EVER FORWARD
PROLOGUE
This is the history of brave men, the 99th Reconnaissance Troop of the 99th Infantry Division. We have, in this tract, recorded the outstanding events and personalities of those men. We are proud of our achievements and desire, in this, to reveal the authentic details that have accompanied us on the road to victory. This account is no more spectacular than other soldiers’ journeys. This will give to us and our loved ones, in concise form a permanent record to forever cherish.
We have not tried to make this into a formal story. We have divided the contents into two parts or chapters. One is the origin, training and life in the states. The other is military history in the European Theatre of Operations.
Being limited in space, we have not written about every individual. But all were essential for success - a success that can be symbolized by a badge, authorized by the War Department to be worn by members of the troop. This badge was on a blue oval, a gold caltrop imbrued proper above a blue scroll with the motto: “Forever Forward” in gold lettering. The blue in the field stands now for gallant work on those doughboy patrols into the Siegfried Line. It stands too for Recon’s stand in it’s dug-in positions at Kalterherberg. It stands for all this and also the doughboys who rode to battle on Recon’s vehicles, where once it only stood for the troop’s origin as Hq. and Hq. Co., 197th and 198th Infantry Brigade.
The gold stands for those spearheads, and Task Forces and reports that the 99th Reconnaissance Troop contributed to the annals of the First and Third Army instead of just meaning branch cavalry. It’s motto: “Ever Forward” finally takes it’s meaning in all the troop’s own men who have never been known to turn back or falter in courage and at any price or sacrifice have gone and will go “Ever Forward”.
Indeed then to our fallen comrades, we humbly pay tribute. They shall never be forgotten for their sacrifice toward our success. Thus we thank God for the many mercies and blessings bestowed upon us and the comfort of his love.
“EVER FORWARD”
99TH INFANTRY DIVISION IN USA and ETO
A COMPILED HISTORY OF THE 99TH RECONNAISSANCE TROOP
TECHNICAL STAFF
T/4 FRANK J RUSNAK T/4 ANTHONY KOCH
EDITORIAL STAFF
EDITOR: Pfc M P GRACE
SPORTS: Pfc M C HERCHA
BATTLE RECORDS: T/5 W J OSTERKAMP
CONTRIBUTIONS: T/5 JAMES FRAME
HUMOR: MONROE I CRAWFORD
UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF
CPT ROY C LUEDERS, TROOP COMMANDING OFFICER
1LT WILLIAM K WORLEY, TROOP EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Gratitude is herein expressed to the platoon officers, Lts Staley, Von Burg, Gettman, for their able cooperation as well as to Communications and Liaison Officers Lts Roser and Lamkin and to the countless others in the troop whose unforgettable assistance has been the cornerstone of making this “history” “their own”.
CONTRIBUTORS
Pfc Wm B Roudybush ....... Forward and Epilogue
T/5 Dempsy Hollars .......... “GI Talkin’ Blues”
T/5 James Frame ............... “GI Odyssey”
“Combat Soldier’s Lament”
Pfc Paul Adamek ............... “Our Hitch In Hell”
Pfc Mike P Grace .............. “We Moved On Out of Waldbreitbach”
ADVISORS
T/Sgt W O Nelson .......................... 2nd Platoon and Hq Combat
Cpl Romero Avila .......................... 2nd Platoon
Sgt Duane Grier ............................. 2nd Platoon
Sgt Wm Fulton .............................. Hq Combat
1Sgt Wm Bryant ........................... Hq Rear
Cpl Frank Miller ........................... Hq Rear
Sgt Heber M Cargile ..................... 1st Platoon
Pfc Monroe J Crawford ................ 3rd Platoon
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