WHERE IT ALL COMES TOGETHER ... The Ohio River, three Interstate highways, the Indiana-Kentucky state line - and the 70th Division Reunion, all come together in down­ town Louisville. The Galt House Hotel is convenient to auto, paddle-wheel or bicycle. And the airport is only 10 minutes away. Here is a map of our Reunion area and the many attractions this historic city has to offer. l. The Galt House 2. Kentucky Center for the Arts 3. Commonwealth Convention Center 4. Galleria Shopping Center 5. Kentucky Exposition Center 6. The Belle of Louisville Riverboat 7. Airport 8. Churchill Downs and Kentucky Derby Museum 9. Louisville Downs track Here's Reunion check-list! Deadlines are coming up for Louisville! buddies again. Every man who has attended Send it to Secretary Lou Hoger, 5825 I don't know just when you are reading past Reunions calls them memorable and Horton St., Mission, KS 66202. this message. (Mailing of the magazine de­ first-timers always remark on how warmly 3. Air fare discount pended on when the editor got back from a they were welcomed. American Airlines is the official carrier cruise to Alaska.) But I do know there is Here's a checklist for the Kentucky gath­ for the Reunion and offers special rates that still time - if you act promptly ~ to plan ering: are detailed elsewhere in this magazine. to attend the 1992 Reunion in Louisville. 1. Hotel special With current fare war among the airlines, I It's shaping up to be a great event and I The Galt House Hotel offers its special suggest you check with a travel agent and urge you to come along and meet your old rate of $62 not only for the three nights of compare available fare before you buy your the Reunion - Sept. 30 - Oct. 4 - but ticket. also for three days before and three days 4. Car rental after that period. Many, many of our mem­ Alamo Car Rental has offered us very bers come early and stay late to visit with favorable rates with unlimited miles. Spe­ old friends and make new ones and enjoy cific information is also shown somewhere the sights of the Reunion city and surround­ in this magazine. ings. is published four times a 5. Sightseeing tours year by the 70th Infantry But reservations must be made by Aug. The Louisville area is scenic and rich in Division Association and 30. Use the reservation form in the Winter friends. Subscription: $12 '92 "Trailblazer" (or make a photocopy) history and we have lined up some dandy annually. and send it to the Galt House, 140 No. tours for you. They're scheduled for Thurs­ day and Saturday when we have free time. Editor Fourth St., Louisville, KY 40202. Edmund C. Arnold Guest rooms and most of our meeting Reservations should be made directly with 3208 Hawthorne Ave. rooms will be in the West Tower of this the tour line and there's an appropriate form Richmond, VA 23222 fine hotel on the banks of the great Ohio -again "elsewhere in this issue". (804) 329-5295 River. The Grand Ballroom, where our big 6. RV and auto parking banquet will take place, is in the East The hotel furnishes RV parking but there Associate Editor* Tower. is no hook-up. Parking is free with a vali­ Chester F. Garstki 2946 N. Harding Ave. 2. Registration discount dated ticket. Chicago, IL 60618 If you register before Sept. 1, you will 7. Souvenirs (312) 725-3948 receive the economy rate of $80 per per­ We will offer many new items for sale. son, a real bargain. After that date the fee They include sweat shirts and sport shirts Staff Artist * will be $90. This form was in the Spring, Peter Bennett '92 magazine and it, too, may be Xeroxed. 3031 Sir Phillips Dr. San Antonio, TX 78209 The President's Volume 50 Number 3 Summer, 1992 Report Alex Johnson 2 70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER President American offers special fares for Louisville (Continued) A 40% discount off regular coach as well as our familiar items. cheon as they cruise on the famous fares is offered by American Airlines "L' Operation Nordwind et Wingen-sur­ 0-hi-0. to 70th people flying to the Louis­ Moder" by Wallace (Bob) Cheves is avail­ 11. Golf ville Reunion. able in Xeroxed form from Lou Hoger. (In­ If you want to shoot a few holes on The 40% discount applies to round­ cidentally, there are only about 150 copies Thursday, drop a note directly to Gene trip, unrestricted day-coach travel left of the second printing of "The Trail­ Sisson, 8601 Greenbrier Court, Louisville, within the United States. Travel may blazers".) KY 40242, who is setting up accommo­ be between Sept. 30 and Oct. 4. Res­ 8. Friday Fun Night dations at one of the city's beautiful courses. ervations must be made and tickets purchased at least seven days before After a mouth-watering buffet that will 12. Business meeting feature Kentucky food specialties, we'll en­ departure. I remind our members of the important In the other plan, a 5% discount is joy an evening of fun that will be emceed issues that we will vote on in our biennial by our Les Edwards, B/274. We'll have offered on the lowest "round-trip fare business session Thursday. The major top­ subject to availability of inventory". sing-alongs and skits and top off the evening ics will be the possibility of a Division with our auction that will be "cried" by That means that when American of­ monument, the publication of our second fers a special on a number of seats Paul Alford, HQ/274, one of Oklahoma's History Book and the proposed constitu­ best-known auctioneers. on a specific flight, you can grab the tional amendments that were printed in the offer and take off 5%. You are invited to bring items to be sold last issue of this magazine. there. Memorabilia, crafts, items that are To accept either offer, or to get There - an even dozen items for you to more information, you must use the identified with your home territory or just check out and check off. plain fun stuff are welcome. Drop them off special Trailblazer code. Phone 1- at the registration desk. * 800-433-1790 and ask for "Starfile Helen and I enjoyed attending the West- S-029241". You may call anytime be­ 9. Hospitality Room em mini-reunion where we renewed old tween 7 am and midnight, Central Always the favorite gathering area at a friendships and made new ones. It always Time, seven days a week. Reunion, our Hospitality Room will be spa­ amazes me how easy it is to establish im­ cious and comfortable and open for maxi­ mediate friendship because of the hardships mum hours. As usual, members will show and good times we all shared in "The Big memorabilia there, (bring yours!). There War". We have a great bunch of people. will be plenty of conversation space and We especially enjoyed meeting with our coffee, tea, soft drinks, beer and spirits will Gold Star Mother, Mrs. Faye Hill. She is 573 be offered. the mother of John Lackey, A/276, who That's number 10. Women's luncheon was killed at Wingen. The famous stem wheeler, "Belle of Lou­ Looking forward to seeing you all, now for Lifers isville", which docks just in front of our Life memberships continue to in­ hotel, will be the scene for the ladies' lun- crease each quarter. With the con­ tingent listed below, their total now is 573. Lifetime dues continue at $1 00 Special rates for and checks should be sent to Lou Alamo auto rent Hoger or Calvin Jones, keepers of Alamo Car Rented. named Four-haler at Wood the exchequer and the records. Their the official providers for the addresses are listed on page 23. Louisville Reunion, offers our was a private affair Regular dues - $12 annual - are members special rates that will One fine morning at Fort Leonard Wood, due July 1. apply to all classes of cars from some eagle-eyed officer discovered that four Newest Lifers are: economy through compact. mid­ holes had been shot into a water tower. Ralph Atkinson, C/274 and full-size and luxury. The One result: AI Riedel, F/276, suddenly be­ M. "Buck" Connelly, special will extend for a week came a private again. And he's still un­ HQ 1Bn/275 before and a week after the happy about it. Robert B. Elliott, K/275 Reunion. All include unlimited "I came to the 70th during its organiza­ Paul J. Gartenmann, B/275 mileage. tion at Camp Adair," he says. After combat Elton Kline, K/275 To obtain this special. phone he went to the 42nd (Rainbow) Division, Donald M. Rauhauser, L/275 Alamo at l-800-732-3232. Re­ the Vienna Area Command and HQ/5th Anthony Romano, C/276 quest "Group I.D. No. 255489" Division. R. Alex Wardrop, HQ 2Bn/276 and "Rate Code G-3". An insurance agent, AI does business in and The auto reservation desk is New Orleans. There he's married to Noerni, Herman J. Wolach, open 24 hours a day. with whom he has a son and two grand­ HQ 1Bn/274 children. Summer, 1992 3 Monument votes reunion must make The Monument. mittee, has visited the Fort in Missouri, to Should the Reunion approve, planning A major issue for the general meeting of discuss possibility of placing the monument the specifics of the monument and erecting the Reunion will be the questions raised by there. He will report on that situation. it would be given top priority so that it the proposal to erect a monument to the 5. Shall the monument be on Spicheren would be emplaced during WW2 obser­ 70th Division. A committee headed by Brig. Heights, France? Yes or no? General vances and, especially, by the 50th anni­ Gen. Theodore Mataxis (Ret.), HQ, 2nd Bn/ Mataxis has been working closely with the versary of Trailblazer action in the Vosges 276, has been extremely busy during the Battlefield Monument Commission, visit­ and the Saarland. past year and will have an extensive report ing its headquarters in Washington, D.C. to present. and has received an up-to-the-minute re­ Why should the* monument be "We have had meetings, exchanged let­ port made on the scene in Europe. He will placed: ters and phone calls and have received rec­ give details to the general meeting. ommendations from members," says Gen. 6. Shall costs be met from the Associa­ IN OREGON? Mataxis. "We know that many members tion treasury? Yes or no? a. Camp Adair was the first home of the will not be able to be present and vote in 7. Shall we solicit contributions to de­ Division. Louisville and we urge them to make their fray some of the cost? Yes or no? b. Portland was a generous host to off­ wishes known to any committee member Financing has not been a responsibility duty Trailblazers. (listed on this page) or any Association of­ of the committee and it will have no rec­ c. The State adopted the Division, which ficer (listed on page 23)." ommendations. But Mataxis says: "At the was formed during the centennial of the Here are the questions to be decided: Las Vegas meeting it was claimed that there Oregon Trail; civic and social groups fur­ 1. Shall we erect a monument? Yes or had to be a choice between the monument nished many a day room at Adair. no? and the proposed second History Book. I d. Oregon media were generous in their 2. If so, where shall it be? don't believe it's an either-or proposition. coverage of the camp and the 70th. "The committee has explored the three e. The Benton County Museum in nearby sites that have received the most support in Committee report Philomath has an extensive collection of straw votes conducted by the 'Trailblazer' will outline Trailblazer memorabilia. and several other groups," Mataxis says. f. There will be observances of Adair's 3. Shall it be in Oregon? Yes or no? details of issue 50th anniversary during the next three years Paul Thirion, L/274, Vice President/West and the Corvallis Tourist Bureau is arrang­ and a site advisor to the committee, has Personally, I favor both the monument and ing many events. been surveying possibility of locating the the book. Our treasury certainly is healthy g. Association members, despite advanc­ monument at the site of the former Camp enough to handle both. I feel that these are ing age, could visit the site easily. Adair or in Portland. He will report to the two excellent ways to that we can com­ meeting. memorate our Division's contribution in AT FORT LEONARD 4. Shall the monument be at Fort Leonard World War II-and to leave something to WOOD? Wood? Yes or no? Past President Orville our children and grandchildren to remind a. It was the Division's last home in the Ellis, C/276, also a site advisor to the com- them that 'freedom isn't free!'" (Continued on next page) ...

Members of the Monument ON SPICHEREN Committee who welcome your comments include: HEIGHTS? Brig. Gen. Theodore Mataxis a. This was the Division's greatest vic­ (Ret.) tory. It was the first major action that in­ PO Box 1643 volved all 70th units after they were re­ Southern Pines, NC 28387 united as a Division. The Alsatian cam­ Phone: (919) 692-4168 paign had been fought by Task Force Herren. b. There are many monuments in the area Col. Frank Arnbrecht* (Ret.) -both for the Franco-Prussian War and 97-07 Glen Oaks Circle the German occupation in 1940-and they Sun City, AZ 85351 draw visitors, especially Europeans. Phone: (602) 974-5376 c. The Heights are rich in history. The Germans won the decisive battle over Na­ Orville Ellis * poleon ll in the Franco-Prussian War of 127 W. Pitcher St. 1870. Bismarck exploited victory to join Nevada, MO 64772 independent German states into the mod­ Phone: (417) 667-3404 em Germany. With Germany's defeat in World War I, * the French took back Alsace-Lorraine. But Col. James Kidder (Ret.) the Nazis captured the Heights again in 2103 Pinewood Terrace Monument 1939, the first French territory they con­ Fayetteville, NC 28304 quered in WW2, and Hitler set foot on it Phone: (919) 868-4754 States and many members of the Associa­ on Christmas of that year. He declared it tion joined the 70th there. "sacred soil" and ordered it held at any cost. * b. Wood is a big and bustling Army cen­ Donald (Charlie) Pence d. French officials have given tentative ter and it is permanent; there has never been 285 Fairway Lane permission to erect the monument there and a suggestion that it might be closed as other Sanford, NC 27330 the U.S. Monuments Commission has of­ installations are during the Pentagon cut­ Phone: (919) 499-5949 fered assistance in procuring and emplacing back. it. c. It is centrally located and easily acces­ Paul Thirion * e. Fiftieth anniversary observances of sible. World War ll will focus international at­ 6669 Nicollett d. There are many attractions on the Fort tention on that area and give 70th exploits Riverside, CA 92504 that draw visitors and so the monument a wide audience. Phone: (714) 682-2963 would have good exposure. e. Our children and grandchildren could visit the monument without travelling long * distances to Europe.

Western m1n1-reun1on• • • draws 96

By CAL JONES Sv/883 We were honored by the presence of Association President, "See you in Louisville!" were the words most often heard in Alex Johnson, H/274, and his chief-of-staff, Helen, and of Monterey, California as the attendees of our Western States Mini­ Vice President/West, Paul Thirion, L/274, and his wife, Fay. Reunion were departing to go their separate ways, either to Alex brought us up to date on the Louisville reunion and Paul continue on their trips or to return to their homes. discussed activities of the Monument Committee of which he The three-day "mini" ended around 11 a.m. Sunday, March is a member. A highlight was the introduction of a Gold Star 22. The co-hosts, Bob Crothers, B/275, Gene Lim, C/884 and Mother, Ms. Fay Hill, mother of John Lackey, A/276, who Henry Clarke, AT/274, with their wives and other family mem­ was killed in action Jan. 5, 1945 at Wingen. bers, really outdid themselves on this one. The entire affair was John Hartman, B/276, volunteered to host next year's West­ meticulously planned. em Mini in Grand Junction, Colorado. The tentative date is the There were 96 at the Saturday night banquet, about the aver­ first week of May. age for these Western "minis." There were some dozen or so Laverta and I seem to get increasing enjoyment from each "first-timers" which included two new Association members, reunion we attend. Of course part of the reason for this is the Albert Garcia, CN/276, along with his wife, Irene, of Marysville, tremendous amount of planning and hard work which goes Calif., and Philip Vlamis, B/884, of Santa Cruz, Calif. They into putting on a reunion, but probably most of it is because of leanred of our Association from the reunion announcement in the new friends we acquire and look forward to seeing again at the American Legion magazine. the next one.

Summer, 1992 5 Wi ngen-su r-Moder

While memories were fresh Regimental commander told its dramatic tale

-

WOUNDED IN WINGEN ... Litter bearers (right) carry wounded Infantrymen oughfare. The battle was at its height when this through back street of Wingen-sur-Moder to avoid photo was taken by Chester Garstki. then as now sniper fire that was whizzing along the main thor- "Trailblazer" photographer.

The half centu

Summer, 1992 7 It was then that the true estimate of the enemy forces was determined. It was later Wingen disclosed that the strength consisted of two battalions of elite SS troops. In addition to The Third Battalion, 276th, which had the enemy occupying literally every house been attacking from the north side of town, in the town, they held the dominating high would furnish a composite company from ground to the north which gave them a com­ the remnants of that battalion, attack, and manding view of the entire town. This high capture the high ground north of town. ground was to be seized by the Third Bat­ The tank commander was to report to talion, 276th. the Second Battalion, 274th OP, the very However, the effect of their attack could fust thing in the morning. not be noticed, and it was learned after­ wards that they started the attack late and then progress was extremely slow against munition and any further resistance would HE SECOND BATIALION, 276th, an enemy that had to be blasted out of rock have been suicide. was not in the immediate area and caves. The dead and wounded toil in Co. F con­ T therefore not in position to assist. Capt. Davenport, moving at the head of tinued to rise as the weary men battled Lt. Col. Cheves then returned over the F Company, was hit twice, refused evacua­ slowly but steadily forward. Capt. Daven­ treacherous mountain roads to his CP since tion, and continued to lead his men relent­ port was hit twice more and blinded by there was much remaining work to be done, lessly forward against a determined, fanati­ blood gushing from his head before he re­ such as furnishing an early meal prior to cal, and cunning foe. His radio operator linquished command of his company to the attack, issuance of orders and extra am­ was also hit but elected to stay with his Mahon, the executive officer. The radio op­ munition, and the multitude of other de­ company commander. erator was killed and the radio destroyed. tails that had to be worked out prior to the F was now also receiving murderous The executive officer was wounded and attack. Reconnaissance would be limited flanking fue from the high ground to their then killed a few minutes later. F Co. con­ to an intensive study of maps. left as well as from their front. Men were tinued to fight forward but the advance was It was 0200 before all the company com­ falling on all sides as progress was limited fast coming to a halt. Twenty men had been manders and battalion staff officers could to a house by house, room by room, pains­ killed and twenty-six wounded in this bit­ be assembled for the attack order which taking, and costly battle for this important ter struggle. French town. The cold bitter snow added From his vantage point at the Bn OP, Lt. to the misery and suffering. The cries of Col. Cheves summed up the situation. By Capt. Robert Davenport the wounded, both friend and foe, were this time the tank commander had reported. was perfect example heard on all sides as any attempt at evacua­ The battalion commander could now make tion was a suicide mission. Many were left a coordinated attack with E and G Com­ of Infantry leader to die in the snow from exposure as the pany, supported by the tanks, at 1300. attack pushed on. The enemy had no re­ Considerable coordination must be made, was to be launched at daybreak. Because spect for the Geneva Convention Red Cross especially between the rifle companies and of the vague enemy situations, it was de­ emblem of the medical aid men, and many the platoon of tanks that was to be used in cided to attack with one company, F, with medics were casualties along with their the attack. E and G would attack abreast two companies, E and G prepared to attack doughboy buddies. through F Company, Eon the right. F would on order. A platoon of heavy machine guns reorganize and become reserve when passed from Co. H was attached to Co. F. The through; one platoon of heavy machine guns balance of H would be in general support. HE CUNNING OF THE ENEMY to be in direct support of both companies. At daybreak, 0900, the Second Battalion was reflected in the manner in which The 81 mortar platoon was to be in gen­ led by Co. F, commanded by Capt. Robert T he withheld his fue until the oppor­ eral support. The Second Battalion Anti­ J. Davenport, crossed the LD and moved tune moment when he would deliver flank­ tank Platoon was now in position, fuing at across the open, flat ground into the town, ing fue while the F men were attacking an opportune targets, having traveled across supported by a 15-minute artillery prepara­ adjacent house. Or, as in one case, waiting the hazardous, icy mountain trail from tion which was fued to cover area gener­ until an entire squad had entered a shallow Puberg. The guns had to be pulled through ally as the important enemy locations were ditch for protection before opening fue and the deep snow and lowered into position not known. killing or wounding the entire squad. The with a series of winches. The battalion Am­ Good progress was made at first as F fanatical determination of this enemy was munition & Pioneer Platoon was having un­ Company fought through the enemy's outer demonstrated by the fact that they would usually difficult supply problems, but by defense, which consisted of two machine not surrender until completely out of am- use of hand-carrying parties managed to guns on the outskirts of the town supported keep the ammunition supply adequate over by snipers that were well concealed in the The flames of Wingen afire the icy, slippery mountain paths. Snipers houses. made silhouette targets still lurked in the woods and no place in However, the advance shortly dwindled the area was safe from enemy fue. to a rugged, bloody, house-to-house battle. on both sides of line (Continued in next issue)

8 70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER PRIDE OF THE PLATOON ... Item Company of the 276th had its 3rd Platoon pose Bretschger, -, Harris (killed in Wingen); for this picture at Camp Adair or Fort Leonard Wood. Front row: Sgt. Larrymore (killed at Wingen), Sgt. Albert Kollman, who sent in the photo, isn't sure. Wilson, T/Sgt. Beggs, -, Sgt. Mosby. Additional information is welcomed. "The Trailblazer" is now able to print old photo­ Albert identifies the men as; Top row, left to right; graphs if they are sharp and clear and not discolored. Busche, - Gray, Casey, Kemp, -, Freeze; If you send in one of your pictures, be sure your name Third Row: -, Lieb, Neighbors, -, Henderson, and address are noted on the back. They will be Baucom, Mazrak; returned after use or when it is determined they will Second row: -, -, Swetz (deceased), Killman, not reproduce in print.

70th snowbirds hold mini-reunion By Lee Miller, lain), G/276; Ed St. George, HQ-3Bn/276; after the Trailblazers broke up, he drew D/275 Alvin Thomas, HQ/883; Don Tousignant, duty in Berlin until his discharge in April Twenty-three Trailblazers and their la­ Med/274; Cliff Bishop Med/276; John of '46. His wife, the former Marge Dalton, dies gathered in Clearwater for the third Tilson, F/274; Arthur Nisson, l/274; and and he have four children - two each -, annual 70th Division luncheon in Febru­ Helen (Mrs. John) Walter, M/276. 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. ary. This started two years ago as a meet­ Bob Culbertson made the arrangements. ing of old buddies from Co. D/275. In '91 The Rev. John Stanton opened the pro­ we had nine members et femmes. We hope gram and Les Edwards sang. The spirit of Ryan served *in two to have many more attendees next year. comradeship prevailed. Any member wishing to be invited, please Trailblazer outfits contact Lee Miller or Bob Culbertson. James Ryan, 570 Signal and 270 Engi­ These are the members who were present 70th Anti-Tanker* neers had an interesting set of careers after and the units represented: he left the 70th on Feb. 6, 1945 at Mainz, Frank Balzano, B/275; Jerry Beran, D/ drew Berlin service Germany. He was a railroad switchman, 275; Dick Brown, D/275; Fred Cassidy, G/ One of the Camp Adair 'Blazers is John then a salesman and then a deputy Sheriff. 274; Edward Cloonan, D/275; Paul Connell, Cantella, Anti-Tank/276. He earned the He married Jean Stephenson in Carlton, N884; Bob Culbertson, D/275; Joe Doyle, Central Europe and Rhineland and battle Minnesota in 1937 and they raised a fine I/275; Les Edwards, B/274; Steve Outer, stars and GO 33, WD 45 as amended. Un­ family of three sons, three daughters and HQ/276. til AI McGuire, HQ/2nd Bn/276, contacted 15 grandchildren. Plus- two great-grand­ Cal John, G/276; Lou Klettlinger, D/275; him, John didn't know the Association ex­ children! Kieth McDonald, B/276; Lee Miller, D/275; isted. John Skeen, I/275; John Stanton, (Chap- Serving with the 3rd Division Motor Pool Summer, 1992 9 The Editor's Edmund C. Arnold

Barracks Bag dress: 479 N. Court St., East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania 18301. Just got off the phone with Casey Florida. Just lost in our computer. Cassidy and as always the organic plant We wanted to tell her that her husband's The Hearings Division* of the Oregon food was flying high. Casey and I have book, "Snow Ridges and Pill Boxes" was Workers' Compensation Board has paid a different ideas about Gen. George Patton. going to be published in French in Europe. nice compliment to David Ortiz, N270 En­ Casey admires the guy. Now I ... Thanks to the many people who steered us gineers. Says an official report: "Mr. Ortiz He explains why: "The Engineers built in the right direction. has worked as an interpreter for this Divi­ a wooden bridge across the Rhine. Its main sion in Portland, Salem and McMinnville. purpose was to carry a freight train loaded If you are planning* any mini-reunions He has performed his duties in an excep­ with food and medical supplies to show the during the next three years, Corvallis, Or­ tional manner; he is prompt and courteous." Germans what nice guys we were. egon invites you to meet there and join in David would like to know where he can "The 70th was to guard it. Patton told celebrating the 50th anniversary of Camp buy an Eisenhower jacket. If you know, Gen. Barnett that if anything happened to Adair. The convention and Visitors Bureau please drop him a line at 2521 SE Oak the bridge- or to the gasoline supply line is planning extensive activities and will Grove Blvd., Milwaukie, Oregon 97267. that ran under it - Barnett and everybody work closely with veteran groups. For more in the whole blooming Division would be­ information make a toll-free call to John Lou Goetz, B/276,* tells us "I have just come instant privates. Cooper or DeLynn Anderson at (800) 334- read 'Winter Storm', by Lise Pommois. She "When the big day of the opening was at 8118. is a native Alsatian and is fluent in French hand, F/274 was assigned as honor guard. and German and teaches English in They even had fixed bayonets - the first Ray and Laura Ireland* , N275, marked Niederbronn. Her book has innumerable ref­ time that happened to us in Europe. Patton their Golden Wedding at Flat Rock Baptist erences to Bob Cheves' "Snow Ridges and was supposed to cut the ribbon. He said to Church in Hamptonville, North Carolina in Pill Boxes' and includes communications hell with the scissors and walked over to February. Ray is a retired farmer and doing from men of Task Force Herren and the one of the 70th guards. 'Son, can I borrow a lot, a lot, of golfing. 70th Division." your bayonet?' Wade Johnson, same company, sends The same mail brought a letter from the "Naturally the guy said yes. But he was in the news and recalls that "Ray was with editor of the 42nd Division Association's so nervous he couldn't get the bayonet off Major Gorney Cahoon when we re-took a "Rainbow Reveille". Kenneth Carpenter his rifle. So Patton did it himself. hill near Zingzing, between Gross­ writes: "We sponsored the book and we "Then, after he had sliced the ribbon, he bliedersdorstroff and Spicheren. I was hit have made arrangements with the publisher didn't give the bayonet to one of his flun­ and Ray and another comrade carried me to offer it at special price of $25 plus $5 kies. No, he walked back to the soldier, back to an ambulance." shipping charges, to all veterans of Opera­ said, 'Thank you,' and fastened the bayo­ tion Nordwind." net back on the M-1. The original sign that* hung over the 276th Send checks to: Turner Publishing Co., "Ever since then I thought he was abso­ Post Office at Adair and Leonard Wood PO Box 3101, Paducah, Kentucky 42002- lutely the greatest." has been donated to the Trailblazer archives 3101. by Berne La Bar, Sv/276. Berne, who has Lou tells us that the heart trouble that I didn't like the *guy because the first counted up 85 years on this earth, has some has plagued him for three years "seems to time I came in contact with Third Army heart problems and won't be able to join us be stabilized and Lorraine and I hope to men, they were digging in a 155. And­ in L'ville. He sends greetings and if you'd see you all in Louisville." they were wearing neckties, of all things! like to drop him a get-well card, the ad- Because Georgie said they had to. Yet he When the editor of* this estimable jour- gave the back of his hand to uniform regu­ nal really wants to impress someone, he lations and pranced around dressed like hands them a business card emblazoned Errol Aynn in a war movie. with the full-color Trailblazer emblem. It's Then, right after the 70th came under his Teen-age veterans the work - and a gift - of Oscar command in March when it was still cold sought by Assn. Coleman, C/275, a printer for 56 l/2 years. - ol' Gorgie commanded that we not wear The Veterans of Underage Oscar has finally retired from the "Tulsa a knit cap under our helmets. 'Didn't look Military Service is trying to (Oklahoma) World". He went through great soldierly', he's supposed to have said. I was contact all veterans who served - indeed revolutionary - changes in the riding around the 'Blazer sector digging up in the U.S. military for any printing industry, beginning with handset news stories for the "Trailblazer" and Army length of time - and in any metal type through phototype to today's press corps. The helmet liner scooped up period - while they were un­ computerized typesetting. He rose to be­ the cold icy air and whirled it around your der the age of 17. A reunion will come foreman of the "World's" compos­ head till you liked to die. I thought- and I be held in Las Vegas in Octo­ ing room. think- that was just plain Patton puke. ber, 1992. Contact Allan C. Sto­ On his retirement, the paper wanted to ver, 3444 Walker Drive, Ellicott present him with the traditional watch. But We found Mary *Grayce Cheves. She City, Maryland 21042 Oscar had the timepiece engraved and pre­ wasn't lost in the wilds of Gainesville, sented to his wife Ethel. "She 's the one 10 70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER who kept me on the job," he said. He plans most interesting little book. John D. to make to the Winter, '92 piece. He asks to spend his leisure reading and re-reading Murphy, who was a master sergeant with that the following sentence be deleted be­ "The Trailblazers", he says. that outfit loaned it to me as a source for cause he did not write it: "Although the some Divarty ancedotes. It was published in 275 Medical History indicates we had Med­ The 70th Division* was not represented Gelahausen, Germany in August, 1945. ics, we did not!" Please note again that the at the annual meeting of the Army Divi­ The author of the book is not noted. I sentence is erroneous. sion Association at Albuquerque this Spring. wouldn't be surprised, though if it were Tom also says that it was Leland or Lee As President Alex was going to the West­ T/5 Edwin Arowiti and Cpl. Jack Little Fletcher, not Lou, who was with him in em Mini-Reunion a week or so later, he who produced it. They were the editors of Alstingen. Let the record show ... nicely allowed me to represent the Divi­ "Hot Poop", a four-page daily newspaper sion. (I had been involved in getting the begun in Rarnstein on March 28, three days Hy Schorr, H/274,* tells us that a pro- ADA going several years ago.). after the battalion occupied that city. If you ducer is planning a 3-part series on the Continental Airlines offered a free plane have any such publications, I'd like much Battle of the Bulge. Charles Whiting, the ticket if I'd fly out of Washington. So I to see them. It's too late to get anything in British military historian who is an associ­ scooted up the hundred miles there via the History Book but it would be nice to ate member of the Association, has been Amtrak the night before and had a bad time print something in this magazine that you asked to consult on the project. Our His­ at a motel overnight. Early next morning could clip and paste into your copy. tory Book has become part of the basic I'm at the airport. Nice day in Washington; "Military" magazine plans to run the research; this is important because we don't not so nice in Houston where I had to story of "The Big Foxhole" by Tom want history - and television audiences change planes. Matter of fact, the internal Krakowiak, C/275, in a future issue. The - to forget that Operation Nordwind was airport is shut down by the tremendous story carne to the "Trailblazer" through a a significant part of the Bulge. Tom flooding that you read about. couple of intermediate hands which appar­ Dickinson, B/274, and Hy will be involved, It would take me 12 hours to get there ently had added something to the manu­ we presume, and we'll keep you posted on - if I was lucky. And I'd miss a crucial script. So Tom has a couple of corrections developments. meeting. After flying some 2 million busi­ ness miles over a 35-year span, I just wasn't up to that. (The surly airlines people has­ sling me about my luggage threw the fmal straw on my creaking back.) So I Amtraked back home having spent 24 hours, 120 bucks (mine, not the Association's) and travelled a measly 200 miles.

Although he has vivid* memories of com- bat, including transporting bodies of 2nd Bn/276 men killed in combat back to the rear for burial, Francis "Jimmy" Dunn, F/276, also remembers a training exercise that was a memorable event. "In the Autumn of '43 our company made its first 25-mile hike with a full field equipment. Lt. William "Wild Bill" Dougherty was CO and Winfred Stevens was fust sergeant. We didn't lose a man on the hike." Francis traveled all over the world as a chief mechanic for off-shore drilling rigs. He specialized in Diesels. He is an Adair 'Blazer. His wife Mary died in '88; he has a son, a daughter and seven grandchildren. CHARLIE COMPANY . .. Tony Catalano, C/275, sends along this 1945 photo Please note that you* are a Baby of the taken in the Frankfurt-am-Main area during Occu­ Battalion only if you were born in 1926 or pation. That looks like either a soccer ball or a later. cannon ball, held by Billy Garica. Tony sits next to him. He identifies Harold Lewis, standing at the "Mission Accomplished:* The Story of far left; Bobby Clark, fourth from the left. and Amy the 884th Field Artillery Battalion" is a Gieselman, far right. Other idents are welcome.

Summer, 1992 11 ARMY OFFICERS Babies of INSIGNIA OF RANK (Worn on Both Shoulder$) ANNUAL the Battalions INSIGNIA RANK BASE PAY The last retreat $8.0QO 1929 Genml **** Lteutenant General $8.000 (?) William Burch MaJor General $8.000 1927 *** May 1 R.D. Kelly, Medic 2nd Bn/275 ** Bngadter General $6.000 - ~ Colonel March 3 Hoyt Simson, • Writing this part of the magazine is al­ * $4,000 1926 ways a sad duty. But these paragraphs are Lteutenant Colonel $3,500 Oct. 10 Thomas Callahan, A/883 especially grievous because they concern a MaJo r $3.000 Captatn $2,400 Aug. 12 Matthew Worminski, E/276 special friend and a professional colleague, -]§·~ July 20 James Buter, • Ftrsl Lteutenant $2,000 Walter Bogart, Sv/276. He died of a mas­ ~ July 14 Harold Tepper, Medic/274 ~ Second Lteutenanl $1 ,800 June 27 Robert Sample, B/276 sive heart attack, April25. June 26 James Bates, D/274 BRANCH INSIGNIA For a short time while Division HQ was (Worn on Lapel or Collar by Officers) The Sam Browne belt tS worn OHU June 1 Joe Gorman, 1/274 at Weilberg-am-Lahn, he was our "com­ - Officers The Marme umform IS Moy25 Nevin Rouch, C/274 .~·· / , ~~~a~n~fo:~~ BADGES manding officer." Actually he was a re­ ~ ~ M (Worn on Left Breas: Moy21 Don Wilson, 1/276 Offtcers' U S. Chem. Warfare Engtneers .. ~ May 17 Harold Osios, • spected colleague. He had been a sports Norman Grove, 1/274 editor for the "Nashville Tennesseean" be­ PILOT xxxxInfantry Coast Arttllery Fteld Artillery Cavalry ~ May 12 Fronk Folish, F/27 4 fore the war and so had much in common MayS Everett Austin, G/274 with the staffers of the "Trailblazer" who T + t ~ OBSERVER Moy6 Wellstood Tipton, G/276 April29 Gerold Thaw, B/275 had been civilian journalists. Aoc Co'P' F'nance Chaplam M'hlary Pohce ~ April28 James Foley, A/275 After the war he returned to news­ ~'< • •. bonsMed=,l~~d~~~r~~!~! marksmans·.- KIA at Wingen 1/5/45 papering but soon rejoined the Army. He - badges, etc., are a TMedtcal Orffdnance Stgnal Corps Quartermaster worn on left brea~t April 21 Rudy Senser, 1/275 was the chief assistant to Gen. Hershey, April10 Edwin Gorsky, B/276 March 31 Charles Tile, B/276 the administrator of Selective Service, and March 25 William Robinson, • retired as a colonel. He leaves his wife Freda March 21 Albert Ernes, C/274 and two sons. March 20 Stuart Lucas, 1/276 March 15 David Troum, B/274 March 10 Chester Morgan, F/27 4 A West Texas golf* champion for many March 9 Wolter Winebrenner, K/276 years, Leo Dorris, 570 Signal, kept his love We just received one sentence: "Alex March 5 Vincent Ravitz, • of the game through his whole life. He was Kalisuch, A/883, passed away Jan. 13, March 4 John Hildebrand, A/274 an accountant for Hunt Oil Co. for 36 years 1991." March 3 Gene Krueger, B/276 before his retirement in 1976. Leukemia Dick Lykke, 1/275 George Fricovsky, 1/276 felled him and he died March 9, '92 in It was too short *a while that Robert March 2 Norman Eriksen, C/275 Dallas. Tatlock, B/883, enjoyed the fellowship of Feb. 28 Noah Kennedy, E/276 the Association. He phoned Calvin Jones, Feb. 24 Jerry Adomietz, B/274 After a lifetime of* service with the fed- Sv/883, recently and told him that although Feb. 22 William Hines, C/276 Feb. 14 William Owen, C/276 eral government and the military, Sidney poor health would keep him from joining Arthur Zoeblein, L/274 Iverson, HQ 3rd Bn/276, succumbed at the us at Louisville, he just couldn't say enough Feb. 11 Leon Hyatt, Jr., G/274 age of79. about how great it was to have discovered Feb. 10 Fronk Kinble, F/276 He served in the 70th and commanded the Association recently and to have the Feb. 9 Raymond Wilkins, • the 3rd Battalion of the 276th. He remained opportunity to renew acquaintance with Feb. 5 Roy Shirrell, C/276 William Griffin, H/275 in the Reserves from which he retired in many of his old friends. Feb. 3 AI Hedrick, C/274 1970 as a full colonel. He also worked for Bob succumbed to emphysema, Jan. 14, Jon. 29 Edwin Sovois, M/275 the Veterans Administration in Boise, Idaho. 1992. Jon. 26 Jock Apostol!, F/27 4 His wife Dorothy Mae, whom he married We all should be reminded that there may Jon. 26 Harry Gier, K.275 Jon. 21 J. Lynn Hughes, F/27 4 in 1941, died in 1987. He leaves a daugh­ be a buddy or two out there who haven't Jon. 20 Herbert Gallahan, L/275 ter, a son and four grandchildren. heard about the Association and who would Jon. 12 E. Street Jones, Jr., C/276 enjoy re-making contacts. Give them that Jon. 11 Charles McGregor, E/276 Blindness from a *war wound at Wingen pleasure by inviting them to join. And ask Jon. 9 Orville Wiseman, A/276 did not deter Arthur McBride, C/276. Lou Hoger (address on page 23) to send a Jon. 7 Hardy Burrow, B/274 Jon. 5 Jock Borton, HQ/274 Aided by a faithful seeing-eye dog, he op­ couple copies of the magazine. That's a Fronk Hozmuko, A/275 erated the snack concession in the Monterey good recruiting device. Lou will send you Jon. 3 Paul Newman, D/276 County Courthouse in Salinas, California a batch if you'd like to mail them yourself Jon . 1 Robert Clark, C/275 for 41 years until he retired in '88. He was to prospects. Robert Bush, F/275 a familiar and well-liked figure in the build- in g. Several years of failing* health ended in He died Jan. 4, 1992. the death of Stewart Gardner, HQ/274, Gladys, with whom Henry Stackhouse, Art was a member of the Legion, D.A.V. on March 9, '92. He worked for J. C. M/275, had marked 63 years of marriage, and the Blind Veteran Association and the Penney for 23 years and was manager of died Feb. 27, 1992. She was active in the Moose Lodge and was a past president of its large store in Washington Courthouse, Grange and Home Extension. the Lions Club. He leaves his wife Billie, a Ohio, on his retirement. He leaves his wife * son, two daughters and a step-daughter. Martha, a son and two daughters. 12 70th Division Assn.* TRAILBLAZER NAVY OFFICERS INSIGNIA OF RANK (Wo r n on Both Cuffs) ANNUAL INSIGNIA RANK lASE PAY ~ Adm1ral $8,000 ~ - ~ Vice Adm•ral $8,000

f!!!!!!!!!! J..;;;J ~ R ear Adm1ral $6,000

--- ~ Capta1n $4,000 ~ fiiiiiiii ~ Commander $3,500 BIG BUCKS . . . base pay as shown for both off1cers and enlisted men may be 1ncreased by longev•tv of servtce, g or parachute duty, qualification in arms, etc. P nvates 1st class and P nvates are not non·ccm· Lt. Comma nder 1oned off1cers fiiiiiiiJ ~ !!!!!!!!! $3,000 The pay scale of United NAVY PETTY OFFICERS AND NON-RATED MEN t!f!!:- fiiiiiii/l -Lteutenant $2,400 States military personnel 2 3 5 6 7 i//!!/!!1- L1eut. (Jr. Grade) $2,000 in 1943 was a little bit $1 ,800 different from today's. ~ ~ ~~.~ l ' i 1 B ·a !!!! " Ens1gn 2 The=- base pay as shown for both offtcers and en· io~~Hl y P e~~·c;ff_ ~~!t:8~~~ ~:~t';'Q~. ~~~:~ff~ ~~~~~~ffs ~!;~aas: S:a~:~s A~~~~!·~e listed men may be tncreased by longevity of serv1ce, Buck privates got $50 a J.SE PAY-$138.00 $125.00 $114 00 $96.00 $78.00 $66 00 $54.00 $50.00 flytng or submartne duty, etc. The uniform of the month. First sergeants got J= Spec1alty marks. Chevrons are worn m1dway between shoulder and elbow; on the r1ght sleeve, Coast Guard IS very stmilar to that of the Navy. by men oft he seaman branch, and on leO sleeve by men oft he art1ficer branches. Seamen are not non-commissioned off1cers. CORPS INSIGNIA a handsome $114. Four­ a bove lnst(l:nta of Rank) star generals made $8,000 annually and second lieu­ tenants, $1.800. This information was printed on a blotter, shown here in its actual size. Popularity of ball­ point pens had made blot­ ters an extinct species.

in various areas and in '82 was cited by its A massive heart attack took the life of regional commissioner. He serves on a Carl Cain, B/276, Feb. 5, 1992. He joined Davenport succumbs whole raft of non-profit organizations. With the 'Blazers at Camp Adair and went all "Andy was a jovial individual and I en­ his wife Frieda, he has six children, three through combat with the Division. He was joyed frequent telephone conversations with of each and eight grandkids. discharged in June, '46. His wife Kathryn him," says Francis Dhein, C/882. He sends us the sad news. speaks of Andrew Davenport of that out­ * fit, who died in Jan. 28, 1992 of a heart Personal guard for Ike attack. Combat buddies, Francis and Andy is proud GI's duty * found each other's names in the Trailblazer Roster and phone lines between Sheboygan, When the 70th headed for home and low­ Wisconsin and Andy's River Edge, New point 'Blazers were reassigned, Ralph Death of Medic Jersey soon started humming. Andy leaves Rissmiller became a personal guard for his wife Dorothy. Gens. Eisenhower and McNamey and other recalls heroism SHAEF officers at Bad Homberg, Germany. He had that duty just a year. The death of Donald Brown, 370 Med­ Where did he *serve? Ralph was inducted just before the Battle ics, assigned to G/274, brought back some Everywhere! EVERY­ of the Bulge, at Fort Dix, New Jersey and poignant memories for Fred (Casey) took basic at Fort McClellan, Albama. He Cassidy, company commander. WHERE! joined the 70th as a replacement in March "On Jan. 5, 1945, in the woods over­ Not too many Trailblazers can say they 1945 at Rudesheim, Germany and was as­ looking Wingen, not far from the Villa also served in the Air Force (not as a signed to Cn/274. Frantz, Company G suffered its first battle­ cadet). But Lawrence (Larry) Cummins, He has retired as a credit manager and field death, T/Sgt. Hugh Shellem, a close B/882 can. And does. purchasing agent. He has two sons. friend and a magnificent combat soldier. He had 26 years of military service be­ Hughie had knocked out two enemy ma­ ginning in June, '43 at Fort Oglethorpe, Battle commission chine gun nests with hand grenades. As he Georgia. Then went to the fly boys at Fort let loose at a third nest, he was cut almost Sill, Oklahoma before coming to Adair with members sought in two by the MG in that emplacement. that contingent of Air Cadets whose pro­ If you received a batrlefield com­ Moments later the grenade landed and gram had been riffed. mission - someone is looking for wiped out the enemy there. After combat he rejoined the Air Force you! "Don Brown was with me and he rushed in 1951 and drew duty in Finland, St. The National Order of Batrlefield to Hughie's aid. But there was nothing he John's, Newfoundland, Canada; Baffm Is­ Commissions is making a big, na­ could do. While kneeling over the body, land; Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska; Ja­ tionwide effort to find eligible men. Don was hit by small-arms fire and had to pan; Viet Nam and lots of neat places like If you are one, please contact John be evacuated. After recuperation, he re­ that. Angier, Ill, 67 Ocean Drive, St. Au­ joined George Company." He was a Social Security administrator gustine, Fiorida 32084.

Summer. 1992 13 Tours available for open time

Four sight-seeing tours will be available Gold Depository at Fort Knox. You can 4 during free time at the Louisville Reunion. see the nation's great gold bullion reserve "They're Off!" They will be conducted by a commercial only at a distance - but it's there alright. Saturday 10 am to 2 pm firm and the Association has no part in any Right up close, though, you can visit the Lunch at Captain's Quarters arrangements. Reservations - using the Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor, This is almost the same tour as the one form on this page and due Sept. 17 - showing development of that arm of the Thursday. A fine added attraction will be should be sent directly to Remmers and military from the Revolution until today. lunch at the famous restaurant overlooking Associates. Gen. George Patton's personal memorabilia the historic and scenic Ohio River. 1 is on display there, too. The tour will go "They're Off!" through the busy and interesting unrestricted This is just a brief* summary of what the Thursday, Oct. l, 1 to 4 pm $17 per areas of the Fort, which is a major key­ tours will show you. Louisville and North­ person stone in American armored forces. ern Kentucky abound in beautiful, historic The tour starts with the historic district and interesting sites. Travel is by comfort­ of cast-iron facades - West Main Street. 3 able new busses and there will be many It goes through St. James Court, famous "Bardstown and Jim Beam" "explainers" along the way, many in pe­ for its Victorian mansions. The Kentucky Saturday, 9 am to 2 pm $29 per person riod costumes. All schedules have been Derby Museum has a spectacular 360-de­ Luncheon at Talbott Tavern drawn to allow you plenty of rime to get gree multi-image show that depicts the ex­ Even a teetotaler will enjoy Kentucky's ready for the evenings' events. citement of Derby Day. The tour winds up oldest continuing business, the Jim Beam at Louisville Stoneware. Distillery in a beautiful rural setting. In his­ 2 toric Bardstown you'll see the original "Old "Fort Knox - Armor and Gold" Kentucky Home", built in 1818 and im­ Even younger Thursday, 12 to 4 pm $15 per person mortalized by Stephen Foster's song. Ah, 'Blazer found A pleasant coach ride south of Louis- yes! There will be time and opportunity for It just had to happen! ville brings Trailblazers to the famous U.S. some high-class souvenir shopping. Every time we report something unusual in these pages, within days we get word of something even more unusual. TOUR ORDER FORM In the last issue of the "Trailblazer" there 70TH DMSION ASSOCIATION was a story about William Owen, C/276, THURSDAY, OCTOBER l. 1992 who has a 10-year-old son Jackie. Would Fort Knox 12:00-4:00 [email protected].__ _ he be the youngest child of a 70th veteran, we asked? They're Off l :00-4:00 [email protected].__ Not quite, not quite. All the way from Buenos Aires, Argen­ SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1992 tina comes an answer from Bill Greenwalt, Bardstown & Jim Beam Distillery C/276. He writes: "I congratulate Bill and Lunch at Talbott Tavern 9:00-2:00 [email protected]__ Jackie not only on the difference between They're Off their ages but also for the obvious excel­ Lunch at Captain's Quarters 10:00-2:00 [email protected]. ___ lence of the father-son relationship clearly shown in their picture. In our family we TOUR DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 17, 1992 share a similar "depth of feeling" between TOTAL. ___ my son Brian (Butch), age 9, and myself. Name ------What a beautiful experience! "Butch was born Jan. 17, 1983, which Address ______gives him a slight edge over Jackie for the title of 'Youngest Trailblazer'. City State Zip __ "Your article on the 'Invasion of Japan' Please make check payable and mail to: in the Spring, '92 issue is excellent, lucid, Remmers and Associates eloquent and convincing. No one in his right Suite 1065 Starks Building mind can refute your argument in favor of 455 South 4th Avenue dropping the atomic bomb. Louisville, KY 40202 "I tip my hat in admiration of your con­ Phone: 502-587-8720 tinuing chronicle of the 70th Division and its people, both historical and current. You All tours are based on a minimum of 35 persons. If this minimum is not and Chet Garstki combine to furnish us with met. your money will be refunded. Otherwise all tours are not refundable. talent supreme. Largely by your efforts the Tickets purchased on-site will be an additional $1.00 per person. Tickets 70th Division enjoys a soul and spirit rarely may be picked up at the tour desk in the 70th Division registration area. found even in the best organizations." 14 70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER Good shootin' bTHc"Pi?t'lt.... ' pr - /' f 'j­ Can't-miss target ( 7'-'1(-A.If':,_AJ~ ~M Mlt:I.Ji _.'{ i ; garners observer praise ' .

By RALPH JOHNSON HQ/884 FA Clarenthal across the Saar River from German-held Volklingen. Sometime in April .... '45, mud and snow gone, weather warm, sky clear, beautiful day. Our Op was on a circle at the end of a street / ,•" that led almost to the river. The room we were using had a small picture window overlook­ ing the river and most of the town of Volklingen. It also had a desk and swivel chair. This day I was alone as an Artillery ob­ server. It was a quiet day and the rest of the crew had gone back for a bath and a change of clothes. I sat in my swivel chair with my feet on the desk feeling a bit like Zeus com­ plete with thunderbolts, calling strikes on points where there seemed to be more than usual activity and putting concentration num­ bers on the map. We were planning to cross the river in the next couple of days and wanted points upon which we could bring instant fue. About the middle of the afternoon Capt. Hennessy came on the phone and asked for fire on a factory buildingjust across the river. It appeared that the enemy was fortifying it. The building was about 50 meters long with a little annex at the left and that carried a brick smoke stack about 200 feet high. It was an easy call bcause the structure was right on the intersection of two map grid lines. C.thedral, Frankfurt Sgt. Syd FosM!"' I phoned in the mission and the very fust round hit the stack about half way to the top. I was tempted to ask for a repeat and try to was great that he took the time and trouble to found a permanent military home with the shoot the stack down but I realized that the call me up and compliment me. No wonder 70th when he joined the Division just after odds against even hitting it were pretty long. he was popular with his men. Forbach. He liked the Trailblazers. I called it five zero left and 100 over. The It really was damned good shooting. But But, as a very low-point man, he was next round hit about the middle of the wall. I the Battery and fue direction deserved most told he'd do a bit more travelling, clear called for fue for effect and got battery six of the credit. around the globe to Japan. But V -J Day rounds, most of which went through the wall The next morning we moved up, or maybe came just in time to cancel that trip. In­ or in the windows. The soot boiled out of that it was down, the river and crossed on a stead he transferred to the 29th Regiment, stack like a volcano all the rest of the after­ pedestrian pontoon bridge, walked through stayed in the ETO and came home in July, noon. town in two files and the only shot we heard '46. A few minutes later Capt. Hennessy came was one goofed off by a scout. The enemy His travels continued in civilian life. A on the phone and said. "That was damned had moved out during the night. chemical engineer in Kentucky, he made good shooting." Had I been strictly honest I This was the end of my war. We never business jaunts to Europe, the Middle East, could have pointed out that it was a miss. But caught up with the enemy again. all around the United States ... and Japan. you don't argue with your superior officer so "So I did get to Japan- but under much I just said. "Thank you, sir. Shall we give He did get to Japan­ better conditions than I would have in '45," them the other barrel?" He said he didn't he says. He and his late wife Ann had three think it would be necessary. I thought that it later and classier sons, three daughters and seven grandchil­ A "casual" in the Army travels more than dren. For four years he served as president the Hying Dutchman ... and often feels of the Particulate Solids Research Center, a just as damned. But Kennard (Ken) volunteer job, while he worked for Allied­ Stephenson, E/276, thought he finally had Signal. Summer, 1992 15 Mail Call Monument? We need two! Home-then der to keep from adding to the problem of I strongly believe we should have not an ever increasing surplus, why not keep to Japan one but two monuments! One should be in the dues at the lowest level say $7 to $10? the United States either at Camp Adair or travel plans changed Or is the interest in keeping the 70th Di­ at Fort Leonard Wood. The other should I would like to regain contact with mem­ vision Association an organization for "as­ be in Europe. They could be fmanced from bers ofD/274. sociate members" such as the 70th Train­ the Association's treasury or funds could I came to the 70th as a replacement in ing Division or the sons and daughters or come from contributions by members. the Saarland. I was with the 81 mortars. I other relatives of members? Joseph Aceves left the Division in late July, 1945, to go to Fred Dinkel B/276 LeHavre, on to the States and then over to C/883 FA Japan. While we were in the 40-and-8s, on (Editor's note: It is true that "Trailblazer" the way to the French port, the A-bomb costs have risen in 23 years, much of it due Who'll go to France?* was dropped. We were turned back and I to the tripling of its size. And constantly I vote for the second history book - drew another year of ETO duty. It wasn't rising postal rates increase expenses of the something our children can enjoy. Let's face bad duty; for six months I was with a cadre magazine as well as of the secretary-trea­ it: How many of our kids will ever make it for a nice Riviera recreation facility. surer, both of whom maintain high volumes to France- or even to Oregon? I was discharged at Fort Dix, New Jer­ of mail. William (Bill) Schaefer sey, Aug. 8, 1946. There I met my brother The surplus will not continue to grow. 1/275 who was returning from Korea and got out Increasing life memberships, for instance, a week after I did. will reduce annual dues revenues. Some re­ * Donald Dixon serve must be kept in the treasury to main­ We're lucky to have D/274 tain services when eventually membership so many story tellers 655 Boston St. declines. But proposals for a Division I would like to see another history book. Lynn, Massachusetts 01905 monument and a second history book will We have been so fortunate in having so return that surplus to members more di­ many good men telling the stories of the * rectly than reducing dues would. Monument? No way! 70th that we tend to forget that not many It should be emphasized that no one's I think this monument controversy has units have such records over the years. membership will ever be jeopardized by ris­ been on the agenda too long. Valuable time Monuments are good - in their place, ing dues. If a man is unable to pay what­ has been wasted discussing a monument and I understand the one at Wingen is very ever the dues are at the time, they will im­ that should never be built, would never be good. But all of us could enjoy a book and mediately be forgiven. seen by most of our membership or for that read the many happenings that are of inter­ Associate members make but a tiny por­ matter, our descendents. If we should - est to all our members. tion of the total roster and they have no heaven forbid! -decide to built a monu­ Edson Larson vote to influence Association activities. But ment, we are faced with the major decision B/276 of where to build it. there are associates who are keenly inter­ Byron McNeely ested in the 70th and its activities and their * 1/274 participation and support are welcomed.) Keep memorial * on homeland Reduce dues to It is important that we not let our Euro­ Oregon girl *votes stopgrowing dollar sur­ pean friends ever forget the sacrifice made for Oregon of course by so many of our buddies but it seems plus We sold "The Beach Leader" newspaper more important to memorialize our own I joined the 70th Association 23 years in Jax Beach, Florida about eight years ago. here on the grounds or near those areas ago at the Denver Reunion. Dues then were Bill is better now after a long and hard where we trained. I personally prefer the $5 per year and they seem to be edging up fight against cancer. Oregon area - Portland, perhaps, or the every few years. I realize that we are get­ We're for the 70th monument to be state capital grounds of Salem, maybe in or ting a better and much larger "Trailblazer" placed at Camp Adair. Where else? I'm an near Corvallis. and that the cost of publishing it has risen Albany, Oregon girl and a graduate of Or­ The markers that are now on Route 99, along with postage and other expenses. egon State University at Corvallis. What a telling about the 70th at Adair, are fine but I also notice that we are getting a large great place for a girl to be in the ol' Camp they are wood and need constant attention. surplus in our treasury and there has been Adair days! And someday there will be no one taking some thought to the eventual allocation of Beryl Marks Dryden care of them. I go back to the camp site funds as we come to the foreseeable and (Mrs. William, C/725 FA) regularly and try to fmd familiar landmarks certain attrition of our membership. In or- * on the old streets that are barely visible 16 70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER now. Dorothy and I were manied in Chapel Bealer was 27 4 man Washington, D.C. gets 1 by Chaplain Loren Jenks on New Year's I recently heard of the Association and vote for memorial Eve, 1943. Walter and Freda Bogart stood promptly joined. I have enjoyed the back I think the monument should be here, in up for us and there were a total of nine copies of the "Trailblazer" that Secretary Washington, D.C. rather than in Germany people there. Hoger sent me and the History Book. They or France or Oregon. Our Division contrib­ Gus Comuntzis brought back many memories and I learned uted our share as much or more than those Sv/275 a lot of things I never knew before. groups represented by monuments in our My outfit was incorrectly identified (in r capital today. It should be placed where * the list of new members). I was in K/274 Casey seeks record visitors and friends can see and admire it. and would appreciate it if correction were Topic 2: Perhaps an audio tape could be of Association officers made. Like the editor, I was a printer (type­ made of all Reunion activities at Louisville, At a mini-reunion at Clearwater, Florida setter) and after the Linotype died I spent a including speeches, reports and just the con­ in February I entered in discussion with a few years as a proofreader and copy editor. versations in the hospitality room, etc. Then man whose name I can't recall. I thought I was saddened to read of the death of Ed members who can't be at Louisville can he was in Orville Ellis' outfit and asked Crowson. I believe he once played foot­ share the joys of a Reunion. about Orville. He said he had never heard ball in North Carolina at Presbyterian Col­ Donald Walters, Sr. of Orville. lege. 70MP I was almost irate. How could any mem­ Are you aware of other Division asso­ ber of the Association not know what ciations, such as the 45th? I'd appreciate Orville, in his 10 years as president, had their address. 'Blazers eligible for done to build up this organization. Harry Bealor I suggest that at the Louisville Reunion K/274 French decorations all former officers and editors be honored (Editor's Note: We do have a foster of Many 70th men have ordered the Cross for their service that kept the Association associations and if you' II tell me what out­ of Lorraine medal (No. 26) but seem hesi­ growing and vital. fit you are seeking, /'II be happy to send tant to order other French medals. Trail­ President Alex has asked me to take over the address.) blazers are also eligible for: - and I need help. Does anyone have the No. 16, Cross of Voluntary Soldiers. (All complete record of the Association and all * US military personnel are considered as vol­ its officers and their length of service? Put the monument unteers by the French and Belgian govern­ Please let me know promptly. I'd also like in United States ments.) to know the honors that they have received My feeling is that the monument should No. 12, Prisoner of War Medal; from other groups. definitely be placed somewhere in the USA. No. 22, Cross of the Soldier; Fred (Casey) Cassidy My preference would be Fort Leonard No. 29, Medal for Service to France; G/274 Wood since it is a permanent Army base in No. 56, City of Metz Medal (I hope it 307 Forrest Drive, Heritage Park a good central location with good access will be available soon); Gettysburg, PA 17325 by highway from all parts of the country. No. 60, Casualty of War Medal for all J. Vernon McKay, M.D. who were wounded, injured or hospital­ * Battalion Surgeon ized. 3rd Bn/276 Lt. Col. Henry Van Nus ill (Ret.) 2537 Hugo Road Niguel Laguna, CA 92677 (Editor's Note: All details of such med­ als are given on page 4, Fall, 1991 . An­ I take exception to those people who say other story on Belgian medals appears else­ there were no German tanks in the fighting where in this issue.) at Phillipsbourg. I was acting as lst/Sgt of 1st Bn Headquarters/275 and had our CP set up on the main street. So we were only 36 hours of fire* about 50 yards away when a tank came around the comer. can't daunt Medics Our A&P lieutenant (I can't remember For 36 hours, Harold Tepper's Medi­ his name) identified it as a Mark VI Tiger cal Detachment of the 3rd Battalion, 274th, tank with an 88 mm cannon. If I am wrong, was under intense artillery ftre as they l moved wounded men near Glashutten. then a lot of time was wasted trying to teach me to identify enemy vehicles. Harold joined the 70th at Wood and M/Sgt Harold Steiner served until discharge in April, '46 He was HQ 1st Bn/275 in the mail order business in Brooklyn and now lives in Howard Beach on Long Is­ * land. His wife is Evelyn and they have a son, a daughter and five grandchildren. Summer, 1992 17 70th now eligible for Belgian medals

Belgium has announced that all United States military personnel in the ETO - including, of course, the 70th Division - are eligible for three med­ als. The country decided that even troops who did not actually fight on Belgian soil made significant contributions to the liberation of the country from the Medaille de la Nazis. Reconnaissance The three decorations are the World Beige War II Service Medal, Medaille de Ia Medaille Reconnaissance (the Gratitude Medal) Medaille du Volontaire and Medaille du Volontaire. Commemorative The medals may be purchased; they will not be given. That raises an inter­ esting situation. Belgium does not have its own mint to produce medals as the tively in getting the medals the men are No. 75 World War II Service Medal United States and France do. So com­ entitled to. Many men have not re­ full size $23. mercial companies are licensed to ceived all their medals because they miniature 19. manufacture them. So medals cost more weren't entered on their discharge pa­ ribbon slide 2. than those of the U.S. and France. But pers. No. 80 Medaille de Ia Reconnaissance Belgian medals, as befits a monarchy, "All the vets need to do is list the U.S. full size 33. are much more elaborate. medals they do have and write their miniature 19. Trail blazers may order them through requested medals on an 8 1/2x11 ribbon slide 2. our honorary member, Lt. Col. Henry pa~r (notebook paper is OK) which I No. 83 Medaille du Volontaire Van Nus, Ill. He volunteers his services will Rle. I also need a large (No. 10) full size $23. in helping 'Blazers (and all military self-addressed stamped envelope for miniature 19. people) get all medals they are entirled my reply. It takes about six weeks to get ribbon slide 2. to. He is well known at the Pentagon American medals." ***Please add fee for handling, mail and the Army Records Section in St. If Belgian medals are ordered, please and insurance: Louis and those contacts are valuable. send a check or money order. Col. Van $3 or "Many 70th veterans are writing me Nus must pay in advance for your 5% if medals exceed $60 for help in getting their U.S. medals," medals and we can't expect him to put The address: he writes. "I have devised Form I and up his own funds. The medals that the Lt. Col. Henry Van Nus Ill Form II that have worked very effec- 70th is eligible for are: 2537 Hugo Road

Schu between shoes of '45. As a civilian he was a salesman of "Thought battlefield school supplies and equipment. With his commission was just a brings death too close wife Viola, he has three sons and 13 grand­ It was by inches that Frank Kloiber, children. He lives in Fort Atkinson, Wis- joke" -Leon Berry HQ 2nd Bn/275, missed becoming a victim cons in. "When I was told to report to Battalion of the deadly schumine. "I was stooped over, Headquarters to receive a battlefield com­ talking with a fallen soldier who had been Bob Gates remains* mission, I thought it was a joke." So recalls wounded by stepping on one of those Leon Berry, L/274 and D/275. "I spoke to mines," Frank recalls. "I just happened to active in labor union Paul Thirion who said, 'It's no joke and look down - there was a live mine be­ Four months after joining the 70th at you're supposed to be there in 15 minutes.' tween my boot heels!" Camp Adair in July, '43, Robert Gates, I was!" After serving at Camp Wolters, Texas, Medics/275, was made supply sergeant. He Leon entered service in January, '41 and after his induction in July, '42, Frank went held that job until transferred to the 3rd served in Aruba and Trinidad in the Carib­ to Officers Training Corps at Fort Benning, Division after combat. He was discharged bean before becoming a Trailblazer in July, Georgia, then joined the 70th as it was or­ at Camp Atterbury, Indiana in January, '46. '44 at Leonard Wood. He won the Purple ganized at Camp Adair. He retired in 1982 after 37 years as a Heart in the ETO. After winning two Bronze Stars as a union pipefitter and remains financial sec­ He was in production control and inside 'Blazer, he was transferred to the 3rd Divi­ retary and business manager of his local sales for United States Gypsum Co. before sion as a company commander and came today. retiring. With his wife Roma, he lives in home for discharge just before Christmas Newton Falls, Ohio. 18 * 70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER First attempt to lonn Association goes all the way back in 1950

The following is the history of their parent division that In the next two years, membership grew to almost 400. Th, current members of the 70th (Training) Division have been original group of 275th Service men had maintained their own given. It includes an invitation to become Associate Members. organization but now merged with the greater group. Now that many "newTrailblazers" have racked up wartime In 1970 the Reunion was in Reno with 86 in attendance. (There service during the Gulf conflict, there is an even stronger bond were 1,110 at Las Vegas.) Orville Ellis was elected president in between them and the combat veterans of WW2. 1976 and he was the sparkplug that ignited the great growth in membership. He also was Reunion chairman for eight years. The 70th Infantry Division Association grew from a small acorn. Mostly by word of mouth, the Association became known to more In 1950, Col. Leo Bessette of the Headquarters Detachment and more veterans. Almost without exception, when a former 70th circulated a letter among a few men suggesting that they gather in man learns that the Association exists, he joins up. Pittsburgh to form an association. The effort died aborning. Despite the fact that Trailblazers are aging and the "Taps" In August, 1962, 17 members of Service Company/275th gath­ column in the magazine grows lengthy, membership increases. A ered in Chicago. Eugene Petersen, now one of the Historians of longtime goal of 2,000 seems to be feasible today and the Asso­ the Association, was elected president and they decided to meet two ciation has set aside monies to buy advertising in areas where there years later in Salem, Oregon, not far from Camp Adair where the are concentrations of 70th veterans. California has the most mem­ Division had been activated in 1943. During those two years, bers; Pennsylvania and Missouri are also the homes of large several 70th men from other units had heard about the reunion and contingents. asked if they might attend. Members of the "new" 70th Training Division are eligible to The Service Company men invited all the Trailblazers that they become associate members. (As Gen. James Mukoyama is.) So knew in the Washington-Oregon area. The response was so good are relatives and friends of70th veterans. Dues are only $12 a year that they decided to make their next reunion an all-Division affair. and include a subscription to "The Trailblazer", which has been C. G. "Gus" Comuntzis, who as a sergeant had been the first acclaimed as the finest of all association publications. man assigned to the new 70th, and thereafter became its first Special The biennial Reunions are held on alternate sides of the Missis­ Services Officer, was named president. sippi and in the intervening years there are Back-to-Europe tours. "The Trailblazer" which had been a LIFE-format magazine in These are conducted by a member who operates a travel agency the States and a weekly newspaper in the ETO, was resurrected as and they cover the battlefield areas of the Vosges and the Saarland. the link among far-flung members. The travellers are warmly welcomed by the people of the towns When the 1966 Reunion met in St. Louis, membership had they liberated and members of the 6th SS Mountain Division which grown to 240 and the 70th Association was formally organized and faced the 70th in all its battles join in memorial services at American a constitution adopted. Comuntziz was named its fust president. and German military cemeteries.

Soon no fuing came from that quarter. Billy G. Billy fought bravely on in the midst of incoming metal until he ran out of ammuni­ tion. The jeep, incidently, was soon de­ Body was small stroyed and, like a half-track close by, be­ came a burned-out hulk. but fight was giant Billy was captured and was a POW until the end of the war. He will always be remem­ By TOM HIGLEY Platoon, much to their chagrin, then and now, bered as that small guy with the giant fighting C/275 did not understand why, instead of being on spirit! Sgt. Billy Joe Garrison was an original the line with the other riflemen, they were on C/275 man in the Weapons Platoon at Camp guard duty, at headquarters of the 1st Battal­ Adair. He was an unusual fellow in many ion of the 275th. HQ was a two-story house It took 16 hours after* Frank Hazmuka, ways simply because of his fiery, fighting some yards south of the end of the right ridge. A/275, took a piece of shrapnel through his spirit. He was highly regarded by all of us. Suddenly enemy fue came from our left thigh until he could get to a regimental aid Billy was thin, wiry and as strong as the flank. Essential weapons had been stored and station. His company was bracketed by proverbial ox! He was a machine gun expert the guards werearmedonlywithM-1s.Many German 88s on a Philippsbourg trail where of experts. When Ethelyn and Billy were of the men have said since, "If we had only there was only frozen gravel to dig into. married at Camp Adair, I believe almost all had our MGs and mortars we could have But he survived, was discharged in 1946 of the company was "present for duty". eliminated a lot of the enemy in a hurry." and, as a civilian, was an electrical engi­ The crash of mortars, artillery, small arms Billy Joe, noting a jeep with a 50 cal. MG neer involved in power distribution in and MG fire in the small Alsatian village of on it, rushed out of the building, through south-central Louisiana and eastern Texas. Philippsbourg at sun-up, January 3, 1945, heavy fue to the vehicle and instantly put the He worked there 41 years before retiring. was the first real baptism of combat for good 50 into action. He swept the west ridge where With his wife Frances, he has three old Charlie Company. Some of the Weapons German MGs were fuing into the street. children and four grandchildren. Summer, 1992 19 Axe-head

Archives After ETO combat, he went to the 3rd Giro enjoying ease Division at Kassel, Germany and came Giro Carrescia, A/274, and his wife home for a discharge in April, 1946. He Rose enjoy retirement in Paramus, New Jer­ has retired after working as a Civil Service sey where they have a son, a daughter and Long-distance item railroad employee for the Army. three grandkids. A retired telephone in­ He and his wife Dorothy live in Tampa, staller, he's a member of VFW, DAY and alerts 70th veteran Florida. They were married in 1985. Bob MOPH. We'd like to know just how this hap­ has three children by a previous marriage. He became a 'Blazer at Leonard Wood pened. But we're glad it did. A news item In the commissary at McDill Air Force Base just before we went overseas and was dis­ about a Western 70th Mini-Reunion made he met Walter Bogart, Sv/276, and learned charged in May, '46. its way all across the country to Watervliet, about the Association from him. New York. There Joseph Gorman, I/274, * saw it, learned about the Association and * became a member. Lost Joseph joined the 'Blazers in France in Winning half a buck January of '45 and later served with the was Morrison highlight 4th Infantry. He remembers vividly cross­ Buddies There weren't too many "big days" dur­ ing the Saar River and the death of Lt. ing basic training. But John Morrison, Becker. Back home again, he worked as a Wanted: One town; E/274, remembers one very well. "We were warehouseman. With his wife May he has in the field taking rifle-grenade-launcher one buddy's name four each of kids and grandkids. training in April, '44. A lieutenant, whom I Can someone help me recall the name of * didn't know, bet me half a dollar that I the town where I joined the 70th? It had a couldn't hit a target, a board, 50 yards away. railroad track that ran through the center. Coast-to-coast I took the bet, took aim - and took his When we arrived in cattle cars as replacments half dollar. (Which bought an awful lot from from the 3rd Division, the town was is Bob's journey more then than it does now.) on frre and the Germans were running all Entering the Army on the East Coast, at Jack joined the 70th in September, '43, over, wanting to surrender. I was assigned Fort Meade, Maryland, Robert Rutten­ and after the war, went on to duty in Ha­ to G Company and Capt. Fred Cassidy was hower, B/274, traveled partway across the waii and Okinawa. As a civilian he was a my CO. continent to Camp Custer, Michigan for ba­ variety store manager, winning honors as In this same town I had a buddy who was sic training. Then he continued to the Gulf the best manager in the G. C. Murphy Co. on guard duty with me when I got my eyes Coast, to Fort Hood, Texas with the MPEG in three different years. burned. He led me to a German hospital (whatever that means!) and then on to the He's very active in civic groups in his where they treated me and released me. I West Coast to join the Trailblazers. native Temple Hills, Maryland. was wondering if you could help me fmd that 70th man. C11. Alla n Lew is Yagottago? * I stayed with the Trailblazers until the Ya almost got went! end of the war and was then transferred to .,...... , the (Lightning) Division where I fmished When ya gotta go, ya gotta go. But some­ my Army Career. ' ~­ . times the going ain't so easy. Ray C. Hudgens Edward Kraus, F/274 found that out G/274 "'-v~"·' , ...... \. when he and a buddy were trapped for some * time in an abandoned German anti-tank gun Radioman in 275th emplacement. The shelling was fierce when he had to go. Only there was no place to go was from Philly where the shells weren't falling. But go he I have tried for years to make contact did. Wasn't funny at the time, he says. with Raymond F. Turner who was in the He served exactly two years with the radio section, HQ Co./275. He was from 70th, then went to the 3rd Division, wind­ Philadelphia and his wife Frances was from ing up at Rotenburg-am-Fulda at the Gap Boston. He was last known to have been where American and Russian heavy armor employed in 1955 by RCA, working on for a generation faced off within binocular Army equipment in El Paso, Texas. I'd ap­ sight of each other all through the Cold preciate it if any members in the Philly area War. could make some phone calls and see if Ed was an architectural lead man as a he's around there. civilian. He's a member of Association Rhin Elwood Knox et Danube and the American Legion. He HQ/275 and his late wife Dorothy had two sons, a 1425 Lingleville Road daughter and three grandchildren. Stephenville, TX 76401 20 70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER ~ I I

X marked the spot where Newbill wasn't "We were in Battery C{725, four 155s. My crew took one gun forward and got established in a Little town whose name I have forgotten. It was late afternoon and we settled in for the night. At daybreak the Germans opened frre with their 88s and came in mighty close. So we moved back in a hurry. Later we returned to the spot where we had been. Everything there was completely destroyed." So recalls Paul Newbill, C{725. We took basic at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and then went to the 36th Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. Next stop was Leonard Wood just before Divarty took off for Europe. After HOME. HOME FROM THE RANGE combat he was transferred to the 2nd Ar­ As Divarty returned from the Yakima Firing Range, mored Division as a tank operator. they bivouacked in Portland. Here 2-man tents stand He has retired after civilian service with in neat rows in what appears to be a park. If any the Virginia Air National Guard as an in­ gunners can tell more about this photo, they are ventory management supervisor. He's mar­ invited to send along the information. ried - to Dorothy - and they have a son and a daughter. He was recently named "Le­ gionnaire of the Year". * Air, ground, space ... Burt finds 3-star Hotel corridor Mitchell's itinerary is meeting place is most interesting was looie in Alsace From anti-air, to air, to ground and - Charles Burt, HQ/276, tells us that Trail­ for 'Blazer buddies almost- outer space ... that's the itin­ blazers can claim another 3-star general as What a happy coincidence! erary for David Mitchell, F/276. one of their own. Leo Daskiewicz, E/275, was attending On his enlistment in November, 1942 In 1973 Charlie read that Brig. Gen. a meeting at an Omaha hoteL In the next he went into Anti-Aircraft training at John Hennessey was retiring as Comman­ room, Max McCord, of the same outfit, Camp Callan, California. Then on to the dant of the Army Command and General was attending a convention. Both groups Army Air Force. When the big manpower Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. took their coffee break at the same time crunch hit American military in 1944, "Hey," says Charlie to himself, "could this and the two 'Blazers got into conversation. Dave was summarily moved from Air be the Lt. Hennessey who was with H/276 So Leo learned about the Association and Force basic training at the University of in the Vosges campaign?" So he wrote a joined immediately. Montana to the 70th . letter to the general and, sure 'nuff, it was ,.• Leo has received many honors since he the ex-looie, now a 3-star general and Chief (I After receiving degrees from the Uni­ left the 70th. He's president and life mem­ versities of Iowa and Northern Iowa, he of the Office of Reserve Components, who ber of the Telephone Pioneers and has been taught science for 37 years. He was one replied promptly. named Red Cross Volunteer of the Month of six finalists in the NASA teacher-in­ Charles was a staff sergeant of a mortar in Omaha. space program in which Christie Mac­ in Alsace and there received a battlefield He donned the uniform in July, '43 at Cauliffe would later be killed in the Chal­ commission. After the war he stayed on in Fort Crook, Nebraska and went right to the lenger explosion. Military Government in Berlin and Vienna newly-formed 70th at Camp Adair. In No­ Retiring from teaching, he went into until 1948. That year he was married to his vember, '45 he was discharged at Jefferson real estate where he stays active. He and Austrian war bride, Gerda. Barracks, Missouri. his wife Arlene have three children and Back in the States he went to law school He had an interesting career as a street­ three grandchildren. He learned about the but stayed in the Reserves for 23 years. He car operator, woodworker and worker, then Association from a piece in the Holbrook, also served 23 years with the Farm Credit supervisor, for Northwestern Bell Tele­ Arizona "Tribune-News." Whoever was System and retired in '84. He still serves phone (now USWEst). He and his wife responsible for getting the story into that the banks in an advisory capacity. Lucille have two daughters and five grand­ paper: Identify yourself and collect children. congratulations. * * * Summer, 1992 21

." New Members

NEW MEMBERS VLAMIS, Philip FEASTER, Elbert CHANGES OF ATKINSON, Ralph 871 40th Avenue 32 Shipwatch Point 245 East 19th Street Santa Cruz, CA ADDRESS Hilton Head, SC 29928 New York, NY 10003 95062 AUSTIN, Cecil C/274- Ruth B/884 FA 240 Klutts Drive HALES, Fred Rockwall, TX 75087 502 Hemm Road CARR, John ASSOCIATE Piqua, OH 45356 2121 S. Pantano #246 MEMBERS BAINES, Charles Tucson, AI. 85710 BOWLIN, Robert D. 3716 Timberview Court HARBOLD, William 1/275- Marjorie 630 Knotty Pine Anderson, IN 46011 552 Crossbridge Dr. Green River, WY Westminster, MD 21158 CHAPMAN, Robert l. 82835 BRANCHAUD, Mrs. Ralph 61 0 Del -Mar Drive (Son of Dale Bowlin 4604 Pacer Avenue HAYDEN, William lady lake, Fl 32159 C/883 FA) No. las Vegas, NV 8211 Redlands St. #l HQ/3 Bn/275 89031 Playa del Rey, CA 90293 DICKENS, Brad FERREE, Charles V. 7190 E. 550 North BROWN, Richard HENDERSON, Albert 481 Panda loop Columbus, IN 47203 12215 SE Highway 42 RT. 2, Box 46 Eugene, OR 97401 Weirsdale, Fl32195 Taneyville, MO 65759 HQ/884 FA- Evelyn Hill, Fay 6439 Rogue River BURROW, Hardy HONOLD, Woodrow GARCIA, Albert D. Hwy Rt. 1, Box 220 A· 1 8836 Country Club Place 2315 Bubb Street Grants Pass, OR Point, TX 75472 Spring Valley, CA 91977 Marysville, CA 95901 97527 CN/276 -Irene Mother of CANTREll, Robert HOTZ, Gerald John lackey A/276 511 S. Cantrell Street 711 W King HEMPHill, Robert D. KIA Seymour, MO 657 46 Jefferson City, TN 37760 2779 Hillcrest St. NE Orangeburg, SC 29115 KIEFFER, Adolphe CLIFFORD, Joseph JEFFREY, Rex BAR man, Unit ? 4 Rue Carriere 1435 West Valley Road 14939 Buttonwood Drive 57 460 BOUSBACH Preble, NY 13141 Sun City West, AI. 85375 SHAW, David FRANCE 1751 Woodburn DICKENS, Bryan lAUGHTER, R. Cy Hagerstown, MD 217 40 KNOWLES, Diane 2204 7th Street 1422 N. Main Street l/275 3206 Colgate Columbus, IN 47203 Dayton, OH 45405 Tyler, TX 75701 STANTON, John D. DUFFY, John MEYER, Paul 47 44 W. Anita Blvd. VlllER, Christophe 3192 counz Rd . JG 602 S'Jiine Crest Tampa, Fl 33611 1 Rue de Ia Durance Mount Hore , WI 53572 Portion , OR 97229 -Peggy 67800 Hoenheim/ Strasbourg ElSER, George NOEl, Kenneth FRANCE 33773 Noreen lane 346 Carl Street Yucaipa, CA 92399 Circle Pines, MN 55014 Treasurer's Calvin Jones

Report Assistant Secretary Treasurer

1/1 /92 through 3/31 /92 DISBURSEMENTS: BALANCE 1/1/92: Postage, shipping and permits . . . 0 •• •• • • • •• $ 673

Mission Bank, Mission, KS- Checking ...... $ 828 Office supplies ...... 0 • ••• • •• 23

Mission Bonk, Money Market ...... 18,287 Trailblazer printings ...... 0 0 0 0 •••••• 2,898

0 •••• • •• 0 • • • • • Mission Bank, CD ...... 0 ••••••••• 55,701 Pre-reunion Expense ...... 180

0 •••••• • 0 • • ••• Citizens S&l, Eureka, ll-CD .... 0 0 ••• ••• ••••• 3,564 Belle oflouisville deposit ...... 900

Total beginning balance ...... $78,380 Gateway computer ...... 0 • • • • • • 2,545

TOTAl DISBURSEMENTS ...... 0 0 ••••••••••••••• $ 7,219

RECEIPTS: CLOSING BALANCE 3/31 /92:

Regular dues ...... 0 •• • $1 ,121 life merrber dues ...... 732 Mission Bank, KS- Checking Account ...... $ 1,075

Associate member dues ...... 0 • • • • 70 $ 1, 923 Mission Bank, KS- Money Market Account .... . 8,282

History Book sales ...... 0 0 . - . - ••- . - •• • ••••• 239 Mission Bank, KS- Certs. of Deposit ...... 56,717

Souvenir sales ...... 0 • •• • • ••••••• 0 ••• • •• 248 Citizens S & l , Eureka, ll-CD ...... 10 137

Interest on deposits ...... 0 ••••••• • • • • • •• 1,294 TOTAl ClOSING BALANCE ...... $76,211

0 0 ••• 0 0 • • 0 0 • • • • • • Reunion registration ... 0 •••• 0 • • •• 0 0 • • • • • 0 •• 1,346 Minus Reun ion registration ..... 1 346

TOTAl RECEIPTS ...... o • • • • • • o ••••••••• $ 5,050 ClOSING BALANCE ...... $7 4,865 22 70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER and Changes for the Roster

WARD, Mrs. William PASKVAN, Mrs. Charles TOUPS, Irvin 73-833 Masson Street 13324 West Circle Pkwy. 526 Foret Street Palm Desert, CA 92240 Apt. 605 Thibodaux, LA 70301 Crestwood, IL 60443 WHITE, Mrs. Joe TURNER, Neal 1606 Woodland Place SIKORSKI, Mrs. Edward 201 S. 31st & Chester Bastrop, LA 71220 127 SE 52nd Middlesboro, KY 40965 70th Infantry Division Portland, OR 97215 WHITE, William UFFELMAN, Mrs. PO Box 285 Association STALEY, Vernon Vernon Rockaway Beach, MO President 233 N. Fern Avenue 61 04 Donwood DRIVE 65740 Alex C. Johnson Stayton, OR 97383 Austin, TX 78759 833 N. Carlyle Lane WOLACH, Hermon Arlington Hts., IL 60024 TILSON, John WALLS, Paul 1815 Enclave Pkwy, #3208 (708) 506-9884 Rt. 3, Box 233, Apt. 1 217 Blue Ridge Cir. Houston, TX 77077 Belton, SC 29627 Immediate* Ogden, 10 50212 Post-President Neal C. Gibbs 11910 Moonlight Rd. BOGART, Wolter R. MEARS, Rolph E. Olathe, KS 66061 (913) 764-0388 413 Giovanni Drive 909 Glen Oaks Dr. E. Nokomis, FL 34275 Spanaway, WA 98387 SV/276 M/274 Past President* Died April 25, 1992 . Norman J. Johnson THOMASSEN, F.G. 3344 Bryant Ave. Anoka, MN 55303 DAVENPORT, Andrew F. Minneapolis, MN 231 Woodland Avenue * (612) 421-7265 ~ied July, 1968 River Edge, NJ 07661 Taps C/882 *Complete information Vice President-West* Died January 28, 1992 unavailable Paul E. Thirion 6669 Nicolett DORRIS, Leo B. Riverside, CA 92504 5738 W. Hanover (714) 682-2963 Dallas, TX 75209 570 Signal * Vice President-East* Died March 9, 1992 Wm. R. Kiefriter 50 Woodhill Dr. Willow Grove, PA 19090 After three or four weeks he was again (215) 657-0212 If it was an Army job, moved, this time to Camp Adair as Post Message Center chief. When the 70th was Sec.-*Trees. Louis Hoger Chet Herren done it! formed he was assigned to C/274 as an 5825 Horton Infantryman. But the whole company was Mission, KS 66202 soon reclassified and Chet found his pre­ (H) 913-722-2024 (0 ) 816-931-4333 destined niche in the 570th Signal. As Mes­ "I did so good as a Medic that I was sage Center chief there, he trained 45 men. Asst. Sect.-* Treas. transferred to Field Artillery." When the Division went to Fort Leonard Calvin L. Jones So Chester Herron, 570 Signal, explains Wood, a lot of those men were transferred 227 NE lOSth Ave. Portland, OR 97220 one of his many military moves . . . and out and Chet had to train new ones. (503) 253-8575 more MOS 's (Military Occupation Spe­ "I got a new company commander and cialty) than Planter's has peanuts. we didn 't see eye-to-eye so I was trans­ Chaplain* Chet is a pre-Pearl Harbor enlistee. He ferred again - to the 770th Ordnance." L. Donald Docken put on the uniform Sept. 15, 1941 , at Fort He went overseas with that outfit, served 170 N. Ruth St., #1005 St. Paul. MN 55119 Sam Houston, Texas, and was a gunner on through to the end of the war and came (612) 735-8325 a 105mm cannon. Then - by Army logic home for discharge in October, 1945. - he was made rations clerk for two Field For a real change of scenery, he then Asst. Chaplain* Artillery Regiments. enlisted in the Air Force and became per­ Rev. Harry Durkee 7739 Via Napoli After training at the Eighth Army Com­ sonnel sergeant-major for the 950th Ser­ Burbank. CA 91504 munications School, he was made Message vice Group. When his enlistment ended he (818) 767-0794 Center chief for HQ, 2nd Division. Next worked as driver of an 18-wheeler for one move: On cadre to Camp Howzy, Texas as company for 33 years. Historians* Donald C. Pence Message Center chief. He and his wife Dorothy marked their Carolina Trace On special orders from Washington, he 50th wedding anniversary last year. "We 285 Fairway Lane went to the !85th Field Hospital as Chief like to travel and have done a lot of it. But Sanford, North Carolina 21730 Clerk of Registrar. He was in charge of all lately my legs haven't been so good and (919) 499-5949 admissions and dispositions of patients. It we don 't go so far and so often. I was Dr. Eugene* Petersen was then that his good work was rewarded frostbitten badly at Morhange, France and 1850 Randy St., by his Field Artillery assignment at Camp the old legs have given me trouble ever San Leandro, California 94579 Roberts, California. since." (415) 351-0861 Summer, 1992 23 NORMAL LIVING FOR NORMAL PEOPLE

The first softball player in Iowa to use WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? ... the windmill pitch was the late John This photograph turned up in an old "Trailblazer" Meshkes, K/274. He has just been inducted file. There is no clue - other than the Axe Head into the Iowa Men's Fast-Pitch Softball Hall Patch on the staff sergeant's sleeve - as to who, of Fame. "Big John" played for 33 years. where, what. why or wherefore of this picture. If He threw five perfect games and dozens of anyone has any idea, the editor would welcome the no-hitters. information. (Signal Corps Photo) *

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