Hellcat News, (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 63, No. 11, Ed. 1, July 2010 Page: 10 of 24
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Page 10
HELLCAT NEWS
July 2010
Sgt. Thompson was our platoon leader. After 1st Sergeant
Becker was gone, Thompson took over as 1 st Sergeant. I was
promoted to Staff Sergeant. After returning from Herrlisheim,
we were attacked at night in Rohrwiller. Sgt. Leacy brought
up a machine gun. I got on the gun and I was wounded in the
shoulder and arm. I ended up in a Paris hospital for two weeks
and was then flown to the States to Rhodes General Hospital
in Utica, NY. I was there for seven months for operations.
They never got the bullet from my arm. I still have it today.
I was then shipped to Camp Edwards, MA, for rehab for two
months and then discharged with 50% disability. Thank you
for remembering me and good luck to you and Otis Shull.
I'm looking forward to more issues of the 'Hellcat News.'
Your old Hellcat friend."
It is with sadness that we report the passing of Robert L.
Scott [HQ] on May 8 at Hylond Convalescent Hospital in
Modesto, CA. Bob is survived by a daughter and son. Bob
was the recipient of the Silver Star, Purple Heart and other
commendations. His heroism and bravery at the Water Works
near Herrlisheim won him the Silver Star. It was there in the
evening that Bob single-handedly disabled a German tank
with his accurate bazooka shot. Bob was a fine gentleman
and soldier and we shall miss him. Our condolences are
extended to his family members.
The following is a composition that was put together last
year:
SOME INTERESTING STATISTICS
This article is dedicated to the true heroes of the 12th
Armored Division, the ones who gave their lives in what was
to have been the war to end all wars. Much of the information
for this writing was gleaned from the booklet Casualties of
the United States Twelfth Armored Division, World War II,
Second Edition prepared by Raymond O. Collier, Jr. [A/17]
and F. George Hatt, Jr. [A/17].
Of the 814 individuals who made the supreme sacrifice,
470 or 57.8% were members of our infantry battalions. Our
tank battalions lost 218 members representing 26.8% of the
deaths.
The number and percentage of the total for the other units
follow:
92nd Cavalry Recon 45 - 5.5%
Field Artillery Battalions 32 - 3.9%
119th Engineers 25-3.1%
All Other Units 24 - 2.9%
The statement, "There are lies, damned lies, and statistics,"
was ascribed by Mark Twain to Benjamin Disraeli. Yet there
can be no misrepresentation attributed to statistics when the
raw data are furnished along with the percentages.
The important thing to bear in mind is that each of the
individuals who gave his life, regardless of the specific unit,
had dreams and aspirations that were never fulfilled. Eight
hundred fourteen American families were adversely affected
by these casualties some 65 or 66 years ago. And whether
they are buried here in the United States or on foreign shores,
we should never forget them. They are the true heroes who
were taken away from us far too early in life. It is not a stretch
to say that many of us have rightly said, "There but for the
grace of God go I!"
George E. Turnbull, Sr. [A] passed away on May 11 in
Adelphi, MD. George was a wonderful individual, a darned
good soldier, and a great personal friend. Our sincerest
condolences are extended to his wife, Patricia, his children
and grandchildren. George and I were members of the same
rifle squad and we shared many experiences both in combat
and in training. Truly, another seat in our half-track is left
vacant.
It was brought to our attention by his attorney that Joseph
K. Lentz [B] passed away on March 11,2006, in a Freeport,
IL, nursing home.
Joe, we are told, before retiring worked for Honeywell,
where he was responsible for several patents and research
projects. Joe had one son and was single at the time of his
death.
Avery nice email message was received from the daughter
of Phil Suchy [A]. Patty advised that Phil had moved from
Iowa to Illinois. Phil's granddaughters plan on writing
articles about Phil that they will send to me. You should be
reading them soon.
Segue: One of the greatest palindromes ever is "A man a
plan a canal panama!" Well, you have to admit that it tops
'Otto" or 'level' hands down.
The following are excerpts from Dino Grossi's [A] recent
letter:
"Dear Ed,
"I joined the 1st rifle squad of the first platoon of A
Company of the 56th AIB from ASTP in Las Cruces, NM,
and was very fortunate to be with them when the 12th was
disbanded. I was then transferred to an infantry battalion
of the 1st Armored Division for occupational duty. There
after a short while I was made company supply sergeant and
promoted to staff sergeant.
"When I came home in April of 1946,1 went into the soft
drink business with a distributorship from a local bottling
plant of Nehi products.
"In September, I married my childhood sweetheart and
have been married 63 years. We have a son, Gary, and a
daughter, Linda. Both children also had a son and daughter,
and we now have a great-grandson, 4-year old Austin.
"I had rectal cancer surgery and radiation and chemotherapy,
and survived. There were terrible days in combat, but life
can test your mettle, too.
"After six years in the beverage business, I sold it and
went into poultry farming for egg production. This area,
Sonoma County, was known as the 'egg basket of the world'
from about 1920 to 1975. Before going into the service in
1942,1 had purchased a five acre parcel of land and in 1946,
after getting married, I built a house and later built four large
chicken houses. We kept about 5,000 laying hens and we
marketed all our eggs to stores and restaurants. Did that
for about 30 years and then retired. I am still at the same
place and still able to maintain the property. Both my wife,
Thelma, and I are in relatively good health. Take care."
On Sunday, May 23, daughter Joann, son-in-law Gene,
and I attended the association's spring luncheon hosted by
Bill and Peggy Anne Vosseler at Williamson's Restaurant
in Horsham, PA.
While the attendance was somewhat less than anticipated,
everyone had an enjoyable time with great food, refreshing
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Twelfth Armored Division Association (U.S.). Hellcat News, (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 63, No. 11, Ed. 1, July 2010, newspaper, July 2010; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth410312/m1/10/: accessed July 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum.