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Petty Officer George “Curt” Davison (USN) and Cpl Tom Lacey

Cpl Tom Lacey
Tom grew up on Wheaton, IL and enlisted into the Army on July 15, 1943.  After completing Basic at Camp Fannin, Tom volunteered and completed Radio School (FM SCR 300s) at Camp Maxey and was then assigned Company C, 99th Infantry Division.  After arriving in Liverpool Oct 1944, Tom was deployed to the ETO 3 weeks later and was trucked to the Siegfried line near Krinkelt and then battled in the Hurtgen Forest Campaign.   On Dec 16, 1944, Tom was awoken to heavy barrage at the start of the Battle of the Bulge.  The 99th defensive positions were overrun by several German companies after a rolling barrage.  While Tom was engaged in several small arms skirmishes, air to air combat raged overhead.   Tom lived through relentless artillery barrages from both the enemy and US 105s and helped evacuate one of his buddie’s (Red Netter) who had been hit.  The 99th withdrew to an advantageous strategic position on the Elsenborn Ridge.  Tom spent the next 3-4 days along with Sgt Baker (C Co) within foxholes on this infamous ridge, defending their position from the onslaught of German forces. The 99th assisted with a counterattack led by Shermans in the 9th Armored. Tom and his comrades in the 99th were the 1st to cross the Rhine at the bridge at Remagen in March 1944 despite being shelled by devastating 88 mm artillery fire.   Tom was discharged at Ft Lewis on Feb 2, 1946. Tom leaves us with the following pearls:  There is little correlation between rank and leadership, basic training is effective, the GI was not only a good soldier, but a good innovator, medics were brave, well-trained and effective, the Red Ball Express was instrumental in US victory, never hate your enemy, everyone has something good to offer to the world, you never know where the next hero will come from and pray daily to your guardian angel.

Petty Officer George “Curt” Davison (USN)
PO Davison (99 years old) served as an Electrician’s Mate on the Destroyer Escort U.S.S. Rudderow that travelled to nearly 30 locations in the Pacific Theatre of Operations from 1943 to 1946.  The USS Rudderow participated in submarine hunter-killer patrols, escort of resupply and troop reinforcement convoys and oversaw landings of landing crafts. Curt observed the suicide attacks on US ships by enemy pilots and the impact of a severe typhoon on his ship to the extent that the deck was under water.  Curt’s ship also carried some of the soldiers who had survived the Battaan Death March after their release from prison camps.  Curt was honorably discharged from the Navy in the summer of 1946.  Curt believes that being in the Navy was an adventure and enabled him to see many places and become good friends with many sailors throughout the US.  Curt recommends that no matter what your age, that you should stay active as he has been awarded thousands of medals and holds several state, five national and one world record as a Senior Olympian.

Petty Officer George &ldquo;Curt&rdquo; Davison (USN) and Cpl Tom Lacey
Cpl Tom Lacey Tom grew up on Wheaton, IL and enlisted into the Army on July 15, 1943.&nbsp; After completing Basic at Camp Fannin, Tom volunteered and completed Radio School (FM SCR 300s) at Camp Maxey and was then assigned Company C, 99th Infantry Division.&nbsp; After arriving in Liverpool Oct 1944, Tom was deployed to the ETO 3 weeks later and was trucked to the Siegfried line near Krinkelt and then battled in the Hurtgen Forest Campaign.&nbsp;&nbsp; On Dec 16, 1944, Tom was awoken to heavy barrage at the start of the Battle of the Bulge.&nbsp; The 99th defensive positions were overrun by several German companies after a rolling barrage.&nbsp; While Tom was engaged in several small arms skirmishes, air to air combat raged overhead.&nbsp;&nbsp; Tom lived through relentless artillery barrages from both the enemy and US 105s and helped evacuate one of his buddie&rsquo;s (Red Netter) who had been hit.&nbsp; The 99th withdrew to an advantageous strategic position on the Elsenborn Ridge.&nbsp; Tom spent the next 3-4 days along with Sgt Baker (C Co) within foxholes on this infamous ridge, defending their position from the onslaught of German forces. The 99th assisted with a counterattack led by Shermans in the 9th Armored. Tom and his comrades in the 99th were the 1st to cross the Rhine at the bridge at Remagen in March 1944 despite being shelled by devastating 88 mm artillery fire.&nbsp;&nbsp; Tom was discharged at Ft Lewis on Feb 2, 1946. Tom leaves us with the following pearls:&nbsp; There is little correlation between rank and leadership, basic training is effective, the GI was not only a good soldier, but a good innovator, medics were brave, well-trained and effective, the Red Ball Express was instrumental in US victory, never hate your enemy, everyone has something good to offer to the world, you never know where the next hero will come from and pray daily to your guardian angel.
Petty Officer George &ldquo;Curt&rdquo; Davison (USN) PO Davison (99 years old) served as an Electrician&rsquo;s Mate on the Destroyer Escort U.S.S. Rudderow that travelled to nearly 30 locations in the Pacific Theatre of Operations from 1943 to 1946.&nbsp; The USS Rudderow participated in submarine hunter-killer patrols, escort of resupply and troop reinforcement convoys and oversaw landings of landing crafts. Curt observed the suicide attacks on US ships by enemy pilots and the impact of a severe typhoon on his ship to the extent that the deck was under water.&nbsp; Curt&rsquo;s ship also carried some of the soldiers who had survived the Battaan Death March after their release from prison camps.&nbsp; Curt was honorably discharged from the Navy in the summer of 1946.&nbsp; Curt believes that being in the Navy was an adventure and enabled him to see many places and become good friends with many sailors throughout the US.&nbsp; Curt recommends that no matter what your age, that you should stay active as he has been awarded thousands of medals and holds several state, five national and one world record as a Senior Olympian.

We are NewsTalk STL. A radio station built in St. Louis, for St. Louis. We give you all the latest news, plus some analysis and opinion through a conservative and libertarian lens. Welcome home, St. Louis. Find out more at https://newstalkstl.com/

We are NewsTalk STL. A radio station built in St. Louis, for St. Louis. We give you all the latest news, plus some analysis and opinion through a conservative and libertarian lens. Welcome home, St. Louis. Find out more at https://newstalkstl.com/

We are NewsTalk STL. A radio station built in St.…

NewsTalk STL

We are NewsTalkSTL. A radio station built in St. Louis, for St. Louis. We'll give you all the details about what's happening in this crazy news cycle, plus some analysis and opinion through a conservative and libertarian lens. Welcome home, St. Louis.

We are NewsTalkSTL. A radio station built in St. Louis, for St. Louis. We'll give you all the details about what's happening in this crazy news cycle, plus some analysis and opinion through a conservative and libertarian lens. Welcome home, St. Louis.

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