A surprise Christmas card

The patch of the 66th Army Panther Division.

I was happily surprised to receive a Christmas card from Roger Baker, a survivor of the SS Leopoldville sinking that killed my uncle Bud Bonde in 1944.  Roger must be getting close to a hundred years old!  Roger Baker has been secretary of the Leopoldville Memorial Association for the 11 years that I have been a member, and he was an old man when I joined.

Roger wrote:

Like our honored veterans age is slowly taking away my vitality.  I have laughed, cried, and grieved with you over the years as we remembered and honored our heros of the Leopoldville.

The pains and weaknesses of age have begun to attack me.  I am not seriously ill but slowing down rapidly.

So it is with a great deal of sadness that I inform you that I am not sure how much longer I will be able to carry on the duty of secretary, as small as it has become.  I will continue as long as I feel comfortable and able to keep up with what is required.  When you no longer hear from me you will know that my time is done.

The information for the LMA will then fall to our homepage on the world wide web.  Please use it and support it.  For more information contact Donald Nigbor, 9 harvest Way, Angleton, Texas 77515-3385.

This year I received word that Donald Gentler, from St. Louis, Missouri, Staff Sgt. of Co. K, 262nd past away.  My brother was his assistant.

Thank you all for being friends and confidants for the past few years.  I love all of you for the service you have rendered and the support you have given.

Roger Baker, Secretary LMA

(Signed, Roger Baker)

Always in memory of the men of the 262nd and 264th Regt., 66th Division, United States Army …….December 24, 1944.