Ken thought that we would like to read this story posted on their site.

A Veteran’s Day Story: Three Pals from Siwanoy School

By Kenneth G. Kraetzer, Jr. Sons of the American Legion, Pelham NY

Pelham, N.Y., November 9, 2006

Siwanoy School is a place of fond memories for me. Mostly I think of countless hours on the playground playing softball and basketball, but this Veterans Day I will remember the story of three Pelham youngsters who grew up in the same neighborhood a generation before.

As anyone who has attended the Pelham Memorial Day ceremonies knows, each year the names of all town residents are read who have given their lives in the continuing fight for freedom. American Legion Post 50 and SAL 50 wanted to take as many of those names as possible and learn the stories they represent. Some time ago, a long time resident gave me a note briefly describing 23 Pelham residents who were lost during World War II. A few days ago, I reviewed the note and from research on the Internet was able to add some additional

details to three of these stories.

Pelham, located in the close in suburbs near New York City, is one of the rare places which has not changed that much since the 1930s when my mother’s family lived there on Witherbee Avenue. Back then, Maurice “Mo†Collette, Bertley Moberg, and Eddie Potter were close “pals,†growing up as neighbors near Siwanoy School. Mo was “An Outstanding Scholar,†skipping four semesters at Siwanoy and graduating from PMHS at the age of 16 with my Mother’s class of 1938. He was an avid golfer at the Pelham Country Club and later at Princeton, where he earned a degree in 1942.

"In the mid-thirties,†the note recalled, “Collette, Eddie Potter and two other pals took tap dancing lessons from Jim Kennett, who later abandoned show business ambitions to become the successful editor-publisher of the original Pelham Sun which had been founded by his father, Thomas M. Kennett. Bertley and Eddie were members of the Huguenot Memorial Church. Bertley graduated from PMHS in1941 and Eddie with the class of ‘42.â€

When WWII broke out, the trio went into military service along with over 1,000 other Pelham residents and headed in different directions. Collette joined the US Army in 1943, and trained at Camp Hood, Fort Benning GA, and Fort McClelland. He was sent overseas in November of 1944 as a Lieutenant and aide to the commanding general of the 80th Infantry Division. Moberg became a pilot, trained to operate a B-17 “Flying Fortress.†He was assigned to the 20th Bomber Squadron, 2nd Bomb Group Heavy, known as the "Defenders of Liberty" which flew missions out of Italy into Germany and Eastern Europe. Potter became a US Marine, training for action in the Pacific.

Sadly, tragically, heroically, the three friends from Siwanoy were lost in service to our country in far away places around the world:

Just a month after arriving in Europe, Collette was reported seriously wounded in action at the German counter-offensive known as the “Battle of the Bulge,†near Bastogne, France. On March 9th of 1945 the Standard Star reported that his parents had been notified by the War Department of his death on December 24, 1944. In a sense, Lt. Maurice K. Collette remains in service; he is interred overseas at the American Military Cemetery in Luxembourg.

On March 14, 1945, Moberg was co-pilot on a B-17G, serial number 44-6428, on a mission to bomb the Szony Oil Refinery in Hungary. The plane was hit by flak and the number two engine of the four-engine bomber caught fire. Four parachutes were seen before the plane exploded and crashed near Tata, Hungary. The American Legion honored Flight Officer Bertley A. Moberg, U.S. Army Air Forces, during the WWII 60th Anniversary Ceremony Post 50 conducted last May at the Florence American Cemetery in Italy. His name is listed there on the Wall of the Missing.

Potter served in the largest amphibious assault during in the Pacific Theater of Operations –

the invasion of the island of Okinawa. Running from late March through June of 1945, conditions on Okinawa were brutal and the fighting was intense. Private First Class Edward Dawley Potter Jr., United States Marine Corps, was one of 12,520 Americans killed or missing in the conflict, which also saw 36,631 Americans wounded. It was the last battle of WWII. Potter is listed as having died on June 27, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart and is honored at the Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii.

Post 50 and SAL 50 will honor all veterans and current military members at its annual Veteran’s Day Ceremony on Saturday November 11th at Pelham’s Veteran Park on Fifth Avenue starting at 11 a.m. I will salute them all, especially three friends from Siwanoy School.

The American Legion, with 2.7 million members, is the world's largest veteran's association. The Department of New York is one of The American Legion’s largest state organizations with 1,003 local “Posts†and membership of more than 170,000 Legionnaires. Post 50 in Pelham, N.Y., commanded in 2006-2007 by Phillip Perrorazio, has served as a Fleet Week host the past four years, organizes Pelham's Memorial Day parade and a variety of other veteran's and community support projects. In 2005, Post 50 SAL 50 initiated and conducted ceremonies commemorating the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII at the American Battle

Monument Commission military cemeteries at Florence and Nettuno Italy.

http://www.legionpost50ny.com/PR_11_11_06.html

This was sent to me. There was no attribution, so who knows who wrote it!

A Tribute To You - From Your Second Generation

We could never do you justice for all that you have done.

You volunteered, at the world's time of need.

A cause so important, that only a fool would disagree.

With such a job to do, you were only boys at the start.

Somewhere along the line you were forced and grew an old man's heart.

The experiences you faced changed you forever.

Your young innocent eyes captured only in an early photo.

Later transformed by battle in the sky,

They soon became known as flak eye.

You faced your fears,

Sometimes with courage

And sometimes with tears.

Many sacrificed all, and all sacrificed some.

You watched many a Fort and Fellow, ungraciously fall.

As the fickle finger of fate, terrorized you all.

You thought to yourself, "why them and not me?"

But in that survival mode moment, you said,

"Better them than me!"

Thank you for what you did, it was certainly not in vain.

You helped preserve our wonderful way of life.

You helped get the world through a cleansing rain.

They call yours, the greatest generation!

And you answer back,

That ours would have done the same.

Nonetheless, it was yours, that took off and flew those planes.

Though we will never really know what it was truly like.

We can only daydream and imagine, your magnificent and horrific sight.

Oh yes, we look at you as heroes, with a great sense of pride.

And yes sometimes we see your deeds as glamorous and quite just.

All the while knowing, that war is a terrible thing,

Certainly nothing ever to lust.

Some men so evil, cruel and hell-bent.

While others like you, were simply heaven sent.

Thank God that you did,

For we are all here.

We promise to remember!

And in our hearts keep you dear.

Daddy's Poem

Her hair was up in a pony tail,

her favorite dress tied with a bow.

Today was Daddy's Day at school,

and she couldn't wait to go.

But her mommy tried to tell her,

that she probably should stay home.

Why the kids might not understand,

if she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid;

she knew just what to say.

What to tell her classmates

of why he wasn't there today.

But still her mother worried,

for her to face this day alone.

And that was why once again,

she tried to keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went to school

eager to tell them all.

About a dad she never sees

a dad who never calls.

There were daddies along the wall in back,

for everyone to meet.

Children squirming impatiently,

anxious in their seats

One by one the teacher called

a student from the class.

To introduce their daddy,

as seconds slowly passed.

At last the teacher called her name,

every child turned to stare.

Each of them was searching,

a man who wasn't there.

"Where's her daddy at?"

She heard a boy call out.

"She probably doesn't have one,"

another student dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back,

she heard a daddy say,

"Looks like another deadbeat dad,

too busy to waste his day."

The words did not offend her,

as she smiled up at her Mom.

And looked back at her teacher,

who told her to go on.

And with hands behind her back,

slowly she began to speak.

And out from the mouth of a child,

came words incredibly unique.

"My Daddy couldn't be here,

because he lives so far away.

But I know he wishes he could be,

since this is such a special day.

And though you cannot meet him,

I wanted you to know.

All about my daddy,

and how much he loves me so.

He loved to tell me stories

he taught me to ride my bike.

He surprised me with pink roses,

and taught me to fly a kite.

We used to share fudge sundaes,

and ice cream in a cone.

And though you cannot see him.

I'm not standing here alone.

"Cause my daddy's always with me,

even though we are apart

I know because he told me,

he'll forever be in my heart"

With that, her little hand reached up,

and lay across her chest.

Feeling her own heartbeat,

beneath her favorite dress.

And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads,

her mother stood in tears.

Proudly watching her daughter,

who was wise beyond her years.

For she stood up for the love

of a man not in her life.

Doing what was best for her,

doing what was right.

And when she dropped her hand back down,

staring straight into the crowd.

She finished with a voice so soft,

but its message clear and loud.

"I love my daddy very much,

he's my shining star.

And if he could, he'd be here,

but heaven's just too far.

You see he is a Marine/Soldier

and died just this past year

When a roadside bomb hit his convoy

and taught Americans to fear.

But sometimes when I close my eyes,

it's like he never went away."

And then she closed her eyes,

and saw him there that day.

And to her mothers amazement,

she witnessed with surprise.

A room full of daddies and children,

all starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them,

who knows what they felt inside.

Perhaps for merely a second,

they saw him at her side.

"I know you're with me Daddy,"

to the silence she called out.

And what happened next made believers,

of those once filled with doubt.

Not one in that room could explain it,

for each of their eyes had been closed.

But there on the desk beside her,

was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.

And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,

by the love of her shining star.

And given the gift of believing,

that heaven is never too far.

They say it takes a minute to find a special

person, an hour to appreciate them,

a day to love them, but then an entire

life to forget them.

Send this to the people you'll never forget and

remember to send it also to the person that sent

it to you. It's a short message to let them know

that you'll never forget them.

If you don't send it to anyone, it means you're

in a hurry and that you've forgotten your

friends.

Take the time...to live and love.

Until eternity. God bless!

You/I don't know how much time we have!! ?? ??

Sgtleo

Christmas 1944 - Battle of the Bulge

A Christmas That Wasn't Christmas

by May A. Alm

Nurse, 104th Evac. Hospital

3rd Army, European Theater

What was I doing on December 25, 1944?

The setting was in Luxembourg and I was a nurse in the 104th Evac Hospital. The day was cloudy and bitter cold. The ground was frozen and covered with snow. There was a feeling of foreboding. I was in the middle of a war!

Earlier in the month, a cadre from our unit, which was then based in Nancy, France, had been sent to seek out a site near Metz. Then, on December 16th, the word came of the German last ditch stand in the Ardennes.

Our unit arrived in Luxembourg late in the day, around 4pm, on Christmas Eve having been transported by convoy from Nancy. As usual, the nurses rode in the ambulances. Later on, rumor had it that a vehicle had been blown up on the way but it was never confirmed.

As soon as we arrived, the setup began immediately as the casualties came pouring in. Our setup didn't take long to be in full operation! We were extremely busy caring for the wounded. Rest was forgotten. There were no helicopter deliveries - only ambulances and litters strapped to jeeps to carry the wounded. The receiving area, triage, was soon inundated and surgery became a very busy place. Alone with three wonderful corpsmen, we kept the gas-fired autoclaves running constantly so necessary supplies were kept ready for the surgeons as they donned their "beanies" and rubber gloves to repair the various wounds. Belly wounds, face wounds, and amputations took priority.

Chow time that night consisted of C-rations - the cooks were the last to setup - eaten by flashlight in the dark. The table was the nearest crate available - wherever we could find a place. There was no separation by rank since all were in fatigues but as I entered a darkened tent to sit on a box while I ate, one of the corpsmen said "Cut it, fellas, there's a lady in here." It's hard to say what they had been talking about before that. I don't know how they knew I was a different gender as I was in fatigues and helmet like they were. Then a light was shone on my face from one of their flashlights.

I must have been relieved for a little rest but I don't remember sleeping that night. I was on duty all Christmas Day. No one had time to mention Christmas on that terrible Sunday. We ate C-rations in lieu of Christmas turkey. That continued to be our meals for several days. A Merry Christmas greeting was not heard until a few days later when the work slackened somewhat and the cooks were able to prepare a great turkey dinner.

Our unit was setup in what had been an old peoples and orphans home. The old people had been transferred to other acomodations but the orphans (at least 40) were left in their building. While still in Nancy, packages from home had arrived for us containing Christmas candy and other small items. In Luxembourg, when work had simmered down somewhat in the hospital, we collected things from these packages and gave them to the children. (picture) Those of use who were not on duty went to church services where a Christmas message from General Patton was read to us. Our prayers were for the weather to clear so the planes could come in and relieve to some extent, the men who were giving so much out in the bitter cold and snow.

Christmas 1944 - unimaginably horrible and never to be forgotten.

http://www.crystalsw.com/pers/mom_chr44.shtml

Marion!

Merry Christmas to you and all your friends and Family, and ofcourse all

the best for the New Year. Attached a picture of me in the Ardennes last

Sunday, having a speech at the Baugnez US Memorial where we had a wreath

laying ceremony.

--

Hans J. Wijers

Home page:

Battle of the Ardennes "North Shoulder" 1944-45

http://home.planet.nl/~wijer037/Bulge.html

Battle for Stalingrad 1942 - 1943

http://home.planet.nl/~wijer037/HansW.html

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