1945 . . .
In Uniform
Sioux City Journal
1 April 1945
Garland Francis Ackerly, apprentice seaman, now in recruit training at the United States Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois, son of C.N. Ackerly, 915 Pierce Street, has been chosen to sing with the “Meet Your Navy” choir heard every Saturday evening when the all-navy air show is broadcast the Blue network. Seaman Ackerly’s sister, Mrs. Kenneth Bicknell, lives at 2805 Rebecca Street and he is the grandson of Mrs. F.G. Ackerly.
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Sgt. Adam J. Suknut, son of Mrs. Mary Suknot, 2004 Sixth Street is expected to arrive at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, this week, prior to spending a furlough with his mother. He has served as radio operator with the signal corps for 33 months in the Caribbean theater of operations, under the Sixth air force.
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Barry J. Delaney, seaman first class, son of Mr. and Mrs. R.C. Delaney, 1422 W. Fifth Street, is serving as signal man on an assault cargo ship. Since going on sea duty in October, 1943, he has participated in the initial assaults on Tarawa, the Marshalls, Saipan, Aguguar, Leyte and Luzon and has been at many other islands now in the United States possession, including Guadalcanal, Manus, Hollandia, Makin and Guam.
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T. Sgt. John D. Allyn, son of Maj. And Mrs O.B. Allyn, 10th and Douglas Street has qualified before an army air force examining board at Atlantic City, New Jersey, to take training as an aviation cadet. He has left for the San Antonio, Texas, aviation cadet center where he will be classified for training as a navigator, bombardier or pilot. A veteran of 30 combat missions in the European theater of operations, he has a radio operator on a Flying Fortress and wears the air medal with four oak leaf clusters.
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Lt. V. W. Nelson has been promoted from second to first lieutenant in Italy, where he is stationed. He is a son of Mr and Mrs. W.G. Nelson, 4212 Orleans Avenue. This is his second period of overseas service, where he went first with a coast artillery group and was returned with a field artillery unit.
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Pvt. Willard Spears, serving with an infantry division, is in the Marianas Island, according to news received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.O. Spears, 2213 First Street. Pvt. Spears has been overseas two months. His wife resides at 1820 W. First Street.
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Pfc. Wayne E. Taylor, son of Mr. and Mrs. Buttele Taylor, 100 S. Paxton Street, is serving with the 12th air force in Italy. On foreign soil for 18 months, Pfc. Taylor is on duty as a vehicle operator in an aircraft service squadron at an advanced air base. Serving first in north Africa, the squadron then moved to Italy to service night-fighter aircraft. Prior to entering service, he was employed with Armour & Co. in Sioux City. His wife, Mrs. Ruth Marie Taylor, is now living with his parents in Sioux City. He has two brothers in service, Pfc Earl E. Taylor, serving with the infantry in Italy and Pvt. Paris K. Taylor, also with the infantry, stationed at Camp Hood, Texas.
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Second Lt. Ralph A. Nice, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Nice, 1024 Morningside Avenue has been assigned as a pilot and is flying with the 79th fighter group of the 12th air force in Italy. Lt. Nice graduated from Trinity High School in 1937 and received a B.S. degree from Creighton University in 1941. He was commissioned September 17, 1942.
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S. Sgt. R.A. Hawley, with the First Army in Germany, has been advanced to the rank of first sergeant. He is a recipient of a combat infantry badge. At one time as a member of the 34th division, he belonged to the first A.E.F. to land in Ireland. His wife, Agnes and daughter, Kathleen, reside at 4410 Fourth Avenue. A sister, Mrs. Clifford Taylor, resides at 3818 Fifth Avenue.
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S. Sgt. Edwin H. Wendt, a power turret specialist serving with a B-25 Mitchell bomber squadron of the 12th air force, has been awarded the Bronze Medal for Meritorious achievement by Brig. Gen. Robert D. Knapp, commanding general of the bomb wing, at ceremonies somewhere in the Mediterranean theater. His wife, Elaine, lives with his mother, Mrs. Laura Wendt, 1401 Isabella Street.
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Lt. (j.g.) Arden E. Swisher and Frederick T. Kelly, hospital assistant first class, are at present assigned to duty on the same attack transport in the Pacific area. Lt. Swisher, whose wife resides at 3025 Jackson Street, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fay Swisher of Vermillion, South Dakota and Frederick Kelly is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Kelly, 1817 Summit Street.
In Uniform
Sioux City Journal
2 April 1945
Pfc. William Borkin, 500 W. 14th street, was prompted recently to the grade of corporal, it was announced at an advanced air transport command base in India. The base in India at which Cpl. Borkin is stationed is currently engaged in transporting vital war supplies to the fighting forces in China and Burma. He has been with the air transport command in India three months. In civilian life he was a sales clerk with the Morris Robinson grocery concern in Sioux City.
Clyde B. Cotton, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Cotton, 1101 Summit Street has been promoted to the rank of lieutenant junior grade in the navy. He is stationed on a destroyer. Lt. Cotton is a graduate of Trinity high school.
IN UNIFORM
Sioux City Journal
April 3, 1945
Arasha J. Shumansky, coast guard boatswain, whose home address is 716 Clark street, was in the invasion of Zamboanga. This invasion action brought to five the number of assault invasions in which he participated. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Shumansky. He enlisted in the coast guard in November, 1941, and now wears the American defense service ribbon, the Asiatic-Pacific war theater campaign bar, is a “shell-back” and a member of the sacred order of the golden dragon.
Sgt. Clyde E. Newton, 119 12th street, is one of 111 soldiers who recently were awarded bronze star medals for exceptionally meritorious achievements against the enemy in France.
Lt. Donald W. Schoen, son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Schoen, 2359 Dacotah avenue, is a member of the Eighth air force 353d fighter group, which recently raised its total of enemy aircraft destroyed above the 500 mark, when pilots of the unit accounted for 65 German planes in three missions over Europe. Lt. Schoen, a pilot with the veteran P-51 Mustang group commanded by Col. Ben Rimerman of Omaha, is credited with the destruction of two German planes on the ground. He wears the air medal with two oak leaf clusters. He was graduated from Central high school in 1940, and has been serving with the 353d since September, 1944.
Elmer Leroy Phillips, third class petty officer, has completed a 30-day leave with his wife and parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Phillips, 2814 Home street. Mrs. Phillips accompanied her husband to Long Beach, Cal. Officer Phillips, who has served 18 months in the South Pacific, and took part in six major battles, expects to return to sea duty soon. His brother, Billy Phillips, seaman second class, is stationed at the naval ammunition depot at Hawthorne, Nev.
Ensign James R. Bowler, who spent a week visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James R. Bowler, 2605 Jones street, has returned to his station at Miami, Fla.
Pvt. John R. Dougherty of Sioux City, after being in India for six months, now is serving in the communications section of a Chinese combat field headquarters in south central China. The soldier, whose father resides in Omaha, was graduated from Central high school in 1934. He entered the army in April, 1934. A brother, Leo, resides in the Bolstein apartments, and another brother, Medford, also of Sioux City, is a private in a corps of engineers, now in Germany.
Cpl. Raymond E. Cook, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence R. Cook, route 2, serving with a flight test department at an air service command depot in England, is a member of the flight test group that rushed to combat units more than 7,000 fighters and bombers in 1944, according to productions figures released by air service command headquarters. Cpl. Cook is a graduate of East high school, and entered the army May 28, 1943. He has been overseas for 13 months.
Pfc. Robert (“Dobby”) Davis, who recently spent a 30-day furlough in Sioux City and Los Angeles, has returned overseas. He is serving with the 34th “Red Bull” division of the Fifth army in Italy, and is a veteran of 34 months overseas service. Pfc. Davis wears the infantryman’s combat badge. He has two brothers also overseas, Burdette, with the Ninth army in Germany, and Francis (“Swede”), a paratrooper in Belgium.
Stanley Katres, technician fifth grade, a graduate of Central high school, who entered the army in October, 1942, is serving with a medical unit of the Chinese combat command. He was a sanitary technician at Camp Robinson, Ark., before going overseas. His two brothers, George and James, are serving in the air corps.
In Uniform
Sioux City Journal
5 April 1945
Richard D. Nelson, son of Mr. and Mrs. R.M Nelson, 4419 Grant Street, recently was promoted to petty officer third class. He is on an L.S.T. somewhere in the Pacific. His brother, Cpl. Robert E. Nelson, has arrived safely in southern England.
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Second Lt. Walter G. Abrak, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Abrak, 715 S. Fairmount Street, spent last weekend at home after completing navigation training at Westover field, Mass.
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Harold R. Linafelter, machinist mate first class, who was stationed in Trinidad for two years, is spending a 30-day leave with his wife Mary and mother, Mrs. T.W. Nooney, who reside at 1007 Ninth Street. On completion of his leave, he will report to the Chicago naval armory for reassignment.
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Lester M. Porter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Lester E. Porter, 1615 Hamilton Street, has been promoted from flight officer to second lieutenant in Italy, where he arrived December 5. His wife and son Lester, Jr. live at Denison, Iowa. Lt Porter has received the air medal. He had been on 11 sorties, according to his parents’ most recent letter.
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Eugene F. Davis, water tender third class in the navy, whose wife lives at 1901 Allan Street, is serving on the U.S.S Pennsylvania, which was reported sunk several times by the Japs. The first public announcement of this ship’s record in the Pacific was made recently at advanced Pacific fleet headquarters, disclosing that it had participated in 13 amphibious operations and taken part in the defeat of the large Japanese naval force in the battle for Leyte Gulf on October 24 and 25, 1944.
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Pfc. Milin L. Carter, whose wife and son, Milin Larry, live at 423 W. Fifth Street, has driven a jeep for seven commanders of his battalion, in the 168th Rainbow regiment, 34th Red Bull division, now serving on the Fifth army front in northern Italy. A regular army man, Pfc. Carter was a truck driver before he enlisted in 1940.
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Warrant Officer (j.g.) Russell G. Nieman, whose wife lives at 2910 Jones Street, has been awarded the combat infantryman badge. An assistant battalion supply officer, Nieman has participated in the northern France and present Germany campaigns.
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Pfc. Kenneth J. Sheridan, whose wife lives at 303 W. Sixth Street is serving in the transportation section of the 135th infantry regiment’s service company, which recently was awarded the meritorious service on the Fifth army front in Italy through a period of six months.
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Pfc. Eugene E. Keene, 1720 Grand Avenue, is a member of a port company of base section No. 2, India, which recently took part in the record unloading of a Liberty ship at the army port of Calcutta.
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S. Sgt. Milton R. Johnson, squad leader, son of Albert Johnson, route 1, Sioux City, has been awarded the combat infantry badge after participation in the northern France and Germany campaigns
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Second Lt. Caroline Glew Phipps, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Phipps, 1710 Jones Street, is in training at the camp Carson, Colorado nurses training center. Lt. Phipps attended the Lutheran hospital school of nursing in Sioux City.
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Marine Sgt. Marvin L. Martin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Martin, 619 Rebecca Street, has been graduated from the field telephone school at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina.
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T. Sgt. Vernon D. Grubb, son of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Grubb, 1224 S. Cornelia Street, recently added a second battle star to his theater of operations ribbon, signifying participating by the Seventh photographic group in the Normandy campaign. His first star represents the group’s participation in the air offensive over Europe. Sgt. Grubb is an aircraft mechanic and crew chief for a photographic reconnaissance squadron at an Eighth air force station. He entered the army in January 1941.
In Uniform
Sioux City Journal
15 April 1945
Pfc. Floyd H. Swanson, son of Andrew Swanson, 408 S. Iowa Street, was slightly wounded in action somewhere in Germany and is making normal improvement, according to notification from the war department. Pfc. Swanson has been overseas for the last 11 months with the Second army infantry division. A brother, Birdette, is serving with the navy somewhere in the Atlantic theater.
Lt. Louise M. Lang, army nurse corps, is spending a 10-day leave with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Lang, 1415 W. 20th street. Form Camp Fannin, Tex. A brother, Philip J. Lang, yeoman second class, is stationed with the Seabees somewhere in the Marianas.
Pvt. Alvin A. Guillaume, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alvin A. Guillaume, Sr., 3106 Panama Street, is home on 14-day furlough. He is transferring form Camp Hood, Tex., to Fort Meade, MD. Pvt. Guillaume has two brothers in the service, Pvt. Eugene Guillaume, somewhere in the European theater of war, and Cpl. Lawrence C. Guillaume, in Germany.
William W. Welch, pharmacist mate third class, has returned to Shoemaker, Cal., where he is stationed after completing a 20-day leave before visiting his mother, Mrs. Lillian Welch, 1217 w. Third street. Pharmacist Welch, a former central high school pupil, enlisted in the navy about a year and half ago. He is in a master-at-arms detail.
Aviation Student James F. McMartin, Jr., has returned to Truasfield, Madison, Wis., after spending an 11-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. McMartin, 2521 Morgan Street.
Our Neighbors in the Service
Sioux City Journal
19 Apr 1945
Cushing, Ia.—Robert R. Baumann, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred W. Baumann of Cushing, was awarded the wings of a navy pilot and was commissioned an ensign on April 4, when he graduated with a class of 165 at Corpus Christi, Tex. Ensign Baumann and his wife are spending his 20-day leave with relatives.
Cpl. Melvin Whyte, son of Irwin B. Whyte, was wounded in Luxembourg early in March and is now in a hospital in England.
Pvt. Wesley Volkert, with the Fourth marine division, was wounded in the Iwo Jima campaign. He was evacuated to the Marianas and now is in a hospital in Hawaii.
Salix, Ia.—Pfc. Joseph D. Choquette was killed in action in Germany, April 6, according to information received from the War Department by his father, Joseph L. Choquette, of Salix.
Pfc. Rene A. Richard was wounded in action on Mindanao, according to information received from the War Department by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. V. Richard of Salix.
Ireton, Ia – Announcement was received here of the graduation of LeLand F. Hemmingson at Frederick army airfield, Frederick, Oklahoma, as a pilot in the army air force. He graduated as a flight officer. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Hemmingson, were former Ireton residents and now make their home at Bremerton, Washington. Leland was graduated from Ireton Public High School as salutatorian of the 1941 class. His brother, Robert, serving with the navy, is now at Bremerton after reassignment to a new ship, following the sinking of the aircraft carrier, the Ommaney Bay, on which he was serving.
Washta, Ia.—Pvt. Robert Coon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Coon of Washta, was wounded for the fourth time during his service overseas on March 25, in action in Germany, according to information received by his parents. For his gallantry and meritorious service in action and wounds suffered in battle Pvt. Coon has been awarded four oak leaf clusters, the Silver Star and the Purple Heart. He went overseas in October 1944, and was sent immediately into combat with Gen. Patton’s Third army. His wife, Ardis, and their children, Carolyn and Dennis are residing in Moville. Pvt. Coon and his family lived in Sioux City before he entered the service. In his last letter home he stated that he is in a hospital in France.
Our Neighbors in the Service
The Sioux City Journal
23 Apr 1945
Charter Oak, Ia.—An oak leaf cluster to his air medal has been awarded to T. Sgt. Glen A. Kraft, 23, Charter Oak, for “courage, coolness and skill , while participating in bombing attacks on military and industrial targets in Germany.” Sgt. Kraft is the aerial engineer and top turret gunner on an Eighth air force Flying Fortress in the 385th bombardment group in England. Son of Mr. and Mrs. George H. Kraft, Charter Oak, he is married to the former, Rose Shubert, Corcoran, Cal.
Curlew, Ia.—First Lt. Rolland S. Brumm, Curlew, has been awarded the air medal and oak leaf cluster to the medal for meritorious achievements in the army air forces. Recently promoted to his present rank from that of second lieutenant, he is the pilot in a long range combat mapping squadron based in Italy.
Emmetsburg, Ia.—First Lt. Steven M. Luse, 245, of Emmetsburg, has been awarded the fourth oak leaf cluster in his air medal, it has been announced in England. He is the pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress, making long range missions over the north Atlantic to gather weather data for future air and ground operations against the enemy. The son of Mr. and Mrs. David N. Luse, Emmetsburg, Lt. Luse is a graduate of Emmetsburg high school and was a dairy farmer before entering the army in September, 1942.
Lake Park, Ia.—Bert Morphew, 20, son of Mrs. Drexel McClure, was killed in action in the South Pacific, March 16. News was received here just two years after he enlisted in the army. He is survived by his mother here; his father, Fae Morphew of Nora Springs, Ia., and three brothers, Dalton Morphew, a marine; Kenneth Morphew, in the air corps, and Corwith Morphew, Nora Springs.
Richard Wiechman, electrician’s mate second class, was given a medical discharge from the navy and returned home from the naval hospital at San Diego, where he had been for several months. He was injured in a jeep and truck accident in the South Pacific. He is the only child of Mrs. Hannah Wiechman.
Raymond Thompson, 31, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alvan Thompson of Ocheyedan, was honorably discharged from the army after three years of service. He has diabetes. He saw action in France and Germany.
Raymond Untiedt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Untiedt of Sioux Valley township, was rescued from a German prison camp on April 2. He had been a prisoner since December 19, 1944. He took part in the battle of the Belgian bulge, and sustained shoulder wounds from shrapnel.
Marathon, Ia.—Sgt. Glenn F. Tutt of Marathon has been awarded the air medal for “meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight against the enemy.” The 22-year-old bombardier on a 15th air force Flying Fortress in Italy, enlisted in the army December 15, 1943, and was graduated from the armament school at Lowry field, Colo., and the aerial gunnery school at Kingman, Ariz. Serving with the oldest heavy bombardment group in the Mediterranean theater of operations, Sgt. Tutt has flown eight combat sorties.
Orange City, Ia.—The 448th subdepot in England, with which Sgt. Henry Visser of Orange City, Ia., serves as an aircraft sheet-metal repairman, has become the first subdepot in the European theater of operations to win the newly created meritorious service unit plaque. The new award entitles Visser to wear a miniature cloth plaque on the sleeves of his service blouse. Sgt. Visser, 21-year-old son of Mrs. Dora Visser of Orange City, has been in the army two years.
Spirit Lake, Ia.—Friends here were advised by Sgt. Vernon Retig that he was liberated from a German prison camp. He had been declared missing October 4, 1944, and more recently a prisoner of the Germans. He has arrived in the States and expects to visit his parents at Queen City, Mo., formerly of Spirit Lake, and friends during his furlough.
Mrs. Irene Davis has been notified by the War Department that her husband, Ensign Max Davis, was killed in an explosion of an ammunition ship in the Guadalcanal harbor January 29, 1945. He had previously been reported missing. Only two men survived the explosion, Mrs. Davis has learned, and several crew members escaped because they were on shore at the time. Her husband was a gunnery officer.
Marshall Deibner, fireman first class, is here visiting his mother, Mrs. Daisy Deibner, after long long service in the Pacific. The youth was serving on an L. C. S. when it was sunk during an invasion and other recent operations around the Philippines. He was brought to Treasure Island recently on a ship bearing survivors of Philippine invasion actions.
Struble, Ia.—Second Lt. Maynard M. Osborne, 26, husband of Mrs. Ida B. Osborne of Struble, recently added a second battle star to his theater of operations ribbon. It signifies participation by the Seventh photo reconnaissance group in the Normandy campaign. His first star represents the group’s participation in the air offensive over Europe.
Whittemore, Ia.—S. Sgt. Harold Wehrapan, Whittemore, Ia., ball turret gunner on a Seventh A.A.F. Liberator, has been awarded the air medal. This award was made for meritorious achievement, courage and skill during bombing attacks on Jap shipping and military installations in both the Palaus and Philippines.
