Note to Terry Birder Casey: Your letter is the type of thing that makes Mail Call a real blessing to all of us troopers. We are old and grey now, but we are still troopers. We had the idea then that when one of us fell he would live on in our memories, as a part of the Combat Team. Your brother, Jim Birder, was one of the finest officers in the Third Battalion, if not the entire US Army. His memory is cherished by many of us who served with him. He sat on a shu mine near Bergstein, Germany on one of the last days, if not the last, we were in combat. That is what makes Jim’s death particularly hard for us to bear. A few days ago, I talked with Frank Dallas who at that time was an outstanding sergeant in I Company. He helped carry Captain Birder’s body out of the heavily mined attack area. Frank is blind now, but I am sure he would be happy to talk with you. His number is (910)867-0054.

Lud Gibbons could tell it better, but I will repeat a story Lud told me many years ago. Captain Marty Fastia commanded I Company until the Battalion was split near Col de Braus, France. G and H Companies occupied Ridge X to the right of Col de Braus, as you face the enemy and Sospel, France. A German company occupied a thousand yards or so to the right of the Ridge. I Company, to the right of the Germans, was ordered to attack and join G and H. Captain Fastia was relieved for not carrying out the order. Lt. Col. Forrest Paxton, the Bn. commander, took Lud up to I Company to be its new commander. He told Lud that he had to talk with the I Co. officers first. They told Col. Paxton that Jim had really been commanding I Co. since Camp Mackall and that no one but Jim would command it in the future. Paxton asked Lud if he wanted to stay as I Co. executive officer. Lud said he would be glad to serve under Jim’s command. This says a l ot for both men. I am delighted we have made contact with a member of Jim’s family. Please keep in touch.

Howard Hensleigh