CHECKERBOARD

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General brings message of thanks

The 61st annual convention of the 99th Infantry Division Association culminated July 24, with a reception and banquet. President B.O. Wilkins welcomed everyone and sergeants-at-arms Jesse Coulter and Mark Mueller presented the colors, followed the recitation in unison of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Membership votes to host final convention in 2011

The membership meeting of the 99th Infantry Division Association was called to order at 9 a.m. July 24 by President Herb Knapp. The sergeants-at-arms advanced the colors and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

President Knapp tells board of directors, "Checkerboard has become worldwide"

The board of directors of the 99th Infantry Division Association met July 23, during the 61st annual convention at the Louisville Marriott Downtown, Louisville KY. Those attending were Herb Knapp, B.O. Wilkins, J.R. McIlroy, Harry Clifton, Tim Nugent, Harry McCracken, Sully Sullivan, John Vasa, Glenn Bronson, Phil Benefiel, Donna Bernhardt, and guests Stephen Harlan and Shawn Morris of the 99th Regional Support Command.

Memorial service is tribute to departed members

As 99th Infantry Division Association Chaplain Arnold Taylor wrote his remarks for the annual Memorial Service at Louisville, he planned to be on hand to deliver them. But, while he and his wife Lilian were in line at the hotel to check in, they received word that Lilian’s brother in South Carolina had died. Taylor, never one to shirk his duty, turned over his notes to B.O. Wilkins and headed back to South Carolina.

Final convention will be July 20-24, 2011

The 99th Infantry Division Association membership and board of directors voted in July at the Louisville convention to host the final convention July 20-24, 2011. The site selection committee chose the Kansas City area because of its central location and the convenience of air travel in and out of the Kansas City airport.

15 participate in National Memorial Day Parade

Fifteen veterans of the 99th Infantry Division participated in the 2010 National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C., on a hot and humid, but sunny day. Thousands of citizens lined Constitution Avenue and watched some 200 units pass by – soldiers, veterans, high school bands, floats, vintage cars, motorcycles and mounted details. Step-off time was 2 p.m. and at 3 p.m. the entire parade was stopped as “Taps” was sounded by buglers all up and down the parade route in memory of all those who have died in each of our nation’s wars, from the Indian Wars to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The most important unit, though, was our contingent. (Would we lie to you?)

After almost 70 years missing, WWII helmet given to sergeant's daughter

Kentuckian Bill Reynolds was visiting a friend in Louisiana. His friend, Cary Winters, had something special to show Bill, a collector of World War II memorabilia. It was a World War II-era Army helmet liner with sergeant’s stripes and the last name “Betts” on the front. Winters, who had purchased the helmet at a yard sale, gave it to Reynolds.

Visiting 99ers in the Northwest

On March 25, 2010, Beverly and I left Sacramento bound for Salem, Ore., some 10 hours away. The next day we had lunch with Joe Thimm K/395, and his wife Mary Ellen, and John and Helen Hansen with their son Bruce, a high school mathematics teacher. John Hansen K/393 had only recently learned about the 99th Division association. On Dec. 16, 2009, the 65th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, the local paper ran an interview with Joe in which he claimed to be the last 99th veteran still alive in Marion County. John Hansen contacted the paper to say there was a second veteran, namely himself, who also fought the Germans in the frozen snows of the Ardennes. John Hansen was born April 9, 1925, in Menomonie, Wis. His father sold tires and then ran a feed store. John finished high school in June 1943 and immediately enlisted in the army, figuring he would soon be drafted anyway. After basic training at Ft. Benning, Ga., he participated in the ASTP program at Arkansas State College (“a good experience”) then on to Camp Maxey and Love Company/393.

Diggers Fund needs infusion

Nelson, Trumble recognized at annual event in Colorado

To my knowledge, never in the 61-year-history of the 99th Division Association were two Battle of the Bulge veterans with the 99th Division the honored guests in front of more than 50,000 people in one football stadium. In addition, a third 99th member was on the speakers’ platform. Also, these two veterans were on TV Channel 7 ABC, seen in at least four states. The two vets were also written up in the local newspaper on different days with biographies and pictures of both (see stories in this issue).

Veteran Trumble attended VE Day and V-J Day celebrations

What inspired Ed Trumble, who grew up on a farm in rural Nebraska during the Great Depression and survived the Battle of the Bulge, to start a greeting card company in Colorado after returning from World War II? “I don’t know what plants a seed like that,” Trumble said. “These may well have been instrumental.”

Nelson was on ground for first day of the Battle of the Bulge

Honoring those who serve: Veteran born to oppression earns place in sacred history

Sam Lombardo has been many things in his 90 years. As a child in fascist Italy, he felt the hand of dictatorial oppression.

Ronningen recommends new book

Enclosed please find my check for two more years of the country’s finest military association publication. I want all my 99th friends to know about a new book they may be interested in.

'Once Upon a Time in War' reviewed by Journal of Military History

John C. McManus reviewed Robert E. Humphrey’s book, “Once Upon a Time in War: The 99th Infantry Division in World War II,” for the Journal of Military History. The 99th Infantry Division traveled a long and bloody road in World War II. Comprised of an interesting mix of men from hardscrabble and well-educated backgrounds, the unit entered the front line in the Ardennes a month before the Battle of the Bulge. Nicknamed “Battle Babies” by their division commander, the soldiers of this unit held the northern shoulder of the Bulge at Elsenborn Ridge. Later in the war, they were among the first American soldiers across the Remagen Bridge. They played a significant part in closing the Ruhr Pocket and they subsequently advanced deep into Germany, finishing up their war on the Danube River.

Taps

Raymond D. Parks, 96, D/394, Atlanta GA, died June 20, 2010. He was owner of NASCAR’s first championship winning car and an integral part of the series’ formation. He was the last living member of the group of men who created NASCAR in 1947, during a meeting at the Streamline Hotel in Daytona Beach FL. He fielded the car that Red Byron drove to the inaugural Cup Series championship in 1949, NASCAR’s first season of competition. He left home at 14 and began running moonshine. He later became a legitimate businessman with a successful empire in real estate, convenience stores and vending machines. He served in the 99th, fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was honored for bravery on the battlefield. Earlier this year, he was nominated, but not selected to be among the first five members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, which opened in Charlotte NC. Driver Richard Petty said, “Parks brought the sport class.” He is survived by his wife, Violet; and five grandchildren. Donald Wieland, 87, G/393, Milwaukee WI, died Sept. 9, 2009. He was wounded April 5, 1945, and was awarded a Purple Heart. He attended Baylor University and graduated from Marquette University. He was a civil engineer for Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District for 28 years, advancing to director of engineering. He retired in 1988. Survivors include his wife, June; four children; five grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.

Association was important to Sawyers

The sad news is this: Lindell “Lindy” Sawyers died Sept. 3, 2009. He died in the Presbyterian Home at Summerville SC, where he had lived for more than five years. I am Lindell’s cousin and serve as executor of his estate. When your invitation to this year’s convention arrived in the mail, having been forwarded by the mail service directly to my Bethlehem address, seeing the 99th insignia reminded me of two related items.

It's a small, small world

Often, when Honor Flights of World War II veterans come to Washington, D.C., to see the National WWII Memorial and other war monuments, they have a waiting period in an airport before the plane ride home. During that waiting period, a group of swing dancers puts on a show for them right in the waiting area.

Another perspective

I read some remarks about bad feelings between Camp Van Dorn old-timers and 19-year-old ASTPers. I’d like to give my experience in 2nd Platoon, F/393. At the shocking end to ASTP in March 1944, when we joined the older men at Camp Maxey, I got Stan Lowry as my platoon sergeant – a Native American. I guess we had something in common. As a kid I lived on the edge of town next to many miles of woods and fields, where my gang played cowboys-and-Indians. He probably played the same game, but with opposite goals. I think that’s why he took to me as first scout of 2nd Squad. My winning the battalion’s Best Scouting Message contest might have figured in. He always invited me to come along to Oklahoma with him on weekends for fun with another sergeant, and to jog around Maxey’s perimeter on free mornings. Since my feet usually gave me trouble, I didn’t go. But I never let on about that weakness. More later.

Thimm's interview brings new member to the fold

I just met with John Hansen, L/393, and his wife. John had no idea the 99th Infantry Division Association existed. He blocked out his war experiences and never looked back. I found him to be a very sharp guy. He was in the ASTP at Arkansas State University before being routed to L/393 at Camp Maxey. He was evacuated from the line in November 1944, with trench foot prior to the Battle of the Bulge, but was back on line before Christmas. He was a BAR guy and went through the rest of the war without a scratch. He remembers Elsenborn Ridge very, very well.

Veteran's memories flow from historic battle

Like most men who survived combat in World War II, Joe Thimm didn’t feel the need to talk about it when he came home. One year after he huddled in a snow-covered trench, trying with his buddies to stay alive, he was back in the United States getting mustered out of the Army.

Memories of the Rhine Crossing

I am a former member of Company A, 393 Regiment, 99th Infantry Division. I am an ardent reader of the Checkerboard. I read with interest the article, “Let’s hear about the Rhine Crossing,” written by Bob Fickett of Kaufman TX, wherein he suggested that you should cover crossing the Rhine River. I also crossed the Rhine with the 99th, but I crossed it on the afternoon of March 16, when the German artillery bombarded it extremely heavily in an attempt to destroy the only bridge left standing. It was originally discovered by the 9th Division and when we approached the bridge to cross it, there were bodies of many of that division’s soldiers. After running at full speed to avoid the shrapnel as a result of the bombing, as well as the holes in the floor of the bridge, we came to a large open field. We saw an 88 artillery gun above the field pointed at us.

The switch

Like most guys, my memories of 1943 to 1945 have faded into the haze of old age. One event, though, still flits through my mind every now and then because it was so humorous, and we didn’t have many humorous moments back then. It was the spring of 1945, and we were somewhere in Germany in some small town that had taken a real beating. We had moved in at dusk and my squad was billeted in a small house that, like the rest of the town, was mostly in shambles. There was a front entrance with a missing door that led into a hall, and off to the right we found a room that, surprisingly, was still fairly intact -- it had four walls and a ceiling.

Omar Paxson thrilled with Humphrey's book, 'Once Upon a Time in War'

I can’t tell you how much thrill you gave to me in your “Once Upon a Time in War.” It was a very slow read for me because I relived every incident. So I would reread page after page … going back 65 years. Then when I came down to breakfast in the morning I would tell Helen all about what I had read, and lived through. We have been married for 57 years and she is so patient. It is amazing to me that you interviewed more than 350 99th Infantry guys and even if there is some similarities in stories, if you were 50 yards apart, you had a different war. I had the same foxhole buddy throughout, and yet I am sure his war stories and mine are not the same. This is what makes your book so honest and valuable. You go right to the source, the front line soldiers.

Joe Kagan, F/393, shares experiences

Veterans Day is an annual American holiday honoring military veterans of all wars. It was originally called Armistice Day, celebrating the end of hostilities in World War I and in 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all veterans. I am a veteran of World War II and will speak namely about that time, more than 60 years ago. The U.S. declared war on Germany and Japan in December 1941, and it ended in 1945.

George Company captures a village

After crossing the Rhine River at Remagen, George Company/395 advanced up rugged, tree-covered hills as the 99th Division moved eastward toward the Wied River. At 6:30 a.m. on March 15, 1945, the company departed in darkness and heavy fog with orders to proceed toward Ginsterhahn in support of the Third Battalion’s attack. Company Commander Harold Hill became lost but decided to push ahead and came upon the tiny village of Hähnen, which happened to be a regimental command post. After eight rounds of artillery crashed into the town, Lt. Hill ordered the 1st and 2nd platoons to attack across 100 yards of open ground. Platoon leader Lt. Daniel Juraschek and radioman John Vasa headed for the village. As they turned into the street, a German soldier fired a machine pistol, hitting Juraschek in the leg and sending a bullet into Vasa’s walkie-talkie. They took cover behind a rabbit hutch and a pile of logs. Juraschek hollered at Vasa to tell Hill what had happened. Since the radio was useless, Vasa hurried back on foot and relayed the information to Lt. Hill. (Spotting Vasa without his radio, the company communications sergeant chewed him out for abandoning government property.)

Roudybush fought in Battle of the Bulge

The Germans outnumbered American troops 10 to one by the time U.S. Army Pvt. William Roudybush joined what became known as the Battle of the Bulge, one of World War II’s largest and most violent battles. “There were 15,000 in the 106th Division and 15,000 in the 99th,” Roudybush, now a 91-year-old retired Muscatine doctor, said when asked about the 65th anniversary of the battle’s beginning.

Battle of the Bulge: The North Shoulder

On Sept. 16, 1944, at a meeting with a number of senior officers in his study, Hitler listened to General Jodl discussing the American Army advance in the region of the Ardennes. At the mention of the Ardennes, Hitler told Jodl to stop and after a long pause, stated, “I have made a momentous decision. I shall go over to the offensive, that is to say here, out of the Ardennes, with the objective, Antwerp!” By Dec. 15 the planned forces were in position to begin the attack the next day. The Germans had removed major units from defenses in France and had moved them into position while convincing U.S. intelligence that the German forces in the Ardennes were being reduced.

An interview with Richard Richards, C/395

On March 14, 1945, Charlie Company was advancing toward the Wied River in the Rhine bridgehead. The company spent the night on a high ridge not far from the village of Steinshardt. In the morning, as the first platoon came upon two wooden hunting lodges, the Germans unleashed a terrifying artillery barrage. Oakley Honey and two others jumped in a covered foxhole dug by the Germans. Lying there, Honey heard what sounded like a chicken squawking. Looking out, he spotted Staff Sgt. Richard Richards down on all fours with his jaw missing and blood gushing out.

On the front line

Jay Nelson sits at the kitchen table of his longtime Jackson (MT) home surrounded by hand-crafted walnut cabinets and a panoramic photograph of the Big Hole Valley. The 86-year-old grew up on his family’s ranch just outside town and says he never strayed too far from the community, population 134, for any extended period of time.

Wilkins shares his story of Dec. 16

My half-squad was in a ravine in front of the trees with an open field between us and the International Highway (50 years later the ravine is no longer there, probably filled in to make more grazing land). John McCauley had the last watch of the night in our lookout position. I was asleep in our hole. Mac came to wake me and tell me something was weird and I’d better take a look. We went to the lookout and saw the entire front bathed in floodlights from the German side. Then the artillery barrage began, and many shells landed in the trees behind us. Since we were down in the ravine, we had some natural protection, even though the lookout position was open to our rear. Mac suddenly said, “I’m hit. I’m hit!” He’d been hit in his left buttocks, so we took his pants down to check. There was no evidence of a wound, so we checked his pants and found a piece of shrapnel embedded in his wallet.

In Ardennes: Green division balks German guns, trickery

This story was sent by Mike Poole of Chula Vista CA. It was first published as part of a series in the Feb. 5, 1945, Philadelphia Inquirer. In many respects the 99th Infantry Division was green to the blitzkrieg and the icy terrain of the Ardennes. With the pleasant memory of Louisiana and Texas training maneuvers freshly in mind, it was like the French in the Maginot Line in 1940. It hadn’t been a bad war thus far, and they didn’t mind.

Joe Kagan's Patrol

A letter from Joe Kagan mentioned several memories of his days with Company F of the 393rd; one of them was: “Going on patrol to the German lines (outside of Elsenborn) with the mission of bringing back a German prisoner. We were lucky in succeeding with our mission because we captured a German soldier who had fallen asleep while on sentry duty.” These two sentences hardly do justice to that patrol. Joe Kagan (Little Joe, as we affectionately called him) was at that time Lt. Kagan, leader of the second platoon of F Company which was dug in on the forward slopes of Elsenborn Ridge. The snow-covered fields in front of us sloped gently down to a shallow valley and then rose to Krinkelt directly in front of us. I was the first scout on Joe Kagan’s patrol as it left our lines to probe the German positions in search of a prisoner.

Malmedy Massacre incident

I read with great interest the Malmedy Massacre article by Ralph Storm in the May (2009) issue of The Bulge Bugle. It reminded me of an incident the night of the massacre. I was a medic in the 99th Infantry, 395th Headquarters Aid Station. A soldier came to an old farm house outside the town of Rocherath, where we had an aid station.

My war experiences

It was early in the morning before sunrise on Dec. 16, 1944, that began one of the most difficult four days of my life. An artillery barrage started nearby. I was in a dugout with two buddies in the Ardennes Forest. There was a deep hole in the ground, large enough for three men to stand with their eyes at ground level. Another less deep digging extended back from the deeper hole. It was covered with logs to protect us from shrapnel from exploding shells. We laid there with our raincoats under us and an army blanket over us since the ground was covered with snow. The barrage was coming from the enemy artillery, and one of my dugout mates with more experience said he had not experienced a barrage of this intensity. After awhile, the barrage stopped, but machine gun fire started at some distance from us in the forest. Soon our squad leader sergeant appeared and told us to follow him through the forest. We grabbed our field backpacks and rifles and followed him to the part of the forest that was near our battalion headquarters. Automatic weapons were firing in the distance. German automatic weapons had a faster rate of fire and could be identified quickly by their distinctive sound.

Bulge was violent and cold battle

It all began at 0500 hours. Chuck Katlic recalls being on watch 65 years ago, Dec. 16, 1944, in the Ardennes.

The first day of the Battle of the Bulge

By 2 a.m. Dec. 16, 1944, the Germans, on their frontier with Belgium, started an unrelenting artillery fire with rockets called screaming meemies because of their frightening sounds in flight and 88s which hit the target at about the time one could hear the gun fire. Every man was alerted and took his place in foxholes. We knew the Germans had something in mind for us. Their artillery fire was all directed over our heads to the rear echelon against our artillery, command locations and reserves. At that time we were in the noisiest but safest place on the American lines.

Information wanted about soldiers buried in Belgian cemeteries

A year ago, I adopted two graves of soldiers of the 99th Infantry Division, 394th Infantry Regiment. I didn’t know then, but after reading about this division and its men, I got caught by the story of the “Battle Babies.” The graves I adopted are from the soldiers Walter A. Keglovits (35764047) buried at American War Cemetery Ardennes in Belgium and Robert L. Fields (35689037) buried at American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle in Belgium. For both soldiers, I tried to contact relatives. I did find Walter Keglovits’ nephew and we have good contact. My search for Robert Fields’ family is a bit more difficult, but I am working on it. I also got their IDPF and got lots of information about them.

Information needed about uncle

I have been in contact with Robert Humphrey, author of “Once Upon A Time in World War II,” a recently released book that chronicles the 99th Infantry Division during World War II. I contacted Humphrey and he suggested I contact you and the members of the Checkerboard to see if anyone recalls serving with my uncle.

Son would like information about father, Neal Bellos

I am looking for anyone who may know my dad, Neal Bellos. I only wish I had done this sooner. My dad went through open heart surgery to replace the aortic valve, reinforce a mitral valve, and perform a single bypass in December 2009, all this from a blood infection. He had been in the hospital since early November. His 84th birthday was on Nov. 6. He came home from all this about mid-March, and is taking a slow road back. Can you put my dad on the mailing list? His address is 4843 Carey Drive, Manlius NY 13104.

Looking for people, information

Ltc. Mike Hicks is searching for information about his uncle, Harrison “Chum” Hicks, who was in the 99th throughout the war. He would like to get news about his uncle for a recollection for his father and cousins. Chum Hicks died in 1960. If you have information, write to Mike Hicks, Director and Associate Professor, Center for Business and Economic Research, Ball State University, Muncie IN 47306 or e-mail mhicks@bsu.edu. Clyde Thomas, I/395 Scott Thomas would like to have information about his grandfather, 2nd Lt. Clyde A. Thomas, I/395. He was awarded a Silver Star March 14, 1945, in Germany. Contact Thomas at 1887 W. Chestnut St., Apt. C, Lancaster OH 43130, or e-mail snbgeo07@yahoo.com. Edwin Bockbrader

Son would like to hear from dad's buddies

My father’s name was Richard James McChesney and he was from Pittsburgh PA. He served in the 99th quartermaster Company and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Friends called him Jim or Mac. He died in 1969, just a month after his 49th birthday. I was 16 at the time of his death, so he and I never had a conversation about his war experiences. I do know that he was proud of his service, as he should have been, and stayed in touch with a number of his buddies until his death.

Grandson asks for information

I recently found this website and thought I would take a chance on seeing if anyone knew my grandfather, Cpl. Howard E. Watson. He was in A/394. He fought in the Battle of the bulge and was captured on Dec. 18, 1944. He was a POW at Stalag 13c near Hammelburg, Germany. He later was marched (with others) to Schweinfurt, Germany, and eventually liberated on April 29, 1945. My grandfather was from Oklahoma. He died in 2003 at LaGrange TX. I have limited stories and paperwork from his time in the service with the 99th. My grandfather walked on water to me and it would be a great honor to hear from anyone who knew him or knew of him during this horrific time. Any information would be appreciated.

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