THE OLD SOLDIERS' HOME GUEST BOOK - A Bravenet.com Guestbook

A partial answer to Gene Odom and Dennis Yamber ...
TRUST was only a piece of paper. The bodies assigned to it were merely a small - very small - number of officers - General Moore and those who could be considered his personal / special / immediate / whatever-they-called-it staff. Oh, by the way, there was also assigned to TRUST several pieces of paper called, for example, "351st Infantry", "Headquarters Company", "General Depot", etc.

Look at http://www.milhist.net/docs/trustgo1.html - that's all it started with: the human sum of the thing we called TRUST.

Now look at a TO&E for the 351st Infantry: It was again a small staff of officers, three Infantry Battalions, a Headquarters Company, a Service Company, probably a couple more pieces of paper like a Tank Company and a Field Artillery Battery.

The real bodies - guys like you - only came in down at the company level. So your permanent records showed you down where your bodies lived. Even the general's orderly and driver were not "TRUST", they were HQ Co., TRUST.

I was looking last night at the TO&E (Table of Organization and Equipment) for a 1944 Infantry Battalion: four officers, a Headquarters Company, three Rifle Companies, and a Heavy Weapons Company.
The four officers were CO, XO, S-2, and S-3. The Adjutant/S-1 was an additional responsibility of the CO, Headquarters Company; the S-4 was attached from Service Company of the Regiment; the Transport Officer was 2nd in command of HQ Company; the Signal Officer was the leader of the HQ Co. Communication Platoon, and so on.

The "TO&E heart" of the WW II Division, and of TRUST, lived down in their companies: that's where you and a hundred or so other men were pinned to a piece of paper: the squad was a dozen or so blood-and-guts men: leader, assistant, BAR, riflemen, radio, whatever. Three squads made a platoon; three platoons made a company.

That's why your permanent record, Gene, only said A Co., 351 Inf. Regt. (the 1st Bn. was implied back then). It was other pieces of paper that said A/351 was part of the 88th Inf. Div. at taps one night, and part of TRUST at the reveille the next morning.

The company clerk was the cornerstone of the Army personnel records system. Your permanent file was somewhere in the rear area, but you lived, breathed, and ate because of the pieces of paper that he caused to move around. Division G-1 existed only to make company clerks' lives miserable.

I hope that helps.

Hey, Hank, did I get it close to correct?

- Pat

I want to wish all my BETFORS and TRUST friends a Happy New Year. Make a resolution to post more next year, particularly you "silent" readers. We would like to hear from you.
Gene Odom

On the troopship to Trieste I chummed with Ellner, an intellectual type who had attended the University of Chicago, and Horowitz, sort of a dopey guy from Brooklyn. We were assigned to the turd detail under Corporal Carolo, that is, to clean up the dog leavings on the officers and dependents deck. After a couple days we learned how to disappear so that the corporal could not find us, and I have no idea who policed the dog-deck afterward. When we got to Trieste, Ellner and I were assigned to infantry units in different battalions, and Horowitz, who could type, was assigned to HQ downtown. This outraged Ellner, who thought his education earned a better assignment, and the Army Times published his letter of complaint, as well as his response to an officer who had written a letter advising him to brace up. Later I came upon Ellner sitting in a HQ jeep downtown, and I commented that his letters to the Times must have paid off. "No", he responded, "Horowitz got me in". Unlike Ellner, I never minded being an infantryman, because as long as I could march I was generally not harassed. Once I pulled some strings to become company mail clerk but I hated being in the office so much that I messed up deliberately so that I would be sent back to the field.

Illinois but still a Pennsylvanian at heart

I appreciate Hank's comments but don't look forward to attending his ceremony at Arlington . That would mean that I would be in a tight race with Richard and I feel that would be fruitless . I attended mt oldest brothers burial at Fort Sherinan . since he was a full bird Colonel Air Force there were no caisson and riderless horse . The ceremony was very dignified and since my oldest son was the presiding clergy with his paratroupers wings on his vestments I was impressed . Today said son is doing the marriage rites for my oldest grandson in Lancaster , PA . We sayed at home since I am still not 100% health wise . What a grand way to end the year . Wishing all of you the best as each day of 2008 unfolds . MAy you be blessed with good experiences with just a smattering of the bad to make the good more precious . Richard of course will be celebrating about 6-8 hours earlier than us TRUST troopers so we wish him and the BETFOR pals the best as well . Happy New Year .

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everybody a Happy New Year. I read most sites nearly everyday but for some reason I can read MSN but I am blocked from replying. I have become "persona non grata". Is the word TRUTH a dirty word now.

As we approach the end of one year and the begining of another,I want to wish all of you a longer life and good health to carry you over the top. Except for the fact that Richard Griffiths and I are competing for the "last man standing" in the Tontine, I want all of you to survive for a long time. If there are any 75 year olds or older among you, I highly recommend that you join the Tontine if you have not done so. It is, of course, futile since either Richard or I will be the last man standing, but the challenge is worth the competition. There is, of course, a secondary prize. Should I not make the cut, any of you living near Arlington are welcome to witness the pomp and ceremony of an old street kid being buried at Arlington, resplendent with riderless horse and caison. I like the fact that only Army and Marine colonels are offered the riderless horse. Too bad the Navy and Air Force never had a cavalry . I lift my final glass of Merlot this evening to you who served.

Hank

L Thanks to Patrick for the list of the 351st Commanders. I couldn't recall Col Caraway.
2. For Dennis, I just checked my 201 file and my DD214s and could not find TRUST mentioned. What they posted was the military designations. Therefore as you say, TRUST probably never became an official unit of the US Army
Maybe Pactick can help us there.

3. I have a good Signal Corps photo of Gen. Hoge presenting a trophy to Eddie Crain and I for the TRUST football championship for the 1948, season. I'll try to post it on one of the other OS sites.

Gene

I don't think the government wants to recognize the fact that TRUST existed. My service records have no mention of TRUST and when I tried to get that changed I lost my appeal. At least I know I was there.
Dennis (the Old Bearded Guy)

Montana, now central Texas

By coincidence, the new January 2008 issue of Army magazine commemorates the 100th anniversary of the birth of Gen Earle Wheeler, 13 January. The short article says he was the chief of staff of the 63d division in World War II. Following the war, it says he was at the artillery school and in the Constabulary in Germany but does not mention TRUST.
Incidently, at the time he left the command in late 1952, I was one of those support wimps in the 23d QM (that was before I graduated from Infantry OCS with an Armor commission). One of my duties in the 23d QM was to check married personnel out of their quarters inventorying and checking QM property. Wheeler had just been promoted to BG and I cleared his quarters as he was leaving the command.

The Old Guard !

Most of us have seen the video of the Marine Drill Team at a Denver Nuggets Basketball game. They were really good, but nothing can touch the "Old Guard". Just click on the link below............Volume up !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dxTBK7jI1s

I think there was a 351st CO between Miller and Watson, but I can't dig it up tonight. The list I've just put together, with approximate dates they took command, follows:

CO 351 Inf.
- Col Arthur S Champeny, 1942
- Col Franklin P Miller, 1945Feb
- ???
- Col Numa A Watson, 1947
- Col Paul W Caraway, 1949Sep
- Col Earle G Wheeler, 1951Aug (Chairman, JCS, 1964-1970)
- Col Hallet D Edson, 1952Oct

For the 88th Division and TRUST the list is:

CG, 88th Inf Div:
- MG John E Sloan, 1942Jul
- MG Paul W Kendall, 1944Sep
- BG James C Fry, 1945Jul
- MG Bryant E Moore 1945Nov
CG TRUST:
- MG Bryant E Moore 1947May
- MG William H Hoge 1948Jun
- MG Edmund B Seebree 1951Mar
- MG William B Bradford 1952Jul
- MG Bernice M McFayden 1953Feb
- MG John A Dabney 1954Jul
After Moore left, the quality of the CGs was not - my opinion - very high. Hoge was pushed upstairs, the others were less than memorable. It was the Regimental COs who were the effective commanders.

And finally, here are some other names you might remember from the post-war times:

GOC, XIII Corps:
Allied Military Governor, Venezia Giulia and Udine:
- LG Sir John Harding, 1945May
- MG Terence S Airey, 1947Jun

GOC, Allied Forces Trieste:
GOC, British-US Zone:
GOC, BETFOR:
Military Governor of the Free Territory:
- MG Terence S Airey, 1947Sep
- MG Sir John Winterton, 1951Mar

Senior Civil Affairs Officer:
- Col Nelson N Monfort, 1945May
- Col Alfred C Bowman, 1945Jun
- Col James J Carnes, 1947Jun
- BG Ridgely Gaither, 1947Oct

Director General, Civil Affairs:
- BG Ridgely Gaither, 1948Jan
- BG Clyde D Eddleman, 1949Jun

I'll try and clear myself with everyone here. No insults intended, just having fun with the support troops. When I was in Trieste our biggest rivals were from what I call the downtown troops/support troops. Everything we did particularly in sports, was made into a rivalry and our toughest opponent was the General Depot people. We beat them sometimes and sometime they beat us, but never fear we had a rivalry.

I would like to ask Jim, when you had all those infantry assignments did you wear crossed rifles on your collar or did you wear crossed pistols? Just curious. By the way Jim, one of my asignments was a 3 1/2 year tour at Ft. Gordon, in those days home of the Military Police. Used to spend a lot of time in the Off Club bending elbows with my fellow officers. Nora had our last baby in the hospital there.

Also, I would like to know if anyone can tell me who were the 351st Infantry Regimental Commanders from 1946 to 1950. (My time ended in 1950) I remember Col Numa A. Watson, but can any one help me with the others?

Gene

Illinois but still a Pennsylvanian at heart

Let's face it Gene at the time we didn't know about the cushy side of soldiering . I can remember we at the motor pool complaining to the CO that we thought three inspections ( barracks , rifle and jeep ) were one too many . He asked my friend Brown from California if he was speaking for the group . Brown said YES SIR . We were immediatly read a part of the Articles of war and cited for mutiny . This earned us a few weeks of cleaning and polishing our Jeeps , including motor , until they could pass a white glove inspection . We had a good time doing that . From then on it was yes sir no sir and no complaining to the brass . No brown nosing just doing your duty and enjoying the vino and signoreenas . LT. had a girl friend out in the country and he required a lift at 4 AM . In the winter that was a cold chore . My armed guard fell asleep and I must have dozed off and ended up in a field with bushes slapping the side which awoke me . That was the first and last time I ever fell asleep driving all these years . A good lesson complements of the Army and a horny officer .

Hi Gene:

On a more serious side, since I was just joshing you about Opicina, I too served in the infantry - 5th Inf Div in SC and the 7th Inf Div in Korea - as well as the artillery -2/35 Army, 155 SPs, S Vietnam - and twice in the Army Air Defense Cmd in Italy and GA, plus service in the MPs and of all things - Commissary Officer, Ft Monmouth, NJ.

Gene, I respect men and women in all disciplines of the service, especially a "grunt" in the infantrym since I did that too. I know a little about you and respect your service and accomplishments in the Army.

Happy New Year - Jim Herring

I appreciate the work done by the people in the Hqs and the General Depot, but lets face it, without the combat units in Trieste there would no reason for support types to be there. Lets don't be patronizing. I understand the facts of life. I appreciate Hank's comments, he was in Trieste, he had a cushy job and he enjoyed it, but don't give me this condesending
crap that the ground pounders were somehow inferior to the people who wore class A uniforms and worked out of an office or rode around in jeeps. Lets hear it for the combat arms.
Gene

In the early part of 1950 my friend Sgt Francis X Loughery had a Willys Overlander.

I guess I should confess, after hearing your plights. I had a permamnet Class A pass. Lived in a villa at the Armed Forces Radio Station. No curfue and no restrictions on my time. Any time I felt the urge I could go to Venezia or Cortina. Had immediate access to a jeep and could eat in various mess halls in town of my choice. I soldiered a bit in the 350th Infantry but Trieste was a picnic. I watched you march, maneuver, and guard the border as a member of the Blue Devil. I drove Marty Rotker to a few of your events so that he could do his Army Pictorial Service thing. All in all, in Trieste, I lived the good life. I only wish I were a bit older and a bit smarter so that sex and booze were not the primary focus. I lived the good life from age 16 to 19 and wouldn't trade it for all the treasure. I wonder why the Trieste and Venezia Giulia experience so overwhelms the rest of our military experience. Being a Sergeant in Trieste almost eclipses being a Colonel at West Point. Memories are made of this.

Hank

You ground pounders-had it hard

We in Piccolo Banne the Eng's-had our own club-with dances on wed and sat-we had no K.P-or any clean up except our own area in our Sq room-all the rest was done by Italians-we took the profit from the club and paid the K.P,s if we ran short then we would pay a few $ from our pocket.We had a company barber-and tailor shop all right in our building.As curfew i remember getting back to the barracks IN A M just a little before reveille-and standing roll call in nothing but boots and overcoat-because it was dark no one could see you-then working all day half asleep-also remember waiting for the bar in the train station to open -i think it opened at 5 AM-first one downtown to open-some of the time could have been on wekends but i know we were out often after midnight

Hi Gene:

Merry Xmas.

Say, you never had it so good in Opicina. By being stationed up on the hill or the carso, you weren't subjected to the environment in the port city of Trieste, to the crime, vino rosso, loose women, vino rosso and the other unsavory elements that a young man could be faced with.

Having that midnight curfvew pass kept you free from harm and the unsavory elements in the city.

Thank your luck stars that the polizia militare Americano was present to keep you out of harms way.

By the way, I never was able to download tehe football program that you sent to me.

Good luck in the New Year, Jim H

I made the trip on that crooked, steep road probably over a hundred times by taxi or truck in the three years I was stationed in Opicina. I went by taxi during the first part of the month when I had script or lira and by tram later in the month. All the vehicles labored making that climb.
Gene

WOW how did i get commissary out of that mess?

Johnny i shopped that small commanisary in rocky heights often-was there a px in 2nd Bn? Merry christmas all its here. John

I remember the road to Opicina very well. I worked at Opicina commissary and the duty driver drove us from 23QM to the commissary and back daily. Some ride! Wishing all BETFOR and TRUST TROOPERS a very MERRY CHRISTHAS>

Your memory of the road from opicina to Trieste is correct

it was about 5 or more miles up the mountain if you took what we that lived in opicina called the long way home.If you had a jeep-civ car or a 3/4 ton you could take the same route up as the tram-it is VERY steep but we used it all the time-i cant remember the name right now.but that came out on the main Hy just below the obelisk's?-I remember there was a lt-col living about halfway-he needed heating oil-so some driver from depot i think made the delivery-it was cold as a witches tit in Dec-so after he placed the pump in the tank and stated filling the tank he got back in the cab to keep warm-WELL the tank was not as empty as had been reported so it overflowed and there was diesel running all over the place .The col had a yard full Take care John

You guys stationed in downtown Trieste really had it make; able to own cars, go to the main PX, commissary, trips out of the country on leave etc. while we grunts up on the hill had to drill, train, work details, no cars, field exercises for sometimes weeks at a time, frequently no time off on weekends. I never knew life was so good in the Hqs and the General Depot until I read your postings. In my 3 1/2 years in Opicina I know of only one sgt who had a car and he had to park it on the sreeets in Opicina. When we went on exercises he had to leave it unattended for days on end. Am I complaining, not really, just pointing out the facts.
Gene

Our platoon sergeant, Sgt Ginsmer, occasionally gave me a lift from Basovizza to Trieste in his early-50's model Chevy, the only private car in our company. Although we always made it safely, he made me somewhat nervous, as he drove fast, even in bad weather, while seeming to have a nervous problem from a head injury incurred in Korea. My recollection is that the road winding down to Trieste from Opicina had asome sharp curves in it, and that it was not unsuual for a driver to miss a curve and drive off the steep hill {perhaps this occurred when the bora was blowing}. Can anyone who made that trip comment on my recollection of that experience?

Posted earlier about the 2CV but it appears to have disappeared into cyber space but never mind. The 2CV was a cheap car designed for about 150 uses. It looked like a corrugated iron garden shed ' I do believe that it was built by Citreon. The Vauxhall Company is now part of General Motors along with Opel. I had some Vauxhalls on taxi work doing about 75000 mikes a year . The earlier ones may have been less reliable. My cars were 1958 to 61. Happy Holiday and I hope a healthy New Year

Hello:

Yes, it appears that the first car may not be the best car? You guys got your early?

I bought my first one in Livorno. It was an English Vaxhall. Never could get it to run properly.

Best regards, Jim

In Trieste i got my first car a green Opel-with red leather upholstery,and the front wheels turned in,found out later it was a Germany army car.I took our company Italian mechanic with me to look at it,we went down town to look it over and they guy selling it had it on a battery charger-so we could only check the motor running but could not drive out of his lot(BAD BAD DEAL)-any way we were told it was in good condition-later found out it was a 1935 model-any way -had fun with it when it did run-transmission sliped so i allways had to come up the mountian the long way. sold it for 200 when we left in 52. never buy a car you cant test drive

John

'Mickey Mouse' was known in Italian publications of that era as 'Topolino'.

Another popular small car in that period was the Renault 2CV - rather ugly, but cheap and popular.

When I was in college (Georgia Tech) after I got out of the Army I owned (and raced in sports car meets) a British 'Berkeley'. It was front-wheel drive, powered by a transverse-mounted Triumph motorcycle engine. Cominge out of class I occasionally found it had been lifted up onto the porch of one of the administration buildings. With another student's help, we would just pick it up and walk it down to ground level.

I was lucky because I had a Fiat Topolino (Little Mouse ) to run around in. Which included weekend trips to Austria. Later I bought a Lambretta Scooter which I eventually rode home to the UK.

My first Christmas in the service was in 1952.I spent it in Wakeman Hospital at Camp Atterbury, Indiana where I was getting wonderful back rubs from a pretty nurse's aide from Indianapolis while my broken ankle healed. While I was enjoying her tender hands my buddies in Heavy Mortar Company were slogging through the snow getting ready to ship out to Korea. Whenever I went to PT the nurse in charge would shout "Duty!Duty!" and I'd answer "Yes!Yes! Let me at those commies!" But by the time I was ready for duty the truce talks had begun. My next Christmas was as a TRUST trooper in a 57mm recoiless squad, and I had forgoten that pretty nurse's aide. Well, I got my wish to confront the commies, but it was hard to recognize them. Anyway, thanks to all you former troopers who have made this web site so interesting. Buon Natale!

I was fortunate after I got out of the 350th I had my own jeep. Almost a personal car as long as I kept the trip ticket up to date. The last vehicle I had in Gorizia was a command car, the SUV of its day. I really liked it. Too bad they did away with them after 1946. Saw one of our jeeps with the piano wire cutter a few years back in Sacramento. I would love to have it. Didn't have a chance to run the guy down and ask about its history.

Merry Christmas, and to those of you on the Tontine, keep healthy or Richard will drink to your passing.

Hank

Illinois but still a Pennsylvanian at heart

Since I had a Jeep H-15 equipped with a piano wire cutter mounted vertically on the front bumper I didn't have to pay for gas . The down side was I could not use it for private use alto I was a PFC .

I did enough driving riding the tram down to Trieste was a treat . Merry Christmas to all of you . May the Peace of God be with you always .

We only had military vehicles in my day, none of us had private vehicles, but I did borrow a Lancia, from a local newspaper reporter on a regular basis........Needless to say, we always gave it back with a full tank....So we all used to benefit......Have a photo of that old Lancia with 4 of us around it, somewhere, here.........It comes to the surface now and again....

We used to get the AMG gas coupons in Trieste , very useful for cheap gas and they could be also exchanged at gas stations for cash

I know the Italians around Trieste are happy-when Yolanda and i used to visit-her brother always went into Yugo-and fell up a couple of our old 5 gal gas cans(i left him a couple when we left Germany) because gas was a lot cheaper there-May not be so now that its Sylvania,but once in a while he would just go with me,he knew all the crossing guards on both sides-spoke fluent slave-and crossed almost every day-too get wood-and fresh fruit.I had a 1958 Plymouth station wagon while stationed in Augsburg,used a lot but when going on leave you could buy coupons for gas,that were good all over Europe,and they brought the Price down to about what we payed at the PX gas sat ion in Germany.i remember once filling up at a Texaco station just before getting into The city-there were a couple of stations on right going down from opicina-the Plymouth had a 22 gal tank-and it was empty-young man fulling up kept looking at the meter as it was going like a slot machine-he looked under the car to see if it was running out

he could not believe it could take that much gasoline

the bill in lire was way way in the 1,000-but i paid with the coupons-and that got a smile from him.any time we visited (every time i got a leave)i always took 2 5gal-cans from the military station in Germany where gas was only 25c a gal and left it with Yolanda brother-that where he got the cans. a Confession of a little-regulation broken wont get me time now i hope

Take care all. John

Montana, now central Texas

So much for the old Morgan line outposts.
This week, they are celebrating the removal of the border crossing points with Slovenia. They are bull dozing the check points since Slovenia has higher status in the European Union. As of Friday, 22 Dec, people will cross freely between Italy and Slovenia.
I never served on the outposts since I was assinged to the 23d QM down town.

you may have to set your background color.
go to control panel
choose display
choose color tab
pick back ground color
mabe this will help
MERRY XMAS TO ALL. T.M

c.libert, with no e-mail address:

I have just re-checked this Guest Book with two different browsers and, in both, I have always seen blue text over a faint gray-on-white background image.

If you are seeing something other than that, I wonder whether you may have set your browser 'preferences' to somehow override the background images.

I would like to suggest that you continue this thread in an e-mail exchange with me - patskelly@earthlink.net

website colors distort labels and makes it VERY hard to read black lettering on blue field makes it hard fo us old guys!

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI USA AREA

NATALE ALLEGRO
NUOVO ANNO FELICE

Illinois but still a Pennsylvanian at heart

Best wishes for a Merry Christmas to all . May you enjoy another holiday with family and friends . Bona Natali . Ciao

St. Louis, Missouri USA area

FRANK

You sure know how to bring a tear to a guy's eye.

REST IN PEACE T.D.

The following rendition is by our old friend Frank Montoya, as a mark of respect for the late Truman Samples...

THE LAST FORMATION

***************

We were brothers, all in the same command.

We were Soldiers, and we stood tall and proud.

We went our separate ways, but our bonds held tight,

For we were special men, we were �above the crowd�.

****************

Many years have passed since our days in TRUST,

But memories of duty there have lingered on.

We may slow down ourselves, but time will not delay;

Another night has gone and we must face the dawn.

**************

We hear the bugle call: � Formation� one more time.

We assemble, we gather.... as we did long ago.

Then it�s �Dress Right, Dress! and �Cover Down�,

But wait! There�s someone missing in the rank below!

*************

It mustn�t be! We can�t believe it�s true!

Can it be T.D.? Is his the missing face?

Another Trooper has been called away,

To perform another mission in a far off place,

**************

I knew him well, those many years ago;

I was one of the many friends he made.

His soldierly conduct was noticed by those above,

So good that he became a General�s Aide.

****************

He was one of the Good Guys, of which there are few.

He will be sorely missed by one and all.

Perhaps in time we will see him once again;

For someday, we all must heed that bugle�s final call.

***************

Society can learn a lot from soldiers like Truman. He was a fighter.

He fought for his country and for years he fought with all his might

the terrible disease that took him from us.

*************

In Memory of Truman D. Samples

TRUST TROOPER

Soldier, Friend and Proud American

***************

Frank J. Montoya

23d QM Co, TRUST, 1949-1952

I would like to add two more old friends of mine to our remembrances: World War II veterans of the 34 Infantry Division in Italy: ...

Gilbert White, Co F, 135th Inf, Cottonwood AZ, passed away on December 1
Howard Ashcraft, Cannon Co. 168th Inf, Richmond VA, passed away on December 4th.

May they have no more hills to climb,
nor cold, nor rain, nor mud, nor enemy fire,
and may they now rest in Peace.

Had the same message and I am really sad that Chief Warrant Officer Truman Samples, one time soldier in the 23d QM , has died after a long struggle with cancer. My condolences to his family, friends and former TRUST troops. I served in the 23d QM as well but not at the same time as Truman. He will be missed.

Found this on my computer this morning from "Truman Samples" youngest daughter..........I'm sure that you will join me in prayers, for the family at this difficult time........May he rest in peace.....He suffered for a long time......

Letting you all know that our Father, T.D. Samples
passed away this morning at 7:45. Funeral services
will be at Becker Funeral Home in Lawton, Oklahoma at
9:30 on Friday morning. Graveside services at Ft.
Sill. Thank you all for your e-mails and your input
that will make his services very special. We are all
missing our father very much. He was so proud to be a
part of your group.

Recived this E-Mail from Do Dennison-Sorry to have to post it. Thurman Samples Passed Today- John

Daddy passed away this morning...thank you for your words of encouragement.

Funeral Services are Friday, 9:30 at Becker funeral home in Lawton, OK with
graveside services at Ft.
Sill.

thank you,

DaLise Samples-Teel

--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.

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WORMLEINGTON ON SEA UK

THANKS PETER,WE OLD HOME GUARD BOYS,HAVE A NEW WORDING TOO OUR SIGNATURE TUNE? "Who Are You Kidding Mr Hitler" IT GOES LIKE THIS:-
Who do you think your Kidding Mr Atkins,
If you love old BETFOR so'
We are the Boys that will stop your little Game
We are the Boys that will get it back again.Who do you ----
Capt Mannering wants Atkins on a Slow Boat too China,---- Cpl Jones,wants too put one up him? "They dont like it up em Sir".---Old Pike reckons Atkins has pinched his nickname,"Stupid
Boy".----And old Godfrey is still trying,bless him,keeps on about Rub a Dub Dub.Three Men in a Tub,and who do they think they are??? Old Hodges the Air Raid Warden,then, spoilt the Party by shouting Put his Ruddy Lights OUT.I replied,i say old bean,remember where you are???

The queen that you are looking for is Elizabeth the 1st of England.Her father was Henry VIII.As for the Sgt Wilson message , all the people named ,the captain, sgt,cpl and the other soldiers were all characters in a TV series called DAD'S ARMY.In 1939 the majority of our troops had been moved to France in an attempt to stop Hitler. A HOME GUARD was formed and got the nickname of Dad's Army because the majority of them were World War I veterans and were too old for current military service but they were determined to be of use. I don't know in what context the other posting was intended .

Virginia(named for someones virgin queen)

Can Sgt Wilson Translate that message ?-

I downloaded two of the Chuck Noble PDF files using Acrobat 7.0 but received a "damaged file" message that prevented downloading file 2. Any advice for correcting this will be appreciated. In the meantime I am very pleased with this material, and am amazed that it exists.

WORMLEINGTON ON SEA UK

CAPTAIN MANNERING AND MYSELF,WOULD LIKE TOO SEND GREETINGS,TOO ALL YOU OLD YANKEE HOME GUARD WORSHIPERS,WHO LANDED UP IN TRIESTE,WITH US TOMMIES.THE HISTORY OF TRIESTE IS SAME AS I READ IN A BOOK SOMEWHERE ELSE.HOW YOU YANKEE OLD HOME GUARD BOYS SAY, WON THE WAR.PRIVATE PIKE ASKS,DO YOU RELY ON THE PONY EXPRESS TOM,FOR YOUR EMAILS?.CPL JONES,OUR BUTCHER WONDERS WHY YOU DID NOT FEED THE POOR SODS THAT WAITED FOR YOUR SCRAPS? HE WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE OLD GAL HIS LAST CHIPOLATA.IF HE COULD HAVE FOUND IT IN HIS TROUSERS.OLD GODFREY WISHES HE COULD STILL GET HIS LEG OVER,AND PIKES MOTHER SAYS HI TOO ALL WHO GAVE HER PLEASURE DURING THE BLACKOUT.

Cape Cod, in their Majesties' former North American colonies

For your convenience, the contents list for the Trieste Historical Perspective has been uploaded as a separate PDF file (46 KB) at
http://www.timelycomputerstuff.com/oldsoho/trieste-content.pdf

This will perhaps simply spotting the several reports which speak to incidents at the border crossings and outposts.

I am pleased that many have appreciated this access to their history.
My part in this project was basically the rote part of converting the document to a computer-accessible form and putting the 'cover' on it. The more intense effort was that of Chuck Nobles in locating and selecting the reports and then in typing them in a consistent form.

- Pat

Illinois but still a Pennsylvanian at heart

You will be amazed at the difference broadband connection makes . You will find the speed allows you to hear such things as background music and of course downloading up-dates etc is down very fast .

Thank you, Pat and Chuck. I have managed to download some of it and will get the rest soon. Takes time on my dial up system. This is the sort of thing that may eventually drive me to a high speed connection. Anyhow, thanks.

A great BIG thank you to Pat and Chuck for a job well done. Very very interesting website.

Illinois but still a Pennsylvanian at heart

John there must have been more border incidents . The one I was involved in involved more than three GI's and about the same Yugoslavs . We faced what appeared the whole advance guard of the TITO'S Army . We drove all night to get to the border that was being challanged and dug in . The situation was quite tense but they finally backed down .

Thanks to Pat-and Chuck-for the site with all the great Information it had to take many hours of work just to find the Info-and having the computer savvy to get it on a site Thanks-I like most of you were there when the border indecent happened-i was with a Lt and a soldier from Ga-we 3 were Manning a road block on the main road into the city from Italy-just above the castle.had a few staff cars with Jugs come by trying to go into city-We checked papers and told all they could not pass-.We had no trouble other that a few words that we did not understand-all turned around and went back to where ever they came from. All we had were a M-1 and 30cal carbine-and had a concertina wire across the road. Good memories John

This is for Tiny.
Do you remember me? I looking for Scots Guards veterans that fought in Italy.
Today, the Mayor of Castiglione dei Pepoli received the reply from Headquarters Scots Guards.
They passed our details to their regimental association in the hope that a veteran contacts them.
I want to say you thank you for all your help.

The plans for bringing Tom Cohoon's "Old Soldiers' Home" website back online have always - in my mind - had two parts. The first was to preserve Tom's work and style as far as we could. The second was to extend his work into new areas and with new material.

That second part begins tonight. We're using a new domain name, but then Tom scattered his work across about five domains. We expect by year-end to bring much of it together 'under one roof'.

I am pleased to present Chuck Nobles' "Trieste: An Historical Perspective" at
http://www.timelycomputerstuff.com/oldsoho/trieste.html
That webpage will give you a brief background on his work, a link to download the ten-page introduction and listing of the broad-ranging content, and links to the detail files. It's YOUR history, 1945-1954.

Most of the 100+ news articles and reports have a connection to the US 88th Infantry Division or TRUST. But there is much also on Trieste itself, on BETFOR, Italy, Jugoslavia, Tito, the UN. Please take the time to look at the list of contents. You will be amazed at the depth and breadth of Chuck's research.

We're on a roll! Thank you.

- Pat Skelly

Some of us, myself included, tend to enjoy the fruits of our labor and think about the unfortunate only at times like Christmas. I am constantly aware of how fortunate I am to be where I am and have those things that comfort me at arms reach. It came to mind my initial assignment in Italy. Many of you who were there in 1946 or before probably experienced what I did. My first assignment was to an infantry battalion in the hills a few miles outside Gorizia. A tent city of the 3rd Battalion of the 350th Infantry. My first pass thru the mess line with mess kit and canteen cup was the usual balancing act. Drink the battery acid(greapefruit juice) before you got to the coffee pot and try to keep the gravy out of the pancakes so it didn't mix with the syrup. After eating you passed through the line for garbage and washing the mess kit. At the beginning of the garbage line was a grandmotherly woman with a number 10 can, made into a bucket, collecting our discards. I was dirt poor back in the states in the depression. But never that poor or that hungry. Now when I am down, or think that the world is not treating me properly, I think of that grandmother and remember how fortunate I am.

Merry Christmas

Hank

After R-Day the Trieste police force and security services, as employees of the FTT state government, reported to the Director of Public Security, a civil servant reporting in turn to the FTT Council of Government.
source: Treaty of Peace with Italy

Had no dealings with the Maj-Jim -But i believe i told this before.sometime in 48-there was a girl killed and body found in the hills around Trieste-she ha been at the hanger club with some G.I-her girl friends remember only that the soldier that was with her was named Bowman.They must have looked up all the Bowman's in the command-because they came TO MY COMPANY-I WAS CALLED into the OR and there was a MP office A girl-my c.o-The girl looked me over and said no not him-Ifound out later what it was all about.I believe she said something like "not him hes is to ugly"

Take care john

Palm Harbor, Florida

Thanks Tom:

I have posted an article on the other site, that was published in the Stars and Stripes about Maj Alfonso Carbone. It's very interesting.

Best regards, Jim

Montana, now central Texas

The Italian version of Wickipedia--we all know Wickipedia is only as reliable as the person who made the entry--says the VG police strength in 1949VWW was 6,000 and was commanded by a former Scotland Yard officer, Col Gerald Richardson. The entry also claims the VG continued until 1961.

Although critical of the problems facing our Association I was pleased to see that once again we are raising questions about our common denominator Trieste and the queries regarding troop levels. I must confess ignorance to the breakdown of American Forces and their units, of course I recall during my two years that blue kerchchiefs were worn ( Blue Devils?) It was difficult to distinguish any insignia because there were usually two local girls hanging on to their arms. I agree that the figure of 5000 British and 5000 American troops stationed in the FTT, especially in the Fifties, would be unrealistic based purely on the fact that it was unlikely that all British units were up to strength.
If I may briefly explain, the bulk of the British Army was made up of County Regiments, my own, The Staffordshire Regiment was formed in the 1700s, each Regiment containing up three Battalions alas, over many years of pruning most Regiments have been merged thus reducing drastically the battalions. A British battalion - on paper- should consist of 1001 troops, the odd one is the Bandmaster and the Corps of Drums were the C.Os bodyguard. At any given time there were three Battalions from three different Regiments based in Trieste, most of which were on a three year tour of duty. A figure of 800 per battalion would be a more realistic sum added to this number of course would be the many Corps, I believe we now call them Logistics.
I doubt very much if any overall figure could be given or even numbers maintained due to the continual movement of personnel, of course such information would be classified, I worked in General Wintertons Office at H.Q.AMG and was cleared to Secret information as was my old friend Vince Donantonio who was in Intelligence there, and he maintained that the figure was 2500!
So gentlemen take your pick, perhaps someone in your G2 GSI could help.
A Very Merry Christmas to you All and to all our Colonial Friends.
Ray Griffiths ( No relation to the Prince of Darkness)