Saving Private Eckman Private Don Eckman – The Last Eyewitness to Lt. Audie Murphy’s One Man Stand at Holtzwihr By Henry Bodden – Historian Lt. Audie Murphy was ordered to “hold this road at all cost.” Lt. Murphy then jumps on a burning M-10 tank destroyer and mans a 50 cal. gun at the oncoming Germans. magine you are a young infantryman in a situa- tion where you are facing certain death within Ithe hour. You are one of seventeen young men, thousands of miles from your family and home My “Hero of Holtzwihr” print autographed by PFC Don towards the end of WWII, when suddenly six Eckman & Nadine Murphy, sister of Audie Murphy German Type V Jagdpanther tanks leave the small town of Holtzwihr, France around 2:00 p.m. in a will be killed within the hour. I can imagine what single column supported by 250 snow caped crack thoughts these men must be thinking, “I am going German winter troops from Norway to hold onto to die and never see my family and friends, or have the Alsace-Lorraine region of France. Facing cer- a family of my own.” But then this young officer tain death when you will surely be overrun, a young who is killing scores of the German infantrymen Lt. from Texas orders you and the men back into and calling artillery at the same time on the the woods as this boyish looking officer began call- approaching tanks atop a burning M-10 tank ing artillery on the tank column and infantrymen destroyer with five or six cases of ammo that could just one mile from your position. explode at any minute, remains shrouded within the Lt. Audie Murphy was ordered to “hold this road smoke for one hour. Murphy killed 50-100 at all cost.” Lt. Murphy then jumps on a burning M- Germans that day who got within ten yards of him 10 tank destroyer and mans a 50 cal. gun at the at one time. oncoming Germans. As you witness this hopeless One of Murphy’s famous quotes came when a situation develop from the woods, you know you concerned Lieutenant firing the artillery at Please turn to ECKMAN on page 6 OIF Soldier to receive D.S.C. Posthumously peration Iraqi Freedom Veteran and When both his and his crew’s machine guns Third Infantry O malfunctioned, SSG Booker, with total disre- Division Soldier, SSG Stevon Booker, will receive the gard for his personal safety, exposed himself Distinguished Service Cross by lying in a prone position on top of the for his heroic actions on 5 tank’s turret and accurately engaged the April 2003. SSG Booker enemy forces... SSG Stevon Booker enlisted in the Army on 20 June 1987 in Pittsburgh, PA. (Mechanized), Staff Sergeant Booker’s platoon He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi led a task force in a movement to contact along Freedom in March 2003 and was assigned to the Highway 8 towards Bagdad International Airport. 3d Infantry Division. On 5 April 2003, while serv- ing as a Tank Commander with Company A, 1st Two kilometers after the line of departure, the Battalion, 64th Armor, 3d Infantry Division Please turn to BOOKER on page 6 President’s Message ock of the Marne! April Ris a great time of year Preparations are fast underway for our for the Society. As you national reunion November 14-17, 2019. We know, we are celebrating Toby Knight Society President our 100th Anniversary. have contracted with the Westin Jekyll Island This is a momentous occa- hotel. This hotel is beautiful and is right on the beach... sion and I am very proud to be your President. Lots to talk about so let me dive right in. and I had the honor of attending his work and dedication. Thank you Henry!! birthday party at the American Legion in Preparations are fast underway for Don’t forget to nominate someone Denver, CO. Harold had on hand the hel- our national reunion November 14-17, you believe deserving of one of our met he wore during WWII. It had a bul- 2019. We have contracted with the Awards. We are still accepting nomina- let hole in it from when a sniper shot Westin Jekyll Island hotel. This hotel is tions for awards and so please don’t hes- him. The bullet entered the helmet just to beautiful and is right on the beach and is itate to nominate someone. the left of his left eye, traveled over his only steps away from the convention We are also accepting nominations for left ear and exited the back and didn’t center where we will attend the Soldiers Society leadership positions. I have leave a scratch!! Amazing. Happy Ball. If you decide to fly to the reunion, extended the deadline for nominations to Birthday Harold! I recommend using Jacksonville, FL as May 5, 2019. Please see the announce- your destination airport. It is actually This April marks two special one-year ment in the following pages for details closer to get to Jekyll Island from anniversaries in our Society. This month on what positions are available and how Jacksonville than Savannah. We will marks one year since we established you can nominate. also have a complimentary shuttle ser- OP16 in Southern Italy. Under the lead- We would like to congratulate two vice that will bring you to the hotel from ership of Luigi Settimi, this OP has former Division Command Sergeants the Jacksonville airport and return you become one of our most active OP’s in Major for thier recent promotions. CSM after the reunion is over. Make sure you the Society. They are true supporters of Walter Tagalicud recently assumed the let the reunion brat know and they will our Soldiers and we are proud of their duties as the top enlisted member on the make sure you are on the list for pick up work. Korean peninsula. As CSM of United and drop off. We will have a private suite The other one year anniversary is that States Forces Korea he is the senior available for the hospitality room and of our Editor, Henry Bodden. Henry has enlisted advisor on the Peninsula for all Gerry will be there, as always, to make done a magnificent job keeping our US and United Nations Forces. sure everything goes smoothly. On beloved WOTR the wonderful publica- We also congratulate CSM Daniel Saturday, we will be hosted by the tion that it is. I receive laudatory com- Hendrex who recently led the Division Division to visit and tour several facili- ments from members all the time and I as the top enlisted leader. He is now the ties on Fort Stewart including the am truly grateful to Henry for his hard senior enlisted advisor and CSM of III Museum and Warriors Walk. We will eat Corps and Fort Hood, TX. I had the dinner at the Fort Stewart club along opportunity to attend his assumption of with many of the Leaders of the command ceremony and I was extremely Division. It is going to be great. Make proud to see this amazing leader assume your plans early, as the hotel reserva- his role is such an important position. tions will fill up fast! Lastly, we need to welcome our new While attending the Soldiers Ball this Society Honorary Vice-President and year, the division surprised me by new Division Command Sergeant Major, awarding me the “Marne Rock Star” CSM Michael J. Coffey. CSM Coffey award. This award is given to civilian comes to the division with an enormous personnel for “unrelenting support and vitae of world-wide experience and we service to the Soldiers and Families of are honored to have him on the Marne the Division.” I am truly honored to be express! included in this club and I thank the The Secretary of the Army recently Division Commanding General and approved the upgrading of the Silver Command Sergeant Major for this honor. Star to the Distinguished Service Cross I extend a special happy birthday to for SSG Stevon Booker. SSG Booker Society Life Member Harold Nelson. was assigned to the 1 BN, 64 Armored, Harold turned 104 years old in March Harold Nelson birthday celebration Please turn to PRESIDENT on page 23 The Watch on the Rhine Page 3 The Stoys Visit Society Members during Re n a recent road trip between 27 shot by one of the leading US soldiers. January and 16 February 2019, Wounded, he was sent to a POW hold- Owe had the opportunity to visit ing area and then moved to Incheon where with Society members in several states. he and the other POWs were loaded onto After crossing Virginia, Tennessee, a Japanese coal freighter and shipped Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico around the peninsula over five days to over three days we stopped in Phoenix, Pusan. He spoke English due to his med- Arizona on 30 January and had lunch with ical training and worked with the camp former Society President David Mills, guards in the POW camp at Pusan. As the who spends his winters in Phoenix away war progressed the POWs were moved to from his home in Middletown, Kojedo. Mr. Han has shared harrowing Pennsylvania. We had lunch with David tales of his POW experience on Kojedo. and another former Korean War POW After initial mixups which placed him in from the 2nd Infantry Division, Arden the hard core Communist camp, he was Rowley. It was very nice catching up with moved into a non-communist camp where them.