From JACK to JIM:
One of our Battle of the Bulge men, Dick Brookins, just returned from Luxembourg. He was interviewed by Ch9 this AM and it will be on CH 9 at 5PM today, December 4th. CH 9 usually replays their articles several times over the next 24 hrs. Dick was in Wiltz, Luxembourg in Dec. 1944 with the 28th Infantry Div. He was picked to play St. Nicholas in a town celebration. The Germans had just been driven out of the town and this was a big celebration. The town was almost completely destroyed ten days later when the Battle of the Bulge started and the Germans came back. He did such a great job that the town has invited him back several times for the St. Nicholas celebration. The story has been on national TV a couple of times. A book was even written about the event. It was just so different from the horror of war that was going on all around them. CNN covered the story this time and expect it will be on their network early next week. It is really a great story --- try to catch it.
While I have your attention ----- Our Battle of the Bulge chapter is going to be disolved as of the 16th of this month. We are simply too old to run an effective organization any more. Our ages run from 84-94, there are not many of us left. Many of our men could not walk in the Memorial Day parade because of old war wounds and many of the rest couldn't walk because our legs arn't so good anymore. We do intend to continue the ceremonies at our monument at the entrance to Ontario Beach Park on Memorial Day and Veterans Day as long as we are able. You are invited to our last meeting at the Town of Greece meeting room at 1PM on Wednesday, Dec. 16th. We hope to have a nice ceremony, celebrate our history, shed a few tears, remember our comrades who died in that terrible battle 65 years ago, and have a couple of speeches as we fold our flags for the last time. Local dignitaries and possibly a congressman will be present.
As Douglas MacArthur said, "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away."
Regards,
Jack
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"