Christoph, Thank You for the lead.

And Living Legend Larry, Thank you for all of that research today. I can not even keep up with it. But trying.

I am out most of tomorrow,

Good Night,

Jean

In June 2012 we found some Information about Capt. Mont F. Stephensen on B26.com - today I found another page there:

http://www.b26.com/page/the_monument_at_the_roadside.htm

Christoph

The pilot of Lefever`s plane was Philip Dryden who died at the military hospital in Siegborg and is on the Stolz list of those buried at Siegburg Nordfriedhof Feld E 20 Nr 123

Summary, Stolz list of 22 Americans buried in the civilian cemetery in Siegburg, Germany

Siegburg Nordfriedhof Feld E 20

1. Sgt. John J. Culik, Jr., 36653803, Company A, 298th Combat Engineer Battalion

POW# VI G - 13020, Died as Prisoner of War, camp: 349, Military Hospital Siegburg

Date of death: 17 November 1944

Temporary Cemetery: 4650, Margraten Cemetery, Aachen, Holland

Permanent Cemetery: 6100, Illinios, Burial: 1949, Evergreen Cemetery, B, Evergreen Park, IL, Cook County

2. Pvt. Dale J. Welsh, 36967800 Company K, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division

POW# VI G - 13089, Died as Prisoner of War, Camp 011, Stalag 6G, Bonn

Captured 13 November 1944

Date of Death 14 December 1944

Temporary cemetery: 4650, Margraten, Aachen, Holland

Permanent cemetery: 6100, Illinios, Calvary Cemetery, Quincy, Adams County, Illinois, Plot: St. Joseph, Lot 282

3. 2d LT George E. Campbell, O -1057970, 28th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division

Death: Dec. 22, 1944, Died as Prisoner of War, Camp 349, Military Hospital Siegburg

Captured 16 Dec 1944

Tempoary cemetery: 4650, Margraten Cemetery, Aachen, Holland

Permanent cemetery: 5223, Camp Nelson National Cemetery, Nicholasville, KY. Section D Site 147

4. Pfc. Manuel M. Evaristo, 32765869, Company A, 393rd Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division

Captured 21 December 1944

date of death: 22 December 1944, Died as Prisoner of War, camp: 011, Stalag 6G Bonn

Temporary cemetery: 4650, Margraten, Aachen, Holland

Permanent cemetery: 7944, Portugal, Cemiterio de Santo Antonio do Monte, Monte, Murtosa, Portugal

5. Pvt. Elbert Darnell Garrett, 39579290, 393 Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division

Captured 26 December 1944

Death: 30 December 1944, Died as Prisoner of War, camp: 051, Stalag 6C Bathorn Munster Westfalen Prussia 52-07

Temporary cemetery: Margraten Cemetery, Aachen, Holland

Permanent cemetery: 8700, Arkansas, Oakland Memorial Cemetery, Clarksville, Johnson County, Arkansas

6. Pvt. Roy Louis Westgate, Jr., 36676096, 774th Tank Battalion

POW# VI G - 13152, Died as Prisoner of War, camp: 349, Military Hospital Siegburg

Captured 10 December 1944, Died: 30 December 1944

Temporary cemetery: 1200, AGRS Mausoleum, Liege, Belgium

Permanent cemetery: 1202, Neupre (Neuville-en-Condroz), Belgium ( Ardennes American Cemetery )

7. Robert T, Geraghty, 20728245, Company A, 23rd Armoured Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division

POW# VI G - 13022, Died as Prisoner of War, camp: 011, Stalag 6G Bonn

Captured 29 October 1944 near Leisel, Holland

Died 3 January 1945 at military hospital, Siegburg, Germany

Temporary cemetery: 4650, Margraten Cemetery, Aachen, Holland

Permanent cemetery: 7500, Missouri, Burial: 1949, Resurrection Cemetery, Affton, St. Louis County, Missouri,

8. 1st Lt. Philip C. Dryden, O-812956, 599th Bomber Squadron, 397th Bomber Group, Medium

Died: 3 January 1945, Died as Prisoner of War, Stalag 6G Bonn

Pilot, B - 26G - 1, 43 - 34159, Nickname: Hun, shot down 23 December 1944. MACR 11897

Temporary cemetery: 4650, Margraten Cemetery, Aachen, Holland

Permanent cemetery: 4601, Margraten , Margraten, Holland ( Netherlands American )

9. Pvt. Guy W. Wade, 39472161, Company K, 393rd Infantry Regiment, 99th Inf Div

died 8 January 1945, Died as Prisoner of War, camp: 349 Military Hospital Siegburg

wounded / captured area Elsenborn - Krinkelt, Belgium 19 December 1944

Temporary cemetery: 4650, Margraten Cemetery, Aachen, Holland

Permanent cemetery: 6300, Wisconsin, burial: 1949, Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Hayward, Wisconsin

10. Sgt. Marvin C. Heiden, 37321413, Company D, 42nd Tank Battalion, 11th Armored Division

POW# VI G - 13274, Died as Prisoner of War, camp: 011, Stalag 6G Bonn

Died 6 February 1945,

MIA / captured 1 January 1945

Temporary cemetery: 4650, Margraten, Aachen, Holland

Permanent cemetery: North Dakota, Rosehill Cemetery, LaMoure, North Dakota

11. Pvt. Rueben Pepple, 37280381, 34th Tank Battalion 5th Armoured Division

POW# VI G -13214, Died as Prisoner of War, camp: 011, Stalag 6G Bonn

Died 18 January 1945

Captured 15 December 1944

Temporary cemetery: 4650, Margraten, Aachen, Holland

Permanent cemetery: 4601, Margraten, (permanent cemetery), Margraten, Holland (Netherlands American Cemetery )

12. Pvt. Clarence Mc Cauley, 33844012, 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division

Died 11 Feb 1945, Died as Prisoner of War, camp: 011, Stalag 6G Bonn

captured 20 December 1944

Temporary cemetery: 4650: Margraten Cemetery, Aachen, Holland

Permanent cemetery: 4601, Margraten (permanent cemetery), Margraten, Holland (Netherlands American Cemetery )

13. Pvt. Arthur E. Spurlock, 38600561, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division

POW # VI G13044, Died as Prisoner of War, camp: 011, Stalag 6G Bonn

Died: 12 February 45

Temporary cemetery: 4650, Margraten, Aachen, Holland

Permanent cemetery:4601, Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Holland

14. Pvt Donald H. Wedel, 42116613, Company L, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division

Died 13 February 1945, Died as Prisoner of War, camp: 011, Stalag 6G Bonn

Captured 30 December 1944

Permanent Burial: April 7, 1949, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Rochester, Monroe County, New York, Section NO17, Lot 7, Plot 1N

15. Pfc. Kenneth M. Lampton, 36871132, Company I, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division

POW# VI G - 13267, Died as Prisoner of War, camp: 011, Stalag 6G Bonn

Died 13 February 1945

Captured 18 December 1944

Temporary cemetery: 4650, Margraten Cemetery, Aachen, Holland

Permanent cemetery: 6200, Michigan; burial: White Chapel Memorial Cemetery, Birmingham, Michigan

16. Sgt. Charles S. Mitchell, 31063368, unit not verified, poss: 550th Field Artillery Battalion or 550th AAA AW Bn

Died as Prisoner of War, Not Above Cases, camp: 011, Stalag 6G Bonn

Captured 4 January 1945

Temporary cemetery: 4650, Margraten Cemetery, Aachen, Holland

Permanent cemetery: 2300, New York

17. Pvt. Lee M. Larkin, 35576331, Company C, 1st Platoon. 811th Tank Destroyer Battalion

POW# VI G - 13665, Died as Prisoner of War, camp: 011, Stalag 6G Bonn

Died: 20 February 1945

MIA: 17 December 1944;

Temporary cemetery: 4650, Margraten Cemetery, Aachen, Holland

Permanent Cemetery: Margraten (Permanent Cemetery), Margraten, Holland (Netherlands American Cemetery )

18. T/Sgt. Marcus Abner, 06900557, Company B, 28th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division

POW#: VI G - 13125, Status: 4, Executed, Died in Ship's Sinking or Result of Ship Sinking, Shot While Attempting Escape

camp: 011, Stalag 6G Bonn

Cause of death: Kriegsverletzung ( Kopfschuss )

Kriegsverletzung, translated = wounded; Kopfschuss, translated - Headshot

MIA 30 December 1944

Temporary cemetery: 4650, Margaten Cemetery, Aachen, Holland

Permanent cemetery: 5200: Kentucky; Burial: Liberty Cemetery, Egypt, Jackson County, Kentucky

19. Cpl. Jefferson W. Pafford Jr., 34339905, Battery A, 589 Field Artillery Bn, 106th Infantry Division

POW#: VI G - 13669, Died as Prisoner of War, Camp not given

Died 21 February 1945

MIA 16 February 1945

Temporary cemetery: 4650, Margraten Cemetery, Aachen, Holland

Permanent cemetery: 4500: Mississippi; Burial: Southern Memorial Park, Biloxi, Mississippi

20. Sgt. Howard B. Jenkins, 20313549, 109th Field Artillery Battalion, 28th Division

Pow#: VI G - 132776, Died as Prisoner of War, camp: 011, Stalag 6G Bonn

Died 23 Feb 1945

MIA 17 December 1944

Temporary cemetery: 4650, Margraten Cemetery, Aachen, Holland

Permanent cemetery: 3200, Pennsylvania; Burial: Odd Fellows Cemetery, Danville, Montour County, Pennsylvania

21. Sgt. Edward G. Morlock Jr., 35129778, Company A, 9TH Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division

POW#: VI G - 13670, Died as Prisoner of War, camp: 011, Stalag 6G Bonn

Died 25 February 1945

MIA 23 January 1945

Temporary cemetry: 4650, Margraten Cemetry, Aachen, Holland

Permanent cemetery: 3322, Arlington National Cemetery, Ft Meyer, Virginia

Returned with WWII Dead Program from Margraten - Aachen - Holland

Interment Date: 9 Feb 1949, Section 12 Site 8020

22. Sgt. Ed L. Barlow, 37007262, 16th Armored Field Artillery Battalion, 9th Armored Division

Died as Prisoner of War, camp: 332, Hospital at Muenstierel Laz (Serves Stalag 6-G) Bonn

Died 17 March 1945

MIA 17 March 1945

Temporary cemetery: 4650, Margraten Cemetery, Aachen, Holland

Permanent Cemetery: Margraten (Permanent Cemetery), Margraten, Holland ( Netherlands American Cemetery )

Plot: H Row: 7 Grave: 2

If anyone needs full details on any of these men, let me know.

Good Morning! And you can see it is a GREAT morning!

First, let me say, Christoph it sure seems like a long time ago when you found Stephenson. You then went and researched how I could get in touch with Stolz, the author of this story, directly! I never dreamed such a thing would be possible! I could never have found him!

What you did was incredible and then Stolz led us to the Siegburg information. He also led me to an interpreter when I visited the Nun, during the period when you were vacationing on one of those great European beaches.

What was sad was that he told me that after he sent me the information he would be out of communication. He was going somewhere and it appeared to be for health reasons. I have written him a couple of notes, it has been some time now, to thank him. Because he has to have everything translated I did not want to burden him - and he may not have a computer where he was going - it sounded like he needed complete rest.

It would be wonderful to share with him Larry's great summary on each of the men. Maybe you will have some idea on that.

I tried researching in St. Louis the men with Stephenson to see if they had gotten to Siegburg. The amount of research I did, I recall proved no connection - or led me no where - I must go back to those files to be certain though.

The incredible POW list for Siegburg that you found and sent me - made my research in St. Louis much more effective!!!

We have come a long way - in a short period of time - Thanks to You, Larry, Marion, Walter Brinegar and his daughter, Mary

Jean

Larry the Legend, and that you always will be!

I have to go back to all of my correspondence - and at some point will do so for the entire sequence - but when Christoph led me to Mr. Stolz it seemed like a dream! This is another one of Christoph's Miracles! And if it had been much later in time, who knows if I would ever have heard from Mr. Stolz.

Christoph did this incredible research and then made the extra effort to find Mr. Stolz - eventually all of this led me to so much - including Robert Geraghty and the most incredible letter that I will ever possess that my Dad wrote!!! How many ways can I say Thank You to Christoph!

It was the most incredible thing to have Mr. Stolz take the time to communicate with me via a translator. And then the bomb, yes, what he sent me - the Siegburg Cemetery list and map!

I just happened to come across Dryden while trying to locate information in College Park, NARA research. I ultimately located and contacted the Organization that he had been with. Those folks knew of Mr. Stolz as well! He had been of great help to them!

I did some research in St. Louis on the crew in Dryden's plane. I also, as I mentioned in an little earlier post, - located and called Mr. LeFever. When I tried, months later, to call Mr. LeFever back it was to tell him that I knew for sure that another crew member survived. It was: Mr. Stang. Mr. Stang got very very lucky (like me) and guess why!

Yes, he ended up at the Hospital/Prison Camp/Lazarett/Abbey/Michaelsburg .... at Siegburg!

He too must be on the liberated from Waldbrol list that one day we will find!

What great good fortune for all of these men that you both, Christoph and Larry, are out there trying to give life to all of these men and helping reveal a lost story of the Abbey's history - an Abbey that has existed for so many centuries!

Jean

And now with trumpets blaring: Larry the Legend has discovered and revealed the Secrets of the Siegburg Cemetery!

Not quite 70 years ago these men faded away into being another WW2 sad statistic - they started this passage of their young lives as MIA and ended up in a little plot of land in Siegburg, Germany with wooden crosses letting folks know they were there.

Some of us who were born after the War might come from one of the maybe 600? American men that passed through the Abbey and survived. These men that survived, while scarred from all of their War experiences, did not end up with the 22 that Larry has so exquisitely researched and summarized above.

If there were 600 men, these 22 would be less than 4% of the total. That is an amazingly small number - especially considering that these 600 all had wounds - wounds bad enough to get them sent to the Abbey - and at that period of time medical supplies and staff, what existed, were very limited. And good food to help nourish the men did not exist either.

At this point in their lives, these wounded men had to depend on others for their survival. They had to depend on the few Americans that were physically capable of helping them. And they had to depend on men from other countries that had been captured and were now organized to help the wounded American Vets. The Germans had to be willing to let these resources be used for the care and survival of the Americans and not for the support of their own wounded men who were also there.

There are American men whose names I am only recently learning - like Otto Tonnesen and John Creighton who appear to have helped so many at the Abbey. Those stories will come later, and if there is any chance of finding Otto's son, Jon, I would make a bet - I will up the ante from our last bet Larry - that you will find him! I I located and spoke with one of the Creighton daughters, it was a few months ago. I have recently confirmed with 2 of the newly discovered Siegburg alumni the important and heroic role that Otto appears to have played while there.

What an incredulous amount of work and determination you have put into this project Larry! There are not enough ways for those men, their mothers and fathers, and ohers to say Thank You!!!

Jean

Jean

A Member of Larry's and Christoph's Fan Clubs

STUNNING NEWS! Just got in and 2 mins. later a message from Larry the Legend came on computer. Larry did it again - it is probably 99.99% sure that he has located a phone no. and info on Otto's son. I called and left a message -- can't wait until tomorrow to see if I get a phone call...

Of course, he could be away, or ?

The long wait started about 5 mins. ago...

Could Larry possibly have done it again? I would normally say, not possible, but because it is Larry ----- well, ...

Larry also sent me earlier today Creighton info and contact info - it is certainly more thorough than what I had done, - but Larry, I should get a few points on the score card for my achievement and the fact I had found a phone no. and called a daughter .... You are Amazing Larry and so Generous and Kind!!!

But this - no way - I just spoke about 3 nights ago with Ken F. who had memories of Otto and he thought Otto had a son - what a memory - and what a stroke of luck - and then Larry the Legend comes to the rescue!

Could it really be? And the answer is I am sure Yes. What will the boy know? I have a feeling a lot!!!

Thank You again Larry! What a stroke of great fortune to ever of had the honor of knowing you!!!

Jean

Just to let you know Larry the Legend - it was sleepless here.

He did not call, but in my message I said not to call because it was already late here.

I am out almost all day and leaving in a few mins. but will be back in briefy for a little bit during the day - I will check messages (rarely do) and let you know... Then I am back real late tonight - a busy day dealing with Mom issues and her care. Sad.

How many ways can I say Thank You!

Do you suppose it is him -Otto's son! And what does he know and/or what does he have?

Jean

Well, I got in near midnight and no messages on the recorder from Otto's son, and it has to be. I will call the number again today.

Jean

Just back, nothing yet on Otto.

But I have been so swamped not even beginning to keep up with Larry and did not get a chance to share this news with you Christoph.

I sent a message to that very knowledgeable and helpful gentleman in Remagen, Kurt Kleeman. The message came back:

Your message

To: Kleemann Kurt

Subject: Guess what? Dad was liberated by the 78th Division. But

what group?

Sent: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 04:06:23 +0200

was deleted without being read on Fri, 28 Jun 2013 08:45:26 +0200

Do you suppose that was because he is on holiday? There is another gentleman Klaus Schultz that has a great deal of information on the Remagen Siegburg area. He actually was in WW2 so I do not know his current status. He was a big help to the 78th Div. men and also to folks that wanted to come back and revisit the Hurtgen Forest - especially to see where they were wounded.

Do you think you can work your magic and find out something on these gentleman like you did on Mr. Stolz, the Sister, the Administrator, the ...........

Obviously there is no rush - because, if you are even able to find anything out, I would still need to put together a response.

As Always, THANK YOU for Everything!

Jean

Kurt Kleemann is leading the town Archive of Remagen, the Roman Museum Remagen and the Peace Museum Bridge of Remagen. You can try his official e-mail k.kleemann@remagen.de (if you didn't already) or call him 0049-2543-201-59 in his Office. He is working together with Wolfgang Gückelhorn who helped me with my documentation about the V1 Launch area here in Lohmar. He just published new findings about the American camp for German POW at the Rhine near Remagen, they could prove that not 1% of the 260,000 German POW died there, even though it was said that some 10,000s died there of hunger and diseases.

There is an interview with Klaus Schultz about his time as soldier in the Huertgen forest online: http://www.mm-historyguide.de/80.0.html

Perhaps you can reach him via info@konejung-stiftung.de who have set up that site. His name is quiet common in Germany, one is a pretty famous intendant and dramatic adviser, so it's hard to google the right one.

Christoph

Christoph, as always, you were so kind to look all of this up.! And you were so fast! I was shocked when I went back on the site yesterday and found you had already solved my problems!!!

The email address is the one that I have. I will wait until next week to resend my email. If I get a chance I will call him, it is incredible that you got me his number and everything so fast! I can not get a number that fast here in America - for anyone. Maybe Larry can - he appears like you, to have a magic touch.

How I wish I knew the German language! It seems to me last year it was Wolfgang that Kleemann called and he asked him for his thoughts on my Dad - where he could have met up with the Allieds and the group. Now because of the Guidry information - and I do not believe it could be wrong since it was written back close to the event - it has been confirmed that it was the 78th Div.

I am waiting to hear back from the Eisenhower Library on my request about Guidry's capture. Larry helped define the details including the boxes where the information might be located. Once that request has been fulfilled - successful or not - I will wait a bit and then go back to the wonderful gentleman there and see what guidance he can again give me for the 78th Div.

My research, if I recall properly, showed the 78th and others not being that far east of the Rhine. And the documents and books that I have read all say or imply the same thing - that they were restricted until later than March 21st to breakout from that area.

I am so happy to have the Klaus contact info. I might consider writing to him and telling him what I am looking for. I was considering asking him about the 78th and Dad's location etc. - but once I learned, and it was only recently, that he was not in the age range of Kleemann, but instead had actually been in WW2 I doubted that I would ever explain my dilemma to him.

However, after seeing him in that video, I am reconsidering. He looks great.

And about the video, I was so thrilled to be able to share that with the 4th Division folks that I am in contact with. The Hurtgen Forest and that area played a great role in their lives. 2 were wounded there but not captured. And one gentleman that was wounded there was ultimately taken to Siegburg/Abbey and there for 2 weeks up in the hospital area.

The Hemingway Trail is of great interest to the 4th Div. because it was the 22nd Reg. in the 4th Div. that Hemingway hung with. There are great tales about their times together.

So that Hurtgen Forest video/documentary meant a lot to me and to those 4th Div. folks. THANK YOU!!!

Your email was another O WOW from Christoph!!!

I was planning to respond last night - never made it to Mom's - but the reason I did not respond sooner will come in a future response...

As Always Christoph, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!!

Jean

This has been an all War day. Just to update you - Larry's information was right on and eventually I did end up talking with Otto's son. His father did not talk about the War so he does not have many details to share on that period of his Dad's life.

He volunteered to send me some documents and photos that he has, once he locates them, and then maybe with Larry's help we can figure some things out. I do not want to keep any of his docs or photos, so at that time I will have him count the number there, and then he will see the same number returned. Plus I will reimburse him for his costs. All I can do is hope it one day happens.

Otto did get wounded and it included the loss of one eye and some other things. According to his son, his injuries were not that severe so he was able to tend to the other POW's at the camp. He made sure the men were as comfortable as they could be. He was apparently mobile and in the big hospital ward in the Abbey one of the POWs said they remember Otto's name constantly being called. And the other POW said Otto handled the bed pans etc - whatever the men needed. And he even held this man's leg as a hole was drilled through the bone in his leg. Quite a Man!!!

Otto has a most unique pre War story. He was Danish - in the Merchant Marines did not mean he was in the military. He went on a ship and they delivered things to other locations. Otto married and 4 days later went on a ship to Boston. The day he arrived in Boston - he became a man with no country - because the Germans had invaded Denmark.

He jumped ship and went to Wisc. to stay with some friends. At some point the American authorities came and said he had a choice - go to prison because you are in America illegally or join the Army. If he joined the Army, he would be given citizenship in the USA. So that is what he did. His wife knew nothing because he could not write her.

It was 10 years before they were reunited and a lot had happened during that period! His Mom had been a member of the Underground and done many heroic things too!

And it is Thanks to Larry the Legend - that another piece of the puzzle has been put in place!

Yes, more details will be interesting - but to see a name on a document stating that Otto was a witness as well as my Dad to the death of 2 different soldiers - and know absolutely nothing about Otto would be to me a horrible injustice. And to hear from 2 men that Otto's name remained with them all of these years - and again to not know anything of him - would be a travesty! Otto can now be known and honored as a WW2 Hero!

Jean

another win for the VI Corps Team in co-operation with the International Order of the Joyful Bunny