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Acknowledgements
This book is primarily a personal memoir. Any opinions given in it are my own,
and any experiences related are either from my own memory or are reconstructed from
what I believe I heard about the experiences of others. However, it could not have been
written without the support of others in supplying information, stimulation, and
encouragement. Here are a few of those who contributed some or all of the above.
First I should mention my three older children, Bill, Charles, and Roberta, who
said they wanted to know what I had been doing all that time they and their mother had
stayed in Abilene, Texas, waiting for the war to be over so I could come home. Then
there were the members of my Tuesday morning writers' workshop who, knowing
nothing at all about military matters, listened patiently while I read everything here, made
useful suggestions, and asked questions which resulted in many of the explanatory
"essays" imbedded in my narrative.
Donald E. Thomson, Assistant S-3 of the 915th, who shared more of my
experiences than any other person, had the wit to save from destruction copies of the
Battalion's Historical Data, S-3 Journal, and Unit Journal when the 915th was inactivated
after the war. Even more remarkably, he managed to store and save them all during his
30-year career in the Army, and has given me access to them and other miscellaneous
documents, including first-hand accounts of the Chambois action written by several
officers of the 915th immediately after it was over. These papers have been invaluable in
stimulating my memory and frequently in correcting it.
John Colby, author of War From the Ground Up and Feet of Battle, has been a
one-man cheering section encouraging me to keep writing and has exchanged
reminiscences both valuable and entertaining. He also has been able to suggest other 90th
Division veterans who could help with further information.
Ross J. Novelli, forward observer from C Battery, 915th, who gave me a full
account of the actions leading up to the death of Lt Col Costain, and their aftermath.
Harvey Safford and Mike Palmer, who came up with some second hand accounts
of the same action which supported and supplemented Novelli's recollections.
Victor P. Rizzo, premier pilot with the 915th, sent me excerpts from his flight log
and his own account of a flight on which I was his passenger.
Casey Segal and Alan Cornett, officers of the 90th Division Association, who lent
help with advice and with addresses of other members.
Frank Norris, commander of the 345th FA Bn and co-editor of War From The
Ground Up, who took the trouble to answer my letter with a personal (and nostalgic)
phone call.
Merton Munson, my first battery commander and as such a particular hero of
mine, later commander of the 344th FA Bn.
Kenneth Reimers, commander of the 343rd FA Bn, who gave me some interesting
slants on the war.
Carl Everett, of the Division G-3 section.
Robert McLain, son of General Raymond McLain, who was able to furnish me
with a partial list of the division's telephone names, and
William Falvey, S-2 of the 358th Infantry, who surprised me by coming up with a
complete list of those names.
And to my wife, Dolores, for her technical expertise in helping me get this
manuscript ready for publication.
Robert E. Moore
La Mesa, California, 1995
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