Index for this issue of The CUB

Uploaded: 17-Jun-2024

Elected Offices
President Henry LeClair (Associate Member)
Past-President (Ex-Officio) Janet Wood (Associate Member)
1st Vice-President David Smith (Associate Member)
2nd Vice-President Kathy Spinella (Associate Member)
Adjutant: Randall M. Wood 810 Cramertown Loop Martinsville, IN 46151 woodchuck01@sbcglobaLnet 765-346-0690
    106th Assoc. Website Webmaster: Wayne G. Dunn 85 Little Riverview Dr., Reedville, VA 22539 Host106th@l06thInfDivAssn.org 410-409-1141
    Business Matters, Deaths, Address changes to: NEW Membership Chair: Henry LeClair 209 Range Road Windham, NH 03087 membership@l06thInfDivAssn.org 603-401-3723
Donations, checks to: Treasurer: Mike Sheaner PO Box 140535, Dallas TX 75214 sheanerl@airmaiLnet 214-823-3004
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.corn cell: +(32) 47 924 7789
Committee Chairs:
Atterbury Memorial Representative Jim West (imajimwest@gmail.com)
Historian Open
Membership Chair Henry LeClair
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

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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@l06thInfDivAssn.org 609-820-8794

Board of Directors (all positions held through 2023)

Jacquelyn Coy (Associate member) 973-879-9070
603 Mountain Ave., Apt. BP223, New Providence, NJ 07974

Lisa M. Dunn (Associate member) (father-in-law: 424/HQ 3Bn) 443-604-1599
85 Little Riverview Drive, Reedville, VA 22539 CUBeditor@106thlnfDivAssn.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, President (Associate member) (father: 422/G) 603-401-3723
209 Range Road, Windham, NH 03087 henryleclair13@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) [Past President] 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

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    It's that time of year again when the leaves are starting to fall, the air is crisp, and the nights are cool. Most of the country is past the heat of the summer and moving into, or already in, the season that has us going into our chest of drawers or closets for warmer clothing. It's the time of year when we are getting ready to celebrate a national holiday giving thanks for the bounties and blessings of the past year. And it's a time of year to be introspective of what's most important. In that spirit, I want to share some things for which I am most thankful. At the top of my list are family and friends. I feel infinitely blessed to have people in my life who inspire, sustain, encourage, support and love me just the way I am. And it is reciprocal. There is not another thing that I can think of that is more important to feeling wanted, appreciated and meaningful than to know you will always have someone to help you pick up the pieces in bad times and celebrate with you during the good ones. Though we sometimes aspire to monetary wealth, or the power that fame or a high-powered job can bring, in the end, most of that is meaningless without people we care about and who care about us.
    That is true too of the people who gave so much to allow us all to live in a land where we can pursue the things that make us happy. These men and women may not be family, and maybe they aren't close enough to call them "friends," but they play a significant role in all of our lives. You've read time and again in this publication about the necessity of remembrance. But remembering isn't enough. We also need to show those who we remember that they are appreciated. Sometimes that just takes a kind word, a phone call, or a card, sometimes it can be a visit, or a gift sent. Actions only cost a little of our time and can make the difference between feeling appreciated and feeling forgotten. If you can, won't you take some time, especially this season of giving thanks, to reach out beyond your immediate circle of family and friends to contact a veteran? Just a few words like "You are not forgotten" or "I appreciate what you did then and for who you are now" could make a world of difference. Veterans: our contact information is listed in The CUB and you can reach out any time to share your thoughts and stories.
    That leads me to a recurring theme you'll see in this issue of The CUB: remembrance. We had an opportunity to put our words and sentiments into action at the last reunion held in Buffalo in August.

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Editor's Message . . .

    You'll read several articles about that. And in addition to the submissions from our foreign contributor, Carl Wouters, our chaplain, Chris Edmonds, and our Adjutant, Randy Wood, meet the new president of the Association, Henry LeClair, who recaps the events from the reunion and shares his thoughts as he starts his year of service. We have several Veterans' Voices articles, including one about our late-president, Bob Pope, and one about 106th veteran George Skinner who was honored during the reunion at a special memorial ceremony held at the local cemetery. Last, in our Historian's section, we have the first installment of the wartime experiences by veteran John Mock. His story provides an
    in-depth, personal account of the realities and brutalities of war and the miracle of survival and will undoubtedly peak your curiosity to learn more in future editions of The CUB.
    As always, I welcome your comments and ideas on these publications. We strive to make them meaningful to you, our members, and anyone else who wishes to learn more about our veterans. I wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving and holiday season, filled with the blessings of family and friends. To the veterans reading this: thank you for your service, you are not forgotten!
Lisa Dunn, Editor CUBeditor@l06thInfDivAssn.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:
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)
October 1, 2024 -- mail date: late November, 2024 (to include reunion photos and remembrances)
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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    Greetings, I was honored and humbled to take the pledge as president of the 106th Infantry Division Association at this year's reunion in Buffalo, NY. It was a very busy four days, and it was great to see so many board members at the directors' meetings. There was much discussion regarding the Association's business, activities, and future reunion location possibilities.
    During this year's reunion, we were privileged with the attendance of two 106th veterans: Herb Sheaner and Everett Howland. It was a pleasure to see these two gentlemen enjoying themselves and mingling with attendees. Their stories never cease to amaze me. I was struck by their stamina and acuity in retelling their personal stories about what they endured.
    We all enjoyed lunch and dinners together. On the first evening, we went to dinner at Gabriel's Gate for some famous Buffalo Wings. Thursday, we took a day trip to Old Fort Niagara to learn of the importance of that fort for trade getting around Niagara Falls, a strategic portage indeed. Thursday evening, we had a casual BBQ and friendly Cornhole tournament at the hotel's outdoor pavilion. On Friday, the reunion attendees made their way to Niagara Falls on the United States side. I can truly say, having seen both the United States and Canadian sides of the falls at different times, both are beautiful. We ventured on to the "Maid of the Mist," got a little wet but were in awe of the splendor of such majestic falls. The volume of water flowing is mind-boggling. We ended that evening with a cozy "campfire," having conversation about family and sharing jokes, music trivia, and our travel experiences.
    On Saturday, our Memorial Service was held in the morning, after which some of the attendees went to Forest Lawn Cemetery for a private ceremony organized by Association newcomer Sean O'Dwyer. The service, attended and covered by the local TV station, was in honor of

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President's View . . .

fallen 106th veteran, George Skinner, who lost his life during the Battle of the Bulge in December, 1944.
    The reunion closed with the traditional banquet held that Saturday evening. The Association was fortunate enough to view a presentation from Aimee Gagnon Fogg and Belgian sentinel Robbe Meers. Their project brings together the stories, faces and names of those interred at Henri-Chappell Cemetery in Belgium. A beautiful tribute to those who lost their lives there and never came home.
    After the dinner, our Adjutant, Randy Wood, walked us through the auction items and their bids, then tallied up the proceeds. This new tradition has become a popular and successful way to earn a little extra cash for the Association.
    This year's reunion was a success. There was plenty to do and visiting with attendees brings about a warmth and connection to our veterans and their stories.
    As we approach the holiday season, my thoughts turn to my dad and the other veterans. I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on their sacrifice and be grateful. At holiday gatherings, take a moment to share with a family member or friend a story or anecdote regarding a veteran you may know. Keep them in your heart and ponder what their Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah was like back in 1944.
    Those were not happy or comforting times Think for a moment of their holidays that winter -- wet boots and clothes that never dried out, no hot showers, clean beds, or warm hearty meals. Appreciate your time with family and friends and remember our veterans' sacrifices.
    In the coming year, the Board of Directors will meet to discuss the business and future activities of the Association -- reunions of course being of central importance. When I started attending the reunions, there may have been anywhere from one-to two-hundred attendees, our numbers are now in the twenties and thirties. If you are a family member or friend of a veteran, please consider attending a reunion. You will be glad you did. My initial purpose for attending was to gather more information about the dad I hardly knew. I was not disappointed. I was able to piece together some very important information about my dad, his life, and his war experience that our family was not aware of.
    Association members, whether veterans or family and friends, possess a wealth of knowledge about the 106th and the Battle of the Bulge. If you're looking for answers, consider attending a reunion or reach out to any member of the Association. We may be able to assist with your inquiry or questions.

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Chaplain's Message . . .

"The memory of the righteous is a blessing." Proverbs 10:7
    Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel said, "For the dead and the living, we must bear witness." He then added, "To forget would be not only dangerous but offensive. To forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time." Mr. Wiesel reminds us that in the end it is all about remembrance.
    Our memorial service is a sacred time to remember the righteous men of the 106th who were as "bold as a lion." Proverbs 28:1 We honor each Golden Lion "for hearing the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And they said, 'Here am I. Send me!' Isaiah 6:8
    We love them for leaving the safety of America to fight a brutal enemy while giving "justice to the weak and the fearless; maintaining the right of the official and the destitute. Rescuing the weak and the needy; delivering them form the hand of the wicked." Psalm 82:3-4
    We praise them for blessing us and our world with peace... "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." Matthew 5:9
We bless them for showing us the way of... "the righteous who will be remembered forever." Psalm 112:6
    Although our marching world marches on oblivious to the bold bravery of our greatest generation, we remember. We remember the deadly days of WWII that involved combatants from most of the world's nations in a world war that killed more than 85 million military and civilians, where more than 6 million of our Jewish brothers and sisters were brutally murdered by the Nazis of which 1 5 million were precious children who never had a chance to grow up.
    We remember the danger where our American boys became men in an instant at the crossroads of life and death known as Pearl Harbor, Bataan, Midway, Sicily, Normandy, the Hurtgen Forest, Iwo Jima, the Rhine, Okinawa, Hacksaw Ridge, the Elbe

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Chaplain's Message . . .

    River, and the Ardennes, and where "the life expectancy of a junior officer in combat was 12 days before he was hit and evacuated."
    We remember the daring lives of our beloved American soldiers who endured infinite hardships with courage and confidence as they passed through war-torn towns leaving "KILROY WAS HERE" scrawled on walls, sidewalks, abandoned tanks, and latrines to mark their victorious march to save us all.
    And save us all they did. The bible says in Psalm 112:6, "the man who is right and good will be remembered forever." That's why we've gathered in Buffalo to remember and thank God for our beloved Golden Lions of the 106th.
    These are the men of the 106th Golden Lions we know and love as dad, granddad, great-granddad, uncle, and friend. All served our country well and sacrificed much more than we can imagine. All are an ever-present blessing.
    We've been blessed to have some of our heroes with us this week. Herb Sheaner, age 99 from Dallas, TX and Everett Howland, age 98 from Ft. Myers, FL. Everett's birthday is this Monday, so let's sing happy birthday to him Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Everett, happy birthday to you. Everett came here all the way from Ft. Myers Florida by himself. He may have even flown the plane... at least that's the story I'm telling.
    What a blessing to have Herb and Everett with us this week to enjoy their love for life and their hope for tomorrow. They're also a lot of fun. Being with them, learning more about their lives, hearing their stories from WWII, and seeing them full of joy, hope, and faith is a blessing.
We honor POW PFC Herb Sheaner, 422/INF G, Expert Marksman and CIB recipient, POW in Stalag 4B.
    We honor POW Pvt. Everett Howland, 422/INF L, Expert Marksman and CIB recipient, POW in Stalags 4B and 4A, and recovery in Leipzig Hospital. As a POW his weight dropped down to 68 pounds. He said, "All I wanted was a steak. All I got was powdered eggs, baby food, and milk " He finally got that steak when he got back home.
    We honor our recent president Bob Pope from Buffalo, who passed away a few weeks ago. Bob invited us here to celebrate his 100th birthday but the Lord had other plans and decided to throw Bob a surprise party in a much nicer place. Happy Heavenly Birthday Bob! We love you and miss you.
We remember POW Bob Pope, 590 FABN, Stalag 4-B Muhlberg Sachsen.
We also honor another fine soldier from Buffalo, Mr. George Skinner, who gave his precious life
continues on page 8

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Chaplain's Message . . .

for our enduring freedom on a snowy Ardennes hillside at dawn
16 December 1945. Mr. Skinner was one of the first American soldiers killed in action during the battle.
We remember George Skinner, 424/INF Anti-Tank Company.
    This month marks the 77th anniversary of the first issue of The CUB published in August 1946. That's 77 years of honoring the memory of our righteous Golden Lions. Every year has been a blessing. The first CUB reminds us of our duty and service to our beloved 106th.
    "Lasting friendships do not always depend upon long periods of comradeship. The sacrifices, trials and sufferings in the white-hot crucible of the Bulge created friendships which will last as long as two men of the Division still survive." -- The CUB, Vol. 3, No. 1, August 1946
    Today we honor all the righteous men of the Golden Lions who have served our country and us so well. We need to be constantly reminded of our gift of freedom that they have given to us and every generation to come. We live in a free society from the winds of freedom that blow from the hills of the Ardennes.
    Remembering those who have passed is only half of the task that is before us today. We must also carry their love, honor and duty forward to the next generation. Our children and grandchildren and generations to come must know who they were,
what they did and why they did it. To do anything less, will be a disservice to their sacrifice and their memory.
    Those that are gone created a clear pathway for us to follow. We must never waiver from that path of freedom and democracy. Let's take their memories, their dreams, and walk forward shouldering the cause of freedom carrying it high and proud. They did, and now we must walk forward for them and our children.
"The memory of the righteous is a blessing." Proverbs 10:7
    As I close, I invite family members to stand and speak the name, rank, and unit of your beloved veteran. After that, in one word, describe something you loved about them. I'll start as you take a moment to think
Roddie Edmonds, Master Sergeant, 422 HQ Company, joy.
Newton William Weiss, 423 HQ, 3rd Battalion, honesty.
Jack D. Smith, 423 B Company, integrity.
Thomas Wilson Morgan, Private First Class, 423 L Company, I guess because I never met him, selflessness.
Robert Wood, 423 I, Staff Sergeant, always there for you.
Jack Weingarten, 424 Anti-Tank Company, fortitude.
Duane P. Ward, Private First Class, 422 L Company, sacrifice.
Henry J. LeClair, 422 Company G, brave.

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Chaplain's Message . . .

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the hills, from the lake, from the skies.
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.
Fading light, dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
From afar, drawing nigh, falls the night.
Thanks and praise, for our days,
'Neath the sun, 'neath the stars, 'neath the sky.
As we go, this we know, God is nigh.
-- Taps

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!

Request for Information About Pvt. Samuel Bordelon
    I am the daughter of Pvt. Samuel Bordelon of the 106th Infantry Division, 423 Headquarters, 18F1 Platoon. He served under Lt. Ivan H. Long, and had a friend who was also a soldier named Richard Sparks. Samuel Bordelon was born in Louisiana and retired in Bloomington, W.
    I am trying to get corroboration of a story that my father told me when I was a child. It involved him speaking his Cajun French to enable his line of about 68 soldiers to get through Nazi lines. There was an article in the Herald Tribune of Bloomington, IN called "Hero of the Battle of the Bulge Refused to Surrender," which ran on December 16, 2002.
If anyone has any information about this incident, please contact Amy Motto at amymotto1@gmail.com.

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    The reunion at Buffalo, NY is now history. We had a wonderful time. We were blessed to have two 106th veterans attend, Herb Sheaner from Texas and Everett Howland from Florida. It was an inspiring visit, and we younger generations got to think back in time and visit with our own veterans for a while.
    Our day trips included visiting Niagara Falls and Old Fort Niagara. We had a marvelous time at each. On Thursday evening, we had a cookout with hamburgers, hot dogs, Italian sausage, and great desserts plus libations of all flavors. The evening ended with a Cornhole tournament. Everybody participated and cheered on the others -- even our veterans got in on the act. The doubles winners were Teresa and Brian Welke (Teresa was a real competitor). The singles winner was none other than our Chaplain, Chris Edmonds. He was a determined man coming from behind to take out his competition. All winners won a box of chocolates and of course bragging rights... it was great fun... wish you were there.
    Our Memorial Service was inspirational. The Civil Air Patrol Honor Guard preformed the placing of the colors and the laying of the wreath. The Honor Guard was made up of 12- to 18-year-old students with a desire to serve and a mind-set to achieve their goals while serving. We thank them for their efforts.
    Chaplain Chris Edmonds presented a great message that honored all veterans both living and passed. His way of choosing the right words to describe everyone's thoughts is astonishing. Even though we were just listening, it was like he mirrored exactly what was in our minds and hearts. I guess you had to be there. Thank you Pastor Edmonds.
    We have started to plan for the next reunion and will begin to search for a location that will be able to support us and can accommodate a world class Cornhole tournament. To be totally honest, we need you: the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generations to participate by joining the Association, by getting The CUB magazine and then hopefully joining in future reunions. The reunions are fun,

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The Adjutant's Message . . .

    we get to visit with the younger generations that already participate, and we get to visit with the veterans who can be with us. Remember, your veteran most likely cannot bring you to a reunion, it takes YOU to bring your veteran. (However, Mr. Everett Howland traveled by himself from Florida to join us in Buffalo... we were thrilled!)
    Please think of the day when your veteran can't come and the only one left is you and your family. Please realize that even though the reunion is fun, and you get to visit with your friends who are now your family, and you get to see a part of our country that you may have never experienced before... LISTEN!...
    The prime reason we have a reunion every year, is to honor your veteran and my veteran, and everybody's veterans. We honor all veterans but we especially honor the members of the 106th infantry division who fought and sacrificed their lives... so that we could be FREE.

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 (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 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 assoc/ 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.

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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 of historical significance from our readership. In this edition, we offer the first installment from one of our veteran POWs about his personal experience in the war.

The Story of John Mock, Part 1
by John Mock
with Introduction from the book "From Farm to Field" by Tad Pritchett
Place of Birth: Eureka, Kansas
Active-Duty Date: 1943
Unit: 3rd Plt., L Company;
3rd Battalion, 422nd Infantry,
106th Division
Location: Auw, Germany
Arrival ETO:•December 10, 1944
POW: December 22, 1944
Rank: Corporal


    The 106th Infantry Division was activated on March 15, 1943, at Fort Jackson, SC and was transferred to Camp Atterbury, IN on March 30, 1944. It was the last of the 66 Infantry Divisions that were activated during WWII. It was continually stripped of its trained manpower for service in other Divisions or as replacements sent to replacement depots. Some were brought into the 106th at the last minute from other training programs in the Army such as the Air Corps where the need was not as acute as it was in the infantry. As a result, when the 106th shipped to France on November 10, 1944, a large proportion of the men were under trained and unit integrity was poor.
    After a brief training period in England, the 106th landed at Le Havre, France. They were trucked to the area around St. Vith, Belgium arriving on December 11, 1944, and replacing the 2nd Infantry Division. The Division was spread thin along the snowy ridges of the Schnee Eifel as the Infantry Regiments moved into old German bunkers.
After only five days in the line,

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Historian's Message . . .

    on the morning of December 16, 1944 at 0530, over 8,000 German artillery pieces blasted the American lines in the Ardennes. During the next three days, the German armor and infantry were able to quickly and stealthily surround the troops of the 422nd and 423rd Infantry Regiments. The men of the 106th fought valiantly. But as they slowly ran out of food and ammunition, they lost their ability to fight on and were ordered to surrender. The Division lost 8,663 casualties. Over 7,000 men became POWs for the remainder of the War. It was a difficult defeat but the 106th was able to delay the German's timetable for the assault, a delay that they were never able to make up during the Battle.
    The 424th Infantry was south of the Schnee Eifel and were able to avoid the encirclement. They were assigned to the 7th Armored Division and participated in the offensive at Manhay and the retaking of St. Vith. They went on into Germany and were at Mayen, Germany, at the end of the war.

Here is John Mock's story.
    I was born on September 18, 1925. I was born in the oil fields since my dad was working there. We had oil on our place and were also farming. I was drafted in December 1943.
I volunteered for the Air Corps but failed the eye test; I went back home and waited to be drafted.
    My basic training started at Camp Fannin, Texas, where I was put in communications. I did well enough on the tests so that I didn't have to go to the infantry then.
    From there, I went to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with the 20th Armored Division. Each squad had a half track, and we didn't walk anywhere, we rode. We would go out into the boondocks and have a class, and then we rode back to camp in a half track.
    I started out in communications when stationed at Camp Atterbury located south of Indianapolis, outside of Edinburg, Indiana. I was assigned to the third platoon, L Company, 422nd Infantry, 106th division. The 106th was at Camp Atterbury and at this point I was now an infantryman. I had a hard time learning the Morse code.
    As we were building up the division, we had part of the Air Corps, because they had too many people. We got men from everywhere and it took a while to get them straightened out. We trained at Camp Atterbury for about three months and from there we were transferred to Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts for about 10 days. During that time, we were going through all types of drills, such as life jacket and lifeboat use.
    From there, we were transferred to New York Harbor where we boarded the ship Aquitania for overseas. The ship was fast enough that we were not in a convoy. On the third night out,
continues on page 14

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Historian's Message . . .

    we picked up a submarine. We had a seven-inch gun aboard, a 20mm and a 40mm on both sides of the ship. If the sub surfaced, we could usually see it. It left a big wake that we could see. (The wake looked like a big wave on each side of the ship.) We outran it. The ship was running wide open and vibrating all over.
    The next day, we slowed down and conditions on the ship grew calmer and more settled down. Our ship was a British four stacker. It was a big ship and had the biggest rats I've ever seen in my life. We ate British food and it was terrible! Hardtack, hard bread, and pickles. We didn't see much of the British crew. We had bunks six high with just enough room to get into the bunk. I missed one meal because of an upset stomach but after that, no problem.
    We provided the gun crew on deck A. I was on the 20mm and 40mm was next to me. The 40mm had two guns mounted together. The 20mm was like a big machine gun with a large ammunition drum. To cock it, a cable had to be put on it and then had to be tipped in position so it could fire. It could not be cocked by hand. It had a large spring and was automatic.
    We had to do lifeboat drills. Duty was eight hours on the anti-aircraft gun, and then eight hours off to sleep and then back on gun crew. Because the galley was so far down at the bottom of the ship, to eat and get back to bed, we would soon be awakened up again. It seemed like we had no sleep at all. Then every third day, we would get the day off.
    We landed at Glasgow, Scotland. We came in and the Queen Mary or Queen Elizabeth was just leaving as we passed her. We had a destroyer on each side of us and escorts all the way into the port. From there we went on a train to Stow on the Wool, a town in England. We walked all over the countryside. The old farmers had stonewalls built up on the property lines that had been in place for hundreds of years.
    From there we went to Southampton and boarded a ship. There we were ordered to board an LCI that was waiting for us and unloaded us in Le Havre, France. Here we saw the concrete houses where every window and every door were a gun port. The whole beach was that way. We walked for a couple of hours until we came to some open pastures. We are told to pitch our tents. It rained every night, and it was a mess trying to keep dry. The daytime was nice, but it was rainy at night. We were waiting for the Red Ball express, a truck convoy, to take us up to the front. We were there about a week when they finally came and got us. This was around December 11, 1944.
We rode the trucks to the Belgian-German border, got off and met the

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Historian's Message . . .

    2nd Division. We were able to talk to them for a few minutes before they had to move out. Our duty was to patrol, and we had people stationed on the front lines watching the Germans. You had to get them relieved before it got light in the morning and after it got dark in the evening. At one place we put a piece of canvas going up and down beside the side of the road. Then we were pretty well invisible.
    On December 14, we heard some loudspeakers coming from German tanks. With the snow, it was very cold and [there was] no wind, everyone could hear the tanks revving up. On the 15th about 4 a.m., the tanks started up again. On the 16th, here they came, but they bypassed us. There wasn't any road by us, so they just went right by us. We are along the Siegfried line where all the pillboxes were. Col. Thompson had his headquarters in a pillbox, and even had telephone wires running into the back door.
    The Americans had little wooden huts built, and you had to crawl down into them. The engineers had built little log cabins and each squad had one of them. The kitchen had one below ground level. We had a railing with wire and cardboard as a bed.
    We were on the top of the hill in concrete bunkers on the backside of the Hill because they were looking towards France. Our section was about four or five miles and had a little road around it. We went on trails and the road when we went out on patrol, and it was all on foot. For supplies, we had one 6 x 6 truck. The 106th Division was spread out as far as 28 miles.
The Germans came into the little town Auw, behind us in the Valley...

106thInfDivAssn.org/stories/john mock.html

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Treasurer's Report: Association Membership
May 1-- Sept. 30, 2023 as of September 30, 2023

Beginning Balance: $20,596.47 Total Membership
Money In: 7,354.03 Veteran Membership
Money Out: 5,257.68 Associate Membership
Difference: 2,096.35
Ending Balance: $22,692.82

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LIFE PLUS and REGULAR DONATIONS:
Louise Awalt Associate Member
Henry LeClair Associate Member
Roger Liston Associate Member
Kathleen Idstein Lyons Associate Member
Dennis Shane Miller Associate Member
John H. Mock 422/L
Ronald & Susan Nelson Associate Member
Louis Praznik 81st ENG/A
James R. Renner 81st ENG/A
James R. Wentz Associate Member
MEMORIAL and HONORARY DONATIONS:
In honor of Bob Pope, 590 FA/A
Given by Elizabeth Stulce
NEW MEMBERS:
Roger Liston Associate Member
Lisa Loch Associate Member
Joe Loch, Jr. Associate Member
Amy D. Motto Associate Member
Cynthia A. Rieck Associate Member
Sean O'Dwyer Associate Member
Katherine Stockwell Associate Member
James R. Wentz Associate Member

Membership Roster Update!
    We are updating our roster with the most current information to make sure you are receiving The CUB the way you want it. Please let us know of any of the following situations:
You want The CUB mailed to you but you are not getting a printed copy
You're getting a printed copy in the mail but no longer want it
The person getting The CUB has passed but you'd like to receive a printed copy sent to a different address.
Please notify: Henry LeClair, membership@l06thInfDivAssn.org

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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.

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 Henry LeClair, 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. We would like to have your email address and/or phone number on file so that we can contact you if your CUB is returned.

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

Wooden Ornaments $10 each plus $2 shipping per ornament
(Lower shipping costs will be applied to orders of 10 or more)

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PHOTO's: First timers!

Memorial Ceremony at Forest Lawn Cemetery for George Skinner

The outdoor BBQ and Cornhole competition

Memorial Service for our lost veterans

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Front & Center .

PHOTO's: Out-going and in-coming presidents

The doubles winners

All banquet attendees

The Banquet

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Editor's Note:
    I was unable to attend this year's reunion but understand that the presentation made by Aimee Gagnon Fogg and Robbe Meers was informative and memorable.
    Aimee is the great-niece of PFC Paul M. Lavoie, who is interred in Plot C Row 1 Grave 9 at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery (HCAC) located in Homburg, Belgium, the final resting place of 7,992 American WWII service members. Aimee is the founder of They Speak: Voices of Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, whose focus is to collect the personal stories and photos of those buried at HCAC. She is the author of several publications and is the recipient of the Daughters of the American Revolution Women in the American History award. Aimee and her husband Ryan reside in Central New Hampshire with their three children and many pets.
    Robbe is from Zutendalal, Belgium, and is the adopter of many soldiers at both HCAC and the Netherlands American Cemetery, including Ritchie Boys Kurt Jacobs and Murray Zappler. Both of these men were interpreters for the 106th and they are interred at HCAC. Robbe's interest in both WWI and WWII began at the young age of 5, when he adopted his first soldier. His interest eventually evolved into learning about the men "who fought and died for our freedom. "Robbe is currently active in his post-secondary education.
    In 2009, Aimee began researching her great-uncle, PFC Lavoie, and in the process, began the journey in discovering the stories of the men of HCAC. She and Robbe met in Belgium and have collaborated on several research projects dealing with WWII and have generously shared the discoveries they've made of the men of HCAC We thank Aimee and Robbe for attending the Reunion and making such an impactful presentation about the importance of REMEMBRANCE. Here is an article submitted by Robbe Meers.

The Forgotten War Crime in Bleialf
by Robbe Meers
    PHOTO: Kurt Jacobs Photo taken from the interviews of Ernest Stemglass (1997). (Photo provided by the USC Shoah Foundation)

    On the 13th of February, Technician fourth grade John H. Swanson, Service Company, 12th Infantry, found the bodies of two dead American soldiers next to the Schonberg-Bleialf Road. Neither of the two men had shoes or helmets on. Who were these two soldiers,and what happened to them?
    Moe "Murray" Zappler was born in Hamborn, Germany on September 1,1924. His family was Jewish. Being Jewish, Germany in the 1930s definitely wasn't a good place to live. The NSDAP (the National Socialist German Workers' Party) recently

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    got power over Germany, and antisemitism was getting worse than ever. That is why Moe and his family decided to flee Germany and continue their lives in a better place. They spent time in Belgium and France before boarding the SS Berengaria which would take them to the United States. They arrived in New York City on September 3, 1937. Moe settled in the Bronx and stayed here until 1943.
    Kurt Jacobsohn, also known as Kurt Jacobs, was born in Berlin, Germany on November 17, 1904. He also grew up in a Jewish household. He and his mother, like Moe, were lucky to get out of Germany. Kurt arrived in the United States on October 3, 1936 onboard the SS Britannic. He settled on 619 West Delevan Avenue, very close to his mother, which is not very far from the hotel we stayed at during the reunion. His father, Jacob Jacobsohn, was not so lucky. Kurt had not been able to secure passage for his father, like he had for himself and his mother. Jacob died in Terezin Ghetto on September 30, 1942, aged 81.
    On December 7, 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States got pulled into the war as well. One of the training camps opened to train new troops was Camp Ritchie, in Maryland. But this was no ordinary training camp. This facility was used to train troops for U.S. Army intelligence. A sizable number of these recruits were German-born men due to the fact that they knew the German language and culture much better than any American-born recruit ever could. Many of these Germans were Jewish that had fled Nazi persecution before the war.
    After months of training in interrogation techniques for POWs and counter-intelligence, Kurt and Murray were sent to the 106th Infantry Division and were to be members of IPW Team NO. 154 (Interrogation POW Team). This team consisted of 1st Lieutenant Andrew J. Nolte, 2nd Lieutenant John W. Seale, Staff Sergeant Kurt R. Jacobs, Staff Sergeant David Epstein, Technician Third grade Albert E. Eisenkraft and Technician fifth grade Murray Zappler. This team was attached and worked with the 442nd and 423rd regiments.
    When the Germans launched their last big offensive, "Wacht am Rhein," better known as the Battle of the Bulge, Kurt and Murray were

continues on page 24

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Front & Center . ..

    stationed in a barn just across the border into Germany. It was here that they interrogated corporal Heinrich Kauter. Corporal Kauter was captured on December 16, 1944, right at the start of the offensive. While being interrogated, Kauter found out his interrogators were actually German Jews. After having been held for four days, Kauter was retaken by the Germans. At the same time a lot of the American soldiers were also surrendering, so were Moe and Kurt.
    On December 20th, a big column of American POWs was being marched past the customs house in Bleialf, into Germany on their way to the stalags. Standing next to the customs house was Hauptmann Curt Bruns, the battalion commander of 2nd battalion, 293th regiment of the 18th Volksgrenadier division. Another individual in the area, was Corporal Heinrich Kauter. Kauter noticed his previous interrogators in between the soldiers being marched by and told Bruns that he was interrogated

The barn where interrogations were done. (Photo by Robbe Meers)
    by these two German Jews he just saw marching by. Hauptmann Bruns ordered Sergeant Hoffmann to get those soldiers out of the column and place them against the wall of the customs house. While this was happening, Hauptmann Bruns declared, "The Jews have no right to live in Germany." After the American column was out of sight, Bruns ordered Hoffmann to take a few men, and together with this detail of about five or six men, Hoffman took Moe and Kurt down the road about 200 meters. Two volleys of fire were heard and the Americans were seen falling as they were fired upon. The members of the firing squad walked over to the bodies to inspect them. Meanwhile Hauptmann Bruns was inspecting all this from the road next to the customs house.

    The bodies of Kurt and Moe went undiscovered until February 13th. At the end of the war, Hauptmann Curt Bruns was captured and the news that he ordered the execution of two soldiers became known. On April 7, 1945 Bruns was tried at Duren, Germany before a military commission. The verdict and sentence were confirmed by Colonel Ernest Brannon on May 8, 1945.
    Bruns was shot at a gravel quarry in Denstorf on June 15, 1945. He was the first Axis war criminal to be executed by the U.S. military. The U.S. military normally executed German war criminals by hanging,

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    since the firing squad was viewed as an honorable way to die. However, Bruns was shot since he had been tried before the war ended. He was allowed to wear his uniform, stripped of insignia, before he was shot. Bruns was one of six Germans to be shot in Denstorf by the U.S. military that day. The executions were filmed. The other five men, four SS troopers and one Wehrmacht soldier, were all executed for espionage.
I want to thank Aimee Fogg and Carl Wouters for their help in my research.

PHOTO: Customs house in Bleialf. (Photo by Robbe)

    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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The Belgian Bulge in the Footsteps of The Fighting 589th
    The 589th Field Artillery Battalion was the organic support artillery unit for the 422nd Infantry Regiment. From its positions near Auw, Germany it provided essential fire missions in the Regimental sector on the morning of 16 December 1944, when the German army attacked through the lines of the Golden Lions at dawn in the opening bid of the Battle of the Bulge. After a valiant defense during the day, during which they had to fend off a direct attack by the German 244 Sturmgeschutz Battalion, the Battalion displaced towards the Belgian border to secondary positions. When German infantry broke through the lines again in the early hours of 17 December, the Battalion was able to withdraw only three of its twelve howitzers to St. Vith. Eventually, the depleted unit, lacking its commander and more than half of its troops, found its way to the Baraque de Fraiture Crossroads, between Vielsalm and Manhay, Belgium. There, they had a rendezvous with destiny.
    Over the course of the past twenty years, I have been fortunate to correspond with many veterans of the 589th, including officers such as former battalion commander T. Paine Kelly, his X.O. Elliot Goldstein and many of the men who were the cannoneers, loaders, drivers in the ammunition train, forward observers and radio technicians in the Battalion. Sadly, most of them are gone now, but the stories they shared are well preserved, foremost in the excellent histories published by Kelly "The Fighting 589th" and "On the Job Training" by Elliot Goldstein.
    In late March of this year, I was contacted by Joan Kuizema, daughter of Harold Kuizema (589/B). She was making a trip to Belgium with her daughter Carol and hoped to spend a few days in the footsteps of her dad's WWII experiences. Her dad Harold was one of the veterans who joined the Association for the 50th anniversary in 1994, when the new

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    105mm Howitzer monument was inaugurated at Baraque de Fraiture. On 23 December 1944, this was the location where Harold Kuizema was wounded in action, when the German 2nd SS Panzer Division finally overran the American defense of the crossroads. The command post of Major Arthur Parker and Captain George Huxel on the road to Vielsalm fell prey to intense shelling and the roof caught fire. The occupants of the building, including former Association President and Historian, John Schaffner, his friend Harold Kuizema and several Belgian dairy cows took to the street amid the ensuing chaos outside. Under the cover of the cows and darkness, the GIs were able to reach a roadside ditch and attempted to cross a field. In the middle of the field, Harold Kuizema went down, wounded in the leg. John Schaffner came back and carried his friend to the tree line, where they found fellow GIs of the 82nd Airborne Division.
From there, Harold was evacuated to a first aid station and later to a convalescent hospital in Paris, France.
    On a cloudy Sunday in April, I Joan Kuizema), I met up with Joan and Carol to give them the full tour of the places where their father and grandfather had served. We met at the Baraque de Fraiture Crossroads, where they both stayed in the very inn that had been the temporary home of members of the 589th during the fighting in December '44. Esmeralda Lejeune and her mother Bernadette, as usual, went all out to welcome family members of "their" Golden Lions and to make their stay both memorable and enjoyable. We took to the road towards Germany to find the original first positions where the 589th found themselves in early December, on the eve of the Battle of the Bulge. While walking through the woods and fields it was not very hard to imagine the positions of the 105mm howitzers. The footprint of the gun pits was still there and the soft soil at the edge of the woods still showed signs of military presence in the form of a rusted jerry can. The customs house at the top of the hill once housed Colonel Kelly and his staff. The paved road that runs through the positions, was the very one where German tanks showed themselves 79 years ago and sowed death and destruction in the positions of the Golden Lion artillerymen.
    We continued over the forested Schnee Eifel ridge, dotted with countless remains of German pillboxes, to make our way to Bleialf

Continued on page 28

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News from Around the Globe . . .

    and back to Schonberg. The monument to 1st Lt. Eric F. Wood Jr. of Battery A in the Meyerode woods nearby stands testimony to one man's devotion to service. Refusing to give up, he chose to target German convoys in the forest and attempt to disrupt enemy supply lines. It is just one powerful story of the 589th Field Artillery Battalion. The pinnacle of the day was undoubtedly our return to Baraque de Fraiture, also commonly known as Parker's Crossroads. The former CP of Major Parker still stands, although the building was heavily damaged in the fighting. Completely burned down, only the stone shell remained. It was repaired post-war and used in more recent times as a storage facility

    PHOTO: Original photo by George Hayslip of 589/HQ shows Logan Johnson of 589/B at his .50 caliber machine gun emplacement near the gun pits. The trees have grown, but what remains is largely identical. A rusted fuel canister near the big tree might have been the same as the one shown near the hut in the period photo! (Photos Carol Chee)

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    PHOTO: Carol and Joan in front of the house where their (grand)father took shelter during the fighting in December 1944. This was Major Arthur Parker's command post at Baraque de Fraiture. (Photo Carl Wouters)

    PHOTO: Years of neglect are starting to show as the building slowly but surely starts to crumble. The roof of the attached barn looks like it took a direct hit by German mortar fire! (Photo Carol Chee)



    for road salts in the winter. Now completely derelict, it is sad to see it return to almost a wartime state. As the roof gives in and stonework is continuing to collapse, it will not be long until time catches up with this tangible ghost of WWII and it falls prey to the wrecking ball. Hopefully, someone will understand the significance of this structure and preserve it.
    Ending the day at the beautiful Auberge du Carrefour, we made a telephone call to Harold Kuizema, live from the battleground where he risked his life for our freedom 79 years ago. I made a point of thanking him personally for his service, which I feel we all are forever indebted to. One of the last remaining WWII veterans of the 589th Field Artillery Battalion, Harold Kuizema continues to carry forward the history of those
continues on page 30

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    who served with him in the 106th Division. It was wonderful to see his daughter Joan and granddaughter Carol proudly honor that history and reflect on the importance of the actions of the Golden Lions. We will never forget!

    PHOTO: The inauguration of the 105mm Howitzer monument in 1994. Recognizable at the center are L-R: John Schaffner (589/B), John Gatens (589/A) and Theodore Kiendl (589/B). (Photo Bernadette Lengler)
    PHOTO: The 105mm Howitzer placed at the crossroads honors the participation of the men of the 589th Field Artillery in the defense of this key location. Other units were honored by stone mounted panels behind the howitzer. (Photo Carol Chee

The Importance of Remembering
    To the 200+ veterans of the 106th that are reading this issue of The CUB, many of you have probably attended one of the past reunions, or maybe one of your local mini-reunions. As time marches on, we realize that all the advances in transportation have done little to limber up the joints and muscles you relied on in 1944.
    It has become 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. If you vets still have the number of your buddies, give them a call, let them know you are thinking of them.
We remember what you did for all of us and want you to know you will never be forgotten.

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Order of the Golden Lion

    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

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The effects rippled on down…

Golden Lion's war wound's (physical and psychological) rippled down to traumatize his entire family.
    This memoir leads you through the brokenness of one scarred WWII veteran (Pvt. Sam Bordelon,106th Infantry) and the devastating lifelong aftermath of his injuries affecting every life he was part of thereafter.

    Journey through the roller coaster life of his child in this transparent account of how her father's experience played itself out down the generations.

    The term PTSD wasn't even used until 35 years after the soldiers returned home from WWII. Yet, looking back from the perspective of a mental health professional, Amy describes the shrapnel that bloodied all that entered his orbit following. At the same time he was her adored father in many respects, yet she fielded mixed messages constantly.

    Her father was a hero in one arena, and an abuser upon returning home. Amy experienced a personal toll as she went from survivor to thriver. The story takes you through the destruction Sam felt himself after killing, and carried through to hurting his own family.

Online at amazon.com
(simply type the title in the search bar)

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"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, CUBeditor@l06thInfDivAssn.org, so it can easily be transferred to The CUB. Images should be submitted as jpg files. For each picture file you submit please also include what event the picture represents and where/when it was taken. Individuals in the pictures should be identified. 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 or may not be used depending on difficulty of transcription. If you have any questions, please email the Editor.
Remembering Bob Pope, A/590th FAB
by Wayne Dunn
    In addition to the many accomplishments Bob Pope achieved during his well-deserved time on this earth is the role he embraced with the 106th Infantry Division Association. Bob, like so many other 106th veterans, only learned about the Association much later in life. His path to us required a number of pieces to fall into place, and we are all glad that they did!
    In December 2015, a Mini-Reunion in Sarasota, organized by Brian Welke, was held. At that reunion, Billy Cox, a Herald-Tribune reporter in Sarasota, was present and wrote an article that appeared online (an active link is no longer available). Per Brian, "A few days later, I received an email from the reporter that a veteran of the 106th had contacted him."
Brian continued, "It turned out that the 106th veteran was Bob Pope
    (A/590th FAB), from East Amherst, New York. Mr. Pope was captured on December 20th, the day after most men of the 106th were captured, and marched to Limburg, Germany and on New Year's Eve he arrived by train at Stalag 4B. On January 10th, he got on a train with 100 other POWs and ended up in Leipzig; he was there

    PHOTO: Bob's picture shows the cover of the book he wrote about his experiences while in the Army's 106th Infantry Division. It can be found on Amazon.com

continues on page 34

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    21 Dec. 1944, St. Vith Belgium-- (1/14) Pvt John R. Sheehan, Brooklyn, NY; Lt. Ivan H. Long, Pontiac Mich. and Pvt Sam Bordelon, Birmingham, Al. talking over their experiences escaping the ring of Nazi armor which completely surrounded them The
and others (68 men in all) escaped without losing a man.
(Credit--photo and caption, U.S. Signal Corp) [from CUB Vol. 44-Tio. 47

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Email Bag . . .

    when it was firebombed on February 23, 1945. Eventually, he and some of the other POWs walked away from their captors and after walking for 36 hours, located two Americans driving a jeep in their direction.
    After learning that Mr. Pope had read the article and was excited to learn that there was a 106th Infantry Division Association, I called him and we talked for about 45 minutes. Usually, I am the one asking questions, but he wanted to know everything about the Association and when the next reunion was going to be.
    Mr. Pope assured me that he would be at the reunion in Washington D.C. It is always exciting to hear from a member of the 106th Infantry Division who was not aware of the 106th Infantry Division Association -- I couldn't wait to meet him."
    True to his word, Bob showed up at the Washington reunion, got hooked on the Association, and attended every reunion until his passing. When I was president, after checking with the other officers, I asked Bob if he would be willing to take over as the next president. He was worried about how hard it would be and if he could keep up with the duties. I told him: "Bob, it's easy! You write an article three times, you chair the Board meetings, and it's over in a year!" Bob was installed as president at the Providence, RI reunion in September 2019. And due to COVID, Bob became the longest serving president the Association has ever seen! He was finally relieved by Janet Wood in August, 2022.
    Bob had a gentle demeanor and always a smile at the ready. He was a welcome mentor for all of us "born later" folks and he fully embraced taking actions to perpetuate the Association.
    Bob, we thank you for all that you accomplished in your life, especially with the Association. You can finally rest in peace knowing that you have made the world a better place.

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ADAMS, MILTON WAYNE 106TH
Date of death: December 31, 2022
    Milton W. Adams, 98, passed away peacefully on December 31, 2022, in Kansas City, MO, at Kingswood Senior Retirement Community. The son of Ola W. Adams and Ida E. Adams, Milton was born on August 18, 1924, in Kansas City, KS. He then lived in several places in Western and Central Missouri throughout his youth as his father pastored congregations of the Methodist Church in the Missouri West Conference.
    Milton was a World War II veteran and was in the Battle of the Bulge. Though he was initially trained in a tank battalion, he went overseas as part of the United States Army 106th Infantry, seeing action in Rhineland, Central Europe, Ardennes, and Northern France.
    After coming home from the war, his father encouraged him to attend a law school open house. He was immediately very interested and signed up for law school that day. He attended the University of Kansas City Law School and graduated on May 29, 1949, with his Bachelor of Laws. He then practiced in Kansas City with the firms of Aughenbaugh and Adams; Gordon, Adams, Niewald, Risjord and Waldeck; Gordon, Adams and Gordon; and The Law office of Milton W. Adams from approximately 1950 to 1990.
    At Central United Methodist Church, he met Mary Elizabeth Sneary, the soprano soloist and children's choir director. They married on October 19, 1951. They remained extremely involved in the life of the church the rest of their days. They were blessed with four children -- Beth, Bob, Becky and Brad; then added grandchildren and great-grandchildren to their growing family.
    Milton remained a longtime member of Central United Methodist Church. He was active on committees, as a trustee, and in the Mather Class. He and Mary Elizabeth enjoyed writing and performing regular family night skits with a
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In Memoriam . . .

    group of fellow church friends. He was always ready and willing to help Mary Elizabeth host the children and youth choirs for picnics and socials.
    Milton was instrumental in starting and sustaining Kingswood Senior Retirement Community. He enjoyed living there his last 20 years and getting to experience the results of all his efforts as they benefited so many other people. Milton was blessed to have several special women in his life. Several years after Mary Elizabeth passed in 1998 after a battle with cancer, he married Rosemary Peterson in 2000. Several years after Rosemary passed in 2019, he enjoyed a special relationship with Marion Cathcart, a new resident at Kingswood where he lived.
    Milton enjoyed several partnerships and business ventures throughout his years. His mind was always sharp, and he was interested in finding ways to improve situations around him Milton was a devoted Missouri Tiger fan both of football and basketball. He was always committed once spring came to the Kansas City Royals no matter their record. As a faithful father and grandfather, Milton always attended recitals, concerts, and sporting events, showing his support for spouse's, children's and grandchildren's activities. And he was always one to enjoy a good friendly joke and teasing. Milton especially loved summer family vacations in Colorado and his world-wide travel adventures with Mary Elizabeth, then with Rosemary. One of his greatest joys was golf. He learned the game at age 12, when he worked as a caddie. For most of his life, his love of the game continued, shooting his age three times in his 70s. In his senior years, he enjoyed splitting his time between his home in Kansas City and one in Arizona, where he welcomed family and friends and kept up his golf skills. Though the New Year will be without the Patriarch of the family, he lived 981/2 years, full of life experiences, sharing his love and wisdom and never losing his quick wit.
Reported by Wayne Dunn

BETLACH, DONALD A. 423 INF/3 BN/HQ CO
Date of death: February 15, 2020
    Donald A. Betlach, 95, of Ojai, CA, passed away at his home Saturday morning, February 15, 2020. Donald was born on May 12, 1924 to Edward and Anna Mautz Betlach in rural Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.
    He attended local schools and then served in the U.S. Army during World War II and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was a prisoner of the war being taken captive during the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he

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In Memoriam . . .

    attended the University of Wisconsin and the University of Arizona, earning his degree in Engineering. He went to work for the Shell Oil Company. On his assignment to the Ventura Avenue Oil Fields, he met and married Mary Jane Sarzotti.
    After four years in Montana, the family, including son Gregory, returned to Ojai. Donald was then employed as a Civil Engineer with Ventura County, retiring in 1981 as Deputy Director of the Public Work Transportation/Road Department. He was Chairman of the Ojai Planning Committee and was a member of the Ojai Valley Retired Professional and Business Men's Club, serving in multiple offices, including president.
    Donald was preceded in death by his mother and father and his only sibling Dorothy Betlach Link. His beloved wife of 66 years, Mary Jane Betlach passed away on July 27, 2018. Donald is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Florence Betlach, Houston Texas and his granddaughter, Terra Brown, of Brock, Texas.
Reported by Wayne Dunn

CHESTER, MORRIS S. 422 INF/HQ
Date of death: November 29, 2021
    Morris Chester passed away peacefully at home in Los Angeles, CA with family at his side at the age of 96. Morris was predeceased by
    his older sister, Harriette, and his loving wife of 68 years, Miriam Chester. He is survived by his two sons, daughter and two grandchildren. Morris enlisted in the Army and was captured in the Battle of the Bulge. He was held in a POW camp from December of 1944 until June of 1945. He attended Johns Hopkins University, receiving a BS degree in Physics. During his work at TRW, he developed the technology for "traveling wave tubes" which allow for communication with satellites.
    Morris will be remembered as a meticulous and patient engineer. He was a sought-after expert in his field of work and was honored internationally. He was generous, compassionate and humorous. He was passionate about veterans' issues and proud of his military service.
Submitted by Jerome Chester

CRAMER, CALVIN O. 106TH
Date of death: August 8, 2023
    Calvin was born to Oscar J. and Caroline (Schneller) Cramer on May 18, 1926 on Water Street in Prairie du Sac, WI, overlooking the Wisconsin River. After graduation in 1944 from Prairie du Sac High School where he excelled in track, football,
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    and academics, he was drafted into the Army for deployment to the European theater of WWII. He was trained as a replacement infantryman and was assigned to 106th Infantry Division to backfill decimating losses of its units in the Battle of the Bulge. Calvin's timing was such that he joined as the 106th was withdrawn from the front lines and he spent much of his WWII time guarding German POWs. During the summer of 1945 Calvin was on a troop transport in the Atlantic as part of a transfer to the Pacific theater for the invasion of Japan. It was announced onboard that the atomic bombs were dropped and Japan had surrendered.
    Following the Army, Calvin pursued his education via the GI bill receiving his BS, MS and PhD degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He married Patricia (Pat) Louise Herr in June 1952 and they enjoyed a 70-year companionship until her passing earlier in 2023. As a humble beginning, they first lived with Calvin's father at his Prairie du Sac farm but in 1955 they moved to Lodi where they raised their family and spent almost 70 years together.
    Calvin began teaching at UW-Madison in 1954 as an instructor and joined the faculty in 1959 in the Department of Agricultural Engineering. He taught the design and construction of agricultural buildings, later expanding to courses in the area of construction administration particularly residential construction. He was known by students for having an open office door and a friendly ear who would listen to their questions, concerns, hopes and aspirations. He was voted by the students as the best departmental instructor many times and his colleagues remember him as one who liked to play practical jokes. He retired and was granted emeritus status in 1988. As part of his professional life, he was a member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers for more than 65 years and in 1986 he was awarded "Engineer of the Year" by the Wisconsin Section. He also received recognitions from the Associated General Contractors of Wisconsin and others.
    In retirement, he and Pat engaged in a small amount of travel including a trip to WWII cemeteries in Europe where relatives were buried. The last major trip Calvin took was an emotional Badger Honor Flight in 2011. Calvin's retirement years were marked by extensive volunteer work with many local organizations including: the Free Masons of which he was a member for more than 70 years, the American Legion, Lodi Valley Historical Society, Lodi United Methodist Church, Lodi Agricultural Fair, and Good Samaritan Nursing Home. He held a variety of leadership positions in these organizations.
Calvin is survived by his children, Ramona (Larry) Wesner (Franklin,

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In Memoriam . . .

    WI) and Steven (Kay) Cramer (Lodi, WI), five grandchildren, Eric (Katie) Wesner, Brian (Anna) Wesner, Ethan Cramer, Isaac Cramer, Annaliese Cramer, and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother (when he was 12), his father, his wife, Patricia, and all five of his siblings. After living a full and active life, Calvin passed away on Pat's birthday and we believe she summoned him to join her.
Reported by Wayne Dunn

DRAGO, ANTHONY "TONY" C. 423 INF/3 BN/L
Date of death: February 2, 2023
    Anthony "Tony" C. Drago, 100, passed away peacefully on Feb. 2, 2023, at his home. Tony was born on July 2, 1922, in Carbondale, PA, son of the late Charles and Phyllis Drago, both of Oneonta, NY, and brother of the late Carmelita Heiner. Tony is survived by his wife of 68 years, Marcella Drago; and his four children, Mary Drago of Oneonta, Charlie Drago of San Antonio, TX, Brenda Udovich of Jacksonville, FL, and Tony Jr. of Wakefield, MA. He leaves seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
    A 1939 graduate of Oneonta High School, Tony served in the U.S. Army 106th Infantry, fought in the Battle of Bulge and was a prisoner of war in Germany until he was liberated in 1945. He was honorably discharged from the military in November 1945. After returning home from World War II, Tony obtained his bachelor's degree from Springfield College in 1949 and embarked on a long career in education and sports where he touched the lives of thousands of young men and woman.
    In 1949 Tony became head baseball coach and JV basketball coach at Hartwick College. In 1952, Tony moved to North Carolina with his wife where he became head JV basketball coach and assistant Varsity basketball coach at Duke University under head coach and friend Harold Bradley.
    After coaching at Duke from 1952 to 1957 Tony returned to Oneonta where he became head basketball and golf coach at Oneonta High School (OHS). Tony worked at OHS from 1957 until 1984 when he retired. His work at OHS included being a physical education teacher for 27 years, director of athletics for 20 years, head basketball coach for eight years and golf coach for 27 years. As head basketball coach he compiled a record of 114 wins and 50 losses. Coach Drago's basketball teams won five Iroquois League championships, and three Section Three championships. His 1959-60 team went undefeated and remains the only undefeated basketball team
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In Memoriam . . .

in OHS history. His golf teams won many Section IV championships.
    In addition to his long coaching career, Tony was president of the Iroquois League from 1960 to 1962. He served on the executive committee for the Southern Tier Athletic Conference for 11 years, the executive committee for Section IV for 11 years, and was one of the two athletic directors in the State of New York to serve on the executive committee for the New York Public High School Athletic Association. Tony served on the Section IV Hall of Fame Committee from 1972 through 1982, and was also chairman of the Southern Tier Athletic Conference Football Committee for Section IV. In 1982, Tony was inducted into the Section IV Hall of Fame. In 1986, OHS named the high school gymnasium the "Anthony C. Drago" gym and the Drago Tip-Off Classic, which Coach Drago started in 1959, remains a staple Oneonta sports event at OHS to this day.
    As a member of the Oneonta community, Tony served on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club for 42 years. He was a member of the Hartwick College Citizens Board for four years, Otsego Delaware United Way for four years, Oneonta City Recreation and Parks Commission for five years and together with several other members of the community helped found the OHS Alumni Association which continues to thrive. Tony helped organize and found the golf tournament on alumni weekend in which hundreds of alumni have participated. He was inducted into the OHS Hall of Fame in 2007 with the initial group of inductees.
    In 2000, Tony was voted Italian American Citizen of the Year. He was presented with an Honoree Award by Fox Hospital at its 2011 Gala.
    Tony was a lifelong member of Saint Mary's Catholic Church and a longtime member of the Oneonta Country Club, Elks Lodge, American Legion, and the Sixth Ward Athletic Club. Tony served his country and the Oneonta community with distinction and honor and dedicated his entire career to education and coaching. He impacted the lives of thousands of OHS students, was loved by all and will be dearly missed in the community.
Reported by Wayne Dunn

GALLOWAY, JOHN R. (BOB) 423/I
Date of death September 22, 2008
    John R. "Bob" Galloway, 84, died peacefully at his home, Sept. 22, 2008. He was with his wife, children, and grandchildren and his beloved Chinese pugs at the time of his

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In Memoriam . . .

    passing. Bob, as his family, friends and business associates knew him, was born June 24, 1924, in Hamilton, Ohio, and resided in Las Vegas for 32 years. He retired in 1992 from Aztec Industrial Bearing and Supply, the business he founded in 1972. During World War II, Bob served his country as a machine gunner in the U.S. Army's 106th Division. He took part in the Northern France, Rhineland and Ardennes Campaigns. He was injured and captured by the Nazis during the Battle of the Bulge. Bob served as a POW for six months before he was liberated by the Russians. For his service, he received the Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster, and he earned three battle stars and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. Because he served as a POW on Christmas Day 1944, Bob deeply enjoyed the holiday and he delighted Las Vegans for decades with his extravagant hand-crafted Christmas displays. Bob loved sports and enjoyed boating and fishing at Lake Mead. He was an avid fan and booster of the UNLV Rebels, contributing countless scholarships to their Athletic Department, and he supported the Cincinnati Reds, Ohio State Buckeyes, Cincinnati Bearcats, and the Cleveland Browns. Bob is survived by Donna, his wife, of 40 years; his children, Cheryl Ford, Shelley Lunger, John R. Galloway Jr., and Samuel Bowling; as well as four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was
    predeceased by his sister, Jeanne Yeakle, and his daughter, Karen Galloway. His life and the memories of him will be cherished by all those who knew him. He was truly a kind, generous and remarkable man.
Reported by Wayne Dunn

GURULE, RAMON 424 INF/M
Date of death: January 8, 2023
Ramon "Raymond" Gurule, 97, of Bloomfield (Angostura),
    NM, passed away January 8, 2023, in Farmington, NM. The oldest of six, Raymond was born August 21, 1925, to Delfido Gurule and Apolinia Gurule (Maestas) in La Jara, NM, where he grew up. His main contribution to the family was herding sheep. He attended Cuba High School and then was drafted into the United States Army in 1943. He was sent to Germany as a Heavy Machine Gunner of the 424th Infantry 106th Division. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge, where he got frostbite on his feet which ended his time in World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1946. On August 21, 1948 he married Tiofila "Phyllis" Gurule (Montano). They raised seven children and some grandchildren, too. He received a Bachelor's degree
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In Memoriam . . .

    in education from the University of Albuquerque in 1951 and retired as a teacher from Bloomfield, NM schools in 1981. He went on to work for the New Mexico Highway Department. After retirement, he enjoyed gardening, camping, fishing, and watching the Denver Broncos. In recent years, Raymond spent his time praying, especially the rosary, watching EWTN, and listening to music. He enjoyed the chatter and laughter of family gatherings, and after he could no longer attend Mass, he looked forward to his weekly visit from Deacon Pat who would administer Communion. He and Phyllis were married for 66 years, until her passing on June 18, 2015. They were faithful parishioners at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, and Raymond was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.
    Raymond is preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis Gurule, his sons, Fred Gurule and Anthony Gurule, his daughter, Theresa Gurule-Fails, his sisters, Virginia Pruitt and Gloria Catnach. He is survived by his sons, Herman Gurule and Robert Gurule, his daughters, Stella Harris (Ron), LouElla Graffis (Paul-- deceased), his brothers Pat Gurule (Barbara) and Edumenio Gurule, his sister Beatrice Rodela (Phil), 15 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.
Reported by Wayne Dunn

HUGHES, TERENCE ASSOCIATE MEMBER
Date of death: March 16, 2022
    Terence Hughes, of Gambrills, Maryland, passed away peacefully at his home on March 16, 2022. Survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Hughes, son Stephen T. Hughes, and daughter Suzanne Hughes Baker, his family was his greatest joy, and his love and generosity of spirit showed itself with them to the end.
    Born in 1941 to James Hughes and Mary C. Hughes, Terry was raised in Philadelphia and New Jersey. He received a BSEE from Villanova University, and earned an MS in Engineering from Johns Hopkins University. He worked at the National Security Agency from 1963 to 1996. Besides engineering, Terry loved working with his hands, having manually built the house in which he and his family lived, and had been active with various projects on it until his illness struck. He enjoyed travel, particularly any that focused on the architecture and background of historical sites and/or concerning the country of his ancestors, Ireland.
    Though a man who avoided the spotlight, Terry made many long-time friends, largely due to his good nature and dry wit but also because of his readiness to help or guide anyone who needed it. His patience and humor never left him and will likely be what is most remembered about him. Growing up as one of nine children,

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In Memoriam . . .

    Terry cared deeply about his large extended family, which included those he grew close to by marriage. Besides his wife and children, Terry leaves his grandchildren Joshua, Jordan (Ryan Rogers), and Madison Hughes, his brothers, Joseph Hughes and Daniel Hughes, daughters-in-law Leanne Hughes, Melissa Crosser Hughes, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Reported by Wayne Dunn

MAUGHN, WILLIAM, JR. 589 FABN/BATT B
Date of death: March 20, 1999
My grandfather, William Maughn, Jr. passed away on March 20, 1999 in Indian Harbor Beach, FL.
Submitted by Andrew Maughn

POGAR, WASSIL 422 INF/SVC
Date of death: August 4, 2001
    Wassil Pogar, formerly of Thirlwell Ave., Hazleton, PA, died at the age of 85 at the Smith Health Care Home, Mountaintop. Born in Minersville, he was the son of the late Andrew and Pauline Pogar, and lived in the Hazleton area all of his life. An Army veteran of World War II, he served with Company C in Service Command Unit 1488. He served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre of Operations and took part in the Rhineland Campaign
    and Ardennes Campaign. During the Ardennes Campaign, the Battle of the Bulge, he was captured by German troops and sent to a Prisoner of War Camp, where he was held captive for a period of eight months. He received two Bronze Battle Stars, attributed to the Ardennes and Rhineland campaigns. Mr. Pogar was discharged in the rank of corporal. He was a life-member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 678 McAdoo.
    Wassil was employed by the Coca-Cola Co. for 26 years, and retired from the Miorelli Construction Company. He was a member of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic (Slovak) Church, Hazleton, and the Holy Name Society of the parish; the 3rd Order of St. Francis of the Holy Dormition Monastery, the Heights Fire Company, the Heights Rod and Gun Club, the Sierra Club, and was a 4th Degree Knight and Past Grand Knight of Hazleton Council 442 Knights of Columbus.
    Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents, were his wife, the former Eleanor Kassick, Sept. 25, 1978; brothers, John and Michael Pogar; a grandson, Joseph Uliano; and a great-granddaughter, Angelina Uliano. Surviving are daughters, Mrs. Richard (Joan Ann) Onuschak, Hazleton, Mrs. Carlo (Patricia) Collevechio, Tresckow, and Mrs. Ronald (Sharon) Chiverella, Camp Hill; brothers, Peter Pogar,
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    Hazleton, and Frank Pogar, Texas; a sister, Mrs. Albert (Anna) Yenchick, Sugarloaf; six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Submitted by Ron and Sharon (Pogar) Chivarella

POPE, ROBERT E. 590 FABN
Date of death: Jul 20 2023
Robert E. (Bob) Pope, age 99, of East Amherst, New York passed away on July 20, 2023.
    Bob was the beloved husband of the late Carol Lomastro Pope (nee Lomastro); loving father of Roann (Tom) Brown, Robin (Peter) Weber and Michelle Pope; grandfather of three and great-grandfather of one; dear friend of Marie Mease and Thomas Burgasser. Bob is also survived by his many neighbors and friends at Solstice at East Amherst where he lived for many years. Bob was a proud and decorated WWII Army veteran who participated in the Ardennes Rhineland Campaign, a former POW and was instrumental in establishing and operating Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital working as the Director of Development and Public Relations for both hospitals. Bob lived the Army philosophy of Honor by carrying out, acting, and living the values of respect, duty, loyalty, selfless service, integrity and personal courage in everything he did. He leaves behind a rich legacy of stories and memories for those who knew him.
Bob will be interred with military honors at the Western New York National Cemetery.
Reported by Wayne Dunn

RIECK, CHARLES E. "CHUCK" 422 INF
Date of death: January 24, 2012
Charles E. "Chuck" Rieck, age 88, passed away on January 24, 2012 at
    UW Hospital and Clinics in Madison, WI, due to heart failure. Chuck was born on April 1, 1923 in Wisconsin Rapids, WI to Charles F. and Hazel (Gross) Rieck. He graduated from Mosinee High School in May 1941. He worked for Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Company in Baltimore, MD until

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In Memoriam . . .

    1943 when he entered the U.S. Army. He served in the 106th Infantry (Golden Lion) Division. Chuck was captured in the Battle of the Bulge on December 19, 1944, and sent to Stalags 9A and 9B in Germany. He was liberated on Good Friday, 1945 and was honorably discharged from the army on November 22, 1948, as a Sergeant 1st Class. Under the GI bill, Chuck attended Stevens Point Teachers College in 1946 and transferred to University of Michigan Ann Arbor in 1948. He graduated in May 1950 with a degree in Forestry. He began employment with the Wisconsin Conservation Department in July 1950, working in Hayward & Iron River, WI. While working in Hayward, Chuck met and married Doris A. Kulbeck on January 5, 1952. Doris preceded Chuck in death on July 20, 2002. Chuck became a supervisor of the Forest Inventory Section in Tomahawk, WI in 1957. He moved to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Headquarters in Madison, WI in 1968. He held several management positions retiring as Director of Employee Training & Development in 1983. After retirement, Chuck conducted workshops and training sessions with public and private organizations, as well as with Lutheran churches in several states and Canada. During their retirement years, Chuck and Doris spent more than 20 years wintering in Tucson, AZ, which they greatly enjoyed. He also enjoyed hunting, Friday night fish fries, watching football and reading. In addition, he looked forward to reconnecting with his army buddies at POW and Infantry reunions. He treasured time spent with friends and family. This past August, Chuck made his 35th annual trip with his family to Redden's Camp in Kenora, Ontario. His Canadian friends held a special place in his heart. Chuck looked forward to his Thursday gatherings with the retired DNR Madison bike & bowl team. Chuck is survived by his loving daughters, Cindy Rieck (special friend Ken Danielson) of Appleton, WI; Cheryl Vulstek of Reedsburg, WI and Charlene (Bob) Krembs of Verona, WI. Grandchildren are Scott Vulstek (Kate Fochs) of Juneau, AK and Andrea (Michael) Walhovd of Wauwatosa, WI. He is further survived by two sisters-in-law, Norine Rieck of St. Paul, MN and Linda Kulbeck of Danbury, WI and one brother-in-law, Wilfred Kulbeck of Fayetteville, NC. He was preceded in death by his wife and fishing partner, Doris, his parents and his brothers Bob, Jim and Jerry. Despite multiple health challenges, Chuck remained optimistic until the very end.
Submitted by Charlene Rieck Krembs

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In Memoriam . . .

SEBASTINELLI, FRED A. DHQ AG POSTAL
Date of death: August 10, 2019
    Fred A. Sebastinelli passed away peacefully at his home in San Francisco at the age of 97 on August 10, 2019. The fifth of seven children, he was born and raised in Follansbee, WV, and followed his mother and three of his sisters to San Francisco after working for the U.S. Postal Service and serving in the U.S. Army Post Office in the European theatre during WWII. Fred worked again for the U.S. Postal Service after the war, then U.S. Steel, and retired from the City and County of San Francisco as a successful Investment Analyst for the employee retirement fund. He was an alumnus of Golden Gate University and member of the Freemasons, initiated as California Justice No. 549 in 1967, and served as Master of San Francisco Lodge No. 120 in 1973.
    Preceded in death by parents Irene Antoinette nee Lombardi and Giovanni (John) Battista Sebastinelli, wife Ans (Annabelle) nee Romer, sisters Mary Swan, Lena Cicone, Angela Howe and Amelia DiLorenzo, and brother Joseph Sebastinelli. He is survived by his partner Anita Schar Muller, sister Jennie Guilfoyle, and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, and great-grand-nieces and nephews.
    Fred led his long and exuberant life to the fullest, proud of his Italian heritage. He resided part-time in Switzerland in his retirement years and enjoyed global travel, sampling regional cuisine, visiting relatives, and researching the family tree in Italy. He also loved living in San Francisco and attending family gatherings, and would regularly report on his various activities as well as the ship traffic he observed through the Golden Gate while on his favorite walk along the Marina Green. He was a charming, passionate, gregarious and generous son, brother, husband, uncle and friend, and will be greatly missed.
Reported by Wayne Dunn

SIMBECK, LEO F. "LINK" 106TH
Date of death: June 10, 2023
    Leo F. "Link" Simbeck, 99, of St. Marys, PA, died June 10, 2023. Simbeck was drafted into the U.S. Army on March 11, 1943, and received his basic training with the 106th Roaring Lion Infantry Division at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. On D-Day, June 6, 1944, he was in a replacement camp in

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    Wales. He arrived in France on July 1, and was assigned to the 83rd Ohio Infantry Division. He spent four days on the front lines and four months in hospitals in England after being wounded on July 14. He was returned to his unit in time to take part in the Battle of the Bulge beginning in December 1944. The war in Europe ended on May 8, 1945, and Leo celebrated his 21" birthday as the military commandant of a farm village in Bavaria. He was discharged as a tech sergeant on December 7, 1945, four years to the day after the U.S.'s formal entry into the war, having earned the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. His letters home during World War II have been collected into a book, which was published this year.

    Simbeck was a great booster of the region and a well-traveled and well-educated man. Under the G.I. Bill, Leo enrolled in The Pennsylvania State College, earning a B.S. degree in electrical power engineering. He was a licensed professional engineer by examination and spent his working life as an employee of Speer Carbon Company and its successor, Airco Carbon, which became a division of the BOC Group, from where he retired on Oct. 2, 1984, after 38 years of service. His dedication to service to his community continued. He spent 17 years on the board of the St. Marys' Area School District and was president during the building of the present high school. An accomplished public speaker who gave keynote addresses during Memorial Day ceremonies and on many other occasions, he was a co-founder of the original St. Marys' Toastmasters Club and was a member throughout its existence. He was a longtime member of The Elk County Concert Association and served various terms as its president.
Link received hundreds of birthday cards celebrating his 99th birthday just two weeks ago prior to his death.
Reported by Wayne Dunn

STARMACK, GRACE FARMER ASSOCIATE MEMBER
Date of death: April 6, 2022
Grace Farmer Starmack, 92, of North Babylon, NY, passed away at home on April 6, 2022, surrounded by her family.
    Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, she emigrated with her family from Scotland to New York City as a small child and was raised in Queens. Known for her love and laughter, she was an avid reader, knitter, quilter, crafter, and baker. Beloved wife of the late John S. Starmack for 67 years. Loving mother of Cindy Marien (Bruce), Julie StarmackCurtin (Jim), Carol
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    Ann Starmack (Claude Goodwin), and Diane McMillen (Kevin). Proud grandmother of Wendy Marien Sutaria (Norm), Stephen A. Marien (Christine and great-grandsons Connor and Lincoln), Craig A. Marien (Courtney and great-grandson Elliot and great-granddaughter Quinn), Evan, Aaron, and Lainey McMillen, Hill Kathryn Goodwin (Lee Crumpton and their daughter Maya). She is also survived by a sister-in-law, cousins, nieces, and nephews. She will be sorely missed and fondly remembered by those who knew her.
Submitted by Julie Starmack Curtin

STREIB, MARSHALL P. 424/B
Date of death: January 29, 2023
    Marshall Phillip Streib, of Beach Park, IL, passed away on January 29, 2023. He was born on January 20, 1924, in Rockford, IL. Marshall graduated from Harlem High School in Machesney Park, IL where he played football and ran track. He also attended Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, IL. Marshall was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church on McAree Road in Waukegan, IL.
    Marshall was Sergeant First Class Company B, 424th Infantry Regiment, 106th Division. He was awarded the Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement during the Battle of the Bulge in the European Theater of Operation during World War II. He was awarded the Purple Heart having been wounded in the military action at Coulee, Belgium on January 17, 1945, Reserved 85th Division.
    Marshall retired from United States Steel in North Chicago, IL, working in accounting and scheduling. Marshall was a member of many organizations in the Lake County area, including Beach Park Little League--president and coach, co-founded and coached girls softball in Beach Park, IL, coached his granddaughters in Waukegan softball, Scout Leader--Troop 79, co-founder of Village of Beach Park, IL, treasurer of the committee that found Beach Park, treasurer and trustee of Bonnie Brook Fire Department, on the board of trustees for Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, president and chairman of the grievance committee of Cyclone Fence Clerical Union, president and secretary of Cyclone Fence Fed Credit Union, member of the US steel workers union--National Wage Policy Committee.
    Marshall was an avid sports fan and loved Chicago. He always rooted for the Bears and the Cubs and wore his Notre Dame socks every week rooting for his favorite college football team. Marshall was always following his grandchildren in all of their sporting events, even cheering them from the stands.

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    Marshall is survived by his wife of 70 years Mary Ann Streib; children Michael Streib, Daniel (Gloria) Streib, Ronald Streib, Karen (Michael) Streib Morrison, and Mark (Susan) Barlet; grandchildren Marie Schoblocher, Krystal (Nick) Strong, Thomas (Nicole) Streib, Danielle (Brett) Behnke, Heather (Dylan) Florio, Angela (Antoine) Riley, Matthew Morrison, and Benjamin (Danielle) Morrison; along with 25 great-grandchildren.
Submitted by Marshall's daughter, Karen Ann Streib Morrison

UNRUH, JACK A. 106TH
Date of death: March 22, 2023
    Jack Andy Unruh was born March 7, 1924 in Newton, KS, the fourth child of Harvey and Ruth Unruh and the only son. When Jack was a month old, he had whooping cough. There was nothing the doctor could do and sent him home to die. Ruth nursed him back to health and he later attended 12 years of school without missing a single day. This must be where the Unruhs got their strong constitution.
    Jack was inducted into the army in 1943, just four days shy of his 20th birthday. He trained at Camp Atterbury in Indiana. He was a member of the 106th Infantry Division
    at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He received advanced airborne training and was a test jumper with the 542nd Parachute Infantry Battalion at Camp McCall, North Carolina. This was a lot of traveling for someone who had never been out of Newton, KS, or even been in an airplane! A prime example of Jack's sense of humor can be seen in a photo he had hanging in the basement. The sky is filled with parachutes. Jack wrote the caption, "My 10th jump. I'm the one with the smile". He was involved in securing Luzon in the Philippines. The 11th Airborne Division was then airlifted to Okinawa. For weeks they stood ready to invade or occupy the enemy's homeland. This 21-year-old paratrooper sergeant was one of the first Americans to set foot in Japan after they surrendered. He said one of the scariest days of his life was when he and his buddy had to march down the hill into a village of Japanese and not know if they were aware the war was over and how they would be received. Luckily for all of us they were welcomed and traded chocolate bars and little tokens.
    Jack was discharged from service in Colorado on February 14, 1946. While being transported back to Kansas by train, he was looking out of the train watching the scenery and saw a car on the highway with a bunch of kids hanging out the windows waving. He told himself
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In Memoriam . . .

    that it had to be "those Wilson kids waving. Who else would have so many kids?" (They had four children at the time.) Sure enough, it was his sister Doris Wilson and her family, and they were all thrilled to spot their beloved Uncle Jack coming home from the war. He got off at the next stop and they met up for a joyous reunion, driving together to LaJunta Colorado to stay with sister Maurine.
    After returning to Newton, Jack worked at Montgomery Ward department store. This is where he met his future bride Donna Schuessler who worked at the store as a stock person/clerk. Jack and Donna were married May 2, 1948. Jack was welcomed by the Schuessler family as one of their own. Many wonderful memories were created with the family fishing on Diamond Creek, hunting the land, making homemade ice cream for family meals, singing "Alfalfa Hay," and debating politics. We always knew we were almost to grandma and grandpa's house when Jack would break into "Holy Smokes The Church is on Fire!" when we turned at their corner where the small church that once stood had burned to the ground.
    Donna joined Jack's church, the First Methodist Church where they both were active members for many years. Jack served God and the church in many ways over the years, including serving on the Board of Trustees. However, he is also remembered for being a joker and taking the opportunity to preach to entire herds of cattle when fishing at farm ponds. Donna joyfully volunteered at the church helping with communion, serving many dinners with the women's group and visiting shut-ins. Jack would walk in the back door after work and see the freshly baked pie on the counter. He would state "OH BOY, PIE! What's going on at the church?"
    Following their time at Montgomery Ward, Jack worked as a salesman at the Trading Post and Furniture Exchange. Jack changed jobs and went to work at the newly formed Marshall Furniture. With the growing family, the Unruhs took the plunge in 1964 and bought a house, living there for the remainder of their marriage and Jack until the end of his time on earth. In 1980, Jack, Donna and son Steve purchased Marshall Furniture from Charlie Marshall. Donna became the bookkeeper until her retirement in 2018. Jack continued working well into his 90s and still enjoyed dropping by the store whenever possible to keep his finger on the pulse of the business.
    In 1978, Jack and Donna became grandparents for the first time. Their grandchildren are Cheryl's children, Sam, Megan and Sarah and Gary's children Erin, Morgan and Kyle. From these grandchildren they now have 10 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren

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In Memoriam . . .

    and one more on the way. Jack and Donna established and held to family traditions and taking part in many activities for the sake of sharing family time -- activities such as fishing, playing cards and attending the school activities of all the kids. Jack also enjoyed gardening, hunting and fishing and singing silly songs. He was an exemplary role model who consistently exhibited his work ethic and devotion to family. He was responsible and levelheaded and fun to be around. Jack and Donna enjoyed square dancing, fishing, puzzle solving and were avid card players and regularly played pinochle with friends. They vowed that when they were all gone, they would play cards together in heaven. The last one to die is to take the playing cards to heaven with them. For this reason, Jack was buried with two decks of pinochle cards to fulfill their promise.
    In their later years, Jack and Donna complemented each other well. Donna's declining health made it more difficult to be active, but Donna's mind and spirit were good and she was as sharp as a tack. Jack took on many household and care-giving tasks under her guidance which enabled them to stay in their home together until nearly the end.
    Jack passed away peacefully on March 22, 2023, having celebrated his 99th birthday just two weeks earlier. He was preceded in death by Donna, his wife of 73 years who passed away June 27, 2021, his parents Harve and Ruth Unruh, infant son Douglas Alan, sisters Helen Lehmann, Dorris Wilson and Maurine Hayes, son-in-law Jack Smith and son-in-law Chuck Willhoite. He is survived by his children Cheryl (Robert) Ferris, Steven (LaNae) Unruh, Gary (Suzanne) Unruh and his grandchildren.
    Jack was laid to rest with military honors at Greenwood Cemetery on Thursday, March 30, 2023, in a private family service officiated by Pastor Albert Schuessler, Jack's brother-in-law.
Reported by Wayne Dunn

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Index for This Document

11th Abn. Div., 52
18th Volksgrenadier Div., 26
2nd Div., 16
2nd Inf. Div., 13
2nd SS Panzer Div., 29
422nd Inf., 13, 14
422nd Inf. Regt., 28
424/I, 9
424th Inf. Regt., 14, 51
589th FA, 30
589th FA BN, 28, 31
7th Armd. Div., 14
82nd Abn. Div., 29
Adams, Milton Wayne, 38
Aquitania, 14
Ardennes, 9, 14
Auberge Du Carrefour, 28, 31
Auw, 16
Auw, Germany, 13, 28
Awalt, Louise, 18
Bachmurski, Stanley M., 27
Baraque De Fraiture, 28, 29, 30, 31
Bavaria, 50
Belgium, 25, 28
Berlin, 25
Berlin, Germany, 25
Bernadette, 29, 31
Betlach, Donald A., 39
Birmingham, 36
Bleialf, 24, 26, 29
Bordelon, Pvt. Sam, 34
Bordelon, Pvt. Samuel, 10
Bordelon, Sam, 34
Bordelon, Samuel, 10
Brown, Roann (Tom), 47
Burgasser, Thomas, 47
Camp Fannin, Texas, 14
Camp Atterbury, 14, 52
Camp Atterbury, IN, 13
Camp Myles Standish, MA, 14
Century, Douglas, 55
Chee, Carol, 28, 30, 31, 32
Chee, Joan Kuizema, 28
Chester, Miriam, 40
Chester, Morris, 40
Chester, Morris S., 40
Coulee, Belgium, 51
Cox, Billy, 35
Coy, Jacquelyn, 2
Cramer, Calvin O., 40
Curtin, Julie Starmack, 50, 51
Drago, Anthony C., 43
Drago, Anthony 'Tony' C., 42
Dunn, Lisa, 4, 35
Dunn, Lisa M., 2
Dunn, Wayne, 1, 12, 35, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 54
Dunn, Wayne G., 1, 2
Duren, 26
Edinburgh, Scotland, 50
Edmonds, Chris, 4, 11, 55
Edmonds, Pastor Chris, 1, 7
Edmonds, Roddie, 9, 55
Esmeralda, 29
Faulkner, Carol, 1
Faulkner, Carol J., 33
Fogg, Aimee, 27
Fogg, Aimee Gagnon, 6, 24
France, 25, 50
Ft. Jackson, SC, 13, 49, 52, 55
Galloway, John R. (Bob), 43
Galloway, John R., Jr., 44
Garrison, Beth, 1, 19, 33
Gatens, John, 32
Germany, 14, 25, 26, 29
Glasgow, Scotland, 15
Goldstein, Elliot, 28
Gurule, Ramon, 44
Gurule, Ramon 'Raymond', 44
Hamborn, Germany, 24
Hayslip, George, 30
Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery, 24
Henri-Chappell Cemetery, 6
Homburg, Belgium, 24
Howland, Everett, 1, 5, 8, 11, 12, 19
Hughes, Terence, 45
Huxel, Capt. George, 29
Jacobs, Kurt, 24, 25
Johnson, Logan, 30
Keech, Ann Marie, 27
Kelly, Col., 29
Kelly, T. Paine, 28
Kiendl, Theodore, 32
Krembs, Charlene Rieck, 48
Kuizema, Harold, 28, 29, 31
Lavoie, Pfc., 24
Lavoie, Pfc. Paul M., 24
Le Havre, France, 13, 15
LeClair, Henry, 1, 2, 4, 5, 17, 18, 20, 38, 56
LeClair, Henry J., 9
Lehaire, Maria, 31
Leipzig, 8, 35
Lejeune, Esmeralda, 28, 29
Lengler, Bernadette, 28, 31, 32
Limburg, Germany, 35
Liston, Roger, 18
Loch, Joe, Jr., 18
Loch, Lisa, 18
Lomastro, Carol, 47
Long, Lt. Ivan H., 10, 36
Luzon, 52
Lyons, Kathleen Idstein, 18
Manhay, 14
Manhay, Belgium, 28
Maughn, William, Jr., 46
Mayen, 14
Mayen, Germany, 14
Mease, Marie, 47
Meers, Robbe, 6, 24, 26
Meyerode, 30
Miller, Dennis Shane, 18
Mock, John, 4, 13, 14
Mock, John H., 18
Morgan, Thomas Wilson, 9
Morrison, Karen Ann Streib, 52
Motto, Amy, 10
Motto, Amy D., 18
Muhlberg Sachsen, 8
Myles Standish, 14
Myles Standish, Massachusetts, 14
Nelson, Ronald & Susan, 18
Netherlands American Cemetery, 24
No Surrender, 55
O'Dwyer, Sean, 5, 18
Okinawa, 52
Order of the Golden Lion, 33
Paris, France, 29
Parker, Maj., 30
Parker, Maj. Arthur, 29, 31
Pearl Harbor, 25
Photos, 13
Pogar, Wassil, 46
Pope, Bob, 1, 4, 8, 18, 35
Pope, Michele, 1
Pope, Michelle, 47
Pope, Robert E., 47
Pope, Robert E. (Bob), 47
Praznik, Louis, 18
Prisoner Of War Camp, 46
Pritchett, Tad, 13
Purple Heart, 44, 50, 51
Queen Elizabeth, 15
Queen Mary, 15
Red Ball, 15
Red Ball Express, 15
Renner, James R., 18
Rieck, Charles E. 'Chuck', 47
Rieck, Cynthia A., 18
Roster, 56
Schaffner, John, 29, 32
Schnee Eifel, 13, 14, 29
Schonberg, 30
Schonberg-Bleialf Road, 24
Sebastinelli, Fred A., 49
Sheaner, Herb, 1, 5, 8, 11, 19
Sheaner, Mike, 1, 2, 17, 57
Sheehan, Pvt. John R., 36
Siegfried Line, 16
Simbeck, Leo F. 'Link', 49
Skinner, George, 4, 6, 8, 9, 22
Smith, David, 1, 2
Smith, Jack D., 9
Southampton, 15
Sparks, Richard, 10
Spinella, Kathy, 1, 2, 33
St. Vith, 14, 28
St. Vith, Belgium, 13
Stalag 4-B, 8, 35
Starmack, Grace Farmer, 50
Starmack, John S., 50
Starmack, Julie, 51
Stockwell, Katherine, 18
Streib, Marshall P., 51
Streib, Marshall Phillip, 51
Streib, Mary Ann, 52
Stulce, Elizabeth, 18
Swanson, John H., 24
Thompson, Col., 16
Unruh, Jack A., 52
Unruh, Jack Andy, 52
Vielsalm, 28, 29
Vietnam, 27
Virtual Memorial Svc., 16
Visit The 106th Association's Website!, 12
Volksgrenadier, 26
Wacht Am Rhein, 25
Ward, Duane P., 9
Weber, Robin (Peter), 47
Weingarten, Jack, 9
Weiss, Newton William, 9
Weiss, Susan, 2, 4, 19
Welke, Brian, 1, 2, 11, 35
Wentz, James R., 18
West, Jim, 1, 12
Wiesel, Elie, 7
Wood, 1st Lt. Eric F., Jr., 30
Wood, Janet, 1, 2, 19, 37
Wood, Randall, 21
Wood, Randall M., 1, 2, 11
Wood, Randy, 1, 4, 6
Wood, Robert, 9
Wouters, Carl, 1, 4, 12, 27, 28, 30, 31
Zappler, Moe 'Murray', 24
Zappler, Murray, 24, 25
Ziegenhain, Germany, 55
Zutendalal, Belgium, 24