Iowa Old Press
Kossuth County Advance
Algona, Kossuth co. Iowa
December 9, 1941
DOZENS HERE IN JAP ATTACK AREA - R. B.
WALLER ENLISTS FOR WAR SERVICE
Whittemore Boy May Have Been on Sunk Battleship.
Outbreak of war between the United States and Japan had
repercussions in Algona, affecting the entire populace with a
solemn feeling, tinged perhaps with relief that the issue is now
decided once and for all.
The first volunteer at the Kossuth draft office as the result of
the Japanese wanton attack on Pacific possessions of the U. S.
was R. B. Waller, co-publisher, of the Upper Des Moines.
Waller, who is married and has had a class 3-A rating, waived
that deferment right and signed up to go in the first contingent
in the next draft call. He was given a physical examination
yesterday and passed. His brother is in a coast guard artillery
unit in California.
DRAFT CALLS TRIPPLED.
The draft office has had no notice of any change in
procedure as yet, but the radio yesterday stated that
Minnesota’s draft call for January had been tripled over the
original estimate. This will probably also be true for Iowa.
In response to radio order asking all men on leave from camps in
the Northwest and in California, a man on leave from a Washington
camp reported to the draft office yesterday. There was also a
Virginia registrant who appeared, seeking to enlist in the
regular army, and he was advised to go to Fort Dodge or Mason
City where regular recruiting offices are open 24 hours a day.
RESERVE MEN ANXIOUS.
In the meantime a number of draftees, released by the
law deferring men over 28, were awaiting a call to return to
service. The deferment law became inoperative immediately on the
declaration of war as made yesterday noon by Congress. This
provision was contained in the law itself.
Relatives of people in the Pacific territory were unable to get
any information other than from the radio. Among those affected
are the C. B. Murtaghs and Mrs. A. L. Peterson. The latter’s
son, Mel H., was recently promoted to lieutenant-commander in the
Navy and is stationed at Honolulu, where his wife, the former Ann
Murtagh, maintains their home only two blocks form an area
reported heavily bombed.
SIX IN ATTACK AREA.
In the thick of the battle at Pearl Harbor was William
Turner, son of Mrs. Jessie Turner. Harold Felter, formerly of
Irvington, is in the air corps at a field bombed there. Robert J.
Ditsworth is on the Portland, a ship stationed at Pearl
Harbor.
Thomas Wagner, St. Joe, has been stationed on the West
Virginia battleship reported sunk in the first attack at
Pearl Harbor. On the California there is Ferdinand
Koppen and Arnold Becker, both of Lakota, and this ship was also
recently stationed at Pearl Harbor.
Edward Klein, St. Joe, is reported a member of the crew of the Oklahoma
battleship reported set afire by Japanese bombs and possibly
lost.
KOSSUTH SITS TIGHT.
Fred E. Kent, Chairman of the Kossuth Civilian Defense
Council, yesterday afternoon said there is nothing to be done at
present in that field. He received a letter which confined
activity for the present to the coastal areas. For rural areas
the policy now is to sit tight and keep ready to go into action
when called.
C. U. Pollard, city superintendent, is complying with a request
that light and water plants be protected, and a watchman at least
will be on hand at the new or old light plants, depending upon
whether in operation or not. However, it is not anticipated there
could be any trouble here.
Algonians seemed to be filled with resentment against the way the
attack was made while envoys still mouthed peace platitudes and
the Japanese army and navy got set to deliver the blow. Opinion
favors a complete eradication of any possibility that Japan will
ever rise from beating she should get.
[transcribed by L.Z., March 2015]