Sons Walk in Fathers` Footsteps - West

The
Issue 54
Star
"We Speak Their Names" September 2009
Pictured above, from left, are AWONers Roger Connor and wife Sharon Crowley Connor in Luxembourg; James Paskey in Normandy;
and Joe Chichelo and sons on Utah Beach.
Three Stories, Three Journeys of Discovery
Sons Walk in Fathers' Footsteps
Editor's note: This issue of The Star features various
AWON Memorial Day 2009 observances. Our cover story
actually is three stories, starting with Connor's, about three
sons who were in Europe on or near Memorial Day to visit
their fathers' graves and to explore the places where their
fathers fought and died. More Memorial Day coverage and
other articles are inside and online at www.awon.org.
by Roger Connor
F
rom June 17-23, 2009, four orphans – my
wife Sharon and I, Judy Bezjak and Sandra MacDuffee (with husband Duffy)
- took part in Friendship Week, an annual
event sponsored by United States Veterans
Friends Luxembourg (USVFL).
USVFL is an organization dedicated to honoring American WWII veterans who liberated
their tiny country (think Rhode Island), not
once but twice: first in September 1944 and
again in December 1944 / January 1945 during the Battle of the Bulge.
It was the coldest winter in memory. The
Battle of the Bulge was the greatest battle ever
fought by the United States Army. Nineteen
thousand Americans were killed in the six-
week battle and more than twice that number
were wounded. The German losses were even
greater.
The Luxembourgers had been occupied
and terrorized by the Germans for four long
years. They were told that Luxembourg was
now a part of Germany. They were to speak
German. Young men were conscripted into
the German army to fight on the Russian
front, Jews were sent to concentration camps.
The Luxembourgers went on strike to protest
and their leaders were publicly executed. It
seemed that this misery would never end.
Then, on their forbidden radios, they heard
about the Normandy landing and the march
across France. When the Americans finally
reached Luxembourg and pushed the Germans out, their joy and their gratitude knew
no bounds. Then the Germans came back - the
Battle of the Bulge - and once again, at great
cost, the Americans threw them out.
Luxembourgers have never forgotten these
young men who came to liberate them. Men
...continued on page 10
Quarterly
The Star•The
September
2009Newsletter of the American WWII Orphans Network 
1
Board Messages
by Norma Nicol Hamilton
Editor's note: This is the third in a series of columns that rotates among
the board of directors. In this issue
Norma Nicol Hamilton discusses
AWON's Knit Your Bit Project and
her research into a future repository for the AWON Archives.
Knit Your Bit
Two years ago the AWON
Board of Directors agreed to
support the Knit Your Bit project sponsored by the National
WWII Museum. The project
seeks knitters or crocheters
willing to make scarves for
veterans in VA facilities.
When she saw this opportunity mentioned on the AWON
listserve, Rosalie Miles Francisco contacted her mother,
Edie Day, in Idaho. Edie is
an avid knitter with a heart of
gold. She belongs to a weekly
knitting group and wanted to
participate on behalf of AWON.
When the knitting group’s
eight ladies completed their
scarves, Edie sent me two full
boxes containing more than
fifty items. Needless to say, I
was overwhelmed by the generosity of the Orofino, Idaho,
knitters. Since that first shipment of scarves to the museum, Edie, on her own, sent
an additional box containing
many more scarves that she
made.
In Tucson at our 2008 Conference, I had copies of last
year’s suggested pattern.
Several AWONers picked
them up and this past winter,
Lynne Lecrone sent me two
2
shipments of wonderful red,
white and blue knitted/crocheted scarves. AWON thanks
you both, Edie and Lynne, for
your dedication of time, talent
and treasure!
From now on, instead of
sending your knitted scarves
to me, please send them directly to the museum at the
address listed at their website
(below). Be sure to mention
that you are an AWON member. And please email me letting me know you’re participating. And I encourage you
to have someone take your
photo with your creations for
posting on the AWON website.
Should YOU decide to “knit
your bit”, you will be supporting our veterans, many of
whom are our parents’ generation; The Greatest Generation. Thank you!
Information about Knit Your
Bit can be found at http://
w w w. n a t i o n a l w w 2 m u s e u m .
org/education/knitting.html
AWON Archives
For quite some time Ann
Whelan O’Connor in Indianapolis has collected published news articles about
our fathers and our research
about them. Ann has taken
great care to preserve these
personal stories. In the March
2009 issue of The Star, Ann
wrote a story about the items
...continued on page 3
AWON FOUNDER
Ann Bennett Mix
AWON OFFICERS
President
Judy Geis Hoffman
Vice President
Ed Peters
Secretary
Bonnie Crane Blackford Hellums
Treasurer
Norm Burkey
AWON DIRECTORS
Barry Barr-Finch
Norma Nicol Hamilton
Kathy Le Comte
Bob Meek
Gerry Conway Morenski
AWON ADMINISTRATION
Database Manager Ann Bennett Mix
Pub. Relations Patricia Gaffney-Kindig
Bookstore Manager Walt Linne
The Star Editor Kathy Le Comte
Asst. Editor Rosalie Miles Francisco
Webmaster Rik Peirson
ListServ Moderators Judy Hathaway,
Judy Hoffman
on the Web: www.awon.org
Email us at: [email protected]
The Star is a quarterly publication of
the American WWII Orphans Network
(AWON), a nonprofit 501 (c) 3, nonpolitical,
public service organization, serving the
children of U.S. servicemen killed in WWII.
The Star is published and mailed from
Springfield, Illinois. ISSN 1941-370X (print)
1941-3769 (online). Copyright 2009 by the
American WWII Orphans Network. All
rights reserved.
Issue #54 1M (09-09)
American WWII Orphans Network
Part of 'Friendship Week' Activities
AWONers Honor Bowers in Lux.
by Marilyn Bowers Jensen
I
am very honored that this
past June several AWONers paid tribute to my
father,
PFC
Rex
Bowers,
and
eleven
other men of
Company C,
134th
Infantry Regiment,
35th Infantry
Message, from page 2
she collects from the membership.
During the past several
years I’ve been thinking about
AWON’s archives. As a member of your Board of Directors and as a historian, I feel
called to research, investigate
and begin to plan for the perfect future home for AWON’s
precious resources.
Recognizing the need for
concrete planning, the Board
agreed to sponsor my membership in the Society of
American Archivists (SAA).
This May I met with the archivist at California State University, Sacramento. She offered
several suggestions and resources. In addition to joining
SAA, she suggested attending an SAA conference. By
the time you read this, I will
have attended this year's SAA
conference and in-depth twoday pre-conference seminar
in Austin, Texas.
Look for my seminar report
The Star • September 2009
Division, who were killed
while liberating the village of
Weiswampach, Luxembourg.
Sandy MacDuffee and huband, Duffy, Sharon and
Roger Connor, and Judy Bezjak, were in Luxembourg for
Friendship Week sponsored
by the U.S. Veterans Friends
Luxembourg (USVFL).
The
memorial
at
Weiswampach is dedicated to
the 12 men from Company C
in a future issue of The Star.
If you have any questions on
AWON’s archive planning,
please call or me at 916-4829033 or [email protected].
I look forward to talking with
you.
who lost their lives on January 24-26, 1945, while liberating the village.
In 1995, my husband, David,
and I, and my sister, Diana
Schlund, participated in the
dedication of this monument.
Recently, a bronze medallion was added to the memorial on the right side above
the bronze plaque. Roland
Gaul, curator of the Museum at Diekirch, says it is the
seal of AMBA (Association
of the Museums of the Battle
of the Bulge), an association
of more than a dozen themerelated museums in Belgium,
Luxembourg, German border
area and northern France.
...continued on page 24
Inside:
Features
Bowers Honored ........................... 3
AWON 2010 Tours......................... 4
Memorial Day - Stateside ............. 12
Memorial Day - Overseas ....... 14-15
Spirit of '45 ................................. 19
DIC Benefits ............................... 20
Departments
AWON Board Message ................. 2
National WWII Museum ................. 5
AWON Connections .................. 6, 7
Reaching Out ............................... 8
New Members .............................. 9
AWON Board News .......... 24, 25, 26
...and much, much more!
3
Ardennes, Margraten and Henri-Chapelle
T h re e AWO N G ro u ps to V i s i t
E u ro p e a n C e m ete r i e s i n 2 010
Proposed dates for all three
For the first time in AWON
tours are May 27 – June 3, 2010
history, AWON is organizing
(6 days, 7 nights). Gail and
three simultaneous group tours
Gerry are working with AWON
of Europe in 2010, the highlight
member and professional travel
of each being the Memorial Day
agent Penny LeGrand to packceremonies at an American
age the trips.
overseas military cemetery.
If you are interestGerry Morenski will
ed in joining one of
organize and lead
Flyer Miles Available
these AWON tours,
the Margraten Tour,
contact the following
and Gail Eisenhaufor Overseas Visits
tour leaders:
er will lead the Ardennes Tour. Both
Three AWONers have generously ofMargraten
Eisenhauer and Mofered to donate their "frequent flyGerry Morenski
renski have led trips
er" (FF) miles to a member who might
dutiem@comcast.
to these cemeteries
net
in the past.
not otherwise be able to afford to vis(978) 225-8367
But this year, there
it his or her father’s grave overseas.
is a potential leader
Members who wish to be considered to reArdennes
for a first AWON trip
ceive
some
of
these
miles
should
email
RogGail Eisenhauer
to Henri-Chapelle.
er
Connor
at
[email protected],
the
[email protected]
"If your father or
(203) 248-1495
family member is
ordinator of the new AWON Frequent Flyer
resting or is memoProgram, explaining their need in no more
Henri-Chapelle
rialized in any of
than 250 words. Roger will forward requests
Contact Gerry Mothese
cemeteries,
to the donors. Roger does not determine who
renski, above. As
think about joining
does or does not receive FF miles. If a donor
soon as a leader is
the AWON group,"
decides
to
contribute
miles,
he
or
she
will
confirmed, all who
says Morenski. "The
have responded will
Memorial Day cercontact the AWONer directly, and they will
be contacted.
emonies are beauwork out the details between themselves.
tiful, and AWONers
If you would like to donate some of your FF
Morenski reminds
who are present will
miles,
email
Roger
and
let
him
know
how
many
members that if this
be treated like VIPs.
miles you have and with which airline(s).
is their first trip to
And traveling with
their father’s cemeAWON sisters and
tery, you are entitled
brothers makes the
to a free passport. Contact your
trip even more special."
leader for details.
Many of those who traveled
Gail and Gerry are looking forwith AWON in the past are planward to seeing as many AWONning to attend next year – and
ers as possible in Europe next
first time travelers always are
May.
welcome.
4
American WWII Orphans Network
Dumas Says
The National World War II Museum New Orleans Check Out
A report on AWON's campaign
supporting the expansion of the
National WWII Museum,
formerly the D-Day Museum
by Chickie Shields Berry
A
s a representa- we continue to forge derful way to honor
tive of AWON's a lasting relationship our fathers and anym e m b e r s - a t - with this wonderful one who served durlarge who will attend facility.
ing WWII.
the Board of DirecYour
donations, With every brick purtors meeting in New time and effort into chased a donor reOrleans, it will be my spreading the news ceives a letter of acdistinct honor to at- about this museum knowledgment from
tend the ribbon-cut- are responsible for the museum and a
ting and dedication of our friendship with nice certificate suitthe newest additions the museum. Thank able for framing.
to the National WWII you all again for your
Recently, two of my
Museum, namely the continued support.
friends
requested
Victory Theater and
AWON has raised a bricks to honor their
Stage
Door
veteran
faVisit the National WWII
Canteen.
thers on their
Museum online at:
Our
board
90th birthdays.
www.nationalww2museum.org
made the deBoth reported
cision to hold
that their dads
their off-conference total of $11,480 so far were very honored
year meeting at this under the code num- to receive the certififacility to further ce- ber GG001. This in- cates from their famment our relationship cludes brick purchas- ily members and were
with the only nation- es and memberships. particularly touched
al museum that tells
Since my last re- that their WWII serour fathers' stories. port, I have received vice
was
rememThrough our warm several requests from bered.
relationship with its AWON members for
If you have not yet
C.O.O., Stephen Wat- "brick forms" and I done so and would
son, who was one of have also received like to purchase a
our speakers at the several from my com- brick, please contact
Tucson Conference, munity as a result of a me with your mailand Terri Burton, di- recent newspaper ar- ing address and I will
rector of the Patriots ticles explaining our send you as many as
Circle, the elite do- involvement with the you would like. Email
nors level of which museum. These spe- me at chkebry@msn.
AWON is a member, cial bricks are a won- com.
The Star • September 2009
These Books
Member Lynda Johns
Dumas just finished
two books that she
says are easy reads
and that would be of
interest to members:
Shadow Divers, by
Robert Kurson, is
non-fiction. It is about
the identification of a
WWII U2 German Uboat sunk off the East
Coast when there was
no record of it.
"It is written like a
thriller to the very last
page," Dumas says.
Her second recommendation is Soul
Survivor, by Bruce
and Andrea Lininger,
also non-fiction.
It is about a now
11-year-old
Louisiana boy who was obsessed with planes at
one year of age, and
could identify them
by the age of two.
At that age he started
having almost nightly nightmares about
his plane being shot
down over Japan.
He and his family
believe he is the recarnation of a WWII
fighter pilot.
"His parents have
done six years of research and contacts,
making a convincing
case," adds Dumas.
"This story is truly
incredible!"
5
AWON Connections
Pictures and Stories of Members
Gathering Around the Country
PA Gathering
Planned For
Oct. 23-24
This July, New Mexico Regional Co-Coordinators, Lorin McCleary and
Pat Albani, hosted a gathering at the Albani home in Albuquerque.
Lorin began with recognizing our "missing" fathers and explaining
our Missing Man table setting. We ended with all singing our "AWON
Sunshine" song. In between there was lunch, a lot of sharing and of
course some tears. The Hellers drove all the way from Glendale, Arizona, to join us. Pictured from left to right are
Carolyn Ririe Lofgren, Lorin and Roberta McCleary, Harry and Joie Ticknor Heller, Carroll
Johnson Curry and Jim Curry, Barbara and
Karl Rosazza, Jolene Veal Stockton, and Pat
Cervenak Albani. Missing from the photo is
photographer, Dick Albani. Pat
Janice Ott Buterbaugh
invites
all
AWONers and guests
to a Carlisle/Gettysburg (Pennsylvania)
Weekend on October
23-24.
"You can come for
one, two, or three
days, it is entirely up
to you," says Buterbaugh.
On Friday she has
arranged for a complete tour of the U.S.
Army Heritage Institute and Research
Center's new facility.
AWONers will be able
to research on both
...continued on page 7
Enjoying a June day at the Seattle waterfront
Steve and Penny LeGrand (left) met Dianne are, from left, Tom Brewer, Barry Barr-Finch,
and John Baczynski (right) for breakfast in Jerry and Patty Temte, and Rosalie Miles
April in Tucson during the Baczynskis visit to Francisco. The Temtes were in town for the
day while on a west coast cruise. Barry
the city. Dianne
6
American WWII Orphans Network
Gathering, from page 6
This poem was written by Stacy Crossen Roberts in 2005, after she and her
Friday and Saturday.
sisters found her father Lt. Col. Morris "Mo" Crossen's wallet, while cleaning
The Institute also
out her mom's apartment after her death.
has a small museum,
bookstore/giftshop
I Never Knew His Eyes Were Blue
and cafeteria. OutI never knew his eyes were blue,
side there is a mileI thought that they were brown.
long Army Heritage
We found his wallet in Mom's scarves,
Trail that connects to
The ones she wore to town.
the U.S. Army War
College for anyone
And there inside, in his own hand,
interested in pursuing
The I.D. card we read.
that.
He noted all his personal facts
Friday
evening
And this is what they said...
Buterbaugh has made
plans for everyone
"My age is twenty-seven,
to have dinner at the
My weight is one six oh,
Sunnyside Restaurant
My height is all of five feet ten
across from the War
My hair is brown I know"
College.
On Saturday, if anyAnd then the next space set me back
one is interested, the
And altered memory...
group can go to Get"My eyes are blue, you never knew?"
tysburg for lunch or
A heartache mystery.
dinner. And there are
many things to see
and do there, in additional to touring the
Civil War battlefield.
"We can take a tour
of the Eisenhower
Farm, the House of
Presidents, and so
many more wonderful
and interesting places," she explains.
Anyone interested in
participating can contact Buterbaugh for
hotel information, but
she needs to know by
the beginning of October. Contact Buter- Several AWONers and a great-granddaughter enjoyed lunch together
baugh at janmarieb@ after they presented the AWON wreath at the Tombs of the Unknowns
at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day. Pictured clockwise
earthlink.net
around the table from left are Caroline Jackson, Dick and Pat Albani
with granddaughter Kylie Colvill, Jeanine and Lorie Allen, Clatie Cunningham, Ken Underwood, and Phyllis and Henry Louis. Phyllis Ed.
note: For more about Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery,
turn to page 12.
The Star • September 2009
7

Members Asked
to Submit Photos
for Father Albums
Reaching Out...
AWON Public Relations
by Patricia Gaffney-Kindig
President Emerita, AWON Board of Directors
I
t’s been a busy time! On
May 21, Michael and I attended a Congressional Reception at the Cannon House
Office Building in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the
Gold Star Wives, to recognize “outstanding leadership
and untiring efforts on behalf
of military surviving spouses
and children who have suffered the greatest sacrifice
for the freedoms we all enjoy
as Americans.” Among those
honored were representatives
of the newly-created Office of
Survivors Assistance and the
Tragedy Assistance Program
for Survivors (TAPS). Young
women and children, the new
widows and orphans of war,
attended.
I had a magic moment while
schmoozing in the crowd.
People around me were having their photo taken with a
certain man in uniform. I later
found myself talking to him
and gave him my AWON business card. I was telling him the
30-second version of my personal story when he stopped
me to say, “I know this story,
it’s in Tom Brokaw’s book.” I
was pretty surprised but even
more so when he was introduced to the room as Admiral
Mike Mullen, the Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I
have to say, I’m deeply honored that he has room in his
incredible mind for my father.
8
I later sent him a copy of the
book about AWON by Turner
Publishers with a cover letter
and AWON brochure.
Michael and I went on to
New Orleans from Washington where I was scheduled to
speak at the National WWII
Museum. We had no sooner
than dropped our luggage in
the hotel room when we were
whisked off to Biloxi, Mississippi, about 90 minutes away,
where I gave an interview to
a TV station to promote my
presentation and described
AWON. On the 23rd, I gave
a 50-minute PowerPoint presentation that was filmed by
C-SPAN and broadcast on CSPAN 3 and their website.
My thanks to our Board of
Directors for making it possible for me to attend these
events on behalf of AWON.
Thanks also to Stephen Watson, Teri Burton and the staff
of the museum who provided
us with a very pleasant experience. Michael and I spent an
afternoon viewing exhibits at
this world-class museum. Go
if you can, it is great!
Back home and back to work
for AWON, I faxed letters to all
members of the Senate Armed
Services Committee informing
them of AWON’s support for
funding JPAC and our availability to speak on behalf of
...continued on page 18
Patricia Gaffney-Kindig reminds members, especially
new members, to send her
copies (not originals) of photos of the member as a child
and the member's father for
her album, Portraits of Men
Who Died in WWII and the Children Who Love Them.
She requests an 8x10 photograph of the father. He does
not need to be in uniform. Include his name, rank, unit and
date of death on the back.
Also send a 5x7 of yourself as
a child, with name and contact
information on the back. By
participating you are granting permission to AWON to
display your photos when the
albums are at conferences and
other events.
Board to Meet
in New Orleans
The AWON Board of Directors will meet in New
Orleans on Friday, November 6 for its biannual retreat. All members are invited to attend.
During the weekend directors and attending members will attend the dedication of the expansion of the
National WWII Museum.
If you would like to attend, contact Judy Hoffman
at [email protected],
or call 210-492-0827.
American WWII Orphans Network
After Meeting Family That Tends Father's Grave
Dutch Tradition Inspires
Woman to Adopt Area Grave
by Billie Myers Meeks
O
n Memorial Day 2005,
a group of AWON
members visited their
loved ones’ graves at the
Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, Holland.
I was one of those lucky
members who experienced
the Dutch appreciation of
their liberators first hand. Although I visited my father’s
grave when I was 21 years
old, I never knew about the
“adopters.”
My father’s grave has been
adopted by the Van Pol family since 1946. Now, 63 years
later, Tiny Burhenne Van Pol,
grand niece of Margaret Van
Pol, the original adopter, and
her husband, Jos, continue
with this Dutch tradition,
along with their youngest
daughter.
The idea that people have
carefully tended the graves of
men they never knew for all
these years left an impact on
many of us.
When I returned from my European journey I was drawn
to the old cemetery down the
street from my house. It’s not
a military cemetery but it is
steeped with military history
and honor. There is a gravesite
with the bodies of those soldiers who died from injuries
during the Battle of Germantown of the Revolutionary
War. And another gravesite is
dedicated to those lives lost in
the American Civil War along
...continued on page 25
Welcome New Members
William Anderson, NC, son of TM 1C William R. Anderson, Navy
Richard Carr, MO, nephew of PFC Eugene W. Chapman, Army
Carolyn Holt Arnold, MS, dau of PVT Arlie Holt, Merchant Marines
Janice Shoupe Barbrow,VA, dau of PVT Raleigh A. Shoupe, Army
Wayne Brown, OR, son of PVT Marvin L. Brown, Army
Mary-Anne Hansen Collins, TX, dau of CPL Peter W. Hansen, Marines
Joan Hercker Fitzpatrick, PA, dau of SSGT Joseph H. Hercker, AAF
Jerry Forell, WA, son of LT Cy M. Forell, Navy
Valery Naeseth King, CA, dau of PVT Franz G. Naeseth, Army
Ulas Kirby, CA, son of PFC William P. Kirby. Army
Amy Krall, OH, great niece of 1LT John C. Kelley, AAF
Roger Mabie, FL, son of PFC Edward E. Mabie, Army
Daniel Rosenblum, MD, son of LT CDR Haskell B. Rosenblum, Public Health Service
Andrea Gilbert Shreves, PA, dau of PVT Kenneth J. Gilbert, Army
Wayne Slater. PA. nephew of SSGT Aloysius J. Slater, Army
George Sterhaus, FL, son of SGT George J. Sterthaus, Army
Patricia Collum Vorce, MA, dau of SSGT David J. Collum, Army
(new members since the June issue of The Star)
The Star • September 2009
9
Connor, from front page
Europe. The banquet on the final evening,
offered by the government of Luxembourg,
who left their homes and families to fight was a festive event with speeches, awards,
and, too often, die in a land they probably toasts and general high spirits and good felnever heard of, yet who fought as if it was lowship. A perfect end to a fabulous week.
In addition to the scheduled activities, spetheir own country that had been invaded.
Friendly, smiling young men who shared cial arrangements were made for orphans
and veterans as needed. For example, a memfood and gave chocolate to children.
What manner of men were these? Every vil- ber of USVFL took Judy to St. Avold and later
lage has monuments and/or memorials to the took Sandy and Duffy on a tour of her father’s
Americans units who liberated them, often battle sites. A veteran took me aside one eveincluding names of specific soldiers. Patton ning to tell me in great detail that, “They took
me to every place I was in the war!” He was
Squares or Boulevards are common.
So for an entire week we were bused all incredulous and near tears. There were other
over Luxembourg for memorial ceremonies, such stories.
My special event involved
church services, lunches
my father’s plaque.
and dinners, and band
About six months ago I
and choral performances
got
the notion that I wantby adults and children. At
ed to leave something benearly every stop, the nahind in Belgium or Luxemtional anthems of the two
bourg to honor my father. I
countries were played one
had a small (12 X 7 inches)
after the other as a testabronze plaque made and
ment to our friendship.
emailed Constant GoerIt was so touching to
hear the choir sing The R. Connor, MacDuffee, S. Connor and Bezjak gen, president of USVFL,
to ask if he could help me
Star Spangled Banner as we in front of Patton's Luxembourg HQ.
find an appropriate place
filed out after Mass, or to
for it. He met us at the airhear school children sing
America the Beautiful followed by Old McDon- port in Luxembourg and told me the plaque
ald Had A Farm (with all the gestures), or to would be placed in Wardin, Belgium, the vilwatch and listen as a Luxembourger team lage where my father died, five miles east of
with a bugler from the 80th Infantry Division Bastogne. From then on, several members of
Color Guard play Taps. These things hap- USVFL took over. They picked up the plaque
pened all day long, every day. And the days from the hotel, requested and received perare long. We usually left the hotel at 9:00 a.m. mission from local officials to affix it to the
wall of the Youth Building in Wardin, modiand never returned before 10:00 p.m.
Along with the daily panoply of happenings, fied the plaque with stronger bolts, and afthere were special one-time events that stood fixed the plaque to the stone wall.
Five members of USVFL in two cars drove me
out: the memorial ceremony at the American
Military Cemetery just outside Luxembourg and Sharon to Wardin to see the plaque and
City, where my father, Sandy’s father, and take photographs. It is beautiful! It blends
Judy’s uncle are at final rest. The past and perfectly with the building stone, and I’m espresent superintendents were there, along pecially pleased that it’s on a building dediwith the U.S. ambassador’s representative cated to young people. I hope passersby will
and board members of USVFL. We also were pause for a moment and think of my father
invited to the Grand Duke’s birthday cele- and remember that freedom is not free. The
bration at the Cathedral. It is a great honor to Luxembourgers, especially members of USbe invited, to be in the company of ambassa- VFL, simply cannot do enough for veterans
dors and other dignitaries from throughout and orphans. When we thank them – as we
10
American WWII Orphans Network
do, profusely, they reply, “We are the ones
who owe you thanks.”
If your father was involved in the liberation
of Luxembourg, I hope you will consider being a part of Friendship Week next year. You
will not forget it. Friendship Week is one of
those things you have to experience to understand. Words fail.
We were with the Chippons for four days.
We have many pictures and fond memories
and developed a true friendship with our
35th Infantry Division French counterparts.
From May 19-21, my wife and I struck out
on our own to visit the sites where my father fought prior to meeting our other French
guides. They were AWON friend Jerome
Leclerc of Espace de Memoire - Lorraine: 19391945, as well as association member Gerard
Liegey and his wife Sylvanie, son Nicholas,
daughter Lucy, and Andree Chippon.
by John Paskey
These individuals took us to all the areas
my
father fought just prior to his death in
y Father's journey began one week
before Christmas in December 1943 a tiny village called Gerbecourt. We visited
when he entered the service, com- the Gremercy Forest, Armacourt, Fossieux,
pleted basic training at Camp Wolters, Texas, Manhoue, Gremercy, Coutures, Chateau Saand went overseas to France for approximate- lin, Amelcourt, Lubecourt, Vaxy and finally,
ly four months, from July to November 1944. Gerbecourt.
In Gerbecourt, where my father was killed
This May, I followed my father's footsteps in
in action on November 11, 1944, we met the
France.
My wife, Kathy, and I had the great pleasure owner of a large farm, Jacques De Hand, who
and honor of being guided by Maurice and is also mayor of the small village of 104 peoAndree Chippon, members of the 35th Santa ple. De Hand explained to us that his farm
had been in his family since 1604 and that he
Fe Division in Normandy Association.
well remembers the AmeriAs our personal guides,
cans liberating his tiny vilthey took us to the location
lage.
where my father landed
De Hand invited us to join
in France at Grand Camp
him and his sons in some
Maisey. Then they took us to
Vin du Maison, snacks and
Carentan where he received
delightful conversation. He
his first orders, and then to
also presented me with a
St. Lo where he saw his first
commemorative plate of his
combat.
village. As a result of this
Since this is where the ChipPaskey
with
his
French
friends
who
were
encounter, my wife and I
pons live, they were able to
will visit Gerbecourt next
take us to many of the areas his guides in Loraine.
year and present a plaque
where my father would have
to
the
village
of
Gerbecourt commemorating
walked and fought. One location in particular
will remain in my mind. Maurice was able to the 35th Division's liberation of the village
locate a road listed in my father's records that in memory of all the brave soldiers who died
went from St. Georges Moncoq to La Roque. in that place. The plaque will be placed on
To walk where he walked 65 years ago was the tiny chapel in the center of the village.
Jerome is procuring the plaque for us.
an emotional high for me.
Our trip concluded at the Lorraine American
The Chippons also led us to Torigni-surVire where my father's company continued Cemetery and Memorial in St. Avold, where I
on the attack, their objective being the Vire had the great privilege and honor of presentRiver. We then proceeded to Mortain where ing a wreath for AWON during the 2009 Memy father's company encountered heavy en...continued on page 16
emy resistance.
Following My Father in France
M
The Star • September 2009
11
Memorial Day 2009 - Stateside
Arlington, VA
AWON Invited to Watch President
Five AWONers and their families laid the
AWON Wreath at Arlington National Cemetery this year, and for the first time one of
them was invited to watch the president lay
a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns.
"I stood on the steps right behind the Tomb
of the Unknowns," explains Phyllis Louis.
"President Obama was about five feet away
from me as he walked up the steps to go
into the amphitheatre. It was thrilling to be
that close to the United States President."
After hearing the president speak, the
AWONers lined up with the veterans organizations to lay the wreaths.
Pat and Dick Albani's grandchild held the
wreath as she was accompanied by Clatie
Cunningham, Ken Underwood, Pat Albani,
Caroline Jackson and Louis.
After the ceremoy the group then enjoyed
lunch with Jeanine and Lorie Allen. (Ed.
note: see AWON Connections on page 7.)
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Honolulu, HI
Coordinator – Susan Chadd • Presenters – AWON
members Alix Prejean, Susan Chadd and Vanita
Rae Smith
Marion, VA
Three Generations Participate
Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery
San Diego, CA
Coordinator - Barbara Torrey Smith • Presenters AWON member Linda Hallack Porter and grandson
Travis, AWON members Rita Niro Blair, Sharon
Crowley Connor, Smith, and Roger Connor. Not
pictured but present were Martha Speirs Lepore,
Phyllis Mathy and Eleanor Simmonds.
12
AWONers Helen Vernon and Nancy Lawson and their families were proud to represent AWON and Gold Star Families for
the 3rd annual Memorial Day Parade in
Marion, Virginia. The second and third
generation of the Heath family rode the
AWON float, inset above. Vernon and
Lawson, also above, then presented an
AWON wreath at a ceremony conducted
by VFW Post 4667.
American WWII Orphans Network
Son of executed Japanese POW
Lim Presents Manila Wreath
A very special man
presented the AWON
Memorial Day wreath
at the Manila American Cemetery and
Memorial this year.
Vicente Lim Jr. is
the son of Brig. Gen.
Vicente Lim, who is
memorialized on the
Tablets of the Missing at Manila until
very recently. The
younger Lim wasn't
aware of this fact until recently.
Brig. Gen. Lim is
a national hero in
the Philippines. He
was the first Filipino
graduate of the U.S.
Military
Academy
(Class of 1914) and
served as a 2nd Lieutenant during World
War I. At that war’s
end, he returned to
the Philippines where
he continued his military career with the
Philippine Scouts and
later with the Philippine Army. By 1940,
he was appointed
Chief of Staff of the
Philippine Army.
When the Philippine
Army was incorporated into the American
Armed Forces, Lim
became the top–ranking Filipino under
Gen. Douglas MacArthur and placed in
command of the 41st
Philippine Division.
After the surrender
of all American and
Filipino forces, Lim
survived the Bataan
Death March and was
admitted to the hospital for treatment of
injuries sustained at
Bataan. He recovered
quickly but concealed
this fact. With the
Japanese convinced
of his incapacitation,
he led the guerilla resistance forces of Luzon. He was captured
by the Japanese in
1944 as he attempted
to rejoin MacArthur
in Australia.
On December 31,
1944, shortly before
the liberation of the
Philippines, Gen. Lim
was executed by the
Japanese.
General
Lim’s body was never
recovered.
The younger Lim
graduated from West
Point, Class of 1944.
Following his retirement from the U.S.
Army and graduation
from Fresno State
College, he worked
many years for Del
Monte on Mindanao
in the Philippines, as
well as in Kenya and
Japan.
AWON is honored
and grateful that the
younger Lim presented the 2009 Memorial
Day wreath in memo-
The Star • September 2009
ry of all those buried
and memorialized at
the Manila American
Cemetery. Thanks as
well to the cemetery
staff, and particularly to Asst. Supt. Bert
Caloud, for their assistance each year.
You can see a picture
from Memorial Day
of the younger Lim
with Kristie Anne
Kenney, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic
of the Philippines, on
page 15.
Want More?
Read More
AWON News
and Stories
Plus...
Submit Your
Father Tribute
Plus...
See Many
Photos at
www.awon.org
For the holidays
or any special day
AWON Ornament
A beautiful blue decoration with
AWON logo in gold. Measures almost
three inches in diameter and comes
with gift box.
Tip: Buy a gold marking pen and
personalize it with your father's name!
$10, including postage
See order form on page 22.
13
Brittany American Cemetery
and Memorial, France
AWON Stateside Coordinator – Brian Hope •
Presenters – AWON member Alice Irving, AWON
friend Jacky Emery and AWON member Joe
Chichelo • See Chichelo's story on page 16
Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial, Belgium
AWON Stateside Coordinator - Rik
Peirson • AWON Overseas Coordinators and Presenters - AWON Belgian
Ambassadors Bernard and Regine
Achten, founders of the AWON Overseas Wreath Project
Rhone American Cemetery and
Memorial, France
AWON Stateside Coordinator – Vic
Muller • Presenter- Rhone Superintendent Scott Desjardins
Normandy Amer
and Memori
AWON Stateside Coo
lor • AWON Overse
Presenter - AWON No
Jean-Marc Lesueur an
Suresnes American Cemetery
and Memorial, France
AWON Acting Stateside Coordinator
– Sharon Connor • Presenter- Staff
• Suresnes is a WWI Cemetery with
24 WWII Unknowns
Sicily-Rome American
Cemetery and Memorial,
Italy
AWON Stateside Coordinator –
Bob Meek • Presenter - Staff
Memorial
O ve r s e a s C
Luxembourg American Cemetery and
Memorial, Luxembourg
AWON Stateside Coordinator – Roger
Connor • AWON Overseas Coordinator –
Denise Thill of U.S. Veterans Friends Luxembourg • Presenters – AWON members
Cherril Wehmueller McMillian and Carol
Downs Brooks
14
Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Belgium
AWON Stateside Coordinator
and Presenter - Gail Eisenhauer • AWON Overseas Coordinator – Ariane Villers
On Memorial Day AWON reme
wreaths at American military c
side. The overseas wreaths a
wreaths are on page 12. This
without the help of AWON Web
Overseas Wreath Project Cha
more details, and many more c
emonies and banners displ
http://www.awon.org
American WWII Orphans Network
rican Cemetery
ial, France
ordinator – Lynn Tayas Coordinator and
ormandy Ambassador
nd his wife, Nadine
Lorraine American Cemetery
and Memorial, France
AWON Stateside Coordinators – Millie
Cavanaugh and Sharon Connor • Presenter - AWON member John Paskey •
See Paskey's story on page 11
Cambridge American Cemetery and
Memorial, England
AWON Stateside Coordinators – Doris
Hutson and Jean Rhinehart • Presenters –
AWON friends Gerry and Audrey Darnell •
See the Darnells' letter on page 26
Epinal American Cemetery and
Memorial, France
AWON Stateside Coordinator – Lil
Holloway • Presenter- AWON friend
Daniel Augutelle
Florence American Cemetery
and Memorial, Italy
AWON Stateside Coordinator –
Bill Chiodo • Presenters – VFW
members Pete Luste and Mr. Schneider
Manila American Cemetery and
Memorial, Philippines
AWON Stateside Coordinator – Patty Temte • Presenter- AWON friend
Vicente Lim Jr., pictured with U.S.
Ambassador Kristie Kenney • See
Lim's story on page 13
Day 2009
Cemeteries
embers our fathers by placing
cemeteries overseas and stateappear here and the stateside
project would not be possible
bmaster Rik Peirson and AWON
airperson Sharon Connor. For
olor photos of the wreaths, cerlaying fathers' names, go to
/new/memorials.html
The Star • September 2009
Netherlands American Cemetery
and Memorial, Netherlands
AWON
Stateside
Coordinator
– Gerry Morenski • Presenter AWON grandchild member Master
Sergeant Chris Shaw
North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial, Tunisia
AWON Stateside Coordinator
– Diane Sagen • Presenter –
Staff
15
Paskey, from page 11
morial Day ceremony. We also had the opportunity to visit and honor many members
of the 35th Division who are buried there.
In conclusion, my father's journey not only
has led me to a better understanding of our
involvement in the war, but also a greater appreciation for the sacrifices all of our soldiers
made in liberating the world from Nazi tyranny.
I am proud of my father and pleased that he
is buried in a beautiful country, France, with
people who honor and remember his sacrifice. May God bless him and his comrades as
they rest in peace with our heavenly Father.
My thanks to Paula Evans Baker and Marilyn Bowers Jensen for their encouragement,
support, guidance and French connections in
helping me retrace my father's footsteps as a
soldier during WW II.
Chichelos Get Royal Treatment
by Joe Chichelo
M
y family and I had been planning
this trip for several years. The first
delay was cancer and chemo. The
second was open heart surgery. This year, after careful planning and much research, we
made it.
My wife, Pauline, and I, and four of my
seven children - Joseph, Diane, Dave and Anthony - were able to go. Our trip was for five
days in the Normandy/Brittany region. Our
trip was very emotional. My children know
about their grandfather better. And from the
first day until we left France, we were treated with the utmost hospitality and kindness
from many people.
Day 1
After landing in Paris we hopped on another plane to Brest on the west coast of Brittany. We were met by three outstanding people. The first was Gerard Deniel, a member
of the association The Flowers of the Memory,
which sponsors the graves of ten American
soldiers at Normandy and Brittany American Cemeteries. The other two were Ronan
16
Urvoaz and Gildas Saouzanet. All three were
recommended by Gerard Arseneault, superintendent of the Brittany American Cemetery. These people treated us as if we were
royalty.
Our first stop was at a quaint creperie where
we ate the tastiest crepes ever. While there my
wife admired the owner's necklace, whereby
she took it off and gave it to my wife. She
knew why we were there and wanted us to
have this for the sacrifice my father made. She
said, with tears in her eyes, "I am honored for
my necklace to be brought to America."
Ronan and Gildas were very knowlegable
about the 2nd Infantry Division. They have
spent a lot of time documenting its history in
appreciation of the Americans who liberated
them in 1944.
Prior to meeting them I obtained daily reports from around the time my father was
killed and emailed them to Ronan. He prepared a map and took us on a personal 1-1/2
day tour of Brest and the battlefields.
My father's report explained in detail that
they were 1,000 yards from Guipavas and
next to an old farm house. Ronan and Gildas
took us to the exact location and explained
where the German positions were and where
my father died. We will always remember
this experience as we shed tears that day.
We then walked through an area where
many fox holes still exist after 65 years, mostly covered by forest. It was hard to visualize
so much carnage and loss of life took place in
such a peaceful location.
Over dinner in Brest Ronan and Gildas presented us with two medallions: the Montbarey Memorial Medal to commemorate the
liberation of Brest, and the French National
Assembly Medal, awarded to deserving nationals and foreigners from the French government.
Day 2
The next day the two men took us to a submarine base that was taken over by the 2ID,
and other places. After saying goodbye we
began our three-hour trip to the Brittany
American Cemetery near St. James. We arrived at the cemetery after five o'clock, but
Supt. Arseneault escorted us to my father's
American WWII Orphans Network
gravesite, and played Taps over the loud grandparents and grandchildren. The grandspeaker. After taking time to absord the mo- mother told us that she was 13 when the
ment we took photos and left for Mt. Saint Americans came through town, and she reMichel. Although we didn't want to leave, we membered how the soldiers gave them gum
knew we were coming back for the Memorial and chocolates. I went to our car to get some
Day ceremony.
gum and chocolates and gave them to the
My entire family climbed to the top of Mt. grandchildren. I said, "My father gave you
Saint Michel except me. By now my feet were gum and chocolate, and now I give it to your
sore and the day was beginning to take its grandchildren." This was a very touching, estoll on me. We had dinner on Mt. Saint Mi- pecially knowing that our tour guide's name
chel and then started on our way to Bayeux, was Rose - the same as my mother's.
which could have been a scene in one of the
Day 4
Chevy Chase Vacation movies.
We attended both Memorial Day ceremonies
Our navigator directed us through farms at Omaha Beach and Brittany. We were seatand hedgerows versus the highway. It was ed in the honored guest section with reserved
one o'clock in the morning
seats at Omaha. The ceremowhen we arrived at our hotel
ny was very touching with a
which, to our surprise, was
variety of emotional speechclosed. There was a check-in
es, music, flower presentamachine in the parking lot,
tions and a fly-over. From
but it wasn't working.
Omaha we went to the BritTired, edgy and stranded,
tany ceremony where I was
with no soul in sight and
honored to place AWON's
nothing open, we decided to
flowers along with AWONer
call friends at home to check
Alice Irving. Mr. and Mrs.
for area hotels. Thank God
Fossard, members of a supfor cell phones and comput- Chichelo, standing on the same spot port group in Normandy
ers. We found one in St. Lo where his father walked on D-Day + 1
for the 2ID in Saint-Georges
about 20 miles away. When
D'Elle, greeted us with bouwe got there at around 3 a.m.
quets from her garden for
the hotel owner had to get out of bed to meet us to place at my father's grave. Gen. Jack B.
us at a church where we became lost again. Egginton gave an emotional speech about the
We didn't know what to expect, but the small sacrifices of WWII soldiers, especially those
hotel was pleasant and the owners were very who gave the ultimate sacrifice. There was
friendly. Here again, they appreciated why a fly-over and a 21-gun salute. We felt very
we were there and what the U.S. soldiers had honored and welcome by everyone involved.
done for them. When we told them why we We were invited by Supt. Arseneault to a rewere there, the owner cried.
ception at St. James' town hall. We mingled
Day 3
with everyone and even had a discussion
After a half-night's stay we went back to with Gen. Egginton. After dinner it was back
Bayeux. Thankfully we were able to check to Bayeux for a good night's sleep.
into the hotel. We were not happy with our
Day 5
tour company but we did see several of our
After breakfast and a little souvenir shopobjectives: Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, St. Lo, ping we were on our way to Paris. There we
Hill 192, and St. George d'Elle. The tour last- had a brief tour and a wonderful dinner on
ed nine hours with lunch on Omaha Beach. the Avenue Des Champs-Elysees. The next
At one point we stopped on a street renamed morning we tearfully parted from our chilthe 2nd Infantry Blvd. for the army that liber- dren when they left for the United States, and
ated the town.
my wife and I continued on to Italy for two
On a corner there was a large family with weeks. But that's another story.
The Star • September 2009
17
Kindig, from page 8
WWII MIAs. For more information: www.jpac.pacom.mil
In an ongoing effort to inform
families of the mtDNA databank to which they can contribute in the event that remains
of their loved one are found, I
asked the Board of Directors
and AWON
Founder
Ann Bennett Mix for
approval to
send
the
names
of
MIAs in our
database
to the Department of
POW/MIA Office. Ann spent a
considerable amount of time
going through the database
and isolating more than 500
names. This prospect first
came up when I met representatives at the DPMO/JPAC
Family Update here in Denver
in April. This effort is still in
progress but we hope it will
result in bringing peace to the
families of missing WWII servicemen.
A gold star paperweight was
sent to Ryan Hegg (pictured),
one of our new AWON National Advisors. Thanks to Walt
Linne for ordering and having
it engraved. A framed certificate of gratitude was sent to
Johnie Webb of JPAC, also
a new National Advisor to
AWON.
In a recent phone conversation Ryan and I discussed
how the gold stars at the National WWII Memorial belong
to us and we, and our fathers,
should be celebrated. I told
18
him that Ann Mix and I had
spoken to the architect about
incorporating gold stars in his
design. Ryan completely understands our place in history
as survivors and story-keepers of the men who died in the
war.
Ryan then asked how he
might further serve AWON. I
assured him
he has already done
so much and
networking
such as he
has provided is what
we continue
to need. He
said he’d be
pleased to help with that.
Along that line Ryan will connect AWON with the newly
formed “Friends of the National WWII
Memorial.”
Members include former
U.S. Senator Bob Dole
(another
AWON National Advisor) and U.
S.
Representative Marcy Kaptur. Their
goal is to promote awareness
and legacy of the National
WWII Memorial.
Ryan also is working with
Carmella LaSpada to broaden her Congressional Charter for the Moment of Silence
at 3 p.m. on Memorial Day to
include the designation of a
day of remembrance honoring the legacy of WWII, to be
held annually in August. For
more information, please read
Ryan’s article on page 19 in
this issue, and watch for photos in the next issue of The
Star. AWON will send a letter of support designating August 14 as “WWII Day.” Ryan
suggests that our members
write their local congressmen
to support this effort. Please
help!
Finally, Ryan and I discussed
his intention to extend his ongoing program “Stories of Service” to members of AWON
and surviving mothers, to talk
about what they remember of
the day they heard the war was
over. Some AWON members
may have a memory of that
day. I’m going to be with my
mother to celebrate her 88th
birthday in August when I’ll interview her for Ryan’s project.
If you want to participate, you
can submit your story at www.
spiritof45.
org/awon, or
contact me
personally
at Pabi@att.
net for more
information.
A format will
be provided.
On a personal note, while in New York
visiting my family in July I
met Ryan at a Starbucks on
the Upper East Side. It’s very
inspiring to collaborate with
this extraordinary young man.
I also saw Susan Eisenhauer and Maggie Malone (pictured). I always look forward
to visiting with members of
the AWON family.

American WWII Orphans Network
Stories Honor Those Who Did Not Return
AWON Asked to Submit
Memories of End of WWII
by Ryan Hegg
A
s part of its mission to
engage young people
in honoring the legacy
of those who served, Stories of
Service is introducing KEEP
THE SPIRIT OF ’45 ALIVE, an
Internet-based project dedicated to mobilizing youth
and younger generations to
help preserve first-person accounts of the day World War
II ended (VJ Day).
August 14, 1945 was the culminating moment of years of
collective effort and sacrifice.
It was not only the day the
war ended, but it was also the
day the healing of the world
began.
Yet amidst the exuberant joy
of servicemen overseas and
the relief of anxious millions
at home, many American fam-
Moving?
New Email?
Contact Ann Mix if you
change your address or your
email. We don't want you
to miss a single issue of The
Star or any other AWON
news:
Ann Mix
P.O. Box 822
Moses Lake, WA 98837
[email protected]
The Star • September 2009
ilies experienced bittersweet
feelings – the happiness of
war’s end tempered by grief
for loved ones who would
never come home.
AWON has been invited
Credit: Victor Jorgensen, U.S. Navy
to be a key partner of KEEP
THE SPIRIT OF 45 ALIVE, to
ensure that the stories of the
families who gave the ultimate sacrifice are represented
in this effort. If you remember the day yourself, or if
your mother or other surviving family members are willing to share their memories,
we invite you to submit them
at our website. You may also
send in first-person accounts
written previously by family
members you are unable to
currently reach or who have
since passed away.
As part of this project, we
encourage AWON members
to engage your own children,
grandchildren and younger
family members. Not only
will the young people be able
to assist with “technical support” where needed, but by
participating, they will develop a personal connection
to your family’s story. In addition, we urge you to promote this effort to others in
your community, as a way of
honoring the legacy of your
fathers' generation.
The project was officially
launched on August 14, 2009,
with a special event in Times
Square in New York City, featuring a re-enactment of the
famous “Times Square Kiss”
photo with WWII icon Edith
Shain (the original nurse) and
Hollywood legend Tony Curtis (U.S. Navy veteran, World
War II). The project will continue for a full year, culminating in the commemoration
of the 65th Anniversary of the
end of World War II on August 14, 2010.
To submit your family’s stories, or to learn more, please
visit
www.spiritof45.org/
awon.
SHARE
Your Thoughts on the
AWON Listserv
Email Judy Hoffman
to get on the list:
[email protected]
19
Unmarried Widows Eligible for DIC Benefits
AWON member Jim Briggs
knows how important the Veteran Administration's Dependency and Indemnity Compensation program (DIC), is
to his mother and him, and
now he wants to remind other
members about its benefits.
Widows of servicemen killed
in WWII (those who died on
active duty or from servicerelated disabilities) who are
now unmarried - through divorce or death of their subsequent spouse, regardless of
how many times they remarried after the war - are eligible
for a monthly benefit under
the VA's Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
program.
The required claim form, VA
Form 21-534, can be printed out from the VA website,
va.gov, or even filled in online
and then printed out for sending to a VA regional office.
"Keep in mind that processing takes a long time," Briggs
states. "In my mother's case,
it took nine months from the
time she submitted her application to the time it was approved. Fortunately, payment
was made retroactive to the
date she became eligible,
upon the death of her then
husband."
There is a basic benefit, and
then an additional amount if
the widow requires constant
"aid and attendance," in which
case a doctor's statement is
required.
"The benefit is likely to be
at least $1,000 a month, so
it is well worth the little time
it takes to apply for it," urges
Briggs.
DIC benefits are not subject
to U.S. federal taxes.
U.S., Russia Agree
to Work Together
on POW/MIAs
In July the White House
announced that the United
States and the Russian Federation had come to an underIn August 2008, the 102nd Infantry Division held its 60th standing on a framework for
and final reunion, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Four AWONers the U.S. – Russia Joint Comhad lunch at the reunion: Sandy Wical, Judy Gemp, Susie
Andres and Dave Stanek. Wical and her mother, who live mission on Prisoners of War
in Cincinnati, came to visit Gemp and Andres (sisters) and and Missing in Action.
The Commission serves as
Stanek, whose fathers belonged to the 102 ID and were
killed in Germany. Pictured above, from left, are: Allene a forum through which both
Fetter and daughter Sandy Wical; Warren Poole, who had nations seek to determine the
two family members in the 102 ID and joined the group to
fates of their missing servicehear their stories; Judy and Ed Gemp; Susie and George
Andres; Dave Stanek; and Don Lussman, a veteran of the men.
One of four working groups
102 ID, 405 Regt G Company, who has joined Dave on two
trips to Europe and many previous division reunions.
will focus on POW/MIA personnel from WWII.
20
American WWII Orphans Network
AWONers Attend Last Reunion
of 102nd Infantry Division
AWON BOOKSTORE
Price List and Order Form
BOOKS
(Authors in bold are orphan or family members)
Normandy
by Walter Ford Carter
$24.95
New! The Ordinary Infrantrymen: Heroes Then, Heroes Again
by Imogene Woods and Twelve WWII Infantrymen $15.00
____ Soldier's Son
by Ben McClelland
$28.00
New! Full Fathom Five: A Daughter's Search
by Mary Lee Coe Fowler
____ D-Day + 60 Years: A Small Piece of Airborne History
by Jerome J. McLaughlin
$25.00
New! A Soldier's Daughter
by Lois Brown Klein
$17.00
$29.95
New! Now I Know - A War Orphan’s Journey of Discovery
by Thomas G. Ratliff
$17.95
____ When Your Number's Up: Meritocracy Goes to War
by Raymond S. Ross, PhD. hardcover $20.00 softcover
$10.00
____ Sporty Course (bomber pilots)
by Col. Jack Swayze
$10.00
____ The Hotton Report (about The Battle for Hotton)
by Robert McDonald
$13.95
____ World War II: A Legacy of Letters - One Soldier's Journey by
Clinton Frederick
$26.95
____ In Their Memory: American WWII Orphans Network
by Turner Publishing Company
Standard Book was $49.95 SPECIAL $20.00
Leatherbound Book was $79.95 SPECIAL $30.00
____ The Fighting Tigers: The Untold Story Behind the Names on
the Quachita Baptist University WWII Memorial
by William Downes
$24.95
____ The War Journey of Major Damon "Rocky" Gause
by Maj. Damon "Rocky" Gause, foreward by Damon L.
Gause
$21.95
____ Love, Honor and Cherish: The True World War II Story of a
Screaming Eagle and a Courageous Woman
by Sandra Bonilla Thompson
$23.00
____ Touchstones: A Guide to Records, Rights & Resources for
Families of American World War II Casualties, second edition
by Ann Bennett Mix
$21.95
____ No Greater Sacrifice, No Greater Love: A Son's Journey to
____ They Also Served: Women's Stories from the World War II
Era
by Jeanie Sutton Lambright
hardcover $35.00 softcover $24.00
____ Finding Billy
by Diana Thompson Dale, niece
$16.95
____ Father Found: Life and Death as a Prisoner of the Japanese
in World War II
by Duane Heisinger
$13.95
____ I Can Hear the Guns Now: A WWII Story of Love and
Sacrifice
by Thomas G. Ratliff
$20.95
____ An 8th Air Force Combat Diary
by John A. Clark
$49.95
____ When I See a Forty and Eight... I Remember World War
Two
by Jacques Adnet
$12.00
____ Love Always, Ben
by Huey Tyra, nephew
$19.95
____ For Those Who Love, Time Is Not
by Kay Brigham
$30.00
____ Lost in the Victory: Reflections of America's Orphans of
WWII
by Susan Johnson Hadler and Ann Bennett Mix
$32.50
____ After the Liberators: A Father's Last Mission, A Son's
Lifelong Journey
by William C. McGuire II
$16.95
____ Shobun: A Forgotten War Crime in the Pacific
by Michael J. Goodwin
$19.95
The Star NEWSLETTERS
____ * Individual issues $2.00 includes P&H
____ * All archived issues: $35.00 includes P&H
____ * Special! Most recent five issues: $7.50 includes P&H
More AWON Merchandise and Order Form on Other Side
The Star • September 2009
21
AWON BOOKSTORE
Price List and Order Form
VIDEOS
____ AWON 2004 Conference & WWII Memorial Dedication
Special $15.00
____ AWON 2000 Conference: Journeys - Finding Our Fathers
by Justin Taylan
was $15.00
Special $10.00
____ We Speak Their Names: A Tribute to Our Fathers
produced by Patrick Tierney and Terry Boettcher
was $15.00
Special $10.00
____ Sleep My Sons: The Story of the Arisan Maru
by Shawnee Brittan
$30.00
____ The War in Europe by Shawnee Brittan
$30.00
AWON Logo Products
___ *AWON Note Cards with Envelopes
(pkg. of 20)
___ Windbreaker (blue)
(circle size: S
M
L
XL
2X
3X)
$20.00
$40.00
___ Denim shirt ___ short sleeve ___ long sleeve
(circle size: S M L XL 2X)
$40.00
___ Golf shirt
____ white ____ blue
(circle size: S M L XL 2X)
$35.00
___ T-shirt (navy)
___ Hat
(circle size: S
M
L
XL
2X
3X)
$20.00
$15.00
___ Gold Star Crystal Pendant 1 1/8” (28mm)
___ Gold Star Crystal Pendant 1 ½” (40mm)
$10.00
$20.00
NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW!
___ Gold Star Earrings
$20.00
___ * Lapel pin
$10.00
___ *AWON auto magnet
___ * Magnetic WWII Memorial picture
___ * Magnetic AWON picture holder
___ * AWON holiday ornament
$6.00
$1.00
$2.00
$10.00
NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW!
___ *AWON Lanyard and Name Tag/Ticket Holder
(4” x 6”) blue with white lettering
$6.00
AWON Gold Star Crystal Pendant (no chain included):
Order Form
Postage and handling: $5 for each item. Items marked
with an asterisk (*) include P&H. For multiple purchases:
Up to $40: $9 P&H $40-$60: $10 P&H Over $60: $12 P&H
Name on card:
Address:
City/State/Zip:
Card Number:
Exp. Date:
Name:
Type: Visa
M/C
Washington State residents add 7.8% sales tax: $
Email:
Or send check or money order to:
Signature:
Total: $
AWON Bookstore
5745 Lee Road, Indianapolis, IN 46216
email: [email protected]
For more information and color photos go to: www.awon.org/bookstore/bookstore.html
22
American WWII Orphans Network
AWO N C o n t i n u e s to F i n d " New "
O r p h a n s a t PA W W I I We e ke n d
Once again, this past June AWON participat- other WWII orphans.
ed in the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum's World
This year, during the three-day event,
War II Weekend show in Reading, Pennsyl- AWON found three "new" orphans - one
vania.
from Minnesota and two from Pennsylvania
WWII Weekend is one
- and had many opportuniof the largest shows of its
ties to share stories with
kind in the country.
the crowd.
Hundreds of re-enactors
Pictured manning the
camp out for the weekend
AWON display this year
and put on demonstrawas, from left, Norm Burtions. One unit even sets up
key, Lynne Lecrone and
a mock French village. The
Rusty Lerch. It also should
show also includes many
be noted that Rusty's three
World War II vintage airgrandsons attend every
planes, period entertainyear wearing all their WWII
ment, and lots of memoragear. They save money all
bilia vendors. Many WWII Manning the AWON display at WWII Week- year to buy more gear and
vets attend to sign books end, from left, are Norm Burkey, Lynne Le- have been adopted by one
crone and Rusty Lerch.
and talk to visitors.
of the re-enactment groups
AWONer Stewart “Rusty”
and particpate in their
Lerch is a member of the show committee. He demonstrations.
always secures a great location for AWON to
For more information about World War II
set up a couple tables to display AWON's fa- Weekend, visit www.maam.org/maamwwii.
ther albums and brochures, and to be avail- html. The show is always held during the
able to talk to visitors and hopefully discover first weekend of June.
AWON Business Cards
100-249 cards .60 ea.
250-499 cards .53 ea.
500-999 cards .45 ea.
1,000-2,499 .27 ea.
5,000 +
.19 ea.
AWON business
cards leave a
determined
impression as
you search for
information and
represent AWON
Total price of your order will be quantity ordered
(# cards x cost per card) plus $10 p/h.
Name:
(e.g., AWON Member)
Title:
2nd Title (opt.):
Street Address:
City/State/Zip:
Telephone:
2nd Tel (opt.):
Email:
2nd email (opt.):
AWON web:
www.awon.org
Economy option: To keep costs as low as possible, we will hold all
orders until we have a minimum order of 1,000 cards. Send no money
with your order. We will contact you before placing the order with our
vendor. If you wish to order immediately using the price list, please
enclose total payment minus handling cost.
Do you want economy option?
Yes
No
See an AWON business card on the web at: www.awon.org/bookstore/logostore.html
The Star • September 2009
23
Guidelines for submitting
material for publication
• To p i c s c o n s i d e r e d f o r
publication in The Star include,
but are not limited to, unit
reunions, visiting battle or crash
sites, cemeteries, ceremonies,
seeking or finding families and
veterans, poetry, etc.
•Email copy-ready articles and
pictures to the editor in Word,
WordPerfect, RTF, or in the body
of an email. High resolution jpeg,
bitmap, gif or tiff images are
preferred. Text and pictures also
can be mailed. Photos returned
upon request.
•Please keep text to one page
(500 to 1,000 words), including
pictures.
•Email short articles about
resources, queries, book/movie
recommendations, and general
information for the List Tips
column to the assistant editor.
•Preference is given to material
written by and about AWON
members.
•Authors retain copyright
to published original writing.
Permission to reprint should
be obtained from the author by
contacting the editor.
Kathy Le Comte, Editor
869 S. Columbia Ave.
Springfield, IL 62704-2342
(217) 787-6512
[email protected]
Rosalie Miles Francisco,
Assistant Editor
23015 83rd Ave. W.
Edmonds, WA 98026
(206) 334-6017
[email protected]
Deadline for the
December Issue is
November 1
24
Jensen, from page 3
AMBA selected the
Weiswampach
memorial as the “Luxembourg pillar” as it
is located at the three
countries’ corner, reflecting cooperation.
AMBA adopted it and
will hold a ceremony
there every year on
December 16.
Constant Goergen,
president
of
USVFL, and members
of the organization
have been organizing Friendship Week
since its inception
in 1992. I attended
Friendship Week in
2008. Many of us remember the members
of USVFL who joined
us at AWON conferences in Washington,
D.C. in 1996, and St.
Louis in 1998.
I am grateful that a
visit to the monument
at
Weiswampach
where the twelve men
of Company C died is
on the program each
year during Friendship Week and that
the memorial has
been bestowed with
the AMBA crest. I am
honored that my dad
is remembered in this
special way.
AWON Board Business
17 May 2009
Financial Report: Treasurer Norm Burkey gave the
financial report. He noted that AWON made a $300
donation to westpoint.org, AWON's listserv provider, as
provided for in the annual budget. He also stated that
the transfer of AWON's General Fund from California
to a bank in Maryland would be complete soon.
DPMO DNA: President Emerita and Public Relations
Director Patricia Gaffney-Kindig reported that the
Defense POW / Missing Personnel Office would like to
contact AWON members with MIA fathers in order to
collect DNA from them in case of the future identification
of their father. The board agreed to have Gaffney-Kindig
write a letter to those members, informing them of
DPMO's request, and providing them information about
DPMO.
Donation to PAM: The board approved the donation
of $25 to the Pacific Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbor
for the restoration efforts at the landmark red and white
control tower on Ford Island. AWON's contribution
will be acknowledged on a digital scrolling sign at the
museum along with other contributors.
2010 National Conference: Bob Meek and Millie
McConnell Cavanaugh will co-chair the 2010
Conference. Locations under consideration are Baltimore;
Annapolis; and Charleston, South Carolina. The focus
will be on the Navy.
The Star: The board officially adopted the policy of
sending one free issue of The Star a year (instead of two)
to those whose membership has lapsed or who never
became members. Instead of the second free issue a letter
will be sent encouraging membership.
Multi-year Memberships: Barry Barr-Finch asked
about the possibility of multi-year memberships. Judy
Hoffman will discuss this with database manager and
AWON founder Ann Mix.
New Member Process: Bob Meek is researching the
various steps in the new member process, as well as
reviewing AWON's job titles and descriptions.
AWON Archives: The board approved financing
Norma Nicol Hamilton to join the Society of American
Archivists at $141 per year as she continues to research
...continued on page 25
American WWII Orphans Network
Meeks, from page 9
with a Medal of Honor recipient from that war.
Walking through the cemetery I found a very old
tombstone with only the
last name "WILLY” readable.
The tombstone is laid out
like a flower box, but time
and the elements had taken
its toll.
I have removed the weeds and straightened
the old worn stone. Yet it needed more than
that so I “officially” declared my adoption of
this grave to the other person with me at the
cemetery, my husband.
New soil and mulch have been added and
flowers are planted in the spring. A wreath is
laid for the Christmas holiday, an American
flag added for Memorial Day, and I pay my
respects on the 4th of July and Veterans Day
as well.
I have no idea if this person was a veteran,
but felt the grave needed a family to care for
it. Perhaps we Margraten Kids along with
other AWON members can become adopters,
adopting those military graves in our towns
and cities that have long since been forgotten. We can keep the Dutch tradition of adoption alive in the United States by paying it
forward.
AWON Board Business
15 March 2009
the future disposition of the AWON archives. Norma
also reported on some steps AWON may need to take
in preparing its archives. She plans to attend the SAA
conference this fall in Austin, Texas. She will report to
the board the costs of attending the conference at the
next board meeting.
Next Board Meeting: The next telephonic meeting of
the AWON Board of Directors is July 19, 2009.
Financial Report: Treasurer Norm Burkey presented
the financial report. There is about $40,000 in the
operating account. At of the end of February AWON's
certificate of deposit was valued at about $36,000. It
expires in June. Norm will research if an additional CD
should be purchased later this year. There is about $1,405
in the Mama Jo Stanek Memorial Fund, and an additional
$300 has been donated to the Margraten Gift Fund.
Online Applications: Norm reported that two membership
applications were submitted via AWON's website but
they were not followed up by a mailed check (the website
cannot handle payments). Norm has had no response
from his email follow-ups with the people concerned.
Discussion followed as to whether to continue offering
web-based applications. Judy Hoffman pointed out
that, although the applicants have not joined, AWON has
their information to add into the database, meaning web
applications do have some value.
Database: Norm reported on upgrading Filemaker
Pro, the program used for AWON's database. AWON
purchased an external hard drive for storing database
information. Gerry Morenski reported that AWON
Founder Ann Mix is working hard to improve the
database and led a discussion about maintaining AWON's
database.
2010 National Conference: Judy reported that Millie
McConnell Cavanaugh has agreed to chair the 2010
Conference in Philadelphia. Discussion followed about
a co-chair for the conference.
Policies and Procedures: The board approved a revised
policy and procedure for donations made to AWON, and
a new policy and procedure for AWON naming national
advisors.
Next Board Meeting: The next telephonic meeting of
the AWON Board of Directors is May 17, 2009.
Bonnie Crane Blackford Hellums, Secretary
Bonnie Crane Blackford Hellums, Secretary
Minutes, from page 24
This is a condensed version of the minutes. For the This is a condensed version of the minutes. For the
complete minutes, visit www.awon.org.
complete minutes, visit www.awon.org.
The Star • September 2009
25
AWON Board Business
10 November 2008
The November meeting of the AWON Board of
Directors was held during the biannual National
Conference in Tucson, Arizona, with conference
participants in attendance.
AWON Marches in
Armed Forces Day Parade
For a second year this last May, AWON
participated in the Reading, Pennsylvania,
Armed Forces Day parade - one of the longest-running Armed Forces Day parades in
the country. Orphan Norm Burkey, wife Mary,
grandson Duncan Trofe, and orphans David
Burkey and Donna Pressley all participated.
Fellow orphan Rusty Lerch serves on the organizing committee.
Letter Shows Brits' Gratitude
for Laying AWON Wreath
Financial Report: Treasurer Norm Burkey reported
that he should have a financial report ready before the
March meeting. He reported there were many end-ofyear renewals.
2009 Budget: Copies of the AWON 2009 Budget were
distributed. Discussion followed about several budgeted
items, which Board President Judy Hoffman and others
clarified.
AWON Headquarters: The board approved a
recommendation by Walt Linne to name AWON’s
office in Indianapolis in memory of recently deceased
AWON member Col. Jack O. Forgy, USA (Ret).
AWON Service Award: On a suggestion from Jean
Brooks Rhinehart, the board approved creating The
Colonel Jack O. Forgy, USA (Ret) Outstanding Service
Award. Judy appointed Walt Linne chair of the JOF
Award Criteria Development Committee. The committee
will consist of Linne, Rhinehart and Sam Tannenbaum.
Criteria for award will be submitted to the AWON Board
of Directors for approval.
Board Officers: The following officers of the Board of
Directors were approved: Judy Hoffman continuing as
president, Ed Peters as vice-president, Bonnie Crane
Hellums as secretary, and Norman Burkey as treasurer.
AWON Archives: Norma Nicol Hamilton was appointed
to investigate a proper repository for the eventual
placement of AWON’s archives. Ed Peters will assist
her.
Q & A: The floor was opened for questions from the
membership. Questions and discussion followed.
Next Board Meeting: The next telephonic meeting of
the AWON Board of Directors is January 18, 2009.
Member Jean Rhinehart shared a letter with
The Star, written by Gerry Darnell. Darnell and
his wife have been laying the AWON wreath
at the American Cemetery at Cambridge, England, for many years. Clearly, they always are
honored to do so:
Thank you so much in placing your trust in
Audrey and myself to lay the wreath for you
and AWON. It is indeed a great honour for
us to do this.... The wreath was just beautiful and it was very large...it was the center of
attraction after the service, so many stopped
to read the names on the banner; and I exBonnie Crane Blackford Hellums, Secretary
plained to them how AWON came into being.... A copy of both photos are, or will be,
in the office at Madingley at their request.
This is a condensed version of the minutes. For the
We will deliver them personally to the officer complete minutes, visit www.awon.org.
in charge.... Audrey and Gerry
26
American WWII Orphans Network
American WWII Orphans Network
Application, Registration & Renewal Form
I would like to become a member
Register my father/family member and me only
Renew my membership
Information about You
Name
Spouse's Name
Address
City, State, Zip
Phone
E-mail
Relationship to Serviceman
Your Date of Birth
Any child of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, Coast Guard or Merchant
Marine, who was killed, remains missing in action, or who died in the line
of duty or later died of wounds or injuries sustained during World War II, is
eligible to join as an Orphan Member. Any direct relative is eligible to join as
a Family Member. Any individual, including friends of those killed in World
War II, those who wish to participate in AWON activities, or organizations
with an interest in and compatible with AWON’s purposes and goals, are
eligible to join as an Associate Member.
Check Your Membership Category:
(home, work, cell, other)
Would you like to receive The Star electronically?
Where did you hear about AWON?
Orphan
Family
Associate
Dues and Payment Options
Y
N
Information about WWII Serviceman Who Died
Be as complete as possible. If you do not have some of the
information, leave it blank and we may be able to provide it to you.
Do not delay mailing the application for lack of information.
Name
Last
Membership Levels
First
M.I.
Birth Date
Date of Death
Place of Death
Where Buried
Military Unit
Service Number
Additional details about serviceman's death
and/or service: (rank, medals, etc.)
Basic annual membership dues are $25. Members
wishing to provide additional financial support to
AWON and its activities are encouraged to join at
one of the following supportive levels:
Check one:
Basic: $25
Sponsor: $50
Gold Star: $100
Donor: $150
Patron: $250
Founder: $500
Benefactor: $1,000
Members at the Sponsor level and above may receive a free copy of the second edition
of Touchstones: A Guide to Records, Rights and Resources for Families of American
World War II Casualties, by AWON Founder Ann Bennett Mix.
I am donating at the Sponsor level or above and would
like my free copy of Touchstones: Yes___ No ___
Amount Enclosed: $
I give permission to AWON to release my name, address, email address,
phone number and relationship to and pertinent information about the
serviceman to other members. I understand the list of members is confidential
and will never be sold or given to any other organization or business. I
hereby release AWON from any liability that may arise from the release of
information.
Home Town and State
Wife’s Maiden Name
Signature (optional)
Did widow remarry? Y
N
Names and addresses of your siblings with same AWON is a humanitarian, nonprofit, nonpolitical, public service organization
under Section 501(c)3 of the U.S. Federal Tax code (EINB #91-1538912).
father, and/or additional family members:
Membership is not required to register in our database.
Mail form and payment to:
(Please include information on another sheet, if necessary.)
The Star • September 2009
Norm Burkey
AWON Treasurer
308 Colgate Dr.
Forest Hill, MD 21050
27
Non-Profit
U.S. Postage PAID
Springfield, IL
Permit No. 500
Editor, The Star
869 S. Columbia Ave.
Springfield, IL 62704-2342
Address Service Requested
The Star
"Breaking Down the Wall of Silence"
AWON Headquarters
5745 Lee Road
Indianapolis, IN 46216
(540) 310-0750
[email protected]
www.awon.org
AWON Mission
To locate and bring together sons and daughters
of those who died or are missing as a result of
American involvement in World War II, honor
the service and sacrifice of our fathers and
provide information and support to these people
who were orphaned by the war.
AWON Directory
Address Corrections
Ann Bennett Mix
[email protected]
Archives
Ann Whelan O'Connor [email protected]
Bookstore
Walt Linne
[email protected]
Dues
Norm Burkey
[email protected]
First Inquiry Coordinator
Patty Temte
[email protected]
Asst. FIC
Janice Ott Buterbaugh
[email protected]
Headquarters
Ed Peters
[email protected]
Knit Your Bit Project
Norma Nicol Hamilton
[email protected]
Margraten Liaison
Gerry Conway Morenski
[email protected]
Memorial Day Wreath Project
Sharon Crowley Connor
[email protected]
National WWII Museum Campaign
Chickie Shields Berry
[email protected]
Public Relations
Patricia Gaffney-Kindig
[email protected]
Reading Air Show
Norm Burkey
[email protected]
Regional Coordinator Project
Barry Barr-Finch [email protected]
The Star Editor
Kathy Le Comte
[email protected]
The Star Asst. Editor
Rosalie Miles Francisco [email protected]
Washington D.C. Events
Phyllis Epstein Louis
[email protected]
Washington D.C. Liaison
Lee Mathis
[email protected]
Assoc. D.C. Liaison
Jeanine McKenzie Allen
[email protected]
Webmaster
Rik Peirson
[email protected]