Jim Pellman
I heard from a mutual Marine mate from the 1968-1971 time frame that Jim Grant had died.
Jim and I were roommates for three years or more at the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma, AZ. Over the years we lost track of each other, some of it because he accepted his Staff Sergeant stripe near the end of his time there, and I stayed a Sergeant, getting an early release to return to college at University of Minnesota, Duluth, to study Art/Art History and Psychology. With his promotion he had to move into the Staff Barracks. According to my Finnish grand mother, Esther Pollari, we were related through my grandmother to Jim's mother. Seemed the name was Heikkila or the like. Grandma's maiden name was Mattson (Kalle Sorvari, father, Anna Lehtimaki-Haunapakka her mother). We were friends regardless, and spent many weekends with our fellow Marines travelling all over the Southwest on weekend leave in my Opel Kadet, once camping almost in the shadow of Mt. Wilson/ Palomar telescope east of LA, We truly enjoyed jamming together when he pulled out his 12 string guitar. I worked upstairs in the squadron office most of my tour while he worked in the Aviation Electricians Mate shop near the flight line, down in the hanger on the TA4F attack aircraft, a two seat trainer. In my spare time I did art works for those in the Squadron. He had graduated very high in his class in Jacksonville Florida earning an E-4 stripe at the Naval Air Station AE(A) School, graduating a few weeks before me. Being in the same school, but in separate classes we had no real contact there in northern Florida, but by chance I got my E-4 promotion as well and landed next to him in Yuma in our room of 4 in a brand new air-conditioned barracks. We both were the studious types and got along well. Both of us began and ended our time of duty Stateside even though Viet Nam was blazing, We apparently did our jobs well enough to hold our posts in Yuma. Well, I wish I could have visited with Jim here on earth one more time but it will have to wait until the Great Beyond. He was a fine man, and we both grew up some during those sober years. God Bless You All. Sincerely, Jim Pellman. PS. When I find my slides from those days I'll share some with your family.
