Support and sympathy from our friends •1n France

FALL2001 FRIENDS

By Ed Lane, Editor on our WebSite (this is from a was not a great day for freedom translation): and peace." n these terrifying circum­ "My dear American friends, I stances, the French people Almost at the same time Army was very shocked by the terrorist in their entirety stand be­ Leggett, G/ 274 passed on the fol­ I acts of which you were victims. I side the American people. They lowing to us. It comes from Jean­ express m y support for the fami­ express their friendship and Pierre and Claudie Cremailh, AM lies and friends who were their solidarity in this tragedy. of Pulligny: touched. It is necessary to con­ - Jacques Chirac, demn terrorism and this coward­ "We have h eard and saw the President of France. ice. I wish that the President of news today . It's terrible. We are the United States will be able to shocked. It's impossible to call So reported various media af­ find the culprits and to punish you by phone, all the lines are oc­ ter the suicide bomber attacks of them as it is necessary. With my cupied. I will try later. We hope September 11, 2001. you are all in good health."

In the immediate hours Thierry Becker, a native of after those attacks, many Bousbach (who now resides Americans started thinking in nearby Woustviller), wrote who their enemies were. to Army: But, from France, almost On the cover immediately there came 'Tm so d isgusted about messages of support and The cover shows the memorial what happened in your condolences that left no service held in Forbach to show country. Since yesterday, doubt in any of our minds solidarity with the United States TVs only show on all chan­ as to who our true friends and honor the victims of the at­ nels the terrific events that are. There are many mes­ tacks of September 11 , 2001 _ the American people have to sages from many countries These photos, taken on September suffer. Everybody compares corning to the United States; 14, are provided by Alain it with Pearl Harbor with a but for Trailblazers, there Heurtaux, AM, a French citizen. bigger count of victims. You are none felt more person­ This is the first time that color may know that my heart, ally and deeply than those photos have been printed in like the h eart of all French we have been receiving from "Trailblazer". people, is t urned to the our French ami I amie USA. Our President, (friends, both male and fe­ Jacques Chirac, made a male in this translation). comment on TV yesterday only a few hours after the Condolences started coming friendship for the Americans and drama and said that all the via Email during the early after­ the US soldiers who delivered French nation is suffering with the noon of the 11th. The first to France." Americans and specially with the reach me was from my good friend families of the victims. I hope he Alain Heurtaux, AM of Forbach: More on the 12th - Clement will have the same reaction when Keller, a citizen of Stiring-Wendel, our help will be needed to find and "Dear friends, We are morally sent: punish the authors of this 'Barba­ with you! Alain and family." "Dear American friends. We rous' (the President said) act." Then of course the full impact have all been shocked by the re­ On the 13th the following from of the kamikaze attacks started to cent cowardly acts of terrorism Dorothee Kirsch who wrote on hit and the messages rolled in. A against your country and I would behalf of her husband Thomas French citizen named Roland Mag like to extend here in m y name left the following in the guest book and in the name of all our friends, (continued inside back cover) our sympathy and compassion to all American citizens. This day

2 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER The President's"------Report ~ John T. Nothnagle I write this I find myself customary activities, classy enter­ Blunders and Bulges," gives an still recovering from our tainment and interesting optional opening hint of the content and A long motor trip to Spo­ excursions. As much as possible style. I would hope that it could kane. We took the scenic route - we hope to include participation be made available to anyone inter­ Badlands, Yellowstone Park, by the 70th RSC from Lawton_ ested. Mount Rushmore, Little Big Horn And I want to issue a special invi­ Battlefield, etc. - some 3,800 tation to the surviving charter ur mid-summer* doldrums miles in all. Spokane is an attrac­ members who founded the 70th have been enlivened by the tive city, but its main attraction at Infantry Division Association for a O visit of Celine Heurtaux, daughter the moment is as the site of our special honor at what will be its of Alain Heurtaux, AM of 2002 Reunion. I met with Floyd 40th anniversary. When you Forbach, who has chosen Iowa for Freeman, 1/275 Site Chairman of break out your 2002 calendars in her first acquaintance with the the Association, and with person­ January, I will remind you of the US. And why not, with the Missis­ nel from the hotel and from the date, September 4-8. sippi, the Amish, fields of corn Convention and Visitors Bureau to and cattle, a great university cam­ work on details for the reunion. peaking of Floyd,* he told me pus and a picture postcard small We plan to have, in addition to the Sthat he has received a number college campus, and - of course of requests from people who have - delays at O'Hare? read or heard about our Pilgrim­ age Tour in May, who regret hav­ he Association* is a non-profit ing missed it, and who want him The organization, as you know. to plan another one. Floyd, who is T This means among other things Trailblazer (ha! ha!) retired, and who has now that contributions to the treasury led three "last" tours to Europe, is is published four times a year are tax deductible. Many of you willing to do it again, but only if by the 70th Infantry Division h ave made cash contributions he gets a sufficient show of inter­ Association and friends. Sub­ over the years and last year, for est. It would probably be in May scription: $16 annually. the first time, I think, we received and it might be coordinated with a gift of stock. Don Lindgren and I Editor Emeritus the dedication of a welcome sign decided to open a brokerage ac­ Edmund C. Arnold to Forbach inspired by a sign count with the thought that others 3804 Brandon Ave. SW #415 painted by one our men back in might consider gifting with stock Roanoke, VA 24018 1945. If interested give Floyd a as well, particularly stock which (540) 776-2415 call or write him a note. has appreciated to the point where Editor its sale would incur a substantial Ed Lane ne of the *continuing plea- tax liability. Anyone interested in P.O. Box 1282 O sures of the Pilgrimage Tour making such a gift should contact Radcliff, KY 40159 for me is the text of fellow pilgrim Don who will be glad to hear from (270) 352-0753 Charles Cox's study of the role of you. [email protected] the 70th in the war. Charley, as we called him, is a youthful retiree Staff Artist hen you *r ead this our re- Peter Bennet and a friend of Henry Clarke, AT I gional reunions in New Or­ 274. To prepare for the trip he W 3031 Sir Phillips Dr. leans and Omaha will be things of read an impressive number of his­ San Antonio, TX 78209 the past, but as I write I look for­ tories dealing with WWII in gen­ (210) 828-5477 ward to them. I hope that I will eral and with the fighting in Eu­ see you at one or the other, or Graphic Designer rope in December 1944 and Janu­ both. Martin E. Biemer ary - February 1945 in particu­ Louisville, KY lar_ He gath ered the fruit of his Volume 59 Number 4 research in a 23-page small font text written with clarity, honesty, FALL 2001 and wit. His title alone, "Battles, ~ll~

Fall 2001 3 A memorable artilleryman By Ted Heck way to an open field near the top and the target." K/275 of a hill, maybe eight or nine hun­ We trudged back through deep dred yards from Kerbach. We lay snow. A hearty handshake was y favorite forward ob­ in the snow studying the village his only r eward. I never saw him server was Lt. Dick and his map. He started calling again. M Penniman of 275's Can­ back to his guns to lob rounds non Company. We were together into places that might need some As it turned out, we didn't need in college, basic training and artillery help during the raid. We ~the concentrations. Our OCS. And he did good work at marked four or five concentra­ raid the next night was a combi­ Philippsbourg. tions, with Ferguson saying, "I nation flop and success. The ex­ Nevertheless, the most memo­ hope you remember them. Any ­ change of fire was minimal. Our rable artilleryman was a guy I met thing else?" casualties were limited to one sol­ only once and I am not even sure dier from the regimental I&R pla­ of his name, something like "Fer - pointed to a house at the en­ toon who tripped a mine and was guson." He was probably not a I trance to the main street and bruised from stones inside the member of the 70th's DivArty, but told him our POW had said there makeshift explosive device. was a machine gun squad there. some outfit attached to us briefly. The v illage of Kerbach was Although young as I, he was miss­ Ferguson needed only two rounds overrun late r by another regi­ to bracket the house. He asked, ing four or five teeth, noticeable in ment. In our raid we captured no "Upstairs or downstairs?" a guy who grinned a lot. But boy, prisoners, so it was easy to keep could he shoot. He ordered a time delay shell my promise to G-2. and shortly thereafter said "On e arrived at our CP one day the way." My binoculars focused (Editor's note: Ted Heck still H saying that he was there to on the ground floor. There was a has adventures in the snow_ An plot some artillery concentrations puff of smoke from the window, avid skier, he writes a weekly ski around the village of Kerbach, followed by a bang. column, "My Europe" on the which I was assigned to raid with Ferguson shook off m y ap­ Internet_ As a brief biography a couple of platoons. I was happy plause. "Duck soup. It's easy af­ says at the bottom of each col­ to see a friendly face, having been ter you fire a million rounds, umn, his love affair with snow is chewed out that morning by a fu­ which I did all the way up Italy." a big switchfrom his days with rious Colonel in Division G-2. Then he smiled. "You could do it, the 70th Infantry Division when The intelligence officer de­ too. Why do you think I picked "he fought under terrible condi­ manded to know why we had in­ this spot? I'm shooting axially - tions in the snow-covered Vosges terrogated a prisoner whom a pa­ we're all on line - the guns, us, Mountains of Alsace-Lorraine.") trol had captured the night be­ fore. Didn't I understand that we were not professionals or trained () l~l~I (;J1\J"' N()'1,1 (;E to gather important information and that, once a POW told a story, he was inclined to stick with it? Motions due for 2002 reunion I tried to explain to the Colonel All members who wish to motion. The committee will ar­ that we understood his big picture ~ introduce a motion at the range for the CON. You are re­ need for things like unit strength regular business meeting dur­ quested to submit the PRO and troop movements, but we ing the 2002 Reunion should along with your motion. wanted to know where we might send it to the Resolutions Com­ If you need assistance in get our "derrieres" shot off in an mittee ASAP, but no later than preparing your motion, please ambush. November 15, 2001. contact the Resolutions Com­ When published in the mittee in care of: James M. After promising not to break the "Trailblazer" prior to the re­ Hanson (Chairman), 2595 ~rules again, I put on a white union, there will be a PRO (ar­ Landview Circle, Virginia Beach, parka that Lt. Ferguson had guments for) and a CON (argu­ VA 23454, phone: (757) 496 - brought for me and followed him ments against) printed with the 2244. out into the snow. We worked our

4 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER n the Summer 2001 edition tour, the Editor had the opportu­ the Editor wondered paren­ nity to speak with Joch en Seeliger, I thetically (page 22) if medical now the Editor of "Nord Ruf' the markings and the rights of non­ official publication of the 6th combatants were observed during NORD Division. WWII. Comes the following an­ Jochen fought against the swer from Les Habegger. Medic I 70th and s poke with the Editor 1st Bn/ 274: about his impressions of American Combat Medics. This transcript is e wore Red Cross markings )ll~l)J(~ taken from the tape made of that W which included a big white interview. circle with a red cross in the middle on the front and back and :tlllllKINGS I was amazed, coming from the each side of the helmet, and a north, deep in Russia and see­ white arm band with a red cross ing those American medics run­ in the middle. us if we were carrying a weapon. ning around on the battlefield "We wore these at all times We were instructed n ever to b e while the battle was still raging even though some of our Medics without the Red Cross markings. on. I saw m edical vehicles going got hit and some killed. My best "I know some Germans shot a t over the terrain and this would buddy, Jim Fouts, got killed when us, but I also know that at times I have b een entirely impossible in a sniper got him in the middle of could h ave been s hot when I the east. the r ed cross on the front of his wasn't. So it depended upon the "We said, 'Well, we are lucky to h elmet while he was giving aid to rifleman holding the rifle." b e h er e and not in Russia any­ a wounded rifleman. more, and have adversaries who "I remember being told by my * fight a clean war.' We wanted to Battalion Surgeon if we confis­ hile at the Epinal Cemetery do the same, and I think we cated (liberated) a pistol from a W in France during the recent deemed ourselves very lucky." German officer to be s ure and throw it away if we got captured because the Germans would s hoot

1 II II The Ballad of Roger Combat Medic Memorial Fund Young' available A contribution by Frank Ellis, nation is being made in honor of Robert Cole, B / 274 tells u s Medic/274 started the ball roll­ a particular individual or in t h a t h e has a 78 RPM r ecord of ing_ Frank donated $1,000 to es­ honor of Combat Medics in gen­ "The Balla d of Roger Young" (see tablish a scholarship fund in eraL Summer 2001, p age 26). In fact memory of the Combat Medics h e sent a taped copy to the Editor. who gave their lives in service to * The band is Fr a nk Loesser's others_ The details of the fund Floyd Bondy, C / 275 has given with the singer credited as Texas have y et to be worked out, but $50 in memory of Bill Blackwell, (Jim) Robertson r ecorded on th e donations are being accepted_ In C / 275 m edic w ho w as KIA on Bluebird Lab el (RCA). The flip this column we will list the donor Janua ry 4, 1945 while giving aid side is "Talk to the Boss in the and the honoree. to a wounded soldier. Sky" by the same singer. It you Please make out your checks want a copy, just send a blank to: Medic M e morial Fund, 70th * cassette tape to Bob at: 487 Infantry Division Association " .. . for the good of the sick to Batavia Pike, Cincinnati, OH and s end them to Don Lindgren, the utmost of your power . .. " 45244. Treasurer_ Please note if the do-

Fall 2001 5 Theo1dn______

Footlocker .~ Edmund c. Arnold, Editor Emeritus

id you enjoy saluting? ously a World War I veteran. In in '23. An enlisted man and an of­ I got the impression that perfect English he said to us, ficer from every unit t hat had D many - if not most - "That's the blood of the brave men helped defeat Hitler were invited to didn't. They seemed to think this who died to protect their flag." the ceremony. There were more was not a greeting between sol­ That hit me right under the left than 20 Infantry Divisions repre­ diers but an imposed deference to collarbone. sented, as well as Armor, Artillery an upper class. And when they and Special Troops. Trailblazers Just in front of the arch, the did salute, they did it with a mini­ were represented by Lt. Walter Eternal Flame had been re-lighted Snelling, G / 275, and Sgt. John mum of elbow action. in honor of the WWI vets. The Raffm, L/ 275, both wearing Silver Remember that this is just my crowd must have been close to a Stars. impression. If it doesn't coincide million. Although there were no Gen. Omar Bradley, Com­ with yours, let me know. barriers or gendarmerie or soldiers mander of the Twelfth Army But there was an occasion to maintain a boundary, the crowd Group, was the main speaker. He that left no doubt: The men who kept open an area of about 50 feet was not an orator, but his plain threw the highballs were sincere in diameter. A great pile of flowers and soft-spoken remarks were so and eager to pay a tribute. It was lay at the flame and individuals sincere, so inspiring, so apprecia­ in Paris on VE-Day, 1945. I was would emerge from the crowd to tive that many a stern face under in town taking a course on train­ add perhaps a single flower to its steel helmet was washed by ing teachers for the vast program more elaborate floral pieces. tears. of GI schools that the Army envi­ The most touching for me were In '23, honor guards from sioned for the Occupation Era. soldiers, Gls, Britons and French. Companies D and M of the 4th Di­ Classes were called off and we Usually alone but occasionally in vision had lowered the flag when went from the Citie Universite to small groups, they would march the American occupation had the Eiffel Tower, where things smartly to the flame, salute crisply ended. Now 22 years later those were really booming. The city had and obviously with great pride, ex­ companies sent men to raise the been in complete blackout for five ecute a smart about-face and dis­ old flag again. The 38th Division years. When the light came on it solve back into the crowd. There band played the "Star-Spangled was a stirring sight. The buildings were tears in my eyes. Banner." The April sky was seemed to glow and the crowd mostly gray as rain showers kept went delirious. The light-ups were * peppering the crowd. As the flag staggered so I was able to see the J\nother salute gave me sheer was slowly raised, it hung limp, electrifying (no pun intended) mo­ .t"l. elation. It was at Ehren­ almost wrapped around the flag­ ment at the Trianon Palace, then breitsstein, the ancient fortress at pole. at the Opera, Napoleon's Tomb the confluence of the Rhine and Then, as it was almost at the and the Church of Montmartre. Moselle Rivers above the city of top, a blaze of sunshine broke The unforgettable one was at Coblenz. It was Army Day, April through the clouds to spotlight the Arc de Triomphe. The arch 6 , 1945. And it was the first day the banner, and a burst of wind was illuminated by dozens of the Stars and Stripes was raised sent it billowing to its full glory. floodlights and shone as white as over a German fortress east of the And unforgettable exultation. snow. Hanging in the arch were Rhine. In fact, it was the first four flags: French, British, Ameri­ time since 1799 that any enemy * can and Russian. They were had taken the fortress. o what has all this to do with huge, at least 40 feet long. Be­ A momentous ceremony took Smy salute? cause of that size, they rippled place t here. The last time the Chet Garstki and I were there slowly and majestically. American Flag had been lowered to cover the big event for the I said to my companion, in Germany after World War I, it "Trailblazer" newspaper. After the "There sure is a lot of red in those was taken from the Army archives ceremonies I went down the long flags." Standing alongside us was and brought back to be raised hill to get some more film for a white-haired man with many again on a flag pole erected at the Chet. As I came back I met a medals affixed to his coat, obvi- very spot where the old one stood group of five Generals. Bradley

6 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER The American Flag is raised at Ehrenbreitsstein, the ancient above the city of Coblenz, April 6, 1945. fortress at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers (Photo by the late Chester Garstki, HQ/70) was walking with Patton, Patch recalled his baptism of fire at door," Dick r ecalls. "I kicked the and two others whom I didn't Wingen. "We were going around door in and sprayed the interior know. I performed a salute 'clearing houses' of leftover Ger­ with the rest of the clip." Sighted strictly out of the Manual of man soldiers. We were in the chicken coop; sank same!" Arms. And that salute, by an arm middle of an open field - Daniel It was pandemonium! Unex­ with three stripes on it, was an­ Callahan, Ed Dukay and Willie pected language. One was swered by 20 stars! Ah, how Howard. Dan was on point and at chicken and the other was cow sweet it was! the rear was Ray Biernat and m e talk. The occupants offered no r e­ with the BAR." sistance. They could have re­ * They had practically no warn­ ported, "Sighted chicken, KFC h e first Trailblazer war bride ing that German shells were com­ anyone?" T was Galena Outer, wife of ing in. Ray dove for the nearest Brother Ferguson was a Mon­ Sgt. Steve Outer. He was in the shelter. It was roughly three by tana State ASTPer and joined the unit that freed her from a slave la­ four feet with a "roof' m ade of a 70th at Adair. He fought through bor camp. A native of the Sea of few slats. It was an old chicken the war under the Axe Head and Azov. coop with the distinctive perfume as a civilian he was an optom­ of old chicken coops. etrist. He hailed from Wichita, * A couple weeks later they were Kansas. wonder if chicken was on the "cleaning houses" of stay-behind I menu the day when Richard German soldiers. "The moonlight Ferguson , C / 276 discovered that was very weak as we cautiously the guy who had been sitting made our way upon an addition to across the table from him for sev­ a home. We were suspicious but Items for the next edition ready for anything. Slowly and eral months at Optimist meetings are due in t he Editor's mail­ was ex-Trailblazer Ray Cox? carefully we maneuvered into a box by Nov. 15, 2001. We good offensive position. I used a Naturally they soon were will be mailing Dec. 26. swapping lies about WWII. Dick shell to unlock the p a dlocked

Fall 2001 7 Our visit at Philippsbourg

n the Summer 2001 Edition Henriette Walters. Lydi a a nd (page 9) the Editor requested Henriette were childhood frien ds. I that if he had left out any in­ David was in the military sta­ formation about the Pilgrimage tioned in Niederbronn and mar­ Tour he should be notified. Ed ried Lydia, wh o was from Philipps­ Cloonan, D / 275 quickly pointed bourg. That couple now lives in out that one important stop had Niederbronn. not been reported_ That error was Sylvain and Henriette live in an omission that was clearly the Philippsbourg and h ave hosted re­ Editor's and no slight was in­ turning Trailblazers numerous tended. times. During the tour, the bus n preparing this article, t h e pulled through Philippsbourg en Editor exchanged Emails with route to Wingen-sur-Moder with I David who provided spellings and the plan being to return and stop helped with French expressions. in Philippsbourg. Upon arriving in David told us that Lydia lived Philippsbourg we saw a reception in Philippsbourg until "Nordwind" party of some sort waiting at the was in progress (she was seven at city halL We quickly left a delega­ the time). Her family lived in the tion of Trailblazers at that town A monument to men of the 10th Infan­ big house on the southwest side of and proceeded on to Wingen-sur­ try Division occupies an honored place the main intersection. During the Moder and a reception at their city along with those civilian causalities of battle, her mother took Lydia and hall. the Battle of Philippsbourg. The people of that town have honored our men on her brother and sisters to Lydia's pon return to Philippsbourg the most honored plot of real estate in grandmoth er's h ouse in Dunkel­ U we found that Adjoint (Assis­ their town. (Photo by the Editor) thal (about one KM south of th e tant) Mayor Robert S chweitzer had town center and n ear the hills on received the group at city hall with by M. Schweitzer. the west side of the h ighway) to a marvelous wine and cheese re­ Dick Brown, D / 275 was kind get away from the fighting. ception. The wine had been taken enough to fill us in on the recep­ After arriving there, they were from M. Schweitzer's own w ine tion and lunch and a lso told us hiding out in the basement with cellar_ The group then repaired to that premier among our friends in 15 to 20 people when it was hit by a local restaurant where they were t hat area are David and Lydia artillery and caught fire. They left feted with a sit down lunch h osted Brewster a nd Sylvain a nd the building and walked (at least one elderly, crippled lady had to be pulled on a sled) to Nieder­ Some guys will eat anything bronn. Lydia remembers deep snow and getting chewing gum By Tom Higley little party to which h ad been in­ from some Gis on the way. C/275 vited a number of French gu est. Dick Brown a lways tells her Jones though was the main at­ that he was the one who gave her e had a Pfc. in our outfit traction and he went into his spe­ the chewing gum and she always W named Charles cial act. He ate Harry (jokingly of cours e) says she wants A. Jones, Jr. who had -----.. Weeks' Captain bars for to know who fired the shell into been a circus p er­ an appetizer and th en for the house. It was rumored to former before the war the main cou rse ate a have come from an American interrupted his career_ number of wine glasses. tank. From that time on, the fam­ He ate things like Now, that made the ily lived in Niederbronn. burning swords, glass, French a little h ot, de­ o the generous people of etc. In a way the Army stroying precious glass Philippsbourg: wasn't much of a during a war_ They had T change as he had to eat K-Rations the las t laugh though as Jones ate Merci! ... but I digress. too much glass and went to the Vive Philippsbourg! Bill Rorabaugh attended a hospital. Vive la France!

8 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER A tribute at Forbach

By John Nothnagle in the afternoon, the first edifice of rained down on the Schlossberg. 570 Signal Forbach, and the most symbolic. Ed Arnold, who was in the opera­ "After that first surprise the tion, writes that Lieutenant Jean-Claude Flauss, AM, au­ German artillery erupted and (Charles) Kelly had his men retire thor of "Chronicle of the Siege," pounded the hill all through the into the tower and he called for a spoke at a memorial ceremony for afternoon. The barrage seemed to continuous barrage from his own the civilian victims of the siege of ease up as evening began. But at artillery. The return fire killed 35 Forbach on the occasion of a visit 8:00 all hell broke loose. A terrify­ German soldiers, including a Cap­ to the city by veterans of the 70th ing barrage was followed by a fero­ tain, as the shells fell on and Infantry Division, May 19, 2001. cious counter-attack by the Ger­ around the tower. Then, as Ed He said: mans. They attacked in total Arnold continues, they had to re­ darkness, howling like Indians to pulse the attack for good. At first e are standing here near frighten the America ns and to they simply pulled the pins of one of the entrances to make them think that they were their hand grenades and let them the tunnels dug under outnumbered. W (continued on next page) the hill to serve as shelters during "A deluge of fire and steel the bombardments. For 83 days already 2,000 Forbachois found refuge here in dreadful conditions as they waited for their liberation. Deprivations, fear, and despair slowly drained their will to live and to see the end of the night­ mare. "The desperate and brutal of­ fensive launched by the Germans in the Ardennes on the 16th of December 1944 had failed. The 'Northwind' offensive that erupted on the frrst of January 1945 in the northern Vosges near Philipps­ bourg and Wingen, in which the veterans here present and their comrades underwent their bap­ tism of fire, had also failed. "The deep layers of snow and the bitter cold of the month of Old enemies meet as friends. Charles Eldridge 70 Recon (left) and Alexander January were followed by rain and Bargo, H/274 (front, center) greet former German soldiers at the soldaten­ in some places floods. friedhof (cemetery for soldiers) at Buchholz. Identity of Germans unknown, "On February 18, 1945, the as is date of photo. {Photo by the late Chester Garstki, HQ/70} 276th Infantry Regiment attacked from the heights of the Kelsberg Comments at St. Avoid and occupied Oeting, and then moved forward toward Forbach. uring the recent trip to Eu­ "We from the 6th SS-Moun­ The next morning, in the rain, I D rope a joint memorial ser - tain Division have come here to Company of the 276th moved out vice was held at Lorraine Ameri­ pay our d eep respect to the of Petite-Foret, the Kleinwaldchen, can Cemetery at St. Avold brave soldiers of our former to attack the site of the castle ru­ (Summer 2001, page 5). At that American adversaries, espe­ ins and the Schlossberg Tower ceremony, Jochen Seeliger, 6th cially to their fallen soldiers. above. The Germans, surprised, NORD Division spoke. The fol­ May they r est in peace, and fell back and were pushed down to lowing are the remarks Jochen may there be peace between our the foot of the hill. Thus it was made at that time. two peoples forever." that you men took, at around 1 :30

Fall 2001 9 Europe - one more 1 last time'

you may h ave noticed in check. Preside nt John Noth­ Air fare has already been A n agle's column , Floyd blocked at $485 per person plus Freeman, 1/275 has indicated he airport taxes of about $70. That is will put together another trip to round trip Philadelphia to Frank­ Europe, if there is enough inter­ furt. Your air fare from your home est. Floyd needs to hear from you to Phila delphia and return is ex­ right away though if you are seri­ tra, but can be booked by Floyd. ously interested, and by that h e Cost for the land arrange­ means if you have a desire to go ments is $2, 790 per person, and need more information. double occupancy. Single rate is For the trip (which Floyd has $850 more. If you are traveling dubbed the "Once Again Last Time alone and would like help in find­ Return To Europe Tour") you will ing a r oommate, just let Floyd be booked for connecting flights know when you make your reser­ from your home to Philadelphia to Andy McMahon, E/ 216 (left) and Floyd vation. Optional cancellation in­ meet up with the group and fly to freeman, 1/ 215 (right) stand by the surance is available at $85 per Frankfurt on May 6, 2002. The 10th Infantry Division Monument at person. Tour cost based on US tour will arrive in Frankfurt on Lixing. If you want to see this and dollar rate as of August 30, 2001. May 7 and b e bused Dusseldorf to other monuments contact Floyd for the Final payment is due before next trip. board a boat for a five-day Rhine March 1, 2002. (Photo courtesy of River cruise. Clarence Fasbender, F/216). Airfare from your home city is The cruise will take you to Co­ not included in the cost cited logne, Koblenz, Heidelberg, Stras­ above. Neither is passport nor give the group a chance to tour bourg and end up at Basel, Swit­ items n ot on the regular menu, t h e monuments in Fra nce and zerland. You will then stay in beverages with lunch or dinner, h ave a memorial service at the Lucerne for two nights. Then on cu stomary t ip to motor coach Lorraine American Cemetery and to Bodensea a nd the Island of driver and boat personnel. Memorial (St. Avold). You will also Maina u. Floyd n eeds at least 35 to be able to tou r the villages of Four days in Saarbrucken will make this trip. He has to know of Lixing, Behren, Oeting, Spich eren, your interest as soon as possible, Grosbliederstroff, Wingen-sur­ but no later than November 15 in Moder, Philippsbourg, and order to finalize group rates. Call Tribute at Forbach Forbach. Floyd at (562) 926-6828, fax him You will say in Wiesb aden on (continued from previous page) at (562) 229-1674 or write him at: May 19 b efore flying out of Frank­ Freeman Travel Tours, 16813 furt the next day for Philadelphia roll down the steep slopes of the Jeanette Ave., Cerr itos, CA and connecting flights home. hill. 90703. "You Trailblazers finally ost will include t h e Rhine stopped the Germans' stubborn 1 1 River Cruise for five days, all Mystery man actually assault, the s urvivors of which C 1 hotels, the chartered bus and ad­ identified by two Blazers were taken prisoner and led to the mission costs to various sites on r ear. In Summer 2001 (page 25) we the tour. The cost also includes a "In anoth er part of the city, C said no one had identified mystery plan for three meals each day, Company of the 276th succeeded, man John T. Nothnagle, 570 Sig­ gen erally consisting of a buffet after some stiff resistance, to take nal from the Spring 2001 edition. breakfast and dinner at the hotel t h e Marie-Madelein e Hospital in Wrong answer. In all the hub-bub and lunch es (generally while tour­ the afternoon. The liberation of surrounding the trip to Europe ing). Forbach had begun. It would be and the frantic effort to get ''Trail­ done house by house, street by A deposit of $400 (by check) blazer" to press the Editor forgot street, a nd would continue until will be needed. The airline that Andy McMahon, E / 276 and March 14, 1945. Many more vic­ tickets can be charged on a John Haller, A/ 276 had identified tims, civilian and military, would credit card but the cost of the the picture well before t he trip. fall victim to the bitter fighting." land tour must be paid by The Editor apologizes for the error.

10 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER and freezing their assets was a approaching Hawaii were com­ desperate attempt to get the Japa­ puter generated effects that got nese to stop their expansion in the Japanese carriers correct. southeast Asia. Japan did not. With that said, I'd still recom­ Secondly, Admiral Kimmel is mend the movie not because of its read with interest Ed Ar­ made out to be a person who is accuracy, but because it's enter­ nold's take on the movie nothing like whom I have read in tainment. And it will do no harm "Pearl Harbor" and Todd I books about Pearl Harbor. He is for a younger generation to be re­ Anton's guest editorial. Believe it seen as an Admiral who is con­ minded of just what got us into or not their views complement cerned of the possibility that the WWII and its ultimate cost. each other. Todd's insight into the Japanese are going to attack Pearl continual deterioration of the received a few replies from Harbor, when in reality (as all be­ teaching of history no doubt led to those on the 'Blazer Net, rang­ lieved at the time) the Japanese I the misguided attempt at history ing from "good movie" to "Holly­ could not do it. This clouded in the movie Pearl Harbor. wood distorted the facts ...." The everyone's judgment. When the movie first came out, result of years of "revised" history Thirdly, General Short is not I posted my take on the movie on is apparent in this movie and it's a even seen in the movie and is only the 'Blazer Net. Here's what I shame. It is a sad fact that wrote: in today's society that most of our kids get history from ot that my opinion movies and TV shows. It is N counts, but I thought I Pearl Harbor, portrayed in a dramatic fash­ would give my two cents ion in which producers and worth about the movie. I had the Dlovie directors either distort facts heard all the stories and read or get it plain wrong in order the reviews: The love story is Great action to push (perhaps) a private a bore; just hang on until the Great special effects agenda; and in so doing, be- attack. So with my Coke in come irresponsible. Why? hand, I sat down next to the Greatly distorted history Because they fail to teach the aisle, ready to hit the "head" kids . And there is nothing to during the love scenes and By Steve Dixon, HM prevent them (the producers) not miss the action scenes. from doing so. I'd like to Well I was surprised; after know who said it was OK to three hours (yes three hours) I mentioned. As we a ll know, h e distort the facts in the first place! didn't once get out of my seat. It (along with Admiral Kimmel) were ow do we correct this? We was only after the movie was over the men responsible for protecting start in the classroom; not that I looked at my watch. To me Pearl Harbor and bear the respon­ afraidH to tell it like it is, from both that's a mark of a "good" movie. I sibility. sides. To distort or totally throw was surprised about the love hese are but a few examples. away subjects because they offend story; it held my attention and I As for the actual attack, it or are, in today's parlance, "politi­ thought was well done. Make no T does do a good job of showing the cally incorrect" does a n injustice bones about it, this movie is a love confusion of the attack. Special to everyone. The truth becomes story wrapped around the tragic effects, right down to the reflec­ buried; a nd what could perhaps events around Pearl Harbor. A lot tions of the explosions on the body prevent another war, is gone. War of detail went into the set design of Japanese planes, are outstand­ a nd political upheaval know no and it does bring you back to the ing. The shot of the USS Arizona "political correctness." Death and early 1940s. It has the look of a being lifted out of the water as it destruction are suffered by all. period piece. exploded is incredible. Why can 't "all" be taught an As for th e attack, as Hollywood However , for me personally, undistorted view of history? is wont to do, the history has been there were some gaffs that I I was fortunate to have a his­ changed to fit their goals. thought irritating. Granted most tory teach er in high school who irst off, in the movie, the who see the movie will not know taught history correctly and make F Japanese attack because we the difference between a Japanese it fun. We both shared a love of h ave cut off their oil. This does no aircraft carrier and a US carrier. history when it came to WWII. His justice. The real reasons go back Several scenes used US carriers dad was a veteran of the war. We to Japan's invasion of China in for Japanese carriers, while cuts did have some good discussions. the 1930s. Cutting off th eir oil to long shots of the Japanese fleet Thanks, Mr. Booth!

Fall 2001 11 TheEdito~s ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Barracks Bag .~. Ed Lane

d Arnold's excellent column kind. Only he forgot there was a to my side for Order Arms, my in this edition reminds me rail around the stand upon which Army career ended. E of how much I enjoyed sa­ he was mounted. Said rail was * luting. Really, I enjoyed saluting. about belt buckle high ... - Need know during the years since Remember though I entered the I say more? The edge of his fin­ I the war, many of you have had Army in 1970 as a professional, gers hit that rail with a loud moments when something oc­ intending on making it a career by SPLAT! curred that immediately brought making my first hitch with the I did an immediate about face back a flood of wartime memories Regulars. to dismiss my platoon, and to hide (both good and bad). An instant I always considered saluting a my evil grin. I also shot a warning when a smell, a picture or perhaps privilege and an exchange of greet­ glance at the first squad leader a certain phrase brought back the ings amongst soldiers. I really en­ who was suppressing a grin of his memories back instantaneously. joyed whipping out a great salute own. Recently I opened an envelope to officers, if for nothing more My men later told me that the sent me by George White, G/ 276; than to embarrass them into a look on the Lieutenant's face a wonderful gentleman who was good return salute instead of just never changed. He did an about with us during the recent tour to looking like they were swatting face, dismounted the stand and Europe_ The picture was of the flies. Remember: I loved the walked away. About two steps French woman in Grosblieder­ Army, but as an NCO I didn't par­ from the stand though he grabbed stroff who waved and blew kisses ticularly like officers. his injured hand and started rub­ to the liberators as we left that he first instance of saluting bing it briskly. town (see Summer 2001 , page 15). Talk about m emories flooding that I can recall happened in y other memory of saluting T back instantly and causing great basic training. We had a young occurred on the last day of M emotion. I was instantly taken Second Lieutenant named Dennis my service to our great country, back to that town and the sight Parr_ He was a great guy, a good the day I retired. officer, and even though he was and sounds of school children I attended my retirement cer - tough on us (that was his job) he waving tiny French tri-colors and emony in the morning and, com­ was fair. of course Old Glory. It took me a ing out of the building, saluted a minute to clear my throat and On this particular occasion, Chief Warrant Officer 4 who had catch my breath. Lieutenant Parr held a formation attended the ceremony to watch a Unfortunately the picture does on the weekend. For some reason friend of his retire. That was a fit­ not show the lady large enough no NCOs were about, so the Lieu­ ting last salute from a long serving and enough detail so that it can tenant took the formation. I was (28 plus years) soldier to an officer be reprinted. Also, it is one of in charge of Third Platoon as the up from the ranks; but that wasn't those things that most would not trainee leader, so I stood in the the last one. appreciate . . . you had to be there. Platoon Sergeant's position, in That afternoon at five I went to front of and centered on the pla­ ince the tour I have received the flagpole at Fort Knox for Re­ toon. two VCR tapes from tour par­ treat. My youngest son went with S ticipates. Dick Brown, D / 275 At the end of the formation me and ask why we were going sent me one and Charlie Cox sent Lieutenant Parr gave the order, there. I told him I had started my the other_ Both are fine tapes and "Platoon Guides take charge and Army career on Knox and that was brought back a flood of memories. dismiss your platoons!" With this a good place to end it. Also, it the platoon guides rendered the would be the last time I could le­ So good was the Brown tape of hand salute to the officer in gitimately render the hand salute Philippsbourg that I sent it to Tom charge. As usual, I whipped out as a soldier. Higley, C / 275 who fought in that the best salute I could muster, re­ The bugle sounded "Retreat", town. As soon as Tom viewed it ally making my elbow pop when the cannon boomed and then the he wrote and told me that when my hand returned to my side. bugle sounded "To The Colors"_ he viewed the tape he saw once Not to be outdone, the good The flag came down and was again the ridges covered with Lieutenant returned the salute in folded. When my hand returned snow, ice and Germans_ In fact

12 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER Tom says "As Dick's camera scanned a few times the rough Komputer n http:/ 11ranb1azersww2.org mountains around Philippsbourg, I shivered." Korner ~. By Steve Dixon, Webmaster * y the time this article sees who fought in Europe during y the time you get this edi- B print we will have surpassed World War II. Many photographs B tion, Veteran's Day will be 82,000 hits on our page and if the are available. .. hard upon us. Please take a mo­ law of averages holds up we will ment at the 11th hour, of the 11th be close to 100, 000 by December. Title: The Battle for lwo Jima day of the 11th month to remem­ This is a remarkable achievement www.iwojima.com/ ber those who have defended our for such a specialized page. June Iwo Jima was the bloodiest country. Also, remember those of 2001 was our busiest month to battle fought by US Marines in who gave their lives to preserve date with 5 ,758 hits! Actual view­ WWII. This site covers all aspects the freedoms we so often abuse to­ ers were 2,668. It could not have of the battle. day. been done without the help of Pearl Harbor Day will also be each one of you. My heartfelt Title: Naval Historical Center fast approaching when you get thanks to all! www.history.navy.mil this. Remember that day as ales­ This is the US Navy's historical One of the most often visited son in what happens when a site on the web. It has an exten­ pages on our site is the Related country is ill-prepared to defend sive collection of documents and Sites Page. That page list links re­ itself and lets down its guard. photos from WWII. lated to World War II. Links The holidays will also come change often and keeping them up around before the next edition. I Title: Chemical Mortar Battalions to date can b e a daunting task. wish each of you a safe holiday ofWW2 It's a task that I don't mind doing season and enjoyable times with www.4point2.org/index.htm and I h ave found some wonderful family and friends. Again, many A one-stop site on all Chemical sites relating to the history of the veterans have served so that we Mortar Battalions of the US Army Second World War. What follows also may celebrate (or not) a sea­ during World War IL are a few of the better sites to son in any manner we wish. visit. Enjoy them! Title: The French Resistance www.polyinter.com/ resistance/ * Title: The Avalon Project ailing dates for publication URL: www.yale.edu/lawweb/ This site is dedicated to the re­ M year 2002 a r e December avalon/wwii/wwii.htm sistance movement in France. It 26, 2001; April l ; July 1 and Oc­ cover s the p eriod 1940-1945 . From Yale University, primary tober 1, 2002. The deadlines for Note: Site is in French. documents covering the pre-war m aterials to the Editor's mailbox years and the war years. Many are November 15, 2001; February Title: The Battle off Samar: Taffy political docume nts outlining 15; May 15; August 15, 2002. Ill at Leyte Gulf strategy of all nations. Examples: www.bosamar.com/ Pact Between the Axis Powers This is an excellent site detail­ Barring a Separate Peace with the By their plates ing the naval battle off Samar Is­ you shall know them United States or Grea t Britain; land. Photos, documents and per­ December 11 , 1941, Pearl Harbor sonal accounts are available for - Documents; Polish-Soviet Union viewing. Agreements, July 30, 1941; Potsdam Conference, July 1 7 - Title: Nihon Kaigun August 2, 1945; Proclamation of www.combinedfleet.com Unlimited National Emergency, Perhaps the best site available May 27, 1941; The Quebec Con­ on the Japanese fleet. Detailed ference, August 17-24, 1943 - pictures and r eports a bound on Documents. this site. Of particular interest Title: An Infantry Platoon Leader are the reports and histories of ev­ in Patton's Army ery Japanese destroyer. Bob Cole, 8/274 has one set of 2,228 li­ www.bbll.com/army/ cense plates issued to former POWs by Have fun looking through the state of Ohio. This is a highly detailed first­ these sites. Until next time! (Photo courtesy of Bob Cole) person account of a pla toon leader

Fall 2001 13 u~~ri~'sn ______

Corner ,~ By Todd Anton, AM, Association Historian

observers Ken Isaak, HQ I cumstances, German resistance FA and 725 FA reinforced the :fires 883 FA, Chuck Ferree, was becoming stronger during this of the 882 FA. In all, some 558 A. HQ/884 FA and others period. Sprinkled throughout the rounds were :fired in a total of 14 were looking for the flashes of French hillsides and villages were missions_ Among those missions German muzzles and calling in co­ a series of German squads with were the destruction of a German ordinates to the Fire Direction eight to 18 men with small arms 88, a 170 and a mortar squad Centers (FDC) of various battal­ and automatic weapons. Mostly (who were making the advance of ions. Once those fire missions these sightings were from around 274th risky and deadly)_ Those were authorized, the artillery the area of Kreutzenburg Ridge. missions were called in by Wally sprung into action against the Anton. guns, which on March 15 and 16 ( 1945) had killed or wounded 20 'l1DE f;IJNS f)J( nder great duress and at per­ men in the artillery battalions of U sonal risk to his own safety, the 70th Infantry Division. t()llllJlINE I f}L15: Wally called in :fire on or near his Those days were desperate and ()N '11() own position to halt the enemy's the Germans were not holding ability to hinder the advance of anything back. S1lillllllllJ(jllJ~N the Infantry. Exposing himself to 1•1\Il'I1 II German fire, and exposing his he detested Cub planes own position countless times; the T brought about wide spread American shells found their mark fear and loathing from the Ger - Wallace P. Anton, A/ 882 remem­ and the silence of the Germans man troops_ Those small planes bers that the hills around told the deadly tale of Anton's frre were the scourge of the German Saarbrucken formed a basin in mission. For that act, Wally Anton Army_ They despised those little which the Siegfried fortress city was awarded the Bronze Star planes. In Stephen Ambrose's laid. Having command of these Medal. heights would mean that defense book "Citizen Solders" (page 488) The campaign for Saarbrucken of this city would be untenable we can sense this fear in the was in full swing and the artillery and criminal. However at the mo­ words of the author and of the 70th Infantry Division was ment, Wally was just an FO for Wehrmacht Captain Walter really engaged for the :first time in Battery "A" and in no position to Schafer -Kehnert: an overall strategic mission. As know that he was surrounded by "Air supremacy also meant previously stated, Saarbrucken is Germans on the slopes of that the American artillery obser­ located in a basin and whoever Spicheren. ver circled slowly over the battle­ controls the high ground controls field in a small plane, banking his the city. The Germans knew this t that time, 882 FA was com­ wings to and fro as he maneu - I\ and were putting up a strong re­ pleting night displacement vered for a good look at the ac­ .t'"1. sistance; not to defend the city, to new positions to support the In­ tion_ The German Army lived in but to cover their retreat from this fantry attack on Saarbrucken. fear of him. 'It was suicide to fire untenable position. Of course at That morning, with the assistance at anything if you were in sight of the time no one knew that. What of air OPs (Observation Posts) the an artillery observation plane.' follows is a running narration of guns were registered. A prepara- Once spotted, the Germans fig­ t he final days of action in mid tion (softening up) bombardment ured 'we had, at the most a half March 1945 of the 882 FA which was fired from 1510 to 1610 hour before the first shells ar - is reflective for most of the mem- hours. The follow-on attack by rived.' Worse, the Americans had bers of the field artillery battalions 1st Bn/ 274 proved unsuccessful. so many individual shells they of the 70th Infantry Division. However all fire missions met with seemed to fire at individual sol­ good effect against German troop diers. And in the opinion of Cap­ arch 15/ 16 presented the concentrations, machine gun and tain Walter Schafer-Kehnert, left 70th Division with a com­ automatic weapons strong points. M the German Army more or less mon obstacle: those dammed pill­ paralyzed.'' Interdiction missions were also boxes! Strong automatic and Despite their desparate cir- fired during this period. The 495 small arms fire was used in de-

14 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER fense of pillboxes in the vicinity of until the 70th artillery units could evacuating their positions. None­ Hill 256. There wer e groups of five silence those annoying German theless, a total of 477 rounds were to ten m en in each pillbox located positions. They did. A large num­ fired at s u ch n ew targets as Ger - on the north side of the Saar River ber of Trailblazer m issions were man trucks and other vehicles. which was located in the sector of fired during this period. th e 274th. Con sequently, normal he last days of actual combat Two enemy OPs were neutral­ fire mission s were fired on Ger­ for the men of the 882 FA, ized. One of those targets was a T man personnel. All Batteries reg­ 883 FA and 884 FA were on March small wooden house. In front of it istered with two charges on two 19 and 20, 1945. This was to be was a number of German person­ c heck points. Attempts were the most a ctive period of the war nel m a ssing in la r ge number s . made to knock out pillboxes u sing for DivAarty. The targets were immedia tely frred 155 and 8-inch h owitzers but h ad on with m a n y cau salities ob­ Preparations for the crossing little effect. served. Many other German units of the Saar River were completed In all, the Germa n s fired an were also liquidated under th e co­ in the early hours of darkness. All estimated 100 rounds of mortar ordination of Air OPs and the FDC installations known to the Ger - and artillery in the gen eral sector of the 725 FA, 882 FA, 883 FA, mans; including CPs, OPs, a nd of th e 882 FA. On this day the and 884 FA. At this time the 686 gun sections received harassing 882nd an swered th e German at­ FA ch ecked in as a reinforcing ele­ fire_ In res ponse, a fire mission tack with close to 400 rounds of ment. was registered from 0415 to 0445 their own. in support of a river crossing by n March 17I 18 the 882 FA 3d Bn/ 274. arch 16 I 1 7 found the 882 O fired a total of 6 1 7 rounds at M FA in the same vicinity but enemy targets. Missions were catching a mu ch stronger German frred on 13 of the vaun ted 88s, 26 55th and counting ••• attack than at any previous time. rocket launch er s, 30 105s, three The Siegfried Line was cr awling 150s and 62 mortar em place­ John and Pat Chavez, L/ 276 with Germans u sing their small ments. Most of the results were celebrated their 55th wedding an­ arms and a utomatic weapons to successful. niversary on May 26, 2001. After s top the advance of friendly ele­ WWII John hung around th e mili­ ments of the 274th. Incr eased n March 18 I 19 the Germans tary for a while and retired as a morta r a nd a r tillery fire by the 0 were s till r esisting but were Lieutenant Colonel in the US Air Germans increased th e necessity more fluid in their movements. Force. for ground troops to be redeployed We now know that they were

Fall 2001 15 The George A. White Service Men's Center

Editor's note: In Summer 2001 Looking around the lounge I edition (page 1 7) we noted that can see personnel from all Byron had written an article about branches of service and several the George White Service Club. We foreign countries. They are sing­ are pleased to reproduce it here. ing and having lots of good clean fun; if it were not for a place such By Byron McNeely as this they would probably be on 1/ 274 the street or in some dive. There are many writing desk reach Horton's piece in the with stationary and plenty of read­ P Spring (200 I) "Trailblazer" re­ ing material. The friendly atmo­ minded me of something I wrote sphere and great accommodations about the George A. White Service make a person feel so much at Men's Center in Portland, Oregon home and indebted to the city of while I was there on pass some­ Portland for their care and gener - time in October 1943. The article osity. I wrote then (with a few changes) says: he second floor is a large dor - T mitory full of beds where ser­ hile sitting here on the vice men can spend the night. street floor of the This lodging space and beds are W George A. White Service free for the asking. Men's Center in Portland, Oregon, b etter known as the "City of "Little Theater" is located on Roses", I am so impressed with A the third floor. They do this great facility that I want to amateur shows and other activi­ put my thoughts in writing. ties to help make our visit more Located at 523 SW Third pleasant. Tonight as I entered a Street it was named for George Now that we know the origin of band from one of the s hipyards Ared White, who served as a bu­ the name I will endeavor to give a was on the air conducting a bond gler in the Spanish- American War. vivid description of the place. selling campaign. It is a very good As a Major in World War I he be­ band and people are calling in came a hero and, when he died in J\s we walk in the front door pledges in this 5th Bond Drive. 1940, he was a General in com­ .l'"'1. there is a large lounge full of The MC is asking different service mand of the 4lst Division, a unit plush leather chairs. On the left men to say something in support that he had so proudly trained. there is an information desk with of the Bond Drive. I have never The 41st made such an outstand­ some of Portland's volunteer ladies seen anything like this place. ing showing in the South Pacific that are always on duty to help that General White was com­ service men. he fourth floor is devoted mended by Generals George C. On the right side there is a T solely to dancing. There is Marshall and Douglas MacArthur snack bar that runs all the way always a group of b eautiful young because they felt the division's back and across the rear of this ladies called junior hostess to success was a reflection in large large room. More volunteer ladies dance with the service men. The measure of the training received are there to serve us with just ballroom is great with indirect over a period of years under the about anything we would care to lighting and extremely nice inte­ direction of General White. Be­ eat, and all it cost us is a smile. It rior decorations. cause of his outstanding record must cost the city of Portland an this Service Center proudly bears enormous sum of money to oper - I\ s I entered the fifth floor the his name. ate this place. .l'"'1. first thing I saw was a large

16 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER library with all the latest books Craft shop and not far away is a I have never heard of another and there was more writing space. Music Room with just about any service center just like this and if It is so quiet here that a fell ow can instrument anyone would want to there is one they should have the really relax and enjoy himself the play. To the rear of this floor same credit I am trying to give way he could at home. Not far there are showers and free razors Mayor Earl Riley and the good away is a game room that has a and other shaving needs. people of Portland. large number of Ping-Pong and I have no idea what the cost is, pool tables. There are numerous n the sixth and final floor but the operating expense alone small table games scattered 0 there is a gymnasium for must be enormous. I am told that around this floor. In a small room basketball and other physical fit­ the city of Portland pays all the near the library there are several ness sports. There is also more bills; this place is not connected sewing machines with volunteer dormitory space on this floor and with the U.S.O. or any other na­ ladies ready to do repair work on like the other dorm space the beds tional organization. uniforms or sew on insignia. In are as nice as you can find any­ Thank you Portland for your another room there is an Art and where. caring generosity. Another memory

eems as if Preach Horton's Center. I had a cot to sleep on, charge. I am forever indebted to Sitem in the Spring (2001) warm water for taking a shower the people of Portland and to the "Trailblazer" jarred a few memo­ any time, soft chairs in which to wonderful people at the George ries. Richard G. Dedlow, 570 sit and read ... all very hospi­ White Service Center. Signal wrote: table. I stayed there for one sum­ mer and then moved to Corvallis (Editor's note: Oregon has was inducted into the Army in where I got another year of school­ quite a hold on Richard, his enve­ I New Orleans in 1943. After a ing at Oregon State College. lope was postmarked Bend, Or­ short stay at Camp Beauregard, It was nice to have a dry, com­ egon.) Louisiana I was shipped to Or­ fortable place to stay - at NO egon. I was at Camp Adair for most of 1944 so that is when I was introduced to the George White Service Center. Mr. Horton is right, they More fleas treated us Gls very well. The time By Don George not believe we had fleas. He I remember about the place it was K/ 275 gave the Captain small bottles crowded with soldiers, sailors and and told him to bring him volunteer helpers. aptured January 2 at samples - soooo we stood na­ One attractive woman was a C Philippsbourg, I was split ked in front of a charcoal burn­ palmist, so I had my palm read. from my squad ing stove a nd She said I had a long life line . I and sent to Stalag picked fleas for am now 76 so she scored well XIIIC, Hammel­ the Colonel. there! She also said I had lots of burg. We were The n ext day love in m y p sychic make up. two m en to a we were given Doris (an Oregon girl) and I have bunk, on straw showers 25 at a been married more than 51 years, a nd burlap, and time. The show­ so the lady scored well there too. fleas were every­ ers were ceased where. When I was discharged I got a after two days. couple years of schooling then We complained Since not a ll went back to Oregon. I needed a to our Medical Officer, a Cap­ received showers, three or four job and a place to stay. I got the tain from the 28th "Keystone" days later we all had fleas job in a woolen mill in St. Johns Infantry Division. He com­ again. That was the only across the Willamette River from plained to the German Com­ shower we had in four months Portland. And where did I find mandant (a Colonel) who did - Ernie Pyle was right. shelter? George White Service

Fall 2001 17 20420." Flat bronze, flat granite, flat VA grave markers marble, upright granite and up­ By Ed Lane BINGO, marker set. right marble types are available. Editor In talking this over with m y Niche markers are also available wife, I found that she thought that for identifying cremated remains ecently, I was finally able to the m arker was set for free and in columbaria according to the h ave my half-brother's VA knew nothing about ordering a pamphlet. RMarker set on his grave marker. Lesson learned. You may fmd the flat bronze, site. Therein is a lesson for all. Be sure to arrange for the or­ flat granite or flat marble worth My brother (a WWII Vet) died dering, reception, storage and set­ considering. Many couples prefer in February 1998. About a year ting (including payment) of your to have their final resting places after the funeral I had the chance VA Marker. In addition to any marked with matching markers to get back home to Michigan and other arr angements you men and those types of markers are visit his grave. No veteran's might make, be sure to arrange generally easily matched with marker. Knowing full well of his for the ordering and placing of markers available from civilian service in WWII and his service in your VA Marker. The ordering is sources at personal expense. The American Legion (as a Service NOT automatic. Neither is the There is some other good in­ Officer) I knew to a certainty that placement on the grave. A quick formation in the booklet. Guys, he wanted the marker. visit with a local veterans service do your loved ones a big favor and In ch ecking, I found that the officer, your executor and funeral take care of this little detail NOW funera l director had ordered it director for pre arrangements is a (if you haven't already of course). (even though she acknowledged great idea. she didn't have to) at the request Arlington National of my sister-in-law. The funeral * Cemetery columbarium director had had the marker deliv­ I have a marvelous little book­ ered to h er establishment and had let entitled "Federal Benefits for ohn L. Haller, A/ 276 has told the cemetery sexton pick it up. Veterans and Dependents" 2001 J us twice that cremated re­ The funeral director has since Edition. This is also known as VA mains generally can be placed in stopped ordering the markers and Pamphlet 80-01-1 ; P94663. the Columbarium at Arlington Na­ h aving them delivered to the fu­ For your planning purposes, tional Cemetery (see Spring 1999, n eral home. "Too much trouble," the following is quoted (page 37): page 11 and Winter 2001, page says she. "Headstones and markers are 33). That is even though Arlington My sister-in-law had no luck inscribed with the name of the de­ now generally places heavy re­ in getting answers as to when the ceased, branch of service, and the strictions on in-ground burial of marker might be set. That is un­ years of birth and death. Optional remains. derstandable_ Women, in general, items that may be inscribed are Now here is the caveat: Cre­ get ignored by bureaucrats; espe­ military grade, rank or rate; war mated remains are generally eli­ cially when the women are widows service such as 'World War II', gible to be interred in the and the bureaucrats know that no months and days of birth and columbarium. In order for cre­ man will take up for them if they death; an approved emblem of mated remains to be buried in a are ignored. one's belief; and text indicating traditional gr ave (i.e. in the About two weeks prior to get­ valor awards." ground) the more restricted eligi­ ting the stone set, I made a call to It goes on to say: "When bility requirements for normal the cemetery sexton. The male burial occurs in a cemetery other burial of remains must be met. voice leaving a message that left than a military post, state or na­ Urns placed into the colum­ no doubt that this issue would not tional veterans cemetery, the barium must fit into a niche 10 go away apparently got results. headstone or marker must be ap­ inches wide, 14 inches high and About ten days later I got a call plied for from VA. It is shipped at 19 inches deep. back saying that they were setting government expense. VA, how­ There is no difference in mili­ the marker and they wanted to ever, does not pay the cost of plac­ tary honors provided for interment make sure their arrangements for ing the headstone or marker. To of casketed or cremated remains. setting the marker were OK. apply, complete VA Form 40-1330 If you have further questions At that point I happened to and forward it to Director, Memo­ about services available at Arling­ ask if there was a cost. There was rial Programs Service (403A). De­ ton you can call (703) 697-9486. a very nominal cost involved partment of Veterans Affairs, 810 After hearing the menu options, which was immediately paid. Vermont., NW, Washin gton , DC pr ess 5 for general questions. -EJL

18 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER l~IXl~I) llilYf) Nl~'l1S !

their first casualties, and the month. A Private First Class got men's reactions to them and de­ an additional $4.80. Overseas tails of the fighting in the High added $10 per month and the Vosges Mountains. Then his story award of the Combat Infantry By Bob Hays ends abruptly on November 23 Badge added $5 per month. Wow! C/274 when, after heavy fighting (result­ Gurley a lso had previously ing in a Presidential Unit Citation (1945) authored the history of the n a sidebar article (Spring for the events of November 16- 399th Regiment, "399th in Ac­ 2001, pages 23 - 25) to the ex­ 1 7, 1944), they are relieved for a tion." cellent feature "Bayonet!" 48-hour rest. I {Editor's note: The Editor is (pages 20-23) the Editor expressed This book jogged my recollec­ still searching for an Ml905/1942 an interest if anyone remembered tions about the pay scale back in bayonet for his US Rifle, Caliber an order to "fix bayonets" by US 1944-1945. A Private got $50 per .30, M-1.) troops in the ETO. I have recently finished reading "Into the Moun­ tains Dark, A WWII Odyssey from Harvard Crimson to Infantry Blue," by Franklin L. Gurley (pub­ A nasty affair lished 2000 by The Aberjona eorge Barten, HQ/ 2nd Bn/ At night, and since secrecy Press, Bedford, PA) in which this 275 who is retired from the and speed were important, George subject is addressed. G US Army in the rank of Colonel, took selected troops and formed a You might be interested that reports that the worst duty he had circle around the bank building. he makes three references to the to perform in h is army career was use of bayonets. In Chapter 14, All the inhabitants of surrounding in Frankfurt when he was Execu­ houses were removed so that the "Bayonet Charge at Wood Six," tive Officer/275. It seems as if security of the building could be (page 142) he states, "The Lieuten­ great art, and pieces of sculpture maintained. Most of the occu­ ant cried, 'Fix Bayonets!"' On collected by the Germans (much of pants of the houses were elderly page 213 he writes, "For the first it stolen by Goering) were soon to and they were a very tearful time in combat Captain Young or­ arrive in Frankfurt for storage and group. George's men could only der ed his men to fix bayonets. eventually a complete audit. allow them to take what they Unable to be resupplied, his pla­ could carry to their new living toon was nearly out of ammuni­ Most of the treasure h a d come quarters. It was very nasty duty tion." On page 190, "Advancing from the famous Merkers "Salt Mine" where the Germans had reports George. behind a rolling barrage, the men Barbed wire was placed of Companies I, K and L had cut hidden their plunder. The loot around the entire building. Tanks through several fences of barbed consisted not only of fine art but were also placed at strategic loca­ wire with wire cutters and charged also j ewelry and gold; most of tions to keep the loot safe. up the slope to the highway bran­ which was stolen from Jews on dishing bayonets." their way to be murdered. There is a postscript to this This book tells of the author's Much of the loot was very story. After the war, George was experiences with A/ 399 Infant ry heavy so the Frankfurt Stadt Bank the commanding officer of the fa­ Regiment, lOOth (Century) Infan­ Building was chosen to house the mous 3rd Infantry (The Old try Division. He tells of their ar­ trove. It was the most substantial Guard) at Fort Myer in Washing­ rival at Marseilles, France, Octo­ building in that part of Germany ton, DC. The 3 rd Infantry was ber 22, 1944 and entry into com­ (and the largest) with floors that chosen to guard the "treasure" bat on November 2. He describes were heavily reinforced . which now was on tour.

Fall 2001 19 The fight at the Wingen church

hough Roy W. Shirrell, C/ Sgt. Tommy Childers and m e ~th Darkness soon fell and the tanks 2 76 was not h eld POW at cover from t h e Kra u t m a chine left us with our problems. T t h e church in Wingen, h e guns. We left t h er e in t he d a r k, does have vivid (and s ad) memo­ Two or three apple trees s tood headed in a nor th easterly direc­ ries of the place as he reports: on t h e west b a nk of the roa d . tion and waded a cr eek. I got in When t h e Kraut s pruned some water over my boots, so s at down I h ave some sad memories of limbs off the trees with machines and put my feet u p on a tree and that church. The day Companies gun fire, the limbs fell on the three let the water run ou t. I was afraid A & C/276 arrived up on the of u s. With that Lt. Wardell, some to pull my boots off and wring ou t wooded hills just south of Wingen, two or three steps from the corner my socks. I was afr aid we might we were t old to dig in because the of the building; yelled at the Ser - get into another fire fight and I enemy might be close by . gean t a nd m e, "We can't s tay didn't want to be fighting b are ­ pinned down her e." H e very footed. Kid like, I didn't dig very fast. qu ickly got u p and rushed b ehind Two of my best frien ds in C / Then, a few minutes later, the the building . Then came a spray 276 were killed a t t h at church. Krauts gave u s a m ortar barrage of machine g un bullets. S gt. Sergeant Ivor W. Sp onsler was KIA that I'll n ever forget. After seeing Childer s and I mad e it to s afety January 5 and Pfc. J a m es 0 . blood, this kid woke up to the re­ the same way the Lieutenant did. Gumm was KIA Janu ary 7. alities of war. When the shelling stopped , I started digging! La te in the afternoon, my pla­ POWs in the Wingen church toon leader, Lt. Robert Wardell got order s to take the 2nd platoon, Cl I\ s rep orted in Summer 2001, a a.m., I was wounded n ear t he 276 and go in a northeasterly di­ ~ question was raised during railroad station. I was pu t in the r ection. We came in at the east the r ecen t t rip t o E u rop e abou t church and while fightin g w as end of th e field, east of the Church Gis from th e 70th Infantry Divi­ rough (70th r ecaptu ring Wingen) wher e our gu ys were b eing h eld s io n bein g h e ld P OW in the Krochka (John M., 1/ 276) placed POW. There, we joined with three church in Wingen-s ur-Moder. We a door or shutter over me for pro­ tanks and formed a skirmish line asked any man who was held tect ion. I couldn't move . This ·and h eaded for the last b uilding POW in the church to id entify ended my s ervice in the 70th. I east from the Church . h imself. was sent home three months later and discharged in 1946. A well worn wagon road came Paul L. Sheaffer, I/ 27 6 has from t h e sou t h , d own to the con ta cted u s and states a s fol­ (Editor's n ote: This brings to southeast corner of the building . lows: two the c o nf irme d number of Tha t road provided Lt. Wardell, S I J anu ary 3, 1945, early in th e POWs in t he church_ Who else?) How not to get off (on) the right foot By Bill Nelson tailed to go into the for est and re­ engineers when they sent a Jeep C/270 Eng move dynamite charges that were up to get us. The driver h ad Lt. w ired to trees. Wh en the Ger - Olsen in the jeep with him so the n Summer 2001 "The Horrors mans pulled ou t of the area, they two g u ys w ith me got in to t h e of Berga" (page 12) noted that wer e supposed to deton ate those back of the jeep and I sat on the I a high ranking officer wanted ch arges and the trees were to fall passenger side of the hood. When t o amputate Norm Fellman's (B / into th e r oad as ob stacles. In we n eared t he others, the driver 2 7 5) badly i nfected leg. That th eir h aste though, the Germans turned off to the right of the road s ounded more than a little famil­ failed to set off the charges. We (in front of the engineers) where iar to m e. removed th em so someon e could the mines had not been cleared. On March 16, 1945 C/ 270 En­ not infilt r ate t h e ar ea and com­ BLAM! gineer s were r emoving mines from plete the job. a road going into Forbach. Two We wer e a b ou t 3 00 to 4 0 0 I h eard the explosion and was other en gineer s and I wer e de- yards ahead of the m ain party of blown abou t 20 feet into th e air,

20 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER '3f/~ d4 eQe M-? SUuf ~ . . . . Fight with fire Chemical warfare's weapons are new versions of old arms This is the sixth in a series seemingly impregnable enemy reprinting snippets of an article pillboxes and fortresses. that first appeared in the Octo­ During the attack we may lay ber 1944 "Trailblazer." Each down protective smoke screens branch of service serving with as a cover for our advancing the Division was given a simi­ troops and often to define targets lar write up. for our air support. Even as we advance with the e men of the Chemical tack. It may be in the form of attacking wave, we are con­ W Warfare Section fight with phosphorus grenades, or incen­ stantly on the alert to provide weapons as old as the history of diary shells or the dreade d protection against gas attack the warfare. Sun Tzu, a general of flame-thrower but it's still fire, enemy may hope to halt us with. the Chou Dynasty, wrote as though deadlier and more effec­ Gas masks, protective clothing early as 500 B.C. how the Chi­ tive than ever before. and counter-agents are our tools nese used flaming torches as of­ Throughout the Infantry, as we neutralize hostile chemical fensive weapons. flame-thrower teams make a for - counter-measure to our advanc­ Today we still use fire in at- midable threat to even the most ing ground forces.

making two turns. I know that for The doctor replie d , "But it that to you," h e said. As he spoke, a certainty because I saw the sky might not work." one of the Italians was nodding above, then the ground, again the The Colonel retorted, "If you his head "Yes." sky, and the ground again. I hit cut it off you will never know that The attendant asked, "Where the ground in a sitting position in it might have worked." are you from Nelson?" a crater where the engineers had After several days in the hospi­ I replied, "New Orleans." blown up a mine about five min­ tal it was time to see if my foot His reply was, "New Orleans utes before. If the mine had not was healing. I had b een taking what?" been removed I would have gone Penicillin s hots every three hours, I immediately shot back, "New up for a second time. eight times a day. I had 48 Orleans, Louisiana, USA!" stitches in my right foot and leg, His reply? "If you are a n J\t the 7th Army's 93d Evac one for each state. It turned out American, what are you doing .t"'). Hospital I was on a gurney, that I h a d three breaks in the leg with that 'Prisoner of War' sten­ waiting my turn in the operating bone and five fractures in my foot. ciled on the back of your pajama room when a Colonel came by (a s shirt?" seen in MASH). He asked, "What h e hospital was using Italian are they going to do for you?" T POWs as orderlies. They guess they thought I was a "They said they were going to pushed my gurney to the stairs on I Germa n ... white hair, blue amputate my right foot." the second floor and proceeded to eyes, six feet one inch tall. From The Colonel asked, "Why?" take me down the stairs to the then on those two waited on me I answered, "I do not know." cast room. They lifte d my anytime I wanted anything! The Colonel ordered, "Let me stretcher and turned it over, roll­ I was on that eight penicillin see this soldier's picture ." ing me down the s tairs! I was say­ shots a day for 28 days. I still As they put my X-rays in the ing more than my prayers by the have my foot 56 years later and it time I entered the cast room. viewing screen I could see that the hurts every day. In all I've had six tibia bone had two breaks right at The attendant asked, "What is operations, but I am still walking. the end. the matter with you, Nelson?" They told me at th e VA Hospital "You do not need to amputate I told him tha t these two men that I would feel pain as I get older rolled me down the stairs! his foot. You could put a few ... and they were right! screws in it," said the Colonel. "I can't believe they would do

Fall 2001 21 Touring Saarbrucl

By Eldon McDermeit told my squad to stay single file, if possible. We G/275 heard later that one of our guys had lost a foot by stepping on a SHU mine. or several weeks our outfit had been in Alsace, later moving northeasterly along the t was March 1945 when we entered Saarbrucken. F west side of the Saar River into Lorraine. For I We couldn't understand the lack of German fire. two or three days we looked across a treeless area at We learned that most of the German troops in the the rather large city of Saarbrucken, Germany. city had withdrawn and had moved across the Saar River and on in a generally easterly direction to the We could see the infamous Siegfried Line and east side of the Rhine River. When we learned this several la rge German pillboxes with rifle and ma­ we all breathed a sigh of relief. chine gun slits galore. We dreaded having to enter As we moved into the center of Saarbrucken, we the heavily defended city. On one occasion we saw saw dozens of white cloths extended out of windows two US fighter planes dive at the pillboxes, firing and doorways. When the occupants were told to their machine guns and then just before pulling up come out, more than 100 German soldiers came out release bombs which struck the pillboxes. The pilots with their hands on the tops of their heads (in con- made several such passes. trast to the "hands up" cu stom used in the United Before we walked through the Siegfried Line, I States).

22 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER I I - · I'

<.en with the Army

Our newly made POWs were told to place their in Saarbrucken for two or three days. Will and I weapons and anything with a Swastika emblem on it were in the same platoon but in different squads. into a pile .. Included in the pile were bayonets, Ger­ The next morning Will and I decided to explore man medals, flags displaying large Swastikas, hel­ the large pillboxes that were discussed earlier_ Fol­ mets, belt buckles, etc. The prisoners were obviously lowing this, we checked out the adjacent living quar­ glad that the war, for them, was over_ The pile grew ters of the German soldiers who had manned the to about table height (about 30 inches). I took the pillbox which was located in a tunnel in a hilL When opportunity (which was permitted) to take some of we entered the tunnel there was an aisle down the the confiscated items for myself. middle of the room with about a dozen cots on each The best news of the day, besides learning that side of that aisle. At the far end of the room was a Saarbrucken had been abandoned by the enemy, door. was that our company kitchen was in the city which We made a torch out of newspapers as it was meant that we would have a hot dinner_ For many quite dark (the electricity was not available). Mindful weeks past we had eaten only K-Rations. The din­ that the room may be booby-trapped or still occu­ ner that night was outstanding - and much appreci­ pied, we went in and found that it probably had been ated. I ate dinner with a good friend of mine named occupied by two officers_ This was evidenced by the Will Booker, and we agreed to go exploring the follow­ two better quality cots, some chairs, a desk and a ing day as we had been told our troops would remain hardwood closet. Also in the room was a hand-

Fall 2001 23 cranked table model phonograph ranking German officers had been were women and kids and came much like the one my family had living there. out of the dozens of tunnels dug before the war. The record on the On the walls were about six or into the hills. phonograph was "Lili Marlene," a eight large framed photographs of During the preceding few German song but it was also several German officers, all of weeks, most of th e population in popular in the United States. We whom had medals that covered the towns that we took and passed played it before we left and liked large portions of their chests. We through was missing. We heard it. also found a n officer 's dress then that the people h ad moved Having also found a full case sword, belt buckles, etc. In keep­ into Saarbrucken for shelter from of Sardines in mustard sauce we ing with the Army's instructions of artillery a nd bombing. Probably took them with us and distributed the preceding day (when the many most of the civilians coming from them to our buddies. We also en­ German soldiers had surrendered the tunnels were Saarbrucken na­ joyed them. their weapons etc.), we took only tives in the process of returning to the dress sword and a few items their homes. Many of their homes e went exploring again displaying the Swastika . The fol­ had been destroyed by the war's W that afternoon. Although lowing day I was able to combine action but they gave no indication we were not under fire in Saar - the dress sword with the items set that they hated or resented our brucken we were never without aside after the big surrender of the presence. Also, they showed no our rifles and remained alert for first day. (Over the years I distrib­ fear of us. a ny sign of male on ten ts. This uted that memorabilia to my five We enjoyed our stay in Saar­ time we went to the top of the grandsons when they had attained brucken with the hot meals, lack highest hill overlooking downtown what I deemed was an age of re­ of incoming mortar and 88 fire Saarbrucken. We went into one of sponsibility.) and with the explorations - but the largest houses on the hill. The the war h ad not ended. Three or front door was open and we found hen Will and I were out four days later we were east of the that it was unoccupied. We were W exploring, we saw hun­ Rhine River, again chasing the bad certain that one or more high dreds of civilians. Most of them guys.

I used a bow and arrow in WWII By Herbert C. Holober antenna wasn't high enough to AT/ 275 get a signal out. Then I remembered some­ Communica tions Ser­ thing I h a d b een taught by the geant of the company, it Cherokee Indians I h ad worked A. was my job to see tha t with in the mountains of North the Captain was in touch either Carolina . How to m ake a bow by telephone or radio with all the and arrow! platoons in the company . I had I did that and tied a hundred to establis h that contact every feet of combat telephone wire to time we set up a CP; no matter the arrow. I tied the other end of where or how the outfit was de­ the wire to a tree limb and shot ployed. the wire over the n earest tall tree. I then connected the wire We had just taken up our po­ to my radio and was immediately sitions in the Vosges Mountains in contact with the CP! in the bitter cold a nd snow. I I used that contraption on found it impossible to lay the several other occasions a nd it combat field wire for the tele­ elude Regimental Headquarters . worked every time. Because of phones because of the d eep I found though that because of the color of the wire, it would snow. the hilly area we were in, and have been very difficult to spot So I set up for a radio n et­ b ecau se of the metallic influence from any distance. I had ruled work which would have to in- in the ground, our fifteen foot out smoke signals early on.

24 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER Remembering Paul McCoy A soldier named Bales was in a foxhole and showed Lou the tele­ phone. As Lou left, the telephone was on the ground at the edge of An act of courage the foxhole. He had gone no more By Jim Lowther 1978 reunion in St. Louis when than 50 feet when a shell came in, AM Paul took Frank Collo, G / 275 burning the plastic casing of the who had been awarded the Bronze phone and seriously burning his is a story that has been Star Medal to Colonel George Bales' face. Lou took the burnt told before, but I think it Barten, HQ/ 2nd BN/ 275 who was phone with him to the CP to show T bears repeating. the recipient of the Silver Star. what had occurred and was My father's platoon leader was Now depending on whom you chewed out by Southard (the CO) Paul McCoy. Several GI 275 men want to believe, it should have saying it was goolish. have told me how, at one point G been the other way around_ Paul Company ran afoul of a German said, introducing Collo, "Colonel, I rom what Lou learned, Paul machine gun nest, with the result want you to meet the man whose F was also burned but did not that one man was caught in the Silver Star you got." All in good, know it at the time. Bales recov­ open and wounded. clean fun of course as no one ered and was not blinded (Lou As I understand it, Paul raised would doubt that either man truly later found that out after he joined his rifle over his head with both deserved their awards and prob­ the Association and saw Bales' ad­ hands and laid it in front of him ably more, but war stories are fun. dress and phone number in the so that the Germans could see it. roster). ou also recalled Paul telling of He then rose from cover, walked T Lou had one other remem­ when he went back to get his out across the open ground, and .1..J brance of Paul, and that came af­ few days of training before getting retrieved his wounded man. No ter the war_ Paul was in charge of his battlefield commission. The one fired a shot. liquor distribution in France. He officer in charge asked Paul how I have thought of this story of­ really didn't know what to do he felt about getting a commis­ ten and reflected how fortunate when the French government told sion. Paul had tried several times my father was to have known and him that he was responsible for in the past to get a commission to have served under a man who the payment of the French tax on but was turned down each time exhibited that sort of courage and the liquor! because of his age. He related leadership. As far as I know, Paul that to the officer causing the of­ was never awarded anything for ficer to ask Paul his age. * his heroism that day. I suspect he Editor also had the privi­ that this was one of many coura­ When Paul told him his age, T lege of knowing PauL Many geous acts performed by many the officer exploded, telling him he times at reunions the two would that did not receive proper notice could not get a commission. How­ talk about one of Paul's favorite for one reason or another. ever, checking, it appeared that topics: leadership. Since the Edi­ One of my regrets is that I dis­ many of the men who were there tor was still on active duty it was covered the Association not long to get a commission were about always a learning experience. after Paul McCoy passed away, the same age. It was quickly de­ cided that they could get their The last meeting between Paul and I never had the opportunity to and the Editor was at the Orlando, meet him. I am fortunate that G/ commissions after their COs had certified that they were capable. Florida Airport after the 1996 re­ 275 members have shared stories, union. Paul made hook-latch rugs Another story that Lou was photographs, and even a video of depicting the 70th Infantry Divi­ Paul, so that I have some picture never able to confirm had it that sion shoulder patch and had given Paul had his eye injured when one in my mind's eye of what he was one to the Editor_ During that like. of our shells came into our lines meeting, the two made their fare­ while he was in the field at wells promising to see each other * Heilstadt Sonneberg. The story again in Minneapolis, Minnesota goes that one of the platoons had he arrival of that story led the in 1998. That meeting never took captured a German field tele­ T Editor to compare notes place as Paul died in the interim. about Paul with Lou Hoger, G / phone_ Being the Commo Ser - 275. Lou immediately wrote back geant, Lou went out to look at it Like many of our comrades, that he had attended Paul's 80th but was told in no uncertain Paul is gone but certainly never birthday party given by his sister. terms that it was theirs and they will be forgotten. Additionally, Lou recalled the would not give it up.

Fall 2001 25 The wartime sequence at Camp Adair n the Summer 2001 edition, Arrived in France: Deactivated: Karl S. Landstrom, HQ/3rd September 1944 May 1919 Bn/ 274 wondered in what se­ I To United States, deactivated: Reactivated Camp White, Oregon: quence the four divisions rotated June 1945 August 1942 through Camp Adair. Come in­ trepid comrades Lou Hoger, GI To Bend, Oregon Maneuver Area: 275 and Fred M . Craig, E / 274 70th Infantry Division September 1943 with the answer. Activated Camp Adair: To Camp Adair: Seems Lou found a pamphlet June 1943 November 1943 entitled "Camp Adair" by the To Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri: To Virginia: Benton County Museum and March 1944 Benton County Historical Society July 1944 and E-mailed a precis of the ac­ To Europe: To French Morocco, North Africa tivities at Adair. Fred sent u s a November 1944 for Training: copy of the pamphlet and with April 1944 both those sources we managed to Deactivated at Camp Kilmer, New To Italy: come up with the following his­ Jersey: Ju ne 1944 tory. October 1945 Deactivated Camp Rucker, Ala­ our Infantry divisions were 91 st Infantry Division bama: F trained at Camp Adair for December 1945 overseas duty: the 9lst "Powder Activated Camp Lewis, Washing­ River" Infantry Division, the 96th ton: The US Army turned the hos­ "Deadeye" Infantry Division, the August 1917 pital over to the US Navy when the 104th "Timberwolf' Infantry Divi­ Served in France, WWI divisions left. Casualties from the sion, and the 70th "Trailblazer" Pacific Theater were brought to Infantry Division. Three of the di­ Camp Adair for treatment and re­ visions - the 96th, 104th and cuperation. On March 1, 1945 it 70th - were activated at Camp was reported that the wounded Adair. were arriving by train, and the hospital had been enlarged to take The units rotated through in care of 3,600. the following order: Shortly after the last divisions left, part of Camp Adair served as The 96th Infantry Division a prisoner of war (POW) camp for Italians, then Germans. It ap­ Activated Camp Adair: pears that POWs were at Camp August 1942. Adair from August 1944 through To Fort Lewis, Washington: April 1946. Although former of­ May 1943 ficer personnel have memories of both German and Italian POWs at To Leyte, Philippine Islands: the camp, their presence was not October 1944 common knowledge in nearby Deactivated: communities. February 1946 104th Infantry Division Two of a kind? Activated Camp Adair: Floyd Freeman, I/ 275 was is­ September 1942 sued ASN 39706470. You w ill John Krochka, 1/276 patches a target, note that 70 appears in it twice. To Bend, Oregon Maneuver Area: all in a day's work when a soldier is at Any more interesting ASNs out August 1943 the rifle range. there? (Photo courtesy John KrochkaJ

26 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER 70th RSC ~staff ride' at Camp Adair several suggestions for any future long ago. And having again been By Frank Ellis such effort. privileged to mingle (no pun in­ Medic/ 274 tended) with current 70th person­ The RSC staff seemed pleased nel, we believe that our colors and uring the weekend of June to have the input of the vets (two streamers could not have been 10, 2001 the 70th Reserve of the three had trained on this placed in more capable hands. D Support Command (RSC) site and contributed their recollec­ mounted what is called a "Staff tions of those times at Camp A visit to the Benton County Ride" of the Adair Campsite and Adair). The vets, without excep­ Historical Museum and a delight­ invited several 70th Infantry Divi­ tion, left the exercise with warm, ful luncheon at the Officer's Club sion veterans to participate. This fuzzy feelings of nostalgia for a in Adair Village capped a superbly exercise was planned to further coveted place in their memories of managed training session. enhance the sense of heritage that 70th Infantry Division veterans have left for the present genera­ tion who wear the Trailblazer patch and follow the Trailblazer colors and battle streamers into the 21st Century. John T. "Tom" Craig, F / 275 back in the hospital. Both are reports that his recent surgery home at this time and doing well. Thirty senior officers and went extremely well. It was Tom's NCOs of the RSC hosted Bob second open heart surgery to by­ Mingle, E / 274; Dick Beyer, A/ * pass a major partial blockage in Ryland Watts, D /276 was 274 and me during this well the crook of the front main artery. stricken in late August with what planned and smoothly executed was diagnosed at strep meningitis, training session. In addition to The whole operation took which generally only is found in physically visiting the initial train­ about three hours with the doc re­ newborns. At this writing he was ing site of the Division, it provided moving about eight to ten inches responding to treatment (and opportunity for personal interac­ of one of the arteries in his left more than a few prayers) and, tion of key personnel of the Com- arm and performing the bypass by though not completely out of the mand. installing one end of the artery in the huge Aorta at the top of the woods, was making progress. Wife There were formal presenta­ heart and then attaching the other Evelyn thanks everyone for their tions covering the history of the end near the bottom of the heart, thoughts and prayers. Division's founding, its training at thereby bypassing the life threat­ Anyone wishing to send Adair, and the contributions of the ening blockage. The whole proce­ Ryland a card can send it to his many arms and services required dure was performed without stop­ home address: RR 1, Box 1900, to support an infantry division. ping the heart. Palmyra, VA 22963. Current personnel representing Shortly after coming home, Engineer, Quartermaster, Ord­ Tom reports that h e walked a half­ nance, Signal, Military Police, * mile with no pain or difficulty. He Fred "Casey" Cassidy, G / 274 Chaplain and Medical Corps re­ thanks all for their prayers, which recently underwent an operation searched the activities of their he said made the difference. on his sinus cavities. Help-mate predecessors at Adair and pro­ and life companion Vivian reports vided descriptions of what it was * that he looks as if he went 10 like then, including poison oak Army Leggett, GI 2 7 4 informs rounds for the heavyweight cham­ and near-incessant r ain on the us that company mate Ed Wring pionship. muddy training grounds. had knee replacement surgery in Casey still has some medical After-action comment during March. Recovery has been slower procedures to go through and homeward bound travel provided than expected since Ed fell on would appreciate hearing from our enthusiastic response to this concrete and shattered the new happy crew. You can drop him a training experience and provided knee and gained a colorful bump line at: 1368 Colonial Dr., Rose­ on his head. ville, MN 55113. Compounding that, his wife, Lin had eye surgery while Ed was

Fall 2001 27 Place names: to shorten and/or ignore the nu­ company / regiment when used for ances of French detail. For the the first time in an article. Those hen this Editor assumed purposes of this publication, we so listed are those referred to as W his duties h e used the will use the shortened versions "Active" or "Inactive" m embers in spellings of town names as they listed above. In using the town the constitution of the Associa­ existed at the time of the war. The names as an address on an enve­ tion. conventional wisdom was that the lope though we will use the official Associate Members will have spellings used in "Trailblazer" version. the abbreviation "AM" after their were the spellings used by the In German we write/say names. Auxiliary Members will Gls. Unfortunately the Editor Frankfurt but in reality it is have "Aux Mem" after their soon learned that the spellings of Frankfurt am Main as opposed to names. Honorary Members will towns in France depended on who the city of Frankfurt am Oder (the have "HM" after their names. supplied the spellings, the Ger­ town on the Oder River in the mans or the French. Then again prior East Germany). We will con­ Bylines: Gis themselves often spelled the tinue to use the all inclusive enerally when no name is names differently or under stress "Frankfurt" meaning Frankfurt am credited as the author of a of battle made up their own spell­ Main unless there is need to spe­ storyG (the byline}, the story was ings. cifically name the particular town. written by the Editor. In some During the ensuing months, cases there are many who contrib­ and as the direct result of a trip to Deadlines: ute to the finished product and it Europe, the Editor has had to re­ ince the last edition we re­ is imposs ible to mention all of think the "style" used in this pub­ ceived a letter from a member them on the byline. In that case, lication when spelling the names S asking why a particular item he those who contributed will b e of towns and cities. This problem sent hadn't appeared even though m entioned in the story or in an was exacerbated by the fact that h e mailed it by the stated dead­ Editor's Note at the end of the America n s generally a bbreviate line. story. the names of French towns from The deadlines listed are for the that which the French Postal Ser - purpose of reminding members of vices uses. Under the tutelage of the dates items bearing a specific Bob Hays, C/274; Lou Hoger, GI More about Berga time (i.e. reunion notifications) 275 and John Nothnagle, 570 must be received in order for them Norm Fellman, B / 275 con­ Signal we learned the following: to be printed in a timely manner. gratulates Kathy Loomis on the We write/say: Behren Generally, the Editor attempts to good job she did covering his "stay But it really is: Behren-les print all items received in the n ext as a guest of the SS" (see "The Forbach. edition. Sometimes though that is Horrors of Berga," Summer 2001, We write/ say: Lixing not possible because we have too pages 10 through 12). He would But it really is: Lixing-les much material (a rare happening) like us to know though that there Rouhling. or in the case cited, the item is one slight correction to his story. Norm says tha t his story is We write/ say: Niederbronn would make an excellent feature to be featured in an upcoming But it really is: Niederbronn­ which takes advance planning. documentary. Factually though les Bains. Generally in those instances where we have too much material, h e was "only one of 40 plus who We write/say: Wingen we try to exclude items such as were interviewed." He has no idea But it really is: Wingen-sur "What We Do" as was the case in how his interviews will be used or Moder Summer 2001. aired. It has also been pointed out Generally, we do not print po­ Norm also wants us to know that m any times we m ay write em s as they take to much space that Lester Cohen, B / 275 also Zinwiller, but it really is Zinswiller. and sometimes it is impossible to shared in the stay in Berga. Grosbliederstroff h as also at properly credit an author. As Norm tells us, "Scratch a times been spelled with a double combat veteran and you will un­ "s" (a holdover from the German: Abbreviations: cover a story, this just h appened "Grossbliedersdorff." to be mine." Good point, let's hear We list a member's name in from others. As Americans, we have tended bold face type followed by his

28 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER Reunions ______Reunion 2002 First Call A. s President Nothnagle announced in his column, .l""'1. this is first call for the Spokane, Washington reunion in 2002. That's right it is r eunion time again! All members know that this is a great time to get together and meet all your buddies_ As for you Asso­ ciate Members, Honorary Members a nd Auxiliary Trailblazers have reunions all the time, even if there are only Memb ers; this is a great time to learn more about two of them. Sam Higgins (left) and Homer Smith (right), the 70th Infantry Division, and a chance to meet the both 8/275 recently got together for the first time in 56 years men who served with that special person that binds in Dothan, Alabama. Both were held POW in Stalag IXB. you to the Association. (Photo courtesy of Sam Higgins). Floyd Freeman, 1/ 275 is the Site Chairman of We'll have more in upcoming issues of course, course. Now Floyd is a travel agent by trade, and but for now you've all had your warning orders, so any of us who have traveled with Floyd are looking no excu ses_ Be sure to lay aside all other business forward to finding out what he has for us to do in from September 4th through the 8th and join us in Spokane. Floyd h as never let us down on a tour, so Spokane. That means early regis tration on Wednes­ this little shin-dig in Spokane sh ould be no excep­ day the 4th through the Memorial Service on Sunday tion. the 8th. IVIailf)______Call~

h e date was March 14, 1945. explosion of the 15 pounds of dy­ this day I keep asking myself a T We, the members of the namite killed George Fetter and question: Why they and not me? 570th Signal Company of the 70th Andrew Hogg (who were in the Why me and not they? Why were Division were stationed some­ front of the truck) and wounded George Fetter and Andrew Hogg where near Forbach, France. At both Shulim Huber and myself killed and I saved? There is no about midnight we were awaken ed (wh o wer e in the back of the answer_ So, when I awake every and informed that we were moving truck). morning, in honor of the ir out. memory, I determine to do a good Wh en I regained con scious­ deed for someone else that par - We formed a six-truck wea­ ness, my h a ir was on fire. I ticular day. pons carrier convoy with my truck jumped out of the truck and put in the middle. The only people the fire out. As I looked into a Her e we are in the year 2001. who knew where we were going nearby hedgerow, there stood two I have recently celebrated my 85th were the people in the first truck Gis with their Ml rifles pointed di­ birthday. My wife Ida and I have (which containe d our company r ectly at m e . I yelled, "What are b een married 59 years and have 3 commander Conrad Stahl) and the you doing? Don't shoot!" Later, at married da ughters and their hus­ people in the last truck. the aid station, one of the Gls told bands, and 10 grandchildren. me that my yells saved my life be­ Driving blackout, on only dirt Please give m y r egards to all cause his finger was on the trig­ roads, our t ruck m a de a wrong the fellows. ger. turn and around 3 a.m. was Ed Lazar blown up by two land mines. The It is now 56 years later and to 5 70 S ignal

Fall 2001 29 Lost Buddies ______

Noah Kennedy, E / 276 would 94015 or call him at (650) 755 - that arm. like to know if anyone has recol­ 8676. If you knew Joseph or can lections of a castle at Wimmenau help Sharon contact her at: 3714 where his outfit and some others * Durhill, Houston, Texas 77025. spent the night. Seems as if he Gretchen Witt would like to has talked about this with his hear from anyone who knew her * grandson Matt and would like to father Richard C. (Dick) Witt, BI Jack Schrot, AT /275 is seek- fill in some blanks. 276. ing information about James L. You can contact Noah at: Before joining the Division, Varier, HQ/ 2 Bn/276. James was 7113 Brookedge Lane, Corpus Dick was part of the ASTP for a KIA January 12, 1945. Christi, TX 78414. year at Brigham Young. His unit Shortly before Jack left Detroit while there was Platoon VII, Com­ to pick up his Army suit at Fort pany D, ASTU 3959. Sheridan, Illinois a young fellow Delcia (Grose)* Parks would like While with B / 276 his platoon came by his house and introduced to hear from anyone who knew her commander was W. L. Barnett. himself as Jim Varier. Jim lived brother Charley Grose, F / 276. Dick was wounded near Wingen. about two blocks away and was to He told his daughter that he was travel to Sheridan on the same Charley was born April 4, hit by a sniper firing from a day as Jack. Jack hadn't known 1922 in Manitou, Oklahoma and church tower while fighting in Jim before but did know an older grew up in Tipton, Oklahoma. He Wingen on January 5 , 1945. The cousin of his quite well. entered the service on December sniper had apparently hit or killed Following the induction rou­ 26, 1942 and transferred to the several other Gls before he hit tine at Sheridan they were Trailblazers in August 1944. After Dick. After rejoining the company shipped to Fort Hood, Texas for training at Fort Leonard Wood, he around February 11, 1945 he was Infantry basic and then on to Fort shipped out of Boston on the SS awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Meade, Maryland to be shipped West Point on December 16, 1944. Dick died in 1990 and out as Infantry replacements. The last letter the family re­ Gretchen has always been curious That was during the time though ceived from Charley was dated to learn more about his experience that the remaining divisions in the February 19, 1945 which was two with the 276th as well as the states were being brought up to days before he was KIA near ASTP. organizational strength, so instead Forbach. It is believed that he You can contact Gretchen at: they were sent to Fort Leonard was killed by mortar fire on Feb­ 24 Westbourne Rd., Concord, NH Wood and joined the 70th. Upon ruary 21. 03301. arrival they were assigned to dif­ If anyone can help Delcia ferent units; Jim went to Head­ please write her at: 225 N. 11 St., * quarters / 2nd Battalion/ 276th Frederick, OK 73542 or call her Sharon Giordano is attempting and Jack was put in Anti-Tank at (580) 335 - 3792. to locate anyone who knew her fa­ Company/ 275th. They shipped ther Joseph A. Giordano, (unit over with those units. * unknown) ASN 32990998 who Sometime in January or early Anthony J. Apt on, HQ I 70 was originally from Bayonne, New February 1945 Jack heard (who was known as Anthony L. Jersey. Sharon has an old picture through the GI grapevine that Jim Apruzzese during Army service) of her dad in uniform and in it he had been KIA on January 12th. would like to hear from anyone is wearing the 70th Infantry Divi­ The news he picked up was that who served in Division Headquar­ sion shoulder patch . Joseph Jim and several others had been ters and especially the Chemical passed away in 1978 and her sent out to repair a communica­ Warfare Section. mother suffers from Alzheimer's tion line and that Jim was shot Anthony served as a Chemical so Sharon needs our help. during that assignment. Jack has Warfare Officer during his time Joseph was wounded during never been able to verify the story with the Division. He remembers the war, suffering a shot up right and would appreciate hearing that he served with Charles Kelly arm. He ended up spending two from anyone who may remember who recently passed away. years in a hospital in Atlantic City, that action. You can contact Anthony at New Jersey during which time he Jack visited Jim's mother 928 Wildwood Ave., Daly City, CA had more than 14 operations on when he returned to the states

30 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER ..~

and felt very embarrassed that he had returned home instead of her son. She was a very loving lady and soon relieved Jack of that feeling and made him feel very comfortable to be with her . He visited often after that and in the 50s a park in northwest Detroit was dedicated to Jim a nd his mother asked Jack to r epresen t the 70th at the dedication. Even though he had not known Jim b e­ fore the meeting just prior to in­ duction, they had become very close during basic and were disap­ pointed that they were separated at Leonard Wood. If you can fill in some blanks contact Jack at: 5400 Longmea­ dow Rd. , Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304. You can phone him at: (248) 642 - 5493.

T/5 Chester Garstki takes the name of a Captain only identified as "Wade". Does * anyone know the full identify of the Captain or the occasion? If so, please contact Dave Smith needs h elp in find­ the editor. ing out in which unit h is d a d (Photographer unknown, from the collection of the fate Chester Garstki, HQ/70) served. Robert R. Smith is on 80 percent disability and cannot re­ time. Joseph left from Boston on the m ember in wh ich he served. Clyde might have j oined the SS Mariposa on J anuary 8, 1945 Based on what Rober t does re­ Division as a replacement as his and arrived in Marseille, France member, there is reason to believe papers cite campaign cr edits for January 18. While in th e ETO he that he served in the 276th. Rome, Arn o a n d North er n Ap ­ drove a Jeep for a Medical Doctor Robert originally was with the penies all of which were part of named Carly in the St . Avold area 276th but possibly moved to an­ the Italian Campaign. He was also of France as well as in Germany. other outfit. Robert carried a ra­ credited with campaigns for the Joseph depar ted t h e ETO on dio and a gren ade launch er. His Rhineland and Central Europe. January 3, 1946 arrivin g in the Company Commander was named Clyde also was the recipient of the states on Janu ary 16. He was dis­ Green, his squad leader was a Combat Infantryman Badge. ch arged at Sep aration Center , Sergeant Hack. He remem bers a You can contact James at: P. Camp Atterbu ry, Indiana on Janu­ rifleman named Taylor. If you can 0 . Box 67, Calera, AL 35040. ary 23 in the grade of T -5. h elp, contact Dave at: 375 If you can help Joe, please Franklin Rd. , Tequesta, FL * write h im at: 1401 S . Ash St., 33469. Joe Pawlosky would like t o Ada, OK 74820. h ear from anyone who knew his * father, Joseph T. Pawlosky, ASN * James Carden is seeking infor­ 36871198. Joseph was mustered Nancy (Kessler) Moore would mation about his father Clyde E. into the Army from Bad Axe , like to h ear from a n yon e who Carden, G/ 276. Michigan. knew her father, Ernest J. Clyde passed away in 1992. We have r eason to believe that Kessler . Ernest was from New While going through some things, Joseph was with the 370th Medi­ Jersey. James found his dad's discharge cal Battalion. He was a battalion Ern est was wounded in battle papers and figured out in which bugler at Camp Adair as he had on J anu ary 7 , 1945. He died of unit his had dad served. been a musician in civilian life. complications from his war inju­ James remembers his d a d While at Adair he also drove for a ries on September 1 7, 2000. talking about Forbach and Saar­ Major John Car ey, a p h ysician From Walter Cox, E / 2 74 we brucken even thou gh Clyde did from Milwaukee, Wiscon sin wh o h ave learned that Ernest wa s in n ot talk much about h is comba t was the unit commander. E /27 4 and was wound ed at

Fall 2001 31 Wingen. the same day (July 6, 1943). Hal If anyone knew or remembers served with the Ninth Air Force as * Ernest and is willing to share a Navigator on a bomber operating Daphne Pinion, AM and her cousin Karen Hollingsworth those memories, Nancy would very out of England. Gardiner are doing research in much appreciate hearing from Hal is writing a book about the preparation for a book about their you. You can write Nancy at: men with whom he went to uncle, A. J. Hollingsworth, C / 3034 32nd Ave., South Minneapo­ school. Since Bus passed away 274. A. J. was KIA at Philipps­ lis, MN 55406. four years ago, Hal is having diffi­ bourg on January 4, 1945 (see culty learning about the circum­ Summer 2001, page 5). stances of how Bus won the Silver * During their research, they Bill LeBlanc would appreciate Star and what the details were of hearing from anyone who knew his wounding. have read the account of A. J.'s his dad, Gerard "Frenchie" Hal states Bus was wounded death as recorded in "Snow, Ridges and Pillboxes." In addi­ LeBlanc, A/274. on March 3, 1945 while Associa­ Frenchie is plagued with a se­ tion archives indicate that, as a tion, family members have spoken vere memory disorder since suf­ Pfc., Bus was awarded the Silver with Myron Meehan, Med/ 1st Bn/ fering a stroke. His remaining Star on March 6, 1945. 2 7 4 . Myron was holding A. J. when the latter died. memory of the war is of being You can contact Hal at: 30 E. cold. Ridge Ct., Parachute, CO 81635. The writers are now attempt­ You can contact Bill at: 934 You can call him at; (970) 285 - ing to locate members of A. J .'s Jasmine St., Celebration, FL 6647. squad from the 3rd platoon who 34747. may be able to share with them * more specifics of the squad's mis­ * Kyle Ward would like to hear sion at the time A. J. was killed. Hal Terrell would like to hear from anyone who served with his In that connection, the family has from anyone who knew James W. uncle, Leo Pederson, C/275 who already spoken with Owen Lloyd "Bus" Abshire, K/274 (3rd Pla­ was wounded in the Vosges Cam­ who shared his memories with toon). paign. them. Hal and Bus went through You can contact Kyle at: 204 S everal men identified by the grade school and high school to­ Crestview Dr., #16, Vincennes, IN family have been confirmed as de­ gether in the same class. They 47591. ceased. To avoid duplication of ef­ both enlisted in the military on fort, the deceased are identified as: William Martin (died 1994), Mathia s DeWald (died prior to 1986), William Jones (died 1964) Associate member cited by FBI and Paul Ayo (died 1991). Two men who are sought are for work in counterterrorism no longer members of the Associa­ n July 26, 2001 , Ed and arrest and convictions of the ter­ tion. Does anyone know their O Pat Cloonan, D / 275, along rorist held responsible for bomb­ whereabouts or status? They are: with two of their sons, went to ings of US Embassies. Pierre C. Bowman, last known liv­ Washington, DC. This trip had In presenting the award, the ing in Lettsworth, Louisiana; and great significance to the Cloonan Acting Director said of Jack, "We Thomas J. Kirk, last known living clan. They went to Washington to in this country will feel the ben­ in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. the Headquarters of the Federal efits of his work for year s to That leaves just one man being Bureau of Investigation to see an­ come." sought at this time. He is identi­ other son, John E. "Jack" Cloo­ Ed tells us, "We are very happy fied as former 2nd Lt. William Bro­ nan, AM receive "The Director's for Jack - it is always good to gan. If you know his whereabouts Award for Outstanding Counter­ know that your efforts have 'made or how the ladies can get in touch terrorism Investigation." a difference."' with any ot h er surviving squad In an impressive ceremony Jack was with us on the re­ members, plea se contact them. graced by an armed forces color cent tour to Europe. Because of Also, if anyone else has memories guard and the US Marine Brass security concerns we did not take relating to A. J. please contact the Quintet, the Acting Director of the his picture while on tour. writers in care of Karen at: 205 FBI cited Jack and another Spe­ Well done, Jack, we are proud Eutaw Av enue S . , Eutaw, AL 35462. You can call her at: (205) cial Agent for their contributions of you and your contributions to in the investigation, indictments, our great country! 372 - 9005.

32 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER Call(ed) to quarters

ill J. Williams has informed their favorite beach vacation spot. the University at Albany. He B us of the death of his father, The family would be delighted worked for the Hartford (New York) Juanell M. "Bill" Williams, 70 to hear from those who knew him School System as a history MP. Bill died on June 29, 2001 in or served with him. You may write teacher and later as a guidance Eugene, Oregon from complica­ to his son, Bill J. Williams (a re­ counselor. He retired in 1981 with tions of old age and numerous tired Master Sergeant, US Air more than 35 years in the school strokes. He was 84. His final Force) at: 348 Marion Ln., Eu­ system. days were spent at the nursing gene, OR 97404. A member of Phi Delta Theta, home where he had been a resi­ he formerly was a track and cross­ dent for the past year and a half. * country runner for Nott Terrace Bill was born in Haines, Or­ A. ndy McMahon has informed High School and Union College. egon on February 16, 191 7. He .,t-1. us of the death of his former He was an avid hunter, fisherman married Josephine Alnutt in Octo­ squad member and good friend and photographer. He was also a ber 1939 in Eugene, Oregon. Jam.es S. Plaugic, E / 276 on May combat infantryman in the 70th Josephine preceded him in death 6, 2001. Infantry Division in World War II. in August 2000. James' daughter, Joan Plaugic He is survived by his widow He was inducted into the Army Martin tells us that her dad had Margaret (Stockholm) Quinlan of in August 1943. Trained at Camp been in a nursing home for years Round Lake, two sons, two grand­ Adair, Bill was then sent to Fort following a stroke, but had been in children, a nephew and a niece. Leonard Wood before departing for reasonably good health. A bout James was buried in Memory Gar­ Europe in January 1945. He re­ with pneumonia had him declin­ dens Cemetery in Colonie, New turned to the states in September ing rapidly though and he passed York. 1945. away. You can write the family at: After the war Bill returned to James took pride in being a 69 English Rd., Round Lake, NY his job as a service station opera­ veteran. Representatives of the 12151. tor. He later worked as an area Army played "Taps" and presented sales representative for the Heidel­ the family with the flag that had * berg Brewery, of Tacoma, Wash­ covered his coffin. The family re­ ay Lewis, H / 274 of Bruin, ington covering southern Oregon ports it was "A simple, but moving R Kentucky died Tuesday, and northern California. He next ceremony." January 11, 2001 in St. Mary's owned Heidelberg Beer distribu­ You can write the family in Hospital, Huntington, West Vir­ torships; first in Albany, Oregon care of Joan at: 1012 Barrenger ginia at the age of 85. Ray was then in Roseburg, Oregon. Next Dr., Danville, CA 94506. born December 27, 1915, in Dob­ was a Hamms distributorship in bins, Kentucky. Eugene, followed by a joint ven­ * Ray was a member of the VFW, ture with his brother in a neigh­ he following was noted by DAV, The American Legion, was a borhood market in Springfield, Or - T Steve Dixon, HM in the Glen Kentucky Colonel and was a sus­ egon. Bill finally retired in 1982 Falls (New York) "Post Star." It taining member of his church from the Springfield Weyerhauser has been edited for publication in where he served as clerk for more Mill. this magazine. than 50 years. He was a retired Young Bill says that his dad Jam.es E. Quinlan, Jr., L/ 276 pipe fitter. He was awarded four was a good one for telling stories, of Round Lake, New York died at Bronze Stars and the French however his stories about his ex­ the age of 80 on Monday, July 2 , Commendation Medal. periences during the war never 2001 at Saratoga Hospital follow­ His widow Jessie (Porter) Lewis changed from telling to telling. ing a long illness. He was born survives as do three sons, two Bill is survived by three sons, June 9 , 1921 in Schenectady, New daughters, seven grandchildren, two sisters, eight grandchildren, York. and five great-grandchildren. and eight great-grandchildren. James graduated from Union Burial was in the Lewis-Wag­ Bill was cremated. His ashes College with a degree in history oner Cemetery, Bruin, Kentucky were scattered (along with his and economics, and received his wife's) along the Oregon coast, at Master's Degree in Education from (continued on next page)

Fall 2001 33 Called to quarters (continued from previous page) with military honors provided by yron McNeely, I/274 has in­ J\.lvin Thomas, HQ/883 FA has the VFW. B formed us of the death of his ~ informed us of the death of company mate Leonard 0. his long-time friend Don B. Eagan. Leonard succumbed to Pioletti, Sr., HQ/ 70 on May 27, udy Polunas* has informed us the effects of a heart attack on 2001. Don died in Eureka, Illinois J of the death of her father June 10, 2001. He was 75. at the age of 89. Isadore Fievisohn, G / 276. Isa­ Born February 17, 1926, he Alvin tells us that Don joined dore died June 11, 2001 in New was married to Ila Rae Halford on the Division at Camp Adair but Brunswick, New Jersey at the age September 3, 1949. Ila Rae sur - was transferred out before the Di­ of 76. vives. vision deployed overseas. He Isadore was born in Newark, After completing basic training served the remainder of the war in New Jersey and had lived in New at Fort Hood, Texas; Leonard was the Judge Advocate Branch as a Jersey most of his life. He re­ assigned to 1/ 274 in February First Lieutenant. ceived a BS degree in Accounting 1945 just as the unit was leaving Don was born May 19, 1923 in from Rutgers University and went St. Louis, France on the way to Roanoke, Illinois a nd married on to earn his CPA. He was a CPA Buschback. Erma M. White in 1940, she sur­ at the Milgrom Galuskin Rosner Leonard retired as a Mechani­ vives. and Company accounting firm in cal Technician from the Shell He graduated in 1935 from Edison, New J ersey for many Pipeline Corporation in 1983. Eureka, Illinois college and in years before retiring in 1987. Busy in retirement, he enjoyed 1938 from John Marshall Law He was a member of the DAV. raising hay and cattle and helping School. Isadore was preceded in death friends with various m echanical His list of accomplishments is by his wife Joyce. He is survived problems. too long to be listed h ere, but as a by a son, a daughter and three He was a member of the Asso­ record of service to his fellow man grandchildren. ciation, DAV and active in his they would make any member He was buried in Beth David church. proud. If an yon e would like a Cemetery in Kenilworth, New Jer­ Leonard is also s urvived by 2 copy of his full obituary, please sey. daughters, a sister, 3 grandchil­ send a self-addressed, stamped You can contact the family dren and three great grandchil­ envelope to the Editor. through Judy at: 18 Hannah Dr., dren. Don is survived by his widow, Dayton, NJ 08810. You can write Ila Rae at: Star three sons, four grandchildren Route, Box 42, Long Grove, OK and two sisters. * 73443. You can write the family in am Higgens, B / 275 has in- care of Erma at: 615 West Maple Sformed us the dea th his com­ * Dr., Eureka, IL 61530. pany mate Don C. Pettingill in im Casey, A / 276 has in- (Editor's note: When forward­ Grand Rapids, Michigan on July formed u s of the death of J ing an obituary please also in­ 15, 2001. Virgil E. Davis, unit unknown. form Secretary Lou Hoger of the Don was a scout in the first Virgil passed away at the age of 76 death. Please try and provide platoon. He was captured and in Burnet, Texas on June 1 7, Lou with name, unit and date of held POW along with Sam in 2001. passing. That helps Lou keep ac­ Stalag DCB, Bad Org, Germany. Serving with the Division, curate records.) Such an enduring friendship flow­ Virgil was captured n ear Bitche, ered over the years that Don was France and was held in Stalags one of the people to whom Sam IVB and VB. dedicated his book "Survival, Di­ Virgil is survived by his widow, ary of an American POW in World Emily, two sons, three step-sons Archie at sea War II (Summer 2000, page 31)." and three step-daughters and nu­ Sam says "Don was a fun loving merous grandchildren and great­ Actor Carol O'Connor (Archie person." grandchildren. Bunker) served with the Merchant Don was preceded in death by Burial was in Wellman, Iowa. Marine during WWII, sailing on his wife. He is survived by one fourteen differ ent ships in the daughter, Kathy. * North Atlantic. * 34 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER IN MEMORIAM II 11

In compliance with action Samuel Higgins, B / 275 has nated $10 in m emory of her hus­ taken by the Executive Commit­ given $75 in m emor y of Don band Joseph T. Cygan, unit un­ tee meeting in Denver in 1999, Pettingill and Hugh Cole, both known. the 70th Infantry Division Asso­ B / 275. ciation has established a Memo­ * rial Fund to honor a comrade in * Mrs. Eloise Pendleton has con­ arms, unit of the 70th or a de­ Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Kleiman tributed $100 in memory of her ceased member of the Associa­ have contributed $50 in the husband James H . Pendleton, tion. In this column we will list memory of Helen Hartenberg (see HQ/ 3rd Bn/ 275. the donor and the honoree. sidebar) and dedicated to all the deceased members of the 70th In­ Please make out your checks * fantry Division. Gerald's father, " ... We few, we happy few, we to: Memorial Fund, 70th Infantry Maurice served with the Division. band of brothers; Division Association and send For he today that sheds his them to Don Lindgren, Treasurer. blood with me Please note in whose name the * Mrs. Sophia Cygan has do- Shall be my brother . . . . " contribution is being made. * Doris Stender has given $100 A special friend in memory of her husband, Charles Stender, I/ 275. "In Memoriam" notes a gift on her 90th birthday. from Mr. and Mrs. Gerlad Klei­ "Mrs. H. was a guest of * man. Their relationship to Helen Maurice and Elizabeth Kleiman, Ed Lazar, 570 Sig has donated Hartenberg and, indeed Helen E / 274. She was so moved by the $100 in memory of George A. Fet­ Hartenberg's special relationship cer emonies a nd camaraderie of ter (KIA) and Andrew D. Hogg to the Association is noted on the Reunion and the hospitality of (DOW, March 20). both 570 Sig­ page 19, Winter 1997 edition the Trailblazers that she has con­ nal. The men died as a result of which states as follows: tributed a check for $500 for the their t hree-quarter ton weapons Fort Benning monument ...." carrier being blown up by a land .1.1Birthday gift from birthday girl to Monument The article ends by saying that mine on March 19, 1945 near For­ readers might want to drop Helen bach. "What a birthday gift! a thank you note at her address. "At the Friday evening dinner, The dinner referred to in the * President Bowlin introduced Helen article took place at the 1996 Re­ Hartenberg and congratulated her union in Orlando, Florida.

* TAPS * ANDERSEN, Louis C. AMUNDSON, Vernon W. BELL, Benjamin D. BRUSKI, Julius 221 Laurel Ave. Box 26 1233 Vornholt Ave. Detroit, Ml Millbrae, CA 04030 Elwood, IL 60421 Troy, OH 45373 HQ/275 - Died: 11/ 12/ 00 D/ 370 Medics - Died: Lj276 - Died: 12/ 00 D/ 274 - Died: 12/ 11/ 99 BURGESS, Delbert R. 2/ 8/ 01 ARCHIQUETIE, Emerson BOWERS, Neal E. Box 778 ALLEY, John F. A. 3129 Creyling Dr. Tower, MN 55790 364 Sea Crape Rd . 1148 Biemeret St. San Diego, CA 92123 C/ 275 - Died: 3/ 9/01 Venice FL 34293 Green Bay, W I 54304 HQ/DivArty- Died: 12/ 21 / L/275 - Died: 9/ 17/ 99 HQ/883 FA- Died: 1/ 7/ 01 99

Fall 2001 35 Taps (continued from previous page)

CANN, Kenneth T. FIEVISOHN, Isadore KAZMIERKOSKI, Edward MEZNNARSIC, Albert R. 1028 St. Andrews Circle C/ 276 - Died: 6/11/ 01 421 Marnie Lane 23251 Via Dorado Bowling Green, KY 42101 Pestigo, W I 54157 Coto de Caza, CA 92679 1/274 - Died: 8/ 30/ 00 FOSTER, Benjamin E. A/ 274 - Died: 1989 HQ/884 FA - Died: 4/ 7/ 00 3600 Holiday Ave. NE CONDOR Alfred S. Albuquerque, NM 87111 KEETON, Robert MICHAEL, James J. 2710 Cottonwood Ct. D/ 276- Died: 8/ 10/00 5054 South Ridge Dr. 2510 Martin St. Spring Hi ll, FL 34606 Cincinnati, OH 45222 Pascagoula, MS 39581 HQ/275 - Died: July '00 GONZALES, Ernest C. K/ 276 - Died: 12/21/ 00 L/276 - Died: 11 / 1/ 00 400 S. Broadway PL #1102 COX, Harold L. Tucson, AZ 85710 KELLY, Theodore MILLS, Norman E. 725 FA - Died: 12/ 7/ 97 B/ 884 FA - Died: 10/ 00 L/ 274 - Died: 10/21/ 61 411 Stately Pines Rd. New Bern, NC 28560 CU LP, Warren E. GREEN, Ruben J. KITLINSKI, Felix A. L/274 - Died: 7/ 09/ 98 613NW146th St. 26 Langdon Rd. 4720 Beaufort Hills Rd. Edmond, OK 73013 Burlington, NJ 08016 Harrisburg, PA 17110 MOORE, Forrest M . C/ 274 - Died: April 20, A/ 276 - Died: 2000 C/ 274 - Died: 1/ 29/01 204 Cascade Dr. #16 2001 Lebanon, OR 97355 GRETTUM, Robert S. KlJBACHKO, Andrew B/ 270 Eng - Died: 2/ 15/ 01 DAVIS, Virgil E. 2649 Willow Wick Dr. 707 Hammomd St Burnet, TX Sandy, UT 84093 Durham NC 27704 MURPHY, E. Cullen Unit Unknown - Died: 6/ C/ 276 - Died: 12/ 19/ 00 B/ 274 - Died: 2/ 99 2930 Chuckanut 17/ 01 Eugene, OR 97408 GRIFFIN, Kenneth R. KlJCKEN, Howard HQ/1 Bn/ 274 - Died: DENNSTEDT, Frederick 1909 Jefferson St. St. Clair Shores, M l 6/30/01 D. Portage, IN 46368 K/ 276 - Died: 12/ 25/ 78 3102 E. San Juan Ave. HQ/3rd Bn/274 - Died: MYERS, Carl L. Phoenix, AZ 85016 3/ 12/ 01 LEWIS, Harold R. 113 Pine Lake Circle HQ/882 FA- Died : 1995 10325 Church Hill Rd Leesburg, CA 31763 HELSLEY, McDougall Myersville MD 21773 1/276 - Died: 1/ 13/ 01 EAGAN, Leonard O. 4477 Parkwiid Cir. C/275 - Died: 5/ 29/01 Star Route, Box 42 Trussvill e, AL 35173 OEHLERT, William E. Long Grove, OK 73443 A/882 FA - Died: 5/ 00 LEWIS, Ray 517 Aullwood 1/274 - Died: 6/ 10/ 01 Rt 1, Box 685 Salina, KS 67401 HENNESSEY, John J. Sandy Hook, KY 41171 H/276 - Died: 1/ 17/ 01 EBERHARDT, Martin J. 5109 S. Nichol St. H/ 274 - Died: 1/ 11/ 01 477 High St. - Maine Tampa, FL 33611 OVERTON, Howard F. Veteran's Home C/276 - Died: 3/ 20/ 01 LATINI, Eugene J. 1029 N. Quebec South Park, M E 04281 121 Sampson St. Tul sa, OK 74115 HQ/884 FA - Died: 6/01 HOEBEL, Henry L. Kittanning, PA 16201 D/276 - Died: ? ? 2068 Jones Rd. A/270 Eng - Died: 9/21/99 FARMER, James C. Fort Lee, NJ 07024 PANNELL, Bonnie H. 954 Donaghey E/ 275 - Died: 4/ 00 MARINO, Philip C. 1919 E. Second St. Apt 167 Conway, AR 72032 24861 Via Del Rio Edmond, OK 73034 1/274 - Died: 7/ 13/ 01 HOGER, George E. Lake Forest, CA 92630 A/ 275 - Died: 11/ 00 904 Blue Bonnet D/274 - Died: 11/ 8/ 00 FEASTER, Elbert P. 0. Box 255 PARDIE, Alain 7912 Irish Dr. Bu ll Shoals, AR 72619 MARR, John A. 2306 Cornell Ave. North Rich land Heights, TX C/ 275 - Died: 5/04/ 01 701 E. Gibson, Rt 2, Bx 2 Janesville, WI 53545 76180 New Berlin, IL 62670 B/275 - Died: 12/ 9/00 C/ 274 - Died: 5/ 2/ 01 HRITSKO, Peter J. A/ 883 FA - Died: 12/ 6/00 1624 W. 28th St. PETTINGILL, Don C. FERRIS, James P. Lorain, OH 44052 McDANIEL, Junior 1755 Eastbrook SE 70 Shumway St. #14B HQ/1 Bn/ 274 - Died: 1400 Via Heilo Grand Rapids MI 49508 Springfield, MA 01119 7/ 14/01 Santa Maria, CA 93454 B/275 - Died: 7/15/01 C/275 - Died: 5/7/00 C/ 270 Eng - Died: 3/ 18/ 01

36 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER Membership f)__ _ PHINNEY, Merle A. SPICER, Harrison 132 W. Uncas Ave. 2059 Huntington Ave. #2 Updates· tl]· Milwaukee, WI 53207 Alexandria, VA 22303 C/ 883 FA - Died: 12/ 00 70 MP - Died: 11/ 29/ 00 New members CHAVEZ, Alex B. 180S-350E; Box 1403 PIOLETTI, Don B., Sr. STAVA, Martin G. APTON, Anthony J. Huntington, UT 84528 615 West Maple Dr. 7030 . 65th Ave. 928 Wildwood ave. B/ 275 Eureka, IL 61530 Omaha, NE 68152 Daly City, CA 04015 (435) 687-9188 HQ/70 - Died: 5/ 27/ 01 sv/ 275 - 3/ 26/00 HQ/DivArty - Pearl ey (650) 755-8676 COMER, Alva G. PLAUCIC, James S. SUDAC, William F. 6715 E. 95th St. One Franklin Ave. 4756 W. Blu efield BAG E, Earl A. Tulsa, OK 74133 Belleville, NJ 07109 Glendale, AZ 85308 217-C Sweetcreek Ln K/ 274 - Wanda E/ 276 - Died: 5/ 06/ 01 1/276 - 3/ 20/ 01 Ballwin, MO 63021 (918) 481-1802 Unit Unknown QUINLAN, James E., Jr. TICE, Francis L. (636) 394-6255 DEDLOW, Richard C. 69 English Rd. 2814 Maple Ave. 3089 Fairmont Ct. Round Lake, NY 12151 Merced, CA 95340 BAKER, Robert Bend, OR 97701 L/276 - Died: 7/ 2/ 01 C/ 274 - Died: 5/ 5/ 01 1321 N. Main St. 570 Signal - Doris Sand Springs, OK 74063 (541) 382-0476 RENNAKER, Wendie TONE, Louis C/ 882 FA - Margaret Cambridge, M 1 10327 Boca Woods Ln. (918) 241-4381 EMICK, Harold W., Jr. K/274 - Died: 1/ 19/ 01 Boca Raton, FL 33428 15688 Transfer Rd. C/ 882 FA - Died: 12/ 9/ 00 BISSELL, Harry B. Olathe, CO 91425 ROMANO, Anthony P. 0. Box 303 HQ/884 FA- Louise 2529 S. Claymont St. WAMSLEY, John R. Blu e Hill, ME 04614 (970) 209-5226 Philadelphia, PA 19153 5570 S. 8500 E. 884 FA - Marie C/ 276 - Died: 11/ 8/ 00 Jensen, UT 84035 (207) 374-5589 GROOME, William C. G/ 276 - Died: 10/ 17/ 00 1779 Valley View Dr. SANCHEZ, Lawrence BLOOM, Jesse D. Kokomo, IN 46902 Unit Unknown - Died: WILLIAMS, Juannell M. 2355 Pebble Beach Rd. HQ/70 - Genevieve 9/ 00 348 Marion Ln Ocala, FL 34472 (765) 455-3264 Eugene 0 R 97404 HQ/1 st Bn/ 274 - Betty SCHULER, Henry G. 70 MP - Died: 6/ 29/ 01 (452) 624-4013 KIM, Jack C. 4635 Ridgewood Ave. #60 364 Northwood Dr. St. Louis, MO 63116 WIMSETT, Raymond E. BOLDREY, Ivan A. Castro Valley, CA 94546 Medic/ 274 - Died: 12/ 8/ 00 G/ 274 - Died: 2/ 14/ 01 109 Hickory Dr. F/ 275 Tavares, FL 32778 WITT, Richard (510) 538-8826 SHARP, Kenneth SV/ 274 Topeka, KS B/ 276 - Died: 1990 (352) 742-2487 LAJOIE, Harland L. Unit Unknown - Died: 11 / WOLZ, Robert E. 2645 Ross Lane 23/ 00 BOSCO, Henry Eugene, OR 97404 1621 N. W. inth Ave. 809 Traver Trail SHEELEY, George H. Camas, WA 98607 B/ 276 - Dolores Glenwood Sprgs, CO (541) 688-0122 501 N. Jefferson K/ 274 - Died: 6/ 09/ 01 81601 Raymore, MO 64083 HQ/70 - Dorothy LONGWORTH, Glen A/ 276 - Died: 2/ 12/ 01 ZIMMERMAN, Elmer M edic/ 1st Bn/ 275 - Died: (970) 945-6268 5335 Main St. #217 Springfield, OR 97478 SMITH, David D. 1953 CHAMBERLIN, Homer V. 190 Oklahoma Ave. B/ 275 - Ann 125 Briar Creek Blvd. (541) 744-1815 Louisville, OH 44641 Safety Harbor, FL 34695 B/ 274 - Died: 4/ 99 M edic/276 - Betty MEDICUS, Oliver C. SPARKS, Wendell D. (727) 726-4823 1825 N. Stapley Dr #1107C P.O. Box 187 Mesa, AZ 85203 Hennepin, OK 73046 If 275 70 MP - Died: ? ?

Fall 2001 37 Membership updates (continued from previous page)

OAKLEY, James W. YOUNGER, Harold L. BYMARK, Jerry GRAHAM, Ella M. 5773 Elk Creek Rd. 2202 S. Jeffeson Ave. 8191 Neal Ave S. 14190 Chesterfield Lane Middletown, OH 45042 Mason City, IA 50401 Hastings, MN 55033 Culpeper, VA 22701 E/ 274 - Joyce C/ 276- Erna Nephew of William J. Widow of Marvin Graham (513) 423-6333 (641) 421-0449 Bymark C/ 274 G/ 274 PETERMAN, Edward P. ZIMMERMAN, Jay GRAHAM, Richard D. 634 Vandenberg St. 47 Greenview East CARDEN, James L. 14414 Chesterfield Lane Altamonte Sprg, FL 32701 Hyde Park, NY 11040 1 Country Club Dr. Culpeper, VA 22701 F/ 275 Medic/ 1st Bn/ 275 - Calera, AL 35040 Son of Marvin Graham CarolAnn Son of Clyde F. Carden C/ 274 REIRING, Robert C. (516) 741-6445 G/ 276 7821 Kittyhawk Ave. HAMPSHIRE, Jon Los Angeles, CA 90045 CLOONAN, Edward T. 7730 N. Twp Rd 69 HQ/70 - Ruth Life members 1105 Doubling Rd. Kansas, OH 44841 (310) 645-8940 Greenwich, CT 06830 Grandson of Fred Craig ARNDT, Allen H. Son of Ed Cloonan E/ 274 ROBISON, Mastin A. A/ 370 Medics D/ 275 P. 0. Box 1 HARRIS, Sharon Oil City, LA 71061 FINK, George E. CLOONAN, John E. P. 0. Box 86 F/ 276 1/275 78 Elmwood Terr Newburg, MO 65550 (319) 995-6551 W. Caldwell, NJ 07006 Daughter of James Malone FORSLINE, Carl Richard Son of Ed Cloonan Unit Unknown RYAN, Wyllis 1/274 D/ 275 Birch Ave., Apt 103 Box HENDRICKSON, Kristal 188 ILIFF, Dale H. CLOONAN, Richard J. 20 Harrison St Dalton, MN 56324 70 Recon Troop 509 West Brook Ct. Wanatchee, WA 98801 1/274 - Helen Virginia Bch, VA 28455 Cousin of Earl Green (218) 589-8860 MclNNIS, Sam P. Son of Ed Cloonan C/ 276- MIA M/ 275 D/ 275 SAWYER, Frank H. HENDRICKSON, Ray L 1722 NE 46th Ave. SCIANDRONE, Jospeh C. DITO, Marty 8701 E. Leavenworth Rd Portland, OR 97213 L/ 276 4630 Stillwater Ct. Leavenworth, WA 98826 (503) 249-1973 VICKERS, George H. Concord, CA 94521 Cousin of Earl Green E/ 274 Son of Joseph Dito G/276 - MIA THOMPSON, Sam C. D/ 274 1740 Cedarcroft Dr. JENKINS, Craig N. Clarksville, TN 37043 DUJACK, Raymond L. 5230 Raphel Dr. F/ 274 - Kathy New associate 2 Schoolhouse Ln Alexandria, LA 71303 (931) 648-31 26 members Lebanon, NJ 08833 JEN KS, Scott A. WARREN, Cornelius BEAVER, Robert M. DUNKLIN, Cindy B. 14038 NW Meadowridge P. 0. Box 90 778 Vespucci Lane 1965 Summer Ln Dr. Rineyville, KY 40162 Foster City, CA 94404 Roanoke,TX 76262 Portland, OR 97229 B/ 275 - Mary Daughter of Gene Burtner Son of Arvin Jenks (270) 737-2239 BRANSON, Craig L/ 276 C/ 274 299 Clay St. WRIGHT, Elmer C. Tiffin, OH 44883 FOLEY, Ross KENNEDY, Matthew 10775 Old River Rd. Grandson of Fred Craig 10 Woody Ave. 3108 Highland Terr W Camden, NY 13316 E/ 274 Beardstown, IL 62618 Austin, TX 78731 AT/ 275 - Sheila Son of Lawrence Foley Grandson of Noah Kennedy (315) 245-2057 BRIOLA, Pamela HQ/276 - KIA E/ 276 3302 112th Pl SE Everett, WA 98208 70 RSC

38 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER MacALLESTER, Kyle A. PRESCOTT, Jamie ZEUTZIUS, William J., Jr. CASSI DY, Fred 3579 Willow Way 11690 McPeak Rd. 80 S Lake Ave Ste 823 1368 Colonial Dr. Shepherdsville, KY 40165 Forestville, CA 95436 Pasadena, CA 91101 Roseville, MN 55113 Grandson of Carl Grandson of John Carr (651) 636-4750 MacAllester If 275 B/ 274 Roster changes CLARE, Truman PRUITT, Edward N. 4950 Gulf Blvd., Apt. 809 MATHES, Brett 1819 Belle Ave. ADAMEK, Edward G. Saint Pete Bch, FL 33706 2825 Sawnee View Dr. Flint, MI 48506 16019 38th Ave. NE Cumming, CA 30040 70th DIV (T C) Lake Forest Pk, WA 98155 CLAY, Comer Son of Carl Mathes 2621 Brya nt Clay Rd. #306 HQ/1st Bn/ 275 RASMUSSEN, Mrs. Rob- BAIN, James W. Ft. Worth, TX 76109 ert 1331 S Clark Rd. #111 (817) 923-4806 McGUANN, Paul 7094 218th St PL El Centro, CA 92243 237 Carleton Ln Forest Lake, MN 55025 CONE, Irwin C. No. Andover, MA 01845 BITTNER, Sylvan F. 6406 S. Hudson St. Nephew of Henry Robey REMICK, Larry L. 2845 Paradise Path Littleton, CO 80121 F/274- KIA 21983 21st Pl ace W. Sebring, FL 33870 Brier, WA 98036 COOPER, Morgan McMAHON, Martin V., Jr. Son of Tom Remick BLACKMAR, Charles B. 6204 Royal Birkdale 8809 NW 20th Court AT/ 274 612 Hobbs Rd. Jamesville, NY 13078 Sunrise, FL 33322 Jefferson City, MO 65109 Brother of Andy J. RIVERS, Dane CULBERTSON, Robert McMahon 17748 Elders View Dr. BOTT, Walter M. 6201 Bayou Grande Blvd. E/276 Sherwood, OR 97140 4109 Arcadia Way NE Gra ndson of Charl es Ferree Oceanside, CA 92056 St. Petersburg, FL 33702 MEIDEL, Kristen HQ/884 FA (760) 945-8244 820 NE 81 st St. DECELL, Carland T. Seattle, WA 98115 SMITH, Doris BOWLES, Donald E. 2805 Briarwood Dr. Daughter of Kenneth 7349 Ulmertom Rd., Lot 2011 Nautilus St. Ruston LA 71270 Meidel 104 La Jolla, CA 92037 (318) 255-1077 B/274 Largo, FL 33771 BREUKER, Edward DIORIO, Dominic W. MICHAEL, Vivian TETZ, Adam 2813 College Rd. Phone: (740) 264-1900 2510 Martin St. 2229 C rotto St Holt, M l 48842 DRENTH, Walter Pascagou la, MS 39581 Roseville, M 55113 BUCY, R. L. 2105 Raybrook Ave. Widow of James Michael Grandson of Benjamin 5044 Pleasant View Cir. Grand Rapids, M l 49546 L/276 McCashland D/275 Gainesville, GA 30504 (616) 575-6219 MOORE, Greg BURLEIGH, Dale E. DUNKEL, George H. 5763 E 25th Pl. WARD, Kyle 9925 LaAlmedaa Ave 803 Penn St., Apt. 130 Tulsa, OK 74114 204 Crestview Dr. #107A Reading, PA 19601 Nephew of Randall Cooper Vincennes, IN 47591 Fountain Alley, CA 92708 (610) 376-4319 1/275 Nephew of Leo Pederson C/ 275 BURROW, Hardy FERRANDINO, Rosario NEWTON, Steve 1018 NW 9th St. 166 Furl ong Way 11 ru e des Pres WILLIAMS, Bill J. Tulia TX, 79088 Red Lion, PA 17356 57530 Spicheren FRANCE 348 Marion Ln Eugene, OR 97404 BURTNER, Eugene P. FINK, George E. PAYNE, Harold E. Son of Juanell Williams 521 Elaine St 702 Jefferson St. 3661 27th Ave. SW 70 MP Keller, TX 76248 West Columbia, TX 77486 Naples,FL 3411 7 (512) 247-4915 WITT, Gretchen CASON, Robert W. 24 Westbourne Rd. 6039 Eastbrook Ave. #08 FURLONG, Lewis Concord, NH 03301 Lakewood, CA 90317 1335 Keller Dr. Daughter of Richard W itt (562) 461 -7745 Troy, OH 43373 8/276

Fall 2001 39 Membership updates (continu ed from previous page)

GITTELMAN, Daniel LAWRENCE, Jesse W. ORENSTEIN, Marvin SWITZER, Harold W. 9 Bagy Wrinkle Cove 711 E Smoiles Ave. #406 15 Alice Rd. Colonial Village, Bldg. 12, Warren, RI 02885 Augusta, KS 67010 Massapequa, NY 11758 Apt A Webster Groves, MO GLICKMAN, Lester LAZAR, Edward L. PASTRAS, Jack B. 63034 8 Millstne Campus Dr., 217 W Montgomery Ave. 1111 Elmwood Rd., Apt (314) 961 -5804 F315 #102 3045 St. Lou is, MO 63146 Havorford, PA 109041 Lansing, Ml 48917 TIBBETTS, Charles W. (314) 993-5500 6627 Kentland Ave. LeBLANC, Elvin J. PENCE, Donald C. West Hills, CA 91307 HELLER, Walter L., Sr. 11661 Highway 1 3516 Bartley Hollema n Rd. P. 0. Box 772013 Lockport, LA 70374 New Hill, NC 27562 TURNER, Morse T. Ocala, FL 34477 (910) 303-2933 5936 Prather Rd. SW LINDERBAUM, Harold Centralia, WA 98531 HENNESSY, John A. 604 NE First St. Rm 149 POPOVAC, Daniel 0. 790 County Rd. 4702 Forest Lake, MN 55025 279 Versailles Blvd. VACEK, Eugene Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 (651) 466-0375 Alexandria, LA 71303 (979) 725-6752 (573) 778-0410 LONGFIELD, Robert C. RENNING, Frank A. WAGMAN, Julius HONOLD, Woodrow J. 2520 Lake Mich Dr. NW 3337 Leisure Ct. NW 1527 Upland Hills Dr. N PO Box 66 #233 Rochester, MN 55901 Upland, CA 91784 Descanso, CA 91916 Grand Rapids, Ml 49504 ROETS, Francis WALLACE, Norman A. HYDE, George R. MATAXIS, Theodore C. 2320 S. Green St. 80798 SFK WWR 34860 Edna Barr Ln. P. 0. Box 102197 Wichita, KS 67211 Milton-Freewater, OR St Helens, OR 97051 Denver, CO 80250 97862 (503) 366-1235 ROGERS, John R. (503) 938-7915 McKEEHAN, Norman D. 248 Arrowhead Lane HYDE, Robert L. 221 N. 5th St. Eighty Four, PA 15330 WARDROP, R. Alex 32197 Bishop Rd. Central Point, OR 97502 101 Stoneridge Village Ranier, OR 97048 (541) 664-5460 SCHNEIDER, Emil Myerstown, PA 17067 9465 64th St. JAM ES, Kenneth H. MICHAEL, James New Leipzig, ND 58562 WARREN, Charles W. 2411 Cattail Rd . 1001 Wildewood Owns Cir. 2422 E. San Tan St. Sea rcy, AR 72143 #203 SCRIMSHIRE, James A. Chandler, AZ 85225 (501) 305-4217 Columbia, SC 29223 9770 County Road 2404 Kemp, TX 75143 WESTMORELAND, J. W., JENSEN, Norman G. MITCHELL, James L. Jr. 37548 Harlow Dr. 800 Lake Port Blvd., H-503 SELZER, Jack H. (936) 967-4688 Willoughby, OH 44094 Leesburg, FL 34748 1400 Highway 70, Apt. 117 (352) 365-9630 Lakewood, NJ 08701 WHITE, Donald C. KLIEVER, Edward E. 1120 Lee Dr. Apt 238 424 W Reserve Dr MOLONEY, James M. SKUTT, Robert L. Moon Twp, PA 15108 Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223 24 Beacon Hill 2724 Benavides Dr. Fairport, NY 14450 The Vi llages, FL 32159 WORLEY, Robert E. KOVARIK, James (712) 223-9024 914 Wilson Ave. (708) 442-5380 SM ITH, A. Gordon Chambersbu rg, PA 17201 NADLER, William A. 5420 SE Adams Blvd #106 KOWALCHUK, Charles P. 0. Box 157 Bartlesville OK 74006- 4180 Heritage Ln. Lake Mills, W I 53557 8875 Walnutport, PA 18088 918-333-7584 NEWMAN, Robert P. LASH IN, Abraham I. 701 Oaknoll Dr. 15 Via Co li nas Iowa City, IA 52246 Westlake Village, CA 91362

40 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER Outstanding Trailblazer nominations sought ith Reunion 2002 about a year away it's 1988 1994 time once again to seek nominations for W the Outstanding Trailblazer Award_ Con George S. Barten Walter Cox Cremer, F / 275 has once again "volunteered" for the Edward J. Hawes * Cornelius Cremer duty_ Louis A. Hoger Rex Douglas Jeffery The deadline for nominations will be April 30, Karl S. Landstrom William Pierce 2002. Paul McCoy * As many of you know, no man can win the presti­ Lee Miller 1996 gious award more than once. To win the coveted title Charles Munie a man must have made outstanding contributions Peter "Tex" Bennet for the good of the Association, have been a member 1990 Robert Crothers of the Association for at least six years and attended Archie Smith * one or more National Reunions. Everett B. Austin* Harry Durkee Seventy men have won the Outstanding Trail­ L. Donald Docken Calvin Jones blazer Award. They are: DeLyle 0. Omholt * Charles Kelly * James T. Pettus Edward Kraus 1982 James Dunbar A. William Rorabaugh Clarence E. Feaster * Alvin E. Thomas 1998 Fred J. Cassidy Chester Garstki * Wallace R. Cheves * Eugene G. Inzer 1992 Jack Apostal Merritt Dick * George B. Wisdom * Jack Barton * Orville F. Ellis J. L Wittal * Norman Johnson Henry Clarke Tom S. Higley Theodore Mataxis Frank Ellis Clinton F. Kruse * 1986 Eugene Burtner James Hanson Elmer F. Martin, Sr. Harold Kline * Ernest Q. Miller * Harold R. Lewis * Buford Matlock 2000 Frank J. Moran, Jr. * Ed Cloonan Paul Thirion Donald C. Pence Tom Dickerson Richard Brown Dale F. Bowlin Eugene J. Peterson Greg Hosford Lester Edwards Robert C. Hays Dean Banker Gus Comuntzis Andrew J. McMahon 1984 Bryon McNeely Floyd Freeman George D. Marshall Hy Schorr Wellstood W. Tipton * Edmund C. Arnold Paul Durbin * Deceased

Good background Actor I comedian Jack Lemmon Ne~ feature announced served as a communications of­ ficer on the aircraft carrier USS n the next edition we will men.ts in which the recipients Lake Champlain in the closing start a new feature called served. I days of WWII. It was a good "With Military Honors". We are limited to using one chance for Lemmon to study dif­ page per edition for this new Through various sources we ferent characters. Lemmon won feature. Therefore, many cat­ have compiled a list of men and an Oscar for his portrayal as En­ egories of awards will require the medals they were awarded sign Pulver (a bumbling young of­ more than one edition to list all for combat service. We will ficer) in the movie "Mr. Roberts." the awardee's names. print those lists in the new fea­ All recipients of the Combat ture. Infantryman's Badge were The names will be listed awarded the Bronze Star Medal within the category of the med­ after they beca me civilians. als awarded, listed by the regi- Their names are not available.

Fall 2001 41 The Treasurer's"---­ Report .!i .Don Lindgren -fl- 2nd quarter financial report-April 1-June 30, 2001 (no cents) 70th Infantry Division Association OPEN INC BALANCE, APRIL 1, 2001 $75,223 Executive Committee RECEIPTS President: Vice President-Central: John T. Nothnagle L Donald Docken DUES ASSOCIATES $ 513 1016 Marcy St. 3003 Hazelwood St. #307 REGULAR $ 1,219 Iowa City, IA 52240 Maplewood, MN 55109 TOTAL DUES $ 1,732 (319) 338-3757 (651) 773-7036 DONATIONS President-Elect: Vice President-West: COMBAT MEDICS Stanley J. Lambert Frank R. Ellis MEMORIALS (1) $100 HC 62, Box 27 6716 E. Clinton St. MEMORIAL FUND $ 163 Ewing, NE 68735 Scottsdale, AZ 85254 MEMORIAL BK $ 20 POSTAGE $ 25 (402) 482-5427 (480) 348-2126 TRAILBLAZER MAG $10 Past-President: Secretary: TOTAL DONATIONS $ 318 Andrew J. McMahon Louis A. Hoger 112 Tam-0-Shanter Dr. BOOK SALES $ 659 5825 Horton St. SOUVENIR SALES $ 1,222 Blythewood, SC 29016 Mission, KS 66202 INTEREST $ 75 (803) 754-9362 (913) 722-2024 TOTAL OTHER INCOME $1,956 Vice President-North: Treasurer: TOTAL RECEIPTS $ 4,006 Paul Sumner Donald H. Lindgren 23 Seneca Ave. 9001 Beacon Ave. EXPENSES Oakland, NJ 07436 Vancouver, WA 98664 {201 )337-0616 (360) 693-8787 GRATUITIES $ (600) OFFICE SUPPLIES $ (54) Vice President-South: Editor "Trailblazer": REUNION 2000 EXP $ (60) Eugene P. Burtner Ed Lane SOUVENIR SALES EXP $ (1,506) 521 Elaine St. P. 0. Box 1282 WEB PAGE $ (60) Keller, TX 76248 Radcliff, KY 40159 TOTAL GENERAL EXP $ (2,280) (817) 431-1692 (270) 352-0753 TRAILBLAZER EXPENSES DESIGNER $ (2,090 EDITOR $ (1,200 Special Appointments MAILI NG $ (125 Chaplain: Historians: POSTAGE $(549 The Rev. L Donald PRINTING $ (3,623 Dr. Eugene J. Petersen SUPPLIES $ (9 Docken HC 650 Box 143 TOTAL TB EXPENSES $ (7,596) 3003 Hazelwood St. #307 Cable, WI 54821 Maplewood, MN 55109 (715) 798-3397 TOTAL EXPENSES $ (9,875) (651) 773-7036 John M. Hildebrand TOTAL ASSOCIATION FUNDS 6/30/01 *** $ 69,353 Assistant Chaplain: 1207 W. Porte r Ave. The Rev. Harry D. Fullerton, CA 92633 Durkee (714) 871-7964 SPECIAL FUNDS 7739 Via Napoli Todd Anton Burbank, CA 91504 COMBAT MEDIC FUND - CASH $ 2,060 12714 Silver Spur Way (1) INCLUDES 400 SH OF RITE-AID STOCK (818) 767 -0794 Victorville, CA 92392 NOT SHOWN IN BAL ABOVE Historian Emeritus: (760) 956-1089 TOTAL VALU E OF STOCK 6/30/ 01 $ 3,536 Donald C. Pence BAL OF MEMORIAL FUND $ 2,356 Webmaster: TOTAL OF DESIGNATED FUNDS $ 4,416 3516 Bartley Holleman Rd. Steve Dixon New Hill, NC 27562 404 Calgary Drive FINAL TOTAL OF ASSOCIATION FUNDS $ 64,937 (910) 303-2933 Peachtree City, CA 30269 (770) 486-1846 LOCATION OF FUNDS

E-mail Coordinator- BANK OF AMERICA- CHECKING $ 10,127 'Blazer Net: BANK OF AMERICA- SAVINGS $ 18,156 James M. Hanson WEST COAST BANK CD $ 41,070 [email protected] TOTAL OF FUNDS *** $ 69,353

42 70th Infantry Division Association TRAILBLAZER FRIENDS

(continued from inside front cover) have done for Freedom and Peace in Europe during WWII ...." (AMs) and her entire family: And then again from J-P and "Hello friends, We all hope that Claudie Cremailh in answer to my you and your families are well. We note of thanks: feel very sorry for what happened in New York and Washington and "Dear Ed, Thanks for your we think and pray for all victims message. You must know that we of this tragedy. Take care. Love, think about you. Yesterday Eu­ Dorothee and Thomas." rope was in mourning and out of respect, three minutes of silence And then, on the 14th, an­ has been observed throughout the other message from Alain county. We send you our best re­ Heurtaux. This one brought a gards_ God bless America." lump to my throat as I read: And then our good friend Alain "Dear friends, Today 14-09-01 sent the pictures you see repro­ all the flags in Forbach are to half­ duced on the cover_ What can I mast (the tower also). 12h00 .. _ say on our membership's behalf to spray of flowers at the memorial of the wonderful people of France. I Schlossberg in memory off all the offer the message I sent to Alain: victims from the vile murder at­ tempt. Sincerely, Alain." "Thanks so much for the pic­ tures. To see the tri-color and the And then, once again from stars and stripes side by side is Clement Keller: inspiring. The blood of our two peoples have been one since our "From the Elysee Palace to the Revolution when France sent so smallest village, people of France much and gambled on a fledgling stopped September 14th 2001 at nation. Then again with M. 12.00 all activity during three L'Enfant laying out Washington, minutes in solidarity with the DC and Detroit, MI and M. Eiffel American nation and the families who designed the Statue of Lib­ of the victims of blind terrorism. erty_ Then also WWI and WWII Many official ceremonies have with French and Americans fight­ been celebrated and church bells ing side by side. rang throughout the country. At this time, most of us had in re­ "Merci beaucoup man ban membrance what guys like yours ami.''

Fall 2001 43 NON-PROFIT T"'AIL~BLAIER ORGANIZATION I U.S. POSTAGE PERMIT-148 70th Infantry Division Association ELIZABETHTOWN, Louis Hoger KY 5825 Horton Street Mission, KS 66202

Address Service Requested JI I I I I 1 JI I, I I I/, 11I/III1 111IJ/,II11I, /1 1I1 1I II I/, I1 11 , I/ /,/,,/

MDR~ r s. MO N IKA J .~ .:t.z.. ·· ·oo 5210 TOWER DR APT 276 l..J .T C H I T A FALL S n; ?63 .1 0 - 3 0 4 j

The war isn' t quite over in April 1945, but these soldiers are catching a break at Bad Kreursnach, Germany. Note weapons kept close by. Anyone out there who can identify the soldiers? If so, please contact the editor. (Photo by the late Chester Garstki, HQ/70)