veterans of the battle of the bulge ^ general...

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION ☆ VETERANS OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGEVOLUME V NUMBERS THE ARDENNES CAMPAIGN SEPTEMBER, 1986

VETERANS OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE ^

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP. MEETING 0

1 . V O M i

i U S ) 'IS!m « aV

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r e m e m b e r

NOVEMBER 6, 7 and 8, 1986SHERATON CRYSTAL CITY HOTEL JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA

J O I N Y O U R C O M R A D E S I N O B S E R V A N C E O F T H E 4 2 n d A N N I V E R S A R Y O F T H E B A T T L E O F T H E B U L G E

1 9 4 4 - 1 9 8 6

P R O G R A M I N S I D E M A K E Y O U R R E S E R V A T I O N S N O W !

VBOB Officers and StaffTHE BULGE BUGLE is the official publication of V eterans of the Battle of the Bulge It is issued five times year ly .ROBERT J . VanHOUTEN, P re s id en t ,

16th Field Artillery Observation Bn.WM. T. GREENVILLE, Exec. Vice P re s i

d e n t , 86th Chemical Mortar Battalion WM. A. SIMPKINS, Vice Pres iden t fo r Reg

ional Coordination, XIX TAC, 9th AF NEIL B. THOMPSON, Vice P res iden t for

Membership, 740th Tank Bn.WM. R. HEMPHILL, T re a s u re r , 3rd Armd.

Div, 36th AIR JOSEPH LANGBART, General Counsel,

99th In fan t ry Division DOROTHY S. DAVIS, Recording S e c re ta ry ,

Army N u rse , 57th Field Hospital R. L. LEMMON, Editor, THE BULGE

BUGLE, T h ird U. S. Army Engineers ELtORINO L. LOIACONO, Asst . Editor ,

10th Armored Division PETER G. DOUNIS, Asst. Editor, 75th

In fan t ry Division TOM GILLIS, Corresponding S e c re ta ry ,

4th Armored Division, CCR The Rev. GEORGE W. HALL, J R . , C hap

lain, 94th In fan t ry Division The Rev. JOSEPH KROPFF, Asst. Chaplain ,

16th Field A rty . Observation Bn.HAROLD P. LEINBAUGH. National Directnr,

PubUc Relations, 84th In fan t ry Division ROBERT F. PHILLIPS, Historian, 28th

In fan t ry Division HERBERT TOSCANO, Northeast Director.

Public Rela tions. 9th A .F . , 432-321 F .C . Squadron

WM. P. SCHNEIDER, North C entra l Directo r , Public Rela tions, 83rd In fan t ry Div.

GEORGE CHEKAN, Promotion, 9th In f . Div.

OUR OBJECTIVES ARE:• To fo s te r internHtionnl npaoo

and good will* To promote f r iendsh ip• To p e rp e tu a te the memory of

the sacri fice involved* To p re se rv e h istorical da ta

and si tes

VBOBLIFE MEMBERSHIPS

$50 if age 70 o r over $75 if age 50 th ru 69

«TOPKICK»TOPICS

In t h e l a s t i s s u e o f T H E B U L G E

1

B U G L E I m e n t i o n e d t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n A r m o r e d I n f a n t r y a n d T a n k s in VVVVIl. I w o u l d l i k e a t t h i s t i m e to g i v e y o u s o m e t h i n g t o t h i n k a b o u t .N o t t h a t w e c a n d o a n y t h i n g a b o u t

o o o o o o o p a s t o v e r s i g h t s , b u t p e r h a p s s o m e o n e in t h e r i g h t p l a c e m i g h t c o r r e c t w h a t

b e l i e v e t o b e s o m e w h a t u n f a i r .

B e f o r e s t a t i n g m y c a s e , l e t mo s a y t h a t , l i k e a l l o t h e r I n f a n t r y m e n i n WVVIl, I w a s a w a r d e d t h e C o m b a t I n f a n t r y B a d g e ( C I B ) . W h a t 1 f a i l t o u n d e r s t a n d i s w h y T a n k e r s d i d n o t g e t s o m e t y p e o f b a d g e o f r e c o g n i t i o n a n d , in f a c t , w h a t a b o u t t h e A r t i l l e r y m e n a n d E n g i n e e r s ?

I h a v e t h r e e f r i e n d s w h o s e r v e d in e a c h o f t h e a b o v e s e r v i c e s a n d a l l w e r e w o u n d e d , s o o b v i o u s l y t h e y w e r e w h e r e t h e a c t i o n w a s . S u r e , y o u r O l d S a r g e h e r e i s v e r y p r o u d o f h i s C I B , b u t h e i s a l s o p r o u d t o h a v e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e T a n k , C a n n o n e e r s a n d E n g i n e e r s .T h e y d e s e r v e t o b e r e o o g i i i z , e u f o r w h a t t h e y w e r e a n d a r e — C o m b a t A r m s !

O n a n o t h e r s u b j e c t , I h o p e t h a t m a n y o f y o u a r e m a k i n g p l a n s t o a t t e n d t h e 1986 V B O B G e n e r a l M e m b e r s h i p M e e t i n g in W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . T h e c o m m i t t e e h a s a s s e m b l e d a g r e a t s c h e d u l e f o r y o u . B e l i e v e m e , i f y o u a t t e n d o n e o f t h e s e m e e t i n g s , y o u wi l l a t t e n d m o r e !

T h a t ' s a b o u t i t f o r n o w , u n t i l n e x t t i m e , a r e e n c o u r a g e d .

Y o u r c o m m e n t s ____ 01 ' S a r g e

P r e s i d e n t ’s Mid-Year R e p o r tY o u r P r e s i d e n t h a s f o u n d i t v e r y r e w a r d i n g t h i s p a s t s i x m o n t h s t o r u n a n o r g a n i z a t i o n w i t h s u c h d e d i c a t e d m e m b e r s .

We h a v e b e e n a b l e t o s e n d t h r e e s e t s o f b o o k s t o t h e 172 V e t e r a n s A u n i l i i i b l r a t i u n M e d i c a l C e n t e r s ’ l i b r a r i e s .

We h a v e f o r m e d a m u s e u m o r G a l l e r y C o m m i t t e e t h a t h a s b e e n h a r d a t w o r k a t s e t t i n g u p o u r o w n G a l l e r y .

O u r A n n u a l M e m b e r s h i p C o m m i t t e e h a s s e t u p t h e m e e t i n g o f o u r f i f t h a n n i v e r s a r y ,6 - 8 N o v e m b e r . I h o p e a l l o f y o u m i g h t h a v e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o a t t e n d , b u t i f y o u c a n ' t w e ' l l h o l d y o u i n o u r h e a r t s .

T h e s e p a s t f e w m o n t h s w e h a v e s u g g e s t e d a p l a q u e m e m o r i a l t h a t h a s b e e n a p p r o v e d b y A r l i n g t o n N a t i o n a l C e m e t e r y i n h o n o r o f a l l v e t e r a n s o f t h e B a t t l e o f t h e B u l g e . I t wi l l b e p l a c e d in t h e g r o u n d a c r o s s f r o m t h e A m p h i t h e a t e r . F u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n i s in a n a r t i c l e f o u n d e l s e w h e r e i n t h i s e d i t i o n .

O u r t r i p o v e r s e a s h a s c h a n g e d s l i g h t l y w i t h i n f o r m a t i o n a l s o f o u n d e l s e w h e r e . Y o u r P r e s i d e n t a n d h i s w i f e i n t e n d t o g o o n t h i s t r i p , s o w o n ' t y o u j o i n u s ? I t w i l l b e a g a l a a f f a i r . . . . R o b e r t J . V a n H o u t e n

2

BULGE GALLERY UPDATECONSTITUTIONAL BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, FORT MEADE, MD 14 SEPTEM BER 1986_________________________________

T h e B u l g e G a l l e ry Commit tee i s w o r k i n g on p l a n s to :

• R e f i n i s h a n d d i s p l a y a N e b l e w e r f e r " S c r e e m i n g Meemie" G erm an R o c k e t L a u n c h e r . ( V o l u n t e e r s a r e s o l ic i te d to a s s i s t wi th t h e r e f i n i s h i n g ) .

• P r e p a r e e x h i b i t s f o r G a l l e ry Room f o r t h e B i c e n t e n i a l , 14 S e p t e m b e r , a n d t h e G e n e r a l M e m b e r s h i p M e e t i n g , 8 N o v e m b e r .

• C o m p u t e r i z e t h e G a l l e r y ' s a c t i v i t i e s a n d a r t i f a c t s .

• Co l lec t a n d d i s p l a y p h o t o s a n d motion p i c t u r e s .

• P r e p a r e p l a n s f o r t h e B u lg e G a l l e r y ' s p o s s i b l e new w in g to t h e F o r t Meade Museum,

REQUEST FOR BATTLE ARTIFACTS

V BO B G al lery C o m m i t t e e d e p o s i t i n g first d o n a t i o n s in to B u lg e Gallery F u n d . From left, D oro th y D avis , Earle Hart, N a n c y Walker an d W il liam G reen vi l le .

We h a v e a p r e c i o u s o p p o r t u n i t y now to e s t a b l i s h t h e " B u l g e B a t t l e H i s t o r y " in p e r p e t u i t y in t h e p u b l i c , p r o f e s s i o n a l l y m a n a g e d U . S . A rm y M useu m, F o r t Me ade , MD. Now is V B O B ' s ULTIMATE LE GACY, b u t we m u s t a c t now while t h e Arm y Museum o p p o r t u n i t y e x i s t s a n d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n a n d m a te r i a l s o u r c e s a r e a v a i l a b l e . T o m o r ro w i t will be los t f o r e v e r .

BULGE GALLERY C O M M IT T E E .....................................Clyde Boden Georse Chekan Dorothy Davis Eugene Drouillard

Earle Hart (Director) Bud Lienbaugh Charles MacDonald Robert Phillips William Simpkins

T h e G a l l e r y Commit tee w a n t s to lo c a t e all p o s s i b l e B a t t l e o f t h e B u lg e u n i f o r m s , w e a p o n s , e q u i p m e n t , d o c u m e n t s , p e r s o n a l e f f e c t s , forei(~p i ta rns , e t c . Wri te us a b o u t y o u r i t e m s — w h e r e , how a n d w h e n o b t a i n e d ; s i z e , t y p e , model a n d c o n d i t i o n .A " D o n a t i o n I n f o r m a t i o n " form i s i n c l u d e d in t h i s i s s u e of THE BULGE B U G L E . If a p p r o p r i a t e , s e n d a p h o t o . Tell u s i f yo u will c o n s i d e r d o n a t i n g y o u r i t ems to t h e F o r t Meade Mus eum . If s o , we will f u r n i s h d e t a i l s .

P le a s e do n ot s e n d m a te r ia l a n y v / h e r e u n t i l s p e c i f i c a l l y d i r e c t e d b y t h e G a l l e ry Commi t t e e . To a v o id c o n f u s i o n , do not c o n t a c t F t . Meade o r t h e VBOB Off ice - - o n ly t h e G a l l e r y Co m m it t ee , P . O . Box 2516, K e n

s i n g t o n , MD.

A n a t i o n a l b i c e n t e n n i a l c e l e b r a t i o n of t h e A n n a p o l i s C o n s t i t u t i o n a l C o n v e n t i o n will b e of f i c i a l ly k i c k e d o f f a t F o r t Meade on 14 S e p t e m b e r 1986 f rom noon to 6 : 00 p . m .

C h i e f J u s t i c e W a r r e n B u r g e r i s in c h a r g e of t h e P r e s i d e n t i a l Commiss ion f o r t h e B i c e n t e n n i a l a n d t h o s e e x p e c t e d to a t t e n d i n c l u d e P r e s i d e n t R e a g a n , t h e g o v e r n o r s of t h e 13 o r i g i n a l s t a t e s , t h e Mil i tary C h i e f s of S t a f f , S e c r e t a r y of D e f e n s e , C a s p e r W e i n b e r g e r , a n d o t h e r d i g n i t a r i e s . Many m i l i t a r y u n i t s a n d b a n d s will be on d i s p l a y .

T h e main a c t i v i t i e s will t a k e p l a c e a d j a c e n t to t h e F o r t Meade Museum w hich will be o p e n wi th s p e c i a l e x h i b i t s . T h e r e will be t h o u s a n d s of v i s i t o r s g o i n g t h r o u g h t h e mu se um - an e x c e l l e n t o p p o r t u n i t y to tel l t h e B a t t le o f t h e B u lg e s t o r y .

T h e B u lg e G a l l e r y Com mit tee i s m a k i n g a c o n c e r t e d e f f o r t to c o m p le te a d i s p l a y b y t h e t ime o f t h e b i c e n t e n n i a l c e l e b r a t i o n .T h e B u l g e B u g l e B r o c h u r e , f u n d s s o l i c i t a t ion l e t t e r a n d a r t i f a c t d o n a t i o n form will be a v a i l a b l e f o r d i s t r i b u t i o n a t t h a t t ime .A " B a t t l e o f t h e B u lg e G a l l e r y " s i g n will be d e s i g n e d a n d m o u n t e d o v e r t h e m us eum l o b b y . An i n f o r m a t i v e p o s t e r o u t l i n i n g a b r i e f s t o r y o f t h e b a t t l e will b e m o u n t e d in t h e B u l g e G a l l e r y .

S e v e r a l d r a m a t i c " B u l g e P h o t o s " will be e n l a r g e d a n d m o u n t e d in f e a t u r e d l o c a t i o n s .

( C o n t i n u e d on P a g e 4 )

BULGE GALLERY UPDATE ( C o n t i n u e d f rom P a g e 3 )

T h e b a l a n c e of t h e l imited d i s p l a y a r e a will be u t i l i z e d f o r p h o t o s a n d d i s p l a y c a s e s of a r t i f a c t s .

F u r n i s h i n g t h e Bu lg e Ga l le ry f o r t h e 14 S e p t e m b e r c e l e b r a t i o n will r e q u i r e much e f f o r t . T h e commit tee a s k s f o r t h e he lp a n d s u p p o r t of e v e r y o n e . I t ' s e v e r y o n e ' s l e g a c y — LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN! '

GALLERY D O N A T IO N S ...............................................On 17 J u n e 1986 t h e f i r s t t h r e e d o n a t i o n s to t h e B a t t le of t h e B u lg e Ga l le ry F u n d w ere d e p o s i t e d in t h e C h e v y C h a s e F e d e r a l S a v i n g s B a n k , R oc kv i l l e , MD. P i c t u r e d in t h e a r t i c l e on P a g e 3 a r e D o r o t h y D a v is , ( 57 t h Field H o s p i t a l ) , R e c o r d e r ; Ea r le H a r t (Co.A, 345th I n f . , 87th I n f . Div) , D i r e c t o r of t h e B a t t le o f t h e B u lg e G a l l e ry ; B a n k T e l - I c r , Nfiricy J . WslKsi*, s n d Willism viUe, ( 86t h CIVIL MIR B n , C ha i r m an of t h e G a l le ry F u n d s a n d G r a n t s Commit tee .

D o n a t io n s h a v e b e e n r e c e i v e d f rom :R o b e r t L. Lemmon, S r . , E d i t o r , THE

BULGE BU G LE , 1303d E n g r . R e g t . l i ay J . D e a r c h , C o . A & C, 23d I n f . , 2nd

I n f Div.Major a n d Mrs . Sc o t t C ant lo n ( p a r e n t s

l i s t e d be low s e r v e d in B u lg e )S h e r m a n E. C a n t l o n , Co. G 23d I n f .

D i v .William V. D a v i s , 57 th Field Hosp i ta l D o r o t h y S t e i n b i s D a v i s , ( A r m y ’N u r s e )

57th Fi e ld Hospi t a l R a lp h R. B a l e s t r i e r i . 58 th A rm d . FA B n. Helmer R. W in g e r , 2d B n , 358th I n f . ,

90th I n f . Div.H a r r y M. Kemp, Co. H. 109th I n f . , 28 th

I n f . Div.

William T . G r e e n v i l l e , C h a r t e r Member a n d E x e c u t i v e Vice P r e s i d e n t of VBO B, i s F u n d s a n d G r a n t s Commit tee C h a i rm a n a n d i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r r a i s i n g t h e n e e d e d f u n d s to f u r n i s h t h e B a t t l e of t h e Bu lg e G a l l e r y .

G e n e r o u s a n d e n t h u s i a s t i c s u p p o r t f o r t h i s p r o j e c t h a s b e e n most e v i d e n t f rom VBOB m e m b e r s a s well a s f r i e n d s of VBO B. It will , h o w e v e r , t a k e g e n e r o u s d o n a t i o n s of f u n d s to b u i l d t h i s l e g a c y . PLEASE LET US ADD YOUR NAME TO THE LIST OF DONORS! C h e c k s may be made o u t to : B a t t l e o f t h e B u lg e G a l l e r y , P . O . Box 2516,

K e n s i n g t o n , MD 20895-0818.

THE FORT GEORGE G. MEADE U . S . ARMY MUSEUM HISTORY AND S T A F F ............................

F t . Ge orge G. Meade was o r ig in a l l y f o u n d e d a s Camp Meade in 1917 to t r a i n t r o o p s fo r WWI and was named f o r t h e Civil War G e n e ra l G eo rg e G. Meade, who commanded th e Union T ro o p s a t G e t t y s b u r g .

D u r i n g WWII o v e r 3 ,500 ,000 men p a s s e d t h r o u g h Fo r t Meade, many d e s t i n e d f o r th e b a t t l e f i e l d s of E u r o p e .T o d a y For t Meade is t h e home f o r H e a d q u a r t e r s , F i r s t U . S .Army a n d p r o v i d e s s u p p o r t to t h e Army R e s e r v e an d t h e Nat iona l G u a r d .

T h e U . S . Army Museum a t F t . Meade is a fu l ly a c c r e d i t e d museum u n d e r t h e c o n t r o l of t h e U . S . Arm.y C e n t e r f o r Mil i tary His t o r y a n d is m a na ge d b y p ro fe s s io n a l l y t r a i n e d p e r s o n n e l . The c u r a t o r , Alan A r c h a m b a u l t , is an o u t s t a n d i n g and h ig h ly !TiOtiv3.tscl rnsM v/ith s lifs~long^ p 0i*soriBl i n t e r e s t in t h e Bat t le of t h e B ul ge . VBOB is v e r y f o r t u n a t e to h a v e t h e b e n e f i t o f h i s e x p e r t i s e . With h is he lp a n d d i r e c t i o n , t h e Ba t t le of t h e Bulge Gal le ry can become a v e r y s u c c e s s f u l r e a l i t y .

T h e p r e s e n t museum faci l i ty c o n s i s t s of an E xh ib i t io n B u i ld in g , an A d m in i s t r a t i v e B u i ld in g a n d two s t o r a g e b u i l d i n g s .

T h e Bat t le of t h e Bulg e will be one of t h r e e d i f f e r e n t g a l l e r i e s co m p r i s i n g t h e F t . Meade Museum Fac i l i t y ; th e o t h e r two b e i n g t h e F t . Meade a n d t h e F i r s t U . S . Army G a l l e r i e s .

FORT MEADE/VBOB AGREEMENT ......... ..........On 16 O c t o b e r 1984 an a g r e e m e n t was s i g n e d b e t w e e n VBOB a n d t h e F o r t Meade Museum a u t h o r i z i n g t h e ex h ib i t io n of Ba t t l e of t h e B u lg e m a te r ia l . P r o f e s s i o n a l m a na gem ent a n d m a i n t e r a n c e of all Bu lg e a r t i f a c t s a n d r e c o r d s will be ava i l a b le a s an i n t e g r a l p a r t o f t h e Army Museum S y s t e m .

B A T T L E O F T H E B l L G E

M e m b e rs ̂ p e ^ ^ Ou^tJ o s e p h G. R a h i e , Co . M, 2nd I n f a n t r y , 5th I n f a n t r y D i v i s i o n , T h i r d U . S . Army ( w o u n d e d a t L o r r y , F r a n c e , 17 S ep 44) w r i t e s t h a t in March he g a v e h i m se l f "a m a r v e l o u s g i f t " — an a p p l i c a t i o n f o r a Life M e m b e r s h i p in VBOB!

Dwain L. " C h r i s " C h r i s t o f f e r s o n , B t r y . A, 77Ist FA B n , s e n d s a n o t h e r $5 t o w a r d t h e d u e s f u n d a s a VBOB m e m b e r . C h r i s s a y s t h e 771st will h a v e a n o t h e r r e u n i o n t h i s s u m m e r - d e t a i l s l a t e r - a n d r e p o r t s t h a t he v i s i t e d S t . Vith a n d o t h e r a r e a s in 1981 a n d look s f o r w a r d to more d e t a i l s on o u r1986 r e - t r i p . C h r i s s p e n t y e a r s in a h o s p i t a l a s a r e s u l t o f w o u n d s r e s u l t i n g f rom G e rm a n t a n k s ( 88s ) .

Milford H a r r i n g t o n , J r . , Co . D, 502nd P a r a c h u t e I n f . R e g t . , lOIst A i r b o r n D i v i s i o n , s e n d s in h i s c h e c k f o r a l i fe m e m b e r s h i p in VBOB a n d s a y s h e ' s n e v e r l ik ed w i n t e r s s i n c e D e c e m b e r 1944. He r e e n l i s t e d tw ice s i n c e t h e n - wi th s e r v i c e in K o r e a .His h o b b i e s a r e g a r d e n i n g a n d c l o c k m a k i n g .

Will E r g a s , 372d E n g r . GS R e g t , w r i t e s t h a t he was t e a c h i n g sc h o o l in San F r a n c i s co u n t i l mid-1982 a n d e n j o y e d h is l a s t r e g i m e n ta l r e u n i o n e i g h t m o n t h s a g o .

Wm. Ke n t O ' C o n n e l l , 8 3 r d I n f . Div . A s s n . , I n c . , w r i t e s to s a y t h a t h i s ou t f i t h a s o v e r2 ,0 0 0 m e m b e r s a n d look s f o r w a r d to h i s u n i t ' s 40 th r e u n i o n t h i s y e a r .

William G r a n t , 9 th A r m d , 899 TD B n , Co B, h a s b e e n a w a r d e d t h e " F o u r r a g u e r e B e lg i a n "41 y e a r s a f t e r he saw a c t i o n a t B a s t o g n e in D e c e m b e r 1944. He c la ims 22 m i l i t a r y d e c o r a t i o n s f rom WWII a n d r e t i r e d f rom t h e N a v y in 1962. He c la ims r e t i r e d Col . Matt U r b a n , New H ol la nd , MI, t h e w o r l d ' s mos t d e c o r a t e d G . I . , a s o n e of h i s b e s t b u d d i e s .F r a n k H a y o s t e k , Co C, I19th I n f . , 30th D i v i s i o n , n e v e r s e e s a n y t h i n g a b o u t his d i v i s i o n in o u r n e w s l e t t e r . How a b o u t all o f yo u Old H i c k o r y s u r v i v o r s w r i t i n g to F r a n k a t 2023 Bal l town R d . , S c h e n e c t a d y , NY 12309.

William F . O l i v e r , a n M-4 S h e r m a n t a n k d r i v e r , Co. H, 32d R e g t . , 3d A rm o re d D i v i s i o n , w o n d e r s " w h a t h a p p e n e d to all t h e t a n k e r s " a n d a s k s " h a s a n y o n e w r i t t e n t h e t r u e t a n k e r s ' s t o r i e s ? " All you t a n k e r s c a n r e a c h C h i e f O l i v e r a t 36 P a r k A v e . , V i s t a l , NY 13850

K e n n y F r u g e would l ike to h e a r f rom f o r m e r m e m b e r s of Hq. C o . , 52d G r o u p , F i r s t US A rm y . He can b e r e a c h e d a t Box 177, O r e C i t y , TX 75683.

E d w a r d J . W in s t e a d , 3d B n . A d j u t a n t , 104th I n f . , 26th I n f . D i v . , would l ike to h e a r f rom f o r m e r fel low m e m b e r s . He v i v i d l y r e m e m b e r s G e n . G e o r g e S. P a t t o n , J r . , p r e s e n t i n g t h e DSC to h i s b a t t a l i o n c o m m a n d e r o u t s i d e of Wiltz. Wri te him a t 1006 T h i r d S t . , Wi lson, NC 27893.

J o h n D. K e a r n e y , 84th I n f . Div , was e l e c t e d to t h e p o s i t io n of Vice P r e s i d e n t , 557th AAA A s s n , a t t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n ' s 37 th a n n u a l r e u n i o n he ld r e c e n t l y a t S o m e r s e t ,PA. C ly d e B o d e n , VBOB P a s t P r e s i d e n t , i s a f o r m e r o f f i c e r of t h e A s s o c ia t i o n .

G e o r g e M. El l ig, Co. B, 317th R e g t . , 80th I n f . Div . w r i t e s " p a r t o f t h e c i t a t io n I own s a y s ' In t h e v i c i n i t y of N e i d h a u s e n , L u x e m b o u r g . . . ' In S e p t e m b e r 1985 I h a d t h e o n ly o p p o r t u n i t y in 40 y e a r s to r e t u r n to t h a t p a r t o f E u r o p e A f t e r a few h o u r s in B a s t o g n e my wife a n d I d r o v e with o u r son a n d h is wife to t h e small town of N e i d h a u s e n .T h e o n l y p u b l i c b u i l d i n g I k n e w of in J a n u a r y 1945 was n o w h e r e to b e f o u n d . I t h a d o n c e h o u s e d a Germ an command p o s t a n d h a d b e e n in a v e r y s u b s t a n t i a l s t r u c t u r e .I s p o k e with s e v e r a l i n h a b i t a n t s who w e r e u n a b l e to h e l p . One y o u n g l a d y p u t t h i n g s in too p r o p e r a p e r s p e c t i v e w h en s h e r e s p o n d e d to my q u e s t i o n s b y s t a t i n g e n t h u s ia s t i c a l l y , ' O h , y e s , my g r a n d m o t h e r o f t e n s p e a k s of t h o s e d a y s . ' I g u e s s o u r D i v i s ion h i s t o r i a n g o t t u r n e d a r o u n d somehow a n d I c an u n d e r s t a n d w h y . We le f t to e x p l o r e o t h e r gr im r e m i n d e r s in H e i d e r s c h e i d t a b o u t an h o u r a w a y now, b u t o v e r a week t h e n ."

C la r a Smi th G u s t i n , 9 th Air F o r c e w r i t e s of h e r e n j o y m e n t w o r k i n g with t h e Ame r i can Legion ( a s t h e o n ly l a d y in t h e P o s t ) a s P o s t C o m m a n d e r . S h e is a c t i v e with t h e VFW ( f i r s t woman c o m m a n d e r in t h e s t a t e of P A ) . S h e e n j o y s r e a d i n g THE BULGE B U G L E .

L e o n a r d P . S h e a , S e r v i c e B n , 776th FA B n , F i r s t a n d T h i r d US A rm ie s , was in t h e T h i r d Ar my d u r i n g t h e B u l g e , s u p p o r t i n g t h e 4 t h , 6th a n d lOth A r m o r e d D i v i s i o n s .He would l i k e to h e a r f rom a n y b o d y who s e r v e d wi th him. He i s a t 200 A v e n u e K, SE, A p t . 233, Win te r H a v e n , FL 33880.

F orm erPOWO u treach

Latest VA C ensus Counts 24 Mliilon War Vets

Although th e VA has made special ou t re ach e f for t s to e n s u r e tha t the more th an 83,000 former POWs a re ful ly informed of t h e i r p o s sible en t i t l ement to b e n e f i t s , many of them have ne v e r r e s p o n d e d , and th e VA has r e q u e s t e d se rv i ce organ iza t ions to as s i s t it to reach th e se remain ing former POWs.This ou t r each e f for t is f ounded in legislat ive c ha nges made in1981 and 1984 which eased the c r i t e r ia for former POWs to es tab l i sh se rv ic e connec tion fo r speci fic d i sabi l i t i es . For example, a h a n d ful of d i s ea se s a re p re su me d to be s e rv ic e connec ted if a v e te r a n was i n t e r n e d fo r 30 da ys o r more.A former POW, wishing to i n q u i r e about the possibi l i ty of an e n t i t lement a c c r u in g to him might contac t one of the VA's 58 r e g ional of f ices , 172 medical c e n t e r s o r i t s 226 o u tp a t ie n t clinics nat ionwide . Each VA facil i ty has d e s i gna te d employees to coo rd i nate benef i t s and se rv i ce s for former POWs. Addit ional ly, a nat ional toll f r ee hot l ine is avai lable 24 h o u r s a day to an sw e r qu es t io ns from former POWs. That number is 1-800-821-8139.Potent ial appl i can t s should u n d e r s t a n d t h a t , while th e law r e c o g nizes th a t mil i tary medical r e c o r d s do not usual ly cove r pe r iods of conf inement , t h e r e must be some medical ev idence re la t in g th e former POWs c u r r e n t condit ion to th e period th ey were held or th e i r mil i tary se rv ic e . Serv ice Officers can counse l a former POW on the ru le s of ev ide nce r e q u i r e d to es tab l i sh a claim.

At the end of FY 1985 last S ep tem ber t h e r e were near ly 24,000,000 wartime ve ts l iv ing in th e U .S . and P u e r to Rico, VA r e p o r t s .The la r g e s t g r o u p remains those who s e r v e d in WWII with 10^399*000. Next a r e th e v e ts of Vietnam — 8,271.000. Korean War v e ts make up th e th i r d l a rg e s t g ro u p with jus t more than 5 ,000,000 . Last Se ptember t h e r e were 208,000 s u r v i v i n g WWi v e t s , t h e median age of U .S . and P u e r to Rican v e t s was 52.9 y e a r s . About 25% a re u n d e r 40; t h e r e a re 75% be tween 40 and 64. The r e s t a r e o lder th a n 65. Median age of WWII ve ts is 64.2 y e a r s . E ight s ta te s have more than 1,000,000 v e t s each — California h e a d s ’ th e l ist and following in o r d e r a re New York , Texa s , P e n n s y lv a n ia , F lor ida, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan.

THE STARS AND STRIPE8-THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE

BILL IRION RECALLS HIS WORLD WAR II EXPERIENCES + + T + 7 + + + + + -t i i i

Dur ing th e wel l - run b u s i n e s s meet ing of the 557th AAA Battal ion Assoc ia t ion ' s 37th Annual Reunion on 17 May 1986 a t Somerse t , PA, P re s id e n t Floyd R o b e r t s said Bill Ir ion of B B a t t e r y had someth ing to sa y .

Bill reca l led th a t he had w r i t te n many le t t e r s home d u r i n g h is d a y s with th e 557th- from March 1943 to December 1945 - and when he le a rn e d seve ra l y e a r s ago t h a t hi s Mother h a d saved about 200 of them, Bill de c ided to wr i te h is s t o r y b a s e d on th e l e t t e r s a nd h is reco l lec t ions .

"Ack Acker" c o v e rs 120 d o u b le - s p a c e d ty p e w r i t te n pa ges and conta ins many e x per iences common to all of us and some not so common. T he y r a n g e from pul l ing KP and g u a r d d u t y , enjoying pa s se s and leave , going on forced marches and b iv ouacs , pa r t i c ipa t in g in the T enn ess ee Mane u v e r s and f i gh t ing in four major campaigns in Europe with the 84th I n f a n t r y Division (The R a i l s p l i t t e r s ) , l iving in a cas t le , meeting a c o u n t e s s , a t t e n d in g Amer ican Un ivers i ty at Biar r i tz and o t h e r s .

Now a h i s to r y te a c h e r in Pe nn sy lv an ia , from where he e n t e r e d the Army when age 19, Bill gave a copy of "Ack Acker" to each of the 95 members of the 557th a t te nd ing the re u n io n . . . . C l y d e D. Boden

1987 Slate of Officers Announced

Tile VBOB Nominations Committee has s u b mit ted th e names of members to s e r v e as e lec ted o f f icer s for t e rm s commencing on 16 December 1986. Elect ions a r e sc hedu led to be held d u r i n g th e B u s i n e s s Meeting of th e Genera l Membersh ip Meet ing on F r id a y ,7 November 1986.

The nominees a r e :GEORGE CHEKAN for P r e s i d e n t WILLIAM T. GREENVILLE for Execut ive

Vice P r e s i d e n t WILLIAM A. SIMPKINS fo r Vice P r e s id e n t

fo r Nat ional a n d Regiona l Coordina tion EUGENE G. DROUILLARD fo r Vice P r e s i

d e n t f o r Mili tary Affai r s NEIL B. THOMPSON f o r Vice P r e s id e n t

fo r Membership WILLIAM R. HEMPHILL fo r T r e a s u r e r DOROTHY S. DAVIS fo r R eco rd i ng S e c r e

t a r yTHOMAS D. GILLIS f o r C o r r e s p o n d i n g

S e c r e t a r y

The Nominat ions Committee e x t e n d s s in ce re t h a n k s to ROBERT J . VanHOUTEN for his s e r v i c e as p r e s i d e n t s ince 16 December 1984; Bob has s t a t e d t h a t he will c o n t in u e to play an ac t i v e ro le .

Members a r e e n c o u r a g e d to r e a d th e p r o v i s ions of th e VBOB Co ns t i tu t io n and th e VBOB By Laws t h a t p e r t a i n to e lec ted of f i c e r s .

CLYDE D. BODEN, Chai r man, Nominat ions Committee

AMENDMENTS TO BE ACTED ON AT GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING AND BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

The fol lowing p rop os a ls to modify the VBOB C on s t i t u t i o n and th e VBOB By Laws will be ac te d on a t th e Genera l Membership Meeting d u r i n g t h e B us in es s Meet ing on F r id a y ,7 November 1986, and by t h e Execu t ive Counci l r e s p e c t i v e l y :

* Ar t icle IX-C of th e VBOB Co ns t i tu t i on : Delete " f our " and in i t s p lace a dd " f iv e . "

* Ar t ic le IX-C of th e VBOB C on s t i t u t i o n : Delete "an d" and th e " . " a f t e r "membersh ip" a nd a dd " , and G a l le ry . "(CONTINUED IN COLUMN TWO ABOVE)

(CONTINUED FROM COLUMN ONE)* Article lX-G-10 (a ) of th e VBOB C o n s t i t u t ion: Delete "and members" and in t h e i r p lace, a dd ", who will in t u r n appoi n t th e members t h e r e t o , " .

* Ar ticle IX-G-10 (a) of th e VBOB C o n s t i t ut ion: Add a new s u b - p a r a g r a p h " ( v ) The Gal lery Committee shal l col lect , p r e s e r v e , r e s t o r e , i n t e r p r e t , and e x h ib i t , in c o o p e r a tion with th e se lec ted m u s e u m 's c u r a t o r , the a r t i f a c t s , h i s tor ic , and o t h e r materia ls t h a t r e c o r d and p e r p e t u a t e the h i s to r y of The Batt le of th e Bu lg e . "

* Ar ticle XI of th e VBOB Co ns t i t u t io n :Add a f t e r "elec ted" th e words "and duly a p poin ted ."* Art icle XI of th e VBOB Co ns t i t u t io n : Delete " th e immediate p a s t p r e s i d e n t " and add "all l iv ing p a s t p r e s i d e n t s . "

* Ar ticle III-A of th e VBOB By Laws: Add a f t e r "e l ec ted" th e words "and duly a p poin ted ."

♦Article III-A of th e VBOB By Laws: Delete " th e immediate p a s t p r e s i d e n t " and add "all l iv ing p a s t p r e s i d e n t s . "

The s e n s e of t h e above p ropose d am end ments is (a ) to e x p a n d th e membership of the Execut i ve Counci l in o r d e r to make it more r e p r e s e n t a t i v e and to p ro v id e th ose a t t e n d i n g and p a r t i c i p a t i n g in th e de l ibe r a t i o n s of th e E xecu t iv e Counci l the o p p o r tu n i t y to vote on m a t te rs of policy and in th e d ec i s io n- m ak in g p r o c e s s , and ( b ) to u p g r a d e th e pos it ion of th e s ign i f icance of th e Gal lery Committee.

In a c c o r d a n c e with th e p rov is io ns of eac h , th e VBOB Cons t i tu t io n may be amended at a Genera l Membersh ip Meeting and th e VBOB By Laws may be amended by th e E xecu t iv e Council .

Discuss ion of th e p r o p o s e d amendmen ts at E xecu t iv e Counci l meet ings on 21 J u n e 1986 and on 19 J u ly 1986 p r e c l u d e d th e ne c e s s i t y to ap p o in t a committee to s t u d y th e p r o posa ls .

CLYDE D. BODEN

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

7

More MEMBERS SPEAK OUT

J . E. ( J im ) Bowman, A s s o c ia te Member of V BO B, is a n x i o u s to c o n t a c t a n y WWII memb e r s of C C R , 5 th A rm o re d Div is ion , He c an b e c o n t a c t e d a t 3355 C r a n b e r r y S o u t h , L a u r e l , MD 20707.

An to n N. Q u i n t , 390th FA B n , 94th In f .Div. w r i t e s f rom H a w t h o r n e , CA to s a y t h a t we h a v e a " v e r y i n t e r e s t i n g n e w s l e t t e r " a n d t h a t he is h a p p y to be a m em ber of o u r a s s o c i a t i o n a n d e n j o y s v e r y much r e a d i n g THE BULGE BUGLE>

Haro ld M. S n e d d e n , S e r v i c e Co, 110th Inf , 28th D i v . , F i r s t U . S . A rm y, w r i t e s t h a t he h a s b e e n e m plo yed b y t h e VA f o r o v e r 30 / e a r s a n d is s t i l l a c t i v e a t t h e VA Medical C e n t e r , S h e r i d a n , KY. He was a POW at S t a l a g 9- B in G e r m a n y , h a v i n g b e e n c a p t u r e d 18 Dec 44 a t C i e r v a u x , L u x e m b o u r g .

F r a n k H. C o n w a y , J r . , Co. G, 291st I nf ,75th D iv is io n , t e l l s o f r e e n l i s t i n g a f t e r WWII in t h e Air F o r c e , t h e n s t i n t s wi th Civil S e r v i c e a t NASA a n d DOT a n d a s e c o n d r e t i r e m e n t two y e a r s ag o .

L e o n a r d C. P a r k e r w r i t e s t h a t he d r o v e a jeep in t h e 357th I n f , 90th Div. On a t r i p to t h e f o r w a r d CP with a l i e u t e n a n t , he s t o p p e d b y a g r o u p of German p r i s o n e r s , on e of whom was w e a r i n g g a u n t l e t g l o v e s .He told t h e l i e u t e n a n t h e ' d s u r e l ike to h a v e t h o s e warm m i t t e n s . T h e l i e u t e n a n t l ed t h e p r i s o n e r o u t of s i g h t a n d r e t u r n e d to t h e jeep s h o r t l y , h a n d i n g t h e m i t t e n s to L e o n a r d , n o t i n g t h a t t h e p r i s o n e r w o u l d n ' t ne e d them w h e r e he was g o i n g .

J o h n E. K ul t zow, Combat Medic, 81st E n g r . Comba t B n , i06th i n f a n t r y w r i t e s of l e a v i n g t h e US in m i d - N o v e m b e r 1944 a n d a r r i v i n g in S t . V i th , Be lg i um , a month l a t e r .

R o b e r t J . G o r d o n , 17th A i r b o r n e Div, 513th P a r a c h u t e I n f a n t r y , t e l l s of m a k in g t h e jump o v e r t h e R h i n e . He i s t r y i n g to loc a t e some of t h e old T r o o p e r s . Bob c an be r e a c h e d a t 424 No. D o v e r Av e , A t l an t i c C i t y , NJ 08401.

Nicho las C o l a g i o v a n n i , a p a r t of 1st US Army (7 th C o r p s ) w r i t e s to tel l of t h e n u m e r o u s u n i t s to w hich h e was a s s i g n e d / a t t a c h e d .A f t e r t h e B u l g e , h i s u n i t met t h e R u s s i a n t r o o p s in B e r l i n a n d e m b a r k e d f o r home f rom Camp L u c k y S t r i k e .

H e r s h e l P h a r e s , Co. K, 101st Inf . R e g t ,26th I n f . Div. t e l l s u s he was a member of h i s r e g i m e n t a l r i f le s q u a d in A fr ica , I t a ly , F r a n c e , G e r m a n y , L u x e m b o u r g a n d G e rm a n y a g a i n . He u s e d a r i f le in d e s t r o y i n g en emy p e r s o n n e l a n d p o s i t i o n s a n d t r a v e l l e d b y f oo t , t r u c k o r a n y ava i l a b l e c o n v e y a n c e ; c a r e d f o r own e q u i p m e n t s u c h as g u n a n d f ield e q u i p m e n t ; o p e r a t e d in all t y p e s of w e a t h e r a n d t e r r a i n a n d u n d e r a n y f i r i n g p o s i t i o n s to a f f o r d maximum o v e r - p r o t e c t i o n ; w o u n d e d in Belgium 9 J a n 45.

R i c h a r d T . B eama n, Co. B, 38th Armd . Inf B n , 7th A rm d . Div, a s k s w hy we n e v e r mention t h e 7 t h . He le f t G e r m a n y t h e n i g h t of 16 Dec, r o d e all n i g h t a n d r a n in to " p u r e h e l l . " He i s a n x i o u s to loca t e C h a r l e s C a n t e r b u r y of L ando Mines , WV fo l lowing WWII. C h a r l e s , w r i t e R i c h a r d a t 45 P o p la r L a n e , D o v e r , DE 19901.

J o h n W e t t s te in , H ea v y Machine Gun S q u a d , 48th AIB ? th A r m o r s d Div w s n t s to hGsr f rom f o r m e r u n i t m e m b e r s s u c h as T o n y , t h e h a l f - t r a c k d r i v e r , a n d Obie O ' B r i e n . Vi?rite him a t 1424 T e r r i l , A p t . 38, C h i p pewa Fa l l s , WI 54729.

Ja m es W. G a r d n e r , 422d I n f . 106th Div, isI nnk inc r f n r t h p n r p s p n t w h e r p a b n n t s n f b u d -

- - - O ’ I

d ie s who t r a v e l e d wi th him f rom S ta la g IT A (New B r a n d e n b u r g h ) by h o r s e a n d wagon to t h e Elbe R i v e r . T h e r e w e r e 10 in his g r o u p . A f t e r l i b e r a t i o n b y t h e R u s s i a n s a n d whe n no Y a n k s s h o w e d u p , t h e y r o u n d e d up a team of h o r s e s a n d a wagon a n d took of f f o r t h e Elbe a n d W i t t e n b u r g h (3 d a y s a n d 3 n i g h t s ) .

o r \ 1 A r i ____ — o --------^ -i-Williaiii 3 . G e t i , Co.B n. w r i t e s to te l l u s t h a t h i s u n i t ha d a r e u n i o n in A p r i l , with o v e r 100 men p r e s e n t , i n c l u d i n g Col. Dave P e r g r i n , t h e u n i t ' s CO a n d a u t h o r of " T h e Damned E n g i n e e r s . "

L a w r e n c e 0 . Oemig , 531st O r d . HM Co.T a n k , T h i r d US A r m y , who s e r v e d as comp a n y e x p e d i t o r f o r t a n k e n g i n e s , t r a c k s , 75mm g u n t u b e s , e t c . w r i t e s to s a y he is k e e p i n g b u s y with h i s Ame r i can Legion p o s t (294 f u n e r a l s , f o r e x a m p l e ) . He r e cal ls t h a t he r e c r u i t e d VBOB m em be r , Lillian Keil , "A m e r ic a ' s mos t d e c o r a t e d female so l d i e r , " an a i r e v a c u a t i o n n u r s e in WWII a n d t h e K orean c o n f l i c t .

There is still time to reserve the 1986 VBOB Battle of the Bulge area trip.

Look at this exciting itinerary...Sunday, O ctober 19 - U SA/ALO FT. Depart USA via scheduled Air France flight. Meals served aloft.

M onday, O ctober 20 - PARIS/VERDUN. Arrive Paris this morning. Continue via autoroute to Verdun in the Champagne Region o f France. In late afternoon, after time to rest and adjust to time change, visit nearby World War I battlefield sites and the Ossuaire, the memorial chapel built from pennies donated by American school children in the 19 2 0 ’s. Dinner provided.

Tuesday, October 21 - VERDUN/LIEGE. Travel this morning into Belgium to Arlon and Bastogne where a mayoral reception and official luncheon will be enjoyed (circumstances permitting). Tour this famous battlefield area before continuing to Liege via Baraque de Fraiture (Parker’s Crossroads), Werbomont, and other Bulge areas. Breakfast, lunch and dinner provided.

W ednesday, October 22 - LIEGE. Motor via Aachen to Duren and enter the Hurtgen Forest, driving via Gey, Hurtgen and Simmerath to Monschau. Stop to visit this quaint medieval-style German village. Lunch on your own. In the afternoon, continue to Losheim where C olonel Peiper began his drive through the Losheim Gap in the Schnee-Eiffel. Follow his route to BuUingen, Baugnez (site o f the infamous Malmedy Massacre), and Malmedy, then Robertville and Elsenbom Ridge. Return to Liege via Eupen. Special stops will be made as requested. Breakfast and diJiiier provided.

Thursday, O ctober, 23 - LIEGE. Today, m otorcoaches w ill continue through the Northern Shoulder o f the Bulge, visiting Aywaile, Stavelot, Trois Ponts, Vielsalm, St. V ith, H ouffalizc and Grandmenil before returning to Liege. Stops will be made at special places requested by participants as circumstances allow. A get-together with our CRIBA (Center for Research o f the Battle o f the Ardennes) is planned. Breakfast and dinner provided.

T - * 3 * > 4 » » r ^ / - ' r ' / T T T V ¥- ' % \ § . ^ . .. • _ _________ i t . . . n T T n r>r n u a y , v/ciuucr - u i i l v j i : , / i v i u l u i iiub iiiuiiiuig lu x:iciiii v̂ iiiipciic u.o. iviuiiiiiy ^^ciiiciciy where a iiicinOrial w iealii will be placed. Coniiiiue to Clefvaux for a brief ccreiuuny ai the G.I. Munuinciil, follow ed by a Mayoral reception and luncheon. In the afternoon, tour Bulge sites and follow Skyline Drive and other roads to points o f special interest, including such places as Wiltz and Ettelbruck into Luxembourg City. Breakfast and lunch provided.

Saturday, O ctober 25 - LUXEMBOURG CITY. Morning wreath ceremony at the Hamm U.S. Military Cemetery where General Patton is buried. A City R eception is planned (circumstances permitting). In the afternoon, drive to im portant sites in the South Shoulder o f the Bulge. Included will be Echtemach, Vianden, Mersch and such other requested points that can be arranged. Breakfast provided.

Sunday, O ctober 26 - LUXEM BOURG/PARIS. Motor into France this morning and follow the fast autoroute into Paris. On arrival, join the “Amis Pour Toujours” (Friends Forever) special program. Tonight, enjoy a Wine and Cheese reception with local officials. Breakfast provided.

Be Dart of historv with reservations please call toll free-Ke part 01 SIO y 1-800-523-7287 (outside PA) or (215)254-6600 (in PA)

the video tape Ot the trip!! r.AI.AXY TOURS - P.O. Box 234-Wayne, PA 19087-0234 USA

Make your arrangem ents early to attend our5th Anniversary General Membership Meeting and Banquet in Arlington, VA. . .right across the river from your Nation’s Capital BEAUCOUP FUN, FROLIC and FESTIVITIESlDON’T FORGET . , . th a t’s th is co m in g N o vem b er 6-8 a t th e S h era ton in A rlin gton

We h o p e to s e e y o u there!

9

VETERANS OF THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE

GENERAL M E M B ER SH IP

M EETINGAND BANQUET

NOVEMBER 6, 7, «, 1986

THURSDAY, NOV. 6, 1986

1:00pm REGISTRATION &6:00pm INFORMATION

1:00pm PHOTO DISPLAY9:00pm A tr iu m Lounge

100pm MILITARY BOOKS 5:00pm DISPLAY

Meet the AuthorsJohn Campbell Harold Leinbaugh Charles MacDonald David Pergrin Robert Phillips Barcrofl Books

6:00pnv “ MIXER AND 9:00pm MOVIES”

• Rel'reshmenls• Music of ihe 40's• Batile of the Bulge Mosie• Tmie to Visit and Meet

new friendsll• Door Prizes

FRIDAY, IMOV. 7, 1986'9:00am REG ISTRA TIO N &12 Noon IN FO R M A TIO N

9:00am M EM O R IA L SERVICE 9:45am In Hotel

9:45am DEPART BY BUS FOR C E R EM O N IE S —ARLING TO N NA TIONAL CEM ETERY

11:00am Changing of the Guard• Lay Memorial Wreath at

Tomb of Unknown Soldiers• Visit Trophy Room

1 1:30am BOARD BUS FOR HO TEL

12:00- LUNCH (on your own)1:30pm

1:30pm- BUSINESS M E E TIN G4:00pm • Call of Order

• Pledge of Allegiance—Eugene Drouillard

• Invocation— Rev. George Hall, Jr.• Welcome—Robert Van Houten• Introductions— Members• Presidents R e p o rt-R .V a n Houten• Greetings— Mr. Edward P. Rose,

Representative, V.A. Hospital• Discussion—Written

Committee Reports• New Business• Update Report— Battle of the

Bulge Gallery—Earle Hart• Election of Officers

6:30pm SO CIAL H O U R - 7:30pm (Cash Bari 7:30pm BANQUET

Meeting Chairm an—George Chekan Invocation— Rev. George Hall, Jr. Swearing in of New Officers—

Joseph Langbart Introduction of Guests

Guest Speaker (TBA)9:30pm “ Juke Box Friday Nite” —

Music for your listening pleasure and dancing

SATURDAY, NOV. 8, 1986

9:45ani

1 1 OOam I 1:45am

1 1:45ani

12:002:00pm

2:00pm2:45pm

2:45pm

3:00pm

DEPART BY BUS FOR FT. GEORGE MEADE, MD.

VISIT BATTLE OF BULGE GALLERY, at the 1st US Army Museum, Ft. Meade, Md.

H o ste d b y A Ian .-1 rcham hatilt (Curator) a n d R e ena c tm en t ( jro u p in (( / / unijorm s

BOARD BUS TO OFFICERS’ CLUB

LUNCHEON BUFFET Dining Room, Officers’ Club

Seating of (iuestsPresentation of the Colors—

f ’irst .•\rmy Color Guard

National Anthem Pledge of Allegiance—

Eugene Drouillnrd

Iniocation-Rev. George Hall. Jr.

CONCERT—The First Army Band.Fort Meade, Md.

RETIREMENT OF THE COLORS

DEPART BY BUS FOR THE HOTEL

6:00pmBOARD BUS TO WEST END DINNER THEATRE ALEXANDRIA, VA.Dinner and Play “ Brigadoon”

---------------FAREWELL

"This IS undoubtedly the greatest American battle of the war and will, I believe, be regarded as an ever-famous American Victory "

Sir Winston Churchill addressing the House o f Commons

following the Battle o f the Bulge

10

(Ihp(EhaijlainaHurb

Moses. So I w i l l be wi gave you. Do not turn l e f t . Do not l e t t h i s your n o u t h ; medi t a t e on be ca r e fu l t o do every th w i l l be prosperous and

A COVENANTED PEOPLE

The I s r a e l i t e s under Joshua (Joshua 1 : 1 - 1 1 ) are g e t t i n g ready to cr o s s the Jordan River and to occupy the land. The Lord says to Joshua "Be s t r o n g , be courageous as I was with

th you, but obey the Law Moses from i t to the r i g h t or to the Book o f the Law depart from i t day and n i g h t , so you may ing w r i t t e n in i t . Then you s u c c e s s f u l ."

They were a peop le under a covenant . Be f a i t h f u l and o b e d ie n t ; be courageous with the s t re n g th th a t comes from God. J us t as the I s r a e l i t e s banded t o g e t h e r , so some two m i l l e n i a l a t e r , peop le banded to g e t h e r .They landed a t Roanoke I s l and in C aro l in a , a t Jamestown in V i r g in i a and a t Plymouth and what was to be come Boston in the co lony o f New England. They s t r u g g l e d and they p er se v er ea . They b e l i e v e d tha t God would do fo r them j u s t what He had done for the I s r e a l i t e s .

They b e l i e v e d God because they were a covenanted p eo p le . Before they l e f t Ho l land, aga in on the Mayf l o w e r . and when they landed they renewed t h e i r covenant w ith God. The s t o r y o f t h i s i s we l l documented in a book c a l l e d The L ight ana The Giorv by P ete r Mars ha l l , J r . and David Manuel . When they got away from God, they s u f f e r e d , when they r e c a l l e d the m se l ve s t o the cov enant , they prospe red . They were not p e r f e c t because the y had not he a l ed the hur ts o f the p a s t . They in t h e i r own ways cr ea t ed as ty ra n n i ca l an order o f l i f e as they had f l e d England to e s c a p e . But they were f a i t h f u l to God and with LhdL fd i Lriful ne s s Cdiiie d prosperous l i f e f or them.

Then out o f co n t i n u in g p o l i t i c a l tyranny came an opp r e s s i o n t h a t caused them to rebe l a g a i n s t tha t t yranny. They banded t o g e t h e r with thos e from o th e r c o l o n i e s . One morning, on the v i l l a g e green o f Concord, M a ss a c h u se t t s , a sho t rangout , a''ir' a small band o f men s t oo d a g a i n s t the might o f the B r i t i s h Army. That b a t t l e was not f u t i l e because the weapons aimed a c r o s s the s to ne f e n c e s o f Lexington and Concord were heard around the world. The muzzl e- l o ad er s o f th o s e v i s i o n a r y farmers served as a dream th a t s t i l l moves the world today, a dream that s h i e l d e d Susan B. Anthony from the hoo t s o f r i d i c u l e as she s tood and worked fo r the vo t i n g r i g h t s o f women, a dream t h a t mot iva ted Abraham L in co ln , and a dream t h a t vexes the boardrooms o f America when South A fr i ca comes up on the agenda. The shot heai^d 'round the world was not f i r e d from a weapon o f

f u t i l i t y , but from one o f purpose and d e d ic a t io n .

But l e t us journey to the co lo n i a l c i t y o f P h i l ad e l ph ia . There, a group o f men a " = gathered toge ther d i s c u s s i n g t h e i r fu t ure - your future and my fu t ure . They d ra f t ed a document tha t today we know as the Dec larat i o n o f Independence. "We hold these t ru ths to be s e l f - e v id e n t th a t a l l men are endowed by th e i r c rea tor with c e r t a i n i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t s . Among them are l i f e , l i b e r t y and the p ur su i t o f happines s ." Then a few years l a t e r they d ra f t ed g u i d e l i n e s for us to l i v e a covenanted p eop le . Those g u i d e l i n e s s went back to the g u i d e l i n e s o f the C o lo n i s t s and became the U. S. Cons t i t u t i o n . Pre s id ent Abraham Lincoln dra ft ed a document tha t began "Four s core and seven years ago our f o r e f a t h e r s crea te d a new n a t io n , conce ived in l i b e r t y and ded ic a t ed to the p ro p os i t i o n that a l l men are cr e a t ed e q u a l ."

Over the years we have fought and died to n.a',ntain the i n t e g r i t y o f th e s e documents and our covenant r e l a t i o n s h i p with a God who i s a l l powerful . A God who in v o l v e s h im se l f in our l i v e s in wonderous ways. Just how wonderous and in what ways we see a l l the t ime , in p a r t i c u l a r , l a s t weekend, as we have heard ton i gh t !

This same God has ac t ed in the l i v e s o f in d i v i d u a l s , and small groups o f men, a t a l l t imes . Just as He d i d i n the l i v e s o f Gideon and that small band o f men who fought the M id i a m te s ( judges 7 : 7 , 8 ) . "The L o r a sa id to Gideon, 'wi tn tne three hundred men that lapped the water l i k e a dog, I w i l l save you and g i v e the M id ia n i t e s in to your hands' ." He was br ing ing to Gideon a concerned for ce o f men.

So i t has been throughout our h i s t o r y . The ded ic a t ion to God r e s u l t s in courage , va lor and ded ica t i on to duty . This has been seen in f i g h t i n g engagements in a l l the wars in which we have been invo lved . On the shores o f Guadalcanal , Okinawa and from Iwo Jima to F o r tr e s s Europe, to Korea and to Vietnam. Even in the l a r g e s t land b a t t l e ever fought by American m i l i t a r y f o r c e s a s t h e B a t t l e o f the B u l g e , i t was in d i v id u a l s and small groups o f men tak ing p o s s e s s i on o f the land in f r on t o f them and re fu s in g to g ive up because of t h e i r t r u s t in God tha t v i c t o r y was secured and the sho t heard a t Concord was not s t i l l e d . I f a t some

t ime you would l i k e to read an account o f th a t b a t t l e ,I would recommend a book e n t i t l e d Company Commander by Charles B. MacDonald. I t i s an accura te account o f the bravery o f small groups j u s t as a t Concord, Breed's H i l l , Iwo Jima and throughout the world.

But, in the f o r t y years s i n c e World War II and Korea, t h a t sho t i s s t i l l be ing heard. We have fo rg o t t e n and abandoned our covenant with God. His Word and Hi*;Laws are no l onger on our l i p s and in our h e ar t s . We have gone a f t e r the f a l s e gods that o thers have brought to our shor es . (Continued on P a g e l3 ).

i i

REQUIEM FOR OUR ARDENNES DEADT h e y s l eep upon t h e ha llowed soil Where once t h e y f o u g h t a n d b l e d ,And m a r k e r s white now g u a r d t h e g r a v e s Of t h e s e o u r A r d e n n e s d e a d .

In L u x e m b o u r g a n d Belgium And t h e n in Holland too.Th e s o m b e r s i g h t of m a r k e r s whi te Comes h a u n t i n g l y in v iew.

T h e i r work in life a n d on th i s e a r t h Is a t an e n d a n d o ' e r ,But in o u r h e a r t s t h e y s t i l l l ive on And will f o r e v e r m o r e .

Now f a r f rom home a n d loved o n e s In l a n d s a c r o s s th e s e a .T h e s e who fel l in th e A r d e n n e s Live on in memory .

God g r a n t t h e sa c r i f i c e t h e y made Will n e ' e r f o r g o t t e n be .And e v e r s e r v e to remind us Of ma n ' s will to be f r e e .

. . . Haro ld F . Mohn

BELGIUM'S VET CONTACT POINTCHANGES.

E D I T O R ' S Q U A R

T h e U . S . V e t e r a n s ' Co nt ac t Poin t , E u r o p e , is now loca ted a t Rou te de la Gi leppe 83, B-4804 J a l h a y , Belg ium, r e p o r t s i t s f o u n d e r , Gillot G u n t e r G e o r g e , J r .

In 1985, t h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n welcomed a n d p r o v i d e d informa t io n to 105 U . S . v e t e r a n s a n d looks f o r w ard to c o n t i n u e to p r o v i d e th i s s e r v i c e f r e e of c h a r g e ( n o s t r i n g s a t t a c h e d ) .

TOUR TO EUROPE CHANGES

VBOB's Ga laxy t o u r to E u r o p e , h e a d l i n e d on th e f r o n t p a g e of o u r la s t e d i t i o n , h a s been c h a n g e d for t h e b e t t e r . T h o s e 21 of us who s i g n e d u p for t h e 15 S e p t e m b e r t o u r s h o u ld h a v e r e c e i v e d o u r n o t i c e s of th e c h a n g e . For o t h e r s who may be ab le to v i s i t E u r o p e with VBOB a n d Ga l laxy on19 O c t o b e r t h r o u g h 1 N o v e m b e r , w r i t e f o r d e ta i l s on Amis P o u r T o u j o u r s a t P . O . Box 234, Wayne , PA 19087.

Veterans Administration

Q - I am a v e t e r a n of World War II a n d a f o rm e r p r i s o n e r of w a r . I u n d e r s t a n d a law r e c e n t l y p a s s e d b y C o n g r e s s makes s e v e r a l c h a n g e s in a v e t e r a n ' s e l i g ib i l i ty fo r VA hea l th c a r e . Are a n y v e t e r a n s exe mp t?

A - Yes . T h e fol lowing v e t e r a n s a r e exe m pt f rom t h e e l ig ib i l i ty a s s e s s m e n t p r o c e d u r e s ; S e r v i c e - C o n n e c t e d v e t e r a n s , f o r mer p r i s o n e r s of w a r , v e t e r a n s e x p o s e d to c e r t a i n h e r b i c i d e s whi le s e r v i n g in V i e t nam a n d to ion iz in g r a d i a t i o n in c o n n e c t i o n with a t m o s p h e r i c t e s t i n g of n u c l e a r w e a p ons a n d in t h e o c c u p a t i o n of Hirosh ima a n d N a g a s a k i , v e t e r a n s r e c e i v i n g a VA p e n s i o n , v e t e r a n s of World War I, t h e S p a n i s h - A m e r i c a n War a n d t h e Mexican B o r d e r p e r i o d , a n d v e t e r a n s e l ig ib le f o r M ed ic a id .

Up Front with Willie & JoeDv 0111 Mau'din n r ”** s tjf s doo Stf-ces Cou'’es« )• 8' '

‘This is th’ town my pappy told me about.

1 2

‘*THE MARCH TO VICTORY’’. . . a unique guidebook intended for the veterane of World War II, atudenta of military hiatory, and travelere to Europe, “ The March to Victory: A Guide to World War II Battlea and Battlefielda from London to the Rhine” , deacribee the principal battlefielda in northweatern Europe.

This exceptional book, following an overview of each battle, contains tours that describe the battlefields and the exploits of particular individuals and events, identifies relics in the field, and locates monuments and museums. Such an : approach is meaningful for those of us who fought there as well as others visiting the area.Photographs and maps add to the interesting narrative.Written by John T. Bookman and Stephen T.Powers and published by Harper & Row."The March to Victory" has been acclaimed by VBOB member and military author Charles MacDonald as "Long needed . . ." / and by military author John Toland as " 'A must for all participants and buffs of World War II in Europe . . . ”VBOB will be glad to place your order for a paperback edition at the reduced m Q or for a hardcopy ( p y i Q O O

rate of . L J U edition at 3 ! w . LJLJ

Includes handling and shipping.Make checks payable to VBOB. Send to; P.O. Box 1 1 1 2S

Arlington. Va. 2 2 2 1 0 - 2 1 2 9

Reunion-2d A r m o r e d , 702d T a n k B n , C o . C , 5 th R e u n i o n , 18-21 S e p 8 6 , N. C a r o l i n a . (C o n t a c t E . F . S c h o l z , 4042 S . C a u l f i e l d , S t . F r a n c i s , VVI).

7 4 0 th T a n k B n . A s s n . , 13th A n n u a l R e u n i o n , 28-31 A u g 8 6 . ( C o n t a c t H a r r y F . Mill e r , 1504 C a r o l O a k s T r a i l #1106, F t . W o r t h , TX 76112).

62 6 th TD B n , 20 S e p 8 6 , H a n s c o m AF B a s e , B e d f o r d , MA. ( C o n t a c t F r e d 0 .W h i t e , 18 S p r i n g P a r k C o v e , J a m a i c a P l a i n , M E . )

106th I n f . D i v . A s s n . , ( G o l d e n L i o n ) , 9-12 O c t 8 6 , C o l u m b i a , S C . f C o n t a c t K u g e r iVi. RuLi a i iu , 6632 A r c a d i a Woods R d . , C o l u m b u s , SC 2 9 2 0 6 ) .

3d I n f D i v , 11-13 S e p 8 6 , F.as V e g a s , NV. ( C o n t a c t A1 G e r a c i , 4471 B e n n e t t D r . ,La« V e g a s , N V ) .

801st T a n k D e s t r o y e r B n , 10-12 O c t 8 6 , A l b a n y , NY. ( C o n t a c t A l b e r t W e i r , J r . ,10 C r e s t h a v e n A v e . , Al- b a n y , NY 12205) ._____________

(THE C H A P L A IN ‘S W ORD, C o n t ’d)________________

We h a v e b e e n l a z y a n d s e l f - r i g h t e o u s a nd we h a v e n o t d i s c i p l i n e d t h e a l i e n t h a t h a s come t o o u r s h o r e s i n t o t h e c o v e n a n t t h a t we h a v e w i t h God.

We h a v e no o ne t o b l a m e b u t o u r s e l v e s . Our w o r s h i p o f God i s b e s t s t a t e d a s "God , d o n ' t b o t h e r me a nd I w o n ' t b o t h e r y o u . " Look a t t h e f a m i l y B i b l e t o d a y . I t s i t s on a s h e l f , d u s t y a n d u n o p e n e d . The Word o f God i s n o t i n o u r h e a r t s a n d on o u r l i p s a s t h e L or d God s a i d t o J o s h u a . We s c r e a m t h a t o u r c h i l d r e n a r e n o t a l l o w e d t o p r a y i n s c h o o l , y e t how many o f us t a k e t i m e t o p r a y w i t h t h em b e f o r e t h e y go t o s c h o o l i n t h e m o r n i n g ( o r

we t o o u r o t h e r t a s k s ) ?

Our g r e a t e s t a r e a o f c o n c e r n i s n o t t h e R u s s i a n s . I t i s o u r Own c o m p l a c e n c y a n d s m u g n e s s . We h a v e l o s t s i g h t o f o u r c o v e n a n t r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h God a n d h av e g o n e a f t e r f a l s e g o d s t h a t w i l l d e s t r o y u s , o u r

c o m m u n i t i e s a n d o u r l a n d .

We c a n t u r n and r en e w t h e c o v e n a n t t h a t o u r f o r e f a t h e r s made f o r u s . We c a n c o v e n a n t t o g e t h e r a s a communi ty t h a t n e e d s t o be n u r i f i p d a n d p u r i f y i t . We can c l e a n s e o u r N a t i o n a n d we c an d i s c i p l e t h e a l i e n s i n t o t h a t c o v e n a n t . We c an j o i n w i t h J o s h u a ( 2 4 : 1 4 - 2 7 ) ," B u t a s f o r n e and my h o u s e , we w i l l s e r v e t h e l o r d .We w i l l h o n o r t h e c o v e n a n t . We w i l l be w i t n e s s e s t o t h e w o n d e r o u s t h i n g s t h a t He h a s done i n o u r l i v e s ! "

God b l e s s o u r n a t i v e l a n d - f i r m may s h e e v e r s t a n d - t h i s l a n d was made f o r you and me! I t i s G o d ' s g i f t t o us a nd we w i l l be h e l d r e s p o n s i b l e f o r w h a t we a s i n d i v i d u a l s a nd a s a N a t i o n do w i t h i t .

S c r i p t u r e a t t e s t s t o t h e j o y t h a t we may h a v e when we

h o n o r t h e c o v e n a n t !A M e d i t a t i o n g i v e n on 4 J u l y U'86

a t T r u r o e p i s c o p a l Chur ch by The Rev. George W.

Hal 1 , J r .

11

WO V. M. T h o m p s o n , S v c . C o . , 702d T a n k B n , w r i t e s t h a t f o r t h e p a s t 44 y e a r s h e ' s m a r r i e d to t h e sam e w o m a n , h a s two d a u g h t e r s , e i g h t g r a n d c h i l d r e n , t h e sam e h o u s e s i n c e ' 46 , h i s k i d s a r e g o n e , t h e h o u s e is too b i g . H e ' s i n / o u t of t h e h o s p i t a l a n d will b e 70 t h i s m o n t h . "Hel l t o b e g e t t i n g o l d , " h e a d d s .

Jim B a t e m a n , Co . B , 3 8 th A r m d . I n f . B n , 7 t h A r m o r e d Div i s i on r e c e n t l y h a d t h e h o n o r a n d p l e a s u r e o f m e e t i n g h i s 7 t h D i v i s ion C o m m a n d e r , G e n e r a l B r u c e C . C l a r k e a n d B r u c e C l a r k e , J r . T h e o c c a s i o n w as t h e G e n e r a l ' s 8 5 th b i r t h d a y on A pr i l 2 9 t h .

F r e d W. K l o o s t e r , 89 9 th FA B n , 7 5 t h I n f . D iv . w r i t e s to s a y h e w as a s s i g n e d to t h e N i n t h U . S . A r m y in Ho l l a nd a n d h i s d i v i s ion w as s u b s e q u e n t l y r e a s s i g n e d to F i r s t U . S . A r m y , B e l g i u m . C h r i s t m a s E v e f o r F r e d w as s p e n t s h u t t l i n g I n f a n t r y m e n f ro m h i s d i v i s i o n to t h e f r o n t l in e s - - b l a c k - o u t d r i v i n g - n o Xmas c a r o l s - n o w o r s h i p s e r v i c e - o n l y t h e s o u n d s o f men p r e p a r i n g f o r t h e i r f i r s t b a t t l e e x p e r i e n c e . F r e d s a y s h e ' l l n e v e r f o r g e t t h e Xmas o f 1944.

F r a n k J . S m o l l o n , Co . K, 393d R e g t , 9 9 th I n f . D iv , a s s i g n e d to o u t p o s t d u t y was o n e of m a n y of h i s c o m r a d e s w ho w a s n o t o v e r r u n o r c a p t u r e d in t h e m o r n i n g h o u r s of 16 D e c e m b e r 1945. He s e n t a p h o t o o f s ix e s c a p e d POW's t a k e n in l a t e M a r c h 1945 in F r a n k f u r t am Main whom h e is t r y i n g to lo c a t e . In t h e fo to a r e L e o n a r d H a l p e r n , H o w a r d ( C h u c k ) H a r r i s , A l b e r t E l b y , William Mansiel a n d O s c a r E i s e n b e r g . I f a n y o n e k n o w s t h e p r e s e n t l o c a t i o n s o f t h e s e m e n , p l e a s e c o n t a c t F r a n k a t 714 P e g g y S t e w a r d C t . , D a v i d s o n v i l l e , MD 21035.

D o na ld R . R e d d o c h , ( T e x , t h e D e v i l ' s Hal f D o z e n ) , Co . A, 32 4 th C o m b a t E n g r . , 9 9 th I n f . D iv , w a n t s y o u to k n o w t h a t , in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h p r e v i o u s a r t i c l e s c o n c e r n i n g A. Z. A d k i n s a n d W . T . J a c k s o n o f F l o r i d a , h e , t o o , r e m e m b e r s t h e b r u t a l co ld o f t h e A r d e n n e s . B o r n a n d r a i s e d in T e x a s , h e h a d s e e n o n l y o n e sn o w f a l l i n h i s 19 y e a r s p r i o r to WWII. He w as a b l e to k e e p h i s f e e t f ro m f r e e z i n g , h o w e v e r , d u e to t h e a d v i c e h e r e c e i v e d f r o m h i s " Y a n k e e Bo y" b u d d i e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y S g t . F l u t i .

A n d e v e n m o r e MEMBERS SPEAK OUT! J o h n H. Wi l son , H q . C o . , 1st B n , 12th I n f . R e g t , 4 t h D i v i s i o n , t e l l s u s t h a t h e j o i n e d t h e l a s t p a r t of t h e H u r t g e n F o r e s t p o r t i o n of T h e B u l g e a n d d r o v e in a c o n v o y to P a r i s a n d C a m p Old Gold b e f o r e h e r e t u r n e d h o m e . T h e n - s c h o o l c u s t o d i a n , p o l i c e m a n , r o a d s u p e r v i s o r a n d " r e t i r e d " a f t e r 31 y e a r s w i t h W e s t i n g h o u s e E l e c t r i c .

C h a r l e s R . C o n n o r , 33 5 th FA B n . , 8 7 th I n f . D i v . , i s i n t e r e s t e d in h e a r i n g f r o m a n y me mb e r o f t h e " G o ld e n A c o r n D i v i s i o n . " p a r t i c u l a r l y m e m b e r s of "B ig J a c k ' s " M o r t a r B n , (155 How G / S , 8 7 th I n f . D i v . ) . P l e a s e c o n t a c t C o n n o r a t 103 M a r s h v i e w R d . , S a v a n n a h , GA 51410.

R a y J e m c , F O , B t r y . A, 336 FA B n , 8 7 th ( G o l d e n A c o r n ) I n f . D iv . w r i t e s t h a t h e w a s , in f o u r m o n t h s ' c o m b a t t h e l a s t o f 14 o r i g i n a l e n l i s t e d men of t h e FO t e a m s a n d w a s r e w a r d e d w i t h a t r i p h o m e to C h i c a g o f o r 45 d a y s ' " T e m p o r a r y D u t y " - t h e b e s t t h i n g h e e v e r w o n .

A1 G e r a c i , T r o o p E , R e c o n S q u a d , 18th C a v , T h i r d I n f . D iv . w r i t e s to s a y we n e v e r p u b l i s h a n y t h i n g f ro m m e m b e r s o f h i s u n i t a n d w a n t s to h e a r f r o m o ld b u d d i e s . Wr i t e him a t 4471 B e n n e t t D r i v e , L a s V e g a s , NV. He w a s o r i g i n a l l y in Co . F , 7 t h I n f . in 1941.

D an i e l M. A b b o t t , C o . C . , 55 A I B , 11th A r m d . D iv , s e r v e d u n d e r t h e n a m e o f D a n iel M. G o j k o v i c h a n d is a n x i o u s to h e a r f ro m f o r m e r b u d d i e s . C o n t a c t him a t 13119-4 W o n d e r l a n d Way, G e r m a n t o w n , MD 20874. A f t e r h i s WWII e x p e r i e n c e s , h e a t t e n d e d c o l l e g e f o r f o u r y e a r s , tw o in g r a d u a t e s c h o o l , f o u r c a r e e r s ( b i o l o g i c a l r e s e a r c h , b io m e d ic a l e n g i n e e r i n g s a l e s , c o n t r a c t i n g o f f i c e r , n e g o t i a t o r f o r R e s e a r c h C o n t r a c t s B r a n c h , N a t i o n a l C a n c e r I n s t i t u t e ) , a n d f i n a l l y - d i s a b i l i t y r e t i r e m e n t (19 m a jo r s u r g e r i e s ) .

H a r o l d R . T a l l e n t , Co . D, 1st B n , 317th R e g t . , 8 0 th I n f . D iv . t e l l s o f ho w h e r o d e 150 k m . in t r u c k s to t h e G e r m a n b r e a k t h r o u g h in L u x e m b o u r g , h a l f - f r o z e n in d e e p s n o w , v e r y low t e m p e r a t u r e s , n o o v e r s h o e s , w o r n - o u t g l o v e s , p i t c h - b l a c k n e s s . . . h e will n e v e r f o r g e t t h e d e e p s n o w , f r e e z i n g c o l d , f r o z e n c a n t e e n s a n d r a t i o n s , e t c .

P l e a s e u n d e r s t a n d t h a t , t h o u g h we m a y w i s h to d o s o , we C A N N O T p u b l i s h n o r r e s p o n d t o al l i n q u i r i e s r e c e i v e d f r o m m e m b e r s .

. . . E d i t o r

14

W e , the cit izens of the United States, who w ere captured or interned by the enem y,

do unite to establish a pernnanent organization.

American Ex-Prisoners of WarT he A m erican Ex-Prisoners of W ar (AX-POW) w as fou n ded April 14, 1942, to encou rage fraternity betw een fellow ex-prisoners of war, to fos ter patriotism, to ass is t ex-prisoners of war, civilian in ternees and their kin, and to maintain historical records. The organization w as Con- g ress io n a lly chartered A u gu st 10, 1982, and is recogn iz ed by the V eterans Administration.

P erhaps on e of the m ost important roles that A X -P O W plays is in the com radesh ip that is sh ared . In many instances an ex -P O W fears he is a lo n e in his fears, traum as, and medical prob lem s. A ttending m eet in g s w here he can m ee t and talk with a fellow prisoner who was th ere , too, and knows what it w as like, can often a llev ia te th e s e fears. A X-PO W is m ad e up of p eop le w ho s incerely care for their fellow man and are an xious to help in anyw ay they can.

T he A X -P O W M edSearch C om m ittee has, through th e years, researched and compiled information on the residual e f fec ts of internm en ts . In 1980 the first National Serv ice Officers

w ere certified, fvlembers receive the EX-POW BULLETIN, a monthly m agazine which will keep you informed on new happenings , news of com rades , and everything that relates to you as a former POW . A listing of chapters is listed in the EX-POW BULLETIN. Chapters are located in 48 sta tes and the District of Columbia.

Do consider m em bership in AX-POW. M em bership d u es are $11.00 annually; life m em berships are available. Eligibility for m em bership is open to all persons in the Armed Services of the United States who were held prisoners of war by an en e m y of the United States because of such serv ice . United States citizens who werei r n p r j c Q n o r j h o r a i j c o n f f h o j r c ! t iZSHSh j P, UnitSdStates c it izens who were taken prisoners by an en em y of the United States while honorably serving an ally of the United States, and next of kin of former prisoners.

“ W e exist to help those who cannot help t h e m s R lv e s / ’ and w e w elcom e you into our ranks!

APPLICATION FOR M E M B E R S H IP T O A M ER IC AN EX-PRISONERS OF WAR

3201 East P ioneer Parkway, Suite 40 . Arlington, T exas 76010 • Telephone; (817)649-AXPW

H usband & W ife , $16 S ingle M em ber, $11.M em bersh ip d u es include a subscription to the EX-POW BULLETIN

N A M E (P lease print).

S P O U S E ’S N A M E ___

.N icknam e.

.CHAPTER AFFILIATION.

CITY. STATE,

P le a s e circle your status:E X -PO W Europe E X -P O W Pacific E X -P O W Korea E X -P O W Vietnam E X -P O W Civilian E X -P O W Next of Kin

t o ___________________ _

Social Security N um b er .

VA Claim Num ber-

ZIP

LIFE MEM BERSHIP RATES:

Under 35 3 6 - 5 0 51 - 6 0 61 - overS p ou se of a Life Member

Date of Birth____________

$150125

755020

MILITARY UNIT.

PRISON C A M P S .

PLEA SE NOTE: Proof of POW sta tu s must be subm itted with application. Military and prison camp information m ust be com p le ted before m em b ersh ip is processed .

15

THE VBOB MEDALLION

The E x e c u t iv e Council o f VBOB ha s made t h e VBOB MEDALLION. W/Ribbon, a v a i l a b l e t o t h e membership.

The MEDALLION, a 2 1 / 2 inch r e p l i c a o f our VBOB i n s i g n i a , i f i n i s h e d in f i v e c o l o r s baked enamel on a g o ld c o l o r e d b a s e . It i s suspended on a 1 1 / 2 in ch re ck r ib b o n . The 5 / 8 in ch c e n t e r of t h e r ibb on i s gr een t o r e p r e s e n t t h e p i n e t r e e s we remember. I t i s f l a n k e d on both s i d e s by th e c o l o r s of t h e f l a g s of Belg ium and Luxembourg.

All VBOB members wear t h e M e d a l l i o n su spen d ed from t h e neck by t h e r ib b o n . L i f e members a r e d e s i g n a t e d by a s i l v e r s t a r a f f i x e d in t h e c e n t e r of each l e g o f t h e r ibbon a p p r o x im a te ly 3 i n c h s above t h e M e d a l l io n (or he-lmets in t h e c a s e of o f f i c e r s ) .

Chapter o f f i c e r s wear a l e t t e r "C" ab ov e t h e 5 / 8 inch s i l v e r h e lm e t s which d e s i g n a t e t h e o f f i c e h e l d : 3 h e lm e ts each s i d e d e s i g n a t e a Chapter P r e s i d e n t ; 2 h e l m e t s , a Chapter V ice p r e s i d e n t ; 1 he lm et a member of a Chapter s t a f f .

N a t io n a l o f f i c e r s wear a l e t t e r "N" above t h e 5 / 8 inch s i l v e r h e l m e t s . The N a t i o n a l P r e s i d e n t wears 4 h e lm e t s on each s i d e ; N a t io n a l V ic e P r e s i d e n t s wear 3 h e lm e ts ; N a t io n a l S t a f f o f f i c e r s wear 2 h e l m e t s and Appointed o f f i c e r s wear 1 h e lm e t .

Former o f f i c e r s wear g o l d ( v i c e s i l v e r ) h e l m e t s .

C hapters may order h e l m e t s and "C"'s f o r t h e i r c h a p te r o f f i c e r s . Cost i s ^ 1 . 0 0 per h e l m e t / I e t t e r .P l e a s e d e s i g n a t e t h e names and o f f i c e o f t h e c h a p t e r o f f i c e r s in your l e t t e r o r d e r .

I n d i v i d u a l s sh ou ld u s e t h e VBOB ORDER Blank on t h e r e v e r s e of t h i s s h e e t t o a s s u r e c o r r e c t p r i c i n g of t h e i r o r d e r .

VBOB ORDER BLANK

CUSTOMER NO: GROUP A NO;

RECORD N 0;_ GROUP B NO:

DATE RECEIVED

(Above -for o - f f i c e u se on ly )

P l e a s e s h i p t h e f o l l o w i n g i t e m s t o :

NAME;< f i r s t ) ( l a s t )

ADDRESS:(number) ( s t r e e t ) ( c i t y ) ( s t a t e ) (z ip )

GROUP A ITEM PRICE QUANTITY TOTALA 2 P laq ue 5"X 7" * * 1 8 . 0 0 X =A 3 P laq ue 5" Diameter 1 1 .0 0 XA 4 2 Pen VBOB Desk Set 2 1 . 0 0 X =

* 1PI e a s e en g r a v e B r a s s P l a t e o-f A2 Plaque wi th;NAME: (not t o exc eed 30UNIT • 1e t t e r / numbers/UNIT ■■ s p a c e s each l i n e )GROUP BB 1 Patch 2 3 /4 " Diameter * 2 . 5 0 XB lA Patch (W/pins & c l u t c h s ) 4. 00 X =B 2 Patch 4 / 3 / 4 " Diameter 6 . 00 XB 2A Patch (W/pins S< c l u t c h s ) 8 . 0 0 X =D 1 Decal 4" VBOB Decal 3 / 1 . 0 0 XD 2 Logo 4" W in dsh ie ld Logo . 5 0 XJ 1 VBOB Lapel Pin (W /c lu tc h ) 7 . 0 0 X =J 2 VBOB T ie Tac (W/chai n?/bar ) 7 . 0 0 X -.3 3 WROR T i e Bar 7 . 3S V =J 5 VRHR M e d a l l i o n (W/ribbon 32. 00 V =J 9 L i f e Mbr S ta r ( - fo r Medal lionj) . 5 0 X -J 10 Ex t r a c l u t c h -for p i n / p a t c h . 2 5 X =J 1 i Ex t r a c l u t c h / c h a i n f o r T i e T a c . 2 5 X =N 1 VBOB Neck T ie (Brown) 1 0 .0 0 X

Above p r i c e s i n c l u d e p o s t a g e e n g r a v in g . TOTAL PURCHASES;

BATTLE OF THE BULGE ARTIFACT INFORMATIONBATTLE OF THE BULGE GALLERY(MAILING ADDRESS) BOX 2516 KENSINGTON, MD. 2 0 8 9 5 - 0 8 1 8

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W r i t e u s a b o u t a ny B a t t l e o f t h e B u l g e a r t i f a c t s / m a t e r i a l s t h a t y o u may h a v e , s u c h a s u n i f o r m s , w e a p o n s , e q u i p m e n t d o c u m e n t s , p e r s o n a l e f f e c t s , e t c , a n d how, when a nd w h e r e t h e y w e r e o b t a i n e d .

Would you be w i l l i n g t o d o n a t e t h e s e m a t e r i a l s f o r u s e i n t h e B a t t l e o f t h e B u l g e G a l l e r y , F t . Meade Museum, F t . Meade , MD ?

Y e s _________________ No___________________

Name

A d d r e s s

r.i fv S t a t e

Z i p Code T e l . #

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ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED FORWARDING and RETURN POSTAGE GUARANTEED

S e p te m b e r 1 9 8 6 E d itio n

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L C 0 0 7 1 l i f e

n e t I B R O W N T H O M P S O N 1 3 2 2 T E N B R O D K C T

O D E N T O N , MD 2 1 1 1 3

' I

VBOB UPCOMING EVENTS - A REMINDER EURO PEAN TRIP . . . October 19 thru Novem ber 1, 1 9 8 6GENERAL M EM BERSHIP MEETING . . . A rlington, VA - Novem ber 6, 7, 8, 1 9 8 6 DEDICATION OF PLAQUE . . . A rlington N ational C em etery D ecem ber 16, 1 9 8 6 . .

honoring m en and w om en w ho participated in The B attle of The Bulge

Annual Dues $10

_________________ _ Detach and M a il_________________APPLICATION FOR M EM BERSH IP

V E T E R A N S OF TH E B A T T L E OF TH E BU LG EP.O . B ox 1 1 1 2 9 , A rl in g to n . V irg in ia 2 2 2 1 0 - 2 1 2 9

DONATIONS ARE WELCOME

N a m e

Address

City ___

_ Blrthdate

Phone( )

State Zip

Unlt(s) to which assigned during period December 16, 1944 —January 25, 1945 (Dlv. Regt. Bn, Co).

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