Hellcat News, (Seward, Neb.), Vol. 44, No. 11, Ed. 1, July 1991 Page: 3 of 28
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Abilene Library Consortium and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the The 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum.
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Eunice visits Hilda Salzer
(Delbert, Hq 134) in Akron
July, 1945. Marking time 'til
troops come home.
Gerald and Eunice Bright
Weekend Pass - Summer,
1943. (Few months before
going to Texas).
Our entertainment was uncomplicated and most of it merci-
fully cheap. Many summer evenings were spent on our front
steps with another couple or two - with nothing more than iced
tea or lemonade but plenty of camaraderie. Sometimes we spent a
Sunday picnicking and swimming at Abilene State Park down
on Highway 89, Taylor County was dry so there were no public
bars. "A night out" meant going to th U.S.O. or to a movie at the
theater downtown on Cyprus. I don't remember ever going there
that we didn't wait in a long line at the box office. The queue
usually extended around the corner and halfway down the next
block.
Some may disagree, but I have always felt the Abilene people
were very good to the soldiers and their families. With the influx
of 51,000 servicemen at Camp Barkeley (45th and 90th Infantry
Divisions and the 12th Armored), and thosands more of wives
and families, the Abilenians were quick to make a place for us (be
it ever so humble) while their own population was less than half
the number. In nearly all my contacts with the local people, I
found them friendly and compassionate. I still regard them with
tremendous admiration and appreciation.
Those nine months in Abilene can be described as "the best
of times and the worst of times". They were good times because
we were together with our husbands; because of the cherished
lifetime friendships established there; and because of so many
exceptional experiences. The down side was the gravity of the
war, the homesickness, the hardships and the constant dread of
the separation that lay ahead when the Division would be ordered
overseas.
When those orders came, Gerald was assigned to the Ad-
vanced Detachment and would be leaving for the Port of Em-
barkation in August ahead of the Division. He was confined to
the base his last night at Barkeley so I went to spend the evening
with him. We wanted to hang on a little longer. We were sitting
in the car talking in front of the Orderly Room when an MP came
to the window and said we couldn't "park" there. We drove off
and parked at the PX, but were again ordered to move on. We just
kept driving and were meandering down a dark road when the
car was suddenly lit up in the beam of a powerful searchlight.
(We were on the road that led to the arsenal). Stunned, we quickly
turned off and fled. There was nowhere else to go so I dropped
Gerald at the Orderly Room and hurried out the gate. What a
distressing predicament!
I went back out the next morning, though, for a teary break-
fast in the mess hall. We didn't talk much. Everything had
already been said. I had been briefed on the mechanics of the
Chevy and would be leaving for Indiana on Labor Day weekend
with two passengers: Ginny Kettler and her friend Shirley. I
would return to Huntington, live with my parents, go to work,
July 1991 HELLCAT NEWS Page 3
and save money for our postwar plans. As I drove away from the
mess hall that morning, waving back at Gerald, I knew the
dreaded separation had begun.
It was to last sixteen and a half months. There was VE-Day;
and VJ-Day. And then in mid-January, 1946, the waiting was
over and by the grace of God, my soldier came marching home
again.
Div. Hdq.
Units
GEORGE F. GRIMSHAW, JR.
73 MANNING STREET
PROVIDENCE, RI 02906
Phone: (401) 331-3694
DUES AND BOOSTERS: Orra A. Keith (Div. Fin.), John J.
Melfi (Hq. CCB)
DUES: Harold Herdrich (Div. Hq.)
Well, Eileen and I arrived home after attending the
Eastern Chapter reunion at Mount Laurel, New Jersey to
find just one contribution to our battalion flag fund, and
just one letter, forwarded from Gil Heine, from our newest
member, Harold Herdrich (Div Hq.), from Chicago: Dear
Gil; I was very pleased to receive your letter. George
Grimshaw wrote me all about your wonderful organiza-
tion. I look forward to meeting you all, as I often wondered
what had become of my old army friends. After forty
years of service, I just retired from the Chicago Tribune.
During the war, I was a mail clerk at the 12th Armored
Post Office, APO 262. Later I was company mail clerk at
Division Headquarters. I was injured in a jeep accident,
breaking both my wrists. I landed in an army hospital,
and while I was there, the 12th went overseas. When
released from the hospital, I volunteered for overseas
duty and was sent to Alaska, where I served until the end
of the war. Looking forward to renewing friendships,
Harold.
IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE: After requesting dona-
tions for our Unit Battalion Flag for several months, and receiv-
ing a poor response, the decision is up to you now. The very latest
- up to the minute information on the status of our flag, direct
from Colonel Fred Field is as follows: The overall cost of the flag
and allied equipment are as follows: Flag - $150.00; Pole - $24.65;
Spear - $10.38; Campaign Streamers - $15.00; Shipping and Handl-
ing - $10.00, for a Total of $255.03.
As of this writing (June 1), the following Headquarters
members have sent donations for the flag; Paul Hempfling,
George Grimshaw, Fred Robinson, Bill McCarthy, Charlie
Eshrich, Art Sweeney, Maigaret Kettler and Joe Auciello,
for a total of $142.50. By my calculations, that leaves us
$112.53 short. Come on, guys, it's up to the rest of you - if
you want a Hq. Battalion flag, make out a check today to
the 12th Armd. Division, marked "for Battalion flag", and
mail it to me. I'll do the rest. Do it today, or we won't have
our own flag in Omaha - tempus fugits!
Now that I have your attention, the next important item
concerns the National Convention in Omaha in September. It is
imperative that I have a good idea of how many of you plan to
attend the National from Hq. Div., and if you wish us to have our
own Hq. Units Hospitality Room. I have already reserved one,
along with a room for my wife Eileen and myself, but have been
told that in the past, Hq. never had its own Hospitality Room.
It's up to you to let me know, as soon as possible, your feelings on
this matter. I can only go by the wishes of the majority, so write
me about this, and any other ideas or suggestions you may have.
Even if you, for any reason, cannot attend the reunions, sit down
and write, today, and let me know how you are doing these many
years since we parted after WWII. We do care, and you might
even get in touch with some Buddy you knew during your service
days.
Our Eastern Chapter reunion in Mount Laurel was
terrific. Attending from Div. Hq. were: Grace Guile, Millie
and Bill McCarthy, Paul Hempfling, Art and Helen
Sweeney, Joe and Fay Auciello, Charlie and Jill Eshrich,
Margaret Kettler, all from Div. Trains, Doris Canfield,
guest, Max and Blanche Schwartz, and Your Faithful Unit
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Twelfth Armored Division Association (U.S.). Hellcat News, (Seward, Neb.), Vol. 44, No. 11, Ed. 1, July 1991, newspaper, July 1991; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth410523/m1/3/?q=central+place+railroads: 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.