1943 . . .
LeMars Globe-Post
August 2, 1943
DUANE A. LINDSEY OF MERRILL NOW A SECOND LIEUTENANT
Corpus Christi, Tex.: Duane Arthur Lindsey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Art Lindsey, Merrill, graduated July 22 from the naval air training center, Corpus Christi, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U. S. Marine corps reserve. He is a former student of the University of Minnesota.
SIX OFF TODAY FOR U. S. ARMY
Next Call Will Be Less Than Present One, Board States
The July draft call for the U. S. Army left by bus this morning for Fort Leavenworth, Kans., where they will start actual training in the armed forces.
The list includes only six:
Meinard W. Orban, LeMars; Eldon Simonsen, Merrill; Earl Helm, Sioux City;Norman Marienau, LeMars; Paul Hoppe, LeMars; and Avery Burns, Sioux City.
Of the 15 who were sent for physical examinations three weeks ago, 11 passed. The other five members in the July call were enrolled in either the navy or marines and their names have been published.
According to the draft board, the August call will be lighter than July and less men will be called to the colors.
WAR SERVICE NEWS
Vero Calkins, who has been in the service 8 ½ months, was recently honorably discharged from the service and will leave LeMars about Aug. 15, for Detroit, Mich., where he has a defense job. The family will make their home there.
Melvin K. Marienau, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Marienau of route 4, LeMars, has recently been promoted from private first class to his present rank of corporal, while serving with an infantry regiment on an advance U.S. base in the South Pacific area. Cpl. Marienau has been doing outstanding work in the mortar section of a rifle company. A former employee of the Great Northern railroad, he has been overseas since September 1942. (Official Army news release)
Johnny Peterson, who has been in training in tank tactics at Ft. Knox, Ky., is home on a 20-day furlough. He has been in a hospital with a back injury received on maneuvers. “There area no springs in tanks, you know, “ he explained. “You sit on a steel plate mounted on a steel post, and when your tank hits a ditch or bounces over a stone wall, you just sit there and take it. You can do nothing else, because you are strapped in, and its lucky you are strapped in, or you’d bounce around inside the tank like a pebble in a tin can.”
Joe Little, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Little, was promoted recently from corporal to sergeant, at the armored replacement training center at Ft. Knox, Ky. Sgt. Little, he went into the service last September, was in his third year of college when he was called. He is now in charge of platoon of trainees, helping to “teach” them the art of armored warfare, according to the Kingsley News-Times.
Lieut. Dean Forbes arrived home last week from a camp in Texas to spend a furlough with his mother and other relatives and friends at Kingsley.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Lang of Remsen have received word that their son, Pfc. Paul Lang, has been transferred from Sheppard Field, Tex., to Truax Field near Madison, Wis. He is in the army air corps.
Cpl. Elmer Bogh of Remsen is now stationed at Camp Pickett, Va.
Pfc. Robert Neuenschwander of Remsen, son of Mrs. Elizabeth Neuenschwander, has been transferred from Seymour Johnson Field, N. C., to Chanute Field, Ill.
Cpl. Ervin Staab of Remsen departed Monday to return to his duties at Camp Carson, Colo., after spending a 15-day furlough here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Staab.
Doyle Niehus, Petty Officer 3/c has arrived safely in Ireland according to word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Andy Niehus of Oyens. After finishing a course in radio, he joined the merchant marines and is now a radio man.
Pvt. Roy Johnston, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Johnson, of Remsen, writes from Fort Knox, Ky, reporting a change in his address. Roy says also that he has been accepted for aviation cadet training, having received his notice July 20, but adds that he will remain at Ft. Knox for another month. He says he is getting a thorough training in weapons and tank driving, and enjoys it “even if it is almost too hot for living.” [Note: The surname was spelled both ways in this article, with and without the letter t.]
Anna M. Vandrak of Hinton has left for duty with the army at Spence Field, Moultrie, Ga. She recently completed her WAC training at Des Moines.
Raymond J. Thomas, who is in training in a radio division of the naval air corps at Camp May, N. J., arrived Tuesday to spend a furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Thomas of Akron, and other relatives and friends. He also had the opportunity to visit his brother, Carl and wife, of San Diego, Cal., who are visiting here. Carl is working for the Consolidated Aircraft Co., at that place.
Mr. and Mrs. Ed Junck of Hinton have announced the July 17 marriage at South Sioux City of their daughter, Miss Fern Junck, to Private Louis Patterson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Patterson, Sloan. Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Hall of Whiting attended the couple. Private Patterson is in the army signal corps, stationed at Camp Ellis, Ill. Mrs. Patterson is remaining at Hinton with her parents.
Sgt. Lawrence Mattas from Camp Laguna, Ariz., is enjoying a week furlough with his mother, Mrs. Mary Mattas of Merrill. Sgt. Mattas says the west is OK, but he prefers Iowa.
Lynn Thomson arrived home last week on a 10-day furlough at Kingsley, following completion of his boot training at the naval training center at Farragut, Idaho.
Mrs. Alice Cagley of Kingsley has received word that her son, Brownlee Cagley, has arrived safely in a “foreign port.” He is on convoy duty in the U.S. Navy. Jimmy Cagley has received an army promotion and was transferred from Fort Warren to Bloomington, Ill., for further schooling.
Private Kenneth Rimmer, son of Mrs. Pearl Rimmer, has now arrived at a camp in Africa. He formerly was stationed in a chemical war station in Alabama.
From the Kingsley News-Times: Wilfred D. Crabb, pharmacist mate 2/c, and Mrs. Crabb, arrived last Thursday from the Great Lakes training station to visit in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. S. Crabb.
Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Treptow have received word from the son, Sgt. Leland Treptow that he has finally arrived at his destination “somewhere in India,” according to the Kingsley News-Times. He said they had fine and uneventful trip, everyone enjoyed it, had a smooth trip and no one got sick, except that some were affected by the change of rations before they became completely acclimated to them. Kingsley soldiers are scattered to the four corners of the world, but Sgt. Treptow is the first one to report from this country in the Far East.
Kingsley News-Times: Private Errol K. Sternberg has been transferred to the technical command post at Scott Field, Ill., to received intensive training in radio operations and mechanics to fit him for duty as a member of a fighting bomber crew. Upon graduation he will be qualified as expert radio operator or technician wherever his services are needed in the army air forces. Mrs. Sternberg is the former Iris Hatten and is making her home at Kingsley.
Lieut. Robert Challin of Sheldon, a pilot in the army air corps, has arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii, according to a letter to his parents.
Lieut. Paul F. Paulsen of James is training at the Dyersburg, Tenn., air base as a crew member of a Flying Fortress.
Pvt. Vernon Ewin is spending his 13-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Ewin. Pvt. Ewin has been stationed at Camp Butner, N. C.
Pfc. James Becker, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Becker of LeMars, who has been at Kelly Field, Battle Creek, Mich., has been transferred to New York. He is in chemical warfare. He left for the army as a volunteer inductee on January 28, 1943, and served first at Shepherd Field, Tex., at Wichita Falls, Tex., and in April was transferred to MacDill Field, Tampa, Fla., chemical warfare school.
Mr. and Mrs. George V. Pavlik have received word through the Red Cross that their son,Vincent Pavlik, A.S., in the U. S. naval training station at Farragut, Idaho, was down with scarlet fever, but that he is now recovering and is able to sit up. The Red Cross maintains a liaison service for the benefit of the personnel of the armed services, to keep their families informed in case of sickness which prevents soldiers and sailors from writing home themselves.
Pfc. R. L. Rees, who has been spending a furlough here, was taken to the air base hospital in Sioux City Saturday evening, where he is undergoing treatment for an arm injury. Pfc. Rees is stationed at Camp Lejuene, New River, N. C.
Sgt. Herman Borchers has left for Orlando, Fla., after spending a furlough in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Borchers.
LeMars Globe-Post
August 5, 1943
WAR SERVICE NEWS.
Donald J. Kennaley, A.S., USNR spent Sunday with his parents here. He is stationed at Maryville, Mo.
Lieut. J. G. Robert King, who is in the naval air corps, left Monday morning for Corpus Christi, Tex., after spending a 10-day leave in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. V. A. King. Pvt. Ross King, who had furlough at the same time, left Wednesday morning for Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
Sgt. John Shearon of Nashville, Tenn., arrived Tuesday morning for a 10-day furlough visit in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Shearon.
Rev. and Mrs. John Roggen have received word that their son, Ivan Roggen, has been promoted to major in the medical corps, and has been on overseas duty the past three months. Maurice is their home.
Word was received here of the marriage of Aloris Andrea Pitheon and William Alvin White on Monday, July 26, at Portland, Ore. Mr. White is in the U.S. Navy stationed at Farragut, Idaho. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin White of Ireton.
A certificate of graduation from the service school for torpedomen at the U.S. naval training station, Great Lakes, Ill., was presented to Milton E. Merritt, 17, son of P. R. Merritt, LeMars, at graduation exercises held Aug. 2. He now will be assigned to an advanced service school for further training or be sent to active duty at sea or at a shore station. The blue jacket has completed 16 weeks of intensive study under the supervision of experienced chief petty officers. He was selected to attend the school upon the basis of a series of aptitude tests taken during recruit training.
Seaman Stanley Neubrand arrived home Tuesday morning from Farragut, Idaho, after completing two months training in the navy. He has been give a 15-day leave and is visiting in the home of his mother, Mrs. R. M. Neubrand. There are quite a number of LeMars boys stationed at Farragut, but Seaman Neubrand says it is very seldom you see any of them, as you have to have a special pass to visit the various camps, and they are hard to get.
Harry L. Wells, Petty Officer third class, of the Seabees, of Camp Endicott, Rhode Island, is spending a 10-day furlough here.
Cpl. John C. Marienau of the 12th Communication Squadron of the army air corps stationed at Esler Field, La., is spending a 15-day furlough in the home of his mother, Mrs. Anna Marienau. Charles was recently awarded a “good conduct” medal for having demonstrated fidelity, faithful and exact performance of duty, efficiency and behavior. He was therefore authorized to wear appropriate service ribbon.
Cpl. Harold Yoch, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Yoch, of this city, arrived home Wednesday noon from Camp Livingston, La., to spend a 11-day furlough. Cpl. Yoch entered the army a little over six months ago and is now connected with the anti-aircraft remote control. He has won medals for his marksmanship, which includes submachine gun.
Mike Wells, shipfitter 3/c arrived here Tuesday from Quonsett Point, R.I., for a short visit with his wife and parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wells. Seaman Wells has been in the navy three months and will leave Monday to resume his duties.
Seaman Percy Merritt Jr., whose completion of service school at Great Lakes is announced elsewhere in this column, arrived home last night for a few days visit with his father, Percy Merritt, Sr. He has completed his training at Great Lakes and will report to Norfolk, Va. His training period consisted of eight months and when he goes to sea he will be rated as torpedoman’s mate, third class.
Lieut. Richard Dresselhuys of El Paso, Tex., visited over the weekend with his cousin, Clarence Weenink and aunt, Hattie Dresselhuys, of this city. He is the son of Clarence Dresselhuys of Aberdeen, S.D., a former resident of LeMars, and is an instructor in the anti-aircraft division.
Russell Weenink, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Weenink of this city, has notified his parents that he now located at Wickenburg, Ariz., in the Claiborne flying academy in the army air corps. He is a high altitude pilot and is in his fourth week of primary training.
Johnny Peterson, who came home last week from the tank training base at Fort Knox, Ky., received an honorable discharge by mail yesterday because of injuries to his back while on duty. This made him subject to draft again, so he registered with the draft board and received a temporary 1-C card. It also makes him a war veteran, so he joined the American Legion. X-rays showed that the vertebrae of his spine were pretty badly jolted out of line during his service period.
Donald Marcue, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Marcue, left Tuesday for Camp Dodge, where he was inducted into the army air corps.
Mr. and Mrs. Art Hansen have received word that Virgil Fillback, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson Fillback, former LeMars residents, was graduated July 29, from advanced flying school, and Virgil is now a lieutenant, Army air corps.
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A group of young friends gathered in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Glaser Monday evening in courtesy of Pfc. Robert Glaser and Pvt. Vernon Ewin, both of Camp Butner, North Carolina. The evening was spent in playing games and informal visiting after which a delicious luncheon was served.
LeMars Globe-Post
August 9, 1943
WAR SERVICE NEWS.
Melvin Monke, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Monke, arrived home from South America the middle of July, where he had been serving in the army. He received his honorable discharge and will assist his father with the farm work in Elkhorn township.
S/Sgt. Wayne Selser of Camp Beauregard, near Alexandria, La., spent Wednesday and Thursday with his wife and son at the home of her sister, Mrs. Cecil Krohn at Remsen. The Selsers departed Thursday to spend a few days with relatives and friends at Villisca and Griswold, Ia.
Sgt. Sylvester J. Dunn, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dunn, formerly of LeMars, now of Sioux City, spent a 10-day furlough with his wife and other relatives in Sioux City. He is stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.
Word was received of the promotion of Dorothy Harshfield of the army nurses corps to first lieutenant at Camp Breckenridge, Ky. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Harshfield of Westfield, formerly of Sioux City. The Harshfields also have four sons in the service: Sgt. Keith Harshfield of Camp Pickett, Va.; Sgt. Stuart Harshfield, who is in Africa; Lynn Harshfield, seamon second class at Ames; and Wayne Harshfield, who recently enlisted in the merchant marine and is in training at Sheepshead Bay, N.Y. Another son, Stanley Harshfield, will report Aug. 12 for induction at Des Moines.
Cpl. Bill Lantaff was recently promoted to sergeant in the marines. He is stationed in the southwest Pacific area.
Miss Dolores Ann Kunkel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Kunkel, of LeMars, is with the WAVES, stationed at the University of Wisconsin. She has the rating of seaman second class. Lt. Norma M. Kunkel, another daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kunkel, also is in the service. She is stationed at Camp Kearns, Utah.
Bud Masuen, who is attending a navy college course at Marysville, Mo., was home on a weekend pass again yesterday, but his time he was not accompanied by Don Kennaley, also a student at Marysville. The former LeMars college students describe the study courses at Maryville as “quite rugged.”
The U. S. Naval training unit at the University of Notre Dame announces that Murle William Klohs has enlisted in the V-12 program of the navy. The V-12 program into which V-7 and other college programs have been incorporated, is an officer’s candidate program which is sponsored by the navy department, so that one can continue his studies to become a navy officer. When graduated, he will be commissioned an ensign.
Corporal Louis P. Hoffman, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. F. Hoffman of Merrill, has been graduated from the armored school tank department at Fort Knox, Ky.
Alvin Louis Robinson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Robinson, of Kingsley, is now stationed at the naval training station at Farragut, Idaho.
LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
August 10, 1943
AWARD NAVY CROSS TO HAROLD J. MACK FOR HIS HEROISM
Wounded In Action He Continues To Direct Gun Fire
Harold J. Mack, gunner’s mate second class, LeMars, who was reported missing in action August 9, 1942, has been awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism. Mack is the son of Mrs. Mack who now lives at 2811 Gilroy St., Los Angeles, Calif. He enlisted in the Navy May 18, 1938. His citation reads as follows:
“For extraordinary heroism as gun captain aboard the USS Vincennes during action against enemy Japanese forces off Savo Island on August 9, 1942. While his ship was fighting desperately for her life against a concentrated bombardment of hostile torpedoes and shellfire, Mack, under a veritable hail of exploding shells, grimly stood by his station in the 5 inch battery and directed the fire. Struck down by grave wounds in both legs, he propped himself upright against the bulkhead behind his mount and there, with tenacious devotion to duty and almost superhuman effort and endurance, continued directing his gun in local control. When the vessel was eventually put out of action and had to be abandoned, he was placed in a life jacket and lowered over the side. His courageous fighting spirit, maintained with utter disregard of personal safety, was in keeping the with highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”
NEWS of the Boys in the Service.
Lieut. Thomas Lenihan arrived in LeMars Sunday for a few days visit in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Lenihan. Tom has been flying big bombers at an airfield in Tennessee and instructing young fliers and is ordered to report in about a week at Clovis, New Mexico, where he hopes to get a chance to fly some of the new four engine bombers which are now in production for the Army. Tom’s brother, Dennis, is now a sergeant of the marines “somewhere in the Pacific,” and his oldest brother, Phil, is training at Norman, Oklahoma.
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Mark DeForce, who has been taking his Army training at Fort Bliss, Texas, has been sent “somewhere in the Pacific” and his address is now care of the San Francisco postoffice.
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Lieut. Norman Mauer, who has been stationed at Great Lakes Naval Training Station since he received his commission several months ago, has been ordered to overseas duty and is spending a few days in LeMars with his parents, Dr. and Mrs. George Mauer, and other relatives. Mrs. Mauer and children returned to LeMars with him and will remain here while he is in overseas service.
**
Corporal Wilbur J. Heuertz arrived in LeMars Monday morning to spend a 12 day furlough with his sister, Mrs. Albert Kurtzhals, in LeMars and relatives east of Oyens. Wilbur is in the aircorps stationed at Daniel Field, Augusta, Georgia.
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A/S Sidney W. Jenson, so of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Jenson, of Akron, has been assigned to the University of Denver, Denver, Colo., for the first part of his Aviation Cadet Training.
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Quentin D. Bammer, son of Mrs. Hulda Bammer, of Kingsley, has been sent to the Field Artillery Replacement Training Center at Fort Sill, Okla., where he will receive his 13 weeks of basic training. He has been attached to Battery B, 33rd Btn., 8th Tr. Reg.
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Pfc. Gerhard Moller, of Eustace, Florida, has been visiting in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Moller, east of Akron.
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Leonard Lyle Davis, seaman 2-c, is spending a furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Perry Davis, of Kingsley. He is stationed at Farragut, Idaho, and expects to be transferred upon his return.
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Mrs. Frank Holles, of Granville, has received the purple heart award presented her son, Technician Fifth Grade Ambrose W. Forkenbrock, who was wounded in action on the Tunisian front, May 5. Private First Class Herbert Forkenbrock paid his brother, Ambrose, a surprise visit while the latter was in a hospital. It was their first meeting since August, 1942, when they parted in Ireland. Herbert was with American troops in the invasion of Africa and was wounded November 22. The brothers left for service with the LeMars national guard unit, Co. K., when it went to Camp Claiborne.
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Edmund Rohde, who was employed with the Iowa Public Service company before he went into the Army last spring, is now an aviation cadet at Santa Ana, California, and hopes to receive his wings and a commission upon completion of the course.
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Leonard Weber, son of Frank Weber of Fredonia, has been home on a furlough, his first in a year. He has been with the ground crew of the naval air forces in New Hebrides islands not far from the southwest Pacific fighting front.
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The Jos. C. Wilberding family of Remsen is enjoying a visit from son and brother, Sgt. Julian Wilberding, of Columbia Air Field at Columbus, Miss. Sgt. Wilberding arrived last week and is privileged to visit the family and his many friends hereabouts until August 15. He’s to report for duty August 17. In October, Julian will have served his country two years. He spent the first seven months at Kessler Field, and for nearly 17 months has been at Columbus, thus his entire period of service to date has kept him in the state of Mississippi. Sgt. Wilberding is with the ground force as a mechanic, and the only complaint is the sameness of scenery and the constant routine. Add these to his patriotic desire for “getting it over with” and Julian is “rarin to go” overseas. He has three brothers in Uncle Sam’s service.
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Pvt. Roman Kosse of Camp Butner, N.C., arrived home Sunday and is spending the week with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Martin Kosse in Remsen. He has been in the Army five months, and is serving in the infantry.
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A brief letter came Monday from Av. Cadet Edmund W. Rohde, son of Mrs. Alma Rohde of LeMars, formerly of Remsen. Edmund reports a change of address from Oshkosh, Wis., to the air corps classification center at Santa Ana, Calif. He says he has been classified as a bombardier and is attending the bombardier-navigator pre-flight school.
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Home on his second furlough since entering the Army last December is Joe Elving, Jr., who arrived Tuesday night from Camp Breckenridge, Ky. He has been stationed at this camp but one week, having been transferred from Camp Hood, Tex. The soldier was granted a 15-day furlough so will be home about ten days, visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Elving, of Remsen.
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Leander Frank, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Frank of Remsen, who entered the Navy long before the country got into war, arrived from the eastern seaboard last Sunday morning, to be here until Friday. Leander, on his last trip home five months ago, was a Seaman 1/c, now he is a radio technician, 3/c.
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Pvt. Leonard A. Witt, of Pampa, Tex., arrived Sunday, having a 15-day furlough to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. August Witt of Remsen. In order to have more time at home, Leonard used the airlines. He entered the service in anticipation of service in the air, but an old football injury proved a barrier and he is a member of the band.
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Dr. Rodney R. Gleysteen is now Lieut. Commander Gleysteen, having recently received his second promotion. A cable to his parents, Dr. and Mrs. D. J. Gleysteen of Alton, telling of his promotion was confirmed by a letter received this week. Lt. Commander Gleysteen is with the Navy Medical Corps in the Southwest Pacific, possibly New Zealand, after serving some months at a field hospital in the combat zone.
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Lt. Eleanor Henricksen has arrived safely at an evacuation hospital in northern India. She writes her parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. Henrickesen of Alton, that she is enjoying her work but finds the climate very hot. She is an Army nurse. Mail from her arrives in from three to four weeks and mail to her address goes through APO 689, New York.
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Second Lt. Margaret Tentinger, A. N. C., who is serving in the Station hospital at the A. A. F. Tech. School at Sioux Falls, came last Thursday for a brief visit in the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Tentinger, northeast of Akron.
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Private First Class Elmer F. Anderson, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Anderson, of Akron, has been awarded the purple heart medal as the result of being wounded in battle. He is stationed somewhere in northwest Africa. He was inducted into the Army July 25, 1942, and was sent overseas in December.
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Pvt. Henry Beeck, who is in training in the 81st Division of the U. S. Army at Camp Horn, Arizona, came last week to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Beeck, of Akron, and other relatives and friends. He was granted an 11 day furlough.
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Pvt. Emmett Henry arrived on Sunday from Camp Butner, North Carolina, to spend a ten day furlough with his mother, Mrs. Mabel Henry, of Kingsley, and other relatives and friends.
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Sgt. Charles L. Dunham, Jr., arrived home Tuesday to spend six days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dunham, Sr., and family, northwest of Akron, and other relatives and friends. He is stationed at Moses Lake, Wash., with the 63rd Airdrome Squadron.
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Pvt. Glenn Peck, of Kingsley, stationed at Hunter Field at Savannah, Ga., recently received an appointment as aviation cadet and will report at Miami Beach, Fla., for pre-flight training.
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Miss Delores Ann Kunkel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew J. Kunkel of LeMars, is with the WAVES, stationed at the University of Wisconsin. She has the rating of seaman second class. Lieut. Norma M. Kunkel, another daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kunkel, also is in the service. She is stationed at Camp Kearns, Utah.
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Mr. and Mrs. Charles Brodie have been advised that their son, Lieut. Gordon Brodie, is in Sicily, and they have heard from him since the invasion started. He is with the light armored forces. Lieut. Brodie is a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. M. F. Brodie.
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Private Charles Honnold, who has been training with the signal corps at Camp Kohler, California, arrived home Monday to get acquainted with his son born a few weeks ago.
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Corporal Ed Sitzman and Mrs. Sitzman are visiting relatives in LeMars. Corporal Ed Sitzman, who has a 12 day furlough, is in the coast artillery stationed at Long Beach, California.
NEW FEATURE.
The Sheldon Sun, weekly newspaper, is starting a new feature. Pictures of “unseen babies” of service men, photographed with their mothers will be shown in the paper. Later, a free copy of the picture will be mailed to the men in service.
LeMars Globe-Post
August 12, 1943
BOB KELLY RECOVERING AMONG JAPS
Mr. and Mrs. O. M. Kelly have received their first direct word from their son, Bob Kelly, a prisoner of war in a Jap prison camp.
The joy was dampened by his report that he had been sick. The post card gives the additional information, however, that he is in a hospital and getting better.
The card was handled by the Red Cross through the Swiss legation. The Swiss are neutrals and maintain diplomatic relations with Japan. The card bears some neat Japanese lettering which nobody can read and the stamp of the U. S. Censor.
A space is provided for the signature of the prisoner, and Mr. and Mrs. Kelly say that the writing is unquestionably Bob’s. It is in ink and quite firm and clear, and not the writing of a very sick person.
Prisoners are not allowed to write their own messages. The Japs apparently fear that code might be worked in. Instead, there are various stock messages and the ones not applying are x-ed out with a typewriter.
The message came through was as follows:
I am interned at the Philippine Military Prison Camp No. 1.
My health is poor.
I am sick, in hospital.
I am improving.
The prisoner was also allowed to add two lines of personal information or greeting to his family; nothing relating to his experiences of his present situation.
WAR SERVICE NEWS.
Pvt. Eugene Keihn arrived Wednesday from Camp Shelby, Miss., to spend his two weeks leave here with his wife and parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Keihn. Mrs. Keihn, who spent the past three weeks here, while her husband was a Camp Young, Calif., will go to Mississippi with Eugene after his furlough.
Mr. and Mrs. T. F. Hoffmann of Merrill have received word from their son, Pfc. George Hoffmann, that he is now in Australia. He wrote, “It’s suppose to be winter down here,” but the letter indicated that it wasn’t very cold.
Pvt. Wm. Bradley writes he is feeling fine and has won a medal for marksmanship at Camp Fannen, Texas.
Lieut. And Mrs. Norman Mauer and children are visiting in the home of his parents, Dr. and Mrs. G.A. Mauer. Lieut. Mauer is a former LeMars dentist and is now in the navy. He has been stationed at Great Lakes since December, when he enlisted, and will return to San Francisco Sunday to resume his duties.
Russell Andersen, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Andersen, of this city arrived here Wednesday from New London, Conn., to spend a furlough in the home his parents. Russell is a motor machinist’s mate, second class, and is on a submarine. He has been in the service for almost three years, spending his early training on a battleship. He has seen service in many foreign ports.
Stephen Ekdom, who is in the coast guard at Portland, Maine, came Sunday to spend his leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Ekdom at Ireton.
Pvt. Alvin Johnson of Fort Leavenworth, Kan., spent Sunday with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Johnson, of Ireton.
Pvt. Kenneth Buck returned to Camp Young, Calif., after spending his furlough with his wife.
Word has been received here that John Shaver has been promoted to Staff Sergeant recently at Camp Young, Los Angeles, Cal. He is the son of the late Theodore Shaver, who formerly lived in Ireton.
Cpl. and Mrs. Marion Vellinga of North Camp Polk, La., arrived here Saturday evening to spend his 15-day furlough with his mother, Mrs. Sarah Vellinga and other relatives at Ireton.
A family dinner was given at the home of August Borchers on Sunday for Pvt. August Borchers, Jr., who is home for a 15-day furlough. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. Herman Heeren and daughter, Marleen, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Heeren and son, Melvin, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Borchers and son LeRoy, Mr. and Mrs. Dick Martfeld, Lucille Martfeld and Henry Rollap of LeMars.
Camp Crowder, Mo: Karl E. Schultz, 19, Co. C. 804th Signal Training Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Schultz, 113 8th St. LeMars, was recently promoted from private to corporal. Inducted in January, he is now taking a radio operator, high speed course at Central signal corps school. Before entering the army air forces, Cpl. Schultz attended Western Union College.
FROM SCOTT LANGENDORFER
In a letter from Cpl. Tech. Scott Langendorfer, who is still stationed in the Southwest Pacific, he told his father, where he is and described the place, which is as follows:
“After leaving where we were before, and left for here, not knowing we were coming here from there, and couldn’t tell whether we had arrived here or not. Nevertheless, we now are here, and not there…The weather here is just as it always is at this season and the people here are just like they look. I had better quit now, before I give too much valuable military information.” The censor added, “Amen.”
LeMars Globe-Post
August 16, 1943
SOLDIER BELIEVED DEAD SENDS POST CARD FROM PRISON CAMP
A year ago Frank Albright heard that his former hired hand, Pvt. John J. Karmann, had been killed in action against the Japanese. But last week Mr. Albright received a postcard from the Japanese government, thru the neutral Swiss representatives of the International Red Cross, bearing a message from Pvt. Karmann, who said:
“In Philippine Islands, Camp No. 9. Health excellent, uninjured and everything well. Family knows about me and where I am. Please give my regards to Butch.”
Pvt. Karmann didn’t even know that Butch (Oliver Albright) had been in the Army himself, only to be sent home on an honorable medical discharge for a lung ailment contracted in the service.
KNOCKED COLD BY SHELL BLASTS DIGGING FOX-HOLES WITH FINGERNAILS, BETSWROTH KNOWS WAR
Had To Play Hide and Seek With German Machine Gunners
Leo B. Betsworth of Wichita, Kansas, where he is a tool designer in an aircraft factory, has received an interesting letter from his brother, Lowell Betsworth, a member of the old LeMars “Fightin K” Co. Included in the letter was a German 5-mark note which Lowell had found on one of the battle fields, in addition to a good little German automatic. But Lowell kept the automatic, for possible use against the former owners. The letter says:
Tunisia: A few lines this afternoon to let you know I’m still well. I’m still in the same place, sort of taking it easy.
We are allowed a few more privileges in writing, so I am going to relate to you some of my personal experiences and mention a few of the towns that may bring back memories from your reading them in the papers. First starting off I may mention some of the escapes I had.
Once, I remember as plain as if it had happened minutes ago, was when I was pinned to the ground by a machine gun barrage. To my left, maybe 10 feet, was a hump of earth, maybe 14 inches high and five feet long. Well, I crawled to this spot and tried to seek cover from the bullets. No sooner had I got behind the bank when a burst started, whistling over my head. Then it stopped, so I figured I would try and spot the gun’s position. No sooner had I raised my head above the level of the bank when here there came another burst, this one cutting about 6 inches off the bank about a foot and a half from my head!
Another time I will never forget was the time the Germans were firing at us from the front, flank and rear all at the same time.
THOSE DARN SNIPERS GET THROUGH SOME WAY AND CAUSE LOTS OF TROUBLE UNTIL THEY ARE SPOTTED!
Another time I was caught unaware in an artillery barrage and was knocked unconscious for a couple of hours. Another time 10 of us were behind a little hill when a group of shells hit among us, wound 7, and again I came out.
One good thing is that the Germans had a lot of dud shells that didn’t explode.
Lee you may hear lots of stories about how you can dig a hole while under enemy fire. They’re most likely all true. I’ve seen them dug from every position by the use of mess kit lids and bayonets.
One thing, THEY NEVER GET DEEP ENOUGH. If things are quiet for a while the digging stops, but as soon as shells light close everyone commences throwing dirt.
A few of the towns and places you probably read about were Sibibia, Sibeitia, Hej El Aliecen, Fiad Pass, Hill 609, Mateur and El Djebel. If you recall these you will know something of the fighting that I have been in.
There isn’t any of it I care to remember for long, so that’s why I’m writing a little while it’s fresh in my mind, because, AS FAST, AS POSSIBLE, I’M GOING TO CAST THOSE MEMORIES ASIDE.
Have picked up a few good souvenirs. One is a little automatic German pistol, and some German money. Will send you some of the “Jerry” money.
TWO VOLUNTEERS.
Henry Vande Kerk and Roy Heaivilin, who were employed at Beacon Airways, left this afternoon for Camp Dodge, Ia., for induction into the U.S. Navy.
HARRY BONNEMA MEETS MARVIN DAY IN SICILY
Mrs. Harry Bonneman, Sr., has received a letter from her son, Harry Bonnema Jr., saying:
Another big move from one country to another. Have seen quite a bit of shooting but things are pretty quiet around here now. Just got some mail, but no letter from you: one from Dick and one from Rita H.
The weather here is hot and dry, just like Africa, but the people seem to be a little better off than those in Africa. Boy! And were the people glad to see the Americans every time we took a town and walked in. They clomb (climbed) all over the Jeeps every time they stopped.
Dick Osterbuhr said his mail was getting to him OK and he knew about the big boy. I saw Marvin Day almost every day since he landed, and he’s still okay.
(The Globe-Post is getting some good letters to print from Africa now, but not so many from the Japanese war theatre, nor from Persia, Australia, India and points between, although this paper has subscribers at all these places. How about it, boys?)
WAR SERVICE NEWS.
Cpl. Ed Sitzmann and his wife, the former Agatha Neubel, spent the past week with relatives and friends here. Cpl. Sitzmann is at Long Beach, where he is a guard at an aircraft plant.
Roy B. Howard has received word from his son, Bob Howard, who is a radio technician engage in special signal corps work somewhere in the Aleutian Islands, where he as a detail of about 40 men under him. Bob tells nothing whatever about his work, which, naturally is a military secret anyway, but he has plenty to say about the Aleutians as a vacation spot. Apparently they’re not all a fogbound waste of rocks. In spots there are icy mountain lakes, teaming with fish who have not yet lost their faith in human nature, and the men in Bob’s command think nothing at all of going out and returning with the 4 or 5 pound bass, and good-sized trout, that they can eat. Many of these unknown lakes have never wetted a fisherman’s line before, and the Americans there now think the fishing alone is enough to make it worthwhile to chase the Japs out. Bob also writes that a home-made radio which he built when he used to run a radio shop in LeMars, is getting American broadcast stations as far east as St. Paul.
Pvt. Ralph “Scoop” Zimmer returned to LeMars Sunday from Camp Sibert, Ala., to spend a 10-day furlough in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Zimmer. Pvt. Zimmer is a first cook in the army and entered the service last August.
Cpl. Wilbur J. Heuertz is spending a 15-day furlough visiting his father, M. V. Heuertz, east of Neptune, and also his brothers and sister, Victor and Stanley, Mrs. Albert Kurtzhals and Mrs. Ed Lewis of Sioux City. A family picnic will be held in his honor Sunday at the home of his father.
Filmore Frasch, son of Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Frasch of Remsen, a private first class in the army, has been selected to go to Iowa University to study Italian. His opportunity came as a result of his ability to speak German. The Army is training linguists who will be able to deal with civilian populations of Germany and Italy after these countries have been conquered by American armies.
Pfc. Lawrence Trometer returned to Nashville, Tenn., after spending a 10-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Trometer at Sioux City, also his brother, Pvt. Lloyd Trometer, who is stationed at Fort Knox, Ky.
Pfc. Lloyd Bock, of Fort Sill, Okla., is home on a 10-day furlough at the home of parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bock.
Pfc. Harold Mandelkow, who is with the air corps at Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina, called his mother, Mrs. Anna Mandelkow, by telephone Thursday evening. He said he was getting along fine and was looking forward to a furlough and the day when he could be home again for good.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Gronemeyer have received word from their son, Pvt. Lyle Gronemeyer, that he has arrived safely in Australia. He was inducted into the Army last October and left Nov. 7. He was formerly stationed at Ft. Bliss, Tex.
Cpl. Leo J. Freking returned to Long Beach, Calif., Sunday morning, after a week’s visit with relatives and friends.
Vernon Breitbarth was graduated Aug. 2, at Farragut, Idaho, and arrived home for a 15-day furlough. He is a son of Mrs. Fred Breitbarth of Akron.
Word has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Louie Bruns that their son, Elmer Bruns, who is stationed at Camp Chaffee, Ark., has been confined to the hospital for a week due to infection caused by bites by chiggers.
Lester Osborne, who is stationed in Alaska, is spending a 23-day furlough in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Z. Osborne of Struble. Eugene has also had a 10-day furlough. His wife and sister have been here, but left on Thursday for Raymond, Minn., to visit his wife’s relatives before returning to his camp in Virginia. The other sons, Bobby Osborne, is in England and Richard Osborne in Iran.
Marvin R. Smith, S.F. 3/c, writes his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. H. Smith, from Recuperation Center, Camp Parks, Calif., stating that he is recovering from a back injury sustained some time ago. The outfit to which he was attached had been shipped out, and until his complete recovery he will be confined to Camp Parks. Another son, Sgt. Walter J. Smith, who has been stationed at Camp McCain, Miss., wrote a few days ago that they were being shipped out, destination unknown.
Enrolled in preflight school at the San Antonio aviation cadet center with the latest class were 166 cadets from Iowa, who are now undergoing a rigorous course designed to fit them for the controls of America’s war planes. After successful completion of the studies, they will be sent on for more training in flying schools and finally will be awarded the silver wings of a pilot in the air forces of this country. Included in the class were three from LeMars: Charles R. Clarke, 700 Central Ave SE; Harley J. Rollinger; LaVerne C. Varenhorst, 430 7th Ave. SW.
Corporal Kenneth F. Sitzman of LeMars has been presented the Good Conduct Medal by Colonel Ralph E. Holes, commanding officer at Lubbock, Texas, army air base. Cpl. Sitzman was presented the medal for a year of service with a rating of excellent as to conduct, character and efficiency on his job in the Army Air Forces.
Mrs. Anna Muecke has received word that her grandson, Jim Muecke, has been promoted to a sergeant in the Marine Corps, somewhere in the south Pacific theater.
Wendell Rhodes, Robert Walsh, Terry Heller, Stanley Neubrand of LeMars, John Tsitrouras of Akron are among the “boot” trainees who have not completed their recruit training at Farragut, Idaho, and are home on a much-appreciated boot leave. Several of the boys have “put in” for special training in service schools which may lead to petty officer ratings, but they will not know what their fate will be in this respect until they return to Farragut. According to the best information available, a considerable number of the trainees will be sent to sea as seamen, second class. Another sailor home on leave, a seasoned Old Salt, is Russell Anderson, on a 15-day leave. He has put in three years in the Navy, much of the time in submarine service in hostile waters. He is a petty officer, second class.
Tech. fifth grade Joseph J. Dominick of LeMars was recently promoted to that grade from that of private first class. Corporal Dominick is stationed at Camp Hale, Colo., the army’s “two-mile high camp” for the training ski and mountain troops.
Mr. and Mrs. Ben C. Hinken received a letter from their son, Ed Hinken, telling that he has been promoted from first class yeoman to chief yeoman. He is stationed at Fort Point coast guard station at Presidio in San Francisco, Cal.
Mrs. Frank Levins, Sr., has received a cablegram from her son, Pvt. Charles Levins, notifying her of his safe arrival in China. Pvt. Levins is with the signal corps. Pvt. Arthur Levins is with the Flying Fortress group somewhere in North Africa.
Elmer Tammen, who has been stationed at Long Beach, Calif., for over 11 months returned home last Wednesday and will resume farming.
MARION FEENEY NOW IN SICILY
Plenty of Room There For Generous Gifts From United States
The Kingsley News-Tribune Thursday published a letter from Marion Feeney, formerly of Kingsley, telling of his first impressions of Sicily, now conquered by American troops.
According to his description, there will be plenty of room for as many millions of dollars worth of post-war relief in Sicily as American taxpayers care to give. The letter says, in part:
I am no longer in Africa. I am now in Sicily. After seeing the people here it gives you an idea of what we’re fighting for. The people here wear nothing but patched and old clothes are about starved to death. I hope it never gets even half as bad back in the U.S. How is everything at home? I suppose it is about harvest time and all are busy. The last letter I got from you about a month ago. It was mailed June 9th.
I don’t have any V-mail stationery so am writing a regular letter. It will take longer to get to you but I can also write more. There are a lot of things I would like to be able to tell you but the censor would cut the letter all up.
I have seen things I never thought I would since I got over here. These people are about as dirty a looking tribe of people I want to see. They have clothes on that are older than they themselves are. They are all torn and patched. The transportation is still the old horse and buggy. The horses are none of them bigger than Snowball and most of them are pretty thin. They have them hooked to two-wheeled carts.
There are the French people here who are pretty friendly and seem a lot more civilized. I haven’t been in any town of any size yet so don’t know about the towns.
I have seen a bunch of trains go by that would make you laugh. The cars are about half the length of those back home, and there are only 10 or 12 cars to each train.
For a crop here, about all I have seen is grapes. I never saw so many grape vines in all my time and I saw quite a few in California when I was there. I suppose you have already gathered that they have plenty of wine. I got a little sample of it last night and its not bad.
WALLENBERGS RECEIVE LETTERS FROM SON IN GERMAN PRISON
Sioux Center News: These letters were written personally by Gilbert Wallenberg, who is a German prisoner:
Datum 3, 26, 43
Dear Mother, Dad, Brothers and Sisters: Have a chance to drop you a few lines again. Hope you may receive them. Still getting along fine and in the best of health. Hope the same for all of you. Still getting treated fine. So please don’t worry about me. Love to all, Gilbert
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3-18-43
Dear Dad, Mother, Brothers and Sisters: Will try dropping you a few lines today. Hope you have received some of my messages I have sent before. Haven’t much news but can say I am still in the best of health and getting along fine. Hope you can all say that same for yourselves. They have treated us fine so far. So haven’t anything to complain about. Still have plenty of my buddies with me. Red Cross will let you know all about sending packages and letters. Send things such as socks, shorts and cigarettes.
Hope Mother had a happy birthday. Really thought of her a lot that day. Try to write soon and tell me where you live now and is there any change of address? Please don’t worry. Hope to be back soon. Love to all. –Gilbert.
LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
August 17, 1943
Six Plymouth County boys who had completed their “boot” training at Camp Farragut, Idaho, arrived home Friday on a 15-day furlough. They are Robert Walsh and Terry Heller of LeMars, Vernon Breitbarth and John Tsitouras of Akron, Clarence Hons of Kingsley, and Wibur Toel, Hinton. They boys will spend this week at home. Several other boys from this camp are expected home on a furlough this week.
YOUNG SOLDIER STRUCK BY PLANE
Marvin Knecht Killed At Memphis, Tenn.
Private Marvin G. Knecht of LeMars was killed August 15, when struck by an airplane at the municipal airport in Memphis, Tennessee.
Private Knecht was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Knecht of LeMars and was born April 27, 1923, at Akron, Iowa, the family later moving to LeMars. After attending the school in LeMars he worked for an uncle at Delavan, Wisconsin, for three years before entering the army air service on December 10, 1942. He took his basic training at St. Petersburg, Florida, and on January 28, was transferred to Memphis where he was a member of the ferry command of the 345th Air Base Squadron at the municipal airport.
Arrangements for the funeral are delayed pending information as to when the body will arrive in LeMars.
In addition to his parents, Marvin is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Merlin Henke and Mary Jean, and three brothers, Arnold, Donald and Duane.
LeMars Globe-Post
Thursday, August 19, 1943
DAILY BOMBING MISSIONS ARE GRIM BUSINESS, WRITES LIEUT. BOB KOENIG FROM BRITISH BASE
As far as The Globe-Post has heard, the only LeMars military flyer to be going on almost daily bombing missions is Lieut. Bob Koenig, who, with his crew and the Flying Fortress, The Joker, has been in thick of the hottest bombing fights in which American flyers have participated. With the exception of the big raids on Hamburg, most of these flights have been practically unreported in this country, although the English papers have covered them with great detail.
[Photo included of Lieut. Bob Koenig]
Lieut. Koenig has written very interesting letters to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Koenig, and his wife, the former Jean Kistle. The following are excerpts from two of these letters which deal with the raids:
July 30: We are closing out another week in the ETO—and what a week it has been. Six missions in 7 days—rough! The enclosed clippings will give you an idea of what we have been doing to cut the length of time until I shall be with you again. But our luck has not held out as I had hoped it would—in fact, we have been having nothing but bad luck the past week.
In one of the Hamburg raids, Lieut. Edwards was wounded in the leg by a shell fragment. It was not serious, but it did put him in the hospital for a few weeks. About that time we began to fear for the security of our old crew, for we knew that some time before Ed got on his feet again, some of us would have to flying with someone else.
That is one of our biggest worries over here. We want more than anything else to keep our original crew intact. And so it happened. Two days later Lt. Gerdy and Sgt. Geldman went on a haul with Lt. Roberts—and that is the last we have seen of them.
Circumstances have led us to believe that they are safe somewhere, but we can’t help worry about them. Lt. Kelly was sent to the Army rest home for a week, so here I am all alone now with five of my enlisted men. We are wondering what the future will have in store for the remaining members of The Joker’s Crew.
IN SPITE OF ALL THIS, I STILL HAVE THE SAME STRONG FEELING THAT I SHALL BE COMING BACK TO YOU SAFE AND SOUND, AND IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE.
I think I shall go to London this weekend. I have a 48-hour pass coming up, and I can think of no better place to spend it. Never having been there, I am anxious to see the second largest city in the world.
Besides, I shall have to get away from this field for awhile, or I shall go batty. Getting back to the barracks at night and finding the same empty beds tends to have a nervous effect on most of us.
You remember the English family I told you I had been entertained by several times? Well, they have a son living in London, who they insist I look up and stay with during my visit there. I am very glad for this opportunity, because American soldiers can really get clipped in London if they don’t watch their step.
The last time Lt. Edwards went to Long, he spent all of 27 pounds ($100) and didn’t have a thing to show for it. He still doesn’t know where it all went.
We now have six bombs (one for each mission) and six swastikas (one for each fighter downed) painted on our ship. I certainly wish there were 25 printed there—but I guess that will take some time yet.
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In a later letter to Mr. and Mrs. Koenig, Lieut. Koenig wrote:
Aug. 3: All in all, our old crew has really been split up. WE have a good many shell holes in the planes we have been bringing back. BUT THE GOOD OLE FORTRESSES HAVE REALLY BEEN TAKING IT IN GRAND FASHION!
On the raid that Lt. Edwards was wounded, we had our glass nose shot almost off, but the only ill effect on us was that the blast of cold air at high altitude almost froze us.
We were all pretty much in need of a rest, so we had a 48-hour pass last weekend, and we went to London—they really treated me royally.
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Newspaper clippings enclosed by Lieut. Koenig gave the dates and places on which raids were made, and he had those marked in which he took part. These flights were not necessarily in the same bomber. The dates circled are July 4, 10, 14, 24, 25, 26, 28 and 30. This makes 8 flights, but apparently 6 were credited to The Joker.
For example, reconnaissance photographic checkup of the flight of July 10 showed:
“Carpiquet airfield at Caen, France. Barracks buildings and two small bomb dumps destroyed; storage shed hit by high explosives; one storage building destroyed and another gutted; one direct bomb bursts on building and bomb on railroad near the airfield; 77 storage area.”
(A lot of work for Fritz—that’s sure.)
“Ducat airfield at Abbeville: hangar and dispersal areas damaged.”
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Raids participated in by Lt. Koenig include the bombing of Gnome and Rhode aero engine works at Le Mans, France; U-boat base at La Pallice, on the French coast; SNCA de L’Oest Aircraft factory at Nantes; aircraft repair plant at LeBourget, Paris; FW190 repair shops at Villa Coublay, France; Glisy airfields at Amiens; Aluminum factory, Heroya, Norway; Naval and submarine base at Trondhelm, Norway.
Reported heavily damaged were Rerik-West airport, Wustrow, Germany; naval dockyards, Hamburg; severe damage to Blohm & Voss shipyards, largest U-boat builders in Germany; Kriegsmarine Worft, Kiel, Germany; Deutsche Werke, Kiel, Germany; Howaldswerke, Kiel; at Hannover, Kontinental Gummiwerke (synthetic rubber); at Hannover, Guter Bahnhof Nord, August Seegers gear factory; T. Angers Crudenofenfabrik; Lindenfer Eisenund Stahlwerke.
At Oscherslebaen, Germany; large workshops, aircraft factory; airport.
On July 30, a bomber navigated by Lieut. Koenig hit industrial targets at Kassel, Germany. An explosion which sent a plume of black smoke towering thousands of feet into the air indicated direct hits on a possible ammunition dump or gasoline storage supply. The report ends: “Detailed assessment of damage in Kassell unavailable yet.”
DUANE D. HAWKINS, GUADALCANAL VETERAN, TO RETURN HOME SOON
Mrs. H. S. Hawkins has received word from her son, Pvt. Duane D. Hawkins, of the U. S. Marine Corps, stating that he had arrived at San Francisco Wednesday, August 11, after nearly a year overseas.
Three months of this time were spent fighting the Japs on Guadalcanal; and the last three months were in New Zealand, recuperating from malaria fever, which often bothered the Americans more than the Japs. Another marine recently home on furlough, George Rickenbaugh, also had a bad case of malaria.
Pvt. Hawkins wrote that he hopes to be home on furlough in the very near future.
NEWS WAR SERVICE.
Friends here have been informed that Pvt. Raymond Waldschmitt has been transferred from Nashville, Tenn., to Pine Camp, N.J.
Herman R. Fischer, petty officer second class, of Little Creek, Va., is spending a 15-day furlough in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. Fischer of Union township. Seaman Fisher is a carpenter’s mate at the amphibious training base.
Sgt. and Mrs. Walter Jennings Jr., of Austin, Texas, are visiting in the home of Sgt. Jennings parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Jennings.
A. M. Hawkins, of Lake City, was in LeMars today, being and overnight guest in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. H. Smith. Mr. Hawkins was released from the Army recently, due to passing the age of 44 years. He was sworn into the Army October 9. He is now going back to his job as railroad agent at Auburn, Ia.
Mrs. Clifford Kress has received word that her son, Paul F. Kasten has been promoted to seaman first class. Paul has been in active service since, August, 1942, being stationed at Siska, Alaska. He is with a famous division of the Seabees.
A/S Ralph N. Wiltgen, 45 5th Ave. NE, LeMars, has commenced training as an aviation student at Jefferson college, St. Louis, Mo. He has been designated by the aviation cadet examining board to be sent to this college for academic and military training in preparation to become an aviation cadet.
Major Donald C. Muller left Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, last Wednesday. Mrs. Muller, who has been with her husband, returned to Boone to make her home while here husband is in the service.
Robert Stoeber, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Stoeber, of this city, has passed his examination for entrance in the Army Air Corps and is awaiting call—sometime this fall.
Wesley J. (Lee) Keller, son of Mr. and Mrs. Everett Keller near Kingsley, was promoted to Sergeant a short time ago and was transferred from Camp Hale, Colo., to Camp Carson, Colo. He will again be transferred to some unknown location in the near future. Mr. Keller entered the armed service June 11, 1942.
Lowell Ernest Harkness, who recently completed his boot training a Camp Bennion, U. S. Naval training station, Farragut, Idaho, has been spending part of a 15-day furlough here this week with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Asa Harkness, and among other relatives and friends at Akron.
Pvt. Norman Rohlfs of Craig enjoyed a 3-day pass over the weekend at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Rohlfs, at Craig. He is at present stationed at Harvard, Neb., with a camouflage unit.
In addition to the boys home from “boot training” at Camp Farragut, Idaho, who have been previously mentioned: Clarence Hons of Kingsley, and Wilbur Toel of Hinton andVernon Breitbarth of Akron are home.
OH WELL, THE JAP COULDN’T SPEND IT WHERE HE’S GONE
John A. Manson has received a letter from his son, Corporal John Manson, on Attu Island, in the Aleutians, where the American forces are now taking it easy after digging out all the Japs from their holes.
Corporal Manson included a Japanese bank note, which he said he had taken from a late worshipful subject of Hirohito who made no objections, having lost all interest in the subject of money or anything else mundane.
Another Manson boy, Eugene Manson, is home on boot leave after completing his primary naval training at Farragut, Idaho.
LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
August 20, 1943
MARVIN KNECHT BURIED THURSDAY
Struck By Airplane On Landing Field
The funeral services of Pvt. Marvin G. Knecht of LeMars were held Thursday afternoon at the Wiltgen Funeral Home and burial was made at Merrill with military honors. The deceased lived in LeMars and attended the public school. After this he went to Delavan, Wisconsin, where he worked as a mechanic for an uncle several years. In December 1942, he enlisted in the armed forces and after a period of basic training at St. Petersburg, Florida, he was transferred to the Fourth Ferry Command in the 346th Air Base Squadron at Memphis, Tenn. His last visit home was early in July in connection with his furlough. At that time he told his parents that he was enjoying his work and was deeply interested in completing the necessary hours of flying for promotion in the aviation service. He had completed more than one-hundred hours of flying.
Circumstances of his death indicate that he was on duty at the Memphis Airport and a four-motored bomber swerved out of control while taking off and struck him. He died shortly after from the injuries received.
His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Roy Knecht, living at 600 Sixth Street SE, LeMars. He has two sisters and three brothers who with his parents survive him.
The funeral services were conducted by Dr. B. F. Zuehl, dean of Western Union College. The American Legion and Company D. participated through their representatives in the burial ritual.
Private Duane D. Hawkins of the U.S.M.C., landed at San Francisco, Wednesday, August 11, after nearly a year overseas, three months of which were spent at Guadalcanal and the last three months in New Zealand recuperating from malaria fever. He hopes to be home on furlough in the very near future.
Pvt. Cloyd Zeig, who is stationed at Camp Roberts, California, arrived Monday evening on a 15-day furlough. He will get acquainted with his daughter, who was born Thursday August 12.
Paul Braun has completed his cross country training at Drake University in Des Moines and is visiting in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Braun. Paul received his primary training at Sheldon and secondary at Estherville. He will report next week for further training at Jefferson Barracks.
Corporal Virgil R. Dreeszen of Barksdale Field, Shreveport, Louisiana, arrived in Westfield for a visit with his wife and relatives. Corporal Dreeszen arrived home on the date of their first wedding anniversary, August 14. On August 15, Robert Fay, a son was born to Corporal and Mrs. Virgil R. Dreeszen at the Akron hospital. Corporal Dreeszen was inducted in the army March 2, 1943, entering the army air corps. He took his basic training at Camp Lee, Virginia, and was transferred to Shreveport, Louisiana, June 18.
LeMars Sentinel, August 23, 1943
Mrs. L.K. Burkett, of Akron, received word the first of the week that her eldest son,Master Sgt. Wilson C. Burkett, had left for overseas duty, presumably in the European area. He is in the U.S. Medical Corps and recently has been stationed at Harmon General Hospital, Longview, Texas, previous to which he was located at Fort Crook, Neb., Fort Joseph T. Robinson, Ark., and Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
Another Remsen man who has been transferred from Fort Ord, Calif., to APO at Seattle, is Pvt. Mathew R. Faber, having moved along with Pfc. Richard Kunkel, S/Sgt. Richard Hughes and other Remsen men. Mathew is in the mountain infantry unit.
Dr. and Mrs. Jos. Sharp of Kingsley have received word from the son, Myman B. Sharp, that he has been returned to his company after a stay of 12 weeks and 5 days in the hospital, following wounds received in the Tunisian battle. Wyman is a member of Company K, 133rd Inf.
Sgt. Wesley Gard, of Leeds, brother of Mrs. Joe Sheehan, wrote his parents that he had been injured in an accident and had both legs fractured eight inches above the ankles. Sgt. Gard has been in the marines for the past year.
Phm. Mate 3/c Germaine Robinet returned to Camp McIntire at Great Lakes, Illinois, after spending a short weekend leave in the home of his mother, Mrs. Lily Robinet.
Wendell Rhodes and Eddie Wilhelmi of LeMars, Vincent March of Kingsley, Eugene Manson of Union and Ray Shields of Remsen returned to Farragut, Idaho, Sunday after spending a 15-day furlough in the homes of their parents.
Sgt. Forrest Fleege of Akron, in training in the U.S. Air Corps at Pueblo, Colo., visited here this week with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Halvorsen.
Second Lt. Margery Tentinger, of Akron, who is serving as a nurse in the Sioux Falls Airbase hospital, came Tuesday for a brief visit in the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Tentinger.
Edwin (Bill) Collins, who is in the navy, arrived the first of the week from Boise, Idaho, to visit with his mother, Mrs. Emma Collins, and his brothers and sisters at Ireton. He also visited with relatives in Hawarden. He is being transferred.
Mr. and Mrs. John A. Westerberg of Hinton have recently received their first direct word from this son, Bill, who is interned in a Japanese prison camp on the Philippine Islands. However, more recent news from the United States government stated that William has just been transferred to the island of Japan. The message from their son came on a typewritten Japanese postal card and his message read as follows: “I am interned in the Osaka Umeda Bunsho Prisoner of War Camp. My health is excellent. I am working for pay. Please see that everybody is taken care of. My love to you all. –William.”
Roman Ortman, called to the service two months ago and who chose the navy, arrived home Friday and is visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Ortman in Remsen. He is stationed at the naval center at Farragut, Idaho, and was given leave after having completed his boot training. He will leave August 23, to report August 26.
Ray Shields of Camp Scott, Farragut, Idaho, arrived last Thursday on 15-day leave and is visiting his mother, Mrs. Olinda Shields, and his aunt, Miss Marie Scherner, in Remsen. He has been in the navy two months. Ray plans to leave Sunday.
Robert Challin, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Challin, who grew up in LeMars has recently been promoted to technical sergeant in North Africa. He went into service with Company I of Sheldon, where the family now live.
Corporal Charles Luikens of Camp Chassee, Arkansas, who is on a 9-day furlough spent the weekend in LeMars. He was accompanied by his wife of Redwood Falls, Minn., who will go to Melbourne, Iowa, this week where she will teach school again this year.
Clyde Coppock, who was a private in an anti-aircraft unit on Mercer Island, near Seattle, Washington, has been given a medical discharge from the army and has returned to LeMars.
Corporal John Conover, who is stationed at Camp Butner, North Carolina, is spending furlough with his wife and his mother.
LeMars Sentinel, August 27, 1943
Bud Bolser, who has been spending a 15-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Norman Bolser, returned to Farragut, Idaho, Wednesday evening.
Merle Truesdell reported for service in the air corps Friday at Des Moines and was sent to Jefferson Barracks in Missouri Thursday where he will be sent to a camp for training.
Harris Rosendahl, who is in the U.S. Merchant Marine service, left Thursday for New Orleans, Louisiana, to receive further instruction. He has been home since he completed his preliminary training at Sheepshead Bay, Long Island.
Louis Wurth, Technical Sergeant who is diet cook at the Veterans Hospital at Sawtell, California, is spending a furlough with his father, J. P. Wurth.
Lieut. Houston Cunningham, who is stationed at Camp Polk, Louisiana, is visiting in LeMars.
LeMars Sentinel, August 30, 1943
Pvt. and Mrs. Elmer Loutsch of Camp Crowder, Mo., are back to visit their parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Loutsch and Mr. and Mrs. Al Bohlke of Remsen. Since Elmer went into service at Camp Crowder the couple have been privileged to make several trips home, but this is the longest stay, a 15-day furlough. Pvt. Loutsch is still serving as a truck driver and has had numerous commendations for keeping his truck in “tip-top” condition. During July he won two 3-day passes for having the cleanest of the 100 trucks at camp.
Cpl. Charles Presuhn of Camp Rucker, Ala., arrived in Remsen Monday and will visit until Friday, September 3. He is a guest in the home of his brother, Harold Presuhn, for whom he worked on the farm for about nine years, hence he has many friends in this territory. Cpl. Presuhn has been in the army since December, 1941, and at present is with the anti-tank battalion of the infantry.
Vincent March, Max Hons, and Gene Manson of Kingsley have returned to the naval training base at Farragut, Idaho, after their ten day furlough with their parents and other relatives and friends.
Word has been received by Mrs. Emilie Utecht of Kingsley from her son, Herbert Utecht, that he is now safely located in Sicily and is well and happy. He states that in the recent invasion of Sicily he made several successful combat landings, and had seen enough of the war and the people there to know just what the Allied nations are fighting for.
Roy Case, son of Mr. and Mrs. Will Case, of Kingsley, arrived home this week on a furlough from the naval training station at Farragut, Idaho., where he recently completed his “boot training” period.
Seaman 1st Class Edward E. Stephens arrived Wednesday from Bremerton, Wash., where he has been in a hospital with broken leg. He is visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Stephens, at Hinton.
Cpl. and Mrs. George Rush are home on furlough at the Will and Milton Spies homes at Hinton. Cpl. Rush is stationed at Ft. Belvoir, Va.
Pfc. Alan Tindall, who had been in training in Co. A., 117th Infantry, at Camp Blanding, Florida, for about a year arrived in Akron last Thursday, having received a discharge that will enable him to assist his father, Adam Tindall, southeast of Akron, in essential work on the farm.
Pvt. Floyd Wilcox, of Akron, returned Saturday from Fort Lewis, near Tacoma, Wash., where he has been in training in Hq. Co., 60th Signal Battalion, for the past several months. He was given a medical discharge for physical disability.
Vernon G. Nelle, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Nelle of LeMars, was graduated last week as a bombardier (flight officer) from the Big Spring Bombardier Quadrangle School at Midland, Texas. The men studied camouflage, learned navigation and were trained in many other phases of aerial combat as well as taught precision bombing.
Pfc. Duane D. Hawkins, U.S.M.C. arrived in LeMars, Saturday morning, August 28, on a 30-day furlough, after which he will report back to San Diego.
Capt. James B. Gillespie of Urbana, Illinois, who has been in the army air forces in the medical corps at Davis-Monthan Field near Tucson, Arizona, since last fall, was transferred last week to the University of Chicago, where he expects to take several months training in the civilian affairs school of the Allied Military Government which is being set up to administer the affairs of occupied countries until they can establish their own governments. Capt. Gillespie is a son of Mr. and Mrs. James C. Gillespie, of LeMars.
Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Weenink have been informed that their son, Russell Weenink, has been transferred from Wickenburg, Arizona, to Winter Field, Baker, California. He will start basic training there.
Capt. Wayne Miller, of Sheldon, who went into the service in March, 1941, as lieutenant in the Sheldon National Guard company, has been advanced to the rank of major. Major Miller is stationed at Orlando, Fla., with Air Forces in the Air Support department of the army. He has been at Orlando for six months. Major Miller was a pharmacist in the Koenig Drug Store for a year or two.
Lieut. Tony Bamberg, son of Mr. and Mrs. L.N. Bamberg of LeMars, will soon completed his training in the Second Air Force at Dalhart, Texas, and in the near future he will go overseas. He is at present receiving an important part of his training as a pilot. He is expected home on a visit before he goes overseas.
