CHECKERBOARD

Mark your calendars for Louisville convention

The 61st annual convention will be held July 21-24 in Louisville KY. The Louisville Downtown Marriott will be the host hotel, with a room rate of $95 per night with free parking. The hotel is located within walking distance of Fourth Street Live!, a downtown entertainment and restaurant district.

Schedule of events

WEDNESDAY, July 21 Registration 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Registration form and brochure

99’ers invited to march in Memorial Day parade

When the 200-unit National Memorial Day Parade is held May 31 in Washington, D.C., one of those units will be veterans of the 99th Infantry Division. Representatives of each of our nation’s wars are heralded beginning with the Indian Wars, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, WWI, WWII, and up through the years to the war in Iraq, so WE want to be there!

Checkerboard now ready for researching

For more than 30 years, efforts toward collecting consecutive copies of the Checkerboard and putting them in form for researching have been made by the 99th Infantry Division Association Archives Committee. Archivist Donald Mehus, E/394, worked to gather the copies and send them to the Wisconsin Historical Society for microfilming. With the advancement in technology, it was determined to move to digitizing. At the suggestion of Eric Meyer, son of Bill Meyer, longtime Checkerboard editor, Heritage Microfilm/Newspaper Archives of Cedar Rapids IA, was contracted to do the digitizing. To date, microfilm of issues from 1943 to 1999 have been digitized. Subsequent issues will be included on the website soon.

99th Infantry Division Checkerboard at last on web site!

The 99th Infantry Division Association’s newspaper, The Checkerboard, is at long last on the Web site! Nowanyoneworldwide – 99ers, scholars and historians, and all other interested parties everywhere – may peruse a wealth of materialabout the remarkable 99th Infantry Division in some of the most momentous battles of World War II and about the 99th Infantry Division Associationduring its very active post-war period on up to the present. The 99th Infantry Division served with distinction on the front line insuch famedWWII’sencounters as the legendary Battle of the Bulge (mid-December 1944 to late-January 1945), theperilous crossing of the Rhine Riveron the Remagen Bridge (early March 1945), and the Final Battle of Germany (April-May 1945), which event marked the close ofWorld War IIin Europe.

Memories of the Battle of the Bulge

The largest Allied military operation of World War II became known as the Battle of the Bulge. More than 1 million men fought along this 75-mile forest border between Belgium and Germany. At dawn on Dec. 16, 1944, the enemy launched a surprise attack using three armies.

Harlan is new 99th historian

Stephen Harlan has been named the historian for the 99th Regional Support Command. He replaces Major Bruce Kish who has been in charge of the War Room at several of the 99th conventions. Harlan will assume those duties. According to Archives Chairman Harry McCracken, Harlan said all 99th memorabilia has been taken out of storage and moved to Fort Dix NJ. He said the building that will house the 99th war room displays and other items at Fort Dix is almost complete.

Taps

Russell W. Porter, 90, 1/394, Murrysville PA, died Nov. 25, 2009. He was awarded a Bronze Star. Survivors include his wife, Mary; two children; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Robert H. Parks, 84, K/395, Tulsa OK, died Nov. 24, 2009. After the war he earned a degree in petroleum engineering at the University of Tulsa. He retired in 1985. Survivors include his wife, Claralynn; two children; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Serendipity

A bunch of swing dancers put on a show at Reagan National Airport for WW II Honor Flight veteranswho were waiting for their flighthomeafter having visited the National WW II on the Mall here in Washington, D.C., and other memorials. I was one of the dancers. Seeing us jitterbugging the way they used to do years ago was a big hit for those veterans, some of them in wheelchairs.

Settle an argument

I am trying to determine if Albert T. Seman was a member of the 99th Infantry Division. I was talking to Joe Lucas, a member of the 134th AAA Gun Battalion, Battery D, which was positioned on a hill (Auf Leuters) northeast of Murringen on the morning of Dec. 16, 1944. He remembers an infantry platoon moving onto the hill right next to them on Dec. 13 or 14. Joe recognized one of the infantry men as Albert Seman because they were both from the same hometown of Grassflats PA. Joe was unable to tell me which unit Seman was with. Seman survived the war, but died in 1993.

Grandson needs information

My grandfather, Alfred Slaybaugh, served in the 99th Infantry Division during the Battle of the Bulge. I am not sure what company or regiment, but I do know that he was near L/394 at one point during the war. The only reason I know this is due to the fact that he is referenced in a book called “Infantry Soldier: Holding the Line at the Battle of the Bulge.” The reason I am contacting you is that my grandfather died in 2005. He never really spoke of where he was stationed or what he did during the war. Shortly after my grandfather’s death, his brother Thom was contacted by Bob Mitch.

Proud of the Checkerboard

The other evening I was watching our local TV news station when the news anchor spoke about a new military support group at Stewart Airport near Newburg NY. She introduced the story with an officer speaking about the unit standing behind a lectern. Sure enough – the camera focused in on the speaker and lo and behold there on the lectern was the “Checkerboard” patch of the 99th Infantry Division. We made the news again, about the same time as the Bulge, 65 years ago. Also, when I visited Washington, D.C., I stopped by the U.S. Holocaust Museum to view the exhibits. Near the entrance were several flags of units that participated in liberating the concentration camps. As I moved several flags to see the units involved, there was a flag with the Checkerboard insignia.

Remembering Ernest

It is with deep sadness I advise you of the death of my dear and close friend, Ernest D. McDaniel. His illness was short, as illnesses go for older people, and he died in mid-July 2009. He was a member of the 2nd platoon of F/393. I first met Ernest while serving in a Brand Immaterial Replacement Training Center at Camp Fannin TX, in 1943. We were roommates while attending ASTP training at Louisiana State University, but shortly thereafter all of us went as replacements to the 99th at Camp Maxey TX.

Recognition comes posthumously

I just sent in my husband’s check for his subscription to the Checkerboard, which he always looked forward to receiving. Curtis T. Hibbard was a kind and gentle man. I miss him very much. He was my love and my pal.

Let’s hear about the Rhine crossing

I really enjoy reading the Checkerboard. News regarding the Battle of the Bulge is great. Maybe you could cover crossing the Rhine River on March 9-10, 1945. Crossing the railroad bridge three days before it fell, we fought off a battalion of Germans stationed in the city of Remagen, thus making it possible to cross the Cologne Plain. I received my Purple Heart and Bronze Star on March 13. After being wounded I took 12 prisoners back with me to the aid station. On the way I captured a lieutenant forward observer for the German artillery. I was taken to Bamberg and flown to a hospital near Paris, France, where I spent the next five months before returning to the U.S. Bob Fickett
702 Adams Ln
Kaufman TX 75142

Share your memories

One of the members of the 99th Infantry Division, Shelby C. Melton, recently shared with me the 2009 second issue of the Checkerboard, which featured the Battle of the Bulge. Charles was in this battle and received a Purple Heart. At 96 years old, his memory is not as good as it used to be but he still can remember many of the actions in which he was involved. He is fuzzy about some of the dates but he remembers he was injured on New Year’s Day 1945.

Chaplain’s corner

Hanging on my office wall is a poem that was given to me years ago when I used to go fishing. I do not get to do that anymore, but the sentiment still touches my heart. In any case, I think this applies to all 99ers, regardless of whether we go fishing. The Fisherman’s Prayer God, grant that I may live to fish until my dying day. And when it comes to my last cast, I then most humbly pray, When in the Lord’s safe landing net I’m peacefully asleep, That in His mercy I be judged As big enough to keep.

Bulge books

Several books have been written about the history of the 99th Infantry Division and the Battle of the Bulge. A partial list is included here. Readers are invited to send additions.

Savage searches for books

I am trying to find copies of these books, “Dauntless,” “Battle Babies,” and “The Dead of Winter,” all related to the 99th Infantry Division. I am hoping to talk to some of the men living in the state of Florida as well. Stephen Savage
1951B Liberty St
Allentown PA 18104

Fie (Carl) Chan

I would like to hear from anyone who knew my dad, Fie (Carl) Chan. He was a medic with the 324th Medical Bn., captured during the first day of the Battle of the Bulge. He was a POW at Stalag IVb in Germany. He died in August 2009. I was riding my Harley in Colorado and met another biker who was wearing the 99th patch. He said his father was with the 99th as a lieutenant, liberating the POWs. His last name was Buhl. CW4 Raymond Chan
MNC-I, C4
Camp Victory, Iraq
Raymond.chan@us.army.mil

Wayne Cox

I am trying to find information about my grandfather, Wayne P. Cox. His hometown was Rockland ID. He was a combat medic. From what my grandmother said, he was in the 324th Medical Battalion Company B, attached to the 99th Infantry Division. Just days before the Battle of the Bulge he got bad stomach ulcers and was pulled from the front lines. My mother remembers he was stationed at Camp Van Dorn MS, and was a mess cook. He was deployed in 1944 with the 99th. He did not fight in the Battle of the Bulge, as he was in the hospital in England at the time. She thought almost everyone in his unit was killed. She remembers a chaplain survived and his name was Marion Van Trini (spelling may be incorrect) and he was a friend of my grandfather’s. The chaplain was from Jackson MS. My mom thinks they may have kept in touch after the war.

Joseph Orville King

My great-grandfather, Joseph Orville King, was a combat engineer in the 324th Engineer Bn. He was from Chester County PA, and enlisted in 1944 at New Cumberland PA. How can I find more information on how he was involved in the war? He never talked about his experiences and now I am trying to find his stories. Tyler Jackson
11010 Deerwood Dr.
Lowell MI 49331
tylersjackson@gmail.com

Preston LeBreton

J.P. Gaines is searching for a Checkerboard friend – Preston LeBreton. If you have information about LeBreton, contact Gaines at 407 Gainesway Dr., Madisonville LA 70447.

Ned Nelson

My grandfather, Ned R. Nelson, died in August 2008. He served with the 99th Infantry Division as a captain and was badly wounded in March 1945. I am looking for information about his wartime service. We have some documents of his and stories but I would like to find any outside information. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Kyle Nelson
2311 Fairway Rd.
Huntingdon Valley PA 19006

Jack Walter

In August 1945, my father-in-law, 2nd Lt. Jack C. Walter, was assigned to M/393. Previous to this posting, he was with the 76th Division, 304th Infantry, Company H. Letters indicate he was reassigned to M/393, 99th Infantry Division, around Aug. 26, 1945. He left Germany for the U.S. on Sept. 11, 1945, so he was not with the 99th very long (one month maximum). He never spoke about the war, other than a few random comments. He died in April 2007.

Photos / top stories