Le Mars Globe Post
Thursday, August 3, 1944

Gordon Brodie Promoted To Captain

Mr. and Mrs. M. F. Brodie received a letter today from their grandson, Lieut. Gordon
Brodie, in Normandy, but he isn't a lieutenant any more. It's Captain Brodie
now. Capt. Brodie, winner of a Silver Star in Italy, where he distinguished himself
for his initiative in forestalling a German counterattack on an American tank
force, writes that he is doing similar work in Italy, and his command is no doubt a
part of the powerful tank forces which have driven the Germans out of Caen and
unhinged Field Marshal Erwin Rommel's entire Normandy line. He is the son
of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Brodie of Merrill.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, August 10, 1944

NEWS of the Boys in the Service

Sgt. Joseph J. Junkers, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Junkers of Remsen, has been awarded the purple heart medal after being wounded in France. He is in a hospital in England and is reported to be recovering. He was drafted in February, 1942.

Pvt. Howard Manning of Foster Field, Texas, has been spending a furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Manning in Akron.

Richard Bean has completed his boot training at the Great Lakes naval training station and is spending a few days with his wife and other relatives in Akron.

Capt. and Mrs. A. J. Kessler and children came to Akron from Tyler, Texas, where he is stationed at an army camp in the dental division, for a few days visit.

Alfred Claeys of Akron is spending a few days with his wife and children, having completed his boot training at Farragut, Idaho.

Mr. and Mrs. Cletus Delperdang of Deming, N. M., came last week and visited his father, Jos. Delperdang of Remsen, and came to LeMars to visit Cletus’ sister, Mrs. Sylvian Kramer, in LeMars. Delperdang is a mechanic in the air force and has been in the service two years. This is his first visit home in six years.

Lieut. Joseph Wilson Heacock, jr., of Edinburg, Wyo., son of Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Heacock, sr., former Kingsley residents, was killed somewhere in England, when a P-38 he was piloting, crashed over an English air base, according to word received by his parents, and his wife of Weslaco. Funeral services were held in Cambridge, England, on July 10th. He enlisted in the Texas National Guard, was transferred to the army air corps, where he served in the photo reconnaissance squadron, out of England.

Pfc. Alfred Tone left Thursday to return to Camp Shelby, Miss., after a two week’s furlough visiting with relatives in LeMars and Akron.

Seaman Duane Kindig, stationed at the Great Lakes training station, Illinois, visited his wife and children over the week end in Akron.

Lt. Com. E. J. Conner, stationed at the national naval medical center, Bethesda, Md., is spending a leave with his wife in the F. F. Kerr home in Akron.

Pvt. James Klauer came from Camp Grant, Illinois, and visited over the week end with his wife and children at Akron.

Staff Sergeant John T. Trobaugh of LeMars, is reported among a list of Iowans wounded while fighting in the Mediterranean area.

S. Sgt. Ralph Kellen is spending a month’s furlough in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Nick Kellen. Ralph is a member of Co. K. and has been overseas with them since they left in 1942. He was in Italy when he received his furlough. He will report for reassignment at the end of his furlough.

LeMars Globe-Post
August 10, 1944

PHIL DOMINICK EXPECTED HOME
Taken From Front Lines In Italy and Will Be “Fattened Up”

Mr. and Mrs. John Dominick received some good news from the Italian war front Saturday. It was a letter from their son, S/Sgt. Phil Dominick, who informed his parents that he would be home within two months.

He said that he was out on the battle front with a patrol unit, and was called from duty. He was informed that he was going home but before making the trip would be “fattened up” a little. He lost much weight on the firing front and who wouldn’t? Phil has been there since the Americans moved in.

NEWS REPORT ERRONEOUS ABOUT ROLLO L. BUDDE

An Associated Press release from Washington D.C., Wednesday morning stated that the War Department announced the names of 22 Iowans reported missing action, including 10 in the European area, 11 in the Mediterranean and one in the Southwest Pacific.

The report went on to state that two others, previously reported missing, now are listed as killed. They were First Lt. Rollo L. Budde, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Budde, of LeMars, and Pfc. Paul H. Fulk, of Clarinda.

Sometime ago Mr. and Mrs. Budde received a wire and later a confirmation that their son was a prisoner of Germany and up until this press release, no further word was received here.

After the story appeared in the daily papers, much concern was felt here about Lt. Budde. Mrs. O. D. Hart, Red Cross representative in LeMars, checked with the Des Moines Register. That paper checked with Washington and found out that the report was false. Pfc. Fulk is listed as killed, but Lieut. Budde is still a war prisoner in Germany.

There's A WAC In This Group of Uniformed Service Personnel

[**NOTE: This issue of the Globe published 10 Plymouth County military photographs.]

SOLDIER NEWS

Lt. Wayne Dack is in Italy, serving as co-pilot on a B-24. He arrived there about July 20.

Don D. Dickman, 18, son of Mrs. Katherine Dickman, of Brunsville, is now attending a Navy radioman school in the Naval Air technical training center at Memphis, Tenn., according to a release by the public relations officer of that station. A former employee of Harms’ elevator at Brunsville, Seaman Dickman enlisted at Omaha, and received his boot training at Farragut, Idaho.

John M. Hart, S/2c, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Hart of LeMars has finished his training in quartermaster school at Camp Gilmore, Farragut, Idaho, and is now awaiting assignment to sea duty.

An Advanced Base in the South Pacific: Cpl. Lyle D. Frerichs, a former employee of the Great Northern railroad, is now on duty here with a port company of the Army’s service of supply forces in the south Pacific theater. His organization has been trained as a stevedoring unit, to load and unload ships. Cpl. Frerichs is an assistant section foreman. He has charge of men doing stevedore work. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Frerichs, LeMars, Cpl. Frerichs entered the Army in December, 1942, and came overseas in January, 1944. He received training at Camp Hathaway, Washington, Camp Stoneman, California, and Benicia, Calif. His wife, Mrs. Myrne Frerichs and son, Franz, are living at Sioux Falls, S.D.

Pfc. and Mrs. Glenn Wood and son, Glenn Jr., were visitors last week in the home of Mrs. Ruby Wood. Pfc. Wood recently finished the ASTP engineers course at the University of Iowa. He left from Sioux City Monday for Fort Riley, Kan., and has been assigned to the 1296th Army engineers combat battalion.

Forrest Cornish, Soundman 3c, returned to his base at San Diego, after being called here to attend the funeral of his brother, Earl Cornish, which was held at Kingsley last week. Earl died at a Naval hospital in San Diego of heart trouble and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Cornish of Kingsley. Forrest has been in the Navy since February 27 and has completed his course at the west coast sound school. He is now awaiting assignment to a ship. His wife, who has been with him for the last two months, returned to LeMars to make her home.

Gene Brucher, who is employed as an inspector on a government project in the Panama Canal zone, arrived home this morning to visit his mother, Mrs. Susan Brucher. Mr. Brucher has spent four years in the Canal Zone, and will remain here for 20 days.

Eugene Scholer, GM3/c on board ship now at Mare Island, is spending a 14-day leave in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Scholer.

Robert Figg Jr., left for Buckley Field near Denver, Colo., after spending a 15-day furlough in the home of his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Robert Figg. After reporting at Denver he will be transferred to San Antonio, Tex.

Pfc. Donald Reiter arrived Friday to spend his 15-day furlough in the home of his mother, Mrs. Minnie Reiter.

Dr. and Mrs. J. L. Reeves received word from their son, Lt. Robert Reeves, that he arrived somewhere in England July 20.

Mrs. Dora Roberts received a document from her son, Pvt. Robt. Roberts, telling of his crossing the equator on May 21. It is signed by Davy Jones, King Neptune and a few mermaids.

Mrs. Patrick Boyle received a box from her son, S/Sgt. Ed Boyle, which was sent from Rome. In it was a small marble statue of the pope and two rosaries which were blessed by the pope. Ed was recently promoted to staff sergeant from sergeant.

The name of Pvt. Lloyd A. Trometer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Trometer, 420 Sixth street, SW, LeMars, is listed by the armored school at Fort Knox, Ky., among the present graduating class.

LeMars Globe-Post, August 17, 1944

L. LETSCHE WAS KILLED

Pfc. Leland Letsche, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Letsche of Remsen, who previously had been reported missing in action on April 28, 1944, on the Anzio beachhead in Italy, has now been officially reported as killed on that day.

On May 21 his parents received a telegram from the War Department informing them that he was missing in action.

This forenoon, however, they received another telegram from the War Department, stating that he had been killed.  No details or explanation for the long delay were given.

Leland Letsche entered the service April 18, 1941, and was sent to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, and there received his training in the infantry.  January 1, 1943, he was sent to Fort Dix, N. J., where he remained until Feb. 1942, and was then sent to Ireland, where he remained until Sept. 1942, and was sent to England and thence to Africa in December, 1942.

There he was with a battalion of Iowa soldiers whose main task was to guard vital places associated with allied force headquarters, including General Eisenhower’s offices.

In March of this year, he was sent to Italy and there, at the Anzio beachhead, he went into battle.

Leland was 26 years old. He had three brothers and two sisters.  One of the brothers lives in South Dakota.

[transcribed by LZ, Oct 2020]

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, August 22, 1944

LEAVE COUNTY FOR MILITARY SERVICE

Largest Group In Months Past

Thirty Plymouth county young men and one who transferred to the Plymouth County Board from Colorado left LeMars, Friday night, for Fort Snelling, Minnesota, to report for military service. This is the largest group to go from this county in one party in several months. Most of them are unmarried young men. In the list leaving Friday were the following:

LeMars Globe-Post, August 24, 1944

GENE KEIHN WAR VICTIM
Killed in Action February 16, 1944, At Carrocetto, Italy

After months of patient waiting to hear about a son who was reported missing in action in Italy, a telegram arrived at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Keihn, 209 Third avenue S.E., Wednesday, announcing that he had been killed. The mother was prostrated with grief after receiving the announcement and was ordered to bed by her doctor.

The telegram came from the war department and stated that the Pvt. Eugene Keihn was killed in action on February 16, the same date he was reported missing. He met death in a battle around Carrocetto, Italy.

Pvt. Keihn enlisted in the army in September, 1942 and was called to service on March 18, 1943. He was in the infantry and received his training in Mississippi, California and Maryland. He was shipped overseas from Fort Mead in November, 1943, and landed in Africa with a contingent of replacement troops.

Sgt. Lowell Betsworth, who returned from the war front in Italy sometime in January, reported that he met Pvt. Keihn on the way up to the Italian front as a replacement.

Mr. and Mrs. Keihn were notified on March 30 of this year that their son was missing in action on February 16. The telegram was addressed to the victim’s wife, for former Betty Papenhausen, who is now in the WAVES. She made her home with the Keihn family until signing up for service. She decided to enter the WAVES after receiving the report that her husband was missing. Mrs. Keihn is expected home some time this week for a furlough and so far has not been notified of her husband’s death.

Pvt. Keihn was born in LeMars on April 22, 1922, and was graduated from the LeMars high school. He also attended Western Union college and during his school years was very outstanding in athletic events.

Surviving besides his wife and parents are four brothers, all of whom are in the service. The brothers are: Edward and LeRoy, members of the Navy, now somewhere in the Pacific; Raymond, Navy, at Corpus Christie, and Bill, a seaman first class, in the Pacific.

POPULAR COUPLE MARRIED AT CAMP
Pfc. Louis Hartman and Helen Lancaster Exchange Vows  Relatives here received word of the marriage of Helen Lancaster, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Lancaster of Anthon and Pfc. Louis Hartman, son of Mrs. Mary Hartman of LeMars.  The wedding took place in the army chapel  at Butner, N.C. The ceremony was performed on August 8, by the army chaplain.  The groom recently returned to the United States after having been in North Africa and Italy and on the Anzio beachhead for almost two years. 

LeMars Globe-Post
August 31, 1944

[Note: The left side of the copy page was obscured. Some of the words on the left margin are not seen or readable. A blank line will be typed, indicating missing word/s.]

SGT. WALTER SMITH HAS JAPANESE FLAG AND TOOTH
MR. & MRS. CHAS. H. SMITH LEARN SON IS SAFE IN CHINA

Mr. and Mrs. Chas. H. Smith of _____ have received a letter from their son, S/Sgt. Walter J. Smith informing them that he ________ living in former Jap ______ somewhere in China. _______ dated August 10, and _________.

_______ rain is coming ______ day and I’ve got such a _______ ________ I can hardly talk. It’s _________ _______mp now for some time. _______ season, you know.

I am living now, in a former ______ barracks, far from where I used to live. I have a Jap ______ and the gold off a Jap’s ________. I’ll send them home as soon as I find some more things. It took me half a day to make me a bed. Boy, this wood is sure hard wood. I just made the frame work, then strung my jungle hammock over it, and you would be surprised how soft it is. I’m just wondering how Ken like his hammock.

I’m Supply Sergeant now. Sure like my new job, and by the way the first of August I was made Staff Sergeant.

Enclosed you will find (I hope) one Jap insignia of rank, and ¼ Rupee. I haven’t been able to find out what the 3 stars stand for yet. I got these things and a tooth off the Jap myself.

I’ve done a lot of interesting things since I’ve been at the new place, that I can’t tell about, but what you might soon read about in the daily papers.

P.S. The Censor and I both received our promotions the same time.

TWO SETS OF BROTHERS IN THIS HONOR ROLL

[~NOTE: This issue of the Globe published 12 Plymouth County soldier photographs.]

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR PVT. E. KEIHN
Widow and One Brother Obtain Leave From The Navy

Memorial services for the late Pvt. Eugene Keihn, whose death in the battle of Carroceto, Italy, was recently confirmed by the War Department, will be held Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock in the Baptist church.

Hospital Apprentice 1/c Betty Keihn, widow of the deceased soldier, arrived home on leave Sunday afternoon, and will be here for the memorial services and will go to San Diego, California, for further training, Sept. 5. Pvt. Keihn’s brother, S2/c arrived Monday evening on leave from Corpus Christi, Texas, and will also be here until Sept. 5.

S2/c Keihn’s wife was unable to come here, and is remaining at Corpus Christi. Their marriage took place three months ago. Mrs. Keihn is the former Miss Annabelle Hartley of Houston.

The services at the Baptist church will be in charge of the regular Baptist minister, Rev. Dale. Rev. S. A. Jones, former pastor, now at Independence, Iowa, will also be present. Wasmer Post, American Legion, of LeMars, will be in charge of the military ceremonies.

Pvt. Keihn was born in LeMars April 26, 1922, and grew up here. He had an outstanding athletic record in the LeMars high school, being proficient in all sports, and was also a promising Golden Gloves boxer. He enlisted in K Company while still attending high school, but did not go to Camp Claiborne with the rest, as he was attending college. He reenlisted in the Army in Sept. 1942, and was called in March, 1943. He was sent overseas in October, 1943, but did not get to rejoin his original K Company comrades, although they were fighting in the same area.

He was reported missing in action Feb. 16, 1944, and later investigation disclosed that he was that he was killed on that day, but there was an almost 7 months delay in the final report.

A letter from the War Department said that he and several others volunteered to go on a military mission, and that they did not return. Under the circumstances, it was reasonable to presume that they might have been captured, but it now appeared that they were killed in the fighting when their mission was discovered.

Survivors are his widow, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Keihn. He had four brothers, all in the Navy. Gene was the only one in the Army. The brothers are:

Billy Keihn, S1/c, 17 years old, who has been in the South Pacific for 9 months; Edward Keihn, who has been in the Navy since January, 1942; LeRoy Keihn, chief bos’n’s mate, a Navy man for 7 years, who is in the Pacific right now; and Raymond Keihn, who is home on leave.