Winter, Green Trailblazers Into Combat Veterans Overnight
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'Wingen-sur-Moder'', January, 1945. These simple words bring memories of the bloody baptism of fire that turned Winter, green Trailblazers into combat veterans overnight. The battered village has been rebuilt and is the scene of a 1992 memorial to 70th men that was dedicated in September. Story on page 4 . Sept. 30 starts Reunion Well, it's 1992, an even-numbered home of the Kentucky Derby, and Fort Distinguished 'Blazer year. That means a Trailblazer Reunion Knox, where you can check up on your nominations sought and it means the best one ever. Only gold that's stored there. You can also Still another committee is looking for final planning of details remains to be visit the Gen. George Patton Museum. your input. It's the Distinguished Trail done. They will be reported in the next Within the immediate area are four 18- blazer Awards Committee. Their request, issue of the "Trai Iblazer". But there are hole golf courses including the famous too, is given in detail a few pages on several things ready for you to do right and scenic Shawnee which you have from here. Dean Morgan is chairman; now. often seen on TV .... and five 9-hole he's at PO Box 54, Aurora, Nebraska Mark Sept. 30 through Oct. 4 on your courses. 68818. Other members are BiII Bergren, calendar for this important and exciting Two very important matters will be 14204 N.E. 154 St., Brush Prairie, Wash event at the Galt House Hotel in Lou discussed at the business meeting. isville, Kentucky. ington 98606; Dale Bowlin, 6712 Mon tana Lane, Vancouver, Washington Members to decide 98661; Hy Schorr, 1 09-15 Queens Reserve hotel now on Division monument Blvd., Forest Hills, New York 11375; for special rates The first concerns the erection of a and its secretary, Mickey Calegory, 2381 Use the reservation form just across monument to memorialize the 70th Di Delia Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah 841 09. from here on the opposite page to make vision. We must decide whether we your hotel reservation ... and do it right want a monument and then where it Auction will replace now! We have been given a special rate should be placed. Should it be in the traditional raffle of$62, plus tax, for a room. This applies United States or in Europe and where A brand new event! We are going to to three days before and three days after specifically in any country. have an auction in Louisville. I'm sure the reunion. Your reservation form must Please make your opinions known, as that at one time or other we have all be accompanied by a check for at least soon as possible, to the Monument been fascinated and excited by the chant one night's stay, plus tax, or - much Committee so it can make the proper of an auctioneer. Well, we are fortunate easier- your credit card number. (You recommendation to the membership. to have a nationally known auctioneer may make a photocopy of the form if Ted Mataxis is chairman and you reach in our Association. He's Paul Alford of you don't want to cut up your maga him at PO Box 1643, Southern Pines, H/27 4 and Ada, Oklahoma. For a change zine.) North Carolina 28387. You may also of pace, the auction will replace our There are 550 rooms reserved for us. contact Charlie Pence, 285 Fairway successful raffles of past Reunions. We But there is a cut-off date of Aug. 30 so Lane, Sanford, North Carolina 27330, you'll want to avoid the fate of our or Jim Kidder, 2103 Pinewood Terrace, buddies who delayed too long on pre Fayetteville, North Carolina 28304. vious occasions and found the hotel sold out. History book No. 2 The Galt House is one of Louisville's finest. It's on the banks of the pictur comes off the table The esque and busy Ohio River, is right The second matter is the publishing tgzj~it Trailblazer downtown and within a few blocks of of another 70th Division History Book. Interstates 64 and 65. Our editor, Ed Arnold, who has volun is published four times a Louisville is a historic and exciting teered his services to produce the book, year by the 70th Infantry Division Association and city. It was named for King Louis of explains details elsewhere in this maga zine. A motion to publish the book and friends. Subscription: $12 France who aided the colonies in the annually. American Revolution. A free trolley will give a copy to every member, paying for take us anywhere downtown and there it out of our treasury, was tabled at the Editor are fine shopping places. The famous Las Vegas Reunion . Again I urge you to Edmund C. Arnold paddle-wheeler, the" Belle of Louisville" make your views known to any member 3208 Hawthorne Ave. will be the setting for the Ladies' Lunch of the Executive Board. Their addresses Richmond, VA 23222 eon. We are planning some interesting and phone numbers are listed at the (804) 329-5295 side trips such as to Churchill Downs, right of this page. Associate Editor* Chester F. Garstki 2946 N. Harding Ave. Chicago, IL 60618 The President's (312) 725-3948 Volume SO Number l Report Alex Johnson Winter, 1992 2 70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER President Big Luke He went all the way I with the 70th Division (Continued) By ELBERT WILLIAMS H/276 must still depend on you members to I am probably one of the few men who Germany. From Europe I was assigned to donate items to be auctioned at our were with the 70th from start to finish. I Fort Sam Houston, Texas. I retired April 1, relaxed fun night Friday. enlisted in the Army in May, 1934, when I 1962, as CW4 with 28 years service. So I It's been suggested that WW2 memo was 17. I was in the Machine Gun Troop of have been in most of the military posts in rabilia would be good items. (Such con the 5th Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Divi the States and a lot of them overseas. tributions should be accompanied by a sion. When WWII started I was stationed at I knew Gen. Ted Mataxis real well. He short note telling something about the Fort Bliss, Texas. In April, 1942 I cadred was a Major and battalion commander at history of the item.) Craft projects, out as a platoon sergeant to help set up the that time. Col. James R. Michael (Retired) paintings, sewings and products of your 91st Division at Camp White, Oregon. Af was my company commander as a 1st lieu hometown, state or region are always ter about a year, I again cadred out to H/276 tenant. Most of the officers in 2nd Battalion popular. These items will be on display as 1st/Sgt. knew me as "Big Luke" (what a name!) If prior to the auction and the committee I was with the Division throughout its I had it to do over I would do the same thing will need help at Louisville and if you'd active service. I went overseas with it, came again. I also had a hand in getting four of like to lend a hand, drop a note to Paul back with it and assisted in its deactivation. our men appointed 2nd lieutenants - Alford, 1031 E. 16th St., Box 583, Ada, I reenlisted and was assigned to 2nd DeLyle Omholt, Charles Burt, James Oklahoma 74820. Infantry, and was shipped to Fort Lewis, Ross and John Newton. See you in Louisville! Washington, I was later transferred to the * Non-ComSchool, Fort Knox, Kentucky. In Robert Ginthner, G/276,joined the As- September, 1950, I was appointed to War sociation after learning about it from Ralph rant Officer JG and went to Korea with the Stockman, F/276. 24th Division. In January, 1952, I went Bob was a mail carrier for the post office from Korea to Fort Hood; three years later of Minneapolis, the city where he still lives. I was assigned as Acting Supply Officer, With Pearl, his wife, he has a son, a daugh HQnth US Army at Patch Barracks in ter and a pair of grandkids. Send this form as soon as pos· You may make a photocopy sible to: of this form if you don't want to Galt House Hotel clip your magazine. You may 140 No. Fourth St. cancel your reservation without Louisville, Kentucky 40202 penalty if you find that neces· sary at a later date. CREDIT CARD FOR DEPOSIT: 0 AmEx 0 M!C 0 VISA 0 DC/CB NO.: ------------- EXP.: _____ CHECK ENCLOSED FOR DEPOSIT: ~ AMOUNT $ _,0=.2.,.,~,__-_____ :::~:~ ~. 'fF-i ROOM DESCRIPTION (PLEASE INDICATE CHOICE OF ACCOMMODATION) Rates subject to 10.25% tax. 2 DBL BEDS: • # OF PERSONS: 0 1 03 04 Maximum of four persons per roan. $62 $72 $82 DEADLINE FDR RESERVATIOOS: August 30, 1992 KING BED: # OF PERSONS: 0 1 0 2 Galt House: (502) 589-5200, 800-626-1814 $62 $62 RIVER SUITES: (PARLOR/ 1 BR/2 BEDS) $150 • 00 Winter, 1992 3 Wingen Where men met in bitter combat, they unite to honor a battles dead Wingen weather! Reunion . Alongside a series of steps that Operation Nordwind that struck down It was at its worst in january, 1945. rise some 10 feet, is a wall of Alsatian upon the sector where 70th Division And on September 22, 1991 -while sandstone. Carved into it by Domique men fought. They wore green uniforms not nearly as bitter as it had been 47 Heintz, a young Wingen sculptor, are and carried sub-machine guns to render years ago, it was just petulant enough the arm of the Statue of Liberty that a salute.