Hellcat News, (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 62, No. 3, Ed. 1, November 2008 Page: 1 of 24
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* Rhineland
* Ardennes-Alsace
* Central Europe
VOL. 62
HELLCAT NEWS
Published by the
12th Armored
Division Association
Presidents
Message
The winter holidays are fast approaching.
My work often takes me to England this time
of year for a week or two and I get to visit the
Salisbury Plain and Tidworth Barracks.
The British still maintain a tank training
facility at Tidworth Barracks and there is
frequently lots of activity. Large patches of
mud where the tank crossing signs are posted
and even an occasional tank traveling down
the main streets. In the past, I have cautiously ventured down the
long narrow entrance road to the main gate of Tidworth Barracks,
lined with a high fence topped with concertina wire, to be met by
soldiers with automatic weapons. I pulled out my Hellcat History
book and some topo maps of the Salisbury Plain and asked for
directions to Windmill Hill. They invited me in the guard shack
and we found it on their more detailed topos. Today Windmill Hill
near Tidworth even shows up on a search of the internet mapping
tool, http://www.googleearth.com, so it's a little easier to find.
I will also be traveling again down to the port of Southampton,
England, where many units of the 12th embarked on ships like the
Empress of Australia to cross the channel. Down near the old town
wharf, just outside massive stone walls of the old city, there is a
tall stone monument dedicated to the Mayflower expedition, very
close to the point where they took on more provisions and set sail
for the epic voyage to Plymouth, MA, where they started a great
experiment in self government in the creation of Massachusetts
Bay Colony which we also celebrate this month.
At the base of this monument in Southampton is a large brass
plaque put up by the people of Southampton, whose city was
virtually destroyed by German bombing. The plaque commemo-
rates and gives thanks to the two million service men and women
from America who returned to England, a little over 300 years
after the Mayflower departed, and sailed out of Southampton and
other British ports on their way to Europe to fight in WWII to
preserve our way of life.
This Holiday season I strongly encourage every family to
give a gift of a Hellcat News email edition and an association
membership, and don't forget a 12th AD Museum membership
too, to a few more interested relatives: children, grandchildren,
nieces, nephews etc. My guess is they are more interested than
you think. It's a great communication and educational tool and
especially gets the young people in school interested in learning
about what happened in WWII, and the years leading up to it, so
continued on page 3
Br Questions about the Branson, Missouri,
August 12-15, 2009, Reunion should be addressed to:
vandy33@windstream.net
TOM and SHARON VAN TEAM
RR #2
Purdy, MO 65734-9802
NOVEMBER 2008
NO. 3
66TH ARMORED INFANTRY
BATTALION
George R. O'Bryan
1016 Monroe, Red Bud, IL 62278
618-282-6079 geoo@htc.net
Now that the Abilene reunion is history everyone can begin
to concentrate on the next one to be held in Branson, MO. We
understand that you won't have any trouble finding something
to do in Branson. Although we have not been there since it has
become so popular, many people from this area have visited and
they all recommend Branson, MO, as a wonderful place to spend
some time. See you there!
We have received shocking and bad news from C/66th buddy
Steve Czecha who reports legacy member Stuart Weiss passed
away on Sept. 2 due to heart complications. Steve wrote, "Stuart
Weiss was born in Philadelphia, PA, on May 25, 1956. He is
survived by his beloved wife Tanya and daughter Jasmine.
"Stuart came to the 12th AD Museum dedication in Abilene
back in October 2001. He was searching for information relating
to his uncle, Elwood W. Mondelblatt [C], who was reported
missing in action on Jan. 16, 1945. He had been wounded and
apparently died of those wounds after being taken prisoner by the
Germans.
"Stuart had some help from a C Company buddy, Robert
Mancill, who knew Elwood from ASTP Socorro School of
Mines. Stuart arranged for a military funeral for Mondelblatt in
Arlington National Cemetery back in April of 2003. He followed
up by making a trip back to France seeking unidentified soldiers
from WW2. He was assisted by Lisa Pommois, historian, in
France by meeting with the mayors of Gambsheim, Herrlisheim,
Weyersheim, France, and Friesttet, Germany, checking records for
unidentified soldiers. Stuart was accompanied by his wife Tanya,
daughter Jasmine and Steve Czecha [C]. Stuart video taped that
trip and created a CD that is now in the 12th Armored Division
Museum and the Library of Congress."
The 66th extends their prayers and condolences to Tanya and
Jasmine and the Weiss family. He will be missed by us all.
Our X-POW buddy P. W. Rice [C] writes, "I received a most
continued on page 3
66th Group, Abilene 2008: X-POW's Rich, O'Bryan, Fitts,
Hoeweler and Wood seated with their famlies standing in the
back.
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Twelfth Armored Division Association (U.S.). Hellcat News, (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 62, No. 3, Ed. 1, November 2008, newspaper, November 2008; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth410350/m1/1/?q=%221964~%22: accessed August 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting The 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum.