Iowa
Old Press
Globe-Gazette (Mason City, Iowa) December 17, 1945
STOOD GUARD AT JAP SURRENDER.
Garner Seaman Served on Douglas Transport.
Garner—Kenneth Bell, seaman 1/c of the navy received his discharge on Nov. 21, at Minneapolis. He was inducted Jan. 31, 1944, and served overseas 18 ½ months as an orderly on a Douglas Aircraft transport.
He flew all over the southwest Pacific carrying supplies and bringing back wounded men. Bell’s plane made 26 flights out of Okinawa, Iwo Jima and Saipan during the height of those battles and was the first navy plane to land in Japan, landing at Tokyo.
Seaman Bell stood guard on the gang plank at Manila when Japanese officers were sent to get MacArthur’s orders for surrender.
Among decorations he received were the Asiatic-Pacific theater ribbon, Philippine ribbon and 3 battle stars. His wife and 2 children lived here while he was in service and the family plan to remain in Garner.
St. Ansgar Sea Fighter Promoted to Captain.
St. Ansgar—Lt. Wayne Jensen, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Jensen, has been promoted to captain of a LST, which has a crew of 106 men.
He left the States June 20, 1945, and was stationed at Okinawa 4 months. His boat made 2 trips to Tokyo Bay and he is at present stationed at Saipan.
Lt. Jensen has been in the service 38 months, in the Pacific, also the European areas.
HOME FROM NAVY.
Burt—Glee Bullock arrived home after receiving his discharge from the navy at Minneapolis. He served 2 years and 4 months in both the Atlantic and Pacific. Before entering the navy, he operated a café here, which he plans to reopen soon.
Runs $9,000 Bulldozer on Pacific Isle.
Garner – Eugene Henry Woilwood, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Woiwood of Garner, sends his parents a picture of the $9,000 tractor which he is operating for the U.S. forces who are cleaning up the war devastation at Samr and other islands in the Philippine group in the Leyte area. He is a 2nd class petty officer.
When the war started he knew absolutely nothing about operating a “bulldozer,” but the picture shows him running the 9-yard outfit like a veteran. He took a course in its operation after entering the service.
Officer Woiwood has been in the service 39 months and from the tone of his recent letter he may even now be on his way back to the States.
PHOTOS INCLUDED
SAILORS RETURN HOME – Loyal and Elton Kobernusz, sons of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Kobernusz of Manly, have been discharged after faithful service in the navy.
Loyal Kobernusz, seaman 1/c, served on the cruiser USS Lunga Point which took part in campaigns on Leyte, Luzon, Okinawa and Iwo Jima. It was the first carrier to enter the inland sea of Japan. Loyal wears 4 battle stars.
Elton Kobernusz, M.M. 1/c served 32 ½ months aboard the USS Winsooki, fleet oiler, and was in the Atlantic area 19 months and in the Pacific area 13 months.
Both boys have a fist full of service ribbons and medals.
[transcribed by LZ, May 2021]