" I
was the only one still able to walk out of those awful woods. I
might have also been crying." -Lt.
George Wilson, 22nd US Infantry Regiment referring to his
experience in the Hurtgen Forest. " I
was the only one still able to walk out of those awful woods. I
might have also been crying." -Lt.
George Wilson, 22nd US Infantry Regiment referring to his
experience in the Hurtgen Forest.
LETTERS
In 1999 I contacted several Company "D" veterans via mail. I received several responses which I am sharing here. None, to date, have had any memory of my uncle. I thank these men, and in some cases their family members, for taking the time to respond.
Hi Timothy,
I received your letter today and I checked all my books to see if I could find what part of D Company he was in, you see D. Co. was made up of three platoons, two platoons of machine gunners and a platoon of mortars. I was in the mortar platoon and I don't recall knowing him. He must have been in the machine gunner platoon, we rarely knew one another. I see his name listed in the Company D obituaries, he might have been a replacement. I am sorry that I can't help you any more than I have, my wife and I are getting old (75) and don't remember to well. - Clifford Shell, Michigan 02/22/99
"Any danger spot is tenable if men - brave men - will make it so." - John F. Kennedy
I was shocked to receive such a letter. 54 years ago on December 4, 1944 I was injured on the battlefield of Waldhambach France. I do not recall the name of your uncle. I was fortunate to have been helped by another buddy who picked me up. His name was Howard Lord. I guess the good lord was protecting me. I think he may be able to recall your uncle. Please let me know how you make out. - Douglas W. Mushnick, Rhode Island 02/27/99
" One cannot answer for his courage when he has never been in danger." - Francois, Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Maximes, 1665
I'm replying to your letter for information about your uncle. As you may know Co. D is a heavy weapons company "30 cal water-cooled machine guns" and " 81 mm mortars." On the lines during the war we were seldom together. I was in the mortars and knew most of the members pretty well. I do not recall the name Blaise. However, the name does have a familiar sound. I am enclosing some pages of the 324th history. Thought you may find them of interest. I appreciate your interest in what went on during the war. - Hayes Palmer, Pennsylvania 03/05/99
" The most precious commodity with which the Army deals is the individual soldier who is the heart and soul of our combat forces - General J. Lawton Collins
Dear Timothy,
Hi, about information about your uncle, Francis Blaise. I will tell you what I remember about what went on them days. That was a bad day. I have a slight memory of your uncle, because I was not in the 324th that long before. I got there early in November 1944. You did not say if he was in the machine gun company of "D" or the mortar company of "D". I was in the machine gun of Co. "D". I went to the 8th annual reunion in 1985 in Dayton Ohio. I have not been able to go to other reunions because of poor health. I was hit April 9, 1945 in a town called Blaufelden, Germany. I was in the hospital for 6 months and never made it back to my outfit - the 324th. God bless - not to good at writing anymore. - Louis Mastronardi, Florida 03/16/99
" I did not mean to be killed today" - dying words of the Vicomte de Turenne, at the Battle of Salzbach, 1675
Dear Mr. Blaise,
Your letter to my father, Art Van Vorce, was kindly forwarded to me by our local mailman, as my father passed away in 1994. So, I'm sorry I don't think Im can be of much help to you. However, I did go through some old papers I have of his from Co. "D" reunions, which is where I assume you got my fathers name. I am enclosing some papers that may be of interest. My father wasn't much for telling "war stories", but I know he couldn't hear "Taps" playing without tears coming to his eyes as he thought of all the men who's lives were lost. Good luck to you in finding information on your uncle. - Laurie Harrison, New York 03/30/99
" Those who do not do battle for their country do not know with what ease they accept their citizenship in America." -Dean Brelis, The Face of South Vietnam
Copyright 2002 by Timothy E Blaise