Time Machine Trip to April 1945

 

Kaukauna Times

By Lyle Hansen

 

April 4, 1945

Private First-Class Richard Joseph LaRock, 31, was killed in action in Germany on March 14, according to word received by his wife Evelyn who resides on 7^th Street. He had previously been listed as missing in action. He had been employed at Thilmany Pulp and Paper before he entered service in December of 1942. He died five days before his birthday. He is survived by his widow, one daughter, Judy, age 3, two sons Lee, age 4, and David, age 20 months.

 

Shoe ration books issued to discharge service men hereafter will contain two valid shoe stamps instead of one ordinarily allowed.  This is being done to assist veterans in their return to civilian life. The government issued shoes he owns usually are not suitable for civilian wear and most times no longer fit.    

 

Corporal Francis D. Jansen of Kaukauna is home on furlough after being released from the O’Reilly General Hospital in Springfield, Mo. after receiving treatment for shrapnel wound received in Luxemburg. He was with Armor Division when the Germans mounted a counterattack in December. “I was a gunner on an M8 tank and left with three others to get additional ammo when the jerries caught us in a barrage. Two of us were injured, me in the left eye. My buddies helped me back to an aid station;” stated Jansen. Corporal Jansen has been awarded the Purple Heart Medal.

 

   

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

 

April 6, 1945

The officers for post 3319 are: commander, Ed Matchett; senior vice commander, Charles Scheer; junior vice commander, George Giesbers. The officers to be installed for post 3319 auxiliary are president, Mrs. Myron Spry; vice president, Mrs. Joyce Schaefer; junior vice president, Mrs. Nic Mertes.

 

The posthumous award of the Bronze Star Medal has been made to Staff Sergeant Joseph J. Verhagen of Kaukauna by Major General Oliver, commander of the Fifth Armored Division. Verhagen was cited for taking command of the tank platoon on August 12 after the leader was wounded. He performed many heroic feats with his leadership and command decisions. He led the platoon in an attack on a German motorized column destroying it and taking many prisoners, one being a high-ranking officer. He continued the attack destroying anti-tank guns. On September 17 Sgt. Verhagen was in charge of an outpost near Heimerdingen, Germany when a heavy artillery barrage was launched by the enemy along with 25 tanks. After destroying four tanks he moved his tanks to high ground, destroying six more before the enemy retreated with heavy losses.  

Oshkosh will be host of the Kaukauna High School boxing squad this evening when the two tangle in the Kaw’s second out of town match this season. 

 

Arthur C. Look was named president of the Rotary club Wednesday noon at the Ritz. He replaces H.W. Olm. Hubert Fassbender, sergeant-at-arms, J. P. Ditter, treasurer and Walter P. Hagman, secretary.

Come early to get a seat is the warning for the coming boxing match between Kaukauna and Little Chute. There is never any love loss between the two, rivalry is exceptionally keen this year and Little Chute is enjoying a very good season. Coach Frank Weyenberg is bringing a squad that is determined to show that it can beat Kaukauna. They won the first time when the bell ringer broke in a heavy weight fight.

April 11, 1945

Coach Fred Barribeau’s pugilist came on the top of the heap by a narrow margin of 6 to 5 against Oshkosh. Only six of the 11 fights went the whole way with the referee stopping four on TKO’s and another on default. After the fights Referee George Christopher bitterly criticized the Kaukauna crowd for its poor sportsmanship and predicted that interschool boxing would disappear entirely from Kaukauna in a short time unless the fans cease to rail a referee or conduct themselves in a manner becoming normal sportsmen. Phil Haas chalked up another TKO to his credit as a 156-pound when the fight had to be stopped after 15 seconds. None of Phil’s bouts this year have gone past two rounds.

 

Word has been received by the family of First Lieutenant Kenneth Busse informing them that Kenneth is missing in action over Germany since March 25. He has been awarded the air medal with three oak leaf clusters and the European theater of operations.

Two local young men and a Little Chute boy enlisted in the navy April 5. They are Gerald M. Solberg, Ronald Regan; Kaukauna and Donald G. Janssen, Little Chute.

April 13, 1945

Anton F. Berkers was selected to head the adult temporary executive committee of Kaukauna youth center.

 

Technician Fourth Class James Sanders battalion has received a letter of commendation as tank destroyers in Germany.  He has been in service since 1942 and overseas for 10 months.

 

 Pvt. 1^st Class Kenneth R. Reinholz, Main St. Kaukauna, has been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action against the Japanese January 20.

 

The local selective service board announced the following inducted into service from this area on April 13.

 

In the navy:

Weyenberg, Joseph 

 

In the Army:

Van Cuick, Henry A. 

Heindel, Jerome O. 

Klein, Leroy J. 

Doering, Marvin W. 

Jakl, Edward W. 

Reichel, Harry P. 

Micholic, Paul M. 

Skalmusky, Melvin O.  

Reichel, Cyril C.  

Schmitt, Robert J.  

Welhouse, George F.  

Kobussen, Wilbert B.  

DeLeeuw, Christian G.  

Havinga, Peter G.

Austin, David W.

 

 

 

President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 63, died at his little cottage at Warm Springs, Ga., Thursday afternoon. He was sitting in a chair and complained of a severe headache then lost consciousness. Death was attributed to a cerebral hemorrhage. When Mrs. Roosevelt was notified of her husband’s death, she said “I am sorrier for the people of the country and the world than I am for us.” The Roosevelt’s have four sons and a daughter. All the sons are in the armed forces and have been notified by their mother. The thirty-second president, Harry Truman, was sworn in at 7:09 eastern war time.

 

Private First-Class Norbert J. Heindel, 24, route 2 Kaukauna was killed in action on April 1 in Italy. He entered service in January of 1942 going overseas October 1943. Memorial services will be held at Holy Cross Church on April 16. 

     

April 18, 1945

There isn’t much question as to which is the better team after Kaukauna boxers handed St. John’s mittmen of Little Chute a 7 to 4 drubbing here Tuesday night before a crowd of over 1,500. In spite of the large crowd, they were well mannered as they witnessed the exciting action-packed matches. The most outstanding fight was the 156-pounder between Phil Haas, Kaukauna and Jerome “Roundhouse” Van Epern, Little Chute which lasted three rounds with a near TKO for Haas when his hard-hitting punches cut Van Epern badly. This is the first time this year that a fight for Haas went the distance of three rounds. Dale Kilgas, Kaukauna out boxed Little Chute’s Joseph Jansen to take the decision in another bout.

 

A telegram was received Tuesday morning by Mr. and Mrs. Oscar W. Alger, Kaukauna, which told of the death of their son, Sergeant Warren G. Alger, on April 1 and of his burial at sea. A previous letter received the day before stated that their son had been wounded in action at Iwo Jima Island. Sergeant Alger had enlisted in the Marine Corps in December of 1941 and has been overseas since May of 1942.   

 

Pfc. Class Kenneth J. Fink has been recognized for heroic service in connection with military operations in Germany against enemy forces November 10 to 13, 1944.  Kenneth, an ammunition bearer carried desperately needed ammo to assault troops under constant enemy fire. On return trips he assisted injured personnel to the aid station. He was awarded the bronze star and expert infantry combat badge for his heroism.

April 20, 1945

The following letter dated Easter Monday, 1945 was received by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph McCarthy from their son, Second Lieutenant Neil J. McCarthy now stationed in the Philippines.

 Dear Mother and Dad: At last, I have run into some hometown boys! An anti-aircraft gun section moved into our area yesterday and who was the section chief but Karl Kobussen. We had a nice visit in which he told me that Leo Driessen is section chief an a nearby gun and that other men in the battalion include Joey Vils, Bill Eiting, Bill Heinen. I talked to Leo on a field phone. He is the same old Leo with his old sense of humor. We all got together and had a little Kaukauna party.     

 

The Purple Heart has been awarded to T/4 Donald R. Johnson, Kaukauna, for wounds received in action in Europe.  He is a mechanic with the 7^th armored division of the first army on the western front.  

 

Rev. Alphonse Roder, 70, pastor of St. Mary’s parish here for the last 13 years died Saturday noon from a lingering illness. Nearly 200 clergy attended his funeral services Tuesday with Bishop A. V. Bona officiating.

 

Sgt. Robert Balck is a member of the 314^th Bombardment Wing which recently received a commendation for work done in the south Pacific. “We have just finished eleven days of all out effort. The results were terrific damage having been inflicted on the enemy’s vital manufacturing and shipping centers.” The commendation was signed by Brid. Gen. Thomas S. Power. 

          

April 25, 1945

The last boxing match of the 1945 season for Kaukauna High School saw the local leathertossers outclass a game Oconto Falls team 10 to 1 here Friday evening. The 132 pound bout lasted 35 seconds before Duane Buerth knocked his lightweight opponent though the ropes.  

 

Kaukauna sophomore Dick Brandt is a boxing standout this year according to coach Barribeau. He is very helpful to the squad in the 124-pound class in which he has suffered only one defeat in six matches this year. Dick will be one athlete to keep an eye in the ring, on the grid and on the court where he will be making a name for himself and the high school.   

 

President Truman has made his first address from the White House since taking the oath of office. He spoke to the armed forces both at home and abroad, assuring them that he had stepped forward to fill the place of Mr. Roosevelt in much the same manner as a fallen officer’s place is filled on the field of battle.

 

April 27, 1945

Mrs. Gloria Bruss received a telegram from the war department Sunday notifying her that her husband Staff Sergeant Myron Bruss was slightly wounded on Luzon, March 31. He has been overseas for 23 months.

 

T/5 James S. Whitey Hartjes, now serving with the 3^rd army in Germany has received a citation and was awarded the bronze star for meritorious service. The citation is for meritorious service in connection with military action against the enemy in France. He exposed himself to enemy fire while delivering supplies to the front.    

  

Notes from the Armed Forces

 

The TIMES received a very special letter recently from Pfc. Willard Delcore who is stationed with the 4^th armored division in Germany. “Our division was one of the first to break through at Normandy and has been spearheading the allied attacks down the Rhine in Germany. I surely miss the hometown and hope to see it again in the near future. The weather is great. Sure makes me think of home.

 

Staff Sergeant Victor Busse wrote home to his parents that he met his brother First Lieutenant Kenneth in Germany on Ken’s birthday and they were able to spend a few hours together. Ken is pilot of a fighter bomber and Victor is with the signal corps. Sgt. Busse also sent home the Purple Heart he was awarded for wounds suffered in France on February 4.

 

Sgt. Raymond H. Sprister, Kaukauna, is one of hundreds of enlisted men at a huge Super fortress base in the Marianas whose efforts have made it possible for B-29 bombers to strike the heart of Japan’s war industry.    

 

Motor machinist 2^nd class Sherman Powers is one of 24 men commended for the meritorious work in landing troops and supplies under hazardous conditions at Saipan.

 

Sgt. Martin A. Wildenberg, Little Chute is a teletype operator serving in a Signal company operating in the Dutch East Indies. He has four brothers: Arthur, Peter, Owen and Martin serving in the armed forces in France. 

   

  Pvt. Joseph R. Rupiper, 19, graduated from the AAF Training aircraft command radio school at Truax Field where he was a student.

 

Grover Patterson, Kaukauna, has recently been promoted to Staff Sergeant He is serving in France with a 14^th Armored Division Medical Battalion. His wife Dolores lives on 9^th street.   

 

Sgt. Robert L. Jirikowic, 28 Kaukauna, has arrived in the Philippine base where he is assigned with the 43^rd Bombardment Group on the 5^th Air force. He was a former employee of Thilmany. 

 

Sgt. Clayton Watson writes home that he is in the states and on his way home. He has been over seas 32 months serving in North Africa and Italy. His brother Harry Jr. is in the Navy.

 

Pfc Gordon Kerrigan is home on a 45-day leave after serving 25 months overseas in a medical unit in Germany in Gen. Patton’s third army. He met his brother Corporal Earl Kerrigan in France shortly before returning to the states.

 

Ensign Ralph M. Lauer, Dundas, is serving in the Pacific. He has been in the navy since July 1943. His brother Pvt. Arthur Lauer is serving in Germany.

 

Sgt. Willard A. Daul, 23, Kaukauna has been promoted to corporal. He is with the Second Tank Battalion of the 9^th armored division on the western front in Belgium and Luxemburg 

 

Dean Bayorgeon and John Adrian, Kaukauna, left for basic training at Great Lakes. Dean and John are both students at Kaukauna High School. 

 

A.O.M. 1/c Robert D. Mitchell reported for duty at the Naval Air Station Astoria, Oregon, following a 28-month tour of duty in the South Pacific. 

Captain Luke J. Martin, Kaukauna, retired from the army due to a permanent physical disability incurred in the Pacific theater of operations. He enlisted in the army in October of 1940.

Raymond K. Paschen was promoted to first lieutenant on April 2. He is stationed at Fort McClellan, Al. He had entered the Army in December of 1942 and was commissioned in September of 1943.

 

The first school building – Known as the Annex or Casino was located at the corner of 7^th. Street and Main Avenue.

 

Present Outagamie Rural Normal school erected on Wisconsin Avenue in 1917.

Walter P. Hagman has been principal of Outagamie Rural Normal school since 1919. In addition to being principal he also conducts a number of classes at the school. 

 

 Miss Genevieve Verbeten is the valedictorian at Wrightstown high school. Miss Ruth Salava is the salutatorian. 

  

Kenneth Beuchler, prom king and Betty Stephan was chosen as the queen for the annual junior prom Friday April 27 at the Wrightstown High school gymnasium.