Spring, 1987 - 70th Infantry Division Association

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Checking my notes from Portland, l find a few items I have neglected. Number one is the reappointment of Ed Arnold as the Editor of the Trailblazer. Such a great job should have been recognized before, and I do so now, and reappoint him. Then, Chester Garstki as our photographer. It wouldn't be the same without him. We tend to see the excellent work of these two and forget to acknowledge their talent and hard work. There, hope that makes amends. I also have appointed some chairmen, although the entire committees are not yet confirmed. George Wisdom has accepted the chairmanship of the Nominations committee. This next Reunion we will elect a president-elect, two vice presidents, a secretarytreasurer, and an assistant secretary-treasurer. Some of the present officers may choose to serve again, but that is up to the committee. If you have any nominations, send them along to George. Greg Hosford has taken the chairmanship of the Outstanding Trailblazer Award Committee. All nominations for that award should go to Mickey Calegary who has agreed to serve as committee secretary. To remind you of the qualifications, we have inserted the criteria in this issue. Paul Thirion is the chairman of the Time and Place Committee. All suggestions should go to him . The other committees are in the works and will be announced. From the letters I have received interest appears to be high for 70th Division souvenirs such as necklaces, pins, etc. Lee Miller has investigated and reported on a bumper sticker. There are other good suggestions, and we will have a full tine. We are seriously considering moving the Reunion to the last part of September. We cannot get any decent group rates for The President's Report DeLyle Omholt October because of the Country Western Month. However, I do have some more favorable rates for September. We will continue to work on that. Our recruiters are still digging out new members. However, I got a list of delinquent members from At Thomas, and we need some work on them. If you know of a member tardy with his dues, if he doesn't show up on the current roster, get after him. There are also some former members who left us for some discontent. If you know of their discontent, or any reason they are not happy with the organization, let us know . We may be able to answer the question or solve the problem. Remember, Association business is everyone's business'! Henry gets us our medals Almost 200 Trailblazers have received medals they earned but which were never awarded to them. That's because Henry van Nus Ill makes it his hobby to help veterans get their deserved decorations . Henry is a retired lieutenant colonel, living in California. He keeps busy running an extensive non-profit operation. At present he is actively seeking documentation that the 70th Division is entitled to the French Croix de Guerre. A story about him in the Spring, '86 issue, told many a 'Blazer of medals they were eligible for. Among them is the handsome Medal de Ia France Libre. The colonel orders these medals mostly from France and they have to be passed through both French and U.S. customs. The process is very slow these days. So if you have ordered some that haven' t arrived yet, just be patient. If you would like more information, write to Henry. Be sure to enclose a stamped, selfaddressed envelope. Henry gives freely of his time and effort; we can't expect him to foot the substantial postage bill, too. Write to: Lt. Col. Henry van Nus III (AUS Ret.) 25372 Hugo Road Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 In the last issue, Harry * Durkee, C/275 , (and the editor) asked about ways to organize WW2 memorabilia, especially medals, in a way that they could be bequeathed family heirlooms. SFC Edward Lane says there are a couple of reputable firms that offer frames for mounting such artifacts: US Cavalry Stores, Inc. ; 1375 M N. Wilson Rd.; Radcliff, KY 40160 and Quartermaster Uniform Co. ; 750 Long Beach Blvd.; Long Beach, CA 90813. Ed thinks a local frame shop could sell you a shadow box with a black velvet back for a lower price than a mail-order firm can. So try yours first. Ed also reminds you that if you have United States medals due you, write to: Commander ; ARPERCEN ; Attn: DARC PSE-AW, 9700 Page Blvd.; St. Louis, MO 63132-5200. Send along a copy-not the original!-of your discharge papers. If you don 't have 'em, send name, rank, serial number and date of service. Speaking of medals: * I gave myself a Christmas present. A set of miniature medals. Cute as the dickens. They're about the size of a dime but the ribbons-" drapes," they're calledare a little longer in proportion so that they make a colorful rainbow . You can get a price list from Glenwood Agency, 32 Wilmoth Ave., Ardsley, New York 10502. Tell 'em I sent you. is published four times a year by the 70th Infantry Division Association for its members and friends. Subscription: $7 annually. Editor Edmund C. Arnold 3208 Hawthorne Ave. Richmond, Virginia 23222 Associate Edilor Chester F. Gorstki 2946 No. Harding Chicago, Illinois 60618 Volume 45 Number 2 Spring, 1987 President Delyle Omholt Box 335 lola, Wisconsin 54945 President-elect Norman Johnson 3344 Bryant Ave. Anoka, Minnesota 55303 Vice President-East Asst. Sec.-T reas. Edward Cloonan Louis Hoger 100 Harland Road 5825 Horton St. Waltham, Massachussetts 02154 Mission, Kansas 66202 Vice President-West Neal C. Gibbs 11910 Moonlight Road Olathe, Kansas 66061 Secretary-Treasurer Alvin Thomas 203 So. Major St. Eureka, Illinois 61530 Chaplains Alex C. Johnson 833 N. Carlyle Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004 Rev. Don Docken 920 Third St. Hudson, Wisconsin 54016 2 70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER
Seems Like Old Times By Edmund Arnold This issue of the "Trailblazer'' went to the printer far ahead of the normal schedule. That's because the editor will be travelling during the regular period. That means that some new members, changes of address and other items which ordinarily would appear in this issue will run in the next one instead. So don't think your material has been lost. * William Hoyt Henderson, who was the 274th regimental chaplain, performed a ritual that he hadn't done for 40 years. He conducted a memorial service for a 70th man on January 2. Harry R. Ariail, HQ 1st Bn/274, died on New Year' s Eve in Marietta, Georgia, of an inoperable tumor. ''A number of years ago we learned we both lived in the same county," recalls the padre, "so we became real good friends. Harry was a member of the Mt. Zion United Methodist Church and I have been a member of the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church since 1941." The Rev. Hoyt joined the 70th in Oregon, stayed with it until the final days in the ETO and then transferred to the 2nd Armored Division and then to two hospital units around Heidelberg . He didn't come home until September, 1946. * Floyd Freeman, 1/275 , who runs a California travel agency, says he's arranged a "Return to Europe tour" for Sept. 17 through Oct. 7, 21 days . Call him collect at (213) 567-0561 . Paul Gartenmann, 8 /275 , is an unhappy book seller these days. He has just found out that the book "Operation Northwind" by Charles Whiting will not be available until next year in the United States. And because American rights have been sold by the original British publisher, Paul can't even import a bunch. Paul had received many orders from 70th men. Their checks are all being returned. * Music played a major role in the life of Herbert W. Brennan, B/276. He played in touring bands before going to Salem, Oregon where he owned a music and video store. He died January 9. He had joined the Association at the invitation of George Steinman, 570 Signal, who ran an ad in the "Salem Statesman," seeking 70th men. Herb attended the Portland Reunion and only regretted that he hadn'tjoined sooner. The white evergreen * on our shoulder patch is to remind us that the 91 st (Fir Tree) Division was the ancestor that furnished the cadre for our division. So it was a real pleasure to receive the magazine that the 9lst publishes at Fort Baker in California where it is still on active duty . All contributions * to this magazine are mightily welcome. You are invited to send in your reminiscences. It would be swell if they could be typewritten; that saves me having to retype 'em for the printer. But be sure all copy is double-spaced. THE COVER ... . . . illustrates the tragic irony of men being trained to kill while Nature is bringing new life to earth. In this field of daisies near Valley View, Oregon, the 1st Squad of the 1st Platoon of Company I, 274th, is on an exercise in July, 1944. Chester F. Garstki, associate editor of ''The Trailblazer," made this appealing picture. We need room between lines for editing. Someone (whose name I shall not mention here) has sent me a 16-page recollection. Unfortunately, it's singlespaced. And I just haven't found time to do all that retyping. Although I do plan to use it in the future, it will have to wait till my leisure time expands appreciably before I can tackle that. So please remember: Type if you can .. and type at double-space. Hey you Co. M men * of the 275th! Do you remember "Sgt. Jellybean" He has just become a member and is anxious to get in touch with his old buddies. Formally he's Eugene Thomas and he lives in Milwaukee. His number is ( 414) 463-6774. Give him a buzz! * (continued on next page) PRESENT ARMS ... . . . for Gen. Omar Bradley. This contingent represented the 70th at impressive ceremonies at Ehrenbreitstein, Germany. At the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle Rivers, on "the German Corner'', the most German of all German places, rises a famed fortress. There, in 1923, the American flag was lowered for the last time and World War I U.S. occupation forces departed Europe. Twentr-two years later, on Army Day, Apri 6, 1945, the same flag was raised again, a symbol of Allied Victory in Europe. Every unit that fought in the conflict was represented at the solemn ritual. This is the Trail blazer representatives being inspected by Gen. Bradley, commander of the 12th Army Group. (Photo by Chester Garstki) Spring, 1987 3
Page 1: Spring, 1987
Page 5 and 6: As remembered by BILL COLEMAN K/274
Page 7 and 8: REIMERS, Clifford H. Rt 1, Box 10 S
Page 9 and 10: s come back even a cook for a while
Page 11 and 12: 275th's Col. McAleer was concerned
Page 13 and 14: "Try to remember that time in Decem
Page 15 and 16: But there was some pimp around who

Spring, 1987 - 70th Infantry Division Association

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?