Index for this issue of The CUB
Original Cub Document

Uploaded: 11-Dec-2020

THE CUB
106th Infantry Division Association, Inc.
President Col. Joe Matthews
Vice President Louis P. Rossi
Adjutant and Treasurer Sherod Collins
Chaplain John Loveless
Historian Sherod Collins
    The CUB is the official publication of the Association. Membership in the Association is $5.00 per year which includes subscription to the CUB.
Editor Richard DeHeer
All editorial matter should be addressed to: Mr. Richard DeHeer
19 Hopkins St., Hillsdale, New Jersey 07642
All business matters, renewal of membership, etc. should be addressed to:
Mr. Sherod Collins, Jr., 625 Channing Drive N.W., Atlanta, Ga. 30318

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     We, as individuals and as a nation, have just observed Thanksgiving Day. Many, from 0. Henry on down, have described it as the only true holiday having its origin in what is now our United States of America.
     Throughout the history of mankind at various times and in diverse places, peoples in small groups and huge crowds have gathered to celebrate deliverance from calamities, great victories, in conflict, appreciation for blessings bestowed upon them. By words and by actions, they have expressed their heartfelt gratitude.
     Intermittently from the days of the Pilgrims, in the midst of their untold hardships, through days of prosperity, to the dark days of a war in which brother fought brother, days of Thanksgiving were celebrated. And continuously for a hundred years, in good times and in bad, we have been called by our Chief Magistrates to gather together to acknowledge the gifts and mercies so freely bestowed upon us.
     Neither race, nor creed, nor wealth, nor learning, nor talents distinguishes us one from the other. We simply are as one in showing our thankfulness to our Creator. May we celebrate Thanksgiving Day each day of our lives! "Offer to God a sacrifice of Thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High."-- Psalm 50:14
John T. Loveless, Jr. Chaplain
106th Infantry Division
Association, Inc.

Dear Dick,
     Immediately upon returning home from the Reunion, my family and I along with some friends, took a vacation and went west through the Bad Lands and Black Hills of South Dakota, then on to Yellowstone Park and Pike's Peak, and the Royal Gorge in Colorado. We sure had a nice trip. On our way home, I stopped in Wichita, Kansas and looked up my old platoon leader, Lt. Francis Hesse, whom I hadn't seen since the Battle of the Bulge. I must say I found him hale and hearty, practicing as a lawyer in Wichita.
Also since I last saw him, he has married and now has his own platoon, thirteen little Hesses.
     He said he had heard of the 106th Div. Assn., but had never been contacted by anyone. I have taken care of that situation and have already sent his dues to Sherod Collins.
I didn't have much time to talk to the Lt., but it sure was good to see him after all these years.
     One strange coincidence the night we stayed in Colorado Springs: the Lt. was camping out with his sons a half-mile away. Had we only known, we could have had a long talk.
Russell Enlow

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HAIL TO THE CHIEF -- AND FAREWELL
     William Clyde Baker, Jr., was born in North Carolina and brought up in Tennessee. He entered West Point, graduating in the Class of 1926 as a 2nd Lt. Corps of Engineers. He attended Cornell University where he received his CE degree in 1928. After service with the Engineers at various posts and camps he graduated from the Command and General Staff College in 1938. When the 106th Infantry Division was organized at Camp Jackson, S. C. in March 1943 he was assigned as the Chief of Staff. He remained with the Division in that capacity during its whole active service. He was the only Chief the Division had. In September, 1945 when the Division was ordered back to the States from Germany to be demobilized, he was transferred to other duty in Germany.
     In 1962 he was Major-General Baker, back in Germany and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army in Europe there. And how fortunate that was! In March, 1962, Douglas S. Coffey, COGL, C, 590 FA Bn. Memorial Chairman, flew to Germany to dedicate the 106th Division Memorial at St. Vith Belgium, the original site of the Division CP before the attack of 16 December 1944. This appropriate edifice had been erected from funds donated by members of the 106th Infantry Division Association. General Baker was of invaluable aid and assistance to Doug Coffey in organizing and executing the dedication ceremony. The speaker was General Bruce C. Clarke, Commander in Chief U.S. Army Europe. The April-May 1962 CUB contains a picture of General Baker signing the St. Vith Golden Book, during the dedication ceremonies.
     General Baker retired after 30 year's service as a Major-General on 31 May 1964. During his service he had attended several Reunions of the Association, the last time at East Orange, N. J. in 1964. He had been on additional active duty with the Battle Monuments Commission. He passed away at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, D.C. on 6 October 1966. He is survived by his wife, one son and his mother.
     Formal funeral services were held in the Fort Myer Chapel at 2 p. m., 10 October. The Division Association sent a beautiful floral tribute. The Association was represented by General and Mrs. Jones, General McMahon and Colonel S. P. Cariano, AG Sec. Div. Hq. Following the services General Baker was interred in Arlington National Cemetery.

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This group, not all 106ers, were PWs in Arbiet Kommando Camp 1345. Your Editor included

LETTER
     Hi, to my "P. W." friends, Sorry I am so late in sending you this, but the pictures came back, I had the sheets printed, put them in a drawer and forgot about them.
     Our reporter friend who took the picture did pretty well but left one couple out; hope it wasn't you. The other thing I am sending is a copy of the German paper they used when they tried to get us to join up with their army to fight the Russians. We were talking about it at our dinner, if you remember, and somehow I was lucky enough to have one of the few papers they read from. One of the banks ran this off for me, so it is an exact copy of the one I have. Mary and I certainly enjoyed the get-together after so many years. Frankly, it was one of the most enjoyable evenings I can ever remember. We are looking forward to our next meeting of the "EX-P.W.'s."
I hope all of you are in good health. Best wishes and good luck to each of you and your families.
Bob Hartt

     The Soviet rulers hope to inflict upon Germany and upon Europe at the same time the death-blow by a final vast effort and concentration of all their means of power available. Conscious of the fact that this phase of the war will be the decisive one the German nation too will gather all its forces to stem the Bolshevik inundation.
     Soldiers! The Bolshevik assault against the German eastern front line made all the defensive forces of the other European nations realize what a dreadful danger is threatening not only Germany and Europe, but the whole of the civilized world. There should be no doubt about the fact that a defeat of Germany would mean unchecked Bolshevism and the loss of individual freedom and the national independence of all nations.
     Cast a glance at the already commencing extermination of all the national and cultural individuals in those parts of eastern, south-eastern and north-eastern Europe as being occupied by the Soviets. That will make it clear to each of you that Stalin will not in the least respect any guarantees of his allies as to the preservation of the independence of these nations. Once the German barrier of resistance is swept away, nothing else would nor could stop the unrestricted expansive force of the Bolshevik imperialism.
     The best men of the nation's today subdued by Stalin also expect help from the representatives of those nations which five years ago, by their own governments, were called up to fight for the rights of the small nations against the violation by the claims of the foreign powers. If these governments compelled by the Kremlin are no longer able nor willing to stick to their word, it is not only a matter of a sane policy and self-preservation, but also of personal honor

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    and national dignity already for the P.O.W. to do everything in their power for regaining the freedom of political activity by redeeming this word. American Soldiers! Does the word "fair" mean anything at all to you, if these cruel Asiatic hordes slaughter and torment women and children, these things have nothing to do with humanity. Do you still remember the procedure of Bolshevik enslavement in 1940, when the Red Army occupied the Baltic and Roumanian territories ? At that time countless thousands of people were sent to Siberia, expropriated, or shot. In those days you all were still in America and you should remember your papers then not sparing their words against such a cruelty. This cruel procedure of Bolshevism did not change in the meantime. Bolshevism has practically never turned into democracy, this phrase only being meant to calm the nations allied with the Soviets. It is not long ago that large graves were found at the Elas units in Greece, and such graves as found in Katyn and Winniza are an inextinguishable proof for the bestiality of Bolshevism.
     Do you know that Roumanians, Serbs, Poles, Slovakians as a Soviet war-prey are now good enough to stop a bullet and are forced to fight their former liberators and allies against the very interests of their own countries? The events in the Baltic states, in Poland, Hungary and Greece prove clearly enough the real aim hidden behind the mask of Moscow. In a Bolshevik America there would be no way for anybody to economic rise. The fundament of your commercial system rests upon private initiative and that means personal success as well as the fate of your own country, women, children, and homes depending on your own assiduity and strenuousness. In a communistic America you would all have to renounce these things. The third world-war against the Bolshevism often mentioned among your people at home and among yourselves is proof enough for the fact that a war against the Soviets cannot possibly be avoided. For this reason the coming fight against Bolshevism will be easier now than at a later date, when someday the Soviet-Union will have outgrown all boundaries.
     The Soviet-Union has been endeavoring for a long time to enlarge her political and economical extent in China. Here, too, American and Soviet interests are already crossing the geographic situation of the Soviet-Union to this country being very favourable. Another political theatre, where already nowadays Soviet Russia and the United States have got into conflict, may be seen in the middle states of South and Central America, first of all in Mexico. Here Bolshevism under the pressure of the actual political constellations not only forms centres for penetrating these countries, but also starting bases to get into the very heart of the United States for their future bolshevik undermining. In reality the government and public opinion of the U.S.A. have been mistrusting Bolshevism, which is proved by the fact of agitation for communism and the founding of a communist party having, hitherto, been forbidden in spite of the instantaneous alliance between the two states. After all America exactly understands-- in spite of all contrarious assurances at present-- that even a democracy so proud of the rights of free opinion and the immunity of her social institutions cannot possibly compromise with Bolshevism in her own country without causing her own ruin. Soldiers! Germany, at this critical moment, gives you a chance for taking part in fighting Bolshevism, but it will not accept your help without any equivalent. Those amongst you who volunteer during the Soviet great-offensive for being engaged at the front or behind the line will be repatriated via Switzerland immediately after the bolshevik offensive having been battered. Towards their own governments these volunteers will remain P.O.W., not losing any rights dating from captivity. There have been hundreds of thousands of active combatants against Bolshevism

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hitherto won out of the ranks of P.O.W. who stood the test.
     We believe that our fight has become yours too. Let us know who amongst you is willing to join the German soldier in a fight that will not only decide on Germany's fate, but as well of that of your own country, of your wives, children, and homes, which includes all that makes life worth living and loving. We call upon you to join our ranks! Do you stand for the culture of the West or for the barbaric Asiatic East ? Make up your minds now!

     October 9, 1966, Patrick J. O'Rourke of Ridgewood, N. J., formerly of New York City, passed away from a heart attack. Pat was buried from a Catholic Church in New York City which he had attended for many years. The church was crowded with friends who mourned his passing. Pat leaves his wife, Betty, four children: Kathy, Patty, Kerri Ann, and Pat, Jr.; his mother and father and five brothers.
     The Rossis and the DeHeers paid the respects of all the 106ers. On Wednesday, Dick and Marge DeHeer attended the Mass.


. . that Co. H, 424 Inf. had the most men present, seven men, followed by Btry. C, 589 FA. Bn., with five present.
     . . And above all, Co. D, 423 Inf. (my outfit) had three present this year: Joe Litvin, Fred Williams and myself. I believe this is the first time anyone from Co. D has ever attended other than myself.
Russell Enlow Taswell, Indiana

     Dear 106ers, Clifford, Jr. is in his second year at Northern Michigan University. John is in the eighth grade. At this writing, Alice is in the hospital. She had surgery on Oct. 7, is doing very well, but has a cold and feels miserable. She will be in the hospital for about 10 days.
     I am busy working for the Michigan Department of Agriculture as a manager of the State Fair, by appointment of Governor George Romney. I served with him in Constitutional Convention when we rewrote the Michigan Constitution in 1961, then in the legislature. I had surgery in May for an internal disorder. I got along well but chose not to run for office. I could not have taken the grind. I am back up to 175 pounds now and feel real good.
     My regards to all, and I promise, the good Lord providing, that we will be in Detroit next year. We were all set to go to Indianapolis, but my nephew was killed in an industrial accident in Milwaukee that Thursday, and I had to video tape the Fair program on one of our local TV stations on Friday. We finished and left for Milwaukee at 11 p.m. to attend the funeral; sort of a rough weekend.

Clifford Perras Nadeau, Mich.

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Alice, we hope you are feeling better. Maybe we will see you in Washington, D. C. in 1968.
     Cliff sent in news articles about the Fair which sounded very interesting, with a concert by the students of Northern Michigan University Summer Music Camp. We hope all you good people out that way got a chance to visit the Fair.

     Vincent J. Mustacchio has three children, Jimmy, 18, a student at College of Engineering in Newark; John, 12, a Junior High School student, and Vincent, 8 years old in grade school. Vincent has been employed by the municipality of Belleville, N. J. for the past 19 years, in the Department of Public Works. He was appointed Building Inspector on December 8, 1965. He lives with his wife and family in Belleville.

Dear Sirs:
     I am married and have two sons, one in Ohio Technical College and the other in high school. I am payroll supervisor for Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. I am a Colonel in the Army Reserve commanding the 83rd Infantry Division Artillery (reinforcement training unit) since last December. Also I am an elder in a church, member of a bowling team and find that all this is a pretty full schedule. Thanks for trying to get new members.
Robert Ringer
4280 Kendale Rd. Columbus, Ohio

I have three children, all boys, and I am vice-president of the First Ohio Savings Association, Cincinnati, Ohio.
John J. Fisher

     Son Chip (born in Ft. Jackson, S. C.) just graduated from the University of Georgia and is now taking basic at Ft. Jackson, S. C. Memories, anyone?
Lester S. Smyth, Timonium, Md.

    Walter L. Hertzler of Okemos, Mich., is a chief operating loan officer in the Farmer's Home Administration. Has a son, David, at home.

    Alfred J. Gericke, Jr., was recently elected chairman of the Board of Directors, Medina County Chapter, American National Red Cross.

    Ira G. Bottoms, of Norcross, Ga., is still teaching science at Duluth, Ga. His oldest son, Rick, is in the Air Force at Houston. Glenn, Jr. is a sophomore at Emory University. Another son, Billy, is expecting to go into the Army soon.

Greetings to all,
Ann and I have two children, Tom, 10, and Carol, 4.
     I left Ford Motor Co. after 14 years in sales and marketing and started Crest Plating Co. in 1963. Things are hectic but going fairly well. We employ about 47 people (on pay day, that is).
     Ran into George Brown recently who was a sergeant-platoon leader in F Co., 2nd Bn., 424th and part of original cadre at Jackson. Will try to re-contact him and get him interested.
Richard A. Frankini Farmington, Mich.

     Dominick A. Spina, Newark, N. J., is director of police and has two teen-age boys. Also a Major in the U. S. Army Reserves.

     Hi; I am working in Cleveland although I still live in Akron. Son, Jim, Jr., is a freshman in Rice University (Houston, Texas). Another son, Rod, is a sophomore in Cranbrook School (Detroit, Michigan).
     Mary Jane and I had planned to attend the convention in Indianapolis, but some things came up at the last minute, and we couldn't make it. Have seen George and Kay Mechir who live in Cleveland.
Jim Fonda

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     Robert Jessee is '71 years old, retired from the Pacific Gas and Electric Co. He operates an apartment house in San Francisco..

    W. Skardon of Youngstown, Ohio, is still a professor of history here at Youngstown University, and I must confess that I prefer teaching history to making it as we did back in '44! I value my membership in the association very much since I never see any of my old comrades except Jim Fonda, my battery commander. I often see familiar names in the "CUB," however.

     Harrison Tissot is employed by the Cincinnati Milling Machine Co. (largest machine tool company in the country) as receiving clerk of their purchases of electrical and electronic parts and motors. "Have been with the company for 16 years. Sorry I was unable to attend the Indianapolis meeting."

     A baby boy was born to Ray and "K-2" Kemp. John Raymond arrived a little early on September 22, weighing 5 lbs. and 41/4 ozs.
We just know that Grandma and Pa are in all their glory with a new baby around-- just in time for Christmas.

     Several years ago John Toland of Red Bank, N. J. published a book: "BATTLE-- The Story of the Bulge." Needless to say it covered in detail the fighting of the 106th Infantry Division. This year he produced a new book-- "The Last 100 Days"-- in which he describes the fighting during that period just prior to VE Day in Europe. It was not expected there would be any reference to the Golden Lions, because for most of, that period the Division had been relieved from the fighting and was back in Rennes, France, being reorganized and filled with replacements. However, one of the incidents in the book describes the attempted freeing of Hammelberg Stalag. General Patton sent a small task force 60 miles into the German lines to accomplish this. By the time the force arrived at Hammelberg it had suffered casualties, lost many of its vehicles and could take out few of the American officers confined there. Among the prisoners were a number of Golden Lions: Father Paul Cavanaugh, Catholic Chaplain 422 Inf.; Major Fred Oseth, Executive of one of the Bns. of 423 Inf., and 1st Lt. Alan W. Jones, Jr., 423 Inf. The task force could take only a few; most of the prisoners returned to the Stalag.
     Later the German guards started to march the remaining prisoners south, towards Bararia in the face of the Russian advance. Near Nuremberg, the column was subjected to bombing by our planes (the bombing was intended for a munitions works there). Among those mortally wounded in the bombing was Lt. Losh, 590th FA Bn.
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422nd Regimental Mail and Company Mail Clerks at Regimental P. 0., Atterbury, June, 1944.


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I HOPE ALL YOUR CHRISTMAS WISHES ARE FULFILLED.
A SPECIAL HAPPY GREETING TO ONE AND ALL
FOR CHRISTMAS 1966, AND FOR EACH DAY IN 1967.
(Remember, the red carpet is out for anyone coming through Iowa City.)
CAROL W. BEALS

A WARM AND FRIENDLY WISH OF CHEER FOR CHRISTMAS AND THE COMING YEAR
MARGE, DICK,

SEASONS GREETINGS TO ALL FROM
MYRTLE AND AUSTIN BYRD

WITH WARM AND FRIENDLY WISHES
FOR A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR
FLO AND TOM BICKFORD

SEASONS GREETINGS FROM THE RARICK FAMILY

RICK DeHEER


A JOYOUS AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO GOLDEN LIONS AND THEIR FAMILIES
WILDA and LEO McMAHON

IN THE SPIRIT OF GOOD FELLOWSHIP WE WISH YOU ALL HEALTH, HAPPINESS AND GOD'S BLESSING NOW AND IN THE COMING YEAR.
JOHN AND ALTHEA LOVELESS


RAYMOND AND JOHN RAYMOND KEMP

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[Photo] Tom Bickford With His Fan Club
[Photo] Jim Wells But This Looks More Like A Harem

Indianapolis Reminiscences

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 Mrs. Allen W. Jones
 The Jersey Gang


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     It is always pleasant traveling by ship over tropical waters. We have spent the last day of November in crossing the Equator just west of the island of Halmahera. Here, after the usual formalities required by custom, all wristwatches were transferred to the opposite wrist to correct the reversed polarity of the Southern Hemisphere.
     Now we are on a southeasterly course which will take us through the Celebes and Molucca Seas into the Sea of Banda. On clearing Manipa Strait our ship enters the Arafura Sea leading to Torres Strait which separates New Guinea from the Australian mainland. From here we follow the east coast inside the Barrier Reef to Sydney.
     Two days out of Honolulu we lost forever the 14th day of November, but since then we have investigated the islands of Honshu and Hong Kong and the city of Manila. The latter is as lusty and busy and dirty as ever. On the one hand it has a big city traffic problem and on the other it is close to the frontier of civilization as is evidenced by the sign on the gate entering the Presidential Palace: "All guns must be deposited with the police before asking to enter." We are happy to report no one was shot in our vicinity.
     Our sailing schedule calls for arrival in Sydney on December 4, then Melbourne, Adelaide and Fremantle in summer time Australia, followed by Colombo, Ceylon on the 20th.
     We shall spend Christmas at Aden among the camels and Mohammedans, New Years Eve at Naples-- that should be a night-- then Gibralter, Lisbon and London for a chilly visit to Wales, Ireland and the Continent.
     We definitely would not choose to live in any of the cities of the Far East, except perhaps Hong Kong, and then only if the threat of China were removed. Defended by one infantry battalion and an engineer detachment, even the Chinos could walk in any Thursday afternoon. Our ship, the P. and 0. liner Iberia, is as interesting as any of the geographical places visited. The officers, administrative personnel and their assistants are British; the deck crew, in their distinctive red hats, is composed of 64 lascars who come from widely separated districts of India; from as far north as Gogha, near Pakistan, to Mangolore in South Kanara. The engine room is staffed by a Pakistani crew of 35 Mohammedans, many of whom dye their hair and beards red, indicating they have visited their holy city of Mecca. They are all Punjabis; men from this district have been going to sea in British ships as greasers and firemen for over a hundred years. The Indian stewards and table waiters, numbering over 200, come from Goa, a former Portuguese Colony south of Bombay. They are all Roman Catholics, and in all ships where they work there is an attractive altar set up in their quarters.
     The passenger list consists of five hundred first class and seven hundred tourist class people of all shapes, sizes and degrees of intelligence. About 80 per cent are Aussies, 10 per cent English and the remainder Canadians with a scattered few North Americans from the "States." We get along fine with all of them except for difficulty in oral communications. It is only honest to admit, however, that our accent and slang expressions present just as much of a problem to them.
     Another problem to be faced on a three-month junket of this kind is the ever present tendency of physical expansion. It is, of course, the result of three daily luxury-hotel type meals combined with a minimum of exercise, no worries, tension or rush hour traffic. It is a struggle, but we try.
     Alys is fine, and I am sure she will have enough stories to last through at least two reunions. We both wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and New Year.

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The editor and Staff of the Cub and officers of the 106th Infantry Division wish you and yours A happy new Year

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Index for This Document

106th Div., 3
106th Inf. Div., 1, 3, 11, 17
106th Infantry Division Association, 1, 3
2nd BN., 424th, 9
422nd Inf., 11
422nd Inf. Regt., 11
424th Inf., 8
590th FA BN, 3, 11
83rd Inf. Div. Arty., 9
Arbiet Kommando Camp 1345, 4
Baker, Gen., 3
Baker, Maj.-Gen., 3
Baker, William Clyde, 3
Battle Of The Bulge, 2
Beals, Carol W., 13
Belgium, 3
Bickford, Flo & Tom, 13
Bickford, Tom, 14
Bottoms, Ira G., 9
Brown, George, 9
Byrd, Myrtle & Austin, 13
Cariano, Col. S. P., 3
Cavanaugh, Father Paul, 11
Clarke, Gen. Bruce C., 3
Coffey, Doug, 3
Coffey, Douglas S., 3
Collins, Mr. Sherod, Jr., 1
Collins, Sherod, 1, 2
DeHeer, Dick & Marge, 8
DeHeer, Mr. Richard, 1
DeHeer, Richard, 1
DeHeer, Rick, 13
Enlow, Russell, 2, 8
Fisher, John J., 9
Fonda, Jim, 10, 11
Frankini, Richard A., 9
Ft. Jackson, S. C., 9
Gericke, Alfred J., Jr., 9
Germany, 3, 4, 6, 8
Hammelberg Stalag, 11
Hartt, Bob, 4
Hertzler, Walter L., 9
Hesse, Lt. Francis, 2
Honshu, 15
Jessee, Robert, 11
Jones, Gen. & Mrs., 3
Kemp, Raymond & John Raymond, 13
Litvin, Joe, 8
Losh, Lt., 11
Loveless, John, 1
Loveless, John & Althea, 13
Loveless, John T., Jr., 1
Manila, 15
Matthews, Col. Joe, 1
McMahon, Gen., 3
McMahon, Wilda & Leo, 13
Mustacchio, Vincent J., 9
Naples, 15
New Guinea, 15
Nuremberg, 11
O'Rourke, Patrick J., 8
Oseth, Maj. Fred, 11
Patton, Gen., 11
Perras, Clifford, 8
Poland, 6
Red Army, 6
Rennes, France, 11
Reunions, 3
Ringer, Robert, 9
Rossi, Louis P., 1
Russia, 6
Smyth, Lester S., 9
Soviets, 4, 6
Spina, Dominick A., 10
St. Vith, 3
Switzerland, 6
The Last 100 Days, 11
Tissot, Harrison, 11
Toland, John, 11
Wells, Jim, 14
West Point, 3
Williams, Fred, 8