forward observer - Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION
V O LU M E XXVI
NUM BER 3
•
VETERANS OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, INC.
T H E A R D E N N E S C A M P A IG N
A U G U S T 2007
In c o m b a t, th e field a rtille ry h a s tw o w a y s to lo ca te its
ta rg e ts ; u n o b se rv e d fire, in w h ic h th e ta rg e t c a n n o t b e se e n a n d
is id e n tifie d e ith e r by in te llig e n c e th a t h a s b e e n p ro v id e d o r by
firin g a t a lo c a tio n fo u n d on th e m ap. F o r e x a m p le , y o u m ig h t
fire at a n im p o rta n t c ro ssro a d . It is, in e ffe c t, firin g b lin d . The
second way is to have someone up front who can observe
the enemy and his activity and radio back to the battalion
fire direction center (FDC) both his exact location and the
location and details of the target he proposes to take under
fire. That is the job of the Forward Observer, (the “F.O.”).
THE FIELD ARTILLERY
FORWARD
OBSERVER
BY M. J. “Mike” Levin - see page 8
We’re
Looking to see You...
MAKE PLANS
NOW TO
ATTEND THE
CHICAGO AREA
kVBOB REUNION
SEPTEMBER 25-30i
2007
V FTR A N S OF THE
B A T T li OF THE BULGE,
INC.
P O . Box 101418
Ar1ing:on. VA 222KM418
703-528-4058
Published
quarterly,
THE
BU LGE BU G LE is the official
publication of the V eterans of
the Battls of the Bulge.
P u b lish o r/C h ie f E ditor:
G eorge C hekan
9th Infantry Division
C o n trib u tin g E d ito rs:
R obert F. Phillips
28th Infantry Division
H isto rical R e s e a rc h :
Jo h n D Bowen
A sso ciate M ember
f• •••
ELECTED O FFIC ER S:
P re s id e n t:
Stanley Wojtusik
1 )6th Infantry Division
E x e c u tiv e V ice P re s id e n t:
John J. Dunleavy
737th Tank Battalion
V ice P re sid e n t/M e m b e rs h ip :
Neil B. Thonnpson
740th Tank Battalion
V ice P re s id e n t/C h a p te rs :
Jo h n E. McAuliffe
ii7th Infantry Division
Vice P re s dent/M illtary A ffairs:
R obert Phillips
:i9th Infantry Division
Vice P re s d e n t/P u b lic A ffairs:
Demitri "Dee" Paris
3th A rm ored Division
T re a s u re r:
William P. Taym an
tt7th Infantry Division
C o r r e s p o n d in g S e c re ta ry :
Dorothy S. Davis
57th Field Hospital
R e c o r d ir g S e c re ta ry :
Jo h n D Bovi/en
A sso ciate M ember
A d m in islra tiv e D irecto r:
N ancy M unson 703-528-4058
TRUSTEI=S:
T h re e Y ears:
F ra n c e s W Doherty
A ssociate M em ber
THE BU LGE BUGLE
Earle O. E dm onds
26th Infantry Division
J a m e s W. Hunt
1st Inantry Division
Tw o Y ears:
Harry J. Meizel
566th AAA AW Battalion
G eorge L. W atson
87th Infantry Division
J o s e p h F. Zimm er
87th Infantry Division
O n e Y ear:
Richard G. G uenther
511 Engineer Light PontC'P Co
Ralph Bozorth
A sso c ia te M em ber
• •• ••
•CALIFORNIA*
FRESN O (V)
A 1hur S leffensen
7469 {5 C ed a r
F e s n c .C A 93725-9749
559-266-2997
GEN. G EORGE S. '>ATTON, JR . (XIII)
D analc C. S ta fo n I
408-662-0472
101 Vi) Soderini
AiMos. CA 95003
G3L0IEN GATE (X)
925-937-4416
W illiaatC . Arms(rc>n |
U ilO E n can to PI
V^alnut C reek. CA “ 4597-2319
SO U TtlERN CALIFORNIA (XVf)
G ordor H e am e
818-784-8980
42 6 3 hay v en h iirsi Ave
E ncino CA 9143(i
SAN D EGO (Lt)
R obert 0 . Schrell
25 3 0 S a n Jo aq u in Ct
S t n Di<}go, C alforni i 92109
858-274-5738
STATEN ISIJ^ND (Lll)
Witliam Abeil
297 C larke Ave
S taten Island, NY 10306
•lOWA^
IOWA {XX.dV)
(C h ap ter io longer functioning
HAWKEY! STATE (XLIV)
H arold R. Lindstrom
4H )5 7 5 ir St.
D e s M oin'is, lA 50322-2551
515-278-0081
•MARYLAND-OC^
MARYLAND/D.C. (Ill)
E aile 0 . E.dmonds
410-647-5215
PO Bo> 7'}
Arnold, mi: 21012
•M ASSACHUSETTS'
LAMAR SCIUTTER/CENTRAL
MASSAChlUSETTS (XXII)
Jo h n E. McAuliffe
508-754-7183
425 P le a s a n t St.
W orcester. MA 01609
CA PE C O : & THE ISLANDS (LVIII)
(P n?sident's n am e needeO )
HISTORICAL FOUNDATION:
P re s id e n t:
Alfred H M S h eh ab
38th Cavalry Division
VBOB PA ST PR ESID EN TS:
Clyde D Boden*
1981-84
R obert J. V anH outen 1984-86
198(5-88
G eorge C hekan
200:i-05
William T. G reenville 1988-90
1990-92
Darrell Kuhn*
William R. Hemphill* 1992-93
1993-94
William P. T aym an
199-^-95
G rover C. Twiner*
1995-97
Stanley W ojtusik
G eorge C. Linthicum 1997-99
John J. D unleavy 1999-2001
Louis C unningham
2001-03
‘ D e c e a se d
C H A PTER PR ESID EN TS
•ALABAMA*
GEN. GEORGE S . PATTON. JR . (XI)
Victor R N e ila n d
256*881-3508
5 1 0 Suhill Rd
H untsville, AL 3 5 802-2443
SOUT^IERN ARi;!ONA (U ll)
G eo rg e W M cG ee
7 8 3 0 E H am pton St
T u cso n . A2 85 7 1 5-4214
*CCLORADO*
RC)CK> MOUNTAIN (XXXIX)
A. W a y ie Field
719-598-2234
PO Bo> 7247
C clo raco S prings. CO 80933-7;;47
*DEij\WARE*
BF:ANCYWINE </AL. EY c h a p t e r (LXVI)
C harles G affeney
302-762-3023
907 Shipley Rd
W iim inston. D£ 1«i803-4927
•FI ORIDA*
CENTRAL FLORIDA (XVIH)
C ontact; R obert L S ie v e n so n
21 }3 L2ike Dr
W iite rP a r* . FL 32739
FLORICA CITRUS (XXXII)
G erald 7 . Myers
320 E F a lm Dr
Lakeland. FL 33803 2650
INDIAN RIVER FLOf iO A (XLl)
A lfie d J B abecM
91 !> Heiniock St
B a-efo o !B ay FL o2?76-7322
SOUTHEAST FLOKIHA (LXII)
G eorge F isher
34S6 S O cean Blvc «<503
P a im B f a c h .F L 3 :u S 0
407-664-9!)97
CE'JTRAL INDIANA (XLVII)
Rol>ert Ft. C ooper
3436 B ellerA ve
Ind an ap o lis, IN 4 6 2 :4 -1 9 2 0
330-667-2061
BEN FREEMAN (XXXVII)
Leon S t Pierre
3325 Bain PI
Tyk r. TX 75701-8871
GEN. D. D. EISENHOW ER (XXXV)
R ichard M S h a p e
211 O a k creslC t
R u sse lls Point. OH 43348-9508
561-585-7086
FORT DIX/MCGUIRE AFB (LX)
J o y d Orth
856-235-0504
10 L ocust Ci
VIount L auii’l. NJ 08054
352-873-8S80
SOUTH JE R SE Y (LXI)
3 u s Epple C«/P)
609-463-9690
iS S D e se a Dr
2a p a May C ourt H ouse. NJ 08210-2041
219-365-5668
^ H A W K VALLEY (XXVIIl)
<enneth H Rowland
10 P ulaski 31
^Jew York M Ms, NY 13417
317-291-2668
HUDSON VALLEY (IL)
lam iJsA W lso n
19 Park PI
ic h c n e c ta c y .N Y 12305-1524
CUMBERLAND VALLEY (LXV)
J o f n W . F ag u e
717-530-8817
30€> Luigan Ave
S h ippensburg, PA 17257
419-431-5277
561-664-0952
520-298-3220
610-921-2568
•TEXAS*
GRIEATER HOUSTON (XXVII)
(C hapter ts functioningpletise a d v ise c o n ta ct again.)
CENTRAL OHIO (LXVH)
Atton L L itse ib e rg e r
320 S a ra to g a St
D elaw are OH 43015
•NEW YORK*
:ENTRAL MEW YORK (II)
C h ap ter no longer functioning)
READING (LXIV)
S am u el B S c a le s
34* 9 F o ste r Ln
Re.iding. PA 19605
•SOUTH CAROLINA*
SOUTH CAROLINA (VII)
lltelvin G. B radenburg
80)-6(M -8774
P O B o x 2010
L e e s v ille .s e 29070
OHIO BUCKEYE (XXIX)
Milan A Roiik
1278 C u lp ep p er Dr
Akron, OH 44313-6840
732-264-5447
61 0 -r 52-3694
•NORTH DAKOTA*
NORTH DAKOTA (XX)
Harry S w en d so n (S ecretary)
701-567-2308
PO Box 55
Hettinger. SD 58639
601-825-4479
618-344-1616
LEHIGH VALLEY (LV)
Morris D Metz
12!) R ichard G a n Rd
Ea^iton. PA 18040-6916
•RHODE ISLAND*
RHODE ISLAND (XXIV)
M anuel Ribeho
401-253-7369
50 3 re ylockR d
Bristol. Rl 02809-1631
FORT MONMOUTH (LVI)
Edv(»ard Tui-ell
3 C h estn u t l>
Haz et, NJ 07730
863-686-2121
FLORIDA SOUTHVrt ST CHAPTER (LXVII)
V incent Runowich
727-323-3793
40f>3 lOtti Ave N
St P e te -sb u rg , FL 33713
•BELGIUM*
5TH FUSILIERS OF BELGIUM (XXXVIII)
M arcel O 'H aese
B oulevard d u S a u v e ra in 4914
1160 B russells, Eelgiunn
*MISSOURI*
GATEWAY (XXV)
W. K ent S te p h e n s
107 Bluffviaw Lane
Collinsvilie. IL 62234
516-221-5096
SC-UTHCENTKAL PENNSYLVANL\ (XLV)
G eorge F S c h n e id e r
7^7-464-9442
23 7 Willow Valley Or
L ancaster, PA 17602-4782
*NORTH CAROLINA*
NORTH CAROLINA (IX)
910-897-8295
William R. Strickland
471 Turlington Rd
Dunn. NC 29334
•OHIO*
BLANCHARD VALLEY (XLII)
Richard H. Sw itzer
4361 N U S 23
F ostona. OH 4483C
GREAT U ^K ES (XXI)
C h ap ter now defunct
*MISSISSiPPI*
M ISSISSIFPI (XXXIII)
Marinmg C ooper
78 Pern Viilley Rd
B randon. MS 39042
LONG ISLAND (LXIII)
David S a ltm m
1252 C am pbell Rd
W antagh.N Y 11793-6307
914-986-6376
NORTH CO AST OHIO (XXXVI)
Edwin J S to c J i
216-731-1258
27101 EdgecNfTDr
Euclid. Oh 44132
4 80-325-2695
•INDIANA*
NORTHIERN INDIANA (XXX)
C airoll E:. Austin
9 2 ( 0 Schilton Ave
St. Jo h n . IN 46373
•MICHIGAN*
W EST MIC:HIGAN (XXIII)
W ay n e M ertier (Vice P resid e n t) 231-271-3129
12250 E L evers Ln
S u tio n s B{0'. Ml 49682
MID-HUDSON VALLEY (UX)
D uncan Truom an
29 O vertiillLn
Warwick, NY 10990-3317
585-473-1629
*NEW JERSEY*
PETER F. LESLIE. JR . (UV)
G e rild E. r/o u n t
973-697-5875
40 Old H oop P ole Rd
Oak R idge NJ 07438
GCLOEi^ TRIANGLE (XLVIII)
Hairy E Kirby
1 i ; « 9 S W 7 1 Cir
O c Jia . FL 34476-94-.2
•ARIZONA*
ARIZONA (XXVI)
Philip R F ran ce
3330 E Main St
M esa.A Z 8 5 213-8647
*CCtkNECTlCUT*
CONNtiCTICUl YANKEE (XL)
Richarc' E gan
203-634-0974
79 A lccve St
M«!riden. CT 06451
GEN ESSEE VALLEY (LVIl)
Thom as W. Hope
58 C arverdale Or
R o ch ester. NY 14618
917-299-9766
740-363-0613
•PENNSYLVANIA^
DELAWARE VALLEY (IV)
Stanley WojtLSik
21S-637-4191
9639 W issinom ing St
Phitadelphia. PA 19114
SUSQUEHANNA (XIX)
G eorge K W fiters
303 H o n e sd a .e Rd
W aym art. PA 18472
717-488 6311
W ESTERN PENNSYLVANIA (XIV)
Leroy Schaller
724-238-2297
1839 R oute 259
Bolivar. P e nnsylvania 15923
315-736-5836
OHIO VALLEY (XXXI)
P e te Y anchik
1161 Airport FW
Aliquippa P a 15001
724-375-6451
AL/iMO (XLVI)
Joh<i Hamilton
9603 Tioga Drive
S a n Antonio, TX 78269-1904
LOME STAR (L)
C h arle s J . Kam
804 2 Hunnicut Rd
OaHas. TX 75228
90 1-561-7116
2111-696-1904
21A .324-9200
VERMONT-NEW HAMPSHIRE-f4AII4E*
TRI-STATE (XVII)
A lpfa A C hevrette
6 0 : -485-9448
16 Elirch Hill Dr
H ooksett. NH 03106-1523
•VIRGINIA*
NOF;THERN VIRGINIA (XV)
G en e M cHale
824 0 C anleigh Pkwy
Springfield. VA 22152-1728
CRATER (XLIII)
W E'^axter Perkinson
944- W. River Rd
M atoaca.V A 23803-1019
703-451-1918
804-59i>-1185
•WASHINGTON*
NORTHW EST (VI)
Arthur P M ahler
425-746-3923
1821 122nd Ave SE
B elk vue. WA 98005-4623
•WISCONSIN*
NORTHERN W ISCONSIN (I)
(P re sid e n t's nam e n e e d e d )
518-393-2384
CO ^TA C T THE CHAPTER IN YOtJR AREA
Y O t WILL BE GLAD YOU DID.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO START A
CHAPTER IN YOUR AREA. LET US KNOW,
W E’LL SEND YOU NECESSARY 01 TAILS.
August >007
President's Message
It w as w o rth e v e ry nickel, e v ery ounce o f effort, head on
c o n fro n ta tio n w ith o b sta cles, d isa p p o in tm en ts, an d sleepless
nights th ro u g h o u t m an y years, bu t we fialfilled o u r ‘pie in the
sk y ’ dream w ith the d e d ic atio n o f o u r M em o rial in A rlington
N a tio n a l C e m e te ry on M ay 8, 2 0 0 6 . T o date we are still being
r e c o g n iz e d
and
fo lk s
acro ss the c o u n try are
c o n tin u a lly and c u rren tly
b e in g e d u ca te d a b o u t the
B attle o f th e B ulge, our
e x p e rie n c e s ,
our
org a n iz atio n and m em orial.
W e ’re ‘o n th e m a p ’ !
C u rre n tly B arn es & N o b le
b o o k sto re s are carry in g a
beau tifu l h a rd c o v er book
e n title d ,
W h e re
V a lo r
R e sts-A rlin g to n N atio n al
C em etery ,
w ritten by
S u p e rin te n d en t John C.
M e tzler, Jr. and P u litzer
P riz e
A u th o r
R ic k
A tkinson p u b lish ed by N a tio n a l G e o g rap h ic . In th is beautiful
p iece V e tera n s o f th e B attle o f the B ulge are p ictu red full page
in c o lo r (p g s 130 & 133) a lo n g w ith a cu rre n t m ap o f A rlington
N a tio n a l C e m e tery iden tify in g in p rin t the lo cation o f our
M em o rial in A rea 21 at P o rte r an d M c P h e rso n A venue. (P g 29).
T h is m ap, a lo n g w ith an e x ce rp t from the book, is a lso featured
in th e Ju n e issue o f National Geographic m agazine.
M o re a n d m ore n e w sp a p ers and o th er p u b lic a tio n s are
fe atu rin g o u r individual sto ries and re q u ests for personal
a p p e a ra n c e s and p re sen ta tio n s are v ery m u ch alive. T he
d e te rm in a tio n o f o u r goo d friend, C o n g ressm an C hris Sm ith, o f
N ew Je rse y , w ho carv ed o u r m em orial p ro jec t th ro u g h the
b u re a u c ra c y relen tlessly fo rg es ah ea d on o u r b e h a lf for sufficient
fijnding for ve te ran s health se rv ice s and b enefits. H is legislative
o ffice is d ilig e n tly assistin g us w ith o b tain in g an o fficial c h arter
allo w in g us to co n tin u e to be re co g n ize d a lo n g w ith V FW ,
A m e ric an L egion. M ilitary O rd e r o f P u rp le H eart, D isabled
V e tera n s, etc.
Y ou, w ho survive, are T h e O rg a n iz a tio n and are nev er
fo rg o tten by the d iffere n t e m b a ssie s in W ash in g to n , D .C . w ho
alw ays invite us to ev en ts sc h e d u le d th ro u g h o u t the year. T he
m o st re ce n t w as for a re ce p tio n in h o n o r o f M r. Paul S c h m it’s
re tirem e n t fi-om the E m b assy o f L u x em b o u rg as D ep u ty C h ie f o f
M issio n . A t his request, I c o n v ey to you his sin c ere th an k s for
the o p p o rtu n ity to be w ith us a n d his p lea su re w hile w orking
a lo n g w ith us.
He w ished us all g o o d health, ev erlastin g
h a p p in e ss and c o n tin u ed su c c ess w ith o u r o rg a n iz atio n and will
m iss us.
Q u o tin g a n e w sp a p e r a rticle from E ngland the re p o rte r
d e sc rib e s a tte n d an c e at a m em o rial: ‘E ach y e ar 1 go. th ere are
few er v e te ran s and th o se w ho d o get th ere are v isib ly slo w e r.’
E ach y e a r I am alw ay s so p lea se d to see the ro b u st e n erg y and
en th u siasm o f o u r veteran s, th e ir fam ilies an d frien d s at our
reu n io n s. M an y a tte n tio n -g e ttin g ’ p ro g ram s a re p lan n e d for o ur
u p c o m in g reu n io n in L in c o ln sh ire, Illinois, (C h ica g o A rea)
S e p tem b e r 2 5 -3 0 , 2 0 0 7 . H o p e fu lly , you w ill be re g iste rin g to
THE BU LG E BUGLE
a ttend an d be o fficially n o tic e d by y o u r ‘vim an d v ig o r’ w hile
p a rticip a tin g in th e m any in te restin g e v en ts, en jo y in g the g o o d
food and c am ara d e rie w ith friends. B rig ad ie r G eneral Jo h n W.
N ic h o lso n , U S A (R e t.), Secretary' o f the A m erican B attle
M o n u m e n ts C o m m issio n , a cc ep te d w ith g re at p lea su re our
in v itatio n to be o u r fe atu red sp e a k er at th e B anquet. W e still
h ave th e sp irit an d the ‘g et-up-and-go" and I look forw ard to
se e in g y ou there.
D u rin g th e re m a in in g tim e as P resid en t, m y ho p e is th at tl : tail
en d o f2 0 0 7 w ill be su ffic ie n t to su p p o rt m y v isio n fo r c o n tin u in g
su ccess o f th is o rg a n iz atio n . M y h o n o r in b e in g re ce n tly e le cte d
D ire cto r o f W rea th s A c ro ss A m e ric a Inc., m ak es m e v ery e x cited
and h a p p y k n o w in g th at w hile re p re se n tin g you, the o rg a n iz atio n
w ill be fu lfillin g o u r m issio n an d goal in p e rp e tu a tin g the h o n o r
an d m em o ry o f the sa c rifice s o f o u r fallen c o m ra d es, p re serv in g
the tru e h istory, sp re a d in g p eace and g o o d w ill an d p ro m o tin g
frien d sh ip a m o n g su rv iv o rs an d th e ir d e sc en d a n ts. O u r frien d s,
K aren an d M o rrill W o rc e ste r h ave d o n a te d an d w ill be e sc o rtin g
93 tra c to r-tra ile rs c arry in g W reath s to be p laced at th e g ra v esite
o f o u r v a lia n t h e ro es at C h ristm a s on S atu rd ay , D e ce m b er IS ”" at
A rlin g to n N a tio n a l C e m e tery . T h is sp e c ta c u la r o u tp o u rin g o f
love, p a trio tism and g e n e ro sity o f the W o rce ster fam ily has
b eco m e c o n ta g io u s an d g iv en b irth to a w e ek long V e te ra n s’
P a ra d e from H a rrin g to n , M a in e, to A rlin g to n N a tio n a l C e m e tery
a lo n g 7 0 0 p lu s m iles o f stre ets lin ed by ‘A m e ric a ’ to include
sto p s at sc h o o ls, to w n h a lls and v e te ra n s ’ hom es to p ro m o te
a w are n e ss and p a trio tism . In terest w o rld - w ide has e n co u ra g ed
‘W reath s A c ro ss A m e ric a Inc.” to e x p an d th e ir m issio n to
R em e m b er the fallen . H o n o r th o se w ho serve & T ea ch o u r
c h ild re n the v a lu e o f free d o m an d the sa c rifice s o f o u r se rv ice
m en an d w o m e n an d are n o w o ffe rin g the g en eral p u b lic an
o p p o rtu n ity to sh o w th e ir a p p re c ia tio n fo r the freedom w e e n jo y
by sp o n s o rin g a w re ath to re m e m b e r o u r m en an d w om en in
m ilitary c e m e te rie s th ro u g h o u t th e states and n a tio n a l v e te ra n s ’
c em ete rie s re p re se n tin g eac h b ra n ch o f th e arm ed fo rces h ere an d
a broad. Y ou w ill be re c e iv in g m ore in fo rm atio n on th is p ro g ram ,
b u t in th e m e a n tim e c o n ta c t m e on th e w e b s ite
WWW.wreathsacrossamerica.org o r w rite to m y atten tio n :
W rea th s A c ro ss A m e ric a, P .O .B o x 2 1 4 . H arrin g to n , M E 0 4 6 4 3 .
Be sure to id en tify V e te ra n o f the B attle o f th e B ulge.
‘T il then, be stro n g , be h e alth y , be happy..!!
IN THIS ISSUE
3.
4.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
President’s Message
Letters to Editor
Reunions
Field Artillery
Members Speak Out
Pfc. Joseph Farina
Gat Pump
German Propaganda
Gen. Van MantufTel
Jerry Walsh
VBOB Casualties at Sea
VBOB Convention
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
26.
27.
29.
30.
31.
Battle of Bulge
Chapter Report
So. Arizona - Hudson
Proximity Fuse
BOB/New Year* Eve
Historical Foundation
Preview of F.O.
Remember Cold Weather
Bulge Certificate
Thaniu for Duds
Quartermaster
VETERANS OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE
WEB SITE: w w w .b a ttle o fth e b u lg e .o rg
A ugust 2007
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
106TH NOT RECO GN IZED
[Edited slightly] I c a m e a c ro s s th e article, on p a g e 25,
indicating a book A lam o in the A rden n es w as so o n to be
published. T he re le a s e d a te w a s s u p p o s e d to b e March 5,
2007.
N ow here in th e w rite-up, in bold print, did I s e e a
re fe re n c e to th e 106th Infantry Division. ... Evidently he
h a s not re s e a rc h e d th e m a p s an d battle positions of all
th o s e outfits th a t participated in th e B attle of th e Bulge.
..., he would h av e noticed th at th e 106th Division, with
th re e reg im en ts of infantry sp re a d o v er 26 m iles of front
e a c h of St. Vith w a s hit by th e m ajor th ru st of th e G erm an
Fifth P a n z e r Army, in th e c e n te r an d so u th ern flank and the
Sixth S S P a n z e r Army north of center.
He would also h av e noticed th a t th e 14th Cavalry, a s well
a s th e 4 2 2nd an d 423rd Infantry R eg im en ts of th e 106th
Infantry Division, while taking very heavy c a su a ltie s
d elay ed th e G e rm a n s to su c h an ex te n t th a t it w a s six d a y s
before th e G e rm a n s w ere ab le to ta k e St. Vith. T hat delay
a lo n e w a s a m ajor facto r in th e final d e fe a t of the
G e rm a n s. T h at delay w a s a contributing factor in cau sin g
th e G e rm a n s to run out of fuel for their tanks.
I am not d etracting from th e b rav e fighting an d c o u rag e
of th e m en in th o s e o th er divisions an d units w ho fought in
th e battle an d I reco g n ize th a t th e sta n d of th(advisable)
[as received], I refer you to th e book Sf Vith Lion in the
Way. by C olonel R. E rn e st Dupuy, published and
copyrighted, in 1949, by Infantry Jou rn al P re s s, Inc ,
'A 'ashingtcn, DC. T his is th e history of th e lOGtli iinarury
Division, from its inception on N o v em b er 29, 1942, to th e
d eco m m issio n in g in 1 9 4 5 ........
In my opinion, before any su c h book purporting to b e an
a cco u n tin g of su c h a h o rre n d o u s battle ought to h av e b een
review ed a t le a s t by peo p le w ho w ere familiar with th e
en tire picture
Not ju st s o m e incidents by a few. I am
sorry to sa y th a t this is ju st a n o th e r ex am p le of "the sign of
th e tim es." T h e 101st A irborne Division a t B asto g n e, along
with th e a d v a n c e of P a tto n ’s 3rd Army w a s th e turning
p o in t"
H ow ever, I do strongly think th a t th e 106th Division
d e s e r v e s a t le a s t a little credit for having held th e G e rm a n s
th o s e p recio u s six d ay s, a t a c o st of o v e r 6 ,6 0 0 d ead,
w ou n d ed , m issing an d ca p tu re d b rav e soldiers.
We
co ntinued to fight an d su p p o rt th e c o m b a t throu g h o u t the
battle, albeit with only a m inim um stren g th 424th Infantry
R eg im en t a n d o n e battalion of artillery, th e 589th (four 105
MM H ow itzers), a s well a s eig h t e n g in e e rs from our 8 1 st
E n g in eer B attalion. W e w e re finally relieved in mid-M arch.
A ls o re: a rt ic l e "U .S. & G e r m a n Field Artillery...."
A glaring e rro r c o n c e rn s th e infantry divisions on th e front
lines of D e c e m b e r 16. 1944
First, th e m ajor th ru st of th e G erm a n offensive w a s in the
region m a n n e d by th e 106th Infantry D iv isio n -n o t th e 2nd
Infantry Division. T h e 2nd w a s relieved m an for m an an d
gun for gun on D e c e m b e r 10, 11 an d 12, 1944, by the
106th Infantry Division. W e held o u r positions for five d ay s
while th e divisions on e ith e r flank g a v e w ay within th e first
tw o d a y s. H ave you e v e r h e a rd of St. Vith. Belgium ? W e
THF BUI GF BUGI.F
lost over 6,000 ca su a ltie s (killed c a p tu re d and w ounded)
th o s e first five days.
S eco n d , th e reco rd s show th a t w e w ere e x p ert in th e u se
of both th e 105MM and th e 155MM H owitzers. O n e of the
re a s o n s th e G e rm a n s w ere held up for th o s e five d a y s .......
R o b e r t S. S c h e r e r
106 INFD ARTY HQ
FRENCH MEDAL OF HONOR
I w a s a m em b er of th e 307th A irborne M edical C om pany,
82nd A irborne Division, during '.WVIi. A while b ack I
received th e h ighest an d m ost p restig io u s aw ard from the
Republic of France.
Of only 14 A m ericans, I w as aw ard e d th e F rench Medal
of Honor, th e first tim e given in th e United S ta te s Prior to
this tim e (since N ap o leo n ’s day) it w a s only given in
F ran ce
A m e lio C ucinelli
82 ABND 307 ABN MED CO
48 DAYS IN B ASTO GN E
I w a s in th e 101st A irborne Division with th e 907th Glider
Field Artillery Battalion, B B attery, G un #3. W e had the
sn u b n o se 105 mm.
W e w ere in th e en circlem en t in th e Battle of th e Bulge in
B asto g n e. W e w ere th e re for 48 d a y s an d had plenty of
incom ing artillery and they w ere 88 ’s not 105's. I d o n ’t
know w h ere all th e information a b o u t 1 0 5 ’s c a m e from.
W hen yon heard thp shell com ing an d you could fee! it
a n d th e ground it w a s not an 88 But let m e tell you they
w e re all B8 ’s th at c a m e in a t us. T h e 88 ’s w e re sm aller
th an th e 105’s, but nearly tw ice a s long.
If w e w e re th ere now I could sh o w you ju st w h ere so m e
a r e - th e y w ent into th e ground and n e v e r w ent off In fact
of all th e artillery g u n s w e c ap tu red , w e n e v er sa w a
G erm an 105. Talk of re su p p ly -a ll tnrough F ra n c e an a
Holland th e G e rm a n s n e v er had to m ove artillery shells.
T hey w ere sta c k e d in piles all o v er th e country. T hey ju st
s e t up th e gun by th e sh ells an d sta rte d shooting an d th o se
piles w ere all 88 ’s.
G. A. " B u d " L a u e r
101 ABND 907 GIB B
THANKS TO MR. BIGGIO
I would like to e la b o ra te on th e ex cellen t article on the
organization an d o peration of th e field artillery by C h arles
Biggio, Jr., th a t w a s in th e N ov em b er is su e of The Bugle.
In addition to th e artillery battalio n s th a t a re p art of
infantry divisions, th e re a re artillery b attalio n s a tta c h e d to
c o rp s th a t a re se n t in su p p o rt of infantry divisions within
th e co rp s a re a th a t n ee d a d d e d fire pow er.
My battalion artillery, th e 955th Field Artillery 155 mm
Battalion w a s part of th e V C o rp s artillery organization.
O ur battalion receiv ed a sp ecial letter of com m en d atio n
from th e CO of th e 1st Infantry Division for our su p p o rt of
th e 26th Infantry R eg im en t in th e Bullingen-M onchow a re a
during th e Bulge. O ur after action report of Ja n u a ry 31,
i945, in aic a te s tn a t tn e y b sth FA Bn had tired in co m b at
August 2UU7
50,000 ro u n d s sin ce our arrival shortly after D-Day into
N orm andy.
Thanl<s for Mr Biggio's artillery article.
P .S . O ur battalion a t th e en d of th e w ar w a s aw arded
five battle sta rs.
E. W. M o r te n s e n
955 FA BN HQ
WHY NO FO RW A R D O B S E R V E R S ?
I sp e n t four y e a rs in the 4th A rm ored Division a s a forward
o b se rv e r during th e war.
I w rite a s I would like to s e e som ething in our Bulge
Bugle a b o u t th e du ties of th e forward o b s e r v e rs -F O a s w e
w ere called.
I w a s in th e H e a d q u arte rs B attery of th e 66 th Field
Artillery B attalion and trained a s a forward ob serv er. W e
had th re e m edium tan k s. W e traveled next to th e first tank
in all actions. W hen th e tan k c o m m a n d e r n ee d e d artillery,
w e w en t into action.
With out th e F O ’s th e artillery co u ld n ’t fire accurately
b e c a u s e w e called for fire. W e could s e e th e targ e t and
th e g u n s could not. W ithout u s observing w h ere th e g u n s
w ere. T hey couldn’t s e e an d w e could. T he T 0 5 ’s could
fire to a co o rd in an ce but co u ld n ’t s e e th e target. O ur
artillery w a s th e b e s t - a s k Col. Leach.
T h e re w ere a lot of F O ’s in th e 4th an d I would like to s e e
som ethin g written in The Bugle, explaining w hat w e did,
alw ays up on th e line. O ur 105’s could not fire accurately
w ithout th e F O ’s a s w e could s e e th e hits on all th e
ta rg e ts. W e helped a lot to en d th e conflict.
My call sign w a s Fox Dog 23.
I am now living in a retire m en t h o m e an d doing pretty
g o o d -! am 89 y e a rs old. 1 will n e v e r forget th o s e d a y s up
on th e line an d th e o th er d ay s. I lived with th e finest
peo p le e v e r in my life.
M ost of th em a re g o n e and
rem em b ered .
A lb e rt G a y d o s
66 FAO Bn HQ
[Editor: I believe you will find s o m e information
regarding
forward
o b se rv e rs
in
this
issue.
R em em ber, w e print w hat w e re c eiv e —w e h a ve no
research sta ff an d d e p e n d on you for our stories.]
REBUTTAL TO PREV IO US ARTILLERY ARTICLE
In my article in The Bulge Bugle of N ovem ber, 2006, on
th e U.S. & G erm an Field Artillery in th e BoB, I sta te d th at
by D ecem ber, 1944, th e A m erican field artillery had rid
itself of all WWI can n o n an d rep laced th em with o n e s of
A m erican d esig n and m an u factu re.
I sta n d by th at
sta te m e n t.
In re s p o n s e to my article, Mike N osanov, of th e 11th
A rm ored Division, w rote to c h allen g e my article a s a
"contrived effort of a feuilletonist." He m aintains th at he
sa w a F rench 75m m gun being fired in th e BOB by
A m erican so ld iers of an arm o red infantry co m p an y of his
division.
T he F rench 75m m gun (1897) w a s d esig n ed and
THE BULGE BUGLE
m an u factu red by th e F re n c h -a n d w a s F ra n c e ’s main light
artillery piece in WWI. S in ce it w a s th e b e st gun of its
caliber at th a t era, an d sin ce they w e re plentiful in F ran ce,
th e A m erican AEF d ecid e d to u s e th e F ren ch 75 a s their
main light artillery w eap o n both during WWI an d b etw een
th e g re a t w ars. By 1942 th e U.S. had d ev e lo p e d a 105m m
how itzer to rep lace th e F rench 75 a s th e U.S. field
artillery’s main light artillery p ie c e -a n d th e F rench 75 w a s
p h a se d out. By 1944 th e re w ere no F ren ch 7 5 ’s left in th e
units of th e U.S. field artillery.
I realize th at Mr. N osanov firmly b eliev es th a t he sa w a
F rench 75 in action with his 11th A rm ored Division in th e
Bulge; how ever, after thoroughly se a rch in g th e arm y files
in th e A rchives an d reading all th e pertin en t b o oks on this
subject, I h av e found no ev id e n c e a t all to su p p o rt his
contention.
T he TO&E 17 of F ebruary, 1944, lists all of th e
e q u ip m en t auth o rized by th e U.S. arm o red divisions. T he
only can n o n th a t w ere auth o rized in To&E 17 for th e
arm o red division in 1944 w ere a s follows: (1) T h e field
artillery of th e arm o red division w a s au th o rized eig h te e n
105m m how itzers, self-propelled for e a c h of its th re e
artillery b a tta lio n s -a total of 54 for th e entire division
artillery, (2) T h ere w e re se v e n te e n 75m m how itzers (S P )
au thorized for th e arm o red d iv isio n -e ig h t in th e cavalry
re c o n n a issa n c e s q u a d ro n s an d nine in th e arm o red infantry
battalions. T h e s e w e re c o n sid ered infantry w e a p o n s, an d
did not o p e ra te u n d e r field artillery control. (3) T h e re w ere
thirty 57m m g u n s, tow ed, au th o rized for th e arm o red
division. T h e s e a lso w ere controlled by th e infantry. (4) A
105m m how itzer w a s also au th o rized a s th e m ain gun of
e a c h m edium tan k in th e division. T h e re w e re no o th er
c an n o n auth o rized for th e arm o red division.
I am not arguing th a t it w a s im possible for Mr. N o san o v
to h av e se e n a F rench 75 in D ec e m b e r of 1944. But I can
find no ev id e n c e th a t o n e w a s th e re th a t day. I believe
th at w hat he sa w w a s o n e of th e 57m m g u n s, tow ed, by
th e arm o red infantry battalions an d m istook for a F rench
75. I w o n d er if any o th er m e m b e rs of a n arm o red division
which took part in th e Bulge th o u g h t h e sa w a F ren ch 75
during th e b attle?
C h a r l e s P. B ig g i o , Jr.
99 INFD
TANK D E S T R O Y E R S
As a form er tan k d e stro y e r soldier an d a long-tim e m e m b e r
of VBOB, I a p p re c ia te your publishing R alph S to rm ’s article
"Tank D estroyers" in th e F ebruary 200 7 is su e of The Bulge
Bugle which receiv ed top notice of th e article on th e cover,
although I m u st sa y their m ission w a s offen siv e in ste a d of
defen siv e, a s m en tio n ed on th e cover.
Storm d ealt well with m o st of th e high points of th e
stre n g th s an d w e a k n e s s e s of tan k d e stro y e r doctrine,
tactics, and w e a p o n s u se d during th e brief e x is te n c e of this
new "branch of th e arm y." It w ould h a v e b en ap p ro p riate
for him to m ention M ajor G e n e ra l A. D. B ruce, w ho
e stab lish e d th e th en C am p Hod for im plem enting th e T ank
D estroyer Force.
He is known a s th e "F a th e r of Fort
Hood," a s inscribed on a s ta te historical m a rk e r a t th e fort.
It m u st be re m e m b e re d th a t th e T an k D e stro y e r F orce,
August 2007
STILL PROUD
initiated by G en eral G e o rg e C. M arshal, nurtured by
I really enjoy reading all th e articles in The b u lg e tiugie.
L ieutenant G en eral Lesley J. McNair, an d im plem ented by
I w a s a m em b er of C om pany C, 202nd E n g in eer C o m b at
Major G en eral A. D. B ruce, found th a t th e battlefields and
Battalion and w a s shelled by th e G e rm a n s a t Stavelot,
th e e n e m y 's com bined a rm s tactics fo rb ad e th e tank
d e stro y e rs from im plem enting its p rescrib ed doctrine.
Belgium ... D ecem b er 16, 1944.
I w a s driving th e co m m and c a r th a t led o u r co m p an y out
Instead, th e tan k d e stro y e rs d ev elo p e d a new doctrine on
of th e town to 1st Army H ead q u a rtrs in S p a. O ur acting
their own, creating s u c c e s s w h e re it co u n ted m ost--on th e
com p an y co m m an d er, Lt. Chinlund, told 1st Army officers
battlefields of E urope.
of our e n c o u n te r with th e G erm a n s. They informed him
Caivin C. B o yk in , J r
didn't know th e G e rm a n s w ere th a t close.
O ur
7
ARMD 814 TD BN they
RECON
com pany e n d ed up in Liege, Belgium, dunng C h ristm as of
P r e s i d e n t , WWI T a n k D e s t r o y e r S o c ie t y
'44.
I am still a proud v e te ra n of 83 w ho helped se rv e to
"K eep A m erica F ree." My wife an d I a re hosting our
B RO U G H T BACK MEMORIES
co m p a n y ’s reunion on July 26-28. O ur C om pany C h as
O n p a g e 20 of th e May copy of The Bugle, th e re a p p e a re d
held a reunion every y e a r sin ce 1 9 5 4 -th e last full w eek in
an article entitled "B arracu d a R esto red "
July. This y e a r’s reunion (2006) w a s held in New Oxford,
I read this article sev e ra l tim es b e c a u s e it brought back
P ennsylvania. O n e of o u r b u d d ies c a m e th at w e h ad n 't
m any m e m o n e s.
se e n in 61 y ears. I believe h e now re g re ts th a t h e never
I drove a tan k in C om pan y B an d w a s c lo se by w hen th e
a tten d e d any of our previous reunions.
S even ty -eig h t
B arracu d a w a s hit. I re m e m b e r th o s e m en m entioned.
p ercen t of o ur co m p an y c a m e from Ohio an d P ennsylvania.
C apt. A m eno w a s CO. His last w ords w ere "The en em y is
Carl C. Miller
retreating north, sh o o t th e s — out of them ." ...m y tank
202 ENG R CMBT BN C
co m m an d er. First Lt. W illiam son b e c a m e CO an d rode in
[Thanks for the kind w ords. Carl.
W e try to
my tan k for a cou p le of d a y s an d th en w a s w o u n d ed after
em p h a size to our m em b e rs the im portance of
th e w ar w a s over.
attending reunions. No on e e v e r u n derstan ds like
Pvt G oldstein w rote a letter ab o u t his ord eal a s a PO W
th o se who w ere there.]
I received a copy of th e letter an d I am glad I w a s n ev er a
POW .
Koy A. minrieriy
MISSISSIPPI MONUMENT
11 ARMD 41 TK BN B
In th e April 2007 is su e of The Bulge Bugle, th e
" P re sid e n t’s M essag e" lists th e m em o rials (m o n u m en ts) to
th e VBOB in th e U.S.A.
O V E R S IG H T ?
W e w ere d isappointed th a t th e M ississippi m o n u m en t
H aving receiv ed th e m ulti-colored certificate of participation
located at th e A rmed F o rc e s M useum in C am p S helby [the
in th e A rd en n es, I am im p re sse d by its c raftsm an sh ip
p o s t office apparently g o t Mr Hunt's letter caught up in
m aking it a sym bol of pride to th e recipients and their
on e of its m achines, but w e g e t the m e s sa g e .
That
fam ilies. T h e re is; how ever, a 'glitch’ of ov ersig h t in the
particular n ew sletter item resu lted in a n u m ber of ch apters
recording of th e n u m b er of divisions so ShOVv'n.
telling us that the m em orials in their vicinity had not b een
Specifically, th e a b s e n c e of th e insignia of th e 104th
m en tion ed W e h ave tw o o f them c o v e re d in this issu e
Infantry Division; o n e having s e e n pro tracted c o m b at a t the
I’m not su re if w e ran a picture o f the m onum ent at Cam p
n orthern extrem ity of th e Bulge
This a b s e n c e n e e d s
Shelby, but it w a s m en tion ed in three or four earlier
correction to justify th e m em ory of th e 16,000 w ho serv ed ,
n ew sletters. P le a se s e n d u s an oth er picture and w e ’ll
fought an d died, in th e "P ine T ree" Division.
c o v e r it in a future issue.
The s a m e applies if your
P ossibly a properly d e sig n e d p a ste -o n recognition would
chapter's m em orial w a s n e v e r in the n e w sle tte r S en d us
suffice, not requiring a redo of form at. W h ate v er, this outfit
a short sto ry regarding s a m e and a picture. No oversight
m erits honoring a s o th ers, not inadvertently slighted, a s
now.
w as intentional.]
J a m e s W. H u n t
I believe this of sufficient im portance to b e included in
1 INFD
"L etters to th e Editor" soliciting input
P h illip W. R o b b i n s
4 INFD 12 INF 2 BN
BATTLE F O R TILLET
With reg ard to th e article "Setting th e R ecord Straight," by
[The insignia show n on the VBOB certificates are
T h o m as Williams, I think a little m ore straightening is in
th o se in cluded in the G eneral O rder #1 1 4 is su e d b y
order. W hile th e 7 6 1 st T ank B attalion w a s a good outfit,
the W ar D ep a rtm en t 7 D e c e m b e r 1945. A s there
and d o e s d e se rv e a lot of credit, they h av e b e en credited
w ere o v e r 2 ,0 0 0 individual units entitled to the
with far m ore th an their real a c co m p lish m en ts. B e c a u se
A rd en n es credit, it w ould h a v e b e e n im possible to
they w ere a black unit th e re h a v e b e e n an unfortunate
include all. Therefore, th o se grou ps not sh ow n are
e n c o u ra g ed to p la ce their patch on the certificate
n u m b er of actio n s th a t they h av e b e en credited with that
em bellish th e truth to say th e least. O v er th e y e a rs so m e
before framing.]
of th e s e sto ries h av e ta k e n on a life of their own.
IH h BULUl: U U G Lt
August 2007
REUNIONS
2 9 6 T H E N G IN E E R C O M B A T B A T T A L IO N , S ep tem b er 26-28,
2007. Sturbridge, M assachusetts. C ontact: Jo sep h C iv itillo , 9 Ireland
R oad, W ethersfield, C onnecticut 06109.
2N D A R M O R E D D IV IS IO N & 17T H A R M O R E D E N G IN E E R
B A T T A L IO N , Septem ber 12-16, 2007, C olum bus, G eorgia. Contact:
John A. Shields, P C B ox 106, E ast B utler, G eorgia 16029. T elephone:
724-287-4301.
5 2 6 T H A R M O R E D IN F A N T R Y B A T T A L IO N ,A u g u s t2 9 -S e p te m b e r
2, 2007, C ody, W yom ing. C ontact: S herrie M o rriso n , P.O. B ox 456,
Y olo, C alifornia 95697. T elephone: 530-662-8160.
2N D C A V A L R Y D IV IS IO N ,N o v e m b e r 8 -1 1 ,2 0 0 7 , V ienna, V irginia.
C ontact:
2nd C avalry A ssociation, 87 O verall Phillips Road,
E lizabethtow n, K entucky 42701.
7 4 0 T H T A N K B A T T A L IO N , A u g u st 3 0 -S e p tem b er 2, 2007, D allasF ort W orth, T exas. C ontact: 740th T ank B attalio n , PO B ox 202549,
A rlington, T exas 76006.
4 T H A R M O R E D D IV IS IO N , Septem ber 3-9, 2007, N iagara Falls,
N ew York. C ontact: 4th A rm ored D ivision A ssociation, 760 C restview
D rive, S harpsville, P ennsylvania 16150-8332.
5 T H A R M O R E D D IV IS IO N , A ugust 16-19, 2007, C anton, Ohio.
C ontact: Jeffrey C. Sm ith, 404 W est 12th Street, D over, O hio 44622.
T elephone: 330-454-5000.
i|
7T H A R M O R E D D IV IS IO N , Septem ber 27-O ctober 1,2007, V irginia
Beach, V irginia. C ontact: C heryl M . H igley, 292 Scott Sw am p Road,
F arm ington, C onnecticut 06032. T elephone: 860-678-1018.
17T H A R M O R E D E N G IN E E R B A T T A L IO N -s e e 2nd A rm ored
D ivision.
17T H A IR B O R N E D IV IS IO N , O ctober 4 -7 ,2 0 0 7 , H am pton, V irginia.
C ontact: E dw ard J. S iergiej, P C B ox 4793, D ow ling Park, F lorida
32064. T elephone: 386-658-1292. As th e a sso c ia tio n is d isso lv in g ,
th is w ill be th e ir la s t r e u n io n —t r y to m a k e it.
30 T H IN F A N T R Y D IV IS IO N , S eptem ber 19-23,2007, Raleigh, N orth
C arolina. C ontact: 30th IN FO , L TC C liff W ilkins, 1501 L afayette
A venue, R ocky M ount, N orth C arolina 27803.
35 T H IN F A N T R Y D IV IS IO N , S eptem ber 27-30, 2007, St. L ouis,
M issouri. C ontact: 35th D ivision, PO B ox 5004, T opeka, K ansas
66605.
t j
m-
38 T H S IG N A L B A T T A L IO N , S eptem ber 27-30, 2007, E atontow n,
N ew Jersey. C ontact: Bill Foiles, 2208 D unvegan D rive, C olum bia,
South C arolina 29209-3012. T elephone: 803-776-1114.
4 4T H IN F A N T R Y D IV IS IO N , S eptem ber 15-19, 2007, Springfield,
Illinois. C ontact: Jo h n E . C onrad, 11361 T ay lo r Pines D rive, M aryland
H eights, M issouri 63043. T elephone: 314-739-8408.
^
*
75T H IN F A N T R Y D IV IS IO N , A ugust 2 9 -S eptem ber 1 ,2007, K ansas
C ity, M is s o u ri. C ontact: Jim W arm outh, 6545 W est 11th Street,
Indianapolis, Indiana 46214. (C orrection on state)
7 8 T H IN F A N T R Y D IV IS IO N ,S e p te m b e r2 4 -2 8 ,L o u isv ille , K entucky.
C ontact: 78 IN FD , 104 O ak G len R oad, Pittsburgh, P ennsylvania
15237.
84T H IN F A N T R Y D IV IS IO N , A ugust 24-26, 2007, Springfield,
Illinois. C ontact: T roy M allory. T elephone: 217-223-9062.
8 7T H IN F A N T R Y D IV IS IO N , O ctober 7-13, 2007, C arlisle,
P ennsylvania. C ontact: 87 IN FD , 400 H em lock Road, Flourtow n,
P ennsylvania 19031-2211.
90T H IN F A N T R Y D IV IS IO N , A ugust 9-12, 2007, P ittsburgh.
P ennsylvania. C ontact: Jam es R. R eid, Sr. T elephone: 630-789-0204.
THE BULGE BUGLE
U N IT E D S T A T E S O F A M E R IC A
<939-1945 73 x 5 < c m
A n isi: N o rm a n R ockw ell
T he fa m ily a n d neighbours welcome a returned soldier. Poster taken
from a cover painting fo r Saturday Evening Post
America must never forget the debt
we owe the World War II
generation.
P R E S I D E N T W I L L I A M J. C L I N T O N
A u g u st 2007
The Field ArtiUery
Forward Observer
By M. J. "Mike"Levin
7* Armored Div, 489^ AFA Bn, A Btry
In c o m b a t, th e field artillery h a s tw o w a y s to lo ca te
its targ e ts; unobserv e d fire, in w h ic h th e targ e t c an n o t be seen
a n d is id e n tifie d e ith e r by intelU gence th a t h a s b een p ro v id ed
o r b y firin g at a lo c a tio n fo u n d o n th e m ap. F o r e x am p le, y ou
m ig h t fire a t a n im p o rta n t c ro ssro a d . It is. in effect, firin g
b lin d . T h e se c o n d w ay is to h a v e so m e o n e u p fro n t w h o c an
o b se rv e th e en em y a n d h is activity a n d ra d io b a ck to the
b a tta h o n fire d ire c tio n c e n te r (F D C ) b o th h is e x ac t lo catio n
a n d th e lo ca tio n a n d d e ta ils o f th e ta rg e t he p ro p o se s to tak e
u n d e r fire. T h a t is th e jo b o f th e F o rw a rd O b serv e r, (th e
“ F . O ” ).
U s in g u n o b s e r\e d fire y o u m ig h t n e \ e r k n o w how
c lo se to y o u r ta rg e t y o u r ro im d s lan d e d o r w h a t d a m a g e y ou
m ay h a v e c a u s e d to the en em y b e c a u se no b o d y w as lo oking.
W ith a F o rw a rd O b s e rv e r y o u h a v e so m e o n e not only
d ire c tin g th e fu-e. b u t ab le to re p o rt th e results. T h ere is a
d o w n sid e to th e F .O . jo b , h o w e v e i. in o rd e r to d o h is jo b
e ffe c tiv e ly he h a s to be o u t fro n t, usu ally in fro n t o f th e tro o p s
h e is su p p o rtin g . T h e casualty ra te a m o n g F .O .’s w a s \e r y
tiigh. Y ou h a d to try to m ak e y o u rs e lf a s inx isib le a s po ssib le;
h id e y o u r in sig n ia a n d m ak e sure w h a te v e r e q u ip m e n t you
w e re usinp, d id n ’t b e tra y w h a t y o u w ere d oing.
In A rm o red D iv isio n s. Uie F .O . w as n o rm ally a I®* Lt.
o r a 2"" L t. H e w a s p ro \ id ed a je e p , a se rg ea n t, a d riv e r/ra d io
o p e ra to r a n d a tw o p a rt d e m o u n ta b le ra d io (S C R 610). O n e
p a rt w a s th e ra d io itself; th e se c o n d p art w a s a battery pack.
T h e battery p a ck re c h a rg e d its e lf w h e n m o u n te d in th e v e h ic le
w ith th e m o to r ru n n in g . E a c h p art w e ig h e d b e tw e e n 20 a n d 30
p o u n d s. T h e ra d io o p e ra te d o n frequency m o d u la tio n (F M )
a n d w a s lim ite d (o “line o f sig h t” tra n sm issio n B eca u sc o f th is
te c h n ic a l lim ita tio n , th e F .O . w a s a lso p ro v id ed a relay
v e h ic le , (a h a lf trac k ), w h ic h w a s a b le to re la y tran sm issio n s,
w h e n th e territory b e tw e e n the F.O . a n d llic F ire D ire c tio n
C e n te r in te rfe re d w ith lin e o f sig h i c o m iiiu iu c aiio n s.
T h e F.O . w o u ld n o rm a lly “a d ju s t” fire, (th at is. z ero
ill uii a ta ig c l) u sin g o n e o f th e six 105m m sc lf-p ro p e lle d
h o w itz e rs in h is battery O n c e a d ju ste d o n targ e t, d e p e n d in g
o n th e siz e a n d im p o rta n c e o f th e targ e t, th e S3, (w h o ra n the
F ire E h rectio n C e n te r) w o u ld d e te rm in e th e n u m b e r o f
w e a p o n s to be u se d o n th e ta rg e t w h e n th e F .O c a lle d “ F ire
F o r E ffect”
T h e F ire D ire c tio n C e n te r is c ritic a l to e ffe c tiv e
a rtille iy b a tta lio n o p e ra tio n s In th e c ase o f unobserv e d fire th e
c e n te r m u st n o t only re a c t to re q u e sts fo r fire b a se d on
in c o m in g ta rg e t m fo n n a tio n ; they m u st a lso m ain tain
m e te o ro lo g ic a l a n d re la te d in fo rm a tio n su c h a s a m b ie n t
te m p e ra tu re , w in d sp e e d a n d d ire c tio n a n d e v en te m p e ra tu re
o f th e g u n p o w d e r. T h e se fa c to rs a re im p o rta n t w h e n n o o n e is
observ in g the targ et b e c a u se th ey a ll a ffe c t th e trajectory a n d
th e re fo re th e accuracv o f th e fire. W h en a F o rw a rd O bserv e r is
THE BU LG E BUGLE
c o n d u c tin g th e a rtille ry fire th ese fa cto rs a re not im portant
b e c a u se th e F .O . w ill “ a d ju st” th e fire until it is o n target.
D u rin g c o m b at m o st o f the artillery sh e lls w e
re ce iv e d w e re e q u ip p e d w ith a d ju sta b le fiises F o r exam p le,
w e c o u ld set th e m to d e to n a te on c o n ta c t (“F use Q u ic k ” ) o r to
d e to n a te a fte r p e n etratin g a targ et ("F u se D e lay ")
D u rin g the B attle o f T h e B u lg e w e sta rte d to receive
s h e lls w ith a new ly d e v elo p ed fu se ih a i d id not leq u ire any
s e ttin g It w a s called a 'pro x im ity fuse” b e ca u se it w ould
a u to m a tic a lly d e to n a te th e shell at the p ro p e r d istan c e fro m the
ta rg e t W e c a lle d it “ p o sit” . U nlike m o st m ilitary e quipm ent,
h o w e v er, w h ic h usu ally c a m e w ith d e ta ile d instru ctio n s o r
F ie ld M a n u a ls, they ru sh e d th e proxim ity fuse in to com bat
w ith n o in stru ctio n s w h atso ev er. W e u n d ersto o d only th a t the
p o sit a p p are n tly c o n ta in e d a sm all ra d ar-lik e tra n sm itte r un d er
its p lastic no se cone.
W e h a d no p ro b lem a d ju stin g fire u sin g o n e h o w itzer
sh e ll a t a tim e w idi po sit fuses. B efo re v e ry long, h o w ev er, w e
sta rte d to h e a r sto ries o f sh ra p n el fa llin g o n frien d ly forces. It
to o k so m e d e te ctiv e w o rk to figure out w liat w as h ap p en in g
O n c e the F.O . h a d ad ju sted fire the F ire D ire ctio n C enter
w o u ld d ire c t fire for efT^ect, u sin g o n e battery (six h o w itzers)
o r, d e p e n d in g o n the targ et, the e n tire b a tta h o n (eig h teen
h o w itzers). F o r m ax im u m su rp rise, they w o u ld u sually call for
■'volley” fire; that is, all th e g u n s w o u ld fire together. T h ere
w as th e p roblem ! T h e sh e lls w o u ld s e lf d e to n a te if close to
a n o th e r sh ell in n ig h t. T iie lix w as very sim ple, in stea d o f
firin g by v o lley , w e w o u ld fire by sa lv o fire; that is.—g un # 1 F ire , g u n # 2 Fire, gun # 3 - F ire . etc. N o m ore sh ra p n ft on
frien d ly tro o p s
T h e w rite r o f th e se n o tes w o u ld a sk h is k in d read ers
to be e asy o n him i f they find m ista k e s H is sixty tw o y e ar old
m em ory ju s t " a in 't" w h a t it u se d to be.
(Ediior A Note: Mike Lex'in received his commission at Ft Sill
Oklahoma, Officer Candidate School (OCS), and was
assigned as a Forward Observer to the
Armored I'ield
Artillery, A Battery o f the
Armored Division. Mike
asked to prepared this article and is a member o f the AID DC
Chapter o f VBOB)
WEARING MILIT.ARY MEDALS
A rm y R e g u la tio n 6 7 0 -1 , "W ea r an d A p p e ara n c e o f A rm y
U n ifo rm an d In sig n ia," a llo w s re tire d so ld iers to "w ear all
c a te g o rie s o f m e d a ls (d e sc rib e d in th is re g u la tio n ) on a p p ro p ria te
c iv ilia n c lo th in g . T h is in c lu d e s c lo th e s d e sig n ed for v e te ran d
an d p a trio tic o rg a n iz a tio n s on V e te ra n s D ay, M em o rial D ay and
A rm o re d F o rc e s D ay, as w ell as at fo rm al o c ca sio n s o f cerem o n y
and so c ial fu n c tio n s o f a m ilitary' n atu re. P ersonnel m ay w ear
e ith e r fu ll-s iz e o r m in ia tu re m ed a ls. P erso n n el w ho w e a r m edals
on c iv ilia n c lo th e s sh o u ld p lac e th e m e d a ls on the c lo th in g in
a p p ro x im a te ly the sam e lo ca tio n an d in the sam e m a n n e r as on
th e A rm y u n ifo rm , so th ey lo o k sim ila r to m e d a ls w ork on the
A rm y u n ifo rm ." S o u rce: A rm y E ch o e s Ja n -A p r 2007. H Q D A
A P R E -H R P -R S O , A le x an d ria. V irg in ia 2 2 3 3 2 -0 4 7 0 .□
■August 2007
MEMBERS SPEAK OUT
ELM ER
M U L L IN S , 5 8 3 R D
M O TO R AM BULANCE
C O M P A N Y , w o u ld like to h e ar from a n y o n e w ho w as th ere
w h e n th e y c ro sse d into G e rm an y . W rite to E lm e r at: R.R. 2,
B ox 197H , C lin tw o o d , V irg in ia 24228.
R ita J a c q u e m in is lo o k in g fo r tw o A m e ric an so ld iers w ho w ere
frien d s w ith h e r p a re n ts—h e r m o th e r w a s a R ed C ross nurse.
T h e so ld ie rs are:
L T J O E L W . S T E IN , 4 5 6 T H A A A
B A T T A L IO N , B A T T E R Y B (fo rm erly o f B ald w in , N ew Y ork,
an d L T R A L P H J . F O R S B E R T , 4 5 6 T H A A A B A T T A L IO N ,
B A T T E R Y B (fo rm e rly o f M ad iso n , N e w Jersey). If you can
p ro v id e any in fo rm a tio n , w rite to h e r at: 51, R ue du 131E M E
Ri; F -5 4 .7 3 0 G o rcy ; F rance.
G u y J a c q u e m in w o u ld like to find in fo rm a tio n an d a p h o to o f
P a th fin d e r U n it R a d ar E q u ip m e n t from th e 101 st A irborne
D iv isio n in B a sto g n e. I f y ou can h e lp him w ith in fo rm atio n on
fin d in g th is w rite to him at: R, R ue D e v an t W ac h ert; 674 7 S aint
L ag e r, B elgium .
M U R R A Y L E F F , 3 5 T H IN F A N T R Y D IV IS IO N . 137T H
IN F A N T R Y
R E G IM E N T ,
CO M PA N Y
E,
a n n o u n ce s
p u b lic a tio n o f his b o o k Lens o f an Infantryman. T h e boo k
c o n ta in s o v e r 100 p h o to g ra p h s tak e n at the in stan t o f th e
d e sc rib e d a ctio n at the rifle sq u a d level. T o in q u ire a b o u t
a v a ila b ility w rite o r call: M c F a rlan d & C o m p a n y , Inc., B ox 611,
Je fferso n , N o rth C a ro lin a
2 8 6 4 0 --P h o n e :
3 3 6 -2 4 6 -4 4 6 0 .
M u rra y su g g e sts th a t w h en you are fin ish ed w ith th e boo k you
g iv e it to y o u r local lib rary o r p u rc h ase a c o p y fo r them .
C O Y L E E T A T E , 1 0 6 T H IN F A N T R Y D IV IS IO N , 4 2 3 R D
IN F A N T R Y R E G I M E N T , C O M P A N Y F, w h o w as held
ca p tiv e from D e c e m b e r 19, 1944 to A p ril 12, 1945, in B ranch
C a m p 4B , in L ik sik , G e rm an y , w o u ld like to h e ar from any o n e
w h o m ay h ave se rv ed w ith him . H is a d d re ss is: HC 69, B ox
34, H ugo, O k la h o m a 74743.
A Z IL T . W A L L E N , 7 8 8 T H A N T I A IR C R A F T A R T I L L E R Y
A U T O M A T IC W E A P O N S B A T T A L IO N , w o u ld like to know
the w h e rea b o u ts o f the fo llo w in g o r th e ir fa m ilie s: A M B R O S E
R IC H A R D S (P o rt A rth u r, T ex a s), E A R L F IS H E R (F o rt D odge,
Iow a), an d H Y M A N H IN D L E (N ew Y o rk C ity ). If you can
h e lp w rite to A zil at: 103 G re e n b ria r, R ip ley , W est V irg in ia
25271.
M U R R A Y E D E L S T E I N , 4 4 2 N D M E D IC A L C O L L E C T I N G
C O M P A N Y , w o u ld like to fin d a listin g o f all ind iv id u al u n its
in v o lv ed in the A rd e n n es. I f y ou know , d ro p him a note at:
439 8 F o u n ta in s D riv e, L ak e W orth, F lo rid a 3 3 467. [ I f you
know where there is a complete listing. I ’d like to know, too.]
A s so c ia te M e m b e r G a r y J . S p r in g s tu b b is in te re stin g re c e iv in g
any in fo rm atio n a v a ila b le re g a rd in g p e rso n al o r u n it for S G T .
W IL B E R T S P R IN G S T U B B , I9 3 R D G L I D E R IN F A N T R Y
R E G IM E N T , 17 T H A IR B O R N E D IV IS IO N . Sgt S p rin g stu b b
w as w o u n d ed on Ja n u a ry 8th o r 9th. W rite to G a ry at: 28 8 0
S ylvan C ourt, O c e a n sid e , N e w Y ork 11572.
THE BULGE BUGLE
C arol H. A lb ritto n w o u ld like to re c e iv e in fo rm a tio n re g a rd in g
W I L L IA M " B I L L " M I L L E R ,2 8 T H IN F A N T R Y D IV IS IO N .
B ill’s h o m e to w n w a s L a fa y e tte , In d ian a . He w a s sta tio n e d at
C a m p G o rd o n Jo h n sto n , F lo rid a, in 1943. W rite to C aro l at:
2 36 S o u th L ip o n a R oad, T a lla h a sse e , F lo rid a 3 2310.
E D W A R D E C H M A L IA N , 5 5 7 T H O R D N A N C E H E A V Y
M A IN T E N A N C E C O M P A N Y (T A N K ), se rv e d in E u p en ,
B elg iu m at the b o lt fa cto ry . H e w o u ld like fu rth e r in fo rm a tio n
on th e sto ry by Ja m e s S. B e resfo rd re: C h e rb o u rg , F rance.
(A u g u st, 2 0 0 6 , p ag e 5) If you can h e lp w rite to him at: 963 4
G a in fo rd S tre et, D o w n ey , C a lifo rn ia 9 0 2 4 0 -3 5 1 6 .
EDW ARD
SU M M EY ,
773R D
F IE L D
A R T IL L E R Y
B A T T A L IO N , H E A D Q U A R T E R S B A T T E R Y , is try in g to
lo cate a S e rg e a n t from N ew Y ork w h o m he m e t in N o v e m b e r o f
1945 at C a m p P h ila d e lp h ia . T h e se rg e a n t w a s g o in g to m a rry a
n urse w h en he re tu rn e d h o m e. T h e tw o o f th e m w e re in a ten t
w ith fo u r ra n g e rs w h o p la y e d c a rd s all d a y , e v ery day. Y ou can
c o n ta c t Ed at: 20 S u n set C irc le , C a rte rsv ille , G e o rg ia 3 0 1 2 0 .
A s so c ia te M e m b e r H a n s J . W ij e r s a n n o u n c e s he has fin ish e d
his fourth b o o k - " T h e B attle o f the B u lg e —S e ize th e B rid g es."
Its th e last one on th e N o rth S h o u ld e r a n d g iv e s c re d it to all
u n its w h o fo u g h t at th e N o rth S h o u ld e r d u rin g th e o p e n in g h ours
o f th e B a ttle o f th e B ulge. P lease c o n ta c t H a n s fo r o rd e rin g
in fo rm a tio n at: Z e g e rijs tra a t2 7 , N L -6 9 7 1 Z N B R U M M E N ; T h e
N e th e rla n d s , e -m a il: w ije rs @ p la n e t.n l.
P a u l C . M o o d y w rite s to see if a n y o n e c an p ro v id e in fo rm a tio n
re g a rd in g his b ro th er, C P L J A M E S L . M O O D Y , from L in to n ,
In d ian a. H e w as fo llo w in g P a tto n ’s ta n k s th ro u g h L u x e m b o u rg
on F e b ru a ry 15, 1945 w h e n he stp p e d on a land m in e an d
m esse d up his foot. T h e m e d ic s p a tc h im him up an d se n t him
b a ck to th 4 I 4 T H A A A A U T O M A T I C G U N B A T T A L IO N .
If y ou can p ro v id e m o re in fo rm a tio n , w rite to Paul at: 4101
A m h e rst L an e, R a le ig h , N o rth C a ro lin a 2 7 6 0 9 .
MALMEDY MASSACRE MUSEUM
TO BE DEDICATED
T h e n e w sle tte r o f th e 30 th In fa n try D iv isio n a d v is e s us th a t th e re
w ill be a d e d ic a tio n o f a n e w m u se u m a t th e site o f th e M a lm e d y
M a ssac re at B a u g n ez , in B e lg iu m on 17 D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 7 .
F u rth e r in fo rm a tio n can be fo u n d on th e w e b at:
http://vvww.tours-intemational.co.uk/Tours/Malmedy+Massacre+Tours.
GERMAN GENERALS
[The follow ing was excerpted fro m the newsletter o f
G O LD E N G A T E C H A P TE R , dated June, 1997]
T h ere w e re a p p ro x im a te ly 2 ,5 0 0 g e n e ra ls in th e G e rm a n m ilita ry ,
7 86 o f w h o m d ie d in W W H. O f th ese:
2 53 w e re k ille d in a c tio n
4 4 d ie d o f w o u n d s
81 c o m m itte d su ic id e
23 w e re e x e c u te d b y H itle r
41 w e re e x e c u te d b y th e A llie s
3 2 6 d ie d o f o th e r c au ses.
(Puptent Facts fVW II)
A ugust 2007
PFC JOSEPH G. FARINA
T h is a ctio n w as later in a c c u ra te ly im m o rtalize d in the m ovie
"T lie B a ttle o f the B u lg e ”). A lth o u g h P e ip e r's p a n z e rs gro u n d
to a h alt, b itte r fig h tin g c o n tin u e d fo r the n ex t sev eral days,
u n d e r m ise ra b le w in ter c o n d itio n s. T he 526th A IB re m a in e d
lo ck e d in c o m b a t, su rv iv in g on c o ld "C " R atio n s and little sleep.
A 526th A IB v e te ran , W illard In g rah a m , d e sc rib e d how they
sp e n t C h ristm a s D ay 1944:
526TH ARfVlORFD INFANTRY BATTALION
COM PANY B
[The follow ing article appeared in the July, 2007, issue o f
The Pekan Newsletter and was subm itted to the Pekan hy
M ichael Perry, son o f Sgt. Manuel Perry, o f Company C,
and was written by Jerome Sheridan.)
"We heard via the grapevine that we were finally going
to get a hot meal. It v.'as a turkey dinner to he cxact.... !t
was both elation and disappointment when they plopped
that black boned piece o f turkey on my plate. I was raised
on a farm and knew good meat from had. That turkey was
so locker burned that no good cook would have it in the
kitchen but we had been on the ‘C ' diet so long that any
cooked fo o d tasted better than that.... All o f the 526 AIB
that ate that turkey got dysentery so bad that they had to
pull us o ff the defense line back somewhere to recover for
a fe w days.... Can you imagine having that kind o f u
problem while on the fro n t lines in a foxhole?"
[E x c e rp ts] P fc Jo se p h F a rin a w a s b orn 28 O c to b e r 1924 to
Ita lia n im m ig ra n t p a ren ts. H e liv e d w ith his p a re n ts an d sister.
M ary , in H ig h w o o d , lllm o is .......H e jo in e d the a rm y on 15 Ju n e
1943. Jo e F a rin a w a s a ssig n e d to th e 5 2 6 th A rm o re d In fan try
B a tta lio n (A IB ).
...A m o n g th e a r m y ’s v a rio u s A IB ’s, th e 5 2 6 th w a s a sp e c ia l
u nit. W h en Joe F a rin a jo in e d th e 5 2 6 th A IB , it w a s tra in in g at
C a m p B o u se in th e A riz o n a d e se rt w ith a new se c re t w e ap o n
c a lle d th e C a n a l D e fen se L ig h t (C D L ).
T he C D L s w e re
p o w e rfu l lig h ts th a t th e b a tta lio n w o u ld use to b lin d an d d iso rie n t
an e n e m y w h ile in fa n try an d a rm o r a tta c k e d . T h e m en o f the
5 2 6 th A IB w e re sw o rn to se c re c y a b o u t th e C D L s. T h e y c o u ld
o n ly la k e le a v e in g ro u p s, a n d th e y fa c e d th e p e n a lty o f
e x e c u tio n for tre a so n i f th e y re v e a le d its e x iste n c e . (C D L s w ere
d e c la s s ifie d in 1958.)
S o, in O c to b e r o f 1944, th e 5 2 6 th A IB w a s se n t to B e lg iu m for
r e tra in in g as a c o u n te r in te llig e n c e ta sk fo rce. (T h e b a tta lio n left
th e ir C D L s b e h in d an d n e v e r d id use th em in b a ttle .) F ro m 30
O c to b e r to 17 D e c e m b e r. 1944 Joe F a rin a ’s C o m p a n y B, w as
q u a rte re d in th e v ic in ity o f C o m b la in -la -T o u r in B e lg iu m for th is
re tra in in g as a c o u n te r in te llig e n c e task force.
F a rin a w as
a ssig n e d re sid e n c e in the h o m e o f Jo se p h an d M a d e le m e
P a c c h io tti. T lic P a c c h io ttis had tw o c h ild re n , a son, L o u is, and
a d a u g h te r Je a n n m n e [sic], a n d th e y live on th e rue du V ic in a l
in th e v illa g e o f C o m b la in -F a iro n . T h e ir son, L o u is, h a d b een
a c tiv e in th e B e lg ia n R e sista n c e . H o w ev e r, the N a z is c ap tu re d ,
to rtu re d , a n d e x e c u te d L o u is on 9 S e p te m b e r 1944, a little o v e r
six w e e k s b e fo re Joe F a rin a e n te re d th e P a c c h io tti h o m e Joe
P a c c h io tti w a s o f Italian o rig in , as w a s Joe F a rin a. T h e y both
s p o k e Ita lia n a n d bo th w e re C a th o lic . M o re o v e r, F a rin a w as
a b o u t th e sa m e a g e as P a c c h io tti’s lo st son. A n a tu ra l b o n d g re w
b e tw e e n Jo e Va rin a a n d Joe P a c cliiu iii. T h ey b e c a m e so a tta c h e d
to eac h o th e r th a t th e P a c c h io tti fa m ily c o n sid e re d Joe as th e ir
so n , a n d Jo e c o n s id e re d the P a c c h io tti’s to be his se c o n d fa m ily .
O n 16 D e c e m b e r, th e N a z is la u n c h e d th e B a ttle o f th e B ulge.
O n 17 D e c e m b e r, w ith th re e h o u rs ’ n o tic e , J o e ’s C o m p a n y B
w a s o rd e re d to le a v e C o m b la in to fa ce th e o n sla u g h t. It w a s a
v e ry c o ld a n d d a rk n ig h t, a n d th e tra v e lin g w as slo w b e c a u se th e
h a lf-tra c k d riv e rs had to use th e ir slit lig h ts to a v o id d e te c tio n by
th e e n e m y . C o m p a n y B w as first sent to L a R e id . a n d th e n to
M a lm e d y . A s th e y a rriv e d in M a lm e d y , c h u rc h b e lls w e lc o m e d
th e m w ith th e tu n e o f "Y a n k e e D o o d le D a n d y ." H o w ev e r, th ere
w a s no tim e fo r c e le b ra tio n . C o m p a n y B w as im m e d ia te ly sp lit
u p in to te a m s th a t w e re se n t to b lo c k all ro a d s le a d in g to
M a lm e d y . O n e o f th ese te a m s m a n n e d a ro a d b lo c k on th e ro ad
le a d in g to T ro is P o n ts th a t e n c o u n te re d th e s p e a rh e a d o f Jo a c h im
P e ip e r’s 1 SS P a n z e rc o rp s. In ste ad o f lo sin g tim e in an a ssa u lt.
P e ip e r c h o se to b y p a ss th e p o sitio n u sin g sid e stre e ts, but th e
5 2 6 th A I B ’s g u n s c o n tin u e d to h a ra ss P e ip e r u n til th e p a n z e rs
w e re o u t o f sig h t. (A t S ta v e lo t. P e ip e r e n c o u n te re d th e 52 6 th
a i r ’s C om nan v A w h irh hlpw a fn^! dum ^ thst
TH E BU LG E BUGLE
B ut th e re lie f from c o m b a t did not last long. On 3 Jan u ary
1945, Joe F a rin a ’s c o m p a n y w a s at H e d o m o n t (n e a r M alm edy),
a n d th e y w ere o rd e re d to c ap tu re H ouyire H ill. It w as a b itter
c o ld day w ith light snow , an d th e G e rm an p o sitio n s w ere w ell
p re p a re d to m eet th e a ssau lt.
H eavy G e rm an artiller>' and
m a c h in e g un fire ra in e d d ow n on C o m p a n y B as th e y attack ed
up th e hill. C o m p an y B su ffe red 65 c a su a ltie s in the b attle for
H o u y ire H ill. O ne o f th ese c a su a ltie s w as Joe F arina, w ho w as
k ille d in a ctio n by a g u n sh o t to th e head. A fte r his re m a in s w ere
re co v e re d . Joe Fnrinn v.ns b u ried at the ' !cn ri-C h ap e'!e.A m ericai!
C e m e te ry on 25 F e b ru a ry 1945.
B efo re he left for the B a ttle o f the B ulge, Joe F arin a left
in stru c tio n s th at, if he w ere k ille d , his re m a in s w ere to be laid to
re st in th e P a c ch io tti fa m ily ’s p lo t in C o m b la in -la -T o u r. In
1946, th e F arin a fa m ily so u g h t to h o n o r J o e ’s re q u est but the
U .S. A rm y o p p o sed th e idea. In the sp rin g o f 1947, F a rin a ’s
m o th e r, Ju lia, and sister, M ary, c am e to B elg iu m to visit the
P a c c h io tti fa m ily .
T h e P a c ch io ttis and the F a rin as q u ickly
b e c a m e v ery closc frien d s. A i a resu lt o f ll1i^ visit, ilte FHrinH
fa m ily ag ain p e titio n e d the A m e ric an G o v e rn m en t to m ove J o e 's
re m a in s to the P a c ch io tti fa m ily p lot, and th e F arin a fam ily
c o n v in c e d the A m e ric an L eg io n to su p p o rt the re q u est. A s M ary
w ro te to th e A rm y, "Y ou c a n n o t re aliz e how im p o rta n t it is to
m y p a ren ts to k now m y b ro th e r is in his final re stin g p lace near
his frien d s." A b o u t a y e a r later, the U .S. A rm y g ra n te d the
F a rin a fa m ily 's req u est. Joe s re m a in s w ere fin ally laid to rest
in th e P a c ch io tti fa m ily p lo t at C o m b la in -la -T o u r on 5 A ugust
1948.
T he F arin a an d P a c ch io tti fa m ilie s c o n tin u e d to
c o rre sp o n d w ith eac h o th e r until the I9 6 0 's . an d M adeleine
P a c ch io tti a lw ay s felt th at she had lost tw o sons in the w ar. At
h e r re q u est, w hen she d ied she w as b u ried w ith tw o special
item s: th e gun th a t h e r son. I,o u is. c a rrie d w hen fig h tin g the
N a zis, and an A m e ric an flag fo r h e r A m e ric an son. Joe.
S o u r c e s f o r J e ro m e S h e r id a n s story:
•ID P F o f Pfc. J o s e p h G. F arina.
•P e rs o n a l interview with D a n ie l D eF a ys. g r a n d so n o f J o s e p h a n d M a deleine
P a cch io tti.
'In fo r m a tio n p r o v id e d to H e n ri-C h a p e lle C e m e te ry h y M rs. M arguerite
Piro tto n . w ho w as a y o u n g te a c h e r a t th e C o m b la in -la -T o u r s c h o o l in 1944
(T he fu n e r a l d ir e c to r w h o a r r a n g e d f o r th e tra n sfer o f th e b o d y w a s C lem ent
P iro tto n (p o ssib ly rela ted .)
• H illa rd In g ra h a m , fr o m "F arm B o y to S o ld ie r " (G ilberi. . I '/: B izy Enterpri.ies.
Inc.. 2004).
• V a rio u s h isto rie s o f th e B a ttle o f th e Bulge.
r.ssdsd.
10
AiigUbl 2007
THE GAS DUMPS
AT STAVELOT
frotn th e a ctio n d e p ic te d in the m o v ie , "T h e B a ttle o f th e B u lg e."
T h ere w e re no b a rre ls o f g a s to roll d o w n the h ill at the
a tta c k in g G e rm an s. H ank S ta irs used the 30 th D iv isio n h isto ry
and a h a n d w ritte n re p o rt from th e 5th B e lg ia n F u silie rs to
re sea rc h th is a c c o u n t.)
I w as L ie u te n a n t C o lo n el R o b ert E. F ra n k lin w h e n th e 1st
B a tta lio n , 1 17th In fan try d e tru c k e d at th e to p o f h ill le a d in g into
S ta v elo t. R e m n a n ts, as I re ca ll, p e rh a p s 30 m en from th e 526
A rm o red In fan try B a tta lio n , w e re at ro a d sid e w h e n th e y a rriv e d .
W ith a ritle c o m p a n y on e ith e r side o f th e road, w e a tta c k e d
dow n th e hill. T h e re se rv e an d H e av y W e a p o n s c o m p a n y , a lo n g
w ith b a tta lio n h e a d q u a rte rs w a lk e d th e n a rro w ro ad p a ssin g
th o u sa n d s o f b u rn e d , b lo a te d g a s c an s. G a s D u m p #3 w a s still
hot and sm o ld e rin g on S u n d a y . D e c e m b e r 18. 1944.
F ast fo rw ard , o u r b a tta lio n c a p tu re d th e to w n a n d c o n tro lle d th e
S ta v elo t b rid g e, th u s c u ttin g o f f P e ip e r's su p p ly line. T h e B a ttle
o f the B ulge c o n tin u e d .
Submitted by Vic Neiland
30th Infantr\ Division
117th Infantrv' Regiment
2nd Battalion
Company F
I was in the 2nd Baltalion, 117th and we were protecting the
flank o f the 1st Battalion who were in Stavehit.
On the 20th o f December. 1944, / was part o f a fo u r man
patrol to Stavelot (first one). The Germans were between us and
Stave Iat.
We started out at 3:00 a.m. on the 20th and reached the first
battalion. We could hear Germans on both sides as we went in
diam ond formation.
Coming back we fo u n d a man who said he was an American.
He said he was an engineer. But he had no helmet or arms or
belt. He had on an ()D uniform and was dirty and sm elled o f
gasoline. We took him back but he was hard to understand—
mumbled. Worst o f all he kept on stumbling and making noi.se.
We got back and gave him to the road block guard. We never
fo u n d out who he was. nor was I interested at the time.
V ic a tt a c h e d th e fo llo w in g :
T h e R e s t o f th e S to r y :
A C a m e o o f H is to r y fro m
th e B a ttle o f th e B u lg e
By H a n k S ta ir s
3 0 th I n f a n t r y D iv isio n
1 1 7 th I n f a n t r y R e g im e n t
1st B a tta lio n
H e a d q u a rte rs
The picture above o f Gas Dump # i uyw drawn by Hank
Stairs and shows the gas cans neatly stacked prior to the
fire.
T h e site is th e v ic in ity o f S ta v e lo t. B e lg iu m , in m id D e ce m b er.
1944. T h e B a ttle o f the B u lg e w a s b e en u n d e rw a y for tw o day s
as Jo c h e n P e ip e r and his SS a rm o re d ta n k /in fa n try task force
c ro sse d th e A m b le iv e R iv er an d e n te re d the T o w n o f S tav elo t.
U p the h ill to the n o rth on a n a rro w ro ad w as an e n o rm o u s
g a so lin e d u m p c o n sistin g o f fiv e -g a llo n "Jerry" c an s sta ck e d
th re e h ig h , th re e m e te rs w id e , an d a p p ro x im a te ly 20 m ete rs long
(2 ,5 0 0 c a n s p e r sta c k ). T h e U .S. A rm y had e v a c u a te d th e tow n
a n d th e o n ly tro o p s b e tw e e n th is " tre a s u re ” a n d th e G e rm a n s w as
a sq u a d siz e d d e ta il o f th e 5th B e lg ia n F u siliers. T h ey c o u ld
h e a r th e c la tte r o f a rm o r a n d th e sh o u ts o f in fan try as th e SS
m a n e u v e re d in to the to w n . A n a tte m p t by th e G e rm a n s to gain
th e p riz e o f G a s D u m p #3 se e m e d e m in e n t. T h e o rd e r to fire the
d u m p w a s g iv en by the 5th B e lg ia n s. O n e o f th e F u siliers tire d
h is a u to m a tic rifle in to th e first sta ck but th e tra c e r fa iled to
ig n ite th e gas. T h e y th e n u se d th e ir b a y o n e ts to p u n c tu re the
c a n s a n d sp re a d th e g a so lin e to th e n ex t stack . T h e w a s then
s ta rte d w ith a m a tc h . It w a s a v e ry hot S u n d a y a fte rn o o n .
P rio r to the ig n itio n o f th e G a s D um p, m u ch o f P e ip e r’s
G e rm a n c o lu m n o f ta n k s a n d in fa n try e n te re d the tow n and
c o n tin u e d the w e ste rn a tta c k to w a rd La G le iz e. T h ey n e v e r
a tte m p te d to ta k e th e n o rth e rn ro a d o u t o f S ta v elo t.
(N o te: T h is re v ie w o f th e b u rn in g g a so lin e d u m p is a fa r cry
THE BULGE BUGLE
The picture above is what was left o f the gas cans on
December I 1944.
“How old would you be if you
didn V know how old you w as”
-S a tc h e l P aige
11
A ugust 2007
GERMAN PROPAGANDA
IN THE BL'LGE
M E N O F TH E 78TH D IV IS IO M
(JCTOBER IN THE STATES
NOVEMBER IN FRANCE
DECEMBER A T THE FRONT
AND UP TO N O W -2400 MEN IN THE CEMETERY. ..
Nice going kids, isn 't it.
Now hoys—ju st stop fo r a moment
In September - they cried: THE V/AR IS WON!
In October - they said: PROBABLY CHRISTMAS
In November - they predicted: EARLY SUMMER PERHAPS...
AND N O W ’
Well - now JERRY suddenly starts a big blow—and you poor
devils ju st happen to be in fo r it!
Tough luck - pretty tough luck indeed....
Men, you wonder how all that was possible?
Heme a look at your Commanders—do you honestly believe that
they ever took a map reading course before they came over here
to lead you?
Boy oh boy - and with those guys you had to start on the Road
to Berlin.
Boys, y o u ’ve taken the wrong direction Instead o f going East - you re going west - and at a very
speedy rate.
THE ADVENTURE IS SPOILED.
AND M OST LIKELY CHRISTMAS IN BERLIN TOO
But th e re’s still an important question you must decide
yourself.
WILL YOU G ET A CROSS
O R -W IL L YOU COME A C R O SS?/
[The follow ing article appeared in the April 2007 issue o f
The Flash—the newsletter o f the 78th Infantry Division. ]
D e a r B ill [This is Bill Parsons who has served as editor o f the
78th’s newsletter for many, many years.]'.
I he a tta c h e d d o c u m e n t w as fo u n d fo r sale on E b ay ( S I 0 7 .0 0 ),
but th e re h a v e no t b een a n y bids on it as yet. I w a s w o n d e rin g
i f a n y o n e re c a lls a c tu a lly se e in g th is lea fle t d u rin g the w a r o r has
b e en m e n tio n e d in a n y F lash a rtic le s. M y fa th e r n e v e r spoke
a b o u t p ro p a g a n d a le a fle ts but he did m e n tio n ra d io b ro a d ca sts.
T h o u g h t I 'd se n d a co p y fo r y o u r in fo rm a tio n . S o rry a b o u t the
q u a lity . B e lo w is th e te x t a sso c ia te d w ith th e E bay listing.
Jim C o o p e r
-Associate M e m b e r
T h e p ic tu re a n d in fo rm a tio n follo w s:
T h is lea fle t w as d e p lo y e d by shell a rtille ry o v e r A m e ric an
tro o p s d u rin g th e B a ttle o f th e B ulge (d a te u n k n o w n )
(L e a fle t siz e 14.6cm x 2 1 c m )
L e a fle t h e a d in g s are: M E N O F T H E 78T H D IV IS IO N
L ea fle t c o n d itio n :
T h is lea fle t w a s fo u n d still in sid e the
a rtille ry sh ell it w a s fired fro m , it has a g re a t deal o f w a te r
d a m a g e , v e ry d isc o lo re d , larg e p a p e r n ick s to p e d g e d iiJ rig h t
h an d side ed g e, but no te x t m issin g , still re a d a b le a n d very rare.
T h is lea fle t w as d e p lo y e d o v e r A m e ric a n tro o p s d u rin g the
B attle o f th e B u lg e notes:
In e a rly 1944, th e G e rm an
G o v e rn m e n t d e c id e d to re o rg a n iz e its o rg a n iz a tio n for
p ro p a g a n d a to the e n e m y . T h e W e h rm a c h tp ro p a g a n d a a b te ilu n g
(M ilita ry P ro p a g a n d a S e c tio n ) w a s d isso lv e d an d th e (SS S ta n d a n e " k u r t E g g ers") re p la c e d it. Ih e SS w a s c o n sid e re d
m o re loyal an d tru stw o rth y , and its p ro p a g a n d a w o u ld be m o re
in line w ith N a zi p o lic y . Few re c o rd s o f th is (K u rt E g g ers)
o rg a n iz a tio n h av e su rv iv e d th e w a r fo r th e stu d y by h isto ria n s
an d c o lle c to rs. A lth o u g h G e rm a n y w a s c le a rly in d e c lin e , the
le a fle ts sh o w a sp irit o f v ita lity an d in g e n u ity h a rd ly seen until
th e p re se n t day. T h ese lea fle ts are b e tte r k n o w n as ("S k o rp io n w est"). T he D isse m m a tio n w a s by (R o c k e t "Pr. G s. 41" an d by
A rtille ry S h e ll), both b e in g sp e c ia lly d e sig n e d for the p u rp o se.
B e ca u se o f th e A llie d a ir su p e rio rity a irp la n e d isp e rsio n w as
se ld o m used. R o c k et an d a rtille ry ra n g e w a s re la tiv e ly sm a ll so
le a fle t d isse m in a tio n to o k p la c e in the fro n t line only. T h is is
re aso n w h y th ese SS le a fle ts are so se ld o m seen. T h is in fo rm a ­
tio n w a s o b ta in e d from (D r. K la u s K irc h n e r). his k n o w le d g e o f
all th e W a r le a fle ts is sim p ly e n d le ss, an d he has put th is
in fo rm a tio n d o w n in g re a t d e ta il in all his p u b lis h e d w o rk s .a
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12
■August 2007
GEN HASSA VAN MANTEUFFEL
5TH PANZER ARMY
COMMANDER
no su p p lies c am e in. M ost o f the m en had not had a d ro p o f
w a te r o r a b ite o f food. T h ese u n its w e re o v e rw h e lm e d , in a real
sen se o f a w o r d - b y p o w e rfu l G e rm a n fo rce s, su p e rio r in
n u m b ers and a r m s - w ith g re a t in te n sity —th e G e rm a n s fired into
th e ir m asse d ra n k s w ith e v ery c a n n o n th e y had. It w as a rain o f
ste el, no ta n k d e stro y e rs w e re a v a ila b le , th e re w as c o n fu sio n and
te m p o ra ry p a n ic sp re ad out. Ail o f th a t w ith th e b lo o d , dirt,
c ru el w e a th e r, d e ep sn o w w ith fog, c o ld a n d c o n fu se d w a s w h a t
h a p p e n e d in th o se d a y s in S c h n e e -E ife l.
T h ey did not w e a k e n , th e y b ro k e in to sm a ll g ro u p s, th ey
fo rm ed im p ro v ise d p e rim e te r d e fe n se s, e v en th o u g h th e y did not
know w h a t w as h a p p e n in g on th e ir fla n k s a n d in the re a r th e ir
u n b re a k a b le w ill to fig h t, th u s in d e s tru c tib le "e sp rit de c o rp s."
T h ese su rv iv in g e le m e n ts o f th e 106th In fan try D iv isio n jo in e d
by th e v e ry b ra v e m en o f th e C C B , fell b a ck to th e c ro ssro a d
e ast o f St. V ith an d sta y ed a n d fo u g h t u n til th e y w e re k ille d ,
w o u n d e d o r c a p tu re d . d
Defense of St. Vith Area
and Impact on German Offensive
Submitted by Ray Brassard
774th Tank Destroyer Battalion
[This is a speech prepared by a general fo r presentation to
a group o f form er 106 'ers at the 23rd Annual Reunion o f
the 106th Infantry Division at St. Vith, Belgium, July 1969.
He did not appear at the reunion, but his speech made its
w qv to the 106th Infantry Division History archives.]
W h e re a s B a sto g n e had an h o n o ra b le p la c e in A m e ric a n m ilita ry
h isto ry , St. V ith is h a rd ly m e n tio n e d . T h e h e ro ic d e fe n se in the
St. V ith a re a h a s su ffe re d d e p re c ia tio n an d a stra n g e d e n ig ra tio n
at th e h a n d o f th e p o p u la r m e d ia . T h e B a ttle o f th e B ulge w as
not fo u g h t O N L Y o r so le ly in B a sto g n e o r by th e a d m ira b le
c o m in g into a c tio n o f P a tto n ’s T h ird A rm y . A ro u n d St. V ith
w e re all e le m e n ts o f tra g e d y , o r h e ro ism , a n d se lf-sa c rific e w h ich
m ak e u p the h u m a n e x p e rie n c e at its m o st a cu te p h a se , w hen it
is u n d e r th e stra in a n d stre ss o f W ar!
T h e a c tio n s a ro u n d St. V ith e x e rte d a g re a t in flu e n ce on the
re su lt o f th e G e rm a n in te n tio n s. A w h o le a rm y co rp s w as
d e la y e d b y y o u r d e fe n se a ro u n d St. V ith , in sp ite o f th e ill-fa te d
e le m e n ts o f y o u r d iv isio n in th e S c h n e e -E ife l, y ou h e ld up the
G e rm a n 6 6 th A rm y C o rp s fiv e d a y s lo n g e r th an th e ir tim e -ta b le
a llo w e d . Y ou fo rc e d th e d e to u r o f a tta c k in g fo rce s so m uch
m o re as th e rig h t n e ig h b o r, th e 6th P a n z e r A rm y , had no su c c ess
o f th e a tta ck .
T h e 6th P a n z e r A rm y ’s a tta c k to th e n o rth w a s b o g g e d do w n
in th e first few d a y s o f th e o ffe n s iv e by th e b rav e so ld ie rs o f the
106th In fan try D iv isio n th a t w e re left.
U n d e r th o se c irc u m s ta n c e s th e e n e rg y a n d m o m e n tu m o f the
a tta c k in th is a re a w a s d im in ish e d d e cisiv ely !
In th is re sp e c t, th e a c tio n s a ro u n d St. V ith are in m y o p in io n
an d from th e G e rm a n s id e —e q u iv a le n t to the d e fen se o f
B asto g n e!
T h e fa c t th a t th is a re a a ro u n d St. V ith w a s o b stin a te ly an d
su c c e ss fu lly d e fe n d e d , th e re su lt, as d e m o n s tra te d by th e g a lla n t
m en o f th e 106th In fan try D iv isio n an d th e C C B 7th A rm o red .
T h e a tta c k o f th e G e rm a n s on bo th sid e s o f the S c h n e e-E ife l
o u tfla n k e d th e se u n its, p a rts o f th is "g re en d iv isio n " (th at m ea n s
in e x p e rie n c e d so ld ie rs w ith o u t c o m b a t e x p e rie n c e ), th a t "restc a m p " as th e d e p a rtin g v e te ra n s q u ip p ed .
T h e u n its w e re e n c irc le d ! W h ile th e y m a rc h e d a n d fo u g h t
th ro u g h th a t te rrib le te rra in , in w in te r tim e , fire c a m e from the
left a n d fire c a m e from th e rig h t, an d from th e re a r also. T h ese
u n its su ffe re d h e a v ily . F u rth e r, th e y did not kn o w w h a t w as
h a p p e n in g on th e ir fla n k s and in th e rear, th e so u rc es o f
c o m m u n ic a tio n w ith the re a r w a s d e stro y e d .
T h e c a v a lry on th e ir fla n k m a d e no a tte m p t to put up a fight
an d d re w b a ck . T h e v is itin g p a tro ls w e re sh o t o r c ap tu red . T h e
a m m u n itio n w a s g o n e w ith e x c e p t fo r a few ro u n d s p e r gu n fo r
th e ir m a c h in e g u n s. N o h e lp o r a ssista n c e c a m e by th e a rtille ry .
THE BULGE BUGLE
NATIONAL POW-MIA
MEMORIAL
Riverside National Cemetery'
22495 Van Buren Blvd.
Riverside, California 92518
Dedicated in 2005
[The follow ing is excerpted from a dedication address by
Kerry McLaughlin (Gold Star Son). Kerry was born three
days before the Battle o f the Bulge began. After many
years o f wondering what happened to his father, he was
about to learn that his fa th er was mortally wounded
through conversations with Leo "Marty" Schlecker, 17th
Airborne Division, 5 13th Parachute Infantry Regiment,
Company D. Marty had been a good frie n d to Howard
Myles McLaughlin, Kerry’ ’s father.]
M y a irb o rn e frien d a sk e d m e on e day;
‘W h at d o e s it m ea n to n e v e r h av e m e t y o u r fa th e r?
‘N o t to k n o w w h a t b e c a m e o f y o u r fa th e r?
‘T o be th e son o f an M IA so ld ie r fo r y o u r e n tire life?
‘T o no t h a v e th e p e a c e o f m in d to k n o w th a t y o u r fa th e r is
b u ried w ith th e d ig n ity an d re sp e c t o f o th ers. U n d e r th e w h ite
m a rb le c ro sse s, on th e g re en m a n ic u re d law n s o f w e ll-k e p t
c e m e te rie s ? ’
T h ere is no c e m e te ry to v isit; no g ra v e -site to p la c e flo w e rs
upon.
I o ften felt a lo n e in m y se a rc h fo r in fo rm a tio n a b o u t m y fath er.
B ut a c c o rd in g to th e A m e ric a n B a ttle M o n u m e n t C o m m iss io n ,
th e re are 7 8 ,9 7 6 M IA from W W II a lo n e , not to m e n tio n 2 ,5 0 4
M IA from V ie tn a m , a n d 8 ,1 9 6 from K o re a. T h e re a re at least
th a t m an y m o th e rs, d a u g h te rs, fa th e rs, so n s a n d o th e r re la tiv e s
se e k in g c lo s u re a n d a fo cal p o in t fo r th e ir se n se o f loss
(B u t,) now at least, th e re is a m e m o ria l th a t w e c an all tre a su re ,
th a t w e can to u c h , th a t w e c an fe el, th a t w e can see, so w e can
let p e o p le k n o w th a t th e se m issin g m en e x iste d .
A nd no w , for m e, I h a v e m o re th a n a fa d in g p h o to g ra p h . A nd
th ere are n o w tw o m en I can c all " D a d ." a
13
A ugust 2007
FRANK WALSH
GOES TO WASHINGTON
On June 21st, Frank W alsh. 705th Tank D estroyer Bn
and ardent V eteran o f the Battle o f the Bulge supp>orter,
returned to W ashington w ith his son Jerr> W alsh. Frank could
be countcd on to be at all VBOB attairs & reunions and the
reenactm ent, until his stroke curtailed his driving.
He had m issed the W orld W ar II M em orial
D edication and the new V B O B .Memorial event in .Arlington
C em etery.
He w anted to see these and all o f the War
M em orials in W ashington and his son .lerry, drove him to
W ashington, to do ju s t that. Frank had also contacted his 'o le
travelling buddy, John B ow en. VBO B Secretary, w ho lives in
Silver Spring and asked him for a five dollar tour o f
W ashington.
John & his w ife M ary Ann with Frank & his son
Jerrv started out first w ith a drive through A rlington Cem etery
to visit f ir s t the VBO B M em orials, follow ed by a visit to the
I'om b o f the U nknow ns and the C hanging o f the G uard. N ext
stop w as the W W II M em orial follow ed by the Vietnam
M em orial and the K orean W ar M em orial.
At both the W W II M em orial and the V ietnam
M em orial. Frank w ith his affable personality, w as greeted by
boys and girls o f the present generation. He particularly
dazzled a high school group from just outside o f San Diego,
C alifornia all o f w hom w anted to shake his hand. Some
plclujcs o f hii> day arc bclyw .
Jo h n B ow en
F r a n k W a ls h
a t R e tle c tin g
Pool
F r a n k W a ls h d a z z le s s tu d e n ts o f
A r e r H ig h S c h o o l, S a n D ie g o , C A
J e r r y W a ls h a n d F r a n k W a ls h
7 0 5 '" T D R N - V B O B M e m o r ia l
(Photos by Jerry Walsh, 6/21/07)
VETERANS OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE, INC. ANNUAL REUNION
LINCOLNSHIRE MARRIOTT RESORT
LINCOLNSHIRE, IL
SEPTEMBER 25 -30, 2007
THK B U l.(il- m 'G I I-
14
Be There!
Aiigubl 2007
NOMINATIONS FOR
2007-08 EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Battle of the Bulge Casualties At Sea
Not AH American Casualties W ere
in Belgium and Luxembourg
O n b e h a lf o f th e N o m in a tin g C o m m ittee, I, G e o rg e
C h e k a n , C h a ir m a n , a n n o u n c e th e follow ing n o m in a tio n s to
be v o te d on fo r th e E x ecu tiv e C o u n c il a t th e G e n e ra l
M e m b e rs h ip M e e tin g fo r th e fiscal y e a r 2007-08.
By Demetri Paris
14'^ Tk Bn 9^^Armd Div
T h ere w ere m ore th a n 60 0 ,0 0 0 A m erican
forccs in th e B attle o f th e B ulge. A m erican forces
suffered 8 1 ,000 casu alties w h ich included 19,000
killed in B elgium and L uxem bourg.
B ut th ese w ere not the on ly casualties. T ro o p s in
E ngland w e re b ein g ru sh ed to stre n g th e n the
A m e ric an fo rces - both in dividual rep lacem en ts and
c o m p le te units. O ne o f th o se rep lacem en t u nits w as
the 66“’ D ivision.
O n C h ristm as E ve, D ecem b er 24, 1944, the 66*
D ivision tro o p s bo ard ed th e L eo p o ld v ille, a B elgian
v essel n am ed fo r the city in th e fo rm er B elg ian
C ongo. It had a c rew o f 23 7 an d it o fficers w ere
B elgian, C on g o lese and E nglish.
T his v e sse l had been a c ru ise ship c ap a b le o f
han d lin g 360 pa sse n g ers yet it w as p a ck e d w ith
m ore th a n 2 ,2 0 0 66 * D ivision soldiers.
T h e ship w a s b o u n d fo r L e H avre, F ran ce v ia th e
co ld a n d ro u g h E n g lish C hannel. B ut the jo u rn e y
w as in te rru p ted w h e n a G e rm an su b m arin e to rp ed o
stru ck it. A n ala rm a n d a b an d o n ship w a s so u n d ed
in F lem ish, a language sp o k e n in N e th erlan d s,
N o rth w est B elgium an d N o rw est France.
T he sh ip ’s o fficers and c rew a b an d o n e d th e ship,
tak in g the few lifeboats. A bout 1400 o r 1500 o f the
soldiers m an ag ed to be sav ed by th e d estro y ers
w h ic h w ere to p ro tect the ship. T h e o th ers e ith e r
d ro w n e d o r w ere c ru sh ed b e tw ee n the L eo p o ld v ille
and destro y ers. It is b e lie v ed th a t a b o u t 800 o f th e
so ld iers died yet none o f the crew o r o fficers. T he
su rv iv o rs w e re tak e n to several A rm y h o sp itals in
F rance w h e re th ey sp e n t C h ristm as Day.
T his trag e d y w as not an n o u n ce d and, as a result,
w as n o t re p o rte d b y the press. In 1959, 15 y ears
a fte r this trag ic incident, a rep o rt w as issu ed w ith o u t
the u n p lea sa n t and sh o c k in g fa cts A 1 9 6 0 re p o rt by
the B ritish A d m iralty (navy) e x cu sed th e o fficers
and crew . A 1992 B elgian re p o rt cla im e d A m e ric an s
w ere in th e lifeb o ats, a claim d en ied b y th e so ld iers
w h o survived.
O ne m ig h t su ppose th at, fo r secu rity reasons, the
A m e ric an A rm y co m m a n d in G re at B ritain d e cid ed
to w ith h o ld a n n o u n cin g th is trag e d y so as to k eep
the in fo rm a tio n from the G e rm an hig h com m and.
B ut i f th e G e rm an su b m arin e had an y signal
cap ab ility , they m o st lik ely re p o rte d it to g a in cred it
for th e h it
T H E B U L G li BU Cil.E
P re s id e n t:
•D em etri Paris
9th A rm ored D ivision
E x e c u tiv e V ice P re s id e n t:
•John J. D unleavy
737th T ank B attalion
V ice P re s id e n t, M e m b e rs h ip :
•R obert P. P hillips
2 8th Infantry D ivision
V ice P re s id e n t, C h a p te rs :
•John E. M cA uliffe
87th Infantry D ivision
V ice P re s id e n t, M ilita r y A ffa irs:
•S tan ley A. W ojtusik, Sr.
106th Infantry D ivision
V ice P re s id e n t, P u b lic A ffa irs:
•G eorge L. W atson
87th Infantry D ivision
T re a su re r:
•W illiam P. T aym an
87th Infantry D ivision
C o r r e s p o n d in g S e c r e ta r y :
•D orothy S. D avis
57th F ield H ospital
R e c o rd in g S e c r e ta r y :
•John D. B ow en
A sso ciate M em ber
T ru s te e s : T h r e e - Y e a r T e rm :
•F rances W . D oherty
A ssociate M em ber
•E arle O. E dm onds
2 6 th Infantry D ivision
•Jam es W . H unt
1st Infan try D ivision
T ru s te e s : T w o -Y e a r T e rm :
•H arry J. M eisel
565th A n tiaircraft A rtillery A W B attalion
•Joseph F. Z im m er
87th Infantry D ivision
T ru s te e s : O n e - Y e a r T e rm :
•R ich ard G. G uenter
511th E n g in e er L ig h t P onton B attalion
•R alp h B ozarth
A sso ciate M em ber
T he above n o m in ees have been a p p ro v ed by the N o m in atin g
C o m m ittee w hich co n sists o f all Past N atio n al Presidents.
R esp ectfu lly subm itted,
G eorge C hekan, C hairm an
N o m in atin g C o m m ittee
15
August 2007
LINCOLNSHIRE CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS AND
SCHEDULE INFORMATION
INTRODUCTION
•THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2007
O u r A n n u al V B O B R e u n io n w ill c o n v en e a t th e L in c o ln sh ire
M a rrio tt R e so rt to co n tin u e w ith th e 6 2 n d A nn iv ersary
c eleb ra tio n .
W e h av e a rra n g e d w ith th e hotel for a sp ecial ra te o f $ 9 3 .5 0 per
n ight w h ich in clu d e s all tax es. W e look fo rw ard to a great
re u n io n w ith a v ariety o f activ ities.
T h e H o sp ita lity R oom is th e re for you to so c ialize and enjoy the
m an y e x h ib its, p h o to books an d B a ttle o f th e B ulge m em o rab ilia .
T h e H o sp ita lity R(x)m h o u rs w ill be p o ste d in th e lobby o f th e
h otel.
P len ty o f free p ark in g is at th e hotel fo r y o u r c o n v en ien c e .
• Chicago Tour - Bus departs from hotel at 9:00am. E njoy a
fully n a rra ted d riv in g to u r o f C h icag o . Y ou w ill see the new
M em orial W ater W all, a v e te ra n ’s m em o rial at S o ld ier F ield and
see th e b e au tifu l p ark s alo n g the m ag n ifice n t '
Y ou w ill
see N avy P ier, a fo rm er N avy train in g c e n te r an d no w the to p
a ttrac tio n in C hicag o . Y ou w ill enjoy a cru ise on th e C h ica g o
R iv er to learn a b o u t th e a rc h ite c tu re o f C h ica g o 's a w e-in sp irin g
build in g s. T h is is o n e o f th e to p th in g s to do in th e city.
Y ou
w ill see its o u td o o r art, th e M a g n ific en t M ile, th e stu n n in g new
M illen n iu m P ark, and th e lan d m ark W ater T o w e r th at survived
th e f re. It w ill tru ly be a day to re m e m b e r. L unch on your ow n at
N avy P ier. Bus returns to hotel about 4:00pm.
REGISTRATION FEE
A ll w h o a tte n d th e V B O B R e u n io n m u st pay th e re g istra tio n fee.
W rea th s, n a m e tag s, p ro g iam s, ta b le d e co ra tio n s, hospitality
room , e tc ., a re p a id fo r from th is fee.
T h e Q u a rte rm a s te r w ill a lso b e a v a ila b le for y o u r p u rc h a se o f
B O B item s.
• Dinner is on your own. T h e hotel h as th re e restau ran ts.
•FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2007
• Cantigny, Wheaton, !L - Bus departs hote! at 9:00am.
•T U E SD A Y , S F P T F M R F R 25, 2007
H om e o f th e R o b e rt M c C o rm ic k e state. W e w ill be th e h o n o re d
g u e sts o f th e F irst D ivision F oundation an d w ill to u r th e fom ial
g a rd en s, th e F irst Infaiitry D ivision i v l u s e u m t t n u t i i c
M c C o rm ic k m an sio n . A b a n d alo n g w ith a ctiv e duty so ld iers
w ill g re e t us. Lunch included. In sum m ary', th e First D ivision
F o u n d a tio n is goin g all o u t fo r V B O B . Bus returns to hotel
* Welcome Wine and Cheese Reeeption (6:30 pm - 7:30 pm)
C o m p lim e n ts o t th e L in c o ln sh ire M a rrio tt R esort.
• Dinner is on your own. T h e hotel h a s th re e re stau ra n ts.
about 3:30pm.
•WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2007
• Dinner is on your own. T h e hotel has th re e restau ran ts.
• Botanic Garden - Bus departs from hote! at 9:00am. Find
b laz in g c o lo rs in o u r g a rd en s, w o o d la n d s, and p ra irie , in clu d in g
la v e n d e r a sters, b rig h t red an d o ra n g e m a p le s a n d su m a cs, and
th e d e e p g o ld o f yellow c o reo p sis a n d gold en i od. T iic G a rd en is
y o u r a u tu m n w o n d e rlan d ! P u t on y o u r w a lk in g sh o e s for a
g u id e d stroll th ro u g h th e G a rd en , o r se ttle in for a n a rra te d tram
rid e. E ith e r w ay, you’ll b e d e lig h ted by w h a t you see a n d lea rn in
o u r 23 d iffe re n t g a rd en s situ ate d on 385 a cre s. Lunrh inrluded.
•SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2007
• Free tissc asd lunch on your own
• General Membership Meeting (2:00 pm - 4:00 pm.)
L ocation w ill be p o ste d in th e lobby.
• Reception (6:00 p.m.)
• Volo Auto Museum - has o v e r 3 0 0 c la ssic c a rs on I'he V olo
• .Annual Battle o f the Bulge Military Banquet (7:00 p.m).
A u to M u seu m is ho m e to th e w o rld 's larg e st m u sc le c a r
c o lle c tio n a n d th e G e o rg e B a rris T V & M o v ie C a r C o lle c tio n . In
a d d itio n th e re are five a n tiq u e m alls a n d a W o rld W a r 11 “ C o m b at
Z o n e ” a t V olo. T h e C 'om bat Z o n e c o n ta in s n in e d isp lay s about
th e w a r in th e E T O . Bus returns to hotel about 4:30pm
•SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2007
•Farewell Breakfast (7:30 am) - c o m e and say goodbye to all
• Lincolnshire Marriott - Italian Dinner (6:30 p.m.). E njoy a
lu sc io u s Italian ButTet. C a sh bar. Video/audio presentation "A M u sic a l S troll D ow n M em ory L an e” .
T H F B U L G E B l IGI F
th e reu n io n m em b e rs a t a p riv ate b re ak fa st butTet. D on't fo rg et to
b rin g y o u r c a m e ra s for last m in u te p ictu res.
16
N o v e m b e r 2003
V E T E R A N S O F TH E BA T T L E O F TH E BU L G E, INC. A N N U A L R EU N IO N
LINCOLNSHIRE MARRIOTT RESORT
LINCOLNSHIRE, IL
SEPTEMBER 25 -3 0 , 2007
REGISTRATION FORM
N a m e : __
A d d re s s :
Phone:
W if e /G u e s t N a m e : ________________________________
D i v i s i o n : _____________________________ R e g im e n t:
S i g n a tu r e : _________________________________________
A rriv a l d a t e __________________
D e p a r tu r e d a te _
People
R egistration Fee (all attendees must register)
_____
T uesday, Septem ber 25, 2007:
Wine and cheese reception (compliments o f the hotel)
_____
Dinner on your own
W euiiesday, Septem bei 20, 2yU7;
Botanic Garden lunch included.
Volo Museum *
Italian buffet dinner
_____
T h u rsd ay , S eptem ber 27, 2007:
Chicago tour/river cruise/lunch on your own *
_____
Dinner on your own
F riday, S eptem ber 28, 2007:
Cantigny, Robert McCormick estate *
_____
First infantry Division Museum, lunch included.
Dinner on your own
S a tu rd ay , Septem ber 29, 2007:
Free time
Reception (cash bar)
Banquet (indicate preference)
London Broil
or Salmon
Sunday, Septem ber 30, 2007:
Farewell breakfast
_____
*Total cost o f breakfast is $25 of which VBOB
will fund $15 for active VBOB National Members
and Guests
T otal am ount enclosed (all taxes & g ratuities included)
Cost/
Person
$ 30
Total
Cost
$____
Free
S55
S40
$
S 55
$____
S45
$ ____
S55
$
SIO*
S____
____
$________
* See Highlights and Schedule Inform ation Sheet for Details
M ail reg istratio n form and c h ec k to
V e te r a n s o f th e B a ttle o f th e B u lg e • P .O . B o x 1 0 1 4 1 8 • A r lin g to n , V A 2 2 2 1 0 -4 4 1 8
R E G IS T R A T IO N R E C E IP T D E A D L IN E -S E P T E M B E R 2, 2007 - A F T E R
T H A T D A T E B R IN G F O R M .
(Refunds for cancellations, will be honored in whole or in part, depending on availability o f funds.)
T l in B U l.G i: n U G l.r :
17
A ugust 2007
Lincolnshire Marriott Resort
10 Marriott Drive - Lincolnshire, IL 60069
Tel. 847-634-0100 - Fax 847-634-1278
www.marriott.com/propertv/propertvpage/chiln
Welcome
VETERANS OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE
RESORT RATES
T h e reso rt is o fferin g a tw o-day w in d o w b efo re and after the reu n io n d ates at a rate o f $ 9 3 .5 0 p e r n ight, single o r d o u b le
o ccu p an cy . T h is rate includes all taxes. A ll reserv atio n s can be m ade by callin g th e L in co ln sh ire M arrio tt R esort at 1-8002 2 8 -9 2 9 0 and saying yo u are w ith the V eteran s o f th e B attle o f the B ulge g ro u p . W e su g g e st yo u g u a ran tee y o u r re serv a tio n
w ith a ch arg e card. I f you h ave any p ro b lem s m aking y o u r reserv atio n , ask fo r T in a B easley, h e r n u m b e r is 8 4 7 -6 3 4 -0 1 0 0 .
C heck-in tim e is 3:00 p.m . and ch ec k o u t is 12:00 p.m . In the e v en t yo u n e ed to cancel y o u r reserv atio n , please in fo rm th e
hotel 48 hours p rio r to the day o f sch ed u led arrival. R eserv atio n re q u ests re ce iv e d a fte r S e p tem b e r 1st w ill be c o n firm ed on a
space available basis.
N O T E : T H E H O T E L IS N O N -S M O K IN G A N D P E T S A R E N O T A L L O W E D
H o te l a m e n itie s : Indoor pool, fitness c en ter a n d c o m p lim en tary shuttle serv ice w ith in a 5-7 m ile rad iu s o f the hotel, based
upon availability. Full service restau ran ts and lounge. A m p le free parking. R V 's are w elco m e, ho w ev er, w e do n o t h ave
h o o k -u p facilities.
S le ep in g ro o m a m e n itie s : coffee, tea, and d ecaf, w ith co ffe e m ak ers, irons a n d iro n in g b o ard s, h a ir d ryer
T r a n s p o r ta tio n fro m O ’ H a re to th e r e s o r t: T he least ex p en siv e is A m e r ic a n T a x i w h o se c u rre n t rate is a b o u t $ 30/taxi.
Free courtesy p h o n e s are located on the luggage level at T erm in als 1, 2, 3, 5 a lo n g w ith the B us S huttle C enter. O n c e yo u
have gathered y o u r luggage, go to the ph o n es and dial 15 to re q u est y o u r taxi. T h e o p e rato r will co n firm y o u r p re sen t
location, nam e an d destination. Please feel free to co n firm y o u r flat rate. A taxi w ill be assig n ed to you an d the o p e rato r
w ill give you the taxi num ber. Since all rides are prearran g ed , o nly tak e the taxi assig n e d to you.
I f yo u fly in to M id w a y A ir p o r t e x p e c t to p a y a t le a st S 6 0 /tax i.
DIRECTIONS TO THE RESORT
F R O M O ’ H A R E IN T E R N A T IO N A L A IR P O R T ( a b o u t 18 m iles): Take 294 N o rth to H a lf Day R oad Exit, l urn left.
A pprox. 2 m iles to M ilw aukee A venue. T urn left. T urn left at first sto p lig h t into M arriott en tra n ce on M arriott D rive. 1 '4
m ile south o f H a lf Day Road.
F R O M N O R T H : T ak e 2 94 S outh to H a lf D ay R oad Exit.
F R O M E A S T : T ake 1-80 W est to 294 N o rth to H a lf D ay
| n right. A p p ro x . 2 m iles to M ilw aukee A ven u e. Turn
Road Exit.
lu rn left. A pprox. 2 m iles to M ilw aukee
|^.f^ jupp [ g f j ^ fjr^t stoplight into M arriott e n tra n ce on
A venue. 1 urn left. T urn l.eft at first stoplight into M arriott
M arriott D rive. I 4 m ile south o f 1la lf D a\ Road,
entrance on M arriott D rive. I 4 m ile south o f H a lf Dav
Road.
F R O M W E S T : T ake 1-80 F.ast to 294 N o rth to H a lf D ay
r’nrA**
-r I c -7 xi
_.u
j
.
F R O M S O U T H : T ake 57 N orth to 2 94 N o rth and go to
H a lf Da) Road Exit, furn left. A pprox. 2 m iles to
M ilw aukee A venue. Turn left. T urn left at first stoplight
into M arriott en tran ce on M arriott D rive. I 4 m ile south o f
H a lf Dav Road.
THE BULGE BUGLE
R oad Exit.
T u m left. A pprox. 2 m iles to M ilw aukee
A v en u e. I urn left. 1 urn left at first stoplight into M arriott
e n tra n ce on M arriott D rive. 1 4 m ile south o f H a lf Da>
Road.
jg
August 2007
[This account fa ils to reveal that the 101^ Airborne
Divison was 100 miles away when the Gem ans struck,
that other troops suffered hea\y losses in men and
equipHwni in delaying ihe Germans unlit the arrival o f the
10P ‘ AB. The American troops who survived and were
not captured infiltrated through the Germans and join ed
the 101” AB in the defense o f Bastogne. For an accurate
and detailed account see "Alamo in the Ardennes” by Dr.
John C. Mcmanus published in 2007 by John Wiley, Inc —
D. Paris]
The Battle o f the Bulge
December 16, 1944 - January 26, 1945
Source:
National Archives & Records Administration
College Park, M D Exhibit No. 3, Picture Division,
London Office o f War Information as published
by John Bowen in the M D/DC VBOB Chapter
newsletter. Submitted by Demetri Paris, 1 Tk
Bn 9"" Armd Div.
M arch 27, 1945 w h en G eneral E isenhow er
p roclaim ed th a t the G erm an s “ as a m ilitary force on
the W estern F ro n t a re a w hipped a rm y ,” he a d d ed
th at the A rdennes drive w as th e w o rst m istak e the
N azis had m ade in the w est.
It had c o st the enem y 2 2 0 ,0 0 0 m en, o f w hom
110,000 w ere taken p riso n e r, it h a d c o st hundreds o f
m illions o f do llars w orth o f equ ip m en t T hese m en
and th is m aterial w ere so rely n eeded w h en th e A llies
forged acro ss the R hine a n d struck into th e h e art o f
the R eich.
B ut the G erm an s had g am b led th em
a w ay in the ill-fated A rd en n es offensive.
N ^ e n the N azis stru c k in the A rdennes, only
sm all d e tach m en ts o f US n o n -c o m b a ta n t troops
stood in the p ath o f the G erm an a rm o re d spearhead
to S tavelot, B elgium a n d the vital A llied supply
point o f L icgc. B ut th e co lu m n w as stopped T he
G erm an s had co u n ted on sm o th erin g fog to hide
th eir m ovem ents. I hey h a d not co u n te d o US pilots
w h o risk ed th eir lives to fly 100 feet from the
g ro u n d to b la st the a tta ck fo rces w ith bo m b s, rockets
and bullets.
[Contrary to the statement that only non-combat
troops delayed the (Jerman attack. Combat
Command B o f the 9'^ Armd Div, CCB o f the
Arm d Div and other combat units were in the path o f
this utiuuk ui SiCtveloi arid Si. Vith. They d id not see
any US aircraft until after their withdrawal on
December 23, 1944. D. Paris j
From th at point on, the G erm an b ulge w as
squeezed to com plete deflation by A llied arm s
p ressin g from the fro n t and sides an d plan es
h a m m e rin g from the top. Parts o f the F irst and
N inth US A rm ies and th e second B ritish arm y
pu sh ed from the N o rth ern gro u n d w hich had
prev io u sly been h eld in defensive victories. T he
linkup o f th e F irst and T hird US A n n ie s on Jan u ary
16 in H ouffalize, key com m u n icatio n c en ter o f the
salient, w as the signal fo r the sta rt o f a m ass
w ithdraw al by the enem y to positio n s beh in d the
S iegfried Line.
B y Jan u ary 26, the B attle o f th e A rdennes w as
d e clare d officially o v e r and the G erm ans, w ho a t one
tim e had reached a point fo u r m iles from one o f the
m ajo r o bjectives, the M euse R ier, w ere again
w ag in g defensive w arfare on hom e soil. W eakened
and w ith few replacem ents, they faced A llied
A rm ies m assing fo r assaults across the R hine. W h en
the o n sla u g h t began, G erm an tro o p s w ho m ight have
served a reinforcem ents w ere in A llied priso n er-o fw a r cages o r bu ried in B elgium so il-victim s o f the
N a z is’ irreparable m istake, “the B attle o f the B ulge ”
[Note the official end o f the Battle o f the
Ardennes was January 26, 1945.
The Alsace
operation was added later.
One possible
explanation is that Alsace was added rather than
granting a separate battle star fo r the Alsace
operation. D.Paris]
R equesting Your Personnel Records
T he N ational Personnel R ecords C enter claim s
they have a new' and im proved m ethod to obtain
y o u r records from the N P R C . T hey w ill fiim ish the
records to a uthorized requesters. T h eir w eb site is:
H tt://vetrecs.archives.gov
N ote th ere is no “w w w ” required at the b eginning o f
th eir address
T hey claim this pro ced u re will elim inate the long
d e la y cau sed by th eir m ail room p rocessing the
m any Form s 180 subm itted by veterans and their
next o f kin.
(Source: V ictory D ivision N ew s p ublished by editor
W ill C ook for the 5* A rm ored D ivision]
N o r had the N azis co u n tc d on th e raw co u rag e
o f A m erican airb o rn e so ld iers w ho, fighting as
g ro u n d in fantrym en, h eld out a g ain st a w eek -lo n g
siege o f B astogne until th ey w ere relieved D ecem b er
27, 1944 by tro o p s o f the T h ird US A rm y w ho
sw ung north from th e Saar. A lthough su rro u n d e d by
c o n fid en t N azis and su p p lied only from the a ir the
1 0 r‘
A iro m e
D ivision
h eld
the
vital
c o m m u n ica tio n s c en ter o f B astogne and in flicted
heav y losses on th e enem y.
O n the N a zis o w t i
ad m issio n , the lig h ten in g driv e o f the reliev in g T h ird
arm y slo w e d d o w n an d ev en tu ally c h ec k ed the
ad v an ce o f G e rm an M arshall G e rd V on R unstedt.
T in
lU ii.G r: lU 'C ii i;
19
■August 2007
CHAPTERS REPORT
John M cAuliffe
Vice President for Chapters
It is e n c o u ra g in g to see in th e M ay, 2 0 0 7 , issue o f The Bugle,
p h o to s sh o w in g th e g ro u p o f th e In d ian R iv er C h a p te r m e m b e rs
w h o h a v e ju s t p la c e d a p laq u e h o n o rin g B ulge v e te ran s and
a n o th e r p h o to sh o w in g the V B O B m o n u m e n t d e d ic a te d at
G re e n sb u rg , P e n n sy lv a n ia . T h is is an in d ic a tio n th a t th e ch ap ters
re m a in a c tiv e a n d e n jo y in g th e c o m ra d e rie o f m ee tin g s and
p a rtic ip a tio n in e v e n ts w h ic h h o n o r o r g a lla n t and w o m en o f the
B ulge.
S om e c h a p te rs , lo o k in g a h e a d to p o ssib le d isso lu tio n in 2-3
y e ars h av e sent b a llo ts to th e ir m e m b e rs a sk in g if th e y w a n t to
c o n tin u e w ith th e m ee tin g s. T h is w as n e c e ssita te d b eca u se o f
p o o r a tte n d a n c e at so m e m e e tin g s as w ell as th e m em b e rs
re a c h in g th e ir m id -8 0 ’s a n d m an y in p o o r h e alth , th ey h ave lost
the a b ility to g et a ro u n d . S u rp risin g ly , the re p o rt from one
c h a p te r sh o w ed an o v e rw h e lm in g v o te to c o n tin u e not for 2 or
3 y e ars, but fo r 5 y e a rs o r m ore. T h is sh o w s th e ir c o n fid e n ce
and is e n c o u ra g in g , an d so lo n g as th ere is goo d lea d ersh ip the
m e m b e rs sh o u ld c o n tin u e to c o n v en e even sh o u ld th e ir a c tiv itie s
or e v e n ts be lessen ed .
From the 9-1 0 re p o rts I re c e iv e d from c h a p te r p re sid en ts the
past six m o n th s, it is n o ta b le th a t th e c h a p te rs c o n tin u e to e n jo y
th a t g re a t c o m ra d e rie a n d fe llo w sh ip as in the past. M e e tin g s are
a tte n d e d by as m an y as 65-85 v e te ra n s an d th e ir guests.
S p e a k ers from v e te ra n s g ro u p s, sta te se n a to rs, V A d irec to rs,
n a tio n a l and local d ig n ita rie s, e tc ., are e n g a g e d ...e d u c a tio n
p ro g ram s are h e ld in th e sc h o o ls sp e a k in g to h u n d re d s o f
stu d e n ts by the v e te ra n s o f v a rio u s a c tiv itie s o f th e B ulge
b a ttle...(F re ed o m is not F re e )...T h e ‘old b a ttle rs ’ m arch or ride
in V eteran s D ay, C o lu m b u s D ay, St. P a tric k ’s D ay and o th er
local p a r a d e s - s it do w n d in n ers, p icn ic s an d m u seu m v isits are
sta n d ard fa re ...so m e c h a p te rs jo in fo rce s w ith o th e r o rg a n iz a tio n s
like th e M O PH in an n u al b a n q u e ts...o n the in te rn atio n al level,
c h a p te r m em b e rs h av e jo in e d ‘th e L ib e ra te d ’ in th e annual
A m e ric a n -L u x e m b o u rg F rie n d sh ip W ee k ...h e ld e v ery m on th o f
June. T he annual B a ttle o f th e B ulge R e e n a c tm e n t held th e last
w eek o f Ja n u a ry at Fort In d ian to w n G ap. P e n n sy lv a n ia , is still
freq u en ted by th e h e a rtie st o f the m e m b e rs...b u t now o c cu p y in g
only one floor o f the b arrack s.
T hese as w ell as o th e r a c tiv itie s c o n tin u e to d raw the m em b e rs
to g eth er, A s one v e te ra n put it: "T h ere is n o th in g like p a rta k in g
in a b attle to g e th e r th a t so lid ifie s a frien d sh ip fo rev er."
R eports received: L eh ig h V a lle y -P re sid e n t M orris D. M etz;
C entral Indiana C h a p te r—P re sid e n t B ob C oop er/F .d ito r T erry
M cD aniel; F lorida S o u th e a s t—P re sid e n t G e o rg e F isher; C itru s—
P resident G erald V. M yers; C e n tra l M a s s a c h u s e tts -P re s id e n t
John M cA uliffe; O h io B u c k e y e —P resid en t M ilan A. R olik;
M a ry la n d /D C -P re sid e n t E arle O. E d m o n d s/E d ito r John D.
B ow en; D elaw are V a lle y —P re sid e n t S ta n le y W o jtu sik /E d ito r
E dith K now les; and P e ter F. L eslie, J r - P r e s id e n t Jerry M ount.
R e sp e ctfu lly S u b m itte d ,
John E. M c A u liffen
‘We shoulda d ra n \ th’ cognac
an wall^ed to git gas.”
MICHAEL E. THORNTON
MEDAL OF HONOR
RECIPIENT ENROLLED
IN VBOB
A s o v e rall A m e ric a n c o n v e n tio n a l fo rc e s w ere g ra d u a lly
w ith d raw n from V ie tn a m in th e e a rly 1970s, the "u n c o n v e n tio n a l
w a rfa re " ro le o f N a v y S E A L S g rew . In th e sp rin g o f 1972,
P e tty O ffic e r T h o rn to n w a s a ssig n e d to a m issio n u n d e r the
c o m m a n d o f Lt. T h o m a s N o rris.
T h o rn to n an d N o rris a c c o m p a n ie d a th re e -m a n South
V ie tn a m e se N av y team on an in te llig e n c e -g a th e rin g m issio n in
e n e m y -h e ld territo ry . L a u n c h e d from a V ie tn a m e se N a v y ju n k
in a ru b b e r bo at, th e p a tro l re a c h e d land an d fo u n d th e m se lv e s
fu rth e r b eh in d e n e m y lines th an th e y had p la n n e d . C o n tin u in g
on foot to w a rd th e ir o b je c tiv e th e y c a m e u n d e r h e av y fire from
a far larg e r fo rce an d w ere in d a n g e r o f b e in g su rro u n d e d .
W h ile in flic tin g h e av y c a s u a ltie s on th e e n e m y , th e y h e a d e d for
th e sh o re, in h o p e s o f e sc a p in g by sea.
O n h e a rin g th a t his N a v y S E A L c o m m a n d e r, Lt. T h o m a s
N o rris had b een k ille d w h ile c o v e rin g th e ir e sc a p e , T h o rn to n
re p lie d , " I’m not lea v in g w ith o u t m y L ie u te n a n t." an d re tu rn e d
u n d e r fire to find N o rris g ra v e ly w o u n d e d but a liv e . Q u ic k ly
d isp o sin g o f tw o e n e m y so ld ie rs w h o a p p ro a c h e d at th a t m o m e n t,
T h o rn to n slu n g N o rris o v e r his s h o u ld e r a n d d a sh e d fo r life o v e r
4 0 0 y a rd s to open b e ac h , re tu rn in g e n e m y fire as he ran. He
ca rrie d N o rris an d a n o th e r w o u n d e d c o m ra d e out to sea, b eyond
th e ran g e o f e n e m y fire. T h e c o m p a n y flo a te d for a p p ro x im a te ly
tw o h o u rs b e fo re b e in g re trie v e d by th e S o u th V ie tn a m e se
N a v y .n
Check mailing label to see if your dues are due.
THE BULGE BUGLE
20
A ugust 2007
SOUTHERN ARIZONA
CHAPTER MONUMENT
HUDSON VALLEY CHAPTER
MONUMENT
On M ay 30, 2003. m em bers o f the Southern A rizona C hapter
dedicated a m em orial in Presidio Park, facing C ity Hall and
Federal B uilding in Tucson, A rizona.
T hen C hapter President John W estover, designed the original
sketch and w as very instrum ental in accom plishing the end
result. The m onum ent w as funded entirely by donations from
chapter m em bers w hich num bered 65 m em bers at the tim e o f the
beginning o f the p lanning—presently there are about 50 m em bers.
Saratoga National Cemeter\
200 Duell Road
Schuylerv'ille, New York
Dedicated: May 30, 2000
[In a recent issue several monuments were cited and,
apparently, many were omitted—although not intentionally.
Jim Wilson. President o f the Hudson Valley Chapter (New
Yorkj provided us with the following photos o f a monument
erected in their area and we are happy to provide this
information to you ]
n E f ) i c A T i : D T O riif-: g a l l a n t a n d
V T C T O R IO r S M EN A N D W O M E N V V H p_ _
P A K T iC IP .M F .i) IN I H E B A T T L E O F T H E
lil l.C.K
D W AR li. 11. D E C 'E M R F.R
1 9 4 4 T U K i; L>5 JA N U A R Y 194 5 !N B E L G ll M
A N D LUXEM BOURG. T H E G R EA TEST B A TTLE
FV T.R F O U C .H T BY T H E U N IT E D .STATF..S A R M Y
T-nii i 4 j n i j
iiv iu m r ii
KJt
ID A r ' C
v<v/<ui%nvii.
-f>RESF„NTED BY
HU D SO N
VALLEY C H A P T E R
«
Wording which appears on the monument
The photo above is a copy o f the monument. The photos
o f the monument it.<<elf were fuzzy and did not do the
monument justice, so we are using this. It is identical to
the monument.
Monument as it appears on Memorial Walk (foreground)
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT...CHECK YOUR
MAILING LABEL. Y our dues date is printed directly
Replica o f monument in Veterans Day Parade, 2006, left to
right. Buck Bloomer. 28th INFD: George McGee (chapter
president) 109th EVAC HOSP: Harper Coleman. 4th INFD:
and John Swett. 106th INFD □
T ile lU 'LG i: I3i ; g i . i;
above your last nam e. If your dues are due please submit thetn
prom ptly and it w ill save us having to m ail a dues reminder.
Postage and printing costs have skyrocketed. Thanks.
21
August 2007
IVIORE ON THE
PROXIMITY FUZE
th e new fuze w o u ld bu rst the sh e lls u n ifo rm ly a b o v e th e targ e t,
w h e th e r it w a s on flat g ro u n d , on a slo p e , up h ill o r do w n . T he
hot m eal an d c o ffe e w e re big hits, too. Follow 'ing th e shoot,
th o se in te rested ta lk e d to th e Fire D ire ctio n C e n te r a n d S u rv ey
crew s; an d the gun c re w s as w ell.
T he re m a in d e r o f the d a y w as sp e n t in c le a n in g up the
b a ttle fie ld fo r th e n ex t d ay , 12 D e c e m b e r, o u r "v a c a tio n " w as
over, and w e m a rc h e d b a ck to th e no rth b o u n d a ry o f X X C o rp s
in M e rz iq -L a u n s tro f fa re a to fire fo r T ask F o rce Polk, th e C o rp s
M ech. C av. in an e c o n o m y -o f-fo rc e ro le h o ld in g a p art o f the
"fro n t." (O u r B a sto g n e e x p e rie n c e w a s but fiv e d a y s a w ay .)
T h is V T d e m o n s tra tio n and h a n d s-o n e x p e rie n c e sto o d us in
g o o d stead , for w hen th e 4th A rm o re d D iv isio n T F A b ra m s
bro k e the G e rm an rin g a ro u n d B a sto g n e, o u r a m m o tra in s c am e
w ith th em , b rin g in g in a m m o w ith th e n ew . n o w -d e c la ssifie d , TV
fuze, an d p e rm issio n to sh o o t it. It w o rk e d b e a u tifu lly "for re al,"
and its use up an d d o w n th e front had to be o n e o f th e big
fa cto rs in w in d in g up th e B attle o f the B u lg e su c c e ss fu lly fo r the
A llies.
Provided by: Rufus D. Lewis, Jr.
10th Armored Division
420th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
Headquarters
[Note from Riifiis: This is not to debate nor contradict
several past articles on the proximity fu ze but to add facts
to its use.
The following, article was Mritten by the
battalion commander o f the 420th Armored Field Artillery
Battalion. The 420th was o f the 10th Armored Division.
Combat Command "B." CCB served with the lO lst in
Bastogne.]
420th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
Fires New (Secret) Fuze
W. D. Crittenberger, Jr.
(Then) Battalion CO of the 40th
Major General, U.S. Army, Retired
A fte r p a rtic ip a tin g in th e X X C o rp s c ap tu re o f F o rtress M etz, the
10th A rm o re d D iv isio n jo in e d the C o rp s e ffo rt to breai< the
S ie g frie d S w itch in th e S a a r-M o se ile T ria n g le . W h ile in po sitio n
n e ar Perl, G e rm a n y , th e 4 2 0 th A FA B a tta lio n w as se lec te d to
o rg a n iz e a n d p e rfo rm a d e m o n stra tio n o f the new , then secret V T
o r P o zit fuze.
A ll a v a ila b le field o ffice rs, p a rtic u la rly
a rtille ry m e n , o f X X C o rp s w ere to attend.
On 6 D e ce m b er, 1944, th e b a tta lio n C O an d an A d v a n ce Party
stro n g in S u rv ey , Fire D ire ctio n C e n te r an d C o m m u n ic a to rs
m o v ed out to se lec t a d e m o n stra tio n a rea su itab le for this
m ission.
T he n ex t day, 7 D e ce m b er, the b a tta lio n fo llo w ed , c u ttin g
across the m ain su p p ly ro u tes o f th e th ree d iv isio n s in c o n ta ct,
and c o v e rin g the 43 m ile m o v e in four hours. T he n e are st tow n
on the m ap w a s M a ran g e , F rance, on the so u th ern e d g e o f XX
C orps. T h e jo u rn a l e n try read s "D ep a rte d Perl, G e rm an y , at
1045 on m o u n te d m o to r in arch to M aran g e, F ran ce, a rriv in g at
1500. D istan ce tra v e le d 4 3 .6 m iles. W ea th e r c o ld and rainy.
M o rale g ood."
An "im p ac t area" o f ro llin g , v a rie d terra in w as p ick ed , and
shot-up v e h ic les and farm e q u ip m e n t p laced as id en tifia b le
targ e ts in the valley , on the slo p e and even on the c rest, to best
illustrate the sta n d ard h e ig h t o f burst o f the new fuze. S urvey
and re g istra tio n to o k p lac e as o th ers w ere lay in g c o m m u n ica tio n
lines for us and to tie into C o rp s lines, sh o u ld h ig h er
h e ad q u a rte rs need to reach any o f the a tte n d ee s. T he usual
"d em o n stratio n " se rv ic e s w ere set up; latrin es, w a rm in g ten ts,
park in g areas, hot c o ffe e , m ess ten ts w ith a hot m eal, and yes,
ex tra field glasses, a p u b lic a d d ress system and so m e fo ld in g
ch airs for th e real V IPs.
T he day o f the "sh o o t," 11 D ece m b er, d a w n ed c o ld an d rainy
but h a p p ily not foggy. O u r p re p a ra tio n s for such a day w ere
both n eed ed and a p p re c ia te d . T he C o rp C o m m a n d e r W alton
W alker, led the list o f a tte n d ee s, d re sse d for the co ld as the
picture show s.
T he firin g w en t w ell. T h e ta rg e ts had been p la c e d to show th at
THE BULGE BUGl.E
Chaussy.
h ranee:
Commanders observe artillery’
demonstration. General Morris commanding 10th Armored
Division: General IValker, commanding X X Corps: General
Irwin, commanding 5th Infantiy Division. (Picture taken from
X X Corps History o f WWII, page 216.)
J.VViMICtDKJ
K1L0OW
U)AS
m ere
vJJAfi VAER£
WITS OF WAR
SAVE US POSTAGE
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22
A ugust 2007
REMEMBERING ANOTHER
ENEMY: COLD WEATHER
n ex t m o rn in g . I had g o tte n rid o f the b a zo o k a , but found a
d iffe re n t re sp o n sib ility w ith m y new m o b ility , th a t o f tak in g
tu rn s b e in g the "p o in t" m an fo r th e sq u ad . W h en in the lead,
y ou h a d to be v ery a le rt fo r an y m o v e m e n t o r so u n d s up ahead,
b ut w ith the g ro u n d now c o m p le te ly c o v e re d w ith a w hite
b la n k e t o f snow , it w a s e a sie r to d e te c t the e n em y . W e still ju s t
h a d o u r le a th e r bo o ts an d o u r feet w e re c o ld all o f th e tim e.
F o x h o le s w e re h a rd e r to dig, an d e v en th o u g h stra p p e d to our
sid es, th e w a te r in o u r c a n te e n s w o u ld a lw a y s be frozen by
m o rn in g . W’e w ere g e ttin g th re e sq u are "K " ra tio n m e a ls per day
th o u g h an d used th e c arto n s to m ak e a fire to m elt o u r w ater.
■After d ig g in g o u r tw o m an fo x h o le at n ig h t, an d sp read in g
d o w n o u r ra in c o ats on th e g ro u n d , each h a v in g on e b lan k e t, w e
p la c e d one d o u b led u n d e r us an d one d o u b le d o v e r us for w hat
w a rm th w e c o u ld g e t for on e h o u r o f sleep. A t d a y b rea k , a
no rm al d a y w o u ld inclu d e, sin c e w e w e re a lre a d y d ressed , o f
th a w in g o u r w a ter a n d e a tin g our "K " ra tio n b re ak fa st. O ur
latrin e w a s a slit-tre n c h , and w e had so a p an d ice -c o ld w a ter for
o u r hands. W e now had w ool g lo v e s w ith le a th e r p alm s, and
sto c k in g -c a p style h e lm e t liners w h ich w o u ld pull o v e r our ears.
F o llo w in g b re a k fa st o u r sq u a d lea d e rs w o u ld receiv e
in stru c tio n s a b o u t o u r o b je c tiv e s for o u r p lato o n lea d er, a 2nd
lie u ten a n t. W e m ad e c ertain o u r little c a rd b o a rd fires w ere out
and th en fo ld ed up o u r b lan k e ts in o u r little c o m b a t packs,
a tta c h e d o u r sh o v els to o u r belts, sh o u ld e r-stra p p e d o u r rifle s and
got re ad y to m o v e out. If th ere w as no e n e m y fire, leaning up
a g a in st a tree lent su p p o rt to th e v a rio u s p a ra p h e rn a lia th at you
had to carry . T he M-1 w e ig h e d 9 p o u n d s, e x tra a m m u n itio n ,
tv,’o g re n a d e s, c an tee n , pack , siiovei, bayu.'iei and h e liiie t m ust
h a v e w e ig h e d at least 20 p o u n d s, m a k in g it a lm o st e a s ie r to w alk
and get ail th o se th in g s on a sy n c h ro n o u s m o tio n th a n to try to
sta n d still in one place.
T h en w e re m in d e d w h o e v e r’s tu rn it w as to be p o in t o r scout,
and upo n c o m m a n d w e m o v ed out, a lm o st a lw a y s in single file
w ith a b o u t 15 fe et b e tw ee n sq u ad m em b e rs, as an average
d ista n c e , w h ic h v a rie d a cc o rd in g to te rra in , e n em y lo catio n , etc.
A d v a n c in g th ro u g h w o o d s, up a road o r th ro u g h an open field
w a s a lw a y s a c au tio u s a ffa ir, lo o k in g to see w h a t m ig h t be in the
n e x t g ro u p o f trees, o v e r a sm all rise o r b e h in d a hed g ero w ,
p a rtic u la rly tro u b le so m e b e ca u se th e y w e re u su a lly b u ilt p a rtially
o f stone, w ith a th ic k h ed g e on to p to o b sc u re y o u r vision. T he
G e rm a n s w e re to use th e h e d g e ro w s to g o o d a d v a n ta g e as we
w e re soon to learn in th e B a ttle o f th e B ulge. A d v a n c in g up a
hill w a s a lso a g ru e lin g o rd e al, m o v in g c a u tio u sly o r q u ick ly as
th e c o n d itio n s d ictate.
T h e m en ta l stre ss w as m o re tirin g th an the p h y sical strain
th o u g h (I th o u g h t). A nd even th o u g h y ou d id n ’t find en em y for
h o u rs o r so m e tim e s a full day, sev eral "b reak s" a day b esides
lunch w e re n e ce ssa ry and w e lc o m e , u n less o f c o u rse, the enem y
w a s e n c o u n te re d o r an in co m in g sh e llin g a tta c k w as e x p erien c e d .
All th e "b re ak " had to be w as a drin k o f w a ter, an e x tra "K"
ratio n d og b isc u it, a c ig a re tte fo r som e, w h e re p o ssib le , or a stick
o f gum to p ro v id e a few m in u te s a w ay from the c o n c e n tra tio n o f
a d v an c in g .
Often tim es there was a few extra minutes for lunch, other times on
the move it was eaten later in the afternoon, som etim es on the move,
and other tim es, o f necessity, skipped entirely. The Battle o f the Bulge
was fought largely in overcast weather and there was about an average
o f 8" loose snow on the ground, depending on the area, and the
tem perature probably averaged about 20 degrees overall, although
iiciiqIU/ r\r\t
^PnntiniipH^
Reuel Long
90th Infantry Division
357th Infantry Regiment
2nd Battalion
Company E
A lth o u g h th e in fo rm a tio n w e h a d re c e iv e d a b o u t th e B attle o f the
B u lg e fro m a rtic le s in th e Stars and Stripes w as o ld an d sk e tch y
n e v e rth e le ss th e situ a tio n m u st h av e re q u ire d h e lp from o u r
d iv isio n , as w e h e a d e d n o rth in tru c k s on Ja n u a ry 6, 1945. W e
w e re a lw a y s k e p t in th e d a rk by o u r c o m p a n y c o m m a n d e rs as to
w h e re w e w e re h e a d e d n e x t, e x c e p t th e im m e d ia te o b je c tiv e a o f
h ill, to w n o r stre am as w e d e p a rte d M o n n e ren , A lsa c e -L o rra in e ,
F ran ce.
W e k e p t tra c k o f a n y m a jo r to w n s o r c itie s th a t w e p a sse d
th ro u g h , h o w e v e r, an d w h e n w e re a c h e d th e C ity o f
L u x e m b o u rg , w e k new w e w e re n e a rin g th e fig h tin g and
re aso n e d w h y w e h a d b e en p u lle d b a ck from o u r fo o th o ld a cro ss
th e S a a r R iv e r in D e c e m b e r. T h is m u st be so m e th in g big, and
as w e c o n tin u e d n o rth a fte r sp e n d in g all n ig h t in the tru ck sittin g
up in w h a t w as b e lo w z e ro w e a th e r, w e sta rte d to see our
a m b u la n c e s c o m in g b a ck fro m the front. 1 re c a lle d s e e in g a ro ad
sign p o in t d ire c tio n s to th e T o w n o f W iltz an d o f St. V ith, w h ich
I la te r le a rn e d h a d b e en fla tte n e d by a b a ttle in w h ic h th e 7th
A iiiiO icd D iv isio n h a d h e ro ic a lly h e ld u p th e G e rm a n ad v an c e
fo r a tim e to e n a b le A m e ric a n d e fe n siv e p o sitio n s to form fa rth e r
b a c k in B e lg iu m , b a c k in D e ce m b er.
O u r d iv isio n w a s e v id e n tly g o in g to strik e th e e n e m y on th e
left flan k o f h is sa lie n t in to the A m e ric an p o sitio n s. I re m e m b e r
o u r tru c k s m o v in g up th e ro a d w ith a ste ad y stream o f
a m b u la n c e s m o v in g d o w n th e o th e r side as w'e c o u ld n o w h e ar
th e n o ise o f b a ttle n e a r th e front. It w a s h e re th a t G e n era l P atton
la te r w ro te th a t d u rin g th a t a fte rn o o n he d ro v e th ro u g h th e 90th
w h o sto o d up a n d c h e e re d as he p a ssed . T h ese m.en did th is iis
sp ite o f sp e n d in g a g re a t m a n y h o u rs in tru c k at 6 d e g re e s b elo w
z e ro and in sp ite o f all th e w o u n d e d c o m in g do w n th e o th e r side
o f th e road.
I d id n ’t see th e g e n e ra l, b u t feel c e rta in th is is th e p la c e he
w ro te ab o u t, fig u rin g he p a sse d th ro u g h th e 90 th a h ea d o r b eh in d
o u r p a rtic u la r tru c k . W e sta y e d th e n ig h t in a farm h o u se th a t
had ju s t b een lib e ra te d by o th e r A m e ric a n fo rc e s th a t w e w o u ld
soon be re lie v in g . T h e w arm a c c o m m o d a tio n s w ere w e lco m e
a fte r tw o b itte r c o ld d a y s in th e tru ck .
T h e fa th e r o f th is fa m ily in L u x e m b o u rg b ro u g h t out an a ll­
w a v e tab le m o d el ra d io th a t he had k e p t h id d en from the
G e rm a n s, a n d o u r sq u a d g a th e re d a ro u n d it to listen to B B C and
o th e r b ro a d c a sts, in c lu d in g N a z i p ro p a g a n d a b ro a d c a sts in
E n g lish . S o m e h o w I e n d e d up sle e p in g on the liv in g room rug
in stea d o f in th e h a ll, w h ic h w a s a b ig trea t. A c tu ally , w e g rew
to b e c o m e th a n k fu l fo r ju s t little th in g s, like a c le a n d rin k o f
w a te r, o r w arm w a te r to sh a v e in.
T h e n ex t d a y w e h a d a fe stiv e c e le b ra tio n d in n e r o f c h ic k en
(p ro c u re d by o u r s q u a d s ’ b a c k y a rd "re co n " c re w ) an d d u m p lin g s.
T h e farm er, his w ife an d 15 y e a r o ld d a u g h te r a te w ith us. He
sp o k e little E n g lish , but w e e n jo y e d sh a rin g his ju b ila tio n o f
lib e ratio n . It w a s a fin e d in n e r all a ro u n d a n d m a d e us feel v ery
sa tis tie d . W e sta y e d a g a in th ro u g h tn e n ig h t a n a m o v ed o u t tne
TH E B U L U t UUULH
27
August 2007
RE M E M B E R IN G A N O T H E R ENEMVContinuation)
gun c a n n o t do.
G e n era l B ra d le y w a n ts u s to use th em
e x c lu siv e ly as a n ti-ta n k g u n s, a n d to d e v e lo p a d o c trin e fo r th e ir
use as a n ti-ta n k g u n s e ls e w h e re in th e F irst A rm y.
1 am a c c o rd in g ly a tta c h in g one b a tte ry to th e ta n k d e stro y e r
b a tta lio n w h ich is a tta c h e d to y o u r d iv isio n . T h e b a tte ry is
strip p e d o f its A A A d ire c tin g e q u ip m e n t. A tta c h m e n ts to the
tan k d e stro y e r b a tta lio n is e sse n tia l in o rd e r to ta k e full
a d v a n ta g e o f its a n ti-ta n k re c o n n a is sa n c e a n d se c u rity fa c ilitie s,
an d to g iv e th e 9 0 m m u n it g u id a n c e by e x p e rie n c e d tan k
d e stro y e r c o m m a n d e rs. T h e 9 0 m m p e rso n n e l h av e had little
a n ti-ta n k tra in in g . E ach g u n m u st h a v e w ith it an e x p e rie n c e d
ta n k d e stro y e r o ffic e r o r n o n -c o m m issio n e d o ffic e r to d e sig n ate
its ta rg e ts an d e sp e c ia lly to p re v e n t firin g a t o u r o w n tan k s,
a rm o re d card , a rtille ry and e n g in e e r trac to rs.
1 am p a rtic u la rly a n x io u s fo r th e 3 -in ch an d 9 0 m m g u n s to be
w o rk e d into a team in w h ich the 9 0 m m fire is re se rv e d fo r h eav v
G e rm a n tan k s. It is u n d e rsto o d th a t th e G e rm a n h e av y ta n k M k
VI is e m p lo y e d o n ly , at ro u g h , from 1 100 to 2 0 0 0 y ard s. In th is
h e d g ero w c o u n try , th e y are u n lik e ly to o p e ra te o f f th e goo d
roads.
T h e 9 0 m m gun re q u ire s a little tim e to u n lim b e r,
e m p la c e , an d c o n ce al p ro p e rly , an d is, o f c o u rse, p u re ly a
d e fe n siv e w e ap o n . T h e re fo re , th e 9 0 m m g u n s sh o u ld be lea p ­
fro g g ed a lo n g th e m a in ro ad , se e k in g sin g le gun p o sitio n s w ith
a field o f fire d o w n th e ro a d a b o u t 1500 y a rd s. T h e 5 7 m m and
3-9 inch g u n s sh o u ld se e k to c a n a liz e th e G e rm a n ta n k s into the
m ain ro a d w h e re th e 9 0 m m g un a w a its th em .
S ince y o u r tan k b a tta lio n is not e n g a g in g in d e p e n d e n t tan k
a tta c k s, I b e lie v e th e q u e stio n o f d ire c t c o o p e ra tio n b e tw e e n y o u r
ta n k s an d th e 9 0m m gun can be d e fe rre d in fa v o r o f d e v e lo p in g
first the a n ti-ta n k te a m w o rk su g g e ste d ab o v e.
Please see th a t y o u r b a tte ry g e ts a g o o d sta rt an d is c a re fu lly
g u id e d in th is new line o f w o rk . L et m e h a v e y o u r ideas on the
su b je c t as y ou go along.
S in c ere ly :
W h en d u sk a rriv e d , w e w o u ld try to stake o u r fo x h o les in a
d e fe n siv e p e rim e te r to the fro n t in c ase o f c o u n te r a tta c k , u n less
w e p lan n e d a n ig h t a tta c h . T h ere w ere tim e s w h en w e w ould
h a v e o u r fo x h o le w e ll sta rte d , o r e v en c o m p le te d , w hen w e
w o u ld be o rd e re d to c h a n g e o u r p o sitio n s to be on th e line w ith
o th e r units. S o m e tim e s th is c h an g e c am e a fte r dark, m ak in g
a n o th e r h o le m ore d iffic u lt to dig, as y ou c o u ld n ’t see the ro cks,
o r even w orse o b stru c tio n , roots, w h ile d ig g in g . W e usu ally ate
o u r su p p e r ra tio n as a re w a rd a fte r th e h o le w as c o m p le te d . W e
fe lt m o re p ro te c te d th e n , a n d on e o f us c o u ld relax at a tim e to
p a rta k e o f food.
T h ere w a s n ’t m u ch o f a ritu al to g et re ad y for b e d - n o clo th e s
to ch an g e , no sh a v in g o r e v en ta k in g o f f the h elm et. I usu ally
trie d to brush m y te e th an d th en tu c k e d th e b re ak fa st "K " ration
u n d e r m y a rm p it b e fo re re tirin g for an hour, to k e ep it th aw ed
fo r b re ak fa st. O u r fe e t w e re b e c o m in g a lm o st as big a co n cern
now as the e n em y a n d d u rin g th is p e rio d o f tim e w e sta rte d
lo sin g m en w e c o u ld a ffo rd to sp a re to fro stb ite , tren c h feet, and
fro ze n feet.
W e w e re n ’t g e ttin g o u r usual dry ch an g e o f socks e v ery few
days, an d it d id n ’t h e lp to bare y o u r w e t foot in b e lo w -fre e z in g
w e ath er. So m o st o f us trie d to k e ep w ig g lin g our to es w hile on
n ig h t g u a rd duty, o r d u rin g p e rio d s th a t w e w e re n ’t m arc h in g
d u rin g the day. B u t w e all soon b e c a m e run dow n an d tire d due
to the strain o f c o m b a t a n d b e in g o u tsid e in the c o ld for an
e x te n d ed p e rio d so th a t m an y ju s t g av e up th e a d d itio n al e ffo rt
to tak e care o f th e ir feet.
T his, th en , c o m p rise d w h a t w a s a re p re se n ta tiv e day o f the foot
so ld ie r d u rin g th e B a ttle o f the B ulge e x ce p t for the v ario u s
e x p e rie n c e s in c o m b a t, w h ic h w e w e re v e ry soon to en co u n ter. □
ANTI-TANK GUNS
J. L A W T O N C O L L IN S
M a jo r G e n e ra l, U .S. A rm y ,
C o m m a n d in g
Submitted by Elmer .1. Potzmann
110th AAA 90mm Gun Battalion (TD)
CONFIDENTIAL
[Elmer writes: Enclosed is a photo copy o f the original
document not altered in any way. Check the dateline o f
July 9th, 1944. I have the original document in my socalled War Room with my other memorabilia. This order
document was given to our battalion. We employed it
whenever necessary. We were very useful and effective in
the Battle o f the Bulge—in Belgium, Malmedy, St. Vith and
Leglise and two other towns close by.]
COPYc
WANT TO TODDLE??
CHICAGO, CHICAGO...
THAT TO DDLIN’ TOW N
CONFIDENTIAL
Frank Sinatra made it sound so adventuresome and fun.
T o d d lin g m ea n s; w a lk in g w ith sh o rt to tte rin g ste p s in the
m a n n e r o f a y o u n g ch ild .
T o tte rin g m ean s: th re a te n in g to c o lla p se o r m o v e u n ste ad ily .
N o w d o n ’t let th a t d isc o u ra g e y o u , ’c a u se w e ’re g o in g to have
fun a n d be a d v e n tu re s o m e a n y w ay .
So, p a ck y o u r b a g s an d jo in us at th e L in c o ln sh ire M a rrio tt
R eso rt, S e p te m b e r 2 5 -3 0 , 2 0 0 7 , in L in c o ln sh ire , I llin o is - o n the
n o rth shore o f C h ica g o .
D o n ’t fo rg et to b rin g a w arm w ra p o f so m e ty p e —the w in d s o ff
o f th e lak e s can be ra th e r c risp w h e n a u tu m n ro lls a r o u n d .a
9 Ju ly 1944
M ajor G en eral M . S. E ddy,
C o m m a n d in g , 9th In fan try D ivision,
A P O #9, U nited S ta te s A rm y.
D ear M att:
T he A rm y C o m m a n d e r has a tta c h e d an a n ti-a irc ra ft b a tta lio n o f
90m m guns to VII C o rp s to deal w ith h e av y G e rm an tanks. T he
90m m g u n s can k n o ck th ese ta n k s out fro n tally , w h ich the 3-inch
THE BULGE BUGLE
28
A ugust 2007
VETRR ANS OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE CERTIFICATE
The V eterans o f the B attle o f the
Bulge Assn is proud to offei d full to lo i 11"
by 17" certificate, which may be ordered by
any veteran w ho received credit for the
A rdennes Cam paign. It a tte sts th at you
participated in, endured and survived the
greatest land battle ever fought by the US
Army Y ou do not have to be a m em ber o f
the VBOB Assn in order to order one but
VETERANS OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE
you m ust have received the A rdennes credit.
• K n f ^ r y r, / y t t / /
f/w (
This beautiful certificate is p roduced on
parchm ent-like stock and is outlined by the
full color W W II insignias o f the m ajor units
th at fought in the B attle o f the B ulge
.T/k' .'/iff//A f./'t/,f .f>»/f/f‘.
I
Mf»f/Ht*fn /y f/t*'
■'Jtmy
starting with the 12th Army G roup follow ed
J fi
y u H i t a i y J fH ',
num erically with Armies, C o rp s and
Divisions and the tw o Army Air Forces W e
wished that each unit insignia could have
been show n but w ith approxim ately 2000
units that participated in the Bulge it w as impossible. H ow ever any unit which served in the Bulge would have been attached to or
reported through one o f the unit insignia depicted. Y ou may want to add one o f your original patches to the certificate, when you
receive it. Units w ere researched in the Official General O rder N o 114 for U nits Entitled to the ARD EN NES Battle Credit and will be
the basis for sale o f this certificate. T he unit insignias show n are also those used in the design o f the B attle o f the Bulge M em orial
C onference Table dedicated and on view in the Garrison Library at Ft M eade, M D (open M on & W ed 12:30-3 .00 PM. The requests
to date have been overwhelm ing, therefore w e w ould request that you allow approxim ately 3-4 w eeks for delivery.
A Special Certificate is available to spouses or children o f those w ho m ade the Suprem e Sacrifice in the B attle o f the Bulge or
w ho died o f w ounds received in the B attle o f the Bulge The individual request should have the date and place o f death and be certified
by the family requestor o r by a buddy w ho w as present M ultiple copies o f the same certificate may be ordered if you have a num ber
o f children/grandchildren. Rank o r com m and during the Bulge is preferred. It will be abbreviated to the W W II or three character
standard. The certificate will be sliipped rolicu in a piOlcClivc mmling Luuc. Flcasc be suic Lo piace your name, service number and
u n it as you w o u ld like it to a p p e a r on th e c ertific ate. The unit nam e should as full as possible as you want som eone leading it to
understand w hat unit you w ere in W e will abbreviate it as necessary It is im portant that you type o r print this information. The unit
m ust be one o f the 2000 units authorized for the A rdennes Cam paign credit The cost of the certificate is $15.00 postpaid.
♦
o
Unfortunately we do not have auy more rraines available at this lime. John Bowen is presently trying to arrange
with other suppliers who will produce these special sizes in quantities of 100. This may result in a higher frame cost. Our
previous order had to he for 500 frames which took over three years to sell and resulted in the non use of a garage where they
were stored. We will keep you posted.
VETERANS OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE CERTIFICATE ORDER BLANK
I request an 11" x 17" Certificate and certif^ that I received credit for the Ardennes Campaign during my military service I have
enclosed a check for $15.00 for the Certificate. Please include the following inform ation that I w ould like on the certificate:
First Name
MI
Serial Number
Ijist Name
Rank (Optional)
OrgamzaUon:Company, Battalion and/or Regt, Division
□ K illed in A ction
L ocation
date
□ PO W
DDied o f W ounds
place
date
dates
Camp
M A IL IN G IN FO RM A TIO N :
Name
Apt No.
Street Address
City
State
Zip + 4 Code
VBOB Member.
Yes
No
Telephone Number (In case we need to call you)
not a requirement
Signature & date
.Make checks ou t to VBOB for $15.00. O rd ers should be mailed to VBOB C ertificate. PO Box 101418. .Arlineton. VA 22210-4418. O uestions can be
directed to Jo h n Bowen, 301 384-6533, C ertificate C hairm an.
m e BULGE BUGLE
29
August 200
THANK GOODNESS FOR DUDS
W e h e a rd o v e r the ra d io o f th e G e rm a n b re a k th ro u g h a n d w e
k n e w w e w e re g o in g to g o into b a ttle. T h e n ig h t th e G e rm an
b re a k th ro u g h sta rte d , w e saw a n d h e a rd G e rm a n p la n e s and th ey
d ro p p e d flare s an d w e th o u g h t fo r su re th e y w e re p a ra c h u tists,
so w e d id n ’t sle ep m u ch .
O u r c o m p a n ie s sta rte d le a v in g (A u b in -N e u fc h a te a u )a s so o n as
p o ssib le an d left at 10:25 a .m ., D e c e m b e r 19, 1944, n o t k n o w in g
w h e n o r w h e re w e w o u ld m e e t th e G e rm a n s. W e a rriv e d at
S p rim o n t, B e lg iu m , 19 D e c e m b e r 1944 a t n ig h t a n d e v e ry o n e
w a s re tre a tin g and ru m o rs w e re th a t th e G e rm a n s w e re still
c o m in g o u r w ay , all th e o rd n a n c e c o m p a n ie s w e re p u llin g out
an d lea v in g th e ir v e h ic le s so w e g o t w h a te v e r ta n k s, p e ep s,
a rm o re d cars, an d a n y th in g w e c o u ld fin d a n d ru sh e d in to b a ttle.
W e set up o u r first c o m b a t-a id sta tio n in a d ry g o o d s sto re , run
by M a rce lla . O u r first c a s u a lty w a s M a d d o x , w e tre a te d h im and
k e p t him w ith us. W e m o v e d to a c h a te a u in S p rim o n t an d on
C h ristm a s E ve w e saw a tre m e n d o u s a ir b a ttle a n d a lot o f
A m e ric an b o m b e rs a n d fig h te rs w e re k n o c k e d do w n .
L eft
S p rim o n t 26 D e c e m b e r 1944 a n d a rriv e d 1/2 m ile n o rth e a st o f
S pa, B e lg iu m , fo r a re st b u t w e left 9 :0 0 in th e m o rn in g on the
29 th o f D e ce m b er, 1944. W e fo u g h t w ith th e 3 0 th In fan try
D iv isio n but on th e 2 9 th o f D e c e m b e r w e w e re se n t to th e 82nd
In fan try D iv isio n an d w e a rriv e d o u t in th e o p e n fie ld n e a r a
w o o d e d a re a n e a r C h e v ro n , B e lg iu m , on th e 30 th o f D e c e m b e r
1944, W e liv e d in a h o u se th a t h a d a larg e w o o d sh e d a n d it
w a s so c o ld an d G e rm a n s w e re ju s t o v e r th e n e x t hill. T h e 82nd
A irb o rn e fe llo w s w e re in fo x -h o le s all a ro u n d us. W e fin ally
fo u n d an old farm h o u se fo r the a id -s ta tio n , n e a r an a rtille ry
b a tte ry a n d w e th o u g h t by th e so u n d w e re p a st th e fro n t line.
...W e w e re in a lot o f b a ttle s in th is a re a w ith the 82nd
A irb o rn e D iv isio n . T h is is w h e re S m a ll & H o lm an ro lle d th e ir
w e a p o n s c a rrie r o v e r a c liff, th e ro a d s w e re so icy on th e w a y to
th e c le a rin g station.
W e left C h e v ro n , B e lg iu m , 10 Ja n u a ry , 1945, a n d a rriv e d at
W in a m p la n c h e , B e lg iu m , fo r a rest. W e had m o v ie s th e re , but
it w a s aw fu l co ld . W e w e n t to S pa se v e ra l tim e s an d to o k a
m in e ral bath. L eft W in a m p la n c h e , B e lg iu m , a n d a rriv e d at a
little v illa g e n e a r S ta v e lo t a n d w e re sh o c k e d at the sig h ts o f
th in g s the G e rm a n s had done.
W e fo u g h t a ro u n d L e G le iz e , S to u m o n t an d th e su rro u n d in g
area. W e m o v e d to a sh o t up old hotel in R e ch t, B e lg iu m , 28
Ja n u a ry 1945. A rtille ry n e a rly sh o o k th e p la c e d o w n —w e w ere
th e first A m e ric a n s to o c c u p y th is little p ro -N a z i to w n . W e
m o v ed to A n d e rstra se , B e lg iu m , 30 Ja n u a ry , 1945, a n d th ere
w e re d e ad G e rm a n s e v e ry w h e re , th e y w e re still fig h tin g h a rd but
w e w e re g ra d u a lly p u sh in g th e m o u t o f th e B u lg e. T h e w e a th e r
w a s so co ld , sn o w y a n d b a d it w a s as h a rd to fig h t as the
G erm an s.
L eft A n d e rsta sse 1 F e b ru a ry 1 9 4 5 -a rr iv e d at M e d e ll, B elg iu m .
F ie rce fig h tin g w e n t on at U d e n b re th an d G e rm a n s w e re k ille d
by larg e g ro u p s at a tim e . W e e n te re d G e rm a n y fo r th e first
tim e an d p u sh e d th ro u g h th e S ie g frie d L in e n e a r th e re . W e
p u lle d b a ck to H e b ro n v a l, B e lg iu m , fo r a re st 5 F e b ru a ry 1945
an d w e w ere d e ta c h e d from th e 8 2 n d A irb o rn e D iv isio n .
W e left H e b ro n v al 8 F e b ru a ry 1945, an d w e n t to K o rn elm u e n ste r, G e rm a n y , n e a r A a c h e n , B rad a n d S to leb e rg .
Edward Echmalian
557th Ordnance Heavy Maintenance
Company (TK)
D e c e m b e r 18, 1944: W e w e re a w a k e n e d by th e sou n d o f a
b re a k in g g la ss w in d o w ; b y a p ie c e o f sh ra p n el b re a k in g a glass
w in d o w a n d p ie rc in g a c lo se t c o n ta in in g som e h a n g in g clo th es.
A ll o f u s g o d u p - d i d n ’t sp e a k a w o rd and g o t o u r c lo th e s on.
It w a s e x a c tly th re e o ’c lo c k in th e m o rn in g . F or us, th a t w as the
b e g in n in g o f th e B a ttle o f the B ulge.
W e w e re on th e fo u rth flo o r o f th e c ab le w o rk s (still th e re but
g re a tly e x p a n d e d ) in E u p en , B elgium .
W e w e n t d o w n to th e c e lla r o f th e b u ild in g w h ere an o rd n a n ce
c o m p a n y w a s sta y in g . T h ey had had a p re v io u s e x p e rie n c e
w h e re th e y su ffe re d so m e c a s u a ltie s an d kn ew b e tte r th an that.
W e w e re th e n to ld to line up fo r chow . B efore w e c o u ld form
th e line, th re e sh e lls c am e sc re a m in g in. T he sh e lls w ere re a lly
sc rea m in g .
A fte r w e w e re o u tsid e on th e g ro u n d , w e h e ard th re e sh e lls
sc re a m in g at us to h it th e g r o u n d - w h ic h w e did. 1 w a s to ld by
a fe llo w o rd n a n c e m an th a t m y c arb in e re ally hit th e ground.
T h a t w a s fo llo w e d by th re e m o re sh e lls sc re a m in g at us to hit
th e g r o u n d - w h ic h w e did a g ain . N o n e o f the sh e lls e x p lo d e d
n e arb y an d w e re duds.
A fe llo w o rd n a n c e m an fo llo w ed up th e re c o v e ry o f the shells.
T h ey w e re 170m m shells.
A b o u t tw o n ig h ts late r, a c o u p le o f o u r g u a rd s w e re w a lk in g
o f f a d etail w h en th e y h e ard a shell c o m in g in. T h ey h e ard a
b o m b hit the w all o f a sm all b u ild in g . It put a large hole
th ro u g h th e w all o f th e b u ild in g . A re c o v e ry te c h n ic ia n from the
o rd n a n ce w a s la te r a v a ila b le to d e fu se th e shell.
T h at w as o u r e x p e rie n c e o f th e b e g in n in g o f th e B a ttle o f the
B ulge. It w a s o v e r a w e e k b e fo re w e w e re to ld to leave and
m ak e o u r w a y to H u y , B e lg iu m .□
SUSQUEHANNA CHAPTER
VA VOLUNTEERS
A co p y o f a V A V S S u m m ary o f A n n u al Jo in t R ev iew in fo rm s
us th a t th e S u sq u e h a n n a C h a p te r is c o n tin u in g its w o rk a ssistin g
the W ilk es B arre, P e n n sy lv a n ia , V e tera n s A d m in istra tio n M e d ica l
C enter.
G re at w o rk .n
740TH TANK BATTALION
DIARY OF A MEDIC
Preserved by S/Sgt Howard E. Small
Author Unknown
[This com pleted the Battle o f the Bulge fo r the 740th Medics. ]a
[The following article appeared in the July 2006 issue o f
the tank battalion's newsletter, "Newsletter and Historical
Quarterly. It is a continuation o f an earlier article.]
THE BULGE BUGLE
LOOK TO SEE IF YOUR DUES ARE DUE.
30
A ugust 2007
VBOB QUARTERMASTER
ORDER FORM
AUGUST, 2007
P ie a s ^ T h i^ h ^ o H o w in ^ T e rn ^ o ^
Nanne
(first)
(phone #-will call only if there is a problem)
(last)
(city)
(street)
(no )
(state)
Total Price
Item D escription
Price Each
VBOB Logo Patch - 3"
$ 4.50
$
VBOB Logo Patch - 4"
$ 5.50
$
VBOB Logo Decal - 4"
$ 1.25
$
VBOB Windshtekj Logo - 4"
$ 1.25
$
VBOB Logo Stickers - V/4" (in quantities of 10)
10 for $1.25
$
Baseball Cap w/3" VBOB Logo Patch - N avy only
$ 10.00
$
$ 25.00 (S. M. L and XL)
$ 26.00 for XXL
S 27.00 for XXXL
$
VBOB Logo Lapel Pin -
$ 5 .0 0
$
Miniat'jrc VBOB Logo Msds! w/Ribbcn (pir. cn N*ps)
t o cn
VBOB Logo Belt Buckie -
$ 16.00
S
$ 16.00
S
VBOB License Plate Fram e w/Logos - White plastic w/B!ack printing
$ 5.00
$
VBOB
100 S heet Notepad w/Logo - **This Note Is From... A Veteran o f the
S a n h o f the S u /g e " - 'A'hile oaoer with B lu e printinQ
$ 3.00
$
BACK IN STOCK
Large VBOB Logo NecK Medallion w/ribbon
Ideal for insertion in medal shadow box
$ 25.00
$
W indbreaker w/4" VBOB Logo Patch - N avy only
P le ss e circle siz9 (th 9 y run a little sn u g ): S
M
PO(L a n d XXXL - s e e p rices)
iwMfv
wi
ii/f/o
(r lo o a o u ifu /v Offvrwv/
VBOB Logo Bolo Tie Silver (one or Gold tone
(P lease circle choice)
L
XL
XXL
XXXL
Q uantity
(zip)
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VBOB Tote B ag-SO LD OUT
Only C ash, Check, o r Money O rder A ccepted
Make c h e c k s pa yab le to: "VBOB" - an d nnail o rd e r s to VBOB-QM, PO Box 101418, Arlington, VA 22210-4418
DO NOT INCLUDE ANY OTHER MONIES WITH QM PAYMENT
P lease allow 3-4 w e eks for delivery
S h ipp in g an d Handling:
SO 00 to $5-00 - $ 2.00
S5.01 to $10 00 - $ 3.00
$10.01 and over - $ 4 (X)
P le a s e ad d $1.00 to for all item s s h i p p e d o u ts id e the USA.
C o st of items:
S&H:
Total:
Office Use Only - Do Not VYrite Below This Line
Date Mailed:.
Date Received:
Payment:
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THE B U L G t BUULh
Check
Check No.:
MO
31
August 2007
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Arlington, VA
Permit No. 468
VETERANS
of the
BATTLE
of the
BULGE
A018090 08/12/08
RALPH W. BOZORTH
608 TREATY RD
PLYMOUTH MEETING PA 19462-2317
P.O. Box 11129
A rlington, V irginia 22210-2129
liiillliliiiliililliiiililiililiilli,,,|||,,,|||,,,|,,|,|,,,||
AUGUST, 2007
TOGETHER...
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
AT THE VBOB REUNION
SEPTEMBER 25-30, 2007,
Lincolnshire Marriott Resort in Lincolnshire, IL
--------- Detach and M a il--------------------------OFFICIAL USE ONLY
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP
OFFICIAL USE ONLY
VETERANS OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE
PO Box 101418, Arlington, Virginia 22210-4418
Do not write above this line
Do not write at)ove this line
A n nu al D u e s $15
□ New Member
□ Renewal - Mem ber #.
Name.
________Birthdate _
Address.
. Phone(
City____
__S tate_____
)_
All new members, please provide the followmg information:
Campaign(s)___________________________________________________________________
Unit(s) to wt)ich assigned during period December 16,1944 ■January25, 1945 - Division_______
Regiment__________________________________________ Battalion____________________
Company___________________________________________ Other______________________
Make check or money order payable to VBOB
and mail with this application to above address:
Applicants Signature___________________
-Zip.