Iowa Old Press

The following account of memorial services given in honor of a young soldier, formerly of Akron vicinity, who recently gave his life in his country’s cause, was received from relatives in Snohomish, Wash. His mother was formerly Ethel Harkness, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Harkness, also residents of Akron before moving to Washington several years ago.

Memorial services for Pfc. Julius E. French, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert French, 617 Pine street, Snohomish, Washington, were held Sunday morning at the First Baptist Church, Snohomish. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert French; one brother, Melvin French, of the Navy Seabees, in the southwest Pacific, and five sisters, Mrs. Nellie Harbeck, of Pinehurst; Mrs. Geneva White of Tacoma, Mrs. Roberta Menzies, and the Misses Florence and Audrey French, of 617 Pine street, Snohomish.

Pfc. French was an infantryman. He entered the army at Camp Roberts, Calif., in October, 1942, and went overseas in September, 1944. He had fought in France, Belgium and Holland. A telegram to his parents Dec. 9, 1944, listed him as missing in action. This was followed by the message Dec. 12, 1944, telling of his death. Pfc. French was buried in the U. S. cemetery in Holland.

He was born Sept. 16, 1910, at Elk Point, S.D., and later moved southwest of Akron, Ia., where he lived for two years before coming to Snohomish, Wash., 14 years ago.

Jake Dague, southwest of Akron, receive on Monday the following telegram from Provost Marshall General Lerch, of Washington D.C., dated Jan. 20, 1945, with reference to his son, Lawrence W. Dague, of the U.S. Navy, who has been a prisoner in a prison camp in Japan for many months. The telegram read: Following enemy propaganda broadcast from Japan has been intercepted: “Dear Dad: In the best of health. Hoping you and all others are the same. Notify Thelma and Ronald. Say hello to any of the gang. Your son, Lawrence, MM2/c—Lawrence W. Dague.” This broadcast supplements all previous reports.
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Lawrence Dague, MM2/c was a member of the crew of the submarine USS Perch. At the time of his capture, he and a number of other members were reported to be ashore, and those aboard the Perch, to prevent the ship from falling into the hands of the Japs, took it out into the ocean some distance and sank it. This happened early in the war in the South Pacific.

Mr. and Mrs. N. J. Kellen have received another letter from their son, Pvt. Art Kellen, in which he tells about moving from a foxhole into the luxury of a boxcar, which, since the shrapnel holes have been stuffed up and the leaks fixed, is considered the height of luxury at the front. “They say a GI’s home is where he hangs his helmet,” he wrote, and “I hope soon I can hang my helmet back of the door in a certain little home in LeMars, and forget about it.”

The soldier mentioned that army photographers took pictures of himself and others, and that his face might appear in the newsreels.

James R. McDougall, Aviation Ordinanceman 1st class, U.S. Naval reserve, of LeMars, has returned from an 18 months tour of duty in the Pacific with FVPS-52, a navy search and bombing squadron.

He engaged in “Black Cat” missions on which the black-hued Catalina (PBY) flying boats flew at low altitude at night in search of enemy shipping. McDougall also took part in air-sea rescue patrols, bombing missions of various kinds, and anti-submarine patrols.

VPB-52 is one of three Catalina squadrons to receive a presidential unit citation for night bombing raids, and is one of the oldest patrol squadrons with the fleet. Before being sent to the Pacific, it had been based at the Canal Zone, at Natal, Bazil and in Bermuda.

In night attacks in the Pacific, the squadron blasted two cruisers and four destroyers with direct hits, and probably damaged another destroyer. Its bombs sank 40,000 tons of Jap merchant shipping, and either sank or damaged another 52,000 tons. In rescue operations, the squadron saved 33 downed fliers in 13 open sea landings.

Squadron personnel have been awarded four navy crosses, three silver stars, seven distinguished flying crosses, two navy and marine corps medals, two purple hearts and 114 air medals. Their exploits in the Pacific began in Hawaii during June and July 1943. The next stop was Northwestern Australia, from which base patrols were flown over the Indian Ocean.

MEMORIAL SERVICES
Memorial services for Lieut. LeRoy W. Keizer, former Seney boy, who was killed in action on Leyte, Dec. 6, 1944, will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11, 1945, at the Methodist church at Hawarden. Rev. Bell will conduct the services in which the American Legion of Hawarden will participate. A number of friends and former neighbors from Seney will attend the services.

SOLDIER’S NEWS.
Kenneth Harnack Y3/c, arrived from the Great Lakes where he has just completed his boot training. He will leave Friday for the Great Lakes where he will be assigned.

Al Duffy, home on leave from the army, has obtained an extension of his furlough since after Christmas, but is “sweating it out” today in the hope of getting another 5-day extension. Otherwise he will have to leave for Fort Benning tonight. His daughter, Patricia, 4 years old, has passed the most serious stage of pneumonia from which she has been suffering, but he’d like to stay home a little longer to make sure that she is recovering. The little girl apparently caught pneumonia on an ambulance trip back from Iowa City, where she was under observation for a kidney infection, Mr. Duffey said. He belongs to headquarters of a paratroopers regiment.

Henry L. Feller, Seaman second class, who came home for the funeral of his mother, is preparing to return to Camp Parks, near Shoemaker, Calif. He has been assigned to C. B. Detail 1022, and upon his return will be trained as a plumber and shipfitter in a ship repair unit.

Mrs. John Langendorfer has received a letter from her son, Cpl. Scott Langendorfer, stating that he has arrived on Luzon with the American forces. “It seemed good,” he wrote, “to see some civilization again, after all those months in the jungles.”

After spending a week at Remsen with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Baker, Pfc. Clarence Baker departed Wednesday to report for duty at Fort Meade, Md., to which place he has been transferred from Camp Gordon, Ga. Pfc. Baker has been in the army more than three years and says he is getting along well. He acknowledges weekly receipt of the home paper which he says interests him as much as it does all the other service people. His brother, M/Sgt. Victor L. Baker, is somewhere in England as a crew chief aboard a B-24. He has been overseas more than a year. Another Baker boy, Roscoe Baker, entered the service last week, leaving Sunday with several others for Fort Snelling, Minn., induction camp. Mr. and Mrs. Baker are justly proud over the records made by Clarence and Victor, and of the fact that they have given three stalwarts to the cause of Uncle Sam.

Cornelius Hermes, seaman second class and son of Mrs. Nick Wanderscheid, formerly of Remsen but now of LeMars, writes from “somewhere” in the South Pacific: “Since my last letter I really have been moving. After leaving Florida, I went to Newport, R.I., and began to feel more like being home because of the snow and cold. Then I was transferred to Brooklyn but spent most of my liberties in New York . Visited Rockefeller Center, Radio City and other places of interest and at the former place I did my first and last ice skating for this winter, on the artificial pond. Climbed to the top of the Empire State Building for a good view of the city. Time Square is really something to see. The most popular places are the Pepsi Cola and Stagedoor canteens. As we slid out of the harbor at sunset, we saw the Liberty statue, which is something. I wish everyone back home could see and which I hope to see again. Have been living aboard our ship since it was commissioned December first. I always receive your paper but it takes a while for it to catch up, however the date doesn’t make any difference, for the news from home is what rates. Give my regards to everyone there.” ~~Remsen Bell-Enterprise

Mr. and Mrs. Nick Hatz of Remsen received word Monday from their son, Cpl. Vernon Hatz, who has spent many months overseas and now is in the South Pacific. They had not heard from him in several weeks and the letter came as a big relief. Cpl. Hatz explained that “we finally hit land again so I should be able to write quite often now. Am in the Philippines. Wrote three letters while on the ship. Had a long trip over, the ship was crowded and conditions not too good, but we did not run into any enemy attacks at sea or since landing, while other crews saw plenty of action. I was on board ship over Christmas and New Years. No divine services Christmas day, but a chaplain got aboard the next day and celebrated mass. Had a fair Christmas dinner, good for onboard ship. I guess Christmas is a jinx to me for I was on the move on each of the last three and hope I’ll be moving toward home for the next one. Am located in a town and working in a deserted house. The people sure look like they had hard treatment from the Japs. Their clothes are in bad shape and they appear to be underfed. A native lady did my washing for a can of meat and they will do anything for food. There are a few chickens and pigs around and I bought a fresh egg this afternoon. Buildings are badly damaged and I saw several ruined churches. Will write again soon.”

Headquarters Air Service Command in France—Rushed across the channel by plane and convoy, S. Sgt. Eugene J. Weidert, son of Mrs. John Flueck of 326 Seventh street SW, LeMars, is now working at headquarters of air service command in France, helping to keep America’s bombers and fighters flying. Part of the vast organization which broke records before D-day supplying the 8th and 9th air forces in their pre-invasion operations, S. Sgt. Weidert is doing his share to prepare the air forces for the final blow against Germany. S. Sgt. Weidert has been in the European theater of operations for 15 months.

Sgt. John D. Mat Von Hagel received an infantryman’s combat badge, for service on Peleliu island, in the Palau group in the South Pacific. He has been overseas since July 1 and was wounded some time ago. A piece of an exploding shrapnel hit him in the arm, but not very badly.

Harold Sanow, HA1/c, returned to Oceanside, Calif., Friday morning after two weeks at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Sanow. He will be re-assigned upon his return.

Pfc. Richard Nitzschke, son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto H. Nitzschke of Remsen, arrived home Wednesday from Jefferson Barracks, Mo., where he was issued his furlough papers after 19 months in Canada. Pfc. Nitzschke served at an equipment port of embarkation the identity of which is not divulged. He is home to spend 30 days and will report back to the barracks March 4. He has been in the army two years; was home 17 months ago.

Pfc. Richard M. Ritz has been reported slightly wounded in Belgium on Jan. 12. He entered service Nov. 8, 1943, and was sent overseas in August, 1944. Prior to entering service he was employed in a defense plant in Wisconsin. His wife and son reside in Cherokee.

Gordon L. Burkett, SM1/c, U.S. Navy, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Burkett, LeMars, was promoted from Signalman second class to Signalman first class, effective January 1, 1945. He is serving with naval amphibious forces somewhere in the southwest Pacific and has participated in the invasion of the Philippines on Leyte Island and recent landings on Luzon Island at Lingayen Gulf, according to recent letters received by his parents.

Mrs. Mary Kane, of Hawarden, received word Sunday from the War Department that her son, Cpl. Verlyn Kane, was slightly injured in action on December 28, in the European war area. However, Mrs. Kane received a letter from her son, written January 15, that he had recovered and that he was back with his company. Cpl. Kane is with the 15th army headquarters.

Allied Force Headquarters, Italy—Technician Fourth Grade Delbert Bogenrief, son of Mr. and Mrs. Murl Bogenrief, of Kingsley, is serving as a mechanic with a Peninsular Base Section Ordinance heavy maintenance company, one of the first overseas which set truck and jeep assembly records during the North African campaign and is now rebuilding the wrecked vehicles as part of the Mediterranean theater’s conservation policy. Thirty-one months ago this outfit sailed to England where they operated a large automotive supply depot and were among the first service troops to land in French Morocco. The unit now rebuilds an average of 500 wrecked vehicles every week. Sgt. Bogenrief wears the American defense ribbon with three battle participation stars and has been awarded a good conduct medal, the Kingsley News-Times reports.

Third Inf. Div. 7th Army, in France—Tech. 4th grade Donald Gabel of Kingsley, recently attended the Immaculate Conception services held in Strasburg. This marked the first time in more than four years that worship services had been held in the famed cathedral. More than 2,000 American soldiers, of whom 1200 were 3rd infantry division men, presented a congregation so large that Lt. Col. Ralph Smith, 3rd div. chaplain was forced to deliver his sermon from two different places in order that he might be heard by all. The cathedral had been struck twice by bombs but no great damage had been done. Some of the stained glass windows had been shattered, debris lay upon the floor, but this could not overshadow the beautiful workmanship and care that had been put into building this monument to religion. The site of the cathedral is believed to be an ancient Roman forum. It is known for certain, however, that the present building stands on the same place where King Clovis, an early French ruler, had built a church of wood and clay.

Mr. and Mrs. Nick Holton received a telegram from the War Department yesterday, informing them that their son, Pfc. Thomas N. Holton, is missing after action against the enemy in France, on January 23.

Pfc. Holton, former athlete and swimming instructor, entered the Army August 3, 1943, and was assigned to the infantry. He embarked for the European theater January 3, 1944. He is not married.

Soldiers reported missing in land areas frequently turn up later as prisoners of war, and members of the Holton family hope that they will have good news about Tommy by the time such reports can be made through international channels.

Lt. Albert M. Wiltgen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nick W. Wiltgen, 45 Fifth Ave. NE, recently won his silver wings at Turner field, Albany, Ga., Col. C. U. True, commanding officers has announced.

Turner field, an Army air forces pilot school, (advanced two-engine) is one of a group of air bases, which compose the Army air forces eastern flying training command. It is here that aviation cadets, student officers and aviation students are sent for their final phase of training which culminates in their receiving their much coveted wings, commissions or rank of flight officer in the A.A.F.

GERALD P. BOSCH REPORTED MISSING AS TRANSPORT IS SUNK
(By Special Correspondent)

Relatives have received word from the War Department stating that it is presumed thatPfc. Gerald Bosch may have lost his life in the sinking of a troop ship in the English channel, en route to France. The last letter received here was written in England, and a few days after, he was reported missing in action.

SGT. C. GRIMES AMONG MISSING
Former LeMars Boy Was In Thick of “Battle of the Bulge”

Mrs. Ada M. Ecker, 601 Otoe street, Sioux City, has received word that her second cousin,Sgt. Charles H. Grimes, a former LeMars boy, was reported by the War Department to be missing action in the “Belgium Bulge” fighting. His wife lives at 1703 Harvard Ave., Seattle, Wash.

Sgt. Grimes was an infantryman in the 160th division of the First Army group, and the date of his disappearance was set at Dec. 16. It is supposed he is a German prisoner.

The former LeMars boy was 32 years of age. He was at St. Vith when the German Army broke through. The division was later cited by the British field marshal, Montgomery, for gallantry.

The Seattle paper says: “He entered the Army in March 1941, with the second group of men who volunteered from Pacific county. After serving for three years with the 524th Military Police battalion in the United States, he transferred to the infantry in July, 1944, and went overseas in October.

“His mother, Mrs. Catherine Grimes, lives in Portland, Oregon. He also has two brothers in the service: Pvt. James Grimes, with the paratroops in the South Pacific, and Ensign Cornelius Grimes, merchant marine.”

Sgt. Grimes was born in LeMars, Feb. 2, 1910, and attended St. Joseph’s school, growing to manhood here. He also has two sisters, Blanche and Bernice. His father, Charles H. Grimes, was an old settler. His grandmother, Mrs. John Schrier of Slayton, Minn., was a sister of the late P. M. Ruppert of LeMars.

Headquarters 13th AAF, South Pacific—One of the Iowan’s who contributed to the smashing victory of the 13th AAF over Japanese aircraft in the Solomon islands and Rabaul is Staff Sergeant Robert F. Seglem, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Seglum, of LeMars.

Sergeant Seglum is a mechanic in an engineering squadron of a B-24 Liberator squadron and has been overseas since October 26, 1942, holds the Asiatic Pacific campaign, northern Solomons battle star and good conduct medal.

Sergeant Seglum entered the AAF January 16, 1942, at Fort Des Moines, Ia., has been stationed at Sheppard Field, Texas, Wichita Falls, Texas, Geiger Field, Wash., and Ephrata, Wash. He is a graduate of Union Consolidated school.

DON BOWERS IN NAVY
Fort Smith (Ark.) Times-Record—Don Bowers, Fort Smith high school’s all-around athlete, has swapped his football and basketball togs for a Navy uniform.

Bowers, who received his diploma a few days ago at the end of the first semester, was inducted into the Navy at Little Rock Wednesday. Placed on temporary inactive duty, he expects to be called in about 15 days. He hopes to become a radio gunner.

Bowers became a standout in high school athletics when his family moved to Fort Smith when Camp Chaffee was opened. His father is Major Russell S. Bowers, camp special services officer. Young Bowers will be 18, Feb. 6.

Bowers won his greatest glory as member of the Grizzly football team, although an injured knee kept him from performing up to par during the 1945 season. He also made a name for himself in local amateur golf circles and as a student was outstanding, having served as president of the high school student council during the first semester of this school year.

He’ll be the fourth member of the Bowers family to join Uncle Sam’s team. He has two brothers in the Army, Lieut. Richard Bowers, who was wounded in France and is hospitalized in this country, and Lieut. James Bowers, serving in the Pacific. The family lived at LeMars, Iowa, before Major Bowers, a reserve officer, was called to active duty and sent to Chaffee near the outset of the war. (Don left Friday, the 2nd, for the Naval training station at San Diego, Calif.)

CORRESPONDENT TELLS HOW HOFFMAN RISKED HIS LIFE
Put Out Fire in Ammo Box and Fooled German Fliers

Robert Cromie, of the Chicago Tribune press service, in writing short paragraphs of the American boys with the Third Army in Luxemburg, has the following to say about Lt. Kenneth L. Hoffman, son of Leo Hoffman of this city:

“German planes made a night strafing attack that set fire to a wooden container holding 105-mm ammunition. Fearful that the blaze would reveal the position of C company of the 10th armored infantry battalion of the 4th armored division, Lt. Kenneth L. Hoffman of LeMars, Ia., ran to the blazing box and fell on it to smother the flames before the Nazi planes had time to circle and return to the attack. Lt. Hoffman, who might have been killed if the ammunition had exploded, escaped with a badly singed overcoat.”

SOLDIER’S NEWS.
Somewhere in the Philippines—Major Donald D. Courtright, of 3104 So. 32nd Ave., Omaha, has recently been promoted to that rank in the Philippines, where he is serving on the staff of Lt. Gen. Robert L. Eichelberger. Before coming to the southwest Pacific in August, 1944, Major Courtright served as assistant adjutant general of the 8th armored division, 3rd armored corps and the 19th and 9th corps. His wife, Mrs. Agatha B. Courtright, is now living at the Sacred Heart Hospital, LeMars.

Sgt. G.A. Majorowicz left today for Philadelphia. He and Mrs. Majorowicz have been visiting at the home of Mrs. Majorowicz’s father, Rev. Geo. W. Hoef. Mrs. Majorowicz will leave Friday for Boxholm, Iowa.

Santa Ana, Calif.—S. Sgt. Wm. G. Wurth, son of J. P. Wurth of LeMars, is currently assigned to the AAF redistribution station No. 4 at Santa Ana Army air base. Sgt. Wurth entered the service in October, 1937, and went overseas January, 1942. He is entitled to wear the American defense and the Asiatic-Pacific theater ribbon. At this redistribution station, an operation of the personal distribution command, combat returnees of the AAF receive complete medical examinations, classification interviews and reassignment to domestic stations of the Army air forces.

T/Sgt. LeRoy M. Perlot of Camp Blanding, Fla., arrived Saturday on a 14-day furlough to visit his wife and son, Bobby Lee, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H. Perlot, his sister, Mrs. Nic Koob and family all residing at Granville.

Melvin C. Bauerly AMM2/c recently returned to the states after spending 18 months in the Hawaiian islands. He has returned to the west coast for reassignment after spending a 30 day furlough wither parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bauerly of Leeds and other relatives. Melvin enlisted August 20, 1942.

Pvt. Earl A. Brangwin has completed his M.P. schooling at Camp Jos. T. Robinson, Ark., and spent a few days visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Brangwin. He had to report for duty at Ft. Meade, Md., but has been transferred to New York, N.Y.

Jack Manning, cook and baker in the merchant marine, is back on leave and will report for duty again at Marcus Hook, Pa., Feb. 20. He has been in the Merchant Marine 20 months, 12 of them in Atlantic, Pacific, and Near East waters. He crossed the equator 8 times, and the International date line 6 times, and in so doing got “beaten out of” Easter and Thanksgiving. He is 20 years old.

Sgt. John M. Schnepf, who spent the past 22 ½ months with the AAF overseas, arrived today at Jefferson Barracks, Mo. He will arrive in LeMars in a few days to visit in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Schnepf. He was in the 11th fighter command where he was a crew chief on a P-38.

Cpl. Roger Westerberg is visiting his parents and other relatives and friends. Cpl. Westerberg has been serving in the South Pacific for the past 27 months.

A very large crowd attended the memorial services held in the church here Sunday for Lieut. Elvit Falk, who was killed in action overseas January 1. The American Legion of LeMars had charge of the services. The Seney male quartet rendered several vocal selections.

Mrs. D. L. Farrington returned home Wednesday afternoon from a two weeks visit with her husband, Sgt. D.L. Farrington, who is in training at Camp Howze, Texas.

Alton Democrat: Somewhere in France: Dear Mother and Dad—Happy New Year, dear mother and dad, and I sincerely hope it will be just that for both of you. I must say this New Year’s eve was a pretty noisy one compared to the ones I used to spend at home. It really looked more like the 4th of July around here than New Year’s eve.

Well, you’re getting this letter direct from my foxhole. You see it is my day to stay out here and so I’m doing it in my foxhole. I really think I have a pretty nice foxhole compared to the ones we usually have to make. I have a hole dug here in the side of a hill and covered it over first with logs and then with dirt. I have a blanket hung over the opening I use to crawl in and out of, so it is fairly warm in here compared to outside. I also have some straw spread on the bottom of my hole and it helps a lot. I am writing by a lamp which I made out of an oil can fitted with gas and a wick dropped in it. It gives quite a light, about the same as a candle and isn’t bad at all.

Well, now maybe you have a little picture of how I have been living the last weeks.

It has been snowing the past couple of nights and I guess we must have about half an inch of snow on the ground right now. It hasn’t been too cold out in it, or maybe it is all the clothes I have on.

Remember I was the guy who never wanted to wear winter underwear. Will I am now wearing two pairs. I also have on 3 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of pants, 1 shirt, 1 sweater, 2 caps plus my helmet, two pairs of gloves, 1 fur-lined jacket and 1 field jacket, so you can see I have plenty of warm clothes. Our snow-packs (shoes) have rubber bottoms and leather tops with two felt inner soles in them and are really alright, except in damp weather. We have to watch our feet pretty close or we will get trench feet.

January 2: I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to finish this yesterday, but will finish it this morning while I am in town. A couple of days ago I received the Alton Democrat which you sent air-mail, the Nov. 30 paper. I have also received four other Democrats within two days, the last dated November 2, so I guess they will be coming through all right.

Well, today I want to get a haircut and I also think I will be able to get another shower. I have just shaved so I feel halfway clean again, but that shower should really do the trick. Boy, I have forgotten what a radio, electric lights, and running water look like. I suppose if I should ever get a chance to take off my clothes and crawl between sheets—I doubt very much if I would be able to sleep. It would be wonderful tho, to try it once.

As I sit here I can see the street through this little town, but with tanks and soldiers. About a couple times a day some fellow comes out and rings a bell to call the people and then he shouts out the news. You see they don’t have any newspaper or any kind of post office here. Right across the street is a Catholic church which is all full of holes and wrecked from artillery.

Out in front of every house is a manure pile and in the back of the house or beside it is their barn. Everyone seems to have a few animals but just enough to live on, since the Krauts have taken almost everything. As I look out through this window, I can see only two panes that weren’t broken, so they have them patched up with other windows out of their barn, or with cardboards. It really is quite a thing to see, but I’m certainly glad you don’t have any idea what it looks like. I’ve heard a lot of interesting stories about how these people were treated by the Nazis and hope some day I can tell you some.

I wrote to John Reeff the other day and I am going to try to look him up. Well, take care of yourself and God bless you. Love—“Dutch” Holman
P.S. I almost forgot to tell you, our platoon is receiving a citation. Maybe I will be able to tell you about it later.

FESLER WRITES FROM HOSPITAL
Reportedly Seriously Wounded—Says He Has Stiff Hands

Pvt. Leighton Fesler, a member of the infantry, who was reported seriously wounded in Luxemburg on January 14, now informs his wife at Yankton, that he is in a hospital in England.

The letter was dated January 18, four days after he was wounded, and merely states that his hands were stiff and that it was hard to write.

Mrs. Fesler, the former Lenore VanGoor of this city, called Mrs. Ole VanGoor this morning and gave her the news. As that was all the information contained in the letter, the family believes that Pvt. Fesler suffered frozen hands, as he said he was feeling fine otherwise.

With the Fifth Army, Italy—T. Sgt. Stanley Clasen, radio repairman, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Clasen, and Pfc. S. F. Ruden, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ruden route 1, Remsen, are members of the 34th signal company, which recently was presented the War Department meritorious service unit plaque by Major General Charles L. Bolte, 34th Red Bull division commander.

The signal outfit, overseas since February 19, 1942, participated in the campaigns in northern Algeria and Tunisia and is currently serving with the 5th Army in Italy.

The award was made for superior maintenance of communications and high disciplinary standards during three phases of the Italian campaign: first, at San Pietro, San Vittore, Cervaro, Cairo and Cassino; second, at Anzio, Rome, Civitavecchia, and Tarquinia; and third, at Cecina, Rosignano and Leghorn.

Wire was hand laid and often carried by mule in the first phase. The outfit maintained three radio networks 24 hours a day for nearly two months before Cassino, and two messenger runs were made daily from Cervaro across the Rapido river to Cairo.

The signalmen had to work at night burying important trunk lines on the Anzio beachhead with an improvised plough to maintain radio communications with Naples. Water messengers required three days to make the round trip to Naples.

Despite rapidity of the advance through Rome and beyond, following junction of the beachhead and main front forces, the 34th signalmen kept pace. One the day before the fall of Rome, last June 3, all forward elements of the division moved twice, yet a complete system of communications was in operation when command elements came to a stop that night.

The outfit had wire right behind the combat units and 26 miles ahead of the division during the rapid 41-mile advance from Rome to Civitaveccchia and constructed special antennae at Naples and Civitavecchia to make a radio link three times the length of the rated range of the available radio equipment.

The 34th Signal Company was created at Watertown, S.D., July 19, 1929, as a National Guard Unit.

Mrs. Lyle Day received a postcard this morning from the general hospital casualty branch of the U. S. Army, telling her that her husband, Lyle Day, is in the 15th General Hospital, recovering from frost-bites on both feet.

The card stated that his feet were frozen Feb. 2. Mrs. Day had three letters from her husband, dated Jan. 12, 15, and 21, stating that he was in Belgium at the time. He wrote that he was feeling fine. His Christmas gifts had begun arriving, and that it was strange to be reading The Globe-Post in such foreign surroundings.

Pvt. Edwin G. Eilers, son of H. G. Eilers of Craig, returned from 24 months overseas in the European theater of operations on the U. S. Hospital ship, Larkspur. He is temporarily being treated at Stark General Hospital, Charleston, S. D., prior to being transferred to another Army hospital for definite treatment. He has been awarded the Purple Heart medal.

With the United States Forces in France—Maj. Frank A. Todd of Merrill, staff veterinary officer of the European civil affairs division, has been promoted to lieutenant colonel.

Col. Todd was commissioned in the regular Army in 1935. He has been overseas since September, 1941. As veterinary officer, Iceland base command, from September 1941 to June 1943, Col. Todd was responsible for the establishment and maintenance of proper sanitary standards for American military personnel of that command. In addition to his assigned duties, Col. Todd rendered assistance to the government and people of Iceland in the fields of animal husbandry, farm conservation and research in connection with the diseases of Icelandic domestic animals.

Through Col. Todd’s efforts in the public health fields, relations between the Icelandic government and the people of the United States have been greatly enhanced, it was announced. In recognition of these accomplishments, he was awarded the legion of merit. He has been a member of the European civil affairs division, since September 1943, serving first in England and currently on the continent.

Col. Todd was graduated from Iowa State College in 1933, and Yale University in 1935. His wife, Mrs. Margaret L. Todd, and parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank H. Todd, all are residents of Merrill.

WOUNDED SOLDIER NOW RECOVERING
Dean Shernerr of Merrill Lost Sight of One Eye In Battle

(Merrill Special)
Pfc. Dean Schernerr, who is a patient in the McClosky General hospital in Temple, Texas, is improving slowly from wounds suffered in Italy last October. Dean lost the sight of one eye and has severe shrapnel wounds in the right elbow. Dean is a brother-in-law of Mrs. C. J. Vanderloo and was in business in Merrill several years ago.

Sgt. Bob Johns called by telephone to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd W. Johns, Saturday night, that he had finally set foot on good ole U.S. soil after 38 ½ months in the Southwest Pacific. Robert was on a convoy of six troop ships bound for the Philippines and only a week’s sailing west of Hawaii when the Japs made their surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Washington radioed orders for all six ships to steer for friendly ports. Four of the convoy returned to the United States and the other two, with 4500 troops on board, (including Earl Bogen, Jerome Betsworth and Robert Johns) after 15 days of silence, uncertainty and danger, made it to a port in Australia.

There they raised the first American flag over foreign soil in the present war. From that time on until late in the Spring of 1942, they were the only troops to aid the Australians in fighting off the Japs, who had already destroyed Port Darwin, and were planning on occupying the whole of the continent. For their valiant service, these boys of the 147th field artillery were toured throughout the most parts of the country down under during the summer of 1942.

After that, Bob was fully occupied playing with the Sophisticated Swing Band, the first of its kind and the most popular one down there, and the regular regimental concert band. He has helped to entertain hundreds of thousands of soldiers and brass hats, marines and sailors and recently a soldier from New Guinea, writing to his folks in Marshalltown said “that Bob Johns was rated as the best trumpeter and coronetist in the Southwest Pacific, and went by the name of Tiger Johns.”

Bob has also played in stage shows that featured comedian Joe E. Brown, pianist Little Jack Little, and Hollywood star Gary Cooper, and several other entertainers of international fame. He has spent the greater portion of the last two years in the New Guinea area where the temperature gets up to 130 degrees, and he will welcome some of Iowa’s winter for a contrast.

In all his long service, Bob has never had a furlough home since his first induction day at Des Moines, July 14, 1941. He has only seen on boy of pre-war acquaintance, Robert Pattison, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Pattison. He will be granted a 21-day furlough plus travel time.

SOLDIER’S NEWS.
Lieut. Wayne Dack, having completed his bombing missions in the European area, is home on furlough which he is spending with his wife, the former Miss Evelyn Truesdell, and father, W. J. Dack.

According to a broadcast by Walter Winchell, the entire 34th division is destined to come home on furlough soon. This division includes most of the original members of K company and other national guard companies who were the first to go into service at Camp Claiborne “for a year of training.” Because of Winchell’s close association with the Roosevelt administration, relatives of such service men are hoping that his information is authentic.

Dale Fox, second cook and baker in the merchant marines, arrived here Saturday for a visit in the home of his mother, Mrs. Madge Fox and other relatives. He is stationed out of San Pedro, Calif., but came home by way of the Atlantic coast this time. He has been to many foreign ports delivering war material, but so far has not met up with any enemy opposition.

Robert Bauerly, Signalman 2nd class, N.S. Navy, visited relatives in this vicinity while spending his leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Bauerly of Sioux City.

Marcus J. Rounds arrived in LeMars for a visit with his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Rounds, after finishing his boot training in the San Diego Naval training center. He will return in 10 days to San Diego where he will be assigned to radio and gunnery school.

Pvt. Paul Schumacher arrived Saturday from Camp Fannin, Tex., to spend ten days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Schumacher of Remsen. He has been in the Army four months, and on leaving will report for duty at the Fort Meade, Md., replacement center.

Cpl. Albert Jager, son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Jager of Maurice, came home Tuesday to spend a furlough with his parents after an absence of seven months spent in Newfoundland. He is a mechanic in the air transport command. He is one of 15 to be chosen to go to school at West Palm Beach, Fla., where he will report on Feb. 22. He received a good conduct medal and a ribbon for the American theater of operation. He has been in service about two and a half years.

Pvt. Kenneth Van Roekel and his sister, Clara Van Roekel of the WAVES, arrived home from their respective stations on the same train Monday night in Sioux City where Mr. and Mrs. P. B. Mouw of Sioux Center, met them. Kenneth as been in Camp Wolters, Texas, and Clara has been working in the fleet post office in New York City. They had arranged their leaves so that they could both be home at the same time, but neither knew the exact train schedule the other had planned. It happened Kenneth had called from Des Moines after Clara had wired from Chicago, so they were able to tell Kenneth that Clara would be on the Hiawatha when he boarded it at Madrid. He found her and they enjoyed a pleasant journey to Sioux City. They will be home until Tuesday.

Memorial services for 2nd Lieut. George Rosenow, 25, were held at 10 a.m. Sunday in Concordia Lutheran Church at Sioux City. Lt. Rosenow was killed in action over France, November 9, 1944, while piloting a B-26, and was attached to the Ninth air squadron under Gen. Patton. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rosenow, reside at 321 West street. Rev. R. W. Meyer, was in charge of the service. Born June 4, 1919, in Leeds, Lt. Rosenow was graduated from Liberty Consolidated school and later farmed in Liberty township (Plymouth County, IA.) A brother, William Rosenow was killed at sea, Nov. 30, 1942, while stationed aboard a cruiser in the area of the Solomon Islands.

Two LeMars boys passed the “Eddy” test last week. They are Don Lee DeJager andMarvin Eugene Herzig. They will be sworn in as seaman first class and be sent home on inactive duty until they graduate from high school in June.

U.S. Navy Cooperating Recruiter, Geo. V. Pavlik, had Floyd Mathew Bohlke, age 18, of LeMars, and Wayne Douglas Husted, 20, of Merrill to the Sioux City Navy recruiting station last Friday. Both young men took the “Eddy” test and are awaiting the returns on their examinations.

McChord Field, Wash.—Pvt. 1st class Clifford J. Bauerly of McChord Field, Washington, was recently promoted to corporal it was announced at that Fourth air force base. Cpl. Bauerly’s wife, Olivia, resides at 31 Fourth Ave. SW, LeMars. After Cpl. Bauerly completed high school, he did farming work for six years. His favorite sports are hunting and fishing. Cpl. Bauerly’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. John J. Bauerly, live at 1417 Myrtle street, Sioux City.

Relatives here received word that Clevo Reynolds was recently promoted from corporal to sergeant.

Pvt. Morse Hoorneman arrived home Thursday night from Camp Gordon, Ga., for a visit with his father, Clarence Hoorneman, of this city and with his wife, who is making her home in Sioux Center. Pvt. Hoorneman has been ordered to report to Ft. Meade, Md.

Ninth Air Force Bomber Base, France—Robert C. Thunhorst, a radio-gunner in the “Black Death” B-26 Marauder group, has been promoted to Technical Sergeant. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Thunhorst, of 426 First Ave. SE.

S2/c John E. Shriver of Sheldon was reported killed in the South Pacific according to word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Shriver of Bloomington, Cal., formerly of Sheldon.

Lieut. Walter Brunhaver of Sheldon has been missing in action over Leyte since Jan. 10, according to a message from the War Department received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Brunhaver.

Mrs. Lena Meister of Kingsley received word last week from the War Department that her son, Cpl., August Meister, has been wounded in action on the western front on January 19. This is the third time Cpl. Meister has been wounded both times previously he was slightly wounded, and returned to his company after a brief stay in the hospital.

Cpl. Myles D. Gates, of Kingsley, arrived home last Saturday on a well earned furlough of 30 days, to spend in the home of his parents. Cpl. Gates was overseas for nearly two years, and is one of the half dozen soldiers picked from the foxholes over two months ago to tour cities and war production plants to urge war workers to increase materials urgently needed on the fighting fronts.

15th AAF in Italy—2nd Lt. Lamar Jones, of Hinton, has been awarded the air medal for “meritorious achievement in aerial flight while participating in sustained operational activities against the enemy” it was announced by 15th AAF headquarters. He is a co-pilot with a B-24 Liberator bomber group in Italy. The lieutenant has completed more than 10 combat sorties over strategic targets in widely scattered parts of Europe. Lt. Jones won his wings at Blackland Field, Texas, on May 23. He was a student at Morningside college before entering the service.

T. Sgt. John E. Boisseau, nephew of Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Miller of Hawarden, is a prisoner of war in Germany, according to a card received from him this week. Writing from the Nazi prison camp, he states that the bomber on which he was serving was downed over enemy territory on October 3, and that he was captured as soon as he landed. He said he was lucky, as he and the navigator were the only men of the crew who were able to get out of the plane and parachute to safety. He said he was getting enough food to keep going and a few cigarettes. He asked that the Red Cross send some canned meat, dried fruit and cigarettes.

T. Sgt. Willard Madson, who spent a furlough here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Madson of Hawarden, after spending 35 months in the Pacific war zone, departed Sunday for Jefferson Barracks, Mo. Just as Sgt. Madson was leaving his home, S. Sgt. Robert Johnson, a high school classmate, arrived from California and they spent a few moments together. Sgt. Johnson was overseas for some time, serving as a gunner on a plane. He saw action in China and India, but returned to the United States later and since then has been stationed at various camps in this country.

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Peterson, who reside northwest of Hawarden, received a Purple Heart Saturday which as been awarded to their son, T.5 Arthur Peterson, who was wounded in Germany. Peterson is now in a hospital in England. He was hit by shrapnel and some of it lodged beneath his cheek bone. Attempts have been made to remove it but doctors have failed to do so. His eye was also injured.

Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Jurgensen of Hawarden received word from the War Department Tuesday that their son, Pfc. Donald Jurgensen, a paratrooper, was seriously injured in Belgium on January 9. He is being cared for in a hospital in Belgium. Pfc. Jurgensen left for overseas duty in July and this is the first word his parents have heard of him since last August 10.

Pfc. Robert O’Meara was slightly wounded on Leyte on December 7, but he has recovered sufficiently to be back on duty, according to word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. O’Meara, who resided southeast of Hawarden. Pfc. O’Meara had two brothers who were also on Leyte at the time of the invasion. Lieut. J. T. O’Meara, a pilot, took part in the air battle and Cpl. Leonard O’Meara is in the medical corps. Cpl. O’Meara wrote his parents that when the United States medical corps went to Leyte, they were compelled to dig foxholes in which to give first aid and later hospitals were erected. Sufficient supplies were arriving daily at the time he wrote to his parents. Pfc. O’Meara knew where his brother Leonard was stationed and he was making an effort to contact him but so far his parents have not learned whether the two brothers met on Leyte.

Mr. and Mrs. Leland Thill of Burlington, Pa., are expected home Friday for a visit with Mr. Thill’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. Thill of Remsen. Leland was given his honorable discharge from the Navy after having almost recovered from injuries suffered during a sea battle

LETTERS FROM PFC. HENRY OMMEN REVEAL A NARROW ESCAPE BEFORE HE WAS KILLED
Shrapnel Ripped Ammunition Belt and Ruined Gun

Mr. and Mrs. John Ommen, of Howard, S.D., formerly of this community have received a telegram from the War Department informing them of the death, in the “battle of the Belgian bulge” of their son, Pfc. Henry Ommen on January 21.

The news of his death came shortly after letters were received from him by relatives dated January 4 and 7, in which he told of a narrow escape from death by shrapnel. He wrote, “A fairly large piece of shrapnel hit my gun, wrecking it, and the same piece or another piece cut through my ammunition belt, tearing it up pretty badly, but I came out of it with a whole skin.”

He had previously written about having a couple of toes pretty badly frostbitten, but later letters indicated that these had healed up without trouble, and that he was back in action again. He was a paratrooper, fighting as an infantryman.

Pfc. Ommen entered the service in March 1943, from LeMars. He was trained at Camp Butner, N.C., and his paratroop training at Fort Benning, Ga. He landed in Italy on Easter Sunday, April 9, and has seen service on various fronts.

Henry Ommen was born in Plymouth County on December 21, 1923, and attended the public schools in LeMars. He was graduated from the high school in 1942. He is survived by his parents, and two sisters, Mrs. Robert Paswalk of Hawarden and Mrs. Gerald Henrich of Akron; three brothers, Erwin, who was in the Navy at Farragut, Idaho, but at present at a California naval station for observation and treatment, and Melvin and Donald, at home. A grandmother, Mrs. Henry Ommen, Sr., lives in LeMars.

Memorial services are bring planned, but no date has been set, in the expectation that Erwin may get a leave or a discharge from the Navy. He has been undergoing treatment for rheumatic fever, which has seriously affected his health.

ARNOLD KLEMME SLIGHTLY HURT
Mother Had Talked To Him On Phone Just Before Christmas

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Klemme received a telegram Friday night informing them that their son, Pfc. Arnold Klemme, had been “slightly wounded” in action on the European front on January 24.

Pfc. Klemme is now in the infantry. He was originally assigned to the coast artillery, as an anti-aircraft gunner, but when he was shipped overseas he was attached to an infantry unit. He has been overseas only a short time. He talked over the long distance telephone to his Mother shortly before Christmas, and at that time was still in this country.

Lieut. Eddie Sullivan, co-pilot of a B-17, commonly known as a Flying Fortress, has completed his 30 missions over Germany, and is on his way home.

His wife, the former Shirley Groves, received a telegram from him Wednesday morning, stating that he had arrived in New York and would be home in a week.

T. Sgt. Harlan W. Heeren, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harm F. Heeren of this city, was recently awarded a bronze star medal from headquarters of the first bombardment division, somewhere in England. He is a member of the United States Army air corps.

The citation reads:
“For meritorious service as sheet metal crew chief of a sub-depot organization from January 1944 to November 1944. Throughout this period Sgt. Heeren demonstrated untiring initiative and an exemplary devotion to duty.

“Employing a high degree of proficiency he devised a procedure for changing nacelles which eliminated the necessity of salvaging the inner wing panel whenever a necelle was damaged beyond repair. Through experience and careful study of the nacelle, Sgt. Heeren perfected a system hereby a saving of forty man hours could be effected in reassembling, or a total of 80 hours for a nacelle change, as compared to four hundred man hours for an inner panel change.

“Due to the unceasing efforts of Sgt. Heeren, damaged aircraft were repaired in a greatly reduced period of time. The exceptional skill and ingenuity displayed by this soldier during this period reflect great credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States. Entered the military service from California.”

A 15th Air Force Service Command Squadron, Italy—Cpl. Peter C. Brouwer, of 24 Second Ave. SW, LeMars, who is a truck driver with a 15th air force service command air service squadron that received the following commendation from Col. Arthur C. Agan, of Corpus Christi, Texas, commanding officer of the oldest fighter group in the AAF, which the squadron has served since October 13, 1943.

“The excellent maintenance record of the group has been made possible by the exceptionally high standard of work done by its service squadron,” the commendation said. “The vigorous efforts of the service squadron to secure replacement parts necessary to keep aircraft in commission has kept a maximum number of planes in operation.”

The squadron’s engineers have repaired 126 fighter planes and one heavy bomber since it started serving the group, and none of them has been returned to the service squadron for readjustment, Col. Agan pointed out. The sheet metal shop was able to manufacture camera mounts for all planes in the group by operating 24 hours a day.

Among the many items manufactured by the squadron were auxiliary fuel tank guards to protect flaps when the tanks are released, and oil pump adapter permitting change of engines, and an acetylene generator.

Cpl. Peter C. Brouwer is the husband of Jean Brouwer, 24 Second Ave. LeMars. He has been a member of the United States Army since August 18, 1942, and has been overseas since August 21, 1943.

SOLDIER’S NEWS.
Pfc. Lawrence J. Kobberman, who has been stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, has recently been transferred. His new address is 305th General Hospital, Camp Lee, Virginia.

Mr. and Mrs. H. J. Siebens received a cablegram from their son, Melvin Siebens RRM2crecently. The message was sent from Australia, where Melvin was enjoying a recreation trip which included Sidney. He has been in the South Pacific for over a year and took part in most of the invasions in the Pacific during that time. He has not been back to the states in 16 months.

Sgt. Leo DeForce, who has been stationed in Fort Lewis, Wash., arrived in LeMars Friday evening for a short visit with his family. He is also visiting in the home of his sister, Mrs. Stanley Heuertz, in Marion township. He will leave next week for an undisclosed destination.

Cpl. Leo Freking arrived Wednesday from Fort Bliss, Texas, and is enjoying a 10-day furlough in the Gregg Freking home in Stanton township.

Cpl. Donald Shearon and Mrs. Shearon arrived in LeMars Saturday for a visit in the home of the former’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Shearon. They will return on Thursday to San Diego where Cpl. Shearon is stationed.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Vondrak of route 1, Sioux City, got a letter from a boy in the Navy telling them that their son, Harold Vondrak SC1c, was on the first destroyer to land at Leyte island at the beginning of the attack.

Pvt. Donald Rosburg is now in France, according to information received by his mother, Mrs. Julius Rosburg, of Hinton.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Glaser received a letter from their son, Pfc. Bob Glaser, informing them that he is now with the glider infantry in France. His company is part of an airborne division.

A 15th Air Force Service Command Air Service Group, Italy—George E. Noonan, of LeMars, has been promoted to the grade of corporal, according to a recent announcement by his commanding officer. Cpl. Noonan is the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Noonan of Sioux City. George is assigned to the 15th air force command, and is a specialist in weapons repair. In civilian life he was a general farmer. He attended West Junior high school of Sioux City, during the year 1938. Cpl. Noonan entered the Army in September 1941, and was inducted at Fort Crook, Neb. He came overseas in January of 1944; and has been very conscientious in his work all through his Army career. He has been awarded the good conduct ribbon and a European-African-Middle East theater ribbon with one battle participation star. He also has the marksman medal for firing the carbine rifle.

From headquarters of the 12th Air Force in Italy comes word that the B-25 Mitchell bombardment group to which Staff Sergeant Edwin H. Wendt of LeMars is assigned as a power turret specialist, has been cited again by the War Department as a distinguished unit, this time for the sinking of the Italian cruiser Taranto in La Spezia harbor September 23. Carried out without loss of aircraft and with no casualties despite a formidable concentration of anti-aircraft guns, the brilliant attack frustrated German attempts to move the Taranto into position to block the entrance of this vital harbor. The group was previously cited as a distinguished unit for outstanding close support missions flown in Tunisia and Sicily in favor of the British 8th and American 5th and 7th Armies.

Lieut. Commander Lyle Schumaker and his mother, have been visiting in the home of the former’s aunts, Mrs. Wizorak and Mrs. Lentz. Mrs. Schumaker will remain for a longer visit, joining her son at her home in South Dakota later.

Cpl. Vernon Fletcher is now in Seattle, Wash., after a 30-day furlough in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.C. Fletcher. He thinks he will be sent to the Pacific area. While here he had the opportunity to visit his brother, Pvt. Dean Fletcher, who came home the Friday after Christmas for a three weeks stay, so their furloughs overlapped a little.

Pvt. Bob Joynt is home for a 9-day furlough, in the home of his parents, Dr. and Mrs. R. J. Joynt. He will return to duty at Indiantown Gap, Pa.

Cpl. Duane D. Hawkins of the U.S. Marines corps, left Monday after enjoying 11 days of Iowa winter weather at his home in Grant township. He reports back to Santa Ana, Calif., where he has been located at the marine airfield for the past 15 months.

A member of the Globe-Post staff has received the following letter from Cpl. V. J. Doud, formerly of Oyens:

Received a package today from home and enclosed were two Globe-Posts so figured I had better drop you a line. We are up again, but outside of Jerry whipping a few in, it isn’t too bad.

We have had quite a bit of snow over here and also a little rain which makes the rough as the devil.

If our belting Russian buddies keep going they are going to have old Jerry in a bad way which won’t make me feel bad.

We have quite a wire set up here but have been having pretty fair luck with them as they seem to mess them every once in awhile.

I called up K Co. a few weeks ago and spoke to Lou Treinen and even though we couldn’t hear too good we could make out each other and it sure sounded swell to be talking to someone from home. I just wish I could tell you how hard it was to get him and how many switchboards I had to go through.

The other day the Italians here (the few that are around) butchered a hog and really did a swell job on him. He was a big one also. Some of them are OK and will do anything for us and others aren’t worth a hoot.

Roman Kosse, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Kosse of Remsen, was killed in action on February 1, according to the telegram from the war department received by his parents Friday.
The telegram stated he was killed in the line of duty on the western front. He was a messenger, one of the most hazardous duties, as he had to travel constantly between advanced units and the command posts further back.

Young Kosse had previously been wounded twice, but recovered and was returned to duty both times.

This young man was in the army about two years, and has been overseas over a year. He was home on furlough before going overseas. Before entering the army, he worked for Dorr Produce Co. He was born and brought up in Remsen, attending St. Mary’s school.

A requiem high mass was sung at St. Mary’s church at Remsen this morning. Msgr. Schemel preached the sermon. The American Legion and Veteran’s of Foreign Wars, and the ladies auxiliary participated.

With the 100th Infantry Division of the 7th Army in France—Pvt. Ambrose J. Hansen, so of Mrs. Margaret Hansen, of 434 Fourth Ave., LeMars, was recently awarded the combat infantryman badge for satisfactory performance of duty in ground combat against the enemy. He is with a company of the 398th infantry regiment.

The local soldier’s division is one of the newest on the front of Lt. General Alexander M. Patch’s American 7th Army.

The 100th Division, commanded by Major General Withers A. Burress, left the United States with a high reputation earned in its training period in the Carolinas and Louisiana maneuver areas. It was the Century Division which was called upon to provide an infantry battalion which paraded and demonstrated in New York City as part of the country’s first infantry day celebration on June 15, 1944. Another honor paid the division in March of this year was the War Department’s selection of the 100th division to be the first organization to present the expert infantryman badge to one of its members.

Activated on November 15, 1942, at Fort Jackson, S. C., the 100th division’s personnel makes it a fighting unit representative of every state in the union.

LT. JAMES BOWERS UNDER FIRE ON PATROL DUTY IN NEW GUINEA
Japs Were Unable To Imitate Southern Talk to Fool Yanks

Lt. James R. Bowers, son of Major and Mrs. Russell Bowers of Camp Chaffey, Ark., had a hair-raising experience while on duty in the New Guinea area recently—one he will remember for a long time. He is a member of the intelligence department and his work on patrol carried him up close to the enemy lines, in fact so close he could hear the Japs trying to imitate the American patrol leader, a southerner, who was giving orders to advance. However, this trick didn’t fool the Americans, as they recognized the mush-like talk at once.

Lieut. Bowers’ experience was printed in the True Magazine recently, as told to Will Oursler, the magazine’s Pacific correspondent.

In a recent issue of the Yank magazine, published for the men “down under,” Lieut. Bowers’ picture was on the front cover. It showed him wading ashore in making the landing on Morotai Island. Lieut. Bowers and another American soldier, were assisting a third member in getting ashore.

His story on patrol duty in New Guinea, as told to Will Oursler, follows. It was under the title, “Our Patrols Were Active.”

The communiqué would put it, “Our patrols were active.” No headlines. It would be one isolated fragment in the pattern of war. We would move west of our perimeter, in New Guinea’s Maffin Bay area, pushing though jungle trails. We must find out what was there; how many Nips, how well armed they were, the shape and character of the terrain.

We got an early start the next morning—a patrol of a couple of hundred men with machine guns, mortars and small arms, a thin tentacle probing into enemy lines. Clean out all the Japs you can, get your information and get back by night. It would be no picnic. Besides, it was raining heavily.

The first part, along the beach, was easy. No opposition. Then we reached the outskirts of an airdrome which the Japs had started to build before American forces, arriving in the area only a few miles distant, forced them to give the idea up. Just off the field a sniper opened on us. Our men ducked into the bush and our own guns fired a number of bursts. The sniper’s gun shut up.

The air strip itself was too exposed for our patrol to cross. We turned inland, hacking our way through jungle, with the plan of hitting a native trail running behind the strip. Only a few yards in front of me, a sudden explosion knocked me flat. I got to my knees and crept forward. I saw five men sprawled on the ground—two injured and three dead.

It had been a land mine. Our medics put the wounded on litters and started back. The dead we had to leave until our return later. We pushed on. From positions on a mountain a few miles away, the Japs opened up with mortars. And directly ahead, as we moved up the trail, three machine guns began firing at us. We hit the ground while elements of our patrol edged forward.

The Japs pinned us down for perhaps five minutes. All you could hear was the staccato barking of guns. Then silence. We crawled ahead and found three Nips dead by their guns. The trail behind the strip was intersected by a revetment. Our patrol had no choice except to cross the open area.

I was in one of the forward groups. We ordered the mean forward across the revetment. Our first two groups made it without trouble, slushing through the mud into the jungle trail on the other side. As the third group started to cross, the Japs, hidden craftily in trees and bushes, opened up with machine guns and small arms.

The squads which hadn’t yet crossed ducked back into cover, throwing themselves into the bush. We were split in half now, with the enemy on all sides.

Lieut. Jenkins King, of Georgia, and Lieut. Michael Metzger, of Kansas, had crossed the revetment and were attempting to keep contact with the men still on the other side. The area between the groups was under fire. It would have been suicide to run across.

There was a rustle in the bush. A Jap stepped onto the trail ten feet from Lieutenant King and tossed a grenade. King and other officers and men behind him hit the ground. Miraculously nobody was injured. The Nip stood there on the trail. As King started to get up, the Jap drew a pistol and fired. The lieutenant, whipping out his .45 shot him dead.

Lieut. Metzger was still trying to keep contact with the squads waiting to cross the revetment. The Japs could hear Metzger calling to the men, and the fellows answering from the other side. Soon the Nips began to imitate our calls. “Hay, Mac,” one would squeal. “It is all right now,. Come along across.”

Nobody fell for it. Most of the men in the patrol were Southerners and several came from Laurel, Miss. Every time one of our men called to someone else in the patrol, he began his message with those two words, “Laurel, Mississippi.” The closest Jap could come to imitating that was “Raurar, Miffiffippi.”

The rest of our patrol pushed up the trail until they reached a narrow stream known as Sewar Creek. This was the limit of our investigation as it would take us several hours to get back and it was already late afternoon.

The Japs evidently were concentrating around the revetment because we met only minor opposition as we went up the trail.

It was still raining when we turned back. We waded in a foot of mud. The fight at the revetment had died down a little now. Our two groups were still cut off from each other. So now it was we—the returning squads—who had to run that gauntlet.

But there are ways to fooling the Japs. The evidently expected us to make one mad rush across. Each man was covered by our guns; any Jap who opened on him would be the target of a firepower.

Our worst problem was getting two wounded men across. We made litters for them and sent along extra men with the litter bearers—a kind of armed army to cross those fifty yards of space. The Japs fired when they saw these little groups, but their aim was bad.

It was a long, nerve-wracking business, getting the men across. Everyone knew as he started that it might be his last few seconds alive. You gave a greeting of relief as you saw him get to safety.

But now our trail was blocked with Japs. Snipers and Jap machine gunners blasted during almost the entire trek back. Bullets came winging at us interrupting the shadows, yet the shadows were on our side. They afforded cover and the welcomed night was closing in on us.

It was 10 o’clock that night when we reached our lines. We hadn’t eaten since morning—there hadn’t been any time to take our rations. Our fatigues were entirely covered with mud and blood. A number of men who started out with us that morning didn’t make it back. Others lay in field hospitals.

But we had done the job required. We were able to bring back the reports on the nature of the terrain, the general disposition of the enemy and other vital information. A few more pieces to line the jig-saw puzzle of war headlines. No excitement. This morning the precise language of the communiqué would state, “Our patrols were active.”

HOPE BARNEY BOLLIN AMONG AMER. PRISONERS LIBERATED
(Continued From Page 1)
[Transcriber Note: The beginning of this article from Page 1 is not available for transcription at this time]

Dear Mom and Dad and everyone,
Yes it’s been another Christmas in Germany. I couldn’t believe it, if I wasn’t here. I know you’ve thought about us here and we’ve done the same. Too much! But we had a pretty good Christmas after all. The Red Cross made it pretty nice for us. You must give to them for without them, I think we would never make it. Some day you will know the truth of things here.

Hope you are all well and had a good Christmas. I know you did. Mom, I’m at the same farm I’ve always been at. It’s been an over a year already. I haven’t moved. As yet I have not received your Christmas parcel of September, but it will come later. Got two letters from you last Thursday you wrote in April. Sort of old. I’ve gotten October mail from you, however. Hope Gale is still OK. Incidentally, I’m all right but make no promises. I guess you’re having a heavy snow storm now. The last letter I got from Vi was written June 30. Hope you have sent some Cools, cigars, and Rum & Maple pipe tobacco. Send any kind of food. No clothes or soap. I can’t eat them. Time is sure going by. Tell people to write, Mom. Love, Barney
***

Sgt. Gayland Bollin reports from India their secret mission has been completed in record time and the convoys brought through 100%. He is back in his old base for a few days but soon must go another mission. He is in perfect health and eating three meals a day. He says that mail will be delayed for some time but he would like to hear from some of his pals in LeMars. He would also like to add that one trip around the world is sufficient for his life-time and he will be content to settle down in LeMars for the rest of his life.

SOLDIER’S NEWS
Sgt. Warren Nitschke, son of Otto Nitschke of Remsen, was mentioned in a radio interview by Gordon Gammack, war correspondent. He asked Sgt. Nitschke if the American’s were talking much about the Russian offensive. “That’s all they are talking about,” Nitschke replied. Other American soldiers said they regarded the Russian offensive’s progress as having a very direct bearing on the amount of fighting still to be done by the Americans.

Army Air Field, Casper, Wyo.—Pvt. Willard E. Anstine, husband of Katherine M. Anstine, Maurice, is an aerial gunner on a B-24 heavy bombardment crew now in its final stage of training at the Army air field, Casper, Wyo. Following completion of his training, he and his crew will be sent overseas to a combat area where they will help take up the fight against the enemy.

Henry Junck of Leeds returned last week from Temple, Texas, where he visited his son-in-law, Dean Scherner, who is a patient in a hospital at that place. Dean was badly wounded in the European theater of war. His condition is said to be improving but it is expected that he will have to remain in a hospital for a long time.

Warren Riediger, serving in the armed forces and stationed in Greenland, is spending a furlough visiting in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Riediger at Leeds.

Lt. Donald L. Cross of the Medical Corps, U.S. Naval reserve, son of Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Cross of Akron, who for some time was stationed at the Navy dispensary in Hawaii, has recently been transferred to the U.S. Naval hospital at San Diego, Calif., where he is receiving treatment for a knee injury sustained while in active service in the medical corps in the Southwest Pacific area.

Audrey Vernell Hiller, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Hiller of Marcus, has been commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps. She was graduated from St. Joseph’s college of nursing in Sioux City in 1944, and has now gone to Camp Carson, Colo., where she will take five weeks basic training.

Pfc. Elmer Ludwigs, who has been stationed at Fort Story, Va., since his induction into the Army, has now been moved to Camp Howze, Texas. Elmer has been in the Army three years. His brother, George Ludwigs, is stationed in the same camp. They haven’t seen each other for three and a half years. They were to meet Sunday afternoon.

Relatives received word that Fritz Mayrose was promoted from FC2c to FC2c in the U.S. Navy.

Pfc. Gene Henningfield arrived home last week from a camp in Texas, to spend a furlough in the home of his parents at Kingsley.

Mrs. Cora M. Hanlon left for Ocean Side, Calif., Thursday, after spending two weeks in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Rounds. Her son, Mark Rounds Jr., returned to the Naval training center at San Diego, where he will go on with further training.

Sgt. and Mrs. Arthur Susemihl and little son, Peter, are spending a few days at Golden, Colo. Sgt. Susemihl will leave today for Lake Charles, La., after spending a 20-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Susemihl of LeMars, and in the Cornelius Ludwig home in Remsen.

Harley Gregory Hall, 26, husband of Mrs. Babel Brown Hall, 201 Seventh Street, SE LeMars, is receiving his initial naval indoctrination at the Naval training center, Great Lake, Ill. When his recruit training is completed, he will receive a period of leave.

Mr. and Mrs. J. E. O’Meara of Hawarden received word last week from the War Department that their son, Pfc. Paul O’Meara, had been slightly wounded in Luxembourg. This is the second son of Mr. and Mrs. O’Meara to be wounded in this war as Pfc. Robert O’Meara was wounded in Leyte. Robert has recovered and is back with is unit again. Mr. and Mrs. O’Meara also received a telegram from their son, Lieut. J. T. O’Meara, who is a pilot and has seen action in the Pacific, that he has returned to the United States. Lt. O’Meara participated in the bombing on Leyte and his plane was based on the Ommaney carrier, which is now reported to have been sunk by the Japs. Besides John and Robert, Mr. and Mrs. O’Meara have another son, Cpl. Leonard O’Meara, of the Medical Corps, who served on Leyte.

Mrs. Densel Roberts, who makes her home with her mother, Mrs. John Heuer of Hawarden, has received word from her husband, Sgt. Roberts, that he is a German prisoner of war. Sgt. Roberts was reported missing in action in France last September 13 and last week was the first word that Mrs. Roberts had received from him or the government since that time. Sgt. Roberts wrote his wife on September 29, informing her that he was a prisoner but this card was written December 18 was received last week. Mrs. Roberts and daughter are visiting in Omaha at the present and were there at the time the letters were received.

Mrs. Laura Wendt of Sioux City was notified by the War Department Feb. 13, that her son, Pvt. George Wendt, was missing in action since January 27. Pvt. Wendt, 37, was born and raised in LeMars high school in 1926 and had been working at Roberts Dairy in Sioux City prior to his entering the armed services. He joined the Army in August 1943, and he was not give a furlough before he was sent overseas. He was sent to Italy where he was in the invasion of France from the south. Mrs. Wendt was not at home when the telegram arrived as she had gone to Idaho to see her son, Roy Wendt, who has just completed his training and is on leave before being assigned to a ship.

AKRON SOLDIER IS WAR VICTIM
Private Spirling Anderson Dies In Action Somewhere Over France

Pvt. Spirling (“Bud”) Anderson, 39, Akron, has been reported killed in action over France on February 2, notice having been received by his wife, Edna, of Akron. Pvt. Anderson was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Anderson, Akron, and was graduated from high school there. Most of his adult life had been spent in the contracting and building business. He enlisted in the service January 3, 1944, and went overseas in July last year.
He is survived by the widow, a son aged 7 years, his parents, three brothers, C. W. and H. P. of Akron, and Carl L. in the air corps at Great Bend, Kan., and three sisters, Mrs. L. L. Stinton, Sioux City, Mrs. George Sawyer of Hawarden, and Mrs. Forrest Akers of Chicago.

Merrill (Special)—Mr. and Mrs. David Woodley have received a telegram informing them that their son, Cpl. Elwyn Woodley, has been wounded in action in Germany. He was in an anti-tank company in the First Army. Two brothers, Merlin and Milo Woodley, are in the service, and another brother, Chester Woodley, has been honorably discharged.

~Daniel W. Taylor has completed 12 weeks specialized training in topography and computing at the engineer school at Fort Belvoir, Va., on Feb. 17. He is a private in the engineers corps. Pvt. Taylor is 37 years old. He graduated from Kingsley high school and Arkansas City College, Arkansas City, Kan. He entered the Army March 31, 1944 at Camp Dodge. His wife is the former Lynette Veidt, who lives at 335 Third Ave. SE.

~Mrs. Elvit Falk has received a letter from the chaplain of the squadron to which her husband, Lieut. Elvit Falk belonged. He wrote that the crash in which her husband met death was at the take off. The bomber had gained an altitude of about 20 feet, when a wing dipped, striking the ground and wrecking the plane.

Robert Reeves, son of Dr. and Mrs. J.L. Reeves, has been promoted from second to first lieutenant in the front-line medical unit in which he has been serving under fire for months. He sent home the insignia from a Nazi officer’s uniform. He captured the officer while in no-man’s land, bringing in wounded. Of equal interest to his parents is the shoulder patch of the 80th Division, showing the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia, where the 80th was activated.

15TH AAF in Italy—At a recent ceremony held on a 15th AAF Flying Fortress airdrome in southern Italy, S. Sgt. Victor Plendl, Hinton, was awarded the air medal for “meritorious achievement in aerial flight while participating in sustained operational activity against the enemy.” His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Plendl, reside at Hinton.

Mr. and Mrs. B. A. Bogenrief, of Merrill, left tonight for El Paso, Tex., where they will visit their son, Jim Bogenrief, who is stationed at Fort Bliss. He plays in the band of the anti-aircraft unit.

S. Sgt. Donald Lancaster, who has been stationed at Drew Field, Fla., has been home for a few days to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Lancaster, now living at Wichita, Kan., before going overseas. He is being transferred to North Carolina, where he expects to leave the states in a short time.

Morse Hoorneman left Monday night for Camp Meade, Maryland, a new Army assignment for him. He has just completed his rifleman’s training, and said he would not be greatly surprised to find himself going overseas with an infantry division.

Pfc. Vincent Geary arrived home from an eastern hospital to spend a 28-day leave in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Geary.

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Lorenzen received two letters from their son, Pfc. Webster Lorenzen. One was written Feb. 1 and the other Feb. 4. This is the first word the Lorenzens have had from him since he left this country about a month ago. He wrote that he is stationed in Italy. His plane was met by Robert Hasbrook of Sioux City, formerly of LeMars, and a Lindsey boy of Sioux City.

Mrs. Arnold J. Robinette arrived home from Lake Charles, La., where she lived the past year to be near her husband who was stationed at the air base there. Pfc. Robinette was recently transferred to the infantry and sent to Camp Howze, Texas.

Mrs. Matt Ruba has received word from her son, Norbert, informing her that he is already at the fighting front, in Belgium. He has been assigned to the infantry. No word has been received for some time from her other son, Matt, a prisoner of war of the Japanese since Corregidor fell. He is on the main Japanese island of Honshu.

LIEUT. COL. PAUL H. FOWLER BACK IN U. S. WITH WAR WOUNDS
New York—Twelve Iowa soldiers were among 988 western front battle casualties who arrived aboard three army transports at the New York port of embarkation from Europe Sunday.

The Iowa soldiers and their next of kin included Lt. Col. Paul H. Fowler, of LeMars.

SEAMAN IS SAFE
(Ireton Special)
Word was received here of the safety of Seaman Robert Hemmingson, who was on the USS Ommaney Bay, when it sunk recently in the Pacific. He telephoned his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Hemmingson of Bremerton, Wash., that he had arrived safely in the states and is on his way home. Lt. J.V. O’Meara, son of Mr. and Mrs. James O’Meara, a pilot on the same carrier, has also arrived safely in the states.

Pfc. Wilfred Gill of Marcus is now hospitalized in England, as a result of a wound received in Germany, January 23. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Gill, of Marcus, received the telegram from the war department last Friday. He has been awarded the Purple Heart.

Previously Pfc. Gill received the expert infantrymen’s badge, the combat infantrymen’s badge and the European theater of operations ribbon.

He entered the service in March 1942 and received his basic training at Fort Sill, Okla. He then attended the University of Mississippi and was sent to Camp McClain, Miss. He arrived overseas in August, 1944.

Pvt. Elmer Anderson, 26, of Akron, is recovering in an Army hospital in England from shell wounds in both feet. He has the Purple Heart with oakleaf cluster. The Akron soldier was in a foxhole in the Hurtgen forest when a mortar shell exploded in a tree overhead, fragments coming straight down and hitting his feet as he lay in the hole. His first wound was in Africa when a shell fragment pierced his hand. In civil life he is a farmer.

Pvt. Henry Gensink, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerritt Gesink of Orange City, was killed in action in Germany Feb. 1, according to a telegram received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gerritt Gensink. They boy was not yet 19 years of age at the time of his death. He was drafted June 1, 1944, and sent overseas January 5, this year. He was sent into action almost at once. Memorial services were held at the 1st Christian Reformed Church at Orange City Friday.

*****
Lieut. John Kissinger, commanding officer of an air corps service squadron comprising about 250 men, and his wife and baby, Patty, has arrived in LeMars for a 10-day furlough, after which he will return to Patterson Field, Ohio, for probable overseas assignment. He expects to go to an advanced base in the European area.

15th A.A.F. in Italy: At a recent ceremony held on a 15th AAF flying fortress airdrome in southern Italy, S. Sgt Victor Plendl of Hinton was awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in aerial flight while participating in sustained operational activity against the enemy. The 25-year-old graduate of Union Consolidated school was employed by the Lockheed Aircraft Co. of Burbank, California, before he entered the Army in 1942. He completed radio school in Chicago and won his wings at Fort Myers, Florida, in June. He left the United States October 31, 1944, and has flown seven missions over enemy territory as radio operator and gunner on a 15th AAF Flying Fortress. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Valentine Plendl.

Camp Hood, Tex.: Sgt. Technician Richard Lund of Kingsley has been promoted to that grade from the grade of corporal technician at the infantry replacement center here. As a member of the cadre at the infantry replacement training center, Sgt. Lund is aiding in the instruction of new men in the infantry as they receive their basic training.

Wayne Sheehan, S1c, writes his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Sheehan of Sioux City, that he was recently operated on for appendicitis. Seaman Sheehan is stationed somewhere in the southwest Pacific. Mr. and Mrs. Sheehan have another son, Cpl. Sheehan, who is also located somewhere in the Pacific islands. The last word they heard from him was in a letter dated December 5.

Pvt. Richard Lauters is spending a 6-day furlough in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lauters. He is en route from Boca Raton, Fla., to Kingman, Ariz.

Wallace Brabander is expected to arrive from an eastern camp within a day or two to visit his parents.

Jack Manning, who is in the merchant marine, left this morning for Marcus Hook, Pa., where he will join the rest of his crew.

Richard M. Schneider, S2c, is spending part of his boot leave with his sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Hahn. From here he will go to visit Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Schneider of Scotland, S.D.

Jim Carey arrived home from Dubuque to spend a 9-day leave in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Carey.

Chief Petty Officer Thomas Boyle arrived back at Treasure Island after spending a 30-day leave in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Boyle.

Mr. and Mrs. Orrin Kelly received a letter Saturday from their son, Pvt. Edward Kelly, dated February 12. It said that he was somewhere in France. He said he arrived safely but otherwise gave very little information.