Fall - 70th Infantry Division Association

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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 -----' Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed and Address Correction Requested
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 and 12: There "Were a lot of teenage Trailb
Page 13: L Help Wanted If the proposed 70th

Fall - 70th Infantry Division Association

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