Geneva, N.Y.: The Geneva Historical Society’s Fall 2013 Lecture Series will focus on Genevans’ military experience. We kick off the series in conjunction with Geneva Night Out on Friday, September 6, with Victor “Tory” Failmezger who will bring us “An American Knight, A Tank Destroyer Story.” Based on his book of the same name, Commander Failmezger’s presentation will explore his uncle Lieutenant Thomas Peter Welch’s experience with the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion during World War II. The story follows the Battalion from stateside training to campaigns in North Africa, Italy, France and ultimately Germany. Commander Failmezger researched some of the book at the Geneva Historical Society’s Archive, using local sources, along with more than 150 letters Lieutenant Welch sent from the front, and the unpublished memoirs and diaries of the men who were there with him.
Commander Failmezger is a retired U.S. Navy officer with 22 years of active service. He has eight personal decorations and served aboard aircraft carriers and other ships. He was stationed in Italy, Germany, Japan and the Philippines. Highlights of his career included participating in the evacuation of Saigon; serving as aide to the Director of Naval Intelligence; acting as the assistant Naval Attaché in Rome, Italy; serving as the Naval Officer charged with making visits to East Berlin during the Cold War; and working as a Director of bomb damage assessment for the Defense Intelligence Agency during the first Gulf War. He currently resides outside of Front Royal, Virginia.
The book An American Knight, A Tank Destroyer Story contains period maps and hundreds of illustrations, many from private collections and never before published. Following his lecture, Commander Failmezger will sign copies of the book. The volume will be on sale for $29.95, with $5 of the price going to support the Geneva Historical Society.
This lecture is supported in part by the Samuel B. Williams fund for programs in the Humanities. Parking is on the street or in the Trinity Episcopal Church lot across the street. The Geneva History Museum is located in the Prouty-Chew House at 543 South Main Street. For more information about the program, call the Society office at 315-789-5151.
The Geneva Historical Society receives major funding from the New York State Council on the Arts and the Town and City of Geneva.
