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"April 2004"

February 14, 2006

Happy Valentines Day!!!

Searching for someone

LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO MAY HAVE KNOWN MY FATHER AT ANZIO

I am trying to find anyone who may served with my Father in the 3rd ID at Anzio. His name was Frederick R. Huck. He was a long time member of the 3rd ID and participated in campaigns in Morocco, Tunisia, Sicily, Anzio with Arrowhead. During the North African and Italian campaigns he was in the 1st BN of the 15th RGT, 3ID. He was in the Anti-Tank Co and companies A,B, and HQ, during those years (10 October 1942-28 May 1044).

He died almost 30 years ago, of cancer, and my brother and I have very little information about his experiences in WWII and are trying to find anyone who might have known him and could give us some information about him. I attended the WWII Memorial Dedication in Washington DC last May and was deeply moved by the ceremony, the displays and exhibits, and especially the stories of some of the veterans. I have been trying to find anyone who knew my Father since then.

All I know is that he was in several 3ID regiments, the 7th, 15th, and 30th at different times. However, he was awarded a Bronze Star for the Rome/Amo campaign and was in the 15th at that time. He was promoted to Captain at about the time of the Anzio landing. He was originally from Chicago, attended basic training at Fort Ord and was also at Fort Hood with the 3ID from July 1044-September 1045 at the Infantry Replacement Training Center.

If anyone has information about him or could refer me to someone else who might, please contact me at (813) 380-4256 or by email at bennington_barbara@bah.com

Thank you very much!

Barbara Bennington,

LTC US Army (Ret)

June 19, 2004

Hello, today is Saturday 19 June. I am Capt Jim Carr, CO of Anzio.

ANZIO will be at sea early Monday morning 21 June and will return to
homeport Norfolk Friday 25 June at approximately 1400 at pier 2.

During this week at sea, your ANZIO Sailor will be conducting drills in
Engineering, Seamanship, Damage Control and Combat Systems. These drills are
an important part of our Basic Phase, which we require to prepare ourselves
to operate as part of a Carrier Strike Group.

Many of you may already have heard of the tragic loss of our shipmate, EN2
Damon Runyon, who passed away in a motorcycle accident Friday evening. He
was a superb shipmate, and a good friend, and we will miss him terribly. I
have expressed our condolences to his family on behalf of the entire crew.
They are understandably shaken, and I would ask that you respect their
privacy right now. ANZIO will conduct a memorial service on board, the
specifics of which have not yet been determined. As details about the
memorial service and the funeral are available, we will share that
information on this careline for those of you who would like to attend.

That is all for now, Thank you for calling our care line, and please call
again soon.

June 15, 2004

REPORT ON TRIP TO ANZIO,NETUNNO, ROME AND FLORENCE

Friends, Anzio Veterans and countrymen:

Our contingent of Anzio Beachhead Veterans of WW II arrived in Rome on May 29th via ALITALIA. They lost my luggage for four days and I had to
beg and borrow a blazer and clothes to attend the formal programs scheduled in Nettuno and Rome.

We were taken to Anzio by bus where we stayed in the Grand Hotel Dei Cesari.

Sunday morning when those who went church returned we were taken on a guided tour of the beachhead by Italian Army officers. A few veterans
could pick out spots where they had served etc. but I couldn't because there were no references left of gun positions or fox holes in the
boondocks near the Mussolini Canal. However, the 'fly over' is still there and not much changed.

On Sunday evening, we had dinner at a country farm restaurant VECCHIA MAREMMA owned by Maria Pazzano and Byron Upham. Maria Pazzano a.k.a.
Mrs. Upham loaned me an up scale Italian blazer for the use during the next few days.

On Memorial Day, May31st we first held a rededication service in Nettuno of our association plaque installed there ten years ago. The Mayor and
other Italian dignitaries also participated.

Later, we joined with many other veterans for the 60th commemoration of the breakout at at Anzio in late May 1944 in the American Cometary in
Nettuno. U. S. Ambassador Sembler and Italian dignitaries also participated.

As with the two hour speech by a politician preceding President Lincoln at Gettysburg in 1864 the words of the speakers flew with the wind while
the words of General Lucian Truscot at the 1945 Memorial Day Service stick with me: Bill Mauldin wrote in his book. The Brass Ring about the 1945 Memorial
Day ceremony at Anzio-Nettuno Cemetery.

Mauldin told how General Lucian Truscott turned his back on visitors and VIPs and spoke to the dead. He apologized to the dead for their presence
here. He said everybody tells leaders it is not their fault that men get killed in war, but that every leader knows in his own heart this is not
altogether true. He said he hoped everybody here [deceased veterans] through any mistake of his would forgive Him. but he realized that was
asking a hell of a lot under the circumstances. Truscott did say he would not speak about the glorious dead because he didn't see much
glory in getting killed in you late teens or early twenties. He promised that if in the future he ran into anybody, especially old men,
who though death in battle was glorious, he would straiten them out. He said he thought that was the least he could do.

Later in the Evening we attended a reception in honor of U. S. Veterans of the Italian Campaign of World War II held by U. S. Ambassador Sembler
at his official residence in Rome. We had an opportunity to chat with former Canadian and British soldiers, with members [civilian and
military] of the embassy staff, and with members of the Reserve Army Band from Wisconsin who had played at the Memorial Day service at the
American Cometary in Nettuno.

Names like Nettuno, Cisterna, Velletri, Factory/Aparila are now refocused in my mind now that we visited them. We were hosted for lunch
in Velletri by a group of Italians whose hobby is reenactments. They're wearing WW II GI uniforms with patches from the 3rd, 34th, 36, 45th
Infantry Divisions and the 1st Armored Division. after lunch they drove "we veterans" down from the hillside restaurant to the center of town in
WW II jeeps and small trucks.

Two museums stick out in my mind, the first was at Nettuno which included artifacts and pictures of the invasion period. The second was
an extensive photo museum in the war Memorial, Rome of photographs of the scenes and activities of the liberation of Rome.

Tuesday morning, June first we moved to Rome where we stayed at the same hotel [Anzio Beachhead Veterans had stayed ten years before] Grand Hotel
Fleming. Then toured Rome.

Wednesday, June 2nd, We went to Montecassino where we had a private tour of the abbey by a friar who had survived the bombing in 1944. It was a
tremendous experience.

Thursday, June 3rd we went to a country town where we were hosted for lunch by local Italian veterans

Friday, June 4th we were hosted for lunch by the Mayor of Rome at the City Hall where we were joined by soldiers from other countries who also
participated in the Liberation of Rome on June 4th 1944. Ann and I were seated with Scottish veterans and their wives. The audience was scanned
by TV people - we later learned I was shown to all of Rome on one of the TV stations.

Later in the evening we went to the American Embassy where President Bush spoke to us and shook the hands of quite a few veterans. Secretary
of State Colin Powell was there along with the acting-secretary of the Army and the deputy secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Although there were some protesters in Rome we were not bothered by any of them. In fact many Italian, especially the younger crowd often gave
us a high sign and/or wanted to shake our hands.

Local bars were hospitable to us for using their toilets, but often at public rest rooms there was a woman gate keeper who would scream and
holler if you didn't leave her a tip.

On our last full day in Florence we were hosted by the President [comparable to a state governor] of the Region of Tuscany. The President
issued a special medal to each veteran commemorating our visit.

Item: Over the period of the trip Learned two things: . Commissioned nurses receive lower pay than officers of the same rank
in the army. Canadians soldiers in the Canadian-American Special Forces received less pay than their counter parts in the American Army.

Thanks again Jim Bird for the update!

June 10, 2004

BOARDS for the ARMY are now up and running !

The boards are set up by Major Conflicts, Branches and Keywords.

Click on www.vetsrollcall.com/boards.htm

Check 'em out ...and post away !

Respectfully yours,

FOR VETERANS AND BUILT BY VETERANS (V2V)

www.vetsrollcall.com

PS. Every effort is being made to send this announcement to you one time only .
PPS. Help pass it on by forwarding this to someone you think would appreciate it .

Thanks for sending this Jim Bird

June 4, 2004

Hello, today is Thursday 3 June. I am Capt Jim Carr, CO of Anzio.

ANZIO will return from sea at 1130 Friday, 4 June, at Pier 2.

ANZIO is returning from a very fun and very successful visit to New York City, where we represented the US Navy at Fleet Week. Among many highlights was a Yankee game with IT3 Michael Forjan and GM2 Nathan Reeve holding the American Flag on the Yankee Stadium pitcher’s mound with USS ANZIO emblazoned on the Jumbotron behind them. The crowd went wild…especially the 70 ANZIO Sailors that were present at the game.

Many ANZIO Sailors received standing ovations when they walked into New York City restaurants, and many did not have to buy their dinners. CNN interviewed several ANZIO Sailors, including FCC Angel Alvarado and his family. It was a week that made us very, very proud.

USS ANZIO was just named as the Search and Rescue Excellence award winner for 2003. Congratulations to your First Division ANZIO Sailor, especially our SAR officer ENS Greg Guba.

Please mark your calendars for our Family Day at sea this summer, scheduled 23 July. (Remember that riders must be older than 8 years) Also, plan to attend our command picnic 1 July at Fleet Rec Park.

Over the next two weeks, ANZIO will host 50 midshipmen from all over the country, and will be in charge of the training program for more than 250 midshipmen in six ships. We will be underway from Tuesday morning to Wednesday evening each of the next two weeks.

That is all for now. Thank you for calling our care line, and please call again soon.

The letter was sent to Woody Hoercher with a CD of photo's from Glenn and Jack Meyers the May 4th Memorial at the USS Anzio CG-68.

You can see the pictures on the May 4th Memorial page. "May 4th Memorial"

----- Original Message -----

From: Captain Carr

Sent: Monday, May 10, 2004 7:32 PM

Subject: CO careline update

Hello, today is Monday, 10 May. I am Capt Jim Carr, CO of Anzio.

ANZIO will return from our underway period today, Monday, at 0930, at pier 2.

This week we will receive our first important basic phase inspection. Our Engineers will receive our “Initial Assessment” and they are prepared to perform extremely well. During this underway period we accomplished a lot of engineering drills and got back into practice with our operational teams.

Our next underway period is from Tuesday to Thursday, while we go through this inspection.

Last week the ship celebrated the 60th anniversary of the ANZIO Beachhead Veterans. Many friends and family members, as well as veterans from the Beachhead attended the ceremony. The event was covered by local Norfolk news stations. It was a first class event, and if you joined us we were glad to have you present.

Recently we qualified two surface warriors: GM1 Matthew Young and CTR1 James Biello.

Thank you and please call this number again soon.

----- Original Message -----

From: Captain Carr

Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2004 12:43 PM

Subject: CO's careline message

Hello, today is Monday 17 May. I am Capt Jim Carr, CO of Anzio.

ANZIO will be at sea early Tuesday morning 18 MAY and will return to homeport Norfolk Friday 22 MAY at approximately 1100 (11AM) to pier 4.

ANZIO is at sea training this week for our Command Assessment Readiness for Training. (CART II). This will give a baseline assessment that we will use to tailor the training we will receive over the next several months.

This is a command wide event involving our crew in a variety of training team evolutions. These include

Combat Systems
Damage Control
Engineering
Force protection
Medical
Navigation
Ships training team

You can anticipate that your ANZIO Sailor will have many more weeks like this over the next couple of months, with our departure early in the week, and return later that week or the next week.

I would like to remind you once more that ANZIO Engineers wrapped up a very important inspection last week, performing better than any Atlantic Fleet ship this year, and third best in history. If you know an ANZIO Engineer, you might make a point of congratulating them.

We are hoping to schedule a Family Day at sea this summer, and it looks like we may be able to arrange that for 22 or 23 July. Please look for more information as we get some confirmation for that plan.

That is all for now, Thank you for calling our care line, and please call again soon.

May 7, 2004

Just in from James R. Bird:

From: James R. Bird

To: CMC Roger McCormick McCormack

Cc: John Boller ; Marie McCormick ; Beverly Hoercher

Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2004 7:59 AM

Subject: TRAVEL REPORT

Good morning Chief:

Arrived home A OK last evening.

Ann and I certainly enjoyed our visit and participation in the
Commemoration service -
a lasting memory.

I have several Remembering the Battle of Anzio programs and plan to send
them to other vets who were unable to attend. If you have a copy of
General Vessey's presentation I would like a copy - would reproduce it
and send copies with the programs.

We stopped in Washington and met with VADM Balisle who autographed my
copy of the ROCK OF ANZIO, Flint Whitlock. I gave him a copy of the
program and a copy of my
WW II recollections

The admiral wrote: "James, congratulations to you and the e Beachhead
Vets for all you have done for our Nation and, more recently for USS
Anzio (CG68). You have set the standard for all of us who are privileged
to wear the uniform of this great country and to continue to defend
freedom around the world. thanks very much and smooth sailing in the
days ahead."

Phil Balisle, VADM USN formerly commanding officer USS Anzio (CG68)

Thanks for the email Jim.

"New Members"

Carl F. Furtado--Barrington, RI

36th Combat Engrs

Vincent Battaglia--Paulsboro, NJ

3rd Infantry Division

Wiley N. Christopher--Huntsville, AL

106 AAA AW

Raymond J. Natale--Bayshore, NY

45th Infantry Division

Robert J. Patafio--Massepequa Park, NY

108 AAA Bn.

Bert E. Phillips--Hempstead, NY

45th Infantry Division

Victor A. Romanello--Beltsville, MD

87th Ord. Bn

Steven LaKomy--Buffalo, NY

1st Armd. Division

Frank T. DeAngelo--Destin, FL

3rd Infantry Division

Richard E. Colt--West Lebanon, NH

216 AA Bn

Alvin P. Bedgood--Woodville, MS

361 Reg. Combat Team

Arthur E. Cuny--Palm Harbor, FL

3rd Infantry Division

Laurence Reider--Lido Beach, NY

895 AW Bn.

James M. Sikorski--Sun City West, AZ

1st Armd. Division

Earl F. Caraghar--Burbank, IL

977 FA Bn

Adolph I. Hoffman--Valley Stream, NY

3rd Infantry Division

"EDITORIAL"

Message from John Boller

In March 1980, the Anzio Beachhead Veterans of World War II, Inc. was formed for the purpose of Providing a means by which veterans of the Anzio Beachhead assault could meet in the spirit of comradeship, to renew old acquaintances, make new ones, and to pay tribute to those of our comrades who did not return home.

Somewhere along the way, inflated egos got in the way of calm discussion, and a splinter group was formed. The result has been confusion and dissension. We now have another group with a name similar to ours, two separate reunions, and two separate groups going to Italy next year. At this point in our lives, and with everything else going on in the world, do we really need this?

At both recent reunions, members were asked about getting back to the one original organization and the response was overwhelmingly in favor of the proposal.

I think it is time we put our past differences behind us and move ahead as one unified organization, as was originally planned.

What do you think?

John L. Boller,-Sec/Treas/Editor--

1 Harbor North--

Amityville, NY 11701--

(631) 691-5002--

"UNITED WE ALL STAND"

I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM COMMAND MASTER CHIEF ROGER McCORMACK ON 14 NOVEMBER 2003 AND WOULD LIKE TO SHARE IT WITH ALL OF YOU.

It was an absolute treat to have your father Woody Hoercher meet us at the head of the pier when we arrived home in Norfolk this past Wednesday from our recent at sea training and port visit to Naval Station Newport R.I. this past Wednesday. Woody waited patiently with many of our proud families, and took the time to visit aboard with our Commanding Officer, Captain James M. Carr. Sorry, we could not have picked a more difficult pier to walk down with all the cranes, trucks, and production work going on. Thankfully Woody is determined to see his ship and we passed the white glove inspection... As always our Sailors get a "how are ya doing buddy" and a big smile from Woody. He is the best.

You would have been so very impressed of the way our great Sailors represented USS ANZIO during the school ship training in Newport. Senior Captains, to Naval Academy Predatory School (NAPS). Department head school, Senior Enlisted Academy, Navy Chaplain school were just a few to see the best the practical application onboard of their classroom theory. Additionally we had the privilege to host two Prospective Commanding Officers enroute their next duty assignment Commanding their own ship. Their crews better be ready to get out their scrub buckets and paint brushes, they saw the best in the U.S. NAVY here. You know the story, if you are not the leading the view never changes.

Many more praised the 22 Medal of Honor recipient awards posted through out the passageways onboard. More over when showing off our crews class room, so appropriately named Woody's Fox Hole, the books, TV, computers and pictures and artwork. All were very impressed with the very visible connection from the ANZIO BEACHHEAD VETERANS "greatest generation" with today's volunteer Sailors serving so proudly today.

If you ever would desire write a CMC note for the page, or any other ideas to share please do not hesitate to ask.

We appreciate your work posting the request for ANZIO Beachhead Veterans to have our ship at the 60th anniversary. It is an ambitious goal, that is not going to be without demanding schedule workload between now and next June. Thank you for asking for assistance writing our leadership trying to get this schedule request accomplished. Without communicating it to the Navy leadership it will not happen. Even little kids get to write Santa a letter for Christmas asking for a bike. Our wish is lots more challenging and will take some work to get there from here.

Thanks so much for your wonderful support and inspirational message.

Command Master Chief Roger McCormack

USS ANZIO (CG-68)

STAND AND FIGHT

Email from Captain James Carr

Sent: Saturday, April 17, 2004 11:12 AM

Subject: CO careline update

Hello, today is Tuesday, 14 April. I am Capt Jim Carr, CO of Anzio.

ANZIO is inport until 7 May while we go through a Fleet Maintenance Availability. We will then begin our BASIC PHASE. The basic phase training cycle entails a grueling schedule of assessment, training, and certification in each of 21 areas of warfare to show our readiness to deploy. During this Basic Phase, you can count on your ANZIO Sailor coming to work early, working very hard to prove our readiness, and on certain occasions (not always), returning home late.

Our underway cycle will involve several underway days followed by several inport days. This cycle will last until our Final Evaluation in September. Our first underway period will be 7-10 May, with another underway day on 11-12 May.

As you know, ANZIO was awarded the Battle E for excellence last month. Last week, we found out that ANZIO was named as the best surface ship in the Atlantic Fleet, as we were nominated for the Battenburg Cup. We now are being considered, along with an aircraft carrier and a submarine for the best unit afloat in the Atlantic Fleet.

On 4 May at 0830, ANZIO will host a 60th anniversary Commemoration Ceremony of the ANZIO Beachhead landings in WWII. We will have a first class ceremony pierside, with the Atlantic Fleet Band and General John Vessey as our guest speaker. Gen Vessey is a former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, who received his battlefield commission during the battle for ANZIO. Anzio family members are invited to attend this ceremony.

ANZIO will be away from Norfolk from 24 May to 07 June to participate in Fleet Week in New York City. This will be a very high visibility visit, with your ANZIO Sailor representing the Fleet on television, at baseball games, in parades, and other big events that NYC will put on to celebrate the Fleet.

	"NEWS UPDATES FROM THE USS ANZIO CG-68"

	"LETTER FROM ROBERT LOUGHLEY"

	"LETTER FROM CPT BINGHAM"


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