The area’s largest indoor military event ever revisits Vietnam and World War II at the Pennsylvania National Guard Armory in Plymouth Meeting, PA on Sunday, February 27, 2011. Bill Guarnere who was featured in “Band of Brothers” and is a member of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge was the special guest. Throughout the day Bill talked with many attendees. Military vehicles, exhibits, equipment and wartime memorabilia were on display.
Once again German and American troops battled in the bitter cold, and snow covered fields and woods at the gap. However, this gap was not the Losheim Gap in the Ardennes Forest in 1944– instead it was at Indiantown Gap, PA, in 2011. Throughout the pitched battle the medics did a good job treating the wounded.
Photos submitted by Steve Savage, Associate Member
At the 2010 National Convention of The Military Order of the World Wars then Commander-in-Chief (CINC) COL. Philemon A. St. Amant II (pictured left) announced at the end of the 2010 National Convention that he had decided to present his Commander-in-Chief Annual Award to Past CINC LTC Alfred H. M. Shehab (pictured right) from the General George G. Meade, Maryland Chapter. This award is presented each year by the Commander-in-Chief to the companion he feels has rendered the greatest service to him and the order during his tenure as Commander-in-Chief. The award was instituted in 1943, by the courtesy of Lt. General Milton G. Baker. When then – CINC COL St. Amant presented this award to LTC Shehab he stated that he was especially appreciative of the assistance and “candid” advice he received from LTC Shehab throughout his term as CINC. He also thanked him for “going the extra mile” in assisting him in doing his duties as CINC and for helping the Order during his term in office. Congratulations to Past CINC LTC Alfred H. M. Shehab for receiving this very prestigious award.
On Monday, May 31, 2010, there was a front-page story in the Seattle Times about “Finding Joe Lippi”. This article tells about a chance meeting where Joe Lippi, Jr. connected with a man his father befriended in basic training about 65 years ago. That man was Art Mahler who will be speaking at the VBOB Spring Luncheon. He’ll be sharing about a trip he and Joe took to Belgium last May as part of a group of “American War Orphans Network” (AWON). Joe’s father died in WWII. Attending the luncheon will be a wonderful way to hear the story first-hand and also meet and honor those who, at great peril to themselves and their families, helped liberate many during WW II.
Details about the luncheon are in this downloadable pdf (click to download pdf).
2010 was a memorable year for me, as I went to Belgium for the 65th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes. The trip was organized by a group, American War Orphans Network (AWON). It turned out to be a memorable week of events. I traveled with Joe Lippi Jr., the son of my good friend whose grave we were to visit at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery. Joining us in Liege were my sons, Peter, Eric and Steve. The trip began May 28, 2010, at the Provincial Palace in Liege with a wonderful reception. In French, I addressed Madame President of the Province of Liege. The group of 28 AWON members read the English translation. My French notes were seven pages in large print. After I read page 4, the next page was 6. Page 5 was missing! I had to continue from memory. Help came when I was handed a pre-printed French and English program. I finished the speech and all went well considering that I wore my World War II uniform in a warm room and I had not spoken French in more than twenty years. Next day was the Memorial Service at Henri-Chapelle. Seeing this place with 7,992 graves so precisely arranged in circular fashion and diagonally perfect alignment is most impressive. The many pictures we took will be a wonderful record of the event for the future. After the conclusion of the ceremonies, we participated in a police and Security-escorted trip with flashing lights from Henri Chapelle to the city of Aubel. There also was a Memorial Service in the Town Square. I was told this was better than all previous ceremonies. A parade through the town ended at a large hall for a party with all the town’s people and everyone had a great time. I got to drink a beer with Vice Admiral Richard K. Gallagher, chief of NATO, and American Ambassador Howard W. Gutman. We felt as if we were being treated like royalty. But this special day didn’t end there. Next Peter Heckmanns, webmaster of www.In-Honored-Glory.info, met us and we followed him to his home in Kerkrade, The Netherlands, where he had arranged a huge barbeque with some AWON members, Peter’s family and friends. I again was drafted as a translator just as I was during World War II. There was a need for conversation between the tour director and the bus driver, neither understanding the others language. I solved that problem. The last event of our visit to Belgium was a memorial celebration to the St. Paul school in Liege. It was planned by Mr. Michel Lorquet the teacher of the class 4B. This class had adopted the grave of Joseph T. Lippi at Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery. Our Party was driven by M. Lorquet to the school where the entire school’s students welcomed Joe Lippi Jr. and the four Mahler’s like royalties. There were a multitude of American and Belgian Flags waved by the children. I gave my speech in French. Both the American and the Belgian National hymns were played and the Belgian was sung by the children. There were many dignitaries and the Belgian Army was represented by a Colonel and a Major who was Mr. Lorquet’s brother. We were served lunch at the school. The tables were set by the children and we toasted with champagne, yes, at the school. To end the ceremonies the children were given a question and answer session. There were good questions that were answered by Joe Lippi and me. All was reported on Belgium Local and National Television. The rest of the week was filled with experiences too numerous to mention. But here are some highlights. We visited the Remember Museum on a farm near Bastogne. We also visited the War Museum in La Roche, not far from where my friend, Joe Lippi, Sr., was killed. Wherever we were in Belgium or Holland we Veterans of World War II, who have fought in the Ardennes, and those who paid the ultimate price, are not forgotten. Sixty- five years later people including school children are grateful to have been liberated a long time ago.
—Arthur Mahler, 84th Infantry Division, 334th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, HQ.
Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge to march in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Sunday, March 13, 2011 on the mall in Washington, DC. Get your marching shoes shined and meet us at 11:30am outside the old Smithsonian Castle, on the Mall side. Look for the VBOB flag, World War II uniforms and vehicles.
Please wear your overseas cap and medals or ribbons.
Vehicles will be available for the walking wounded furnished by the Military Vehicle Collectors Society; however as many as you can march are asked to show the younger generations how it is done. Our national organization and all chapters have been invited once again to march in our nation’s St. Patrick’s Day parade down Constitution Avenue from 7th to 17th Streets NW.
We especially would like to have marchers to show the crowd that you Bulge Veterans still have of a lot of kick. The march is about 1 mile, nothing like those 5 mile marches or 20 mile marches that you had to pass. It is a particular pleasure to march in the parade because we salute those who served as you once did. Each year that we have marched we have had continuous applause from the crowd along the whole parade route something no other unit has sustained. We have won six trophies and last year we won the People’s Choice Trophy. So get those marching shoes shined and caps out and if you can still get into uniform please wear it is as it is really a crowd pleaser. We salute those who serve fire, police, active military, National Guard, postal as you once did. Mark your calendars for the 13th of March. See you there.
Call John Bowen 301-384-6533 for further information.
Freedom is not free.
To whom it may concern,
I am a Belgian citizen and my mother was a little child during World War II. Her house was in Belgium in the village of Sainte-Marie Chevigny, near Libramont, about 20km from Bastogne. During the winter of 1944 some US Army people stayed at the house for a couple of days. One of those US military men was an officer with the surname of Roland and with the rank of Captain. I do not know what unit he was in but it could have been the 87th Infantry Division. My mother (71 years old today) always told us she was impressed and “in love” as a spoiled small child can be in front of a Captain who came into their village to save the people against the Germans The Captain Roland gave her a small picture of him.
It is late, very late but I decided to find this Captain or his family in order to exchange history and gratitude more than 65 years later after. Please contact me if you have any information about Captain Roland.
Best Regards
Bernard Dubois
Rue du Vicinal, 71
B-6700 Arlon Belgium
Telephone +32 63 235013