Taps
Robert V. Hogan, 89, 3/393, of Glenview IL, died Nov. 30, 2007. He was the legal adviser for the 99th Infantry Division Association from 1994 until his resignation earlier this year. Colleagues on the 99th board of directors named Hogan a life member at the Washington, D.C., convention in August, in recognition of his service. Hogan's son, Patrick said, "Dad proudly told me about his lifetime membership in a telephone conversation a couple of weeks before his death and was honored by the news." Attending the annual conventions for the past 15 years was a great pleasure for Hogan and his wife, Margaret. Other survivors include six children and 14 grandchildren. Marion Siekierski A/924 of Glenview represented the 99th at the services.
Bernerd "Ben" Burbank, 88, Q/924, of Windham and Houlton ME, died Sept. 20, 2007. He graduated from Temple University Medical School in 1943. From 1944-46, he was a battalion surgeon with the 924th Field Artillery Battalion. In 1946, he was promoted to the rank of major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps. After the war, he started his private practice in general medicine and obstetrics in South Portland ME. In 1955, he and his family moved to New York City where he began a 31-year career as a corporate medical director and in occupational medicine. He was an instructor in medicine at Cornell Medical School and served on the staff at New York Hospital. He retired in 1986. Music and singing were his true passions and he was a well-known part of the 99th's Checkerboard Chorus at the annual conventions for a number of years. Survivors include two sons; a daughter; and nine grandchildren.
Hensil Cohron, 82, C/394, of Henderson KY, died Dec. 2, 2007. He was captured during the Battle of the Bulge. He was an elementary school teacher and principal for 36 years. Survivors include his wife; four children; and eight grandchildren.
William D. Hays, 85, A/370, of Clarion PA, died July 5, 2007. He retired from Pennsylvania Electric after 36 years of service at the Piney Dam generating station. Survivors include his wife, Doris; two sons; three grandchildren; and one step-grandson.
Edward Bumbleburg, S/099, of Lafayette IN, died Oct. 7, 2007. He and his wife, Shirley attended many 99th reunions.
Frederick Rice, 84, Q/393, of Grand Island NY, died July 11, 2007. He is survived by his wife, Wanda.
Angelo (Vic) Vicari, 85, K/395, of Venice FL, died May 13, 2007. He joined the 99th in December 1942, and was a medic with K/395. He was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge and received the Purple Heart. He was an accountant and he and his wife owned a music store for 20 years. He is survived by his wife, Ann.
Roy Jakle, 83, S/099, of Eureka IL, died April 25, 2007. He worked as a statistician and research analyst for the Illinois Department of Labor and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. He later was a supervising statistician at the Electronic Supply Office for the U.S. Navy Department at Great Lakes IL. He is survived by three cousins.
Franklin D. Fried, 87, Q/099, of Whitehall PA, died Feb. 13, 2007. Survivors include his wife, Myrtle; two sons; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
George Paian, 100, a member of the 99th Recon Group, died June 6, 2007. He served in Europe with the 99th from September 1944, until late 1945. Survivors include his wife, Frances.
John H. Bender, D/394, of Aberdeen MD, died April 30, 2007.
John H. Barton, 82, G/393, of Saco MT, died March 14, 2007. He was a sergeant and BAR man and was wounded Jan. 30, 1945, on Elsenborn Ridge. He was awarded the Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars. He was a cattle rancher in Montana, until his retirement in 1997. He was a regular contributor to the Checkerboard. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy and four children.
James P. Longaker, 88, A/924, of Feasterville PA, died March 6, 2007. He was wounded and taken prisoner at the beginning of the Bulge and remained a POW until the end of the war in Europe. Survivors include his wife, Marie; a daughter; and two grandchildren.
Donald A. Sheaters, 85, A/924, of North Canton OH, died June 1, 2007. He was wounded March 1, 1945, and received a Purple Heart. He is survived by his wife, Anne; four daughters; 21 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren.
Gerald A. Sala of Springhouse Estates PA, died Sept. 19, 2007. Survivors include a daughter; three sons; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Nick Cavicchio, G/394, of Export PA, died April 2, 2006.
John F. Huddleston, H/395, of Cleveland OH, died Nov. 8, 2007. Survivors include four children and three grandchildren.
Cyril "Cy" Wolak, 85, A/324, of Chicago IL, died Dec. 1, 2007. Survivors include his wife, Barbara; two children; and one grandchild.
Stuart Kline, 88, P/099, of Ardara PA, died Nov. 11, 2007. He was an educator.
Frank H. Paulin, A/370, of Cleveland OH, died in 2003. He was owner of F.H. Paulin Company in Cleveland before retiring in 1988. Survivors include his wife, Margaret; four sons; a daughter; and 11 grandchildren.
Joseph W. King, 82, I/395, died Aug. 5, 2007, at Duluth MN. H served three years in the Army and was discharged in 1946 as a first sergeant in a combat engineer battalion.
Carl Ulmer, I/395, died Sept. 11, 2007.
Elmer W. Freytag, 89, of Massillon OH, died Sept. 16, 2007. He retired as a set-up machinist with Tyson's Roller Bearing Company after 43 years. He is survived by his wife, Lois Freytag; two sons; and two grandsons.
Daniel Restauri, 84, A/324, of Export PA, died Sept. 23, 2007. He was a craneman for Westinghouse Electric, East Pittsburgh PA, for 43 years. Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; a daughter; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Clarence Paquette, L/393, of Fairfax VA, died Jan. 4, 2006. He is survived by his wife, Helen Paquette, 3512 Pinehurst Ave., Fairfax VA 22030.
Mack Holt, 83, K/393, of Winston-Salem NC, died July 29, 2007. He joined the 99th on Elsenborn Ridge and was wounded April 13, 1945, in the Ruhr Pocket. He retired from Lucent Corp. after 38 years of service. Survivors include his wife, Andreé Holt; two sons; and four grandchildren.
Clement C. Walter, 91, C/395, of Manor PA, died Sept. 12, 2007. He left high school after his sophomore year in 1934, to assume ownership of Manor Newsstand, which was expanded to a variety store over the years. A longtime businessman, he retired in 1992, after 58 years. Survivors include three brothers and two sisters.
Kenneth P. Kralick, 84, Can/393, of Severna Park MD, died Sept. 8, 2007. He worked as a truck driver for the Baltimore Sun Company, retiring in 1994. He and his wife, Edith, had attended 99th conventions for many years. Survivors include his wife; three daughters; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Howard D. Kuhn, 85, L/395, of Port Huron MI, died Aug. 29, 2007. He was awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart for his service during World War II and the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he was employed by the State of Michigan and spent his career working on the Blue Water International Bridge for 32 years. He and his wife, Eleanor spent winters in Bradenton FL. Survivors include his wife; two daughters; two sons; nine grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren. Grant and Helen Yager of Sandusky MI, represented the 99th at the funeral services.
Harry R. Dargon, 89, K/393, of Westfield MA, died June 21, 2007. He was captured during the Battle of the Bulge. After the war he was a union carpenter for 43 years. Survivors include a son; granddaughter; and great-granddaughter.
Ernest A. Mettenet, 82, D/394, of Salt Lake City UT, died July 10, 2007. He began his career with Hercules Aerospace Division in 1949, and moved up the ladder to general manager of the Bachhus Works plant, then president of Hercules in 1981, and vice chairman of the company in 1987. He also was named Utah Businessman of the Year in 1984. Survivors include his wife, Linnea; three children; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Leroy C. Waltz, K/394, died July 14, 2007. He joined the division as a replacement from the 37th Infantry Division.
Elwood J. Hill, A/370, of Erdenheim PA, died May 21, 2007. He served as chairman of the Philadelphia convention in 1969, and as president of the association in 1969-70. He also was elected several times as a member of the board of directors. He and Mike Strollo joined the association in 1950 and attended many conventions together. Survivors include four children and 12 grandchildren.
Stewart C. Fischer, 83, K/395, of San Antonio TX, died April 28, 2007. He was a transportation engineer and director of traffic and transportation for the City of San Antonio TX for 29 years, then was a traffic engineer for Walter P. Moore. Survivors include his wife, Myra of San Antonio TX; two children; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Jack L. Stevens, 82, C/395, of Arroyo Grande CA, died June 9, 2007. He attended many conventions and especially enjoyed attending the Biloxi convention with his son, Michael. Jack worked for the State of California doing highway engineering work and was an estimator for construction companies. He later formed his own asphalt paving company, then purchased Stevens' Foothill Rentals until his retirement in 1977. Survivors include three children; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
James C. Burroughs, (Lt. Col. USA-Ret.), 96, B/324, of Vienna VA, died Aug. 16, 2007. He was an exceptional person, admired and well-respected by those who served under him in the 324th. Survivors include his wife, Alice; three children; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Ed Hann, 85, A/372, of Obetz OH, died July 24, 2007. He was the retired owner of Obetz Hardware and Builders Supply. He is survived by his wife, Edith; three daughters; two sons; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Steve Hock, 89, F/395, of Coplay PA, died Feb. 5, 2007. He was in the mortar section. He I s survived by his wife, Rose.
Other deaths
Adele Milne, widow of Sgt. Raymond Milne AT/394, died May 25, 2007, at Port Charlotte FL. They enjoyed attending conventions until Raymond died in 2000. She last attended the Biloxi convention in 2004.
Katherine Oldroyd, 76, wife of Ralph Oldroyd E/394, of Sequim WA, died Nov. 26, 2005. She and Ralph enjoyed attending the 99th conventions and western mini-reunions.
Margaret Shell, 78, wife of John Shell K/395, of Houston TX, died May 18, 2007. She and John were on the battlefield tour in 2005.
Adeline Mollaun, 86, wife of Albert Mollaun L/393, of Cleveland OH, died Sept. 27, 2007. They had attended 29 annual conventions.
Jerry Lloyd, wife of Michael G. Lloyd B/324 Med., of Redwood City CA, died June 27, 2007.
Norman D. Flados, 83, friend of the 99th, died Oct. 13, 2006. He was in the U.S. Navy and served in the Pacific in World War II. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie.
William "Bill" Parsons, 81, of Wappingers Falls NY, died May 12, 2007. He was a member of the 78th Infantry Division and longtime editor of The Flash, the 78th (Lightning) Infantry Division Association's newsletter.