A couple years ago members of the chapter decided to tell their stories, which would appear in a book entitled “The Battle in Common” and be available to the public. A “Book Team” was formed whose purpose was to spearhead the project. Stories were submitted by 19 veterans and four associate members.
Update on the book sales and distribution.
After being published last fall, nearly all “The Battle in Common” copies have been sold. As of this date we have approximately 60 books remaining. ISBN 978-0-9885762-0-9. Books were distributed free to the sponsors and to veterans associated with the project.All other copies of the book were purchased by the public, sold by three Rochester book stores and the book team. The book has generated more than $5000 in sales and donations for VBOB National.
Proposed next steps for the project.
The limited number of books remaining brought the question of a second printing. After much consideration, the Book Team decided to forego a second printing in favor of converting the book to an electronic format (“e-book”) at no cost.
This decision provides two benefits:
There are no production costs, allowing all sales income to go to VBOB National,
The book would be available on all electronic systems ( all computers as well as tablet readers like Kindle, iPad and Nook) for perpetuity.
The conversion of the book content to the new format will be provided pro bono by Michael Riordan, professor of printing at Rochester Institute of Technology who helped with the initial book. Distribution of the electronic books would best be serviced by Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other retailers who sell e-books. To fully enable the book team’s decision, National VBOB has endorsed this plan and will work with the Book Team (specifically RIT Prof. Michael Riordan) to set up distribution agreements with distributors such as Amazon, etc. The agreements would be with each vendor, to provide that revenues go to a VBOB Book Account.
The Rochester Book Team will disband after the program is in place.
Tom Hope (for The Book Team)
XIX Corps, Headquarters
Kudos to the chapter members and others for an outstanding job, one that will help to perpetuate the legacy of all who served in the Battle of the Bulge.
I have been writing to a young Belgian man, Jan Jasper, who lives in Essen, Belgium, up near the coast of Antwerp. He is interested in hearing from veterans of the Bulge. He is an aficionado of the Bulge veterans—very sincere!
He is married with 2 young boys ages 2 and 5. He drove from Antwerp all the way to Liege, Belgium to meet me at the “Remember Museum” 2 years ago.
He would like to hear from veterans who served in the Bulge—He does NOT sell your stories—He is very sincere!
His address is:
Jan Jasper
Hofstraat 7
2910 Essen
Belgium
Many Thanks,
John McAuliffe
87 INFD
Central Mass. Chapter VBOB
There is an incident that I should have brought to your attention before. On March 21, 2011, a memorial service was held here in Buckfield, ME for my husband, Earl F. Turner, who passed away on March 14, 2011. Edward Deverell, as president of VBOB Tri-State (VT-NH-ME) Chapter 17, made the trip all the way across part of NH and ME to attend.
There is not an East-West direct highway, so it is a time-consuming journey! —And I did not realize that another VBOB member had informed Chapter 17 of Earl’s demise. I was grateful for Ed’s presence, and I do believe it was “beyond the call of duty.”
And to make it more interesting, as Ed was about to head homeward, an unexpected snow started falling. —So over two years later, my thanks still go out to Edward Deverell.
Sincerely,
Florence C. Turner, Associate
PS. Believe that Edward Deverell is an associate member and that his father was a BOB vet.
My name is Brittany Polson and I am a Wish Coordinator at Wish of a Lifetime. We are a 501 c3 nonprofit that is dedicated to enriching the lives of deserving senior citizens by granting them their wish of a lifetime. I am currently working on a wish for Robert A. Smith, whom fought in the Battle of the Bulge with the 11th Armored Division, Battery B, 492nd Armored Field Artillery Battalion. Robert has requested that since his fellow comrades are not able to travel and hold a reunion in person, that he would like to commemorate his division and the Battle of the Bulge.
I have arranged for there to be a ceremony held at the Indianapolis War Memorial on December 16, 2013 at 1:00 PM- which will mark the date of when the battle began. Spread the word about this commemoration so we can honor all of the brave men and women who served in this battle.
Best Wishes,
Brittany Polson
Wish Coordinator, Wish of a Lifetime
1821 Blake Street, 200
Denver, CO 80202
[office] 303.954.9144 x14
[fax] 303.648.5626 brittany@seniorwish.org
I hope you are doing well and that everything is well over there. I will introduce myself, my name is Patrick from Luxembourg, I am 28 years old and I am very interested in WWII since I was a young boy. My grandfather was also in WWII, he was forced by the Germans into war but he died very early and I had never the chance to hear his war stories, so I started collecting stories of the still living Veterans before it is too late. I have also a small collection of WWII items of US and German soldiers, that I started since I was a young boy. I found an article of you on Internet and I wanted to know more about you, so I decided to write you a letter.
The last few years I had the chance to be in contact with a few Veterans of WWII and I have many stories collected through email or snail mail. I am very interested in your WWII experiences and hope that you will share your story with me. I wanted to know with which Company and Regiment you fought with? I wanted to know where exactly you fought (France, Luxembourg, Bulge, Germany?), what missions did you had, which medals that you earned and what your “job” was during WWII? I am very curious if you have fought here in the Battle of the Bulge in Luxembourg. Did you took part in the crossing of the “Sauer River” in Diekirch in January 1945? I know that it is not easy to speak or write about WWII experiences because there are surely more bad memories than good ones, war is always cruel and I hope that a war like that will not repeat itself again that is why your experiences are so important for the generation like mine and the younger people. We have to preserve the freedom and liberty that you gave us back almost 70 years ago.
I also started since 2 years to collect recent pictures and WWII pictures with a signature of the Veterans in front of them who I met in Normandy, Luxembourg and Bastogne and I would be happy if you could also be a part of my “memory wall” at home. I wanted to know if you could send me some WWII and some recent photos of you through email, I wanted to know if I could print them out with your permission and send them with another letter to you for getting signed in front of them by you with your rank first then name and Unit in order to frame them. Do you think we could manage that, it would mean a lot To me? I will frame the photos and put WWII photos at left and recent photos at right, in the middle I will print the Red Diamond patch with your name and underneath a summary of your WWII story so you will get a place of honor in my home and I would be honored if you could be a part of it. In my next letter I will also include a coupon that you can give to the post office so you haven’t to pay for the shipping costs for sending the photos signed back! I didn’t put one in this letter now because I am not sure if the letter reaches the right person.
Unfortunately I never had the chance to meet you in Europe, have you been back since the end of the war? Do you plan perhaps to come over again in the future? I am also in good contact with Frank Forcinella and Don Hemphill of the 5th Division perhaps you know one of him? Is there any annual Reunion of the 5th Division in the USA?
If you have perhaps written your experiences down somewhere, I would be very interested in them. If you have some other stuff to add, please feel free to do it. If you know other buddies of yours of WWII who want to share their story to with me you can give them my email address and mailing address, I would be happy to get in contact with more Veterans before it is too late to collect their stories. I am looking forward to your returning letter Sir.
♦
Thank you very much your service, your help and time.
Best wishes from Luxembourg
Patrick Dax
11, rue Jules Wilhelm
L-2728 Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Email: golf2_power@yahoo.fr
TECHNICAL SERGEANT EARL R. LISTON- U.S. ARMY CORPORAL GEORGE W. MCGEE. – U.S. ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS MARSHALL W. BAIRD, U.S. ARMY PRIVA TE FIRST CLASS HARPER COLEMAN, U.S. ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ROBERT KIRBY, U.S. ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ROBERT WALLING, U.S. ARMY PRIVATE FIRST CLASS MAXWELL WARNER, U.S. ARMY
Program and photos submitted by George McGee, President Southern Arizona Chapter (53)
I tell my kids that WWII veterans saved the world. Your Nov 2013 newsletter shows a new member Robert Pidcoe from the 1st infantry division. Would you publish and/or please forward him this correspondence.
My grandfather was PFC George Tammara 1st division, 26th regimental combat team. He wore the Big Red One. He was a replacement rifleman and went through rifleman training in Florida from July 1944—Oct 1944.
I have done significant research on George Tammara and his unit, The Blue Spaders in WWII. George Tammara was killed in March of 1945 after fighting in the Northern Shoulder of the Battle of the Bulge and crossing at the Remagen bridgehead. I worked hard to get all of his medals awarded posthumously and have compiled much information regarding his WWII service.
I am looking to find anyone who knew George Tammara during WWII. I would very much like to speak with and/or meet anyone who knew my grandfather. More information on George is found at www.WWIIHERO.COM
Thank you to all the WWII veterans for saving the world.
The Military Order of the World Wars conducted its annual ceremony at the grave site of General of the Armies John J. Pershing in Arlington National Cemetery on November 11, 2013. Members of VBOB were present.
Photos submitted by Robert Rhodes, Associate
Attached are pictures from the National Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham, AL. Vern Miller, president of the George S Patton, Jr Chapter of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge had the honor of riding in the parade in a WWII Jeep restored by Ronnie Guin, a VBOB member, and of being represented in the parade by WO4 Mike Hipwell, Fort Rucker, AL a helicopter pilot and a WWII Re-enactor. who returned a month ago from his tour of duty in Afghanistan.
Vern was honored to have Mike wear his 8th Armored Division shoulder patch and didn’t mind the ribbing he took because neither he nor Mike could come up with a set of T-3 stripes — so he was demoted to buck private.
L to R Max Herrington, 5th Inf Div; Vern Miller, 8th Armrd Div; & Jack Mullins, 752nd FA Bn, pose before mounting their parade vehicles.
Re-enactor Mike Hipwell (R) and Vern Miller (L) represented the 8th Armored Division.This is the view from the front passenger seat of Ronnie Guin's 1942 Jeep
WO4 Mike Hipwell takes time out near the end of the parade routeMike Hipwell in 8th Armrd "battle rattle" marched behind VBOB's lead vehicle carrying Max Herrington.'
WA State Chapter Spring luncheon
Greetings all! Please save the date, May 3rd 2014 for the WWII Veterans of the Battle Of the Bulge Spring Luncheon. I know it’s not even winter yet (although it is beginning to feel like it) however Spring is coming. We hope you will all be able to attend! Please feel free to share this news and invite your friends. Your assistance in getting the word out about this awesome opportunity would be welcomed.
We’ll have a terrific program and you’ll be able to meet some men who’ve made WWII history by participating in the Battle of the Bulge and also view interesting WWII displays and real restored military vehicles.
Location: La Quinta Inn, Tacoma
Date: Saturday, May 3, 2014
Time: 10:30AM (doors open)
Official Welcome @ 11am
Directions: La Quinta Inn (253) 383-0146
1425 East 27th Street
Tacoma, WA 98421-2200
Thank you!
With God’s love,
Beth (and Jim) Pennock
WA State VBOB Chapter Leaders
3006 NW 61st Street, Seattle, WA 98107
telephone (206) 783-0212
or gotweekenders@aol.com
During the Battle of the Bulge the Congressional Medal of Honor was awarded to the 17 individuals listed below. Click on their name to read the citation that describes their heroic actions.
My name is Roy Hiller and I am interested in contacting anyone who may have served with my father, Nathan Joseph Hiller, from late 1942 to October 1944 in the 802nd Field Artillery, Battery B, or at XII Corps Artillery HQ from then until the end of the war. In particular, I would like to connect with anyone who would have witnessed the events of mid-June 1943 at Fort Benning, GA when there was a muzzle blast that killed 2 and injured several others. My father was a prolific letter writer and I have read and scanned over 360 letters written during his time in the Army. I also have several pictures of him and others in his unit in a number of places.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
My home address is 521 Cold Stream Place, Nashville, TN 37221
My email is royh1983@comcast.net
On December 16, 1999, the city of Orlando, Florida dedicated a memorial to the veterans of the Battle of the Bulge. This memorial was the result of a lot of hard work by many VBOBs in the area, especially a retired swim coach and high school teacher, the late Harry Miesel. Harry was a VBOB and the prime mover in getting this memorial complete. We thank Harry and his wife, Jeanette, for their efforts.
The memorial is a statue of a G.I. in combat gear. Around the base of the stature are the logos for all the divisions and other units that were at The Bulge. On the ground around the statue are bricks with names of some of the people who were there in December 1944 to January 1945.
Every year in December, the city of Orlando has a memorial service in honor of all veterans and many attend. At this exceptional ceremony speeches are given, high school bands play, and refreshments are served. I have annually attended these memorial services and unfortunately each year the crowd gets smaller as so many are not with us any longer.
This letter is to inform you that the next time you or your family come to visit “Mickey Mouse”, “Shamu”, and/or “Harry Potter,” please take some time and visit this memorial. The memorial is at the Northeast comer of Lake Eola, an Orlando downtown park. Lake Eola is considered Orlando’s “Central Park”.
This will also give you an opportunity to “get off the beaten path” and possibly meet some of Orlando’s residents not directly connected to our tourism industry. I m sure you will find them very courteous and generous.
This is the story of how VBOB veteran Bob Pidcoe returned to Europe in 2013 as Guest of Honor at the prestigious Memorial Day ceremony in the American Battle of the Bulge Military Cemetery of Henri-Chapelle. Afterwards he made a pilgrimage visit to his former battlefields with his children and younger generation friends from other veterans families. This trip was their idea. They very much wanted to honor Bob and his fellow World War II soldiers and go back with him to Europe to learn about the battles and experience the battlefields with him. They contacted me and asked me to help them customize and organize a tour for Bob. So I contacted Patrick Hinchy, one of the most experienced veterans tour guides in Europe. Thankfully he was free and willingly agreed to help me plan a tour specially for them, and then to guide it.
Bob is now 90 years old. This modest, unassuming man who is great company and has a fine sense of humor, was an HQ Company corporal in the elite 1st Infantry Division (‘The Big Red One’), 26th Infantry Regiment (‘Blue-Spaders’). He was awarded 7 campaign ribbons, a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Bob was truly one of the Greatest Generation, just ordinary people called upon to do extraordinary things, the men fighting not for fame and recognition, but because it was the “right thing to do”.
After the war, so typical of those ordinary men of the Greatest Generation who had achieved so much, he returned home to Pennsylvania and just got on with his life. He got married and raised two sons (with a firm hand, he smiles). He worked at the Williamsport Paper Box Co. and then for the United States Postal Service for many years from which he retired. He enjoyed taking fishing trips to Canada and devoted years to the Boy Scouts of America. He was a Scoutmaster for 10 years and then a Committee Member for eight years, mentoring young boys into young men, teaching and instilling the Scout’s code of honor. Now in his golden years, he enjoys going to the café for breakfast with the gang, gardening and wondering how he can afford another tractor.
But the spirit of the Greatest Generation is still alive and well in 90 year old Bob. He did not hesitate when this European pilgrimage trip to the American Battle of the Bulge cemetery of Henri-Chapelle in Belgium for Memorial Day was suggested to him by his son Bill, himself a Vietnam veteran, Bill’s wife Brenda and younger generation friends Deb and Nevin Dressler who have previously accompanied and looked after Bob on veterans trips to DC. Nevin’s father was a veteran too who landed on Utah Beach, Normandy on July 13 1944 in 795th AAA BN defending Ninth Air Force “Advanced Landing Grounds” (ALGs) close to the frontline from Normandy through the Southern Bulge to Germany. They said they wanted to take him back to Europe both to honor him and his fellow soldiers but also to be with him in the battlefields and try and understand better what the soldiers had endured and achieved.
Also in Bob’s group were two other younger generation couples – Jim and Janet Kearney (Jim’s father was in Battery B, 557th AAA BN, 84th Div and awarded a Bronze Star while fighting on the Roer River, on the northern side of the Ardennes) and David and Jeanne Hughes (Jeanne’s father, Thomas Doheny, was in 978th FAB and landed on Omaha Beach June 25 1944). From Normandy, he went to Aachen and the Battle of the Bulge and finished in Germany at the Elb River. Their West Point graduate daughter has continued this military tradition. She was an Army MP up to 2008 and served in Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. Bob’s Battle of the Bulge Memorial Day tour was going to be a very moving, emotional and unforgettable experience for all of them. Here are some of the highlights through excerpts from Deb Dressler’s lively and colorful diary of the trip. . . .
In Normandy, we went to the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial located directly above Omaha Beach. Bob assisted with the flag raising at 2 different cemetery sites then laid a bouquet of flowers at the foot of the main statue with pebbles from Omaha Beach inlaid on the floor around it. By this time a crowd of people were gathering to meet our hero and thank him for his service. A young teen age girl asked to have her picture taken with Bob. She was very emotional.
At a restaurant near the American cemetery, we were joined by Denise Oger – a 77 year old Belgian lady who runs CRIBA (Center for Research & Information of the Battle of the Bulge). Her words to Bob: “You liberated us; we can’t do enough for you.” She told us the story of “her” GI. When she was 9 yr. old, the GIs came to her town for R&R and stayed several days. They had a place where they danced and played American music. Denise hid in the back, since she was too young to participate. But a certain GI came to her and danced with her. She felt very special. When the GIs were ready to leave, ‘her’ GI came to her to say good-bye. She later learned that he was killed shortly after, stepping on a mine. After 69 years, she still had tears in her eyes as she told us the story of ‘her’ GI.
On Memorial Day, we went first to the American Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz for a private ceremony.
Bob laid flowers at the grave of ‘Blue Spader’ soldier Richard Miller, in honor of all ‘Blue Spader’ 26th Regiment soldiers killed.
There are 5211 graves in this cemetery. A Japanese man asked to have his picture taken with Bob and honored him like a hero. Bob’s comment: “Holey Moley!” That is equivalent to “Awesome, Wow, etc.”, only in Bob’s language
Bob laying wreath
Later that afternoon, we participated in the spectacular Memorial Day ceremony at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery. It is a large cemetery (7,300 graves) located on top of a beautiful ridge. Bob was given a medallion by Rear Admiral Messerschmidt. He also talked with many other dignitaries, Generals and veterans and was interviewed for television. Bob laid a 1st Division wreath – accompanied by two Generals. He was the only living veteran that participated in this very moving service. There were military bands, Color Guards from different countries, flags at half staff until the end of the service, speeches by dignitaries and two national anthems (US and Belgium). It really was a special privilege for us to be guests of honor there. There were several thousand people in attendance. It was an amazing experience.
We continued on to Aachen, Germany, from where we would spend the next few days touring the Battle of the Bulge. Bob came through to Aachen on a small road during the war. He could not believe what the city looks like today, commenting “Oh my God!”. He remembers seeing nothing left of the city when he fought there.
We visited the Mardasson Memorial in Bastogne, a large stone memorial with names of the states & Divisions that fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Bob had his picture taken by the 1st Division name. At the Memorial, Nevin talked with a young couple, Kristina and Daniel, who asked to meet Bob. The girl was a German who had married an American. She said to Bob, “I am not your enemy.” Bob’s reply, “The German people treated us well.” With tears flowing, they gave each other a hug and had a picture taken together.
Bob visiting M&Ms museum
One morning we went to the M & M’s Museum (the owners are Marcel & Mathilde Schmetz). 1st Division soldiers were billeted at their farm during the war, and left their equipment behind when they had to advance quickly into the Bulge. But so many did not come back. Marcel was a young boy at the time, but remembers it well. Marcel and Mathilde then collected everything left behind and made a memorial in their barn, which they called the Remember Museum. Bob’s comment on seeing the museum: Holey Moley!! Mathilde was our guide since she spoke English. She told of Marcel’s family hiding his17 year old brother in the walls of the house for 16 months so the Germans would not find him & conscript him. Their museum is 20 years old and now quite extensive. It has a Red Ball Truck and all visiting veterans sign the truck. Mathilde and Marcel have special exhibits dedicated to the forgotten ones: grave diggers, medics, Rosies, and black soldiers. And a monument outside of barn dedicated to the animals used during the war: horses, dogs, & homing pigeons. They told us there was a German jail for the pigeons so they could not be used to carry messages. They also have dresses made from the parachutes. Marcel made exact replicas of a tank and V1 Buzz Bomb from wood.
While we were there, Marcel encouraged a group of school children to ask Bob questions about his experiences during the war. Some of the questions were:
• What are your feelings now? Bob – ‘This is great. I’m amazed at all the differences. Aachen was flattened when I saw it last!’
• Were you scared? Bob: ‘Everybody was scared.’
• Do you have night mares? Bob: ‘No night mares- I try to forget.’
• How did you feel when you got home? Bob: ‘My parents were happy to see me.’
Bob describing the path
We arrive to Schevenhutte in the Hurtgen Forest – a place that Bob requested to visit. We look for the small narrow path leading up a hill that Bob remembers. Two people from our group check out the path with instructions from Bob. He remembers that the path went up hill, bent to the left, leveled off in a small clearing with trees on both sides. They come back and say it is exactly as Bob described. The whole group is overwhelmed with the success of it. Bob describes this victory as the highlight of his trip. He tells us that there was a German in a fox hole on the right side of the hill radioing info to German artillery on other side. But after the radio man was pinpointed, he didn’t live too long. This was where Bob was hit by a splinter from a tree burst and wounded in the upper leg/lower groin area.
When our trip came to an end, we all agreed that we had the trip of a lifetime. We saw and experienced so many wonderful events that our minds could hardly take it all in. Patrick was a fantastic guide, with a wealth of knowledge & patience. Our driver was excellent. The whole group became friends very quickly and really enjoyed each other’s company. We will certainly miss one another, but have wonderful memories to look back on. Thank you Bob, for allowing us to make this journey with you – you made it very special.
Written by Doris Davis with special thanks to Deb Dressler for her journal of the trip.
Photos by Doug Mitchell doug.mitchell@t-online.de Grosslangenfeld, Germany
