This article is the final article of a five part series to honor these servicemen and the sacrifice they made for us all and recounts the life of William M
The “Texas Aggies Go to War” exhibition opens December 12
2014 in the Van Geluwe building in downtown Bastogne
It will mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge
when the Germans made a last push to extend their front line toward the English Channel and were forced back by Americans dug into deep snow inside the Ardennes Forest
The exhibit will highlight the service of five Aggies during WWII honoring the lives of Texas Aggies who fought in and around the Battle of the Bulge
The five men chosen are ciphers for every Aggie
World War II veteran William “Willie” Peña was born in Laredo
His ancestors on both sides of the family immigrated to Laredo in the mid-1880s
Willie helped his father with the family grocery business and was active in the Boy Scouts
He and his scout troop helped save the Laredo Elementary School by removing the furniture just prior to the September 3
Recovery from the flood and the Depression era economy were well remembered by Peña
as his parents struggled to give their sons a college education
Augustine Catholic School in downtown Laredo
Peña attended and graduated from Laredo High School in 1937
serving as both co-editor of the school newspaper
and President of the Pan American Student Club
encouraged him to attend the A&M College of Texas and major in architecture
This recommendation would be the beginning of a seven decade long avocation and career as one of the leading architects in the nation
one of his last class assignments was to paint a picture of the Corps of Cadets “Senior Boots”
He decided to paint it with the left boot lying down
An active member of the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M
Peña and his class were well aware of the demands on the nation following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7
“I graduated with a BS degree in architecture on a Friday (they rushed us through what was normally a five year course of study)
and ordered to report to active duty at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio on Sunday.”
California for one year as a training officer
Georgia to attend the Infantry Officer School
After returning to Camp Roberts he was transferred to Fort Ord as a training officer for those about to go overseas
especially for instruction of key Army training classes in Spanish for those planned to be assigned to covert operations in South America
all efforts were on the landing at Normandy
As casualties mounted following D-Day and the Allies prepared to push into Germany
Peña was transferred to Europe in August 1944
By November he was with the advance group pushing towards the Ardennes on the eve of the Battle of the Bulge
recalling “The real action started on December 16th and we fought up and down the line.” Growing up in warm South Texas
he indicated that it did get extremely cold at times
The fighting continued through late December
and he remembers his unit capturing a small town on Christmas Eve
“Our outfit was shattered by the loss of men
our battalion was down to a company size unit and we still had to push forward.” The fighting continued
when scouting a bridge they took on heavy fire and lost communications
Peña lead a team forward to reestablish communications — moving up a narrow road whose center alone had been cleared of mines
Willie found the broken communications line knocked out by the artillery barrage
he stepped off the hard top of the road and into the muddy shoulder and onto a land mine
and resulting loss of his left foot and right ankle
Peña the last combat casualty of I Company
promoted to Captain and spent two years in hospitals in Utah and at the Presidio in California
For his actions at Schlieden he received the Bronze Star for bravery and Purple Heart
In 1947 Willie returned to Texas A&M to finish his “fifth year” of architecture
going to work for a small startup firm Caudill Rowlett and Scott in College Station
By 1949 he was named the fourth founding partner of the firm
but declined to have his name attached to the company’s name
he so refined the process that he published his first book Problem Seeking – New Directions in Architectural Programming in 1969
This was followed byProblem Seeking: An Architectural Programming Primer which for the past four decades has been the standard text in architectural courses
he advanced architectural programming to a sophisticated analytical science benefitting architects
In 1959 CRS moved its headquarters to Houston in order to expand business nationwide
in time growing from four original partners to over 3,000 employees in 32 offices around the world
Peña had directed programming for over 400 projects in 38 states and nine foreign countries to completion
A member of the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows
he has dedicated his professional experience in mentoring young architects
While he and his firm were active in the design and construction of such landmark buildings as Jones Hall for the performing arts in Houston
one of Peña’s leading areas of expertise was the construction of community schools and auditoriums
CRS was commissioned in his native Laredo in the 1950s to design and build over two dozen educational and civic buildings
Peña Professorship in Information Management at Texas A&M University was endowed by CRS in 1990
He has further been recognized as an Outstanding Architecture Alumnus from Texas A&M in 1998
as well as the first recipient of the Thomas Jefferson Award in 2000 from the Houston Chapter of the American Institute of Architects
the French government by decree appointed him a “Chevalier” of the Legion of Honor – an award created by Napoleon in 1802 to acknowledge services rendered to France by persons of exceptional merit
‘Willie’ Peña ’42 turned 95 on February 10
If you have interest in learning more about the exhibit
attending the grand opening or donating to this exhibit
http://texasaggiesgotowarexhibit.tamus.edu*
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Full slate of campus and community events, including Aggie Ring Day, Aggie Moms' Boutique and Physics and Engineering Festival, set for April 4-6.
Freshman cadets attended the prestigious Tulane NROTC Mardi Gras Drill Meet, securing a second place finish against top military academies and senior colleges.
Read articles, watch videos and discover how Texas A&M University is shaping an innovative, more secure future for the citizens of Texas and the world.
you could say that Belgian turkey farmer Michiel Vanoverberghe (25) benefits from Europe’s best
Belgian regulations apply and their feed comes from the Netherlands
At only 6 kilometres from the French border
lies the second location of the Vanoverberghe family’s turkey farm
the young Belgian turkey farmer has been part of a so-called agricultural corporation
This second locaGet full access to all stories on Poultry WorldThis Premium article is exclusively available for subscribers
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1975 will forever be a milestone in Vietnam’s history
and the beginning of a new era of independence
said Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang
They are asked to issue legal documents within their jurisdiction to implement cuts and reassign the authority of settlement at the district level
For procedures requiring government decrees
ministries must submit them to the Ministry of Justice for review by May 10
and to the Government for approval by May 30
Progress on the work must be reported to the PM by May 10
Vietjet passengers traveling on domestic flights departing from Terminal 1 at Noi Bai International Airport can now complete check-in
and boarding procedures using biometric authentication (eKYC) via the VNeID app
About 500 Vietnamese expatriates recently gathered in Moscow to welcome their homeland’s military delegation preparing for the Victory Day parade marking Russia’s 80th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War triumph
once turned into a “hell on earth” by the colonialists and imperialists to suppress Vietnamese patriots and revolutionaries
became a sacred historical place and epitomised the fighting spirit
and ardent patriotism of the Vietnamese people
The newly formed localities are expected to better harness the region's potential and advantages to accelerate development
The activities will feature the participation of hundreds of ethnic minority representatives currently living and working at the village
along with delegations from 11 provinces and cities
Events included the ceremonial opening of a relic viewing of the Buddha’s sarira
The two-hectare range broke ground in July 2024
supported by a grant of over 700,000 USD from the US Government
and a calibration zone for mine clearance equipment
Uzbekistan and Vietnam have enjoyed a long lasting relationship
More than 3,500 Vietnamese students have studied at educational institutions in Uzbekistan and played an important role in strengthening the friendship between the people of the two countries./
a total of 8,056 inmates have been granted early release under this year’s amnesty
the Government has effectively connected provinces rich in human resources with key economic hubs
A Mexican scholar has praised Vietnam as a notable model of success
not only for Asia but also for developing nations across Latin America
amid the economic volatility in the 21st century
Hanoi has launched a wide range of cultural and entertainment activities to attract tourists during the five-day national holiday
Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR) said the two services
which departed from Hanoi (SE1) and HCM City (SE4) on April 29
were more than just a special service to mark the Liberation of the South
the invaluable lessons drawn from the Route 9–Southern Laos and Lam Son 719 victories continue to inspire the heroic traditions of both armies
remain highly relevant and meaningful to both Vietnam and Laos as they move forward in a new era
Vietnam's struggle for independence and freedom ended in the spring of 1975 with President of the Republic of Vietnam Duong Van Minh and his cabinet appearing at Saigon Radio station to announce unconditional surrender on April 30
A total of 221 Vietnamese citizens detained in Myanmar for breaching immigration regulations returned home on April 28-29
Ho Chi Minh City contributes over 20% of the national GDP
It proposes and implements groundbreaking institutional reforms
from renovating administrative procedures and attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) to piloting special mechanisms
millions of overseas Vietnamese are marking the occasion with pride
and a sense of connection to their homeland
2008 by the Ministry of Information and Communications
Email: vietnamplus@vnanet.vn
Reproduction in any form is prohibited without written consent
Six soldiers who had remained unidentified since they were killed during the First World War have been honoured in services of rededication at their graves around Ypres in Belgium.
have all remained in unmarked graves since paying the ultimate sacrifice while serving King and country in World War One.
The moving rededication services were organised by the MOD's Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre (JCCC)
also known as the 'MOD War Detectives' – a team tasked with confirming the identities of unidentified soldiers' remains in order to give them a fitting memorial with full military honours.
The services were held at various Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) cemeteries in Belgium.
The CWGC honours and remembers 1.7 million Commonwealth servicemen and women who died during the First and Second World Wars by caring for their war graves in more than 150 countries and territories around the world.
The unidentified remains of 2Lt Wood at Vichte Military Cemetery
were originally buried as "Unknown 2/Lt of Lancs Fus".
was the only Second Lieutenant from the Lancashire Fusiliers to have died in Belgium and not have a known grave.
The soldier's remains were originally recovered near Geluwe
in the West Flemish province of Belgium.
the 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers' war diary confirms that 2Lt Wood was killed in fighting that took place close to where his body was recovered.
The remains of Kent-born Cpl Pearce were originally recovered from a location northeast of Harelbeke and Stasegem and were buried as 'UK Brit Cpl – Worcester R'.
The war diary of the 4th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment places the men near the recovery location when Cpl Pearce was killed on 20 October 1918
Pte Graham's unidentified body was buried in Vichte Military Cemetery
on 24 October 1918 by burial officers of 9th and 31st Divisions.
Black Watch Royal Highlanders war diary places Pte Graham from Angus in Scotland in the right area on 24 October 1918 and the divisional war diary records them as filling a gap in the line on that day.
Peterborough-born 2Lt Herbert Martin was originally buried as 'UK 2/Lieut SR' in an area where Leperstraat Road cuts through the town of Menen in Belgium.
The soldier's remains were discovered in the same location as five other First World War casualties
three of whom were Scottish Rifles who also shared the same date of death – 14 October 1918.
2Lt Herbert Martin was attached to 1st/8th battalion at the time of his death.
Their war diary confirms that they saw action in the recovery location on 14 October 1918
Although 19-year-old Pte Parry served with the King's Own Scottish Borderers
Pte Parry was originally buried as an "Unknown Soldier of the King's Own Scottish Borderers" north of the Ypres-Comines Canal
The war diaries say that from the end of May until the middle of July 1915
tasked with joining up the firing line and trenches and building communication trenches – the soldiers came under constant bomb and trench mortar attacks.
The report of Pte Parry's death stated that "the men are burying him this afternoon in the grounds of a big house"
Taunton man Cpl Willcocks was killed in action on 28 November 1915 when he was hit by a German shell while manning a canteen just behind the frontline.
The soldier's remains were originally recovered from a location southeast of Zillebeke in Belgium
The war diary makes mention of his wounding only a few yards from where his remains were later recovered.
Cpl Willcocks was so well respected by the men and officers of 105 Company
that they raised enough money to have a brass plaque made in his memory.
the craftsman who was commissioned to make the plaque would not accept payment for it
so the money was given to Bert's widowed mother instead.
The plaque was unveiled in April 1916 in a packed church by the Lord Mayor of Cardiff and remained there until the building fell into disrepair and was closed.
The plaque ended up with a private collector in Europe until a local man
bought it and donated it to the renovated Highfields Church where it hangs in memory of Bert's sacrifice
The Reverend Andy Nicolls conducted the services which were attended by representatives from the current-day equivalents of the dead soldiers' regiments – Royal Fusiliers
Royal Logistics Corps and the Royal Regiment of Scotland
expressed her gratitude to the team of researchers whose work led to the men finally being laid to rest in graves with headstones bearing their names.
She said: "Thanks to their efforts we have been able to confirm their findings and return these soldiers' names to them
"I'm so honoured to have been able to be here to rededicate their final resting places."
Although some of the soldiers' families live overseas or have been unable to attend
family members for 2Lt Wood and Pte Parry were able to attend.
Each of these soldiers has also been well represented by their military family
The headstones over their graves will be replaced by the CWGC as part of the rededication
the Director for the Central and Southern European Area at the CWGC
said: "We are privileged to be able to honour these six brave men
who all paid the ultimate sacrifice fighting in the Great War.
we are able to renew our commitment to care for these soldiers' graves
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Texas Aggies Go to War Exhibit Opens December 12
Belgium. It will mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge
The exhibit will highlight the lives of five Aggies who represent all citizen soldiers. It will honor the lives of Texas Aggies who fought in and around the Battle of the Bulge
and after the war. The five men chosen will be the ‘everyman’ …ciphers for every Aggie
For the next five weeks there will be a series of articles to highlight these and to remind each of us of the sacrifice of all who made our nation the great nation it is today
The person highlighted in the first article is General James Earl Rudder ’32
“War is all teamwork
Fighting a battle is a lot like playing football
only in war the teams are bigger and the stakes are deadly.”
James Earl Rudder ’32 lived a distinguished career from the football fields of Concho County in far West Texas
the Battle of the Bulge and back home to Texas to hold key statewide leadership positions for both the state of Texas as Texas Land Commissioner and ultimately president of his alma mater Texas A&M University
Living on the edge of the great American frontier
and indoor lighting did not come to his home until he was 15 years old
Lean economic times were a hallmark of a very modest life among neighbors with like challenges to eke out a living
His grandparents were of an early Texas frontier generation by habit warned their children to “watch out for Indians,” though such threats were no longer present
The raw environs of West Texas has been referred to as an ‘incubator of patriotism’ as stories of the Lost Cause and Robert E
Lee — who Rudder would note was the ‘epitome of a military leader’ – as well as veteran memories of battles across the ‘big pond’ from World War I
and high standards for all who came in contact with those in the ranching community
All of which form the bedrock foundation of emerging leaders
would be a life-long part of his existence
He worked odd jobs at the local pharmacy and on the ranch where he learned the value of physical conditioning
and teamwork – all elements critical to a wartime commander
Earl – nicknamed ‘Curly’ in high school — excelled on the Eden High School Bulldog football team which proved to be a prime element in his growth
After his outstanding performance on the 1926 team
he earned an athletic scholarship to John Tarleton Agricultural College in Stephenville
With or without the oncoming Great Depression
Rudder did not have the money to pay for college and looked forward to finding a paying job in Eden
and even envisioned hitchhiking to California to find employment
that a job to pay tuition would be available on campus
along with housing and the ‘best meals in the state.’
Rudder enrolled at Tarleton and quickly adjusted to the college atmosphere
He excelled at the position of center on the football team in the fall of 1927
and helped lead the Plowboys to the state junior college championship
beating North Texas Agricultural College on Thanksgiving Day
he continued to struggle with paying his college expenses and considered withdrawing from school. Coach Wisdom appealed to the local Stephenville Lion Club to assist with a new sports scholarship
what became known as the “milk cow scholarship.” Terms of the scholarship included the donation by the club of a two-year old jersey heifer to graze the college grounds
Each morning and evening ‘Curly’ Rudder would milk the cow and give the bucket of milk to the dining hall
Rudder was criticized by the dining hall manager on occasion for not having a full pail of milk
which he quietly solved by topping off the bucket
and again the Plowboys captured the state championship
Rudder loved football and aspired to be a coach
yet he also gained his first insight in the military
He was an average student but gained added interest in classes after enrolling in the college ROTC program – Reserve Officers Training Corps
His best grades for course work through 1929 were in classes on coaching and military science
Upon finishing the basic academic course work at Tarleton
Coach Wisdom urged him to finish his education at A&M College
Texas A&M University would set the course for the balance of Earl Rudder’s career and life. The new larger College Station campus was a grand departure from Stephenville
and military training — what Hatfield called the ‘spiritual essence of Texas A&M — would be the focus of his time at Texas A&M. Still concerned about paying for college he worked part-time jobs on campus selling brooms
known as “Sbisa Volunteers,” and received 20 cents per game for officiating student intramural games
The cost to attend college in 1930 for nine months was $900.00 for classes
and an additional $75.00 to offset the price of uniforms
Cadet life and sports were a full-time activity with little or no time to leave the campus. In addition to military training classes on campus
cadets spent at least six weeks training each summer in tactics and weapons at army posts across the country
Rudder served as a Captain on the Infantry Regimental staff
On campus Rudder played on the freshman football team his first year at Texas A&M
even though he transferred into the junior class
becoming a member of the athletic association’s “T’ Club
He was the A&M intramural Wrestling Champion
Graduating with an Industrial Education degree in May 28
and while commissioned a reserve officer in the U.S
only one member of the Class of ’32 had a job upon graduation
Unemployment was over 23 percent nationwide – and rising
a barometer on the nation’s economic health
hit its lowest point (41) in over three decades in early June
yet Rudder was determined to follow his passion and land a coaching job in Texas
At first he returned to his home in Eden and had a job digging ditches for the highway department at 25 cents an hour; however
After a year-long search he was offered an assistant coaching job at Brady High School in the fall of 1933 to coaching both football and basketball as well as teaching three classes in history
and chemistry – all subjects for which he only had rudimentary knowledge
he was happy to have a job – and a nine month contract at $100.00 per month
Teaching the classes allowed Rudder to do what he loved best – coach football
Over five years he built the Brady football program into a state contender winning 80 percent of their games during his tenure
His success attracted the attention of his first alma mater
Rudder’s coaching job at Tarleton was a dream come true
His pay was increased and enabled Rudder to purchase a small house next to the campus. Yet war clouds on the horizon in Europe weighed heavy on his mind as he attended annual army summer training camp. Upon hearing of the fall of France to Nazi Germany in June 1940
he knew the situation would soon change and involve the United States
Congress confirmed the suspicions of many that America would somehow be in the fight by approving a measure to call to duty both National Guard and reserve officers
even though there was a majority of Americans against any and all involvement with the war
The memory of World War I was very powerful
and was ordered to report for duty on June 18
Immediately promoted to the rank of Captain
After assignment to the 83rd Division he was sent to Command and General Staff School at Fort Leavenworth
Once finished he assumed command of the 2nd Ranger Battalion
“No soldier in my command has ever been wished a more difficult task than that which befell the 34-year old commander
of the Provisional Ranger Force in the capture of Pointe du Hoc on June 6
– General Omar Bradley
Major Rudder and his 225 hand-picked men of the 2nd Ranger Battalion were shipped on the HMS Queen Mary to England in December 1943. Upon arrival they had no idea what or when their assignment would be as the Rangers spent months training with their counterparts
and the Royal Navy along the cliffs and the English southern coast
to include the heights at the Isle of Wight
Rudder and the Rangers were briefed that their objective would be to land at H-Hour on D-Day at Pointe du Hoc at Normandy
scale 100-foot cliffs under heavy enemy fire and within 30 minutes destroy the German battery of six 155mm howitzers trained on Omaha and Utah Beaches
site of the main landing in force on June 6
1944. The mission was accomplished with the battalion suffering over 50 percent casualties
including Rudder being wounded twice. But the fight was not over
Rudder’s first dispatch from the battle set the tone for the first fierce week of the fight
The terse reply: “No reinforcements available”
The Ranger’s soon secured the beachhead and moved inland. Following two months of moving into France
Colonel Rudder was given the command of the 109th Infantry Regiment
The 109th was placed into offensive action at once
defending against a crippling German assault into the Hurtgen Forest and the Ardennes
Rudder entrenched his exposed left flank and armed to stop the German advance to Luxembourg
As the enemy moved down the Sure River
Rudder devised a delaying action and counter attack that halted and defeated the German advance at Grosbous and thus
proved a major factor in preventing the enemy from taking Bastogne at Christmas. Following this action
Army formed “Task Force Rudder” to eliminate all enemy forces on the south side of the Sure River and west of the Oure River in advance of General George Patton’s Third Army sweeping move into the heart of Germany
In January 1945 the 109th liberated Colmar
France — one of the last major cities held by the enemy and liberated by Americans
“Both the 109thInfantry Regiment and Colonel Rudder are due the rightful recognition for slowing down the German attack that was a major factor in the defense of Bastogne.”
– Thomas M
Note: In the midst of the fighting after Christmas 1944
Rudder called a brief late night meeting of the three Texas Aggies in his unit
McCoy ‘40 and a young lieutenant from Laredo
Pena recalls the meeting was cordial but all business
McCoy became the commandant of cadets at Texas A&M
Colonel Rudder returned to the United Sates with the 109thRegiment to work at the War Department in Washington
In spite of being released from active army duty in April 1946
Rudder would remain an active part of the Army Reserve
rising to the rank of major general in command of the 90th Infantry Division
General Rudder returned to West Texas to resume his interest in ranching and was soon elected mayor of the City of Brady from 1946 to 1952
he remained in Brady to ranch and work with the Brady Aviation Company
he was appointed a Commissioner of the Texas Land Office for the State of Texas
In need of reorganization and new leadership
Rudder was able to expand the Veteran Land Program and improved the agencies operations
Texas Governor Allan Shivers appointed Rudder to be the President of Texas A&M University
a position he served in until his untimely death in 1970
General Rudder crafted a vision for his alma mater for the enhancement of education excellence and growth
expanded international programs in the agricultural and engineering programs
and drafted a detailed strategic plan that placed the university on an aggressive path to becoming the leading university in the nation
Texas A&M dedicates national pandemic influenza vaccine manufacturing facility, on track for 2016 start-up phase.
*Link is no longer active and has been removed
given by the Bush School of Government and Public Service
spotlights a Texas A&M University faculty member or administrator who embodies President George H.W
Aggie Moms' Boutique and Physics and Engineering Festival
watch videos and discover how Texas A&M University is shaping an innovative
more secure future for the citizens of Texas and the world.