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270th Field Artillery Battalion

Discussion in 'Information Requests' started by Nicelyb, May 25, 2018.

  1. Nicelyb

    Nicelyb Active Member

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    I am doing a little research on my Grandfather's unit. He was assigned to A Bat. 270th FA Bn. It was one of the 15ea 240mm gun units in the ETO. I have had a little luck finding info, but very sporadic and piecemeal.
    Any help pointing me towards info about the unit or its members is appreciated.

    Brian
     
  2. Nicelyb

    Nicelyb Active Member

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    Here are a couple more bits of info I found. See that there was some time spent in a town called Waldweistoff. Also the CO was Lt Col JC Gabriel.
     

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  3. Nicelyb

    Nicelyb Active Member

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    Here is some info I have been able to piece together. Any additional info is appreciated
    3334037C-1CED-43FE-A705-EE662D09C7FD.png
     
  4. Nicelyb

    Nicelyb Active Member

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    In a weird twist of coincidences the Bn Cdr. LtCol Gabriel and my grandfather Merle Arnold lived about 10 miles apart in Montgomery County Indiana.
     
  5. Nicelyb

    Nicelyb Active Member

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    Not a lot of info for this unit is out there. Wasn’t around long and was a non-divisional asset so they appear sporadically in various units AARs, etc... but not much of their own stuff Found a unit newsletter written by a unit member while stationed at Camp Butner NC doing train up before the unit shipped out. Found a pretty comprehensive list of unit members of A Battery also.
     
  6. RichTO90

    RichTO90 Well-Known Member

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    There is a 10-page postwar The 270th Field Artillery Battalion in the E.T.O.. pamphlet you may be able to get as a copy from the Army Historical and Education Center library at Carlisle, PA. Otherwise, your best bet would be After Action Reports and Unit Histories from the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill or Archives II.
     
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  7. Nicelyb

    Nicelyb Active Member

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    Thanks for the reply. I have that pamphlet and am working on getting the book titled “240”. I have also located a few bits and pieces of info from AARs that mentions the unit. Hoping to find a few more bits and pieces sprinkled in other units AARs, etc.. resources I have leveraged so far:
    National Archives
    Eisenhower Library
    Contrivich Private Library
    NC Heritage Society
    Camp Butner Historically society
    AARs from various units
    Google
    And my mother ( her father was in this unit)
     
  8. Nicelyb

    Nicelyb Active Member

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    Recently found a newsletter written by a few guys from the 270th while stationed at Camp Butner NC doing pre deployment training. Camp Butner is now the town of Butner NC but has a neat little museum keeping some of the history of Camp Butner alive.
     
  9. Nicelyb

    Nicelyb Active Member

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    Here is what I have pieced together so far. I have also found random small tid bits of information about the unit, such as a newsletter from Camp Butner, Post war AAR from the Medical section, etc...


    270th FA Bn 3rd Army ETO (European Theatre of Operations)
    240mm Howitzer Unit 1 of only 15 in the ETO

    Non-Divisional, Corps level unit. (Means it moved around alot to different units that needed their guns)

    Battalion Commander LTC J.C. Gabriel

    Campaigns: Normandy, France, Ardennes, Rhineland

    Activated: 15 March 1943 Camp Butner NC

    Deactivated: 25 October 1945 Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts


    Order of Battle: Dec ’43 to Nov ’45


    Dec ’43 Deployment Ship: RMS Aquatina NYC to Scotland

    5 Aug ’44 Attached to 144th FA Grp

    Supported 79th Div Falaise Gap Sector

    19 Aug ’44 Mantes-Gassi Court (Seine River)

    1 Sep ’44 Detached 144th FA Grp

    1 Sep ’44 Attached to XX Corps

    1 Nov ’44 Attached 195th FA Grp

    4 Nov ’44 detached and assigned Line of Communications duty for 3rd Army

    Dec ’44 to Jan ’45 Battle of the Bulge (Ardennes)

    Mar ’45 Detached XX Corps and the 195th FA Grp

    Nov ’45 Redeploy Ship: USS Alexander Le Havre France to NYC


    Attached 203rd FA Grp, 5th ID. DTG unknown
    Detached 203rd FA Grp, 5th ID DTG unknown


    Col Gabriel retired to the same area/county as my Grandfather (Merle Arnold). Crawfordsville Indiana. They are buried in separate cemeteries, but are only about 10 miles apart.

    An incomplete list of 270th FA personnel that I have pieced together.

    Margarito Alvarez
    Herman Anderson
    Freddie Andras
    Luther Arnold
    Merle Arnold
    Edwin Atteberry Sr.
    Delbert Ballengee
    John W. Bradshaw
    Brewster Branz
    Charles Breeding
    Raul Buentello
    Obadiah Burns
    George Canales
    Jack Carbary
    Edwin Chastain
    John Coke
    Norman Collins
    Charles Conrad
    Charles Cormendy
    Loren Cook
    Raymond Couchman
    Merle Cummings (1SG)
    James Currie
    Frank Daly Jr.
    David W. Davis
    Adam Dittenbir
    John T. Doughty
    Roy Dorman
    Guy R. Dulin
    Daniel J. Dunn
    Jesse Dyess
    Clovis Z. Edwards
    John Eitson
    Calvin C. Elmore
    LaVerne Emberts (Liaison Pilot shot down over Germany)
    ______ Faircloth
    Walter Ferens
    Edward Fielder
    Howard Fillmer
    ________ Fletcher
    Luis A. Flores
    Edward E. Foster Jr.
    Bennie Foster
    Arlon Fowler
    James C. Gabriel (Bn CDR)
    Alfred H. Gonzales
    Raul Gonzales
    Eddie Graham
    John W. Greene
    Peter Giussago
    Raymond Hall
    Lewis S. Hammonds
    Robert Hannah
    Loyd R. Hawley (A Btry XO)
    Eliot Herman
    Rojelio O. Hernandez
    Bernard Hillebrandt
    John W. Hinton
    John Hollebeek
    Fred S. Hopson
    George Howze (A Battery CDR)
    Elmer Hughes
    Paul Hummer
    Buell Hunter
    Lavern Hunter
    Pablo H. Infante
    J.P. Issacs
    John F. Jett
    Esias J. Johnson
    Billy H. Jordan
    C.P. Kelly
    Gerald Knackstedt
    Walter S. Kohl
    Lester R. Kluting
    John LaBlanc (Aerial Observer / Liaison Pilot)
    James E. Langford
    William M. Lee
    Phillip Loyacano
    _______ Luker
    Charles Maddin
    ______ _Manecia
    Francis C. Martines
    Bacilio V. Martinez
    Estarislado L. Mauricio
    Anthony J. Mele
    Carlton L. McCray
    Charlie R. McClain
    Burl McGraw
    Jerry Michalsky
    Johnie W. Morgan
    Kenneth Moore
    Carroll N. Morris
    Perry Moye
    Bert A. Mullen
    Buck Mullens
    Marion W. Mullican
    William A. Meyers
    ________ Miller
    Benjamin Nale
    Billy J. Neal
    Harold F. Nickel
    Ray F. Noble
    August Oprzadek
    Roger A. Parsels
    Frank H. Patterson
    Fred B. Perry (A Btry CDR)
    Alvis E. Peters
    Arthur Petri
    Gilberto Pineda
    Lawrence R. Potts
    Robert Presser
    Joe A. Pyle
    Regino Ramirez
    Oscar R. Ramos
    Edwin E. Raitz
    Robert C. Ray ( A Btry CDR)
    Joe Rodriguez
    Simon Rodriguez
    Victor H. Rogers
    James G. Rothrock Jr.
    F.J. Roussell
    Antonio G. Ruiz
    Guadalupe Saenz
    Armengol Saens
    Santos F. Saldana
    Domingo Sanchez
    Robert S. Sanders
    Leroy Savoie
    Robert W. Sheegog
    Robert W. Sides
    John Siepieranski
    Israel Silva
    James Sims
    Ivan J. Slaughter
    Irby Slaughter
    Robert H. Smith
    Toby Smith
    Willie E. Sofka
    Paul S. Soileau
    Ernest J. Sonnier
    Billy Spencer
    _______ St. Clair
    Lowell Stamps
    Lawless A. Stelly
    Riley W. Stuckey Jr.
    Earnie E. Tedford
    Lee Testa
    Jack A. Thompson
    Joseph W. Thompson
    Elmer H. Totsch
    Dillard R. Tucker
    Carlos D. Valadez
    Albert M. Van De Velde
    Vic Velvecates (A Battery 1SG)
    Robert Vaughn
    Israel Villarreal
    ________ Ward
    Adam E. Wadinski
    Carl L. Walker
    Harvey O. Walker
    Harry E. Wallace
    Willard Watts
    Robert Weigert
    Ralph W. Wendt
    Ted Williams
    Lester Williams
    James M. Williamson
    Alex Woitowitz
    John R. Woolard
    John E. Woloszyn
    Lee H. Womack
    Tommy L. Wright
    Margarito R. Ybarra
    ________Young
    Frank Zaleski
    Richard Zule
     
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2018
  10. Nicelyb

    Nicelyb Active Member

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    Can anyone tell me where this information is from? I have not done a great job of keeping track of all the information I have found and now can not recall where this info is from. Thanks in advance for any help you may provide.
     

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  11. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    Location:
    The Land of 10,000 Loons
    It is an index card for the 270th Field Arty Bn unit records held by the NARA in College Park, MD.
     
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  12. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    Location:
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    Dup post.
     
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  13. Nicelyb

    Nicelyb Active Member

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    Thank you. I had the address, etc... of The NARA on a sheet of paper in its “pile” so it makes sense. Thanks again. Brian
     
  14. Dan66

    Dan66 New Member

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    Brian, I ran a search on 270th F.A. Battalion and came across this forum. My grandfather served as a Tech Sergeant for the 270th F.A. Battalion for all A, B, and C units. My grandfather just celebrated his 94th birthday this month. He does remember lots of his service years and has 2 photos of Col. J.C. Gabriel and the 240 Howitzer guns. I was able to trace one of the guns used by the 270th F.A. Battalion Charlie, it is displayed in Ft. Sill OK. I have photo of Mikey Rooney sitting on one of the guns when he did a show. My grandfather still does jumping jacks at his age, and pretty fit, his hearing is going some but not his memory. He has several stories and remembers Gen. Patton when he came across him on two occasions.
    Much like you, I come across bits and pieces of this unit. My grandmother threw away his ETO campaign book by mistake. I also came across 270th F.A. Battalion Abel unit and photo of the group on Facebook. Guys there will be happy to help with any information you need. If you interested in any photos I have message me and I will get you my email. My grandfather loved serving with Col. J.C. Gabriel and said he was a damn good CO.
     
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  15. Ron Leal

    Ron Leal New Member

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  16. Ron Leal

    Ron Leal New Member

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    My father, Corporal Louis Leal was in the 270th . 50 cal. squad. Yesterday my grandchildren were old enough that I told them about their great grandfather and a bit of WWII in general. I mentioned my respect for my fathers war service but sadly I myself really didn't get it until about 15 years after he died. He never wore it on his sleeve, he just saw it as a duty then came home to raise a family and put it all behind him. Here's to you dad.....
     
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  17. Nicelyb

    Nicelyb Active Member

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    Ron and Dan, sorry for the slow reply, haven't been on here in a while. I am very interested in any information and photos you have of the battalion. I am more than happy to share anything I have as well. I have acquired a decent amount of info, but need to take the time and get it organized into a coherent bit of info.

    Below is an incomplete list of persons I found that served with eh 270th. If you know of others or find my info to be incorrect, please let me know.

    Shoot me an e-mail @ dbnicely at gmail if you would like to exchange info.


    270th FA personnel as I know it


    Bernard Adams (C Btry CDR)

    Margarito Alvarez

    Herman Anderson

    Freddie Andras

    Eugene Anspach (Motor Officer, Liaison Pilot/Observer shot down over Germany KIA 2 Jan ’45)

    Luther Arnold (Bn XO)

    Merle Arnold

    Edwin Atteberry Sr.

    Frank Baker

    Delbert Ballengee

    Roger Baribeault

    William Basham

    Herbert Baumann

    Harry Bennett

    George Bolton

    Henry “Cecil” Borne

    John W. Bradshaw

    Brewster Branz

    Charles Breeding

    John Bristow

    William Brooks

    Raul Buentello

    Obadiah Burns

    George Canales

    Jack Carbary

    _____ Catnell

    Edwin Chastain

    John Coke

    Norman Collins

    Charles Conrad

    Charles Cormendy

    Loren Cook

    Raymond Couchman

    ____Croft

    Paul Culberson (Hq Btry CDR)

    Merle Cummings (1SG)

    James Currie

    Frank Daly Jr.
    David W. Davis

    Adam Dittenbir
    John T. Doughty

    ______ DeMercy

    Roy Denman (Medic)
    Guy R. Dulin
    Daniel J. Dunn

    Jesse Dyess
    Clovis Z. Edwards

    John Eitson
    Calvin C. Elmore

    LaVerne Emberts (Liaison Pilot shot down over Germany KIA 2 Jan ’45)

    Frank Esosito (Asst. Bn S2 and Survey Officer)
    ______ Faircloth
    Walter Ferens
    Edward Fielder

    Howard Fillmer (HQ Btry CDR and COMO)
    ________ Fletcher
    Luis A. Flores
    Edward E. Foster Jr.

    Bennie Foster
    Arlon Fowler
    James C. Gabriel (Bn CDR)
    Alfred H. Gonzales

    Raul Gonzales (Medic)
    Eddie Graham
    John W. Greene

    Peter Giussago

    Raymond Hall (Medic)
    Lewis S. Hammonds

    Robert Hannah (Bn S3)

    William Harvey (WIA Aug ’44 enemy aircraft strafing)
    Loyd R. Hawley (A Btry XO)

    John Heath

    Eliot Herman
    Rojelio O. Hernandez (Machine Gunner)

    Bernard Hillebrandt (Medic)
    John W. Hinton

    Jack Hodges
    John Hollebeek
    Fred S. Hopson

    George Howze (Asst S3 and A Battery CDR)

    Elmer Hughes

    John Hummer (Asst. Bn S2 and Survey Officer

    Paul Hummer
    Buell Hunter

    Lavern Hunter
    Pablo H. Infante
    J.P. Issacs
    John F. Jett
    Esias J. Johnson
    Billy H. Jordan

    C.P. Kelly
    Gerald Knackstedt
    Walter S. Kohl
    Lester R. Kluting

    John LaBlanc (Aerial Observer / Liaison Pilot)

    Dudok Langerak (Bn S4)
    James E. Langford
    Louis Leal

    William M. Lee

    Wayne Lidgard (WIA Aug ’44 enemy aircraft strafing)

    William Loftin

    Phillip Loyacano
    _______ Luker
    Charles Maddin
    ______ _Manecia

    Robert Martin (Bn S1 / Adjutant)
    Francis C. Martines
    Bacilio V. Martinez
    Estarislado L. Mauricio
    Anthony J. Mele
    Carlton L. McCray
    Charlie R. McClain

    Robert McDonald

    Burl McGraw
    Jerry Michalsky

    Roger Michels (Bn Surgeon)

    William A. Meyers
    ________ Miller
    Johnie W. Morgan

    Kenneth Moore (Medic)
    Carroll N. Morris
    Perry Moye
    Bert A. Mullen

    Buck Mullens

    Marion W. Mullican
    Paul Murphy ( Svc Btry CDR and Bn Motor Officer)
    Benjamin Nale
    Billy J. Neal
    Harold F. Nickel
    Ray F. Noble
    August Oprzadek

    John Parker

    ______ Parks
    Roger A. Parsels (A Btry Clerk)

    Aylmer Patterson
    Frank H. Patterson
    Fred B. Perry (A Btry CDR)
    Alvis E. Peters

    Arthur Petri (Medic)

    Walter Pfluger (B Btry)

    Gilberto Pineda
    Lawrence R. Potts (Machine Gunner)
    Robert Presser
    Joe A. Pyle (AKA Muscles)
    Regino Ramirez
    Oscar R. Ramos
    Edward E. Raetz (Battlefield Commisioned to 2nd Lt 17 Feb ’45)
    Robert C. Ray ( Bn S2 and A Btry CDR)

    Archie Roberts
    Joe Rodriguez
    Simon Rodriguez

    Victor H. Rogers

    Iver Roslund (Asst Bn S2)
    James G. Rothrock Jr. (A and C Btry)

    F.J. Roussell
    Antonio G. Ruiz
    Guadalupe Saenz

    Armengol Saens (Medic)
    Santos F. Saldana
    Domingo Sanchez
    Robert S. Sanders
    Leroy Savoie
    Robert W. Sheegog
    Robert W. Sides

    John Siepieranski (B Btry Motor Sgt and WIA Aug ’44 enemy aircraft starting)

    Israel Silva

    James Sims (Medic)

    Paul Sinclair (Aerial Observer)
    Ivan J. Slaughter

    Irby Slaughter

    Calvin Smith

    James Smith (WIA)

    Elliot Smith (WIA Aug ’44 enemy aircraft strafing)
    Robert H. Smith

    Toby Smith

    Thomas Snyder (B Btry CDR)
    Willie E. Sofka
    Paul S. Soileau
    Ernest J. Sonnier
    Billy Spencer
    _______ St. Clair
    Lowell Stamps
    Lawless A. Stelly

    Gerhard Steppke (WIA Jan ’45)

    Riley W. Stuckey Jr.
    Earnie E. Tedford
    Lee Testa
    Jack A. Thompson
    Joseph W. Thompson
    Elmer H. Totsch
    Dillard R. Tucker

    _______ Uel
    Carlos D. Valadez
    Albert M. Van De Velde

    Vic Velvecates (A Battery 1SG)

    Robert Vaughn
    Israel Villarreal
    ________ Ward
    Adam E. Wadinski
    Carl L. Walker (Aerial Observer / Liaison Pilot)
    Harvey O. Walker
    Harry E. Wallace

    Robert Wallace
    Willard Watts

    Robert Weigert
    Ralph W. Wendt
    Ted Williams

    Lester Williams (Medic)
    James M. Williamson

    Richard Wilson (Liaison Pilot)

    Alex Woitowitz (Medic)
    John R. Woolard

    Jerome Wolney
    John E. Woloszyn
    Lee H. Womack
    Tommy L. Wright
    Margarito R. Ybarra

    ________Young

    Frank Zaleski (Medic and designed an improved Pharmacy chest)
    Richard Zule
     

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  18. William Koss

    William Koss New Member

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    Long story, but... I manage a family history website. A family member and I are working on a story about his father, John W. "Jack" Wolf, who served in the 270th, C Company. This family member found a camera at his (deceased) dad's house and had the film processed. We have 70+ (somewhat faded but clear) photos from his time overseas with his unit. Unfortunately, people in the photos are not identified. Exception is Lt. Col J.C. Gabriel, which is how I came to this forum. I would be curious if these are of interest to anyone.
     
  19. Nicelyb

    Nicelyb Active Member

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    William: Thanks for reaching out and I would love to see the photos! I have amassed a decent amount of info about the unit, but very few photos. I am going to the National Archives in Washington’s DC tomorrow to look at, and hopefully copy some documents they have of the 270th. Pure luck that I’m in the area for work and have a free day. There is another guy that is hosting a blog mostly geared towards A Battery 270th, but you may find it of interest.
    270th Field Artillery Battalion Battery A

    Please shoot me a PM on this forum and we can exchange info.
     
  20. MarkMACVTM80

    MarkMACVTM80 New Member

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    15 JAN 20

    Gentlemen: I am new to this site, and I am also seeking certain information about 270 FA BN, and in particular its CO, LTC Gabriel. Like several others who have commented on this thread, Montgomery County, Indiana, was my home for many years. Here's my situation:

    1. I collect military uniforms and insignia, and I have in my collection a few items actually worn by LTC Gabriel, before WWII. I met LTC Gabriel on one occasion, that being my father's funeral in 1973, in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Dad knew him for several years. It's my understanding LTC Gabriel was originally from Missouri (and I exhausted all possible sources I could find in Missouri, but found nothing useful). LTC Gabriel started his military service as Private, Signal Corps, and served in several campaigns in WWI, a fact which is mentioned in several of the published sources about 270 FAB. I do not know when, or how, he transferred from Signal Corps to Field Artillery. Some of the items in my collection indicate he was a Company (or Battery) 1st Sergeant some time after 1924 and before 1940, serving in 2d Division, which was then stationed at Fort Sam Houston, TX. I have seen (but do not have a copy of) a 38th Infantry Division yearbook, published in 1940 (or '41) in which then CPT James C. Gabriel appeared as a member of 139th Field Artillery. 139 FA had a very long association with central Indiana, and Crawfordsville, in particular. (The WWII CO of 139 FA BN, LTC D. C. Graham, was my 8th grade math teacher.)

    2. It is my understanding LTC Gabriel's last tour of active duty was in USAREUR where he commanded a 240mm gun battalion ("atomic cannon"). That would have been about 1953 to 1958. I have checked many sources, including the excellent USAREUR history sites, but have never been able to identify his unit. He told me personally his battalion was nicknamed "Gabriel's Angels", which he found gratifying.

    3. I have copies of about 20 pages of unit historical material on 270 FA BN, including a few after action reports, which I obtained several years ago from the US Army Center for Military history.

    4. What I am looking for, personally, is the following: (A) What unit did LTC (then PVT) Gabriel serve with in WWI? (B) What unit did he serve with when he was an NCO assigned to 2d Division? (C) Can anyone provide a copy (or decent photocopy) of any photo of James C. Gabriel, at any time, preferably but not necessarily in uniform?

    I would appreciate any assistance, and hope that I might be able to return the favor. Please be aware, I am old and electronic-illiterate. I do not tweet, text, FACEBOOK, or otherwise use media effectively, other than e-mail with which I am reasonably proficient. Best wishes to all of you for success in your history projects.

    MarkMACVTM80
     

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