75th Division newsline No. 7
8. February 1998 - Hello veterans and friends of the 75th Division !
First, let me correct a fault from the last newsline (No.6): The date
was 28 January, not March ! (We try to be up to date, but not ahead of
time)
We again have some new members on the list. The highest rank (special
welcome) is General McDaniel, the commander of the 75th Division
(Exercise) ! Also we have:
Larry Wollenberg , he is a member of the 289th Regt. HQ.
LTC. Henry Osterman is the commander of the 1st BN of the 289th Regt.
75th Div.
SGM George Alger is the Sergeant Major of the 75th Division
Information Management Section. of the commanding generals special
staff.
With the help of a friend, we are also able now to bring you some
informations out of the magazine „Bulgebusters", the official newsletter
of the 75th Div Veterans Association. To become a member, please contact
the president of the Association:
Paul C. Stephan (I-289)
5281 Byview Rd.
Hamburg, NY 14075
USA
Phone: 1-716-649-4807
We have changed our homepage (www.mknet.de/75th) ! You will now see some
photos of the 75th veterans visiting Plettenberg, find infos about the
Reunion in Spokane, WA, and we have two new pages with informations
regarding films about the 75th, 86th and 99th and the area here from
1945, that we have discovered in the National Archives, Washington. If
you have more informations (especially footage taken by Donald E. Hunt,
167th Signal Photo Company, in Plettenberg) please contact us ! (Our
webmaster Horst Hassel told us, that the new pages will be put into the
internet today !)
With our last transmission, we found out, that we lost some members due
to changing of their email adress. If you have the new one of the
following persons, we would be glad if you could forward them to us:
Larry Wollenberg, 75th Div (Exercise)
Monty Phillips (non-hp-loveland.com)
Chris Gile, 79th Inf, from WI (cgile@mwci.net)
Edward G.J. Fischer, P.I. from Seattle, WA (egjf@nwrain.com)
Gene Reynolds, 5th Div (gener@vivid.net)
Lee Stocker (webmaster@pentagon-1dms2.army.mil)
Roger Dotson, 15th Inf (redotso@csranet.com)
List of contents:
1.) Feedback regarding newsline No. 6 (28 January 98)
2.) Request from new member from Appenwihr
3.) new member of 898th Field Artillery is online !
4.) new link to our site
5.) new member Ulf Heller online
6.) old 75th items for the museum
7.) video about the 75th Division !
8.) Who knew William R. Willis ?
9.) Who knew Joe Feeney ?
10.) Who knew PFC Leonard Bray ?
11.) Flag of the 75th
12.) Colmar Pocket
13.) Winter party in Plettenberg
Important to remember: 1998 Reunion of the 75th Division !!!
Time: 15 - 19 July 1998
Place: Spokane, WA, USA
(please see our homepage at www.mknet.de/75th for more informations !
*****************************************************
DON'T BE A LURKER.... GET INVOLVED... YOU ARE A MEMBER...
MAKE THE MOST OF IT
*****************************************************
1.) Some eMails as a response on our newsline No. 6:
From: PBran23727
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 1998 10:30:56 EST
Subject: 75th Div newsline No. 6 (Yes, we´re back !!)
Many thanks for your report & Greetings from veterans of the 104th
"Timberwolf" Infantry Division. See our Home Page at
http://members.aol.com/InfDiv104 104th Infantry Division Home Page
Your Web site is most interesting and very well constructed. I offer my
most
sincere congratulations and invite you to visit the Web site of the
veterans
of the US Army 104th Infantry Division.
Peter Branton
Webmaster
--------------------------------------------------------------
From: Rik Peirson
Date: Wed, 28 Jan 1998 08:27:55 -0800
Subject: Welcome Back!
Rolf --
I am glad you are back, and I have much to tell you, but that will be
later,
as I just got your mail, Newsletter, etc., but need to leave for my
work.
You are responsible for my meeting a man (now a retired Col.) who
knew my Father in the 75th before they both went overseas. In fact, he
knew BOTH my Father and my Mother! He is the only person I know
(beside a couple of people in our family) who knew my Father, so it was
a thrill to meet him, and now to know him! And I owe it all to you!
I will tell you the WHOLE story when I have a little time, as you should
know what your time and attention to the 75th has caused. I will always
be indebted to you, Rolf! More later!
Best regards --
-- Rik Peison
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From: The American War Library
Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 18:02:58 +0100
Subject: 898th Field Artillery Vet
Bernard Stofel wrote:
> I was a member of the 75th Division during the Battle of the Bulge.
>
> Bernard Stofel
> 1607 Highland Ave
> Columbia,Tennessee 38401
> (931) 388 1438
Dear Mr. Stofel,
thanks for your email above. We hope you will enjoy the informations,
that we have collected on our homepage. We have yet not very much about
898th FA and would be interested to recieve some infos that you have.
Maybe you have some list or something, that we can put on our webpage to
show to others. You will also recieve from now on our 75th
eMail-newsline, where veterans talk about their memories, search old
buddies etc. The service is free, its is our hobby to bring the veterans
together. By the way: There is the next Reunion coming up in Spokane,
WA, I will send you some infos !
Enclosed is the collection of newslines that we have sent out until now.
Greetings from Germany
Rolf G. Wilmink
75th Div WWII Vets Assn homepage
********************************************
4.) new link to our site
From: "James D. Bass Jr."
Date: Tue, 12 Aug 1997 19:17:40 -0500
Subject: Adding Your Site As A Link
Hi,
Just thought I would drop you a line to let you know I am adding your
site as link to my page:
Duane's Militaria Page: http://home.fuse.net/james_bass/
Peace,
Duane Bass
************************************************
5.) new member Ulf Heller online
From: "Ulf R. \"Ron\" Heller"
Date: Sat, 06 Sep 1997 09:53:02 -0500
subject: 75th Division Site
You have a wonderful site. It is extremely interesting that Germans are
hosting a site dedicated to an American Division. I am a former member
of the 75th Division (USAR). My father was in the Wehrmacht and
was killed in 1944.
A small suggestion on your homepage -- the proper usage is "Unofficial"
and not "Inofficial". (It is corrected by now; Rolf)
Keep up the good work.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Ulf R. "Ron" Heller Voice: (405) 843-4800
Attorney at Law FAX: (405) 843-8611
50 Penn Place, Suite 507-B E-Mail: uheller@ionet.net
Oklahoma City, OK 73118, USA C-Serve: 73251,1042
Home Page: http://www.ionet.net/~uheller/index.shtml
*********************************************
6.) old 75th items for the museum
From: Blaze7291@aol.com
Date: Wed, 17 Sep 1997 21:16:03 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: items about the 75
My name is Warren R Blazy, my father Warren R Blazy was in the 75th and
passed away almost two years ago. My mother found a box of all kinds of
thing about the 75th. He was proud to be a part of the 75th and always
talked about the war. He was a First Lieutenant and there is quit a bit
of paper work books and different official letters. I would love to keep
this box by I had hope hat there might be a better home for it. Is there
some type of collection or history of the 75th that I could give this to so
that other might enjoy what my father had been a part of.
Please E-Mail me and let me know. I live about 40 miles east of
Cleveland in Ohio. You can also reach me at 330-569-7486
Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from you.
Thank you, Wareen R Blazy.
(From the moderator: I cant find my original response right now, but Mr.
Blazy was forwarded to the museum of the 75th Division in Houston,
Texas. Would like to know from them if the items arrived well and if
they could be displayed)
*********************************************
7.) video about the 75th Division !!!!
From: Philip Bradley
Date: Tue, 30 Sep 1997 21:33:00 -0400 (EDT)
Betreff: video
Mr. Wilmink,
Would you please post this notice on any military websites,
including that of the 75th Infantry Division, and pass it on through
your e-mail list?
Thank you, Philip Bradley
VIDEOS OF '97 REUNION HISTORY PANELS
A number of Association members have been asking "Will we be able to buy
tapes of the History Program at August's Kansas City Reunion?"
The answer is "Yes!" A set of two videocassettes is being produced and
will be available for sale soon. The two videos will show all three
parts of the afternoon history programs. The speakers for the 289th, 290th
and 291st Regiments, and the 897th FA will describe in detail the desperate
early battlers of The Sadzot Gap, La Roumiere, and Grand Halleux.
Included in the box will be printed summaries used by the nine speakers
and Moderator.
Total cost will be $39.95, including shipping and handling. All
European formats are available at $55. Mail orders (Check, VISA or
Master Card) may be sent to: All-Video Services, 2950 East Main
Street, Columbus, Ohio 43209. Phone orders may (VISA or Master
Card) may be made at: 1-800-267-8106, Extension 3970.
These first-hand accounts are a wonderful legacy to leave your children
and grand-children, to help them understand how you spent Christmas 1944
in the winter wilds of Europe.
(From the moderator: I know, that I am late with the message, but all of
our lost emails had to be restored. Do you have a fax number of the
company to order ? We cannot call 800-numbers from here and I am very
interested in that film !)
*******************************************
8.) Who knew William R. Willis ?
From: "Douglas Hamilton"
Datum: Mon, 15 Dec 1997 13:40:34 -0500
dear sir,
my grandfather was killed in Germany on Sept 27, 1944. I am trying to
research if I can find any information about him. the only information I
have about him is his name and service # and that he was a private in
the army. if you could help me in any way it would be greatly
appreciated. maybe a battle that took place on that date or anything
like that. on the report it states he was killed in Germany 19 whatever
that is..His name was William R. Willis. I would appreciate any
suggestions on how to find moreinformation..
thank you...... Doug Hamilton
******************************************
From: Dan Shine
Datum: Wed, 17 Dec 1997 00:53:58 +0100
Trying to locate a friend of my father's from the 75th. His name is Joe
Feeney, he was Col. Smith's bodyguard in 1944-45. Can you help?
Dan Shine
--------------------------------
Dear Mr. Shine, try this adress:
Joe Feeny
9360 Ridgeway Ave.
Evanston, IL 60203
(was in G 289 HQ)
(Good that we have a roster here of the 75th Div Vets Assn.)
Please tell him greetings from us here. Hope your father and Joe Feeny
are both well and this will be a nice christmas surprise for
them. .
Greetings from Germany
-------------------
From: Dan Shine
My sincere thanks for your assistance. However, the Illinois address,
when checked had no phone listing for Mr. Feeny. Any chance of a
forwarding address on file? Dad mentioned Yucatan, Mexico. I
appreciate any further assistance you can give.
Merry Christmas!
Dan Shine
*******************************************
10.) Who knew PFC Leonard Bray ?
From: betjak@primary.net (John Bray)
Date: Mon, 22 Dec 1997 09:14:13 -0600
Subject: Battle of the Bulge
Dear Mr. Wilmink,
My brother, PFC Leonard Bray was in the 75th division, 290th Infantry,
Co.
A, and was killed on Dec. 24, 1944 on his first day in battle. I am
trying to reconstruct his final days. Is there any source which can
provide me with photographs, unit history, and info on the German
units they were fighting?
Jack Bray
2354 Marilyn Ln.
Festus, MO 63028
USA
-------------------------------------------
From: Stephen M. Graber"
Jack, perhaps the following web site may help.
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/7-8_23.htm
Good luck in your search,
Steve Graber
--------------------------------------------
From: Rik Peirson
Rolf --
You must be a very good detective.
Yes, I can help this man, as my Dad was in Co. "L" of the 290th of the
75th.
Sounds like his Brother & my Dad died on the same hill -- La
Roumiere,near Hoton & Soy in Belgium, just a day apart -- on Christmas
Eve and Christmas Day of '44.
Thanks entirely to you, Rolf, who first connected me to other 75th
people, I have received maps, combat diaries, and personal histories of
many of the men who were there, though mostly from L and M Companies,
and Jack Bray's Brother was apparently in Company A.
I'll get back to you later. But yes, I could be a source for some of
the background to the story of La Roumiere.
Best --
-- Rik Peirson
*********************************************
11.) flag of the 75th Div
From: Bill Burke"
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 1998 17:56:14 -0600
subject: 75th Div flag, photo of CO
General McDaniel, LTC Osterman, SGM Alger,
I rec'd the attached message from Mr. Rolf Wilmink of Plettenberg
Germany.
Rolf was very instrumental in our finding many of the veterans who
donated to the 75th Div. memorial. Rolf sent several contributions
himself. Plettenberg was the last command post for the 289th Regt.
as they pulled occupation duty after WWII.
Please assist Rolf in his quest for a 75th Division flag to fly in front
of his home in Germany and send a command photo of the CG.
Rolf's e-mail address is " mkw-detective@t-online.de"
Rolf also posts an internet web page dedicated to the 75th Division.
thank you for your assistance,
SGM Bill Burke, 90th Regional Support Command
bburke@ipa.net
-----Original Message-----
From: MK-Wirtschaftsdienst GmbH
To: Larry Wollenberg
Date: Monday, January 12, 1998 1:46 PM
Subject: 75th Div flag, photo of CO
Dear Sir,
could you give me an advice, where I could get a flag of the 75th for
our flagpole in front of the house (home of the 75th Div WWII Vets Assn
homepage) ?
How can I get an official photo of the Commanding Officer of the 75th
Div (Ex)
(maybe like the one that I have here from Major General Claude
Roberts)?
Greetings from Germany
Rolf G. Wilmink
75th Inf Div WWII Vets Assn homepage
********************************************
12.) Colmar pocket
From: greg underwood"
Date: Fri, 16 Jan 1998 09:16:03 PST
Subject: Colmar Pocket
Dear Sirs, My father fought in the Colmar Pocket and was injured
in Selestat, France, Dec. 17th, 1944. When I was a child I could only
read in "Great Crusade" about the pocket and could find no other
materials. I have researched this for 4 years and have come up with a
variety of information. Now I understand the fighting in the Vosges from
a strategical and tactical viewpoint. Maybe some of you have fought in
the pocket and would like to know more about it - especially children or
grandchildren. The following should be a good help in getting started
and I can help you with any questions. Eisenhowers Lieutenants,
Destination Berchtesgaden, When the Odds Were Even, Lost Batallions,
Riviera to the Rhine, History of the French First Army, The Complete
War Memoirs of Charles Degaulle, Histories of the 103rd infantry
divisiion, 36th, 3rd and 28th. Either the 63rd or 65th divisional
histories, - I'm not sure on those, To Hell and Back, etc. Of course
there's a lot more involved. For the beginner Destination to
Berchtesgaden is good, DeGaulles book is probably for the intermediate,
and History of the French First Army is great for someone who really
understands the makeup of companies on up and tactics. Hope this has
helped you and please contact me at GregColmar@hotmail.com if you want
any further information general or specific. Sincerely, Greg Underwood
********************************************
14.) Winterball in Plettenberg
(Note) The winterball was a party of the traditional rifle association
of Plettenberg, Westphalia, Germany. To honour our guests of the 75th
Div, the complete hall was decorated with the stars and stripes !)
Dear american friends,
it is around 11 AM on sunday morning.
We were last night on the big "Winterball" (winter gala dance) of the
Plettenberger Schützengesellschaft.
The throne of the year has the duty, to decorate the "Schützenhalle" for
that party.
How this will be, is kept secret to the rest of the other members.
I cannot describe you my astonishment, when we entered the hall:
It was completely decorated with american flags in all sizes, papers in
red, white and blue and a huge plastic version of the statue of liberty,
standing on the stage, surrounded by blue, red and white balloons. To
the right side was a big screen, on which photos from USA where shown
with a projector.
You wouldn't believe it ! It looked fantastic, you would have thought
you would be home !
I talked to the "King", Mr. Stederoth, and he said it was to honour our
american friends and the connection we have to them . He will send
photos, and I have everything on video.
I am expecting some historic footage about the 75th and Hemer. As soon
as I have that, I will put it on a tape together with the party footage
and send it to Mr. Karr for transforming and copying.
Greetings from Germany, also from Anke and Doreen
Rolf G. Wilmink
------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Audri & Chuck Allred
Datum: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 20:36:54 -0800
Subject: Winter Party
Dear Rolf - We are thrilled to have you share with us the surprise of
the Winterball decorations in an American theme! It is a testimony to
you of the dedication you have given to promoting good feelings with the
U.S.A. through helping members of the 75th Division. And - your making
it possible for the Karrs, the Mistlers and us to receive the warm
hospitality from the citizens of city of Plettenberg in June 1997. For
us it is an experience that continues to foster good feelings between
our countries. Friends & strangers alike have warmed to the stories in
the newspapers and our Christmas letter.
On Feb 17 we have been invited to present a program at our United
Methodist Church on our visit to Plettenberg. If there are video-tapes
or pictures that would be available by that time they would be
helpful.We would be happy to cover any expense.
Please remember us to your President Mr. Stederoth, whom we recall
well,and give him our grateful thanks for his club's salute!
Our greetings to Horst and Bill, too! And to Anke and Doreen!
With our warmest wishes, Chuck & Audri Allred
**********************************************
In the next newsline...............
Informations out of the magazine "Bulgebusters":
Where to obtain military files
Souvenirs of the 75th for sale
Taps
And your feedback to this newsline !!!!
Greetings from Germany
Rolf G. Wilmink
75th Inf Div WWII Veterans Assosiation Unofficial homepage
www.mknet.de/75th