Chapter News
Printed Newsletter: Membership in the St. Louis Gateway Chapter Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge includes a subscription to the Chapter Newsletter. Published 6 times each year, the newsletter features lists of upcoming events, reunions, photos, membership and educational information, chapter business and articles of interest.
Note from President Kent Stephens - July
Hope you all took a few minutes to pause and count your many Blessings on the 4th of July as we celebrated the birthday of our great Nation, where we all live as free people in the Land our Fathers founded so many years ago
I have a number of the Belgium, 65th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge Commemorative Coin (issued in Belgium this past year). I will have them at the July 13 meeting. These coins will make a great gift to any members your family. The cost is $10.00 each and includes a Certificate of Authenticity.
I hope that each of you as members of the St. Louis Gateway Chapter will take the time of let your family and neighbors know about the Veterans, Battle of the Bulge World War II Memorial Plaza that is located in Jefferson Barracks Park. All of us as Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge should be very proud of what our Gateway Chapter has done to remember all the Veterans of World War II.
The site of the VBOB monument and the GI Statue located on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River in Historical Jefferson Barracks Park is outstanding and well worth the time to stop and visit.
Again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA.
God Bless America and God Bless our Troops
Kent
Education Report
The Gateway Chapter Speaking Teams have made a total of 411 presentations since we began in 1995. Recent presentations include:
April 27 – Kent's team spoke at Prairietown Lutheran School
April 29 – Gene and Bobbi Ganz at McKnight Place Assisted Living
May 12 – Kent's team spoke at Coolidge Middle School
May 21 – Harold Mueller, Don Green, and Paul Neufoff spoke at the North County Christian School and gave a total of four presentations.
July 4 Parade in Webster Groves
The Webster Groves 4th of July Parade will be held Saturday, July 3 to avoid conflicts with Sunday church services. Don Green has lined up members to ride in the half-track and weasel which we will use this year. We will meet behind the Webster Groves Rec Center at E. Glendale and Elm between 8:15 and 8:30. The parade starts at 10:00 am and conclude back at the Rec Center.
Annual Flag Retirement Ceremony
The annual Flag Retirement ceremony will be held at Doc's Harley-Davidson at Big Bend and Lindbergh at 10:00 am on July 4. We have participated in the past with a good turnout by the general public.
Members Participated in Memorial Day Events
Gateway Chapter members had a busy Memorial Day with parades in Collinsville and at Jefferson Barracks followed by a memorial dedication at Fenton Park.
Approximately 20 members and their wives participated in the Collinsville parade in the morning, which concluded with a memorial service at the Collinsville VFW. A similar contingent was involved at the same time at Jefferson Barracks Cemetery with a parade attended by the governor and other state and local dignitaries.
Don and Marge Green attended a ceremony in the afternoon to help unveil a Fallen Soldier Memorial honoring American soldiers who died in combat at Fenton Park.
Today's Mission Germany: Target Bitburg
by Gerald Lucchesi
On December 16, 1944, the German army launched the winter offensive “Watch On The Rhine,” and the Battle of the Ardennes began. The success of this offensive was based on two premises: complete surprise and inclement weather, which would ground the Allied airplanes. For seven days the weather cooperated and the Allied air power remained on the ground. On December 23, the weather changed and the skies cleared - the next five days were excellent for flying.
Lt. Robert Dains, navigator 9th Air Force, 322 Bomb Group, remembered Christmas Day 1944, was a clear and bright day, excellent for flying. Lt. Dains and his squadron attended the briefing and received their orders: mission Germany, target Bitburg. Bitburg is in western Germany just across the German Luxembourg border and it was a key communications and supply point for the Ardennes offensive. In Lt. Dains' words, “Our mission was to destroy the town and throw around as much rubble and debris as possible” to disrupt and impede the flow of supplies to the front. When Lt. Dains' squadron reached their target and began their bomb run, their B-26 Marauder developed a problem - the bomb bay doors were frozen shut. This meant they had to circle around and get the bomb bay doors open and make a second run on the target. This maneuver gave the anti-aircraft batteries defending Bitburg another opportunity to shoot them down and navigator Dains and his crew had a first-hand opportunity to see the devastation of the initial bomb run. Robert said, “I've never seen such accurate and concentrated bombardment in my life as I saw there.” Lucky for Dains and his crew, the flak damage was minimal and they escaped without physical injury, but I can't speak for the psychological impressions when they saw the results of the initial bombing. Bitburg, on the other hand, was not so lucky, it became known as “Eine Tote Stadt” (one dead city). There are no just wars - it's just war. Cruel and inhumane, it makes no distinction as to guilt or innocence, combatant or civilian, it recognizes neither age nor rank, it just produces victims and diminishes our world. As Robert said, “This was not a good Christmas present.”
On May 7, 2010, Robert Dains was in Luxembourg on a VE-Day (Victory in Europe) tour with other veterans of the Battle of the Bulge. Today the mission and the target were the same as they were 65 years ago: Bitburg, Germany. But today Robert was accompanied by a new crew, his wife La Dean and his two daughters Julie and Debbie. The other difference was this mission was a command from the heart. Today Robert was returning in peace and friendship to honor the people of Bitburg who suffered and died on that Christmas Day 65 years ago.
I first met Lt. Robert Dains two years ago when I read his story in Victory Through Valor. A Collection of World War II Memoirs. My wife Lynne and I reside in the city of Bitburg. Lynne is an elementary school teacher at the Spangdahlem Air Force Base and I am retired, a houseman, a World War II history enthusiast and a member of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge Gateway Chapter. Since I live in Bitburg, I am familiar with the bombing of the city on Christmas Day, 1944. When I read Bob's story in Victory Through Valor , I just had to meet him. I contacted Kent Stephens, Gateway Chapter President, and asked if he could get me in touch with Robert. Kent immediately supplied me with Robert's address and telephone number and this marked the beginning of our correspondence and friendship. Bob and I exchanged correspondence and had numerous telephone conversations, but it was not until this February we had the opportunity to meet. Since I was on an extended visit to Missouri, we had the opportunity to have lunch several times. Bob informed me he was planning to be on the VBOB VE Tour (Veterans Battle of the Bulge-Victory in Europe) this May. He asked me if it would be possible to visit Bitburg on May 7 and I replied, "Yes".
Once I returned home to Bitburg, I contacted my good friend Edward Lapotsky to assist me in meeting with Joachim Kandeles, Burgermeister of Bitburg, to explain the purpose of Robert's visit. After our meeting, Burgermeister Kandles arranged for a meeting with local historians at the Bitburg Rathaus on May 7 at 10:00 am.
On May 7, immediately after breakfast, I left the Hotel Novatel in Luxembourg City with Robert and his family and drove to Bitburg. We were greeted at the Rathaus by Burgermeister Kandeles who introduced us to historians Werner Pies, Dr. Peter Neu, Bernd Quirin, Stephan Garcon, photographer, and Frau Lydia Henken, interpreter. After the introductions Robert introduced himself and his family, explained the purpose of his visit and the events of the Christmas Day, 1944. This set off a dialogue and discussion between Robert and the three historians.
Burgermeister Kandeles concluded the meeting by thanking Robert for his visit. He stated he was born after the war and has no memories of those dark days but was thankful he was raised only during a time of peace and grateful we were able to come together in peace and friendship to honor those who perished during this time. Together with the Burgermeister, Robert laid a wreath in heartfelt memory at the memorial for the victims of World War II and fascism.
Robert and his family concluded their visit to Bitburg with a visit to the local city museum and the Bitburg Middle School. Robert addressed a group of eighth grade students and spoke about his experiences during World War II.
It was a long full day by the time I drove Bob and his family back to Luxembourg to re- join their tour. I know this meant a lot to Bob. I'm so glad I read his story and was able to help him navigate one final mission to Bitburg.
Quartermasters Corner
We welcome members and guests to visit our display at the west side of the meeting room during our monthly get-togethers. We do not carry a large inventory, but we can order whatever you need for pickup at the next meeting. Please be aware that the green shirts are going to be discontinued by the Army in the near future, so plan accordingly. We will continue to carry them for as long as we are able to get them. Note that we are unable to mail items to customers.
Trips to Commemorate 65th Anniversary
This year, 2010, marks the sixty-fifth anniversary of the victory in the Battle of the Bulge, VE Day and the end of World War II. Information about two trips this year, one in March and one in May, are planned. more info
84th Infantry Division Lineage
Tradition has it that the 84th Infantry Division traces its lineage to the Illinois militia company in which a young Captain Abraham Lincoln served during the Black Hawk War of 1832. The division patch was selected to honor this legacy and the division's original in Illinois. For this reason, the alternative nickname of "Lincoln County" Division has been used to denote the 84th .
The 84th Infantry Division arrived in England on October 1, 1944, for additional training. It landed on Omaha Beach, November 1-4 1944, and moved to the vicinity of Gulpen, the Netherlands on November 5-12. The Division entered combat on November 18, with an attack on Geilenkirchen, Germany, as part of the larger offensive in the Roer Valley, north of Aachen. Taking Geilenkirchen on November 19, the Division pushed forward to take Beeck (Geilenkirchen) and Lindern in the face of heavy enemy resistance on November 29. After a short rest, the Division returned to the fight, taking Wurm and Würm (Geilenkirchen), Mullendorf, on December 18, before moving to Belgium to help stem the German offensive known as the Battle of the Bulge.
Battling in snow, sleet, and rain, the Division threw off German attacks, recaptured Verdenne (December 24-28), took Beffe and Devantave, (January 4-6 1945), and seized Laroche (January 11). By January 16, the Bulge had been reduced. After a 5-day respite, the 84 th resumed the offensive, taking Gouvy and Beho. On February 7, the Division assumed responsibility for the Roer River zone, between Linnich and Himmerich, and trained for the river crossing. On February 23 1945, the Division cut across the Roer, took Boisheim and Dülken (March 1), crossed the Niers Canal (March 2), took Krefeld (March 3 ), and reached the Rhine by March 5. The Division trained along the west bank of the river in March.
After crossing the Rhine on April 1, the Division drove from Lembeck toward Bielefeld in conjunction with the 5th Armored Division, crossing the Weser River to capture Hanover on April 10. By April 13, the Division had reached the Elbe, and halted its advance, patrolling along the river. The Russians were contacted at Balow on May 2, 1945. The Division remained on occupation duty in Germany after VE-day, returning to the US in January of 1946 for demobilization.
Book Signings
A number of books signings were well attended by Gateway Chapter members and the public following the launch of the book, "Victory Through Valor".
More about the book project View photos of book signings.
Books are available at the monthly meetings for either pick-up or for delivery via the USPS or you can print the form and mail it to the Chapter.
