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Hello veterans and friends of the 75th Division !
Today, it is 10 years ago, that the wall through Germany fell down. I was on a night time security job in Germany and when I heard the news in my car radio in the morning, I could not believe my ears. At home, I stayed in front of the TV until I could believe it is true. I remembered a time few years ago, when we did a surveillance in a town near the border. We had a lot of free time in between, and so we drove to a visitors platform near the border to watch the east-german guards walk and drive by. With our surveillance telelenses, we made some nice photos of the guards. On one photo, I have a guard that made a „thumbs up“ sign to me beside his car, so his other comrades could not see it. I will never forget this man, but I also think that I will never have the chance to talk to him to find out what he felt at that moment and why he made that sign to me. Several years after 1989, I came back to that border to find a street going through. I picked up some nuts and bolts that holded the fence.
This day is also a day to say thank you to the american troops, that protected us before
the russians all the time after 1945. Without them, I maybe would not have a computer now,
to stay via email and internet in contact with the rest of the world.
Maybe I would send letters and would know, that in some authority buildung, someone would
read and censor them. Our contacts in this newsline would not be possible.
Thanks to all americans that made it possible that I can live in a free world. I will also send a poem as a foreword. I recieved this poem from many different sides and newslines. I wanted to save it for the december edition, but I feel that it should be forward to all of you now, so you can forward it until christmas. Not quite Christmas yet but it is appropriate for Veterans Day. It was around last year but does bear repeating. It´s worth it. |
'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE, IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE. I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE, AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE. I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE, NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE. NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND, ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS. WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS, A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND. FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY, I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY. THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE, CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME. THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER, NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER. WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ? CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED? I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT, OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT. SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY, AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY. THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR, BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE. I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE, ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME. THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE, I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY. THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE, "SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE; I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE, MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS." THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP, I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP. I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL. I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT, THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT. THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER, WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE, WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA, IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE." ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT. "MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT."
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This poem was written by a Marine stationed in Okinawa Japan. The following is his request. I think it is reasonable.....
PLEASE. Would you do me the kind favor of sending this to as many people as you can?
Christmas will be coming soon and some credit is due to our U.S. service men and women for
our being able to celebrate these festivities.
Let's try in this small way to pay a tiny bit of what we owe. Make people stop and think
of our heroes, living and dead, who sacrificed themselves for us. Please, do your small
part to plant this small seed.
*Keep five yards.
Rolf G. Wilmink +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
For your calendar: 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. 41 ( 17 October 1999 )
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1.) Feedback regarding our newsline No. 41 ( 17 October 1999):
From: "Jim West"
I read in your recent newsletter that someone mentioned my site for the 31st Infantry
Division. Unfortunately, they gave the wrong address. I was forced to move the site a
few weeks ago, due to problems with the XOOM provider. There is a notice on the old site,
referring them to the new location.
If you have the time and space, you might mention that the best place to find these
military sites of mine, is:
http://www.shelbynet.net/~usaf71stsos
that site's address will not change, and it is nothing more than a large index to all the
other sites, which include, Camp Atterbury, Freeman AAF, Bakalar AFB, Atterbury AAF, Fort
Oglethorpe, 6th US Cavalry, 28th ID, 30th ID, 31st ID, 38th ID, 71st SOS, 83rd ID and
106th ID. Plus General Atterbury, Camp Atterbury Prisoner of War Camp, and Wakeman
General Hospital.
Thanks and sorry for the confusion.
Jim West
Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 19:16:57 -0700
Dear Sam -
Your mother was right, Phil worked with our cryptographic (SIGABA) equipment. I have
enclosed (under separate cover) a reproduced copy of the message received in Plettenberg
early in the morning of May 8, 1945, announcing VE Day. Whether he was on duty at
that time or not, I do not know, but thought you would like to have it anyway.
Your Dad was very popular and had a terrific sense of humor. I do remember some of the
fellows calling him "Phillippe". After VE Day when duties relaxed, some men were allowed
to join the various recreational sports. As indicated on the enclosed sheet from the
Technical Historical Report, periods 1-31 July 1945, your Dad evidently enjoyed baseball.
I wish my research had uncovered more for you, but perhaps other veterans will hear of
your quest and will respond.
From: "Sam Mongeau"
Hi Rolf!
Thanks so much for your good work. I received Chuck Allred's response last night.
Thanks,
Sam Mongeau
From: "Jan Bos"
Gentlemen,
on behalf of the Historical Section of the National Liberation Museum 1944-1945 at
groesbeek, I would like to know when your book will be published, please advise
Jan Bos
2.) Reunion of the 75th in Houston, TX
From: "Larry Boyd"
Just wanted to thank all those members that came to the reunion in Houston. We had a
great time hosting you. It meant a lot to all of us that are current members of the 75th
to have you visit us. Our next newspaper will be coming out soon and I will send the
story to you through the BB.
Also the donations to museum/memorial are still coming in and I sure appreciate all the
items donated.
We will continue to keep the museum growing and any suggestions would be greatly
appreciated.
Thanks!
Several members have called me and requested I send them the speech I made at the Houston
Reunion. I thought I would send it to you for the newsline.
„It is an honor to be able to speak to you today. For those that don’t know me I’m Major
Larry Boyd. As you can see I’m fighting my own battle of the bulge. I am the public
affairs officer and the curator of the museum.
Yesterday was very special to me. I had so many of you come up to me and thank me for one
thing or another. Several people said, “thank you for what you have done for us”! At the
time I said, “ Noproblem, happy to do it. It’s the least we could do.”
Last night as I drove home I kept hearing that,” thank you for what you have done for us”
over and over in my head. I lay down and tried to go to sleep but I couldn’t because I
thought about what you had said.
I started thinking, “what we had done for you was Nothing compare to what you have done
for us!”
The more I thought about it the more I couldn’t get it out of my thoughts. Most of you
were just kids, barely out of high school when the country call on you. At a time when
most teenagers are trying to decide what they want to be in life, you were on your way to
war.
I’ve never met anyone in my life that wanted to be drafted or sent away from their home to
a strange land where people are trying to kill you. Nor did the ladies who remain behind
want to see their love ones sent overseas not knowing whether they would ever see them
again.
You may have not wanted to go to War but you did.
Tom Brokaw was right. You are the greatest generation! If it wasn’t for you we might all
be speaking a different language and saluting a flag with a swastika or Rising Sun on it.
You went and fought in terrible conditions. You fought in extreme cold without proper
clothing to keep you warm. You were away from your loved ones for a long period of time.
Many of you were injured, many of you bled and far to many of you died.
Your courage, dedication, and sacrifices made our freedoms today possible. We live in the
land of the free. We are able to choose our churches and worship in our on ways. We are
able to live where we want and work in the occupation we chose. You defended our freedoms
and preserved our way of life.
You have showed us how, you have led the way, and you have opened the door. We are so
proud of your accomplishments and we hope you are proud of us. When you say, “Thanks to
us?” No. You paid the bill. We can never repay the debt that we owe. We are honored that
you shared this weekend with us.
It is our promise to you that we will continue to carry the flag and fight for to freedoms
that you fought bled and died for. We will never let you down.
May God bless you, may God bless America and May God bless the 75th Division“.
3.) List of 75th Division Members from PA
The list appears somewhat disorganized. I have been a member for many years and my name
does not appear. I did see my street address. I was a Lieutenant in G Company 291st
Infantry Regiment. My name and address is:
++ From the moderator:++
Dear Sir,
first let me thank you for your message above.
Our webmaster once started with the task to sort the members by state. We began with PA,
because we were searching for veterans from there. It is possible, that he made some
mistakes there and we are sorry for that. We are thinking to take off this page from our
website to avoid problems with the veterans association. (Our webmaster has put it there
without informing me.) He thought that it could be interesting for people, that are
searching for informations of the 75th, to check lists of members to find their old
buddies. The correct way would be that he first becomes a member of the veterans
association and then buys a roster from the secretary.
If you take a look on our page "flagsearch info" you will find some items that we are
looking for. One of the items, the old mayors ceremonial chain, is now in the possession
of a military items dealer in Media, PA, that is not explaining to us from where he has it
and is not willing to sell it back to us. As we heard, he also knows where the flags are
that we are looking for. One of the flags, the 1843 "Queen Elisabeth flag" had nothing to
do with the Nazis but is of great value for our city history. We hoped that maybe some
veterans from PA could provide us with more informations.
Thanks again for your request, I will also enclose you in our subscription list for our
free 75th Div email newsline. You can read past issues on our website.
Greetings from Germany
4.) In Need of help
Dear Sir,
We were wondering if you could Fax us a copy of the holdings at the National Archives?
++ From the Moderator:++
thank you for your message above. I can fax the list (an index) to you, but I have to warn
you:
A proposal:
Our newsline also goes to members of the actual 75th Division (Exercise) in Houston, TX,
were the museum of the 75th Div. is. They also have a lot of material.
Another source are the members of the 75th Div veterans association, which also recieve
our newsline. They also have a historian (George Tachuk) who bill be able to answer your
questions.
I hope I could help you with these first informations and remain
very sincerely yours
5.) 75 th members list
DUTCH1935@aol.com wrote:
i would like to know how to get a copy of the list of members of the 75 , my father is
a veteran of the 75 th and would like to locate friends from the war
++ From the moderator:++
if your father is a member of the 75th Div veterans association, he can buy a roster from
their secretary. (I believe it is about 5 $).
Please email me your and your fathers name and exact unit, so I can include you in our
free email newsline. You will find all informations there. If you send it to me directly,
you will recieve the next newsline, that we are preparing at the moment, tomorrow.
Date: Sun, 24 Oct 1999 18:26:14 +0200
Dear Sir,
did you recieve my last email regarding your and your fathers name and unit ?
Greetings from Germany
6.) 75TH. DIVISION. Regarding the command post in
From: BudMarlyn@webtv.net (Bud Harding)
Nov.1944, the town of Tenby and the region Pembrookshire is in S, Wales Great Britain
(U.K.) and not England as it is referred to. Just thought you would like to know. I was
born in Wales and my sister married a young soldier who was in the 75th inf. My sister has
passed away but her husband Harold Baker is still very much alive. Good luck on your
ongoing search.
++ From the moderator:++
Dear Mrs. Harding,
thank you very much for your email above. I will contact my webmaster, who maintains our
pages, to correct it.
I will also include you in our free 75th Div email newsline, that has about 200 members
already. Most of them are 75th Div veterans that can get in contact with their buddies
from war via the newsline. If Mr. Baker wants to find some old friends, he can send me
some infos (unit, places that he has been, names that he remembers etc.) and I will
publish it in the next newsline.
Greetings from Germany
7.) Who knew L.C.G. "Tennessee" Cooper ?
From: "Patricia C. Gregory"
My father fought with the U.S. 75th during world war II and would like to be reunited
with others who were there. He was at the Battle of The Bulge, etc as a cook. It was
nicknamed the Diaper Division because the men were so young. He was at the Rhine, Ardanne,
Wales and France. Were you there?
++ From the moderator: ++
Dear Patricia,
I will publish it in our next 75th Div email newsline, so the about 200 readers will hear
from you and your dad. What is his name, do you know his unit ?
I was not there, I am a german historian trying to bring the veterans together over the
internet. Please send me more informations for the newsline, you can read past issues on
our website.
If your father wants to get in contact with other veterans of the 75th Div as you wrote:
There is a veterans association of the 75th Div, their president to contact is:
Geoffrey Parker (75th Recon)
They just had a reunion in Houston, TX, and they also bring out a printed newsline called
"The Bulgebusters". As a member, your father can buy a roster of the members of the
association from them.
I hope I could help you with these first informations and remain
very sincerly yours
From: "Patricia C. Gregory"
Thank you-Daddy is L.C.G. Cooper,age 76. Some of the men called him Tennessee.
He was a PFC and a cook. He now lives in North Carolina. ---------
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8.) Who knew Carey O. West ?
From: Lucylocket466@aol.com
my name is carey o. west.
onion57002aol.com
++ From the moderator:++
first let me thank for your email above.
On our website, we cannot list all veterans of the 75th Division, because there were so
much.
In a few days, I will send out the veterans day edition, and your letter will be included.
You can read past issues on our website.
As fas as I can see, you are already a member of the 75th Inf Div veterans association, so
I don´t have to tell you about the newsletter Bulgebuster Busters or the reunions.
Since you have been on our website, I would be interested to know if you like it or what
other informations you want to see there.
I hope, I could help you with the informations so far.
Greetings from Germany
9.) 75th Div/291st Vet Online
Rolf,
Although I forward all of your newslines to my father, please add him to your distribution
list.
Thanks. Enjoy receiving the newslines, keep up the great work!
10.) My Demo Tape
To all my family and friends, near and far:
Yours Truly,
11.) Final Roll Call
Did you hear the sad news today?
Another veteran warrior has passed away.
Called by the Supreme Commander over all.
Today he has made his final roll call.
Come fellow vets; let us reverently bow and pray
For our valiant comrade, who has fallen this day.
We’ll drape his casket with a banner of beautiful hues,
Those glorious American colors: red, white and blue.
That star spangled banner he gallantly fought to defend,
Unyielding and undaunted, he fought to win.
He fought bravely and he passed the battle test.
Now the Supreme Commander grants him, "eternal rest".
With dignity and honor, we’ll commit his body to the ground,
The bugler will sound "Taps" and we’ll fire the volley rounds.
The final military honors we’ll render somberly and ever so sadly;
"Old Glory" we’ll solemnly precisely fold and reverently give to his family.
Each Memorial Day we will recall our fallen comrade names,
And attest that their selfless sacrifices were not in vain;
For this lasting legacy they gave to all generations;
“It’s honorable to respect our flag and to defend our great nation.”
So close ranks aging warriors, for our ranks are thinning.
We must keep on fighting and keep on winning.
With pride and honor we’ll march and stand tall,
And we’ll proudly - proudly - salute "Old Glory"
‘til we too make our final roll call.
Carroll R. Michaud
Source: newsline of:
12.) WHAT IS A VET?
To My Dearest Heroes,
Please take time to read this... then pass it on to anyone you know is a veteran or a
veterans family... thank you...
WHAT IS A VET?
What is a vet? He is the cop on the beat who spent six months in Saudi Arabia sweating
Two gallons a day making sure the armored personnel carriers didn't run out Of fuel.
He is the barroom loudmouth, dumber than five wooden planks, whose overgrown frat-boy
behavior is outweighed a hundred times in the cosmic scales by Four hours of exquisite
bravery near the 38th parallel.
He is the Quantico drill instructor who has never seen combat - but has saved
countless lives by turning slouchy, no-account rednecks and gang members into Marines, and
teaching them to watch each other's backs.
He is the career quartermaster who watches the ribbons and medals pass him by.
He is the three anonymous heroes in The Tomb Of The Unknowns, whose presence at the
Arlington National Cemetery must forever preserve the memory of All the anonymous heroes
whose valor dies unrecognized with them on the battlefield or in the ocean's sunless deep.
He is the old guy bagging groceries at the supermarket - palsied now and aggravatingly
slow - who helped liberate a Nazi death camp and who wishes all day long that his wife
were still alive to hold him when the nightmares come.
Remember November 11th is Veterans Day! Two more little words that mean a lot, "WELCOME
HOME".
Stay in touch with Veteran Issues http://vnis.com Veterans News and Information Service
Get help when you need it. http://vets.com The Veterans Alliance Service Center
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13.) "FOR THOSE OPPRESSED"
SUMMARY: I've titled it with the Special Forces motto for obvious reasons. America doesn't
fight wars to exterminate a people or enslave a nation. Americans have answered the call
to help nations keep their freedoms. I am always drawn back to a remark that the CBS
Newsman Andy Rooney made about D-Day - "If you ever think the world is a rotten place, go
to the cemetery overlooking the beach at Normandy (Omaha Beach) and see what one group of
men did for another."
D-Day, 6 June 1944."***Bob McMahon***
US News & World Report, 4 Oct 99; Letters |