Uploaded: 21-Nov-2024
The CUB
Vol 78, No. 2 Jun 2022
Back to the Battlefield
After a forced two-year lapse with little to no visitors from the United States, family members of Golden Lion veterans are once again finding their way to the former battlefields in Belgium
and Germany.
Dan Graber, a Signal Corps veteran of the Vietnam War, and his wife Linda placed fresh flowers at the POW monument in Schonberg, Belgium in honor of Pvt. Leo Graber and his fellow Golden Lions.
For the cover story, see page 22.
The CUB
A tri-annual publication of the 106th Infantry Division Association, Inc.
Total Membership as of April 30, 2022 -- 716
Membership includes CUB magazine subscription
Annual Dues are no longer mandatory: Donations Accepted
Payable to "106th Infantry Division Association" and mailed to the Treasurer -- See address below
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)
Adjutant: Randall M. Wood (Associate member) 810 Cramertown Loop Martinsville, IN 46151 woodchuck01@sbcglobal.net 765-346-0690
Business Matters, Deaths, Address changes to:
Membership: Jacquelyn Coy 603 Mountain Ave., Apt. BP223 New Providence, NJ 07974 membership@l06thInfDivAssn.org 973-879-9070
Donations, checks to:
Treasurer: Mike Sheaner PO Box 140535, Dallas TX 75214 sheaner1@airmail.net 214-823-3004
Memorial Chair: Dr. John G. Robb (422/D) 238 Devore Dr., Meadville, PA 16355 frobb238@hotmail.com 814-333-6364
Chaplain: Pastor Chris Edmonds 206 Candora Rd., Maryville, TN 37804 cwedmonds10@gmail.com 865-599-6636
106th ID Assn's Belgium Liaison: Carl Wouters Waterkant 17 Bus 32, B-2840 Terhagen, Belgium carl_wouters@hotmail. corn cell: +(32) 47 924 7789
106th Assoc. Website Webmaster: Wayne G. Dunn 85 Little Riverview Dr., Reedville, VA 22539 Host106th@l06thInfDivAssn.org 410-409-1141
Committee Chairs:
Atterbury Memorial Representative Jim West (imajimwest@gmail.corn)
Historian Open
Membership Chair Jacquelyn Coy
Mini-Reunions Wayne Dunn
Nominating Committee Chair Brian Welke
Order of the Golden Lion: Carol Faulkner, Beth Garrison, Kathy Spinella
Public Relations Chair Wayne Dunn
Reunion Co-chairs: Randy Wood, Brian Welke
CUB Editor: Lisa M. Dunn 85 Little Riverview Dr., Reedville, VA 22539 CUBEditor@l06thInfDivAssn.org
443-604-1599
CUB Publisher: Susan Weiss (father: 423/HQ 3Bn) 9 Cypress Point Ct., Blackwood, NJ 08012 CUBPublisher@l 06thInfDivAssn.org 609-820-8794
Board of Directors (all positions held through 2022)
Jacquelyn Coy, Membership (Associate member) 973-879-9070
603 Mountain Ave., Apt. BP223, New Providence, NJ 07974 jsc164@aol.com
Lisa M. Dunn (Associate member) (father-in-law: 424/HQ 3Bn) 443-604-1599 85 Little Riverview Drive, Reedville, VA 22539 CUBEditor@106thInfDivAssn.org
Wayne G. Dunn (Associate member) (father: 424/HQ 3Bn) [Past President] 410-409-1141 85 Little Riverview Drive, Reedville, VA 22539 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 bobepope606@gmail.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 sheanerl@airmaiLnet
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
2704 S. Pinehurst Dr., Bloomington, Indiana 47403 KipKai2000@yahoo.com
Randall M. Wood (Associate member) (father: 423/1) [Past President] 765-346-0690
810 Cramertown Loop, Martinsville, IN 46151 woodchuck01@sbcglobaLnet
Editor's Message . . .
Whenever I tell people that I am the editor for The CUB, a publication of and for the Veterans of the 106th Infantry Division, they always comment positively and with curiosity. Was my dad in the 106th? Did I have any family members who served in WWII? How did I get involved?
Invariably, the conversation comes around to WWII veterans being part of the "Greatest Generation," and what a worthy cause participating in the Association is. I couldn't agree more and am grateful that I have the opportunity. As I've written in a previous post, I had an uncle who served in WWII but not in the 106th. I was introduced to the organization through my husband, Wayne, whose father, Capt. Thomas Melville Dunn, did serve in the 106th. I was not fortunate enough to meet Wayne's dad, who passed away in 2000, ten years before Wayne and I met, but I've heard many stories that have peaked my interest not only in the man but in others who served. As with everything in life, you want to learn more about the people you care about and the people who invest time and energy into making sure other people are not forgotten. To that end, in this edition of The CUB, we have a submission in the Historian's section by someone who has made it his life's mission to track down information about WWII personnel. Jim West provides a very interesting story that I am sure you'll enjoy. Also in this edition: we get an account of a recent tour that Carl Wouters, our Belgium liaison, led after a two-year hiatus in tours due to Covid; another inspiring article from Pastor Chris Edmonds; and more information about the upcoming Reunion in August from our Adjutant, Randy Woods.
Last, look for the Help Needed article in our Front and Center section. It isn't an easy task indexing information so that items of historical significance, or just pieces of the past, are preserved and easy for other people to find. Your help could make a difference.
As we move into summer, please remember to reach out to any Veterans you may know to offer assistance or to be that person who shows they care. It can help to make someone's day! In addition to that, plan to join the reunion. All the information you need is included in this edition.
Lisa Dunn, Editor
CUBEditor@l06thInfDivAssn.org
Make Your Plans NOW!
for the 106th Infantry Division Association's 75th Annual Reunion at the Sheraton Pentagon City, Arlington, VA
August 24-28, 2022
For additional information about the reunion and to register online, visit:
afr-reg.com/106inf2022
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Important Information . . .
Veterans and Family of the 106th Infantry Division's 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!
Please send any requests to the Editor at: CUBEditor@106thInfDivAssn.org
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, 2022 -- mail date late November, 2022 (to include reunion photos and remembrances)
January 31, 2023 -- mail date late March, 2023 (issue may include reunion paperwork) May 1, 2023 -- mail date mid-June, 2023 (issue will include reunion paperwork)
Articles and pictures can be mailed or emailed to:
CUB Editor: Lisa Dunn 85 Little Riverview Drive Reedville, VA 22539 443-604-1599 CUBEditor@l06thInfDivAssn.org
CUB Publisher: Susan Weiss, 9 Cypress Point Court, Blackwood, NJ 08012 609-820-8794 (please leave a message)
CUBPublisher@106thInfDivAssn.org
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
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President's View . . .
Bob Pope (590/FABN) 106th Infantry Division Association President 2019-2020 6363 Transit Rd., Apt #133 East Amherst, NY 14051 716-580-3118 bobepope606@gmail.com
When we reminisce about World War II and the lost lives, injuries, demolished property, and a way of life destroyed, it seems like yesterday in light of what's going on in Europe today. There are great differences between now and then including the advancement of fire power, in the air and on the ground. Back then, what was realized in days can now oftentimes be done in minutes. Most towns and cities have more people living in them resulting in that many more people potentially being killed and wounded, and their homes being demolished. Power brokers still exist currently and they beat on smaller, weaker countries
As we look around the world today, Korea appears to be the same as it was 10 or more years ago, Russia is using brute force to expand and grow, and it seems that the Middle East will never be peaceful. Atomic warfare is but a switch away and in the hands of numerous countries. We are surviving from a worldwide disease that, according to the World Health Organization, as of April 29, 2022, has killed more than six million people globally. Some people believe that the world will burn up and we still don't know if there is life in the solar system outside of our own planet.
This is why we remember and reminisce -- because without the past, and learning from it, there can be NO future. Let's hope and pray the next generation will profit from the many shortcomings of today so that they, and generations to come, can have a brighter future.
Peace and good health to all.
Bob Pope, President
Make Your Plans NOW.
for the 106th Infantry Division Association's '75" Annual Reunion at the Sheraton Pentagon City, Arlington, VA
August 24-28, 2022
For additional information about the reunion and to register online, visit:
afr-reg.com/106inf2022
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Chaplain's Message . . .
Pastor Chris Edmonds 206 Candora Road Maryville, TN 37804 865-599-6636 cwedmonds10@gmail.com
Home.
As I write, my mind and heart are back home in Tennessee. Currently, I am on day ten of a 40-day tour with Violins of Hope in South Carolina. It is a great honor to share hope from the Holocaust through my father's 106th story with the good folks of Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Columbia, and many places beyond. But I miss home.
While I long for the moment I am back in Maryville, none of my experience compares with the dangerous journey our brave Golden Lions took to go to war and return home. Thoughts of reuniting with loved ones was the constant companion of the brave boys of the 106th. During horrific battle, brutal capture and almost daily dances with death, their hope of a great homecoming won the day. They craved and fought for it -- the safety, security, and the blessing of family.
In April 1945, many of our heroes made their way home. Down desolate German roads the trucks roared, while the GIs took in the white flags of surrender fluttering from open windows amid the largely ruined German towns and villages.
Golden Lions rode side-by-side, miserably cold in the open trucks. Sergeant Frankie Cerenzia, 422nd HQ Company, wrote in his journal with some pride, about the damage "the American army had done to get this war over fast. All German towns and villages were literally smashed. Nothing but a mass of debris. White flags of surrender hanging from every window of every house we passed."
And in every broken town, they saw the young Frauleins dressed and painted in their prettiest to impress and attract GIs -- which only increased their yearning to be home with their adoring moms and beautiful wives or girlfriends.
Richard Peterson, a sergeant with the 423rd regiment felt "almost drunk with happiness." The promise of clean clothing and army food, which he had never thought of before as luxurious, was almost overwhelming.
After hours in the rattling uncovered trucks, they reached the "remains" of a Nazi airport where many C-47 transport planes were waiting. Sergeant Skip Friedman of the 422nd recalled, "In Giessen we got into C-47s -- my first airplane ride ever." Many of the men
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5
Chaplain's Message . . .
had never been airborne before. The flight to France took a little over two and a half hours in those heavy prop planes but one GI from the 106th called it "the best trip I ever made in my life so far." Home was getting closer.
From the landing strip in Le Havre, they piled back into trucks and were driven to a RAMP camp -- quickly learning that the acronym stood for "Returning Army Military Personnel" which was set up with many thousands of tents in the days after the Normandy invasion in June 1944.
"Out of Germany at last!" the men rejoiced as they arrived in the camp. For many of the 106th, the stay at Camp Lucky Strike, was brief -- only four days -- but few of the GIs would never forget it. The Americans were treated with enormous respect and were issued new clothes, vitamins, glasses of milk, good food, and cigarettes. One Sergeant recalled, "We were cleaned up, fed well and plenty, and treated like babies. We all got promotions and were given awards."
On April 12, the radio abruptly announced that President Roosevelt had died in Warm Springs, Georgia, at the age of sixty-three. Most GIs stood in silence, some wiping away tears. Sergeant Lester Tannenbaum, 422 HQ Company felt devastated. "FDR was our hero," he said. "We didn't know what kind of President Mr. Truman would make. It was such a sad time." It was also joyous in anticipation of the blessing and beauty of home.
Two days later, on April 14, 1945, first thing in the morning, many from the 106th piled again into trucks and drove the sixty miles back to the place they'd first come ashore: Le Havre Harbor. This time there would be no wading through breakers, getting soaked up to the armpits in frigid North Atlantic surf. The men boarded the U.S.S. General W P Richardson, a 622-foot troop-transport ship that had been in U.S. Navy service only since October 1944. Many of the troops called it "the most beautiful ship" they'd ever seen. It was spotlessly clean. Everything was pure white. It wasn't a liner, but it had the [RMS] Aquitania beat by plenty as far as comforts and accommodations go.
The ship pulled out of Le Havre at 10:30 p.m. on its way to England to join a convoy of other naval ships making the still treacherous passage back to North America. Even in the short span of the English Channel, they ran into trouble. The previous night German submarines had been spotted. "Those dirty Jerries don't know when to quit," Sergeant Frankie Cerenzia said.
It wasn't simply the threat of roaming U-boats. In the English Channel, the captain of the Richardson slowed her to a standstill. The Nazis had done a thorough job mining those straits, and the navy crew began blasting away with their fore and aft guns at the mines floating in the water.
Their journey home was as dangerous as their hellish days in combat or as captives to the Nazis. Heartbreaking reminders of the horrors of war met them at every turn.
On Monday the sixteenth, the Richardson pulled into the port of Southampton and took on the sick and wounded. There were men who had lost legs, lost arms, lost eyes. There were men
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Chaplain's Message . . .
still severely shell-shocked, muttering to themselves, flinching, quivering, talking excitedly to shadows. "It made me feel lucky," one GI later wrote. Finally, with a twelve-ship convoy formed up, at six o'clock that same evening, the Richardson started for home.
Some soldiers feared that they'd come all this way, survived the Battle of the Bulge and the hell of the POW camps, only to be sunk by a torpedo from some U-boat captain too fanatical, headstrong, or perhaps clueless to realize that the Nazi cause was lost. But most of the men were too relieved -- giddy almost -- with the taste of freedom to worry about how dangerous the Atlantic passage might be. Even in those final weeks of the war, even as Soviet, American, and British forces raced toward Berlin, the Nazi Unterseeboots were still extremely active.
That same day, April 16, the GIs learned via radio of a big symbolic victory: U.S. troops reached the Third Reich's spiritual heart, Nuremberg, the stage for massive Nazi Party rallies, including some of Hitler's most maniacal speeches and the announcement of draconian anti-Semitic laws. The war was nearly over and many of brave boys of the 106th sensed that home was "just around the corner."
They weren't anywhere near U.S. shores, but in many ways life on board the Richardson was starting to feel like home. In one compartment, the GIs had a crank-up record player, but only one vinyl record could be found on the whole ship: the Andrew Sisters' "Rum and Coca-Cola," the runaway hit of 1945. The strains of the sisters'
three-part harmony and the infectious calypso remake echoed in the ship over and over. Soldiers and sailors alike jauntily walked up and down the decks singing:
Out on Manzanella Beach
GI romance with native peach
All night long, make tropic love
Next day, sit in hot sun and cool off
Drinkin' rum and Coca-Cola.
On the morning of April 18, they awoke to find they were in rough seas. Up on deck, the air was cold and misty. They ate another huge breakfast, then smoked pipes up on the deck before going to a screening of Star Spangled Rhythm -- the 1942 hit musical comedy starring Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Fred MacMurray -- which most of the guys had seen before they'd even entered the army.
Then on April 20, they heard the good news that Nuremberg had fallen at last. "A great birthday present for Adolf," said one of the GIs, smiling. Back in Berlin, it was Hitler's fifty-sixth birthday.
The next morning, April 21, word spread quickly among the troops about why the climate was suddenly so tropical. The captain, in order to avoid U-boat activity, had plotted a course far to the south and they were some 450 miles off the coast of Spain. It meant more days at sea, more days postponing a reunion with loved ones.
Finally, after two weeks in the Atlantic, the coastline of New York came into view; white and red lights flickering through the predawn darkness and sea mist. "When we reached the
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Chaplain's Message . . .
coastline that last night at sea, we saw the lights of Coney Island," John Morse of the 422nd recalled. "A tremendous cheer rang out. Home, at last!" In the morning, swarms of small vessels loaded up with civilians came out to greet the returning GIs. "We were met by tons of boats with people waving and cheering our return."
The USS General W P Richardson sailed into New York Harbor on April 28, and the men crowded the deck, straining to get a glimpse of Brooklyn and Manhattan. When the Statue of Liberty came into view, her distinctive green-bronze figure bathed in sunlight, there was a deafening cheer. "We figured that we had helped keep her safe, too," said 422nd Corporal Pete Frampton.
Two days later, on April 30, Hitler committed suicide in his bunker and the Nazi Reich was finished. Though the war still raged in the Pacific, it too would soon be won by the Allies.
On August 14, 1945, Japan surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, effectively ending World War II. Sergeant Lester Tannenbaum, who was just twenty-two years old, recalled thinking, "I'd finished college. I'd served my country. We were victorious. The Japanese were defeated. The Nazis were defeated. And life was beautiful."
Victory was everywhere and our returning 106th heroes went back home. Their experience of the horrors of war didn't defeat them but rather inspired them to finish college or learn a trade, marry their sweethearts, raise families, build their own homes, and lead ordinary lives of extraordinary influence that changed our world for the better.
I am reminded of Proverbs 3:3, The Lord...blesses the home of the just.
America is our blessed home because of these just men. We are blessed beyond measure by the selfless righteousness of the 106th and every soldier, sailor, airman, and marine who helped save our world from fascist tyranny. They truly are the Greatest Generation. The home they longed for, lived for, fought for, and many died for, is our home. It is a land we all love. I pray we will always honor them for their great sacrifices.
If you are a loved one of a 106th soldier, please join us at our 75th reunion August 24-28 in Arlington, Virginia in honor of your hero. We are all family, and it would be great to see you.
I also pray we will yearn as they did for the home of the brave and the land of the free. America is a great home. We should celebrate our costly freedoms.
Finally, I pray we will live like our heroic soldiers -- serving others selflessly for the good of all.
Make Your Plans NOW!
for the 106th Infantry Division Association's 75" Annual Reunion at the
Sheraton Pentagon City, Arlington, VA
August 24-28, 2022
For additional information about the reunion and to register online, visit:
afr-reg.com/106inf2022 CUB Publisher: Susan Weiss
9 Cypress Point Court
Blackwood, NJ 08012
609-820-8794 (please leave a message)
CUBPublisher@l 06thInfDivAssn.org
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The Adjutant's Message . . .
Randall M. Wood (Associate member) 810 Cramertown Loop Martinsville, IN 46151 765-346-0690 woodchuck01@sbcglobaLnet
I want to thank our Board of Directors for all they do for the Association and the production of The CUB magazine. Our editor and publisher take all of the contributions from our membership and those responsible for various segments of The CUB magazine and turn it into an excellent presentation. That begins with our President Bob Pope, our Chaplain Chris Edmonds, our Historians (currently made up of volunteers such as Wayne Dunn and Carl Wouters), as well as contributions from Susan, our Publisher, and Lisa, our Editor. These people do a great job, but it takes an effort from our membership to share the stories and history that our veterans have lived through. It is what makes our publications come alive.
It is nice to read these stories, but it is outstanding to hear our veterans speak of these stories in person at our yearly national reunion. Of course, we have not had a reunion for two years due to Covid-19, so this year is even more meaningful to be able to meet again. We invite all veterans, families, and those interested in the 106th Infantry Division to attend. Our reunion is scheduled for August 24 through 28, at the Sheraton Pentagon City, Arlington, Virginia. Your room reservation includes daily breakfast for two. Tours of the area are available to choose from and one tour, the national U.S. Army Museum, is included with your registration. We will have a Hospitality room in which you may relax and visit with the veterans, their families and your new friends. Refreshments and light snacks will be provided. We encourage you to please bring your veteran and as many family members that can come.
If you have decided to attend, outstanding! If you have not decided to attend, please reconsider. You will find the full details of the reunion in this edition of The CUB, please see page 18. The Registration Form is available as a center page pullout. Now is the time to secure room reservations and register for the Reunion. It is important to honor our veterans and it is our blessing to be able to visit with those that were there during the war. We want to make sure that some of our reunion milestones continue. We have never had a reunion that did not
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The Adjutant's Message . . .
have a first-time attendee present, and we have always had multiple veterans from the 106th Division attend.
The Americal Division with veterans from WWII through Vietnam will be at the hotel at the same time we are. The 106th Division will have its own Hospitality room, meeting space, Thursday Night Welcome Dinner, Memorial Service, and Banquet to honor our veterans. We will be combined in the tours.
My wife and I first attended a reunion in 2001. The 106th had total attendees approximating 400 plus. It was a great reunion. Our last reunion had approximately 50 in attendance. We had a total of 10 veterans present. It was a wonderful visit with veterans, families, and friends. It was a great Reunion. Help us maintain that same result. We have all made lifetime friends and we all have room for more lifetime friends. We will see you there.
As a reminder:
The deadline to register for the Reunion is July 24, 2022
The deadline to make room reservations is August 2, 2022
Reunion's Silent Auction -- Donating to a Good Cause
Anyone and everyone who wishes to participate in this year's Silent Auction, please bring anything you think might be of value to a bidder with you to the Reunion. It could be a piece of art, a handcrafted item, or even a donated item from a business friend. All proceeds will go to the Treasury of the 106th Association.
Remember, someone may have to pack it in their suitcase and take it home on a plane, but others will have plenty of room in their cars -- so be creative.
Winners will be announced at the banquet. We look forward to seeing you there.
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, especially with Covid-19 restrictions, it is even more important we attempt to connect with our vets. Any way you can, while practicing social distancing guidelines, and even doing so virtually, would be a great way to honor, cherish, and remember all of our veterans.
Plan one in your area today!
Contact Mini-Reunion Chair Wayne Dunn at Host106th@106thInfDivAssn.org and he can assist you with members in your area.
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Historian's Message . . .
Editor's Note: We have been fortunate to have received some very interesting historical articles submitted by various readers and board members as we continue to look for someone to fill the Historian position. In this edition, we sought out biographical content from someone who has become a steadfast record-keeper for WWII veterans.
Here is an article from Jim West, with a forward by Wayne Dunn.
Who is Jim West and What Has He Done?
It's highly likely that anyone that has ever researched anything related to the 106th has stumbled across the work of Jim West. He has spent a good portion of his life conducting research, gathering information, managing an awesome website, responding to people's queries, and being a great asset to the Association. That is why we asked if he would provide a little background that we could share with our readers. Although Jim touches on some of the things he has accomplished over the years, everyone should appreciate the sheer magnitude of the hours he has invested and continues to do so! Jim, I know that I can speak for many others when I say "Thank You! Another job well done!" Wayne Dunn
James David Jam-Sa' West
by James West
When I was born in 1940, my Cherokee grandfather named me Jam-Sa'. My mother had a "fit" and had it changed immediately. I never did find out what it meant. Mother convinced the hospital it was just a misspelling and should have been "James," so they changed the records. My father went along with it but always reminded me that I am 1/2 Cherokee. My youngest granddaughter can converse in Eastern Cherokee. My great-great-grandparents escaped from the "Trail of Tears" and walked across the frozen Ohio River settling first in Ohio then walking to southern Indiana.
An uneventful childhood. Forty years for the local gas company as an Engineer, retiring in 1997. Established and headed an automated mapping department of some 20 people covering the state of Indiana.
Joined the Army in 1963 and was injured in a tank accident at Ft. Knox, KY. I became an M48A2 tank commander (Sgt.) and enjoyed every minute of it. Stayed in for a few years until the knee pains became worse and they offered a medical discharge. I "escaped" that by joining the Air Force. The unit I joined, the 930th Tactical Airlift Wing at Bakalar AFB became the 71st Special Operations Squadron (SOS) and our C-119s "Flying Boxcars" were converted to AC-119G, gunships. All were sent for one year in Vietnam. I was honorably discharged in 1969 as a MSgt. [71st SOS info at http://indianamilitaty. org/Bakalar%20AFB/SoThinkMenui BakalarSTART.htm]
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Historian's Message . . .
While slogging through the mud of Camp Atterbury, I realized there were no websites for either it or the many units that trained here during WWII and the Korean War. So, I took it upon myself to set that right.
First was for Camp Atterbury and almost immediately I discovered the amazing history of the 106th Infantry Division. Followed by sites for every unit that trained here including the 28th, 30th, 31st, 83rd, 92nd, 106th and when I thought I was done, I found the German and Italian POWs held at Atterbury.
All were quickly followed by sites for Atterbury AAF, Bakalar AFB, Freeman AAF and Wakeman Hospital. With the end result that combined them all, they now form the largest private website in Indiana at more than 50 GB of pure history. Nothing is added or interpreted. Along the way my efforts were recognized, and I was appointed Vice President of the newly formed Camp Atterbury Veteran's Memorial Association (CAVMA). And I had the extreme pleasure of being one of the founders of the museum. The U.S. Army took notice and began hosting my sites in conjunction with the "AmVets of Southern Indiana."
I am still amazed that following "9/11" I was asked (told) by the U.S. government to take my sites down as they contained information deemed too valuable to display, namely maps of the bases. It was one year before they let me return.
My life has pretty much been devoted to history. We have a 162-year-old log home, and the land has been established as a Federally Recognized Wildlife Habitat. We share it all with not-so-wild coyotes, owls, raccoons, opossums, deer and dozens of varieties of birds. The daughter keeps them all fed and watered. Our pond is covered with animal tracks every morning. Throughout the years dozens and dozens of homeless dogs have found us and decided to live out their lives here, and some now rest in our dog graveyard.
I am very pleased that the 106th Association has agreed to assume the roster I researched. And I hope items from my website will also be of value. The information I have discovered throughout the years is freely available to the 106th in any way they choose to use it. All the sites and their rosters have become a little overwhelming for an old guy. I am trying to find new people and organizations to assume them while I'm still around. With Wayne Dunn assuming the roster, I know the 106th is in very good hands.
My past association with the 106th and their members has been nothing but great. I was fortunate enough to attend one reunion at Louisville and was extremely humbled by the award of the Silver Order of the Golden Lions, presented to me by Marion Ray and the Camp Atterbury Commanding Officer in 2004.
I look forward to many more years of close association. I admire the 106th veterans and all they did to protect and preserve the freedoms that I, my children, grandchildren and now one great-grandson enjoy. Thank you for allowing me to be a small part of your organization.
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Email Bag . . .
"VETERANS' VOICES"
This is a recurring article for The CUB in which veterans or family members can submit brief personal stories. Whenever possible, please send your submission in an email to the Editor, Lisa Dunn, so it can easily be transferred to The CUB. Each picture you submit should include the event it represents, and where and when it was taken.
REV RON MOSLEY
Here is a short video of Rev Ron Mosley who served with the 106th during the Battle of the Bulge. Please feel free to share. https://vimeo.com/channels/1393392/page:3
Submitted by Dan Hennessey, Honorary Colonel
14 Construction Engineering Squadron
Royal Canadian Air Force
mdhennessey@outlook.com
902-521-8221
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 (IndianaMilitaty.org) and Carl Wouters (106thinfanny.webs com), the Association has 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 of The CUB in color, plus additional plus additional photos not seen in hard copy.
Also look for our Facebook page at Facebook.com/106thInfDivAssn. You will find up-to-the-minute information here and its 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.
The 106th Infantry Division Association also now has an Instagram page! You can get to it at the URL: www.instagram.com/106th infantry division assoct The Instagram account name is simply 106th infantry division assoc. Use that to search for it on your phone or other electronic device iPad, tablet, laptop or computer.
The idea is to preserve memories of the 106th veterans virtually forever. Enjoy.
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Treasurer's and Membership Chair's Report . . .
Make checks payable to "106th Infantry Division Association" and mail them to the Treasurer:
Please report all changes of address and deaths to the Association Membership Chair
Mike Sheaner, Treasurer PO Box 140535 Dallas TX 75214 sheaner1@airmail.net 214-823-3004
Jacquelyn S. Coy, Membership 603 Mountain Ave., Apt. BP223 New Providence, NJ 07974 membership@l 06thinfdivassn.org 973-879-9070
Treasurer's Report:
February 1 -- April 30, 2022
Beginning Balance: $21,586.56
Money In: 425.11
Money Out: 3,192.99
Difference: (2,767.88)
Ending Balance: $18,818.68
Association Membership As of April 30, 2022
Total Membership 716
Veteran Membership 239
Associate Membership 477
Show support for our mission by giving generously.
Your continued support is greatly appreciated.
Send your contribution, check made payable to 106th Infantry Div. Association, to:
Mike Sheaner, Treasurer
106th Infantry Division, PO Box 140535, Dallas, TX 75214
14
Treasurer's and Membership Chair's Report . . .
LIFE PLUS and REGULAR DONATIONS:
John T. Schortemeyer Associate Member
Dennis Shane Miller Associate Member
Brandon Fullam, Jr. Associate Member
Robert E. Pope 590/FABN
Bernard J. Janecki Associate Member
MEMORIAL and HONORARY DONATIONS:
In honor of J. David Bailey on his 100th birthday, 422/E Given by Madeleine J. Bryant M
In honor of Carl Wouters, Associate Member and Belgium Liaison. Given by Dr. James R. Tuorila
NEW MEMBERS:
Cindy Carman Associate Member
Hunter Shields Associate Member
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 ID Association.
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.
PLEASE NOTE: We are currently updating our roster. If you are receiving The CUB as a family member of a deceased Veteran or deceased Non-veteran, we will be working to ensure the publication mailings are only sent to those who want to keep receiving the publication.
15
Front & Center . . .
106th Challenge Coin and Wooden Ornaments --Have You Gotten Yours Yet?
Front Back
$10 each plus $2 shipping per ornament; (Lower shipping costs will be applied to orders of 10 or more)
Wear the Golden Lion proudly!
Only 1 Small, 3 Large, 1 XL, and 1 XXL left
$10 each, plus $1 postage per coin
Lapel Pins
$10 each plus $1 shipping per pin
Please call or email Randy with questions.
Phone -- 765-346-0690
Email -- woodchuck01@sbcglobal.net
For purchase of items above, please make check payable to 106th Infantry Division Association and mail to: Randall Wood, 810 Cramertown Loop, Martinsville, IN 46151
All proceeds benefit the association.
16
Front & Center . . .
T-Shirts
Order NOW from
Board member Janet Wood by:
Email -- KipKai2000@yahoo.com
Phone -- 205-910-0542, or
Mail -- 2704 S. Pinehurst Dr.
Bloomington, IN 47403
$16 each--includes shipping Please call or email Janet with any questions.
106th T-Shirts -- Get Yours Now!
Jim West and the IndianaMilitary.org Website
Additional 106th Infantry Division information can be found on Jim West's (OGL 2000) website at IndianaMiliteny.org. It includes the following:
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.
17
Front & Center . . .
Reunion
106th Infantry Division Association and Americal Division Association
Joint 2022 Annual Reunion
August 24-28, 2022
Sheraton Pentagon City I Arlington, VA
The members of the association board, along with Armed Forces Reunions, are moving forward with plans for the 75th Annual Association Reunion. We do this with caution and consideration of the pandemic that has swept the country. We will be in constant contact with the state of Virginia representatives and hotel management to make sure that we will be able to congregate and meet as a group as the date approaches.
We have not supplied the full registration packet in this issue of The CUB as we usually do; however, the information for the reunion is included below and there is a copy of the registration form for you to complete and send it with your check. If you would like printed copies of the registration material mailed to you, please contact Mike Sheaner, Treasurer at sheanerl@airmail.net. If you have any questions, please contact Wayne Dunn at 410-409-1141 or Host106th@106thlnfDivAssn.org.
For the most updated information about the reunion please visit 106thInfDivAssn.org or to register online visit afr-reg.com/106inf2022.
[All reunion information correct at time of publication but may be subject to change]
Hotel Information
Sheraton Pentagon City, 900 S. Orme Street, Arlington, VA 22204
703-521-1900; 844-201-2994 Reservation Information:
Book your group rate for 106th Infantry Division Association
(click here for a direct link to the website)
If you will not be using a computer or smartphone, please call the hotel directly at 703-521-1900, select option 1 (reservations), and ask for the 106th Infantry Division Association.
Group Name: 106th Infantry Division Association
Rate: $119 (plus 13.25% tax, currently)
Includes complimentary breakfast for two each day; Rates are available three (3) days pre and post reunion (based on availability). Group members staying three days before or after the main event days will be given breakfast coupons to redeem at hotel restaurant.
Hotel Information continues on page 20
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Reunion . . .
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Self-guided tours pre- and post-reunion are being planned by the Reunion Committee. More details to come.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24
8:30 - 10:30 am Reunion Registration Open
4 - 7 pm Reunion Registration Open
5 - 6 pm 106th Infantry Division Association
Outgoing Board Meeting
4 - 9:30 pm Hospitality Room Open
Note: Souvenir Sales hours will be posted.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 25
Complimentary Breakfast (included in Room Rate)
8 - 9:30 pm Hospitality Room Open
8:30 - 9:30 am Reunion Registration Open
9:15 am - 3 pm City Tour and
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
6 pm Welcome Dinner
9 am - 9:30 pm Hospitality Room Open
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26
Complimentary Breakfast (included in Room Rate)
9:30 am - 5:00 pm National Museum of the U.S. Army and Smithsonian National Museum of American History
9 am - 9:30 pm Hospitality Room Open
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27
Complimentary Breakfast (included in Room Rate)
9 - 10 am 106th Infantry Division Association
Memorial Service
12:30 - 3:30 pm Tour of War Memorials
3:30 - 5 pm 106th Infantry Division Association
New Board Meeting
6 - 7 pm Cash Bar Reception
7 - 11 pm Banquet Dinner and Dance
10 am - 9:30 pm Hospitality Room Open
SUNDAY, AUGUST 28
Complimentary Breakfast (included in Room Rate)
Farewells and Departures
19
Reunion . . .
Reunion Dates:
Sunday -- Tuesday, August 21-23: Pre-function group rate days based on hotel availability
Wednesday -- Sunday (am), August 24-28: Reunion main event days
Sunday -- Tuesday, August 28-30: Post-function group rate days based on hotel availability
Cut-off Date: Reservations by attendees must be received on or before August 2, 2022. At the Cut-Off Date, the Hotel will review the reservations for the Event and release the unreserved rooms for general sale. Any reservations requests received after the Cut Off Date including modifications, name changes, and additions for the group will be accepted on a space available basis at the group's rate.
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation must be received 24 hours prior to arrival date or there will be a charge of one night's room plus tax.
Parking and Shuttle Information: Complimentary shuttle to and from Pentagon City Metro Station
Complimentary shuttle to and from Reagan National Airport
Complimentary overnight parking (savings of $32 per day)
RV Parking available at satellite parking area (across the street): $50 + tax per day (max 6 vehicles), no hookups available.
Wheelchair Rental: ScootAround rents both manual and power wheelchairs by the day and week. Please call 888-441 7575 or visit scootaround.com for details and to make reservations.
Tour Descriptions
CITY TOUR/SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Thursday, August 25
Start the day with the sites of Washington D.C. Enjoy a driving tour of Washington, D.C. Ride by the Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, WWII Memorial, the Mall, Capitol Building, Washington Monument, White House, and other notable monuments and federal buildings. At the conclusion of the city tour, head to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. The museum contains the largest natural history collection in the world. Be sure to visit the Hall of Mammals, Ocean Hall and many others. Enjoy lunch at one of the cafés on-site.
9:15 am, board bus, 4 pm back at the hotel
$58/per person includes bus and guide. Lunch on your own.
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Reunion . . .
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE U.S. ARMY/SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY Friday, August 26
The Museum celebrates over 240 years of Army history and honor our nation's Soldiers -- past, present, and future -- regular Army, Army Reserves, and the Army National Guard. It's a massive undertaking led by a joint effort between the U.S. Army and the non-profit organization, The Army Historical Foundation (AHF). It is a technological marvel incorporating the latest advances in museum exhibits, while providing advanced educational opportunities that will capture the attention of visitors old and young. The Museum sits on 84 acres at Fort Belvoir, VA, less than 30 minutes south of our nation's capital. The 185,00 square-foot main building displays selections from the Army Art collection, artifacts, documents, and images. The vast majority of these rare and priceless artifacts have never been seen by the American people. Enjoy lunch at the Museum Café and don't forget to stop in the Museum Store. Board the bus to head to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The museum collects, preserves and displays the heritage of the United States in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history.
9 am board bus, 5 pm back at hotel.
Includes bus and escort. Lunch on your own. *Included with Registration Fee
TOUR OF WAR MEMORIALS Saturday, August 27, 2022
Board the bus for a stop at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This U.S. national memorial honors service members of the U.S. armed forces who fought in the Vietnam War. In the same area, you can also visit the Vietnam Women's memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial and the World War II Memorial.
12:30 board bus, 3:30 pm back at hotel $37/per person includes bus and escort
The Above Tours are Subject to Change based on Availability
Please be at the bus boarding area at least fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled time. All tours require a minimum of thirty-five people.
Driver and Guide gratuities are not included in tour prices.
NOTE: There is a limit of one hydraulically lifted scooter or wheelchair per handicap accessible bus. If you use a scooter but can climb the steps to board the bus, either you and/or a person traveling with you must be able to put the scooter in the bus's luggage compartment. Due to liability issues, drivers and tour guides cannot assist with scooters.
[All reunion information correct at time of publication but may be subject to change]
21
Feature Stories . . .
Back to the Battlefield
By Carl Wouters, Association Belgian Liaison
After a forced two-year lapse with little to no visitors from the United States, family members of Golden Lion veterans are once again finding their way to the former battlefields in Belgium and Germany.
Dan Graber and his wife Linda were the first visitors to tour the area with me since the start of the pandemic in 2020. We trailed the footsteps of Dan's father who served with Headquarters Company of the 3rd Battalion, 422nd Infantry Regiment. Pvt. Leo L. Graber served as a crewman in the anti-tank platoon and was captured early on 16 December 1944 while hauling a load of ammunition from St. Vith. We were able to pinpoint the location of his capture just east of the village of Auw, where on the morning of the first day of the Battle of the Bulge, German patrols were very active in ambushing several supply vehicles of the 422nd Infantry Regiment. Before dawn, small patrols wearing snow camouflage had infiltrated the area and awaited American vehicles at various bottleneck points along the Auw-Rodt road. We followed the approximate route of Pvt. Graber from that point to the German staging area at the rail head in Gerolstein, some 30 miles east into Germany. It was there where most of the POWs were massed at a temporary camp before being put on boxcars to a permanent camp. Pvt. Graber was eventually sent to Stalag IV-B at Millhlberg on the Elbe, from where he was liberated in late April 1945.
PHOTO: At one of the destroyed German pillboxes in the sector held by the 3rd Battalion, 422nd Infantry Regiment, Dan holds a portrait photo of his late father Pvt. Leo Graber. The bunkers once occupied by the 106th Division on the Schnee Eifel ridge were all destroyed in the immediate post-war era by the French Army of Occupation. Photo by Carl Wouters
Watch (again!) the 74th Annual Reunion Virtual Memorial Service which replaced the live event for the 74th Annual Reunion that was to have taken place in Kansas City, MO, September 2020.
Remember the Men of the 106th
"Attend" this virtual Memorial service at hftps://youtit.be/6S4Ke-Tfitg. Share this link with family and friends, schools and organizations.
22
Feature Stories . . .
Eric Fisher Wood Jr.
By Hugh Roberts
In the midst of World War II, one American soldier waged guerilla warfare upon the German Army. That soldier was First Lieutenant Eric Fisher Wood Jr., and while facing many challenges he survived for 40 days in the Ardennes, fighting a war within a war.
Standing in the home of his host Peter Maraite, Wood proclaimed, "I guess I will start my own war," in answer to Maraite's question of what he would do next. This fateful proclamation led him to stay in the surrounding forest of the Ardennes, in which the small hamlet of Meyerode is located.
Having narrowly escaped capture the previous day, Wood had to make a quick assessment of his situation. Four infantry divisions, including the 106th, the division Fisher was serving in, were in full retreat after the Germans launched their surprise attack early on 16 December, 1944. One consideration was to attempt to find his way through enemy lines to St. Vith, a distance of three miles southwest of his current location.
Wood arrived with a fellow unidentified soldier and was guided by Peter Maraite, who came across the two Americans while out in the woods to select a Christmas tree for his family's anticipated celebration. If caught inviting Wood and his companion as guests into his home, there would be severe consequences for harboring U.S. service personnel.
Early before dawn on 18 December, the soldiers were fortified with well-buttered sandwiches and rough maps provided by Jean Schroeder, a neighbor of the Maraite family. Schroeder had a good understanding of the English language, as prior to the war he had been employed in a hotel where he acquired this useful skill.
So began a forty-day odyssey that would end in late January 1945 with the death of Lieutenant Wood. Shortly after Wood's departure, the Maraite family had the unpleasant experience of several uninvited guests in the persons of German soldiers of the 6th Panzer Army under the command of General Josef "Sepp" Dietrich, who would stay in the town up to late January when they were forced to retreat.
To gain insight into the identity of First Lieutenant Eric Fisher Wood Jr., one must learn about his father and mentor Brigadier General Eric Wood Sr. At the time World War I broke out in Europe, Wood Sr. was an American in Paris. He volunteered his services at the American Embassy as an attaché. He later joined the American Ambulance Corps for a period of time, and he published a book on his experiences, The Notebook of an Attaché: Seven
PHOTO: Eric Fisher Wood Jr., attended Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania, Class of 1938. Cover of Summer 1946 Review. (Valley Forge Military Academy and College)
continues on page 24
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Feature Stories . . .
Months in the War Zone. Upon his return to the United States in 1916, he found time to publish a second book, The Writing on the Wall.
In 1917, Wood Sr. returned to Europe where he served in the British Army, attaining the rank of major. While in this capacity he was wounded at Arras on 9 April 1917. Following the American entry into the war, Wood Sr. was commissioned as a major and was the assistant chief of staff for the 88th Division.
Advancing to the rank of lieutenant colonel, Wood Sr. was wounded for a second time in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in the fall of 1918. In the early months of 1919, two rather significant events occurred in a short span of time in the life of Eric Fisher Wood Sr.
The first was the birth of the first of three sons, Eric Fisher Wood Jr., born on 25 January. Young Eric would have two brothers, Peter and Alec. His birth took place while the Wood family lived in Santa Barbara, California.
The other occurrence for Wood Sr. was on 15 February 1919. Wood Sr. was ordered by General John J. Pershing to join with 19 of his fellows in a special committee headed by Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., son of the former President.
They were given the task of providing a set of recommendations aimed at curbing the serious problem of declining morale of American servicemen in Europe serving with the occupation forces. After several executive meetings, what became known as the American Legion was founded, with four men emerged as leaders: Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., Colonel William "Wild Bill" Donovan, Lieutenant Colonel Eric Fisher Wood, and Lieutenant Colonel George A. White. Being in this circle of prominent American patriots would be beneficial to Wood Sr. in the future as the events of America unfolded as the twentieth century progressed.
It became evident at an early age that Eric Fisher Wood Jr., was a gifted child. He possessed many traits that his father needed to nurture and develop and Wood Sr. spent a great deal of time with his young son. This included a hunting trip to Alaska where the two panned for gold and young Eric became an expert shot and proudly downed a moose. The bagging of such a large animal became a source of family pride.
Later, the Wood family relocated
PHOTO: Eric Fisher Wood Jr. (left), stands with his father and his brother Pete during World War II. (Author's collection)
PHOTO: Eric Fisher Wood Sr. was a U.S. Army officer in World War I and later served as a founder of the American Legion in 1919. (American Legion)
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Feature Stories . . .
to Bedford, Pennsylvania, as the Depression made this move an economic necessity. It was during this time in Pennsylvania that Wood Sr. would send Eric, Peter, and Alec on survival trips to the woods. Eric and his brothers would shoot small game and build their own shelters against cold and snowy conditions. Eric's childhood experiences would later prove valuable when it came to his time fighting and surviving in the Ardennes.
Under careful guidance from his father, Eric was enrolled at Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania. The school was founded in 1928 by Milton G. Baker. The relationship between Wood Sr., and Colonel Baker was formed sometime earlier. Both men had served in the capacity of Adjutant General of the Pennsylvania National Guard, which included the 28th Division, also known as the "Keystone Division."
Entering in the fall of 1934, young Eric joined Valley Forge Academy's Corps of Cadets as a plebe in his third-class year. It became apparent to his fellow class members, academic faculty, and athletic coaches that his presence would become known to all. In the next four years at Valley Forge, up to his entrance into Princeton University in the fall of 1938, he compiled a record of achievements that stands as the ultimate gold standard that has never been surpassed.
Wood's accomplishments included an academic point average that has never been matched and he was valedictorian of the class of 1938. In 1946, the Wood Medal for athletic achievement was first awarded to the cadet who had excelled in varsity competition. Wood's spirited sense of giving-it-all in both football and track was the reason for this special recognition that is awarded to this day.
As a student at Princeton University, Wood played football as a defensive tackle for the Tigers. While playing football in the Ivy League, he met Ted Kindli, a member of the Yale University squad. Later on, both were executive officers in Batteries A and B of the 589th Field Artillery Battalion, a 105mm howitzer unit in the 106th Infantry Division.
Commissioned through Officer Candidate School in March 1943, Wood reported to Fort Jackson to join the newly formed 106th Infantry Division, nicknamed the "Golden Lions." After taking part in the Second Army Tennessee Maneuvers and additional training at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, the 106th deployed to England on 17 November 1944. After nearly a month in England, the division landed in France and found itself at the Schnee Eifel in Belgium on 11 December, five days before the Germans launched their offensive in the Ardennes. Battery A took up positions to support the 422nd Infantry Regiment. Once the Germans attacked, Lieutenant Colonel T. J. Kelly, the 589th's commander, ordered Wood's Battery A to retrograde to St. Vith through the town of Schonberg, as their position was deemed too exposed. St. Vith was the location of the 106th Division headquarters and they could regroup from there. Following orders
continues on page 26
25
Feature Stories . . .
to take his unit to St. Vith through Schonberg would lead to Wood's eventual unanticipated destination of Meyerode.
As Battery A approached Schonberg, fleeing American soldiers warned the battery that the Germans had already occupied the town. Wood's unit began drawing fire and was engaged by the Germans upon entering. Following their success of "running the gauntlet" through the town, Wood's battery encountered a roadblock and a German panzer that fired and destroyed a 105mm howitzer. The surviving three howitzers eventually found their way to St. Vith.
PHOTO: German soldiers rush by abandoned and burning American vehicles in the opening hours of the German surprise offensive in the Ardennes, 16 December 1944. (National Archives)
Now separated from the rest of his battery, Wood was faced with several options. He could stay and be killed, he could become a prisoner of war along with other unit members, or he could sprint across an open field and seek shelter in the surrounding forest. Wood chose the option of using his athletic ability to sprint across a field to the woods. He avoided small arms fire and pursuing German soldiers and made it to the wooded area. So began Wood's adventure in the forests of the Ardennes.
On the afternoon of the 17 December, he encountered another American soldier and the two of them would journey together through the forest. (The identity of this solider has never been determined.) Their travels would eventually lead to their fortuitous meeting with Peter Maraite, who was in the forest looking for the perfect tree for his family's Christmas celebration. He invited the two soldiers back to his home in the village of Meyerode.
It was under the cover of dusk that Peter and his two guests arrived at the Maraite home, which was fortunately located at the edge of the forest. Peter introduced the two soldiers to his family, including youngest daughter Eva who recalled Wood's visit up to her death in 2012. It was here the soldiers would spend the night amongst the family and their invited English-speaking neighbor, Jean Schroeder.
The next morning, Peter asked Wood about his plans and Wood would make his statement about starting his own war. From Jean Schroeder's maps he discovered a large cache of 81mm mortar rounds and functional weapons. Armed with the weapons from this cache and acquiring captured German sniper rifles, he possessed an arsenal to carry on his own war as he had previously intended. Wood seemed to make good on his promise. Townspeople from Meyerode would later make sworn witness statements about dead and wounded German soldiers seen coming through the village for evacuation or burial.
26
Feature Stories . . .
PHOTO: The inexperienced 106th Infantry Division, which had been on the front lines for just a little over a week, was in the direct path of the 6th Panzer Army commanded by General Josef "Sepp" Dietrich (left). (German Federal Archives)
From his early days, Wood had acquired expert proficiency both as a member of the Princeton University rifle team and his subsequent training with both 60mm and 81mm mortars. Wood soon familiarized himself with the passages in and around Meyrode. With main roads under Wood's surveillance and resupply routes under attack, the Wehrmacht had to use teams of six horses drawing wagons to plow through heavy snow to move supplies along alternate routes. The destination of these supplies was Colonel Joachim Peiper's Kampfgruppe from the 1st SS Panzer division, the vanguard unit charged with the objective of driving towards the Meuse River. Kampfgruppe Peiper was the unit responsible for the infamous Malmedy Massacre on 17 December and the murders of several other American prisoners and dozens of Belgian civilians.
Wood had to know that undertaking this guerilla action and playing cat-and-mouse with a bounty on his head might lead to an outcome not of his choosing. One can only speculate as to how much the wintertime hunting forays he shared with his two brothers in the woods around Bedford, Pennsylvania, assisted him and contributed to his survival deep in the Ardennes.
On 25 January 1945, Wood had celebrated his twenty-sixth birthday alone. This was the same day that Private First Class Lehman Malone Wilson, an 82nd Airborne Headquarters scout in advance of his unit around Meyerode, wrote his girlfriend and wished that he would soon meet Russian soldiers that he had heard were attacking from the east.
In all that was taking place around Meyerode, with the full retreat of the Germans, we know from grave registration reports that both Wood and Private Wilson died in the same action around 29 January. The townspeople arrived shortly after and placed both men in temporary graves.
Contained in an official documented summary, we know that Wood's remains were surrounded by seven dead Waffen-SS soldiers. It was confirmed that Wood was the last to succumb to
PHOTO: This illustration of Lieutenant Wood in his final battle against seven German soldiers on or around 22 January 1945 appeared in the 20 December 1947 issue The Saturday Evening Post. (Author's collection)
continues on page 28
27
Feature Stories . . .
his wounds as his personal possessions were still intact on him This included his pay book, wristwatch, and a supply of money. The only things missing were his combat boots.
Brigadier General Eric Fisher Wood Sr., who had been called to active duty during World War II, communicated to his superior, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, that a review of his son's Silver Star should be considered for upgrade to a Distinguished Service Cross (DSC). The Army conducted a review and awarded Wood the DSC. Army Chief of Staff Eisenhower presented the DSC to First Lieutenant Wood's family members, including his wife, children, parents, and brother at a ceremony in April 1947 in his office in the Pentagon. The citation accompanying the DSC determined that the dates of 17 December 1944 to 22 January 1945 as those of Wood's heroic stand. In addition to the DSC, Wood was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and medals from Belgium.
As a further tribute to the heroic efforts of First Lieutenant Eric Wood, the townsfolk erected a memorial to his memory where he fell 77-plus years ago. Today Wood is buried with nearly 8,000 of his fellow American soldiers and airmen at Henri Chapelle Military Cemetery in Belgium.
About the Author
In 1953, Hugh Roberts entered Valley Forge Military Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania, as a first-year cadet and graduated in 1956. Shortly afterwards, he enlisted in the Army and spent eight years as a noncommissioned officer in both active units as well as in the Army Reserve 83rd "Thunderbolt" Division. Rising to the rank of sergeant,
Mr. Roberts served both as an infantry squad leader and a 105mm howitzer chief. Currently a member of VFW Post 15 in Cleveland, Ohio, he is also a VFW honor guard member. In 2015, he was a recipient of an Alumni of the Year award from Valley Forge Military Academy and College. Now retired, Mr. Roberts is currently engaged in further historical research to include a film project on Lieutenant Eric Fisher Wood Jr.
28
Front & Center . . .
Help Needed!!
Want to be a part of the 106th Association but not sure what you can do?
The 106th Association is looking for volunteers who are willing to spend some time helping to improve the resources that we provide. Please take a moment, read through what we are doing, and consider offering a hand. Your support can make a real difference!
We have thousands of online documents that contain references to people, places, or events, but, in many cases, if someone is looking for something specific, they must read through each document searching for the reference because many of the documents are not indexed. Imagine if you were looking for someone in particular, the time you can spend, sitting at your computer, searching for a name. Now, imagine looking at an index and finding dozens of references -- and links that take you directly to the original documents containing that name. This is what we are trying to accomplish.
You could choose to spend five minutes to tackle a document that has only a few lines, or go to the other extreme, like the roster of POWs from the 423rd that has over 1,500 pages and 2,500 names! You can do as little or as much as you are comfortable with using several tools and procedures that we have created to simplify the process.
We sure could use your help!
If you are interested in learning more, or willing to volunteer, please send an email to Host106th@l06thInfDivAssn.org. Wayne Dunn will be happy to explain more in detail.
106th Infantry Division's Online "Message Board"
Looking for information about a 106th veteran?
Do you have information about one you'd like to share?
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: 106thdivision.proboards.com
29
Front & Center . . .
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.
The Co-chairs of the Order of the Golden Lion committee will poll the members of the Board of Directors for recommendations for the OGL awards. The President or Chairman may select additional members to the committee. Nominations will be submitted in a format suitable for composing a formal citation to accompany the award of the medal. This must be done in ample time prior to the next Reunion in order for the manufacturer to produce the medal(s) on time.
All citations should be kept confidential between the nominator and the Committee Chairman prior to the actual awarding ceremony. LEAD TIME -- 3 WEEKS, MINIMUM
Send nominations to any one of the committee members listed below:
Carol J. Faulkner, 765-342-1872 3179 Kestrel Court,Martinsville, IN 46151 faulknerskeepe05@yahoo.com
Beth Garrison, 618-628-4733 7766 Haury Road,Lebanon, IL 62254 rgbg75@att.net
Kathy Spinella, 305-562-4381 1991 Carolina Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33703 pspin142@aol.com
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.
30
In Memoriam . . .
PLEASE REPORT ALL CHANGES OF ADDRESS AND DEATHS TO ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP CHAIR:
Jacquelyn Coy 603 Mountain Ave., Apt. BP223, New Providence, NJ 07974 PHONE: 973-879-9070 EMAIL: JSC164@AOL.COM
CLEMENTS, LAWRENCE CLINTON 424/A
Date of death: March 18, 2022
Lawrence Clinton Clements, 96, of Appomattox, passed away on Friday, March 18, at his residence. He was the husband of the late Cora Belle Clements.
Born on August 21, 1925, in Alexandria, VA, he was the son of the late Clinton and Ella Clements. He worked as the Central Virginia Electric Company office supervisor and was a member of the Grace Hills Baptist Church and American Legion #104. Lawrence proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army in the 106th Infantry Division during WWII and was captured during the Battle of the Bulge.
He is survived by four children, 31 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, sister-in-law, a brother and a sister.
Reported by his daughter, Lauren Clements
COLBERT, HUGH L. 422/B
Date of death: February 1, 2022
Hugh Leon Colbert, affectionately known as "Uncle Chel" was born on June 23, 1925, in Electra, TX. He grew up in between two sisters, Josephine who was five years older and Glenda who was two years younger. He passed away at his home on February 1, 2022, at the age of 96.
He graduated from Electra H.S., Class of 1942 at the age of 16 where he was a drum major. He joined the U.S. Army in 1943, serving as messenger for Company B of the 422nd Infantry Regiment of the 106th Division. He was captured on December 19, 1944, by German forces during the Battle of the Bulge. He was a POW from the day he was captured until his liberation on April 15, 1945. His family is especially proud of his military service and the honor he brought to his country.
He later attended North Texas State College in 1950 and graduated with a degree in accounting. H.L. moved to Abilene to accept a position with GeoChemical. He never married but took care of his parents by living with them and providing a home. He was
continues on page 32
31
In Memoriam . . .
active in the Boy Scouts of America, setting high standards with his troop. He earned awards and decorations as a scoutmaster to include the Order of the Arrow, among many others. H.L. moved to Dallas in 1968 to work at Sabine Oil and Gas Corporation, from which he retired. He was active in the Eastridge Baptist Church in Red Oak, TX, where he served as a Deacon and donated the organ in the name of his mother, Evalyn May Colbert.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters. He is survived by many nieces and nephews
Reported by Dirk Seibold
FEHNEL, CHARLES D. 81ST ENG
Date of death: March 12, 2022
Charles DeLong Fehnel, of Midlothian, VA, passed away at home on March 12, 2022, one day after his 98th birthday. He was born March 11, 1924, in Greenwalds, PA. Charles was the son of the late Eugene Elmer Fehnel and Mamie Alice DeLong. During WWII, he served with the 106th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army and was captured during the Battle of the Bulge. He spent five months in Stalag 9B, Bad Orb, Germany as a POW.
After returning home, he graduated from Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA with a BA degree in Chemistry, and worked for Lone Star Cement Co. (later known as Lone Star Industries) his whole career. He retired as Technical VP of the Corporation.
He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Pauline, and daughters Eleanor and Judith. Near to his heart were his four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Submitted by his daughter Judith Fehnel
GAHERTY, JOSEPH WILLIAM PFC/QM
Date of death: January 27, 2022
Joseph William Gaherty, 101, passed away on April 25, 2022, at the Meadows in Rutland, VT. Joseph was born in Lenox on November 27, 1920, the son of Daniel and Mary (Chague) Gaherty.
After graduating from Lee High School in 1938, he started as a machine operator for the Smith Paper Company at the Eagle Mill. He finished his 42 years of employment as a laboratory technician at the Columbia Mill then operated by the Schweitzer-Maudit Division of Kimberly Clark Corporation.
Aside from his work life, Joe developed a deep love for the game of baseball at an early age. He spent many hours at the Lenox Dale ball field and became a talented left-handed pitcher. He played for the Lee High School team and while still in school he became a starting pitcher for the Lenox Hutchison Oilers and Tillotson AC. During his baseball career, he was a member of several other semi-professional teams including the Majestics, Pittsfield Tyler Aces, Lee Sons of Italy and HomGas (Great Barrington). He was particularly proud of a complete
32
In Memoriam . . .
16-inning game he pitched against the Dalton team. While playing for the Lee Sons of Italy team in 1946, he helped the team win local, regional, and state championships that earned them a bid at the national championship in Wichita Kansas. His baseball memorabilia are on display at the Baseball in the Berkshires exhibit in Dalton.
His Berkshire baseball career was interrupted by his service in the Quartermaster Company, 106th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army from 1942-1945. During basic training, he pitched for the Division team. The 106th embarked for Europe in November 1944 and quickly faced the German counteroffensive in Belgium that December, now known as the Battle of the Bulge. He was fortunate to survive the war unscathed despite serving in a chaotic combat area.
Joe loved the outdoors and had a great appreciation for the natural world. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, swimming, walks in the woods, and just hanging out at his cabin in Becket. He had a great sense of humor and was a great storyteller. Although he was faced with physical challenges in his later years, they never dampened his true spirit.
His wife, Enes predeceased him in December 2020 after 70 years of marriage. He is survived by his son, Daniel Gaherty and his wife Liza of Milton VT, and his daughter Mary Ann Gaherty-Reich and husband Harvey Reich, M.D. of Mendon VT. He is also survived by grandchildren, Zachariah, Jillian, and Jeremy.
Reported by Wayne Dunn
HOFF, GERALD P. ASSOCIATE MEMBER
Date of death: April 16, 2018
Gerald Hoff, of Hatboro, PA, was the son of Russell D. Hoff, 422/M.
Reported by Jackie Coy
MARCUM, GEORGE C. 423/HQ
Date of death: August 31, 2014
George C. Marcum, 91, of Independence, MO, passed away August 31, 2014. George was born on June 18, 1923 in Ashland, KY. He retired from the U.S. Post Office. George was an American POW Life Member. He was preceded in death by his wife Nadine Marcum and is survived by a son, Randy, five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
As reported by D. W. Newcomer's Floral Hills Funeral Home
PUGSLEY, EARL C. QM
Date of death: June 21, 2017
Earl C. Pugsley, 94, of Anderson, IN, passed away June 21, 2017, at the St. Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital. He was born on November 24, 1922 in Millford, MA. He served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II. He worked for Nicholson File for more than 40 years and later at Anderson Community Schools. He was an avid gardener, and avid fan of his beloved
continues on page 34
33
In Memoriam . . .
Boston Red Sox and Notre Dame football. Earl is survived by his loving spouse, Catherine Higgins Pugsley, who he married on December 25, 1942, his son, James, two grandchildren and many nieces and nephews -- all from southern California.
Reported by his son, Jim
SHERMAN, LEE M., PHD 422/2ND BN
Date of death: December 1, 2021
Colonel Lee Martin Sherman, Ph.D passed away in Cape Coral, FL on December 4, 2021, at the age of 97. Lee, an Easterwood Park boy born in Baltimore on October 7, 1924, was the elder son of famed Baltimore news dealer and World War I and II veteran, Abe Sherman and his wife Anne. He graduated from Baltimore City College High in 1942 and then volunteered for the U.S. army. He was selected to train with the XVIII Airborne Corps to make stealth glider landings on the Japanese mainland; however, before training was complete, the atom bomb was dropped and WWII was over.
Lee was promoted to Master Sergeant and given a Presidential appointment as a 2nd Lieutenant. He received a B.A. from the University of Maryland in 1950 and was assigned to Korea, where he saw action with the Far East Command, a secret organization consisting of all intelligence and guerilla operations.
Lee oversaw many operations in Korea, New Mexico, Washington, DC and Vietnam. He earned 16 decorations in his 33 years in the military and retired from service in 1976 as a Colonel.
Dr. Sherman taught for the next 16 years as Associate Professor of Management and Marketing at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington.
He is survived by his daughter, Julie, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Lee's wives, the former Bunny Sherman and Frances Stevens predeceased him, as well as his daughter Renee.
Reported by his daughter, Julie
SLOTKIN, EDWARD 422/CN
Date of death: January 31, 2020
Edward was born in Bronx, NY on October 31, 1924, to parents who had recently immigrated from Europe. His father died when he was 13 and his family moved to Woodbridge, NJ, where he played high school basketball. After his graduation, he enlisted in the Army and served in WWII and the Battle of the Bulge, where he was captured and sent to Berga, along with other Jewish POWs. Towards the end of the war, Nazis took all prisoners on a death march that lasted 18 days and covered over 180 miles. Part of his story is told in the National Geographic documentary "Hitler's GI Death Camp."
34
In Memoriam . . .
After the war, he returned to Woodbridge and worked in the butcher shop of a family-owned business. Eventually he and a partner built a successful electrical supply business which is today owned and operated by his son.
He and wife Dot retired to Florida and spent happy decades pursuing his passions for golf, friends, cars, debates, and good food and drink. He is survived by his sister, Arlene, sons Lee and Gary and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Slotkin.
Submitted by Jackie Coy
SOLADAY, ROBERT E. 422/SV Date of death: May 8, 2011
Robert (Bob) Edward Soladay was born February 10, 1921, to Earl and Minnie Soladay in Fulton, SD. Robert lived in Fulton during his youth and served in the U.S. Army during WWII. Robert was married to Mildred Bowman and had three children from the marriage: Patricia, Bob and Carol. Robert married Beverley Boelman on June 5, 1953. They enjoyed almost fifty-eight years of marriage and have four children: Earl, John, Roberta and Charles. Bob and the family resided in Redondo Beach, CA, until 1982 when they moved to Albuquerque, NM after Bob's retirement and during which time Bob successfully beat cancer in the early 1980s.
Bob passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 8, 2011, at the age of 90. Bob is survived by his wife, Beverly, six of his children, 19 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
As reported in the Albuquerque Journal
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.
We are currently updating our roster.
If you are receiving The CUB as a family member of a deceased Veteran or deceased Non-veteran, we will be working to ensure the publication mailings are only sent to those who want to keep receiving the publication.
35
Feature Stories . . .
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
If you are interested in advertising in printed versions of future CUBs, please contact Susan Weiss at CUBPublisher@l06thInfDivAssn.org or treasurer Mike Sheaner at sheanerl @airmail.net for more information.
36
We are all feeling the effects of the current financial upheaval, including the 106th Infantry Division Association. The Annual Dues of $10 are no longer billed or collected. We are now accepting only donations for membership, memorials and LIFE PLUS. The previously-allowed payment of $75 for Life Membership creates a financial shortfall, as our expenses exceed our income.
Our solution?
We are asking you to join the
LIFE PLUS+ Club
Those Members who contribute to the LIFE PLUS+ Club 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.
To those Members who we haven't heard from for a long time --please take the time to join this exclusive club. Thank you!
Send your contribution, check made payable to 106th Infantry Div. Association, to:
Mike Sheaner
Treasurer, 106th Infantry Division PO Box 140535, Dallas TX 75214
To see a full-color version of this issue of The CUB, please visit our website at:
106thInfDivAssn.org
The online PDF version is now interactive and all website URLs and email addresses that appear in blue italics when clicked will take you to the site or an open email window.
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, graphics and interactive links
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@airmaiLnet
Index for This Document
1st SS Panzer, 2928th Inf. Div., 27
424/A, 33
589th FA BN, 27
6th Panzer Army, 25, 29
71st Spec. Ops. Sqdn., 13
82nd Abn. Div., 29
930th Tactical Airlift Wing, 13
Aquitania, 8
Ardennes, 25, 27, 28, 29
Armed Forces Reunions, 20
Auw, 24
Bailey, J. David, 17
Bakalar Afb, 13, 14
Baker, Col., 27
Baseman, Connie Pratt, 31
Battle of the Bulge, 9, 34, 38
Belgium, 35
Berga, 36
Berlin, 9
Books, 38
Bowman, Mildred, 37
Bramson, Seth H., 38
Bryant, Madeleine J., 17
Camp Atterbury, 14
Camp Atterbury Camp Crier, 19
Camp Atterbury, IN, 19, 27
Camp Lucky Strike, 8
'Captured At the Battle of the Bulge', 38
Captured, Frozen, Starved -- and Lucky
How One Jewish American Gi Survived A Nazi Stalag, 38
Carman, Cindy, 17
Cerenzia, Sgt. Frankie, 7, 8
Clements, Clinton & Ella, 33
Clements, Cora Belle, 33
Clements, Lauren, 33
Clements, Lawrence Clinton, 33
Colbert, Hugh L., 33
Colbert, Hugh Leon, 33
Collins, Michael, 38
Coy, Jackie, 35, 37
Coy, Jacquelyn, 2, 3, 33, 37
Coy, Jacquelyn S., 16
Cozean, Jesse, 38
Crosby, Bing, 9
Dietrich, Gen. Josef 'Sepp', 25, 29
Donovan, Col. William 'Wild Bill', 26
Dunn, Capt. Thomas Melville, 4
Dunn, Lisa, 4, 5, 15
Dunn, Lisa M., 3
Dunn, Wayne, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 31
Dunn, Wayne G., 2, 3
Edmonds, Chris, 11, 38
Edmonds, Pastor Chris, 2, 4, 7
Eisenhower, Gen. Dwight D., 30
Elbe, 24
Faulkner, Carol, 2
Faulkner, Carol J., 32
Fehnel, Charles D., 34
Fehnel, Charles Delong, 34
Fehnel, Judith, 34
Feldman, Milton, 38
Forced March, 38
Frampton, Pete, 10
Freeman AAF, 14
Friedman, Sgt. Skip, 7
From Brooklyn To The Battle Of The Bulge, 38
Ft. Jackson, SC, 27
Fullam, Brandon, Jr., 17
Gaherty, Daniel, 35
Gaherty, Daniel & Mary (Chague), 34
Gaherty, Joseph William, 34
Garrison, Beth, 2, 32
Gerolstein, 24
Giessen, 7
Graber, Dan, 1, 24
Graber, Leo L., 24
Graber, Pvt. Leo, 1, 24
Hennessey, Dan, 15
Henri Chapelle Military Cemetery, 30
Hoff, Gerald, 35
Hoff, Gerald P., 35
Hoff, Russell D., 35
Hope, Bob, 9
How One Jewish American Gi Survived A Nazi Stalag, 38
Humphrey, Robert E., 38
I Was A Prisoner, 38
I Was No Hero In The Battle Of The Bulge, 38
Italy, 34, 35
Janecki, Bernard J., 17
Johnson, Ken, 38
Kampfgruppe Peiper, 29
Keeber, Beatrice, 38
Kelly, Lt. Col. T. J., 27
King, Martin, 38
Lang, Russ, 38
LeClair, Henry, 2, 3
LeHarve, 8
MacMurray, Fred, 9
Malmedy Massacre, 29
Maraite, Peter, 25, 28
Marcum, George C., 35
Martin, Harry F., Jr., 38
Mayrsohn, Bernard (Barney), 38
Meuse River, 29
Meuse-Argonne Offensive, 26
Meyerode, 25, 28, 29
Meyrode, 29
Miller, Dennis Shane, 17
Mohn, John H., 38
Morse, John, 10
Morse, John W., 38
Mosley, Ron, 15
My Grandfather's War, 38
My Nine Lives, 38
'My War', 38
National Archives, 28
National Museum Of The U.S. Army, 23
No Surrender, 38
Nuremberg, 9
Once Upon A Time In War, 38
Order of the Golden Lion, 14, 32
Paris, 25
Peiper, Col. Joachim, 29
Pershing, Gen. John J., 26
Peterson, Richard, 7
Photo Album, 19
Pope, Bob, 2, 3, 6, 11, 38
Pope, Robert E., 17
Pratt, Lt. Gerald, 31
Prisoner of War, 19
Prisoner Of War Temporary Enclosures, 19
Pugsley, Earl C., 35
Purple Heart, 30
Ray, Marion, 14
Reunions, 2
Robb, Dr. John G., 2
Roberts, Hugh, 25, 30
Rodt, 24
Roosevelt, Lt. Col. Theodore, Jr., 26
Roosevelt, President, 8
Saturday Evening Post, 29
Schnee Eifel, 24
Schonberg, 28
Schonberg, Belgium, 1
Schortemeyer, John T., 17
Schroeder, Jean, 25, 28
Seibold, Dirk, 34
Shadows Of Slaughterhouse Five, 38
Sheaner, Herb, 38
Sheaner, Herbert 'Mike', 3
Sheaner, Mike, 2, 3, 16, 20, 38, 39
Sherman, Col. Lee Martin, 36
Sherman, Dr., 36
Sherman, Lee M., 36
Shields, Hunter, 17
Slotkin, Dorothy, 37
Slotkin, Edward, 36
Smallwood, Fredrick, 38
Smith, David, 3
Soladay, Earl & Minnie, 37
Soladay, Robert (Bob) Edward, 37
Soladay, Robert E., 37
Southampton, 8
Spinella, Kathy, 2, 3, 32
St. Vith, 25, 27, 28
Stalag 9B, Bad Orb, 34
Stalag 9B, Bad Orb, Germany, 34
Stalag IV-B, 24
Szpek, Ervin, Jr., 38
Tannenbaum, Sgt. Lester, 8, 10
Tennessee Maneuvers, 27
The Importance Of A Mini Reunion, 12
'The Last Infantry Division', 38
The Letter Box, 38
The Sitting Duck Div., 38
Tuorila, Dr. James R., 17
Uss General W P Richardson, 10
Valley Forge Military Academy, 25, 27, 30
Vietnam, 13
Virtual Memorial Svc., 24
Visit The 106th Association's Website!, 15
'Warm Memories of Cold Spring', 38
Warriors Of The 106th, 38
Weiss, Susan, 3, 5, 10, 38
Welke, Brian, 2, 3
West, James, 13
West, James David Jam-Sa', 13
West, Jim, 2, 4, 13, 15, 19, 31
Whetzel, Carmel, 38
White, Lt. Col. George A., 26
Wood, 1st Lt. Eric Fisher, 25
Wood, Brig. Gen. Eric, Sr., 25
Wood, Eric Fisher, 26
Wood, Eric Fisher, Jr., 25, 26, 30
Wood, Eric Fisher, Sr., 26
Wood, Gen. Eric Fisher, Sr., 30
Wood, Janet, 2, 3, 19
Wood, Lt., 25, 29, 30
Wood, Lt. Eric, 30
Wood, Randall, 18
Wood, Randall M., 2, 3, 11
Wood, Randy, 2, 4
World War II Memorial, 23
Wouters, Carl, 2, 4, 11, 15, 17, 24
XVIII Abn. Corps, 36