On Furlough
Private First Class Donald J. Ehrecke, who is serving with Co. F, 168th regiment, 34th division, Fort Dix, New Jersey, is spending a five-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Ehrecke, of Wilton. He was inducted into the Army April 8, 1941.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, Wednesday, March 18, 1942 (photo included)
Wilton: Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Ehrecke received a letter from their son, Pvt. Donald Ehrecke, in Algeria, in which he enclosed as a souvenir, a piece torn from a German parachute. Pvt. Ehrecke says he is well and happy to get letters from home.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, February 11, 1943
Donald Ehrecke, Wilton, Suffers Injury in Action
Wilton--Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Ehrecke are awaiting more information concenring the injuries suffered by this son, Donald Ehrecke, 26, pictured here, whom the U.S. War Department reported by telegram Sunday was injured in action. Other than reporting he was under hospital care, no information was received. Serving with an infantry division, he had been abroad since last spring and in service for more than a year.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, March 2, 1943 (photo included)
Pvt. Ehrecke Out Of Hospital in Overseas Area
Wilton--Pfc. Donald Ehrecke, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Ehrecke, was released June 29 from an overseas hospital where he has been receiving treatment since Feb. 1, for wounds suffered in the Tunisian campaign, his parents have been informed by the office of the adjutant general.
In a letter to his parents, Pvt. Ehrecke reported he was at a replacement depot awaiting orders to return to duty.
He suffered 10 shrapnel wounds in the right leg and hip.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, July 22, 1943
MEDALS, CITATIONS AWARDED TO MEN FROM THIS LOCALITY
Ribbons, crosses and emblems earned for heroism while serving a nation at war will adorn the uniform of many a warrior from Muscatine and community when he returns from battle in World War No. 2.
For this area’s fighting sons have already earned a distinguished collection of awards. News stories from war centers have told of the acts of these men who have won distinction in battles—on the land, on the sea, and in the air.
From the most remote battle areas and from the most active theaters of war have come news stories of citations bestowed for heroism, for acts “beyond the call of duty,” and other commendable performances of young men who have gone forth from this community.
Many will be wearers of the “Purple Heart,” an award made for injuries suffered while on duty.
For some, the actions which merited official recognition, brought physical injuries—injuries so serious they meant the end of the war insofar as the individual hero was concerned.
Others, who suffered wounds of a lesser degree, recovered sufficiently at hospitals abroad to permit their re-entry into actual combat duty. For sulfa drugs, blood plasma and penicillin have spelled the difference between life and death, between slow and rapid recovery to many who were injured.
Some of the wounded from this area have returned to hospitals in this country to undergo further treatment and the possibility of return to war theaters or final discharge from the service.
The list of those who have suffered injuries or incurred ailments while in training in this country has added to the numbers of Muscatine service men who have already received honorable discharges or are scheduled for release from military service.
A partial list of those who suffered injuries while in active service abroad or while on duty in camps of this country, gathered from information supplied to the Journal are listed here:
Donald Ehrecke, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Ehrecke of Wilton, was injured in action while serving with an infantry division abroad, according to War Department message received by his parents about March 1. He had been overseas since spring and had been in service for more than a year.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, Annual Edition, December 30, 1943
Donald Ehrecke, Wilton, Wounded Again in Action
Wilton--For the second time in World War No. 2, Pfc. Donald J. Ehrecke, 27, serving with a service company in the 168th Infantry, has been seriously wounded in action.
A message from the War Department received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Ehrecke Wednesday afternoon, stated he suffered serious wounds in action in Italy on Dec. 1. Further details would be supplied by mail, the wire stated.
Pfc. Ehrecke received his first serious war injuries in the battle of Tunisia in North Africa on Feb. 2, this year, injuries which required five months of hospital care.
The Wilton soldier has been overseas for more than two years.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, December 30, 1943
Ehrecke, Injured Second Time, Is In U.S. Hospital
Wilton--Private First Class Donald J. Ehrecke, who was seriously wounded in action in Italy last Dec. 1, is back in the States and is now in the Thayer General Hospital at Nashville, Tenn., according to a letter received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Ehrecke. Pfc. Ehrecke was wounded in the Battle of Tunisia in North Africa on Feb. 1, 1943, and was confined in the hospital for five months before he was able to rejoin his company in the 168 Infantry and was sent to Italy.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, January 24, 1944
Ehrecke Back to Hospital Following Visit
Wilton--Pfc. Donald J. Ehrecke, who has been spending a 30 days furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Ehrecke, returned Sunday to the Percy Jones General Hospital, Battle Creek, Mich., where he is under treatment for wounds received in service overseas last December. Mr. and Mrs. Edward Schaffer and Miss Grace Atkinson accompanied him to Battle Creek.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, June 13, 1944
PFC. Ehrecke of Wilton Home on Hospital Leave
Wilton--Pfc. Donald J. Ehrecke, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Ehrecke, is home on a 21-day furlough from Percy Jones General Hospital, Battle Creek, Mich., where he has been receiving treatment for injuries suffered in action in Italy, Dec. 1, 1943. Pfc. Ehrecke suffered the loss of both legs.
Prior to being injured in Italy, he had been wounded while participating in the North African campaign in February, 1943, and was hospitalized for several months before returning to combat duty.
He has been awarded the Purple Heart medale and the Oak Leaf Cluster by the War Department.
Pfc. Ehrecke entered service April 18, 1941, and went overseas in April, 1942, landing in Ireland.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, November 8, 1944
Ehrecke, Twice Injured, Given Army Discharge
Wilton—Pfc. Donald J. Ehrecke, who served overseas with an infantry regiment and was wounded in action twice, has received an honorable discharge from the Army. He has returned home from Percy Jones General Hospital, Battle Creek, Mich., where he was a patient for 10 months for treatment of injuries suffered in Italy Dec. 1, 1943, as a result of which he suffered the loss of both legs. Pfc. Ehrecke was previously wounded in action in the Tunisian campaign, Feb. 1, 1943, and was hospitalized for five months before returning to combat duty in Ital. He entered service April 8, 1941, being stationed at Camp Claiborne, La., and Ft. Dix, N. J., before going overseas. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Ehrecke.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, March 12, 1945
Virginia Anthony and Donald J. Ehrecke Wed
Wilton—Announcement has been made of the marriage of Virginia Anthony of Battle Creek, Mich., and Donald J. Ehrecke, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Ehrecke of Wilton. The wedding took place at 4 o’clock Saturday afternoon March 17th at the Presbyterian parsonage in Battle Creek, Mich. The Rev. N. D. Brady officiated using the double ring ceremony. Miss Barbara Jeanne Anthony of Battle Creek and John D. Whitaker of Lexington, Ky., were the attendants. The bride wore a three piece beige suit with aqua and brown accessories and a corsage of pink roses. Miss Anthony wore a pea green suit with white accessories and a corsage of sweet peas and roses. A reception was held March 18 at the bride’s home with 40 relatives and friends as guests. Mrs. Ehrecke is a graduate of the Battle Creek high school and has been employed as an inspector at the Eaton Manufacturing Company. Mr. Ehrecke graduated from the Wilton high school and was recently discharged from the Army after four years of service. The couple will reside in the Maurer Apartments in Wilton.
Source: Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, April 9, 1945
Donald James Ehrecke was born Nov. 19, 1916 to Alfred and Mae Pearl Dose Ehrecke. He died Nov. 24, 1970 and is buried in Resthaven Cemetery, West Des Moines, IA.
Donald served in World War II with the U.S. Army.
Source: ancestry.com
