Iowa Old Press
The Alton Democrat, June 22, 1944
Two Granville Boys Injured in France
Two Granville boys have been wounded or injured in the Normandy invasion, according to cablegrams received by their parents.
Magnus Schwebach, a paratrooper, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nic Schwebach, is recovering in hospital from leg injuries. Francis Van Bergen, son of Mrs. Ida Van Bergen, is recovering from shrapnel wounds.
Lawrence Wiltgen Wounded In France On Invasion Day
Staff Sgt. Lawrence Wiltgen, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Wiltgen of Alton, was “slightly” wounded in the June 6th invasion, according to a cablegram from the War Department received here by his parents and forwarded to them in California where they are visiting their daughters, one of whom is with the WACs in San Francisco.
The message read:
“Regret to inform you your son, Lawrence J. Wiltgen, was on six June slightly wounded in action in France. You will be advised as reports of condition are received. ~Ulio, the Adjutant General.”
S/Sgt. Wiltgen has three brothers and one sister in the service, giving the family a 5-star service flag. He is a paratrooper and was an instructor at Ft. Benning before being assigned to a regiment for combat duty. It was long his ambition to “get into the scrap.”
T/Sgt. Jos. Wiltgen, after two years in the Aleutians, is now at Camp Jos. T. Robinson, Ark.; Sgt. Charles Wiltgen is with an ordnance regiment in Italy; Pvt. Eugene Wiltgen is in the Army Air Corps at Amarillo , Texas; Pvt. Vivian Wiltgen is with the 814th WAC Hq. Co. Gardner Field, Calif.
ALTON SOLDIER HOME FROM ANZIO BEACH
Sgt. Bob Streff Served in Africa, Sicily and Italy.
“Hello, Mom, How about some board and room?” was the telephone greeting of Sgt. Robert Streff to his mother on his return from over two years service with the U.S. Army overseas.
His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Felix Streff, has heard from his buddies that their son was enroute home, but had no word from him until he telephones from Sioux City last Wednesday. So his mother did not recognize his voice and only replied, “Why, I guess so---“ before she “came to” and discovered who was talking.
Since Bob has been in the African, Sicilian and Italian campaigns he has probably seen more action than any other soldier in this vicinity. His service stripes shows a strip of green for service in Ireland; brown for the deserts of Africa; blue for service on French soil; and stripes for Sicily and Italy; also the stripe to show he served before Pearl Harbor.
Asked which campaign was the toughest he replied that all were tough enough but that the Anzio beachhead “was slaughter.” He went into action the second day after landing and the Germans came on in waves and were mowed down by our men. Our losses were heavy, too, for all the men could do was “dig in” and fight off the Germans until more forces could be landed.
A stocky, well-tanned soldier with a merry smile, Bob has lost every speck of excess poundage and looks every inch the soldier. He left Italy the first week of May and from several sources, the family learned he was enroute home. Naturally, they are delighted to have him back and have forgotten the anxious years now in the past.
LOVELY WEDDING FOR MISS KINNEY-EVERILD NIEHUS
At eight o’clock Tuesday morning, June 20, in St. Mary’s church at Alton, the pastor, Very Rev. J. M. Neppel, read the nuptial mass uniting Miss Alberta Kinney, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Kinney of Alton, and Everild Niehus, son of Charles Niehus of Remsen.
The bride was charming in a lovely gown of embroidered chiffon en train, over sating made with a sweetheart neckline trimmed in gold sequins. Her fingertip veil was held in place with a crown of pearls and she carried a shower bouquet of chiffon daisies and red roses, white streamers dotted with swansonia and snapdragons. Her only ornament was a necklace of pearls, gift of the groom.
The bride’s attendant was Miss Magdalene Kinney. She was attractive in a floor length gown of pink marquisette over satin. Her shoulder length veil fell from a tiara of rose buds. She carried an arm bouquet chiffon daises and pink roses with baby breath.
The best man, Ivo Kinney, and bridegroom, both wore brown suits with white carnation boutonnieres.
At 12 o’clock a three-course dinner was served to the immediate families at the home of the bride’s parents. The dinning room was beautifully decorated in the bride’s chosen colors of pink and white. A 3-tier wedding cake adorned the center of the table. The wedding dinner was prepared and served by a group of girl friends of the bride.
Mr. Niehus was a graduate of St. Mary’s Academy at Alton and has been successful in her teaching career.
The bridegroom served four years in the U.S. Navy and has received an honorable discharge.