Hello veterans and friends of the 75th Division !
I have collected the emails until now, so you have something to read and think about at Christmas. Maybe your
thoughts go back to Christmas 1944, when a lot of good men of the 75th Div and other units lost their lives.
Be thankful for those who made it through that time and remember those, who stayed in the snow. Let´s also
hope that all men and women of the Forces can come back healthy to their families. The soldiers on duty
around Iraq will sure miss their families.
Can I mention a little Christmas wish that I have ?
This newsline had it´s beginning from a search for missing flags and the mayors chain from my hometown
Plettenberg, Germany.
We know that the mayors chain somehow made it to a dealer in Media, PA, who is not willing to sell it back
to the city of Plettenberg. He also mentioned, that he knows where the flags from 1843 and 1866 are, that
we are searching for (see our website at: www.mknet.de/75th under „flagsearch info“).
We could use any help to get them back, because the dealer is not very helpful. Here the last example:
-----------------------------
18 Dec. 98, 03:26 MET
Call to Mr. William Warda, Media, PA, USA
from Rolf G. Wilmink, Germany
(Mr. Warda is in possesion of the old mayor´s chain from Plettenberg,
Germany, that was seized by
Major Baker, 75th Inf Div, at 20 April 1945.
Mr. Warda told investigators before, that he also knows where the flags are,
that the city of Plettenberg
is searching for, that also went missing in 1945. To find the flags was the
initial reason to start the
history research of the 75th Div. )
RGW: „Good evening Mr. Warda. We hald a talk about a year ago regarding
the chain from Plettenberg“.
WW: „Yeah, it´s not available, auf Wiedersehn.“ (Hung up)
---------------
Any ideas ?
We have lost email-contact to Bernard Stofel, 75th Div, 898 FA. Anybody has
his new adress ?
Merry Christmas to all of you out there !
Rolf G. Wilmink
„German by birth, american by heart, P.I. by profession“.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For your calendar:
Next 75th N.E.C. meeting: May 12-16 1999
Shoney´s Inn
2420 Music Valley Drive
Nashville, Tennessee 37214
615-885-4030
Rates: $ 72.00 Single or Double + 8,25% sales tax and 4% room tax.
Events: Boat for Dinner
Grand Ole Opry
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. 24 ( 6 Dec. 1998 )
2.) Season's Greetings!
3.) Ralph „Boots“ Dannen
4.) Film or Video
5.) Best wishes from Nijmegen
6.) PBS Video on Battle of the Bulge
7.) Uncle Sam comes to town
8.) *** ON THE LIGHTER SIDE ***
\\|//
(o o)
----oOOo-(_)-oOOo---------------75th DIVISION online
****************************************************************************
DON'T BE A LURKER.... GET INVOLVED... YOU ARE A MEMBER... MAKE THE MOST OF IT
****************************************************************************
(more than 125 members online worldwide !)
1.) Feedback regarding our newsline No. 25 ( 6 December 1998):
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 10:01:39 -0700
From: chooch chooch@cybergate.com
Subject: "Roxbourgh" Follow-up
Deal Rolf,
I am wondering if the "James Roxbourgh" you are seeking might not really be Al Roxburgh. Al has been
instruimental in correcting mis-information concerning detailed history of the 289th and the 290th regiments.
Finally, after years of work, he was recognized with issuance of the "Man of the Year" award by the
association. In any event, I do not have his e-mail address, only his snail mail address - 2719 Laurel Drive,
Sacramento, CA 95864-4950.
He was with 289, Cannon Company.
Regards,
Ken Hohmann
------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 09 Dec 1998 11:46:16 -0600
From: "Campbell, Phillip" pecampbe@bechtel.com
subject: 1999 Reunion
Mr. Wilmink,
When will the 1999 reunion take place and where?
Phillip Campbell
Becon Workforce Development Coordinator
(713)235-4136
--------------------------------------------
> Dear Mr. Campbell,
>
> I have forwarded your question to Mr. Boys , PAO of
the 75th Divison.
>
> Are you already a member of our free 75th Div newsline ?
I would like to hear more about your
connections to the 75th Division and remain
>
> Very Sincerely Yours
> Rolf G. Wilmink
> Germany
------------------------
Mr. Wilmink,
First of all, thank you for replying to my email.
My Dad is a W.W.II Veteran who was assigned to
the 75th Infantry. I do believe he has been in contact
with various people concerning this same subject.
I was just trying to find out when the reunion will be
because I would like to help him to attend (travel,
etc.). His name is Robert E. Campbell, Sr. from
Houston, TX.
Yes, I would be interested in the newsline.
Sincerely,
Phillip E. Campbell
-------------------------
From: mkw-detective@t-online.de
Sent: Wednesday, December 09, 1998 7:20:05 AM
> To: Boyd, Larry
> Subject: 75th newsline
Dear Sir,
could you email me some information about the
75th Division today, the museum in Houston and
especially the reunion in 1999 ?
I would like to publish that informations in the
75th Div newsline, which goes out to more than
hundred
WWII veterans of the 75th. (If you know email-adresses
of veterans of todays 75th Div, I would also
like to include them in our free newsline. )
Thanking you in advance, I remain
Very Sincerely Yours
Rolf G. Wilmink
75th Inf Div WWII veterans unofficial homepage
www.plettenberg.de/75th
------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Larry Boyd"
RE: 75th newsline
Date: Thu, 10 Dec 1998 09:39:40 -0600
The 75th Division (Exercise) as it is known today is around 3000 strong. During
the next year will bring a lot of changes to the Division. We are being reorganized into a Training
Support Division (TSD).
Our training mission has not changed but we are know under the direct support of Fifth Army. The Army
is implementing its "One Army" concept. Soon we will have Active Duty soldiers and National Guard
Soldiers joining the 75th. The Army of the future will include the "Total Force" of Army Reservist,
National Guard and Active Duty. There has been some concern throughout the Army about this new
integration and how to make the transition go smoothly.
With all the operational deployments that are going on today, the Active Army cannot support all the
requirements by themselves. That is where the Reserves and National Guard will come in. Right now
70% of the troops serving in Bosnia are Reservist. In the Reserves the question these days is not "if
I will be called to Active Duty, but when."
The 75th Division Museum in Houston is dedicated to the 75th Division soldiers that served in World
War II. Plans are underway to expand the museum to include the rest of the history of the 75th. Presently,
the 75th Maneuver Area Command history isn't represented. We plan to include that part of the
75th's history in the museum.
We are looking forward to the W.W.II Veterans coming to Houston for their yearly conference. There
will be many things for them to see and do. We want all of them to visit the Houston museum and I believe
we are planning a Texas Bar-B-Q for them. Some of the other sites they may be interested in are the
NASA space center, The San Jacinto Monument where SAm Houston and the Texas Army won its
independence from Mexico. There is Holocaust Museum in Houston and Galveston is a an hour drive
away. Some veterans may want to schedule a side visit to San Antonio, the home of the Alamo. This is
where one of the most significant battles in history took place, and no John Wayne didn't die there but
Davy Crockett did.
I hope this helps some. Thanks for asking for my input to your wonderful newsline.
Larry B. Boyd
MAJ, USAR
75th Division Public Affairs Office
***************************************************************************
2.) Season's Greetings!
Date: Sat, 12 Dec 1998 07:54:00 -0500
From: Dan Shine danshine@iconn.net
Rolf,
As the Holiday season approaches, so too does the 54th anniversary
of the Battle of the Bulge.
To me, there is no field of human endeavor that embodies such
selflessness and devotion to others as is found in the actions of
the soldier in time of war. In the words of Abraham Lincoln:
"For it has been said, all that a man hath will he give for his life; and
while all contribute to their substance, the soldier puts his life at
stake, and often yields it up in his country's cause. The highest merit,
then is due to the soldier."
I have one other quotation from Walter Lippmann, which I would like
to share:
"Yet this corporate being, though so insubstantial to our senses, binds
a man to his country with ties which though light as air, are as strong
as links of iron. That is why young men die in battle for their country
and why old men plant trees they will never sit under."
Season's Greetings to the men of the 75th!
Respectfully,
Dan Shine
****************************************************
3.) Ralph „Boots“ Dannen
From: MRHAPPPy99@aol.com
Date: Tue, 8 Dec 1998 00:27:43 EST
Hello,
My name is Chance Dannen, I am 14 years old and I live in Forest Grove Oregon.
My great uncle Ralph Dannen, Nickname "Boots" was in the 75th Division. I put
a request into the defense department archives for any records on the citations
for the Bronzeand the Silver Stars he won.(I can't really remember) He died about
3 or 4 years ago, and my grandfather is still alive, and I thought it would be a great
present, if i could get any information on the division. I was curious if it would be
possible to find out any information on him or the medals he won, and if anyone
that knew him were still alive. I have attempted to find information several times,
and i was hoping you could help me.
Sincerely,
Chance Dannen
++ From the moderator:++
Dear Chance,
thank you very much for your email.
We are sending out from here an email-newsletter for veterans and friends of the
75th Div. I have already included you in the member list (which is free) and will
publish your message in the next edition. I am sure that some of the veterans can
help you. I remember, that in one of our issues, somebody wrote about medals.
Please go to our website at www.mknet.de/75th and check the back-issues, there
will be some information in there for you.
In the meantime, it would help very much if you could find out and email me, in
exact what unit your great uncle was, where he fought etc. It is then easier for me
to find other veterans of the 75th, that might have known him.
I will forward this answer to some close friends of the 75th Div to maybe have an
answer soon.
I will also send you the latest edition of our newsline and remain with
Greetings from Germany
Rolf G. Wilmink
++ ++
Date: Tue, 08 Dec 98 17:33:15 -0500
From: "Stephen M. Graber"stephen.m.graber@bender.com
To:
4.) Film or Video
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1998 12:17:48 -0800
From: john lamontia jlamontia@earthlink.net
I am looking for any film or pictures of the 75th inf Div Band.
Any film of the Band transferred to videotape would be exceptionally welcomed.
Thank you,
Jack LaMontia jlamontia@earthlink.net
MAY DAY
– Stalag # 6 A (D-58675 Hemer near Iserlohn, Westphalia) (1 May 1945) (LIB 6128
Cameraman: Donald E. Hunt, 167th Signal Photo Corps, Combat Unit 126, film no.: ADC 1753)
HS, MS, Pan, Russian prisoners of war hold May Day celebration in POW camp, Stalag 6A, after liberation
by US Forces. CU, Russian soldier carrying sign in Russian and English; „Long live the American Army
Which liberated us from Nazi captivity.“
CU – still portraits of Stalin, Truman, Churchill, Lenin, Zhukov. LS, speakers platform with portraits
of Stalin, Truman and Churchill. LS, US Maj Gen Ray E Porter, CG 75th Inf Div; Maj N Mironof (wearing
white uniform) Camp commandant and other russian officials on speakers platform. CUs, assembled
Russian prisoners. CUs, Russian nurses march past review stand. Follow shots, Russian army band passes
in review. VS, American D rations and cigarettes are issued to released prisoners.
(Note: The cameraman Donald E. Hunt died in 1997, but we just found and are in contact with his son
Donald E. Hunt jr., living in California. We hope that we get more informations about the footage taken in
the near future).
This film also contains footage of the 75th Band !
---------
VICTORY PARADE (D-57076 Siegen, Germany) (9 May 1945) (B-1208, film no.: ADC 4426)
VS, 75th Div band, halftracks and other vehicles of the 440th AAA Bn, parading thru streets.
Note: We have found the cameraman of this footage, T-4 Raymond Witham Daum,
(Ser. Number 19164678) 167th Signal Corps, Combat Unit 126, in USA! Also from them same unit, we
found the photographer Cpl. Joseph D. Karr and the son of the cameraman Donald E. Hunt !
Daum has this film listed under the library number 1208. We have a complete list of his films with title,
LIB No. and date, but not which military units are filmed.
(Important ! Please note that Mr. Daum named our town Plettenberg in a drawing wrongly as
„Lettenburg“ so please look for this name during research. )
**************************************************
5.) Best wishes from Nijmegen
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 08:33:01 +0100
From: Jan Bos 82circle@telebyte.nl
Dear friends and veterans of the 75th Division,
I recieved the urgent message below. Please get in contact with
Mr. Jan Bos for the Roll of Honor !
Greetings from Germany
Rolf G. Wilmink
Jan Bos wrote:
Dear Rolf, found your name and E-mail address on the 75th Infantry Division webpage.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Jan Bos, 45 years old. I am married and my wife and I have two
daughters. I am a member of the Historical Section of the Liberation Museum 1944 at Groesbeek
(Holland), this museum was built some 12 years ago and honors the liberators of the first hour of
operation Market Garden (17 September 1944) in this region: the US 82nd Airborne Division.
The Historical Section of the museum published the book "Roll of Honor 82nd Airborne Division World
War Two" last year, it contains the names, ASN, states of origin, ranks, companies/batteries, dates of death,
circumstances and locations, plot and grave number plus date of burial of both the temporary and final
cemeteries of 3,489 paratroopers and glidermen of this airborne division. We also gave some history. I was
one of the five authors. Plans for this year were to publish a similar book for the 106th Infantry Division, and
a book for the 101st Airborne Division for the next year.
Due to lack of time we had to postpone the publishing the 106th book till next year and we will have two
books published next year.
About early october 1998 I came in touch with the 75th Infantry Division Assn and George Tachuk informed
me that the Assn is about the publish a history book on their 75th Infantry Division. Material can be sent in
till the end of the year. I told George that we made a Roll of Honor for the 82nd Airborne Division and that
we were busy making one for the 106th Infantry Division. I E-mailed him one page of the Roll for the
106th and he asked me/the Historical Section if we could make one for the 75th Infantry Division. We have
made one Roll of Honor, giving the names of 952 men of this division, who lost their lives during the war.
The only information, also due to lack of time is the circumstances and location of the men's death, as well
as the companies or batteries. We have checked the superintendents of the American Military cemeteries
and have received the information on the men, buried in their cemeteries, we have contacted the National
Cemeteries and from them too we received information. As I told you, we do not have the companies
listed, it would be a wonderful thing if we could have their companies listed, time prevents us to write
extensive letters to the States. George only has the present roster.
Today I checked the Internet and found your name and E-mail address and I have the following question.
I am in desperate need for WW-II rosters or casualty reports, giving names, ranks, ASN, dates and
companies, hope you can help me/the Historical Section of the 75th Infantry Division and the veterans,
can you please check your files and send me any information that we need. I do not want to urge you, but
time is limited. I still have another two weeks to complete the roll, any information is more than welcome.
Can you help me with E-mail addresses of members of the 75th ? can you please contact your father,
uncle, brother and ask him who in his company was killed during the war, where and when, what was the
cause of death: stepped on a mine, hit by strafing P-47s, artilleryfire, ran over by a tank ??
You can either E-mail the information or use the fax, the number is +31-24-3276666 ATTN Jan Bos
Hope to hear from you, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Jan Bos
++From the moderator: ++
Goeden Dag minheer,
thanks for your email. I forwarded your message to all veterans on my
email list. I hope they get in contact with you fast.
There is also one person, that has put together a lot of documents about
the 75th Division:
His name is
Alfred S. Roxbourgh
2719 Laurel Drive
Sacramento, CA 95864-4950
Phone: 1-916-485-4226
Please get in contact with him, tell him greetings from me and that
I need his new email adress. I will include you also in my
email-newsline, so that you get all infos about the 75th fast.
Tot ziens ! Greetings from Germany
Rolf G. Wilmink
75th Inf Div WWII vets assn unofficial homepage
----------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 15 Dec 98 10:06:12 -0500
From: "Stephen M. Graber"stephen.m.graber@bender.com
To: <82circle@telebyte.nl>,
subject: Re[2]: Best wishes from Nijmegen
Jan Bos, I will talk to my father who survived one of the 75th Division's biggest battles, The Battle of
Grand Halleux, Belgium. I know he remembers friends that fell throughout the Battle of the Bulge.
The 291st Regiment was involved in the battle of Grand Halleux on January 15th and 16th, 1945. Their
assignment was to attack across 400-500 yards of open field into the heavily fortified defenses in the
woods that faced this field. They were successful on the second day, Jan 16th.
The 291st Regiment fought in Grand Halleux while the 289th Regiment took Salmchateau, Belgium in
a double envelope maneuver to capture Vielsalm. The 106th pushed on the 75th's left flank while the
30th Division moved into St. Vith on the left of the 106th.
My father, sister, brother and I travelled to Grand Halleux, Belgium in September, 1998. I will be attending
the 1999 75th Division reunion in Houston, TX to obtain more information from veterans as I am
contemplating writing a book on The Battle of Grand Halleux. I have some information that may be useful
to you. Mostly on the 291st Regiment. I will check for rosters that you have requested. Please feel free to
keep in touch via email. So please let me know if there is anything else I can help with and thank you for
taking the time to do this work that is very time consuming.
I am very much interested on the information that you will produce. Thank you.
Merry Christmas
Steve Graber-----------------------------------------------------------
Datum: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 06:29:14 -0600
From: "Campbell, Phillip" pecampbe@bechtel.com
subject: Best wishes from Nijmegen
Mr. Wilmink,
Thank you for the information. I will pass it along to my father.
Sincerely,
Phillip Campbell
************************************************
6.) PBS Video on Battle of the Bulge
From: GoddessBQ@aol.com
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1998 01:10:22 EST
Hi Rolf,
Thank you for posting my message and forwarding it to Dan Shine - he sent me some of his father's
recollections of his time in the 289th. I don't remember if mom and dad went to the Atlanta reunion -
seems like their last one was upstate New York. They were both on the European Tour with the
75th (early 80's), but I'm not sure if that went to Plettenberg. My appearances were so long ago I remember
only some of the cities, and none of the dates (Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Washington, D.C.)
I found out a few more specifics: Mam says Dad was in "Company HQ" and that he joined the 75th shortly
before Christmas, but not til they were on the continent, just before the Battle of the Bulge. The only photo
I have of him which appears to have been taken in Europe is with two guys named Zettler and Micken
(no 1st names), all three wearing battle ribbons. They are standing in front of an intact 2 story stucco
building. The windows on the lower floor are domed and the bars over them have peaks at the top; two of
the windows on the upper floor are round, and there is a shuttered square window in the middle. on the
street corner behind this building is an intact stone wall (some ivy) with domed doors through it. Behind
that is what appears to be a three story building. I will try to get this photo scanned and send it to you if this
sounds like it could be your town.
The documentary I wrote of was a Public Broadcasting System special run under the title "Guts and Glory". It covered The Battle of the Bulge/Ardennes and was much broader than the 75th. You could check with www.pbs.org to see if they offer it for sale. (I looked up the PBS site - it was part of a series called "The American Experience" and the Title of the segment was "Guts and Glory" - they offer it for 19.95) I accidentally taped over part of my copy-but it doesn't cover the later times which would involve your town.
The photo which I believe included my father had to be posed, because the 4-5 guys are in battle-type positions, but the cameraman is in front of them - some of the few photos I've seen where faces are recognizable in spite of the bitter cold.
In the context of the progam, it appeared just after the narrator talks about the battle really continuing about another 2 weeks after the papers reported we'd won - because the forces had to push back to the original front line. I don't know if they were good about using pics from the areas as they covered them, but dad looks skinny, so it was probably late in the battle. It was an excellent piece and included a number of segments interviewing a private from the 75th about the Bulge. Many of the photos were from the "Nuts!" museum in France, others I'm pretty sure were from the 167th signal corps collection I've seen mentioned on your site.
I also caught a two hour segment on cable which was based on the private color movies a california man (maybe d hunt jr.?) just found that his father (a film professional) had taken in addition to the army footage he shot. I can try to get the title and network for you if you are interested (I loaned the tape out recently)
If you still haven't had any luck ordering that History of the 75th video from the Kansas City Convention, let me know; I live in the city listed in the contact address and was planning to order one myself anyway.
Much later . . .
Finally got back in order to continue this e-mail - I shouldn't be so long winded.
I got some more details from Mom - It seems dad spent much of the occupation in Paris assigned to Camp Chicago, and then in London for a while with the Fire Dept. Sounds like he didn't make it to Plettenberg. Since he was a replacement, he may have been attached to other divisions later. According to a listing I found on-line of the tour of combat for Co. HQ, there's nothing after their being sent to Camp Chicago on 7 June '45 (disbanded?)
FYI - I just finished an excellent book by Stephen E. Ambrose called "Citizen Soldiers" (He was the director of the Eisenhower Center at the University of New Orleans) It covers the ETO after D-Day and through the surrender. Unfortunately it does not have one bit specifically about the 75th (other than in a chart listing casualties) However, it was an excellent read, and nothing like the dry, chronological military histories most of us are used to.
Ambrose interviewed soldiers from both sides and shows a lot of respect for everyone involved. (He also "takes sides" in a way - describing how the upper echelons of command on both sides had no clue what they were ordering the average foot soldier to accomplish.) Even though he doesn't give the 75th's story - I'd highly recommend it for anyone interested in reading what it was like for the average GI. It also includes sections on the medics and field hospital personnel, the air war, etc.
One more thing - In Ambrose's book, he asks that those who have "memoirs, documents, oral histories, and other material from vets of ETO" forward them to the Eisenhower Center so that they will be available in a central location and not lost forever. The current Director of the Center is Douglas Brinkley and the address is 923 Magazine St. New Orleans, LA 70130. Perhaps you could include Ambrose's plea in your next newsline and he can get to know the 75th and their stories.
Thanks again for putting me on the distribution list.
Brenda Keltner
--------------
++From the Moderator: ++
Dear Brenda,
thank you very much for your email. I have forwarded it to Joseph Karr,
who was a member of the 167th Signal Company, together with Donald
Hunt ! (I would be very interested in that footage and the 75th historical
film. If you can send it to me, I would refund your expenses. )
I checked the roster of the vets assn for Zettler and Micken, but they are
not on it.
Greetings from Germany
Rolf G. Wilmink
********************************************************
7.) Uncle Sam comes to town
Datum: Tue, 15 Dec 1998 09:55:17 +0000
From: glenn.booker@pop.net.ntl.com
Dear Rolf,
I would be very grateful to you if you would be kind enough add these
"Tales from Wales" to your next Newsline. Maybe other veterans will
add their stories in due course.
Thanks,
Glenn Booker
in Wales UK
“Uncle Sam Comes To Town”
Why was the 75th U.S. Infantry Division in South Wales in the Fall
of 1944? Because the Allies had had trouble securing the French
Channel ports there were insufficient facilities to discharge a number
of US Divisions and other US units directly on to the Continent as
planned. So they had to be diverted to southern England, and in the
case of the 75th, to south Wales. The former US camps and facilities
that had been returned to the British had to be re-requisitioned. The
75th was to follow in the footsteps of 28th and 2nd Infantry Divisions.
For instance, all three divisions at some time had their
divisional HQ at Tenby. A five-week pre-combat interlude followed
and for some the opportunity to visit
London. Some the events of that period are recorded below...
289th Infantry Regiment
Ken Hohmann (of 291st Regiment) wrote:
The following information is taken from a May 1995 publication
entitled: "From Breckinridge to Braunlauf, 289th Regiment, 75th Division.”
It was published by division artist, Tom Leamon, who was in A Co,
(First Battalion). The 289th shipped out of New York City on the British
troop ship, S.S. Franconia. They transferred to trains in Liverpool and then
detrained in Swansea. The 3,000 +/- men of the 289th were based in the
following towns: Camp Claes Farm, Morriston, Glamorganshire; Llanelly,
Burry Port, Penclawdd and Penllegaer.
Dan Shine wrote on behalf of his father in the 289th:
The regiment arrived November 4, 1944 in Penclawdd, and left December 8
for Southampton. They had come from NYC on the HMT Franconia. After
arriving in the UK, they travelled overland to Penclawdd via 6x6 army trucks.
Welsh weather? His response was YUK! He said that it was mostly rain
and drizzle while he was there. He ran the post exchange PX while he
was there, so he did not get much chance to see the countryside or meet
the people. A couple of times he did get out to local bars for fish and chips.
One time, he drove to Tenby on the coast for a visit to the division HQ.
290th Infantry Regiment
Jim Davis:
…I can't add much in the way of historical events, but I remember the beautiful country and the friendly people. I was 21 when I entered the service and was trained in infantry techniques. Consequently, when I joined the 75th Div a few months prior to going overseas, I was an old man as the 75th was, as you probably know, was composed of mostly 18 year olds, and I was
already 23.
In November of 1944, I was in Wales and living in what I thought was castle. Later research revealed that it was classed as Tudor-period house. Well it was a castle to me. Its interior walls were covered with silk cloth, applied like wallpaper. Our first night there we were billeted in a very high ceilinged stone building. There were smudge pots and great sections of the roof could be opened to let in the sun. We were told by Arthur the gamekeeper that it once had orange trees growing inside. Arthur was a character. He wore leather puttees and cussed like an old sailor. I often visited the same Pub as Arthur and each time he used a curse word the barkeep would make him put a shilling in a container on the bar. I was always treated with respect. Some of my ancestors came from the coalmines of Wales and I felt like a kindred spirit.
I attended a few parties or dances. The young ladies were beautiful and tried to be friendly, and I'm sure were a little intimidated by this mass of loud, brash soldiers, who were mere young boys. There was one incident when I was able to walk one lovely young lady to her home. We may have held hands, but that was the extent of any contact. Well alas, I had missed the transportation back to "Margam Castle" and my Lieutenant happened to be the officer of the guard that night. We were strolling along having interesting conversation, when this Army jeep screeched to a halt at the curb. The lieutenant jumped out of the jeep and confronted me. I put my arm around the lasses waist to protect her from these "bad guys" It was then that I noticed that it was Lt Woodward my commander. I grinned sheepishly and instead of saluting as regulations demanded, I said Hi Lieutenant. They sort of tossed me into the jeep, I may have been a little inebriated and then helped the young lady in. They drove her home and I never saw her again. The next morning at reveille the Lt. lectured all of us about our conduct while in Wales as we were guests and should behave properly at all times. I had been imbibing a little too much with pints of black and tan. The Lt. used the incident of the night before as a bad example being set by some soldiers. He didn’t mention my name but I knew I was the culprit…
I was a Staff Sgt in charge of a rifle squad and had received a promotion from Buck Sgt to Staff while in Wales. I was very fortunate to survive the blood bath in the Ardennes (Battle of the Bulge).
Bill Kirk:
I was (in) 290th, HQ Company, 2nd Battalion, Ammunition and Pioneer Platoon. We - 2nd Battalion at least - were quartered in a castle, Margam Castle, just outside of Port Talbot. We had also been on the USAT Brazil, and landed at Swansea.
We slept on wooden frames with metal strapping tape used to hold coffin shaped bags filled with straw (mattresses). The bed frames were made for men about 5'-6".
We "manoeuvred" in the hills above Port Talbot, often having large herds of deer watching us. We had the incident of my squad leader, one Sgt. Lorentzen, who, unbelievably, had been a Captain in the Royal Canadian Air Force. To prove his story he left the castle and in a couple hours returned and "Buzzed" the castle in a Spitfire.
The folks of the area were very good to us, and some of the girls became War Brides. The girls wrote us about some of our wounded and cold casualties who wound (up) in hospitals that they could visit. The food was poor, but the populace wasn't eating any better. I guess the best thing about the time was the way the people treated us, except for some of the men. Some who thought we had come over to get the glory, now that they had the "Hun" by the throat, and those who didn't like our taking their women. They (the women) were very considerate and went out of their way to make us feel at home, many of them having lost their own, or their men were still in combat.
I came back, later, on furlough. There were quite a few young women who wanted to know about the fathers of the babies they had. That was sad. Not really too much to be said about that time, it passed so fast.
We crossed the Channel on the ship "Monowai"… to Le Havre, onto landing craft… but that's another story.
Larson, Ivan:
I was a member of Co. E, 290th Infantry Regiment, 75th Infantry Division and spent about six weeks in the Porthcawl area. I do not remember much about our stay there but do remember the fine hospitality of the local people and the beautiful countryside. We were billeted in Margam Castle (I have a picture of it) and remember sleeping in wooden bunks with straw mattresses.
We had exercises while at the Castle but not too extensive as I remember. Think we were just waiting to make the trip across the Channel.
I remember attending dances held in town and also remember having time off to visit London.
Reg Perkins:
I, was in South Wales during November & December of 1944, a total of 5 weeks according to my records. I was assigned to
the 290th Infantry Regiment which was 1 of 3 regiments attached to the 75th infantry Division.
Our headquarters for the regiment was in the town of Porthcawl. I am not sure of the exact location of headquarters for the other regiments (289th & 291st) or the towns where the division headquarters was. As, I remember Porthcawl is west of Barry by a few miles. I and many of the other GI's in my outfit did visit other towns between Cardiff and Swansea during the short time we were in Wales.
I joined the 75th division during the summer of 1944 at Camp Breckenridge, Kentucky, and assigned to "Hq. Co. Anti-tank Platoon, 1st Battalion, 290th Infantry Regiment. October 22, 1944 we set sail from New York aboard the USAT Brazil with 5000 other troops. Ten days later we landed in the harbor of Swansea. After debarking the ship we travelled by train and motor vehicle to billets in and around the resort town of Porthcawl. I was 19 years old when we landed.
While, in Porthcawl we all had to continue training and make final preparations for combat, but evening hours and on occasional weekend we were able to visit various towns around Porthcawl. We met the local residents and had a date or two with the Welch girls. Our continued training consisted of long marches, some during cold, windy and rainy days, we did have some nice days also. We also did some practice shooting of fish in the ocean with our large gun.
After 5 weeks in Wales we were ordered to France, landing at Le Havre on December 14,1944.
I am sure there were a number of romances with the local ladies. I am not sure if there were any involving the 75th division. With only 5 weeks in Porthcawl and with our time mostly doing the usual army stuff, romance would seem to be hard to come by.
One thing the troops remembered when we had to do our training marches, was that some how upper echelon brass would some how choose a day or night that would be cold, windy and raining. Since Porthcawl was adjacent to the Bristol Channel and faces part of the Atlantic ocean, the wind usually was blowing so hard, it would blow rain droplets toward land, the rain was nearly horizontal, striking our helmets like shot gun pellets!
When we had time, we would spend our time walking around Porthcawl, partaking of a beer in a local tavern and meeting the local people. What few times we travelled out of Porthcawl we were able to take a bus to Bridgend for the day. What little I can remember I did meet a young girl and we took in a movie and she showed me various spots of interest in the town. Other than Bridgend, I can't remember if I visited other towns.
The night of December 10, 1944 was our last time in Porthcawl. This night was cold, windy and raining, as we marched to the rail station about 11:00 P.M. Of course we had to carry full field packs, side arms, steel helmets and a full duffel bag.
Eventually the train arrived and we were loaded on board. Of course we were not told where we were going. We travelled quite a while on the train arriving in Southampton about an hour before daylight. Our trucks and anti-tank gun of course travelled by roads for Porthcawl, arriving about the same time. However the ship carrying the anti-tank gun for crossing the channel would be different than those that the troops sailed on.
From the train, we moved to a large building at the waterfront. We burnt K-Ration cartons to keep warm; there was a soft blanket of fog all along the coast as far as you could see. All good things come to an end, about noon, we were herded on board our luxury liner which was a converted English cargo ship with no bunks. Some had swing hammocks and the rest of us used tables or the floor for sleeping. The food we were served was not very palatable; K-rations tended to be close to gourmet meals instead.
About dusk we left in a total blackout. It was easy to tell when it was dusk; you couldn't see the fog anymore. We cruised across the channel slowly, arriving just outside of the Le Havre harbour, or what was left of it. We went over the side of the ship using cargo nets to the waiting LCI. The ride to shore was rather bumpy.
Robert M Smith:
I was a member of Antitank Company, 290th Infantry Regiment, 75th Division and was in Wales for a brief period in late 1944. The 290th Regiment embarked for Wales on 22 Oct 44 from Staten Island N.Y. aboard the U.S. Army Transport, Brazil, a converted ocean liner. The Brazil, part of a large convoy, docked at Swansea on approximately 1 Nov 44. From Swansea, the 290th went by rail to Porthcawl where it was stationed until 10 Dec 44 when it left for France by way of Southampton, crossing the Channel on British ships.
While in Porthcawl, Antitank Company was billeted in the Miner's Rest, a quaint rest/recuperation home for Welsh miners. It was very close to the seashore, which the locals referred to as "The Strand." We marched three times a day for meals up a road which followed the beach to another larger facility which had a mess hall. Being stationed right in the Village of Porthcawl, training was mainly in the form of long marches and physical exercises.
The amenities at the Miners Rest were few. We slept on a palliasse which was a kind of mattress cover filled with straw which we had to make up ourselves upon arrival at the billet. Part of the Army routine was to mop the barracks floor every morning.
The Miners Rest was so ancient that the scrub water leaked through the wooden floors to the rooms below, so we were excused from further mopping details.
Social life in the Village of Porthcawl was good. It had a cinema that we frequented. I remember seeing the classic film," Gaslight" with Ingrid Bergman, which at that time was entitled "Murder in Thornton Square" for the British audiences. I also remember the many Pubs, and room-temperature British pints.
There was much singing in the Pubs with the locals until the Landlord called "Time please". One popular but bawdy song of that era was "Roll Me Over Yankee Soldier". I believe there was a public dance hall in Porthcawl but my recollections of that are at this time vague.
There were also passes for visits to Cardiff and the town of … Bridgend comes to mind. There was also one memorable weekend pass to London. These locations had facilities for the lodging and entertainment of visiting military personnel...A special treat for me was English fish and chips with vinegar eaten from a newspaper cone.
…While in Porthcawl, Antitank Company was ordered to make a 25-mile march with full field equipment as a night exercise. The march took all night, partly through the residential areas and was accompanied by much loud singing, talking and laughing by the marchers which interrupted the sleep of the locals .The incident was reported to Col. Carl Duffner, the regimental commander, who ordered Antitank Company, as punishment, to repeat the 25-mile march the next night, this time in strict silence.
Other recollections of Wales in November '44 include to beautiful countryside, green hills, almost daily rain, and the marvellous accent of the wonderful Welsh people.
291st Infantry Regiment
Ken Hohmann:
The 75th Infantry Division, consisting of 289th, 290th and 291st Regiments, was stationed in South West United Kingdom.
Consisting of approximately 13,000 men, the 75th was spread from Swansea to Haverfordwest. My outfit, Headquarters Company, 2nd Bn 291st, was right in Haverfordwest, thank goodness, and not in the field with all of that "mist!"
Bear in mind, we were very compartmentalized and knew little of the other regiment's locations, etc. I did get to St. David's Head, Fishguard on my own and hopped a ride in a jeep to Division Headquarters in the resort town of Tenby.
Bob Miller:
I was with the 291st Regimental Headquarters, at Cresselie Manor (spelling?) outside of Tenby, for … two months. I had a most unusual experience there, and felt that I might have elected mayor of Tenby if we had stayed longer…
Our regiment, the 291st, debarked at Swansea, shortly after mid-October, 1944. The regiment traveled by train to Tenby, arriving late in the afternoon. The battalions were transported, by trucks, to varies sites - Milford Haven, Haverfordwest, Pembroke, and perhaps other sites.
Regimental Headquarters, and its supporting units were sent to Cresselie (?) Manor…
When the troops departed to their sites, transportation had been provided for all 3,000 men, except for two -- me a friend.
We were told that we would be picked up in about an hour.
An English police officer had been on the station platform, watching the activities. When he saw the two of us
alone, he approached and asked if we were stranded. He then introduced himself, Officer Williams, and asked
if he could help us. We said we had been on board a ship for 15 days, and certainly would like to taste English
beer. Officer Williams invited us to accompany him. We said that we did not have English money, so he
promptly loaned us one pound. He took us to the Hilton Hotel, and introduced us to a lady named Meg. I believe
she was co-owner of the hotel. We had a beer in the middle-class pub. Then Officer Williams suggested we go
to a pub named "The Prince of Wales". There he introduced us to the owner, and his most attractive daughter,
Pat. We enjoyed another beer, and then it was time to return to the train station
My friend was assigned to one of the other sites, and never got back to Tenby. I went to Cressily Manor … and
I was able to visit Tenby most evenings.
In a few days I returned the borrowed pound to Officer Williams, and I saw him frequently, thereafter. One
day he procured a fifth of Johnny Walker Red Label for me, which I sparingly shared with friends. Each night
in town, my first stop was the Hilton Hotel. Meg would always offer to serve whisky to me in the Hotel's Guests Lounge. I only accepted her offer a few times, when I wanted to "put on the dog" for a regimental officer. I was the only officer in Regimental HQ (then a 2nd lieutenant) who had access to the Guest's Lounge
Pat, and her father, at the Prince of Wales, always treated me most favorably. They would quietly offer whisky to me though it was not served in their pub. I usually requested beer. They were fine people.…
We were so isolated in Tenby I did not know there was a Barry. The only thing I think I remember is that the 28th Division was in the Tenby area before the 75th. I hope "The Manor" is intact and may be visited.
The owner, in 1944, was Lady Allen (She was said to be 26 years old). When the regimental staff moved into the Manor, she was in London driving an ambulance. She did keep a wing of the Manor for her residence. I remember the building quite well. It had a corner stone dated 1706. Our staff of 17 doubled-up in large bedrooms. I shared a room with the regimental surgeon. In the late afternoon, an orderly would build a fire in the room's fireplace. The fuel was coal dust. We had to open a window, at night, to keep from being overcome by the fumes from the fire. We had one bathroom with a tub, sink, and toilet for the 17 officers. We did manage to schedule our use of the bathroom so that our needs were met. The troops lived in Quonset Huts, in the gardens.
Our medical unit operated a dispensary in a "tack room", in a building, possibly stables, near the entrance to the estate – a beautiful wood panelled room.
Lady Allen leased her vast properties to a number of farmers. She also leased a near-by "pub" to an elderly couple. I dropped in there a few times. The second time, I gave them 6 lemons that I have carried of the troop ship. They said they had not seen citrus fruit for four years, and from that time on, I was invited into their living quarters when I visited the pub.
Lady Allen returned from London, about the 4th week of November, to have a "fox hunt" for her tenant farmers. Our regimental mess officer arranged for three of us to join the foxhunt ceremonies, at the pub, before the hunters took off after to fox. The scene, with the horses, dogs, and hunters, in their redcoat attires, seemed similar to pictures I had seen on calendars.
We three had a few whiskeys with the group, and then wished them good luck, as a horn was sounded, and off they raced.
On a Sunday, the mess officer made a date with a gentleman schoolteacher for a few of us to tour a nearby castle, that was mostly in ruins. As I recall, the young King Richard resided there when there was political turmoil in London. He rebuilt the castle in our minds, and made the tour most interesting.
In order to give my troops some exercise, we put on our packs and made hikes, each afternoon, through the countryside. We were nearly overwhelmed with its beauty. Often, we would encounter a rain-shower that made the country-side sparkle when the sun returned…
Bert Witt:
I know the 291st Infantry Regiment landed at Swansea, because that was my outfit. I was, at the time,
a 1st Lieutenant assigned as Reconnaissance and Executive Office of M Company, Third Battalion,
291st Regiment, 75th Infantry Division.…
M Company was a Heavy Weapons Company, meaning that our men were armed with Heavy .30 calibre
Water cooled Machine Guns (a solid and heavy tripod carried by one man, while another man carried a heavy
barrel jacketed with a round metal can which could hold water and served roughly the same function as the
radiator in your car. Others in the squad carried the necessary water and, above all, belts and belts and belts
of automatic ammunition) and 81mm Mortars (again, one man carried the tube, another the base and
support, and the rest carried the shells.) It was our job to provide firepower support to the three rifle
companies of our battalion, Co.’s I, K and L. It was my job, with my recon team, to search out the best
positions in which to deploy our 4 platoons, three of gunners and one of mortarmen. When not engaged
in action, it was also my job to be second-in-comand of the company, which meant seeing that clothing,
equipment and weapons were adequate, that transportation was kept up, that food (and lodging in
non-combat situations) was provided.
It was in the latter mode that I was functioning the dark night we trooped off ship in Swansea, in blackness
and soaking rain, to load everyone up in trucks (thankfully, covered) and slither on mostly unpaved roads
to an encampment (I know not exactly where) to which we must have been proceeded by devils who had
gathered there every bit of available mud in the whole British Isles. (This may be an over-statement, but it
did not appear exaggerated at the time.) There was unbounded misery everywhere, quashing the happy
thoughts which had surged up in the men at the prospect of finally being liberated from the utterly
crowded, almost stifling conditions aboard the troop transport. Miraculously, there were women at the
gates of the encampment, American Red Cross women serving steaming hot coffee, doughnuts, and
passing out what was then a grand treat - cigarettes. The men were housed in tents, some of which did not
leak badly. The officers were more fortunately housed in rounded metal-topped long buildings we called
Nissen huts. They were drier but the rain was markedly noisier.
For the first week, there was absolutely no leave granted anyone for any reason whatever. We did not
know how long we would be staying there. We knew it was only a way station to the continent. Long
before the week was up, groups of local Welsh, particularly young girls, were hanging around the fences,
chatting, and inevitably flirting, with the GIs who, in their loneliness, confinement and expectation of
a lot worse to come, enthusiastically encouraged such contacts. Inevitably, we began to grant short
passes, a few hours, a half-day. We were aware that the impact on the local population could be
devastating if any large number of men were turned loose at one time. Shortly there were invitations
issued by local groups, churches and other organizations who wished to show hospitality to the Yanks.
We were overwhelmed by this kindness in view of the obvious hardships everyone in the area was enduring.
So we allowed fifty men to attend this function and one hundred to go to that dance, and twenty to go to
that church social. The men came back astounded that, as they said, "there are only old men and boys
around, but lots of women of every age." There was a consciousness on the part of the officer cadre that
we had some responsibility to attempt to minimize the number of fatherless children the Yanks might
leave behind when it came time to move on. But there was no effective way to police every moment of
free time the men had, and we were aware that what the participants thought at the time were "forever"
relationships were being formed. This awareness was not only visible to any alert officer but the exec
officer of each company was required then to ensure that he or another company officer read the outgoing
mail of every enlisted man for the purpose of censoring out any possible military information that should
be kept secret. Although I asked the platoon lieutenants to read as much as they could, I became privy to
far more intimate details than certainly I wished to know. Some were boastful of conquests. If their
stories were true, which I doubted, many of the local ladies of all ages were very pleased after a long
drought to have some male companionship. Some were immature, starry-eyed youngsters of 17 and
18 telling brothers or friends that, "five days ago I met the girl of my dreams. We will get married as
soon as the war is over." And everything in between. This did not affect every enlisted man, nor every
officer, but I (as a relatively older 25 year old, married and with a young son at home with my wife) was
surprised at the extent and speed of the inter-action.
All the more was the shock to everyone, locals and our outfit as well, when one day all leaves were cancelled…
------------------------------------------------------------------
I do hope that these recollections will jog memories. If anyone else would like to add to them please get
in touch. Thanks to
you, the veterans!
Glenn Booker
***********************************************************
8.) *** ON THE LIGHTER SIDE ***
Ever wonder what the Latin on the Regimental crests really meant?
Murphy's Laws of Combat - put to Latin.
These are destined to become Classics
If the enemy is in range, so are you.
Si hostes visibilis, etiam tu.
Incoming fire has the right of way
Missiles invenientes semper potestatem viae habent
Don't look conspicuous, it draws fire
Noli eminere, catapultas allicies
There is always a way
Putamus viam semper esse
The easy way is always mined
Via perfacilis laqueis semper plena
Try to look unimportant, they may be low on ammo
Conare nullius momenti videri fortasse missilibus careant
Professionals are predictable, it is the amateurs who are dangerous
Peritissimos semper praevidere possumus, rudi autem periculosi sunt
The enemy invariably attacks on two occasions: (a) when you are ready for
them, (b) when you are not ready for them
Duobus temporibus oppugnant hostes: cum parati estis, et cum imparati estis
Teamwork is essential, it gives them someone else to shoot at
Collaboratio maximi momenti est, quia eis alterum scopum praebet
If you can't remember, the claymore is always pointed at you
Si id memini non potes, scutula dirumpens semper at te collineata est
The enemy diversion you have been ignoring will be the main attack
Negligentia hostium quam non coluistis primus impetus erit
A sucking chest wound is nature's way of telling you to slow down
Vulnus pectoris sugens ne properetis mos naturae dicendi est
If your attack is going well, you have walked into an ambush
Si impetus bene it, in laqueum incessistis
Never draw fire, it irritates everyone around you
Numquam catapultas allice, iram omnium concitabis
Anything you can do can get you shot, including nothing
Ex quocumque facere poteris te sauciabit, nihilo comprehenso
Make it tough for the enemy to get in and you won't be able to get out
Si hostibus difficile incedere facias tu quoque male extricabis
Never share a foxhole with one braver than yourself
Numquam fossam compartire cum viro tibi fortiore
If you are short of anything but the enemy you are in a combat zone
Si nihilo carueris nisi hostibus loco pugnae es
When you have secured an area, don't forget to tell the enemy
Si locum inexpugnabilis facias, memento hostibus de hoc profiteri
Never forget your weapon is made by the lowest bidder
Numquam obliviscaris tua tela facta ab eis qui minima liciti sunt
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: rmsmith1924@webtv.net (Robert M Smith)
Date: Sun, 13 Dec 1998 08:30:15 -0500 (EST)
subject: Thoughts To Ponder
If a deaf person swears in sign landuage, does is mother wash his hands
with soap?
If someone with multiple personalities threatens to kill himself, is it
considered a hostage situation?
What is another word for synonym?
Isn't it a bit unnerving that doctors call what they do practice?
Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?
Why do they report power outages on TV?
What should you do when you see an endangered animal eating an
endangered plant?
Is it possible to be totally partial?
If a parsley farmer is sued, can they garnish his salary?
Would a fly that looses its' wings be called a walk?
If a funeral procession is a night, do folks drive with their lights off?
If a stealth bomber crashes in a forest, will it make a sound?
If a man speaks in a forest and there is no woman to hear him, is he
still wrong?
Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?
Should vegetarians eat animal crackers?
How do "Keep Off The Grass" signs get where they are?
If vegetarians eat veggies, what do humanitarians eat?
If a train station is where a train stops, what is a work station?
Why is it when a door is open it's ajar, but when a jar is open it's
not adoor?
HOPE YOU HAD A FEW CHUCKLES
GREETINGS FROM FLORIDA - U.S.A.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Did You Know........?
Where does the term "a feather in your cap" originate?
It comes from the ancient custom of placing a feather in a soldier's
cap for every enemy killed.
Why are aircraft storage buildings called "hangars" when planes
don't actually hang in them? The word comes
from the 16th century French "angar", which is an open shed for
storing plows and similar objects. The
French term is derived from the Latin "angarium" for "shed" or
"stable."
How did the term "a cup of Joe" come to refer to coffee?
Coffee became the strongest drink aboard ships when Navy
Secretary Josephus Daniels abolished the officers' wine
mess in 1913.
Who were the original "free lancers"?
Medieval knights who owed allegiance only to themselves and
anyone willing to pay for their military
services -- their "lances."
Where did the saying "devil to pay" come from?
The "devil" on a wooden ship is the longest seam on the hull, and
"pay" is the tar used for caulking. Squatting
in the bilges "paying the devil" was an unpleasant task.
============================================
From: "Gregory J. Caldwell, CPP" gjc@rmi.net
Subject: Holiday Cheer
Here's a little recipe to brighten your holidays.
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
4 large eggs
2 cups dried fruit
1 tsp salt
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 cup nuts
1 bottle whiskey
Procedure:
Sample the whiskey to check for quality.
Get a large bowl out. Check the whiskey again.
To be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and
drink it.
Repeat
Turn on the electric mixer and beat one cup of butter in the
large fluffy bowl.
Add one tsp of sugar and beat again.
Make sure the whiskey is still okay.
Cry another tup. Turn off the mixer.
Beat two leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of
dried fruit.
Mix on the turner. If fired druit gets stuck in the beatererers
pry it loose with a drewscriver.
Sample the whiskey and check for tonsisticity
Next sift two cups of salt or something. Who cares?
Check the whiskey again.
Now sift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.
Add one table. Spoon. Of sugar or something. Whatever you can find.
Grease the oven. Turn the cake tin 350 degrees.
Don't forget to beat off the turner. Throw the bowl out the window.
Check the whiskey again and go to bed.
****************************************************
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........your feedback to this newsline !!!!
Greetings from Germany
Rolf G. Wilmink
75th Inf Div WWII Veterans Association Unofficial homepage
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