Hellcat News, (Fullerton, Calif.), Vol. 59, No. 1, Ed. 1, September 2005 Page: 1 of 16
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★ Rhineland
★ Ardennes-Alsace
★ Central Europe
HELLCAT NEWS
Published by the
12th Armored
Division Association
VOL. 59
SEPTEMBER 2005
NO. 1
Pres'icIent's
Messaqe
It's 88 degrees in the shade in my part of
the world today. Brings back memories of
July, 1944, in Camp Berkeley, TX. The days
were brutally hot, dry and dusty. We were on
water rations, which meant one canteen (one
quart) per soldier per day. Supposed to help
toughen us up for the tough times ahead.
We were expected to keep clean shaven
and washed. The temperature of the water in
our canteens was close to the average
temperature of the day. We could have made instant coffee or
tea if we had such provisions. Just a sip now and then was all we
could allow ourselves.
Someone in the machine gun squad neglected to pick up the
tripod when we broke bivouac. It was about noon when the
squad leader realized it was missing. Close to the hottest part of
the day. I won't say that it was 100 degrees yet, but it was
mighty hot! His eye, naturally, fell on me as I was usually on his
list for some funny business, like hitching a ride on a tank when
everyone else was walking.
My buddy, Frank, was party to most of my pranks. Usually he
was the instigator. "You two eight-balls get movin' and go back
to where we stayed last night and bring back that tripod. We're
going to attack that hill ahead of us while you're gone. We'll
need the tripod when we set up our defense perimeter tonight."
I still don't know how we found that bivouac area and the
missing tripod, but we did. We started back to where we knew
the company was located. No problem there as they were with a
company of tanks and the dust cloud was a dead giveaway.
I'm sure we were at least two, or maybe three miles from the
action, but by now we were wet with perspiration (army lingo
calls it sweat), covered with dust, tired, thirsty and hungry. Two
more miserable characters you cannot imagine.
As we were dragging ourselves along through the sagebrush
and mesquite, an artillery spotting plane appeared. Must have
been General Brewer himself aboard, or worse yet, one of the
referees that was charged with the task of evaluating our
performance on that problem. At any rate, as the little L4 dived
on us, we ignored him. We had been told to take cover if we
ever saw one of these planes. They represented the enemy and
failure to give them proper avoidance could be fatal. I'm sure
that General Brewer, or whoever was in that plane was livid
with rage.
The division was given a failing grade and declared un-battle
worthy. I still wonder if our action, or lack of it, on that fateful
day might have been the straw that broke the proverbial camel's
back, and caused the division to be held back for more training.
(continued on page 2)
23RD TANK BATTALION
James Feezel, Unit Rep, 2804 Wayne Drive S.E., Decatur, AL 35603
Phone (256) 355-6421 E-mail: jmfeezel@aol.com
Jack Treaster, Co-Rep, 6975 Lindsey Rd, China, Ml 48054-2414
Phone (810) 765-3117 E-mail: jack.treaster@fraser.misd.net
James Francis, Unit Historian, 250 Montego Dr.,
Danville CA 94526-4843 E-Mail: jimfrancis18@sbcglobal.net
In the July issue and earlier ones also, I have complained of a
need for material from you members. So it is late July, time to
produce an article for the September issue, and I am happy to
report I have some material.
First, I need to reveal to many of you that my hard working
Tusla helper, John Gallup [SV], has reported a small tragedy in
that Maybell had taken one of those nasty tumbles and broke
bones in her foot. Sadly I had sat on this news while many things
rushed at me, because the accident occurred in May. John
accepted his additional duties as cook and nurse, apparently
doing a good job. He now reports that after many trips to the
hospital and doctor's offices, cast replacements and readjust-
ments, his wife is resuming many of her normal activities and
they may both recover. However, John has developed troubling
back pain and as Maybell is hoping to have the cast removed,
John needs some rest. John and Maybell, we love you, glad to
hear the improvement and sorry I have shown so little response.
Somewhere in Germany in 1945. On the left is David MacBride,
and on the right is Bill Newman, both of 23rd Tank Battal-
ion. The question is, who is the Hellcat in the center? Anyone
know?
Sad news just reported to me from Oklahoma City. Lois Sut-
terfield [C] 1225 SW 128th St., Oklahoma City, OK 73170-
6955, died July 13, 2005. She is survived by her husband Dewey
Sutterfield.
I recently received a letter with a photo from John T.
McBride [B], The photo shows the twin brother of John, Lt.
David McBride and Bill Newman, both also Co. B. Sadly
(continued on page 3)
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Twelfth Armored Division Association (U.S.). Hellcat News, (Fullerton, Calif.), Vol. 59, No. 1, Ed. 1, September 2005, newspaper, September 2005; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth410414/m1/1/?q=Lamar+University: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum.