Hello veterans and friends of the 75th Division !
In the last issue, we had the poem of the veteran at christmas. Another touching poem is the one below: The Doll and a White Rose. (Three tissue warning). Please pass it on !
We had problems with the following email adresses. We had to take them off the subscrition list, our newsline was bouncing back to us. Please send us the new adress if you know the owner.
Chester McKenzie, 291 M Co.
<saramck@apex.net>:
Sorry, no mailbox here by that name. (#5.1.1)
O.B. Skidmore
This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.
<obskidmore@seacove.net>:
Sorry, no mailbox here by that name. (#5.1.1)
George Alger
The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
algerg@freewwweb.com>... Service unavailable
Kjell Olsson, Sweden
The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
<kjol7338@hem.passagen.se>
*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:
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. 42 ( 9 Nov 1999 )
2.) MEDAL OF HONOR MEMORIAL DEDICATION
3.) Who knew Louis F. Penque, 289th ?
4.) H.B. Milhorn and wife killed in traffic accident
5.) WW-II message board
6.) AN IMPORTANT NEW MISSION FOR VETERANS
7.) Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Times Review of *Price of Honor*
8.) 'YOU ASKED THIS MAN TO DIE'
9.) The Doll and a White Rose
10.) Sicily 1943 - 1999
11.) 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
**********************************************************************************
(actual count: 197 members online worldwide
!)
1.) Feedback regarding our newsline No. 42 ( 9 Nov 1999):
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 08:09:01 -0500
From: n_y_aviation@earthlink.net
Re: 75th Inf Div newsline no.42 (9 Nov 99)
Very nice Newsletter
Happy Veterans Day to You and Yours
Best regards always
Jack
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Tim Roop" <doggreen@beachin.net>
Re: 75th Inf Div newsline no.42 (9 Nov 99)
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 14:11:40 -0500
Rolf,
Again, I "must commend you on a great job". Your site is excellent!
I read every post. Was sad to here the news of Mr. Larsen. "Glad to here
that he finally got his medal after 49 years, but sorry to hear of his
death.
My uncle Harry never go his world war 2 Victory Medal or his American
Campaign Medal. I continued to generate paperwork until he "finally" recieved
the medals , some 50 years after his discharge of July 1945. He was a member
of the 110th Field Artillery, 29th Infantry Division as was his brother,
David, along with brother-in-law Pfc. John Boose. The 3 were very lucky
to survive Omaha Beach, St. Lo thru the end of the european campaign. Tech.
Sgt. Harry and Cpl. David Green returned with John, all around the same
time. Don't know if the other 2 got their medals? David died 8 years ago,
and Harry and John are still "running strong".
Had I not gone to many collector shows with uncle Harry's map of Omaha
Beach. I would "not know" that he was missing ribbons! Someone at a show
noticed that "i didn't have all of them displayed". However, I took them
from his original medals from his jacket! I had to check his paperwork
and found that he had been discharged before the war ended! He didn't seem
to care "50" years +. I told him that "he earned them and should have them".
And I did all the paperwork and he just had to sign his name. Well, the
day they arrived, "he was very,very proud". Not only did they send his
2 missing medals. They sent all the others that he earned! And on the back
of his "Bronze Star", they engraved his name! Something that they didn't
have time to do during the war! I have taken his maps to shows "world-wide".
Just last weekend, I was at a very big show in Pomona, California. I as
of yesterday have listed the D-Day Maps on EBAY and AMAZON.COM. My
site is still listed at:
www.ww2dday.com You can see photo's of my uncles and many others
there.
Thanks again,
Tim Roop
former 82nd Airborne
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: BudMarlyn@webtv.net (Bud Harding)
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 11:00:28 -0500 (EST)
Re: 75th Inf Div newsline no.42 (9 Nov 99)
Thank you for your newsline. In about two weeks I will be disconnecting
my computer . we travel during the winter months and will not be able to
use it, but, I am giving yo my two nieces e-mail addresses----danajacquie88@webtv.net
and my other niece ---tpklopsy@webtv.net. The first adress I gave
you is my niece Jacquie who sent me the info. in the first place, she lives
in California and is only a couple of miles from her Dad-Harold Baker who
was in the 75th Div. Harold was married to my sister Joan , Harold
does not have a computer but he can be contacted through Jacque my niece.
The other e-mail address I gave you tpklopsy@webtv.net is my other niece
Pat. There were only two daughters and Pat lives in Michigan/where I live..
Hope everything goes well for you in your search , and by the way Harold
Baker was not the Major Baker you inquired about. Good Luck.
Sincerley Marlyn Harding
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Rik Peirson <rik@dayone.com>
RE: Veterans Day Wish
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 15:23:03 -0800 (PST)
Rolf --
Thank you for all you continue to do for the memory of our Fathers who served in the 75th! Thank you!
In Their Memory --
-- Rik Peirson
son of 1LT John Peirson
KIA 12/25/44 at La Roumiere
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Rik Peirson
Day One × Santa Barbara, CA × USA
Marketing, Advertising, Interactive Communications
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Henri Rogister" <henri.rogister@skynet.be>
Re: 75th Inf Div newsline no.42 (9 Nov 99)
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1999 16:45:26 +0100
Dear Sir,
Congratulation for the 75th Inf Div newsline n°42 (9 Nov 99)
Very interesting to receive it
Sincerely
Henri Rogister
E-mail address: henri.rogister@skynet.be
Website: http://users.skynet.be/bulgecriba
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Louise &Reg Perkins" <bodacious1@foothill.net>
RE: Chance Dannen
Date: Tue, 9 Nov 1999 15:36:48 -0800
Dear Rolf,
Regarding Chance Dannen address. I think I have given it enough time
for an answer. In September when you asked me if I had his address, I tried
the local operator in what I believed was his home from one of his
old e-mails. I asked the operator for the phone number in Oregon. The operator
would not give me his number (apparently it is unlisted) but she
gave his house address or at least it was a Dannen at the address.. I sent
a letter to the following address;
Mr. & Mrs. Dannen
49400 N>W> Hillside Road
Forest Grove, Oregon.
As of this date above, I have not received an answer and the letter
has not been returned.
Sorry, at least we tried..
Got most of the glitches and errors corrected in the computer looks
like its OK so now I will try again to start sending Pictures.
Haven't contacted the 75th Division in Houston regarding pictures but will try soon now it appears to be working OK.
Regards
Reg
++ Moderators note:++
Chance Dannen is a young man that contacted us via email, but the adress
is not working anymore. Reg Perkins discovered photos that he had with
a Dannen on them, maybe the uncle of Chance Dannen. He was looking for
photos. If anyone is around in the area, can you take a look to see if
he is still living there ? Thanks.
++ ++
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Velotec@aol.com
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 22:47:54 EST
Re: Demo Tape
To: jlamontia@earthlink.net
Dear Mr. Lamontia:
The tape in question is my solo Acoustic Guitar demo.
I am a part time amateur musician seeking venues here in the burbs of Cleveland,
Ohio in what I call my 'paying hobby.' It has nothing to do with the 75th.
I had sent out the notice to my entire mailing list, including Rolf Wilmink,
who publishes the newsline.
I read the newsline too, and chuckled. I had forgotten
it would go to Rolf automatically. In hindsight, I should have remembered.
He had published the online obituary for my Mother some months ago that
had also gone out to my entire mailing list.
If you enjoy eclectic acoustic guitar music, ranging
in style to Chet Atkins style finger picking, to light jazz, and traditional
old style country, with a little classical and neo light rock styles thrown
in, Or if you'd care to support this humble struggling musician, I'd be
happy to send you a copy via snail mail.
I am accepting five dollar donations for my 1/2
hour audio cassette tapes that are otherwise, not for sale. You can send
the check, and your snail mail address to ...
Forest Ratliff
23701 Hartland rd.
Euclid, Ohio 44123-2439
In any case, I thank you sir, for your interest. Note: a carbon copy of this reply is going out to Mr. Wilmink, and the newsline.
Yours Truly.
Forest Ratliff
(AKA velotec@aol.com)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Velotec@aol.com
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 1999 11:54:40 EST
RE: check out this site ...
Hi all, got this today, hit this link, I think you'll like it.
http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Port/5270/xrated.htm"
No christmas this year
Forest
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: AShap5565@aol.com
Date: Wed, 10 Nov 1999 19:32:55 EST
Re: 75th Inf Div newsline no.42 (9 Nov 99)
Change e-mail address to class1947@aol.com
Arthur E Shapiro
32962185
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Red47tc@aol.com
Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 22:07:46 EST
Re: 75th Inf Div newsline no.42 (9 Nov 99)
Hi again. In my research on others who died in the war, I have found various veterans associations and in many cases they have delegated "responsibility" for various companies to veterans who were in those companies. In the case of the 75th, is there such an organization chart? If so, can you tell me who the specialist on the Third Squad, Third Platoon, Company F, 290th Infantry is?
Thanks again for your help.
--------------------------------------
From: Jvcbvc@aol.com
Date: Wed, 24 Nov 1999 13:01:39 EST
RE: Co F Third Platoon 290 th.
Dear Rolf
I received your forward regarding the message from Red47tc@aol.com.
He asked if the 75th had a organization chart regarding the Third Squad,
Third Platoon, Company F, 290th Infantry.
To the best of my knowledge no such charts exist within the 75th Assoc.
I may be of some help as I communicate with several F-Co men at Christmas
time,(cards). I have sent cards and received cards from Jack Etherton who
was a S/Sgt in the Third Platoon and if my memory is correct he was
in the Third Squad. He attended the 1998 reunion but unfortunately I did
not, and he has not been at the few that I attended.
His home address is as follows;
Jack Etherton
952 West Fork Pinecreek Rd.
Pinehurst, ID. 83850
Good Luck!
Gerald Van Cleve
**********************************************************************************
2.) MEDAL OF HONOR MEMORIAL DEDICATION
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SUMMARY: This was sent to us by Thomas E. Ricks, Pentagon Reporter
for The Wall Street Journal and author of the best selling book MAKING
THE CORPS.
*******************************************
By Staff Sgt. Kathleen T. Rhem, USA
American Forces Press Service
RIVERSIDE, Calif.-About 85 of the 150 living Medal of Honor recipients attended the dedication Nov. 5 of the Medal of Honor Memorial at Riverside National Cemetery here. Ten widows of recipients also attended.
The memorial is the first publicly accessible site that lists the names of all 3,410 Medal of Honor recipients, said Michael Goldware, chairman of the Riverside National Cemetery Medal of Honor Memorial Committee. In an emotional moment, Defense Secretary William Cohen recognized the recipients during the dedication ceremony by asking them to stand.
"America is eternally indebted to the families of our servicemen who
stood-and continue to stand-behind each of these heroes," Cohen said in
prepared remarks. "It is never too late for us, individually and collectively,
to say, 'We recognize your loss. We respect your sacrifice.
We thank you.'
"I would like to invite this amazing array of Medal of Honor recipients here today to stand ... so that a grateful nation can honor their service and sacrifice," he said. "I would like their family members and the relatives of all the recipients, past and present, to also stand so that we may pay tribute to you."
Veterans Affairs Secretary Togo West and representatives of all the military services were also in attendance.
Goldware said the memorial was the brainchild of members of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, whose annual convention was held in Riverside Nov. 3-7. He said they recognized Riverside National Cemetery as an ideal place for the proposed memorial and planned the dedication to coincide with the convention.
He explained that, at 280 acres, Riverside National Cemetery is still only one-third developed. When fully developed, the cemetery will encompass 930 acres.
The open-air memorial consists of a plaza surrounded by the flags of all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, representing the homes of the Medal of Honor recipients. Italian Cypress trees, planted in "squads" of nine, encircle the plaza. Goldware said the $1.7 million required to build the memorial was raised solely through private and corporate donations.
The focal point of the memorial is a water sculpture, a wall of water created by a series of jets. The memorial's designers intended this centerpiece to be "a cool, quiet place for reflection."
The memorial will also feature an interactive computer kiosk. Visitors can use the kiosk to access the history of the medal, photos of recipients and individual citations, Goldware said.
"Among these walls, we hear more than the rousing echoes of the victorious, more than the tragic cries of the fallen. We hear the clear and distant trumpets of battles still to come, the summons to gather our courage and our resolve. And they bid us to preserve freedom in our time in order to honor those who made us free," Cohen said, concluding his remarks.
Interested individuals can see images of the memorial and get more information
by visiting the http://www.cmohmemorial.org website.
**********************************************************************************
3.) Who knew Louis F. Penque, 289th ?
From: ALPENQUE@aol.com
Date: 30. November 1999 20:29
RE: My Father
My father was part of the 75th division, 289th infantry division. He
received
the bronze star and is interested in getting any facts and news stories
about
his division. He would also like to be added to any news service you
may
have. His full name and address are as follows; Louis F. Penque, 365
Bellmore
Road, East Meadow, NY, 11554. Thank you, Anthony Penque at ALpenque@aol.com
------------------------
++ From the moderator:++
Dear Sir,
thank you for your message above. It will be posted in the next issue
of our email
newsline. with seperate mail, I send you the latest issue. You can
read all past issues on
our website. You (your email adress) are already included in our subscription
list.
If you want to add some more infos about your father, please send me
an email soon.
Greetings from Germany
Rolf G. Wilmink
**********************************************************************************
4.) H.B. Milhorn and wife killed in traffic accident
Date: Fri, 03 Dec 1999 22:58:39 -0500
From: Paul Tarrant <tarrantp@goldsword.com>
Dear Sir:
On December 15, 1999, H.B. "Blackie" Milhorn (PFC) and his wife (both from Tennessee) were killed in a automobile accident. I am sending this notice on behalf of their daughter. She became aware of her father belonging to the 75th only after going through his papers. She would like to hear from anyone who may remember him in the division. All she knows is that he had the CIB and a Bronze Star from action during the Bulge. If anyone should have more information about him, please feel free to notify me via email: tarrantp@goldsword.com.
my thanks,
paul tarrant
______________________________________________________
"All comments and opinions expressed in this message are the sole responsibility
of the individual named below, and cannot be attributed to any other
entity living or dead."
Paul M. Tarrant 109 Temple Rd.
(423)481-3905 Oak Ridge, TN 37830
USA
**********************************************************************************
5.) WW-II message board
From: "Jan Bos" <circle82@wishmail.net>
Date: Tue, 30 Nov 1999 17:11:37 +0100
Dear friends,
I have received the following E-mail address from Gerrie Franken, another
member of the Historical Section of the National Liberation Museum 1944-1945,
contact it and you see a kind of Message/Question Board about mostly World
War II items (looking for buddies/information, etc, I contacted it and
have posted several questions and already received several replies. I think
very good, if you have questions, post it, add your E-mail address and
hope that someone contacts you, give me a "cc" of the answer you get.
Here is the address http://wae.com/qmsgs.html
just click on it and you are connected.
I have sent this before to you and others, but many complaint that they could not open, so another try, best wishes
Jan Bos
Fw: WAE Research Questions Message Board
Date: Sat, 27 Nov 1999 22:07:15 +0100
Dear friends,
received this very interesting Research Questions Message Board information
from Gerrie Franken. Thought I should share this with you, so that you
can ask for any kind of questions, give me the results whenever you make
a question and get a result, give me a "cc"of the message
thanks
Jan Bos
-----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
Van: Gerrie Franken <gerriefranken.ww11@worldonline.nl>
Aan: Jan Bos <circle82@wishmail.net>
Datum: zaterdag 27 november 1999 11:41
Onderwerp: WAE Research Questions Message Board
Jan,
Dit is de Message Board waar ook vragen over de 82nd ABN Div enz gesteld
worden.
http://wae.com/qmsgs.html
Gerrie
**********************************************************************************
6.) "AN IMPORTANT NEW MISSION FOR VETERANS"
By David H. Hackworth
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in the year 1918, World War I finally came to an end. At the conclusion of that horrible blood bath, President Wilson declared it was the war that would "end all wars" and designated Nov. 11 as "Armistice Day."
After the Korean War, President Eisenhower changed
Armistice Day to Veterans' Day to honor American vets from all of our wars.
Unlike the vast majority of our presidents, Ike, having been a soldier,
knew about war.
He'd seen the results of two horror shows -- conflicts which together
killed almost half a million American warriors long after the day Wilson
declared war obsolete and ordered the immediate dismantling of our forces.
Ike had learned at West Point and on the field of strife that "only the dead have seen the last of war." He also learned as a soldier in 1940 and again 10 years later how pitifully prepared his army and his nation were to fight World War II and the Korean War.
Since 1914, tens of millions of humans have become war casualties in virtually every corner of what is euphemistically called the "civilized" world. And in the next century, we can only expect more of the same senseless killing.
At the end of the most blood-spattered century in history, war remains the only way our "advanced society" resolves conflict. Plato was right. War won't go away. And even the dumbest guy or gal in the class knows that the only way to stop war -- or at least reduce the number of historical dates of infamy such as Pearl Harbor -- is for our nation to be always prepared for war.
What worries me is that our politicians never learn
from the past. Since just after the War of Independence, they've always
made the same mistakes:
never being ready when the sucker punch is swung; then rushing to build
a costly and powerful winning military machine; and then after victory,
letting the cycle start again by allowing the Wilsons, Trumans, Bushes
and Clintons to destroy the mighty sword that cut up the bad guys without
any consideration for the next contenders already training for their shot
at the winner.
The only American group that really knows about war is our vets. But sadly, once most vets take off their uniforms, they stick their heads in the sand and allow the non-vet politicians to either dangerously shorten or, as in the case of Clinton over the past seven years, badly dull our military sword.
Vets certainly have the numbers to stop the politicians from this negligence and ensure that our forces are ready for war. By some estimates, there are more than 35 million living vets who've served or are now serving. Imagine if these vets banded together and demanded that we learn from the past. And that we arm and equip our soldiers and sailors with the best equipment available, ensure they're trained to a razor's edge before the battle, are only led by the finest warrior leaders and that the conflict in question is always a matter of national security.
Imagine if they as a group insisted our politicians explain why our forces today are stretched around the world doing Meals On Wheels and Salvation Army work instead of preparing to defend America and our interests. Imagine if they asked why our serving soldiers and sailors are required to take the Anthrax inoculation. Many of them believe it has dangerous side effects and that they're being used as guinea pigs the way their brothers and sisters were during Desert Storm. Imagine if 35 million vets took the time to write to their representatives in Washington demanding that the politicians volunteer to take the shots before they're given to the troops. Imagine if this potentially powerful lobby group that has "been there and done that the hard way" demanded that our armed forces be organized now for the wars of the 21st century rather than another crossing of the Delaware River under a latter-day George Washington.
Our vets have earned their right to sound off. They
have a potentially powerful voice, and they should learn to exercise it.
Then Veterans' Day would make a lot more sense and have a far greater impact.
**********************************************************************************
7.) Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Times Review of *Price of Honor*
From: SendMeHack@aol.com
Date: Mon, 29 Nov 1999 16:08:06 EST
To any of you who didn't see it elsewhere, here's the review of Hack's *The Price of Honor* that ran in the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Times.
Anyone who'd still like a copy for yourself ~ or to give as a gift ~
can get it at a good discount from Amazon <http://www.amazon.com>.
You can also offer your own book review there and at other online bookstores.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Air Force Times
Published: 11-22-99
Category: LIFELINES
Page: 28
'Hack' On A New Tack / Military Maverick Creates Alter Ego In First
Novel
By Mike Glenn
It only takes a few minutes thumbing through "The Price of Honor" to figure out that the author is Col. David Hackworth, the controversial retired Army officer and perpetual "burr under the saddle" of the Pentagon brass.
While he gained a devoted, if underground, following among many in uniform
with his searing autobiography, "About Face," Hackworth said he wrote his
first novel to communicate with a general public that has little to no
connection with today's military.
"I was preaching to the choir," Hackworth said in an Oct. 20 interview.
"But, if I went with fiction, I could increase my congregation and get
people to listen to some fresh ideas."
Special Forces Capt. Sandy Caine, the hero in Hackworth's novel, comes from a long line of soldiers but yet, in the author's words, "was no traditionalist. He broke things, rules, icons, not just gas masks."
Caine gets on the bad side of his martinet commander when he questions an order to stage the "snatch and grab" of a Somali warlord that could derail the American peacekeeping mission in that troubled region.
The raid begins to go haywire almost from the start, and Caine, his A-Team and an investigative reporter along for the ride barely manage to escape with their skins.
The Green Beret and the reporter, Abigail Mancini, meet again in Bosnia
during another dubious, politically charged mission. After the inevitable
romp in the sack -- which Hackworth describes in surprisingly lurid detail
-- she convinces Caine to reveal the dark secret that has been haunting
him for years: His father apparently died a coward's death in Vietnam.
Caine's obsession with clearing his family's name and the political
repercussions that follow provide the framework of this fine, action-packed
novel.
Hackworth expertly taps into his 25-year military career to load the
book with enough gunfire to satisfy even the most manic Soldier of Fortune
devotee.
He also manages to toss more than a few barbs at some of his favorite
targets: pork-barrel politicians, bloated defense contractors and "perfumed
princes," his term for military leaders more concerned with piling stars
on their shoulders than ensuring the safety of their troops.
Hackworth said he tried his hand at fiction writing after hearing that
some Washington insiders were touting fellow techno-thriller writer Tom
Clancy as a potential defense secretary. He realized that novels could
be more influential than nonfiction.
For a man who fought in Korea and Vietnam, and today is on the final
approach for 70, Hackworth is surprisingly fit.
As he chopped away at a breakfast apple with a lock knife, "Hack" needed
little prodding to opine on today's military and what he thinks it will
take to fix it.
"Behind any great republic, you've got to have people with a strong
sense of the warrior ethic," he said. "When you take that away, what you
have is a corporation."
**********************************************************************************
8.) 'YOU ASKED THIS MAN TO DIE'
SUMMARY: A "Letter to the Editor" from the 12 November issue of The
Wall Street Journal.
**********************************************
Yesterday, as we celebrated the last Veterans Day
in this century, I recalled the British version I attended several years
ago in Westminster Abbey, the only Christian church that contains a national
war memorial. I was seated in the nave close to the tomb of the British
Unknown Warrior buried in the floor. It is a black marble stone framed
by red poppies, and is the only grave no one ever walks over.
I'll never forget that ceremony. Both nave and choir
were full of people, many of them service men and women. After the psalm
and anthem, the readings and prayers, the celebrants moved in procession
down the nave, with three senior officers bringing up the rear, and halted
around the Unknown Warrior's grave. After the hymn ended and the dean said
a brief prayer, the choir sang the haunting Russian "Kontakion for the
Departed."
As the last note died away, Big Ben began to strike, in the distance
a gun was fired, and the abbey was enfolded in a profound silence.
The last post and reveille followed, and then for those with war-time memories came one of those moments that send a cold shiver down the spine and a tear to the eye. For standing beside the abbey choir were 90 young people of the Dresden Kreutzhcor. Both choirs sang "Blessed are the Dead" from Brahms' "Requiem." As they sang I was reminded of the saturation bombing of Dresden, with its meaningless destruction and the killing of 100,000 civilians. The young choir members must have been the grandchildren of those who suffered in Dresden, but they probably did not understand the significance of that moment: After the war, the German church leaders stated in the Stuttgart Declaration, "With great pain do we say that through us great suffering has been brought upon many peoples and many lands. We ask for forgiveness."
With the service over, as I filed out of the abbey and walked out past the grave of the Unknown Warrior, I could not help but think of Auden's lines:
To save your world, you asked this man to die:
Would this man, could he see you now, ask why?"
Harry R. Gasker
Alpine, Texas
**********************************************************************************
9.) The Doll and a White Rose
I hurried into the local department store to grab some last minute Christmas
gifts. I looked at all the people and grumbled to myself. I would be in
here forever and I just had so much to do. Christmas was beginning to become
such a drag. I kinda wished that I could just sleep through Christmas.
But I hurried the best I could through all the people to the toy department.
Once again I kind of mumbled to myself at the prices of all these toys.
And wondered if the grandkids would even play with them. I found myself
in the doll aisle. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a little boy,
about 5, holding a lovely doll. He kept touching her hair and he held her
so gently. I could not seem to help myself. I just kept looking over
at the little boy and wondered who the doll was for. I watched him
turn to a woman, and he called his aunt by name and said, "Are you sure
I don't have enough money?"
She replied a bit impatiently, "You know that you don't have enough
money for it." The aunt told the little boy not to go anywhere, that she
had to go get some other things and few minutes. And then she left the
aisle. The boy continued to hold the doll. After a bit I asked the
boy who the doll was for. He said, "It is the doll my sister wanted
so badly for Christmas. She just knew that Santa would bring it." I told
him that maybe Santa was going to bring it.
He said, "No, Santa can't go where my sister is... I have to give the
doll to my Mamma to take to her." I asked him where his sister was.
He looked at me with the saddest eyes and said, "She has gone to be with
Jesus."
"My Daddy says that Mama is going to have to go be with her." My heart
nearly stopped beating. Then the boy looked at me again and said, "I told
my Daddy to tell Mama not to go yet. I told him to tell her to wait till
I got back from the store."
Then he asked me if I wanted to see his picture. I told him I would
love to. He pulled out some pictures he had taken at the front of
the store. He said "I want my Mamma to take this with her so she don't
ever forget me." "I love my Mama so very much and I wish she did
not have to leave me." "But Daddy says she will need to be with my
sister."
I saw that the little boy had lowered his head and had grown so very
quiet.
While he was not looking, I reached into my purse and pulled out a
handful of bills. I asked the little boy, "Shall we count that
money one more time?"
He grew excited and said "Yes, I just know it has to be enough". So
I slipped my money in with his, and we began to count it. Of course it
was plenty for the doll.
He softly said, "Thank you, Jesus, for giving me enough money." Then
the boy said "I just asked Jesus to give me enough money to buy this doll,
so Mama can take it with her, to give to my sister." "And He heard
my prayer." "I wanted to ask Him for enough to buy my Mama a white
rose, but I didn't ask Him, but He gave me enough to buy the doll and a
rose for my Mama." "She loves white roses so very, very much."
In a few minutes the aunt came back, and I wheeled my cart away. I could not keep from thinking about the little boy as I finished my shopping in a totally different spirit than when I had started. And I kept remembering a story I had seen in the newspaper several days earlier, about a drunk driver hitting a car and killing a little girl and leaving the Mother in serious condition. The family was deciding on whether to remove the life support. Now surely this little boy did not belong with that story. Two days later, I read in the paper where the family had disconnected the life support and the young woman had died. I could not forget the little boy, and just kept wondering if the two were somehow connected. Later that day, I, could not help myself and I went out and bought some white roses and took them to the funeral home, where the young woman was. And there she was, holding a lovely white rose, the beautiful doll, and the picture of the little boy in the store.
I left there in tears, my life changed forever. The love that little boy had for his little sister and his mother was overwhelming. And in a split second a drunk driver had ripped the life of that little boy to pieces.
You now have the choice, you can:
1) pass this on to your friends
2) delete it and act like it didn't touch your heart
**********************************************************************************
10.) Sicily 1943 - 1999
From: "Jan Bos" <circle82@wishmail.net>
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1999 16:03:25 +0200
Dear friends, although the 75th never fougth in Sicily, thought you
might like to read it anyhow, best wishes from Nijmegen
Jan Bos
------------------
Just returned home from a 5-days trip to Sicily (Tuesday 19 October - Sunday 24 October 1999). I want to give you an account of what happened and I do hope you do not mind that my report will cover several pages. The reason why I wanted to see the southern area between Sampieri and Agrigento is the following:
I have been in touch with veterans of the 82nd Airborne Division, veterans
of various Troop Carrier Groups of the 50th and 52nd Troop Carrier Wings,
veterans of the 3rd and 45th Infantry Divisions and U.S. Navy. During my
more than 25 years of contact I did a research on the activities of the
376th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion [82nd Airborne Division] from
the moment of activation of the battalion in 1942 until the end of the
war on 8 May 1945. I gathered all kind of documentation, reports, stories,
pictures and I was allowed to copy the diary Russell Long (HQ Battery)
kept during the war. I was able to use his well written document and used
his story as a kind of "red threat" for the book.
The title of the book is Circle and the Fields of Little America. I
covered the invasion of the 376th and 504th/505th Regimental Combat Teams
during the invasion of southern Sicily - operation Husky I and II, 9 and
10 July 1943.
Just after the book was completed (took me almost nine [9] years of investigation and collecting/writing) I received more information and especially about the "friendly fire" disaster of 11 July 1943, that I would to have included in my book if I had that earlier. A total of 23 C-47s and C-53s [out of 144 planes sent] of the 61st, 313rd, 314th and 316th Troop Carrier groups were shot down by "friendly fire", coming from ships of the U.S. Navy, Merchant Marine and shore batteries of the 1st, 3rd and 45th Infantry Divisions. 47 other planes were so badly damaged that they could not be used again and had to be scrapped, other planes had minor damage. This tragedy caused the death of many paratroopers and aircrew members and wwas kept secret until early 1944. Sailors on board of several ships were wounded by falling shrapnel from the anti-aircraft batteries.
I wanted to know what had happened and why it happened. I wanted to collect all kind of documentation, stories, reports, pictures about this tragedy, I want to write another story for a possible book, but I also want to conserve history. I do not intend to point to a certain soldier or sailor, nor to a certain unit that started the fire !
The facts - 1943: The German and Italian forces were beaten in North Africa and the high brass agreed to invade the soft underbelly of Europe by attacking the island of Sicily, that could be used to attack Italy itself and try to bring the Italians on allied side. (which happened in September 1943).
D-Day for operation was set for 10 July 1943. A total of 226 C-47s and C-53s loaden with paratroopers of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, B Company 307th Airborne Engineers, 456th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, the 3rd Battalion 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment plus several miscellaneous units (like navy liasion teams) took off from fields in Tunisia for their flight to the dropzones in southern Sicily, the dropzones were located east of the village of Gela in the Gela plain. There was a strong western wind and the paratroopers were landings even many miles beyond the actual dropzone. As soon as the men landed they went to their targets, set up road blocks and attacked the enemy where ever they could.
A total of eight [8] planes were shot down by the Germans and Italians. Information as to the names of the crew, the Troop Carrier Group/Squadron, serialnumber of the plane and other information is listed below. The remains of the crews were first buried in temporary American cemeteries at Comiso airport, at Gela or at Licata and were later reburied at the American cemetery Paestum/Mount Soprano, before the men finally found their last resting place either in the Sicily-Rome cemetery at Nettuno [south of Rome] or they were repatriated and were buried in a cemetery in the United States.
9 July 1943 - operation Husky I
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Greene-Cryer Jr-Tonkery-Trapp 9/10 July 1943 all killed 314/32 --
42-23336 crashed into a hill - location not known
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Lesperance-Hannon-Hazlet-Murphy-O'Hara all killed - 313/29 -- 42-23646
crashed 5 miles NE Gela
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 Stiles-Ralph-Sahlfield-Iman survived - 314/50 -- 42-68761 crashed
in the Mediterranean Sea
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 Lichliter-Pawlowski-Thornburg-Leonard all killed - 316/44 -- 42-23492
crashed 3 miles inland near Vittoria H539-2295
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 Terry-Casey-Pientla-Porter Terry-Pientka killed 316/44 -- .. -…..
crashed 1/4 miles East of Gela (waterline)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 Stiles-Evans-Welsch-Rigard-Desnoyers survived - 314/.. -- 42-5687
crashed in the Mediterranean
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 Burlseson-Ennis-Kawalski-Richman survived - 313/48 -- ..-…..
crashed in the Mediterranean
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 crew unknown who might these men be ?? survived - Troop Carrier Group
unknown -- crashlocation unknown
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
During the battle against the enemy the paratroopers lost many men,
especially at Biazza Ridge and Ponte Dirillo (bridge across the Dirillo
river). The planes were flying back to their bases and the men were debriefed.
The planes were loaden for the follow-up missions, but this mission (operation
Husky II) was postponed by 24 hrs. Then word [codename "Mackall White,
wear pajamas tonight"] was received to fly the reinforcements (504th Parachute
Infantry (minus 3rd Battalion), the 376th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion,
C Company 307th Airborne Engineers over to the same dropzones. The mission
was considered to be a milkrun, but it turned out otherwise.
In the meantime the U.S. Navy and Merchant Marine delivered the 1st, 3rd and 45th Infantry Divisions and the 2nd Armored Division on the beaches on the beaches between Licata (Rangers and 3rd Inf), at Gela (1st Inf and 2nd Armd) and Scoglitti (45th Inf). Men climbed down from the transports in landingcrafts (LSTs and LCIs). What also happened during the early night was that the Germans noticed that there was an invasion going on. They sent reinforcements (tanks, armor and infantry) to the beaches to drive the infantry back into the sea. They, however, were stopped by the paratroopers and infantry, in some cases aided by fire from the ships. On some locations the men were almost driven into the sea, but they held. Then the German Luftwaffe [with their Ju-87 Stuka divebombers, the JU-88 twin engine bombers, and their ME-109 Messerschmitts fighters] and Italian airforce attacked the ships and strafed the beaches during the whole day. Again men died in these attacks, which came one after each other. Ships were hit and sunk, enemy planes were shot down.
Then, after some 15-10 minutes after the last German bomber, the first C-47 came over. Suddenly someone paniced and opened in, he probably though that the Germans attacked again. It all resulted that where ever the transports came over, they fired upon. A total of 144 took off from Tunisia. 23 were shot down. Several of the planes were shot down with their human load of paratroopers still on board, other planes crashed into the Mediterranean Sea or on the island. Many men were killed or wounded. Again underneath the names of the crew of the Troop Carrier Groups involved, also the serialnumber and where the planes crashed (see also 9 July 1943), but these planes were shot down by own troops! All crewmembers lost their lives, until otherwise noted. Many bodies were never recovered and the names of the men are inscribed on the Tablets of the Walls of Missing of the Sicily-Rome cemetery at Nettuno.
11 July 1943 - operation Husky II
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Rockwell-Lusi-Ferchen-Sanderson-Eccles 313/47 -- 42-23644 - Mediterranean
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Goode-Lubor-Mosbaugh-Radzo Jr 313/48 -- 41-18593 - Mediterranean
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 Medonis Jr-Henderson-Baughman-Avery - all survived 313/48 -- 42-5676
- Mediter.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 Shetterly-Flack-Danyluck-Mathie-Walters - 61/14 -- 42-5691 crashed
1/2 mile East of Costa / some12 miles SW Ragusa -- SEE BELOW FACTS 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 Halas-Moore-Triick-Yuhasz all survived 61/15 -- 42-32925 Mediterranean
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 Paccassi-Thele-Wallace-Spitak 61/15 -- 42-23340 - Mediterranean
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 Froom-Ennot-Singleton-Best 61/53 -- 42-32918 3 mi NE Modica/100 yds
Carubella
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 Nerone-Vasseur-Broaddus-Webb + full load of paratroopers of the 504th
Inf Regt
314/62 -- 42-68720 crashed into the Mediterranean - 6 miles S of Gela
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 Funk-Steeb-Allington-Mundy 314/61 -- 42-5689 - Mediterranean
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Gibson-Roush-Butler-Armstrong - all survived - 314/62 -- 42-68708
Mediterranean - South of Gela
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 Bomar-Sparks-Grey-… - all survived - 314/32 -- ..-..403
Mediterranean
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 Botkins-Uphouse-Delaney-Durden 316/45 -- 41-38624 Scoglitti - coastline/beach
- SEE FACTS 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13.Christen-Alley-Borsa-Cooke-Guerner + full load of artillerymen of
the 376th FA Bn 316/36 -- 41-18606 swamp Pantano D'Arcia NW St Croce
Camina - SEE FACTS 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 Millard-Porter-Benson-Schluchter-Shafer - 316/45 -- 42-23404 near
Vittoria (Shafer survived only to get killed at Wesel in March 1945)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15 Churchill-Mobley-Ratner-Flannigan-Singer - 316/36 -- 41-18522 crashed
at 444-005
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16 Hoye-Cope-Everson-Stellmon - all survived - 316/44 -- 42-32915 -
crashed near Biscari/Acate - SEE FACTS 1999
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17 Fahy-David-Anderer-Reffett-Vecchio- all survived - 316/44 -- ..-……
- Mediterrenean
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 McCullough-MacGregor-Morgan-Oulette-Onstine - 316/36 - 41-18511
- Mediterranean
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19 Jackson-Loffredo-Juno-Cull - 316/36 -- 41-38620 2 mi NW Gela near
beach/sea line
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 Harmon-Bourne-Mann-Jones - all survived - 316/36 -- 41-18536* -
crashsite unknown
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21 Dekker-Dobbins-Armstrong-Mayo-Morgan-Keerans-Jackson - 316/45 --
42-23506 -- probably exploded midair
Brigadier General Keerans Jr was Executive Officer 82nd Airborne Division - observer
Major Tracy Jackson was the gliderpilot for the 52nd Troop Carrier Wing
- observer
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22 Nelson-Howard-Grossman-Cowelchuck-Best + full load of artillerymen
of the 376th FA -
316/36 -- 41-18525 crashed 2 miles NNW of Scoglitti
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23 UNKNOWN CREW AND PLANE OF 316th TROOP CARRIER GROUP all survived
- who can help with information as to squadron,
names of crew, serialnumber of the plane
Facts 1999.
I received information that a group of veterans of the 82nd Airborne
Division (majority of the 505th) was going to make a trip to Sicily. I
wanted to go there too, to hear stories from the men who did the fighting
overthere in 1943. Also with the group were three veterans of the 316th
Troop Carrier Group with their wives: John Hoye, Ben Kendig and Lee Ross.
Both John and Ben flew the two Husky missions. John Hoye was shot down
by "friendly fire" and crashed with his plane between Biscari (renamed
into Acata in the 50s) and the mountainridge near the shoreline. (see above
# 16).
I left Nijmegen on Tuesday 19 October and flew to Catania where I rented
a car drove to my hotel between Ragusa and Marina di Ragusa on the coast.
I had been in touch with the owner of the hotel, informing me that he and
friends were investigating a crash of a bomber nearby his
hotel. I made copies of part of my documentation on his behalf. The
hotel was very good, and when I met the owner - Salvatore Mancini - he
told me about the twin engined plane that crashed in three fields prior
to the invasion of 10 July 1943. According to him it was an American bomber.
I asked him then of parts of the plane were recovered, how many machineguns/bombs
were recovered from the plane. Salvatore informed me that the plane was
not armed with machineguns, but it was a twinengined plane. I became more
curious and told him that I had documentation copied for him. I gave him
the package and when he opened it, I saw his eyes getting bigger and bigger,
we sat down and had a drink. The crash of the twinengined plane turned
out to be a crash of a C-47. The crash happened during the night of 11-12
July 1943. The plane was a C-47A of the 14th Sq, 61st Troop Carrier Group,
the crew were all killed in the crash, the names of the crew were: 1Lt
William H. Shetterly - 2Lt Robert A. Flack - 2Lt Franklin Danyluck - S/Sgt
Thomas Mathie and T/Sgt Ray C. Walters, the plane had the serialnumber
42-5691 and it crashed 1/2 mile east of Costa [the name of a farm on the
next ridge and some12 miles SW Ragusa [the field some 1,000 ft from the
hotel. The crew was killed in the crash, only Sgt Mathie was still alive,
he was badly burned and was taken to a nearby farm. One of the men who
dressed Mathie's wounds turned out to be Salvatore father. Unfortunately
Sgt Mathie died of his sustained wounds/burns later the day. Salvatore
Mancini told me that he had interviewed other eyewitnesses of the crash,
including his mother, whom I met the following day, unfortunately I did
not speak Italian, nor did she speak English. I asked Salvatore to write
the statements of all involved.
Salvatore and I went to the three fields and we found many pieces of
the plane. I took several pieces of alluminium and glass with me. A man
with a metal detector also came to the field and we found many more pieces
of the plane, including a large part of one of the engines, we also found
a .45 round! I have several parts of the plane at home. Salvatore and his
friends wants to erect a monument in the field to honor the men.
He asked me if I could find out if relatives could be found and if
the American Embassy was interested to be at the ceremony. I have to do
some homework for him. Salvatore also showed me a brown case of binoculars
he had found at the crashsite. Inside was the name of Sgt J.L. Huntington,
he was the former owner, since his name was scratched and a "new"name was
added: Sgt J.A. Farrell, G Company. Salvatore thought first that he was
a crewmember, but I told him that G Company was either from the 504th or
505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, so
you readers/members of the 82nd Airborne Division, check your records
and maybe you know the whereabouts on both men, they are not listed in
the book Roll of Honor 82nd Airborne Division 1944, published by the Historical
Section of the Liberation Museum 1944 at Groesbeek, Holland.
With my rented car I drove to the places I had marked on my map and wanted to see. I drove to the invasionbeaches of the 45th Infantry Division around Scoglitti, I drove to the beaches around Gela where the landcraft landed and where the 1st Inf and 2nd Armd went ashore and drove to Licata to walk on the beaches where the 3rd Infantry came ashore. I drove to Gela pier where bodies were found floating in the sea in July 1943, I went to Ponte Olivo airfield, or what was left of it (small portion of concrete runway and several pillboxes and shelters around the field, went to Vittoria, Biscari/Acate, Comiso and drove the 115 # Highway. Stopped at :Ponte Dirillo to visit the monument of the 505th Parachute Infantry Division. On the monument the names were ingraved of the men killed of the battle of the bridge and the Biazza Ridge. I found Lake Bivieri, the last checkpoint for the crews to turn inland and drop the paratroopers. Also met the 505th group at the Greek Temples at Agrigento. I spoke to several of the troopers and of course to Ben and John. Later during the night I drove back to my hotel.
Salvatore informed that he and his friends knew a location where a landingcraft was under the surface and also a location east of Scoglitti where a C-47 was some 150 ft under the surface. Scubba-divers already retrieved one of the props from the plane. Unfortunately the sea was to heavy for a small craft or dinghy. But Salvatore promised me that as soon as weather would permit and he and the divers have time, they will dive to make pictures of the plane and look for the numbers. The only plane that crashed in that area was a C-47, flown by 2Lt William D. Botkins, Flight Officer John R. Uphouse, Cpl James G. Delaney, T/Sgt Buford E. Durden from the 45th Sq, 316th Troop Carrier Group, serialnumber 41-38624. The plane crashed in the water, very close to the beach but the water took the plane into the sea. The entire crew was killed, although several bodies were never found (see # 12)
Together with Salvatore I went to a local bar and Salvatore talked to several locals and we went to the swamp Pantano D'Arcia at Sante Croce Camerina, where a C-47 crashed with a full load of the 376th Prcht FA Bn, all men were killed (see # 13), the swamp was almost dry and several greenhouses were built nearby.
The highlight of my whole stay was a ride in Salvatore's small aircraft. We took off from his private landingstrip (between the hotel and the crashsite) and we headed out in the direction of Malta, over the Mediterranean, but turned around to Sampieri, where the plane took the following route during the night of 11 July 1943 and we flew the exact course: over sea (93o M) to Sampieri [landfall], turn left 27o M for 27 minutes to Punta Secca, turn 295o M for 15 minutes to Lake Bivieri, from there 333o M for 7 minutes in the direction of the dropzone. According to he plans of July 1943, they planes had to turn left and fly out Sicily beyond Gela, but many planes turned right, including John Hoye's plane and he crashed between Biscari/Acate and the mountains. We flew over the fields, but could not find the exact location, since I did not have the coordinates, did take several pictures of the fields.
Then turned and made an approach to the runway of Ponte Olivo and made a suggested landing, of course this was impossible, since there was only some 50 ft of concrete runway. The farmers had devied the field for agriculture. Then we headed to Comiso and finally to the field where the crashsite was. We made the same approach as during that fatal night. I took many pictures while in flight. Unfortunately both Ben and John could not be with us to fly over the area, where they had flown 55 years ago. We have been flying almost 1 1/2 hrs over the area and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Sunday morning was time to say goodbye to Sicily and I returned home, I had a good feeling about my trip, I have seen the landingbeaches, where I walked in the surf, I saw the sea where the invasionfleet was, I saw the battlesites of the 82nd Airborne Division and saw several crashsites of the C-47s.
I was picked up at Schiphol airport by my eldest daughter Judith and her boyfriend and we drove home where Ans and my youngest daughter Linda were waiting for me. Told them about my trip and brought them several souvenirs. Turned in my film to-day and am looking for the pictures.
There is still a lot to do, to write, to gather. Always can use stories, reports and pictures of that period from the moment of leaving Tunisia until after the landings. I will try to gather information for Salvatore and he will do his best to get stories for me.
Jan Bos, Tuesday 26 October 1999
**********************************************************************************
11.) On the lighter side:
MILITARY DOWNSIZING
A SPECIAL PENTAGON REPORT
Alert Soldier
As a result of the reduction of money budgeted for department areas, we are forced to cut down on our number of personnel. Under this plan, Senior Staff Personnel will be asked to go on early retirement, thus permitting the retention of the junior enlisted and junior officer personnel who represent our future personnel at this military.
Therefore, a program to phase out older personnel by the end of the current fiscal year, via retirement, will be placed into effect immediately. This program will be known as SLAP (Sever Late Aged Personnel). Employees who are SLAPPED will be given the opportunity to look for jobs outside the company. Provided they are SLAPPED, they can request a review of their employment records before actual retirement takes place. This phase of the operation is called SCREW (Survey of Capabilities of Retired Early Workers).
All employees who have been SLAPPED or SCREWED may file an appeal with the upper management. This is called SHAFT (Study by Higher Authority Following Termination). Under the terms of the new policy, an employee may be SLAPPED once, SCREWED twice, but may be SHAFTED as many times as the company deems appropriate.
If an employee follows the above procedures, he/she will be entitled to get HERPES (Half Earnings for Retired Personnel's Early Severance) or CLAP (Combined Lump sum Assistance Payment) unless he/she already has AIDS (Additional Income From Dependents or Spouse). As HERPES or CLAP are considered benefit plans, any employee who has received HERPES or CLAP will no longer be SLAPPED or SCREWED by the company.
Management wishes to assure the younger employees who remain on board
that the company will continue its policy to train employees through our
Special High Intensity Training (SHIT). This company takes pride in the
amount of SHIT our employees receive. We have given our employees more
SHIT than any company in this area. If any employee feels they do not receive
enough SHIT on the job, see your immediate supervisor. YOUR SUPERVISOR
IS SPECIALLY TRAINED TO MAKE SURE YOU RECEIVE ALL THE SHIT YOU CAN STAND.
**********************************************************************************
A redneck thing............
MEMO FROM SANTA:
I regret to inform you that, effective immediately, I will no longer be able to serve Southern United States on Christmas Eve. Due to the overwhelming current population of the earth, my contract was renegotiated by North American Fairies and Elves. I now serve only certain areas of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. As part of the new and better contract I also get longer breaks for milk and cookies so keep that in mind. However, I'm certain that your children will be in good hands with your local replacement who happens to be my third cousin, Bubba Claus. His side of the family is from the South Pole. He shares my goal of delivering toys to all the good boys and girls; however, there are a few differences between us...
1. There is no danger of a Grinch stealing your presents from Bubba Claus. He has a gun rack on his sleigh and a bumper sticker that reads: These toys insured by Smith and Wesson.
2. Instead of milk and cookies, Bubba Claus prefers that children leave an RC cola and pork rinds (or a moon pie) on the fireplace. And Bubba doesn't smoke a pipe. He dips a little snuff though, so please have an empty spit can handy.
3. Bubba Claus' sleigh is pulled by floppy-eared, flyin'' coon dogs instead of reindeer. I made the mistake of loaning him a couple of my reindeer one time, and Blitzen's head now overlooks Bubba's fireplace.
4. You won't hear "On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen.." when Bubba Clause arrives. Instead, you'll hear, "On Earnhardt, on Wallace, On Martin and Labonte. On Rudd, on Jarrett, on Elliott and Petty."
5. Ho, ho, ho! has been replaced by Yee Haw! And you also are likely to hear Bubba's elves respond, "I hear'd dat!"
6. As required by Southern highway laws, Bubba Claus' sleigh does have a Yosemite Sam safety triangle on the back with the words "Back off" The last I heard it also had other decorations on the sleigh back as well. One is Ford or Chevy logo with lights that race through the letters.
7. The usual Christmas movie classics such as "Miracle on 34th Street" and "It's a Wonderful Life" will not be shown in your negotiated viewing area. Instead, you'll see "Boss Hogg Saves Christmas" and Smokey and the Bandit IV" featuring Burt Reynolds as Bubba Claus and dozens of state patrol cars crashing into each other.
8. Bubba Claus doesn't wear a belt. If I were you, I'd make sure you, the wife, and the kids turn the other way when he bends over to put presents under the tree.
9. Finally, the lovely Christmas songs that have been sung about me like " Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer" and "Santa Claus is coming to Town" will be changed. This year songs about Bubba Claus will be played on all the AM stations in the South. Those song titles will be Mark Chesnutt's "Bubba Clause shot the Jukebox" and "Grandma got run over by a Reindeer.
Sincerely yours,
Santa Claus
***************************************************************************
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Greetings from Germany
Rolf G. Wilmink
75th Inf Div WWII Veterans Association Unofficial homepage
www.mknet.de/75th
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