Friday, October 18, 2024

Time Machine Trip to October 1944

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

October 4, 1944

Mr. and Mrs. Carl Trettin Kaukauna have received the Purple Heart insignia, awarded to their son, Marvin, who was seriously wounded in France. He is confined to a hospital in England and reported as recovering.

 

The Navy post office urges everyone at home to keep sending those Christmas gifts. Overconfidence has led people to believe that it’s useless to send gifts to men in Europe since they think most of them will be coming home by Christmas.

 

40 applications for two positions on the county traffic squad were reviewed by the county highway committee yesterday.

 

October 6, 1944

A total of 129 calls were made by the police department during the month of September, according to the monthly report by chief of police J. McFadden. The police car traveled a total of 2274 miles during the month while the motorcycle went 1204.

 

Curly Lambeau's Packers, who have gotten off to three straight victories in the National Football League race, tackles the Card–Pitt team Sunday at City Stadium in Green Bay. The Card–Pitt team is coming from a 17 to 16 victory over the New York Giants in Pittsburgh last weekend. The Packers came out of the Lion’s conflict in fair physical shape, although the list of ailing gridders is still a bit too long for comfort. Another big crowd is looked for. The Packers ticket office reports an increased demand for tickets and out-of-town orders are running much heavier than usual.

 

Kaukauna is very proud of its Outagamie Rural Normal School. The building is a two-story structure located on a small hill at the end of Wisconsin Avenue overlooking the historic Fox River. There are excellent possibilities in the field of teaching now and after the war because those people now working in war plants and factories will have to give up their jobs to the boys when they come home. The teachers will always have their jobs. The salaries of the teachers vary according to the state in which she is teaching. The salary is from $140-$160 a month. They teach a 20-day period, which would average 8 dollars per day.

 

“Improvements between the navigation canal and Canal Street will be completed when the shrubbery is planted this fall,” stated Mayor L. F. Nelson. The area being beautified extends from the Wisconsin Avenue Bridge to the first lock. With cooperation and support of the Thilmany Pulp and Paper Company, the land and buildings in this area were bought in 1942. The buildings of the Kaukauna Machine Works and Vandenberg’s Concrete Works were located along this area. The late Luther Lindauer, owner of several paper mills got his start operating a coal and wood business at this location.

 

E. F. Rennicke, in charge of the local selective service board, recently announced there are now approximately 2000 men from the second district serving in the armed forces of our country. Although many of these men dislike the idea of leaving their homes and jobs, selective service will help them when they come home.

 

Mayor A. F. Nelson disclosed that a majority of the people are in favor of the site behind the public library for the location of the new outdoor swimming pool. However, he stated the property is leased by the city from the Green Bay and Mississippi Canal Company. The congested traffic on and below the Lawe Street bridge would make it difficult to get in and out of the library driveway. Another unfavorable point brought up at the meeting is that it would destroy the softball diamonds located there. The construction is to begin as soon after the war as materials can be obtained the total cost will probably amount to $100,000

 

 Exactly 57 years ago on July 5 the Kaukauna Building and Loan Association was formed. Its story started in 1897 and today is carried on by C. J. Hansen, president, Leo Schmalz, secretary and manager and H. S. Cooke, treasurer. The purpose for which the association was formed is to accommodate savings for members and loan them to other members to acquire homes for Kaukauna workers. Mr. Schmalz stated that it is safe to say that the majority of homes in Kaukauna have at one time or another been financed by the Kaukauna Building and Loan Association.

Arthur C. Look assumed the duties of president of the Kaukauna Rotary club at the regular meeting held at the Ritz. He will succeed H. W. Olm who is leaving the city.   

 

October 11, 1944

John Sullivan, 26-year-old fighter pilot and squadron commander from Kaukauna, has been promoted to the rank of major. He had entered the Army Air Force in December of 1940. He has seen action in North Africa and holds the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

  

Kaukauna's ground attack simply overwhelmed a small but game New London team that came out on the short end of a 31 to 6 count Friday night at the Bulldog’s home field. The game was the climax of the New London High School homecoming activities but the boys in red and white found it impossible to cope with the KAWS. Again, in this game, the Orangemen did not throw a single pass, nor were they forced to punt.

 October 13, 1944

 Cpl. Robert (Buck) LeMay, Kaukauna, has been reported as missing since September 18 over Holland. He was with an airborne engineering Battalion and has been overseas about a year.

 

Three cattle rustlers were sentenced in the town of Oneida. One has been sentenced to five years in state prison at Waupun, a second a 2 ½ year term in prison and the third to probation after suspending a 4-year prison sentence.

 

Boy Scouts of the city will again make a citywide scrap and wastepaper pickup this Saturday according to Scoutmaster Wallace Mooney. All residents who have scrap and paper on hand are urged to place it on the curb before 9 AM Saturday morning and see that no one but the scouts pick it up. Paper is the number one material in the nation's list of war needs

 

 Pharmacist Mate 2-c Calvin Spice, former stellar high school athlete, won both high and low hurdles championships at a recent track meet for all servicemen in the Panama Canal Zone. Cal graduated the class of 1942 starring in basketball, football and track. He is now stationed in Panama Canal Zone. The trophy which was awarded to him at the track meet is now on display in the Look Drug Store window.

 

The thief who had stolen $1,300 from the home of Mrs. Martha Czarapata, a widow woman living on a farm in the town of Chase, has returned the money after another break-in last Friday.     

October 18, 1944

The Cleveland Rams come here Sunday to tackle the Packers at City Stadium and are set to hand the Lambeau's a gridiron lesson according to the new Rams head coach Aldo Donelli.

 

The Navy is issuing a special call to young men 17 years of age to volunteer for enlistment in time to be sworn in with a large class from Wisconsin that will take the Navy oath at Milwaukee on Navy day, October 27.

 

Farmers in the vicinity of Neenah and Menasha are among a number who have filed claims with the County Clerk for damages alleged to have been done by dogs permitted to run at large in the rural areas. Forty-three claims totaling $4,416 are already on file and other claims may raise the total to $5,000. One heavy loser is William Bohn, town a Menasha, who lost 284 turkeys to dogs the night of August 31. He seeks to collect $852 for the birds.

 

This week the broadcaster presents August Straus, another new teacher at the high school. Mr. Straus stated, “I think Kaukauna High is friendly.”

 

 What was expected to be a tough game against Neenah Saturday afternoon turned out to be a picnic for the Galloping Ghost who romped to a 40 to 18 victory over the Red Rockets. The Rockets, who were expected to have a very good chance to upset the championship bound Kaws, failed to put up any kind of opposition and did not score until late in the third.

 

 October 20, 1944

Sgt. Theodore L. Weber, Kaukauna, is serving in the engineering section of the 15th AAF bombing force which recently completed its 300th combat mission when the B 24 Liberator group based in Italy, struck a Nazi held railroad at Avisio, Italy.

 

Story written by the Milwaukee Journal talks about a group of 16 men from this area that formed volunteer patrols to roundup Nazi stragglers and snipers. The story tells how the unit downed a robotic bomb in England before going to France and set up its guns in Brittany to protect the vital supply route if only 24 hours after the Nazis had withdrawn from the area.

 

The amazing Rams, undefeated in the National Football League race, will leave from Cleveland today for Green Bay where on Sunday they will tackle Curly Lambeau's Packers, also undefeated and a battle for first place. The fighting Cleveland Rams are expecting trouble in Packer-town this weekend, but they figure if they can stop Don Hudson the pace setting Green Bay Packer squad will not be so hot.

 

 

Dick La Rock, of Kaukauna, is shown on the right in this photo in a British home where he along with other American GI’s have found homes as result of the overflow of soldiers. Dick entered the service December of 1942 and had left for overseas in October of 1943. Dick and his wife, the former Evelyn Dietzler, have two sons Lee 3 years, David 14 months and a daughter Judy 1 year old.

PS: Private Richard LaRock died on the battlefield in 1945.

 

October 25, 1944

 

John Van De Loo was elected cashier of the Farmers and Merchants bank to succeed H. W. Olm, who recently resigned.

 

 

By popular vote high school students have chosen Mary Lou Mauel, a senior, as their homecoming queen. The election, one of the most exciting pre-homecoming events took place Thursday when students voted for the Queen who will reign at the homecoming celebration.

 

A rousing 31 to 0 shutout by Kaukauna Galloping Ghost over the Menasha Bluejays before a near capacity crowd here Friday night. The Ghosts hold first place in the conference with a 4-0 record.

 

 

Staff Sgt. Ben H. Wheaton, who was reported missing in action over Romania sometime ago, has arrived at Fort Slocum, N.Y. from the Italian area. He was missing from August 19 to September 10 and was released when Romania broke with the Axis.

 

October 27, 1944

Cpl. M. Van Roy, route 3 Kaukauna, is a member of the Army signal Corps depot company with the United States forces in France which is maintaining Army radios and teletypes for using captured German parts and supplies abandoned by the Nazis and their hurried retreat.

 

The Green Bay Packers, riding along on the crest of a five-game winning streak in the Western division of the National Professional Football league, have recognized the fact that their five remaining loop opponents will be gunning to spoil their record. The first assignment, however, is to topple the Detroit Lions, the second time this season in the motor city Sunday afternoon. Coach Curly Lambeau is satisfied that his team has the stuff to keep the pace in the Western half, the first time since 1939 that the Packers have had such a head start during the race.

 

Notes from the Armed Forces

 

Staff Sgt. Paul W. Green is visiting with his parents, Rev. and Mrs. L. F. Green in Kaukauna. Sgt. Green is on a 23-day furlough, granted TM following completion of 26 missions as a gunner on a B-17 bomber.

 

Sgt. P. M. Hermans, of the famed First Marine Division writes home to his mother, Mrs. Nellie Hermans Kaukauna, that he is in good health and writing on Jap paper and wearing a pair of Japs shoes. He said the Japs left in such a hurry that they did not have time to take the articles with them.

 

Tech. Sgt. John Kramer, Kaukauna, has arrived at Army Air Force Redistribution station in Miami Beach for reassignment processing after completing a tour duty outside the continental United States. Kramer completed 50 missions as a B-24 Liberator radio operator in Europe.  

 

Frank A. Merckx, 17, Kaukauna is receiving his initial Naval indoctrination at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Ill.

 

News has been received from the war Department by Mr. and Mrs. Herman Jansen of Combined Locks stating that their son Pfc. Charles Jansen was slightly wounded in action on October 8 in Belgium. A full report on his condition will be received later. He entered the service in February 1943 and went overseas to France in June 1944.

 

 Fred Wagnitz Seaman first class returned to Camp Endicott, R.I. after a three-day visit with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Wagnitz, Kaukauna.

 

Kermit Luckow AMM 3-c, returned to his base at Crows Landing, Calif. after spending a nine day leave in Kaukauna.

 

Aviation Cadet James H. Marks is home on leave from his training base at Chapel Hill, N. C. 

 

Private Selma Ehnerd has recently been assigned to the Wac detachment station with the first Troop carrier command at Pope Field, N. C.

 

Petty Officer second class Ralph Walsh has returned to Long Island, N. Y., after spending a 15 day leave friends and family in Kaukauna. 

 

 Ensign Herbert P. Gerend stopped off in Kaukauna to visit his parents Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gerend while in route to Washington D.C. where he will attend officer’s training school.

 

   Leo B. Weigman, petty officer 2-c A.O.M., is spending the week with his wife and parents in route from South America then to the Pacific area.

 

Marine Pfc. Wilbert B. Pomeroy, 19, a veteran of overseas combat duty with the Marine Corps, has returned to the Marine Corps base in San Diego California for reclassification reassignment.

 

Word has been received by Mr. and Mrs. William Balck, Kaukauna that their son George Balck has received his wings after graduating from gunnery school and Harlingen, Texas.

 

The following men were inducted September 30.

Navy:

Orville H. Vanevenhoven – Kaukauna

Norbert W. Berghuis – Little Chute

Daniel D. Fuller – Kaukauna

 

Army:

John W. Grogan – Kaukauna

Richard A. Bohm – Kaukauna

Orville R. Romenesko – Kaukauna

William H. Hein – Kaukauna

Martin J. Kilawee – Kaukauna

Roger J. Hammen – Little Chute

Norbert C. Auden – Kaukauna

Richard L. Ludwig – Kaukauna

 

Grace Van Asten, Kaukauna, has completed basic training at the navel training school, Bronx, N.Y.

 

Cadet Midshipman Tom Velte arrived home to spend a few days leave with his parents. He is attending the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y.

 

Corporal Lloyd J. Vander Heiden is now stationed at the army airfield at Fort Sumner, N.M. A farmer in civilian life, he is now a mechanic at the airfield. Lloyd entered the army in October 1942.

 

Lt. James W. Lang, USNR, in a letter home states that he is now stationed in New Orleans.

 

Keith W. Ploetz left for his initial training in the navy at Great Lakes, Ill. 

 

 Flight Officer Kenneth L. Roloff graduated from an aerial observation school at Ellington Field, Texas. He had perversely received his silver wings as a navigator.

 

Petty officer first class James Gertz arrived home to spend a week with his parents.

 

Corporal Robert Brewster writes that he met Marty Siebers in the South pacific area, where they found themselves on the same island. They got together and had a gabfest about good old Kaukauna. 

 

A/S Kenneth W. Meinert, 18, is currently attending Marquette University as a member of the Navy V-12 Unit and is completing his pre-med course.

 

Pvt. John Rupiper, Kaukauna, wrote home that he is in good health and that he was in France, Belgium and Luxemburg and now in Germany. He says that he was very busy and not able to write for a while but now has some time. He said he got a letter from his brother Arnold, who is in the Saipan area and that he is also well. 

 

 Sgt. Albert Schumann was reported wounded on September 10 in Belgium according to a report received by his parents from the war department.

 

Sergeant Edward H. Vander Wyst was promoted from private first class to sergeant in the European Theater of operation.

 

 Captain and Mrs. William Nelson and children are spending his furlough with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Roy Nelson of Kaukauna.

 

 Sgt. Donald McCormick is spending a 15-day furlough with his wife, son and parents here before returning to Camp Polk, Ga.

 

Tech. Sgt Raymond Juneau arrived home to spend a 21-day furlough. He had spent a year and eight months in New Guinea. When he leaves, he will report to Hot Springs, Ark. 

 










 

 

No comments:

Post a Comment