Blue Ridge
Official Publication of the
80th Division Veterans Asssociation, Inc.

Summer 2005 - v86, #345

Since November 1999 three of us (now two) have been visiting schools in Orange and Seminole counties in central Florida presenting our experiences in the Battle of the Bulge. One was in AAA, one was with the 101st Airborne surrounded at Bastogne, and I was a 2d Lt. rifle platoon leader with Company A, 318th Infantry. We have spoken to students from grade five into junior college and the University of Central Florida. Following are some of the statistics I have recorded. Note: I have participated in all the presentations while the other two have missed on some occasions. The figures are through the last school year -2003-2004. We are continuing the program this year; no figures are included for the current school year. Number of visits to schools: 195 Number of students contacted: 31,363 Individual man-hours in class: 512 Round trip miles from my home. George (Bill) Kane Co A, 318 Inf.

I've been reading our 80 Div Bulletins for many years. I just woke up. All these years I couldn't figure out why our Artillery units weren't mentioned, You can't put something in the bulletin unless you get news from us. I have been noting about the deaths.

I was in the 905th FA Battalion. I was a T/SGT. A couple days after we arrived in I:rance, Lt. Edgar Wilson and I were blown out of a Church Steeple in St. Gemmes, Fr.. Next day Col. Browning called me up to his HQ. We were short an Officer, I should take over a Forward Observations job for a couple days. I was there till the end, except the times I was in the Hosp. with wounds. I was in 905th FA Bn, Btry B. I directed Artillery for the 2nd Bn of the 319th Inf Numerous times I would have to take over when the Officers were wounded or killed. Does anyone from the 319 remember something like this? I would love to hear from anyone remembering this, or whatever they remember. Thanks Les Schlager lesterjschlager@aol.com

C. J. Cotton, 746 High Hill Creek Road, La Grange, TX 78945 writes, I was captured at Argentan but escaped 2 days later to the Polish Army. I was with them when they made contact with the Americans and the Canadians witch closed the pocket on the Germans. I never did get by to my old Company "L" 318th.