Old Hickory Chronicle Old Hickory Association Newsletter July / August 2009

Roscoe McMichael and the 105th Medical Detachment

After battling through France and Belgium for weeks, Roscoe McMichael and the rest of the 30th Infantry Division had learned to expect almost anything. When they reached a small town in Holland, McMichael's 15-man "Special Troops" medical unit set up shop in a store. The building had a large glass front window. One night, not long after his unit moved in, McMichael had just left the front room when a German buzz bomb fell from the sky and exploded right in front of the building. The blast shattered the window and blew glass splinters like shrapnel through the uniform and flesh of a GI that was still in the room. McMichael raced back to tend to the man, then watched as the injured soldier was packed in an ambulance and hauled to safety over steep mountain roads. "That was one close call," McMichael says. "If I'd still been in that room with the window, I'd have gotten it, too." A day or two later McMichael looked up and saw an American plane coming in low and firing at American targets. He and the others soon realized it was a captured plane flown by a German pilot. American gunners shot the plane down just after it flew over McMichael's head. "None of that was so unusual," he says. "It seemed like something happened just about every day over there." McMichael was born in 1919 in the Raymond community. His father was a sharecropper who gave up farming when McMichael was a year old to take a job at the cotton mill in East Newnan. McMichael attended school though the seventh grade, and at age 14, instead of moving on to high school, went to work at the mill. He worked from 6am to 6pm p.m. for a whole dollar a day! 105th Medical Battalion Aid Station - 30th Inf. Div.- treating casualties in the vicinity of Mortain, after the battle of Mortain - France, August 1944. After a year of mill work, government regulations changed and no one under age 16 could work the textile mills. McMichael left the mill and worked the local peach orchards and did other odd jobs to help support the family. When he was old enough, he went back to the mill. But life wasn't all work. He played on the mill's baseball team and remembers one day when he got to a game late. The score was tied in the ninth inning and McMichael was put in to pinch hit. His home run won the game. "I hit one out and that was a lot of fun," he says. After a few years, McMichael was looking for a change. He wasn't alone. In January 1941, he and nine other boys from Newnan joined the Army on a one-year enlistment. McMichael did basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, then went to Camp Blanding, Florida. As 1941 neared an end, McMichael was looking forward to leaving the Army. However, on December 7, 1941 history was made and that changed everything ... because of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, all leaves were canceled and all enlistments were extended indefinitely. McMichael had no idea what lay ahead. "It was upsetting," he says. "I was ready to get turned loose and go home, and all of a sudden nobody knew what was going to happen. We just knew we were there as long as the Army wanted us." McMichael soon found himself back at Fort Jackson as part of the 30th Infantry Division, which was being reactivated. He was named to the 105th Medical Detachment and learned how to provide medical treatment to troops in the field. McMichael had specialized training as a dental assistant. He learned how to clean teeth, make impressions and provide badly-needed gum care. Oral hygiene was a big problem for troops in the field with poor diets and no way to properly clean their teeth. The biggest problem was a gum disease nicknamed Trench Mouth during World War One. McMichael treated gum tissue with antibiotics, including a compound called gentian violet. He also did regular cleanings and even pulled a tooth or two.

McMichael started work as dental assistant but soon got his own chair so more troops could be treated during field maneuvers in Tennessee and South Carolina. He received three months of specialized dental training at Walter Reed Army Hospital, then rejoined the 30th Division in Camp Atterbury, Indiana, where the division was preparing to head for Europe. Before he left the States, McMichael joined a new unit called "Special Troops." The unit consisted of 15 highly-trained medical and dental personnel. McMichael had specialized training as a dental assistant. He learned how to clean teeth, make impressions and provide badly-needed gum care. Oral hygiene was a big problem for troops in the field with poor diets and no way to properly clean their teeth. The biggest problem was a gum disease nicknamed Trench Mouth during World War I. McMichael treated gum tissue with antibiotics, including a compound called gentian violet. He also did regular cleanings and even pulled a tooth or two. The 30th Division sailed for England in November 1943 and spent several months training in England. Then it was off to battle. McMichael's unit landed on the beach at Normandy on June 10, 1944, just four days after the first assault wave of the D-Day invasion. After scaling the cliffs at Omaha Beach, McMichael's unit realized they had become separated from the rest of the division. They spent the night in an apple orchard and the next day rejoined the division and started moving through the French countryside. McMichael got his first real scare just outside one of the division's first objectives, the town of St. Lo. The Americans were moving toward a German-held bridge with orders to take it. German planes attacked as the American approached. McMichael was near a small cemetery. A slab was missing from one grave and as the planes passed overhead with guns blazing, McMichael dove into the grave. "I just wanted some protection," he says. "I didn't care who or what was in that grave." McMichael's unit stayed near the front lines, treating troops and sending the more seriously injured back to larger hospitals. The conditions were always bad, the weather was brutal and a steady stream of casualties poured in. "We treated broken bones and horrible wounds and everything else down to sore throats," McMichael says. "I'd fix that by spraying Merthiolate into their throats. Things got so busy that when people came in with trench mouth, the dentist would just pass them on to me. He'd say 'Mac can do more with them than I can.'" McMichael's unit was on the front line for almost 11 months. There was rarely a dull day. "From the time we hit the beach there was always something going on," McMichael says. "If we weren't fighting, there were rumors about where we were going and what we'd be doing and nobody knew what was going on. We just made it from day to day." In early August, the 30th relieved the 1st Division at Mortain, France. Days later, a huge German force attacked but the 30th turned back the assault and headed east through Belgium. They entered Holland in early September and attacked the Siegfried Line in October, then crossed the Rhine and moved into the town of Aachen as the first American Division to enter Germany. The 30th was pulled back into Belgium on Dec. 16, 1944, when German troops began an offensive push that became known as the Battle of the Bulge. During heavy fighting near Stavelot, Belgium, the Allies were surprised when they encountered a load of German soldiers dressed in American uniforms attempting to cross the Stavelot bridge. Allies discovered the ruse, stopped the Germans and blew the bridge to keep German troops from crossing in a counterattack. "Nobody was fooled for long that time," McMichael says. "But you could never tell what the Germans were going to do." McMichael remembers at one point his unit passing by the bodies of more than a dozen dead American soldiers lying in a field. It was rumored the men had been executed by retreating Germans. "It was awful seeing those boys," McMichael says. "But you were liable to see things like that every day. We just moved on." During one rest period McMichael made it to Paris to see the sights. He thought the Eiffel Tower was fine but wasn't impressed by the street urinals with only a board in front for privacy. "I didn't think much of that," he says. "You expect something a little nicer in a big city like that." McMichael says the French people weren't too accommodating, but soldiers were treated well by German civilians. "When we moved into a town, the Germans were as nice as they could be," he says. "One time a family even asked me over for dinner and we had a nice time. Even in a war I learned you can find nice people everywhere." McMichael's unit finally made it to Magdeberg, Germany. They stayed there while other units of the 30th Division crossed the Elbe River on the way to Berlin. The American troops were held back, though, so the Russians could be first to enter Berlin. "Nobody liked it, but there was nothing you could do," he says. "It was just politics." The war ended while McMichael was still in Magdeberg. He was proud of the victory but ready to go home. "We'd been there from the invasion until the end of the war," he says. "You can't explain it to someone who hasn't been there, but we saw it all and did it all, and once it was over, I told myself I was going to go home and forget it. And I did." When the war ended, McMichael was offered a trip home by plane but he instead waited for a troop ship. He has still never flown in a airplane. ya’ don’t git combat pay, cuz ya’ don’t fight! Story by Alex McRae, Newnan Times-Herald - Newnan, GA, USA

630th Tank Destroyer Battalion Reunion

Eleven veterans - out of the original 650 men that served in World War II as part of the 630th Tank Destroyer Battalion - gathered in Savannah recently to reminisce and share stories about their war experiences. They fought in five of the six European campaigns and were often recognized as the "fightingest battalion during WWII." Equipped with M-8’s, M-18s, M36’s as well as other armored vehicles, they helped take down Hitler's Panzer Corps and clear the way for a final victory of the allied forces in the ETO. The 630th Tank Destroyer Battalion was activated 15 December 1941 at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. Disembarked in France from England on 24 July 1944 with towed guns and entered the line near Colombieres. They advanced across France with the 28th Infantry Division to Luxembourg, supported operations against the Siegfried Line during September/October, operated in the Hürtgen Forest in November. They then shifted to the Ardennes sector with the 28th Infantry Division in late November and were located there at start of German offensive in December 1944. In January 1945, they moved south to the Colmar area, returned north in mid-February only to redeploy south to the Saar region in mid-March, after which the battalion converted to M36’s. The Battalion participated in the elimination of the Ruhr Pocket in April and then took up occupation duties at Zweibrücken on 28 April. During WWII, they were attached to the 17th Airborne Division, 13th Armored Division and the 28th Infantry Division. The 11 original battalion members were joined at a downtown Savannah hotel for the recent 630th reunion by the widows, children and grandchildren

of soldiers. The stories abounded as the soldiers talked about their experiences at The Battle of the Bulge and their campaign in 1944 which led them through France and into Bastogne, Belgium to battle the Germans. James Holcomb, wearing the "Ike" jacket he had when he was discharged in 1945, (left photo) was an M-8 radio operator, recalled the first loss of one of their crew members. "I was radio operator at the time. We were going back to find a lost vehicle where one of our M-8’s got stuck on a mission to give relief to the 101st Airborne Division. We came across some Germans in San Quinton, France and they started firing on us. Our major, Gabriel McNair was hit in the face. It penetrated a major vein. He didn't last long," Holcomb said. "We called for heavy artillery backup. Eventually, the Germans came out with their hands up." McNair was buried alongside hundreds of allied soldiers in the Normandy American Cemetery.

McNair's daughter, a Savannah artist, Bess Ramsey, went to France last summer to see her father's grave and was guest speaker at the reunion dinner. "It is a beautiful and peaceful place, very historic. It’s a reminder to the French the price we paid for freedom.” Tom Corey rode in the same vehicle with McNair. "We were very close. Heck, we rode in the same vehicle together and dug foxholes together. He was a great guy but I wasn't there when he got hit... I was turning in a report at the time. We all still miss him. " Members of Ernest Sheffield’s family attended. He was reported missing in action and whose remains were never found. Tom Corey gave Brett McAfee, Sheffield's nephew, a piece of a dollar bill signed by some of the crew, including Sheffield. "It's something I'll treasure," McAfee said. Sarah Summers has attended all 630th reunions. Her late husband, Oscar Summers Jr., kept an extensive scrapbook of his experiences during and after the war, including newspaper clippings of member's achievements and obituaries. "I am the only one to attend all of the reunions," Summers said. "My husband started a newsletter about twenty-five years ago to help them all keep up and keep in touch. This group was his life." Reader Note - Trying to untangle a unit’s history / linage is a very difficult task and re-flagging units is not new to the Army. Painful as it is at times, a unit with strong ties and a good reputation is renumbered or its colors cased – to save that units history and it’s linage is a responsibility passed onto the new unit. Example: Why does the 252 Armor have WWII battle credits when it was formed in 1963? Answer: Because its grandfather saw action in WWII as the 630th Tank Destroyer BN. So, when a unit retains the linage of another, it’s expected of that unit to carry on the traditions and service to country as its caretaker of history. Note submitted by SGM Rick Jones.

Commo From The 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team

Editor’s Note: The following is a series of short emails from our Brigade pals to all of you OHA guys and to the 30th ID veterans who read the Old Hickory Chronicle newsletter. Walt- Thanks so much for all the great pictures and write ups. The stuff you are sending me is perfect. It will look great here and I will take some pics of them up so you guys can share at the Reunion. I will also get some pictures of the NC Flag we have flying over the HQ and art work being done with the crest and Tuskhogs. Thanks for all your help with this, I am going to forward to Norm Walls so he can do the same up at the big BDE FOB. The personal write ups are really good as they give our soldiers a glimpse of real people who fought and sometimes died wearing OLD HICKORY. Reading SSG Conover's story made me all the more proud to wear this patch. With every passing day I am so proud to be associated with a unit that has proven its worth over and over again. As Hank said at our last reunion, I see the long shadow cast from behind us of those who have marched before us, but it does not instill fear or worry. It instills a sense of confidence and pride in knowing what OLD HICKORY stands for and the true mettle of what these guys are made of. I know that Hank, George, SSG Conover, Dick, Buster and the so many I cannot name are with us everyday in spirit and for that I am thankful. We will not let any of them down, not now, not ever. Thanks again, Wes Morrison Hey Guys: I hope you guys have a great time this weekend at Louisa. I wish I was there with you. So far it is still quiet in the B CO 120TH IN area of operations. We are still doing joint combat patrols and other operations with our Iraqi Army counterparts. Today is a maintenance day for my platoon, so will are not outside the wire. The temp is between 110 and 120 today, humidity is 0. Well better go for now, you guys take care. Tell everyone I said hello. Take Care, Jimmy Hey Walt we are doing well getting settled in and hope all of you are doing good. Jimmy, Wes and me are all on the same FOB and we’re almost ready to take over from the outgoing unit. We all hope the reunion this year is as great as the ones past and we are all looking foward to being with ya’ll next year! Thanks Walt. Matt Hello everyone: I'm doing well and have no room to complain. Unlike the last deployment in 2003-2004, we have most everything we need here at FOB Falcon. You can look up FOB Falcon on the internet and see pictures and stories from soldiers that have been stationed here over the last few years - below is quick run down from what I have seen. ( I'll send some pictures soon ). Very nice chow hall - The feeding bell rings 4 times a day - Everyone’s schedule is based on chow hours. (I would hate to see some of our soldiers miss a meal - they may get PRE-traumatic stress disorder) Small PX - Most of the basic items can be found. Softball and soccer field - Sometimes I see soldiers playing - most times it’s too hot to play. Fire Department - Their biggest job is to inspect our buildings and tell us how 'jacked up" the wiring is and if you don't turn in a work order in to BASE OPERATIONS the next day - they will shut power to your building until it's fixed. The irony here is: All of the buildings here are made of some type of Iraqi knockoff brick stucco cancer causing concrete that wouldn't burn if you held a torch to it after throwing gallons of gasoline on it! Anyway - the fire prevention and "every building must have a fire warden" guys keep us safe. A few days later - about 10 guys from India show up with their one American electrician supervisor and attempt to fix the problem but can't because the "wiring is all jacked up'. They sign your "get out of jail free card" and pass it along to the fire department guys. Next inspection is next month.... We have a decent post office and Finance building. I have a single wet-chu (containerized housing unit). It's plain but nice. I share a bathroom-shower combo with some LTC that I have never met. I hear he is the Brigade Surgeon. I’m lucky to have “Wet-CHU” – basically I don’t have to shower and shave with the local population. Only draw back it seems is my water is not turned on most of the time – KBR is always working of the substandard plumbing or wiring constantly. Not sure if they are fixing anything – but they are sure doing a “lot of pointing and complaining how bad the work was performed by the last guys here”… One note: Don't take for granted when you flush a toilet. My chu’s toilet works this way - Do your business - Flush once to prepare to flush again - once the water fills the tank - flush once more and prey the business finally disappears from sight. It is very aggravating. (I learned the hard way to never use more toilet paper than needed). It may take 5 or 6 flushes.. There are many buildings here that just support the troops. Living areas, work shops, etc. We mainly stay in our own area and don’t venture to other units buildings, so I haven’t seen many of them inside. It’s the norm. Normally, if you see someone in your building that doesn’t have any business to conduct- they most likely are there to conduct grab and run missions. (A form of pillaging) Our FOB (Forward Operating Base) is right smack in the middle of an area called “The RASHIDS” in southern Baghdad. Mostly, a decrepit industrial area with about 2.1 million people living in the surrounding area. High crime and poverty rule the urban area. The houses and streets are basically blocks and blocks of the worst living conditions imaginable. Bad power, (Most only get 12 hours of electricity a day) and a lot of trash piles everywhere. Most areas have been “T-walled” off into their own sectors of living. ( T-walls = 12 x 8 blocks of T shaped concrete walls). We have many factories surrounding us and the air always has a heavy smell of smog or burning trash. We are staying busy performing our jobs as each day seems to

run into the next without much regards to what the actual day is. No day has a greater meaning than others, except for FRIDAY. FRIDAY is the holy day here and we get bombarded with Arabic-Islam preaching over load speakers directed towards our FOB. The message is always the same, it seems. They are trying to convert the wicked and sinners to live a better life – Anyway, I have run out of words to say for now. As some of you are aware, we lost 3 soldiers on the 21st of May. All three of them ( MAJ. Jason George and 1ST Lieutenant Leevi Barnard ) were a vital part of our staff. Since their deaths, our staff has struggled to get back to business as usual because we have a job to perform. We talk a good talk, but it is not the same. Small things don’t seem to matter anymore – we try to keep what’s really important in perspective and focus on those issues that impact us the most each day. All for now, Rick ... A small tribute follows:

1LT LEEVI BARNARD MAJ GEORGE - SHOWN WITH HAND ON HIP SGT PAUL BROOKS & FAMILY

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. ~From a headstone in Ireland

OHA Unit News

THE 30TH IDA VETERANS REUNION IS AUGUST 19-23 AT THE RAMADA-RALEIGH 1520 BLUE RIDGE ROAD…BE THERE!

Yes, the OHA Board knows times are tough, we know most of you work and given today’s economic troubles we all need to keep our jobs. That said, however, the OHA Board believes it’s very important to join Hank Stairs, Tommy Oglesby, Ed Middleton and all the other WWII veterans who will be attending the August reunion to continue to show our support for our WWII veterans and our Brigade brothers. Included in this newsletter is all the reunion information you need to sign up now. We say this all the time guys but I’ll say it again...our WWII veteran friends are not getting any younger ... none of us are so best you make sure to be there this time cuz’ time is running out!

Kings Mountain Military Time Line Event Memorial Day Weekend The Kings Mountain Military Time Line event, hosted by the National Park Service and Friends of Kings Mountain, was a great success again this year, although a bit "soggy." The following nine OHA members and family were in attendance: Brian & Susan Illner, Ross & Chase Mashburn, Jay Callaham, Ken & Oliver Hyatt, Ron & Hunter Crawley. Most of us arrived on Friday evening in time to set up camp before dark and enjoy the

hospitality of the 504th PIR, 82nd Airborne Division as they served grilled bratwurst and fixins'. These same gentlemen set up a movie theater in the park's amphitheater, serving burnt popcorn (apparently only us legs can make Jiffy-Pop over an open fire) and adding much R-rated, though hilarious, commentary to the otherwise G-rated WWII movies. Our camp was again adjacent to the Military History Club of the Carolinas vehicle display and, being in chronological order, near the Vietnam re-enactors.

Saturday morning started off well with no rain and just enough sunshine to keep the camp from getting too warm. Our WWII (Brian, Ross and Ron), WAC/ANC (Susan), and WWI (Jay) displays were set up and our Navy SP (Ken) secured the area. Spectators were numerous and the attendance at the three firing demonstrations was very good, despite the fact they ran a bit long with so may eras represented. French & Indian, Colonial, 1812, War Between the States, Span Am, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Panama, and modern military were all represented. We joined for part of the day on Saturday by General Pershing; Dane Coffman from SC is a major collector Dane Coffman from SC is a major collector ( his collection makes mine look like a shoebox full ) and the spitting' image of General BlackJack Pershing! I felt the personal story related in first person by Robbie Gouge (Vietnam) was particularly effective. Our era was the best represented with Early War, Airborne, Pacific Theater, German, & British re-enactors in the line up. As the afternoon closed the rain began with a fury although for less than an hour. Dinner was provided by the Friends of Kings Mountain and was again TERRIFIC! That evening we joined the MHCC in camp and were able to get a fire going with the Duralog and lighter fluid the 504th left behind for us.

On Sunday morning, it rained pretty hard from about 0400 until 0600. We suffered from considerable attrition in the morning and only three of us were left for the rest of the day. Surprisingly, the weather cleared, the spectators again came out in force, and the demonstrations were held without a hitch. After the final demo of the day, a teary-eyed woman walked up, patted my 30th Div patch, and said "I had to come over and talk to you. That was my daddy's unit. That was him alright." That may have been the highlight of my weekend, although immediately following that incident the sky fell open again with a terrible downpour that soaked everything we had left out to dry! Park Rangers ran around in the downpour helping reenactors quickly pack up and get on the road as the event came to a close. Our thanks to NPS Ranger Katherine Lynn, LT Jonathan Woolsey and the 504th PIR, and to all of our members who made the trip. I look forward to next year, hopefully without the rain! Article submitted by Ron Crawley

Guys … It’s Dues Time Again! Jim Higgins is just panting to get you guys to mail in your dues. At last count, we’ve only had 3 guys pony up the cash to be counted as full paying members. So let’s get with it because if you don’t pay your dues you’re don’t get the newsletter, you don’t have any OHA participation rights and you‘ll be branded a loser for life! So pay up Homer…here’s the current rates: A Renewal of a Regular Membership is $20.00 per year…A New Regular Membership is $30.00 for the first year only and an Associate Membership is always $30.00 per year, is a non-voting membership but members will also receive the OHA newsletter. Send checks to ole’ Jimbo at: The Old Hickory Association P.O. Box 1079 Wake Forest, NC 27588-1079.

OHA Shines at the “Price of Freedom” Museum Event "That's the gun I fired," said 91-year-old Wade Hillard during a demonstration of World War II rifles at Saturday's D-Day gathering at the Price of Freedom Museum on Weaver Road. Hillard, who lives with his niece, Rickie Stirewalt on Spring Oak Drive, served in the Army for four years after which he was drafted by the Navy to serve another year.

Don Shupe of Salisbury demonstrated the use of the M1 Garand combat rifle, which fired off eight rounds from one enbloc clip. The Germans learned to recognize the sound the clip made when the rounds were all fired, he said, and would then attack. The Americans, however, realized what the Germans were doing and would have others rifles loaded and ready to fire when one finished. The Germans came out, he said, "and the Germans went down."

Paul Gill of Huntersville demonstrated an M1903 A3 bolt-action rifle used in training. The rifle had to be loaded with a clip containing five rounds and didn't fire nearly as quickly as the other rifle. Bobby Mault, who started the military museum in the cafeteria of the old Patterson School, planned the event to observe the 65th anniversary of D-Day, the first day of the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944. The planned World War II re-enactment was canceled due to the threat of rain. But just like with any other project he's worked on, Mault said when one thing doesn't work out, something else turns up to take its place. "I always put my efforts and commitment out there," he said, "and the Lord helps out."

Displays of military memorabilia, including several restored Jeeps, were spread out on the grounds on the other side of the school. Members of The Old Hickory Association were among the people displaying war equipment, uniforms and various other memorabilia. The OHA's mission is to preserve, restore and display military memorabilia from the World War II era to ensure that the sacrifices made by WWII veterans are not forgotten. Members include veterans and people who want to honor them. Neil Trivette of Boonville, for example, joined as a way to honor his father. Member Walt Sowinski of Greensboro manned the command tent set up as part of the exhibit. "This would be the nerve center for the company," he said. The memorabilia is all privately purchased and owned...."We're not subsidized by anybody," he said.

Jay Callaham of Greensboro, who served in the National Guard in the 1970s, filled three tables with WWI military memorabilia from his collection. The rarest, he said, is an emergency ration tin from World War I, still containing the rations including beef bouillon and cocoa beverage powder. Callaham said he has purchased the items in his collection at yard sales, auctions and on eBay. The emergency rations tin, for example, was advertised on eBay as a cocoa tin because it had cocoa powder in it. Other items in his collection included a mustard grenade, soldiers' diaries, an English-French/French-English dictionary and New Testaments carried by the soldiers in the trenches. One New Testament had a metal cover reading "May This Keep You Safe From Harm." Callaham said people bought these for their loved ones in service thinking the metal cover might help protect them. He pointed to a military wristwatch in his collection, explaining that before the war, men carried pocket watches because wristwatches were considered feminine.

John Kirkman, who was assisting with the event, helped coordinate the outdoor events while Mault greeted visitors inside the museum. Though he is not a veteran, 75-year-old Mault said he can still remember how hard it was at 8 years of age to watch his four brothers, James, Ray, Claude and Ed, leave to serve in World War II. There was a time when three of them were missing at the same time, he said. Back then, Mault said the telephone didn't ring unless it was an emergency. "I can still see my mother and daddy going into shock when the telephone would ring," he said fighting tears. "I get emotional." Fortunately, all four returned home safely.

Mault said his massive collection of military memorabilia began when Dan Ritchie of China Grove gave him his Civil Air Patrol manual, log book and other equipment to display at the Texaco station he has run on N.C. 152 for years. After that, he said other veterans started bringing in their uniforms, equipment and memorabilia for him to display. Worley King of Saw Road, who walked by while Mault was talking, for example, gave him his U.S. Army drill sergeant uniform to display. James L. Nesbitt of Kannapolis spent some time looking for his unit in the Army 1st Battalion 16th Infantry in one of many books spread out across the tables in the museum. Saturday was Nesbitt's first trip to the Price of Freedom Museum, though he had seen some of the uniforms and memorabilia displayed in Mault's service station. Nesbitt received a Purple Heart for his service in the Vietnam War. He was injured three times, including being burned by napalm and injured by a grenade and shrapnel. "It was a politicians' war," he said of Vietnam. Once, when some dignitaries came to visit the troops, Nesbitt said he shared that opinion only to have them move on to someone else, and he ended up "getting chewed out" by his commander. His brother, Ivan, also served in Vietnam and was awarded a Purple Heart after being shot in combat. Mault enjoyed seeing all the people in his museum. An artist rendering displayed at the entrance shows his plans for the school building, including separate rooms for each branch of the military and an auditorium for films and presentations. It is his hope that teachers will bring school groups to tour the Price of Freedom Museum and that veterans will use it as a gathering place.

30th Infantry Division Reunion Registration Form

Listed below are the registration and meal costs for the reunion. Please enter how many people will be participating in each meal and total the amount. Send that amount payable to: 30th IDA, in the form of a check or money (no credit cards will be accepted). All reservation forms and payments must be received by mail on or before 1 August, 2009. After that date, reservations will be accepted on a space available basis. We suggest you make a copy of this form before mailing. Please do not staple or tape your payment to this form. Mail to: 30th IDA, c/o Kevin Hinton 105 Heatherwood Drive Garner, NC 27529 Registration Package Price per person # of people Total Registration Fee $30.00 _________ _____ Wednesday Reception Dinner $17.54 _________ _____ Thursday: Continental Breakfast $10.34 _________ _____ Dinner $21.91 _________ _____ Friday: Continental Breakfast $10.34 _________ _____ Dinner $25.00 _________ _____

Saturday: Full Breakfast $13.25 _________ _____ Saturday Banquet $21.91 _________ _____ Sunday: Continental Breakfast $10.34 _________ _____ All prices listed above include tax & gratuity Total Amount Payable to: 30th IDA, OIF Chapter $_________ ***Total for all meals & registration fee is: $157.54 per person*** Please print name

First_______________________Last______________________________Nickname________

Regiment__________________________________Company___________________________

Spouse (if attending)___________________________________________________________

Guest Names_________________________________________________________________

Street Address_________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip code______________________________________Phone (____)____________

Dietary/Disability Restrictions_____________________________________________________

Emergency Contact/phone number____________________________________Arrival

Date_______________________________Departure Date________________________

30th Infantry Division Association’s 2009 National Reunion in Raleigh, NC

August 19 – 23, 2009

Ramada-Raleigh 1520 Blue Ridge Road

Raleigh, NC 27607 Phone 919-832-4100 / Reservation line: 800-441-4709

website : blueridge.pmcproperties.com

Reservations can be made by calling the hotel direct at 800-441-4709.

30th I D A – Hotel Reservation Form

Name________________________________________________________Phone ( )__________________

Address_____________________________________________________________________________________

City_________________________________________________State______________________Zip___________

All Rooms Are NON - SMOKING

Arrival Date_______________________DepartureDate_____________________

# Of rooms_________________# of people______________Handicap Access____________

King Bed__________________ Two Queen Beds_____________________

RATE: $62.00 plus tax (12.75%) Rate will be honored until 14, August 2009. GROUP CODE is: CGWW2

CUT OFF DATE: August 14, 2009 is cut-off date. Reservations made after this date will be processed on space & rate availability.

_______AMEX ______VISA ______MASTERCARD

CARD NUMBER_______________________________________________________EXP. DATE______________ Signature (regardless of payment method)__________________________________________________________

Check-In: 3:00 P.M. Check-Out: 12:00 P.M. Pet Policy: Sorry, no pets.

Email: info.blueridge@pmcproperties.com

Old Hickory Pin-Up

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Board of Directors

President

Neil Trivette 336-367-3670

ntrivette@triad.rr.com Vice-President Walt Sowinski 336-379-8007

wsowinski@triad.rr.com Treasurer

Jim Higgins 919-556-1014

higginsboats@yahoo.com

Secretary Mike Owens 919-380-1771

Garand7449@aol.com

Sgt. Of Arms Jay Callaham 336-854-2008

callaham@bellsouth.net Reenactments / Recruiting

Clint Yarbrough / Charlie Noble

Marksmanship: Jim Higgins

Drill & Ceremony:

Mark Burfete 828-863-2253

mrburfete@alltel.net

Displays, 30th ID History –TBD

Mailing Address: The Old Hickory Association

P.O. Box 1079 Wake Forest, NC 27588-1079

OHA Website:

www.30thinfantrydivision.com Newsletter Editor:

Walt Sowinski Email: wsowinski@triad.rr.com

Upcoming Events July 4th 2009 4th Parade Faith, NC Contact: Don Shupe July 4th 2009 July 4th Display-tentative State Capitol Grounds Raleigh, NC Contact: TBD August 19 – 23, 2009 30th IDA Reunion Raleigh, NC Contact: Walt Sowinski Contact: Neil Trivette Nov. ?? 2009 ??? Camp Butner-tentative OHA Training Weekend Contact: Jim Higgins

Items For Sale OHA Items: Grey T-shirt w/OHA logo, S-XL $10., XXL $12.50 Golf Shirt, White or Grey, w/ OHA logo, S-XL $22.50 XXL $25.00 Grey Sweatshirt w/ OHA logo, S-XL $18.00, XXL $20.00 Ball Cap, Grey body w/ blue bill w/ OHA logo $11.00 Prices do NOT include shipping. Brett says to “Order directly” from: Custom Embroidery Company 123 Wooding Ave. Danville, VA 24541 ph. 434-799-3153 ….. Tell them you are an OHA Member. Reproduction Items: WWII Reproduction Rations - Complete reproduction of WW2 K ration, C ration and D bars, as well as other such accessories as Foot Powder, Charms, PK Gum, fuel tablets, batteries and much more. Catalog available. . www.angelfire.com/nc/stug or mail to: Todd Hogan, 225 S. Melville Street, Graham, NC 27253 or you can e-mail me at -thogan@triad.rr.com World War II Impressions – U.S. Army uniforms and accessories. Catalog available. 7165 Adwen Street, Downey, CA 90241 Fax and Phone – (562) 927-6922 Email at – www.wwiiimpressions.com/contact.htm What Price Glory – Reproduction uniforms and accessories. No Catalog available. 238-A Commission Street, Salinas, CA 93901 Toll Free Order Line) – (888 ) 431-2351 Inquiry Line ( 831 ) 754-2351 http://www.whatpriceglory.com/usunif.htm

The Old Hickory Chronicle is the official newsletter of The Old Hickory Association. It is published 6 times a year in January, March, May, July, September and November. OHA members are encouraged to submit articles which will always be welcome.