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Well we struck gold, for a few of the pages I discovered were related to Mel Ott! This is the letter I got from her this morning.
Hi Marion, Thanks for all the info. will check it all out. About the baseball, one of the signers was Mel Ott…there are two other players who signed it. I don’t remember off hand but they were also present at the theater. I’ll have to check it out by looking at the ball. Thanks again. I hope you have wonderful Passover and or Easter!
Regards,
Maryke Petruzzi
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
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From Bucky Walter's page:
From November 1944 through January 1945, Bucky Walters joined Mel Ott, Frank Frisch and Dutch Leonard as members of a USO Tour group who visited U.S. troops in Europe. Bucky was photographed being welcomed by Gens. Omar Bradley and George Patton. The group was in Europe during the fiercest and deadliest months of the war and were nearly caught behind enemy lines during the Battle of the Bulge. He was invited to join a similar USO Tour in 1943 but had to cancel at the last moment for an emergency appendectomy.
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
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This was taken from the 44th Evac Hospital's records. Wow, shows that the USO show was in Malmedy in Nov 44. I hope everyone realizes that these guys were right in the thick of it, for just a few week's later, this is where all hell broke loose and the Battle of the Bulge was in full swing. Also, so many of you know that Malmedy was the place of the famous massacre of US soldiers by the Germans.
Among some of the outstanding entertainment events was the “world premiere” of ‘Saratoga Trunk’, which took place in the First Army Theater in Malmédy. Various USO and Special Services shows helped to pass the time, baseball stars visited the place, and people like Mel Ott, Bucky Walters, and others drew big crowds. ‘Thanksgiving’ was properly celebrated with a big religious service for all units stationed in and around Malmédy, and an appropriate Thanksgiving dinner with turkey was served. Shortly before all this, the infamous “buzz bombs” made their appearance, usually passing safely over the unit’s heads enroute to Liège.
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
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I only now see this topic. I will try to find some more if you haven't already found it Marion. Thanks for the message. I wonder why I didn't receive an e-mail.
Best wishes,
Frank
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I think we are all set though, for I did send her the above info.
Marion J Chard
Proud Daughter of Walter (Monday) Poniedzialek
540th Engineer Combat Regiment, 2833rd Bn, H&S Co, 4th Platoon
There's "No Bridge Too Far"
