Hellcat News, (Godfrey, Ill.), Vol. 37, No. 1, Ed. 1, September 1982 Page: 31 of 34
34 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this newspaper.
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column from A1 Wright, Hq. "Joe
Hook, Hq., died July 9, 1982, at
the age of 60. He had remained in
the service, retiring after 21 years
as M/Sgt. He was buried at the
Fort Bliss Military Cemetery
with full military honors. Assist-
ing as pallbearers were Valent
Tarajcak C/23, and A1 Wright
Hq/714. Services were at Trinity
Lutheran Church in El Paso, TX.
In bereavement are wife Lottie,
one son, three daughters, and six
grandchildren."
Joe Hook was the half-track
driver in Hq/714 from Camp
Campbell through maneuvers,
Fort Jackson, Camp Barkley, and
on to Heidenheim.
Merrill Irey, A, was the unfor-
tunate Hellcat whose Mercury
with the NY plates was being tow-
ed from Stouffer's that Sunday
morning of departures. Nothing
serious. Just a $100 starter and
the towing charges to the closest
garage able to replace it.
Don't forget - pertinent news to
me. Also a volunteer from every
company to act as a Company
Rep. Kinda makes someone
responsible for keeping in contact
with the ex-soldattens and
widows and giving a monthly
report. I must have your notes by
the first (or last) of the month, as
the Exec. Sec'y. must have them
by the 10th of the month to be
able to funnel the articles to the
printer - 250 miles distant for the
postal ponies.
Please think of these men from
your past, who would like to
receive this newsletter and con-
sider him for a booster. Also dig
out those old Christmas card ad-
dresses and sign up a new mem-
ber or reinstate a delinquent
member. The 714th should have
the largest membership because
we really care.
The Midwest Chapter Meeting
will be in Toledo, Ohio, March
25-27, 1983.
Southeast Chapter Meeting will
be at Charleston, SC, and Charlie
Comingere will be the Chairman.
The Midwest Chairman is Vic
Challen. Contact them early for
your reservations. June & I are
on our way. While speaking of
Chapters, Jack Miller Sv/494, re-
quested the charter for a Chapter
in the great Northwest. You
Hellcats in that area contact Jack
for further information. ITS
GREAT TO BE A HELLCAT.
Due to the timing of the Hellcat
News these gleanings have been a
wee bit late; Late News to the
Unit Rep - from points far and
near - by Companies:
Don Walker, Medic - Dues and
booster. Planned on St. Loo, but
couldn't make it. Retired from
McDonnell-Douglas July, '81 - see
Joe Jessen periodically.
Ken Fisher, Hq - Sorry to
report that Paul Franke, Hq, died
March '82 of a heart attack. We
had kept in touch by mail all of
these years. He and wife Phyllis,
came to visit us once, and then I
waited too long to repay the visit.
Robert Rice, Hq - Dues and
booster, but no news from Forest
Hills, NY.
Ed Tomkinson, Hq - Dues and
modern report: Retired, tough to
keep up with taxes, insurance,
utilities, food and shelter.
Vernon Beecham, Sv - Dues for
82/'83.
Harold Losey, Sv - Was at the
Patton Museum and was glad to
find out about the 12th. Visited
with Moss at Southeast Chapter
in Nashville. I was Maint. Sgt. in
C Company and was changed to
recovery vehicle in Service Com-
pany while we were in England. I
was injured April 9, 1945, while
retrieving a light tank from a
mine field between Kitzigen and
Noustadt. Bozak, Ass't. Driver,
was injured at the same time.
Walt Baedke, A - Dues are like
utility bills. Never pay until due.
Enjoy the Hellcat News. Can't
make reunion. Was to Wheeling,
WV in May. Lion's convention in
June. Then, hospital budget due
again. Hope to retire in a few
months. Financial crisis doesn't
appear to be changing, govern-
ment regulations and rules, I've
had it. Family all fine. Two more
grandsons (no granddaughters).
Edith is anxious to buy girl's
things. I have played some golf.
Bob Bitting, A - Dues and
booster. Grandson Ben entered
children's hospital in Phily July 4,
1978. He was laid to rest this past
April. He hurts me no more. He
was my grandson and buddy.
Bill Boes, A - Dues and booster.
Down in my back from trying to
work as hard as I used to do. Wife
Gladys was in hospital five days
but nothing serious showed up.
Sure hope to see some of you guys
and gals in October (8-11) at
Hickory, NC. Our children and
grandchildren all doing fine.
George Branson, A - Dues and
booster. Clara and I celebrated
our 40th wedding anniversary
May 8th (V-E Day). Our children
hosted a fine reception. May 15th
was another celebration. We are
proud to announce that all four
children (3 girls and a boy) are
college graduates after 32 contin-
uous years of schooling. Our re-
Sept. 1982
HELLCAT
W b Page 31
4*
France, 1944 or '45. A bunch of good 82nd buddies.
Front, L to R: Adams and Weikert. Standing: Left: Sgt.
Long, Right: Cpl. Young, Top: Funderfink, Santoro, Sgt.
Freed, a Cpl. name not known. Sitting on hood: Sgt.
Rovinson. (Sent in by Jack Weikert).
gards to all Hellcats and especial-
ly to A/714th.
Snuffy Fitzpatrick, A - Dues
and note: All of our family got
together June 20th for a great
time celebrating our 40th wedding
anniversary.
Dan Giannotti, A - Dues and
"We look forward to the Hellcat
News every month. The best of
health and happiness to all Hell-
cats. Please not change of address
to 24037 W. Saxony Drive, Lake
Villa, IL 60046.
Also received dues from the
following A/714 men - Bill
Manuel, Erdman Trieber, Nylan
Mobbs (with a change of address)
- RR 5, Box 95, Atoka, OK 74525.
Dottie Spicer, A - Widow of
George Spicer, sent dues.
The following paid their 1982/
83 dues at the reunion: A Com-
pany: Walt Alverman, Hobert
Farmer, Cookie Hulse, Rube
Lasee (he didn't make the reunion
though) and George Moss. Bob
Adams, Medic. Bob Head and Ivo
Horney, Hq. Harry Kettler, B,
and Smitty Skretkowics and
Charlie Thompson, D.
Barney LaDue, B - Sent dues
and booster, while Walt Bowers,
B, sent dues.
Ray Laney, B - dues and "Hope
all Hellcats enjoyed the summer.
I'm with Postal Service 29 years
as a rural mail carrier, same as
Otha Collins, A. Saw him in Ashe-
ville at a state meeting. I see
Mayberry at church every
Sunday. He had surgery in early
Spring but is fine now. Enclos-
ing pictures made on maneuvers.
I don't know what tank or com-
pany, but some Hellcat might
know. It sure is Good To Be a
Hellcat."
C Company Report - Joseph
Cook and Henry Ulissi and
George E. Wright - all dues but no
news.
Fred Shelton, C - "Have been
retired for 7 years. Live in
Arkansas most of the time. We
are moving back home so that the
wife can get proper medical atten-
tion. We really enjoy the Hell-
cat News. (New Address) Fred
Shelton, C/714 - 840 East Drive,
Mt. Zion, IL 62549."
John Kist, Jr., C - "It is re-
warding to read the Hellcat News.
I have pics of those men of C/714
and I always look forward to
meeting them. It would be great
to hear from some of them. Maybe
we could set a date. Now for the
sad part. My dear wife Dorothea
A. Kist died of a heart attack
March 8, 1982, age 62. I had
retired in January, '82 and we had
planned to do so many things with
so many places to go. New plans
must be made. ITS GREAT TO
BE A HELLCAT. Please write."
William Manders, C - Dues
included with "Wife and I are
going to St. Louis. Please send all
publications pertaining to 12th
Armd. Div. and I will pay all cost
for same." (Bill Manders was hit
the afternoon of Jan. 9, '45, just
west of Herrlisheim - Moss).
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Twelfth Armored Division Association (U.S.). Hellcat News, (Godfrey, Ill.), Vol. 37, No. 1, Ed. 1, September 1982, newspaper, September 1982; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth410696/m1/31/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The 12th Armored Division Memorial Museum.