Iowa
Old Press
Sioux City Journal
Sioux City, Woodbury co. Iowa
September 3, 1943
Naval Radioman, Battle Veteran, Home on Leave After
Sinking of His Ship in Pacific Encounter —
Bob LaPlante Was in Big Engagements, Helped Take 3 Isles
By Boyd McDonald
It was about 4 p.m. June 30, Pacific time- a bright day with only
a few clouds- and Radioman First Class Bob LaPlante, son of Mrs.
T.D. LaPlante, 1423 W. Fourth Street, was taking a shower on the U.S.S.
McCawley, flagship of an attacking fleet in the south
Pacific near Rendova and New Georgia Islands.
There had already been two dive bomber attacks on the McCawley
that day last June, and you could see dog-flights all day in the
air, but American fighter planes had prevented the Jap planes
from planting their bombs on the McCawley.
Then 25 Jap torpedo planes came. The first four failed to make a
hit, but the fifth struck and damaged the battleship. A cargo
boat towed the damaged ship while seven more attacking planes-
dive bombers this time- tried to sink it. The death blow came
when a Jap submarine turned loose three “fish”- and one
of them hit its mark.
Ordered to Leave Ship
The order came to abandon ship LaPlante, by this time thoroughly
interrupted in taking his shower, grabbed for a piece of clothing
and ran for the lifeline a nearby destroyer had thrown to the
sinking McCawley, leaving all his money, clothing and possessions
to go down with the ship—but managing to save two
photographs of his “best girl.”
All survived except 15 men in the engine room. “Everything
went pretty good,” LaPlante remembers. “We kept the
flag up.” He says it feels “pretty good” to be
back, especially when he can see his girl from New York during
his 30-day survivor’s leave, but “none of the old gang
is around."
Had Other Thrills
The June 30th sinking is only a portion off the war thrills
LaPlante can tell. He was aboard the same ship, McCawley,
when it made the trip to Iceland on June 2, a trip which Hitler
said would never be made because of the submarine menace. In
April 1942, the McCawley was assigned to south Pacific
duty. In that theater, LaPlante and the McCawley participated in
the initial assault on Guadalcanal in August 1942, and in the
attack on the Russell Islands.
Forty Jap torpedo planes attacked the flagship August 7 and a Jap
shore battery on Guadalcanal opened up on the ship October 12.
LaPlante made 13 trips to Guadalcanal, 12 of them under fire, and
participated in several major battles.
Modest in Account
And now, home on leave, he tells about it all quietly and
modesty, as he would tell about a basketball game at Central
High, from which he was graduated in 1939. He wears the national
defense bar, a star for duty outside of continental limits, the
blue and gold striped naval expeditionary medal, the American
campaign bar, a silver star for five battles and the figure
“3” for the number of Islands he helped “take
over.”
Radioman LaPlante enlisted in the reserves in 1938, was called in
1941 for training at an Indianapolis radio school. When his leave
is up, he is going to get back in the fracas via a new destroyer.
[Transcribed by C.S., June 2016]
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Sioux City Journal
Sioux City, Woodbury co., Iowa
September 9, 1943
POLISH SERGEANT REACHES GOAL—U. S. CITIZENSHIP
Sergeant Henry E. Gietek, accompanied by two friends
from the Sioux City air base, walked into the courthouse and took
care of a matter that had been neglected for about 30 years. When
that was properly attended to, he held in his hands with pride
the papers proving that he was a United States citizen.
“Now be careful of those papers, don’t lose
‘em,” Max H. Watkins, naturalization agent, called
laughingly to the young sergeant as he was walking away, flanked
by friends. “I’ll take good care of them,” the new
citizen assured him, with decision.
Sergeant Gietek is one of the many American boys of foreign born
parents who came to the United States when a small child and grew
to manhood here knowing no other country, and whose allegiance to
the Stars and Stripes is as loyal as that of his friends, born on
United States soil. Sergeant Gietek was born in Perada, Poland,
June 6, 1912, and was only 1 year old when his parents landed in
New York, July 13, 1913.
The family settled at Westfield, Mass., and the five sons, all of
whom were to fight for Uncle Sam in the present war, grew to
manhood there. Alec is in the Navy, and has been for 10 years.
Chester is in the merchant marines, and already has made two
trips “across.” Stanley is in the armored forces
overseas, and Joseph is in the air pursuit force in Florida.
Sergeant Gietek has been in the air force 16 months, enlisting
first as a private. His outfit is a bombardment division at the
Sioux City airbase. The witnesses who signed his papers were
Master Sergeant Richard F. Murray and Corporal W. Love.
[transcribed by L.Z., November 2014]
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Sioux City Journal
Sioux City, Woodbury co. Iowa
September 17, 1943
Our Neighbors in the Service
Sheldon, Iowa—
Roger Ramsey of Sheldon is stationed at Camp Maxey, Texas, in a
tank destroyer unit. At the completion of his tests he hopes to
be sent to some college for further training and study.
Storm Lake, Iowa—
Kenneth LeRoy Hoffman, son of N.M. Hoffman, has received his
first-class petty officer’s rating. He has been serving on a
troop transport.
William R. (Dick) Danforth, who is receiving training in the
glider infantry division at Camp Mackall, North Carolina, has
been promoted to corporal. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. C.W.
Danforth.
Private First Class Ernest Stout is home on a 12-day furlough
from Camp Mackall, North Carolina.. He is with an infantry glider
division.
Alta, Iowa-
Donald Clark, son of Supt. And Mrs. L.A. Clark of Alta, has been
advanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the army air force.
He has advanced rapidly since graduating from Kelly field, Texas
in 1939.
Estherville, Iowa—
Chief Warrant Officer Elmer Olson, son of Henry Olson, northwest
of Estherville, was killed in action somewhere on the north
African-Sicily front July 10, according to a telegram from the
government received by his wife, who lives in Oswego, N.Y.. Olson
previously had been reported missing in action in Sicily. Olson
was born in Estherville February 3, 1902. He enlisted in the army
in the fall of 1921 and was commissioned chief warrant officer
shortly after arriving in the north African area.
Hull, Iowa—
Corporal Peter C. Roozing left for Camp Pyote, Texas, after
spending a six-day furlough with his parents.
[Transcribed by C.S., January 2018]
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Sioux City Journal
Sioux City, Woodbury co. Iowa
September 18, 1943
Our Neighbors in the Service
Rock Valley, Iowa—Mr. and Mrs. Louis Achterholf were
informed that their son, James Louis, a member of the Seabees
construction battalion, had been killed in action. James was last
heard from in north Africa about September 10. He had been in
Sicily and had seen two days of fighting some time before his
letter arrived here. He was engaged in transporting supplies.
James entered the service January 6, 1943 and received his boot
training at Davisville, R.I. He is the first casualty from the
Rock Valley vicinity.
Akron, Iowa—
Private First Class William Milbrodt, son of Herman Milbrodt of
east of Akron, is spending a furlough here from his military
duties at camp George West, Colorado.
Private First Class Donald Milbrodt of March field, Riverside,
California, arrived to spend a furlough with his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. John Milbrodt.
John H. Lockwood, accompanied by his wife, arrived from the
merchant marine base at Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, to spend a
furlough with his wife’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Cassen
and at the home of his brother, Ernest Lockwood.
Alta, Iowa-
Lieut. Lillian Anderson, daughter of Mrs. A.J. Anderson of Alta
is being transferred to New York and possible overseas duty. She
joined the army nurses corps in January and trained at Fort
Leonard Wood, Missouri.
[Transcribed by C.S., January 2018]
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Sioux City Journal
Sioux City, Woodbury co. Iowa
September 24, 1943
Our Neighbors in the Service
Odebolt, Iowa
Corporal Harvey H. Keller, technician fifth grade, of Camp
Stewart, Georgia, is spending a furlough with his wife and
parents, Mr. and Mrs. H.G. Keller.
Donald Gardner, of Camp Ward, Farragut, Idaho, spent last week
with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jake Gardner.
Richard Frevert has recently been commissioned a second
lieutenant and came from Chicago to visit his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. F. A. Frevert, before he left for Oregon where he is
stationed in the weather wing of the air corps.
Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Ackerson have heard that their son, Staff
Sergeant LeRoy Ackerson is with General Douglas MacArthur’s
headquarters and her recently been transferred from Australia to
New Guinea.
Sergeant Arnold Schrooten of Camp Carson, Colorado, spent last
week with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Schrooten.
Earl McFarland of Kingsville, Texas, is visiting his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Earl McFarland, Sr.
Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Vernia have received word that their son, Merle
J. Vernia, has graduated from the Private First Class school at
Keesler Field, Biloxi, Liberator bomber mechanics Miss.
Adair Man, yeoman third class, of San Francisco, California, is
visiting his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. August Man. He has been
assigned to submarine duty and will go from here to New London,
Conn.
Mrs. George Kessler has received a letter from her nephew,
Corporal Leonard Ellis, from Sicily. He has recently been in
Africa.
M.L. Huglin, machinists mate first class, is in the federal
hospital at Long Beach, California after being injured while
working with a construction battalion.
Armstrong, Iowa -
Private First Class Fay Moore of Elgin Field, Florida, has been
visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Moore, while on furlough.
Lieut. Robert R. Sorenson of the army air corps and Mrs. Sorenson
have been home while Lieut. Sorenson was on furlough.
Frank Woodbeck, seaman first class, has been home on leave. He
left a west coast port in March 1942 and this is his first visit
to the mainland since that date. Woodbeck has three service
ribbons, the American defense service medal, American area
campaign medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific area campaign medal, with
four stars.
Moorhead, Iowa-
Donald A. York, seaman second class, has returned to Farragut,
Idaho after a 15-day leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert
York.
Arnolds Park, Iowa—
A ribbon in lieu of a good conduct medal, has been presented to
Private First Class Ross Allen of a bakery company, by his
commanding officer, Col. A.D. Cowley. The medal was one of 10
given at a single ceremony recently. Mrs. C.B. Elston of Arnolds
Park is his mother.
Sanborn, Iowa—
Sergeant William Zabilka, Jr. son of Rev. and Mrs. William
Zabilka, is stationed at Yuma, Ariz. Air base doing clerical
work.
Aviation Cadet Marcus Cavanaugh has been transferred from San
Marcos, Texas to San Antonio, Texas for primary flight training.
Sergeant Ogden Childers with an engineer’s battalion, has
been transferred from Camp Barkeley, Texas to Camp Grannett,
California. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. P.A. Childers.
Jean Vander Wande, seaman second class is attending ordnance
school at Norman, Oklahoma.
Corporal Technician Delbert Johnston, a baker, is in North
Africa.
Leonard Foley, in the army stationed at Camp Robinson, Arkansas,
ranks as a corporal technician. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo
Foley.
Marion Walthinzen, son of Mrs. Ida Walthinzen, now ranks as
corporal and is stationed at the air base at Waycross, Ga.
James Hakeman of the navy is taking basic training at Tucson,
Ariz. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Hakeman.
Corporal Alden C. Smith of Fort Knox, Kentucky, is spending a
furlough visiting his wife and son.
Aviation Cadet Ralph DeVall, stationed at San Antonio, Texas has
been transferred to the British ferry command. He is the son of
Mr. and Mrs. Otis DeWall.
Henry Kreykes, with an engineer’s battalion of the army
stationed at Alliance, Nebraska, visited a few days with his
mother, Mrs. Hattie Kreykes.
Correctionville, Iowa—
E.H. Mamman has been promoted to seaman first class. He is the
son of Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Mammen. Private Ray Mammen, another
son, is stationed at Camp Polk, Louisiana.
Ireton, Iowa—
Seaman Clayton Schouten, Chicago, spent a few days with his
grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Schouten and Mrs. B. Goodmanson.
Theodore Feenstra, who has been stationed at Camp Roberts,
California, received an honorable discharge because of a minor
disability.
Private First Class Clarence Statema, who is stationed at Camp
Campbell, Kentucky, spent a three-day furlough with his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Pete.
Hospers, Iowa—
Walter Hvink and Randal Stover passes their final physical
examination for the army and will leave here in October.
Private First Class Jerry Oldenkamp left for Camp Gruber,
Oklahoma, after spending a furlough with his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Gerrit Oldenkamp.
Master Sergeant and Mrs. Clouse Loewen and daughter, left for
Pyate, Texas after visiting his mother, Mrs. John Loewen.
Privates Richard Landman and Arie Brink left for the west coast
after spending furloughs with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. K.
Landman and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Brink.
Seaman William Kersten, Jr., left for the west coast after
spending a short furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William
Kersten.
[Transcribed by C.S., January 2018]