Iowa Old Press
Alton Democrat
April 19, 1945
Granville Men in Service.
Pfc. Francis VanBergen departed Tuesday for Atlanta, Neb. where he is stationed, after spending a furlough with his mother, Mrs. Ida VanBergen and other relatives.
Cpl. Herman VonderHarr, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank VonderHarr of Merrill, informed his parents of his safe arrival in France. The VonderHarr family are well remembered here, farming around this community for many years.
Pfc. Emil Bueltel returned Wednesday to his home here after spending some time in a hospital in Texas, after returning from overseas. He has been given a medical discharge.
S/Sgt. Tony Schwarz departed Tuesday for New York City, after spending a furlough at the homes of his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Schwarz and his sister, Mrs. Wm. P. Ahlers.
Lt. Junior Grade Harland Warren and wife, the former Helen Bowers, departed Tuesday for Chicago after spending a week in the parental F. O. Bowers home. Lt. Warren spent 17 months in the Pacific and will now be stationed at Charleston, S.C. Mrs. Warren has been employed at the Great Lakes Naval Base at Chicago, but plans to accompany Lt. Warren to Charleston and reside there.
Sgt. Bob Streff, son of Mr. and Mrs. Felix Streff of Alton, visited friends here Thursday. He is spending a furlough at the home of his parents.
Rock Valley:
Lawrence Postma arrived home Friday morning from the Great Lakes Naval Training Station at Chicago for a leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Postma, after having completed his boot training. He is the third son to be in service: Martin with the army in Europe and Gerrit in the South Pacific region.
Fredrick Osborne, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Osborne, has finished his boot training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station at Chicago and arrived home Friday morning to spend a weeks leave with his family here.
Adam VanderBok, Radar Man 1st Class arrived home Friday morning from New York. He intends to leave Wednesday evening to visit his sister, Mrs. Tommy VandenBosch at Racine, Wis.
J. Francis Rielly has been promoted from a Cpl. to Sergeant and is now in the South Pacific area.
Elmer DeWitt left last week for service in the Army. Elmer is the third son of Mr. and Mrs. Evert DeWitt to be called for service. His brother, Marvin DeWitt is a prisoner of war in Germany.
Meets Chapl. Schumacher
In a letter dated April 2, Pfc. Gerald Keizer writes his mother, Mrs. John Keizer, and sister here:
“Today I had one of the most pleasant surprises that I’ve had for ages. This morning we had a lecture by the Catholic chaplain from Regimental. Just guess who it was? It was none other than Chaplain George Schumacher, son of Nick of Alton.
“I thought during his talk that I recognized him so I went up to him after his talk and asked him if he was from Iowa. He said, ‘yes, Sioux City’ and asked me where I was from. When I told him he said, ‘that’s were my folks live.’ I was only able to talk to him for a very short time but I plan on going over to see him this afternoon, as he asked me to. Sure is nice meeting someone from home, as he’s the first one I’ve met since I went overseas.”
In Ship’s Office.
Edwin Karssen S2/c writes the Legion Auxiliary in a letter dated Jan. 10, in the South Pacific to thank the ladies for the box of cookies sent him. He is working in the Ship’s Office and hopes in time to get a Yeoman’s rating. He also takes care of the ship’s service store. He has not met anybody that he knows.
On Furlough.
Pvt. John Reuvers, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Reuvers of Boyden is home on furlough from Camp Roberts, Calif. A reunion of relatives is being planned in his honor.
On Furlough.
Pvt. Matthew Verhoef arrived Sunday from California to spend his furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. Verhoef.