The Museum of Franco-American Cooperation in Blerancourt, Aisne, France, is alive and well. William Orrick, Director of AFS Archives, recently paid a visit to the museum to get an update on the AFS exhibit housed there in the Florence Gould Pavilion of the chateau, once the property of Anne Morgan and given by her to the French government. Two years ago the new pavillion was opened with some fanfare and the participation of French and American governmental notables. In preparation for this occasion AFS Archives had restored to good condition and returned to Blerancourt certain documents, paintings, and objects first given to the museum in 1938 and sent back to New York in the early sixties for lack of money and staff to operate the museum. With a gift from the Gould Foundation the French government appropriated a matching sum and the
Blerancourt ..•...•••.....•.. 1 Imperi.alWar Museum•. : .•. ,2-3 In Memoriam••..• :.:...• ';:..•.•.• 3 Mailing List •••..••. \ .•....• ;.3 Accessions .•.•. ; •.•.•..... ;3-5 . us Army Disch~ges.; •..•••.• 5 Reunion ::Anyone? ..•. ::•.•.... \5-6 C Platoon· 485 COy";<.c .. :.:.~:.:6. Reminder .:•.••....•......•..•...• ;:..• 7 Publications .•• 7 Advisory:·Coamitt.ee/t;· •.. ;·,7-8 Last Post" "/ ..:~:,~,:,:;;jj~:::o•••.
>.•.......•..
pavilion was constructed, consisting of an art gallery and a renovated museum area for the AFS collection. The gala opening featured Walter Curley, the U.S. Ambassador to France, M. Jack Lang, French Minister of Culture, Pierre Rosenberg, Chief Curator of the Division of Paintings of the Louvre Museum and Director of Blerancourt Museum, local politicos, John Young, President of the Florence Gould Foundation, and representing AFS, Arthur Howe, ME 2, and former president of AFS. The Museum was also the scene of a joint celebration ofWWII drivers and 125 AFS students from 20 countries in July of 1990. Since that time the museum has restored another of the four pavilions of the chateau to house its growing collection of documents and its library. Drivers who are in France are urged to enjoy the drive from Paris to beautiful Picardy and visit the museum and the historic town of Blerancourt. Information is forthcoming from AFS Archives in New York or the AFS office in Paris.
Your archives director went on to London to pay a call at the Imperial War Museum to view their films featuring AFS in WWII. Arrangements were made to convert portions of these films to American VHS, and should be available for purchase here in the near future. Mr. Orrick also talked with Roderick Suddaby, Keeper of Documents, Penny Ritchie Calder, the Museum's Exhibition Officer, and Jane Fish, Keeper of Films. Mr. Peter Simkins, Museum Historian, was Orrick's contact and host for the day. It seems possible that AFS will be asked to contribute to an exhibition being planned for the 50th Anniversary of El Alamein. A visit was also paid to St. Georges, the El Alamein church in Enham--Alamein, Dorset. The church was created as a memorial and everything in it - altar, pews, windows, et. al was given by individuals and organizations associated with the battle. We hope to establish a Field Service memorial there next year, to be dedicated during the 50th Anniversary celebration. More of that later.
Next came a call on George Worthington, Honorable General Secretary of the 8th Army Veterans Association, at his home in Hyde, Cheshire. As you may be aware, the Association has an annual commemoration of El Alamein at Blackpool. Next year will be the big one, the 50th. Besides the event at Blackpool, two trips to El Alamein itself are being planned for next October. We hope that enough AFSers will be interested in attending one or both events to form our own contingent to the U.K. and perhaps to Egypt too. Plans are being made jointly with the AFS travel department here in New York, and as they develop we will clue you in. Meanwhile, you should know that Mr. Worthington would welcome applications for membership from Field Service men who served with the 8th Army. If you are interested in applying, write to: George Worthington, MM, Hon. General Secretary 8th Army Veterans' Association 55 Travis Street, Hyde, Cheshire SK14 IP A England If you consider attending next years celebration or in joining up with the association, you should know that we supplied Mr. Worthington with a complete list of the British personnel who served with AFS in both 567 and 485 Coy. It is possible that you could make connections again with some of your old British comrades. Archives would be glad to furnish you with lists if your memory needs a bit of a jogging. Mr. Worthington presented your Archives with a handsome and, I might add, a weighty history of WWII, replete with illustrations. Also, among other things, he presented us with an 8th Army
tie, now on display in Archives; it makes a beautiful compaillon for the AFS tie. You can also negotiate for a beautiful 50th Anniversary Commemorative Plate (china) which has been struck off and one of which was on display in Mr. Worthington's living room. The cost including postage is, I believe, about twenty-five pounds sterling.
Many of you will note the presence of two farillliar names in the list of those who have died recently -- Dot Field and Bob Applewhite. Dot was known to almost all drivers who came through the New York office either corillng or going. Later and for many years, she was an important person in the AFS student scholarship program. As you may remember, she was made an honorary member of the Field Service Association. Apple, of course, served from 1942 to 1945 in ME 30, FFC, and CM 94 and was Secretary of the Student Program orgaillzation from 1960 to 1990. In this capacity he was the contact for those of you who needed help from the New York office. Memorial services were held at AFS headquarters in New York for Dot and Apple.
The enclosed mailing list is our best effort. Maintenance of such a list is a difficult task. If you see errors or can make additions of names and addresses not in uded, please let us know.
During the past few months the AFS Archives received the collection of
the late WWI volunteer, Edward H. Pattison (TMU 526). The Edward Pattison Collection 1915-1924 is particu1arly sigillficant, not only for the scope and diversity of the materials (archival materials, correspondence, photographs, books, Pattison's AFS Reserve Mallet and U.S. Army uillforms and accoutrements of WWI), but also for the fact that it rillrrors the creation of the Cornell Uillv. Uillt in 1917, and the formation of the Reserve Mallet in the same year. The Cornell Uillv. Uillt was the first college or uillversity to volunteer as carillon drivers (Reserve Mallet) rather than ambulance drivers. It was als the first uillt to raise the American flag on the French Front after the Uillted States' declaration in April 1917. Pattison's collection also demonstrates the subsequent take-over of the American Field Service by the Uillted States Army in the Fall of 1917. Following service with the Reserve Mallet and the U.S. Ar';,'V Motor Transport Corps, Edward Pattison joined the U.S. Army Field Artillery and at the end of the war returned to the Uillted States. All of the items in the collection were the gift of the son of the late Edward H. Pattison, Attorney Edward W. Pattison of Troy and the Pattison farillly. The American Field Service Archives and Museum is also most appreciative of the generous financial support given to the Archives and Museum from the Pattison Family Fund through the Mohawk Hudson Commuillty Foundation. The gift will help to sustain our collections and our ongoing efforts to collect and preserve the history of the American Field Service. Among other WWI materials received by the Archives and Museum were AFS uniform and French artillery uillform belonging to the late AFS WWI
ambulance driver Edward L. Bill (SSU
1). One of the more interesting descriptive accounts of WWI thru the eyes of an AFS volunteer is the diary of Ralph E. Ellinwood (TMU 397 - SSU 68) written in 1917-19, which touches upon the subject of American neutrality. This diary was donated by Ralph E. Ellinwood's son, John C. Ellinwood, also an AFS volunteer driver during WWII (CM 88). We have also received an addition to our extensive collection of WWI visual records - a photographic album of Frank G. Fiedler (TMU 184) which includes photographs of Dartmouth Ambulance Unit II, before the sailing to France in June 1917 and rare pictures of Dartmouth training camp for Reserve Mallet (carnion) drivers at Jouaignes. Other photographic donations include a set of 107 photographs taken by A. Piatt Andrew (AFS Inspector General) between 1915-17 and given to the Archives by H.D. Sleeper scholar, Attorney E. Parker Hayden, Jr. (Mr. Hayden is also one of the editors of the Beauport Chronicle) and two photographs of Section 9 in Alsace in the Fall of 1916, donated by WWI driver, John C. B. Moore (SSU 9 and TMU 526). We are also fortunate to have received a number of the WWII drivers' diaries. Among recent accessions are "World War II, AFS-style" by John Hodel (ME 4. FFC. CM 53. FR 3 T) which is a well written account of Hodel's experience with the British Ninth and Eighth Army in the Middle East beginning with Feb. 1942, his service with the Free French Forces in the Western Desert and subsequently with AFS 485 Coy aiding the Allied Forces in Italy. This account concludes with Hodel's employment with the revived AFS French Unit serving the First French Army and his repatriation in
Dec. 1944. The Archives have also received a copy of Harold Gilmore's (ME 4) "Reminiscences of the war in the 'Western Desert" -- written in early 194243. This account includes maps and photographs and covers Gilmore's service with the Ninth and Eighth British Armies. Gilmore's experiences first as a driver and then as a section leader make it a memorable record of AFS service in the Middle East (beginning in Palestine) and later at El Alamein in Oct. - Nov. 1942. Other war diaries include Thomas Hale's (CM 47. CM 97) "The Cauldron 1943-1945; Recollections and letters of a Field Service Driver" (Alexandria, Egypt, to Bergen Belsen, Germany). This diary written between 1943-1945 records Hale's experiences as a driver with 567 Coy. The diary details Hale's voyage from Egyptian and Libyan desert battlefields in Fall 1943, through the Italian campaign (where he saw action around Monte Cassino, Rome, and beyond), his return home on leave in Oct. 1944 and his re-enlistment with AFS in March 1945. At that time 567 Coy. as a part of British Liberation Arrnies was transferred to southern France and then on up following "Goldflake" route to Germany. Hale stayed with the company through the push northward and participated with other drivers in providing help to liberated P.O.W.'s and to the inmates of Belsen concentration camp in April-May 1945. A memorable poem 'The Bombing of Monte Cassino" was given to the Archives by its author, Oliver M. Barres (CM 47). Barres was one of 500 AFS drivers who served with US Fifth and British Eighth Armies under fire at Cassino and other points along the Gustav Line in February-May 1944.
-T-h-e-J-a-n-u-s------------~5,.--------------....,V~ol[".V\'
This poem is dedicated to the Veterans of the "Battle of Cassino". Barres was also the official representative of the AFS at "Phoenix 89" ceremonies marking the 45th Anniversary of the liberation of Cassino in May 1944. Among the personal collections recently donated to the Archives is the collection of the late Robert M. Applewhite (ME 30,FFC.CM 94.IB 60-T, Secretary AFS Intercultural Student Programs 1960-90) which includes various military artifacts, diary (1943), scrapbook (1943-45) and photographs. Apple's collection echoes his experience with the British and Free French Forces during the last war. Another valuable collection is the collection of Wilbur Bernardi (CM 43) which contains certificates, flag, drawings, and memorabilia (1943-45). Mr. William Du Val (IB 1. IB 39) has kindly donated two scrapbooks with photographs and documents which record his AFS service in India-Burma with the Fourteenth and Twelfth British Armies, as well as service at AFS HQ Calcutta between July 1943 and October 1945. The Archives has also received a set of photographs taken in India-Burma by Joseph Farrell (CM 97. IB 59-T). Mrs. Eileen Simpson donated a war time journal kept by her late husband Robert Simpson (IB 1) to the AFS Archives. This diary written in 1943-1945 includes drawings and documents Simpson's service with AFS in the Burma and Italy campaigns. We welcome donations of any literary, documentary, or graphic materials, including photographs, and artifacts that reflect the history of AFS and the distinguished service rendered by the
men of the American Field Service from 1914-1917 and from 1939-1945.
US Army Discharges As of this date, AFS Archives has certified 200 WWII .drivers for US Army discharges. Certification was also given for 2 WWI drivers. For your convenience, please see letter from Asst. Secretary of the Air Force, J.G. Coo¡ per found on page 10 of this publication. If by chance you did not receive the necessary papers from Archives and if you think you may qualify under the above terms, call or write AFS Archives & Museum, Attn.: Eleanora Golobic, Archivist.
C Platoon 567 Coy has made a habit of an annual reunion largely through the efforts of Tom Hale and the enthusiastic cooperation of those members who live within a reasonable distance of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Tom keeps us informed of their activities and his letter about the 1990 get-together in Vineyard Haven seems worth quoting, reflective as it is of the warm and nostalgic feelings that may prompt others of you to promote regional reunions. 'We had 20 drivers and 15 wives, and it was as though 47 years had rolled away in seconds. We are all older, stouter, deafer, and arthritic,
but the friendships were as yesterday. There was no loss of words, and it was an emotional high for all of us. One of the best aspects of the reunion was how well and happily the wives got along. What an attractive group of ladies--a fine "bunch of bints. " Everyone got here by chartered bus about 6 and we had cocktails and all sorts of goodies on our lawn in the midst of, and I have to say it, Anne's beautiful garden. At 7:15 the bus returned to take us to the Shipyard where our son Phil had set up a long table to seat 40 people (4 of our youngsters, 35-40, came too). Table cloths, Island Zinfandel wine, and a delicious Italian spaghetti dinner with candles on the table and lights strung from the bows of boats beside us. The place cards, by the way, were white painted genuine horseshoes with names in red ink. Speeches, toasts, and finally 8th Anny songs and limericks starting off with the Egyptian National Anthem--all somewhat censored! The bus returned at 9:30 and took everyone back to the hote~ and the next morning we took off on a bus tour of the Island, narrated by T.R We arrived back here at 11:45 just as it started to rain. The beach cookout had to be cancelled, but the porch is big enough and covered so we were able to have 4 tables of 8 people each plus some extra chairs. Here we had chargrilled lamb kebabs and seafood kebabs and wine and beer.
By 1:30 it was pouring, but by then everyone had to flee to catch planes and ferries. When everyone had left, Anne and I almost burst into tears; we've never been so sony to see people go. All we can say is that we're detennined to do it again!" ATTENTION CASSINO,
C PLATOON
MARCH-ApRIL
485 COY AT 1944
Almost two years ago we received a card from a member of the Eighth Army Veterans Association asking if we could put him in touch with any Field Service men he might have served with. At the time we were unable to respond helpfully. Part of his card reads: I am an ex-8th Anny "brown knee': I serviced both in Libya and Italy 1942/1944. I was in the Royal Anny Medical Corps, 26th Field Ambulance, 4th Indian Division, after earlier serving with the British 50th Division. In the 26th Field Ambulance in Italy a number of your lads saved us--no praise high enough is possible. Unfortunately, I cannot recall any names. The 3 brigades in the 4th Indian Division were 5th, 7th, & 11th brigades. I was in the 5th brigade--our division emblem was the ''Red Eagle" on a black background. We lost very heavily at Cassino, Italy. I look forward to hearing from anyone who may be interested." Tony Roach His address, where he was living in retirement, was: Calle Quintana 26, I-H 33009 Oviedo,
Asturias, ESPANA (Spain) Anyone care to write?
If you wish to have a Field Service tie but have not gotten around to ordering it, give us a call or write us, enclosing your check ($25) and specifying four-in-hand or bow. They are handsome, navy blue with diagonal stripes of red, white, blue, and gold and bearing the AFS eagle emblem. The silk cloth was made in the
Arnis de la France: L'American Field Service ou Ie Service de campagne americain aupres de l'armee francaise, 1914-1917; 1939-1945 par L.D. Geller (1989);traduction: Pascal Dayez Burgeon $ 2.00 Edward H. Pattison Collection in the AFS Archives, 1915-1924 by L. D. Geller (1990) $ 2.50
U.K.
A Partial Inventory of the American Field Service Photographic Archives of World War I, 1914-1918 by Eleanora N. Golobic (1988-1990) $ 5.00
Below you will find a list of AFS Archives publications most of which deal with some phase of AFS History:
Record Group #2: Elements of The American Field Service Archives of World War II, 1939-1945 (French Unit Archives) by L. D. Geller (1990) $ 4.00
The American Field Service Archives of World War 1,1914-1917 by L.D. Geller (1989) $50.00
The First Thirty Years: AFS International Scholarships, 1947-1976 by William P. Orrick (1991) $ 7.50
The American Field Service by Andrew Gray (1989) $3.00 The American Field Service in the Battle of Verdun, 1916-1917 by L. D. Geller $ 2.00 American Field Service Archives Photographs, Facsimiles and Artifacts for Exhibition: Friends of France, 1914-1917, 1939-1945 (listing) by Eleanora N. Golobic (1989) $ 2.00 American Field Service Archives Photographs, Facsimiles and Artifacts for Exhibition: Friends of France, 1914-1917, 1939-1945 (listing) by Eleanora N. Golobic (1990) $ 2.00 Friends of France: The AFS with the French Armies, 1914-1917;1939-1945 by L. D. Geller (1989) $ 3.50
Your archives staff is fortunate to have a strong Advisory Committee. You will recognize the names of most of them: Ward Chamberlin, Chairman:
Washington, DC; President and General Manager, WETA 26; former Senior Vice President, Public Broadcasting Service; former Chairman, AFS Board of Directors; former Chairman, AFS Trustee Members; WWII driver (ME 37, CM 104, IB 59-T).
The Janus
Arthur Howe, Jr.: Lyme, CT.; Educational Consultant; Corporate Director; Foundation Trustee; former President, American Field Service International Scholarships; WWII driver (ME 2). Edwin Masback Jr.: President, Masback Hardware Co.; former AFS Treasurer and Acting Director General; former Chairman, AFS Board of Directors; former Chairman, AFS Trustee Members and Interim Chief Executive Officer; WWII driver (ME 37). Livingston L. Biddle, Jr.: Washington, DC; member of AFS Veterans Committee; former head of the National Endowment for the Arts; former member AFS Board of Trustees; WWII driver (ME 32, FR 6) Andrew Gray: Historian/Writer, grandnephew of A Piatt Andrew George Herrick: grandson of the late Myron T. Herrick, twice U.S. Ambassador to France Robert Saudek: ex-AFS host father and former member of AFS Board of Trustees; currently in charge of the TV division of the Library of Congress The committee has supported the activities of the Archives and has been influential in winning increasing support of the Archives by the Board and administration of AFS Intercultural Programs.
Below are the names of drivers notice of whose death has reached us, some only recently.
Alfred MacArthur Brace - SSU 9-10 Robert T. Burr - SSU 68 Vernon E. Caughell - SSU 14-10 John S. Chafee - TMU 397 Malcolm Cowley - TMU 526 Colgate W. Darden, Jr. - SSU 1 Grant A Dibert - SSU 67 Dr. William Dock - SSU 2 Dows Dunham - SSU 12, TMU 184-609 Arthur R. Evans - SSU 4 George T. Griffin - TMU 397 J. Clifford Hanna - SSU 1 Herbert S. Harvey - SSU 17 Alton C. Ingraham - SSU 70 Ira M. Kaufman - TMU 397 Russell Leavitt - SSU 626 James B. Mabon, Jr. - SSU 65 Thomas C. Manton, Jr. - TMU 184 Wildey H. Mitchell - TMU 133 Lawrence J. Moran - SSU 71 Francis Philip Nash, Jr. - TMU 397 Arthur D. Osborn - TMU 526 Earl D. Osborn - SSU 3-15 Arthur E. Ralston - TMU 526 William G. Rice, Jr. - SSU 1-66 Charles Carr Ringwalt - SSU 1 Rowland A Robbins, Jr. - SSU 65 Willard D. Saulnier - SSU 64 Lloyd B. Seaver - SSU 19 Milton G. Silver - SSU 65 Ernest N. Stanton - SSU 4 Earnest V. Stires - SSU 65 Benjamin Strong, Jr. - TMU 133 David Van Alstyne, Jr. - SSU 15 J. Parker Van Zandt - TMU 133 Edward A Weeks, Jr. - SSU 71 Kenneth T. White - SSU 4 Bertram F. Willcox - SSU 19
Warren E. Allman - IB 55 Joseph R. Ainsworth - IB 2 Robert Applewhite - ME30,FFC,CM94 Frank A Bayer - CM 86 Robert B. Benham - IE 45 Aldis B. Browne - IB 54 David C. Burton - FR 40 Stephan E. Cole - ME 33, CM 103 Bernard K Curley - ME 4 Bernard F. Desloge - CM 50 Hammond B. Douglas, Jr. - ME 4 Edgar S. Driver - CM 41 Donald H. Easton - FR 40 W.B Eberhard-ME8,MEI6,CM64,FR3-T Paul C. Elliott, Jr. - IB 36 Benjamin Emlen-CM 100 & 102,IB 59-T Allen R. Emmert, Jr. - CM 75 Edgar A Fitter, Jr. - CM 41 Gordon B. Forbes - ME 38, CM 98 Robert G. Frazer - CM 49 Gerald J. Griffin - ME 26, IB 60 Frank B. Hauserman - CM 41 John S. Hinch - IB 31 William J. Hooton, Jr. - ME 36, FR 4 John H. Huntington - ME 16 William R. Jarvis, Jr. - ME 33, IB 31 Harold J. Lepard - CM 94 Donald K McBride - IB 58 Stephen H. McInnis - CM 59, IB 59 Thomas S. McPheeters, Jr. - IB 19 Clifford F. Messinger - CM 47 Gardner Moon - CM93, IB59-T Frank M. Morton - FR 40
Dir. AFS Archives & Museum William Orrick Archivist Eleanora
Golobic
Department Assistant Donna Thompson
The Janus AFS Archives & Museum 313 East 43rd Street New York, NY 10017 USA
John S. Mount - CM 66 John E Nettleton - ME 1 Howell F. Nomer - ME 37 Thomas Payne - CM 47 Charles I. Pierce, Jr. - ME 26 Ralph H. Poole, Jr. - CM 90 HenryS. Redmond - CM 44 George B. Ruhrn, Jr. - ME 32, FFC David S. Summerville - CM 93, IB 59-T Reginald B. Taylor - CM 90 Richard C. Tripp - IB 32 John LeBaron Turner - IB 1 Richard C. Vivian - IB 28 R. Bayly Winder, IV - ME 4, FR 5 Alvin W. Wright - ME 4
Janus was one of the oldest of Roman gods. He was the god of beginnings and of openings -- doors and windows -- hence, two faces, one looking in, one out, or one looking to the past, one to the future. In times of war, his temple was always to be left open, so that he could go to the aid of the Romans.
TT1;h;;-e1J':;a';;'n;;-us;-O------------:l;"';'O:-O--------------V-o-1.-V
, U!=onthe :ecorrrnendation of t.'1e I:ep=.r'::1lentof I:efense CivilianIMilitary Service Re'liew Board, the service of the groups knc:wnas "U.S. Civilians of the l'rnerican Field Service (AfSJ VitloServed Overseas O;:erationally in World War I During the Period August 31, 1917 to January L 1918" and "U.s. Civil ians of the l>rnerican Field Service (AFS) \'ho Served Overseas Uneer U.s. Armies and U.s. Arrnj Groups in World War II Ouring the Period I:ecenber 7, 1941 through May8, 1945" shall be considered active dJty for the PJq:oses of all lc301saOninistered by the I:erartJnent of Veterans Affairs. To receive
eligibili
recognition, ty criteria:
each awlicant
must meet the follc:wing
1. Served as q 0. S. citizen in an AFS uni t OIlerseas as evidenced by a fOIJllal, sigred enlistment p!per or roster enrollment; and 2. Served honorably dJring the Feriod August 31, 1917 to January 1, 191B. AFS Fersonnel who fa)led to canplete their enlist:ments honorably were dropped fran pJblished rosters of the AFS. Per9:Jns who are not on t.'1ese rasters are therefore deaned to have not served honorably unless they offer conclusive E!'lidence that such an anission •••• as errooeous.
1. Served as a 0. S. ci tizen in an AFS uni t OITerseas as evidenced by a fOIJllal, signed enlistment p!per or roster enrollment; and 2. Served honorably llI'lder any of the follc:wing 0. S. Arrr¥ organizations during the period described for each: 5th U.S. Army, January 5, 1943 to I:eoember 16, 1944 15th Armj Group, r:ecenber 16, 1944 through 'f-E Day, May B, 1945 7th U.S. Army, July 10, 1943 to August 1, 1944 6th Arrnj Group, August 1, 1944 through 'f-E Day, May B, 1945 12th ArmyGroup, July 14, 1944 through V-E Day, !'by B, 1945 1st U.S. Army, OCtober 20, 1943 through V-E Day, May B, 1945 AFS personnel who failed to canplete their enlistInents honorably were dropt:ed fran p.1blished rosters of the AFS. Peroons who are not on these rosters are therefore deaned to have not served honorably unless they offer ",mel",,'v. ~ide~ that ""'" ~ ~is' W5~
per tary of the Air Force (M3npcw , Reserve Affairs, Installations and Ell'lircnnentl