The Baby Patrol Rescue of 81 Children From a Chateau in Han, France on September 29, 1944

The Baby PatrolRescue of 81 Children From a

Chateau in Han, France on September 29, 1944

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By Soldiers of the134th Infantry Regiment,

35th Infantry DivisionWorld War II

Speakers

Shirley Ricker TheisDaughter of Cpl. Homer D. Ricker, Jr.

Paula Evans BakerDaughter of Pvt. Richard H. Evans

Ben WeberNephew of Gen. Edmund Sebree

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The Discovery of the Forgotten Story

By

Shirley Ricker Theis

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Letter to Ethel Ricker From Virgil Socin

Dear Ethel

. . . “The Han Incident was another, our job as machine gunners

was to give the rifle squad that went after the

children supporting fire.

I saw “Rick” give his gun to another man and take off to

the flank, moments later he returned with three children . . .”

The First Clue

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Homer D. Ricker, Jr. (Rick) Homer D. Ricker, Jr. was born April 29, 1913 in Lynn,

Massachusetts.

“He was a husband, father of two, banker, air raid patrol volunteer, and a man of faith. He loved family life, picnics, clamming in the cold northeastern waters and black raspberry ice cream. He could wiggle the knot of his tie with his Adam’s apple. He could make me laugh.

1944 fell like a dark shade over the window of my memories of life with him.”

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Cpl. Homer D. Ricker, Jr.The SoldierCompany H - 134

Participated in the Rescue

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Homer D. Ricker, Jr. With Wife and Daughter

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Cpl Homer D. Ricker, Jr. (Rick)The Unsung Hero

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“. . . Moments later he returned with three children carrying one in each arm, the other pig-aback, and believe me none of them even whimpered. The children were bundled up by him in partial blankets, field jackets and just about anything he could find, and sent back to the battalion. When I asked him to account for himself sticking his head out unnecessarily, his answer was relief of human suffering.”

Letter from Virgil Socin to Ricker’s wife.

Cpl. Homer D. Ricker, Jr.Killed in Action 12/31/44

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Shirley and Her DaughtersMemorial Plaque At Lutrebois, Belgium

Henri-Chapelle Belgium Plot F, Row 15, Grave 8.

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The Forgotten Story Uncovered

By

Paula Evans Baker

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Haunted by Dates of September 29-30, 1944

V Mail dated Sept 30, 1944 To Pvt. Evans’ Wife

“ . . . I am so dirty and my hands are so sore, I doubt that you would know me. . . . I had some hot chow and hot coffee today. Keep this letter and when I get home I’ll tell you how I got it. . . .”

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The Search Begins

• No Record of the Baby Patrol Rescue in the History of the 35th Division.

• However, 35th Division Participation in the Baby Patrol Recorded in Associated Press Articles and in Time Magazine.

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10 Yanks Rescue 81 Tots in Battle

Boston Record, 10/19/44

With the 35th Division in France (AP)

“ ‘I’ll go. I have three kids at home myself,’ the Sergeant said. There was a murmur among the enlisted men and nine others stopped forward as volunteers.”

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French Children Saved in Heroic Yank Rescue

Reported by Wes Gallagher (AP)

Oregonian 10/19/44

Party Returns Unhurt“Despite the wet, cold ground and their

lack of shoes, to say nothing of their fright at being with strange men and the blasting artillery shells, not one of the children so much as cried.”

“By some miracle not one child nor one volunteer was hurt.”

“Today the Captain and ten enlisted men were awarded the bronze Star—but only five were on hand to receive it.”

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Baby Patrol: On the Third Army Front“There were children in the house--81 of them by best

reports--and they had to be taken out.”

Oct. 30, 1944

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The Search Continues• Time Article is Reprinted in the May 1945

Special Edition of the Santa Fe Express.

• Paula Baker Goes to Han, France, in 2006 & 2012.

• Roberta Russo, Daughter of Pvt. Harry Krantz, Aid Man with the 134th, and Webmaster of the 134th Web Site, Uncovers GO # 44 Listing Names of Company A Baby Patrol Soldiers.

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Search in France

• No Records Found in the Han Chateau Being Used as a School.

• Official Records of World War II Time Period Still Closed in France.

• Edict for Evacuation by Mayor Found in Newspaper Archives.

• Appeal Issued in L’Est Republicain Newspaper. “Babies” Respond!

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Confirmation of Date Mme Denise Benda’s Ration Card

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Visit to Han--The Countryside

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The Courtyard at Chateau

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Inside the Tunnel at the Chateau

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The Escape Door

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Route to the River Crossing

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The Seille River Crossing

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Rescued Babies: Gilberte (11), Jacqueline (3), Marguerite (14),

Nicole (4) - 1944

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2006 Reunion ofRescued Babies

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Gilberte Remembers

“I see it as if it were yesterday. That night, we all hid in the cellar. We were afraid. The bombs fell. The Americans came to get us. We couldn’t make any noise . . . We walked out and the soldiers carried the little ones. . . .”

L’Est Republicain, June 17, 2006

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Christian Remembers

With sobs in his throat, Christian said, “I only remember that night where we were saved. It was terrible. A cellar door fell just beside me after an explosion. Everyone was saved, thanks to the Americans. . . .”

L’Est Republicain, June 17, 2006

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Shirley Theis and Marcel IungSon of the Chateau Warden

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The Church & Evidence of the War

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Baby Patrol Day 2006 Became a Teachable

Moment

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Reception in Arraye-et-HanPaula Introduced by

Jerome Leclerc

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Describing the Rescue to School Children

Marcel Describes The Fear He Experienced!

Paula was asked “How Did You Feel When your Father Died?”

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Pvt. Richard H. EvansThe SoldierCompany F – 134

Participated in the Liberation of Han on September 29, 1944

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Pvt. Richard H. EvansWith his Wife and Daughter

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Memorial to Pvt. EvansKilled in Action One Day Later Sept. 30

Rescued “babies” at Armaucourt Memorial

Paula Evans Baker at Armaucourt , France

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To Pvt Evans and His Comrades . . . And to Their Orphans

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The Division Marches On

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Men Who Did the Impossible:

The Baby PatrolBy

Ben Weber

Maj. Gen. Troy Middleton

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Letter to men of VIII Corps:

“As we review the picture since Bastogne, we see performance of feats by officers and men of the Corps which, in normal times, one would have believed to be impossible of execution.”

“It is, however, doing the impossible which marks the leader and returns the winner in war.”

Soldiers of the 134th Infantry

• We Honor Them Today

• Willingly Risked Their Lives

• Friday, September 29, 1944

• Under Violent Artillery and Mortar fire.

• Rescued 81 Defenseless Children from Certain Death

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Soldiers of the 134th in CombatSeptember 10-29, 1944

• Company A Defeats Germans at Fort de Pont St. Vincent

• Sept. 15 – Liberation of Nancy in

Task Force Sebree

• Attack North and East against Heavy Opposition

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The Situation September 10-21, 1944

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Attack of September 22, 1944

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The Situation at Han September 29, 1944

There was a heavy firefight at Ajoncourt

“. . . and then the center of activity seemed to shift to the right—toward Han. This village of Han, in enemy hands, was developing into a cancer for the regimental defenses . . .”

Maj. Gen. Butler Miltonberger, commander,134th Infantry

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The Situation at HanSeptember 29, 1944

• At 5:00 p.m., after 3-Hour Battle,

Company F Controlled Han

• German Forces in Vicinity, Preparing to Counterattack

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The Situation September 27-30, 1944

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The Dramatic Rescue

Organized by:

•Capt. Paul Orban, Civil Affairs, Free French Forces

•Capt. George Schneider, Civil Affairs Officer, 134th Infantry Regiment

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The Dramatic Rescue

• Pvt. David Pomeroy: “I’ll go. I have 3 kids at home myself.”

• Cpl. Homer Ricker: “Relief of human suffering.”

• Pvt. Warren Sonnichsen: Shocked to find only 2 of 81 children were over age 4.

• Sgt. Archie Hughes: Carried 2 kids; those who could walk held hands and then 1 held on to him.

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The Outcome

• Children and Soldiers Returned Unharmed

• Children went by Truck Back to Now-Liberated Nancy

• Soldiers Went Back into Combat

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Battling the Elements in October

• Cold Fall Weather

• Frequent Rain

• All Men Issued Overcoats

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“Perpetual Soupy Mud”

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The Situation October 1-9, 1944

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What Happened to the Rescue Patrol?

• October 9, 1944 – January 10, 1945

• Heavy Casualties – Nearly 80%

• GO# 44, October 16, 1944, Awarded Bronze Star to 10 Company A Soldiers, 2 Officers

• Life After the War

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October 9, 1944 Killed in Combat

Pvt. Marion C. Heifner•Age 32 •Rifleman•From California•Married, 2 children•Golf Instructor & Played Professionally•Originally Buried at Andilly Cemetery, Remy, France•Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California

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October 9, 1944Taken Prisoner

Pfc. David B. Pomeroy•Age 28•First Volunteer•Married, 3 Children•Stalag 2B in Poland•Real Estate Developer•Had 4 More children after War•Died in Florida 1990, age 74

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October 9, 1944Wounded, Taken Prisoner

Pfc. Warren S. Sonnichsen•Age 30•From New Haven, Connecticut•Stalag 2B, Escaped•Married, 1 Daughter and 2 Step Children•Retired Wasilla, Alaska•Died 1990, age 76

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October 9, 1944Taken Prisoner

Pfc. George A. Stevens•From California•Stalag 2B•6-Month Veteran•Repatriated

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October 11, 1944Wounded by Shrapnel

Tech. Sgt. Archie C. Hughes•Age 26•From Santa Fe, New Mexico•Joined Army in 1940•Married, 1 child•Had 3 More Children after War•Great Pride in Army•Died in 1999, age 81

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October 18, 1944Killed in Combat

Pfc. John R. McKinney, Jr.•From New Orleans•MIA 10/9/44•Originally Buried at Andilly Cemetery, Remy, France•Buried Lorraine American Cemetery at St. Avold--26 miles from Han

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October 25, 1944Wounded

Pfc. Stanley L. Summers

•Age 30

•Grew up in the Bronx

•Worked Shipyards in New Jersey

•Married, 2 Children

•Died Long Island, 1964, age 49

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October 31, 1944Wounded

Staff Sgt.Robert H. Gunderson •Age 23•Landed with Division•Married, No Children•Lives in Rochester, Minnesota•Age 91•Remembers Rescue

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December 31, 1944Killed in Combat

Cpl. Homer D. Ricker, Jr. •Age 31•From Lynn, Massachusetts•Married, 2 Children•Shirley’s story•Originally buried at Foy Cemetery, Belgium•Buried Henri-Chapelle Cemetery, Belgium

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January 10, 1945Killed in Combat

Pfc. Anthony S. Sokolowski• Age 28•From New Jersey•Single•MIA on 01/02/45•Originally Buried at Grand Failly, France Cemetery•Buried in New Jersey

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Returned to U.S. on Queen Mary

Sgt. William F. Moore•Age 23•From Kalamazoo, Michigan•Enlisted Jan. 1943•Single•Came Home with Company A on Queen Mary, Sept. 1945

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Status Unknown

Capt. Paul Orban•Free French Forces•Civil Affairs Liaison with 35th Division HQCapt. George L. Schneider •Civil Affairs Officer, 134th

•Lawyer from Brooklyn•Lt. Col, Feb. 1945

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Today, 68 Years Later

• Extraordinary Acts of Valor by Exceptional Men

• Risked Their Lives

• Relief of Human Suffering

• Many Paid the Ultimate Sacrifice

• All Suffered the Wounds of War

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Today, 68 Years Later

• We Remember and Honor Their Service

• They Accomplished the Impossible

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Research TeamPaula Evans Baker

Marilyn Bowers Jensen

Jerome Leclerc, France

Edouard Reniere, Belgium

Shirley Ricker Theis

Roberta Russo

Ben Weber

Heroes’ Family Members

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For more Information on the Han Baby Patrol

www.coulthart.com/time.htm

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www.espacedememoire.fr (Dossiers, Dossier No 2)

The Baby PatrolThe Forgotten Story

Restored to the Pages of the 35th Division History in

World War II73