Chapter 12

THOUGH OUR PICTURES FADE

On Wednesday June 5, 1946, around 50 survivors from 3/506 traveled to Missouri to gather as per Bob Wolverton’s last wishes at the Muehlebach Hotel in Kansas City. On the eve of D-Day, Wolverton had designated the Midwest’s most prestigious hotel as their meeting point. Bob’s wife Kay along with Helen Briggs arranged the reunion to honor her late husband and the 200 men from Third Battalion who had lost their lives since that fateful night.

Mr and Mrs Kangas were also in attendance, remembering their son Bob of I Company who died defending Foy. Only recently released from hospital, Johnny Gibson drove from Tucson with his girlfriend Pearle. The reunion centered on the Muehlebach’s beautiful ballroom with its polished wooden floor, enormous mirrors, 25ft-high ceiling and ornate art deco moldings. A memorial service was also held in a local chapel, where Kay read aloud her husband’s pre-D-Day prayer followed by an alphabetical roll call of the dead. Gibson was already tearful but then began to weep uncontrollably when Kay began with his friend Private Philip D. Abbey. Phil’s death had occurred at sunrise on June 6, 1944 and had been witnessed by Johnny and George Rosie, who was standing beside him at the church. The faces and personalities of those who did not come back were still raw in the minds of the people who were there. And this, probably the first reunion of its kind, was a clear indication of the close bonds that had been forged under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Robert Lee Wolverton.

***

With the deactivation of the 506th many began to wonder if the sacrifice of their kin had been worthwhile. For others it would take 50 years or more to accept the time spent in Europe as being a positive experience, but time was and still is a great healer. Some stayed in touch after the reunion, while others simply got on with their postwar lives, raised families, and never saw or spoke to each other again. Andy Anderson eventually married Kay Wolverton on July 19, 1947. Shortly before tying the knot, Anderson adopted Wolverton’s son Lach as his own and they eventually shared another three children. Kay and Andy remained very close to the Sinks especially after they retired, and even after Bob and his wife Margaret’s early demise, they continued to visit Bob’s mother in Charlotte, North Carolina. Although Andy was a caring father to all his children, he only ever talked about the amusing things that happened during the war and never spoke of the many dark days and nights he had endured with his brothers-in-arms. Like Bob Harwick, Andy died long before his time, after returning from a pilgrimage to Normandy in 1985… he had hoped for many more.

John Allison, Jim Bradley and “Chick” Stewart were members of the 81mm Mortar Platoon. Allison, by then a California Highway Patrolman, rode 1,500 miles from Los Angeles on his motorcycle with Bradley. Bradley and Stewart both jumped from 1st Lt Howard Littell’s plane in Normandy. On June 6, Chick was seriously wounded and Bradley captured. Miss-dropped miles away, Allison was also captured; although wounded, he escaped and returned to American lines. Littell himself was killed-in-action on June 7. (Bob Webb Jr)

Mortarmen John Allison, Jim Bradley, George Rosie, Ivan Glancy, E.E. Lee and “Chick” Stewart. Rosie was captured on D-Day and remained a POW for the duration of the war. Glancy was seriously wounded in Normandy. (Bob Webb Jr)

All the boys together with their company designation listed next to their name. (Left to right, rear): James DeRoin (visitor), Bob Harwick (H), Dominic Nazzalorso (H), Dud Hefner (H), Daniel Seasock (G), Harold Johnson (I), Jim Bradley (HQ), John Allison (HQ), Ivan Glancy (HQ), Audrey Lewallen (HQ), Fred Bahlau (H & HQ), John Luteran (I), Walter Lukasavage (I), Ray Calandrella (HQ). (Left to right, front): Bob Nash (I), Forrest Troxel (HQ), Dick Campbell (visitor from the 502nd), Ed Austin (I), Ed Shames (I, HQ & E), Jim Morrow (HQ), Bill Bowen (G), Jim Martin (G), Oscar Saxvik (G), Sam Snobar (G), Vince Michael (G), Norm Capels (G), Cecil Hutt (G), George Rosie (HQ), E.E. Lee (HQ), “Chick” Stewart (HQ), Johnny Gibson (Med Det). (D-Day Publishing Collection)

The entire gang gathered together with Kay Wolverton and Helen Briggs back row center. (Bob Webb Jr)

Kay Wolverton was invited on November 10, 1946 to the West Point Military Academy by Maxwell Taylor (who had recently been appointed as its superintendent) to receive the prestigious Legion of Merit on behalf of her late husband. Immediately after the war Taylor invited a handful of his most trusted friends and colleagues from the 101st, West Point graduates themselves, to bring their families and work alongside him at the academy. For a while, the academy became known as the “101st on the Hudson” and Sink, then a brigadier general, was given the responsibility of organizing and commanding its garrison unit. It certainly seemed as though the academy was a good place for rest, restoration, reward and camaraderie after a bloody war.

Before shipping overseas Bob Wolverton had left a request with his father Wayne, that if killed in action his remains were to be returned to the USA and buried at West Point. Bob’s body was eventually repatriated, and he was buried with full military honors in October 1948. (Clayton Gaskill via Bob Webb Jr)

Here Kay Wolverton is pictured in the center with Taylor to her left, and Harry Kinnard and Bob Sink immediately alongside. (The Wolverton Family)