70th Infantry Division Association January, 1986

Reunion programDates: August 7-10, 1986Place: Red Lion Inn- Lloyd Center1000 MultnomahPortland, Oregon 97232AGENDAThursday, August 712 Noon.-6 P.M. Arrival and Registration5:30 P.M.-7 P.M. Officers Welcome--Wine& CheeseReception: (Compliments Red Lion Inn)Evening free for casual activityHospitality Room: 12 Noon-4:30P.M.; 9-11 P.M.Friday, August 8Ladies: 9:30 A.M.-3:30 P.M.: VictorianTour of Portland, Old Town,Shopping, Lunch included.Men: 9:30 A.M.-12: Noon BusinessMeeting. Lunch on your own.1:30 P.M.-4 P.M.: Business Meetings,Election, Regimental meetings.Ladies & Men: 6 P.M.-7 P.M.: Cocktails(cash bar)7:15 P.M.: Dinner and activities.Hospitality Room: 1:30-4:30 P.M.;9-11 P.M.Saturday, August 9Tours: 9 A.M.-4:30 P.M.: Check informationand registration form.6 P.M.-7 P.M.: Cocktails (cash bar)7:15 P.M.: Banquet, Program, Entertainment,9:30-12:30 P.M.: Dancing-MusicHospitality Room: 2 P.M.-4:30 P.M.,10-11 P.M.Sunday, August 10Memorial Service: 9 A.M.Outstanding'Blazer soughtAs reported in our July issue, the Association'sAwards Committee is seekingnominations for the Outstanding Trailblazerawards to be presented at Portland in 1986.Thus far only a few nominations have beenreceived, according to Karl S. Landstrom,committee chairman.Any member may submit one or more nominations.The nominees should have been membersfor six years or longer; and must havefu rthered the Association's purposes in someoutstanding way, such as recruiting members ,handling some special project, organizing reunionactivities, etc. Posthumous awards maybe proposed . Priority will be given to activitiesoccurring from 1982 through 1986.To submit a nomination, simply write a letterto Karl S. Landstrom, 510 N. Edison St.,Arlington, VA 22203, giving the nominee'sname, address, and all details supporting thenomination. Sign your name and give addressand telephone number. Nominations will closeFebruary 28, 1986.4"First time just great(Continued)friendships alive and healthy while we can ismost important. ""If you have never attended a 70th Reunion ,by all means fly , go by train, bus, car, horsebackor hitch hike to Portland in August! ""That's the advice of Howard Overton,Co. D, 276th. "Don't be concerned about notknowing anyone. You will be welcomed by alland will make many new friends as well asmeeting up with old ones."The Philly Reunion was my first one andfive of my old company were there. Since thenwe have corresponded and renewed memories.I was a replacement in our company and fearedI might be thought of as a step-child. But Icouldn't have been treated more royally."So come on. Time is running out for all ofus so let's avail ourselves of any opportunity torenew and refresh the cameraderie of thoselong-past years that mean so much to us.". . . '' say 'Blazers" Paul Thirion and I hadn' t seen each othersince 1945 when we both got battlefield commissions.But when I attended my first Reunionin Philadelphia, the first person I saw wasPaul!" So says Leonard Berry."We had a real good reunion and now keepin touch with each other. I also met SteveLiptak, Co. M, 276th, who lives in my hometown." I hadn't even known that there were anyother 70th men here." I'd urge any man who hasn't attended aReunion to do so. You' ll meet old friends andmake new ones. Even if it's your first time, thefellows who have attended before will makeyou feel right at home.' 'I'm happy that our Portland Reunion willmake it possible for husbands and wives to goon tours together. The cities and areas whereReunions are held are new to most people andthey can enjoy the sights together. "Axe-head ArchivesAll spouses, and all widows , of Trailblazershave a special place in the heart of the Association.But Dorothy McCraw is a specialhonorary and associate member. She is thewidow of Thomas E. McCraw, Jr., Co.whose passing on June 16, 1985 , we note withsorrow. She is also a retired Master Sergeant ofthe US Army, and was assigned to the lOth (theMountaineer) Division at Camp Funston, Kansas,for some time.She and Tom attended the Lexington Reunion.She lives in Greenfield, Indiana.Spectators at STARS * auto races in six statessaw a fleet racer bearing the decals of the 70thDivision Association. Joseph Hays, Co. G ,275th hopes that this may put him in touch withsome Trailblazers who are unaware of theAssociation.The car was built by his son Ronny and isdriven by Sam Nalley.Copies of " Snow, Ridges and Pillboxes"can now be obtained in two versions. ThomasKirk, Co. C, 274th, told Earle Small, Co. H,274th, and he has passed it on to us. This isgood news for the many Trailblazers who havewanted to buy copies but found them impossibleto find .In microfilm, you can buy it for $11.75 fromthe New York Public Library, PhotographicService, Fifth Ave. at 42nd St. , New York,N.Y. 10018.You may also buy this in Xerox Hardcopyfor $59.65 including postage and handling.Incidentally, Charley Pence, our historianwho is writing the historical review now runningin " The Trailblazer," tells us that thecorrect title is " Snow comma Ridges and Pillboxes."On the title-page of the book itself, thecomma is omitted and it reads " Snow Ridges. ..." Bob Cheves, who wrote the book , toldCharlie about the error before his untimelydeath .A picture on page 15 * of the October '85 issueshows two medics under fire near Behren,France. One is now identified by Paul Swenson,3rd Bn, 274th Medics." The sergeant is Joseph Kohn (an Associationmember who apparently didn 't seethe picture or recognize himself) . He and Iserved together at the battalion aid stationwhere I was assistant battalion surgeon. After Iwas wounded at Forbach, Joe received a battlefieldcommission.'' You St. Louis guys, phoneJoe and tell him.*Help wanted:Ralph Swinehart, Co. C, 274th, needs toget in touch with a medic, PFC Leach, especially,and anyone connected with battalion aidstation. He is attempting to get an Oak LeafCluster, well deserved, to his Purple Heart.''I was wounded on March 3 with shrapnel inmy spine. The next day I had my right footblown off by a Shuh mine. I had an amputationjust below the knee and was discharged onJanuary 6, 1947 after 20 months in the hospitaland 60 days terminal leave. I had a reamputation,still below the knee, in 1949 and atmid-thigh in '50." For most of the time since the war I have70th Division Assn. TRAILBLAZER