"Back at the Gap" Major General Frank H. Smoker, Jr. (USAF, Retired) Monuments pay tribute to soldiers’ efforts 48th in a series By its long history and affiliation of the 28th Infantry Division with the Gap, it’s not surprising to learn that many of the monuments and roads throughout Fort Indiantown Gap honor its dead and perpetuate the names of those whose tireless efforts in peace made it strong in war. Several other monuments have been erected to perpetuate the history of other divisions that trained at the Gap prior to going overseas in World War II. There are also several monuments that have been dedicated over the years to honor soldiers from the area who performed acts of heroism in the service of their country. While these monuments cannot adequately portray the suffering and sacrifice of our military veterans, they do commemorate their service to the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and help our future generations understand the magnitude of the debt we owe them. The 28th Infantry Division Monument with its theme “Roll On” is located in the center of the post in a place of honor across from Muir Field. An imposing structure, this largest monument at the Gap was constructed in 1989 as a testament to the 110 years of the 28th Division’s deployments and honors the men and women of the 28th Division who served on the Mexican Border in 1916, World War I, World War II and in Germany as part of the NATO forces during the Korean War. The 28th is better known to the people of Pennsylvania as the Keystone Division. More recently, on Sept. 11, 2004, the Keystone Division rededicated its memorial wall to Guard members who served in support of Global War of Terror since Sept. 9, 2001. The new addition reads: WAR ON TERRORISM – Bosnia, Central Europe, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Homeland Security. “It is a somber anniversary for America, but a very fitting day to dedicate this memorial wall to the 28th Infantry Division’s Global War of Terror deployments.” said Pennsylvania’s Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jessica L. Wright. “Sadly, three of our own have paid the ultimate price for freedom. The loss of Sgt. Sherwood Baker marked the first time since World War II that a Pennsylvania National Guard member died in combat. Spc. Mark Kasecky and Spc. Carl Curran died in combat just a few weeks later. Let this memorial stand to honor them.” Maj. Gen. Wesley Craig, commanding general, 28th Infantry Division, was presented a mounted Iraqi Republican Guard flag found by soldiers of Company B of the 2-103rd Armor during their current deployment in Baghdad. These soldiers are among some of the 7,000 Pennsylvania National Guard members who have deployed in the Global War since Sept. 11, 2001. “Our current Keystone soldiers are following the tradition and service of many who have gone before them,” said Gen. Craig. “The 28th Infantry Division veterans should be proud of their accomplishments and dedicated service.” The Battle of the Bulge Monument is located in front of the Community Club at the intersection of Fisher Road and Clement Avenue. This monument honors the 81,000 American troops killed or wounded in the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes between Dec. 16, 1944 and Jan. 25, 1945. This black and white marble monument was dedicated in 1999 and is called “A Triumph of Courage”. It commemorates the 600,000 American men who fought three German Armies in the Ardennes Forest of Belgium and Luxembourg and won the largest land battle ever fought by the U.S. Army. In the snow and sleet of the bitter winter of 1944-1945, they turned an apparent defeat into what the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill called “an ever famous American victory.” The 95th Division Monument, also located in front of the Community Club, was erected to commemorate the 95th Infantry Division, nicknamed the Victory Division, one of eight divisions that trained at the Gap during World War II. The Third Armored Division Monument at Muir Field honors veterans from the 3rd Armored Division, one of two armored divisions and six infantry divisions that trained at the Gap during World War II. It honors those who participated in five campaigns while serving in France, Belgium and Germany between June 1944 and May 1945. The athletic field at Fort Indiantown Gap was named in memory of Lt. Robert B. Coleman on June 29, 1951. A Lebanon native, he attended Cornwall High School and was president of his graduating class in 1942. He also had an extensive career as a varsity player in baseball, track, soccer and basketball. He graduated from West Point, class of 1947, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. Lt. Coleman was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic conduct during his combat tour in Korea while leading his platoon after a parachute drop against armed enemy forces in ground combat in the vicinity of Sukchon, Korea, in October 1950. He was killed in combat near Hoengson, Korea, on Feb. 4, 1951, just 15 days before his 26th birthday. Marquette Lake is a man-made lake built in 1939 as a training site for lifeboat and landing drills for the American soldiers. This lake was named in memory of Sgt. Charles D. Marquette, the first Lebanon County soldier to receive the Medal of Honor. A monument at the entrance of the road leading to the lake describes details of his life and service. At the battle of Petersburg, Va., March 25 to April 3, 1865, Sgt. Marquette earned the Medal of Honor. His citation reads in part: “ … although wounded, he was one of the first to plant the colors on the enemy’s breastworks.” He died in 1907 at the age of 62 and was buried in Wrightsville, Pa. Shuey Lake, another man-made lake constructed in 1958 for amphibious training, is located at the east end of the post. It was named in memory of Sgt. Perry R. Shuey, a native of Lebanon, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in action during World War I near Fleville, France on Oct. 5, 1918. His citation read in part: “… After his platoon commander had been killed and the organization had suffered 50 percent casualties, Sergeant Perry R. Shuey, Company B, 2d Machine Gun Battalion, reorganized the platoon by gathering stray squads from both flanks and the front. This work completed, he led the platoon forward, under intense artillery and machine gun fire, to positions in advance of the infantry to withstand a counterattack. He displayed absolute fearlessness under heavy fire, inspiring the men with him by his example of heroism.” Sgt. Shuey retired in June 1931 after completing more than 26 years of active duty. He died September 1950 and was buried in the Walmers Church Cemetery adjacent to Fort Indiantown Gap. Memorial Lake was constructed in 1945 during the latter part of World War II for use in amphibious training. A plaque erected near the dam breast notes that it was dedicated to the memory of the National Guard men and women who served their state and nation during World Wars I and II. This 85-acre lake was deeded over to the State Park system and is now known as Memorial Lake State Park. Published in the Wednesday, September 7, 2005 edition of the Lebanon Daily News © 2005 Frank H. Smoker, Jr. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission of the author. Go "Back at the Gap" Index