Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Time Machine Trip to March 1945

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

 

March 2, 1945

Robert Lang was promoted to the rank of first Lieutenant in France.


Peter J. Bergman has concluded 48 years of service with the Kaukauna Lumber company. He worked his way up as a laborer to now the company’s president and general manager.

 

The Kaukauna Lumber and Manufacturing Company have recently gone out of existence with the formal announcement that the concern has been sold to the Lieber Lumber Company. Established in 1884, the first president was Henry Hewitt with John Jansen as vice president and was situated on the site of the present Thilmany upper mill.  The mill was run by waterpower.

A telegram was received from the war Department Wednesday of the death of Flight Officer Ralph T. Mooney formerly of Kaukauna and brother of Kaukauna resident Wallace Mooney. He attended Kaukauna public schools and was a 1941 graduate of Kaukauna High School.  Flight officer Mooney was a navigator on the B-17 bomber.

 

Lieutenant Kenneth Busse has been awarded the air medal. He is currently serving in the European campaign. 

 

March 7, 1945

Bishop Paul Peter Rhode, 73, head of the Green Bay diocese since 1915, died Saturday morning at an Oshkosh hospital. Bishop Rhode’s health had been failing for several years but carried on much of his work duties until a few months ago.

 

Cpl. Robert W. Brown, 23, was recently promoted to sergeant. He is with the ninth armored division in the Western front in Belgium and Luxemburg.

Sgt. William Miller has been promoted from Pfc. to Sgt. He has received the combat infantry badge for action against enemy in France.

U.S. infantrymen pass the Siegfried line, Habscheid, Germany with their triggers ready as they move up to the front.   

 

In a letter addressed to the members of the Council by Mayor L. F. Nelson takes issue with the action of the Council of disposing of four lots located on Green Bay Rd. He believes that the selling price is too low.  The lot selling price of $200 each was very low and was sorry to hear that they were sold for $50 each. They should have been held onto and sold to the returning service men.

 

Mrs. Herman De Leeuw, Kimberly, received a telegram from the war Department informing her that her husband had been seriously wounded in Germany on February 10. Private De Leeuw entered service in August 1944 arrived overseas in January 1945 as an infantryman.

 

Pfc. Carl E. Behler, 31, Little Chute, was wounded by enemy machine gun fire in his left leg fighting the German counterattack in Belgium. He is now recovering in a hospital in England. Before entering the Army Pfc. Behler was employed at the Thilmany pulp and paper company.   

 

Jerome Nytes was promoted to master sergeant at Tonopah Army Airfield in Nevada.

 

Duane Buerth and James Hopfensperger were elected co-captains of the 1945 season and will lead the boxing squad though the season. James is the chief contender for the 108-pound division, while Duane is expected to meet strong competition in the 122-pound class. Fred Barribeau, coach of the boxing squad said that much responsibility is being placed on these boys because of the fact that the teams in the past have established such a fine record.

 

Norbert A. Biese has been promoted to Private first class at Camp Butler, N. C.

 

“So far we have $3,637.25 in bonds and stamps toward our goal of $15,000 by the end of the year.” said Miss Edith Porterfield, chairman of the drive in the schools. 

 

March 9, 1945

 

American flag atop Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima.

 

Little Chute – Home after being one of the United States soldiers repatriated from a German hospital. Staff Sgt. Tony Van Wymeren breathes a sigh of relief after his experience as a waste gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber, crashed and his nine months in a German internment camp. Sgt. Van Weimer received the air medal and Purple Heart for his value and injuries.

 

Tech. fourth grade Donald Johnson was awarded the Bronze Star for his actions against an enemy of United States on December 1944 in Belgium. He is serving with the seventh armored division and the European theater.

 

 A bill, up before Congress for the eighth time and was endorsed by both political parties in the recent campaign platforms, calls for equal rights for men and women. The business and professional women's club will meet Monday evening at Hotel Kaukauna and will discuss both sides of the bill. Mrs. W. C. Sullivan and Ms. Hazel Thatcher will be in charge of the program. Mrs. Sullivan stated that there were at least 15 states in the union were women cannot control their own property and five states in which women can have no voice in the control of their children if the husband chooses to the take that right.

 

March 14, 1945

F. G. Posson recently became the tenth member of chapter 101. Royal Arch Masons. He succeeds Leroy Siefert who is serving with the armed forces.

 

German prisoners of war, supervised out of the prisoner of war camp at Fort Sheridan, performed work which has brought $210,722.59 into the United States treasury for the period from January 1 through February 21 has been announced by the post commander. The German prisoners of war were made available for work in several areas following certification by the war manpower commission that civilian labor was not available.

 

Helen D. Vanevenhoven, Kaukauna, was appointed to the Army nurses Corps with the rank of Lieutenant.

 

Staff Sergeant Jack Winn was reported wounded on Feb. 19 while fighting in Luzon.

 

Lt. Leland Scherer was among the casualties from the European theater who were received into the Tacoma, Washington hospital last week.

Cpl. Willard F. Coonen of Dundas was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action in the European theater of operations.

 

March 16, 1945

Joseph Foegen and Lawrence Gerend were named valedictorian and salutatorian respectively at a meeting of the Kaukauna high school senior class yesterday afternoon. Foegen maintained an average of 95.2 during his four years at Kaukauna high school while Gerend’s scholastic average was 94.871. Both are entitled to scholarships at the University of Wisconsin for two semesters.

 

March 21, 1945

 

George E. Haas, 86, Kaukauna pioneer resident and businessman, passed away Tuesday morning at his home.

 

The boxing limelight falls this week on Phil Haas, 156–pound versatile fighter, credited with a knockout in a loss this year. His fights are half-minute, bang-up affairs and it's anyone's guess was going to hit the canvas first. Although he is only a sophomore, he already has won letters in football, basketball and boxing. When asked about his boxing career, he jokingly replied, “Stick around after the fight and I'll sell you a half interest in my cauliflower ear.”

 

Ralph J. Vanevenhoven, Kaukauna was promoted to the rank of corporal. Cpl. Vanevenhoven, 23, is serving as a gunner with an 81 mm mortar squad in the South Pacific.

 

First Lieut. William L. Dowling has been recently promoted in Belgium where he is serving with the transportation Corps.

 

Cpl. Benedict F. Truyman was not pleased with the Germans when they sailed a shell into his half track which he had brought unscratched from Normandy Beach. He says he had dismounted from the half track on a road south of Marche during an offensive in Belgium when the Jerry shell whizzed by five tanks at two other half tracks and into his vehicle. Fortunately, no one was hurt. 

 

March 23, 1945

Tanks and infantry of the fifth armored division were attacking the German town of Kleinhau when tank driver Cpl. Arthur V. Huss of Kaukauna heard a radio message for help from his platoon leader.  Cpl. Haas turned his tank and headed out. He located the three tanks that were mired down and under heavy enemy fire. He supervised the work of pulling them out of the mud and saw that they were once more preceding on their mission. For this action Huss was awarded the bronze Star medal.  

 

March 28, 1945

 

Ralph J. Kraut, president of the Kaukauna Machine Corporation, has been promoted from major to Lieut. Col. with the sixth infantry division.  He is stationed in New Guinea at this time.

 

Mrs. L. F. Green, Kaukauna, received a letter Tuesday from her sister Dorothea which was written in Manila and told of her release from a Japanese prison camp after three years internment. She is a medical missionary and has worked in the Philippines for about 16 years.

 

Tom Eiting, Junior, fights in 140 pound division on the high school boxing squad. Tom better known to his friends as Monk has been boxing for two years and has won letters in both his freshman and sophomore years. Besides boxing, Monk has also played basketball and football.

 

Cpl. Francis D. Jansen, Kaukauna, was admitted to the General Hospital recently in Springfield, Ohio for treatment from battle injuries received in Luxemburg. 

 

A crowd of 600 people saw the St. Mary’s boxing team reversed an earlier decision and even the score with the St. John's, Little Chute boxers by taking a 6 to 5 victory in the high school gym Tuesday evening. Every seat in the balcony and bleachers on both sides are filled and many were standing as the 11 regular bouts and two exhibitions gave a good display of scrapping. 

 

March 30, 1945

 

William Hass is in charge of the united clothing committee drive in Kaukauna. All material will be for the relief of people in war-stricken areas of Europe and the far east.

Lieut. Louis J. Vanderloop, Kaukauna, has been promoted to first Lieut. and received several commendations for his work as a bombardier in the European theater.

 

 The war Department announced Monday from a partial list of American prisoners of war liberated by the advance of the Soviet army included T/5 Joseph H. Van Groll of Kaukauna. 

 

Word has been received by Mrs. Francis Alears that her husband, who was reported missing in France November 28 is a prisoner of war in Germany.

 

Corporal Tech. Orin T. Kortz of Kaukauna was promoted to grade with the 327th Glider infantry Regiment in the European area. 

 

New officers were elected at the veterans of foreign wars meeting Tuesday evening at the clubhouse. Ed Matchett was elected commander and Charles Scheer senior vice commander.

 

Mrs. Richard La Rock received a telegram from the war Department informing her that her husband, Pfc. Richard La Rock has been missing in action since March 14 in Germany. He was serving with the 90th infantry in the third Army.

 

Pfc. Harold R. Femal, Kaukauna, was killed in action on Iwo Jima on March 11 according to a war Department telegram received Wednesday by his parents. In the Marine Corps's for nearly 3 years, he has seen action in Midway, Saipan and Marshall Islands. 

 

Jim Lehman and Ken Dexheimer were presented as co-captains of next year's high school basketball squad at the annual banquet Wednesday evening at the Hotel Kaukauna. 

  

Notes from the Armed Forces

 

Lieutenant Robert Hagman is spending a leave with his parents after spending 28 months on duty in the Pacific area of the war.

 

 

Corporal Robert Specht is on furlough with is family. He will be wed Easter Monday to Miss Valoise Kalupa at St. Mary’s Church. He is serving with the Third Army in Germany in an artillery unit.

 

Cpl. Murrell McGinnis is spending a 21-day furlough with his family here. He arrived in the states after spending 34 months in Australia and New Guinea.

 

Cpl. Carl F. Giordana is spending a 15-day furlough with his parents on Taylor Street. He will leave today for Boca Raton, Florida where he is serving with the Army Air Corps.

 

Pfc. Howard Paschen has arrived at his new station in the Philippines. 

 

 Lt. Jerome Luebke is a member of the European Division Air transport command serving near Paris.

 

Pvt. Daniel Burns is at Keesler Field, Miss., where he is undergoing Pre-aviation cadet qualification testing.  

 

Naval Aviation Cadet Lawrence Schiedermayer has successfully completed the Navy pre-flight school at Chapel Hill, N. C. 

 

The following men were inducted into the Army and Navy here March 16.

 

Navy:

Mark M. Grafmeier - Kaukauna

 

Army:

Joseph L. Faust – Kaukauna            Alfred E. Schmidt - Kaukauna             

Herbert G. Bolte – Kaukauna           John F. Milis - Kimberly

Clarence A. Kohl - Little Chute         Gordon T. Brockman - Kimberly

Norbert G. Vanevenhoven– Kimberly Francis J. Frassetto - Kimberly

Gerald H. Ebben – Kaukauna Francis J. Van Sambeek - Kimberly

Lester J. Weyenberg – Kaukauna   Harold J. Winius – Little Chute

 

Walter E. Wieler was inducted into the Navy in February and is receiving boot training at the naval training center at Great Lakes, Ill.

 

Eugene Vandehey has recently enlisted in the Navy and is stationed at Great Lakes Ill.

 

His brother, Sgt. Glen Vandehey, who has been in service for 2 1/2 years is currently in the South Pacific. Another brother Cpl. Milton Vandehey has been in service for two years and is now in France.

 

Pfc. Francis McMahon left for South Carolina after 30-day furlough with friends and family.

 

Ensign George J. Hatchel, USNR, has been assigned to duty as engineering officer on board a Landing Ship Medium.

 

Cpl. Robert J. Specht is spending a furlough here after returning from 37 months overseas duty in the European theater of operations.    

 

Staff Sergeant Carl R. Kloehn has returned from service outside the United States. He had served 33 months in the Pacific theater. 

 

Wesley C. Wheaton, seaman second class of Kaukauna is now stationed at the amphibious training base at Little Creek, Va. His brothers, Herbert and Herman, are serving with the fighting forces both over seas.

 

Navy enlistments during February are:

John N. Adrian               Michael J Effa

Dean C. Bayorgeon       Robert R. Kappell

Byron E. Derricks           John E. Weber

Donald A. Krueger         Duane C. Wheaton

William J, Landreman

 

James R. Gustman, 18 of Kaukauna, is receiving his initial naval indoctrination at Great Lakes, Ill.

 

Gunners Mate Paul Koch left Wednesday for New York after spending a week’s leave here.

 

Capt. William Nelson left for over seas duty in France. He says in a letter that people where he is now wearing wooden shoes are very friendly.

 

Kaukauna High School Basketball Team - (Picture from 1945 Papyrus)

 

Back Row: Coach G. Krumm, J. Lehman, P. Flanagan, D. Kuehl, C. Kalista, J. Lettau, manager.

Front Row: W. Landreman, P. Haas, R. LaPlante, K. Dexheimer, F. Nach, J. Brenzel.  

 

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