~ ~· iEVENTIETH DIVISION MEN L

70th Infantry Division Association Vol. 41, No.2 April, 1984

will walk where brave men ·have trod

T"'AI ~l,~''BLAIE R

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iHILADELPHIA Here brave men died that a new country might be born

President Orvi lle F. Elli s

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A nfantrymen have suffered bitter cold and fought through drowning snow since our country was but a dim dream of patriots . Seventieth Division men who endured the numbing Vosges winter of '44-'45 can appreciate more than most Americans the fortitude of those forebears who made Valley Forge a noble chapter of our nation 's history .

Surely, as old comrades-in-arms gather for their Reunion in Philadelphia in August , thoughts will often be directed to that hallowed campgrounds less than I 0 miles from the hotel where the 70th Division veterans will gather Aug. 9-12.

Men who have fought for their country, and women who served, either in uniform or by their devotion on the home front, are most appreciative of the people in our past who helped birth this nation and have served it through many dangers since. So the Philadelphia area will fascinate the Trailblazers.

They will stand in reverence to see the Liberty Bell which now is enshrined in its own memorial in Independence Square. They will walk on the same floors that Washington, Jefferson , Adams, the great founders, trod while the Decla­ration of Independence and the Federal Constitution were drafted, debated and adopted. They will stand under the same roof where two Continental Congresses united I 3 states to wage the war of independence.

When the timid Pennsylvania Assembly hesitated to chal­lenge the King, Benjamin Franklin and a group of patriots met at the City Tavern and it was here that Paul Revere brought the dire news that the King had closed the port of Boston. And from here was sent out the call for the colonies to send delegates to a Congress. The tavern still stands.

Not far from the Trailblazers ' gathering is the place where Washington braved the frozen Delaware to score a momen­tous Christmas Eve victory. And a pleasant drive through lush farmlands brings the visitor to Gettysburg, scene of one of our bloodiest battles and of a speech that better than any other oration defines the feelings of America for its war dead.

Not all of Philadelphia 's history is martial. The vision that William Penn cherished when he founded the colony-that men of different roots might live in brotherly love- has come closer to fruition in America than anywhere or any time else in history . The great and versatile achievements of Benjamin Franklin were perfected in this city.

There is even a Victorian trolley car to remind us of a more innocent time in our country's youth. Here Gloria Dei-Old

Historian s

9255 Birch Tree Lane

Secretary-Treasurer Clarence E. Feaster Box 187

St. Louis. Missouri 631 26 Oxford , Kansas 6 71 19

Dr. Eugene J. Petersen 39580 Tyler Road Bellevi lle. Michigan 48111

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is published four times a year by the 70th Infantry Division Association , for its members and friends . Subscription : $7 . annually.

Volume 41, Number 2 April, 1984

Editor Edmund C. Arnold 3208 Hawthorne Ave. Richmond, Virginia 23222

A ssoci ate Editor Chester F. Garst ki 2946 No. Harding Chicago. Illinois 60618

Vice President-East Fred J. Cassidy 17813 Vinyard Lane Derwood . Maryland 20855

Vice President -Wes t Eugene G. Inzer 1690 Dogwood Drive Vidor . Texas 77662

Asst. Sec.· T reas . Norman Johnson 3344 Bryant Ave . Anoka . Minnesota 55303

Chaplains Alex C. Johnson 955 Olive St. Hoffman Estates. illinots 60194

Rev . Wm. Hoyt Henderson 3251 Hopkin s Road. S.W. Powder Springs . Georgia 30073

Theodore C. Mataxis 295 Downing Place Southern Pines North Carolina 28387

Donald C. Pence Carolina Trace 285 Fairway Lane Sanford, N .C. 27330

70th Division Assn TRAILBLAZER

L~------"'-----~-

Swedes-Church stands as a monument to the religious freedom unique to the United States and the Thaddeus Kosciusko ational Memorial speaks for the ethnic diversity that enabled the great melting pot to forge an alloy of stout and courageous citizens.

" Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabi­tants thereof. " This inscription around the crown of the Liberty Bell has proven true. And that proclaimed liberty has been staunchly defended by brave men and women at the many times of national crisis. Some six hundred of such defenders will gather in the fellowship that can be known only by true patriots.

Drive , fly, come by Amtrak or paddle a canoe on the Schuylkill, it's easy to get to the '84 Reunion.

The famed Pennsylvania Turnpike , precursor of the Inter­state highway system, is 1-76 and 1-276. Near the Valley Forge interchange , 1-76 becomes the Schuylkill Express­way. Where it intersects with US-I, another historic high­way, stands the Marriott.

Fine expressways lead through the heart of the city from the airport-impressive in its new terminal-and from the Amtrak station.

The Schuylkill River, which runs into the Delaware near the airport, is almost within fly-rod di stance of the hotel. It is a picturesque stream on which racing shells glide gracefully. Only I 0 minutes away, downtown Philadelphia offers a wealth of attractions. These range from the elegant old Rittenhouse Square , to the picturesque City Hall which has the main street running right through the building , to the fascinating new Gallery at Market East, a 200-store mall right downtown . The Museum of Art is the third largest in the country and has some of America 's best beloved paintings . Three race tracks may lure those 'Blazers who kept a con­tinuous crap game going for all of the voyage home from the ETO.

And if you do get lost , just phone 667-0200 and we ' ll send Orville or Casey or Gene out to escort you in .

Youngest 'Blazer

was only 14

April, 1984

Editor's Note: From an Associated Press dis­patch datelined Camp Shanks, New York, Aug. 28, 1945 , is reprinted this story,

With shouts of " Hi , Junior! ", this Army Relocation Center yesterday welcomed home 16-year-o ld PFC William D. Burch, ETO battle veteran , and began the processing which will take away hi s hard-won stripe and send him back to school.

But Junior, who entered the Army at 14 after solemnly swearing he was 18. said he was content with his battle stars, Good Conduct Medal and Combat Infantryman 's Badge . Plus 5 inches in height and 20 pounds which the Army food put on him.

The shy blonde boy , whose home is in Des Moines, Iowa had been overseas since Sep­tember, 1944 and was with Co. F. of the 275th Regiment of the 70th Division. He was among I ,745 servicemen who arrived yesterday on the Georgetown Victory Ship .

Our boy soldier has been lost. Does anyone know where he is? Let us know , please.

Penn Points When you come to the 70th Reunion, by all means plan to spend a few days

before or after and take advantage of the many, many attractions in the area. A folder enclosed in this issue tells about o pre-convention tour that will go as

for as historic Williamsburg, Virginia. It's conducted by the T roil blazers' own Floyd Freeman.

If you go on your own, here are some suggestions from the Ph illy Convention and Visitors Bureau:

TOURIST CENTER - Fir.;tstop for oil visitor.; should be the TouristCenterot 16th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard, operated by the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Center is open doily, from 9 a.m. until5 p.m.

INDEPENDENCE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK - "America 's most historic square mile" is home to the country's most treasured monuments, Independence Hall and the l iberty Bell. More than a dozen other buildings ore also open to the public and reflect the early history of the United States. The Visitors Center is located at 3rd and Chestnut Streets.

SOCIETY HILL - A model of restoration in America. Hundreds of Federal· style townhouses line quaint cobblestone streets, illuminated by old-fashioned lamp posts. Several museums, along with some of the city's most fashionable boutiques and restaurants, are located in this section.

OLDE CITY - Now a commercia l area, Olde City features a number of major historic sites and museums, such as Elfreth's Alley, the oldest residential street in America, and Christ Church, house of worship for many early American leader.;.

PENN'S LANDING - Philadelphia's waterfront area, which has been transformed into a riverside pork, with on International Sculpture Gorden, seasonal entertainment under the stars and a series of historic ships.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PARKWAY - The cultural hub of Philadelphia, the Parkway is lined by many of the city's cultural institutions, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rodin Museum, Franklin Institute, Free Library, Academy of Sciences, Moore College of Art and, nearby, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

FAIRMOUNT PARK - The largest landscaped city pork in the world is graced by several historic mansions open to the public, a Japanese Teo House, a Horticultural Center, the Philadelphia Zoo, outdoor music centers and a variety of sculpture.

GERMANTOWN - About six miles from Center City, one of the oldest sections of Philadelphia. A number of early mansions and estates hove been preserved and ore open to the public.

NEAR PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia is a springboard to a wealth of regional attractions, including Volley Forge Notional Historic Pork; the Bran­dywine Volley; Bucks County; the Pennsylvania Dutch Country; Hershey and Gettysburg; and Atlantic City.

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By Kenneth D. Cochrane Yesterday, the 40th Anniversary "Trail­

blazer" arrived. You mentioned the com­radeship that develops among comrades in arms. It is interesting how this bond of friend­ship comes alive as we reflect upon what hap­pened in the lives of thousands of us some 40 years ago. Many accounts have been penned from time to time about the courage and hero­ism of our comrades. I would like to make this tribut to my company commander, Capt. Roger L. Conarty, C.O. of Co. L, 276th from January 7 until about April or May , 1945.

Captain Conarty was the epitome of an offi­cer and a gentleman. He was a man's man, not the kind who could out-drink others and still walk home, but a man who cared about the welfare and the lives of his men.

It was about 3 o'clock of a winter afternoon (the exact date I don't remember, but it was the early part of March, '45.) when I realized that courage comes in different ways. Courage to attack a fortified position is one thing, but courage to disobey a wrong order to save the lives of his men is a very special kind of courage.

We had finally liberated Forbach, France, and were in the forest beyond the city , where we approached a high railroad embankment. Capt. Conarty stopped the company advance and crawled some 150 yards by himself to this embankment. He discovered that the enemy had the area covered by machine guns on either flank, and riflemen were dug in from the other side and were facing our company front. He also spotted some G .I.'s lying dead who had attempted to cross this embankment.

Upon his return to the Company, Capt. Con-

4

Captain exemplifies 70th brotherhood arty radioed battalion headquarters to tell the major of our situation and to inform him that it was impossible to cross this embankment. The major said, " The order is to advance, but I' ll talk to the regimental commander."

Very quickly a call came down from our regimental H.Q. The stern colonel's voice said, "Captain, your orders are to attack that railroad embankment." Capt. Conarty said, "Sir, it is sure suicide if we do ," to which the colonel replied,' 'You either lead that company forward or you will be court-martialed."

The real courage of our captain was dis­played in his next statement. " Colonel, sir, you can place me before the firing squad for insubordination in combat , but sir , I will not have the blood of these men on my con­science."

With this the colonel realized it was a bad situation and bucked it up to division H.Q. , which gave the order to remain and dig in. By now it was getting dark , and we gladly obeyed.

The next morning the assistant division com­mander and the regimental battalion com­manders came to our C.P., and it took only one rifle shot from the enemy to convince that entourage of brass that the best way to approach us was by crawling, not walking. After much discussion and reconnaissance , the general re­alized that our captain was correct. He ordered us to stay there. In a day or two the units on our right and left were able to advance. causing the enemy to withdraw, and we were then able to advance.

I owe my eternal life to my heavenly Father; I owe my temporary life on earth to Capt. Conarty and his special kind of courage. You see, I know that this is a true story because I

was his radio operator and heard the entire episode.

And so I salute Captain Conarty. He may not remember me, and that doesn't matter, but I and Ol!r company shall always be indebted to him because he was a leader in the highest sense of the word. I hope it will be my privilege to meet him again and thank him in person.

The Author Ken Cochrane, who wrote this tribute to his

captain , was with HQ platoon of Co . L, 276th. Today he is-as he's been for the past 15 years-chairman of the music department of McCallie School , a notable boys' preparatory institution in Challanooga, Tennessee. He is also director of music for First-Centenary United Methodist Church in that city .

He earned his bachelor's degree in music from the University of Chattanooga and took his master's in sacred music from Southwest­ern Seminary in Fort Worth. In 1979, his McCallie gleec/ub, jazz band and bell ringers were invited by Friendship Ambassadors of New York City to tour Poland. They gave seven concerts in Warsaw, Krakow and other cities and were in Warsaw when Pope John Paul JJ made his historic visit there .

Ken was given a Distinguished Teaching Award in 1977. With his wife, the former Eliza­beth Wolf, he has three children and a grand­daughter.

70th Division Assn TRAILBLAZER

FBI looked and looked­Paskvan is still looking

Charles Paskvan. wishes the FBI would be as diligent in finding some old buddies of his as they were investigating a missing money order sent from France.

He'd like to find Harry Knarr. a lieuten­ant who was also wounded when Charles got shot up so much that he was hos­pitalized for 20 months. (Last heard or. Harry was a consultant for an oil company in Arabia.) He'd also like to find six men. the only survivors of a devastating German attack on Spicheren Heights. He'd also like to know why the FBI was so darn interested in a lost $20 money order.

Charlie was wounded about I p.m. on March 15, '45 and picked up by medics around 5. Of 15 men on a daytime patrol. nine were killed. Let him tell it:

"Our Co. A. 275th. was relieved from one of the ridges near the Siegfried Line on March 5 and sent to a little village of Spicheren for R&R. A couple days later I found a mail clerk and got a $20 money order to send to my mother in Benton. Illinois. For some reason I didn't mail it but put it in a jacket pocket and forgot about it.

"We were sent unexpectedly back to the line on March 10. After a 5-minute lecture. I was made the BAR man although I'd never fired a single round from one. Five days later. Lt. Knarr and I were sent

April, 1984

to join 13 other G Is from other different companies on a daylight patrol to get to Saarbrucken. I left my watch and an ad­dressed letter with my foxhole buddy. a guy named Rubinstein, and asked him to mail it in case I didn't return.

'·As we attempted to get through the Siegfried Line, the Jerries hit us with everything. Within a matter of minutes, everyone was dead or wounded.

·'Two weeks later I arrived at an army hospital in Circencester in England with a broken leg, two bullet wounds in my right side plus a gaping wound on the left caused by a grazing bullet. There I heard from my mother that she had never re­ceived the money order. When I tried to get my money back. the mail clerk there advised me to do the paper work when I returned to the States.

"This I did at Winter General Hospital in Topeka but I didn't actually get the cash till I got back home on a 30-day furlough.

"I had surgery at Crile Army Hospital near Cleveland and during November, while recuperating, I had to go into town to tell my story all over again for post office authorities. I signed some documents and assumed that it was over.

"After yet two more transfers. I wound up at Fort Custer Hospital at Battle Creek, Michigan. There on June 25 - the war

By sheer coincidence, the same mail that brought Charlie's letter also brought one from W.W. Johnson, 104 Arbor Drive, Lexington, North Caro­lina 27292. He was also in Co. A, 275th. "I was wounded and captured early in the morning of February 21 and wound­ed twice more on the same day. Re­inforcements came and got me out late that evening.

had been over for nearly a year - an unfriendly FBI man questioned me again about that money order. Finally he showed me copies of the darn thing. Someone had forged my name on the back and another person had also endorsed it. It looked tired and worn and probably had changed hands many times in dice or poker games.

"I've often wondered how much money the government spent on the case. It sure was more than the $20."

Charlie is commander of the Lake County Memorial Chapter of Disabled American Veterans in Waukegan, Illinois.

• No one could call Elbert Williams of San

Antonio, Texas, a job hopper for the crucial years of Trailblazer history. Not only was he with the 70th from activation to de-activation, he was first sergeant of Co. H, 276th, all that while.

Elbert left service in 1962 after 28 years. He joined the Army in 1934 as a 17-year-old. He was in a cadre from the I st Cavalry that started the 91 st Infantry Division. Again he cad red to the 70th at Adair. He also served with the 2nd and 24th Infantry Divisions, with the 1st and 3rd Armored Divisions and 7th and 4th Army HQs in Europe. He retired as Chief Warrant Officer.

• Another reason why Tom Higley, Co. C,

275th, is looking forward to Pennsylvania. "I can't wait to sec the Amish village , close to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where my ancestors settled and from where my grandparents came to Arizona. Our friend Willi Gottenstroeter of the Mountain Division Nord, and his wife Hanni came through lbershcim-am-Rhein and visited some of my cousins there. The village is just like it was in 1723 when my great-great­grandparents, Mennonites of the River Breth­ren. sailed for Philadelphia."

JOIN THE ARMY AND SEE-Still another greasy pot to clean up. Pvt. Ross Wulfkommer, Co. E, 276th, shows the typical Gl reaction to KP duty. This photo was mode in early 1944 by Chet Gorstki.

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Cupid is winner

Military red tape vs Young Love

You can fight City Hall! And you can win! A Trailblazer proved that in Holly­

wood style back in 1946. The hero is Danny Militello of the Service Battery of

the 883rd FABN. "City Hall" is the U.S. military estab­lishment that ruled Europe- Gls and civilians alike- at the end of WW2 .

Danny, a Brooklyn boy, was a jockey who rode his first Belmont winner at the age of 17 . He enlisted and was with the 70th from Camp Adair to Germany. In March of '45- he had been low-pointed out of the Division to the 2nd Armored- Danny met Katherina Trost in Bad au­heim. The 17-year-old blond and the Brooklyn Gl were attracted the moment they saw each other in a park where Kathy was picnicking.

" No fraternization! " thundered the Allied high com­mand. But Cupid takes no orders, no matter how many stars on a shoulder. The couple fell in love and Danny sought permission to marry her but it was denied.

70th Division Assn TRAILBLAZER

More POWs tell their story Several more 70th POWs have been

identified - by one of the prisoners him­self.

Robert Cole , Weapons Platoon , Co. B, 274th, reports; " l can add a few names­Lady Grgurich of L'Anse, Michigan; Robert Payne of Okmulgee , Oklahoma and a fellow named Brown. Don ' t remem­ber his first name or his hometown. He was a big fellow and smoked cigars.

" We were captured at an outpost over­looking the tank traps on the approach to Saarbrucken in early March of '45. Three

WHERE THE GETIING-THERE ENDS AND THE GOING-THERE STARTS That's how the Gl described the "line of departure" which these men have just left. The occasion was an exercise coor­dinatin~ infantry movements with artil­lery fire. The foot soldiers had waited at the line of departure while a vicious artillery barrage poured over their heads. Now came the command and the decisive part of any battle began­the assault by the Queen of Battles. This picture, unlike most "TB" shots, was not taken by our ace photographer Chet Garstki. It's a photo by Les Ordeman, chief cameraman for the "Oregon Journal" in Portland. He spent a cold night with the troops and caught this action early the next morning.

Now began the long battle against red tape. Danny took his discharge at Fort Dix, New Jersey in January of '46. As a civilian , he went even higher for that permission. From Gen . Eisenhower he received a personal letter of commiseration- but no permission. Even Ike couldn't breach bureaucracy ' s walls.

Danny joined the merchant marine and- three months after he left Germany- he was back, in Bremen. Denied a pass by the ship ' s captain, Danny left anyway for Bad Nauheim , Kathy and a wedding legal under German civil law. (He simply registered as an American displaced person .)

Their baby , a boy, was born in July and the next day Danny went to the American consulate in Frankfurt to register his son as an American citizen.

An affronted military establishment swooped down . Arrested by the C.I.D. , Danny was sentenced to 30 days in jail by a military court. Then he was sent back to America- alone.

Now the power of the press- and public opinion- gets

April, 1984

of us were wounded in that action. "I was wounded in the right side , Grgu­

rich was hit in the arm. l never did hear what happened to the others . The Germans took us to a hospital somewhere in or near Saarsbrucken and operated on us. lt was at this point that Lody and l were separated from Brown and Payne and never saw them again.

" On March 27 we were liberated from a POW camp hospital in Ettenheim by a spearhead of the 3rd Division and taken to the 58th Field Hospital at Goldheim and then on to Paris. lt was a brief but terrible visit with the enemy forces and long enough for a lifetime."

Bob lives in Cincinatti. Tom Higley adds to the POW roster

with eight names of men of Co. C, 275th . Charles Davis and Pete Wysocki were taken when their position was overrun. The others were captured while on patrol north of Philipsbourg. They are Allen He­baling, who as tech sergeant led the patrol; Billy (Tex) Garrison; William Moss; Bill Ridenau ; LeRoy Turner and Richard Wamsdel.

W.W. Johnson, Co. A, 275th, writes: "I was wounded and captured early in the morning of February 21 , 1945 and wound­ed twice more during the same day. Reen­forcements came and got me out late that evening. A German medic treated my wounds.''

into the fight. Danny wrote his story in his cell and smuggled it out of the prison. American and German newspapers picked up the story. Danny 's Congressman took up the cause. With Gen. Lucius Clay's prodding, the Army took Kathy and the baby to the States . (She had to give up her German citizenship to do so.)

Kathy's exit permit , issued in November , 1946, was the first the Army granted to a German war bride. (lt wasn't for a whole year after that before any other Fraulein was allowed to come to the States.) The baby Robert was the first child registered in all of Germany as the child of a GI. Today that baby is the father of two children himself, a public affairs director for the city of New York. Danny and Kathy also have two daughters and 10 grandchildren.

Twenty-four years later, in I 970. the Militellos re­turned to Bad Nauheim for a visit and a re-living of memorable days.

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New Members A new Trail blazer raster is in the making. As

usual, this biennial publication will be issued at the time af our Reunion. If your listing in the present roster is incorrect or incomplete, or your address--as shown on this magazine-needs cor­recting, please let Elbert Feaster know immediately.

BATDORF, Earl J. (Gloria) 521 Sunny Drive Bryan, Ohio 43506 Co. D, 174

BISARD, William G. (Ruth) 4434 Congdon Drive Williamston, Michigan 48895 Co. K, 274

BOHACEK, M. G. (Evelyn) 1505 North H. Street Fremont, Nebraska 68025 Co. B, 270th Engineers

CALK, Nathan (Alice) 382 Lexington Street Auburndale, Maine 02166 HQ Co. lst Bn, 275

CHEEK, Lightle J. (Vivian) 400 E. Roberts Lane #19 Bakersfield, California 93308 Co. I, 276

CHELMOWSKI, Ray (Marie) 1505 Pawnee Carpenterville, Illinois 60110 Co. L, 275

COLEMAN, William E. (Ellen) 8114 Bellerive Normandy, Missouri 63121 Co. K, 274

COLLINS, Charles M . (Lucille) PO Box 19025 Kansas City, Missouri 64141 Co. D, 276

COUCH, C. Monroe (Marlene) 5008 N . Tampania Avenue Tampa, Florida 33614

CRENSHAW, Elmus L. (Mary) Rt 1 Brookport, Illinois 62910 Co. K, 275

CUMMINGS, Lawrence C. (Freda) 7618 Rustling Road Austin, Texas 78731 Btty B, 882nd FABn

DARLING, Lowell W. (Susie) 326 E. 4th, Box 64 Cherryvale, Kansas 67335 Co. E, 276

DARRIN, William A. (Margaret) 8100 Revatom Court Dunn Loring, Virginia 22027 Co. G, 275

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GOLDING, Thomas W . (Nancy) 28 Wilson Avenue Chalfont, Pennsylvania 18914 Co. B, 274

HUNT, Woodrow V. 22 Ray Street Greenville, S. Carolina 29611 Co. G, 274

IOVINO, Pat N. (Phyllis) 8912 S. 49th Court Oaklawn, Illinois 60453 Co. I, 275

JURY, Daniel W . 344 Walnut Street Millersburg, Pennsylvania 17061 Co. A, 276

KENAVAN, Joseph X. (Edith) 1648 - ?2nd Street Brooklyn, New York 11204 Co. G, 276

KULYK, John (Betty) Rt 1 Albion, Pennsylvania 16401 Co. G, 274

McSPADDEN, Paul T. 27071 Seavista Drive Malibu, California 90265

NEWBILL, Paul H. (Dorothy) 14 Medlock Road Sandston, Virginia 23150 Btty C, ?25th FABn

NICOSIA, Salvatori M. (Oralee) 639 Eastwood Way Hayward, California 94544 SV Co., 275

ROHR, John F. (Betty) 300 E. Hilton Street Marengo, Iowa 52301 Co. B, 274

SCHULTZ, Leroy P. 4230 N. Baltimore Court Kansas City, Missouri 64116 SV Co., 274

SHERBURN, Virgil N . (Ethel) 6313 S. Alder Tacoma, Washington 98409 Co. B, 274

SKALITZKY, Edward J. (Bonnie) 10870 E. Pleasant Valley Road Shepherd, Michigan 48883 Co. A, 276

SNYDER, Donald (Eida) 693 Shoreacres Drive Fairmont, Minnesota 56031 Btty C, 884th FABn

WILSON, Robert E. (Wanda) Rt 6, Box 202 Weatherford, Texas 76086 70th MP Platoon

ASSOCIATE MEMBER McKEE, Howard L., Lt. Col. 2901 Webber Street Saginaw, Michigan 48601 CO, 70th Division Training

CHANGES OF ADDRESS BAHDE, Robert 1907 - 9th Avenue Kearney, Nebraska 68847

BRADY, Kenneth PO Box 463 Pollock, Louisiana 71467

CLARK, Vauda H. 2941 Chaucer Drive Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73120

COULTER, John 4850 Niwot Road Longmont, Colorado 80501

FRANKEL, William 5015 Ridge Tree Lane #403 Arlington, Texas 7 6017

GREGOW, Arthur 3611 Scarlet Tanager Drive Dove Hollow Palm Harbor, Florida 33563

CARR, Everett PO Box 133, Upper Brook Road Sparrow Bush, New York 12780 Co. M, 276 Died October 11, 1983

HELM, Orlow E. Jr. 15 Myrtle Avenue Hagerstown, Maryland Co. C, 274 Died September 8, 1983

GRIEVE, Ivan W. 518 Penn Street Belleville, Illinois 62223 Co. C, 274 Died August 19, 1980

McGARRITY, Arthur L. 65 Bridgewood Drive Rochester, New York 14612 Co. C, 275 Died October 31 , 1983

Taps

MASON, Charles Rt 2, Box 261 -AA Dillsboro, Indiana 47018

NELSON, Fred 4166 Sylvia Lane South St Paul, Minnesota 55112

PETTYJOHN, H. C. Village Crest Apts., K-5 Maloney Road Poughkeepsie, New York 12603

SHANNON, James A. 72 Washington Street PO Box 704 Quincy, Massachusetts 02269-0704

SLATER, Marion 2420 McCullough Ave. # 110 San Antonio, Texas 78212

YOUNGHANS, Charles Box R APO New York 09098

CORRECTIONS DAVENPORT, Andrew 231 Woodland Avenue River Edge, New Jersey 07661

KACHURSKI, Edward Rt 1, Box 526 Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania 15012

McKEOWN, Harry 314 Mosby Street Winchester, Virginia 22601

MOSBY, Thomas Lee Chincoteague, Virginia CO. Medical Detachment, Co. A Died December 5, 1952

NUGENT, George H. Route 2 Lewisport, Kentucky 42351 Co. E, 274 No further information

SHILEY, John E. Sr. 527 E. Park Street El izabeth, Pennsylvania 17022 Co C, 275 Died September 21, 1983

SMEE, W illard E. 163 W. lOth St., PO Box 479 Booneville, Arkansas 72927 Co. D, 275 Died January 6, 1984

SPIDEL, Nickolas J. 2330 Midvale Circle Tucker, Georgia 30084 Co. M, 276 Died December 6, 1983

THOMASON, Grover C. 1302 Holly Grove Road Lexington, N. Carolina 27292 CoM, 276 Died July 19, 1983

70th Division Assn TRAILBLAZER

Traditionally, January is the time for looking backwards and forwards. But, due to the early mailing of the January "Trail­blazer'' l elected to hold off new year exercises until this issue. Backwards: Many, many thanks for the multitude of Christmas and New Year greetings, letters and notes. Adeline and l so much appreciate hearing from so many of you- 70ers are the

The

same as 1982. We believe the entire cost to be a great bargain. Other costs, over and above the $90 reunion package, such as

rooms, preventive libations, other meals, etc. are personal expenses. There is no charge for ground level parking for guests at the Marriott.

The hospitality room will be open from lO a.m. to 4:30p.m. Thursday; l :30 p.m. to 4:30, Friday and 2:30 to 4:30, Saturday. You will be served unlimited liquid refreshments , snacks and added coffee and tea this year.

greatest. And, again, con­gratulations to all for making 1983 another record-buster new-member attainment. For­ward : of course , it's our 1984 Reunion.

* * * * Your Marriott reservation

card was contained in the

President's Report

Orville Ellis

January issue . Won't you please send your hotel reservations at once, as a commitment to attend Reunion 1984 (and get a darn good hotel rate).

The Reunion package is a bargain. For the fee of $90 per person, the following events are included:

Officers' reception, Thursday evening; Dinner and program , Friday evening; Lunch and program , Saturday noon; Banquet, Entertainment and Dance, Saturday evening; Ladies' Tours, Friday and Saturday; Ladies' Corsage, Saturday evening; Coffee breaks, Friday and Saturday; Hospitality room, all three days, and Memorial Service,

Sunday. The fee is based on an estimated attendance of 650 persons. If

there is a "profit " it will go into the Association treasury; any " loss" will be borne by the treasury. A reduced fee will be extended for people who can attend only one or two days .

About the fee. This amounted to $50 in 1978. $65 in 1980-increase of 30%, $80 .00 in 1982- increase of 23%. And, $90 in 1984--increase of 12.6%, including one extra ladies tour over 1982.

Considering the Marriott room rate of $56--single or double,

The Treasurer's Report Elbert Feaster

Secretory-T reosurer

111183 Cosh on Hand $ 9,454.34 INCOME 1270 memberships ((1 $7. $ 8,890.00 57 life memberships 5,495.00 Interest 1,156.72 Donations 58.00 Check not cashed 20.00 15 619.72

$ 25,074.16

EXPENSES "T roilblozer" 3,971.53 Postage 1,124.73 Supplies 348.27 Pictures 130.00 "TB" editor 200.00 Wreaths (Europe) 197.00 Reunion (Prepaid) 2,388.09 8,359.62

$ 16,714.44

12/ 31 / 83 Oxford Bonk 5,562.30 First Federal Bonk 11152.14

$16,714.44 April, 1984

We're not making recommendations for people who are travelling in motor homes. They're experienced tourists and know their way around. But! all those members who do not intend to stay at the Marriott should let me know ahead of time so we can plan for them at the hotel events.

Another reminder, because of the Saturday evening pro­gramming and special entertainment by the Philadelphia "Best of The Mummers-Fralinger Championship String Band", danc­ing will not start until approximately 10:30 p.m.

We first announced Reunion '84 in the July, 1983 issue of the "Trailblazer" , again in the October issue, and now one more time. Reunion 1984. Philadelphia, Pa.-August 9 - 12 -Philadelphia Marriott Hotel at City Ave . and Monument Rd . (19131) Phone (215) 667-0200.

Two quotes from past issues of the " Trailblazer." "Truly, are there any among us who cannot shed one silent, unashamed tear in recalling a personal experience and the memory of one or more in particular to whom we, in effect, owe the fact that we are alive today?" and "The days are dwindling down to a precious few." This, we truly believe, to be the underlying reason for our reunions.

* * * * Remember to bring your stamped envelope, addressed to

your local home town newspaper and present it at our reunion registration table.

We wish to acknowledge and extend grateful thanks for a substantial dollar donation to the Association by Dr. Eugene Petersen, Ross Millhiser and Charlie Pence, resulting from profits in publication and sale of their book "Ordeal ln The Vosges". This donation and anticipated profits by the Raffle Committee and profits from Fred Cassidy's 70th Hat Caper, is being applied to Reunion revenue, as a means of reducing the Reunion cost. •

After he was sworn in on March I I , 1940, Andrew Frank Davenport, C Btty, 882 FA, served in Alaska with the artillery, then trans­ferred to the Army Air Corps and was sent to Washington State University with the ASTP.

As the war ground to a crucial pitch and infantry losses ran high, ASTPcrs were trans­ferred to infantry units including the 70th. Bad as it was in Europe, says Andy F., " my worst military experience was spending the winter of 1940-41 in tents at Fort Dix , New Jersey. "

Andy installs, tests and turns over power plants to the Bell System companies. He and his wife Dorothy have three each of children and grandkids.

9

Axe-head Archives A comrade of ours needs urgent help.

Can you give it? Lee Roy Wilson, 132 Rhododendron Dr.,

Brevard, North Carolina was with Co. C, 275th. He was a prisoner-of-war from Feb. 21 to March 27, 1945. Retired since '69, Lee has a heart condition and arthritis. He is trying to get his POW record. He says he wrote to the records section at St. Louis. They told him records show he was a prisoner but do not show dates. He needs them desper­ately in order to get help for costly medica­tion.

Can anyone suggest how he can get his complete record. You Trailblazers who were in Personnel probably have the answer. Write directly to him; carbon the editor.

• Kwajalein is a crescent-shaped atoll in the

Marshall Islands, 66 miles long and 18 miles wide . scene of one of the bloodier battles of WW2 in the Pacific.

After the bitter conquest of Tarawa. strategy was to take the Marshalls with K wajalein as the main target. Fifteen thousand tons of explo­sives were dropped on the atoll before the first landing craft touched shore . But. though the island seemed but a mass of rubble. the Japa­nese fought bravely from the debris and made the Americans pay a high price for the land.

On this historic isle, Dr. Tom Krakowiak is now practicing dentistry . He was in Co. C . 275th.

• After 38 years in education. as teacher and

principal. John Marr (Btty A. 883rd FA) retired in ew Berlin. Illinois. After his 70th service he was transferred to the 3rd Division. Returning home. he married his high school sweetheart, Roberta. They have three children and seven grandchildren. He's a li fe member of the 70th Association and the VFW and belongs to the Legion. The capture of Saarbrucken was his most memorable military experience and leaving the Trailblazers the unhappiest.

• Here's another instance where a Trailblazer

was given the chance for some good fellowship by information from a friend. Frank Bingham writes that some unkown friend told him about the "Trailblazer" magazine and so he learned . after writing to the editor. about the Associ­ation.

" I had been on Corregidor in the Philippines but left before the war began . I was transferred from the Coast Artillery to the Field Artillery . . . which was OK by me. I was then with Btty C, 725th FA from Adair to the end of the war in the ETO.

10

" I went back to Corregidor last spring. It ' s a WW2 memorial now. The Philippines have more memorials to the war than the whole USA. The people certainly treated us like real people. I made the trip with some friends who were POWs of the Japs for 3 !12 years ."

• A rolling stone gathers no moss; neither do

By ron (Co. I. 274 th ) and Gwendolyn McNeely of Lexington, Kentucky. They started 1984 with a trip to Disney World and Miami, then came back so he cou ld do a boat and RV show for a TV station that he does part-time assignments for. In June they'll be off to the Northwest via the Oregon Trail , hitting as many national historical parks as possible and Camp Adair , of course. They ' ll be back in time for the Ph illy Reunion and will also revisit several historical spots in that area.

Byron is a fine photographer as can be at­tested by the folks who saw his brilliant slide show in Minneapolis. We expect he'll have some good Adair shots to regale us with in August .

• "My god! They'll get cold without their

shoes . .. That was the fi rst thought of Irving Lambrecht, when as S-4 of 1st Bn. 274th, he drove up to battalion HQ and saw '·a stack of dead Gls without shoes.,.

An unidentified soldier. seeing a whole truckload of corpses . exclaimed ... He can't be dead. He was best man at my wedding ...

lrv. now a television producer in Los An­geles. was both S- 1 and S-4 for his battalion . He had joined the 70th at Adair j ust a week before we left for Leonard Wood. From the Trailblazers he went to G-1 of the 7th Army and became chief of the personnel section. G- 1. of the 3rd Army. He won the Bronze Star with an oak leaf clu ster.

As a captain in charge of Special Services. Chaplain's Corps. DPs. etc .. he reassembled graduates of ROTC at the University of Cal­ifornia in a gathering at Berchtesgaden. Of the 36 grads. not a one had been lost in combat.

• How many infantrymen-<luring combat­

drew a 3-day pass to Paris? Darn few' But John Bednar, 1st Bn HQ. 274th . did just that and he remembers it yet today with downright gloat­ing .

John joined the 70th at Leonard Wood in September. '44. almost a year after he entered the Army. He went to the 3rd Division after combat and was discharged in May of '46. He has retired as a foreman wi th U.S. Steel in We t Mifflin. Pennsylvania. His son. also John. is a gunnery sergeant with the Marines. One daugh-

Casey Cassidy, veep-East of the Association, has an even more important job. He's in charge of the raffle at the Ph illy Reunion. And he's soliciting items to be raffled off.

Because "I have 600 cups to tote plus Aud's luggage and my clean pair of shorts and a tooth­brush", he'd appreciate having donors bring their contribution to the registration desk at the Re­union. But do send him a note ahead of time. If you can't make it to Philadelphia, then send your gift to Casey at: 17813 Vinyard Ln., Derwood, Maryland 20855.

Proceeds from the raffle will help finance the liquids at the hospitality room .

ter is a mechanical engineer , another is a teacher. There are four grandchildren.

• " I regret that I never knew about the 70th

Division Association until Kenneth Max gave me all the information and sent me the insignia off the truck I drove whi le in service. " So reports Donald Walters, Sr., 70t h MP Pla­toon. When he found out , Don immediately joined.

Wonder how many of our buddies don't know yet about the Association. Myself, I didn't know for a least I 0 years . It could just be that a note from you to some buddy would give him the chance for happy comradeship that you and I enjoy today . Don plans to attend the Philly Reunion and press some flesh.

• Lower the colors for the last time for Orlow

Helm, Jr., Co . C, 275th. He died Sept. 8, 1983 in Wayne~boro . Pennsylvania. For many years he was fire chief for the community where he operated a furniture store and later a fire extinguisher company. The sad news is sent us by Harold R. Lewis of Myersville , Maryland.

• William Moore, Co. C. 276th . travelled

around the world during his 25 years of military experience . After WW2 duty wi th the Trail-

******** Four more life memberships have been re­corded in the Association's roster .

Fred Cassidy, Derwood, Maryland; Norman Johnson, Anoka, Minnesota; Morse Turner, Ecumclaw, Washington,

and John Kulyk, Albion, Pennsylvania.

This brings to 58 the number of Lifers. Life membership dues are $100 and should be sent to Elbert Feaster whose address is at the foot of page 2 . Elbert also reminds us that 1984 annual dues of $7 should be paid before July 1 .

******** 70th Division Assn TRA ILBLAZER

A :err oF ~a..-ce...-" ~; ...

-nu;; t:3MI{3:1 4T' CAMP APAIR/

Wrnl M?" 'IE-P!Y

lir::~r WISJ.JIE-;

LACY LADY "Miss Lace" was a favorite character in Milton Caniff's comic strip drawn justfor military publications during WW2. The cartoonist had made "Terry and the Pirates" a national favorite, then went on to create "Steve Canyon" which still is one of the best-drawn strips in the field. This drawing was done especially for the "Trailblazer" in '44. Although years have passed, we daresay no red­blooded Trailblazer will admit to being too old to find this a pleasing addition to this page.

blazers. he served with the 3rd Division in Germany (where he married Gertrude Von Hammer in lngclstadt) . He also saw duty in Korea with the 7th Division. He has the Purple heart and Bronze and Silver Stars.

His unhappiest military experience: "When I retired in 1966.·· His happiest: ''Getti ng into the 70th and meeting good buddies.·· He has one daughter.

• He made a lot of us jealous at the Min­

neapolis Reu nion by wearing hi s WW2 uni­form ... and buttoning all the buttons' Harold Kline wri tes that he was injured last summer but doesn't say what the trouble was. After servi ng with the 63rd Training Regiment at Camp Robinson. Arkansas. he joined the 70th at Adair and was with Co. H. 274th. He won two Bronze Stars for heroic achievements as well as the Purple Heart and the Presidential Unit Citation.

He is a heavy equipment operator in Ka­nopolis. Kansas where he's a police judge and past adjutant of the American Legion and DA V. He and Mildred have a daughter. Carol Christ ine Bradley.

• When the 70th filled its ranks with high­

pointers from the 3rd Div .. men who had fought under Trailblazer guidons were shipped off to other occupation units. "When the 70th Division trucks hauled a bunch of us off to the 29th Infantry Regiment, a lot of the men just cried." So recalls Roy Shirrel who was wi th Co. C, 276th during combat. He was assigned to Co. E of the 29th, later to HQ Co. , and

April, 1984

Medic Bn of the 2nd Division . He had joined the 70th at Ft. Leonard Wood in '44 short ly before we went overseas.

Now living in Zalma. Missouri. Roy is a farmer and raises catt le. He married Virginia Rose Sitze in Little Rock and they have two chi ldren and four grandchildren . He's a deacon in the General Baptist Church and a VFW member.

• Signal Corps and amphibious tank service.

plus doggying it with Co. B. 276th. is quite an assortment of jobs. Frank J. Blust has that to remember. He froze his hands and feet and had a long hospital stay before coming home to Chicago. There he has been a policeman with the Windy City's force. He and hi s wife Vir­ginia have two daughters and two grand­daughters. He's a Mason and Shriner and a member of the DA V. He has several Police Department awards, too.

• Ask anyone who has made the pilgrimage

back to shared battlefields. The experience forges new and intense bonds of friendship .

Take for example: Fourteen people who made the tour in fall last year gathered for a Chri stmas party at the home of Floyd and Charlene Freeman in Cerritos. California. (The Freemans had to cut short a trip to the Caribbean to be back in time to host the gala.) Rex and Audrey Jeffrey and Paul and Faye Thirion arc from California. Wilma Holroyd came from Kansas , Don and Laverne Bowles from South Dakota and Gene and Dorothy Inzer from Texas. The distinct ion for the far­thest-from-home, though, went to Phillip and Walli Maier of Germany (he was wi th the 6th Mountain Nord Divi sion).

Phone ca ll s came from as far away as Massa­chussetts and West Germany.

• Our last salute to Willard Smee, Co. D ,

275th, who died in January in Booneville, Arkansas. Bill was a staff sergeant in the mor­tar section and captured at Phillipsburgh in early German attacks while his section was attached to Able Company. When liberated , he received the Purple Heart , Bronze Star and CIB .

Thi s ain't the Army I used to know' First-place winner in the Army Open Com­

petition in the 600-yard slow-fire category of the Fifth Army Composite Rifle Champion­sh ips held at Camp Robinson. Arkansas is a current Trailblazer. So OK. But kind of hard for an old doggie to comprehend: The champ is Sgt/1 st class Valerie Longstreet. She also ac­cepted the US Hi gh Power National Rifle Championship Team Trophy and the NRA High Power Rifle Championship High Woman Trophy.

• Let's hope that 1984 started out more hap­

pily for Robert Koehler, Co . M. 275th. than 1945 did. For on January 2 he was wounded in those early days of bitter winter combat. He recovered and was discharged in December of that year. He· s been a sa les engineer as a civilian in Paramus. New Jersey where he now lives with his wife Kathleen . They have a son and daughter and two grandchildren. He's a member of CWV and DA V.

• Did you tote a BAR? Then gather 'round

There will be a Bloody Axe 27 6th Head­quarters in the Marriott Hotel during the Ph illy Reunion. It will otherwise be known as Edward Zimpfer's bedroom. "I'll be bringing along all my personal memorabilia­photos, maps, newspapers, etc., all in A-1 condition . I will also bring-and wear-my Ike jacket, dyed forest green. Are bayonets allowed in the Marriott dining room? If Ph illy is cold in August I will wear the hat I liberated from a major of the German mountain unit we opposed in the forest just before Forbach when I helped capture him."

Ed would like to form a special BAR As­sociation of 70th men who handled that weapon. ''We might exchange names, ad­dresses, experiences of combat situations, compare notes on weapon performance­and failures-bipod and flash-hider use and non-use and all that good stuff."

Bloody Axers and BAR-ers, be sure to make contact with Ed of Fox Co., 27 6th. He lives in Snyder, New York, which is just out­side of Buffalo.

11

Seems Like Old Times By Edmund C. Arnold

Your editor has company. A couple of issues ago I was reprimanded for mixing up the Queen ships on which the 70th came home from Europe. Now our historian Charlie Pence gets a similar eye-witness treatment.

Comes now Harold Schindler, Co . I, 274th. who deposes:

''Charlie said that the luxury liner converted to a transport and renamed the SS West Point took the 274th and 275th to the ETO. I was with the 274th and we went across on the SS Mari­posa , leaving Dec. I , 1944. Five or six days later the West Point took the 275th and 276th. " Someone asked in the 'Trailblazer' what hap­pened to the old Pine Tree Division. It went to Italy. I was in that division, the 91 st. as a recruit and then was later sent to the 70th in the cadre.

Edmund C. Arnold 3208 Hawthorne Ave . Richmond, Virginia 23222

Only two warrant officers have ever served as commanders of Illinois National Guard units. Charles Munie, Co. I. 274th. is one of them.

Charlie. who joined the Army early in 1941 . retired 30 years later. He ha~ served with at least 13 different units in that time. He joined the 70th at Adair and remembers well "cross­ing the Rhine and driving up the Ruhr Valley during April '45 with all the fruit trees in bloom. ·· He also remembers. more somberly. hearing of the death of his brother. a Marine KIA on Tinien Island and then. just a few weeks later, of his father's death.

As a civilian. Charlie is a historian/curator with the Illinois Guard. He maiTied Jo Wagner in '46 in Decatur where he now lives. Their son is a physician and they also have a daughter and

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

PHEELING PHINE IN PHILADELPHIA With the City Hall in the background, Philly's Swann Fountain glimmers with magnificence reminiscent of Paris. No wonder, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway was modelled on the Champs Elysee. The fountain, by sculptor Alexander Stirling Calder, depicts the major water­ways of the city, the Schuylkill and the Delaware. This inviting scene is just minutes from the Marriott Hotel Reunion site. (Photo courtesy Convention and Visitors Bureau.)

• a grandson . Charlie belongs to several National Guard associations. The 47th Infantry Division awarded him the Viking Plaque and Illinois gave him four medals with nine Oak Leaf Clusters and one Silver Cluster.

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U .S. POSTAGE THIRD CLASS PERMIT -1310

RICHMOND , VA .