SPRING I 1986 Once again • • • . . . old 70th buddies to gather in Oregon

A winter vacation in Hawaii is wonderful, but it comes to an end. We visited and played golf (got beat) with Paul and Margaret 4. Bring along items Durbin. They will be at the Reunion. On the way back we had a fine for the big raffle visit with Floyd and Sharlene Freeman, Paul and Faye Thirion, and Rex and Audrey Jeffrey. Floyd hosted a get-together for those Remember. we arc having a Raffle again to help finance the who traveled to Germany. We had telephone calls from Ed Cloo­ Hospitality Room. Bring something from your community, or any gift. to raffle. We will have a special committee for the Raffle. nan. and Norm and Millie Johnson among others. to join the party.

Airline savings are big Reserve your hotel 5 • 1• for Reunion travellers at bargain rates I have made arrangements with United Air Lines for group rates My desk was crammed with 70th Division business: More letters to the Reunion. If you Oy United. you can call the following toll free from former 70th Division soldier~ asking to join the Association , number: 1-800-521-4041, work through your own travel agent, or a and for information on the Reunion. and many registrations for the local United ticket office. tours. There is a lot of interest in the return to Portland. However, to You must identify yourself as a member of the 70th lnf. Div. get on with the business of this column. Assn. Give Code #60498. Give this tax ID: #43-1171249, and make your arrangements for Oight to Portland. United will give you Send in reservation a 5% discount from any applicable/available United fare (First 2 • Class included). They will also set up other fares , such as the for Oregon tours unrestricted fare priced 30% below their standard coach fares , as Send in your registration for the tours. If both you and your wife well as Ultra Savers, which are commonly lower. do not want to go on the same tour. indicate that on the registration There arc many options and savings. You should call the above form under the single column for two separate tours. If you do not want to go on any tour. we are having the Hospitality Room open for your convenience and comradeship. The tours can The President's Report be paid for at the time of registration in Port­ land. Delyle Omholt

number, or have your agent check through this number for the 3. Hawaii called off; correct information. If there is any question, call me. As I receive Alaska still on further information , I will publish it. Don ' t forget : Call Because of the lack of response by the dead- # 1-800-521-404 1, Code #60498, identify your organizati on and line for registration , the Hawaii trip had to be cancelled. If you are Tax #43-1171249. still interested. contact Floyd Freeman. who will try to set up some tour. but it will have to be a different arrangement. Floyd indicated Overall fee is low that he had set up a trip to Alaska for some of the members. and it 6. for all Reunion events would be possible to join that tour if you wanted. However. Floyd must be contacted on this immediately at 68956 California Ave. , For your planning information: We have established a regis­ South Gate. California 90280. tration cost of $80.00 per person. This will not change unless there

is published lour times a year by the 70th Infantry Division Association. lor its members and friends. Subscription: $7, annually. Asst. Sec.-Treos . Volume 44, Number 2, Spring, 1986 Norman Johnson 3344 Bryant Ave. Anoka, Minnesota 55303 Editor President Vice President-West Edmund C. Arnold Delyle Omholt Gregory Hosford Chaplains 3208 Hawthorne Ave. Box 335 1780 Princeton Ave. Alex C. Johnson Richmond, Virginia 23222 lola, Wisconsin 54945 Salt Lake City, Utah 84108 833 N. Carlyle Associate Editor Vice President-East Secretory-Treosurer Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004 Chester F. Garstki Edward Cloonan Alvin Thomas Rev. Don Docken 2946 No. Harding 100 Harland Rood 203 So. Major St. 920 Third St. Chicago, Illinois 60618 Waltham, Mossochussetts 02154 Eureka, Illinois 61530 Hudson, Wisconsin 54016

2 70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER "Gosh! .. gasped a 276th doughboy who wouldn't identify himself. " I never knew these grenades were so powerful' " He had fired a rocket grenade into a culvert after a fleeing German soldier and watched a tremendous explosion lift the pipe, dirt and German in a reverberating puff. Only later did he learn that the culvert had CLIP, been charged with 500 pounds of azi TNT FILL which the enemy had planned to blow up as the OUT Americans crossed the area. and Three times T/5 Maurice Baker, HQ Co., SEND IN 275th, drove his jeep over a partly exposed mine. Engineers thought. logically. that it was SOON a dud. But just to make sure. they tied a rope to to Red Lion the mine and tugged gently. Boom! It was no Inn, 1000 dud, just Baker's luck . N.E. Multnomah, * Portland, Someone please clue us. How come we have Ore. 97232 so many medics in our latest bunch of new members! Someone has done some good re­ cruiting. Lloyd Seales who was with the Surgeon's Office in Division HQ, has just joined the Association. He served in two periods, March '17 tn M~rr h 'Ll() th.,...... -.~~..~...t..-..j;;,"'---

is a sudden change in the prices quoted to me. This will include the copies of all correspondence and be informed fully as to Friday tour for the ladies, the Friday night dinner (in the park), the all plans, membership matters and finances, so that at the Saturday night dinner. registration materials, entertainment, and time he takes over the position of President he will be able hospitality room. It docs not include the Saturday tours , since we to carry on the affairs of the Associaton without inter­ are letting you choose. and pay for your own. Tour fees can be paid ruption. at the registration desk. FURTHER RESOLVED, that Aticle VI be amended as follows: Two changes proposed EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The President-Elect shall 7 • be an Ex-Officio member of this Committee. for 70th Constitution FURTHER RESOLVED, that Article VIII shall be added The officers are proposing a change to the Constitution. It is to the Constitution as follows: published separately in this issue. The purpose of this change is to have a President-Elect who will receive all the information, observe ARTICLE VIII all the proceedings, acquaint himself with the business of the Upon dissolution of the Association, for any reason, Association, and then take office after this '·apprenticeship.·' We after the payment of all legal obligations, all money feel that it will make it easier for anyone to step into the office of President. I have received much comment on this. Some think it is remaining in the treasury shall be donated to an Armed not necessary, some approve. Most of the comment indicates that Forces relief or charitable fund chosen by a two-thirds they are familiar with this procedure because organizations they vote of the members attending the final meeting, or, if belong to have such an officer. and it works well. This will be such meeting cannot be effected, by the last Executive offered at the meeting of the members. Committee. Although there will be another "Trailblazer" before the Re­ union, postal delivery has been so very slow that it probably won't It was by a margin of only a couple of hours that "The get to you in time to make longrange plans. So this is really "the last Trail blazer" was spared from playing a cruel hoax on its read­ word." Don't delay in making hotel and plan reservations because ers. One of our members had sent us a printed notice allegedly promptness means real savings. from the Veterans Administration about refunds to be made to See you in Portland! every serviceman or woman who had ever carried Gl insur­ ance. Proposed Amendment to Constitution It seemed authentic, even to the PO Box where applications RESOLVED: That the Constitution be amended by were to be sent. Just to fill in a few more details, we wrote to the adding to Article V, Officers and Duties, the following: VA A reply came after "The Trailblazer" was all typeset and President-Elect: This office is created at the Reunion made up into pages. At the last-the very last-possible mo­ of 1986, and both the President and President-Elect will ment, we yanked the erroneous piece. It was a complete hoax, then be elected. The President-Elect will serve Ex-Officio says the VA A refund had been made once .... 30-some years until the Reunion of 1988 at which time he will auto­ ago. matically become President, a new President-Elect will be It's hard to figure out how a hoax like this begins. And who elected, and the office of President will no longer be gets their jollies from inflicting this "humor" onto thousands of veterans who would have no reason to mistrust a fellow Gl. nominated or elected. The President-Elect will receive

Spring, 1986 3 rs Once again • • •

to contact for . . . old 70th buddies to gather in Oregon n and I would

A winter vacation in Hawaii is wonderful , but it comes to an end. We visited and played golf (got beat) with Paul and Margaret 4. Bring along items t decorations , Durbin. They will be at the Reunion . On the way back we had a fine for the big raffle oken medals, visit with Floyd and Sharlene Freeman, Paul and Faye Thirion, Remember, we are having a Raffle again to help finance •ell, Executil•e and Rex and Audrey Jeffrey. Floyd hosted a get-together for those Hospitality Room. Bring something from your community, or ;"tis Board, De­ who traveled to Germany. We had telephone calls from Ed Cloo­ 111 gift. to raffle. We wi ll have a special committee for the Raftl 8 1011 • D.C. nan. and Norm and Millie Johnson among others. to join the party.

Airline savings are big Reserve your hotel 5 • 1• for Reunion travellers at bargain rates ·man-speaking I have made arrangements with United Air Lines for group rhd or two. Exit My desk was crammed with 70th Division business: More letters to the Reunion. If you fly United, you can cal l the fo ll owing toll I from former 70th Division soldiers asking to join the Association. number: 1-800-52 1-4041. work through your own travel agent, led to my ·ob and for in formation on the Reunion. and many registrations for the local Un ited ti cket office. chita. 1 hadJ 35 tours. There is a lot of interest in the return to Portland. However, to You must identify yourself as a member of the 70th In f. Crly retirement get on with the business of this column. 1 Assn. Give Code #60498. Give this tax ID: #43-1171249. ~ 1 still do I make your arrangements for flight to Portland. United will give ~assed away. I Send in reservation a 5% discount from any applicable/available United fare (Fcattered to the 2. Class included). They will also set up other fares, such as _ 1'"'"'\ ------L-. , _.,. I was pleased to sec that Rev. Marion Parkey do ~ little "spazicren." (Yo"u guy; whose I am looking forward to Portland and hope to of London. Ky .. joined the association after I German is limited, might look that up.) see you there. Keep up the good work. told him about it and I hope he wi ll be able to Relative to meals. I,atc one afternoon our Loren Koreel attend the '86 Reunion. He was the medic who cooks for some reason decided to get a hot meal Co. D, 275th

1 Reunion TOURS Biazers eligible

Check your choice: for French medal Single Couple Members of Task Force Herren and the 70th Divi­ D D 1. Corvallis and Camp Adair sion are eligible for the Medaille de Ia France Liberee. area. A nostalgic trip to our It may be obtained through the good services of Lt. "roots." Reception by Corvallis Col. Henry van Nus Ill, (Ret.) The colonel devotes Chamber of Commerce. Oral much of his time to helping fellow WW2 veterans ob­ interviews by Benton County His­ tain deserved decorations or replacing lost or broken torical Association. medals. D D 2. Columbia Gorge and Although the government of France authorizes the Bonneville Dam. Scenic medals, the time has expired for their presentation. So drive along the mighty Columbia if you want one, it will cost you $14. This covers the River, beautiful waterfalls and purchase of the medal itself, which is imported from views and Bonneville Dam with France, and handling charges. its famous fish ladders. Here's how you get it: D D 3. Oregon Wine Country. A 1. Send your personal check or money order to Col. trip through the scenic Oregon Henry van Nus, Ill, 25372 Hugo Road, Laguna countryside. Stops at local wine­ Niguel, California 92677. ries, tasting and enjoying the 2. Include the following: Name, grade or rank, wine and cheese of Oregon. serial number, branch of service, the organization (di­ vision) that operated in France during hostilities and the dates of such service (Dec. 15 to March 1, 1945). Name Address For information on other decorations, send a Cost-including luncheon-of each tour: $35 per stamped, self-addressed No. 10 envelope to the person. colonel and tell him the "Trail blazer" sent you. CLIP AND RETURN this form to De Lyle Omholt, Box 335, lola, WI 54945 *

4 70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER ...

BOOM!

"Gosh t" gasped a 276th doughboy who wouldn't identify himself. ''I never knew these grenades were so powerful!" He had fired a rocket grenade into a culvert after a fleeing German soldier and watched a tremendous explosion lift the pipe, dirt and German in a reverberating puff. Only later did he learn that the culvert had been charged with 500 pounds of azi TNT which the enemy had planned to blow up as the Americans crossed the area. Three times TIS Maurice Baker. HQ Co., 275th, drove his jeep over a partly exposed mine. Engineers thought, logically, that it was a dud. But just to make sure. they tied a rope to the mine and tugged gently. Boomt It was no dud , just Baker's luck.

Someone please clue* us . How come we have so many medics in our latest bunch of new members! Someone has done some good re­ cruiting. Lloyd Seales who was with the Surgeon' s Office in Division HQ, has just joined the c,t Sytf ,.,..... , ltty I , 882fttl FA Association. He served in two periods, March · 3 7 to March '40, then a second tour, February, END OF THE TRAIL­ '41 to October '45. He was at 'the Station Weilberg-am-Lahn was the site of the cartoonist and illustrator for the "Trail­ Hospital in Camp Roberts. California, a similar Division's last headquarters. It was in blazer" in Germany and after the war one in Missoula. Montana, and yet another in Oranienstein, a handsome palace atthe was a successful painter and art teacher Los Angeles. city's outskirts. This sketch is by Cpl. Syd in Minneapolis before his untimely He joined the 'Blazers at Adair. As a civilian he was a senior rehabilitation specialist with the Fossum, Btty B, 882nd FA He was a death. Veterans Administration. With his wife Su­ zanne. they have three children and four grand­ children. Lloyd is a District Commissioner of the Boy Scouts in Portland. Oregon and is a Close shaves? member of the Elks.

He could have been a barber! Who's the Baby of Battalions? Close shaves were the order of the day for stopped moving as it touched our legs. It was a James Vernon McKay, M.D. as he served dud! Who's the Baby of the Battalions? with the medical detachment of the 3rd Bn, ' 'Three evenings later a dud 8 mm. projectile The search for the youngest Trailblazer 276th. struck a brick wall a little above our heads and comes up with: " Near Murlebach. France, our aid station came almost into the room where we were. Had "Although I know there was one younger was in a bam. I was already in my sleeping bag. it exploded we would have been goners. than I am, I'll apply anyway," says Everett Someone was filling a Coleman lantern and the "That good luck was tempered with bad Austin, in Co. G, 27 4th from about the first gasoline can tipped over, spilling gas all over. news, though. Just before the dud spared us we of February, 1945, until after combat. I was It caught fire explosively from another lantern. heard that two of our litter bearers had been born May 8, 1926." Evwill be at the Reunion Several of us had to escape through the flames, shot by a sniper just before dusk." to defend his claim, he says. wearing only our winter underwear. We had to Jim retired three years ago after more than 35 So he's got a couple of months off Wil­ walk , barefoot through the snow, about a mile years as a physician and surgeon. He had mar­ liam Hines, Co. C, 27 6th, who joined us at to another building. The hayloft and the rest of ried Jane Lenoir Cleveland in Galveston, Adair. He was born February 22,1926. Bill is the bam were filled with sleeping men who Texas, in 1942, two years before he joined the administrator of Pilgrim Manor in Bossier barely escaped incineration. . 70th at Leonard Wood. One of their sons is a City North . .. that's in Louisiana. It's a project "Twice within three days several of my atd dental surgeon, another a clergyman. They also of the Wesleyan Church. station group and I escaped death or serious have a daughter and six grandchildren. Joseph X. Kenavan, Co. G, 27 6th, injury near Forbach. Our unit was trying to will also be in Portland, coming clear cross­ cross the Saar in February. As we were loadmg * country from Brooklyn. His birthday is June an ambulance, 240 mm. railroad projectiles 26, 1926. He joined the 70th at Forbach. were coming in on us. One came through the Bob Lyon, HQ Co., 274th, doesn't tell roof of the building next door, skidded the how old he is. But he nominates Jack Bar­ length of the hall, tore out a door and a concrete ton of that outfit. Born: January 5, 1926. porch with wrought-iron bannisters, knocked a hole in a large brick fence, then harmlessly

Spring, 1986 5 A towering argument

What is the actual story of the taking, count in the last "Trail blazer" has brought be inaccurate but they are not untrue. We holding and shelling of the Tower of For­ a flurry of letters. These must be sorted will never publish any comments that im­ bach? and correlated before we can publish ply that a fellow-Trailblazer is deliberately Every participant has his own rec­ them. telling a falsehood. ollections, often-if not usually-a bit Let's stress, though, that men's rec­ EDMUND ARNOLD, editor different from that of his buddies. The ac- ollections get hazy in 40 years. They may

How it really was at the Tower

I enjoy reading the "Trailblazer" and com­ tating as evidenced by the bodies we found on I emphasize-with regard to the Stars & pliment the work you do in putting it together the hill and around our foxholes at daybreak. Stripes' article-when Capt. Andrews called so well-it is great that we are able to maintain That we were dug in minimized our own casu­ our artillery and mortars in on our positions, we our organization and to keep in touch with our alties. were in our foxholes-we were not called into friends and former comrades. I read with particular interest the news item in "Stars & Stripes". I appreciate the difficulty news reporters were confronted with in obtain­ ing accurate accounts of events in the face of the intensity of the fighting in those days. Therefore I can understand the inaccuracy of the report on the Battle of Schlossberg Castle. I would like to give you my account of that attack. I was a staff sergeant and squad leader of the 3rd squad, 3rd Platoon, Co. I, 276th. Capt. Herbert J. Andrews was our C. 0., and a very able leader. We launched our attack from the small vil­ lage ofMorsbach (I believe that was the name) in the earl y hours of Feb. 17. We were some 5 or 6 miles from the city of Forbach and the Schlossberg Castle, which overlooked the city. We moved slowly toward that objective and encountered some resistance by snipers and machine gun emplacements. Also we received some casualties from shoe mines and booby traps-we lost our executive officer, Lt. Pee­ bles, to a booby trap which was attached to a gate along a fence line. We were able to reach the castle and secure it around noon of that day with suprisingly small resistance. We were cautioned by Capt. An­ drews not to be misled by the comparative ease. This turned out to be the best advice we received all day. Our entire company, with exception of the Headquarters staff which was inside the castle, dug in around the castle with the strongest defense on the side nearest the city. Things were reasonably quiet until around dusk when we were clobbered with a heavy barrage of 88s from the Germans. This turned out to be a cover, preparation for a ferocious attack by at least a company of Germans armed with " burp" guns who had been crawling up the steep hill during the barrage. As soon as the barrage ceased, (now pitch dark), the burp gun attack began. We fought with everything we had but we were seemingly in a hopeless situa­ tion being completely surrounded by the Ger­ mans . Realizing the desperate situation we were in , Capt. Andrews did the only thing he could do; THE MORNING AFTER- he called in our arti ll ery and . 8 1 millimeter This is the inside of the famous tower on this page.) The "Trail blazer" editor is mortars from Co. H right on top of our posi­ overlooking Forbach. Here was written at the right; the survivors of the battle, tions. We were dug in, the Germans were not. one of the glorious episodes in Trail­ showing scars of intense artillery fire, And the casualties on the Germans were de vas- blazer history. (See Jim Kearley's letter are not identified. Do you know them?

6 70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER Existence of Association is surpri~e

I was both delighted and surprised upon 1944 in Ft. Leonard Wood until it was dis­ Mail reading in December issue of " Watch on the banded in 1945. Rhine,'' that there was a 70th Division As­ Since I remember very little about my travels sociation. in Europe, it would be very interesting to read Call I am one of the ex-G Is who served in both the some history and perhaps re-discover some of 15th and 275th Infantry regiments. I was a the towns we fought for. the castle-What Capt Andrews did was cour­ member of I Company, 275th from September, William (Bill) Otto ageous and I'm sure I speak for the majority of Co. I, 275th our company in making that statement. We admire him for the actions he took even though in retrospect to the results of his actions, I' m and comical, and are sometimes unbelievable pany but a different platoon. He is Charles N. sure our thoughts at the moment of his de­ to the un-initiated. I propose a column for Stewart of Largo, Florida. cisions might have been different. " You won't believe this," and will start with Keep up the good work. I spend the winter months here in Florida and an experience of my own. the summers up in my home state of New York. When my Co. D, 276th moved in for the I would like to attend the convention but it James Kearley assault on Forbach, we moved into the heart depends how my health is then . So we shall Co. I, 276th of the city in the dead of night. Recon had have to wait and see. located an apartment building, and led us to Keep well and best regards, * the rear door of a stairway to the second Main St. PO Box 9 As I begin I am reminded of Mark Twain's floor. Our section leader, S/Sgt Schafer, led La Fargeville, NY 13656 statement: "The difference between exactly us up the stairs with the admonition to be Douglas E. Werley the right word and almost-right is the difference absolutely quiet as the Germans occupied the Co. A, 370 Medics between lightning and lightning-bug. " So I building across the street. He would indicate search for some lightning-bugs, at least. a door to a room by patting us on the shoul­ Adeline and I once again thank you, one and der, and we were to enter and remain quiet all, for the outpouring of Christmas and New until the following morning. Wear a 70th cap, Year greetings, in many forms and ways. I was carrying the receiver of a heavy Too, as always, they brought a lump and a machine gun, plus an M-1 rifle, (we had no find a 70th buddy tear. We were and are so grateful. You made .45 Colts,) an entrenching tool and several my day . K-rations, which was a considerable load for I have to start out by telling you how much Orville Ellis a 140-lb. doughfoot. A door was indicated we enjoy receiving the "Trailblazer." I mean Immediate Past President for me and I was again warned to not make "we" because my wife also reads every word. any noise. I entered and the door was closed. We have just returned home after about 40 Oil-less rifle; As I turned around, the damndest clatter days of camping around the East coast and ensued. My rifle and MG had made contact getting as far as Maine. We visited Ed and Pat stripeless sergeant with a pantry full of pots and pans, and any Cloonan, arriving in Waltham about a half In the January ''Trailblazer'' I was surprised way I turned I knocked pots and pans off the hour before hurricane Gloria. We all rode the wall. Talk about a chewing-out. Luckily, and pleased to see my name in print. (Page II , storm out together and other than being without column 2). I had to read it several times to be either the Germans were deaf, or they were electricity, and some tree damage, luck of the as scared as I was, as there was no bad result. Irish smiled upon us. sure it was me. May I set the record straight? Yours for more strange incidents. Later we were visiting friends in Maine, and I was in Cannon C., 275th, not 274th. I was made sergeant long before I went to air-crew Howard F. Overton attended a reception by the local historical training where I was a section leader in the D Co. 276 society. Naturally I was wearing my 70th hat P.S. I still weigh 140 lbs, and created quite a artillery in California. I was reduced in rank and out of the crowd steps Willard Wight , "without prejudice" after I came to the 70th in stir when I showed up at the Philly banquet formerly of the 276th. He had no idea that wearing my 1945 Ike jacket. Oregon. It was not because I didn' t make anyone had ever heard of the 70th, just as Infantry OCS. It was because a sterling charac­ thousands more out there are waiting to be found. ter in my squad didn't oil the bore of his rifle. 70th runs in family The artillery was at Fort Rosecrans, Cal­ While in Maine we visited Marty and Lois ifornia and the Air Force College Training Eberhardt of the 884th FABN and spent a Thank you for sending me the copies of' 'Trail­ Detachment was in Ellensburg, Washington. pleasant afternoon remembering. blazer" through Lee Miller who lives here in Eldon T. Foster While touring Washington, D.C. with the Florida only a few miles from me. Today I am Cannon Co. , 275th ever-present 70th hat, I found myself on line to sending in the application for membership in see the White House with none other than the the association. (Editor's Note: Messages do get garbled in Sgt. Major of the 70th Div. Trng. Would you transmittal, especially when notes to the ''TB'' It is 43 years since I was assigned to the 70th believe that he had never heard of our as­ at Camp Adair and I am now 77 years old and are so often handwritten. I apologize for such sociation, and knew little of our exploits in inaccuracies. And I am always glad to make not as spry as I used to be-also my memory. ETO!!! corrections, as this one.) I was with the 91 st In f. Div. at Camp White, Do you think we could enlighten the Sgt. Medford, Oregon. In January 1943 I was Major in some way, possibly by sending him placed on cadre and sent to Adair, as a Staff some past issues or something? His address: Start of a new section? Sergeant. I was assigned to Company A, 4th S.C.M. Ron Glaub, 70th Div. Sgt. Major, I would like to make a suggestion for a new Platoon, 370 Medical Battalion. 4613 Smyrna Road, Richmond, IN 47374. section to the "Trailblazer." Most of us, espe­ I did not know until a couple of years ago that Lee Miller cially the combat units, have memories we my son's father-in-law was in the same com- Co. D, 275th would just as soon forget , and some, in retro­ spect, when we remember them, are hilarious

Spring, 1986 7 Spicheren *Take them!' is 70th order Forbach By Donald C. Pence This third installment on the Division's campaign in February Stiring Wendel to Buebingen on the Saar. Just west of Stiring and March, 1945 continues the account of the 70th's offensive Wendel, the large town of Forbach had been turned into a to take the high ground overlooking the valley of the Saar fortress which the enemy would defend tenaciously. As for the where it flows through the German border city of Saar­ range of hills which was the final objective, the German de­ bruecken. fenders were ordered to hold this at all cost. The next few days The first several days of the offensive, which began on would see some of the hardest and bloodiest fighting that the February 17, were reviewed in the December '85 issue of "The Division experienced. However, to read the cursory coverage Trailblazer." During these days the Division's advance brought and its sterile language in the Seventh Army "Report of Oper­ it through numerous villages and over intervening hills and ations" on this phase of 70th's Saar Campaign, one would think ridgelines to reach the foot of its final objective-the larger the Division was involved in hardly more than a training ex­ range of hills, generally wooded, which extend southeast from ercise.

HE 70TH DIVISION Operations In ­ damn well know who took Spicheren. " (Note: Wounded several times in what turned out to struction No. 7 directing the actions to be Co. I. 275th was attached to the 274th at this be a full-scale enemy counterauack, Johnson Ttaken by its three regiments on Feb. 2 1 time; regardless Gf what company's men took was captured and treated by an enemy medic. stated in part: ''274th In f-Continue attack Spicheren, it was officially the 274th's booty!) He was liberated when the i st Balta/ion ad­ early morning of2 1 Feb 1945. Capture SPICH­ vanced again after blunting the German thrust. EREN. Seize remainder of initial regimental While being evacuated to the rear, Johnson objective. Be prepared to resume attack NW . I On a cold morning *I st Lt. John J. Passanisi recognized two of his Iiiier bearers as Ray Co and 1/2 M Co 275 Inf revert control 275 Inf and Pvt. Paul F. Wa lker were on a mission in ireland and Sam Ganns, with whom he had after capture SPICHEREN. 275 lnf-Continue Spicheren to remove wounded. Walking down taken basic training a few short months before to push attack and seize final objective. 276 the main street, they were narrowly missed by and whom he had last seen in the replacement lnf~Re s ume attack at daylight and drive en­ an incoming 88 shell which impacted only i O depot just before being assigned to the 275th. emy from FORB ACH. Be prepared to resume feet away but failed to detonate. However, ireland, Ganns , and Johnny are the only names attack NW. '' At 6:30 that morning the Division Walker's escape was only temporary, and he Johnson remembers from his brief experience G-3 reported to G-3, XV Corps the 70th's was killed on March i5 while going to aid a with his infantry regiment. current rifle company positions (see map). Un­ wounded Co. A, 274th rifleman near Forbach. reported were the positions of Co. K, 274th , Further east the I st Battalion of the 275th ROM SILVER STAR CITATION , Pvt. Co. I 275th (detached), and Co. G. 276th advanced northward along the Saar and occu­ William B. Trotter-Co. B, 275th: " On (detached). pied the wooded high ground overlooking the 2 1 February at 1600 hours in the vicinity The weather cleared that morning. Pressure eastern part of Saarbruecken. However, two F of Saarbruecken, a counterattacking enemy applied by the 274th Infantry from positions strong enemy counterattacks forced forward force threatened to overrun hi s company's posi­ north and northwest of Spicheren presently elements back over a half mile to the middle of tion. Pvt. Trotter rushed forward alone in the drove the enemy garrison from the village. the woods (Stiftswaid). The enemy drive was face of intense machine gun and small arms fire Co. I, 275th, " Record of Events." I Com­ finally halted by the combined firing of infan­ to halt the German drive. Firing short bursts pany continues to hold positions overlooking try , artillery, tanks and tank destroyers. Spicheren while intermittent sniper fire is ex­ from his automatic rifle, Trotter advanced to changed and our mortars and artillery pound within 15 yards of the enemy group, killing fo ur and capturing eight Germans." the enemy unmercifully. About 1400, 1st Lt. Pvt. W. W. Johnson* had been assigned as a Donahue takes a 6-man patrol into Spicheren replacement to Co. A, 275th only a couple of On the left of the I st Battalion, the 275th 3rd and takes the town over, capturing about 25 days before he accompanied his rifle platoon in * prisoners. Then 274th troops move in , but we Battalion also advanced up the slope toward the the two-balta/ion advance beyond Zinzing. The final objective. It too found the going difficult. platoon had been pinned down in afirefight in the initial advance, and after nightfall the pla­ toon sergeant discovered that "Johnny," the bazooka-man, for whom Johnson was ammo bearer, had left his bazooka far behind where the platoon had been pinned down. After chew­ ing out Johnny , the sergeant instructed John­ son to leave the now useless bazooka rounds behind as the platoon continued its advance in the darkness through thick woods toward its objective-an enemy bunker. The next morning, Feb. 2i, an assault team from the platoon advanced on the objective, Johnson being left behind in a foxhole to cover one flank of the altacking group. The altack quickly ran into heavy resistance, and Johnson then engaged an enemy tank-infantry force threatening to encircle the assault team.

70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER not found in the 70th G-2 lists of enemy units in contact. The situation at nightfall* on the 21st: The 276th had advanced its positions to control the southeast third of Forbach; the 274th had estab­ lished two roadblocks on the Forbach­ Saarbruecken road (Mctz Highway) northeast of Forbach; and the 275th had regrouped its forces on the lower slopes of its final objective. The count of POW's taken that day was 249, 100 of them having been taken in Forbach. During the night enemy shelling, mainly 88mm and 105mm caliber, was continuous. Sgt. Ray Mienheartt, Co. £, 276th was in a foxhole on the side ofthe hill under the tower in Forbach. From this position he could see well T0th0tv!S,on into the city, looking past the cal'e sen•ing as Combat Sector 21 February 'L/5 the Co. E command post. In the early morning Scii/e ;n Yards he heard the sound of hobnailed boots coming ~ .9)0 .0)0 !SI'XJ down at the foot of the hill and soon caught -on~-' ftle--1 sight ofa man in the moonlight. Too faraway to challenge, Mienheartt took aim ll'ith his car­ bine but held his fire, hoping that someone closer would take the booted man prisoner. Co. K, 275th "Kings Men": "Again on the of battle. (It was now the 70th, again.) Then he realized that the man in his sights had 21st, the company moved out in the attack Lt. Lawrence DuBose, Co. L, 275th, re­ tumed and was withdrawing. Reluctantly, along the ridge to the right flank. Overcoming counts: "We started our advance well before Mienheartt started to squee:e the trigger when fierce enemy resistence, we were able to take dawn on a pitch-black night in which you had to he heard the welcome ' 'Halt!'' Later he the high ground beyond the town (Spicheren?). keep close enough to touch the man ahead in learned that the man he had come so close to The strain of four days continuous attack was order to maintain contact. At dawn we captured shooting was a Russian who had escaped from bringing men to the verge of exhaustion. T/4 several Germans who surrendered readily. a slave-labor camp intent on warning the Buncic received a wound but refused to go back Then we ran into an SP 88 and after a 'stare­ Americans of the camp location. to the aid station for treatment. Then he was down' during which it fired one shot at us, it Walter C. Cox, Co. E, 274th, remembers killed by shellfire in the Pfaffenwald; the time withdrew. that on the drive into Stiring Wendel his com­ was 1500. Pfc.s Labie, Hein, Mitchell, De­ Moving through some woods, I took a rifle pany and Co. C under I st Lt. George Blanch­ larcipiet, Moore, Deamicis, Pettit, Meinike, bullet in the stomach, and a medic gave me ard, formed a perimeter defense near the Metz Mureeler, and Ammons and Sgt. Wood were some morphine tablets to chew on-but no Highway to consolidate the ground gained after wounded and evacuated that day.'' water. Sgt. Rankin picked up my maps and a long day of exhausting fighting. A short time T!Sgt. Richard Becker, Co. L. 275th, rec­ ammo saying I wouldn't need them anymore. later Cox was awakened at the combined CP for alls: "Leading the battalion's attack, L Com­ Then the company was withdrawn, and I was the two companies by a messenger who in­ pany took 39 casualties, including the company left with my runner, Vernon Medford, and a formed him that everyone was asleep. Every­ commander and two other officers, when it was German prisoner. After a time, two men from one was quickly awakened and thanks were hit by three counterattacking assault guns sup­ the company on our left came up, and these given that the Krauts hadn't found out the ported by infantry. A captured German NCO two, plus Medford and the prisoner, got me situation in the perimeter before the messenger who spoke good English was deceived into back to the aid station on an improvised litter. did. believing he could be sent to prison camp in They were joined by one of my men, Murray, ' 'Snow, Ridges and Pillboxes'': On the 21st, Texas if his captors were pleased with him. who insisted on seeing that I got back to the aid I Company was pushed forward from reserve to Accordingly, he revealed that the company station.'' establish an outpost on the edge of Stiring position would be hit that evening by a Wendel and took several casualties, all wound­ 300-man force. * ed, to mortar fire during the approach march. The Bn S-3, Capt. Gamet Oliver, arrived to ROM THE OTHER SIDE of the battle, a Taken under automatic weapons fire by the take over the company and immediately moved German 347th Infantry Division mono­ enemy, the company continued its advance by what was left of the unit-about 50 men-to Fgraph reported: "The American attack fire and movement and the objective was taken. new positions. Then Oliver, taking the place of succeeded in penetrating our positions north of Firing positions were found from which to meet the missing artillery FO, plotted defensive fires Spicheren and in occupying Hill 341 (Gifert­ any enemy counteraction. to include the company's position just aban­ wald). Immediate counterattacks by elements Presently a German soldier was spotted ap­ doned and zeroed it in. Sure enough, the enemy of the 36th Infantry succeeded in recovering proaching and was nearly fired on before being attack came just after dark, just as predicted. It only the north and northeast slopes of Hill 341. recognized as a medic. In his approach he was stopped cold and the attacking force was Similarly, the 6th SS Mountain Division's Re­ checked several Kraut bodies, continuing on badly mauled by a thunderous time-on-target connaissance Battalion, attached to the 347th after each check apparently convinced him that barrage." Division, counterattacked toward the high the man was dead. Having checked the last The 3rd Bn. commander, Maj. John M. ground one kilometer north of Spichcren, but body before coming to Co. 1-held buildings, Duffie, was captured with two accompanying could reach and hold only the northern slope. the medic gave himself up. NCO's on February 21. While reconnoitering However, the following night (February 22) out in front of the battalion, the small party was this battalion was withdrawn and reverted to its On Feb. 22, the enemy* defense of Forbach surprised by the sudden enemy counterattack. own division." remained active. Much of the defense was After the war Duffie recalled that his German The brief appearance here by an element of conducted from strongpoints. many of them captors were anxious to find out what had an earlier Vosges Mountains adversary of Task happened to Task Force Herren, which had Force Herren, the 6th SS Mountain, seems not suddenly disappeared from the American order to have been detected by our intelligence-it is Continued on next page

Spring, 1986 9 1945 On to the Saar! Recollection of Pfc. Hy Schorr, Co. H, Continued 27 4th: "My MG section was set up on a sharp rise in a woods on Spicheren Heights. That night I was awakened by Pfc. Harold L. automatic weapons emplacements in fortified Co. C, 275th "Bulletin," (April '45): The Ward whispering that he had detected basements. The German defenders fought tena­ German counterattack hit C Company posi­ movement to our front. He threw a grenade ciously and surrendered only when their posi­ tions, and an advancing tank threatened to while I scanned to see what was happening. tion became surrounded. At II :30 that morning break through. From his foxhole, Pvt. Samp­ Spotting several figures, I fired and hit one. the 276th 's S-3 was on the telephone speaking son J. Stephens moved toward it with a ba­ Then our MG's opened fire raking from left to a Division G-3 staff officer about the regi­ zooka and, from a range of 15 yards, dis­ to right and we heard screams and groans. ment's progress: "E Co. is moving into Blocks abled it with his first round. Stephens con­ By early dawn we could see the ground to 'K ' and 'M. ' L Co. is half way through Block tinued to fight in this same aggressive fashion the front littered with wounded and dead ' 10' and running into heavy MG, small arms until he was killed on Feb. 25. He received Germans, one with a machine gun just a few and bazooka fire. K Co. is in Block ' II ' and is the Division's first Distinguished Service yards away. Right after Ward left my hole to running into automatic and rifle fire. K Co. and Cross, posthumously. fetch more ammo, two shots cracked and he L Co. are maneuvering wi th tanks. A Co. is at fell. I dragged him back to the foxhole and Phase Line ' I. ' C Co. and F Co.- no change, Recollection of 2nd Lt. Harry Durkee, Co. dressed his wounds, but he was too badly (they are) moving across Phase Line ' I' under C, 275th: "C Company* continues that attack wounded to survive." heavy artillery fire and direct fire from tanks. I begun several days before at Alsting. Dusk Co. is in battalion reserve and is maintaining begins to fall and Jerry tanks come through Still on February *22 . The 275th, on the contact between E and L companies. We are the forest. There's my bazooka man, but Division right, cleared the eastern two-thirds of hitting the counterattack assembly area with where is his ammunition? The precious bag its fina l objective and began preparing strong artillery ." was left behind in the confusion of the previ­ defensive positions there. That night a German ous night! Jerry foot soldiers are right behind attack with tanks was thrown back by dough­ N THE AFTERNOON* , attack aircraft of the tanks. Some hand-to-hand fighting en­ boys using bazookas and rifle grenades. the Xll Tactical Air Command supported sues but most of our men are taken prisoner I the 276th Infantry's advance by bombing quickly in the unequal situation. Our few In the next installment in this series, the and strafing the enemy-held part of town. At survivors remain where they have hidden 70th completes the occupation* of the main the end of the day, the regiment paused to while the enemy infantry and tanks with objective of the February offensive, the consolidate its gains and reorganize. In its POW's riding pull back. Then we dig in, an range of hills overlooking Saarbruecken­ advance the 276th had reached the railroad understrength platoon-all that remains of and begins to probe the Siegfried Line de­ embankment which cuts through the northern C Company." fenses of that city. end of the town.

"70th Division Story": Sgt. William P. Henry, Co. F, 27 6th was posthumously awarded the Silver and Bronze Star medals. The Silver Star was awarded for his clearing of houses beyond the Forbach underpass. Several days before he had gone alone into some houses and killed two Germans while capturing two others. Later, he worked his way through an enemy-held section of For­ bach to reestablish contact with his squad, also engaged in house-clearing. In the Division center* the 274th took an important enemy defensive complex wit h pillboxes and bunkers between Spicheren and Stiring Wendel. At 10:52 a.m. the 274th's S-3 Sergeant, Shultz, reported to G-3 on the attack 's progress: "' 1st Bn. is moving forward slowly. (We have) no positions yet. 2nd Bn. is moving up on the initial objective where the finger of the (Spicheren-Stiring Wendel) road goes up about three-quarters of the way. They received some bursts of enemy artillery there this morning. Pretty bad. A few casualties. I can't give you a position of I st Bn. because our line is out to them.'' Schultz. then provided the coordinates of I st Bn. 's last known location­ FOR THE WOODS about 500 yards northwest of Spicheren. From ARE DARK AND DEEP- there the Regiment confronted Spicheren . . . and the Infantry has destiny to meet. gen Forest, it was a gloomy hellhole Heights. This is the forest above Zinswiller, where death lurked behind every tree. * France. Like the more notorious Hurt- (Signal Corps Photo) 10 70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER 1.4••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• two master's degrees, in library science and in Spanish, he was a college teacher of that lan- guage, then a librarian and a library admin­ Seems Like Old Times istrator. He was reference librarian at the Library/USA exhibit at the New York World's By Edmund Arnold Fair in 1964 and is a member of three academic 63131. This book will absolutely not be re­ honorary societies. printed. So if you want to leave a memory for He joined the 70th at Adair in early '44 and your descendents, don't dally. Members who eventually was transferred to the 3rd Division delayed in buying " Pill Boxes and Snow This issue of " The Trailblazer" is off after combat. He married Cristina Martinez in Ridges," for instance, have been kicking schedule. My wife and I were lucky enough to Mexico City and they have two sons and a themselves ever since. find a cabin on a freighter going through the daughter. Incidentally, Orville has a picture he'd like Canal to Valparaiso, Chile. The voyage co­ to return to Casper F. Kramer but has no incided with the regular April I publication Remember The Blues Chasers, the 274th address for him. Neither do we have it on our * date. Our options were to go early with the dance band? And the trumpet player, Edward "TB" mailing list. If you know where Cap is, Spring issue or late. We chose the latter. Be­ Allsup? If you do, drop him a line. (His ad­ please let somebody know. cause this will be the last effective issue before dress is li sted in January on page 14.) the Portland Reunion and we wanted to get the Ed stayed in music after the war, teaching it Either you guys are not very observant or (as latest information to you in time for you to * in schools in Kansas, Idaho and California. He I'd prefer to think) you're too polite to point out decide to come along on this sweet, memorable got his Ph.D. from Southern Cal in '71 and was a bad error I made in the last issue. Smack reliving of days that so affected our lives. an elementary school principal for 17 years. across the front cover it said: "First call for '85 There will be an issue for July. Now retired, he divides his time between oil Reunion ." Forgive me .. . but come to the painting and golf. He and his wife Jean recently 198six Reunion anyway! It will come as a disappointment* to many that bought an RV and plan to drive it from their our group tour to Hawaii has failed to material­ home in Newhall, California to the Portland ize. Floyd Freeman, Co. I, 275th, had made Our condolences go* to Katherine Deering of Reunion. They have two daughters and two the first reservations with an airline and depos­ Evansville, Indiana (815 Hercules Street) on grandchildren. ited $2,000. But by deadline, only one couple the death of her husband, Robert M. Deering, (your editor) had made reservations. If you in June last year. Please make a change in the New Members want to continue to the Islands, Floyd will be Bob, with Btty B, 725th, also served with section of the January* 1986 "Trailblazer." happy to make individual reservations. the 7th Division artillery. His battery had a Patrick J. Ryan was a member of Co. C, record in our last offensive. It fired 34 rounds at 275th-a designation a little more specific than If you want a short *post-Reunion tour, con- a house in Glasshutten, Germany and scored 26 "1st Bn" as noted there. sider hopping up to Vancouver where its big direct hits. Exposition will be on all summer. The auto He leaves his widow, a daughter and two Not only our Association but his community drive up there is a scenic one, the Amtrak trip is grandchildren. Charles Zimmer, Co. D, lost a valued member* by the death of George a dandy and excursion boats take a half day to 275th, relays the sad news. W. Kohls, 3rd Bn, 275th. He had served as get there. postmaster of Herington, Kansas, was active in Edwin Radloff, Co.* M, 276th, died after a many, many civic organizations and a founding Sound the Last Call for Bennie J. Dugas, Sv short illness on November 16, 1985, in Sono­ member of the Tri-County Historical Society. Co., 275th, who died* January 23 , 1986 in ma, California. He was retired for about two He leaves his wife, Alice, and three gener­ Lafayette, Louisiana. The sad news is for­ years after working for the city of San Fran­ ations of offspring: Two sons, two daughters, warded by Clint Kruse, of the same outfit. cisco since his discharge from the Army in '45. nine grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. He leaves his wife, Mary, and three children. We frequently get a request from some " Platoon Leader" *by James McDonougue, member to send a back issue of this magazine to Twice the enemy pulled back without in- a paperback put out by Bantam Books, is rec­ an old buddy who isn't a member of the As­ flicting the severe casualties* that had been ommended by Hy Schorr, Co. H, 274th, as "a sociation. I'm always happy to do so. And even feared . Both times Louis Schram, 70th Div powerful story of combat at the shooting happier to note that in the vast majority of HQ, was there. level." cases, this is the first contact they' ve had with The first was the Japanese withdrawal from the Association. And that the majority of those Kiska; the other was the German retreat from A courageous battle against lung cancer men have signed up for membership. So send Saarbrucken. Lou was with the 37th Division at ended in death of Charles* Norton, HQ Btty, along the names and addresses of your pros­ Dutch Harbor, Alaska, before joining the 725th FA. While he had retired from the "Per­ pects. ' Blazers at Adair in November, '43. He went kasie (Pa.) News-Herald" in 1983, he con­ The list grows. Francis H. (Blackie) Rob­ through the European battles with us and won tinued taking pictures for the paper until his ertson, Co. I, 275th , died in Albuquerque, the Bronze Star. He married Josephine Smith­ fatal illness. He leaves his wife, Marion, a November II , '85. ers in West Virginia and they have three daugh­ daughter and two grandsons. William Ingram, HQ, 275th, died August ters and five grandkids. Lou has been a ma­ 16, 1985, in Aurora, Colorado as a result of chine repairman. We've got a photo *to prove it (even though open-heart surgery. we can' t run it because our printer can't handle Sam Gann, HQ Co., 275th, died May 7, Simple things rate high* in a Gl's memories. colored Polaroids). Roy Schneider, Quenton 1985, reports Wade Johnson, Co. A, 275th. For Harold Osias, Co. C, 276th, "it's the first Avery and Joe Kelly, all of Co. A, 276th, had Sammy was pictured in the January ' 'Trail­ bath I had after two months on the line'' after he a mini-mini-reunion in Topeka. Joe and Quent blazer, " peeling spuds on KP . And on the joined the 70th at Volkingen. He won two surprised Roy during his lunch hour at the opposite page was a story about those two Bronze Stars. Self-employed in the auto supply Millard School where he works . It was their 'Blazers and Ray Ireland getting together for business, he has three children and four grand­ first meeting in 40 years. Not only do all of lunch after 40 years apart. children. them have a good head of hair, none is gray! And their waistlines are about what they were The 70th History Book* can still be purchased Although he has retired,* George Elser, Co. way back when . Maybe it's a good thing we from Orville Ellis, Co. C, 276th. Send a check K, 274th, uses his wealth of experience as a can't run the picture, you-like 1-would be for $48 to 9255 Birch Tree Lane, St. Louis, consultant to the Inland Library System. With jealous as hell.

Spring, 1986 11 THE SEMI-REAL THING racks, kept their mud-caked clothing on The infiltration course was one of the as they took a shower. The result was major tests that basic trainees had to clogged drains ... and the proverbial pass at Camp Adair. With genuine ma­ dressing-down that attended every bril­ seeing casualties for the first time in battle. chine gun fire whizzing just 30 inches liant idea a soldier ever had. The white­ That's a memory etched into Donald overhead, Gls got a real taste of hostile handkerchief draped across the infan­ Thomas's mind. Don , HQ Co. , 275th, came to Leonard fire. The mud was uniquely Oregonian. tryman in the center was a touch of Wood from the Air Force in August, '44 and Some soldiers, returning to their bar- gentility that did little actual good. won a Bronze Star as an infantryman. He's an art director for Donnelley and, among other honors , is a Kentucky Colonel. He and his wife Mary have two children and a grandchild. He Axe-head Archives lives in Cincy, Ohhhhhh. Dorothy Olson, Madison, Wisconsin, sent ''I had no idea there was a 70th Association this letter to Milt Schachter, Sv Co. , 275th: until I got a letter today from Tom Higley," " I should let you know that Tom passed away " Sitting out in the mud during a snowstorm writes Clyde Wooley who immediately sent in March 7, 1984. He had a 3'/,-year battle with with our shoes and stockings off. Could we go his membership check. " I was company clerk cancer. We were thankful to have had at least into our warm barracks right across the street? forM , 275th from December, '43 , until I came two years where we were able to square dance No! We had to get our feet inspected for blisters home wi th the 70th in October, '45. and he golfed a great deal. But from March 15 after a long hike; 187 of us. " Clyde is trying to locate his old CO, Capt. of 1983 to March of 1984 it was downhill. Our That's how Philip C. Smith, Co. L, 276th, Garnett Oliver. youngest son had gotten married in October, described his unhappiest remembrance of 70th Although Clyde officially retired in '76 as a 1983 and Tom put forth a good front-was not days. Getting together with his brother in Em­ manufacturers rep in the confectionary indus­ eating much and was very thin. We have so mersweiler was the happiest, he recalls. He try, he's kept busy since as a tax preparer and many recent pictures and from the pictures he was in the original Adair cadre, coming from financial consultant. His wife is the former appeared quite well. the 9lst Division in 1943. Next June, while still Marguerite Zechman. " I am very thankful to have my position with in Corvallis, he married Lillian Boetzel, with He was inducted into the Candy Salesman the Madison School District. It is good for me whom he has two children and three grandsons. Hall of Fame on his retirement. to get out of the house each day and I do work He has a Purple Heart. with fine people. I plan to work a few more As a civilian he is a machinist. An unhappy experience* many of us share is years-that will depend on my health. " 12 70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER that ''yuck-ly, ··taking basic training in Texas. Joe was a farmer, hotel worker and printer. Axe-head Archives He lives in Coral Gables, Florida.

For 34 years, Hal Huskinson of Issaquah. " The Trailblazer" continues to be an excel­ * We just hope his sermons are as brief as his Washington, was owner and president of an lent recruiting tool for Association member­ resume! auto leasing company up in the Northwest. He ship. Ray Blissenback, 3rd Bn HQ, 274th, Speaking of the Rev. Roberts Ahrgott. married Dede Baker in Seattle and they have sent a copy to J. J. Reinitz, Btty C, 883rd FA. "Co. D, 275th, in Camp Adair cadre, Was a two sons and two grandkids. It took: Our old artilleryman is now a new POW; I lived. Wife; Ruth. Decorations: Brz He came to Leonard Wood and the 70th from member. Star, CIB , P.H. " ASTP at the University of Kansas. After the If you enjoy terse preachers. drop in on him guns went silent, he was transferred to the 3rd We 'd guess that the* snows of Michigan got at Ru ssiavi lle, Indiana. Division. He won a Bronze Star and a Purple too deep for John B. Doyle, Co. I, 276th. For With 15 months of service under hi s belt, Heart in the recapture of Phillipsbourg after the his new address is North Ft. Myers, Florida. Joe B. Hall joined the 70th at Leonard Wood in 275th was withdrawn. Hal was with Charley And that's as far north as a retired carpenter Co., 274th. ought to live. " Nuclear medical technologist. retired." So John joined the 'Blazers at Leonard Wood '43 and left in January. 1946. He also served in * Joseph Kahn describes his civilian career. In and remembers that battle at the Forbach castle the 3rd Division, 344th QM Depot Co.; Btty A. that capacity he worked for the Army. He also as the most memorable episode in his military 278th FA; HQ Co., 62nd QM Base Depot. worked for the Army in the 270th Signal Co. career. He and his wife Margaret were married He won two Bronze Stars and all the other after joining the Trailblazers in Mainz, Ger­ in Redford, Michigan and they have one son Trailblazer decorations. He remembers many in April. '45. and two grandchildren. John is a member of (fondly) leaves to Paris and London and (less Shipped back to the States on the SS ew VFW and DAY. fondly) being introduced to combat on a hill Amsterdam, he heard that the war with Ger­ above Baerenthal and (least fondly) no. make many was over. But wouldn't you know it. he * pulled KP when he was assigned to the 4th Division. But he didn't draw the trip to Japan. He married Suzanne Sampson in San Fran­ cisco and they have a son, Aaron. The Kahns live in San Francisco. * 1945 Co. K, 275th "King's Men": The heaviest casualties of the push occurred on the 22nd. Pfc.'s Kozy, Hein, Ernest, Chaison, Morgan Croft, Koerber, Lennartson, Jangs, Mic­ halski, Jackson, Pavey, Lee, Calvin, Lowe, and Feerici and S/Sgt. Kashevaroff were wounded and evacuated. Pfc. Gillies and Sgt. Goodson were evacuated with combat exhaustion. T/3 Kenyon, medic, was wound­ ed and evacuated. Sgt. Kale and Pfc.'s Schleckling, Larrabee, and Papke were killed in the arduous drive from the Pfaffen­ wald to Gifertwald and the final objective­ the worst day's fighting of the war for K Company. "275th Medical Detachment History": In Alsting the 1st Bn . aid station was near the road leading forward to the high ground under assault by the 1st and 3rd battalions. Capt. Clark Richardson moved up to the hill with litter bearer teams of both battalions to control the collection and emergency treat­ ment of wounded. A German trench was used as a collection point from where the WHADAYOU SEE? wounded were evacuated by vehicle down WHADAYOU SEE? For left are Col. Bissett, chief of staff; the steep, muddy, rutted road to the bat­ Something or someone obviously has Maj. Hill, HQ commandant; Major Gen. talion station for further treatment. On suc­ cessive days this system made possible the Barnett, 70th CO; the general's driver; the full attention of a bunch of Division handling of 135 casualties, 110 casualties, headquarters brass. Who knows what the general's cook, Andy White and and 90 casualties, all of them moved the occasion was? Please let the editor Col. Townsend, G-2. The MP at the right through the 1st Bn. station-a high percent­ know. is not identified. Help! age of them seriously wounded.

Spring, 1986 13 ' 'My wife Ann and I have three children and seven grandchildren. I am trying to locate another old Batty B friend, Lester Hunt. Docs Who's What anyone know where he is now?" Henry's ad­ dress is 640 No. Salem Ave., Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004. "Having an infantryman call out 'Medic!' more memorable. He spent it in "a beat-up was always an unhappy experience," recalls schoolhouse with blankets over the windows A small book of poems,* "Out of a Medic's Caryle Manning, Jr. He was a medic with the and a lot of shell holes.'' That makes him a real Kit," was published in Montabaur, Frankfurt, I st platoon of Co. I, 274th and joined the "old man" in the 70th. Germany in 1945. It was written by Pfc Joseph Division while it was organizing at Adair. He was with the Division from its organiza­ Dunlap and illustrated by Sgt Norm Gollin. He crossed the Saar in a small assault boat in tion at Adair until October, '45. He won two The whereabouts of neither of these men is his unhappiest military experience and won a Bronze Stars in the ETO. With his wife, the known. Any clues will be received with thanks Bronze Star. Good luck smiled on him, though, former Lucille Rauer, they have a daughter and by the editor. This poem is: while he was en route home and then on to three grandchildren. RUHLING Japan. At the Marburg repple-depple in Ger­ The roof is shallered fragments, many they got the word that the atomic bomb The man all dressed up in Colonial military The steeple is awry. had ended the war with Japan. garb who added a touch* of real class to the Down in the shell-shocked graveyard He graduated from Louisiana Tech in '49 Philadelphia Memorial Service is Henry ln­ The ancient dead men lie, and worked for Gulf Oil in Venezuela for five selberger, Btty B, 882 FA Bn. He wears that Long dead Alsatians lie , years. Then he joined Shell and worked there Colonial get-up as a member of the Northwest With crosses cocked, as hearing for 30 years, his last assignment as an oil Suburban (Illinois) Shrine Clubs. The sounds in which men die. movement controller. Now retired, he's been "I was with the 882nd all the way as a cook Those ears long closed in silence married since 1963 to Shirley King of Las until I was transferred to another unit and Once heard the cannon's roar. Vegas. They have two sons. discharged in March, 1946. Last year I met Destruction walked among them with two of my old friends, Col. E. F. Arn­ As men went forth to war, King R. Ridgway,* 3rd Bn HQ , 274th, has brecht and John Clifford, my old mess ser­ Each generation's war. no problem remembering his birthday. It's geant. We hadn't seen each other for 40 years Again the thunder deafens New Year's Eve. And his 38th birthday is even and we sure had a lot to talk about. Men who will hear no more. ReDieDibering those bitter days of 1945

Recollection of Pfc. Kern Dibble, Co. C, 275th: "Two enemy tanks hod us pinned down above Saarbruecken (Stiftswald). There were quite a few of us to begin with. A tanker would aim his big gun at one man and shoot him, then swing it around and shoot another. Some guys couldn't watch but kept their heads down praying and made no move when the tanker took aim at them. When the tank gun hit a man, the body would look like a pile of raspberry jello with a Gl overcoat twisted through it." Recollection of 1st Lt. Lawrence Southard, Co. G, 275th: "Maj. Gomez B. Cahoon was killed on February 22. G Company moved up the night before to protect the right of the 1st Battalion as they advanced up on the hill overlooking Saarbruecken. I had only one platoon in the fighting that morning and it had seven or eight men hit. The battalion suffered very heavy losses. It had a lieuten­ ant in command of one company and a sergeant was commanding another. Col. McAleer (CO, 275th) arrived after Ca­ hoon's death and appointed Maj. Malloy . the new battalion commander. He ordered me to stay in place, blocking the road run­ ning along the Saar River and staying tied in with the 1st Battalion until he could arrange FORWARD to pull it back." (Note: Cahoon's command of the battalion lasted less than a week; he THROUGH FORBACH- this first portion of Forbach, France. But had replaced the previous, wounded com­ Though it looks like a casual stroll, the there was still to be heavy fighting, this mander on Feb. 16. Cahoon' is remembered advance of these Trailblazers is cautious February 23, 1945, before the whole of to have been the highest ranking man killed and hazardous. The damaged buildings this strategic city was to fall to the 70th. in action in the 275th.) show the ferocity of the attack that took (Signal Corps Photo)

14 70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER Hy Schorr's idea ... and so does comes off the press Brubaker's Dues due Association dues for 1986-87 are pay­ The book that Hy Schorr, Co. H, 274th , " This book is for my children, my grand­ able on or before July 1. Dues are only was instrumental in creating, has been pub­ children and my great-great-great grand­ $7 annually and you are encouraged to lished in England. This is a review that ran in a children." pay in advance at that rate. Send your British magazine: So says Ray E. Brubaker, Co. G, 275th in check to Alvin Thomas, secretary­ OPERATION NORTHWIND: The Last the foreword of a personal hi story book that he treasurer, 203 S. Major St., Eureka, Illinois German Counter-Offensive. By Charles has just compiled and published. A wonderful 61530. Whiting. legacy for future generations it is , too. Life membership is $100. The " Battle of the Bulge," the last great The 8!12 x II book has 328 pages and its It is interesting to note that among all German surprise attack into the Belgian Ar­ cover is adorned by a giant 70th patch. Its associations similar to ours, our dues are dennes in December '44, is well known. But contents are far-ranging. They include a by far the lowest. few know anything of the " second" Battle of lengthy section of Ray 's own recollections of the Bulge, which cost the Americans and their our European campaign. Also reproduced are French allies nearly as many casualties and his discharge papers, ci tation for hi s Bronze almost caused a breakdown in the alliance. Star, many excerpts from "The Trail­ Kudos This was Operation North wind, planned by the blazer"-both stateside and ETO editions­ Two notable honors have come to Thad FUhrer himself, which hurled eight German and the 70th Division Association Roster. Gardner, Co. H, 275th. divisions, three of them SS , against the thinly Ray began the book by taping his rec­ Thad was inducted into the United Press held American line in the Alsace-Lorraine re­ ollections, an easy and smart way for you to International Sportswriters Hall of Fame gion. For the first time, Eisenhower ordered make your own history book. Future gener­ for Ohio. He is one of only six members. his troops to retreat, which outraged De Gaulle. ations will cherish it. And he received an honorary member­ This caused a major rift between the French and ship into the N-men, the varsity lettermen's Americans and it was only after Winston along. The October '84 "Trailblazer" re­ club of Ohio Northern University. Thad is Churchill had patched up the quarrel that the produced the cover art and asked, 'Whoiz­ sports editor of the Kenton (Ohio) Times, battle could continue. The Germans more than zit?" There was no response so finally in­ and has worked at the Gallipolis (Ohio) once sealed off the Franco-American troops quiries were made of the DAV publication. Tribune, Gadsden Times and Birmingham and nearly brought about a tremendous defeat ''The soldier is Clint Orlemann of Cin­ Post-Herald, both in Alabama. which might well have delayed the end of cinnati. He works for a graphic arts firm World War ll. which prepares the cover art for DAV. When Operation Northwind, quick-moving, action­ the idea for the Memorial Day issue was . .. and more of 'em packed, seen through the eyes of men who were hatched, Clint scrounged all the items, in­ "at the sharp end," fills a major gap in the cluding his own picture." The George Washington Medal of the history of World War II. Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge has The American edition is scheduled for Do you remember AI Lacavita and been awarded to Edmund C. Arnold, Div Spring publication. * Jimmie Lewis? They came to the 70th HQ, editor of "The Trailblazer." It was for as replacements in early February, 1945, the keynote address that he gave to a were in the 275th and probably came conference of Army editors last Spring. Our cover-boy has* been found. from Pennsylvania. It is very important for This is the second time he has won this The front cover of the "DAV Magazine" Harold Lewis to locate them. prestigious award for public address; his was a photograph of a grouping of World If you knew either of these men phone first medal was in 1969. War II memorabilia. One of them was a Harold, collect, after 6 pm, at Arnold has been named in the first group portrait of a soldier. Just a tiny fragment of 301-293-2950. Or write to: 10325 of the Virginia Journalism Hall of Fame his shoulder patch was visible; but Lee Mil­ Church Hill Road, Myersville, Maryland, which was instituted at Virginia Com­ ler, Co. D, 275th, spotted it and sent it 21773. monwealth University in Richmond.

KOHLS, George W. GANN, Sam Rt 2 DEERING, Robert M . HQ Co., 275 Herrington, Kansas 6 7 44 9 RADLOFF, Edwin J. 815 Hercules Died May 7, 1985 3rd Bn AT, 275 Sonoma, California Evansville, Indiana . Co. M, 276 INGRAM, William B Btty, ?25th Divarty Died November 16, 1985 Died June 1985 3124 S. Wheeling Way NORTON, Charles Aurora, Colorado 80014 113 S. 3rd Street ROBERTSON, Francis H. HQ, 275 Perkasie, Pennsylvania 18944 10600 Central Ave SE # 35 Died August 16, 1976 HQ Btty, ?25th FA Albuquerque, New Mexico . 87123 INWOOD, Col. Eugene Co. I, 275 70th Medics OLSON, Thomas J. Died November 11 , 1985 217 Westminster Court DUGAS, Bennie J. Madison, Wisconsin 53714 SHRADER, Col. Harold D. Lafayette, Louisiana KINNEY, Wade M . Sv. Co., 275 2950 Kenmore Place Sv. Co., 275 PO Box 43 Died March 7, 1984 Palm Harbor, Florida 33563 Died January 23, 1986 Bodfish, California 93205 70th Judge Advocate Btty C, ?25th FABn POWELL, Col. William T. Powell . Died March 1, 1986 276th Chaplain November, 1985 Taps . 'No other information available .

Spring, 1986 15 HAYS, Robert C. (Beverly) OLSON, AI N. (Sue) 121 Hotherly Rood 135 William Classen Drive New Members Syracuse, New York 13224 Son Antonio, Texas 78232 HUESGEN, Glen R. ORENSTEIN, Morvin 424 Geyer Forest Drive 14 Ailee Rood Kirkwood, M issouri 63122 Massapequa, New York, 11758 Co. A, 274 ORGAN, Stanley (Muriel) HUNT, Rolph E. 34 Frances Lone DASKIEWICZ, Leo F. (lucille) 917 Boonville Avenue Massapequa Pork, New York 6905 Military Avenue Springfield, Missouri 65802 11762 Omaha, Nebraska 68104 Co. F, 275 570th Signal Co. Co. E, 275 JOHNSON, Albert F. OSIAS, Harold DECELL, Garland T. (Dorene) 233 Shasta Avenue # 50 13 Mutiny Place Key Largo, Florida 33037 ANDERSON, Louis C. PO Box 1002 Eagle Point, Oregon 97524 321 Laurel Avenue (2805 Briorwood) Btty B, 884th FABn Co. C, 276 Millbrae, California 94030 Ruston, Louisiana 71270 OTIO, William F. (Joan) 370th Med Bn Co. B, 276 JONES, Ira C. (Betty) 5011 N. Galena Rood 3 Bellington Court ANDREWS, Herbert J. (Anno) DOYLE, John B. (Margaret) Peoria Heights, Illinois 61614 Baltimore, Maryland 21236 831 Bernard Way 1708 Inlet Drive Co. E, 274 Co. I, 275 Son Bernardino, California North Fort Myers, Florida 33903 92404 Co. I, 276 KAHN, Joseph (Suzanne) PARKER, Cecil I. Co. I, 276 249 Whitney Street 2725 Cedar Point Drive DRYDEN, Bill Son Francisco, California 94131 Waco, Texas 76710 APELGREN, Edwin 1400 Kings Rood 70th Signal Co. Co. I, 276 425 Minneapolis Avenue Neptune Beach, Florida 32233 Gladstone, Michigan 49837 Btty. C, 725th FABn KLETILINGER, Louis A. (Evelyn) PIPER, Dole H. (Vesta) HQ Co., 274 1147 Neptune Avenue 1506 N. Wood Rood EHRGOTI, Roberts E. (Ruth) Akron, Ohio 44301 Peoria, Illinois 61604 BAIRD, John K. 9762 W. (Co. Rd .) 250 S. Co. D,275 Co. D, 275 2618 Fillmore Avenue Russiaville, Indiana 46979 El Paso, Texos 79930 Co. D, 275 LUCKIE, William l. PITSCH, Roy J. Sv Co., 274 620 Ridgerood 329 S. James Street ELWELL, Laurance R. Jr. (Ruth) Lead, South Dakota 57751 Kimberly, Wisconsin 54136 BARTON, John B. (Jorone) 6125 Hwy 101 N. Co. M, 275 16 East Magno Vista Hamel, M innesota 55340 LYMAN, Clisbee Arcadia, California 91006 Btty. A, 725th FABn 435 S. 200 W. # 63-2 REINITZ, Joseph J. Rgt HQ Co., 27 4 Blanding, Utah 84511 100 W. Third Street Apt 209 ERIKSEN, Norman HQ Btty, 884th FABn Waconia, Minnesota 55387 BECKER, W illiam H. (Elsie) Dows, Iowa 50071 Btty C, 883rd FABn 7399 State Rood Co.C, 275 McALEER, John H. (Mary Helen) Cincinnati, Ohio 45230 411 E. Evergreen Boulevard ROUE, H. Elmer Co.H, 275 FANDEL, Thomas J. Vancouver, Washington 98660 Abercrombie, North Dakota 7923 Warren Drive NW HQ, 275 58001 BIRNIE, William H. (Barbaro) Gig Harbor, Washington 98335 10441 Julius 882nd FABn MEADOR, James D. SANDOVAL, Bernard (Aurora) Downey, California 90241 403 A Melody Lone 7808 Ewing Avenue HQ Co, 1st Bn, 276 HALL, Morvin A. Lee's Summit, Missouri 64063 Fort Worth, Texas 76116 405 Inwood Drive HQ Co, 274 Co. G, 275 BOLEN, Gordon D. (lois) Rockdale, Texas 76567 8715 Woodland Avenue E. Btty. C, 883rd FABn MEINECKE, John E. SCHMITI, James R. Puyallup, Washington 98371 247 Prospect Street 4181 - 44th Street Co. G, 275 HAMILTON, Renziem (lois) Newport Beach, California Son Diego, California 92105 7548 Swanson Lone 92663 BRASSINGTON, R. S. (Margaret) Sarasota, Florida 33581 Co. L, 274 SMITH, Lee H. (Hozeldeon) 3737 Chestnut HQ Co, 1st Bn, 27 6 801 Newton Street Corpus Christi, Texas 78411 MELENDY, Paul R. (Florence) Medford, Oregon 97501 AT Co., 274 312 Rosedale Avenue HARTMAN, John E. (Marjy) HQ Divorty Savanna, Illinois 6107 4 1048 R. Rood BROWN, Rudolph R. (Doris) Co. F, 275 SMITH, Neil (Ramona) Mock, Colorado 81535 4514 Taylor Avenue 310 - 5th Avenue SE Co. B, 276 Racine, Wisconsin 53405 MINTZER, Joseph H. (Sereno) Milaca, Minnesota 56353 Co. L, 276 59 Brite Avenue Co. D, 276 HARVEY, Morvin R. Scarsdale, New York 10583 108 Riverview Drive BUTLER, Stanley HQ 70th Div. STALEY, Vernon A. (Shirley) Collins Pork 1113 Homer Court 801 N. Garrison Rood, Apt. 52 New Castle, Delaware 19720 Madison, Wisconsin 53715 MOORE, Daniel K. (Estelle) Vancouver, Washington 98664 Co. I, 276 Co. L, 276 Rt 1, Box 285 Med Det, 274 Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania 18424 HATZ , Robert J. (Vicky) CONROY, Patrick H. (Joan) Co. H, 275 THORSBY, Jock M . (Helen) 5656 SE Horlene Street Rt 1, Box 162 1936 Garfield Milwaukie, Oregon 97222 Manawa, W isconsin 54949 NOLlAN, Hans (Charlotte) Eugene, Oregon 97 405 Co. E, 275 HQ Co, 1st Bn, 27 4 2071 Spring Rood, Rt 4 HQ Co., 2nd Bn, 27 4 Hillsdale, Michigan 49242 HAUGE, Edwin P. (Anno) COY Weldon P. (Ethel) Co. C, 275 4024 NE 59th Street 8710 Gordner Rood Gladstone, Missouri 64119 Fox River Grove, Illinois 60021 Sv Btty, 882nd FABn HQ Divorty 70th Division Assn TRAILBLAZER 16 TOUSIGNANT, Donald A. CHANGES OF ADDRESS LUDWICK, Roy SQUIRE, George 829 Conway 111 Old Forest Rood PO Box 3226 St. Poul, Minnesota 55106 BRADY, Kenneth Pewee Volley, Kentucky 40056 Solem, Oregon 97302 Med. Det, 1st Bn, 27 4 345 Desert Shore Dr. Space 74 MANNING, Carlyle Jr. STEPHENSON, John VAUGHT, Jomes C. (Jeon) Desert Shores, CA 9227 4 2736 Olympia Drive PO Box 36 27 N. Toft Avenue Carlsbad, California 92008 Lillington, No. Carolina 27546 Evansville, Indiana 47711 CASSIDY, Fred 307 Forrest Drive NAEF, Robert VAUGHN, Melvin WERLEY, Douglas E. (Ethel) Heritage Lake 6415 N. Ridge Rd. Lot 39 1364 Morontho Way Moin Street, PO Box 9 Gettysburg, PA 17325 N. Madison, Ohio 44057 Milton, Florida 32570 LoForgeville, New York 13656 Co. A. 37th Med Bn. DOPERALSKI, David OTIO, Herbert WEEKS, Harry 1603 Sunset 2546 Dorothy Avenue PO Box 20219 WESTMORELAND, J. W . {Sugar) Wamego, Kansas 66547 White Bear Lake, Minnesota Raleigh, No. Carolina 27619 Rt 9, Box 1356 55110 Livingston, Texas 77351 ELLIS, Fronk WILSON, Lee Co. I, 276 7185 Routt Street PENNIMAN, Richard Rt 1, Box 446 Arvada, Colorado 80004 312 Walnut Street Pisgah Forest, No. Carolina WHEDON, Robert (Revo) Lonsdale, PA 19446 28768 1734 NW 16th Street ETHRIDGE, J. A. Gresham, Oregon 97030 35649 Riverside Dr. SW PETERS, John M. ZIEMER, Laurel AT Co ., 274 Albany, Oregon 97321 241 Fifth Avenue 4401 N 51 Blvd. Apt 12 Council Bluff, Iowa 51501 Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53218 WILLIAMS, Leonard D. FOSTER, David PO Box 169 805 Haverhill St. #2A1 RIMA, Donald 'EWING, Mrs. C. Harold Copeville, Texas 75018 Millwood 605 Vernon Street 2231 Tyler Lone HQ Co ., 274 Rowley, Massachusetts 01969 Decorah, Iowa 52101 Louisville, Kentucky 40205

WISMAN, Colvin S. (Anne) GOODRICH, Ernest ROOS, Max 'FLEISCHAUER, Mrs. R. H. 5813 W. Club Lone 211 Seward Place Box1674 4623 Cecil Place Richmond, Virginia 23226 Schenectady, New York 12305 Zillah, Washington 98953 St. Louis, Missouri 63116 MP Platoon, 70th Div. GREENOUGH, Rush SCHACHTER, Milton 'FLOSI, Mrs. Shirley WOOLEY, Clyde E. (Marguerite) 229 Rombout Avenue 10314 Briar Hollow Dr. #3 16636 N 58 Street 1134 Vonleor Court Beacon, New York 12508 St. Louis, Missouri 63146 Scottsdale, Arizona 85254 Columbus, Ohio 43229 Co. M, 275 HOLLEY, Earl SCHRAM, Louis 'GILL, Mrs. Marcus PO Box 453 702 Navaho Street 205 !demo Aiken, So. Carolina 29801 Jupiter, Florida 33458 % Autumn Leaves Shreveport, Louisiana 71106 KINDRED, Lawrence Sr. SPOORE, William 97-03 Jamaica Avenue Box 212 'Honorary members Woodhaven, New York 11421 Altamont, New York 12009 *********************** Hair! Hair!

Doggies of the 274th who occupied the German town of Malstatt found a whole batch of wigs which they promptly donned. A colonel spotted them and gave them the stan­ dard chewing-out. Hi s duty done, the officer strode down the street. He was more than a little exasperated when he ran into another enlisted man . "Take that wig off, soldier!" he shouted . It 's a toss-up who was more embarrassed when he found out the unruly mop of unusually long hair was the Gl's very own and very genuine.

KERBACH: CLEARED OF ALL ENEMY- Bitterly, painfully, the 27 4th moves for­ ward on Washington's birthday, 1945. Kerbach, France has been taken as 70th units and their tank support await the order to continue the advance. (Sig­ nal Corps Photo)

Spring 1986 17 formed until it was retired in 1945 . Frank Simmons, Co. B, 270th Engineers, points with pride to that record. He was discharged as a sergeant and was a bridge carpenter-foreman. He and his wife Dorothy live in Kirkwood , Missouri, where he has retired. At the age of 74, he 's among the senior Trailblazers.

Immediately after the* war ended in Europe, the 70th began training for duty in the Far East. Most of us were spared that transfer by V -J Day. But one of our guys did go to Asia and wears a chestful of medals in testimony thereof. It's Philip Livesley, assistant battalion CO with the 2nd Bn , 275th. In January, 1944- when all our privates and pfcs were sent to the Pacific as replacements­ Phil went to the China-Burma-India Theater. Commissioned a ROTC 2nd looie in 1930, he entered active duty about a year before Pearl Harbor and was with the 91 st Division for two years before coming to Camp Adair in May, TRAINING FOR JAPAN- Lahn River at the foot of Oranienstein, '43. After leaving active duty in July, 1946, he The war over in Europe, Trail blazers then Division HQ, these communica­ served in the Reserves until 1968. He retired as immediately went into training for duty tions men move right along with the a light colonel. in the upcoming invasion of the Japa­ Infantry. This photo was made in June, His happiest recollection is meeting with top nese homeland. On the banks of the 1945. military officers in a meeting that brought top­ secret news from the Yalta Conference to dis­ cuss its effect on China, Russia and Japan. AND ... getting his silver leaf from Maj Gen. Wedemeyer. Our man heads Marshall fans To ETO veterans, his decorations are strange but impressive: China's Special Breast Order of Yun Hue, Asiatic-Pacific Theater medal One of the memorable events during the with two stars, American Defense, "Eame Th 70th's basic training at Adair was a visit of It's a small group that can say they served Medal' ' and Bronze Star with two Oak Leaves. Gen. George C. Marshall. A low-key leader, * with the 70th Division from the time it was After the war he established a company that he had great charisma and all who came in was buyer, shipper and broker of potatoes, contact with him on that visit remember him onions and vegetables in Lake Oswego, Or­ with respect and affection. The chaplain egon. There he had married his wife Margaret. Dedicated to keeping alive the memory of a He has a son, two step-sons and five grand­ great soldier and a statesman who conceived baptized us ... natch! children. Retired from business, he has been and carried out the revolutionary Marshall Plan active in many, many civic organizations. that rescued Europe from economic disaster, is Who first called us the "Trail­ the Marshall Foundation. And chairman of the blazers?" board of the foundation is Ross R. Millhiser, Officially, it's Chaplain I. M. Co. A, 275th. Gjellstad of the 27 6th. He recalls When Robert Cason,* Co. I, 276th, was He has overall direction of a wide range of the nicknaming: "Back in early May, inducted, he was placed on "limited service." foundation activities: sponsorship of the 1943, Gen. Dahlquist called a That didn't keep him from a Bronze Star and Marshall ROTC Awards, scholarship and re­ meeting of all the officers of the new Purple Heart , though. search programs, museum and educational division. We were to get acquainted ''On the first day of the spring offensive Co. work and evolving programs to spread knowl­ and also to decide on insignia. I was pinned down on a hill between Forbach edge of the general and establishing him as a "The general said he'd like to have and Morsbach. I went to establish flank pro­ model for young leaders. the Oregon Centennial marked and tection with my BAR and was wounded. " Ross headed a $9 million development pro­ also note our parent division, the 9lst, He also served in the 8th Service Command gram to " Fund the Future." He graduated from in our patch. I thought of the Oregon and played the French hom in the 4th Division Yale University in 1941 and joined Philip Mor­ Trail that the early pioneers had Band. Discharged in Texas, he worked there a ris in his native Richmond, Virginia as operator blazed from Kansas out here and, year, then moved to California, where he put in of a cigarette-making machine. He served in click!, I got the idea. 31 years with North American Aviation, now the Army from '42 to '45, attaining the rank of 'When I suggested 'Trailblazers,' the Rockwell International. He retired in 1979 as major. Back in civilian life he rose to become general immediately accepted it." logistics coordinator. president of Philip Morris. He has been active Chaplain Gjellstad was born in He married Maria Holiday in '49 and they in civic affairs, too. He is a past president of the North Dakota and was a Lutheran had three children. In 1963 he married Maria Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges pastor in lola, Wisconsin before joining Garcia de Bacca who had eight children. Bob and a trustee of Washington and Lee Univer­ the Army. (By coincidence, lola is the has 10 grandchildren. sity. He 's a director of the Virginia Museum home of our president Delyle Om­ He's had two back operations and wears a Foundation and received an honorary doctorate holt today.) pacemaker but rejoices that he is a born-again from Hampden-Sydney College. Christian.

18 70th Division Assn TRAILBLAZER ''The General sez to me II

I arrived at Camp Adair, an eighteen year old Mail Call draftee, August 1943. My G.l. clothes were and the rifle companies moved in with appar­ too large for me so Sgt. Ball and Cpl. Garstki ently little or no resistance. Our suspicion of fitted me. the prisoners being held in the church proved On my first bivouac General Dahlquist came Canoneer remembers Wingen true and we alternately cheered and cried as we out of the field and I thought the general wasn't saw them filing out of the church. Apparently interested in a buck private so I laid down on With great interest I read Fred Cassidy's rec­ the Germans had moved their position at the top the ground. The next minute the general was ollection of the Division's participation in the of the hill and could have been sitting ducks for standing over me; I quote "How did you sleep Battle of Wingen as reported in the October German mortar or 88 fire . last night, soldier"? " Trailblazer." For what it may be worth, my diary tells me There was another young soldier, I think As a 3rd Platoon cannoneer in Cannon Co. that on January 8 and 9, we moved into Rot­ from B Company, 274th regiment, who fired a 276th, I have a vivid memory of this battle and bach, then on to Zitthersheim on January 12 machine gun burst over the general's head. my yellowing diary notes that we moved into where we received unbelievable counter­ Dahlquist walked back and said " don't you the Wingen outskirts on January 5, 1945. We battery fire from German 88's. The Germans ever do that again." Private Ballard was killed were in a 24-hour holding position and at 4 AM apparently had watched us move into position on Saysan, July 1944. on January 7 we hooked up our snub-barreled during late afternoon and about 7 PM they If you ever saw the movie "Fury in the 105 mm howitzer and moved into position on plastered us with a barrage of artillery fire, Pacific" it shows Don Kennedy, former mem­ the top of a high hill overlooking the town. The which proved to be second only to what we ber of Co. H, 275th infantry, shot down by word we had gotten was that our regiment had subsequently experienced on February 26 in enemy machine gun fire, September, 1944. taken Wingen 24 hours earlier but the Germans Forbach. Back to Prune Ridge, I was propped against counter-attacked that night and had recaptured The most frightening sound one could ever a tree when our platoon leader asked to sit with the town taking several hundred of our men as hear was the shrill scream of an 88 shell in the me. l said okay but this is a poison oak patch. prisoners. black of night in the forest. We consoled our­ We sat and talked for awhile. He ended up in As soon as it was daylight, at approximately selves that as long as we could hear them, they the hospital. 6:30AM, we were given orders to demolish the didn't have our name on them. Another bivouac abruptly ended when we town, using direct fire. The only building to be All World War II infantrymen will agree that were informed the 91 st division field artillery spared was the church in the center of town in surviving the winter weather was one of the was using the area for a target practice in two which it was suspected the Nazis might be toughest parts of the war. We spent practically hours. We ran for nine miles with a full field holding our G.l. prisoners. the entire month of January, 1945 , in deep pack. Starting at the edge of town and sighting in snow in the hills and forests around various I was discharged Feb. 1946, at Fort Lewis, the targets by peering through the barrel of the small towns in Germany without spending one Washington. howitzer, we methodically demolished row night inside of a building. My fingertips and after row of homes and buildings. Firing was my toes were numbed and I didn't regain full Bob Lund intermittently stopped while our headquarters feeling in them until around May I. Co. H, 275th platoon communicated with the rifle squads Co. D, 322nd dug in at the edge of town. After firing 188 Lawrence Schuetz rounds of HE shells, the cease-fire order came Cannon Co., 276th 1945 ''Snow, Ridges and Pillboxes, '': At the start AMMUWITION of the I st Bn . assault onto Spicheren Heights, A Company was to be supported by tanks, S/Sgt. Gerald C. Gammill was moving along a FoR T>At>A/ narrow road ahead of his squad and stumbled over a fresh mound of earth. Walking on, he wondered about what he had tripped over. Then, hearing the roar of approaching Shermans ," he realized that it could have been an enemy anti-tank mine. Gammill's shout to halt the lead tank was unheard , and the subsequent blast disabled it. The approach was blocked for the tanks behind, and three of Gammill 's men-Pvt. Martin Roshon, Pfc. Bernice Sturdivent, and Pvt. Charles E. Malone-were wounded. Still the attack continued, but without tanks. 2nd Lt. Aaron C. Adkins ' platoon moved on up and ·cleared• several pillboxes of their enemy occupants by the simple expedient of firing a bazooka round in each time they failed to respond promptly when ordered to come out.

Spring 1986 19 WE'LL STAND ON THIS GROUND AGAIN- Lifers now number 159 Many Trail blazers who will attend the Four new life Members have swelled the Regular dues are $7 annually and are Portland Reunion have made reserva­ total number to 159 says AI Thomas, sek­ due on or before July 1. It would save every­ tions to travel to Camp Adair, birthplace trez. They are: one a lot of time and fuss in' about if you sent of the 70th Division. This is the parade Homer Smith, Dothan, Alabama; in your check today. Al's address is: 203 So. .ceremony in 1943 when the Division Robert Skutt, Strathmore, Ontario, Major Street, Eureka, Illinois 61530. was formally organized. Canada; Robert Utterback, Phoenix, Arizona, and THE COVER Ira Hatch, Northfield, Vermont. is a montage by Chester F. Garst­ Life memberships are $100. They offer ki, associate editor. It first ap­ several advantages. You don't have to peared in the original "Trail­ worry about overlooking your dues pay­ blazer" magazine published at ment. It simplifies the arduous job of the Camp Adair in 1943. All pictures in treasurer. It gives a little working capital for this issue are by Garstki unless the Association. otherwise noted.

NON· PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE THIRD CLASS Edmund C. Arnold PERMIT -1 310 3208 Hawthorne Ave. RICHMOND , VA . Richmond , Virginia 23222

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