More Men Leave Friday For Army
Were Accepted For Service Week Earlier
Twenty-four Plymouth county young men who were accepted for army service March 12 left Friday by bus for Fort Crook, Nebraska, to start their military service. Six men who had been accepted for the navy and marines at the time these men were examined report as called for those branches and some were already in service. The group leaving Friday included the following:
Raymond E. Fredricksen, Akron |
Robert E. Keene, Remsen |
Edward M. Marso, LeMars |
Virgil L. Knorr, LeMars |
Errol L. McCarty, Sioux Falls, S.D. |
Roman L. Kosse, Remsen |
Harley R. Hiemstra, Philadelphia, PA |
Ross H. King, LeMars |
Arthur G. Kellen, LeMars |
Robert J. Glaser, LeMars |
John L. Conover, LeMars |
James C. Miller, Jr., Merrill |
Ronald J. Meyers, Herrold |
Carroll S. Davis, Everett, Wash. |
Henry W. Ommen, LeMars |
Elwyn D. Woodley, Seattle, Wash. |
Clarence J. Miller, Merrill |
Anselm N. Scholer, Remsen |
Daniel E. Raub, Portland, Ore. |
Vernon C. Ewin, LeMars |
Virgil E. Campbell, Sioux City |
Arden W. Reemts, Sioux City |
Richard E. Albert, LeMars |
Kenneth W. Schweitzberger, Kingsley |
New orders received by the selective service board restrict release for publication of men called during any quota period and names of men cannot be given out by the board until they have been accepted for service. Dates of induction, induction center and mode of travel are also considered secret military information.
Source: LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, March 23, 1943
NEWS OF SERVICE MEN.
Pvt. Vernon Ewin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ewin spent the Christmas holidays here. He arrived last Thursday and left Sunday night. He is in the 311th Infantry at Camp Butner, North Carolina.
Source: LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 1943
The Chas. Ewin family had a letter from their son, Vernon Ewin, writing on March 20. In the letter he wrote that he is now stationed on the Anzio beachhead. He also wrote that he had been assigned to the same company as Gene Keihn, but he hadn’t seen Gene. Gene Keihn was reported missing on March 16, 1944.
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, April 13, 1944
Fighting Sons and Fathers Await V-Day
**Twelve photos submitted by local families--Published in the Globe-Post.
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, July 17, 1944 (photo included)
Photos Saved by Vernon--Taken Italy 1944
Italy 1944 — Vernon Ewin (Anzio Beachhead)
* * *
Back Row (left): Vernon Ewin
Back Row (right): Billy Thoreen (who died on Anzio Beachhead)
Front Row (left): Harry Araiza (who was killed in a sniper attack in France)
Front Row (right): Al Gregatano
* *
Left: Harry Araiza & Right: Vernon Ewin — Both of them holding up Al Gregatano
Sgt. Vernon C. Ewin Was In Hard Battles With 6th Army
From Sicily to Dripping Vosges, He Fought the “Krauts”
Sixth Army Group, France—The wet, sodden foothills of the Vosges Mountains on the Seventh Army front only added to the misery of a cold and penetrating rain, drifting down through the thick-foliaged trees that covered the rugged terrain. To the 3rd battalion of the 157th regiment, 45th division, it meant hard, wary fighting, at times from tree to tree, against Germans waiting for a chance to ambush or to infiltrate into its lines. As veterans of many a tough scrap, the men of the 3rd battalion were utilizing many lessons well learned by slowly pushing the enemy towards the back door of Germany.
The 3rd battalion, with other units of the 157th regiment, received its first taste of battle in the invasion of Sicily. On the second day it captured a strategic airport chocked full of German planes and equipment. Later, fighting on the left flank of the 1st battalion in the Battle of Bloody Ridge—where 300 well-entrenched Krauts guarded the only approach to Messina—it fought in the sticky heat, at times without food and water. After three days of desperate fighting, the ridge was taken and the road cleared.
At Salerno, the 3rd was used as an assault battalion for the 157th regiment. The Germans tried for three days to put it back into the sea, but each attack was repulsed by the hard-hitting battalion. Following the fighting at the Volturno river, it slugged its way northward through stiff resistance to Venafro. After 72 days in the line, the 2nd, with its sister battalions, was relieved to prepare for the Anzio landing.
The Anzio beachhead gave the 3rd battalion some of its roughest action to date. In a desperate effort to split the allied troops, the Germans threw men and machines in the sector held by 2nd and 3rd battalions of the 157th. Referred to as the Battle of the Caves—the 2nd was entrenched in rocky caves—it held tenaciously to its position, with the 3rd battalion fighting on its right flank and straddling the important Anzio-Albano highway. “I” Company of the 3rd, with little or no cover, fought for four days in the face of furious attacks, while the Kraut artillery plastered the area with “Anzio expresses” and “screaming meemies.” For its courageous fighting, the company received a Presidential citation.
With the 157th regiment, the battalion landed in southern France on D-day, capturing 1,100 prisoners and forcing its way inland about 70 miles the first six days of action.
Among the members of the 3rd battalion, 157th regiment is Sgt. Vernon C. Ewin, LeMars.
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, December 14, 1944
~Note of Clarification Written by Sgt. V. C. Ewin:
BATTLE OF THE CAVES
This was a very critical battle, which took place between Feb. 16 to the 23rd. I was not there. But I did arrive on Feb. 21st, and I was placed in the reserve. A friend of mine, Gene Keihn, who was about two years older than I—we grew up together and in the same church--was in the battle. Gene was killed on the night of Feb 16th. His Co. E was completely wiped out. There were several German counter attacks, but this was the biggest one. Had the Germans known just how close they were to breaking through our lines, they would have shoved us back into the sea. There was a battalion of Brits wiped out. Feb. 16th was the worst day of the attack. About 80 percent of Co. E was gone, killed and wounded and some captured. Part of Co I and the machine gun section of Co. L.
SGT. VERNON EWIN HURT IN ACTION
Second Time He Received Wounds—Hoped It’s Not Serious.
Mrs. Charles Ewin received word from her son, Sgt. Vernon C. Ewin, that he was “slightly wounded in action” in France, the second time he has been wounded as he received a slight wound in October for which he was hospitalized about a week. This was a slight leg wound.
Shortly after Mrs. Ewin learned of her son’s injury, she received a telephone call from his girlfriend, Miss Irene Jones, daughter of Rev. and Mrs. S. A. Jones, formerly of LeMars, now living at Independence, Iowa. Miss Jones had received a letter written by Sgt. Ewin himself though in a rather cramped handwriting, in which he said he had been shot through the shoulder. According to his letter, the wound was not complicated and he expected to be back in action in a few weeks. The wound was received Dec. 15.
Mrs. Ewin had received the last letter from her son, written Dec. 7, a week before he was wounded.
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, January 1, 1945
FAMILY NOTE: The earlier wound (mentioned in this news article) that took place in October 1944 was not in the leg, but was a wound from broken glass that sprayed his head.
SENEY: (by Special Correspondent)
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Ewin of LeMars received word last week that their son, Vernon Ewin, had been wounded in action overseas. Later they received word he had been shot in the shoulder, but not seriously.
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, January 8, 1945
1945 Germany Photo -- Sgt. Vernon Ewin
Discharges Filed.
The following men have registered at the court house as having received their discharges from the armed services:
Vernon Ewin
[excerpt]
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, Thursday, November 15, 1945
VERNON EWIN GETS CITATION
Receives Bronze Star For Services Rendered In France.
Vernon Ewin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Ewin of LeMars has been presented the bronze star citation, according to word received from the War Department. Vernon also wears the Purple Heart medal.
The citation is as follows:
Vernon C. Ewin, infantry, Sergeant (then corporal), Company L, 157th infantry regiment, for heroic achievement in action on 25 September 1944, near a bridgehead just established across the Moselle river. Sgt. Ewin, disregarding intense automatic weapons and small arms fire, advanced to an exposed position and placed his machine gun into action. Although the object of direct rifle fire he held his position, inflicting heavy losses and finally disorganizing the enemy forces completely. His courage and initiative eliminated a serious threat to his company and reflect credit upon himself and his organization. Entered the military service from LeMars, Iowa.
Source: LeMars Globe-Post, December 6, 1945
Army Awards Bronze Star To Vernon C. Ewin
LeMars Boy Honored For Combat Bravery In World War II
The Bronze Star Medal for bravery was awarded to Vernon C. Ewin of LeMars, November 29 by Headquarters of the 45th Infantry Division now stationed at Camp Bowie, Texas.
Sergeant Ewin was corporal at the time he earned the medal in action in France. The special order recognizing the achievement and giving the award states that Sergeant Ewin is awarded the medal for heroic achievement in action on September 25, 1944, near Igney France. During a counter attack, the order states, a numerically superior enemy force had established a bridgehead across the Moselle river and Sergeant Ewin, disregarding intense automatic and small arms fire, advanced to an exposed position and placed his machine gun in action and although he was the object of direct rifle fire, he held his position and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy and finally disorganized them completely. His courage and initiative, the order continues, eliminated a serious threat to his company and reflected credit upon himself and his organization.
Sergeant Ewin entered the service at LeMars and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ewin, of LeMars.
Sergeant Ewin attended LeMars high school and was inducted into the service on March 10, 1943, and went overseas in January 1944. He was discharged from the army at Camp Grant, Illinois, October 25, 1945.
When the Sentinel office contacted Mr. Ewin, he had not yet heard the news concerning the honor earned by him. The Bronze Medal is a high honor of the United States Army and ex-sergeant Ewin is highly complemented on his service to the country.
Source: LeMars Sentinel, December 7, 1945
In Memory of Vernon Charles Ewin, 1924-2022
Vernon Charles Ewin was born to Charles and Gladys Ewin on June 19, 1924 in Seney, Iowa. He went to his heavenly home on June 30, 2022 in Hospice of Texarkana, Texas, at the age of 98 years. Vernon trusted Christ at a young age and never wavered in his faith.
Vernon attended Seney and LeMars, Iowa schools. He entered the Army on the 19th March 1943 and did his basic training at Camp Butner, NC. After completing his training, Vernon shipped overseas on January 23, 1944. He served with the 157th Infantry (45th Division) Company L, during WWII. Vernon served his country in battles and campaigns including Italy Anzio beachhead, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland, Central Europe. He was the recipient of 3 Overseas Bars - European, African, Middle Eastern Ribbon with four Bronze battle stars. He also received the Good Conduct Medal and the Purple Heart Medal. Vernon received his Honorable Discharge after returning to the United States in October 1945.
Returning to Iowa after his discharge, Vernon married his high school sweetheart, Miss Frances Irene Jones on June 9, 1946 in Independence, Iowa. To this union were born Linda, David and Diana. Vern and Irene attended Bethel Baptist Church in Sioux City, Iowa where Vernon was on the Board of Deacons. He was also a salesman for Jordan Millwork. In 1971, Vern and Irene moved to Mena, Arkansas, where they attended Faith Missionary Baptist Church. Vernon worked at US Motors and also added on their home to accommodate their growing family of grandchildren who have many memories of playing there together. After his retirement, Vern and Irene moved to Hope, Arkansas in 1989, where they attended Bethany Baptist Church in Spring Hill, Arkansas. Vernon taught the Men’s SS Class for 22 years until his eyesight prevented him from his Bible study.
Vernon dearly loved his wife, children, and most of all his grandchildren to whom he passed on the family and spiritual values closes to his heart.
Vernon is preceded in death by his parents; four sisters, Ethel, Frances, Ruth and Ida; his wife, Irene passed away on March 28, 2000.
He is survived by his three children: Linda and husband, Richard Ziemann of Keller, Texas; David and wife Dianne of Gravette, Arkansas; Diana and husband, Jerry Applegate of Spring Hill, Arkansas. Also surviving are ten grandchildren, Lori Boyd, Wendy Sneed, Josie Carlton, Kari Ewin, Brent Ziemann, Jerri Smith, Marcy Ziemann, Justin Ewin, Shane Applegate, and Jaron Ewin; twenty-one great-grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter.
Vernon was grateful for the long life God allowed him to live. He was a spiritual pillar of our family and as he became more frail he was aware that Jesus only was his strength. His prayers brought us to tears many times and we are thankful for the legacy he has left us. We, his family, want to share his favorite verses that he strived to live for:
II Timothy 2:1-3
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
And his goal:
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on the Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
