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Alfeld-Augsburg-Bad Aibling-Bahrdorf-Bamburg-Baumholder-Bebra-Berlin-Bremen-Coburg-Frankfurt-Fulda-Giebelstadt-Giessen-Hammelburg-Heidwinkel-Heilbronn-Herzogenaurach-Hof-Kassel-Königslutter-Linz-Mahring-Malmsheim-Mannheim-Memmingen-Munich-Mt.Meissner-Nottau-Nürnberg-Oberursel-Offenbach-Passau-Rothwesten-Sontra-Salzburg-Scheyern-Vienna-Wasserkuppe-Weiden-Wels Reunion Group of Army Security Agency/Signal Intelligence Service Forces in Germany/Austria 1st Quarter - 2003 Ralph R. Thadeus - Editor MINNEAPOLIS
- AFTER ACTION REPORT The cold, rainy,
Minneapolis weather couldn't dampen the warmth and camaraderie of those
attending the 13th reunion of the ASA Alpiners. The Minnesota
Bad Aibling Bandits, Noel Allard* (58-60),
Alton Flugum* (67-69) and Alan Hargreaves* (55-57)
did a magnificent job in setting up the reunion. Although the hotel
was a couple of hours late in opening our Hospitality Room, we managed
to get the reunion packets into the proper hands. Each member attendee
received a color photograph of the 114th Signal Radio Intelligence
Company (WW-II) logo, created by the Walt Disney Company in 1942, and
just recently authorized by Disney for limited distribution to the reunion
attendees. Those of you not familiar with this logo can see a rendition
of it on our web site, in the History References area. On Friday about
half of the group went on a four hour city tour conducted by Alan Hargreaves
and Alton Flugum. One of the more interesting sites was the Minnesota
State Capitol. Because of the weather we were not able to get a close
up look at the Quadriga - the gold leaf covered statuary group sculpted
by Daniel Chester French and Edward Potter. This grouping depicts four
horses that represent the power of nature: earth, wind, fire and water.
The women symbolize civilization and the man standing on the chariot
represents prosperity. Also of interest in the Capitol was the "Rathskeller
Cafeteria"which was created to resemble a German eating hall with
its original German mottoes, small animals and floral designs. During our business
meeting our financial status was discussed as well as possible sites
for our next reunion in May, 2004. Due to illness of the intended on-site
coordinator, New Orleans - which was the next location as determined
at our DC reunion - had to be dropped as the next reunion site. Alternate
sites were mentioned and voted on with the following results: Portland,
OR - 17, New Braunfels, TX - 8, Chicago, IL - 4, San Diego, CA - 3 and
San Antonio, TX - 1. No decision was reached on the location of the
next reunion but the Board will make a determination and inform the
membership in the next newsletter. Friday night saw
133 members and guests attend our banquet. This created a small logistical
problem for yours truly since the Planning Profile indicated that only
97 of you folks planned on attending the banquet. As the head-count
increased, we were in contact with the hotel trying to relocate the
banquet room. No mean feat since the Chitose group was also having a
banquet in the same hotel. On the day of the banquet we surveyed several
of the ladies about changing the location to the pool area of the hotel
but, at the ladies behest, we opted for coziness rather than chlorine.
All turned out well and the closeness just made for that much more camaraderie.
Our tried and true Gabriele Atkinson, wife of Ted
Atkinson* (Scheyern/Memmingen 53-55) ran our fund raising raffle
in her usual fabulous manner. As we had done at our Washington reunion
a raffle ticket was $20 per couple or $10 per stag. With 100% participation
we set a new record for contributions, splitting the proceeds 50/50
between the Mail and General Funds. Saturday saw most of the non-local group pack up on two busses and head out for New Ulm, MN, to attend the Oktoberfest there. With our on-site coordinators on board, some of our city-slickers got a first hand education on the difference between soy beans and corn. Our first stop in New Ulm was at the Turner Hall to partake of a Bavarian style buffet dinner, including much, much, beer and wine. It was great !!! If anyone said they didn't get enough to eat or drink at this stop - it was their own fault. As advertised, Noel and Alan gave a slide show presentation of Bad Aibling. What a great job they did. How about you guys from Herzo and Scheyern getting off of your respective duffs and put on your own slide show at the next reunion? During the first hour of our stop at the Turner Hall, we were entertained by a German duo which wetted our appetite for what was yet to come. Our final stop
on Saturday was at a local hotel where the Oktoberfest itself was taking
place. Talk about crowded - man that place didn't have anything on Munich.
Things got a little bit testy for a while there when the group was told
that there were no reserved seats and hotel guests got upset when we
sat down at their tables. It was just like old times seeing the ASAers
"rally-round" getting ready to do battle with the locals.
For a minute there we thought that one of our diminutive Rhine Maidens
was going to deck one of the more bellicose locals. All ended well however
after the hotel apologized for misleading us. It turned out that those
tables were, in fact, reserved for people who had rented the rooms on
the main floor. After satisfying our need for oom-pah-pah music, more
beer and wine, our group departed the Oktoberfest at 10:30 p.m. for
the two hour bus trip back to our hotel. Never one to let
a party die out, on the way back to the hotel Bus #1 conducted a songfest
led by Gabriele Atkinson and Ray Lash* (Scheyern 53-57).
Even Noel Allard got into the act by reciting the epic poem Gunga Din.
Meanwhile Bus #2, not to be outdone, conducted their own chorus of grinding
teeth, burps, belches and snores during the rainy drive back to Minneapolis.
Sunday saw most
of us check out and bring an end to another wonderful reunion. The ASA Alpiners
had billed this as the "World's Largest Gathering of Intercept
Operators". Based on sheer luck, fate, or whatever you want to
call it, the Chitose Reunion Group (ASA Japan) had also booked their
reunion into our hotel and on the same dates. There was a lot of cross-mixing
between the groups and it gave many of us the chance to meet up with
friends who went in opposite directions for their overseas assignment.
What with 350 members and guests of the two groups attending, surely
it did not exaggerate calling this the "World's Largest Gathering
of Intercept Operators". Noel and Mary Allard contributed to this article. 116TH SRIC ADDED TO ALPINERS ROSTER For many years
now the WW-II veterans of the 116th Signal Radio Intelligence
Company (SRIC) have been holding annual reunions, many of which were
hosted by Mrs. Pat Marshall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
As time has gone by the response to these reunions has dwindled, to
the point that it is no longer feasible for these reunions to continue.
Mrs. Marshall has been on our mailing list for a number of years as
the Point Of Contact for the 116th SRIC and as such was aware
of our reunion group. Mrs. Marshall has provided us with the mailing
list of her reunion group so that they may be added to our roster and
kept aware of our activities and the knowledge that their contributions
were carried on by those of us that followed. Our first mailing,
to a select portion of the 116th SRIC group, was a copy of
the last newsletter. Our future newsletter mailings will be to all names
supplied by Mrs. Marshall which included all that responded to her last
mailing or were otherwise not returned by the Post Office as undeliverable.
So you 116th SRIC veterans, check up with your buddies to
see if they received this mailing - and welcome to the group. Your attendance
at any of our future reunions will do us a great honor. Our mailing drew
a few responses from the 116th SRIC group. We would like
to share parts of their messages with all of you: Bob Rounds
sent me an e-mail (rsrounds@wcvt.com) mentioning that he was
amazed to receive our last newsletter. Bob was a S/Sgt section leader
in the Intercept Platoon of the 116th SRIC. He was with the
unit from the time it was organized at Camp Crowder, Missouri, until
they settled in at Scheyern. Bob was with the second group to return
to the States after the war was over, passing up a chance for a commission.
Bob said that three years and eight days in the Army, including two
years overseas, was enough for him. He got his radio training, and Tech
Corporal stripes, at the Midland Radio School in Kansas City. At Crowder
he was promoted to S/Sgt and ran the company radio school for the rest
of the time the unit was in the States. Not having any basic training,
Bob was once called upon to give the unit close order drill. Needless
to say, it was a complete fiasco. Bob got them started O.K. but was
unable to stop or turn the unit as it headed straight for a barracks
wall. The CO recalled the unit and, with a big smirk on his face, put
Bob back into the ranks. Bob thinks this episode prevented him from
advancing in rank for the rest of this time in the service. Charles
Grigsby wrote that he was with the 116th SRIC until
they arrived in England. It was there that he was transferred to the
3253rd Signal Service Company as an Intercept Operator. Charles
says that they were always close to the front copying German Panzer
units mentioning that they were very good. The 3253rd ended
up in Salzburg, Austria, with the Seventh Army. In his letter Charles
also mentions that Paul Walko of the 116th
Signal Service Company told him that it was their DF unit the pin-pointed
the German railroad gun that was shelling them in the Bamberg area.
Charles closed his letter saying that the newsletter gave him an uplift
and hopes to hear from us in the future. Don't worry Charles, you will.
Speaking of World
War II history - I have a copy of the 116th Signal Radio
Intelligence Company history that was printed November 1945 in Germany
while the unit was stationed in Scheyern. The book was provided to us
by Col. Quentin L. Zell*, the former Commanding Officer
of Field Station 8608 AAU at Scheyern, There are several pages that
are damaged and if any of you 116thSRIC vets has a copy of
the book and they would like to donate it to the cause, please contact
me - Ralph Thadeus. For you 116th
SRIC vets that don't have a copy of the history book - and forgot where
you were, and when, during your trek across Europe - there is a compilation
of the movements of the 116thSRIC from Normandy to Scheyern
on our web site under the historical references. You can also check
out the lineage of the 116th SRIC through the units that
followed - also on our web site under historical references. After the
116th departed Scheyern, the Scheyern location remained as
a fixed station operation known as Field Station 8608 AAU. So welcome aboard
guys and we hope that some time in the future you will be able to join
us, as our honored guest(s), at one of our reunions . RETURNED
MAIL The following individuals
have been deleted from the mailing list because of returned mail - no
forwarding address or forwarding address expired. If you live in the
area, try to locate the individual and let them know that they are no
longer on our mailing list. Supporting
Member: John Brislin* (Scheyern 55-56), Johns Island, SC. Mailing List
Members: Thomas Colucci (WW2-116th SRIC) Los Angeles, CA; Jerry
Hudrlik, Owatonna, MN; Larry Livingston, Glen Allen, VA; Ernest Olsen,
Laredo, TX; Joe Raring, Auburn, PA; Alvin Stephenson, Rockport, TX;
If this newsletter
has been forwarded to you by the Post Office, you must contact us and
let us know your new mailing address as the USPS now charges us a "fee
due" of 70 cents for each address correction Our newsletters
were previously marked "Address Correction Requested" but
future newsletters will NOT be noted as "Address Correction Requested."
Previously we have re-mailed the newsletter to the forwarding address
provided by the USPS regardless of the members status. Effective with
this newsletter, returned mail from Mailing List Members (non-Supporting
Members) will not be re-mailed This will not effect Supporting Members
as every attempt will be made to contact them by mail or telephone.
We will continue to publish the "Returned Mail" column listing
those who have been removed from the mailing list. Thanks for your cooperation.
ASMN
Charles G. (Chuck)
Bowen* (Bad Aibling/Hof/Bindlach/ Coburg/Bamberg 52-54) paid a visit
to Pfaffenhofen in May, 2002, and has photographic proof that the Bortenschlager
is closed. Chuck said that it had a note on the door thanking all of
their old patrons for their business. Chuck also pointed out that the
CIA mentioned in the First Fixed Intercept Station article was not in
existence in 1945. That wasn't a typo, just the way the guy that wrote
the Nauheimer history, Hermann Reitz, remembers it. Hermann Reitz,
in subsequent e-mails, adds a little more to the movement of the 6811th
SSD. The Fixed Station was located in Nauheim immediately after the
combat troops left at the end of March and early May, 1945. In September
of the same year they moved from Nauheim to Groß-Gerau where it remained
until approximately December 16, 1946. In Groß-Gerau the Headquarters
was located in the Wasserturm (Water tower) - the highest building in
the town. The December 16th date was when the unit moved
to a town near the city of Nürnberg - more than likely the movement
to Herzo Base. Mr. Reitz has a
unique background to recall the relationship of the 6811th
and their dates. Mr. Reitz was 15 years old when the war ended and had
a basic knowledge of English. The 6811thhired Mr. Reitz to
work in the Mess Hall starting on August 1, 1945. He continued to work
there, through the move to Groß-Gerau, until December 16, 1946, when
the unit departed the area for Herzo Base. Mr. Reitz, who was known
to the GI's as "Herman the German" came from a very large
family - 7 children plus mother and father. The family lived in two
wooden city-owned houses which eventually became available for sale.
The members of the 6811th took up a collection and gave it
to Hermann's family so they could buy the houses. Remember - those were
the days of the non-fraternization policy. But then - when did SIS/ASA
types every give a good G.. d... about rules and regulations? Mr. Reitz
eventually became the Mayor of Nauheim and wrote the town history, after
the ending of the war, for their Internet site. Merrill Schaeffer*
(Scheyern 55-57) writes that he and Linda visited Scheyern and Pfaffenhofen
last year staying one night in the Kloster Scheyern. Sachaef writes
that Scheyern was getting ready to open a butcher shop where our old
Operations building used to stand - seems kind of appropriate doesn't
it? Edward S. Aleshire*
(Herzo 49-52) dropped us a line mentioning that the newsletter is much
appreciated and looked forward to. Ed said that Harold F. Sitlinger*
(Bebra/Herzo/Frankfurt 46-53) was his Sargent back in those days. Ed
has been on disability for quite a while now and can't make the reunion
but sent his donation in to keep the newsletter going. John Milmore (HQ ASA Pacific/60th Signal Service Co. 48-52) has written a book titled #1 Code Break Boy (ISBN 0-7414-1246-2), about his exploits as an 1808 during the Korean War for which he was awarded the Bronze Star medal. John's book is a first person narrative about the United States Army communications intelligence effort - codebreaking, prior to and during the Korean War. His book details the failure to anticipate both the North Korean attack and the Chinese intervention contrasted with the superb intelligence produced that assured the "Pusan Perimeter", the Inchon landing and the failure of the enemy's spring offensive of 1951. The book describes the efforts by the NSA to suppress this information and also includes a technical description of Korean cryptography with the nuances of the language. You can get John's book through the Internet at: http://www.infinitypublishing.com
or http://www.buybooksontheweb.com. Your local book
store can probably order the book for you using the above ISBN number.
Ed Ioanes (POC
137th SRIC, WW-II) writes that their reunion group had another
successful reunion although they very much missed their many comrades
who could no longer attend. Their 2003 reunion will be held at the Nevele
Grande West in Ellenville, NY, August 17-20, 2003.. Contact point for
the reunion is Carmine Lancellotti, 9514 Munich Dr., Parma, OH 44130.
Ed mentions that along with the 137th Signal Radio Intelligence
Company, the 113th Signal Radio Intelligence Company was
involved in anti-submarine warfare. The 113th SRIC established
a headquarters at Hollywood, FL, in June of 1943 and set up RDFs along
310 miles of Florida coast. The 113th was taken off this
duty on November 21, 1943, and sent to the British Isles on December
5, 1943, eventually supporting the First Army in the ETO. Richard Beatty
is believed to have served with the ASA in Germany when he was "accidently"
killed in 1959. A childhood friend, Jim Huffman, would like to contact
anyone who knew Beatty. At the time of his death Beatty would have been
about 21 years old and came from Chicago. You can contact Jim Huffman
through e-mail at JPHUF@aol.com or give him a call at 954-987-9202.
Paul Bour (CTTC/USN
- Ret} is a retired Navy Cryptologist who worked extensively with ASA/INSCOM
during his 1968 to 1992 career. He has been trying to acquire ASA/INSCOM
command/unit patches for those places where he saw duty with his MI
compadres. He was in Bremerhaven 1970, Berlin 1979 and Augsburg 1983.
If you can help Paul out with one of the patches that you might have
extra, give him an e-mail shout at Pebour2@aol.com or drop him a line
at 2101 Scenic Hwy. J-201, Pensacola, FL 32503. The Super Group
(Embassy types) will be holding their next reunion in Corpus Christi,
Texas from October 8-12, 2003. For further information contact Billie
Long by e-mail at bjlong4321@aol.com or by telephone to 512/847-3085.
Looks like they have a pretty good group of activities lined up. During the reunion someone (sorry I didn't write your name down) gave me a copy of the price lists from the old Scheyern Bar Charlie. With Hasenbrau and Lowenbrau going for 15 cents a bottle, Scotch at 30 cents a shot, and Cahteauneuf du Pape French wine for $2.00 a bottle - my heart just aches for those prices. And the Snack Bar prices were just as outrageous - Grilled Cheese sandwich at a dime, Hamburgers 15 cents, Cheeseburgers 20 cents, Steak sandwich 25 cents and topping out the list, a Western sandwich for 30 cents. Man, those were the days - when one MPC was worth four DM. TAPS
Marvin
J. (Doc) Steele (ASA AG at Fort Devens 57-61) passed away in
1988 as reported by his son Tom Steele (Bad Aibling 57-60). Tom also
advised us of the passing of: Col. Clayton
Cole (Slip) Swears (Bad Aibling 58-62) on May 27, 2002, in
Baltimore, of heart ailments. Among the many of his SIS/ASA assignments
Col. Swears was, at one time, the Commanding Officer of the 320th
ASA Battalion. Sigma V.
Willis (Berlin) passed away on May 21, 2002, as reported by
his nephews Jack and Jay Willis. Edward
J. Dynda (116th SRIC - WW2) passed away on April
12, 2001, as reported by his wife Dorothy. His final request was to
be with his "buddies" and so was buried at the Ohio Western
Reserve National Cemetery in Rittman, Ohio. For his service with the
116th, as installer and switchboard repairman, Ed was awarded
the Bronze Star Medal. His wife Dorothy resides in Parma, Ohio. Frank Castellucci
(116th SRIC - WW2) passed away on December 16, 2002, as reported
by his son Gerald. Frank was bedridden for many months starting with
a minor accident at his home last February, before succumbing to complications
related to vascular dementia, similar to Alzheimer's disease. Gerald
and his sons spent many nights sitting up with Frank, during his decline.
At the end of Frank's life, his memories of WW-II became very important.
Frank talked about the war a lot. Gerald says that Frank talked about
those events even after he had forgotten most of their names. Frank
was buried in St. Josephs Catholic Cemetery in his home town of Alliance,
Ohio, on Saturday, December 21st. At his funeral the volunteers
from the local VFW organization provided an honor guard. Robert
Donner (114th SRIC - WW2) passed away in 1972 as
reported by his nephew, Barry Faba. Donner was the 114thPersonnel
Sergeant in 1942 and is mentioned on our Web Site, regarding the 114th
SRIC Disney Logo, as being the person to whom Disney presented the logo
in December of 1942. Donner was an ASA "lifer" serving in
Germany, Viet Nam (Qui Nhon), Poland and the Presidio. Paul Drew
(Herzo) passed away, as reported by Len Bittner. No other details are
available. REUNION ATTENDANCE - ASA ALPINERS MINNEAPOLIS
OKTOBERFEST REUNION - OCTOBER 3-6, 2002 Allard, Noel E. and Mary B. - Bad Aibling 58-60 Atkinson, Theodore (Ted) and Gabriele - Scheyern/Memmingen 53-55 Bamrick, Kenneth G. and Ann C. - Herzo 49-52 Barber, Kenneth L. and Delores (Dee) - Wels 54-55/Bad Aibling 55-56 Beal, Howard J. - Wels/Bad Aibling 53-56 Benner, William J. and Heidi L .- Herzo/Coburg 61-64 Bodine, Christine - Heller Guest; Boerner, Thomas A. (Tom) and Doris Ann (Dorrie) - Bad Aibling 58-60 Bontly, David - Bad Aibling 64-68/70-72 Bowen, Charles G. and Margie - Bad Aibling/Hof/Bindlach/Coburg 52-54 Brennan, Paul L. - Nottau 55-57 Carlson, Niles A. and Mary E. - Bad Aibling 64-67 Casber, Robert L. and Carmella E. (Toni) - Scheyern/Memmingen 53-55 Cichowicz, E. W. and Paulette - Bad Aibling 60-62 Clinton, James W. and Catherine W. - Scheyern 48-51/Heilbronn 51-53 Cole, Pamela - Zoppi Guest Combs, Charles G. and Lydia G. - Scheyern/Memmingen 53-56 Conner, Maurice W. (Reece) and Cora A. - Bremerhaven/Bad Aibling 57-59 Crane, Robert J. and Louise - Wels 52-54 Dahle, Vincent S. and Anna M. - Scheyern 53-56 Danca, Salvatore P. and Mathilde - Herzo 49-51 Daniels, Richard J. - Herzo 54-56 Delaney, Howard J. - Herzo/Hof/Coburg/Hammelburg 50-52 Edler, Charles W., Jr and Geraldine A. (Gerry) - Wels/Nottau/Bad Aibling 54-57 Eggebraaten, Norman - Bad Aibling/Nottau 55-56 Evans, Joseph H. and Linda R. - Scheyern 52-54 Fiebig, Raymond H. and Sheila A. - Scheyern 49-52 Flugum, Alton J. - Bad Aibling 67-69 Franson, Richard V. (Dick) - Giessen 52-52 German, Carl and Dolores - Zoppi Guests Glasgow, John M. and Georgeane E. - Herzo 67-70 Greve, Richard K. and Mary Eileen (Eileen) - Giessen/Königslutter 53-56 Haberle, Bernard S. and Annaliese M - Sontra 46-47/Scheyern 47-54 Hargreaves, Alan I. and Marian - Bad Aibling 55-57 Hass, Wayne H. - Scheyern/Kassel 55-57 Heller, Douglas and Rita - Bad Aibling/Nottau 56-57 Hoshour, Jed A. and Karen - Bad Aibling 58-60 Howarth, Glen F. and Joanne R. - Wels 53-55 Jones, James H. - Scheyern/Salzburg/Wels 53-55 Kachadoorian, Evelyn - Philport Guest Kastet, Evan - Scheyern 53/Wels 54-55 Kirkendall, William A. and Caroline A. - Scheyern 53-55 Lash, Raymond A. and Eva C. - Scheyern 53-57 Little, Donette - Beal Guest MacDonald, Margaret - Reavis Guest MacDonald, W. R. (Bill) and Mary Alice - Scheyern 48-52/53-55 Madtes, Harold R. - Herzo/Hof/Giessen/Mt. Meissner 50-52 Maldoon, Lynn M. and Anne E. - Giessen 53-54 Natividad, James T. and Eva - Scheyern 47-54 Nord, Charles E. and Joanne G. - Nottau 55-56 Philport, Gerald C. - Scheyern/Wels 53-54 Plossl, William B. and Catherine M. (Kay) - Herzo/Coburg/Giessen 49-52 Raisch, Joseph E. - Herzo 61-63 Rand, Jr., Charles L. and Jane - Scheyern 55-57 Rasmussen, Rodney A. and Joan-Herzo 57-59 Reavis, Billy L. - Bad Aibling 60-62 Reilly, Michael M. - Nottau 56-57 Reinarts, Leon F. - Bad Aibling 55-56 Richards, Walter N. and Rita J. - Herzo/Sontra/Scheyern 47-51 Riggins, Dean - Scheyern 48-52 Rogers, Elliott G. and Mathilde K. - Herzo 52/56-59/62-65 Saari, John W. and Marjorie A. - Bahrdorf 59-61 Sandberg, C. D. (Sandy) and Brigitta B. (Kitty) - Memmingen 53-54 Schaeffer, Merrill and Linda L. - Scheyern 55-57 Schildman, David and Lorna - Bad Aibling 63-65 Schultheis, Gerald A. - Scheyern 53-55 Smith, Jr., Hugh J. - Herzo/Schneeberg/Gartow/Rothwesten 67-61 Gross Gusborn 71-74 Augsburg 856 ASA Co., 3AD 77-79 Staats, William A. and Blanche Mae - Wels 53-55 Sternke, Arden E. and Jackie - Wels 54-55 Strock, Joseph P. and Mildred D. - Wels 54-55/Bad Aibling-Nottau 55-56 Thadeus, Ralph R. and Eda F. - Scheyern 53-56 Ullmann, Eileen - Raisch Guest Ulmen, Patrick A. and Patricia - Scheyern 52-55 Vincent, Duane L. and Sylvia - Bad Aibling 62-64 Vleck, James J. and Kathryn - Wels 54-55/Nottau 55-56 Vleck, Robert L. and Kathleen M. - Baumholder/Bremerhaven 56-58 Ward, Clifford E. and Patricia - Scheyern/Memmingen/Malmsheim 53-56 Waters, Patrick H. and Noreen A. - Herzo 61-63 Welch, John V. - Bad Aibling/Vienna/Nottau 55-56 Winters, Raymond J. - Scheyern/Memmingen 53-55 Workcuff, Kymphus R. - Korea/501st Comm Recon 53-56 Zoppi, Vincent
J. and June P - Wels 53-55 CONTACTING YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS President:
Jim Natividad, 502 Dogwood Cir., Summerville, SC 29485-5717
- 843/871-5448 - natividad1374@yahoo.com NEWSLETTER
HISTORY Editor: Our
reunion group newsletter has a proud history and is dedicated to the
men of the 116th SRIC who first published the "Interceptor"
in Scheyern, Germany. The following is taken from their book "History
of the 116th Signal Radio Intelligence Company":
The INTERCEPTOR
(later to become the INDICATOR) began publication on June 12, 1945,
and appeared weekly. Devised as an outlet for heretofore latent writing
talents of the men in the company and a resume of the around-the-post
news, it soon became a popular fixture. William Brunkhorst,
who had civilian experience, was elected as the first editor, and under
his direction the paper was launched on its way. In July [1945] when
Bill went off to school in England, Ely Tarplin stepped in and took
over the duties, ably publishing the paper until September and Brunkhorst's
return. Every week the
staff combined to prepare four pages of news, features, discussion,
and humor. Robert Ehrenfeld rapidly became the Winchell of the 116th
as his Chicken Feed column wittily presented the weeks's gossip. Franklyn
Modell's regular cartoon feature, "Way Down Back", rivaled
anything that Bill Mauldin could produce. Harry Wachtel projected the
weekly Orientation lecture and the doings of the world into his commentary,
News and Views. Joe Stavis questioned the company's opinions in his
Inquiring Reporter column. Visiting luminaries
and stars to Munich were interviewed by Lee Abrahams as an adjunct to
Theatricalee Yours. Marvin Behr, and later William Schaeffer, filled
Page Three weekly with the sports activities of the company. Uncovered as the
one really "indispensable" man in the company so far as the
newspaper was concerned, Patsy Altieri became the Technical Advisor.
Patsy, who had worked in the composing room of the Bridgeport Post,
was an old hand at the game and took undisputable command of the work
in the shop. The Udart Druckerie, which had published the Pfaffenhofen
paper, was swung into line and the modern equipment of the now-defunct
Zeitung was soon turning out the INTERCEPTOR. It was only gradually
that the linguistic difficulties were overcome as the German-speaking
linotype operators, often with weird results, struggled with the English
copy they received. However, soon the mistakes per galley proof were
down to a minimum instead of the nearly 25 or 30, and putting the newspaper
to bed weekly become routine. |