70th Infantry line up for chow in Oeting. This picture was
taken about a month after the battle.
Oeting in 1991, with veterans of the 70th lined up at the same spot
as picture above,
in front of
the building where the chow line photo was taken in '45. From left
to right, Gerard Bongras, AM, Forbach; Frank Lowry; Dale Bowlin;
Andy McMahon; Gene Burtner; Ken Dawson; mayor of Oeting.
The mayor's office where we were
celebrating the occasion of our visit with champagne. Standing l to
r: Gene Burtner, Ken Dawson, Dale Bowlin; sitting, l to r: Andy
McMahon, the mayor, Frank Lowry.
The Bousbach home of Adolphe Kieffer
(AM). Standing, l to r: Dale Bowlin, Jeannie and Adolphe
Kieffer. Sitting, l to r: Joe Zeller's (AM, Forbach) daughter
- interpreter, Gerard Bongras, Ken Dawson.
Adolphe Kieffer is the
man who was about 11 years old when we were there in '45. He was a
key player in the design and promotion of the Spicheren
monument. Phyllis and I met him in '89, our first trip with Freeman.
Neil Gibbs and Paul Thirion knew Adolphe from previous trips. Adolphe
and his son restore and maintain American vehicles from WWII. When
the monument was dedicated in '95 Adolphe painted C/883 FA on a half
ton truck and built a steel step stool so I could get into the
vehicle without straining. What a guy!
