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THE OLD GRAY MARE # 45 (LAST ISSUE) JANUARY 2010-VETS 109TH INF. REG.

The 41st and final reunion at Indiantown Gap for the WWII Veterans-109th Infantry Regiment. Gary Dix our longest

surviving member is in the center of the photo with Sam Dimas’ son Nick, who we enjoyed having at our last official reunion.

A final message from your President:

We had our last Reunion and meeting as an active Association at Indiantown Gap from 9/9/09 to 9/12/09. The 28th ID Association has

sponsored our last three Reunions and the 109th hosted the annual in-door picnic held on Friday as a final gift from the Association for

their warm hospitality. The last stand-alone 109th Reunion we had was graciously hosted by Jerry and Reva Sherman in Tucson, AZ.

And it was a fantastic one with great weather, trips and the FOOD! It was a Blast. Thank you Jerry and Reva.

The attendees this year were: John Born, Joe Cochrane, Sam Dimas, Gary Dix, Jim Ferrario, Harold Holdiman, Sam Ieronimo, Jerry

Lilyquist, and Jerry Sherman; The three Korean Veterans were Dan Voelker, Ken Wright and John Watson. Juliette DuBois (George

Bunnell's Angel) came to say Goodbye to all of us. Our other Angels were the Stockton’s, Art and Carol, who adopted us some years

ago. Without their help, enthusiasm, and encouragement; we would have sputtered and closed shop four years ago. Art made beautiful

Memorial Plaques for each Reunion. Thanks again Art. Linda Rae (Stockton) Coon also attended. We drafted her as our final Historian

to research files here in the U.S. and to work with Curator, Roland Gaul, of the “National Museum of Military History” in Diekirch,

Luxembourg to make a permanent home for our historical records and artifacts. Old diehards like Al Leone, Joe Gadbois, Tom

Hickman and Joe McCabe were unable to attend this year. The average age of the WWII veteran is at least 88. If it wasn't for their

wives, friends and children none of us could have made it! It was a bitter sweet goodbye for all of us.

The 28th ID Association hopes that 109th Veterans will join their ranks along with their comrades from the 110th and 112th Regimental

Associations that have also formally disbanded as independent Associations. Some of the 109th members in attendance acknowledge

their plans to join the 28th ID Association and attend their Reunion activities in 2010. Our final act as an Association was to determine

how best to disburse our remaining funds, which is outlined in the minutes from our final meeting printed in this last Newsletter.

We should all be proud that the 109th Infantry Regiment Association stayed strong in friendship for over 40 years and may that friend-

ship still find a way to continue into the future through all surviving veterans and our wives and children.

Sam J. Ieronimo

President

MINUTES OF THE BUSINESS MEETING HELD 9/11/2009 AT THE HAMPTON INN, GRANTVILLE, PA

The meeting was attended by 12 Veterans and opened by Sam Ieronimo asking that the minutes be read from the 2008 reunion held in Indi-

antown Gap. The Minutes and the President’s letter were read by Secretary Joe Cochrane and accepted as read.

The Treasurer Joe McCabe was unable to make the reunion due to illness, so Sam Ieronimo read the Treasurer’s report. The Association’s

checking account balance as of July 31, 2009 was $2733.64 and a CD that will come due later in September has a current balance of $5,309.81. Joe will not renew the CD since the issue of disbanding the Association is to be determined at the meeting.

No Old Business was brought up for discussion.

Sam Ieronimo opened up New Business to discuss the possibility of the Association disbanding as an official organization in 2009. He advised the group that the 110th, 111th and 112th Associations have already disbanded, with the 110th being the most recent.

Joe Cochrane read letters he had received from Veterans and their wives who could not attend, but wanted to express their opinion that it was time for the Association to consider disbanding.

Several Veterans commented that due to health reasons it was becoming too difficult to travel to the reunions and informed the group that this reunion would probably be their last. Danny Voelker motioned for disbanding.

A vote was taken and the motion was approved by all present but Sam Dimas and Gary Dix. Sam and Gary expressed a strong interest in

still meeting as an unofficial group at future 28th Division Reunions at Indiantown Gap.

The next New Business item was introduced by Sam Ieronimo. He opened up for discussion on how best to disburse the remaining funds.

He advised that the Board had authorized $439 to be spent on hosting the Division Reunion Luncheon on the 11th and that $1,000 in travel

funds were forwarded to Linda Rae (Stockton) Coon to attend the reunion to discuss possible disbanding activities and to aid in new re-search activities at the U.S. Army Military History Institute in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and at the National Archives in College Park, Mary-

land. Her collection of new material will be added to the 109th’s historical archives held at the National Museum of Military History in Diekirch, Luxembourg, as well as to be made available to 109th Veterans and their surviving family members at their request.

Sam Ieronimo suggested that the Association consider donating funds to the Yellow Ribbon Foundation (for active Iraq/Afghanistan sol-diers and their families) via the 28th Division Association and to fund an official 109th History Preservation project to be managed by Linda

Rae Coon in coordination with Roland Gaul of the National Museum of Military History in Diekirch, Luxembourg. The project will in-volve collecting, organizing and cataloging of historical records and personal artifacts to be delivered as donations to the Museum in Lux-

embourg by Linda Rae and for any additional projects that will focus on preserving the history of the 109th for future generations.

Joe Cochrane requested that the History Preservation Project to also include the cost and time of publishing the Association’s last “Old

Gray Mare” newsletter. Linda Rae agreed to add that task as a part of the project and that she would travel to Joe’s home after the reunion

to gather all of his past records of the Association to assist in the historical archiving of the 109th’s records.

John Born motioned that $1,000 be donated to the Yellow Ribbon Foundation and any remaining funds held by the Association should be disbursed to Linda Rae Coon to complete the 109th History Preservation Project. A vote was taken and all in attendance accepted the mo-

tion.

It was also agreed that the 109th Regimental Flag used at all reunions was to be donated to the Pennsylvania National Guard Military Mu-

seum at Indiantown Gap and that the 109th Welcome sign used at all reunions will be delivered by Linda Rae to the National Museum of

Military History in Luxembourg.

Meeting Adjourned:

Submitted by Linda Rae Coon for Joe Cochrane, Secretary

TAPS

Franklin W. Coldwater, Regimental HQ, died 01/05/2010 at the age of 96.

Franklin was the personal driver for Col. Blanton and Lt. Col. Rudder.

Edward Hitchin, 1st Battalion HQ, died 06/18/2008. Ed retired from the Division as a

Major General and he was a devoted and active member of the 109th’s Association. He

held the office of President many times and hosted the 1984 and 2005 reunions. The

2005 reunion in Asheville, North Carolina would also be the last one he was able to at-tend. Ed even took a turn at publishing the “Old Gray Mare” for two years. However,

he’s probably most famous for making sure the bar for the hospitality room was always

fully stocked at all the reunions. To the left is a picture of Ed enjoying the Thanksgiving

Day events held in Diekirch, Luxembourg for the 109th Veterans in November, 2004.

MORE MEMORIES FROM THE 41ST REUNION

The very special ladies that love their veterans

and coming to the reunions.

George Bunnell’s love Ms. Juliette Du-

Bois attended the reunion with her

grandson, Michel. Juliette was honored with a special membership in 2008 to

the 109th Association. Juliette contin-

ues on with George’s good work in edu-

cating our young future leaders on the important contributions of the WWII Veteran as a Honorary Member of the Military Officers Association of

Vermont. This Association also honored George with the creation of “The

George H. Bunnell Book Award” given each year to highly deserving Ca-

dets with the Norwich University ROTC program.

Joe Cochrane, the Association’s Secre-

tary is very excited that Linda Rae came

to visit his home after the reunion to gather all of the records he has kept for

over 20 years.

109TH WWII VETERANS HISTORY PRESERVATION PROJECT

I am honored to be drafted as your historian and to be working with Roland Gaul of the National Museum of Military History

(NMMH) in Diekirch, Luxembourg on your behalf. Roland is truly devoted to preserving your legacy and keeping the history of

WWII alive for many, many generations to come. It was an amazing and privileged experience to be able to personally handle the

actual WWII records of the 109th at the National Archives. Your records are very fragile and I’m so glad to have had the opportu-

nity to digitize and organize them for the NMMH archives.

I first visited Roland’s museum in October of 1997, before I even knew a veteran from the 109th , but from the moment I stepped

inside his museum I knew it was going to be something special. It was an enlightening experience, one that I will never forget. I’ve

been to many WWII Museums throughout Europe, but this one was so very different. It gave you the ability to really connect with

the history and left you feeling as if you had been a soldier during the “Battle of the Bulge.” Since then, I’ve been back many times

and thanks to my friendship with the 109th Veterans I can now call Roland a dear friend too. He has been great supporter in all of

my projects to preserve and promote the outstanding accomplishments achieved by the 109th and the 28th Division during WWII.

I will be flying to Cologne, Germany on May 4th to deliver your donations and I’ll return from there on May 14th. I would like to

extend an invitation to all 109th Veterans and their family members to join me in attending this very important event and to have a

chance to re-trace your own history, as I will also be visiting your battlefields along the Siegfried Line and in the Huertgen Forest.

Please contact me by February 20th, if you would like to join me, so I can make the necessary travel arrangements. I am confident

that this trip will be just as memorable and successful as the one that several 109th Veterans made with me to Luxembourg in 2004.

To facilitate your project I have also created a 109th Facebook Page to help preserve your legacy and to provide you with a resource

for all of you and your children to stay in touch. Please ask your children or your grandchildren to help you set up a Facebook ac-

count, so you can then register as a “Fan” on your Page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/WWII-Veterans-109th-Infantry-Regiment/292565147845

The internet is a valuable tool to reach out to the younger generation to keep your story alive and there are many young people

online today looking for ways to connect with surviving veterans of the 109th and their family members. I will also use your Face-

book Page to record my progress on your donated items and their delivery to the museum in Luxembourg. In addition, your page

will provide access to important 109th records. One of the most significant items I have posted is a document created many years ago

by a 109th Veteran. It is a list of the European grave sites for all of the 109th Soldiers killed in action. This will be an invaluable

resource to your supporters in Europe, as many individuals take the time to adopt the grave sites of your fallen comrades.

I hope you will all agree that the NMMH is the perfect place to hold in high honor your personal artifacts from WWII and I am de-

lighted to have the opportunity to personally deliver your items to Roland during their 65th Anniversary celebrations for VE Day.

All the best,

Linda Rae

Closing Remarks to the Veterans of the 109th Infantry Regiment-By Roland Gaul

As a key fighting asset of the 28th Infantry Division, the battle-weary 109th Infantry Regiment after the

horrors of the Huertgen Forest in late fall 1944, was redeployed to the quiet sector along the Luxembourg-

German border on the Our river together with its two other sister regiments – the 110th and 112th. While

given time to refit, bring its equipment up to snuff again and get revitalized by reinforcements to compensate

losses, all three regiments assumed responsibility of a certain sector on a consolidated defense line overlooking

the Our river. The 109th thus spread out from the towns of Ettelbruck and Diekirch, where it had some of its

key installations and defended the strip from Wallendorf to Fouhren and Vianden. It was after a very special

Thanksgiving Day 1944, which had provided for some entertainment and a hot turkey meal, that the 109th

Regiment began to deploy extensive patrolling activity across the Our river into German border territory to

probe for enemy presence. In early December the 109th experienced some personnel changes and received a

new commander, Lt. Col. James Rudder. As the frontline companies were frequently rotated, most GIs were

billeted in smaller towns and villages, which in turn provided for opportunities to socialize and make friends

among the hospitable and grateful Luxembourg civilians.

On December 15, 1944 the 109th Regiment bedded down, dreaming of Christmas and the beloved ones at

home, but certainly also of a war end within reach. Those dreams ended abruptly in the early morning hours

of December 16 – the beginning of the “Bulge.” Making good use of the terrain’s dominating heights, the

companies of the 109th succeeded during the first two days of the German surprise attack to beat back row

after row of attackers. Exhausted from continuous day and night fighting with limited supplies and support,

higher order called the 109th to establish new defensive lines while retreating. It was on December 20, 1944

that units of the 3rd Battalion, while retreating through Diekirch also made sure that some 5000 panicked

civilians made it back to safety before the Germans closed in on the town. After being reorganized around

Christmas 1944, the 109th later saw action in France and Germany, when the war ended.

The 109th Regiment will forever remain associated with the “Bulge” on the southern flank, where it

distinguised itself through bravery and stubborn resistance.

It was in the late 1970s that individiual members of the 109th Regiment – now veterans –started returning to

the Diekirch area to retrace their own way, but also to see the results of their personal contributions to victory

in WWII. It was also around that time that the idea of creating a “Battle of the Bulge” museum had sparked in

Diekirch and memebers of the local association started corresponding across the Atlantic to obtain and

exchange information. A number of oral history testimonies with 109th Veterans supplemented official

records and became the foundation stone of an archive.

In 1982 on the occasion of the 109th Infantry Regiment’s annual meeting in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Roland Gaul,

initiator and curator of the Diekirch “Bulge” Museum introduced the idea of holding the 1984 regimental

meeting in Luxembourg to coincide with the official opening of the museum and the 40th anniversary of the

liberation of Luxembourg. Done deal.

On September 23, 1984,the museum was inaugurated in presence of numerous 109th Veterans, headed by Col.

(ret.) Harry M. Kemp and representatives of various other U.S. military units. Among hundreds of WWII

artifacts, the museum displayed selected memorabilia of the 109th Regiment, two large-scale dioramas and a

series of dedicated vehicles. No question the Diekirch museum became a key out-of the U.S. institution for

preserving the history of the 109th Regiment while paying tribute to its brave members. On that same occasion

a monument dedicated to the 109th Regiment, was erected at Hoesdorf.

Over all those years since the museum’s opening, contacts were intensified, additional interviews were made,

artifacts donated, books written on the 109th history and its experience during the fighting in Luxembourg.

Closing Remarks-Continued

The 109th Veterans kept in close contact with the museum, which meanwhile had changed its name to the

“National Museum of Military History” after several expansions. Over the years the members of the Diekirch

museum have always took pride in escorting or giving advice to returning veterans of their family members.

The 109th Regiment and a number of veterans were once more honored in November 2004 in Diekirch on the

occasion of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Luxembourg during an elaborate friendship event focused

on Thanksgiving Day 1944. It was also here when filmmaker Linda Rae (Stockton) Coon premiered her

documentary feature film “My Heroes and their Ladies in Waiting” portraying the 109th Regimental WWII

history through selected personal stories. In addition, Luxembourg honored the 109th Veterans with special

commemorative awards and a national recognition order for Col. (ret.) Harry Kemp who in 1944 was

instrumental in saving many civilian lives by evacuating the town of Diekirch during the “Battle of the Bulge.”

Many a veteran has left us since then! As the ranks of the 109th Regiment are getting smaller and smaller, the

board decided to close down the Association while looking for a memorable venue to preserve its legacy.

The “National Museum of Military History” is willing and able to fill this role, as its archives may accomodate

additional personal and historical artifacts. The Museum is thus grateful to all veterans and their family

members for donations of memorabilia and photos, ensuring that they will be preserved in their name for

future generations to enjoy. Finally, the Museum would like to thank Linda Rae for facilitating contact

between the Museum and the dissolving WWII Veterans-109th Infantry Regiment Association, especially in

regard to collecting, cataloging and transferring donations of artifacts.

The 109th Regiment will continue to shine in its new home, the “National Museum of Military History” in

Diekirch, Luxembourg, which will forever remain associated in grateful remembrance with the “Maremen.”

Long live the 109th – Lest we forget!

Roland J. Gaul

Founder and Curator of the

National Museum of Military History

Diekirch, Luxembourg

Your Precious Gift

I am forever grateful

To those that served

On the Front Lines for Freedom

During WWII.

For I know that in my lifetime,

I will never truly experience

A day of misery or hardship.

For I will never have to

Spend one day

In an icy cold and filthy foxhole,

Surrounded by death and destruction,

While being thousands of miles away

From those I cherish and love.

You are my heroes!

And you have taught me what it means to be

An American,

And how to live and die with

Gratitude and grace.

With abundant love,

Linda Rae

Ed Parks, Maurice Schmidli and Harry Kemp in

Diekirch Nov. 2004 for the 60th Anniversary of the

109th’s 1944 Thanksgiving in Luxembourg.

REUNION HISTORY

1968 Gary Dix, who holds the honor of the longest surviving member of the Regiment’s Association, formed a com-

mittee with Company M Veterans to hold their first reunion in Illinois. At this reunion the Company M Veter-

ans decide to organize a reunion for the next year for all 109th WWII Veterans. Over the years Gary Dix only

missed two reunions, 2002 and 2006 due to illness.

1. 1969 East Alton, IL 21. 1989 King of Prussia, PA

2. 1970 East Alton, IL 22. 1990 Clearwater, FL

3. 1971 Columbus, OH 23. 1991 Colorado Springs, CO

4. 1972 Portsmouth, OH 24. 1992 Buffalo, NY

5. 1973 Portsmouth, OH 25. 1993 Hot Springs, AK

6. 1974 Chicago, IL 26. 1994 Green Bay, WI

7. 1975 Chicago, IL 27. 1995 Vergennes, VT

8. 1976 Williamsport, PA 28. 1996 Las Vegas, NV

9. 1977 Williamsport, PA 29. 1997 Fort Monroe-Hampton, VA

10. 1978 Indianapolis, IN 30. 1998 Scranton, PA

11. 1979 Columbus, OH 31. 1999 Bloomington, MN

12. 1980 Scranton, PA 32. 2000 San Antonio, TX

13. 1981 Scranton, PA 33. 2001 Indiantown Gap, PA

14. 1982 Fort Wayne, IN 34. 2002 Lanham, MD

15. 1983 Fort Wayne, IN 35. 2003 Portland, Oregon

16. 1984 Carlisle, PA and Luxembourg 36. 2004 Branson, MO

17. 1985 Indiantown Gap, PA 37. 2005 Asheville, NC

18. 1986 Valparaiso, IN 38. 2006 Tucson, AZ

19. 1987 Valparaiso, IN 39. 2007 Indiantown Gap, PA

20. 1988 Tumwater, WA 40. 2008 Indiantown Gap, PA

41. 2009 Indiantown Gap, PA is the last official reunion meeting for the Veterans of the 109th Infantry Regiment.

RE-PRINT FROM THE JANUARY 1999 “OLD GRAY MARE” ISSUE 23

HISTORY OF THE 28TH DIVISION’S MARCHING SONG

By William “Gus” O. Hickok, 5th, Lt. Col. (Ret.), former Inspector General with the

Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Gus is a well-respected Historian for the 28th

Division and he holds an honorary Lifetime Membership with the 109th’s Associa-

tion. He truly is a long time supporter and friend of the veterans of the 109th . In

1997 Gus was a Technical Advisor on the set of the HBO film “When Trumpets

Fade.” It was released June 1998 and depicts a platoon from the 28th Division dur-

ing the Huertgen Forest Battle.

ROLL ON 28TH

by

SGT Emil Raab

We’re the 28th men,

And we’re out to fight again

For the Good Old U.S.A.

We’re the Guys who know

Where to strike the blow

And you’ll know just why

After we say:

Roll on, 28th

Roll on, set the pace,

Hold the banners high

And raise the cry,

“We’re off to victory!”

Let the Keystone shine

Right down the line

For all the world to see.

When we meet the foe

We’ll let them know

We’re Iron Infantry

So, Roll on, 28th,

Roll on!

In the fall of 1944, Major General Norman D. Cota, Division Commander, decided

the Division should have its own march and song. He challenged the members of

the Division Band to develop marches from which would be selected the official

march. This contest was won by Sergeant Emil Raab who was a talented band mem-

ber, before and after the war, was a music professor and an accomplished violinist.

Now retired, Emil Raab lives in North Carolina.

In December 1944, during the “Battle of the Bulge,” the Band was placed on line to

defend the Division Headquarters at Wiltz, Luxembourg. In this action, for which

the Band was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation, all but thirteen of the

sixty members were killed or captured. Of the thirteen who were not captured,

eleven were wounded. Sergeant Raab avoided capture and helped re-form a new

band after the Ardennes campaign.

WWII VETERANS-109TH INFANTRY REGIMENT ASSOCIATION

HISTORY PRESERVATION PROJECT

DONATION FORM

Date: __________________ Name of Donor: ________________________________________________________

Donor’s Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Donor’s Phone #: _______________________ Donor’s Email: ____________________________________________________

Veteran’s Name if other than Donor: ____________________________________________________________________________

Companies Served: ___________________________ Dates Served: ____________________________________________

If wounded and/or captured where and when? _____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Awards/Citations:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Items Donated:

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I am submitting the above listed items, with no commercial value to Linda Rae Coon of LRC and Company to be delivered to the

National Museum of Military History in Diekirch, Luxembourg as a donation to be displayed and/or archived at the Museum.

_______________________________________________________________

Donor’s Signature

All donations need to be received no later than April 24, 2010. Please send your packages via the US Postal Service to LRC and

Company at PO Box 4668 Portland, OR 97208. The PO Box is located at the main post office, so all larger sized items are held in a

secure area awaiting my pick-up. Please contact Linda Rae Coon at 503-481-8514 or via email at heroes@lindaraeproductions.com,

if you have any questions. You will receive a phone call or email to confirm that your items were received.

Your items will be personally delivered to the “National Museum of Military History” to coincide with Luxembourg’s national cele-

bration of the 65th Anniversary of VE (Victory Europe) Day on May 8th, 2010. The Museum will issue an official receipt for your

items. This document will be mailed out to each Donor upon Linda Rae Coon’s return from Luxembourg.

Area below reserved for cataloging identification

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109th Infantry WWII Veterans

c/o LRC and Company

P.O. Box 4668

Portland, OR 97208

Grandson searching for information on his grandfather, PFC Roy Austin Green, Co. G

James Green Evans is hoping there is a veteran out there that might recognize his grandfather’s photos. Roy passed

away December 2, 1995 and rarely spoke about his experiences during the war. PFC Green joined Co. G in Vossenack

during the “Huertgen Forest Battle” and he was captured January 27, 1945, while on patrol near Colmar, France. He was

a prisoner of war for 91days and spent time at Stalag V-B near Villingen, Stalag V-A near Ludwisgburg, and finally at a

slave labor camp outside the village of Ettringen when he was liberated on April 27, 1945. Below is an excerpt from the

very detailed letter that Joe Cochrane received from James. His letter in its entirety is posted on your Facebook Page at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/WWII-Veterans-109th-Infantry-Regiment/292565147845 Please

take the time to read his wonderful letter, it’s a testament to his dedication in honoring his grandfa-

ther’s WWII service and that of the 109th. James can be reached at (918) 407-4958 or by email at

jgreen.evans@gmail.com.

“My grandfather and his fellow POWs took part in a month long forced

march across southern Germany. On one occasion during the march the

prisoners were mistakenly strafed by American P-47 Thunderbolts. Many

Russian prisoners at the head of the column had been dressed in cast off

Wehrmacht uniforms, so to the pilots in the planes the long line of prisoners

must have looked like a column of retreating German soldiers. As the P-47s opened fire, the

prisoners scrambled to take cover in the ditches along the sides of the road. As the P47s circled around to line up for

another pass, the British and American POWs rushed out onto the road and began frantically waving their arms and yell-

ing at the incoming planes. Sensing that something unusual was taking place the pilots held their fire as they zoomed

overhead past the prisoners. The POWs all cheered at the planes. The P-47s then realized that the men were POWs,

so they waved their wings and flew away.”