Forum » Buddies in 72nd Publicity Service Battalion, 12th Army, WW2, Europe who knew Tech Corporal Dave Bloxom

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	Posted by Russ Bloxom on 02/13/2002 8:32am My oldest brother, Technical Corporal Dave/David BLOXOM of Houston, Texas served in the 72nd Publicity Service Battalion of the 12th Army Group in Europe during World War II. He drove a jeep, with trailer, marked “Press,” and its last three digits were…979. He called it, “Kathy III.” Another jeep in the unit was called, “Dreamy.” He and his GI buddies served as special services personnel who escorted war correspondents and troop entertainers, provided movies, delivered mail, coordinated sport events and took lots of photos of their experiences. Dave died last year. Many of his pictures now in my possession show the unit and men’s activities mostly around Badwiessee and Wiesbaden, Germany in 1944-45. He and his camera-toting buddies made various trips, including visits to Hitler’s house in the Bavarian Alps at Berchtesgaden and a Nazi crematorium, site unknown. Apparently for some time, the 72nd Publicity Service Battalion was headquartered in a 3-story office building in Wiesbaden. Many pictures show the unit’s morning formation for roll-call and recognitions. Nearby were tennis courts and fields for Army baseball-football team competition. Dave was a multi-athlete who arranged and participated in many of these events. He also had a darkroom for film development. He called it, “Bloxom’s Little Theater Off Times Square.” Unsure if the following names of his GI buddies were first or last. Pop West, mailman, Gibson, jeep driver, Moody, mailman, Taylinten (?) telephone operator, Sgt. Radde, Doughten, Dunn, Warrick, Stevens, Mimm, Atler, Abossine, Disbennett, Papka, Kishmen, Kregal, Heller, Voltz, Chapco, Cerato, Gadar, Wiltkie, Pelremine and a WAC named Mary Lacae (?). One photo shows a hotel occupied by 3rd Army Press in the Bavarian Alps on Lake Zum Soe at Badwiessie. There also are pictures of unit dances, Red Cross mobile canteen visits, downed airplanes (German & American), destroyed tanks and artillery, boat trips down the Rhine and trips to Paris and Munich. The unit was caught up in the Battle of the Bulge. Dave shipped back home December 4, 1945 out of Antwerp, Belgium on the SS Babcock from Camp Topcat, as the Army called one of its disembarkation points for troops heading home. Would appreciate any acknowledgment of the above individuals and their reflections to help add to the knowledge of my brother’s experiences during the latter years of WWII in Germany. Russ Bloxom, email: rbloxom@speedfab-crete.com or call 817-478-1137.

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Posted by Russ Bloxom on 02/13/2002 8:32am
My oldest brother, Technical Corporal Dave/David BLOXOM of Houston, Texas served in the 72nd Publicity Service Battalion of the 12th Army Group in Europe during World War II. He drove a jeep, with trailer, marked “Press,” and its last three digits were…979. He called it, “Kathy III.” Another jeep in the unit was called, “Dreamy.” He and his GI buddies served as special services personnel who escorted war correspondents and troop entertainers, provided movies, delivered mail, coordinated sport events and took lots of photos of their experiences. Dave died last year. Many of his pictures now in my possession show the unit and men’s activities mostly around Badwiessee and Wiesbaden, Germany in 1944-45. He and his camera-toting buddies made various trips, including visits to Hitler’s house in the Bavarian Alps at Berchtesgaden and a Nazi crematorium, site unknown. Apparently for some time, the 72nd Publicity Service Battalion was headquartered in a 3-story office building in Wiesbaden. Many pictures show the unit’s morning formation for roll-call and recognitions. Nearby were tennis courts and fields for Army baseball-football team competition. Dave was a multi-athlete who arranged and participated in many of these events. He also had a darkroom for film development. He called it, “Bloxom’s Little Theater Off Times Square.” Unsure if the following names of his GI buddies were first or last. Pop West, mailman, Gibson, jeep driver, Moody, mailman, Taylinten (?) telephone operator, Sgt. Radde, Doughten, Dunn, Warrick, Stevens, Mimm, Atler, Abossine, Disbennett, Papka, Kishmen, Kregal, Heller, Voltz, Chapco, Cerato, Gadar, Wiltkie, Pelremine and a WAC named Mary Lacae (?). One photo shows a hotel occupied by 3rd Army Press in the Bavarian Alps on Lake Zum Soe at Badwiessie. There also are pictures of unit dances, Red Cross mobile canteen visits, downed airplanes (German & American), destroyed tanks and artillery, boat trips down the Rhine and trips to Paris and Munich. The unit was caught up in the Battle of the Bulge. Dave shipped back home December 4, 1945 out of Antwerp, Belgium on the SS Babcock from Camp Topcat, as the Army called one of its disembarkation points for troops heading home. Would appreciate any acknowledgment of the above individuals and their reflections to help add to the knowledge of my brother’s experiences during the latter years of WWII in Germany. Russ Bloxom, email: rbloxom@speedfab-crete.com or call 817-478-1137.

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