What better place to meet a BOBA colleague than at a Civil War Roundtable meeting? That’s what Bugle editor Leon Reed and Lehigh Vally chapter president Steve Savage just did. Leon was there to discuss his new book, Fort Sumter’s Long Shadow: Lincoln Calls for Troops, the North Creates an Army, and the Upper South Reconsiders Secession.
Despite occasional shortages, mostly due to transportation bottlenecks, the American GI in WWII was undoubtedly theist supportedlied soldier ever. And the British, Free French, Russian, and other Allied soldiers were just about as well supplied. BOBA’s editor will be describing how this happened, from the early days of rearmament tooth endif the war and beyond. Tonight at 6:30, Adams County Public Library.
How much we produced (an inconceivable amount) and how we did it. This was a real trip down memory lane. My turf as a Senate staffer was the Defense Production Act, the mobilization act for the Korean War. I spent about three years early in my consulting career studying this issue and even met with some of the whiz kids who managed the effort in World War II. A great story and a lot of information.
The Pennsylvania Military Museum is an attractive facility in Boalsburg, right around the corner from State College. There is a particular focus on the 28th Division.
Its collection includes good exhibits on WWII and its extensive grounds contain a number of monuments, including one Bulge monument erected by our predecessor, VBOB. Its regular programs include a 28th Division commemoration, in May, and a WWII weekend, usually held on Memorial Day.
BOBA is looking for ways to become more involved in this museum’s programs.
We hope our distribution issues are behind us and we’re now at work on the next issue of the Bugle. This next issue will contain a report on the January 2024 commemoration and Gettysburg conference; plans for what’s going to be a truly outstanding reunion in St. Charles, Missouri; news on the departures of some valued members and on the activities of some who are very much with us; chapter news; and an exciting new feature profiling our division members. And much more.
The deadline is March 10, but if I know you’re sending something, you can have a few more days. For those sending me material, please:
Reach me at boba.editor@gmail.com
The World War II American Experience museum produced a short video on the conference.
Best Western Hotel in Gettysburg has agreed to give people attending the Bulge conference a special room rate of $85 a night. The Best Western is a new hotel and very nice, right on Gettysburg’s glittering “Strip,” Steinwehr Ave.
As of Sunday, January 14, seven rooms were still available and the hotel will honor the rate as long as the rooms last. Guests should call the hotel at (717) 334-1188 and say “Battle of the Bulge conference”
or use the following URL:
https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-rooms.39139.html?groupId=7I4YL9V
The official conference will take place at the World War II American Experience, which is located a few miles northwest of town. A pre-conference activity is being planned at the hotel the night before. Stay tuned for more details.
LR/12.25
January 27, 2024. Extend your trip for the Commemoration. Come to Gettysburg for a power-packed speaker’s lineup. Single-day conference. Speakers include:
Stuart Dempsey, licensed battlefield guide and owner-operator of historic tours company., speaks on the106th Division.
Leon Reed, BOBA editor and author, gives a GI-level presentation on the 80th Division’s role in breaking the siege of Bastogne;
Jim Triesler, BOBA historian and Education Director of the Virginia War Memorial, speaks on the Victims of Malmedy;
Dan Vermilya, supervisory park ranger at Eisenhower Historic site, speaks on the WWII dead of Gettysburg National Cemetery.
Tom Vossler, licensed guide, former chief of military history, and Eisenhower Society trust, speaks on Ike and leadership
BOBA made an appearance at Army Expo 23 at the Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle, PA. The exhibitors were a who’s who of Army research, fellowship, and advocacy groups, including the US Military Academy, various divisional associations, the Sons of the American Revolution, the Center for Military History, Pennsylvania Military Museum, and many others.
Despite horrible weather, the event was extremely well attended. It provided an excellent chance to promote th upcoming commemoration and Gettysburg conference.
People attending the annual commemoration in the Nation’s Capitol will have the opportunity to extend their trip a little for more Bulge programming. BOBA is co-sponsoring what we hope is the First Annual Battle of the Bulge conference at the site of the US Army’s other greatest battle, Gettysburg, PA.
Gettysburg is only about 100 miles north of the Commemoration HQ hotel and we can work on transportation for people whose S-4 (logistics staff) didn’t arrange transportation. The conference will be held at the World War II American Experience museum on the outskirts of town on January 27.
Two key BOBA officials, historian Jim Triesler and editor Leon Reed, will be presenting at the conference, along with another BOBA member, Tom Vossler.
We hope to get best selling author Jeff Shaara to give a keynote address (and sign some books).
Other speakers and their topics:
Andrew Biggio, author of The Rifle and the brand-new The Rifle 2, will speak about GI experiences in the battle and upon their return many years later.
Stuart Dempsey, licensed Gettysburg guide and owner/operator of Battleground History Tours LLC, will talk about the underdog 106th division
Leon Reed, Bugle editor and by then the author or editor-publisher of three WWII memoirs, will speak about the role of the 80th division in stabilizing the southern flank of the Bulge and the liberation of Bastogne.(He gave an early version of this talk at the 2023 commemoration but it is far advanced since that time.)
Jim Triesler, who works as Education Director for the Virginia War Memorial when he’s not doing his more vital work for BOBA, will speak about 10 victims of the Malmedy Massacre.
Tom Vossler, licensed guide and retired chief of military history at Carlisle, will speak about Ike, SHAEF, coalition warfare, and the incredible leadership skills Ike summoned to keep the entire alliance (mostly) moving in the same direction.
We think this is a powerful lineup and BOBA is proud to be a co-sponsor.
On October 14-15, BOBA will once again take to backroads. This time we will wind up in Carlisle, PA, where we will exhibit at the Army Expo 23. This is a big show, complete with the Golden Knights, equipment displays, etc.
If you’re there, stop by and see our table.
Two members of our Delaware Valley chapter, Jake Ruser and Benjamin Berry, will appear at the Eisenhower Farm in Gettysburg on September 17 to discuss their experiences during the Battle of the Bulge. They will be speaking at the Eisenhower Farm WWII weekend, a major living history and educational event that will take place from Friday, September 15 through Sunday the 17th.
Ruser and Berry will talk at noon on Sunday. Ruser was featured in the Spring 2023 issue of the Bugle; he recently returned to Hurtgen Forest to relive memories of being a stretcher bearer during that battle.
BOBA will also have an information table at this event. Other attractions will include presentations and book signings, vehicles, living history, and hands-on events. Admission is open to everyone and there is no charge. Drop by if you’re in the neighborhood.
Join us at the Eisenhower Farm in Gettysburg. BOBA will be exhibiting there Saturday, September 16 and Sunday, September 17. Come by and say hello. This is a big World War II event and gives BOBA good exposure to a crowd of World War II enthusiasts.
The theme of the Eisenhower Farm event is “1943,” which is outside our main area of interest, obviously. Besides information and exhibits about BOBA and the Battle of the Bulge, we’ll have exhibits on two activities that were underway in 1943 that were vital in creating the mobile, lethal strike force that blunted Hitler’s legions: the Arsenal of Democracy, which produced the weaponry, and the 1943 Tennessee Maneuvers, which allowed the army to incorporate the lessons of mobile warfare.
Come see us at Ike’s place.
