Index for this issue of The CUB

Uploaded: 21-Nov-2024

For the cover story, see page 18.


Elected Offices
President Janet Wood (Associate Member)
Past-President (Ex-Officio) Bob Pope (590/FABN)
1st Vice-President Henry LeClair (Associate Member)
2nd Vice-President David Smith (Associate Member)
3rd Vice-President Kathy Spinella (Associate Member)
Adjutant: Randall M. Wood 810 Cramertown Loop Martinsville, IN 46151 woodchuck01@sbcglobaLnet 765-346-0690
Chaplain: Pastor Chris Edmonds 206 Candora Rd., Maryville, TN 37804 cwedmonds10@gmail.corn 865-599-6636
    106th ID Assn's Belgium Liaison: Carl Wouters Kardinaal Cardijnstraat 11 B-2840 Terhagen, Belgium carl wouters@hotmail.com cell: +(32) 47 924 7789

Committee Chairs:
Atterbury Memorial Representative Jim West (imajimwest@gmail.com)
Business Matters, Deaths,
Address changes to: Jacquelyn Coy603 Mountain Ave., Apt. BP223 New Providence, NJ 07974 973-879-9070
membership@106thInfDivAssn.org
Membership Chair Jacquelyn Coy
Historian Open
Mini-Reunions Wayne Dunn
Nominating Committee Chair: Brian Welke
Order of the Golden Lion Carol Faulkner, Beth Garrison; Kathy Spinella




Donations, checks to: ,
Treasurer: Mike Sheaner PO Box 140535, Dallas TX 75214 sheanerl@airmaiLnet 214-823-3004
Public Relations Chair: Wayne Dunn
Reunion Co-chairs: Randy Wood, Brian Welke
    106th Assoc. Website Webmaster: Wayne G. Dunn 85 Little Riverview Dr., Reedville, VA 22539 Host106th@l06thInfDivAssn.org 410-409-1141

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    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 2023)
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 henryleclair13@gmail.com
Bob Pope (590/FABN) [Past President] 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, President (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@.thcglobaLnet

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    Whenever a new CUB is ready to be assembled, I get to read all the submissions ahead of time as I do my proofing and editing in preparation to compile the first draft. It never ceases to amaze me when I read about what our Veterans went through to ensure the safety of our country and the world. The soldiers who fought, the POWs, the injured and the fallen were, in many cases, just boys on the brink of manhood. My own uncle was one of them, and as I shared in a previous post, it affected me deeply to read the letters he sent back home to his family (his Italian mother and 10 siblings) saying how much he missed them. He signed each one with "S.W.A.K." -- Sealed With A Kiss. With only a pencil to use as a writing instrument, his handwriting labored, it looked like a child wrote those letters. And in a lot of ways, he still was.
    Many of the soldiers, like my uncle, never made it home, and we should never forget their ultimate sacrifice. For those who did, we continue to owe a huge debt of gratitude and respect. You will read more about such experiences in this edition of The CUB. Our president, Janet Wood, describes a little more about what her father went through,
    sharing his own words and some drawings he did during his time as a soldier and POW. We often read about our men overseas during WWII, but there are some parts of the war that you may not have known about that happened right here in the United States. You'll read about how our country remembers the past from our Pastor Chris Edmonds who attended and writes about the two-day event that is held every year in May in Carthage, Tennessee to commemorate the American soldiers during WWII who trained in "war games".
    It is so often that the ONLY way we know about major overseas historical events, like a world war, is to read about them. It is rare when we get to meet the people who were actually a part of that history. In this CUB, Randy Wood, our adjutant, explains more about the opportunity YOU have to meet, speak with and spend some time with the WWII Veterans who can attend the reunion, and/or the family members who attend in their stead. You receive The CUB for a reason it may be because you want to stay in touch and be a part of remembering and sharing these stories. Here's your chance to not just read about "it" but be part of "it". Please, don't miss this the opportunity for live interaction. I know you won't regret it!
Lisa Dunn, Editor
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, 2023 -- mail date late November, 2023 (to include reunion photos and remembrances)
January 31, 2024 -- mail date late March, 2024 (issue may include reunion
paperwork)
May 1, 2024 -- mail date mid-June, 2024 (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@l06thInfDivAssn.org

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    I am one of the luckiest people around. I am blessed beyond measure and do you know why? Because of men like my dad, who fought for my freedom, fought for me, even though they didn't know me or that I would be a part of their lives.
    When the country called, my dad went. Did he ask questions or balk at having to go? No, he just went, because that's what you do when your family is in danger. My dad always thought when he went overseas that he would not come home. I am so thankful that he made it back.
    I have my own personal history book, written by my father, Robert Wood. It tells me of the hardships that he went through, and it includes hand-drawn illustrations. One drawing shows the boxcars, in which 64 soldiers were imprisoned from December 21-29, 1944. Another is a drawing of the blower stove that they used to cook their "meals," such as they were. And he drew pictures of the house that he was going to build when he got home. And of building 9B, Stalag IIIB, where he lived all those months.
    He wrote about his food, what he ate, what he wanted to eat, and how he had a dream that he was at a restaurant with his sisters and a brother, only to wake up just as they were about to eat. "I'd just like to be home and eating period. I never knew life could be so miserable. I'm finding out a lot of things I never knew," he wrote. Oh, my heart breaks for him and all of them, but I am so thankful.

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President's View . . .

    Dad talks about the air raid sirens going off, of bombs falling close to where they were, and how the building shook as each bomb hit its target. How could anyone sleep during that?
    The Red Cross boxes that were sent to the POW camps always included packs of cigarettes. My dad and his friend Russ Lang never smoked, so they used the cigarettes as bargaining chips. Imagine starving, but trading food for cigarettes. I always used this as a way of emphasizing to my students about how addictive cigarettes are. But, in dad's diary, on March 23, 1945, my dad admits to lighting a cigarette. "I wonder what mom would think of that. If it's the only bad habit (to her notion) that I pick up here, it won't be too bad." I never knew him to smoke, and I doubt that he lit another one, they were too valuable. All of this shows just how strong
these men were, how they became the greatest generation.
    Let's not forget about the families back home, too. I know mom had a part in protecting the United States. She has talked about working in a secret room at RCA, building something for the war effort. Later, mom found out through a friend at church that they were making parts for bombs or missiles. When it was broadcast that the war was over, everyone went outside, into the pouring rain to celebrate. Everyone was so happy that it was finally over, and their soldiers were coming home.
    When the war ended, the Germans fled camp, fearing their own capture. Dad and Russ went to the doctor's office, and they were able to get their POW pictures. I have often compared that


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President's View . . .

    photograph to his army photo taken prior to him going overseas. The look in my dad's eyes as a POW is haunting yet determined.
    Being a POW was part of who my dad was. Even though he seldom talked about his time in the camps, I know that some of the things he endured affected his decisions later in life -- how could they not? "When, yes, when is this long, drawn-out, miserable war going to end?," he wrote on March 14, 1945. Liberation was March 30, 1945.
    A friend of mine told me this diary needs to be in a museum, but, nope, its mine, written by my dad. I'm so thankful to have it.
    These are just some of the stories you will hear about if you attend the reunion. When we had several veterans attend, the stories would go on forever. Now we are getting to where we must rely on the next generation to spread the word. I want to encourage you: come tell your stories, I want to hear them.
Hope to see you in Buffalo!

Janet Wood, President 106th Inf. Div. Association Robert M Wood 423 Co I


Memoir of a Soldier from the Greatest Generation

    My dad's memoir -- although not totally about WWII -- is a snapshot in time that captures the world that made the "Greatest Generation."
    A farm boy from New York, dad joined the Army in 1940. He served in WWII with the Golden Lions and with many other units. He remained in the Army and served in Korea. He retired in the midst of the war in Vietnam. "Three on a match" if you know what I mean.
    Dad passed away in December 2011, but not before he finished writing his memoir, by hand, on legal paper. I was the editor of Dad's book, and I admit, I did not devote enough time to it. It always felt like, if we got the book done, Dad would "be done."
    I dragged it out so long that Dad only got to see the first print proof for the book. He did not get to personally share his book with all of his friends and family. We did that for him. We made sure that everyone on his long list of friends and colleagues got a copy.
    As an Associate member, I still get copies of The CUB and I flip through the pages and I remember the annual reunions we went to ... dad, mom, and their daughters. And later with sons-in-law and grandchildren.
Dad's story should be shared.
    The book has been available on Amazon since 2011. We never advertised it. This is the right time and right place to do that.
Ann Marie Keech, daughter of Stanley M. Bachmurski

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    Recently I had the blessing of speaking in Carthage, Tennessee, to kick-off Tennessee Maneuvers Remembered. The two-day event is held annually in May to commemorate our brave American soldiers during WWII who trained in "war games" in Tennessee. Between June 1941 and March 1944, middle Tennessee hosted 850,000 of the army's finest for intense war drills including my father Roddie (422nd) and our own 106th Infantry Division.
    Each year, the Smith County town of more than 2,300 residents and lots of guests transforms the city of Carthage into a bustling 1940s downtown filled with living history, military vehicles and equipment, "boogie woogie" entertainment, educational activities for children, artifact displays, authors and vendor areas, and war game reenactments between the Red and Blue Armies.
    A notice to all residents and guests warns: "If you or your pet are sensitive to loud noises or you live or work in or near Carthage, please be aware the event includes firing blanks from WWII weapons. These loud noises will be heard during morning and afternoon weapons demonstrations and for an estimated 20 minutes during the mock battle which will take place between 2 and 3 p.m."

The town goes all out for the event. It's an inspiring time of remembrance and honor -- as it should be.
    The Tennessee Maneuvers were monumental. These were the most massive war games in U.S. history, the first time tank, anti-tank, and air forces had participated in large-scale military training. They turned green boys into valiant fighting men who helped save our world from tyranny. And the "games" rallied our nation to prepare for war and helped our boys be victorious over unimaginable evil.
Bivouacked at Camp Forrest Tennessee, near Tullahoma, raw
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Chaplain's Message . . .

    recruits took part in various field exercises. The lack of rainfall made dust an enormous problem during moves and marches. When rain did arrive, it brought with it mud.
    The training was rigorous. The recruits were shaped into men through specific simulations: marching in rapid fashion to gain better ground and surprise opposing troops; staging a counterattack against a larger opposing force; and retreating from a superior number of troops. One night the boys moved out in darkness and rain to defend an approximately twenty-two-mile line between Deason and Big Springs. Close-quarters marching at night in secrecy through rain and mud was difficult and taught the men a valuable lesson: weather was always a potential enemy.
    They also put up with a lack of sleeping quarters. Several thousand soldiers slept wherever they could find space -- parks, playgrounds, any place out of the path of jeeps, trucks, and tanks.
    Toughened by the long, brutal marches in full gear and the stress of defending positions or advancing an attack, the troops learned how to hide from aerial observers, how to move with their units quickly, and how to conduct harassing rear-guard activity. They also learned that the games were dangerous. More than 250 soldiers and civilians lost their lives during the intense exercises.
    But our boys made the best of it. Though food, water, fuel, and hygiene were constant concerns, their poise and good-natured humor helped make our troops ready for battle and the Tennessee Maneuvers memorable.
    Everyone in middle Tennessee was awed by the sight of the war games: paratroopers gliding down in farmlands, thousands of infantrymen firing rifles and machine guns at each other -- while tanks rumbled, artillery pieces boomed, and aircraft soared overhead. To the locals, the boys were amazing. They were more than U.S. soldiers in training. They were the best and brightest of America and the citizens of Tennessee embraced them as their own.
    They are still our best and brightest -- as are all of our soldiers past and present. They deserve our highest honor. Like the good folks of Tennessee then and now, may we long remember their service and sacrifice and "outdo one another" in showing them honor.
    One of the best ways to honor them is to join us this August in Buffalo for our 76th Annual Reunion. Make plans now. I hope to see you there.
Every one of them deserves our highest honor.
All are more than heroes.

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The Adjutant's Message . . .

    The 106th Reunion is coming up fast. Have you made your room reservation and completed your registration for the reunion activities? If not, it is time to take action and get it done. If your veteran can travel to Buffalo, New York, then you can make it to the reunion. If you live within 50-75 miles, you are in a perfect location to be able to attend the reunion. If you live within flying distance, you can land at the Buffalo airport and a free shuttle will take you on a short ride to the Buffalo Airport Hotel. Easy-peasy! The best part is you will be at the reunion with your comrades and their families. We will be there to greet you and visit with you. We will have a hospitality room stocked with snacks and beverages to make your visit comfortable.
    Our planned fun activities include a special cookout Thursday evening with hamburgers, hot dogs, and Buffalo wings made only like Buffalo can make them. We have a Corn Hole Tournament planned for you to participate in or sit back and relax watching while other members of your family and attendees participate.
    We have tours to Niagara Falls to include a ride on the Maid of the Mist where you will be able to see the falls from the river surface. The Niagara Falls trip is included in the Registration package. We also plan to tour the Old Fort Niagara which is the oldest continuously occupied military site in the United States.
    We will eat together every morning while we are there. We will have our cookout and Saturday night we will have our Banquet all of which is included in our registration package.
    On Saturday morning, we will present our Memorial Service. We will have the assistance of a Color Guard unit from the Buffalo area. We will honor our veterans, both present and not, including those who are living or those who have passed away.
    Many of our previous attendees will be there and hopefully new attendees will be there for their first time. We have never had a reunion that did not have first-time people
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The Adjutant's Message . . .

    attend. Whenever I get the chance to talk to the family of a 106th veteran that has passed away, I tell them that coming to a reunion is like getting to visit with your dad again. Our dad passed away in 2006 and we get to see him in the comrades attending. It is special. But for that to work, please do your best to get your veteran to attend or come yourself to share their stories.
    The information to register for the reunion events along with a registration form is in the center of this CUB magazine. The number to call the Buffalo Airport Hotel for room reservations is listed on page 18 in this CUB as well. When you call to make the room reservation, identify yourself as part of the 106th Infantry Division Association. Those who have made reservations say that it was a very smooth process.
    Don't forget, we are planning a Silent Auction of crafts and items you own but think another could enjoy more, seepage 23. All proceeds will go to the association to support The CUB magazine. Last year we made over $1,000, so this is a very meaningful thing in which to participate.
    I realize this report is mostly an advertisement for the reunion, but we hope to have you attend both to honor our veterans and to rekindle friendships. We miss you! See you there, it should be great fun.
Randall M. Wood, Adjutant 106th Inf. Div. Association Robert M Wood 423 Co I

Jim West and the IndianaMilitary.org Website
    Additional 106th Infantry Division information can be found on Jim West's (OGL 2000) website at IndianaMilitary.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.

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Visit the 106th Association's Website!
    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 (106thinfantry.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 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.


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 for these older gentlemen to travel, so it is even more important we attempt to connect with our vets. Any way you can, even doing so virtually, would be a great way to honor, cherish, and remember all of our veterans.
Plan one in your area today!

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    Editor's Note: As we continue to look for someone to fill the Historian position, we are taking the opportunity to share stories from folks who have done research into finding out more about a family member or friend who is or was a veteran. The research done in search of information is often slow and may take years, and it is the very essence of what historians do, tracking down clues bit-by-bit, as they are unearthed. The process itself can lead to very interesting results in addition to the actual information learned. In this edition, Henry LeClair, son of Private "Frenchy" LeClair, 106th Div., 422nd, Co G, shares his story about how he is learning more about his father as a person and as a POW in the war.

Private Henry J. LeClair, (aka: "Frenchy") 106th Infantry Division, 422nd, Company "G"
by Henry M. LeClair
    My dad was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, on November 25, 1925. He was one of nine children born to French Canadian parents who immigrated to the United States to work in the Lowell textile mills to make a better life for themselves. His parents, John and May LeClair, were born in the small town of Tignish on Prince Edward Island.
    They raised nine children, eight boys and one girl. It was World War II and the Korean War and peacetime service that would separate the family for twenty years. The LeClairs felt a sense of duty to serve their adopted country. All the boys served honorably.
    Before the war, dad was able to take advantage of one of the programs that Roosevelt's New Deal offered to young, single men at the time. In early 1942, when dad was seventeen, he participated in the Civilian Conservation Corp at Underhill Center, Vermont, where he was hired as a laborer and learned skills such as being a bulldozer operator, capping dynamite, and fighting forest fires and


PHOTO: Pvt "Frenchy" LeClair, January 1944

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Historian's Message . . .

    floods. From there he was discharged from the program and returned to his native Lowell where he was employed in military defense work.
    Dad was inducted into the U.S. Army at the age of eighteen in January of 1944. Family records show that he received his training at Camp Blanding, Florida, where he completed his seventeen weeks of training in Heavy Weapons. Initially, he was first attached to Company "F," 210 Infantry Training Battalion. From there he was transferred to Camp Atterbury for further training and to await orders to ship out. It was there he joined the 106th Infantry Division, 422nd Regiment, Company "G."
    In late September of 1944, he boarded a train from Camp Atterbury to Camp Myles Standish in Taunton, Massachusetts where he awaited transport overseas leaving from the port of New York.
    The Division arrived in England. In the late days of November and early December, the 106th departed South Hampton, crossed the English Channel and headed for the mouth of the Seine River in Le Havre, France. The Division bivouacked in Rouen, France in the cold rain and mud. They then made their way to the small village of St. Vith, Belgium, three hundred plus miles from Le Havre where they relieved the 2nd Infantry Division.
    It did not take long before the 106th found themselves in the throes of the most notorious battle of World War II, The Battle of the Bulge. By the afternoon of December 19, the Germans had captured the men of the 106th. Dad and 7,000 other prisoners were marched for several days and then taken by train transport on a journey that took about another week or so to the prisoner-of-war camp Stalag IV-B in Muhlberg, Germany, about four-hundred miles from where they were captured in St. Vith.
    Not long after dad's imprisonment at Stalag IV-B in early January of 1945, the Germans "recruited" him along with 149 other prisoners and shipped them by train transport to the East German city of Dresden. They were housed in a makeshift prison camp famously known as Slaughterhouse-Five, at the time an actual slaughterhouse that provided food for the city.
    In Dresden, dad was assigned work details doing manual labor around the city. During his imprisonment between the days of February 13-15, the Americans and British conducted aerial raids levelling most of the city. Though the number is disputed, tens of thousands of the city's inhabitants lost their lives. The only reason the slaughterhouse prisoners were spared was because their prison afforded them shelter from the bombing. When it was over, the Germans made the prisoners clean up the damage and pull bodies from the destruction.
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Historian's Message . . .

    It was not long after this military bombardment that the war ended. In April 1945, the Germans marched the prisoners out of the city toward the American lines. They stopped for a time in the town of Hellendorf where they stayed in the guest house dance hall. Soon after, the Germans deserted their prisoners, and dad and his fellow captives made their way to the American front lines.
Dad returned home June 11, 1945, and was repatriated. He received his honorable discharge in November of 1945.
    After the war, he found work with the Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers, Local 39, AFL-CIO. He met and married Shirley Gagnon of Dracut, Massachusetts. Together they built a modest cape house with one bathroom and raised eight children: seven boys and one girl.
    In the years that followed, he established his own painting business and supported his large family. All eight children attended private Catholic school and were afforded summer vacations at Salisbury beach on the coast of Massachusetts. Dad spent the summers painting various summer cottages while his family got to stay the entire summer. He would swim in the ocean as part of his post-war physical therapy.
    Mom and dad divorced around 1973 after twenty-five years of marriage. Soon after the divorce, dad stopped drinking, got sober and maintained his sobriety until he died in October of 1981 at the age of fifty-six.
    Sadly, when he passed, I knew little about his experience in the war. At the time, I knew that he was in the war, was captured in the Battle of the Bulge and sent to the famous prisoner-of-war camp Slaughterhouse-Five, came home, and started a family. I do not recall him ever talking about it, but I do remember the wound on his leg. I am not sure if the wound was from a bullet or shrapnel, but I remember it was fairly large, measuring maybe a couple inches in diameter.
    During the spring of 1972, when I was nine, dad took my mother and me to see the newly released movie Slaughterhouse-Five. In my young mind I did not know what to make of the movie, so I do not recall asking a lot of questions. The book and the movie are a bit complex for any young mind to try and make sense of. Years later, as I became an adult, I wanted to know more about what he had been through during his life in the Army. All that our family had were a few military documents, his uniform, and some medals, and one especially important letter from Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. In Kurt's letter to my dad, he talks about their experiences in Dresden, and being held in the slaughterhouse. Kurt talks about his return visit to Dresden with his fellow Slaughterhouse-Five prisoner Bernie

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Historian's Message . . .

    O'Hare. He goes on to mention that dad could "write one hell of a moving letter." It is my hope that one day I might be able to locate dad's letter to Kurt written sometime in February of 1971. I suspect that dad's letter would reveal more answers to questions I have that he may not have shared with his family.
    I am the youngest in our family of eight. My older siblings know a bit more than I do about what happened to dad during the war. I often speak to a few of my older brothers, and they are glad to offer any information they can recall. With the information they give me, I am slowly piecing together the puzzle that is dad's story. Along the way, I have hit the lottery in some places and roadblocks in others.
    As I get older, I find myself more curious and keep digging up new information our family never knew. It is fascinating at times to make small discoveries that help confirm information that we had and discover new information that we knew nothing about.
    In 2014, I was having a discussion with my in-laws about dad's military service and wondering aloud how I could put more of the puzzle pieces together regarding what he went through. It was then my mother-in-law suggested that I check to see if his Infantry Division still had reunions. She and her dad would often go to his reunions. She thought that would be a good place to start gathering more information from those who were right alongside him during the war. I came home and did a quick search to see if in fact the reunions were still taking place. Well, they did and still do!
    The first reunion my husband Rhys and I attended was in Charleston, South Carolina in 2015. Attending the 69th reunion was eye opening. It was my hope to learn more about my dad's experience and it did not disappoint. The Sheaner family was the first family we met at a reception one evening. I was fortunate enough to meet Herbert (Herb) Sheaner, 422nd, Company "G." Herb was a wealth of information having fought alongside my dad, in the same regiment and the same company. I would never be able to ask my dad specific questions about his personal experience but in talking with Herb I knew that I was so incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to speak with a veteran who had firsthand knowledge of their war experience and that was good enough for me. That weekend I gathered vast amounts of information from both Herb and his son Mike and other veterans for which I will forever be grateful. Without them it would have been so much harder to understand my dad's military history. That was the start of my project to compile as much accurate information as I could to hand down to our family.
Since our first 106th reunion in
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Historian's Message . . .

    2015, Rhys and I have made a couple of major trips to Europe to visit the places where dad fought and was captured. In 2016, we made a trip to Dresden, Germany. We had the opportunity to meet with Dresden resident and tour guide Danilo Hommel. Danilo has exclusive access to the complex that once was Slaughterhouse-Five. On our visit there, we were able to visit the buildings and grounds of where my dad was held prisoner. It was chilling to know that I, his youngest son, was able to stand in the exact same place where my dad and his fellow prisoners experienced so much suffering, pain, and trauma. These were just young men, most of whom may have never left their hometowns, and were transported to a hell beyond words.
    In May of 2019, we were fortunate to travel to St. Vith, Belgium. It was there where we were able to meet with Doug Mitchell, expert military and battlefield tour guide, and Belgian 106th Infantry Division liaison Carl Wouters. We spent three days touring the villages and countryside that was once the battlefield of one of the most famous battles of World War II, the Battle of the Bulge. We are so grateful for the time and energy these men devote to keeping the memory alive of the men and women who fought to liberate Europe and defeat the Germans.
    During these years of information gathering and research, I would report back to my brothers with information I had been gathering. I often talk to my brother Bob about my progress. One day he realized the importance of the work that I had been doing and suggested that I take dad's uniform and medals that had been in his care since my father's death.
    In another of our conversations, he had recalled that every Christmas we would receive Christmas cards from the Topicz family in Cincinnati, Ohio. We wondered at that time if dad's war buddy Joe Topicz might still be alive and available to contact. After that conversation, I went about trying to locate Joe and came across his obituary. It was then I thought I would try to reach out to his only daughter who was listed in the obituary.
    One Sunday morning I spent some time searching for Carol Moses in Cincinnati and came across a few. I randomly called the ones I could with phone numbers they had listed and left messages. That Sunday afternoon I received a call back from the Carol I was looking for. She was shocked that I had found her and said she had remembered my dad very well because he would visit them through the years. We shared our stories about our dads and I asked her for a favor. I told her of my memory of dad always being a great correspondent and my brother Bob remembering their Christmas cards through the years. I asked if she may have any such letters or cards

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    from him that may have survived all these years. She said she did not know offhand but mentioned that she lived in her parents' home since she had inherited it. She said her mother saved everything so she would look in her basement to see if any of those keepsakes had survived.
A few days later Carol
    contacted me to say she had found correspondence from dad that he had sent to them all those years ago. I was amazed and excited to know that I would be able to get a glimpse of what dad was feeling and writing down all those years ago. Carol sent me what she had -- various letters and now vintage Christmas cards. Each letter and card showed a little snippet of dad's life and family during that time.
I have discovered many things during my research about dad. I am
    finding and compiling valuable information regarding his short life, and I considered these little treasures. The people I meet along the way have been so generous with their efforts and time, for which I am grateful.
    To those of you who took the time to read this, I say thank you. The brave soldiers who fought this war need to be recognized. I am grateful to the 106th Infantry Division Association and the editors of The CUB magazine for giving me the opportunity to share my dad's story and giving him the recognition that he deserves.
    Respectfully, Henry M. LeClair, 1st Vice President, 106th Inf. Div. Asso. Son of Private Henry J. LeClair, "Frenchy", 422nd, Company "G"



Blast from the past!
Did you attend the 106th's 51st Annual Reunion?
Visit the 106th Association's website at:
106thinfdivassn.org/docs/106th_51st reunion 1997.pdf
to see a PDF of the event booklet including portraits of those who attended. See how many people you recognize!

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The members of the association board are moving forward with plans for the 76th Annual Association Reunion.
    On the following pages of this CUB, we have supplied all the reunion information and there is a copy of the registration form inserted for you to complete and send to the association with your check. If you would like a PDF or a printed copy of the registration material mailed to you, please contact Mike Sheaner, Treasurer at sheaner1@airmail.net. If you have any questions, please contact Wayne Dunn at 410-409-1141 or Host106th@l06thInfDivAssn.org.


Hotel Information
Buffalo Airport Hotel 4600 Genesee Street Buffalo, NY, 14225
Reservation Information:
    To make reservations and receive the group rate, you must call the hotel directly at: 716-634-6969 and you must mention 106th Infantry Division Association at time of registration to receive the group rate.
    Rate: $129 (plus tax) -- Includes complimentary hot breakfast buffet each day; first night room and tax will be charged to the individual's credit card upon booking. Rates are available three (3) days pre- and post-reunion (based on availability).

Reunion Dates:
Sunday -- Tuesday, Aug. 20-22: Pre-function group rate days based on hotel availability
Wednesday -- Sunday (am), Aug. 23-27: Reunion main event days
Sunday -- Tuesday, Aug. 27-29: Post-function group rate days based on hotel availability

Hotel Information continues on page 20

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Reunion Information . . .

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23
4:30 - 5:30 pm Registration Open
5 - 6 pm Outgoing Board of Director's Meeting
4:30 - 9 pm Hospitality Room Open and begin display of Silent Auction items
THURSDAY, AUGUST 24
7 - 9 am Hot Breakfast Buffet (included)
9 - 10 am Registration Open
10 am - Gather to carpool to OLD FORT NIAGARA
3 - 6 pm Return to hotel to relax and visit Hospitality Room and review display of Silent Auction items
6 - 10 pm SPECIAL COOKOUT ON "THE YARD" OF THE HOTEL
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25
7 - 9 am Hot Breakfast Buffet (included)
9 am - 2 pm Leave hotel for NIAGARA FALLS TOUR/"MAID
OF THE MIST" BOAT RIDE
2 pm - Return to the Hotel
3 - 9 pm Hospitality Room Open and review display of Silent Auction items
SATURDAY, AUGUST 26
7 - 9 am Hot Breakfast Buffet (included) 9:30 - 10:30 am Memorial Service
11 am - 6 pm Hospitality Room Open and review display of Silent Auction items
4 - 5 pm Incoming Board of Director's Meeting 6:30 - 7:30 pm Cash Bar Reception
7 - 10 pm BANQUET DINNER/Speaker and completion of Silent Auction!
SUNDAY, AUGUST 27
7 - 9 am Hot Breakfast Buffet (included)/Say your Farewells
and have a safe trip home
All times subject to change.

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Hotel Information continued:
Cut-off Date: Reservations by attendees must be received on or before August 5, 2023.
    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 rate.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellation must be received by the hotel 24 hours prior to arrival date.

Parking and Shuttle Information: Complimentary shuttle to and from Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF)

Free parking

Getting to nearby attractions is a breeze with the hotel's complimentary area shuttle.

Tour Descriptions
OLD FORT NIAGARA --Thursday, August 24
10 am -- Meet at the front of the hotel.
    We will be carpooling to Old Fort Niagara. Those who are planning to drive will provide carpool transportation to those who need a ride to the Fort. If we enter the fort with 12 or more people, we get a guided tour and the tickets are $15, pay at the gate. Military ID should get you an additional discount. Time is our own, so we can stay as long or as little as we like. Average time to tour is 2 hours. Go back to the hotel as you wish, hop in cars as they plan to leave, but do not forget our special Cookout event at the hotel that evening!
    Explore the grounds of the oldest most continuously occupied military fort in North America! At Old Fort Niagara, you'll take a step back in time on a self-guided (or with 12 people or more a guided) tour to explore the rich history of the historical fort. Old Fort Niagara was once occupied by the British, French, and Native Americans. It's location along the mouth of the Niagara River and Lake Ontario was vital, as whoever controlled Old Fort Niagara also controlled who was allowed to continue westward to the central U.S. Original 18th century buildings still stand and reenactments happen daily.

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    NIAGARA FALLS/ "Maid of the Mist" Boat Ride Friday, August 25 9 am-2 pm -- We will board the bus at 9 am and head to Niagara Falls.
    Adventure awaits your visit to Niagara Falls State Park! Upon departure from your hotel, you will travel to Niagara Falls State Park to participate in one of the most iconic experiences that Niagara has to offer. As you make your way through the paths of the park, you will arrive at the "Maid of the Mist" Boat Ride. From the New York State Observation Tower, you will board onto an elevator and descend 250 feet into the base of the Niagara Gorge to board onto your cruise. The "Maid of the Mist's" fully electric, zero-emission boats produce no sound, leaving you with just roaring sounds of Niagara Falls to surround you. As you make your way into the belly of the Horseshoe Falls, you will feel the refreshing spray and hear the thunderous sounds of the Falls as 600,000 gallons of water rush over the cliffs every second. Hang on tight as you feel the churning water below you make its way down the Niagara River. The "Maid of the Mist" Boat Ride is about 20 minutes in duration. After your cruise concludes, you can climb a series of steps next to the American Falls to the Crow's Nest for more of a multi-sensory experience, or you can catch the elevators back up and spend some time taking in the gorgeous panoramic views of the American, Bridal Veil, and Horseshoe Falls from the New York State Observation Deck. Next, you'll be allotted some free time to grab a bite to eat or explore other areas of Niagara Falls State Park on your own. Just outside the main entrance of Niagara Falls State Park is Old Falls Street, which is lined with food trucks, cafes, and restaurants. Additional sightseeing highlights include Goat Island & Terrapin Point at the brink of the Horseshoe Falls, Luna Island which sits between the American and Bridal Veil Falls, the Lower Niagara River & Gorge including Whirlpool State Park.
9 am: Depart from the Buffalo Airport Hotel
10 to 11 am: Niagara Falls State Park with "Maid of the Mist" boat ride.
11 am to 12 noon: Additional driving/walking tour of the Niagara Falls State Park
12 noon to 1:30 pm: Free time on your own to explore the park, get a bite to eat.
2 pm: Drop off at the hotel.
Tour is included in the registration fee. Wheelchairs are able to ride the "Maid of the Mist."
    Please be at the bus boarding area at least fifteen minutes prior to the scheduled time. Driver and Guide gratuities are not included in tour prices.

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Ever Been to Buffalo? Join us there for the 76th Annual Reunion There's tons to do and see
Buffalo, NY
    What is Buffalo famous for -- beside being the city where our past president Bob Pope lives and is the site of our 2023 reunion?
    Buffalo is one of only three cities in the U.S. with a radial street pattern. Buffalo is known as the largest flour milling city in the world. Buffalo's nightlife doesn't call it quits until 4 a.m., rather than 2 a.m. like most other cities in the U.S. Buffalo is the home to the New Era Cap Company.
    Buffalo is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of New York behind New York City and the seat of Erie County. It lies in Western New York, at the eastern end of Lake Erie, at the head of the Niagara River, on the United States border with Canada. (source: Wikipedia)
How to spend a day in Buffalo NY?
Top Attractions in Buffalo:
Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House
Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park
Forest Lawn Cemetery Canalside
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural National Historic Site
Buffalo City Hall
Pierce-Arrow Museum
Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Gardens
and you can also visit the Canadian side of the falls -- but don't forget your passport!
Parks:
Niagara Falls State Park Buffalo Harbor State Park Buffalo Lighthouse Park
Museums:
Buffalo History Museum Buffalo Museum of Science Buffalo AKG Art Museum The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.
Children's Museum
Churches and Cathedrals:
Saint Joseph Cathedral
St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral
and don't forget right downtown, the Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino.

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Reunion Information . . .

Plan to Participate in our Silent Auction!

PHOTO: Last year's silent auction tables!
    You are invited to participate in our Silent Auction to be held during our 76th annual reunion, August 23 to 27, in Buffalo, New York.
    If you have a hobby or a craft that you love to do, then consider sharing. Last year's Silent Auction consisted of objects made by hand, found items, and items someone thought you would cherish. We made almost $1,200! all going to our association to fund The CUB magazine.
    Bring your donated items to the hospitality room upon arrival and join the fun bidding on your next treasure! Items given to highest bidder and all payment due at end of the banquet Saturday night.

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

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14th Annual Reunion, 1960 -- Savannah, GA
    Photo submitted by: Jim Hatch. Row 2, #6 - Doug Coffey; Top row, #1 - Jim Wells; Top row, #8 - Jack Bryant & Emily; Top row, 4"' from the right - Joe Matthews.
The 14th Annual Reunion was held in July 1960, at the General Oglethorpe Hotel in Savannah, GA.
Attendance: 34 veterans, 52 guests
Ended the 1959-1960 year with: 239 paying members
For a list of the membership in 1960, see the list starting on
page 13 of the Oct. 1960 issue of The CUB, Vol. 17, No. 2 at: http://106thinfdivassn.org/index/ html/v17n2.htm
    and continued on page 14 of the January 1961 issue of The CUB, Vol. 17, No. 3 at: http://106thinfdivassn. org/index/html/v17n3.htm

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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. We want to include pictures too but it is very difficult to include pictures sent in on paper. Pictures should be submitted as a jpg file. For each picture file you submit please also include (in the body of the email) what the picture signifies (the event), and where and when it was taken. Individuals in the pictures should be identified if possible. Articles can either be submitted in the body of the email, or as a Word document. Articles submitted as hard copies in the mail may need to be edited before published. If you have any questions on how to send articles or pictures, please email the Editor who can help you with any submissions.

My Father, Joseph Henry Vaughn
by Roxanne Vendegna

    My father, Joseph Henry Vaughn, was in the 424th Regimen, 591st Field Artillery Battalion. He was an Artillery Scout 761 Forward Observer. He entered Fort Sheridan on March 18, 1943, and was discharged on December 22, 1945, at Camp Grant in Rockford, Illinois. He married my mother, Gloria, right after coming home from the war, and they raised six children.
    Joseph was from Benton, Wisconsin and never left home until he enlisted at 18 years old. He felt it was his job to fight for our country after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. He did not talk about the war hardly at all. He told us the front lines were cold, confusing, and scary. He felt there was no place like the USA and believed that until he died in 2021

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Mike Sheaner, Treasurer PO Box 140535 Dallas TX 75214 sheanerl@airmail.net 214-823-3004

    Jacquelyn S. Coy, Membership 603 Mountain Ave., Apt. BP223 New Providence, NJ 07974 membership@106thInfDivAssn.org 973-879-9070

Treasurer's Report: Association Membership
Feb. 1 -- April 30, 2023 As of April 30, 2023
Beginning Balance: $20,538.84 Total Membership 699
Money In: 2,346.22 Veteran Membership 210
Money Out: 2,288.59 Associate Membership 489
Difference: 57.63
Ending Balance: $20,596.47

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LIFE PLUS and REGULAR DONATIONS:
Louise Await Associate Member
Christopher Casey Associate Member
Frank J. Grasberger 424/G
Betty Ann Johnson Associate Member
Dennis Shane Miller Associate Member
Robert E. Pope 590 FA/A
Anne Sambiagio Associate Member
Roxanne Vendegna Associate Member
Jack Weingarten 424/AT

MEMORIAL and HONORARY DONATIONS:
In honor of my dad, Staff Sgt. Charles S. Garn, 422/H. Given by Jeff Garn
    In honor of William G. Hemelt, 424/H, for his service and that of your other fine veteran members. We shared his love of country and what this meant to him and others. Please use this contribution to allow others to continue the joy he had when reading about his fellow infantrymen. May he rest in peace knowing that his daughters and son did something to show appreciation for what he and others like him did.
Given by son and daughters of William G. Hemelt,; Vera, Sharon, Linda, Carol, George and Kelly.

PLEASE NOTE:
    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 at membership@106thInfDivAssn.org. Thank you.

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Memorial, Honorary and Life+ Contributions are Essential for Keeping this Organization Going
    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.

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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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)

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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

Request for Information about Support Efforts for the 424th
    KT Gaskill wrote, "My father, Wes Gaskill, was part of the 770th FA. I believe his unit was in direct support of the 424th. My dad's battery was located in the woods around Lachied (HQ in Oduler.) I believe his unit fired about 50% of all Corps artillery the 1st day of battle."
    KT is looking for any information you may have regarding "... the 770th effort during the Bulge. In particular, the first 3-4 days before they were directed rearward eventually reforming with the VIII Corps on the Southern Shoulder."
Please contact KT directly by email: bumble1177@gmail.com

Make Your Plans NOW.!
for the 106th Infantry Division Association's 76th Annual Reunion at the
Buffalo Airport Hotel, Buffalo, NY August 23-27, 2023
    Reunion hotel information and full schedule are included in this CUB starting on page 18, along with the registration form insert.
For additional information about the reunion, please visit:
106InfDivAssn. org $20,538.84 Total Membership

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    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.

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BROWNING, EARLE L. DHQ/AG
Date of death: October 4, 2022
    Earle Lynwood Browning, age 98, passed away at his home in Mount Airy, MD. He was the husband of the late Mary Helen, his wife of 62 years. Born on February 28, 1924, he was the son of the late Monroe and Nannie Browning. His father was born in 1873, eight years after the end of the Civil War and three years before Custer's Last Stand. Mr. Browning was the last of eight siblings. He graduated from Frederick High School and attended Vanderbilt University under the Army Specialized Training Program. He served in the 106th Infantry Division during WWII and received four battle stars, including one for his participation in the Battle of the Bulge. He attended college under the GI Bill of Rights, earning a BS in Accounting. Mr. Browning retired in 1979 after 38 years of Federal Service. At that time, he was the comptroller of the National Cancer Institute. He was very involved in managing the increase in funding by Congress in 1971, when President Nixon replaced biological warfare research with cancer research. He was a long-time member of the Providence Methodist Church, serving on a number of committees, a member of many organizations and a recipient of numerous awards. Mr. Browning dearly loved his family and received outstanding support from all of them. From time to time he would say to them, "Don't put off to tomorrow what you can do today." He and Mary Helen loved to travel. He told his family that when his time is up he would like to die with his boots on, either among his Christmas Trees or vegetable garden. When he turned 90, many people asked him the secret of living so long; his answer was always the same: "Stay active and love everyone." He is survived by his daughter Lynette, son Gary and their spouses, seven grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Submitted by his daughter, Lynette.

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In Memoriam . . .

BUSIER, WILLIAM 42/K
Date of death: April 23, 2023
    William Bernard Busier, who was born on March 8, 1918, died on April 23, 2023, in the arms of his beloved daughter, Holly-Lynne. William lived in Essex Junction, VT. He was 105 years old. He was a veteran of the Bulge and will be buried in June in Arlington National Cemetery.
Reported by Susan Weiss

CHANSLER, JOHN F. ASSOCIATE MEMBER
Date of Death: December 19, 2021
    John was born in Indiana in 1935, the youngest of eight siblings. Tragically, both his parents died when he was 12, and he was raised by his siblings.
    John graduated from All Boys Catholic School and the University of Michigan with a BS in Forestry and MS in forest entomology. He moved to New Mexico with his wife Suzanne and worked for the U.S. Forestry Service while raising five children. When he retired in 1987, he was one of only 10 Regional Foresters in the United States. He then joined
    the Peace Corps, and he and his wife provided technical expertise in agro-forestry to the citizens of Tongo. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Suzanne, four children, eight grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Submitted by his wife, Suzanne

HOFFMAN, BRIGGS A., JR 589/FABN
Date of death: April 25, 2023
    Briggs Hoffmann of St. Louis, MO, passed away on April 25, 2023 at the age of 100. He was the husband of the late Mary Anne Hoffmann and the late Sally Hoffmann. He had four step-children and five great-grandchildren. He was formerly the VP and Treasurer of the Charles L. Crane Agency, spending 44 years in the insurance business, following his father and grandfather. He was a WWII veteran, having served in three campaigns in the European Theater of Operations, including the Ardennes. For 18 years he was an active member of the Annunziata Conference of St. Vincent de Paul Society.
Submitted by his niece Paula Gamblin Burky

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HUBER, DAVID A. 422/A
Date of death June 8, 2022
    David A. Huber, 95, of Marion, IN, passed away on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. David graduated from Jefferson Township High School, Jefferson Township, Indiana, in 1944, then served as a PFC in the Army from 1944-46. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture from Purdue University in 1951, the same year he married the love of his life, Joanne M. Rockwell. David was a Farm Manager for 30 years at Miller Purdue Agricultural Center. He spent years researching pastures for beef cattle. He and his father shared a passion for farming. He loved watching things grow. David enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, gardening and reading. He was a member of the Woodland Hills Church of Christ and was an elder at the South Marion Church of Christ. He is survived by his wife, Joanne, five children, 14 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Submitted by Wayne Dunn and Jackie Coy

SELJE, WILLIS H. 106TH/RECON
Date of death: April 15, 2023
    Willis (Bill) S. Selje, age 99, a longtime resident of Merrimac, WI, passed away on Saturday, April 15, 2023. He was born in the Township of Hapden on September 23. 1923. He enlisted in the Armed Services at age 19 and after his discharge he returned to Merrimac. The story goes that Bill and a friend were driving to Baraboo when they passed Viv Adams and her friend walking along a country road. Bill eyed Viv and said, "I'm going to marry that girl." He swooped Viv off her feet, and they were married in 1948. They were married for 75 years and together they created a beautiful life and raised six children in Merrimac. Having lived 99 years on this planet, Bill had many wonderful attributes and accomplishments, including being a loving husband, and a calm and giving dad. Bill was a WWII Veteran, serving in the Army's 106th Division,
Continued on page 35

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    Reconnaissance Troop. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was a Purple Heart recipient. He worked as a carpenter and cabinet maker for most of his life. The family had a cottage in East Merrimac which they "trekked" to on weekends. Bill never learned to swim, yet he installed two piers and watershed, both selfless acts to pamper his wife and family. After retiring, Bill and Viv spent many winters warming their bones in Florida and Texas, but most years were spent in the Arizona desert. He was a highly skilled craftsman, always willing to lend a hand. Bill was funny, honest, patient, extremely humble, understated and gentle. He is survived by his wife, Vivienne, six children, seven grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Submitted by Wayne Dunn
THOMPSON, PAUL G. 106TH/RECON
Date of death: September 1, 2022
Paul Griswold Thompson, age 97, of Richfield, MN, passed away
    September 1, 2022. Paul received his BSEE from Purdue University, and a Ph.B. from the University of Chicago. He was a Certified Electrical Engineer and Certified Quality Engineer, and he was proud to be a decorated WWII veteran. Paul spent many years working at Honeywell, General Controls, Control Data Corp, and Concourse where he held various middle management positions in research, education, finance, computer maintenance, and sales. He retired in 1985 from Control Data as Director and later retired in 1991 from Concourse as one of their salesmen. Paul's hobbies included bird carving, playing Renaissance music with Musical Antigua of Minnesota, and being a bassoonist with several community orchestras in Twin Cities and Mesa, AZ. Paul also enjoyed backpacking and canoeing. He is survived by his four children, 11 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife, Laura.
Reported by his son Stephen and Jackie Coy


PLEASE NOTE:
    To the widows/family members of Golden Lions, if you wish to continue to receive The CUB after the passing of your veteran, please let Membership Chair Jacquelyn Coy know. Her contact information is located on the inside cover of this CUB. $20,538.84 Total Membership

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    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.
Send your contribution, check made payable to 106th Infantry Div. Association, to:

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.

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Index for This Document

2nd Inf. Div., 15
424/A, 29
424/G, 29
591st FA BN, 27
Ardennes, 35
Arlington National Cemetery, 35
Await, Louise, 29
Bachmurski, Stanley M., 8
Baseman, Connie Pratt, 25
Battle of the Bulge, 12, 16, 18, 34, 38
Born, 34
Browning, Earle L., 34
Bryant, Jack, 26
Bryant, Jack & Emily, 26
Burky, Paula Gamblin, 35
Busier, William, 35
Busier, William Bernard, 35
Camp Atterbury, 12, 15
Camp Atterbury Camp Crier, 12
Camp Atterbury, IN, 12
Camp Blanding, FL, 15
Camp Myles Standish, MA, 15
Casey, Christopher, 29
Century, Douglas, 38
Chansler, John F., 35
Coffey, Doug, 26
Coy, Jackie, 29, 36, 37
Coy, Jacquelyn, 1, 3, 30, 34, 37
Coy, Jacquelyn S., 28
Dresden, 15, 16
Dresden, Germany, 18
Dunn, Lisa, 4, 5, 27
Dunn, Lisa M., 3
Dunn, Wayne, 1, 2, 12, 13, 20, 36, 37
Dunn, Wayne G., 2, 3
Edmonds, Chris, 38
Edmonds, Pastor Chris, 1, 4, 9
Edmonds, Roddie, 38
Erie, 24
Faulkner, Carol, 1
Faulkner, Carol J., 33
Ft. Jackson, SC, 38
Garn, Jeff, 29
Garn, S/Sgt. Charles S., 29
Garrison, Beth, 1, 33
Gaskill, Kt, 32
Gaskill, Wes, 32
Grasberger, Frank J., 29
Hatch, Jim, 26
Hellendorf, 16
Hemelt, William G., 29
Hoffman, Briggs, 35
Hoffman, Briggs A., Jr., 35
Huber, David A., 36
Johnson, Betty Ann, 29
Keech, Ann Marie, 8
Korea, 8
Lang, Russ, 7
Le Havre, France, 15
LeClair, Henry, 1, 3, 14
LeClair, Henry J., 14, 19
Matthews, Joe, 26
Miller, Dennis Shane, 29
Mitchell, Doug, 18
Muhlberg, Germany, 15
Nixon, Pres., 34
No Surrender, 38
Order of the Golden Lion, 1, 33
Pearl Harbor, 27
Photo Album, 12
Pope, Bob, 1, 3, 24
Pope, Robert E., 29
Pratt, Lt. Gerald, 25
Prisoner Of War Temporary Enclosures, 12
Purple Heart, 37
Reunions, 1
Rouen, France, 15
Sambiagio, Anne, 29
Seine River, 15
Selje, Willis (Bill) S., 36
Selje, Willis H., 36
Sheaner, Mike, 2, 3, 20, 28, 39
Slaughterhouse-Five, 15, 16, 18
Smith, David, 1, 3
Spinella, Kathy, 1, 3, 33
St. Vith, 15
St. Vith, Belgium, 15, 18
Stalag III-B, 6
Stalag IV-B, 15
Taunton, Massachusetts, 15
Tennessee Maneuvers, 9, 10
The Importance Of A Mini Reunion, 13
Thompson, Paul G., 37
Thompson, Paul Griswold, 37
Vaughn, Joseph Henry, 27
Vendegna, Roxanne, 27, 29
Vietnam, 8
VIII Corps, 32
Virtual Memorial Svc., 5
Visit The 106th Association's Website!, 13
Vonnegut, Kurt, Jr., 16
Weingarten, Jack, 29
Weiss, Susan, 3, 5, 35
Welke, Brian, 1, 2, 3
Wells, Jim, 26
West, Jim, 1, 12, 13, 25
Wood, Janet, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8
Wood, Randall, 31
Wood, Randall M., 1, 3, 11, 12
Wood, Randy, 2, 4
Wood, Robert, 6
Wouters, Carl, 1, 13, 18
Ziegenhain, Germany, 38