The 95th Division · continue, this year, to honor the Iron Men of Metz as their odyssey contin-ued through the Benelux countries, into Germany and to the cessation of hostilities

Winter 2020Volume 70, Number 1

The 95th Division

I R O N M E N O F M E T Z

A Publication of The 95th Division Legacy Association

INSIDE President’s Remarks

75th Anniversary Photos

New 95thReleases

DepartedComrades

2 114 - 9 10

C.L.V.M.A. reenactors and descendants of the Iron Men of Metz pose on the French-Germany border November 19, 2019, under a replica of the famous sign, “You are now entering Germany thru courtesy 95th Inv. Div.” Kneeling: Fabrice Matz and Kay Grosinske. Standing: Caleb Jefferson, Barney Jefferson, Sam Johnson, Maureen Whelan, Marsha Snell Flora, Julien Kieffer, Thierry Becker, Michel Voitelet, Thierry Staub, Kristin Whittington, Nancy Duno Broadway, Frédéric Muller, Nancy Komp Bubb, Bertrand Hochstrasser, Francis Muller, Mike Bever and Patricia Duno Sloss. Photo by Darcy Flora

Page 2

NATIONAL OFFICERSPresidentJAMES E. ARCHER HHC, 95th Division (IT) (Ret)1918 Old Mill Drive, Salem, VA 24153

[email protected] (540) 312-6558

First Vice PresidentCLIF TWADDLE 827 Orchard Peak Court, Houston, TX 77062


Second Vice PresidentMICHAEL J. FLORA 13919 Squaw Creek Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46814


SecretaryLORA NEAL HHC1500 North Milwaukee Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202


TreasurerTERRY EARNEST HHC, 95th Division (IT) (Ret) 10300 Meeting Street #202, Prospect, KY 40059


Public Relations OfficerMARSHA S. FLORA 13919 Squaw Creek Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46814


EXECUTIVE COUNCILCEO E. BAUER I/377 123 North Ithaca Street, Ithaca, MI 48847-1228

(989) 875-0293

THERESA BUNN HHC, 95th Division (IT) (Ret) 15837 Big Cypress Drive, OKC, OK 73013


DOUG MADDEN CHAPLAIN42424 Jefferson Drive, Hammond, LA 70403

[email protected]

KRISTIN WHITTINGTON 5522 West 900 South, Edinburgh, IN 46124


Use the Officer and Council contact information shown abovefor questions, death notices or other information to share.

from the presidentDear Friends,

The 2019 year was of great sig-nificance in that it represented the 70th year of our WWII Vets’ As-sociation and the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Lorraine, one of the milestones of their combat. We continue, this year, to honor the Iron Men of Metz as their odyssey contin-ued through the Benelux countries,

into Germany and to the cessation of hostilities. From May 15-19, we met in Lawton/Ft. Sill, OK for our 70th Reunion, where, thanks to monies and volunteer efforts by members of the 95th Division Foundation, we rededicated and toured the 95th Division Memorial, while spending quality time with soldiers of the 95th Training Division (IET) at their Headquarters and at our annual banquet.

From November 12-17, 98 Americans with ties to the 95th Infantry Division assembled both in Metz and Thion-ville for an amazing series of events planned for us by the members of Lorraine Etats-Unis, the Moselle River 1944 Association and by the various municipalities, clubs and the French Army. We were blessed to have four of our Iron Men in attendance along with two WWII Navy veterans, a friend and a family member of our group. Steve Jamison represented the Iron Men in Thionville, a site of his combat, accompanied by the irrepressible Marge—delighting their hosts and graciously receiving the honors provided by the French.

Tony Duno and his amazing family were with us in Metz, where this humble and accomplished man was at home, as always, so close to his European roots and lifelong service to his Nation. Frank Taylor returned to Lorraine for the first time since his combat, accompanied by his two daughters and extended family. We were so happy that he was able to witness, firsthand, the enduring love of those he helped to liberate so long ago. Then, there was Ceo Bauer, who brought such a large contingent of Michiganders, that the local merchants had to have experienced a noticeable drop in commerce. Ceo unofficially served as a vocal represen-tative, speaking not only for himself, but on behalf of his generation at all of the events in the Metz area. He had prepared certificates for several special friends among the French—those who had supported us over the decades —ensuring that each of them knew of their special places in his heart for their love and devotion. Also present was Jerry Jefferson, widow of Iron Man Victor Jefferson, with her daughter, son and grandson, reminding us of the sacrifices of devoted spouses and girlfriends and their contributions to the free and strong Nation we became.

James E. Archer

President’s Comments continued on page 11

Page 3

Name

Street Address

City/State/Zip

Phone

Number of Plates _______ X $50 = $ _______

Number of Coins _______ X $10 = $_______

Email

Shipping: $15 flat rate to ship 1-4 plates plus coins$8 flat rate to ship coins only TOTAL __________

This 6-inch solid bronze plate commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of Lorraine and has been hand-made by the Wendell August Forge in Grove City, Pa., exclusively for the 95th Division Foundation.

To order your plate and/or coins and support the 95th Divi-sion Foundation, please complete the contact information below and send a check with a minimum donation of $50 per plate and $10 for coins (see shipping costs below) to:

95th Division Foundation 13919 Squaw Creek Road Fort Wayne, IN 46814

75th Anniversary Commemorative Plate and Coin

Dear 95th Friends,The 95th Division Foundation is in considerable need of

your financial support. In the recent past, the Foundation has paid for two memorial benches honoring SSG Andrew Miller and MG Harry L. Twaddle at our monument at Fort Benning, restored the monument to the Victory Division at Fort Indiantown Gap, purchased a memorial plaque honoring the Division at the new Army Museum at Fort Belvoir, (to be on display beginning June 4), continued to finance the Foundation’s scholarship to a descendant of 95th soldiers and produced 75th Anniversary of the Lib-eration plates and coins to honor our French hosts on the recent trip to Lorraine. These projects have largely depleted the Foundation’s operating funds and requires immediate attention. You can contribute by purchasing plates and/or coins, hopefully donating more than the minimum amount required or to simply forward a check to the Foundation’s treasurer, Mike Flora at the address on the advertisement for the plates and coins below. An anonymous donor has pledged $5,000 in matching funds for donations made in our 2020 campaign. Donations should be made to the 95th Division Foundation and are tax-deductible. As Ceo Bauer

says, “We need big bucks in order to continue to promote the Legacy of the Iron Men of Metz.”

The 95th Division Legacy Association, likewise, needs your support through renewal of your annual membership or by joining for the first time. Annual dues are $30 per person or $15 per person currently serving on active duty or in the active Reserve. We believe you will agree that we have continued to have meaningful and enjoyable reunions honoring the Victory Division, and we need your active membership, now, to continue these successful gatherings, to continue to send the Journal and to improve our commu-nications and support. The application is on the back page in this issue of the Journal.

Thank you so very much for taking the time to donate now. We don’t want the 75th Commemoration of the Libera-tion to be a sunsetting event on our activities. The inspira-tion of our French friends to remember the sacrifices of our WWI and WWII soldiers should guide us in this goal.Sincerely,Rob Geiger, President, 95th Division FoundationJim Archer, President, 95th Division Legacy AssociationCeo Bauer, Iron Man of Metz, I Company, 377th Regiment

Foundation and Association Appeal

Page 4

Rememberance

David Meyer pauses at the grave of a 95th soldier buried in the Lorraine Ameri-can Military Cemetery at Saint-Avold. Both groups from the 95th Association attending commemorations in France visited Saint-Avold to pay homage to those making the ultimate sacrifice. Photo by Lora Neal

Veterans Stephen Jamison (95th Infantry Division) and

Dan Santagata (5th Infantry Division) salute at the

monument at Place Patton in Thionville in recognition of their former Third Army

commander. Photo by Marsha Flora

Commemorative ceremonies were

held near the Eagle Monument at Fort Bellecroix Sunday,

November 17. Photo by Lorna

Earnest

Young school children in Buding colored and cut out flags, then lined up to place them near their village’s war memorial prior to commemorative

ceremonies November 15. Photo by Marsha Flora

At an early age, French children are taught the his-

tory of their liberation. While reenactors read each name of the 23 American soldiers

of the 80th Division killed while liberating Bambider-

stroff, the children placed a rose for each soldier at the

base of the 80th Division monument. After the cer-emony, the children head to a community reception.

Photo by Marsha Flora

Page 5

Nancy Bubb holds a glass portrait of her father, John Komp. Kristin Whittington has a glass photo of her grandfather, Charles “Red” Whittington, and Marsha Flora has a glass likeness of her father, Edward DeWayne Snell. As soldiers in the 95th Division, the men passed through or near Coume, liberating the area on their march to Germany in November 1944. These gifts, made at a local glass factory, were pre-sented by the Muller family at a dinner in Coume November 18. Photo by Darcy Flora

Pascal Moretti and his daughter Sarah Moretti hold the commemorative quilt presented to Pascal November 15 by the family of Dr. Joseph and Marie Stobbe. Photo by Marsha Flora and friendship

Margaret and Stephen Jamison watch as Jennifer Roman, Superintendent of the Luxembourg American Military Cemetery, carefully folds the American flag before present-ing it to Stephen. Photo by Marsha Flora

Before a November 15 dinner at the Mill in Buding, the Mayor of Buding holds the commemo-rative plate Mike Flora gifted him on behalf of the 95th Divi-sion Foundation as a thank you for the hospitality of the citizens of Buding. Photo by Marsha Flora

MG (Ret) James Archer presents Elisabeth Gozzo, president of “Thanks GI’s,” with a 95th Division Foundation commemorative plate for years of unfailing support and love for the Iron Men of Metz. In the background are Dominique Gros, Mayor of Metz, and Liliane Borg, interpreter and long-time friend to the Association. Photo by Lorna Earnest

Page 6

Clif Twaddle pours a drink at Twaddle’s Corner, a new bar established at the C.L.V.M.A.’s headquarters in Crehange and named in honor of his grand-

father, MG Harry L. Twaddle. Photo by Marsha Flora

Crehange

Waving to the crowds lining the streets, Jerry Jefferson rides in a parade in Crehange. Her Jeep driver is Michel Voitelet, a reenactor and member of the

C.L.V.M.A. Photo by Lorna Earnest

Jerry Jefferson, Margaret Jamison, Stephen Jamison, Ceo Bauer, Frank

Taylor, Anthony Duno and Jim Broadway as-

semble in prepara-tion to attend the

commemorations. Photo by Lorna

Earnest

The C.L.V.M.A. hosted four Iron Men and the families and friends of the 95th Infantry Division in Crehange, Saturday,

November 16. After commemorations in the center of town and a parade, the group visited an encampment, reception and made a

stop to at the C.L.V.M.A. headquarters, garage and new museum.

Page 7

C.L.V.M.A. reenactors Simon Peti-tot and Mathias Schmitt relax near their foxhole in an encampment staged in Crehange. Some of the reenactors spent the night in their foxholes despite temperatures near freezing. Photo by Darcy Flora

To honor their liberators, the C.L.V.M.A. displays the photos of soldiers of the 95th Infantry Division who fought in Lorraine during World War II. These photos are a sampling of the collection hanging on the walls in their museum. Photo by Marsha Flora

Driving an M-24 Chaffee, Nicolas Georges with co-driver Nick Abramshe roll through the streets of Crehange during the pa-rade. They are joined by Vincent Barbi and Théo Muller on top. Photo by Darcy Flora

No gathering by the members of the 95th Division Legacy Association would be complete without a Mirabelle toast led by Ceo Bauer. Joining in on the festivities are soldiers of the French Army, Lorna Earnest, Marc Dory and Sharman Esarey. Photo by Marsha Flora

Joining many who have visited in the past, David Meyer and Clif Twaddle add their comments and signatures to a wall at the C.L.V.M.A. headquarters/garage. Photo by Marsha Flora

Page 8

A giant poster hangs on City Hall in Thionville, announcing the City’s 75th Anniversary of their Liberation. The 2nd Battalion, 378th Regiment, 95th Division established a bridgehead November 11-12, 1944, in Thionville,

allowing the 10th Armored Division to cross the Moselle River in prepara-tion for the Battle of Metz. Photo by Mike Flora

A General George S. Patton impersonator rides in the parade celebrating the 75th

Anniversary of the Liberation in Thionville November 17. Photo by Marsha Flora

Johannes Dräger, holding a diagram of Bunker 20, purchased and restored the old German bunker

located in Dillingen, a sub-urb of Saarlouis. Bunker 20 was one of hundreds of bunkers that the 95th Division faced along the

Siegfried Line (Ger-many’s Westwall). Russell

Grimley explains the significance of Bunker 20 to Jacques Kleiser (left), Steve and Nancy Bubb

(right) and others before Johannes led the tour through the multi-level

bunker. Photo by Marsha Flora

The City of Thi-onville hosted a

soirée including hors d’oeuvres, an or-

chestra and dancing at the Chatêau de

la Grange at Manom November 16. John

Ferris and Kelly Zachgo joined in on the festivities. Photo

by Mike Flora

Claudine Wildenhain, Vanessa Smith, Kristin Whittington, Kathy Twaddle, Clif Twaddle and Sophia Neal enjoy friendship and conversation at the

Metz Gala held at the Arsenal and hosted by the City of Metz. Terry Ear-nest is in the background with the flag. Photo by Lora Neal

Page 9

Memoriesmade inLorraine

On a trip to Ottenville Woods, veterans, their families and friends saw a bunker that had been converted into a First Aid station. Another larger German bunker across the field helped visitors visualize firsthand the difficulties American troops faced crossing the area in 1944. Much assistance was provided so everyone was able to navigate the uneven ter-raine. Photo by Marsha Flora

A reenactor on guard duty overlooks open fields from Ottenville Woods. A German bunker nearly a half mile away was held by the Germans in late No-vember 1944, but the bunker shown had been captured and converted into a First Aid station. Photo by Lorna Earnest

Page 10

Glenn C. Magner, 93, Englewood, Fla.HQ Co., 379th RegimentGlenn Curtis Magner passed away Apr., 5, 2019. He was born Nov. 26, 1925 in Steele County, Minnesota. Glenn enlisted in the Army in 1942 when he was 16 years old, telling the Army he was 20, and he got away with it. For the next 22 months, he trained with the 95th Infantry Division before deploying to Europe. Glenn was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star and, later, the French Legion of Honor. “I was only 19 when I was dis-charged and had no education. The only thing I knew how to do was operate a radio and shoot people,” he said almost seven decades later. “I went to work as a stock boy at a de-partment store in Minneapolis at 45-cents per hour. There were few jobs for someone with no education. The lady who ran the stock room didn’t like me. I confronted her at the end of my first week on the job about the way she was treat-ing me. She told me, ‘You were here in this country with our young women during the war when my son was overseas getting killed in the service.’ I told her I was sorry her son was killed in the war and left. The following Monday morn-ing I showed up at work with my battle jacket with four rows of campaign ribbons, a Combat Infantryman’s Badge and hash marks on my sleeve. She took one look at me in my military jacket and started crying.” Magner knew he had to find a way to get some usable job training for civilian life. He re-upped, but this time he enlisted in the Air Force for three years. He became an air traffic controller. When he got out of the service the second time in 1949, he had to wait to sign up as a civilian air traffic controller because he was still only 20 years old. He spent the next 26 years working as a civilian air traffic controller.

Charles B. “Red” Whittington, 98, Columbus, Ind.Co. I, 377th RegimentCharles B. “Red” Whittington passed from this life on Mon-day, January 6, 2020 surrounded by his loving family.Red was born December 21, 1921, in Bartholomew County, Ind., the son of Lester G. and Hazel Bowers Whittington.Red was a 1939 graduate of Columbus High School. Febru-ary 19, 1944, he married Glenna Talkington. He proudly served in the United States Army, and was a member of I Company, 377th Reg., 95th Infantry Division. Red was hon-ored with the following distinguished awards: Purple Heart with Oakleaf cluster, Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, and in 2017 he received the French Legion of Honor. Upon leaving his service from the Army, he continued his involve-ment to the community as a school bus driver and a Rural Postal Carrier until his retirement in 1984. He also enjoyed property development and agri-business. He was a member

departed comradesof Burnsville Christian Church, life member of Fraternal Order of Elks Lodge 521 of Columbus, life member of Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge 398 of Columbus, life member of The American Legion Post 24, life member of VFW Post 1987 of Columbus, life member of Military Order of Purple Heart, Charter member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles—Ruskin Florida, 95th Infantry Division Association, life member of Disabled American Veterans Chapter 31 and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association. Red enjoyed traveling, playing euchre and was very involved with his Di-vision and I Company reunions. April 10, 2013, he received House Resolution No. 82 by the Indiana General Assem-bly, June 20, 2014, the Iron Men of Metz Memorial Bridge across Clifty Creek on U.S. 31 was dedicated in honor of the 95th Infantry Division and on August 7, 2017 he received the Circle of Corydon for outstanding citizenship presented by Governor Eric J. Holcomb. Red was a loving supporter of his family, community and military. Survivors include his children, Shorty (Ro) Whittington, Jane (Charles) Harvey and Julie (Roger) Schuette; sisters, Mary Glasson and Elsie Hege; grandchildren, Kristin Whittington, John Whitting-ton, Justin Harvey, Erin Brown, Rodney Schuette and Chad Schuette; 13 great grandchildren; and special friend, Rose-mary Snider. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Glenna; brother, Lester Whittington; sister, Maxine Jackson; grandson, Scott Schuette; and two great grandchildren. The funeral service was held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 11 with burial following at Garland Brook Cemetery with military honors presented by the Bartholomew County Vet-erans Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorial contribu-tions may be given to 95th Division Foundation, Burnsville Christian Church, Elks Lodge 521, Cancer Fund and Mill Race Center.

In honor of Charles B. “Red” Whittington, an American flag proudly waves from a sign lo-cated at the Iron Men of Metz Memorial Bridge on Indiana State Road 31 across Clifty Creek in Columbus, Ind. The bridge was dedicated in commemoration of all the gallant soldiers of the 95th Infantry Division, the Iron Men of Metz, June 20, 2014. Photo by Kristin Whit-tington

Page 11

Michael J. Flora, author of III Years III Months III Days, holds his book with Theo Muller in Crehange, France. Muller, a reenactor and member of the C.L.V.M.A., translated the book into French. Muller also painted his 1942 Willys as a replica of one of the jeeps Edward DeWayne Snell drove during the war. Photo by Marsha Flora

Odysseys of two Iron Men recounted in booksAfter serving as an Artillery Instructor in Texas, Richard

E. Clark developed maps for artillery trajectory, for plotting routes and maps for the Division and for setting up Head-quarter locations in Europe. He composed and illustrated newsletters for soldiers training in U.S. training camps and, in his free time, painted poignant art works of scenes

throughout war-torn Europe.

After the war, Clark created an il-lustrated map of the Division’s history and disseminated it to many soldiers and families of the 95th Division. This map was titled The Odyssey of the 95th Victory Division.

A daughter of Richard E. Clark, Lynda Clark Porter, recently published My Father—The Mapmaker, His Life and His Art, The Odyssey of the 95th Victory Division World War II, a book based on her father’s World War II artworks, maps and experiences. My Father—The Mapmaker, His Life and His Art can be pur-chased at amazon.com.

Also a soldier of the 95th Infantry Division during World War II, Edward DeWayne Snell had very different experienc-es than Clark. He trained at Camp Swift, Fort Sam Houston, Camp Coxcomb and Indiantown Gap. He deployed from Boston with the 95th and landed on Omaha Beach. Snell drove the Red Ball Highway and was part of Task Force Ba-

con. He fought in Metz, Saarlautern, Ensdorf, Shaffhausen and the Battle of the Bulge. He guarded submarine assem-bly areas in Bremen and served with occupational forces.

Snell’s stories of his three years, three months and three days of service in the 95th Infantry Division were often told to his son-in-law, Mike, over a cup of coffee on the back porch or while attending 95th reunions. Combined with his own considerable research on World War II, Michael J. Flora linked his father-in-law’s recollections and letters he and his family wrote and received from fellow soldiers in the 95th with the histories of the Division and their actions in the European Theatre. Flora’s resulting book, III Years III Months III Days, The Odyssey of Edward DeWayne Snell, Iron Man of Metz, Victory Division, 1942-1945, is available in both English and French and can be

purchased at blurb.com.

I was gratified that so many came to the 75th Anniver-sary. There were many whom I had not previously met, there to honor their soldier and to recall what he meant to each of them. Our day at the Lorraine American Military Cemetery in Saint-Avold was especially solemn this year as we realize we are on the cusp of the passing of our Greatest Generation. It is clear that we must not forget the lessons they have taught us, and we must continue to return to honor them, along with our French friends.

We will be meeting for the 71st Reunion in the Wil-liamsburg/Yorktown, Va. area, probably in September this year. Continue to check our website and Facebook pages for details and to look for a subsequent Journal which will include registration forms and complete information. Your

continued attendance is so critical to the survival of both the Foundation and the Association. You can also help by immediately paying your Association dues, updating us on your contact information and making a donation to the 95th Division Foundation. We can’t maintain the monu-ments to the Iron Men, the Memorial or the Scholarship and other initiatives without your financial support. There has been a huge drain on Foundation resources on recent projects.

I look forward to seeing you this fall. Thank you for all you do.Sincerely,JimPresident, 95th Division Legacy Association

President’s Comments continued from page 11

95th Division Legacy AssociationP.O. Box 1113Oklahoma City, OK 73101

95th Division Legacy AssociationFirst Name ____________________________________ MI ________________ Last Name _________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip _______________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone __________________________________ E-Mail ______________________________________________________________

95th Unit ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you are not a veteran, how are you connected to the 95th? ________________________________________________________

Annual Membership per Individual $30 ___________ Active Duty/Active Reserve per Individual $15 __________

Annual Dues - 2020

Please mail this application, along with your check, made payable to: 95th Division Legacy Association, P.O. Box 1113, Oklahoma City, OK 73101

Documents

The 95th Division · continue, this year, to honor the Iron Men of Metz as their odyssey contin-ued through the Benelux countries, into Germany and to the cessation of hostilities