|
Preface |
|
In the earlier years of the Association an energetic plan was launched to establish "Chapters" in prominent points around the country. The Association forefathers envisioned a large national organization. The idea was that the local chapters would function as "centers of influence" and conduct the ongoing business of the membership in those areas. There would then be an annual get‑together (Reunion) where all would come together. In the meantime "The CUB" would be the line of communication. This was planned to lighten the load of volunteer officers and Board of Directors. This was successful, until the membership started to dwindle, for whatever reason. I have highlighted whatever information I found on these earlier chapters.
In later, more recent, years the concept is still alive, but in a different form. The membership has been very successful in holding annual get‑togethers to commemorate the anniversary of the start of the Battle of the Bulge. Most are held on or around December 16th each year. Dates and locations of these get‑togethers are announced in The CUB, usually in the November issue.
Most of these commemorative parties are highlighted with guest speakers and dinners. Where the numbers in attendance allow, many are held in private homes. Some have grown to large numbers. For example, and not to preclude any one meeting: In the November 1990 CUB there were 15 Commemorative Parties announced. This included 11 states. Pictures and guest lists are published in the February CUB (the next issue following the parties. )
Since most of this reporting is in picture form, I was unable to give a good example for this review. In 1990, get‑togethers were held at Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Reading, Pennsylvania; Chicago and Mt Vernon, Illinois; Atlanta, Georgia; Melbourne, Florida; San Francisco and La Mirada, California; Cincinnati, Ohio; St. Paul, Minnesota; Madison, Wisconsin; Detroit, Michigan; Cranford, New Jersey; and Mesa, Arizona.
Attendance ranged from 70 to 15 depending on the location. Its popularity is growing, mainly due to the insistence of Sherod Collins, our Treasurer/Historian and to the publicity in The CUB. Watch the November issues for announcements of forthcoming "December 16th Commemorative Get‑togethers!" .... CUB Review editor
CUBs Renew Friendship on 2nd Anniv. of Bulge New York 16 December 1946 Jan‑Feb 1947
Monday evening, 16 December 1946, the Veterans of the 106th in the New York metropolitan area met in the Iceland Restaurant at Broadway and Fifty Second Street to renew old acquaintances and refight the Battle of the Bulge. With a good representation of their better halves, 201 CUBs showed up, comfortably filling over half of the large room.
As they entered, Secretary Livesey and Mrs. O'Donnell were presiding at the desk piled high with copies of the CUB, the Stars and Stripes booklets, copies of the Camp Atterbury picture history for sale and boxes of Division lapel buttons. Behind the desk were letters and bulletins from GI's who wanted to be present and couldn't, and situation maps as of just two years ago, which attracted heated discussions all during the evening.
Entering the room, a huge four foot drawing of the Golden Lion looked down benignly on all, and signs at regular intervals marked the rallying points of all the units of the Division.
At seven thirty, the bugle called attention and in marched the famous color guard of the First Army and as luck would have it one of them was wearing the Golden Lion on his right shoulder. The national anthem was followed with a prayer by Captain (Chaplain) Lundy for those we left behind on the fields of Belgium. President Dave Price, who made a special trip from Albany, welcomed the Vets and introduced the Guests of Honor.
General Jones And Stanley Frank - Guests Of Honor General and Mrs. Jones and Stanley Frank, author of the 106th article in the Saturday Evening Post were the guests of honor at the President's table together with Colonel and Mrs. Stout, and Secretary and Mrs. Livesey.
The rest of the evening was given over to getting acquainted all over again, following an hour's sparkling show on ice. “Winter Wonderland”.
Highlights And Sidelights
Lt. Col. Joe Matthews, Exec Officer of the 422nd was present having come all the way from Carlisle Barracks before leaving for a tour of duty in Japan.
No session of this kind would be complete without Lt. Mac McNulty of Special Services rendering“Rifle Belts and Bayonets”so he did. The Emcee announced that it was the“family”version but recognizable anyway.
The war must be over, Col. Stout was actually caught starting two juicy rumors. Capt. Souers of the 81st Eng (C) Bn came all the way from Ohio. Sure seemed good to see his friendly grin again.
Questionnaires left at each table asked when and where the annual reunion should be held. Hasn't been tabulated yet but looked almost unanimous for August in Indianapolis. So did the question as to whether there should be a New York City Post.
Wes Hermance and his pretty wife were present from faraway Jersey and announced a little Hermance should report for duty late spring.
Whittemore & Co., who make the lapel button sent some samples of what they call “frat pins”, Division insignia with chain guards with branch of service,attached. Captain Willment, Secretary of the 75th Inf Div Assn was an interested guest. General Jones is going to need a new arm at the Annual reunion. He was kept busy signing autographs and pictures.
Telegrams and letters were received as follows:
TERRIBLY SORRY I
CAN'T BE WITH YOU. PLEASE GIVE CHRISTMAS GREETINGS AND WARMEST REGARDS TO
THOSE PRESENT.
BRIG. GEN.
HERBERT T. PERRIN KENYON COLLEGE, GAMBIER, OHIO
JUST LEAVING ON
TRIP STOP IMPOSSIBLE MAKE DINNER. HOLIDAY GREETINGS. BEST WISHES TO GEN.
JONES AND ALL PRESENT COL. LEO T. McMAHON
Sam Leibowitz, 645 E. 5th Street, Brooklyn 18, N. Y. “Had a most enjoyable time Monday evening. It sure was a treat to see some of the old gang.”
William P. Dohoney, 1429 Berryhill Street, Harrisburg, Pa., “According to the calendar, the Division is having a meeting tonight in N. Y. Due to my student duties at the U. of P. Dental School (Phila.) it was impossible for me to arrange to be there. I'm wishing the best of luck however and hope to be able to make the next reunion”
Herbert R. Warner, 117 Van Wagenen Avenue, Jersey City 6, N. J., “Received your invitation to the reunion but am sorry to say it came too late. If I had received it sooner I would have been able to make arrangements to attend. I would like to suggest that next year you get the invites out a little earlier. Hope everyone who did get to attend had a wonderful time.”
Howard B. Siegrist, 439 College Street, Burlington, Vermont, “Sorry, but I can't make it this time since exams come up the same time as the Reunion. However, I hope to be able to make the next one. If possible, next time have the Reunion at some date that will allow men that are at college to make it. Thanks.”
Cadet Bill Schlosser, USMA, West Point, N. Y., “I certainly regret that I'll be unable to attend the reunion. You probably know Cadets rarely spend weekends away from the Academy but I'll pour congratulations and best of luck into this letter to you and the rest of the boys. I know you'll all have a swell time. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, too!”
Edward L. Crusius, P. 0. Box 1510, Montgomery, Ala, “I'd give anything to be able to attend! But impossible at this time of year‑so instead give the price of two tickets to the Fund. P. S. Hope someone shoots the same amount of bull that I would!”
Charles A. Matson, Deertrail, Colo., “I can't make the Reunion but want a ticket.”
Robert J. Clark, Kirkland C‑22, Harvard University, Cambridge 38, Mass., Second Squad, Weapons Platoon Co A 423 Inf. 106 Div Conv. Iceland Restaurant
Hey, Gang: A very domineering schedule of classes and labs keeps me up here in Boston this weekend, instead of down in New York having a whale of a good evening. I will be in New York the Saturday evening before Christmas for the next six years, so if the matter comes up, cast my vote accordingly. Since most of us are either working now or will soon tie ourselves down to a job, I think the idea of adhering to the 16th of December should be abandoned in favor of the nearest weekend.
I should very much appreciate a circular letter written up at the convention concerning the present activities, heroism, etc. of all the Co. A men who were in before Dec. 19. Does anyone have Lt. William Burgessee address? Who knows if First Sgt. Causland was successful in his getaway attempt?
As for myself: Stalag IVB, Bad Orb, until April 2, flown to Billings, General Hospital, Indianapolis (same as ever) via Rouen, Paris, and New York. Hit the States the last day of April and was discharged from the hospital July 23, 1945, unserviceable for combat. Started in with the spring term this year here at Harvard on a pre‑medical course. I am now finishing my sophomore year. Since getting out I have seen Jack Arbour of Worcester, Mass., John Fellows of Canton, Ohio, and Norman Henne of Pittsburgh, from our Co.; Donald Candy of LaGrange, III., and Ray Campbell of Akron, Ohio, from the Medical Detachment. Henne is working in a steel mill and the rest are back in college. I also went to LaGrange, ILL. to visit the family of Ralph Leavitt. They would be very glad to hear from the gang both as a group and individually. Write E. T. Leavitt, 522 N. Spring Ave., LaGrange. ILL. Were there any other men from A Co. that didn't make it back.
The time has come for the men of Stalag IVB to agitate for the Congressional Medal of Honor for 1st Lt. Joshua P. Sutherland of Hays, Va. I'm sure that all the men of IVB will agree that his service as medical officer at the prison was much more heroic and much further beyond the call of duty than any battlefield hero. Let's show him our appreciation and America what a real hero is. Our Division has proclaimed itself as a veteran's organization which believes we should strive in peace to win the victory we fought in battle the right to fight for. Should not one of our Medal of Honor men be a soldier who fought to save lives at the risk of his own health and safety? Make speeches. Sign petitions. Get stories in the papers. A Co. must start the ball rolling.
As Finnegan would say Fulute, (signed) Bobo Clark
P.S. My vote for a national convention is Indianapolis in August or September. We took the heat once, we can take it again, and maybe get our feet warm for the same price.
The following list of those attending the Reunion is incomplete because more than 25 tickets were sold at the door and in the mad rush no record was kept of the names:
Division Headquarters Alan W. Jones Major General (Retired) former Division Commander Peter J. McNulty‑former Lt. Special Services 308 W. 58th St. New York, N. Y.
Division Headquarters Company William E. Prall Franklin, N. J. Ernest E. Schneider New Rochelle, N. Y.
I&E William J. Donovan New York
Chemical Warfare Service Herbert B. Livesey, Jr. Lt. Col. (Res.) CWS Sec'y‑Treas of 106th Inf Div Ass'n Mamaroneck, N. Y. Wesley S. Hermance Belleville 9, N. J.
G‑3 Donald F. Pfaff Great Neck, N. Y.
G‑2 Colonel Robert P. Stout Pelham 65, N. Y.
422 Infantry Regiment Joseph A. DeChiara Brooklyn, N. Y. Richard Gallichio Bronx 55, N. Y. Lt. Col. Joseph C. Matthews Executive Officer 422 Raleigh, N. C.
Hq Co Anthony J. Marino Brooklyn 3, N. Y.
Hq Co 1st Bn Bernard Brivic Bronx 60, FL XX
Hq Co 3d Bn Bert Ruthauser Bronx N. Y.
Svc Co Raymond F. Maguire New York 23, N. Y. Ernest Gerhardt New Rochelle, N. Y.
Co F Waldo B. Pierce New Britain, Conn.
Co K George P. LoCascio New York 34, N. Y.
Co L Albert J. Macaluso New York 2, N. Y.
Co M Murray A. Miller Brooklyn, N. Y.
423 lnfantry Regiment Rev. Robert A. Lundy Ridgewood, N. J. Richard P. Gallagher North Weymouth, Mass. Nicholas S. Amico Brooklyn 27, N. Y. Joseph P. Pirrone Bronx 57, N.Y.
Regt. Hq Co Gordon B. Zicker Svc Co William J. Devine New York, N. Y.
Med Det Edward Lasher New York, N. Y.
Hq Co 2nd Bn Matthew J. Giuffre New York 3. N. Y. Louis Denenberg New York 16, N. Y.
Hq Co 3d Bn Joseph Middelberg Brooklyn 4, N. Y. Jerome L. Frankel Brooklyn, N. Y. Edward J. Vecchione, Jr. West New York N. J.
Co B Donald R. Martinson East Lynn, Mass.
Co D Edmond D. Kelly Belleville, NY
Co G Aaron Friedman New York, N. Y.
Co I John F. Duffy Flushing, NY
424 lnfantry Regiment Samuel Leibowitz Brooklyn 18, N. Y. M. F. Cunningham Brooklyn, N. Y. Sol Levine Brooklyn, N. Y. G. Walter LaBorie New York 33, N. Y. Loren E. Souers, Jr. Canton, Ohio
Hq. Co. Joseph S. Negyesi Stamford, Conn. George W. Schwille New York, N. Y. James O'Keefe Bronx, N. Y. W. Bradford Hawes Woodside, L. I., N. Y.
Svc Co John J. Taylor Princeton, N. J.
Anti‑Tank Paul Kovalevich New York 25, N. Y.
Med Det Sol Kravitz New York 2, N. Y.
Hq Co 2d Bn Wm. H.. FIynn E. Norwalk, Conn. Paul A. Cuozzo Brooklyn, 5, N. Y.
Co B Henry Carrizzo Brooklyn, 15, N. Y. Clarence J. Ruth Philadelphia 32, Pa. Irwin C. Smoler New York, N. Y. Clinton H. Wilber Red Bank, N. J.
Co C Charles S. Lasky Jamaica 2, N. Y. Jay C. Hirsch Brooklyn 24, N. Y. John J. Gribbin, Jr. Bronx, N. Y.
Co E AIfred T. Mauro New York 12, N. Y. Albert C. Erickson Stratford, Conn.
Co F Ed. Marcinkoski Hempstead, N. Y. LeRoy A. Desmond, Jr. Wallingford, Conn. James T. Stuart Bridgeport, Conn.
Co H Robert A. Gilmartin Brooklyn 3, N. Y.
Co K Herbert Rosenfeld Brooklyn, N. Y. Richard DeHeer Bogota, N. J.
Co L Max Handelman Brooklyn, N. Y. Harry F. Martin, Jr. Plainfield, N. J.
Co M George Levine Brooklyn, N. Y. Bob Tatje Brooklyn, N. Y.
Divarty Hq Joseph S. Horod New York 3, N. Y. H. Carter Heller Philadelphia 21, Pa. J. Di Giorgio Garfield, N. J. Richard H. Ehmer New York 3, N. Y. Louis Aronowitz Bronx 59, N. Y. Edwin D. Humphrey Dumont, N.J.
Hq Btry Thomas M. Kolas Bronx 52, N. Y.
C Btry Edward M. Brown Brooklyn, N. Y.
590th FA Bn Herbert J. Friedman Mount Vernon, N. Y.
B Btry Michael Konival New York 3, N. Y.
C Btry Robert Ettinger Brooklyn, N. Y.
591st FA Bn Martin M. Dolitsky Port Chester, N. Y.
Hq Btry Robert Scherer Mahwah N.J.
331st Med Bn Irwin Neigus, M. D. Brooklyn 26, N. Y.
Co C Abraham Kaplan Brooklyn, N. Y.
Co D David S. Price President of 106th Inf. Div. Ass'n Albany 3, N. Y.
106th Sig Co Irving Kessler Newark 8, N. J. Seymour H. Zorn New York, N. Y.
M. P. Platoon Charles E. Kortlang Brooklyn, N. Y. Frank R. Boyd Dover, N. J.
Co C Louis S. LeTellier, Jr.
81st Eng (C) Bn Claude R. Brewer Englewood, N. J. J. Catanio Dumont, N. J.
Indianapolis Group Organizes First Local Chapter May‑June 1947
Charter members of the Hoosier Golden Lions met in Indianapolis recently and set up a temporary organization. Kenneth Perry was elected President, Harry M. Bremmer, Vice‑President, J. A. Beeler, Secretary, and George A. Curtis Chaplain. Other members are William Borders, Sullivan, Lloyd L. Colvin, Franklin, Al Harding, Indianapolis, George H. Reeder, Bloomington, William C. Stevenson, E. Vance and Ed Webster all of Indianapolis. Their primary job will be to act as hosts for the first reunion, secondary to plan care for brother members who are still in hospitals.
The next regular meeting of the Hoosier Golden Lions, survivors of the 106th Division's Battle of the Bulge, will be held Friday, June 6th at 8 P.M. at 1010 N. Delaware Street where all members of the 106th in this area will be welcomed.
It is announced today by the Temporary President, Kenneth Perry, that he will appoint the following to be the host committee for the annual re‑union of the 106th Division to be held in Indianapolis in mid July: Richard Allen, Indianapolis; Austin Backer, Veedersburg; James A. Beeler, Butler University; William Borders, Sullivan; Harry Brammer, Indiana University; Lloyd L. Colvin, Franklin; George A. Curtis, Charles Hackler, Al Harding, Lou Milanese, James Milliken, Kenneth Perry, all of Indianapolis; Geo. F. Phillips, A.R.C. Fort Benj. Harrison; George Reeder, Bloomington; Rocco Sergei, Indianapolis; Ed. L. Shute, Waynetown; Harold Songer, Veedersburg, Wm. C. Stevenson, Henry Sullivan, Carl Vance, Ed Webster and Harvey Yensel, of Indianapolis. The following are to be appointed special chairman of committees: George A. Curtis, Memorial Services; Charles Hacker, Registration; Richard Allen, Direction Insignia; Geo. F. Phillips, Transportation and First Aid; Lou Milanese and Henry Sullivan. Policing.
Auxiliary by MRS. D. B. Frampton,President December 1947
All members of the Auxiliary should have received a copy of the By‑Laws along with their membership card and 5 membership blanks. If each member contacts the relatives and friends of veterans of the 106th she happens to know and urges them to send in a membership application to our Secretary Mrs. Earl Hopbell 307 James St. Turtle Creek Pennsylvania, our membership will grow by leaps and bounds.
Over 450 letters containing the pertinent facts about the Auxiliary have been sent to those who were in touch with the “Agony Grapevine” in early '45. We hope that many of them will still want to be a part of the 106th.
We remind you: membership in the Auxiliary is open to all relatives and friends of veterans of the 106th and annual dues are $3 with “Cub” and $2 without “Cub”. If you want to belong but have neglected to apply for membership you may do so by writing to Mrs. Hopbell. |
|
|
