The LeMars Sentinel, October 10, 1943
Mrs. Lester Witt accompanied her husband, C.C. Std. Lester Witt, on his return to duty with the navy at New York City. Gus Witt, his father, is visiting in Hastings, Nebraska.
The LeMars Globe-Post
Monday, October 11, 1943
BETTY DOWNING MARRIED FRIDAY.
United to Cpl. Carl W. Ahrendt at Hildreth Memorial Church
Miss Betty Downing, daughter of Mrs. Frieda Downing and Cpl. Carl W. Ahrendt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl J. Ahrendt, were united in marriage at 10 o’clock Friday morning, October 8, at the Hildreth Memorial church, with Rev. G. O. Thompson officiating.
Miss Dorothy Downing, sister of the bride, and Vernon Klemme, a friend of the groom, attended the couple.
Both the bride and bride’s maid were attired in navy blue suits with red accessories, which included corsages of red rosebuds.
The bride was born and raised in this community, graduating from LeMars high school in 1941. The groom has been in the army air corps for the last year and a half.
The young couple plan to live in Sioux City where the groom is stationed at the army air base.
The LeMars Globe-Post
Thursday, October 14, 1943
Mrs. Lena Ruba Learns Son At Another Jap Prison Camp
He’s On Island of Kyushu Off the Coast of Korea.
Mrs. Lena Ruba has received word from the U.S. War Department informing her that her son, Pfc. Mathias M. Ruba, who was captured by the Japanese after the battle of Corregidor, has been transferred from a prison camp in the Philippine Islands to a camp called Fukuoka, on the southern Jap island of Honshu, which lies across a narrow strait from the mainland peninsula of Chosen (Korea.)
The southern most large island of the Jap archipelago is Taiwan (Formosa) which really belongs to the Philippines group, and is mostly wilderness. Honshu, however, is well populated.
Mrs. Ruba was somewhat concerned by the news of the transfer because Math has been getting along fairly well in the Philippine camp, and was resigned to staying there until the war is over, and it was feared here that the transfer might be for the worse.
According to an article in the current American Legion, however, it would appear that the change should be for the better. In an article, “Johnny, Doughboy, Prisoner,” this magazine, after describing satisfactory prison camp conditions in Germany, says:
“It must be borne in mind, however, that all that has been said herein applies only to the German and Italian camps housing United Nations prisoners of war. The best that can be said for the Far East is that the prisoners in the camp near Shanghai, China, and those in camps near Tokyo are faring not too badly. What the conditions are in the Philippines is not known, for the Japs have refused representatives of the I.R.C.C. permission to visit them on the grounds of Japanese nation security.”
The camp from which Pfc. Ruba was moved was one of the uninspected Philippine island camps. The camp to which he has been removed is just about half-way between Shanghai and Tokyo.
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Mr. and Mrs. John Knecht and family and Mrs. Jim Knecht of Akron, and Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Warnock, of Hinton, Petty Officer 2/c Lloyd Peterson of Beesville Texas, and Melvin Botsford of LeMars were Sunday visitors at the Luvern Schulz home at Merrill.
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OSSON THAYER DIES.
Osson Thayer, 83, died Friday at his home in Elk Point, S.D. after a long illness. Funeral services were held Monday at Akron.
Mr. Thayer had farmed near Elk Point for years. He was married in 1889 to Miss Rose Rolfe.
Surviving are the widow and six daughters, Mrs. Grace Johnson and Mrs. Nina Groon, both of Akron; Mrs. Mary Tellinghusen, Stevens, S.D.; Mrs. Clarice Wilke, Mobridge, S.D.; and Mrs. Florence Wilson and Mrs. Dora Wilson, both of Williams, Wis. Six sons, Aero, of Bruce, S.D.; Austin of Los Angeles; Milan of Long Beach, Calif.; Frank of Westfield; and Theron and Len of Sioux City; 26 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren also survive.
PRISONER OF WAR BOB KOENIG
Existence Far From Unbearable, Writes U. S. Army Airman
(By the law of averages, it is probable that more boys from this community will be prisoners of war in Germany before the war is over. The families of those in the armed services who are subject to this danger, will no doubt derive considerable comfort out of the following first letter received by Mr. and Mrs. George W. Koenig, who was captured by the Germans when he was forced to bail out of a crippled bomber.)
“Dear Dad and Mother: By the time you have received this you will have learned from Jean that I am alive and safe. My greatest pain has been in the realization that throughout the time interval between being shot down and your first hearing from me, there has been that grim shadow of doubt. My story, and the stories of those here with me in prison camp, must remain more or less in the dark until I can return to you.
“Although we are more than a little lonesome for our freedom and all of the many pleasures it afforded, our existence here is far from unbearable. Thanks to the Red Cross (God bless em!) we receive good and sufficient food. We cook our own meals and are fast becoming very efficient little housekeepers.
“For pastime we have a variety of sports activities, card games, and other games and hobbies to occupy our time. We may receive all the mail you wish to send us. Contact the Red Cross in regard to cigarettes and packages. I sent Jean a list of some things I wanted. Our correspondence is limited, but I shall write you as often as possible.”
Almost in the same mail came a letter for Mrs. Koenig, informing her that the Air Medal, which has been awarded to Lieut. Koenig, will be presented to her, possibly at the Sioux City airbase in the near future. The letter is signed by Major General J. A. Ulio, the adjutant general.
(Continued on Page 8---unfortunately the rest of the news copy is in the far right column and the microfilm of that column is crimped, unreadable.)
[transcribed by LZ, Oct 2020]
The LeMars Globe-Post, Monday, October 25, 1943
Fightin’ K. Co. Mourns Two More Dead.
BOB KEMPKER AND BOB VANDERWAL ARE KILLED.
Kempker Was One of Five Boys From One Family in Armed Services.
[Microfilm crimped in the far left column, only partially readable]
The Kempkers had five sons in the service and though sadly with heart aching, Mrs. Kempker said calmly:
“My hopes are shattered now, it would be hard to expect all five of our boys to come back. They all wanted to enlist and fight for their country. Jack was only 17 years of age when he signed up with K. Co. He had to have our consent to join but he wanted to get his year training over with. No words were ever spoken truer than in that last letter when he said: “There isn’t much I can say, but you’ll probably read in the paper more than I’ll ever be able to write.”
From the words in the last letter where the young man said: “I had a boat ride and I have never been here before. Quite the place of attraction now” –the family gathers that he was somewhere in Italy. His death may have occurred at or near Naples, the family believes.
Mrs. Kempker revealed Saturday morning that it was her son, who gave his life, who wrote the famous “round-robin” letter to The Globe-Post, telling of the heroic fighting done by K company in North Africa. At the time the letter was printed, the family figured that Jack had something to do about it, but didn’t learn that it was he who had such praise for fighting K, until they received a letter from him later, acknowledging that the was the author.
(Jack Kempker’s letter was used as a text by Morse Hoorneman in his decoration day address at the city cemetery.)
The Kempkers have four other sons, three of whom are risking their lives every day in the service of their country.
Staff Sgt. Paul Kempker is a member of the Rainbow division at Camp Gruber, Okla.
Lieut. Robert Kempker is a bombardier on a B-17, Flying Fortress, somewhere in England. In a letter from him he said: “Have been on many raids over enemy territory, but can’t say how many.”
Lieut. Edward Kempker is a bombardier on a B-24, Liberator, and is also stationed somewhere in England.
Gerald “Gerry” Kempker has received his wings as a tail-gunner on a Liberator and is located in the Hawaiian Islands.
Jack Kempker was born at Carroll, Iowa, on August 14, 1922. The family moved to LeMars seven years ago where he was graduated from St. Joseph’s high school in 1939. He enlisted in K company when he was 17 years of age. Before entering the service he was employed at the Council Oak store.
He received his basic training with K company at Camp Claiborne, La. and when war broke out, was shipped to Camp Dix, N.J. Later the company was sent to Ireland and then took part in the invasion of Africa and Tunisian campaign.
Besides his parents, other four fighting brothers, he is survived by another brother, Jimmie and a sister, Mary living at home.
Jimmie, the youngest brother, is now 17 years of age and said that as soon as school was over he was going to enlist in the Service.
Vanderwal Had Premonition of Death, His Letters Indicate
The second LeMars mother to learn of her son’s death on foreign soil was Mrs. Mae Vanderwal, who received a telegram from the War Department Friday night, announcing that her son, First Sergeant Robert Vanderwal, was killed in the north African war theater.
The telegram was identical to the one received by the Kempker family, with the exception of the change of name. Both young men were also killed on the same day, October 2, 1943.
A letter received from her son on October 8, six days after he was killed, indicated that Sgt. Vanderwal had some doubts of ever coming home.
In previous letters he always referred to Bobby, jr., son of Mrs. Richard McInnis, his sister. Bobby jr’s father is also in the Army, stationed at the air corps at Lincoln, Neb. Bobby jr. will be ten months of age on November 5 and was born after Sgt. Vanderwal was sent across for action. In this letter to his mother, Sgt. Vanderwal used the word “if” I don’t get back…”
All his other letters home were more on the positive side, saying “when I get back I’m going to teach Bobby, jr., how to play baseball.”
His last letter, dated Sept. 22, 1943, follows:
“Dear Mother: Circumstances prevent me from writing for some time, but will try to get back in the groove again. How about Wally? [Wally is his brother, now serving in the Pacific war theater.] Have you heard from him yet? It should be about time for you to get some word from him, if he has gone to where I think he has.
“Our mail is being held up somewhere, as nobody is getting any to speak of, but it will catch up one of these days. I hope I can take a whole day just to read mail.
“How is Bobby, jr. getting along? You had better get that ball and bat. If I don’t get there to teach him, I still would like him to be a major leaguer.
“Well, Mother, until I hear from you.—Bye, bye. Love, Bobby.”
Sgt. Robert Vanderwal was born at Remsen, on March 5, 1917, and the family came to LeMars in 1930. He attended the LeMars high school and went through the 11th grade. He then quit school and went to work. He spent three years at Whiting, Iowa, in a CCC camp, where he received an honorable discharge to enter the service.
He was quite an athlete, playing baseball in the junior league and later a member of the town team.
When K company went to Claiborne for a year’s training, he went along as corporal. He was later transferred to Fort Dix and later to Ireland with K company. He also took part in the invasion of Africa, Tunsian campaign and probably the Italian invasion. It is presumed that he was killed in the advance on the Germans near Volturno river.
Sgt. Vanderwal is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nick Vanderwal; a brother, Pvt. Wallace Vanderwal, somewhere in the Pacific war theater, and a sister, Mrs. Richard McInnis. His father is picking corn at Mapleton, Ia.
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FUNERAL MASS ON WEDNESDAY FOR TWO WAR VICTIMS.
A requiem mass for Cpl. Jack Kempker and 1st Sgt. Robert J. Vanderwal will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic church on Wednesday morning at 9:30, with Msgr. J. D. Fisch officiating.
A catafalque, draped with an American Flag, will symbolize the coffins of the two soldiers, in solemn requiem services.
Service men home on furlough, American Legion, American Legion auxiliary and members of D. company, Iowa state guard will attend the services.
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CY GROETKEN IS REPORTED SERIOUSLY WOUNDED IN AFRICA.
News continues to filter in from the African war theater, which now includes the fighting in Italy, accenting the warning of General Eisenhower that the road to Rome will be bloody and bitter.
With two deaths already reported in today’s paper, another soldier listed as missing, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Groetken, 500 Second Ave. S.E. were notified Sunday that their son, Cyril Groetken, has been seriously wounded in the African campaign.
The telegram merely mentions that he was seriously wounded and was being treated in a North African hospital. The telegram said that details would follow later.
Henry Groetken, father of the soldier, works in Sioux City, and his mother is doing practical nursing at Merrill, and neither one could be reached by The Globe-Post. The news of the young man being wounded was confirmed by G. H. Groetken, 18 Fourth Ave. S.E., a brother of Mr. Groetken.
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Kingsley Girl Tells Of Cold Nights On Duty In Sunny Italy.
Storm Blew Down Tents While She Was On Nursing Duty.
The following letter was received by Mr. and Mrs. D. F. Walden of Kingsley, from their daughter, Lieut. Bernice Walden, somewhere in Italy. She is a nurse in the armed forces and the letter which appeared in the
Kingsley News-Times, follows:
Dear Mother:
How about some heat? It’s cold again, but I am on nights. Yes, and it rained. We had all our tents full of patients, and we had a storm. The tents blew down and the ones that stayed up had holes in them. Of course our tent went down. Everything got wet and it was terrible but I had a lot of fun the first time in a tent in a storm. We had to hold on the sides to keep it up. The patients were very nice. They all moved to other tents and went to bed. We had a mess as far as finding where they belonged and giving medicine. One is enough. I don’t care for any more.
You said in one letter you were going to get some slacks. I hope they are on the way by now. I can really use them, with all the things we lost. Love Bernice.
Lieut. Bernice Walden
In Italy.
(The reference made by Lieut. Walden to needing clothing, refers back to a former letter in which she told her parents she was a passenger on the hospital ship which was torpedoed and sunk in the Mediterranean on Sept. 13. All patients were saved but thirteen doctors lost their lives. Everyone on board lost everything they had. Nearly all the nurses went into the ocean without a stitch of clothing. Bernice said she went overboard with only her wristwatch on, but an American sailor gave her a pair of pants and an English sailor a shirt, after being picked up by a rescue ship.)
MRS. MIKE BURG DIES AT ST. PAUL.
Wife of Pioneer LeMars Business Man Succumbs
At Advance Age.
Mrs. Elizabeth Burg passed away Friday morning at St. Josesph’s hospital at St. Paul, Minn., due to sickness incident to advanced age.
Funeral services were conducted in LeMars from St. Joseph church and burial was in St. Joseph cemetery, with Msgr. J. D. Fisch officiating. Her body was laid to rest beside that of her husband, a pioneer LeMars business man.
Elizabeth Burg was born in the grand duchy of Luxemburg in the year 1860, and came to this country as a child with her parents, and was 83 years old at the time of her death.
The family settled in Chicago. After the Chicago Fire, she came to LeMars and made her home here until about 18 years ago, when she moved to St. Paul to be with her children, who settled there.
Mrs. Burg is survived by 6 sons; Gregory N., Leo J., Frank J., Alfred D., of the Twin Cities; George P., Frank J. and Alex J., of Los Angeles; and two daughters, Celeste, and Mrs. Joseph Gehlen, of St. Paul, Minn. There are also 8 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
[transcribed by LZ, Oct 2020]
The LeMars Globe-Post, October 28, 1943
Miss Mildred Hamilton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Hamilton of Union township, who has for the past year been employed as a spot welding inspector at the Solar Aircraft plant in Des Moines, enlisted in the Waves Oct. 6 and last week reported at Hunter college, the Bronx, New York City, for her basic training. Miss Hamilton writes that she was one of a group of 308 girls leaving Chicago and 48 of them started from Des Moines.
Mrs. Lester Witt returned from New York Tuesday where she was visiting her husband, Lester, who is chief commissary steward aboard a large battleship doing convoy duty. Before entering the Navy, Lester was employed for a number of years in the City Cemetery. Since entering the service, he has made four trips across and has been to Africa, Italy, Gibraltar, Spain and he will soon leave on another trip. His destination is not known. His father, August Witt, resides in LeMars.
Attention K. of C.
The funeral of Herman J. Groetken will be held Friday morning at 9:30 at St. Joseph’s church. Rosary will be said Thursday evening at 9:15 at the home, 719 First Ave. S. E.
[transcribed by L.Z., Sep 2020]