Pass in Review - Vol 1 No 17

Editor: John B. Storm Pfc. Harold Lafleur Sgt. Arnold L. Zwanck Pfc. Joseph Lutkus T/4 Kent S. Freeman Pfc. Ben Urgola		Since the middle of last February, PASS IN REVIEW has been coming out weekly for the men of the 2nd BN, 290th Infantry. In retrospect we realize that some editions were pretty childish in content, and perhaps not really tailored to fit the mental and emotional reflexes of men living in close and terrible intimacy with death and disease and despair...Yet we were there. In combat, and later during the Division's short occupational assignment in Germany, P.I.R. was, in a small way, the battalion's letter to the world. Here at Camp Pittsburgh, you and I are going to be hosts to thousands of men who will stop here for a few days or a few weeks and then move on...most of them to keep a rendezvous in that other struggle that still goes on half a world away. So, to keep in step with the new cadence, PASS IN REVIEW is enlarging its circulation and its sphere of influence. We are still your paper, but we belong also, to these friends of ours who are just passing through. If you can suggest any new feature or service for the paper that would help these guys leave Camp Pittsburgh feeling that this was a SWELL PLACE and that we KNEW THEM PERSONALLY AND WISHED THEM WELL...send it along.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
You're an enlisted man and you get a pass to Paris. When you detruck in the lot just across the pont Alexandre III, the officer who is in charge tells you that the convoy will leave Paris promptly at 2345 hrs that night, and that the names of those failing to appear at that time will be turned in to the Paris Provost Marshall, and reported to this Hq in the morning. You say yes, Sir, and start to do a little figuring. Subtracting the eight hours of travel time it takes the truck to make the round trip in, you are left with a liberty of seven hours. NOW...we would like to know why the EM's can't miss the truck and return the following night? Officers do it.
WHO'S WHO AT CAMP PITTSBURGH
CO: Col. Harvey A. Tribulet; Exec: Lt. Col. Russel O. Harris; Adj: Capt. Earl Soltz; S-1: Capt. Bodley Booker; S-2: 1st Lt. Medlock Harbison; S-3: Lt. Col. Henry R. Hester; S-4: capt. Kermit Hove.

MATERIA MEDICA		POST PHOTO FINISHING SERVICE
The situation of the Medics in our new assignment is rather mixed up. To tell exactly what we are doing would take more space than we have. In a nutshell, our job is this: we have been split into several small groups and are operating ten bed field dispensaries in different locations throughout the camp area. These dispensaries are completely equipped and ready to take care of any emergency that might arise. Each dispensary acts as a separate service factor for a particular unit of the division which is undergoing processing in Camp Pittsburgh at the moment. We have fairly complete Pharmacies...and what is more important to the individual soldier, complete prophylactic stations. The 2nd Bn operates three of these set-ups. S/Sgt Leroy Jefferson of Minersville, PA., has charge of No. 1, the Central Dispensary...S/Sgt Sam Bowers of Bluefield, W. VA., has No. 3, and T/3 Paul Procacini of Walpole, Mass. has No. 5. Nos. 2 and 4 are operated by crews from Co B, 375th Medical Bn. Your correspondent can be found warming a chair in Dispensary No. 3., most anytime of the day. But the boys who really have it made, are our men who are detailed to the nurses area, where they operate supply, linen, and baggage rooms. These lucky individuals are: T/3 John Wyrick of Ingleside, CA; T/5 Don Ellerbe of Lakeland, FL; Pfc. Edward Jasiewicz of Philadelphia, PA; and T/5 Earl Louis <(last name unreadable but looks like Louis) of Rice, VA. OH HOW WE ENVY THOSE SONS OF.....uh.....HEAVEN!		Camp Pittsburgh now has its own Photo Finishing Plant. Under the direction of Pfc. Glenn Kinzer who did this work as a civilian, the service promises to big a big morale factor on the Post. * Forty-eight hour service. * Prices: Five cents a print. Films may be left and picked up at PASS IN REVIEW's office on Camp Headquarters Road next door to G Co's Orderly Room.
		RAMBLING WITH FOX COMPANY
		As Fox Company drew prison chasing detail, most of the news of the week has to do with this work. * What German speaking Staff Sergeant who was short four P.O.W.'s fifteen minutes before time to them in, commandeered a jeep and in less than ten minutes was back with the four P.O.W.'s? What we would like to know is, where he got them and who they belonged to. * 1st F Co "Dogface": What could be sweeter than being Cadre at the Reims Redeployment Camp? * 2nd F Co "Dogface": Being Army of Occupation in Schwerte. * Fox Co was well on its way to establishing who would wear the company horseshoe pitching crown when someone appropriated the horseshoes. Come on, fellows, lets get them back where they belong! * Supply Sergeant Gallow is saying prayers of thanksgiving now that the O.D.s have come in. One more week and an armed guard would have been needed to protect him from desperate G.I.s.

THE BELFRY.....CHAPLAIN RICHARD BELL

PITTSBURGH PARADE

I have come to seek and to save that which is lost. (Luke 19:10)

The prime purpose of Christ's entrance into the world was to "seek and to save those who were lost."

Francis Thompson failed to pass his exams in Medical School...He failed to earn a living in various types of employment. Finally he became a drug addict...this man who had the heart of a gentleman and the brain of a scholar.

Francis Thompson was worth saving, and God undertook to save him. When he finally recovered he confessed in his poem "The Hound Of Heaven"

I fled him down the nights and down the days

I fled him down the arches of the years

I fled him down the Labyrinthine ways

of my own mind, and in the midst of tears.

I hid from him, and under running laughter

Up vistaed hopes I sped

A down titanic glooms of chasmed fears,

From those strong feet that followed, followed after.

But with unhurrying chase

And unperturbed pace

Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,

They beat, and a voice beat

More instant than the feet....

"All things betray thee...who betrayest me!"

Francis Thompson pictured God as following every soul more insistently than we know. "I have come to seek and to save that which is lost."

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THOUGH FOR THE WEEK:

The most persistent of all seekers is God who continually seeks after the soul of man.

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FOR BEING A GOOD BOY...."ACE" gets his silver bar, 21 June, 1945. Lt. Greer is on the ball.

Pvt. Frasier Stockley of G Company is the 1st man to have the doubtful pleasure of processing his own brother here at Camp Pittsburgh. They were separated last January, when Gerald was hospitalized. Now Frasier is in the Cadre here and Gerald is on his way to a hotter climate.

The editor dreamed the other night that he died and went to Heaven where he was stopped at the pearly gates by a heavenly M.P. who demanded his pass. Our hero didn't have one as was turning away in despair when Pfc. Hoke Baggs happened by. Baggs tossed the M.P. a casual salute, grabbed the passless one by the arm, and walked nonchalantly across the celestial boundary line, saying as he did so, "It's alright, buddy, this guys a friend of mine."

Pfc. Eugene Moser has been haunting this office with his toothsome presence of late, and his most recent suggestion is that staggered shelters for G.I.s headed for different areas be posted on the Reims Road to aid the men in locating the right truck for the right area.

SONG OF THE WEEK		(E Company notes continued)
If you wonder why I'm near you, even though I've been denied, I'm inclined to be a little on the sentimental side. I suppose I should forget you if I had an ounce of pride, But I guess I can't help being on the sentimental side. I should act gay, laugh it off adn say, "Farewell," Say it just didn't wear well; but I'm not that way. I'm in hopes you'll think it over And perhaps be satisfied with a simple sort of person On the sentimental side.		Acting Communication Sgt. Donald A. Houck took a lot of ribbing this week because he had never been able to get results from our 536 radios in combat anything like the ones they got in the recent movie shown here...OBJECTIVE BURMA. Our Company landscape gardener, Pfc. Thomas J. Walsh, Jr., has taken such an interest in beautifying the surrounding area that he's already sent home for flower seeds, grass seeds, and even BIRD SEEDS! And now to sweat out the chow and wash lines again....doing that three times a day doesn't leave much time for anything else.
E COMPANY NOTES
At least once a week, Pfc. Harold Lafleur sits down at a corpse...or anything else equally inaccessible. The reason? He has been company correspondent for P.I.R. ever since it started and no matter how hard he tries to get rid of the job, it always comes home to roost on the old hearth. Ah well, c'est la guerre. On the 16th, Easy Co had a visit from Pfc. Jackson, a member of the company when we were back in the good ol' U.S.A. He lef the company in April of 1944 and is now with the 333rd Engineers. (continued next column)

PITTSBURGH PARAGRAPHS		NEW PX HOURS
Pfc. Harry Krimsky, returning to Camp at five A.M. after a fifteen hour pass in Paris, staggered to his bunk hoping to catch a short nap before breakfast, only to see that it was already occupied. His temper, already frayed by long hours of travel, gave way and he kicked the stranger bodily out of bed. Imagine Krimsky's surprise when the tangle of blankets revealed the surprised and sleepy face of his brother who had come all the way from Austria to see him!!		Afternoon: 12:30 to 3:00 Evening: 5:00 to 8:00 Mon. Brown Tues Green Wed. Officers Thurs. Blue Fri. Red Sat. Yellow +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PHOTO SERVICE: Leave prints at P.I.R. Rates: five cents a roll, three cents each print. American work at American prices.
THREE BOTTLES OF IRISH WHISKEY
Three bottles of Whiskey are traveling around the post so fast that to date no one has had a chance to sample them. The reason: They were brought onto the post to slack the thirst of a dear friend who is, unfortunately, unable to cope with life's little problems when sober. He placed them in a bucket of water to cool and the bucket and all was removed from his window ledge. Shortly thereafter, beaucoup francs and a carton of cigarettes changed hands and the three fugitive bottles came to rest in a 44th Division mess tent...but not for long. By some stroke of clairvoyance the original owner traced them to their hiding place and persuaded a P.O.W. to obtain them for him. On the way home he dropped in to see a bottle buddy who plied him with the juice of the local grape. On his way home from this pleasant meeting our friend recalls very little except that he must have given his three bottles away for they weren't in his possession when he finally knocked politely at the door of his own tent to inquire if that was where he lived.

GOSSIP ABOUT SOLDIERS AND OTHER THINGS

"Gossip"..continued...

Watch for the opening date of the new NCO Club. It's going to have everything but the Don Cossack choir.

The swimming pool is finally cleaned up and ought to be filled any day now. The current rumors about who is to use it are arranged below in chronological order:

1 - It is for the enlisted men.

2 - It is not for the enlisted men.

3 - It is for the Officers.

4 - It is not for the Officers.

5 - It is for the Nurses.

6 - It is not for the Nurses.

7 - It is for the use of P.W.s born in Patagonia.

8 - It is not for ETC.

9 - It will be used exclusively for Golden Carp which are being brought here from the fountains of Versailles.

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In the days that are ahead there will be many arrivals and departures. A few of the departures listed for the near future are: S/Sgt Jimmy Oglesby, T/5 Arthur Holerman, T/Sgt George W. Hudson, T/4 Kent S. Freeman, T/4 Walter Adair, Pfc. Hector Casares, Pfc. John Storm, 1st Sgt. Glenn H. Royer, S/Sgt Martin Baker, Sgt. John Fenton, Pvt. Edward Chamberlain, Sgt. John C. Hawkins, T/5 Robert Ewlitt, Pvt. Cody Bane, Pvt. Kenneth Moss, T/Sgt Harlan Engle, Sgt. George Galloska Jr., Pvt. Lonnie Jones, and Pvt. Paul Kochka.

Congratulations to Irving, (PX) Levinson, who is celebrating his twenty-second birthday June 27th.

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When in Paris on pass, if you want a good French dinner for from 80 to 200 Francs, take the Metro to the Place Pigalle and go down the Rue Pigalle for about a square and a half. The name of the place is L' Elephante, and the ladies who sit about at the little tables en banquette, are very friendly.

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COMMENT:

We note, in a news item from F Company that 1st Sgt. DeTray, T/Sgt. (supply) Gallo, and S/Sgt. (mess) Sanko left this week for a furlough on the Riviera. Two things worry us: who's running the company and how do you get into the inner circle?

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Apologia....The Battalion paper seems to have deviated from its regular date of publication since coming to Camp Pittsburgh. We are sorry, and now that there are other mimeographs on the Post there will be more system and less delay.

COMBAT DIARY, 2ND BN, 290TH INFANTRY - PART THREE

Feb. 18: Lixhe, Belgium

0900 - Protestant Service held by Chaplain Bell

1000 - Catholic Mass celebrated in local church.

2030 - Quartering and Reconnaissance Parties alerted.

Feb. 19: Lixhe, Belgium

0645 - Reconnaissance and Billeting party left BN. Party consisted of BN Commander, S-1,

S-3, and Co. Commanders.

0900 - Movies shown in local theatre by Special Service.

1300 - Band concert in town square.

1515 - Meeting of acting Co. Commanders, Motor Officer, and Surgeon with BN

Executive regarding move from Lixhe.

Feb. 20: Kessel Elk, Holland.

0545 - BN left Lixhe by motor convoy; Capt. Booker in charge.

1010 - BN arrived three miles from new CP location, 1 mile west of Kessel Elk, Holland and

detrucked.

1230 - Troops closed into new locations along the Maas River. Took over positions

from the 5th Parachute Reg't (British).

2200 - Co's give negative report of enemy activity along the Maas.

2220 - Several rounds of enemy artillery fell in vicinity.

2250 - E Company reports eight rounds of enemy artillery landing in their sector.

2252 - F Company reports several rounds of enemy artillery landing in their, or the

adjoining sector.

2255 - Line Co's report a total of sixteen more rounds falling on or near their positions.

Feb. 21: Baarlo, Holland.

0105 - Three rounds enemy artillery fell near CP.

0113 - Three more rounds near CP.

0210 - Enemy small arms fire heard across river in E Company sector.

0240 - Co E reports a small arm shack near one of their positions has caught on fire.

...cartridges are exploding.

0330 - Co G reports wild tracer fire over their 2nd Platoon position.

1715 - Co's start moving from positions in small groups at staggered intervals.

1730 - Motors moved to Baarlo, Holland, where new BN CP is established.

1800 - Old CP closed out after 3rd BN assumed our positions.

2330 - Co E reports contact with patrol from 289th.

(continued on page 8)

COMBAT DIARY PART THREE CONT'D

Feb. 22: Baarlo, Holland

0250 - Fox Co. OP reports sound of vehicles and loud talking.

0500 - Capt. Stewart reports his Co suffered two casualties from mortars

while going into position.

0635 - G Co. reports machine gun fire on their positions as they withdraw. Cannon

Company to fire on these enemy positions.

1000 - G Co. reports enemy smoke concentration.

1800 - Artillery OP observed enemy cutting trees and entering what might be gun emplacements.

1900 - Artillery observed seven men leaving a hay stack.

2400 - Enemy activity during hours of darkness consisted of small arms fire and the

burning of a small building on the west side of the Maas near BN CP.

Feb. 23: Baarlo, Holland

0600 - From 0001 until daylight, enemy activity was obscured from view because of haze.

Sporadic firing and sounds of digging could be heard.

1600 - Nebelwerfer rounds landed in vicinity of Baarlo.

1610 - Nebelwerfer fire continues. No damage.

2100 - F Co. reports one boat in water and three ashore.

2200 - Easy Co. makes patrol contact with 289th. (Contact patrols are to be sent

out every four hours during darkness.)

Feb. 24: Baarlo, Holland

0400 - All OP's report coloured parachute flares at 190 degrees from BN OP and

1800 yards away.

0600 - Enemy fire during night was sporadic and could not be checked closely because

of haze.

1030 - Cannon Co observers reported twenty men across river. Fired 1 round.

1330 - G Co reports smoke from chimneys of several houses on east bank of Maas

River.

Feb. 25: Baarlo, Holland

0600 - OP reports showed usual enemy activity during the night. Heavy enemy anti-

aircraft fire observed at great distance over enemy territory.

1900 - F Co. reports enemy activity. Three mortar rounds fired resulting in heavy

explosion. Mortar shell, in all probability, hit land mind.

Feb. 26: Helden, Holland

0445 - Patrol led by Lt. Greer returned from reconnaissance mission across Maas. One

of our men was lost.

0615 - F Co. reported firing on what was thought to be an enemy patrol. It was found

out later to be our own patrol. One F Co. man killed.

(continued on page 9)

COMBAT DIARY PART THREE CONT'D

Feb. 26: Helden, Holland

1200 - Hq Co. left Baarlo. Closed in at Helden at 1330.

2130 - E Co. closed in to Egehelhock.

2245 - F Co. closed in to Egehelhock.

Feb. 27: Helden, Holland

0003 - H Co. closed in to Helden.

0255 - G Co. closed in to Egehelhock.

1200 - Road block positions set up by Co Commanders. Co of 772nd TD BN

charged with defense of town.

1730 - Day spent in training and entertainment.

Feb. 28: Helden, Holland

1200 - Morning spent in training.

1730 - Afternoon spent in Special Service Activities.

Mar. 1: Helden, Holland

1200 - Morning spent in training.

1700 - Afternoon spent in Special Service Activities.

Mar. 2: Holtum, Holland

0030 - BN alerted to move.

0130 - Capt. Bellamy and Quartering party left CP.

0930 - Col Harris with organic transportation and personnel assigned to same left Helden.

1130 - Organic convoy arrived at Holtum, Holland after a thirty-five mile drive.

1200 - BN establishes new CP in schoolhouse.

1530 - Foot troops left Helden in British personnel carriers furnished by British 7th

Armored Division.

1715 - Foot troops arrived. Billeted in houses of the town for the night.

Mar. 3: Holtum, Holland

1300 - BN alerted to move.

1430 - SOP quartering party left CP.

1900 - Personnel carriers delayed. Troops returned to billets still under alert.

2250 - BN crosses IP all elements motorized.

Mar. 4: Bormig, Germany

0300 - BN closed in at Bormig, Germany. Distance travelled 49 miles.

1200 - Morning inspecting German Siegfried Line positions and organizing a local defense.

2200 - Two new BN officers arrive. Oriented by Col. Harris.

(continued on page 10)

COMBAT DIARY PART THREE CONT'D

Mar. 5: Bormig, Germany

1730 - Day spent resting and cleaning equipment.

2300 - BN alerted to move to Venlo, Holland tomorrow

Mar. 6: Venlo, Holland

1030 - British Officers confer over relief of our BN with Col. Harris and staff.

1300 - BN left Bormig by convoy. Drive 6 miles to Venlo, Holland.

1500 - All elements closed in at Venlo, Holland.

Mar. 7: Bruch, Germany

1200 - BN alerted for immediate movement.

14(?) - Capt. Booker moves foot elements out.

1530 - Motor elements left Venlo.

1620 - New CP closed in at Bruch, Germany.

Mar. 8: Bruch, Germany

0730 - Rifle Co's swept areas surrounding BN location for mines and enemy installations

which might remain. Hq Co. remained as CP protection, and H Co remained

as mobile reserve.

1500 - S/Sgt Voorhies, BN Intel NCO, injured in S-mine explosion.

1700 - Mine fields and abandoned installations were discussed and reported to Reg'l S-2.

An old abandoned German mine field was also located.

1800 - All companies continued to arrest civilians who broke curfew regulations.

Mar. 9: Bruch, Germany

0730 - Rifle Co's continue to sweep surrounding areas.

1400 - F Co jeep runs over a land mine causing four casualties. Capt. Stewart and two

others seriously injured, one man killed. (Communications Sgt.)

1730 - Co's continued to arrest civilians who broke curfew regulations.

Mar. 10: Lintfort, Germany

1200 - BN prepares for move.

1430 - Left Bruch by motor.

1645 - arrived Lintfort, Germany. Distance travelled was 25 miles.

1800 - BN billeted in apartment house section of city. Now in Division Reserve.

Remainder of day spent arranging billets and moving civilians.

Mar. 11: Lintfort, Germany

1730 - BN remained in Division Reserve. Day spent in training.

1800 - Lt. Brown's platoon from Co G sent to Div Hqs in Lintfort as security platoon.

(continued on next page)

COMBAT DIARY PART THREE CONT'D

Mar. 12: Ossenberg, Germany

0900 - BN relieved from Division Reserve.

1000 - Capt. Booker marches BN eight miles to Ossenberg where companies were released

to Co. Commanders.

1430 - Co Commanders take their companies to defensive positions on the west bank

of the Rhine River. Co E on the BN right in the vicinity of Ossenberg; Co G

on the BN left in the vicinity of Wallach; Co F in reserve.

1600 - BN Commander notified that platoon from Co G will be retained in Lintfort in

defense of Division CP.

1730 - BN completed defensive occupation. relieved elements of the 35th Infantry Division.

(Remainder of Combat Diary will be issued this week. Men on orders may leave their home addresses with P.I.R. and the final installment will be mailed to them.)

Webmaster's note: If anyone has copies of the P.I.R., that I have not included here, I would appreciate it if copies could be sent to me for inclusion on this web site. Please email me at: jpuckett@75thdivisiondad.us Thank you.