I hope everyone survived the very Hot Fourth of July! I understand a Cold Front is moving in and with any hope, the weather in Fort Worth at the beginning of August will not be as unbearable as the last few days have been.
I saw several articles last week how uncelebrated the Fourth of July has become. Many small towns still have parades, but most cities are shunning away from any activities, except a fireworks display. It is a shame.
As of last week, Jim Reid reports that over 160 have registered for the reunion and we are expecting more to come in this week - Jim indicates that historically, a lot show up after the holiday. As I told him, I waited till after the 1st, to send my money in also.
I was regretting to myself that I only had about hundred names on this email listing, then it dawned on me that perhaps many of you also have email address of members of the 90th Division Association and that I should have asked you to send me those contacts, so I could add them to the list. If you feel so inclined please do so, and I will send this message on to them. Or you can just forward this message to your friends in the Association.
I received several comments back from the last note, that I would like to share with you all. First there were a couple of regrets of not being able to attend the reunion.Christeen Stone says she will not be able to attend due to illness in the family, but she sends hello to everyone and will miss them. Duty calls for several members, Windy Rodgers is deployed overseas, and COL Peter Malik (past commander of the 90th Sustainment Bde) has duty at Fort Hood that weekend.
I am copying part of the note I got from Francis Jeffery that I wanted to share with you:
Blessings and thank you for the up date on the 90th Convention.
But as always, I am committed to another session at the same time.
NONE THE LESS + + +
The information I received from you and the organization are well worth the time and effort involved.
I read it and then share it with our daughter that is a teachers of teachers at a local university.
She says that this is the "real war."
She is trying to publish a book on the Chaplain Corps of the military services,
but no luck in securing a publisher.
I regret not being able to be with you.
We are placing a Military Order of the Purple Heart monument at a local college and Seminary.
On one of the sides we will place the insignia of the 90th Division in honor of those who gave
of the their bodies and their lives.
When it is place, we will send pictures.
Blessings and thanks for you efforts.
Padre Jeff (Lutheran Pastor)
Francis E. Jeffery
CH,Lt. Col.,USAF (ret)
Past National Chaplain Emeritus, MOPH
(Sgt., Co. K, 3rd Bn, 359 Regt, 90th Div, 3rd Army.)
Also, Norm Richards sent the following update of the visits to Europe in June.
Regarding our travels, it was a great trip ( May 29- June 14)...We have many photos that Linda ( I'm delegating..ha) will try and prepare for viewing at the Reunion.......Milt and Carver McGriff ( Vern was at the Utah Beach ceremony with us too) represented the 90th at ceremonies in Gourbesville, Picauville , Utah Beach, and Mayenne....(Gourbesville and Picauville have monumnets for the 90th, both unveiled in 2008)
There was also a 90th veteran named Charles Jaro ( 359/HQ Co.3rd Bn.) in Normandy ( charles lives in Spain) but we were unable to connect...Charles was also with me in Normandy in 2009....
In fact, as far as the Ceremonies are concerned, to my knowledge, the 90th had more WWII veterans present in Normandy the first week of June this year than any other WWII unit, including the 82nd Airborne, which is highly unusual! (The 82nd and 101st think they own Normandy...Ha!) There was less than one dozen total...sadly, time is taking its toll.....
I must mention that Carver and Milt never attended a reunion until 2010 in New Orleans and didn't even know the 90th Association existed....I've had the honor of being with both men each of the last two years in Normandy and beyond...It is truly remarkable after 67/68years that they have the desire and physical stamina to go....
I'm considering taking another tour group in both June, 2013 & 2014 ( of course the 70th anniversary of D-Day ) like I did in 2007, when we had six 90th veterans and 30 family members on the tour...Also, Pascal Moretti and Jean Pascal Speck of the Moselle Commemoration Committee are considering having a 4-5 day 70th anniversary festival for the Moselle crossing ....Norm
I received just before the Fourth a letter from Richard Grondin (A Co, 357th) with a copy of his book The First Few Hours and The First Few Days . It was very short, but very moving. Reminded me of my first day in combat and the thoughts that race through your mind. They are planning on attending, along with five of their children. It came on the heels of another book I got from my daughter My Grandfather's War: a young Man's Lessons from the Greatest Generation. This was a story about Jesse Cozean's grandfather who was in the 106th Division and was captured on his first day in combat (never fired a shot) during the Battle of the Bulge and how Jesse came to know the story.
I got a phone call yesterday from Sandra Tokarski, a daughter of Julius Yuhasz (who was in the 343rd FA and passed away last February). She and her brother are coming to the reunion in honor of their father. The phone call was to check on the dress for the evening functions. She recalled that her mother always had to have a "Ball Gown" for the evening functions and wondered if the tradition continued! (I told her that Ball Gowns were not required! - Another tradition gone away? - perhaps for the good.)
This was a little longer than I planned on, but thanks for bearing with me. Remember, send me email address of members of the 90th Association or forward this to your friends.
I may be able to get one more update.
Art Meier II