the BEACON Newspaper, Indiana beacon6-18 | Page 9

June 2018 THE BEACON Page 9A

SEIZE , OCCUPY , ORGA- NIZE , AND DEFEND-AT ALL COST-MONTE BELVE- DERE , AND PREPARE FOR ACTION TO THE NORTH- EAST .”

Monte Belvedere was assaulted next . Belvedere was heavily manned and protected with mine fields . Again , the surprise tactic of the assault made it a success , and after a hard fight , the peak was captured . The number of lives lost and wounds sustained made the conquest of Monte Belvedere expensive . Holding the gains during the balance of the week proved almost as costly as the assault itself . During the next one hundred days of combat , the total cost would rise to 992 men killed and 4,154 wounded as men of the Tenth Mountain Division took and held every assigned objective .

In April 1945 General Hays continued the division ’ s advance northward along the east shore of Lake Garda by means of a leap-frog operation in which battalions of all three regiments participated . One of the final combats for the Tenth Mountain Division took place at the canyon lake at the foothills of the Alps in Italy . The first troops reached the south end of the lake , cutting off the German Army ’ s main escape route to the Brenner Pass . It was here , my father stated , that he celebrated his twenty-second birthday under a table in a farmhouse trying to find protection from shells that were being fired by the Germans .

Although the German Army was in full retreat the next day , the 86th ’ s advance was slowed down because the Germans had blown the first of six tunnels through which the road along Lake Garda ’ s east shore passed .

The 86th Mountain Infantry was in the hills above Lake Garda , the kind of country that was part of their training at Camp Hale . While getting to their destination of the towns of Torbole and Riva , they were attacked by the Germans . Being a member of the 605th Field Artillery , as well as a member of a pack howitzer gun crew , Private First Class Raymond Thurman , with the assistance of his comrades , was able to get the German howitzer gun back on the road . The weapon was unfamiliar to Pvt . Thurman but with his previous training , he

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automatically was able to use the Howitzer gun to fire at the Germans attacking them . His actions saved the lives of his comrades . He stayed with his gun until firing had ceased . Pvt . First Class Thurman ’ s heroic actions put his own life at risk by using the enemy ’ s weapon against them . He displayed the characteristic of a true hero of the United States Army .

On April 30 the troops captured the town of Torbole and headed for Riva three miles away at the north edge of Lake Garda . The same day , an assault force consisting of 85-K and one platoon of heavy machine guns from 85-M crossed the lake in amphibious vehicles , called DUKW ’ S . They entered Mussolini ’ s villa and office in Gargnano . Another DUKW carrying twenty-five men from the 605th Field Artillery capsized with all hands lost but one- Corporal Thomas E . Hough .

The German Army in Italy surrendered on May 2 , but the Germans fought on in Northern Europe .

A total of 19,780 men served in the Tenth Mountain Division in Italy-13,365 who went overseas together , plus 6,415 replacements . Of these , our total casualties were 4,866 . 975 killed , 3,871 wounded , and twenty prisoners of war were taken .

On Nov . 30 , 1945 , the Tenth Mountain Division was disbanded . Camp Hale was

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TO THE MILITARY

dismantled several years later . Major General George P . Hays told his men , “ When you go home , no one will believe you when you start telling of the spectacular things you have done . There have been more heroic deeds and experiences crammed into these days than I have ever heard of . The Lord had us by the hand .”

My father , Raymond R . Thurman , was discharged from the United States Army Jan . 22 , 1946 . Upon his discharge he had earned the following decorations and citations :

• The American Theater Ribbon

• EAME Theater Ribbon with 2 Bronze Stars

• Good Conduct Ribbon

• Bronze Star Medal

• Victory Medal World War II Raymond R . Thurman received his Bronze Star Medal , along with his Citation Letter , for his heroic actions .

He always gave of himself to his Church , family , Country , friends , and his community . The citation letter , written by Major General George P . Hays , proves that Pvt . Thurman was an extremely selfless man . He showed great heroism for his actions that day of April 29 , 1945 . He not only used a piece of German artillery , he helped save the lives of his own comrades .

My father is now deceased . He passed away April 15 , 1998 , at the age of 74 .

Vietnam Veterans Honored

Vietnam Veterans were honored at the Trinity Christian Center in Lawrenceburg for Vietnam Veterans Day . Shown are Joe Halloran , PG Gentrup ,, Jerry Bondurant , Ron Spurlock , Ed Shannon , Mike Lafollette , Pat McClanahan and Pastor Corey Potts . Judy Wesley is in the front .

Bright American Legion Post Open

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The new Bright American Legion Post 132 is now up and running . All veterans are encouraged to visit . The group meets the second Monday of each month at 7:00 pm at the Bright Lions facility located on Lamplight Drive just beyond the firehouse .

The group ’ s primary purpose besides fellowship is to reach out and get involved in community projects such as visiting shut-in veterans , flag education programs for elementary school students , and many other projects .

Again , all veterans are invited to join . Contact Bob Waples for additional information . 513-226-2937

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