19 Sep ‘13
Shipmates,
In case his sister Judith has not contacted you, Plank-Owner John Viccellio has had a massive stroke of the brain. This happened last Saturday in Florence, SC and as of Sunday night he was still in a coma. Judith mentioned that he had some responses to a few people but she said it was a very serious stroke.
John is a Plank-Owner and was onboard from ‘60 until about ‘63, assigned to V-6 Division and was an aide and driver for Capt. Bringle. I think he served a total of seven years and had a civilian career with Babcock & Wilcox Company.
I’ll post further as I talk to his sister. Tom Palmer
Jack,
By chance did you know a Seaman named "R.C." Phillips? Can't remember what R.C. stood for but we were in RTC 199 at Great Lakes together; June-August, 1960. R.C. may have been a plank owner; most of RTC 199 was assigned there out of Great Lakes. I got orders to Millington and then VF-114. My squadron made the WesPac '62-'63 and the '63-'64 cruises. I'm just about certain that I saw R.C. on board either Captains Bringle's or Curtis's Gig at some point. I think there is a photo of what sure looks like him manning the Captain's Gig in one of those Cruise Books. We never crossed paths, just in passing that one time. I seem to recall that he was part of a big enlistment in RTC 199 from West Virginia. Too many moons have passed since those good ol day!
yes i talked to him about 10 years ago and he lives in wheeling wv and runs a kroger store ther,wen i made 3rd i got of the gig and went to side cleaners so i got to no a bunch of guys aboard48
With regrets, I must tell all you shipmates that John passed away last week. I failed to call his sister over the weekend and just learned this today. Jim Melka called me this morning asking of John's condition. I gave Jim his sister Judith's phone number (919-612-4453) and she called me back after taking with Melka. John and Judith were very close. I'm sure that she would appreciate a call some time next week; a very fine lady who really stood by John. Hate to lose him, he was a true asset to the Kitty Hawk Vets. His one late-in-life passions was to see the Kitty Hawk converted to a memorial. He specifically asked that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the USS Kitty Hawk Museum Foundation, Gary Barnes, 19406 N. 133rd Avenue, Sun City, AZ 85375. One of the "Good Guys!" A friend, shipmate and patriot who will be sorely missed by his fellow Vets.
JOHN ARTHUR "BUTCH" VICCELLIO FLORENCE, SC - JOHN ARTHUR "BUTCH" VICCELLIO, 71, of Florence, passed away on Thursday, September 19, 2013 at the McLeod Hospice House after an illness. Mr. Viccellio was born in Richmond, VA a son of the late Arthur Bright Viccellio and Edith Robertson Viccellio. He was a US Navy veteran having served aboard the USS Kitty Hawk. John graduated from Brigham Young University and was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints. Surviving are his wife of 38 years, Lorraine Updike Viccellio of Florence; son, Anthony Viccellio of Brackettville, TX; daughter, Holly V. (Scott) Renninger of Uniontown, OH; sister, Judith Furler of Holly Springs, NC; grandchildren, Brandon Renninger, Taylor Renninger, Kaleigh Renninger, Blake Renninger, Isabella Viccellio, Anthony Viccellio and Gabriella Viccellio.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the USS Kitty Hawk Museum Foundation, Gary Barnes, 19406 N. 133rd Avenue, Sun City, AZ 85375. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM Friday, September 27, 2013 in the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, 1620 Malden Drive, Florence. Burial will be held at 1:00 PM Saturday, September 28, 2013 in Chatham
Burial Park in Chatham, VA. Please sign the tribute wall for Mr. Viccellio at the obit section of www.stoudenmiredowling.com.
