325 Glider Infantry Association 82nd Airborne Division

DAVID BRONSON, Associate Editor david.bronson.mi@gmail.com (269) 870-6149

RICHARD ERNY, Editor erny325@sbcglobal.net (317) 228-9141 WESLEY KO, Past Editor wes325@gmail.com (508)-457-9108

Statutory Corporate Agent, Leonard Weinstein, 6809 Mayfield Road, Apt. 1260, Mayfield Heights, OH 44124, (440) 605-0486 Chairman Jesse Oxendine 1812 Woodberry Road Charlotte, NC 28212 (704) 537-4912 joxendine6@carolina.rr.com

Vice-Chairman George Steward 178 Carriage Drive Irwin, PA 15642 724-863-2817 gsteward2@tampabay.rr.com

Secretary Robert Bridge 1235 Bittersweet Ln. Rochester, IN 46975 (574) 223-9484 bridgehouse@rtcol .com

Treasurer George Fisanich 7 Snowplow Trail Carroll Valley, PA 17320 (717) 642-6774 gfisanich@ Comcast.net

Editor Richard C. Erny 8030 Clayburn Court Indianapolis, IN 46268 (317) 228-9141 erny325@sbcglobal. net

Web Master Colin Lennon 7259 Marla Drive Indianapolis, IN 46256-2040 (317) 841-9785 cclennon2@comcast.net

Past Editor, Tow Line Wesley Ko 42 Squibnocket Drive East Falmouth, MA 02536 (508) 457-9108 wes325@gmail.com

Winter 2011 Log on to 325gliderinfantry.org Winter 2011

Remember Me

Martin Stahel, C Co, 1944

CHAIRMAN’S CORNER

Well, here we are in December and I was thinking about some Decembers back in the 1940’s when we were at war. How well I remember my first Christmas away from home and how down and out I was along with so many other boys. That’s one Christmas I will never forget, basic training at Camp Robinson, ARK. I won’t forget that Christmas when we were in England waiting on the ship “Queen Mary” to get back from the States to get us and bring us home. I guess those were the most memorable Christmases in my life - one of sorrow and one of joy. Even at my age now, Christmas is a very special time of the year, not only for its meaning but a time for family. I hope for all of you a very special Christmas and will be reminded of how blessed we are to be still here at home with our love ones. I have heard from several of you since the last Tow Line. The news of our good buddy Martin Stahel was a shocker. He put up a good fight, but the cancer of the throat finally got him. (Continued, Page 2)

Why not share your WW II photographs? Send to Rick with story line.

Winter 2011 2 How may we improve? Send your recommendation!

Chairman’s Corner, continued… I remember him telling me he thought he was gone the night the Germans over ran our positions and a German walked up to his fox hole and shot him point blank in the throat. Somehow he survived that until a few weeks ago. Several of us got in touch with Mablelene, and I’m sure several others will now that the news is in the Tow Line. I’m sure we have lost others but we don’t always get the news until we read it in the Tow Line. If you hear of any news, please let Rick or some of us know so we can pass it on. I was talking with Lewis Strandburg the other week and I was telling him how I wish the boys would write or record about their days in the military before they are gone. It would be a great gift to leave to their family. Lewis said he had done that and would send me a copy. He had done this because his mother could not hear. You talk about a master peace, it was great. It should have been in book form. It was 31 typed written pages long. It had several sections: Basic Training, The Trip to England, Training in England, Getting Ready for “D” day, Normandy, Holland, Becoming a POW, Freedom and Home. It was a great story. A story like this could be one of the best things you could leave your family. Do this before it’s too late and don’t forget to send a copy to your Tow Line editor! The 325 APR Association wanted me to write a little article about our Association for their newsletter, which I did. We are two different Associations, but I feel we are all 325 brothers. I told them the 325th Regiment was unique. At one time it was Infantry, Gliderman, and now Paratrooper. I have spoken to some of our men that didn’t get a Glider Certificate, and they were anxious to get one. I called Wes and as usual he was glad to help us out in getting them one. I hope all of you will get them framed and display them in a noticeable place. We don’t want people to forget that gliders were used during WWII. I spoke to a group the other week and some of them were unaware of the use of gliders and why they were used.

I will be contacting some of you in the near future as I have been doing and hope all of your news will be good. Be sure to give someone a call and let’s keep in touch. Hope all of you will enjoy the holidays and continue to have good health. Good luck and good health, Jesse

Our condolences to their Families William L. Reinig, G Co, 325 GIR, passed away October 12, 2010. An All American and Charter member of the Idaho All Airborne Chapter of the 82nd AB Association, William served with G/325 from October, 1944 to 1946. He is survived by two children. Gene R. Fagan, C Co, 325 GIR – additional information coming – just before publication your editor received the following email: Dear Mr. Erny, I am writing to let you know that Gene R. Fagan, Company C, 325 Glider Inf. Reg. passed away On December 8, 2011. He was very proud of his service in the 82nd Airborne Division. He always looked forward to receiving his "Tow Line" newsletter and saved most of them. Editor’s Note: The following special obituary was sent to me by Paula Stahel regarding her father. It is a beautiful tribute to her father and I reprint it in its entirety: Master Woodworker Martin Stahel dead at 87 For the past several decades Martin Stahel has been one of the most staunch supporters of the 325 Glider Infantry Association. On Oct. 29, 2011, Martin glided to his final landing, passing away at the age of 87 after a brief illness. (Stahel, continued, on Page 3)

Editor: Rick Erny, 8030 Clayburn Court, Indianapolis, IN 46268 Phone: 317-228-9141 Email: erny325@sbcglobal.net

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We need YOUR input! Winter 2011 3

Stahel, continued… Martin was born Nov. 24, 1923 in Javornik, Czechoslovakia. When his parents and older brother emigrated to the U.S., he remained behind with the intention of completing his schooling and attending university. Then Hitler invaded. In April 1940, Martin was able to join his family in New York City. A year later he relocated to Michigan. The Army drafted Martin in 1943. During training he earned the highest possible rating as a sharpshooter. When it was time to be assigned to duty, the officers faced a dilemma—his intelligence and skills qualified him for advance training, but his limited English precluded such opportunities. Eventually he was attached to the 325 and sent to England for deployment as an infantry gliderman after D-Day. In Sept. 1944 he landed in the Netherlands as a member of the 325’s Company C. The men encountered enemy fire the next day, and Martin took out a German soldier with his first shot. From then on, engagements continued, ramping up through the Battle of the Bulge. The night after Christmas, while manning an advance foxhole alone, Martin was attacked from the rear by German forces and shot through the throat. He was able to reach the safety of Allied lines. After a lengthy recuperation in a British hospital, Martin received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star and an honorable discharge May 31, 1945. He took a job with the Baker Furniture factory in Holland, Mich., then met and married Mabeline Victor on June 12, 1948. Five years later the couple purchased property on Big Manistique Lake in the Upper Peninsula and began developing Shore Haven Resort. The comfort of the cottages he built and the couple’s hospitality earned scores of life-long friends and repeat annual vacationers from as far away as Cincinnati. The Stahels moved to the Kalamazoo area in 1961, where Martin established himself as a master woodworker and furniture restorer. The quality of his work was such that individual and corporate clients quickly grew to include such well-known names as Fetzer, Gilmore, Upjohn’s, The Stryker Corp., and Win Schuler’s. Like many of his generation, Martin never spoke to family or friends about his war experiences, but decades later reconnected with fellow servicemen. After retirement he became actively involved with the 325 Glider Infantry Association, and served

as its secretary during the 1990s. He also contributed to “Tow Line” and to Let’s Go!: The Story of the Men Who Served In the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, a book written by his close friend and former captain Wayne Pierce. Over the past two years, Martin was working with the Dept. of Defense’s POW/Missing Personnel Office, providing information to help locate the remains of a Cpl. George Black, whose body was not recovered after the Battle of Mook Plain in Oct. 1944. Martin and his wife retired to Tucson, Ariz., then moved to Bradenton, Fla. in 2002.

He is survived by his wife, Mabeline, of 63 years; a daughter, Paula; son, Gevan, and daughter-in-law, Denise; eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and numerous other family members. He was predeceased by his son, Michael, and grandson, Patrick. Editor’s Note: If you would like to send condolences, the address is:

Mabeline Stahel 1408 Cypress Rd.

Bradenton, FL 34208

If you hear of any other fellow 325 vets or spouses who have passed, please pass whatever information you have along so we can keep our membership updated. Thank you!

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Winter 2011 4 We wish you a most joyous Christmas!

Letters

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen, This is in response to the discussion about the beginnings of our WWII Glider Association. These are my recollections. At one of the 82nd Conventions, or All Ohio Days etc., Wayne Pierce called together all of his C Company men for a brief meeting in Wayne and Wilma's hotel room. This was before our Association's days. Iris (my wife) and I were invited, and several C Company men piled into the room to reminisce about WWII. That became the nucleus of what was later to become our Association. Wayne was Company Commander of C Company in WWII. Somewhat later our Association was formed, and I suggest you contact Leonard Weinstein about that, as he was involved in our by-laws, etc. This would have been in the early 1980's. Leonard was in "G" company. A further suggestion would be to contact Wilma Pierce.........she worked alongside Wayne in Association matters. With reference to the proposed monument at Scraptoft, I am very interested!! And I want to contribute to it. I well remember Scraptoft, which is where the 325 was encamped during WWII ........ former golf course I believe. I will be in touch with Adam Berry,the prime mover of the project. The camp was near Leicester, where I first met my beloved Iris. (A personal note.) Herb

Veteran’s Day Ceremony

Gentlemen; Once again I have completed the 200 mile round robin trip to the Arlington National Cemetery to participate in the annual 82nd Airborne Division visits to the various monuments and markers. The ceremonies were conducted over a three-day period that started at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and continued to the WW I, WW II, Korean War and Viet Nam memorials as well as the various regimental and divisional memorial markers. As usual, the Col. Reuben H. Tucker Chapter of the 82nd Airborne Division Association sent out notices to all those who have participated in the past and invited others to join in the activities. The Division provides an Honor Guard and a bugler. At each site a designated speaker makes a

few remarks or offers a prayer, then the wreath is uncovered and ‘Taps’ are played. Apparently I was the only glider-related participant present.

Upon reaching the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment memorial marker, I gave my prepared remarks, outlining the involvement of the glidermen in the various places that they fought in the European Theater of Operations and their contribution toward overcoming the Axis powers. I also mentioned the recent deaths of Martin Stahel and Claude Bogardus; two glidermen from Wayne Pierce’s Charlie Company. During my presentation I was flanked on my right by Association President Bill Eberle and the left by active duty Sgt. Rudy Nunez.

(Arlington, continued Page 5)

You can help improve our newsletter by participating!

We really need your input! Winter 2011 5

Arlington, continued… Some observations: 1. Turn out for these ceremonies was reduced from that noted in previous years. A "crowd" of some 40 persons looked on and listened to my prepared remarks. One could question whether or not the ceremonies are becoming too routine? Or are travel expenses becoming too prohibitive? The weather was cool... 45-55 F... some sun and a little wind, but not enough to keep people away in my opinion. 2. Almost as many women as men are now participating - some women are now reciting old unit histories of units that no longer have a functioning association. 3. The new management of the cemetery is still "reorganizing" its operations and this caused some delays in the visits on Wednesday. On the humorous side....two ex-nurses... Air Force types that tended to many wounded servicemen in England, entertained us with their rendition of "PLEASE MR. TRUMAN, WHY CAN'T WE GO HOME" after we had completed our ceremonies outside the Women In Service Headquarters. They were quite good... considering that they were both very petite. I have been asked several times ‘how does one find the 325th GIR memorial marker’? The National Cemetery covers an area larger that some state counties and without some type of guidance it is indeed difficult to locate a specific item. So I have created a sketch (located below) to help you. Using the Lincoln Memorial as an easy-to-locate starting-point, cross the Potomac River via the Memorial Bridge and enter the Cemetery – stay on that road until connects with Eisenhower Avenue. Turn left onto Eisenhower Avenue until you reach the intersection of Eisenhower and McClelland Avenues. You’ll know its McClelland Ave. as there is a very tall red marble archway dedicated to General McClelland just to the right of the intersection. Turn right onto McClelland Ave, pass under the arch and proceed another 300 yards to the next intersection. Park near there and the 325th marker is located about 25 yards just beyond the intersection under a Maple tree. There are many such markers throughout the Cemetery and most of them consist of a 30” x 24” concrete or marble base with a brass plaque is fixed. The wording on the marker describes the Unit represented and its wartime accomplishments. George Fisanich

George’s map of the 325 marker

The wreath at the 325 marker

SUBMISSIONS Our first submission is an on-line article on our Chairman, Jesse Oxendine:

The Robesonian.com by Amanda Munger

Jesse Oxendine doesn’t want the military memories of those who served the country to die with them.

(Submissions, continued Page 6)

Reach out to your old friends – thru the Tow Line!

Winter 2011 6

Submissions, continued…

“We have waited so long to get the interest in World War II that we should’ve had years ago when there were more boys around,” Oxendine said. “I was one of the younger ones that went in. I wish they would’ve tried to collect these stories maybe 40 years ago.”

Oxendine, a Pembroke native, recently spoke to the Lumberton Kiwanis Club about his experiences as a member of the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division during World War II and stressed the importance of talking about it.

“I’ve always stressed that we need to get our records for our families if nobody else,” Oxendine said. “I’ve told them, at least get a tape recorder and sit down and talk about … your military history. Sooner or later your kids or grandkids are going to be interested in this.”

The 85-year-old has done much in his own life to preserve the memories of his service and those around him during World War II. He speaks to schools, church and civic groups in Charlotte, where he lives now, and has donated uniforms, artifacts, weapons and war memorabilia to an exhibit in the Native American Resource Center at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke.

In the exhibit, Oxendine included a list of Robesonians who died during World War II.

“That’s the most important thing that I have in there is the list of Robeson County veterans that were killed,” Oxendine said.

Oxendine, the youngest of five brothers — four of whom served during World War II — was drafted when he was 18 years old. He was eager to join his brothers, Simeon, who was a gunner on a B-17 Bomber and flew 25 missions in Germany; James Howard, who was a member of the 630th Tank Destroyer Battalion; and William Earl Oxendine who was in the 10th Air Force and a gunner on a B-24 in the South Pacific. His other brother, Harry Oxendine, was in the service, but after World War II.

Oxendine served in the war from 1944 to 1946, experiencing combat in France, Holland, Belgium, and Germany, and participating in the liberation of Wobbelin concentration camp.

After the war, the 82nd Airborne was chosen to occupy Berlin, so he spent about four or five months there.

“We came home on the Queen Mary,” Oxendine said. “We sailed from England the 29th of December and landed in New York on Jan. 3, so we spent New Year’s in the middle of the ocean.”

The 82nd Airborne was also chosen to be a part of the victory parade in New York.

“I met my mother in Grand Central Station when I came from overseas — you can imagine what a thrill that was,” Oxendine said.

After the war, Oxendine used his GI Bill and attended Pembroke State College and the University of South Carolina in Charleston, becoming the first American Indian who was a registered pharmacist in North Carolina.

Both of Oxendine’s children, Jenny and Mark, are pharmacists as well. He has been married to his wife, Jewell, for 57 years.

As the chairman of the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment Association, Oxendine sponsors reunions with other veterans. He said the approaching Veterans Day is an important holiday to recognize.

“It makes the guys who have been in the service a little bit prouder that they are getting that recognition,” Oxendine said. “… It makes people stop and think about what it has taken from others to have this peace that we now enjoy in this country.”

Oxendine said that peace is something to be cherished.

“After World War II was over, I said, ‘Well, we are through with wars,’” Oxendine said. “But we’ve been fighting ever since. I wish we could make an effort to find out why we are having these wars. … I think some wars could be settled at a table instead of on a battlefield.”

(Submissions, continued Page 7)

Associate Editor: David Bronson, 4135 S. 12th St., Kalamazoo, MI 49009 Phone: 269-870-6149 email: david.bronson.mi@gmail.com

We wish you all a healthy and happy 2012! Winter 2011 7

Submissions, continued… The following narrative from Clinton Riddle is courtesy of Richard Weese, who sent it to Jesse Oxendine who then thoughtfully sent it on to the Tow Line: GLIDING BEHIND GERMAN LINES I entered the service December 10, 1942 and took basic training at Camp Wheeler, Georgia. I joined the 325th Glider Infantry Regiment at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in time to go overseas. I served in French Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. I made the invasion of Sicily (June-August 1943) and the invasion of Italy (September 1943). We remained in Naples until moving to Ireland, then to England. We left at 4:35 am from the Ramsbury airport on June 7, 1944, for the invasion of Normandy. We landed near Ste. Marie-du-Mont at 6:50 am. We fought for 33 days and nights without relief. We returned to England to train replacements for the Holland invasion. They increased the number in our company from 155 to 195. We lost a great number in Normandy. Today only 4 of us are still living out of the 155 that went into Normandy. September 23, 1944, 15 CG-4A Waco gliders were used for our group to fly into Holland in Operation Market-Garden (the largest airborne operation in history). We landed north of the Maas River. We were to take and hold the Nijmegen Bridge. We landed in a plowed field, standing the glider on its nose and throwing me against the crash bar and injuring my right side. At one time we were surrounded for almost three weeks and no supplies could get through. That is where I ate my first horse meat. 2nd Lt. Willis Utecht, one of our officers, was killed in the battle on the plains of Mook. Somebody buried him and he was not found until November, 1993. I was there when he was killed and in September 1994 I attended his funeral in Holland. All of our officers were killed in Mook except one. We were down to 68 men when we left Holland. December 17 we rode in open trucks to Bastogne. We had been sent further to Werebomont. The weather grew so bad General Patton went to a small chapel and offered up a prayer for good weather. On the day before Christmas our company was loaded up on top of tanks and we traveled 14 miles behind the enemy lines and took the little village of Regne. The Christmas cakes were still warm. This released a number of our troops.

February 2, 1945, we broke through the Siegfried Line (the western defenses of Germany) and took Neuhof and Udenbreth. I was with two of our company commanders when they were killed going into the Siegfried Line. My hands and feet were frostbitten; many were overcome with the cold. We met the Russians near Ludwugslust. It was awful to see the dead and dying when the Wobeline concentration camp was taken. (Towards the very end of the war) General Kurt von Tippelskirch surrendered his entire 21st Army to the 82nd Airborne Division – with 150,000 prisoners. Clinton E. Riddle Private First Class Co B, 325th Glider Infantry Regiment 82nd Airborne Division Sweetwater, Tennesee Editor’s Note: I called Jesse as I was putting this page together to ask him about the surviving 325 veterans of Normandy. We believe there are a few more that our friend Clinton is unaware of. In addition to Clinton Riddle, there is Herb Heubsen, Louis Strandberg, Joe Colmer, Harold Owens, Paul Pearson, Delbert Humpston, and Lee Travelstead. If there is anyone we have left out please contact your Editor and let me know! Speaking of Lee Travelstead, Lee sent some information on the Waco CG-4A that he had from the war to The Tow Line. So the following submission is a joint article by Lee Travelstead and your Editor: THE WACO CG-4A

The Glider Infantryman’s primary mode of transportation was the Combat Glider model #4A, designed and built by the WACO (pronounced wah-co) Aircraft Company. Although the US Army also used the British Horsa Glider (which was constructed completely of plywood, was much bigger, and could carry a larger payload) in limited numbers, the mainstay of US airborne operations involved the CG-4A. (Submissions, continued Page 8)

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Submissions, continued… The CG-4A was 48 feet 4 inches long, with a wingspan of 83 feet, 8 inches. Construction was of tubular steel frame with canvas covering, and plywood flooring and wings. It could carry a normal load of 7,500 lbs., but in emergencies could handle up to a maximum 9,000 lbs. The glider was designed for a maximum speed of 150 mph, with a normal glide (descent) speed of 72 mph; landing speed was 60 mph, and its stall speed was 49 mph. Quite obviously speed was not one of the CG-4A’s strong points. In practical terms the CG-4A would normally carry one of the following loads:

13 fully-equipped glider troops 1 37mm AT gun 1 1/4 ton truck (JEEP)

1 field kitchen 1 75mm pack howitzer 1 photographic lab 1 weather station 1 field set - radio or radar 1 field repair shop 6 litters for evacuation of wounded 325 veterans who rode in the CG-4A were issued Mae West life jackets, but not parachutes. Glider pilots, although armed, were not supposed to engage in direct combat with the enemy. Their mission was to get in and then get out so they would be available to fly additional missions. The Army ostensibly wanted to reduce glider pilot casualties as much as possible. In practice the pilots frequently fought alongside the troops they flew in until after the initial battle, although not very effectively due to lack of proper equipment and instruction. Eventually the pilots were given more thorough combat training and organized into combat groups for command purposes. However, the primary duty of the glider pilots was to fly gliders, and so they remained assigned to troop carrier units for the entire war. During Operation Market-Garden, the shortage of glider pilots was so critical that glider co-pilots were simply pulled from the ranks, given instruction on how to fly and land the glider if the pilot was killed, and then sent to Holland (as some of you remember). In the CG-4A, just getting there was half the fun...

All of this was suggested by a note and some documents that our good friend Lee Travelstead sent to me. Lee wrote: Rick, the (enclosed) copy from the original shows the names of each man of the “stick” (per paratroopers) in each of the four gliders of my HMG (Heavy Machine Gun) platoon that landed in Normandy. The reverse side shows some loading information. Also, enclosed from the original is additional glider information. I have a (maybe ‘the’) slide-rule used for loading the CG-4A gliders. A couple of years ago an aunt of mine died; she kept everything I sent her for over 60 years. The above and the ’slide-rule’ was found among her many things, which I simply boxed-up and sent home from Texas to gradually go through them. I came across the originals of the enclosures not too long ago, then misplaced them and then found them again yesterday (3/23/11).

CG-4A glider floor plan saved by Lee Travelstead. (Submissions, continued Page 9)

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Submissions, continued

First page of the loading assignments for Lee’s HMG platoon.

Back of the above page showing additional loading information

We hope you had a good Thanksgiving! Winter 2011 10

Submissions, continued…

Loading Information for the CG-4A glider saved by Lee Travelstead.

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Keep in touch in 2012 – through the Tow Line!! Winter 2011 11

Submissions, continued…

Loading diagram saved by Lee Travelstead from his preparations for the Normandy Invasion. Editor’s Note: Thank you Lee for sending those loading plans in! I would also like to thank all of you for your kind words and contributions over the past year. I wish each and every one of you and your families a most blessed Christmas, Happy Hanukkah to Yehuda in Israel, and a healthy and happy 2012 to you all! PLEASE send in your photo and/or remembrances and as always - THANKS FOR READING!

325 Glider Infantry Association 82nd Airborne Division, WW II 8030 Clayburn Court Indianapolis, Indiana 46268-1864

The La Fiere Causeway in France under a peaceful winter blanket of snow, courtesy of our good friend Vivian Rogers.