The little town of Schoppen is located on the main way that comes from Dom Bütchenbach (East) and goes to Amel (Amblève) (West). Going down on this road you’ll see a small crossroad with 4 roads pointing to your left to Mirfel, and to you right to Shoppen. This was the direction used by the 501. Schwer SS Panzerabteilung (1. SS Panzerdivision LSSAH) also know under the name of Kampfgruppe Peiper when they decided to go from Büllingen (Bullange) to Ligneuville (Engelsdorf) while going trough Möderscheid, Schoppen, Thirimont, Baugnez.
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Jan
13
2010
Jan
07
2010
As Veterans of World War II it is an honor to be recognized as such. Yet in our Twilight Years it is often difficult to admit that we are nearing The End of The Road. After some 66 odd years our Memory may start to fade and the many details of our WAR TIME ACTIVITIES may be lost forever. I hate to admit this but my MEMORY is about like my hair SHORT. Each of us in our own special way can reflect back upon our World War II experiences and recall many events that we will carry to our graves. In general, many of those activities were very sad occasions that bring tears to our eyes as we relive those precious moments. Some, however, were hilarious and often bring tears of joy as we reminisce with our comrades of many years ago. If I may, I would like to relate a very serious incident that I will never forget.
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Jan
04
2010
Category : 017th Airborne Division, Commemorations, EUCMH Mails Center
Written December 22, 2009 by Carol Klinger Woolbright, Ed.D., Orphan Daughter of Capt Jack R. Klinger. KIA, Battle of the Bulge, B Co., 194th Glider Infantry, 17th Airborne Division.
But this rose is an extra.
Its smell and its color are an embellishment of life, not a condition of it.
It is only goodness which gives extras,
and so I say again that we have much to hope from the flowers
Sherlock Holmes (Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, The Naval Treaty)
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Dec
14
2009
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. In a message from his Widow, Mrs Josephine DeMarco, and several other Friends in the Orchard Park area, we learned that Mr. Joseph D DeMarco, Co B, 194th GIR passed away on 8 December 2009. As a very personal Friend of the DeMarco Family, it was very easy to contact the Family to obtain the essential information for this message.
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Dec
01
2009
As you probably noticed it I have changed the theme of my Wordpress and I have lot of images that were used before with the other theme. I was thinking of erasing them then thought that other Military History Bloggers could maybe use them for their Blogs.
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Nov
29
2009
Category : BOB Photos, Battle of the Bulge
As you probably noticed it I have changed the theme of my Wordpress and I have lot of images that were used before with the other theme. I was thiking of erasing them then thought that other Military History Bloggers could maybe use them for their Blogs.
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Nov
13
2009
Category : Veterans Taps
It is with a heavy heart that we belatedly learn of the passing of another of our Distinguished Veterans and a Valued Comrade. This sad news concerns the passing of Dr Katsumi Nakadate, Hq 681st GFA who passed away on 29 November 2007. In the latest issue of the Thundermailcall (#21, November 2009) an article concerning Dr. Nakadate) is as follows :
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Oct
11
2009
We left our assembly area near Landerneau, France at one o’clock on the afternoon of September 27 1944, heading for that Western Front. The first two days were uneventful, as we covered around 300 miles, stopping at dusk by pulling off the main road. We slept beside our vehicles, by the side of the road, wrapped up in our blankets.
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Oct
01
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 George Hudicka we learned that Mr. Eugene “Gene” W. Howard, Btry C, 155th Abn AA, passed away on 27 September 2009.
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Sep
16
2009
Category : Veterans Taps
It is with a heavy heart that we belatedly learn of the passing of another of our Distinguished Veterans and a Valued Comrade. Through the Static Line Magazine we belatedly learn that Edward J Jeziorski, C-507th Parachute Infantry Regiment 17th Airborne Division passed away on June 16 2009. This morning I was able to contact Mrs. Cheryl Dellinger, Mr. Jeziorski’s Daughter, to obtain the information for this message. Following his service in World War II Mr Jeziorski made a career with the Mutual of Omaha in the Insurance business where he rose to the position of General Manager. Following his retirement he became very restless and went back to work selling tools and equipment to the Farmers in the Shenandoah Valley. He loved associating with the Farmers in the area. He joined our Association in 1982 and became a Life member in 1991. The cause of death was Heart Failure at the age of 88.
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Jul
03
2009
I’ve also found these splendid photos. Some are : 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne, December 1944, one (Tank on the Highway) seems to be on the Road to St Vith.
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Jun
27
2009
UNITED STATES ARMY IN WORLD WAR II
Stetson Conn, General Editor
Advisory Committee
(As of 1 July 1964)
- Fred C. Cole
Washington and Lee University
- Lt Gen August Schomburg
Industrial College of the Armed Forces
- James A. Field, Jr.
Swarthmore College
- Maj Gen Hugh M. Exton
US Continental Army Command
- Earl Pomeroy
University of Oregon
- Brig Gen Ward S. Ryan
US Army War College
- Theodore Ropp
Duke University
- Brig Gen Elias C. Townsend
US Army Command and General Staff College
- Lt Col Thomas E. Griess
United States Military Academy
- Office of the Chief of Military History
Brig Gen Hal. C. Pattison, Chief of Military History
Chief Historian, Stetson Conn
Chief Histories Division, Col Albert W. Jones
Chief Editorial and Graphics Division, Col Walter B. McKenzie
Editor in Chief, Joseph R. Friedman
… to Those Who Served
Mar
26
2009
Category : Veterans Taps
Dale C Heuer
World War Two Veteran
A Co, 1st Bn, 193rd Glider Infantry Regiment
17th A/B Division – 1st AA/B Army
31-07-1923 – 18-06-2008
Margaret A. Heuer
22-02-1927 – 14-12-2008
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. This notice was particularly sad because it includes the death of his lovely Wife just five months later. In a letter to Mich Stinchcomb Mr. Craig Heuer informed us that his Father, Mr. Dale C Heuer, Co A, 193rd GIR passed away on 18 June 2008 followed by his Mother Mrs Margaret A Heuer on 14 December 2008. Through the information provided I was able to contact the Heuer Family and the Funeral Home to obtain the essential information for this message. Ms Cheryl Zeiser, Administrative Assistant at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home was extremely helpful.
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Mar
02
2009
If the Krauts crack the defenses in the North Shoulder, they won’t surround the 101/AB Division in Bastogne, but the entire 1st Army in Belgium.
Feb
27
2009
There is something I would like to say about the 106th Infantry Division. In Belgium, as witnesses on what happened during the Battle of the Bulge, we are able to do a parallel between the 2 Inf Regts (422-423/106th Infantry Division) surrounded around the hight grounds in the Schoenberg – Armelscheid – Bleialf area and the 101st Airborne Division surrounded in the vicinity of Bastogne for 6 days. If Commanding General 1st Army would have done it the same way with the 101st A/B as they did with the 106th Inf Div, the US Army would have lost over 14000 men captured and not 6800. The 101st Troopers in Bastogne were all veterans of Normandy and Holland and they knew all the tricks used by the Germans in this perdiod. The had already face SS Troops, SS Panzer, Luftfaffe, Panzer and Wermacht Troops. In comparison, the entire 106th Infantry Division had on December 1944 neither shot a single 30.06 bullet at the Germans nor had faced a combat against the Germans.
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Feb
15
2009
On Dec 16 1944, at 0500-H, Germany commenced its last great offensive of World War II against the US Army Lines flanked in the woods along the German Reich’s border. This crucial Battle, known as the Battle of the Bulge, lasted until Jan 28 1945, but the majority of the heavy fighting occurred during the month of December and was among the most ferocious of the entire war. This campaign produced many acts of bravery and demonstrated the courageous character of the American fighting spirit.
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Feb
13
2009
Category : Cavalry Troops
I have found some interesting informations about Cavalry Troops during World War Two. I know that these informations are not really dig in but at least they give interesting Location and good start points to dig deeper.
Feb
05
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 series of several phone calls from Unit Members we learn that Mr. Jack D. Boyd, E Company, 194th Glider Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division passed away on February 3 2009. I have been in touch with the Family to obtain the essential information for this Message.
Following his service in World War II Mr Boyd ended up as a Disabled Veteran and was employed by the US Postal Service. He retired from the Postal Service in 1977. Mr. Boyd was wounded on 4 January 1945 during the Battle of the Bulge. Due to his battle wounds and the effects of severe winter conditions during the Bulge he suffered many years with frost bite and frozen extremity problems. Portions of his right leg were amputated in 1993 as a result of these complications. He joined our Association in 1988, became a Life Member in 1995 and attended many of our Annual Reunions.
In his retirement years Mr Boyd had two major hobbies : Reading and Traveling. The cause of death was Cancer at the age of 83.
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Jan
29
2009
Category : Battle of the Bulge, Germany
With the help and the work from my American friend David Gettman, the son of Lt Henry ‘Shorty’ Gettman, Platoon Leader of the 1st Platoon, 99th Reconnaissance Troop, 99th Infantry Division (1-99/99th Inf Div), 1st Army, ETO, WW II, Gerolzhofen, Germany, post VE Day.
In loving memory of Henry ‘Shorty’ Gettman, May 18 1911 – May 24 1983, and dedicated to all those heroes who proudly wore the Golden Caltrop of the 99th Reconnaissance Troop, and the Checkerboard of the 99th Infantry Division, the Battle Babies. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten.
Action This Hour !
On No 1, Fire 1 !
On No 2, Open 3 !
Advance !
Kill or be killed !
Geronimo !
Spinner !
Contact !
Pilot to Bombardier !
Open bombay doors !
Bombs away !
Gung Ho !
1000, 2000, 3000, Yank !
Yep, in the movies it sounds dramatic. But ‘breaking in’ at the front with dough boys on patrols through the snow – that’s another story. That is the true story. The story of Reconnaissance on reserve. The story of the battle of the defense of Höfen, Germany, November 9 to December 12 1944.
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