Aug
31
2009
Category : Eva Pache CH, Facebook's Friends
Aug
31
2009
Headquarters 1111th Engineer Combat Group, A. P. O 230, 2 January 1945, Subject : Certificate of Circumstances Involving EM of the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion, AOP 655
1. This is to certify that the following named enlisted men of B-1/526tth Armored Infantry Battalion did engage the enemy, who far outnumbered them, on the 181230 December, 1944, under the circumstances narrated here :
- Settlemeyer, T/Sgt, Returned to organization
- Smith Albert, S/Sgt, Returned to organization
- Evin, E. G., T/5, 34082797, Returned to organization
- Burdine, E. R., Pfc, 39329120, Returned to organization
- Isaac, Boyle, Pvt, 35798443, Returned to organization
- Surdo, J. H., Pvt, 39288375, Returned to organization
- McCullum, Killed in Action
- Hollenbeck, Killed in Action
- Higgins, Killed in Action
- Frazier, Killed in Action
- Bicker, Missing in Action
2. On December 18 1944, the above named enlisted men did establish a road block consisting of a string of mines and 1 57-MM Gun in the vicinity of Trois Ponts, Belgium. An enemy armored column was reported as approaching on the N-23 from Stavelot.
At approximately 1230 the first tank approached and were stopped by Frazier and Bicker pulling a string of mines in front of the lead tank. Although there were 8 tanks visible, the above named enlisted men showed no panic and manned the 57-MM with the result of the of the lead tank being disabled abd possibly the second one. A direct hit on the gun manned by McCullum, Buchanan, Hollenbeck and Higgins resulted in the gun being disabled and the gun crew killed. The remainder of these enlisted escaped and joined elements of assisting in operations against the enemy men for the next few days.
Robert N. Jewett
Captain Corps of Engineer.
Photos (Gunter) November 15 2009
Aug
31
2009
The following is a report of the action taken by Task Force Hansen (99th Infantry Battalion Separate)(Norwegian Vikings) in the vicinity of Malmedy, Belgium, December 1944.
Sunday, December 17 1944 at 1800-H the 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate) less A Company moved to Malmedy from Tilff for the propose of blocking the further advance of the Germans in that sector. Attached to this Battalion was the 526th Armored Infantry Battalion and B Company of the 825th Tank Destroyer Battalion to form Task Force Hansen. Lt Col Hansen and Maj Bjornstad proceeded ahead of the Battalion and arrived in Malmedy at 3130-H. By that time the town had been evacuated by all military personnel with the exception of approximately 60 men of the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion under the Command of Lt Col Runkin. The Engineers had established road block consisting of mines and were prepared to dynamite bridges and trees to further block the approaches to the town.
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Aug
30
2009
On Monday December 18 1944, Headquarters Company, US Armored Group, received orders from Lt Col Lowell S. Love, Armored Section, 1st US Army, to take up defensive positions south of the gas dump in the vicinity of Stavelot and provide radio security net for 1st Army. The company have never been in action before.
Initialy three company officers were in charge :
- Capt Olaf W. Christolpherson, Commanding Officer
- Lt Walter R. Butts, Radio Net Officer
- Lt Donald Miles, Assault Gun Officer
Equipment consisted of 5 half-tracks and 3 assault guns (3′ .cal). The half-tracks had their regular crews, each consisting of a driver, an assistant driver and three radio men.
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Aug
30
2009
Bulge : center part, Stavelot – 18 Dec 1944
December 18 1944 : Arrived at Stavelot 0400-H 18 December 1944. Picked up Maj Paul J. Solis and Lt Pehovic from Battalion Headquarters. Company and one Platoon of Tank Destroyer on road on outskirts of Stavelot, Maj Solis, Lt Pehovic and myself went into town to get situation from the 291st Engineer Combat Battalion that was in the town (with support of elements of the 825th Tank Destroyer Battalion) at the time. They had a road block (two 3 inches gun from 825th TDB) across the river on the hill and it had be fired on and the men retreated back in town. I sat up our Command Post in the Engineer Building near the bridge (the Amblève River bridge was already wired an ready to be blown).
- At 0430-H I sent 2nd Platoon and a section of TD’s route #4 to the left to the Engineer’s road block. I sent the 3rd Platoon at the same time along route #4 (Stavelot – Vaux Richard – Lodomez) to the right to establish a road block at the road junction. The 1st platoon positions around the Command Post for internal security. The Antitank platoon and the Tank Destroyer platoon and the Tank Destroyer less one section of guns, was held in reserve to be used as situation warranted.
Aug
28
2009
Category : Veterans Taps
It is with a heavy heart and my deepest sympathy that we learn of the passing of another of our Distinguished Veteran and a Valued Comrade. Through a message from George Hudicka, who saw the Obituary in the local newspaper, we learn that Mr. Charles C. “Cal” Roessler, Hq 2-513th PIR, passed away on 25 August 2009. I was able to contact the Family this morning to obtain the information for this message. Following his service in World War II where he earned three Bronze Stars, Mr Roessler earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from Drexel University for a career in Industrial and Mechanical Engineering. He was an avid reader and adventurer. Among his many interests were bowling, golf, hiking the Appalachian Trail and camping. He learned to fly an airplane and glider, sail, canoe, scuba dive and white water rafting. His passion as he approached retirement was to travel and see as much of the United States as he could. Mr. Roessler joined our Association in 1961, became a Life Member in 1990 and attended some 12 Reunions. He suffered Dementia for several years. The cause of death was Natural Causes at the age of 84.
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Aug
27
2009
Category : German Photos, Panzertruppen
Here is a really nice set of photos related to German World War Two Armors. (Part 2)
Aug
27
2009
Category : German Photos, Panzertruppen
Here is a really nice set of photos related to German World War Two Armors. (Part 1)
Aug
20
2009
Category : Veterans Taps
It is with a heavy heart and my deepest sympathy that we learn of the passing of another of our Distinguished Veterans and a Valued Comrade. Through a message from Joe Quade we learned that Mr. Paul R. Rochford, Co I, 513th PIR, passed away on 6 August 2009. Unfortunately, with the assistance of the Funeral Home handling the arrangements and from the AOL White Pages, I was unable to contact a Family member to obtain the information for this message. Ed Siergiej provided the following information. Mr Rochford was discharged in 1946 and years later in the early to mid 1960’s served with the 19th Special Forces Airborne Group, the Green Berets. He spent most of his career in the secondary and higher education field. He joined our Association in 1972 and became a Life member in 1997. He attended eight Reunions with the last one being our “Farewell Reunion” in Hampton, VA in 2007. He was 83 years of age at the time of death.
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Aug
20
2009
Category : Veterans Taps
It is with a heavy heart and my deepest sympathy that we belatedly learn of the passing of another of our Distinguished Veterans and a Valued Comrade. In a message from Joe Quade we learned that Mr. Ralph C Neves, Co C, 139th Abn Engr Bn, passed away on 10 January 2009. I was able to contact the Family this morning to obtain the information for this message. Following his service in World War II Mr Neves remained in the US Army. He attained the rank of CW3 while serving as a Safety Engineer in the Active Army and the Reserves. He served the United States Government for 30 years as a Safety Officer and Inspector at Red Stone Arsenal, Rock Island, IL and other stations. In retirement he remained active in Civic Activities such as Meals On Wheels. He joined our Association in 1989 and became a Life Member in 1994. He fell on 1 January 2009 and fractured a hip. Surgery was successful but he suffered a Heart Attack that was the cause of death at the age of 84.
Aug
20
2009
Category : Veterans Taps
It is with a heavy heart that we learn of the passing of another of our Distinguished Veterans and a Valued Comrade. Through a message from James R. Jones we learn that Robert Faulkner Gray, Sr, Capt US Army (Ret), 194th GIR, passed away on 1 August 2009. I was able to contact a Family Member to obtain the information for this message. Following his service with the 17th Airborne Division Capt Gray remained in the US Army for a 20 year career. Following his military service he was employed by a local Bank and the Electronic Data Systems Inc in Columbia, SC. In retirement he enjoyed following his Father’s trade – A Cabinet Maker. The cause of death was Natural Causes at the age of 93.
Aug
18
2009
Category : Germany
After Action Report – 82nd Airborne Division – May 1945
1 – Narrative
By nightfall, April 30, 1945, the 82nd Airborne Division had established a small bridgehead east of the Elbe River in the vicinity of Bleckede, Germany. This bridgehead had been established by the 505th Prcht Inf Regt in a splendid example of coordination and river crossing technique by a veteran regiment.
During the night of April 30 – May 1, the plan was to build up sufficient forces from the 504th Parachute Infantry, which was arriving by train approximately five hours from the Elbe River, so as to attack out of the bridgehead with that regiment by daylight. One battalion of this regiment arrived at the bridgehead by 0430-H and with a full appreciation of the value of time it jumped off at 0500-H, the regiment being reinforced during the day by the later arrival of its other battalions. Troops completing the 4 – 6 day train trip from the Koln area were immediately en trucked and taken into the bridgehead. Then, after being briefed and issued ammunition, they were committed to the attack. It was obvious that the German was disintegrating rapidly and it was of the utmost importance that regardless of the physical condition of our troops, the momentum of our drive be maintained until the enemy was completely destroyed or overrun.
Aug
14
2009
The origin of the parachute dates back many years. The first record of its use was described by a passenger of a burning balloon, who made a successful escape by parachute in July 1908. However, the parachute was considered only as an exhibition item for many years and was only seen at county fairs and carnivals. In the fall of 1916 an Austrian pilot on the Russian front made a parachute jump from a burning plane, the first practical application of the parachute to military requirements. The possibility of transporting troops and supplies by air and landing at points behind enemy lines was conceived by Gen “Billy” Mitchell in the First World War. Mitchell planned such an operation for our 1919 campaign. British Handley Page airplanes were to be used in the operation, but the fighting was ended before the plan could be tried out.
Aug
12
2009
Category : War Politic Papers
The newly unearthed diaries of a colorful assassin for the wartime Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the forerunner of the CIA, reveal that American spy chiefs wanted Patton dead because he was threatening to expose allied collusion with the Russians that cost American lives. The death of Gen George Smith Patton Jr, in December 1945, is one of the enduring mysteries of the war era. Although he had suffered serious injuries in a car crash in Manheim, Germany, he was thought to be recovering and was on the verge of flying home. But after a decade-long investigation, military historian Robert Wilcox claims that OSS head Gen “Wild Bill” Donovan ordered a highly decorated marksman called Douglas Bazata to silence Patton, who gloried in the nickname “Old Blood and Guts”. His book, “Target Patton”, contains interviews with Mr Bazata, who died in 1999, and extracts from his diaries, detailing how he staged the car crash by getting a troop truck to slough into Patton’s Cadillac and then shot the general with a low-velocity projectile, which broke his neck while his fellow passengers escaped without a scratch. Mr Bazata also suggested that when Patton began to recover from his injuries, US officials turned a blind eye as agents of the NKVD, the forerunner of the KGB, poisoned the general. Wilcox told The Sunday Telegraph that when he spoke to Mr Bazata : He was struggling with himself, all these killings he had done. He confessed to me that he had caused the accident, that he was ordered to do so by Wild Bill Donovan. Donovan told him : ‘We’ve got a terrible situation with this great patriot, he’s out of control and we must save him from himself and from ruining everything the allies have done.’ I believe Douglas Bazata. He’s a sterling guy.
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Aug
07
2009
The US Army fought World War II with matériel much of which was developed in the decade prior to our entry, particularly in the period following the German blitz in Poland. Our efforts to develop munitions to the point where our armies could cope on equal terms with those of potential enemies are covered here in this, the first of three projected volumes on the history of the Ordnance Department in World War II. How well the Ordnance Department succeeded in matching the Germans in quality continues to be a matter of debate both within the Ordnance Department itself, and between the using arms and the Department. That the battle of quantity was won with the help of a superb industrial machine can hardly be denied.
This volume, the result of diligent research by Dr. Constance McL. Green and her associates, should interest not only military men but also scientists, industrialists, and laymen in general. Among other things, it shows the urgent necessity of a directed, continuous, and intensive research program and the danger in failing to recognize and profit by developments abroad. Also shown is the inherent time interval between the drawing board and the production of the end item in quantity.
ORLANDO WARD
Washington, D.C. Maj. Gen., U.S.A.
15 January 1953 Chief of Military History
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Aug
04
2009
Category : War Conferences
JOINT FOUR-NATION DECLARATION
The governments of the United States of America, United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, and China;
- United in their determination, in accordance with the declaration by the United Nations of January, 1942, and subsequent declarations, to continue hostilities against those Axis powers with which they respectively are at war until such powers have laid down their arms on the basis of unconditional surrender;
- Conscious of their responsibility to secure the liberation of themselves and the peoples allied with them from the menace of aggression;
- Recognizing the necessity of insuring a rapid and orderly transition from war to peace and of establishing and maintaining international peace and security with the least diversion of the world’s human and economic resources for armaments;
Jointly declare :
- 1. That their united action, pledged for the prosecution of the war against their respective enemies, will be continued for the organization and maintenance of peace and security.
- 2. That those of them at war with a common enemy will act together in all matters relating to the surrender and disarmament of that enemy.
- 3. That they will take all measures deemed by them to be necessary to provide against any violation of the terms imposed upon the enemy.
- 4. That they recognize the necessity of establishing at the earliest practicable date a general international organization, based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all peace-loving states, and open to membership by all such states, large and small, for the maintenance of international peace and security.
- 5. That for the purpose of maintaining international peace and security pending the re-establishment of law and order and the inauguration of a system of general security they will consult with one another and as occasion requires with other members of the United Nations, with a view to joint action on behalf of the community of nations.
- 6. That after the termination of hostilities they will not employ their military forces within the territories of other states except for the purposes envisaged in this declaration and after joint consultation.
- 7. That they will confer and cooperate with one another and with other members of the United Nations to bring about a practicable general agreement with respect to the regulation of armaments in the post-war period.
Aug
03
2009
Category : German ID Papers, Militaria for Sale
While sorting images on CDs I’ve found these old photos from an original World War Two Waffen SS Wehrpass (Identity Booklet) that I have sent to one ’she’ American Collector, Linda in California some years ago. (Hello Linnie)
This is not – for sure – a quit breathing Militaria Item but this could be interesting (at leats I hope) for the large part of the New German Militaria Collectors that (it’s so damn usual) prefer to buy craps and fakes as books to learn about what they are willing to collect and invest money in.
This item was bough from Markus in Germany (linked to one of the best Militaria Auctions Site) is an original intem and could – or course – be used to be compared to a fakes one. You can even copy the photo for your site if you want.
So if you want to invest your money in something better than a bank and jump over into Militaria be sure to start this by learning about Militaria and there is no other way than books on Militaria.
Another sentence you should never forget is the following (especially in the Militaria Market) Every Morning on this Planet, an Idiot wakes up.
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Aug
01
2009
Category : Archives Movies, Films Rushes
Let me tell you this : I have movies, films, cuts etc and I can’t use them as I am not used to post pages of pieces of movies. I like them orginal, full version. I was thinking to put them all together and do a 60 minutes (or so) film with all these pieces but it won’t work because jumping from the Battle of Kursk to the Battle of St Vith doesn’t really fit together.
I am gonna do this : create posts with 20 movies and put some text to tell you before what the film is about. I will be able to get ride of these movies and archives them on Cds.
Let’s go for the big movies night …
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