Newsletter Birmingham history Center Vol. 4 No. 5. Veterans Day IN THIS ISSUE JOIN OUR LIST. Page 2. Page 3-4. Page 5.

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1 Vol. 4 No. 5 Veterans Day N ov., 2014 JOIN OUR LIST To join our list send us an at: bjhm@bham.rr.com IN THIS ISSUE age 2 Notes from the Director Featured New Artifact age 3-4 Battle of the Bulge Massacre age 5 An exhibit featuring the artifacts and storyline of the Birmingham History Center at the Alabama ower Archives Museum 600 North 18 th St. Birmingham, AL Exhibit Dates: - May 15 August 8, 2014 Dr. James M. Mason, III age 6 Hall of Valor age 7 Veterans Questionnaire 1807 Third Avenue North, Birmingham, AL Tel/Fax Thomas E. Jernigan, Sr. Memorial

2 Note from the Director age 2 Several events recently have caused me to think about World War II. First, I was honored to review the war time papers and letters of Dr. James M. Mason, III, a doctor from Birmingham who served in the Italian campaign. Second, we received in the mail a donation of two scrapbooks from North Carolina from the bother of Franklin Leroy Marker, a sailor who was killed in an explosion aboard the USS Birmingham during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Then I was asked to gave a presentation to the George S. atton, Jr. Chapter of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge in Roebuck about the 106 th Infantry Division. These historic events happened seventy years ago in For the servicemen and women who were born in the years between , those wartime experiences were real and personal. I met with and learned about some of those patriots a few days ago. With Veterans Day approaching, we must not forget them. This newsletter is dedicated to them. Artifact of the Month Scrapbooks of Franklin L. Marker These items come from two scrapbooks donated to the History Center by Ted Marker of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, the brother of Franklin Leroy Marker. Franklin was in the navy during World War II and served on the USS Birmingham. On October 24, 1944, the Birmingham went to the aid of the USS rinceton which had been hit by a Japanese bomb. A massive explosion on the rinceton resulted in the deaths of 229 men on the Birmingham, including Seaman Marker. Western Union Telegram Killed in action Franklin Leroy Marker As the foremost interpreter of metropolitan Birmingham s history, we will enable the public to understand more about the city s past and present and to shape its future.

3 Battle of the Bulge Massacre December, 1944 age 3 The Battle of the Bulge (December 16 January 25, 1944) was the largest winter campaign ever fought by the US Army. Over one million men struggled in the forests and towns of the Ardennes area in France and Belgium. This is the story of two of those men, natives of Jefferson County, Alabama. Technician fourth grade (T/4) William Edward ritchett Jefferson County, Alabama rivate First Class George Davis Jefferson County, Alabama The 333 rd Field Artillery was one of the few all black units serving in France during World War II. rivate First Class George Davis and Technician fourth grade (T/4) William Edward ritchett, both from Jefferson County, were members of the 333 rd. On the second day of the Battle of the Bulge, Davis and ritchett and 9 other members of the 333 rd became separated from their unit (faced with an onslaught of the German 1st SS anzer Division]. They found their way to the home of Mathius and Maria Langer [at Wereth, a small farming village in southeastern Belgium. We will recognize our responsibility to help build a better future locally, regionally, nationally, and globally through history. We will bring a credible and authoritative historical perspective to bear on civic issues, and we will help to shape the future by fostering historical scholarship and understanding.

4 Battle of the Bulge (cont.) age 4 The couple took the shivering soldiers into their home and were preparing to feed them when Nazi SS troops arrived after being alerted by a German sympathizer. The 11 were forced outside and were made to sit on an icy road for two hours before they were marched into a frozen field, where they were butchered by soldiers bent on amusing themselves with the agony of others. Their bodies, covered by ensuing snowstorms, remained at that spot for two months until villagers notified the U.S. Army about the massacre. The Germans who perpetrated the horror at Wereth were never found. A memorial stands (since 1994) on the site of their murders, dedicated to the Wereth 11 and all African-American soldiers who fought in the European theatre. It is believed to be the only memorial dedicated to African- American soldiers in Europe. McCastar Cemetery Wilcox County The 11 were buried in temporary graves in Europe until 1947, when their families were contacted about permanent burial options... Seven of the dead (including rivate Jones) are buried at the U.S. Military Cemetery at Henri-Chapelle, Liege, Belgium. The others, including ritchett, were returned to the United States for burial. Every museum needs help to achieve its vision. Fortunately, we are not alone in wanting to help people make meaningful and personal connections to history. Throughout greater Birmingham, there are many who share this passion. We need their help.

5 James Monroe Mason, III - WWII Surgeon age 5 Dr. James Monroe Mason, III During World War II he became a member of a notable U.S. 5th Army surgery team. He participated in the first day invasions of North Africa, Sicily, and both the Salerno and Anzio beachheads in Italy. He was highly décorated with six battle stars, the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit. Dr. James Monroe Mason, III, born in 1907, attended the University of Virginia and rinceton University followed by medical school and 8 years of postgraduate training at Johns Hopkins University. He was the renowned Dr. Alfred Blaylock s first resident and trained in several surgical specialties. He became a member of the staffs at St. Vincent s, Children s and Jefferson-Hillman Hospitals. His career included being Chief of Surgery at St. Vincent s, rofessor of Surgery at the Medical College of Alabama, and Chief Surgeon and Medical Director of the Alabama ower Company. Revetted hospital tents on the Anzio beachhead, Italy, spring 1944 We will recognize our responsibility to help build a better future locally, regionally, nationally, and globally through history. We will bring a credible and authoritative historical perspective to bear on civic issues, and we will help to shape the future by fostering historical scholarship and understanding.

6 Jefferson County Hall of Valor age 6 Samuel Lee rickett, Jr. Date of birth: 13-Feb-15 Date of death: 18-Sep-83 Artifact of the Month lace of Birth: owderly, Alabama Home of record: Bessemer, Alabama Forest Hill Cemetery, Birmingham, AL Navy Cross Awarded for actions during the World War II The resident of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Samuel Lee rickett, Jr. (NSN: ), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as ilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo lane and Commanding Officer of Torpedo Squadron TWENTY (VT-20), attached to the U.S.S. ENTERRISE (CV-6), in action on 24 and 25 October 1944, during the Battle for Leyte Gulf in the hilippine Islands. Lieutenant Commander rickett led his squadron in attacks on the enemy and obtained torpedo hits on a battleship and an aircraft carrier causing great damage. His courage, aggressiveness, inspired leadership, and complete disregard for his personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. General Orders: Commander 1st Carrier Task Force: Serial 013 (January 5, 1945) Action Date: October 24 & 25, 1944 Service: Navy Rank: Lieutenant Commander Company: Torpedo Squadron 20 (VT-20) Division: U.S.S. Enterprise (CV-6) As the foremost interpreter of metropolitan Birmingham s history, we will enable the public to understand more about the city s past and present and to shape its future.

7 Veterans History roject Questionnaire age 7 We Want Your Story If you are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Services, we would like to have a record of your service. lease fill out this short page and return it to us at 1807 Third Avenue, North, Birmingham, AL We claim Birmingham. We will leverage our history, expertise, collection, location, and reputation to stake our position as the best resource for understanding the city and its place in the United States and the world.

8 Birmingham History Center The Birmingham History Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed in 2004 by a group of preservation-minded citizens who wanted a repository and exhibit platform for artifacts of local history Thanks primarily to a bequest from the Thomas E. Jernigan, Sr. foundation and other donors, the History Center operates from offices at 1807 Third Avenue North in Birmingham, adjacent to the Alabama Theatre. Mission Statement The Birmingham History Center seeks to educate and entertain the general public by collecting, preserving and presenting the comprehensive history of the Birmingham region Third Avenue North Birmingham, AL Stamp Officers Dr. Bayard Tynes, Chairman Fox De Funiak, III, Co-resident Garland Smith, Co-resident Samuel A. Rumore, Jr., Vice-resident Alice Williams - Treasurer Board of Directors William A. Bell, Jr. Harry Bradford Thomas Carruthers, Jr. atrick Cather Connie Grund Wyatt R. Haskell Anne Heppenstall Mary Hubbard Thomas E. Jernigan, Jr. John Nixon Terry Oden William A. Tharpe Scott Vowell Lee Woehle