Fall - 70th Infantry Division Association

More documents

Recommendations

Info

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. 70th Division Assn TRAILBLAZER
Page 1 and 2: -or- _oa.> Eg> oa.. u a.> a.> Q)V
Page 3 and 4: Old Times was company clerk forM. H
Page 5 and 6: One man's battle: As Docken saw the
Page 7 and 8: 1\ J More Mail L Continued from pag
Page 9 and 10: New Members ADAMS, Raymond E. (Bett
Page 11: There "Were a lot of teenage Trailb
Page 15: 'We took first POWs' But opinions d

Fall - 70th Infantry Division Association

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?