Hellcat News, (Kingman, Ariz.), Vol. 51, No. 7, Ed. 1, March 1998 Page: 6 of 20
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Page 6
HELLCAT NEWS
March 1998
You were about to hear the Rice Krispie joke but it is too long a
cereal.
All good things must come to an end as does this article. Stay
cool and start planning for Houston.
23RD TANK BATTALION
James Feezel, 2804 Wayne Drive S.E., Decatur, AL 35603
Phone (205) 355-6421
We have some choice bits of info this month because there are
members and associates who have been active. But first, and maybe
this can be a last word for a time on dues. Here are the interesting
statistics: A Co. has seven annually pay members (including assoc.
and widows) who have sent money by end of year, they also have
seven paid up Life members (who no longer have to worry with a
deadline). With 18 members on roster, that's good. B Co. has 16
paid, 10 Lifers out of 32 on roster. C Co. has 13 paid plus 12 Lifers
and a roster of 35. D Co. has nine paid plus seven Lifers, with a
roster of 22. HQ Co. has 15 paid plus 14 Life with a roster of 37.
Medics with roster of three include two paid and one Life member
and now a 4th man as J. Herbert Anway has enrolled his son, Lt.
Col. James Herbert Anway Jr. Service Co. has 16 annuals paid,
seven Life members with a roster of 32.1 think this is great. If there
are a few who have for any reason slipped, forgot, or have need of
help - let someone know! Now, for the sake of reducing mailings
and much record keeping, your officers strongly promote the
Lifetime status. If you have paid for this year and you can find an
additional $60, send it and you will be upgraded and thereafter only
need to correspond with the Executive Secretary to update any
address change. Of course it is nice when Life members do send
Booster money.
Wanted this to stand out. I am not sure who found him or if he
found us, new member Lyle Wasserkrug. He is HQ, his address is
1880 St. John Rd, #33G, Seal Beach, CA 90740. If we have a
Hellcat close by, give him a handshake even if by phone. Lyle,
welcome. Hope we will be able to meet at a reunion soon. Also,
dear friends, I would like you to know we have brought Alan
Ostergaard (son of the late Arthur Ostergaard) on board. He lives at
7362 N. Hays Ave., Fresno, CA. We reunited with Art at Las Vegas
in '93 and met his wife Merilyn and son Alan. Welcome Alan, and
hope we shall meet again. Congratulations to new Life members:
Lucille Bardi and Bob Whitesett. Tiny, you are no longer new,
mentioned you last month. Also, more on James H. Anway Jr. He
is Lt. Col. (Ret.) and lives at 1700 Archibald St., Northfield, MN.
Have a wife, Karen, and three sons, 9, 13, and 15.
We had a note from Bob Seymour explaining his absence from
the Columbus reunion he had planned on. We share with him the
grief on the midsummer death of his wife, Hazel. He said he did
have a visit with good friend, Francis Perkins (tries to do so
annually), and found him in good spirits, though Perk has curtailed
his activities. We all have also, to some degree, Francis. Luther Ray
makes us aware of change of area code. He is now reachable @
(530)758-6619.
Another letter received from Ralph Cantrell enclosed the news-
paper obituary of Guy Ricciardi. Ralph also included a photo of
Guy with himself taken at Ralph's home two years ago. Ralph notes
he and Guy had been in the same barracks at Campbell. Ralph
reminds me he had been Mess Sgt. for HQ, and thinking back some
50+ years, chow was pretty good, wasn't it gang? After days on C
and K rations, I welcomed it!
From Brad Dressier, a check ($285.15) for balance of Battalion
Fund.
Next I have a file forwarded by Bob Head, from a Mr. Brian D.
Ryder. His letter says, "I am trying to gain information regarding
my father-in-law's overseas service, 1944-45. His name was Girard
From left, the late Guy Ricciardi with Ralph Cantrell of HQ-
23 in 1995.
(Gerry) O. Lapre." Brian comments that Lapre is now deceased and
had been from Rhode Island. He includes materials showing Lapre
was initially assigned to Service Co. 43rd Armored Regiment and
as of Nov. '43 to Service Co. 23rd Tank Bn. Copies of rosters of
Assignment provided him by St. Louis, showed other familiar
names such as Wayne Alderman and Edward Murphy. I know we
still have a great contingent of Service Co., so fellows, if any of you
can provide a memory of Gerry Lapre, please sent it to me or
directly to: Mr. Brian D. Ryder, 2 Raymond St., Lincoln, RI02865-
2221.1 bet Brian and his wife will appreciate it greatly.
A note with enclosed Obit of Paul N. Romack was received from
his wife, Roberta. She reports Paul died 12/29/97 at Northside
Medical Center, Youngstown, OH. Paul had been born in that city
Aug. 21, 1920, a veteran of Camp Campbell, Camp Barkeley and
Europe. Roberta notes Paul was a late comer to the 12th
Association, but very much enjoyed the Hellcat News. Perhaps
some of you, particularly Service Co., may remember this
gentleman and would send your note of condolence as well to
Roberta.
Now, back to plans for 23rd Battalion in Abilene: I have just sent
postcards to a number of you with a brief questionnaire to help me
with some final dinner plans and to get some handle on attendance.
I couldn't poll everyone so if possible others are planning to be
there, please send me a card, though I will try to get a count via
hotel registrations. We will gather at Clarion Hotel & Conference
Center (register @ 800-592-4466) April 14 thru 18, $54 per room
per night and you are welcome earlier or extended. Just be sure to
mention 12th ADA or 23rd Tank Bn. We plan to visit the Museum
building and some history salvage work at Abilene Christian.
Banquet meeting on Saturday I will collect on site, expect that to be
about $20 ea. We are not wanting this to replace your attendance at
Houston in Sept., but it will concentrate on the Museum news and
friends with friends. If you can only make one trip to Texas this
year, you will have a choice. I have some data on our banquet plans
for the National meeting, but will delay the possible confusion of
that registration one more month. You may recall my mention of
conversation with Leo Reinke. He did send me material, included
was the HQ Christmas dinner menu, Dec. 25, 1943. I'll bring it to
Abilene.
43RD TANK BATTALION
Mark Ault, 4803 Brookhaven Drive, Kokomo, IN 46901
Phone (765) 459-5245
MARCH BIRTHDAYS: Melvin Bending-4th, Charles Kile-5th,
Thelbert Miller-5th, Henry Schulz-5th, Ailene Duncan-8th, Ralph
Casey-20th, Rebecca Furlow-22nd, Melvin Knack-28th, Pansy
Williams-31st.
MARCH ANNIVERSARIES: Charles and Pansy Williams-16th,
52 yrs, Louis and Marion Fitzwater-21st, 52 yrs, Charles and
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Twelfth Armored Division Association (U.S.). Hellcat News, (Kingman, Ariz.), Vol. 51, No. 7, Ed. 1, March 1998, newspaper, March 1998; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth410168/m1/6/?rotate=90: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum.