Original Cub Document
Uploaded: 11-Dec-2020
The Cub
Vol. 52, No. 3, APR, 1996
A Day lo Remember by Col. T. Paine Kelly - 589Ih FAB Commander, page 29
President's Message ...
I want to apprise you of the new appoint-ments made this year:
As "STAND-Bys"
Editor: I lal Taylor, Grand Junction, CO Adjutant Gordon Pinney, Whitney, NE Treasurer; Richard Rigatti, Pgh, PA.
Chaplain: Dr. Duncan Trueman, Warwick, NY
In addition to the standby officers, we have also generated three new comrnittees and named the Chairmen.
Order of the Golden Lion: Gil Fielwig, Niles, MI Resolutions: Alan Jones, Ft. Belvoir, VA Washington Liaison: Jack Sulser, Alexandria, VA
Due to the interest started by two wives, Joanna House and Pat Rigatti telling the Or-lando reunion attendees about their experi-ences back home, we started a "From the Ladies" page in The Cub, The October issue had an article by Anne McDevitt and the January issue by Donna Hanson. We are looking for more contributions from the ladies for future Cubs.
This issue of The Cub should have carried a notice about a vote at the Roanoke reunion addressing the issue of a final annual reunion in the year 2002. It now appears that this planing was premature. Our membership has not dropped as wc expected. Also, our financial position is stable because of the contributions by annual reunions. We therefore pass this responsibility onto future officers to determine when and if such action should be taken.
All nominations for the Order of the Golden Lion should be made as soon as possible. The committee needs at least ninety days before the Annual Reunion, in order to finalize votes and prepare (order) the Awards and Citations. See notice in this CUB by Gil Helwig, Order of the Golden Lion Chairman.
The mini-reunions were a fantastic success with 598 attendees at a total of 23 locations. Again, my thanks to the chairmen. The mantle of continuing this effort has passed onto our First Vice President, Major Hill of Ingleside, IL. If you vvere a chairman in 1995 please contact him as to your continuance or replacement. He will endeavor to add to the number of mini-reunions by utilizing zip codes.
Elsewhere, in The Cub is a new page of memorabilia for sale to members. These services are being supplied by The Military Shop. This offer will continue in all future
issues of The Cub. (continued next page)
106th Infantry Division Assodation
Ric.. L. Rogatti, PresdenL 1495-1996
"Ei. Company, 423rd Infantry Regiment
The CUB of the Golden Lion
President's Message ...
(complied from page We also will have a booth at the Roanoke reunion with displays of memorabilia for sale. Note that shoulder and jacket patches are listed on the memo-rabilia page. Please do not order them from the Adjutant, as in the past The only item that the Military Shop is not selling is our book, The CUB of the Golden Lion: PASSES in REVIEW, please continue to order that from the Treasurer, Sherod Collins.
We are looking for nominees for the Board of Directors. We are in need of representation from the Engineers, Artillery, Medics, etc. We also invite those members who left the Division before it shipped overseas, or joined the I06th after the Battle of the Bulge, as we are in need of their representation as well. If you can contribute to the Association, please nominate yourself.
John Kline h. prepared a new comprehensive roster which is included with this CUB.. It has cro. referencing of the membership by state, city, unit and individual alphabetical listings.
The only current reunion that is not firm for the next few years is the one in 1998. A Marriott hotel representative has endeavored to promote one in the Harrisburg-Reading, Pennsylvania Area. So far he h. five local member volunteers, but no chairman. If you would be interested, please let me know. See my phone and address on inside front cover.
Elsewhere in this issue is the notice of the Roanoke reunion. You should be receiving your registration packet soon. We urge you to promptly register both for the reunion and the hotel, as the committee planning rests on the number attending. Remember the two hotels are side by side and reunion events are scheduled in both of them.
See you in Roanoke., Dick Rigatti
Board Nominations for Fall 1996 Election
At this time we know of four vacancies on the Board of Directors, because of terms expiring. We must always be prepared for other vacancies due to reasons of health or death.
Please send your nominations to me, or to any other member of the Committee. -Michael Thome, Charles Rieck, Nolan Ashburn and Lloyd Diehl. Addresses, including mine, are in the new roster included in this CUB.
We are looking for a wide geographical representation, as well as a spread between all units, including the 81st Engineers, Field Artillery and other attached units.
Please mail your nominations with resumes so that they arrive before the end of May 1996.
John Swett, Chairman - Nominating Committee
2
Testing ...
As we grow older, many things which vve did not think about in our youth begin to affect our lives.
We lose parents, brothers, sisters, spouses and friends. We arc beset --many of us-- with failing health and strength so that we arc no longer able to do many of the things which we use to take for granted. Other events, also, begin to affect our living in various ways and we may tend to ask, "Why, me Lord." Yet very few have had to dcal with so many trials in their life as did Job. You all know his story so I won't recount it here.
Maybe this story will help us to deal with our problems in a better frame of mind! (copied)
"A blacksmith known for his strong faith, had a great deal of illness. He was challenged by an unbeliever to explain why God would let him suffer.
"He explained, '1 take a piece of iron, put it into the fire to bring it to a white heat, thcn I strike it once or twice to see if it will take temper. I plunge it into water to change the tempera-ture, put it into the fire again, then I put it on the anvil and make a useful article out of it.
"If it wil/ not take temper when I first strike it on the anvil I throw it into the scrap heap and sell it for scrap. I believe God has been testing me to see if I will take temper, I have tried to bear it as patiently as I could, and my daily prayer has been, "Lord, put me into the fire if you will; put me into the water if you think I need it; do anythmg you please, 0' Lord, only don't throw me on the scrap heap!"
We all know that most of us have been tried and found to still have some use left in us. Let us continue in our later years to face the trials with the same determination which we did when younger.
In Job we find a man who has been so tried by God that his "friends" accuse him of being unfaithful to God and this must be his punishment. Job replies to them in Chapter 13:13-16, "Keep silent and let me speak; then let come to me what may. Why do I put myself in jeopardy and take my life in my hands? Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face. Indeed, this might turn out to be my deliverance, for no godless man would dare come before him." And in 28:28, God speaks to Job thusly, "And he said to man, The fear of the Lord -- that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding."
Maybe the stories of these two servants of God will help us to deal better with the trials which come to each of us as we move through these closing years of our lives.
Dear God, please strengthen each of us to deal with the hard places
in our lives as did Job and this blacksmith! AMEN
Rev. Ewell C. 8110, Jr., Chaplain
'A' Company. 422nd Inf. Reg.
212 Ridge S. Bishopvillo. SC 29010
803,484.61
3
From West Burlington, Iowa....
Dan Bled, "A" Co., 422nd Combat Inf. Reg.
108 Leffler Street, W. Burlington, IA 52655
Tele: (319) 752-5708
I've probably received a ton of mail since World War II, half of it "junk."
But the letter I received last winter from "Big Ike" Wolfgang delighted me more than just about anything I can recall. Gerhardt Wolfgang, known to his Wiscon-sin neighbors as 'Gerry,' was my BAR gunner in Co. A. 422nd, and he was a crack shot, gaining a lot of savvy while stationed in the Aleutians before being dispatched to Camp Atterbury.
He was a big, strong guy and enough older than me to seem like a big brother. My only brother had been killed in 1943. I had "Big Ike" as a friend in the Ardennes. The nickname had been pinned on him by Elmer Summers, who had served with Gerry in the Aleutians. I don't think there was any intended reference to the ETO's other "Ike," who I also admired.
I had received Christmas cards from 'Big Ike' and his wife, Birdie, for several years. But never a letter. So it was a surprise to hear from him last December.
"This is the anniversary of the worst day of our lives," Wolfgang noted in a letter dated Dec. 19, 1995. It was 51 years ago when I broke up my BAR. I can't forget it.
You kids must have been scared. I know 1 was and I was 25 years old.
"I'm not in too bad a shape for my age," he went on. "I had two little strokes. One blinded my right eye so now the deer have the advantage. I missed a big buck the first day of our season (at Chippewa Falls). I just can't learn to shoot left-handed. My 14-year-old grandson shot one for me."
My book was "pretty accurate," Wolfgang wrote. "We went different ways (after being captured). Crawford and Dorsey were both with me. They're both gonc now so 1 guess I am lucky, as they were around your age." (I noted my 19th birthday in London on Nov. 21, 1944).
"This is the most I have written in 20 years," my lifetime pal, though I haven't seen him since December, 1944, con-cluded. "I hope you can read it."
I remember Crawford, a wiry guy from one of the states in the South, but can't recall his first name. Junior Dorsey and I were in the same squad and 1 heard from him about 20 years ago when he was living in Iowa. We spent a week in the same log hut in the Ardennes, so we were close friends in more ways than one, was sorry to learn of Junior's death. There has been so much death around me over the years, especially in the mid-1940s, I should be used to it. But I'm not.
The day I typed this column, last Feb-ruary, I went to a cemetery in Burlington, Ia., for a graveside service when a high school classmate of mine was buried. "Mr. Walters served in the Army during World War II," our newspaper reported when his body was brought back from Florida, where he died.
Bob and I were at Camp Wolters, Tex., early in 1944. He was on the cadre and I uas a recruit, just there for 17 weeks of basic training. I had a long talk with him at
4
From West Burlington, Iowa....
our 50th class reunion, in 1993, and Bob told me how much combat he endured dur-ing and after the D-Day invasion, as an infantry non-com.
I wrote something about Bob's ordeals in a column I do for a weekly shoppers guide delivered to some 20,000 homes. I wanted them to know that Bob was a D-Day vet and, therefore, a hero. I didn't want my readers to think he had it soft during "the good war."
It's tough to lose friends, whether they are war vets or high school classmates. Bob Walters was both.
Life goes on, of course, enriched in my case by such people as "Big Ike" Wolfgang and my association with members of the 106th Division Association.
God bless all of you.
From Herman Van De Bogart, 424/A
HCR 1, Box 2000 NSC-023 Tucson, AZ 85736
Family from five of the Canadian Provinces and five states in the U.S. came to a reunion at our summer place in Gold Bar, Washington in August 1995. There were over 80 there in all. On the last day of our reunion five members of the military from McChord Field came to present me with the Bronze Star. Lt. Col. Richard Herrice pinned the medal on me. Chief Master Sergeant Charles W. Olan read the proclamation, the other three members werc thc color guard.
Receiving this medal in the presence of so many of my family members made it more meaningful than had I received it 50 years ago. Herman Van De Bogart
5
Important Notice from the
ORDER of the GOLDEN LION AWARD COMMITTEE
NOTICE: THE COMMITTEE FOR THE "ORDER of the GOLDEN
LION" AWARD IS SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR SAID AWARD.
NOMINATIONS MAY BE MADE BY A MEMBER OF THE BOARD
OF DIRECTORS OR BY A FORMER RECIPIENT OF THE AWARD.
ORDER SIX: Any recipient of the order of the Golden Lion, or any member of the Board of Directors may nominate a candidate for the Order of the Golden Lion by submit-ting a name, or names, to the GOLDEN LION AWARDS COMMITTEE appointed by the President. Included with the nomination(s) should be a statement stating the principal rea-sons or activities that qualify the nominee for the award.
All nominations must be received at a date NO LATER THAN JUNE 15, 1996.
Nominations should be mailed to:
Gil Helwig, Chairman OGL Committee 2006 - 55 Ontario Road
Niles, MI 491204832
616-683-8714
From Roger Maes (Associate) 73 Rue Grand Peine, B-7110 Houdeng-Airneres BELGIUM
It's been now fifteen years that I've been searching for things about World War II. I now have a large collection of GI equipment. a Willy's Jeep, medals, badges, uniforms, K-Rations etc. I have searched for many years in the area of The Ardennes Offensive. I recently met Adda & Willie RIKKEN, fantastic persons.
It is a honor to me to write to you and I would like to met more 106th Infantry Division veterans. The picture of me and my Jeep was taken at the Bastogne Commeration in 16 December 1994. Please ask your comrades to look me up when they come to Belgium. Roger Aloes
6
Book Review by Jack Sulser
A LIFETIME IN EVERY MOMENT
by Association Member Joseph F Littell, 422/1 Houghton Mifflin Company. 1996 -302 pp, $22.95
NOt just another hook by a vet-
eran of our Division, but the autobiography of a man who has led a varied and interesting life, in-cluding service in Company I of the 422nd Infan-try Regiment, combat on the Schnee Eifel and incarceration in a series of German POW camps, including Bad Orb, Berga am Elster, and solitary confinement at 1XC.
The seventh child born in China to mission-ary parents,an eighth was added in Hawaii after their father was appointed Bishop of Honolulu. His tales of boyhood in those exotic areas are fascinating and mostly light-hearted, except for the tragic suicide of a talented sister. Their par-ents, absorbed with church affairs, packed each child at the age of 12 or 13 off to boarding schools in the U.S. to be checked on irregularly and unevenly by aunts or uncles, rarely seeing parents or siblings for years. Chosen as an exchange student to spend the spring semester 1939 at a school in Germany, he participated in paramilitary training and received a diploma signed by Heinrich Himmler, head of thc Gestapo. Until the war began in September, he spent the summer with a sister who was studying at Heidelberg University engaged to a German doctor at the Bad Orb sanatorium. What happened to the doctor and to the engagement 1 will leave for readers to discover.
After the war he earned degrees in English and rose through increasingly senior editorial positions at large educational publishing houses, finally co-founding McDougal, Littell, a ma-jor schoolbook publisher in its own right. With that background, it is no wondcr that his book is extremely well written and edited. Although the book makes you feel part of his entire life to date, the chapters on his wartime experiences have the most direct appeal to veterans of the 106th, especially ex-POWs. One of three German-speaking POWs chosen to represent the prisoners in dealing with the camp administration at Stalag 1XB Bad Orb, he tells the inside story how 350 GIs were selected for slave labor at Berga, a branch of Buchenwald concentra-tion camp. For their efforts to impede the selection, the three were included. Continuing their defiance at Berga, they were threatened with death, escaped, were recaptured and sentenced to solitary confinement at IXC Bad Sulz.a. His account is riveting and reveals hitherto un-known details.
The title is adapted from a T.S. Eliot poem dealing with relationship of the individual to others, and in this soul-baring story we get to know not only the author intimately but also his siblings, parents, wives, children and other associates. All are worth knowing and come alive at his skillful hand. You might not want to trade places with some of them, but you can com-pare your family relationships and perhaps understand them better, as he finally did. This is a book I can unreservedly recommend to anyone.
If you cannot locate a copy at your favorite book store, send S22.95 to Joseph Littell, 3710 Lakeridge Road, Fallbrook, CA 92028 - for an autographed copy. Jack Sulser....
The CUB c,f the Golden Lion 7
Front & Center ...
106th Infantry Division Veteran
Searching for World War 11 Comrades
W ere sou or a relatise. es, a member of the 106th Infantry Disision?
Carptuarcd Thc Battle of the Bulge Dec. 1,14
106th Infantry Dislsion
106th Infantry Division - Rattle Esnerience 106th Infant, Division - Casualties
106th Infant, Division Memorials 106th Infantry Disision
1060 Infantry Disision - Association
Sergeant John Kline - rersorial
Links to similar Sites - $itc Links
Reunions held es, scar since 1947 - CUB Magazine ev, 3 months since 1947
The current membership of the Association is 1,630 (Apri120.1996)
if you ssant more information. send e-mail to OW, nirn.com
littp:fissssss.min.comluser/jpk
Res ised: .‘pril 20,1996
ops right 1996 John Kline -- -- Number of Visitors --
106th Inf. Div. Association on the WORLD WIDE WEB
by John Kline, editor lf you are not ac-quainted, there is a large community of computer users that have access to, and use the
INTERNET. I have been into computers since 1977 and just recently decided that I would see what all the commotion was about in thc IN-TERNET and what they meant by "Surfing the WEB." With the insistence of my two pro-fessional computer sons, who work for Cray Research and Silicon Graphics, I discovered what was new in the on-line communica-tions, on The World Wide Web (WWW)
It would take you a life time to look at all that is out there in the communication field. So, you or your children or grandchil-dren should take a look at my "Home Page." This ( picture above) is the home page vvhich appears on the computer screen when you ac-cess the address I will give you later. If you click on the underlined text to the right of the "Lion's Head," you will be taken to other pages that display pictures and facts about each of the subjects. I installed the pages on a local computer, called a SERV-ER. That's the firm which connects me to
the INTERNET system. You have heard of that type of service as "America On Line (AOL), or CompuServe, Or PRODIGY. Same thing, except a local provider.
I designed the pages using a program called NetScape Navigator, which is de-signed to publish Web Pages. I installed my pages on April 3, 1996 and as of this date, April 20, over 230 persons have accessed and looked at the pages where I display, the 106oneAssociation and myself. My goal is to contact 106th veterans, or their relatives.
You can access my WEB Pages at: http://www.mm.com/user/jpk
Listed on: Pentagon Bulletin Board http://www.army.mil
On "World War 11 - 54 Years Ago," http:www.webuild.com/-jbdavislww2.html
"Dads War" by WW. Johnston, son of a deceased 7th Armored Div. veteran. hftp://members.aol.com/dadawar
and other search sites eg: Yahoo.
If you do not have access to a computer, ask onc of your children, relatives or friends, to take a look, and print you off a copy..
J. Kline, editor. (Email to : jpk@mm.com)
8
Front & Center
What's in this CUB?
I guess I could say "read it," but my nature makes me explain things.
As usual I cannot use all that is available and am slowly, but surely get-ting to some of the mnaterial I haven't been able to fit in.
The former commander of the 589th Field Artillery Battalion, Colo-nel Thomas Paine Kelly, Jr, (US FA Ret) has given us an excellent review of his experiences dufing the hectic days of December 1944, and his REFLEC-TIONS of those events. Personally, I have never read some of the facts that he gives. We should all thank him for shar-ing his experiences, I find then enlight-ening coming, as they are, from an experienced observer. I enjoyed working with Colonel Kelly in the reproduction of his story....
In the Centerfold you will find replicas of the ROANOKE REGIS-TRATION PAPERS. and AGENDA.
From Ted Slaby, Orlando Reunion Committee:
A number of Association
members actcd as sponsors for guests in the 1995 Reunion and paid full registration fees.
The committee has the names of these guests, but not their ad-dresses - thus a reunion video was not sent to them. If the sponsoring members would like one to be sent to their guest, please write and tell me their address:
Ted Slaby
1103 Arbor Glen Cir.
Winter Springs, FL 32708 Wesley Eckblad and Leon J. Setter $25 in honor of Rev. Ewell C. Black, Jr.
Joseph Tarantino $25 Scholarship Jack Carrico $8 Scholarship Michael Thome $10 Scholarship Frank Nausin $20 Scholarship Jerry Eisenman $20 Scholarship John Gregory $20 Scholarship
Don Holzmuller 2nd $25 Scholarship Raymond Goeme, Belgium $5 James Copper $2
Thomas C. Ballowe $5
Fredrick Vastine $10
REGISTFtATION FOR THE
50TH ANNUAL
ROANOKE REUNION
WILL COME SOON
Virginia Bowles advised me that the Registration Papers along with the Agenda will be in the mail, 1st Class to you, about May 15, 1996. That should be just after you received this CUB.
SEE THE CENTERFOLD OF
THIS CUB FOR REPLICAS OF
WHAT YOU WILL RECEIVE IN
THE MAIL.
The official date of the 50th Annual Reunion is August 30 - September 2, 1996. There will be two hotels, within a short distance from each other, A SHORT
WALK ACROSS THE STREET. Roanoke Airport Marriott 2801 Hersgberger Rd, NW Roanoke, VA 24017
1-800-228-9290
Sheraton Inn Roanoke Airport
2727 Ferndale Drive, NW Roanoke, VA 24017
1-800-325-5353
netranrc trt flair crior.iml Ptartric•
9
Front & Center ...
PLEASE NOTE ADDRESS CHANGE FOR BATTERY
PRESS - The CUB of the
Golden Lion: PASSES in
Review
Battery Press is still at the same physical location, but Nashville has changed their PO Box numbering sys-tem:
Battery Press, Inc
PO BOX 198885
Nashville, TN 37219
I was informed that there about 50 of the books left in stock. There will be no reprints. Price $34.95 plus $2.00
postage (as of 9/9/95)
STAN WOJTUSIK- NEW VETERANS OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE PRESIDENT
Congratulations are in order for Stan Wojtusik, Sr. 422/G who has taken over the presidency of the Veteran's of the Battle of the Bulge Organization.
Stan was a prime mover for the Bulge Monument at the Valley Forge Military Academy, in 1994. In a news article from The Daily News, Lebanon, PA November 13, 1994, Stan is quoted as saying,"All kinds of emotions went through my head as I unveiled the monument. Pride, jubilation and yet in-tense sadness and grief."
Stan, congratulations, we know you will carry your duties well
Thanks for THE CUBS
Thanks to all of you who have sent me old CUBS. We use them to a good advantage. Some new members have re-quested old copies. In the next CUB I will list what old copies are available, on a first come first served basis. Dona-tions for mailings would be appreciated.
CUB PASSES IN REVIEW
FINAL REPRINT ORDER RECEIVED
(February 1996) New order of 250 received. Send $25.00 to Treasurer Sherod Collins (his address is on the inside front cover of this CUB) for your "post-paid" copy. This is the final re-print. Order for your family, friends and local library. This will be the last reor-der, so there will be NO MORE AVAIL-ABLE after these are gone ....
(dateline 20 April 1996) Books have been selling. We have had some or-ders for four books at a time, to be used for family and libraries.
Make a mark for yourself, order them while they are still available. Do-nate them to the nearest VAMC library or to a library of your choice. Get a little publicity while you are doing it. Let me know, when you order, where they are going and I will give you credit in The CUB.
For First Class orders send an ad-ditional $2.50.
For overseas orders send and ad-dition $2.50 for SURFACE MAIL and $14.00 for AIR MAIL.
Dear Snow Birds
(and others who move):
Please do you and your Asso-ciation a favor. NOTIFY us when you move.
It is costing Fifty Cents for a change of address notification and $2.50 for a forwarding fee when you NEW ADDRESS is not on file with me, your Adjutant, Pete House or Treasurer, Sherod Col-lins. Let one of us know when you move. J. Kline, editor
10
Pktorial Mall Bag ...
OUR SMALLEST
(in attendance)
BUT MOST ENTHUSIASTIC
MINI-REUNION
Humberto Aponte (422/M)
Corozal, Puerto Rico
lir Ms Carmen Rios
Hernandez; Ms Rosa. Col,.
Santiago; my beloved wife
Aida L Rios; Mrs Ana H.
Santiago de Co. and Hector
Co. Rios
Me and my wife Adia
Family Crest of the von Kupferschein, family surname
of my mothees ancestors from Austria-Germany.
The CUB of the Golden Lion
Pictorial Mail Bag ...
COLORADO-WYOMING MINI REUNION
Chairman, Nolan Ashburn. 424/H; C.-Chairman Stanley Tuhoski, 423/E: Attending: Joe S. Lillian Cucarola. 422/8; John &
Margerat Reffenrath, 423/B; James & Mary Dunn. 424/A; Harold Zimbelman a. guest. 422/? An excellent turkey dinner
was served. accompan. by Glen Miller music and informal discussions of each veteran's recollection Of Dec 1.4.
MI1Pr,
•
STATE OF WASHINGTON, MINI-REUNION, held in Ken and Betty Corngan's horne in Olympia. Vr - Jean G. Strong,
423/HQ; Myrton Dickerson, 424/13; Ken Corrigan, 591/SV; Earl Knuth, 42.0; Ray Johnston, 423/H and Fred Pilkington,
42.0. Betty Corrigan must have taken the picture. Ken says, 1/Ve h. a very informal meeting with lots of good food.
Fred and Mary Pilkington offered to sponsor the 1996 Mini-Reunion at their home- Camani Island, Washington."
12 The CUB c,f the Golden Llon
Pictorial Man Bag ...
From Howard L. Bryant, 424/F PO Box 976, Coweta, OK 74429
L/R in the picture: Clifford Freilinger, Johns S. Nesbit, Sr and Howard Bryant, 2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon F Company, 424th Combat Infantry Regiment
Dear John,
What makes this picture unique is that all three of us, from the same squad, were wounded, minutes apart on Christmas Day, 1944 during the battle for Manhay. We each thought that the each of the others were killed. To me it is a miracle that we found each other and were reunited after more than fifty years has passed.
I joined the Association in the Spring of 1994. As soon as the CUB came out, I heard from John Nesbit (in the middle - 31 yrs old in '44). John was hit with a chunk of shrapnel from 88s right after the machine gunning we took just before dark. He managed to walk back to Battalion Headquarters and received aid.
Clifford Freilinger, on the left, took a round from the machine gun and a few minutes later was hit again by the same 88 shell that got me. Clifford laid in the field for 72 hours before being found. It was Zero temperature, he lost all his toes but one and was scheduled for a leg amputation, except a courageous doctor in Paris saved it.
I lost a lot of blood, but during the night got the strength, with God's help, to walk out. I found refuge in a house in a small village. These Belgian Angels took me in and notified the Medics. Incidentally my CRIBA friend Eddy Monfort, who lives in Manhay, wrote me recently that he had located this house and will shortly send photos and info about the people who lived there during that event.
Just thought it would be of interest that three foot soldiers found each other after all this time. Thanks for all your time, you do a truly great service to all us by your work with The CUB. John Nesbit, Jr's address is on the new roster, Clifford Freilinger lives at 3660 18th Ave SE, Albany OR 97321.
13
Pictorial Mail Bag ...
From Associate, Bill Bucher, Jr.: I am enclosing a picture that might be interesting to the men of the 106th. Taken in front of the "Arc de Triomphe" while my father Bill Bucher, Sr., 424/AT (now deceased) was in Paris during April 2-5, 1945. My father is the person crouched down with his left side turned toward the cam-era, displaying his "Golden Lion" shoulder patch. 1 would appreciate hearing from any of the men of the 106th that might recognize any of the soldiers in the photo.
My telephone: (704) 633-2769 - 430 Bob Wite Run, Salisbury, NC 28147.
I am also interested in any person knowing about hospital at Liege or the medical aid stations in use around mid-February, 1945. Also, the "Sanatorium am Hausstein" possibly near Trois Ponts, where my father wrote that he stayed as a patient before be-ing sent to a hospital at Liege. Thanks Bill Bucher, Jr.
Bill Tower-106 Recon Troop
John, Here is a picture of me and my wife taken at Grosslangenfeld, Germany, when we visited there.
I was captured there on the 17th Dec. sit-ting in an M-8 Armored Car when they knocked out our vehicles. A lot is written about the collapse of our division and the Re-con Troop surrendering in a couple of hours on the 16th. We were there until 3:00 P.M. on the 17th when we had to try to break out. Some of the Troop got away, but were cap-tured near Schoenberg on the 19th.
(Bill, I am returning to Germany next September and have been invited to stay in the home of a 18 VGD Veteran who lives in Grosslangenfeld. We met him in Auw last September during our German-American meeting ... J. Kline, editor)
14
Pictorial Mail Bag ... amm.•^^•
MARYLANDNIRGIANIA- D.0 MINI-REUNION submitted by Phil Hannon, 81st Engineers /A, photo by John
Schaffner, 589/A. Bottom Row - Ernie Vermont, 422/E; AtilHo Mascone, 422/M; Oliver Lothrop, Jr., 423/B; Bill
Johnson, 424/K. Top Row - Yr: Walter Snyder, 589/A, Alan W. Jones, Jr., 423/140 1Bn; Jack Sulser, 423/F;
John Blodgett, 423/1; Phil Hannon, 81 ENG/A; Ed McGinty, 589/C and John Schaffner, 589/A.
`111EAL,-.1
Held 15 December, 1995. David Ford, one of the associate members, with the help of MISgt James Milewiski, the
othor associate member, gave a fine slide talk on Tho Battle of the Bulge area. Dave also set up a display table
with books, maps, articles and pictures. Everyone enjoyed themselves and several suggested that
the meetings, in the future, be held as luncheons so that no night time driving will be required.
GARDEN STATE CHAPTER NO. 1 - PARTICIPATES IN PARADE OF FLAGS AT ARUNOTON
Pictured are Charles SusIno and 108th veteran, W111.m Molichar, 423/SV, of New York Jersey Garden State
Chapter St They hed the honor of carrying the US flag and American Ex-Prisoner of War flag the Parade of
Flags on Veteran's Day, November 11,1995, at the Arlington National Cemetery. Twenty-four AXPOW members
from Now Jersey attend. the Ceremony. From EX-POW Bulletin February 1996.
The CUB of the Golden Lion 1 5
Pictorial Mail Bag ...
From the 1st Annual Reunion, Indianapolis, Ind. Photo furnished by Frank Lapato,422/HQ. Frank is the third person, in line in front of the the "Membership sign" with head toward camera, his friend Joe Gasses, 422/HQ is just behind him. Both are current members of the 106th Infantry Division Association. Thanks for the picture, Joe. Everybody looks so young! Maybe we can learnthe names of some of the other people in line.
The Military Shop, Peoria, Arizona, I 06th Quartemiastcr, 9635 W. Peoria, AZ 85345. Operated hy Dixon Poole, sce back cover for advertisement. photo by Toby Anderson, 106 SIG.
16
Pictorial Mail Bag ...
Lt. Col. Marlon Ray (US Rot) 424/D
Marion, a Sergeant in 424/D in 1944, has done a terrific job in looking for and finding many of his former "D" Company comrades.
'There were 14 "424/D" Company men at the Orlando Reunion. The current roster (see the roster mailed with this CUB) shows 25 members of 424/D.
His recent contribution to his com-rades is a "News Letter". The scanned snapshot of it, on the right, does not do it justice. Great job Marion.
Dick McKee, 422/A writes: "422/A held an annual reunion at Houghton, Michigan on 9 Oct 1995. It was hosted by Roy and Shirley Maki. We usually have about 15 members, but this year only 7 reported in. The Makis were excellent hosts and took us on a tour of Michigan, including Copper Harbor and the old copper mines.
The sad part was that on the week following, Roy Maki had a fatal heart attack. Left/Right in the photo: John Damaon, Dick McKee, Charles Labor, Gene Powell, Roy maki, Clinton Hohenstein and Clifford Shows - all Ex-Pows - 422/A.
The CUB of the Golden Lion i 7
Pictorial Mail Bag ...
From L.C. Anderson, Jr., 81st Engineers Headquarters:
Lyt, as he is known, sponsored a membership for a young CRIBA member, Jean-Paul Linden. 47 Rue Eysden-Mines, B-6658 GRAND HALLEUX, BELGIUM.
Lyt writes, " Last December 1994 I toured several Belgian towns with a group from the 82nd Airborne. I met several CRIBA members during a lunch at Trois Ponts and at Stavelot, and they were most hospitable. One young Belgian lad that I met has corre-sponded with me over the past year. His name is Jean-Paul Linden, he was the person that found "Poppy Connor's" barracks bag (Milton Conner 592 FAB) in his family barn. He is a 106th fan and has a life-long collection of battle souvenirs from our division sector, including weapons and equipment from the 106th as well as the Airborne. I am including a picture of him. He and his friends offered their services as guides."
I enjoyed the Orlando Reunion and hope to get more 81st Headquarters veterans to the Roanoke Reunion. Lyt Anderson
(from the editor - Lyt, this is the third "sponsored" CRIBA member we have had in recent months, Thanks. I substituted your picture with one that Jean-Paul sent me. It shows him (on left) and a friend, Andre' Sebastien, also a CRIBA member, in some "reconstituted" War Dress. Looks pretty real doesn't it?
In his note he said, "We are all passionate of the time (the war) and we are trying not to forget the tragic events of 1944 where young people, like us, lost their lives to save our freedom."
Jean-Paul is also looking for Golden Lion necklace (bolo-tie). Jean-Paul and Kenneth Coss, 424/L, appear in a photo on page 28 of the JAN-FEB-MAR 1996 CUB. It shows in that picture he traded his CRIBA bolo-tie for Ken's 106th Cap.
For a young man with a message like his (above) we should find him a bolo-tie. J. Kline, editor)
18
New Members ...
ANGELO, MARIO J. 423/D Albert FOSTY as a LIFE ASSOCIATE. Mr. Fosty was one of the drivers who escorted me around 'The Battle of the Bulge area in Belgium and Germany, when I visited the area in September 1994. I was with the group that traveled with GALAXY Tours.
636 ASHLEY CIRCLE E Since my trip, Albert and I have kept in touch by letter. He is a member of CRIBA and continues to devote much of his time to see that American veterans are welcomed to Belgium and helps them seek out places they want to see. He also helps care for the 106th Memorial in St. Vith and tends to graves whererican soldiers.
ROCHESTER HILLS, MI 48307 By adding the name of Albert FOSTY to the Associate membership list is just a small token of appreciation that I would like to cxtend to him on my behalf as well as the many other veterans he has personally as-sisted over the years. As the ranks of us old veterans continues to dwindle, perhaps the younger Associate members will be able to keep the group and our memories alive. I plan to attend Roanoke this year, health perrnitting.
810-853-0565
I was a Section Sergeant, 1st Section, 2nd Platoon, D Company of the 423rd Regiment. I was active in our sports teams, softball, football and Volley ball. I was wounded and had an operation in the Ger-man prison camp. I later escaped.
BACHMURSKI, STANLEY M.
40IST FAB (attached)
843 CASCADE DRIVE
NEWPORT NEWS, VA 23608
804-877-2217
BERTETTA, STEVEN C. ASSOCIATE
1020 SAN GABRIEL CR #442
DALY CITY, CA 94014
415-584-5678
COLLINS, JOHN W. 423/1
210 HILLVIEW
SAN ANTONIO, TX 78209
210-822-0873
EVANS, JENIFER R. ASSOCIATE GOEME, RAYMOND ASSOCIATE
1398 SILVER LAKE DR 104 rue de Louvergne
MELBOURNE, FL 32940 B4052 Beaufays, BELGIUM (Editor's note - In a letter Raymond, a member of CRIBA, wrote : "I thank you for the copies of the CUB and the kind letter. I share Henri ROGISTER's opinion about your recent visit to SPINEUX and the meeting with the villagers. I wish to also become an ASSOCIATE member." Signed Raymond GOEME.
(Editor's Note - Jenifer is the daughter of Ray Vaughn, 423 Cannon Company. It was our pleasure to have Jenifer with us, along with her father and mother, on the trip in September 1995, vvhere vve met with the German-Veterans and with our Belgian friends. J. Kline, editor) I repeat Henri ROGISTER's letter (Henri is an ASSOCIATE MEMBER of our Association):
" Dear Mr. Kline, I had the pleasure to see the "CUB" from February 1996 and I found this issue, as the preceding ones, very well presented. We spoke of it during the reunion of our CRIBA committee on 7 Feb-ruary and everybody was delighted with your presentation of the meeting between
FOSTY, ALBERT ASSOCIATE
8 RUE TILLMANS
B4620 FLERON, BELGIUM
Letter to Membership Chairman, Gil-
bert Helwig from John M. Roberts, 592/C,
who sponsored a LIFE ASSOCIATE
membership for Belgian Albert FOSTY;
I am enclosing $75 in order to enroll
19
New Members ...
the members of the 106th Infantry Divi-sion and the members of CRIBA. The ceremony at SPINEUX was, for the mem-bers of CRIBA, a very nice success due to the friendliness and the friendship of the inhabitants of the small village. Those people are to be credited with the good organization and success of that meeting.
Three members from CRIBA will make a trip to the United States in the September of 1996. We will visit Wash-ington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Texas and Louisiana. We will attend the 49th Reunion of the 3rd Armored Division As-sociation at Fort Worth, Texas, the first week of October.
The trip should last three weeks. We will not have the opportunity to pass in the vicinity of Minneapolis (Apple Valley) and I am sorry for that. America is such a big country that it would take more than three weeks to meet the many friends we have there." Sincerely, Henri ROGIS-TER... J. Kline, editor)
GOVROYE, JOSEPH
LIFE ASSOCIATE
31 RUE M BECKERS B4630 SOUMAGNE, BELGIUM
FROM JOHN GATENS, 589TH FAB, AS SPONSOR OF Joseph GOVROYE as a LIFE ASSOCIATE: "I first met Joseph back in 1984 when I went on a tour of the Bulge area with the "Vet-eran's of the Battle of the Bulge.
I was completely overwhelmed on one day of the trip. In the Hotel parking lot there were about thirty members of CRIBA, with their cars, ready to take each person to his special place. My special place was "Parker's Crossroads." This was when I first met Joseph. I was as-signed to him. The reason he was assigned to me was that he lives a short distance from "Parkers Crossroads." Joseph was a young boy of sixteen during The Battle of the Bulge and remembers it well. He is also a close friend of Marie Le Haire, whose family lived in the farm house on the comer.
"Joseph doesn't speak English, but he had another young man with him that did. We had a great time. After taking me to many of the interesting places of the battle area, we wound up at "Parker's Cross-roads." Now there is a beautiful Hotel-Res-taurant where the farm house stood during the battle. Joseph introduced me to Madam Marie Le Haire and she and I have been close friends since. On two other trips back, Joseph has driven me anyplace that I wish to go.
"For these reasons I am sponsoring a LIFE ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP for Joseph. I am very happy to be able to do so." Signed John Gatens
HANCOCK, TURNEY 424/HQ 1BN
3932 KEELEY DR NASHVILLE, TN 37211
I was inducted in service 3 November 1943 at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. Stayed one day then was sent to Fort Jackson where I joined the 106th. After training I was shipped out as a replacement.
I joined the 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division in South Hampton, England. I left South Hampton 2 June for the invasion of France, destination Omaha Beach. I was also in The Battle of the Bulge. 1 was dis-charged 19 November 1945 in Camp Clai-bore, La.
I went to work in Nashville, Tenn, where I met my wifc Chris. We were mar-ried 5 April 1947. We have two sons and four grandchildren.
(Continued on page 25)
20
ROANOKE, VIRGINIA
WANTS4 __YOU!
SOTH REUNION
AUG./SEPT.. 1996
REGISTRATION FORM
106TH INFANTRY DIVISION ASSOCIATION
50TH ANNUAL REUNION
AUGUST 30 - SEPTEMBER 3, 1996
MARRIOTT ROANOKE AIRPORT (540/563-9300)
2801 Hershberger Road, NW; Roanoke, VA 24017
SHERATON ROANOKE AIRPORT (540/362-4500)
2727 Ferndale Drive, NW; Roanoke, VA 24017
NAME
ADDRESS
CITY STATE ZIP
UNIT CO. OR BATTERY
YOUR REGISTRATION FEE $95.00
SPOUSE'S REGISTRATION FEE $95.00
GUEST(S) REGISTRATION FEE $95.00 NO.__ $
Registration Fee includes complete program meat for
Optional Attractions listed below:
OPTIONAL ATTRACTIONS:
FRIDAY, AUGUST 30 11 AM - 4 PM BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY (LUNCH INCLUDED)
TOUR 1: CHAUTEAU MORRISETTE WINERY OPERSONS____e $28.00 $
TOUR 2: PEAKS OF OTTER OPERSONS____O $30.00 0
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31
11 AM - 3 PN CITY TOUR: HISTORIC HOMES, FARMERS' MARKET,
ROANOKE STAR (LUNCH NOT INCLUDED) NPERSONS____@ $14.50 $
12:30 PM - 4 PM NATURAL BRIDGE AND WAX MUSEUM
(LUNCH INCLUDED) NPERSONS____0 $33.00 $
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
3 - 6 PM VALLEY VIEW SHOPPING CENTER EXPRESS
SHUTTLE (NO CHARGE) NPERSONS USING
5 - 10:30 PM SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE DINNER CRUISE; LIMITED
TO FIRST 120 WHO APPLY) OPERSONS____Q $48.00 $
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
10:30 - 1:30 HOTEL ROANOKE AND CONFERENCE CENTER
(LUNCH INCLUDED) NPERSONS____41 $12.00 $
1 - 4 pm VALLEY VIEW SHOPPING CENTER EXPRESS
SHUTTLE (NO CHARGE) OPERSONS USING
TOTAL FEES ENCLOSED
ALL FEES MUST BE RECEIVED BY AUGUST 1, 1996
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: 106TH INFANTRY DIVISION REUNION
NAIL TO:106TH INFANTRY DIVISION REUNION
P. O. BOX 4317, ROANOKE, VA 24015-0317
(IF YOU WANT A RECEIPT, INCLUDE A SELF-ADDRESSED STAMPED CARD OR ENVELOPE)
TOUR AND MEAL TICKETS WILL BE HELD IN YOUR NAME AT RESERVATION DESK. CANCELLATION powcy: FULL REFUND FOR REGISTRATION FEE(S) AND OPTIONAL TOURS MAY BE RECEIVED ONLY IF REQUESTED PRIOR TO AUGUST 1, 1996. ANY FEES CHARGED US BY THE TOUR OPERATORS WILL BE DEDUCTED FROM THE REFUND.
HOTEL REGISTRATION: PHONE OR MAIL DIRECT TO HOTELS (SEE NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES ABOVE). RATES: 1 TO 3 OCCUPANTS--$70 MARRIOTT, $69 SHERATON-- BOTH RATES PLUS 9.5% TAX. FREE PARKING AND AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION.
DATE OF ARRIVAL DEPARTURE
ATTENDED PREVIOUS REUNIONS? YES NO
106TH INFANTRY DIVISION ASSOCIATION
50TH ANNUAL REUNION - ROANOKE, VIRGINIA
AUGUST 30 - SEPTEMBER 3, 1996
MARRIOTT ROANOKE AIRPORT (540/563-9300) 2801 Horshberger Road, NW; Roanoke, VA SHERATON ROANOKE AIRPORT (540/362-4500) 2727 Ferndale Drive, NW; Roanoke, VA
Thursday, August 29 Early arrivals
Friday, August 30
9-11 . 2-8 Registration, Marriott Hotel
11:00 - 4:00 Tours: Blue Ridge Parkway (2 tours)
1. Peaks of Otter
2. Chauteeu Morriaette Winery
1:00 - 8:00 Hospitality Room Open, Marriott
Dinner on Your Own
Saturday, Auguat 31
8:00 - 4:00 Registration, Marriott
8:00 - 9:00 Plated Breakfast, Marriott and Sheraton
9:15 - 11:00 Board of Directors, Marriott
10:00 - 6:00 Hospitality Room Open, Marriott
Lunch on Your Own
3:00 - 4:00 .0verview of Recent Reorganization of Veterans
Affairs Medical Centers'. with Question/Answer period - Dr. John M. Presley, Director,
Salem (VA) VA Medical Center
11:00 - 4:00 Tours: 11:00 - 3:00 City Hiatoric Tour; Lunch on
Your Own
12:30 - 4:00 p.m. Natural Bridge,
Lunch Included
7:00 - 10:00 Reception/Buffet Picnic Dinner, Sheraton
6:30 - 8:00 Caah Bar, Sheraton
Sunday, September 1 Breakfast on Your Own
7:30 - 8:30 Pest President Breakfast
8:00 - 12:00 Registration, Marriott
9:00 - 10:00 Memorial Service, Sheraton
12:00 - 2:30 Ken's Luncheon, Marriott
12:30 - 2:30 Ladies' Luncheon, Sheraton
3:00 - 6:00 Expreas Shuttle to Valley View Shopping Center
Dinner on Your Own
5:00 - 10:30 Tour: Saith Mountain Lake Cruise, Dinner Included
6:00 - 9:00 Hoapitality Roos Open, Marriott
Monday, September 2 Breakfast on Your Own
9:00 - 3:00 Hospitality Room/Displays, Marriott
10:30 - 1:30 Tour: Hotel Roanoke . Conference Center; Lunch
at Hotel Roanoke
Lunch on Your Own
1:00 - 4:00 Express Shuttle to Valley View Shopping Center
3:00 - 4:00 New Board of Directors Meeting, Marriott
6:30 - 7:00 Cash Bar, Marriott
7:00 - 12:00 Banquet and Dance, Marriott
Tueaday, September 3
7:00 - 8:30 Farewell Buffet Breakfast, Marriott and Sheraton
Greater
-
IOW)
PeAsT:1 Otr,
oar 146
Roanoke Valley
A Sheoutton hut Rowtoke AiApoat 8 Rodnoke*pact Manithstt
EMT
i)",i:1-L'iii:tnitil") 3
0
SZA Mt LA,
tat EXITS
Sli
POINTS OF KIERESf
0 Visitors Center Valley Vcw Mall
(1) Cromocis Consumer Mall 0 Tmhers Mall
Tareglewxd Mall Roanoke College la Hollins College Salem Civic Cemer 0 Roanoke Civic Center
7. Rut y
I • Peon Creek Road: 2S. 2N
• lienikerger Rm.!. 3E. 3W
• Orange Avenue: 4E.AW
• William. Rail io Dwain.: 5
• Elm Avaitc: (i
._
jon'af179:Zu
our ;47.
New Members ...
(Continued from page 20)
I went to work for a truck-line in 1951, where I followed that line until 30 June 1980. I had two major strokes on 4 July 1980, had major surgery and was had to retire 20 November 1980 at age 57.
I wish to thank Harold Bratten for getting in touch with me. I heard the Re-union will be in Nashville this year, hope to see you.
(Editor's note - Tumey - the reunion is in Roanoke, Virgiania. The announcement is in this CUB... J. Kline)
RENE, HERMAN ASSOCIATE
BURTOVILLE
B-6690 V1ELSALM, BELGIUM (Editor's note - Rene HERMAN searches the battle area for artifacts, and has done so for many years. He is anxious to met and help any American veterans that return to the area. He has visited with Adda & Willie RIKKEN, our friends at Gouvy, Belgium. He has many sou-venirs, dog-tags and memorabilia taken from the battle areas. He wishes to meet more Americans and learn of their experiences... J. Kline, editor)
JONCKEAU, MARY LIFE ASSOCIATE
71 Rue HENRI PIRENNE
B-4800 VERVIERS, BELGIUM
FROM JOHN GATENS: "589th
FAB, Battery members, Joseph Schaffner,
Walter Snyder and I, wish to sponsor Mary
JONCKEAU as a LIFE ASSOCIATE
MEMBER. Mary is a very active member
of CRIBA and has driven many of the GI's
throughout the battle area. She was espe-
cially kind to us during our last visit to
Belgium, on the5Oth Anniversary TOUR.
Mary visits the HENRI CHAPPELLE
American Cemetery often, as well as the
ERIC WOOD Memorial, placing flowers
and tending to the sites. She has adopted
the 106th Infantry Division as her own.
Any member, wishing to tour the Bulge
area, to find his special place, should con-
tact her. She is more than willing to help
them accomplish their wishes." Signed John Gatens
LEMOINE, AUGUSTE ASSOCIATE
CAHAY, 58
B-6690 VIELSALM, BELGIUM (Editor's note - Another friend of the RIKKEN's, who has searched the battlefield and wishes to met and help American veterans as they retum... J Kline)
LINDEN, JEAN PAUL ASSOCIATE
47 RUE EYSDEN-MINES
B-6658 GRAND HALLEUX, BELGIUM
Sponsored by L.C. ANDERSON, 81st ENG/HQ. L.C. wrote that Paul was a very helpful young man and wishes to sponsor his membership. Thanks to L.C. we have another young Belgian who is part of our Association.
(Editor's note - I have pictures of Paul. Hopefully I will have room for them in this CUB.
Paul LINDEN was present at SPINEUX during our September 1995 visit. He is a charming young man who has much knowledge of the history of the battle. He, if you will recall several CUBs back, is the person that discovered and returned a barracks bag belonging to MILTON CONNOR, 592 FAB, B Battery. I always get CONNORS age wrong, but he has to be at least f34. He was one happy man when he received his long lost barracks bag. I wonder if the gov-ernment charged him for it when he returned home... J. Kline, editor)
LOGAN, ROBERT C. 424/HCI 1BN
430 N. COLLEGE ST.
CARLISLE, PA 17013
717-249-2058
I was a member of the 106th from acti-vation at Fort Jackson until I was captured at Winterspelt, Germany in December 1944.1 was interned in the following camps, Stalag 12-A, Limburg: Stalag 10-C, north of Hanover; and Sand Bostel near Bremer-haven. I was liberated by the British Army by members of the Black Watch and Ar-mored Guard Units.
25
New Members ...
MAES, ROGER ASSOCIATE
RUE GRAND'PEINE, 73
B-7110 HOUDENG-AIMER, BELGIUM (Editor's note - I would like to make a special plea to members of the Association to contact this new member. He is very anxious to learn about the experiences of the American Veter-ans, especially of the 106th Infantry Division. If you have a diary, or wish to transcribe a letter explaining your experiences in The Battle of the Bulge, please send it to Roger. He recently became acquainted with the RIKKEN's, our personal friends. I am told that he and his buddies recently found 50 American Gas Masks that had been cached in a hole some-where in the Ardennes. He has much memo-rabilia and artifacts from the battlefield. He is anxious to hear your stories, so please write to him. He writes good English in a friendly man-ner. My thanks goes to Roger. I haven't had the time to answer all the letters I get and am taking this manner of giving him my personal thanks. I hope to me you, Roger, during our next visit to Belgium... J. Kline, editor)
MAKOWSKE, RAYMOND T. 423/K
8621 VALLEYFIELD RD LUTHERVILLE, MD 21093
MCDONALD, STANLEIGH 806 ORD
1290 N. WESTERN AVE #209
LAKE FOREST, IL 60045
847-234-6889
My role in the Ordnance Company that was attached to the 106th Infantry at St. Vith was to drive a 6X6 GMC truck. We removed the gas governor so that we could "Put the Hammer Down" and run the trucks as fast as we could. I was as-signed to make ammunition runs to and from the depots, to supply the 422nd and 423rd Regiments. Other runs were to parts depots for the Quartermaster.
During the Bulge our runs were con-stant during day and night. I made a trip to Bastogne to drop off ammunition, just be-fore it was surrounded. Generally there were three 6X6 trucks in our "packs" and many times ,,ve were within firing range of the Germans. On one trip we passed the site at Malmedy where the men of "B" Battery of the 285th Field Artillery Battalion, and other units, vvere slaughtered in the "Mal-medy Massacre." We took a quick look and continued on our route. I was in the lead truck of the three trucks, The truck had a mounted 50 Cal machine gun. My Staff Sergeant manned that gun. There were sev-eral times we passed German foot soldiers, in the woods, as we "put the hammer down" and continued on our way.
(Editor's note - Stan, a good book written by Michael Reynolds, entitles THE DEVIL'S ADJU-TANT, Jochen Peiper, Panzer Leader describes in great detail the incident at Baugnez Crossroads, later to be called The Massacre of Malmedy. Pub-lished in Great Britain by SPELLMOUNT LTD, Staplehurst. It is available from stores in the USA like B. Dalton . I happened to buy my copy at the LaGleize Museum, LaGleize, Belgium, during our September 1995 trip.
The units involved in that massacre, taken from the list of dead and of those that escaped were, B Battery, 285th Field Artillery Observation Bat-talion, 575th Ambulance Convoy, 546th Ambu-lance Convoy, 518th MP Battalion, 32nd Armored Recon Convoy, 86th Engineers, 23rd Infantry Regiment, the 197th AAA Battalion and the 200th Field Artillery Battalion. By far the most men involved were from the 285th FAB, either B Battery or HQs Battery. In a quick scan of the list I found 105 men of the 285th of which 45 were either wounded or unharmed. Some have asked if any 106th men were there. The records do not reveal any men from our units... J. Kline, editor)
MILLER, GLENN C. 422/H
1004 MAPLE ST
PIQUA, OH 43356
(Editor's note - Glenn, is an Email buddy of mine.
His screen name is 75474.2576@com-
puserve.com., for those of you who are on Email.
Glenn, have a good trip to Belgium/Germany.
You certainly have it well planned. This CUB will
be waiting for you when you get back. Get some
good pictures of Eastern Europe, maybe I can
find a spot for them in The CUB, although with
the backlog of material I hesitate to make a plea
for more matenal. Bon Voyage... J. Kline, editor)
26
New Members ...
OSBORNE, M.D., GEORGE M.
423/HQ 3BN
4453 VIEUX CARRE CR.
TAMPA, FL 33613-3055
1 was Captain George Osborne in the 423rd Infantry Battalion Medical Detach-ment. I received the Combat Medical Badge in The Battle of the Bulge and later applied, because of information in the 106th Bulletin, for the Bronze Star, which was sent to me.
I attended two 106th Reunions, aon't know why I let my membership lapse, but here I am again.
On a recent cruise (Hawaiian-Ameri-can) my wife and I were seated at a table with Mr. Ralph Bean and his charming wife Cynthia. Suffice it to say we were both in the 423rd Infantry Battalion at St. Vith. It was his ill fortune to be captured. He told me to get with it again! Ralph and I could not get over the coincidence of two soldiers in the sane Battalion at a table for four on a Hawaiian Cruise on the SS Inde-pendence. We both were proud that we served with the 106th and were The Lion in the Way that delayed Von Rundstedt and his Armored Divisions - as IKE said "We served our country well."
RENARD, ERIC ASSOCIATE
6 RUE DU COTICULE B-6690 VIELSALM, BELGIUM
SMITH, WILLIAM B. 423/L
44 COUNTRYSIDE ROAD
COLUMBIA, NJ 07832
908-496-4266
(Editor's note - William B. Smith, 423/L, is the
father of Wayne W. Smith. Wayne has been
looking for information about his father. In go-
ing through his father's records he came
across references about the 3rd Armored Divi-
sion and the 423rd Infantry Regiment of the
106th Infantry Division. He contacted Sherod
Collins, having found his name in connection
with our Association. Sherod referred him to
me. Tums out that Wayne is on-line and we have been passing information vi Email. He works at a Government Army facility.
I advised him of my Email address and the fact that I have placed a "Home Page" on the World Wide Web. By the way, the URL for that "Home Page" is http://www.mm.com/user/jpk. If you are not computerized, ask one of your relatives or friends who are into the Internet or the World Wide Web (VVWW) and have them punch up that address. They will see eight pages of 106th Infantry Division Association history and Per-sonal history. I have had over 230hits (visitors) to my Web Site from 4/4 to 4/20/96. There's lots of information out there about World War II. Another good contact was a son of a 7th A, mored veteran who has gobs of information on The BULGE and the part that the 7th Armored played. That's another story, but the URL for that site is; http://members.aol.com/dadswar. Back to Wayne Smith and his dad William, sorry guys; William is now a member of our Associa-tion and has received his membership and a copy of The CUB of the Golden Lion: PASSES in REVIEW. Welcome aboard, Smiths... J. Kline, editor)
SOWELL, ROBERT F. 424/E
612 VIA DEL MONTE
PALOS VERDES ESTATES, CA 90274
310-378-5404
I served as Platoon Guide for the Pla-
toon Sergeant as part of the attacking force
in the Battle for MANHAY on 24 Decem-
ber 1944. Except for a brief period of time
in the AIR FORCE CADET program at
Miami Beach, I served with the 106th from
the time it was founded in Fort Jackson,
until I was evacuated from the line in the
Ardennes on 19 January 1945, spending
two months in a US Army Hospital at
Cardiff, South Wales. I then ran a PX Com-
pany at Camp Philip Morris at LeHavre
until sailing home the Summer of 1945.
I rejoined the Advertising Department
of the Union Pacific Railway in Omaha
before entering the School ofJournalism at
the University of Missouri. There I earned
my BS of Journalism in three years by at-
tending three sessions (including Summer)
27
New Members ...
annually. I graduated in 1950.
After graduating I joined Safeway Stores Advertising department. Then the Korean War broke out. Since I had re-ceived a Direct Commission in the Army Reserves, in 1949, I was recalled and ex-perienced six additional months of com-bat as a Platoon Leader with the 5th Regimental Combat Team. I was awarded two Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart. Martha and I have three lovely daughters (two are twins). Our home in Palos Verdes Estates overlooks Monica Bay in South-ern California.. Settled into San Francisco where I worked as Advertising Manager of Folgers Coffee. After a few years with Folgers I joined the Young & Rubican Advertising Agency in Los Angeles, con-tinuing in marketing until 1960 when I became a Real Estate Broker and Devel-oper. 1 am now semi-retired, but keep busy appraising property.
I would look forward to hearing from any of you, my friends and comrades-in-arms, especially "Hump" Schiro and Art Chatfield. John Gregory introduced me to the 106th Infantry Division Association. (Editor's note - Bob, we have no other person to thank than John Gregory, except you of course. Look in the new roster I have enclosed in the May CUB, as you probably already know both "Hump" and "Art" are already members of the Association - they appear in the alphabetic listings. Do I dare ask: How did Schiro get the name "Hump?" ... J. Kline, editor)
STREVER, LINDA J. ASSOCIATE
7023 WOODARD BAY RD NE
OLYMPIA, WA 98506-9630
360-357-2860
My father was a member of the 106th Infantry Division and was captured in The Battle of the Bulge. I am a poet, working on research for a book about my parents' experiences during the '30's and the '40's. I am interested in reading and hearing about the battle and the POW experiences that may have been similar to my father's.
TIMM, EUGENE A. 423/D
139 GROSSE PINES DR
ROCHESTER HILLS, MI 48309
810-652-2917
was a Jeep driver for a machine-gun squad. Captured 19 December 1944, ar-rived at Stalag 9-B, Bad Orb morning of 25 December, liberated by the 106th Cavalry (not a part of the 106th Inf Div) on 2 April 1945.
Originally from Neenah, Wisconsin. Returned there after discharge at Fort San Houston in December 1945. Worked in Neenah for awhile then went back to school, University of Wisconsin, eamed a BS MS and Ph.D. January 1955. Joined Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Company, Detroit, Michigan, as a Research Virologist - 8 years of research - through different positions, Vice-Pres. Of QC and Govt. Regs. After 25 years I took early retirement from the ten merged Warner Lambert-Parke Davis in new Jersey. Did some consulting, joined Swiss/Austrian firm Immuno (?) as presi-dent of the US operations, retired officially 3 December 1992. But continue on the Board and do some consulting business for the company.
Married Lois in 1951. We have one son and two daughters and four grandchildren. I enjoy my cottage up north on the lake (Gaylord, Michigan) and fishing, traveling, reading, relaxing and woodworking. Hope to go to the Roanoke gathering and renew acquaintances.
(Editor's note - Eugene, hope I got the name "Immuno" correct. I am not familiar with the name and it was indistinct on your letter... J. Kline, editor)
28 The CUB ()Oh, Golden Lion
Col. Thomas P. Kelly, Jr. CO - 589th FAB - A Day to Remember !
Lt. Colonel T. Paine Kelly, Jr. 1944
Commander 589th FAB
A DAY TO REMEMBER
by Colonel Thomas P. Kelly. Jr. (F.A. Ret)
Battalion Cornmander, 589th Field Artillery Battalion PO Box 1531, Tampa, FL 33601
In early 1995, the United States of America celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the battle that sealed the fate of
Hitler's Germany, and thereby preserved liberty and democracy for most of the people of the world. It was called the Bat-tle of the Bulge because the last on-slaught of the German Army, perpetrated by all of its remaining reserve military forces, created a bulge in the eastern front of the Allied Armies covering hun-dreds of square kilometers of the sover-eign territory of four nations (Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and France) that had
Colonel T. Paine Kelly, Jr. (US FA Ret)
Attorney at Law
been overrun by the Allies in late 1944, and that was envisioned by them as the launching pad for the final drive to end the War.
The Battle was finally won by the Al-lies in February, 1945, but was initiated by the Germans on December 16, 1944, a very cold, overcast day that was a carbon copy of a long series of days that had af-flicted western Germany and eastern France in late 1944 (and were to continue to do so). The movement of German forces on that day led to the worst single day catastrophe from the standpoint of casualties in the entire military history of the United States, a day upon which the 106th Infantry Division suffered approxi-mately 8,000 casualties (the exact number will never be known) or over 55°A of its to-
29
Col. Thomas P. Kelly, Jr. CO - 589th FAB - A Day to Remember I
tal strength. And the vast majority of these losses occurred in the relatively small triangle between Bleialf and Auw, Germany, and Schonberg, Belgium, and in an area that did not exceed three square kilometers (two square miles).
In addition to the casualties in the 106th Division there were losses by the cavalry, tank destroyers, anti-aircraft, en-gineers, medical and other troops support-ing the Division, and by many other American units in numerous sectors of the battlefield, including the 99th Infan-try Division in line north of the 106th, and the 28th Infantry Division, south of the 106th.
The day was December 19, 1944, a day to remember.
Of course, all of these facts are the subject matter of many histories written closer to the date of their occurrence than any commentary that I might add as a footnote at this time. But it occurred to me as I read accounts of the Battle of the Bulge on its 50th Anniversary, that there was an insight that was missing in all of the histories and narratives that I have read, particularly regarding the loss of the 422nd and 423rd Combat Teams of the 106th Division, because the histori-ans and chroniclers were not there. And I suddenly realized that I was in a unique position in that I not only spent the days and nights of December 16-19 in or near that fatal triangle, but I was probably the only person alive now or then who had spent many hours with each of those units on December 19, and who had dis-cussed their dilemmas with their respec-tive Commanding Officers. Perhaps because of my close association with the principal actors in the tragedy of that day, and the previous three days, I can re-late an additional basis for understanding what occurred, and why.
As with all history, it is difficult to find a logical beginning, particularly if in-terest in the theme is to be maintained. But some explanation of why I was in the area, and why I was free to roam be-tween two infantry regimental command-ers who were in only sporadic and indirect communication with each other (and each of whom was not even sure where the other was engaging the en-emy) , is necessary for a full under-standing of the situation. In relating the series of events over that period of four days, it is my intention to describe only incidents that I witnessed and now re-member, unless I expressly qualify infor-mation from other persons and my own assumptions as such; and the facts will not be exaggerated or dramatized. There are some things that one never forgets, and the events in which I participated during those four days neither require nor would permit embellishment.
The 106th Infantry Division arrived in the area of St. Vith, Belgium, on De-cember 8, 1944, after a trip across France and Belgium on the "Red Ball Express." We had been briefed on our mission dur-ing the journey. We were to replace -man for man and gun for gun" the 2nd Infantry Division, which was in position on and west of the Schnee Eifel (a ridge rising out of the Ardennes plain about twenty miles in length extending gener-ally east and then north from Bleialf to Roth in extreme West Germany). Until captured by the Americans in November, the Schnee Eifel had been an important segment of the Siegfried Line and the commanders of various infantry units of the 2nd Division were enjoying occu-pancy of the German bunkers as their re-spective headquarters.
30
Col. Thomas P. Kelly, Jr. CO - 589th FAB - A Day to Remember !
I was the Battalion Commander of the 589th Field Artillery Battalion, equipped with twelve 105 mm. howit-zers, in direct support of the 422nd Infan-try Regiment, commanded by Colonel George L. Descheneaux, Jr. Upon our ar-rival in St. Vith the battalion was as-signed a bivouac area on the St. Vith-Schonberg road and I was sum-moned to Division Headquarters to re-ceive orders for the occupation of our positions. All of the commanders of regi-ments, battalions and special troops were greeted by Major General Alan W. Jones, the Division Commander, who an-nounced that the elements of the Divi-sion would begin to occupy the positions then held by the 2nd Division on the night of December 9-10 in blackout con-
ditions and with minimum sound in order to prevent the enemy from learning that the 2nd Division waE being withdrawn. That unit was to participate in a "top se-cret" attack scheduled for a few days later to prevent the destruction of the Roer River dams by the retreating Ger-
man forces, with consequent flooding of the American route of advance.
I was told that my Battalion had the honor of being the first unit to occupy its position in order that vve could register on the Division Artillery Base Point for the benefit of all of the artillery battal-ions in the Division. The 2nd Division was to start its withdrawal that night and my Fire Direction Center and one of my firing battery sections was to occupy po-sitions after 1600 hours on December 9 and register on the base Point before dark. All commanders were to reconnoi-ter their unit's positions before dark on De-cember 9 and establish liaison with their counterparts in the 2nd Division for briefing.
On the following morning, I had no difficulty finding the Command Post (CP) of my corresponding battalion of the 2nd Division. It was located approxi-mately two-thirds of the way from Bleialf to Auw on the road connecting those two towns. (See map below)
My counterpart commander was busy with his battalion's displacement
The CUB of the Golden Lion
Col. Thomas P. Kelly, Jr. CO - 589th FAB - A Day to Remember
and I was briefed by his Executive Offi-cer, a Major with many months of com-bat experience. Over a cup of coffee in his Headquarters Battery's Mess, he tried to acquaint and impress me with the in-herent dangers of our position. He pointed out that the Division's sector had a front of 28 miles, four or five times the length of the normal front for a division in a defense posture. Further, our batter-ies would be exposed to an enemy ad-vancing from the east with nothing in front of us except a reinforced battalion of cavalry (light tanks and armored cars). He demonstrated by reference to my map that substantially all of the Division's in-fantry positions were south and west of our batteries and could not protect us from, or come to our rescue in the event of, a sudden attack from the east or north-east through the open plain north of Auw-Roth (known as the "Losheim Gap").
I listened patiently to the Major (the coffee was welcome after our ride in -20 degree weather), but I was not impressed with his warning of danger. After all, did we not have the Germans on the run, and didn't they have more than they could handle on their eastern front? I attributed the Major's polemic to an attempt to jus-tify the assignment of the great 2nd Divi-sion to a "quiet sector" of the front. But I would remember his words with consid-erably more respect eight days later.
I reconnoitered all of the gun posi-tions with the Major and went up on the Schnee Eifel with him for designation of the Division Artillery Base Point. 1 then • returned to the bivouac area with high ex-pectations of firing our first rounds in an-ger, explained to the assembled officers of the Battalion how to reach their respec-tive positions, marking them on their maps for night occupations, and cmpha- sized the order that no gun position could be altered in any respect. 1 then led the fire dircction section and one gun section from B Battery into their positions and registration was duly accomplished by B Battery' s forward observer. The 106th Division was in the War.
Throughout the week of December 9 to 15, the 106th Division was indeed in a quiet sector. There was a minimum of fir-ing on targets of opportunity and for in-terdiction east and south of the Schnee Eifel. The weather remained cold and overcast, with a ceiling of 500 to 1,000 feet, and the ground had a snow cover of one to two feet. We saw no aircraft of any description or allegiance, but there was a V-I launching site near Priim (southeast of the Schnee Eifel) and "buzz bombs" were constantly flying overhead at a height of approximately 500 feet di-rected at targets in Belgium and perhaps England, although we had several "shorts" that fell and exploded just be-yond our positions.
With limited firing through our fire direction center, I took advantage of many opportunities to visit Headquarters of the 422nd and its front lines, and be-came very familiar with the disposition of its forces and the terrain. Due to the es-carpment that formed the south slope of the Schnee Eifel, the infantry's position along its crest was virtually impenetrable to frontal attack. But the last outpost of the Division was southeast of Roth and the southernmost strong point of the next infantry division in the line (the 99th) was several miles to the north. While 1 did not (and do not) consider myself an infantry tactician, I wondered by whose design so much confidence and responsi-bility was being placed in a few hundred cavalrymen in the gap.
32
CoL Thomas P. Kelly, Jr. CO - 589th FAB - A Day to Remember 1
When I put this question to my Com-bat Team Commander, whom by now I ad-dressed by his nickname "Desch" he just shrugged his shoulders. "They won't let us do anything about it," he said. The Roer Dam operation had not yet jumped off and VIII Corps insisted that there would be no change in disposition of forces.
My CP and the Battalion Fire Direc-tion Center were located in the home of a German family, who had moved into the basement of the house next door. Inas-much as my predecessor Battalion Com-mander had slept in the best bed in the house, and taking seriously the Corps' or-der of "man for man", I slept in the same bed. At about 0600 hours on December 16, I was awakened by explosions in very close proximity to the house. There had been some interdictio'n fire on a crossroads near the CP during the preced-ing week, but this was different. Within two minutes I was in the Fire Direction Center and talking by radio to the for-ward observers (F0s).
The FOs for A and B Batteries were on the Schnee Eifel near the Headquar-ters of the 1st and 2nd Battalions, respec-tively, of the 422nd. They had little to report except sporadic artillery f ire along the ridge and word of mouth re-ports of a fire fight near Roth, north and somewhat east of their positions. How-ever, at my suggestion, the FO for C Bat-tery was not with the regiment's 3rd Battalion on the Schnee Eifel, but was in the area of Schlausenbach-Kobscheid south and west of Roth. He was a small but very wiry young 2nd Lieutenant of Russian descent named Fomenko who al-legedly could converse in seven languages, and I had always hoped that he was mote articulate in the other six. But on this morn-ing, his message was loud and clear he had heard constant heavy firing to his northeast in the vicinity of Roth and was on his way there to find out what was go-ing on. I cautioned him not to get too close but to keep us informed.
I also called the firing batteries and ordered them to be prepared to fire to the east and as far north as Roth. This was not an easy directive to follow because their pieces were not only sited to the south southeast but the trails (the counter-balancing frames on which the tubes and wheels were mounted and by which the howitzers were towed) were in deep pits. These had originally been dug by our counterpart battalion of the 2nd Division because, due to the height of the Schnee Eifel, it was necessary to resort to "high angle" fire in order to target enemy forces charging the ridge. It was a Hercu-lean task to lift the howitzers out of their pits and site them in another direction, but it was accomplished, together with Fomenko's registration on a new base point, within an hour.
By this time Fomenko was in a posi-tion to see German forces, including tanks, on the Roth-Auw road. However, because elements of the friendly battal-ion of cavalry were also in the area, we did not attempt to take the advancing Germans under fire. I did report their presence to Colonel Malin Craig, our Di-vision Artillery Executive (and son of a former Chief of Staff of the Army of the same name) who was with General Jones at Division Headquarters. He did not seem too perturbed but told me to keep him informed. I took no further action at that time except to request Battery B to send a forward observer to the area south of Auw. I did not know that the Battery Executive, a 1st Lieutenant named Wright, would undertake this assignment,
33
Col. Thomas P. Kelly, Jr. CO - 589th FAB - A Day to Remember !
but apparently his Battery Commander, Captain Arthur C. Brown, took over his duties as commander of the gun sections so that they could leave the designated FO with the infantry 2nd Battalion.
During the morning there was a feint by the enemy in front of the Schnee Eifel and we fired on a few targets of opportu-nity (which we were able to do without high angle fire). However, the situation worsened rapidly after noon. Fomenko and Wright reported enemy troops, vehi-cles and tanks entering Auw without op-position (I was later inforrned that the cavalry forces had withdrawn). I had ear-lier ordered Captain James B. Cagle, Jr., Commander of our Serv-
ice Battery, in position west of the Schonberg-Bleialf road, to bring all available ammunition to the firing battertes. This had been accomplished and Captain Cagle re-ported that he was at-tempting to obtain more rounds from the Divi-sion ammunition dump. We opened fire on the Germans in Auw (except for C Battery due to a stand of trees in its line of fire to the east), and re-ported the enemy's advance to Division Artillery Headquarters. Brigadier Gen-eral Leo T. McMahon, the Division Artil-lery Commander, wanted numbers and when I reported to him that there was at least a battalion of infantry and a troop of tanks, as estimated by Fomenko, he was incredulous. He laughed and said my for-ward observer must have a flair for the dramatic. Apparently at this point Divi-sion G-2 considered the enemy activity to be a reconnaissance in force rather than an attack.
During the early afternoon the situ-ation deteriorated precipitously. My Headquarters Battery Commander, Cap-tain Alva R. Beans, and his Executive Of-ficer drove his jeep into the area east of B Battery and just north of the junction of the Bleialf-Auw road and the road to Schlausenbach, where they came under fire from German foot soldiers dressed in snow suits and completely invisible at a distance greater than 200 feet. Both of the Americans were hit before they could get away; Captain Beans was so seri-ously wounded that he was evacuated im-mediately. This incident put in train a number of events. I ordered B and C Bat-teries to send detach-ments with machine guns and carbines to dig in immediately in front of their gun positions to take under fire the snow-suited Germans. This was accomplished and af-ter a few rounds were ex-changed the Gerrnans withdrew and began a flanking action around the north or rear of C Battery. This move was to lead to disaster, but for the mo-ment we had respite from duty as foot soldiers, for which we were not fully pre-pared.
Despite the constant firing by two batteries into Auw, the Germans contin-ued their advance westward down the Auw-Wischeid road in rear of C Battery and in the direction of the 592nd Field Artillery Battalion, the Division's me-dium artillery (155 mm. howitzers), which was in position northwest of our positions and south of Andler. It was im-possible for us to fire on this advance, but almost immediately %.ve were con-
I ordered B and C Bafter-
ies to send detachments
with machine guns and
carbines to dig in immedi-
ately in front of their gun
positions to take under
fire the snow-suited
Germans ...
34 The CUB qf the Golden Lion
Col. Thomas P. Kelly, Jr. CO - 589th FAB - A Day to Remember
fronted by a new target. A column of tanks left Auw on the Bleialf road headed for the heart of my Battalion. We immediately shifted our fire to this col-umn as directed by Lieutenant Wright, who proved to be an excellent FO. After we had massed our fire for several rounds on the column, knocking out at least one tank, Lieutenant Wright sent fire direction this last message "Down 100, right 100, fire for effect, and give me 20 seconds to get the hell out of here or they will land on me." We waited the 20 seconds and could hear the rounds ex-ploding over his radio as though they were in the next room.
Most of the tanks then withdrew, but one continued on the road toward our Command Post and reached its junction with the Schlausenbach Road. At that point 1st Lieutenant Theodore Kiendl, Ex-ecutive of A Battery, took the lone tank under direct fire by his No. 1 section and knocked it out with the second or third round using armor piercing projectiles. It appeared for the moment that we had been saved from immediate invasion.
Of course, all of this was reported to Division Artillery Headquarters as it oc-curred, and gradually it appeared from the responses we received that Division and Corps were taking us seriously. We were told to hang on. But then there was the most serious development of a long day. For the last hour we had been hav-ing difficulty hearing our two FOs due to interference by German transmissions on our frequency. This condition had wors-ened and by the middle of the afternoon our reception was limited to the guttural commands of the advancing enemy. When I attempted to report this develop-ment to Division Artillery, I found that, probably due to the shelling of the SchOn- berg-Bleial f road by the Germans, we had lost communication by telephone. I gave an order to Headquarters Battery to trace and repair the line and damn the projectiles.
I knew by reports from C Battery that the Germans were attacking their gun position from the east and the north and had probably reached the town of Andler. Consequently, I was not sur-prised to see the entire 592nd Field Artil-lery Battalion emerging from the trail to our B and C Batteries and tum west on the Bleialf-Auw road. My immediate re-action was that the 592nd had received a displacement order from Division Artil-lery and we may have received one also if we had not lost communication. (I learned that night that Lieutenant Colo-nel Richard E. Weber, Jr., Commander of the 592nd, having been attacked and threatened with encirclement by the Ger-mans and having lost his communication with Division Artillery, made the deci-sion to evacuate; the Battalion continued its retreat and was west of St. Vith before it stopped to await orders. In my opinion, Weber made the correct decision.)
There was then a development that could have caused me to give a similar order. The tanks that had made the ear-lier move toward our position from Auw, and had paid the price, were light tanks. At about 1700 hours we received a mes-sage from our outpost, located beside the road to Auw and beyond a barn about 300 yards east of the CP, that a medium tank was approaching from the east with guns blazing. I called A Battery to order direct fire, but I had trouble getting through to the gun position, and as I fi-nally did so, I looked up into the smiling face of my Executive Officer, Major El-liott Goldstein. It was the first smile I
35
Col. Thomas P. Kelly, Jr. CO - 589th FAB - A Day to Remember
had seen that day. Major Goldstein casu-ally informed me that he had knocked out the tank with one round from the bazooka he found at the outpost. There were no more tank attacks on our position.
It was fully dark when telephone communication with Division Artillery was restored and I received a call from General McMahon. He asked about our situation and I told him about the tank and infantry attacks, that C Battery was virtually encircled by the enemy and that we were still firing volleys into Auw but the howitzer tubes were too hot to touch and ammunition was running out. He gave the order to displace to positions west of the Schonberg-Bleialf road and to be in position and ready to register at daylight. But he wamed that displace-ment to the rear was no guarantee of secu-rity; he understood that Bleialf was under attack and if it fell there would be no infan-try to oppose an advance to Schonberg.
I gave the order to all firing batteries to cease fire and prepare to displace to the rear. But when I communicated this command by telephone to Captain Mal-colm H. Rockwell, Commander of C Bat-tery, he said there was no way for him to comply; all of his men were engaged in fire fights on three sides (only the south side was free of enemy infantry) , and if he pulled them out in an effort to retrieve the trucks and howitzers they would all be killed. I asked if he could spare the few men necessary to disable the vehi-cles and destroy the howitzers before evacuating and he said he would try. When I called back fifteen minutes later, the line was out. It was to be eight very long hours later before I heard again from what was left of C Battery.
There is a tenet having the force of law in the Army (as there is in the Navy) that the Commander must be the last to leave a position of danger. Although it is usually the job of the Artillery Battalion Commander to reconnoiter and assign new battery positions in the event of a displacement, in view of C Battery's dis-astrous situation I delegated this duty to Major Goldstein and he left with a small group fiom Headquarters Battery to lead the firing batteries into their new positions. I told him not to be concemed about a posi-tion for C Battery and to use the steepIC of the church in Auw as the base point for reg-istration; I wanted to be sure that every round we fired was put to good use.
I was called by Colonel Craig for an update, and I told him about C Battery's predicament and that B Battery was also under attack by ground fire, delaying its departure. He said that the 2nd Battalion of the 423rd Infantry Regiment was in Division reserve and he would talk to General Jones about releasing the Battal-ion to move through our area and cover our withdrawal. He also said he would ask the Colonel commanding the Corps Artillery Group to call me.
Within thirty minutes I had a call from the Conunander of the Corps Artil-lery. I told him that the Germans had tried twice to come through our area dur-ing daylight and we had repulsed them but we were pulling our howitzers out of their pits and had no way to fight them if they made another try. I also pointed out that the 590th Field Artillery Battalion was in position just west of us and was also vulnerable, as were the two regi-ments on the Schnee Eifel if the German forces from Auw came through us and at-tacked Bleialf from the north, joining forces with the Germans attacking that town from the south. The Colonel lis-tened sympathetically and after a long
36
Col. Thomas P. Kelly, Jr. CO - 589th FAB - A Day to Remember
pause said, -We have lots of targets to the south - I don't know if the rounds we would throw into Auw would be worth it. I said, "Well I don't know either; what is a battalion of artillery worth'?" Another pause, and then, "You will be hearing from us." The firing by Corps Artillery into Auw began within twenty minutes and con-tinued at intervals throughout the night.
We had been receiving reports from our outpost regularly until about 2100 hours when the messages stopped. I told a telephone operator to ring the outpost and he did so, but there was no answer. I took the phone and it was ringing but no one was on the line. I thought there was an even chance that the "snow troops" or other enemy infantry had captured our outpost and were on their way to the CP. I looked around and other than Major Arthur C. Parker, the Battalion S-3, the only officer in sight was 1st Lieutenant Leach, the Battalion Motor Officer, who was there as liaison with Service Battery. I told Parker to post guards around the CP and then said, "Come on, Leach, let's find out what's wrong." I drew my .45 .1. automatic and without a word he did likewise and we went out into the cold night and headed east along the road to Auw.
I was in the lead and as we ap-proached the barn beyond which the out-post was located I left the road to circle the barn and approach any enemy who might be hiding there from the south. As I rounded the southeast corner of the barn, I saw the problem. The telephone operator was stretched out on his sleep-ing bag, snoring loudly. I kicked him awake, waved my .45 in his face and told him that if he went to sleep again I would use it. Leach and I then proceeded to the outpost proper and found the three men manning it in the same outstretched pos-ture. They received the same warning and then I told the Sergeant in command to fol-low me. I walked another 100 yards to the east to the German tank Goldstein had knocked out a few hours e,arlier and the Sergeant followed me with his automatic rifle. I said, "This is your post. The tank will give you all the cover you will need. If you see anything move, fire at it." I re-joined Leach and we went back to the CP.
I was not as tough as I sounded. About thirty minutes later the Sergeant called the CP and asked to speak to me. When I answered the phone he said, "Colonel, I'll go back out there if you order me to, but it is scary as hell out there. I thought I heard some-body moaning in that tank. If you let me stay at the outpost I promise you I will not go to
sleep, on my honor." I said, "Sergeant, your honor is good enough for me." Headquarters Battery vvas in march order by that time, and I made sure that a vehi-cle and instructions were left for the out-post personnel to reach the new position before ordering the Battery to displace.
A Battery was the next to go west at about 2300 hours, slowed by the bitter cold and blackout conditions on a very dark night. B Battery was having almost as much trouble with sniper fire as C Bat-tery and at about 2400 hours when I was despairing of saving either unit, into my Command Post stomped Lieutenant Colo-nel Joseph F. Puett, Commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 423rd. His advance
I walked another 100 yards to the east to the German tank Gold-stein had knocked out a few hours earlier...
37
Col. Thomas P. Kelly, Jr. CO - 589th FAB - A Day to Remember I
guard was in trucks outside behind his command car. I tried not to show how glad I was to see him. We went outside and I showed him the arca occupied by the two beleaguered batteries. He sent one platoon to that area with orders to surround the batteries and one platoon to the front to occupy both sides of the road beyond our outpost. For the first time that night I could breathe normally.
It was nearly 0300 before B Battery made its appearance; some men had been lost but all howitzers and radios were in-tact. The column was dispatched to its rear position, together with the outpost personnel, leaving me with my driver, Flaherty (I had chosen him because he never questioned an order and rarely spoke unless asked a question), my com-mand car and one guard armed with a car-bine, together with whatever came out of C Battery's position. Puett had taken over my Command Post, but the road to Auw was quiet so I waited in the cold and the dark on the trail leading to the po-sition of my last remaining unit.
It was dawn before I saw shadowy figures approaching down the trail from the north. I did not have the heart to count, but there couldn't have been more than 35 survivors of a complement of nearly 100. They brought nothing out with them but their weapons and ammu-nition. I told them to proceed on foot to-ward Bleialf and paid a last visit to my former CP to tell Puett that my unit was now displaced and that the next point of vulnerability was Radscheid, where the Headquarters and firing batteries of the 590th were located. I then proceeded west in my command car until I caught tip with Rockwell and his group. I dismounted and walked with him to Radscheid.
As we walked Rockwell told me that
he had carried out my order to disable his vehicles and destroy his howitzers and other equipment. But he was despondent because of the men he had lost, including his Executive Officer and best friend. Thc conclusion was inescapable that he and his stragglers would not be effective as ground troops, but might be welcomed by B Battery to replace its losses. I told Rockwell I would see him in Radscheid and went on ahead to obtain a truck from the 590th to transport him and his group to B Battery.
But when I entered the CP of the 590th I could tell that the news was bad. The Battalion Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Vaden Lackey, whom we called the old man because he was over 40 years of age, had a sober look on his usu-ally pleasant face. He had sent a recon-naissance party to the Schonberg-Bleialf road and it had been fired upon by Ger-mans, and there was a steady stream of enemy troops moving north as far as they could see, which was almost to Schon-berg. He said he had also heard by radio from Division Artillery that Schonberg was taken by Germans advancing from Andler. His telephone lines to Division Artillery had now been severed. Two sin-gularly depressing facts emerged from this account: my Battalion was either cap-tured or had made its escape through Schonberg before it fell; and what was left of the 422nd and 423rd Combat Teams was surrounded by strong enemy forces.
Upon his arrival at Radscheid, I ad-vised Rockvvell of the situation, telling him that he could make his own decision to stay with the 590th or to try to get out of the enemy encirclement in the direc-tion of St. Vith where he might find the remnants of the Battalion. He chose the
38
Col. Thomas P. Kelly, Jr. CO - 589th FAB - A Day to Remember !
latter course and started north with his re-maining cannoners on the unimproved trail to the Schonberg-Bleialf road. I made an attempt to break out by another route to the northwest but came under fire from an .88 mm. gun near Wischeid and was lucky to get back to defilade on the road to Radscheid. There I joined Lackey. As a skilled artilleryman without a command, perhaps I could be useful to him or to the 423rd Commander, Colonel Charles C. Cavender. Without a single ar-tillery piece I probably could not perform any useful service for my own regimen-tal commander.
At noon on December 17, the 590th was firing rounds into Bleialf when Lackey re-ceived an order to cease firing and proceed south to provide a perimeter defense for the 423rd, which had been ordered to close in to its position on the Schnee Eifel for the night. I followed Lackey in my command car from Radscheid through Oberlascheid to the Regimental Command Post east of Buchet. There we met with Cavender, who was having the same problems with communications that I had experienced, but who had inter-mittent radio contacts with Division. He had received two messages of extreme importance: We were to receive an aerial drop of ammunition and food the next moming at specified coordinates and the area of the drop was surrounded by a full Company of the 1st Battalion, and the Regiment vvas to attack north and west across the Our River (which flowed through Schonberg) with the 422nd on our right on the following morning. How- ever, he was unable to communicate with the 422nd to coordinate the advance, even through Division.
That night I ate my first meal, courtesy of the 423rd Headquarters Mess, in two days. I remember a conversation with Lackey, as we munched on our K rations. He said, "I'm sure you realize that we are going to be killed or captured tomorrow."
I contemplated that remark for a mo-ment and then said, "No, I don't realize that. You can be killed or captured tomor-row if you want to, but I don't. And you will have one hell of a better chance to stay alive and free if you don't believe you'll be killed or captured."
He said, "You're just not being realistic." I re-plied, "Life is the only realism I'm interested in, and I plan to hold on to it."
I also got my first sleep in two days in Cavender's German built bunker. The next morning after breakfast there was a long wait for the aerial drop, which never came. At about 1000 hours the Combat Team be-gan its march north. The 2nd Battalion, which had closed into the area of Ober-lascheid on the 17th, was in the lead and ran into German troops advancing north-east from Bleialf toward Radschcid at noon. Cavender ordered an attack to clear his route through that village and a battle ensued in which Puett's unit was supported by howitzers of the 590th. Feeling particularly helpless without any means of contributing to the defeat of the Germans, I drove to a high point near the junction of the road to Bleialf with the roads to Schonberg and Radscheid where
Cavender ordered an
attack to clear his
route thr ough that
village an d a battle
ensu ed.. .
The CUB o f the Golden Lion 39
Col. Thomas P. Kelly, Jr. CO - 589th FAB - A Day to Remember !
I could watch the engagement. It ap-peared that neither side was prevailing until late in the afternoon when Lackey, who was running short of ammunition, began using white phosphorus projec-tiles. The effect was immediatc and dev-astating: The enemy withdrew beyond the Schonberg-Bleialf road.
During the battle the 3rd Battalion moved north through Radscheid and along the unimproved road tovvard Schonberg, while theist Battalion re-lieved the 2nd in contact with the enemy. I joined with Cavender at his Headquar-ters in Radscheid after dark (he was in the same building that was Lackey's CP until the day before). He had lost contact with the Commander of the 3rd Battal-ion, Lieutenant Colonel Earl F. Klinck, and I was with him when he ordered a communications sergeant to lay a wire to the north until he found the Battalion CP. I was advised by Cavender that a new or-der had been received from Division to attack Schonberg in the morning and that the 3rd Battalion was to lead the attack. I asked if I could go with the wire detail and perhaps counsel with Klinck about the use of the 590th in his attack. Permis-sion was granted.
Before we started north the commu-nications sergeant told me that Cavender had sent him down the road to Auw in an effort to make contact with the 422nd and lay a wire into its Headquarters. He said that about one mile down the road a German with a blazing burp gun had ap-peared at the side of the road. One of his men had killed the German with his auto-matic rifle, but not knowing how many of the enemy were around, they had beat a hasty retreat. We then started north in our two vehicles; presumably in defer-ence to my rank the sergeant had waved me into the lead. But as we proceeded through extreme darkness with dense woods on both sides of the roadway, I re-membered the sergeant's account of his recent experience. I had drawn my .45 and the soldier sitting beside me in the front seat of my command car had his carbine at the ready, but we would be no match for a burp gun in the woods.
I ordered Flaherty to stop and I got out of the command car and walked back to the wire truck. I said to the Sergeant, "You guys are much better armed than we are, why don't you go first?"
The sergeant's immediate reply, "I don't like anybody following me when I'm laying wire. You might get tangled in the wire or at least damage it." My re-sponse: "Then your two automatic rifle-men will ride with me on the running boards of my command car. The sergeant started, "But these are my men .. ."
I interrupted, "That is an order, ser-geant." There was a long pause and then a salute by the sergeant (tinged, I
thought, with mockery) who nodded to the two riflemen. I felt much better with one of them on each side of my com-mand car, but I held on to my .45.
We proceeded to a left turn in the road that I knew would take us to the Schonberg-Bleialf road. But there were tracks continuing north and the sergeant and I agreed that they were made by vehi-cles of the 3rd Battalion. We continued north, following the tracks through the darkness, until we reached a small valley or hollow in which we began to make out the shapes of vehicles. I dismounted and walked ahead of my command car; the vehicles were indeed those of the 3rd Bat-talion and every driver and all other per-sonnel in the trucks were asleep. I thought, "What a nice surprise party for
40
CoL Thomas P. Kelly, Jr. CO - 589th FAB - A Day to Remember
the Germans," who were in strength along the main road less than a kilometer to the west.
I made out a sharp rise to the north and correctly guessed that Klinck had es-tablished his CP there. I showed Flaherty where I wanted him to park my com-mand car and then proceeded up the slope a distance of about 200 yards, where I found Klinck.
He informed me that he was to lead the attack on Schonberg in the morning, supported by the other two Battalions on his left. From his map he estimated the distance to Schonberg to be 1 'A kilome-ters (about one mile) and mostly down hill. He understood that there would be an aerial drop of ammu-nition and food, both of which were in short sup-ply, on his position soon after daybreak. I assured him, from my conversa-tions with Cavender, that the other two Battal-ions and the 590th were on their way north and would close in on his position during the night. This was confirmed a few minutes later by Cavender himself, telephone communications having now been estab-lished by the wire truck that had fol-lowed me to the position.
I'made a trip to my command car to get my bedroll and found Flaherty and the guard asleep in their seats. It was then only about two hours before dawn so I decided against the bedroll, which I hadn't used since the first night in the bivouac area near St. Vith. I could hear many vehicles closing into the hollow to the south and assumed that the remaining units were arriving for the attack. I went back up the hill, found a patch of ground without snow or ice and sat against a tree, waiting for dawn.
December 19 was the first reason-ably clear day I had seen in Genrnany. I thought surely the promised drop would be made, but it was not. Neither were or-ders received to cancel the attack. Instead Cavender received a garbled message from Division calling upon every man to do his duty in somewhat dramatic lan-guage that I considered unnecessary and uncalled-for. Conunanders of all units as-sembled on the hill where Cavender had now established his Headquarters at about 0800 hours and a detailed order for the attack was given by Cavender and his Executive Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Fred W. Nagle. The 3rd Battalion was to begin its advance at 1000 hours, supported by the 2nd Battalion on its left and the 1st Battalion on the extreme left, along the Schonberg-Bleialf road. Although short of ammunition the 590th would provide artillery support from po-sitions south and east of the high ground on which we stood.
At that moment we heard artillery fir-ing in the west and then heard the whine of projectiles overhead. Fortunately, the shells fell 100 yards beyond the point where we were assembled, but tree bursts made our position very uncomfortable. I saw a slit trench and dived into it, as did many others. When I looked up I saw the white, tense face of a corporal. "Is this your slit trench?" I asked. The corporal nodded. Shells were still falling in the trees just beyond us. I got up, pushed the corporal into the trench and jumped in on top of him. My back was at ground level,
I thought surely the
promised drop would
be made, but It was
not • • •
41
Col. Thomas P. Kelly, Jr. CO - 589th FAB - A Day to Remember !
but he was very secure.
After four or five salvos the shells stopped and I bounced out of the trench. Immediately there were hundreds of gut-tural shouts and massive small anns fire from the hollow south of thc hill. This could mean only one thing: the enemy had attacked the rear echelon including all of the vehicles and drivers of the com-bat team. I wondered about my faithful Flaherty .d said a little prayer. Then I remembered that in my bedroll was a bot-tle of Old Forrester, my favorite bour-bon, that I had brought from the states and had resolved not to open until the Germans finally surrendered, at which point I had planned to drink it all in one sitting. I consoled myself with the thought that the way things were going, the Germans might never surrender.
Cavender was giving orders to his Battalion Commanders designed to pro-tect the troops forming for the attack on Schonberg from the enemy in the rear, thus depleting his forces for the attack. I looked for and found Lackey and asked him if his Batteries had gone into posi-tion to support the attack or if they were overrun by the enemy in the hollow. He looked at me with ashen face and said he was afraid they were lost; he had delayed the order to occupy gun positions until he had heard Cavender's orders for the at-tack. So thc depleted and outnumbered 423rd would attack entrenched forces of the enemy, reinforced with armor, with-out artillery fire support or sufficient am-munition to sustain the attack. The hopelessness of the situation was appar-ent to everyone.
I waited until Cavender had given or-ders to, and had dispatched, all of his offi-cers, including the very competent
Nagle. I then approached him and said
that it appeared that he would not have ar-tillery support and, therefore, any hope that I might have assisted in the attack had vanished. He agreed. I asked if he knew the location of the 422nd, because I felt it was my duty to join my own Combat Team if I could not be of any use to him. Again, he agreed but knew only what he had leamed from one of his patrols earlier that morning: the 422nd was advancing on Schonberg from positions south and east of his regiment. I wished him luck in his at-tack but he managed only a weak smile and a shake of the head.
I said goodbye to Lackey and struck out down the hill in a southeasterly direc-tion. Now I was really alone. The area in which I found myself was strangely quiet, almost eerie in its complete si-lence. There were birds and squirrels in the trees and a few rabbits in the brush, apparently oblivious to the presence of thousands of armed men all around them bent upon each other's destruction. 1 .w a figure on a hillside 150 yards to my right, heard the crack of a rifle and a sound very like that of an angry homet go past my ear. I dived into a clump of bushes and crawled from there into a copse of pine trees. I looked back and the figure was gone so I proceeded in a southeasterly direction as defined by the hand compass I always carricd.
I was fired at twice more without knowing where the shots were coming from and was becoming skittish. When I heard the tramp of feet approaching through dense forest I again dove into un-derbrush and looked out under the branches and leaves in the direction of the sound. To my great relief I saw GI combat boots. I waited until they had passed and then rose up out of the bnish and said, "Don't shoot. I'm Lieutenant
42
Col. Thomas P. Kelly, Jr. CO - 589th FAB - A Day to Remember !
Colonel Kelly, Commander of the 589th Field Artillery and I'm looking for the 422nd Headquarters." The sergeant com-manding the patrol said," We're going in that direction, Sir, follow us."
There was firing ahead of us that grew louder and sharper as we proceeded. We detoured around several fire fights involv-ing burp guns and light machine guns of the enemy and automatic rifles and .50 cali-ber machine guns of the 422nd. I heard mortar fire, but was to learn that it must have been German; the 422nd had ex-hausted it supply of mortar shells. Finally, the sergeant pointed to a tent in a clearing on a hillside and then continued his route. I made my way to the tent.
It was about 1500 hours when I first saw Descheneaux at his Headquarters. He was distraught and appeared close to tears. He said he was glad I was still alive and only hoped we both would live through this. He said he had been prom-ised aerial drops that had not happened, was out of food and running short of am-munition of all caliber's. I told him I had been with the 423rd Combat Team and described its situation. He said he was sorry that the two regiments couldn't help each othcr. As we talked we were standing outside his Headquarters tent and the Medical Aid Station was only about 75 yards away. Every time a wounded man was carried by on the way to the Station, Descheneaux looked at him and became a little more teary.
I left him to dig a slit trench beside the Headquarters tent. I grabbed a shovel and had broken ground and made some progress when I saw an officer (I believe it was Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Mat-thews, Jr., the 422nd Regimental Executive Officer, but at this time I am not certain) nm by me with a large white object that looked like an undershirt. I thought it was odd, but when he continued to run north, in the direc-tion of the Germans, it came to me. He was carrying a flag of truce and intended to sur-render us to the enemy.
I dropped my shovel and ran back to where I had left Descheneaux. "You can't surrender, Desch," I said. "If you
43
CoL Thomas P. Kelly, Jr. CO - 589th FAB - A Day to Remember !
hold out for about two more hours, a lot of us can try to get out to the west to-night." Descheneaux said, "What else can I do? I don't want to be responsible for any more killing. Our situation is hopeless, why go on getting men killed?" Then he turned away and shouted an or-der: "All of you destroy your weapons, now! Cease fire, now! Call in your units and line them up on the road to the north!" Then he put his hands over his face and cried unashamedly.
I turned away and broke my .45 on a rock. I had sworn I would never again be captured; it had happened once on ma-neuvers in Tennessee and I had escaped. I swore at that moment that I would es-cape again. (In the event, I did; but that is another story.) I followed Descheneaux and his staff to the front of the column forming on the road to the north, with armed German troops all around us.
REFLECTIONS
As I have written this account of my experiences from the beginning to the end of my days in combat, it has amazed me how full and clear my memory is of events that occurred more than 50 years ago. At first I wondered if I could give an accurate account after so long a time; but one recollection recalled another un-til I believe that I have remembered and recorded everything of significance that happened in my presence in the four days of December 16 to 19, 1944. I don't pre-tend that the conversations are word for word, but the substance thereof is accu-rately related.
I learned later that Cavender held out thirty minutes longer than Descheneaux, and much longer than I thought he could. I was also informed that a group of infan-trymen in the 2nd Battalion of the 422nd did not get the order to surrender and un- der the command of the Executive Offi-cer of the Battalion avoided capture for an additional two days. But the most heartwarming information that I received after the event was that my 589th Field Artillery Battalion was awarded both the French and the Belgian Croix de Guerre for gallantry in defense of an important crossroad at Baraque Fraiture by ele-ments of the Battalion that escaped from the Schonberg pocket on December 17. I can only hope that I may have contrib-uted in some small way to the persistence and courage that soldiers of my Com-mand displayed at that crucial stage of the Battle.
After I left the German prison camp near Hammelburg with the substantial as-sistance of a rather foolhardy but ex-tremely welcome reconnaissance in force, planned and executed by General George S. Patton, Jr. to rescue his son-in-law from the same camp, I was able to contact Gen-eral McMahon at Renn., France where the 106th Division was being reconstituted and refitted. I wanted to rejoin the Division but was informed that as a former prisoner of war, I would not be permitted to do so but must return to the Stat. for reassignment. I was also told that I had been awarded the Silver Star for my part in the Battle of the Bulge.
While it is inappropriate and perhaps even presumptuous for one to question such a high honor, the mere performance of one's duty should not be a basis for special recognition. I saw many, perhaps hundreds, of the members of the 106th Division who gave a great deal more for their Country than I could ever claim to have given, including their lives. But I have no doubt that they received an even greater reward.
Copyright C 1995, T. Paine Kelly, Jr.
44
In Memoriam
Alexander, Calvin 422/H Rte 2 Box 247, Tuscumbia, AL 35674
Passed away 8 Dec, 1995. Survived by wife Ruth, three daughters, three granddaughters and his good fricnds Bill Ivy. Charles Rieck and Larry Post.
Barker, Thomas 422/11Q 2938 Hale St.. Philadelphia, PA 19149
Thomas passed away 7 Nov, 1995. hc was proud to have served with the 106th. Sent by his wife, Virginia.
Carpenter, Ben 424/11Q I Bn 3737 Highland Ave, # 109. Downers Grove, IL 60515
Died by as a result of a stroke 22 July 1995. Survived by his sister Dorothy. Notified by Russ Villwock.
Clark, James J. 424/HQ
Joseph P. Maloney, after searching for years finally located his buddy James J. Clark, but found lie had died in
1986. James, first man in HQ's Company to gct hit, was wounded badly by mortar fire and was sent to the rear.
Bell, Roger W., 589/HQ. 2231 Pine View Lane, Janesville. WI
Notified by Lois Bell. Roger died 31 Dec 1995, survived by wife Grace and three children
Fry, John C. 424/F 412 Euclid Ave, Temple, PA 19560
Dicd Feb 1996, survived by Lena his wife, a sister and brother. Fry was employed 35 years as a dry-charge op-erator for former Price Batteries, now Exit!, retiring in July 1985.
Farris, Fred Div/HQ 104 Pinehurst, Salem VA 24153
Fred died peacefully on 30 November 1995 after and illness of 5 months. Hc served on the 1988 Reunion Committee in Roanoke, Virginia. Mrs Willie Farris , his widow, will assist Virginia Bowles in this year's Reun-1011 at Roanoke. Fred served in the Adjutant Generals Office.
Hanger, Charles E. 423/E
Charles, from Carmel, California, died 23 July 1995. He enlisted in the Army in 1943 and was commissioned a lieutenant. Imprisoned at Officers Camp #79 he was liberated by Amcrican troops rushing to Berlin in April 1945. We were informed of his death by Lifc Associate -Bob Lowry, his good friend.
Hauxwell, Burton 423/H 388 Atwater St, Lake Oriion, MI 48362
Passed away 3 June 1995. His daughter Betsey said he had been a lifelong member and enjoyed the CUB.
Karns, Russell 8Ist ENG/A 116 W Siddonsburg, PA
Died of a heart attack 14 Jan 1996 according to his wifc Mary. Ile was retired from the state Department of Corrections as a woodworking instructor.
Kelly, Edmond D. 423/D PO Box 308, Middleton, NY 10940
Passed away 10 December 1995 according to his attomey.
!Mansfield Jr.. Horace 424/A 819 Gate Rd, Monroe, NC 28112
Date of death was 5 July 1995 according to word from Sherod Collins.
Prokorym, Casimir 8Ist ENG/HQ 2520 Chestnut St, Stuebenville, OH 43952
A (timer member of thc Association Board he and his wifc attended numerous reunions. No date of death given.
Redmond, Dean T. 422/11Q 3BN 611 N. Center St., Statesville. NC 28677
Dean a frequent and longtime attender of our reunions. passed away 5 April, 1996. Shcrod Collins was noti-fied by his wife, Peggy. Dean had been working towards publishing a book on The Battle of the Bulge.
Ulmer, Ray 5925V 22 Woodbrook Way, Aston, PA 19014
Passed away 4.1anuary 1996, survived by wife Marge. Info sent by Chas Datte.
Whitner, Donald R. 422/F' PO Box 214, Millville, PA 17846
Don died at home 20 March 1996. He had attended several reunions. Captured and held at 4-B and 9-B. He is survived by his wife Vivienne, sons Rcbcr and Rusty a. Grandson Jason. A life mernber of the Order of the Pur-ple Heart and several national veteran's associations.
Wingart, Lamar 423 Infantry
Reported by Pete House. Lamar. Pct's Attomcy, later became a juvenile judge, then a circuit judge. Survived by his wife Mickey, two daughters, two so, three sisters and 10 grandchildren. Died 23 March 1996. Hc was in a group of students who arrived on the same train. with Pete House. at Fort Jackson 13 March 1943.
Ucchino, Domonic 423/1
His brother Joseph notified mc that Dominic died 10 February 1995. Joseph can bc rcachcd at 2838 Howland Wilson Rd NE, Cortland OH 44410. Telephone, 330-85,1074
106th Division
-The Golden Lions -
Please note: The Px is a new service offered to the members and families of the 106th Infantry Division Assn. 20% of all profits are returned to your association. We ask for your support.
PX PRICE LIST
1. 106th Division 21/2* Patch S2.50 ea. 8.
No shipping & handling on this item only.
2. 106th Division &la, 4* Patch ......... S6.50 ea. 9.
w/ciutch back ................................ S8.00 ea.
3. 106th Division 1" Pin of Patch ......... $3.50 ea. 10
3/$10.CO 11.
4. Assn. Ball Cap w/Div. Patch . $10.CO ea.
w/Scrambled Eggs ....................... $12.00 ea.
5. Windbreaker w/4* Patch ............. $28.50 ea. 12.
S-M-L-XL (XXL & )00(L add $3.00)
6. Cornbat infantry Badge
Combat Medic Badge
A. Full Size Regulation $9.50 ea.
B. Dress Miniature ............................ $7.50 ea.
C. Lapel Pin $4.50 ea.
7. POW Medal
A. Full Size Regulation $20.00 ea.
B. Dress Miniature $8.50 ea.
C. Lapel Pln or Ribbon ................... $3.50 ea.
D. Enamel Hat Pin ........................... $3.50 ea. 3/$10.00
E. Bola Ile w/mIN Pow Medal ..... $16.50 ea. Dress MIN Medals
Regulation - call to order ............. $8.50 & up Full size Regulation Medals
(from gov't contractor) . . $20.CO & up
Campaign Ribbons
Mounted, ready for wear ............$1.50& up Bola Tle w/106th Div. Crest .......... $16.50 ea. Belt Buckle w/106th Div. Crest ..... $16.50 ea. Bola & Belt set ....................... . S29.50 ea. Battle of the Bulge
Commemorative Medal Set
(Medal & Ribbon Slide boxed) ... $28.00 ea. 106th Div. logo Wristwatch .......... S39.50 ea. Honorable DEscharge Pin
(Ruptured Duck) ............................. $5.00 ea. Bailie of the Bulge History
Book by Turner Publishing
368 pages of the battle ............... $52.50 ea. 106th Division Ucense
Plate Frame . . $10.00 ea.
Ladles red/white/blue Crystal
Earrings (pierced or clip) . $8.50 pr.
Ladies Crystal Flag Pins *S8.50 ea.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
Make check payable to: The Military Shop
Mail order to: 106th Div. Quartermaster
9635 W. Peorla Ave. Peoria, AZ 85345
Please allow 2 to (800) 544-9275 (for credit card orders)
4 weeks for delivery OT (602) 979-0535 FAX 602-979-6711
116 = eat Ea
Arizona Residents please .1d
7% State Sal. Tax.
Note: Credit Card
Orders - $25.00 Min.
Name
Addre.
City
QTY
State
ITEM
Zip
Telephone
PRICE
TOTAL
Credit Card # SHIPPING & HANDUNG $4.00
0 MC 0 AMX 0 VISA 0 Discover Expires___/_/
Total
Signature
We have made available an 800 number and four credit card companies for your ordering conve-nience. Thank you for supporting your division association.
Dixon L Poole, Q.M.
The CUB
A quarterly publication of the
106th Infantry Division Association, Inc
5401 U. 147th St iftst Applo Vailoy, MN 55124
Membership fees inelude CUB susbscription.
Association memborship 04/20/96 1,630 mambas*
President Richard L. Rigatll
Past-Pres. . . . . Thomas J. Riggs, Jr.
1st Vice--Pres Major Hill
2nd Vice-Pres John P. Kline
Treasurer Sherod Coffins
Adjutant Pete House
Historian Sherod Collins
CUB Editor John P. Kline
Chaplain Rev. Ewell C. Black, Jr.
Memorials Chairman .... Dr. John G. Robb Atterbury Memorial Rep O. Paul Merz St. Vith Mem. Rep . . . Dr. Richard Peterson Membership Chairman Gilbert Helwig Scholarship Chairman ... Jerome Eisenman Resolutions Chairman ...Alan W. Jones, Jr. Washington Liaison Officer .. .. Jack Sulser Order of the Golden Lion Gil Helwig
Send editorial matter and photos to:
John P. Kline -- CUB Editor
5401 U. I47th SL W., Apple Valley. MN 55124-6637
612423..337 Email: jpk®inm.com
Home Page: http://www.mm.comluser/jpk
Business matters, deaths, address changes to:
Pete House -- Adjutant
5662 Clifton Ave, Jacksonville. FL 32211
90,724-8316
Memorial matters and inquiries to:
Dr John G. Robb -- Memorial Chairman
238 Devote:1ra= PA 16355
Membership du., Memorial Fund
contributions and Historical items to:
Sherod Collins -- Treasurer
448 Monroe T7rroc,912=w, GA 301.
The Life Membership fee is payable one time
only, with no annual dues thereafter.
Life Membership $ 75.00
Life Auxiliary $ 15.00
Life Associate $ 75.00
For those choosing to pay Annual dues, pay
by July 1 each year. (July 1 to July 1 term)
Mutual Membership $10.00
Annual Auxiliary $ 2.00
Annual Associate $10.00
Make checks payable to
.106th Infantry Division Association..
Board of Directors 1995 -1996
Alphabetical by year terrn expires.
Gilbert Heiveig 423/M C%)
2006 Ontario Rd, //55, Niles, MI 49120
616-683-8714
Jerome Ebenman 423/HQ 3BN C96)
227 Buena Vista Ave, Daly City, CA 94015
415-756-8330
Richard L Rigatti 423/8 (Exec. Committee) C96)
113 Woodshire Dr. Pittsburgh, PA 15215
412-781-8131
William K. Rowan 424/K C96)
213 Country aub Rd, Shelby, NC 28150
704487.4709
Major H. 11111424/11 (Exec. Commiftee) (.97)
36750 N. ICerv7/101,1r...011e7side, IL 60041
Lyman C. Maples, 422/1C (.97)
608 Wilkins St, Dalton. GA 30720
70,278-2533
Dr. Rkhard W. Peterson, 423/i (.97)
1285 Rubenstein.64irdsi3f2f biy2 ;13e Sea. CA 92007
Edwin C. Huminski, 424/F (.98)
RR 2 Box 258, Rock wood, PA 15557-9223
814-926-2161
Also W. Jones, Jr, 423/HQ 1Bo (.98)
9100 Belvoir Woods Pk, N233. Ft. Belvoir VA 22060
703-781-3629
William E. Malone, 423/B (.98)
3911 Thackery Drive, Nashville, TN 37207
615-1365-1271
Thomas J. Riggs, 81st Eng/HQ (.98)
6 Olive StreeL Providence. RI 02906
401-421.4110
John A. Swett, 42341 C98)
10691 E. Nordwrest Dr, Tucson.. 85748
520-722-6016
Leveoe Weigel, 422/H (.98)
1380 Democracy Ave.. Melbourne. FL 32940
407-255-6671
Nolan L Ashburn, 424/11 C99)
1212 Raintree Dr: t.,7141.:3Z6Collina CO 80525
Lloyd J. Diehl, 423/H (.99)
R3 Box 212, 365 Chs1.511Zsor., • Sewell. N1 08080
"hn Gi/arrAYs'hittEr.„ CA 95864 '99)
916-481-3353
Art Van Moorielsem, 423/B C99)
206 W. Birch6g.:91glizr, SD 57212
Richard J. Brax, 423/K (.2000)
14 Porter Sties,* k43er.16%. CT 06375
Walter G. Bridges, 424/D (.2000)
225 Laird Ave, Hueytown, AL 3.23
205-491-3409
Sberod Collins, 423/SV (.2000)
.8 Monroe T7licoc.912t.eln2e0sr, GA 30144
John 423/M (Exec. Committee) ssi2 (.2000)
401 U. 147th St.6r2.:4re V7alley. MN 4
HONORARY Board limber
Col. Joseph Matthews 422/HQ
4706 Westem Blvd. Raleigh, NC 27606 (LIFE)
919-851-4851
Index for: Vol. 52 No. 3, APR, 1996
Index for This Document
106th Div., 5, 32, 34, 46, 48, 49106th Div. QM, 49
106th Inf. Div., 1, 6, 7, 8, 16, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 32, 48, 49, 50
106th Infantry Division Association, 5, 8, 16, 21, 22, 28, 30, 49, 50
106th Memorial, 18
23rd Inf. Regt., 20, 26
28th Inf. Div., 32
2nd Div., 20, 32, 33, 35
2nd Inf. Div., 32
3rd Armd., 20, 28
3rd Armd. Div., 20
422/M, 13, 16
422nd Inf., 3
422nd Inf. Regt., 45
422nd Regt., 45
423rd Inf., 1, 28, 38
423rd Inf. Regt., 1, 28, 38
423rd Regt., 18, 26
424/A, 5, 13, 15, 47
424/D, 17, 51
424/E, 28
424/L, 17
424th Cbt. Inf. Regt., 13
589th FA, 9, 20, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46
589th FA BN, 9, 20, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46
590th FA BN, 38
592nd FA BN, 17, 24, 36
7th Armd. Div., 8, 28
806th Ord. Co., 26
81st Eng/Hq, 24
81st Engr., 2, 16, 17
82nd Abn. Div., 17
'A Day To Remember', 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46
Alexander, Calvin, 47
American Cemetery, 24
Anderson, Toby, 16
Andler, 36, 37, 40
Angelo, Mario, 18
Angelo, Mario J., 18
Aponte, Humberto, 13
Ardennes, 4, 6, 26, 29, 32
Ardennes Offensive, 6
Arlington National Cemetery, 16
Ashburn, Nolan, 2, 13
Austria, 13
Austrian, 30
Auw, 15, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42
Auw, Germany, 32
Bachmurski, Stanley, 18
Bachmurski, Stanley M., 18
Bad Orb, 7, 30
Ballowe, Thomas C., 9
Baraque Fraiture, 46
Barker, Thomas, 47
Bastogne, 6, 26
Battle of the Bulge, 2, 7, 11, 16, 18, 20, 26, 28, 30, 32, 46, 47, 48
Baugnez, 26
Bean, Ralph, 28
Beans, Alva R., 36
Beans, Capt., 36
Beaufays, 18
Belgian Croix de Guerre, 46
Belgium, 6, 9, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 34
Bell, Roger, 47
Bell, Roger W., 47
Berga, 7
Berga Am Elster, 7
Berlin, 47
Black, Rev. Ewell C., 9, 50
Black, Rev. Ewell C., Jr., 9, 50
Bleialf, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43
Bleialf-Auw Road, 36, 37
Blodgett, John, 16
Books, 11
Brax, Richard J., 51
Bridges, Walter G., 51
Brown, Capt. Arthur C., 36
Bryant, Howard, 13
Bryant, Howard L., 13
Buchenwald, 7
Bucher, Bill, 15
Bucher, Bill, Jr., 15
Buchet, 41
Cagle, James B., 36
Camp Atterbury, 4
Carpenter, Ben, 47
Carr, Jack, 9
Cavender, Col. Charles C., 41
Chatfield, Art, 30
Clark, James, 47
Clark, James J., 47
Collins, John, 18
Collins, John W., 18
Collins, Sherod, 2, 11, 47, 50
Corrigan, Ken, 13
Craig, Col., 38
Craig, Col. Malin, 35
CRIBA, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 24
Croix De Guerre, 46
Cucarola, Lillian, 13
Datte, Chas, 48
Descheneaux, Col. George L., 33
Descheneaux, Col. George L., Jr., 33
Diehl, Lloyd, 2
Diehl, Lloyd J., 51
Div. Arty., 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 40
Div. Arty. HQ, 36, 37
Div. HQ, 33, 35
Dorsey, Junior, 4
Earl Knuth, 13
Eckblad, Wesley, 9
Eisenman, Jerome, 50
Farris, Fred, 47
Farris, Willie, 47
Fleron, 19
Ford, David, 16
Fosty, Albert, 18, 19
France, 20, 31, 32, 46
Freilinger, Clifford, 13, 14
Fry, John, 47
Fry, John C., 47
Ft. Jackson, SC, 20, 24, 29, 48
Gasses, Joe, 16
Gatens, John, 20, 24
Germany, 7, 15, 18, 24, 27, 31, 32
Goeme, Raymond, 9, 18
Goldstein, Maj., 38
Gouvy, 23
Gouvy, Belgium, 23
Grand Halleux, 17, 24
Gregory, John, 9, 30
Grosslangenfeld, 15
Grosslangenfeld, Germany, 15
Hammelburg, 46
Hancock, Turney, 20
Hanger, Charles E., 47
Hannon, Phil, 16
Hanover, 24
Hauxwell, Burton, 47
Heidelberg, 7
Helwig, Gil, 1, 6, 50
Helwig, Gilbert, 50
Henri Chappelle, 24
Hill, Maj., 1, 49
Hohenstein, 17
House, Pete, 11, 48, 50
Huminski, Edwin C., 51
Johnston, Ray, 13
Jones, Alan, 1
Jones, Alan W., 16, 50
Jones, Alan W., Jr., 16, 50
Jones, Gen., 35, 38
Jones, Maj. Gen. Alan W., 33
Kelly, Col., 9, 45
Kelly, Col. T. Paine, 31
Kelly, Col. Thomas P., Jr., 31, 32, 33, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 44, 45
Kelly, Ed, 47
Kelly, Edmond D., 47
Kelly, Paine, 9
Kelly, T. Paine, 1, 46
Kelly, Thomas P., 31, 35, 43, 46
Kelly, Thomas P., Jr., 35, 43, 46
Kiendl, Theodore, 37
Klinck, Lt. Col. Earl F., 42
Kline, J., 8, 11, 15, 17, 18, 20, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 30
Kline, John, 2, 8
Kline, John P., 49, 50
Kline, Mr., 18
Kobscheid, 35
Lackey, Col. Vaden, 40
LaGleize, 26
Lapato, Frank, 16
LeHavre, 29
Lemoine, Auguste, 24
Liege, 15
Limburg, 24
Linden, 17, 24
Lion In the Way, 28
Littell, Joseph, 7
Logan, Robert C., 24
London, 4
Losheim, 33
Losheim Gap, 33
Lothrop, Oliver, 16
Lothrop, Oliver, Jr., 16
Luxembourg, 31
Maes, Roger, 26
Maki, Roy, 17
Makowske, Raymond, 26
Makowske, Raymond T., 26
Malmedy, 26
Malone, William E., 51
Maloney, Joseph P., 47
Manhay, 13, 14, 29
Maples, Lyman C., 51
Matthews, Col. Joseph, 51
McDonald, Stanleigh, 26
McGinty, Ed, 16
McKee, Dick, 17
McMahon, Gen., 38
McMahon, Leo T., 36
Memorials, 8, 50
Merz, O. Paul, 50
Middleton, 47
Miller, Glenn, 27
Miller, Glenn C., 27
Monfort, Eddy, 14
Nausin, Frank, 9
Oberlascheid, 41
Omaha Beach, 20
Order of the Golden Lion, 1, 6, 50
Our River, 41
Paris, 14, 15
Parker, Maj. Arthur C., 39
Parkers Crossroad, 20
Patton, Gen. George S., 46
Patton, Gen. George S., Jr., 46
Peiper, Jochen, 26
Peterson, Dr. Richard, 50
Pilkington, Fred, 13
Pilkington, Mary, 13
Pinney, Gordon, 1
Powell, Gene, 17
Prisoner of War, 16
Prokorym, Casimir, 47
Puett, Joseph F., 39
Purple Heart, 30
Radscheid, 40, 41, 42
Red Ball, 32
Red Ball Express, 32
Redmond, Dean, 47
Redmond, Dean T., 47
Reunions, 8, 22, 28
Rich, Col., 5
Rieck, Charles, 2, 47
Rigatti, Dick, 2
Rigatti, Richard, 1
Riggs, Thomas J., 49, 51
Riggs, Thomas J., Jr., 49
Robb, Dr. John G., 50
Roberts, John M., 19
Roer, 33, 35
Roer Dam, 35
Roer River, 33
Rogister, Henri, 18
Roth, 32, 34, 35
Rowan, William K., 50
Rundstedt, 28
Schaffner, John, 16
Schlausenbach, 35, 36, 37
Schnee Eifel, 7, 32, 34, 35, 36, 38, 41
Schoenberg, 15
Schonberg, 32, 36, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 46
Schonberg, Belgium, 32
Schonberg-Bleialf Road, 36, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43
Setter, Leon J., 9
Shows, Clifford, 17
Siegfried Line, 32
Slaby, Ted, 9
Smith, William, 28
Smith, William B., 28
Snyder, Walter, 16, 24
South Hampton, England, 20
Sowell, Robert, 28
Sowell, Robert F., 28
Spineux, 18, 20, 24
St. Vith, 18, 26, 28, 32, 33, 37, 40, 43, 50
St. Vith, Belgium, 32
St. Vith-Schonberg, 33
St. Vith-Schonberg Road, 33
Stalag 12-A, 24
Stalag 9-B, 30
Stalag IX-C, 7
Stavelot, 17
Sulser, Jack, 1, 7, 16, 50
Swett, John, 2
Swett, John A., 51
The Battle of the Bulge, 11, 18, 20, 26, 28, 30, 47
The Battle Of The Bulge, 11
Thome, Michael, 2, 9
Timm, Eugene, 30
Timm, Eugene A., 30
Tower, Bill, 15
Trois Pont, 15, 17
Trois Ponts, 15, 17
Trueman, Dr. Duncan, 1
Tuhoski, Stanley, 13
Valley Forge Military Academy, 11
van De Bogart, Herman, 5
Vaughn, Ray, 18
Verviers, 24
Verviers, Belgium, 24
Veterans Of The Battle Of The Bulge, 11
Vielsalm, 24, 28
Vielsalm, Belgium, 24, 28
VIII Corps, 35
Villwock, Russ, 47
Von Rundstedt, 28
Weber, Richard E., 37
Weber, Richard E., Jr., 37
West Germany, 32
Whitner, Don, 48
Whitner, Donald R., 48
Wingart, Lamar, 48
Winterspelt, 24
Winterspelt, Germany, 24
Wojtusik, Stan, 11
Wood, Eric, 24
Wright, Lt., 37
Zimbelman, Harold, 13