Taps
James A. Fennie, Q/370, of Hamburg NY, died April 13, 2007. He was a past president and auditor of the 99th Infantry Division Association. He had a degree in business administration from Canisius College, Buffalo NY. He served for many years as auditor and controller for the city of Lackawanna NY, until his retirement in 1998 due to failing vision. Survivors include a son, Kevin; two daughters, Elizabeth Merrick and Colleen Merrick; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. His friend, Bob Hogan said Jim's favorite charity was the Father Baker Cause for Canonization and memorial contributions may be sent in Jim's memory to Father Baker Cause for Canonization, 780 Ridge Road, Lackawanna NY 14218.
William O. Gier, 99th Recon, of North Canton OH, died April 5, 2007. He was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. He is survived by his wife, Irene.
Ormel I. "Jack" Boyd, 83, B/393, of Lockhart TX, died April 27, 2007. He was wounded and captured during the Battle of the Bulge, remaining a prisoner of war until April 29, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman's Badge and two battle stars. He retired after 33 years of service as chief of the Business and Rural Development Program with the Farmers Home Administration, USDA. He was awarded and recognized for his work with community leaders organizing and building water supply systems to serve rural communities in Texas. Survivors include his wife, Frances; two sons; and grandchildren.
Stephen T. Chema, N/393, of East Liverpool OH, died April 2, 2006. He retired from Weirton Steel Company after 35 years as a steel worker/carpenter. He is survived by a son, Stephen P. Chema.
John Riat, 3/394, of Columbus OH, died Sept. 19, 2006. He was awarded the Bronze Star during the Battle of the Bulge.
Art Pellegrene, 86, D/394, of Yucaipa CA, died April 26, 2007, of advanced Parkinson's disease. On Dec. 16, 1944, Art and D Company's mortar platoon fired their tubes at 89 degrees to delay the German attack for a day, and as a result of the strong resistance, 1st Bn. 394th was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation. Survivors include his son, Art Jr.; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Edward R. Babb, 87, F/393, of Matamoras PA, died March 17, 2007. He retired from Kolmar Labs in 1985. Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth; two sons; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Robert E. Tuschl, 84, B/394, of Two Rivers WI, died April 17, 2007. He came in as a replacement during the Bulge. He was an accountant and county supervisor. He was not a member of the association. Jerome Nelson E/394, represented the 99th at his funeral.
James Roueche, 84, F/395, of Greensboro NC, died March 20, 2007. He was buried in Arlington Cemetery, next to his wife Molly.
Richard V. Aurand, 84, of Massillon OH, died March 1, 2007. He retired from Goodyear Aerospace Corporation in 1985 after 28 years of employment. Survivors include a son; two daughters; and three grandchildren.
Emile Benoit, 87, 1/393, of Arnaudville LA, died Nov. 4, 2006.
George Christen, 84, B/394, of Medina OH, died Oct. 20, 2006. He was a bricklayer by trade and a retired business agent for the local bricklayer union. Survivors include his wife, Grace; son; two daughters; and two grandchildren.
Gerald Fullom, N/394, of Centerville PA, died Oct. 5, 2006. He is survived by his wife, Doris.
Henry Ebensperger, 84, B/393, of Plum City WI, died Nov. 5, 2006. He owned and operated Hank's Refrigeration and Electrical Service. Survivors include his wife, Arleen; two daughters; three sons; and eight grandchildren.
Bernard "Bernie" E. Mayer, 82, A/324, of Tucson AZ, died Dec. 15, 2006. He was a security chief for Canyon Ranch as well as a volunteer police worker for the Tucson Police Department for 20 years, earning several distinctions for his service. He regularly attended the 99th conventions. Survivors include his wife, Marion; two sons; and four grandchildren.
Virdin L. Royse, 83, I/395, died Feb. 16, 2007. He had never fully recovered from injuries he sustained when a loaded grain truck demolished his car last summer.
Ernest J. Balchak, 84, A/395, of Strongsville OH, died Jan. 8, 2007. He was proud of his service with the 99th and especially proud that he earned a Bronze Star. He was a registered professional engineer and retired from General Motors after 34 years. Survivors include his wife, Rosemary; three children; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Leo Humphrey, 86, I/395, died Nov. 9, 2006. He joined I Company at Camp Van Dorn and served with the company unit he was seriously wounded March 13, 1945, near Stumperich Quarry by U.S. artillery.
Fred Thompson, 89, M/395, of San Jose CA, died March 15, 2007. He a platoon sergeant and original cadre from 7th Division. He later became a first sergeant, then after the Battle of the Bulge, he received a battlefield commission as a second lieutenant. When the commission was offered, he accepted only on the condition he stay in M Company. After the war, he was instrumental in keeping the men together and established a tradition of annual company reunions which lasted for many years. He retired from the steel industry in 1979. He is survived by a daughter, Linda; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Harold Helfrich, 84, C/395, of St. Petersburg FL, died March 5, 2007. He owned Helfrich Ford auto agency in Schenectady NY, before moving to Florida. Survivors include his wife, Helen; two children; and two grandchildren.
Bert Redmon, 92, C/393, of Delphos OH, died March 13, 2007. He was captured Dec. 16, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge. He retired in 1977 from Hayes-Albion Corp., and had worked at the Sioux Honey Plant in Lima OH. Survivors include his wife, Nina; son; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren.
Roger V. Foehringer, 82, S/924, of Genoa IL, died Dec. 16, 2006. He and four others were captured during World War II and escaped and were protected by a German family. He also provided countless hours of research for "Dauntless," the 99th Division history. He was an independent insurance agency owner for more than 50 years. Survivors include his wife, Ruth; five children; and 11 grandchildren.
Dr. Edward E. Kern Jr., 85, Q/099, of Auburn AL, died Aug. 28, 2006. He was a member of the 99th Division 1st Army Band. He served as a professor at Auburn University from 1955-1988. Survivors include his wife, Tee; three children; and four grandchildren.
Gordon Frank Pape, 88, D/393, of Marietta OH, died Jan. 3, 2007. He was captured Dec. 18, 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge and was a prisoner of war. After the war, he was a rural letter carrier and farmer. Survivors include his wife, Ruth.
James M. Monk, 81, C/324, of Columbus OH, died Dec. 6, 2006. Following high school, he attended North Georgia Military Academy then served in World War II, where he received a Purple Heart. After leaving the army, he attended Auburn Polytechnical Institute. He was owner of Thermal Contractors of Columbus. After retirement, he worked at Capital Materials Inc., retiring after 12 years. Survivors include his wife, Mary Lou; two children; and six grandchildren.
Ernest A. Schmuckli, 82, F/395, of Southbury CT, died May 21, 2006. He served as a sharpshooter and company clerk with the 99th and was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He worked in the family importing business and later for Fafnir Bearing Company in New Britain CT. Survivors include his wife, Virginia; and three children.
Mark J. Beeman, 84, I/393, of Norwalk OH, died Nov. 4, 2006. He served with the 99th, where he received several awards for his combat service, including the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. In 1950, he was recalled to active duty in the Korean War. He was employed by J.C. Penney Co. as a manager and served as a member of the J.C. Penney expansion team, opening stores in Ohio and Pennsylvania. He retired in 1982, after 41 years of service. He was a former toll-taker for the Ohio Turnpike, was a former employee at EHOVE Joint Vocational School, and was a crossing guard for the Norwalk Public Schools for many years. Survivors include his wife, Hedy.
Jack A. Prickett, 83, L/393, of Temple TX, died Jan. 8, 2007. He entered the Army in 1943, and was placed in the ASTP program at Sam Houston State University. When the program ended, he was assigned to L/393 as a BAR man. He was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge as his unit withdrew through the twin villages. He was buried with military honors in the Prickett family plot in Anadarko OK. He attended many 99th functions and traveled with other members of the 99th back to the battlefields of Belgium. Survivors include his wife, Willie Lou; four sons; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. B.A. Whitmarsh, Chuck Fidler, and J.R. McIlroy represented the 99th at his funeral.
John P. Middleton Jr., 82, G/393, of Fayetteville AR, died Jan. 19, 2007. He was a graduate of the University of Arkansas with degrees in chemistry and chemical engineering, retiring as director of personnel relations for the Dow Chemical Company after 30 years. He received the Purple Heart after being severely wounded crossing the Rhine River in Germany. Survivors include his wife, Mary Lou; three sons; six grandchildren; a step-grandson; and seven great-grandchildren.
Frank L. Mattson, 90, A/924, of Colorado Springs CO, died Jan. 20, 2007. He and his wife, Mildred enjoyed the 99th reunions. In 2001, they moved to Colorado Springs to be close to family. Survivors include his wife, Mildred; one daughter; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
William A. Garrison, 84, A/372, of Indianapolis IN, died Dec. 26, 2006. He went overseas with the 99th as a staff sergeant, chief of detail, and received a battlefield commission as a second lieutenant of artillery just after the Bulge. He remained in Germany after the war, where he met and married his wife. She died two years ago. He is survived by four children.
Frank J. Hatfield, 84, A/372, of Elkhart IN, died Dec. 5, 2006. He was a gunner corporal on a 155mm howitzer during the war. In civilian life he was a sales representative for General Food for 32 years. Survivors include his wife; two children; and three grandchildren.
Joe A. Richardson, 83, D/394, of Albuquerque NM, died Dec. 18, 2006. He received basic training at Camp Maxey TX, and was sent to East Texas State University at Commerce TX. When the ASTP program ended, he was assigned to the 99th. His military medals include two Purple Hearts, the POW medal, and three Bronze Star Medals. He was a retired New Mexico State University professor. Survivors include his wife, Betty; and a son.
Dr. Eugene E. Eldredge, 84, G/395, of Salinas CA, died Sept. 16, 2006. During WWII, he studied engineering through the ASTP program. When the program was discontinued, he was deployed with the 99th and fought on the front lines at the Battle of the Bulge. He graduated from college and with benefits from the GI Bill he graduated from medical school in 1952. He completed a pediatric residency at the University of Iowa and established his practice in Salinas in 1957. He and his wife, Abbie enjoyed the fellowship provided by the 99th Infantry Division Association and attended annual conventions as well as the western mini-reunions. They hosted the western mini which was held on the Monterey Peninsula. Survivors include his wife, Abbie; five children; and 14 grandchildren.
Robert Mitsch, 84, L/394, of Roseville MN, died Jan. 9, 2007. He was a retired control data director of Personnel Systems. Survivors include his wife, Alice; three children; and nine grandchildren.
Joe E. Emanuel, 84, K/393, Enola PA, died Oct. 28, 2006. He was with K Company at Camp Van Dorn, and after the Louisiana Maneuvers was sent to the 338th Infantry Regiment of the 85th Division and served in the Rome-Arno Campaign where he was the recipient of the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He worked for Conrail for 36 years before retiring as gang foreman. Survivors include three children; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Harry M. MacLaughlin, S/099, of Rogers AR, died Aug. 19, 2006. He was a radio operator during the war. He retired as a U.S. Postal Inspector. Survivors include his wife, Jackie; and two children.
Orval P. Byrd, 93, 2/394, of Centerville IA, died Dec. 5, 2006. He married his wife, Elaine at Camp Maxey TX. He worked for the Milwaukee Railroad for more than 30 years. Survivors include his wife, Elaine; four children; and six grandchildren.
Earle D. Winfrey, 80, N/395, of Boise ID, died Nov. 10, 2006. He and his wife, Alice owned Libby (MT) Floral and Gift Shop for 17 years. He worked as a safety engineer for Morrison Knudsen, was with MK's railroad division, and retired in 1988 as a contracts administrator with locomotive rebuilding operations in Boise. Survivors include his wife, Alice; two daughters; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Dr. C.B. "Claudie" Garrison, 82, B/394, of Fort Smith AR, died Sept. 18, 2006. He a staff sergeant with B/394 and was taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944, and remained in a POW camp in Germany until the end of the war. He was the retired superintendent of Fort Smith Public Schools. Survivors include Helen; two children; and six grandchildren.
George N. Hoffman, 80, 1/393, of Melvin IA, died Nov. 16, 2006. He enlisted in the Army on Aug. 16, 1944. After basic training he became an anti-tank gun crewman and served with the 99th Division. Survivors include his wife, Norma; four children; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Dewey Amos, 81, F/395, of Charleston IL, died May 6, 2006. Survivors include his wife, Dora; three children; and three great-grandchildren.
Dr. John B. Rembert, 82, of Orangeburg SC, died Dec. 4, 2006. He was a retired physician. Survivors include three children; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Robert L. "Bud" Craft, 85, I/395, died Nov. 14, 2006. He was captured by the Germans on Dec. 16, 1944, but in the confusion, he and his buddy, Bob Crist, managed to break away and make it to a friendly unit. In his civilian career, Bud was a school administrator in Wyoming, then moved to Ohio where he held several administrative positions in Ohio schools until his retirement. He was an active member of the 99th Infantry Division Association.
John A. Walley, 81, B/393, of Rochester NY, died Nov. 20, 2006. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; and five children.
Other deaths
Holly Miller, wife of Robert O. Miller, S/371, of Milan IL, died Sept. 20, 2006.
Helen Rue, wife of John "Jack" Rue, S/394, of Springfield VA, died Jan. 14, 2007. She met Jack while working at Camp Maxey TX, and they were married upon his return from the war in Europe.
Ruth Nelson, wife of past president Al Nelson, I/393 of Westminster CO, died Jan. 23, 2007. She was in the Army Nurse Corps at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs CO, during World War II. After the war, she was the administrator of Colorado General Hospital until 1954 and a longtime school nurse.
Mildred Stumpff, wife of past president Del Stumpff, D/394, of Overland Park KS, died Dec. 6, 2006. She and Del hosted the 99th convention in Kansas City in the 1970s. He died Feb.16.
