1944 . . .
LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
December 19, 1944
John Beaubien arrived home Saturday and will enjoy a 30-day furlough among relatives and friends. He recently returned from service with the U.S. Marines in the South Pacific war zone.
Lt. Clyde Kinzey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Kinzey of Kingsley recently completed an orientation course at an Air Force Service Command Station in England, to bridge the gap between training in the States and combat soldiering against the enemy. He is in the Troop Carrier Command. They haul cargo, paratroopers, tow gliders, evacuate wounded, etc.
Gilbert King, of Kingsley, of the U.S. Marines, arrived home last week on a furlough, to visit with relatives and friends in this vicinity. Gilbert has been in the South Pacific area for over two years, and took part in the landings at Guam and several other of the South Pacific area. He wears the Asiatic theatre of operations ribbon with two battle stars, as well as other Army decorations.
Burdette Bogenrief returned recently to Rood Field, Corpus Christi, Tex., after spending a short furlough in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Murl Bogenrief of Kingsley. After his return to the Naval station, he was promoted to Seaman, First Class.
Flight Officer Harold L. Taylor, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Taylor of Hinton, has been assigned to San Marcus Army Air Field, an aviation school of the AAF Training Command. Flight Officer Taylor won his wings at Frederick, Okla.
M. LaVerne Kelso, A.M.M. 1/c departed Saturday for Corpus Christi, Texas, after spending his leave visiting in the home of Mrs. Phil Spies of Hinton and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mert Kelso, at Kingsley.
Pfc. Eugene J. McMahon, of Kingsley, is a pharmacist with the 8th Air Force Service Command, medical supply depot. He was graduated from Kingsley high school in 1937 and from the State University of Iowa in 1942. Prior to his entry into the military service on February 10, 1942, at Ft. Des Moines, he was pharmacist at Larson & McMahon drug store in Kingsley. He has been stationed in the European theater of operations since September 5, 1943.
Lt. Roman N. Lamberto of the Army Air Force, who with Mrs. Lamberto visited Mr. and Mrs. Nick Treinen in Remsen a few weeks ago on their way from Columbia, S.C., to the west coast, reports that they have located at Long Beach, Calif., where Lt. Lamberto is serving temporarily at the Army air field.
Pfc. Gerald J. Shea, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Shea, has been assigned to the AAF Training Command radio school at the Army airfield at Sioux Falls, S.D., for training as a radio operator mechanic. Upon completion of a 20-week course, he will be fully trained to take his place as a member of a highly skilled bomber crew of the Army air forces.
Lieutenant and Mrs. Richard Wasikowski and daughter Mary Ann, arrived Wednesday morning from Chicago to spend part of their brief leave in Remsen with Mrs. Wasikowski’s parents, Rev. and Mrs. A. Noack. They had been at Fort Benning, Ga., where the lieutenant received his commission last Saturday. He reports for duty at Ft. McClellan, Alabama, next Tuesday.
Pfc. Darwin Walker left Wednesday to report at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., after spending a 30-day furlough at his home in Ireton with his father, P.T. Walker, brother Lynn and family, and other relatives. This was Darwin’s first visit home since entering the Army in May, 1941. He has been overseas since February, 1942.
Pvt. Clem Karl, of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, arrived Saturday for a holiday visit in the home of his mother, Mrs. Catherine Karl. He was accompanied by his wife, the former Betty Collins, who is a guest in the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walt Collins.
Seaman 1/c Terry Heller, who is stationed at San Francisco, arrived Thursday evening for a holiday visit in the home of his father, Ben Heller. Terry reports back for duty on January 13.
Lt. Robert Roseberry arrived from the Hawaiian Islands on Friday evening and will spend a 30-day furlough in the home of his mother, Mrs. Helen Roseberry.
Fireman 2/c Warren Stamp, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Stamp, is enjoying a visit in the home of his parents. He arrived home on Thursday evening and reports for further duty at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station on December 23.
After a few days visit in the home of his father, Percy Merritt, TM 3/c Milton Merrittreturned to Brooklyn, New York, on Tuesday. Milton has just returned from England and expects to go back to sea shortly after his arrival in New York.
LeMars Globe-Post
December 21, 1944
SOLDIER’S NEWS
Emil Kamradt, formerly of Merrill, whose home is at Sutherland, Ia., arrived home Wednesday morning, Dec. 13, and has to report back to Seattle, Wash., Jan. 17. He is in the Army Air Corps, and made the trip from Hawaii to San Francisco in 10 hours, in an army transport plane. Cpl. Kamradt is a radio man and has been working at a base on the Hawaiian Islands, keeping in contact with planes by radio. He was overseas 30 months—all of the time in Hawaii. He saw Pearl Harbor right after it was shot up by the Japs.
Warren Stamp, S2/c, who has been visiting in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Stamp, will leave Friday for the Great Lakes Naval Training Station. Seaman Stamp has completed his boot training there and will be reassigned to another base for additional training.
Pvt. Franklin J. Lee, son of Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Lee, of this city, arrived home from Camp Bowie, Tex., with an honorable discharge from the Army. He has been in the service for two years. A knee injury received when he was playing high school football, forced him out of the army.
Charles Bissel, seaman first class, has arrived home to spend Christmas with his family at Kingsley. In the service since November 1941, he spent 18 months in the southwest Pacific. He wears three service ribbons and three stars for major engagements at Tarawa, Kwajalein and Eniwetok.
Mr. and Mrs. P. J. Boyle received three letters from their son, Edward Boyle, who is now stationed in Italy. The last letter was dated December 9. He told his folks that he is back in his old unit. He is still a staff sergeant, the same rank he had before his furlough.
Vincent March, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy March of Kingsley, one of the survivors of the sinking of the baby flat top, St. Lo, in the battle of Leyte Island, Philippines, has arrived in Kingsley to spend a 21-day leave. After swimming in the water for two hours, he and several others were rescued and were brought to this country.
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. H. Smith received a long distance telephone call Wednesday noon from their oldest son, Marvin Smith, Shipfitter third class in the Seabees, who recently returned from 15 months overseas in the Southwest Pacific. Since his return to the States, he has been in the naval hospital at San Pedro, Calif., and had arrived at Memphis, Tennessee, that morning on a 30-day leave. He and his family are expected to arrive soon in LeMars for a visit with his parents.
LeMars Sentinel
December 22, 1944
SENEY: (Special Correspondence)
George VanderTuig, chief petty officer and radio operator in the Marines, arrived here Friday to spend a 30-day leave with relatives and friends. He has been overseas for 14 months and took part in the D-day invasion of Southern France. He is a veteran of seven major battles and a wearer of the Purple Heart. En route to Iowa, he visited Elmer Janssen, who is in the U. S. Maritime Service at Brooklyn, N.Y.
LeMars Globe-Post
December 25, 1944
More Pictures of Plymouth Countyans In Service
Left to Right:
Top Row: Lyle Gronemeyer, Henry Koch, Darvin Richards, Robert Grahlman, Donald Marcue, Curly Bornhorst
Bottom Row: Floyd Miller, Willard Anstine, Stanley Kovarna, Helen Wiltgen, Paul Jahn, Oris Utech
S. SGT. CY GROETKEN HAS ALL MEDALS EXCEPT GOOD CONDUCT
Had One Once But Lost It When “He Took Vacation”
S. Sgt. Cy Groetken, who was wounded three times in this war and who also froze his feet while fighting in Italy, arrived home Thursday afternoon to spend a 21-day furlough in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Groetken, 500 Second Ave, SE.
Known as the “most wounded man” in K company, S. Sgt. Groetken has a war record that places him in the hero’s class. He wants to forget all about his past experiences on the battlefields and doesn’t even want to talk about them.
His war citations include about every kind of medal except the good conduct one, but he had one of them, too, at one time. He wears the Purple Heart with two clusters; the Silver Star citation for extraordinary heroism on the field of battle; infantry man’s badge and other war citations. The lapel of his coat covers the Silver Star decoration completely.
In regard to the good conduct medal, he lost it this way. After a battle in Africa, he wanted a short leave to get a little rest. This was denied him, but he took it anyway and when he reported back to the front lines, he was demoted and also had the good conduct medal removed from his chest. However, he has regained his rating as staff sergeant, and as far as the good conduct bar is concerned, he’s going to forget it.
The Silver Star was awarded the young man following the battle at Cassino. He was wounded in this fight. He also received wounds in Africa, and another wound at Leghorn, Italy.
He was wounded by the same shell that killed Jack Kempker and Robert Vanderwal in Italy. He said that he was off to the side of these two boys when the shell landed and said that he believed that Jack Kempker died from concussion.
He still carried fragments of shrapnel in his body. There are pieces still embedded in his legs which the doctors told him would gradually work out. While at home Friday, he felt a stinging pain in his right arm. He rolled up his sleeve and picked at the elbow. It was a small piece of shrapnel which had worked to the surface of the skin, and he removed it himself.
After completing his furlough he will report to an Army base in this country, where he will be reassigned to duty in the United States.
LAST LETTER FROM CPL. WITT WRITTEN ON THANKSGIVING
The death of Corporal Lloyd Witt, former Akron farm worker, was reported in last Thursday’s Globe-Post. The Hawarden Independent, published at the home of his parents, gives the following additional information.
Cpl. Lloyd Witt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Witt, of Hawarden, was killed in action in Germany, Dec. 5, according to word received by his parents from the government Monday afternoon.
Cpl. Witt was a member of the 5th armored division and had been overseas since last February. He went to France with his division on August 1 and then through Belgium and Luxembourg and entered Germany September 2. The last word his parents had from him was in a letter written the day after Thanksgiving, in which he stated that he had his holiday dinner in the rain.
“His letters were always so cheerful and full of hope,” stated his mother.
Lloyd Witt, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Witt, was born at Akron May 5, 1921, and later he lived at Kingsley and LeMars. He returned to Akron with his parents and was graduated from Akron high school with the Class of 1940. He was inducted into the service Nov. 19, 1942. Two of his brothers are in the service, one of whom is overseas.
Besides his parents, he is survived by eight brothers and sisters. Pfc. Wesley Witt, who is in the Mediterranean war zone, Pvt. Duane Witt at Camp Hood, Texas, and Judith Joyce, Henry Jr., Kenneth James and Stanley at home.
He also leaves a grandmother, Mrs. Mary Witt, of Akron, and a grandfather, William Barinsky, of LeMars.
Mr. and Mrs. Witt and family came to Hawarden from Akron about a year ago, but their son did not have a furlough since he came here.
LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
December 26, 1944
LIEUT. CHARLES CLARK WITH CRACK FIGHTER GROUP IN ENGLAND
Second Lieutenant Charles R. Clark of LeMars, Iowa, is a pilot of the 56th Fighter Group, which has destroyed more German planes than any other fighter group in the Eighth Air Force stationed in England.
The Group, flying P-47 Thunderbolts in escort to heavy bombers and on ground strafing assignments, has destroyed 723 enemy aircraft, 561 in aerial combat, and 162 more on the ground, and has won the Presidential Unit Citation for “exceptional aggressiveness, outstanding performances of duty, and extraordinary heroism in action.” The 56th Fighter Group, which began combat operations from England April 13, 1943, is commanded by Col. David C. Schilling of Traverse City, Mich.
Banner days for the group in action against the German Air Force were March 8, 1944, when the Thunderbolt pilots destroyed 30 German planes in aerial combat, and September 5, 1944, when 79 enemy aircraft were destroyed, 69 by strafing and ten in the air.
A former student at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Lt. Clark is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Clark, 700 Central Avenue, S.W., LeMars.
LT. RICHARD BOWERS HOME FROM FRANCE
Is Recovering From Shrapnel Injuries
Major Russell S. Bowers of Camp Chaffee, Arkansas, was in LeMars, Monday and Tuesday, looking after business interests and calling on friends. Major and Mrs. Bowers spent Christmas in Chicago with the family of their son, Lt. Richard Bowers.
Lieut. Bowers was seriously wounded in the invasion of France last August and has been returned to this country for hospitalization after spending several weeks in hospitals in France and England. He was with an armored unit and received shrapnel injuries in the back. After a second operation, which was necessary to remove shrapnel from the spinal canal, Richard is progressing favorably toward complete recovery. He is spending a sick leave in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, with his wife and a nine months old son, whom he had not before seen.
Lt. James Bowers is now on the Island of Moratai in the Southwest Pacific and Donald Bowers is in school at Fort Smith.
-----
In a telephone call from the west coast Sunday night, Darrill Crouch, M.M. 3/c informed his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Albert Crouch of Hinton, that he had arrived in the states from the South Pacific theatre of war.
M.E. Merritt, torpedoman 2/c, son of Mrs. Elmer Haller, of Sioux City, is spending a 5-day leave visiting relatives in Hinton and at Sioux City. He is back from England and Italy theaters of war.
Ted Lamoureux, A/S, of the U.S. Naval Training Station, Farragut, Idaho, came to spend a furlough with is parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Lamoureux, and other Akron relatives and friends.
T/Sergt. Harvey G. Lias, who returned to this country December 15 from thirteen months of overseas service in the 12th U. S. Air Force in the Italian theatre of operations, arrived in Akron Tuesday evening to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene H. Lias, and other relatives and friends. T/Sergt. Lias is looking fine after his months of strenuous service in the European war area, with 296 hours of operational combat flying; but he is mighty glad to get back among home folks again. After his leave here, he will probably be transferred to a west coast location.
Word has been received here by relatives that Pvt. Frank V. Clark has arrived safely overseas. He is somewhere in southern England.
Pvt. Randall Reinholdt arrived last week from Camp Wolters, Texas, to spend a furlough with his wife and other relatives and friends. He is enroute to another camp, at Camp Ord, California.
Tech. Sergt. Herbert Dugan, son of Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Dugan, arrived home Tuesday night of last week to spend a furlough in the home of his parents and with other relatives and friends in this vicinity. Sergt. Dugan has spent 12 months in the Mediterranean Theatre of war, and served as radio-gunner on one of the bombers which have been giving the Germans a good working over. Herb has been on well over three score missions over enemy territory.
Cpl. Melvin J. Hathaway, LeMars, Iowa, was recently given an honorable discharge from the Army of the United States at the Army Service Forces Training Center (Ordnance), Mississippi Ordnance Plant, Flora, Miss., on a certificate of physical disability.
Robert L. Stoeber, aviation cadet in the Army Air Corps, has completed his primary training at Mustang Field, El Reno, Oklahoma, and is spending a short furlough at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Stoeber of LeMars, after which he will report at Waco, Texas, to begin his basic training.
S 1/c Dorothy Kelly, WAVE, who is stationed at the Naval Air station at Ottumwa, Iowa, is a holiday guest in the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Kelly, at Oyens.
Fireman 2/c Orrin (Blackie) Kelly, who is stationed at Camp Bradford, Virginia, is enjoying a 14-day furlough with his wife and family in LeMars.
S. Sgt. And Mrs. Francis Condon of Topeka, Kansas, spent Christmas Day in the home of the former’s mother, Mrs. Thomas Condon.
After a few days visit in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Marcue, AC Bruce Marcue, will leave for an undisclosed location. He has been stationed at Peru, Indiana, and was accompanied to LeMars by his wife.
Capt. Milton Gralapp, stationed at Little Rock, Arkansas, is spending a 14-day leave in the home of his father, Louis Gralapp.
Lt. (j. g.) Elmer Nemmers, who has been stationed at Princeton, New Jersey, is enjoying a weeks delay enroute to Fort Ord, California, with his wife and family in LeMars.
Cpl. Lowell Luken, who is with the Coast Artillery, stationed at Fort Barry, San Francisco, is visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Luken.
Lt. Wm. Gallagher of Columbia, South Carolina, is spending a 10-day furlough with his wife and family at the A. L. Lantaff home.
Cpl. Chester Long, stationed at Fort Bliss, El Paso, Texas, is a holiday visitor in the homes of LeMars friends.
AS Tom Starzl, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. F. Starzl, a student in the V-12 unit at Westminister College, at Fulton Missouri, is visiting in the home of his parents.
AS Edward Wilhelmi, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wilhelmi, who is with the V-12 unit at Berea College, Kentucky, is a holiday visitor at his home.
Press dispatches last week carried a story of S. Sgt. Geo. P. Dorr of Marcus being rescued by a PT boat after being shot down in combat. The same day notice was printed of Silver Stars being awarded to S. Sgt. Philip J. Dominick and S. Sgt. Cyril J. Groetken of LeMars. Also last week notice was printed that Pfc. Roman Kosse had been wounded.
Lieut. Wade Woodke, who is stationed at an Army Air base in South Carolina, is spending a Christmas leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Cloyd Woodke.
Pvt. Earl Bogen, who is stationed at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, is spending his furlough in the home of his grandfather, Henry Atwood.
LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
December 29, 1944
Pvt. Kenneth Utesch arrived in LeMars, Monday, from Camp Blanding, Florida, on a 7-day leave. He will return to camp Friday.
Pvt. Joe DeYoung, who has been stationed at Camp Blanding, Florida, arrived Monday night for a few days visit in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry DeYoung. At present his next station is an undisclosed destination.
Second Lt. Robert Grahlman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerd Grahlman, spent Wednesday with his parents in LeMars. Robert is a navigator stationed at the Army Air Field at Casper, Wyoming.
Pvt. Donald Rosburg, who has been stationed at Camp Hood, Texas, arrives Wednesday for a visit in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Julius Rosburg of Hinton. Pvt. Rosburg will leave Saturday for Camp Meade, Maryland, and expects to be shipped overseas shortly after reporting to Camp Meade.
M/Sgt. And Mrs. Edwin VanGoor of Omaha arrived in LeMars this week and are guests in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Leon VanGoor. M/Sgt. VanGoor returned to the states on December 1, after having spent the past two years in Australia and New Guinea. He is enjoying a 30-day leave.
Ensign Bob Moore, who recently returned from his duties at sea, arrived Wednesday morning for a visit with his mother, Mrs. Fred Moore, and in the John Moore home. Mrs. Moore and two children, Conner and Lynn, who have been living in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, accompanied him to LeMars.
First Sergeant Alice E. McGovern of Remsen, a member of the first WAAC basic training company at Fort Des Moines, is a member of the WAC company that marked its first anniversary of duty in Italy by receiving commendation that its command was “justly proud of its WACs.”
Pvt. Warren W. Griffith of Ireton has received an honorable discharge from military service following two years and five months of service. He took part in the Italian campaign and others and received several medals, including the combat infantry badge, bronze star, and purple heart, and was hurt when both insteps of his feet were broken June 1, 1944, near Valmon Tone, Italy. He received his discharge at the convalescent hospital, Camp Carson, Colo. Griffith left the United States, April 2, 1943. He returned to this country July 18, 1944. He is the son of Mr. Al Griffith, of Ireton.
