My Army 'Book of Memories'

James Frank Alban Sr
1925-2008
143rd AAA Gun Battalion - WWII

Response to Website

I get some really nice letters from folks that visit this site. I've started late, but I will begin to post them as they come in.

Ed Christy Christopherson - Battery B

Received: July 15, 2010

I just finished reading my father-in-law's copy of the book and found your site while looking for more info on the web. My father-in-law, Ed Christy (Christopherson), First Sgt Battery B, celebrated his 91st birthday in 2010.
Dave

Clyde D. Culmer - Battery D

Received 5-29-2010

Hi...
My father was Clyde D. Culmer who was in Battery D. I noticed in the book that someone had written his death date and that he was 81.
Did your Dad ever mention my Dad. He must have known him to write in the book.
I also have this book. I recently copied it for my sister and my nephew who is interested in World War II. That is neat that you put it on line. My book made it in very good shape.
Nancy Culmer Whitaker

Wilbur H Borges - Battery D

Received: 2-25-2010

I am happy to have found your site Mr Alban. My grandfather was Wilbur H Borges, the CO of Battery D. I have only a few stories about the war related by my grandmother as my grandfather died when I was young in 1981.

I may have some documentation from the war, I will have to check my archives to see what I have. I will look for this book as well, although I don\'t remember it specifically.

Thank you for your scanning efforts.
Best Regards,
Jeremy Allen

Laverne O. Muehleip - Battery D

Received: 2-7-2010

My dad, Laverne O. Muehleip, was a member of D battery as well. I first happened upon your Web site on the eve of the 60th and final reunion of the 143rd in July 2008 at Chester, WV. It's a shame there was not enough time to let you know about the reunion.

Dad immediately remembered your father as the Company Clerk. Guess that job made your father pretty popular with the men!

As loader, Dad was on the third gun crew(90mm)with gunner Cpl. Ciolieri . Sgt. Anthony was first gun crew leader, and later Sgt. Wojtas was in charge. Dad said he never saw Ciolieri again after he left the 143rd.

In 2004 I drove my parents to Washington, D.C. for the official dedication of the World War II monument on the mall. When dad learned that veterans of WWII were being asked to march in the Memorial Day parade that year, he immediately contacted all members of the 143rd for which the reunion committee had addresses. Marching in the parade became the new goal. Ultimately, my dad and I represented the 143rd that year and the next, carrying a large banner that dad had made by students at our area vocational school. It was a great honor to participate!

By the way, B battery has a very nice book, also, with lots of pictures. Dave Bailey, son of Thomas Bailey, provided a copy for my father.

At one of the reunions at Black Lick Golf Course near Columbus, OH, someone brought copies of the 143rd's complete records. There was one copy for each battery. Does anyone know who has the copies? My dad would love to have a copy made. If you can provide a copy, let us know what the charge would be.

Thanks for providing this great forum. Vern would love to hear from any veterans or family members of the 143rd. His e-mail address is: ourVine907@att.net

Darcy Muehleip

Ralph Niro - Battery C

Received 12-16-2009
Sir, my name is William Dailey and my grandfather is Ralph Niro of C Btry. I would love to get a copy of this book. My grandfather is still alive and doing very well, he still lives in the Youngstown oh area. I am a Major in the Army and he and I often talk about our Army experiences. Again if there is anyway for me to get a copy I would love to do that for him. Please feel free to contact me at the email provided above. ( William.dailey@us.army.mil )

Charles Dietrich - Battery C

Received 12-4-2009

Thank you for creating this site so everyone can read this important historical document. I also own a copy of this book. My father, Charles Dietrich, was in Battery C, and I am one of his six children.

We went to the 143rd AAA Gun Battalion army reunion in Ohio every summer, and I have such good memories of seeing my dad and all of his buddies having a good time together. Of course, I only heard them laughing and joking from afar, because all of the kids ran off and played while our moms prepared a huge spread of delicious food. The Ciprianos would always bring great Italian food, and my dad told us that Guido Cipriano owned a pizza place near Kent, OH. (I just looked it up, and Guido's Pizza & Catering Service is still operating today in Ravenna, OH near Kent.) My beloved dad died in 1981 at the age of 56 of a heart attack, and unfortunately, he never told us much about the war except that he was in the Battle of the Bulge. He always hated to get cold feet, and he did say that was because he was so cold during that December battle! My mom continued to go to the army reunions every summer even after my dad died, and sadly, the very last reunion was held in 2008.

My copy of this book is in good condition, and I would be happy to type up any sections or entire pages that you are unsure of and send them to you. Thanks again for doing this for our great fathers -- they all deserve to live on forever, even if it's just through the memories of their great deeds and tremendous sacrifices so we can all live as free Americans. I am so proud of my dad and all of the men and women who currently serve or have served their country.

Sincerely,
Rosemary Dietrich

Robert A. Fox

Received 10-12-2009

I have not yet delved into the site, but I too have a copy of the Book you show a picture of here. My father was Robert A. Fox, known to all who loved him simply as Bob. Unfortunately for my brother and I, Dad never talked about his experiences during the war, but we heard many of the time spent training in California and his exploits in Germany after the war. This was just Dad's nature, a man who could always see the positive in life. When cancer took him in 1981 I was overwhelmed with two emotions. The first was being cheated having my father torn away from me when he was only 56 and I only 18. The second was a sense of gladness for 18 years that I wouldn't trade for a hundred with many fathers. I'm sharing this with you because your site has reminded of probably the strongest emotion about dad which is a sense of pride. Our fathers and there brothers in olive drab were truly heroes as I wrote to my brother. These men gave of themselves that the world might be better for all mankind. I thank you for taking the time to put this together so that these real life heroes will never be forgotten.

JOSEPH W. A. FOX, Lt Col, USAF
Proud Son of an Army Private