The Fighting 69th Infantry Division Association, Inc. Vol. 50 No. 2 ...

Unexpected Bridge
from the Past (1945-1995)
Joseph Lipsius
Cannon Company, Headquarters, 272nd Infantry
1354 Bramble Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30329
Telephone: 404/634-7118
The 272 Infantry had two remarkable Regimental
Commanders. First, Colonel Charles T. "Buck"
Lanham, then Colonel Walter D. Buie. They were
diametrical opposites. Lanham, a crop carrying
swashbuckler and not too military in his ways. Buie,
a straight-laced strict disciplinarian, full of integrity
and character. In between was an acting commander,
Lieutenant Bryan Halter. All three were West Point
graduates and career military men. Halter had been
the second in command during the entire training
period but was passed over to be the commander. A
regiment was approximately 3300 officers and men.
I was under Lanham beginning with the 69th
Divison 30 day Officer's Training Class at Fort
Benning, in March or April, 1943, until he left the
regiment after D-Day (June 6, 1944). This class was
my second trip to Fort Benning. The first was Officer
Candidate School Class 27 (OCS) during April, May,
and June 1942. I was commissioned a Second Lieutenant
Infantry, July 2, 1942, one of the military's
thousands of "90 Day Wonders."
Beginning with the Division's Officer Training
Class, and for three or four weeks at Camp Shelby, I
was the Regimental S-2 (Intelligence and Maps) staff
officer, then his S-3 (Plans and Training and
Operations). Lanham promoted me from First Lieutenant
to Captain, but was unable to promote me to
Major, the job's rank, because I had not been a company
commander for six months. We were in complete accord.
He often called me by first name as well as a nickname.
Years after the war, and his death in 1978, when I
thought of our time together, it seemed to me we were
more like a close father and son, than a commander
and his underling.
Lanham was sent out after D-Day as a replacement
Colonel for one of the many killed in the landings on
the French Beachheads and early intense fighting, or
found unfit to lead a regiment in combat after the
first few days. He was sent to the 4th Division's 22nd
Infantry.
Halter took command of the 272 Infantry. We were
poker playing friends. He told me his situation was
temporary and a permanent commander would come
along with some majors to fill table of organization
jobs. I was a captain in a major's job. The wind-up was
his assigning me to be Cannon Company commander
before he left.
The regiment was in the Black Forest on maneuvers
when Buie arrived in late August or September. Most
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of the commanders and staff were at Camp Shelby
undergoing special training called Preparation for
Overseas Movement (POM). Buie came to the field to
observe for a short time. He had just arrived at the
field headquarters when I came to make a report. I
was introduced to him by the acting regimental commander
who had replaced Halter. The introduction
included my present and past jobs in the regiment. I
was still standing at attention when he asked,
"Captain, when did you last shave?" I was trying to
explain the reason for my two day growth of beard
when he sharply stated, in his command everyone
shaved daily before breakfast. Adding, "there will be
no smoking in the command post," pointing to my ever
present cigar. Later, back in Camp Shelby, when the
regiment was tying up loose ends preparatory to
moving out, destination unknown, he came to inspect
my company area. I reported what we were doing
which seemed to satisfy him, but before leaving he
asked me, "Captain, what are the orders regarding
shaving in the regiment?" I replied, "All officers and
men will shave before breakfast." At this he asked,
"Did you follow that order this morning?" Standing
stiffly at attention, I replied, ''Yes sir!" Barking out,
"Next time stand closer to the razor!" he departed. He
didn't give me a chance to explain I had a dark beard!
At Camp Kilmer, on the MS John Ericsson, in
England and in France there were instances where we
were on a collision course. Not from my being insubordinate
but because my previous staff experience as the
S-3, as well as my relation with Lanham combined to
question and find fault at Buie's company commanders
meetings. Finally, Lieutenant Colonel Cecil J.
Kennedy, the regimental executive officer (second in
command), came to my company area in France and
warned me that if I wasn't careful, Buie was going to
reclassify me. This meant demotion and transfer.
On March 1, 1945,
the 272nd Infantry
moved and occupied
a position on the
Siegfried Line. On
March 4th or 5th,
Kennedy phoned me
at Cannon Company
headquarters to pack
my gear, turn the
company over to the
executive officer, and
await a jeep which
was being sent to
bring me to regimental
headquarters to
report to him. On
arrival, the driver
went in and told
(Continued
on Page 45)
Colonel Walter D. Buie
Regimental Commander
of the 272nd