75th Inf Div Newsline No.40

75th Inf Div newsline No. 40
***********************
14 October 1999

Hello veterans and friends of the 75th Division !

I am sorry to say that our newsline has lost a very good friend :

Robert (Rob) Smith, G-289,

was killed in an auto accident shortly before the 75th Div Reunion in Texas. He leaves his devoted wife Ruby at
                                                6000 E. Banner Ln,
                                                Invernessin, FL 32652
                                                USA

It is a great loss for us, he has send a lot of informations and helped all members, that had questions and needed informations.

We will never read again his

GREETINGS FROM ROB AT FLORIDA - U.S.A.

His last message to me was, when I asked if he is o.k. because of the hurricane:
----------------------------------------------------------------
From: rmsmith1924@webtv.net (Robert M Smith)
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 1999 09:39:14 -0400 (EDT)
Re: Are you o.k. ?

Hi Rolf--- Thank you for your concern. I am on the west coast of Florida (Gulf of Mexico side) at Sarasota and we are having only high winds and some heavy rain at times. Our children who live in Jacksonville on the east coast (ocean side) have evacuated inland. Latest report is that Floyd might make landfall in the area of Charleston, South Carolina, possibly tomorrow. Thank you for thinking of us!!!!

Best, Rob.

GREETINGS FROM ROB AT FLORIDA - U.S.A.
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Farewell Rob, we will miss you !!

Rolf

*Keep five yards.
(*Means spread out so one round won't get us all.)

Rolf G. Wilmink
„German by birth, american by heart, P.I. by profession„.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For your calendar:

„M“ Co 291st is holding a Co. Reunion Oct. 14, 15, 16, 17 in San Diego Ca. We will be at the Hanalei Hotel, lots of activities are being planned. If you would like more information you might want to contact Al Jiminez at (619)-487-0652 or 12770 Rios Road, San Diego, CA 92128.

Richard J. Schmid
M Co 291st
4381 S. Placid Drive
Greenfield WI 53220
Crhome@execpc.com

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
75th Div reunion year 2000: Peoria, Ill.

75th Div reunion year 2001: Denver, Col.

(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. 39 ( 5 September 1999 )
2.) medal of honor recipients
3.) West Georgia man receives WWII medals 53 years later
4.) Bulletin Board Reminder
5.) Maps
6.) Berkhofer, Robert William Pfc. Company F - 290th Infantry, 75 Inf. Div.
7.) Searching for "Buddies" of Resol B. Puckett
8.) Who knew Don (Donald William) Naar, 75th Div. 291st ?
9.) HQ CO 1st BN 291st machine gun squad
10.) Reprint of article #4
11.) Pearl of a book on 75th and Other Divisions
12.) 289th Infantry, 75th Infantry Division
13.) Veterans Bill Of Rights Firebase Pawtucket
14.) SOMEBODY CARES ABOUT OUR G.I.'S
15.) Web site review

\\|//
(o o)
----------------oOOo-(_)-oOOo------------------------------75th DIVISION online
**********************************************************************************
DON'T BE A LURKER.... GET INVOLVED... YOU ARE A MEMBER... MAKE THE MOST OF IT
**********************************************************************************
(actual count: 187 members online worldwide !)

1.) Feedback regarding our newsline No. 39 ( 5 September 1999):

Date: Sun, 05 Sep 1999 11:55:05 -0400
From: jack & betty bray <betjak@iline.com>
Re: 75th Inf Div newsline no. 39 (5 Sept. 1999)

Dear Rolf,
I just finished reading the latest newsletter and wanted to tell you how much I appreciate being included in your list of recipients. My brother was in Company A, 290th, and was killed in December 1944. Somehow, reading about his fellow GI's makes me feel a little closer to him.

The list of Silver Star awards, published in this issue, includes his name. Somehow the name has been listed incorrectly. Instead of PFC. James L. Bray it should read: PFC Leonard James Bray, Jr. If it would not be too much trouble, it should be changed.

Again, thanks for your efforts, Rolf.

Jack Bray
Ft. Myers, Fl.
--------------------------
From: "Cindy Greer" <sniffycheese@worldnet.att.net>
Re: correction name Bray
Date: Mon, 6 Sep 1999 12:31:36 -0400

Dear Jack:

Sorry about your brother's name being incorrect. That's the way it was in the original documentation I have. Hope all is well with you and yours!
Sincerely,
RUS GREER
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Mon, 06 Sep 1999 23:11:57 -0700
From: john lamontia <jlamontia@earthlink.net>
RE: 75TH ID BAND Newsletter No.39

Reference: Newesline No 39
                Dated 5 September 1999
                Table of Contents, No.7
                Subject--75TH ID BAND

I was a member of the 75th Band in the ETO. I left the U.S. with the 75th Band and was a member from their landing in Scotland through the LST ride across the English Channel, through France, the Bulge, Germany, and I left the 75th Band just a few weeks before the war was over. Even at the end of the war and after the war I visited my friends in the band every week as late as July 1945.

I know of absolutely nothing of this story or rumour that the band had taken artillery to the extent that heavy casualties were taken--or that they were "almost wiped out". I was there with them.

John A. LaMontia

Date: Tue, 07 Sep 1999 13:00:01 -0700
From: john lamontia <jlamontia@earthlink.net>
RE: Personnel Query

Does anyone have contact with or no of the whereabouts of:
CWO Humbert
CWO Moon
Both were Bandleaders of the 75th Div Band During the war
Jack jlamontia@earthlink.net

-------------------------------

Dear friends,
above is a message from somebody that should know. Looks like the incident did not happen. If I remember right, the 75th Div band was marching through the town of Siegen, Germany, (about 40 km away from here) on a victory parade on 09 May 45 (1208 film no.: ADC 4426, National Archives, Motion Picture Branch)
This was filmed by Raymond Daum, who was travelling with our 167th Signal Corps photographer and newsline member Joseph D. Karr.
On photos, (# 120, 121,122) that Joe took at the celebration in the Stalag 6a Camp near Hemer, Germany, (May 1st), you can see a band standing beside a stage. I cannot see on the pictures if it is the 75th Div band. In front of the stage, there a soldiers of the 75th holding flags. (you can clearly see the patches on the shoulder). Maybe Joe can scan the photos and send them via email.
For fast contact, please see the email adresses in the header.
Greetings from Germany
Rolf
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From: "Jim West" <jimwest@shelbynet.net>
Re: 75th Inf Div newsline no.39 (5 Sept. 1999)
Date: Mon, 6 Sep 1999 19:33:55 -0500

Nice site and newsletter.
You might like to see the ones that I am building for several Divisions. My goal is to build one for every Division that passed through Camp Atterbury, Indiana. They are listed below in my signature.
The 106th is the most complete one. All of my sites are not considered historically accurate, but rather are places for former members to present their personal stories.
I'm not sure what kind of help you are wanting, but if there is anything I can do, let me know. If time and talents permit, I will do what I can.

Jim West

http://www.shelbynet.net/~usaf71stsos
Camp Atterbury - Bakalar AFB - Freeman AAF

http://members.xoom.com/31stInfDiv
31st DIXIE Division

http://members.xoom.com/38thInfDiv
38th CYCLONE Division

http://members.xoom.com/83rdInfDiv
83rd THUNDERBOLT Division

http://members.xoom.com/GoldenLions
106th Golden Lions Division

http://members.xoom.com/FtOglethorpe
Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia

http://members.xoom.com/us6thcav
U. S. 6th Cavalry

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2.) medal of honor recipients

From: Eric Heijink <e.heijink@student.utwente.nl>
Date: Mon, 6 Sep 1999 13:12:44 -0500

Here are the citations of three GI's that earned their medal of honor in Belgium.

*COWAN, RICHARD ELLER
Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Company M, 23d Infantry, 2d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Krinkelter Wald, Belgium, 17 December 1944. Entered service at: Wichita, Kans. Birth: Lincoln, Nebr. G.O. No.: 48, 23 June 1945. Citation: He was a heavy machinegunner in a section attached to Company I in the vicinity of Krinkelter Wald, Belgium, 17 December 1944, when that company was attacked by a numerically superior force of German infantry and tanks. The first 6 waves of hostile infantrymen were repulsed with heavy casualties, but a seventh drive with tanks killed or wounded all but 3 of his section, leaving Pvt. Cowan to man his gun, supported by only 15 to 20 riflemen of Company I. He maintained his position, holding off the Germans until the rest of the shattered force had set up a new line along a firebreak. Then, unaided, he moved his machinegun and ammunition to the second position. At the approach of a Royal Tiger tank, he held his fire until about 80 enemy infantrymen supporting the tank appeared at a distance of about 150 yards. His first burst killed or wounded about half of these infantrymen. His position was rocked by an 88mm shell when the tank opened fire, but he continued to man his gun, pouring deadly fire into the Germans when they again advanced. He was barely missed by another shell. Fire from three machineguns and innumerable small arms struck all about him; an enemy rocket shook him badly, but did not drive him from his gun. Infiltration by the enemy had by this time made the position untenable, and the order was given to withdraw. Pvt. Cowan was the last man to leave, voluntarily covering the withdrawal of his remaining comrades. His heroic actions were entirely responsible for allowing the remaining men to retire successfully from the scene of their last-ditch stand.

CURREY, FRANCIS S.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company K, 120th Infantry, 30th Infantry Division. Place and date: Malmedy, Belgium, 21 December 1944. Entered service at: Hurleyville, N.Y. Birth: Loch Sheldrake, N.Y. G.O. No.: 69, 17 August 1945. Citation: He was an automatic rifleman with the 3d Platoon defending a strong point near Malmedy, Belgium, on 21 December 1944, when the enemy launched a powerful attack. Overrunning tank destroyers and antitank guns located near the strong point, German tanks advanced to the 3d Platoon's position, and, after prolonged fighting, forced the withdrawal of this group to a nearby factory. Sgt. Currey found a bazooka in the building and crossed the street to secure rockets meanwhile enduring intense fire from enemy tanks and hostile infantrymen who had taken up a position at a house a short distance away. In the face of small-arms, machinegun, and artillery fire, he, with a companion, knocked out a tank with 1 shot. Moving to another position, he observed 3 Germans in the doorway of an enemy-held house. He killed or wounded all 3 with his automatic rifle. He emerged from cover and advanced alone to within 50 yards of the house, intent on wrecking it with rockets. Covered by friendly fire, he stood erect, and fired a shot which knocked down half of 1 wall. While in this forward position, he observed 5 Americans who had been pinned down for hours by fire from the house and 3 tanks. Realizing that they could not escape until the enemy tank and infantry guns had been silenced, Sgt. Currey crossed the street to a vehicle, where he procured an armful of antitank grenades. These he launched while under heavy enemy fire, driving the tankmen from the vehicles into the house. He then climbed onto a half-track in full view of the Germans and fired a machinegun at the house. Once again changing his position, he manned another machinegun whose crew had been killed; under his covering fire the 5 soldiers were able to retire to safety. Deprived of tanks and with heavy infantry casualties, the enemy was forced to withdraw. Through his extensive es, for the tank continued to withdraw, leaving open the path for the gallant squad leader's platoon.

GAMMON, ARCHER T.
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company A, 9th Armored Infantry Battalion,6th Armored Division.
Place and date: Near Bastogne, Belgium, 11 January 1945. Entered service at: Roanoke, Va. Born: 11 September 1918, Chatham, Va. G.O. No.: 18, 13 February 1946.
Citation: He charged 30 yards through hip-deep snow to knock out a machinegun and its 3-man crew with grenades, saving his platoon from being decimated and allowing it to continue ist advance from an open field into some nearby woods. The platoon's advance through the woods had only begun when a machinegun supported by riflemen opened fire and a Tiger Royal tank sent 88mm. shells screaming at the unit from the left flank. S/Sgt. Gammon, disregarding all thoughts of personal safety, rushed forward, then cut to the left, crossing the width of the platoon's skirmish line in an attempt to get within grenade range of the tank and ist protecting foot troops. Intense fire was concentrated on him by riflemen and the machinegun emplaced near the tank. He charged the automatic weapon, wiped out its crew of 4 with grenades, and, with supreme daring, advanced to within 25 yards of the armored vehicle, killing 2 hostile infantrymen with rifle fire as he moved forward. The tank had started to withdraw, backing a short distance, then firing, backing some more, and then stopping to blast out another round, when the man whose single-handed relentless attack had put the ponderous machine on the defensive was struck and instantly killed by a direct hit from the Tiger Royal's heavy gun. By his intrepidity and extreme devotion to the task of driving the enemy back no matter what the odds, S/Sgt. Gammon cleared the woods of German forces, for the tank continued to withdraw, leaving open the path for the gallant squad leader's platoon.
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3.) West Georgia man receives WWII medals 53 years later

Story posted Sunday, 15-Feb-98 10:53:22 - Online Athens
Associated Press

ROOPVILLE - When James O. Smith left the Army 53 years ago after World War II, he didn't realize he'd forgotten a few things.
This week, they were given to him. Smith was awarded the Bronze star and other medals for his heroism. He got his medals with the help of a U.S. Veterans Administration counselor and U.S. Rep. Bob Barr's office. "I'm no hero. The only ones who were heroes were the ones who gave it all and didn't come home," Smith said at his Roopville home before receiving the awards, which also included the Combat Infantryman Bade. "There's a lot of them. They were the real heroes." Smith, now 76, was 21 when he was inducted into the Army on Dec. 18, 1942. He spent a year in England training for D-Day and waded ashore with the 2nd Infantry Division on Omaha Beach the day after the invasion began. "We were on the front lines for 71 consecutive days without relief. That set a record for the 2nd Division," Smith said. "We faced everything Hitler had to throw at us. They called the 2nd Division 'Second to None."' By the time the war in Europe ended, the division was slated to be sent home and begin training for an invasion of Japan. Smith and a handful of others left from the original division were transferred to the 75th Infantry Division and remained in Europe as part of the occupation force. The Japanese surrendered before his old unit could be sent to the Pacific theater. "Those boys who got on the ship to go home beat us back," Smith said. "When we did get back, we were in a new division and all, so we didn't have any idea what we had coming to us." Smith did not know about the medals the rest of the 2nd Division soldiers received for almost 50 years. A friend who transferred to the 75th with him went to a 2nd Division reunion and learned about it. It took four years for his friend to receive his medals. Smith got his in 18 months with the aid of VA counselor Hope Mincer, Catherine Brock, a Barr staff member, and Barr, R-Ga., himself. "It feels good," he said. "I never really knew I was due these medals, but they're mine. I earned them, and it does feel good."
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4.) Bulletin Board Reminder

Date: Mon, 06 Sep 1999 08:59:18 -0700
From: Brian Wolff <bwolff@gte.net>

Rolf G. Wilmink,
Just a reminder that you can see segements of your newletter posted at out 75th site.

http://www.div75.com:9000/~VETERAN

Brian Wolff
Principal Sales Consultant
Oracle
---------------------------------------
Dear Sir,

I just visited your site and I think its great ! It doubles the possiblities to find 75th Div vets in the internet. Would you be interested to recieve more photos to build up a veterans photo album ? I could send you a lot of them. I recieved a lot from Reg Perkins in the last days, but due to time problems, we cannot maintain new pages to handle all the photos. If we would link our pages together, it would not matter on which server the photos are, as long as the veterans (and searching familiy members) can jump back and forth.
Thanks for your help !

Greetings from Germany
Rolf G. Wilmink

P.S. Can you email me some photos from the reunion to publish it in the next newsline ?
(I really wish I could be there !)
---------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 07 Sep 1999 07:32:20 -0700
From: Brian Wolff <bwolff@gte.net>
Re: Bulletin Board Reminder

To post pictures to the site quickly.
Go to the link http://www.div75.com:9000/~VETERAN
The click on the + sign in front of photos.
In subject type in the title of the photo.
Click the checkbox for attach file.
and post.

Then another box will appear
Click on type photo.
Enter the name of the file and post.

I will continue to assist your organization in any way that I can.

Thank You
Major Wolff
75th Division Web Master

***************************************************************************

5.) Maps

Date: Mon, 06 Sep 1999 18:47:49 +0800
From: melee <melee@ms16.hinet.net>

Hello,
I have purchased Omaha Beachhead, StLo, Moscow to Stalingrad, Bastogne (1st 8 Days and some other books. I will be scanning the enclosed maps in the next few weeks. Would you like me to send you a copy of the scanned maps? The Center for Military History refuses to enclose maps with many of the battle studies that they put online (St Lo, Omaha, Bastogne and several others. I have written many letters, explaining why maps are useful, to no avail. I even offered to help with proofreading, since many of their online studies have whole paragraphs misplaced or incomplete--despite their excuse "short handed-so no time to add maps", they turned town my offer to help.
So, since they left me no choice but to buy the studies to get the maps that go with them, I will be putting them in many libraries, so they can be distributed. (Since the libraries either have the book or can borrow it from other libraries, no legal problem, and as long as I don't sell them, I think I am safe) :))

Lee Shackelford
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6.) Berkhofer, Robert William Pfc. Company F - 290th Infantry, 75 Inf. Div.

From: Red47tc@aol.com
Berkhofer, Robert William Pfc. 42187047 Rifleman Third Squad, Third Platoon, Company F - 290th Infantry, 75 Inf. Div.

Berkhofer was killed in action in Witten on April 13, 1945. Did anybody know him? Please reply to red47tc@aol.com if you have any information, photos etc. on him. Thanks.

Hi! It's me again. I tried to download the route of fighting map from the 75th Home Page and couldn't. I tried to print in and couldn't. I would be grateful if you could send me a copy (or tell me how to download it). If there is an expense I will cover it. Thanks in advance.

C. Stout
251 Burnside Place
Ridgewood, N.J. 07450

It's me again ref. Robert Berkhofer. On your fabulous web site you invite readers to order documents. If possible, could you please send me:
1) the After Action Reports for April, 1945;
2) from the 75th Infantry Division in Combat, the Battle for the Ruhr 31 Mar 1945 - 15 April 1945.

Fax them to Chris Stout at 212 278 7464     or
mail them to Chris Stout
            251 Burnside Place
            Ridgewood, N.J. 07450

If there is a cost to be covered please tell me ahead of time and I'll see if my budget allows for it.

Thanks very much!

I have been harassing you about Robert Berkhofer of the 75th and I am grateful for your indulgence. At the same time, I am also researching two others who died in the war: one was a turret gunner in a B 24 in 422nd A.A.F. and was shot down south of Cologne Jan. 1, 1945. The other was in the 406 Infantry 102 Div. "Ozark Division" and was killed 11/20/44 - near Aachen I think.

Please excuse the imposition but you seem to have knowledge of lots of stuff. Do you know where I can get information on these two outfits and maybe on the two soldiers?
Enjoy Houston!!!!!!!

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7.) Searching for "Buddies" of Resol B. Puckett

From: "jpuckbird" <jpuckbird@email.msn.com>
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1999 22:51:41 -0500

Rolf,

Hope all is well with you! I thought I'd take your advice and resubmit my search information once again.
I am searching for anyone who may have known my late father, Resol B. Puckett. Dad was a S/SGT in the 290th Regiment, 2nd Battalion, Company F until April 18 of 1945 when he was transferred and reduced in grade to Private in the 3rd Battalion, Company L. He was with the 75th Division during all of his service.
I am specifically searching for: Arnold Swanck (may be spelled "Swank"), Atchen, Chandler (David I believe), and Shelton. I believe that all of these men were in Company L of the 3rd Bn., except for Swanck who was in the 2nd Bn Co F.

If you knew my dad or if you know someone who may have known him, please contact me at
jpuckbird@email.msn.com
Please visit my Homepage at http://www.members.tripod.com/hldnoqtr/75thdivisiondad.html or
http://www.bigfoot.com/~jpuckbird for photos and more information. Thank you.

Thanks Rolf..... and keep up the good work!!!
Jay
---------------------------
Date: Sun, 5 Sep 1999 00:39:22 -0500
From: jpuckbird@email.msn.com

Hi again Rolf,

I have an addition to the list of men that I am looking for. His name is John Blackledge - Serial No.13127501. Blackledge was a T/SGT in the 290th, 2nd Bn, F Company. His name and my dad's (Resol B. Puckett) show up several times together in morning reports of the Company and I am wondering if this is more than coincidence. In particular, my dad and Blackledge were reduced to Privates at the same time. Anyone with information please contact me. Thanks Rolf...keep up the good work!!

Thanks,
Jay Puckett
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8.) Who knew Don (Donald William) Naar, 75th Div. 291st ?

From: Naarsac@aol.com
Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1999 21:47:35 EDT

Rolf,
I am trying to locate information relating the my father and uncle who served in WWII. I am looking for military records and am planning a visit to my uncle's final resting place in Luexombourg. Can you direct me to the appropriate resource?

1) My Father served in the 75th Div. 291st: Don (Donald William) Naar
2) My uncle was killed in the Battle of the Buldge and served in the 3rd Armor:
John Lindsay Rich

Any information would be appreciated.
Regards, John Lindsay Naar
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9.) HQ CO 1st BN 291st machine gun squad

From: Alsugal@aol.com
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1999 23:10:07 EDT
RE: Just checking

Anybody out there from HQ CO 1st BN 291st machine gun squad from Shreveport to Breckenridge to Sept '44?

Al Sugalski
ALSUGAL@AOL.com
-------------------------------------------

From: rmsmith1924@webtv.net (Robert M Smith)
Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1999 06:14:21 -0400 (EDT)
To: Alsugal@aol.com

Al, the attached should be the URL for the unoffical Home Page for the 75th Division Assn. It emanates from Plettenberg, Germany and is edited by Rolf Wilmink, a German historian interested in the 75th. The homepage should show the menu for the web site. Click on Newsline in the menu. This will take you to a directory of monthly Newsletters. Click on any one of them and scroll through it to get the scope of the subjects it covers. It will also give you instructions on how to subscribe to the letter.If you get "lost" get back to me and I will forward a recent Newsletter.

Best, Rob Smith
GREETINGS FROM ROB AT FLORIDA - U.S.A.
http://www.plettenberg.de/75th/index.htm
***************************************************************************

10.) Reprint of article #4

From: "Dennis Cavallo" <dcav51@home.com>
Date: Mon, 6 Sep 1999 14:08:38 -0400

My father was in the 75th ,291 regiment 3rd battalion m company I would like to know where I can get a reprint of the booklet described in number 4 of your news letter . a pictorial of the 75th in combat thank you . my name is
Dennis Cavallo
36 Hamilton Drive
Berlin, Connecticut 06037
U.S.A.
My E mail address is dcav51@home.com
My fathers name is John Cavallo but he has no computer access.

---------------------------
From the moderator:

Dear Sir,

thank you very much for your message. The described book is very seldom, it sometimes can be found in antique military book stores. It was printed in 1946, the publishing company is not existing anymore. We had a contact to one of the man that worked in the book, but he could not help us to find the negatives or the photographer.

I have enclosed you in the subscription list for our email newsline and will publish your message there. Below, you find the latest issue of the newsline, on our website, you will find all the past issues.

Greetings from Germany
Rolf G. Wilmink
----------------------------------

From: "Dennis Cavallo" <dcav51@home.com>
RE: Copy from your archives
Date: Wed, 8 Sep 1999 00:21:38 -0400

I was wondering if there was some way of getting a copy of the forth item on your archives list. It said 75 th division in combat . This reprint given to the 75th division Veterans at their meeting in 1995. I would like to get it for my father John Cavallo , he was in the 75th 291 regiment M company Thank you.
Dennis Cavallo
---------------------
From the moderator:
TO: Dennis Cavallo <dcav51@home.com>
CC: "James E. Warmouth" <jwarmouth@oaktree.net>,
Forest Ratliff <Velotec@aol.com>
Re: Copy from your archives

Dear Dennis,

I have my copy here, but it should be possible to buy it from the veterans association. In the header, you find the email adress of James Warmouth, the secretary of the veterans association. He also sells caps, t-shirts, pins etc. with the 75th ID logo. (Or would a lifetime membership in the veterans association be a nice gift for your father ? )

Please get in contact with Mr. Warmouth, he is on the reunion in Texas this weekend but will be back (I think) after that.

Greetings from Germany
Rolf G. Wilmink

P.S.:
Maybe it would be interesting to make a webpage with the articles that the veterans association has to sell, and the orders go directly to the email adress of Mr. Warmouth.
-------------------------------------------------

From: Velotec@aol.com
Date:   Wed, 8 Sep 1999 13:48:46 EDT
RE:     Hand delivering your question
To:      dcav51@home.com
CC:     JWARMOUTH@oaktree.net, mkw-detective@t-online.de

Dear Dennis:

My name is Forest Ratliff. I am the son of Don, national treasurer of the 75th Infantry Vets. Assoc. I will be flying to Houston this Friday to attend the last two days of the reunion there. I will print out a copy of your email request, forwarded to my by Rolf, and hand deliver it to the secretary, Mr. Warmouth. He probably did not get the same forward from Rolf. I'm sure he's on the road by now. If you'd care to provide me with your snail mail address, and/or phone number, I'll pass them along to Mr. Warmouth as well. He seems to do much better with the old technology, only just recently buying a modern computer, and email address.
Dad and I will be driving back to Ohio, making several stops along the way. I will be off line from Friday Sep.10 thru Tuesday Sep. 21. But I will make every effort to hook you up.

Yours Truly,

Forest Ratliff
23701 Hartland rd.
Euclid, Ohio 44123-2439
(A.K.A. velotec@aol,com)
(216) 731-3829

Don Ratliff
Same address
(216) 731-3744

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11.) Pearl of a book on 75th and Other Divisions

From: "greg underwood" <gregcolmar@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1999 08:59:44 PDT

Dear Sirs, I found a pearl of a book on the 75th infantry division which probably you might be unaware of. My Dad fought with the 36th and I found this Story some time ago and it was excellent. The US Morale Services Division published it "GI Stories of ground, air, and service forces in European Theatre of Operations, Infantry Divisions. It has 1st, 2-3-4-28-29-35-36-45-70-75-78-80-84-87-89-94-95-97-99-100-104-and 106th divisions' stories. Call number is W109.202 IN3 US Doc in the government documents section of the Kansas City Library in K.C., Missouri. My father fought in the Colmar Pocket with the 36th division and the 75th fought there also with a good description along with the 28th, 3rd, 103rd, 63rd, 14th and 12th Armored right off the top of my head. This is an excellent series and there are Stories on Bombardment, Armored Divisions etc. It really allows you to focus on an area and see the big picture as all of the divisions were being switched around geographically. Have an extensive bibliography on books about the Colmar Pocket. If interested inquire at GregColmar@hotmail.com
Thanks, Greg Underwood

Dear Sirs, Found a great website on the 75th on altavista.com search engine. And found the 93d Evac Hospital website with Real MASH photos of WW2. This is the same hospital personnel known for the famous Patton slapping incident in Sicily, and the same hospital that served my father when hit by mortars at Selestat, France, in the Colmar Pocket! It can be viewed by looking at the 36th infantry division's website discussion area "forum," at the bottom of their homepage. These are excellent MASH photos.
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12.) 289th Infantry, 75th Infantry Division

Date: Thu, 12 Aug 1999 09:41:21 -0400
From: Dan Fisher <ziggy2@global2000.net>

Rolf,

The attached is not the best scan I have ever done. However, the story was published in the Glens Falls, New York, Post-Star newspaper on August 9, 1999. If you want a better scan of the photo, and the whole story, let me know.

Dan Fisher, Master Sergeant, US Army, Retired
Webmaster, "Bringing Us Together, Again"!
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29th Field Artillery Regiment Home Pages
http://members.tripod.com/~msg_fisher/index.html

Sir,
I just this moment re-scanned the article into 3 seperate files, which makes reading a little easier! They are attached.

Thanks you,
Dan Fisher, US Army, Retired

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13.) Veterans Bill Of Rights Firebase Pawtucket

From: "Edward_Trost" <egtro@email.msn.com>
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 08:03:41 -0400

The following is an Idea I have been working on with the undersigned. Roger Stradley is a active duty CSM in the Army. The rights on this bill are directed at the Veterans Benifits Administration and I realize many of you will not be happy because it does not contain everything Veterans Rights Now is seeking. This is ment to try to change the way claims are handled and Veterans Are treated.

Please look at it and comment. I wrote the drafts of each article and they are only drafts. I also have a congressmen interested in this idea. This congressmen is Patrick Kennedy who is a democrat and very liberal but one of the best I have seen on veterans as he as personnally gone to the RO on my behalf and demanded accountability of the Rhode Island RO on a host of Issues as well as the VAMC.
Between his name and his position he offers a great deal to this effort.

Thank you all for your time....firebasepawtucket
----- Original Message -----
From: Roger Stradley
Web site review

Good morning!
Please take a moment and check out the newest web site we created. while it is a bit involved, it addresses many of the grievances and issues that Veterans, retirees and their families face today. If you agree with the principal of the effort, I would ask you to sign the petition.
www.vbor.org
Please forward this to your friends. This is a "grass roots" effort.
Thanks,
Roger
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14.) SOMEBODY CARES ABOUT OUR G.I.'S
By Tammy Dominski

My husband called it Platoon Morale Day in a very serious tone. My friends and I, in secret, called it "The Joe Party" and giggled about it like schoolgirls, because we are never serious about anything for very long.

"Joe" is a nickname for soldiers. But tomorrow my friends won't be with me and I won't be laughing anymore.

Tomorrow, barring last minute call-outs, alerts, or conflicts of schedule, men from my husband's platoon will gather in my living room. I will shuffle around my kitchen amidst the smell of pizza and brownies and try desperately to look busy. And I will try to shut out the sounds coming from my living room, but I know I won't be able to. You see, they are gathering to watch the movie "Saving Private Ryan" and the giggling I did with my friends was only masking something I'm dreading: having to watch that movie again. I will never forget the night I sat in the darkened theater as that movie unfolded before my eyes for the first time. With tears streaking down my cheeks, I was shown quite graphically what my husband, an infantry soldier, did for a living. And I realized that there were men out there I had to thank for the ease in which I have lived my life.

I have never wanted for food or shelter or warmth. I don't know what it's like to lose my home simply because someone didn't like where I came from. I have the right to voice my opinion on whatever causes touch my heart. The only devastation that I have ever seen due to war has been on TV. And the last time a member of my family was touched by battle was when my great-great-grandfather died in the Civil War.

There are people out there who have risked their lives and died so that I can lead my cushioned life. I know I probably wouldn't be here today had it not been for those people, men who are no less than heroes in my eyes.
To me, a hero is anyone who is willing to sign away years of their life to a cause they believe in. Not all of us possess such fortitude. I have been told that I have courage because I speak out for the few things in my life that are important to me, but I cannot begin to fathom the bravery it would take to go off to war, knowing you might not come home.

The gallantry those men, as well as the ones gathered in my living room tomorrow, possess is beyond anything I can comprehend. Patriotism is in my heart. I cry when I hear taps played. I can't get through All-American Week without goose bumps. I get chills when I see a line of C-130s dot the sky, and one of my favorite songs is the 82nd Airborne Chorus's version of "God Bless the USA." So how does someone like me say thank you? Sometimes the words "thank you" are spoken too late.

People are taken from our lives before we get around to telling them how we feel. In a speech to Congress in 1790, George Washington said, "To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace." I don't like to think about war because I'm an idealist who hopes that the days of armed conflict will become obsolete during my lifetime. I don't wish for the men in my living room to go off to fight a war, but I know that they are prepared to do so.

The men who will be in my home tomorrow don't know how I feel because it's hard for me to articulate my feelings into spoken words. I don't even think my own husband knows how I truly feel. But I could try. I could tell them I appreciate the sacrifices they've made. I wonder if they know how much I look up to each and every one of them, and that I am truly honored to be in their presence, and in the presence of anyone who has ever served our country. I could just start by saying thank you before it's too late.

So tomorrow, should the "Joe Party" occur as scheduled, I'll try to watch the movie, maybe, even though I will no doubt see half of it through tears. When it's over I will gather the courage that comes from being in the company of heroes, in my eyes, and I will start by saying thank you to them. To those of you who will not be with me tomorrow, please, before the day is through, find someone who has served our country, past or present, and tell them thank you, from the bottom of your heart, for the job they did for us.

They deserve that at the very least.
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15.) Web site review

Reverse Phone Lookups
Two sites, AT&T Lab's AnyWho <http://www.anywho.com:81/telq.html>
and 555-1212.com <http://www.555-1212.com/whte_us.htm>, now provide reverse telephone lookup searches for US numbers on the Web. The AnyWho service is somewhat more powerful than 555-1212.com: not only is exact telephone number lookup available, but _inexact_ searches as well (you can search on telephone number substrings as prefix or suffix - e.g., all numbers of the form 510-644-xxxx). A typical telephone lookup on AnyWho will consist of the name and street address of the person/business owning the number, a link to a map of the address, and (in some cases) the ability to click on the street name and return a list of all names, addresses, and telephone numbers of other people living on the same street! Talk about "there goes the neighborhood..." ..privacy risks are obvious -- this system appears to be a real boon to prank callers, stalkers, and anyone with a Caller ID device or 1-800 number. In the latter case geographic data could be collected on every caller, and more advanced searches could
correlate this information with other data available on the Net about the caller.

Reverse Phone Number Look up...
http://www.anywho.com/
http://www.infospace.com/info.go555/redir_incoming.htm?pgtarg=ppli
http://www.theultimates.com/
http://www.4phonenumbers.com/

Reverse Lookup
http://www.reverse-lookup.com/findt.htm
Reverse Lookup hands you all the reverse phonebooks on the net all in one place. Great time saver!

United States Government Blue Pages
http://bp.fed.gov/
An online directory of Federal government phone numbers and addresses. Very extensive.

Freetips!
http://www.freetips.com/free.html
Freetips is a huge collection of people finder sources, links and tips as well as other amazing tools for internet searchers. You'll find this site quite useful!

AOL's International Phone Directory Links
http://www.aol.com/netfind/international.html
One of the best sites for international address/phone lookups.

Search Shark People Finder
http://www.search-shark.com/people-finders.html/
Another huge meta page for locating missing persons through the net. Really extensive for locating those searches and aids that are hard to find.

Vital Records Of The United States
http://vitalrec.com/
This is the best starting place to search for vital records in the United States.

The BigHub.com
http://www.thebighub.com/
This meta search engine gives you access to search the nine top search engines all at once.

Lawoffice.com
http://www.lawoffice.com
You will find a database with more than 400 legal topics you can search.

BRB's List Of Free Public Records Links
http://www.brbpub.com/pubrecsites.htm
A huge assortment of free public records searches you can run.

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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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