PHOTO PAGE 14

Recent Fall 2207 photos of Mortain from John Croxton.  New archaeological findings identified on Hill 314 mostly relating to the occupation of the hill before D-Day by the Germans.

New layout around the 30th memorial.

  Lt. Charles A. Bartz...misspelled on plaque...was an artillery observer, Battery C, 230th FA.   Lt. Bartz was from Lincoln, NE and was KIA before the end of the war.  When, I'm not sure, could use some help.  By midmorning of Aug. 8th Lt. Bartz batteries powering his radio went dead.  He was located with the 120's Co. G. 

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Please find the wonderful photos of soldiers of the 743rd Tank Battalion, Co. A sent by Earl Piatt including photos of his brother William I. Piatt.  We could use help identifying a couple of men, if at all possible.  CLICK ON ALL PHOTOS TO ENLARGE!!

Holding flag...Sgt. Norman E. Willson of Portland, OR; Holding rifle...Pfc. Jim A. Pearce of Griffin, GA; and holding hands up...William I. Piatt of Jermyn, PA.

Sitting on barrel...William Piatt....NEED HELP WITH SOLDIER on the turret.

NEED HELP WITH  IDENTIFYING.... Far right maybe Kelly or Pearce...second from left maybe Willson.

Tremendous photo of Sgt. Perry R."Cock" Kelly of Seattle, WA. sitting turret.  Sitting on barrel is the "Peg Leg" freedom fighter Andre.  His parents were killed by the Germans, the story goes.  He was said to be a fearless fighter with the 743rd.  They tried to get him attached to the unit but Uncle Sam said NO. 

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Infantrymen of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 30th Division, at the outskirts of Sart-Lez-St. Vith, (Rodt), Belgium, during their advance on St. Vith.

From the Dr. Van Heely photo collection....link please click here

THEN, Capt. Levy with Belgian children.  Hasselt, Belgium, Nov. 1944 NOW

Now photo was provided by Kristof Indeherberge: Hi Warren,One year later since I first had a go at the Van Heely set, and here I
am again. Some good news, I've located the house in this picture:http://www.oldhickory30th.com/VH74.jpg
It's still there, but empty right now (it was for sale not so long ago).
Funny thing too, as I was walking around the town I came across a friend
and out of the blue she mentions that recently her grandmother told her
that, as a young girl, she used to hide in a "castle" during the end of
the war. The way she described the location could mean it was this very
same building! Maybe that's why the kids were there when your picture
was taken?

I am continually amazed at the great European friends of the 30th that take these fantastic photos!!!

MORE EXCITING DISCOVERIES ON THIS PHOTO!!!   Dated 7/22/2008 from Kristof:

Hey Warren,
I have some good news. Remember the Van Heely collection? Picture VH74
in particular? You gave me permission to spread it in the local media
and so I did. Well, first I checked with a friend's grandmother to see
if she knew who these kids were. She was hiding in a villa's cellar
during the raids in the area. But that turned out to be a false lead.
I noticed that this summer, a local newspaper had a new column called
"Uit de Oude Doos" where readers can submit an old picture in hope of
catching another reader's attention and identify any of the people. Of
course I took my chance :) And behold, a reader recognized three members
of his family! I am excited, I hope you are too, hehe. Attached, you
have the newspaper article and this is a rough translation:
Liberated "Hasselaartjes" (meaning little inhabitants of the town of
Hasselt)

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Three of the six "Hasselaartjes" who surrounded an American soldier in
last week's snapshot have been recognized. Marcel Janssens of Hasselt
wasn't born yet at the time, but he spotted in this picture, taken in
november 1944, "two sisters and a brother. Back then, we lived in the
'Groenstraat' (Greenstreet), wich is now the 'Hefveldstraat', right next
to the 'Toekomststraat' (Futurestreet) where this picture was taken."
Sister Marie-Thérèse (11 years old) is standing in the upper left
corner, the little boy in front of her is brother Raoul (4) en in the
middle Marie-Jeanne Janssens (9). "Of those three only Marie-Jeanne is
still alive but unfortunately she doesn't know who the other kids are.
Probably these children are also from the same neighborhood."

Anyone who recognizes these remaining children can still let us know.

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I'll let you know if the remaining have been identified.
All the best,
Kristof
  Present day map of house.

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Surprise..Surprise...I was recently included in the Borum, Germany history periodical.  I have worked with these people to share the history of the 30th's movement through their area of Germany.  See this LINK.  The article basically explains our combined work and photos are of my father, Pfc. Ralph Watson, 117th, Co. K,  myself and son. 

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We can not forgot the Dutch countrymen that helped defeat the German Army:

Click to enlarge.