Time Machine Trip to January 1945

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

 January 3, 1945

 

Arthur A. Gustman, chairman of the successful Boy Scout drive a year ago, again heads the local committee. He reports a fine response to the appeal sent out last week.

 

A fire which was discovered shortly after 10 o'clock on Wednesday evening last week destroyed the Odd Fellow building at 112 East Second Street. The stock of Look Drug Store, housed on the first floor, was badly damaged by fire and water. The loss to the building was estimated at about $12,000 and damage to the drug store stock and fixtures will exceed $20,000. Both losses are partially covered by insurance.

 

Kaukauna’s public schools raised their total sales of war bonds and stamps to $23,551.85 since January of 1942.

“Lanky” James Lehman, sharp shooting Kaw forward, is pacing his teammates in the scoring column with 63 points so far this season. 

The last fatal traffic accident in the city of Kaukauna was on December 22, 1941. With the close of the year 1944, the city has a three-year record of no fatal accidents, according to James E. McFadden, chief of police.

January 10, 1945

Rev. Alphonse Wagner was recently appointed and has taken over the duties of assistant pastor at St. Mary’s church, filling the vacancy of Rev. Michael Drexler, who has entered the army as a chaplain. 

The fifth major fire in Kaukauna in about a year completely destroyed the Gamble store, 109 West Second Street, Monday evening. The Grand View Hotel which adjoins to the east received water damage. The Appleton fire department along with the Little Chute and Thilmany Mill fire crew assisted the Kaukauna firemen in fighting the fire. The loss is expected to be about $25,000. 

The difference free throws make in a game was a costly lesson learned by the Kaws last Friday night at Shawano when they missed 8 of 11 free throws and lost 44 to 41. Among the factors in the loss was that three key men to foul out in the game. Dexheimer was first to be ejected on fouls and was soon followed by Kuehl. LaPlante later followed with his fourth foul.  

January 12, 1945

An ice carnival with skating races for the young people will be sponsored by the Kaukauna Loins club. Ollie Mayer was named general chairman. The races will be held at Park school skating rink and the date has been set for February 4. Boys and girls of all ages will be included in the races.

John P. Kline was re-elected president of the Bank of Kaukauna at the annual meeting of the directors Monday night. 

January 19, 1945

Exactly 6320 job orders for workers repose in the file of the state employment service offices Fox Valley area of the war power commission as of January 1, 1945. The jobs are waiting for willing and qualified men and women to fill them. The job openings are mostly essential or war industries positions.

Federal Judge Patrick T. Stone of Wausau this week issued a stern warning to people who will participate in black market dealings will receive no sympathy. Then he sentenced Walter Gruening of that city to a year and a day in federal penitentiary for selling 12 tires above ceiling price and without ration certificates.

Leo Coffey rolled a 243 game, and Al Mayer hit a 645 series to take individual honors in the Knights of Columbus bowling league.

January 24, 1945

 

“Happy birthday to Me!”

 

“Basketball, boxing and calisthenics and many other activities are dealt with in physical education classes,” stated Coach Fred Barribeau physical education instructor at the high school.

Sophomore Phil Haas is about the most active athlete in high school. He has gone out for every sport the school has to offer and is already one to letters in football. In basketball Phil uses his 160 pounds and 6 feet height to the best advantage in snatching rebounds. When asked about his favorite subjects, he decided that it was a tossup between algebra and drawing. 

Certain uses of electricity will be prohibited starting February 1, 1945, when an order issued by the board production board will become effective. The order prohibits the use of electricity for outdoor advertising and promotional lighting. This also includes outdoor decorations and ornamental lighting.

The Kaws and Menasha Bluejays stage a battle royal, with never a let up until the final horn sounded, with the score 38 to 36 in favor of Kaukauna. The lead changed hands 16 times and no more than four points apart during the game. Don Kuehl the Kaws center was the most notable feature of the game. He punched in two buckets and made eight out of nine free throws to take the scoring honors. 

Old John Coppes cried as he stood before 118 of his fellow residents of Kaukauna Thursday night. He cried because the city paid tribute to a man it loved. John was Mayor of Kaukauna in 1911, and through his efforts the city purchased a privately owned electric utility for $50,000. This purchase has grown into a $2 million municipally owned utility.  John is also the power behind baseball in Kaukauna for 50 years. He was also a contractor whose hands constructed many of his city’s prized buildings. For these and many other reasons, the city of Kaukauna, never a place to wait until a man dies to show how much it appreciates him, gave him a dinner in his honor.

The Kaws and Menasha Bluejays stage a battle royal, with never a let up until the final horn sounded, with the score 38 to 36 in favor of Kaukauna. The lead changed hands 16 times and no more than four points apart during the game. Don Kuehl the Kaws center was the most notable feature of the game. He punched in two buckets and made eight out of nine free throws to take the scoring honors. 

January 26. 1945

 

Robert G. Lannin recently accepted the position of assistant cashier of the Farmers and Merchants bank. He succeeds John Van de Loo.

Salvage materials in the amount of 174,552 pounds collected by the Boy Scouts and the city of Kaukauna during 1944 under the direction of Wallace Mooney, scoutmaster of troop 20. 42 regular scrap collections were conducted during the year and 73 special calls were made.

January 31, 1945

 

Parents announce the wedding engagements of three Kaukauna young women.

Joseph C McCarthy is elected vice president of the Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America, at the annual meeting held in Appleton.

This week Olin G. Dryer, Kaukauna high school principal, has announced the Honor roll for the third six-week period.

Straight A’s.

Seniors:

Marjorie Burdick

Joseph Foegen

Elizabeth Kieffer

Mark Martin

Richard Oudenhoven

Junior:

Beverly Zwick

Sophomores:

Carlton Denzer

Marjorie Krueger

Freshman:

Lucille Binsfield

Regina Binsfield

Margaret McGinnis

Joseph Oettinger

Floyd Smits

   

Notes from the Armed Forces

German resistance to an American combat patrol was wiped out by artillery fire plotted by Tec. Sgt. Harvey T. Driessen, Kaukauna, on the fifth Army front in northern Italy recently.

 Sgt. Harvey A. Mahn, Little Chute, was recently awarded the Purple Heart for burns and injuries received as a result of combat with enemy forces. Sgt. Mahn's tank was one of five in a company that was called up to repulse an attack of German tanks. In the battle his tank was knocked out and burned by a direct hit from a German 88, all of his crew escaped with first- and second-degree burns.

 

Sgt. Ervin Verhagen left Friday for Florida where he will be reassigned after spending most of the month of January visiting Kaukauna. He had been overseas since January 1942 in the South Pacific where he was wounded. After recovering from his wounds, he returned United States arriving here in January.

 

George R Arnoldussen of E. Wisconsin Ave. has received word that his son, Cpl. Vernon J. Arnoldussen has been missing in action since January 3 in Luxembourg. He is a member of the 26th infantry division. He has been overseas since August 1944.

 

Staff Sgt. Peter F. Krisch of Kaukauna has been awarded the bronze Star for “heroic achievement in action” by order of Maj. Gen. W. W. Eagles, commander of the 45th Thunderbird division. Sgt. Krisch, a platoon sergeant with the Tank Battalion, attached to the division received the award for action he participated in on the seventh Army front in France October 31.

 

Pfc. Ambrose Mauel was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in Belgium on 17 December. He had previously been reported missing in action. Private Mauel entered service October 1943 and has been overseas since last September.

  

Capt. Herbert W. Haas has received the promotion to major according to word received by his father George Haas Crooks Avenue. Major Haas is serving in the UNRAAA branch of the Army, devoting his time to the study of malaria control. He is stationed in Atlanta, Georgia.

 

Willard Van Handel, chief boatswain’s mate, of Little Chute, was the speaker at a meeting of the Knights of Columbus Monday night evening. He gave an interesting talk on some experiences with the Seabees and showed a large collection of pictures.

 

Pfc. John W. Vander Wyst writes from somewhere in Europe stating that he is enjoying a glass of beer with the buddies.  Although he said the beer was good, he would trade the whole lot for just one bottle of “good old Kaukauna beer.” He has received his first issues of Kaukauna Times since he arrived and says that it sure is nice to be able to read and see what is going on back in the little city of Kaukauna and hopes he will back there soon.

 

Lieut. Jerome Meinert, Kaukauna, was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action on November 14. He is a member of the 94th division of Gen. Patton's third Army. After leaving the hospital in Paris he was sent to a hospital in England.

 

First Lieut. Francis J Schiedermayer, 21, Kaukauna, pilot of a B-25 Mitchell was presented with the Air Medal at a decoration ceremony held at a Corsican bomber base. Lieut. Schiedermayer flies with the Mediterranean's oldest medium bomber group won the decoration for personal courage, professional skills and devotion to duty he displayed during a July 13 attack on a railroad bridge at Cremona, Italy.

 

Sgt. Jerome Parman is a guard with the AAF training command basketball team at his Fort Worth, Texas station. Many members of the team are players who have started on college teams before entering service.

 

The parents of Lieut. Leland H. Scherer Kaukauna received a letter from him written on January 4 from a hospital somewhere in England. He was wounded in Belgium on the December 24.

 

Leland P. Kobussen, 19, of W. 7^th street was appointed a flight officer and received his silver pilot’s wings at the army airfield at Altus, Okla. 

 

The family of Sgt. Albert J. Schumann Jr., who is serving with the Armored Infantry in Germany, was reported wounded in December. He had previously been wounded in Belgium in September.

 

Bennie McCarthy, yeoman third class is spending a 10-day leave with her parents on Catherine Street. She is stationed in Norfolk, Virginia.

Cpl. Anthony Van Drasek is serving with the 398^th Infantry Regiment of the 100th division in eastern France.

 

Staff Sgt. Harold P. Feller left Saturday morning for Monroe, California after spending a furlough with his mother, Mrs. Peter Feller, on Wisconsin Avenue. He has been in the service for three years.

 

Pfc. France McMahon arrived home Sunday to spend a 30-day furlough with his father. He is a member of the 32nd division in North Africa.

 

Seaman Harold H. Pauls has reported back to New York after spending a 20 day leave with his wife and mother. He took part in the invasion of France and is a member of the amphibious Corps.

 

John DeGroot, Kaukauna has been promoted to tech fourth grade while serving with the seventh Army at Eastern France.

 

Louis Vanderloop has received a promotion to First Lieut. He is stationed in France and is a bombardier navigator on a Havoc A–20.

 

Harold L. Vondracek has been promoted to Pfc. he is stationed somewhere in the Philippines. He has been overseas since October 1943. His brother Sgt. Francis Vondracek is also serving in the Philippines.

 

John H. Schommer enlisted in the Navy during the past week.

 

Floyd F. Bay, electrician mate, has been promoted to second class. He is stationed in New Guinea.

 

Cpl. Agnes Weiland, who is stationed at the Bronx area station hospital in New York, is enjoying a 14-day furlough with her parents. Her brother petty officer 2-c Leo Weiland is also home on 18-day leave. He is currently stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas.

 

Naval Aviation Cadet Lawrence Schiedermayer is spending a 14-day leave with his parents. A recent graduate from the Chapel Hill school in North Carolina.

 

Second Lieut. Charles W. Harter of Kaukauna recently joined the 467-bomber group to fly and navigate one of the B–24 Liberator bombers. 

 

Major Clyde Bay has arrived in United States after serving two years in the Pacific area.

 

Ensign Kenneth Smits graduated November 24 from the merchant Marine Academy at Kings Pint, Long Island, New York.

 

Seaman second class Kenneth Ploetz has completed his 10 week boot training at Great Lakes. 

 

Russell Gerrits has been promoted to tech Sgt. He is stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

 

 Seaman second class Scott Leslie T. Farrell spent a 21 day leave with his mother in Greenleaf. He is serving in the South Pacific area of the war.

 

Edward Kramer has been promoted to staff Sgt. According to an announcement at the Eighth Air Force fighter station in England.

 

 Virginia M. Phillips, RT 3/c is spending an eight day leave with their parents on Sarah Street. She graduated January 6 after attending a five-month course in the Spars’ first radio technician school in Philadelphia, Pa. 

 

Second Lieut. Romuald Verboomen recently was assigned to Perrin Field training command station as a flying instructor.

 

 Staff Sgt. Jack Winn has informed his parents that he has been transferred from New Guinea to the Netherlands East Indies.

 

 Robert George, torrent gunner first class, spent Christmas and New Year’s with his parents on Catherine Street. He has now left for Lincoln Nebraska where he will be reassigned 

 

Private Peter Schneider returned from 16 months overseas in the European theater of operation arriving at Ft. Sheridan Illinois. He is currently spending a leave with his wife and parents on 10^th St.

 

Private James F. Busse was awarded the expert infantry medal recently at Camp Mackall, North Carolina, where he is stationed with the glider infantry.

 

Lieut. Myron A. Belongea, recently was commissioned a pilot in the Army Air Force, has reported at dispenser field Georgia after spending a furlough at the home of his parents on Whitney Street.

 

Vincent Hietpas has enlisted in the Navy and left for Great Lakes Training Center, Ill.

 

Pvt. Leonard Van Bakel, 18, Little Chute has graduated from AAf Training aircraft radio mechanics school at Truax Field.

 

Seaman second class Genevieve M. Bergman has finished her boot training at Hunter College in New York. 

 

Recent inductees in the Navy are:

Alford A. Knorr, Kaukauna 

Clayton G. Weyers, Kaukauna 

In the Army are:

Gerald W. Green, Kaukauna 

Francis A. Brux, Kaukauna 

Floyd R. Sprangers, Kaukauna 

Floyd M. Janssen, Kaukauna 

Warner R. Wandell, Kaukauna 

Elmer L. Vander Wyst, Kaukauna 

Arthur G. Kromer, Kaukauna 

George P, L. VanderVoort, Kaukauna 

Arlen E. Fink, Combined Locks

Philip A. Hurst, Little Chute

Donald M. Bongers, Little Chute

 

Corporal Eugene C. Zink, armored gunner, will soon complete a course in combat flying at Alexandria, Va.

 

Robert Walker has been promoted from Cpl. to staff Sgt. and is stationed somewhere in France.

 

Private Carl Grissman is stationed at Camp Joseph T Robertson near Little Rock, Arkansas. 

 

Robert Helf, Klein Street Kaukauna, has been promoted to lieutenant junior grade. He is currently serving in the southwest Pacific.