Andy Giambroni, right, of Red Bluff, takes in a speech from Romain Serman, the counsel general of France in San Francisco, during a ceremony Friday evening at the Elk’s Lodge in which Giambroni was decorated with the Chevalier or Knight of the Legion Medal of Honor.
Daily News story and photo by Andre Byik
The 14th annual World War II Swing Dance was held at the Sunnybrook Ballroom in Pottstown, PA on Friday night, April 12. This year’s event was attended by more than 450 guests and was sponsored by the Pottstown Area Senior Center. The Swing Fever Dance Band played the popular event. Approximately 24 World War II veterans were in attendance including several who fought in the Battle of the Bulge. George Moore president of the Reading chapter and his wife Marlene were present.
Photo by John Strickler/The Mercury
A radar specialist in the Eighth Army Air Force, Dan Diehl describes his time delivering troops by air to key operations at the Nijmegen & Remagen bridges during the Battle of the Bulge. Dan also describes how he later brought back a souvenir from Hitler’s aerie in Berchtesgaden. Dan served with 8 AF, 44 Air Depot Gp, Hqs, Co
Photo submitted by Mark Collins, chapter president.
As a 25-year-old second lieutenant serving in the forests of Germany, Alfred Shehab didn’t realize the scale of the World War II battle raging around him.
Click here to read the article written by Brandon Bieltz – Staff Writer for Soundoff – The online version of Fort Meade’s own community paper.
Alfred Shehab serves as President of the Battle of the Bulge Historical Foundation, is past Vice President of Military Affairs of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge and currently serves on the Executive Council of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge.
My Dad, Jean Henry Dasburg, was in the 4th Division and he was with the Medical Battalion that was attached to the 22nd Regiment. His nick name was ‘Moose’ but one gentleman in the prison camp referred to him as ‘The Big Guy.’ Dad landed D Day on Utah Beach and was captured Oct. 7, 1944. He was ultimately sent to Siegburg to the German Military Hospital/Prison Camp for wounded Allied prisoners. He basically ran the Allied section of the Camp until his escape on March 15, 1945.
His successful escape is recorded in General Hodge’s Diary on March 21, 1945. Dad was trying to get the Allies to not bomb Siegburg – they had suffered so many bombings because of their location in the industrial Ruhr pocket. My research has revealed that the last bombing Siegburg received was March 6, 1945. During the Battle of the Bulge a large number of the wounded infantry and airmen were brought to Siegburg. I have been doing research on those that my Dad buried because of their wounds and on those that survived. I have attached a letter that my Dad wrote home to the Dad of one of the men that he buried.
The gentleman was buried on 1/6/1945. The nephew of this gentleman has supplied me with a copy of the original letter that they have. They have sent me some photographs of the gentleman. Thank you for all of your efforts on behalf of the Organization and on behalf of all veterans!
I am looking for anyone who was a prisoner or knows anything about Siegburg or Waldbrol, Germany during WW2. The Siegburg location of the POW Camp had many different names but it was NOT the Stalag 6G in Bonn, Germany. Part of the Siegburg Monastery was a hospital for wounded German soldiers. Another part and barracks were used for the wounded Allied prisoners. In addition to wounded combat soldiers, a lot of wounded Army Airmen were brought to Siegburg when their planes were shot down. When the Airmen recovered to some level, they were sent to Dulag-Luft. From there they went to Stalag Luft 3 or I suppose many different Stalag’s. If you have any information, I would really appreciate being able to talk with you.
Jean D. Jacobson
786-768-2288
email – jeanj@jjworld.com
On February 22, 2013, four veterans of the Battle of the Bulge, Glen Beville (POW) F/424rd 106th ID, Clearance Buckman 106th ID Division Artillery, Fred Parks (POW) K/423rd 106th ID, and Bob Spaulding 16th IR 1st ID, participated in the 111th annual GeorgeFest Parade in Eustis, Florida. After enjoying a breakfast at Brian Welke’s office that was cooked up by Teresa Welke the VBOB members rode in style in the parade. The 1962 Pontiac Catilina was provided by Mike Hurley USAF and Vietnam Veteran. There were 80 entrants in the parade and the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge led the one mile long parade procession with an estimated 6,000 people looking on. The veterans all belong to Chapter 48 Mt. Dora, Florida.
During my investigations and researches, in a Belgian Ardennes farm I have found the wood cross of the field grave of the Pfc R.P NEFF KIA Day Christmas 1944. I have obtain the IDPF report of this man who has been repatriated after war. This soldier was with the 41th Armored Infantry Rgt. The grave and cross were in the village of Sorinnes, near Dinant, Belgium.
I have made some researches about what’s happen for the 41th Rgt during this time… but without success… I should be so happy if I can found any information about Raymond NEFF or about the 41th AIR during this time.
Here are the informations I have about him:
Raymond P. NEFF
From Lincoln, Nebraska
37485813
2nd Armored Division
41th Armored Infantry Regiment
KIA 25 December 1944 near Sorinnes (Celles area Belgium)
Cross found on his field Grave
Please contact me if you can help.
Michel Lorquet
Lorquet.nibus@skynet.be
VBOB member Dean Van Landingham relives his service to Arlon, Belgium, where his division encountered a heavy 168% casualty rate. He talks about the difficulty most veterans have in discussing specifics of what they witnessed or endured. Dean served with the 26th InfD, 328th Inf, 3rd Bn, Co I.
VBOB member Vince Bellanca tells of the terrible losses with the 114th and 71st InfD. Though his 44th held, Vince recounts the present day effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He gives a powerful appeal for others to seek available help. Vince served with the 44th InfD Artillery, 157 FA Btn, Co HQ.
A sergeant in the Battle of the Bulge, Jessie Bowman describes the pitch battle and German surrenders in the Ardennes, a recent reunion celebration in Plön, Germany, and traces his 30 year career as a barber to a set of barber tools given to him by a fellow infantryman in the field. Jessie served in the 87th InfD, 345th Inf, Co D
Mike Levin provides his service narrative from basic training, to assignment in Greenland, to Officer Candidate School, and ultimately to his service as an artillery observer at the Battle of the Bulge. Mike served with the 489th ArmD FA Bn, 7th ArmD, Co. A.
On February 13, at a ceremony at the French Embassy in Washington, Mr. Hughes became a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor of France. Mr. Hughes attended the ceremony in Washington with his wife Lucille, son Terry Hughes of Verona, and daughters Susan Mead (Charlotte, NC) and Patricia Hutchinson (Belmar, NJ), and their spouses, Maria, Paul and John.
In the 68 years since his service in World War II, William Hughes, a resident of North Huntingdon Township, has said little about his experiences during the winter of 1944 and ‘45. Like many of his fellow veterans of that war, their service was a matter of duty, and the circumstances they endured helped shape the aspirations upon which they went on to build lives. Together with his four brothers, Vincent, John, Emmet and Gerald, William Hughes brought his parents the distinction of having five sons in the US armed forces simultaneously, the number one service family of Osceola Mills, a small mining town in central Pennsylvania.
Thinking back on that time, Mr. Hughes now 88, remembers arriving in northeastern France in November of 1944, fighting house to house near the towns of Nancy and Metz. Then on December 16, the 80th infantry division was moved to Luxembourg for what became known as the Battle of the Bulge. After five weeks fighting in the snow, wearing camouflage made from bed sheets by the women of the nearby villages, Mr. Hughes suffered a severe head wound. He recalls waking to a medic saying to him “The war is over for you, soldier,” and offering him the piece of shrapnel that had shattered his forehead. Said Mr. Hughes, “I don’t know why I didn’t take it. I guess I just wasn’t thinking about souvenirs.”
Mr. Hughes, who spent the subsequent 6 months recuperating in hospitals in Luxembourg, England and Virginia needed no souvenirs to remember his wartime experiences. Neither, it seems, did the people of France. On February 13, at a ceremony at the French Embassy in Washington, Mr. Hughes became a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor of France. He was joined in this honor by thirteen other American veterans of the four pivotal campaigns of the liberation of France: Normandy, Provence, Ardennes and Northern France. In a stirring address, Olivier Serot Almeras, Consul General of France in the US, explained to the veterans that “this award is a sign of France’s gratitude and appreciation for your personal and precious contributions to the US’ decisive role in the liberation of our country during World War II.”
The Legion of Honor was created by Napoleon in 1802 to acknowledge services rendered to France by persons of exceptional merit. The ceremony was followed by a champagne reception.
Dear History Enthusiasts, Professors and Friends,
Hope you are all doing well! Please excuse this impersonal invitation to a rare opportunity. The WWII Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge – Northwest Chapter (#6) are having a Spring Luncheon on April 13th and we’d LOVE to have you attend.
It is going to be a grand event and I’ve attached a flyer so you’ll have all the details. Alice Miller and Peter Lahmann will be presenting a special program on military uniforms and their stories. (I’ve put some information on Alice and Peter below.) This is going to be a terrific event with great food, an awesome presentation, outstanding displays, and an opportunity to meet some people who made WWII history!
The flyer includes a registration form for anyone who would want to attend. Also, we would appreciate your assistance in getting the word out about the event.
If you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to contact me. We look forward to seeing you in April!
With God’s love, Beth (and Jim) Pennock
Presidents of the Northwest Chapter of VBOB
(206) 783-0212
Alice Miller is a nationally recognized historian who also specializes in military uniforms – more than 140 vintage uniforms ranging from World War I to Desert Storm to today. She tours and hosts shows and displays for Children’s Hospitals, United Service Organization (USO) galas, schools, senior centers, museums, fund-raisers, special military events, historical societies, and was invited to Pearl Harbor in support of a December 7th commemoration to portray women in the service. She is also a Living History performer at the Museum of Flight. Alice’s passion is sharing about women’s military uniforms – their histories, origins and the women who wore them so proudly.
Peter Lahmann did his first historical military display in November 1981. Historical displays have led Peter from 24 years of displays for Armed Forces Day at Ft. Lewis, to the Beaches of Normandy, and to the frozen Hills of the Ardennes, supporting the display efforts of friends in Longchamps, just outside of Bastogne, Belgium. He has done displays ranging from WWI to Desert Storm sometimes covering Marine Corp and Navy as well as World War II Infantry and Engineers. He currently, in addition to uniforms, patches, equipment, and paper items, owns and maintains seven military vehicles ranging from WWII to Vietnam, five of which are running at the current time.
Maj. Orville Miller (ret.) describes a 110 mile overnight trek with General George Patton’s 3rd Army. The journey took Orville past the Buchenwald Concentration Camp, eventually joining the Battle of the Bulge. Orville served with the 513 Engr Cmbt Bn, attached to 4th ArmD.