Iowa
Old Press
Sioux City Journal-Tribune
Sioux City, Woodbury co., Iowa
September 12, 1944
In Uniform
Howard William Hana, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Hana of
Richmond, Cal., has been promoted to corporal in the C.B.I. air
service command. His wife resides at their home, 1118 Sioux
Street. Cpl. Hana has been in service since March 1943.
Aviation Cadet Stewart R. Dudley, 3407 Jackson Street, has been
graduated from primary training course at an army air base unit,
Curtis field, Brady, Texas and has been sent to Majors field,
Granville, Texas for basic training.
Clifford H.P. Anderson, whose wife lives at 2219 S. Cypress
Street, has joined the army postal service after his recent
graduation from a six-week course at the army’s postal
school at Camp Lee, Va.
Cpl. Arnold E. Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charley Smith of
Mitchell, S.D. is spending a few days of a 21-day furlough with
friends in Sioux City. He has been overseas 21 months, serving
both in New Guinea and Australia. He wears the Pacific campaign
medal with two stars and the presidential citation badge. Before
entering the service he was employed in Sioux City.
Second Lieut. Elliott Watkins Woolridge, son of Mr. and Mrs. Watt
Woolridge, 1920 Summit Street, has been awarded his wings as a
pilot in the army air forces at Turner field, Albany, Ga.
Pvt. Dale W. Jamieson, 4503 Third Avenue, has been wounded in
action; it was announced by the war department. He was serving in
the European theater.
Pfc. John V. Larson, son of Mrs. Lena Larson, 1509 W. Lunah
Avenue, recently was promoted to that grade at the infantry
replacement training center at Camp Hood, Texas. As a member of
the cadre, Pfc. Larson is aiding in the instruction of new men in
basic training.
Sgt. William Stonehocker is home on furlough after serving 28
months overseas and is visiting his mother, Mrs. Hattie
Stonehocker, and sister, Mrs. Don W. Riedesel, 1624 W. 17th
Street. He will leave Wednesday for Hot Springs, Ark.
Donald J. Jahn, seaman first Class, has been taking advanced
training in communication school at Oceanside, Cal., after
completing study at the naval training school in radio at
Farragut, Idaho. He is the nephew of William Sparr of Moville.
S. Sgt. Earl E. Potts, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gary V. Potts, 3310
Ridge Avenue, is serving as a mechanic with a fighter unit of the
Fifth air force in the southwest Pacific. He enlisted in the army
in January, 1942, and shortly thereafter was assigned to his
present unit. His brother, Merrill E. Potts is serving in the
navy also in the Pacific area.
Pfc. Duane Thies, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Thies of
Correctionville, took part with the marines in the liberation of
Guam.
Pfc. E.R. Evans has returned to Seattle, Wash. after a 21-day
furlough. He visited his mother, Mrs. J.W. Bradley, 1213 14th
Street. Enlisting in the army in 1939, he has served several
years in the Hawaiian Islands. He is connected with radio service
of the field artillery.
William A. McArthur, fireman first class, recently spent five
days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. N. McArthur, 3405 41st
Street. After graduating from diesel engineering school at
Gulfport, Miss., he was sent to advanced diesel school at
Cleveland, O., and now will report to Little Creek, Va. for four
weeks of amphibious training. His brother, Eugene, petty officer
second class, is on the U.S.S. Arkansas, which took part
in the invasion of Normandy. Both are graduates of Leeds High
School, where they were active in athletics.
Capt. Donald S. Peter, 1616 W. First Street, now at the
redistribution station at Miami Beach waiting for assignment, He
was with the judge advocate during 21 months in the North African
theater. His wife, Marie, resides at 2511 Jennings Street. He is
a graduate of Central High School and attended Morningside
College, the University of Iowa and the University of South
Dakota. Prior to entering service he was an attorney in Sioux
City.
Pvt. Warren H. Lambert, husband of Mrs. Gladys Lambert, 2904
Garretson Avenue, had been graduated from the armored school tank
department at Fort Knox, Ky.
T. Sgt. Irvin Lunin, 2200 Rebecca Street, has been awarded the
technician’s silver badge with forecaster’s bar in
recognition of competent work with the army air forces weather
service. Sgt. Lunin is on detached service from the 25th weather
region as a forecaster at Syracuse army air base.
Pfc. Kenneth J. Sheridan, 1009 Eighth Street, is returning home
after 27 months overseas with the 34th division. He was a
rifleman throughout the African campaign, taking part in such
battles as Fondouck and hill 609. While serving on the Fifth army
front in Italy he was made a driver, hauling rations and
ammunitions to the front at night. He took part in the crossing
of the Volturno River, Cassino, the Anzio beachhead and the
liberation of Rome and Leghorn region. He was awarded the combat
infantryman’s badge. He left Sioux City with the National
Guard unit which made up the original 34th division.
Arriving at Camp Wolters, Texas to begin basic training as
infantryman at the replacement training center there is a group
of Sioux Cityans, the camp public relations officer has
announced. The men include Verlin C. Benson, 725 S. Rustin; Paul
E. Nye, 210 W. Sixth; Everett D. Bergsmith, 609 W. Fifth; Melvin
B. Pinchot, 413 Allan; Charles F. Cunningham, 101 Sioux; John A.
Schultz, 2407 Silver; Orie M. Cakebread, 1022 Irene; Donald E.
Boyle, 1806 Center; Lavern H Britton, 2317 Dacotah, and Marvin C.
Craft, 1517 W. Second Street.
Pvt. Timothy R. McLaughlin, 3218 Fifth Avenue, has been cited by
his regiment of the 88th infantry division and awarded the combat
infantryman badge for participation in combat with the enemy on
the Fifth army front in Italy.
Harry S. Holtze, 1112 26th Street, has been promoted to the rank
of captain, announced Brig. Gen. Morris Berman, commanding
general of the San Antonio, Tex. service command, Kelly field,
Capt. Holtze is plans and training officer and technical supply
officer of the 314th dep. Supply squadron. Before entering the
service in 1942, Capt. Holtze was employed as a civil engine in
Trinidad, British West Indies. He was graduated from Iowa State
College in 1941, and is member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity
and Scaboard at Blade, military honor society. Prior to
assignment to Kelly field, Capt. Holtze was stationed at Waller
field, British West Indies, air transportation officer.
[transcribed by C.S., March 2015]
Sioux City Journal
Sioux City, Woodbury co. Iowa
September 15, 1944
Young Officer, Wounded in Italy, Had Thrilling
Experiences on War Front - Lieut. Leafstone, Here from Hospital,
Still on Crutches
Although seriously wounded in an engagement, November 29
five miles south of Cassino, Italy, Second Lieut. John (Johnny)
H. Leafstone, 22, was able to flash a smile when he chatted with
former business associates and co-workers Thursday morning in The
Journal building. Well on the road to recovery from his war
wounds, the young officer, walking with the aid of crutches, said
he had had a thrilling experience and he isn’t so “bad
off after he had looked around him.”
Johnny said that in the engagement his division had been on and
off the line for about 62 days. From time to time soldiers were
pulled into the reserve but not out of the range of artillery
fire. “They were laying them all around,” said Lieut.
Leafstone, once employed in the stationary department of Perkins
Bros, “And I was hit by shrapnel from a mortar shell. The
terrain was rough, the visibility poor and it rained
continuously. We were advancing.”
He said he had his right leg broken and also suffered a chest
injury. He left here with the Iowa National Guard, spent 10
months in Ireland, a few weeks in England, thence to Africa and
later to Italy. “I missed the Tunisian campaign,” said
the lieutenant.
Returning to the States March 7, he was hospitalized in a
Charleston, S.C. hospital. More recently he has been taking
treatments at the Schick hospital in Clinton. “The
wounded,” he said, “are beginning to arrive there in
considerable numbers.”
While in The Journal building, Lieut. Leafstone
indicated a reticence to discuss his war experiences. He was
called here to attend the funeral of an uncle, Charles W.
Leafstone.
[Transcribed by C.S., June 2016]