(The following research paper was completed by club member Scott S. for Mr. Virgil C. Dabney)

COL. Hurley E. Fuller
27 Nov 1894 - 29 Apr 1975

COL. Fuller was a significant factor in the delay of the German advance during the Battle of the Bulge 16-18 December 1944

 

UPDATE - 06-Jun-01 (D-Day for those of you who don't remember...)

I have been working with Virgil Dabney's son Tom and the American Legion Post in Center Point Texas to erect a memorial for the heroic efforts and contributions COL Hurley E. Fuller provided to our country.  At this time, we have secured one of eight sections of a wall to be constructed around their new flag pole on the Legion property.  

Dedication of the flagpole and base was held Saturday June 16th, 2001 in Center Point Texas (9 miles East/SouthEast of Kerrville)  and the final plaques were dedicated on Veterans Day, 11-Nov-01.  

Click on the small image above to see the larger picture...

flag_1.JPG (18732 bytes)
Flagpole and base dedication 06-Jun-01

flag_2.JPG (26130 bytes)
Plaque dedication 11-Nov-01

 ~scott

 

Introduction

While on a motorcycle ride to the Veterans Administration hospital in Kerrville, Texas I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Virgil C. Dabney, a WWI veteran now at 101 years old with strong memories of his childhood friend Hurley Fuller.  What started out as a few simple recollections by Mr. Dabney during that visit became my personal research project to find out as much as possible about his childhood friend Hurley Fuller.

Primarily, Mr. Dabney has recollections of his childhood years growing up in Center Point, Texas and his idol Hurley’s exploits in the military.  One of Mr. Dabney’s vivid memories was a story Hurley had told him about his capture during WW-II and his subsequent escape.  Mr. Dabney recalls Hurley told him he wore a uniform of the German Army or an Axis power to assist with the escape.  Upon his return to US Service after his escape, Mr. Dabney also recalls Hurley indicating he was severely reprimanded or possibly court-martialed for wearing the uniform of the enemy. 

So, from this tidbit of information, the research began to find out what really occurred.  What follows is a compilation of information gathered along the way.  Some of the content may be interesting to some, boring to others.  However, it’s all part of the life of COL. Hurley E. Fuller, Mr. Dabney’s best childhood friend. 

Information that remains unknown is noted in italics.  Where others have provided material, credit has been noted where known.  This is not meant to be a 100% recreation of every event of COL. Fuller’s life and military career.  The reader must bear in mind the document started out as a simple request to find out what occurred to Mr. Dabney’s childhood friend, COL. Fuller and the events surrounding his capture in WWII. 

Mr. Dabneys recollections of Hurley Fuller

The initial recollections Mr. Dabney provided of his childhood friend Hurley Fuller included: 

  1. Hurley was 4 years older. (Hurley is actually 5 days shy of 5 years older then Mr. Dabney)
  2. Hurley’s parents separated at some point.  (Not confirmed but COL. Hurley Fuller indeed separated and remarried…)
  3. Hurley’s mother Delia worked a ‘scrub-board’ in Center Point, Texas  (Not confirmed)
  4. Hurley’s favorite saying was “Pray for me”.
  5. Went to school with Hurley in Center Point, Texas up to the age of 14.
  6. Hurley could always catch more fish then anyone.
  7. While hunting, Hurley could find the squirrels quicker then the dogs.
  8. Hurley entered the University of Texas, then joined the ARMY and was involved in trench war in France.
  9. Hurley wore a uniform of the enemy to escape from captivity.

Family / Relationships

COL. Hurley E. Fullers father was John Franklin Fuller, born 09/24/1859, died 11/23/1932.  He is buried at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio next to his wife, Delia Kelly Fuller.  He is in section PC, grave #20 and is listed as a “Dependent/Father” in the internment records.  Date of internment was 11/26/1932.  This information was gathered from a site visit to the grave on 02/06/2001, review of internment records and a photograph taken.  See Appendix A and Photos

COL. Hurley E. Fullers mother was Delia Kelly Fuller, born 03/12/1872, died 04/07/1952.  She is buried at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio next to her husband, John Franklin Fuller.  She is in section PC, grave #21 and is listed as a “Dependent/Mother” in the internment records.  She is also listed as PVT US ARMY from Appendix A.  Date of internment was 04/09/1952.  This information was gathered from a site visit to the grave on 02/06/2001, review of internment records and a photograph taken.  See Appendix A and Photos

COL. Hurley E. Fuller (the subject of the research, aka: COL. Fuller) was born in Center Point, Texas (Kerr County) on 11/27/1894 as confirmed by a search on the Social Security Death Index (SSDI) database and inscription on his headstone.  However, when the University of Texas was queried via e-mail about his college attendance, they indicated his birth year as 1895. 

According to the 1910 Kerr County Federal Census, (Texas) COL. Fuller had three siblings including Grady T, male, age 10, Hazel F, female, age 13 and Violet K, female, age 7.  The census also included Hurley, male age 15 and Delia, female age 38.  As noted above, Delia was COL. Fuller’s mother.  Mr. Dabney also confirmed this census report as he is listed in the same Kerr county census under the Dabney family name.  See Appendix B

The 1920 Kerr County census listed Delia, female, Doll, female age 26, Grady T, male and Violet K, female.  COL. Fuller was not listed in the 1920 census.  At this time it remains unknown who Doll is.  Subsequent conversations with Mr. Dabney provide no additional information as to her identity.  See Appendix C

COL. Fuller married Nell Francis Hodges 01/15/1918 according to a conversation on 02/06/2001 with Dorothy (Hodges) Howard of San Antonio, Texas.  Nell Francis Hodges was an Aunt of Dorothy Hodges who referenced her family tree album for this information. 

Hurley E. Fuller Jr. (COL. Fullers son) was born 12/04/1918 according to the SSDI database and a conversation on 02/06/2001 with Dorothy (Hodges) Howard of San Antonio, Texas and Betty (Hodges) Burney of Center Point, Texas.  His parents were COL. Fuller and Nell Francis Hodges. 

According to the Texas Birth General Records, a “Hurley Joseph Fuller” was born on 04/16/1940 in Smith county Texas to Edith Louise Pugh and Ophelus Joe Fuller.  This person’s relationship to COL. Fuller or Hurley Fuller Jr. remains unknown and none of the Hodges relationships know of this person.  Therefore, at this time he is not regarded to be of relation to the Fullers of Center Point based on follow-up conversations with Mr. Dabney and the Hodges. 

Hurley Fuller Jr. may have been married for a brief period around WW-II according to Dorothy (Hodges) Howard of San Antonio, Texas.  Her recollections are a “very brief marriage to a woman with the first name of Dorothy”.  To the best of her recollection, he did not have any children by this marriage.  According to Hurley Fuller Jr’s headstone, he was a 2nd LT, US ARMY in WWII. 

COL. Fuller divorced Nell Francis Hodges on 09/08/1962 according to Dorothy Howard (Hodges) of San Antonio, Texas and Betty (Hodges) Burney of Center Point, Texas. 

COL. Fuller remarried Mabel B. maiden name unknown/marriage date unknown.  She was born 11/16/1904, and died 08/23/1995.  She is buried next to her husband, COL. Fuller at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio Texas.  She is in section PC, grave #43.  Internment records indicate her as “Dependent/Wife”.  Date of internment of 08/28/1995.  Information gathered from a site visit to Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery on 02/06/2001, photo taken and review of internment records.  See Appendix A and Photos

Nell Francis Hodges (COL. Fullers first wife) died 09/09/1962 and is buried in the Center Point cemetery, Center Point (Kerr county) Texas.  Confirmed by a site visit to the cemetery on 02/06/2001 and photograph taken.  See Photos. 

COL. Fuller died in Bexar county Texas (presumably at Audy Murphy VA hospital in San Antonio from Mr. Dabney’s recollection of visiting him at that hospital in early 1975) on 04/29/1975 as confirmed by the SSDI database.  He is buried at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio on 05/02/1975 and is located in section PC, Grave #42 as confirmed by a call to Mr. Joe Ramos at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery and site visit on 02/06/2001 with a photo taken of the headstone.  His rank was listed as “COL.” on the headstone in addition to service in WW-I, WW-II and Korea.  See Appendix A and Photos. 

Hurley E. Fuller Jr. died on 06/05/1994 as confirmed by the SSDI database.  His last residence was noted as Scottsdale (Maricopa county) Arizona (SSDI) and confirmed by a conversation with Dorothy (Hodges) Howard of San Antonio Texas on 02/06/2001.  He was cremated and buried in the same plot with his mother (Nell Francis Hodges, COL. Fullers first wife) in the Center Point cemetery, Center Point (Kerr county) Texas.  This information was provided by the Center Point cemetery caretaker Mr. Guy Burney, his wife Betty (Hodges) Burney in addition to a site visit on 02/06/2001 and photo taken.  See Photos

College

COL. Fuller was enrolled at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas and attended from the Fall of 1913 to the Spring of 1916 as confirmed by email from UT/Austin Office of the Registrar.  No degree was awarded from the University of Texas system according to the e-mail. 

There has been some discussion regarding COL. Fuller graduating from West Point with a commission.  After several e-mails with the Association Of Graduates (AOG) at West Point, they have no record of a Hurley E. Fuller attending or graduating from their institution.  Also, the two West Point classes that graduated in 1917 were commissioned on 20 April and 30 August of that year.  

Jack Forgy provided information contained in McDonald’s book, A Time for Trumpets that states Fuller went to Officer Candidate School (OCS) which tracks with his one-year of enlisted service.   

Military Service

WWI

According to Mr. Jack Forgy, Fuller joined the Army on 17 May 1916 and was commissioned on 23 Mar 1917 (during WWI).  It is possible and very likely Fuller received a "battlefield commission" granted to soldiers who demonstrated leadership under fire during this period.   

According to Mr. Dabney, COL. Fuller was in WW-I and fought trench warfare in France.  A small excerpt written by CPT. (at that time) Fuller has been located from a USMC web site.  The URL is: 

http://www.doctrine.quantico.usmc.mil/history/122/ch22.pdf 

This excerpt is noted in four scans which can be seen from the Documents tab.  The timeframe (Aug 1918/WWI) and theater (France) appear to be correct for COL. Fuller to have written this document for training purposes.  It is not uncommon for members of one service branch to provide information to another service branch for training purposes such as this case appears.  It is interesting to note that Fuller had achieved the rank of CPT. when this was written and later achieving the rank of COL.  

This document indicates CPT. Fuller was part of the 3rd BN, 47th Infantry Regiment which according to Mr. Jack Forgy would have put CPT. Fuller in the 9th Division


WWII

As this research effort started with a single notion to prove or disprove, COL. Fuller’s entire WWII military achievements will not be discussed here.  Only the highlights of his capture, release and subsequent letters have been presented.  An excellent story by Gary Schreckengost with many references to COL. Fuller during the Battle of the Bulge where COL. Fuller fought and was captured can be found at: 

http://www.thehistorynet.com/WorldWarII/articles/2001/0101_1text.htm

COL. Fuller was the Commanding Officer of the 2nd Infantry Division, 23rd Infantry commencing on 10/19/1943 and presumably until 07/11/1944 when Lt. COL. Jay B. Loveless took over.  He commanded the 23rd Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Division from 06/06/1944 to 06/16/1944.  Not having a military background, this appears to have a date conflict.  Information secured from various sources. 

During the Battle of the Bulge, COL. Fuller commanded the US ARMY 28th Infantry Division’s 110th Regimental Combat Team (RCT).  The 110th RCT consisted of the 110th Infantry Regiment and many attached units.  From Gus Hickok: “Task organization for the 110th at that time included the whole 109th Field Artillery Bn, not just battery B.  The 110th Regimental Combat Team in WW2 always included the 109th FA.  He also had a medical company and a battery of anti aircraft artillery with the field artillery to protect from enemy air, which, of course, rarely happened.  Most of the fighters were moved back to Germany to protect it from the numerous allied bombing raids. The 110th was hit the hardest on 16 Dec and Fuller was handicapped because one infantry Bn was the division reserve and was not released to him for about 24 crucial hours and the division commander tried to get a picture of what was happening.  It was, of course, a beautifully planned and executed surprise attack.” 

It is also well documented from many sources that COL. Fuller was captured during the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes forest region around the town of Clervaux.  COL. Fuller was one of 95,532 POW’s in WW-II/Europe.   

Mr. Dabney recalls that COL. Fuller escaped his captors by wearing the uniform of the German Army or an Axis power.  Upon his return to the US ARMY, Mr. Dabney recalls COL. Fuller indicating he was severely reprimanded or possibly court-martialed for wearing the uniform of an enemy.  This is the most important part for Mr. Dabney to understand and the focus of the research. 

Mr. Jack Forgy submitted the following abbreviated account of COL. Fullers capture:  “On the night of the 17th while searching for his second battalion and trying to return to the East bank of the Clerve River, he and a small group of men encountered Germans at every turn. On the morning of the 18th he and a Lt Wight, came upon the remnants of the 630th Tank Destroyer Battalion who were trying to turn around.  They were encircled by Germans and Fuller ordered the equipment destroyed and he personally lead a small force to a nearby hill where they dug in. That night he ordered them to break into small groups and escape on their own.  Fuller and a few men, Lt Wight among them went about a mile and them stumbled into a German assembly area. One of the men panicked and started shouting "Camerade". Fuller and the remainder tried to run, but he was knocked out and when he came to he had a flesh wound from a bayonet in his stomach. Once they found out who he was they sent him back to the 2nd Panzer Division Headquarters at Bockholtz”.  A detailed account of COL. Fuller’s capture can be found on page 286 of McDonalds book, “A Time for Trumpets”    

**  COL. Fullers actual report of the battle can be seen from The Battle... tab on this site.  This is a document written by COL. Fuller on the events that unfolded during 16-18 December 1944 in addition to detailing his  capture.

After the Capture

COL. Fuller wrote a letter on 22-Feb-45 to the Commanding General, 28th Infantry Division regarding his capture and the events surrounding his capture, imprisonment and release.  At the time he wrote it, he had not been repatriated but was the self appointed commander of a group of Allied POW’s encamped at Wugarten, Germany behind the Russian lines.  This letter was printed in the 28th Infantry History.  Interestingly, there were two versions written.  The first was a draft and then there is the final copy with slight modifications.  Both are presented in this document as scans.  

The draft version made reference to certain individuals abandoning COL. Fuller at some point during the battle.  Also noted in COL. Fullers letter is the date of 03-Apr-45.  On this date, COL. Fuller mailed the letter and this was also the day after he landed in Italy from his time in the POW camp.  The Dwight D. Eisenhower Library, Abilene, KS, has provided this document with the assistance of Sgt Joseph Lister.   The draft version scans can be viewed from the Documents tab on this site.

The final version removed the abandonment references.  Mr. Hickok and Mr. Forgy provided this document.   The final version scans can be viewed from the Documents tab on this site.

The last document scan in the series is an Awards and Decorations roster of the 110th Infantry Regiment.  Here, you will note COL. Fuller received the Silver Star “For gallantry in action against the enemy  Luxembourg 17 Dec 44”   Again, this scan may be viewed from the Documents tab on this site.

Also included within these drafts and final versions are the recommendation for War Department Citations. 

Jack Forgy provided the following information:

“It seems that the Germans moved Fuller and a number of his officers to a POW camp Northeast of Posen, in Poland. Six days later the Russians broke thru and the Germans marched the POW's west about 75 miles until they reached Wugarten, Germany where the guards abandoned them. Fuller took command, captured some weapons from the German villagers and waited for the Russians.  The Russians came, put him in command of the camp and told him they would be evacuated thru Moscow.”

This may be where the story about the German uniforms came from. All the captured Americans had were the uniforms they were captured in. One account says the Germans gave them some old French Uniforms to wear.  I'm sure there is more to this story, but I don't know what happened from there”.

After research and contact with Pat Wadley with the AX-POW Research Center, who provided information that in all probability, COL. Fuller was not reprimanded if in fact he did wear the uniform of the enemy to escape.  From all their research in this specific area, they have determined there is an Authorized and Non-Authorized use of enemy uniforms.  If Fuller wore the uniform of the German Army, it would have technically been Non-Authorized however military doctrine dictates that “…escape is to be effected at all costs in any manner…”  So, it would have been OK to wear the uniform to make the escape.  They also provided information that on a routine basis, MISX provided the POWs with materials to create German Army uniforms, including dye, material and metals for medals as well as materials for forging documents.  German buttons and insignia were also smuggled into the POW camps to assist with creating German uniforms to effect an escape.   

In addition, Oflags were the camps where officers were kept, they were generally segregated by the Luftwaffe and the Wehrmacht.  The Gestapo and SS isolated everyone.  The SS and Gestapo generally ran concentration camps.  There were many US POWs incarcerated in concentration camps.  They were all usually Jewish.  Not all Jewish POWs were in concentration camps.  Sometimes they were "hidden" by the German commandants or officers who discovered they were Jewish.  As one German Major told Pete Neft, "We are not all animals."  Pete was Jewish and when he had to fill out the questionnaire the officer noted that he hesitated at the question of religion.  He understood and told him not to worry about it.

The research center also sent out several queries to people who were in the camps and none of them knew Col. Fuller, or remembered him.  Most of the US POWs were taken during and after the Battle of the Bulge.  Prior to that most of the POWs were either Army Air Corps or were taken in Africa.  Those gentlemen were generally incarcerated in Italy or were transported to various camps in Eastern Germany and then Poland, or straight to Poland.

The research center also contacted the British POW organization, sometimes Allied officers were together.  That didn't pan out nor did the Canadian POW organization have anything on Col. Fuller.  I went through most of my microfilm and that too, proved to be less than helpful.  Do you have any idea how fortunate Col. Fuller was not to be taken back to the USSR?   Do you know how many men were with him in the last camp?" 

Furthermore, Mr. Dabney may have been a bit confused as to COL. Fuller wearing the uniform of the German Army v.s. stealing guns and equipment of the German Army.  In either case, COL. Fuller did not escape from the Germans, he was liberated by the Germans deserting their post as the Russian advance was quickly approaching and apparently, Fullers career did not suffer as a result of his capture and liberation. 

Additional clarification indicates that Mr. Dabney may have equated COL. Fullers ‘escape’ from the Hotel Clervaux while the Germans were coming in the first floor and COL. Fuller out the window on the ‘cold steel ladder’.  This may have been the ‘escape’ COL. Fuller spoke of to Mr. Dabney.   

The following was provided by Mr. Jack Forgy, 30-Mar-01 and solves the mystery... “I've solved the mystery of Hurley Fuller and the German Uniform. On the last page of John Toland's book on the Battle of the Bulge he relates that when Hurley Fuller was imprisoned with the Italian Generals, the Russians were fast approaching. Fuller talked a friendly German Guard, Paul Hegel, into turning the camp over to him along with the weapons. Fuller then assumed command of the camp.

When the Russians came, he dressed HEGEL in an AMERICAN uniform in return for his assistance, and took him with him when he was repatriated to Italy. Upon being discovered, Fuller was investigated by the Army Inspector General for consorting with and giving comfort to the enemy, but when they found out that
Hegel was instrumental in saving many Allied lives, they exonerated Fuller”.


Medals/Commendations

Mr. Jack Forgy has provided the following.  There were probably foreign decorations however these have not been researched at this time.  According to the Official US Army Register of 1950, Hurley Fuller earned the following medals during his service: 

bulletCombat Infantryman’s Badge
bulletSilver Star
bulletDistinguished Service Medal for Meritorious Service
bulletBronze Star for meritorious service by virtue of award of the Combat
bulletInfantryman's Badge
bulletPurple Heart (2 awards)
bulletCommendation Medal ( 4 Awards)
bulletEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Arrowhead for D-Day Invasion and 5 Campaign Stars
bulletAmerican Defense Medal
bulletAmerican Campaign Medal
bulletWWI Victory Medal with Muese Argonne Campaign Clasp
bulletWWII Victory Medal
bulletArmy of Occupation Medal

He was promoted to COL. on 26 Jan 42 according to Mr. Jack Forgy.

Korea

The only reference noted regarding COL. Fullers service in Korea was provided by Mr. Hickok.  The document was obtained from the magazine Military of March 1996.  It is believed COL. Fuller was still on active duty in 1950 and maybe longer. 

Please refer to the scan located on the Documents tab for this document on the segment of Col Fuller’s Korea activity.

Post-Military

Very little is known about COL. Fuller’s life after his capture on 12/18/1944.  Mr. Gus Hickok recalls hearing COL. Fuller was very successful in the oil business after he retired from military service which has not been confirmed.  

Summary/Conclusion

By all accounts, COL. Hurley E. Fuller led a full and interesting life in the military.  Through this research for Mr. Dabney, it has been learned that COL. Fuller was in WWI as a Captain.  Then, in WWII he fought in many campaigns including the Battle of the Bulge where he was captured on 18-Dec-44.  After spending time in a POW camp in Germany, he was liberated and returned to US service 02-Apr-45.  COL. Fuller also received many decorations for his military achievements.  

We know he was married and divorced with one child, Hurley Jr.  We also know he remarried at a later date.  From records and visits, we have determined when he died and where he is buried in addition to his family members. 

All in all, it appears Mr. Dabney’s recollections about his childhood friend Hurley Fuller were close to the mark… 

I hope this research has provided insight to COL. Fuller’s life and military exploits within a certain time frame.  I believe it presents a solid representation of fact and provides readers with information about COL. Fuller.  I also believe there are many areas which can be expanded and would hope this provides a strong basis for others to continue their research.

I cannot thank enough the following people who have provided a significant amount of information for this effort.  They include: 

bulletMs. Betty Burney
bulletMr. Gary Schrekengost
bulletMr. Charles Oellig
bulletMr. Robert Phillips
bulletMr. Jerry Alexis
bulletMr. Jack Forgy
bulletMr. Gus Hickok
bulletSgt. Joseph Lister
bulletPat Wadley

Overall, this was a fun project and I welcome any and all comments or suggestions.  If you wish to communicate with one another, Appendix E - “Information Sources” and Appendix I – “Distribution” provides contact information for those who have contributed.  I will consider my research completed for my good friend Mr. Virgil Dabney, close childhood friend of COL. Hurley E. Fuller.

~scott

Recommended continued reading list:  

“Gentlemen From Hell” by Charles Chattaway  
“To Save Bastogne”
by Robert F. Phillips  
“A Time for Trumpets”
by McDonald  

 

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