Post by connie on Jan 1, 2017 21:55:52 GMT -5
Songer, Harold Gene, "Sparky," PFC I Company 423rd Infantry Regiment, mortar man, POW IVB and IVA
1925-2014
MENTIONED- in INTERVIEW WITH MURRAY STEIN 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/4404/thread
Murray told the story of how a mess spoon in his pocket saved "Sparky" from a bullet and how he carried that spoon with him to 106th reunions.
OBITUARY: Harold's Story
"Harold Gene “Sparky” Songer of Danville (IL) passed away at 1:53 a.m. EST Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis.... Burial will be in the Danville National Cemetery with military honors by the American Legion Post 210.. Sparky was born March 4, 1925, in Veedersburg, Ind., to Glenwood and Elsie (Clawson) Songer. He attended Veedersburg grade school and high school, later returning to Eastern Illinois University and earning a bachelor’s degree.. Sparky was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II in July of 1943. He fought at the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes Forest as a mortarman in the U.S. Army 106th Infantry Division, where he was captured and remained a captive in Germany until his escape in 1945.. He re-enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951 during the Korean War, and served in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts as flight support. For his service, he was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.. Sparky served as coordinator of Veterans Affairs at DACC from 1979 to 1994.. Sparky was a longtime and charter member of Danville Sunrise Rotary, where he served as sergeant of arms for many years. He was the 68th AMBUC First Citizen in April 2000. Sparky also led a group of local veterans who collected tens of thousands of aluminum cans to raise money to build the various memorials in Danville. He also was the one who led the effort to turn the old Carnegie Library into the Vermilion County War Museum, where he later served as president and director, donating thousands of hours leading tours. During this time, he was awarded the Studs Terkel Award in 2004 for his service.. Sparky married Eloise Cooper on Jan. 9, 1955, and she preceded him in death in 2006.. He leaves behind a son, Aaron (Lisa) Songer; a daughter, Michele (Brian Bonebrake) Songer; six grandchildren, Brandon Bays, Ashley Songer, Taylor Songer, Samantha Songer, Seth Bonebrake and Cade Bonebrake; four great-grandchildren; and a sister, Julia Crane. Sparky also leaves behind his loving cat Hemingway, who has been his companion and source of comfort since he lost Eloise... Memories and messages for the family may be left on the Pape Website at www.papemortuary.com, or on the Pape Family Funeral Home Facebook page."
- See more at: obituaries.commercial-news.com/story/harold-songer-1925-2014-718113311#sthash.p008sRG4.dpuf
NEWSPAPER OBITUARY: www.news-gazette.com/obituaries/2014-01-14/harold-sparky-songer.html
CUB MAGAZINE -7/8/9 OF 2003 P. 28 notes that Harold G. Singer was in I Company of the 423rd infantry regiment; www.indianamilitary.org/106ID/SoThinkMenu/106thSTART.htm. You can access the Cubs from the side bar on this page on the Indiana Military Site. Then Cub Editor then comments on finding his name in the list of new Division Association Members and welcomes him back, noting that his name is also mentioned in Kline's War Diary.
LOCAL WAR HERO SHARES STORY: www.commercial-news.com/archives/local-war-heroes-share-stories/article_f087775d-eab3-5bcf-89b7-007551acbf47.html
‘Sparky’ Songer
Harold ‘Sparky’ Songer, who heads the Vermilion County War Museum, spoke with emotion about the Battle of the Bulge and his capture by the Germans.
“I was drafted into the Army during the bloodiest days of WWII,” Songer said. “We’d had six weeks training at the time of that battle. We were ordered to unload our weapons. Some of the men forgot there was still one shell in the chamber of their weapon. Out of frustration, they slammed the barrel against the nearest tree and shot themselves.”
Songer showed the spoon he had in his pocket when a sniper shot him. The bullet, meant for him, went through the spoon. “It was what I had to eat with when I was a prisoner of war,” he said.
But his most painful memory wasn’t of his days as a POW. Instead it came during his 20 years of service in the Air Force that followed his discharge, when he served as aircrew life support during the Vietnam War.
“I was in my 40s by then,” he said. “These highly educated young men would take off and never come back. They wound up in the Hanoi Hilton. I cried a ton of tears.”
In retrospect, Songer wouldn’t change a thing. “It’s a joy to serve your country,” he said.
ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE RESOLUTION TO HONOR SONGER: www.ilga.gov/legislation/legisnet92/hrgroups/hr/920HR0050LV.html
The resolution includes these notes on his service in the 106th:
as soon as he turn 18 years of age, he joined
the United States Army; in 1944, as a private first class in the 106th Infantry Division, he was sent to the front line near St. Vith, Belgium and ten days later he was captured bythe German troops during the Battle of the Bulge; and .... Harold Songer was sent to the Stalag 4B prisoner-of-war camp near Berlin, Germany, then later transferred to the Stalag 4A camp near Dresden, Germany, here he was held for six months until the war ended
1925-2014
MENTIONED- in INTERVIEW WITH MURRAY STEIN 106thdivision.proboards.com/post/4404/thread
Murray told the story of how a mess spoon in his pocket saved "Sparky" from a bullet and how he carried that spoon with him to 106th reunions.
OBITUARY: Harold's Story
"Harold Gene “Sparky” Songer of Danville (IL) passed away at 1:53 a.m. EST Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis.... Burial will be in the Danville National Cemetery with military honors by the American Legion Post 210.. Sparky was born March 4, 1925, in Veedersburg, Ind., to Glenwood and Elsie (Clawson) Songer. He attended Veedersburg grade school and high school, later returning to Eastern Illinois University and earning a bachelor’s degree.. Sparky was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II in July of 1943. He fought at the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes Forest as a mortarman in the U.S. Army 106th Infantry Division, where he was captured and remained a captive in Germany until his escape in 1945.. He re-enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951 during the Korean War, and served in both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts as flight support. For his service, he was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star.. Sparky served as coordinator of Veterans Affairs at DACC from 1979 to 1994.. Sparky was a longtime and charter member of Danville Sunrise Rotary, where he served as sergeant of arms for many years. He was the 68th AMBUC First Citizen in April 2000. Sparky also led a group of local veterans who collected tens of thousands of aluminum cans to raise money to build the various memorials in Danville. He also was the one who led the effort to turn the old Carnegie Library into the Vermilion County War Museum, where he later served as president and director, donating thousands of hours leading tours. During this time, he was awarded the Studs Terkel Award in 2004 for his service.. Sparky married Eloise Cooper on Jan. 9, 1955, and she preceded him in death in 2006.. He leaves behind a son, Aaron (Lisa) Songer; a daughter, Michele (Brian Bonebrake) Songer; six grandchildren, Brandon Bays, Ashley Songer, Taylor Songer, Samantha Songer, Seth Bonebrake and Cade Bonebrake; four great-grandchildren; and a sister, Julia Crane. Sparky also leaves behind his loving cat Hemingway, who has been his companion and source of comfort since he lost Eloise... Memories and messages for the family may be left on the Pape Website at www.papemortuary.com, or on the Pape Family Funeral Home Facebook page."
- See more at: obituaries.commercial-news.com/story/harold-songer-1925-2014-718113311#sthash.p008sRG4.dpuf
NEWSPAPER OBITUARY: www.news-gazette.com/obituaries/2014-01-14/harold-sparky-songer.html
CUB MAGAZINE -7/8/9 OF 2003 P. 28 notes that Harold G. Singer was in I Company of the 423rd infantry regiment; www.indianamilitary.org/106ID/SoThinkMenu/106thSTART.htm. You can access the Cubs from the side bar on this page on the Indiana Military Site. Then Cub Editor then comments on finding his name in the list of new Division Association Members and welcomes him back, noting that his name is also mentioned in Kline's War Diary.
LOCAL WAR HERO SHARES STORY: www.commercial-news.com/archives/local-war-heroes-share-stories/article_f087775d-eab3-5bcf-89b7-007551acbf47.html
‘Sparky’ Songer
Harold ‘Sparky’ Songer, who heads the Vermilion County War Museum, spoke with emotion about the Battle of the Bulge and his capture by the Germans.
“I was drafted into the Army during the bloodiest days of WWII,” Songer said. “We’d had six weeks training at the time of that battle. We were ordered to unload our weapons. Some of the men forgot there was still one shell in the chamber of their weapon. Out of frustration, they slammed the barrel against the nearest tree and shot themselves.”
Songer showed the spoon he had in his pocket when a sniper shot him. The bullet, meant for him, went through the spoon. “It was what I had to eat with when I was a prisoner of war,” he said.
But his most painful memory wasn’t of his days as a POW. Instead it came during his 20 years of service in the Air Force that followed his discharge, when he served as aircrew life support during the Vietnam War.
“I was in my 40s by then,” he said. “These highly educated young men would take off and never come back. They wound up in the Hanoi Hilton. I cried a ton of tears.”
In retrospect, Songer wouldn’t change a thing. “It’s a joy to serve your country,” he said.
ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE RESOLUTION TO HONOR SONGER: www.ilga.gov/legislation/legisnet92/hrgroups/hr/920HR0050LV.html
The resolution includes these notes on his service in the 106th:
as soon as he turn 18 years of age, he joined
the United States Army; in 1944, as a private first class in the 106th Infantry Division, he was sent to the front line near St. Vith, Belgium and ten days later he was captured bythe German troops during the Battle of the Bulge; and .... Harold Songer was sent to the Stalag 4B prisoner-of-war camp near Berlin, Germany, then later transferred to the Stalag 4A camp near Dresden, Germany, here he was held for six months until the war ended