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

The 69th Salutes
LTC Robert C. Trimble
LTC Robert C. Trimble presenting his check to
General Emmet H. Walker, Jr.
Submitted by: Robert L. Pierce, President
LTC Robert C. Trimble, Retired, 69th Div. Hq., was
the Association's Camp Shelby Monument Committee
Co-Chairman. LTC R. C. Trimble placed the wreath
at the 69th Infantry Division Memorial Monument at
Camp Shelby September 20th, 1991.
In a continuing effort to capture this historic event
for members of the Association, LTC Trimble, of his
own volition, offered to obtain copies of video and
Press Corps film footage of the events. Footage
acquired was: Introduction of the Project with interviews
with Jack Duffy, Chairman; early Monument
construction; video tape of the "Spirit of Camp Shelby"
narrated by Colonel Smith at the Dalton Hall
Ceremony; TV Interview with Camp Shelby Post
Commander; the Walk of Members and their families
to the Memorial Site; and, footage of the Memorial
Monument Dedication, Service and Taps.
LTC Trimble purchased the local TV tape, arranged
for clarification of copy rights and reproduction,
assembled home video tapes, and arranged for professional
reproduction of the aforementioned products.
Copies of these Camp Shelby Monument Dedication
Ceremony tapes were offered through the Bulletin to
members of the Association. A modest cost increase
was included in the price with the intent of making a
small donation, from the sale of the tape, to the Armed
Forces Museum Foundation at Camp Shelby.
I am pleased to announce that LTC R.C. Trimble
has fulfilled his ambition of completing the task. On
January 22, 1997 he presented General Emmet H.
Walker, Jr., a check for $100 on behalf of the 69th
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Infantry Division Association. General Walker acknowledged
this donation in a letter to the Association
January 22, 1997. Both letters follow.
LTC Robert C. Trimble, Ret., is to be commended
for an exemplary demonstration of dedication and tenacity
in pursuing this long and arduous project. The
Association is proud to have you not only as an active
member, but as a standard bearer for the Association.
* * * * *
Dear General Walker:
On behalf of the Officers and Members of the 69th
Infantry Division Association I wish to offer this small
token of appreciation for the splendid efforts that the
Museum has made in the gathering and preserving of
memorabilia of military units during their periods of
conflicts past.
This small token of thanks was derived from the
sale to members of the video tapes depicting the
reunion held at Camp Shelby in September 1991.
Along with this small gift of $100.00 we wish to also
present to the museum a copy of that video tape for
future preservation.
As it is known the world around, the 69th Infantry
Division was activated and trained at Camp Shelby
under the command of Major General Charles L.
Bolte, and later went on to combat in Europe under
the leadership of Major General Emil F. Reinhardt.
The Fighting 69th's acclaim to fame, as having been
the first American Unit to link up with the Russian
Army in April 1945, will be forever chronicled in the
history books.
Also allow us to thank you personally for your leadership
and interest you have taken in the stewardship
of this institution, The Armed Forces Museum
Foundation, Inc., at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, the
forever home of the Fighting 69th. God bless you.
Respectfully:
R. C. TRIMBLE
LTC US Army Retired
* * * * *
Armed Forces Museum Foundation, Incorporated
Dear Colonel Trimble:
We gratefully acknowledge and accept the Fighting
69th Division's $100.00 donation. Please thank your
entire membership for this and encourage each of
them to continue supporting the preservation and education
of military history at the Armed Forces Museum.
As you know the Armed Forces Museum Foundation
was organized in 1988 and incorporated with the
Secretary of State of Mississippi on 25 January 1989,
thus we are in our eighth year of existence. During
these years, the Camp Shelby Museum has achieved a
permanent foundation and is growing beyond our
expectations. The future is bright as we begin to look
at needed expansions.
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