75th Inf Div newsline No. 17
26 July 1998
Hello veterans and friends of the 75th Division !
Our last newsline could not be sent to Bill Swift, whose uncle died
in the Battle of the Bulge. His email adress was: bill@ciminc.com
Does anybody have his new adress ?
The new movie „Saving Private Ryan“ (that is not running in Germany yet) was the reason for Jim Moran, to search for the unit of his father-in-law in the internet. He found our website and will show it to him today. If anybody knew or fought with Robert Byrnes, please get in contact with him over his adress or by email over his son-in-law (please send a copy to us). Would be nice if we have found another veteran through this unofficial website, that might become a member of the 75th Inf Div veterans association ! (Jim, you are already included in our free 75th newsline, tell Mr. Byrnes greetings from us. If you send us a little report for the next newsline, where and in which unit he fought, we sure find some of his old buddies !)
Stay healthy !
Greetings from Germany
Rolf G. Wilmink
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For your calendar:
Next 75th Div N.E.C. meeting: Nashville, Tenn., Spring 1999
Next 75th Div reunion: Houston, Texas, 1999
75th Div reunion year 2000: Peoria
(more infos as soon as we have them or contact the
75th Div Vets. Assn. President Parker, see adress below.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
List of contents:
1.) Feedback regarding newsline No. 16 ( 6 July 1998 )
2.) 75th reunion in Spokane, WA. (first short report)
3.) newsclips from the „Bulgebusters“
4.) 75th veteran Robert Byrnes now online
5.) Tusculum ship November 45
\\|//
(o o)
----------------oOOo-(_)-oOOo------------------------------75th DIVISION
online
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DON'T BE A LURKER.... GET INVOLVED... YOU ARE A MEMBER...
MAKE THE MOST OF IT
**********************************************************************************
(actual count: 104 members online worldwide
!)
1.) Feedback regarding our newsline No. 16 ( 6 July 1998):
From: <TReid13305@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 6 Jul 1998 20:40:47 EDT
subject: All the best from East Texas
Dear Rolf,
Great to see that you're on the web . . . I would
have expected no less.
When last we met, you were searching for the Schuetzenverein flags.
Any luck?
E-mail me when you have a chance . . .
Sincerely,
Thomas Reid
65 Whitetail Ridge
Woodville, Texas 75979
++ Moderator´s note ++
Thomas Reid was the historian of the 75th Division (Exercise), that
has build up the 75th museum in Houston, Texas. Tom, is there any news
from the museum ?
++ ++
_______________________________________________________________________
From: "Howard Swonger" <hswonger@email.msn.com>
subject: Good job
Date: Tue, 7 Jul 1998 08:36:58 -0400
Dear Rolf: You are doing a good job with the 75th internet site. It
will be hard to satisfy everyone, go for it. The association's are not
running the world, they have no authority, with regard to our sites. I
try to get along with my 2nd Armored Association, but within my own guidelines
and I attend all reunions that they hold. The rosters are not copyrighted
or anything else, they are the property of the one that has them at the
time. Keep up the good work, there will always be someone that that is
not satified. I* have linked the 2nd Armored site with you.
Sincerely, Howard Swonger
( where is Plettenberg, Germany ?)
++ Moderator´s note: ++
Southeast of Dortmund (Rhein-Ruhr-area), in the middle of 1.000 hills,
near the citys of Luedenscheid,Werdohl, Altena, Attendorn etc.
++ ++
________________________________________________________________________
From: rmsmith1924@webtv.net (Robert M Smith)
Date: Tue, 7 Jul 1998 07:22:11 -0400 (EDT)
subject: Newsline 16/ Item #5
Reference: Bill Black, 75th Div.--Open Door
Greetings Rolf,
I regret to inform you of the unexpected death of Bill Black on June 25, 1998 while he was on vacation with his wife Velma in West Virginia. We planned to meet in Spokane at the reunion. You may wish to inform M/M Schmetz and the staff of the Elsenborn museum.
Bill will be remembered in a special ceremony along with other deceased members of the 75th at the Spokane reunion later this month.
Thanks again for the newsline.
Sincerely, Rob Smith
GREETINGS FROM FLORIDA - U.S.A.
++ Moderator´s note:++
I called Major Loos today (7 July 1998) and told him about Bill Black.
I also faxed him a part of our newsline with his invitation. He said, that
he has not very much response from other units than the 99th.
++ ++
___________________________________________________________________
Date: Tue, 07 Jul 98 10:44:45 -0500
From: "Stephen M. Graber"<stephen.m.graber@bender.com>
To: <rik@dayone.com>, <mkw-detective@t-online.de>
subject: Your success
Rik, I just received and read the 75th Division Newsline no. 16 (06
July 1998) from Rolf Wilmink. The story of the Frat brother and the bench
was amazing coincidence.
I am very happy to know that in some way I could assist you.
Congratulations on your success, and I wish you and your family happiness.
Rolf, congratulations to you also on the success of your unofficial 75th Division homepage. You are truly bringing people together electronically that would not have the opportunity otherwise.
Sincerely,
Steve Graber
sgraber@bender.com
-AND-
mtnview1@worldnet.att.net
___________________________________________________________________________
From: <GBooker316@aol.com>
Date: Thu, 9 Jul 1998 04:37:35 EDT
subject: 75th Inf Div newsline no. 16 (06 July 1998)
Herr Rolf G. Wilmink
Keep up the good work !
Thanks for the on-line newsletter.
Vielen Dank.
Glenn Booker
________________________________________________________________________
From: <GBooker316@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Jul 1998 03:42:33 EDT
subject: Re: 75th Inf Div newsline no. 16 (06 July 1998)
I think you might be interested in this :
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/documents/eto-ob/75ID-ETO.htm
Glenn Booker
++ Moderator´s note:++
This is a very interesting website ! I checked it today and found some
more:
www.army.mil/cmh-pg/
is the homepage of the Center of Military History
www.army.mil/cmh-pg/documents/eto-ob/etoob-toc.htm
contains the complete Order of the Battle, European Theater of Operations
There you have the possibility, to find informations about all Divisions,
that took part. For most Divisions (also for the 86th and 99th, that are
member of our newsline), there are basic facts listed like Staff, Statistics,
Composition, Attachments, Detachments, Command posts etc. Worth taking
a look !!
++ ++
_____________________________________________________________________
From: "Joseph Karr" <167thsig@email.msn.com>
subject: 75th Infantry Division
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 23:12:40 -0400
Dear Rolf;
I read your 75th Inf Div Newsline No. 16 with dismay that Mr. Paul Stephan would have expressed any objection to your efforts to spread the word of the 75th Division Veterans. I would think that he or anyone would welcome the help of anyone, such as yourself, to spend time, effort, and expense to assist 75th Division Veterans and their families to research their connection with World War II history. I appreciate all that has happened in my life regarding World War II since your first contact with me on 23 May 1996. That contact started a chain of events that I can honestly say would never have happened and given me the opportunity to make new friends, you in particular, as well as contacting old acquaintances. Some of the old contacts were with sad results with notices of deaths or serious illnesses.
Hardly a day goes by without some thought of you, your family, your friends, and Plettenberg. I talk about my trip to Plettenberg to anyone willing to listen and look at the photos. My German neighbors were very impressed with the photos and with the books and tapes you have provided to me.
Since returning from my trip to Germany I have been contacted by Paul Sinn of Buckeburg, Germany concerning photos taken in his hometown of Iserlohn, Thomas Kein of Neuenrade, Germany concerning information of U.S. aircraft crashes in the area of Neuenrade, Eric Heijink of Enschede, The Netherlands concerning photos and information pertaining to the Raymond Daum library film list in my 8 May 1998 e-mail that you published in your 75th Inf Div Newsline No.14 dated 9 May 1998, and the most recent contact is from Dr.Reimer Moller of Soest, Germany concerning photos taken in Soest. I have made an effort to help all these people with photos from my files or by contacting our National Archives with limited success.
I still have the documentary tapes that I mentioned in my e-mail of 8 May 1998. I have not sent them to you because I'm not sure that you would be interested in them in that they are not complementary to Germany. If you are interested in these tapes please let me know and I will send them to you. It is unfortunate that most of these documentaries are not complementary to Germany but this is information that we all need to know, remember, and never never repeat.
With Fondest Regards To You, Anke, and Doreen
Joe
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2.) 75th Reunion
From: rmsmith1924@webtv.net (Robert M Smith)
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1998 11:23:55 -0400 (EDT)
Dear Rolf,
the 75th Reunion in Spokane was a great success. Just under 400
people attended which includes the ladies. Paul Stephan declined
a second term as President and Goeffrey Parker who was Vice President was
elected as the new President. Goeff announced that the next N.E.C.
meeting would be held in Nashville, Tenn. in the Spring and Houston, Texas
was confirmed for the 1999 reunion. The assembly voted for
Peoria as the site for the reunion in the year 2000.
There were great tours of Grand Coulee Dam with a night-time laser light show; an historical tour of the city of Spokane: a buffet -lunch cruise on Lake Coeur D'Alene, Idaho; as well as 2 BBQ's and the closing banquet with dancing.
There was, of course, a Memorial Service conducted by Chaplin
Bob Du Vall for the 75th Veterans who passed away since the previous
reunion.
It was a great time to renew friendships of more than 50 years.
I made a number of copies of Newsline #16 and gave them to friends who
are not on the internet.
At the General Assembly meeting there was a request made by a member
who apparently attended the Plettenberg Anniversary to have the Association
President write and thank the Mayor of Plettenberg and the people for their
hospitality and the recognition and publicity given the 75th Division at
the celebration.
GREETINGS FROM FLORIDA - U.S.A.
Rob Smith, formerly Antitank Company, 290th..
_______________________________________________________________________
From: "Bill Burke" <bburke@ipa.net>
subject: 75th Reunion
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1998 18:56:19 -0500
Rolf.... I did not attend, but I will forward any information that I receive
Bill Burke
++ Moderator´s note:++
All members on this list are very interested to hear about the reunion,
so please send us a little report to include here. This can especially
be from your unit, like 289th, 290th, 291st, 575th etc.
++ ++
***********************************************************************
3.) Newsclips from the „Bulgebusters“, the official print newsletter
of the 75th Div Vets. Assn.
Important !!
The President of the U.S. has recently signed into a law bill that affects
all veterans. This law states in effect that if a veteran has not registered
at a Veterans Administration hospital since Oct. 1, 1996, then on Oct.
1, 1998, he or she will loose all medical benefits for life.
___________________________________________________________________________
One of the few times in American military history when U.S. troops
served under a French command was in late January and early February of
1945, when the 3rd, the 28th, and the 75th Infantry Divisions and the 12th
Armored Division, comprising the XXI Corps of the Seventh Army, were assigned
to General de Lattre de Tassigny´s command to eliminate the „Colmar
Pocket“ in southern Alsace along the Rhine River and Swiss border. You
might be are eligible to join this association. Application is $ 10.00,
please contact the secretary.
The secretary also has 75th rosters for $ 5.00, 75th Caps for $10.00 and 75th pins for $3.00.
You can also send your 1998 membership dues ($ 10) to the secretary ($ 100 for lifetime)
Contact: Jim Warmouth, Secretary and Publisher 75th Div Veterans
Association
6545 W. 11th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46214, Phone: 001-317-241-3730
************************************************************************
4.) 75th Divison Veteran Robert Byrnes
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1998 21:40:17 -0400
From: jdmoran <jdmoran@packet.net>
Greetings,
my name is Jim Moran. My father-in-law fought in WWII with the 75th. My wife & I just came back from the new movie "Saving Private Ryan". The movie portrays the horrors of war about as accurately as anything I have ever seen, other than a documentary. I hope we all have learned a lesson & never become involved in anything that incredibly horrible again.
My wife asked me to see what I could find about the 75th Division.
Your website was one of the first I came across in my search. It
contains some excellent information which I will pass on to my Mr. Byrnes.
He has just recently been able to discuss some of the events he participated
in. For almost 50 years he was unable to talk about them.
After listening to some of his stories I can understand why he has
kept them in the recesses of his mind all this time. Just like the
soldiers in Pvt Ryan he was forced to do some things that taken out of
context would be considered inhuman.
I see by your website that you are trying to gather some information
relating to your city Plettenberg. I'm not sure if he was part of
the ocupation but I'll ask him tomorrow when I see him. If you would
like to contact him by e-mail you can send your message to me at jdmoran@packet.net
& I'll pass it on to him.
His mailing address is:
Robert Byrnes, 2060 Marilyn St. Bldg. B117, Clearwater FL 33765
USA.
I'll take my laptop computer to his house tomorrow. I think he will enjoy your website immensely. I notice he just missed the 75th's annual reunion. He is 77 & in relatively good health so I hope he can make it to next years.
Sincerely,
Jim Moran
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1998 12:59:10 -0400
From: jdmoran <jdmoran@packet.net>
subject: Follow up on earlier e-mail re Robert Byrnes
Greetings,
I spoke to my father-in-law today. He was not in Plettenberg.
He was in the 291st Regiment. He would like to see if he could locate
any of his friends who might still be alive. He was in the 75th from
their inception until it was disbanded in 1945. His name again is
Robert (Bob) Byrnes. He was in the 291st Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Company
C.
He was a Sargent on a machine gun platoon & he was from Ohio.
He would like to get a roster of the members of the 75th if you could give
me some advice as to how to get a copy of this information.
Thank you,
Jim Moran
++ Moderator´s note: ++
This email newsline is going out today to all of the members, a lot
of them were in the 291st and I think you will hear from them.
The roster of the members is avaible for members from the secretary
of the 75th Div Veterans Association and costs $5 (see adress under No.3
in this issue). Near the adress, the unit is noted in there so he maybe
can find old friends fast.
********************************************************************
5.) 75th Infantry WWII
From: svandyke <svandyke@iserv.net>
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 09:45:28 -0400
Company: City of Kentwood
My father, Peter J. Van Dyke, upon his death, left me a picture taken off of the back of the Tusculum ship in November of 1945. He was returning from his stint in Europe and shipped out of Marseille. Behind the picture, he left a newsletter from the ship detailing their journey with lots of names and facts. I am just looking to find out more information and wanted to know if anyone would be interested in this publication.
Thank you.
smv
************************************************************
**************************************************************
And in the next newsline...............
........your feedback to this newsline !!!!
Greetings from Germany
Rolf G. Wilmink
75th Inf Div WWII Veterans Association Unofficial homepage
www.mknet.de/75th
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Phone: 1-813-752-6988
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or WWII in the ETO.
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***************************************************************************
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Warmouth, hereby has the permission to print everything out of our newsletter,
as long as we as the source are mentioned with e-mail and internet-adress)
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