Issue Number 22 July 2002
All information in this Newsletter is developed by Fred Clinton, Webmaster, 63rd Infantry Division and does not necessarily reflect the
views of other individuals and is in no way an Official Publication of the 63rd Infantry Division or 63rd Infantry Division Association.
views of other individuals and is in no way an Official Publication of the 63rd Infantry Division or 63rd Infantry Division Association.
Well I'm back from the history tour of
France and Germany, all in one piece, more
or less.
It was a wonderful trip, I met many great
people and saw things I could have never
seen on my own. So now that I am back
home and finally adjusted to the time zone I
am ready to go.
REUNIONS:
Don't forget our Annual Reunion being held
in Branson, Missouri beginning on 13
August 2002. Go to Reunion Page for
details. See you there!!!
NEW HISTORY ITEMS AVAILABLE
FROM THE 63D INFANTRY
DIVISION ASSOCIATION
HISTORIAN:
As mentioned in my past newsletters I have
been busily preparing several CD's that
contain historical data relating to the 63d
Infantry division. That project is now
"finished". I say finished , but in fact it is an
ongoing project that I guess will never really
be finished. By using the CD technique to
record historical data we are able to add to
those CD's information as it is uncovered or
received. In the meantime there are several
CD's that are now ready for distribution
and sale: These are:
(All prices include shipping and handling)
1- The World War II Blood and Fire
Newspaper CD. Contains all available
copies of the war time Blood and Fire
newspapers. Includes Camp Blanding,
Camp Van Dorn and overseas copies.
Price: $10
2- General Order CD- Includes all
available General Orders issued by
Headquarters, 63rd Infantry Division and
organic organizations of the division. (Note
some orders are not too clear, but are
legible) Price $10
3. Revision of The 63rd Infantry Division
Chronicles. The Chronicles was originally
issued in a hardback edition in 1991; was
printed again in 1996 and has now been
revised to include updated rosters, awards
lists, new photos and other added historical
features. The orginial publication consisted
of around 400 pages. The revision consist
of 853 pages and over 300 photos. The
CD also includes a photo tour of Camp
Van Dorn, Ms, A view of Germany's West
Wall and a 1073 page alphabetical roster
of all men known to have been assigned to
the 63rd Infantry Division from June 1943
until August 1945.
Price for this CD is $15
4. Separate CD's have been prepared for
each Infantry Regiment of the 63rd Infantry
Division. These CD's contain historical
documents that relate to each regiment as
well as rosters, awards, photos and
personal experience accounts from
regimental veterans.
a. The 253d Infantry Regiment CD:
Contains over 419 pages of history,
rosters, and other information. Includes
over 90 photos. Price $12
b. The 254th Infantry Regiment CD:
Contains over 927 pages of history, rosters
and other information. Includes over 200
photos. Price $12
c. The 255th Infantry Regiment CD:
Contains over 517 pages of history, rosters
and other information. Includes over 95
photos. Price $12
All CD's are viewable on Windows and are
in pdf format which requires Acrobat
Reader to read. Acrobat reader is a free
download from the Adobe web site and it
is also included on the CD.
If you wish to order any of these CD's you
can do so by contacting Bill Scott,
Historian- 63d Inf Div Assn, 407 S.
Walnut Street, Sycamore, IL 60178 or by
e-mail wjs631@attbi.com
If you are sending a check with your order
please make check payable to the 63d Inf
Div Assn History Fund.
SEARCH ENGINE FOR THIS SITE:
Don't forget to make use of the Search box
at the lower part of the Index Page. Just
type in what you are looking for and if it is
on the site its location will appear in the
results of your search. (I hope) Go to
Search
France and Germany, all in one piece, more
or less.
It was a wonderful trip, I met many great
people and saw things I could have never
seen on my own. So now that I am back
home and finally adjusted to the time zone I
am ready to go.
REUNIONS:
Don't forget our Annual Reunion being held
in Branson, Missouri beginning on 13
August 2002. Go to Reunion Page for
details. See you there!!!
NEW HISTORY ITEMS AVAILABLE
FROM THE 63D INFANTRY
DIVISION ASSOCIATION
HISTORIAN:
As mentioned in my past newsletters I have
been busily preparing several CD's that
contain historical data relating to the 63d
Infantry division. That project is now
"finished". I say finished , but in fact it is an
ongoing project that I guess will never really
be finished. By using the CD technique to
record historical data we are able to add to
those CD's information as it is uncovered or
received. In the meantime there are several
CD's that are now ready for distribution
and sale: These are:
(All prices include shipping and handling)
1- The World War II Blood and Fire
Newspaper CD. Contains all available
copies of the war time Blood and Fire
newspapers. Includes Camp Blanding,
Camp Van Dorn and overseas copies.
Price: $10
2- General Order CD- Includes all
available General Orders issued by
Headquarters, 63rd Infantry Division and
organic organizations of the division. (Note
some orders are not too clear, but are
legible) Price $10
3. Revision of The 63rd Infantry Division
Chronicles. The Chronicles was originally
issued in a hardback edition in 1991; was
printed again in 1996 and has now been
revised to include updated rosters, awards
lists, new photos and other added historical
features. The orginial publication consisted
of around 400 pages. The revision consist
of 853 pages and over 300 photos. The
CD also includes a photo tour of Camp
Van Dorn, Ms, A view of Germany's West
Wall and a 1073 page alphabetical roster
of all men known to have been assigned to
the 63rd Infantry Division from June 1943
until August 1945.
Price for this CD is $15
4. Separate CD's have been prepared for
each Infantry Regiment of the 63rd Infantry
Division. These CD's contain historical
documents that relate to each regiment as
well as rosters, awards, photos and
personal experience accounts from
regimental veterans.
a. The 253d Infantry Regiment CD:
Contains over 419 pages of history,
rosters, and other information. Includes
over 90 photos. Price $12
b. The 254th Infantry Regiment CD:
Contains over 927 pages of history, rosters
and other information. Includes over 200
photos. Price $12
c. The 255th Infantry Regiment CD:
Contains over 517 pages of history, rosters
and other information. Includes over 95
photos. Price $12
All CD's are viewable on Windows and are
in pdf format which requires Acrobat
Reader to read. Acrobat reader is a free
download from the Adobe web site and it
is also included on the CD.
If you wish to order any of these CD's you
can do so by contacting Bill Scott,
Historian- 63d Inf Div Assn, 407 S.
Walnut Street, Sycamore, IL 60178 or by
e-mail wjs631@attbi.com
If you are sending a check with your order
please make check payable to the 63d Inf
Div Assn History Fund.
SEARCH ENGINE FOR THIS SITE:
Don't forget to make use of the Search box
at the lower part of the Index Page. Just
type in what you are looking for and if it is
on the site its location will appear in the
results of your search. (I hope) Go to
Search
TRIP TO FRANCE AND GERMANY:
I arrived in Frankfurt Germany in the
afternoon of 20 Jun 2002. I picked up my
rental car and drove to Kaysersberg,
France where I would stay until Monday 24
Jun 2002. In Kaysersberg I was joined by
Angelo Christopher, D Company 254th
and his son-in-law. We toured the area
and attended the International Peace
Meeting at the Cross of the Jebsheim Mill
on Sunday 23 Jun 02. The ceremony as
usual was impressive and was followed by
a wine reception and luncheon in the
Jebsheim Community building. The highlight
of the day was when four (4) members of a
French parachute Battalion jumped from a
plane high above the ceremony site and
gracefullly landed within 10 feet of a
designated spot near the Cross of the
Jebsheim Mill..
On the 24th I drove to Ensheim, Germany
where I was met by Herr Erich Wolf and
four of his associates, Herr Keifer, Herr
Schweitzer, Herr Norbert and Herr Adt.
These kind gentleman remained with me all
during the remainder of the day and all of
the next day while they showed me what
was left of Germany's West Wall (The
Siegfried Line). During this time I also had
the opportunity to visit with Herr Helmut
Jung of Assweiler, Germany. Herr Jung has
an extensive collection of WWII weapons,
material and ammunition and he delights in
showing it to anyone who wishes to spend
the time looking at his collection. If you are
ever in the area and want to see his
collection you can contact him at the
following address: Helmut Jung, Jahn
Strasse 8, D 66440 Blieskastel-Assweiler,
Germany
On the 26th of June I continued on to
Sindringen, Germany near the
Buchhof/Stein area where I met up with
Herr Rolf Meister, the historian of the 17th
SS Panzer Division.. Herr Meister spent
the next two days with me while we toured
the battlefields of the Jagst/Kocher River
area. This is the area where the 253d
Infantry Regiment was engaged in a life and
death struggle with elements of the 17th SS
Panzer Division during the early part of
April 1945. While there Herr Miester and I
visited Prince Hohenlohe-Waldenburg in his
castle at Waldenburg..
During the time I was in this area I had the
opportunity to visit the F Company, 253d
Infantry Memorial in the Buchhof area. It
was well maintained and in good condition.
The person responsible for the maintenance
of that memorial is Herr Hermann Belz of
Buchhof. Herr Belz has unselfishly devoted
his time, free of charge, to maintain this
memorial to the men of the 253d Infantry
who lost their lives in the battles of that
area. I think it would be a nice gesture if
those of you in the 253d Infantry or their
relatives would drop Herr Belz a line to tell
him how much we appreciate his efforts.
Herr Belz can be reached in Buchhof,
D74196 Neuenstadt-Stein Germany.
Also while in the area I visited a Herr
Gosbert Trabold of Stein. Herr Trabold
has had in his possession for over 50 years,
a US Army WWII steel helmet that
belonged to T/Sgt Willie Overfelt. T/Sgt
Overfelt was killed in action in that area on
7 April 1945. Herr Trabold gave the
helmet to me in hopes that I might find the
next of kin of T/Sgt Overfelt and give them
his helmet. That search is underway.
All in all it was a very interesting and
enjoyable trip made so by the men named
above.
NEW PHOTOS
Take the time to check out all of the new
photos and the new section on "A view of
Germany's West Wall (The Siegfried Line)"
a. New Combat Photos(Pages 22 to Last
Page)
b. New Miscellaneous Photos( Pages 25
and 26)
c. New Occupation Photos (Page 13)
d. A View of Germany's West Wall (The
Siegfried Line)
I arrived in Frankfurt Germany in the
afternoon of 20 Jun 2002. I picked up my
rental car and drove to Kaysersberg,
France where I would stay until Monday 24
Jun 2002. In Kaysersberg I was joined by
Angelo Christopher, D Company 254th
and his son-in-law. We toured the area
and attended the International Peace
Meeting at the Cross of the Jebsheim Mill
on Sunday 23 Jun 02. The ceremony as
usual was impressive and was followed by
a wine reception and luncheon in the
Jebsheim Community building. The highlight
of the day was when four (4) members of a
French parachute Battalion jumped from a
plane high above the ceremony site and
gracefullly landed within 10 feet of a
designated spot near the Cross of the
Jebsheim Mill..
On the 24th I drove to Ensheim, Germany
where I was met by Herr Erich Wolf and
four of his associates, Herr Keifer, Herr
Schweitzer, Herr Norbert and Herr Adt.
These kind gentleman remained with me all
during the remainder of the day and all of
the next day while they showed me what
was left of Germany's West Wall (The
Siegfried Line). During this time I also had
the opportunity to visit with Herr Helmut
Jung of Assweiler, Germany. Herr Jung has
an extensive collection of WWII weapons,
material and ammunition and he delights in
showing it to anyone who wishes to spend
the time looking at his collection. If you are
ever in the area and want to see his
collection you can contact him at the
following address: Helmut Jung, Jahn
Strasse 8, D 66440 Blieskastel-Assweiler,
Germany
On the 26th of June I continued on to
Sindringen, Germany near the
Buchhof/Stein area where I met up with
Herr Rolf Meister, the historian of the 17th
SS Panzer Division.. Herr Meister spent
the next two days with me while we toured
the battlefields of the Jagst/Kocher River
area. This is the area where the 253d
Infantry Regiment was engaged in a life and
death struggle with elements of the 17th SS
Panzer Division during the early part of
April 1945. While there Herr Miester and I
visited Prince Hohenlohe-Waldenburg in his
castle at Waldenburg..
During the time I was in this area I had the
opportunity to visit the F Company, 253d
Infantry Memorial in the Buchhof area. It
was well maintained and in good condition.
The person responsible for the maintenance
of that memorial is Herr Hermann Belz of
Buchhof. Herr Belz has unselfishly devoted
his time, free of charge, to maintain this
memorial to the men of the 253d Infantry
who lost their lives in the battles of that
area. I think it would be a nice gesture if
those of you in the 253d Infantry or their
relatives would drop Herr Belz a line to tell
him how much we appreciate his efforts.
Herr Belz can be reached in Buchhof,
D74196 Neuenstadt-Stein Germany.
Also while in the area I visited a Herr
Gosbert Trabold of Stein. Herr Trabold
has had in his possession for over 50 years,
a US Army WWII steel helmet that
belonged to T/Sgt Willie Overfelt. T/Sgt
Overfelt was killed in action in that area on
7 April 1945. Herr Trabold gave the
helmet to me in hopes that I might find the
next of kin of T/Sgt Overfelt and give them
his helmet. That search is underway.
All in all it was a very interesting and
enjoyable trip made so by the men named
above.
NEW PHOTOS
Take the time to check out all of the new
photos and the new section on "A view of
Germany's West Wall (The Siegfried Line)"
a. New Combat Photos(Pages 22 to Last
Page)
b. New Miscellaneous Photos( Pages 25
and 26)
c. New Occupation Photos (Page 13)
d. A View of Germany's West Wall (The
Siegfried Line)
| See you in Branson, Missouri at the Annual 63rd Infantry Division Association Reunion |