HG 2005 Sumer
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V The HourglassV The Semi-Annual Newsletter of the 7th Infantry Division Association Summer 2005 V 7th Infantry Division Association 8048 Rose Terrace Comments from your Largo, FL 33777-3020 President http://www.7th-inf-div-assn.com In this issue... Our 20th Biennial Reunion is slated for September 15th-18th, 2005 at the 1. Comments from your President Marriott Airport, in Atlanta, Georgia. After 2. We Get Letters my visit there in October 2004 I noted 7. Looking Back Through the Hourglass that although the hotel is very nice, the 9. New Veterans ID Cards food is very costly. There was a lengthy 10. The Quartermaster’s Store wait for the luggage at the airport but the 12. Seekers Page 12. 7th IDA Web Site Marriott shuttle runs about every 15 13. A Personal Journey minutes during the daytime hours. 13. Treasurer’s Report 14. War on the Kwajalein Atoll For those who are driving in, please advise the parking attendants 15. Memoirs of a Solder you are with the 7th Reunion group, otherwise parking is very 16. Poems from a Military View expensive. And make sure to reserve your room well in advance 17. Returning Soldiers Need Listeners to get the best choice. 18. Introducing Our New Editor 18. For Your Information My continued bad health leaves me in constant pain, and it is 19. Infantry Soldiers in Iraq very difficult for me to be your President, Secretary, Roster 20. Departing Troops Need Support and Membership person all in one. I need all the help I can get 21. Prisoner of War and want to thank to my wife, Elaine, who helps me out quite 22. The 7th IDA Booster Club a bit with the roster. At our 2005 Reunion there will be several 22. Recruiting Honor Roll discussions regarding our future as an association. We need 23. New Member List younger membership to serve in order to continue, and at the 25. By-Laws Revision Proposal general meeting I will be asking for help from younger members. 27. Gene Peeples Tells All! 28. Upcoming Reunions I hear from the younger people, “What does the 7th I.D.A. 29. 7th Div. Korean War Casualties offer ?” They think we are just like others; that it is an “old 30. Reunion Schedule man’s organization”. I tell them that they have earned the right 31. Reunion Registration Form to at least give us a try. 32. Hotel Reservation Form 33. 7th IDA Governing Council I have started a Booster Club which will help with extra expenses 34. Final Taps such as postage and other expenses. I wish to thank many who 35. Membership Application Form have already donated. I will be donating a M2 Garand to the 36. Dues Status V 7th I.D.A. and we will be accepting $10.00 donation tickets in Atlanta, with the drawing to be held at our dinner. Your President, PPublished by Tel: 877/254-5725 GARP Custom www.garponline.com Newsletter Service [email protected] Gene Peeples V The Hourglass V Summer 2005 We Get Letters Luciano: Your letter to the editor in Dear Gene: Thank you so much for the Fall 2004 "Hourglass" concerning allowing me to be a member of the "Bambi" aka "Rudolph" takes me back to association as an associate. November-December of 1952 when the 31st Depending on when, where, I may Infantry Regiment went into a long wish to attend the reunion to and well deserved reserve following see some of Harry's comrades. the beating taken by the lst and So many have passed on, but 2nd Battalions on October 14th (the there is still a few around. opening day of "the battle of Triangle Hill.” Madeline Caldwell 4411 Oliver Rd. N.E. A young deer wandered into either the Roanoke, VA 24012 31st Infantry Regiment or its lst o O o O o O o O o O o Battalion headquarters (probably Regimental). The deer was secured and Dear Dennis: taken care of for a number of weeks and I am a new member as of Dec. 2004 (I named Rudolph as we were approaching just got two new members for the 7th Christmas 1952. I.D.A. I will do my part to help), I am sending you a paper from Stars and Stripes Sometime in, I believe, December (I (8 April 1950). I am at the bottom of left for home on January 3) I was told the page. that some G.I.'s from a "local artillery unit" had come by and stated that our This is about the 31st Infantry right Rudolph was their Bambi and were given being reborn again back in 1950. I hope possession of our deer. And so the story you can put it in the 7th I.D.A. paper. ends until now when I read your letter. I will be looking in my pictures for your next paper. Let me know that happened. Did you get Bambi back in December 1952 and then Fred J. Connolly lose it? Or was Rudolph taken from us 2 Cedar Dr. under false pretences and possibly eaten? Turnersville, N.J. 08012 I hope not. Editor's Note: We are most appreciative of mail from our Larry A. Brotman members. We can't always use copy sent, but don't be surprised 4314 Marina City Dr., if what you send shows up in some fashion in an issue in the Penthouse 16 future. We commend you on obtaining two new members of the Marina del Rey, CA 90292 association. Tel: 310/306-4182 o O o O o O o O o O o Editor's Note: This letter is response to a letter and article Dear Gene: published in the Fall 2004 Issue of "The Hourglass" from Lawson Williams sent me the video of Luciano Cascio of Dover Plains, N.Y. "The Battle of the Attu." He had an o O o O o O o O o O o article in "The Hourglass" and went Page 2 V We Get Letters (cont.) The Hourglass V Summer 2005 from the Aleutians as far as Kwajalein It has been called to my attention by in the Marshall Islands, and was sent Chaplain S. Busse that numerous requests back to Fort Sill, Oklahoma to train for pictures of the Seventh Division’s other artillery men... I made all of cemetery on Okinawa have come from veterans of our organization. seven landings...was wounded on Leyte after ten days of combat, but made it This folder is therefore being sent to on to Okinawa. Had I taken the offer to you, with the belief that you may wish go on to Korea, the Army offered me to have it as a remembrance. another rating. No one took the offer. Would like to hear from Army buddies of May I take this opportunity to say I Co. A, l7th Inf. I am 86 years old, hope you are well and happy in your new still active, but wouldn't want to take activities, and enjoying the happiness anymore 20 mile hikes. you so thoroughly deserve. Best wishes A. V. ARNOLD Barney Laman Major General 960 Azalea Ave. Commanding. Chico, CA 95973-0902 Editor's Note: Dear Barney. Thank you for your interesting note, especially about seven landings and the wound. Most of us would find it difficult today to survive 20 mile hikes. o O o O o O o O o O o Dennis: I am enclosing a picture of the 7th Infantry Division cemetery on Okinawa. I realize that the number of our men who were at Okinawa is decreasing rapidly, but this article may be of some interest to those who were there. (General Arnold's note was dated less than a month after I was separated from the Service.) It is most exciting that the 2005 reunion will be held in Atlanta. I have attended reunions at Norfolk, VA, Knoxville, TN, and Dayton, OH. Edward T. Creger 1017 Cannon Gate Crossing Marietta, Georgia 30064 HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH INFANTRY DIVISION This is the Seventh Infantry Division cemetery on Office of the Commanding General Okinawa in the Ryukyus. Here rest the gallant dead who APO 7, c/O Postmaster, so unselfishly paid the supreme price for freedom. San Francisco, Calif. 11 January 1946 May they rest in peace. Dear Friend: o O o O o O o O o O o Page 3 V We Get Letters (cont.) The Hourglass V Summer 2005 Mr Charles R.Richardson,Editor Dear Mr. Richardson: The 7th IDA Hourglass Enclosed is a war story about Kwajelein, 1465 Clinton Street where it took about 4 days to subdue the Abilene, TX 79603 4-mile long, banana shaped island. 28 Jan 2005 Americans killed: about 280. Japanese killed: about 5000. Mr Richardson: I have sent a couple of pictures I have George E. Adam taken when I was in Korea if you would The Terrace, Apt. 1315, like them. Also if not needed please 780 W Bay Area Boulevard send them back to me. If you have any Webster, Texas 77598 question please eMail me. Tel: 281/316 2755 Sincerely. Editor’s Note: Mr. Adam’s very interesting account is published John M. Chabala in full starting on Page 14. arjochab@sbc global.net o O o O o O o O o O o Some of the men I was with in Korea: Stienson, Young, Davidson, Baker, and myself. Pusan Rotation Center Editor’s Note: Mr. Chabala also sent us a brief account of his 27 years serving in the military which can be found on Page 13.