Iowa Old Press
Dubuque Telegraph Herald, April 26, 1945, pg. 15, col. 3
ALVIN N. HAIAR OKINAWA VICTIM
Bellevue Farmer Killed in Action on April 6
Bellevue, Ia. - Special: Pfc. Alvin H. Haiar, 25, father of two children, was killed in action on Okinawa on April 6, according to a war department message to his wife, Mrs. Viola Haiar. There were no details in the brief official notification.
Pfc. Haiar was born July 17, 1919, a son of Henry and the late Mary Ambrosy Haiar, in Lamotte, Ia. He was married to Viola Flammang on Sept. 30, 1941, and was the father of two children, Carol Ann, 2, and Gerald Alvin, seven months old.
He operated a farm when he was inducted into service in October, 1942, and took his basic training at Camp Adair, Ore. He went overseas in July, 1944.
He is survived by his wife and children; his father; and four sisters, Mrs. George (Laurina) Ludwig, Lamotte, Ia., and Mrs. Lester (Ottilia) Yaeger, Mrs. Walter (Virginia) Weis, and Mrs. Elroy (Viola) Yeager, all of Bellevue. He was preceded in death by his mother.
3 FREED FROM NAZI PRISONS
More Glad News Comes to Dubuqueland Families
More good news has been received by Dubuqueland families, for it was reported Thursday that three servicemen, Pfc. Ralph J. Schetgen and Pfc. William Weber, of Dubuque, and Pvt. William Schilling, East Dubuque, all of whom were German prisoners, are once again under allied military control.
Pfc. Schetgen, whose wife, Ethel, and four children live at 381 Southern avenue, was released by victorious American forces from Stalag 9-B at Bad Orb, Germany, where he was confined since last December.
The news of her husband's liberation was received by Mrs. Schetgen in a war department telegram. Pfc. Schetgen entered the service Jan. 13, 1944, trained at Camp Wolters, Tex., and was sent overseas last October.
He has two brothers and a sister in the service. They are Pfc. Clarence, in the south Pacific; Pfc. Donald, stationed in Germany; and Seaman 2-c Marjorie, of the WAVES, in Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Matilda Weber, 1103 ½ Iowa street, learned in March that her son, Pfc. William Weber, who had been listed as missing since last December, had been captured by the Nazis. She received a war department telegram and a letter from the soldier Thursday telling of his liberation.
“I am now in the 195th general hospital in France, and it certainly feels good to be in American hands again,” he wrote. “The Yanks freed us April 2, and although I can promise nothing, I think I'll be home soon.”
Pfc. Weber also told his mother he was completely happy after his release, and he made himself feel even better by “having a good cry”.
He has been wounded in action twice. Last July 26 he was injured in France, and was hurt again last October. Pfc. Weber was with Patton's Third army when he was lost.
Pvt. Schilling, who was also reported missing since last December and placed on the list of captured in March, was liberated recently from a Nazi prison camp, according to word received by his wife, of East Dubuque.
The soldier, who managed the Schilling Hardware store in East Dubuque before entering the service, is the father of an infant daughter, Linda, and his mother, Mrs. F.J. Schilling is also a resident of that city.
Wesley Keil Freed
Andrew, Ia. - Special: Pvt. Wesley Keil was liberated from a prison camp in Germany, according to a cablegram from him to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Keil, of three miles north of Andrew.
“Liberated and quite okay. Will be seeing you soon,” was all the information contained in the message.
Pvt. Keil was taken prisoner on Nov. 26, after which he was reported as missing in action, and it was not until March 19 that his parents were notified he was a prisoner.
He entered the army on April 26, 1944, and was sent overseas the following September. He served with the 84th division in Holland.
Tri-Staters in Service
Marquette, Ia. - Special: Martin C. McDonald, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. William McDonald, Marquette, has been commissioned an ensign, and will serve in the navy's air forces. He has completed his intermediate training at Pensacola, Fla., and is now taking advanced training at Bronson Field there. Ensign McDonald enlisted in the navy in December, 1942 and was called to service August 4, 1943. He is a graduate of the McGregor high school and attended the University of Iowa two years.
ANDREW
Andrew, Ia. - Special – S. Sgt. Wayne Moeller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Moeller, has been awarded the combat infantryman's badge. He is on the Seventh army front in France
PROTIVIN
Protivin, Ia. - Special: Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Polashek have been informed their son, Gerald, is in the marines, and is stationed at Paris Island, S.C. His brother Robert, electrician's mate 2-c, is on duty in the Pacific. Lester Houdek is home on leave after finishing a radio course at Farragut, Idaho.
TWO TRI-STATE MEN LIBERATED
Classmate First to Greet Shullsburg Soldier
Shullsburg, Wis. - Special – Corp. John C. Hebenstreit was liberated from a German prison camp by the advancing allied armies on March 30, and one of the men to aid in his liberation, and to be among the first to greet him, was a high school classmate, Pfc. Melvin Cherry, according to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Hebenstreit. The letter was written on April 1, and received in Shullsburg this week.
The allied force took the prison camp, Stalag 9-B, at Bad Orb, in southern Germany, at about noon of March 30, Good Friday, the letter said.
Hebenstreit said he lost very much weight and had “gone through plenty of hell, but I am all right and expect to be home soon.”
The former German prisoner was reported missing in action on Dec. 16 and was reported as being a prisoner on Feb. 23.
He and Cherry entered the army together, and both were with the 106th division, which was struck first by the Germans in their December counterattack.
[transcribed by J.B., Feb 2022]