Thanks Joe for posting the pic of me in my jeep.

I was platoon leader of the 7th Infantry I and R platoon, (Intelligence and Reconnaisance) through 6 campaigns in WWII. Our principal job was to patrol ahead of the regiment to find the enemy (when he was withdrawing) and report on his strength and position.

The picture, which is shown in my bio above, thanks to J3rdinf, (my buddy who served in the same regiment in WWII), shows me and my driver in a wooded area in Italy. The driver is PFC Leo Perrault. Note the 50 cal machine gun on a centrally located mount and the canvas cover on the windshield which was always in the down position to avoid reflecting light.. It bulges, because the drivers used it as their footlocker. The windshield was never put up and if it were, you couldn't see through it because the shatter proof glass was all cracked by hard objects in the drivers "foot locker," including one or more bottles of "vino". Two men in the back seat would operate the machine gun as needed. The angle iron wire cutter welded to the front bumper, does not, unfortunately show in this picture. I don't remember ever seeing a canvas top and of course there were no side or rear windows!

I had four of these jeeps in my platoon and they were invaluable in fluid situations. They and the drivers were usually kept at the rear CP motor pool and would come forward when I called for them. They had four wheel drive and a low range gear box when needed and would go anywhere!

Please don't conclude that I never walked! There were as many foot patrols as jeep patrols, but those jeeps were a treasure!

I vividly remember one incident in France. The Krauts were withdrawing and I was sent to find out where they were. We were on a wooded dirt road and as we rounded a bend, there came a French sedan, up close, coming toward us. In it, I could see there were 3 German officers and a driver. Their driver backed up into a K turn to escape. I ordered my gunner to fire and the 50 caliber MG raked the car from end to end. All four of the occupants were killed instantly. I remember the puffs of dust that rose as each bullet penetrated the old sedan.

Russ Cloer, (WWII Lt. and Cpt., 7th Inf, 3rd Inf Div), 6 campaigns in WWII in Italy, France and Germany.

Sent to me by my friend Brian O'Barr. Please find a quiet moment to view this slide show of our troops.

Until Then...

This is a letter I received from my friend, Captain John Fallon of the 36th Combat Engineers.

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I just got a nice long EMail from Colonel Brooks and he too is pleased that they can again wear the Seahorse Patch. He is sending me some material to be used at our reunion and if he can get them enough copies of our desert patch for the fellows at Lebanon. I asked for a picture of him and his RSM in front of their HQ and I'll have it blown up for display. Did you know that they are with the 3rd Infantry Division, the very best Infantry Division of WWII and I am very pleased about that too because during the war we got along very very well.

Reservations are coming along nicely!!

36 Engineers are rugged......John Fallon II. Capt. USA Ret.

This (the first two letters) were provided to me by James Hennessey, member of the 87th Inf Div. Other letters are provided after to show what was trying to be accomplished by the men this unit.

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87th Vets:

If we have to beg for an award due us, for our service in Belgium in WW2. As for me I say they can stuff it, it hurts me to say this, but I am a proud 87th Vet. I know what we done in the War in Belgium, that is good enough for me.

Thanks to all of you 87th vets for your efforts in this matter.

I Remain Stalwart And Strong

Jim H--E-345

Stay Well -Enjoying Your Freedom-Thank A Veteran

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Inasmuch as our great Belgian friend Gilbert Stevenot reports that the Belgian Army files cannot be reopened at such a late date, this closes the long and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to correct a clerical error made in 1945 by the US War Department.

It was not a lack of trying that failed us--it was a bureaucratic matter, and the bureaucracy failed. Now it'll be up to individual consciences to decide whether to buy the fouragerre from some on-line or neighborhood store, or do without it.

In terms of clear entitlement, there is not a single history in either English or French that excludes the vital and valorous 87th Div role in the BoB. Additionally, we have biographies written by two of our top generals, Patton and Middleton, to establish our entitlement. Extraordinarily, even a German general, Gen. Remer, paid high tribute to our role.

In a way, the recent U.S. Defense Department letter is welcome because it states explicitly that the 87th Div. is listed in its rolls as having participated in the BoB. The problem was that the US Defense Dept., because of a clerical error, didn't communicate that in 1945 to the Belgian King, or the Belgian Defense Dept.

I now know what I'm going to do about the fouragerre, but I leave it up to

all the other 87th Div survivors to decide for themselves.

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----- Original Message -----

From: "STEVENOT GILBERT"

Sent: Thursday, July 07, 2005 4:32 AM

Subject: RE: War Dept list

Dear Mitch,

After receiving your different messages concerning the Belgian Fourragère, I was in touch once more with the Armed Forces Defense Staff and they seem to be well informed because the last letter they have in their records was their answer to you, and the letter you had sent to the King.They give me the same reply. Those files have been closed since September 1, 1952 and will never reopened again. You know I have been working hard to respond to that wish and the more than hundred letters,that I have received at the time, from high ranking wheels,generals, colonel, and even a former Secretary of the army, whose name was Resort, if I can trust my memory.I still have a part of those listings somewhere among my records an d all the letters.. If you absolutly need the list you let me know and I will send them by post as soon as I c an put my hand on them..

I include a copy of the letter they have sent to you in May 20 97, after your request to the King.

I would like to help and understand this lack of recognition, but as you know after the war many units have been deactivated; of the 16 Armored Divisionsthey remained only three.Those divisions or units, which received the Croix de guerrre or the Belgian Fourragère through reports of your ownarmy staffs, who knew of their deeds, because only the american army had the records of the fights engaged in our country. With true friendship.

From: "Mitch Kaidy"

To: "Gilbert Stevenot"

Subject: War Dept list

Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2005 09:35:51 -0400

Do you still have the copy of the US War Dept list of units that omitted the 87th Div? I know you sent it to me, but don't know where it is.

Here is the official account of the 53rd Naval Construction Battalion-Seabees work while in support of the 3rd Marine Division on Bougainville, Solomon Islands, covering the period November 1,- 24, 1943.Two hundred and forty-four men, the officer in Charge, seven other officers and one bulldozer landed in the second wave with the 2nd Raider Battalion on Beach Green-2 on D-Day, November 1. This group acted as Shore-Party for the unloading of the USS George Clymer. This work was concluded early in the afternoon of D-Day. Seventy-four men, two officers and one bulldozer landed in the second wave on Puruata Island, with the 3rd Raider Battalion and one battery of the 3rd Defense Battalion. This group acted as Shore-Party in unloading their ship, and assisted the 3rd Defense Battalion in securing their positions. This detail remained with the battery for eight days. Fifty-six men and one officer landed in the second wave on Beach Blue-2 and acted as Shore-Party for about ten days. One man, with bulldozer, and one officer landed in the first wave on Beach Blue-1 to assist the 3rd Defense Battalion in securing their battery positions. This man and bulldozer remained with the battery for about five days, and on November 2 about one hundred men and two officers from Beach Green-2 were assigned to assist the battery for three days. On November 2 all available men were started constructing bridges and pioneer road along the Piva Trail from Beach Yellow-1. No amount of construction equipment was available until November 6, and progress was slow through the swamps. This project was later expanded to include a pioneer road from Blue-1 and extension of the Piva Trail to an intersection with the Piva Road near Piva. On November 6 an additional six officers, 179 men, and considerable construction equipment were landed on Puruata Island. These troops were transferred to the mainland on November 9, and assigned to road construction. Here at Empress Augusta Bay, was once again seen the close relationship and cameraderie which existed between "Seabees and the Marines". The main road, when completed, was named "Marine Drive" and dedicated, with deep affection, "To our very good Friend, the Fighting Marines". A large sign, announcing this fact, was placed at one of the roads terminals. On November 11, one officer, 63 men and additional equipment arrived. On November 28, three officers and 33 men arrived, and on December 4, one officer and 16 men completed the movement. A total of 24 officers and 687 men, together with approximately 800 tons of equipment and rolling stock, are now on the island. On November 15, work was started on a two-lane road up the Piva River from the beach. On November 30, this road was open to traffic to the southeast corner of the Piva Airfield site. The Piva Trail pioneer road was 85% percent completed at this time. Survey crews on November 4, started surveys from Yellow-2, and, on November 10, these crews started preliminary surveys for the Piva Airfield. These crews worked under extremely difficult and hazardous conditions as sporadic enemy opposition was encountered in these areas until about November 30. Up to November 24, a total of two miles of primary highway and 1.8 miles of pioneer road had been constructed. A majority of this work was through extemely difficult swamps and jungles, and a considerable portion of these roads were built on corderuroy brush mats, by hand.

Miscellaneous activities included: Construction of operationsl dugouts for First Amphibious Corps, ( numbered among these was the elaborate one built for the personal use of Admiral Halsey. Hauling ammunition and rations on Affe trailers to the front lines. Start of development of a coral pit on Torokina Piont. Construction of emergency operating tent and hospital ward for 3rd Defense Battalion Medical Officer, and the loan to him of the assistance of two Battalion medical officers and several corpsmen to care for Raider casualties during the first ten days. Available records indicate 81 enemy air alerts in which enemy planes were overhead and bombs were dropped. Enemy artillery, mortar and machine gun fire existed on the beaches November 1st and and 2nd. Sniper fire existed for the entire two months period in the jungle. Its assigned missions successfully and commendably completed, the 53rd returned from Bougainville during the middle of January, 1944 o its former camp at Doma Cove, Guadalcanal. The various detachments of the Battalion landing on D-Day were under operational control of the 3rd Marine Division until November 8, at which time they reverted to the control of the Commanding General, First Marine Amphibious Corps.