The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise from Seguin, Texas • Page 3

The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise Seguin, Texas Thursday, February 1, 1990 Page 3 mo uazene-enierprise eegum, rexas Thursday, February 1, 1990 Paratrooper's tales of 'Geronimo' continue The footnote to the paratrooper airborne story is the fact that Annette Waite asked Roy Dreibrodt, our Precinct No. 3 Justice of the Peace, if he personally knew a paratrooper and £oy replied, "No but I know someone who wanted to be one." Roy volunteered to serve in the Parachute Infantry and spent a training period at Ft Benning, Ga. Roy's vision was not up to the required standard, so Roy never officially became a paratrooper but remained one in his heart. Here are more letters from last week's column: Mr. Swan's next letter dated 11-15-89.

Dear Annette, The test platoon was the group assigned to make the first test parachute jumps paving the way for airborne units in the United States Army. The description Col. Wm. "Buzzy" Miley gives is when he was a teenager at Fort Benning. His father was a career officer in the airborne and later became a Major General in command of 17th airborne division later serving gallantly in Europe in WWII.

Buzzy's dad and mom are still both living near their son in Starkville, MS. Buzzy was later a Green Beret Colonel retiring in 1973. He was my platoon leader in WWII during combat in the Pacific. I have explained above so you know why paratroopers yelled Geronimo. It also explains that we paratroopers didn't love Geronimo by a long shot.

It's just we recognized him as a mean individual and at that time dur- early training something was needed to inspire us. Also enclosed with Buzzy Miley's letter and description is a story of an early paratrooper. Airborne all the way Harry G. Swan P.S. I sneaked into the paratroops by shortening myself a little when applying back in 1943.

I am 6'4" tail. "The facts on yelling Geronimo!" The test platoon went through long and hard ground training for their first individual parachute jumps. Finally after finishing the training on Friday the platoon was released for the weekend to report for their first jumps Monday morning. A group that included Pvt Aubrey Eberhardt decided to attend the movie at the Main Post (Fort Benning) theater. The movie was a class epic concerning how the Indian chief Ger.

onimo terrorized the early settlers of the southwest and was named "Geronimo." (I was a teenager at the post, saw the movie and remember it very well.) After the movie, returning to the barracks one of the group told Eber- hardl that on his jump (Monday) he (Eberhardt) would be scared half to death and not remember anything. After some thought Eberhardt said he would yell "Geronimo" after the his exit to prove they were reminded them and did yell Geronimo, the individuals in the plane also yelled it and it was heard on the ground. It became a war cry of the 501st later adapted by all parachutists (a point of interest) Eberhardt was the tallest man in the test platoon jat 6 feet 6 inches and probably the tal- of all time since the height restriction on the expansion into the 501 6 feet 2 inches! Annette's "finis" correspondence her final information found in Annette's 5th Grader Junior Newspaper called "My Weekly Reader" 'dated May 26-30, 1947. Harry Swan: Just want to thank you for the concerning the airborne units you have sent me. husband and I find them very interesting.

I can't thank you enough 'for mailing me that information on facts on yelling Geronimo." I hope that that little information be printed in "Geronimo" or one your up-coming publications. Just want to thank you for the information concerning the airborne units you have sent me. My husband and I find them very interesting. I can't thank you enough for mailing me that information on facts on yelling Geronimo." I do hope that that little information will be printed in "Geronimo" or one of your up-coming publications, That information is so interesting, I already shared it with some of our friends, I plan to share a copy with Roy Dreibrodt, our Justice of the Peace who first gave me your letter. He is involved in the local VFW and I believe will find our information very interesting.

He may even know some paratroopers who would enjoy the information, I am so glad our neighbor, Roy brought this Tetter to my attention and certainly am so very glad that you took the time to track down the story and that you shared it with me. Sincerely, Annette B. Waits Tom in the Indian Country Hi there, girls and toys, The Southwest is Indian country, Wee B. and I have just visited the Mescalero Reservation in southeastern New Mexico, where some of the Apache Indians live. At one time, this tribe was the most warlike of American Indians.

Only a little over 60 years ago, the Apache chieftain, Geronimo, and his men roamed the Southwest, frightening the settlers. Geronimo was of the fiercest of American Indians. This is why the U.S. paratroopers used his name as their war cry. During the war, many a paratrooper leaped from his plane whooping "Geronimo!" This heart-string story ends as February begins and so we had an early start on Valentine month stories.

But some of our important information and wise sayings in our Country Calendar for the month of January were left on the calendar in lieu of feature stories to come. We are sure (hough, that not many may have missed out on National Popcorn Day which was Jan. 28. This year the date also happened to be New Orleans Super Bowl game Sunday and popcorn munching came in for its fair share. The calendar named Jan.

26 Spouse's Day. With the special calendar dates lined up we need to do likewise with our reportable stories. The Garbrecht brick wall story at the moment is still in the development stage, but it offered us the opportunity to renew acquaintances in the process. Mrs. Richard McGilPs name was the contact clue furnished by Annette Waite.

Mrs. McGill turned out to be none other than Grace Specht who was in the same Friedens Church Confirmation class with two of your scribes. Grace has a sister Carrie who is married to Jim Kirschner. Jim is an uncle to Arlon Kirschner of Seguin. Grace lives in San Antonio and the Kirschners live at Mountain Home.

The date of our first brick research venture was Jan. 15 when Jesse Roy Hart, his mother, Clarence Krackau and your scribes met at the Garbrecht home on Pieper Road. It was there that Clarence told us of the death of Herman Pieper that morning. Clarence now owns the Pieper farm. Graveside services were conducted for Herman at the Comal Cemetery in New Braunfels Jan.

17 at 10 a.m. The Rev. Daryl C. Higgins conducted the service. Among those at the service were his cousins Walter Werner and Nora Henze of Seguin and Mary Frances Brown of San Antonio.

Among others from Seguin and our area were Edna Bartels, Chester Koepp, Clarence and Lorine Krackau. Herbert and Kaleen Acker extended an invitation to have a cup of coffee at their home. Herman and the Ackers had been friends for many years. Herman at the time of his death was a resident at Eden Home. He and Walter Borgfeld were neighbors there and our mutual Friedens church background created many interesting conversations as we visited.

Members of the Friedens Church congregation met for a worship service followed by the annual meeting Jan. 28 at 9:30 a.m. Randy Schriewer conducted the meeting. The Rev. David O'Rourke had the opening prayer.

The 12 council members at Friedens included Randy Schriewer, Bill Perry, Donna Ewald, June Herzog, Arthur Reimers, Melvin Bading, Norman Waite, Dorothy Timmermann, Nelrose Galle, John Glendenning, Lenard Lehmann and Connie Dreibrodt. Those who had served their full terms were John Glendenning, Lenard Lehmann, and June Herzog. The replacements for the above council members now include Grace Bormann, Don Hartman and Martin Mueck. Donna Ewald was re-elected for a second time. Among die annual reports was Pastor David's report and in part reads: First of the boys and I have felt very welcome since our arrival in August.

Several people have made it a point to make us feel very comfortable. For the warm feeling we feel we are grateful to you. Secondly plans are now being prepared for several projects that will be presented to our church committees in the near future. A survey of regular church attendance with strong participation will provide a large amount of useful information for our church growth efforts. Another project recognizes the long-standing participation of our veterans of the cross.

Many of our membership have been faithful followers at Friedens for many years. We have begun to research this project and have discovered a long list of folks who truly are our veterans of the cross. Fourthly, the quiet hopes and fears See Geronimo, Pg. 12 OFF ORIGINAL BIG SELECTION OF FALL AND WINTER MERCHANDISE MISSES RELATED SEPARATES MISSES COORDINATES MISSES US WOVEN TOPS MISSES US ONE POCKET T'S MISSES JR. SWEATERS MISSES PANTS MISSES JOG SETS MISSES JR, OUTERWEAR JR.

KNIT WOVEN TOPS JR. DENIM AND TWILL PANTS JR, RELATED SEPARATES JR, ACTIVBWIAR MENS FALL OUTERWEAR MENS PANTS SPORTCOATS (EXCLUDES MENS SUITS) MENS SWEATERS MENS US KNIT SHIRTS 1 MENS US WOVEN SHIRTS 1 YG, MENS US KNIT SHIRTS YG. MENS US WOVEN SHIRTS PATTERNED DRESS SHIRTS CHILDRENS OUTERWEAR CHILDRENS SWEATERS CHILDRENS PLAYWEAR CHILDRENS FLEECE SITS GIRLS SIZE 4-14 TOPS GIRLS SIZE 4-14 BOTTOMS DRESSES BOYS SIZE 4-20 TOPS BOYS 4-20 CASUAL PANTS LADIES WARM ROBES LADIES WARM SLEEPWEAR FASHION HANDBAGS SMALL LEATHER GOODS FALL SHOES FOR THE FAMILY Shopping's Easy With A BeaJls Charge Card Courts Seguin 10 to 9 Mon Sat, Sundays Courtyard Center New Braunfels 10 8 Mon Sat, 12:30 5:00 Sundays.