Mills County, Iowa

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

Page 51

PVT. MARION BRIGGS STATIONED IN TEXAS

Pvt. Marion Briggs who recently left for Fort Bliss, Texas, writes his mother, Mrs. Viola Briggs that he would like to hear from someone back home, his address is Pvt. Marion Briggs A.S.N. 37483524 Btry. "A" 149th AAA Gun Bn., Fort Bliss, Texas.

D. BOWLEY HOME AFTER FOUR MONTHS IN BRAZIL

Delbert Bowley, gunner's mate 3/c, and son of Mr. and Mrs. William Bowley of north of Glenwood, arrived home to spend a furlough with home folks Sunday.  He has been with the U.S. Navy for two years and was stationed in Brazil for a period of four months.  His promotion to gunner's mate 3/c was received just recently.

STEWART WILCOX COMPLETE PRIMARY FLYING IN FLORIDA

This is to inform you that Aviation Cadet Stewart L. Wilcox has completed his primary flying training, at Greenville Aviation School, Ocala, Fla., and has been transferred to an Army Air Forces Basic Flying school for further advanced training.

Before joining the armed forces A/C Wilcox made his home at 504 N. Walnut St., Glenwood, Ia.

PVT. LYLE LEET HERE ON FURLOUGH

Pvt. Lyle Leet, arrived late Saturday evening from Camp Butner, North Carolina, for a few days visit with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Leet.

Lyle, who is with the 77th Division, commonly known as the Lightning Division, has been in the service five months, most of this time has been spent in Camp Butner, and is his first furlough.

PVT. WERNER HOFFMAN HERE ON SHORT VISIT

Pvt. Werner Hoffman, arrived in Glenwood last week for a short visit with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Alex Hoffmann.

Werner is stationed with the Amphibian Engineers at Fort Devens, Massachusetts.

PFC. DALLAS LEO PLUMB FINISHES TRAINING COURSE

Pfc. Dallas Leo Plumb son of Mrs. Blanche E. Plumb of Glenwood, has graduated from an intensive course in airplane mechanics and now is prepared to join the ranks of "coverall commandos" who keep our American planes aloft.  Sheppard Field, near Wichita Falls, Texas is one of the largest schools of the Army Air Forces Technical Training Command, training specialist technicians for the ground crews which "Keep 'Em Flying."

Before entering the school, he was trained at one of the basic training centers of the Army Air Forces Technical Training Command.

I have just finished the best airplane mechanics course any man could ever take.  I intend to do my very best to keep the planes flying.

ROBERT APLIN PROMOTED TO CORPORAL

Robert E. Aplin, 19, Co. H, 804th Signal Training Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.L. Aplin, Glenwood, was recently promoted from the grade of private to corporal.

Before induction last February he worked at the Union Pacific Railroad Co. at Council Bluffs, and he is now taking a course in radio at the Central Signal Corps School.

In high school he played trumpet in the band for two years.

STAFF SGT. LOVELADY HERE ON FURLOUGH

Staff Sgt. Lyle Lovelady of Camp Rucker, Ozark, Louisiana arrived Wednesday of last week to spend his furlough here with his wife.  He plans to leave Tuesday of next week for Camp Rucker to continue his duties.  Mrs. Lovelady will remain in Glenwood.

PHILLIPS HILT JR. IN FRESNO CALIF. CAMP

Mr. and Mrs. Chet Reel, of Omaha, visited here over the weekend with Mrs. Reels family.  Chet reported that Phillip Hilt, Jr., was stationed at 804th T. Gp. A.A.F.B.T.C. No. 8 Bks. 248 F11, 150 Air Corp, Fresno, Calif., and would like to hear from the home town folks.

WRITES LETTER FROM AFRICAN HOSPITAL

LaVerne Radford writes parents that he is back in the hospital for treatment for old wound which he received during Tunisian campaign

September 5th, 1943, Sunday Hospital, North Africa

Dear Dad and Estelle:

Well folks here I am back in the hospital again.  Don't get excited because I haven't received another wound, the one I got a while back is just giving me trouble so they brought me back to see if they can fix me up.

I'm sorry I haven't written more often lately, but they have been moving me around so much I haven't had time to do any writing.  Maybe I will be able to write a little more often from now on.

How is everyone back there by now?  Outside of the two telegrams I got from you and a couple of letters in May, I haven't heard from a soul since April.  Is Paul still in New York?  I certainly hope so and I hope he stays there.  The same for Hodge and the rest.  Tell them hello for me the next time you write them.  By the way if you haven't sent that watch yet, don't send it.  I have one now.  I met a guy a while back and was with him for about a month and we came to be pretty good friends and before we parted he gave me a watch.  It is really a good one too.  I hope I run into him some day because he is a swell guy.  He is from California and has a wife and two kids.  One of them he has never seen as yet.

Well folks, I guess I'll sign off for now.  So long, don't worry and I hope to be seeing you soon.

Your loving son,

LaVerne

BOB HOPP PROMOTED TO RANK OF STAFF SERGEANT

Robert Hopp, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Hopp, who has been stationed with the U.S. army at Miami Beach, Fla., has recently been promoted to the rank of staff sergeant.

CORP. MAX STRANATHAN HERE ON 9 DAY FURLOUGH

Corp. Max Stranathan came Tuesday evening from Camp McCain, Miss., and will spend nine days here visiting his mother Mrs. Mable Stranathan and other relatives.  Max has been in the hospital for five weeks and was just released to come hone on leave.

LT. AND MRS. CLYFTON VEST VISITED WITH HOME FOLKS

Lt. and Mrs. Clyfton F. Vest of Omaha spent Sunday with his parents the occasion being his mother's birthday.  Other dinner guests were Mrs. Martha Withrow and son Hubert of Thurman, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Withrow and daughter and Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Withrow and son of Farragut.

CPL. DONALD SPENDING 15 DAY FURLOUGH HERE

Cpl. Eldon E. Donald who is stationed at the Great Lakes, Ill., hospital, came Friday, August 20 by Zepher to spend a 15-day furlough with his mother, Mrs. Theo. Dorman, and other relatives and friends.  He is recuperating from a broken back, malaria, fever and shrapnel wounds which he sustained in Guadalcanal and spinal meningitis with which he was stricken after arriving at the Great Lakes.  He will return to the hospital September 3.

CPL. WAYNE LINCOLN TELLS OF BROADCAST SEPT. 11

Cpl. Wayne E. Lincoln, with the 6th Troop Carrier squadron in New Guinea writes his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Shirley Lincoln, Sr., in Pacific Junction.  "There is to be a chain broadcast on troop carrier activity in this area September 11 at 11:45 to 12 Central time over N.B.C. system.  This can be heard from W.O.W.

ALBERT "ABIE" CROUCH HOME ON 16 DAY LEAVE

Mr. and Mrs. George Crouch were surprised Saturday morning when their son Albert "Abie" came home on a 16 day leave.

Albert has been on sea duty six months and has been to England, Scotland and several Ports in South America.  The last trip through Cape Hatteras they were in a two day storm.  Albert has been in the Navy 10 months and was promoted to Petty Officer 3/c Gun Mate.

LT. OTTO BUCH HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED TO TEXAS

Lt. Otto P. Buch, who has been in training with a Tank Division in the desert for many months, has recently been moved to Texas.  He will continue to read the Glenwood Opinion Tribune and his new address is: 

Lt. Otto P. Buch

Co. B, 704 T.D. Bn.

Camp Maxey, Texas 

PVT. MERRILL R. MOORE WANTS BOYS TO WRITE

Pvt. Merrill R. Moore, son of Mr. and Mrs. Morris Moore who is stationed at Fort Bliss, Tex., and would like to have the boys write him, his address is Pvt. Merrill R. Moore, Batry., C. 149th Gun Bn. (A.A.A.) Fort Bilss, Texas.

PVT. MURL BIRD HERE ON 12 DAY FURLOUGH

Pvt. Murl Bird Jr. of Camp Butner, N.C., came Tuesday on a 12-day furlough, visiting his mother, Mrs. Grace Bird and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Bird.

ENSIGN ROBERT WILLIAMS ARRIVES SAFE IN ENGLAND

Mr. and Mrs. A.G. Williams received word Tuesday of the safe arrival of their son Ensign Robert Williams in England.  His address is Unit No. 2, Navy 319, c/o fleet post office New York City, N.Y.

 FIRST LIEUT. C. SEITZ

First Lieut. C. Raymond Seitz, prisoner of the Japanese, was heard from this week when two cards came through the local post office.  On these, he said he was well and hoped to see his folks soon.  His parents, Maj. and Mrs. Charles Seitz, are now in Mobile, Ala.  Former associates of Maj. Seitz at the Glenwood post office decided to wire him the good news and advise him that the cards are on their way.  Lieut. Seitz went to the Philippines with a battalion of engineers.  He had transferred and was operating with native warriors, called Philippine Scouts, at the fall of the islands.

ROBT. LEE ROLAND HERE ON 9 DAY FURLOUGH

Pvt. Robt. Lee Roland who is stationed at Camp Blanding Fla., but more recently of Washington, D.C., where he has been attending the Georgetown University, came Friday to Glenwood, he was met here by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lee Roland of Alliance, Nebr.  They were entertained while here by Mr. and Mrs. Ira Nuss of near Pacific Junction.  Robert had just nine days furlough and didn't feel he had time to go on to Alliance.

PVT. GEORGE STORK HOME FROM CANADA ON FURLOUGH

Pvt. George Stork came Monday from Canada to spend a 10-day  furlough with his mother Mrs. Walter Hubbell and family.  Pvt. Stork has been in the army for a year and this is the first furlough he has received.

 
WALTER FADER WRITES PHILIPPINE PRISON CAMP

Mrs. Neil Fader of Glenwood Rt. 1 received a card from her son, Walter Fader, who is  in a Philippine Military Prison Camp No. 2.  He says his health is good, I am uninjured, I am well.  Greet the entire family.  I think of you always.  Hope you are well.  Hope to be home soon.  Please give my best  regards to Gail and his family, Signed Walter D. Fader.  Private USA, Philippine Military Prison Camp, No. 2.

CPL. MARLIN RICHARDSON ON 15 DAYS FURLOUGH

Cpl. Marlin Richardson whose company has completed maneuvers near Nashville, Tenn., where they have been stationed for several weeks, has been granted a 15-day furlough which he will spend here with his wife's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herb Edmonds and with his folks, Mr. and Mrs. L.L. Richardson near Malvern.

Cpl. Richardson, whose ability as a vocalist is well known in this his home community was a soloist at the Congregational church in Glenwood, at the Sunday morning service.

DEWAYNE ANDREWS HERE ON 15 DAY FURLOUGH

Seaman Second Class DeWayne Andrews of Farragut, Idaho, has spent a fifteen day furlough at the home of his parents Mr. and Mrs. W.F. Andrews.  He leaves Saturday night for Farragut.

LT. CLYFTON VEST VISITED PARENTS HERE FRIDAY

Lt. Clyfton F. Vest and wife spent a short time Friday with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Vest, upon leaving for Rock Island, Ill., where he is being assigned to begin another three months course of study.  Lt. Vest has been stationed at Fort Crook the past month.  They are comfortably located in Davenport where they will reside.

CORP. JOHN WRAY WAS HERE ON FURLOUGH

Corp. John Wray was visiting friends here, he just returned to the States from North Africa the last of August.  Mr. Wray visited here and Grand Island, Nebr., he worked on a farm near here before entering service.

PVT. PHILLIP HILT PROMOTED TO PFC.

Pvt. Phillip F. Hilt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Hilt Sr. of Tacoma, Wash., has been promoted to the grade Private First Class upon assignment to the Technical School, Army Air Forces Training Command, Sioux Falls, S.D., for training as a radio operator mechanic.

LT. KEITH HOPP HEARS BROADCAST ABOUT GLENWOOD

In a letter which Lt. Keith Hopp, now in England, wrote to his wife on Sunday evening, August 15, and which she received September 1, he told of having picked up a broadcast that evening called "Your Home Town."  Imagine his surprise to find that three Iowa cities, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Glenwood were featured.  The items of news mentioned were the departure of C.F. Kilpatrick for the Navy and the family dinner given in his honor, word from various prisoners of war, with Walter Marshall, the first mentioned, the attempted trip of H.M. Logan to western Nebraska when he found all busses and trains filled, and the death of the late Wayne D. Choate.  Lt. Hopp commented that he was certainly thrilled to get the broadcast and to hear the names of many of his friends when he is so many miles away.

Page 52

WINN ZELLER HAS SAME RANK AS HIS WIFE

From a North Africa Air Base comes the story that Winn F. Zeller has been made a First Lieutenant after being outranked 3 months by his wife, First Lt. Wilma Wyant Zeller, a WAC recruiting officer stationed at Enid, Okla.  Lt. Zeller in Africa has set up a highly efficient radio system which worked like clockwork during the Italian invasion.  The second day of that combat, the general sent word to Zeller that he would be a first lieutenant the following day.  His wife no longer outranks him.

CORP. H. STONE WRITES FROM PRISON CAMP

Mrs. J.F. Stone wishes to share with other mothers some of the information in a letter from her son, Corp. Hubert Stone, now a prisoner at Stalag 111B in Germany.  The letter was dated June 13 and in it he told of the camp band being organized after instruments reached them from the Y.M.C.A. and the Red Cross.  The night before writing, he had attended a show put on by talent in the camp.  Baseball clubs had been organized in the barracks, and they were witnessing some good games.  The chaplain was expected to reach the camp soon, and in the meantime they were having their own divine services.  He mentioned that American doctors had arrived at the camp just a week earlier.

Corp. Stone stated that Ross Garrett had just received a letter from Mrs. W.C. Marshall.  Evidently this was one of the first communications to reach the boys.  Mrs. Marshall has been very interested in this information, as the letter she mailed to Ross, she sent in care of the International Red Cross, Geneva, Switzerland, and apparently it has reached its destination sooner than those sent in the usual channels.

VERNER LEWIS WRITES FROM NORTH AFRICA

Mrs. John E. Lewis has recently received a V-Mail letter from her son, Pvt. Verner J. Lewis, who is with the 133 Infantry and stationed in North Africa.  The letter written on October 6th is as follows:

Dear Folks:

Just a line to let you know I am OK and hope this finds you both the same.  No, I haven't seen Jack Messinger for quite some time, maybe 6 months.

I haven't seen anyone from Glenwood for about 9 or 10 months.  I did see Bobby Osterholm once.  Also Winston Holmes, the one who used to work in the Bradley store.  I never hear from Roy's and Earl's.  I hear from Clark and Fran, Clara, Cora and Arline.  Once in a while I hear from Aunt Viola, not very often.

I don't see why you don't hear from me, because I know I have written every once in a while in the past 5 months.

Will close for now,

Yours,

Verne

GEORGE LACEY GOES TO ELLINGTON FIELD

George M. Lacey, who in the seven months in which he has been in the Air Corps has been stationed at Morehea, Minn., and Santa Ana, Calif., has now been sent to Texas.  He will be pleased to hear from any of his Glenwood friends and is at the following address:

A/C George M. Lacey, 17130983

Gp. 25 N, Sqdn, E. Flt. 1

Navigator Wing A.A.F.P.S.

Ellington Field, Texas

CAPT. DEYOUNG NOW IN NORTH IRELAND

Capt. Ward A. DeYoung has been transferred to North Ireland.  His address is Capt. Ward A. DeYoung, 28th Station Hospital, APO 813 c/o Postmaster, New York, N.Y.

JACK ROLL TAKING BASIC TRAINING AT AIR SCHOOL

Aviation Cadet Jack P. Roll, 25, husband of Mrs. Vernelle H. Roll of Glenwood and son of Mr. and Mrs. Albert H. Roll of 208 N. Linn, Glenwood, has arrived to begin his basic pilot training at this Army Air Force school at Perrin Field, Texas.  For nine weeks Cadet Roll will divide his training day equally between ground school and the cockpit of his 450-horsepower plane.

His address is A.S. Jack P. Roll, 17131099, Aviation Cadet Detachment, Class 44-C, Section M, Perrin Field, Sherman, Texas.

JOHN BARBER PROMOTED TO 3/C PETTY OFFICER

Relatives received word here from John Barber that he has been promoted to 3/c Petty officer.  John has been attending Advance Sound school in San Diego, Calif., for the past six weeks.

ENSIGN AND MRS. DUVAL VISITING HIS PARENTS

Alan DuVal, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank DuVal of near Malvern has just completed his four months course of intensive training at the Coast Guard Officers Training School at New London, Connecticut, where he graduated last Thursday morning, November 10, and received his commission as Ensign.

He was also granted a 10 day leave of absence with instructions to report at Boston, Mass., November 24, for further instruction.  He and Mrs. DuVal left immediately for Iowa to spend this brief vacation visiting her people at Amana and his parents here.

It will be remembered that Mr. DuVal who was instructor of Foreign languages at Cornell College at Mt. Vernon, Ia., was granted a leave of absence from his duties at the close of the College year 1942 to enlist in the Coast Guard.  Service upon his enlistment he was sent immediately to Alameda, Calif., for his basic training after which he was given work in the Coast Guard Identification Office in San Francisco, until the first of last July when he was transferred to New London.

JUST A SOLDIER

When you see a man in khaki,

Or a sailor boy in blue

Had you ever stopped to think

That man is human too?

Just because he had the courage

He is sent away from home,

It is now become his duty,

In a foreign land to roam.

When he left his friends and loved ones,

He put on a face so glad,

But a soldier, too, has feelings,

And his throbbing heart was sad.

Just portray yourself departing

From the ones you hold most dear,

Knowing that you may not see them

Any more for months or years.

Just because a man wears Khaki

Doesn't mean that he's a brute,

He's a master of emotion,

For apparently he's mute.

But down in his brawny bosom

There's a heart that beats right on

For the ones back in his home land,

For the scenes that now are gone.

There are times that every soldier

Has a heart that's full of pain,

Just to be back with his sweetheart

And the scenes he loves again.

But when pensive moods o'ertake him

And he's nearly dead with blues

Comes a letter from his sweetheart,

With encouragement and news.

And his countenance grows brighter

As he sees between the lines

The face of his dear old mother

Or that sweetheart left behind.

He is awaiting for that letter:

Take a minute, write a line,

You'll feel better if you do it.

And you'll never miss the time.

A Soldier

PFC. LEO PLUMP SURPRISED AT I.O. LINVILLE HOME

A group of friends and neighbors went in Monday night at the I.O. Linville home and surprised their grandson Pfc. Leo Plumb, who is stationed at the Air Field at Dodge City, Kansas, and who is home on a 15 day furlough.  They brought along refreshments of ice cream, cake, sandwiches, pickles and coffee.

They also had the pleasure of greeting Sgt. Guy H. Alley of Camp White, Oregon, who was also home on furlough.

Those who enjoyed the evening were Mrs. Myrtle Delevan, Orville Tackett, Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Linville, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Linville and son Roger, Mrs. Virginia Ragland and daughter Linda; Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Garrett and son George; Mr. and Mrs. Emmett Delevan and son Samual Wade; Mr. and Mrs. Darwin Delevan son Phillip and daughter Mary; Sgt. Guy Alley, Miss Lelia Fierstein, Dale Linville, Blanch Plumb, Mr. and Mrs. I.O. Linville, Cuba, and the honor guest Pfc. Leo Plumb.

LT. KEITH HOPP REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION

According to a message received last Friday morning by Mr. and Mrs. Leo Hopp from the War Department, their son, First Lt. Keith Hopp of the Army Air Force, has been missing in action over Germany since Nov. 5.  Lt. Hopp, who piloted a Flying Fortress at the time of his loss, was the leader in a squadron of six bombers.  He is known to have completed at least eleven missions over the continent prior to November 5.

The Associated Press reported that on Friday, Nov. 5, a huge fleet of American heavy bombers, the heaviest air blows of the war estimated at 700, loosed one of over western Germany.  Gelsenkirchen and Muenster were the recipients of this staggering assault.  Gelsenkirchen is a seat of great synthetic oil works, making it nearly as important as the Rumanian oil fields.  Muenster is a railway center.  The sky armada bored through a wall of anti-air craft fire which one pilot said was "as intense as hell and as thick as raindrops."  No interceptor planes were used by the Germans in the combat, which was carried on in daylight.

Lt. Hopps parents, his wife and other relatives await further word, hopeful that he will be found a prisoner of the enemy.

SILVER CITY BOY WRITES FRIENDS HERE

Friends here are in receipt of a letter from Albert Sanders, Silver City boy who is serving in the Evacuation Hospital Corp.  He says, "I am now somewhere in Italy and like it much better than I have at any place since I left the United States.  The people here raise a lot of garden, fruit and all kinds of nuts.  We see very little general farming here and what is, is done with oxen.

It will soon be a year since I landed at Casablanca, North Africa, from there I went to Algiers, where my brother was and then over here.

I was very glad to hear that the crops were good in Iowa this year and that the folks at home are all well."

JACK MESSINGER MEETS MORE GLENWOOD BOYS

In a letter received this week, by Mrs. Faye Messinger, dated November 9, from her son Cpl. Jack Messinger, he says, "I have some more good news, another Glenwood boy has been located and still another is here.  Everett (Fasnacht) and I saw Earl Trimmer yesterday and had quite a talk and last night we heard that Ernie Phillips (Lanky Phil) is in town and I have found out where he is working so will see him soon as possible.  That makes Winston Holmes, Everett Fashacht, Verner Lewis, Bob Osterholm, Jim Evans, Earl Trimmer, Lanky Phil and I together.  Quite a collection of Glenwood boys around here.  Maybe we can throw a party or something soon.

Yesterday Everett gave me an apple, it is first I've had in over a year."

S 2/C KARLE MEYER WAS HERE ON FIVE DAY LEAVE

S 2/c Karle Meyer, son of Dr. and Mrs. V.J. Meyer now stationed at Corpus Christi, Texas, came last Thursday morning and remained for five days visiting his parents at the State School.

LAVERNE RADFORD BACK IN STATES IN HOSPITAL

Laverne Radford, son of Chas. Radford, who was wounded in North Africa last April and has been in the hospital there, has been returned to the States and is in the hospital in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va.

 
LT. KEITH HOPP IS GERMAN PRISONER

Telegram Bears News That Well Known Glenwood Boy Escaped Death When His Flying Fortress Went Down in Raid Over Germany.

Tuesday was indeed an eventful day at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Hopp.  At 6:30 a.m. they received a telephone call from their son, S/Sgt. Robert Hopp of Miami Beach, Fla., saying that he has been given an agricultural discharge from the Army in order to return to assist his father in extensive farming and would leave Florida Tuesday night for home.

About an hour later, Mr. and Mrs. Hopp were notified by telegram from the Provost Marshall General that their son, First Lieutenant Keith Hopp, is a prisoner of the German government.  Lieutenant Hopp, pilot of a Flying Fortress, was reported missing after a bombing raid over Germany early in November and his fate had not been known until this telegram arrived.  Needless to say, this was cause for great rejoicing at the Hopp home as well as in the schoolroom taught by Mrs. Keith Hopp.

 

PACIFIC JUNCTION BOY AWARDED FLYING CROSS

The war department announced Friday awards to more than 150 officers and enlisted men, including four Iowans of the United States army's 14th air force for heroism and outstanding achievement in China, Burma and India.

The distinguished flying cross was awarded to Lt. Richard A. Combs of Pacific Junction, Ia., and the air medal to Lt. Roy E. Tooman of Muscatine and Lts. Junior G. Hull and Richard W. Meridith of Des Moines.

Lt. Combs is the son of Mrs. Anna B. Combs and left Glenwood with Co. I.  Later he transferred to the Air Corp.  The Combs have one other son James in the U.S. Navy.  Dick has been overseas 2 months December 2nd and is stationed in China.  He has been in the hospital since the 14th, stating that he would be released from the hospital Dec. 4.

Page 53

 

SERGEANT LUGSCH WRITES FROM ITALY

COMPANY I IN TOUGH SPOT

Leonard Bateman Sends Letter Written by Bill Lugsch Who Was With Company on Way to Front Lines. Have Been Overseas eighteen Months

The Opinion-Tribune staff is in receipt of two very interesting letters from well known Glenwood boys, Bill Lugsch and Leonard Bateman, members of Company I, who left here almost three years ago.  The letter by Bill Lugsch was written before orders came for the Company to move up to the front lines and handed to Bateman with the request that he send it on to the home town paper.  Both letters will be of interest to all Mills County residents:

Italy

Oct. 29, 1943

Dear Mrs. Choate,

Sgt. Bill asked me to mail his letter to you, and said I should write a few lines if I wanted to.  The Company is moving up so you see he would not have a chance to mail it.

The kitchens stay back of the lines, and deliver the chow after dark each night.  They never know what they are eating, kind of a surprise package for them.  The Jerries might shoot a few holes in our nice shiny pots if we were to show ourselves off in the daytime.

There are not so many of the original Company left.  Was kind of hard to get used to the new faces, I still don't know all of them by name and they are a darned good gang too.

We always say that I Company is the best in the Army.  It's proved itself to be in Africa and here in Italy.  We don't care much for war but know that someone had to do the fighting so why complain.  Here's hoping it will be over soon.  If you could see how destitute war leave's people you would buy every War Bond possible.

You folks back home are doing a fine job of equipping and feeding us.  Our equipment and feeding us.  Our equipment is the best there is.  The people are glad to see us.  Some of them have had American flag's stowed away, and they bring them out on display.  America is a well known and respected nation.

I hope we can continue to lead the world into a peaceful future.  I don't suppose you remember me.  I worked at Ragers for a few year's and just before the Company left Glenwood I worked at the O.K. lunch.  I can remember you and Mr. Choate coming in for coffee late on the evening after work.  We all miss Good Old Glenwood, it's a good town.  I've spent many happy days in it.  We will be back some day and soon I hope.

Everyone from Glenwood looks forward to getting the Opinion Tribune through the mail.  Good luck. 

From your friend,

Leonard Bateman

Somewhere in Italy

October 23, 1943

DEAR HAZEL

Dear Hazel:

It has been a long time since any of us have had time to really sit down and write any kind of a letter for the paper.  Several of us who are left were sitting around talking last night and decided that it was about time that one was written.  We have come a long way since we left that little town and done many things and will probably go a lot further and do quite a few more things before we can an of us get back to our little town.  Right now we are all hoping that we will be lucky enough to fight our way right on up into Germany and shoot the locks off those prison camps, where they have the boys penned up.  At the rate we are going now we should make it by next spring or summer.  It is all plenty tough going, but we are getting there slow but sure.  Another 6 days and we have been overseas 18 months, believe me that seems like a long time to me.  The States is just a happy remembrance that seems like a dream that keeps coming back.  Then when we see how these people in these foreign countries live we realize the things that we are fighting for.  These Italian people are really swell to us, every time we take a little town or village they are standing out in the streets with apples, wine and anything else that they have to offer.  The old women, kids, men and young women are all clapping their hands, cheering and some of them even crying they are so happy to see us come marching into their midst.  We have seen the marks of German ruthlessness, their homes have been burned and anything of any value that they have is destroyed and in many cases they have slaughtered the civilians.  It is certainly not a pleasant sight and every time we run into anything like that it makes us more determined and we fight that much harder.  About the only thing we wonder about sometimes, is, why so few of us have to do all the fighting when there appear to be so many troops sitting around back there in the states not doing a darned thing.  We have been at this nasty business of war for a long time, and believe me the ones of us who are left are becoming just a shade war weary.  True enough we had a nice rest after the Tunisian campaign but even at that our nerves are on edge.  If it was a case of us being the only troops that we have, it would be an entirely different story, but that is not the case.  It is not that we can't go ahead and do these things, but it sure would be a big help if they could and would send some of those U.S.O. guards over and give us a little relief once in awhile.  We don't want to be taken out all together, we just don't like to start out in a long campaign and know that once we come in contact with the enemy that we are going to be battling until the whole thing is over and sometimes that is a long drawn out affair and plenty hard on the nerves.

Thanksgiving and Christmas is creeping up on us again, most of us plan on spending at least Christmas in Rome.  We never know from one day to the next where we are going to be so it is pretty hard to tell just where we will actually be spending the holidays, it will probably turn out to be a fox hole.  Where ever it is we will everyone of us be thinking about all of you back there and wondering if you are having a nice time, and hoping that you are with plenty to eat and all the comforts that can possibly be had.  Some day this mess is going to be all cleared up and we can all go back to our old way of living, hoping and praying that war will never again darken the earth.

I want to tell you about an incident that happened to me when we were cleaning out a small town, we had captured several Germans and had the town well under control, the civilians were going wild and practically mobbing us.  They were kissing the boys and giving them everything they had, another fellow and myself were walking up the street when we found ourselves surrounded by civilians all jabbering something that we couldn't understand, anyhow they started taking us into one of the houses and when we got on the inside there was a civilian who could talk perfect English and a Roman Catholic Bishop, the man who could talk English told us that the Bishop wanted us to go into his private chambers and bless us.  I can't even begin to explain how I felt, I had never in my life ever seen a Bishop before except in Newsreels, but he had complete control over those people. I don't know how to explain it but to me he was the most lordly looking person I have ever seen, his quarters were immaculate and very beautiful, he kissed us, blessed us and gave us wine and expressed his gratitude to us for releasing he and his people from German oppression.  I don't believe that I will ever forget that visit as long as I live.

I must close for this time and get some more of my correspondence caught up and then get a little work done.  The fellows all send their regards.

So Long,

1st Sgt. Bill Lugsch

 
ELLISON VAN PELT COMPLETES RADIO MECHANIC COURSE

Pfc. Donald Ellison Van Pelt, son of Mr. and Mrs. D.E. Van Pelt, Glenwood, Iowa, recently completed an intensive course in radio operator mechanics at the Technical School Army Air Forces Training Command, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  In addition to attending school, he went through a rigid drilling and physical training program in order to be fully prepared to take over an assignment in the combat area, if necessary.

He is now prepared to join the crew of a bomber, or to take up any other radio duties to which the AAF Training Command may assign him.

SGT. CLIFFORD WHITE VISITS PARENTS HERE

Sgt. Clifford D. White spent the week end at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. G.I. White north of Glenwood.  Sgt. White is Engineer of his crew and Pfc. Thompson is his assistant.  The boys are now stationed at the Sioux City Air Base, where they are taking final flight training.

SGT. RICHARD HUNT WRITES OF JERUSALEM

Richard Tells of Places of Interest Where Christ Lived and Died and Where He Carried His Cross, and Was Crucified.

Sgt. Richard E. Hunt, in a letter to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.D. Hunt in this city, writes an interesting letter of his visit to Jerusalem.

Middle East

December 6, 1943

Dear Folks,

I guess it must be about time for me to write again don't you think?  I really have some excuse now, and perhaps a little more to talk about than usual because I had some negatives finished finally, of snaps that Cpl. Melvin and I took one time in our travels, when we visited Jerusalem.  So now as the prints are finished, I will send them to you and tell you some about the trip.  We didn't get to stay long there, but we made the most of it while we were there.

One of the first things that impressed us was the Simmons inner-spring mattress, that we slept on at the Y.M.C.A.  Boy, that was nice.  I felt that I would liked to have spent most of my pass on that, but Melvin wouldn't let me.  He insisted that we must get out and see some of the places of interest, so the first day we spent looking over the places where Christ lived and died and where he carried his cross.  The people over here don't quite agree upon where he was crucified, or where he was placed after his crucifixion, but they do seem to agree upon the place of his birth.

We walked from the Y. to the gate of the old city of Jerusalem and there we hired a guide to take us through.  (I'd like to see any one do otherwise.)  Excuse the comment, but these people are the most persistent people I ever expect to meet, but it helps to have a guide anyway, to point out the places of interest, which you no doubt would miss most of, otherwise.  The streets in the old city are narrow and winding and I might add, a bit dirty, but what could one expect.  I guess the city dates back a way, Huh, Dad?

Well, to get along with our trip, we followed the way of the cross and saw all fourteen of the places where he was supposed to have fallen with his cross, and then finally to the place where he was crucified and then on to where he was put to rest.  All along the way they have shops and street venders who try to sell you their wares, but they are all too high, and I'm not Scotch either, but these people all, must have been misinformed, because they think all Yankees are very rich, and they must think rich like John D. or Henry Ford or some of those boys, because they sure stick the prices on, where we are concerned.  Well, we got out of there as soon as we had seen everything of importance and went on to Bethlehem by Taxi, and with another guide.  It's only about twenty minute ride and there we went into the Church of Nativity, which contains the manger  where Jesus was born.  Then on the way back, we stopped, and the guide showed us the well, into which the Wise Men looked, and caught the reflection of the star that was guiding them.  So we looked into it, and had our guide take our pictures, shaking hands over the well.

From there, we went on to the Church of all Nations, but we were a little unfortunate there, we didn't get to go inside that church, but took some pictures of the church and of us in the garden, beside the church.  From this church you can get a good view of the wall around the old city and the gate that was sealed upon the crucifixion of Christ and which is to be kept closed until His reappearance upon this earth.  I  also am sending you this picture.

We went from there, to the garden Tomb, believed by many to be the Tomb wherein the body of our Lord was laid, and to me, it looks like the logical place.

Well, that just about completes the account of our visit to the Holy land, and needless to say that from there we went first, looking for a place to eat, and then, back to that good old Simman's mattress.  How I did enjoy that night's sleep.

I want to thank you again for the nice Christmas box I received.  Everything that you sent I can use to the best advantage.

You asked me once, if I had all the nice warm clothes that I need, I sure have Mom, and then some, and when we have to pack up our barracks bags and move, I have about three times as much as I care about having.  Don't worry about me, I'm probably by far, better off than you are, and if I don't worry, I don't like to think about you worrying.

Say, that package came all intact and without the wrapper even being wrinkled, so I got a chance to read the Glenwood Opinion Tribune, and I don't mind telling you, that I enjoyed it, every bit of it, even though the date was a little old on it.  I would like to get that more often.  I get a lot of enjoyment out of reading the letters written home to mothers of soldiers overseas.  Send me a copy now and then will you?

This leaves me in the best of health and hope that it reaches you all, feeling the same as I do.

Lots of love to all,

Dick

Sgt. Richard E. Hunt

14th Special Service Co.

APO 682 c/o Postmaster

New York City, N.Y.

LIEUT. DEAN COMMANDING OFFICER OF NEW AIR FIELD

Lieut. Allen E. Dean, son of Rev. Fred E. Dean of Rochester, N.Y., and grandson of the late A.E. Dean of this city is now commanding officer of a new air field in Conroe, Texas.

Allen was in the Naval air force at the time of Pearl Harbor and was an air pilot on the ship "The Vincennes" which was sunk in the Solomons in August 1942.

At that time he was injured and was in a California Naval hospital about a year.  He has been awarded the "Purple Heart" medal and has recently been made commanding officer of the Naval Air Faculty at Conroe, Texas.

Since taking up his new duties he was married to Miss Ruth Sandorf of San Jose, Calif.  It is gratifying to know that he has done so well in spite of misfortune and we wish him success in his new field and much happiness in married life.

Page 54

WILMA WYANT ZELLER SELECTED TO TRAIN AT FORT DES MOINES

Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Wyant of Glenwood to Enter Training for Army Commission

One of the 200 women from New York, New Jersey and Delaware selected for officer training at Iowa's Fort Des Moines is a former Glenwood resident, Wilma Milmay Wyant Zeller.  Mrs. Zeller, who for the past four years has been an instructor in speech at Ithaca College, Ithaca, N.Y., is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Millard Wyant.  Her notice of appointment to the officer candidate class was received this week; she has orders to report to Fort Des Moines on October 12.

After graduating from Glenwood High School in 1930, Mrs. Zeller went to Park College for two years.  She then spent a year as secretary in her father's insurance office before transferring to the department of speech and dramatic art at the University of Iowa.  She received her Bachelor of Arts degree at Iowa City in 1935, and was married, to Winn Fredrik Zeller in Glenwood that same year.  Mrs. Zeller received her degree Master of Arts at the university the following summer, when her husband completed his doctorate.

The Zellers were employed at Whittier College, Whittier, Calif., until 1938, when they moved to Ithaca, where Dr. Zeller is director of the department of drama and dean of the academic division.  In addition to her work as an instructor in speech at Ithaca College, Mrs. Zeller has directed the costuming of many college theatrical productions and is resident housemother of Kappa Gamma Psi, a national fraternity.  Since the war came, she has been most active as an instructor in First Aid for groups of air raid wardens, college students, and Red Cross Motor Corps Members.

Wilma will complete her basic training about Christmas time and will be assigned in the way of duties but is looking forward eagerly to the chance for military service, and with especial eagerness to the opportunity for a return to Iowa for a few weeks at the least.  By the time she gets her officer's commission, she hopes that she'll be located at least within flying distance of her husband, who expects to receive soon a commission in the U.S. Naval Reserve.

WILMA WYANT ZELLER VISITS PARENTS HERE

Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Wyant enjoyed a week end visit from their daughter, Mrs. Winn Zeller, who is attending the W.A.A.C. Officer's Training School in Des Moines.  She was accompanied by three other young ladies from this training center, Miss Sally Orchard of New Jersey who went on to Omaha to visit friends, Mrs. Kathryn Herron and Miss Stephanie Szech of New York who visited in the Wyant home.

MISS MILDRED WOODS TO TRAIN ARMY DOGS

Miss Mildred Woods, Photographer, of Albuquerque, N.M., left Tuesday evening after paying a brief visit to her mother, Mrs. Carrie Woods.  Miss Woods reports that Albuquerque is bustling with war activities, the most spectacular of which is a finishing school for bombardiers.  Their practice goes on continuously on the bombing range near the city.

Miss Woods, who has long been a dog fancier, has enlisted her energies in the Dogs for Defense Drive, and, on returning to Albuquerque, will begin to train a fine specimen of black Great Dane.  The dogs and the service of trainers are given without remuneration, and the U.S. Army has asked for 5,000 dogs this year, 10,000 in 1943.  After those requests have been filled, effort will also be made to meet the need for dogs in the navy and the Red Cross.  The dogs, all of fine pedigree, are trained as guards and companions to sentries and become splendid morale builders in the army.  The European countries, according to Miss Woods, have long recognized the value of dogs in the armed service, and the German army, especially, has a large corps of them.

NEL B. KALSKETT IS HOSTESS AT ARMY CAMP

Nel B. Kalskett, instructor in Glenwood High School for the past eight years has been appointed to the position of hostess at Camp Carson near Colorado Springs, Colo.  This is a new camp just being opened by the United States Army and Miss Kalskett, who has been in Omaha since the close of this school year left Wednesday to assume her new duties at the camp where she will have an apartment in the hostess house and is furnished a private car and driver.

WYANTS SEE DAUGHTER RECEIVE LIEUT. COMMISSION

Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Wyant visited over the weekend in Des Moines at which time they had the pleasure of seeing their daughter, Wilma Zeller, receive her Lieutenant's commission in the Woman's Army Auxiliary Corps.  She was one of the two Iowa women in the class who received their commission at that time.

Mr. Zeller, who is in the Cryptographic corps of the Army Air Corps, has just received his Lieutenant's commission at the Glades, Miami Beach, Florida, and had been assigned to Bolling Field, Virginia, was given a few days furlough and was able to come to Des Moines in time to be present when Mrs. Zeller received her commission.

Mrs. Zeller will remain in Des Moines for a time as an instructor in military tactics at the WAAC training center.

Mr. and Mrs. Wyant also had the pleasure, while in Des Moines of visiting their son, Maurice, who is receiving his basic training there in the Army Signal Corps.

FIRST GLENWOOD GIRL TO ENLIST IN WAAC   

Miss Miriam Parker, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. H.G. Parker of this city, is the firs Glenwood girl to enlist in the WAAC.  Miss Parker, who has been employed  recently in the Opinion-Tribune office, received her call last week and was in Omaha from Wednesday until Saturday taking her examinations which she passed in a creditable manner and was accepted as typist with specialist's ratings.  She took the oath of induction Saturday and will be called for duty within three weeks.  Miss Parker expects to be assigned to the new training center at Daytona Beach, Florida.

JACQUELINE RUTH YORK

A daughter, Jacqueline Ruth, was born Wednesday morning, February 10 at the Jennie Edmundson hospital to Mr. and Mrs. Rex York.  Mr. York is with the U.S. Marines in the Isles of the Pacific presumably on Guadalcanal.  Mrs. York, the former Ruth Michaelson, is secretary to the Mills County Selective Service Board.

MISS OLIVE TAFT WRITES FROM CHINA

In a letter from Miss Olive Taft formerly of this city, written last Dec. 17, in Peking, China, Glenwood friends have learned that she is well and is carrying on her work in the Methodist Mission of that city in about her usual manner.  She states that war regulations have not interfered with them and that they are permitted to go on with their tasks as usual.  Her letter is given over largely to the simple, daily happenings.  She spoke of their Thanksgiving dinner where not turkey, but bustard, a flying bird resembling wild duck in flavor, was the chief item.  Miss Taft regrets that she receives little or no mail from the States, but adds that all ship space is given over to transport purposes rather than to private mail.  In begging that her Glenwood friends will continue, however, to send letters to her, she requests that they write mainly personal matters and refrain from comments on conditions.

MRS. ORRIN OSTERHOLM AND SON

The little fellow pictured above is Orrin Douglas Osterholm of this city, who was born July 16 in the Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs.  He has the distinction of being the first child born to a soldier in World War  II from Glenwood stationed across the seas.  His father is Sgt. Orrin Osterholm, a member of Company I, 168th Infantry, and is at present stationed with the A.E.F. in northern Ireland.

MISS DORIS WILLIAMS RECEIVE CALL TO WAVES

Miss Doris Williams, who recently passed the entrance examination and was inducted into service of the WAVES, on Monday received her official call ordering her to report at Hunter College in New York City on April 19, Hunter College, prior to ----------

CPL. MIRIAM PARKER AT CAMP POLK, LA

A card comes from Miss Miriam Parker, stating that she has just been transferred from Wilmington, North Carolina to Co. 4, 1st Bn., 41st WAAC Training Center, Camp Polk, Louisiana.

Miss Parker holds the rank of corporal, in the WAAC.

MILLS COUNTY GIRL SAFE IN PHILIPPINES

The anxiety of Mr. and Mrs. William Burgoin of Silver City, over the safety of their daughter and family who are in the Philippines, was somewhat lessened this week.

On Sunday they received a cablegram from the Singer Sewing Machine Company, of which their son-in-law is a foreign representative, saying that "Pleased to report all employees in the Philippine Islands safe and well.""

Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Tyson, she being the former Ethel Burgoin, have been in the Islands for several years, where he is district supervisor for the Singer Sewing Machine Company.  They visited their parents here two years age and since that time a son,, James William, has been born to them, he now being a year and a half old.  Mr. and Mrs. Burgoin have not heard from their daughter since war broke out last December, and at that time they were located in the town of Baguio, province of Luzon.

The message received by the Singer Sewing Machine Company, came through the International Red Cross at Geneva, Switzerland, and Manila, Philippine Islands.

RECEIVES GREETINGS FROM FORMER RESIDENTS

Miss Hattie Kirkpatrick received a Christmas note from Mrs. Elizabeth DeBrohun, who was well-known in Glenwood.  Mrs. DeBrohun states in her letter that her eldest daughter, Betty, is following in the footsteps of her illustrious father, who held a high position in the U.S. Navy, and is commissioned in the WAVES this month at Northhampton, Mass. (Incomplete)

 

MARINE CORPS LIBRARIAN IN NORTH CAROLINA

Miss Helen Hilton, daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. Charles Hilton of Glenwood, who has been librarian at Shurleff College, Alton, Ill., has been appointed a librarian by the U.S. Navy and is now located at the Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, N.C.  She resides at Moorehead City.

Page 55

JOE BOSTEDT DIED IN PRISON CAMP

International Red Cross reports death of well known Bostedt twin on June 16th.  Was on Bataan peninsula.

The sympathy of the entire community goes into the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Bostedt of St. Mary's township, this week, sympathy over the untimely death of their twin son, Corporal Joe W. Bostedt, who has been a prisoner of war of the Japanese government in the Philippine Islands, and whose death was reported in a telegram from the war department received by them on Tuesday evening of this week.

This official message read as follows:  "Report now received from the Japanese Government through the International Red Cross that your son, Corporal Joe W. Bostedt, who was previously reported a prisoner of war died on the sixteenth of June in the Philippine Islands.  The Secretary of War shares your grief and extends his deep sympathy.  Letter follows."

John and Joe Bostedt, 21, twins, enlisted shortly after their graduation from a Council Bluffs high school, having served some three years in the air force.  They were both known to have been on Bataan at the time of its surrender to the Japanese in February of last year.  No word has ever been received of what became of John, whether he lost his life at the time of the occupation of the Islands by the Japanese or whether he has also been a prisoner of war.  Another son, Glen Bostedt, with the U.S. Army in the Philippines has been reported as a prison of war although no direct word has been received from him by his parents.

Some 300 names of American soldiers who died recently in the Islands has been released by the war department.  They have been reported to have died from malaria, dysentery, pneumonia and other diseases, known to be prevalent in Japanese prison camps.

ROBERT JACKSON GIVEN POSTHUMOUS MEDAL

A posthumous medal for bravery, in the form of the Purple Heart, was received by Dean Jackson on Monday for his late son, Robert Wods Jackson, Yoeman Third Class of the U.S. Navy.  The official statement, after pointing out that the Purple Heart was established by Gen. George Washington in 1782, reads that the citation was given to Robert Woods Jackson "for military merit and for wounds received in action resulting in his death on December 7, 1941."  Robert, who was Glenwood's first casualty in the current conflict, was on the U.S.S. Arizona at Pearl Harbor.  Significant is the fact that this citation is dated just two years later, December 7, 1943.  Coming from the Navy Department, it is signed by Secretary Frank Knox and Rear Admiral Randall Jacobs.

ENSIGN IVY IS LAID TO REST WITH MILITARY HONORS

Popular young man of this community killed in Plane crash at Hutchinson Field Kans. was Flight Instructor

This entire community was shocked last Wednesday by the word of the death of Ensign Dorsie E. Ivy, Flight Instructor at the Navy Aviation School in Hutchinson Kansas which occurred as a result of an accident with a student at the control.

Ensign Ivy's death was not instantaneous he lived for a time after the accident and characteristic of his nature, carried out intended plans for himself and his loved ones.  The body was brought home by train under Naval Guard Ensign William A. Hyde.  It was met at the train by the Raynor Funeral Coach and taken to the Raynor Funeral Home where it lay in state until the hour of the service Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the Congregational church.

The service was conducted by his pastor Dr. Frederick W. Long.  Music furnished by a sextette composed of Mrs. Edwin Fleer, Mrs. W.H. Rodabaugh, Mrs. E.F. Hartman, Mary Louise Schade, Orla Jean Johnson, and LaDonna Johnson with Mrs. Robert Honig pianist.

Dorsie Eugene, son of Orien and Sarah Elizabeth Bantoup Ivy, was born December 7, 1917 at Barnett, Mo.

When he was two years of age, he came with his parents to Mills county, the family home being west of Pacific Junction for many years.

Dorsie was graduated from the Pacific Junction high school in the class of 1935.

On July 21, 1939, he was united in marriage to Mercedes Hon of Glenwood.  One son, Dorsie Eugene, Jr., now age two and one-half years, was born to this union.

For four years, Dorsie was superintendent foreman of the N.Y.A. in Glenwood and Council Bluffs.

He went from this position to Government work in the Martin Bomber Plant at Fort Crook later enrolling in the U.S. Navy.  He served his weeks of apprentice training at the Great Lakes Naval Training station at Chicago.  His work there was so commendable that he was sent to the Officers Training School at Pensacola Florida where young men with aptitude are trained for service in the Aviation Branch of the Service.  He emerged from this course of his training about the first of the year with an Ensigns Commission and was assigned to duty as a Flight Instructor at the Hutchinson Field in Kansas.  His wife and little son, who were with him in Pensacola have been with him in Hutchinson.

He leaves to mourn his untimely passing his wife and son; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Orien Ivy of Pacific Junction; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Bantrup of Glenwood and many relatives and life long friends.

Seldom has any one young, or old in this community had the tribute of respect paid their memory, such as was accorded Ensign Ivy at his funeral service.  The attendance was greater than the capacity of the church.  The public address system carried the words of the service to those seated in the recreation rooms of the church basement and to the many who were standing on the church lawn.

The Glenwood State Guard Company, the American Legion and the V.F.W. attended the services in a body.  The floral tributes were beautiful and profuse, those in charge were Mrs. Paul Cheyney, Mrs. Chris Renschler, Mrs. J.M. Wyant, Mrs. Chas. Coffey, Mrs. Harry Gilmore, and Mrs. John Powles.

The pallbearers were John Stacken, John Lafferty, Orville Snipers, Lyle Hrasky, Wm. Rodabaugh, and Paul Cheyney.

The drone of airplane motors could be heard over the church during the entire hour of the service and in Flight formation they formed an Aerial Escort as the body was borne to the Glenwood cemetery.  These planes were from his old squadron at Hutchinson and were commanded on this day by Lt. J.G. Driblow, Lt. J.G. Wagner, and Lt. J.G. Cruser, B.N. Maxwell and F.D. Logan had charge of the Military service at the grave, removing the flag which draped the casket and presented it to the widow of Ensign Ivy.

A firing squad from the Iowa State Guard Company brought all to attention, Merrill Moore as bugler sounded taps and the answering echo from over the hill was sounded by Leland Flora.

LT. DODDER KILLED IN PLANE CRASH

Another name has been added this week to the list of heroes who have laid down their lives in the service of their country.  The sad news of the tragic death of Lt. Edward L. Dodder in a crash of two heavy bombers at Mountain Home Air Base, Idaho, on Saturday came as a shock to the entire community.  Lt. and Mrs. Dodder had visited in Glenwood the preceding weekend.

Mrs. Dodder was with him in Idaho and accompanied the body to Muscatine, where Lt. Dodder was a chiropractor before entering the service.  Lt. Dodder's mother, Mrs. J.C. Bussanmas, his sister, Mrs. Gene Hertz, of Algona, his grandmother, Mrs. J.W., and his aunts, Mrs. Mabel Van Wickle and Mrs. Myrtle Peterson of Tipton, who happened to be in Glenwood at the time the word came, all motored to Muscatine on Tuesday.  Mrs. Bussanmas boarded the train in Omaha Tuesday night to accompany Mrs. Dodder across the state.  Since no word to the contrary had reached Glenwood Wednesday evening, it is assumed that the tentative plans for funeral services on Thursday with burial in Muscatine have been carried out.

PVT. VIRGIL SELL KILLED IN ACTION

Relatives here have received word that Pvt. Virgil Sell was killed in action in New Guinea on April 6.  The Sells were former residents of this community having moved to Illinois some few years ago.  Pvt. Sell is a brother of Mrs. Max Hamilton.

LIEUT. DODDER RITES HELD AT MUSCATINE

WELL KNOWN IN GLENWOOD

Well Known Glenwood Boy and Pilot of B-24 Heavy Air Corps Bomber Met Death When Two Ships Collided at Mountain Home, Idaho.

Funeral service for Lieutenant Edward Lanning Dodder, U.S. Army Air corps were held at 10 o'clock, October 28th in the First Baptist church in Muscatine with the pastor, the Rev. Vincent Brushwyler, in charge.  Following the service the body was taken to the Greenwood cemetery at Muscatine for interment with the American Legion in charge of the burial rites.

Second Lieutenant Dodder, 28, was a pilot of a B-24 United States heavy bomber and met instant death on Saturday afternoon, October 3rd, when two heavy army bombers collided near Mountain Home, Idaho.  All 16 members of the crews of the two bombers, each having a staff of eight men were killed.  Lt. Dodder was senior pilot on his plane.  Reports revealed, following the tragic accident, that one bomber sheared off the wing of the other.  The plane which lost the wing flew a short distance before crashing, but the other plane, dropped straight to the earth and burrowing deep into the sand of a dry creek bed.

Lt. Dodder and Mrs. Dodder had recently visited in Iowa with relatives here and friends in Muscatine, going on from here to Salt Lake City, Utah.  A short time later Lt. Dodder was assigned to a post at Boise, Idaho, which is but a short distance from Mountain Home.

Lt. Dodder is a graduate of the Glenwood High School with the class of 1933.  He later attended the Lincoln Chiropractic school, Indianapolis, Indiana, where he graduated in September 1939.  He opened his practice as a Doctor of Chiropractic in April of 1948 in Muscatine, where he remained until his enlistment in the armed forces.  Mrs. Dodder is the former Frances Schmidt of Burlington, Iowa.

He had been in the service since September 1942, when he enlisted in the army air corps.  He received his wings and commission as a second Lieutenant at the Blytheville Army Air Field, Blytheville, Arkansas, on July 28th of this year.  His mother, Mrs. J.C. Bussanmas, of this city, was in attendance at the graduation exercises.

Immediate survivors are his wife, Frances, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Bussanmas of this city, one sister, Mrs. Eloise Hertz of Algona, Iowa, a grandmother Mrs. J.W. Laraway of Glenwood two aunts, Mrs. Mable Van Wickle of Glenwood and Mrs. Myrtle Peter son of Tipton, Iowa.  All were in attendance at the services in Muscatine.

WARREN STONE KILLED IN ACTION DECEMBER 5

A sad token, indeed, to Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Stone was the message which reached them on New Year's Eve giving notice of the death of their son, Staff Sgt. Warren Stone, who was killed while in combat with the Fifth Army in Italy on Dec. 5.  An earlier message had advised them that he had been wounded, but from this he had recovered and had returned to active city at the time he was killed.

Warren and his brother, Hubert, left Glenwood together as members of Co. I.  They were separated, however, before they embarked for Europe.  Hubert remained with the 168th Infantry and is now a prisoner in Germany.  Warren, together with a number of other Glenwood comrades, was transferred to the 133rd Infantry, with which he has served ever since.

CPT. PARLE KELLEY KILLED IN ACTION

Cpl. Parle P. Kelley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Kelley, formerly of Glenwood and now of Los Angeles, was killed in action with the 33rd Armored Regiment last December 26 in the vicinity of Grand Menil, Belgium.  Parle had been serving with the regiment during its campaign in Germany.  He was buried in the American Military Cemetery in Belgium with a Protestant chaplain officiating at the service.  Colonel John C. Welborn, commanding officer of the regiment, has written a letter to the parents of Cpl. Kelley in which he praised him, saying, "He was held in very high regard by all members of the command; he was a splendid soldier and outstanding character.  His loss is very deeply felt by his many friends throughout the unit."

Cpt. Kelley and his parents will be well remembered by many readers.  His father is a former owner and operator of the South Side Drug Store.

Page 56

MALVERN GIRL IS FIRST IN COUNTY ENLISTED IN WAAC

Mary Louise Juelke of Malvern Leader staff enlists in Woman's Army Auxiliary Corps in Des Moines

Mary Louise Juelke, office assistant in the Malvern Leader in Malvern for the past three years has the distinction of honor of being the first young woman residing in Mills county whose application for enlistment in the Woman's Army Auxiliary Corps has been accepted.  Because of the fact that the WAAC is a new departure in Military preparations its organization is a matter of general interest and at the request of the editor of the Leader, she wrote the following interesting account of her enlistment experiences which this newspaper is privileged to reprint here just as it appeared in the Leader this week.

When the first rumors were circulated concerning the organization of a woman's army I decided I would do my best to enlist.  At first, it was the idea of something unique and different that appealed to me and then as the WAAC came into actual being I began to realize the seriousness of purpose in the organization.

I obtained an application blank for officer's training and on June 10 was called into Omaha for exams.  There was a large group of us who had been called in for exams and out of an estimated 200 or so who began the exams, there were 89 who passed the mental and the interview on the first day, thereby making us eligible for a physical examination.

One thing about the army is that they are very thorough in their exams.  The mental examination covered everything one would be expected to know after having reached the age of 21 and several doctors and nurses were on hand at Ft. Crook to give the physical exams.  Here a few more girls were eliminated and the rest of us went home to wait and hope.

In a little over a week I received my rejection card, saying that I hadn't had the executive experience needed for an officer candidate.  I really expected to be rejected, especially after finding that the majority of the girls in the final group had had a great amount of college work and several had held executive positions.

When the auxiliary enlistments were begun I again filled out an application blank and was called into Omaha Thursday for exams.  The letter states that I would be expected to stay for three days, so I supposed that I would have to take all the exams over again.

There was just one other applicant there who had taken the officer's training exams with me and there were also three girls who had never applied for either enlistment previously.  We five were taken to Ft. Crook for physicals that morning, but as Miss Roush, who is from Carson, and I had already taken them we were given only a slight checkup to see that we had no serious illnesses since June 10.

That afternoon we were interviewed to find what our interests were, something concerning our family life and how we get along in our associations with others.  Following this we each had a private conference with Capt. John P. Bottenfield, who helped us decide what kind of specialist training would be advisable in each case.  I had a difficult time deciding between typing and driving as I like to do both, but we finally decided I should be a chauffeur.

Then our remaining necessary questionnaires were filed out, we were fingerprinted and were ready to be sworn in.  Miss Roush and I were sworn in together by Capt. Bottenfield and we had then completed our enlistment in the WAAC.

We were then sent home, the government furnishing our transportation.  We were instructed that we should be ready to leave for Ft. Des Moines at any time, with maybe 24 hours notice or as much as two weeks notice.

Some people have the idea that most girls are joining the WAAC just for the excitement and glamour of it, but I think if these persons would investigate the matter they would find that we really are serious in wanting to help in the war effort.

The organization offers a great opportunity for gaining experience in many lines, such as cooking, sewing, printing, driving, all types of office and post exchange work, communications and many others not mentioned.

Although it is fairly unlikely, the WAACs have a slight chance of being sent overseas and this is understood by each girl before she enlists.  And each girl is aware of the fact that her enlistment is good for the duration.

The idea of a women's army is comparatively new but before the war is over there will probably be nearly as many women in service as men and we of the WAAC all hope that we may be an important factor in bringing a victory to the United Nations.

DOROTHY BROADFIELD HONORED BY NATIONAL WOMEN OF THE AIR

Reception tendered former Glenwood girl in Omaha.  Had been named outstanding woman aviator of air.

Miss Dorothy Broadfield, formerly of this city and a young woman whom this community still likes to claim but who is now referred to in the Metropolitan newspapers at Dorothy Broadfield of Omaha, has risen to great heights in her profession, actually as well as figuratively speaking as she has just been awarded the National Amelia Earhart scholarship as the outstanding woman aviator of the year.

Members and guests of the Omaha Chapter of the National Aeronautic association assembled to honor Miss Broadfield Saturday evening at the Hotel Fontenelle.  Mrs. Charles Harwood of New York City, woman flier and chairman of the National Amelia Earhart scholarship committee, was present to award the scholarship to Miss Broadfield.  She and Miss Broadfield were interviewed on a radio broadcast at the airport Saturday following her arrival.

Miss Broadfield, only woman pilot in Nebraska to hold a commercial license, was also honored at a luncheon Saturday noon at the Athletic Club.

Among the famous women pilots present for the occasion were officers of the Ninety-Nines Club, a famous organization of women pilots of which Miss Broadfield is a member, as well as Miss Jacqueline Cochan, first woman pilot to cross the Atlantic in a plane and who is on tour of the country to recruit women pilots for the W.A.F.'s

Present at the reception at the hotel Saturday evening was Mrs. Beatrice Broadfield of this city mother of the honoree of the evening.

DOROTHY BROADFIELD IN FERRY COMMAND TRAINING

Dorothy Broadfield, daughter of Mrs. Beatrice Broadfield of this city is now attending the Ferry Command school at Houston, Texas, where she will be for four months.  Miss Broadfield was joined at Gainsville, Texas, by her brother, Sgt. Frank Broadfield who continued on with his sister to Fort Worth where she received her final instructions.

MIRIAM PARKER COMPLETES WAAC REFRESHER COURSE

Jr. Ldr. (Cpl.) Miriam M. Parker, has completed a brief refresher course in the 41st WAAC Training Regiment at Camp Polk, Louisiana, and has been assigned to headquarters company, with which she will go to an army post, camp or station to take over non-combatant work.

She is the daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. H.G. Parker, of this city.

MIRIAM PARKER TRANSFERS TO AWS IN WAAC

A letter comes to the Opinion-Tribune from a former member of the staff, Miss Miriam Parker, now with the WAAC in Des Moines, in which she says, "We are kept pretty busy during the day so evenings are the only spare minutes.  We have, of course, minor things like laundry, scrubbing or dusting have nothing to do with our being rushed.

"We have inspection each morning and everything must be perfect.  We get up at 6:00 a.m., dress, clean our barracks, make the beds, and fall out in formation at 6:35.

"For the first week, we were in a receiving station getting broke in.  Yesterday, Saturday, we moved to "Boomtown" and our permanent address for the remaining three weeks of our basic training.  After that we'll either be shipped out or remain here to go to school.

"I transferred to the AWS, (Aircraft Warning Service) thinking it might be more interesting than a clerical job.  I will undoubtedly be sent out soon to a training school as there isn't one here as yet for that purpose.  Most of them are on the east or west coasts.

"Our barracks hold 50 girls each.  I have a private room with two other girls.  It used to be the cadre room, sergeant's room to you.

"We have a very nice "top-kick" in our barracks.  She's very cute and friendly.  She lives just across the hall from me.

"We have drilled quite a lot every day.  I like the army fine.  It's a drastic change from civilian life, but I'm getting accustomed to it gradually.  We stood formal retreat once on the parade grounds and it really gave me quite a thrill and made us all proud to be in the service."

She adds that she has seen "Tillie Juelke" of Malvern who is also in the W.A.A.C. stationed at Des Moines.

Miriam's address is: 

Aux. Miriam Parker

12th Co., 3rd Regiment

Army Post Branch

Des Moines, Iowa

MIRIAM PARKER NOW IN NORTH CAROLINA

Rev. and Mrs. H.G. Parker are in receipt of a very interesting letter from their daughter, Miriam who is a member of the WAAC, and is now stationed at Wilmington, North Carolina, where she is employed in relaying flight observations of planes.

She, at present is on duty from three a. m. until nine a.m. every morning and states that she has found the work very interesting.

Her address is:

Aux Miriam Parker

PO Box 1567

Wilmington, North Carolina.

MIRIAM PARKER TO COME HOME ON FURLOUGH

Rev. and Mrs. H.G. Parker have received word from their daughter, Miriam, who is stationed at Wilmington, North Carolina with the WAAC, stating that she expects to get a ten day furlough beginning February 13 and is now planning to make the trip home by plane.

Miss Parker, who is serving in the Aircraft Signal Division recently sent a copy of a department news sheet known as the "Sky-Tracker" in which she has a column under her own name.

Miss Parker has been advanced to a supervisor in her division.

When Miriam Parker of the W.A.A.C. comes this week end from Wilmington North Carolina on furlough, she will come with "stripes."  Her father Rev. H.G. Parker received word Monday that she has been advanced to the rank of Corporal.  Miss Parker has been supervisor of her division now for some time and her advance in tank was not unexpected.

DORIS WILLIAMS FIRST SOUTHWEST IOWA WAVE

Miss Doris Williams of Glenwood has the honor of being the first young woman from south-western Iowa to enlist in the WAVES.  Miss Williams passed the aptitude and physical examinations and was sworn in at the Des Moines Navy Recruiting station on Monday.  She expects to be called within the next month.

Her application was made and accepted at the Council Bluffs recruiting office located in the post office building, and forwarded to the Des Moines office to which she was summoned for final examination.

Miss Williams, who is 20, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A.G. Williams.  She was born in Emerson and graduated from the Hastings High School with the class of 1939.

She was employed in the Telephone exchange at Hastings during her senior year and following her graduation from high school she accepted a position at the Glenwood State School.  She later took a course as Nurse's aid at the Iowa State University.  She worked for a time at practical nursing in southwestern Iowa and for the past year has been employed as secretary and receptionist in the real estate office of Carl Morgan in Glenwood.

She is a member of the Congregational choir, has taken an active interest in Sunday School and Young People's work of the church, is a young woman of pleasing personality and charm.

She has a brother, Ensign Robert E. Williams, who is stationed with the Navy at Washington, D.C.

Page 57

KIRK STERNS IS MISSING IN ACTION

Took Part in Five Major Engagements

Mrs. Kirk Stearns received word Tuesday morning, stating that her husband, Electricians First Class Kirk C. Stearns has been missing in action.

Kirk, a former Glenwood boy, made his home with his uncle and aunt Mr. and Mrs. John Clark since a small boy and graduated with the class of 1940 from the school here.  Shortly after graduation, Kirk joined the submarine service of the Navy, taking his boot training at the Great Lakes Naval Training school at Chicago an advanced training at the Submarine school at New  London, Connecticut.

In December of 1942, Kirk received his first leave since the war began and returned to Glenwood, where on December 17, he was married to Jacqueline Godsey, daughter of Master Sergeant and Mrs. Carn Godsey of Pacific Junction.

When Officer Stearns was last home he was wearing service ribbons, indicating that he had taken part in five major engagements including the Aleutians, Wake Island and other battles of International fame in the Pacific.

The heartfelt sympathy of the entire community goes out to Mrs. Stearns, whose father has been a prison of war since February, 1943, and to Mr. and Mrs. Clark.

Page 58

Dear Mom,

I guess this is the first time our family has been separated at Christmas time.  I know you're probably feeling sorry for me being away for the firs time and the only one of the kids who won't be home.  It's a funny thing, but as the time draws near my throat aches a little when I think of how lonely you'll feel when you see that vacant place at the dinner table.

The Christmas spirit isn't altogether lacking here, tho.  Of course, there are no street decorations but display windows are brightened with last year's leftovers.  Some of the stores have Christmas trees out without any decorations at all.  There's a solemn beauty about the way they try to reflect a little Christmas cheer, even without the aid of lights or snow.  They're sort of like soldiers in fatigues.

Mom, do you remember Dad telling about how the fellows used to get together and sing Christmas carols when he was in the last war?  Well, they had nothing on us.  We have one fellow here with a hearty baritone voice.  He usually starts things off.  We join in and before you know it, the fellow clear down the line are singing.  It makes me feel pretty good to hear a chorus of masculine voices raised in "Joy to the World" or Silent Night."  Reminds me a lot of when I was little and we used to sing Christmas carols the first thing in the morning at school.

Mom, I guess I had an idea I had outgrown the church.  The last couple of years before I went into the army I got the idea what churches were for kids and women.  I didn't appreciate the feeling of warmth, sincerity, and security to be found there.  We're having special services here Christmas morning.  I'm going to attend and you can bet I'll be thinking of you and Dad and the kids.

God bless you, Mom, and keep your chin up.  Also MERRY CHRISTMAS!

With love,

Your son

HOWARD MINTLE REPORTED AS GERMAN PRISONER

Mrs. Howard Mintle received a communication under the date of December 25 from Washington, D.C., saying "The name of Howard Mintle has been mentioned in an enemy broadcast as a prisoner in German hands.  The Army is checking the accuracy of this information and will advise you as soon as possible."

Later under date of December 27 she received this report:

"Following short wave message from Germany has been intercepted. 'Am leading lazy life. Enough to eat and drink. Received mail O.K. Very happy Holiday season to all.  Affectionately, Raymond Howard Mintle.' This message supplements previous official reports received from International Red Cross. Signed Gullion, Provost Marshall General."

AVIATION CADET DALE RECTOR COMPLETES BASIC TRAINING

Aviation Cadet Dale Rector has just completed his basic flying training at the Merced Army Air Field, California.  He will now proceed to an Army advanced flying school, where he will take the final steps toward attainment of his silver pilot wings.

He is the son of Mrs. Cora Rector of Tabor.

"I UNDERSTAND"

From somewhere in the South Pacific, an Iroquois County family received the following letter:

Dear Family:

It is nice to hear from you after such a long period of waiting, but is is unpleasant to learn of the many hardships brought about by your changed conditions of living, all of which I can readily understand because there has been considerable change in my living conditions, too.

It is too bad that you are limited in the use of the family car, and have to mess around with gas coupons and walk so much.  I know what it is to have to walk instead of riding in the car for my walking has been through miles and miles of swamp and jungle. So I understand!

It is too bad, too, to have your choice of food so limited and to have to do without good steaks so much of the time.  I have experienced this also, except that there is no choice here.  So again, I understand!

It is a shame that Willie has to work so many hours a day a the defense plant.  It must be awfully hard on him.  But then I have to work night and day at this defense plant.  So again, I understand!

It is too bad that you all have so little time for amusements and haven't any place to go.  But then I am deprived of amusements, too.  So, I understand.

It is too bad that you have to wait out in the rain for your transportation.  But then I have to get out in the rain too, sometimes for a whole week at a time without any shelter.  And of course my transportation is just a little bit uncertain too. So, I understand!

It is a shame that you are paid so little for the long hours and the hard work you put in.  But then I only receive a fraction of the pay you folks back home get. So, I understand!

It is too bad that you have to live under all the little rules and regulations that are so annoying.  But then we have rules and regulations out here,, too. So, you see, I understand!

Winning this war is hard on all of us.  You work hard, put in long hours, have to limit your ordinary activities and forego much of the customary pleasures.  And so do I, so I understand!  But during all of these long hours, hard work and changed conditions, I get shot at! DO YOU UNDERSTAND????

Your loving brother,

Bill

PARENTS NOTIFIED OF NEAL DUSENBERRY MISSING

Official notification that Sgt. Neal Dusenberry is missing in action in Italy since Jan. 5, came to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Dusenberry, on Sunday evening.  There is reason to believe that Sgt. Dusenberry has been captured, as a letter was received from Harold Slaughter, also in Italy, last week in which he said that "Dusenberry has gone to visit Howard Mintle."  It will be recalled that Sgt. Mintle was taken captive in the Tunisian Campaign and is now held in Germany.

M 2/C MARO CRAIG HERE ON 30 DAY LEAVE

Metalsmith 2/c Maro Craig of the U.S. Navy arrived Tuesday to spend a 30-day leave at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Craig.  This is his first visit at home since he entered the Navy in August, 1941, except for a brief stop here when he completed boot training.  He is to report at Treasure Island, Calif., on Feb. 29.

Maro is stationed on the U.S.S. Waller, a destroyer, has seen a lot of the Pacific and wears four stars for participation in naval battles.  He feels very much at home on the ocean and really feels the urge to be back on the ship whenever he is having shore liberty.  The farthest east he has traveled is within sight of the shores of New Guniea.  Equipment which he always carried with him is his knife and life belt.  Admiral Halsey, whom he describes as "the best old Admiral in the Navy" is a frequent caller on the Waller, comes aboard in the most informal attire and appears to be constitutionally opposed to a tie.

Maro says he finds Glenwood to be the "same old town" after his absence of more than two years, "only a little deader!"  He is surely enjoying his mother's fine cooking after the dehydrated food he has been eating.

The only Glenwood person he has met since leaving the home town was Clark Lewis, who was on M.P. duty at the depot in Ogden, Utah, the other evening when Craig's train stopped there.

FAYE MESSINGER HEARS FROM JAMES HAFER

Faye Messinger is in receipt of a letter, written January 4, from James Hafer, who was linotype operator at the Silver City Times, when she was editor and was later linotype operator for the Glenwood Opinion-Tribune until his entrance into the Navy in the summer of 1942.  Jimmie who is a Firecontrolman 3/c in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Murray, writes in part, "Believe it or not I am finally getting around to answer some of the mail I have received recently, I do like to get letters, but just keep putting it off to answer until they pile up on me.  I have been getting the Glenwood papers ok , sometimes a little late, but I do enjoy them just the same.  I read every line and immensely enjoy the letters of the service boys.

"Sure doesn't seem like two years ago that we put out the Silver City paper.  I guess those days weren't so good for either of us, but would sure like to be back in that rut for a while.  I enjoyed the few months I worked on the Glenwood paper and it would again feel good to pound a linotype or feed papers to a clanking press."

I can't tell you how much about what I've been doing and nothing about where I've been.  They have given us permission to say that we have crossed the equator though.  I've been swimming a few times lately and we have movies quite often.  We are getting good chow, in fact exceptionally good of late, but there are a few things though they can't dehydrate and send out, but guess we will catch up on those things when we get back."

SERG. ORVILLE SIMMONS RECEIVES AIR MEDAL

For 32 vital missions against the Japs in the South Pacific, during which he downed at least one Zero, Sergeant Orville C. Glenwood Iowa, has received the Air Medal.

The Marine radio gunner was first cited overseas, while serving with a dive bomber squadron, and his award was officially presented during ceremonies at the Marine Corps Air Depot, Miramar, California, conducted by Lieutenant Colonel Francis E. Pierce, USMC, retired, Commanding Officer Personnel Group.

Sergeant Simmons is the son of Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Simmons, of Glenwood, with whom he recently spent a furlough.  His citation reads:

"In this period of intense hostile activity consisting of attacks on enemy ships and ground installations, numerous searches, and patrols over dangerous hostile territory, (then) Pfc. Simmons performed his essential duties as radio gunner with outstanding professional ability and keen judgment.  In one engagement with an enemy task force when his plane was attacked by Japanese Zeros, he quickly destroyed one of the hostile aircraft.

"On another occasion during an important search mission, (then) Pfc. Simmons sent in an accurate and timely contact report concerning part of a Japanese task force attempting to escape after a battle, and later, by his skillful and effective use of his guns on a night patrol, he silenced a hostile machine gun nest."

Also decorated in the same ceremony was Corporal Steve Tupis, of Monclo, West Virginia, who received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for "heroic conduct and outstanding devotion to duty, in the saving of a plane from exploding at great personal hazard.

A/C Orthello Byers Jr. Completes Basic Training

A/C Orthello V. Byers, Jr., has completed basic flying training at Merced Army Air Field, Calif., and has been sent to an advanced flying school at Marfa, Texas, where he will take final steps toward the attainment of his silver pilot wings,

His address now is:

A/C Orthello V. Byers, Jr.

17097885

Box 499, 44C, MAAF

Marfa, Texas

MR. AND MRS. STONE HEAR FROM SON IN PRISON CAMP

The latest letter to be received by Mr. and Mrs. J.F. Stone from their son, Cpl. Hubert Stone from their son, Cpl. Hubert Stone of a German prison camp, was dated Sept. 12.  In this he reported having received his first package from them on the day before his birthday, which was Aug. 28.  He added that the box was great and that "Mother always did know how to pack a box."  He had seen his first movie in seven months and it was a German picture with English script and a pretty good show.  Hubert asked his father to save a couple of rows of corn for him to shuck so he won't get out of practice.  All of Hubert's friends join with the family in hoping that Hubert can be here for the next harvest.

 
WINSTON HOLMES TELLS MOTHER OF OVERSEAS XMAS

Among the letter received from the boys overseas the following, received from Winston Holmes, son of Grace Holmes is very interesting.  Excerpts from the letter follows:

"We put up our Christmas tree last night.  You should see it.

We couldn't find a thing to decorate it with so we used candy (hardy candy).  We took the colored "Life Savers" and strung them on thread, then we took the white ones and hung them all over the tree.  We cut the lead foil for icicles.

Had to go up in the mountains after the tree.  Sort of primitive but that's all we have to work with.  We want to take a picture of it.

We added another decoration; We have a box with a star cut in it and have a light in the box."

In a letter of January 12

"Well, Mother, here is a take of a French Christmas in the War Zone:

I arrived at Mrs. Cortez home at 9:00 a.m.  She was just getting ready to go down town.  You should have seen her face, as pretty as a picture and her hair had been fixed up so neatly.

She was all smiles as she began the ceremony of kissing me on each cheek and taking my coat.

She then went in and brought me  a little glass of banana liquor.

She woke up the  lady who stays there and told her to take care of me.  She took care of me with more banana liquor.  We talked and sang, in French and American.

No gifts were exchanged but things sort of worked out by themselves.  After everyone had come, Mrs. Cortez took me in to show me the table.  I was just like walking into heaven.  Everything was blue, plates, table cloth.

We began to eat at 1:00 o'clock and at 3:00 o'clock we pushed back our chairs and walked around from room to room so we wouldn't feel so stuffed.

We sat down and had champagne and talked about how wonderful it was to be alive.

Before I went home I had met everything from a Professor to a French usher.

I can't write as much as I would like but I'll tell you later.  I will close now and send all my love to you, Dixie Ann, Jean and Judy.

Adoring you always,

Your son,

Winston

SGT. HANEY SENDS POEM TO HIS PARENTS HERE

Sgt. W.M. Haney in a letter to his parents Mr. and Mrs. Wallace Haney sent the following poem which he says "I won't get to see you this Xmas, but don't lose hope, I'll see you next Xmas or the Xmas after that.  I have a little poem here that kindly hits the spot.

We'll all be home by Christmas

This war is almost done

We'll all be home by Christmas

'Cause Jerry's on the run

He started in Tunisia,

In Sicily he did fail,

We licked him up in Naples

Through Rome to home he'll said

The Russians are advancing

We licked them up in Naples

The Japs are still withdrawing

The Aussies tied the score

The Yugoslaves are jabbing

Der Fuehrer in the rear

Yeah, we'll all be home by Xmas

God only knows What year.

Page 59

LT. ZELLER WRITES OF PARTS OF ITALY

Lt. Winn Zeller writes of his trip through Bari and Naples and tells of the beauty of it to Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Wyant

Part of a letter to Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Wyant from their son-in-law Lt. Winn F. Zeller concerning part of Italy.

I've mentioned trips to Bari and Naples rather often, but so far you have had no details.  The land between Bari and Foggia, a distance of about a hundred miles is very lovely.  The day was perfect for driving since the persistent winter rains had stopped momentarily, and the sun was bright over mile after grey green mile of twisted olive trees, the moss-covered grey stone fences, the lush winter wheat.  Foggia is built in country not unlike our middle west, and I suspect that at the time of harvest one could imagine himself in Nebraska.  Nearer the Adriatic, the terrain breaks into rolling hills, like southern Ohio or central Tennessee, with only the ever present olive and almond trees to dispel the illusion.

Perhaps you will think me "un-American" if I tell you that there's another reason why the farm territory between Foggia and Bari couldn't be mistaken for the United States--the farm homes are better built and better maintained.  For many miles on either side of Foggia I saw what appear to be state farms, the buildings of good cement or brick construction, large, clean, attractively designed.  House and barn adjoin and usually there is a straw stack neatly built around a stake.  Of course my remark about poorly-kept farm homes in the U.S. would apply most to the South, and most certainly would not apply to the Pennsylvania Dutch part of Pennsylvania!  The Italian fields are well cultivated; the work is done with horses or oxen (or both yoked together), and I did not see power machinery at work but it is possible that this lack is in part a war condition.  The groves of almonds and olives, or the extensive vineyards, are always excellently tended; seemingly not even the disaster of a lost war (and the not so great cataclysm of a lost Mussolini) would interfere with the painstaking agriculture of the Italian farmer.  Of course those of us who've seen the vineyards and farms of the Italians in the United States do not have to be reminded of their cultivating methods.

One of the most attractive cities any of us has seen (abroad or at home) is the Adriatic port of Bari.  Bari is a small district stretching along the Adriatic, and there are numerous places of scenic and historic interest there (I saw the smaller coastal cities of San Spirito, Moleftta, Trani, and Barletta, too) put ordinarily one thinks of the city of Bari.  The district has a history antedating that of Rome and relics of the prehistoric periods have been found in caves and are on exhibit in the Archaeological Museum.  Later the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans were to leave their marks upon the region and in the middle ages it was a city of real importance.  I should judge that Bari is more of a  commercial than an industrial city; certainly the port is a good one, and as the sea outlet for a rich agricultural region no doubt much shipping passed through this excellent harbor.

The Norman-Swabian rules left some landmarks around Bari too, including the Cathedral and Basilica of St. Nicholas and the massive Swabian castle of Frederick 11.  I walked through this castle, part of which is still used as barracks for troops, and thought of the changes which have come to our world through the democratization of war, this fortress for a Frederick might give security and strength in the middle ages, but the vaunted "European Fortress" is not enough to hide Adolphus the last from his enemies today.

You will remember our visiting old Fort Marion at St. Augustine.  The Swabian castle reminds me much of Fort Marion, though of course the Bari building is several centuries older and somewhat larger.  It is built close to the Adriatic, where it commands the old port.  Neither the Swabian fortress nor our modern anti-aircraft defenses were very effective a few weeks ago when the Luftwaffle swung into Bari port on a low level raid which left seventeen of our ships sinking.  I've mentioned already how glad I was to see that Secretary Stimson announced the exact figures on those sinkings, for I was assured again of the truthfulness of our war communiques.

After having seen Foggia and Naples, both of which have suffered greatly from bombing and demolition, it was a real happiness to come upon Bari, where the war has brought little damage.  The German bombings in the harbor were destructive enough of life and shipping, but other than for the fact that windows and shutters along the waterfront have been smashed, the city does not show many marks of war.  Here is a city which had a peacetime population of about 200,000, a city rich in history, well built, and genuinely attractive.  You cannot imagine how good this city looked to men who had been overseas up to years and who had seen mostly the careless African cities.

It's always a matter of disappointment and wry amusement that as we come into each new city or town, we look for something to buy, something to send home as a souvenir.  And always there have been too many soldiers there before us. or the war has passed over ruthlessly, for nothing in good taste or of value is left.  Oh, yes, there are still souvenirs, of the Coney Island sort, but a trashy bit of pottery rag, or brass is still contemptible, though it cost 1150 Lire and come from sunny Italy.  Unfortunately, great quantities of this spurious merchandise are sold, both in Italy and Africa, and I have no doubt that for the next twenty years the shelves and mantle pieces (and attics) of American homes will be cluttered with the priceless mementos of affection "loving son" sent from the shops of the world's enterprising merchants.  I did happen into one shop where silk stockings of a sleazy quality could be had for one English pound.  A number of American officers have been eager to buy Italian silk stockings for "trading stock," but as a rather innocent monogamist happily married to a G.I. WAC, I was not interested.  Isn't it amazing how few of the things for sale in this world are necessary to one's comfort and happiness?

Perhaps you will consider me blind or inarticulate when I dismiss a two day trip to Naples in a few paragraphs.  I had a good military reason for going to Naples, since our private "intelligence" had it that we could get repairs made on a generator there, so with a generator-trailer rambling along after our two and a half ton G.I truck, two enlisted men and I rolled out on the Macadam Highway for Naples.  Now it must be said in advance that an army truck with attached trailer is not the ideal vehicle for a tour across the Appennines.  The way is often steep and the reaction on the anatomy reminded me of my mule trip into Grand Canyon.  But the December day would have passed for early spring anywhere else; the green hills, misty mountains, and tingling air brought each of us to exclaim repeatedly: "Italy is Beautiful."

Our road passed through no large cities, but there were a number of attractive villages.  The village houses are built together usually, in solid rows, the individual family home of our towns is uncommon.  The prevailing color is tan or cream, a rich, warm tone and the roofs are oftenest red tile, but not the sharp red one sees in Norwegian Coastal towns.  There is a tendency to build villages on the hilltops, as in Sicily (a survival of feudalism, I presume), and the combination of village, hilltop, and narrow streets did not make for the most pleasant driving conditions.

Even now, several months after the war has passed southern Italy, the roads are filled with refugees.  There's not much reason why people should be traveling across the Peninsula, for conditions are little better one place than another, but there is the hope of something better elsewhere.  Whole families are walking alongside the road; old women, barefooted; kerchiefed, handsome peasant girls; ragged men; disconsolate demobilized soldiers.  They carry all their possessions, and a small load it makes after bombers and Germans.  Many had gone to the Foggia are to get a sack of wheat, and then trudged, pushed a bicycle, hitch-hiked back toward Naples, some of them to see the grain for a fabulous profit some that they might eat.  I saw an old peasant woman sitting by the road in part of a tumbled load of straw, crying fiercely, for her horse had  fallen dead.  Late at night I stopped by the road a moment and saw in the headlights a family, without coats or blankets, three without shoes, going where? A Napoli? Would there be a home or a heap of rubbish when they got to their hard won destination?

The pictures you have seen war in Naples cannot convey all of the destruction.  It is a sad city.  High explosives here had more tragic possibilities than anywhere else that I'd seen, for I felt that more of beauty and wealth was here to be destroyed.  Whole streets have ceased to exist Great sections of the harbor are a mass of sunken ships, twisted cranes, toppled port machinery and docks.  I walked through several acres of what had been a plane factory producing Axis fighters.  The machine death laid on our bombers is absolute and great installations had been blasted and torn as if mankind had repudiated a disreputable machine age.  Years will be required for Naples to rebuild the homes, factories, and warehouses which were pulverized by the necessities of war.

And yet there is still much of magnificence in Naples.  Unfortunately I had absolutely no time in Naples to call my own.  But in passing through certain of the important streets, such as the Via Roma, one could see that this was rightly called one of the world's great cities.  Many of the public buildings are superb examples of architecture, some of the modern Fascist architecture seems years ahead of most of our own.  The theatres, museums, churches, state buildings are among the finest in Europe.  And I think that no one will ever forget looking out through the night, over the ruins of a vast factory, to see the flaring torch of Vesuvius.  Truly, destruction still rains down from the skies in the bay of Naples.  This city I regretted leaving so soon and hope to see again, after the war.  Right now we have certain jobs which have priority, and if you wonder that I don't take a week off to enjoy the sights and sites, just remember that this isn't the home front, and the army salary is based on seven day a week, three hundred sixty five day a year service, and anything else is accidental.

LT. ZELLER WRITES OF VISIT TO PALERMO

Extracts From Letter

Son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Wyant Flew to Famous Battle Town in Sicily.  Tells of Visit to Place of Historical Interest.

Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Wyant are again in receipt of an interesting letter from their son-in-law, Lt. Winn F. Zeller, whose letters this newspaper has been privileged to publish before and which have proven to be very entertaining as well as informative.

Extracts from this recent letter are:

This week I flew to Palermo, Sicily.  With the exception of Palermo and the immediate vicinity, I should not think of Sicily as being particularly worth seeing.  The country is very dry, the land seems to be poor, and with the occasional valley, mountains predominate.  We can be very proud of the men who fought through such unfavorable territory to swift victory.

Palermo has been badly mauled by our bombers, but not so much as places like Catania and Messina, of course.  The port area has been hit especially hard, but bombing struck in practically all parts of the town.  In that it is unlike Tunis, North Africa, where the bombing was almost entirely localized to the dock area.  Possibly we felt differently about the treatment of neutral and enemy territory.  A guide pointed out with what I seemed to detect as a note of pleasure that one bomb had fallen squarely on the facist party palace, there wasn't any palace left.  Even with the bombing evidence, Palermo would rank as an attractive city, though the marks of poverty, of defeat, and of war are everywhere.

Probably the two most interesting places in Palermo are the catacombs, where the visitor walks past endless thousands of skeletons as he goes through the corridors, a sight that is curious and gruesome, but not very edifying, except insofar as it shows the credulity and greed of man and the second sight is the cathedral at Monreale.  This latter is a truly magnificent edifice.

MR. AND MRS. CLAUD HUNT HEAR FROM "SNOWY" AND FLOYD

Mrs. Claude Hunt is in receipt of a letter from her son "Snowy" written last July.  In part he says, "Dear Mother, I finally received your letter of May 10, I sure wish I was there now, I would soon eat up your spring fries.  I sure wish I could have a picture taken for you, I am sure you wouldn't know me, am as dark as an Indian.  I hope everyone is OK at home and that we can all be together this year sometime.  I am getting along fine now, so don't worry too much,

Your loving son "Snowy" Cpl. Noah Hunt.

Another letter received later from Sgt. Floyd Hunt written December 10, from somewhere in Italy, to Dearest Mother and Dad saying, "I am just dropping you a few lines to let you know I am alright but am still in the hospital, but do not think I will be here long.  Mother, they tell me I am not going back to my Company but will be put in some kind of an outfit where I won't have to do heavy work, so will be having a new address one of these days, but will let you know.  I suppose by the time you receive this you will already know about Sgt. Stone getting killed.  He died a brave man because he was trying to save another man's life when he got hit.

Sgt. Radford is still Ok so far as I know.  It won't be long Mom, until you have a birthday, I hope it is a happy one.  For Christmas be sure and get yourself and the rest something.   As yet I have not gotten my mail and boxes, but they should catch up with me one of these days.  I sure would like to get some mail.  Our weather sure has changed, "Old Man Winter" is here to stay until Spring.  I has not snowed where I am but has in the mountains.  Mother, I wish you a Happy Birthday.  Your son, Floyd.

MRS. IRMA FLINN HEARS FROM SGT. GERALD FLINN

Mrs. Irma Flinn is in receipt of a letter from her son Sgt. Gerald Flinn who is a prisoner in Germany in which he says "Ho Momsie, how are you feeling today?  Fine I hope.  I have changed camps so please notice the change of address.  It is very nice here.  There is a church, a theatre, and plenty of recreation.  We were deloused yesterday and I met Myers, Ross Garrett, Blaine Hays, "Snow" "Bus" Marshall, Kenny Shirley Mayberry, Sully Honig in fact about all of our home town gang.  Snowy received a package from home and he gave me quite a list of items.  Most of the fellows are asleep in this S/Barracks, as it is a nice day and warm on the inside.  One change in the packages.  Don't send Malted Milk Tablets, send me Malt Powder.  The first time a prisoner receives a package from home the government encloses 3 cartons of cigarettes which are issued to you at the rate of 2 packs a day.  That also applies to candy bars being issued in this camp.  Well you can see I am OK and can begin looking for me home in a short while.  Best of luck and happiness

Your Pal

Gerald

Page 60

NINE MILLS COUNTY MEN REPORTED MISSING IN ACTION

Eight Mills county men, serving with the United States armed forces on the Tunisian front were reported "missing in action" and one was reported "killed in action" near relatives were notified by telegram this week.

Donald E. Hammers, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Hammers who reside south of Pacific Junction was reported "Killed in Action."  He left here with Co. I, 168th Infantry.

Among those reported "missing in action" were Lt. Verris Hubbell, former member of Company I, Sgt. Walter L. Marshall, only son of Mr. and Mrs. W.C. Marshall of this city; Major Merle Meacham formerly with Co. I, now serving Headquarters Company and Master Sgt. Carn Godsey who enlisted with Co. L of Council Bluffs and whose family resides west of Glenwood.

Those from Malvern serving with Company M of Red Oak reported "missing in action" were Sgt. Fred Robinson, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Robinson; Cpl. Daniel Myers, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Myers, Cpl. Glenn E. Herrick, son of Mr. and Mrs. A.R. Herrick and a brother of Mrs. Dave Kemp of this city, and Cpl. Paul Galliher, son of Mr. and Mrs. H.A. Galliher.

A report from the Adjutant General's office in Washington, D.C., is that 90 % of the men reported missing are prisoners of war.

GLENWOOD BOYS WAR PRISONERS

The homes of Glenwood relatives and friends were cheered the forepart of the week when messages from the United States government concerning boys missing in action began arriving.  Most of the boys heard from had been missing since February 17 in the North African campaign.

Among those heard from were Pfc. Wally G. Elizondo, Noah B. Hunt, Howard Mintle, Shirley D. Mayberry, Burl A. Parks, Blaine C. Hayes, Glen W. Mayberry, Shirley Meredith, Paul Devers, Walter W. Marshall and Edwin Barkus, all prisoners of the German government, and Gerald Flinn, prisoner of the Italian government.

Many of the messages arrived on Mother's day and while friends had believed that those reported missing in action were prisoners, yet the telegrams erased fears that they might be "killed in action."

Most of the reports were that they are being treated fair and that they are well.

CPL. GUY HUNTER IS GERMAN PRISONER

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hunter of near Pacific Junction, received word on Friday, April 30, from the United States government that their son, Cpl. Guy Hunter, who has been missing since the North African skirmish of February 17, is a prisoner of the German government.

Cpl. Hunter was with Company I, 168th Infantry.

BELIEVE CO. I BOYS SAFE IN PRISON CAMP

Harold Krecklow received a clipping and a letter from his niece of Jefferson which adds encouragement concerning the boys of Company I.  The Jefferson paper points out that Capt. Milligan from there who was in command of the Glenwood company is believed by reason of broadcasts heard to be a prisoner of war in Italy.

The paper further says, "Letters from Senator Herring stated that the ground has all been retaken and a search of the area gave clear evidence that the men were captured."

This information when coupled together, indicates that Company I men have not taken part in the fighting of the last few weeks and are, therefore, definitely safe, or as safe as a man can be in an enemy prison camp.  Many other points of evidence are along the same line, which (Incomplete).

MAJ. MEACHAM WRITES FROM PRISON CAMP

Mrs. Merle Meacham is in receipt of a letter from her husband, Major Merle Meacham, who is in the Oflag prison camp in Germany.  The letter, which was mailed April 9 and received here May 16 says in part:

"We are allowed to write three letters and four cards a month and can send one air mail every five days.  There is a small library here and I have been reading some good books.  We get sufficient food but crave some of the "specials."

"Herring, Capt. Milligan, Burgeson, Bolton and Chaplain Kane are in the same room with me, as well as several others.  It will probably be several months (Incomplete)

TWENTY MORE MILLS COUNTY MEN "MISSING IN ACTION"

Telegrams arriving in Mills County today, Thursday, brought additional sadness to family and friends of additional boys serving in Company I and other southwest Iowa units in North Africa.

There were 15 from Glenwood reported missing in action and five from Pacific Junction.

Those from Glenwood were Ross Garrett; Earl Krecklow; Glen Mayberry and his brother, Shirley Dwayne; Artie Clair Evans; James Surber; Hubert Stone; Arno Kelso; Warren Clites; Dale Boyd; Burl Parks; Noah Hunt; Blaine Haves; Don T. Kirkendall and Wally Elizondo.

Those from Pacific Junction reported missing in action were Verl Johnson; Lawrence Turner; Guy Hunter; Paul Devers and Alva Hostetter.

During the past week Donald Gamble, a Company I boy from Hastings was listed as missing in action as was also Edwin Diehi of Emerson and Jack and Edward Dorsey of Imogene.  The last two boys were with Company E of Shenandoah.

These 24 men with the nine reported last week brings the total to 35 from the county reported missing in action within one weeks time.

PRISONERS OF WAR WRITE HOME FOLKS

Two Glenwood homes were gladdened Easter Sunday with greetings sent from German prison camps from soldiers who had been captured by Axis forces in the North African campaign.

One was Lt. Verris Hubbell to his wife here, sent from a German prison camp under date of March 24, in which he stated that he was all right and to assure the folks at home that all the men from Glenwood who had been taken prisoners were all right.  Formerly a member of Company I of Glenwood, Hubbell was transferred to Company L of Council Bluffs after arrival in Africa.

The other letter received here Easter Sunday was to Mrs. Merle A. Meacham from her husband, Major Meacham, who assured her that he was all right, but that he had lost all of his personal belongings.

CPL. TURNER WRITES FROM PRISON CAMP

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Turner of Pacific Junction, have received a letter from their son, Cpl. Lawrence Turner, who was in North Africa, and who is in a German prison camp.

He says in his letter, "I am in good health.  Safe and sound in a German prison camp.  Don't worry too much.  Parcels can be sent to me.  Go to your nearest Red Cross to get full information.  Tell all my many friends that I received their packages at Christmas time and many thanks to them."

This is the first direct message that Mr. and Mrs. Turner have received from him since he was reported missing February 17.

GLENWOOD MEN REPORTED PRISONERS OF WAR

More telegrams arrived in Glenwood this week telling of boys, previously reported missing in action, who are now reported prisoners of war.  Kenneth Myers, Sgt. Earl Krecklow, Cpl. Orville Krecklow, Cpl. Hubert Stone and Sgt. Thomas Vandershule are reported prisoners of the German government and Pvt. Ross Boyce is reported to be a prisoner of the Italian government.

These, with the 12 listed as prisoners of war in last week's issue of the Opinion-Tribune, brings the total of 16 officially reported as prisoners of war within the past two weeks.

DONALD HAMMERS WRITES FROM GERMAN PRISON CAMP

Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Hammers who reside near Pacific Junction, after having received two reports that their son, Donald, who was with Company I,  168th Infantry in North Africa, was dead, welcomed a message from him that told of his being in a German prison camp.

He asked that they send smoking tobacco, chocolate and cigarettes to him, stating that it was hard to get them where he was.  He said that he had not seen his brother, Jim, since Christmas, but that he was all right when he last saw him and asked concerning smaller brothers and sisters at home.

He said in his letter "All of the boys from home are in the same prison camp that I am in."

ARNOLD KELSO IS GERMAN PRISONER

Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Kelso of this city, received word on Saturday of last week that their son, Arnold, who was with Company I, 168th Infantry in North Africa, that he is in a German prison camp.  He had been reported missing since February 17.

ROSS BOYCE IS IN ITALIAN PRISON CAMP

Ross Boyce, son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Boyce of this city, who was with the armed forces in North Africa is now known to be in an Italian prison camp.  Word came from the Vatican in Rome to the Papal representative in Washington, D.C., and was forwarded to Father Mangan of Hamburg, who delivered the message to the boy's family in Glenwood, Wednesday.

SGT. KENNETH MYERS MISSING IN ACTION

Sgt. Kenneth Myers of Co. I is another former Glenwood boy who has been reported "missing in action" in North Africa.

OTHERS REPORTED TO BE MISSING IN ACTION

The list of boys from Mills county who have been serving in North Africa, who have been reported "missing in action" within the past two weeks totals 45.

In addition to the list carried in this newspaper last Thursday 10 more telegrams were received Friday morning listing the following boys as missing in action:  Edwin Barkus, Thomas Vandershule, Howard Mintle, Shirley Meredith, Ross Boyce, M. Davis, "Sully" Honig, "Corky" Twaddle all of Glenwood.  Edwin Clark, and Lester Haynie of Pacific Junction.

WRITES TO FATHER FROM GERMAN PRISON CAMP

Rasmus Peterson of near Pacific Junction, has received a letter from his son, Cpl. Marvin Peterson, who on February 17 was reported missing in action and who later was reported a prisoner of the German government.

Marvin says that he is treated rather well and that the Red Cross is very good to him.  He was with Company L, a Council Bluffs unit, and was serving with the 168th Infantry, 34th Division.

This is the second message that Mr. Peterson has received from his son.  The first was received March 19 and the last April 27.

LT. VERRIS HUBBELL IN GERMAN PRISON CAMP

On Wednesday of last week, Mrs. Verris Hubbell received word that her husband, Lt. Verris Hubbell of Company I, who had been reported missing since February 17, was in a German prison camp.  This information came through the United States War Department.

On Tuesday of this week she received a letter from the War Department confirming the telegram and giving more detailed information.  He is in Camp Oflag, a camp reserved for enemy officers.  She was advised she could send him a package weighing not more than 11 pounds and one letter at this time.  Special labels were provided for both the package and letter, to insure their delivery through the lines to the camp.

The letter further stated that the camp was inspected by a representative of the International Red Cross and that it was reported to be sanitary, and that the men were given sufficient food, and are reported to be treated fair.

Medical attention for those who need it is also reported to be provided.

JOHNSON REPORTED TO BE IN GERMAN PRISON CAMP

Mrs. Gertrude Johnson of Pacific Junction, has received word from the United States government that her son, Sgt. Verle H. Johnson, who was in North Africa, that he is a prisoner of the German government, but that he is well.  He had been reported missing since February 17.