The 30Th Infantry Division Veterans of WWII

The 30th Infantry Division Veterans of WWII “Old Hickory” Official Publication of the 30th Infantry Division Veterans of WWII

President: Richard H. Lacey; Vice President: Henry Kaczowka; Exec. Sec-Treas.: Frank W. Towers

Volume V #2 October 2014 Editor: Frank W. Towers What a Bash !!

A Great time was had by all in Savannah, with plenty of:

Good Fellowship !! Renewing Old Acquaintances Making New Friends Seeing New Things & Places Having Lots of FUN !! Everyone Learned More About the 30th Division and Learned More About the Holocaust

Our Most Sincere Thanks to Carole Thompson and Jack Sullivan, for Chairing this Fabulous Reunion.

Nashville is Next And sadly to say, it will be the LAST Reunion of the “30th Infantry Division Veterans of WWII”

The time has come when all good things must come to an end. We have had some Great times in the past few years, but time and age is taking a toll on our membership, and the numbers are dwindling faster than we would like. Our Executive Committee has decided, that since our numbers of attendees has dropped off, it is becoming a financial burden to continue having reunions without adequate financial support. It takes a great deal of work on the part of the Exec. Sec-Treas. and the Reunion Chairman, Mrs. Nancy-Lee Pitts and Family, to prepare all of the necessary paper work, contract, preparing a program and the process of cleaning up and winding down from the Reunion. At our age, this is becoming a burden and almost prohibitive, so, very sadly, we must call it Adieu !!

So, all we ask is that as many of you who are able, Please come to this Reunion, to have a good time and enjoy the company of each other, and make this a memorable reunion.

This may be the last opportunity that you will have to see and visit with “old buddies”, whom you have known for the past many years.

Remember, Nashville was the site of the very first Reunion of the 30th Division Veterans in 1947, and it is quite appropriate that we should have the last one at this same site.

Come One and Come All, and make this a Big Blast, for the last time.

We will be looking forward to seeing ALL of you.

Old Hickory Re-Enactors As usual, Many, Many Thanks go to all of the guys who were representing the Old Hickory Re-Enactors, by Posting the Colors at each event as required, tending the bar in a most efficient manner, and best of all, their Artifacts, Weapons and other Memorabillia which is always a big hit with everyone. If you have not visited their displays, you are missing a lot ! We need to give these guys a Big Hand for what they do for us.

E-Mail Addresses We need your e-mail address. For those of you who receive this issue in the mail – we do not have your e-mail address. Please send it now.

Pre-Registration Form

30th Infantry Division Veterans of WWII National Reunion April 15 – 18, 2015 Holiday Inn- Nashville-Opryland/Airport Nashville, TN

Name:______

Wife or Companion (s):______

Address:______

City:______State:______Zip:______

Military Unit:______Phone:______

E-Mail Address:______

Registration Includes: Hospitality; Entertainment Friday & Saturday Evenings; Wednesday Evening Reception; Thursday Dinner; Friday Dinner; Saturday Banquet. (All Lunches will be ‘On Your Own’) Please Note any Special or Dietary Needs:______

______Registration Cost will be $160.00 Per Person. This includes All Taxes & Gratuity. Children under 15 yrs of age will be at ½ price., ($80.00) Make Checks Payable to: “ 30th I.D.V. 2015 Reunion Comm” .

In the amount of $160.00 x (No. of Persons) = $______(Check Amount)

Mail check along with this form to:

“30th I.D.V. 2015 Reunion Comm.” c/o Frank W. Towers 2915 W. SR #235 Brooker, FL 32622-5167

30th INFANTRY DIVISION – HOTEL RESERVATION FORM Holiday Inn – Nashville-Opryland Airport 2200 Elm Hill Pike Nashville, TN 37214 Reservations: 615-316-1056

Reunion dates: April 15 – 18, 2015

Name:______Phone#:______(Please Print) Address:______

City:______State:______Zip:______

Arrival Date:______DepartureDate:______

#Of Rooms:______#Of People:______(All rooms are non-smoking)

Handicap Room:______King Bed:______2 Double Beds:______

If room type requested is not available, nearest room type will be assigned. Make sure to get a confirmation # when making reservation by phone. Reserve Early for Handicap Room,

Make Reservation by phone at: 615-316-1056 (No Special Reservation Code Required) Specify Reservations are for: “30th Infantry Division”.

Rate: $99.00 +tax (currently 15.25%) + City Tax of $2.50; for King or Double. Rate will be honored three days before and after reunion dates, upon availability. Breakfast is $10.00 per person, ($5.00 for children under 15yrs of age)

Cut-Off date: 29 March 2015 Reservations received after this date, will be processed on space & rate availability. Cancellation Policy: Deposit is refundable if reservation is cancelled within 24 hours prior to arrival time. All Reservations must be guaranteed by Credit Card, or 1 st night’s deposit enclosed. AMEX_____DINERS_____VISA____MASTERCARD____DISCOVER____

Card Number:______Exp. Date______

Special amenities offered to our Group: Group rate offered three (3) days before and after our Reunion. Complimentary WiFi. Complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport, as well as to Opry Mills Mall, and nearby Shopping Center. Complimentary parking for attendees. Complimentary Newspapers. Hotel can offer Kosher meals to any guest upon request at same price as regular menu. Buffet Breakfast only $10 per person. ($5.00 for children under 15 yrs of age).

Photos on Website

See on our website: www.30thinfantry.org, a NEW section showing many Photos of 30th Division Monuments, Buildings , Individuals, and group Reunion photos. Some of these photos will bring back a lot of memories. These are from our Archive, and have never been published or seen before.

‘Queen’ of Kerkrade Passes

To the Many who knew her, she will sorely be missed. It has just been learned that Mrs Dily Cox of Kerkrade, was stricken with a sudden heart attack on 2 July 2014.

Dily was the Private Secretary of the Mayor of Kerkrade for many years, before her retirement a few years ago During the years that we have known her., since 1974, she had been an ardent supporter of Old Hickory, and she made us feel so very welcome when we came to Kerkrade.

Taps - 2014

ADKINSON, BRUCE 743 TkBn-C Garden City, NJ BERKEL, John J. 119-I 5/26/14 Belleville, IL BIGOS, Adolph J. 119 Tom’s River, NJ BURLEIGH, James 117 Golden, CO CONLEY SR., Leo J 119 Framingham, MA COX, Henry G. 117-F 8/17/10* Loris, SC COX, Joe M. 117-D 5/20/14 Bluff City, TN DEAN JR., Preston A. 531 AAA Hq DEEGAN, Frank ERICKSON, Mervin L. 119-K Windom, MN FLOYD, Thomas A. 119-G 9/30/13* Forney, GIACCHETTI, Hugo J. 119 E Chicago, IL GRAPKOSKI, Walter E. 119-G 11/23/11* Danbury, CT HOFFMAN, STANLEY 120-B 1/19/14 Princeton, NJ HOLLOWELL JR, Ernest L. 105 Med D HOUTEKIER, Louis 119 G 7/15/14 Big Rapids, MI IACONO, George D. 197 FA Svc, 9/30/11 St. Petersburg, JORDAN, Joseph S. 105 Med. BN A 7/26/12 Wilmington, NC KEATING, Hubert M. 113 FA/A 6/06/13* Paducha, KY LEY, Charles E. 120 MARKHAM, Cameron L. 117 1BnHq 5/15/14 Charleston, WV MARSIGLIA, Joseph M. 119 Hq. 12/.03/14 Algonquin, IL MARZILLI, Rocco D. 30 QM Co. 10/27/13 Waterbury, CT MC MICHAEL, Roscoe 105 Med. Bn 10/08/13* Newnan, GA MITCHELL, Kenneth 120 C NOWLAND, Maland C. 30th Recon E. Vassalboro, ME ORTIZ, Oscar A 105 Med B San Francisco, CA OWENS, Livis 120-C PARKER, Kanneth 120 B POLAND, Claude E. 120-G 4/49/14 Columbus, IN RINELLA, Donald. 105 Med Bn. C 5/11/14 Truckee, CA SMALL, George 120-A 12/19/13 Augusta, MI SUPER, Seymour 119-A Boynton Beach, FL WAUGH, Wilford D. 120-I Buffalo, OK WAYMAN, N. Jack 120-M Cottage Valley, NY WHITE, Carlton L. 120-K 1/29/12* Elizabeth City, NC

WILEY, A.P. 120-M 6/24/14 Dallas, TX WYATT, Nell (Wid) W 2/06/14 Waynesville, NC

Our Most Sincere Condolences to the families of the above named Heroes. If the name of a Loved one who has departed this earth, is not listed above, please notify the Editor. Dates of death, and place of residence will be appreciated, where not shown.

Holocaust Survivors

We cordially invite ALL of the Holocaust Survivors from the Farsleben Train, to join with us for this special event. If you have not been with us before, please do not pass up this opportunity to meet your Liberators. This will be the last time that you will have an opportunity to meet them, as we will not be having these Reunions any longer, so this will be your last chance. Many of you have been with us before, and we hope to see you all again. Kosher food will be available for all of those who require this.

French Legion of Honor Award

30th Division Veterans

To date, we have been notified that the following 30th Division veterans have been awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal. This list includes a few who had been given this award during WWII. This is the highest honor that the French Government bestows upon any military or civilian personnel. We are to be honored to have these heroes in our midst.

Banks, George D. Homestead, WI 7/ /12 Barenkamp, William P. Cookeville, TN 5/04/12 Boone, Lee H Boone Hampton, VA 12/23/13 Carrier, Leon V. Hudson, NH 4/11/14 D’Agostino, John San Diego, CA 9/14/12 Davis, Elmer F. Hampstead, NC 2/04/13 Denius, Frank W. Austin, TX 6/01/11 Drasal, William F. Crossville, TN 3/31/14 Dryer, Jack E. Greentown, IN 12/13/13 Du Bois, Robert P. Weston, MA 10/21/13 Fitzgerald, William E. Pinellas Park, FL 11/11/11 Fitzgibbons. Anthony Buffalo, NY 4/16/09 Garcia, Angel M. San Jose, CA 5/08/12 Gaudere, Francis J. Millbury, MA 10/12/11 Giacchetti, Hugo J. Chicago, IL 5/05/13 Giesz, Frederick G. Las Vegas, NV 8/04/14 Gordon, David A. Cary, NC 11/29/12 Guerrero, John M. Wellington, FL 1/21/13 Gwynn, Thomas E. Tullahoma, TN 10/01/12 Harrison, William K. Jr. Springfield, PA WWII Hauser, Walter H. Tupper Lake, NY 5/08/12

Hobbs, Leland S. Washington, DC WWII Hoffman, Morton D. Palm Bch Gardens, FL 5/08/14 Jolley, R. Wayne Aiken, SC 6/24/13 Kenny, King T. Harrisburg, NC 11/11/13 Kinnan, Herbert K. Titusville, FL 1/29/13 Kladis, Emanuel Salt Lake City, 12/31/13 Kramer, Loren Smith Center KS 6/10/13 Lacey, Richard H. Niagara Falls 5/10/13 Lazinger, Sol Philadelphia, PA 2/15/11 Lester, David W. Costa Mesa, 27/06/13 Lewis, James M. WWII Light, Napoleon J. Peru, NY 6/01/12 Melzer, Herman J. Palatka, FL 12/10/13 Middleton, Edward H. Fayetteville, NC 2/28/12. Moody, Frank Laurel, MD 3/03/14 Nelson, Harold D. Epping, NH 5/04/12 O’Hare, John P. Houston, TX 7/04/11 Overbeck. Albert A. Hazlet, NJ / /13 Phillips Jr., Henry O. Wilmington, NC 7/11/14 Possidente, William El Paso, TX 4/22/14 Pruitt, Frank H. Spartanburg,SC 2/04/12 Richardson, Lowell L. San Diego, CA 5/07/12 Rickenbaugh, Paul K. Mifflintown, PA 6/07/12 Ricketts, Peter J Davenport, LA 8/21/14 Rhodes, Gordon E. Milford, IN 9/23/13 Sanchez, Ysidor M. San Jose, CA 6/06/04 Schneider, George F. Lancaster, PA 6/17/11 Shernock. Irving Floral Park, NY 5/09/14 Smith, Virgil W. Waupaca, WI 8/27/13 Stephens, Richard W. WWII Tirro, George Revere, MA 5/04/12 Towers, Frank W. Brooker, FL 2/27/09 Wayman, N. Jack Valley Cottage, NY 11/08/13 Weiss, Frank Ft. Lee, NJ 11/08/13 Weiss, Robert L. Portland, OR 1/22/07 Williams, Harold D. Northfield, MA 11/08/13 Zimdars, Leon W. Watertown, WI 12/19/12 Zlatin, Abe Chicago, IL 11/08/13

The list keeps growing!! If your name is not on this list, and if you have been awarded this Medal, please notify the Editor. I need the date of the award of the Medal, not the date of presentation. If you have not received or applied for this prestigious Medal and wish to do so, Applications can be obtained from your nearest French Consulate. Contact Editor for List. Every 30th Division veteran who fought on French soil between 6 June 1944 and 8 May 1945, is eligible. Hundreds and hundreds of you ARE eligible !! It costs Nothing. NO obligations.

Bank Balance / Donations

Our bank balance is at the lowest point that it has ever been at - $554.08. This is due primarily to a slow-down in payment of annual donations. We still have the cost of printing our newsletter, and the payment of the donations to our supporting units, that we make annually, as well as the Memorial Day wreaths that we have placed for us at the 5 cemeteries in Europe. Please remember, “We Must Never Forget our Heroes” Be as generous as you can. Your Donations are IRS Tax Deductible….

30th Division Veteran Returns to Normandy

In June, Frank W. Towers, your Exec. Sec-Treas. & Editor, returned to Normandy, France, to participate in the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day invasion and landing on Fortress Europe. He joined the National Guard, Company “K”, 172nd Regiment, 43rd Infantry Division, at Burlington, VT in 1940, and spent the next year at Camp Blanding, FL. Near the end of their planned one year training period, the Japanese changed their plans, attacking Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. Shortly after this time, Towers was transferred to Ft. Benning, GA, where he received his Commission as a 2nd Lt. and later was assigned to the 30th Infantry Division, with which he remained for the duration of the war. After advanced training here in the States, the 30th Division was declared “Combat Ready”, and was deployed to England in February of 1944. Continuing intensive training in England up to the time of the invasion on 6 June 1944, they awaited their turn to cross the English Channel. Towers was with the 3rd Battalion of the 120th Regiment, as a Mortar Platoon Leader, and they along with their Service Company and Cannon Company, left Southampton Harbor on the night of 12 June 1944. At some point during the night, the “Boat Driver” got lost and joined in with the wrong packet of ships leaving the harbor, and headed for Utah Beach instead of Omaha Beach. We were not aware of this until we had landed and the Beachmaster told us that we were on the wrong beach!! We then had to reload onto our ship, and correct the error and landed on Omaha Beach – 6 hours later than our schedule called for. We had the distinction of being the only Battalion during the entire war, to land on both beaches under combat conditions. A great welcome to Europe – his 27th birthday !! However, after much searching, we found our parent organization, the 120th Regiment, and joined with them for our first night on the continent, under very noisy conditions. The Battle of Normandy was fought from 13 June until 12 August 1944, at the end of the Battle of Mortain.

The Battle of Mortain was one of the most crucial battles of the entire war, and was the turning point at which the German Army started their famous retreat back to the Fatherland. Gen. George Patton was then enabled to lead his Third US Army forward to Brest, and thence eastward towards Paris, thereby shortening the war by several months. At this point, Towers, became the Liaison Officer from the 120th Regiment to the 30th Division Hq., in which position he remained until the end of the war, on 8 May 1945. Towards the end of the war, Towers was instrumental in helping to save a trainload of 2,500 Jews from proceeding to another camp at Theresienstadt, where they would have been sent to a gas chamber and crematorium, for the “Final Solution”. They were ‘saved’ and given a ‘Second Life. This past June, Towers accompanied by his son Frank Jr., made a nostalgic return journey to Normandy, to participate in the 70th Anniversary of D-Day, a very special event in the lives of the many US Veterans who attended, and the many French civilians who had endured the 4 plus years of German, Nazi occupation. In meeting these former victims of Normandy, and of that occupation, they greeted us veterans with tears in their eyes, and giving us hugs and kisses, just like they did in 1944. They have Not forgotten us, and what we did for them. We had given them Freedom and Liberty, of which they had been deprived for over 4 years, and they were most thankful for our giving them a “New Life”. If you have never lost your Freedom and Liberty, you will never know the exhilarating feeling that it gives one to regain the right to speak freely and to act however you wish to do – within reason of course. On 24 May, there was a special ceremony at the Normandy American Cemetery. Sponsored by “Les Fleurs de la Memoire”. Present were about 100 of their members, each one bearing a small bouquet of flowers, which they placed on their adopted grave, thereby paying tribute to “their adopted son”. After a short ceremony and a prayer, Frank gave a short speech on the history of the organization We were able to attend the Memorial Day Ceremony on 25 May, at the Normandy Cemetery, after which he spoke to two bus-loads of students, and then he was able to speak to several of the schools in the area, speaking to them about the liberation of their towns – how it came about and about the terrible losses that we had of our men, as well as the loss of many of the French civilians of their town. They all understood about these losses, because every one of them had family members of the past, lost during these battles. All U.S. Veterans present in the area, were invited to the Abby des Dames in Caen, where we were treated to a very nice lunch and presented with a Badge of Normandy On 6 June, the most important day, thousands of French people came to the American Military Cemetery, where the ceremony of the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of D-Day was being held. Unfortunately, there were only less than 100 U.S. Veterans present, due to finances, health, old age and inability to travel. We had the opportunity to sit on the platform where the main speakers, U.S. President Obama and French President Hollande sat, and had the opportunity to shake the hands of President Obama and President Hollande after their speeches. Again in the next few days, he had the opportunity to speak at a few more schools and colleges in Normandy.

During our visits to several of the towns that we visited, Frank was given a “Medal of Honor”, and a “Diploma”, making him an Honorary Citizen of these several towns. All in all, it was a most impressive 17 days, visiting with many old friends that he had made on many previous trips to the area. At his ripe old age of 97 years, it was a very exhausting trip, but, he never gave up. He is planning another trip in September, to Holland, for another 70th Anniversary celebration of the Liberation of the Province of Limburg, The Netherlands, in September, 1944. .He will be joined there by several other Old Hickorymen.

P.S. At the American Cemetery, following the ceremony on Memorial Day, several thousand French people laid flowers on the graves of soldiers interred there. (Approx 10,000). They have adopted these soldier’s graves, and treat them like they would their own son. They are proud to adopt these graves and pay tribute to them, so that they WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN !! “Les Fleurs de la Memoire” is responsible for this out-pouring of Love for our fallen Heroes. Towers was the co-founder of the organization, “Les Fleurs de la Memoire” which requires members to adopt a grave of their choice, and to pay tribute to this fallen soldier, as long as they are a member.

Weferlingen – Walbeck – Grasleben On 10 April 1945, Brunswick, Germany was captured by the 30th Infantry Division, with the next objective being Magdeburg The following day 11 April 1945, proceeding on towards Magdeburg, the town of Hillersleben was attacked and captured with little or no major battle. At the edge of the town, there was a large German Luftwaffe Airbase and an Armaments Research Center. This base was composed of several operations buildings, several 2 story block barracks, and several private homes for the officers and a small hospital. Continuing to press on towards Magdeburg, during the 12th of April, the 120th Regiment over-ran the village of Walbeck, and the 117th Regiment over-ran the village of Grasleben, and in between these two villages, was another small village, “Weferlingen”, which was liberated by the 120th Regiment. No mention was ever made in the Journals of these Regiments, about the capture of these villages, nor was any mention made of them in the 30th Division History Book or either of the Regimental History Books. Only from the Journal of the 30th Military Government, was this action discovered recently. (2012) At Weferlingen, the site of a former Potash mine was discovered - a mine operated by Jewish and D.P Slave Laborers, under the direction of their Nazi slave-masters. This mine had been enlarged and deepened, from its original size as a Potash mine, and was in operation of fabricating submarine engines, airplane engines and rocket engines. It was deep and well protected from American bombing attacks. This “Camp” was named “ Camp Gazelle” by the Germans, and it was a sub-camp of Buchenwald, and when discovered, consisted of 421 (Political Prisoners), Slave Laborers. As any of these laborers became ill or otherwise incapacitated, they were sent back to Buchenwald, and fresh laborers were sent to the camp to take their place and to keep the labor force consistent with their needs. All of these prisoners were found in very poor physical condition, due to malnutrition because of being underfed, and overworked for 12-15 hours per day. Almost all of them required immediate medical attention. Arrangements were made with the Burgomasters of

Walbeck and Grasleben to furnish adequate food for these people. Our own 105th Medical Battalion personnel furnished them with immediate needs of medical supplies. They were almost immediately sent back to the American Military Government and the American Red Cross, then located at Hillersleben, Germany, for appropriate processing and repatriation back to their homelands wherever possible. It was on the basis of the liberation of this “CAMP” that the 30th Infantry Division was given the distinction of being named a “Liberating Unit” by the Center for Military History and the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC, thereby allowing our Colors to be displayed in the lobby of the US. Holocaust Memorial Museum. This is to honor the men of the 30th Infantry Division who had a part to play in the liberation of numerous Jewish Slave Laborers of the Holocaust. This was actually the very first viewing that any man of the 30th Infantry Division had of the supposed propaganda of the “Torture of the Jews by the Nazis”, later to be known as “The Holocaust” .These liberating soldiers had no training as Humanitarians- they were trained to be soldiers, fighting a war against Nazi aggression and really did not know what they had on their hands, nor the scope of this captivity of the Jews. This was perhaps the very first viewing of “The Holocaust” by the Allies in 1945. Did any of you 30th Division Veterans have any connection with this incident? If you did, please contact the Editor The 30th Infantry Division Veterans of WWII 2915 W. SR #235 Brooker, FL 32622-5167

Address Service Requested

Remember These Dates: Aachen fell to 30th Div 20 Oct. 1944 Halloween 31 Oct.2014 Daylight Savings Time Ends 2 Nov. 2014 Veterans Day 11 Nov 2014 Thanksgiving 27 Nov. 2014 Pearl Harbor Day 7 Dec. 2014 Hanukka 17 Dec 2014 Christmas 25 Dec. 2014