Index for this issue of The CUB

Uploaded: 11-Dec-2020

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The CUB
Past-President (Ex-Officio)
Adjutant: Murray Stein 7614 Charing Crossing Lane, Delray Beach, FL 33446 561-499-7736 greg0803@bellsouth.net
    Donald F. Herndon (424/L). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2007) 8313 NW 102 Oklahoma City, OK 73162-4026 405-721-9164 oklastamps@aol.com
    Bernard Mayrsohn (423/CN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2008) 34 Brae Burn Drive, Purchase, NY 33138 Ethelbarn@aol.com Web site: www.mayrsohn.com 914-428-8200
    Murray Stein (423/I) (Exec Comm). . . . . . . . .(2008) 7614 Charing Crossing Lane, Delray Beach, FL 33446 561-499-7736 Greg0803@adelphia.net
    Dr. Duncan Trueman (424/AT). . . . . . . . . . . . .(2008) 29 Overhill Lane, Warwick, NY 10990 Tel/Fax 845-986-6376 dttrueman@yahoo.com
    Newton Weiss (423/HQ 3Bn) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2008) 400 Morse Avenue, Gibbstown, NJ 08027-1066 856-423-3511 newtruth2@verizon.net
    Geo Call (424/B) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2009) 105 Mt. Lebanon Rd, Glen Gardner, NJ 08826-3018 908-832-2961
    Walter C. Greve (423/HQ 1Bn) . . . . . . . . . . . .(2009) 13929 E Marina Dr #604 Aurora, CO 80014 303-751-5866 wcgreve@aol.com
    Sy Lichtenfeld (422/I) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2009) 19450 NE 21st Ct. North Miami Beach FL 33179 305-932-4467 slich44@bellsouth.ne
    Martin L. Wente (423/I )(Exec Comm) . . . . . .(2009) 1309 Paseo Valle Vista Covina, CA 91724 626-332-5079 chicdonna@aol.com
    Rev. Ewell C. Black Jr. (422/A) . . . . . . . . . . . .(2010) 2000 E-W Conn - Apt 212 Austell, GA 30106 Tel: 770-819-7212 ecb@avillager.org
    Edward Christianson (331st MED/C) . . . . . . (2010) 303 Harper Hollow Lane Winchester, VA 22603 540-877-1643 deconed@webtv.net
    Gifford B. Doxsee (423/HQ 3 Bn) . . . . . . . . . .(2010) 1 Canterbury Drive Athens, OH 45701-3708 740-592-3472 doxsee@oak.cats.ohiou.edu
    Dr. Ralph Nelson (422/CN). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2010) 10437 Prestwick NE, Albuquerque NM 87111 505-275-3044 ralph-rhoda@comcast.net
    Lyle Beeth (424/AT). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2011) 2004 Gold Manor Blvd Valrico, FL 33594-7288 1-888-644-6337 lbeeth@hotmail.com
    Harry Martin Jr. (424/L) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2011) 121 Mcgregor Avenue Mt Arlington, NJ 07856 973-663-2410 martinjr@localnet.com
    Charles F. Rieck (422/H) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2011) 7316 Voss Parkway Middleton, WI 53562-3776
    Ellsworth H. Schanerberger (331st Med B) . . . . . . . . (2011) 15964 N Swathmore Ct. Livonia, MI 48154-1005 734-591-7851 EH.Schanergberger@worldnet.net
    Dr. John G. Robb (422/D) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2012) 238 Devore Dr., Meadville, PA 16355 814-333-6364 jrobb238@hotmail.com
    John M. Roberts (592/C) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2012) 1059 Alter Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304-1401 248-338-2667
    John Schaffner (589/A) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2012) 1811 Miller Rd., Cockeysville, MD 21030-1013 410-584-2754 pumexim2@bcpl.net
Franks S. Trautman (422/D). . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(2012) 600 Morningside Dr., Zionsville, IN 46077-1903
    Armed Forces Reunions, Inc. recently sent out the registration forms for our forthcoming annual reunion, September 3-7, 2008 to be held at The Galt House, Louisville, Kentucky. The number of those attending will undoubtedly play a role in the decisions concerning the future of the organization, so if you are physically able to attend the reunion and have an interest in the future of the 106th Infantry Division Association, I strongly urge you to register and come to Louisville in September.
    I would like to utilize this opportunity to focus attention on the growing problem of mental illness of returning veterans from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is of special importance to me personally because members of my close family are experiencing mental illness. My wife, a victim of Alzheimer's Disease, has been in a nursing home for nearly a decade, and my brother's youngest grandson suffers from autism.
A recent study by the Rand Corporation indicates that of the
    1.7 million veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, an estimated 300,000 are battling depression or PTSD (post-traumatic brain disorder). Another 320,000 are estimated to be suffering from traumatic brain injury or physical brain damage often caused by roadside bombs.
    Equally alarming is the recognition by medical experts that these "invisible wounds" often do not show up for years after the veteran leaves military service.
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    Mental illness in the United States has often received less attention and lower priority than physical illness. However, if current trends continue and the returning veterans from conflict in the Middle East and Afghanistan manifest ever-increasing symptoms of mental stress or mental illness resulting from their combat experience, it is urgently necessary that national attitudes change and that sufficient resource be made available to provide adequate care for these veterans.
    Further information on this topic can be secured from the recently-founded Veterans for Common Sense, headed by Paul Sullivan.
    It began on December 25, 1944, Christmas Day, when elements of the 424th Regiment attacked and took Manhay. Actually, we had to attack twice because the enemy took it back from us and we had to make a second try. This time we were able to hold on. The weather, if I remember correctly was bitter cold with a stiff breeze. It was necessary to cross a large, wide open field covered with snow. There was no other approach to the town, so we were exposed to mortar and machine gun fire all the way.
    When the town was fairly secure we could still see clusters of enemy soldiers escaping down a road which I believed led toward Bastogne. Quite a few Germans, trapped in the few shelled-out houses that made up the town surrendered. As the shooting died down to an occasional burst here and there we noticed a white flag waving back and forth out of a cellar window. One of our group stood near the doorway and called to the enemy to come out. He was ready to toss a grenade into the doorway at any sign of trickery. The rest of us stood close by covering the exit and cellar window with our small arms. It wasn't a trick. Five or six German soldiers were surrendering. Out they came in a single file, hands held on their heads. Then out of the doorway came the hero of this story, a beautiful large German Shepherd dog. Ignoring him, we loaded five captives into a ¾ ton Dodge 4X4 and trucked them off to be questioned.
    Do you remember one of the names we used if referring to Hitler? "Schickelgruber!" It was some kind of a disparaging, uncomplimentary term. (Don't ask me what it meant).
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    So a few of our guys started calling the dog by that name. Later I would be abbreviated to just "Schick." Abandoned now by his German friends, the confused dog began to do what dogs always do––find a new friend. Most of the men shunned the dog, called him a Kraut dog, and ignored him. A couple kicked at him, but he hung around. Dogs do, don't they? But inasmuch as I've always been a dog lover, I patted his head, scratched his belly and opened a K-Ration so the he could have some canned meat. Friends Forever! Schick repaid me by adopting me (or did I adopt him). In any event, he would
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    Adjutant: Joseph P. Maloney From the Association Adjuntant 1120 Warren Ave., Arnold, PA15068-4048 724-335-6104 maloney@salsgiver.com
My Brothers,
    I have been asked to assume the responsibilities of the Adjutant for our 106th Infantry Division Association. I accepted, since this gives me an opportunity to continue to serve our Association. I am also acting as your Reunion Chairman for President Gifford Doxsee. I will be looking forward for advice from my good friends, Marion Ray and Joe Maloney. Look forward to seeing you in Louisville in September 2008.
Murray Stein
    never leave my side. Soon after on one bitterly cold night we had to scrape the snow to open up a little trench in which we would sleep and evade the blistery wind. We had heard stories of men who had frozen to death during the night hours. I lay in my trench trying to go to sleep, yet fearful of doing so, shivering violently. I opened one eye to see Schick lying there, watching me, also with one eye opened. His thick beautiful fur kept him warm when, unbelievably and to my amazement, Schick got up, crept closer and crawled on top of me. Had he not done so, I wonder if I, like others, might not have survived those freezing, blanket-less nights.
    I only knew Schick for a short time. On the 23 January he was struck by shrapnel. Although very cold, the worst of the winter's blasts were over. In the midst of death all around me, I found myself grieving for a dog I had taken as a prize of war. What a prize!
    The Scriptures tell us not to forget to "entertain" strangers whose paths may cross our own because we may be "entertaining angels unaware." I hardly think that the writer of that verse of Scripture meant it to be applied to a canine found and lost on a field of battle, but he was like an angel sent to me.
    Hello, my name is William A. McWhorter and I am the new editor of the Cub of the Golden Lion. This is my second issue of "The Cub" and I am very proud that John Kline, John Schaffner and other veteran Association officers requested that I take over as editor. I want all the veteran and associate members to know that although I am new to editorial duties, I am an admirer of your unit and hope that I can assist in keeping open the lines of communication for our Association. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at the Annual Reunion in Louisville, KY.
    Please note the following: Send news items that you would like reviewed for inclusion in upcoming editions of the Cub of the Golden Lion to William McWhorter, Editor. With John Kline's retirement he is graciously no longer accepting news items for publication in the Cub of the Golden Lion.
    If you would like to send me (William) an article for publication in an upcoming issue of the Cub of the Golden Lion please send it to my email address or mailing address listed on the inside cover of this issue. If possible, it would be most helpful to me if you sent your article to me in a Word.doc via email, as well as your contact information if I have a question (generally a clarification matter) on your article and a brief note that states I have your permission to print the article.
    John Kline has also turned over the membership duties of the 106th Infantry Division Association to Treasurer Lyle Beeth, and he asks that all messages relating to membership be sent directly to Lyle Beeth and no longer to John Kline. From now on, please report all changes of address and deaths to Lyle Beeth (Beeth's contact information can be found on the inside cover of this issue.)
Just a reminder . . .
If you have pictures and information you would like included in a future CUB, the due dates are as follows:
For the Summer edition coming out in September all material is due by AUGUST 15
For the Fall edition coming out in December, to include the reunion pictures, all material is due by NOVEMBER 15

    Articles and pictures can be mailed or emailed to: CUB Editor: William McWhorter CUB Publisher: Susan Weiss 166 Prairie Dawn, Kyle, TX 78640 9 Cypress Point Court, 512-970-5637 Blackwood, NJ 08012 williammcwhorter17@gmail.com 856-415-2211 sweiss@gccnj.edu

NEW MEMBERS
Veterans: Reinkober, John H. 423/M Richey, Norman 424/I
    Associates: Beeth, Will -- Son of Lyle Beeth 424/At Kaulitz, Dale -- Nephew of Ronald Kaulitz (Killed during Battle of Bulge) Reinkober, James J. -- Son of John Reinkober 423/M
REGULAR DONATIONS
Bugner, Thomas 590/B Gatens, John 589/A Auerbach, Sydney 324/H
Shumate, Sam 423/D Smkith, Jack D. 423/B
    Salemink, Dennis -- Son of Richard Salemink 424/G Vaught, Jeanne -- Widow of William Vaught 424/At Vaught, Mary Lou -- Daughter of William Vaught Long, Michele M. -- Daughter of Clarence David Morris, Jr
    If you are an ANNUAL member (not a LIFE member), you may need to pay your ANNUAL DUES. Our fiscal year ends on June 30 each year. That is when you should pay $10.00 for the next year. Please look at the first line of the Address Label on this issue of The Cub envelope, it shows your Paid To Date. If it is less than 6/30/2009, PLEASE send the proper amount to the Treasurer:
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They Killed the POWs Who Couldn't Make It!
By Chuck Conley around Tom Bugner's personal notes
    "Are there any reporters here, any correspondents? If there are, I don't want to be recorded. What I want to say is that things are going very well, and there is a possibility, at this point, as I see it, that we could be in Berlin by Christmas."
    The winter of 1944 was the worst Europe experienced in many years. As it settled down around us, cold, wet and foggy, we were stretched thin from the Baltic Sea to Northern Italy -- smack-dab up against the Siegfried Line, out of gas, low on ammunition and badly in need of replacements. The famous Red Ball Express could not deliver supplies fast enough from Omaha Beach, still the only seaport we had open, way on the other side of France. Our enemy, on the other hand, was dug in closer to his factories and his store-houses than he had been in years. Brought to bay
General Omar N. Bradley, Normandy, June 1944
    on their own doorstep, German soldiers fought back with renewed ferocity. Not only did they bring our race across France to a screeching halt, but they also resisted every effort we made to get past them to the Rhine. Casualty figures rose and the ULTRA intercepts dried up. Our vast intelligence-gathering network failed us, deluded into thinking the Germans were defeated. This was true, of course, but we no longer expected to be home by Christmas 1944. Only in the Ardennes region of Belgium did the two sides maintain a relatively serene co-existence, each cautious about disturbing the peace of the other. Charles B. MacDonald, Official Historian of the U.S. Army in World War II, won a Purple Heart and Silver Star during the Battle of the Bulge. He wrote, "the Ardennes was at once the nursery and the old folks home of the American Command. New divisions came there [to get] a battlefield shakedown, old ones to rest after heavy fighting and to absorb replacements …" The 28th Infantry Division (Pennsylvania National Guard) and the 4th Infantry Division (Regular Army), both of whom suffered enormous casualties in the Hurtgen Forest, recuperated and bound up their wounds upon abnormally-wide frontages assigned to them on the southern shoulder of the Ardennes. Their shot-up companies could not close the gaps between platoons, nor were there any reserves to call up in case the line was penetrated. The 28th suffered five-thousand soldiers killed in the Hurtgen Forest. Hundreds of bodies with the "bloody bucket" insignia of the Keystone State sewn to their overcoats went unrecovered until the following spring. Meanwhile, the northern shoulder of the Ardennes was defended by the 99th (National Army) Division, which had been in the line for 5 weeks but had not yet mounted an attack. Like most divisions that landed in Europe in late 1944, the 99th had been raided for replacements prior to embarkation; then, shortly before boarding ship, were filled up with involuntary transfers from the U.S. Army Air Forces. Most were from the A.S.T.P., since abandoned, whose lofty purpose had been to provide college training for men with high IQs.
    South of the 99th, an armored cavalry group (14th) covered the Losheim Gap, the entry point the Germans would come thundering through on December 16th, quickly booting the cavalry out of the way and sweeping around the unguarded flanks of the 106th (National Army) Infantry Division that defended on the right of the gap. The 106th had no combat experience. Seven-thousand trained men (60% of the enlisted strength) had been taken from the division to replace losses overseas before the 106th left the States, in their place, arriving just before the division shipped out, were 1,200 men from the A.S.T.P., 1,100 former Air Cadets, 1,500 from other divisions not yet scheduled for overseas shipment, and 2,500 from various disbanded units. The unlucky 106th landed in Europe on December 6th and went into the line on December 11th. It had just 5 days, before it was attack by an enemy who was vastly superior in combat veterans, tanks and artillery.
    Our Tom Bugner was in the 590th (105mm) Battalion of the 106th Divisional Artillery. He was one of the "originals" of the old 124th who served with us at Camp Forest back in 1941. His Headquarters Battery became the 633d Tank Destroyer's Recon Company. Then, as a battalion, the 633d trained troops at Fort Lewis, WA and Camp Hood, TX, then hack to Fort Lewis. Tom stated, "a so-called friend volunteered us for the Paratroopers at Fort Benning, GA; however, at the last minute, he took his name off the list and left mine on. I did not know about it until the transfer came through." Tom could not get out of it. He had to go through the paratroop training but got washed out before he finished because of a back operation. He was then sent to the 106th Infantry Division at Fort Jackson, SC. The 106th was activated and began basic training on March 29, 1943. It went through the Tennessee Maneuvers in rain, sleet and snow, then moved to Camp Atterbury, IN and then overseas.
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    The basic flaw in the 106th's defense was the river at their backs and a bridge nobody though to destroy until it was too late. The infantry was composed of the 422nd, 423rd and 424th Regiments; and the artillery in direct support, one to each regiment, was the 589th (105mm), Tom's 590th Battalion (105mm) and the 591st (105mm). The artillery battalion in a general-support/ reinforcing role was the 592d (155mm How). These artillery battalions were in position along the Bleialf-Schoenberg Road (which the GI's nicknamed Skyline Drive), defending their infantry deployed in front of the guns. Schoenberg was to the north and Bleialf to the south. The only way out for two of the three artillery battalions was the bridge over the Our River at Schoenberg.
    During the night of December 16, 1944, the day the Germans hit the 106th, the divisional artillery commander ordered the 589th and the 592nd to displace because they faced imminent capture. The 592nd made it out except for one 155 howitzer stuck in the mud and another destroyed by German assault guns at the crossroads. The 105's of the 589th tried to displace to the battalion's Service battery along Skyline Drive just short of Schoenberg. But because the Germans blocked the only road out of Battery C's position, none of that battery's guns got out. But the other two batteries (A and B) did make it out to the new positions only to find out that the new position was as bad as the first. The Our River was still at their backs.
    Germans stormed across the unblown bridge at Schoenberg at 8:45 AM on the December 17th. Two regiments of infantry (422nd and 423rd) and attached units, two divisional artillery battalions (589th and 590th), and three corps artillery battalions had no way of getting out unless someone came to their relief. The two surviving batteries of the 589th were in their new positions by daylight of the 17th; but, before they could begin fi ring, a truck tore down the road shouting that the Germans were right behind them. The battalion executive officer ordered withdrawal; however, in the scramble to get to the highway, the three remaining guns of B Battery got stuck in the mud, and so did one of A Battery's howitzers. The other three raced downhill and into Schoenberg only minutes ahead of the Germans. But other members of A, following in 6X6 trucks, were not so lucky. Beyond the bridge they came upon a German assault gun that was blocking the road. Most that dove from the trucks and fled were later captured. Only a few reached American lines.
    On the night of December 17th, the 424th Infantry got its supporting 591st Artillery out by way of Steinebruck and then leapfrogged its three battalions to the west bank of the Our River, abandoning much equipment and supplies along the way. The last of the three artillery battalions, Tom Bugner's 590th battalion, waited through the night for word from divisional artillery to displace; but communications were out and the word did not come down until the morning of December18th; then, as the battalion tried to get out, the first howitzers in the column received fire from German assault guns. Battalion commander, Lt. Col. Vaden C. Lackey decided it would be better to stay where they were until relief came. He ordered the howitzers back to the positions they just left. This tied their fate to the 422nd and 423rd Infantry they supported.
    The 590th was eventually overrun by the Germans of the morning of December 19th while supporting an abortive attack by the 422d and 423rd. The 590th had moved across Skyline Drive to support the attack. The Germans came up from Blealf (Bleialf), to the south. Tom Bugner said, "we ran out of shells for the howitzers. Another fellow and I dropped grenades into the muzzles of the howitzers to blow out the breeches so they could not be used again. The Germans had all the men they had captured on the ridge around us. Then the order came to surrender and then not to surrender, that we were to fight on. The battery commander asked me what I had left to fight with? I told him I had one grenade and a clip of ammo. He had one clip also."
    "The Germans who had the captured men said they would kill them all. They sent an officer with a white flag and told us to give up or else. It is a feeling you cannot describe. I took my carbine and wrapped it around a tree. I was holding it by the muzzle, and there was a cartridge in the chamber. I could have killed myself, but I was so angry that I did not think about it at the time."
    The losses to the 422nd and 423rd regiments, along with the 589th, 590th and 592nd artillery battalions, and supporting engineers, anti-aircraft, Medics and armored cavalry --came to more than eight thousand men. No one will ever know exactly how many surrendered on December 19th. Over six-thousand-eight-hundred were from the 106th, including Tom Bugner from the 590th.
    "They marched us to the back of their lines," Tom said. "They killed the ones who could not make it. Then they marched us about 40 miles in about
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    12 to 14 hours. We did not have anything to eat or drink except the snow on the ground. We were then put on a train. We stopped in Limburg, Germany, where we were caught in an air-raid bombing, and we lost a lot of men there. My friend and I got away, but the Germans caught us again and put us back in the boxcars, and they nailed the doors shut so we could not get out again." It was not a Merry Christmas for Tom. He was in captivity for nearly five months. He stated, "when I walked out of the prison camp in 1945, a free man once more, my weight had dropped from 175 pounds to 96 pounds."
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    Relief never arrived to save Tom and the others who were forced to surrender on December 19th. While individuals were collected and gathered up and units reorganized, Tom was already marching off to Germany. But the Germans ultimately lost many more killed, wounded and captured than we did. Besides, they never reached Brussels, their prime objective. They never even reached Liege, their secondary objective. Nor could they budge our airborne, stuck right in the middle of their way at Bastogne. Time was running out. On December 22nd, still short of the Meuse River, the Germans ran out of gas and left their wounded, over sixty abandoned tanks and other vehicles behind them as they fled back to Germany on foot. The skies cleared and the P-51s came out to hurry them on their way. Still, it would take a while longer to wind things up. A lot of the enemy got away. But as Charles MacDonald said, "we had no apologies to make." Rather, it was a time for the sounding of trumpets, we Americans had stopped the Germans and we beat them -- badly. On our own we recovered from the brink of defeat and won the biggest battle in our nation's history
    -- maybe [one of] the biggest battle[s] that the world has ever known. Then it was, on to Berlin -- and there was no slopping us from then on.
John R. Schaffner 589/A, Historian Past President 2002-2003
From the Association Historian
1611 Miller Road, Cockeysville, MD 21030 410-584-2754 pumexim2@bcpl.net
    As your historian I get to read a great many things from and about our veterans. My only complaint is that not more of them record their WWII experiences, not just for me, but for their family down the line. Quite often we receive requests from children and grandchildren of our veterans wanting to know, "what happened to………. during the war." This is no idle question. They really are interested. If the subject of this question is no longer able (or willing) to talk about it, then someone is going to be disappointed. I have to confess that I am in that category (of being disappointed). I would like to know something more about my grandparents, but know precious little. Just do it fellows. They will love you for it.
    I woke up one morning recently to the realization that I am one very fortunate guy. Oh, there is nothing special about me. I was just one of the troops and lucky to have survived our big battle without any visible souvenirs. (Don't look too close). But not just that, when I take stock of my assets at this age, I realize that the things that mean the most are those things that are not for sale. For instance: family and friends, and the experiences of a lifetime. After visiting the Ardennes, something I thought I would never do, I can now count among my friends many Belgian, Dutch, and Luxembourg people. These are people who survived the war and even second and third generations who carry on the heritage of the gift of freedom from the American soldier. They tell us that they, "Will never forget," and they mean it. When you tour the scenes of the battle and see those many monuments that have been placed, you must know that they represent your part in restoring a way of life. Yes, if you were there, you have been remembered.
    Some of you are making visits to Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany to retrace your steps during the war. If it is your first time, be sure to plan ahead. Although there are hundreds of memorial plaques and monuments placed in the Ardennes, you should have a guide to avoid wasting valuable time searching for places. The CRIBA organization in Belgium can assist you in many ways. There are individuals who arrange formal tours and also a few retired people who will show you around in their home areas. Also, if you are driving, acquire the large scale Michelin maps of the area. Your travel agent or a big book store has them. If you have a home computer, use it. Although not essential, a hand held GPS might be nice to have. Europe has an efficient rail system and you may be able to work that into an itinerary. The first time we visited Europe we used the train for much of our traveling. You will need a Cook's Timetable for that. The trains do run on time and are reliable.
A few years ago there was serious talk about closing the Association due to the advanced age of the members.
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From the Association Historian
    It always did seem to me to be just a bit premature. But, of course, I was feeling pretty good. I do notice that the Memoriam section is getting longer each year, but as long as I am reading it, and not one of the subjects, I go about my business. So, as long as there are a few of us still on our feet I want to see it continue. Let's keep on accepting new members and just see what happens. I am like the eternal optimist. When he fell from the roof of a tall building he was heard to say, as he passed the 25th floor, "All right so far."
    Sadly, the original The Cub pictured on the cover of the November 2007 issue did not make it. They found a murmur in his heart. However, the Guide Dog Foundation has assigned a new dog –– the black lab pictured on the cover of this issue.
    On February 26, 2008, Grete Eide, Director of Canine Care at the Guide Dog Foundation (For The Blind, Inc.) wrote to Association Adjutant Murray Stein, stating:
    "I'm delighted to report that your sponsored puppy, The Cub has returned to the Guide Dog Foundation and is currently in formal training. I do hope you enjoy the enclosed photo (see the cover of this issue of The CUB of the Golden Lion) of The Cub with his trainer. On average, most dogs are in training for at least six months. The training program is rigorous, and the most difficult is yet to come. Although we can't predict The Cub's eventual success as a guide dog, we're certain that his achievements would not be possible without your (106th Infantry Division Association, Inc.) support. Thank you for all you do. I'll keep you apprised of his progress. Sincerely, Grete Eide, Director."
    Winner of the 106th Division official marching song contest is T/5 Frank William Power of The Infantry Band. His song, "Onward Lions of 106 to Victory," was awarded first prize at a meeting of the judges held in the Officers' Club January 18, 1944. The judges were Gen. Herbert Perrin, Capt. Harvey, Melvin Hemphill, golf pro and Columbia's leading string musician, Mr. Burnhan, leader of the 106th Blue Band, and Sgt. Bill Donovan of Division Special Services.
    First prize was $25 and a three-day pass. Second prize, $15 went to Cpl. William Cupp, Formerly of the 424th Inf. For his entry, "March to Victory." Private Ray Keeler of the 106th MPs received $10 as third prize. Keeler's song was called, "We're On Our Way." Marching gave him the idea power. Some of the men were singing, "Infantry Kings of the Highway," and Power decided he would try and write a better tune. He wrote, "Onward Lions Of 106 To Victory," in a day and a half.
    Before entering the army, 27 months ago [1944], Power was a member and part owner of Bill Munday's cooperative band. He also toured for seven months with Benny Meroff's show, Fun's Afire. He plays the trombone and his favorite orchestra leader is Tommy Dorsey. He does all special arrangements for the Dance and Concert Band and is the composer for several other songs. Among them are, "Blues Riff," "Lazy Melody," and "Wistful and Blue." The latter is used as the theme for the Dance Band.
    Power, who is 30 years old and unmarried, says his true love (for the moment anyway) is music and he intends to return to it permanently just as soon as Uncle Sam no longer needs his services. Records of the winning song will be made for each unit of the 106th Division and "Onward Lions of 106 To Victory" will in the future be used as the official division song.
A letter from L. S. "Lee" LeTellier III,
son of Golden Lion (C Co., 81st Combat Engineers) Louis S. LeTellier Jr.
    I am proud to be the son of Louis S. LeTellier, Jr., who served in World War II as a Golden Lion of the 106th Infantry Division. December 16, 1944, my father was a 19 year old Combat Engineer in C Company of the 81st Engineer Combat Battalion positioned in Heckhalenfeld, Germany east of the Our River. This would be the center of the front line of the overwhelming German surprise attack opening the Battle of the Bulge.
    My father's home was in Charleston, S. C. on the campus of The Citadel where his father, Col. Louis S. LeTellier, headed the Civil Engineering Department. Both my father and his younger brother, Carroll N. LeTellier, graduated from The Citadel after the war. My dad became a successful General Contractor and his brother fought in Korea and Vietnam and is a retired Major General.
    My grandfather plotted the progress of the war from radio reports and knew well his son's 106th Division was at the center of the German attack. As Christmas approached the news grew worse each day. Waiting weeks for a letter from their son, while dreading a War Department telegram bearing bad news, was agonizing.
    Late in December 1944, concerned about his son, Col. LeTellier was raking and burning leaves in his yard when he noticed something unusual in the burning leaves. A metal toy soldier with arm upraised stood upright in the ashes. My Dad's family saw this as a sign their son was alive.
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    The soldier encouraged them through the long wait into January before finally receiving word their son was indeed safe. After enduring nearly 30 days of continuous combat in frigid weather, he had "lived to fight another day."
    Today, mounted on a wood plank by my grandfather, the little soldier still waves, reminding me of the sacrifices made by both soldiers and families for our freedom.
Past Association President Speaks To Civic Group
by Jack Zuckerman (423/C)
    Murry Stein is chair of the ex POW's speakers bureau in Florida. He is the former president of our association and is a member of the Southeastern Chapter of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, VBOB. He, and another ex POW, Dr.Mort Brooks, addressed an audience of over 100 members of the Men's Club at Palm Chase Lakes in Boynton Beach, Florida on Sunday, March 2,2008.
    Dr. Brooks, who was in the infamous Berga labor camp, told of his experiences as a Jewish POW. A book, Soldiers and Slaves tells of the violation of the Geneva Convention by the Nazi troops. Murry Stein told of the Battle of the Bulge, which began on December 16, 1944. In addition to professional groups, they also speak to high school students. And, they raise funds for the training of dogs to help blind veterans. They mentioned the documentary on Berga produced by Charles Guggenheim, who had served stateside with the 106th Infantry Division. The audience sat quietly, enthralled by the experiences of these two Battle of the Bulge veterans (including training stateside from Ft. Jackson to Tennessee maneuvers to Camp Atterbury, Indiana)
    This Web site currently contains a very large section devoted to the 106th Infantry Division. Mr. West is always looking for historical news, current news and photos, and he welcomes anything you may come across.
    You may be aware that every issue of the CUB, beginning with the first issue in 1945, is available on this website. Mr. West scans each page of each issue he receives in the mail. In addition, to this work with electronic filing of the Cub, Mr. West is working on a re-constructed Roster for the 106th Infantry Division and it is likewise available on the Web site. The Roster now stands at nearly 13,000 names.
    Mr. West has established a way for the public to interact with one another via the 106th Infantry Division discussion board on the website at the following internet address: http://106thdivision.proboards84.com
    Here you can see the many questions that have been "posted" and some really great answers. Remember -- when you try to go to the new 106th Message Board at http://106thdivision. proboards84.com, you will need to REGISTER the first time. You cannot LOG IN without registering first. Your old login and password are not connected with the new board.
    Finally, Mr. West is slowly beginning the latest revisions to the 106th Division Roster. The new Roster contains 12,742 names and as an example, the number of names in 422/A has increased from 99 to 224. As he goes through the time-consuming process of up-dating the web site, he is high-lighting the unit name in the index in violet color so as to indicate that this unit has been updated and you are viewing the current information.
A daughter-in-law remembers: Golden Lion Joseph Cheberenchick
    Two years ago I began a journey to research my father in law, Joseph Cheberenchick's, World War II military history. I had researched some of my own family history which I found to be an exciting hobby. I felt it was time to gather information on my husband, David's side for our children's sake. When David was growing up Joe spoke very little about WWII or what he did. It was very difficult for Joe to talk about. Joseph passed away before I met David and my children and I never had an opportunity to meet Joe.
    When I began my research I didn't know exactly what division Joseph was in or which POW camp he was sent to. I wrote to the National Archives in St. Louis, Missouri. Unfortunately there had been a fire there in the 1970's that destroyed records pertaining to Joe. The archives were able to send us a very poor copy of Joe's discharge papers. That was all the information they had available at that time. From there I spent days trying to make out some of the words or even a few letters on the illegible copy. Eventually by matching a few of the possible dates and places on the discharge papers I came to the conclusion Joe may have been in the 106th Infantry Division. I contacted John Kline, then editor of The CUB of the Golden Lion. He was able to help me find a more readable copy of Joe's discharge papers at the Allegheny County Courthouse.
    The paperwork showed Joe was a member of the 106th in the 81st Combat engineers. John Kline was then able to give me a list of names and addresses of some surviving veterans of the 81st engineers. I sat down and hand wrote letters to each man on the list. I was overwhelmed at the response I received. Everyone was willing to help. People who didn't know Joe still sent information such as photos, maps, cassette tapes and letters most times at their expense. I was truly amazed at how generous these men were. They wanted to help and wanted to share their stories. Through listening to the men tell their story I gained a new respect for what veteran's sacrificed for the world. It was amazing the battle these men endured and the trauma they suffered in becoming prisoners of the Germans. It just seemed unbelievable what they lived through.
    I became truly fascinated with WWII. I could not read enough books or gather enough information on the European Theater of Operations. One thing just about all of the men recommended to me was Hell Frozen Over. As I began reading Hell Frozen Over by Marilyn Quigley I couldn't believe the situation these men faced. I could not put the book down once I began reading it and stayed up almost all night reading it.
    We still did not know what happened to Joe after his capture December 19th, 1944. We knew he went to a POW camp in Germany. I began researching a little about each of the camps. Particularly the ones men of the 106th were sent to. It seemed to me all the camps were terrible places but some were worse than others. Thanks to the Ex – POW Association we discovered that Joe was sent to Stalag X B Sandbostel. It turned out to be a long and sometimes difficult project. I never knew what I would discover next. Sometimes I felt so discouraged because I would run into one brick wall after another. It was well worth all the effort though, all the information and lessons I learned I can share with my daughters.
    Just as children are our future, our veteran's, parents, grandparents are our treasured past. We can learn so much from their lives and experiences. The veterans' of all wars made the world a better place for all of us to live. I am thankful it was so difficult to research Joe's history because it gave me the opportunity to talk with so many other veterans'. I now have many firsthand accounts and letters to preserve and someday share with my daughters. I want them to know the importance of what their grandfather Joseph and all the other veterans have sacrifi ced. Many men paid the highest price by giving their lives. I will teach my daughter's to show respect to the veteran's, proudly display their American flag and never take for granted their freedom.
    Recently my old neighborhood built a new war memorial and Joe's name was added. Joe and all the other men have earned their place on all the War Memorial's throughout our country with their blood, sweat and tears. It is important our Vets know we appreciate them and what they gave up. Sometimes I feel some people my age take for granted what veteran's have done or that they don't care enough. I do care and I want to say thank you to all of the veteran's who served in WWII. I want to also say thank you to all of those who were so generous as to help me in my search. Thank you.
106th Alton, Illinois – St. Louis, MO Mini-Reunion, December 2007
    On December 17, 2007, members and spouses of the 106th Infantry Division Association met for a mini-reunion at TR's Café and Dining in Wood River, IL. Outside, the weather and the snow on the ground, which reminded many of a similar condition sixty-three years before when they were given the big test that soldiers throughout the ages have undergone, the event was wonderful. Prayers were given by Paul Boschert, Pledge of Allegiance was led by Don Hinrichs. Words were spoken by guest Tom Wyatt and a nice meal was served and consumed by all those in attendance.
(Submitted by Marion Ray)
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    In the front row (left to right) are: Kenneth Bryan (423/HQ 1 Bn), Tom Wyatt (historian), Paul Boschert (590/HQ), Don Hinrichs (81/C) and Carl Goering (Associate Member). Pictured in the back row (left to right) are: Marion Ray (424/D), John Rain 589/A, Gilbert DeGerlia (422/HQ), George Foster (424/I) and Lamoine Gehner (424/L).
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    In the front row (left to right) are: Shirley Wyatt, Emma Boschert and Betty Rain. In the back row (left to right) are: Margary Bryan, Debbie Hensley, Pat Hinrichs, La Don Adams, and Vi Fischer.
ALBERS, BILL G. 424/I
–– Date of Death: September 9, 2007 1257 Caneadea Loop Alamogordo, NM 88310
Reported by widow Helen Albers.
BARRICK, THOMAS M. 424/I
–– Date of Death: No date given 110 Wood Road APT E105 Los Gatos, CA 95030
BOMBAR, MAURICE 106 RECON
–– Date of Death: No date given 10031 NE 30TH Place, Bellvue, WA 98004
BRAX, RICHARD J. 423/K
–– Date of Death: March 22, 2008 14 Porter St. Quaker Hill, CT 06375
Reported by widow Rosalie Brax.
    Born on June 6, 1922 he served in the 106th Infantry Division, Company K, 423rd Infantry Regiment as a Staff Sergeant. He was taken prisoner and held in Stalag 9A and 9B. He was buried with military honors.
CALDWELL, C. WESLEY 423/HQ 1BN
–– Date of Death: March 11, 2008
Reported by son Charles W. Caldwell Jr. and 106th Assoc. Vet. Milton Feldman (423).
"Led an exemplary life and will be long remembered by anyone who ever met him."
CHITWOOD, JULIUS "JACK" R. 422/HQ 2BN
–– Date of Death: April 21, 2008
Surviving is his beloved wife of 63 years, his sisters and their families.
CROOK, HUBERT D. 422/F
–– Date of Death: April 15, 2008 9577 Southmoor Dr. Baton Rouge, LA 70815
Reported by widow Lillian.
DONOVAN, HOWARD A. 424/L
–– Date of Death: No date given 8700 S Honey Creek Rd. Muncie, IN 47302
Reported by widow Ellen.
EDELMAN, LOUIS 423/M
–– Date of Death: No date given
The Association was notified by friend
who said his daughter had written to
her; spouse also dead, daughter is
Hedy Levitan: 29 Chestnuts Drive,
Woodbury, NY 01179
MALAVAZOS, CONSTANTINE 589/C
–– Date of Death: March 9, 2008 1538 Castro St. San Leandro, CA 94577
    Reported by son Conrad Malavazos(AssociateMember), who stated, "he was aformer POW and requested to be buried with two pairs of socks."Widow Abbigail Malavazos.
MARKARIAN, PETER 422/E
–– Date of Death: April 11, 2008 3 May Street Millbury, MA 05127
Reported by widow Priscilla Markarian.
ROLLINS, GLENN E. 424/D
–– Date of Death: No date given
RUBNITZ, DOUGLAS D. 422/H
–– Date of Death: February 14, 2008 2410 Heather Terrace Beloit, WI 53511
SCHOECK, RICHARD 106 Signal
–– Date of Death: Reported on March 9, 2008
Reported by son Eric R. Schoeck.
WALKER, JACK DIXON 424/D
–– Date of Death: Reported on April 24, 2008 3509 Reynolds Road Douglesville, GA 53511
Reported by memberFrank S Trautman ***Editor's Special Notifications***
Angela Perrin Raup Crews Life Associate Member
–– Date of Death: June 22, 2007
    Granddaughter of Brigadier General Herbert T. Perrin, Assistant Commanding General, 106th Infantry Division during the Ardennes Offensive (Dec. 1944). She is survived by her husband, Richard C. Crews, her father William Wagner Raup, her mother Susanne Perrin Raup and brother John W. Raup.
Reported by her husband Richard C. Crews.
RUSSELL, J. B. 422/Service
–– Date of Death: January 15, 2008
    Survived by wife, Martha Russell and daughter Dianne Cardell. Reported by Ron Cardell, son-in-law (through John Robb, 106th Association Memorials Chairman).
VAUGHT, WILLIAM "BILL" S. 424/Anti-tank
––Date of Death: November 22, 2007
Reported by daughter Mary Louise Vaught.
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Index for This Document

106th Div., 17, 32, 33
106th Inf. Div., 2, 5, 9, 11, 17, 33, 35, 36, 37
106th Infantry Division Association, 2, 5, 9, 11, 30
106th Sig. Co., 44
28th Inf. Div., 16
423rd Inf., 21
423rd Inf. Regt., 42
423rd Regt., 22
424/A, 3, 4, 7, 13, 14, 45
424/D, 40, 44, 45
424/G, 14
424/I, 13, 40, 42
424/L, 3, 4, 40, 43
424th Inf. Regt., 21, 31
424th Regt., 7, 19
4th Inf. Div., 16
590th BN, 19
81st Cbt. Engr., 33
81st Engr. Cbt. BN, 33
Afghanistan, 5, 6
Albers, Bill G., 42
Albers, Helen, 42
Ardennes, 16, 27
Auerbach, Sydney, 13
Baltic Sea, 15
Barrick, Thomas M., 42
Bastogne, 7, 23
Battle Of The Bulge, 16, 33, 35
Beeth, Lyle, 2, 3, 4, 11, 13, 14, 48
Beeth, Will, 13
Belgium, 16, 27
Berga, 35
Berlin, 15, 24
Black, Ewell, 3
Black, Rev Ewell, 2
Black, Rev. Ewell C., 4
Bleialf, 19, 21
Bleialf-Schoenberg Road, 19
Boschert, Paul, 40
Bradley, Gen. Omar N., 15
Brax, Richard J., 42
Brax, Rosalie, 42
Brussels, 23
Bryan, Kenneth, 40
Bugner, Thomas, 13
Bugner, Tom, 15, 17, 21, 22
Burnhan, Mr., 31
Caldwell, C. Wesley, 42
Caldwell, Charles W., Jr., 42
Call, Geo, 3
Camp Atterbury, 17, 35
Camp Atterbury, IN, 17
Camp Atterbury, Indiana, 35
Cardell, Dianne, 45
Cardell, Ron, 45
Cheberenchick, Deanna B, 37
Cheberenchick, Joseph, 37
Chitwood, Julius 'Jack' R., 43
Christianson, Edward, 2, 4
Conley, Chuck, 15
Cox, Philip, 3
Crews, Angela Perrin Raup, 45
Crews, Richard C., 45
CRIBA, 27
Crook, Hubert D., 43
Cupp, Cpl. William, 31
DeGerlia, Gilbert, 40
Donovan, Howard A., 43
Donovan, Sgt. Bill, 31
Dorsey, Tommy, 31
Doxsee, Gifford, 2, 3, 9
Doxsee, Gifford B., 4, 5
Edelman, Louis, 43
Eide, Grete, 29, 30
Feldman, Milton, 42
Fort Benning, GA, 17
Fort Jackson, 17
Fort Jackson, SC, 17
Foster, George, 40
Ft. Jackson, 35
Ft. Jackson, SC, 31
Gatens, John, 13
Gehner, Lamoine, 40
Geneva, 35
Geneva Convention, 35
Germany, 23, 27, 38
Goering, Carl, 40
Greve, Walter C., 3
Guggenheim, Charles, 35
Harvey, Capt., 31
Heckhalenfeld, 33
Heckhalenfeld, Germany, 33
Hemphill, Melvin, 31
Herndon, Donald F., 3
Hinrich, Don, 40
Hurtgen, 16
Hurtgen Forest, 16
Iraq, 5
Italy, 15
Kaulitz, Dale, 13
Kaulitz, Ronald, 13
Keeler, Pvt. Ray, 31
Kline, John, 11, 37
Korea, 33
Lackey, Lt. Col. Vaden C., 21
Letellier, Col., 33
LeTellier, L. S. 'Lee', 33
LeTellier, Louis S., 33
Letellier, Louis S., Jr., 33
Levitan, Hedy, 43
Lichtenfeld, Sy, 3
Liege, 23
Limburg, Germany, 23
Litchenfeld, Sy, 3
Long, William Vaught, 14
Losheim, 17
Losheim Gap, 17
Luxembourg, 27
MacDonald, Charles, 24
MacDonald, Charles B., 16
Malavazos, Abbigail, 44
Malavazos, Conrad, 44
Malavazos, Constantine, 44
Maloney, Joe, 9
Maloney, Joseph, 3
Maloney, Joseph P., 9
Manhay, 7
Markarian, Peter, 44
Markarian, Priscilla, 44
Martin, Harry F., Jr., 3
Martin, Harry, Jr., 2, 4
Massey, Joseph, 3
Mayrsohn, Bernard, 3
McWhorter, William, 2, 3, 11, 12
McWhorter, William A., 11
Memorials, 45
Meroff, Benny, 31
Meuse, 23
Meuse River, 23
Morris, Clarence David, Jr., 14
Munday, Bill, 31
National Archives, 37
Nelson, Dr. Ralph, 3, 4
Normandy, 15
Omaha Beach, 15
Order Of The Golden Lion, 3
Our River, 19, 21, 33
Perrin, Brig. Gen. Herbert T., 45
Perrin, Gen. Herbert, 31
Perrin, Susanne, 45
Purple Heart, 16
Rain, John, 40
Raup, Susanne Perrin, 45
Raup, William Wagner, 45
Raup., John W., 45
Ray, Marion, 9, 40
Re-Constructed Roster For The 106th Inf. Div., 36
Red Ball, 15
Red Ball Express, 15
Reinkober, James J., 13
Reinkober, John, 13
Reinkober, John H., 13
Reunions, 5, 40, 48
Rhine, 15
Richey, Norman, 13
Rieck, Charles F., 4
Robb, Dr. John G., 2, 4
Robb, John, 45
Roberts, John M., 4
Rollins, Glenn E., 44
Roster, 36
Rubnitz, Douglas D., 44
Russell, J. B., 45
Russell, Martha, 45
Salemink, Dennis, 14
Salemink, Richard, 14
Schaffner, John, 3, 4, 11
Schaffner, John R., 25
Schanerberger, Ellsworth H., 4
Schoeck, Eric R., 44
Schoeck, Richard, 44
Schoenberg, 19
Shumate, Sam, 13
Siegfried Line, 15
Skyline Drive, 19, 21
Smkith, Jack D., 13
Soldiers and Slaves, 35
Stalag 9-A, 42
Stein, Murray, 2, 3, 9, 29
Steinebruck, 21
Swett, John, 3
Tennessee Maneuvers, 17
The Guide Dog Foundation, 1, 29
Trautman, Frank, 2
Trautman, Franks S., 4
Trueman, Dr. Duncan, 2, 3, 7
ULTRA, 16
Vaught, Jeanne, 14
Vaught, Mary Lou, 14
Vaught, Mary Louise, 45
Vaught, William, 14
Vaught, William 'Bill' S., 45
Vietnam, 33
Walker, Jack Dixon, 44
Weiss, Newton, 3
Weiss, Susan, 2, 12
Wente, Martin L., 4
West, Jim, 35
Wyatt, Tom, 40
Zuckerman, Jack, 35
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