Kaukauna
Times
By Lyle Hansen
May 2,
1945
Work on the 1945 high
school annual has been completed and is ready to be sent to the printer to be
put to press. There is some concern as to having the book done before the
school year end due to the labor shortage in the printing industry.
Sgt. Leo Vandenberg of Kaukauna recently was
awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service in combat on the Fifth Army
front in northern Italy. Vandenberg is a member of the 3/377th
“Wolverine” Regiment of the 84th Custer Division. Vandenberg, chief of a
howitzer section, displayed ingenuity in overcoming numerous obstacles and
placing his guns in positions from which they were able to give timely and
effective fire support to the advancing infantry.
Two
St. John's Little Chute boxers won championships in the Catholic high school
boxing tournament held recently at St. Norbert's College, West DePere. They
were Jim Van Dinter, 100 pounder, and Joseph Jansen 140 pounder.
Flight
officer Robert O. Nettekoven, Kaukauna, a combat glider pilot has just returned
to his home base in the European theater of operations after successfully
participating in the airborne assault across the Rhine River in Germany. Flight
officer Nettekoven, who flew his glider through flak and small arms fire to
land in the midst of a violent fighting and wasted little time getting into the
action. He helped the airborne soldiers ferret out Jerry snipers, clear houses
and help form a perimeter defense to prevent an enemy counterattack.
May 4,
1945
The May 9 boxing
banquet will officially bring to a close the 1945 boxing season, one of the
most successful in Kaukauna High School’s long and outstanding history. The
result of the season was 4 wins, a tie and a freak loss. Coach Fred Barribeau
piloted the squad through his second season here and the performance of his
team speaks for itself.
Decorations
are being put up this week in the high school gymnasium for the junior prom, to
be held Saturday May 12. The theme of the prom is to be a carnival
setting.
T/5 Francis M. Heinz,
Kaukauna, is returning to the United States on rotational furlough after 36
months in the Southwest Pacific Area with the 32nd “Red Arrow”
Division. Heinz has served with a battery of the 129th Field
Artillery Battalion as a truck driver and ammunition clerk.
Staff Sergeant Leland T. Jansen, Kaukauna, is
beginning his fourth year of overseas duty in the 32nd “Red Arrow”
division in the Philippine Islands. In service since 1940 he left for Australia
in April of 1942. As a squad leader he has participated in three major
engagements and is currently fighting in Luzon.
Germany has surrendered
unconditionally to the Allies May 7 completing the victory in the European
phase of the 2nd World War.
It was almost a perfect
day for a track meet last Saturday afternoon Kaukauna High School defeated
Seymour here by an 80 to 33 score. James Lehman was again high point man with
two first and a second as well as running with the winning relay team.
May 9, 1945
Technician Fifth Grade Melvin N. Schroeder,
Medical Department, has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious
achievement against the enemy in Manila.
Carl G. Berman acting director of the
Vocational school announced that the Kaukauna Vocational school had received
official confirmation of the transfer of title of the former N.Y.A. building
and all equipment on the premises. The total value of the buildings and
equipment is set at $125,000.
Lt.
William T. Sullivan, director of the Kaukauna vocational school, who had been
on leave of absence for the last two years, has been visiting friends and
relatives in Kaukauna and Appleton for the last five days. He has received
orders for change of duty from his present work at the naval air training
station in Pensacola Florida for duty in the South Pacific.
The Thilmany Pulp and
Paper Company has concluded its labor contract negotiations with the
International Brotherhood of Paper Workers local No. 20, and the International
Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulfate and Paper Mill Workers, local No. 147, according
to L. C. Smith, head of the industrial relations department. The company has
agreed to vacation changes and an increase contribution to 65% of group
insurance.
First Lieutenant George W. McCorkle recently
returned home after completing his tour of duty with the ninth Air Force in
France to visit his parents in Kaukauna. As a B-26 marauder pilot and flight
commander with the 397th bombardment group he flew over 69 bombing missions. He
has been awarded the air medal with 12 oak leaf clusters. His group earned its
nickname the “Bridge Busters” by destroying tactical important bridges over
rivers in France, Belgium and Germany.
May 11, 1945
Madison – For the duration of the war, anyone
enrolled in the Armed Forces of the country can hunt and fish in Wisconsin
without a license under a special law enacted by the legislator.
Ensign E. L. Archibald,
former advertising manager of the Kaukauna Times, sent a letter to C. P.
Goetzman of the TIMES stated that he was in the invasion of Okinawa and that he
was plenty glad to get away from there. He also stated that he sailed there
with the war correspondent Ernie Pyle. “He was a real nice guy and he signed a
photo for me. It was very sad to hear of his death.”
The parents of Pfc.
Dean Lemke have received a letter from the war department that Dean has been
wounded in Germany on April 23. He has been in service for 18 months and is a
member of the infantry.
May 16, 1945
Robert Knapp and Marian Reichel reigned as king
and queen of the annual junior prom which was held at the high school gymnasium
Saturday evening. About 90 couples from
school and the surrounding area attended the affair and danced to the music Bob
Hughes and his orchestra. The gymnasium was turned into a carnival scene with
colorful merry-go-round as the centerpiece.
Pfc. Willis H. Luedeke of Kaukauna is a member
of the Service Squadron assigned to the crack P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter Group.
He is a sheet metal worker making repairs to damage sustained by the fighter
planes. His fighter group has destroyed 829 German planes in the air and 163 on
the ground.
Word has been received by the parents of John
Esler that he has been promoted to Lieutenant in the naval reserve. He has seen
action at the South Pacific.
Pfc. Albin L. Bevers, 24 of Little Chute, has
joined a fighter control squadron of the East China Wing of the 14th
Air Force “Flying Tigers” in the China Theater of operation.
The
United States employment service district office at Appleton today urged
workers engaged in essential war production to stick to their machines, despite
the fact that Germany has quit. The workers are urged to maintain high levels
until the Japs surrender and until the government authorizes the start of the
conversion to peace time production.
Pfc.
Robert Hostettler arrived home recently from the European theater of operations
and is spending a convalescent furlough with his wife and family. He had left
for overseas in May 1943 when he joined the fifth infantry division. He was in
combat for 93 days before being relieved. He stated it is wonderful to be home
again. Although I have had many baths in foxholes it is great to be able to
have a bath at home anytime I want in clean water.
Mrs. Evelyn LaRock, Seventh Street Kaukauna,
received the Purple Heart awarded to her husband, Pfc. Richard, who was killed
in Germany on March 14, 1945 while attached to the 90th infantry division of
the third Army.
The
Rev. Donald Robert Verhagen of Holy Cross parish, Kaukauna will offer his first
mass Sunday May 20 at St. Nicholas Church, Freedom.
May 18,
1945
Chief of Police James
McFadden has given warnings that slingshots, air guns and .22 rifles are not be
used within the city limits.
Kaukauna
High School will honor the class of 1895 at this year's commencement exercise
which will be held Friday evening June 1, this being the 50th anniversary of
the graduation of that class. There were 13 graduates in the class of 1895 and
every effort is being made to have all who have survived present at the
gathering. Two of the members still reside in Kaukauna.
May 23,
1945
Rev. Joseph Esdepsky
has taken over the duties of the late Rev. Alphonse Roder at St. Mary's
Catholic Church. Rev. Esdepsky was ordained to the priesthood May 1, 1913.
Arthur M. Schmalz is chairman of the
veterans’ Assistance program and re-employment chairman for this district.
Tech. Sgt. John W.
Taylor wrote a letter home that he is still in the signal corps. “Wasn’t much
celebrating done by us over here due to the lack of something to celebrate with
and also the fact that the real day of celebration is when the Japs are polished
off.”
Staff Sgt. Ted Weber is
spending a 30-day furlough here with his parents after 33 months of overseas
duty. Sgt. Weber brought with him his mascot; a small terrier called “Buona”
who he explains is a soldier's dog and has no use for the ladies. He seems to
have no fear of an automobile but that's understandable considering that he was
one of the squadron mascots with a group of B-24 Liberators.
Cpl. John Van Cuyk of
the United States Army still takes an occasional turn at pitching. Van Cuyk
will be remembered around the Valley as formerly pitching for Kaukauna Mellow
Brews, Kimberly Papermakers and the Appleton State League club. A recent
article in one of California's newspapers was headlined: “Just Try Me”. “Say
Mr., can I pitch for your team today?” begged Soldier Van Cuyk, 22 of Kimberly,
talking with manager Pep Lee of the Paramount Cubs. “Are you a pitcher?” “Just
try me” he answered. So, Van Cuyk went to the mound and struck out 22 men and
limited the visiting St. Mary's 9 to two hits as he hurled the cubs to a 4-1
victory. Lee sat on the bench flabbergasted. Never before has he in his long
management career at a man with the “goods” come along and beg to play for him.
May 30,
1945
Kaukauna's Pat Flanagan
tossed the shot 49 feet 1/2 inch Saturday to capture the state title in that
event at the state track meet in Madison and also broke the state Class B
record. The former state record was 47-5". Two other members of the
Kaukauna team also placed at the state meet. James Lehman copped third place in
the 440 and Phil Haas secured fifth in the broad jump to round out Kaukauna's
scoring on the day, which gave them a fifth place finish overall.
Sgt. Delbert J. Huss of
Freedom arrived home Wednesday after spending 22 months in a German prisoner
camp. He entered service in November 1941.
Staff Sgt. Earl J.
Jansen, Little Chute, was one of 13 men of the 28th infantry division will
receive bronze star medals for gallantry in action against the enemy in
Germany.
Jerome Verhagen, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Verhagen, Seventh Street Kaukauna left for Great Lakes
Illinois. Jerome is the fifth son of the Verhagen’s to enter the armed forces.
Corp. Steve, the oldest, was killed in New Guinea in December of 1942. Sgt. Erwin
recently returned to Florida after serving in the South Pacific. Petty officer
2/c Melvin is serving in the Pacific area. Signalman 1/c Eugene is in the
Philippines.
Carl Bartsch is named head of the Kaukauna
Lions and Carl R. Runte was elected first vice president at a meeting Tuesday
night.
The parents of Corporal
John H. Damro have received news that John was wounded just days before V - E
Day. Corp. Damro received a chest wound when a bullet entered his chest and
came out the back. He is now on the road to recovery in a hospital in France.
“Flying is the coming thing,
and Kaukauna must prepare now so we are ready for it after the war.” George
Greenwood told the members of the Kaukauna Lions club at their meeting at the
Hotel Kaukauna. Greenwood and his guest Len Van Zeeland talked about their
favorite sport and hobby flying. They have a plane of their own and have put in
many hours in the air.
Cpl. Robert G. Specht is the first Kaukauna
serviceman to be discharged under the point system. He was listed amongst the
first 2500 serviceman released in the nation. He enlisted and began his active
service in October 1939 and had a total of five years, six months and 16 days
before his discharge.
Bert Fargo will be in charge of the program Friday
evening when the class of 1895 gathering at Hotel Kaukauna.
Earl A. McIntyre,
Oviatt St. Kaukauna, has been promoted to Captain. He is an Army intelligence
officer serving in New Caledonia in the South Pacific.
Mrs. Francis Alears,
Whitney St. Kaukauna, received two letters Monday from her husband who was
liberated from a German prison camp on May 9. He had been held in the camp
since November of 1944. He is currently in a hospital in France and will be
home soon he writes.
Joseph Niesz was
elected captain of the St. May’s 1946 boxing squad by his team mates at the
boxing banquet. Letters were awarded to 16 members of this year’s team. This was the first year St. Mary’s had a
team. They participated in five matches, winning three and losing two.
Joseph
Foegen is valedictorian of this year’s class with an average of 95.2.
Lawrence
Gerend,
salutatorian, with an average of 94.871.
