This was sent to me by none other than our pal James Hennessey of the 87th Inf Div. He forwarded this letter to me from a gentleman named, William (Bill) Jasper. Jim put me in touch with Bill today and he informed me:
Marion...Glad that you liked the story. We were in Company B, 312th Engr.© Bn, 87th Infantry Div.
It was a bit thoughtless of me to not mention that.
Please let me know if you receive this. I am having BIG computer trouble.
All the best to you and yours.
--Bill Jasper, known in these parts as Bill on the Hill
It's great to meet yet another engineer. Always DEE-lighted to hear their stories and comments. Enjoy the letter. Oh the other gentleman he refers to (John and Jim), is John McAuliffe, also of the 87th Inf Div. Hugs, M
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John and Jim... Below is a birthday greeting from Remagne, Belgium. In early January, 1945, we (my squad of combat engineers) were in the Village of Remagne. I asked an 18-year-old girl, in French, if she had room for 13 men. She lived with her aged father. She gave us a fairly large room with a pot belly stove.
We stayed there for about a week, working mostly at nite. Her cousin would reconnoiter for us during the day and provide some excellent information, e.g. where road blocks were constructed which, of course, we would destroy. A couple of them were booby trapped, using U.S. 105 artillery shells. After the War I sent the young lady, Raymonda Simon, and her father several "care packages."
In 1963, on a trip around the world, I went back to the house and found that Raymonda got married and moved to another village. I went to see her and meet her husband (now deceased). Before leaving Remagne I found out that her brother and sister-in-law lived in the house next door. So I met them. Later those two moved to still another village, near Libramont. (Raymonda's brother also is now deceased.) Both husbands had been prisoners of the Germans for five years.
I have been back several times to visit all of the family members, eventually three generations. I held Raymonda's niece and nephew on my knees. Many years later I held their kids on my knees.
I happened to be there on my 70th birthday, and they had a nice party for me. All of us have a lot of photographic memories.
In December, 2004, I once again visited the family members. My son was with me, and he speaks fluent French. So we had an especially nice visit.
When I got home I received an e-mail message for Madam Marianne, a local school teacher in Remagne. The school adopted me, and we have had numerous communications during the last almost 2-1/2 years. At Christmas in 2005, they sent me large cardboard Christmas tree. It had a photo of the Madam and each of the children in the school. The tree hung from a series of six photos of scenes in Remagne. The photos on one side were in color, and on the other side of each photo was a black and white photo of the same scene, circa 1945. The school now has an American flag hanging in the classroom. For the record I will be 82 on June 3.
When my son and I were in Bastogne in December 2004, we met several new friends, and we continue to communicate with them via the Internet. I am sure that I will get at least three birthday cards this year from Remagne and other villages.
If you made it this far, I hope you got a kick out of this message.
One final comment. When I first met Raymonda's sister-in-law I drew an acorn on a piece of paper. She went to a drawer and pulled out a golden acorn shoulder patch. She said, "Souvenir, souvenir." She was nine years old in January, 1945.
You two have a good one. --Bill on the Hill
Be sure to look at the attachment. It is about the Sherman tank at McAuliffe Square. Hope it comes thru.
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Subject: une pensée pour vous
En lisant le journal,une pensée pour vous.
Bien à vous et déjà bon anniversaire avec quelques jours d'avance.
madame Marianne &nbs p; école de Remagne &n bsp; (Belgique)
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"