These pictures are on the website of our newspaper. I hope they will go on with events like this so the next generation will know what happened, what those men have been through and learn that a lot of men and women paid the ultimate price for freedom.
Recognition Catches Up With Veteran 65 Years Later
Paul D. Lack of Lakeland went for more than 65 years with little recognition for his service in the 10th Mountain Division in Italy during World War II, including the brutal Po River Valley Campaign. And he was happy to keep it that way.
Lack's friends and admirers, however, don't agree and they arranged several ceremonies celebrating his award of the Bronze Star, 65 years after the war ended.
The owners of two museums of D - D-Day Omaha Vierville-sur-Mer and the Dead Man's Corner in Saint-Côme-du-Mont - will be tried for illegal importation of weapons.
Special and sincere thanks to one hell of a group of re-enactors from Pennsylvania, who came out as part of a surprise for our 36th Combat Engineer Reunion in Lebanon PA, September 2010.
I wound up getting in touch with Matt Holmgren, who then put me in touch with Craig Singhaus, who then arranged for several local-area WWII re-enactors to attend the reunion on Saturday. The veterans had no idea what was in store for them, and were very surprised and pleased-as-punch when they all showed up for a bit of entertainment. One of the men, Charlie Kern, even brought his WWII jeep to the hotel, and he wound up giving rides to the vets and other attendees, including moi! Yippee!
I am going to share some photos with all of you in just a bit, but first I wanted to thank the following people who gave us so much joy this weekend. It won't be forgotten.
US 1st Infantry Division - 26th Regiment re-enactors
Robert (Bob) Travis (MP)
John Wagner, Jr (MP)
Jae (the girl) Hain-Matson
Jeff Hain-Matson
Robert (Bob) Barton
Charlie Kern (the jeep jockey)
Doug "Doc" Shope
Craig couldn't make it to the festivities and was really bummed, but work prevailed and thus he couldn't get away. That was a real shame since he was the one who helped with the planning. Hope to meet cha next year, Craig. Thanks again for all you did to make this a reality.
Craig put me in touch with Doug, and he was the final one to pull it all together.
They are already planning ahead and will try to arrange for not only them to attend, but a group of WWII engineer re-enactors. That would just rock! I know everyone will be truly looking forward to another great time.
Here's a personal email from Captain John Fallon, 36th Combat Engineer, which I received just a few hours ago, talking about the surprise amongst other things, including a visit from one of our forum members, Colin Hotham from England, and a new attendee, Joe, son of a 36th'er.
I had a blast and a lot of the credit belongs to you. You really kept the place alive and I am sure everyone enjoyed himself. I wonder if you would be able to give me the home address of Joe Sumanski and Colin Hotham? I would like to thank them for being there and I think a letter is more personal than an EMail. That was a great surprise you had for us and you know we are very, very grateful.
36 Engineers are rugged......John Fallon II. Capt. USA Ret.
