Friday, September 20, 2024

Time Machine Trip to September 1944

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

 September 1, 1944

Theodore Boebel now heads the public school system as superintendent, succeeding James F. Cavanaugh who retired in June.

 

Green Bay – The Green Bay Packer Coach E. L. Lambeau says he knows well that the team is far from its peak but looks forward to the upcoming season. They will rub elbow with the Washington Redskins at Baltimore on Sept. 4 and on September 10 will tackle the Boston Yanks at Buffalo.

 

Seaman 1st Class Jack Leddy, left today for New York after a five-day leave, is but 18 years old and has the distinction of having already crossed the Atlantic eight times since last Christmas. Jack’s ship, the U.S.S. Bronstein, a destroyer escort, has the distinction of sinking three subs.

 

The Boy Scouts will collect scrap this week on the south side of town. Residents are asked to place material on the curb before 9 am Saturday morning.

 

The parents of Sergeant Clarence Kiffe received word from the war department that their son was wounded in the South Pacific area, July 2nd. He has served since March 1941 in the Marine Corps.

  

September 6, 1944

 

A war department report received here Monday evening tells of the death of Cpl. Kenneth Arps in France on August 16. A previous notice received told of his being seriously wounded. His wife resides in Kimberly and his parents Mr. and Mrs. Henry Arps of Lawe Street, Kaukauna. Cpl. Arts entered service in November 1941 serving with the 36th armored division. He is survived by his wife Josephine, a 10-month-old daughter Virginia, two brothers and five sisters and his parents.

 

The war Department has informed the parents of Pfc. Russell Schultz that he was seriously wounded in France on August 9. They also received a letter from him telling them that he was in a hospital. Private Schultz saw action in Sicily and North Africa before taking part in the battles in France.

 

 

Mrs. Della Grimm, Little Chute, copped the sportswomen’s trophy at the state archery meet held recently at Sheboygan. Mrs. Grimm will also receive an award from the National Archery association after scoring six goals with six arrows.

  

Mr. and Mrs. Matt Lenhart, Kaukauna received a telegram Thursday informing them that their son, Pfc. Wilbert Lenhart was slightly wounded in action on August 17 in France. He has been overseas for the last year, serving with the third armored division. 

 

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Wheaton, Kaukauna, received word that their son staff Sgt. Ben Wheaton has been missing in action over Romania since August 19. He was serving as a waist gunner on a B-17 Fortress bomber.

 

The Galloping Ghosts are all set for their first game with Menominee, Mich., on September 16. The team is doing workouts each day with 2 on Saturdays. Coach Little and assistants Barribeau and Krumm are still juggling their lineups, the team is taking shape.

 

Sergeant Edward J. Kramer, Kaukauna, is a member of a unit which has received a commendation for its contribution in aiding an eight-air force fighter group to become operational. The group set a new fighter command record when it was able to engage in combat in less than 11 days from arrival. 

 

September 8, 1944

Tech. Fifth Grade Eugene Heindel, Depot Street, Kaukauna has received the Purple Heart award. He was wounded in France on July 8. Eugene entered service in September 1942 and went overseas in February 1944. He had been in the front lines for the last three months.  

 

The Kaukauna Co-op dairy is currently expanding its factory at the end of W. 2nd St. The Company can look with pride upon the tremendous financial and production increases it has achieved since his organization in 1932. The co-op began 12 years ago as a cheese factory with just three men on the company payroll at that time. They worked long and hard hours in the factory which is still in the same location. The business increased its fixed assets from $15,000 in 1932 to $120,000 today.  

 

Sergeant Theodore L. Weber, Kaukauna, was among the group of nearly 200 men who have been together a full and busy two years on active duty overseas. They are known as the old guards of a B-24 Liberator squadron. The group recently celebrated with a party in a small fishing village in Italy. They had a fried chicken dinner and toasted the men who would not be returning home with them after the war. At present they are bombing objectives in northern Italy, France, Germany and the Balkans. 

 

September 13, 1944

 

From the front ranks of the Galloping Ghosts, this week’s “On the Grid” presents Co-captain Leo Eimmerman, a well-known senior. Leo, or Itchy-Boo as his is nick-named holds the position of left guard in the last three years. He is 5 ft. 10 in. and 165 pounds. He is a member of the army air force enlisted reserve and says he expected to be called any time after the first semester. He is active in school clubs and his hobby is building model airplanes.

  

Among the list of subjects for high school students to take this year is a course in art. The class is open to juniors and seniors and taught by Miss Nancy Silverwood.

 

Mrs. Clifford Vanevenhoven, W. 7th St., has received the Purple Heart insignia, which was awarded her husband, Pfc. Clifford Vanevenhoven, was wounded in France July 4. He is currently recovering in a hospital in England. He entered the service in December 1942 and went overseas in September 1943.

Olin G. Dryer, principal of Kaukauna high school announced that the total enrollment this year is 586 students.  

 

A United Press report states that Chief Petty Officer Jerome A. Schommer, of Kaukauna was presented with the Bronze Star for action in the capture of Saipan, Tinian and Guam islands. The duties of the men were classified as secret and no details can be released until after the war. He enlisted in March 1943 and has been overseas since September 1943.

 

September 15, 1944

One case of polio has been reported to date in Kaukauna, Margaret, 4-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Van Zeeland. She has been isolated after being stricken with the illness last week. Her condition has improved.  

 

An exploding old stove resulted in the deaths of four small children in Forest Junction. Thursday morning. The three daughters and son are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Tennessen.  According to a report the mother had lit the stove at 7 am to heat water then went to the barn to help with milking. She returned about twenty minutes later to find the house filled with smoke. She could not enter the house to call the fire department due to smoke. She drove to town to turn in the alarm. The firemen arrived with masks and entered the house finding three of the children in bed and one child on the stairs. Josephine, age 5; Patricia, 3; Frances 1½; and Phyllis, 5 months.

 

 

Paul Little opens his sixteenth season as football coach at Kaukauna High School when his gridders meet Menominee, Michigan Saturday night. 

 

Kaukauna and Menominee, Mich., high school teams went at it Saturday night at the Kaukauna field. After 60 minutes of exciting football before 1560 spectators the game ended in a 6-6 deadlock.

 

September 22, 1944

The Packers are in full strength for the Bears on Sunday at City stadium. This will be the fifty-first game in the oldest rivalry in National Football beginning in 1921. Chicago scored 632 points to the Packers 499 and the Bears hold a seven-game lead of the Packers. Coach Lambeau has been pointing to this game ever since practice started. 

 

Pvt. Clarence V. Vande Voort, 33, of Wrightstown was killed in action in France on August 27; a War department telegram notified his wife Monday evening. No details were given of the actions in which he lost his life. He was inducted in February this year and left for overseas on July 16. He is survived by his wife Gladys and his parents Mr. and Mrs. John Vande Voort, Wrightstown.

 

The common council of Kaukauna has voted to include all eligible city personnel under the provisions of the Wisconsin Municipalities Retirement Fund Tuesday evening.

 

September 27, 1944

James Kramer, left end on the high school football team, predicts that Shawano will be the “toughest game of the season.” Jim, a senior, has played on the team for four years and has seen a lot of football playing. Jim says that, although the armed forces have claimed some of our ablest and most experienced men, the team is still one of the best he has seen.

 

Dave Hartjes, owner of Hartjes Electric has purchased the Radder building 109 E. Third Street. The building will be made into a modern and up to date appliance music and electrical service shop.  He is presently located in the Central Block building on East Second Street. 

  

September 29, 1944

Carl Ploetz, who had been connected with the Kaukauna municipal utility for the last 16 years has announced that he has resigned and is now operating his own business under the name, Ploetz Electric Service.

   

Notes from the Armed Forces

Private First Class Roland Schwalenberg is now on duty in Guadalcanal with a station hospital unit.

 

Sgt. Walter H. Huebner, Kaukauna, has been promoted to staff sergeant. He is in an anti-aircraft artillery school in North Carolina.

 

Jack Rioux a 1941 grad of Kaukauna High School has been promoted to corporal before being sent to North Africa.

 

Tech. Fifth Grade Leo L. Donnermeyer, Kaukauna, is at present a member of an anti-aircraft battery in England.   

 

Pvt. Gerald Klister, Marine Corps, had returned to California after spending a few days leave with his parents in Kaukauna.

 

Marvin E. Alger, Kaukauna, is receiving his naval indoctrination at Great Lakes Navel training center, Ill.

 

Richard N. Van Wychen and Roy J. Deering of Kaukauna and James J. Van Den Elsen of Kimberly have been inducted into the Navy.  Peter J. Hofacker of Kimberly was inducted into the Army.

 

Pfc. Jerome Kaufman, Kaukauna, is serving in France attached to the staff message control of the supreme headquarters.      

 

Wilfred E. Powers, Kaukauna, is receiving his initial naval training at the Great Lakes Training center, Ill.   

 

Gordon Lamers, Little Chute, who is stationed in England, was recently promoted to captain in the air corps. He is a pilot of a B-24 and has recently been awarded the air medal and two oak leaf clusters.

  

Sergeant James McLaughlin is enjoying a furlough at his home in Kaukauna. He is with the Combat Engineer Battalion in Camp Swift, Texas.  

 

Corporal Harold A. Bobber, of Kimberly, is a radio gunner on a B-25 Mitchell bomb group which participated in the D day invasion. His group is currently destroying targets in Germany.   

 

T/5 Otto A. Ludtke is serving with an aviation Engineer Battalion in France. His battalion landed first on D day to secure the beaches. Since that time, they have been constructing landing strips.

 

Second Lt. John W. Lindstrom, 23, Kaukauna, has returned from overseas service and is now in Florida awaiting orders. Lt. Lindstrom is a P-38 pilot serving 23 months in the European theater. 

 

   Sergeant Joseph Casey writes that he has recently returned in England from France, after taking part in the D day invasion of France.

 

Pvt. Donald C. Kobs, Kaukauna, has been promoted to corporal in the 40th Infantry Division. He is a mortar gunner in a rifle company in the South Pacific. 

 

Corporal Floyd J. Vander Heiden, Kaukauna is now stationed at Fort Sumner, Army Airfield, New Mexico.

 

Aviation Cadet Leland P. Kobussen, 19, Kaukauna has reported to the AAF Training school in Altus Field Ok. 

 

Leroy Seifert writes from England that he was able to visit London.

 

Tech. Sgt. John J. Kramer is home on a 20-day furlough with his family in Kaukauna. He has completed fifty missions over Europe. He will report to Florida for reassignment.

 

T/Sgt. John Kerry returned to Fort Benning, Ga. After spending a two-week furlough here.

 

Ensign Virginia Strick, Kaukauna, left to report to the Navy Nurse Corps at Corona, Calif.

 

Pvt. Robert George returned to California after spending a furlough with his family here. He is a member of the 95th fighter control group. 

 

Petty officer 2nd class Leo Weigman returned to his base in South America after a 30-day leave spent with his parents on W. 10th Street.

 

James E. Clinton, 17, Kaukauna, is receiving his initial naval indoctrination at the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Ill.

 

Seaman First Class Mark Nickles, Kaukauna, arrived here for a 25-day leave. He is attached to the South Pacific on the battleship North Carolina which took part in the Saipan invasion.

 

Lt. James Lang, former Kaukauna High School teacher, is spending a 20-day leave with his family here. He has served duty in the Caribbean Sea and will now report to New Orleans, La., for a new assignment. 

 

 Petty Officer Bill Baeten, an aviation radio man, is enjoying a 15-day leave at home in Kaukauna. He has been in service for 13 months.

 

Corporal Jerome Belongea has arrived in Kaukauna on a 21-day leave. He has been in the South Pacific for 30 months.

 

Firemen 3rd class Robert Kilgas is enjoying a 30-day leave with his mother Mrs. Catherine Kilgas.

 

Aviation Cadet Melvin M. Courtney, Kaukauna, is in the second phase of his training at Garden City army field, Kansas.  He is a 1938 graduate of Kaukauna High School.  

 

 Seaman First Class Charles Specht returned to Bruno, Calif., after spending a short leave at home in Kaukauna with his parents.

 

Pvt. Leonard A. Van Bakel, Little Chute, has been enrolled in the radio mechanic training at Truax Field, Madison. 

 

Pvt. Richard Mischler, Kaukauna has arrived at Camp Wolters, Texas, to begin basic training.

 

Pfc. Dean Lemke, Kaukauna, arrived Sunday for a 15-day furlough at his parents. He is stationed at Camp Livingston, La.

 

Seaman First Class Charles Specht, Kaukauna, returned to California after a few days leave with his parents and family.

 

Sergeant Lloyd A. Siebers has arrived safely in England. He is in the medical corps.

  

Coast Guardsman Donald D. Nytes, Kaukauna, has served eight months aboard a destroyer escort in the Mediterranean. He is currently in New York where he awaits reassignment orders.









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