Hellcat News, (Kingman, Ariz.), Vol. 50, No. 12, Ed. 1, August 1997 Page: 6 of 24
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Page 6
HELLCAT NEWS
August 1997
couple of problems but all is OK now. It is hard to believe all
the changes made since we were there three years ago. It's a
great place to go for a good check up.***
MELVIN AND KATHRYN KNACK [SV]: We wish to
thank all the Hellcats and Hellkittens for their cards, phone
calls and those who stopped in for a visit to help make our 50th
Wedding Anniversary a joyous occasion. Those attending
were: Quentin and Marie Skelton [43rd]; Hank and Shortie
Backs [56th]; John and Virginia Brown [44th]; Joe and Virginia
Farran [494th]; Harland and Lela Degroot [493rd]; George and
June Moss [714th]; Ed and Irene Peacock [44th]; Charlene
Strubbe [495th]; Lorenez and June Kleinschmidt [43rd].***
DOROTHY SANSING: My husband, William Sansing [SV],
passed away May 6, 1997. Bill, a retired journalist, was 76. Bill
graduated from the University of Tulsa in 1951. After gradua-
tion, he joined the Associated Press. He worked in OK and FL
offices for 18 years, including three years as editor for the
Oklahoma. In 1972, he was named Oil and Finance Editor for
the Tribune. He retired as the Executive Editor of the Tulsa
Business Chronicle. Bill won a number of Journalism awards.
After we married in 1988 (his first wife had died sometime
before), he joined me in doing some free lance projects for
Public Relations International.
Bill was diagnosed with prostate cancer about five years ago
and with several remissions of symptoms, was to live a full life
until the last couple of months, when it metastasized rapidly.
Suvivors include his wife, son, four step children and two
granddaughters. Please continue to send me the HCN. Thanks
for the sympathy cards and the very kind letter.***
QUENTIN AND MARIE SKELTON [SV]: Was good to
talk to Ann and you, Mark. Sorry it was bad news about Bill
Sansing's death. Talk about being Old, doing garden work
makes one feel that way. Yes, we have our first great grand-
child, a boy.
We are going to OK City for a granddaughter's graduation,
then to Emporia for Bradstreet's picnic. Hope you two have a
good summer.***
ANDY MIGALA [B]: Just a few lines after returning home
from winter in FL. Here in OH the weather has been chilly and
damp, I guess that's what makes the flowers grow. I am look-
ing forward to Columbus and hoping quite a few of B Company
buddies show up. It is getting later than we think. I am send-
ing money for the Unit Dinner and a little help for the
Hospitality Room. (Thanks, Andy.) Hoping to see you in
August.***
Your Unit Rep, Ann and my sister, Patty, attended the dedi-
cation of the KIA Monument at Ft. Campbell on May 30th.
We left Kokomo at 8 AM Thursday and arrived at Clarksville
at 3:30 PM. We drove by gate 4 but it was getting late so we
didn't enter the Camp. We were headed south and drove a few
Melvin and Kathryn
Knack (SV43) on their
50th wedding anniver-
sary, 412-47.
Photo by Melvin
6
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43rd Tank Battalion Wreath.
Photo by Ault
miles but there were no hotels. At a red light Ann rolled down
her window and asked a colored lady in a car next to our van
where Wilma Rudolph Blvd was. She started to tell us when
the light changed, so she said, "Follow me." She drove several
miles out of her way to take us to the hotel. The Travelodge
hotel was located with several other hotels and eating places.
They were laying new carpet in all the rooms and you could
smell the new carpet.
The hotel served a free Continental breakfast: eggs, bacon,
potatoes, grits, sausage, fruit, toast, bagel, cereal and drinks.
There were eight from the 43rd: Jim and Bette Stone; Melvin
and Kathryn Knack; Norb Bruemmer; Mark, Ann and Patty
Ault.
Friday we all headed for the dedication. We were all sur-
prised at the size of the monument. The wreaths were very nice
and the 43rd's especially outstanding. It was made of grape
vine in a large circle covered with large yellow flowers with
black centers, well worth the $100 the 43rd paid for it. They
had attached a black ribbon with the 43rd Tank Battalion in
gold letters.
Colonel Braddy from Ft. Campbell first welcomed us to Ft.
Campbell. General Melton from Ft. Knox gave the main
remarks. The monument, made of Georgia granite, is over 11
feet tall, 13 feet long, and stands on a 14V2 foot wide base.
Atop the main shaft, which contains historical information,
sits the 12th Armored Division Association insignia. Wings
extend on the ground from each side of the shaft. On the left
wing are listed the Tank, Armored Infantry, and Armored
Field Artillery Battalions, and the Armored Reconnaissance
Squadron. On the right wing are listed Division Headquarters
Units and Armored Signal Company plus the Armored Engi-
neer, Armored Ordnance, Armored Medical, and Anti-Aircraft
Artillery Battalions. On the ground in front of each wing are
bronze plaques on which are listed, in alphabetical order, the
names of the 12th AD men who lost their lives overseas. There
were 814 KIAs, 2,647 wounded or injured in action, and 427
prisoners of war.
After the Memorial ceremony we were placed on buses and
taken on a tour of the Fort. There are few of the old barracks
standing but I did remember the Field House.
The guide stated they are all to be replaced. He stated the
Fort had over 23,000 troops. After the tour we got in the van
and drove up and down Indiana Ave. but there has been too
many changes and too many years to remember where we lived
and worked. We started to leave but could not find Chaffee
Blvd. We asked several soldiers but none knew. We finally
asked how to get out of camp and a couple of GIs said turn
around and head straight out. All told we all had a great time.
I am running out of space too soon. Dr. Williams asked if the
43rd and the 152nd could sponsor a student at the reunion.
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Twelfth Armored Division Association (U.S.). Hellcat News, (Kingman, Ariz.), Vol. 50, No. 12, Ed. 1, August 1997, newspaper, August 1997; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth410762/m1/6/?q=%22%22~1: 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.