Thursday, February 20, 2025

Time Machine Trip to February 1945

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen


February 2, 1945









The two snapshots illustrate the “before and after” that caused many people to take a second look. One shot is the north shore of the canal bank across from the upper Thilmany Mill. The Dan McCarty machine shop, the Vandenberg cement block plant, Government warehouse and two homes were located there. Officials of Thilmany had been distressed for a long time because of this unsightly scene. Finally, Mr. Seaborne contacted Mayor Nelson about what can be done to clean up the eyesore. Eventually deals were made to find new homes for the families. The other picture is the transformation of the stone wall with capping, the old buildings cleared out, the rats gone with well-done landscaping.

 


Mr. and Mrs. Mike Courtney, Gertrude street, received a letter Tuesday from Ted Malone, Network’s War correspondent that he had met your daughter, Lieutenant Eileen Courtney overseas in Europe theater operations. The program will air on February 7 at 7 o’clock in the evening. “You will be able to hear her voice when she is introduced.”

 

“Corp. Francis Jansen is recovering in an Army hospital in France,” writes Captain John Hall his company commander. “He has an eye injury so both eyes are covered to avoid movement. I was also injured so I am helping where I can. Mrs. Jansen your son is a true hero and I'm proud to have him in my company and right now he wants to go back and fight the Germans but that will have to wait. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be perfect again. He has the best of care.”

 

Pfc. Herbert Miller is a member of a tank Battalion which received accommodation for its performance in battles in the Pacific area.

 

Private Mel Paul is currently at Goodfellow Field, Texas. Paul has been there about 18 months soon after completing his work as arranger for the Irving Berlin stage show and movie, “This is the Army”, he has supplied the field with professional talent on numerous occasions for entertainment that elated local audiences. 

 

At the annual meeting of Kaukauna Building and Loan Association held Tuesday the articles of incorporation were amended, and the name was changed to the Kaukauna Savings and Loan Association. The building and loan Association was organized July 5, 1887, as a cooperative venture to encourage the building of homes and saving money to be used for building or purchasing a home. C. J. Hansen was reelected president, W. C. Hess, vice president, Leo H. Schmalz, Sec. and H. S. Cooke Treas.

 

Second Lieut. Elroy J. Peters, Kaukauna, was awarded a second oak leaf cluster to his air medal. Lieut. Peters is a bombardier on a B-17 flying fortress and is a veteran of many of the eighth Air Force's huge daylight precision bombing assaults in German

 

February 7, 1945

Pfc. George B. Noie was injured in action on January 18 in Belgium. This is the second time he's been wounded, the first being June 29 in France. He was awarded the Purple Heart at that time.

 

In a letter written to the common Council, Mayor A. F. Nelson charges that the cost of administering relief in the city is too high. He asked for an investigation to be made to determine whether it would be possible to reduce the number of relief cases at Kaukauna. He compared the $12,000 spent on relief in Kaukauna with $8000 spent at Neenah with a larger population.   

 

George R. Greenwood, chairman of the March of Dimes drive, announced Tuesday that the total received by the committee up to that time was $635.26.

 

Sgt. Leo Vandenberg is a howitzer section chief with the 337th Wolverine Regiment which recently took Mount Patrone, digging German soldiers out of elaborate concrete pillboxes on its slopes. The battle was continuous for three days and nights.

 

Seaman Richard Wendt writes that he enjoyed a 20-minute visit with Henry Maes somewhere in the South Pacific. The boys were stationed on LST boats operating in the same vicinity. They knew each other's boats, but it was not possible to meet for nearly 9 months even though they were short distance apart.

 

Sgt. Promer is with the infantry division of the first Army that fought during the blizzard in the battle of the Belgium “bulge.” I am currently in a rest area at this time. He wrote to his parents that “most of us will have to thaw out for a few days and that the condition of my feet is improving.”

 

Holding a smaller New London team to 8 points and one basket until the last quarter while plowing up 33 points for themselves in the same time in KHS cagers romped to an easy 37 to 20 win over the Bulldogs Friday evening.

 

February 9, 1945

Harold Engerson is the new assistant chief of police, receiving his appointment from the Chief of Police James McFadden.  

 

A further cut in passenger tires quotas has been ordered for February by the rationing board of Outagamie County. The reason for the shortage is explained in two words “military needs”.

 

February 14, 1945

It’s been seen before and now it happened again Kaukauna won the first half and lost the second half to Shawano by a score of 25-18. The Kaukauna fans were greatly disappointed in the poor playing.

 

Seabee Ervin Lucassen, 19 of Kaukauna, had been killed in action on January 11 in the South Pacific.  He had been in service since Sept. 1943.  

 

Anderson Service Hardware will begin to rebuild after being destroyed by fire last November. Carl Anderson said he has received the necessary permit from the war production board.

 

February 16, 1945

Second Lieutenant Floyd Hopfensperger, 23, Kimberly, was killed in action in France on Feb. 2, according to word received by his parent Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Hopfensperger.

 

Richard “Red” Smith announced his resignation recently as coach of the Milwaukee Brewers to accept a similar position with the Chicago Cubs.

 

 For three high school cagers, tonight's game with Clintonville will be more than just another game. To Fred Nack, Bill Landreman and Bob La Plante, all seniors, it means the last home game of their high school career.

 

Tech. Sgt. Norman Ashe is back in the states after being wounded. He is now in a Military hospital in South Caroline

L. C. Smith has been appointed general chairman of the Red Cross drive which will start in Kaukauna Thursday.

 

Tech Sgt. George J. Weyenberg, Little Chute, is a supply clerk with the 15th Air Force command that received a accommodation from the base commander at Corpus Christi, Texas. The engineers working 24 hours a day have repaired 126 fighter planes and one heavy bomber since it started serving the group.

 

Cpl. Karl H. Minkebige is now located somewhere in the Pacific area according to a letter received by the Times. He tells of a strange coincidence which happened while in the mid-Pacific. He was crossing the International Date Line and lost the day, which happened to be on his birthday.  Karl says, “I’ll just have to go without a birthday this year.”

  

Sgt. Elmer Whitman, Kaukauna, was reported to have been in a recent battle in which German planes bombed and scraped behind the line supply depots in Belgium. The clerk's typist and truck drivers of the headquarters group manned 50 caliber machine guns and were placed on 24-hour duty during the emergency. 

 

On February 10 the bag mill employees of the Thilmany Pulp and Paper Company had completed 1,001,424 workhours since the last disabling injury which occurred on April 28, 1940. On average of 90 people are employed at the mill of which 50 are women, according to L. C. Smith, personnel director.

 

February 21, 1945

Maj. Clyde E. Bay, Kaukauna, is acquainted with his 26-month son, Clyde Jr. while on a 21-day leave in Miami, Fla. Major Bay is a Wisconsin University graduate and learned Chinese while in India and Burma and got acquainted with the Chinese G.I. Joe's.  

 

The Kaukauna high cagers finally came alive in the last half of the game to take a 42 to 35 decision from a hard fighting Clintonville team here Friday night.  Lehman showed very well offensively and defensively, pumping in eight buckets and a free throw to take individual scoring honors. The practice of missing most of their free throws seems to have become a habit for the Kaws, who had 17 chances and only made six of them.

 

February 23, 1945

We at the Times received an interesting letter from staff Sgt. Leroy W. Seifert, stationed in England with a finance distributing unit. He says he likes it there. A week ago we had a touch of winter and a little snow but the sun came out now and the snow is gone.

 

Flight officer Robert O. Nettekoven was awarded the bronze Oak leaf cluster for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flights in September. He had previously been awarded the air medal.

 

An order requiring that all taverns, night clubs and places of amusement be closed promptly at 12 midnight will go into effect Monday, February 26. War mobilization Dir. James F Byers issued the directive. Chief of police James E McFadden declared that Kaukauna with its 27 license taverns will support the law 100% and will be pleased to do so if it will support the war effort.

 

February 28, 1945

“Rah, rah!” “Let’s give the Fight Team Fight” and such yells are echoed around the gymnasium at all the school affairs. These cheers represent at least three hours of practice each week. As in previous years, graduation is always bound to claim some of the popular cheerleaders from basketball, football and boxing events. Three seniors will be leaving at the end of this year. They are Pat Miller, Norman “Muzz” Janssen, and Dolores “Blondie” Rieth.

 

 

N. Leigh, J. Bauer, P. Miller, B. Faust, D. Rieth, N. Janssen.

E. Keough, G. LaBorde, E. Bernard.

From Kaukauna Papyrus 1945

 

Two brothers meet in the Philippines. Pfc. George Steffens writes that he met his brother, Sgt. Williams Steffens in the Philippines. They had not seen each other for 2 1/2 years. George said he knew his brother's unit was nearby and took a long time before he found him. They only had one hour together that day. William had been overseas for about 90 months and had been in a number of campaigns being hospitalized several times with minor injuries.  

 

Staff Sgt. Matt Leonard, who was seriously wounded while serving with General Patton's army in Germany, is expected to return to the states very soon. He is now hospitalized in England. He went overseas in February 1944, landing in England and was transferred to France in August. He was seriously wounded on December 10.

  

Mr. and Mrs. Albert De Bruin Desnoyer Street   now have four sons serving in the military. Staff Sgt. Alvin De Bruin, Marine Corps, Cpl. Carl De Bruin, Army, Pvt. first class Cal De Bruin, Army, and the latest member Seaman Frederick De Bruin entered the Navy.

 

Pfc. Kenneth Reinholz was slightly wounded in action January 28 in the Pacific war zone. He is a 1942 graduate of Kaukauna high school and in the Army since March 1943, being overseas for 16 months. 

 

George Proper Jr. was surprised one day by receiving a huge package from his uncle, Capt. Robert G. Meyer, Marine Corps. The package contained a bow, seven arrows and a spear, made by the natives on the Solomon Islands. The souvenirs can be seen on display in the Meyer Drug store window. 

We received an interesting letter at the Times from Cpl. Willard Keil who is serving in Europe. Although he cannot say where he is located, he did state that he received his pay in German money. He says he's been in the European theater for going on two years and has been receiving the Times regularly and wants to thank the Times for the splendid job of getting the paper to the boys over here.

 

Private Robert E. Nack, Kaukauna, has been awarded the combat infantryman's badge for combat action against the enemy in Italy. He is serving with the fifth Army. 

 

First Lieut. Casimir J. Casper is a pilot assigned to Cazas air base, Casablanca, in the North African division of the air transport command. His wife Marina Duprey Casper is living with her parents on W. 4th St. Kaukauna.

  

Sgt. Edward H. Jirikowic has been cited by his commanding officer for courageous performance during the battle for Leyte. He is with the 82nd infantry division in the Philippines.

 

Missing nine of the 15 free throws the Kaw cagers again learned the hard way that free throws are important. They outscored Menasha in the field goal department but then absorbed a 28 to 26 beating on the Jays court Friday evening.

 

 

Notes from the Armed Forces

 

 Flight Officer D. J. Rohlinger. 4th Street, will soon complete an intensive course in combat flying at Alexandria, La.   

 

Private John Grogan is home on furlough this week after finishing basic training at Camp Walters, Texas

 

Sgt. Harold Walsh has been promoted to Staff Sgt. he is stationed in the Philippines and is in charge of one of the mess halls there.

 

Staff Sgt. Jack Winn is currently stationed in the Philippines.

 

RT 3/c Virginia Mae Phillips returned yesterday to Philadelphia, Pa., after a short visit with her parents. 

 

Tech, Sgt. John E. Kerry has arrived in France. He is with the ordinance division.    

 

Tech. Sgt. Russell J. Gerrits has arrived in France.

 

Arnold Vaubel, serving in the South Pacific area, has been promoted from Pfc. to Cpl. His brother seaman Donald Vaubel has recently made his first trip to the South Pacific zone.

 

Cpl. Nicholas H. Dercks, Little Chute, is a cook with the US seventh Army ninth evacuation hospital. The ninth has been in continuous operation for more than two years and has treated more than 41,932 allied and enemy patients.

 

Five young men enlisted in the Navy during the last week. They are Duane C. Wheaton, Michael J. Effa, Robert R. Kappell, John E. Weber and Robert Kobs.

 

T/5 J. Willems, serving with the Signal Corps, has returned from 28 months overseas in European theater.

 

Pfc. Robert Schuh is spending a 10-day furlough at home. He is now stationed at Norman, Ok.

 

The following men were inducted in the Army:

 Robert H. Steyvenberg – Kimberly

Theodore M. De Kleyn – Kimberly

Donald K. Balk – Kaukauna

Robert H. Biese – Kaukauna

Percy P. Garvey – Kaukauna

Glenn W. Hass – Kaukauna

Norbert C. Hilleger – Kaukauna

Jerome VandenHeuvel – Kaukauna

Joseph H. Reynebeau – Little Chute

 

In the Marine Corps:

Robert C. School – Kaukauna

 

In the Navy:

Howard H. Gerrke – Kaukauna

John J. Sosman – Kaukauna

Emroy G. Daelke – Kaukauna

Gerhardt H. Grietzmacher – Kaukauna

Adam A. Miller – Kaukauna

Clarence C. Dercks – Little Chute

 

Coxswain Frances Giordana is spending a 10-day leave with his parents. He is currently stationed at Oceanside, Calf.

 

Pvt. Arthur Pruess recently spent an 8-day furlough at Kaukauna with his wife.

 

Genevieve M. Bergman is spending a 7-day leave with her parents. She will then report to the naval hospital at San Diego, Calif.

 

Pvt. Rita Verhagen, a member of the Women’s Army Corps, recently left for the Army hospital at Camp Berkeley, Texas.

 

Pfc. Joseph V. Shablak is enjoying a 14-day furlough at home. He will return to Camp Maxey, Texas.

 

Sgt. John R. Keough spent the weekend with his parents. He is stationed at Fort Knox, Ky.

 

Pvt. LeRoy J. Balza has reported to Keesler Field, Biloxi, Miss. 

 

Edwin L. Rosenow has been promoted to corporal. He is on duty with the 6th air force in Panama.   

 

Keith Ploetz, 18, has enrolled recently in a radio Navel school in Indianapolis. Ind.

 

LeRoy Seifert, who is stationed in England has been promoted to Staff Sergeant.

 

Second, Lieut. John W. Lindstrom has arrived at Randolph field, Texas to take Army Air Force command courses.  Overseas Lieut. Lindstrom flew a P-38 fighter on escort missions.

 

Pvt. Raymond Van Stiphout spent a three-day furlough with his wife and family. He is currently stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas.



 

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