Conv-Joe Ciokon Contributions Page 2

From: Ron Hesketh

Dated: March 19, 2021

Subject: Joe's Memorial

What is Mary's (Joes wife) address?
I will be making a donation to the Midway & they need that information to send their notification.
Thanks, Ron

From: Dick Ellis

Dated: March 12, 2021

Subject: Joe's Memorial

I am a little confused.....we got no communication back from Veterans Village but we are going with them anyway? I read the family email to say: “Here is a list of suggested places to send memorial.” Maybe I am a grumpy old bastard, but I had rather send a check to the USO in JoeC’s name and a note to Mary.

dickie

From: Nancy Smoyer

Dated: March 14, 2021

Subject: Joe's Memorial

In the latest Vietnam magazine there is an article about the Midway. Near the end it mentions the tours, but unfortunately it doesn't talk about our Joe.
Nancy

From: Dick Ellis

Dated: March 20, 2021

Subject: JoeCiokon.jpeg

Photo of JoeC teaching at the AFVN compound...1967. Saigon

Displaying his prowess at breaking bricks DE(#28)

From: Chuck Adams

Dated: March 24, 2021

Subject: Joe's Funeral

I wish I had known Joe. In fact, I think I do--thanks to all the stories that have been shared about him. He was a good man.
Chuck Adams

From: Ron Hesketh

Dated: March 15, 2021

Subject: Joe's Memorial

I have contacted the Midway Museum via email to see how to donate a memorial in Joe's name.
Awaiting their response.
Ron

From: Randy Kafka

Dated: March 18, 2021

Subject: Re: [AFVN] JOCM Joe Ciokon PHOTO NEEDED. UP AGAINST A DEADLINE

GUYS, YES, SHORT FUSED REQUEST. I KNOW SOME OF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE SHOTS OF JOE BOTH IN VN OR BOOT. PLEASE, IF YOU DON'T WANT DIRECT CONTACT WITH TINA, THEN SEND TO ME AND I WILL CLEAN UP AND FORWARD.
Thanks Brothers and Sisters.

Tina,
No problems at all coming through Joe Q with questions. He is, and always has been a great guy even though he is a Brigham Young Alum. I have reached out to others that would probably have just what your looking for for your current issue. I seem to recall a shot of Joe with a weapon defending the Embassy in Saigon during TET '68., Dickie you would be in a better position to help with that or, our ever helpful webmaster. Seem to recall the Beirut Det had some shots of him also. I have none, and have always enjoyed viewing what they had shot. Jungle, you always had some great shots.
Tina, best to you and your son. Let me know what more I can do to help. May not know how to do it, but can always find someone that can.
r

From: Tina Tallman <ttallman1650@gmail.com>

To: jkafka52@aol.com <jkafka52@aol.com>

Cc: josephquimby@comcast.net <josephquimby@comcast.net>

Sent: Thu, Mar 18, 2021 5:03 pm

Subject: re JOCM Joe Ciokon
Hi, Master Chief Kafka.
Hope you don’t mind that I asked Joe Q to connect us.
I’m in the process of laying out the spring issue of USNPAA Sightings. I hope to include one strong photo of Joe C. with caption as a remembrance in current issue, which I hope will be followed up by a lengthier PHJO tribute story authored by one of his peers/contemporaries in a future issue (summer/fall - Do not have space to do Joe justice in this issue). The reflections of Joe you sent to RDML Jurkowsky are just the reflections that I would very much like to include going forward.
For now, I’m hoping you might consider contributing on two fronts:
Recommend/or provide impactful solo pic of JOCM in uniform (I am thinking Vietnam or Beirut) and a healthy caption to run right now. Recommend author/or provide a lengthier piece (much like an expanded version of what you provided to RDML TJJ).
Thanks a million for any assistance or recommendation you can provide. Please don’t hesitate to call me at 216.533.6068, particularly for short-fuse caption/photo feedback.
Warm regards,
Tina Tallman

PS: You probably do not remember me. As background, I attended DINFOS for the first time in 1978. Then-JOC Ciokon and Mary took me under their wings when word came that I had received orders to SCN Panama Canal Zone. (I was a “casual” between ISJ and ISB courses.) A few months later, Joe was my lead TV instructor. (I think maybe both you and Sonny Auld were on DINFOS staff at the time.) Fast forward a few commands and years later; I reported to AIRPAC PA shop to JOC Ciokon. We kept in touch through his FASO, Beirut and NBS tours. After OCS & a ship, as a new 1650/asst PAO at SURFPAC, we reconnected when Joe was working at AIRPAC PA as a civilian. Though we never worked together for long, we kept in touch throughout my entire career and after. Whenever in San Diego, I always made time for a Midway visit and lunch at Old Town with Joe. The last time I saw him was late 2017, when I introduced him to my son- a SDiego-based LTJG at the time.
Cc: Joe Q
Tina Tallman

US Navy (Ret), USNPAA Life Member

SIGHTINGS Co-Editor

From: Joseph Quimby

Sent: Saturday, March 13, 2021 1:33 PM

Subject: CMDCM (JOCM) Randy Kafka re JOCM Joe Ciokon
Tina, In this string of notes is Randy Kafka's full note to Tom.

Joe Q.

Begin forwarded message:
From: Tom Jurkowsky <tjurkowsky3@comcast.net>

Date: March 4, 2021 at 15:35:51 EST

To: Jkafka52 <jkafka52@aol.com>

Cc: Joe Quimby <josephquimby@comcast.net>, mlewisfoto@gmail.com, artfrith@att.net

Subject: Re: Passing of JOCM Joe Ciokon
?This is terrific and most appreciated. I am most grateful.
Tom

On Mar 4, 2021, at 3:27 PM, Jkafka52 <jkafka52@aol.com> wrote:
ADM,
Good to talk with you after all these years. Just sorry Joe's passing is the catalyst to bring all of us together.
I first heard of Joe in 1971 when I first got to AFVN in Saigon. He was a legend then. He was one of the early Navy types to work with AFVN, at that time Armed Forces Vietnam Network. Kind of like the drop of Navy blue in the sea of Army Green. Many of us old guys started out in that network.
Joe and I crossed paths many times. My most vivid memory of him is when he and his NBS team FIVE came through Sigonella going into Beirut. I was the OIC of DET 15, and was appointed the husbanding agent for all the dets going in country Lebanon. Joe and I talked a few hours about his and my earlier years in VN. Little did we know that a few weeks later he and his detachment would come under attack when the BLT was bombed on 23OCT83. As you saw, I have asked some of those detachment guys to give you input on that event.
Joe eventually became the NBS Command Master Chief, he would visit each of the dets, he felt it part of his job to know each of the broadcasters out in the field. I do believe that is how many of the younger JO's got to know him. Joe was also a great teacher, he was on the staff of DINFOS for a few years, and believe me, the students learned so much by listening to his sea stories.
During many of the AFRTS conferences in Los Angeles, Joe and his lovely wife Mary always took care of the young broadcasters. Joe was a dedicated family man, to that end, the Ciokon name continues today, his daughter Lisa just put on the "hat" this past January, she serves as a PSC, following in Joe's footsteps. It had been passed to me that he was just so thrilled and proud to see her make Chief.
The last time I saw Joe was in San Diego, I was there to MC the retirement of a three star, Joe made it a point to invite my 13 year old son Chris and I to the MIDWAY, watching him with my son, I saw the old younger version of Joe, teaching, explaining....the things that all Navy Chief's do...Joe sure did it well.
Hope this and input from the others helps.
hang tuff (respectully)

kafka sends -----Original Message-----

From: Joseph Quimby <josephquimby@comcast.net>

To: Randy Kafka <Jkafka52@aol.com>

Cc: Tom Jurkowsky <tjurkowsky3@comcast.net>

Sent: Thu, Mar 4, 2021 1:06 pm

Subject: Passing of JOCM Joe Ciokon Hi Randy,

I just saw notification by Art on the passing of Joe Ciokon.

I just called Tom Jurkowsky who is the president of USN Public Affairs Association. He was wondering if you or Art who knew Joe and were close friends could draft a brief paragraph that Admiral Jurkowsky could send out in an email to the members of USNPAA? Not a lengthy bio or obit, but who Joe was. I have copied Admiral Jurkowsky so you or Art can go VFR directly with him.
Thank you so much.
Joe Quimby

Joe Ciokon - Contributions/Fund in Memory of (Page 2)

March 2021

AFVN Home

From: Forrest Brandt

Dated: March 13, 2021

Subject: Joe's Memorial

Thanks, Preston. I recommend that you do as I did - go to the VVSD website, go to donations, When you fill out the info portion put AFVN, Vietnam behind your last name - or however you knew Joe - Mary will receive a copy of the donation info and you can print out a receipt. If, like Dickie, you’d rather your gift go to another charity, please feel free to do so and do what you can to let Mary know that your gift was from you and AFVN.
Forrest

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Contributions/Fund
Page 1

From: Ron Hesketh

Dated: March 17, 2021

Subject: Memorial Donation

Good news.
Here is the response from the Midway, should anyone wish to donate there.
Ron

Subject: Memorial Donation Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2021 20:31:45 +0000 From: Faith Martin <fmartin@midway.org> To: JOYRON1@TAMPABAY.RR.COM <JOYRON1@TAMPABAY.RR.COM>
Good afternoon Mr. Hesketh,
My name is Faith Martin and I am one of the Member/Donor Relations Managers at the USS Midway Museum.
I received your donation inquiry about memorial donations. Here is the link to our donation webpage: https://www.midway.org/give-join/support-us/donate-now/
If you would like to give a donation in memory of Joe Ciokon, please click on “Memorial or Tribute Gift” once you’ve opened the webpage,
and select where you would like your donation to be designated to (i.e. foundation, ship preservation, etc.). Next you will
have the option to select how much you would like to give and have the option to name who you are paying tribute to.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions or need further assistance. I’d be happy to help!
Thank you for your support,
Kindly,
Faith
Faith Martin Member/Donor Relations Manager

From: Preston Cluff

Dated: March 12, 2021

Subject: Joe's Memorial

Wish I had known you would have all this trouble trying to set up, Forrest. My wife and I sent Mary a card the other day. Could just have sent a check with it, asking her to donate as she wished.
I think all would agree, you've done your best. I'll now do whatever you suggest regarding a contribution in Joe's name.
Preston

From: Dick Ellis

Dated: March 19, 2021

Subject: Re: [AFVN] JOCM Joe Ciokon PHOTO NEEDED. UP AGAINST A DEADLINE

The only photo I have of JoeC was 1967 when we (he) was showing me how to break bricks in the back yard of the tv station. That is in my photos on our main website but every time I try to down load it , it wants to down load all 60. There is also somewhere on Google a photo of 6 or 8 guys running around the US Embassy compound in Saigon the morning of Tet. JoeC is one of them with a helmet and camera. He was NCOIC of the AFVN newsroom the night of Tet and was the first reporter at the embassy two blocks away.

dickie

From: Forrest Brandt

Dated: March 12, 2021

Subject: Joe's Memorial

OK, gang. I give. No return phone call, no return e-mail, even when I make contact with someone who knew Joe. This is a charity, right? That’s the VVSD story. I’m guessing that they are swamped due to COVID. I know that most of the staff is “working from home” and I’ll just stop there as the rest is just conjecture on my part, but the complete lack of follow through on behave of VVSD raises concerns. NTL, this is the organization that was put at the top of the family’s list of charities.
So, here’s the URL: https://vvsd.net/
Here’s the vitals:
4141 Pacific Highway San Diego, CA 92110
info@vvsd.net
(619) 393-2000
And here’s the connection to their donations page - very simple - any credit card or PayPal accepted.
I put together an e-mail to be sent to Mary and Joe’s family and will send it this afternoon along with my contribution.
OK, update, ixnay on the PayPal - will try again with a card. The card works.
As you fill out the donation it asks for your name, first and then last. I used the box for my last name to put in AFVN,Vietnam to further identify where and why the donation. You may want to do the same.
Forrest

From: Randy Kafka

Dated: March 20, 2021

Subject: JOCM Joe Ciokon PHOTO NEEDED. UP AGAINST A DEADLINE

ALCON,
Ken, you up for writing a tribute story for Joe. You have grasped and kept my attention many a time with your writing.

The below photo was sent to Randy by his friend, Tina Tallman. It is Joe right after the 1993 Beirut barracks bombing.

From: Bob Morecook

Dated: March 14, 2021

Subject: Joe's Memorial

hooah

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From: Ken Kalish

Dated: March 20, 2021

Subject: JOCM Joe Ciokon PHOTO NEEDED. UP AGAINST A DEADLINE

I’ll give it a spin, Randy.
Ken Kalish

From: Bob Morecook

Dated: March 16, 2021

Subject: Joe's Memorial

Hi Ron Thank you

Bob Morecook

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From: Forrest Brandt

Dated: March 11, 2021

Subject: Joe's Memorial

Good news, I got a hold of someone at VVSD who had taken some lessons with Joe and remembered him. He is going to contact me via e-mail tonight and we should be on our way to getting a memorial gift collection started. More news as I get it.
Forrest

From: Preston Cluff

Dated: March 19, 2021

Subject: Joe's Memorial

You'll probably get duplicates, Ron. It is:
13768 SYCAMORE TREE LANE

POWAY, CA 92064-4654
Preston

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