June 2003

I am looking for information about the Battle of Bennholz Woods. Any information you can give me will be appreciated. My friend fought there on 9th & 10th of February 1945. He was brought to the American lines by 7 German soldiers who saved his life. He is in good health to have lived through this hell and through the medical help at Lawson General Hospital, Atlanta, Ga. I wish to know as much as possible about who was there and if they can give me any information on what happened to the German soldiers who brought him to safe help.

     My name is George Taylor, email  click here to email me

Looking for anyone who might have known Frank Wentzel, 376th Infantry Regiment. He died of wounds on 3/29/1945. He was from Hellertown, PA.

Cindy Pepper
kcpepper@enter.net

Hi, my name is John Pavlik.

My father, George Pavlik, served with The 94th Division. If my recollection is correct he was in the the 356th FA, A Battery. He was a sargeant with the 105mm howitzers. He told me some of his experiences in the war and because of his stories and descriptions I have a great interest in World War II. 

I was thinking of him last night and decided to go online and look up information on the 94th, found the web site. It was a little strange because later in the evening I realized June 13, 1987 was when he passed away. I noticed his name was not in the Taps location, he would be honored to be included among his commrades. 

He grew up and lived in Mont Clare PA, near Downingtown. In fact I live in Downingtown, next to Uwchlan Hills Elementary. I noticed you do also.

Between my sister and I we have various pictures and other memorabilia from his service. A few years back my wife had a collage made with his picture( from I think Camp Phillips) his sargeant stripes and some medals.

If you need any other info or are interested in the pictures let me know. And if you want to get together and tell me more of the 94th or if I can relate any of my father's stories, any time. I found another web site detailing a trip to France/Germany following the path of the 94th, in September. I am contemplating going on the trip because it has been a dream of mine.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Dear Sir/Madam,
My name is Hans Kaiser  and I was 14 years old when the 2nd world war ended in 1945.
I lived in Hohenfurth, then Sudetenland or Upper Austria but is now the Czech Republic.

The town is now about 3km inside the the border, about 35km north of Linz on the Danube. I spoke a little English and was therefore engaged as a dishwasher to work in the Officers Mess, when the 94th division came to our town, I was called Jack. When the unit was transferred to Susice or in german Schuttenhofen about 100km northwest of Hohenfurt. I was allowed to go with them and worked there until they were transferred again, when they brought me back home. I still remember some Officers names; a Captain Palmer, Major Maloney (Editor's Note: Major General Harry Maloney), Colonel Savage, and the kitchen Sargent was Barry from New York, I forgot his family name.  I sure would like to know if some of these Gentlemen are still around.  The photo is of a lieutenant whose name I can not remember, the girl in the picture is my sister Maria. By the way, we were deported as 'Germans' from Czechnia in 1946 to Germany, from there I migrated to Australia in 1953 and I am now an Australian Citizen.

Regards and best wishes
Hans Kaiser

As an infantryman who climbed Utah Beach I would appreciate very much your help which would help a true WWII heroic individual. Perhaps if the 94th Inf. Division has a regular publication, or newsletter, or even at the next reunion in May, dissemination could be made of the need to solve a real puzzle! For several years a leader of the Dutch Resistance movement, "Gaston Vandermeersche had been imprisoned in the "prison camp" near Luttringhausen-Remscheid, Germany.   His execution and those of his group was scheduled between mid April and  May 8, 1945. He had heard artillery for several days and then  one  day he heard near silence and with steps approaching his cell he believed the Germans had come for him.  The door opened and an American GI handed him the keys.  In the commotion at the camp he did not get the name of the GI. His fondest hope with the  help of his  friend Philippe Verhelst and myself  is to locate the GI in the photo with him.

Correspondence at the town archives in Remscheid mention an American major named Newman.  A report from the prison itself indicates  that a Dutch prisoner was released with other prisoners.  "He was freed by a big, suntanned American who seemed to him  ike a goliath, who opened his celldoor and gave him a Lucky Strike.  A few days later there was a meeting in the prison with a Major Eggers. 

At this time  the 94th Infantry Division, 390th Artillery Battalion investigated the killing of prisoners.  .

I hope the keys and the help of the man who opened the door to his freedom are found with the help of an Association newsletter or at one of the reunions.

I have attached a part of the photograph which shows the American on the left and Gaston on the right.  I tried to find some identification, a Division patch, some marking on the rear of the truck, but no luck.  Only the marking: "This vehicle travels no faster than 30 miles per hour."

 If anyone recognizes the GI, please have them contact me by e-mail or by phone collect.(619) 702-7137.  Thank you.  Dr. Ray Brandes.  I fully recognize the bullseye on this target, but what a wonderful moment if we could find this GI who liberated a true WWII hero. 

My Dad, Dominick (Doc) Bondi was in the 94th and passed away on February 22, 2002.  This e-mail should have been sent long ago but just to write the words that he is gone is still very difficult for me.  We miss him terribly and our lives are not the same without him.  He was my Hero. 

My Dad loved his Buddies from the 94th, his face would light up whenever he spoke of them and in later years his eyes would fill up with tears and his voice would shake with emotion.  He would always call me when he received a letter or a phone call from an Army Buddy and share the good news and the bad with me.  When I was young the war stories he shared where always the funny ones but as he got older he shared the hardships and the grief of the loss of his Buddies, the terror and the victories. 

Not long after he passed away I came across a note book, it must have been a journal kept for reports. I have tried to re-create it. After reading it, if any one has any information or clarification, I would appreciate them contacting me.  I also hope that this brings back happy memories not sad ones.  I especially liked the part about the leave for the USA shows!  If you knew my Dad I would love to hear from you. 

I have also included my Dad' s Eulogy which was written and read by his Godchildren, Joseanne and Ben 

Doc Bondi's Journal: 

Page (1) 

T/Sgt Doc Bondi 
2Platoon 
COI302INF 
94 Div. 

Page (2) 

N                 Rifle No. 
2041            111261 
5525           251689 
5176 
5175            2455943 
8157            2686251 
3715            2464763 
7126            523874 ( crossed out) 
1453            1825396 
3760            2575682 
4221            3053476 
0715            3419865 
8783            3079609 
4847            2722356 
7087            2852458 
9391            209187 
0786            3476874 (crossed out) 
1945            2838687 
5272            2136183 

Page (3)

3rd Squad 

Rank - Name - AS 
1.  S/Sgt. Richards, Harry E. 1416 
2.  Pfc. Duffy, Floyd H. 3764 
3.  Pfc. Moore, Glen L. Jr. 4403 
4.  Pfc. Parks, Wm. 4403 
5.  Pvt. Remore, Martin 4218 
6.  Pfc. Boucher, Boyd R. 3723
7.  Pfc. Dorsey, Samuel R. 3388 (crossed off) 
8.  Pfc. Vaught, Lawrence C. 4404 
9.  Pfc. Barnett, Edwin A. 3458 
10. Pfc. Robinson, Wm. R. 3661 
11.  Pfc. Frain, Richard E. 3142 
12. Pvt. Emerson, John C. 4217 
13. Pvt. Laney, Joseph E. 3764 
14. Cpl. Goldman, Benjamin P. 3504 
15. Pvt. Stevens, Walter V. 3576 
16. Pvt. Cross, Sidney F. 3585 (crossed off) 
17. Pvt. Maestas, Robt. Jr. 3971 
18.   left blank 
19. Sgt. Mayfield, Edward F. 4403 
 
 

Page 4 

SN          Rifle No. 
3241        3013077 
1201        2457810 
3279 
2949       266663 
8104 
2816        3364903 
1945        2838687 (crossed off) 
2456       2963987 
326         1827969 
3467       3492037 
1948        3483987 
8868       2462179 
3537       3379621 
5123        463298 
0786       3476874 
3124        3014700 

Page (5) 

Details 

July 5   2nd Squad  2 men 
July 9  3rd Squad  2 men         (two Cleanup) 
July 12  1st Squad  3 men ration detail 
July 13  2nd Squad  1 man clean up 
July 15  1st Squad (Sunday) 1 Man 
July 16  1st Squad  (Monday) 1 man wood detail 
August 1  3rd Squad  1 man clean up theater after show 
August 16  2nd Squad 1 man for sump hole 
August 19  3rd Squad 1 man for 1/3 day K.P. 
Complete Grants day 

Marvin Rothman 
20 East 179 St. 
The Bx 53 N.Y. 
TR2-2780 
 

Page (6) 

Wayne W. Slimkard 
Marguanmo, MO 
Route #1  Box # 17 

William D Skiles 
Route 6 Box 234 
Charleston, W. Va. 

Floyd H. Duffy 
Pascola, MO 
Box 121 

Joe E. Laney 
353 Greenwood St. 
Jackson, Tenn. 

Martin Remore 
250 County Road 
Tenafly, New Jersey 
Phone - Englewood -3-7553-R 

Page (7) 

2nd Squad 

S/Sgt.  Ernest W. Buffalini 
Pfc.  Albert R. Coutu 
Pfc.  Leroy A. Fenstermaker 
Pfc.  Marvin Rothman 
Pfc. Joe D. Howerton (crossed off) 
Pfc.  Carl E. Sellers 
Pvt.  Robt. Maestas, Jr. 
Pvt.  Maurice R. Julius 
Pfc.  Thomas F. Sheedy, Jr. 
Pvt.  Joseph A. Cappert 
Pvt. Geo. Cochran, Jr. 
Pfc.  Chas. G. Fautt 
Pvt.  Robt. D. Jones 
Pvt.  Sheldon B. Grant 
Sgt.  Morris Lepchitz 

3rd Squad 

S/Sgt.  Harry E. Richards 
Pfc.  Glen H. Moore Jr. 
Pfc.  Floyd H. Duffey 
Pfc.  Wm D. Parks 
Pvt. Martin Remore 
Pfc.  Samuel R, Dorsey (crossed off) 
Pfc.  Lawrence C. Vaught 
Pfc.  Edwin A. Barnett 
Pfc.  Wm R. Robinson (crossed off) 
Pfc.  Richard E. Frain 
Pfc.  John C. Emerson 
Pvt.  Joseph E. Laney 
Cpt.  P. Goldman 
Pvt. Walter V. Stevens 
Pvt. Sidney F. Corss 
Sgt.  Edward F. Mayfield 

Page (8) 

Platoon Hq. 

Leader     2nd Lt. Wm Pitts 
Asst. "     2nd " tas S. Watson 
Sgt.???? T/Sgt Hb McCullough 
Guide  S/Sgt. Wayne W. Slimkard 
Runnner   Pfc. Joseph Mentzer 
Medic      Pfc. Wm D. Skiles 
Sgt.  T/Sgt. Dominick Bondi 

1st Squad 
S/Sgt. Walter W. Peterson (crossed off) 
Pfc.  Albin R. Ekblad 
Pvt.  Wm S. McAfee 
Pfc. Robt. ?????????  (crossed off) 
T/4  Alvin M. Wilcox 
Pfc. Joe R. Comer 
Cpl. John White 
Pfc. Hubert L. Young 
T/4  Henry Park 
Pvt. Don Forbes 
Pfc.  Philip Butler, Jr. 
S/Sgt. Donal D. Madden 
Pfc. George M. Harrington  376997195 
Pfc. Arthur Hursh 37739270 
Sgt. Cecil ? Reed 37203806 
 

Page (9) 

Pass to Pilsen (Jack Benny Show) 
8 July Sunday 
1. Young 1st Sq 
2 Julia 
3 Cross 

Page (10) 

USO Show 9th July 
Rawson 1st Sq. 
Ekblad 1st Sq. 
Emerson 3rd Sq 
Dorsey (crossed off) 
Vaught 3rd Sq. 
Richards 3 Sq. 
Cochran 2nd Sq. 
Maestas 2nd Sq. 
Fautt 2nd Sq.

USO Show (Jack Benny) 
10th July 
Dorsey 3rd Sq. 
Grant 2nd Sq. 

Pass to Pilsen 72 hr July 22 
Madden 
Lepchitz 

Pass to Pilsen 72 Hr July 26 
Duffy
Pass to Corps Olympics 
Bondi     July 28 

Page (11) 

July 31 
Rawson 
Laney to B?? for baseball game 

August 9 
Ekblad 3 day pass to Pilsen 
August 12 
Parks 3 day pass to Pilsen 

Page (12) 

Guard ( Road Block) 
20 July 1945 

S/Sgt. Richards (crossed off) Mayfield written in 
S/Sgt. Madden 
Sgt. Lepchitz 

Robinson            Martenez 
Parks                 Rawson 
Vaught               Sillens? 
Duffy                Coutu 
Remore              Jones 
Britten?            Pobieglo 
White                Maestas 

Guard (Road Block) 23 July 
S/Sgt. Peterson 
S/Sgt. Buffalini 
S/Sgt. Richards 

McAfee        Sheedy         Barnett 
Young           Cochran        Laney 
Park             Julius           Emerson 
Wilcox         Rothman       Frain 

Page (13) 

Guard - (Road Block) 

S/Sgt. Slimkard 
           Goldman 
            Dorsey                                         23 July Left Platton area at 1400 
           Butler 
            Parks, Wm D 

Guard for Thurs. 26th 

All of the names are crossed off, there is a notation, " Guard run from Co. roster starting 26 July 
1. Bondi 
2. Mayfield 
3. Madden 
4. Lepchitz 
5. Ekblad 
6. Cappaert 
7. Grant 
8. Stevens 
9. Cross 
10. Metzer 
11. Dudich 
12. Parks, Wm 
13. Wilcox 
14. Seller 
15. Fautt 
16. Grant 
17, Goldman 
18. Barnett 
19. Pobieglo 
20. Duffey 
21. Laney 
22. Comer 
23. Rawson 
24 Sheedy 

There are several more pages with the sames name and AS numbers and rifle numbers.   There are unfortunately several pages of my scribbles as a very young child and pages that had been removed. 

Uncle Doc!  Everyone, who knew him, loved him.  He was an honest, caring, compassionate, ethical man who took pride in his family, in his work and in having served his country. 

Uncle Doc was the eldest of three sons born to Charles & Bessie Bondi.  He left school to help care for his Mother, who had a heart condition, and for his two younger brothers.  He would clean, cook and keep house.  His Mother, who passed away at the age of 44, would always tell him how proud she was of him...he had the whitest sheets in town.  Uncle Doc learned well.  He always took such good care of those he loved and in was reflected in everything around him. 

He met his wife Mary, through an old boyfriend of my Aunt Nancy's. Shortly thereafter, he was called overseas to serve during World War II.  While away, they courted by mail and fell in love through their letters to one another.  They were married on June 22, 1946.  During those early years, they would go to my grandparents every Sunday for dinner and afterward, Uncle Doc would take "just the boys" for a ride and share his war stories.  They loved their Sunday rides. 

Anyone, who knew Uncle Doc, knew how important it was to him to have served his country.  Doc entered the army on December 7, 1942, at the age of 21, and served for three years attaining the rank of Tech-Sergeant.  He was stationed in France, Germany and Czechoslovakia and won numerous awards.  And once, he almost caught his "German General"!  Most of us have out favorite "Doc War Story" that we heard all of our lives.  And could he tell a story!  When Uncle Doc talked, everyone listened.  But usually he kept the toughest tales for "just the boys." Recently, he shared with his granddaughter Brooke, how he wore his house key around his neck, he knew he would be going home to use it.  When he finally did get home, he put the key in the door, walked down the hall to the living room and surprised his father. who leapt up from his chair to greet him.  On the wall in the living room was a picture of his training platoon that his father had framed while he was gone.  All but Uncle Doc and three other men had been killed.  He never would forget that "Band of Brothers." 

His daughter Bebe grew up looking at pictures of his service buddies and hearing stories about their lives.  He kept in touch with his service buddies until the end and he and Aunt Mary never missed an opportunity to attend the Reunions.  He asked Bebe to attend a Reunion that was held in Philadelphia, so she could meet the faced in the pictures she had come to know. One of the men told her, "Your Father is a great man, I would not be here  if it were not for him." 

Uncle Doc's upbringing and army service developed a very strong work ethic.  He was a proud and valued employee of Alan Wood Steel's engineering department: responsible for maintaining the operation of the mill.  After many years of service, he was the last employee on staff when the facility finally shut down.  Those technical skills developed on-the-job contributed to Uncle Doc becoming the original family Mr. Fix-It: there was nothing he couldn't repair.  When Uncle Joe bought the diner, Uncle Doc was an important part of getting it up and running.  The restaurant employees would argue over which of their problems he would take care of first.  Even to this group he was known as Uncle Doc, likewise, the people he worked with at Genuardi's had a special place for Doc in their hearts too.  His commitment to always doing his best was reflected in everything around him, his yard, his car, friends and his family. 

As a husband, he was a loving spouse to Mary for 55 years.  He was her mentor, her lifetime companion, and her helpful protector. 

As a father, he always made Bebe feel safe.  Nothing bad could ever happen to her as long as he was there.  As a child, she would get sick every time he went deer hunting.  This always guaranteed her a gift when he returned. 

As a father-in-law to Charlie, he was like a second father and Charlie was like a son. 

As a grandfather, he always made sure that Allison, Greg, Ethan, Bryan and Brooke knew how much their Pop-Pop loved them.  He was protective, always concerned about their safety and well being.  He was concerned that they value and maintain strong family ties.  Family was very important to Doc and he made everyone feel welcomed into his.

As a brother and brother-in-law, he was always there.  Whenever you called upon Doc, he came, no matter what. 

As an Uncle, his loving concern was felt by all his nieces and nephews.  There was always a kind word and a smile.  Although he was not an outspoken man, who showed his emotions readily, there was no doubt in anyone's mind of his feelings for us. 

As a Veteran of War, he was a hero receiving the Silver and Bronze Star. 

Doc loved listening to Frank Sinatra music.  He took pleasure in maintaining his home.  He tended his vegetable and flower gardens with diligence and care and relished watching them grow.  He loved exchanging war stories with his buddies and spending time with his family.  No one could make a cup of coffee and a cigarette look more relaxing and inviting.  He was patient and quick to laugh.  He took care of those around him, even rescuing Skippy, that beautiful white dog that become a mainstay in the family.  The morals and values of some people today upset him.  But his never wavered. 

Doc was an ethical, honest, hard working, loving man.  When he told you something, you knew it was the truth.  And the truth is....to his wife Mary and his daughter Bebe and son-in-law Charlie, to Allison, Greg, Ethan, Brian and Brooke: to his brothers Jimmy and Pepe, to his sisters and brother-in-laws, his nieces, nephews, friends, family and fellow veterans, he was loved and will be missed.  So Uncle Doc, until we meet again...May God's Eternal Light Shine Upon you, and may you Rest in Peace. 

Lovingly submitted by Doc's daughter: 

Bebe Exley