Mills County, Iowa

WILMA WILLIAMS FUCHS SCRAPBOOK
World War II Era Articles
These beautiful articles were generously donated by Wilma Fuchs in 1999.

Page 5

GLENWOOD BOY FIGHTING IN FRANCE
Richard Paul Honig, son of Mrs. Myrtle Honig of this city, is believed to have been with Company E, Rogers Rangers which figured conspicuously in the raid carried out on Dieppe, France Wednesday. "Dick", as he was known here, left Glenwood with Company I. He was serving as Staff Sergeant in the Company last April when he asked to be transferred to Rogers Rangers, a volunteer organization of expert fighters and had risen to the position of top sergeant in Company E of that Battalion.

They withdrew after an all day attack having advanced 64 miles beyond the English channel into France and canopied by allied fighting planes, they destroyed a six-gun shore artillery battery, an ammunition dump, an anti-aircraft battery and a radio location station.

Sgt. Honig comes from a family of fighters. He has an uncle, Major Herbert G. Honig who is stationed at Camp Haan, California. His brother, Robert E., better known here as "Sully" also a member of Company I in Ireland was advanced to Staff Sergeant when Dick volunteered for this special service in the Rangers division.

His older brother, Roy, is in a Junior officer's training school in Des Moines and a younger brother, Herbert, who is now employed in a defense plant a Mead, Nebraska, is a candidate for cadet's training at Iowa State College this fall. One sister, Hertha is employed under civil service in the War Department in Washington, D.C. this summer, where she worked in an army canteen and is now participating in Red Cross first aid and air warden work here.

The last letter Mrs. Honig had from Dick was received here August 17 and was written from somewhere in Scotland. While naturally concerned over his safety, his mother is justifiably proud of his record and of his courage in volunteering for this service which is the first thrust of United States' strength to be felt by the Germans in occupied territory.

DICK HONIG NOT HEARD FROM SINCE DIEPPE RAID
Mrs. Myrtle Honig recently received a communication from her son, Richard, of the American Rangers, which was written six days before the raid of Dieppe. In this letter he gave his address as First Base, which is the third address he has had since he joined the Ranger in April. No word has come from Dick since the raid, and his brother, Robert (Sully) writing to his wife in a letter which she received Wednesday, said that he also had no information about his brother.

DONALD KEITH HOPP COMPLETES PRIMARY TRAINING
Cadet Donald Keith Hopp, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Hopp, who is enlisted in the U.S. Air Corps, writes from his Texas location asking to have his copy of the paper sent to him at Brady, Tex. He states that he has graduated from his primary course at Stamford and that he is going on to his basic training. He says, "I like it fine and have in 60 hours of flying time, of which about one-half is solo time."

RICHARD HONIG HEARD FROM AFTER RAID ON FRANCE
Sgt. Richard Honig of the First Rangers Battalion has contacted his family thus relieving them of much suspense as to what might have been his fate. The communications sent to his brother, Roy, and sister, Hertha, neither of whom are in Glenwood, were dated 6 p.m., Aug. 20, the day after the raid of Dieppe, and they in turn called their mother, Mrs. Myrtle Honig, by phone immediately and relayed the cheering news. In one communication, he said he was ill, but not dangerously so, and in the other he said he just wanted to report he is on the map and added that he presumed they would know now what the Rangers are capable of doing.

KENNETH WHITNEY NOW AT FORT LAWTON, WASH.
Dr. and Mrs. A. Homer Whitney received the following telegram Sunday evening from their son, Kenneth Whitney. "Arrived safely in Seattle yesterday. My address is Company A, Fort Lawton, Washington."

Kenneth has been stationed at Dutch Harbor, Aleution Islands, since the first of the year. Recent letters received from him mentioned nothing indicated any change. His parents are rejoicing over his being back in the States, as are also his friends.

KENNETH WHITNEY EXPECTED HOME ON LEAVE
Dr. and Mrs. A. Homer Whitney have received word from their son, Kenneth Whitney, who was recently transferred from their son, Kenneth Whitney, who was recently transferred from the Aleutian Islands to Fort Lawton, Wash., that he had been granted a two weeks furlough and expects to arrive home this Monday evening.

Mrs. A. Homer Whitney and son, Kenneth Whitney, who is home on a ten day furlough from Fort Lewis, Wash., went to Narka, Kans., Friday for a weekend visit at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Kniffen. Dr. Whitney joined them Saturday night and they all returned to Glenwood Sunday night.

KENNETH WHITNEY TELLS OF LIFE IN ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
Glenwood Boy Home on Furlough Relates Story of Jap Bombing of Dutch Harbor--Americans Victorious

Pvt. Kenneth Whitney, son of Dr. and Mrs. A. Homer Whitney, is home on a short leave and will return to service at Ft. Lewis, Wash., on Aug. 2. Pvt. Whitney, who is being transferred from the infantry to military police duty in the interior of the U.S., has just returned from several months with his battalion in the Aleutian Islands and tells many experiences. He was stationed on Umnak Island, about 60 miles west of Dutch Harbor. He relates a story of an old Greek who had lived many years at Dutch Harbor but showed up on Umnak a day or so after the bombing there with the laconic explanation, "Too much boom, boom."

About the time of the Japanese assault on Dutch Harbor, three Jap planes cruised over Umnak, presumably unaware of troops located there. Some American planes in the air opened machine gun fire, and one enemy plane vanished in the sea while the other two hurriedly climbed higher and fled. A few days later fighter planes returned to continue the combat which ended victoriously for the American airmen.

Pvt. Whitney says there are no trees in the Aleutians he saw and most of the islands are small. Umnak is 80 by 20 miles. Authorities claim, he says, that they are probably the newest-made land on the globe. Harbors are not available on many of them, so troops are unloaded from transports at such points as Dutch Harbor and then are carried on barges to their ultimate locations. The climate on the island, he says, is damp and a piercing wind blows continuously off the Bering Sea.

Questioned as to why the Aleutians are regarded as so strategic in the present war, he replied that the Japanese regard them as a dagger directed toward them while they remain in American possession. The west-most island, he pointed out, is west of Honolulu. They are important as air bases for either the U.S. or Japan and may be considered by the Japanese as points from which to conduct an invasion.

Pvt. Whitney, before entering the army, was a law student at the University of Iowa.

MESSINGER SENDS SNAPSHOTS OF KING AND QUEEN
Mrs. Faye Messinger on Wednesday received a letter from her son, Jack, who is with the 205th Military Police Company. The letter was written August 24, and he mentions just receiving the July 2 issues of the Opinion Tribune, indicating the mail going over there is slower than the mail coming this way.

He enclosed five snapshots which he had taken, one showing the King and Queen, taken upon their visit with the American troops. Another snap shot shows the group of women in uniform, members of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, and another labeled "Home" which shows the interior of his living quarters.

He indicates that he is now in Scotland and remarks "Well, there's nothing new here that I can write, but you will soon find that the "old gang" moved out, you might hear from them before you get this, but I sorta' doubt it. It might relieve some of the folks at home if they don't hear from them for awhile. I would have liked to have seen Earl before he left, we were pretty good buddies, now look at the three of us who used to run together: Larry in the Air Corps, me in the M.P. and Ear, God knows where.

By the "old gang" he evidently refers to Co. I and Earl, refers to Earl Krecklow, and Larry refers to Lawrence Pease.

HAROLD HARLESS IN ARMY TRAINING SCHOOL
Harold C. Harless, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Harless of near Bartlett, accompanied by his wife and son went to Erving, Texas, last January where he secured employment in a defense industry nearby at Grand Prairie. On June 11, he was inducted into military service and sent to Camp Walters, Texas, where he took examination for entrance into a mechanic's school at Sheppard Field, Texas. He was the only one out of a class of 100 who passed the entrance test. His course of instruction there will require about six weeks of intensive training after which he will be an air force mechanic. His address is Pvt. H.C. Harless, 404h Tech. School Squad (sp), Sheppard Field, Texas, Barracks No. 387.

FAYE DYKE ADVANCED TO FIRST CLASS PRIVATE
Promotion of Private Faye L. Dyke of Glenwood to the grade of private first class has been announced by headquarters of the Oklahoma City Air Depot. Private Dyke has been sent to Braniff Airways, Love Field, Dallas, Texas, for a five-week course of instruction in engine overhaul.

Dyke was employed by J.A. Carlson Construction Company before entering the army and has been stationed at Oklahoma City since August. His wife, Mrs. Catherine Dyke, lives here in Glenwood.

GLENWOOD BOY IN IRELAND HOSPITAL
Jack Messinger, who recently wrote his mother, Mrs. Faye Messinger of his safe arrival in Ireland, has sent another letter dated April 20th, in which he stated that he was in an American hospital in Ireland where he probably will undergo a minor operation for the removal of a bone above his eye. As will be well remembered here, Jack, member of Company I, was in an auto accident on the eve the departure of Company I for Camp Claiborne in which he sustained very critical injuries, especially to his head. It has been thought by physicians for sometime that it would be necessary to remove this small bone. Jack writes, "Everything is O.K. here. I'm in the hospital again, nothing to worry about. My eyes have been bothering me so I am here to see what can be done about the bone above my eye."

DALE MESSINGER ON SHIP WHICH WAS FIRED UPON
Mrs. Hazel Messinger, this week received word that her son Dale, who is stationed on the U.S.S. Chicago of the Navy has just arrived in San Francisco harbor.

Dale says he is in port quite by accident, that their ship had been fired upon and crippled and was in port being repaired. It is not known at this time whether Dale will get a furlough. If he doesn't his mother plans to leave for the coast at once to see him. Dale visited Glenwood relatives in September, of 1941, while on furlough.

DYKE STATIONED AT OKLAHOMA AIR DEPOT
Private Faye Louis Dyke formerly of Glenwood is now stationed at the Oklahoma City Air Depot. He has been assigned to a station complement at this newest Air Service Command for the maintenance and repair of aircraft and the training to air depot groups.

Private Dyke reported there from Lambert Field, St. Louis, Mo., where he was enrolled in a mechanics' school. Before entering the army, he was a mechanic and tractor operator at the J.A. Carlson Construction Company, Omaha, Neb. Mrs. Dyke lives at Route 1, Glenwood.

HAROLD HARLESS HAS BEEN MADE CORPORAL
Mr. and Mrs. E.I. Harless of Bartlett have received word from their son, Harold, who is stationed with the armed forces, Love Field, Dallas, Texas, stating that he has had a promotion and is now acting corporal. He also states that Mrs. Harless expects to secure a position with the North American Aviation place at Grand Prairie and that if is successful their young son Gary, will probably return to Iowa to be with his grandparents while she is thus employed.

Page 6

I'S WRITE FOR G.K.H.
LONDON,ENGLAND
SEPTEMBER 21, 1942

Dear Boss:

It probably looked funny as the dickens, but there I was; sitting within rock-tossing distance of Buckingham palace, reading about 14 or 16 Opinion Tribunes. The King and Queen didn't come out to help me read, that would be too much to expect, after all they don't know as many people in Glenwood as I do.

You see, I was going to write letters all Friday afternoon. That's one day in the week when my time is pretty much my own. But just after lunch, after the paper had been put to bed for another week in came a stack of mail that had been collecting up in Northern Ireland. First class mail is forwarded at once, of course, but those dopes don't seem to know that the O-T's are first class in my book.

Well, there went the letter-writing for the day. Coming all at once as they did was nice. So darn many things are happening at home--Mayhew Duncan getting married, First Loot Ridenour and Cap Barnet taking their boys to Camp Dodge, Keg Creek getting all upset by the war and going on a flood, Susie and Sally eating themselves sick in a contest (and how I envy those two females), Rachel Young commuting between Glenwood and Washington. Lots of things happening.

I enjoyed Earl Schneckloth's letter a lot, I know (knowing him) that he's probably having the time of his life in New York City. Speaking somewhat from experience. And Pete Kier way out in California, and Philly in Australia--what a hell of a mess.

Incidentally, I have met a lot of Aussies and New Zealanders here in London, and they're swell Joes. If they take after their folks, Philly must be having a darn good time.

But that doesn't explain why I was reading the papers under the King's window. There really isn't an explanation, I guess, except that it was a nice quiet place, with lots of grass. And nobody bothered me.

Glad to see that you heard the Army Hour program. I didn't know what stations the program would be on, or who might hear it. Nice to know somebody did. I've been doing abit of broadcasting with the B. B. C., and will be on occasionally on Monday evening, Mutual network. How many times, or for how long I don't know.

For more than a month I've been hoping to get back to Northern Ireland for a visit with the boys, may make it in a week or two. Had a nice letter from Jimmo, which I'll send along. I haven't seen the guys for a dickens of a long time. Almost had Bill on the Stars and Stripes. Got him a job in circulation, and he was coming to London, but the day the orders went through he was promoted to staff sergeant, and there isn't room for staff sergeants in our outfit yet (that's Bill Lugsch I'm talking about).

I know there isn't any news to this letter, but how can I tell you any news when I haven't seen any of the guys for so long? Mostly it's to prove that I'm still alive.

Been stationed in London for quite a while now, but do a lot of traveling around and about. Have been all over England and into Scotland, and of course I saw all of Northern Ireland when I was stationed up there.

Most of my work now is with the Air Force; Bomber Command and Fighter Command. Lots of good stories in those outfits and I'm meeting a lot of the guys who are carrying the mail for us. Then, too, I do a lot of re-writes, including sports, national news, world at war stuff and a million and one other things. I'm busy, but I've got a good job and I like it.

My best regards to everyone at home, and to those who have gone to others corners of the world from Glenwood. Hope the day isn't too far distant when we'll all be back again.

More later, Hod
Tech. Sgt. G.K. Hodenfield
Stars and Stripes>br /> APO 887, Care Postmaster
New York, N.Y.
P.S. Please change my mailing address so the papers will come directly to me. I don't like those long waits. Can't find Jimmo's letter--next time. Hod

CO I BOYS GET SMOKES FROM FRIENDS
Lieutenant Russell Ridnour of the local State Guard Co. this week received a letter from Sgt. Parks who is with Co. I somewhere in the British Isles. The sergeant says "We opened the packages you sent today and believe me the sight that greeted us was a welcome one. My stock of smoking was getting low and I know many others were too.

"It is appreciated greatly by each and everyone of us. It makes us feel good to think that all of you people back home are thinking of us and you can bet we're not forgetting you either for sending these things. Thank everyone who contributed for us, will you? Hub is still in the hospital but we expect him back soon. Dick Honig was over to visit us the other day and he's looking great."

LAST CHANCE FOR XMAS GIFTS
The State Guard boys call attention to the public to the fact that the Christmas box going out to the Co. I boys and to others from here in the service in other parts of the world will be packed early next week as all such packages must be mailed before November 1 to insure delivery by Christmas. Therefore this week end is your last chance to contribute to the Christmas gift boxes. Remember boxes are in most of the stores around the square for your convenience. Drop in your contribution of cigarettes, cigars, smoking tobacco, pipe, chewing tobacco, razor blades, or gum. Do it today or not later than Saturday. The Stars Guard Co. will gather these contributions the first of the week for packing. Sgt. Parks' letter is proof that these packages are getting across to the boys over there and is also evidence of the fact that they appreciate these gifts from the folks back here in the old home town.

I'S WRITE FOR G.K.H.
April 14, 1942
A.P.O. 34-%P.M.
New York, N.Y.

Dear Hod:

As if in answer to the question "What is this Army doing to me?", directly over-head hangs, not a parade of pretty girl paintings nor etchings by Varga, but something else that is just as much a tradition in a soldier's life as the afore-mentioned pictures--a line full of laundry, doin' it's best to dry.

But I'm glad it's over. Now I've got enough soap wrappers for a new smoking jacket. And I have as much need for a new smoking jacket as a Jap has for harp and wings. "I'll never get a chance to use the jacket, either!) So it all reverts back to the fact that I don't think I should ever do any more laundry. Maybe Warren Stone or Charley Radford could toss some of mine in with theirs now and then, and have it done "Colleen" style. Or perhaps you could, Hod.

Dale Boyd, the red-headed reason why you, at one time, suddenly took an interest in Reveille, is still playing his OWN little game of "freeze-out". All that is needed to play this game is a person with a distorted sense of humor such as his, an open window from Taps 'Til Reveille, and about fourteen hundred cubic yards of cool spring air. It is needless to say that he is now the red-headed reason why I hate that early morning formation. Wonder how he'd look up there alongside my laundry?

Corp. J.B. Surber was just up to this barracks. He said "Take it easy what you say about me this time--I may be going back home on furlough soon." O.K. but just wait'll he's miles from here. Wish there was someone that could check up on him for us while he's in Iowa. He's always good for a couple of paragraphs.

Corp. Abe Thomas is lying on his bunk, watching me tinker with this typer as though he is really interested. "Maybe he is planning on going west on furlough soon, too.

Mail is being handed out now. Time out while I see how much I got. (2 seconds later) Well, that didn't take long. There was none. There were quite a few packages, so it might not hurt to sort of browse around and see what kind of candy "we" have.

Corp. Guy Hunter says to tell you, Hod, that a lot of the boys are lying around on their bunks, groanin'. But I know it ain't as bad as all that because I ate a couple of doughnuts from the box he received and they were plenty good.

The company had a nice letter from our ex Top-Kick, Russ Ridenour (now a Lt. in the home guard) and the Glenwood Volunteer Firemen, and we all appreciated it very much that we were the target of their generosity. I'm sure that other Mills County boys share our sentiments. Thanks a lot, GVFD!

There's liable to be a battle of Corporal's around here, if Corp. Ed Barkus doesn't stop swiping doughnuts from Corp. "Scrub" Johnson. It only happened once this noon, but Scrub says that's twice too many. All in fun, though, I guess.

"Duck" Surber just dropped in again and he tells me that there is a Glenwood paper over in the Orderly Room with a column in it that you sent in. So you finally came out of hibernation, eh? It's about time. I started to go over and get the paper, but I met Sgt. Bill Lugsch enroute and he informed me that Corky Twaddle was reading it now, so I won't be able to get it for an hour or so. By the time he gets you deciphered and translated to Bradyville fashion of speech, the thing will be worn out.

Some Glenwood visitors arrived here Sunday noon, although they are exactly strangers in this part of the country. Mrs. Robert Honig, Mrs. Osterholm, Mrs. Leet and Mrs. John Rasmussen were here visiting their husbands some time ago. How long they'll stay this time is not known but whether it's for a day or a year they are always welcome. Rumor has it that there will be more visitors later on.

I started this earlier in the day, and now, at ten-thirty p.m. I'm finally getting another whack at it. We have only two typewriters in the company, and I'm too darn lazy to walk up to Regimental Headquarters and use one of those.

In the meantime, I finally got to read your column and I must say that I enjoyed it no end. Corky Twaddle wants me to ask you, Hod, if you, by any chance, ran across "Cedar Rapids" at one of your club dances. Or is that like the Sky Roof?

Sgt. Red Maxwell still makes frequent trips up E. Orange way. It doesn't take much of a sales talk to get him in the notion of going--any time. I had him almost talked into going tonight, just for the fun of it, when he finally got wise to my bluff. Even then, it put ideas into his head.

It seems odd, this writing letter after letter and not bothering about a trip to the post office for stamps occasionally. Here and there, lying around, you'll see an envelope but is addressed, stamped, but absolutely not in use. It's an advantage, and a great one, to merely write "Free Mail" up there in the corner that one displayed a postage stamp. Many of those who had stamps on hand when this came up, either sent them home (or to someone at least), or fired air-mail letters right and left until the said stamps were used us. Yes, it is odd; someone queries, maybe jokingly or maybe in all seriousness, "Who wants a stamp?" His question remains unanswered. No one appears to have heard. It didn't used to be that way.

The guy that awakens the bugler has finally been located, Hod. In this Company at least, it's Franklin Shuffler-indirectly. He is the night fireman in the Mess Hall and stays up all night, and at 5 "mayhem" rolls the Charge of Quarters out (ouch-tomorrow I'm the C.Q.--and with Dale Boyd still playing "freeze out"! Brrrrrr) The C.Q. in turn, gets the bugler up. I suppose I could become famous a la Dale Carnegie--you know, "How to win friends, etc."--by letting him sleep, but chances are he'd wake up on time anyway, so I might just as well play the game fair. Besides, it's a good chance to turn the tables on him.

Sgt. Don Kirkendall will be getting "stir crazy" if things proceed along the same lines for him the way they have been. He was confined to the station hospital for a week or so, due to ear trouble. Then Saturday, he was released from that confinement, came back to the company and moved into the 2nd Barracks. Maybe I can get some of the fellows to chip in and buy you some fruit--Oranges, for instance--to help you forget your troubles.

This Week's Clothes-Pin-On-The-Nose Dept.! While walking by one of the barracks last night I overheard a couple of lads talking. One says, "Did you ever hear the one about the screwball that got sick while riding on a train? Well, his friend, upon hearing about it, asked him what was the trouble, and he replied, "Why, I always get sick when I ride backards." Then his friend said, "Well, why didn't you ask the fellow in the seat behind you to trade places with you?" The screwball glanced at his friend, shook his head, and answered, "Oh I thought of that, but there was no one there!"

Everything is so peaceful and quiet around here at this midnight hour. Now and then the squeak of the springs on one of these army cots can be heard as some soldier re-lives the activities of the day in his sleep. Occasionally a snore or a few mumbled words break through the silence, probably due to the fact that someone feels that he really didn't have his say today, and intends to get it, even though no one is listening--including himself. However, the majority of the boys have tucked themselves in with thoughts and dreams only of a raise in pay, the folks at home, the girl friend, her other boy friend, a furlough, a King-high straight, last week-end, next week-end. Armistice, the picture by their bunks, K.P., Calisthenics at Revellie, a box of candy from home, mail call, extra-. Hey, I'm beggin' to believe this myself. Guess I'll hit the hay and get in on some of those dreams. I'm sorta sleepy, anyway. Be just my luck, though, to get a combination of those dreams, plus "Deep in the Heart of Texas" and "Blues in the Night," mixed up in there someplace. But perhaps even those two songs wouldn't be so bad-in my sleep.

And do, for now, Hod, I bring another letter to you to a close. I'd like to hear from you a "right smart," as they say around the ranch country in Texas, Marshall, Texas, for instance. So drop me a line, Hod. (If you're runnin' true to form, it'll be a "line"). Now, Goodnight, and I'll bet you are, if only typographically.

Carelessly speaking, I remain Yours, Sgt. JIM

WAYNE LINCOLN COMPLETES AERONAUTICS SCHOOL
Wayne Lincoln, son of Mr. and Mrs. S.C. Lincoln, Sr., of Pacific Junction, graduated last week from the Aeronautics Technical school at Sheppard Field near Wichita Falls, Texas. Young Lincoln entered the service of his country February 14 being sent to the reception center at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Shortly after he was transferred to Sheppard Field where he has been since.

Wayne was one of nine hundred graduates, and they were transferred over the weekend, presumably to some airplane factory for further study. Mr. and Mrs. S.C. Lincoln, who were in attendance at the commencement exercises, returned to their home Monday.