I would just like to share my most wonderful experiences of my whole life : the official Bastogne Remembrance medal awarding to 506PI Clancy Lyall in Normandy and 463PFA Bill Tingen in Greenville North Carolina :

C. LYALL, Angoville Au Plain :
In France

B. TINGEN, Greenville NC :
U.S.A.

Hope you like it !

Filip

Filip, good on you! Love the Clancy photos and the Tingen story. And that's a pretty nifty medal design. Good work, Doug

Great work Filip , great foto material on Clancy , thank you for sharing this with us


Currahee !!!!!!!!!!!

Mark W.

Filip

You get extra points for doing what you did for Clancy Lyall and Bill Tingen. It took a lot of extra work on your part. Good work. You're a good man. And thanks for sharing with us.

Filip,

I'm so glad you could do this for these 2 men.

Isn't it obvious they should at least get a medal to thank them for what they did?
I'm sure you know what I'm talking about,...

Well done!

Nathalie

Filip, Great job! Good for you. Peter's page on Clancy is terrific. But Bill's story is new to me. What a wonderful adventure for you. And a lovely bonus for an elderly veteran, too. Great story. BK

It was hard work, I am sure Nathalie knows what I am talking about, isn't it ? It took more then a year of preparation. In fact, it started in Normandy, June 2003 with the search of a gite or hotel...

But the reward at the end, wow, SOOOOO GREAT ! And the look on their faces... I don't know who was the happiest, them or me... "Unforgettable... that's wat it was..."

Nath, I hope the work you have been doing so far will lead to a solution in the end, fingers crossed, burning the candles...

I got a TRY OUT page, not 'really' online and not yet officialy part of the website because I would like somebody to have a look at it first, and because there is still some text and pictures to add, I am not finished yet.

My concern is my English, some phrases perhaps could be better.
If anyone has the time and would like to help, you're welcome and thank you for that.

The page is here : TRY OUT PAGE

Filip

P.S. The presidential speeches : I will leave them as they are, they come from the internet 'as is'... so no bother on checking them.

GOOD JOB ! FIWI, GOOD JOB !

The pictures of the drop, dignitaries and ceremonies are the best I have seen on the net . Hans Ette was tremendous when we visited in 2002 on the BOB tour. His group escorted our tour and were a tremendous addition to the total experience.

Bill and Babe are looking foward to the tour in a few weeks and I'm sure you will have a great time with them.

OODA!
Jiggersfromsphilly

Excellent work, Filip. Your "Try out" site contains the most spectaculair pictures of the Normandy commemorations I've seen so far. Great job! By the way, do you know Peter van der Wal personally? And quesion two: are you coming to Holland in september???

Thanks for the "applaus" my friends, it makes me happy that I can share this with you.

Yes, I know Peter Van De Wal very well, he's a good friend and we share our experiences about Clancy now and then. I wouldn't dare to use that much material of his on my site unless he gave me permission for that, being his friend.

The decoration of Clancy, BTW, is also on his site in the Normandy 2004 section.

We were together in Angoville having a wonderful time. Just a pitty I missed the dinner on Friday 4th.....

Filip

Bart, I already got two visits to Bastogne on hands for September but can I find a program on what can be seen/expected in Holland ?
I hope I might fit in somewhere....
Filip

Yep, both Mark and Andy have posted programme-info about the September commemorations.
You'll find it in this thread:

http://forums.wildbillguarnere.com/index.p...topic=5585&st=0

Mark's info is on page 1 (date: 5th June)
Andy's info is on page 3 (date: 2nd July)

Hope it fits into your schedule...

To JiggersFromPhilly :

I know Hans also very well, we met in Ste Marie Du Mont last year where we climbed the bell tower for a splendid view of Utah Beach and a bit of the Manor.
Hans made a phonecall to David Rogers to tell him we were on the same spot he was in 1944, as a sniper.

After Normandy, I was in Hans's place - Munstergeleen - about two weeks ago where he organized a 'mock battle', beautiful spectacle with blanks (munition) -> that was a lot of noise.
We have 2 mutual interests : 101 Airborne and the Willy's Jeep.
And it's the second time we met in Normandy.

See ya,
Filip

Thanks Bart,
I'll take my agenda and loupe to see what I can do !
MERCI !

Filip

Filip,

I had the pleasure of riding in his jeep inm the Bois Jacque. He almost died when I took hold of the 30 caliber machine gun for a photo op. They had been shooting blanks while we listened to Jake Powers and Chris Anderson talk about the Bulge.
Marcel is a pretty good guy too. The were great at the ceremony at Rachampes running people up and down the hill from the tree planting to te reception at the school house.

Houdoe !
Jiggersfromsphilly

Hello everybody,

the TRY OUT PAGE is as good as finished. Maybe I'll still get some other pictures in the near future, but it won't change that much anymore.

If any 'corrector' sees some English mistakes, feel free to tell me.

I think I will put it online for everybody early next week.

Filip

Jiggersfromsphilly,
I bet you had a great time with Hans, from what I read.
The Dutch Currahees are a wonderful group of people.

Update :
Bill and Babe will arrive in Bastogne on September 15th where they will accomodate and have the evening for themselves (for resting after the long trip)
We are now looking to fit the Medal Awarding in their program on September 16th, which will probably be in the morning. Then they will visit the City and surroundings (Bois Jacques,...) and after that they leave for Eindhoven.

My contacts with Forrest Guth and Shifty + the touroperator are still going nowhere. They come to Bastogne end of September. I've sent Forrest a mail, also to the touroperator, but I got nu luck so far...

FILIP

FIWI,
I sent you an email with some minor suggestions on how to improve your English. That is really a great job you did on the page. Love it!!

Steve

Thanks for the mail ! Good stuff you've sent !
Filip

That term should be 'proof-reader'. Or some call them a 'nit-picker'. Whichever term that applies.
Steve

The medal awarding for Bill and Babe will be on September 16th, 2 PM in the City Hall. I'll try to be there and make some pictures.

Still can't get in touch with Shifty or Forrest, or the Tour Operator for the visit at the end of September. No answers....

Filip

Dear friends,
I have sent a mail to

Forrest and Harriet Guth
Shifty Powers
and their tour operator

regarding the Medal Presentation
I'd like to organize in Bastogne end of September

If one can help to contact them....
I didn't get any reply at all...

SNIRF....
Filip

Everything is settled for the Medal Presentation at Bastogne for Bill and Babe, guess what, even my speech is ready...

Bad news on the trip with Forrest and Shifty.
Forrest's wife Harriet is ill and they can not attend. I had them both on the phone 10 minutes ago. I am very sorry and I hope they can attend perhaps next year and that Harriet will get better very soon.
Forrest even told me they had to leave early in Normandy because of Harriet's illness. Makes me very sad...

Filip

That's very good and very sad news combined in one message, Filip. But it's great that you at least got in touch with them. I am sure they appreciate all your efforts very much. Make sure that someone takes photo's of you, speeching in front of Bill and Babe!!!

I am making arrangements on that with Hans Ettes from the Dutch Currahees and there should be some family from me as well, should be OK I guess... and hope...

Filip,

I enjoyed your report on your visit to Normandy very much! Peter's pictures of the parachute drop were amazing. We have a pretty good zoom, but we didn't get nearly that much detail at the drop at La Fiere. (I'm sorry you didn't make it to that one! We were there 5 hours early, so I guess that's why we didn't have troubles with traffic!)

Thank you for posting the presidents' speeches. I guess I could have searched on the internet, but I didn't think of it, so all this time I have been wondering what President Chirac said at the ceremony! Thank you also for the pleasure of reading President Bush's words again. It made me cry for the second time.

Great job on your website!

~Melodee

I am glad you enjoyed !

We missed la Fiere because we left in Belgium at 4 AM, but with a trailer behind our back we couldn't get much speed, so we arrived in Normandy round 1 PM and went to have a quick snack, after that of course we were too late... but the one in Angoville made us happy again...

We also had a good time in Caen together, didn't we ? Say HI to your Mum and Dad. I really enjoyed talking to them.

Filip

And I forgot, even being a man, I cried 2 times there, when the president speeched, and when everybody (12,000 people) started to sing the Star Spangled Banner.
I get emotional sometimes, I am sorry. Might be because I am a "virgin" ;-) , born on September 5th.... (VIRGO in Latin ?)

Greetz,
Filip

The page you made is simply awesome, Filip!
I haven't been online for a while and haven't had a chance to look at it until now. I love it!
Really wish I could be in Bastogne this september. I plan on visiting Bastogne, but I think it'll have to wait. Next summer maybe

Kristian

If you want a guide for a day, just ask, Kristian.
We met before in Caen, so let's extend this friendship next year.
Filip

That goes for the other Caen pick-nickers and other WBG friends as well of course !

GREAT JOB TO YOU FIWI THOSE PICTURES WHERE GREAT TO SEE AND STUFF.

Thank you , RANGER !

Thanks a lot Filip. I appreciate the offer, might take you up on it next year

Filip.

Do you know if some other veterans are coming to Bastogne to receive their medal. Not Easy veterans specifically.

Regards,

Frank

HI friends, I am still in the middle of some negotiations with Cristy and Ray from the organization that came over last year with Bill and Babe, and also with AmbroseTours who actually did not answer my two mails yet.

I might have a talk with Bill later and with Forrest Guth on the phone, but first I have to call BIll Tingen in the Hospital

Apparantly there might be some visits in May and or September. If we can make a deal with the Tour Organizers there might be also some Medal presentations of course, if the visiting vets did not receive their medal yet.

I'll keep you updated.
Filip

HI, I just made some phonecalls.

Greetings from Bill Tingen out of the Hospital, from Ken Hesler (463 PFA) who was in Bastogne in December, from one and only Wild Bill who is looking forward to the reunion of March 26 and who's voice sounded LOUD and CLEAR as always (it was good hearing his voice again, I love that man !).

Tried also to contact Forrest 'Goody' Guth, but I got the answering machine. Will try later to contact him again.

Wild Bill has no concrete plans on coming over to Europe this year, he already travelled a lot (September and December), but of course, you never know with Bill...

Forrest might come, but I have to talk to him to be sure, and I heard about plans by Mr. Shifty Powers and Mr. Mc Clung.

Thanks for the information Filip. I will take a look around to be updated.

Frank

ps. Do you know something about Mr. Don Burgett. He was planning to come to Europe in early 2005 and should send me the dates. I am trying to contact him for a while now but didn't get an answer. He would surely come to Bastogne.

Frank,
When you contact Mr. Burgett, if possible I'd like to contact him as well. I
also live in Michigan and would like to meet him and possibly have him
autograph his books for me. That is if he would be willing to do that for me.

Thanks
Geoff

I don't know about Mr. Burgett. I'd have to look in my mal if I have that name somewhere in my back-ups, so far no results.
Filip

Morning,
I noticed in some of the replys a reference to "Ambrose Tours" is this an actual organization or group? If anyone would have info on it I'd gratly appreciate this. Also, for those headed to Europe I am interested in gathering info on the who what wheres in making my time best served this summer when I head over.
Ed

Hello,
this is http://www.stephenambrosetours.com

It seems that they don't react quicky on e-mail, and by phone I had no luck yet too...

Walt's Daughter may know about Don Burgett's VE Day plans. I guess we should keep checking in here to know what's up, eh? Nice job, Filip. BK

Thanks BK. I'm sure if Walt's daughter knows something she'll share it here with us.