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News
From The
508
July 2010 |
OCTOBER 2010 REUNION UPDATE –
The registration deadline is looming and may have closed by the time
that you read this. If it is not already too late, make sure that you
submit your form today. Go to www.508pir.org and click on REUNION 2010.
ASK A QUESTION, GET AN INTERESTING ANSWER – as we
stated in our last column, researching can often yield some delightful
facts!
Recently we posed a question to GEORGE STOECKERT (Hq 1st) regarding
warrant officers and, in part, received the following response:
“Until the start of WW II, Army Warrant Officers
were entitled to one salute a day and that only from the regimental
Sergeant Major. Also as a Warrant Officer was neither an officer nor an
enlisted man, he could not belong to the officers club or eat in the
officer’s mess or the enlisted mess hall. The single ones ate in the
enlisted men's kitchen. Further, Doctors, Nurses, Chaplin's, etc. had a
relative rank (sort of honorary) and were not entitled to a hand salute
- a carryover from the old Sutler system.”
We had to look up the “Sutler” reference but it boiled
down to the fact that a Sutler was a civilian appointed by the Secretary
of War to sell goods to military units. Each Sutler operated for profit
and appointments came through political connection or even bribery.
Those assigned to military posts usually operated in a permanent
building while those assigned to field units usually transported their
goods by covered wagon. Brings back memories of old movies!
TAPS – We recently observed the passage of some
troopers.
LAWRENCE G. FITZPATRICK
(Hq 1st), a Silver Star recipient, June 2010, DuBois, PA.
JAMES W. MORRELL (Co G),
June 2010, Redding, CA; and,
THOMAS M. TOPER (Co F),
October 2009, Anchorage, AK.
Late notices were also received for several Company F
troopers including:
DONALD E. DARNUTZER,
December 1991;
WILLIAM F. HISAMOTO,
December 1964;
ESPER C. JEPSEN, December
1999; and
WILLIAM J. STEVELINE,
June 1977
WOLLATON MEMORIAL DEDICATION – England’s Armed Forces
Weekend held special significance at Wollaton Park this year as the
long-awaited 508th memorial was dedicated.
The opening ceremony included a Service conducted by
the REVEREND MEIKE GAYNOR, Wollaton and the parading of the Historical
American Honor Guard Group.
The Salute was taken by Tim Richmond, MBE, the
Vice-Lord Lieutenant Of Nottinghamshire along with the Royal British
Legion Standard Bearers.
JOHN SAVAGE and GRAHAM LAWSON addressed the ceremony
with JOHN’S memories of the Park during WW2 and GRAHAM reading a letter
of thanks from the Chairman of the Family and Friends of the 508th PIR
Association.
JOHN SAVAGE recalled how, as a 12-year-old, he would
make fish and chips “runs” for troopers who were confined to camp while
making ready for the D-Day Drop. Upon return with the goods, JOHN would
whistle “Sing Baby Sing” at the Tent City fence, a special signal so
that other troopers wouldn’t steal the food.
He gratefully remembered that the troopers, true to
form, always told him to keep the change.
The dedication event was very well attended with an
audience of hundreds, many of whom also toured the Wollaton 508th
museum.
GENEROSITY NOTED – a number of people literally
appeared out of nowhere recently with memorabilia to donate to the
association. In three cases the individual was not even related to a
508er, they just came across some interesting items that they felt
needed a better home and found us on the internet.
As a consequence we have received a few photos,
including the original H Company montage, still in its original
presentation folder, as well as copies of an April 1945 Devils Digest,
the 3rd Anniversary book ... and others. This isn't the first time this
has happened and we marvel at the caring that some people exhibit. They
all chose not to be identified by name but we certainly acknowledge them
by deed.
A big Red Devil thanks goes to all of them even though
they probably will never read this. If somehow they do, they know who
they are.
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SEND NEWS FOR THE COLUMN
TO:
Dick O’Donnell
760 Conestee Drive
Melbourne, FL 32904
PH: (321) 759-6174
e-mail:
Jumpmaster@508PIR.org
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