AWON Spends Memorial Day with Fathers Buried in Europe

T h e S t a r

Issue 58 "We Speak Their Names" September 2010

Pictured left, the entire AWON entourage ther, LTC Morris Crossen, for the first time, that traveled to Europe for Memorial Day ob- at Ardennes. At right, center, sisters Nancy servances at the American cemeteries at The Netherlands Heath Lawson and Helen Heath Vernon present the AWON (Margraten), Henri-Chapelle and Ardennes. Center, sisters wreath at Henri-Chapelle Cemetery. More stories and pic- Nancy Boothe and Stacy Roberts visit the grave of their fa- tures of the trip inside. AWON Spends Memorial Day with Fathers Buried in Europe

by Gerry Conway Morenski; Contributors: Nan- Five years ago I wrote an article in The Star cy Lawson, Gail Eisenhauer, and Helen Vernon. about the first-ever AWON Memorial Day trip to a foreign cemetery (Margraten). Since emorial Day weekend, 2010, was a mile- then, AWON groups have traveled to Ar- stone in AWON history. dennes and the Philippines. All have been M In honor of the 65th anniversary of Me- unique experiences but with something in morial Day ceremonies in Europe, and thanks in common. Being with other AWONers whose part to a gift to AWON from the Adoption Com- fathers or loved ones are either memorial- mittee at Margraten, three groups of AWON mem- ized or rest at the same cemetery makes the bers and their families traveled to Europe to at- journey ‘softer’. tend ceremonies at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial, the Ardennes American The Margraten Group Cemetery and Memorial, and the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial (Margraten). Those of us who traveled to Margraten in This marked the first time since the end of World 2005 couldn’t imagine how that trip could War II that so many orphans visited their fathers’ be bettered - but we were wrong. The Dutch, graves on Memorial Day. For some it was a return and in particular, the Adoption Committee, trip, for others it was their first visit. For all of us, it was an experience we will never forget. ...continued on page 8

The Star • TheSeptember Quarterly 2010 Newsletter of the American WWII Orphans Network  1 AWON Marks First Spirit of '45 Day

This summer, the U.S. Con- this possible...," comment- gress endorsed August 14 ed McCleary. "... I sincerely as National Spirit of '45 Day, thank all of you who partici- to commemorate the end of pated in this effort." AWON FOUNDER WWII. The first celebration of Na- Ann Bennett Mix All year long AWON members tional Spirit of '45 Day was on across the nation worked to August 14 in New York City. spread the word about Spirit More than 50 AWON orphan AWON OFFICERS and family members attend- President of '45 Day in their communi- Ed Peters ties, and lobbied their con- ed the event in Times Square Vice President gressional representatives to that included celebrities and Gerry Conway Morenski support the measure. dignitaries, USO music, and Secretary AWON wishes to especially a re-enactment of the famous Judy Geis Hoffman "Times Square" kiss. Treasurer thank Lorin McCleary, who Norm Burkey spearheaded AWON's par- AWON stood out among the ticipation in the nation-wide estimated crowd of a thousand AWON DIRECTORS campaign, as well as Roger veterans and supporters with Barry Barr-Finch and Sharon Connor, and all poster-sized photographs of Norma Nicol Hamilton AWON fathers, while AWON Bonnie Crane Blackford Hellums members who helped make it Kathy Le Comte a success, coast to coast. Board President Ed Peters Bob Meek "This is a real achievement made remarks. Pictures from for the Spirit of '45 organiza- the Times Square event and tion and for the many AWON Peters' remarks can be seen AWON ADMINISTRATION Database Manager Ann Bennett Mix members who helped to make on pages 4-5. Pub. Relations Patricia Gaffney-Kindig Bookstore Manager Walt Linne The Star Editor Kathy Le Comte Inside: Asst. Editor Rosalie Miles Francisco Webmaster Rik Peirson Features ListServ Moderators Judy Hathaway, Judy Hoffman Memorial Day Parade ...... 3 National Spirit of '45 Day ...... 4-5 Our Other Hero ...... 6 on the Web: www.awon.org Memorial Day Wreaths ...... 16-18 Email us at: [email protected] Normandy Revisted ...... 18

Atoll of Nanumea ...... 19 The Star is a quarterly publication of the American WWII Orphans Network (AWON), a nonprofit 501 (c) 3, nonpolitical, Departments public service organization, serving the AWON Connections ...... 27 children of U.S. servicemen killed in WWII. The Star is published and mailed from New Members ...... 7 Springfield, Illinois. ISSN 1941-370X (print) AWON Board News ...... 30 1941-3769 (online). Copyright 2010 by the American WWII Orphans Network. All rights reserved. ...and much, much more! Issue #58 1M (09-10)

2 American WWII Orphans Network A collage featuring AWON's participation in the 2010 Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C. (photo courtesy of Warren Hegg, Spirit of '45) AWON Marches in D.C. Parade

"A new awareness of AWON fathers. Some members parade route would rise, was born in D.C. this day." marched the entire parade applaud and cheer. It was That's what AWONer Rog- route down Constitution Av- a magnificent afternoon to er Connor of San Diego, CA, enue in 90-degree heat and see that our fathers have thought upon reading on- humidity, while others rode not been forgotten by the line reports about AWON's in WWII-era Jeeps. people of D.C. ... It was a participation in the Memo- "It was a wonderful and wonderful experience and I rial Day parade in Washing- heartwarming event," added am grateful that I could be ton, D.C. AWONer Lorin McCleary, here to participate." The estimated crowd of who flew in from Albuquer- The Memorial Day week- 300,000 roared as AWON que, NM. "The very best end was part of Spirit of '45's members and their fami- part of this was that when activities to gather support lies marched past, carrying our group of AWON march- for a national day of remem- 200 giant photos of AWON ers passed, people along the brance for the end of WWII. The Star • September 2010 3 National Spirit of '45 Day in New York City

National Spirit of '45 Day in San Diego, CA 4 American WWII Orphans Network WWII End Joyous, Even for Orphans

Remarks delivered by Ed Peters at National Spirit of '45 Day in New York City's Times Square

The members of AWON are about 600 of the rough- the event creates such an atmosphere of relief and ly 180,000 American children whose fathers died joy that you can only be glad and thankful for the in WWII. You see around you a few of our mem- soldiers who returned and for their families. Their bers, along with members of their families. They are hardships, sacrifices, and uncertainty were now at carrying photo posters of their fathers, or someone an end. else's father. Another reason for joy was that it put an end to These are photos of some of the men who did not the creation of more WWII orphans. It is a club to return. Some of those standing are holding their which no one wants to belong. August 14, 1945, father's photos, as I am. We also have here a few happily, ended the addition of new members to that members whose fathers were inducted into military club. We, unwilling members of this club, could service right here in Times Square. only be happy that no one else would be joining As I began to think about this talk, I asked myself, us. “What does the end of WWII mean to me, whose It is not my intention to create a negative or bleak father died, whose father atmosphere. The end of never came home to the WWII was truly a joyous celebration?” I will an- occasion and its remem- swer that question with a brance should be joyous short story. also. We are here, in part, In 1998, AWON held a to remind us all that the conference in St. Louis cost of war is high. Also, near the National Per- we are here to help keep sonnel Records Center. the memory of our fathers We had arranged to send alive. We can take pride requests for our fathers' and feel happiness that VJ military records ahead Day meant the dying had of time. We would visit ended and the goals our NPRC and receive the fathers, and many others, information during a fought to achieve had been visit there. Shortly before leaving for St. Louis, I accomplished. And we are proud to be a part of this found that due to a mishap my father's records had effort to remember and honor their legacy, and to not been requested. These records are one of only a keep their spirit alive forever. few connections we have with our fathers. I was so To the WWII veterans present today I want to say disappointed I decided not to go; it would be too sad “Thank You” for the sacrifices you and your fam- and upsetting to see other people receiving precious ily made. We know every front line soldier, sailor information when I would receive nothing. Now, or marine took the same risk of injury or death and the value of these records may not seem too great to we are thankful for what you have done; for the you. But I can assure you they are indeed precious dangers you survived and the gift you have given to those whose fathers did not return. Anyway, our us and all the children of WWII. We are happy that founder, Ann Mix, called me and wheedled and you returned to continue your lives and contribu- bullied me until I agreed to attend. tions for so many years. Thank you veterans. As we made our trip to the Records Center and And to all the couples who are gathered here to the distribution of records began, I found myself mark this day with a kiss, I hope you will remem- overwhelmed by the joy of those who received in- ber those who sacrificed everything for us, and that formation about their father. In the end it was a you will cherish this as a special moment in your bittersweet occasion, but I could not help but join life. Life is fleeting and uncertain as it is precious the happiness that pervaded the group. And so it and venerable. Please cherish and enjoy those you is, I believe, with VJ Day, the day WWII ended. It love and every moment of joy and happiness in your remains bittersweet, but the power of the day and lives. Thank you.

The Star • September 2010 5 Mom: Our Other Hero by Duane Ticknor They were married in Oc- Dad was declared dead in tober 1941 and pretty much March 1944 but had been Red Wing had that year together as the missing in action for some by Thurland Chattaway and USS Tulibee, his submarine, time prior to that so they had Kerry Mills, 1907 was being refitted and was a very short and scattered in dry dock for much of that time together. We wept deep- Verse: year. After Pearl Harbor was ly for both of their losses at There once lived and Indian bombed, my parents decided that time but after the initial Maid, A shy little prarie maid, it would be best if the family shock, although my dad was Who Sang a lay, a love song was moved to Colorado for always remembered and re- gay, safety as there was a great spected, we all moved on. As on the plain she’d while deal of fear of another attack a-way the day. ...continued on page 7 She loved a warrior bold, on the west coast. this shy little maid of old, but brave and gay, he rode one day to battle far away. Albani Visits Fathers Buried at Florence

Chorus: Now, the moon shines tonight This spring, AWONer Pat Cervenak Albani, and her hus- On pretty Red Wing, band, Dick, took a month-long trip across the Atlantic The breeze is sighing’ and through several cities in Italy. In that busy schedule The night bird’s crying, For afar ‘neath his star she found the time to visit several AWON fathers buried Her brave is sleeping, at Florence American Cemetery, just before the Memo- While Red Wing’s weeping rial Day holiday. Her heart away. "On the afternoon of our last day in Italy, we had the choice of his, my mother’s fa- having pizza in Pisa, or visiting vorite song. It tells so dads in Florence American Cem- clearly how she felt all T etery," she explains. "Of course, of her life. She taught me and my sisters this song when we we made the best choice." were quite young. And then, The Albanis took a shuttle, a when she was in her eight- train and a public bus to the cem- ies, we heard the song as it etery and back. They took photos was originally played - from a of each cross and personally vis- cylinder on a Victrola. ited with each of the 22 fathers I heard her sing the song who were on the 2009 AWON word for word and watched Memorial Day fathers list. her drift back many years past Above, Albani is pictured at the grave of PVT Sydney W. to when our family received official notice of our father's Bennett, father of AWON Founder Ann Bennett Mix. death. All of those years Albani admits to feeling like an "overdecorated tourist" she wept her heart away for in the photo, but since she wasn't able to bring flowers to her husband with whom she each grave, she became the flowers. shared a very short portion of her life. 6 American WWII Orphans Network Welcome New Members

Patricia Mabie Barker, PA, dau of PFC Edward Ellsworth Mabie,Army Anna Belle Myers Benning, MO, niece of PFC Edwin Myers, Army Steve Estrada, NM, son of SSGT Louis H. Estrada, Army Judy C. Gamble, TX, great niece of SGT Garland W. Collier, Army Marsha Jones Goldstein, NV, dau of QMC Marsh Jones, Navy Peggy Killian Hall, AR, dau of PVT Roy H. Killian, Army Jean Miller Harvell, AR, dau of PVT Robert G. Miller, AAF Roger Ward Hirsch, NE, son of 1LT Ward L. Neff, AAF Zudora Brown Keele, TX, dau of PVT Alvis S. Brown, Army Theodore Cheff Krismann, AZ, son of CPT Donald W. Cheff, Army Rosalyn Foster Meacham, WA, dau of LTJG Ross Billings Foster, Navy Janet Robertson, CA, dau of PFC Carl M. Robertson, Army Beth Holmes Schucker, MD, dau of, LTC Stanley Holmes, Army Josephine Applebaum Shaw, CA, dau of PFC Joseph Applebaum, Marines Jean Paul Steinhurst, PA, dau of CPT William A. Steinhurst, Army Henry Rudolph Tenplin, FL, son of PVT Henry R. Templin, Army Al Underwood, GA, son of SSGT Alford L. Underwood, Army Alice Patterson Wade, GA, dau of MAJ Robert F. Patterson, Army

(new members since the June issue of The Star)

...Mom, from page 6 and indoor plumbing. We were there for six or seven years. It was hard to find housing in Mom never showed signs of depression, those days. never resorted to other means of escape and Mom, very creative on a budget, made those didn't complain but moved on with her and very happy days for us by taking us to parks, our lives. We were very lucky in that sense zoos, museums, rodeos, ice follies and on as I am aware of how hard the losses were and on, spending a lot of time with us. for some spouses. Our family of five - a one- Early in her work history she earned $100 year-old girl, a two-and-a-half-year-old boy, a month. Men in the same position earned an eight-year-old adopted daughter from my an extra $100.00 a year because they were dad's earlier marriage, and our grandmother heads of the household. She thought she who lost her husband that same year - picked should get the extra $100 annually and ap- up the pieces and focused on life. plied for it to the board of directors. They The first house we rented after Dad died turned her down. Later the board asked her had one bedroom for Grandma, a kids' room to take a management job for $100.00 more where we three slept, a couch in the living a year but she turned them down because room where Mom slept, and one bathroom. it would take too much time away from the It had a small back porch with a ringer wash family. At the time of course, Ruthie, Rose machine and country kitchen with a coal and I were not privy to all that was going on burning stove for heat. Some houses still had iceboxes but we did have a refrigerator ...continued on page 29 The Star • September 2010 7 ...Memorial Day, from front page na Aubut LaPointe’s visit. We knew about the dinner in our honor hosted us to three events: a reception, a con- that happened next – but there was more. cert - and a surprise. We were escorted by two marching bands On the morning of May 29, our Dutch through Mesch to the town square which friends arranged for an escort of WWII Jeeps is home to a beautiful memorial to the 30th and trucks to take us to our first visit to the I.D. As we arrived we were joined by the cemetery. Many of our travelers climbed on citizens of Mesch. They held a ceremony for and traveled the six miles between Maas- us with dignitaries, speakers, and the Dutch tricht and Margraten in style. and U.S. national anthems. Then, a member AWONer Vikki Rhodes, who was a first- of the Adoption Committee read the names time visitor to Margraten, described her ex- of each of our fathers and loved ones as a perience as a sense of relief. church bell tolled. We held hands - Ameri- "I felt that the hole in my heart got a bit can orphans and Dutch citizens - as we all smaller this day [and] I realized that I wasn't shed tears. the only one who loved my dad. Everywhere AWONer Jim McCollum was just one of the I looked I saw the wonderful Dutch people many who were overwhelmed by the gener- paying their respects to all our fathers. I felt osity of the people of Mensh. a sigh of relief to know that he wasn't alone “I love and respect the Dutch people and here. ... I promised him to try to come again, their country so much. Even after all these but if I can't, the wonderful Dutch would. 66 years, they still show us how to honor and God Bless them all." remember those days, Saturday afternoon and all our dads. When we attended a recep- we pulled into Mesch, tion by Margraten and all the people were Mayor Jean Bronck- there, the band, the ers at the town hall. honor guard ... with At this time some of just the sound of the our members were in- lone drum, rat-tat-tat, troduced and in some rat-tat-tat, and the en- cases, reunited, with tire mass of people the families who have began following the adopted the graves of The Margraten Group - credit Willy Opreij band, I think you could our loved ones. After- have heard a pin drop. wards, we gathered (There was) complete around the AWON tree that the Margraten silence and respect. It looked as though the Kids planted five years ago for a photo with entire village had turned out to pay their re- Mayor Bronckers and some of our adopters. spect to what our dads had done for them. The second Dutch-planned event was a sur- Boy oh boy, it was all I could do to hold up prise even for me, the organizer, and became my emotions, and then when they read all for many of us one of the special memories our dads names, I lost it for sure.” of this journey. The Memorial Day ceremonies took place After the mayor’s reception our bus was on May 30. The weather did not cooperate. escorted to the town of Mesch, the first town We were issued yellow rain ponchos by the to be liberated in Limburg Province by the cemetery staff, and we managed not to let 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Divi- the weather interfere with the experience of sion. By chance an AWON father, SGT Wil- being there together. None of us will ever liam G. Aubut, was a member of this divi- forget hearing Master of Ceremonies Frenk sion and helped liberate the town. The visit Lahaye announce very seriously, “The choir to Mesch was the highlight of AWONer Don- will now sing, God, Have Mercy. The rain mo- 8 American WWII Orphans Network mentarily subsided, and the audience broke ficial reception at the Provincial Palace of out in laughter. Then the rain fell in torrents Liege in honor of both groups. The reception as if the Almighty said, “Are you laughing was led by Myriam Abad-Perick, President at me?” One of our travelers, WWII veteran of the Provincial Council. Walter Steinsiek, captured the moment in a AWONer Joe Lippi, son of PVT Joseph T. cartoon. Lippi, spoke on behalf of the AWON mem- We were honored to have Queen Beatrix in bers with a very moving description of the attendance, as well as U.S. Secretary of Vet- life of a WWII orphan and the ways our loss erans Affairs Eric Shinseki, and we watched impacted our lives. He also expressed how proudly while AWON past-president Glo- grateful we are that after 65 years our fallen ria Zuccarella Layne presented the AWON soldiers are still being remembered. wreath. Following Joe's speech the Orphan Billie Myers group was honored to hear Meeks noted the variety of from WWII veteran Art people who came bearing Mahler who served with PVT flowers that day. Lippi in the 334th Infantry "… Young children with Regiment, 84th Infantry Di- their parents, holding bou- vision. He described in fasci- quets as big as they are... nating detail how he and Joe young men and women the son found each other af- with tattoos and leather ter 60 years. They had been walking up the stairs each living within a few minutes holding a bouquet... older of each other and only met citizens, some barely able The Ardennes and Henri-Chapelle groups. by chance. Since then, their to walk, bringing flowers friendship has deepened and for 'their boys.'" they were able to make this The third event planned by the Adoption trip together along with Art's three sons. Committee for us and for the adopters of Madame Abad-Perick then presented each Margraten took place Monday evening at orphan with a gift from the palace, followed the Vritjhof Theater in Maastricht. We were by a tour. The arrangements for the recep- treated to a wonderful concert that includ- tion were made by AWON's Henri-Chapelle ed a performance by the Jack Million Band, Ambassadors, Régine Villers and her hus- whose members have adopted many of the band, Bernard Achten. Iowa graves as well as names on the Walls of the Missing. The performance concluded The Ardennes Group with performers, orchestra and audience singing, We’ll Meet Again. It was a fitting For three Ardennes AWON travelers, this and lovely end to a fantastic Memorial Day trip marked their first visit to the Ardennes weekend in the Netherlands. American Cemetery and Memorial. Stacy Crossen Roberts reflected on the mo- The Ardennes and ment she saw the graves. Henri-Chapelle Groups “As I turned to walk down the row for the first time, I saw the names. All the names. It These two AWON groups combined for cer- hit me. There are so many. So many soldiers. emonies in their joint honor, then separated So many broken families. We have all made to attend the Memorial Day ceremonies at a sacrifice. The crosses are the symbol of our each cemetery. fathers' sacrifices. Ours is a living sacrifice, Nancy Lawson, leader of the Henri-Chapelle day to day, with our losses. I stand for all the AWON group, reported that there was an of- ...continued on page 10 The Star • September 2010 9 ...Memorial Day, from page 9 Jim Begg. Also in attendance was Howard Gutman, U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, and war orphans. Those who never know about the mayors of Aubel, Henri-Chapelle, Hom- their father. Who have no grave to visit. Who bourg, and several other local towns. All have no facts to read to register the reality. of the family members and WWII veterans Who have no support of other orphans. How present were acknowledged by name. Af- lucky I am to have found these soul-sisters ter the ceremony the AWONers and family and brothers with whom I may laugh and members received a personal greeting by share and be in the present, enjoying life, as Ambassador Gutman and by the NATO rep- our dads died for us to do.” resentative. A highlight for the Ardennes visitors hap- Later that day the group went to the town of pened at the end of the day visiting Ar- Aubel to lay a wreath at the WWII memorial dennes when cemetery superintendent Mi- in the town square. AWON then attended a chael Green asked them to participate in the VIP reception at the Aubel town hall. folding of the flag. Four AWONers took a corner of the flag, and with instruction from Three Become One Again the cemetery staff, properly folded it. The Memorial Day ceremony at Ardennes On Monday, all three AWON groups met for took place in the morning of May 29. Dig- a tour and lunch at the Remember Museum nitaries present included Princess Astrid of in Claremont, Belgium. What a treasure this Belgium; and James Begg, president of the museum is! Our hosts, Marcel and Mathilde American Overseas Memorial Day Associa- Schmertz, owners of this personal museum, tion (AOMDA), which oversees the Memo- greeted us warmly and treated us to some of rial Day ceremonies at Ardennes, Henri- their personal history. Chapelle, and Flanders Field. The Children’s And as often happens when AWONers Choir of Neupres sang both the Belgian and gather, a little miracle happened. AWONer American national anthems. Joe Lagomarsino found a photograph of his On Tuesday, the Ardennes group returned father on a poster at the museum. All of us to the cemetery for a third time for a private are so grateful that we could share this mo- memorial service. The service was written ment with Joe. and conducted by Carol Conrad, sister of These AWON trips to Europe completed a SSGT Walter E. Chilcote, and her daughter, promise that I made to my father on Memo- Nancy Lembke. rial Day at his grave in 2002. I promised him Orphan member Nancy Boothe said travel- then to ‘bring the children’. This year, 51 ing to Ardennes with AWON was one of the AWON members and their families traveled best parts of her experience. to Belgium and Holland. They cried togeth- “I am grateful to AWON for providing this er, they laughed together, they shared their opportunity for me and my husband, Tom, stories, they stood in the rain together, and and sister, Stacy Roberts. We would have they joined for a wonderful lunch together. missed a great deal if we had gone on our But, most importantly, they were there for own. It was comforting to meet others who each other. have so much in common with us and who My sincere thanks to Gail Eisenhauer, the understand our feelings and emotions.” leader of the Ardennes group; to sisters Nan- cy Lawson and Helen Vernon, the leaders of The Henri-Chapelle Group the Henri-Chapelle group; and to our travel agent and fellow orphan Penny LeGrand. The Memorial Day ceremony at Henri- Without their support and willingness to Chapelle was held in the late afternoon of work hard, these trips would not have been May 29, officiated by AOMDA President possible.

10 American WWII Orphans Network Reads Letters to Brother Buried at Margraten WWII Vet Keeps His Promise It is with great sadness that I report the passing of AWON member, Walter Steinsiek, on June 27, 2010. Walter was a WWII veteran who served in the U.S. Merchant Marines, and traveled to Margraten in May with AWON. For Walter, this trip was a ‘dream come true.’ For the Margraten Kids who traveled with him, Walter represented our fathers, and we were honored to have him with us. Walter was an accomplished cartoonist, and had a wonderful sense of humor. His cartoon depicting the torrential rain at Margraten on Memorial Day is one that we will treasure forever. Upon our return, Walter wrote the following article which completes an article that was in the June issue of The Star. His widow, Jane, feels that Walter would want all of you to read the rest of his story. I know all of you join the Margraten Kids in sending heartfelt condolences to Jane and his daughter, Denise. - Gerry Conway Morenski

by Walt Steinsiek long time," so I got up and decided to go t was near midnight on a bitter-cold, with him to the rail- snow-covered, moon-lit night in Passaic, road station and see I New Jersey, in January 1944. I remem- him off. ber saying goodbye to my brother, Henry I remember arriv- F. "Hank" Steinsiek, who had been drafted ing at the smoke- into the army seven months earlier at age filled train station (it 18. I was 16, and we both had celebrated his seemed then that ev- short leave from basic training at Fort Bliss, eryone smoked). The N.C. I hugged him, said goodbye, and then place was full of GI's lay down on my bed. He promised to see our and people, just like Walter R. Steinsiek mother; my sister, Terry, and me, on a Wash- in a movie; some were ington's birthday leave before shipping out. waiting for the same train that would take I thought for a minute, "Damn, this might be them to New York. I was tired - after all, we the last time I will see him again for a very were celebrating earlier - and so I put my head on Hank's lap and we both fell asleep. We were awakened when the train arrived - four hours late. We again hugged and said Moving? goodbye, not knowing it would be for the last New Email? time. Hank did not get leave on February 22 because he got to camp late due to the train's late arrival. Instead, they assigned him "KP" Contact Ann Mix if you change (kitchen patrol) duty. your address or your email. He shipped out February 27, 1944, and in We don't want you to miss a a little over two months, Hank landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day and was in the Bat- single issue of The Star or any tle of the Bulge at Bastogne. He went on to other AWON news: receive five stars, the French Award, and a Ann Mix commendation from President Franklin D. Roosevelt for shooting down the most enemy P.O. Box 822 planes. Ironically, my brother died instantly Moses Lake, WA 98837 on April 8, 1945, after receiving a stray bul- [email protected] let in the head from an American or German airplane that was in a dogfight over Gotha,

...continued on page 14

The Star • September 2010 11 A New Meaning to Memorial Day

Editor's Note: The following piece is from a daughter, and me. I did not feel worthy but journal written by Chuck Gartner, son-in-law I did feel honored and blessed. Today I saw of AWONer Barbara Merryman Swenson, about the price of war in the crosses bearing the his experience at Henri-Chapelle. names of the fallen soldiers, and I saw the cost of war in Barbara’s tears. by C.M. Gartner Day 6 somehow topped Day 5. Today was ay 5 will go down as one of the most the formal Memorial Day ceremony at Henri- powerful and memorable in my life. Chapelle. We got to the cemetery early and D We are here in Liege, Belgium, with had time to walk the grounds and spend AWON. They are here to visit the grave of some private time with each other. their loved one on Memorial Day. Quite Somehow Sue found time to buy different frankly, I have always looked at Memorial colored roses and garnish to make a bouquet Day as the unofficial beginning of summer for her mom. She gave the flowers to her and a day off of work. Af- mom on behalf of each ter today, no Memorial Day of the five kids: three will never be taken so light- pink roses represent- ly again. NEVER. ing the girls and two Sue’s grandfather, PFC white ones represent- Howard Merryman, was ing the boys. Barbara killed in Luxemburg on clung to those flowers February 20, 1945, and is with the same passion buried in Henri-Chapelle and love she used to American Cemetery. His raise her children. marker is our destination When we got to the today. Howard died when cemetery Barbara Barbara was eight years placed some flow- old. Today she told me she ers on a gravesite for Sue Gartner, left, and her mother, Barbara was lucky to have known Merryman Swenson, at the grave of Barbara's a friend. We decided her father. I am sure there father at Henri-Chapelle. to go back to Sue’s were many times in her life grandfather’s grave to she didn’t feel so lucky. get a few pictures be- Howard is buried with 7,991 other soldiers. fore the ceremony started. As we approached They were kids with their lives ahead of the gravesite we saw a man standing in front them, most of them 18 or 19 years old. of Pfc. Merryman’s grave, and he appeared Henri-Chapelle is in Hombourg, Belgium, to be praying. about a 25-minute bus ride through beauti- We asked his name and he replied Hans ful countryside. When we arrived you could Knobloch. When we told him that Barbara see a well-manicured lawn and a colonnade was Howard’s daughter and Sue was his of 24 pylons. When you walk through the py- granddaughter, Hans smiled. He didn’t know lons and look out over the lawn it is breath- much English but he explained that he was taking. You are not sure whether to smile or praying for this man and this grave because cry, so you do both. he felt it was something he had to do. We found PFC Merryman honored in spot He told us he woke up today and told his F-9-12. His granite cross stood shoulder to wife that he was going to pray for “this man,” shoulder with his comrades, but today he pointing to the name Howard Merryman on was with his daughter, son-in-law, grand- the grave stone. He was a big man with a 12 American WWII Orphans Network gentle nature who had driven 40 kilometers to a military cemetery and yet, here I was, from his home in Germany to attend the Me- in Belgium, and literally thousands of Euro- morial Day ceremony at Henri-Chapelle. He peans from many countries had come spe- chose this grave stone because of the flowers cifically to celebrate and pay tribute to U.S. and said he wondered “where all the flow- soldiers. It is hard to describe but all of a ers had gone” - like the song. He sang a few sudden Hans wasn’t such an anomaly to me. bars for us in German with a big smile on his He was representative of a lot of the people face. in this area, and that warms my heart. It was obvious even through our limited Yesterday was about the beauty of the cem- ability to communicate that he felt that all etery and the fact that Sue was able to share the graves in the cemetery deserved beauti- this experience with her mom. Barbara got ful flowers like the display that was placed to introduce her daughter to her grandfa- by Barbara at the base of her father’s granite ther posthumously. You could feel the peace cross headstone. Hans stayed for a few min- and love. It was as if honor and duty met its utes and tried to communicate his apprecia- debtor and the debt was forgiven. tion for Howard and all the Allied Armed God dropped 7,992 pebbles in a pond and Forces. It didn’t matter that he couldn’t find each one caused their own individual rip- the most eloquent English words; you could ples. But over time they overlap, and today I feel his admiration and appreciation. If the was a spot on the latest ripple caused by PFC character of a man is defined by his actions Howard Merryman on February 20, 1945. I when no one is looking, Hans is a man of am confident that over time the ripples go the highest character. He closed his eyes and away and we are simply left with a beauti- prayed for a name on a granite stone... alone ful, quiet reflection pond. on 57 acres of land that was once a battlefield before he was born... and his only reason was to give thanks. When he opened his eyes he Available at the saw that man’s daughter and granddaughter and had a chance to share his feelings. It is AWON Conference God’s irony that on the site of such atrocity in November: can rise such humanity. The ceremony started with dignitaries fil- ing in and a helicopter landing, marking the arrival of someone important. Personally I have never been a big ceremony guy. To me, the word ceremony too many times takes a meaning of putting on a show to recognize a $27 few while forgetting the many that supported the recognized few. Today the ceremony recognized the many while a few humbly spoke, and regardless of their social stature the show was not about them. Now that is If These Stones Could Talk what a ceremony should be. by Col. Calvin G. "Jerry" Lyons Barbara was treated as one of the dignitar- USA (Ret.) ies. We were seated in the third row over- looking the cemetery and countless floral Includes stories from AWON families arrangements and soldiers standing at attention holding flags. When I turned to see how many people were behind us I could not AWON will receive $1 for each book sold believe that there were thousands of people, both seated and standing. I have never been The Star • September 2010 13 ...Steinsiek, from page 11 that invaded the Nazi forces, what they may have thought: "Should we blow up the train Germany. He was buried in Eisenach, Ger- station or try to save it?" I finally dozed off. many. Jane and I were up and ready at 6 a.m. We When the war was over, his body was moved ate breakfast, then joined the line-up for a to the Netherlands American Cemetery and parade to the cemetery. We were put on a Memorial in Margraten. Meanwhile, I was World War II Jeep while other dignitaries out at sea, serving in the U.S. Merchant Ma- rode in 14 other vintage Army trucks and rines and did not learn of his death until late staff cars with screaming sirens and horns. May 1945. The Dutch people who lined the streets As the years passed, I occasionally promised waved, and I gave them the famous Winston myself that I would visit his grave. It may Churchill "V" for victory sign. They respond- have been nearly 65 years lat- ed back in similar fashion. er, but thanks to the Ameri- As we turned into the main can World War II Orphans gate of the cemetery, hun- Network (AWON), which dreds of people lined the found a donor to pay my sides of the entrance. My way to Margraten, I learned heart started to beat faster, last year that I was at long and I felt a slight pain in my last going to get my oppor- chest. I suddenly prayed, tunity. "Oh no, please no heart at- While I was getting ready tack, please God." to make the trip this spring I When we arrived at the went through a box my mom steps of the main entrance, had saved with all of Hank's Jane and I were provided letters, his draft card, and with a driver and an electric the infamous Western Union cart that slowly made its way telegram informing her of to Plot A, Row 14, Grave 30. his death. It was then that We stopped at a pure white I discovered two letters she marble cross with the inscrip- had written to him that were tion I had only seen in pho- returned unopened, marked tographs: Henry F. Steinsiek, "deceased." My mom had PFC 489 AAA AW BN New never opened them, but I Jersey APR 8 1945. I broke decided right then that I down and cried like a baby. would open and read them I proceeded to open and beat his grave site. gin reading the first of two After my wife, Jane, and I arrived in Maas- returned letters from Mom. Again, I broke tricht on May 29, 2010, we went to our hotel down, but Gerry Morenski, our dedicated room, unpacked, rested, and got ready for AWON director of the tour whose father the visit to the cemetery. I couldn't sleep. I is buried in Margraten, finished them for kept getting up and looking out the window. me, with Jane at my side along with a small Across the street was the Maastricht train sta- crowd of supporters. tion. It was very quiet. There were no people, I've always been very proud of Hank's ac- the trains were parked, and there were hun- complishments during the war but no more dreds of bicycles lying around in bunches - so than at this moment. He was indeed a left there sometimes for years, I learned, by member of the "Greatest Generation." student owners and others. A slight breeze Looking back now, weeks later, I realized swept a newspaper across the street, and I I was a long way from Passaic, NJ, but I fi- wondered what it was like for our soldiers nally got to be with my big brother again. 14 American WWII Orphans Network AWONer Meets Schoolchildren Who Adopted Father's Grave

On the AWON Memorial Day overseas trip AWONer Jo- seph Lippi had the pleasure to meet students in Liege, France, who have adopted his father's grave at Henri- Chapelle. Above is teacher Michel Lorquet and class posing with pictures of Lippi's father. Lorquet found Lippi after finding Lippi's Tribute to his father on the AWON website. For the meeting Lippi brought along WWII veteran Art Mahler, who fought in the Battle of the Bulge with Lippi's father. Top right, Lippi, Lorquet, and Mahler with the class. Bottom right, Mahler and Lippi shaking hands with students from the entire school. Lorquet himself has adopted five graves, and his mother, wife and two-year-old daughter each have adopted a grave. Call for Tributes! Add a Tribute to the AWON Website! This could be one of the most long-lasting and satisfying ways to remember your Father, Grandfather, Brother, or Uncle. Just be a current AWON Member! Here’s How: 1. Have a look at our website’s TRIBUTE section at www.awon.org (click “Our Fathers” ) to see what others have done; 2. Check the web page on “How to prepare a Father Tribute” – (at www.awon.org/check5.html); then 3. Scan (or have a Kinko’s scan) your best picture of your loved one in uniform; 4. Collect your thoughts, memories, and service record of your loved one; 5. Send your JPG-formatted image and between 500 and 1,100 words to our Tribute Stager, Nancy Sue Johnson. Her E-Mail address is . . . [email protected]. If you need her snailmail address, just call Nancy Sue at 406/721-6775.

Don’t let another day go by. AWON is honored to help you honor your Father or loved one! . . . a Tribute page is yours for the asking.

The Star • September 2010 15

Half Page for The Star: 7.5” x 4.5” Prepared for AWON by Day One • Any questions, please call Rik: 805/965-7841 • Last Updated: 2/9/09 Memorial Day 2010 Each Memorial Day AWON places wreaths at American military cemeteries overseas and stateside in remembrance of our fathers. Pic- tured here are the wreaths presented overseas. On the next page are the wreaths presented at Arlington National Cemetery and the National Cemetery of the Pacific. This annual AWON project would not be possible without the dedication of AWON Webmaster Rik Peir- Ardennes American Cemetery son, AWON Overseas Wreath Project Chairperson Sharon Crowley Florence American Cemetery and Memorial, Belgium AWON Stateside Coordina- Connor, and many of AWON's overseas friends, some of whom are and Memorial, Italy AWON Stateside Coordinator – tor - Gail Eisenhauer • AWON pictured here. For more color photos of the wreaths and presenta- Bill Chiodo • Presenters – VFW Overseas Coordinator – Ariane tions, go to: http://www.awon.org/new/memorials.html Post 8862 Commander Richard Villers • Presenters – AWONers Hendrickson; VFW Commander, Stacy Roberts, Joanne Pelligri- Department of Europe, Thomas no, Nancy Booth (sitting), Andy Buffington; and Past VFW Com- Mannering, Carol Conrad and mander, Department of Europe, Nancy Lebke Peter Luste

Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, France AWON Stateside Coordinator – Lil Holloway • Presenter – Epinal Su- perintendent Tom Cavaness • AWON friend Daniel Autugelle, who presented the wreath for many years, Suresnes American Cemetery passed away this year. His widow, and Memorial, France Marie-Claude, plans to present the North Africa American Cem- AWON Stateside Coordinator – wreath next year. Sharon Connor • Presenter- Staff etery and Memorial, Tunisia • Suresnes is a WWI cemetery AWON Stateside Coordinator with 24 WWII Unknowns. Their – Diane Sagen • Presenter – children are also known but to Staff God so we honor their fathers for them.

Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, France AWON Stateside Coordinators – Mil- Rhone American Cemetery and lie Cavanaugh • Presenters – orphan Memorial, France Joan Friser, and AWONers John Pas- AWON Stateside Coordinator – Vic key and Ruby Heady • The Paskeys Muller • Presenter - Rhone Superinten- unexpectedly found Friser and Heady dent Scott Desjardins at the ceremony. 16 American WWII Orphans Network Memorial Day 2010 Each Memorial Day AWON places wreaths at American military cemeteries overseas and stateside in remembrance of our fathers. Pic- tured here are the wreaths presented overseas. On the next page are the wreaths presented at Arlington National Cemetery and the Brittany American Cemetery National Cemetery of the Pacific. This annual AWON project would and Memorial, France not be possible without the dedication of AWON Webmaster Rik Peir- AWON Stateside Coordinator – Luxembourg American Cemetery Brian Hope • Presenters – Staff son, AWON Overseas Wreath Project Chairperson Sharon Crowley and Memorial, Luxembourg Connor, and many of AWON's overseas friends, some of whom are AWON Stateside Coordinator – Rog- pictured here. For more color photos of the wreaths and presenta- er Connor • AWON Overseas Coor- tions, go to: http://www.awon.org/new/memorials.html dinator – Denise Thill • Presenters – Denise Thill and Lucie Flammang of U.S. Veterans Friends, Luxembourg

Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Philippines AWON Stateside Coordinator – Netherlands American Cemetery Patty Temte • Presenter- AWON and Memorial, Netherlands friend Vicente Lim Jr., seated, Normandy American Cemetery AWON Stateside Coordinator and grandson Vicente Lim IV. and Memorial, France – Gerry Morenski • Presenter – Lim Jr.'s father is listed on The AWON Stateside Coordinator – AWON Past President Gloria Zuc- Tablets of the Missing at Manila. Lynn Taylor • AWON Overseas carella Layne Coordinator and Presenter – AWON Normandy Ambassador Jean-Marc Lesueur

Henri-Chapelle American Cem- etery and Memorial, Belgium Sicily-Rome American AWON Stateside Coordinator – Rik Cambridge American Cemetery Cemetery and Memorial, Peirson • AWON Overseas Coordina- and Memorial, England Italy tors – AWON Belgian Ambassadors AWON Stateside Coordinators – AWON Stateside Coordinator Bernard and Regine Achten, found- Jean Rhinehart • Overseas Co- – Bob Meek • Presenter – Sic- ers of the AWON Overseas Wreath ordiantor – Jane Thompson • ily-Rome Superintendent Ya- Project • Presenters – AWON mem- Presenters – AWON Cambridge senchak • Attending ceremony bers Nancy Heath Lawson and Helen Ambassadors Gerry and Audrey was AWON member Charles Heath Vernon Darnell Scoggin The Star • September 2010 17 Memorial Day at National Cemeteries

Arlington National Cemetery National Cemetery of the Pacific Arlington, VA Honolulu, HI AWON Stateside Coordinator – Phyllis Epstein AWON Stateside Coordinator – Susan Chadd Louis • Presenters – Connie Caldwell (wheel- • Presenters – Alix Bonnyman Prejean, Adam chair) with nephew, Michael, behind; Ken Un- Clayton (great-grandson of 2LT Ronald E. Dan- derwood (black shirt); and Clatie Cunningham iel), Jane Daniel Nelson (Adam's grandmother), (blue shirt), with grandson (orange shirt) and Vanita Rae Smith

Colonel to Make Sixth Visit in Spring 2011 Repeat Visits to Normandy Cemetery Never the Same

by Col. Calvin G. "Jerry" Lyons, USA (Ret.) Memorial is a special case. My wife and I have visited there five times, and we will go ow many times have you been fortu- back again in March 2011. nate enough to visit your loved one’s Each visit to Normandy has produced a spe- H resting place in one of our beautiful cial memory of one kind or another. On our overseas cemeteries? Hopefully, at least one first visit we saw an elderly man leaving the time. chapel, supported on each side by people we I do not have a family member buried over- assumed were family members. Tears were seas, but a very close friend of our family is streaming down his cheeks. I told my wife, buried in the Manila cemetery. Manila is one “He was here, either on D-Day or during the of the three American World War II cemeter- subsequent fighting to push the Germans out ies I have not (yet) visited. I have been able of Normandy.” to visit the Luxembourg and Florence cem- Seeing that “old soldier” and looking out eteries twice and all other World War II cem- over the more than 9,000 crosses and Stars eteries one time, with the exception of North of David encouraged me to spend the next Africa and Great Britain. The Normandy American Cemetery and ...continued on page 28 18 American WWII Orphans Network Journey Starts with AWONer Scrapbook Orphans Discover Island 'No One Ever Heard Of' by Susan Chadd

ecently the young independent country of Tuvalu has been in the news as R the place that likely will be the first to be inundated by the ocean due to global warming. It’s a country of nine tiny atolls and islands formerly known as the Ellice Islands, one of which is Nanumea. Two AWON members lost their fathers who were with the 27th Bomb Squadron, 30th Bomb Group (Heavy), 7th AAF, based on Nanumea, in November and December of 1943. From left, AWONers Pete Fiore and Susan Chadd, and One weekend this past June Pete Fiore of WWII veteran Logan Cavanaugh Minneapolis, son of 1Lt. Peter Fiore, and me, daughter of 2Lt. Edmund H. Roberts Jr., met Then, a man joined AWON whose father for the first time a veteran from our fathers’ was also in the 27th - Pete Fiore. I passed the squadron. This occurred due to a long chain list along to him and he pursued it, and we of those circumstances which always amaze shared information as we gathered it. us in AWON. Pete is a ferocious researcher. He found the I attended my first AWON function in San Nanumean websites, articles and books writ- Diego in 2000. Never having met another war ten by Keith Chambers and his wife, Anne, orphan before, I was a little scared. as well as books by Peter McQuarrie, a New Lying open on a long table was a large white Zealander who married a Tuvaluan and has binder belonging to Penny Sue LeGrand. In- written books about Nanumea and Tarawa. side was a letter from a man who served in Pete asked me if I knew of these authors. I or- the Pacific, but not in her father’s squadron. dered the books and started my homework. He was in the 27th. I was shocked. The 27th In the meantime a surprising thing hap- was my father’s squadron. pened. One of the veterans I had written to - With some trepidation after I returned home Logan Cavanaugh - had gotten Internet sav- to Chicago I called John Try, the letterwrit- vy and began emailing me. Logan was one of er, who lived in Burlington, NJ. I arranged the ground crew in the 27th from the begin- to meet his niece who took me to meet him. ning when it was based on Nanumea. What I learned was amazing. His war diary Pete and I began a five-way email corre- and my father’s were almost word-for-word spondence about Nanumea with Logan in the description of their missions. Finally I and the Nanumea authors, Keith and Peter. had made a connection. Whenever I meet a WWII veteran, I like to He gave me a reunion list of all the men interview him or her for the Library of Con- in the squadron and I wrote all 140 of them, gress Veterans History Project, so the idea of asking if they remembered my father. Many going to Yakima, WA, to interview him grew answered even though none of them remem- into a Nanumea “reunion.” bered him. I thought I hit a dead end so I ...continued on page 20 didn’t pursue it any further. The Star • September 2010 19 ...Nanumea, from page 19 The squadron was first based on Nanumea while bombing the Gilberts and the Marshall Keith joined me, Pete and Logan in Yakima. Islands, and then moved up to Kwajalein, Keith is a social anthropologist recently re- and then on to Saipan. Their mission was to tired from Southern Oregon University and bomb the islands the Japanese had heavily has conducted field work in Nanumea since fortified during the 1930’s and were using as the early 1970’s. He and his wife, Anne, also outposts for Japanese bombers and fighter an anthropologist, are close friends with planes for control of the Pacific. many Nanumeans today and maintain a web- Logan remembers the day that Pete’s fa- site for them at www.nanumea.net. Logan is ther’s plane returned from its mission and a retired apple orchardist. crashed just off the runway and burst into The three of us spent the weekend talking to flames. He saw the crash and told Pete ex- Logan, meeting his family, and looking at his actly where it occurred. My father also saw artwork and the crash and wrote in his diary: handicrafts from Nanu- Today is the 20th. (November, 1943) mea. Logan The day the Marines are to land we have remembers a day of rest. (The Marine landing was the island on Tarawa to the north, for its size the well, and has most heavily fortified place on earth.) stories about In the first week we flew 4 missions and its people and were up almost 50 hours. … When we the American got back one B-24 was down in the Sea Nanumea expert Keith Chambers, soldiers who just off the island …their rafts broke up left, with Cavanaugh went there: on the reefs two were lost rest O.K. But One Nanu- we lost one ship and part of the crew in mean took Lo- a crash landing on the Island. It hit just gan’s laundry home regularly for his wife to after we landed and burned. (Pete’s fa- wash and would never accept any payment. ther’s plane) As I came back to the tent However, he would accept the gift of a can of they were pulling some from the fire and warm beer. Logan also remembers another others out of the water. young Nanumean, a man born without arms, who could climb up a palm tree using loops Then on November 21 my father wrote: around his ankles and neck and knock down coconuts with his head. Happily, Keith was We buried six. Flags, band, etc. The able to tell Logan that the young man mar- thought struck me that they were a long ried after the war and had children that Keith way from home on some little island no knows. one ever heard of. (His last diary entry Logan was head of a ground crew that main- was on December 23, 1943, and includ- tained one B-24, the Ginny Lynn, throughout ed a description of the desolation on 100 missions. After every mission Logan and Tarawa where he spent the night stag- his crew would work through the night get- ing through to bomb in the Marshall ting the Ginny Lynn ready for the next run. Islands. His plane was shot down on That ground crew stayed with the same December 27 in the Marshalls.) plane as three flying crews came and went after their 30 missions each. Each ground Four people in Yakima heard about the little crewman had his special duty; as armorer, island and will never forget it. The weekend Logan’s was getting the machine guns ready, was a great “reunion” to remember Nanu- no easy task when they were jammed, and mea and its people, islanders and Americans, loading the bombs. then and now. 20 American WWII Orphans Network Our Fathers, Portraits of Men Who Died in WWII and the Children Who Love Them

Thank you to the following AWON members who recently have sent photos to be included in the albums that will be available at the 2010 AWON Conference in Annapolis in November:

Robbie Jean Miller Hayden, daughter of PVT Robert G. Miller Margaret Hohman, daughter of PFC Paul J. Fraesco Rosemary and Rosalyn Foster, daughters of LTJG Ross B. Foster Annabelle Benning, niece of PFC Edwin Myers Sandy Johnson, daughter of 2LT Marx M. Larkin Janie McPherson and Wayne Weekley, children of SGT Alfred "Tommy" Weekley Carolyn Cramer Holley, daughter of 1LT Bryant L. Cramer Gennaro "Jerry" Palmento, son of PVT Jerry C. Palmento Frances Sexton Clemons, daughter of PFC Bernard Sexton Joan F. Adamski Rohde, daughter of 1LT Joseph F. Adamski Darlene Smith and Charlene Coombs, daughters of PFC James C. Edmondson Stacy Crossen Roberts, daughter of LTC Morris C. Crossen William, Lawrence and Ulas Kirby, children of PFC William P. Kirby Joseph Chichelo, son of PVT Generoso Chichelo Robbie Poplett Thomas, daughter of TSGT Gerald H. Poplett Mary Stillwell, Patricia Barker and Roger Mabie, children of PFC Edward E. Mabie Dolly and James Brock, children of T5 Emery A. Brock Penny Dempsey Yazzie, daughter of SSGT Harvey J. Dempsey Jr.

If you are interested in participating in this project, please send an 8 x 10 photo of your loved one who died in WWII with information including his name, rank, group, and date of death. Also send a photo of yourself as a child, no larger than 5 x 7, with your name and contact information. Photos will not be returned – please do not send originals! Your participation indicates your understanding that the albums, including your photos, will be displayed at events without further notification. Send to:

Patricia Gaffney-Kindig 1675 Glen Moor Parkway Lakewood, CO 80215 [email protected]

The Star • September 2010 21 More WWI, WWII New WWII Division MIA's Found Created at DPMO In addition to the crew listed on page 26 of this newslet- It was reported in the Spring and conducting long-term re- ter, the following eight WWII 2010 issue of The Torch, the search support for the WWII servicemen and one WWI quarterly newsletter of the database. serviceman were accounted Defense Prisoner of War / Russell will lead the Geo- for between November 2009 Missing Personnel Office graphic and Information Sys- and June 2010. (DPMO), that a new divi- tems branch by establishing sion has been created within a research, geographic and WWII DPMO that will focus on ac- electronic map support for SSGT Edwin Elliot counting for the more than investigations in Europe and SSGT John J. Farrell Jr. 72,000 Americans still miss- Asia, and coordinating com- SSGT Ivan O. Kirkpatrick ing from WWII. munications with field inves- PO3 Gerald G. Lehman According to The Torch, tigation and recovery teams. CPL Richard H. Loring Bob Newberry, Deputy As- Walters, as head of the In- TSGT Walter A. McClellan sistant Secretary of Defense vestigations and Oral History PO2 William L. Russell for POW/Missing Personnel branch, will work closely with PO1 Charles H. Swanson Affairs, decided a more "in- private researchers and in- tegrated, proactive approach vestigators, conduct onsite WWI for research, analysis and investigations and witness 1SGT George H. Humphrey investigation" was needed to interviews that will lead to account for all missing WWII recovery and identifications, At the end of WWII, 79,000 personnel. conduct oral history inter- servicemen were unaccount- "This approach will make views, and hold conventions ed for. Today, more than use of DPMO’s historical re- for private researchers and 72,000 MIAs remain. search and JCSD collections, investigators. and will soon transition to the task of identifying loss loca- Family Meetings Set for Omaha, S.F. tions," stated The Torch. WWII Division chief is Dr. Cynthia Chambers. She will Two meetings will be held CA. Family members must be assisted by branch chiefs before the end of 2010 for pre-register to attend an Dave Rosenau, Dr. Mark family members wanting to update. Russell and LTC Shawn Wal- know more about recovery Family members wanting ters. The division will include efforts for their loved ones. to attend a Family Update 24 skilled personnel from At the Family Updates fam- or seeking more informa- within DPMO and several ily members will have an tion about their missing new hires. opportunity to meet the loved ones may call their Chambers will focus on de- specialists and scientists respective Service Casu- veloping cases for immediate who carry out the mission in alty Office: U.S. Air Force: and long-term identification. the field. (800) 531-5501, U.S. Army: Rosenau will head the Re- The meeting schedule for (800) 892-2490, U.S. Ma- search and Archives branch the remainder of 2010 is rine Corps: (800) 847-1597, in maintaining the case sum- Oct. 23 in Omaha, NE; and and U.S. Navy: (800) 443- mary briefings, archiving Nov. 20 in San Francisco, 9298. electronic case file libraries, 22 American WWII Orphans Network AWON BOOKSTORE Price List / Order Form

BOOKS (Authors in bold are orphan or family members)

New! If These Stones Could Talk ____ Soldier's Son by Col. Calvin G. “Jerry” Lyons, USA (Ret) $27.00 by Ben McClelland $28.00 ____ Touchstones: A Guide to Records, Rights & Resources for New! The Dad I Never Knew: A War Orphan’s Search for Inner Families of American World War II Casualties, second edition Healing by Ann Bennett Mix $21.95 by Bruce Brodowski $14.99 ____ No Greater Sacrifice, No Greater Love: A Son's Journey to New! Farebersville 1944 Normandy by Jeff Wignall $18.95 by Walter Ford Carter $24.95

____ A Soldier's Daughter ____ D-Day + 60 Years: A Small Piece of Airborne History by Lois Brown Klein $17.00 by Jerome J. McLaughlin $25.00

____ The Ordinary Infrantrymen: Heroes Then, Heroes Again ____ They Also Served: Women's Stories from the World War II by Imogene Woods and Twelve WWII Infantrymen $15.00 Era by Jeanie Sutton Lambright ____ Full Fathom Five: A Daughter's Search hardcover $35.00 softcover $24.00 by Mary Lee Coe Fowler $29.95 ____ Finding Billy ____ Now I Know - A War Orphan’s Journey of Discovery by Diana Thompson Dale, niece $16.95 by Thomas G. Ratliff $17.95 ____ Father Found: Life and Death as a Prisoner of the Japanese ____ When Your Number's Up: Meritocracy Goes to War in World War II by Raymond S. Ross, PhD. hardcover $20.00 softcover by Duane Heisinger $13.95 $10.00 ____ I Can Hear the Guns Now: A WWII Story of Love and ____ Sporty Course (bomber pilots) Sacrifice by Col. Jack Swayze $10.00 by Thomas G. Ratliff $20.95

____ The Hotton Report (about The Battle for Hotton) ____ An 8th Air Force Combat Diary by Robert McDonald $13.95 by John A. Clark $49.95

____ World War II: A Legacy of Letters - One Soldier's Journey by ____ When I See a Forty and Eight... I Remember World War Clinton Frederick $26.95 Two by Jacques Adnet $12.00 ____ In Their Memory: American WWII Orphans Network by Turner Publishing Company ____ Love Always, Ben Standard Book was $49.95 SPECIAL $20.00 by Huey Tyra, nephew $19.95 Leatherbound Book was $79.95 SPECIAL $30.00 ____ For Those Who Love, Time Is Not ____ The Fighting Tigers: The Untold Story Behind the Names on by Kay Brigham was $30.00 NOW $16.00 the Quachita Baptist University WWII Memorial by William Downes $24.95 ____ Lost in the Victory: Reflections of America's Orphans of WWII ____ The War Journey of Major Damon "Rocky" Gause by Susan Johnson Hadler and Ann Bennett Mix $32.50 by Maj. Damon "Rocky" Gause, foreward by Damon L. Gause ____ After the Liberators: A Father's Last Mission, A Son's $21.95 Lifelong Journey by William C. McGuire II $16.95 ____ Love, Honor and Cherish: The True World War II Story of a Screaming Eagle and a Courageous Woman ____ Shobun: A Forgotten War Crime in the Pacific by Sandra Bonilla Thompson $23.00 by Michael J. Goodwin $19.95

More AWON Merchandise and Order Form on Other Side

The Star • September 2010 23 AWON BOOKSTORE Price List / Order Form

VIDEOS

____ AWON 2004 Conference & WWII Memorial Dedication ____ AWON 2000 Conference: Journeys - Finding Our Fathers Special $15.00 by Justin Taylan was $15.00 Special $10.00

____ We Speak Their Names: A Tribute to Our Fathers ____ Sleep My Sons: The Story of the Arisan Maru produced by Patrick Tierney and Terry Boettcher by Shawnee Brittan $30.00 was $15.00 Special $10.00 ____ The War in Europe by Shawnee Brittan $30.00

AWON Logo Products

____ *AWON note cards with envelopes NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! (pkg. of 20) $20.00 ____ *AWON lanyard and name tag/ticket holder ____*AWON Button (2 ¼ inch) $3.00 (4” x 6”) blue with white lettering $6.00 ____*Gold Star lapel pin $5.00 ____*AWON bookmarks ____ Windbreaker (blue) $40.00 1/$1.00, 5/$3.00, 10/$5.00 (circle size: S M L XL 2X 3X) AWON Gold Star Crystal Pendant (no chain included): ____ Denim shirt ___ short sleeve ___ long sleeve $40.00 ____ Gold Star Crystal Pendant 1 1/8” (28mm) $10.00 (circle size: S M L XL 2X) ____ Gold Star Crystal Pendant 1 ½” (40mm) $20.00

____ Golf shirt ____ white ____ blue $35.00 ____ Gold Star earrings $20.00 (circle size: S M L XL 2X) ____ *AWON lapel pin $10.00 ____ *AWON auto magnet $6.00 ____ T-shirt (navy) $20.00 ____ *AWON holiday ornament $10.00 (circle size: S M L XL 2X 3X) ____ Hat $15.00

The Star NEWSLETTERS

____ * Individual issues $2.00 includes P&H ____ * All archived issues: $35.00 includes P&H ____ * Special! Most recent five issues: $7.50 includes P&H

Ordering Information

Postage and handling: $5 for each item. Items marked with an asterisk (*) include P&H. For multiple purchases: Up to $40: $9 P&H $40-$60: $10 P&H Over $60: $12 P&H Send check or money order to: Washington State residents add 7.8% sales tax. Name: AWON Bookstore Address: 5745 Lee Road City/State/Zip: Indianapolis, IN 46216 Email: email: [email protected] Total Enclosed: For more information and color photos go to: www.awon.org/bookstore/bookstore.html 24 American WWII Orphans Network Essays Take First, Third Places Teen Authors Win Awards For AWON Father Essays

Two AWON fathers' Germany and cap- 367th Fighter Group youth that have par- stories are featured tured in August 1944. based in England. ticipated in this edu- in a new award-win- Marched through a He was shot down in cational enrichment ning book of essays nearby town because October 1944 near program, as well as written by middle the railroad tracks Cologne, Germany. countless others who and high school stu- had been destroyed, Both Teremy and have heard of the dents. the townspeople Roberts worked with project or read the The 192-page Amer- brutally at- their teen book." ica's Soldiers: Teens' tacked authors on A second essay Tales of Tribute, is a and killed their proj- contest is now un- collection of essays most of ects for the derway. AWONers that were entered the crew, past year. Norm Burkey and into a national com- including "We are Tom Ratliff submitted petition sponsored by 2LT Rog- honored their fathers' informa- the American Veteran ers. The to have tion during the first Project (AVP). The incident AWON contest but a stu- book, released over became sol- dent match for them the Memorial Day known diers’ couldn't be found. weekend, recently as the stories Their fathers' stories won a GOLD Young Rus- win will be available for Voices Book Award selsheim Massa- and featured the second contest in Youth Nonfiction. cre. in our book of es- that ends December It is available on the The 2010/2011 says," explains Lynn 15. Winning essays AVP website at www. scholarship award Geddie, Director of will be announced in americanvetpower- to the Mission Quest the American Vet- February 2011. of1.com, as well as Flight Camp at the eran Project who co- www.amazon.com. U.S. Air Force's Mu- edited the book with Among the stories seum of Aviation at her son, and is the Want More? told is that of 2LT Robins Air Force daughter of a WWII Norman J. Rogers, Base, GA, is in 2LT pilot who served in There's More father of AWONer Rogers' memory. the China-Burma- News, Madeline Teremy. The essay about India theater. "Both Stories, His story, Bravery LTC Morris Crossen, WWII pilots, 2LT Rog- Won the War, written father of AWONer ers and LTC Cros- Photos, by Georgia middle Stacy Roberts, was sen, exemplify and Father Tributes, schooler Austin Al- written by Georgia represent the sacri- Spirit of '45, exander, tied for first high school student fices many American and other place in the competi- Camille Balboa and soldiers made on be- events & info tion. took third place. LTC half of our freedom. at B-24 pilot 2LT Rog- Crossen was a P-38 Their stories have www.awon.org ers and his crew fighter pilot and dep- inspired and touched were shot down over uty commander of the the lives of American

The Star • September 2010 25 Eight WWII Airmen ID'd This Summer

DPMO has announced the identification of

Michael R. Kindig a.k.a. Michael Osborn eight U.S. servicemen from WWII this sum- Michael unionR. Kindig mer. 1940 - 2010 SGT John P. Bonnassiolle, of Oakland, CA, was aboard a B-24 bomber in April 1944 with Michael Robert Kindig, age 69, died of pancreatic nine other crewmen when they failed to re- cancer at home, in the arms of his wife, Patricia, and turn from a mission over Berlin. daughter, Jennifer, on August 9, 2010. He was born Captured German documents indicated the on November 3, 1940, in Columbia, SC, at Ft. Jack- aircraft crashed near East Meitze, Germany, son where his father, a career officer, was serving in north of Hanover. German forces removed the U.S. Army. When Michael was three years old, his the remains of three crewmen from the site father was declared missing in Papua New Guinea (PNG). and buried them in a cemetery in Hanover. During his life, Michael served in the Marine Re- In 1946, the U.S. Army’s Graves Registra- serves, was a graphic designer, an actor, an art direc- tion Command located the remains of the tor, a photographer and a journalist. Prior to his pass- men buried in Hanover and reburied them ing, he was the editor of the Colorado Labor Advocate. in Belgium, after confirming the identities of As a member of AWON, he attended the 2002 confer- two of the three. ence in Branson where he met Patricia Gaffney-Ansel In 2003, a German citizen excavating the whose father also was MIA in PNG. The couple was East Meitze crash site turned over human married at Yale University in June 2003, and made remains to U.S. officials. A Joint POW/MIA their home in Denver. Accounting Command (JPAC) team excavat- Following a trip to PNG in 1995, Patricia asked Fred ed the site in 2005 and 2007, recovering addi- Hagen to conduct a search for her father’s wreck site. It was found in June 1998, and two days later, Ha- tional remains and crew-related equipment. gen was led to another site that ultimately would be The remains of seven additional U.S. ser- identified as that of Michael’s father. Maj. Earl Kindig vicemen who disappeared during an airdrop and 2LT George Gaffney Jr., were buried in Arlington mission near Myitkyina, Burma, also have National Cemetery with full military honors. Michael’s been identified. wish was to have his cremains buried with his father. They are CPT Joseph M. Olbinski of Chi- Patricia is working to fulfill that wish. cago; 1LT Joseph J. Auld of Floral Park, NY; A memorial service was held at the Kindig home, at- 1LT Robert M. Anderson of Millen, GA; tended by family and friends, and Michael’s new Har- TSGT Clarence E. Frantz of Tyrone, PA; PFC ley Davidson. Rabbi Anat Moskowitz presided, wear- Richard M. Dawson of Haynesville, VA; PVT ing Michael’s favorite blue New York Yankees baseball Robert L. Crane of Sacramento; and PVT Fred cap. “It was a pure Michael moment, said Patricia, “he would have loved it.” G. Fagan of Piedmont, AL. “Michael was my husband and best friend. His intelli- In May 1944, the men were aboard a C-47A gence and broad scope of interests was awe-inspiring. Skytrain that departed Dinjan, India. Shakespeare, art, Beethoven and Harleys – that was In late 2002, a missionary provided U.S. my sweet, shy Michael,” said Patricia. He is survived officials a data plate from a C-47 crash site by a loving family that includes nine grandchildren. approximately 31 miles northwest of Myit- U.S. Congressman Ed Perlmutter of Colorado will kyina. In 2003, a Burmese citizen turned over enter Michael’s name into the Congressional Record human remains and an identification tag or to honor his decades of advocacy for the labor move- bracelet for three of the crew members. ment and his passionate political beliefs. A JPAC team excavated the crash site in 2003 and 2004, recovering additional remains and crew-related equipment. 26 American WWII Orphans Network AWON Connections Pictures and Stories of Members Gathering Around the Country

to visit her dad's sisters and her many cousins on her dad's side. Sondra was born and raised in Mississippi, where she still lives, but visited her dad's large family in the Chicago area every summer growing up.

Ellen Jones Blackburn, left, enjoyed dinner with fellow AWONers Guy "Joe" Lambert, middle, and Frances Clemons, left, during a visit to southeast West Virginia this summer. Joe's In May, "The Traveling Trio" of, left to right, father, who is buried near Bluefield, WV, was Janice Buterbaugh, Lynne Lecrone and Jeanne killed on Okinawa and is mentioned at length Rhinehart, went on a day-trip to the World in the book, With the Old Breed at Peleliu and War II "Liberty Ship" the USS John W. Brown, Okinawa. Frances' father was killed in France in Baltimore, MD. The plan was to cruise the and is buried at Brittany American Cemetery. Chesapeake Bay for six hours, but the U.S. Ellen's dad is buried at Luxembourg American Coast Guard prohibited cruising that day due Cemetery. Ellen to strong winds. Despite being docked, the girls had a good time on board. A band played 1940s popular and military tunes, and filled roles ranging from Navy gunners and nurses to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. "General Douglas MacArthur gave a wonderful speech, which drew a lot of applause and cheers," reports Buterbaugh. "There was also entertain- ment by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. You would almost swear it was them." Janice

More AWON News, Stories, Photos and Father Tributes at Kathy Le Comte, left, had lunch with Sondra Braddy Davis, right, in July, during Sondra's www.awon.org visit to Springfield, IL. Sondra was in town The Star • September 2010 27 Guidelines for submitting ...Lyons, from page 18 where I am?” After died over 65 years ago material for publication telling his uncle, who so that the servicemen six-and-a-half years was in one of the first and women of today •Topics considered for publication in The Star include, writing my first, and waves of troops to can experience all of but are not limited to, unit probably last, book, land there on D-Day, the benefits they now reunions, visiting battle or crash If These Stones Could that he was standing enjoy. sites, cemeteries, ceremonies, seeking or finding families and Talk. During each of on the beach look- We also were able veterans, poetry, etc. our subsequent visits ing up at the bluff, to visit the recently I have felt the same his uncle responded, completed visitors •Email copy-ready articles and pictures to the editor in Word, deep emotion I felt ”Elmo, they aren’t center and museum. WordPerfect, RTF, or in the body on that first visit, but shooting at your tail, What a beautiful and of an email. High resolution jpeg, I have also learned are they?” That re- well-appointed facil- bitmap, gif or tiff images are preferred. Text and pictures also something new on sponse has been ed- ity it is! Visitors can can be mailed. Photos returned each visit. ited somewhat. Guess now leave the cem- upon request. During our most which word. etery with a much •Please keep text to one page recent visit in April As we walked through better appreciation (500 to 1,000 words), including 2010, a beautiful, the cemetery, I point- of what actually took pictures. sunny spring day, ed out the markers place in Normandy •Email short articles about we showed my wife’s for the Niland Broth- during the months of resources, queries, book/movie sister and her hus- ers, Teddy and Quen- June and July, 1944. recommendations, and general band the Normandy tin Roosevelt, MAJ My wife and I will information for the List Tips column to the assistant editor. Cemetery for the first Thomas Dry Howie return to Normandy time. My sister-in- (the Major of St. Lo), for our sixth visit in •Preference is given to material law, Margie, was sur- LTG Lesley J. McNair March 2011. We will written by and about AWON members. prised to learn that (the highest rank- be leading a group those buried there ing American soldier from Tennessee and •Authors retain copyright were not all killed on killed in Europe), and Ohio during a one- to published original writing. Permission to reprint should D-Day, as she had as- PFC Milous McEn- week trip to Paris, be obtained from the author by sumed. tyre, one of the men “Paris Your Way.” contacting the editor. She and my broth- I wrote about in my We will spend one Kathy Le Comte, Editor er-in-law walked the book. 14-hour day at the D- 869 S. Columbia Ave. steep, winding path Our visit was topped Day beaches, the Nor- Springfield, IL 62704-2342 from the cemetery off by two events. The mandy cemetery, and (217) 787-6512 [email protected] down to the sands of crew of a U.S. Navy other points of inter- Omaha Beach. While destroyer held a forest related to D-Day. I Rosalie Miles Francisco, he was standing on mal re-enlistment cer- can only wonder what Assistant Editor 23015 83rd Ave. W. the beach looking up emony for 25-30 crew new experience will Edmonds, WA 98026 one of the four draws members near the me- greet us during this (206) 334-6017 our troops had to con- morial statue. What a next visit to the hal- [email protected] quer on D-Day, my great memory those lowed grounds which brother-in-law called crew members will look down on Omaha Deadline for the his uncle in North have – re-enlisting at Beach. I do know it December Issue is Carolina; 6:30 a.m. in such an historic loca- will be a memorable November 1 North Carolina. He tion honoring fellow one. said, “Cecil, Guess service members who 28 American WWII Orphans Network ...Mom, from page 7 but Mom did not have time to help me so she agreed to let me look for bottles along but Mom shared this with me when I was side the highways as we traveled. That first much older. She was still a little angry with day we stopped at least four or five times or the board when she spoke of it. maybe more to pick up a bottle or two and Fortunately Mom was educated and could then she started passing them because I saw support us with one job so staying in the same the bottles too late and it took too long to position for 40 years she proceeded to fill the stop, back up, let me out and back in and traditional role of mother: shopping, clean- then return to the flow of traffic. I expect I ing, cooking, budgeting, wiping noses and was throwing a bit of a fit about these missed tears - and father. She taught us to ride bikes opportunities. What I do remember was that and throw balls and shoot guns. She mowed she negotiated with me that she would pay lawns, shoveled snow, coached sports, all me the rest of the $1.50 if we could forget while saving for college (we all three at- about the bottle collecting. I was happy and tended college and two have degrees) and we would be able to get where we were go- always keeping Dad in our memories. ing in a reasonable amount of time. She was I don’t know if she ever dated. I don’t think that dedicated to teaching us the principles so. My sis, Ruthie, would be absolutely cer- that she wanted us to learn. tain she did not. Anyway, it was never brought I cannot fathom her loneliness for a mate to our attention. She was, as far as we know, or need for a partner in making decisions, dedicated to us and us to her. but to her dying day she remained faithful She was exceptional making all discipline and dedicated to the marriage vows between decisions, keeping things fair and educa- her and our father. Our years as youths were tional and upbeat and never letting us feel great but of course as kids we challenged that we were not worthy or not loved. She the adults in our lives and presented many was strict and tenacious in teaching values challenges to Mom. She was great, always she thought important: being polite with good fair, had exceptional insight and understood manners, helping others, being productive in that if we were to learn to walk, we would and out of school. We took music lessons have to take a few tumbles, and tumble we and practiced, as well as a lot of fun things. did. But there was never a doubt that she It all was part of the mix and she would go would be there to help to pick up the pieces way out of her way to teach these lessons. and encourage us on our way. Her strength I remember one trip to California in the still amazes me. 1940s when I was 5 and wanted to have some She died a few years back, happy and liv- spending money. We did not use any form of ing the good life with my sister. She chose charity except hand-me-downs from cousins to have her ashes placed in the Pacific so and were always taught to pay our own way. that she could once again join our father who At the time soda pop bottles were worth two died over sixty years earlier in the Pacific cents each so I was busy collecting them for and was never recovered. travel money with a goal of having $1.50 for She is my hero and I often wonder how the trip. many other invisible hero’s are out there that It was time to go and I was short and want- continued on after huge and horrific losses ed to spend more time looking for bottles, and silently “wept their hearts away”. The Star • September 2010 29 AWON Board Business 16 May 2010

Financial Report: Norm Burkey presented the monthly financial report. AWON Project Leaders

AWON Awards: Walt Linne gave an update on the Jack Listed below are the names and contact information Forgy Outstanding Service Award and asked the board for AWON's on-going projects. Contact these for nominations for other AWON awards that will be presented at the November conference. people to volunteer, contribute, or learn more:

AWON Election: Five AWON Director positions seats Frequent Flyer Program are up for the election this fall. Directors Barry Barr- Roger Connor Finch, Bonnie Hellums and Bob Meek have decided [email protected] not to sit for re-election. Directors Kathy Le Comte and Judy Hoffman have not declared. The board Knit Your Bit Project discussed names of possible candidates to forward to Norma Nicol Hamilton the nominating committee. Kathy will coordinate the [email protected] election mailing with AWON Nominating Committee Chair Bill Chiodo. Judy Epsha has agreed to chair the AWON Ballot Committee. Margraten Liaison/Fund Gerry Conway Morenski AWON Database: The board continued discussions [email protected] about the AWON database. Mama Jo Memorial Fund Memorial Day Parade: Ed Peters reported that he has Dave Stanek ordered protector sleeves for the AWON father photos [email protected] that will be carried in the Memorial Day parade in Washington, D.C. Ed will coordinate distributing and collecting the photos before and after the parade. Memorial Day Wreath Project Sharon Crowley Connor AWON Overseas Trip: Gerry Morenski discussed the [email protected] difficulties in getting publicity for the Margraten trip and asked for suggestions. Ed suggested that he call Warren National WWII Museum Campaign Hegg to ask for additional publicity from Spirit of '45, Chickie Shields Berry among other suggestions. [email protected]

AWON Phone: Judy reported the need for a volunteer to Reading Air Show check the AWON phone message line. Gerry volunteered to do this starting after June 15. Norm Burkey [email protected] Next Board Meeting: The next telephonic meeting of the AWON Board of Directors is July 18, 2010. Spirit of '45 Campaign Lorin McCleary Judith Hoffman, Secretary [email protected]

This is a condensed version of the minutes. For the complete minutes, visit www.awon.org. 30 American WWII Orphans Network American WWII Orphans Network Application, Registration & Renewal Form

I would like to become a member Membership Levels Register my father/family member and me only Any child of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, Coast Guard or Merchant Renew my membership Marine, who was killed, remains missing in action, or who died in the line of duty or later died of wounds or injuries sustained during World War II, is eligible to join as an Orphan Member. Any direct relative is eligible to join as Information about You a Family Member. Any individual, including friends of those killed in World War II, those who wish to participate in AWON activities, or organizations with an interest in and compatible with AWON’s purposes and goals, are Name eligible to join as an Associate Member. Spouse's Name Address Check Your Membership Category: City, State, Zip Orphan Family Associate Phone (home, work, cell, other) E-mail Relationship to Serviceman Dues and Payment Options Your Date of Birth Basic annual membership dues are $25. Members Would you like to receive The Star electronically? Y N wishing to provide additional financial support to Where did you hear about AWON? AWON and its activities are encouraged to join at one of the following supportive levels: Information about WWII Serviceman Who Died Check one: Basic: $25 Sponsor: $50 Be as complete as possible. If you do not have some of the information, leave it blank and we may be able to provide it to you. Gold Star: $100 Donor: $150 Do not delay mailing the application for lack of information. Patron: $250 Founder: $500 Benefactor: $1,000

Name Members at the Sponsor level and above are entitled to a free copy of the second Last First M.I. edition of Touchstones: A Guide to Records, Rights and Resources for Families of American World War II Casualties, by AWON Founder Ann Bennett Mix. Birth Date Date of Death Place of Death I am donating at the Sponsor level or above and would like Where Buried my free copy of the second edition of Touchstones: Military Unit Yes___ No ___ Service Number Amount Enclosed: $ Additional details about serviceman's death and/or service: (rank, medals, etc.) I give permission to AWON to release my name, address, email address, phone number and relationship to and pertinent information about the serviceman to other members. I understand the list of members is confidential and will never be sold or given to any other organization or business. I hereby release AWON from any liability that may arise from the release of Home Town and State information. Wife’s Maiden Name Signature (optional) Did widow remarry? Y N Names and addresses of your siblings with same AWON is a humanitarian, nonprofit, nonpolitical, public service organization father, and/or additional family members: under Section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Federal Tax code (EINB #91-1538912). Membership is not required to register in our database.

Mail form and payment to:

Norm Burkey AWON Treasurer (Please include information on another sheet, if necessary.) 308 Colgate Dr. Forest Hill, MD 21050 The Star • September 2010 31 Editor, The Star Non-Profit 869 S. Columbia Ave. U.S. Postage PAID Springfield, IL 62704-2342 Springfield, IL Permit No. 500 Address Service Requested

The Star

"Breaking Down the Wall of Silence"

AWON Mission AWON Headquarters To locate and bring together sons and daughters 5745 Lee Road of those who died or are missing as a result of Indianapolis, IN 46216 American involvement in World War II, honor (540) 310-0750 the service and sacrifice of our fathers and [email protected] provide information and support to these people who were orphaned by the war. www.awon.org

AWON Directory

Address Corrections Public Relations Ann Bennett Mix [email protected] Patricia Gaffney-Kindig [email protected] Archives Regional Coordinators Ann Whelan O'Connor [email protected] Barry Barr-Finch [email protected] Bookstore The Star Editor Walt Linne [email protected] Kathy Le Comte [email protected] Dues The Star Asst. Editor Norm Burkey [email protected] Rosalie Miles Francisco [email protected] First Inquiry Coordinators Washington, D.C. Events Patty Temte [email protected] Phyllis Epstein Louis [email protected] Janice Ott Buterbaugh [email protected] Washington, D.C. Liaisons Headquarters Lee Mathis [email protected] Ed Peters [email protected] Jeanine McKenzie Allen [email protected] ListServ Moderators Webmaster Judy Hathaway [email protected] Rik Peirson [email protected] Judy Geis Hoffman [email protected]