Category Archives: News
Southeast Florida Chapter (62)
Mississippi Chapter awards scholarships
Service in a different way: Mississippi Chapter of the Battle of the Bulge awards scholarships – From Joseph McCain, Winston County Journal, MI
Six Mississippi students will have $1,000 in help with college expenses after receiving a newly created scholarship. Members and associate members of the Mississippi Chapter of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge created the scholarships. The six recipients are all descendants of Mississippi veterans of the World War II Battle of the Bulge and are Mississippi residents. “This will help six worthy young people and continue the memories of those who served,” said James Hunt, Chairman of the Scholarship Committee.
The Battle of the Bulge group formed the scholarship committee to ‘clear out’ about $1,000 of funds in the Chapter’s treasury and to create something positive for the future. The committee members above (left to right-Burton Fuller, Mary Ellen Stanley, Mary Fuller, Jane Hunt, James Hunt, Joan Rhett, Sarah Naugher, Fred Wicker, not pictured Dr. Robert Gilbert) also contacted members and others about raising funds for the scholarships.
The group raised over $3,000 but had 6 applicants. “We had six outstanding applicants so we contacted everyone again and told them to give until it hurts,” said Hunt. The group raised funds enough for six $1,000 scholarships for this year and another $3,000 for future scholarships.
“We can grow this scholarship program and help a lot of deserving students,” said Hunt. Hunt and the committee created the scholarship applications and program from scratch. “Mississippi was the first chapter to offer scholarships,” said Hunt. “When we contacted the National Battle of the Bulge organization, they noted we were the first to do this and now at least one other chapter is making plans to create scholarships in their state.”
Hunt noted that the members and associate members of the group should be “kicking back on the porch” yet continue to work hard on such plans like the scholarship since they are concerned about the leaders of tomorrow. “We have a committee member over 100, three in their 90’s and few in their 80’s who worked hard on this because they want to help our future leaders,” said Hunt.
The six awarded scholarships were: Margaret Grace Lyon, William Young, Caitlin Fournier, Carley Naugher, Christine Lemmerman, and Ryan Fournier.
The scholarships were awarded during the groups annual meeting at Lake Tiak O’Khata in Louisville, Mississippi on October 15. The group has about 10 members who still attend and fought during the Battle of the Bulge with about 20 associate members who are family members or friends of the Battle of the Bulge veterans. During the gathering, the veterans spoke about the war and gave talked about their service. Family members also talked bout those who have died and their service during the war.
“These guys have been through so much and never talked about it,” said Hunt. “This group was one of the first places they were comfortable enough to talk about the war.” Hunt described his own nightmares from the Battle of the Bulge, which haunted him until he was 66 years of age. “The nightmares finally stopped when I turned 66,” said Hunt. Other members talked about the difficulties of digging a foxhole in the frozen German ground and the unbelievable cold during the battle.
The idea of service to country and to others forged on the battlefield in Ardennes continues today as the group awards and looks to award future leaders with a scholarship and a reminder of those who came before them. Everyone in the Mississippi Chapter of the Battle of the Bulge understands leadership and sacrifice.
The Battle of the Bulge-On December 16, 1944 three German armies (more than a quarter-million troops) launched the deadliest and most desperate battle of the war heavily forested Ardennes trying to split the allied armies and destroy the American forces in the area. History denotes that the gallantry of the American troops in the battle stopped the German advance and helped bring the war to a close. The Battle of the Bulge was the costliest action ever fought by the U.S. Army, which suffered over 100,000 casualties.
Lehigh Valley chapter vets honored
Eight members of our chapter were honored at an Iron Pigs baseball game, an Allentown, PA affiliate of the Phillies recently. The veterans all received a standing ovation!
Submitted by Steve Savage, Associate
Lehigh Valley Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge
George Merz receives the French Legion of Honor Medal
George Merz, 818th Military Police Company, was awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal at the 123rd Airlift Wing of the Air National Guard on September 13, 2015 by Colonel Barry D. Gorter, Commander of the 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard, at the Louisville International Airport. The event took place during a “Family Day” of the Air National Guard and there were over 500 people cheering for George as he received his medal. He received the medal on July 1, 2015 by the Consul General of France (in Chicago), Vincent Floreani, and it was formally presented to him at this event. He was so proud that many members of his immediate family and friends could attend (almost 20 in total!).
The Legion of Honor Award was created by Napoleon in 1802 to acknowledge services rendered to France by persons of exceptional merit. American veterans who risked their lives during World War II and who fought on French territory qualify to be decorated as Knights of the Legion of Honor. Veterans must have fought in one of the four main campaigns of the Liberation of France: Normandy, Provence, Ardennes-Alsace or Northern France to earn the medal.
Submitted by Patrick Brion and Doris Davis, Associate Members
George S Patton, Jr Chapter, AL
George S Patton, Jr Chapter (Alabama) of VBOB is partnering with Birmingham International Center http://www.tic-al.org for a November 15 event spotlighting Belgium.
The event is scheduled for 3 to 5:30 pm at the Southern Museum of Flight http://www.southernmuseumofflight.org near the airport in Birmingham, Alabama the program will honor Belgium resistance fighters and veterans who were part of the Battle of the Bulge.
The chapter also will partner with the Dixie Division of the Military Vehicles Club http://www.ddmvpa.org and have an entry in Birmingham’s National Veterans Day Parade on November 11.
Only three or four VBOB members are expected to participate, but they will revel in the support of the throngs of people saluting them and the restored Jeeps they’ll be riding in. Vern Miller, chapter president, will be in a Korean era Jeep restored by Alan Moseley, son of the late Smith Moseley, Air Force veteran who was based in England and was Vern’s long-time co-worker
Regular meetings of the Alabama veterans are held the third Monday of every month, but the November meeting will be Sunday, the 15th, and the annual commemorative luncheon recalling the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge is scheduled for noon on Saturday, December 12 at Fair Haven Retirement Center, Birmingham.
For further information contact Vern Miller
vernsdarkroom@aol.com
Alfred H. Taylor honored with Legion of Honor in Paris
My father, VBOB Member Alfred H. Taylor, 10th Armored Division, received one of the rarest honor ceremonies in the world when he was decorated with the French Legion of Honor at the headquarters in Paris in November 2014. The Grand Chancellor, General Jean-Louis Georgelin, addressed my father in English, and I delivered his response in French. A champagne reception in the rotunda followed.
Investitures at the Palace of Salm are generally reserved for heads of state and other extreme VIPs, so Dad’s selection for the distinction is a bit mysterious. On average, only one American is honored there per year.
Submitted by Jeff Taylor
LEHIGH VALLEY CHAPTER (55) – THAT FAMOUS KISS
At our recent meeting on August 18th, 2015 at the Best Western Hotel in Bethlehem, Pa., we were able to reenact the famous Times Square kiss from VJ Day at the end of WWII 70 years ago.
Two of our members, married couple Samantha and Frederick Polgardy, were more than happy to recreate the kiss between the sailor and nurse, complete with the sailor’s and nurse’s caps.
Submitted by Stephen Savage, Associate, Lehigh Valley Chapter (55)
Mississippi Chapter (33) Awards VBOB Scholarships
The Miss. Chapter of Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge will be awarding scholarships to six local high school students at the Fall meeting, Thursday, October 16, 2015, at Lake Tiak O’Khata, Louisville, Miss. This is a vital part of the scholarship process, a time when we can get to know each recipient and also share what you have learned about the “Battle of the Bulge”, Ardennes, Belgium. The students will be our guests for lunch at 11:30 AM and the meeting should be over by no later than 2:30 PM.
We hope all will understand the importance of this sharing time because we want to know more about your VBOB relative and the part he played in winning this battle and ensuring the safety of the entire world as we know it. This battle has been called by Winston Churchill the” greatest land battle of World War 11.” Tom Brokaw wrote a book entitled The Greatest Generation” which has proved to be true. By learning about these brave men, you will be a special kind of emissary to people you know to keep other generations aware of the “whole story” of those heroes. Several years ago, a false story was spread about the Nazis and their Concentration camps during the years of the war, and their total cruelty and destruction of the allied countries of Europe—England, Holland, France, numerous smaller towns and countries. Groups of people in this country were told that all of this was false .i.e. “It never happened’, they were told, from the media and Nazi sympathizers in this country and else where. The truth was that it DID happen….there are pictures, detailed accounts, personal stories that prove the inhuman and terrible deeds that were done. But as years go by and new generations come along, it is vital that these new generations know the story of the ones who saved civilization from annihilation and from imprisonment of our society under Adolph Hitler, a man insane for power who almost conquered the world.
Now you will understand the importance of our finest students….YOU… being informed about the true history of those times and why it must never, ever happen again. We each have an opportunity to keep the truth alive and we have a responsibility to do so. You six winners are among the highest and brightest of your generation and your ancestor has been an important, even critical part of our lives today. We live in the greatest country in the world, as well as the safest. We challenge you to do your best to keep it that way!
Sincerely in God’s love,
James W. Hunt, 1st Infantry Division, 18th Infantry Regiment, Company K
Members of the scholarship committee
John McAuliffe, 87th ID speaker at Spirit of 45 event
Wreath Laying at Fort Lee
Wreath Laying at VBOB Reunion
Kansas Chapter (69) Annual Meeting
The Kansas Chapter of the Battle of the Bulge held their annual meeting at the Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene, Kansas on January 25, 2015.
A part of the program was a Panel Discussion by four Battle of the Bulge survivors including, Julian Siebert, Jim Sharp, Wallace Jeffries, and Marvin Ledy. The Moderator was Robert Smith, Curator of Ft. Riley Museum.
In addition, the Kansas Chapter donated and dedicated a memorial bench that was placed 75 feet away, under the gaze of the statue of our leader, General Dwight Eisenhower. Jim Sharp founder, and first president of the chapter made the dedication for the Kansas Chapter.
In the dedication photo above Jim Sharp is in the center right and on his right is The Eisenhower Library’s Director Karl Weissenback. More than 250 people attended the event including 26 Battle of the Bulge Veterans.
Submitted by Jim Sharp, Chair Communications, KS Chapter VBOB
Mississippi Chapter (33) scholarship fund
July 4, 2015
Special to the Bulge Bugle
Editor: Ralph Bozorth
Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge (Ardennes)PO Box 336
Blue Bell. Pa. 19422
Dear Editor Bozorth,
The Miss. Chapter of V.B.O.B. is honored and proud to share the successful completion of our Scholarship Program: Hopefully, other chapters in the U.S.A. may want to have their own Scholarship Program.
Can you imagine, with our Miss. Chapter down to our present membership of a “precious few”, that we would be so bold as to initiate a Scholarship Program! This is something that we can do without leaving our home and still be accomplishing something important for young people, which also informs others about the “greatest generation”! During the next generations, no one will wonder:” Was the Battle of the Bulge just a story circulated around or was it real — such as the reality of the Nazi prisons’ horror stories when people wondered if it was true.
Our Scholarship Program started with left over accounts from our V.B.O.B. treasury when we decided to become an informal group and still meet once a year. This One Thousand dollars grew by our members and associates generosity —ending in almost $9,000.00 enough to give six scholarships for the 2015-2016 school year, to a College or University of their choice. We received six outstanding applicants who each received a $1,000.00 scholarship.
Enclosed are news items and materials, any of which can be used by a V.B.O.B. chapter if they wish to start their own Scholarship Program. The “rush” of being able to accomplish and be successful in something important and at the same time let our young people know about the war and the brave soldiers who fought and won, is immeasurably thrilling! The committee which guided this program consisted of: a 100-year old, a 90-year old, a 93 and 92 year old, (one of whom happens to be Judge Fred Wicker, Sen. Roger Wicker’s Dad,) and several in their 80’s.
Our “go-to” 100-year old felt so strongly, (along with the rest,) that they have been given so much that they wanted to give back to our young students a little financial help. We feel that we are building future leaders.
The Scholarship award winners will be invited to come to our fall meeting at Lake Tiak O’Khata to tell what they have learned about what Winston Churchill called ” the greatest land battle of WW II.” Thus, we can learn from these young students and they can learn about us and V.B.O.B.
Surely, this is a most unusual and wonderful project of giving to others by our WW II Greatest Generation.
Dr. James W. Hunt
jazzyjane@cableone.net
Attachments:
Scholarship-eligibility
Scholarship-application
Application-scoring-details
South Jersey Chapter (61) picnic
South Jersey Chapter (61) of the Veterans of the Battle of The Bulge attended a picnic at Gus Epple’s home in Cape May Court House on June 16, 2015.
Photos by Barry Smith, Associate
