Just a few minutes ago I received a phonecall from a man who lives in the neighbourhood of our village. He has made a little story for the newspaper regarding the place where he is living. He made it to the top 5! He created a walking tour and he included the monument of SSgt. Roy Booher and our website. We are searching for more people who will vote. I know it is in Dutch and you're not able to read the story but I would like to ask you if you'll vote on him. If you want to vote you'll have to go to the bottom of the page (I will include the link) and press the button "stemmen" (this is Dutch for "vote". You'll receive an email to confirm your vote. That is all.
Would you like to help him and give us some more publicity about SSgt. Roy Booher so the people will know why he gave all 65 years ago.
Did/does anyone knew William Shaw? Marion told me, "We have a few 87th Inf Div soldiers who are members. They may know." William dropped from my radar screen (the e-mail address I had, solivagant@alltel.net , not working in 2010) He served from WW2 call-up to beginning of Korean War & took basic training at Fort Benning Ga.: 13th Co. 4th Regt. ASTP BTC . By the time basic was completed ASTP was terminated. All members of the group were assigned to the 87th inf Division located at Fort Jackson SC.
Do you know if he has also passed away? The ranks are thinning terribly fast!
While I get many letters regarding our music site, this one really stood out. Jim and I have been in communication for a couple of months, and this one touched a note (so to speak). I also added it to the Letters section on that site.
Hi Marion....Jim here again....just listening to the song Land of Hope and Glory and I want to tell you what this means to me. First of all, the music is from Edgar's Pomp and Circumstance March...played at almost all graduation ceremonies.
MY story. I was born Feb 2 1926, my wife was born Jan 28, 1926, we were "roommates" in the nursery at Mercy Hospital here in Muskegon. Then we went through St. Mary's school together, starting to date seriously in 10th grade. We graduated June 10, 1944. I went directly into the army. Joined the 65th Division at Fort Shelby, Miss. in late Nov 44. They were all packed to go overseas. We left Shelby on New Years Eve and landed in France during the Bulge, had to stay after the war ended. I didn't have enough points to come home. Did come home in Jun 1946....2 years, 2 days and 2 hours was my stay. We were married on Nov 16, 1946. At that time the Catholic church wasn't encouraging the use of the "Wedding March", they thought it too pagan....because of the way it was used in the opera. So Theresa and I choose Pomp and Circumstance for our wedding march. After all, we had just marched to it 2 years before.St. Mary's High school choir sang our wedding. That was 64 years ago. She is now in a nursing home and I go every day to see her. So you see, Land of Hope and Glory is very special to us. Oh, there are many other songs on your list that mean a lot, but not like this one.
Thought you might like to hear what your music means to us WW11 vets.....God bless and keep up the good work. Jim Zuidema
Oh dear, seems I am posting here way to often, as of late...
Correspondence between the daughter of Robert Sommer, 36th Combat Engineer and John Fallon
John,
My father Robert J. “Bob” Sommer served with the Seahorses during WWII. He enjoyed receiving your mailings. Unfortunately he passed away on Friday March 12, 2010. He was 84.
Carolyn Pleny
Although we haven't seen your father for a while we will still miss him. We value every one of our old Seahorses. We will drink a toast and say a prayer for him and our other departed at our next reunion. May he rest in peace.
36 Engineers are rugged......John Fallon II. Capt. USA Ret.
