96TH INFANTRY DIVISION ASSOCIATION IS RECOGNIZED AS ANOFfiCIAL VETERANS ORGANIZATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OFDEFENSE. OUR CHARTER IS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS. BEINGA NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, WHATEVER INCOME THERE ISMUST BE USED TO BENEFIT THE ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP.

VIRGIL BELOW

6723 CR No. 11

Risingsun, Ohio 43457

Return To

ADDRESS CORRECTIONREQUESTED

FORWARDING POSTAGE

GUARANTEED

DEADEYE DISPATCH

To: NONPROFITORG.

U.S. PostagePAID

Omaha,NebrPermit 273

Printed in the United Statesof America by the Malvern

Leader Publishing Corp .• Malvern. Iowa 51551

:> T. HOWARD CARRICO'6<> 4324 Geddes

ANNUAL DEADEYE REUNION Fort Worth, Texas 76107

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SHERATON HOTELS AND MOTOR INNS, A WORLDWIDE SERVICE OF ITT815 MAIN STREET, FORT WORTH, TEXAS 76102

TO

Sheraton-Fort \Vorth Hotel

Clip and fold on the dotted lines, Either staple or tope together, and moil for your reservations.

You CAN STIj. L, 8E. A W'NNE.tt I•

EV&,RY"'=nI bEAl)e.~&.

SMoOLl) ~AYH\sl)UES •

l)Ut:~ -PAY FOR -,.++•..1:)\Sl::>~TCH•

1975 -,1976 Officers for

96th Infantry Division Association:PRESIDENTCyril D. Sterner - 2nd Bn. Hq. 3823053 Stratford AvenueLincoln, Nebraska 68502

1ST VICE PRESIDENTTyson Shelton - Co. E 382Box 454Elk City, Oklahoma 73644

2ND VICE PRESIDENTDouglas Burton - Co. E 38111279So. Fowler AvenueSelma, California 93662TREASURERGlen Hamilton - Cannon Co. 3812918 N. WesternPeoria, Illinois 61604

ASSISTANT TREASURERElmer Stuckemeyer - 361 F .A.1507N. 4th Street __Pekin, Illinois 61554

REC.SECRETARYAtwell Champion - Co. C 3825091 Bardwell Dr.Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808

CORR. SECRETARYVirgil Below - Co. M. 3816723 Cr. 11Risingsun, Ohio

SERGEANT AT ARMSChester LaBlanc - Co. I 383P.O. Box 2034Lafayette, Louisiana 70501

HISTORIANStanley P. Smith - Co. K. 381R.F.D.1Coggon, Iowa 52218

LADIES AUXILIARY 1975-1976PRESIDENTAnn Dunning (Edward)7800 Tripp AvenueSkokie, Illinois 60076

1ST VICE PRESIDENTEtha Caswell (George)4323 Locust AvenueOdessa, Texas 79760

2ND VICE PRESIDENTDorothy Benson (Sam)1725Travis StreetWaco, Texas 76711 -

3RD VICE PRESIDENTFlorence Moore (James)2462 Newland StreetDenver, Colorado 80214

TREASURERVirginia Alberts <Harm)Culbertson, Nebraska 69024

RECORDING SECRETARYImogene Smith (Stanley)R.F.D.1Coggon, Iowa 52218

CORR. SECRETARYRuth Below (Virgil)6723 Cr. 11Rising Sun, Ohio 43457

1

CHAPLAINMary Lou White <Henry)P.O. Box 544Mackinow, Illinois 61755

tJtn~e~t~i$putt~

Harold & LlITaine Strand(M Company-381 )

EditorsL04 S. Hazel St. , I~ _~/~~~~~~.J

A Note of Thanks ...

Your editors wish to thankeach and everyone of you whohave taken the time to drop us anote and have called us about the

Deadeye Dispatch. We wish topublicly thank Pete and DottieGraham, Malvern, Iowa, for thefine printing job they have done

for us, the encouragement andfor the extra little touches theyadded.

Harold and Lorraine Strand

Lorraine and Harold "Loadin I Up The Dispatches."

Editors Discuss Dispatch Lay-out with Printer Graham

2

96th Inf. Di v. Assn. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

ATTENTION: Be sure to complete blank for Unit Served. Fiscal year August " 1976to July 31, 1977.

HERE ARE $4.00, my annual membership dues for the year JUL Y 31, 1977.. NAME Unit Served

(please print) last first middle

Address Army Serial No.

City State Zip

Make Remittance Payable To: ~ignatureMail to: Glenn Hamilton

96TH INFANTRY DIVISION ASSOCIATION 2918 N. Western

AUXILIARY - Membership Dues are $ 1.00 per year. Peoria, Illinois 61604

DUES PAY FOR THE "Z)eade'le ZJu~~~

•TO INSURE PROMPT DELIVERY OF

And other information, pleaseadvise theCorresponding Secretary of any Change of Address

Name Unit

Old Address

New AddressSEND TO

Virgil Below

6723 Cr. 11

Rising Sun, Ohio 43457

ID s.end free Roster IOf my Outfit

_nt.r numb.r

TAlLE SETS

ZipState

Mak. Remittanco Payable To

96TH INFANTRY DIVISION ASSOCIATION

postpaidTABLESET- u.s. flag and 96th Infantry Divi.ian flag

I •• ord.rllli

Name

Address

City

~ZCI)~

F-ffiO~=F-Z-:aCl)-\O

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'" Irilliantl, colored 4" I ," prillted r.,on f1.,S Iftoullted 011 10" black ••••• I.d wood staff wltll lilt spur

§ $3.00 per setou•••C-u-~~o

3

r;resident's Cornerby Dean Sterner

Dear Fellow Members:April 1st marks the passage of

31 years since our landing onOkinawa. We who survived that"last battle"· have not found thepeace we had hoped would followthat mighty struggle. Militaryvictory has neither solved thebasic problems nor created thl(conditions whereby leadersaround the earth could constructa better world. Wars and threatsof wars have come so frequentlythat they appear to be thenormal state of affairs to a newgeneration. In this bicentennialyear we celebrate the founding ofour nation by those who too hadknown war, threats of war andfrustration. Let us, like them,persevere against all temptationto give up the fight, to letsomeone else do it, to criticizethose who are trying. Liberty andfreedom can never be won; onlyearned by eternal vigilance andwillingness to give of ourselves inan ongoing struggle. May we beequal to the task.

Dean Sterner

The following is a copy of aletter received. I have nopersonal memory of the incidentconcerning the air supportmentioned. I assume it is correct.My memory concerns the groundactions at Tabontabon.

Dean Sterner

Dear Col. Sterner:First off, congratulations on

assuming the position of

leadership of our association. Ifyou do half as good a job as youdid with the 382nd in Leyte andOkinawa, we have a whale of agood calendar ahead of us.

I served with the H Co., 382from Camp White to SanFrancisco in 1946. I have been apracticing Chiropractor in Dal-las since 1949, and have a "SmallW orId" tale to tell.

Some 6 or 7 years ago, a verygood friend, with whom I serve inKiwanis, became a patient, andthrough conversational channels,we started discussing WWII. Ilearned that he had been a P 38pilot, and related to him thestory of the 2nd Battalion beingpinned down in Tabontabon,Leyte on the 6th day of theoperation, and how a flight of P38's helped us out in a great timeof need. He queried me on someof the details of the incident,even so far as to ask me if therewas a disabled tank on the roadwith a marker panel in front ofit. I found out that this man,Howard Channel, had been thesquadron leader of that flight,and they were on their way backto base after aborting a missionabove Manilla, and received yourMayday call just before theyjettissoned their load prepara-tory to landing. This squadronreceived a Presidential Citationfor this action, and Mr. Channellreceived a big steak dinner fromme many years after helping toget me out of trouble. Just a littlestory which happened many

4

years after the incident.Hoping to see you in Ft.

Worth, and very probable I willbe able to bring Mr. Channellwith me to meet you.

Dr. Everett M. Combs, D.C.4324 Gaston Avenue

Dallas, Tex. 75246

President Sterner

There stillisn't any

placelike home.

Take stock in AmericaBuy U.S. Saving. Bond.

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S~ND FOR YOUR UNITROSTER

THE

ASSOCIATION BELONGS

TO THOSE WHO

SERVEDIN THE NINETY

SIXTH INfANTRY DIVISION

OR ITS

ATTACHED UNITS.

DUESPAY FOR THE DISPATCH.

LEYTE, P./. A - DAY:October 20, 1944 *" OKINAWA L- DAY: April 1, 1945

If ...This is a change

of address,PLEASE

give old addressas well as new I

.---------------------------------------iI TO INSURE PROMPT DELIVERY OF ]Il\ ~, t L I: ~taOe~e l'J"PU tll II And other information, please advise the I: Corresponding Secretary of any Change of Address II II I

~ Name Unit II (Co.-Regt.) II New Address :

: II Old Address ,I II 0 Send free Roster ,

: REMARKS: Of my Outfit ~

~ tI I

I :

: Use Your ZIP Code! IL_ ...._~_Postal Service requires a FULL ADDRESS,__: :

5

Auxiliary Corner

Come on "Gals" let's helpmake this one of the biggestreunions we have had.

Don't forget your "WhiteElephant" gifts for the Auxiliarymeeting. I'm sure that you cansew, crochet, knit, do macrame,ceramics, paint. Let's allremember to take some thing fora gift exchange.

Howard Carrico has· aluncheon arranged for us onFriday right in the hotel.

The death of Rose (Mrs. Joe)Fritz on February 9, 1976, hasbeen reported. Rose was aCharter member of the Auxil-

iary, and held several offices.Under Rose's guidance and hardwork, the Auxiliary Cookbookwas published. She will. bemissed and our sympathy andprayers are extended to Joe andJoe Jr.

Apologies to the Officers ofthe Auxiliary. A picture of the"Gals" was not among thepictures received for theDispatch. President Ann Dun-ning sent a snapshot, but it couldnot be reproduced. Hopefullythis will not happen again. TheGals do a great job and shouldnot be slighted.

Girls... We'll -See You in Ft. Worth!

and, we hope, on our post-convention

Not sponsored by 96th6

Join Our Upcoming

Phillipines32nd Anniversary Tour

Contact Ed Biggs, 213 Wayside Drive,

Plainfield, Ind. 46168

'EYTE, t:!t

Not Sponsore

photo from

1971 Dispatch

had been left there in 1944. Just north of this point were stumps of pilings

Looking south along the landing beach, the remains of some LCM's and LCVP's that

$4.00

MAIL TODAY

(From 1969 Trip)where a dock had been.

LARGEST AND MOSTACTIVE GROUP OF ITS KIND

USE SPECIALMEMBERSHIP ENVELOPE

ENCLOSED IN THISNEWSLETTER

ttt DUES PAY F

7

Flash ...Calling All Deadeyes!The 96th Deadeyes from all

states will be invading "CowTown" July 29, 30 and 31, 1976.Howard Carrico is calling for allTexas Deadeyes to help defendthe Sheraton-Fort Worth Hotel.If you all come you can beat theChicago reunion. How bout it

FellaslHoward Carrico has a tour

planned for Thursday eveningstarting at 5 P.M. to Six FlagsOver Texas. The price of thetour is $10 which includes thebus fare out and back, abarbeque, admission plus all the

rides you can cram in before 10P.M. Please mail your reserva-tions to Howard Carrico, P.O.Box 9450, Ft. Worth, Tx. 76107.Be sure you wear comfortableclothing and shoes. Come on,let's all be kids again for 5 hours.

Six Flags Over TexasTake a flying leap

into our all new1976 outing.

A full day's fun for you andyour family at Six Flags.You can count on me to be there.

Name

Number in party

8

Jewel Chelette, Co. F 383

Daughter~sSearch for Dad~sGrave

Ends in Hawaii~She~llbe at Reunion

Mary Ann Melancon and herhusband of Houston will be ourguests at the reunion in Ft.Worth. She is the lady whoreceived national attention a yearago upon finding her father's(Jewel Chelette, Co. F 383) gravein Hawaii under remarkablecircumstances.

According to AP news stories,Mrs. Melancon had not knownwhere her serviceman father wasburied nearly 30 years ago. Thenon a trip to Hawaii inmid-November 1974, she foundhis headstone at her feet.

Mrs. Melancon's father, Pfc.Jewel Chelette of Louisiana, waskilled in the Pacific Theater June3, 1945, when his only child wasthree years old. The familyalways believed he was buried onOkinawa, based on informationfrom the Army.

While preparing for theHawaiian tour, Mrs. Melanconcopied information from anArmy photograph of her father'sheadstone.

The first organized activitywas a bus tour of Honolulu andnearby points. When they weredriving into Punchbowl Cem-

etery they happened to see a lotof headstones with 'M's' on thembut the bus kept on driving.After a tour of the cemetery anda visit to the lookout, the busmade a rest stop.

Mrs. Melancon and her'seatmate ran back and searchedthe names and numbers on thehundreds of white headstoneslined up row on row. They wereabout ready to give up andreturn to the bus, when Mrs.Melancon looked down and herfather's headstone was at herfeet. She returned to the bus intears.

She said, "My family neverknew where or how my fatherwas killed. My mother was only19 years old at the time and livedway out in the county. She didnot investigate the circumstancesof daddy's death. But now thatI've found him, I'm going to findout everything about him that Ican."

Mrs. Melancon and herhusband would like to meet andvisit with all the men of Co. F.383.

9

Here's TheSchedule. ••

o

Sheraton-Fort Worth Hotel815 Main StreetFort Worth, Texas 76102Telephone (817) 332-3151

96th INFANTRY DIVISION ... JULY 29 - 31, 1976

THURSDAY, JULY 29

9 AM - 6 PM0' 2 PM - 4 PM

1 PM - 12 MN5 PM - 10 PM

FRIDAY, JULY 30

Mezzanine FoyerShorthorn RoomLonghorn RoomSix Flags Over Texas

RegistrationExecutive Corom. Mtg.Teen Headquarters

Barbeque - All Rides & Shows

oc

o

9 AM - 5 PM9 AM - 11: 30 AM9 AM - 12 MN10:30 AM - 11:30 AM12 Noon - 1:30 PM2 PM8 PM - 12 MN

SATURDAY, JULY 31

9 AM - 5PM9 AM - 12 MN9: 30 AM - 11 AM12 Noon - 1 PM6 PM - 7 PM7 PM - 1 AM

Mezzanine FoyerGrand Ballroom 12Longhorn RoomSanta GertrudisCrystal BallroomBus Tour City of Fort WorthGrand Ballroom 345

Mezzanine FoyerLonghorn RoomGrand Ballroom 12Grand Ballroom 12Grand Ballroom 5Grand Ballroom 1234

RegistrationGeneral BusinessTeen HeadqvartersAuxiliary MeetingAuxiliary Luncheon

Beer Bust

RegistrationTeen HeadquartersGeneral SessionMemorialReceptionBanquet & Dance

Sunday A.M. - Ole! We Head for Fiesta Land Mexico[

SPECIAL NOTE . . • Parking free to people who have a room in hotelPool is Open (no life guard)

10

SANDY SANDIFER

At Ft. Worth ...

Appearing For

Your Pleasure!

lithe Showman 0' the Trurnpet,1

SANDY WORKED HIS WAY THROUGH TCU by playing trumpet in the Russell Wardorchestra. vfuen he organized his own band. m~bers were Sandy's brothers.Perry and Cody, pianist Frank McMordine and a saxophonist named TEX BENEKE.

AS A BANDLEADER. Sandy has played in 40 States of the U.S. and in Vene-zuela. Sandy played six months at the Thunderbird Hotel in Las Vegas Nev.Aquarium Restaurant in New York. N.Y. Cricket Club in Los Angeles. Calif.and many others.

HE HAS PLAYED shows for Bob Hope. Jane Russell. Vic Damone. Red SkeletonDinah Shore, Jerry Colonna. and others.

HE WAS BAND DIRECTOR AT ~~C for four years. During the summer monthsstudied at the University of Southern California on a Master's Degree.

SANDY IS ATTUNE to the proper beat for the dancers and their particulardance. He plays four instruments, TRUMPET, SAXAPHONE. TROMBONE,AND SOLOVOX.

HE PLAYS BOTH "MODERN" AND "NOSTALGIA."

MUSICAL RANGE IS ASTOUNDING FROM "MISSISSIPPI MUD" TO "SOME1-1HEREMY LOVE"TO "PROUD MARY" AND ALL POINTS IN BET\olEEN. MUSIC IS ARRANGED AND PLAYEDWITH DANCEABLE RHYTHH AND FABULOUS BIG BAND SOUND.

HE AND HIS ORCHESTRA HAVE BROUGHT PLEASURE TO THOUSANDS THROUGH THE YEARS.

11

·'

Plans For ~atest 96th "Deadeye's" /5 -Day Phillipines Tour Now Underway

ITINERARYIT5PR1CH25

15 Days $1150.00ROUND TRIP FROM SAN FRANCISCO

1050 - LeaveTacloban, PR1421200 - Arrive Manila

Transfer to hotel.

OCTOBER 23 - MANILA/HONOLULU/SANFRANCISCO

1500 - Depart hotel for Manila InternationalAirport

1800 - Leave Manila, PR106

Balance of day free to shop and rest.

INTERNATIONAL DATE LINE-GAIN ONE DAY

0930 - Arrive Honolulu

For those who want to stay a few days inHonolulu, then fly on to the mainland later, planto do so at no extra added fare.

1120 - Leave Honolulu, PR106

1805 - Arrive San Francisco

Change planes and board your connecting flightshome. .

To Be Escorted by Ed Biggs,

96th Infantry Division AssociationNot Sponsored by 96thOCTOBER 22 - TACLOBAN/MANILA

Morning free.

Balanceof day free at leisure.

OCTOBER 16 - TACLOBANTour of WWII Battle'areas.

OCTOBER 20 - TACLOBAN/PALO/RED BEACHMotorcade to Red Beach.

1000 Program at Red Beach under the auspicesofthe Municipality of Palo, Leyte.

Motorcade to Tacloban.

Testimonial Banquet, tendered by the Province ofLeyte.

Military and Civic Parade

Commemorative Program - Capitol Terrace.

OCTOBER 17 - TACLOBANBoat trip to Dinagat Island where 6th Rangerslanded early for invasion of Leyte.

OCTOBER 18 - TACLOBANCourtesy call on the Governor of Leyte.

Courtesy call on the Mayor of Tacloban.

Depart Tacloban for Palo, Leyte, visiting the cityof Palo and staying up to Evening.

Return to hotel.

0910 - LeaveManila, PR1411020 - Arrive Tacloban

Reception at airport and transfer to hotel.

OCTOBER 21 - TACLOBANOptional trip to ORMOC, LEYTE.

OCTOBER 19 - TACLOBAN/DULAGDepart hotel for Hill 120 San Rafael (Dulagt

Leyte), where American Flag was raised in the'Philippines October 20, 1944. Program, Motorcadeto Town proper. Thanksgiving Mass,Commemorative Liberation Celebrations. FULLDAY OF FESTIVITIES.

***Optional trip to Burauen, Julita, and return toDulag.

Return to Tacloban.

OCTOBER 12 - CORREGIDOR ISLAND TOURYou will be transferred from hotel to PhilippineNavy Pier, Roxas Blvd., to board hydrofoil boatfor the cruise to CORREGI DOR ISLAND. Bustour visits the "Mile-Long" barracks of Middleside,Batteries Way, Hearn, Geary, Crockette TopsideBarracks, the new Pacific War Memorial, MalintaTunnel and other historic spots that etchedthemselves in the annals of military history. Returnto Manila after the tour.

Balanceof day at leisure.

OCTOBER 15 - MAN ILA/TACLOBAN0800 - Depart hotel for Manila domestic Airport.

OCTOBER 13 - MANILA/HONG KONG0700 - Transfer to Manila International Airport0900 - Leave Manila, PR3001040 - Arrive Hong Kong

Transfer to hotel. Balance of day free to shop andsightsee.

Evening tour of Hong Kong with dinner aboard thefamous SEA PALACE floating restaurant, nightclubs with floor shows and back to hotel.

OCTOBER 14 - HONG KONG/MANILAMorning and afternoon free to shop and sightsee.1700 - Depart for Hong Kong International Airport.1840 - Leave Hong Kong, PR3072020 - Arrive Manila

Transfer to hotel.

Oct. 09, 1976Oct. 24, 1976

VETERANS OF WORLD WAR II32nd ANNIVERSARY TOUR

LEYTE, PHILIPPINES

DEPART SAN FRANCISCO2200 - LeaveSan Francisco, PR107.0030 - Arrive Honolulu.

OCTOBER 11 - MANILA0705 - Arrive Manila. You will be met uponarrival and transferred to your Hotel.

Rest of morning free at leisure.

1400 - Afternoon: MANILA CITY TOUR -Visiting Intramuros (The Walled City) with its SanAgustine Church, the oldest stone church in thePh i Iippines, historic but grim Fort Santiago,Commercial districts, Malacanang Palace. Tourincludes the suburban town of Makati, thecountry's richest town, Forbes Park, known as"Millionaries' Row" and Manila AmericanCemetery & Memorial, the largest and mostbeautiful American Memorial outside thecontinental United States.

Evening at leisure.

OCTOBER 10 - DEPART HONOLULU0115 - Leave Honolulu, PR107INTERNATIONAL DATE L1NE- LOSE ONE DAY

DepartureReturn

. OCTOBER 09 - HOME CITY/SAN FRANCISCODepart from your home city for San Francisco andassembleat San Francisco International Airport -Philippines Air Lines counter for your flight toHonolulu.

12 13

\..~O\£s ..---::::::;

DEADEYE

COOK 800K

THE OFFICIAL DIVISION COOK.BooK.

IS OFF THE PRESS.

IT'S TERRIFIC AND GOING FAST.

GET YOUR COpy NOW!THE PRICE IS JUST A LOW, LOW $3.00.

A special thanks to all the "DEADEYE", families that helpedmake this great project a success.

To order your copy fIll out the coupon below and mail to:

Virginia AlbertsCulbertson, Nebraska 69024

NOTE:

Mrs. Richard Ellis wants to make this correction.

RHUBARB BREAD, page 51 of the cookbook should read 2~2cups of flour.

Mail to: Virginia AlbertsCulbertson, Nebraska 69024

Auxiliary Dues For 1976

_ Cookbooks at $3.00 ea.

N~ Ad~~

City State

Make Check Payable to 96th Inf. Div. Assn. Aux.

TOTAL

Zip

Sheraton-Fort \\'brthHotel

DEADEYES are men of action

So, Pay Your Dues Today ...And ...

Sign UpFor

Our Ft. Worth Reunion!15

In Memorium ...

Willis E. Weber, 763 Tank Bn.3-1-75 per letter Wife

Fred Bonomo, 95 MP10-18-74 per letter Wife

Leo Butler12-6-74 per letter Wife

DEADEYES

T<?nyOakley, Co. F. 383Per P.O. notice

Victor A. Wilde, 382 Bn. Hq.4-7-74 per letter Wife

Ernest Tieman1-4-75 per letter Wife

Stanley Biddis, QM1-27-75 per letter Wife

96~INF.DIY. ASSM.

"Taps"God, in his infinite Wisdom,

has summoned more "DEAD-EYES" who served their countryfaithfully and well in war andpeace. The 96th InfantryDivision Association mournstheir passing and extendssympathy to their survivingfamilies.John R. Loggie, Hq & Hq 3829-1-70 per letter Mother

Frank Kiszka, Co. M. 38112-18-74 per letter Wife

William Roby, 96 Band2-1-75 per letter Wife

George Macadlo4-73 per letter Wife

George Bell, Co. K. 381per ret. newsletter 5-75

Fred P. Booth, Div. Art.per P.O. notice

John T. Lewis, 921 FAper ret. newsletter 5-75

Bernard B. McCluskey, 321 Eng.2-28-73 per letter Wife

Thomas G. Youmans, 362 FA5-12-75 per letter Wife

Harry V. Mock, Co. C. 3821-11-75 per letter Wife

John J. Taflinger, 796 Ord.per letter Ed Biggs

Stand ford Pidgeon 382 Hq.6-8-74 per letter Wife

James R. Dean, SVC, 3834-12-75 per notice Harold Hall

Marjorie Main, PIN-UP GIRL4-10-75

Clyde Maxwellper ret. newsletter 5-75

Thomas Forman, Hq & Hq 382 Harry Banach Co. D. 3838-13-74 per letter Wife 9-30-74 per P.O. notice

Raymond K. Lowry, Co. K. 381 Henry Waninger, 796 Ord.1-2-75 per letter Wife 7-10-74 per letter Wife

Theo. C. York, 362 FAper ret. newsletter 4-75

Ralph W. Howard, Co. C. 381per ret. newsletter 5-75

Harold R. Bell, 921 F.A.6-75 letter from Sister

16continued on page 17

Taps Continued

William C. Breshears, Co. K 381 Harold A. Zorn, 921 F.A.1-20-75 per letter Wife per letter Mother 2-17-76

John P. Kwaznik, 383 Bn. Ha. Thomas Hampton, 921 F.A.per ret. newsletter 5-75 3-75 per letter Betty Yeager

Alvin T. (Bud) Rolls, 921 FA7-13-75 per letter Wife

Harold East, 921 FA2-25-75 per letter Wife

Anthony Chavent, 3811-72 per letter Wife

Eteinne F. Monson, 321 Med.per letter Wife

Sisto Bernardini, 321 Med.5-75 per letter Ray Gullion

Paul Southard, Co. K. 38210-24-75 per letter Wife

Earl Mannel, 382per letter Wife

Delbert O. Foltz, 796 Ord.Auto Accident 1963

Winfield S. Wilson7-1-75 per letter Wife

Lou Govern7-17-75

Joe Kaminski, Co. M, 38112-8-75 per letter Wife

Lee Spears, 383 AT1974

Martin L. Schillinger10-29-74

Peter Raniewski, QM12-75 per word from Ed Biggs

Herschel A. Johnson, Co. G, 382per letter Wife 12-12-75

Hillard F. Jasinski, 921 F.A.per ret. newsletter

Waldon F. Smith, 361 F.A.per ret. newsletter

Sherman E. Gwynn, 362 F.A.per ret. newsletter

Herschell Minor7-7-68 per letter Wife

Will Denoyer, 3837-1-75 per letterRalph Josephson

Frederick A. Pfeiffer5-73 per letter Wife

James Cottle, Co. M. 3816-13-75 per letter Wife

Herman Russell12-31-73 per letter Mother

17

Joseph A. Young, 96 Recon2-21-74 per letter Mother

Stanley E. Crawford, 921 FAper letter Daughter

Edward J. Lewandowski, 362 FA3-20-74 per letter Paul E.Cropper

James Kelker, Div. Art.11-74 letter,Chaplain E.J. Konisky

Walter Brandys3-75 per letter Brother

Joseph S. Pudlo1974

Kenneth E. Wicklund1-28-75

Alec E. Bohy, Co. A, 383per ret. newsletter

Thomas L. Queltette, AT Co.38212-73 per letterFrancis Charbonneau

William E. Crawford Servo Co.382per ret. newsletter

Raymond D. Greij, 362 F.S.per ret. newsletter

Richard D. Townsend Co. E. 381per ret. newsletter

continued on page 18

Taps ContinuedCharles F. Komarek, Div. Bandper ret. newsletter

Thaddeus Hoinko, 728 AMTper ret. newsletter

Edison R. Warnebold,Co. B. 3824-21-45 per letter Wife

William L. Osborn, Co. G. 382per ret. newsletter

Kenneth Peterson, Co. G. 38112-12-75 per letter Wife

James C. McKelvey, Co. I, 38111-15-74 per letter Wife

Even F. Payne, 361 F.A.per ret. newsletter

William F. Crowfeather,921 F.A.12-73 per letter Betty Yeager

Frank A. Alexander, 96 QMper letter Ed Biggs

George E. Hines, Div. Art.per card from P.O.

Roy E. Warne, 1st Bn. 3814-28-75 per letter Wife

David G. Lougridge 321 Med.per ret. newsletter

William D. Forsythe, Co., 381per ret. newsletter

Willis E. Challand, 3rd Bn., 382per ret. newsletter

Robert W. Nyvold, 96 QMper letter Ed Biggs

Eldon H. Gwaltney, 3rd Bn. 382per ret. newsletter Jack Fugate, 96 QM

per letter Ed Biggs

18

Tours Anyone?

How about Mexico? Carrico has a tourschedule August 1 for 8 days. Leave onSunday after the reunion. Cost -- $349 perperson. $25.00 will reserve your place. Youwill need your birth certificate and all theladies will need a "head covering" for someof the stops. If you are interested contactHoward Carrico, 311Whitesettlement Rd., Ft.Worth, Tex. 76107.

Ed Biggs is again planning a trip to thePhilippines for the 32nd AnniversaryCelebration of the Philippine Liberation --October 9, 1976thru October 23, 1976.Are youinterested? Contact Edmund Biggs, 213Wayside Dr., Plainfield, Ind. 46168.

These Tours Are NOT Sponsored by

The 96th Infantry Division Association!

NAME _

ADD R ESS _

CITY STATE _

ZIP

Glenn Hamilton2918 N. Western

Peoria, '". 61604DI am ordering

TIE TACKS

at $3.00 each

MAKE REMITTANCE PAYABLE TO:

96th Infantry Division Assn.

19

Fall In For ....

~

~ ..~ ...

Mail Call!

Al Olson

received severalthe DEADEYEand enjoy it very

Here is $4.00 for membershipdues and use the other $4.00 forpostage or whatever. you wish.

I think back to 1942 once in awhile-when I· first went in the96th Division at Camp Adair,Oregon, and can very wellremember those fellows names inthe Division Hq. Co. listed in theDispa.tch as I was a cook.

I aln proud to have been a partof a Great Division like the 96th.

Geo. O. Hopkins603 Shelby Ave.

Effingham, Ill. 62401

I retired from U.S. Govern-ment service after 28 years ofservice in May 1973.

Sorry I cannot be at thereunion in Fort Worth, but Ihave arthritis and take care ofmy 79 year old Mother. Will bethinking of all the Deadeyes.

Harold H. Kokemuller806 South Main Street

Maquoketa, Iowa 52060

It's a pleasure to enclose mycheck for my annual dues plus$1.00 for the Auxiliary.

Sometime I hope we can makethe convention of this greatAssociation.

The Officers are to be highly

commended for the splendid jobthey are doing for the 96thAssociation.

I am sending check for mydues and the Auxiliary dues formy wife.

I havecopies ofDISPATCHmuch.

Wish I would have known ofthe reunions earlier when I wasstill able to travel. My health isnot very good.

I would enjoy hearing fromany of the guys who would care towrite.

Earl Daugherty2224 LaPorte Ave.

Ft. Collins, Colo. 80521

We enjoy receiving theDeadeye Dispatch.

Angelo & Yolanda Arcara3645 N. Nottingham Ave.

Chicago, Ill. 60634

Enclosed are my dues for theyears of 1975, 1976 and1977.

I have begun 1976 with a littlebad luck, but if things get betterin the near future, I hope to see

20

you in July.J.S. Tapia Co. G 382

1122 So. WaltersSan Antonio, Texas 78210

Enclosed is my check in theamount of $10.00 representing1976 dues and a smallcontribution to help defray someof the expenses of the As-sociation.

The current issue of TheDispatch indicates that tneKansas City reunion was enjoyedby all who attended, and FortWorth may be hard pressed tomaintain the record.

Cal Stevens, also of I Co. 381,and his wife Carlene visited withus last summer, and as is usuallythe case we spent a good deal oftime reminiscing about oldfriends and faraway places.

Please extend my thanks andappreciation to the officers of theAssociation for the job they aredoing.

Sam E. Hughes2700 Fairmount Boulevard

Eugene, Oregon 97403

Thanks for the DeadeyeDispatch received today. En-closed find check for my 1976

continued on page 21

Mail Call Continued ...dues and Mary Eleanor's. Thelittle extra is to repay for stamps,etc., for past issues.

God Bless you and allDeadeyes everywhere. Served intwo units of the 383rd and lovedthem all.

Samuel S. Wood2352 Bruce Ave.

Spartanburg, S.C. 29302

I'm sending my dues formyself and my wife. I will try tomake it to Ft. Worth, but I'm notsure as my wife has been in thehospital, but weare planningfor 1977.

Rosendo Jeminez Co. B 3817971 Olive Street

Commerce City, Colo. 80022

take some doing, but I'm willingto try.

It will give me something to doin my retirement.

Rudolph Wallinger Co. B 3836501 West 18th StreetBerwyn, Illinois 60402

As we have been unable toattend the reunions for severalyears, we are enclosing a checkfor dues from the last reunion weattended. God willing, hope tosee you all in Ft. Worth.

We really enjoy receiving the96th Deadeye Dispatch.

Harley T. Johnson ServoCo. 38210235 Pennell Dr.

St. Louis, Mo. 63136

I have remained in the back-ground all these years, but somenames appeared in the 1975edition of the Dispatch that haveprompted me to write and I'malso enclosing my check for 1976dues.

I'm sorry I have not been ableto attend a convention, but eitherI was unable to get a vacation orthe convention was just too faraway..

To all the guys, a great bigHELLO.

L.T. Altig 2nd Bn. Hq. 3817403 Halray AvenueWhittier, Ca. 90606

I'm glad to get my DeadeyeDispatch, and to send in my,dues. I'm proud of what you allare doing. Maybe some day itwill be possible for me to attenda reunion.

Lawrence P. Ash Co. K 381511 5th Avenue

Canyon, Texas 79015

I do so enjoy getting thedispatch and would really like toattend a reunion, but myvacation isn't at that time ofyear. When I retire LOOK OUT.

Gordon B. Engebretson1525 Main

Spearfish, S.D. 57783

Many of the 96th Divisionmembers are unaware of ourassociation. A good inducementto join, would be to send a copyof our Dispatch. If you haveabout 10 copies, I will mail themout to anyone I can find. It may

21

'1i?e<.te'teled Lt(Jlta'td '? 70dd

Recalling

good times and badwith the 382d

52001Dubuque. Iowa

~

CHAPLAIN~

BY

ED DAKAN· 381 B

P.O. Box 1254 *

At Leyte the chaplain landed in the assaultwave. Recalling the first night in the swamps, hesaid: "I didn't think that I could dig a hole inwater to lay in in a rice paddy, but it was thebest place to live at the time. We were gettingoverhead fire.and there were snipers in the trees,too. When my message runner and I had finisheddigging, the water was up to our belts."

"Then we not iced our art illery observer (I be-lieve his name was Arzino) had been too busy todig in, so I yelled at him, 'Come stay with us.Jump in here.' He did. We didn't sleep all night -scared to death - but we made it," Todd said.

Any Japanese banzai attack had a way of stick-ing in the memories of DEADEYES. One of ChaplainTodd's experiences with that fearsome tactic wasremembered because a baby was born that night -right in the midst of the battle - to a Filipinowoman who had remained with her family in theirhut in the jungle.

Volunteering for the army was no big deal for practice which he continued in combat, even afterReverend Leonard F. Todd. Sunday after Sunday Colonel Dill said that he wanted a live chaplain,through the summer of '42 he had noticed that more not a dead one. The idea was to be on the businessyoung me~ were disappearing from his congregation - end of things.going into the service. Aside from that, the past-or of the United Church of Christ in Jerseyville,Illinois simply felt patriotic.

"If they can go, then I can go, too," hethought when he made up his mind and sent in hisapplicat ion to the Chief of Chaplains.

To begin with, there was one month of officer'straining at Harvard University; then came hisfirst and only assignment - 96th Infantry Division,382d Regiment. Reporting to Camp Adair, Oregon,in early January, 1943, (1st Lieutenant) ChaplainTodd found a lot of men already there. He wasabout as green as any of the GIs, just a littleolder and, perhaps, more experienced.

Todd trained right along with the men. "Every-thing that they did, 1 did, because I wanted toknow - including the handling of a rifle. You see,I had to have a rifle for self protection, ifnothing else. I figured that we were going tofight a war and we were going to win," he said.

Through months of basic training, advancedtraining, maneuvers, amphibious training and mov-lng up and down the West Coast, Chaplain Todd gotto know the men and to become known by them. Hespent most of his time with the line companies, a

"The next morning the dad came out holding hisside as if he had been shot. He couldn't speakEnglish, so he tried to use signs when we went upto him. OUr medical officer, Captain Christensen,who examined him, could not find anything wrong.

(Continued next column) 22(Continued next page)

REVEREND LEONARD F. TODD, CHAPLAIN - E. Dakan

Finally, we were able to make out what he was say- was partly gone, a lot of it was out by that time •ing, 'baby, baby', but not that plain," Todd re- but we looked at each other and didn't say much,"called. was the way he described it.

Two months of battle on Okinawa took away manyof the men who had made the trip to the beaches.No relief or replacements were in sight for theline companies which were mostly down to skeletonstrength. It looked as if there was still a longway to go.

One day in tbe middle of the campaign on Oki-nawa two old friends were sitting on the edge ofa foxhole taking a break and sunning themselves.Their voices were low as they passed the time ofday.

"Communion was scheduled in the galley on thatlast night after we finished eating. The men want-ed it - getting ready for the next morning - notknowing how long they might live. The ship'scaptain hesitated and hesitated, because therewould be too many men in one close area."

·"We found the new baby in the hut. He was aliveand well. Several of us had 0 rations from whichwe broke off pieces of food and gave to the dad.Instead of eating, he gave the chocolate to themother - so that she would have milk to give toher baby - so that he could live. then we put thefamily on a weasel and sent them back to thebeach," he said. "Then he gave us permission. We went ahead,

down there where the garbage, water and vomit wasTabontabon was an infamous place which cost the about six inches deep," Chaplain Todd said. "Every-

382d a lot of men. Todd was there, in the thick of body was served."the fight, then helping to pinpoint Japanese posit-ions on Colonel Dill's map for the bombardment.atthe finish of the battle.

"Lo and beholdl There were some Japs left. Wehad to fight another battle - a small one, but wegot 'em and we got our bOdies," he said.

Later, according to Chaplain TOdd, there was asecond battle at Tabontabon which did not attractmuch attention. It happened when he took a specialdetail to recover bodies that had been buried ina private cemetery.

Finally General MacArthur declared the islandsecure on Christmas Day, 1944, but that did notstop the Japanese and the fighting went on.

On that special day Chaplain Todd started outearly to reach as many units as possible, to servecommunion. The going was tough; there were placeswhere his jeep could not make it because of themud, then he went afoot.

During a service with the Third Battalion, upin the mountains, they would fight awhile, thenworship awhile, but he finally got all of themserved.

At the end of the day, Todd was driving alonga trail on his way back to regimental headquarterswhen Major Nowlin spotted him and called out: "Wewant communion, too, on Christmas Day, Chaplain."Chaplain Todd answered, "Major, you have it." Socommunion was served' to the ServIce Company, thethirteenth one that day.

While any DEADEYE lives, the night of March 31,1945 will be remembered. It was the night beforethe landing on Okinawa, Easter Sunday.

For a moment the regimental commander and thechaplain eyed each other. Both men hesitated toput their thoughts into words, mindful of thewretched situation in which they found themselves.The good old dependable 382d was just about foughtout and the men were close to exhaustion. Therewas no doubt about that - every man knew it and sodid the top officers, all too well.

Chaplain Leonard Todd spoke to Colonel MacyDill: "Colonel, how long can these men stand tosee the warm blood run on this cold ground?"Colonel Dill understood the cryptic question. Hedid not answer immediately, then he said wearily,"Chaplain, you know more about that than I do."

They were talking about the fate of the 96th ingeneral and of the 382d in particular. As usual,the colonel was much interested in the opinion ofthe chaplain. Because the pair had hit it offright from the start, they had often before dis-cussed the physical and spiritual condition of thetroops. Plainly, the fighting spirit was not nowat the same peak that had enabled the regiment tolcome so far so successfully; endless wounding anddying had had a bad effect on morale.

Chaplain Todd sized up the mood of the troopson his ship. "Can we make one more landing? Stay

alive? Sure, we were old battle men - the scare

Shortly after that incident, Chaplain Todd re-called, he and all of the other chaplains and med-ical officers were called to headquarters for a

(Continued next column)23

(Continued next page)

His listeners did not ask how they were suppos-ed to carry out the order. They left and went backto work.

short meeting with Colonel Dill. The principaltopic dealt with the handling of stragglers; toomany soldiers were wandering away from their frontline companies and the problem had increased no-ticeably recently. "There will be no more comingback from the lines. That sort of thing is allover," the colonel declared.

REVEREND LEONARD F. TODD, CHAPLAIN - E. Dakan

According to Chaplain Todd, the first soldierwhom he encountered regarding the matter did nothave any teeth in his mouth; he had had falseteeth, but did not have them in. He said: "Chap-lain, I'm going back - my teeth, I lost them. ,j

"No, you're not going backl There is no goingbackl Who is going to fight this war? We needeveryone - a lot of men were killed yesterday andmany more the day before. We don't have any re-placements - there isn't anyone to take yourplace," Chaplain Todd told him. "No, you can'tgo back."

"What happened to that ration that you aresupposed to have - your C ration?" the chaplainasked. T~e soldier pulled out the ration cans, butargued, "I can't eat - I'll fall over - I'll getweak."

"I talked to him like a Dutch uncle," ChaplainTodd went on. "We got out those old hard cookies.Pretty soon we had a fire going and water on toboil in a canteen cup. He dunked one of the cook-ies, unknowingly. Then he was chewing and I waschewing - we got some more - he.began to eat. Afterhe got some food in his belly, he automaticallyforgot about going back."

While the chaplain and the soldier talked, theynoticed a group of men passing by going in thewrong direction. The toothless man jumped up andhailed them. ''There's no going back," he said. Hestopped them.

NOfE

Reverend Todd's 41-year career in the ministerycame to an end in 1974. His retirement address is:4421 Thadway Drive, Alton, Illinois 62002, a newhousing development on the edge of a quiet woods.

This man who found undreamed of way for doinghis job as chaplain while living an odyssey inbrotherly love kept few souvenirs of the war. Oneof them is a Japanese bayonet which he is shownexamining in his living room in the first picture.Another is a picture of himself and a native boywith his water bUffalo, below.

Todd says that he came upon the boy near thevillage of Dogowa, since disappeared. "I was onmy way back with a message from a battle where themen were dug in and holding on, needing artilleryand mortar support, but with communications out,"he recalls.

The chaplain still keeps a well-worn notebookfull of names and addresses of DEADEYES with whom

'he exchanges letters and cards.

"It was that sort of thing that stopped the Bes ides those mementos, there is a whole raftrunning away," Chaplain Todd said. "Yes, sir. That of stories which he greatly enjoys telling.stopped it."

Replacements did come eventually. Within an-other month the battle had been won. Chaplain Toddwas elevated to Division Chaplain just before thewar ended. Then he came back home to Lula and thetwo boys.

(Continued next column)

24

The 96th Infantry Division Association

Salutes America's Bicentennial, 1776 - 1976

•••