Index for this issue of The CUB
Original Cub Document

Uploaded: 24-Nov-2022

The Henri-Chapelle Military Cemetery, Belgium.

For the cover story, please see page 20.

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Elected Offices
President Bob Pope (590/FABN)
Past-President (Ex-Officio) Wayne Dunn (Associate Member)
1st Vice-President Janet Wood (Associate Member)
2nd Vice-President Henry LeClair (Associate Member)
3rd Vice-President Open

    Business Matters, Deaths, Address changes to: Membership: Jacquelyn Coy 121 McGregor Ave., Mt. Arlington, NJ 07856 membership@l06thInfDivAssn.org 973-663-2410

Atterbury Memorial Representative Jim West
Historian Open
Membership Chair Jacquelyn Coy
Mini-Reunions Wayne Dunn
Nominating Committee Chair Brian Welke
Order of the Golden Lion Carol Falkner, Beth Garrison
Public Relations Chair Wayne Dunn
Reunion Co-chairs: Randy Wood, Brian Welke

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Board of Directors (all positions held through 2021)
Jacquelyn Coy, Membership (Associate member) 973-663-2410
121 McGregor Ave., Mt. Arlington, NJ 07856 jsc164@aol.com
Lisa M. Dunn (Associate member) (father-in-law: 424/HQ 3Bn) 443-604-1599
620 Coachmans Way, Parkton, MD 21120 CUBEditor@106thinfDivAssn.org
Wayne G. Dunn (Associate member) (father: 424/HQ 3Bn) [Past President] 410-409-1141
620 Coachmans Way, Parkton, MD 21120 Host106th@106thinfDivAssn.org
Henry LeClair (Associate member) (father: 422/G) 603-401-3723
209 Range Road, Windham, NH 03087 hemyleclair13@gmail.com
Bob Pope (590/FABN) 716-580-3118
6363 Transit Rd., Apt #133, East Amherst, NY 14051 bobepope@Icloud.com
Herbert "Mike" Sheaner (422/G) [Past President] 214-823-3003
PO Box 140535, Dallas, Texas 75214 herbsheaner@SBCGlobal.net
Mike Sheaner, Treasurer (Associate member) (father: 422/G) 214-823-3004
PO Box 140535, Dallas TX 75214 sheaner 1 @airmail.net
Kathy Spinella, (Associate member) (grandfather: 423/L) 305-562-4381
1991 Carolina Avenue NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33703 pspin142@aol.com
David Smith (Associate member) (father: 423/B) 225-573-8521
17922 Monitor Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70817 dbsmith110@gmail.com
Susan Weiss, (Associate member) (father: 423/HQ 3Bn) 609-820-8794
9 Cypress Point Court, Blackwood, NJ 08012-5595 susanweiss@comcast.net
Brian Welke (Associate member) [Past President] 352-408-5671
1821 Morris Street, Eustis, FL 32726-6401 brian423rd@gmail.com
Janet Wood (Associate member) (father: 423/1) 205-910-0542
561 Russet Bend Drive, Hoover, Al. 35244 KipKai2000@yahoo.com
Randall M. Wood (Associate member) (father: 423/1) [Past President] 765-346-0690
810 Cramertown Loop, Martinsville, IN 46151 woodchuck01@sbcglobal.net

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    I am pleased to report that I have received six phone calls in response to the challenge that I posted in the last CUB. They came from six different states and their presence at a reunion ranged from zero to about 16. All were at least 95 years old and only two indicated the possibility of attending the Reunion we had originally scheduled (pre-Coronavirus) in September, with difficulty getting around the main reason. I did have a number of interesting and lengthy conversations with them. John Mock wrote some copy on how and when he was captured which you will see in the "Veteran's Voices" section following in this issue.
    I also received a letter from Alain Larock who lives in Belgium. He was researching WWII veterans from Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge on the internet and found an article about me with two pictures, one was the cover of my book and the other was me in dress uniform and from early years. She made glossy prints, enclosed them in the letter, and asked me "to sign" them and send them back to her. I autographed them, wrote a letter and enclosed my book. She closed her letter by thanking me for "leaving family and friends to come and restore freedom in Europe."
    Then I received a phone call from a young man in Erie, PA. He is a student of Wars, especially WWII including the Battle of the Bulge and wanted to know my involvement in it. We talked for a while and I gave him some resources. He said we'll talk again, and I sent him a copy of my book.
    Now for the sad news. Since the last CUB our worst enemy ever, the Coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, struck all over the world. It hit especially hard in the U.S. and especially hard on seniors, on people with prior illness and in high population

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President's View . . .

    density areas. I was hoping and praying that we could get it under control so that we could get back to "living" and also keep our 74th reunion on the schedule, but that latter is not to be. We have since made the decision to cancel the reunion for this year out of an abundance of caution. Three years ago, a hurricane caused it to be rescheduled to January and attendance was less. But most importantly, I hope our dwindling numbers of veterans survived. The numbers of WWII Veterans is going down nationally every day. Hopefully, we will see you at the reunion in 2021.
Bob Pope President



Jim West and the IndianaMilitary.org Website
    Additional 106th Infantry Division information can be found on Jim West's (OGL 2000) website at IndianaMilitaty.org. It includes the following:
    Reconstructed Roster of the 106th at http://tinyurLcom/106th-Roster with 18,902 entries to date, including more than 300 individual photos which include:
6,760 POWs
962 as KIA
Every issue of The CUB from 1946 to present (searchable)
Every issue of the Camp Atterbury Camp Crier with articles on the 106th
Local Columbus, Indiana, newspaper articles featuring the 106th
With Wayne Dunn's help, over 451 diaries of 106th men and a few from other units
    Articles include: Battle of the Bulge, Important dates, Unit publications, Photo Albums, After-Action Reports, General and Special Orders and much more
Information on the 106th guarded PWTE (Prisoner of War Temporary Enclosures)
The official history site for Camp Atterbury, Indiana.

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Chaplain's Message . . .


Thank You for Freedom
    For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13 ESV

    A pastor recently stood at the grave of a WWII Veteran and watched as an elderly gentleman in tears lay a wreath at the base of the headstone. The pastor put his hand on the man's shoulder, and the man said, "Seventy-five years ago, he stepped into the line of fire for me, the least I can do is say, 'Thanks.'"
    In America, we are blessed with heaven-sent freedoms secured by the sacrifices of noble men and women defending our nation. Some have been wounded, some captured, and far too many have stepped in the line of fire for us. All of us should be grateful. The least we can do is say thanks.
How can we thank them? Honor them with your TLC -- your time, love, and care.
    For Veterans still living and even serving, take time to enjoy their company, share a meal, listen to their stories, help them with their needs, pray with them, lift up their spirits. Your spirit will be lifted as well. As Galatians 5:13 reminds us, "use your freedom to love and serve others."
    For Veterans who are no longer with us, remember them and their families. Visit their grave, place flowers or leave a memorial, think about their service to all of us, encourage their family with cards, calls, and acts of kindness.
    If you don't know a Veteran who has died, walk through your local cemetery. You will see their military service etched on their marker and feel their presence in the refreshing breeze of freedom that surrounds you. You will also feel gratitude. The memory of the righteous is a blessing. Proverbs 10:7
    While at my father's grave recently, a man drives up, walks past me and drives a steel post into the ground next to my father's headstone. He then placed a large American Flag on the pole.
    After adjusting the flag, he looks at me and says, "Its Armed Forces Day tomorrow. We have two National heroes in this cemetery, Master Sergeant Roddie Edmonds here and Lieutenant Alexander Bonnyman, Jr. up on the hillside. We honor them by placing a flag beside their grave on military holidays."
With profound gratitude I said, "Thank you sir."

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Chaplain's Message . . .

    His name was Bob Sholtz, head grounds-keeper for Berry-Highland Cemetery, Knoxville, Tennessee. He asked me, "Are you Sergeant Edmonds brother?" I said, "No, I'm his son."
He then asked, "Are you the preacher?" I said, "Yes sir."
    "It's an honor to meet you," he said. "I have your father's story on my desk. I read it often. I'm a veteran and I'm in awe of your father's service to our country in WWII and in what your Father and his men did to save their Jewish friends."
    Obviously, I was stunned. I thanked Mr. Sholtz for his service to our country and his kindness toward my Dad and Lieutenant Bonnyman.
Like Mr. Sholtz, we should love and honor all our veterans, those gone and those still with us.
On January 6, 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt addressed
    Congress on the state of the war in Europe. Much of what he said that day has been forgotten. But at the close of his address, he said that he looked forward "to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms." He named them: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. These words are still remembered, even though their ideals have not yet been realized everywhere in the world.
    Gratefully, we find these precious freedoms in America. They've been secured by a long line of citizen soldiers like Mr. Sholtz, Lieutenant Bonnyman, my dad, the heroic men of the 106th, and all who have given their best when our nation needed it most.
The least we can do is say thanks. The best we can do is what
they've done for us -- through love serve one another.


Visit the 106th Association's Website!
By Wayne Dunn
     To complement the wonderful websites that are already out on the Internet, including websites from our own members, Jim West (IndianaMilitary.org) and Carl Wouters (106thinfantry.webs.com), the Association has launched its own website at 106thInfDivAssn.org.
    This is where you will find information on upcoming events, copies of the membership application for your family to join, the complete latest issue, plus additional photos and articles from The CUB.
    Also look for our Facebook page at Facebook.com/106thInfDivAssn. This is where you can find up-to-the-minute information and where you can connect with friends and make plans for the next reunion. If you have any additional reunion photos or information that you would like to see on the website or Facebook page, please contact the Webmaster, Wayne Dunn at Host106th@l06thInfDivAssn.org or 410-409-1141.

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    The Board of Directors of the 106th Infantry Division Association recently met virtually for the first time ever to discuss the reasons to postpone our 2020 reunion. First, the state of our world has changed and has not yet set a clear path to a safe atmosphere for large meetings especially for those over 65 years of age. At this time, it is not clear when we will achieve that goal, but we will. We just have to stay safe until we get there. That is the reason we have chosen to postpone until September 8-12, 2021. We are betting that the safety of our veterans and families will not be a question then.
    Our President is Bob Pope, both for this year and for 2021. Sony Bob, but you are elected. We will be going to Kansas City in 2021 as planned for this year. We will have a room cost of $112 per night which is $13 above this year's cost. All of the amenities that were contracted for this year will remain for next year including breakfast for two for each night stayed.
    Not all is lost for this year in that the board began to plan how we can have a virtual reunion in the form of an enhanced Memorial Service. We spent most of our meeting discussing ideas as to how we do this. We want to follow the spirit of the script for our live Memorial Services to the best of our ability. We will have participants from around the world. Our placing of the wreath may take place in Belgium, our reading of the POW Pledge of Allegiance will come from a 106th veteran in Florida, our Chaplain's presentation will come from Tennessee, the reading of those we lost in the last year could come from New Jersey, our President's report would come from New York, and potentially our prayers and narrative will be live online. Some of this is speculation; however, we have people on our board with the technical skills to get this done and everyone is coming up with great ideas. Talk about social distancing! We will use our Facebook page and our website to relay to you the final plans as to how to attend this virtual Memorial service when the plans are completed.
    One other thing we have to address is making sure we have the funds to keep our CUB magazine going. We typically profit $2,400 from the reunion, which is placed in our treasury and therefore available to support the printing and mailing of The CUB. Since

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    we are not spending money for this reunion, maybe you could see yourself clear to donate towards this effort. If by chance you have already registered and have made your hotel reservations, call the hotel for a refund, and also the Armed Forces Reunion service to cancel this year's reservation.
Stay safe and watch for updates for the virtual Memorial Service.
See you then.
Randall M. Wood Adjutant 106th Infantry Division Association Robert Wood 423-I



106th Infantry Division's Online "Message Board"
    The 106th Infantry Division has their own online "message board" (set up by Jim West) for people to write an inquiry looking for comrades or for people who might have known a relative who is now gone. Sign up is free and easy!
    Association member Connie Pratt Baseman, daughter of Lt. Gerald Pratt (Field Artillery) has been one of three people helping to manage the message board. Sadly, some inquires sit unanswered when the answers may be out there with a reader of The CUB who doesn't use a computer. Maybe you can take the time to read the board and reach out to a veteran that you know to try and get the requested information.
You can find messages and other search requests on the 106th Message Board at:

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How to Be Your Own Historian
A Note from the Editor
    In the prior issue of The CUB, we informed you that our beloved historian, John Schaffner, passed away in March, leaving some awfully large boots to fill. As we continue our search to fill the role, I was wondering what it takes to be a historian. Well, it certainly takes a love of history, a quest, and a lot of research. But if you don't know where to go to get information, it can be a frustrating task with oftentimes unfulfilling results. Wayne Dunn agreed to contribute an article to this column and it just so happens to be about how to be your own historian in tracking down information about WWII and WWI Veterans. Thanks, Wayne!
    About five years ago the Association restarted an effort, outside of The CUB, to publicize our reunions in magazines and on websites. Since my reflexes are not nearly as good as they once were, I was unable to duck in time, and this task landed in my lap. However, it has been a blessing from the beginning. Each year, around two or three veterans of the 106th, or one of their children or grandchildren, will see one of the ads and call me.
    If the caller is a Veteran, the conversation always starts off with, "I never knew the Association existed," which to me, on one hand is very sad that these soldiers have missed out on almost 70 years of being able to share their experiences with those of you who know exactly what they went through, and on the other hand, it does bring comfort to me to listen to their story, talk about their lives, and be able to give them a brief overview of the tremendous amount of information that has been collected over the years.
    The children of Veterans are usually looking for information about what their fathers went through. In some cases, their fathers are gone now, having never spoken of their wartime experiences.
    After I found myself frequently repeating where information can be found, I decided maybe it would be easier if I put together a list of resources and how to gain access. I start by providing a little history of the 106th and then some suggestions of websites that I know about. Hopefully, some of you who are reading this may also find this useful.

Welcome to the 106th
    The 106th was the last Infantry Division formed during WWII. As the war was winding down in 1945, the men realized they needed to form an association so they could keep in touch with each other after the war. They created the framework for the organization and started their publication named "The CUB."
    The Association is still going strong, supported by 106th Veterans, their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and by volunteers who just want to keep their relatives' memories alive for future generations. [I also always tell them where and when the next reunion will be held.]

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Some resources you can use to be your own historian:
Our Association's Facebook page: facebook.com/106thInfDivAssn
Our website: 106thinfdivassn.org
David Smith maintains a Facebook Group for the 106th at: facebook.com/ groups/106thinfdivassoc
    Another great starting point for 106th-related information is a website created by James 'Jim' West. His website was created long before the Association created their own. He has accumulated and made available the largest, by far, collection of data regarding the 106th that exists anywhere in the world! The Association has no intention of trying to duplicate what Jim West has created, so our focus is to provide information concerning our Association via the Reunions and this CUB publication. His website can be found at: indianamilitary.org/106ID/ SoThinkMenu/106thSTART.htm (see more specifics below about using the index of Jim's website.)
    Our magazine, The CUB, is published three times a year, and we are now in the 76th year. There is a wealth of information in the magazines that cover first-person accounts from the soldiers that describe the events from their time in service.
    All prior copies of The CUB are available online at Jim's website: indianamilitary.org/106ID/SoThinkMenu/106thSTART.htm
Here is how to find a specific edition:
1.From the menu bar (which is in alphabetical order) on the left,
Click CUBs --ALL (Searchable) -- it looks like this: CUBs - ALL (Searchable)
    2.All available years will be listed -- any year with a plus sign means that menu item can expand too, showing more selections
3.Click a specific year to see available editions 4.Click on the edition of your choice
    In addition to The CUB publications, I started a project several years ago in an effort to translate each of The CUB pages into a searchable text document to make it easy to search for names and places. I'm about 70 percent done and have placed the index at: 106thinfdivassn.org/nameindex.html
That link also includes an index to names found on the Jim's website: IndianaMilitary.org
    You can read a brief history of the Association online at: 106thinfdivassn.org/historyassn.html which also has links to other articles of interest
continues on page 10

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    A large collection of more than 400 Veteran stories can be found at: indianamilitaty.org/106ID/SoThinkMenu/106thSTART.htm
1.From the menu bar on the left (which is in alphabetical order)
Click Diaries, Obits & Articles which looks like this:
    The plus sign in front of the text means this will expand to show you more things. All names listed are in alphabetical order, allowing you to quickly find a name of interest.
Click a name to see pictures, letters and other documents related to that person

    Next, I will explain some of the information contained on our website and how to find it. Open the website: 106thinfdivassn.org
    The links shown on the left of each page, listed below, provide easy access to information based on the categories listed:
Home: The latest news regarding the Association
Books: A list of books related to the 106th in the Battle of the Bulge
Contact: Contact information for all officers and members of the Board of Directors
    Events: Information concerning the Association's annual reunion, any mini-reunions that we have been informed of, or other miscellaneous reunions
Historian: An inventory of all items collected by our Historian (work-in-progress)
    History: A very brief history of the Association, with links to other websites pages that will provide more in-depth information
Join: Instructions on how to become a member of the Association
Links: Links to websites that contain further information on the 106th Infantry Division
Name Index:
A "Work-in-Progress" -- about 70 percent of The CUB magazines, which date back to 1945, have been indexed
Both the index and a text version of the work that has been done to date can be found on our website
In addition, Jim West was kind enough to provide assistance so that his website could also be indexed and included

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Photos: Links to photographs taken at the annual reunion or at mini reunions or other events
Stories:
Accounts provided by veterans regarding their experiences; in some cases, these may be submitted by descendants
There are many, many more on Jim West's website
The CUB:
Links to the most recent copies of The CUB magazine
All prior issues can be found on Jim West's website: indianamilitaty.org/106ID/SoThinkMenu/106thSTART.htm
Donations: Information the importance of donations to the Association and instructions on how a donation can be made


Jim West's Indiana Military Website
    By far, the greatest collection of 106th Infantry Division information that can be found anywhere can be reached at either of the following two links•
indianamilitaty.org/106ID/SoThinkMenu/106thSTART.htm
tinyurl.com/IM0-106th (links directly to 106th section)
    As mentioned above, Jim's website has a menu (index) located on the left side of each page. I suggest browsing through the links to see what you may find.
One very helpful link is the Roster which can be accessed by following these directions:
1.From the main menu located at the left of the home page,

Click Roster 106th ID which looks like this: Roster 106th ID

    2.The Roster has a very powerful search engine that can search any field listed in the column headings (see cautionary tips below)
    3.0n the top left of the Roster page, Click the word Search. This will display Search filters that will allow you to search on a number of different things.
4.You will now see two rows under the column headers
i. The first row contains expressions used with whatever you type below them
ii.The second row is where you type your search criteria
5 Enter text in the appropriate fields, then Click the Search button below the fields to run the search.
continues on page 12

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6.Records matching your search criteria are returned in a list below the Search fields
    7.Scrolling over each of the records displays a View button, which if clicked, will allow you to view more specific information about that individual

Cautionary tips about using the Roster
1.Enter the minimum amount of information to start your search and then add additional criteria as needed
2.Although names are saved like "Doe, John E.," it is not a good idea to type that full string into the search
3.If you are unsure of the spelling of a name, you can use asterisks or question marks as wildcards
    a.An asterisk represents any number of characters: for example, entering "nn*mas*" (without the quotes) will return about six people, including my father "Dunn, Thomas M."
    b.A question mark stands for only one character: for example, entering "unn*T?o?a?*" (without the quotes) will also return my father's record
    4.When searching in the "Unit" field, only enter the numeric part of the unit. This is because some may be listed as "424 INF" and some others as "424TH"

    One final topic that I'd like to bring attention to is the increased usage of social media when discussing someone who served with the 106th. All too frequently we may stumble across a Facebook posting giving details about the person who posted or their father. It may be someone that we had never heard of before. Unless Jim West stumbles across that post himself, that information may disappear forever. So, if you find information about someone that cannot currently be found on our websites, please send that information to either Jim West or me.
Wishing you the best of luck in your search through history!

Returned Issues of the Latest CUB of the Golden Lion
    We have gotten many returned CUB issues in the past due to incorrect addresses or members who have passed away and therefore no longer reside at the address we have on file. If you happen to know of anyone who is not getting The CUB who should be, it may be because we have an incorrect address. Or if you know of a member who has passed away and whose family no longer wishes to receive The CUB, we want to know.
    Please notify Membership Chair Jacquelyn Coy directly at the address listed on the inside cover of this issue if you know of anyone who falls into these categories so that our records may be updated with accurate information.

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Make checks payable to "106th Infantry Division Association" and mail them to the Treasurer:
Beginning Balance: $18,173.13
Money In: $1,825.76
Money Out: $3,071.95
Difference: ($1,246.19)
Ending Balance: $16,926.94

Total Membership 953
Membership Veterans 417
Associate Membership 536
Send your contribution, check made payable to 106th Infantry Div. Association, to:

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LIFE PLUS and REGULAR DONATIONS:
Henry E. Freedman 422/HQ
Hugh Roberts Associate Member
Everett Howland 422/L
Carol Starmack Associate Member
Dr. Ralph J. Nelson 422/CN
Roxanne Vendegna Associate Member

MEMORIAL and HONORARY DONATIONS:
In honor of my brother Anthony "Teno" Chansler, 592/FAB D Given by John F. Chansler

In honor of my friend Edgar (Ed) Carpenter, 81st ENG Given by John F. Chansler

In honor of my Dad, Staff Sgt. Charles S. Garn, 422/H Given by Jeff Garn

In memory of Franklin R. Koehler, 424/D who passed away on 12/1/2019 Given by Harry F. Martin and Jackie Coy

In memory of the men of the 590th Field Artillery Battalion Given by John J. Madden, Jr.

In memory of my father, Will S. Vaught, 424/Anti-Tank Given by Mary Louise Vaught

Memorial, Honorary and Life+Contributions are Essential for Keeping this Organization Going
    A suggested annual donation of $25 to help underwrite the cost to publish and mail The CUB through the "Last Man Standing" and beyond is appreciated. The Association exists on donations from its members and interested individuals. Your gifts are essential to maintaining The CUB magazine in its current format with high-quality content and tri-annual delivery. The cost of printing and mailing each edition of The CUB exceeds our current level of giving. Therefore, we encourage all readers to make an annual contribution, as you are able, to help defray the cost of printing and mailing.
    Those Members who contribute will have their names (only, no amounts will be shown) published in the next CUB. You can donate as much or as little as you can and as often as you like. By donating, you are helping perpetuate the 106th Infantry Division Association.

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106th Challenge Coin and Wooden Ornaments --Have You Gotten Yours Yet?

    Wooden Ornaments $10 each plus $2.00 shipping per ornament (For an order of 10 or more, will be quoted a better shipping cost)



    PLEASE NOTE: Membership Chair Jacquelyn Coy is working to update the Association's roster with veterans and their units. If you use email, please email her directly at membership@106thinfdivassn.org. In your message, please let Jacquelyn know your name and 106th Infantry Division unit. Thank you.

    To the widows of Golden Lions, if you would wish to continue to receive The CUB after the passing of your husband please let Membership Chair Jacquelyn Coy know. Her contact information is located above, in this box.

    CUB Staff occasionally receive requests to stop the mailing of their issue of The CUB. If you no longer want an issue to be mailed to you, please contact Jackie Coy, Membership Chair.

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    Written in his own words to his family from 1944-1946, this collection of hundreds of personal letters are virtually a "daily diary" chronicling one young man's desire to serve his country in Europe while staying connected to his family's daily life back home and, in the process, to imagine and value life's goals.
    "I believe anyone who has served in the Armed Forces, at any lime, will feel an immediate connection with Bob's writing about his best friends, questioning his future after the service, and his constant

"An excellent read ... I feel I am right alongside with him ..." Storekeeper, U.S. Coast Guard Retired
The Letter Box is now available on Amazon in print and Kindle
For every purchase a donation will be made to a charitable military-related organization!

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Order of the Golden Lion Committee
    This award is provided in three classifications depending on the qualifications of the recipient. The most prestigious is "Commander Class" issued in gold finish. This award is usually provided to someone who has served the Association faithfully over an extended period of time and is usually a Veteran of the 106th Infantry Division.
    The second is "Officer Class" issued in silver finish. This award is usually provided to someone who has served the Association faithfully over an extended period of time and has assisted in the operation of the Association.
    The third is "Companion Class" issued in bronze finish. This award is usually provided to someone who has served the Association faithfully in the capacity of assistance in the operation of the Association. The specifications for making the award are intended to fit many instances where an individual is deemed worthy. The award should be determined by the recipient's contributions to the Association.


Carol J. Faulkner 3179 Kestrel Court, Martinsville, IN 46151 765-342-1872 faulknerskeepe05@yahoo.com
Beth Garrison 7766 Haury Road Lebanon, IL 62254 618-628-4733 rgbg75@att.net

    Editor's Note: The criteria used to distinguish between who qualifies for the Commander Class vs the Officer Class is being discussed by the Board. The CUB will publish specifics when more information is available.

    These last few months have proven to be very challenging times for all of us and tragic times for many. We have all seen the news on how COVID-19 has tracked across the United States and the world, and we have heard of or may have even experienced friends and loved ones who have had it or even died from it. We have heard of or know people who could not work or lost their jobs because of mandates throughout the states to close non-essential businesses in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. And we have all experienced the new norm of social distancing and constant vigilance as we slowly, at varying levels, move forward to entering the work stream and living life outside home once again. But from times of great challenges often come great opportunities. It gave many of us the opportunity to come up with inventive ways of staying close when we could not BE close. To that end, I hope all of you find ways to reach out to loved ones, near and far. This is especially true of our Veterans, and those who are in nursing homes or assisted living facilities which may still be in lock down. I've heard of wonderful stories of families celebrating birthdays by having a caravan of cars drive by a residence or facility to share signs, honks, shouts, and waves of love. With my own 92-year-old mother who lives with Wayne and me, we have started doing family Zoom sessions. My kids Facetime and use video calls. You read from our Adjutant, Randy Wood, that our own Board of Directors had its first ever virtual board meeting. Carl Wouters shared the ways in which Memorial Day was celebrated during lockdown which you can read about on page 20. But staying close doesn't have to be high tech. Going back to pen on paper and sending a card or letter is a wonderful and appreciated gesture. And of course, we all look forward to staying connected by reading up on news in publications such as The CUB.
    I am so inspired by the stories I hear and the news I see of people coming up with fresh ideas on how to stay close when they cannot be close. What will your story be? Who will you reach out to to say, "Hello, I'm thinking of you" when you can't be there in person? When we can't be close physically except while wearing a face mask from a distance of 6 feet or more, or we have to have a glass window separating us, letting someone know they are remembered and cared for is so important. Reach out and let folks who may not yet be able to get out know they are not forgotten. With that being said, I am so pleased to be able to reach out to our readership and share in the publication of this edition of The CUB. There are a lot of good articles here from around the globe; from the past and the present; voices from today and yesterday sharing stories that I know you'll want to read. I hope you enjoy them all, and know that YOU are appreciated, remembered and cared about. Until next edition, stay safe and healthy.
Lisa Dunn
CUBEditor@l06thInfDivAssn.org

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Just a reminder . . .
    If you have pictures, an article, or some other form of information you would like included in a future issue of The CUB, the due dates are as follows:
October 1, 2020 -- mail date November 30, 2020 (to include reunion photos and remembrances)
    January 31, 2021-- mail date March 30, 2021 (issue will include reunion paperwork) May 1, 2021-- mail date mid-July, 2021 (issue will include reunion paperwork)

CUB Editor: Lisa Dunn 620 Coachmans Way, Parkton, MD 21120 443-604-1599 CUBEditor@l 06thInfDivAssn.org

CUB Publisher: Susan Weiss
9 Cypress Point Court Blackwood, NJ 08012 609-820-8794 (please leave a message) CUBPublisher@l06thInfDivAssn.org

Planned Giving
    Whether you would like to put your donation to work today or benefit the 106th Infantry Division Association beyond your lifetime, you can find a charitable plan that works for you. Popular means of life planning gifts include Wills and Living Trusts and Beneficiary Designations. Consult your professional advisor on how to extend support for the 106th Infantry Division Association to make a lasting impact.


The CUB Delivery Options
    Approximately 90% of Association expenses are directly related to printing and shipping The CUB each year. Your choice to receive The CUB by email will help defer expenses and enable us to continue to deliver The CUB until "The Last Man Standing." Please indicate mailing preference by responding to the following:
Preferred delivery method for general correspondence:
MAIL or Email
Preferred delivery method for The CUB:
MAIL or Email
Email address:
You can let us know your preference by emailing:
membership@l06thinfdivassn.org CUB Publisher: Susan Weiss
9 Cypress Point Court
Blackwood, NJ 08012
609-820-8794 (please leave a message)
CUBPublisher@l06thInfDivAssn.org


Observing Memorial Day During Lockdown
By Carl Wouters, Association Belgium Liaison
    Since 12 March 2020, Belgium, like most nations around the world, has put measures into effect in order to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus Covid-19. These restrictions impacted daily life in a big way, restricted all non-essential travel and temporarily prohibited mass gatherings such as conventions, cultural events and ceremonies. These unprecedented times also impacted many events that were planned to remember the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII. Most were postponed till 2021.
    The last Monday in May marks Memorial Day. Since 1923, this day has been traditionally observed in Belgium to honor and remember the fallen military personnel of the US Army that helped liberate Belgium during the Great War. From 1945 onwards, it was expanded to include the victims of the Second World War. Three main cemeteries are maintained by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) on Belgian soil: the Flanders Field Cemetery in Waregem where 368 U.S. military dead of WWI are at rest, the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial in Welkenraedt with 5,317 U.S. fallen, and the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial in Hombourg, a 57-acre site where 7,992 fallen soldiers are remembered. Other cemeteries are located in France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
    Those of you who have previously attended Memorial Day commemorations at these overseas cemeteries will know that they are always well attended by the public. Local schools and thousands of people from all over Europe make visits on Memorial Day to lay flowers and reflect on the memory of the fallen GIs. This tradition helps to perpetuate the history of our liberators to the younger generations.
    The 2020 Coronavirus outbreak and the possible risks for public health meant that a physical gathering at the cemeteries would not be possible like in previous years. At the Netherlands American Military Cemetery in Margraten, the public ceremony was equally cancelled due to coronavirus-related measures, but a private ceremony was held in attendance of King Willem-Alexander and several dignitaries. This ceremony was televised live through the Dutch public broadcasting network NOS on Sunday 24 May 2020.
    For the cemeteries in Belgium, a digital alternative was created for the 2020 Memorial Day Ceremony. In cooperation with the ABMC and the US embassy Brussels, the American Overseas Memorial Day Association (AOMDA) Belgium, an online interactive ceremonial event was livestreamed on Youtube.
The video presentation included speeches by U.S. Ambassador

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    Ronald J. Gidwitz, secretary of the ABMC William Matz and Belgian Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes. It also features footage from past events. Lt. General John Love, Dr. Jerome Sheridan, president of the AOMDA and several Belgian mayors reflected on a few individual stories of fallen soldiers. The story of the eleven GIs of the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion, attached to the 106th Division and who were killed at Wereth at the hands of the Waffen-SS on 17 December 1944 was also featured in one segment.
    Even though the event has ended, it remains possible to watch the entire presentation online at youtube.com/watch?v=aHFmiB8gdSs or via memorialdayonline.com/ceremony

    Though we are all affected by the pandemic in some way or another, I hope that all association members and their families are safe and in good health. Hopefully we can soon return to our regular lives and have the chance to meet again in person. In the meantime, we'll continue our remembrance of the Golden Lions who made the ultimate sacrifice. Lest we forget!


    [photo] Taken at the Henri-Chapelle Military Cemetery last year during the Memorial Day ceremony, showing the grave of Sgt. James L. Davis, 106th Signal Company, Carl Wouters's "adoptee."

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On Familiar Ground: The Capture of St. Vith in May 1940
By Carl Wouters, Association Belgium Liaison

    [photo] The Difference Five Years Makes -- The picture on the left shows German panzers rolling into St. Vith on 10 May 1940 (Photo BA/CC-BY-SA). The center photo shows the exact same view in January 1945 during the recapture of the ruins of the town. (Photo NARA) The third photo shows the same view of the reconstructed town in 2019. (Photo Carl Wouters)

    Eighty years ago, on May the 10th, the German army began their invasion of the low countries and dragged neutral Belgium into the Second World War. A few minutes before the first troops set foot across the border, nine German gliders landed on the roof of the Fortress of Eben-Emael, situated along the Albert Canal near Liege. In just fifteen minutes the German paratroopers took out the heavy armament of the fortress with the help of newly designed hollow charge explosives. The Belgian garrison of more than 1,000 troops were trapped. The fortress, at the time believed to be impregnable, was captured in just 36 hours. In eighteen days the Belgian army would be pushed back towards the most western corner of the country, trapped in a cul-de-sac along with units of the French army and the entire British Expeditionary Force. After suffering heavy losses and seeing the impossibility of the situation, Belgian King Leopold III offered the unconditional surrender of his army to the German General Von Reichenau and General Paulus on 28 May 1940. The remnants of the army were marched off to POW camps and the Belgian population would face four years of harsh occupation, until their liberation by Allied troops in September 1944. Two months later the Battle of the Bulge would bring the fighting back to the Ardennes and troops like the 106th Division would tread on some of the same ground that had been fought over at the beginning of the war.
    In 1940, the Belgian-German frontier was only lightly defended. Near the border, watch detachments occupied several warning stations that are tasked to sound the general alert in case of enemy attack and to destroy vital roads and bridges to stem the advance of the attacking troops. There was no solid line occupied by Belgian troops in this

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    area. In case of an attack, the plan was that the Belgian army would fall back to subsequent defensive lines in the center of the country, while the British and French armies could advance to help stop the German invader.
    The Belgian East cantons, consisting of mostly small farming communities, forests and three cities (Eupen-Malmedy-St. Vith) had been part of the German Empire before 1919. After the Great War the area had been assigned to the Kingdom of Belgium as a war reparation. Hoping to avoid a repetition of the Great war, assigning the area to Belgium meant an improvement of its eastern border and a better protection of the fortresses around Liege. The local population, ethnically German, had not been consulted. A referendum was organized, but those who voted against annexation were threatened with deportation and seizure of property. The people of the East Cantons struggled with their new identity and with many the hope remained of one day returning to Germany. When German troops broke the provisions of the Versailles Treaty in 1936 by remilitarizing the Rhineland, the pro-German population hoped that they would soon be reunited.
    Having pro-German feelings did not necessarily mean pro-nazi. After the German Kristallnacht of 1938, German Jews and refugees attempted to cross the border into neutral Belgium. Many were aided and sheltered by the mostly Catholic farming families of the East Cantons, even pro-Germans.
    After the invasion of Poland and the so-called phony war between France and Germany in 1939, the signs of impending war grew stronger along the Belgian frontier. The Belgian army mobilized. Young men from the East Cantons were also conscripted and like most soldiers were also granted home leave. Some of the pro-Germans draftees never returned to their unit, deserted and crossed the border into Germany. There the German army used their knowledge of the area and Belgian defenses willfully by placing them in a special commando and sabotage unit called ZBV 800 (Special Mission 800).
    On 10 May 1940, it were these men who spearheaded the German 15th Army Corps, which was to take St. Vith and cross the Meuse River at Dinant. To ensure a quick advance through the Ardennes, the men of ZBV 800's mission to avoid that the Belgian troops blew up vital road and rail infrastructure.
    At Schonberg, the 5th Panzer Division needed the bridge across the Our intact. A group of six commandos had crossed into Belgium during the night. They wore civilian clothes over their German uniforms. They waded through the river and cut the detonation cords of the charges on the bridge and captured the unsuspecting Belgian gendarmes. The Steinebruck bridge was captured intact as well. The bridge had not been mined, but a solid stone barricade had been constructed across the width of the structure. When this was demolished, the road to St. Vith was opened. With the exception of a bridge in Schlierbach and a railroad bridge
continues on page 24

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    outside St. Vith, all major infrastructure had been captured intact by the commandos. A short firefight with a dozen gendarmes near their barracks in the center of the city concluded the 'battle' and soon the Panzers rolled through the streets. German sympathizers welcomed the German troops as liberators, as their prayers for a reunification with Germany were answered. An administrative decree of 29 May 1940 reattached the Belgian East Cantons to the German Third Reich. In 1941 the local population were given the German nationality.
    This new nationality naturally had consequences. Regardless of pro-Belgian or pro-German sentiments, local young men were drafted into the Wehrmacht. Many were drafted against their will and most ended up fighting on the Eastern front in Russia and the Ukraine, where many died as cannon fodder. After the liberation in 1944 the East Cantons were reinstated as Belgian territory when the German decrees were nullified. In addition, Belgian legal repression made no difference between forced-conscripts and volunteers and all of the 'new Belgians' who had served in German uniform were tried and convicted for military collaboration. Most were given prison sentences and lost civil rights.
    St. Vith's Odyssey was not over. During the Battle of the Bulge the battle for St. Vith was significantly more difficult for the Germans. The city was almost entirely destroyed by aerial bombing and artillery. The martyred town was completely rebuilt after the war. Today it is a beautiful spot in the Belgian Eifel/Ardennes, where everyone knows the importance of remembrance and the phrase "never again."


    [photo] The Stone Bridge -- The bridge at Steinebruck in 1940, 1945 and 2019. Again the effects of the heavy fighting of December 1944 and aerial bombing of January 1945 are evident. The old customs houses where the members of D-Company, 424"' Infantry Regiment were billeted in December 1944 are all gone. Only their foundations are still visible in the hillside. In 1940, this was one of the main advance points of the German Blitzkrieg. (Photos: Carl Wouters)

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"VETERANS VOICES"
    This is a recurring article for The CUB initiated at the 73'd Annual Reunion. Veterans are asked to submit their brief personal stories for inclusion in future issues of The CUB. Whenever possible, please submit your story attached to an email so it can easily be transferred to The CUB.

John H. Mock -- 106th Division, 422nd Battalion 3rd Platoon, L Company 3-Squad
    We were upon the hill with the pill boxes on December 14th. I, John Mock, was on guard about 4 o'clock. They started a tank engine with a loudspeaker. There was snow on the ground, no wind, and cold. You could hear this for miles. On December 15th, the same thing. December 16th, I was asleep. The German tanks stayed on the main roads. All we had were farm roads. They said the Germans were coming towards Auw so down the hill we went. We drove them back about a mile. It was getting late, so we came back. We stopped at a small clump of trees. They said, "Make a lot of noise, bang shovels on rocks, and holler." When it got dark, we moved out; no sound. We had one dead man on a stretcher. We dug fox holes around Auw close to the houses and buildings. About 11 o'clock, they made tooth picks out of those trees. They stopped shelling. No sound. We were not there. An hour later, they started shelling close to us. They did not hit the buildings.

    We could hear the shells coming in. Some of them did not go off. We had a 105 Howitzer. It was on a hill south of town. There was a barn with a small rock pen. This was where the 105 was. The next morning, there were two small tanks coming up the road. When they made that small curve, they got both of them. The next day there were two trucks driving slow coming out of the trees. The 105 stopped both of them. Behind them were team and wagons. He got one of them. We stopped that convoy the next morning. Mortar shells started coming from the south trying to get the 105. The 105 turned around and fired back; and that stopped them. They told us to go take Schonberg. They were already there. We hid in a clump of trees. Lt. Christiansen said, "We are going to go single file at night back to American lines." We heard the word, "Auctun." We hit the ground. They killed Lt. Christiansen. They shot up flares. We were then prisoners.
From "Forced March" by John. H. Mock

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Veterans and Family of the 106th Infantry Division TATTOO* Requests
    The original meaning of military tattoo was a military drum performance, but subsequently it came to mean army displays, or a form of gathering more generally. For our Association, letting members know that someone would like to speak with them is why we do this!
    The following are requests for information. Feel free to contact the person listed if you believe you can be of assistance. The CUB staff has received permission to print the inquiries and the contact information listed herein.

    In celebration of my dad, Paul Panagrosso: Paul Panagrosso entered WWII joining the U.S Army at age 18 to be part of the 106th Infantry Division. He was captured by the Germans on the first day of the Battle of the Bulge, December 16, 1944. After marching for days in snow he was placed in Stalag XIA and then transferred to Stalag IIIA. Eventually he was sent off to a work camp where he spent untold hours unloading railroad ties.
    In April 1945, the work camp was evacuated, and he was forced to march eastward, away from the advancing Allies. His feet were frostbitten, and he needed the aid of a cart for this journey. Near the Elbe River, he and his group stopped to take shelter. That evening the town came under attack by advancing Americans and they were liberated, ending 5 months of captivity. He was 165 pounds when he entered the Army. But when he arrived at Camp Lucky Strike in France for treatment, he weighed only 100 pounds. After just one month in the hospital recuperating, he was put on a ship back to the States. Upon reaching America, he received a well-deserved 60-day furlough. He was reassigned to Camp Devens, MA, where he waited for word on possibly deploying to the Pacific against Japan. The war thankfully ended before this occurred and he was released from the Army in December 1945.
    Like so many other Americans, our father was part of "The Greatest Generation". And I am happy to share with you that he celebrates his 95th Birthday on July 5th. --Scott Panagrosso
    In search of information on Wayne C. Smith: I am conducting research on my father's experiences during the Battle of the Bulge and as a POW. His name is Wayne C. Smith and he was in the 592nd Artillery Battalion, Battery A, and was captured on December 19, 1944. If you have any information about my father, his battalion, or other ideas on where I might search for information, I would most appreciate your emailing me at: trawick@easternct.edu.
Thank you! Jeff Trawick-Smith

    Note: Association member Connie Pratt Baseman, daughter of Lt. Gerald Pratt (Field Artillery) and has been one of three people helping to manage the 106th's online 'message board' (set up by Jim West) for people to write an inquiry looking for comrades or for people who might have known a relative who is now gone. Sadly, some inquires sit unanswered when the answers may be out there with a reader of The CUB who doesn't use a computer. The list has gotten quite long and she has asked that whenever there is room in The CUB that we add a few of the requests. You can find messages like these, along with other searches on the 106th Message Board at the following web address: 106thdivision.proboards.com

    Editor's Note: Looking for information about men with whom you served, or family members who served? Check out this edition's "Historian's Page," which provides many different resources in How to Be Your Own Historian.


The Importance of a Mini Reunion
    Our veterans will always remember December 16, 1944, when they were thrust into the chaos of war. The years may have thinned the ranks, but those who remain still have the pride of knowing they played an instrumental part in slowing -- and ultimately defeating -- the German war machine.
    As it becomes more difficult to travel, it is of critical importance that mini-reunions be held wherever our vets can join in. Any city, town -- or even in someone's home -- would be a fine place to gather to honor, cherish and remember all of our veterans. Plan one in your area today!
    Contact Mini-Reunion Chair Wayne Dunn at host106th@l06thInfDivAssn.org and he can assist you with members in your area.

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Front & Center . . .

Read Any Good Books Lately?
    As you may have noticed, there are a lot less advertisements for books in this edition of The CUB. Moving forward, we will only be including paid advertisements to help defray the cost of printing and mailing the magazine. But, all of the advertisements from veterans whose books were advertised in previous CUBs can be viewed on the association website at: 106thinfdivassn.org/books/
The books by and about the 106th Division association members advertised on our website are:
Captured at the Battle of the Bulge by Russ Lang
Captured, Frozen, Starved -- and Lucky: How One Jewish American GI Survived a Nazi Stalag by Milton Feldman
Forced March by John H. Mohn
    From Brooklyn to the Battle of the Bulge and on to Building an International Business -- The Incredible Story of Bernard (Barney) Mayrsohn by Seth H. Bramson
I Was a Prisoner by Carmel Whetzel
I Was No Hero in the Battle of the Bulge by Harry F. Martin, Jr.
My Grandfather's War by Jesse Cozean
My Nine Lives by Bob Pope
My War by Fredrick Smallwood
No Surrender by Chris Edmonds
Once Upon a Time in War by Robert E. Humphrey
Prisoner's Odyssey by Herb Sheaner
Shadows of Slaughterhouse Five by Ervin Szpek Jr.
The Sitting Duck Division: Attack from the Rear by John W. Morse, 422/C
The Letter Box by Robert "Bob" Glover
Warm Memories of Cold Spring by Beatrice Keeber
Warriors of the 106th -- The Last Infantry Division by Ken Johnson, Martin King, & Michael Collins
contact Susan Weiss at CUBPublishet®106thInfDivAssn.org or treasurer
Mike Sheaner at sheanerl@airmail.net for more information.

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From Chris Edmonds, Chaplain, 106th Infantry Division Association
    Spanning seven decades and linking a sprawling cast of unknown heroes from every corner of the country, NO SURRENDER is an unforgettable story of a father's extraordinary acts of valor that saved thousands of American soldiers in the treacherous final days of World War II and a son's journey to discover them.
    Roddie Edmonds, a humble soldier from East Tennessee, rarely spoke about his experiences with the 106th Infantry during World War II. Not even his son Chris knew the full details of Roddie's capture at the Battle of the Bulge or his captivity in two Nazi POW camps.

    Sparked by his daughter's family history project, Chris embarked on a years-long journey in a race against time to interview surviving POWs under Roddie's command and retracing his father's footsteps, from Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where a boyish Roddie transformed into a seasoned leader of men, to the patch of grass near Ziegenhain, Germany, where he looked evil in the eye and dared a Nazi to shoot.

    A quintessential American story of bravery, compassion, and righteousness, NO SURRENDER is a shining example of the redemptive power of moral courage in a celebration of faith, family and selfless service.
Order online at HarperCollins, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million and other book sellers

ANDREWS, JOHN CRANE 592/ FABN/A
Date of death: December 22, 2019
    "The recent copy of the Cub made me aware I'd not informed you of our loss of John Crane Andrews on December 22, 2019. He passed in Hospice after three years of failing memory and health. He was 94 years; we celebrated 68 years of marriage. John and I had a fine life together. Met and married in New Jersey where we had our first home and two boys. We moved to CA in 1951 where our third and last son was born. John was offered a position with his company to manage the Portland office and so we landed here on beautiful Oregon Beach, our Portland home. Our love of the outdoors led us to a small cabin on a man-made lake in WA. We all love fishing, sailing and hiking and hanging out at the end of a dirt road. When our boys married, we sold our home and did some traveling. Our last home was in Oregon, where I still live. Our children are all living within 10 miles of me. John and I enjoyed our six grandsons, one granddaughter. Now they, too, are married and we have five great-grands. Needless to say, I miss John, but am glad he is out of the pain of these last years. He never spoke much of his time
    in the Army. Once when asked, "Don't you hate Germans?," he replied, "No, they were just kids like us doing what their government ordered". John was an honest, trustworthy, gentle man. I am proud to say our children are following his example".
Submitted by his wife, Patricia Andrews

PURINGTON, CHARLES O. 106th Date of death: May 16, 2020
    Charles O. Purington, a WWII Veteran, Purple Heart recipient and former POW, who was fondly known by his friends as Charlie or Chas, passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2020. Charles was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Madeline Purington, on March 17, 2018, his daughter Jeanette Myers (Jimmy) in 2015, his brother Walter Purington and brother Herbert Purington in 2016. Surviving family members include his children: Diana Cushing (Alan) of Columbia, SC. Paulette Paisley (Peter) of Eliot Maine, Steven Purington of Green Cove Springs Florida; grandchildren: Steven Kelleher (Samantha), Charles Kelleher (Tracey),

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    Brenda Starnes (Rick), Ben Paisley (Lidieth) and eight great grandchildren. Survivors also include his brothers Richard Purington of AK, and his sister Margaret Phelan of ME and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
    Charles was born in Greenfield, MA on November 6, 1925 and was raised through his formative years through the great depression. This experience would impact the way he lived his life and raised his family. Charles volunteered to join the Army after completing high school and was selected for the officers training school beginning of the school year in 1943. Due to the war this program was closed, and he was transferred to the infantry where he would serve as a machine gunner with the 106th Infantry Division. In the Army, Charles quickly distinguished himself by receiving a commendation before entering battle when he and another solider, PFC Alfred Colebourn, captured two escaped German soldiers while stationed in England. From there his unit was deployed to Belgium and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. Charles was captured on December 19, 1944 by the Germans after his squad was killed in a mortar attack. Charles and the rest of the prisoners were sent to a POW camp located in Eastern Germany via train, which was bombed by the Allies because it was thought to contain German soldiers. Eventually Charles and other POWs were put to work in a factory making blankets for German soldiers. They did get some satisfaction from this by making the blankets extra thin and imagining the German soldiers shivering under their blankets. He would end up being sent to a total of three POW camps. While at the last POW camp the POWs noticed that during severe thunderstorms the Germans turned off the electric fences. During the next storm, the POWs cut a hole in the fence and escaped.
    Charles spent the remaining months of the war with Russian soldiers, our allies in WWII. Charles, who had been reported missing initially in the Greenfield paper after the 106th division was listed as annihilated, returned home aboard the Queen Elizabeth. Charles never talked about the war, the only reason we have this much information is he agreed to be interviewed by one of his grandsons and his heroism was finally documented.
    Charles retired from the Kendell Company in 1990 after 43 years of dedicated service. Throughout his life he was a dedicated outdoorsman, he shot his first deer at the age of 12. Charles had a passion for shooting, hunting and boating. While living in his home state of Massachusetts he would take his family skiing almost every weekend during the winter season. He had true Yankee Ingenuity and was always working with his hands. So many family photos show him bent over, working on a project of some sort -- could have been a boat motor, his work bench or any other contraption that needed his attention. He would find a solution to almost any problem. He even built his own boat and water skis, as well as arrows for his bowhunting.
continues on page 32

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    Later in life this passion for the outdoors and for tinkering steered him towards golf. He was first introduced to the game when he and his son were entered into a company tournament. Charles was not happy with his first attempt at golf, so he applied himself to the task of learning the game, like so much in his life he persevered and became an accomplished player. He ultimately achieved two of the most desired feats for a golfer: making a hole-in-one (of which he had numerous) and he was able to shoot his age. Once he achieved this milestone, he was able to do so on a regular basis right up until the time he stopped playing the game in his late 80s. Most importantly, he was a great person to spend time with on the golf course. Friends and family members cherished their time with him on the links. Whether it was a local game or a road trip with friends, he had the right amount of humor, competitive spirit and eagerness to help others.
Published in The Augusta Chronicle on May
21, 2020
Reported by Jim West

WENC, CHESTER C. 424/B
Date of death: June 18, 2017
Submitted by the Wenc family


PLEASE NOTE:
    To the widows of Golden Lions, if you would wish to continue to receive The CUB after the passing of your husband, please let Membership Chair Jacquelyn Coy know. Her contact information is located on the inside cover of this CUB.

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By donating, you are helping perpetuate the 106th Infantry Division Association.
106thInfDivAssn.org

[inside back cover]

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Pass It On
    Perpetuate the legacy of the 106th Infantry Division by giving every family member of all generations access to the rich history, news and stories of veterans found in each issue of The CUB. You can now "pass it on" to as many friends, heirs and family members as you wish at no cost!
Those you designate will be recognized as members of the association on the "CUB Level" with the following benefits:
Receive an electronic copy of The CUB delivered by email complete with color photos and graphics
Access to the association website and Facebook pages
Receive timely notices and information regarding reunions and special announcements
    Enroll all family members -- sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, grandchildren and others -- by submitting their Name, Email, Address and relationship to a 106th veteran to sheanerl@airmail.net

[back cover]

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Index for This Document

106th Div., 23, 24, 33
106th Sig. Co., 23
15th Army, 25
333rd FA BN, 23
424th Inf., 14
592nd Arty. BN, 29
Albert Canal, 24
American Battle Monuments Commission, 22
American Military Cemetery, 22
Andrews, John Crane, 32
Andrews, Patricia, 32
Ardennes, 22, 24, 25, 26
Ardennes American Cemetery, 22
Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, 22
Auw, 27
Baseman, Connie Pratt, 9, 29
Battle of the Bulge, 4, 5, 24, 26, 28, 29, 33
Belgian King Leopold Iii, 24
Belgium, 4, 8, 22, 24, 25, 33
Blixt, Tim & Lori, 16
Bonnyman, Lt., 7
Bonnyman, Lt. Alexander, Jr., 6
Books, 30, 31
Bramson, Seth H., 30
Brussels, 22
Camp Atterbury, 5
Camp Atterbury Camp Crier, 5
Camp Atterbury, IN, 5
Camp Lucky Strike, 28
'Captured At the Battle of the Bulge', 30
Captured, Frozen, Starved -- and Lucky
How One Jewish American Gi Survived A Nazi Stalag, 30
Carpenter, Edgar (Ed), 16
Chansler, Anthony 'Teno', 16
Chansler, John F., 16
Christiansen, Lt., 27
Colebourn, Pfc. Alfred, 33
Collins, Michael, 30
Coy, Jackie, 16, 17
Coy, Jacquelyn, 2, 3, 14, 17, 32, 34
Coy, Jacquelyn S., 15
Cozean, Jesse, 30
Cushing, Diana, 32
Davis, Sgt. James L., 23
Dinant, 25
Dunn, Lisa M., 3
Dunn, Thomas, 14
Dunn, Thomas M., 14
Dunn, Wayne, 2, 5, 7, 10, 29
Dunn, Wayne G., 2, 3
Edmonds, Chris, 30, 31
Edmonds, M/Sgt. Roddie, 6
Edmonds, Pastor Chris, 2, 6
Edmonds, Roddie, 31
Edmonds, Sgt., 7
Elbe, 28
Elbe River, 28
Eupen, 25
Eupen-Malmedy-St. Vith, 25
Falkner, Carol, 2
Faulkner, Carol J., 19
Feldman, Milton, 30
Flanders Field Cemetery, 22
Forced March, 27, 30
Fortress Of Eben-Emael,, 24
France, 22, 25, 28
Freedman, Henry E., 16
Ft. Jackson, SC, 31
Garn, Jeff, 16
Garn, S/Sgt. Charles S., 16
Garrison, Beth, 2, 19
Germany, 25, 26, 33
Gidwitz, Ronald J., 23
Glover, Robert 'Bob', 30
Glover, Sgt., 18
Glover, Sgt. Robert 'Bob', 18
Henri-Chapelle, 22
Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, 22
Henri-Chapelle Military Cemetery, 1, 23
How One Jewish American Gi Survived A Nazi Stalag, 30
Howland, Everett, 16
Humphrey, Robert E., 30
I Was A Prisoner, 30
I Was No Hero In The Battle Of The Bulge, 30
Johnson, Ken, 30
Keeber, Beatrice, 30
Kelleher, Charles, 32
Kelleher, Steven, 32
King, Martin, 30
Koehler, Franklin R., 16
Lang, Russ, 30
Larock, Alain, 4
LeClair, Henry, 2, 3
Liege, 24, 25
Lucky Strike, 28
Luxembourg, 22
Madden, John J., Jr., 16
Margraten, 22
Martin, Harry F., 16
Martin, Harry F., Jr., 30
Matz, William, 23
Mayrsohn, Bernard (Barney), 30
Meuse River, 25
Mock, John, 4, 27
Mock, John H., 27
Mock, John. H., 27
Mohn, John H., 30
Morse, John W., 30
My Grandfather's War, 30
My Nine Lives, 30
'My War', 30
Myers, Jeanette, 32
Nelson, Dr. Ralph J., 16
Netherlands, 22
No Surrender, 30, 31
Normandy, 4
Once Upon A Time In War, 30
Order of the Golden Lion, 2, 19
Paisley, Ben, 33
Paisley, Paulette, 32
Panagrosso, Paul, 28
Panagrosso, Scott, 28
Paulus, Gen., 24
Phelan, Margaret, 33
Photo Album, 5
Photos, 13, 26
Poland, 25
Pope, Bob, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 30
Pow Pledge Of Allegiance, 8
Pratt, Lt. Gerald, 9, 29
Prisoner of War, 5
Purington, Charles O., 32
Purington, Herbert, 32
Purington, Madeline, 32
Purington, Richard, 33
Purington, Steven, 32
Purington, Walter, 32
Purple Heart, 32
Queen Elizabeth, 33
Rhineland, 25
Robb, Dr. John G., 2
Roberts, Hugh, 16
Roosevelt, Franklin Delano, 7
Roster, 5, 13, 14
Russia, 26
Schaffner, John, 10, 16
Schlierbach, 25
Schonberg, 25, 27
Sgt. Glover's World War Ii Letters Home, 18
Shadows Of Slaughterhouse Five, 30
Sheaner, Herb, 30
Sheaner, Herbert 'Mike', 3
Sheaner, Mike, 2, 3, 15, 30, 35
Sholtz, Bob, 7
Smallwood, Fredrick, 30
Smith, David, 3, 11
Smith, Wayne C., 29
Spinella, Kathy, 3
St. Vith, 24, 25, 26
Stalag III-A, 28
Stalag XI-A, 28
Starmack, Carol, 16
Starnes, Brenda, 33
Steinebruck, 25, 26
Szpek, Ervin, Jr., 30
The Importance Of A Mini Reunion, 29
'The Last Infantry Division', 30
The Letter Box, 18, 30
The Sitting Duck Div., 30
Trawick-Smith, Jeff, 29
Van De Bogart, Helen, 16
van De Bogart, Herman, 16
Vaught, Mary Louise, 16
Vaught, Will S., 16
Vendegna, Roxanne, 16
Versailles Treaty, 25
Visit The 106th Association's Website!, 7
Von Reichenau, Gen., 24
'Warm Memories of Cold Spring', 30
Warriors Of The 106th, 30
Weiss, Susan, 3, 21, 30
Welke, Brian, 2, 3
Wenc, Chester C., 34
Wereth, 23
West, Jim, 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 29, 34
Whetzel, Carmel, 30
Wilmes, Sophie, 23
Wood, Janet, 2, 3
Wood, Randall, 17
Wood, Randall M., 2, 3, 8, 9
Wood, Randy, 2, 20
Wood, Robert, 9
Wouters, Carl, 2, 7, 20, 22, 23, 24, 26
Ziegenhain, Germany, 31