3 More Young Men To Be Called To Camp By July 1st

With the national defense effort steadily gaining momentum, and more training camps constructed and enlarged, quotas for young men to take military training under the selective service program are expected to be increased. According to word received by the Allamakee draft board, this county will be called upon to provide 53 additional men by the first of July, most of whom are expected to be drafted.

An order for five more registrants to take a year’s military training at Ft. Des Moines was received by a the local selective service board last week and is not included in the proposed quota of 53 more men.

The men will leave on April 15 and those drafted to fill the order are Leo Robinson of Harpers Ferry whose local order number is 177; Walter Burt of Waukon, 181; Ervin Bockhause of near Dorchester, 221; Duwayne Bulman of Postville, 262; and Arthur Nierling of Union Prairie, 268.

Leaving today by bus for Ft. Des Moines were two young men as replacements for trainees who were rejected in a previous order. They are Eugene Lee of West Ridge, a volunteer; and Albert Britt of near Dorchester, a draftee.

Joe Freeman of Postville, who left Wednesday of last week with another group of men, was rejected at camp because of a slight physical shortcoming but as yet an order for a replacement in his case has not been received.

Leaves for Honolulu

Lawrence “Bud” Anderson, ensign in the U. S. Navy, and son of Mr. and Mrs. A. R. Anderson of Waukon, has been called to duty aboard a transport ship, “The Anders,” to sail from San Pedro, Calif., for Honolulu where he joins the officers of the battleship “Arizona” which is stationed in Pearl Harbor.

Ensign Anderson visited here recently after completing a reserve officers course at Northwestern University, ad then departed for the west coast, with his classmate, Ensign Donald Steele.

~Allamakee Journal and Lansing Mirror, April 9, 1941
~transcribed by Ann Krumme

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

A Poem

We have all read and heard of the soggy mud our fighters encounter in the isles of the Southwest Pacific area.  This condition has led Private Dick Hale to compose the following poem which we pass along to our readers: 

NEW GUINEA'S GOT IT

Are you looking for bugs or flies,
Any color, shape or size?
Anything that crawls or flies?
New Guinea's got it !

Want some heat that'll make you sweat
Sweat until you're soaking wet,
Heat that makes you over-het?
New Guinea's got it !

Could I interest you in a spider bite,
A big one to keep you awake at night
And make you mad enough to fight?
New Guinea's got it !

Looking for mud, the gooie kind,
Searched everywhere but no can find
Fellow, you can rest your mind --
New Guinea's got it !

Could be there's something else you seek,
Well, drop in sometime and spend a week,
New Guinea's got it !

~Postville Herald newspaper clipping hand dated 1944, from her mother's scrapbook collection
~transcribed by Mary Durr

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

Soldier on Leave

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

Allamakee War Dead

According to figures released this week Allamakee County has lost 34 men in the world struggle to date. Men who called Postville their home and who have given their lives in this war include the following: Henry Barnholtz, returned flyer from Italy, killed in railroad wreck while enroute back to camp after furlough; Charles Bloxham, army, killed in action in New Guinea; Roland Erickson, navy, killed aboard the battleship California in Lingayen Bay, Philippine Islands; Wayne Green, air corps, killed in England; Howard Humphrey, air corps, killed in flight over Germany; Russell Johnson, army, killed in action in New Guinea; Carleton Kenney, navy, killed in sinking of his ship in the Atlantic area; Robert Kneeland, navy air corps, killed in action at Biak Island in southwest Pacific; Donald Koth, army, killed in action in Italy; Donald Lawson, army, killed in action in New Guinea; Andrew Oelberg, army, killed in action in Italy; Lyle Poesch, navy died in hospital in Illinois.

~newspaper clipping, hand-dated 1945, from the scrapbook of Nina Swenson
~transcribed by S. Ferrall

The total list of Allamakee county's known World War II dead as of February 15, is 37, according to information received from the war records division of the Iowa Department of History and Archives, Des Moines. The casualty list for all of Iowa is 7,268. Seventy-one names have been added since January 1, most of them being men previously reported as missing in action, with accidental death accounting for the rest.

~newspaper clipping, hand-dated 1945 transcribed by M. Durr, from her mother's collection.

Military News

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

OUR BOYS with the COLORS

Corporal Gates Williams is now stationed in Innsbruck, Austria, and tells of his interesting experiences in the following letter under date of June 6:

Dear Bill – I have thought of you and the folks back home many,many times since I arrived overseas. I doubt if many of the home town folks have any idea where I have been, and what I have seen. I know I have written very few letters, for which I am not proud. But because of one thing and another, I just didn't do it.
I have seen a lot of country that I wish everyone could have seen, only under different circumstances. Much of it is beautiful, and some that was beautiful has been destroyed beyond repair. Our Division has been the big spear-head for many of the 7th Army drives, and I have seen the towns burning brightly as we passed through them. Those are some of the things that weren't so beautiful.
I could go on for hours about the things I have seen but I would rather tell of one or two things that stand out above the rest. One thing I might mention is the concentration camp which I saw. It was by far the worst thing I have ever seen or dreamed about in my life. I rather doubted some of the stories about them while I was in the States, but I have had to change my mind after seeing some of these things we all heard about. I am enclosing two snapshots taken of some of the bodies there.
(Pictures Gates sent show one body severed in twain, while in the other picture a group of guards watch Germans digging graves in which to bury the victims. Horrible!)
The other outstanding thing was being present at the signing of the surrender papers for all German troops fighting on the French First and U.S. Seventh Army fronts. It was a big night for us! The whole city of Innsbruck lifted the black-out for the first time in years, and I must say it was really something to see a light in a window again, after not seeing any since we entered combat in southern France.
Since we have been here in Innsbruck we are living in swell apartments. They are all the latest modern design and it's just like one you'd find in a big city back home. The only worry we have is what they are going to do with us. So far, we are just sitting around here and doing the same things we did in camps back home. I doubt it if will last much longer though. They seem to be moving things plenty fast from over here. I had almost given up getting the “good old home town paper” but yesterday about ten copies of the Herald caught up with me here. I haven't quite had time enough to read them all, but I will. Since my folks have moved, the Herald is about my only source of news from the home front. Thanks a million for sending it, Bill, and that goes for all the rest who have done their bit. It is really appreciated.
By the way, Bill, I hope you received the box I mailed quite some time ago. It had things taken from a German Q.M several hours after it was captured. As always, GATES.
(Yes, Gates, the box of souvenirs arrived and in the copies of the Herald still to reach you, you'll find our acknowledging receipt of same. Thanks again. We'll be seeing you. Bill)

Private Leo Kruse, son of Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Kruse of near Hardin, writes us as follows from Camp Livingston, Louisiana, under date of June 18:
Dear Bill – Well, here it is my 10th week of training and I haven't written you a letter. I have been receiving the Herald regularly and appreciate it very much. I want to thank you, and all those folks back there who make it possible for all of us boys in service to read the news from home.
I am in my tenth week of training, as I said, and have six more years to go. Then I'll be all set for the Japs or for the army of occupation. This infantry training is tough! When they say you really get worked in the army, they are right! However, the more we get and the harder we work, the sooner this nasty thing will be over. And then all of the boys will be able to come home again. I have had a few weeks training in heavy weapons company and transferred from there into infantry division. So far I have had training or just what is expected of an infantryman, rifle training, automatic rifle, machine gun and mortar. We are being trained to use these weapons in what is called our specialized training cycle.
In four weeks we “brown”, when we get into that, we know that our training here is about over and we are about to ship out. Louisiana is quite some country! Hot and raining most of the time! So far, as long as I've been here, it hasn't rained too awfully much. But now our hot and rainy season begins.
Well, Bill, I hope you and all the folks around Postville are well, and thanks again for the Herald. As ever, sincerely, LEO.

Private Gerald D. Schroeder, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed F. Schroeder, is now stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky and writes to us as follows:
Dear Bill – Time permits me tonight to write you a few lines about Fort Knox and what I am doing here. This week starts my ninth week of training, the first seven of which were spent in infantry training. I didn't like that too much. It consisted of road marches, night problems, the shooting of the MI Rifle, the 30-caliber machine gun, and the U.S. Carbine. We also had a little practice firing the “bazooka”, rifle grenades, and also the hand grenades. The eighth week started out work in D & M (driving and maintenance). Our first week in D & M consisted of driving jeeps and trucks. There is one thing I'd like to get after this war, and that's a jeep. Those little puddle jumpers will go over and through any kind of terrain.
This week we are going to learn to drive the half-truck and light tank. Some of the fellows have driven the light tanks already and eveyone of them says they're really nice riding. They have two Cadillac motors in them. They weigh between 23 and 24 tons and use the hydromatic shift. (And what more could you ask for). Next week we are to drive medium tank, which weighs about 34 tons. This tank I quite a bit different from the light tank, in as much as it is really tough to shift. The shift is practically the same as on a heavy truck. Yes, we are really learning things here! They really throw it at you fast. Some of it goes in one ear and out the other, but most of it “takes” (that is, you hope it does).
As to the weather down here – I can think of better places I'd rather be. Really, though, all kidding aside, the weather down here is the most uncertain I have ever come in contact with. If it isn't hot and dusty, its raining, and if it isn't raining, it's colder than heck. I can advise you that if you ever want a nice summer vacation, don't come to Kentucky, because you'll be disappointed! Enough about the weather.
The food down here is exceptionally good except for the beans we get every Thursday. As I said, the food is good, but we don't get enough of it. We have one man in our Company who can really stow the food away! He's the first person in the mess hall and the last one out. They finally put him in Section VIII.
Well, Bill, I guess I could ramble on all evening telling you of my experiences, but what I really wrote you for was to thank you for the copy of the Postville Herald which faithfully reaches me every Friday afternoon. It seems so good to hear news from the old home town. Again, I thank you and all who make it possible for us to receive the Herald. Love, GERALD.

From Great Lakes, Illinois, where he is now in boot training, comes the following letter from Robert Pearson of this city:
Dear Bill – I presume the folks have given you my address but I had better play safe and send it to you myself. After all, I'm just as anxious to hear all of the home town news as anyone in the service. This is my second week here and we are well under way with our training. They are really shoving us along. We have done a lot of things in our short time here that most companies don't do until around their fifth week. I just hope we can keep moving this fast, so we can quit wearing these boots. They are really a bother.
This Navy life isn't so bad. The chow is plenty good. The only thing I don't like is washing my own clothes and getting up at 5:30. Sundays they are good to us and let us sleep until 6. I was fortunate in being able to see Leon Letchford every day last week. His barracks were very close to mine. It is really great to see a guy from home when you are in a place like this. He went home on last Saturday, so our visits were cut sort of short.
Well, Bill, I had better close for now, and get in a little work before “lights out”. I will appreciate the Herald very much if you will send it here to me. As ever, BOB.

S-Sgt. Charles E. Anderson, whose wife is living with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George C. Sebastian at Postville, Iowa, has been awarded the Certificate of Merit as a recognition of conspicuously meritorious and outstanding performance of military duty, says the Waukon Democrat. The citation, which is for duty in the European theater of war, was signed by Major General W.M. Miley and reads as follows:
During the period 2 January 1945 to 8 May 1945 S-Sgt. Charles E. Anderson assumed command of his platoon in the absence of the platoon leader and platoon sergeant. He led his platoon through the most difficult periods with outstanding success. His excellent performance of duty was in keeping with the proudest traditions of the armed forces. (Signed) W.M. Miley, Major General, U.S. A., commanding.
S-Sgt. Charles E. Anderson is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ole C. Anderson of Waukon, Iowa.

~Postville Herald, ca July 2, 1945
~transcribed by Connie Ellis
~transcriber's notes:
1. 'Our Boys with the Colors' was a weekly column that appeared in the Postville Herald during World War II. William J. Klingbell was the editor of the newspaper and he is the “Bill” that each of the letterwriters wrote to.
2. I believe Gates Williams was the son of Victor and Frances (Gates) Williams and his full name was Frank Gates Williams.

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