Major Philip Lampkin:

No photo available

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

@1944

Designation:  

OIC Radio

Duties:  

AFRS radio Albrook

Biographic Details:  

none available

Most recent info:  

Philip Lampkin listed in the SSDI, lived in DC, born 11/8/1905 and died 6/1983 in Las Vegas, NV

Ron in his Rupert the Robot role on Cosmo

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

1964 - 1966

Designation:  

Army. Announcer

"Rupert the Robot" &  the record, music, show librarian

At SCN, he was responsible for organizing all the records in the library which included music, dramas, and recorded programs.

He also hosted a Sunday morning radio program on SCN radio.

Ron also played Rupert the Robot on Cosmo the Crew Chief Afternoon show and rumor has it that he was nearly electrocuted on the Robot's wiring one day but that did not stop Ron from his role as Rupert.

Ron also acted in several local Theater productions as well as played piano and guitar.

In addition to his broadcasting talents, Ron sang and recorded  for Periscope records, wrote over 200 songs and owned his own music publishing company.

Ron was also featured in the USARSO 1965 Talent contest.

Born in NYC. Has a BS degree in Speech from Boston Emerson College and worked as a News director for WSME Radio in Sanford, ME as well as WIDE in Biddeford, ME.

After leaving the Canal Zone, he lived in Roanoke, VA for several years. 

Ron also lived in Florida for nearly 25 years. He was the public relations specialist for a chain of Jai-Alai frontons in the 70s and 80s.

In the early 90s he started his own restaurant/movie theater.

In the late 90s, Ron moved to San Francisco to be with his girlfriend and companion, Toniann. 

Ron was married and divorced twice. 

As of 2007 Ron has 2 children, daughter Rhonda and son Ross in addition to a granddaughter and two grandsons.

Most recent info:  

He worked for Pacific Bell in Oakland, CA until his health prevented him from working. He suffered from severe health problems related to heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

During his illness, Ron enjoyed chatting with his friends from SCN on the email group and having lunch with friends.

Ron had been looking forward to a new medical procedure when he died unexpectedly in January of 2004. 

His daughter Rhonda remembers her Dad's Rupert the Robot: 

"Rupert the Robot was a fixture of my childhood. Dad kept the suit for many years. When I was little, sometimes he dressed as Rupert to hand out candy on Halloween. After he and my mother divorced in '78, Rupert stood in his living room. Dad converted Rupert's lights and switches to work on household A/C current and so he could make Rupert's lights flash when we kids asked him to. Sometimes Dad would record messages from Rupert in a distorted voice on a hidden tape recorder and play the messages for us when we came to visit."

Sacramento, CA

Ron's daughter Rhonda can be reached at:

{rhondaplaytankcom}

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:   

1950's

Designation:   

Unknown

Duties:   

CFN Early Morning DJ

Biographic Details:   

After his tour was over, Al went to radio broadcasting in the Los Angeles area, teaming with Roger Barkley for one of the top DJ teams on the west coast. Barkley has since passed away.

Born Alfred Ellery Lohman in Iowa. Started radio work in Omaha, continuing on to Wichita, Denver, Dallas and WABC-New York before moving on to numerous other stations in the LA area over the past 4 decades. 

The team of Lohman and Roger Barkley got together in 1963. Gary Owens introduced Lohman to Barkley who was a program director at the time. Al Lohman, teamed with Roger Barkley for over two decades,  The pair had the most successful morning partnership in the  L.A. radio arena.

Most recent info:   

Al Lohman died 10-15-2002 of stomach and bladder-related cancer. He was 69 and died  following seven surgeries in the past year. Prior to being diagnosed with cancer, Al had been working for KCMJ-Palm Springs.

No photo available

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

1960's

Designation:  

Army. Radio

NA

NA

Became a paramedic after military service. 

Most recent info:  

Died quite young of a heart attack.

NA

NA

Colonel Benjamin B. Millenthal:

No photo available

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

@1944

Designation:  

Special Services

Duties:  

Department Special Services Officer AFRS radio Albrook

Biographic Details:  

none available 

Most recent info:  

Originally from NY listed in the SSDI, born 12/4/1892 and died 8/1991

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

Late sixties - 69

Designation:  

USAF. Morning DJ on Radio

Black Bart on TV Afternoon show

Did very clever original radio and TV production spots.

Played the notorious "Black Bart" on the Skipper Andy, Happy Hoyer & Uncle Bob TV children's programs.

NA

Changed name to Terry Moss when working at Southern CA radio stations. He founded the LA Air Force radio production company after working DJ jobs in San Diego and LA.

Most recent info:  

Died in Colorado

NA

NA

No photo available

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

Designation:  

Most recent info:  

NA

NA

Cpl Dayton Nobles:

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

Mid 1940's

Designation:  

Chief Announcer

Duties:  

Chief Announcer for AFRS radio Albrook

Biographic Details:  

none available

Most recent info:  

If this is the same Dayton R Nobles from Florida who was born July 4, 1927 the SSDI lists his death on June 14, 1986

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

Late 50's to Early 60's

Designation:  

Program Director 

He remained at CFN for several years. 

He was knifed during the flag pole incident at Shaler Triangle in 1959 when the first dual flagpoles were dedicated there. He recovered from that injury. 

Jim returned to the CZ in the early 70's and worked in the Panama Canal Graphics Branch. 

Most recent info:  

No details on his passing

NA

NA

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

1957 - April 1960

Designation:  

SSgt  TV broadcaster

While assigned to CFN, Chuck hosted Panorama and other programs. 

Daughter Suellen & son Rick appeared on children's TV show.

Wife Jean, Daughter Suellen, son Rick and new baby daughter lived in Coco Solo housing until quarters were available.

Chuck served as station manager of radio station, Gypsy, near the front lines of Korea in 1951, and in Frankfort am Main, Germany (at Hoechst, in the Castle) with AFN from 1953 to 1956. 

After CFN, they went to Ft. Bragg from there for two years and then to Tokyo because of the Olympics. Chuck was the News Director at FEN in South Camp Drake. 

In 1965 they went to DINFOS at Ft. Slocum, NY, closing this post under McNamara and transferring with the school to Indy, Ft. Ben Harrison. 

From there he went to Viet Nam for the entire year of '66, returning to Ft. Ben and DINFOS until his retirement 9/30/68. 

He went to work as News Director of the CBS radio station in Indy until his wife, Jean, was transferred to Cleveland OH. She had went to work when Chuck  was in Viet Nam and transferred to the VA with the start of the GI Bill. Jean accepted a GS12 in Cleveland and this loving man willingly followed her, as she had him, in her belated career. 

Most recent info:  

He did some free-lance writing for newspapers and magazines and happily cared for five acres and many dogs until his untimely death 10/7/91 of a cerebral hemorrhage. He is buried at Arlington Nat'l Cemetery. He was 63 years old 9/17/91, three weeks earlier. 

During his years with AFRTS he was honored to serve with many talented persons and frequently in more than one assignment. He was an inspiration to many who passed through CFN. 

Arlington Nat'l Cemetery

Friends of Chuck can contact his wife Jean  at

{wyrnknologynet}

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

Early 60's

Designation:  

Radio Announcer

NA

NA

Originally From Houston. 

After CFN, he worked for KBOX in Dallas  from 1964 to 1972.

He last worked at KRLD in Dallas at the time of his death. 

Most recent info:  

Died from car Accident in Dallas in 1973

NA

NA

No photo available

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

1962 - 1963

Designation:  

CFN Radio Announcer

Pete was quite a colorful character during and after his CFN tour. 

He did the morning show on CFN radio from 1962 to mid 1963 when he was sent back to the states. He was quite good on radio....did no television.

When Jack Mulvain married at Ft. Clayton, a military wedding, Pete, who was Jack's size and rank, loaned Jack his dress uniform for the wedding. Pete loaned Lee his Fiat Spyder the first week Lee's wife was there so he would have transportation to pick her up at the airport, find apartments, buy a car, etc. Pete was most generous. 

Had 2 honeybears (kinkajoos) he would bring to the station and they would ride round and round on turntables. 

Married to Jane...had two daughters. 

From Columbus, Ohio.

In later years when Lee Bayley was either consulting stations or running several, Lee would have happily hired him to work for them. Pete was a high energy type A.... and Lee's unofficial guide to getting set up in Panama..

Pete and Jack Mulvain started in television together at WLW-C in Columbus in 1957. 

Pete became a career soldier. 

Most recent info:  

Died from car accident in Florida.

Florida

NA

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

Designation:  

Quote:  

Most recent info:  

Mateo passed away from a stroke while resting at home in Panama on Sept 23, 2005. Mateo had just turned 64.

Here is a letter from Gerry Fry

It is with great sadness that I must report the sudden and untimely death of our good friend Mateo.  Frank Pereira emailed me today that Mateo succumbed to an apparent stroke yesterday afternoon as he napped in his Panama City home.  He leaves his wife Blanca and three children: Mateo, Edgar and daughter Diana.

For those who don’t know Mateo, he is the person I brought into SCN in 1975 to be our graphic artist.  Prior to him, we relied on military artists, but as the Vietnam war raged on, the military services were unable to fill the slot with qualified people.  I civilianized it and after a brief period with a temporary local hire, Mateo came on board.  He stayed until the end – December of 1999.  Not only have we lost a wonderful friend who contributed so much to our beloved network, we have also lost a great reservoir of SCN history, unmatched by any of the rest of us.

Mateo’s last posting to our SCN-Panama Yahoo group was one week ago today.  He and I communicated via email on a regular basis, but he was not always comfortable posting to the group for some reason.  I’m going to miss him terribly, and I know that many of you will also. 

Gerry Fry

NA

NA

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

1964 - 1965

Designation:  

Army NCOIC and morning newscaster on Radio. 

NA

NA

From the Altanta, GA area.

Joined the Army in the mid 1940's. First assigned to Tokyo in 1947 where he served as Assistant Program Director for Radio Tokyo, a key station for the Far east AFRS network.

Hal was then assigned to AFN Munich Germany and later as Program Director at AFN Bremerhaven Germany.

Hal also served 4 years in Hollywood with the Office Chief of Information, DA where he was Radio & TV NCO and technical advisor on network programs with an Army theme.

He then served a tour in Korea with AFKN where he was the network radio NCOIC.

Upon return to CONUS, he was named NCOIC Radio & TV Dept for the Army Information School at Ft Slocum, NY.

Hal called  Atlanta home and planned to retire there with his wife Rita and their son Gary.

Most recent info:  

Retired into several civilian radio jobs and was News Director at a Colorado Springs radio station at the time of his death in July 1987 at the age of 67. Hal (Harold) Tatel was married to a Canal Zone sweetheart, Rita who still lives in CO.

Colorado Springs, CO

NA

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

mid 1980's

Designation:  

News dept

shooting & Editing

NA

See Newspaper Obituary below.

Quote:  

NA

Most recent info:  

Matt Townsend 1956 - 2005 

Matt Townsend of Montrose died Friday, Aug. 19, 2005, at his home. He was 49.

Mr. Townsend was born April 15, 1956, in Grand Junction, to John N. and Ruth Townsend. He spent his childhood in Montrose. He attended school in Maple Grove, Riverside and Uncompahgre. He graduated from Montrose High School in 1974.

He was employed at KREX-KREY TV during his senior year. He served in the U.S. Army from Oct. 24, 1975, to Jan. 31, 1996, as a news anchorman and videographer. He was an instructor for Armed Forces Radio and Television Network. His tours of duty included South Korea and Panama. He freelanced for NBC at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. He received many awards while serving in the Army. He retired as master sergeant.

Mr. Townsend moved back to Montrose, where he was employed at KREX-KREY TV, Montrose Daily Press, Parrish Oil Company, Colorado Inn and Blair’s Truck Stop. He was a “homer” for national sports. He was a Beatles fan. He enjoyed gardening, photography, videography, hunting, camping and fishing.

He is survived by two daughters, Kathy Kahler and her husband Nate of Exeter, Neb., and Joy Townsend of West Palm Beach, Fla.; his mother and stepfather, Ruth and David Smith of Hotchkiss; four brothers, Charles Townsend, Paul Smith and Steven Smith, all of Hotchkiss, and Davey Smith and his wife Tonya of Cedaredge; five sisters, Laurie Townsend and her husband Roy, and Robin Miller and her husband John, all of Hotchkiss, Lucy Skiles and her husband Keith of Montrose, Joyce Shanahan of Red Oak, Iowa, and Kate McDaniel and her husband Tim of Lazear; and several nieces and nephews.

Mr. Townsend was preceded in death by his father, John N. Townsend; a son, Charles David Townsend; a stepdaughter, Christal Gallob; and a sister, Amy Townsend.

A graveside service with military honors will be held Thursday, Aug. 25, at 2 p.m. at Grand View Cemetery in Montrose.

Crippin Funeral Home and Crematory is handling the arrangements.

NA

Delta County Independent News: Matt Townsend Obituary

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

65 - Feb 1966

Designation:  

Navy Journalist, TV news & Radio 

At SCN, Del worked in the News department preparing world News, for broadcasts.

Appeared on the local news segment of "Dateline" every weekday evening.

Del also had his own radio show. "Music for an afternoon, which aired at 1PM daily during the week. 

"Interviewed Hugh Downs during his transit of the Canal on the way to Tahiti.

Del's hobbies were water skiing and skin diving. During his tour at SCN, Del lived in Cocoli with his wife, Chris and his son Stephan.

Prior to SCN, Del worked at several civilian radio and TV stations, from St Petersburg, FL WALT and WASA in Haver de Grace, Maryland, to WQAL in Philadelphia, PA. 

Del called St Petersburg, FL his hometown.

He attended the University of FL and the University of Chattanooga where he studied advertising.

Del returned to radio and TV as he planned after his separation from the service.

Most recent info:  

He became a CBS News correspondent and was killed in a helicopter crash covering the hurricane Agnes floods in Pennsylvania, June 1972 at the age of 29. Del was born Dec 9th, 1942 as Odell Vaughn in Florida.

NA

NA

No photo available

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

71 - 75

Designation:  

NCOIC

VERY highly liked and respected by his coworkers at SCN

A print journalist

A strong believer in civil liberties and free speech

Owned a Spitfire named Lizzy he enjoyed racing

NA

Most recent info:  

Died December 20,  2000 in Hawaii

NA

NA

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

Designation:  

He was a VERY driven commander who’s goal was to put SCN at the top in AFRTS. He succeeded and forever changed the way SCN was viewed in the community and by the SCN staff.

Jerry was considered to be the toughest all around commander at SCN but he was fair. LTC White was responsible for upgrading the entire network. He was committed to having the proper equipment and a pleasant working environment to produce good projects. He supported his team.

NA

Quote:  

NA

Most recent info:  

Ewald Wiberg Jr:

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

1942 - 1945

Designation:  

SSgt Engineer

Duties:  

Engineer AFRS radio Albrook

Biographic Details:  

Originally from the NY area, raised in Brooklyn?

Worked for the Pan Canal Company as Supervisor of the Electronics Department from 1948 until retirement in 1973.

Most recent info:  

Born 6/7/1919 and passed away on 8/5/1996

Survived by his wife and 2 sons

One son named Ewald Wiberg III can be reached at 

{ewibergbellsouthnet}

1st LT Alan R Willis:

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

Mid 1940's

Designation:  

OIC

Duties:  

Officer in Charge of AFRS radio Albrook

Biographic Details:  

none available

Most recent info:  

If this is the same Alan R Willis who was born June 10, 1918 the SSDI lists his death as Jan 30, 1990 in Spartansburg, SC

Current Status:  

Deceased

Tour of Duty:  

1971 - 1974 & 1982 - 1985 

Designation:  

Engineer & SGM

Returned for a second tour of duty as the SCN Network Sergeant Major.

NA

While in the Army, worked for the Navy installing shipboard AFRTS systems.

Quote:  

NA

Most recent info:  

Was Deputy Commander of the Naval Media Center in Washington, D.C. and in charge of the Navy's Broadcasting Detachments worldwide.

Was a delight to have on the SCN discussion list for many years.

Died from Cancer on June 30, 2007

Here is the death announcement from the Navy:

Naval Media Center Team, Shipmates and Friends,

It is with great sadness that I report to you that our Deputy and Shipmate, Mr. Robert C. Young, lost his battle with cancer this morning, Saturday, June 30.  Final arrangements are pending, but we expect the funeral to be held on Friday evening, 6 July, in Frederick, Maryland.  We will get full details out as soon as they are available. 

After a full career in the active duty Army as a broadcast engineer, Bob came to a then, fledgling Navy Broadcasting Service in 1986. He managed the engineering operations of 20 broadcast detachments worldwide and oversaw the rapid deployment of mobile broadcast detachments to Saudi Arabia to support Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and later to Haiti and Somalia. 

As Associate Director for Engineering, Bob revolutionized Navy shipboard life by bringing live satellite radio and television to ships on every ocean.  That single accomplishment, four years in the making, immeasurably improved the quality of life for Sailors at sea and took every ounce of cutting edge engineering expertise, contracting persistence and political diplomacy that he could muster.  It has been rumored that when word of the innovation reached the fleet his telephone rang off the hook and Admirals changed their schedules to meet with him. 

Over the past several years, Bob has been Deputy Commander of Naval Media Center.  As the continuity and corporate memory here at NMC, Bob is largely responsible for solid foundation upon which we have built the outstanding reputation for quality and mission accomplishment that NMC enjoys around the Fleet and among the services.

But Bob was much more than just a great engineer and Deputy, he was a trusted confidant, valued advisor and above all, a great friend.  He will truly be missed. 

I am profoundly grateful for having had the opportunity to serve with Bob, a man who not only served our great Nation with honor for over 40 years, but one who has left an indelible stamp on the Naval Media Center and on the lives of literally millions of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, their families and countless others that continue to serve.

Please keep his wife Allie and his entire family in your thoughts and
prayers.

CAPT Gordon Hume, USN
Commanding Officer, Naval Media Center
Assistant Chief of Information, Internal Information (OI-4)

NA

NA