History of The 907th Glider Field Artillery Association.
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| The 907 Association is a social group made up of
former proud 101st - 907th Glider Field Artillery Battalion glidermen,
paratroopers their families and friends. Through their letters, phone calls, reunions,
etc. the 907 men have asked and answered many questions that were on their minds from the
war. The 907 Association owes its’ beginnings to Bob Minick, author of the 907th history, "Kilogram". Bob wanted to write the story of his favorite Uncle, John Minick, who was killed while with the battalion. He began by contacting John Minick’s buddies, and with a great deal of research and trooper to trooper contact. Gradually, a mail list was assembled and he was able put together the story of the battalion from letters, tapes and telephone conversations with 907 men. Before "Kilogram" was printed, a reunion was held in Toledo, Ohio in 1978. Though lightly attended, the first reunion was thoroughly enjoyed by all those who participated. The men badgered their buddies to attend the next reunion. At first, reunions were held every two years and then the group decided two years was too long between reunions since men were beginning to pass away and they hadn't that much time left. An important aspect of the Association was the creation of the "Tow Rope the newsletter for the 907. Captain Gerald McGlone started "The 907 Tow Rope" newsletter with the mail list Bob Minick had assembled. I believe Joe Shannon took over "The 907 Tow Rope" from Captain McGlone and then Bill and Mabel Copeland did a very thorough job. I (Jean Foster), Albert Foster's wife, offered to help Mable with the newsletter early in 1988 as they were having health problems in their family and couldn't spend the time they wanted to spend on the newsletter. At the 1988 reunion I was asked to take on the "The Tow Rope", which I agreed to do. This edition was well received and I was asked continue as editor. The "Tow Rope" has a circulation within the United States for all the former troopers we can find, and many copies are distributed to folks in England, Holland, Belgium, Canada and Switzerland and this past month received a letter from Moscow. We exchange mail with the "463rd Fire Mission," the "321 Mission Accomplished" and we have contacts with the "Silent Wings Museum" in Dallas, the Glider Pilots Association as well as the 101st Airborne Division and the Allied Airborne Association. The Association strengthened ties with Dutch citizens when Peter vanBreevoort and his associates, all former members of Dutch Resistance invited us, as a group, to return to Holland in 1990. Many long standing friendships continue from that trip. One mindset that is common with nearly all of the men of the 907 is their humble attitude about their experiences during the war. If someone tries to make a hero of them, their classic response is "My country sent me to do a job for it and I did it to the best of my ability". |