Hellcat News, (Seward, Neb.), Vol. 45, No. 5, Ed. 1, January 1992 Page: 4 of 32
32 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this newspaper.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Page 4
HELLCAT NEWS
January 1992
Spot Report From Your 1992
Reunion/Anniversary Committee
HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY 1992! HAPPY ANNIVER-
SARY! Yes, this year is the 50th, the Golden Anniversary of the
activation of the Division at Camp Campbell, Kentucky, on 15
September 1942 and this is the first in a series of reports to you
from your 1992 Reunion/Anniversary Committee to keep you
informed as to how we are progressing in the 4 'Count Down'' to
Louisville and our Association's 46th Reunion.
First let me tell you about the excellent group you have
working to bring you one of the best and most enjoyable
reunions in the 46 years of the Association. Your 1992 Reunion
Committee has the following outstanding and dedicated
workers - Paul Belshoff (Hq-17), John Cook (D-714), Albert
Lysinger (DivHq), David Metts (B-494), Clyde Robinson (C-82),
Bob Steinmetz (Hq-17), Tommy Thompson (Hq-494), "Doc"
Watson (A-134), Louis Walton (A-92), Dr. Arthur Whickham
(B-495) and Chairman Owsley Costlow (A-23).
In future reports I shall tell you more about these fine gentle-
men and the duties they are to perform. However, now I would
like to give you a little background information on our reunion
city, Louisville, Kentucky. It is hard to believe that everyone
doesn't already know about Louisville since this will be the fifth
time Louisville has been chosen as Reunion City. We were here
in 1949, 1964, 1979 and 1987, all very well attended. With Fort
Knox just down the road I can well imagine most of our mem-
bers trained at Knox sometime in their service and probably
came to Louisville at that time. Louisville was founded in 1778
at the Falls of the Ohio River by General George Rogers Clark
the older brother of Captain William Clark of the Lewis and
Clark Expedition fame. Older brother General George had fame
too, being credited with the "Conquest of the West" during
the Revolutionary War. The West they were talking about was
the Illinois Country that consisted mostly of our present states
of Indiana and Illinois. General George was a 26 year old
Virginia Militia lieutenant colonel. His mission, given to him by
Virginia Governor Patrick Henry, was to drive the British from
their forts at Kaskaskia and Cahokia on the Mississippi River in
Illinois and Vincennes on the Wabash River in Indiana. To
establish a base for supplies he chose Corn Island at the Falls of
the Ohio River. There he built a small fort and as will happen
settlers soon began to appear and put down roots. Soon there
was a need for more room so a new larger fort was built on the
mainland that was the true beginning of Louisville. It was a
perfect place to begin a river city. River traffic carrying settlers
to the West could not go over the falls so everyone would have
to get off their boat and go ashore to portage around the falls.
Merchants seized the opportunity to set up shops and sell to
what was almost a captive audience. Business boomed and the
city grew (one of the largest cities West of the Appalachian
Mountains).
In 1778 Louisville officially became a city, taking its name
from King Louis XVI of France in gratitude for his nation's help
during the Revolutionary War. The name always seems to bring
up the question on how do you pronounce Louisville's name.
Yes, just how do you pronounce the capital of Kentucky? Is it
LOO-ah-vull, Louis-vill or LOO-ee-vull, no the capital of
Kentucky is pronounced Frankfort! (Trick question.)
Corn Island has long since washed away and the falls have
been tamed by a dam built right on its top. There is a canal with
locks built around the dam which allows river traffic to proceed
up the river to Pittsburgh or down to Cairo and the Mississippi.
Many other changes have taken place here in the past 213
years. Louisville noe encompasses 62Vi square miles and the
metropolitan population is almost a million people.
There are many interesting sights to see here and if you
haven't already done so, I would like to suggest the following:
Churchill Downs and the Derby Museum, the Falls Fountain
where the water is pumped 400 feet into the air, the historical
homes at Locust Grove and Farmington, the Museum of History
and Science, J. B. Speed Art Museum, Zachary Taylor National
Cemetery and his home, John Conti Coffee Museum, Portland
Museum, Kentucky Kingdom Amusement Park, The Louisville
Zoo and many many more.
I feel you will find many interesting things to see and do on
your own but our committee will be available to tell you about
different places and give directions on how to get there. Of
course, the main item of interest will be to see and be with your
Hellcat friends and their families and to help us celebrate the
50th (the Golden) anniversary of the activation of our own 12th
Armored Division.
Although we have set aside a large block of rooms at the Gait
House, it might be wise to get your reservation made and con-
firmed before the last minute. With this in mind issues of the
"Hellcat News" from now to August will feature the following
Gait House Hotel Reservation Form. Use it or telephone them
direct.
More on the Reunion and plans next month.
Owsley C. Costlow
1992 Reunion Chairman
Div. Hdq.
Units
George F. Grimshaw, Jr.
73 Manning Street
Providence, Rl 02906
Phone (401) 331-3694
It is with profound sadness that I begin this column with the
announcement of the passing of a comrade in arms, Gerald R.
(Jerry) Hammell (CCB) in Amityville, New York, at age 70. He
is survived by his widow, Audrey, a son Robert, a daughter
Deborah, and two grandchildren, Shannon and Erin. When I
called Audrey on the phone, she informed me that she and
Jerry had just returned from an extended coast to coast auto-
mobile trip in which they had visited with all their relatives and
had a wonderful time. I assured her that the thoughts and
prayers of all of Jerry's buddies were with her, and she ex-
pressed her gratitude. I was informed of Jerry's death by
President Ernie Akaiwa, and also Fred Stillman (Unit Rep 495),
who lives in Babylon, Long Island, New York, and who repre-
sented the 12th Armd. Div. at the funeral. May Jerry's soul,
and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of
God, rest in peace.
FROM JOE HOLLERBACH: You did pretty good telling us
about your trip to and from Omaha. Reba, Jocelyn and I
stopped in Amana Colonies in Iowa a couple of years ago, and
can endorse the fine food. You're too modest about the hospi-
tality room you furnished in Omaha. In the whole week, the
only place I could find in that hotel was the swimming pool and
your room. It was a real relief at about ten o'clock at night to
stop over at your room (which was also the hospitality room) to
have some goodnight chatter and a selection of cold drinks and
a snack. Another good thing was the opportunity to meet new
friends in a quiet spot for talk and laughter. You know that
makes you sleep better when you get back to your room. Next
we want to know how Eileen is feeling after the fall she took on
the last evening. (NB FROM EG: Coming along nicely, Thanks
for asking.) Jocelyn is still being treated in Rochester but last
week they told her they may have made a wrong diagnosis.
They are now reducing the medication, but Jocelyn hasn't been
told what the next phase will be. We hope she can come home,
return to work and set up a new treatment program here in St.
Paul. At least they have given us some idea of how to proceed. I
finally received my Volume I of the Hellcat History. I had to lay
another letter on Turner Publishing with registered mail, return
receipt requested. Would you send me the address for Jim and
Harriette Buhr? Then I can enter it into my directory. Your
prayer is appropriate for many times and especially for Thanks-
giving. We hope that you and your family had a happy one.
We're going up to Marine on the St. Croix for our feast at my
son's home. They've been married for two years now and this
will be their first attempt at cooking the "bird". They can do it
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Twelfth Armored Division Association (U.S.). Hellcat News, (Seward, Neb.), Vol. 45, No. 5, Ed. 1, January 1992, newspaper, January 1992; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth410310/m1/4/: accessed June 23, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum.