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On July 8, 2014 the executive council conducted their meeting via teleconference, which was facilitated by Alan Cunningham. A total of 19 members participated. Some of the  many benefits of conducting the meeting via telephone are:

• Weather is not a factor
• There is a cost saving for VBOB
• Travel time and expenses for council members are eliminated

A Spirit of ’45 Day event was held at the World War II Memorial in Washington DC on August 10, 2014.

Among the attendees were Doug Dillard, 82nd Airborne Division and President of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge and Robert Rhodes an Associate Member of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge.

A Spirit of ’45 Day event was held on 42ne-43rd Broadway Plaza in Times Square on Thursday, August 14, 2014, to officially kick off the countdown to the events and activities that will be taking place next year to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II on August 14, 1945.

The event featured live ‘40’s music, an intergenerational group of veterans from WWII to the present day, and those who have supported them on the Home Front. Included were Pat Little, the National Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Harriett Thompson, a 91 year old cancer survivor, who has achieved national attention as a marathon champion, and Dr. Bruce Heilman, 88, a WWII Marine veteran who has served as Chancellor of the University of Richmond for the past 30 years and recently drove his motorcycle from Virginia to Alaska. The event concluded with a wreath ceremony and a performance of “Taps.”

Dan Santagata and long time friend Adrienne Hopkins members of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge were in attendance. Dan served in the 5^th Infantry Division and fought  in the Battle of the Bulge.

Photos submitted by Adrienne Hopkins

Charles Malachosky entered the Armed Forces in 1942. He disembarked on Utah Beach in Nor­mandy, on July 26, 1944, as part of Op­eration Overlord to liberate France from German occupation. He was assigned to Headquar­ters,  Company, 5th Armored Division, led by Major General Oliver, and served as Techni­cian 5th Grade. As a gunner on a halftrack, he manned a 50-caliber machine gun and followed a route from the town of Coutances to St. Lo. He frequently carried a 30-caliber machine gun on foot as well, and throughout the route, ran messages back to Division Headquarters half a mile behind.

He learned of some problems with displaced Polish prisoners who had looted the empty homes of French citizens and were turned in for their crimes. While the victims had asked the Captain for help, neither he nor the Sergeant involved could speak Polish and had little success resolving the conflict. Malachosky informed the Captain that he had Polish-speaking parents and could speak the language. He told the prisoners that they had 24 hours to return the stolen items or they would be shot for violating the Articles of War.

His Captain was not only surprised at Malachosky’s language ability, but also his    effectiveness at recovering the stolen property and referred to him as a “miracle for the division.”

When their valuables were returned, the French people thanked him profusely, hugging and kissing him. This made him feel appreciated and very proud. As a result, the Captain referred to Malachosky with the code name “Ski,” promoted him to Corporal and reassigned him as a direct reporter and the company’s interpreter. Malachosky continued using his interrogational skills throughout his service.

He participated in the Normandy, Northern France, the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe Campaigns. He is a recipient of the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with five battle stars, the Good Conduct Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, and the American Theater Ribbon. He was discharged in April 1946.

A longtime resident and pillar of his commu­nity, Malachosky was the Ward 2 representative on the City Council from 1980-94. Mr. Malachosky and his wife of 68 years, Simone, whom he met in Belgium during the war, live in Cuyahoga Falls, OH. He was decorated Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor on December 6, 2013.

Here is the information about the August 14 gathering in Times Square on Thursday, August 14, from 10 to 11 a.m. to announce the countdown to the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII next year.

As you can see, it is going to be a special opportunity to bring representatives of both the Greatest and latest generations together for this special announcement.

The Military Order of the Purple Heart is trying to provide transportation to those veterans who require assistance in coming in for the morning.

Please let me know if any Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge would like to attend to represent the organization.

Warren Hegg
National Supervisor 408.857.5252
Spirit of ’45 Project (www.Spiritof45.org)
Stories of Service (www.Stories-of-Service.org)
Stories of the Fallen Project (www.StoriesoftheFallen.org)

click here to read about the event
click here to read the program

Special 70th Anniversary Dedication

The Town of Shirley was well represented at a special dedication ceremony for the 70th Anniversary of the World War II Battle of the Bulge at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon on Friday, May 16. The ceremony also included a rededication of the Wereth Eleven Memorial for the 11 black American anti-aircraft unit soldiers who were captured and massacred during World War II.

The memorial to the 11 in Winchendon is said to be the only memorial to them in this country and is mirrored by another in the town of Wereth, Belgium. The unveiling of the two memorial stone markers was conveniently done during a break in the weather by four veteran survivors of the Battle of the Bulge, including Joe Landry from Shirley. They performed the unveiling as civilian, military, and veteran onlookers watched.

The Gardner American Legion Rifle Squad did a 21 gun salute and taps was then played. The ceremony began with Massachusetts State Representative Sheila Harrington welcoming everyone, as did Christian de Marcken who grew up in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge. The Commander of the Shirley American Legion, Lewis Criess, posted the colors accompanied by the Color Guard from the Gardner American Legion. Shirley’s Town Collector Holly Haase sang the National Anthem, as she often does so well for special occasions in Shirley.

An invocation was offered by Father Edmond Derosier of St. Anthony’s Church. Shirley’s American Legion drummers Steve Holbein and Mike Bulger played drums during the ceremony. Several members of the Shirley American Legion were also present.

From Fort Devens, Commanding Officer LTC Egan and Command Sergeant Major Ortiz-Guzman were also in attendance. Also presenting were several veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, Coleman Nee, Secretary of of Veteran Affairs of Massachusetts, State Representative Gloria L. Fox, State Representative Stephen DiNatale, Marydith Tuitt, US Navy Veteran.  The Master of Ceremonies was Francisco Urena, Commissioner of Veterans Services for the City of Boston.

“Originally published in the Shirley Volunteer”. The picture was taken by Charles B. Church and the original article was written by Charles B. Church and edited by Amy Peck.

click here to read a letter to the editor

Commemoration attended by J David Bailey, 106th Infantry Division and past president of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge.

Spirit of ’45 Day Express – Summer Itinerary

• July 17,  Arlington, VA  The Express will begin the next leg of its tour with a send off from historic Ft. Belvoir, and a stop in Richmond, VA for a wreath laying ceremony at the Virginia War Memorial.
• July 19, Norfolk, VA  The Military Order of the Purple Heart Department of Virginia will be hosting a gathering of WWII veterans and their spouses (location/time TBD)
• July 20,  Raleigh, NC  Visit to North Carolina State Capitol, wreath laying at North Carolina WWII Memorial.
• July 22,  Visit to The Cypress of Raleigh retirement community.
• July 23,  Kernersville, NC  Visit to site of North Carolina Field of Honor memorial
• July 25, Charlotte, NC  Visit to The Cypress of Charlotte retirement community.
• July 26, Wilmington, NC  Visit to the USS North Carolina, member of Spirit of ’45 Day founding partner Historic Naval Ships Association.
• July 27,  Myrtle Beach, SC   TBD
• July 28, Columbia, SC     TBD
• July 30, Hilton Head, SC  Visit to The Cypress of Hilton Head retirement community. (9:30 a.m. –
• August 1 – 2, Mt. Pleasant, SC  Visit to the USS Yorktown at Patriots Point.

• August 3 – 4, Savannah, GA  Wreath laying at Georgia World War II Memorial, visit to the Mighty National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force.
• August 6,  Jacksonville, FL  Welcome to Florida State WWII Heritage Trail by Military Order of the Purple Heart, Department of Florida.
• August 8, West Palm Beach, FL  Visit to West Palm Beach VA to meet local WWII veterans, organized by Military Order of the Purple Heart.
• August 10, Ft. Lauderdale, FL   Spirit of ’45 Day wreath laying ceremony at “Lone Sailor” statue.
• August 11, Miami, FL  Special guest appearance during Miami Marlins Baseball Game
• August 13, Naples, FL   Visit to Holocaust Museum & Education Center of Southwest Florida
• August 14, Sarasota, FL     Media event at “Times Square Kiss” statue.
• August 15, St. Petersburg, FL  Visit to Florida State Holocaust Museum
• August 17, Tallahassee, FL   Wreath laying at Florida State WWII Memorial.
• August 19, Pensacola, FL   TBD (National Aviation Day)
• August 20, Mobile, AL   Visit to USS Alabama
• August 21, Montgomery, AL  TBD
• August 21, Tuskegee, AL  Visit to Tuskegee Airmen Historical Site.
• August 22, Birmingham, AL  Visit with Dr. Fran Carter, founder, American Rosie the Riveter Association.
• August 23, Hattiesburg, MS 
• August 25, New Orleans, LA   Visit to National World War II Museum 
• August 26, Baton Rouge, LA   Visit to the USS Kidd Museum & Memorial
• August 30, Houston, TX   Visit to the USS Texas 

• August 31, The Woodlands, TX    Attend KISS Summer Tour (tentative)
• September 1 – 2, Dallas, TX     Visit Commemorative Air Force HQ.
• September 4, Oklahoma City, OK  TBD
• September 6, Wichita, KS  TBD
• September 8 – 10, Travel through Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio en route to Hershey, PA (Stops TBD)
• September 10 – 14, Hershey, PA  America’s Largest RV Show
• September 14 – November 10  TBD (Possible return tour of Northeastern States)

November 11,  New York City, NY  Express appears in New York City Veterans Day Parade. 

My name is Maurits Huijbrechtse I’m 16 years old and from the Netherlands, I’m writing a novel about World War 2, which is styled as an autobiography of a veteran who fought in the Dieppe raid to the end of the war. I was hoping that you are willing to tell what it was like to live through that hell of a war. The book is written in English.

I would be honored if you contact me. You will be named in the words of gratitude. If you are willing, contact me:

Maurits Huijbrechtse
Jerseystraat 1
1339TP Almere
the Netherlands

maurits97@gmail.com

With respect and admiration

9 may 1945 General G. Patton:

HEADQUARTERS
THIRD UNITED STATES ARMY
APO 403

GENERAL ORDERS 9 May 1945
NUMBER 98

SOLDIERS OF THE THIRD ARMY, PAST AND PRESENT

During the 281 days of incessant and victorious combat, your penetrations have advanced farther in less time than any other army in history. You have fought your way across 24 major rivers and innumerable lesser streams. You have liberated or conquered more than 82,000 square miles of territory, including 1500 cities and towns, and some 12,000 inhabited places. Prior to the termination of active hostilities, you had captured in battle 956,000 enemy soldiers and killed or wounded at least 500,000 others. France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, and Czechoslovakia bear witness to your exploits.

All men and women of the six corps and thirty-nine divisions that have at different times been members of this Army have done their duty. Each deserves credit. The enduring valor of the combat troops has been paralleled and made possible by the often unpublicized activities of the supply, administrative, and medical services of this Army and the Communications Zone troops supporting it. Nor should we forget our comrades of the other armies and of the Air Force, particularly of the XIX Tactical Air Command, by whose side or under whose wings we have had the honor to fight.

In proudly contemplating our achievements, let us never forget our heroic dead whose graves mark the course of our victorious advances, nor our wounded whose sacrifices aided so much to our success.

I should be both ungrateful and wanting in candor if I failed to acknowledge the debt we owe to our Chiefs of Staff, Generals Gaffey and Gay, and to the officers and men of the General and Special Staff Sections of Army Headquarters. Without their loyalty, intelligence, and unremitting labors, success would have been impossible.

The termination of fighting in Europe does not remove the opportunities for other outstanding and equally difficult achievements in the days, which are to come. In some ways the immediate future will demand of you more fortitude than has the past because, without the inspiration of combat, you must maintain –by your dress, deportment, and efficiency–not only the prestige of the Third Army but also the honor of the United States. I have complete confidence that you will not fail.

During the course of this war I have received promotions and decorations far above and beyond my individual merit. You won them; I as your representative wear them. The one honor, which is mine and mine alone is that of having commanded such and incomparable groups of Americans, the record of whose fortitude, audacity, and valor will endure as long as history lasts.

G. S. PATTON, JR.,

General.

submitted by Don Schoessler, 1262nd ECB

My name is Anthony Blasi, I am a high school student from Auburn, Maine. For my National Honor Society project, I am creating a website in which I collect the stories of World War II veterans. I am talking to many veterans, and would very much like to talk to some veterans from the Battle of the Bulge. There is no time limit for this project; I plan on collecting stories until I have exhausted all resources. We could talk by telephone or email, unless you reside nearby and we could meet in person.

You would be contributing to an archive, so future generations will know of the sacrifices made by veterans of the war. If you would be willing to share your story, you can contact me with the information below. It would be an honor to talk to you.

Thank You.

Anthony Blasi
53 Valley Street
Auburn, Maine, 04210
(207) 784-0058
anblasi15@gmail.com