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Tillet and Pirompré, Belgium - Plaque Dedication - June, 1996

Some of the main people of the dedication ceremonies
of the 87th Infantry Division plaques, June 1996.

Mr. John McAuliffe; M-347 - contributed most of the pictures in this gallery as well as all the others on this site.
He is most interested in anyone's comments, memories, or general thoughts.
Just click "comment" at bottom left of this gallery page.

Also
For info on 87th Infantry Division Association:
http://www.87thinfantrydivision.com
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Four 87th Division Memorials dedicated at Pirompré, Tillet, Moircy, and St. Hubert. June 1996 – during the 87th Division Association Tour, led by Earle Hart, A-345. As Monuments Committee chairman, Mitchell Kaidy; D-345, suggested the plaques, wrote all the texts for them, (some translated into French by Gilbert Stevenot of Rochefort), wrote nearly all the speeches, including those in French, (they were translated from English) and presided at the ceremonies in four villages. Mr. Kaidy had the plaques made in Cincinnati and shipped as antiques (to avoid duty) to Gilbert Stevenot. The 87th Training Division was represented at the ceremonies, as was the U.S. ambassador. U.S. fighter aircraft from Germany overflew the Bloody Crossroads ceremony, and over 1,000 Belgians attended-- a large number for a small nation! Photo credit to: John E. McAuliffe; M-347 President of the Cent. Mass. Chapt-22 VBOB
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Four 87th Division Memorials dedicated at Pirompré, Tillet, Moircy, and St. Hubert. June 1996 – during the 87th Division Association Tour, led by Earle Hart, A-345. As Monuments Committee chairman, Mitchell Kaidy; D-345, suggested the plaques, wrote all the texts for them, (some translated into French by Gilbert Stevenot of Rochefort), wrote nearly all the speeches, including those in French, (they were translated from English) and presided at the ceremonies in four villages. Mr. Kaidy had the plaques made in Cincinnati and shipped as antiques (to avoid duty) to Gilbert Stevenot. The 87th Training Division was represented at the ceremonies, as was the U.S. ambassador. U.S. fighter aircraft from Germany overflew the Bloody Crossroads ceremony, and over 1,000 Belgians attended-- a large number for a small nation! Photo credit to: John E. McAuliffe; M-347 President of the Cent. Mass. Chapt-22 VBOB

87th infantry division plaquesPiromprTilletMoircySt.HubertEarleHartMitchellKaidyGilbertStevenotBloodyCrossroadsjohnmcauliffe

  • Four 87th Division Memorials dedicated at Pirompré, Tillet, Moircy, and St. Hubert. June 1996 – during the 87th Division Association Tour, led by Earle Hart, A-345. As Monuments Committee chairman, Mitchell Kaidy; D-345, suggested the plaques, wrote all the texts for them, (some translated into French by Gilbert Stevenot of Rochefort), wrote nearly all the speeches, including those in French, (they were translated from English) and presided at the ceremonies in four villages. Mr. Kaidy had the plaques made in Cincinnati and shipped as antiques (to avoid duty) to Gilbert Stevenot. The 87th Training Division was represented at the ceremonies, as was the U.S. ambassador. U.S. fighter aircraft from Germany overflew the Bloody Crossroads ceremony, and over 1,000 Belgians attended-- a large number for a small nation! Photo credit to: John E. McAuliffe; M-347 President of the Cent. Mass. Chapt-22 VBOB
  • Dedication of the Shoup Memorial plaque - June - 1996.<br /> <br /> Sgt. Curtis Shoup plaque at Tillet, Belgium.<br /> Sgt. Shoup was awarded our country's highest Award, <br /> the CMH, for his sacrificial actions at Tillet. <br /> <br /> Shown (at left) are The Mayor of the Commune Ste. Ode and <br /> (at right) Robert Watson, the sole surviving Officer of I-346 after the battle for Tillet.<br /> <br /> Shoup and then Lt.Watson attended the same high school in Oswego, NY.
  • Robert Watson at the Shoup Memorial plaque on the Bell Tower at Tillet, Belgium, June - 1996.<br /> <br /> Bob Watson was Shoup's Company Commander in I-346,<br /> and was a career soldier, serving in the Korean War <br /> and State Side appointments. <br /> <br /> He retired with the rank of Colonel. <br /> <br /> Bob Watson died in the summer of 2006.
  • Here at the Tillet plaque Dedication - June 1996 are:<br /> <br /> (At left in green Jacket)- Jim Amor; A-345; <br /> the Assoc. Commander 1996. <br /> <br /> The Mayor of Ste Odeat at microphone. <br /> <br /> The two men at far right -Mitch Kaidy, D-345 (in blue shirt) and Bob Watson, I-346.
  • Plaque on the boulder at "Bloody Crossroads", Pirompré, Belgium.<br /> June - 1996.<br /> Shown left in US Army uniform is Ross Rassmussen, A-912 FA, <br /> the 87th Infantry Division Historian.
  • Mitchell Kaidy, D-345 reading the tribute at the <br /> Bloody Crossroads, Pirompré, Belgium.<br /> <br /> Mitch wrote the texts for all four of the <br /> 87th Division Infantry plaques which were dedicated June 8, 1996 <br /> on the 87th Infantry Division Association Tour.
  • John McAuliffe, M-347 in Army uniform at the plaque on the boulder at <br /> "Bloody Crossroads" <br /> Pirompré, Belgium.<br /> <br /> Plaque dedication June 1996.<br /> <br /> Here are kind words sent to the gallery comment section by Mr. Gilbert Stevenot:<br /> <br /> John McAuliffe is a dear friend, who remain the ambassador-at-large, to honor the acts of bravery of the 87th Infantry Division, during the bitter campaign in the Battle of the Bulge.<br /> <br /> I was the main coordinator of the officers' club Corlux to erect a momument in Pirompré and plaques in Tillet, Bonnerue, Moicy and St-Hubert, <br /> where the men of the division have fought bloody fights to put out of action the tenacious German Army, through the hilly and dense forests of the Ardennes, on their way to liberate the besieged Nuts City. <br /> <br /> All those monuments in the Ardennes, in Quincy or elswhere in the States, represent a great link to the past and to those who serve today in the world to bring peace to oppressed people.<br /> <br /> As a former interpreter at the 12th Army Group, <br /> I am proud of what I have done during the war and since the end of it, <br /> and the pleasure to meet again the friends of the past. <br /> <br /> I will never forget what they have done to liberate my country.<br /> <br /> God bless America.<br /> Steve
  • Mitch Kaidy, D-345 at the plaque on the boulder at <br /> "Bloody Crossroads" <br /> Pirompré, Belgium.<br /> <br /> Plaque dedication June 1996.<br /> <br /> As Monuments Committee chairman,<br /> Mitchell Kaidy; D-345, suggested the plaques,<br /> wrote all the texts for them,<br /> (some translated into French by Gilbert Stevenot of Rochefort),<br /> wrote nearly all the speeches, including those in French,<br /> (they were translated from English)<br /> and presided at the ceremonies in four villages. <br /> <br /> Mr. Kaidy had the plaques made in Cincinnati and shipped as antiques (to avoid duty) to Gilbert Stevenot.
  • Gilbert Stevenot - Belgium - who served in the Headquarters <br /> of the XIIth Army Group of General Bradley. <br /> <br /> Mr. Stevenot sent the 87th this wonderful comment: <br /> <br /> ...I was the main coordinator of the officers' club Corlux to erect a momument in Pirompré and plaques in Tillet, Bonnerue, Moicy and St-Hubert, <br /> where the men of the division have fought bloody fights to put out of action the tenacious German Army, through the hilly and dense forests of the Ardennes, on their way to liberate the besieged Nuts City. <br /> <br /> All those monuments in the Ardennes, in Quincy or elswhere in the States, represent a great link to the past and to those who serve today in the world to bring peace to oppressed people.<br /> <br /> As a former interpreter at the 12th Army Group, <br /> I am proud of what I have done during the war and since the end of it, <br /> and the pleasure to meet again the friends of the past. <br /> <br /> I will never forget what they have done to liberate my country.<br /> <br /> God bless America.<br /> Steve<br /> <br /> This picture taken - Bastogne - December - 2005<br /> <br /> Photo submitted by:<br /> John McAuliffe, M-347
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