The citizen -soldier answers his country's call

Off-year reunions are announced It's billed as the Western Mini-Reunion. But the only thing "rnini"about it is the word that distinguishes

this gathering from the biennial Reunion of the Association. For this Golden Anniversary get -together is going to be big by any measure­ment.

Reunion registration fee is only $30 per person -and you'll sure get your money's worth.

Thursday offers early registration - and those nice Ramada rates. Bailey's Lounge, in the hotel, offers free hors d'oeuvres during happy hour, Monday through Friday. There are also three free RV parking spots with electrical hook-ups only. First come-The big event will be a three-day affair just like the Louisville

gathering was: Friday, April 30 through Sunday, May 2. Grand Junction, in a most scenic section of a most scenic state, is the site and the Ramada Inn on Crossroads Boulevard will house the event.

Friday the hospitality room opens with facilities for showing your memorabilia. There will also be souvenir sales.

That afternoon an optional bus tour will show the scenic wonders of Colorado National Monument and then there will be a barbecue at the "spread" of John and Margy Hartman, B/276.

Although it will certainly draw most of its attendance from the states west of the Mississippi, there are already indications that many of the more eastern states will also be represented. Colorado is just about a perfect vacation destination and several members have already set their sights on it, combining a great holiday with the always wonderful fellowship of Trailblazer gatherings.

Saturday will see the general meeting and taking the group picture. The hospitality room will be open at 9 a.m. and there will be a cash bar in the adjoining lounge. A festive banquet, with door prizes and lots of fun, will highlight Saturday evening.

The inn has offered a special rate of $42 a day, single or double. Up to four people may occupy a room and the cost is $7 per additional person. Reservations must be made before April19. The hotel's address is 2790 Crossroads Blvd., Grand Junction, Colo­rado 81506. You may phone to (303) 241-8411. In all cases, refer to Group #111590. Credit cards are accepted.

Sunday the group will decide where the 1994 Mini will be held and there will be a memorial service to close the event.

There are far more attractions in the area than we can list here. Whatever your taste - scenery, shopping, art galleries, wineries, history- you'll find it here. The climate is great; at mini time you can expect temperatures from the mid 50s to low 70s. Sweaters, jackets or coats are advised for the evenings. Daytime dress is light and informal; there will be a lot of levis and this is your chance to bust out the bolo tie, western shirt and 1 0-gallon hats. You won't be ostracized if you wear business clothes and the ladies can gussy-up all they wish for the Saturday banquet.

Four airlines serve the city. Because plane fares are fluctuating all over the chart these days, you are advised to contact your travel agent as soon as possible. There is good Amtrak service as well as excellent Greyhound schedules. Ramada has free shuttle service from air, train and bus terminals.

There are six RV parks near the city with full hook-up services. All Trailblazers, whether or not they are members of the Asso-

2

The Trailblazer

is published four times a year by the 70th Infantry Division Association and friends. Subscription: $12 annually.

Editor Edmund C. Arnold 3208 Hawthorne Ave. Richmond, VA 23222 (804) 329-5295

* Associate Editor Chester F. Garstki 2946 N. Harding Ave. Chicago, IL 60618 (312) 725-3948

* Staff Artist Peter Bennett 3031 Sir Phillips Dr. San Antonio, TX 78209

Volume 51 Number 2 Spring, 1993

Founding father, Kruse dies

It is a sad duty to compile the "Taps" list that appears in each issue of this magazine. Whether or not we personally knew these departed men, they were all our brothers-in­arms and we mourn them as such.

This report, though, has an additional note of sorrow. For Clint Kruse, who died Nov. 6, 1992, in his home town of Topeka, Kansas, was not only a founding father of the 70th Association, his extraordinary efforts and total dedication kept it alive during the lean early years.

Core of the Association was the 275th's Service Company that held its own reunions in the western states where most of its mem­bers hailed from. Those men later invited all Trailblazers in the area to join in the fun. When it was decided to go Division-wide, Gus Comuntzis of Service was named presi­dent.

He gathered a task force of Clint, Merritt Dick, Jim Kyle and Eugene Peterson as his major assistants. They did yeoman duty, devoting huge amounts of time, effort and

personal funds to nurturing the new organi­zation.

Clint was editor of the "Trailblazer" from 1964 until the mid-70s. He served in many capacities and was involved in planning all the conventions in the early years. He was an auditor for the State of Kansas until his retirement a decade ago. Condolences may besenttohis wife,Doris,at5628W.l8thSt., Topeka, Kansas 66604.

Lifers-the numbers grow Still they enroll! Life members now number 609

with the addition of the following names to the roster:

Francis Adams, F/276 Louis Brazier, B/370 Medics Walter Cieslin, HQ!lst Bn/27 5 William Sampson, V276 Casimir Strzempa, E/27 4 William Tramel, V276 Juanell Williams, 70 MPs

70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER

ciation, are warmly invited. And you are invited to contact any member of the committee for further information or help in making reservations:

John Hartman, B/276, is chairman. 1048 R. Road, Mack, Colorado 81525; (303) 858-7299;

Bob Crothers, B/275, 1000 S. Main Street, Salina, CA 93901; (408) 484-9358;

Henry Clarke, AT/274, 20410 Thelma Ave., Saratoga, CA 95070; (408) 867-3184;

Gene Lim, C/884, 4030 Soelro Court, San Jose, CA 95127; (408) 258-7738.

* George Company of the 27 4th will have a reunion in Asheville, North Carolina. September 16-through-19. Joe Priest is chair­man. This is probably the advancest notice you'll receive this year.

The company- Casey Cassidy commanded it in the ETO -had a great time on their '92 tour back to the battlefields. Thirteen folks, including a second-generation Trailblazer went back to the ETO. Highlight was Wingen-sur-Moder where the company had

All'Blazers invited for Wood plaque ceremony

In the summer of l 943, Fort Leonard Wood greeted the 70th Division with the biggest welcome party it had ever thrown. Post per­sonnel and civilians from the whole region joined in making the newcomers feel right at home.

In the summer of 1993, the post will again be host to the 70th. And while the circum­stances are decidedly different, the greetings will be as warm and the hospitality as invit­ing as they were half a century ago.

On June 12, a Saturday, the 70th Division Association will unveil a plaque on the fort's Wall of Honor. There it will be displayed along with those of every other unit that trained at that busy Ozark encampment.

A full day's activities are being planned. The dedicatory ceremony will be the high­light, of course. But there will be a spectacular demonstration by the troops now stationed there so the old 'Blazers can see how their Army has evolved. There will also be a lun­cheon, possibly in a familiar mess hall but probably at a service club.

All 70th veterans are invited. Missouri and its surrounding states are home for hundreds of 70th men. It is easily reached on Interstate 44, about a hundred miles west of St. Louis. For those travelling longer distances, the Waynesville Ramada Inn will offer special rates of $42. The hotel is at the gate to the fort, off I-44 at Exit 161. Reservations should be

Spring, 1993

fought so brilliantly in' 45. A big crowd greeted them there. There was a contingent of young men in full American Army gear, '45 vintage. Also on hand was WolfZoepf, who like Co. G had first visited Wingen in January '45. Openly he was on the other side of the railroad tracks. He was adjutant of the 6th SS Mountain Division, our foe at the time.

At Bousbach, a group of Frenchmen loaded the 'Blazers into restored WW2 military vehicles and toured them through the streets, after taking them to the top of Cassidy Hill. Armistead Leggett says it was the first time he ever rode in a Jeep since PFCs always walked.

* No sooner was this written than Item Company of274 comes up with an advance announcement. It will have its Mini Sept. 17-19 in the Quad Cities- Davenport, Rock Island, Bettendorf and Moline, Illinois. It will be Friday evening, leaving Saturday night open for a dinner cruise on the Mississippi. The bluffs in that area are particularly colorful with autumn foliage at that time and there are gambling boats if you want to keep Illinois green with your paper money.

Byron McNeely, who puts out the company newsletter, is VP/ East for the Association, has more info. His address is on page 23.

made directly to the hotel, l-800-2-RAMADA or (314) 336-3121. Reservations are also asked from those people who will be there just for the day and don't need to stay over. This is so the Post Commander can set up accom­modations for the ceremony, the troop demonstration and lunch. Those reservations - at no cost, of course - should be made with Bob Soden, PO Box 648, Taylorville, Il­linois, 62568. His phone is (217) 824-4815. Bob has been representing the Association in all the arrangements.

Many 70th men joined the Division at Leonard Wood. The 70th had come to Mis­souri from Camp Adair, Oregon. Its ranks, which had been depleted of privates and PFCs who were sent to the Pacific, were filled again at Wood. Intense training continued all the while until the Division moved on to the East Coast for embarkation to the ETO.

More details will be given in the Summer, '93 issue but there is a strong probability that the postal service won't deliver that issue in time for members to make plans. So - DO IT NOW!

3

70th Division 50th Anniversary Commemoration

July 16-17-18,1993

Friday, July 16 6 pm-9 pm No Host Social, Novi Hilton Hotel

• WWII Uniform Display •

* Saturday, July 17 Ford Athletic Field, Livonia Afternoon: Division Pass in Review

Memorial Service • Static Weapons Display •

* Evening: Dinner Dance- Burton Manor, Livonia

4

Speaker: Alex C. Johnson President, 70th Division Association

Sunday, July 18 9 am -11 am Brunch- Novi Hilton Speaker: BG James A. Pocock

Commanding General 70th Division (Training)

• HOSPITALITY SUITE- Novi Hilton • Novi Hilton Special Rates: $59 Single $69 Double

Phone 1-800-HILTONS for Reservations (Mention Trailblazers)

RESERVATION FORM 70th DIVISION 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION- JULY 16-18, 1993

Please enter my reservations for: # __ Dinners @ $25.00 ea. Dinner Entree choice: # __ Chicken Kiev (enter number each) # __ Prime Rib Total enclosed: $ ___ _

Please enter numbers of persons attending "No Host Social" ___ _ Make check to: "Trailblazers Association"

Mail reservation form and check to: Trailblazers Association P. 0. Box 51144 Livonia, MI 48150

For phone information: Thomas Harris (313) 458-6405

ciation has conferred Honorary Member status upon Mrs. Faye Hill. She is a Gold Star Mother; her son John Lacey, A/276, was killed in action. During World War II, families displayed a special flag in their windows, with a blue star for each son or daughter in the service. A gold star indicated one killed in ac­tion.

Mrs. Hill was honored at the Western Mini-Reunion in Monterey, California where Association President Alex Johnson did the honors.

The Patriarchs Who are the "Patriarchs of the

Paradegrounds"? Edson Larson, B/276, thinks the

oldest 70th man may be Col. Frank Arnbrecht, who commanded the 882nd Field Artillery. He's 90. We all missed him at the Louisville Re­union; he had had a light stroke but he's doing OK now.

As it always happens, as soon as someone claims a record, there's a challenger. So we open a letter and F. Berne(notBernie) La Bar,Sv/276, mentions in passing that he is 89.

Who's the next challenger? All the real old timers are invited to register as a Patriarch whether or not they're older than Berne or Frank. You should be at least 83 years old. Please in­cludeyourbirth date when you report to the editor.

70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER

The Seasons of a Soldier The seasons of their lives were only two -A springtime far too short, A winter for too soon. For they were only boys

when first they saw men die.

* Their Spring was late. They had no time to dream those dreams That boys have always painted

in their minds: Of worlds awaiting for explorers' feet Of girls to smile upon

and brides to kiss. The greening hopes of youth

unblossomed died, Within a pall they call "hard times." Too late, too short that spring of theirs. Too few the hours to dream

Then came a war. The Big War, The Good War,

*

The Just War they called it. But- simpler in diction- just "War."

* Like some gigantic dynamo That hurls electric arcs

from pole to pole The cataclysmic force of strife Propelled their lives to Winter,

straight from Spring.

* No Summer theirs to plant careers and take a wife

To build a family where hearths were laid While zest of life beat like the drums

in a parade.

* No Autumn harvests ripened as reward; No golden days to sit as patriarchs; No nights to smile on grandchild

at their knee.

*

Spring, 1993

For Winter of the war Brought Winter to their lives

* We saw them die. The surly Vosges wrapped them

in shrouds of snow; The sullen Saar became their River Styx In rubbled streets of old Alsatian towns

We saw them die. Their blood made tints in sulking streams And stippled fields of early flowers Or stained the peak of cruel Falkenberg. We saw them die. When they were young and we were young.

* We saw them die when we were youths. Now gray, we-Like the elders of a clan­Are huddled over dying coals to seek within Those embers of our solemn memories, To warm our hearts,

Those hearts that all too often hear Once more the weeping elegy of "Taps."

Our birthplace fades away ...

F ROM the timeless valleys of the Euphrates to the New World's Yucatan Pen­insula, ancient ruins hint at the stories of mighty cities that flourished, then vanished into the haze of history. Their lifespan often stretched across centuries.

But the life of the second largest city in Oregon covered only the few years of World War II. But as its 50th anniversary is cel­ebrated, it has a special place in the poignant memories of70th Division men- and their ladies.

Camp Adair! This was the birthplace of the 70th Infan­

try Division. Although half of the men who wore the axe-head shoulder patch-perhaps even more - never served at Adair, it has strong sentimental attraction for all Trail­blazers. And its short history is a microcosm of much of America's efforts during World War II.

For a hundred years - 1943 was the centennial of the Oregon Trail - the Willamette Valley was aplaceofquiet,fruit­ful farms. It was the frontier, the last great American frontier. The site of the future

6

TAPS FOR THE TROOPS- Just before lights-out, the "city" of Camp Adair rests in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Staff photographer Chester Garstki made this photo 50 years ago from the top of Coffin Butte, just across Highway 99W and southwest of the can­tonment.

camp nestled at the eastern foothills of the Coast Range mountains. Farther to the east were the Cascades. It was a few miles north of Corvallis, site of Oregon State University, and about 90 miles farther north was Port­land, the state's metropolis.

The place-names made homely poetry as they blended the native Indian with the memo­ries of the original Trailblazers: Airlie, Philomath, Alpine, Siletz, Monmouth, Noti, Pedee and Luckiamute.

Adair's story starts February 18, 1941. With Europe ablaze in war and the Japanese reaching octopus arms across the Pacific, the United States was still officially neutral. But American sympathies were strongly for the victims ofHitler's blitzkrieg and it was inevi­table that this country would become enmeshed in actual combat. To be prepared, Congress had created the universal draft in

the fall of 1940. The Army immediately drafted plans for training bases all over the country. Two of them would be in Oregon, one in the high desert where Camp White would rise, one in the Willamette Valley.

That February of '41 the Army sent out specifications and in September the Corvallis area was chosen. This was a great lobbying victory as almost everyone- inc! uding Army architects - believed that the camp would be in the vicinity of Eugene, farther south and home of the University of Oregon. Pearl Harbor revved up the tempo. Construction contracts wereletinJanuary, '42. They called for an "impossible" achievement: The first buildings had to be erected in 20 days! They were! And - almost unbelievably! -the camp's 1,700 buildings were ready in May for the first troops. As many as 8,000 men labored on the project which included bar-

70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER

racks and mess halls in the hundreds, seven chapels, five movie theaters, social centers operated by the u.s.a., a hospital, bank, post office, stores, warehouses and railroad freight halls, dozens of office buildings and a bakery that turned out 35,000 loaves of bread daily. It was truly a self-contained city.

B EFORETilAToouldhappen,though, one of the many heartbreaks that war brings was the removal of dozens of families from farms that had been their families' for a hundred years, farms they had laboriously chopped out of the virgin wilderness. Most wrenching, perhaps, was the decision to relo­cate 400 graves in pioneer cemeteries. The whole village of Wells was bulldozed.

Although most farmers accepted the Army's offer of market value for their land, many resisted and all were devastated. It was a true sacrifice they all made in the name of patriotism.

The huge project, the greatest in Oregon history, was a boon to many people. The $23 million that construction poured into the local economy fmally broke the back of the Great Depression and created 9,000 jobs, temporary but economically invigorating. (A million dollars in '40s money was about six times as great as in today's currency.)

With a peak population of 45,000 the camp became larger than any state city ex­cept Portland. (Corvallis at that time had a population of 6,800.)

Four Infantry divisions trained at this en-

• • •

campment named for Lt. Henry Rodney Adair, Oregon's heroicfustKIA in the Mexi­can border campaign of 1916. The first unit to train there was the 96th (Deadeye) Divi­sion that went on to memorable amphibious campaigns in Okinawa and the Philippines. The others went to the ETO: the 1 04th (Timberwolf) fought in Belgium and Ger­many, the 91st (wearing the fir tree emblem and calling itself "Powder River") and the Trailblazer Division itself. The Fir Tree fur­nished the cadre around which the 70th would be formed. It was the on! y one of the four that had fought in World War I. In the Second World War it had a long tour; in April '44, it went to North Africa for more training, then to Italy. It attacked the German Gothic Line in '44, and crossed the PoRi verthe next year. It stayed in Italy for the rest of the war.

There were 65,000 acres on which the troops labored. Original specifications called for at least 2,000 level acres for building the cantonment. Also needed were "rolling hills, light woods and an area of at least 5x 10 miles for artillery practice." Adair had them all. Also essential were a nearby railroad, water supply and sources for electricity. Not neces­sary but highly desirable would be a nearby town where off-duty soldiers could find rec­reation. Corvallis, Salem and several other

small towns did that. All was not beer and skittles, though.

Since World War II, America has been in constant mobilization to some degree. The Korean and Viet Nam wars, the Berlin and Cuban crises, the continuing Cold War, in­cursions into Lebanon, Grenada, Panama and Somalia and the brief combat in the Gulf desert required a large standing military force. So uniformed people are not strangers in any area.

But in the 25-year period between the two World Wars America not only ignored its armed forces, it scorned the men in them. (Women had not yet been accepted into the regular services.) That scorn of the soldier was still strong before Pearl Harbor. Many early draftees recall signs in bars, taverns and restaurants that decreed "No Dogs or Sol­diers Allowed." One of the publicly declared oppositions to building the Willamette camp was the fear of many rural citizens that their teen-age daughters would be put in peril by lascivious soldiers. In fact, leaders of Benton and Polk Counties formed a Trouble Preven­tion Committee. It was charged with lobby­ing for legislation against such disreputable establishments as dance halls and beer par­lors.

(Continued on next page)

STILL STANDING GUARD- And this is how Trail­blazers saw Coffin Butte from their encampment. It is the only element of Camp Adair that has not changed in the past half century. Thousands of trainees hiked up the nearby hills and the steepest slope of this butte provided a demanding test for jeep drivers.

but the hills endure

r--B UT SUCH FEARS did nothing to mar the war hospitality that Oregon extended to soldiers. A wide assortment of civic orga­nizations provided many kinds of wholesome recreational facilities and the Adair area was remarkably free of the shady joints that ringed so many other military posts. (There is a legend that there was an illicit trailer camp that offered services of dubious probity in a nearby gravel pit. No eyewitness has ever attested to that, though.) Special trains -with $2 fares - ran up to Portland, a city notably hospitable to military people.

Although Oregon is notoriously rainy and prompted the name "Swamp Adair," actu­ally the weather was quite kind to the 70th. Until well into the autumn, skies were bril­liantly blue and a light snowfall dusted the landscape during field exercises between Christmas, 1943, and New Year's.

The only inhospitable native was poison oak, which grew profusely. There was no way to avoid its virulence and the Medics brought the only palliative - calamine lo­tion-bytherailroadtankcar.(Thisstatement is presented under oath!)

The 70th was the last division to train at Adair, leaving in the summer of '44. After the Trailblazers departed for Fort Leonard Wood, en route to France and Germany, Adair's reason to live had passed. It did remain a military installation for a few more years.

The hospital was taken over by the Navy and treated casualties of the Pacific cam­paigns. The camp also housed German and Italian prisoners of war although that activity maintained a low profile and few civilians in the area were aware of it.

Neighbors find 70th mutuality

Camp Adair was once Oregon's

second largest city

When the war ended, Camp Adair, like the men who had trained there, quietly went back to civilian life. The Army offered thousands of acres of land and many buildings for sale, first to the original farmer owners, then to the general public. The heart of the camp, the 1,682 acres where the barracks and most of all of its buildings were, was bulldozed and deeded to the state of Oregon. Later it be­carne the E. E. Wilson Wildlife Refuge.

A small area in the south remained in military hands. From 1952 to '68 the Air Force operated a missile tracking station there. That, too, was sold and in 1976 was incorporated as the town of Adair Village.

Today little remains of this once bustling place. On Route 99W, once the main coastal highway to California, now displaced by Interstate 5, stand brightly painted wooden signs hailing the divisions that trained there. But you have to search to find other remains. Where the barracks stood are the pleasant middle-class homes of the 540 people who inhabit Adair Village. Concrete pylons that once were the footings for barracks still lie like ancient ruins. The rifle range is a regional garbage dump.

The only thing that stands unchanged is Coffm Butte, the brooding hill just west of the barracks.

A three-year observance, sponsored by Benton and Polk Counties and the city of Corvallis, is marking the brief but colorful life of the Trailblazers' birthplace.

SHIPS AHOY! SHE'S AHOY!­The launching of the SS Trail­blazer in Portland, Oregon in 1944 was the first time a vessel had been named for an Infantry Division. It was occasion for a holiday for 2,500 70th troops who marched in the pre-ceremony parade. This cartoon also pays homage to the many women who joined the labor force to replace the men who were in service. Typified as "Rosie, the Riveter", the women were a major factor in the ultimate vic­tory over the Axis.

the hospital, his wife Dorothy had a heart attack. When she came home Norm had to have some scar tissue removed from his retina. Fortunately all surgery went well and Norm and Dorothy are now looking forward to St. Louis.

Norman Gauch, Sv/276, runs the Red Eye Tackle Company in Rochester, New York. A few blocks away Frank Schwan runs an auto repair shop. The two men belong to the same VFW post and their paths had often crossed.

* Good stories often come in twos. So hearken unto Michael

Castrilli, A/27 5: "I recently received from Secretary Lou Hoger a list of Associa­

tion members in New Jersey.lmagine my pleasure and amazement - right above my name was that of Norman Fell, B/275. He resides in Bedminster, a community about as small as mine and only four miles away.

In the Fall issue of this estimable magazine, Norm ran across a familiar name, Frank Schwan. "I noticed that his address was Brockport, New York, not far from here, and wondered if it was the same fellow. Sure enough; Francis (Frank) Schwan was with D/274 and had taken a picture at the infamous CP-2 at Marseilles, France, that had been printed in the magazine and in the History book.

Norm has been unable to attend Division Reunions because they always coincided with a trade show that he had to attend. But 1992 offered a clear calendar and he was looking forward to Louisville. But- Norm had surgery to repair a hernia in August, expecting to be up and at 'em by Reunion time. But the day he came back from

8

"But that isn't the end of the story. I am Quartermaster ofVFW Post 7585 and Norman is a fellow member! I have known Norm but never knew we were fellow-Trailblazers. We had once exchanged phone calls and letters about his misdirected dues. He had sent them to the state organization rather than to me. We would have been much more 'charitable' to each other if we had known our 70th relationship.

70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER

Count off! How many were Trailblazers? How many men wore the axe-head shoul­

der patch? The strength of a triangular division like

the 70th in World War II was about 15,000 men. So we start with that number.

At the end of basic training, all privates and PFCs were sent out as replacements for PacificTheatercasualties. Their replacements add 7,000 to the roster. Most of the 755 Trailblazers who were killed in action were replaced by men fresh from the States. There were 3,164 casualties in addition. Of them 1,578 were returned to duty. That leaves 823 who had to be replaced. By now we tote up at least 23,000.

All these can be considered veterans of the 70th Division.

There is another group that wore the red, white and green patch. At the end of the war, all 70th low-pointers were replaced by men from the 3rd (Rock of the Marne) Division who had earned far, far more points than needed for immediate discharge. Officially, they were Trailblazers when they came home on the SS Queen Elizabeth in the Fall of' 45. They don ' t consider themselves 70th men; their allegiance is solely to the 3rd, as it should be.

But that still leaves thousands of men out there who are eligible for membership in the 70th Division Association- and who prob­ably would be tickled pink to know such an organization exists.

How does this formula shape up when compared to hard, provable numbers? Let's look at some figures compiled by Tom Higley, once the top-kick of C/275.

He and Harold Lewis, vigorous recruiters

* Another body found

Through a minister in the town where he lived during World War II, I finally located Remo Tedeschi in Deposit, New York. This past week I had a call from him and it was exciting to be in touch with him again. He was a clerk-driver in Divarty headquar­ters. He did not know about the 70th Association and was glad to hear about it. Will you please send him a copy of the magazine?

James McGugin HQ/Divarty

(Ed. note: We're always happy to send copies to prospective members and tell themthatyouaskedus todothis.lt' sa great recruiting device.)

Spring, 1993

for the Association, have verified 509 men who were on Charlie Company 's roster over two years. Harold is confident that many more than that passed through. (Incidentally, they have verified 46 men killed in action; the company had 60 KIAs, believed to be the highest in the Division.)

The company T /0 called for 187 men and officers when it shipped out for Europe. (There were 10 additional men in their con­tingent but immediately on landing in France, they were sent up to the Ardennes to replace casualties of the Battle of the Bulge there.) That means that some 322 other men joined the company at a later time. This does not include the 3rd Division veterans, either. So the original number was increased by 172%.

Now Charlie Company had a high casu­alty rate. Its KIAs were 34% of company strength; 48 of them have been verified. But

IF THEY LOOK LIKE Gis­IF THEY DRESS LIKE Gis -THEY MUST BE -

if we were to use Co. C 's percentages for the whole Division, we'd come up with some 25,800 replacements and a total of some 40,800 whose names were on a 70th duty roster at some time. That, of course, is unre­alistic. For it was the Infantry regiments that took almost all the casualties. Losses in Spe­cial Troops were few.

So we'll take only the 36 rifle companies' numbers: 6,732 on the T/0. By Higley's formula, they'd have needed 18,311 replace­ments. Add that to the origi nal15 ,000 and the grand total is 33,311 men who were 'Blazers. So the 23,000 estimated up there in the third paragraph looks reasonably conservative.

At any rate, there are thousands of poten­tial members of the Association, most of whom probably don't know the organiza­tion even exists. The editor invites your opinions -and your calculations.

Nope! They're not Gis! They are members of a group of young Frenchmen who reenact World War II battles. This contingent represents the 70th Division. They wear the axe-head shoulder patch on their authentic American uniforms and drive beautifully restored military vehicles which carry Trailblazer identification. Two recent public exhibitions were staged in Raon L'Ettape and Houemelon, France. Associate member Christopher Villers of Strasbourg, France, sent these photos.

The Editor's Barracks Bag

David and Jane Davis, AT/275! There! Now their names have been prop­

erly reported in these columns. By error they were omitted in the last

issue. Dave and Jane were co-chairmen with Archie and Evelyn Smith, E/274, of the Sales Committee at the Louisville Reunion. That energetic group netted some $1 ,700 for the Association and has an inventory worth about $3,000 more. I'm happy to make this significant addition to a roster of mighty hard-working folks.

* We now have two members in Alaska, John Jigliotti, F/276, joined just before attending the L 'ville Reunion where I had a swell conversation with him. He had stayed on for a military career and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer.

He told me that John Van Duinen, F/ 274, who also lives in Anchorage, is doing A-OK. That pleases me because I think of John so often. When I did a seminar up there, he came over to my hotel and we had a couple beers together. He gave me a handsome pewter statuette of a dog-sled musher that sits on my desk and brings back those good memories.

* If you ever drive across Southern Mis-souri on Route 60 (it runs from Cape Girardeau to Joplin) take a little detour north to Bloomfield and see the newly erected monument to veterans of World Wars I and II, Korea and VietNam. There's also a "Stars & Stripes plaque."

Roy Shirrell, C/276, sends us a dedica­tory program and notes that "the first' Stars & Stripes ' was printed in Bloomfield." That really intrigues me as I worked for "Stripes" in Nancy, France, and thought that it was a strictly overseas operation. I'm waiting for Roy to send me more details.

* Just as this copy was ready to go to the printer, comes a letter from Roy. He tells us that during the Civil War, "Stars & Stripes" was printed there.

Then comes a most interesting account. 'While reading the weekly newspaper 'Puxico Press', I learned about the pro­posed monument. It listed the names of all Stoddard county veterans of the four wars. But one name was missing! I remembered reading on page 126 of my book 'L'Operation Nordwind at Wingen-sur-

10

Moder' by Col. Wallace Cheves. It told thatTech Sgt. Thomas P. Johnson, Co. F, 27 4, of Dudley, Missouri, was killed in action Jan. 6, 1945."

"The small town of Dudley is in Stoddard County. I realized I had to act quickly to get his name on the monument. So I took my book to Bloomfield, the county seat, and showed it to a man from the Historical Society. He told me I would have to bring him Sgt. Johnson's Army serial number."

"I remembered reading in the "Trail­blazer" that Secretary Louis Hoger could give a lot of information like this. Yes, he tound the number for me. I immediately drove the 31 miles from my home in Zalma to Bloomfield and did get the name on the monument. At the dedication there was a large crowd on hand. They told me that they hadn't been able to find any survivors of Sgt. Johnson and asked if I'd sit in as a 'relative' during the ceremony. I did."

I hope this reaches you before the deadline. I'm mailing it on my 67th birth­day."

* It looks worn by time and elements- as befits a 50-year Trailblazer veteran. And it is cherished as a veteran should be.

It's the sign that hung over the 276th Regimental Post Office at Camp Adair and

Identified! That photo of the 'Blazer cook-out

on the back page of the Summer "Trail blazer" has been identified.

Dale Iliff says the men are from his 70th Recon Troop. "The man at the left, passing out the hot dogs, is Sgt. Hobe. The middle one is PaHerson, a cook. At the right is Sgt. Richard Lillie of the 2nd Platoon.! am sure this was at Fort Leonard Wood as Little's wife Marj was with him there and that's her drinking a glass of water.

"Dick Little was wounded near Forbach and lives in Washington State somewhere. I replaced him af­ter he was hit and evacuated. Recon men took the lead in cutting through Saarbrucken and going cross-coun­trY to meet the 3rd Division coming in from the northwest."

Edmund C. Arnold

at Fort Leonard Wood. F. Berne La Bar, Sv/276, sent it to me to keep with Axe-head Archives. Berne (not Bernie) took down the sign each time the Division moved in '44.

He tells us that he recently lost his wife of 63 - yes, 63 - years and how he misses her. We feel for him. He says he was with Service as company clerk during his whole Army hitch and at the end was actually doing the first sergeant's job.

* He knows he's a Yankee Doodle Dandy, born on the Fourth of July. July 4, 1926 to be exact. But Vernon Bergstrom, I/274, wants to know if he is also a "BOB"- a Baby of the Battalion. Vern, young feller, you are the seventh youngest Trailblazer on our records. Hope you live long enough to be the Oldest Living Member!

* I always knew that I hit a lot of keys on my typewriter - now my computer -while preparing an issue of this magazine. So I hit the word-count key and found out that the Winter issue had 16,330 words. As the average for American English is five letters per word, that means I hit 81 ,650 keys. On top of that are all the extra tapping necessary to tell this electronic monster what to do. For a hunt-and-peck artisan like me, this is quite a feat. This starts the 11th year that I have had the pleasure of editing your magazine. It started out as an 8-pager, went to 16 a year and a half later and since '89 has been in its 24-page fonnat.

I remind you that this is your magazine and your comments about content are wel­come. One member complained about the Archives section. He says he's tired of reading about Joe Blough being inducted, discharged and having upteen grandkids. He didn't suggest what he'd prefer instead. The Archives are time-consuming; it takes as long to do a 6-line item of this sort as to write a third of a column of a regular story. But I personally am interested in who my fellow- 'Blazers are and I figure you are, too. If not, let me know. If so, let me know.

* The "Trailblazer" got a compliment from a source that makes it very special. In "Military" a top-flight magazine, publisher Armond Noble had this to say in his per­sonal column: "Edward Kraus, Afton, Missouri (Co. F, 274th Inf. Regiment) was kind enough to pay my dues for a year as an Associate Member of the 70th Div. Asso­ciation (Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace,

70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER

Central Europe) so I could see 'what a real association publication looks like.'"

"Well he sure did that (thanks) and it is a truly spectacular magazine. We'll be ask­ing them if we can borrow some articles and pictures."

That has already happened. "Military" has run the piece by Tom Krakowiak, C/ 275, "The Big Fox Hole" that was in our Winter, '92 issue.

* When you send me written material or photographs, please make sure that your name and address are affixed thereunto. I have five file drawers plus several boxes of Trailblazer stuff and it's easy for things to get lost in the paper maelstrom. Someone has asked me to return "a picture of five men standing in a row."Lordy! I must have a dozen pix of five men standing in a row. I know that such mementos have great sentimental value to you, and I do my damdest to safeguard them. But unfortu­nately I am not clairvoyant.

* Many members send their dues checks to

me and I dutifully forward them to Seck­Trez Lou Hoger. During such a transaction there was a mix -up of names and we couldn't figure out if it was Gene or Joe Wojnarowski who sent me Associate Member dues. Lou and I each wrote to a different address to find out. We did.

Mrs. Joseph Wojnarowski tells us that she and her husband were touristing in Commerce City, Colorado. In a parking lot they saw a 70th Association license-place holder on a nearby auto. Excited, they waited for the driver to appear. (He has not been identified and we hope he'll make himself known.) From him they learned of the As­sociation and the Louisville gathering and immediately they planned to attend. Unfor­tunately, Joseph, who had been with the 270th Engineers, died April 23, 1992, be­fore he could become a member. So his son Gene enrolled as an Associate and sent his check to me. His mother had gotten my name from the unknown 'Blazer.

* Talking about checks reminds me that I am supposed to remind you that 1993-94 dues are due July I. Please send your check, not to me, but to Lou or Cal Jones, assistant secretary treasurer. Their addresses are on page 23, last column. These exchequers of the treasury tell me that there are a lot of '92 dues still in arrears. If you would send in any late payments of yours, we'd have

Spring, 1993

enough to pay the printer for this magazine and be able to put one out this summer.

* I never want to become a crotchety old geeser who thinks the world is going to hell in a jet-propelled handbasket and sneers at anything that happened later than 1950. But I must say that occasionally I get teed off with current events.

For instance, when then-President Bush went to Somalia he was greeted by a bunch of soldiers who had been there just two weeks. And what did they want of the commander-in-chief? "When do we go home?''

Go home? After two weeks? Hellsfire and damnation, I spent that long waiting for a train to get me home from my separation center in '45.

And I am ready to regurgitate when this President keeps his sacred promise to ho­mosexuals (and blatantly refutes promises made to the great mass of Americans). I

Here comes the bride Firstto respond to a request in the last issue

that 70th war brides report in is Anne Verrier Skutt, a French woman.

She is the bride of Robert Skutt, E/274, our only member in Canada. "We were mar­ried in Nice, France, in June, 1946, and in August of that year I joined him after coming over on the SS Goethals."

"I would love to meet other war brides at the next Reunion or hear from them di­rectly." Their address is: 434 4th Street, Petrolia, Ontario NON 1RO CANADA.

The first Trailblazer to take a bride in Europe was Stephen Guter, HQ/276. He married Galina, a Russian girl, who had been a forced laborer in Germany.

don 'tthink homosexuals should be harassed. And they wouldn't be except for their own insistence. I think what happens in a bed­room should stay in a bedroom. I don't think we ought to make public announce­ment of our favorite laxative or hemorrhoid cure, the disposition of our prostate or our sexual play-by-play. If the homosexuals kept their mouths shut, there couldn't be any discrimination against them any more than there is to people with inverted belly buttons who just don't disclose their ana­tomical facts. Trouble is, they don't want toleration; they want approval.

It looks like the people who have been in uniform are almost completely unanimous against lifting the ban on homosexuals. If William Jefferson Clinton and Congress­man Pat Shroeder, in their great wisdom and sublime ignorance of military life, are so sensitive to the tender feelings of this minority, why not understand the feelings of the great majority to whom it is a moral issue backed by the teachings of both J udeo and Christian religions.

* I recommend to you a hilarious book, "Wits of War" by Ed Swineford. It's a big collection of jokes, anecdotes and cartoons of the war years and is a bargain at $15. It wouldmakeaswell giftforaGibuddy. Tell Brother Swineford that I sent you. His address is: Kilroy Was Here Press, PO 5462, Fresno, CA 93755. - (209) 439-0756.

* Hy Schorr, H/274, has been working with television producer Richard Kaplan, who is looking to do a documentary that would be released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. Hy has been reminding him that Operation Nordwind was an integral part of the last Hitler offensive. I've told them that I'd be happy to cooperate by making Axe-head Archives available to them.

Every 70th man should use all the influ­ence he has to make damn sure that the Trailblazers are not overlooked again. We got shuffled out of recognition for our Vosges victories because we were a task force and dido 'toperate as a Division. Let's make sure that the story of Nord wind and our pivotal part in ultimate victory is not ignored in all the hoopla that will prevail over Bastogne and the Ardennes.

* I'm happy that several publications have asked permission to reprint the poem, "The

(Continued on next page)

11

r-

I

Hey, Riflemen! There ith THUMBthing wrong with thith thituathion Combat Infantryman's Badge.

Editor -(Continued)

Seasons of a Soldier" and the Homily that was given at the Louisville Memorial Ser­vice. And, to answer a few inquiries, I did write both of them. Veritably a labor of love.

* "Where' s Rosie?" asked an article in the Fall, 1991 "Trailblazer." It took a year, but an answer did come. J. H. Satterlee, Medic, 3rd Bn Aid Station/276, made the inquiry. He now reports:

"Carl Settle, called me to report the death of Gert (Rosie) Rosenthal who was the aid man with that company. Carl had just learned of the death and had contacted Paula, Rosie's wife. My wife Margy and I had been good friends of the Rosenthals in Oregon and at Leonard Wood but had lost contact over the years. We phoned our

12

But our staff artist, Peter Bennett, rifle­man/scout with HQ 2nd Bn/276, doesn't hold still for that. He sends me a bunch of pictures that show the thumbs-around grip . . . . that he used quite successfully.

The editor is neutral. He carried a carbine through the ETO. So he defers to the rifle­man. Please tell him who's right: Roberts or Pete.

condolences to her and learned that Rosie had suffered a stroke and died suddenly at their home on Nov. 20, way back in 1970."

"We sent her some photos and a copy of the 'Trailblazer' which had been printed in Germany in 1945 and had a piece about Rosie. And we sent her the current maga­zine with that article."

* Washed mess kits were 'must' in Lyon

I like Pete Bennett's art. It's a great addition to the "Trailblazer."

The sketch in the lower-left comer of page 6 in the Fall, 1992 issue convinced me he must have gone through the "repple depot" at Lyon, France 'way back when. I did, on my way back to I st Bn Hq/274 after recovering from a shrapnel leg wound. The place was a mess. The system of ditches or canals which, I was told , had been dug to carry water used in the manufacture of silk fabrics, had been turned into a GI sewage

system, with latrines empyting directly into them.

That's one time the immersion of mess kits into boiling water was an absolute necessity, and still no 100% guarantee of safety. Ugh!

Henry Norton HQ 1st Bn/274

* Book II should chart 70th organization

In the second History book I would like to see a detailed organization chart of the 70th Division. As a dogface soldier I never did have a clear picture of the whole Divi­sion and how its various parts related. Of course having a clear picture of anything 50 years ago just didn ' t happen. Through the "Trailblazer" magazine, though, the pic­ture is beginning to come into focus .

Irwin Cone A/275

70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER

0 DO-NUMBERED YEARS are usually qu;te qu;et ones for the Association. The Reunion of the past year drifts off into memory and planning for the next one is still low key. But not 1993!

Ninety-three is the 50th birthday of the 70th Division and that alone stirs interest and pride. Formal observances will be conducted by our successors, the "new" 70th Training Divi­sion. The site, Livonia, Michigan, is easily accessible to all

curator of the Army Engineers Museum at the fort. Cooperation from the military there is excellent. I received a letter from Col. Charles Thomas, chief of staff there. "June 15, 1993, marks not only the 50th anniversary for your organization, but for Fort Leonard Wood that date holds great significance as well. On or about that date we will commemorate the semicentennial of the only Regu lar Army Division activated in Missouri during World War II. I refer, of course, to your 'Trailblazers'."

Midwesterners. There's a network of Interstates in that area and it's not far from the Detroit airport. There will be some limits on attendance imposed by

The President's the size of facilities at some of the events. So if you plan on joining the celebration, I urge you to use the regis­tration blank found elsewhere in this issue.

We don't quite know when the next, Summer, issue of the "Trailblazer" will reach you; there are schedu ling complica­tions for the editor. So this will probably be your last notification before the birthday.

Mini-reunions will flourish and several are announced in this issue. There wi II be the customary Return-To-Europe tour of the areas we fought in, 'way back when we were young.

Major events will center on the memorial plaques that were authorized in Louisville. President-elect Dale Bowlin, C/883, is chairman of the committee working on the Oregon site. His colleagues include Paul Thirion, U274, and former vice­presidentJ\tVest; Cal Jones, Sv/883, assistant secretary-treasurer; George Marshall, 1/275, vice-presidentJ\tVest; Charles Kelly, HQ/70, and Tom Witty, HQ/725.

As I write this, the committee is conferring with the group in Corvallis that is actively marking the 50th anniversary of Camp Adair. They are erecting an Interpretive Center that will be dedicated Aug. 27. Dale's group hopes that our plaque can be dedicated at the same time.

None of the other three Divisions that trained at Adair have made any contact regarding their own memorial. So we don't have to worry about coordinating our efforts with theirs.

Meanwhile, back in the Ozarks ..... . Bob Soden, HQ 2nd Bn/276, is in charge of memorial

Report Alex Johnson

I urge you to get personally involved in our 50th anniversary. Here's something very useful you can do. Write a letter to the edit or of every newspaper that serves your area. An nou nee our anniversary and say that it is important to the people of your locality because there (probably) are many 70th veterans around there. And it's important to the country because it was our Division that stopped Nordwind. If we hadn't, the war would have continued for a long time further and resulted in many, many more deaths.

Your letter will probably make our Association known to former buddies who are unaware of us. There are thousands of 'Blazer veterans out there; most will be happy to join up with us again- if only we let them know we exist.

Ted Mataxis and Ed Arnold are hard at work making sure that when the Battle of the Bulge is observed next year, the Vosges sector is not ignored as it has been in the past. The valiant efforts ofT ask Force Herren-and the other TFs who fought at our side -are well worthy of national recognition .

Bi II Sole, K/27 5, has made several suggestions that appear on another page. I urge you to consider them. The Association is getting so big and its activities so many that we simply have to do some re-arranging to maintain an efficient operation.

Did I say 1993 will not be a dull year?

activities at Fort Leonard Wood. He's been conferring with the:.&;--~~

Air Force history needs 70th helpers

Many's the time the Infantry asked the Air Force for help. Now the situation is reversed .

"We are putting together a history of the 1700th Combat Support Wing Medical Cen­ter in Wiesbaden, Germany," writes Jayne Traendly,ahistorian-writer. "Becausearegi­ment of the 70th Division was stationed in

Spring, 1993

- A small number of wrist­watches with Association insignia on the face are available from Assistant Treasurer Calvin Jones. They are handsome and they are accurate ... and they are a good buy at $28, postage paid. Cal's address is 227 NE lOSth Ave., Portland, OR 97220.

Wiesbaden after its capture in March, 1945, I would like to find veterans with personal remembrances of that time.

"We'd like any veterans who were sta­tioned around there, especially Medics who might have served in the hospital, to tell us their anecdotes. Please include your name,

rank, outfit and job, all the full names of others that you can, and commanding offic­ers. We're also looking for photographs taken at that time of the hospital and its people. Send all material to me at 1700th CSW Medical Center (USAFE/SGAA; Unit 458, APO AE 09220."

13

Lost -Buddies

The mother of Maurice Palmer, B/274, earnestly seeks anyone who knew her son before he was killed. He had been guard­ing German POWs, said his last letter home. He was reported as Missing in Action in April and on May 15, '45 was listed as KIA. If you recall him please get in touch with Gene Inzer, 1690 Dogwood Drive, Vidor, Texas, 77662, who will see that Mrs. R. A. Palmer gets the informa­tion.

* I joined Co. G, 274th in France. I sailed on the USS james Whitcomb Riley in 1944, going to Oran in North Africa. Then I came up through Naples and Leghorn, Italy, to France. After combat I went to the 3rd Division at Rudesheim, Germany, and later came home with the 36th . I'd like to get in contact with any­one who was on the Riley.

I would also like to get in touch with PFC Nova Hart, who was from St. Louis, Missouri. The last time I was in contact he was with a message center and I later

learned that he received a sniper's bullet in his arm.

Charles Langridge 17208 Old 27 North Marshall, Michigan 49068

* I'm trying to locate any information concerning Sgt. Waite of Co. A, 276th. He was injured and I was trying to get him back to the American lines when we were both captured on jan. 12, 1945. The Germans separated us, promising that they'd take care of Waite. I'm won­dering if he survived and is still alive.

Cameron Boyd 1643 N. Vine Roseburg, Oregon 97470

* The 70th was activated on my birth-day in 1943.1 didn't join until a month or so later. Seven of us from the 635th Ordnance Ammunition Co. left Toole, Utah, for Camp Adair. Therewewereall assigned to different outfits. I wound up in K /275.

I sometimes wonder what happened to the other guys. I can't remember their names but I hope some of them see this and write me.

Donald George 22766 Running Rabbit Court Canyon Lake, California 92587

*

Joe Gorman, 1/274, would like to lo­cate Thomas English. If you can help, write to joe at RR1, Box 6A, East Nassau, New York 12062.

* New 'Blazer seeks more souvenirs

On behalf of myself and the Training Support Brigade 70th Div. I thank the mem­bers of the Trailblazer Association for all of the compliments received on the WWII display at the Galt House. It was my plea­sure to be able to do this for you, I look forward to putting on a larger display next year at the division 50th anniversary cer­emony.

In order to do so I am counting on all of the members of the Association who re­quested my address for the donation of related items to please include their name, unit, and in the case of German items where they "liberated" the item. This would en­able me to make a more personal display of the 70th Div.

On a final note: I will also attend the next reunion in St. Louis with the display. I will enclose my address for anyone who wishes to contribute to the display, a donation can be made in their name to the Trailblazer Association by request.

Sgt. Scott Gerych 11761 Maranatha Brighton, Michigan 48116

The Treasurer's Report

Calvin Jones

Assistant Secretary Treasurer

CALENDAR YEAR 1 992 BALANCE 12/31/91:

Mission Bonk, Mission, KS - Checking ...... $ 828 Mission Bank, Money Market Account .. .. .. .. 18,287 Mission Bank, Certificates of Deposit ... . .. .. . 55,701 Citizens S. & l., Eureka, ll- Cert. of Deposit .. . 3,564

Total Beginning Balance .. .. .. .. . . ... . . -. -.. - .- .-.. $78,380

RECEIPTS: Regular Dues ........ ... . .... $10,527 Life Memberships . . .. . . . ... .. ... 4,314 Associate Member Dues .. . . . ... . .. 896 . . $15,737 Interest on Deposits .. .. .. .. .. . -. . -.-. -.. - ... . . 5,079 History Book Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 ,626 Other Book & Souvenir Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 ,060 Reunion Registrations . . . . . ... . ..... . .. . . 107,283 Reunion Sales Table & Auction ... . ... . . . ... 10,900

Total Receipts .. ..... . ... . .. ..... .. . . -. -. -. . -.-. . 141 ,685

This balance represents a deficit of $2,872 for the year's operation. Considering the non-recurring expenditure of $3,805 for the purchase of a computer and the planned-for Reunion deficit of $9,829, it arpears our Association actually enjoyed an operating profit for the year o $10,762.

14

DISBURSEMENTS: Postage, Shipping & Mailing Permits ...... .... 3,199 Office Supplies & Telephone Expense .. . .. ...... 465 Trailblazer Printing . ..... . ........ . .... . . 11,913 Souvenir Purchases ... .. . .... ... .. ... . . .. 5,580 Purchase of Computer & Printer .... . .. . ... . . . 3,805 Annual Gratuity- Sec.-Treas ... .... . . ........ 600 Annual Gratuity- Trailblazer Editor . . ...... . .. 600 Sec.-Treasurers Fidelity Bond ......... . ....... 116 Assn. of Army Divs., VFW Advertisement . .. . .. .. 522 50 Copies of Wingen Sur Moder Books . .. .. . . . . 350 Reunion Expense -louisville . . ..... . ..... 113,501 Refunds of Registration Fees ......... . .. . . .. 3,738 life Membership Cards ... . ... ... ........ ... 115 Flowers .. ... ... .. ............ .. . . ... _ . . . 53

Total Disbursements .. . ... .. .. .... .. .. -. -. . - .-. -. . 144,557

CLOSING BALANCE 12/31/92: Mission Bank, Checking Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 ,553 Mission Bank, Money Market Account .... .... 20,251 Mission Bank, Certificates of Deposit .. .. ..... 46,358 Citizens S. & l. , Cert. of Deposit . .. . . . .. . . . . 10,154

Total Closing Balance . ... . .. . . . .. . . .. . -. -.. -.-. -. .. 78,316 less cost of Winter Trailblazer printing not yet paid but included in above disbursement figure . . . ... .... $. 2,808 Net Adjusted Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75,508

70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER

---------------------===========~~~~~~~----------------...................... ..

Associate member designs Remagen Bridge patch

A few months ago, as a surprise, I signed up my uncle Ray Webber l/275, the 70th Division Association. He dido 't know of the association. It opened up a whole world of interest to him; is very enthusiastic about the association. As a surprise, Ray signed me up as an Associate Member. I am very interested in the WWII European Cam­paign.

Perhaps I can contribute some historical information. Advancing against the 45th Division and Task Force Herrin 70th Divi­sion at the Bitche Salient was the German veteran 6th SS Mountain Division "Nord". The 6th SS Mountain Division was formed in Austria and consisted of Volksdeutsch mountaineers. It was composed of the 11th SS Mountain Infantry Regiment "Reinhard Heydrich" and the 12th SS Mountain Infan­try Regiment "Michael Gesimar". The di­vision was commanded by SS Lieutenant General Karl Heinrich Brenner. The divi­sion was cut off on the wrong (western) side of the Rhine River by the rapid American advance. It fought against the 70th Division in the Wingen-Wimmenau-Rosteig areas. Also the battles for Forbach and Oeting, as well as the Saarbruecken-Stiring Wendel

275th also plans plaque in Vosges

Each Regiment of the 70th will have a memorial in Europe.

The 275th voted at the Louisville Reunion to erect a plaque in Philippsbourg, France. There and at nearby Baerenthal, it turned its baptism of fire into victory. On the left flank of Task Force Herren, the high command of the German offensive, Operation Nordwind, decreed that P'bourg had to be taken. Their drives had been successful everywhere else along their front but the stubborn 275th caused a bend in their line that would expose them to a flanking counter-attack.

But the German drive couldn't take the village; W reeker - 27 5th's telephone code name-held!

Dedication of the memorial is set for July 17, 1994, as part of a tour organized by Don Docken. Townspeople are planning an im­pressive ceremony and celebration. Negotia­tions are going on now with the village as to the design and exact location of the plaques, one in English, one in French. The commit­tee consists of Docken, chairman, William

Spring, 1993

actions. The hard-hitting SS Division was captured April 2, 1945.

In the 70th Division Trailblazer history book are shown illustrations of the three regimental crests. Two of the crests, the 274th Beaver/Cross of Lorraine and the 276th Bloody Axe do not indicate their colors. What are the colors in these two crests? This information is important to some research I am doing.

I have just completed a book I am writing titled "Gunfire At Remagen". I have been writing and researching this book for three years now. I am an associate member of the 9th Armored Division, the 9th Infantry , 78th Infantry and 99th Infantry Division Associations. All four of these divisions crossed the Ludendorffbridge at Remagen. My late father Edward Webber, Jr. (Ray Webber's brother) crossed the Remagen bridge as a rifleman replacement with the 9th Division, 47th Infantry Regiment. The .

Rorabaugh, Bill Pierce and George Marshall.

The other two regiments, the 274th and 276th, have already emplaced plaques in Wingen-sur-Moderlastyear. They, too, halted the SS 6th Mountain Division even as the 275th earned its fust victory. The two vil­lages are less than three miles apart, yet the battles were separate engagements, further isolated by grave communication problems that tended to isolate units.

* Two Trailblazers plan ETO tours

Trailblazers are fortunate that two mem­bers will be conducting tours to the Battlefields during the 50th anniversary ob­servances.

Floyd Freeman, I/275, will conduct his annual Back -to-Europe tour Sept. 16-0ct. 2. It will include the familiar memorial service at St. Avoid Military Cemetery, a Rhine cruise and Oktoberfest in Munich. For de­tails call him at (213) 567-0561 or write to 16813 Jeanette Ave., Cerritos, California 90701.

Don Docken, C/275, will conduct a tour

Remagen bridgehead was his first day in combat. Dad' s Rifle-Company L was cut to pieces in the central bridgehead. He later said it was a living nightmare. I am dedicating the book to him.

My dad and Uncle Ray Webber are two of the finest men I ever knew. Ray became like a father to me when we lost Dad. I am very happy to be an associate part of the 70th Infantry Division Association and hope from time to time to contribute something worthwhile to the organization. My very best wishes.

Eddie Webber 333 Lariat Frisco, TX 75034 (214) 292 3258

(Editor' s Note: Anyone who has a colored reproduction of the regimental crests is urged to send it to Mr. Webber and/or to the editor.)

next year to the Vosges and Saarland with additional sightseeing in Germany and Aus­tria. The 275th will erect a plaque in Philipps bourg and its dedication, July 17, 1994, will be a highlight of the Docken trip. Although it's planning well ahead of time, it might be wise to give Don a ring at (612) 735-8325 or drop him a line at 170 No. Ruth St., #1005, St. Paul, Minnesota 55119.

Bon voyage!

* We're looking forward to St. Louis already

I came to Camp Adair from the Air Corps and served as a forward observer with C/ 884 Field Artillery. I worked with I and K Companies of the 276th. For this I was given a commendation by Gen. Herren for action at Forbach.

I was a contractor in civilian life until I retired in '78. My wife Gladys and I have attended a number of mini-reunions and the Big Reunions at Las Vegas and Louisville and we ' re already looking forward to St. Louis in '94.

Tom Sharpe C/884

15

Surprise Surprise!

-five of 'em, in fact

By PAUL A. SWENSON 34rd Bn Medics/274

March 3, 1945. That morning 3rd Bn attacked across a lightly wooded, mined area on Kreutzberg Ridge near Forbach. I was the Bn Surgeon's Assistant and followed Co. I with two squads of litter bearers. The company disappeared down the steep west slope of the ridge and we spent most of the morning carrying wounded soldiers up the slope.

At about 11 AM I decided to see if an evacuation route could be established around the southern tip ofKreutzberg Ridge. I returned to the aid station, ate a K-Ration and took off with a jeep driver to reconnoiter for that route. At one point I was on foot in the outskirts ofForbach when suddenly I was hit in the back by a German sniper bullet. My driver returned me to the aid station and soon I was in an ambulance headed for the rear. Now for the fust encounter.

The driver of the ambulance had been my jeep driver when I was supply officer of the 430th Separate Medical Bn on the Hunter­Liggett maneuvers near King City, California, during the winter of 1943-44. I cannot recall his name.

My fust destination was the lOth Field Hospital at St. Avoid. A major looked at my medical tag and said, "Hrnm, this looks interesting, I think I'll operate on you." The bullet had perforated my small and large intestines and severed the renal vein. In a complicated operation, the left kidney was removed and a colos­tomy, through which solid wastes were detoured to the outside, was established. I was quite miserable for the next few days, during which a full colonel, MC, came to visit me and spoke in a familiar tone. I said, "I'm sorry, sir, but I don't recognize you." His reply, "Oh, I'm sure you do. I'm Colonel Eddy." I had met the colonel at Leonard Wood; he was the Division Surgeon of the 70th.

At the time he visited me at the 20th Field Hospital, I was not overly surprised. Many years later, however, I learned from Frank Ellis, 1st Bn Surgeon, that Eddy was not Division Surgeon during the time we were overseas. What was Col. Eddy doing at the lOth Field Hospital? Was he commanding that organization? I now look upon my seeing him there as the second of the five surprise encounters that occurred on my trail back to the States.

From the lOth Field Hospital I was sent by hospital train to the 21st General Hospital at Miracourt, France. Interestingly, the 21st had been the General Hospital aboard the Mariposa when the 274th (minus LCo.) sailed from Boston to Marseille in December, 1944. I recognized some of the nurses.

On another hospital train I traveled from Miracourt to Dijon for a short stay at the 36th General Hospital. I was still completely miserable, but was cheered up when 1st Lt. Joe Ketar kus, MAC, who was attached to this hosp., dropped in to see me. He had been my closest buddy when we were attending Bn. Surgeons Asst. School at Camp Barkely, Texas during the Spring of 1944. I had requested assignment to the school because I wanted to go overseas with a combat unit.

No other surprise encounters occurred for several weeks. During that period I was a patient at the 3rd Gen. Hosp. at Aix -en-Provence,

16

I I /l

·'l .... ~

. t /. '!

J

>

//~j-- HAVl YOU fR.LlO .. COMI'i.m

1 ADOilU At 10f'? -· ·-n rs

No Hallmark Store I have enclosed a copy of a V -letter I

sent to my wife in 1945. Having a desire to send her a valentine and being unable to buy one, I drew this picture on a YO-mail letter and sent it to her. I copied it out of her scrapbook.

If you could fmd any use for it in your magazine, she would be delighted and so would I. I'm sure those of the 70th QM Co. would enjoy seeing it.

Richard Foster 70QM

*

which was near CP-2, the staging area for the three regiments of the 70th, before they traveled by train to Alsace during late December of 1944. Nor did anything like a coincidence occur on the Hospital Ship, Algonquin, which made a stormy passage across the Atlantic to Charleston, South Carolina, the site of Stark General Hospital.

That ocean trip was followed by a long, tedious journey by hospital train to Hoff General Hospital, Santa Barbara, California. Now for the fifth and final surprise encounter.

As I was wheeled into the officers' ward, I was greeted by the ward officer, Capt. Tom Hamilton, MC, with whom I had served in the 370th Med. Bn (Armored) of the 6th Armored Division. Tom suffered with back problems from riding in Army vehicles during Desert Maneuvers and was assigned to less strenuous duty at Hoff General.

70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER

Meet your new officers Dale F. Bow lin, president-elect

An artilleryman with a most unusual wartime history has been named to lead the 70th Division Association for the 1994-96 biennium. He is Dale Bowlin of Battery C, 883rd Field Artillery.

As president-elect, chosen at Louisville, he will serve the next two years on the Executive Board, preparatory to taking over the presidency in St. Louis.

Bowlin was captured near Alsting, France, February 21, 1945, during the Saarland offensive. As he and three other POWs were being moved to the German rear, he was wounded by American artillery fire. His left leg was amputated three days later in a German field hospital.

He was liberated by French forces in April and was a patient in several military hospitals on the Continent before arriving at McClosky General Hospital in Temple, Texas, where, on May 25, he was fitted with an artificial leg.

A native of Lebo, Kansas, he attended Kansas State Teach­ers College for a semester before joining the Army at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, March 17, 1943. His basic training was with an anti-aircraft unit at Camp Hahn and Camp Irwin, California. As an ASTP cadet he attended Brigham Young University for nine months before being transferred to the Trailblazers at Camp Adair in May, 1944. He was discharged in January of '46.

Just before shipping to the ETO, he married Phyllis Perry. They have three children and four grandchildren.

Dale was graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1946. He worked in engineering and management positions and was general oper­ating superintendent for several large corporations for 37 years before retiring in 1983.

He has been an active lay participant in the Methodist Church. He was chairman of Vancouver First, a civic leader­ship organization in his hometown ofV ancouver, Washington, across the Columbia and a bit downstream from Portland, Oregon. He was president of Clark County Health and Wel­fare Planning Council and a board member of the county 's Vocational Skills Center. He's been a Rotarian for 25 years. He joined the Association in 1988 and his first Reunion was in 1990 at Las Vegas. Since then he has been very active and was chairman of the Western mini-reunion. He has travelled

Spring, 1993

back to Europe six times since 1981. He joined the Association in 1979 and that year went on to

the Back-to-Europe 70th tour. He has been a successful recruiting chairman for his company since '79 and is editor of its newsletter. He was co-chairman of its mini-reunion in '83 and in 1986 was named an Outstanding Trailblazer.

Byron E. McNeely Vice-president/East

Wearer of the Purple Heart, the newly elected Vice-presi­dent/East spent his whole military career with the 70th.

Byron McNeely came to the Division as it was forming, in August, 1943. He was assigned to the 1st Platoon, Company I, 274th, and moved up to squad leader and then platoon sergeant. He was seriously wounded in the Saarland in March, '45. He was discharged in September of that year at Ashford General Hospital.

A native of West Virginia, born near Charleston, he entered Morris Harvey College after service and went on to graduate school at the University of West Virginia.

In 1949 he began a 35-year career as a Boy Scouts of America executive. When he retired in 1984 he was program director for the 50-county Blue Cross Council around Lexing­ton, Kentucky.

He married Gwendolyn Shriver in 1949 and with her has two sons and a grandson.

George D. Marshall Vice-president/West

A machine gunner with Company I, 275th, was named Vice-president/West by the Louisville assembly. He is George Marshall of Scottsdale, Arizona, who was with the weapons Platoon of Item. Marshall joined the 70th at Fort Leonard Wood in September, '44, just before the Division moved eastward en route to Europe. He had donned the uniform in March, 1943, with the 8th Armored Division in Louisiana. Chosen for the ASTP engineering program, he studied at Princeton University and later was transferred to the 104th Infantry Division before coming to the Trailblazers.

After combat he served with the 29th Infantry Regiment and was a guard at SHAEF headquarters in Frankfurt-am­Main, Germany.

In civilian life he was a tool and die designer, machine programmer and quality-control equipment buyer.

He married in 1946 and had three sons. His first wife died in 1975. In 1978 he married Barbara, who had two children. Their combined family now numbers five children and nine grandchildren. In 1961 he moved to Scottsdale.

George joined the Association just in time for theN ashville Reunion in '88. In 1991 he served as chairman of the most successful Western Mini-Reunion in Scottsdale. In his new post he will also serve as chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee.

17

18

-

HOUSE OF LEGEND .... The story of a man who sold his soul to the Devil has been told in almost every human language. But no tale has been more renowned than that of Dr. Faust acclaimed in poem, prose and opera. The home where Faust lived and made his infamous bargain with Satan still stands in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, looking very much as it looked back in 1500 when the deal was made.

The 70th occupied Kreuznach in the closing days of the war. Division headquarters was set up in the grand hotel on an island in the Nahe River. So luxurious had the hotel been that Kaiser Wilhelm chose it as his western head­quarters in World War I.

Indeed, the comforts of the hotel- with huge bathtubs in which to enjoy the medicinal waters- were so tempt­ing that the 70th was soon booted out by Third Army brass who in turn were outranked by Corps commanders. Mean­while the 70th advanced to Frankfurt-am-Main where it celebrated VE Day.

Sole suggests . . reorganizing

into regions Several informal proposals are tendered

by William Sole, K/275, for organizational changes in the Association.

He suggests that there be four, possibly five, regions: Northeast, Southeast, North­west and Southwest and, perhaps, Central. "This would enable off-year mini-reunions that could minimize travel effort, time and expense and encourage attendance by more members," he says.

He sees the need for a vice-president for each region, rather than the two we now have for the East and the West. He also suggests that it might be wise to have back-up officers for these officers. "Having a president-elect has proved wise for the Association," he points out, "and when we lost our president by death, work of the Association continued smoothly. We need similar people, ready in case death, health problems or other personal situations might keep a vice-president, secre­tary, treasurer, chaplain and the editor of the 'Trailblazer' from fulfilling their duties."

"If we went a step further and had a ' state co-ordinator' we could perhaps do more recruiting and take better care when we are about to lose a member for non-payment of dues. We could also set up a 'help network ' and share transportation to mini-reunions and the big Reunion."

Bill invites comments from members, ei­ther to him directly at 47 Wapping Road, Ellington, Connecticut 06029 or as letters to the editor.

* Only 21 captured? No way, says Fellman

The article titled "Were only 21 'Blazers captured?" in the Winter, '93 issue, caught my attention.

I was a PFC with B/275 on a hill near Philippsbourg. After a period of five days with no food and only melted snow to drink, no communications with headquar­ters, our captain, Willia m Schmied, badly wounded, the J erries brought up some tanks and the decision was made to surrender. I can tell you for sure that there were a lot more than 21 in this group. My guess is that there were quite a few more before it all ended. I wonder why the records don't reflect this.

Norm Fellman B/275

70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER

Terminology challenged twice Although "The Trailblazers" history book

was published three years ago, sharp-eyed readers are still finding items to argue about. Because we all want that history of the 70th to be as accurate as humanly possible, we pass along two commentaries and suggest that you make suitable corrections in your own book.

It should be pointed out, however, that after 50 years, human memory does pecu­liar tricks. Often such "corrections" are "corrected" by other writers. So anyone who has any observations on airplanes or artil­lery pieces are invited to send them promptly to the editor.

Were Grasshoppers Taylor or Piper? flying sarge ask

There were a lot of Infantrymen and just a few airplane jockeys in the 70th Division. So it really isn't too amazing that the first group never fully understood the second. Then or now.

So, in "The Trailblazers" (page 223, if you want to update your history book) there's a picture of an airplane with the caption: "WlNGS FOR THE INFANTRY ... Newly assigned to the 70th were 10 'Flying Grasshoppers', Taylor Cub planes .... etc."

Comes now Charles Ferree, HQ/884, to set the record straight. "The Division never had any Taylorcraft planes," he says. "Just L-4 Pipers and, later in Europe, a few L-5 Stinsons."

When Charlie arrived at Adair in the Spring of '43, the Air Section was already operating. "All pilots' were staff sergeants; many were later commissioned and trans­ferred to other units. By the time we got to Leonard Wood we were still receiving new pilots, fresh out of flight training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The ground crews were mostly new as most of the original crews had been transferred out, several of them to the Pa­cific. There one of them, a good buddy of mine, crashed in the Philippines and was seriously injured.

"We lost a couple of guys on our first mission in the Saarland. We had been told that the enemy would not shoot at L-planes for fear of giving away their positions. Not so! They shot down at least one plane in the first 20 minutes and punched a bunch of nasty holes in several others." (Editor's note: Information used in the his­tory book was from official sources. Why were the planes misidentified as Taylor­craft? We' II be glad to hear further.)

* Spring, 1993

ERRATA Anything bigger than M -1 rifle puzzles Infantry

To the Infantry, equally puzzling was the language of the Artillery. Eugene Regan, B{725, sets us right on some terminology of Divarty.

On page 226 of "Trailblazers," in the second paragraph, both the 105s and 155s used by the 70th were referred to as "rifles," with barrels that had spiral grooves that sent the missiles spinning and thus staying on a true path instead of wobbling.

But, says Gene: ' 'Those two were 'how­itzers.' "(Random House Dictionary defmes them as "carmons with comparatively short barrels, used especially for firing shells at high angles of elevation as for reaching a target behind cover, in a trench, etc." The term came originally from the Czech 'houfnice,' a slingshot.) "Whether an artil­lery piece is a 'gun,' 'rifle' or 'howitzer' is determined by the length of the tube in relation to the dimension of the bore. As I remember it, if the length of the tube is more than 10 times the diameter of the bore,

Tribute to good man­Lambert Hofstra, Sv/275

Lambert Hofstra, who died last summer at the age of84, was an unusual man, a great soldier, and usually attended the reunions. He placed patriotism above personal de­sires, leaving his wife and son to go to war. We remember Hof for his steady hand in rations and under fue he worked with Maj. Lustgarten, Capt. Glossop, Sgts. Klemets­mo, Bushnell, Bernauer and others.

Just after the war, Hof and I were walk­ing down the bombed area of Frankfurt. The streets were clean and rumbled with vehicles as the debris was piled high in the middle of the blocks. Those 500 pound

it is considered a 'gun'. Such a piece has a longer range and higher velocity than other pieces."

"In the next paragraph, reference is made to the "ritual of placing a cannon.' The only 'carmon' we had were in the Infantry Regi­ments' Carmon Companies."

Other corrections Gene makes include: On page 225, the 155 M-1 howitzer could hurl a shell 12 miles, not 6 1/4 miles as the history book cites.

Page 226, second-last paragraph: Long Toms had a range of 20 miles, not the cited 14.

Page 229: The caption for the lower picture should refer to 725th Field Artillery, not 775. And S/Sgt John Cassidy was in Battery B, not A.

Page 230: The caption should call the weapon a "howitzer" not a "gun."

Eugene was chief of a howitzer section in B{725, and had trained as an artillery mechanic at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He was called back to active duty during the Korean War and trained to arm nuclear artillery. He was battery commander of a 240 howitzer unit and later cadred into a Nuclear Battalion as CO of its Headquarters and Service Battery.

bombs went down through the stories of the buildings and detonated in the basement. The explosion ruined everything. We met an aged German who was searching his apartment and could only find a piece of mirror which he held in his hand. Just then some American warplanes in formation flew overhead. And Hofstra dramatically gestured with his arm and finger and pointed toward the sky, and cried out; "America ist gross!" And that to me told the story of the Great War- defeat and victory!

His two sons Glenn and John brought me to Illinois for the graveside service at Forest Home Cemetery.

Eugene Petersen Sv/275

19

Book deadline extended

Reminiscences for "My Piece of History" will be accepted beyond the announced deadline.

"I urge every member to send in his favorite war story," says Edmund Arnold, HQ/70, who is compil­ing the book. "Send them in as soon as possible. Those that come in too late for the book will be printed in the magazine.

"These stories need not be about heroics. They don't even have to be about combat. I'd like recollec­tions about those little things that typify Army life in wartime. They can be about training, leaves or furlough, trains, convoys or troop ships, actual com­bat or Occupation and the trip home. Maybe even about your re-adjustment to civilian life.

"Short items are most welcome. I can better use two or three short pieces than one long one.

"Please, please, typewrite them if at all possible. Do double-space 'em. And blow a buck and buy a new ribbon for your typewriter or computer. I have acouplepiecesonmydeskrightnowthataresolight I just can't read them! What a pity!"

Contributions are coming in nicely, Arnold says. It isn't possible at this time to predict when the book will be published.

Whodunnil?

70th blamed for deposing Kaiser but Heck finds real culprit

It was one of the coincidences that delight. Ted Heck, K/275, was visiting in Coblenz, Germany. He's one of the authors of"Berlitz Traveler's Guide to Germany" and travels to that country often to keep the popular guide­book up-to-date.

While visiting with the tourism director of that city, he was berated for the misdeeds of the 70th Division. A statue of Kaiser Wilhelm had stood on a massive, multi-story ma­sonry pedestal. A bunch of WW2 soldiers knocked it off the base and busted it up. The director termed this an act of vandalism as there certainly was no military objective

20

involved. But Ted beat the rap for us. He pointed out

that on the day of this misdemeanor the 70th was 70 miles away, just two days before taking Saarbrucken.

Some time later, Ted was having breakfast in a local biers tube. He struck up a conversa­tion with an elderly American tourist. When Ted mentioned castles on the Rhine, his new acquaintance asked about Ehrenbreitstein. This is the historic fortress at the confluence oftheRhineandMainz rivers. It'scalled "die Deutsche Ecke," the German Comer, and is considered "the most German of any spot."

'Help me learn more about my father'

I recently noticed an advertisement about your association in the "VFW Magazine." I am enclosing a picture of my father Doyle Dunn, who was a member of your Division before being sent overseas with another outfit.

From Hobbs, New Mexico, he was in­ducted at Fort Bliss, Texas, and then sent to Camp Adair. After basic training he was transferred to the 94th Division and served

with it in France and Germany. My father passed away in 1989. Unfortunately, he never talked very much about his experi­ences in the Army except when he was at Camp Adair. I would like to know what kind of information might be available to me so I can learn about my father during this period of his life. Any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

Arthur Dunn PO Box 13842 Odessa, Texas 79768

* It was expected- GREAT

As expected, the Louisville Reunion was a grand event. Our Co. F/274 had a total of 20 men there. I knew some of them and made friends quickly with the others.

Ed Sands F/274

The tourist had been in combat there, he said, with the 273rd Regiment of the 69th Divi­sion.

He also admitted that it was his outfit that had set the German WWI commander on his fanny.

70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER

Mail Call

Book given to library is being well read

I followed your excellent advice and donated a copy of"The Trailblazers" to our local library. On a follow-up I found that it was being well read.

An untapped golden source of war sto­ries would be accounts of the speed, accuracy, military effectiveness and main­tenance of all the weapons we had to fight with 50 years ago when we were hammer­ing out military and political history. I suggest that 'Blazers send in such accounts.

Merle Farrington H/276

* Found: One CaptMajColGen

I was with M/276 until, around Forbach, I was transferred to Co. K. My CO was Capt. Del Perkins. (He was a captain then but I'm sure he would have been promoted to a much higher rank after I was wounded and left the company.)

I stepped on a land mine and lost part of my foot. I was evacuated through the hos­pital system and was ultimately discharged at Bushnell General Hospital near Brigham City, Utah.

The reason for this letter is to inquire if you know the current address of Capt. (or Maj., Col., Gen.) Perkins.

Donald Burke, M.D. K/276

(Editor's note: Mister Perkins is alive and well in Brownsville, Texas , and we hope he and Dr. Burke are swapping war stories right now.)

* Give smaller units more History space

Sounds like you guys had a great Re­union. Sorry I couldn'tjoin you ... maybe in St. Louis. Since I last contacted you I have heard from three former 'Blazers, including my former battery commander, Judge John Goldbold, who just recently retired from the federal bench.

I enjoy the "Trailblazer" very much and have found several familiar names and plan more contacts. I enclose a story about the Air Section of the Division. I hope that

Spring, 1993

other smaller elements of the Division get more space in the second History Book.

Chuck Ferree HQ/884

(Ed. note: They'll get all the space that's needed for the stuff they send in. So ... Special Troops , take notice!)

* Am I 'Baby'? - YUP!

I recently joined the Association; I never knew of its existence before. I think I'm a "Baby of the Battalions"; I was born May 13, 1926. I was 18 when I was drafted and I joined the 70th in France as a replacement on Jan. 18, 1945. I would much like to have my own "Piece of History" so will you please send me an Archives form to fill out?

Arthur Szyma nski 1/275

*

Fate's fickle finger fools foto fantasy

When we went to the ETO, Lt. Bussy Holmes and I had decided to take our cameras along. (What are rules for but to break!) I gave him mine along with a big supply of film. There was a motor convoy from the Marseilles harbor to CP-2 and one truck was hijacked and never found. It had all of Bussy's belongings- and the cam­era.

I had decided to be the historian for the company. So I had our mess sergeant Danny Rose (who would be killed on New Year 's Day) wrap my faithful Remington portable in a blanket and put it in one of his big kitchen oven pans. It arrived safely. But I began to have doubts about what a rifleman in combat could do with a typewriter. So I told Danny to give it to the nearest French­man. As far as I know, it's still over there.

Tom Higley C/275

*

In the balance Strasbourg threatens Franco-American alliance as Alsace trembled

"The Other Battle of the Bulge: Operation Nordwind" by Charles Whiting has been published. Whiting, an honorary member of the Association, has written a quick -moving, action-packed book on how the men "at the sharp end" of combat saw this last great Hitler offensive.

He points out that although the Battle of Nordwind is almost unknown to the great public, it was a pivotal episode of WW2 in Europe. The Germans hurled eight divisions, three of them crack SS units, against the thinly held American lines in Alsace. The more familiar Bulge, farther north, had drained US forces in the Vosges for replace­ments of the severe casualties.

He also tells of the frustrating political tensions between France and the United States. Gen. Eisenhower commanded that Strasbourg be evacuated to protect Ameri­can forces sitting with unprotected flanks. Charles DeGaulle objected vigorously; he

insisted that it was unacceptable, for political reasons, to give up any French soil. It looked, for a time, as if the Franco-American alliance might shatter. That would have been cata­strophic. Winston Churchill's intervention finally prevented an irreparable breach.

Books may be ordered from Scarborough House/Publisher, PO Box 459, Chelsea, Michigan, 48118 or from Marlborough Books, 3243 Valley Lane, Falls Church, Virginia 22044. The price is $19.95 plus $3 postage and handling.

I pass on my personal recommendation for one of the best books about the modern Army that I have read in years. It's "Bright Star" by Harold Coyle. It explains beauti­fully how the new Army works and how it differs from "our Army." Although it was written before the Persian Gulf erupted, its fictional action so parallels that in the Saudi Desert that you simply wonder at its pre­science. - ECA

* 21

New Members

NEW MEMBERS

ACEVEDO, Anthony C. DONOVAN, William P. 31581 Marbeth Rd. 1 7 Westwood Road Yucaipa, CA 92399 Pittsfield, MA 01201 Medic/275- U274- Ruth

ADAMS, Francis M. ELFSTEN, Donald E. 15820 S. j . Lawrence Rd. 6 West Mission Avenue Charlotte, NC 28273 Kellogg, ID 83837 F/276- C/275- Barbara Jo

BATES, john P. FELLMAN, Norman D. 2801 W. Sheridan 344 Airport Road Midland, TX 79705 Bedminster, NJ 07921 K/274- Ann B/275- Ruth

BLAKEMAN, Walter R. FERGUSON, Richard M. Rt. 2, Box 3 2205 S. Seneca Ashland, IL 62612 Wichita, KS 67213 B/275 -Opal C/276- Sonya

BROCKMAN, Chester GRETIUM, RobertS. 200 White Road 2649 WilloWick Dr. Red Bluff, CA 96080 Sandy, UT 84093 1/276- Elsie C/276- Deborah

CIESLIN, Walter j. HARP, Ramon C. 59 Brooktree Rd. Box 708 East Windsor, NJ 08520 jay, OK 74346 HQ/1 Bn/275- Corinne C/884 FA - Audrey

CLARK, William R. HATFIELD, Woodford I 398 Porter Street 9008 Terry Road

i Springdale, PA 15144 Louisville, KY 40258 C/276- Mary G/274- Yvonne

COGAN, Earl T. HILL, Oliver W. 1706 E. Beardsley Ave. Rt. 1, Bx 75- 62 Lk. Shr. Elkhart, IN 46514 W. Brookfield, MA 01585 Medic/274- Carmen C/883 FA- Gertrude

CROSS, William A. KOMAS, john 302- 8th Avenue 819 Olim Charles City, lA 50616 johnstown, PA 15904 SV/274- Lois E/275- Emma

DICKEY, Richard H. MASEMORE, William C. Rt. 3, Box 397 31 08 Rices Lane Stanley, VA 22851 Baltimore, MD 21207 ? -Helen F/276- Marjean

DICKEY, Warren R. MciNNIS, Sam P. 1806 East Avenue Rt. 1 Carolina Comm. York, NE 68467 Little Rock, SC 29567 C/276- Emma jean M/275- Ann

DIORIO, Dominic W. MILLER, Donald E. 1 OS Stardust Drive 69 Mellon Avenue Wintersville, OH 43952 Troy, NY 12180 M/275 -Mary C/274- Mary

22

NELSON, Andrew P. 935 Pennsylvania, Ave. Story City, lA 50248 CN/276- Trudy

NOTHNAGLE, john T. 1016 Marcy Iowa City, lA 52249 570 Signal- Gail

PRA TI, Frederick W. PO Box 41 7880 Sacramento, CA 95841 C/275- Patricia

ROESSLER, George E. PO Box 1314 Quogue, NY 11959 H/274- Harriet

ROJAS, Emilio 1620 Cap Ray Ave. N .E. St. Petersburg, FL 33702 K/275- Eleanor

TAKACS, joseph S. 813 Washington Ave. Northampton, PA 18067 N884 FA- Mary

TODEBUSH, Elmer 5644 W . Pine Circle Crystal River, FL 34429 HQ/884- Pat

WHITE, Donald C. 114 Roosevelt Dr. Monaca, PA 1 5061 G/274- june

WINDERMAN, Norman 18848 Argosy Drive Boca Raton, FL 33496 C/275- Sylvia

CHANG ES OF ADDRESS

BAHDE, Robert 2715 Avenue I, #1 0 Kearney, NE 68847

BERNIER, Thomas 4801 Spring Circle Minnetonka, MN 55345

BERRY, Leonard 9111 Sharott Rd ., #504 Poland, OH 44514

BONSALL, Frank D. 401 Bi-State Blvd. Delmar, DE 19940

CROTHERS, Robert 1 000 S. Main St. #528 Salinas, CA 93901

HOOVER, Robert Rt. 1, Box 24A Park Rapids, MN 56470

JOHNSON, Norman 3635- 12th Avenue Anoka, MN 55303

KIPP, Irving 2401 W.SouthernAve.,#319 Tempe, AZ 85282

LEGGED, Mrs. Henry 3504 Cliffridge Dr. Lumberton, NC 28358

LUND, Robert 1931 HoodAvenue Richland, WA 99352

MACKIE, Eino 1923 N. Main Spearfish, SC 57783

MARICLE, Floyd 1590 Princeton Rd. Woodburn, OR 97071

MONTAG, Richard 909 Michelle Colo, lA 50056

MUCK, Orville 3087 Oak Avenue Slayton, MN 56172

NEEL, Robert W. PO Box 24 North Bend, OR 97459

NORDGREN, Mrs. R. PO Box 638 Annandale, MN 55302

PRYOR, Max 8017 Belinder Rd. Leawood, KS 66206

ROGERS, Mrs. Allen 3901 3 Edwards Ct. Grissom Air Force Base IN 46971

SHANNON, Richard 1624 Brandstatt Ave. Yuba City, CA 95991

SMITH, A. Gordon 6729 Dorsett Dr. Bartlesville, OK 74006

70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER

SMITH, Thomas E. Jr. VENCEL, Mrs. Michael YEARGAIN, joseph 5424 Lambsdale 2197 W. Oregon Church Rd. 6774 State Road BB Wichita, KS 67208 Terre Haute, IN 47802 Washington, MO 63090

STANLEY, Raymond VERBURG, William YODER, Allen 5500 E. Kellogg Dr. 205 Easy Street 625 Dougherty Ferry Rd. Wichita, KS 67218 Stuart, FL 34994 Kirkwood, MO 63122

TETLEY, Robert WAGONER, Bert YORK, Clarence 70th Infantry Division

PO Box 373 580 Williams Street 802 N. Seventh St. Association St. johnsbury, VT 05819 Conneaut, OH 44030 Mt. Vernon, IL 62864 President

Alex C. Johnson THOMPSON, john WIGHT, Willard YUP, Robert 833 N. Carlyle Lane

573 W. Cactus Street HCR, 61, Box 280 1 736 Appian Way Arlington Hts., IL 60024 (708) 506-9884

Benson, AZ 85602 Newry, ME 04261 Montebellow, CA 80640 * President-Elect Dale Bowlin

6711 Montana Lane BRABECK, james F. HOLLEY, H. Earle ROLlE, H. Elmer Vancouver, WA 98661

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Editor "Trailblazer"

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Spring, 1993 23

That's right! slippery and it took a while to negotiate it, and take the ftrst house."

Eyewitness says Charlie Co. was 70th's first in Germany

"Our fust POW was a German medic who was treating one of our own boys. We took him and the wounded men to the basement to interrogate them. He told us he had come to the line just the night before and couldn't tell us anything because hedidn 'tknow where he was, either."

Usually there's an eyewitness who comes forward to say, "You were not thefustTrail-blazer to ...... " But this time the eyewitness attests to the legitimacy of a claim.

In the Fall '92 issue, Charles Masters claimed that his outftt was the fust 70th unit to enter Germany. Comes now P a ul Hazelwood, C/274, to second the motion.

"I was a staff sergeant," Paul says, "and I led the 1st Squad, 1st Platoon of Charlie Company into the town Sgt. Masterson de­scribes. Its name was Golpdenbrahn. It was told to me by an officer who said, 'You are now entering Germany.'" It is on the road from Saarbrucken to Metz.

"I walked through the minefield that pro­tected the town, never looking down. I was too busy watching the basement windows of a house from which I was sure we'd be fued

Magazine gone -

replaced Last Sunday my son and I attended a

history collectors show in San Jose. I brought my "Trai lblazer" magazine to set on my table. Needless to say, with so many people about, someone walked off with my copy. Can you send me the Winter, '93 issue? I enclose a fiver to cover the cost and post­age.

Gordon Banbury B/274

(Ed. note: Brother B.got four bucks change. We're always glad to send any back issues still available at no cost. If you want to, you can send a dollar, the cost of postage, to the "TB" petty cash box.

70th Division Assn. Edmund C. Arnold 3208 Hawthorne Ave. Richmond, Virginia 23222

upon. I was leading the assault as explosions were going off behind me. I thought at first that it was mortar fue so I just kept on going till I got through to the Anti-tank ditch that still had standing water in it."

"I hope this authenticates Masterson's story. Other witnesses were Sgt. Walker, who Jed the fust squad, and Sgt. Geryas, leader of the third; he is dead and I don't know what became of Walker."

"The banks of the ditch were steep and

THE SAD SACK . .. . Along with Bill Mauldin's Willie and Joe, the Sad Sack was a memorable figure of military folk lore in World War II. Sgt. George Baker, who drew the favorite cartoon figure, put a 70th patch on the bedevilled grunt in this drawing that he made just for the " Trailblazer" magazine published at Camp Adair.

NON-PROFIT ORG Nl

U.S. S THIR

PERMI - 310 RICHMOND, VA

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