Iowa Old Press
LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, Dec. 10, 1943
BOB BURNS DIES FROM WOUNDS IN ARMY HOSPITAL
Was Wounded In Italian Fighting On November 4
Mr. and Mrs. James Burns of LeMars were notified Thursday of the death of their son, First Sergeant Robert J. Burns, who had previously been reported seriously injured in action in Italy. The message from the adjutant general’s office in Washington said:
“The Secretary of War desires that I tender his deep sympathy to you in the loss of your son, First Sergeant Robert J. Burns. Report received states that he died on November 6, in the north African area as results of wounds received in action. Letter follows.”
Bob was a member of Co. K., Iowa National Guard, when that unite was inducted into service in February 1941, and trained with the 34th Division at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. He went with them to Camp Dix, New Jersey, thence overseas to Ireland, England and finally to North Africa where he participated in the heavy fighting in which a number of Co. K. boys were killed or wounded. On September 21 they moved into Italy to reinforce General Clark’s Army and November 26 Mr. and Mrs. Burns were notified that he had been seriously wounded in action November 4. This latest message indicates he died two days later. Bob has served with Co. K. throughout almost three years in the Army and was made First Sergeant of the company after Sergeant Robert Vanderwal was killed in the African fighting. He was a good soldier and was popular in the company as he had been when clerking in the Schneider-Bowers store.
Robert J. Burns was born July 28, 1917, in Oyens, and attended LeMars high school, graduating in 1936. He was active in both basketball and football and well liked by his fellow students.
He is survived by his parents and two sisters, Mrs. F. L. Sharp of Carroll, and Mrs. C. L. Peterson, East Lansing, Michigan. He was a member of St. James church.
Car Salesman Taken By Death
Ray Kaiser Succumbs To Long Illness.
Ray Kaiser, 46, real estate and car dealer, died Tuesday night, December 7, at his home at 135 Third Avenue N.W. after a long illness. Mr. Kaiser was a life long resident of Plymouth county and was born at Remsen December 16, 1897, where he grew up and was educated. Before coming to LeMars, he engaged in business in Remsen and Oyens.
He is survived by his mother, Mrs. John Kaiser, and his sister, Mrs. Jos. Strohbeen of Santa Cruz, California. His father, John P. Kaiser, who died seven years ago, conducted a general store at Oyens and was postmaster there for several years.
The funeral will be held at 9 o’clock Saturday morning in St. James church with Rev. B. Bauer officiating, and interment will be made in St. Mary’s cemetery in Remsen.
Wiltgen’s Funeral Home of LeMars is in charge of arrangements. The body will be at Wiltgen Funeral Home until Friday night when it will be conveyed to the home of his mother.
LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, December 14, 1943
FINAL TRIBUTE TO YOUNG SOLDIER
Honor Memory of Sgt. Robert J. Burns
Memorial services were held Monday morning at St. James church for Sergeant Robert J. Burns, who died from wounds November 6, while in action in Italy with the Army. Requiem high mass was celebrated with Rev. H. B. Karhoff of Oyens, Rev. A. Friedman of Remsen, Rev. H. Weimer of Bancroft and Rev. L. J. Cooper of St. James church officiating.
Military honors were accorded the young soldier. Members of Company D., Iowa State Guard and Wasmer Post, American Legion, being in attendance. Color bearers were: Floyd Freeman, Frank Varenhorst, Harry Feller, Will McDougall, Jas. Carey, and Martin Wanderscheid. Relatives from out of town present at the service were Miss Avis Schully of New Orleans, Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Petersen of Lansing, Mich., Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Sharp of Carroll, Iowa.
LeMars Globe-Post, December 20, 1943
WAVE Mildred Hamilton Reports Big Demand For G-P
Navy Finds It’s Excellent To Prevent Tracking On Decks
(Letter from Mildred Hamilton, a Navy WAVE)
To the Globe-Post: I want to thank you for your service to the boys and girls in the Service. All of us in general and I in particular, appreciate getting the home town news.
You might not appreciate this particular idea, but my 49 bunkmates do—we have what we call captain’s inspection every Saturday at noon. Everything must be shipshape and when we have to walk on the deck we do have some trouble keeping it trackless. The handiest thing to grab is newspaper, spread it on the deck and prevent tracking. Newspapers being scarce hereabouts, we hoard every one we get ahold of—consequently after the hometown paper is read and reread, it serves as a doormat for Uncle Sam’s Navy WAVES. O.K. uh?
The author of the verse on the back of this sheet is unknown. I thought you might like to read it. It was printed and passed around here at school to keep us from feeling sorry for ourselves if we didn’t get liberty at the holidays.
As you’ve probably noticed by the address, I’m stationed at a school where we’re taught to repair flight instruments. There are many kinds of them, but altimeters, magnetic compasses, and air-speed indicators are the most familiar to layman.
Well, end of the sheet, end of letter. Sincerely, Mildred Hamilton S2/c
A WAVE’S CHRISTMAS
The radio’s just been playing
That “Dream of a White Christmas” tune
And lovely and all as the melody is
For my part, I’d just as soon
Not listen to it if I were a lad
Far off on some tropic shore
Who yearned for the snowy Christmas eves
He knew in the days of yore.
I think were I one of those boys out there
And that tune came tender and low
“And the treetops glisten and children listen
To hear the sleigh bells in the snow.”
It would do things to me that should never be done,
To any brave soldier lad.
And I harbor the fear that a tear would be near
At that lyric so poignantly sad.
Picture a boy in some desolate spot
Who hears with the fading light
“May your days be merry and bright
And all your Christmases be white.”
I can’t say just why, but it seems to me
I’d forget all the valor part,
And, remembering Christmas eves back home
That music would break my heart!
LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
December 28, 1943
NEWS OF SERVICE MEN.
A/S Burton Dull returned to Huron college, Huron, S.D., Sunday afternoon after spending Christmas Day with his family. Burt is in the Army Aircorps and is taking part of his training at the Huron college.
Pfc. Richard P. Pfaltzgraff, who is attending the radio air school at Sioux Falls, spent Christmas Day in the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Miller.
Pvt. Vernon Ewin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ewin spent the Christmas holidays here. He arrived last Thursday and left Sunday night. He is in the 311th Infantry at Camp Butner, North Carolina.
Wayne Begg, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Begg, spent Friday and Christmas Day here. He is in Naval training at St. Ambrose College, in Davenport.
Mark Meis, of Purdue University, LaFayette, Indiana, spent Christmas Day in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. F. Meis. Mark is in the V-12 program, taking officer’s training.
Ensign Richard Keough is spending a holiday furlough in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Vern Keough. He has been taking his training in Chicago, but will be transferred to the East Coast. He leaves January 1.
Sgt. Nicholas Coad spent Christmas Day in his home here. He is stationed at Camp Phillips, Kansas.
Sgt. Herman Olimann, who is stationed at Salt Lake City, Utah, formerly of Brunsville, is spending a furlough with his wife of Sioux City and relatives in Brunsville and LeMars.
Private First Class Arnold Klemme has returned to Newport News, Va., after spending a furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Klemme near Akron.
Mr. and Mrs. John Milbrodt of Akron have received word from Pvt. First Class Donald Milbrodt that he is now somewhere in Australia.
Aviation Cadet Lester A. Tapper, son of Mrs. Lillian A. Tapper, east of Akron, graduated from the 16th Army air forces flying training detachment, Wickenburg, Arizona, December 5, 1943, and will be sent to a basic flying school to continue his training. Cadet Tapper attended LeMars high school and entered flying training October 2, 1943.
MRS. DANIEL DAY TAKEN BY DEATH
Mrs. Daniel Day, 73, a resident of Sioux City 36 years, died Friday afternoon following an illness of two weeks.
Born in Hagersville, Ontario, Can., March 3, 1870, she lived there until moving in 1891 to Ponca, Neb. She was married to Daniel Day September 15, 1898 at LeMars, and resided at Ponca until 1900 when they moved to Waterbury, Neb. They came to Sioux City in 1907.
Mrs. Day was a member of Grace Methodist church.
Surviving are the widower, Daniel; three sons, Herbert, Albert and Daniel, all of Portland, Ore.; four daughters, Mrs. Elizabeth Cowen, of Milwaukee, Wis.; Mrs. Marguerite Lamche of Climbing Hill, Mrs. Ruth Andrews of Correctionville and Lucile Switzer of Sioux City; 18 grandchildren and two half-sisters: Miss Jennie Hall, Hagersville, and Mrs. Mary Preston, of Port Dover, Canada.
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Research Note by Transcriber:
Per the son Daniel Day marriage record in October 1924, his parents were: Father, Daniel Day; Mother, Sarah Hall Day.
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Guests in the O. F. Lee home for Christmas were, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Nicholson, R. C. Bartels, and Dorothy Lee, who is spending her Christmas vacation here. Dorothy is a student at Iowa State Teachers college at Cedar Falls.
PRIVATE R. FORD KILLED IN ACTION
Was Brother of Mrs. Will Zimmer
Mrs. W. J. Zimmer was notified Thursday that he brother, Pfc. Donald R. Ford, was killed in action, somewhere in the South Pacific area. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. O. E. Ford of Clear Lake Iowa, and joined the Marines in March 1942. He was 28 years of age.
Pfc. Ford fought at Guadalcanal and Tulagi and relatives believe he was killed while the marines were taking the Gilbert Islands.
Mrs. Zimmer last heard from her only brother in a letter which arrived here November 16, stating that he was “at sea.”
The only survivors are the young man’s parents and his sister, Mrs. Zimmer.
Edward Leafstedt Stock Farmer Taken By Death
Edward Leafstedt, 76, of Alcester, S.D., stockman and farmer, died Thursday night in a Sioux City hospital. He was well known in Hawarden and Akron. When 21 years of age he located with his parents on a farm near Hawarden, after their arrival from Sweden. He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters and five grandsons. The funeral was held Monday at Big Spring Baptist church.
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Emma Hentges, a teacher in the Hibbing, Minn. public school is spending the Christmas holidays at her home.