Fall - 70th Infantry Division Association

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Reunion planning tops officers' agenda 

The President Reports - 

The officers of your Association have approved, and I have therefore 

offered an Honorary Membership to Lt. Col. Henry Van Nus Ill , for 

the fine work he has done for the members of our Association. Col. Van 

Nus accepted the appointment with thanks (Story on page 5) 

All of the committee chairmen arc in place, and if you have input for 

them, please contact them directly: 

NOMINATIONS: George Wisdom 

HOSPITALITY: 

TRAILBLAZER 

AWARD: 

TIME& 

PLACE: 

RAFFLE: 

SALES & 

SOUVENIRS: 

MEMORIAL 

SERVICE: 

Ray Malchow 

Gregory Hosford 

Mickey S. Calegary, 

Secy. 

Paul Thirion 

Everett B. Austin 

Wally Cox 

Alex Johnson 

Don Docken 

The proposed History Book now requires your close attention. 

Please carefully consider the expense, and the method of paying for it. 

It will require that we expend a substantial part of our resources. The 

letters I have received are favorable, and from some studies on cash 

flow of the Association resources, made by some members, it appears 

the book can be done without seriously affecting our assets. We arc 

proposing that it be made available without cost to all current and 

paid-up members. Others would be charged a fee. Please give us your 

considered opinion. 

I have recicved some questions as to how we set up the registration 

fee for the Reunion. We take the actual cost of the dinners, the coffee 

breaks, the entertainment and favors , divide it by the best estimate of 

those attending (based on the previous attendance), and pro-rate it. The 

Association treasury has always borne some of the cost, but generally 

the estimates have been close. 

We have proposed this time to set up pre-registration, let each 

member buy the tickets he wants, and not set up any group entertainment 

for free time. Nashville has so many forms of entertainment, we 

will give you a list, and you can check off the items, and be responsible 

individually. That way, you get what you want, and will not be 

required to pay for anyone else's fun. This will be expanded in later 

reports. 

The officers have been considering a strong request that table 

reservations, at least for the Saturday Dinner, be set up. So far this has 

been resisted because of the problems of making a fair division, and to 

take into account all those who have no strong desire to sit exclusively 

with their own unit, and like to mix it up. Some of the units are very 

strong on sitting together. 

We are considering various proposals. to divide the dining room into 

regimental and special troop areas. and making the units responsible, 

or to use a system used by some other units by setting up a reservations 

chairman and committee. so that the dinner tickets would have to be 

turned in and reservations recorded so that control could be maintained. 

It is a problem, but this is your Association, and your wishes must be 

considered and accommodated, if possible. We arc studying the 

The President's Report 

DeLyle Omholt 

problem and will resolve it before long. 

We are also considering a small change in format of the meeting. Up 

to this time we have held a general members meeting, voted on the 

proposals and elections. and then have gone into the unit meetings. By 

the way, we will have a meeting room for the special troops and 

non-regimental units at this Reunion. We have felt that it might be more 

appropriate for the units to meet first, and after the proposals and 

discussions were held. to then meet in general assembly to vote and 

decide. We will formalize this thinking. and offer it to you in later 

issues. 

AI Thomas, as the present Secretary-Treasurer. has suggested, and I 

must say l agree with him, that the Treasurer be bonded. After all he is 

handling over $40.000 of Association money, and handling it well. 

However, prudent fiscal policy tells us that a bond be required. The 

officers are considering it , and the only thing holding them back is that 

requiring a bond now would cast some shadow on the treasurer. 

However, AI tells me he would feel more comfortable handling the 

money if he knew it was protected according to good business practice. 

In that connection, l have always felt that an audit committee should 

check over the report of the Secy-Treas, and check the investments, 

and make a report to the members at the Reunion . These two items go 

hand-in-hand, and we may well implement them. 

Other than these items. the Reunion is the main business. Irene and I 

will be making another trip to Nashville to finalize matters. I am 

confident that this will be a great Reunion, and we will do all in our 

power to make it so. I look forward to seeing all of you there. 

is published four times a year by the 70th Infantry Division 

Association far its members and friends. Subscription: $10 

annually. 

Editor 

Edmund C. Arnold 

3208 Hawthorne Ave. 

Richmond, Virginia 23222 

Associate Editor 

Chester F. Garstki 

2946 No. Harding 

Chicago, Illinois 60618 

Volume 45 

Number 3 

Fall, 1987 

President 

Delyle Omholt 

Box 335 

lola, Wisconsin 54945 

Vice President-East 

Edward Cloonan 

100 Harland Road 

Waltham, Massachussetts 02154 

Vice President-West 

Neal C. Gibbs 

11910 Moonlight Road 

Olathe, Kansas 66061 

Secretary-Treasurer 

Alvin Thomas 

203 So. Major St. 

Eureka, Illinois 61530 

President-elect 

Norman Johnson 

3344 Bryant Ave. 

Anoka, Minnesota 55303 

Asst. Sec.-T reas. 

Louis Hoger 

5825 Horton St. 

Mission, Kansas 66202 

Chaplains 

Alex C. Johnson 

833 N. Carlyle 

Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004 

Rev. Don Docken 

920 Third St. 

Hudson, Wisconsin 54016 

2 

70th Division Assn TRAILBLAZER

Old Times 

was company clerk forM. He writes a monthly 

news column for the paper of Aladdin Shrine. 

He's had practice writing, which he loves to 

do. During combat he had to write letters to the 

next of kin of men ki lled in action. Previous to 

joining the 70th he had been with an ASTP unit 

at the University of California. 

In case your outfit-or * even two or three of 

you-are planning a mini-reunion , be aware of 

the fact that you can get back issues of the 

"Trailblazer'' magazine for just the postage. 

The magazine makes a dandy souvenir and 

recruiting brochure for non-members of the 

Association. Just drop a line to AI Thomas 

(address at the foot of page 2). 

A mini-er reunion * was combined with a 

wedding party to mark the 60th anniversary of 

Cecil and Billie King. Among the 300 guests in 

Kansas City were five of his buddies from 

B/275. So the next day they got together for 

some Trailblazer reminiscing. On hand were 

Earl and Evelyn Collins, Ken and Nell Holloway. 

Gene and Mary Lou Regan , Tom and 

Marie Spiegel and AI and Ventura Weigel. 

Fully realizing what happened when we 

named " the only 70th twins'· and also "the 

youngest Trailblazer,'' we will still hazard the 

opinion that a 60th wedding anniversary. if not 

the only one in the Association, is still a major 

rarity. 

Who's been holy wedlocked longer than 

that? 

* 

And still the mini-reunions arc reported. 

Alvin (HQ/883) and Ruth Thomas's home 

was a busy place in June. George Hummer 

(another 833 headquartcrcr) and his wife May 

and Jim Laycock (A/883) came on a Wednesday 

evening. Next morning came Presidentelect 

Norman Johnson (A/883) and his Millie. 

CARVER, Dryden "Pat" 

2308 Mesquite Avenue 

Las Vegas, Nevada 89101 

HQ 1st Bn/27 4 

Died Aprill6, 1986 

5 

EDMUNDS, Harry (Bob) . 

H/276 

3rd Division 

Died in 1945 

As the Hummers left, Ray (B/274) and Phyllis 

Yadon arrived. Laycock left Friday noon. 

President DeLyle (H/276) and Irene Omholt 

checked in Saturday for the day . (W ith a quorum 

of offices, some urgent Association business 

was transacted). 

Al's sister had died in Kansas so he and Ruth 

went there for the funeral. Coming home they 

stopped off at Olathe, Kansas. for a visit with 

Neal (L/274) and Beverly Gibbs. At the moment. 

only the Thomases occupy 203 So. Major 

Streci in the town where Ronald Reagan 

went to college. 

Alvin had done such a good job as scck-trcz 

for the 70th that he has been elected secretary of 

his Rotary District. And them ain't marbles 1 To 

celebrate, he and Ruth arc taking a trip to and 

through Alaska. 

We have a strong hunch * that Warren Culp. 

C/274. is pulling o~ r leg. On the Archives form 

he filled out as he became a member recently. 

he circled "Most memorable military expcrien.ce, 

Happiest military experience and Unhappiest 

...·'and wrote "Loved every minute 

of it. ·· Well. I hope so. 

Warren is an administrative executive for 

Scars Roebuck in the Midwest and Southwest 

states. He and his wife Joyce live in Oklahoma 

City and have two daughters and a grandchild. 

Remember the cover * shot on the Fall, '86 

"Trailblazer"? It showed Gene Gadomski 

E/276, taking a breather during the Forbach 

battle. With him is a (hitherto) unidentified Gl. 

Now , thanks to Jim Mosier. we know it is 

" Robbie" Robertson. "A roadblock was being 

blown up when this picture was taken. I 

joined E/276 in St. Jean Rohrbach, France. and 

was with it during the rest of the fighting. 

Thanks for running the picture." 

We urge you again to hang on to back issues 

of this magazine for a little while. We arc 

always getting identification of photographs 

that have run previously. Unfortunately, space 

is so tight that we just can't run the photo the 

second time. So you' ll have to refer to your 

own copy to match the picture with the new 

name. 

GROTHEER, Karl K. 

Rt 5, Box 331 

Pittsburg, KS 66762 

C/275 

Died June 7, 1987 

GOODRICH, Ernest 

1567 Union Street 

Schenectady, NY 12309 

K/274 


HILL, Harvey 

C/275 

Died November 29, 1974 

MORAN, Frank 

2447 Jefferson Blvd. 

Hagerstown, MD 21740 

HQ/275 

Died July 10, 1987 

RENSTROM, Harold N. 

1866-17th Avenue 

Moline, IL 61265 

Medic 3 Bn/27 4 

SHARRITT, Dean W. 

3109 Oakmont Avenue 

Dayton, OH 45429 

B/274 

Died July 1987 

Milan Rataj . 70 MP. * is 69 yean, old. But 

Social Security ain't got all of him yet. He qiJI 

farms a little. "mostly as a hobby." and has 

been working for a grain and feed store in 

Munden. Kansas. He 's a 70th long-termer. 

joining us at Adair in August '43 and assigned 

to the MPs. Stayed a Trailblazer till after the 

war when he went to' the 3rd Division MPs . 

After the Division officially * came home. 

manned by 3rd Division high-pointers. most of 

our men went to the 3rd or the 28th. If you were 

transferred to a different unit (except for a 

short. transient placement. be sure to let us 

know. 

And if you have friends in the 71 st who can 

tell us what that outfit did after it grand fa thered 

the 70th. put us in touch. 

Another photo identification. * In the Spring 

'87 issue there were two pictures. one of an 

indoor theatrical performance. the other of an 

audience at such a soiree. The singer has been 

identified as Pat Krewson of The Dalles. Oregon. 

Now comes an identification of some of 

the audience . : . although it was not at th~ 

1 

same show. Htlman Knapp. M/276. says~y 

group of his buddies can be recognized. They -t, 

arc Ernest Martin. Philip Kellner. Steve 

Lipton. Dallas Murphy and Hi l. himself. He 

says there arc other M-mcn in the photo but he 

docsn 't know their names. But he knows it was 

not at the program that Miss Krewson sang at. 

There arc two doctors * in the Charles Danny 

Pruett family. Charlie. L/274. is a medical 

doctor in Bluefield. Virginia. His son Charles 

David is a Ph .D. The elder Charlie joined the 

70th at Adair. He fought through the ETO. then 

was transferred to the 45th Division. They were 

going back to the States. en route to Japan. But 

that ~ar ended and he was discharged in November 

'45. 

He and his wife Edna have another son. a 

daughter and two grandchi ldren. He has been 

honored by the Virginia Coaches Associat ion 

for service to high school athletics. 

* 

STEPHENSON, John P. Jr. 

PO Box 36 

Lillington, NC 27546 

U275 


ZEREGA, Larry 

Co. E, 3rd Platoon/275 

Died February 9, 1987 

. 

' No other information 

available. 

Taps 

4 


) 

Mail Call 

I resent having the best postal service in the 

world being run down. Postmen need encouragement 

not ridicule. Blame management. 

The union is not demanding a big pay raise. 

You have a right to your opinion. But study 

the facts before voicing it on any subject. 

John Curran 

1st BN HQ/274 

11 

TB 11 cover stinks 

Several times has the "Trailblazer" received 

my letters. But this is my first in the negative 

column. 

I received my Summer, 1987 copy today and 

am wasting no time in writing. Whose brilliant 

idea was it to have an awful cover like that? 

(Ed. Note: It showed bayonet practice with one 

Gl dressed in a captured German uniform). 

What is it supposed to prove. the horror of 

War? Such a cover might have been appropriate 

in 1945, but in 1987 it stinks. This is a time 

for healing, not bringing up old wounds. 

Very disappointed, 

John J. Passanisi 

Medics 1st Bn/274 

PYRAMID OF THE SMILE ... 

... is formed by men of C/370 Medics. Miniature icicles 

on the eaves indicate that this was taken at Camp Adair 

during one of the rare freezing spells. (No ice in Leonard 

Wood!) 

At the apex is S/Sgt Bernard George. (The man in the 

window is unidentified). The next two are T/5 James 

Preston (left) and T I 4 Tom Stumfall. The solid base is (from 


Charlie Norman 

ranches in Nevada 

In the last issue you reported that I had given an 

Association membership as a gift to Charles 

Norman. But you put him in the wrong state. 

He has a ranch at Tuscarora, NEVADA, not 

New Mexico. I'll catch hell from Charlie as I 

fish on his ranch in June and September and 

ice-fish in January. He's the wagon boss and 

now he may kick me off hi s ranch! 

Also note that my name is spelled with an e, 

not o. That 's because I am of Danish 

Norwegian descent. Swedes spell it with an o. 

I have now enlisted four new members in the 

Association and more to come. 

John Andersen 

D/370 Medics 

D/274: Write! 

I was with D Company, 274th. I haven't heard 

from anyone in the outfit since I left Germany 

in August of 1946 and haven't even seen a 

reference to D in the " Trailblazer." I would 

like to hear from all or any . My address is 27 

Fairview Avenue, Lynn, Massachusetts 01904 

Donald Dixon 

D/274 

Henry's still looking 

My wife and I took a 5-week, 5,600-mile trip 

this spring. First stop: Phoenix, Arizona. We 

called on Col. Frank (HQ/882) and Ruth Arnbrecht 

and John (B/882) and Lillian Clifford. 

The six of us had lunch that lasted for hours as 

we swapped war stories. 

On to California, Utah and Wyoming. In 

Kearney, Nebraska we saw Robert (another 

Battery B man) and Phyllis Bahde. Still in 

Nebraska, in Fremont, we visited Emerson 

and Oma Mae Myers. 

I've been keeping in touch with several B 

men over the years. Since Lester Hunt moved 

from Lincoln, Nebraska, I've lost track of him. 

I'd appreciate any information about him. 

Henry Inselberger 

B/882 

A few kind words 

I do not think enough of us, members of the 

70th Association, have ever really thanked you 

properly for your editorship, your hard work, 

all that you do and what you put into the 

Trailblazer! 

We, I am sure, just take it for granted! I wish 

to personally thank you and tell you, you do a 

wonderful job, a job well-done by a real pro! 

Exactly the same thing can be, and is , said 

for Chester Garstki, assistant editor and the 

photographer-and his wonderful pictures. 

Tom Higley 

C/275 

Tower, then and now 

I read with great interest your story identifying 

the mortar observer in the battle for the Tower 

in Forbach. 

Lt. Kwiakowski (sp?) (we all called him 

Kelley) was the artillery forward observer from 

the 884th FA Bn. He was from Buffalo, N.Y. 

I was in the 884 fire direction center at the 

time. Kelley radioed in a fire mission. I asked 

for coordinates and he replied, "The hell with 

coordinates; fire at the Tower. " And we did. 

I've visited there a couple of times and it's so 

peaceful. The trees have grown back and everything 

was green. The hospital just below the 

hill on which the tower was located is now 

closed. 

Arno H. Denecke 

884 FA Bn 

Another Tower vet writes 

In the Spring ' 86 "Trailblazer" is a photo of 

three guys in the tower above Forbach, taken 

the morning after the famous attack. The one 

pointing to the wall is me. I don't know who the 

other two are. (One is the editor, then and now, 

of the " Trailblazer.") 

I' m glad I get the magazine. I enjoy reading 

it and it brings back lots of memories. 

I would love to get in touch with a Spanish 

boy I shared a foxhole with. All I know is his 

nickname, Lobo, and that he came from New 

Mexico. If anyone knows anything about him , 

please let me know. My address: Route 3, Box 

69, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901. 

Paul Venable 

11276 

Back to Forbach 

Enclosed check is for life membership in the 

70th Division Association. Although I had 

been aware of the Association for some time, it 

was not until Ken Cochrane, L/276, contacted 

me and gave me an associate membership that I 

realized how active the association is and what 

Continued on page 8 

left): T/4 George Kicker, S/Sgt ... Silva. Sgt Melvin 

Vaughn and T/3 ... Lichener. Curtis Eakin sent in this 

photo and we assume he took the picture. 

This photo has withstood the years remarkably well. 

Please note that we can use only those picture without a 

trace of browning. 

s

One man's battle: 

As Docken saw the taking 

of Philippsbourg 

By Donald Docken 

C/275 

The Germans mounted an offensive called 

"Nordwind" early in January, 1945, to relieve 

pressure on the Battle of the Bulge, just to the 

northwest. Strategy was to cut across Alsace in 

northeastern France and sever our lines behind 

Strasburg. The regiments of the 70th were 

rushed up from Marseilles ahead of the division 

artillery which was still on its way from the 

states. The three regiments, were called Task 

Force Herren. When the Third Army moved 

north to relieve Bastogne, the lines to the south 

and east became very thin. Our regiments were 

sent in to plug the gap and drive back the 

German offensive. 

We moved into Phillipsbourg, a small picturesque 

village, in the middle of the Vosges 

mountains, nestled in a valley between two 

high ridges. There was only one road through 

the town, but on the north side there was a 

juncture of two roads, one from the north, the 

other from the east. It was a strategic town 

which the Germans needed to bust through to 

the main road south of Strasburg. 

Cos. A and B/275 took up positions in the 

hills flanking the village. My company, C, was 

assigned to secure the town itself. Our squad of 

the 1st Platoon was moved out on the edge of 

town to guard the main road coming from the 

north. As BAR man , I was in the point along 

the shoulder, covering the road with a line of 

fire. As my ammunition carrier and I dug our 

fox hole, everything seemed quiet. But we 

began to get anxious when we saw people 

fleeing down the road with all their possessions 

stacked high on horse-drawn wagons and handpulled 

carts. We saw fear in their eyes, but they 

were in a hurry and did not stop to talk. That 

night out "baptism of fire " began as the German 

88's begaJtcreeping up the road toward us. 

In the distance we could hear the faint discharge 

of the shells and then a couple seconds 

later the descending whine and the terrible 

explosions around us. Fear gripped us as the 

88's came nearer and finally were right on top 

of us. It is a very helpless feeling not knowing 

whether the next shell would have your number. 

Shells landed all around us, but since we 

had dug good fox holes only a direct hit could 

harm us . 

me and calmed me at the time because I knew 

that if I was killed my Lord would take me 

home and give me eternal life. Many prayers 

were uttered that night. In the morning some of 

the equipment we had left on the edge of the 

foxhole was completely blown away by the 

close shelling. Some veterans said that it was 

some of the worst shelling they had ever experienced. 

That morning the Germans attacked the town 

from the rear. They had broken through the 

lines on the flanks and had infiltrated behind 

us . Our platoon sergeant John Purvis came 

running up to our foxhole and told us we were 

needed in the back of the town to repel the 

Germans. We set up a position in a house 

looking across the valley to the southwest and 

began firing on the enemy who were running 

from house to house. We used some tracer 

bullets in the firing in order to set the houses on 

fire and remove their cover. 

Suddenly we discovered that the Germans 

were also attacking down the north road we had 

just left. My chances of survival would have 

been pretty slim, sitting there in the first foxhole. 

On the other hand, we might have blunted 

the attack and prevented any further advances. 

To counter this new turn of events we 

quickly set up a line of defense in the middle of 

the town, which, by this time, was completely 

surrounded. On the high left ridge, right next to 

the village, the Germans were seeking to move 

into the town. The main street became a vicious 

alley of flying lead and shells, as the Jerries 

tried to come up the street from the west. 

Several things stopped them. A 50-caliber 

machine. gun was set up in the middle of the 

main street by several of our brave soldiers and 

officers. They would run out and fire the gun 

down toward the Germans, right in the middle 

of the hail of fire. 

ONE OF OUR SQUADS occupied a 

house that had a line of fire up the right 

side of the village on the slope. A 

group of Germans tried to advance along this 

slope to outflank our defense. The BAR man 

saw them and let go a stream of fire which cut 

down several of the Germans and completely 

scattered the whole bunch. The weapons pla- 

Dates de Ia Liberation des communes environnantes 

THE MAIN PURPOSE of artillery, if 

enemy troops are well dug in , is to 

demoralize. During the night we could 

hear cries of fear and terror, but our men held 

fast. The closest hit to me was just a few feet 

away, deafening us and sending sand and dirt 

flying into the foxhole; but my buddy and I 

were unhurt. My Christian faith strengthened 

6 

THE 70TH BROUGHT FREEDOM .. . 

to many of the French cities shown on 

this map with the date of their liberation. 

This map was prepared as a souvenir by 

the committee that headed the celebration 

of the Trailblazers' victory at 

Stiring-Wendel. 


Heroism 

of few 

turns tide 

of 

battle 

toon, Co. D, got an observer up in the tower of 

the church on the main street and directed 

mortar fire on the enemy positions until he was 

forced down by heavy frre. However, the mortars 

had their correct readings and poured in the 

rounds. The distance was so short that the 

mortars were firing at practically 90 degrees. A 

part of Co. C got to the top of the right ridge and 

were able to pick off many infiltrating enemy 

soldiers. 

It has been said before and demonstrated 

before, but I can say from personal experience, 

that the outcome of a battle depends so many 

times, on the heroic efforts of a few men placed 

at strategic places. The Battle of Philippsbourg 

corroborates this observation. If it hadn't been 

for the efforts of some of these men, we may 

not have held the town until reinforcements 

came. 

The tide of the battle was definitely turned 

around. Troops moved in on both flanks and 

pushed the Germans back. However, there 

were heavy casualties and we were saddened 

by the number killed or wounded by artillery 

and rifle fire. 

The effectiveness of the German anti-tank 

gun was demonstrated before my eyes in Philippsbourg. 

Our tanks were going to roll right 

down main street and rout the enemy. However, 

a few anti-tank shells put a stop to that. 

The first tank took a shell right in the front, and 

it went through the armor clean as a whistle. It 

was terrible to hear the explosions inside the 

tank and hear the cries of the tank men as they 

scrambled out of the hatch. A second tank tried 

the same thing and met the same fate before 

they finally realized that they were no match for 

the German anti-tank gun. Finally, the tanks 

were parked under cover until the infantrymen 

could overcome the German position. 

During the battle our squad was ordered to 

positions to improve our line of fire. We 

climbed out of the windows of the house on the 

south side and jumped to the ground. The 

German snipers on the left ridge saw us right 

away and opened up with rifle fire and directed 

mortar shelling upon us . A mortar shell landed 

right in front of me, but miraculously nothing 

hit me and all I felt was a stinging in the face 

and a temporary deafness. In the jump from the 

window the stock of my BAR was broken, but I 

picked up another in the next position and had it 

in working order within a few minutes. 

While we were manning the lines in the 

houses, we were trying to figure out different 

ways we could get back at the Germans. From 

the west window we had a clear view of a pill box 


quite a distance away. We had a bazooka with us 

and we thought its shell could penetrate the 

pillbox. The range was too far for this gun, but 

we thought it was worth a try anyway. After 

shooting a couple of bazooka shells out the 

window with little success, we suddenly had to 

duck for cover because the German 88s zeroed 

in on us . However, the houses there were strongly 

built and little damage was done to us. 

The battle ended as we moved down through 

the town and reoccupied all of it. After things 

quieted down, I guess the higher-ups felt we 

were in precarious position. At any rate, the 

orders were to pull out, and we took up new 

positions in the hills. 

WE FOUND OUT later that Co. B had 

been surrounded outside the town at 

the beginning of the battle and many 

of the men ended up in prison camps in Germany. 

Co. A was able to break out and move 

dangerously through enemy lines avoiding artillery 

shelling by staying to the lee of the hills, 

finally getting back to our lines after many days. 

AlettertomyparentswrittenJan.l6, 1945 , is 

a young man's immediate reaction to the evil of 

war. 

''Things have been pretty hot for us the last 

two weeks and I haven't been able to get a letter 

off. 

''My mind is absolutely stripped of any traces 

of reason for war-as if there was any there in 

the frrst place. Maybe the overall picture justifies 

what goes on up here, but from an infantryman 

's point of view, it is hard to see. A lot of 

friends are not here any more which is a terrible 

reminder of the evil of war. It makes more 

solemn the fact that they should not die in vain. 

Every once in a while I have to stop and justify 

what goes on here, by thinking ofthe great cause 

we are fighting for." 

The only thing I would add today is that 

whenever our country thinks of using force let it 

be very sure that it is necessary and just, and that 

it is the absolute lesser of two evils. However, 

once force is used, do it quickly and with swift 

and complete action. War is still "hell," and no 

one knows it better than the front-line infantry 

man. He wants to get in and out as quickly as 

possible. Unfortunately, in this world of evil, 

just men must be ready and willing to risk force 

to keep evil at bay. 

Life Membership grows and grows 

The number of Life Members has increased 

sharply during the past quarter. 

There are now 247 names on this select 

roster. 

While regular dues took a modest rise at 

the last Reunion, membership as a Lifer remains 

the same, $100. Such membership 

saves you writing an annual check, it reduces 

by a little the big job of the secretarytreasurer 

and it enables the Association to 

invc~: such funds. The latest contingent 

includes: 

William Haines, Pendleton, Oregon; 

Raymond Adams, San Angelo, Texas; 

James Pendleton, Canoga Park, 

California; 

Warren Wilson, Randolph, Iowa; 

Hugh Andrews, Westbrook, Maine; 

James Spirito Santo, North Port, Florida; 

Oelrich, James, Belleville, Illinois; 

Elmer Parkin, Pocatello, Idaho; 

Roger Conarty, Albuquerque, New 

Mexico; 

Albert Ernes, Kent, Ohio; 

Charles Johnson, Wisconsin Rapids, 

Wisconsin; 

Eugene Krueger, Milaca, Minnesota; 

Eugene Stouder, New Paris, Indiana; 

Leo Beck, Mitchell, Nebraska; 

Joe Hall, Coral Gables, Florida; 

Glenn R. Huesgen, Kirkwood, Missouri; 

Earl Koontz, Niles, Michigan; 

Ralph Stockman, E. Grand Forks, 

Minnesota; 

Michael Tucci, Holyoke, Massachusetts; 

Marlin Weakly, Moline, Illinois; 

Robert Cantrell, Seymour, Missouri; 

Albert Crum, Winters, California; 

Edgar L. Higgins, Youngstown, Ohio; 

Anthony VanDeWege, Denver, 

Colorado; 

James Conkwright, Manhattan, Kansas; 

Leonard Berry, Newton Falls, Ohio, and 

John Holihan, Long Beach, California. 

THE COVER ... 

... shows Pfc Stephen Kedzior of the 

70th Military Police in house-to-house 

fighting exercises. Tracer bullets have 

set fire to the thatched roof. at the left. 

Trailblazers found out later that, no 

matter how realistic training tries to be, it 

can only approach the reality of actual 

combat. 

In Europe, for instance, there was 

door-to-door action. But the only similarity 

between such combat and this 

practice session is the Rathskeller sign. 

German and French houses in the villages 

simulated here were always masonry 

instead of wood. The blue fatigues 

and the leggings indicate that this 

scene was at Camp Adair. Shortly after 

this the far more practical combat boot 

became standard issue. (Photo by 

Chester Garstki) 

7

1\ 

J 

More Mail 

L 

Continued from page 5 

I had been missing these many years. 

I went overseas with K/276, took over L Co. 

as Company Commander and subsequently 

became S-3, 3rd Bn, 276th, so I could be 

identified with all of these units. 

The "Trailblazer," is outstanding and has 

brought back many memories of Camp Adair, 

Fort Leonard Wood, and of course France and 

Germany. I made a brief visit to Forbach a few 

years ago and was pleased to see the recovery 

and modernization made since the war, although 

it did make it a bit difficult to identify all 

the buildings and routes L Company used in 

February of '45. 

The wall around the riding (now soccer) field 

next to the caserne is still there and retains a 

particular significance to L Co. The Germans 

were covering with machine guns the street 

running along the wall and the open spaces 

between the built-up part of Forbach and the 

hills that the 276th had captured overlooking 

the city, thus holding up any quick frontal 

entry. Two squads of L broke, with a rifle 

grenade, the lock on the single gate in the stone 

wall, and then L infiltrated single file from the 

wooded hill through the gate, taking the caseme 

and attacking the flank and rear of the 

Germans in the front tier of buildings facing the 

hills and the rest of the regiment. That same 

afternoon the Company continued down the 

first two streets, and as I remember, capturing 

more Germans than we could handle. 

This was the first permanent entry of our 

forces into Forbach proper and facilitated the 

movement of the remainder of the regiment 

down from the hills into the city. 

What a pleasant change it was to see the 

modern Forbach with a beautiful park extending 

up to the Schlossberg, and a wedding taking 

place in the caserne. 

Roger Conarty 

3rd Bn HQ/276 

Talk about hairy experiences. * Rober t Magay, 

HQ/275, remembers moving mines some 200 

yards from one minefield to another- with no 

safety pins in place' "Walking away from that 

one was my happiest military remembrance, " 

he says. His first wife, Mary, died in I 98 I and 

he married Lea in 1983. He has two children 

and two grandchildren. 

Did you pay the proper 

amount of dues this year? 

By action of the Association in 

Portland, dues are now $10 annually. 

If you forgot and just 

sent in $7, don't bother writing a 

separate check. Just add the $3 

to your current dues which are 

due now. 

This from Alvin Thomas, 

secretary-treasurer. 

70th man; top jurist 

Another Trailblazer has risen to the top ranks 

of the American j udiciary. 

Charles B. Blackmar, G/274, was sworn in 

as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Missouri. 

He was company exec officer during 

combat. 

If that isn 't enough to earn a place in history 

books, look at this: His wife Jeanne is an avid 

golfer. She finally persuaded him to take up the 

game. On the first round that he ever played, he 

got a hole-in-one. It was on a 3-par 145-yard 

hole and he used a 5-iron. 

The Association extends congratulations for 

both achievements. 

J ohn Krochka, L/276, * thinks it would be 

fun to have a golf tournament-for men and 

women- the day before the Nashville Reunion. 

If you're interested, drop a note to him 

at 2335 N. Haven Blvd., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 

44222. 

Byron McNeeley, * 1/274, lets us know that 

the cover of the Spring issue of the " Trailblazer"-exercises 

in a field of daisies, remember?-'---,showed 

his l st squad of the l st 

Platoon. He was squad leader at the time. 

* 

Although his service with the 70th was relatively 

short, it got Berna rd Rogers off to a 

good start. He wound up as Suprerne Allied 

Commander in Europe. 

Fresh out of West Point, he came to Company 

B of the 275th and served at Camp Adair 

in '43 and '44. In June he retired, honored by 

many friends including Caspar Weinberg, Secretary 

of Defense, and the secretaries of the 

three services. (That's pretty pretty heavy 

company.) Also at the impressive ceremonies 

was Robert J. Davenport, F/274. 

General Rogers acknowledged the help of 

" many mentors who helped me along the way 

starting with l st/Sgt Bellotty of B Company. 

275th, and ending with the NATO Secretary 

General, Lord Carrington." 

* 

J. Lynn Hughes, F/274, had a really memorable 

celebration on his 19th birthday: A 

forced march through the scenic Vosges. 

He'd gone through a series of training camps 

before he joined the 70th at Leonard Wood. 

And after combat he served with various Ordnance 

units in France. 

He was a high school teacher and is now a 

registered professional sanitarian with the Arkansas 

Board of Health. He's married to his 

childhood sweetheart, Dora Acre, and they 

have a son and a daughter. 

One of the participants * in the famous Battle 

of the ToweJ at Forbach is J ohn Corso who 

was a forward observer for his Battery B. 

884th. 

He recently joined the Association. " I had 

often wondered why our outfit never had a 

reunion. Then Ernest Richards contacted me 

and told me about the Association. AI Thomas 

sent me some back issues of the " Trailblazer" 

and that certainly stirred up old memories. I 

joined at once. 

" I was flabbergasted to read about Jack 

Griffi n being an infantry sergeant. Four of my 

kids had graduated from Bishop Borgess High 

while he was principal there. I had talked with 

him on a few occasions and it would have been 

great, had we known we were in the same 

outfit. 

'' 1 noticed that the man I relieved up front at 

the Tower, Jack McCormack, is a member. 

Maybe I' ll meet up with him again." 

Although this is the * umpteenth time we've 

said it, we say again: Too many of our old 

buddies are denied the pleasure of fellowship 

because they don't know the Association ex- 

8 


ists. If you have some old friends who fall into 

that category, why not ask AI Thomas to send 

them a copy or two of the magazine?' ' 

A liberated chicken * provided the main 

course for Stuart Lucas's 19th birthday dinner. 

It was in Putlingcn. Germany. right after 

his 1/276 had crossed the Saar. It was almost as 

much fun as he had when he arranged to give 

food and gifts to the little kids of Witzcnhauscn 

at Christmastimc in 1945. 

* 

He volunteered for infantry duty, did Larry 

Shultz, D/274. He joined the Army in '42 and 

earned the Asia-Pacific Theater ribbon up in 

Alaska. He still winces at the thought of the 

voyage to Anchorage in a cattle ship. He joined 

the 70th at Adair. A carpenter by trade . Larry 

and his wife Barbara have five children and II 

grandkids. 


FULL FIELD INSPECTION ... 

. . . shows men and equipment of the 

70th all set to move from Oregon eastward, 

eventually to Europe via Fort 

Leonard Wood, Camp Kilmer and Miles 

Standish. Units seen here are not identified; 

do you see yourself in this photo 

by Chet Garstki? 

You 've undoubtedly * heard about the great 

Detroit Renaissance that brought new life to the 

shabby downtown area of Detroit. Maybe you 

even saw the Grand Prix race through citycenter 

streets this summer. Well, one of our 

guys was involved. 

Harold Bellamy, H/274, is head planner for 

the city. 

Before joining the 70th at Adair. he had 

served with a transportation unit in New Orleans, 

in the staging area at Vancouver, Washington 

and the MPs in Oakland, California 

The good memories come back, he says: 

VE-Day, shell racing at Rudisheim, recon trips 

to Mainz and Koblcnz. And the uncomfortable 

ones, too: Christmas Eve at Bischweiler, transporting 

victims from concentration camps, 

driving his jeep over a mined road in Behren, 

Germany. 

He's a member of the Urban Planning Institute 

and the American Theater Organ Society. 

His wife Arlene died last winter. They had 

three children. 

9

New Members 

ADAMS, Raymond E. (Betty Jo) DAVIS, William V. (Bette) 

Rt 2, Box 400 

9590 El Portal Court 

San Angelo, TX 76905 Ventura, CA 93004 

F/274 A/274 

ADDISON, Michael H. (Marie) DEMSICH, Marcus A. (Eleanor) 

5720 Blake Place #10 14158 Bade Drive 

La Mesa, CA 92042 Warren, Ml 48093 

E/276 G/275 

BAINES, Charles D. (Betty) ENGLERT, Edward P. (Ann) 

320 Federal Drive Rt 2, Box 223 

Anderson, IN 46014 Owensville, MO 65066 

B/884 FA HQ/274 

BENDA, Roy A. (Anna) 

GARLACH, Jack E. (Helen) 

6126 Westbrook Road 1109 N Curtis 

Cedar Falls, lA 50613 Olathe, KS 66061 

D/275 C/275 

BRISTEL, Albert E. Jr (Opal) GINGRICH, Harvey 

Rt 3, Box 225, Sorghum Road 2312 Colebrook Road 

Wheeling, WV 26003 Middletown, PA 17057 

F/276 SV/ 882 FA 

BRUGGER, Walter 

HARRELL, Reid M . (Billie) 

138 Walnut Street PO Box 432 

Westfield, PA 16950 Anson, TX 79501 

SV/882 FA D/275 

BUMGARDNER, Norville HUBLER, Eugene W. 

(Leone) Rt 2, Box 125 

1365 Federal Avenue Birdsboro, PA 19508 

Laporte, IN 46350 1/274 

CORSO, John (Clara) HUGGINS, Charles L. 

12950 Beaverland Box 13 

Detroit, Ml 48223 Minburn, lA 50167 

B/884 FA A/274 

HUGHES, J. Lynn (Dora) SHERRELL, Wilbur B. 

2300 S. R Street 12771 SE 86th Avenue 

Fort Smith, AR 72901 Clackamas, OR 97015 

F/274 B/270 Engr 

HUMPHRIES, George R. SCHULTZ, Larry M. (Barbara) 

PO Box 338 Rt 2, Box 53 

Salem, AR 72576 Floyds Knobs, IN 47119 

A/274 D/274 

JULIEN, Hershey 

SPIES, Thomas (Eunice) 

50 Rideway Drive 703-24th Street 

Paso Robles, CA 93446 Cloquet, MN 55720 

SV/882 FA 

70 Recon 

KOY, Joseph F. (Lois) 

SPRADLIN, Raymond A. (Vir- 

Rt 1, Box 221 

ginia) 

Dix, IL 62830 

344 Union Street 

D/275 Bluefield, WV 24701 

U274 

KRUKOWSKI, John E. (Leona) 

925 Hayes Road STAMEY, G. S. (Ruth) 

Toledo, OH 43615 

1137 Prospect Avenue SW 

H/274 Canton, OH 44708 

U274 

LUCAS, Stuart G. (Jane) 

1719 Morton TENNIS, Joseph E. (Gladys) 

Ann Arbor, Ml 48104 

Rt 1, 2300 Wildwood Circle 

1/276 Albert Lea, MN 56007 

LUNDY, William J. (Ruth) WAGONER, Bert (Edna) 

465 S. Madison Avenue #214 1869 Benjamin Road 

Pasadena, CA 91101 North Madison, OH 44057 

70 Recon 

WERNETIE, Justin 

MILLS, Norman E. 

8383-50th Avenue 

411 Stately Pines Road Remus, Ml 49340 

New Bern, NC 28560 F/275 

MORGAN, Chester L. (June) WHITE, William L. (Lupe) 

1409 High Street 7700 Parkway Drive, Villa 46 

Hamilton, OH 45011 LaMesa, CA 92041 

F/274 B/884 FA 

PRUETI, Charles D. (Edna) WOLF, George J. (Kathleen) 

2319 Verdun Heights 16164 Muskingum Blvd. 

Bluefield, WV 24701 Brookpark, OH 44142 

C/274 70 Recon 

X 

10 

REEECON REEEUNION . .. 

Thirty men and wives of the 70th Recon Troop gathered 

for a not-so-minireunion in Chicago this spring. 

Standing (from left) are: Walter Shugart, Harry Dean, 

Dale Iliff, Jack Norling, Robert Clark, William Tipps, William 

Nadler and Don Johnson. 

Seated are Bob Smead, Forrest Gail, Richard Guy, 

Tom Spies, Jack Cassidy, William Lund, George Wolf and 

Charles Eldridge. Chester Garstki, official photographer 

of the 70th Division Association, lives in Chicago and was 

invited over to take this picture. 


YANNIAS, Steve C. FISHER, William MARKLAND, Robert 

14Y2 Madison Street 3707 Manchaca Rd ., # 146 308 Redwood Drive 

Oak Park, IL 60302 Austin, TX 78704 Holiday, FL 34691 

HONORARY MEMBER 'FLOSI, Mrs Toni (Shirley) McCORMICK, Jack 

11603 N 91 Way PO Box 109 

VAN NUS Ill, Henry Lt. Col. 

Scottsdale, AZ 85260 Bluffs, IL 62621 

AUS (Ret) 

25372 Hugo Road GREGOW, Arthur MEARS, Ralph E. 

Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 3611 Scarlet Tanager Dr. 19819-63rd Ave. Ct. E 

CHANGE OF ADDRESSES 

Palm Harbor, FL 34683 Spanaway, WA 98387 

HAINES, William 

BECKEY, George 1911 SW 42nd MORRILL, Keith 

3500 N. Dirksen Pky, Lot 131 Pendleton, OR 97801 7400 Crestway # 1401 

Springfield, IL 62702 San Antonio, TX 78239 

BUNDY, Dean 

HIGGINS, Edgar 

836 Cambridge Avenue 

MORROW, James 

16950 Covina Road Youngstown, OH 44502 

1114 Bunker Ridge Trail 

Bend, OR 97707 

HOBEN, Michael 

Soddy Daisy, TN 37379 

CRUELL, John 15830 Gleason Lake Dr. NAEF, Robert 

101 E. Brighton Plymouth, MN 55447 6415 N Ridge Rd, Lot 39 

Mandeville, LA 70448 

HUSKINSON, Hal 

Madison, OH 44057 

DAILEY, Theron Suite 2131 PEARSON, Thomas 

3403 Dudley Street 1420 NW Gilman 330 Home Avenue 

Sarasota, FL 34235 Issaquah, WA 98027 Terre Haute, IN 47803 

DONOFRIO, William JUAREZ, Benancio POLSTON, Ernest 

11060 Gifford Drive 8089 Old Austin Rd. #l74A 238 S. Denny Street 

Spring Hill, FL 34608 San Antonio, TX 78233 Indianapolis, IN 46201 

ELWELL, Cecil KAPPEL, J Donald REARDON, Paul 

11804 Gate Way 83 Hickory Hills Rt 2, Box 2539 

Austin, TX 78727 White Haven, PA 18661 

Fleetwood, PA 19522 

Axe-head Archives 

Whenever we get a letter with colorful exotic 

stamps. we know it 's Ted Mataxis reporting in 

from some remote corner of the earth. This 

time it's from Peshawar, Paki>tan. He reports: 

"Well. my 'tour' out here this year is about 

over. I am working for the Committee for a 

Free Afghanistan for three months each year 

since '83. I spent years out here with the Army 

so this is 'old home week.· 

"The war is heating up here with the Soviet 

air force striking across the border and their 

agents planting bombs and rocketing key installations. 

"I am also working with the Cambodians. 

organizing a Committee for a Free Cambodia. 

(This is based on the Afghanistan organization 

for which retired Brigadier General Mataxis is 

field director). I was chief of the military mission 

in Phnom Penh in 197 1-72 and have kept 

in touch with senior generals. So when they 

asked me to help. I stopped off at Bangkok. 

(Thailand) for a couple of weeks to go up to 

their location on the Cambodian border. I'll be 

stopping there on my way back home again (to 

Southern Pines, North Carolina) ... 

A lifelong resident * of Chattanooga. Tennessee, 

James (J .C.) Lawrence, A/275. died 


there in March. He had been employed at the 

Chattanooga Armature Works for 37 years 

previous to his retirement and he and his wife. 

Velma lzetta had just marked their 40th wedding 

anniversary. 

* 

Docs anyone remember "Crash" Campbell, 

70 Recon? If so, please let us know. He used to 

live in Portland , maybe still docs. So some of 

our Oregonian friends might try the phone 

book . 

Lt. Bruce Campbell was a well-known stock 

car racer, and in the 40s was an outstanding 

stunt pilot and driver. Someone has sent us a 

clipping from the "Portland Oregonian" for 

March 3, 1947. Good ol' Crash had just imported 

a custom-built, creamcolorcd German 

roadster that he had bought in Germany for 

3500 Marks and brought home with him. 

The word around Division Headquarters was 

that Crash was anxious to sec some action. And 

getting a medal would be nice. So he'd grab a 

jeep. "volunteer" a couple Gls and roar off to 

the German lines. It is probably apocryphal but 

there is a story that he was discouraged from 

doing this by a bullet from one of his own men 

that prevented him from sitting down for a 

considerable time. 

'Roof, Mrs Ora 

2037 Ashmore Drive 

Dayton, OH 45420 

ROOS, Max 

Box 1674 

Zillah, WA 98953 

SHARPE, Thomas 

1344 Leisure World 

Mesa, AZ 85206 

SHOOK, Wayne 

Box 118 

Spencerville, IN 46788 

SKAGGS, Mike 

155 Bell Street 

Mt Zion, IL 62549 

SMITH, Edgar 

605 Mt Airy Drive 

Johnstown, PA 15904 

SQUIRE, George 

970 Holiday Court SW 

Salem, OR 97302 

SWANSON, Glenn 

PO Box 421 

Hayward, WI 54843 

WRIGHT, Randall 

1301 U.S. 27 

Falmouth, KY 41040 

"Associate members 

********** 

Lieutenant General James 

L. Richardson who was G-3 for 

the 70th Division, died at the age of 

77 at Letterman Medical Center. Funeral 

services were conducted January 

23 in the main chapel at The Presidio, 

headquarters of the Sixth US 

Army that he commanded before his 

retirement in 1967 after 37 years of 

serv1ce. 

He served in both the European 

and the Pacific theaters in World War 

II and in the Korean War. He commanded 

the 25th Infantry Division 

against the Japs. He was later deputy 

chief of staff for personnel in the Pentagon. 

Unusual for a general officer, he 

won a Purple Heart as well as the 

Silver and Bronze Stars. A native Nebraskan, 

he was a West Point alumnus 

and a graduate of the Naval War 

College and the National War College. 

He leaves his wife Louise, two 

daughters and three grandchildren. 

During his Trail blazer service he 

was regarded as one of the finest, 

ablest and most humane of all Division 

officers. 

********** 

11

There "Were a lot of teenage Trailblazers in 

No wonder I, at the age of 32, felt like an 

ooold ooold man in the 70th ' There were a lot 

of teenagers aboard and many of them are now 

entering their names in the " Baby of the Battalions'· 

sweepstakes. (Or, as some prefer 

" Younger Veterans. ") 

A combat veteran who joined the Army at 

the age of 14-and was kicked out two years 

later for being too young-may be the youngest 

Trailblazer. We place his name at the head 

of the adjacent list but put a question mark right 

behind it because we don 't have any specific 

dates. 

Rex Jeffrey, F/275, sends along a photocopy 

of a newspaper clipping. Abysmally weak 

on specifics, the story says that William D. 

Burch had arrived at Camp Shanks, New York 

to be separated from the Army. His age was 

given as 16 at that time. Unfortunately, the 

idiot who wrote the story didn' t put in any 

dates, either of Bill 's birth, induction into the 

service or return from the ETO. A couple other 

glaring errors make the documentation less 

than engraved in stone. Supposedly he enlisted 

in Des Moines at the age of 14, solemnly 

affirming he was 18. He was in combat all 

through the 70th's service there. 

Anyone who has any information on Brother 

Billy will undoubtedly tell us. Especially if this 

claim is inaccurate. 

Harold Osias, C/276, sends in a change of 

address notice (thereby saving the Association 

60c, thank you!) and a PS: " I was born May 

16. 1926, which may make me the youngest." 

Charlotte Sample (who in the last issue asked 

members to write to her severely ailing husband, 

Robert Sample, B/276) says: Bob's 

birthday is June 27, 1925. He continues about 

the same. They get him up · for about an hour 

every day in a wheelchair. He continues to fight 

infections. Quite frankly, I don't know how he 

has continued to hold up under all that he's 

been through. l trust we wi ll continue to be in 

your prayers." 

Noah Kennedy, E/276, went on to become a 

justice of the 13th Court of Appeals of Texas, 

an office he still holds. " I was born February 

28, 1926 and was 18 when l went overseas. I 

marked my 19th birthday in the !24th General 

Army Hospital near Salisbury, England. (Ed. 

Note: When the 70th Division returned from 

Europe in the fall of '45, we were put up in 

Tidsworth Barracks, almost next-door to the 

hospital.) I have since learned that most of my 

squad was killed or wounded. The only survivor 

that l have heard of is Gene Volz, of 

Willow Green, Pennsylvania, who became 

squad leader and, th rough correspondence, has 

provided me with most of my information." 

* 

In the same Company. I of 275. was Rudy 

Senser who was born April 21, 1926. "I enlisted 

in January, '44 and went into ASTP. 

When that program dissolved, I came to the 

70th. 

" In less than an hour after contact with the 

12 

enemy-on New Year's Day, '45-1 was on 

my way to the rear with a machinegun bullet 

through my thigh. This occurred near Phillipsbourg 

in what is incorrectly referred to as 

'The ambush on the Bitche Road ' in the book 

'Ordeal in the Vosges.' It really wasn't an 

ambush; they simply didn 't want us to take the 

road to wherever it was going. 

"After six weeks in the hospital in Epinal, 

France. l returned to my unit. Everyone was 

getting ready for another assault in mid 

February. During that time and until the end of 

March, my complexion turned a pea-green 

from fright. I didn't lose that color until! found 

that the Germans were retreating faster than we 

could advance." 

And yet another "younger elder": Writes 

Robert Worley, C/275, " My birthday is May 

17 , 1926 (which puts him just about halfway 

between Everett Austin and Nevin Rauch, 

both C/274) I enjoy the 'Trailblazer.' For one 

thing , l never really knew where I was until you 

describe the incidents and explain them with a 

map." 

Another 19th birthday was "celebrated" in 

an unorthodox manner by Bob Clark, C/275. 

" I was born on New Year's Day, 1926. My last 

teen birthday was marked as we went into 

YOUNGEST SWEEPSTAKES 

1929? 

1927, May 1 

All in 1926 

August 12, 

June 27, 

June 26, 

May 25, 

May 17, 

May 16, 

May 12, 

May 8, 

May 6, 

April 29, 

April 21, 

March 21, 

March 20, 

March 9, 

March 9, 

March 5, 

March 3, 

Feb. 22, 

Feb. 28, 

Feb. 14, 

Feb. 11, 

Feb. 9, 

Feb. 5, 

Feb. 3, 

Jan. 29, 

Jan. 26, 

Jan. 21, 

Jan. 20, 

Jan. 5, 

Jan. 1, 

William D. Burch 

R. D. Kelly 

Matthew Warminski 

Robert Sample 

Joseph Kenavan 

Nevin Rauch 

Robert Worley 

Harold Osias 

Norman Grover 

Frank Frohlich 

Everet Austin 

Wellstood Tipton 

Gerald Thaw 

Rudy Senser 

Albert Ernes 

Stuart Lucas 

Wtllt Winebreener 

John McGuire 

Vincent Ravitz 

Gene Krueger 

William Hines 

Noah Kennedy 

Bill Owen 

Leon Hyatt, Jr. 

Raymond Wilkinson 

Roy Scherre 

William Griffin 

AI Hedrick 

Edward Savois 

Jack Apostol 

J. Lynn Hughes 

Herbert Gallahan 

Jack Barton 

Bob Clark 

Philippsbourg. I have been a member of the 

Association for two years and would have 

joined earlier if I had only known about it. " 

Born a year and two days later, May I , 1927, 

is R. D. Kelly, Medics/275. 

* 

··1 may not be the youngest Trailblazer," 

concedes William Griffin, 1/275, "as I was 

born February 5. 1926. "But I bet I'm the only 

one drafted out of the I Oth grade' 

" That was in May, '44. F.D.R. was saying 

'Mamas. your 18-year-olds will not be sent 

overseas.' At the same time Capt. Long was 

saying to me: 'Griffin, do you want to stay with 

your outfit'7 This is where your buddies are. 

Now don't you want to ship out with thcm·r 

"'Ycssir 1 Ycssir' I'm ready' Please don't 

split me off from my friends. Sir, I have hardly 

been out of Arkansas and here our President is 

trying to sabotage my free trip to France and 

Germany..· 

"Easy ride on 40-and-8 through France. 

Used tic rings to swing my shelter half into a 

hammock . . the best bed on the train. 

" Saw tracers and was the first into a ditch in 

an ambush. Came off the hill wi th frozen feet , 

spent 19th birthday in hospital. Rejoined Item 

Co. in February. Got it in the butt from a tree 

burst and back to the same hospital. Penicillin 

(new then) every three hours for 28 days 

whether I needed it or not. Research? 

Back to I. week after VE-Day. Lined up and 

watched the girls go by. No touch !! Enjoyed 

V J-Day with a party in the rain. 

"September. 1945. I'm in the 3rd Division, 

somewhere. Now I am a cook. 

"December 25 . To the 78th in Berlin. Prime 

duty. Touched the girls. Played good game of 

basketball. Now I am a supply sergeant. Without 

stripes, though. Rc-uppcd for 90 days. 

" July, '46. Back home in Arkansas. Later, 

agriculture degree from U. of Arkansas. Spent 

years with Farmers Home and National Park 

Service. Retired; became self employed in real 

estate. Threw away the clock and calendar. 

Now 61; gonna work till I' m 100. 

"Thank you, God, for permitting me to live 

in this great country, in a great period of history. 

And for allowing me to be a participant. 

And , Capt. Long, the circumstances of my life 

that you took part in brought me home with a 

whole body and healthy mind. My memory of 

you is full of love and affection ." 

* 

He knows he won't be the youngest, says 

Roy Sherre C/276, but he is among the youngest. 

" I was born February 5, 1926, and I'm just 

a few days older than William Hines who was 

in Charley Company with me. I joined the 70th 

at Leonard Wood and stayed with C Company 

until they began to break us up. I was sent to the 

29th Infantry in Frankfurt then finally enl isted 

70th Division Assn TRAILBLAZER.

945 

in the regular Army and joined the 2nd Divi;ion 

in For't Lcwi>. Wa;hington. 

Jmt four day; later. Raymond Wilkerson, 

G/275. checks in at February 9. 1916. He 

joined the Division in Mi;sourl and left in July. 

1945. 

We don't have to take his word for it. Vincent 

Ravita, U275. sends along a 'Stat of hi; 

discharge paper>. It say> he was born March 5. 

1926. And he say;: '"The 'Trailblazer· is a 

great magazine which I read from cover to 

cover. I am finding out more and more of what I 

was going through during that period.·· 

Stuart Lucas, 1/276. even contributed to Ma 

Bcll"s coffers with a phone call from Ann 

Arbor. Michigan. '"My birthday is March 20. 

1926.'' 

Another February. 1926 birthday: AI Hedrick, 

C174. whose date is the 3rd ... If you 

want to know how our platoon fared. just read 

Page 14 (of the Summer issue) ... We took the 

first German POWs. ··Andy Martinez was our 

platoon leader and has advised everyone over 

the years how thi> platoon did. We were the 

best! .. 

Drafted at the age of IS-and-a-third. Norman 

Grover, 1/27-L was born May 16. 1926. 

He joined the 70th as a replacement in early 

February. 1945. Bryon Me eely was his platoon 

sergeant and Harold Weilson was CO. 

ow. unless there is some sen;ational development. 

that closes the contest. Sec the 

chart next door and you pick the winner. 

* 

.. This morning is the day I take time to let 

you know that I was one of the youngest to 

serve with the Division. My birthday is February 

I I. 1926. I served with G Company. 

274th Regiment. under the famous Captain 

Fred Cassiday.·· 

So writes Leon Hyatt, Jr. 

··1 joined the 70th at Leonard Wood and 

remained with it until the division was ready to 

return to the states. Since I did not have sufficient 

points to come home. I remained in the 

occupation army for another year. 

"'I was wounded slightly at Wingcn. but was 

kept off of the front for only a few hours. I wore 

the two bandangcs put on me by a ba~c front 

medic until the war was over. Other than the 

few hours in Wingen. I was involved in every 

combat action of our company until tlic end of 

the war. 

''Since I was reared just a few miles from the 

Gulf of Mexico and had seen snow only once 

prior to the winter on the front in France and 

Germany. I think I had as great a battle with the 

snow and ice as I had with the enemy. Not 

many in our division were from the deep south. 

so I have few contacts with former Trailblazers. 

That fact makes the magazine all the 

more meaningful to me.·· 

Leon is director of the church extension 

department of the Louisiana Baptist Convention 

in Alexandria. 

Fall, -1987 

Buddies seek honor for dead hero 

The deeds of a brave man shine brightly 

forever. 

An interval of more than 40 years between 

World War II and today is being erased as 

comrades of the late Lt. Harold Wilson scch 

official recognition of his heroism. This report 

comes from Kevin Corrigan. 1/274. who is 

taking an active part in the proceedings: 

There is effort underway to secure a Medal 

of Honor for a Trailblazer. 1st Lt. Harold D. 

Wilson of Item Company. 174th. was killed in 

action during the attack on Stiring-Wendel. 

March 3. 1945. 

This is what happened: Wilson was company 

exec. and was not expected to lead the assault. 

He volunteered to accompany the lead platoon 

on the approach. When the platoon leader. was 

killed unexpectedly by mortar fire. Wilson 

took command and led two assault platoons 

through heavy mortar and artillery fire. across 

fire breaks and directly through the Siegfried 

Line pillboxes. 

Early in the attack they came straight into an 

enemy pillbox and ran into thick mines and 

intense machine gun fire. After continuing to 

move his men forward on their stomachs. and 

realizing the problems he faced. he quickly 

redeployed to his right. leading his men in a 

broad flanking maneuver through . heavily 

wooded terrain. He then brought them back out 

of the woods and moved into a new assault. 

They again encountered heavy machine gun 

fire. but with room to maneuver in the open. 

Wilson kept his men moving forward rapidly in 

short rushes across. Traversing a deep tank trap 

along the way. he led the advance troops into 

the first line of houses in Stiring-Wendel. silencing 

the machine guns with accurate rifle 

fire and taking prisoners as they went. By this 

time the Item Company's lead troops were in 

advance of the other clements in the regimental 

attack. Wilson quickly secured his position as a 

dcfcn;c against artillery and counterattack. 

He then realized that many of the Item Company 

troops and accompanying Combat Engineers 

were still behind them and were exposed 

and vulnerable. He wanted to get them under 

cover as quickly as possible. In urging them to 

join him. he had to expose himself briefly at an 

upstairs window. Within seconds he was shot 

twice in the chest by a sniper in one of the 

bypassed pillboxes. Though wounded earlier in 

the morning. these shots were fatal. 

Wilson ·s conduct on this day was typical of 

his entire time on the line. When his Battalion 

Commander. then Lt. Col. Karl S. Landstrom. 

received the report of Wilson's actions. 

he recommended him for the Medal of Honor. 

Only recently did Col. Landstrom. an active 

member of the 70th Division Assn .. learn that 

his recommendation had never proceeded 

through channels. 

He is trying to redress this oversight and has 

made a formal request to the Army Board of 

Correction of Military Records. 

LeHerheads for sale 

Bargain! Bargain! 

You can buy 50 Trailblazer letterheads 

and envelopes for only 

$4! Each is printed in the regular 

70th red-and-green. Stationery is 

sent postage paid. Just send a 

check to Alvin Thomas, address at 

foot of page 2. 

Medal seeker is honored 

Scores of Trailblazers have received World 

War II decorations-especially from the 

French government-through the volunteered 

good offices of Henry van Nus Ill , retired 

'lieutenant-colonel in the Army of the United 

States. 

He devotes countless hours helping veterans 

of all Army units obtain their earned medals. 

To recognize this service, the officers of the 

70th Infantry Division Association have 

elected him an honorary member of the Trailblazers. 

President De Lyle Omholt sent him the 

following letter and a calligraphic certificate 

will also be presented: 

It is my privilege and honor, pursuant to 

the advice and consent of the Officers of our 

Association. to make you an Honorary 

member of the 70th Division Association. 

This membership entitles you to the 

Trailblazer. our quarterly publication , and 

also, we intive you to attend our Reunions. 

The next one is at Nashville, September 

29th through October 2nd. 1988. We would 

certainly enjoy introducing you to our 

membership. You will be receiving a card 

from our Secretary confirming the 

appointment. 

This Honorary Membership is given because 

of your voluntary and courteous service 

to our members in getting the recognition 

from the foreign countries in which 

they served their country. Our Association 

is grateful for your efforts. we arc glad we 

can show this appreciation in this small 

way. 

If you have not received all your medalsespecially 

those from France-you may contact 

Henry at 25372 Hugo Road, Laguna Niguel, 

California 92677. Please send a stamped. 

self-addressed envelope. 

13 

y

L 

Help Wanted 

If the proposed 70th history book becomes a reality, 

here are some things the editors would like from you 

as soon as possible: 

A sentence or two of your first-and followingimpressions 

of Camp Adair. 

The same about Fort Leonard Wood. 

And about your first sight of Europe. 

Yourfavorite anecdote, Stateside or during combat. 

Acts of heroism, leadership or other admirable activities 

of you or your buddies. 

One sentence about: The M-1 rifle, Sporn, KP, maneuvers, 

night exercises, Oregon rain, trying to shine 

combat boots, (-rations, the anti-fraternization rule, 

or any other little Army item that made your military 

career so entertaining. 

What your wife or sweetheart was doing while you 

were in service. 

Your favorite city, USA or Europe, for R&R. Have 

you gone back there as a civilian? 

Two sentence observation on your post-war careers. 

If possible, please typewrite, double-space. Send 

material to Edmund Arnold or Chester Garstki; their 

addresses are at the foot of page 2. 

We are hoping to get a contribution from every 

member of the Association. If space doesn't allow all 

to be printed in the book, they will be printed in the 

magazine. This is your history book, a recollection to 

leave to your children and grandchildren. So be sure 

to take the opportunity of having your stuff published. 

The Editors 

The following items are needed 

immediately for the proposed 70th 

history book. (If the membership 

does not approve the book, these 

will be used in the "Trailblazer" 

magazine): 

"Notice of Classification" that the 

local Draft Board sent to you after 

you registered for the draft; 

"Report for Induction" -order 

that put you in uniform; 

"Discharge Certificate" -that 

paper! 

"Qualifying Record" which 

showed the score for the weapon in 

which you were proficient; 

"Rapid Fire Recording 

Sheet" -miniature target showing 

your qualifying firing; 

"Berthing Card" -which assigned 

you sleeping space on troop ship to 

or from ETO; 

"Mess Card"-which assigned 

meal times on such ships; 

Menus or programs for Christmas 

or Thanksgiving dinners or other 

special events; 

Furlough railroad tickets-which 

gave special fares to servicemen; 

''Three-day Pass"; 

"APO Notice" -which told 

Stateside families how to address 

mail to you in the ETO; 

Red Cross chit; 

Record of medical shots; 

Any paper associated with your 

Army life: Bus tickets to Portland, St. 

Louis, Rolla, etc.; tickets for USO 

shows or theaters; special orders, 

promotions, medals, etc.; laundry 

list; any receipts, etc. (Please note: 

Newspaper clippings are not being 

sought). 

Were you at the * liberation of any 

Nazi death camp, particularly Had- 

a mar? 

Were you on the Yachats bivouac 

when a Japanese submarine fired 

on the American mainland? 

Were you a prisoner in the 

basement of the church at Wingen? 

Were you in any action where 

the 70th used flame throwers? 

Typewritten copy is preferred but 

is not mandatory. Double-space 

and use only one side of the paper. 

Now-please note: Do notrepeat 

NOT -send the originals of 

paper items. Just send photocopies. 

This will help us determine whether 

our printer can use the item for 

platemaking. If we can use it, we'll 

contact you. Send copies to the editors, 

Arnold or Garstki, whose addresses 

are at the foot of page 2. 

'x 

1 

\ 

Archives 

Kind fate gave Gerald Holder. N274, his 

21st birthday present a day early. It was his life. 

And while he didn't get a cake, he did getbelatedly-a 

treat for his sweet tooth: A 5-gallon 

container of jelly. Let him tell it himself: 

"On the night of February 24, 1945 , I and two 

buddies were stationed in an o utpost on 

Spicheren Heights for observation. At approximately 

II p.m. I was standing watch when I 

heard an 88-mm shell coming in. As I squatted 

down in my foxhole our three M-1 rifles fell 

across my back. We took a tree-burst. The 

shrapnel damaged all three rifle stocks that had 

fallen across my back. But I did not get a 

scratch! 

"The next day was to be my 21st birthday 

but I was in doubt of ever seeing it. I was scared 

every minute I was up there on the front lines 

and anyone that tells me he was not is either a 

14 

liar or a fool. And I did my share of praying and 

I thank God today for bringing me home safe. 

" I was pretty much of a poor writer when it 

came to sending letters home, so when I finally 

did make it home I had not written my mother 

for several weeks. I believe she was the happiest 

person in the world as I walked into the 

front yard, as I had not even written her and told 

her I was coming home. 

" I just got through talking to Glenn R. 

Huesgen from Kirkwood, Missouri. He is the 

first person I have talked to since I joined the 

Association. It sure makes you feel good to talk 

to a friend and buddy. 

''He remembered a number of the comrades' 

names, one was Sergeant Dugan, also Carpenter. 

He also remembers crossing the Saar 

River and going into Saarbruecken. It seemed 

everyone was carrying a 5-gallon can of jelly 

around as we had not eaten for two or three days 

and we had found a jelly factory. He also 

remembered our taking a pillbox on Spicheren 

Heights. There was a tank sitting behind the 

pillbox with its motor running. We got quite a 

few German soldiers out of it. Some looked to 

be 14 or 15 years old on up to some looked to be 

70 years old. 

" It sure was nice to get to talk to Glenn and 

hopefully I will get to see him at our next 

reunion in Nashville. 

Incidentally, although he docsn 't mention it, 

Gerry won two Bronze Stars. 

Ask a question; you * get an answer. Most of 

the time , that is. Let's hope this is one of the 

most times. 

Leo Beck, H/274, "would like to hear from 

anyone with information about William C. 

Steele from Pennsylvania. We were buddies 

until the time when I got hit ncar Wingen. From 

then on I lost all contact." Leo's address: 16 15 

13th Avenue, Mitchell, Nebraska 69357. 

And Arthur Layton. * H/276. wants to know 

"Who was the medic for our company in February 

and March, 1945 , around Forbach? He 

was very tall-about 6'2"-and wore 

g lasses." Art's number is P.O. Box 338, 

Nashville, Georgia 31639. 


Members to vote 

on history book 

Shall the 70th Division Association spend a considerable portion of 

its treasury to produce a history book that will be distributed free to all 

members? 

A proposal made by "Trailblazer" editors is receiving widespread 

support. But a more formalized vote will give officers the mandate to 

proceed with this project. The ballot below should be filled out, signed 

and returned to Secretary-Treasurer Alvin Thomas before November 

15 , 1987. 

Only a few objections have been raised to date. One is that the 

history ought to be written by the official historians of the Association. 

Another is that our funds-when the Association finally dissolves as its 

members die off-should be given to an appropriate charity. The 

Army-Navy Relief Fund and the George C. Marshall Foundation have 

been mentioned. Each is a worthy group. (Our own Ross Millhiser, 

N275, is the chief officer of the latter.) 

Another questions what the Association's obligations are to life 

members. There ought to be a sufficient reserve to service such 

members, of course. The question is how long is a " life" membership 

and what services should be rendered. It is obvious that "life" must 

refer to that of the organization. not an individual's. We have members 

who can well expect to live to 2026 A.D. By that time there will be only 

a handful of members left in the Association. What services ought- or 

could- be rendered the few survivors? Today the major services are 

the "Trailblazer" magazine and the biennial Reunions. It is financially 

impossible to produce a magazine like the one we now have for, let's 

say, a hundred members. And a Reunion would probably be just as 

impractical for a membership that low . 

The problem needs study. of course. But whether the lifemembership 

situation affects the history book is one the members will 

decide by their vote. 

The original proposal suggested that a history book like this is an 

appropriate expenditure, that it would make a good legacy for a veteran 

to leave to future generations. 

Before you vote, you should consider these points, however: 

I. It will take over a year to produce this book. The price may well 

be increased although all estimates are on the conservative side. The 

worst we can foresee is that members would be asked to pay postage 

and handling expenses, these should be no more than about $2.50. 

2. The official records of the United States Army will be the basis 

for the book. All historical accounts are challenged; this is the case with 

the 70th's story, too. Personal recollections of the total confusion of 

battle will vary drastically among individuals. The editors are in no 

position to evaluate the accuracy of any one man's recall. Supposedly 

the official historians of the Army have adjudicated discrepancies in 

accounts and have decided upon that one which seems most correct, 

given all evidence. 

3. Members will have to rely on the competence of the editors. If the 

"Trailblazer" magazine is not satisfactorily written , the editor can be 

replaced. This luxury is not possible with a book; there will be no 

"corrected edition" to follow it. 

• Clip, vote, mail NOW 

D YES. Appropriate $32,000 from the Association 

treasury to produce a history book of 

the Division. 

Name: 

Unit (Company, battalion, regiment, etc.) 

Treasurer's Report 

Alvin Thomas 

Balance 4-1-87: 

First Bonk of Eureka ....... ..... . .... ... ... .... .. . 

Citizen Saving & Loon Association (Eureka) ...... ... . 

T otol Balance ....... .............. ............ . 

RECEIPTS: 

Dues-Regular (61(

'We took first POWs' 

But opinions differ on w~o 1s 'we' 

Of course. we all knew it would happen. Someone says .. I was fir'>t 

. . . or youngest ... or oldest or something ... and immediately 

someone else says ... Oh. no! I was'" 

In the last "Trailblazer. .. Andy Martinez, C/274. claimed a first: 

The first 274th unit to capture German prisonen •. That claim may be 

valid. But Tom Higley, also C but of 275. says his outfit took POWs a 

day or two earlier. 

Tom reconstructs events this way: .. The I st Bn of the 274th arrived 

at Niederbronn 'before sun-up January 4. 1945. · (Although Andy 

doesn't mention the exact time of their feat. it"s assumed it wa'> later 

that day. the 4th.) 

'"But two days earlier. Lt. Harold Nelson, later KIA. and T/Sgt 

John Purvis, went north from Philippsbourg and brought back some 

German prisoners and a German vehicle. They marched their prisoners 

down the main street of the village and. at the south end. turned them 

over to Battalion. Many men of my Company C witnessed this exciting 

event. 

"Further. on the late evening of the next day. January 3. Lt. Bussy 

Holmes led our 2nd Platoon. and five Sherman tanks in the first all-out 

attack into ihe village of Philippsbourg which was by then. held by 

Germans; that is. all the north. and most of the central. part of the 

village. We lost over half of our platoon in that attack and three of the 

tanks. We attacked with fixed bayonets and I had the pleasure of being 

ordered by the kid lieutenant. Holmes. to lead the attack on the right 

side of the street . 

.. When we reached the houses. Germans surrendered tow. and I can 

safely place the figure at no less than a dozen who were pushed on back 

to the south. Further of interest. perhaps this is a thriller: Among our 

prisoners were two or three women in German uniforms and they had to 

be the most filthy. dirty messes of human beings as ever '>Cen! They too 

were pushed to the rear. 

"You will note that in both these caIBn 274 arrived at Niedcrbronn 

and then were rushed to our rebourg 

proper. had lost 75'7c of ih men.·· We must note that Andy Martinez 

claimed the first prisoners in his regiment, not in Task Force Herren. 

the organization we were fighting in during January. It wa'>n ·t until 

early February that the three infantry rcgimcnb were reunited and 

joined with Divarty and other Special Troops to again become the 70th 

Division. 

A super idea! 

Several Trailblazers are giving 

Association memberships as gifts 

to old 70th friends. Some are doing 

it anonymously-what a 

pleasant mystery to the recipients. 

Others announce the gift. 

In either case, it's a generous 

and thoughtful gesture. How 

could you possibly find a more 

meaningful gift for ten bucks? 

Think about some old 1945 

buddy you'd like to surprise and 

delight. 

SERVICE WHILE YOU WAIT ... 

. . . at this field ordnance facility of 70th 

Division Headquarters Company. 

Under command of Lt. Hubert Green, 

lower right, the company was on field 

exercises near Airlie, on the Camp 

Adair reservation. 

Edmund C. Arnold 

3208 Hawthorne Ave . 

Richmond. Virginia 23222 

Kycek, Leonard 

511 First Ave N W 

Austin MN 

55912 

NON PROFIT 

ORGANIZATION 

U S POSTAGE 

THIRD Ct ASS 

ERMIT - 1310 

CHMOND VA 

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Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed and Address Correction Requested

Fall - 70th Infantry Division Association

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