TM TM The Watch o ntheRhine The Official Publication of the Society of the Third Infantry Division, United States Army Vol. 99 No. 6 “Nous Resterons La” June 2018 Kentuckian Receives I’m Gonna Be A Secret Agent MOH after 20 Years Story on page 10 – Yeah Right By Henry Bodden – Historian n the fall of 1960, I enrolled in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M at Imy father’s urging. My Dad saw the Aggie senior boots during halftime football games and he said “your going to A&M”. Texas A &M in 1960 was still a non-co-ed military school with mandatory ROTC training and only 8,000 students, as opposed to now a co- ed school of 50,000 students. My dad was a WWII Lt. Commander in the Merchant Marine, shipping oil up and Lt. Garlin Murl Conner, of Albany, Ky., is seen in an undated photo provided by down the coast of the Eastern seaboard the family’s attorney. Conner left the and the Gulf of Mexico from Port U.S. Army as the 2nd-most decorated Arthur, Texas. For the first three months James Bond movies started it all. soldier during World War II, earning 4 after Pearl Harbor, his ship and other Silver Stars, 4 Bronze Stars, 7 Purple because I just was just not that interest- vessels dodged German U-Boats sink- Hearts and the Distinguished Service ed at the time growing up. I only attend- ing anything that floated, but especially Cross for his actions during 28 straight ed A&M for two years and got married months in combat. oil tankers. After the war I never really COURTESY OF CONNER FAMILY ATTORNEY talked much with my Dad about the war Please turn to AGENT on page 18 The 7th Machine Gun Battalion at Chateau-Thierry Henry Bodden – Historian was formed about 22 years ago, their number Battalion at the Second Battle of the Marne was about 120 WWII veterans from all fronts at Chateau-Thierry, I was really excited and have been meeting weekly with the Tulsa of WWII. Now we are down to about eight told him our upcoming June issue of “The veterans of WWII for about eight years, of our “greatest generation.” However, three Watch on the Rhine” will cover the 100th Iand in the beginning when this group weeks ago Forest Landis joined our anniversary of that historic battle that marked group. Forest served in the Navy in the the turning point of the First World War. The Mediterranean during WWII in North next meeting Forest brought me a plethora of Africa, Italy, and Southern France. his father’s photographs and medals of his Forest told me his father had served in service in northern France. But first, the 7th five campaigns in France during the Machine Gun Battalion of the Third Division First World War with the newly orga- was formed at Camp Greene, North Carolina nized Third Infantry Division. When on November 21, 1917, and then left for he told me that his father Roy Landis overseas service on April 2, 1918. It arrived was with the 7th Machine Gun in France, via England on April 18, 1918, and proceeded to the Chateau-Villian area The 7th Machine Gun Battalion on the Marne at Chateau-Thierry. Please turn to 7TH BATTALION on page 5 Since 1919 ■ ■ ■ The Oldest Continuous Army Division Association President’s Message have always believed that service to our Our raffle tickets have been sent out. There are great cash I prizes available to our members who buy these raffle tickets country and to our Toby Knight Veterans is one of the and this is an important source of income for our Society to Society President noblest toils we can ensure that we are able to provide the continued services and undertake. Who better support you have come to expect, like the publication of the “Watch on the to serve than those who Rhine.” serve, or have served, to protect our liberties and ideals? They are the most honored of Constitution and Bylaws additions/revi- German infantrymen. As shells explod- citizens in our country. It is, therefore, sions. PLEASE cut our your ballot and ed 25 yards from him, he set up an that I am most honored to be nominated send in your vote on these very impor- observation post, where he stayed for and elected to serve another term as tant issues. Last year we had very little more than three hours, the citation said. your President. I will endeavor to con- participation in these votes. Please par- Conner was individually credited with tinue to focus on the three main areas, I ticipate in this process. stopping more than 150 German troops, believe, are most critical to our Society: Our raffle tickets have been sent out. destroying the tanks and “disintegrating 1: Increasing our membership There are great cash prizes available to the powerful enemy assault force and 2: Strengthening our Outposts our members who buy these raffle tick- preventing heavy loss of life in his own outfit,” the citation said. He will make 3: Building strong relationships with ets and this is an important source of the 56th member of the division to our Active Duty Division, Soldiers and income for our Society to ensure that receive the Medal of Honor. their families. we are able to provide the continued services and support you have come to One of our members recently reach I can only do this with your help. The expect, like the publication of the the age of 103! Harold Nelson and OP Society is a team that consist of “Watch on the Rhine.” As we lose mem- 88 recently celebrated his birthday in Veterans from WWII all the way to the bers, fundraisers like these are critical Colorado Springs, Colorado. We are present. I know we can accomplish our solvency. You will NOT need to be proud of Harold and look forward to these three endeavors, if, and only if, present to win the cash prizes. seeing him at this years reunion. we all work together. If we are able to construct a virtuous circle of members This July marks 100 years since the Speaking of which, registration is dedicated to the cohesion that binds us second battle of the Marne that baptized now open for our reunion in as Dogface Soldiers, we will make our the division in war and earned it the Albuquerque, New Mexico. Medal of Society a strong organization for the moniker “Rock of the Marne.” We have Honor recipient, Hiroshi Miyamura, future. a special report of this battle in this edi- will be our guest of honor and many tion and I hope you enjoy reading about wonderful events are planned. Make How can you help? Accomplish it. This report was compiled from his- your reservations early as this will be a these three things this year: torically accurate sources that were popular reunion, in a great place with 1: Recruit one member into the published directly from division wonderful people. The presidents Society reports. Please enjoy. reception will feature an amazing BBQ 2: Participate in your Outpost and In April 2018, the congress and the dinner and a traditional Indian Dance work to make your Outpost initiatives President approved the awarding of the show provided from one of the local successful Medal of Honor to another 3rd ID Native American tribes. As always, our 3: Wear your 3rd ID hat or shirt when Soldier from WWII. LT Garlin Murl hospitality room will be filled with you are out and about and if anyone Conner, a member of K Company, 7th great snacks, complimentary moral asks you about the 3rd ID, invite them Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry boosting beverages, our Quartermaster to be a Society member. Division, volunteered, on January 24, store, our Historian display and great These are just little things that we all 1945, to run 400 yards through “an conversation. Please review the regis- can do, but they add up. I would like to intense concentration of enemy tration form and send in your payment have 2,000 active Society members by artillery” in Houssen, France. Along the soon. We look forward to seeing you! the end of 2019. We are at around 1,600 way, he unrolled a spool of telephone Our Centennial Legacy Book needs members right now, so I know we can wire so he could use a field telephone to your support. We need members to sub- recruit 400 members in two years. direct attacks on the enemy. Conner mit their stories for publication. We Please help us to achieve this goal! directed friendly artillery fire to hold have not received the required amount This edition includes IMPORTANT off six German tanks and about 600 Please turn to PRESIDENT on page 5 The Watch on the Rhine Page 3 7TH BATTALION from page 1 German and Allied battle positions on 2nd Battle of Marne Left, Roy Landis 3RD Infantry at second battle of Marne. Above, Roy Landis kneeling on drawing board at rifle range in 1917 Camp Greene, NC. so exciting to travel and cover these battle sites in Europe and the Pacific like I have French Croix de Guerre with the Germans the northern outskirts of been doing for the past twenty four years, but with Silver Star Chateau-Thierry, and covered itself with meeting “the greatest generation” and descendants of those who served in “The for its training in that incomparable glory, thanks to its valor and to Great War” add so much to my research, sector until May 30th, its skill, costing the enemy sanguinary loss- handing down their firsthand accounts as of 1918.