Kaukauna
Times – July 1944
By Lyle Hansen
July 7, 1944
H. W. Olm assumed the duties of
president of the Kaukauna Rotary Club for the New Year at the Wednesday meeting
of the club held at the Ritz.
The county agent asked for enrollment of boys
and girls to aid with the harvesting as cherry pickers for the Sturgeon Bay
area. Harvesting all crops is essential to the war effort and boys and girls
can do patriotic work and also enjoy a pleasant outing at Sturgeon Bay. There
are provisions made for a recreational program for the boys and girls in the cherry-picking
camps.
George Greenwood was elected president
of the board of education.
Theodore H. Boebel has been selected by
the board of education to fill the position of superintendent of schools in
Kaukauna.
July 12, 1944
Rev. Alphonse Roder celebrated the 40th
anniversary of his ordination. About 400 people attended a program at St.
Mary's Church Hall Sunday evening in honor Rev. Roder.
Cpl. Mark Nagan is over in France, arriving in
that country from Europe via a glider according to a letter received here. “We
came here by glider. You know the Yanks; they're welcome to care for
themselves. You ought to see the deluxe slit trench I slept in the last couple
nights they sure are hard on the hands and back in construction but it's the
best life insurance in this business. I called my glider the Kaukauna Galloping
Ghosts after our famous high school football teams.”
James Strick writes a letter home to his
parents Mr. and Mrs. Peter Strick of Kaukauna.
“I suppose you want to know all about France. The weather is somewhat
like England, everything around here is battered up, so there isn’t much to
see. We don’t talk to the French because they can’t understand us and vice a
versa. We are living in our pup tents in a Frenchman’s apple orchard. The trip over here was sort of rough in
spots. I was seasick for about a half a day, but I feel dandy now so don’t
worry about my health.”
Richard Landerman was elected chairman of the
local branch of the American Red Cross at a meeting held here last Thursday
night. Victor Haen will be treasurer and Mrs. Elizabeth Grogan secretary.
July 14,
1944
Two Appleton servicemen
have given their lives for their country, according to telegrams received by
their parents. Pvt. James Foster, 20, was killed in France, combat engineer and
Pfc. Theodore J. Heegeman, 23, Marine Corps was killed in action in the south
Pacific.
A product of Kaukauna's sandlots, Richard “Red”
Smith, coach with the Milwaukee Brewers, will be honored at Red Smith night at
the Brewer-Columbus baseball game.
Saturday night July 29. A large number of Fox
Valley baseball fans are preparing to attend this event in honor of the
Kaukauna boy who has made good in major league football and baseball and a big
way. Red will leave for New York where he signed a contract to coach the New
York Giants professional football team. Previous to this contract he was
assistant coach to Curly Lambeau on the Packer football squad.
.jpg)
Richard “Red” Smith night will be Saturday
July 29. A large number of Fox Valley baseball fans are preparing to attend
this event in honor of the Kaukauna boy who has made good in major league
football and baseball and a big way. Red will leave for New York where he
signed a contract to coach the New York Giants professional football team.
Previous to this contract he was assistant coach to Curly Lambeau on the Packer
football squad.
July 19, 1944
Staff Sgt. Gerald F. Verbeten, 3rd St.,
Kaukauna, is now serving with the Eastern command of the air forces in Europe,
“Somewhere in Russia." Sgt. Verbeten was among troops dispatched to the
Soviet Union by the Army Air Forces and with their Soviet allies they built
bases in what high ranking American officers described as surprisingly short
time. Now soldiers of the two nations jointly operate them. Red Army soldiers
and women greet the Americans with “Good morning, how are you?” The Americans
answer: “Kharasha!” or just plain, okay!” They mean the same thing, and
everybody knows both now.
The Kaukauna Police Department made three
arrests last Friday and the fire department answered one call. On Friday, July
14, Ray Van Asten, Route 2 Kaukauna was fined five dollars and cost for
speeding. Two men were arrested Tuesday and taken before judge Schmiege in
municipal court Appleton on charges of drunkenness.
Captain Raymond J. Hansen, 31, army chaplain, a
brother of Carl and Mervin Hansen of Kaukauna was killed in action in France on
June 11. Chaplain Hansen was a member of the Fourth division which was the
first in France on D-Day. Chaplain Hansen well known to many people of
Kaukauna.
The eighteen Boy Scouts of Troop 27 were in
Gardner Dam last week returned to Kaukauna Sunday, tanned and bubbling over
with stories of the good time they had while at the camp. All the scouts were
eager to talk about the fire which raged near the camp. There were several
large wood and lumber piles in the woods some distance from the Boy Scout camp
and a grass fire ignited these piles. The fire was discovered in the early
stage and all the scouts were mustered into a firefighting corps. Armed with
rakes, shovels, pitchforks, pails and other equipment they dug a trench around
the burning area preventing the fire from spreading. Later forest rangers
arrived on the scene and the fire was soon out.
July 26, 1944
August 21 has been
designated as Kaukauna day when the Red Cross Blood Bank unit again visits
Appleton. Kaukauna will need 300 registrants to help meet their quota for the
August drive. The present European invasion in progress makes need for blood
plasma much greater than at any time
before.
July 21, 1944
The War Department has
informed Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Van Wymeren, Little Chute, that a message has been
intercepted from a German radio stating that their son, Staff Sgt. Anthony Van
Wymeren, 23, a prisoner of the Germans had suffered a compound fracture of the
left upper arm and a fractured knee and has been put in a plaster cast and was
doing well. Sgt. Van Wymeren a gunner on a B-24 Liberator was reported missing
in action on April 11 and later reported a German prisoner.
The State motor vehicle Department reports that
90 more lives were lost in the first half of 1944 in the same period of 1943.
In the first half of this year, 252 persons have been killed on the streets and
highways.
Flight Officer Ralph Mooney, brother of Wallace
Mooney, Kaukauna, a graduate of the Kaukauna High School class of 1941, has
been missing in action in the Mediterranean area since July 1, according to a
telegram recently received here. Mooney had been a navigator on a B-17 for the
past three months.
July 26, 1944
Pfc.
David Nelson was the first serviceman to return his marked ballot to the
clerk's office. He is located at Camp Howze, Texas.
Word was received by Mr. and Mrs. Herman
Promer, Draper Street, Kaukauna from the war department of the death of their
son, Private Herman Promer, Jr., 19. He was killed in action on D-Day June 6,
in France. Private Promer served with the paratroopers, enlisted in the service
February 19, 1943.
July 28, 1944
Effective July 25, a
number of the armed servicemen on leave or furlough for a period of three days
or more will be entitled to one gallon of gasoline for each day of his leave up
to a maximum of 30 gallons. The navy announced today that after two weeks of
intensive naval bombardment and air attack, the invasion of Guam has begun.
Letter received from T/4 Eugene Nagan tells of
an unfortunate accident of Sgt. Harold Gast, Capt. and manager of the 500th
armored Field artillery Battalion baseball team. Sgt. Gast and, enthusiastic
player came to bat in the third and hit one over first. Attempting to stretch
the hit to a double slid into second and broke his leg. The team went on to win
the game. Sgt. Gast says that he's in good spirits and would rather be playing
ball than laying around all day.
The Thilmany Pulp and Paper Company bag mill finished
the period from July 1, 1943, through June 30, 1944, with a perfect record in
the National Safety Council contest. The company had no accidents during the
year.
Notes from the Armed Forces
Pfc. Arthur J. TeVrucht, Kaukauna, has
been awarded the newly created Combat Infantryman badge. He is with the Ninth
Infantry Division in Europe.
Sergeant
John P. Ryan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Tim Ryan, formerly of Kaukauna is in India.
Staff
Sgt. Norbert Vande Yacht, Hollandtown, is home on furlough after 32 months
overseas.
James W. Coonen, Dundas, has graduated from
United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point New York. He will leave
immediately for active duty in the Naval reserve as an ensign. He has been home
for a 15-day furlough following his graduation.
Mr.
and Mrs. Otto Luedtke, Lawe Street, Kaukauna, have received letters from their
three sons in the service overseas. Seaman first class Earl writes that he is
aboard the U.S.S. Chiwaukum. Staff Sgt.
Lester writes he is in action in Italy. Cpl. T. Otto writes he is somewhere in
France.
Cadet
Midshipman John C. Velte, 21, Sarah Street, Kaukauna has graduated from the Merchant
Marine Academy and will go on active duty as a third officer with the rank of
ensign.
Ed
Sheehy received a letter from his brother, Tech Sgt. Ervin Sheehy, who had been
wounded seriously in France on June 10. He said he is getting along fine and
expected to be back into the fight before long.
PFC
Vearl Foxgrover returned to Texas after spending a 15-day leave at home of his
parents Mr. and Mrs. Norman Foxgrover, Sr.
Private
Patrick L. Burns, Ducharme Street, Kaukauna is a member of the first class to
graduate from the air mechanic school at Rosecrans Field, St. Joseph, Mo. He enlisted
in the army in September of 1943.
Ensign
Gene F. Driessen, U.S.N.R., who has been on aircraft duty, arrived home to
spend a week with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Driessen, Sarah Street,
Kaukauna.
Corporal
Robert Killian, Dodge Street, has been transferred to a glider infantry base in
North Carolina.
Private
Norbert A. Yingling is enjoying an 18-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and
Mrs. Frank Yingling. He is a recent graduate of paratroop school at Ft.
Benning. Ga.
Captain Joseph McCarty
arrived in the United States Wednesday from the South Pacific according to a
telephone call to his father Tim McCarty.
Tech Fifth Grade Lloyd
Lucassen, Little Chute, sent a letter to his mother Mrs. Mary Lucassen stating
that he is in an English hospital recovering from wounds received in action
during the invasion of France. Lloyd has been in service since August 1941.
PFC
Clifford Vanevenhoven has sent a letter home to his wife that he is now in a
hospital in England. He is in the glider infantry and was wounded in France.
Cpl.
Carl De Bruin sent a letter home stating he was wounded while in action in
France and is currently in a hospital in England. He had joined the army in
1941.
Tech
Sgt. Bernard Haessly, son of Mr. and Mrs. Wendell Haessly, Kaukauna Street,
Kaukauna, has been enrolled as a student in the army airfield at Galveston,
Texas. He had been overseas for six months participating in 30 missions.
PFC
Stephen Andrejeski, son of Mrs. and Mrs. Tom Andrejeski Third Street, Kaukauna,
has returned to New Guinea after spending a furlough in Sydney Australia.
Corporal
Benjamin Wheaton has arrived in England. He is a waist-gunner in the army air
corps.
Dr.
J. P. Skibba, a lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve, has reported for
active duty in California. His family will remain in Kaukauna.
Pvt.
Robert Johnson, Park Street, has sent a letter saying that he has arrived
safely in England. He stated that there are food shortages there.
Pfc.
George Noie has sent a letter to his mother Mrs. G.B. Noie that he has been
wounded in France and is currently in a hospital in England.
Aviation
Cadet Myron A. Belongea, Whitney Street has just arrived at the army air forces
pilot school at Cochran Field, Macon Ga.
Pfc.
Robert C. Van Grinsven, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Van Grinsven. Little Chute has
been awarded the combat infantryman badge for performance against the enemy.
Staff
Sgt. Jean La Borde, Taft Street, is keeping the supplies flowing in England. He
entered the army in May of 1942.
Machinist
Mate 2nd class Joseph Schwalbach wrote to his wife that he had
participated in the invasion activities.
Glen
Miller, Jr. arrived home to spend his leave with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Glen
Miller, 8th Street. He holds the rank of 3rd class gunner
mate and has sailed all over the world.
First Lieut. Rollie Hallman, who is stationed
in Mississippi, has been promoted to captain.
Lawrence
Kappell has been seriously wounded in action according to a letter received by
his parents Mr. and Mrs. Walter Kappell, E. Second Street. His family was
informed that they would be kept informed of his condition.
Pvt.
Mark Romanesko returned to the hospital in Ill., for treatment after spending a
furlough with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Walter Romanesko, Blackwell Street. He
has spent 15 months in India and has two years in service.
Pvt.
Mary Lou Vanevenhoven spent a weekend with her parents. She is stationed at a
air transportation base in Michigan.
George
Kurz, Brothers Street, was wounded in action in France and is confined to a
hospital in that country.
No comments:
Post a Comment