Taps
Francis N. Iglehart Jr., 82, G/393, of Monkton SD, died Dec. 28, 2007. He was the BAR man of the point squad attacking the snowy woods on Jan. 30, 1945, ending the long winter on Elsenborn Ridge. The attack left him wounded and the bulk of the squad dead. He returned home to graduate from Princeton and the University of Maryland Law School. He subsequently earned a master's degree in literature at Johns Hopkins University. He was an attorney and active in civil rights, and land conservation. He authored the book, "The Short Life of the ASTP." He is survived by his wife, Harriet; three sons; two daughters; and three grandchildren.
David Sikora, 83, I/394, of Dallas TX, died Feb. 15, 2008. After the war, he earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Texas, graduating in 1947. He worked as a chemist for two years before becoming the head chemist for Kraft Foods in 1948. In 1951, he worked briefly as a real estate agent before working as a home builder. He then entered medical school, earning a medical degree in 1957. He completed his internship in 1958, and began private practice. He officially retired in 2005, but continued to practice medicine until December 2007. He is survived by a son, Daniel.
Byron "Whit" Whitmarsh, 84, C/395, of Richardson TX, died Feb. 12, 2008. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and soon after crossing the bridge at Remagen was wounded and received the Purple Heart. He also was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry. He was an active member of the 99th Infantry Division Association, traveling many times to Belgium to work on the MIA Project. He graduated from Oklahoma A&M in 1948 with a degree in civil engineering. After working for several years for the Corps of Engineers, he joined a successful general contracting firm, where he remained until his retirement in 1980. Survivors include his wife, Elsie; two daughters; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. J.R. McIlroy, George Lehr, and Chuck Fidler represented the 99th at the funeral services.
Gilbert Skaar, 83, F/394, Cornelius OR, died Feb. 11, 2008. He was awarded the Bronze Star for valor. He was a minister throughout the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Survivors include his wife, Greta; four daughters; a son; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
John Waidmann Sr., C/393, of Chesterfield MO, died Feb. 4, 2008.
George W. Yeager, 94, Green Springs OH, died Dec. 5, 2007. He drove a jeep during the Battle of the Bulge. After his military service, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service for more than 30 years. Survivors include his wife, Lola; three sons; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.
Eugene A. Shook, 85, B/393, of Reynoldsburg OH, died Nov. 30, 2007. He was company clerk in the UP Section and remembered everyone. He and his late wife, Rita, attended many reunions. They owned a "mom and pop" grocery adjacent to the Ohio State University campus for many years, and were a treasured part of the OSU neighborhood. He later retired from the building firm, Cardinal Homes. Survivors include three daughters; seven grandchildren; and six great-granddaughters.
John C. White, 85, C/372, died Oct. 31, 2007, at Dalton GA. According to Charles Biggio, "He was one of my best and bravest cannoneers." On Dec. 16, 1944, when his battery was being targeted by the German artillery preparation, he volunteered to leave his bunker and help fire his 155 howitzer. Within minutes, he was wounded by a shell fragment. Survivors include three children and five grandchildren.
Dr. William Nickell, 94, Q/372, Winchester KY, died Dec. 21, 2007. He was the battalion surgeon of the 372nd. On Dec. 16, 1944, one of his batteries took a direct hit from a large shell on the executive post full of officers and men. When he got the call, Nickell raced to A Battery from his headquarters in Krinkelt amid heavy German artillery fire. On officer was found dead and the other men in the executive post were seriously wounded. The battery exec.'s foot had been almost completely severed by a shell fragment. Dr. Nickell ordered the man put into a nearby foxhole where the doctor operated on the foot and stemmed the bleeding — thus saving the man's life. He then treated the wounds of the other men and they all survived, thanks to Dr. Nickell. This information was submitted by Col. Charles Biggio. He said of the 30 officers of the 372nd who landed in France in 1944, only two remain — Cliff Sollows and Biggio.
Milton G. Kay, 85, S/099, Glen Allen VA, died Jan. 9, 2008. He served in the Signal Corps, earning a Bronze Star. He worked at Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. and Bell Atlantic. He also started his own consulting firm, K-2 Industries, retiring in 1993. Survivors include two sons; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Cyril J. Wolak, 85, A/324 Engineers, of Chicago IL, died Dec. 1, 2007. He worked as a salesman and consultant for Wittek Golf Supply for 55 years. Survivors include his wife, Barbara; two children; and one granddaughter.
Frederick B. Feigenoff, 89, L/394, of Charlottesville VA, died Oct. 7, 2007. He joined the division before the Battle of the Bulge, crossed the Remagen Bridge, and fought in the Ruhr Pocket. After the war, he worked as an accountant for American Metal Climax Co., retiring in 1982. He attended his first 99th convention in 2007 at Washington, D.C. Survivors include two children and two grandchildren.
Dr. Melvin A. Richmond, 81, A/393, Newton MA, died Jan. 30, 2008. He was a retired optometrist. He and his wife, Jeanne were regular attendees at annual 99th conventions. Survivors include his wife, Jeanne; three children; and six grandchildren.
Stuart A. Been, C/395, died March 13, 2007. He was an ASTP member who joined the 99th in March 1944. He was assigned to the headquarters platoon communications section. In Belgium he was a radio man for company commander Capt. Budinski. Stuart was born in Kansas and lived the latter part of his life with his wife, Betty in Longmont CO. They attended several 99th conventions.
Harry Rothlisberger, 86, B/371, of New Martinsville WV, died Oct. 15, 2007. He was a T/4 sergeant in the detail section of the battery. He was taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge and was imprisoned at "Bad Orb" and Stalag 9A, 2B. He was liberated on Good Friday, 1945, and discharged from the Army in December 1945. He worked for PPG Industries and retired after 39 years of service. Survivors include his wife, Mary; two children; and three grandchildren.
Arnold J. (Gabby) Garabedian, 84, K/393, Overbrook Park PA, died Feb. 13, 2008. He joined the 99th in March 144, with the ASTP group from LSU. He was evacuated from the front line with frozen feet before the Battle of the Bulge and received two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star. He is survived by his wife, Elizabeth.
Lewis R. Adams, S/395, of Marysville MI, died Oct. 16, 2007. Survivors include his wife, Lois; two children; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Henry Konda, F/395, Parker SD, died recently. He served as a cook on the front lines and was injured during the Battle of the Bulge, receiving the Purple Heart. After his discharge from the service he returned home to farm. Survivors include his wife, Madeline; six children; 20 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.
Harold W. Lowdermilk, 88, C/393, of Carrollton OH, died Jan. 12, 2008. He joined the 99th in December 1942. He was owner and operator of Lowdermilk Lumber Company for 40 years. Survivors include his wife, Helen; two daughters; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Carl B. Cecil, 82, B/372, of Nesbit MS, died Aug. 27, 2007. He retired as a supervisor from Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company. Survivors include two children; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
John P. Chappell, 88, L/393, Columbia SC, died Aug. 18, 2007. He attended Auburn University until volunteering for the U.S. Army in 1940. He was stationed at Fort Sherman, Panama Canal Zone until 1943. He then was sent on a special operations mission to North Africa before being assigned to the 99th Infantry Division. He remained with the 99th until July 1945. He was known as an innovative farmer in his county. Survivors include his wife, Anne; four sons; 15 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Dwight C. Bishop, 85, K/393, of Temple TX, died Feb. 20, 2008. In addition to his service in World War II and as an ex-POW, he served in the Korea and Vietnam wars and retired from the Armed Forces Reserves. He and two other K Company members were instrumental in finding members postwar and building the roster up to 101 known members. Survivors include his wife, Bernice; three sons; one daughter; five grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Joseph Fedor, 94, Q/099, of Whiting NJ, died Jan. 18, 2008. Survivors include his wife, Vilma; daughter; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Wallace E. Prowse, died Jan. 3, 2008. He was a lifetime resident of Houston TX, and co-owner of Sunset Fuel Company until his retirement. He was in the 393rd Infantry, receiving a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars.
Robert D. Breech, 91, Ord/799, of Catawissa PA, died Dec. 15, 2006.
Edward Bumbleburg, S/099, of Lafayette IN, died Oct. 8, 2007. He is survived by his wife, Shirley.
Cyrus A. Wells, E/394, of DuBois PA, died July 29, 2007. Survivors include his wife, Bernice.
John Midkiff, E/393, of Gretna VA, died Aug. 29, 2007. He is survived by his wife, Edna.
Other deaths
Marilyn Wilkins, 81, of Houston TX, died Dec. 22, 2007. She was the wife of 99th Infantry Division Association vice president B.O. Wilkins. Other survivors include a daughter, Melanie Wilkins.
Lucille M. Kohnke, 91, of Oakdale MN, died Nov. 19, 2007. She is survived by her husband, Herb Kohnke, D/394. They had attended many 99th conventions up until four years ago.
Ruth Richter, Cincinnati OH, died Oct. 16, 2007. She was the widow of Edward Richter Sr.
