club, Elks, and a Good Sam’s member serving the Tired & Retired chapter of Good Sam’s.
It has been a difficult year in which we have experienced the loss of a number of our comrades. This is the latest group departing our ranks. May they all rest in peace and never be forgotten.
Norm Goldstein was one of our few remaining WWII veterans, serving in the Navy as a Torpedoman, mostly in shore stations, servicing torpedos for Aircraft. Following his WWII service, Norm graduated from the UW with a teaching certificate in 1950. He taught at Ballard High School, Mountlake Terrace High School and as Dean of Students, Athletic Director, and Varsity Basketball coach at Edmonds Community College. He would have celebrated his 100th birthday on January 6, 2023.
Gil Loomis was a VFW Life Member at large before joining our post. Corporal Loomis served in the Army Infantry from 1947 until 1952. He was in Korea for Occupation duty beginning in 1948. When war broke out in 1950, Gil was with I Company, 31st Infantry, 7th Infantry Division. He was shot in the hand and forearm, suffered frostbite and was eventually evacuated from the battlefield. Awards include Purple Heart w/ 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal w/ 3 bronze service stars and the Good Conduct Medal. He also led the Lynnwood Chapter of Disabled American Veterans.
John Shelton enlisted in the Marine Corps and was sent to Vietnam in 1959 where he served as a sniper. He was severely wounded in Vietnam and has been confined to wheelchair ever since. He went to UCLA and four years later emerged with a baccalaureate degree in psychology going on to earn a masters degree and ultimately a PhD in behavioral psychology. Dr. Shelton had a long and successful practice ministering to thousands of patients. John and his wife had just recently moved to Spokane, Caroline’s home town, after many years in Edmonds. As our long time Post Guard, we will miss John’s presence at the front desk signing us into meetings, collecting meal money and selling raffle tickets.
Dick Simmons served as an officer in the Navy on supply ships, including the AE class, which resupplied the carrier task forces with bombs and other munitions. Later in the Vietnam years, he served on an LST, (Landing ship tank) delivering such munitions. After the Navy, he followed a career in journalism, working as a reporter and editor for the Seattle P.I. Dick was our Post adjutant for several years and was a frequent member of our color guard at parades and other events. Recently, he was living in a memory care facility in edmonds prior to his recent passing.
He once said of himself, “Powell is a problem-solver. He was taught as a soldier to solve problems. So he has views, but he’s not an ideologue. He has passion, but he’s not a fanatic. He’s first and foremost a problem-solver.”
Powell, who grew up in New York City, the son of Jamaican immigrants, served in the Army for 35 years. He was a man of many firsts: He was the first Black national security adviser, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Secretary of State.
We have learned of the recent loss of one of our members, Richard “Dick” Cassutt , a very active Life Member of the post, including as a regular participant in our bi-annual “Buddy Poppy” events and school visits. Dick was usually present at Post meetings until recently, when health issues began to catch up with him. Dick’s widow Virginia tells us he passed away on October 7. May he rest in peace.
We are mourning the loss of and draping our charter for two Life
Members of Post 8870 this month. In addition to the recent loss of our
dear friend and comrade Robert (Buck) Weaver, we learned recently
of the passing during 2019 of William Garber. Garber was a resident
of Greenbank, Whidbey Island and has not recently been active in the post.
Regretfully, we have no other information about Garber, his life or
his service, but still we mourn the loss of another comrade in arms. Rest
in peace William, along with your brother Buck.
Ben was born in Lafayette, TN and enlisted in the Navy in Nashville in 1943. He served in the Pacific Theatre, Solomon Islands. He was with the 152nd Landing Craft Repair Unit (LCRU) as a 1st Class Ships Cook 1943-45. He returned to Norfolk, VA Naval Base in July, 1945 and got married. He and Mary Elizabeth were in New York City Times Square for the VJ Day celebration. They were married for 65 years. Ben joined VFW in 1945 and at his death was the longest serving member of our post at 73 years. He was a member of VFW Post 3694 in Seattle after the war and served as the Post Athletic Director. Benton was a retired baker and served as a General Manager for Hansen Bakery and Best Pie. He was 97 years old.
Ben was born in Lafayette, TN and enlisted in the Navy in Nashville in 1943. He served in the Pacific Theatre, Solomon Islands. He was with the 152nd Landing Craft Repair Unit (LCRU) as a 1st Class Ships Cook 1943-45. He returned to Norfolk, VA Naval Base in July, 1945 and got married. He and Mary Elizabeth were in New York City Times Square for the VJ Day celebration. They were married for 65 years. Ben joined VFW in 1945 and at his death was the longest serving member of our post at 73 years. He was a member of VFW Post 3694 in Seattle after the war and served as the Post Athletic Director. Benton was a retired baker and served as a General Manager for Hansen Bakery and Best Pie. He was 97 years old.
Russ Jason Pitner
At his death, the newest member of our Post,
inducted at the May 2019 Post meeting, Russ was an army veteran of 12
years, a staff Sergent stationed in Germany for 10 years. He commanded
teams of 35 men through the Bosnian-Serbian conflict serving with the 11th
Armored (“Black Horse”) Cavalry. Raised in the Smokey Mountains of
Tennessee, he grew up with three brothers. Russ was 54. He is survived by
his wife, Laurie.
Russ suffered an aneurism on Saturday, June 1 and
was declared brain dead by Edmonds Swedish Hospital shortly there
after. Both of his kidneys have found homes in the bodies of people who
have spent every day for years waiting for the gift of life.
VFW Post member Pastor Edgar Gray Jr. passed
away recently. He as born on October 15, 1933 in Ada, Ok., the second
child of Deacon Edgar Gray Sr. Upon graduation from High school, he
enlisted in the US Navy. Petty Officer Gray served as a Machinist’s Mate
Third class for 4 years plus two in the reserves and was a veteran of the
Korean War.
Gray graduated from the University of
Washington in 1977 with a BA in History and Education. Before his
University Graduation, he served on The Washington State Ordination Board (for
Pastors) 1972-1975. Comrade Gray was a long time member of Post 8870 and
served as Post Chaplain for many years. He leaves a wife, six sons three
daughters, 14 grandchildren, 13 great-grand children and a host of nieces
and nephews.
Many thanks to our Post comrade Roosevelt D.
Ward, Jr., CPO Retired, USN. for providing the information on Edgar’s
life. We will drape our charter in Comrade Gray’s honor at the April
meeting.
Like many wartime pilots, Lt. j.g. George H.W. Bush named his airplane after a girl back home. But he had to call it “Barbara III,” since he lost his first two planes — one during training and one to enemy fire. That’s how dangerous flying was in World War II. There were 16 pilots in George H.W. Bush’s squadron, according to retired Adm. Samuel Cox, director of Naval History and Heritage Command. “Half of them were killed or captured before the end of the war,” Cox said.
He flew the TBM “Avenger”, a carrier based torpedo/ bomber which had a three-man crew. His target on Sept. 2, 1944, was a Japanese radio transmitter on the island of Chichi Jima.
His plane was hit as he began his run into the target but he stayed with it until he dropped his bombs. Out over the water, Mr. Bush told his crew to bail out.
“The Japanese came out after him. Some fighters from the flight were able to strafe the Japanese boats and keep them away during the four hours that Bush was actually in the water,” Cox said. A U.S. submarine got to him before the Japanese could. A 20-year-old George H.W. Bush spent 30 days on that submarine thinking, as he later told the author James Bradley, “Later, I learned that neither Jack Delaney nor Ted White had survived. One went down with the plane; the other was seen jumping but his parachute failed to open.” Bush has been quoted as saying “I think about White and Delaney every day”
George H. W. Bush was one of eight VFW members who have become U.S. Preseidents.
