"When you initially attacked for seven days and nights without halting for rest, you met and defeated twice your own number. Your advance required the enemy to turn fresh divisions against you, and you in turn hacked them to pieces as you ruthlessly cut your way deep into the flank of the "bulge." Your feats of daring and endurance in the sub-freezing weather and snow-clad mountains and gorges of Luxembourg are legion; your contribution to the relief of Bastogne was immeasurable. It was particularly fitting that the elimination of the "bulge" should find the Yankee Division seizing and holding firmly on the same line held by our own forces prior to the breakthrough. I am proud of this feat by you as well as those you performed earlier. We shall advance on Berlin together."-------Feb. 1, 1945 Headquarters 26th Infantry Division, W. S. Paul, Major General, U.S. Army Commanding

Camp Edwards
Old YD meets New YD



On Friday October 22 through Sunday October 24 Elements of Company HQ, 1st Platoon, 26th Division Photographic Section, 166th Photographic Company & the Red Cross deployed to US Army Post, Camp Edwards, Buzzards Bay, Cape Cod Massachusetts to participate in the Camp Edwards Open House.

After some debacle of logistics, EXAMPLE: failure of access list being located at the main gate, frustrated troops being turned away due to the failure of communication, cold weather ect.. Baker Company completed setting up camp per regulations and troops wound down and sacked out.

Saturday Oct 23 Troops awoke to Revile formed for chow served by the Baker Company Mess section and began their training day. The 1st Sergeant performed magnificently in preparing and scheduling troops for duty and rendering an informative ear to the general public as they enter the Baker Company Camp. 1st Platoon assembled to render Infantry support to the armored units on the assault of the Nazi position. The Armor we supported was 1 Sherman Tank, 1 M24 Chaffee Tank, 1 M 47 Walker Bulldog and 1 M 5 Stuart.

The Assault: The column of armor struck north through the trees and brush with Baker company 1st Platoon, lead by 1st LT. Kersting and Platoon Sergeant Kosewski. The Armor spotted the German position and began firing, elements of the German unit returned fire. Baker Company flanked right clearing German infantry from the advancing US Armor column. After eliminating the heavy machine gun nest the Armor units flanked the German position on the left. Baker Company pushed through the thick terrain eliminating and capturing the remaining Germans. Fighting was fierce, heavy casualties were taken on both sides.

The Encampment: Unlike Friday, the rest of the weekend went by fast and was well received by the general public. SSgt Brissette & Pvt James Pereira put on outstanding meals for the troops of B Company. First rate top notch chow. The Baker Company Mess section has outdone themselves, GREAT JOB gentlemen. Troops performed an Inspection of Infantry Soldiers gear lead by SSgt Volk. Squad leader Volk performed a mastery of education to the troops of 1st Platoon. All the troops in the unit should hold their heads up high knowing full well they were the sharpest allies on the Cape. Baker Company received complements from the US Army Camp Edwards for our outstanding attention to detail & authenticity as well as from the numerous numbers of veterans from WWII & Korea who remember the days of old when they served, using the similar materials, gear and equipment we use to commemorate them. The ARC & ANC display area received much attention as well as the Company Supply area. The troops marched about and performed manual of arms as the encampment was buzzing like a bee hive.

Saturday Evening: The Camp Edwards Gym was decked out in Base memorabilia fashion for a USO dance much like what we see at the GAP. The gym was bigger, more seating and the music was a live “BIG BAND” with refreshments on hand with a majority of folks in period dress. It was a great time.

Sunday was a magnificent reflection of Saturday with just one little drawback, the Coast Guard Helo needed to take off and being that it was next to our area we were rushed to take down the camp. Again we were victorious in Battle, our displays were top notch our troops were the best of the best our Red Cross & Supply section were on the ball and first rate! Our encampment resembles the era and impressed all who walked through. Much of the local populous are eagerly waiting for us to come back.

There is no doubt in my military mind that this was the Best event I have attended since being elected Commander of Company B. The level of pride I have for each and every one of you is more than you can imagine. Your performance was outstanding, your steadfast dedication to the commemoration of our greatest generation was clear to see this past weekend. You all are “YD”.

My thanks to all who attended: 1st LT Kersting, 1st Sergeant Mazzarella, TSgt Kosewski, SSGT Mazzuchelli, SSGT Brissette, SSGT Volk, T-4 Kersting, CPL Handy, CPL Ferraro, T-5 Morrow, PFC Baril / CPT C.J.Boa (166th SPC), PFC Farraro, PFC Fiske, PFC Carbone, PFC Moore, PFC Maddox, PFC DuFault jr, Pvt Adamsky, Pvt Violente, Pvt Machado, Pvt Regan, Pvt Periera, Arc Teixeira, Anc Kuebler
____________________________
George Devlin, Captain
Baker Company, 104th Infantry Regiment
Commanding
26th Infantry "Yankee" Division
WWII Living History / Re-enactment Group
http://www.26yd.com/





OUTSTANDING JOB!!!!!!!
All those who were able to make this event a success, Thanks a bunch. WE lived up to our motto "Best of the Best, We Accept No Less"..............
Hope everyone had as good a time as I did. The cooperation was Great. The battle area was great..... Those that couldn't make it--we'll be doing it again next year, you missed a good one.... isn't work a pain some times....hopefully we'll have a few more troops and vehicles next year.... The only negatives were the one way traffic on the Bourne Bridge due to construction and the temps at night.
B Co 104th 26YD, we accomplished our mission...to Honor those who served, educate the public and we sure as hell impressed the active duty command and troops who visited our display area...
We not only have been invited back but we " are to be the center piece of next years event"....I quote the Base Commander...and he said we will set up on the grass area not the hard pan....
As always Ken & Jim put on a feast, 5 star meals cooked on WWII stoves in the field. They do the work of what should be a 6 man cooking staff.....That is what usually staffs an Army Mess Hall in the field or a cantonment (Barracks area)......THANKS Guys for great meals....hope your feeling better Jim.
I don't know the final count but Diane, Chris and Joe made a bunch of cash selling T-Shirts, candy and other items to the public. There will be a lot of YD T-Shirts seen on the base for what I saw being bought by the modern day YD troops..
Jason's music as always added to the display, playing 40's tunes for that we and the public can enjoy to listening too. Jason,thanks for always bringing all that stuff to events I know it's no easy task and sometimes what you do goes unnoticed.. You also did a super job with trying to get in some training and the equipment inspection display was terrific, I was impressed at how many of our guys have all their stuff, can't wait to see what we have for a barracks display at the GAP 2011, great job laying all that stuff out for the inspection guys. super job, I know the public and the active troops were also very impressed with that display....
Due to your efforts we may pick up a few new recruits...we actually ran out of contact cards....
Again OUTSTANDING JOB!!!!!!
proud to be called Top by everyone of you, and proud to be 1stSgt. of the Best damn reenactment unit anywhere...as far as I'm concerned and I've have seen and been a member of a few from Rev War.--CW--WWI........
GuyMazzarella ( GMz ) Sgt.Rock


Equipmant Inspection


The equipment inspection went off wonderfully on Sunday and I want to thank the following troops for getting everything together like they did. This is the first time in my 8 years in the YD that I have seen so many troops all have a full kit of their own gear. As Top was saying afterwards, I can’t wait to see what we’ll all look like at the GAP this year! Good-bye Farby gear! If anyone needs a footlocker for the event, put the word out. There’s plenty of members who might have an extra.

Participating Troops for Inspection:
Cpl. J. Handy, Cpl. A. Ferraro, Pfc. L. Carbone, Pfc. AJ Ferraro, Pfc. J. Violante, Pfc. J. Pereira, Pvt. A. Adamsky, Pvt. G. Machardo,

S/Sgt. Jason Volk 26YD Training Coordinator









A Little R and R






Strike 1

Strike 2

Strike 3




Solders of the 104th Infantry Regiment
Private 1st Class AJ Ferraro
Rifleman
1st Platoon, 1st Squad, Company B



Private Anthony (Smiley) Adamski
Rifleman
1st Platoon, 2nd Squad, Company B



Private 1st Class Allen Ferraro
Rifleman
1st Platoon, 1st Squad, Company B



Private James Pereira
Mess Section
Company B



Private John Violante
Rifleman
1st Platoon, 3rd Squad, Company B




Corporal John Handy
Company Clerk
Company B Headquarters
Troops,
104th Memorial
We have the 104th Memorial coming up on Nov 7th. We need members to come out and support this most noble of events to support and honor those that have gone before us. The uniform of the day will be Class A's. 41s or 43s permissible if you do not have dress. I have the following people on my list:
Capt. Devlin
Lt.Kersting
Cpl. A. Ferraro
Pvt. AJ Ferraro
Pfc. D. Buckholtz
SSgt. J. Volk

Need at least one more as Color Guard.
Let me know if you will be attending assap, if you have not done so already.

Sincerely,
Lt. Kersting


Stonington Tactical
All B Co. troops coming to Stonington----tactical schedule

Fri. Nov.12
1200 gates open camp set up
firewood will be available, meals on your own
1700 (5pm) registration opens--ammo check
2030 (8:30pm) registration closes
2300 (11pm)---0600 (6am) Noise policy in effect

Sat. Nov. 13
0800 (8am) 1st formation Sat.
0900 (9am) safety briefing
0930 (9:30am) Phase I of battles starts
1200--1300 (12--1pm) 26YD Lunch
1300 (1pm) Phase II resumes
1500 (3pm) Phase III of tactical ends
1530 (3:30pm) Commanders debriefing
1600--1700 (4--5pm) final formation (possible meal)

See you there, GMz Top


Up Front
" It's not going to be the same without the Lt around anymore"



Girl of the week
The Grapevine is a publication of the 166th SPC. All Photos are property of PFC Joe Baril and can be reused used for personal use not for sale