Local World War Veteran Enlists in Present Conflict

Edward L. Burdick of this city became the first World War I veteran of this community to volunteer for duty in the present war this morning when word reached him from the 7th Army Corps office in Omaha, Nebr., that he had passed his physical and mental tests taken at Des Moines a few weeks ago with flying colors.

Mr. Burdick was a volunteer in the first World War, serving at that time in the infantry of the Students Army Training Corps. He is a charter member of the American Legion Post at Ames. Now awaiting his call to service, Mr. Burdick has been accepted for the Volunteer Officer Candidate service in the infantry branch. At present he is at his home in this city.

~Postville Herald, Wednesday, October 7, 1942
~transcribed by S. Ferrall

Postville Man Killed in Action

The navy Tuesday reported five Iowans are dead and 10 missing as a result of operations during the period from Aug. 13, to Aug 30, inclusive. Among those reported dead was John Shirley McCurdy, ensign, U.S. Naval Reserve, son of Mrs. Otto Fischer, Postville. Listed among the missing was Richard Paul Austin, machinist's mate, son of Chris Austin, Clear Lake.

~Mason City Globe-Gazette, September 9, 1942
~transcribed by S. Ferrall

BOYS IN SERVICE

Following is a list of Allamakee young men who answered the August call for military service, as furnished by the Selective Service Board:

William L. McCormick, Waukon
Robert E. Imhoff, New Albin
Donald H. Stone, Waukon
George W. Thornton, Marquette
Lawrence N. Colsch, Waukon
John R. Schulze, Lansing
James C. Marston, Postville
Roger H. McMillan, Waukon
James L. Faegre, Waukon
Gerald E. Guthneck, Harpers Ferry
Alan J. Beucher, Postville
Dean A. Meyer, Postville
LaMont F. Gericke, Postville
Leo S. Severson, Waukon
Cleon D. Sires, New Albin
Vincent T. Riley, Waukon
Gerald K. Palmer, Waukon
Roland W. Madorin, Postville
James F. Dougherty, Waukon

Those enlisting are:

Charles L. Beucher, Postville
Arnold J. Styir, Lansing
Melvin S. Bell, Waukon

~Allamakee Journal, Lansing, Iowa, 1943
~transcribed by Errin Wilker

Postville Soldier is Wreck Casualty

Indianapolis, Ind (UP) Col Henry T. Tisdale, commandant at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Friday released the names of 24 soldiers, many of them veterans of the Italian campaign, who were killed thursday morning in the head-on collision of the Dixie Flyer and a mail train on the Chicago and Eastern Illinois railroad north of Terre Haute. Included in the list of dead were:
Staff Sgt. Henry W. Barnholts, Violet Barnholts, wife, Postville, Ia.

~Waterloo Daily Courier, September 15, 1944
~transcribed by S. Ferrall

Corporal Lyle Schroeder of the U. S. Marine Corps arrived here Friday to spend a thirty-day leave in the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed F. Schroeder. He had arrived at San Diego, Calif., Marine Base the week before and telephoned his parents to be on the look out for his arrival here. Lyle enlisted in the Marine Corps' "Avengers of Wake Island" group when that unit was formed several years ago.

~Postville Herald clipping dated May 2, 1945
~transcribed by Mary Durr

Stewart Mate 2/c Harry Wheat called home folks, Dr. & Mrs. R.H. Wheat Tuesday morning of this week to inform his parents that he was ready to embark for the Pacific within a short while. Harry, with Boyd Woodmansee, son of Mrs. Fody Woodmansee, will leave together on the Eli Whitney Liberty Ship.

In a recent letter recieved by Miss Bernadine Larkin of Waterville from her brother, Cpl. Michael L. Larkin, Ser. Co. 327, Engr Bn., sent from Germany, dated April 23, 1945, he writes as follows:
Dear Bernadette: Your letter of April 10th arrived yesterday. Glad to know that everyone is well. I am well also and am taking life kind of easy now. There isn't much work to be done as there was a month or two ago, but my name still appears on the Guard Roster as much as ever. I sent a box home today containing a couple of rigles and some bayonets and swords. Also a pair of German boots. I hope the box gets home O.K. It sure has a long way to travel. I would like to pick up a shot gun, so I would have one when i get home. You have probably read in the papers about the slave workers that were burned to death near Gard Delagen. I saw it when some of the bodies were still smoking. It is unbelievable until you actually see it, and then almost too horrible to look at. I guess the Germans GS and the Luftwaffe troops are being held responsible for the atrocity. Two Americans were among the 1,100 that were cremated. Well, I guess this will be all for tonight, so good-bye until the next time.
Love, Mike

Following are excerpts from a letter received by Mrs. Dale Goltz from her brother, Pfc. W. C. Campbell, stationed somewhere in Germany, written on the 5th of May:
Hello Sis, well, I finally received some mail from you, it had been over three weeks since I heard from you.
You needn't worry about Dale he won't see combat with one eye; anyway he won't be able to write and tell where he is for at least two weeks or maybe more, depends on where he lands. Yes, I have finally received all of my Christmas packages and they were in good shape too. I got the picture Mother sent and Pat and Bud look pretty good in uniform. Iused to be with the 4th Armored Division, and it is one of the best outfits in the Third Army. They were the second division to be awarded the Presidential citation in history and that ain't hay!
I am going to send my combat infantry badge home so I hope you get it all right. Send me some candy and, if you can get it, send me a couple of rolls of some baby Brownie film, I have a small camera but no film.
How is the weather at home? I suppose it is pretty nice by now, at least I hope so.

~Waukon Republican Standard, Wed. May 23, 1945
~transcribed by Jeanie Hegeman

Missing Plane Sighted in Alps, Says RAF Crew

Wives of 3 generals & an 11 year old girl among the passengers. Five passengers were injured seriously as reported by a radio transmission from the plane.

Temperature at crash site was about 20 degrees, bitter weather & fresh snowstorm where the transport went down were imperiling the survivors

Pilot Capt. Ralph H. Tate, JR
Crew members aboard: 2nd Lt Irving Matthews, Richmond, Va., co-pilot; Sgt. Souis Hill, Portales, N.M. and Staff Sgt. Wayne G. Folsom, Postville, Ia.
All were stationed at Tullin Field, Austria.
Passengers: Brig. Gen. Loyal Haynes; Mrs. Haynes; Col. William C. McMahon, recent chief of staff in Austria; Mrs. McMahon and their 11 year old daughter Alice Mary; Mrs. Ralph H. Tate, wife of Brig. Gen Ralph H. Tate; and Mrs. Alberta Snavely, wife of Brig. Gen. Ralph Snavely, head of the American Air Force in Austria.
Plane was on "administrative" flight from Vienna to Italy, via Munich and Istres Field at Marseille.

~Edwardsville Intelligencer, Edwardsville, ILL; November 20, 1946
~lengthly article was abstracted by S. Ferrall

Former Postville Boy Given Medal In Paris

Private Kenneth Fischer, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Fischer, of Janesville, Wis., former Postville residents, has been awarded the World War II victory medal for his wartime service with the armed forces. He is now stationed at the First Field Command of the American Graves Registration command in the U. S. occupation zone of Germany. The award was made in Paris. Kenneth, who attended the Postville schools before the family moved to Janesville, Wis., is a grandson of Fred Dreier.

~Postville Herald, March 1948
~transcribed by Mary Durr