Iowa Old Press
LeMars Globe-Post, November 16, 1944
Purple Heart Posthumously To Wayne Albert
Mrs. Gertrude Albert has received a letter from Secretary of War, Henry L. Stimson, informing her that a Purple Heart decoration has been awarded posthumously to her son, Pfc. Wayne H. Albert, paratrooper infantryman, who was killed in the invasion of Normandy.
“Little that we can do or say,” writes the secretary of war, “will console you for the death of your loved one. We profoundly appreciate the greatness of your loss, for in a very real sense the loss suffered by any of us in this battle of our country, is shared by all of us. When the medal, which you will shortly receive, reaches you, I want you to know that with it goes my sincerest sympathy, and the hope that time and the victory of our cause will finally lighten the burden of your grief.”
LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
November 21, 1944
NEWS of the Boys in the Service
First Sergt. Melvin Gramke of Fort Meade, Md., arrived Tuesday morning on two weeks furlough and is visiting his mother, Mrs. Margaret Gramke, his sister Mary Ann, and his aunt Miss Anna Deitering in Remsen. Melvin is one of the original Co. K boys and returned from overseas two months ago, spending a month here before going to Fort Meade.
Lieut. and Mrs. Roman N. Lamberto arrived in Remsen late Tuesday and were overnight guests of Mr. and Mrs. Nick Treinen, leaving yesterday morning. They came from Columbia, S. C., where Lieut. Lamberto was an instructor, and now are headed for Long Beach, Calif., where he will be attached to a ferry command at the army air field. Lieut. Lamberto has served with the air forces overseas for more than a year.
Mr. and Mrs. Edw. Nitzschke of Remsen are in receipt of a letter from their son, Lyle Nitzschke, in Belgium, announcing a meeting with his cousin, Warren Nitzschke, son of Mr. and Mrs. O. H. Nitzschke. He said he was sitting alone in a corner when he was tapped on the shoulder, and there stood Warren. He was given a day off and the cousins had a splendid time. The two were then located within 10 miles of each other and said that while in England they were by 60 miles apart.
Bill Barrett of Hinton recently received word from his son, Pfc. Duane (Buzzy) Barrett, that he is in a hospital somewhere in the South Pacific.
Harold Mulford, Jr., arrived home last week from the east coast for a short furlough in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Mulford Sr., of Kingsley. He has recently completed his fourth year in the U. S. Navy, and now has been transferred to the Naval aviation section of the service, and will be sent to school.
Private First Class August Meister, of Kingsley, has been awarded the Purple Heart decoration for wounds received in action on August 28th, near Paris, France. His next of kin, Mrs. Leon Meister, resides in Kingsley. The code of wartime practices does not allow any mention of extent of injury, or that of unit designations.
Bruce Brodie, who is taking Naval training at Great Lakes Station, near Chicago, came Saturday to spend a leave in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robt. B. Brodie, west of LeMars.
Pvt. B. J. Hartman, stationed at the Army Air Field, DeRidder, Florida, arrived last Tuesday evening to spend a furlough with his mother, Mrs. Margaret Hartman, and other relatives and friends in Akron.
S/Sgt. Henry Lubben and Mrs. Lubben, formerly Ruth Cooper, are visiting relatives in LeMars. S/Sgt. Lubben is in the engineering department, stationed at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, and has a 13-day furlough. They make their home at Oakdale, Louisiana.
Bos’n, LeRoy Keihn and Mrs. Keihn, the former Dorothy Stoeber, are visiting in the Ed Keihn and A. H. Stoeber homes. Mr. Keihn has been serving in the South Pacific area and Mrs. Keihn has been living in San Francisco.
Cpl. Herbert Doering of Fort Knox, Kentucky, is spending a 14-day furlough with his wire and son, Dennis, in LeMars. He will report back to Fort Knox when his furlough is up.
Pfc. Donald Thoma of Camp Shanks, New York, arrived in LeMars Saturday night, to spend a furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Thoma. Pfc. Thoma will leave again Saturday and will stop in Chicago a few days to visit his brother and family, Mr. and Mrs. Len Thoma.
Ben Varenhorst, Machinist Mate 2/c, in the Seabees, has been spending a week of this 30-day leave in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Varenhorst. He was accompanied by his wife and two children, who have been living in Ottumwa during his absence. Ben has been in England and France the past year. He was with the Seabees who unloaded equipment for three days previous to the construction of the artificial harbors for the landing of equipment and troops for the invasion on D-day. The battalion he was in received a unit citation from the President.
Word has been received here that Cpl. Lloyd Thompson, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Thompson of Irene, S. D., was reported missing in action in Germany on October 28. A few days later his parents received a telegram sating that he had died in France on October 29. Cpl. Thompson is a second cousin of Mrs. Wm. Penning and worked around LeMars prior to entering the service. He worked for Ben Knapp.
Stanley Neubrand, Radarman 3/c, was serving on the destroyer USS Johnston, which according to newspaper reports and the radio, was sunk during the battle at Leyte island between October 22 and 27. Mrs. R. M. Neubrand, his mother, has received no official notice and is hoping that her son is safe. The last time she heard from him was six weeks ago and he was then somewhere in the South Pacific.
Second Lieut. Ross H. King, son of Mr. and Mrs. V. A. King, of America township, arrived home Monday from San Marcos, Texas, to spend a leave here. Lieut. King received his commission Sunday.
Akron Register-Tribune
November 30, 1944
MRS. HENRY P. WILLER DIES AFTER A BRIEF ILLNESS
Great sorrow was brought to relatives and friends by the death of Mrs. Henry P. Willer at her home, south of town, early Sunday morning, November 26, 1944, after a brief illness from a heart ailment, at the age of 53 years, 4 months, and 16 days. The sincere sympathy of the community is extended to the husband, four children, mother, sisters and brother in their bereavement. An obituary will appear in these columns next week. Funeral services were held Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in the Methodist church here, Rev. A. A. Howe officiating. Interment was in Riverside cemetery. A number of relatives came from Benton county, Iowa, to attend the funeral.
LOCAL NEWS NOTES.
Mr. and Mrs. J. F. McVay and children visited relatives at Beresford, S.D., on Thanksgiving Day.
Harry R. Hubbs made a business trip to Sioux City, Monday.
J. J. Aalfs went to Omaha yesterday to visit his daughter, Mrs. Trindle and family.
Misses Betty Smith, Pearl Lorensen and Delores Andersen were visitors in Sioux City last week.
Hamilton local, No. 490, Farmers Union, will meet in the Albin Carlson home Monday evening, December 4.
Come out and have a good time Friday, December 8. Will see you at Pleasant Hill school, promptly at 8 o’clock. Admission, 10c and 20c—Shirley Adams, Teacher.
Regular meeting of Vesper chapter, No. 61, O. E. S., Friday evening, December 8. Election of officers. Following the meeting there will be a Christmas party and exchange of gifts.
Miss Clara Bellum, who has been visiting her grandmother, Mrs. Clara B. Raish, and other relatives and friends here during the past three months, left Monday for her home in Billings, Montana.
A marriage license was issued at the county clerk’s office in LeMars to Pat Callahan and Miss Phyllis Kallsen, both of Akron vicinity. The couple were married here this (Thursday) morning, Rev. Fr. Chas. Ernst officiating.
Richard M. Bean, S2/c, who has been stationed at Navy Pier, Chicago, came Saturday to spend a few days leave with his wife and son, Robert, and other relatives and friends before being transferred to another location. He left yesterday for New London, Conn., where he has been assigned to the U. S. Submarine service.
W. R. Sinclair and son, Cpl. Tad Kessler came from Freeman, S. D., on Wednesday of last week and were accompanied home by their sister-in-law and aunt, Miss Lydia Graber, of the K & K Store, to spend Thanksgiving with relatives there. Bringing Miss Graber back from Freeman were her niece, Miss Delores Kessler, and her nephew, Cpl. Kessler, who is home on furlough after three years of service with the U. S. armed forces in the Pacific war area.
J. J. Aalfs of this city and his brother, Nittert Aalfs, of Sioux City, attended the funeral of their sister, Mrs. Henry Winter, at Lafayette, Indiana, on November 11, and her burial at Holland, Michigan, following. Mrs. Winter, nee Emma Aalfs, died of a heart ailment November 9, 1944, in her home at Lafayette, at the age of 61 years. She was born in LeMars and grew up there, also teaching in the public school there and at Sioux Center, Iowa, where she resided with her sister, the late Mrs. C. Van Zee. She married, Henry Winter, of Holland, Mich., after which they made their home in Lafayette, Ind.