Day of tribute to Horace Kimball
hero of The Battle of the Bulge

3 December 2005



Horace Kimball (left) receiving a medal for his valor from Judge Dan Winn (right)

The 84th Division has a history that reaches back to Abraham Lincoln and the Black Hawk Indian War of 1832. The Division patch is a symbol of that legacy and shows an ax splitting a log for a rail fence -- hence the nickname "Railsplitters".


History

On September 20, 1944, the 84th landed in England, trained for a month, then headed for the fighting on the European continent. On November 10, 1944, the Division landed in France and was rushed to the front in Belgium. It was the first unit to smash the northern section of Germany's dreaded Siegfried Line. When the German Army began its last great counter-offensive, the 84th Division again blocked the path. In freezing cold and snow, General Von Rundstedt threw the German Army at the 84th again and again. But the Division held its ground in what became known as "The Battle of the Bulge". In November 1944, the 84th moved into Germany and entered combat as an infantry division. Its first mission was the capture of Geilkenkirchen, Germany as part of a larger offensive, north of Aachen. From there, the 84th moved on to capture Boeck and Linden in the face of heavy enemy resistance. The 84th remained in almost continuous action until it reached the Elbe River in April 1945 where it established contact with the Russians at Barlow in May. The 84th has never suffered from lack of battle honors. During World War II, the 84th Division earned 7 Distinguished Unit Citations, 12 Distinguished Service Crosses, 1 Distinguished Service Medal, 555 Silver Stars, 4 Legions of Merit, 27 soldier Medals, 2962 Bronze Stars, and 59 Air Medals.

- source (typos corrected)

84th Division home page (last published version)

84th Division resources (courtesy of the Railsplitters Co H  84th ID Re-enactment Society)


Program

Assembly music
"National Emblem" (2:51) (played repeatedly)

U.S. Army anthem
"The Army Goes Rolling Along" (sung - 0:38)

Larry Cash, Sgt, USMC (Ret.) on
The Battle of the Bulge


Call for the able to stand to honor our fallen

Remembering the fallen
"Taps" (0:57)

Salute to the flag
"To The Colors" (0:34)

Call to recite "The Pledge of Allegiance"

U.S. national anthem
"The Star-Spangled Banner" (2:35)

Presentation of medal to Horace Kimball
by Judge Dan Winn, Lt, USMC (Ret.)


Retirement hymn
"Old Soldiers Never Die" (0:51)

Mr. Kimball's family joins him on stage

U.S. Army anthem
"The Army Goes Rolling Along" (1:04)

Informal post-ceremony reception

Recessional music
"Retreat" (0:22)
"Lights Out" (2:44) (played repeatedly)