Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Vol. 95 No. 6 “Nous Resterons La” June 2014
The Official Publication of the Society of the Third Infantry Division, United States Army
The Watc h Rh ineon t he
By Wilber G. Corbitt
[Wilber sent this article on February 14,but we could not publish it until now.–Ed.]
Ijust read the article on page 1 of the
February Watch entitled “Memories of
Wildflecken” by Mike McClintock. I
must say, it really hit home with me and
brought back many great memories.
Mike was in Delta Company, 2nd bat-
tle group, 38th Infantry in Schweinfurt,
Germany. He joined the unit in June 1961.
I joined the unit as a SFC in 1957 at
Harmony Church, Fort Benning. I left
Benning in December ’57 with the 3rd
Infantry Division Advance Party to
Germany to replace the 10th Mountain
Division. The unit arrived from January
through March, 1958. We assumed the
mission of the 10th Division and signed
for all its weapons and other equipment
which was left in place. It was a
“Gyroscope” operation whereby a state-
side unit would replace an overseas unit
without moving any equipment.
In Schweinfurt, the 1st of the 30th and
the 2nd of the 38th battle groups were
located in Ledward Barracks, and some of
the division’s armor, recon, and artillery
were located in Conn Barracks, a short
distance from Ledward. Division
Headquarters was in Wurzburg. The 30th
and 38th had a local small unit training
area a short march from Ledward. Also, as
both battle groups were APC mobile, we
had an area fairly close by for that training
as well. For large unit operations, we
trained at Hohenfels and Wildflecken. In
addition to our constant training, we had a
continual 24-hour-a-day mission called
“Position X-Ray.” In simple terms, the
mission was to provide security for the
engineers, whose mission was to blow
some bridges in the event that became
Please turn to GERMANY on page 7
From the files of Bernadine M. Ginter: the followingarticle, written for the Chicago Tribune byWashington correspondent Steve Daley, was printedin the Buffalo News on December 29, 1991.
Washington—There are matter-of-
fact men, growing old in retirement, worry-
ing about their kids and their grandkids.
The great adventure of their lives was
World War II, and millions of them recall it
now without arrogance or false bravado.
They grew up in the Depression, watch-
ing their parents struggle from paycheck-
to-paycheck. Their reward, in high school,
was a call to war against aggression. They
went, and won. Men still in their teens, like
my father, left home to be set down in the
combat horrors of
Midway Island and
Omaha Beach, of
Leyte Gulf and
Anzio.
They fought the war, as John Steinbeck
wrote, “of homesick, weary, funny, violent,
common men. . .who lug themselves
through as dirty a business as the world has
ever seen and do it with humor and dignity
and courage.”
Their role models weren’t John Wayne
and Audie Murphy so much as they were
Willie and Joe, the wisecracking, woebe-
gone infantrymen of cartoonist Bill
Mauldin’s imagination.
When they came home, most of them
didn’t get those parades we hear so much
about from the angry veterans of other
wars. They came home to work, to create a
prosperity that lasted for a generation, long
enough for their children to make real the
dreams of college and a profession.
As fathers and mothers, they sacrificed
with a selflessness that often seemed alien
to their children. But that sacrifice made
real the dreams of those of us now moving
Please turn to GENERATION on page 7
Generation That . . . Never Asked for Thanks
Reunion 2014This is a final reminder of the Society of the 3rd Infantry Division 95th Annual Reunion in Columbus, Georgia, near FortBenning, June 19-22. Check your April Watch on the Rhine, pages 12 and 13. Don’t miss out. We’ll see you there.
Drawing by BillMauldin, reprintedin the BuffaloNews, 12/29/91.
These beautiful flags were photographed by TomPelon. His brother, Dan, flew these flags over hisplace of business in Wisconsin, from October 31stthrough Veterans’ Day, 2013, in honor of ourSoldiers, past and present. We thank Tom andDan for the beautiful flags and for their patriotism.
Duty in Germany
Page 2
The Watch on the Rhine
The Watch on the RhineThe Watch on the Rhine is the official publication of The Society of the Third Infantry Division, U.S. Army. The Watch on the Rhine is published bi-
monthly for members of the Society by Finisterre Publishing Incorporated, 3 Black Skimmer Ct., Beaufort, SC 29907 ([email protected]). A one-year
subscription can be obtained at a cost of $20.00, renewable annually, by applying to the Society Roster Manager at Society of the 3rd Infantry
Division, 1515 Ramblewood Drive, Hanover Park IL 60133-2230. Opinions expressed are those of the individual contributor and are not neces-
sarily those of the Society of the 3rd Infantry Division or the editor. Both the Society and the editor disclaim all responsibility for paid advertising
appearing in the Watch. Liability for printing errors is limited to the reprinting of the corrected copy in the next available publication.Contributions,
suggestions, and corrections are welcome and should be sent to Lynn Ball, Editor, 2010 Worcester Ln. Garland TX 75040
Awards Committee Nile Stuart, Chair 1720 Elmsford Ave.. La Habra, CA 90631-6424 (562) 697-0695 [email protected]
Constitution and James Strawn, ChairBylaws Committee 868 Saint George Road Danville, CA 94526-6236 (925) 838-7508 [email protected]
Membership Kathleen M. DaddatoChairman 22511 North River Road Alva FL 33920-3358 239-728-2475 [email protected]
Nominations Joseph W. Ball, ChairCommittee 2010 Worcester Lane Garland, TX 75040 (972) 495-1704 [email protected]
Public Relations (Open)Committee
Society Reunion John B. Shirley, ChairCommittee 4218 Drake Way Livermore, CA 94550 (925) 447-2256 [email protected]
Committees 2013-2014
Society of the 3rd Infantry Division Scholarship Foundation, Inc.
Chairman Lynn Ball2010 Worcester Ln.Garland, TX 75040(972) [email protected]
Trustees:Trustees: Jeff DanbyJeff DanbyEarl KillenEarl KillenTom MainesTom MainesMarco MontoyaMarco Montoya
Webmaster:Webmaster: Justin D. ValleJustin D. ValleCFO: CFO: Joe Ball Joe Ball
President O
David Mills 84 Stephania Drive Middletown, PA. 17057-4209 (717) 388-1007 [email protected] Past John FisherPresident 36 Alden Rd Paramus, NJ 07652-3708 (201) 444-9568 [email protected] (Open)Eastern Region VP
O
John Fisher 36 Alden Rd Paramus, NJ 07652-3708 (201) 444-9568 [email protected] Committeeman
O
Kathleen Daddato 22511 North River Road Alva, FL 33920-3358 (239) 728-2475 [email protected] ER Committeeman
O
Bartolo Viruso 116 Harriet Road North Babylon NY 11703-4705 (631) 587-0587 [email protected] Region VP
O
Matthew J. McKenna 303 Hanover Lane Brighton MI 48114-5013 (810) 991-1044 [email protected] [email protected] Committeeman
O
Joe Ball 2010 Worcester Ln. Garland, TX 75040 (972) 495-1704 [email protected] Committeeman
O
Paul Grabert P.O. Box 841366 Houston TX 77284-1366 (281) 859-0521 [email protected]
Western Region VPO
Curtis Gentry 12025 N 61st Drive Glendale AZ 85304-2538 (623) 878-4623 [email protected] WR Committeeman
O
James Strawn 868 Saint George Road Danville, CA 94526-6236 (925) 838-7508 [email protected] Committeeman
O
Clay B. Earnest 2712 Gray Rock Drive Ft Worth, TX 76131 (719) 659-1037 (C) [email protected] President MajGen John Murray CG 3ID (Mech)Honorary VP CSM Edd Watson Division CSM, 3ID (Mech)Editor Lynn Ball 2010 Worcester Ln Garland, TX 75040 [email protected] Duty Liaison Reynold Voisine 275 N. Topi Trail Hinesville GA 31313-5761 912-332-7099 (Home) [email protected] Ray Egan (912) 271-2484 [email protected] Jerome Daddato W 4150 Co. Rd K Random Lake, WI, 53075-1308 (920) 994-2962 [email protected] Tim Stoy 6531 Milva Lane Springfield, VA 22150 (703) 912-4218 [email protected]
Judge Advocate Hon. Bob Poydasheff 944 2nd Ave. Columbus, GA 31901 (706) 327-9415 FAX (706) 327-3958 [email protected] Stephen M. Sullivan 13504 Ospreys View Place Woodbridge, VA 22191-1353 703) 492-7180 [email protected] Officer Bae Suk Lee, MD 3151 Brinton Trail Cincinnati, OH 45241 (513) 769-3627Quartermaster Leonard Collins PO Box 224 Sylvania, GA 30467 1-866-946-6677 [email protected] Bart Viruso 116 Harriet Road N. Babylon, NY 11703 (631) 587-0587 [email protected] Webmaster / Richard W. HellerDatabase Manager 1515 Ramblewood Dr. Hanover Park, IL 60133-2230 (630) 837-8871 e-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.3rdiv.org
LEGEND: O EXCOM
Officers & Staff 2013-2014
The Watch on the Rhine
Page 3
President’s Message
This is a Report to the Membership of
activities as President of The Society
of the Third Infantry Division from 8/1/13
to June 1, 2014.
09/12/13: Attended The Society’s 94th
Annual Reunion, held at the Westin Hotel
in the Lombard Area of Greater Chicago,
which was a rousing success as a result of
the terrific organizing effort by John
Shirley and his Committee, members of
Outpost #1, and The BRAT.
09/19/13: At the invitation of MG John M.
Murray, CO of the 3rd Infantry Division,
attended a Memorial Service at Fort
Stewart, Georgia, for five Marne Soldiers
who gave their lives for the Cause of
Freedom in Afghanistan. The Service was
a moving tribute to those brave soldiers,
with MG Murray presiding, and the fami-
lies and many Marne Soldiers in atten-
dance. An Eastern Rosebud Tree was ded-
icated in honor of each fallen hero along
Warrior’s Walk. Freedom is not Free!
09/20/13: It was my privilege and distinct
honor to meet with MG Murray in his
office at Division Headquarters, and to
personally welcome him to The Division,
and present him with a Certificate of
Honorary President of the Society of the
Third Infantry Division. Also, I presented
him with a gift from The Society in honor
of him assuming command of The 3rd
Infantry Division.
09/20/13: At the invitation of Liberty
County, Georgia, Chapter 789, Vietnam
Veterans of America, I attended the
National Prisoners of War/Missing in
Action Recognition Day Ceremony held
at Fort Stewart with LTG William
Webster, USA, Retired, as the Keynote
Speaker. Shirley was presented with a
beautiful bouquet of flowers, and I was
given a very impressive plaque by Chapter
789, VVA. The Frontline, the 3rd
Division’s weekly newspaper, carried a
front page article of this event in their
September 26, 2013 edition. A copy of this
article is on the Society’s Website.
10/10/13: At the invitation of the organi-
zation,”Veterans Honored for His Glory,”
I had the privilege to participate, with a
group of distinguished veterans, in a ”God
and Country Veterans Event” in Kingston,
New York. The mission of the organiza-
tion is to let our veterans know that what
they did for our country has not been for-
gotten and to teach today’s younger gener-
ation about the cost of FREEDOM and the
sacrifices of the men and women who paid
that cost. The speakers included two
Medal of Honor recipients, a Pearl Harbor
Survivor, a Bataan Death March Survivor,
a member of “The Band of Brothers,”—a
WWII 36th Infantry Division Veteran, a
Marine who fought in the battle for
Okinawa, a USAAF Navigator on one of
the three plane group that dropped the
atomic bomb on Hiroshima, two Iraq War
veterans, and myself. It was an honor to
be in the same room with them.
11/10/13: At the invitation of the
Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church in
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, I was the Guest
Speaker at a Veterans Day Event entitled
“Salute to our Veterans.” Steve
Samuelson, Member, Pennsylvania State
House of Representatives for the 135th
Legislative District, presented Certificates
of Appreciation to all Veterans for their
selfless devotion to duty in the service of
our country with the official Seal of the
House of Representatives of Pennsylvania
affixed.
04/03/14: At the invitation of MG John M.
Murray, CO of the 3rd Infantry Division,
it was my honor and pleasure to welcome
CSM Christopher G. Gilpin back to the
Division in his role as CSM of the
Division and to present him with a beauti-
fully framed Certificate of Honorary Vice
President of The Society of the Third
Infantry Division. CSM Gilpin was also
given a gift from The Society. Photos are
posted on the Website.
04/03/14: Attended the retirement dinner
of CSM Edd Watson who was retiring
after thirty three years of service to our
country and last posted as CSM of the 3rd
Infantry Division. It was an extraordinary
affair during which he received congratu-
lations and gifts from no less than thirteen
units and organizations within and sup-
portive of the 3rd Infantry Division,
including The Society, and also received a
beautifully framed Certificate of
Appreciation for having served as
Honorary Vice President of The Society of
the Third Infantry Division. MG Murray
graciously allowed me to make a few
appropriate remarks on behalf of The
Society.
04/04/14: At the invitation of MG John M.
Murray, CO of the 3rd Infantry Division,
it was my honor and privilege to attend the
Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith Bust
Dedication Ceremony in the SFC Paul R.
Continued on page 7
It was my privilege and distinct honor to meet with MG Murrayin his office at Division Headquarters, and to personally wel-come him to The Division, and present him with a Certificate ofHonorary President of the Society of the Third Infantry Division. David Mills
Society President
Watch ScheduleThe Watch editor requires receipt of copy on or before the 5th of the month preceding
the month of publication. Space fills quickly so articles sent early have more chance
of being published.
Deadline to the Editor Publication
January 5th..............................................................................February
March 5th................................................................................April
May 5th ..................................................................................June
July 5th ..................................................................................August
September 5th ........................................................................October
November 5th ........................................................................December
Page 4
The Watch on the Rhine
By Jocelyne Papelard
In April, Jocelyne wrote, “Memorial
Day this year in Epinal will be a
very special day indeed as we are
putting a lot of emphasis on the atten-
dance and participation of the younger
French generations.
The middle-school children from
Rupt sur Moselle, where 15 American
Soldiers from the 7th Infantry
Regiment were killed, will recite a
poem about our American Soldiers. (I
will translate the poem into English.)
High school students near Epinal,
will write essays about the hardships of
the ‘American Combat Soldiers in the
Vosges’ during the fall and winter of
1944. The weather was exceptionally
harsh and rainy for the fall with over 1
meter (meter = 39.37 inches) of snow
and temperatures of 25 minus Celsius
(minus 13 degrees Fahrenheit). The stu-
dents will present their essays in French
and in English.
Another middle school in Epinal (30
students) will sing “America the
Beautiful,” with their music teacher.
Additionally, high school stu-
dents from Bruyeres (high in the
Vosges) will help people find their
seats, assist older folks and handi-
capped people with seating, and
will staff a booth promoting
our association where they
will tell about our “Adopt
an American Soldier’s
Grave” program. The
boys will take care of
security, directing
cars for parking and
so forth, and the
girls and boys will
serve guests during
the cocktail party.
The ladies of our association are
making sugar and salted baked goods so
we can spare some money for buying
more wine since the purses of the
AOMDA are tight. Further, troop mem-
bers of French Brownies and Boy
Scouts will help present the wreaths.
The monument for the14 boys from
the 7th Regiment of the 3rd is coming
along just fine. I am going to see the
man who owns the granite quarry and
the engraver this coming week. The
monument should be inaugurated by the
3rd I.D. Veterans and families coming
for their last tour on August 20, 2014. I
also have a monument for 10 boys of
Adoptive parents at the graves of Gilbert J.Hinrichs and Donald Lee Nickel.
Memorial Day in
Papelard recommends adoption of SSGT Tomosu Hirarara’s grave.
The Watch on the Rhine
Page 5
the 36th from Texas who were KIA in
Vesoul on September 12, 1944. One sol-
dier received the Silver Star for his
bravery, and his family members will be
present for the inauguration.
What I need is a Texas Flag to hang
on the City Hall of Vesoul and one on
the site of the monument. I have
requested the participation of the 36th
Infantry Regiment Color Guard for the
ceremony as well as the USAREUR
band. (Toby Knight has been a great
help with this project.) I hope the Color
Guard will come; it would be awesome
since these boys of the 36th were from
Texas.
Could you please give addresses
(postal and e-mail) for senators and or
the governor of the State of Texas; if
one flag could be flown on the state
capital, it would be wonderful. When I
had the stele for the 30th Infantry
Regiment erected and inaugurated in
Raddon, senators from Pennsylvania
sent two state flags that had flown on
the state capital in Harrisburg.
I am working on the Memorial Day
program. It should be very nice even
though we won’t have American troops
to pay their respects. The U.S. Army has
cancelled everything. We will have a
general, a Color Guard, and a bugler.
Even Normandy, this Memorial Day,
won’t have much either, only Belleau
Woods will have a fly over by the
French air force.
[Editor’s Note: We contacted SenatorJohn Carona and requested a flag flownover the Texas State Capital. We arealso sending a flag flown over the TexasState Capital in 1976. Jocelyne willhave two flags as she requested.]On another note, Jocelyne reported thatthe Mayor of Bruyeres contacted her tosay that his town is considering adopt-ing the grave of a Nisei Soldier.Jocelyne endorsed SSgt. TomosuHirahara as the Nisei Soldier to beadopted.
American Marine and son at Belleau Wood.
n France What I need is a Texas Flag to hang onthe City Hall of Vesoul and one on the siteof the monument.
Page 6
The Watch on the Rhine
Greetings to all Dog Face Soldiers - past
and present, Families, and Friends of
the Marne Division.
With the recent celebration of Memorial
Day, and the upcoming 239th birthday of
our Army, I would like to start off by
encouraging everyone to take a moment this
year to recognize the sacrifices that our
brothers and sisters in arms have given, and
continue to give, to make the United States
the greatest nation in the world.
In April, we bade farewell to CSM Edd
Watson and welcomed CSM Christopher
Gilpin back to the Marne Division to
assume the responsibilities of the Division
Command Sergeant Major. CSM Gilpin
joins a long line of distinguished Senior
Noncommissioned Officers who have
earned the honor of being called Marne 7.
We welcome CSM Gilpin, his wife Dr.
Gilpin, their daughter Chrisraine, and their
son Christophe back to the Marne Family.
CSM Gilpin has a long history in the Marne
Division, serving in multiple leadership
positions, from Platoon Sergeant to
Battalion Command Sergeant Major, during
three deployments to Iraq with 3rd
Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th
Infantry Brigade Combat Team. We wish
departing CSM Watson and his family the
best as they begin the next phase of their
lives.
Over the past two months, we have had
the opportunity to pay special tributes to a
couple of our Division’s heroes, as well as
taking the time to recognize some outstand-
ing individual and collective accomplish-
ments of our current Soldiers.
On March 18, President Barack Obama
posthumously awarded four Congressional
Medals of Honor to Third Infantry Division
Soldiers. These heroes were originally
awarded the Distinguished Service Cross,
but have now received the Medal of Honor
based on a recent congressionally mandated
review. 1LT Donald Schwab and SGT
William Leonard received the award for
their valorous actions during World War II
and MSG Juan Negron and PVT Demensio
Rivera for their actions in the Korean War.
PVT Demensio’s granddaughter, SGT
Ashley Randal, who until recently was
assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry
Regiment, attended the ceremony and
accepted the award on her grandfather’s
behalf. The 3rd Infantry Division now has
55 recipients of the Medal of Honor, more
than any other division in the Army.
On April 4, we dedicated a bronze bust
of Medal of Honor recipient, SFC Paul R.
Smith, at the SFC Paul R. Smith Army
Education Center on Fort Stewart. SFC
Smith, who was assigned to Bravo
Company, 11th Engineer Battalion,
received the Medal of Honor for fearlessly
defending his unit during an attack near the
Baghdad Airport on April 4, 2003. SFC
Smith’s son David, and his sister Lisa
DeVane, assisted in the unveiling of the
bust. The bust, which was designed by
renowned artist Bruce Everly, is currently
on display in the lobby of the education cen-
ter.
The Fort Stewart Culinary Team has
once again received honors, this time at the
39th Annual Culinary Arts Competitive
Training Event at Fort Lee, which was held
from March 8-15. The team, made up of the
Division’s best culinary specialists, won
nine gold medals, eleven silver medals, and
three bronze medals. They distinguished
themselves by winning the Culinary Arts
Team of the Year for 2014 and will now rep-
resent Fort Stewart at the national-level
competition held in Kansas City, Missouri,
in July.
The newest members of the Sergeant
Audie Murphy Club were inducted in a cer-
emony at Fort Stewart on March 14. SFC
John Stephens of Chosen Company, 3rd
Battalion 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th
Infantry Brigade Combat Team, SSG
Jeremy Beard of Berserker Company, 3rd
Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th
Infantry Brigade Combat Team, SSG Jackie
Green of Headquarters and Headquarters
Detachment, 87th Combat Sustainment
Support Battalion, 3rd Sustainment
Brigade, and SGT Asley Brice of
Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
92nd Engineer Battalion, were all honored
for their leadership achievements and
demonstrated competence.
SGT Thomas Mease and PFC Darryl
Garner Jr. were selected as the Division
Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of
the Year, respectively, following a challeng-
ing selection board held on March 26. SGT
Mease is assigned to Bravo Battery, 1st
Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, 1st
Armored Brigade Combat Team and PFC
Garner is assigned to Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 26th Brigade
Support Battalion, 2nd Armored Brigade
Combat Team. These outstanding Dog Face
Soldiers are great representatives of the
standard of excellence upheld by the
Soldiers in the Marne Division.
On an annual basis, I have the honor of
presenting the Draper Armor Leadership
Award to the most distinguished Armor
Company and Calvary Troop in the
Division. On March 24, CPT Jamal Khan
and 1SG Jason Hall, from Delta Company,
1st Combined Arms Battalion, 30th Infantry
Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat
Team, received the Goodrich Riding Mini-
Trophy as the leaders of the most distin-
guished Armor Company in the Division.
CPT Peter Friend, the preceding comman-
der of Delta Company, also received the tro-
phy for his contributions to the company’s
accomplishments. CPT Jonathan Proctor
and 1SG Sean Jarvis, from Bonecrusher
Troop, 3rd Squadron, 1st Calvary
Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat
Team, received their awards as the leaders
of the most distinguished Calvary Troop in
a ceremony at Fort Benning on March 27.
During March, the Army National
Guard’s Warrior Training Center at Fort
Benning hosted an Air Assault Course with
all of the slots dedicated to the Third
Honorary President
Marne 6 SendsOn March 18, President Barack Obama posthumously awardedfour Congressional Medals of Honor to Third Infantry DivisionSoldiers. These heroes were originally awarded the DistinguishedService Cross, but have now received the Medal of Honor basedon a recent congressionally mandated review.
MG John M. Murray
The Watch on the Rhine
Page 7
Infantry Division. The course provided our
Soldiers the unique opportunity to receive
in-depth training that will increase the inter-
nal capabilities of our Division as a whole
for future training and operations. A total of
169 Dog Face Soldiers successfully com-
pleted the training on March 27 and were
awarded their Air Assault badges.
The Vanguard Brigade, 4th Infantry
Brigade Combat Team, executed Expert
Infantryman Badge testing from March 30
to April 3 at Camp Oliver on Fort Stewart.
The testing began with 892 candidates and
culminated with 94 Soldiers earning the
coveted badge during a graduation ceremo-
ny held on Cottrell Field upon completion
of a12-mile foot march. Sixteen of the grad-
uates earned the True Blue distinction for
completing the entire cycle of training with-
out receiving a “NO GO” on any of the test-
ed events.
It is amazing to look back over the past
two months and see how much the Soldiers
of the Marne Division have accomplished.
What is even more amazing is to consider
that all of these achievements were accom-
plished while the majority of the Division
was progressing from team and crew gun-
nery to platoon gunnery and company to
brigade-level exercises. The Division
Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion
also conducted its own exercise at Evans
Army Airfield in March, during which the
command and staff provided higher com-
mand for an 82nd Airborne Division
Warfighter Exercise. The Division is pro-
gressing impressively in its overall readi-
ness and we are prepared to accept whatev-
er mission comes our way when the Nation
calls.
I would like to close with a quote from
Abraham Lincoln’s conclusion to the
Gettysburg Address, delivered on
November 19, 1863. I think this quote is
appropriate as we honor those who have
given their lives for our Nation, and it is a
good reminder of our ongoing operations.
Lincoln closed his address with, “...from
these honored dead we take increased devo-
tion to that cause for which they here, gave
the last full measure of devotion - that we
here highly resolve these dead shall not
have died in vain; that the nation, shall have
a new birth of freedom, and that govern-
ment of the people, by the people, for the
people, shall not perish from the earth.”
As always, I am proud to say, I am a Dog
Face Soldier! Rock of the Marne-Army
Strong!
John “Mike” MurrayMajor General, US Army Commanding
into middle age.
The dream wasn’t for everyone, of
course, and the generation that came of age
during Pearl Harbor had to witness an
American revolution in human rights, and
face a divisive war in Vietnam.
Now, that dream appears in jeopardy.
And the irony is that political leaders who
emerged after World War II too often have
plotted a course that puts the country’s eco-
nomic future at risk, and the future of these
men and women who labored so honorably
to secure it.
The great story is the one fading with
time and a generation of men and women
whose contributions are as significant as
any in human history. It is the story of a
generation that worked for the future of its
children, embraced responsibility and duty,
and never asked for thanks.
GENERATION from page 1
Smith Educational Center. On April 4,
2003, Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith
distinguished himself by acts of gallantry
and intrepidity above and beyond the call
of duty in action with an armed enemy
near Baghdad International Airport,
Baghdad, Iraq, resulting in him being
awarded the Medal of Honor posthumous-
ly. MG Murray presided over the
Ceremony with Mr. Bruce Everly,
Sculptor of the Bust, and many soldiers in
attendance.
04/04/14: At the invitation of MG John
M. Murray, CO of the 3rd Infantry
Division, It was my pleasure and honor to
attend the Change of Responsibility
Ceremony held at Fort Stewart where the
Sword of Command Sergeant Major was
passed from Retiring CSM Edd Watson,
through Division Commander MG John
M. Murray, to Incoming CSM Christopher
G. Gilpin. MG Murray presided over the
Ceremony which was conducted smartly
and without flaw in keeping with the
Division’s tradition.
05/26/14: At the invitation of Pat
Williamson, President of Outpost #7, it
was my distinct privilege and honor to
attend and participate in the Memorial
Ceremony at The Third Infantry Division
Memorial in Arlington National Cemeteryand to attend the Society of the Third
Infantry Division Wreath Laying
Ceremony at The Tomb of the Unknowns
on Memorial Day. It was a solemn occa-
sion with each of us left with our own
memories and thoughts as the mournful
notes of taps echoed over the hills of
Arlington National Cemetery, that Sacred,
Holy Place.
Let us continue to pray for the safety of
our Armed Forces wherever they are post-
ed, especially MG Murray, BG Jones, and
the men and women of the Third Infantry
Division of the U.S. Army.
Thank you to all who have served or
participated in any way to the success of
The Society of the Third Infantry Division
during the past twenty-one months. It has
been very much appreciated!
In Your Service, Dave.
PRESIDENT from page 3
necessary. There would be one platoon of
infantry and two combat engineer squads
with explosives on duty at all times. When
on that assignment, everyone was ready
for action, with weapons, ammunition,
and equipment at hand. That was a good
two weeks of duty every quarter or so, as
the location where the two barracks, mess
hall, and office were was on the side of a
mountain, near the top.
Also, I remember it was the first and
only time I served in a unit with a day-
room that sold beer and had gambling
tables. I have the names of all the NCOs
and some of the officers in Company D, as
well as names of some of the other enlist-
ed Soldiers. If anyone would like to con-
tact me, please feel free to do so at [email protected]. [Wilbur joined the ArmyNational Guard at age 15 in 1950, servedtwo tours in Korea, three tours in Vietnam,in addition to his tours in Germany. Heretired from the Army in 1972 as a Major.]
GERMANY from page 1
Page 8
The Watch on the Rhine
From the Editor
Perhaps the most important news is
that our dear Chaplain is very ill. He
had bypass surgery in April that was
quite successful; however, a number of
additional health problems surfaced.
Needless to say he and his spouse, Kathy,
do not expect to attend our reunion in
June. Other members have stepped up to
cover Jerry and Kathy’s customary
“jobs” at the reunion. We are grateful for
their help and pray that Jerry will recover
quickly.
We welcome our new Society offi-
cers: Joe Ball is our new Society
President. Filling the Vice President slots
are David Pope, Eastern Region; MSG
Toby Knight, Central Region, and Curtis
Gentry, Western Region. Brief biogra-
phies of each of our new officers
appeared in the April Watch on the Rhine.
Each of these officers will be calling
upon Society Members for help in
strengthening the Society and in building
membership. Each of us should try to
find one new member. If we all find one
new member, our Society will continue
to grow.
Kathleen Daddato is our Membership
Chair. In spite of the fact that she has
been rather busy supporting Jerry
throughout his recent surgery and long
recovery, she has been working on plans
to grow our membership. She is hoping
to gain Maj. Harry Irving’s help in sched-
uling a meeting at Fort Benning to inform
our Soldiers about our Society and the
benefits of joining. We hope Kathy’s
meeting is a huge success, and we thank
Major Irving for his support.
By the time you read this message
Easter and Passover will have passed. We
wish God’s blessings on all of our mem-
bers. Memorial Day also will have
passed. Our new President, Joe Ball, was
the keynote speaker at an event in Dallas,
Texas, on Memorial Day. Spending time
with other veterans and their families is
wonderful—we have done this many
times in the past. While most of us need
look no further than our own families to
find a veteran to honor, it is still very nice
to go out among other veterans and thank
them for their service.
This issue of the Watch includes sev-
eral articles of general interest. (That
means that our spouses will like them
too.) In addition to the second part of
Robert Lynch’s “Operation Shingle” and
the remaining Anzio contributions, we
also have a couple of articles from the
files of Associate Member Bernadine
Ginter that are unusually interesting. An
article by Al Brown, “Unsung Hero,” is
quite informative and sad. Joe Mc
Roberts’ article on John Eisenhower
describes a side of the President’s son
that only someone who knew him per-
sonally could present. Of course, there
are articles by frequent contributors that
you will enjoy because they reveal the
personal experiences of other Veterans.
Robert Nelson sent his article, “My
Anzio Story,” that was published in the
Watch in April 2002. At a later date, I will
summarize it. This issue is very full. Not
all articles I hoped to publish have made
it, but everything that doesn’t appear in
this issue will be placed, first, into the
August issue.
Army Hotels: At a recent meeting of
Outpost #35, Paul Grabert gave Joe Ball
information on IHG (Intercontinental
Hotel Group) Army Hotels. The
Intercontinental Hotel group consists of
Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites,
and Candlewood Suits. Joe asked me to
share it with our membership. Staying at
Army Hotels is less expensive than other
alternatives. There are Army Hotels in
the following areas: Fort Rucker,
Alabama; Yuma Proving Ground,
Arizona; Fort Shafter and Tripler Army
Medical Center, Hawaii; Fort
Leavenworth and Fort Riley, Kansas;
Fort Polk, Louisiana; Fort Sill,
Oklahoma; Fort Hood and Fort Sam
Houston, Texas; Pentagon Area and Fort
Myer, Virginia/Washington D.C.
These hotels offer points that never
expire. Earn three points per dollar for
staying at IHG Army Hotels; there are no
blackout dates, there are 4,200 locations
to earn and redeem points, and you can
redeem points for stays at any participat-
ing hotel anywhere. The IHG Army
Hotels provide hot breakfasts, 24-hour
laundry facilities, 24-hour exercise facil-
ities, complimentary WIFI in all guest
rooms, 24-hour business centers,
Wednesday socials, housekeeping ser-
vices, and pets are permitted. For reser-
vations, phone 1-887-772-TEAM or
Internet www/ihgarmyhotels. com.[Thanks, Paul.]
Lynn BallSociety Editor
Update Your Contact InfoUpdate your email, phone, and mail contact information
Send changes to the Society Database Manager
*************************************************5 Digit5902 June 2015 OP 35 CR LYNN BALL 2010 WORCESTER LANEGARLAND, TX 75040-3331
Check your name and address ( Apt./Bldg/Lot No.). If your zip code doesnot contain 9 digits (zip+4), it is incomplete. Checkhttp://zip4.usps.com/zip4/ or contact your local post office for your zip+4
DELIVERY POINT BARCODE
Dues Date: Paid until dateshown or LIFE
Outpost AffiliationYour ID Number
Region:ER = EasternCR = CentralWR = Western
...our dear Chaplain is very ill. He had bypass surgery in Aprilthat was quite successful; however, a number of additionalhealth problems surfaced. Needless to say he and his spouse,Kathy, do not expect to attend our reunion in June.
The Watch on the Rhine
Page 9
Watch Requirements ScheduleIssue Topic Reporting Responsibility
All issues Taps and New Members Roster Manager
December-June Upcoming Reunion Reunion Committee
February Call for Nominations for National Officers Nominations Chairman Call for C&BL Proposals C&BL Chairman Scholarship Foundation Call for Applications Foundation Chairman Call for Society Awards Nominations Awards Chairman
April Ballot for C&BL Changes C&BL Chairman Ballot for Election of National Officers Elections Chairman Scholarship Foundation Call for Applications Foundation Chairman
June Announcement of New Officers Elections Chairman Actions of Ex-Com during Fiscal Year 2014 Secretary/Treasurer
August Society Budget for Fiscal Year 2014 Secretary/Treasurer Scholarship Recipients Report Foundation Chairman Member-approved Changes to the C&BL C&BL Chairman
October Minutes: Ex-Com’s Reunion Meeting Secretary/Treasurer Minutes: General-Membership Meeting Secretary/Treasurer Society Financial Report for Fiscal Year Secretary/Treasurer Auditor’s Report for Fiscal Year Auditor
December Call for Nominations for National Officers Nominations Chairman Call for C&BL Proposals for Change C&BL Chairman Call for Scholarship Grant Applications Foundation Chairman Call for Society Awards Nominations Awards Chairman
At a recent event, President George
W. Bush suggested that the “D” be
removed from “PTSD.” Bush says
the condition suffered by many Soldiers
returning from the conflicts in the Middle
East is PTS—a “treatable” condition—not a
“disorder.”
Certainly, the word “PTSD” had barely
left the mouth of Fort Hood’s commander
following the recent shooting there, when
across the nation, many veterans with those
symptoms and doctors who treat the malady
understood they faced a renewed battle: a
resurgence of the stigma that comes with
that diagnosis.
The Fort Hood tragedy (16 wounded and
four killed, including identified shooter
Ivan Lopez, a soldier being evaluated for
PTSD) is precisely the type of event that
makes combat veterans cringe. Many worry
they’ll be further mislabeled as dangerous
time bombs, as the next to snap, and that
post-traumatic stress will again be misrepre-
sented and misunderstood as a condition
that sparks public, violent outbursts.
Yes, there is anger and irritability associ-
ated with PTSD, but it’s usually internal-
ized. You’re more likely to see it as some-
one who is withdrawn, anxious and numb,
who has lost interest in life. Some veterans
explain it to me this way: ‘The last thing
you want is to go out and lash out,” said
Herrera-Yee, adding, “Just like any victims
of a trauma (rape or domestic violence) they
can become fearful of their surroundings,
but they’re not going to react angrily toward
their surroundings. For them, it’s all about
avoidance.”
For years, Pentagon brass and branch
commanders have urged troops and veter-
ans to seek mental-health help if they feel
the need, while repeating the message that,
if they do see a doctor, they will not be
viewed as weak but as strong. That cam-
paign seems to have finally dented the
macho-military mantra that every soldier
can handle his or her own business. Many
veterans are turning to doctors to begin
addressing post-service anxiety issues,
often fueled by repeated or long deploy-
ments.
Fort Hood commander Lt. Gen. Mark
Milley told reporters that Lopez (the shoot-
er), who served four months in Iraq during
2011, was being treated for “behavior health
(and) mental health issues” and that “he was
currently under [examination] for PTSD but
he had not yet been diagnosed ….”
[Editor’s Note: It is not helpful when amember of the United States Congress isquoted as saying, “All vets are mentally illin some way and government should pre-vent them from owning firearms.” This con-gresswoman has never served in uniform.]
PTSD, a Stigma?
For years, Pentagon brass and branch commanders haveurged troops and veterans to seek mental-health help if theyfeel the need, while repeating the message that, if they do seea doctor, they will not be viewed as weak, but as strong. Thatcampaign seems to have finally dented the macho-militarymantra that every soldier can handle his or her own business.
Page 10
The Watch on the Rhine
‘Operation Shingle’: Part TwoBy Robert Lynch
[Part I of Robert Lynch’s firsthandaccount of the Battle at Anzio appeared inthe April 2014 issue of the Watch. PartTwo takes us from early February throughJune 4 when 3rd Infantry reconnaissancepatrols reached Rome.]
In anticipation of a second blitzkrieg,
our artillery emplacements, commenc-
ing February 15th, began pounding the
German frontlines. The Germans respond-
ed with a saturation shelling of the Allies’
frontlines, followed by an assault against
the 3rd Division, on February 16th, in the
vicinity of Cisterna. Fortunately, the
muddy terrain limited the effectiveness of
German Panzer tanks. Our air, naval, and
artillery strikes, combined with small arms
and tank fire, turned the tide. After three
days of savage fighting, the Germans were
forced to pull back once again. The crisis
had passed.
Three strikes and you are out. The final
German assault took place February28-
March 1, 1944, at which time the full
power of the German army was unleashed
on the 3rd Division. K Company was
assigned the dubious frontline position
(expendable) at “Hells Corner” with I and
L Companies in reserve. On our left flank
was G Company and on our right, C
Company.
“The morning of the 28th opened with
an earth-shattering artillery barrage by the
Jerries. The dreaded 88-millimeter guns,
with their high-powered shells, screamed
at us. Then the Krauts began moving for-
ward with tanks and infantry. God! Look
at them all! G Company was caught and
their positions quickly overrun. Assistance
was needed immediately.
Russell Law, I, and a few others in our
weapon’s platoon were summoned to a
nearby farmhouse that acted as our com-
pany’s headquarters, and informed our
neighboring battalion was in dire need of
additional firepower. Although I was sup-
posed to join Russell, at the last moment,
there was a change in plans. I returned to
K Company and my replacement, Emil
Fiffick, connected forces with Russell and
the others.
Here we stood—one company (115
men or so) against approximately a battal-
ion of Krauts (600 more or less); our left
flank was exposed; the Germans moved
behind and cut us off from all support
forces. Right then and there, we became
engaged in one of the bloodiest battles of
the beachhead. The Kraut superiority in
manpower enabled them to sever our com-
pany’s first line of resistance. We were
fighting for our lives and every shot had to
count. There would be no tomorrow. With
Germans swarming all around, the assault
quickly became an intense hand-to-hand
battle.
I was in a machine-gun outpost. My
buddies and I kept firing, reloading; firing,
reloading. Adrenalin juices took over our
bodies. It was as though we enjoyed
slaughtering every German in our sights.
We could not stop; the Germans would not
let up. We annihilated an incredible num-
ber of Krauts; they retreated, regrouped,
and came at us with a fresh battalion. All
day, the battle raged. It was nothing to
have a German hand grenade land nearby
and, a split-second later, for us to throw it
back before it exploded. Hand grenades
were one of the best weapons we had at
our disposal that fateful day.
Each platoon became a fighting unit of
its own with the Jerries at times between
our own platoons. We could not call for
artillery because the Germans and
Americans were too close together. No
one was coming to our aid or to relieve us;
the companies to our rear had to hold the
line at any cost, even if our company had
to be sacrificed.
Around the barbwire in front of our
machine-gun nest, the dead Germans
began to pile up as wave after wave were
beaten back. However, our company was
having high casualties as well, and we
could not afford the losses. Our lines
began to buckle [due to] continued fanati-
cal attacks. We killed Germans at point-
blank range. Somehow we withstood the
frenzied German efforts and drove them
back with heavy losses. By night, the
intense attacks stopped, and we had time
to treat our wounded. It seemed that every
soldier in our company had at least a nick
or two, some much more than others. We
were exhausted, without medical supplies,
ammunition, or water, but we were not
beaten by a long shot. The majority mere-
ly licked their wounds and kept fighting.
In the morning, with our ranks depleted
by heavy casualties, the Germans came
charging again, and for a while, it seemed
as if the whole beachhead would collapse.
The noise was horrendous! Hitler was
throwing everything at us in his all out
move to drive us into the sea. Things
never looked darker.
Fortunately, the Germans could not
breach our fortifications. We would not
break. It was simply a case of “kill or be
killed.” The savage assaults kept up for
three days, and at the end of the battle, we
knew we would never lose Anzio. The
ones I really felt sorry for were the recent
replacements; they had such a tough time.
The majority were quickly wounded or
killed; we never had time to know them
and would never see them again. One
night, 28 new recruits joined our company
and by dawn there was only one left stand-
ing.
The dead covered the fields and already
were beginning to smell. A local truce was
arranged in spots and hundreds and hun-
dreds of lifeless bodies on both sides were
removed to the burial grounds.
Within a week, everything was quiet
and all that remained were memories that
would last us a lifetime. The question was,
“How long was a lifetime—a day?—a
week?—A year?”
During this terrible bloody, three-day
A miracle took place on the Anzio beachhead on May 3,1944, but was never covered by the media. I wrote myparents to “hold onto your seats because you are going toreceive a real surprise. Believe it or not, I actually hadfresh eggs for two days.
The Watch on the Rhine
Page 11
battle, my close friend, Russell Law, and I
would be called upon to part-company.
Russell was badly wounded. Fortunately,
he was evacuated to safety and fully
recovered. He never returned to combat.
The soldier who took my place, Emil
Fiffick, was killed during the battle.
On March 28, 1944, the 34th Infantry
Division relieved the 3rd Infantry
Division at the front lines near Cisterna.
We had been in combat for 67 continuous
days, under deplorable conditions. The
stress of battle showed on everyone’s face.
Although we were totally exhausted,
morale remained high. Replacements
again began to filter in. Life appeared to
be improving ever so slightly.
A miracle took place on the Anzio
beachhead on May 3, 1944, but was never
covered by the media. I wrote my parents
to “hold onto your seats because you are
going to receive a real surprise. Believe it
or not, I actually had fresh eggs for two
days. Yes, for two unforgettable days,
every soldier in the 3rd Division received
three eggs. We hadn’t had fresh eggs since
the invasion, so you can imagine how
astonished we were. I remember back
home I never looked at an egg, but over
here, it’s entirely different. They tasted
soooo good.”
As soon as I heard we would be leaving
Anzio, I placed another “For Sale” sign on
my foxhole. There is no question it was a
quaint, cozy room with an indoor pool. No
one seemed interested. I left without
obtaining a single bid. It was the “loca-
tion,” I guess.
How does one approach the prospect of
almost certain death? Most of us wrote to
our loved ones knowing it might be the
last letter they would receive from their
sons overseas. We reminisced about the
years gone by and the opportunities lost.
We worried how our parents and friends
would react when they learned the news
[of our deaths]. How would we die?
Would we die? Was our sacrifice in vain?
Would there always be war?
The topic of death was foremost in the
minds of every combat soldier on Anzio as
the day approached when the Allied forces
would commence their final push toward
Rome. The date had been established:
May 23, 1944. The enemy knew the attack
was coming; their artillery was focused on
every possible Allied target. The fields to
be crossed were thoroughly mined;
snipers, obstacles, and machine-gun nests
were everywhere; the Germans were well-
entrenched; their tanks dotted the country-
side. Casualties were projected to be
exceedingly high, probably one of every
two infantrymen would be killed or
wounded. A strong sense of pending doom
filled the air. It was extremely difficult to
believe any of us could overcome all these
obstacles and make it safely through this
assault. I prayed and asked my guardian
angel to once again watch over me. He
heard my cry.
On May 23, 1944, at 0545, the final
attack to crush the Germans surrounding
Anzio began. For 45 minutes, our naval
ships and Allied artillery blasted every
known German position on the beach-
head. Our mission (K Company) was to
by-pass Cisterna to the southeast and cut
Highway 7, the main German retreat
route. I had already prayed, bid my friends
farewell, and wished them a safe crossing.
Now, it was time to meet my destiny. I felt
all alone as I moved forward with my eyes
glued to the ground in search of mines. (It
was not until many years later that my
eyes were opened and I realized I was not
alone. The good Lord was at my side.)
One cannot imagine the sheer terror which
accompanied us as we crossed the “valley
of death.” Enormous sacrifices on both
sides were about to be made. So began one
of the bloodiest single encounters fought
by any division in World War II. In the
space of three days, every German on
Anzio was killed or wounded or had
retreated.
Our reconnaissance patrols reached
Rome on June 4, 1944. Two days later, the
allies landed in Normandy.
Anzio Allied Campaign final costs:
29,000 combat casualties and 37,000 non-
combat casualties.
Sgt. Timothy Owens, who served with
the 3rd Infantry Division, was one of
three Soldiers killed in the April 2nd
rampage of gunman Ivan Lopez at Fort
Hood, Texas. Before his fatal injuries,
Sgt. Timothy W. Owens, 37, of
Effingham, Ill., acted courageously as he
sought to calm Lopez as he walked
toward the gunman in a parking lot. He
was struck at close range by five bullets
in the chest. “He was a brave man,” said
his mother, Mary Muntean, who
described her son’s actions in an inter-
view with The Washington Post. Sixteen
others were wounded before Lopez took
his own life.
Owens’ cousin, Glen Welton, said
Owens grew up with military dreams.
“He was one of those kids who wanted to
wear camouflage and wanted to wear
bomber jackets and sunglasses,” said
Welton, himself a National Guard veter-
an of Iraq.
Sgt. Owens enlisted in the Army in
June 2004, trained at Fort Sill Oklahoma,
and was assigned to the 396th
Transportation Company, 87th Combat
Sustainment Support Battalion 3rd
Sustainment Brigade, Fort Stewart,
Georgia. He served with the 3rd in Iraq
from January to December 2005. He was
then assigned to the 160th Signal
Brigade, served with them in Arifjan,
Kuwait. In January 2011, when he was
assigned to the 154th Transportation
Company, 29th Movement Control
Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 13th
Sustainment Command, Fort Hood,
Texas.
Owens did well in the military and
was awarded several medals and profes-
sional recognition.
L-R: Sgt. Timothy Owens with his cousin GlenWelton (Photo courtesy of the Welton family).
Former 3rd I.D. Soldier Killed at Fort Hood
Page 12
The Watch on the Rhine
From the files of Associate Member Bernadine M. Ginter: thefollowing article was written by Bob Curran, a former colum-nist for the Buffalo News. Date of publication unknown.
“Many of those men were forced to learn about death before
they knew much about life.” These words about the effect of
combat on veterans appeared in my [earlier] column about the
local Veterans of Foreign Wars Loyalty Day parade. They were
directed toward younger viewers who might not understand
what some of the veterans in the parade had gone through.
They came to mind the other day when a friend said, “Many
of the people watching the big VFW parade . . . won’t know
what the World War II guys were all about before they came
into service. But explaining them to a younger person might be
like trying to describe an elephant to someone who [has] never
seen one. You could try.”
The veterans of the wars that have followed “our war” will
understand why when they read my words. Some will know
that I have high regard for them and have often said that in
their wars the bullets burned and the shrapnel tore as much as
they did. . . in ours.
Anyway, here are some things a younger person might want
to know about the lives of the World War II paraders before
they went into the Armed Forces. The information might help
the younger person appreciate how strange a world those vet-
erans entered when they put on a uniform. Most of their inno-
cence died quickly. This is how they were:
• Almost all of them lived by the Golden Rule whether they
had heard of it or not
• Most of them had never been more than 100 miles away from
home. Those from small towns who had been to New York City
were likened to a modern Marco Polo
• Most had never spent a social moment with a person whose
skin color was different from theirs
• Most had never spent a social moment with anyone who had
an accent different from theirs
• Most had never seen a movie star in person
• Most had never seen a major league athlete in person
• More than a few came from a home where there was no radio
• More than a few had never worn a pair of trousers (they were
called pants) that matched the coat worn with them
• Many had not finished high school. Some had dropped out
because they didn’t like school. More had to leave school and
go to work because of the family’s financial straits
• Most of them had never cursed in the presence of a member
of the opposite sex
• Fewer had cursed in front of their parents
• Most of them went to church once a week
• Most believed that any sort of unpaid debt was shameful
• Few of them had become a parent before being married
• Most of them had never met a divorced person
• Few of them had any use for a man who boasted about his
sexual prowess
• Almost all of those who had engaged in a physical argument
used only fists in the fight
• Most had never fired a weapon
• Most did not have a relative who had once been in the Armed
Forces
• Most did not know of any reason why our country had
entered the war except for the attack on Pearl Harbor
•Those who knew of West Point thought of it as an institution
whose main mission was to provide a football team that could
play Notre Dame in New York City
But while in uniform those who knew of West Point, and
those who did not, lived by the academy’s motto: Duty, Honor,
Country.
Death of Innocence in ‘Our War’
Why I Was a MedicBy John E. Moore
Many people think I served
as a medic because I was
drafted and a conscientious
objector (C.O.). No, I went into
the Army 1-A. I insisted on being a
medic and was told that “if you insist
on being a medic, you will go to Korea.”
I was 13 years old when WWII started.
The only debate was which was the most
cruel—the Germans or the Japanese. I
think I know the answer.
At Fort Jackson, South Carolina, after all the tests, I was
asked to go to O.C.S. My reply was that “Second
Lieutenants and jeeps are expendable.” I was confused as
to how two nations, our worst enemies, were now our best
friends. Also two of our Allies in WWII were now our
worst enemies—and going to Canada was not an option. I
was just confused. I insisted on being a medic.
When I went to Basic Training, no mention was made of
my status, except that I trained with the C.O.s and was not
subjected to the grilling the C.O.s got so I don’t know what
is in my 201 file; the file was destroyed in the St. Louis
fire.
At 3rd Infantry Division rear, in Korea, I was called
aside and asked to become an M.P. “because of my profile,”
but I still didn’t know what was in my 201 file. I declined
the offer.
I guess the good grades on the tests helped, as I was
assigned to work with a doctor at the Regimental
Collecting Station. I don’t imagine being a C.O. is fatal.
Two friends that were C.O.s at Regimental Collecting made
E-6. During the last six months of my tour, I worked in the
Battalion Aid Station which was easier duty.
The Watch on the Rhine Page 13
Scholarship Foundation NewsLynn Ball
By the time you receive your June Watch our judges will be eval-
uating the 2014 submissions for Scholarship Grants. Grants will
be paid to recipients’ student accounts in June.
This has been a very busy time for our directors. We are also
preparing for our 2015 fundraising raffle. We have received some
nice prizes donated by our supporters. We welcome all gifts for the
raffle, and we hope to receive a donated weapon or another gift that
will prompt Scholarship Foundation supporters to buy tickets. Our
raffle tickets will be mailed in September, and the drawing will be in
May 2015. We have shifted our dates to be earlier now that reunions
are being held earlier. It is our plan to announce the 2015 recipients
of prizes at the 2015 reunion.
We also appreciate the monetary donations that have been arriving
as they will help to support our current program—our 2014 scholar-
ship grant awards. Please continue to support our efforts to provide
financial help to our wonderful offspring. As I write this in late April,
we have not yet received the submissions due by May 1st. If the sub-
missions, this year, are like the ones we have received in the past, we
can be very proud of our offspring. Past recipients have all been high-
ly intelligent and most worthy of the help provided. Remember too
that competition is open to our 3rd Infantry Division Soldiers, past
and present, to the spouses and children of Soldiers killed in action or
who died of their wounds while serving with the 3rd Infantry
Division, and to the spouses of Soldiers currently serving with the 3rd
Infantry Division.
We extend a special thanks to those who have sent donations to
the Society since publication of the last Watch on the Rhine, and we
honor the memorials in memory of Jerome Sapiro sent by his loving
wife, Mary, and in memory of Charlotte Middlebroks Ray, sent by
her loving husband, John.
Levels of GivingPlatinum Star, $50,000–$99,999; Gold Star, $10,000–$49,999;
Silver Star, $5,000–$9,999; Platinum, $1,000–$4,999; Gold; $500–$999; Silver, $100–$499; Bronze, $1–$99.
Platinum Donors
• John L. Ray• Mary Sapiro• James and Joan Strawn
Silver Donors
• Marvin Albright • Dan and Cleo Callahan• Troy and Jacqueline Davis• Frank and Elsie Harris• Stanley and Mary Knapp• Marvin and Judy Kostka• Charles and Helen Lamlein• Rick and Mary Elizabeth Nussio• Herbert L. Summers• Michael and Gale Tapper
Bronze Donors
• James and Margaret Balogh• Guy and Nancy Carey• Milton and Barbara Carr• Jeffrey Danby• John and Doris Davis• Troy and Jacqueline Davis• Matthew and Gayle Delvental• Paul and Berta Desroches• Salvatore and Joanne DiFranco
• Linda S. Eastman • Robert R. Edmond• Joseph W. Finnerty• Richard R. Haneckow• Richard and Roberta Heller• Melvin and Joann Ingram• Thomas and Rosemary Jurney• Harry E. Kee• Larry and Bette Kinard• Frank and Mary Klappert• Liane I. Lee• Gordon and Dorothy Lowery• Jean Michaux• Richard and Elva Moats• Virgil L. and Patricia Moser • William E. and Sharon Paul• Andrew and Elizabeth Raymond• Jim and Linda Reeves• Clifford Rutstein• Louis and Penelope Santoro• Howard and Marsha Sicks• Carmel and Judy Solano• Clyde W. Spence Jr• Lyle and Carol Strande• Martha Treece• Bartolo and Lucretia Viruso• Donald T. Zelles
SCHOLARSHIP FUND DONATIONS
Memorialsw Charlotte Middlebanks Ray/John L. Ray w
w Jerome Sapiro/Mary Sapiro w
Society Bumper StickerThe Society has developed and has available a new Societybumper sticker. The new bumper sticker shows the 3rd I.D. Patch,and the Society website address, and it is 3” x 11 1/4”. It is avail-able for a donation to the Society. Please see the Decals Ad else-where in this issue. To order a bumper sticker, send your order anddonation to Joe Ball, 2010 Worcester Lane, Garland TX 75040-3331. You can contact Joe at 972-495-1704. You can also orderSociety decals and patches.
Page 14
The Watch on the Rhine
By Al Brown, S/Sgt. Co. H, 30th Infantry Regiment, WWII
If you have a copy of The History of
the Thirtieth Infantry Regiment in
WWII and turn to Page 314, you will
find a report of heroics by Sgt. Jack H.
Murphy (not Audie Murphy who was in
the 15th Infantry Regiment) that earned
him the DSC, posthumously. This is only
half of the story. As the late Paul Harvey,
famous radio newscaster for decades,
would say, “And now for the rest of the
story.”
I was Section Leader at the time. Sgt.
Murphy was Squad Leader of one of the
two machinegun squads in my section.
Sgt. Murphy’s number one gunner on that
machinegun was PFC Clifton Weaver.
PFC Clifton Weaver is the unsung hero
in this action. The report in the 30th
Infantry Regiment History assumes that
Sgt. Murphy acted alone but, the rest of
the story is that he had an equal partner
i.e., PFC Clifton Weaver. Following are
the facts regarding the actions that took
place at the Orchbach River Bridge at twi-
light on January 23, 1945, near Holtzwhir,
France.
The 30th Infantry Regiment was
advancing on the village of Holtzwhir and
was without tank support due to the col-
lapse of the Maison Rouge Bridge across
the Ill River some 400 yards behind the
Orchbach River relative to the direction of
advance. The enemy had full knowledge
of the bridge collapse and knew that its
tanks were free to attack infantry soldiers
without challenge from our tanks. They
launched a sudden attack on 1st and 3rd
Battalions, 30th Infantry Regiment, short-
ly before dark on 23 January 1945.
My machineguns were attached to one
of the 2nd Battalion’s rifle companies
which were in reserve and following close
behind the two lead battalions. My
machinegun section had just crossed the
Orchbach Bridge when the tank attack
began. We were ordered to set up defen-
sive positions at the Orchbach River.
T/Sgt. Manuel O. Spann, our Platoon
Sergeant, ordered Murphy’s gun to go into
position immediately adjacent to the
bridge and ordered me to take the other
machinegun squad and establish a posi-
tion a short distance to the left (north).
T/Sgt. Spann then took the other section
of our platoon with him to Guemar.
Before leaving the bridge site, I saw to
it that Murphy’s gun was in position and
that the remaining men of the squad were
in positions at intervals of ten to fifteen
feet to the left of the machinegun using the
river bank as a palisade.
When I left the bridge position, PFC
Weaver was behind the gun in the firing
position and the number two gunner was
to the left of the gun prepared to assist in
the firing. Sgt. Murphy was about ten feet
to the left, prepared to give firing orders as
warranted.
I took the other squad with me and
decided to take advantage of a large bomb
crater close to the river bank about 80
yards from the bridge. By the time the sec-
ond gun was set up and ready to fire, I saw
the soldiers from 1st Battalion in full
flight with the tanks raking them with
machineguns. They were taking casual-
ties. Knowing that the men with me would
be useless against these tanks, and without
a place of cover, I ordered the squad
leader to take his men post haste to
Illhausern about a half mile to the north. I
kept the number one and two gunners with
me. The bomb crater provided reasonable
cover for three.
Following is what I saw and heard
from the bomb crater: There was a 57mm
antitank gun near my position. This gun
fired on the lead tank, striking it but with-
out effect. The tank returned the fire
destroying the 57mm gun and killing its
crew.
Next, I saw a platoon-size group of
riflemen dive into the roadside ditch about
fifty yards directly in front of Murphy’s
machinegun position. The roadside ditch
obviously only provided temporary cover
from the tank’s machineguns. The tank
kept sweeping its fire over the ditch to
keep the men pinned down until it would
be close enough to depress its guns and
kill them all.
Just as I realized the hopelessness of
the riflemen’s situation, I heard our
machinegun at the bridge open fire. I saw
its tracers ricocheting off the tank. Then I
saw the tank redirect its machinegun on
our gun at the bridge. With the tank’s trac-
ers streaming directly toward our gun
position, I knew that Murphy and his men
had just bought into a fight they could not
win.
After several exchanges of machine-
gun fire with our gun at the bridge, the
tank finally fired its cannon. I heard the
impact at the bridge. After that our gun
was silent. My view of the gun position
was partially hidden by small (2-4 inch
diameter) deciduous trees along the river
bank and I could not see the extent of
damage.
It was during this exchange that I saw
the riflemen leap from the roadside ditch
and make a dash for Illhaeusern. The tank
did not bother to fire on them again and
turned left onto the roadway and proceed-
ed past Murphy’s position and crossed the
Orchbach Bridge looking for targets
between the Orchbach and Ill Rivers.
By the time all of this had taken place
it was quite dark. Taking advantage of the
darkness, I hurried to the bridge position
to check on the men there. What I found
Unsung
Hero
PFC Clifton Weaver.
The Watch on the Rhine
Page 15
was PFC Weaver still behind the gun
where he was when I left the site. Sgt.
Murphy was to the left of the gun in the
assistant gunner’s position. Murphy and
Weaver were both dead. Weaver was obvi-
ously the one who had fired the gun. None
of the other men were there.
Clifton Weaver’s family sent me copies
of two letters from the War Department
confirming what I saw i.e., that Clifton
was (quoting a portion of one of the let-
ters) “killed in action at a road block on 23
January 1945.” The WD letters were
based on the Grave Registration Team
report that is made at the site at the time of
recovery.
In conflict with the above facts was a
report by two squad members stating that
Clifton had leaped into the river with three
others who did leap into the Orchbach and
were never found. It was this erroneous
report that caused the framers of
Murphy’s citation to assume that Murphy
acted alone.
The two men who reported that Weaver
had leaped into the river also reported that
Sgt. Murphy had ordered all of his men to
retreat to Guemar, including Weaver, and
that he, Murphy, intended to stay with the
gun. However, PFC Clifton Weaver
refused to surrender his position as num-
ber one gunner and would not abandon his
sergeant to face the on-coming enemy
alone. A month earlier Clifton had demon-
strated the same fortitude in another dire
situation which led to his being awarded
the Silver Star Medal.
The award of the DSC requires a mini-
mum of two eye witnesses. I do not know
who the writers of the Sgt. Murphy award
were. They had to have been from the
group of riflemen who were rescued from
the roadside ditch.
I can, and do, definitively report that
the only witnesses were: (1) The enemy
soldiers in the tanks, (2) the riflemen who
were saved by Weaver’s and Murphy’s
actions, and (3) me. There were no other
troops in the immediate area.
The enemy did not write the citation.
The riflemen who were saved were from
another battalion and had no way of
knowing who was firing the machinegun.
Since the riflemen were the eye witnesses
needed for the write up, they would have
to make inquiry to identify their rescuer.
They would have gotten their information
from someone in Company H
Headquarters. They would have gotten the
erroneous information that it had been
Sgt. Jack H. Murphy and that he had acted
alone. This explains how PFC Clifton
Weaver was not acknowledged.
Both men had to have known the futil-
ity of thirty caliber bullets against tanks,
yet they both participated in the heroic
rescue of twenty-plus riflemen. It is unfor-
tunate that PFC Clifton Weaver was not
given equal recognition with his sergeant.
Clifton Weaver is definitely on my short
list of unsung heroes.
Then I saw the tank redirect its machinegun on our gunat the bridge. With the tank’s tracers streaming directlytoward our gun position, I knew that Murphy and his menhad just bought into a fight they could not win.
Cherry BlossomsThe first cherry trees in America were a gift of
friendship from Japan to the United States in1912. First Lady Helen Taft had them planted withgreat ceremony in Washington, DC. Cherry blos-soms are called Sakura in Japanese. Their fragilebeauty and the very brief time in which they bloom,have inspired artists the world over. The cherry blos-som is associated with innocence and beauty, mak-ing it a popular choice for weddings.
Cities from San Paolo to Shanghai have embracedthe exotic beauty of cherry blossoms, giving them avisible role in the local culture and civic pride. Eachyear, the Japanese celebrate hanami, a traditionreaching back more than 1,000 years, marked bypicnics and festivities under the blooming cherrytrees.
Page 16
The Watch on the Rhine
By Joe McRoberts
Major John Eisenhower, S-3, operations officer 1st Battalion,
15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Inf. Division—1952, died
December 21, 2013. The modest newspaper coverage I
saw gave mention of his Korea service, but no details. Major John
Eisenhower, that’s how I remember him—a West Pointer, no non-
sense officer. He did his time in Korea, and I worked with him when
we moved to the Iron Triangle, Chorwon. We spent several weeks
together, a couple of them in reserve near Kimpo Air Force Base
close to Seoul and just south of the Han River that separated us from
Mao’s hordes. Later we moved back on line at White Horse
Mountain, Chorwon. While in reserve we weren’t concerned much
about the Chinks as the 3rd had just pulled off the front line and was
simply waiting for reassignment. Where? We had no idea, but there
were plenty of well-known, savagely fought-over hills just north of
us, Old Baldy, Pork Chop Hill, Heartbreak Ridge, Papa San, as well
as a small hill called “Kelly” that we and the Chinese fought over. We
put so much mortar and artillery fire on it that I figured that accounted
for the fact that I never saw, as a forward observer, our other constant
companion in Korea, comrade rat. We, the 15th Infantry Regiment,
had recently vacated Kelly after turning it over to the 65th Infantry
Regiment. I think Lt. Flanagan and I and my radio operator were the
last Gringos to leave Kelly.
In the meantime I got promoted to liaison officer and reassigned
to the 1st ROK (Republic of Korea) Division where I spent several
weeks honching three forward observer teams providing artillery
support to the ROKs. To say I was unprepared for that assignment is
an understatement. I had constant memorable moments/episodes, and
language/culture frustrations, culminating not so astonishingly with
Korean batteries finally relieving us. We were heading south for
Seoul; I notified my LNO team. But no.... hold on.... A new order.
Although I was going back to 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment
now in reserve, the ROK artillery couldn’t fire unless I approved. Not
being able to speak Korean or read minds, I was left with not just a
Korean language/culture problem, but a Gordian Knot. “Korean
artillery are now officially supporting the 1st ROK, but you are still
in charge until officially relieved. You say ‘yay’ or ‘nay’ to all fire
missions from the Koreans.” An example of a Korean fire mission
request: “Taukson, ichybon, joto, moombeam”: I respond with —
”Fire!” What problem? My main concerns were that they were point-
ing their guns north and fired no short rounds. A day or so later, new
orders: I was no longer responsible and immediately ordered to Close
Station and head south to rejoin the 1st BN, 15th Infantry Regiment.
We were expecting some sort of major attack by the Chinese, like
the kind they had been hammering the 9th ROK with for weeks on
White Horse Mountain—bitter, bitter hand-to-hand fighting, intense
shelling from enemy mortars and artillery, horrendous casualties on
both sides—back and forth battles over the forward slopes of White
Horse every night. For some reason the Chinese wanted White Horse
Mountain. Maybe it was some kind of breakthrough attempt. We had
no idea.
We enjoyed our rest in reserve by shooting the bull or tending to
small tasks. I found that Major Eisenhower had received orders or
was about to receive orders, which he vigorously opposed, reassign-
ing him to 3rd Division rear, about ten miles behind the MLR. For
some reason I found myself alone with him one hot indian summer
day discussing his various stratagems to remain at the front. Orders
are orders, we both knew, and he had no choice but to obey. John
Eisenhower was a brave man and a fine leader, but he also understood
his situation. His father had been elected President of the United
States, and he would be a high priority target for the Chinese. His
presence at the front would place him, and all who served with him,
in greater danger.
Suddenly a jeep full of 2nd Division soldiers, with Indian heads
on their jeep and shoulder Patch, came careening up to our tent. A
sergeant jumped out and came hurrying toward us in a very agitated
state reminding me of an old western movie when I was a kid....his
mouth spewing out, “Sir, Just returned from the front, Old Baldy!
One hell of fight up there! You’re moving up! Take our place! Sir!
Third Division, you’re movin up!”
I didn’t see anything other than a very agitated sergeant who I took
to be telling the truth, but seeming more like something out of an old
Western movie——”Sir! The whole Indian nation is on the war path
and heading this way! Sir! You got orders to head ‘em off at the
pass.!” Well, it turned out to be just that—a highly agitated sergeant
who got spooked by something or somebody somewhere. I never
knew what it was all about, but we did move to White Horse
Mountain. We moved in expecting Joe Chink to give us a try. But
nothing of any consequence happened right away. Of course we were
expecting the usual Chink patrols to see who was now holding White
Horse, which they did. In the meantime, our intelligence people had
told us to get ready for defecation to hit the fan with hordes of not so
little ear-flapped, erstwhile inhabitants of the new Red Paradise. We
tried to line up anything we could or might be able to get our hands
on to stop or, better yet, completely destroy these Taukson, ichibon,
joto, burp gun toting unfriendlies bent on taking our scalps. We
thought it was more than prudent for us to prepare to welcome them
as they came across Chorwon Valley to White Horse.
Being as it was Thanksgiving/ Christmas time, the Major and I
decided to put together an appropriate welcoming present for them in
our sector....Presento! It consisted of Division 39th FA Bn. 105 mm
howitzers for openers. I was sure we could get heavier 155 mm
Howitzers and possibly some heavier cannon. We had 60, 81, and 4.2
mortars and observers available, as well as two quad 50s and two
heavy tanks. The Air Force was also standing by to assist if needed.
As we had just moved in, it was not in our thinking that our S-3, Maj.
John Eisenhower could be the prize. They had good intelligence, but
not that good. We put mud over Third Division insignia on trucks and
so forth, in order to make it difficult for Joe Chink to identify us.
Make ‘em shed a little blood to find out.
Before anything serious happened, I was replaced by a new
Captain. I went on R&R to Japan for a few days and returned to find
the Major reassigned at 3rd Division rear, but seemingly finding all
kinds of lame reasons to visit us at the front. At any rate Major,
Sayonara, Rest in Peace. You were a dedicated soldier in the first
American can’t win, can’t lose, can’t quit, undeclared war. Mao and
Stalin learned the hard way that we could and would fight. That may
have been worth more than we’ll ever know.
John Eisenhower
The Watch on the Rhine
Page 17
Tribute in the Netherlands
Sometimes we just need to be reminded of the tremendous sac-
rifices American service men and women have made to keep
the world on freedom’s track. The white crosses express that
“some gave all understanding’ in each of us that brings tears very
close to the surface. Let the world know that Americans are not
arrogant but that we are forever proud of who we are!
About six miles from Maastricht, in the Netherlands, lie
buried 8,301 American Soldiers who died in “Operation Market
Garden” in the battles to liberate Holland in the fall-winter of
1944. Every one of the men buried in the cemetery, as well as
those in the Canadian and British military cemeteries, has been
adopted by a Dutch family who minds the grave, decorates it, and
keeps alive the memory of the Soldier they have adopted. It is
even the custom to keep a portrait of “their” American Soldier in
a place of honor in their homes. Annually, on “Liberation Day,”
memorial services are held for “the men who died to liberate
Holland.” The day concludes with a concert. The final piece is
always “Il Silenzio,” a memorial piece commissioned by the
Dutch and first played in 1965 on the 20th anniversary of
Holland’s liberation. It has been the concluding piece of the
memorial concert every since.
This year, the soloist was a 13-yer-old Dutch girl, Melissa
Venema, backed by Andre Rieu and his orchestra (the Royal
Orchestra of the Netherlands). This beautiful concert piece is
based upon the original version of “Taps” and was composed by
Italian composer Nino Rossi.
Looking for...
Follow up: To Bob
Barfield’s inquiry concerning
this photograph. We have
identified the general in the
photo as “Iron Mike”
O’Daniel, and it was taken
when he awarded Audie
Murphy the Distinguished
Service Cross on March 5,
1945.
Follow-up: Richard S.
Wren, Sr. previously request-
ed information on DVDs
about Medal of Honor recipi-
ents. There is a six-part series
(DVDs) advertised at $9.98
on the Internet. If interested,
google “Medal of Honor, 6-
part Series.” It covers the
Civil War, WWI, WWII (Europe), WWII (Pacific). Korea, and
Viet Nam, Iraq, and Afghanistan-2012. Thanks, Richard.
Member seeks information: Can anyone provide information
about the “Code of Conduct” card given to Soldiers in the late
1950s? This inquiry is from Carmel Solano. Please respond to the
Watch on the Rhine editor—contact information is on page 2.
Do you know the name of this Soldier?
This photo was taken at Ft. Devens, Massachusetts, in 1948.
He hasn’t changed much. It must be the climate in Pennsylvania.
He served with the 7th Infantry Regiment during WWII. See the
August Watch for his name.
Do you know the name of this Soldier?
General “Iron Mike” O’Daniel awardsthe Distinguished Service Cross toAudie Murphy.
70th Anniversary Battlefield Tour The promotion of our August battlefield tour went very well; we
have room for only two more WWII veterans that fought in the Frenchliberation.
Our French friends are looking forward to our visit. They greatlyappreciate our efforts to drive the Germans out of France, andalways give us a very warm welcome on our visits. We have fiveWWII veterans taking the tour, and would very much like to have twomore sign up. We have family members of WW II veterans taking thetour as well as a few acquaintances of family members. There willbe 28-30 persons on the tour for the 14 days.
If you wish to join the tour, please let me know as soon as possible.
—John Shirley, 925-447-2256 or [email protected].
While travelling inthe mountains ofFrance, one is likelyto see others tour-ing on foot.
Page 18
The Watch on the Rhine
John S. ColeTampa, FL2
Outpost #2 has received a letter from John M. Rosentrater,
Department of Veterans Affairs, in which he stated: “The request
from the Society of the Third Infantry Division, Outpost 2, of
Fort Myers Florida…to place a monument at the Sarasota
National Cemetery Memorial Walk has been approved…”
We are making progress with our plan to donate a monument
in memory of Third Infantry Division Soldiers at the SarasotaNational Cemetery and the dedication ceremony will be in
November, near/on Veterans’ Day.
Members and friends of Outpost #2 met on Saturday, April 5,
2014, at Lenny C’s Pizzeria, North Fort Myers, Florida.
President Kathleen Daddato opened the meeting with the Pledge
of Allegiance to the Flag and an invocation. Treasurer Bob
Gibson presented the Financial Report and read the names of
members who have received the Last Call.
Conversations of fellowship and recollections continued dur-
ing the meal. Kathleen Daddato distributed hand-made gifts as
door prizes to all who attended. The meeting adjourned at 2:00
PM.
Our Outpost Secretary/Treasurer plans to attend this year’s
National Reunion at Fort Benning, Georgia, June 19-22. Due to
Jerry Daddato’s current illness, Kathy, our President, will not
attend. We would like to be the Outpost that has the most mem-
bers present so support Kathy’s plea and come to the reunion.
Rock of the Marne!
—Submitted by Robert Gibson, SecretaryFrank L. Kane, Port Richey, Florida, died on March 20, 2014 atthe age of 91. He was preceded in death by, Thanis, his wife of68 years. Frank served in WWII and was awarded the BronzeStar and Purple Heart. He served as Secretary-Treasurer ofOutpost #2 for many years.
News From The Outposts
The next meeting will be 9 September 2014, 11:30 A.M. at
the Veterans Home in Spokane, Washington.
—Submitted by Dale L. McGraw, Secretary
OP 4 held its spring meeting 9 April 2014 at the Washington
State Veterans Home in Spokane, WA. The day was sunny, with
a breeze and no rain. President Don Tesch opened the meeting
with the Pledge of Allegiance. All reports were approved as pre-
sented.
It was moved, seconded, and carried to make a contribution
to the Resident Council of the Washington State Veterans Home.
The meeting closed 12:15 P.M.
Everyone had a nice visit, and we are looking forward to the
next meeting. We are hoping and praying for the fast recovery of
Chaplain Jerry Daddato.
While this report is being written before our Memorial Day activ-
ities, OP #7’s plans are complete for our traditional Memorial Day
wreath laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC). We
hope for a good turnout at our meeting on May 26 when, as reported
in the February issue of the Watch, we plan to meet at 3:30 p.m. at the
3rd Infantry Division Monument prior to laying a wreath at the Tombof the Unknowns. Op #7 members are also encouraged to Save the
Date of Nov 11, 2014, Veterans Day when we will once again meet at
2:30 p.m. at our Monument in ANC to honor those who have gone
before us. Our wreath laying ceremonies are always observed by hun-
dreds of very respectful tourists, who frequently join us and express
their thanks for our service at our follow up informal meeting at our
Division Monument in front of the ANC Amphitheater. All Marne
veterans are welcome to join us so mark your calendars!
A need continues to exist to expand the slate of officers for Op #7
so please consider volunteering via a phone call or E-Mail to John
Insani ([email protected]) or Pat Williamson ([email protected]) to serve as an officer or to help spread the word
about our scheduled ceremonies or to be available to represent the out-
post at funerals at ANC. Warm regards to all! “
—Submitted by John L. Insani
Outpost 15 held its spring meeting on Sunday, March 30. In
attendance were Curtis Gentry, OP 15 Secretary-Treasurer, and
spouse, Margaret; Mike Grimes, OP 15 Vice-President, and spouse,
Debbie; Bob and Margaret Johnson, Edmund and Helga Mares,
Richard McKiddy, OP 15 President, and spouse, Barbara, and 99-
year-old Member Donitza Williams. A potluck luncheon was fol-
lowed by an outpost meeting to discuss the next event (2014
Phoenix Veterans Day Parade participation) and other outpost busi-
ness. Those in attendance enjoyed the afternoon and warm Arizona
weather at the home
of Curtis Gentry.
—Submitted byCurtis Gentry
ArizonaPhoenix, AZ15
Fort George WrightSpokane, WA 4
Washington, DCWashington, DC7
Members and Guestsgather for meeting atthe home of Outpost#15 President CurtisGentry.
The Watch on the Rhine
Page 19
Infantry and Armor combat units; Programmatic Environment
Assessment (effects of cuts on military and civilian employees);
Expert Infantry Badge competition and requirements; Military
Service, a Dangerous Business (deaths in war and peacetime); and
70th Anniversary Tour of Anzio.
Our summer meeting will be at Sushi Japon in Austin, Texas, on
July 12th, hosted by Joe and Lynn Ball. Details will be sent to
members one month in advance of the meeting.
TAPS: Bill Lee, of Van Buren, Arkansas, passed away on April
10, 2014. His spouse, Liane, sent us the program distributed at his
funeral service on April 15th. Interment is at U.S. NationalCemetery, Fort Smith, Arkansas. Bill was originally from
Chickasha, Oklahoma. We are very sorry to lose Bill. He will be
much missed by his many friends in Arkansas and among our vet-
erans. Liane added a note to the members of Audie Murphy
Outpost #35: “Thank you for your service. May God bless you all.”
George X. Ferguson, 94, of Dallas, Texas, passed away on
April 25, 2014, surrounded by his family. George enjoyed a long
and productive life. He served in 2nd Btn N, 15th Infantry
Regiment in WWII and retired with the rank of Major. In addition
to numerous service ribbons, with battle stars, he also received four
Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star medals. He had a distinguished
career in the field of education and retired from the El Paso
Independent School District. Interment will be at ArlingtonNational Cemetery.
—Submitted by Joe Ball, Outpost President
Outpost #35 held its spring meeting on March 29, 2014, hosted
by MSG Toby and Velkis Knight, at Fort Sam Houston Golf Club,
San Antonio, Texas. Thanks, Toby and Velkis. Our members appre-
ciated your efforts. The food was excellent and the atmosphere was
wonderful. Those in attendance included Joe and Lynn Ball, John
and Marilyn Barnes, Kayla Cain, Paul and Jude Grabert, Joe and
Lucia Hilderbrand, Michael Kennedy, Toby and Velkis Knight,
John Ray, Jim and Linda Reeves, Clifford Rosanbalm, James
Timmens, Justin Valle, Eleanor Vidal, Dick and Deveny Wells, and
Col. Jack Wold. Thanks to Kayla Cain and Joe Ball for taking pho-
tos of our guests, some of whom departed before our group photo.
At 11:00 AM the meeting began with a social hour, followed by
lunch. Joe Ball called the meeting to order at 12:30 PM; Justin Valle
delivered the Invocation and Toby Knight led the Pledge of
Allegiance to the Flag; everyone sang “Dogface Soldier.” Marilyn
Barnes drew John Ray’s name for the door prize, Korea Reborn: aGrateful Nation (donated by Bill Driggers), and Joe Ball led intro-
ductions of all attendees. Jim Reeves moved to accept the minutes
of the October 26, 2013, meeting held in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Paul Grabert seconded the motion, and it was approved by acclama-
tion. Lynn Ball then delivered the current Secretary-Treasurer’s
report, as well as an overview of current Watch articles and upcom-
ing Scholarship Foundation events.
New Business included Joe’s Reports following: (the full text of
each report is available upon request). We congratulate Outpost #35
Member Marco Montoya regarding his primary victory in Texas
Congressional District 25; D.O.D.’s authorization of Combat
Badges for specific branches of the service: The Combat Infantry
Badge, authorized in 1943, is official, as is the Combat Medic
Badge. The Combat Action Badge is official only for service after
9/18/2001. Other badges are available but none are “official” and
none are issued by the D.O.D. Recent MOH Awards Ceremony at
the White House included four Marnemen; Veterans’ cost of living
pension cuts were reversed in February; a “Marijuana Study” is
underway concerning treatment of P.T.S.D; R.O.T.C. units are
under review for cost-effectiveness (some being closed); Review of
Military Decorations (Hagel ordered study); Recent Physical
Demands Study at Ft. Stewart included male and female Soldiers in
Outpost #54 held its spring meeting on April 19 at the Brass
Door Restaurant in San Ramon, California. Thirty-two members
and friends attended. We presented certificates and checks for
$450 to the top students in the San Francisco and Oakland Jr.
ROTC programs. Cadet Col. Danielle Chen, Cadet Commander
of the San Francisco Jr. ROTC Brigade, and Cadet LTC Ven
Outpost #18 held its spring meeting, on April 6, 2014, at Five
Pillars Supper Club in Random Lake, Wisconsin, when new offi-
cers were elected. They are President William J. Vanark, Vice
President Michael J. Bopray, Treasurer Marvin J. Kostka,
Secretary Robert L. Meganck, and Historian Warren R. Fast.
Congratulations and thanks to all of these officers for supporting
their outpost by serving it.
Our fall meeting will be held at the Five Pillars Supper Club
on Sunday, October 5, 2014. An invitation will be mailed to all
members with all pertinent information relative to the meeting.
—Submitted by Bill Vanark, President
Giovinazzo-YorkMilwaukee, WI18
Audie L. Murphy35
Above, some of our Outpost#35 meeting attendees at FortSam Houston Golf Club—Photo by Kayla Cain. At right,John Barnes with daughter,Marilyn.
Golden GateSan Francisco, CA54
Page 20
The Watch on the Rhine
Ryana Velasco, Cadet Commander of the Oakland Jr; ROTC
Brigade were the recipients. We were also pleased to have in
attendance Maj. (ret) Jerry Paratore, head of the San Francisco
ROTC Department, and LTC (ret) Jim Madison, head of the
Oakland ROTC Department. Each delivered comments about
their Jr. ROTC programs. The San Francisco award honored the
veterans of the 30th Infantry Regiment, “San Francisco’s Own,”
1901-1941. The Oakland award honored all who have served in
the 3rd Infantry Division.
Following self-introductions and the scholarship awards, we
had a very interesting talk by Christa Schneider about the Berlin
Air Lift, May 1948-August 1949. It was the result of the first
serious conflict of the Cold War. Berlin was in the center of the
Soviet sector. In the hope of ending the partition of Germany,
the Soviets provoked the United States, England, and France by
blocking all access by rail and road, depriving 2,000,000
Berliner’s food and fuel that normally came in from the West.
Agreements to allow flights into Berlin were not cancelled. The
three western allies, from air bases in their occupation sectors,
started flying supplies into Berlin. The flights were around the
clock in all kinds of weather. A plane would land every three
minutes at one of two airports. If a plane could not make a safe
landing, there was no “go around.” The plane had to fly back to
its base in the western sectors.
One of the pilots made very small parachutes the size of a
handkerchief and attached a small piece of Hershey chocolate
bars. These treats were dropped to the children of Berlin.
Christa, a young Berlin girl, had her first taste of chocolate that
was dropped by a small parachute. Other pilots took up the idea
from the first “Chocolate Bomber.” Hershey Chocolate
Company furnished the small bars of chocolate candy. The U.S.
government allowed this activity as they felt it was good public
relations. The flights took the place of ground warfare to open
the supply routes, and it was successful. Thirty-one Americans
lost their lives on these flights. The talk also included pho-
tographs. It was very interesting and appreciated.
Following another successful raffle that supports the schol-
arship program, we adjourned until our next meeting in
November.
—Submitted by John Shirley, OP 54 President
Right Forefront: Danielle Chin, San Francisco; next, Maj. Paratore; LTC JimMadison, and Ven Valasco, Oakland, with guests.
Colorado88Outpost #88
recently participated
in birthday celebra-
tions. Lou Schindler,
our Treasurer, cele-
brated his 90th birth-
day. There were
about 45 people in
attendance to help
him celebrate the
event at the Dutch
Nelsen Chapter,
KWVA, in Colorado
Springs. Happy
Birthday Lou... we
wish you health, hap-
piness and many
more birthdays to celebrate with us!
Joan also snuck in a cake for my 81st birthday. So, two old
3rd Infantry men who served in Ft. Devens, Massachusetts;
Japan, Korea, and Viet Nam celebrated their birthdays in
Colorado Springs, at the same time.
—Submitted by Joe Annello, Outpost PresidentBy the time you read this issue of the Watch, the OP88,
May 22nd meeting at the Academy Hotel 8110 N. Academy
Blvd, Colorado Springs, will have passed; all the great food,
drinks, and fellowship will be over and plans and excitement
for next year’s meeting will be in the works.
In the forthcoming issue of the Watch you will find pic-
tures of attendees along with their names and of course a
snapshot of the Annual Meeting Report. It would be so won-
derful if we could report that 100% of the OP 88 members
were present.
In the last few weeks we learned that one of our lifetime
members passed away in May of 2013. SGT G.K. Guennel
was born on Christmas Eve, 1920, and served during World
War II. He lived in Littleton, Colorado. If anyone knew him
and has memorable moments they would like to share, we
would love to read about it in the next issue of the Watch.
Please contact me at [email protected], or anoth-
er officer with questions or how to get involved with our
Society.
—Submitted by Bill Buntrock, Secretary
L-R: Joe Annello and Lou Schindler celebratetheir birthdays.
International5845
Outpost #5845 has expanded to include more than Europe and
will now include Korea and activities in connection with the
Korean War. The Korean government plans to continue honoring
Korean War veterans and the outpost will assist the Ministry of
Patriots and Veterans Affairs in identifying and honoring veterans
from the 3rd Infantry Division.
The Watch on the Rhine
Page 21
Provence is the place to be in August as numerous communi-
ties will commemorate the 70th anniversary of their liberation by
the 3rd ID in 1944. The outpost has been coordinating with
many communities, several of which plan to dedicate commem-
orative plaques. Cogolin plans to name a bridge after the 3rd
Infantry Division and to dedicate a plaque to the division near its
monument to the 1st French Army. Cavalaire-sur-Mer has agreed
to dedicate a plaque in honor of Medal of Honor recipient James
Connor. La Londe les Maures will name a bridge in honor of
Medal of Honor recipient Stanley Bender. Lapalud, near
Bollene, will dedicate a plaque honoring the 3ID. Other cere-
monies are in the planning stage.
Monika and Tim have been thanking communities for their
support of the outpost’s commemorative efforts, calling on the
mayors of Puyvert, Pourcieux, Peynier, Eyguires, Saint Andiol,
and Seillons Source d’Argens and presenting certificates of
appreciation for dedicating plaques in August 2013. Each of
these communities has a special history.
French mayoral elections in March led to some changes in
outpost contacts and outpost officers met with several newly
elected mayors and their council members to ensure continued
good working relations for commemorative activities in August.
The new mayor of Chateauneuf du Pape, Claude Avril, included
the group in the village’s Saint Marc wine festival.
On 5 May the outpost commemoratesd, for the 7th time, the
raising of the Stars and Stripes by the 7th Infantry Regiment on
the Obersalzberg compound. Mr. Bob Dutil, I and R Section, 3-
7th Infantry, who was present on 5 May 1945, represented the
Division’s veterans at the ceremony. Bob also accompanied
Monika and Tim on their coordination visit in Southern France,
and he was well-received as a WWII veteran of the Rock of the
Marne.
—Submitted by Monika Stoy, President
Monika and Tim Stoy with Mayor Agostini of Saint Andiol and WWIIVeteran Robert Dutil.
Breakout Day (‘B’ Day)By Richard M. Wittig
Many important events in WWII took place in 1944. This
year, 2014, is the 70th anniversary of those events, and
many will be observed at public gatherings, not the least of which
is “D” Day, the allied landing on the beaches of Normandy,
France, June 6, 1944.
Two weeks prior to “D” Day, the Allies broke out of the
Anzio-Nettuno Beachhead in Italy. This whole battle, beginning
on January 22, 1944, when the Allies landed troops 30 miles
south of Rome, was an effort to make an end run behind the
enemy lines. The idea behind the landing was to cut supply routes
to enemy troops defending the Gustav Line which ran across
Italy.
The plan was for the enemy to retreat from the Gustav Line,
so the Allies could move north up the Italian boot. However, the
VI Corps commander of the troops making the landing did not
take advantage of the situation which resulted in four months of
hell for the troops fighting for survival on a beachhead 10 miles
deep and 15 miles wide.
Finally, on May 23, the Allies, spearheaded by the U.S. Army
3rd Infantry Division, broke through the enemy defenses (which
they had built up over a period of three and one-half months) and
were finally able to accomplish the mission they had set out to do
four months earlier.
The breakout was not an easy one. To assist the Infantry, the
Allies assembled the largest concentration of artillery so far in the
war, including the guns on battle ships off shore. Just behind our
dug in positions a whole battalion with 30 caliber machine guns
fired indirect fire over the heads of our troops, right into the fox-
holes of the enemy. On that day, the 3rd Infantry Division sus-
tained the most one-day casualties of any U.S. Army Division in
WWII.
A week and one-half later, on June 4th, Rome was liberated—
the first Axis Capital to fall to the Allies. The joyous news lasted
for two days and was overshadowed on June 6, 1944, when the
Allies, during Operation Overlord, made the successful landings
at Normandy, France.
Army landing at Anzio (1/22/44): (US Army Center of Military History)
So that his brethren shall know...Please report the death of any member of the Society of the ThirdInfantry Division to Richard W. Heller, Database Manager(address, p.2) for listing in the “Last Call.”
Page 22
The Watch on the Rhine
Letters to the Editor
Robert Lynch wrote in March: “I was extremely happy to
read your cry for “Reader Participation.” The more letters the
better, especially if LTG Mark W. Clark is the subject. I and
most of my buddies in those days always felt bitter at his han-
dling of the Anzio invasion. (I am including a few notes,
referred to in my off-the-cuff discussions of the War.) Clark
certainly could pass the buck. Rome was his baby from the
word GO. He disregarded orders completely.” [We will runRobert’s story, “Today, I Will Lay Down My Life for MyCountry” (included with the comments above), as soon asspace is available.]
Jim Strawn wrote: “Lynn, I received my “Watch” in yes-
terday’s mail. Congratulations on another fine issue of the
publication that does so much for the Society and its mem-
bers—in fact, to many members, it is the Society. I was espe-
cially touched by the Letter from Ft. Stewart that Sgt. Ashley
Randall from the 3rd Infantry Division would accept the
Medal of Honor for her grandfather, who earned it while
serving with the 3rd in Korea (Yes Joe, in the 7th Infantry
Regiment).” From Joe: Thanks, Jim; I’m very proud of myservice in the 7th.
Harry Kageleiry wrote: “The “Watch” is always interest-
ing reading. As a member of the Heavy Machine Gun
Platoon, Company H, 7th Infantry Regiment from December
1952 to January 1954 in Korea, it is interesting for me to read
the articles about the Korean War, especially about the battle
of Boomerang Hill. I was there during that battle.
In response to an ad in the April 2014 issue of your maga-
zine, I have sent an email to Sinclair W. Stickle, the author of
“So They Will Know,” and plan to purchase his book. My
last duty assignment before retiring from the active Army
involved “Force Development.” I read everything I can
about the mission, organization, equipment, and training of
the Third Infantry Division down to squad level.
Richard Moats wrote saying, “Thanks, Lynn and Joe, for
all your work on behalf of the Society.” [Richard sent an arti-cle planned for this issue.]
Joe Annello wrote: “Thanks, Lynn [for the update on our
chaplain’s health], our regards to Joe, and thanks for the great
job that you both do for our Society!
Dale McGraw wrote: “Thanks Lynn, for the info on Jerry
and a great WATCH.”
Bruce Monkman shared some words from an old
National Geographic concerning the WWI working dogs:
“The world had gone wild, but the dogs were well trained. In
March 1919, our tributes to man’s best friend was filled with
photos of canines on the WW I front. Everyone must carry
their masks with them if they expect to be immune from the
poisonous fumes that periodically pervaded the battle lines.
All animals in use behind and within the lines were pro-
vided with protective coverings. Some animals carried mes-
sages across rough terrain; some sniffed out the wounded for
the Red Cross. And some, each with a big can of hot soup
strapped to either side, were sent through the front line
trenches to carry this cheering fare to the fighting men.”
Chuck Trout wrote concerning the review of his book in
the April Watch: Joe, Thank you for the nice comments about
‘Let the Fans Negotiate.” Appreciate it. I should make you
my agent. Blessings to you and Lynn.
Bob Poydasheff called concerning my comments about
Rick Atkinson”s Day of Battle. He laughed about my chagrin
in trying to read Atkinson’s overly wordy book, but said he
“liked the April Watch very, very much!”
Richard Moats wrote to thank Joe and me for our service
to the Society. We should thank Richard for his service to our
country, and we do thank him and all our brave Soldiers and
Veterans.
Wilbur G. Corbitt wrote: “I congratulate you on the
selection of Columbus, Georgia, and Fort Benning for your
next reunion. Last fall, my wife and I attended the 25th
Infantry Division’s six-day reunion there and it was great. I
especially enjoyed the demonstrations at Ft. Benning, and the
Museum was just incredible. I know everyone will enjoy it.”
Don Bettine wrote to tell us that he went on an Old Glory
Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., on mission 23, May 8th,
out of Appleton. I gather it is a mixed flight, some WWII vets
and some Korean War vets. My daughter and son-in-law are
going as guardians. We are looking forward to the trip. Wewill want to hear about that trip in the August Watch.
L. J. and Darlene Pugh wrote to thank us for all we do.
Carmel Solano wrote to thank us for sending him a photo
of himself and General Twitty, and he also said, “I want to
tell you what a fine job you do with our Watch on the Rhine.
I read each issue from cover-to-cover, and it makes me proud
that I served with an outstanding military unit. I have friends
who served in the military but don’t show the pride and honor
in their respective units like I do in B Company, 15th Infantry
Regiment. Lynn and Joe, thank you for what you do.” See“Looking For” to read Carmel’s question about the “GoodConduct” card.
Jocelyne Papelard wrote to Joe: Congratulations, Joe,
and a big thank you for all you do. You are so very dedicated
to the division and its veterans. I am in the midst of planning
several events and will write more about them later. Of
course, the big event is Memorial Day at Epinal AmericanCemetery. We plan a grand ceremony, if only we could have
American troops from nearby Germany.
The Watch on the Rhine
Page 23
Legion of HonorConrad “Connie” Newgreen
This announcement is a bit late.Nevertheless, we want to honor thismember of the Society and Veteran ofWWII. The copy summarized belowwas submitted by William B. Rogers.Thanks, Bill.
Conrad “Connie” Newgreen, of Fargo, North Dakota, was
designated a knight of the Legion of Honor by the President
of France for his “valorous action” during WWII. Connie
Newgreen likes to say he collected a souvenir from each of the three
countries in which he served: malaria in Italy, shrapnel in his thigh
in France, and a broken back in Germany.
Connie is a recipient of the Purple Heart and believes he is the last
surviving service member to have served shoulder-to-shoulder with
Audie Murphy. Newgreen also took the first boatload of Allied
Infantry from Strasbourg, France, across the Rhine River into
Germany, making him one of the first U.S. Soldiers in his sector to
set foot on German soil.
Newgreen entered the service in June 1943, completed Basic
training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and deployed in March
1944 with the 3rd Infantry Division’s 10th Combat Engineer
Battalion. He got his first taste of battle when the 100-ship convoy
was attacked by six German planes off the Rock of Gibraltar. Connie
said, “All six planes were shot down and they didn’t hit one ship in
the convoy.”
From Naples, Connie was sent to the Anzio Beachhead, which he
remembers as “a bloodbath.” He thought, “How in the hell is a guy
going to live through this?” Connie said, I was an 18-year-old and
scared to death.” It was on Anzio Beachhead where he met 19-year-
old Audie Murphy, who was with a squad of riflemen giving the
engineers cover as they strung miles of barbed wire. Connie remem-
bers, “He was a nice guy, just a kid like me. Couple kids fightin’ a
man’s war.” “I went to Rome for my 19th birthday, but I had to shoot
my way there.” From Rome, Newman received training and partic-
ipated in the landing of southern France. From there, the 3rd Infantry
Division battled its way across France, defeated the Germans at the
Maginot Line, crossed the Rhine into Germany, and defeated the last
remnants of the German Army. When the war was supposed to be
over, Newman was in an ambulance being taken for treatment of a
recurrence of malaria when it was blown off the road (probably by a
land mine.) The ambulance rolled four time, and Connie sustained a
broken back. [Connie, Congratulations on receiving the Legion ofHonor; you certainly deserve this recognition.]
Display the 3ID Patch Proudly& Support the Scholarship Fund
1. Inside Window Decal with Society Emblem: 3” round, self-
adhering, easy to remove and reuse.
2. Society Bumper Sticker: 11 ¼” x 3” with permanent adhe-
sive.
3. 3rd I.D. Patch: 2 ¼” or 2 5/8” or 3” with permanent adhe-
sive.
4. Society Inside Window Sticker: 3” round with permanent
adhesive.
5. Society Emblem: 3 ¼” or 4” with permanent adhesive.
Donations are accepted and a portion will go to the ScholarshipFoundation. The names of donors to the Scholarship Foundation arelisted in the Watch. Make checks payable to Society of the 3rdInfantry Division and mail order to Joe Ball, 2010 Worcester Lane,Garland TX 75040. If you have questions, call 972-495-1704.
Battle PatrolsBy Bruce Monkman
During the Korean War, the 3rd Infantry Division organized provi-sional units within each of its infantry regiments to perform spe-cialized combat operations. These units were called “BattlePatrols” and each one had a unique patch. Primary missionsincluded raids, night patrols, and ambushes, as well as reconnais-sance patrols. It is believed these units were formed sometime in1951. In early February 1953, the 15th Infantry Regiment BattlePatrol was led by Col. Richard G. Stilwell, the 15the InfantryRegiment Commanding Officer. The Battle Patrols were comprisedof only volunteers who had already earned the CIB. Each unit con-sisted of two officers, two medics, and 46 riflemen. (Source:“American Society of Military Insignias Collectors.”)
Page 24
The Watch on the Rhine
June 1-4, 2014: Anzio Beachhead Veterans of World War II, 35thAnnual Reunion, Nashville, Tennessee. Contact John Boller, 1Harbor North, Amityville NY 11701; [email protected].
This is not a Society-sponsored event; please address questionsto John Boller.
June 14, 2014: Tributes to America’s heroes of the European andPacific Theatres of WWII, Audie Murphy and John Basilone (Bothrecipients of the MOH), will be held at 2:00 PM at the Audie
Murphy American Cotton Museum in Greenville, Texas, and at5:00 PM on the Main Street Square in Farmersville, Texas.Hosting the events are Henry Bodden and Diane BasiloneHawkins, both researchers and authors of events related to theseheroes.
June 19-22, 2014: Society of the 3rd Infantry Division Reunion,Columbus, Georgia.
June 21, 2014: “Audie Murphy Day” in Farmersville, Texas.“Audie Murphy Day” began in 1999 as a solemn remembrance ofAudie Murphy, the most decorated soldier of World War II, whocame home to a hero’s welcome in downtown Farmersville in1945. Today this Main Street Program event draws thousandsand honors our local veterans as well as our “hometown hero,”Audie Murphy. Popular activities over the years have included aparade (complete with local Vets riding in historic vehicles), mili-tary flyover, a brief program giving biographical information aboutAudie Murphy, a roll call of local veterans, military exhibits, andspecial receptions for the Vets provided by local churches andservice organizations. For more information, contact FarmersvilleMain Street Program: 972-784-6846.
July 12, 2014: Audie Murphy Outpost #35 will hold its summermeeting on July 12th at Sushi Japon in Austin, Texas, hosted byJoe and Lynn Ball. Our summer Newsletter and meeting invitation(with a map to the restaurant) will be sent to all members onemonth prior to the meeting.
July 30 – August 3, 2014: OP International, the French Embassy,and the Army Historical Foundation will host the 70th anniversaryhistorical commemoration and seminars in honor of OperationDragoon and the 6th Army Group and Division’s campaign inFrance culminating at Colmar. It is being held at the SheratonPentagon City Hotel, 900 South Orme Street, Arlington, VA22204. Price - $92 per night. Reservations: 1-800-325-3535 or(703) 521-1900. Reservation Group Name: “Operation Dragoon2014 – 70th Anniversary.” The commemorative ceremony will beheld 1 August 0900-1000 in the Memorial Amphitheater inArlington National Cemetery. This is not a Society-sponsoredevent; please address questions to Monika Stoy, 703-912-4218or [email protected].
August 13-25, 2014: The Battlefield Tour to France is a profes-sionally-conducted tour to see our many French friends, visit
places where we fought, and visit a few sites that are of greatinterest. Contact John Shirley at 925-447-2256 [email protected]. This is not a Society-sponsored event;please address questions to John Shirley.
September 9, 2014: Outpost #4 will hold its next meeting onSeptember 9, 2014, at 11:30 A.M. at the Veterans Home inSpokane, Washington.
October 2-5, 2014: The Combat Infantrymens Association willhold its 2014 convention at the Ramada Gateway Hotel,Kissimmee, Florida. More information when available.
October 5, 2014: Outpost #18 will hold its fall meeting onOctober 5, 2014, at Five Pillars Supper Club, Random Lake,Wisconsin. An invitation will be mailed to all members in advanceof the meeting.
November 2014: While the date is not yet firm, Outpost # 2, willplace a monument at the Sarasota National Cemetery MemorialWalk and dedicate the monument in November, hopefully on ornear Veterans’ Day.
November 2014: Outpost #54 will hold its next meeting inNovember. More details will appear in the next Watch.
November 11, 2014: Outpost #7 will conduct Veterans’ Day cer-emonies at the Tomb of the Unknowns at 3:15 PM. Members willmeet at the 3rd Infantry Division Monument at 2:30 PM for cere-
CALENDAR of UPCOMING EVENTS
The Watch on the Rhine
Page 25
monies there before moving to the Tomb of the Unknowns for ourwreath-laying ceremony. Members are urged to attend. For moreinformation, contact John Insani ([email protected]) orPat Williamson ([email protected]).
November 11, 2014: Outpost #15 will participate in the PhoenixVeterans Day Parade with a meeting to follow. More details whenavailable.
2015: The 7th Infantry Regiment. Association will hold its 2015reunion in the New Orleans area. 2015 is the bicentennial of theBattle of New Orleans (8 Jan 1815). Since we are “New Orleans’Own” and the Cottonbalers, we will return to the city of our“roots.” We are also looking for people willing either to act as thelocal host or to help in the coordination beforehand.Certainly, we will visit our monument at Chalmette, Louisiana.That is where the Regiment was nicknamed the “Cottonbalers”while participating in the last major battle of the War of 1812.Details will follow when available.
May 2015: Outpost #88 will hold it annual meeting at theAcademy Hotel, Colorado Springs, Colorado. More information infuture issues of the Watch on the Rhine.
June 8-18, 2015: The Battle of the Bulge/Eagle’s Nest Tour, pre-sented by Valor Tours Ltd. and escorted by Henry Bodden (AudieMurphy biographer and Society Associate member): Our groupwill meet in Paris for dinner and introductions. We will visit WWIsites at Chateau Thierry and Belleau Wood, then on to Reims
(Allied war room, site of the German surrender). We will tour theBastogne area, the Malmedy massacre site, the Siegfried Line,and much more). We will visit Patton’s grave in Luxembourg, fol-lowed by a tour of the Maginot Line. We will tour from Strasbourgto Holtzwihr, France, and visit Audie Murphy’s one-man-standbattlefield. Then we will stop in Herrlingen, Bavaria, to visit ErwinRommel’s house, his suicide monument, and his grave. We willtour Hitler’s mountaintop Eagle’s Nest and the Obersalzberg com-pound area of Berchtesgaden. We will stop for a tour of Dachauand on to Munich, the bir thplace of the Nazi movement. For fulldetails call 1-800-842-4504 or visit website - Valor Tours Ltd.You can also contact Henry Bodden at 1-918-376-9417or [email protected]. This is not a Society-sponsored event;please address questions to Henry Bodden.
Chaplain’s CornerJerry Daddato
By Lynn Ball
As I write this article on behalf of our dear Chaplain, Jerry
Daddato, he is trying to recover from by-pass surgery. The
heart surgery is healing quite well; however, other health issues
are impacting his recovery. Nevertheless, each day, ICU doctors
tell his spouse, Kathy, that he is a little better. We need to keep
Jerry and Kathy in our prayers.
Since I am not an ordained minister and am further impacted
by the fact that I am very private about my religion, I have had
to resort to the following stories to provide some uplifting com-
ments. If Jerry were writing this, he would remember our recent
religious events, Easter and Passover, and provide some special
words about both. In lieu of his words, I hope you enjoy these
two stories and find them as enlightening as I did:
It was during the first month of Mark’s college experience
when his professor gave students a pop quiz. Mark was a consci-
entious student and breezed through the questions, until he
encountered the last one. “What is the first name of the woman
who cleans the school?” Mark thought, “Surely this is some kind
of a joke.” He had seen the cleaning woman several times. She
was tall, dark-haired, and in her 50s, but how would he know her
name? He handed in his paper, leaving the last question blank.
Just before class ended, a student asked if
the last question would count toward the quiz
grade. “Absolutely,” said the professor. “In
your careers, you will meet many people. All
are significant. They each deserve your attention and care, even
if all you do is smile and say “hello.” Mark never forgot the les-
son and soon learned that the the name of the cleaning woman
was “Dorothy.”
This last story points to a truism: a Native American grandfa-
ther was talking to his grandson about how he felt. He said. “I
feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is very
vengeful, angry, and violent. The other wolf is loving and com-
passionate.” The grandson asked, “Which wolf will win the fight
in your heart?” The grandfather answered, “The one I feed.”
We pray that each of you will enjoy the coming months. The
horrors of our past winter are over and the vicious rain and tor-
nadoes in some parts of our country are, hopefully, past. We hope
God’s gift of spring is now upon us. We pray His uplifting Grace
will bring each of you good health.
If Jerry were writing this closing, he would say something
very nice and then sign his report “Your Chaplain, Jerry Daddato
ROTM.” Gosh, I hope Jerry is back at his typewriter by next
issue!
THE SOCIETY OF THE 3ID IS LOOKING FOR YOU!The Society of the Third Infantry Division has existed for 95
years and is the oldest of all military organizations.
Members receive a first-class publication six times a year.Members support a scholarship foundation. Members meetwith local outposts at least once a year, and all members areinvited to a national reunion held annually. Dues are minimal.
If you wore the Marne Patch or if you are a family member orfriend of a Marne Soldier, you are invited to join the Society!
There is a membership application on p. 30. Join today!
Page 26
The Watch on the Rhine
Commentary on AwardsBy Murray Simon
On March 18, 2014, I watched on
TV as President Obama’s award-
ed the CMH (Congressional
Medals of Honor) to a number of WWII,
Korea, and Viet Nam veterans. Several
family members received the award for
their kin posthumously.
I was impressed by the fairness of the
event but I realized that guidelines for
military awards for infantry soldiers dur-
ing World War II were different from
other units in the Armed Forces. It may be
that I have been asleep for these many
years.
The process used for the March 18,
2014, awards was to go through the files
and select recipients, mainly of Jewish
and Hispanic minorities, who received
Distinguished Service Crosses and to
upgrade them to Congressional Medals of
Honor.
In our 3rd Division combat in WWII,
we were involved in many strategic
attacks and breakthroughs. The Third suf-
fered more casualties than any other unit
in the war.
Of course, our Division’s shining light,
Audie Murphy, was the most decorated
soldier in the Army. He had witnesses for
each of his awards. In the film, To Helland Back, Audie reenacted his feats
humbly, even the feat that earned him the
CMH.
I wrote awards for my Company A, 7th
Infantry Regiment during a lull in combat
in December 1944 and for a short period
after V-E Day. We were told that for
someone to receive an award, his action
had to be witnessed and he had to achieve
a military objective.
Many medals were not awarded to
worthy infantry soldiers because they and
their witnesses were dead or wounded.
A soldier who told me that he knocked
out a German tank with his bazooka was
bypassed because he had no witnesses.
Witnesses saw a medic, while saving
the lives of six wounded GIs, killed by an
artillery shell. I recommended a CMH or
a DSC for him. He was awarded a posthu-
mous Silver Star with the explanation that
he did nothing to “achieve a military
objective.”
I did not write an award for myself
although I had reason to be eligible as a
light machine gunner and as a radio oper-
ator in my 100 days of combat (not count-
ing my year of training, post-war occupa-
tion duty plus 10 weeks in hospitals).
Many of my buddies in the Company had
good reasons to claim eligibility for
awards as well.
After V-E day, a Captain who took
over our Company but had little or no
combat experience ordered me to write
him up for a Bronze Star, a Silver Star,
and a Distinguished Service Cross. When
I asked him for witnesses for each award,
he became angry at me and placed me on
his “special” list. I stopped writing
awards after that incident.
During combat actions, the number of
enlisted men’s CMHs seemed small com-
pared to those in the Air Force. This is not
to belittle the efforts of the Air Force or
other high ranking officers above the rank
of Captain. Nevertheless, the time spent
by combat infantry GIs on the ground,
day-after-day in attacks until most of
them became casualties, appears to have
been overlooked.
The Army Times (February or March
2014) listed the names of 40 CMH recip-
ients: 39 officers and one sergeant. [Some
felt there might have been some
favoritism shown in the awards.]
The advantage the Air Force had was
that the people who wrote the awards in a
timely period were in a safe place, like an
office, distant from the front lines. When
Ernie Pyle, the famous War correspon-
dent during World War II, compared the
GIs with Air Force members, he wrote
that Air Force members were always
“clean shaven.”
Many U.S. bombers flying over
Germany were shot down. At least 10,000
Air Force crew members of all ranks were
forced to parachute over Germany and
were taken prisoners. The infantry GIs on
the ground taken prisoners by the
Germans must have been at least ten
times that number before, during, and
after the Battle of the Bulge. [Nearly7,000 men in one Infantry Division werecaptured at the Bulge.]
I also learned that Air Force POWs
were awarded Bronze Stars and some
Purple Hearts on their release. I don’t
know if the Bronze Star was true for GI
infantry personnel taken prisoners by the
Germans. GIs wounded or killed were
awarded the Purple Heart but no Bronze
Star as far as I know.
After V-E Day, Privates who spent six
months or more overseas were awarded a
promotion to Private First Class and a
cash raise of $2.50 per month. This came
about from a General Order signed by
General Eisenhower.
I believe that the guidelines for awards
changed with each succeeding war such
as the Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm,
Afghanistan, and Iraq conflicts. This was
a change for the better because any com-
bat infantry soldier deserves a special
award in addition to the Combat Infantry
Badge for just being in harm’s way.
[Infantrymen awarded the C.I.B. in WWIIwere recently awarded Bronze Stars formeritorious service.]
I was awarded a Purple Heart for
frozen feet in January 1945, often fighting
in single digit temperatures in the Vosges
Mountains of France. My later special
award from the French Government was a
Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor.
Nevertheless, with or without awards,
we Dogface Soldiers did what had to be
done on the ground to help make the
world a better place for future genera-
tions. Winning the war and living to tell
the story was an awesome award.
Correction:Somehow, we managed to garble the dates in the last paragraph of Walter Benton’s articleentitled “Combat with the NCO,” which appeared in the April Watch. For the record, Walterretired from the Army in 1974. He was called back to service at age 59, during DesertStorm, and served for one year (1990-1991). [Several members wrote and good-natured-
ly pointed out our puzzling error. Thanks.]
Book ReviewsBy Lynn Ball
Navy SEAL Dogs, by Mike
Ritland, was published in 2013 by St.
Martin’s Griffin, 175 Fifth Avenue,
New York NY 10010. It sells in the
U.S. for $17.99 and in Canada for
$19.99. It can be ordered from the pub-
lisher using the book title and the ISBN
number: 978-1-250-04182 (hardcover)
987-1-4668-4023-2 (e-book).
To say that Navy SEAL Dogs is an
excellent book is an understatement.
The prologue alone is worth the price
of the book; because, it lets the reader
accompany Chopper and his handler,
Brett, on their danger-packed missions in Afghanistan. We see
Chopper’s skills at detecting explosive material and his ability to take
down a combatant hiding in ambush—both of which saved the lives
of members of SEAL Team Three.
Each chapter contains stories of the training and deployment mis-
sions of these Navy SEAL dogs. The reader gets a rare glimpse at the
canine stars of these chapters. The distinct personalities of Braco,
Rex, Arras, Pancho, Echo, Ciaro, Arko, Castor, Samson, Reno,
Rocket, Odin, Carlos, and Luke stand out as they perform their highly
dangerous tasks to perfection. Like other Soldiers, sometimes they
are wounded. When this happens, they are extracted via Medevac—
just like a human soldier. SEAL dog Luke works his way into the
heart of the reader; his story is another reason to read this book. Not
only does Luke demonstrate skill and bravery beyond anything imag-
ined by most people, but also he has a unique way of “getting even”
that is so priceless this reader will never forget it.
Most of the dogs portrayed in these pages are Belgian Malinois,
bred in Europe, though other breeds are sometimes trained and used
as Navy SEAL dogs. Regardless of the breed, the dogs accepted are
all quite exceptional.
Ritland does a good job of explaining training techniques and pro-
vides evidence of their success. He also discusses his “Warrior Dog
Foundation,” a non-profit organization that finds homes for Navy
SEAL dogs discharged from service.
Besides Ritland’s excellent portrayal of the SEALs and their
MWDs (military working dogs), he also provides a panel of pho-
tographs which aids the reader in understanding the physical charac-
teristics of these exceptional dogs. His useful glossary of terms and a
brief history of canines used in wartime are pluses. The history sec-
tion is separated into four parts: from early times through WWI,
WWII, Korea and Vietnam wars, and Post 9/11. In each case, he dis-
cusses lessons learned. It takes a long time, usually years, to train a
dog to serve in combat situations so one leaves the book hoping the
military will realize that programs involving military working dog
readiness must continue even as conflicts wind down.
I originally reviewed this book at the request of Military maga-
zine. The book has been donated, in the name of Military magazine,
to the Society of the 3rd Infantry Division Scholarship Foundation
for use as a prize in its upcoming raffle to support scholarship grants
awarded annually by the Foundation. I know that the winner of this
wonderful book will be delighted.
The Watch on the Rhine
Page 27
Military Honors QuartermasterContact Leonard Coillins for a catalog.
• 3rd ID Necktie, 100% Silk ............................................................................$19.99
• 7th Infantry Regiment Necktie, 100% Silk ..................................................$19.99
• Tee Shirts, 3ID, 7th Regt, 15th Regt, 3ID Soc. (Your Choice) S-XL ........$12.99
• Black Baseball Cap w/3rd Patch, ....................................................................$9.99
• Black Baseball Cap w/3rd WWII Patch, ........................................................$9.99
• Black Baseball Cap w/3rd ANZIO Patch, ....................................................$9.99
• Black Baseball Cap w/3rd Korean War Patch, ..............................................$9.99
• Black Baseball Cap w/3rd Iraqi Freedom Patch, ..........................................$9.99
• Black Baseball Cap w/7th Cottonbalers, ........................................................$9.99
• Black Baseball Cap w/7th WWII Patch, ........................................................$9.99
• Black Baseball Cap w/7th Korean War Patch, ..............................................$9.99
• Black Baseball Cap w/7th Cold War Patch, ..................................................$9.99
• Black Baseball Cap w/7th Vietnam Patch, ....................................................$9.99
• Black Baseball Cap w/15th Korean War Patch, ............................................$9.99
• Black Baseball Cap w/15th Patch, ..................................................................$9.99
• Black Baseball Cap w/15th WWII Patch, ......................................................$9.99
• Black Baseball Cap w/15th Korean War Patch, ............................................$9.99
• Coffee Mug, White Acrylic, w/3rd ID Patch, ................................................$6.99
• Bumper Sticker w/3rd Insignia, ......................................................................$2.99
• Window Sticker w/3rd Insignia, ....................................................................$2.99
• 3rd ID License Plate Tag, ................................................................................$6.99
• Belt Buckle, Solid Brass, w/3rd Patch, ..........................................................$9.99
• Belt Buckle, Solid Brass, w/ 7th IR Crest, ....................................................$9.99
• Belt Buckle, Solid Brass, w/ 15th IR Crest, ..................................................$9.99
• Flag, Indoor/Outdoor, 3’x5’, 3rd ID Logo, ....................................................$9.99
• License Plate Frame w/3rd Logo, ..................................................................$9.99
• Unit Crest, ........................................................................................................$6.99
• 3rd Div. Patch, ..................................................................................................$3.99
• 3rd Pin, 3/4”, ....................................................................................................$3.99
• Society Life Member Pin, ..............................................................................$4.99
• 7th Infantry Regiment Life Member Pin, ......................................................$4.99
• 15th Infantry Regiment Life Member Pin, ....................................................$4.99
• US Flag w/3rd Flag Pin, ..................................................................................$3.99
• Rocky Pin, ........................................................................................................$3.99
• Small Rank Pins, ..............................................................................................$3.99
• Miniature Medal Hat Pins, ..............................................................................$3.99
• Full Size Medals, ............................................................................ Call for pricing
• Mini Medals, ..................................................................................................$12.99
• Lapel Pins, ........................................................................................................$3.99
• Miniature Medal Hat Pins, ..............................................................................$3.99
• Ribbons, ............................................................................................................$1.25
• 3rd ID Cuff Links, ............................................................................................$8.99
• 7th Infantry Regiment Cuff Links, ................................................................$8.99
• 15th Infantry Regiment Cuff Links, ..............................................................$8.99
• Belt Buckle, Stainless Steel w/ 7th IR Crest, ..............................................$11.99
• Belt Buckle, Stainless Steel w/ 3rd Crest, ....................................................$11.99
• Belt Buckle, Stainless Steel w/ 15th IR Crest, ............................................$11.99
• Belt Buckle, Stainless Steel w/ 65th IR Crest, ............................................$11.99
• Book: History of the Third Infantry Division, World War II ....................$49.99
Flat Rate Shipping is $5.99 regardless of how much you purchase. Call or e-mail fora free catalog. Visit our website at www.Military-Honors.com to place your order on-line. We accept Visa & Master Card. To order by mail, send your order to: MilitaryHonors, PO Box 224, Sylvania, GA 30467. Call Toll-Free at 1-866-946-6677.
Page 28
The Watch on the Rhine
Life Members.JOHN G BEECHLER OP 1-CR39FA/C KOREA/Jan53-Apr53 1LTDOD - March 7, 2014. Reported by Albert “Bert” Beierschmitt..JOHN M. BIELING OP 5-ER15INF/A KOREA SGTDOD - March 30, 2012. Reported by Tom Heitzer.ANDREW J. BRATSAKIS OP 1-CR7INF/B WW2 PVTDOD - February 24, 2014. Reported on 2015 Dues Card.GEORGE X. FERGUSON OP 35-CR2 BTN 15INF/WW2DOD – April 25, 2014. Reported by daughter, Monica.G.K. GUENNEL OP 88-WRDIV/HQ WW2 SGTDOD - May 13, 2013. Reported on 2014 Dues Card.FRED E. HOLT OP 54-WR30INF/SV WW2 DOD - December 3, 2013. Reported on the Internet.EARL C. MC CRARY OP 60-ER39FA/B BTRY KOREA/Dec49-Feb52 1LTDOD - February 2, 2014. Reported by Tom Heitzer.OLA L. MIZE OP 60-ER15INF/K KOREA COLDOD - March 12, 2014. Reported by David Mills.WILLIAM M. RANDLE OP 17-CR15INF/B/1 BN WW2/Aug44-Oct45 PFCDOD - Jan 10, 2013. Reported on 2014 Status Card.JOHN M. RASKOSKY OP 63-WRDIV/HQ & 7INF/ WW2 SGTDOD - February 9, 2008. Reported by USPS.TAYLOR W. SANDIDGE OP 1-CR7INF/G 15INF/K WW2/Jun43-Oct45 CPLDOD - December 29, 2013. Reported by Tom Heitzer.ERNEST J. WATERS OP 35-CR30INF/A WW2 CPLDOD - Unknown. Reported by Lynn Ball.THOMAS L. WRIGHT OP 17-CR30INF/A WW2/43-Jun46 SGTDOD - UNKNOWN . Reported by USPS.
Annual MembersROBERT V. BISHARD OP 7-ER15INF/2BN KOREA/Jan53-Mar54 SFCDOD - February 14, 2014. Reported by Tom Heitzer.
WILLIAM T. FALLON OP 57-CR39FA/C KOREA SSGTDOD –Unknown. Reported by the USPS on 2014 Status Card.GLEN P. FLER OP 1315INF/M WW2 SSGTDOD - July 12, 2011. Reported by Tom Heitzer.JOE GOEPPNER FBA15INF/I PT PVTDOD - November 1, 2013. Reported by Tom Heitzer.HORACE W. GRAY OP 15-WR30INF/C WW2 PFCDOD - February 10, 2014. Reported on 2014 Dues Card.JOSEPH GUISTI OP 3-ER9FA/ KOREA CPLDOD - March 15, 2014. Reported by Dillon Kilpatrick.BERNARD HAYWARD OP 12-CR15INF/1BN HQ WW2/May43-Jan47 SSGTDOD - September 21, 2013. Reported by his wife Ann on 2014 Dues Card.WAYNE E. HODGES OP 63-WR9FA/HQ WW2 T4DOD March 22, 2014 . Reported by Bruce Monkman.FRANK L. KANE OP 2-ERDIV/MED/ WW2 PVTDOD - March 20, 2014. Reported by his daughter Candy Purcell.J.R. KAYS JR OP 33-CR15INF/HHC/3 BN KOREA/52-53 SFCDOD - September 25, 2012. Reported by Tom Heitzer.FREDERIC J. KNEPPER OP 5-ER15INF/E KOREA/Jun53-Sep54 SGTDOD - January 21, 2014. Reported by his wife Joyce to TomHeitzer.JOHN W. “BILL” LEE OP 35-CR10ENG/D KOREA/Jan51-Jul52 DOD - April 10, 2014. Reported by Lynn Ball.C. BROCK LIPPITT OP 54-WR15INF/K KOREA DOD - March 6, 2014. Reported by his wife Mary to KathyDaddato.EBEN O. PALMQUIST OP 1-CRDIV/ARTY/HQ Btry KOREA/Mar52-Apr53 CPLDOD - December 26, 2013. Reported by his wife Mary.JOHN E. SCHNEIDER OP 17-CR9FA/B WW2/Jul40-Jun45 SSGTDod - April 15, 2014. Reported by Wimpy Kenner.
Last CallAll of us in the Society of the Third Infantry Division, U.S. Army, extend our sincere sympathy to the families and friends of those listedbelow. May they rest in peace.
In Memoriam
We no longer list the addresses of our deceased members. This is being done to curtail predators and people who victimize our mem-bers’ survivors with schemes. If you need an address of one of the following, you can find it in your Roster or you can contact theeditor, Lynn Ball, or our Roster Manager Rich Heller. Contact information for them is on page 2 of the Watch.
The Watch on the Rhine
Page 29
Life8926 RICHARD A. MEADOWS OPMA
1/64AR, 2BCT OIF/Apr07-Dec11 SGTReferred by LTC Robert Meadows
8930 CREIGHTON W. ABRAMS JR OP 58452-39FA/ DIV ARTY/HQ CW/77-86 BGENReferred by Monika Stoy
Associate Life8639 JEAN CLAUDE ROUTARD OP 5845
ASSOCIATE Referred by Tim Stoy
Annual To Life 8624 EDWARD W. MATHEWSON OP 12
4/64AR/ CW-Sep67-Dec68 E4
Regular Annual8802 SHEILA KAY HEARRON OPMA
3ID PT/93-98 CW3One Year Gift Membership from Frank Ugolini–Referred by Ray Egan
8927 MICHAEL W. FRIEND OP 601/15INF/A CW/Jun66-Jun68 SGTReferred by John Burke
8928 CHARLES A. CURL OP 174/64/A CW/Apr81-May83 S4Referred by Website
Associate Annual 8924 MARLENE C. BERGER OP 1
Associate Father served in WWII 41FA
8925 RAVYN REED OP 1Associate Father served in WWII 41FA
8932 HANS ROHRMULLER OP 5845Associate COLGift from Monika Stoy
8934 MARC TASTENOY OP 5845Associate Gift from Monika Stoy
8807 CLIFFORD E. ROSANBALM OP 35Associate- 1CAV/ CW/Dec70-Dec73 E4One Year Gift Membership from Harry Kee.Referred by John Ray
8933 NICOLAS COURTINE OP 5845Associate Referred by Monika Stoy
8937 EUNBONG YANG OP 5845Associate Referred by Monika Stoy
Roll CallNew Members — Society of the 3rd Infantry Division
*1 Year Gift Membership **2 Year Gift Membership (• = Referred/Given By)
CHARLES A. SCHULTZ OP 1-CR30INF/F WW2/Mar43-Apr46 PFCDOD - November 23, 2013. Reported on the 2014 Dues Card.JOHN H. TIMPERLEY OP 63-WR39FA/A Btry WW2/Jun40-Jun45 CPLDOD - April 21, 2014. Reported by his daughter Karla.ALBERT W. WALTON OP 17-CR7INF/B KOREA/Nov50-Dec50 PFCDOD - December 1, 2013. Reported on Status Card
Non-member PassingWayne Hodges, 95, a former member of Outpost #63 passedaway on March 22, 2014 in Vancouver, Washington. Wayne servedwith the rank of T4 in Headquarters Battery, 9th F.A. Battalion dur-ing WW II. —Reported by his spouse, Alma, to Bruce Monkman
Frank Santora, 76, of Inwood, New York, passed on March 4,2014. He was a proud member of the 3rd Infantry Division. Frankhad a 40-year career as a staff member at Peninsula HospitalCenter, in Far Rockaway, Queens, New York. His funeral mass washeld at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Inwood, on March 11, 2014.
Sgt Maj. (Ret.) Harlen M. “Sarge” Gibson, of the St. LouisMissouri area, passed away on May 3, 2014. Sarge’s nearly 28years of service in the U.S. Army took him to four continents andwon him many honors. He was awarded the Combat InfantrymensBadge twice: first for his service with the 3rd Infantry Division inKorea, in 1953, and second for service with the 25th InfantryDivision in Vietnam. Sarge retired from the Army in 1974.
Society of the Third Infantry DivisionU.S. Army
Purpose
The Society of the Third Infantry Division, United States Army, wasincorporated in the State of Illinois in 1919 as a non-profit, fraternal, social,educational, patriotic, military service organization and shall always remainnon-partisan and non political.
Specific objectives are:
nTo foster and strengthen associations and friendships formed during ser-vice with the Third Infantry Division, U.S. Army.
nTo honor the Third Infantry Division War Dead.
nTo perpetuate the memory of other for mer comrades who shared a back-ground of honorable military service with the Third Infantry Division, U.S.Army.
n To encourage and achieve the mutual benefit and support resulting froma close and cooperative alliance between the Society and the Third InfantryDivision, U.S. Army.
n To support the Government of the United States and to give it, in peaceand in war, the same devotion and service expect ed of us as members of itsarmed forces.
Pledge
I pledge to the Society of the Third Infantry Division, United StatesArmy, in the achievement of the goals for which it is formed, that same fullmeasure of loyalty and devotion which my comrades who have fallen gaveto the Division and to the cause for which they fought.
Through my loyalty and devotion to their memory, they shall not be for-gotten by the country, for which they died, or by the comrades at whose sidesthey fell.
To them, I pledge in peace and war the dedication of myself to that coun-try and that cause to which they consecrated themselves.
General Information
All members in good standing receive the official bimonthly publication, TheWatch on the Rhine. Life Members shall receive the Watch in the Rhine withno further dues payments during their lifetime. The National MembershipRoster is printed every three years. All members receive a copy of the rosteron the three-year cycle. All new members receive a copy. The next NationalMembership Roster will be printed in 2015.
The Society is divided into chapters, called outposts, which membersare entitled to join. Outposts, at their dis cretion, may charge a smalladditional amount for out post activities. At Large members do notbelong to out posts but are referred to as “Footsie Britt At Large.”
Eligibility
Regular Membership: Veterans with honorable service in the ThirdInfantry Division. Also, those who were members of supporting orattached units of the Third Infantry Division.
Associate Membership: Spouse, parents, children or siblings of anyperson eligible for regular membership, and any person with a specialinterest in, or an affinity for the Society of the Third Infantry Division.
Life Membership: Available to both Regular and AssociateMembers.
Dues
Annual dues: Regular, Active Duty, Associate Members ........$20.00
Annual dues: Overseas Members ............................................$35.00
Some Outposts charge an addition fee beginning with the second year’sdues, making the total annual dues for Outpost #3: $23.00; Outpost #12:$24.00; Outposts #4, #7, #60: $25.00; Outpost #22: $22.00. All other out-posts pay $20.00 annually; all new members pay $20.00 for the first year.
Dues for Special Life Membership
Recipient of Medal of Honor ..........No charge
Dues for Other Life Memberships are based on the following scales:
Age Group Domestic Overseas
Up to age 39 ....................................$400.00 ..................$1,280.00
Ages 40-49 ......................................$350.00 ......................$925.00
Ages 50-59 ......................................$300.00 ......................$685.00
Ages 60-69 ......................................$250.00 ......................$475.00
Ages 70-79 ......................................$200.00 ......................$310.00
Ages 80 and over..............................$150.00 ......................$275.00
Annual dues are payable before July 1st each year. Life dues are applic-able for Regular and Associate Members. Extended payment plans areavailable..
For information, please contact The Society of the Third InfantryDivision, 1515 Ramblewood Drive, Hanover Park IL 60133-2230.
Membership Application o o o Society of the Third Infantry Division, U.S. Army
Date: ________________ rNew Regular Annual or Life Member rNew Associate Annual or Life Member
(Circle Annual or Life) (Circle Annual or Life)
Name __________________________________________________________________ Date of Birth __________________(Last) (First) (Middle Initial) (Required for Life Members)
Phone No ______________________________E-Mail Address__________________________________________________
Home Address __________________________________________________________________________________________(Street) (City) (State) ( Zip+4)
Unit(s) Served with:________________________________Served From ____________ To __________ Rank: __________
Current/Former Occupation ________________________Spouse’s Name ________________________________________
Amount Enclosed: ______________Referred by ______________________________________________________________
Please print clearly, detach, and mail this application for membership along with a check or money order payable to Society of
the Third Infantry Division to: The Society of Third Infantry Division, 1515 Ramblewood Drive, Hanover Park IL 60133-2230.
Please visit our website at www.3rdiv.org for Society information.
Page 30
The Watch on the Rhine
The Watch on the Rhine
Page 31
MIDWEST #1 CRChicago, ILPresident: Larry DriscollFranciscan Village1270 Village Drive, Apt #250Lemont IL 60439Phone: (630) 243-1196Cell: (630) 744-1396Vice President: (OPEN)Secretary-Treasurer: Gordon B. Lowery1523 Holiday DriveSandwich. IL 60548-9305(815) [email protected]
JOHN S. COLE #2 ERTampa, FLPresident: Kathleen M. Daddato22511 North River Rd.Alva, FL 33920(239) [email protected] South: (OPEN)VP North: (OPEN)Secretary/Treasurer: Robert Gibson2525 First Street, Apt. 1711Fort Myers FL 33901(239) 247-4819 (Mobile)[email protected]
LATTIE TIPTON #3 ERPresident: R. L. (Bob) Farrington4601 Sandy Ridge RoadColumbia SC 29206-1137H: (803) 782-0202 C: (803) [email protected] President: (OPEN)Secretary-Treasurer: R. L. (Bob) Farrington4601 Sandy Ridge RoadColumbia SC 29206-1137H: (803) 782-0202 C: (803) [email protected]
FORT GEORGE WRIGHT #4 WRSpokane, WAPresident: Don TeschPO Bx. 1291Deer Park, WA 99006-1291 (509) 276 5855Vice President: Donald Schafer,4811 S. Bibbie Rd.Latah, WA 99018 (509) 268 3688Treasurer: Evelyn TeschP.O. Box 1291Deer Park, WA 99006-1291(509) 276-5855Secretary: Dale L. McGraw624 N Reed St.Kennewick, WA [email protected]
Historian: Robert ValenPO Box 86Grand Coulee, WA [email protected] G. FROST #5 ERNY & North EastPresident: Bartolo Viruso116 Harriet Rd.N. Babylon, NY 11703(631) [email protected] [email protected]
Vice President: David H. Pope515 York Road, Apt. 6HWillow Grove PA 19090-2648(215) [email protected]: Alfred F. Julia278 Baywood DriveBaiting Hollow NY [email protected]
WASHINGTON DC #7 ERWashington DCPresident/Secretary/Treasurer: Pat Williamson530 Hemingsway Drive.Hockessin DE 19707(302) [email protected] NEW ENGLAND #11 ERBoston, MAPresident: John Ferrara2023 N Hill RdWestfield, VT 05874(802) 744-2771Secretary-Treasurer: Allan W Earley48 Maple St.Sterling, MA 01564-1448(978) [email protected]
TOMMY THOMPSON #12 CRMinneapolis, MNPresident: LuVern Solien3173 Aadland Ave. N.E.Buffalo, MN 55313(763) 682-3596Sec. Treasurer: Jerry Manley660 Marigold TerraceFridley, MN 55432(763) 571-6963e-maill: [email protected]
CHARLES D. KING #13 CRMichiganPresident: Richard Faulkner2954 Mott AvenueWaterford MI 48328-2639Phone: 248-231-8730Vice President: Gordon Draper14665 Ronnie LaneLivonia, MI 48154734-464-8979Secretary/Treasurer: Amy McKenna303 Hanover LaneBrighton, MI 48114(810) [email protected]: Jeff Norrup30995 Lakeview Blvd Apt 7108Wicom, MI 48393Phone: 248-624-9057
ARIZONA RENEGADE #15 WRPhoenix, AZ.President: Richard N. Mc Kiddy9520 N. Twinkling Shadows WayTucson, AZ 85743Home Phone: (520) 572-3772Cell Phone: (816) [email protected] Vice President: Michael J. Grimes5634 East Grove CircleMesa AZ [email protected]
Secretary-Treasurer: Curtis A. Gentry12025 N. 61st DriveGlendale, AZ [email protected]
RUSSELL DUNHAM #17 CRSt. Louis, MOPresident: James R. Meeker4010 Potomac StreetSaint Louis MO 60116-3706Phone: [email protected] President: (OPEN)Treasurer: Merle Meeker (Bob)3641 Wyomong St.Saint Louis MO 63116Phone: 314-805-3727
GIOVINAZZO-YORK #18 CRMilwaukee, WIPresident: William J. VanarkN16W26561B Conservancy DrivePewaukee, WI 53072(262)[email protected] Vice President: Michael J. BoprayN4118 N US Highway 2Iron Mountain, MI 49801(906)[email protected]
Treasurer: Marvin J. Kostka5461 Maribel RoadDenmark, WI 54208(920) [email protected]
Secretary: Robert L. MeganckN16W26577D Wild Oats DrivePewaukee, WI 53072(262) [email protected]
Historian: Warren R. Fast2346 N. 68th StreetMilwaukee, WI 53213(414) [email protected]
ALBERT MICELI #22 WRSouthern, CAPresident: Andrew Scullion1525 West Oakland Ave., Sp #88Hemet, CA 92543(951) [email protected]
Vice President: Louis Bravos3008 Sunray CourtBakersfield, Ca. 93308(661) [email protected]/Trea.: Ronald Greenwood.13829 Gardenland Ave.,Bellflower, California. 90707-2730.Phone# (562)[email protected] A. SCOTT #33 CRFort Wayne, INPresident: William H. Harris504 Greenwood AvenueMichigan City, IN 46360-5426(219) 872-3273 (H)(219) 873-4303 (C)[email protected] President: James Satryan3505 W Torquay Rd.Muncie, IN [email protected]: Pending election,President filling position
AUDIE L. MURPHY #35 CRPresident: Joe Ball2010 Worcester Ln.Garland, TX 75040(972) [email protected]: Lynn Ball2010 Worcester Ln.Garland, TX 75040(972) [email protected]
W. A. SIDNEY #52 ERPresident: Daniel Wolfe1200 Midland AveBronxville, NY 10708(914) 961-5709914-473-9817 (mobile)[email protected] www.Danielwolfebooks.comSecretary-Treasurer: John Hollier205 Alex StreetLafayette LA 70506337-234-0389
GOLDEN GATE #54 WRSan Francisco, CAPresident: John Shirley4218 Drake Way Livermore, CA 94550-4914(925) 447-2256 FAX (925) [email protected] Secretary-Treasurer: Ruth De Bord18727 Sand De Sac Rd.Salinas, CA 93907-1325(831) [email protected]
WESTERN RESERVE #57, CROhioPresident: Donald Wingerberg9650 Pebble View Dr.Cincinnati, OH 45252(513) 923-1991E-mail:[email protected] President: (OPEN)Secretary-Treasurer:Donald Wingerberg9650 Pebble View Dr.Cincinnati, OH 45252(513) 923-1991E-mail:[email protected])
FORT BENNING #60 ERColumbus, GAPresident: MAJ Harry Irving8012 Nature TrailColumbus GA 31904Cell: [email protected] President: (OPEN)Sec.-Treas.: LTC Rhett B. Griner (Ret.)1152 Laurelwood RoadColumbus GA 31904-2024(770) [email protected]
FORT LEWIS #63 WRTacoma, WAPresident: James A. Bourgeois7316 96th Ave., SWLakewood, WA 98498-3317Phone 253-224-0817Email [email protected] President: (Open)Secretary: James A. BourgeoisContact info aboveTreasurer: Richard M. Masterson2022 E. 61st StreetTacoma WA 98404-4307(253) 472-7846
COLORADO #88 WRPresident: Joe Annello4588 Springmeadow LnCastle Rock, CO [email protected] (303) 660-6882Vice Pres/Treas: Lou Schindler8420 Candleflower CrColorado Springs, CO [email protected]: Bill BuntrockTel: Work: 303-484-8886Cell: 303-829-4047email: [email protected]
MARNE ASSOCIATION ERFt. Stewart, GAPresident: Carl T. Smith573 Sunshine Lake Rd.Midway, GA 31320-4473Work (912) 767-1328Cell (912) [email protected]@yahoo.comVice President: (Open)Sec/Treas:Sheila Kay Hearron430 Willow Oak LaneHinesville GA 31313-3415(912) [email protected] [email protected]
INTERNATIONAL #5845 ERPresident: Monika Stoy6531 Milva LnSpringfield, VA 22150-4268(703) [email protected]/Historian: Tim Stoy6531Milva LnSpringfield, VA 22150(703) [email protected]
POC in France: Muriel Burger 57 Grand Rue, 68320 Riedwihr,FrancePhone: 011 33 389 [email protected]
Outpost RegisterSociety of the Third Infantry DivisionEastern Region (ER), Central Region (CR), Western Region (WR)
Members may transfer to a different outpost. Interested members should send transfer requests to the National Secretary or to their OP Secretaries or other OP officers.
THIS ISSUE
Society of the Third Infantry Division, U.S. Army1515 Ramblewood Dr.Hanover Park, IL 60133-2230
Address Service Requested
NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE
PAIDJACKSONVILLE, FL
PERMIT NO. 3
June 2014
WORLD WAR I [2 Medals of Honor]O AisneO St. MihielO Champagne-Marne O Meuse-ArgonneO Aisne-MarneO Champagne
WORLD WAR II [39 Medals of Honor]O Algeria-French Morocco (with arrowhead)O TunisiaO Sicily (with arrowhead)O Naples-FoggiaO Anzio (with arrowhead)O Rome-ArnoO Southern France (with arrowhead)O Ardennes-AlsaceO RhinelandO Central Europe
KOREAN WAR [13 Medals of Honor]O CCF InterventionO First UN CounteroffensiveO CCF Spring OffensiveO U.N. Summer-Fall OffensiveO Second Korean WinterO Korea, Summer-Fall 1952O Third Korean WinterO Korea, Summer 1953
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM [1 Medal of Honor]O Liberation of IraqO Transition of IraqO Iraqi GovernanceO National ResolutionO Iraqi SurgeO Iraqi Sovereignty
AFGANISTANO Operation Enduring Freedom
CAMPAIGNS OF THE THIRD INFANTRY DIVISION Rock of the Marneu WWI 1917-1918
u Peacetime 1919-1941
u WWII 1941-1945
u Korea War 1950-1953
u Cold War 1945-1991
u Desert Storm 1990-1991
u Peacetime 1992-2000
u Bosnia 2000-2001
u Peacetime 2002-2003
u Middle East 2003-present
DEPARTMENTSPresident’s Message ........................................................3Marne 6 Sends ................................................................6From the Editor ................................................................8Scholarship Foundation News ........................................13Looking for ....................................................................17News From The Outposts ..............................................18Letters to the Editor........................................................22Calendar of Upcoming Events ........................................24Chaplain’s Corner ..........................................................25Book Review ..................................................................27Quartermaster ....................................................................27Last Call ........................................................................28Roll Call..........................................................................293ID Membership Application ..........................................30Outpost Register ............................................................31
NEWS & NOTESGeneration That ... Never Asked for Thanks ....................1Duty in Germany ......................................................................1Memorial Day in France ..................................................4PTSD, a Stigma? ..............................................................9Operation Shingle: Part Two ..........................................10Former 3rd ID Soldier Killed at Fort Hood......................11Death of Innocence in ‘Our War’ ........................................12Why I was a Medic..............................................................12Unsung Hero........................................................................14John Eisenhower ......................................................................16Tribute in the Netherlands ..................................................17Breakout Day (‘B’ Day)........................................................21Legion of Honor ..................................................................23Commentary on Awards......................................................26
3rd Infantry Division – 96 Years of Service
WWI, WWII, Korea, Cold War, Peacetime, Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan
