Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Honor Flight Northland 1
Honor Flight Northland 1
War
II
Stories
from
Flight
1
Honor
Flight
Northland
Edited
by
Patra
Sevastiades
Published
by
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
A
program
of
The
St.
Louis
County
Historical
Society
Duluth,
MN
-
2011
-
Introduction
_______________________________________________________
Honor
Flight
Northland
was
designed
to
bring
World
War
II
veterans
from
the
Northland
to
the
WWII
Memorial
in
Washington,
D.C.,
at
no
cost
to
the
veterans.
Veterans
submitted
applications,
events
were
held
to
raise
funds,
and
planners
painstakingly
worked
out
all
the
details.
On
May
14,
2011,
before
dawn,
one
hundred
three
veterans
walked
into
the
Duluth
Airport.
Nametags,
coffee,
and
doughnuts
were
distributed.
The
plane
lifted
off
at
6:30
am.
At
Reagan
National
Airport,
their
plane
taxied
up
to
the
gate,
and
veterans
were
welcomed
by
a
water
salute
from
two
fire
trucks.
Veterans
disembarked
and
stepped
into
the
terminal.
There,
these
Northland
heroes
were
greeted
by
crowds
of
people
applauding,
hugging
them,
and
shaking
their
hands.
They
were
thanked
for
their
service
so
many
years
ago.
For
many,
this
was
the
most
memorable
moment
of
all.
The
veterans
then
boarded
buses
in
order
to
visit
several
monuments:
the
World
War
II
memorial,
Iwo
Jima
Memorial,
Women
in
Military
Service
Memorial,
Lincoln
Memorial,
Vietnam
War
Veterans
Memorial,
Korean
War
Veterans
Memorial.
Everyone
returned
to
the
Northland
full
of
memories.
At
the
Duluth
Airport,
they
were
met
by
the
cheers
and
embraces
of
friends
and
family
and
the
salute
of
the
Duluth
Honor
Guard.
Following
are
the
individual
stories
of
these
veterans,
the
men
and
women
who
participated
in
the
first
flight
of
Honor
Flight
Northland.
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
collected
and
edited
them.
Many
veterans
were
too
modest,
or
prevented
by
their
wartime
promises,
to
express
the
whole
of
their
stories.
Still,
it
is
a
collection
of
what
could
be
expressed
at
the
time;
there
is
probably
much
more
to
tell.
In
publishing
this
volume,
we
honor
their
service.
Mr.
Andren
served
in
World
War
II.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Army
from
November
14,
1939,
until
May
5,
1945.
He
was
assigned
to
the
77th
Division.
His
rank
was
Staff
Sergeant.
Mr.
Andren
was
born
in
1922,
the
son
of
Axel
and
Christine
(Gustafson)
Andren.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran
recollections
(see
below);
original
entry
on
VHM
website
(see
below)
Left Proctor by Greyhound bus for Fort Snelling. I was at Fort Snelling about a week getting shots and a taste of Army life. Was then shipped out to Fort Knox for my basic training of 13 weeks. From there I was transferred to Camp Campbell for about three weeks and then to Camp Kilmore, New Jersey, for about a week, and then to New York for overseas travel by ship to Oran, Africa, to a tent city, then on to my unit, which was 601 Tank Destroyer Battalion. I was a loader on a Dodge truck with a 37mm [gun], and we had march[ing] orders every night. And when we stopped for the night, the first thing you did was [dig] a foxhole. I dont know to this day if we were going forward or backward. [At a] later date, we got half-tracks with the 75mm [guns], which proved to be not
much better. We got into a tank battle at El Guettar and lost our whole company. We went back and regrouped and we got the M10 tank destroyer with the 3 naval gun. We then were scheduled for the invasion of southern Italy. Again our loss- es were quite heavy. We were in southern Italy for about 4 months until we reached Rome. We were pulled back to Naples and regrouped for another landing on Anzio. We made a beachhead, but it was a long, hard fight. Every night the Germans would bomb us, and the general told us, The ship that brought you here has left, so its up to us to fight or swim. This was another long, hard battle. About three months later, we joined with our troops from the south. Again we were pulled back to Naples to regroup and waterproof our tanks for another landing at St. Tropez, France, with the 3rd Infantry Division. We rolled through southern France with not too much trouble until we got to the border of Germany. Another great battle until we reached Nuremberg. When we got the town secured we held up for a couple of weeks before the next big encounter, which was crossing the Rhine River, taking a 30-ton tank on a pontoon bridge. It was like going down a mountain: the pontoon sank at least 3 or 4 feet. The next place was the Siegfried Line of concrete formation and pillboxes with the German 88, and they sure knew how to use them. Our next big city was in Salzburg, Austria.
On
May
8,
the
war
ended.
This
is
no
way
the
whole
story,
but
it
will
give
you
some
idea
of
the
travel
in
three
years
and
two
months.
Leonard C. Archambeau was inducted into the Army in August 1942. He was a technician fourth class and a tank driver with the 601st Tank Destroyer Battalion, serving in Tunisia and Algeria in North Africa. In his words: "We had 37mm on a -ton Dodge in Africa. It was no match for the German 88. Later, we got halftracks with the old French 75mm. which we called 'Purple Heart boxes.' At El Guettar in Tunisia we met the Germans and lost
heavily. We went back to regroup and got the new M-10 tank with the 3 Naval gun, a fine piece of equipment. The next move was to Sicily and then to Salerno, and again we had many casualties." At Anzio, Italy: "From February 4th to the 24th of May, was all we could do to hold the line. Then we made the break to Rome. Above Rome we were pulled back to regroup and made another landing at St. Tropez, France. From there it was on to the Siegfried Line with a lot of fighting and casualties. The next was crossing the Rhine River on a pontoon bridge. We ended up in Salzburg, Austria, when the war ended." He was separated on October 20, 1945.
Mr.
Balach
served
in
World
War
II.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Army
Air
Forces
from
November
1942
until
1945.
He
was
assigned
to
the
344th
Bomb
Group
in
the
Mediterranean.
Mr.
Balach
was
a
B-26
Marauder
pilot.
He
was
in
Europe
from
January
1944
until
February
14,
1945.
He
participated
in
the
D-Day
invasion
of
Normandy,
the
ultimately
failed
attempt
to
take
a
bridge
at
Arnhem,
the
Netherlands,
and
the
Battle
of
the
Bulge,
among
others.
Mr.
Balachs
brother,
George,
was
a
1st
Lieutenant
in
the
99th
Infantry.
When
he
was
on
furlough,
he
located
Joe
Balach
at
the
Army
Air
Forces
base
20
miles
northeast
of
Paris
sometime
after
the
Battle
of
the
Bulge.
Joe
Balachs
rank
was
Lieutenant.
He
was
decorated
with
the
Air
Medal
with
a
Silver
Oak
Leaf
cluster.
After
World
War
II,
Mr.
Balach
joined
the
Reserves.
He
served
in
the
Reserves
until
1981.
Mr.
Balach
was
born
in
Duluth,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Miles
and
Mary
Balach.
He
graduated
from
high
school
in
1940.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran
account
(see
below)
Pilot B-26 Marauders. Europe January 1944 until February 14, 1945. D-Day, a Bridge Too Far (Arnhem), Bulge, and 53 others. Older brother, George, 1st Lt., 99th Infan- try. After Bulge, furlough to Paris, corral- ed 9th Army Air Forces patches, finally found 344th members and came to our base 20 miles northeast of Paris.
Steve Balach served in World War II. He served in both the European and Pacific Theaters. Mr. Balach joined the Minnesota Naval Reserve on June 15, 1940. He trained at
the Navy Reserve center at Park Point, Duluth, Minnesota, and served on the USS Paducah. His unit was sent to the Navy Pier in Chicago in November 1940. They reached the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York, on December 7, 1940.
They were stationed in New York for 6- 7 months and performed shore patrol duty. Then they were assigned to Little Creek Base in Norfolk, Virginia. They were there when Pearl Harbor was bombed. After December 7, 1941, Mr. Balach helped train Navy personnel for manning the guns aboard Merchant Marine ships; they trained on Chesapeake Bay on board the Paducah. He did this until late 1942. Then he went to Syracuse, New York, where the General Electric factory had built new turbo electric steam destroyer escorts. He was assigned to serve as chief on the USS Liddle.
His
unit
brought
troops
to
Swansea,
Wales,
to
Gibraltar,
and
to
Bizerte,
Tunisia.
He
was
then
assigned
to
service
in
the
Pacific
Theater.
He
was
involved
in
inva- sions
of
the
Philippines
and
the
Battle
of
Ormoc
Bay.
He
helped
transport
Austra- lian
troops
in
the
South
Pacific.
His
ship
was
hit
by
a
kamikaze
in
December
1944.
After
the
war,
Mr.
Balach
served
in
the
Naval
reserve
for
six
years.
Mr.
Balach
was
born
in
Duluth,
Minnesota,
in
1923.
Source: Interview with Mr. Balach; Veterans' Memorial Hall Veteran History Form
Mr. Ballou served in World War II in the European Theater. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 until 1946. Mr. Ballou grew up in Duluth and graduated from Central High School in 1941. He studied music for one year at Duluth State Teachers College before enlisting in the Army in October 1942. He continued to study for another year until he was called up in June 1943. He was initially assigned to the U.S. Army Air Forces. In July 1943, he took basic training in Lincoln, Nebraska, where
he stayed and was part of the Star Unit. In November 1943, he was transferred to an Army engineering program at Los Angeles City College, part of the Army Specialized Training Program (November 1943 - March 1944). He was sent to Camp Roberts, California, and became part of the 89th Infantry Division, which was sent to Camp Butner, North Carolina, in June 1944, for further training. Mr. Ballou was also an Army musician; he played clarinet and sang vocals. In January 2, 1945, Mr. Ballou was sent overseas to Europe as part of the 89th Infantry Division. There he served as a member of the military police. He was in Germany when the Germans surrendered. He and his unit sat waiting on the banks of the Elbe River for a Russian unit to meet up with them. As they sat waiting, some of the American servicemen were given furloughs, and Mr. Ballou was one of them. As a result, he was in Paris on May 8, 1945, VE-Day, when the war in Europe ended with the German sur- render. As an amateur photographer, he recorded scenes of French citizens mingling with American troops; the crowds that filled the Champs-lyse; and celebrations of the end of the war. He recorded ceremonies that day at the Arc
de
Triomphe
along
with
the
famed
Eiffel
Tower.
Mr.
Ballou
later
visited
the
Tomb
of
the
Unknown
Soldier
and
photo- graphed
the
cathedral
in
Rouen,
France,
which
survived
the
war.
After
the
war,
Mr.
Ballou
was
a
member
of
the
Occupation
Army
in
Germany.
He
served
as
an
Army
musician,
playing
clarinet
with
the
89th
Division
Band
and
singing
in
the
vocal
quartet.
Following
his
discharge,
Mr.
Ballou
returned
to
Duluth
and
helped
the
government
of
St.
Louis
County,
Min- nesota,
establish
and
run
its
print
shop
and
microfilm
operations.
He
later
worked
in
the
purchasing
department.
Ballou
was,
like
many
GIs,
a
collector
of
artifacts
he
came
across
during
the
later
days
of
the
war.
His
finds
included
postcards,
photos,
and
French
and
Ger- man
currency.
Mr.
Ballou
was
born
on
a
farm
in
Mower
County,
Minnesota,
in
1923,
the
son
of
Sidney
and
Josephine
Ballou.
Source: Veterans' Memorial Hall Veteran History Form; veteran's account (see below)
Drafted in 1943. Trained at Camp Gordon, Georgia, until December 5, 1944. Left New York harbor on Queen Mary December 10, 1944, and arrived in Scotland on December 16, 1944. Spent time in France, Germany, and Belgium. July 19, 1945, left France on the Gen. Hershey, through the Panama Canal, to Manila, Philippines, arriving August 29, 1945. Spent 6 months there; arrived Oakland, California, March 3, 1946. Took train to Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, where I got my honorable discharge, then returned to my home in Duluth, Minnesota.
Mr. Bauman served in World War II. He was inducted into the Army on Sept- ember 8, 1944. He was a Staff Sergeant and an Infantryman and Ordnance supply NCO with the 94th Reconnaissance Troop, 94th Infantry Division, serving in the Saar- Moselle Triangle and in Czechoslovakia and Germany. His unit's primary assign- ment was to make sure no German troops got through between the main U.S. forces. He was pulled out of the front and sent to Dusseldorf, Germany, for mop-up and occupation service. After VE day, he was sent to Pilzen [Pizen], Czechoslovakia, until Russian forces took over there. He
then
moved
to
Augsburg,
Germany,
where
the
94th
was
deactivated,
and
he
was
then
assigned
to
1st
Infantry
Division,
701st
Ordnance
(LM)
Company.
He
was
discharged
on
July
26,
1946.
Mr.
Bauman
received
the
Good
Conduct
Medal,
the
European-African-Middle
East
Campaign
Service
Medal
with
two
bronze
battle
stars,
the
Army
of
Occupation
Service
Medal
(Germany),
the
World
War
II
Victory
Medal,
and
two
overseas
service
bars.
Mr.
Becker
served
in
World
War
II
in
the
European
Theater.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Army
from
April
20,
1943,
until
December
6,
1945.
He
was
assigned
to
the
355th
Engineer.
Mr.
Becker
was
decorated
with
the
Victory
Medal,
the
European-African- Middle
Eastern
Theater
Ribbon
with
Silver
Battle
Star,
4
overseas
service
bars
(Normandy,
Northern
France,
Ardennes,
Rhineland
and
Central
Europe),
and
the
Good
Conduct
Medal.
Mr.
Becker
was
born
in
1924
in
Saxon,
Wisconsin,
the
son
of
Carl
and
Nelda
Becker.
He
was
assigned
to
the
USS
Dobbin
(AD- 3).
His
rank
was
Torpedoman
2nd
Class.
Mr.
Berg
was
born
in
1925
in
Proctor,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Olai
L.
and
Betty
Berg.
Source:
Veterans'
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran's
account
(see
below)
A young kid who liked airplanes and built models had a chance to join Marine Air. I was 16 yearsmoved my age up one year. Not much of a story.
Mr.
Bianco
served
in
World
War
II
in
the
European
Theater.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Army
from
1944
until
April
23,
1946.
He
was
assigned
to
the
65th
(Battle-Axe)
Infantry
Division.
His
rank
was
Corporal.
Mr.
Bianco
was
born
in
1925
in
Duluth,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Joe
and
Annetta
Bianco.
Source: Veterans' Memorial Hall Veteran History Form; 65th Infantry Division article
The 65th Infantry Division landed at Le Havre, France, on January 21, 1945. It then went to Camp Lucky Strike, where it trained until March 1. In March, it advanced to relieve the 26th Infantry Division. It defended the Saar River from Orscholz to Wadgassen, then crossed the Saar at Dillingen to capture Saarlauten. It proceeded to capture Neunkirchen, then crossed the Rhine River at Oppenheim. In
April,
the
65th
took
Langensalz,
Struth,
and
Neumarkt.
In
late
April,
it
crossed
the
Danube
and
pressed
on
to
seize
Regensburg
and
then
Passau.
It
crossed
the Inn River in early May and occupied Linz, Austria. On May 9, the 65th met up with Russian Allied troops at Erlauf.
Mr.
Bloomer
served
in
World
War
II
in
the
European
Theater.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Army
from
May
9,
1944,
until
February
12,
1946.
His
rank
was
Private
1st
Class.
Mr.
Bloomer
was
decorated
with
the
Combat
Badge,
2
Purple
Hearts,
and
a
Dis- tinguished
Unit
Citation
for
action
in
the
Colmar
Pocket.
Mr.
Bloomer
was
born
in
Duluth,
Min- nesota.
Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, Germany, the line between Russian and British territory
Mr.
Bonkrud
served
in
World
War
II
in
the
European
Theater.
He
joined
the
Minnesota
Army
National
Guard
in
January
1941.
A
month
later,
on
February
10,
1941,
his
unit
was
activated
for
federal
service.
He
became
part
of
the
Army
34th
Infantry
(Red
Bull)
Division.
This
was
the
first
American
army
unit
sent
to
the
European
Theater
during
World
War
II.
On
January
15,
1942,
Mr.
Bonkrud
boarded
a
boat
for
Northern
Ireland
where
he
was
trained.
The
34th
Division
was
then
stationed
in
North
Africa
in
November
1942,
during
Operation
Torch.
Mr.
Bonkrud
served
as
driver
for
his
Division
Commander
during
the
entirety
of
the
African
campaign.
Once,
in
Tunisia,
the
division
commander
and
Mr.
Bonkrud
drove
General
Patton
to
a
spot
so
that
he
could
watch
the
battle
on
Hill
609
unfold.
After
the
fighting
in
Tunisia
had
ended,
Mr.
Bonkrud
was
assigned
to
be
General
George
Marshalls
driver.
In
September
1943
his
unit
invaded
Italy,
landing
at
Salerno
and
later
hitting
the
beach
at
Anzio.
He
was
with
the
34th
Division
when
it
nearly
captured
Monte
Casino.
He
served
as
driver
for
his
Division
Com- mander
for
the
entirety
of
the
Italian
campaign.
Mr.
Bonkrud
was
discharged
in
October
1945.
His
rank
was
Technical
Sergeant.
He
was
decorated
with
the
Division
Commen- dation.
Mr.
Bonkrud
was
born
in
Wisconsin
in
1920,
the
son
of
Dave
and
Thelma
Bonkrud.
Source:
Veterans
Hall
Memorial
History
Form;
veterans
reminiscences
(see
below);
Driving
History:
An
Interview
with
Lyle
Bonkrud
by
David
Beatty
Things were kind of slow in the winter of 1940, but the draft was on and Lyle Bonkrud had a suspicion that his number was going to come up soon. Lyle was working in Minnesota, so he decided to
beat the draft and, following his cousins lead, enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard in January 1941. Lyle is second-generation Norwegian, as were many of the men in his outfit, so it was more like an extension of the Sons of Norway fellowship than the Army. But then President Roosevelt mobilized his unit on 10 February 1941, and it became part of the 34th Infantry Division, known as the Red Bulls after the red longhorn steer shoulder patch insignia designed in 1917 Texas during operations against Pancho Villa. Lyle deployed to Louisiana where the Red Bulls took part in the famous Louisiana maneuvers. One day in Louisiana a call came in from Division headquarters to Lyles company requesting a cross-country driver. Lyles commander knew he could drive and was one of the older (i.e., more grown-up) kids, so volunteered him, and Lyle became the driver for the 34ths Chief of Staff, Colonel (later, General) Norman E. Hendrickson. While [Lyle was] driving Hendrickson through Alexandria, a child bolted out in front of the command car, and Hendrickson rather needlessly yelled at Lyle to watch outin Norwegian which Lyle spoke fairly well! Lyle got the job permanently. The Red Bulls performed quite well in the Louisiana maneuvers, serving under the overall command of General George Patton. On December 7, 1941, the day that will live in infamy, Lyle had driven the division commander, Major General Russell Hartle, to a reception in Leesville in Hartles new private vehicle, a Packard Clipper. When word came in of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hartle ordered Lyle to drive the 50 miles back to division HQ at Camp Claiborne as fast as the new car would go. General Hartle kept shouting, Faster, sergeant, faster! Lyle was only a buck private, but he still hit 90 miles per hour across Louisiana.
Lyles outfit was immediately ordered to Europe as a show of support for Amer- icas new ally, Great Britain, and thus became the first U.S. Army unit sent overseas in World War II. Lyle embarked with elements of his division on 14 January 1942 and sailed from Brooklyn for Northern Ireland the very next day. Lyles conveyance across the stormy winter waters of the North Atlantic was the luxury cruise ship RMS Strathmore. The P&O liner had been converted to a troop carrier in 1940 and held over 4,500 menalthough designed to carry only 1,100 passengers and 500 crewso there was not much luxury! Lyle recalls that the food was horrible, and most of the troops were seasick the entire crossingso much so that it was hazardous to walk on decks slick with vomit. Part of the 133rd Infantry Regiment constituted many of the troops on board. Lyle and the 34th landed in Belfast on 26 January 1942 and were met by a delegation of British military brass and civilian officials, including the Governor General and the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. The 34th went to [Northern] Ireland with the old WWI style tin helmets, leggings, and British-made Enfield rifles, and were equipped once there with inferior British artillery. Duty largely involved training and showing the flag for the Brits. Lyle saw General Hartle in a jeep once with the Queen of England going up to a hilltop observation post to watch a firepower demonstration, and the general had his arm around the Queen no doubt to steady her on the rough ride up the hill! Duty in Northern Ireland was not all workLyle saw a fair amount of the countryside and enjoyed the local beer and friendly natives. Lyle recalls going to Scotland with elements of the 34th for field training, and taking the train from Paisley to Edinburgh for a day. Lyle reports that many British families would invite American soldiers over for Sunday dinnerand that the Americans would
raid the mess tent for treats to bring. The Brits were particularly fond of Spam . . . which the Yanks were glad to get rid of! The 34th was training in [Northern] Ireland for a raid on the Cherbourg peninsula a la Dieppe, but that operation fortunately never took place. Major General Charles Ryder took over as the division Commanding General in May 1942, and Lyle became his driver. Lyle recalls when Ryder created the first battalion of U.S. Army Rangers from within the ranks of the 34th Division during training in Northern Ireland. Lyle had a lot of cousins in Norway during the war. One had been in the Norwegian army, and most were in the underground, resisting the German occupation. Lyle knew about an all- Norwegian speaking unit (not part of the 34th) that was training to go into Norway but was eventually sent to France, where they were mistaken for Germans in American uniforms, because they were in the habit of talking to each other in Norwegian! Fortunately for all con- cerned, the error was discovered before any mishap occurred. Lyle went into North Africa in November 1942 during Operation Torch, still driving for General Ryder. During the battle for Hill 609 in Tunisia, General George Patton came up and wanted to watch some of the action, so Lyle and General Ryder accompanied old blood and guts forward. Coming down the hill was a dirty, disheveled, unkempt and unshaven GI, and Patton stopped him. Let me see your rifle, soldier, said Patton. Unabashed, the trooper handed over his M1 rifle. Soldier, do you know that this rifle is so dirty that it would probably blow up in your face if you fired it? asked Patton. General, I dont think so, said the GI. I just killed two Germans with it. Good lad, said Patton with a smile, and patted the soldier on the back and sent him on his way!
10
The first airplanes Lyle saw in North Africa were beautifulpretty silver planes way up in the skythen they came down and strafed him! Turns out they were German and not so pretty after all! After the fighting in Tunisia had ended, General George Marshall came over and Lyle was assigned to be his driver. Lyle recalls that Marshall patted him on the leg and asked, Sergeant, what do you do with your money? Seems Marshall was on a kick encouraging the troops to send their pay home. Later (and just for fun), Lyle flew in an RAF Lancaster on an anti- sub patrol. He was impressed at how low they would fly. Lyle [and his unit] invaded Italy in September 1943, landing at Salerno, and later hit the beach at Anzio with the 34th. The Anzio beachhead had a metal- planked airfield with British RAF Spitfires based on it that served as a magnet for German artillery. The Germans brought in a big railroad gun that would shell the entire beachhead, but concentrated on the rear areasthe front line troops (like Lyle) took pleasure in seeing the 5th Army headquarters routinely shelled! Unfor- tunately, the shelling was deadlyLyle recalls a couple of times when a field hospital was hit and several female nurses were killed. He thinks that the fight at Anzio would have gone much better with Patton in charge. Lyle was with the 34th when they nearly captured Monte Casinothe division took 80% casualties in their infantry battalions during that fighting. He drove Gen. Ryder into Casino during the fighting and was surprised at the absence of anything living above groundall the vegetation had been blown up, and all the troops were in underground bunkers just like in WWI. Ryder had a knack for avoiding shellinghe would tell Lyle to wait until the first shells landedthen drive fast! before the next barrage impacted. Lyle says Ryder learned that in WWI. He was with Ryder one day when an 88 shell landed right in front of the
jeepand failed to explode, luckily for Lyle and Ryder. Brigadier General Bond, the 34th Division Deputy Commander for Operations, was not so luckyhe was killed in Italy, and his body was recovered by the GermansLyle reports that they buried him with full military honors and erected a cross on his grave. Italian women did the laundry for the division commander and his staff (and were paid for the work by the individual soldiers). One time Lyle had to take some troops across a pontoon bridge over the Rapido or Volturno River (he forgets which) to pick up the laundry, and the Germans began shelling as they approached the river. The passengers all jumped out and wouldnt get back in, so Lyle calmly drove across the bridge, picked up the laundry, and came back, only to discover that the bridge had been knocked out. He was late getting the laundry back to HQ. After Rome fell, Lyle enjoyed eating real meat in a real ristoranteand did not complain even when he found out it was horse meat. Beat the heck out of Spam. He hated Spam. He also hated steak and kidney pudding, as well as muttonboth of which he was fed when attached to the British Army. Once, when stuck in the Anzio beachhead, they received a delivery of real eggs. Before the cooks could prepare them, the German Luftwaffe came over and dropped fragmentary bombs on them and broke every one. The remnants were not even fit to be scrambled. To augment their sparse diet at Anzio, Lyle and his buddies would go out at night and shoot stray cows, delivering the carcasses to the mess tent in time for breakfast. Lyle stayed as the CGs driver all the way up into the Alps. After the war, he drove the new CG, General Charles L. Bolte, from northern Italy to Paris to catch a flight to London for a conference. Bolte told Lyle to get to know Paris while waiting for him to return, so Lyle spent a few days doing just that. He had a great time in
11
Pariswith
his
own
vehicle
and
plenty
of
cash.
After
the
war,
Lyle
was
disappointed
that
the
U.S.
did
not
back
de
Gaulle
to
head
Francethinks
he
was
the
best
man
for
the
job.
Gen.
Bolte
wanted
Lyle
to
stay
on
with
him
after
the
war
as
his
driver,
but
Lyle
was
happy
to
return
to
civilian
life.
Bolte
went
on
to
be
a
4-star
general
and
kept
in
touch
with
Lyle
over
the
years.
Lyle
boarded
an
old
troop
transport
in
Leghorn
(Livorno)
in
the
summer
of
1945
on
his
way
home.
The
ship
was
anchored
in
the
Bay
of
Naples
when
the
A-bomb
was
dropped
on
HiroshimaLyle
was
not
at
all
surprised
by
the
event.
While
shore
leave
was
granted
in
Naples,
Lyle
found
it
to
be
a
horrible
placefull
of
crime,
corruption,
prostitutes,
and
thieves.
A
bunch
of
the
boys
on
the
ship
(We
called
it
a
boat,
but
the
Navy
hated
thatwhich
is
why
we
did
it)
decided
to
go
swimming
in
the
bay.
Well,
it
was
quite
a
dive
off
the
ship
into
the
water,
and
Lyle
was determined not to let the kids show him up, so off he went. He tried to do a proper dive, but ended up doing a belly flop. The force knocked him out for a few seconds and left horrible red blotches on his stomach and chest. When he came to, he found himself floating amidst the raw sewage from the city of Naples. The rest of the 34th Division returned to the U.S., and the unit was deactivated back into the National Guard on 3 November 1945. The 34th saw more days of front line combat than any other U.S. outfit in the war517and had the highest casualty rate of any U.S. Army divisionand Lyle Bonkrud was with them every step of the way. Lyle mustered out with twice the points needed to be discharged. He went on to careers in finance and insurance, and is now a hale and hearty retiree. But he still recalls his time in the Army during World War II where he was . . . driving history!
Mr. Burggraff served in World War II in the Pacific Theater. He served in the U.S. Army from April 25, 1945, until June 29, 1946. He was assigned to Battery B, 152nd Airborne Anti-Aircraft Battalion. His rank was Staff Sergeant. He was decorated with the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
Mr.
Burggraff
was
born
in
1927
in
Little
Falls,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Jake
and
Helen
Burggraff.
12
Mr.
Burman
served
in
World
War
II.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Army
from
March
15,
1946,
until
September
13,
1947.
He
was
assigned
to
Battery
C,
284th
Anti- Aircraft
Artillery
Automatic
Weapons
(AAA
AW)
Battalion,
and
was
in
Manila
from
October
4,
1946,
until
May
22,
1947.
His
rank
was
T-5.
He
was
decorated
with
the
World
War
II
Victory
Medal.
Mr.
Burman
was
born
in
1927
in
Ogilvie,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
William
and
Elsie
Burman.
Mr. Carlson served in World War II. He served in the U.S. Navy. He first enlisted at the Naval Reserve Center in Duluth, Minnesota, on January 15, 1940. He was assigned to the 49th Organized Division, 10th Battalion of the U.S. Naval Reserve, where he took on the duties of a gun trainer in a 4 50-caliber gun mount. He was called to active duty on November 3, 1940. He boarded the USS Paducah and proceeded to the East Coast, where he attended diesel school (at Mechanical Industries Technical Institute in Long Island City, New York, 1941) and armed guard gunnery school. In late 1941, Mr. Carlson shipped out as a gun crewmember aboard the M.S. City of New York. During this tour he made a round trip to South and East Africa.
13
Mr.
Caza
served
in
World
War
II
in
the
Pacific
Theater.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Army
and
was
assigned
to
the
15th
Provisional
Truck
Company.
Mr. Caza is a survivor of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He was born in Duluth, Minnesota.
Source: Veterans Memorial Hall Veteran History Form; veterans account (see below)
From basic training in Des Moines, Ia., I was sent to Walker Army Airfield, Fort Hays, Victoria, Kansas. I was assigned to the Celestial Navigation trainer section for on-the-job training. Lots of bookwork to study and learning the set-up of these trainers. They were like silos (4) with a cockpit set up near the ceiling and a mesh
dome with all the stars in it. Navigators were given a mission to fly in the trainer. We had to set up the equipment and monitor the mission to be sure he was on track. Very interesting! At our field, a B-29 and crew would arrive and be gone over before going to the Philippines. Crew would each be given a physical, and pilots and navigators each had to fly missions in the ground trainersCMT and LINKrest of crew were check on their jobs. The plane was completely gone over by our mechanics and in about 1 week, all was done and they flew off to South Seas and another plane and crew would come in and whole procedure would start again. Toward last months of 1945, radar was put in the planes, so our trainers were now obsolete. Ive never regretted my 2 years of servicelearned a lotmet lots of nice people.
Mr. Collins served in the Korean War. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952 until 1955. He was assigned to the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division, which served in Korea. His rank was Staff Sergeant.
Mr.
Collins
was
born
in
1932
in
St.
Cloud,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Warren
Collins.
He
graduated
from
high
school
in
1952.
Mr. Coyer served in World War II. He served in the U.S. Navy from spring 1945 until fall 1947. He was assigned to participate in the V-5 Pilot Training Program. (The program was developed to develop Naval personnel, providing
students with a college education and emphasizing a Naval aviation core curriculum.) He was assigned to Naval Air Station Livermore, California, and Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Mr. Coyer
14
adds, I thank the Navy for all they taught me. His rank was Midshipman. Mr. Coyer was born in Albert Lea, Min- nesota, in 1927, the son of Lester and
Mr. Cusick served in World War II in the Pacific Theater. He served in the U.S. Navy from Nov- ember 1942 until March 1946. He was trained at Torpedoman School at the Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island, and then at the Naval Submarine Base, New London, Connecticut. He was assigned to Fleet Records and did a stint with Commander in Chief in the Pacific (CINCPAC). He also served in the post
office
of
a
hospital
on
a
Naval
base
in
California.
His
rank
was
Mailman
3rd
Class.
Mr.
Cusick
was
born
in
Grand
Rapids,
Minnesota.
Source: Telephone interview with Veterans Memorial Hall staff; Naval Torpedo Station, Newport, Rhode Island (see http: //diodon349 .com/torpedoman/tm_stuff/naval_torpedo_ station_newport_rhode_island.htm}
Mr.
Dombrowski
served
in
World
War
II.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Army
from
March
15,
1943,
until
December
6,
1945.
He
was
assigned
to
Company
C,
30th
Infantry
Regiment,
3rd
Infantry
Division.
He
was
wounded
in
action
on
D-Day,
June
6,
1944,
in
southern
France.
His
rank
was
Private
1st
Class.
Mr.
Dombrowski
was
decorated
with
the
Combat
Infantry
Badge,
Purple
Heart
with
cluster,
Bronze
Star
Medal,
Euro- pean-African-Middle
Eastern
Service
Medal
with
four
battle
stars
and
a
bronze
arrowhead,
Fourre
de
Guerre,
Unit
Cita- tion
with
two
clusters,
World
War
II
Medal,
and
the
Medal
of
Occupation.
Mr.
Dombrowski
was
born
in
1923
in
Chisholm,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
John
D.
Dombrowski
and
Maryann
Rutkowski.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form
completed
by
veteran;
original
entry
on
VMH
website
(see
below)
Waclaw Dombrowski of Chisholm was in- ducted into the Army on March 15, 1943. He was a private first class and a rifleman with Company A, 37th Engineer Combat Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, serving in
North Africa, Italy, southern France, the Rhineland, and Central Europe. He was wounded in action on D-Day in southern
15
France on June 6 and Aug. 24, 1944. He returned to duty at the Siegfried Line in Germany and fought through to Salzburg, Austria. He was on occupation duty until he was shipped to the U.S. Mr. Dombrowski received the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Ser-
vice Arrowhead, Combat Infantryman Badge, Distinguished Unit Citation, Euro- pean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Service Medal and three overseas service bars. He was discharged on December 6, 1945.
Mr. Dotlich served in World War II. He served in the U.S. Navy. He was as- signed to the USS Zane (DMS-14). His rank was Seaman 1st Class.
Mr.
Dotlich
was
born
on
August
6,
1923,
the
son
of
Mike
and
Sophie
Dotlich,
in
Bo- vey,
Minnesota.
1714th
Signal
Service
Company.
He
served
in
the
Atlantic,
in
Trinidad,
as
part
of
the
defense
of
Allied
shipping
from
German
U-boat
attacks.
He
served
in
the
Pacific,
in
the
Ryukyu
Islands,
including
on
Okinawa.
Mr.
Dotlich
was
stationed
overseas
and
made
his
way
home
by
taking
one
bus,
five
trains,
three
airplanes,
and
four
boats.
His
rank
was
Private
1st
Class.
Mr.
Dotlich
was
born
in
1920
in
Bovey,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Sophie
and
Mike
Dotlich.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veterans
account
(see
below)
Mr. Dotlich served in World War II in the Atlantic and the Pacific. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces from July 18, 1942, until January 10, 1946. Mr. Dotlich was assigned to the
Never stationed in States. Transportation: bus (1), train (5), air (3), boat (4). Home- bound had to have 100 points to get 1st boat out of Okinawa. I had 97 with 1 Battle Star, so was on the next one. Cities: Minneapolis Cheyenne New Orleans Port of Spain Miami Sacramento Salt Lake City San Francisco Honolulu Naha Seattle Camp McCoy St. Paul.
16
Mr. Eng served in World War II in the South Pacific. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from February 7, 1944, until February 14, 1947. He was assigned to the 4th Air Wing, Marine Aircraft Group 33. His rank was Corporal.
Mr.
Eng
was
born
in
1925
in
Duluth,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Milton
and
Dora
Eng.
Mr. Engen served in World War II in the European Theater. He served in the U.S. Army from approximately November 1942 until February 1946. He served with the 10th and 20th Armored Division Headquarters in Europe and the United States. His rank was Private 1st Class. He served as an orderly for General Kenneth Alt- house, General Robert Grove, and Major General Orlando Ward.
He
was
one
of
the
liberators
of
the
Dachau
Concentration
Camp
in
Dachau,
Germany,
and
he
participated
in
the
Battle
of
the
Bulge.
Mr.
Engen
was
decorated
with
the
Good
Conduct
Medal.
Mr.
Engen
was
born
in
1919,
the
son
of
Paula
Alvina
Larson
Engen
and
Clarence
Erik
Engen,
in
Austin,
Minnesota.
Mr.
Flesness
served
in
World
War
II.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Army
from
Feb- ruary
1942
until
November
1945.
He
was
trained
as
a
Medical
Technician
and
was
then
assigned
to
the
41st
Hospital
Train,
a
mobile
medical
unit.
He
landed
in
Casablanca,
Morocco,
in
January
1943,
where
the
41st
Hospital
Train
transported
the
sick
and
injured
from
field
hospitals
to
general
hospitals
or
onto
hospital
ships.
In
November
1943,
his
unit
was
sent
to
Naples,
Italy.
They
followed
the
armies
north
once
the
railroad
tracks
were
repaired.
At
wars
end,
they
transported
German
POWs
back
to
Germany.
Mr.
Flesnesss
rank
was
Corporal.
Mr.
Flesness
was
born
in
1920
in
Minneapolis,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Olaf
and
Ethal
Flesness.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran
account
(see
below)
Inducted February 1942. After training as a Medical Technician, I was assigned to the 41st Hospital Train. We landed in Casablanca, Morocco, in January 1943. We transported patients from field hospitals to general hospitals or onto hospital ships. November 1943 we landed in Naples, Italy, and followed the armies north as soon as the tracks could be repaired. When the war ended, we transported German prisoners back to Germany. I was discharged about Nov- ember 1st, 1945.
17
Mr. Gerard served in World War II. He served in the U.S. Army from August 1, 1944, until February 7, 1946. He was assigned to the 36th Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Division, 1st Army.
Mr.
Gerard
was
born
in
1919
in
Buffalo,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Ray
and
Mary
Gerard.
Mr. Gerard served in World War II. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces in the Air Training Command at several dif- ferent bases stateside. He served from July 6, 1943, until February 19, 1946. His rank was Sergeant. Mr. Gerard received college and 10 hours flight training of Piper Cubs in Missoula, Montana. He had basic training in Lincoln Army Air Field in Nebraska, and advanced training in Santa Ana Army Air Base, California. He was assigned to aircraft mechanics at Amarillo, Texas. He attended the B-17 Boeing Factory School in Burbank, California, and later served at the Las Vegas Army Gunnery School, Nevada, the home of the Flying Horned Toads. He did air crewing training in Sioux City, Iowa. When Mr. Gerard attended the B-17 Boeing Factory School, he qualified as an Aerial Engineer and Top Turret Gunner in the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. He was
assigned
to
a
crew
of
ten
and
was
ready
for
overseas
duty
when
the
war
ended.
Mr.
Gerard
was
born
in
1923,
in
Minneapolis,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Louis
P.
and
Eva
L.
Gerard.
He
graduated
from
Willow
River
High
School.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran
account
(see
below)
College training and 10 hours duel flying Piper Cubs, Missoula, Montana. Basic training, Lincoln, Nebraska. Santa Ana, California, classification. Aircraft mecha- nics, Amarillo, Texas. B-17 Boeing Factory School, Burbank California. Served at the Aerial Gunnery School, Las Vegas, NevadaFlying Horned Toads. Air crew training, Sioux City, Iowa. Qualified as an Aerial Engineer and Top Turret Gunner in the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and assigned to a crew of ten. Ready for overseas duty when the war ended.
Mr. Givens served in World War II in the European Theater. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces beginning in 1942. He attended boot camp in Miami Beach, Florida. He was sent to Arlington, Texas, for aerial gun- nery school for six weeks; he went to Amarillo, Texas, for airplane mechanic school for sixteen weeks. Next, we was sent to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he was assigned to a ten-man crew on a B-17
Flying Fortress. He was a top turret gunner. His rank was Staff Sergeant. The crew was sent to Moses Lake, Washington, which had an available 10,000-ft runway. They earned 60 hours of practice time in the air, then were sent to Ephrata, Washington, for a second phase of training. The third phase was in Sioux City, Iowa, where they practiced night flying. The crew passed an air test and was then sent to Grand Island,
18
Nebraska,
where
they
picked
up
a
new
B- 17G.
They
calibrated
the
instruments
and
then
flew
to
Prestwick,
Scotland,
by
way
of
Goose
Bay,
Labrador,
and
Meeks
Field,
Iceland.
There,
their
plane
was
modified.
They
went
by
train
to
an
airbase
in
England.
They
were
assigned
to
the
8th
Air
Force,
452nd
Bomb
Group,
730th
Bomb
Squadron
there.
Their
designated
plane
was
a
B-17F,
and
their
job
was
to
fly
bombing
missions
over
Europe.
Mr.
Givens
and
his
crew
completed
five
missions
over
France
and
Germany.
On
April
12,
1944,
on
their
sixth
mission,
a
technical
problem
brought
their
plane
down
over
the
North
Sea.
Six
men
perished;
Mr.
Givens
was
one
of
four
who
survived.
The
men
were
found
and
picked
up
by
a
British
rescue
crew.
Mr.
Givens
spent
the
next
eight
months
recovering
in
a
hospital.
Mr.
Givens
was
again
on
active
duty
from
1945
until
1948.
Later,
from
1950
until
1951,
he
served
in
the
Korean
War.
Mr.
Givens
was
born
in
1924
in
Eveleth,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Mr.
and
Mrs.
George
Gordon
Givens.
Mr. Gomer served in World War II. He served in North Africa, Italy, and Ger- many. Mr. Gomer served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was one of the Tuskegee Airmen. He began training at the Tus- kegee Army Air Field in July 1942, and in May 1943 he received his wings. He was assigned to the segregated 332nd Fighter Group in Italy and joined the 301st Fighter Squadron. The Tuskegee Airmen pilots were known as the "Red Tail Angels" because of the distinctive markings on the tales of their airplanes. Their mission was to escort bombers as they made raids on German positions. Many of the white pilots they protected did not know that their defenders were African Americans. Mr. Gomer completed 68 successful missions during the war. After the war, Mr. Gomer stayed in the U.S. Air Force. He was still serving there when President Harry Truman desegre- gated the U.S. military. When he retired, his rank was Major. In 2000, Mr. Gomer was recognized by the NAACP. He was selected as a "history maker" by the HistoryMakers Project (Chicago) in 2002. A native of Iowa Falls, Iowa, he was inducted into the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame in 2004. Finally, in 2007, he was awarded the Congressional
Gold Medal, the highest honor that the U.S. Congress can bestow.
Mr.
Gomer
was
born
in
Iowa
Falls
on
June
20,
1920,
and
graduated
from
Iowa
Falls
High
School
in
1938.
He
now
lives
in
Duluth,
Minnesota.
Sources:
"Us
Neighbors,"
Duluth
News- Tribune,
November
5,
1997;
"Local
News,"
Duluth
News
Tribune,
March
10,
2007;
see
also
www.thehistorymakers.cosm
19
Mr.
Grover
served
in
World
War
II.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Navy
from
May
29,
1945,
until
August
15,
1946.
He
was
as- signed
to
the
Naval
Air
Station
Hydraulic
Shop
at
the
Naval
Air
Station
at
Glenview,
Illinois.
His
rank
was
Seaman
1st
Class.
Mr.
Grover
was
born
in
1927
in
Duluth,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Floyd,
Sr.,
and
Dora
Grover.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veterans
account
(see
below)
World War II was no different than any previous war. It involved most every one between the ages of eighteen and thirty- five. The draft started before any of the fighting. It prompted the U.S. to prepare for the inevitable. I was only fourteen when daily reports of invasions were coming over the radio. The young men were being forced to decide their future. Patriotism drove many to enlist in the service. Some were even going to Canada to volunteer in the Royal Army. Many waited until they were called in the draft. The draft compelled all eighteen and over to register, and all were
placed in categories from A-1 to 4-F. Some petitioned the draft board for a deferrable occupation such as farming, while others simply refused to serve due to religious convictions. They were incarcerated for the duration of the war. I experienced the war firsthand as a seaman serving on a light cruiser engag- ing the Japanese Navy in the Asiatic theater of war. I feel I was fortunate to get through it with no physical or psycho- logical scars. Back in the days when I was growing up, most people were stereo- typed as either a city dweller or a country bumpkin. Although our family wasnt engaged in farming, we did live in a remote area of the country. I attended a one-room school a mile from home. Even as first graders, we had to walk to and from the schoolhouse. I completed the eighth grade in 1939, but was unable to attend high school as it was over 5 miles into town, and the district did not provide transportation. Like many young lads at that time, I became a wage earner. Some lads worked on the family farm in preparation for some day taking over. At the age of fourteen, I began a career as a farmhand, working for a monthly salary of $10.00 plus room and board, a job that was seasonal from planting to harvest. During the winter months, I stayed at home hunting and trapping. I was sixteen when Pearl Harbor was bombed. The U.S. was now at war.
20
Wanting to enter the service before I was eighteen required a parents consent, which Mother was not about to give, as a recent convert to Jehovahs Witnesses. She tried her best to persuade my brother and I to conscientiously object to serving on religious grounds. Jobs in town were plentiful due to the number of men leaving for the armed forces. I decided to abandon the farm. I found employment in one of the meat packing plants (Swifts). In September of 1943, I registered for the draft, and by December I had my physical and was inducted into the Navy. I spent boot training in Farragut, Idaho. From there I was sent to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center for mechanical training. It was hard for me to get through a machine shop course due to the small amount of math I had at school. After completing the course, I was selected as part of a group that would be trained in marine engineering. We were sent to Newport, Rhode Island, to learn to operate steam boilers. Upon completing the course, I was assigned to the USS Wilkes Barre (CL 103), which was being built in Camden, New Jersey. After completion of the hull, it was moved to Philadelphia Naval Yard. Here it would be outfitted for armament and radar. We moved aboard to get indoctrinated to shipboard life. We operated the boilers even thought it was moored to the dock. Later, we weighed anchor for a shake- down cruise to Trinidad in the Caribbean, putting the ship and crew through the paces, simulating battle conditions. Then returned to the Philadelphia Naval Yard to complete outfitting and correcting problems. In November of 1944, we set out to pass through the Panama Canal and to Pearl Harbor, where we received orders to proceed to Leyte Gulf in the Philippines, where we were to join the 3rd Fleet as an aircraft carrier escort. Our first taste of combat came as a surprise, as the same day we arrived and
sat at anchor watching an above-deck movie. General quarters blared as the fleet was attacked by suicide planes. We were unprepared for combat, as we had two of our four boilers down or in repair. A ship is most vulnerable to attack when its not moving. But handicapped as we were, the ship surged ahead to produce smoke for a screen to hide the carriers. As soon as the attack started, it was over, as the planes were shot down. Our ship per- formed well as part of a task force whose mission it was to engage the enemy in naval combat and support land troops in their invasion of Japanese-held territory. Our particular assignment was to pro- tect the aircraft carrier from submarines, dive bombers, etc. As soon as one encounter or invasion was secured, we were already engaged in the next. The invasion of Okinawa was one of our last and hardest fought battles. Japan knew that if they could not keep control of that island, their mainland would be vulnerable to attack. Suicide attacks were almost constant, inflicting damage to both sides. Our ship accounted for the demise of seven kamikazes. In one skirmish, they came at us so thick, it was impossible to shoot them all down. Three of them man- aged to break through the anti-aircraft fire and scored hits on the carrier Bunker Hill. A blazing inferno erupted as the planes on deck loaded with bombs and ammunition fueled the fire. Our ship moved alongside to pump water on the flames. As the carrier listed, we were trapped under her gun mounts. We ended up with all the railings on the starboard side torn off and a 12-foot hole in our bow. Hundreds of burnt and wounded seamen were transferred to our ship. The following morning we held funeral services for twelve men, who were buried at sea. There was no hospital ship in the area at that time, so the injured seamen had to remain aboard. The convoy was to undertake a bombardment raid on the mainland of Japan, and only vessels that
21
could
travel
over
30
knots
could
parti- cipate.
Our
captain
secured
permission
to
partake
in
the
raid.
We
steamed
into
Tokyo
Bay
at
full
speed,
with
guns
destroying
harbor
installations.
It
was
more
of
a
demoralizing
maneuver
than
anything,
such
as
the
Doolittle
Raid.
The
war
was
coming
to
an
end,
as
the
atom
bomb
was
dropped.
Our
ship,
the
USS Wilkes Barre, was present with the fleet in Tokyo Bay as the surrender was signed. Our ship remained active after the surrender, as we were designated the flagship of the demilitarizing force, patrolling the Orient. After two-and-one- half years of service in the Naval Reserve, I returned to civilian life.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veterans
account
(see
below)
I had turned 16 years old 5 days before Pearl Harbor was invaded. It was a Sun- day, we had a battery radio so it was only turned on to listen to the news and a few other programs, it was late afternoon before we got the news. I was thinking that why couldnt they have waited a few
more years so I would have been able to help fight the invaders. I had never been farther away from home than the county seat so really wanted to see the world. Two years went by, I turned 18, registered for the draft and before long they called me in. I was able to have my choice between the Army and the Navy, took the Navy, went to boot camp in Farragut, Idaho, took amphibious training in San Diego, Ca., and from there volun- teered for sea duty. Was sent to Treasure Island where we were assigned to take charge of landing boats on the S.S. Afoundria. Landed troops and supplies on Okinawa and at times we wondered if we would live long enough to make it back to the good old USA. My next trip was on the USS Manley DD 74, we had duty around Hawaii, cata- pulting drones (target aircraft) to get the fleet ready for the push into Japan, we were fortunate they (the Japs) did surrender in August so this final chapter didnt have to take place. It would have been a bloody mess so the surrender did save a lot of American lives. Our ship was old so we headed for Philadelphia by way of Panama to have the ship decom- missioned and sold for scrap. Was reassigned to the USS Niagara APA 87, before Christmas of 45 we headed for the Philippines to pick up some troops to bring back, took us 28 days to get there and all the boys had already been brought back, so we enjoyed the continuous rain for a few weeks and finally came back to
22
Pearl
Harbor
where
they
started
getting
the
ship
ready
for
the
Bikini
Atomic
bomb
test.
I
declined
volunteering
for
it
so
worked
my
way
back
to
San
Diego,
Ca.,
on
the
USS
Badoeng
Straits
(CVE
116),
4
hours
on
and
4
off
for
5
or
6
days
in
the
fire
room,
needless
to
say
we
were
tired
out
when
we
got
back.
The
Navy
was
getting
short
on
men
so
they
made
do
the
best
they
could.
So
for
a
farm
boy
who
had
never
been
anywhere
it
was
quite
an
experience.
Back
home
they
didnt
even
have
electricity,
we
got
REA
after
I
came
home
from
the
Navy.
This
program
put
the
nation
to
work
after
the
war
industries
closed
up.
I
walked
2
miles
each
way
to
school and back and sometimes had to use skis because they never plowed the roads on the East end of the county until April. High school was five miles away, no school buses, and the family could not afford to board me in town so I had to be satisfied with 8th grade. I do know the value of a dollar and how hard it was to make a living in the 1930s. Farmers went to town with the horses, cream cans on the sleigh, and if you bought fruit it was frozen by the time you got back to the farm. Nobody considered themselves poor and being that we lived on a farm there was always something to eat.
Source: Veterans Memorial Hall Veteran History Form; veterans account (see below)
After attending several service schools and having had flight training at Jacksonville Naval Air Station in patrol bombers (P.B.Y.s), I was shipped overseas on September 23, 1943. I was attached to Fleet Air Wing One and places I was at were Hawaii, New Hebrides, Guadalcanal, Tulagi [Solomon Islands], Florida Islands [Solomon Islands], and Fiji Islands. Arrived back in the States on March 13, 1945.
Mr.
Hegg
served
in
World
War
II
in
the
Pacific
Theater.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Marine
Corps.
He
was
assigned
to
an
Essex
class
aircraft
carrier,
Marine
Detachment.
He
was
inducted
on
June
30,
1944,
and
was
discharged
on
March
1,
1946.
His
rank
was
Private
1st
Class.
He
was
decorated
with
the
Good
Conduct
Medal.
Mr.
Hegg
was
born
in
1924
in
Orleans,
Minnesota,
son
of
Andrew
and
Anna
Hegg.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veterans
account
(see
below)
During World War II, I was the last of four brothers and three sisters to be at home to help out on the farm. Because of this, I had what was called a 2-C defer- ment. Two of my brothers served all through the war, one in the Air Force and one in the Army. Although I had a deferment, I wanted to enlist. May dad understood, so I cancelled my deferment and enlisted in the
23
Marines. I have never regretted my de- cision. I did very little compared to many who served so much longer and in far more dangerous missions, but Im proud to have been able to serve time in the Marines.
Both of my brothers served the full time of the warand one received the Medal of Honor! They are both gone now, and I am proud of them, and proud to have been able to serve my own time in service for our country.
Rufus
Herrington.
He
graduated
from
Alba
High
School,
Bayou
La
Batre,
Alabama.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veterans
account
(see
below)
Mr.
Herrington
served
in
World
War
II.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Navy
from
July
13,
1942,
until
February
3,
1945.
He
was
assigned
to
SC-512.
His
rank
was
Ships
Cook
1st
Class.
Mr.
Herrington
was
born
in
1924
in
Agricola,
Mississippi,
the
son
of
Ada
and
While aboard SC-512, the skipper came and asked me, as the cook, to make him some eggs Benedict for breakfast. I told him no way was that going to happen. I am the ships cook, not the officers cook. I thought I was going to be in a whole lot of trouble, but no more was ever said or brought up again. All went well after that.
24
1945.
He
was
assigned
to
the
818th
Signal
Port
Service
Company,
7th
Port,
92nd
Chemical
Mortar
Battalion.
He
was
a
Technician
5th
Grade,
a
radio
operator
and
repairman.
His
service
took
him
to
Northern
Ireland,
Scotland,
and
Germany.
Mr.
High
was
decorated
with
the
Good
Conduct
Medal,
European-African-Middle
East
Campaign
Service
Medal
with
one
bronze
battle
star,
American
Campaign
Service
Medal,
and
the
World
War
II
Victory
Medal.
He
was
born
in
Duluth,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Leslie
and
Adele
High.
Mr. High served in World War II in the European Theater. He served in the U.S. Army from December 23, 1942, until November 27,
Mr. Hocking served in World War II in the Pacific Theater. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from January 1943 until December 15, 1945. He had basic training in San Diego, California, and advanced training at Boat Basin, Oceanside, California. He was then sent to New Zealand and was trained on Fiji Island. Subsequently, he saw combat at the Battle of Tarawa (November 2023, 1943), where he was wounded. He was evacuated to Pearl Harbor naval hospital. Subsequently, he was sent to Saipan, Tinian, and Okinawa. His rank was Corporal. Mr. Hocking was decorated with the Purple Heart.
Mr.
Hocking
was
born
in
1924
in
Jackson,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Dewey
and
Mona
Hocking.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veterans
account
(see
below)
Enter camp January 1943 training at San Diego, California. Further training at Boat Basin, Oceanside, California. Over- seas to New Zealand training on Fiji Island. Combat at Tarawa wounded hospital and naval hospital of Pearl Harbor on to Saipan, then to Tinian on to Okinawa. War ended thank goodness. Home in December, 1945.
25
attended
gunners
mate
school
and
then
was
assigned
to
the
LST
244
in
the
Pacific.
He
participated
in
the
invasions
of
Guam
and
Okinawa.
He
was
discharged
in
1945.
His
rank
was
Seaman
1st
Class.
He
was
decorated
with
the
Philippine
Liberation
Medal,
the
Asiatic-Pacific
Medal
with
2
Battle
Stars,
the
American
Defense
Medal,
the
Navy
Good
Conduct
Medal,
and
the
Naval
Reserve
Medal.
Mr.
Hoffman
was
born
in
1919
in
Proctor,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Carl
and
Emma
Hoffman.
Mr.
Hoffman
served
in
World
War
II.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Naval
Reserve
from
November
1937
until
June
1941
on
the
USS
Paducah.
He
was
recalled
in
1943.
He
Sources:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veterans
account
(see
below);
"Bat
Bombs
Away!"
(http://
defensetech.org/2005/06/01/bat-bombs- away);
"The
Bat
Bombers,"
Air
Force
Magazine,
October
1990,
Vol.
73,
No.
10;
Bat
Bomb:
World
War
II's
Other
Secret
Weapon
by
Jack
Couffer,
University
of
Texas
Press,
1992.
26
Wanted
to
be
Marine
flyer,
but
too
short.
Regular
Marines
recorded
me
taller
than
I
was,
so
enlisted
me
December
1942.
Boot
camp
San
Diego.
Radio
School,
Texas
A&M.
Hd.
Marine
Fleet
Air
West
Coast,
X- Ray
Project
(Bat
Bomb).
Overseas
1st
Marine
Air
Wing,
Marine
Air
Group
25
VMR-152
(DC3
transports).
Flew
as
flight
mechanic
over
400
hours.
Flew
wounded
out
of
Palau.
1st
Wing
flew
ground support for U.S. army in Phil- ippines. We flew ground personnel from [illegible] to new air bases. Flew night fighters to [illegible]. Stayed three nights, bombed strip by Nips 1st night, flew to Australia, flew back to Hawaii to pick up new plane, spent September 45 at Admiralty Islands, played baseball.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
original
entry
(see
below);
telephone
interview
with
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
staff
Robert G. Huston entered the Army on Sept. 11, 1944, at Fort Snelling, Mn. He was assigned to Camp J. T. Robinson, Ark., for basic infantry training. In January 1945, he embarked for Europe from New York on the Queen Elizabeth. In early February 1945 he joined the 2nd platoon, 114th Infantry Regiment, 44th Inf. Division. As a Pfc. he served as Rifleman-Bazooker gunner and Scout. In Alsace-Lorraine, France, he was wounded in the left knee and sutured by medics in the field. He continued in combat through Germany, Bavaria and into Austria on VE Day while still only 18 years of age. He returned to the USA on July 20, 1945, via Queen Elizabeth. He was assigned to Company I, 23rd Inf. Reg., 2nd Inf. Division. Promoted to Squad Leader then Platoon Sgt. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, E.T.O. Campaign Service Medal with 2 battle stars, Army of Occupation Service Medal (Germany), American Campaign Service Medal and the WW II Victory Medal. He was given an Honorable Discharge as Sergeant on June 27th 1946.
27
Mr. Hutchinson served in World War II in the South Pacific, specifically, in New Guinea, the Philippines, and Japan. He served in the U.S. Army from December 14, 1942, until January 16, 1946. He was assigned to the 3294th Signal Base Depot Company. His rank was Corporal. He was decorated with the Philippine Liberation Medal with 1 star and the
Asiatic-Pacific
Theater
Service
Medal
with
2
stars.
Mr.
Hutchinson
was
born
in
1923
in
Sheboygan,
Wisconsin,
the
son
of
Archibald
and
Esther
L.
(Redman)
Hutchinson.
the
crew
were
lost;
Mr.
Isaacson
and
five
others
survived,
largely
due
to
the
courage
of
2nd
Lt.
Leonard
Tebbs,
who
managed
to
release
a
stuck
life
raft.
On
March
18,
1945,
their
plane
was
shot
over
Berlin.
One
of
their
engines
was
disabled.
They
knew
they
could
not
fly
back
to
England
in
their
condition.
Instead,
they
flew
east
without
any
maps,
hoping
to
avoid
German-controlled
territory,
hoping
instead
to
reach
Russia
or
Poland.
They
knew
the
Russians
were
advancing
on
Germany
from
the
east.
They
succeeded
in
landing
at
a
Russian- controlled
air
base
near
Kutno,
Poland,
south
of
Warsaw.
His
rank
was
Technical
Sergeant.
Mr.
Isaacson
was
decorated
with
the
European
Victory
Medal,
the
Good
Conduct
Medal,
and
the
Air
Force
Medal.
Mr.
Isaacson
was
born
in
1923
in
Kettle
River,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Isaac
and
Jenny
Isaacson.
Mr. Isaacson served in World War II. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces from May 11, 1943, until November 9, 1945. He was assigned to the 398th Bomb Group. Two times he narrowly escaped death. Once, on January 1, 1945, one of the planes engines caught on fire and the pilot made an emergency landing on the North Sea, 120 miles from land. Three of
Source: Veterans Memorial Hall Veteran History Form; article (see below; reprinted with permission of the Arrowhead Leader)
When Niilo (pronounced Nee-lo) Isaacson left the home farm near Kettle River in 1943, he didnt realize what the next two years would hold for him. By Mothers Day two years later the war in Europe
28
was over, and Niilo had survived two life- threatening experiences. Niilos brothers, Walter, Waino, and his twin brother Hugo, had left the farm earlier. Walter was drafted soon after the war started, said Niilo in an interview in his home near Kettle River last Tuesday. He was sent to New Guinea and became a stevedorehe unloaded ships. Waino went next. He volunteered and was assigned to the infantry. He got wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. He heard a projectile coming, ducked, and he heard it hit a tree. Shrapnel hit him in the belly and he spent a long time in the hospital recovering. My twin brother, Hugo, started in the infantry as an ammunition carrier, but he had flat feet, said Niilo. He couldnt handle walking in the mountains. He got transferred to the medical corps and was stationed on an island in the South Pacific. Niilo was drafted and left home on May 11, 1943, to join the Air Force. Arnie was the last of the brothers to join the war effort. However, he never got into the fighting. Niilo explained that while he was in basic training, he was swinging on a rope over water and the rope broke. His ankle was severely injured. From then on he had a stainless steel ankle. He got a medical discharge, said Niilo. The youngest brother, Reino, did not have to leave home. They had a rule that they wouldnt take all of the boys in a family, they would leave one, he said. Niilo served his time in Europe as an engineer gunner on a B-17 bomber flying from England and bombing various targets in Germany. He and the other members of his crew arrived in England in their bomber 59 years ago this month, unknowing what they were to face in the next four months. Trouble began on their first mission in 1944. We flew our first mission to Stutt- gart on Dec. 9 and one of the engines went out due to a mechanical failure, said Niilo. We made it back, but couldnt stay
with the other planes, we didnt have enough power. Trouble hit again on a mission on Dec. 24. We bombed Koblenz, and flak hit a control cable, said Niilo. We went into a nosedive. The navigator was also hit. But we were able to fly back on automatic pilot. We got back in the afternoon of Christmas Day. We missed Christmas dinner. The plane was repaired, and more bombing missions followed. It was Jan. 1, 1945, when the crew had the first of their two harrowing experiences. One of the engines caught on fire and we had to make an emergency landing I the North Sea, said Niilo. We lost three of the crew. In a written report, crew member Second Lieutenant William F. Jordan of Tarrytown, New York, told the story: The days mission to Magdeburg, Germany, on Jan. 1, started in a routine fashion, but while flying over the North Sea around 7 or 8 a.m., the crew, piloted by First Lieutenant Howard M. Pinner, Candler, North Carolina, found itself in real trouble. A fire started in one of our engines while we were flying with the formation at 5,000 feet. The pilot tried to feather the engine but it was no use. Flames stretched at least 20 feet beyond the wing. We used the fire extinguishers but the fire continued to flare. Then Lt. Pinner attempted to put the flame out by diving at excessive speed. That also proved useless. At this stage the pilot alerted all members of the crew, and everyone prepared for ditching. Each man calmly waited at his position to leave the plane as soon as it struck the water. According to reports from other bombers that were fling above, Lt. Pinner made a magnificent approach over the rough water and set the bomber down as level as possible. The plane, now 120 miles from land, hit the waves and broke in two just behind the ball turret. Within 10 seconds the
29
64,000-pound bomber, with three tons of bombs aboard, sank. During these few seconds the men accomplished wonders: I remember pushing one of the enlisted men out of the radio hatch escape door. The water then poured in over me and I thought it was the end. Somehow, by help of the good Lord, I shot right up from about 20 feet under. When I came up, I found myself next to the planes fin. Immediately, I swam away because I didnt want to be sucked down with it. From his position, co-pilot Second Lieutenant Leonard P. Tebbs, Cheyenne, Wyoming, noticed that the dinghy on his side of the plane had not been released. With complete disregard of being swept down by the path of the front section of the bomber, he turned back and manually set the life raft free. If it wasnt for the heroic deed performed by the co-pilot, all members undoubtedly would have drowned within a few minutes. The tail gunner, Staff Sergeant Glen H. Cline of Albany, New York, and engineer gunner, Technical Sergeant Niilo A. Isaacson, Kettle River, Minnesota, were able to get out at the point where the plane broke. However, Staff Sergeant John E. Furrow, Jr., Roanoke, Virginia, the waist gunner, and Second Lieutenant Warren L. King, Sequim, Washington, the navigator, were not so fortunate and drowned immediately after the plane hit the water. Six of the crew finally climbed into the dinghy. At this time the tail gunner was only about 50 yards from the life raft. For nearly 30 minutes the crew members used every effort to paddle toward Sgt. Cline, but due to the rough sea they were unable to get to him before he was lost. The emergency radio, called a Gibson Girl, must have popped out of the radio room because we found it floating nearby. We paddled after it and unpacked the equipment. The radio operator sent out our position. For at least an hour and a half the wet, cold and sick survivors continued to send out their position by radio. Finally three
P-47 Thunderbolts made an appearance and approached the dinghy at about 500 feet. We all cried for joy when we saw these three friendly planes circle us. The planes flew so low over us on their second pass we could see the pilot waving at us. This was enough assurance to know that we were in safe hands. The Thunderbolts continued to fly over us, and more came to relieve them. Two Lindholm rescue dinghies were dropped within a few yards of the stranded men. They paddled to them and Sgt. Huey climbed into one and Lt. Tebbs climbed into the other. Food, water, cigarettes and protective clothing were available in those two rescue rafts and the men took advantage of all of the items. Just before dark we saw two big British bombers heading our way. Each plane carried a Flying Dutchman lifeboat under its fuselage. One bomber dropped the rescue boat about 75 yards away, but all the chutes on the boat failed to open and it crashed into the water, sounding like a 500-pound bomb. It sank. The other bomber then dropped its boat, and this time there were no mistakes. There was plenty of room for all of us. These lifeboats were equipped with every possible necessity, including two engines, a compass, foodstuffs and cloth- ing. The engineer gunner, after reading the instructions, was able to start the engines and head for England. That engineer gunner was Niilo. We found out that there was a problem with the compass, he said. We had been heading for Germany. We got that to work right and changed our course for England. Jordan went on to tell more about the ordeal: Before long we saw a ship heading our way. It turned out to be a British air-sea rescue launch, and it came alongside to take us on board. When we got on deck, one of its members greeted us with a Happy New Year, yanks! What a
30
greeting that was! Well never appreciate a New Years present like that one. The rescuers took care of us six airmen in tip-top fashion. The bacon and eggs served the survivors were better than any $10 steak at the Waldorf! Later the crew was assigned to another plane and made more bombing runs over Germany. There was one incident in February where they ran out of gas and had to land in Brussels, Belgium, but they refueled and got back to England, and completed more bombing runs on into March. It was March 18 when the crew had their second harrowing experience. We were shot at over Berlin, said Niilo. Our plane had been hit, but we still had two engines and glided to an airstrip and landed. Pilot Lt. Pinner wrote his version of the story: We bombed a target 20 miles north of Berlinan ordnance plant at Orani- enburg. On the bomb run we had a lot of flak. An unexploded missile went through the gas tank of the number two engine. It made a hole so large that all of the fuel ran out of that tank. This created a fire on the wing. The flow of fuel and the wind from the engine caused the fire to wash off of the wing. We feathered the engine because it could get no fuel. With only two good engines, we knew that to try to get back to our base in England was out. We would have been shot down by German fighters or more flak. The decision was made to continue to fly toward Poland and Russia. We flew east with no maps. At that time the Russian armies were driving toward Berlin and advancing rapidly. If we flew too far north or too far south or not far enough, we would land in German- controlled territory. We followed a double-track railroad until we spotted an airfield. It was almost sundown when we circled the field. Our wheels and flaps were down, indicating that we were
planning to land. Red flares were shot towards us. This meant for us not to land, but it was quite late in the day, and this was the only place that looked like it might be suitable to land. The runway did look short. We decided to land. As soon as the wheels touched the runway, I locked the brakes. I looked down and saw cinders and stones flying in all directions. It was then that I knew that this was not a hard- surfaced runway. I then released the brakes because we were about to nose over from the wheels sinking in the mud. I then gave the then three engines full power and held the tail down until the plane slowed. We had plowed the whole runway. The plane stopped with the wheels in the mud and dirt up to the axles. The ball turret on the underside of the plane was touching the ground. When the plane stopped, we got out with our hands held high waving some leaflets that had been given to us at the morning briefing. We were told that the leaflets were in Russian and said, Take us to the American Consul or something like that. Before landing, there was not one person to be seen on the airfield. When the plane stopped, suddenly Russians were coming in large numbers from all directions. They first spoke to us in German to be sure that we were not Germans. A man soon stepped forward who spoke English fluently. We then learned that we had landed at a Russian fighter base near Kutno, Poland, a town south of Warsaw. We stayed for five days while they made sure that we had no military secrets. Then they asked us if we could fly the plane out. It had more than 80 holes that could be easily seen. The tail wheel was flat. Only three engines were operating. If the runway had been hard surfaced and if the tail wheel had been repaired, we could have flown it out. We were transferred 30 miles or so in a truck to another Russian air base. At this
31
base
we
met
five
American
crews
who
had
had
experiences
similar
to
ours.
An
American
C-47
with
a
Russian
and
American
crew
spotted
a
B-24
or
B-17
as
they
were
flying
over
this
base.
When
they
landed,
they
found
six
crews
who
had
not
been
reported
or
accounted
for
there.
They
were
out
looking
for
any
Americans
that
might
have
been
forced
to
land
in
Poland.
They
made
plans
to
take
us
to
an
American
base.
All
of
our
crew
and
most
of
the
other
crews
climbed
aboard
this
plane.
It
was
fully
loaded.
In
a
few
hours
we
landed
at
the
shuttle
base
in
Poltava,
Russia.
At
this
base
we
were
interrogated
and
given
American
food.
They
also
notified
our
base
in
England
that
we
were
safe.
After
one
night
we
began
the
journey
to
England.
We
stayed
one
night
in
Tehran,
Iran,
one
night
in
Cairo,
Egypt,
one
in
Berri,
Italy,
then
on
to
Paris,
France,
and
finally
some
15
days
from
the
time
our
mission
started,
we
arrived
back
in
England.
Niilo
added:
When
we
were
flying
over
the
desert,
we
saw
a
camel
caravan
coming
in
and
we
saw
pyramids
close
to
Cairo.
In
Italy,
the
pilot
flew
around
Mount
Vesuvius
and
we
could
see
the
smoke
coming
out.
I
saw
15
different
countries
and
I
walked
in
all
of
them.
Niilo
said
that
they
still
had
a
few
missions
to
go
to
make
the
required
25,
and
flew
their
last
mission
on
April
21.
According to American History, A Survey, on April 30, with Soviet forces on the outskirts of Berlin, Adolf Hitler killed himself in his bunker in the capitol. And on May 8, 1945, the remaining German forces surrendered themselves uncon- ditionally. That became known as V-E Day. The war against Japan continued until September. To Niilo and the other soldiers stationed in England, the surrender in Europe was the news they had been waiting to hear. On Mothers Day I sent a telegram home to Mother, he said. Niilo was one of 10,000 soldiers crammed into bunks on the Ile de France, the ship brought them back to America. I saw the Statue of Liberty when we got to New York, he said. Niilo spent time at Edwards Air Force Base in California and at Chanute Field in Illinois before he was discharged. Once Niilo got home he found that his brothers had all survived. The whole family came back, safe if not sound. There are three left: Walter, Hugo, and Niilo. And there are only three left of the crew that had shared so much together. I saw the pilot, Howard, Pinner, years ago, said Niilo. He lives in Black Mountain, North Carolina. The co-pilot, Leonard Tebbs, is still living. He lives in Sarasota, Florida. Us three are the only ones left of the crew.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veterans
account
(see
below)
Wayne Gordon Johnson was born in 1921 on a farm in Artichoke Township near Ortonville, Minnesota. He was one of 14 children. His parents, Jentoft Christian
32
Blom
Johnson
and
Aasta
Karoline
Olsen,
had
emigrated
from
Norway
in
1907.
Wayne
started
his
flying
career
in
1937
when
a
farmer
near
Chokio,
Minnesota,
taught
him
to
fly
in
a
Curtiss
Robin
plane.
He
earned
his
flying
lessons
in
exchange
for
farm
chores
while
attending
high
school
in
Chokio.
Spending
over
seventy
years
in
the
air
as
a
pilot,
he
continued
to
fly
well
into
his
eighties.
On
8
December
1941,
the
day
after
a
Japanese
attack
on
Pearl
Harbor,
Johnson
joined
the
Army
Air
Corps.
After
cadet
and
tactical
training,
and
commissioned
a
2nd
lieutenant,
he
was
sent
to
China
as
a
fighter
pilot
with
General
Claire
Lee
Chennaults
famed
Flying
Tigers
14th
Air
Force.
He
flew
the
P-40
Warhawk
and
P- 51
Mustang
fighters
in
combat.
For
a
lark,
and
not
officially
authorized,
he
flew
the
Japanese
Aichi
Val
and
Jake
dive
bombers
at
a
Shanghai
air
field
after
the
surrender.
After
the
war
he
flew
P-51s
for
the
North
Dakota
Air
National
Guard
while
attending
college
and
also
did
crop
dusting
in
a
Stearman
biplane.
He
has
over 7,500 hours pilot time in over 60 different types of military and civilian aircraft with single and multi-engine land and sea ratings. His most memorable combat mission was the first fighter strike on Japanese airdromes near Shanghai on 17 January 1945 when a flight of eight P-51 Mustangs from the 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Black Lightning Squadron, of which he was a member, and eight P-51s from the 74th Fighter Squadron destroyed 94 Japanese aircraft on the ground and three in the air without loss of any U.S. planes. General Chennault, Commander of the Flying Tigers, said it was one of the most successful missions of the war. Wayne Johnson is the editor of the four- volume history Chennaults Flying Tigers and designer and editor of the Flying Tigers 20032007 calendars. He is the author of two privately published books, The Trial of Christ, where he analyzes the unfairness of the trial leading up to Christs execution, and A Sailors War, based on the diary of his brother-in-law, Reo Knudson, who was wounded while serving on the battleship Tennessee during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941. Wayne has also written his memoirs, Whitey: From Farm Kid to Flying Tiger to Attorney, published in 2010 in both hardcover and paperback.
33
Mr.
Jones
served
in
World
War
II,
in
the
European
Theater,
and
also
served
during
the
Korean
War.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Navy.
He
joined
on
April
26,
1943,
and
was
discharged
on
December
21,
1945.
He
then
reenlisted
with
the
U.S.
Naval
Reserves
on
October
15,
1950,
and
was
discharged
on
Sep- tember
14,
1953.
34
Conduct
Medal,
and
the
Philippine
Lib- eration
Ribbon
with
1
Bronze
Star.
Mr.
Jouppi
was
born
in
1920
in
St.
Louis,
Missouri,
the
son
of
John
J.
and
Daisy
Jouppi.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veterans
account
(see
below)
I
was
drafted
in
the
U.S.
Army
in
October
of
1944.
My
basic
training
was
in
Fort
Hood,
Texas,
Fort
Ord,
California,
and
Fort
Lewis, Washington. From there I went to Hawaii and on to Saipan and Okinawa, where I was in combat. From there I went to Cebu in the Philippines, where the Japanese surrendered to the 27th Division and the 77th Division, which I was part of. After the atomic bomb was dropped, we went for occupation in Japan. In April of 1946, I was back in the USA and was discharged from Camp McCoy, Wisconsin.
He
was
decorated
with
the
American
Area
Ribbon,
the
Victory
Ribbon,
the
Asiatic-Pacific
Ribbon
with
3
Stars,
and
the
Philippine
Liberation
Ribbon
with
2
Stars.
Mr.
Kanzler
was
born
in
1926
in
Superior,
Wisconsin,
the
son
of
Al
and
Mary
Kanzler.
Source:
Veterans'
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran's
account
(see
below)
I joined the Navy January 28, 1944, went through boots at Farragut, Idaho. From there I went aboard the battleship USS Colorado BB45. We, the battleship Colorado, took part in the Mariana Islands, Philippine islands, and the Okinawa campaigns. After the two A- bombs were dropped, that was the end for Japan. We then went into Tokyo Bay, we were close to the battleship Missouri to see the signing of the peace. The war was over September 2, 1945. Then we went home.
35
Mr.
Kern
served
in
World
War
II
in
Burma,
China,
and
India.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Army
Air
Forces
from
December
22,
1943,
until
November
23,
1945.
He
was
assigned
to
the
436th
Bomb
Squadron,
10th
Air
Force.
He
was
a
Staff
Sergeant
and
tail
gunner
in
B-24J
Liberator
bombers.
He
served
one
year
overseas,
and
he
and
his
crew
had
300
combat
flying
hours.
Mr.
Kern
left
from
Bangor,
Maine,
and
flew
to
India.
In
October
1944,
they
picked
up
B-24J
Liberator
aircraft
in
San
Francisco.
They
flew
bombing
missions
into
Burma
and
French
Indochina
in
December
of
the
same
year,
and
by
the
end
of
the
year
were
transporting
fuel
for
the
Flying
Tigers
in
China,
where
Mr.
Kern
celebrated
his
19th
birthday.
They
returned
to
India
and
bombed,
among
others,
the
bridge
over
the
River
Kwai.
He
served
36
years
in
the
Minnesota
Air
National
Guard,
from
which
he
retired
in
1980.
His
rank
was
Chief
Warrant
Officer
4.
He
was
decorated
with
the
Air
Medal
with
1
oak
leaf
cluster,
the
Good
Conduct
Medal,
the
Asiatic-Pacific
Campaign
Ser- vice
Medal
with
4
bronze
battle
stars,
and
the
World
War
II
Victory
Medal.
Mr.
Kern
was
born
in
1925,
the
son
of
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Ralph
Kern.
He
graduated
from
high
school
in
1946,
after
returning
from
the
service.
went
back
to
India
and
continued
bombing
bridges,
like
the
bridge
on
the
River
Kwai.
We
had
300
combat
flying
hours.
Served
1
year
overseas.
Returned
to
U.S.
Richard
D.
Kern
of
Duluth
enlisted
in
the
Army
Air
Corps
on
December
22,
1943.
He
was
a
staff
Sergeant
and
tail
gunner
in
B-24
Liberator
bombers
with
the
436th
Bomb
Squadron,
7th
Bomb
Group,
10th
Air
Force,
in
the
China-Burma-India
Theater.
He
recalls,
"I
had
my
19th
birthday
in
Luliang,
China.
The
mission
that
was
the
most
that
I
had
was
the
bombing
of
the
bridge
over
the
river
Kwai.
Most
of
the
missions
were
in
Burma,
Thailand
and
China."
He
was
awarded
the
Air
Medal
with
1
oak
leaf
cluster,
the
Good
Conduct
Medal,
the
Asiatic-Pacific
Campaign
Ser- vice
Medal
with
4
bronze
battle
stars,
and
the
World
War
II
Victory
Medal.
He
was
discharged
on
November
23,
1945.
In
his
words,
"I
spent
36
years
in
the
Minnesota
National
Guard
in
Duluth
and
Iron
Range.
Retired
in
1981
as
warrant
officer
W-4."
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran
account
(see
below);
original
website
entry
(below)
Left from Bangor, Maine, to India. After we picked up B-24J in San Francisco in October. Then started bombing missions into Burma and French Indochina December 1944. Started bringing gas to fighter strips in China for the Flying Tigers. Celebrated 19th birthday in China,
36
Mr.
Kleven
served
in
World
War
II.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Navy
from
June
9,
1945,
until
July
19,
1946.
He
was
assigned
to
the
USS
Edwards.
His
rank
was
Electricians
Mate
3rd
Class.
Mr.
Kleven
was
born
in
Milwaukee,
Wis- consin,
in
1927.
He
graduated
from
Braham
High
School
in
1945.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
History
Form;
Jerrys
Navy
Experience
(see
below)
Entered the Navy in June 1945 and was discharged July 1946. Took initial training for Navy in Great Lakes Training Center June 20, 1945. Sent by train to Shoemaker, California, in Sept- ember 1945. Spent some time waiting for transport ship at Treasure Island. We were headed for Okinawa as replace- ments, but the ship had trouble so had to go to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii in October 1945. Arrived in Okinawa in November 1945, but severe hurricane delayed us again to pick up our new ship. Spent a few days on the Island of Okinawa and had to sleep in tents while waiting for the new ship. I was assigned to the USS Edwards in November 1945. I worked in the electrical room. This ship was powered by steam turbine, which produced electricity to power the two electric motors for the propellers. I worked on this and the electrical switchboardno special training, but rather trained on-the-job. At one time, as I
recall, nearly all of the crew was sick with dysentery for several days but I was fortunate and did not get sick. We visited several harbors in Japan Sasebo, Wakayama, Yawta, and Kobe. In Kobe, I recall seeing people digging in our garbage cans looking for food. In March 1946, I was assigned to a large transport ship which was to be a target ship for the A-bomb test at Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands. There were several types of ships in this test. A small crew was used to bring several ships to see what effect the A-bomb would have. After leaving this ship at Eniwetok the crew was sent back to the United States. I was sent back by way of Hawaii and expected to be reassigned, but I was lucky instead and was sent back to San Francisco and then discharged others were sent to other ships and then discharged in the fall of 1946. Shoemaker, Calif., September 1945; Treasure Island, September 1945; Pearl Harbor, October 1945; Okinawa, Novem- ber 1945; Hiroshima, November 1945; Sasebo, Japan, December 1945; Waka- yama, December 1945; Yawta, December 1945; Kobe, February 1946; Eniwetok, Marshall Islands, March 1946; Pearl Harbor, March 1946; Pearl Harbor, April 1946; Pearl Harbor, May 1946; Bikini, Marshall Islands, June 1946; Stateside, June 1946 (6-24-46).
37
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Army
beginning
in
April
1943.
He
was
assigned
to
the
3rd
Armored
Division.
His
rank
was
T-5.
In
April
1943,
Mr.
Kolquist
was
trained
at
the
Aberdeen
Proving
Ground.
In
Nov- ember
1943,
he
left
for
England.
In
June
1944,
he
was
sent
to
Normandy,
France.
He
and
his
unit
went
through
France
and
Belgium
and
crossed
the
Rhine
River.
He
served
in
the
Battle
of
the
Bulge.
He
was
sent
back
to
the
United
States
in
October
1945.
Mr.
Kolquist
had
three
brothers
who
served
in
the
war
as
well;
as
of
spring
2011,
he
is
the
only
one
still
living.
He
was
born
in
1924
in
Duluth,
Minne- sota,
the
son
of
Thure
and
Ester
Kolquist.
Mr. Kunnari served in World War II in the European Theater. He served in the U.S. Army from March 15, 1943, until March 1946. Mr. Kunnari was at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, for medical training and at Fort Gordon, Georgia, as well as Camp Grant, Illinois. He was also at the Carlisle Barracks in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He was assigned to the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina. At one point, he was assigned to the 26th Infantry Division of the Massachusetts National Guard.
Much
later,
he
was
involved
in
the
redeployment
and
transport
of
troops
from
Europe
to
the
U.S.
on
one
of
the
Victory
ships.
He
was
discharged
at
Fort
Dix,
New
Jersey.
Mr.
Kunnaris
rank
was
1st
Lieutenant.
He
was
decorated
with
the
European
Theater
Ribbon
Medal.
Mr.
Kunnari
was
born
in
1924
in
Toimi,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Victor
and
Hilma
Kunnari.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran
account
(see
below)
38
Never in combat circumstances. Went where you were ordered. Thats an order I heard many times. Nothing except routines most GIs did if not sent to combat. They are the heroes who didnt come back and + + + in battlefields, the final sacrifice. In the summer of 1944, I received orders to go someplace. Sergeant from Chicago pulled my orders, and my friends went to the South Pacific. The Red Cross was the target100% jungle graves. No Geneva Convention rules for those devils. Nobody tells how they were the worst enemy we ever fought. I went to O.C.S. at Carlisle, Penn- sylvania, that summer and received my commission there. Sent to various Army places and late 1944 and early 1945 we were sent to be on Victory Ships to
redeploy
troops
back
from
Europe.
Was
on
the
ships
until
March
1946.
Mr.
Kusi
served
in
World
War
II.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Navy
from
January
1946
until
December
1947.
He
trained
at
Great
Lakes
Naval
Training
Center
in
Illinois.
He
was
assigned
to
the
USS
North
Carolina
(BB-55)
for
14
months.
The
last
three
months
(after
the
ship
was
de- commissioned),
he
helped
ready
it
for
storage
at
the
Brooklyn
Navy
Yard.
He
was
transferred
to
Green
Cove
Springs,
Florida.
The
USS
North
Carolina
was
towed
to
Bayonne,
New
Jersey.
In
1961,
the
state
of
North
Carolina
purchased
it
and
brought
it
to
Wilmington,
North
Carolina,
where
it
is
now
a
museum.
Mr.
Kusi
was
a
Fireman
1st
Class.
He
was
born
in
1928,
the
son
of
Leonard
and
Julianna
Kusi,
in
Warren
City,
Pitts- field,
Pennsylvania.
Mr.
Kusi
died
on
June
20,
2011,
in
Grand
Rapids,
Minnesota.
Naval
Base,
Wisconsin.
After
boots
I
was
assigned
to
the
USS
North
Carolina
(BB- 55).
I
spent
14
months
aboard.
The
last
3
months
I
helped
de-commission
and
put
ship
in
mothballs
at
Brooklyn
Navy
Yard,
it
was
towed
and
left
at
Bayonne,
New
Jersey.
In
1961,
the
state
of
North
Carolina
purchased
the
ship
and
had
it
towed
to
Wilmington,
North
Carolina,
where
it
is
now
a
museum.
I
was
transfer- red
to
Green
Cove
Springs,
Florida.
From
there
was
discharged
in
December
1947.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran
account
(see
below)
I joined the Navy at Bemidji, Minnesota, at age 17. I took my training at Great Lakes
39
Mr.
Laager
served
in
World
War
II
in
both
the
European
and
Pacific
Theaters.
He
served
in
the
Amphibious
Force
of
the
U.S.
Navy
from
September
1942
until
October
1945.
He
participated
in
the
inva- sion
of
Normandy.
He
was
assigned
to
Landing
Craft
Flotilla
Q-1-4-43,
Flotilla
4,
in
Normandy,
Utah
Beach,
Tare
Green
Beach.
His
rank
was
Chief
Storekeeper.
Later
he
was
sent
to
the
Pacific.
Mr.
Laager
was
born
in
Morris,
Stevens
County,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Walter
and
Lucy
Laager.
so
people
walking
by
would
stop
and
look
into
basement,
where
maybe
100
recruits
were
in
the
nude.
Morale
breaker.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran
account
(see
below)
Embarrassing situation: Our Navy accep- tance physical was held in basement of the Federal Building in Minneapolis, Min- nesota. Windows were on sidewalk level,
Mr.
Laurila
served
in
World
War
II.
He
served
in
General
Patton's
3rd
Army,
in
the
776th
Tank
Destroyer
Battalion.
Veteran Honored: Long after he earned a Purple Heart, a Duluth man properly receives the award in an official ceremony.
Daniel Laurila of Duluth vaguely remem- bers receiving his first Purple Heart. But its not likely hell forget receiving his second, nearly 64 years after the first. Someone casually plunked that first medal on Laurilas stretcher just hours after he was hit by shrapnel from a German mortar on May 18, 1944, in Italy. Laurila, a technician with the 776th tank destroyer battalion, was standing up as a
lookout in his M10 tank when the mortar exploded and tore into his left shoulder. Laurila certainly remembers how that feltimagine someone cracking down on your shoulder with a baseball bat, he saidand the emergency treatment he got afterwards. Laurila was evacuated from the site, which was south of Rome, and whisked to an aid station and then a relay station. He got a slug of whiskey, a cigarette and a shot of pain medication and then an official handed over the Purple Heart. Somehow, Laurila held on to the medal while he was being transferred from station to station and finally back home to Minnesota. Years later, his daughter fit the medal into a shadowbox display. Yet that Purple Heart was never official in the eyes of the military, because no one
40
had
ever
filed
the
paperwork
to
make
it
so.
When
Rich
Dumancas,
the
St.
Louis
County
veterans
service
officer,
noticed
the
omission
in
Laurilas
discharge
pa- pers,
he
wanted
to
make
it
right.
There
were
at
least
two
good
reasons
to
do
so,
Dumancas
saidand
neither
cen- tered
around
having
something
to
pin
on
a
shirt.
Purple
Heart
recipients
are
eligible
for
better
benefits
than
non- recipients,
Dumancas
said,
and
the
Department
of
Veterans
Affairs
requires
documented
proof
to
award
those
bene- fits.
Simply
having
a
medal
isnt
enough.
And
then
there
was
the
way
Laurilas
first
medal
was
awarded.
It
was
too
casual,
many
soldiers
said,
too
flip.
So
Dumancas
arranged
for
Laurilas
new
Purple
Heartthis
one
stamped
with
his
name
instead
of
a
random
serial
num- berto
be
presented
to
him
at
the
Duluth
Armory
on
Sunday
before
a
room
of
about
250
local
National
Guard
soldiers.
It
means
a
lot
more
to
get
up
in
front
of
other
soldiers
to
be
awarded
an
honor,
said
Capt.
Justin
Rodgers.
Youre
being
recognized
by
your
peers.
Rodgers
oversaw
about
half
of
the
soldiers
that
assembled
on
Sunday.
It
was
their
regular
weekend
for
training.
Laurila
stood
ramrod-straight
in
front
of
the
soldiers
as
he
accepted
the
medal,
and
afterwards
shook
hands
with
many
of
them.
Soldiers
wanted
to
thank
Laurila,
and
family
members
wanted
to
con- gratulate
him.
Its
a
little
overwhelming,
Laurila
said
on
Sunday.
After
all,
his
military
service
ended nearly 64 years ago, and hes lived a quiet but busy life since then. As he was being officially discharged from military life, Laurila stopped at City Motors in Duluth to buy a car. He walked off the lot with the keys to a 37 Plymouth Coupe, and the name of the women who sold it to him. Laurila would be back several times to visit with Dorothy Nelson, so often, in fact, that Nelson was fired for fraternizing with the cus- tomers, Laurila said. The two married soon afterwards, and they celebrate their 63rd anniversary today. The couple had four children, and Laurila worked as a mechanic for the rest of his life, eventually retiring from the city of Duluths parks department. His left shoulder always bothered him. Even after three surgeries to try to alleviate the pain. Laurila has remained a proud supporter of the United States throughout his life, though he doesnt talk much about his wartime experiences, said his daughter, Deb Laursen of Blaine, Minnesota. His sister-in-law, Ellyn Conner of Du- luth, agreed. He still doesnt like to see war stories on TV, but hell talk about it with the other guys, she said. Laurila said todays war is much different than what he experienced dur- ing his three years of service. You dont know who your friends are, he said. Its a tougher war than what we had.
Source: Veterans Memorial Hall Veteran History Form; veteran account (see below)
41
My
father,
JosephArmy,
World
War
I
Myself18
months,
South
Pacific,
World
War
II
My
son,
Terry
Longtin1
year,
Vietnam
My
grandson,
Jordan
Mullins2
tours,
Iraq
All
the
aboveshot
at,
never
wounded.
Four
generations
of
proud
Americans.
Mr.
Longtine
served
in
World
War
II.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Navy
from
May
17,
1945,
until
July
21,
1948.
His
assignments
were
as
follows:
-
Naval
Training
Center,
Great
Lakes,
Illinois
-
Hospital
Corps
School,
San
Diego,
California
-
Pennsylvania
School
for
Nursing,
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
-
St.
Elizabeth
Hospital,
Washington,
D.C.
-
National
Naval
Medical
Center,
Bethesda,
Maryland.
His
rank
was
Hospital
Corpsman
2nd
Class.
Mr.
Longtine
was
born
in
1927
in
Super- ior,
Wisconsin,
the
son
of
Percy
J.
and
Edna
S.
Longtine.
He
was
decorated
with
the
Good
Conduct
Medal
and
the
World
War
II
Victory
Medal.
Seattle, Washington, and was later assigned to the U.S. submarine base in Guam. His rank was Seaman 1st Class. Mr. Marken was born in 1926 in Duluth, Minnesota, the son of Jorgen and Pauline
Mr. Marken served in World War II in the Pacific Theater. He served in the U.S. Navy. He served from October 11, 1944 until July 21, 1946. Mr. Marken was initially assigned to the USS YMS-429, a minesweeper based out of
42
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran
account
(see
below)
Attended boot camp at Farragut, Idaho. Entered active service 11-6-44. Reported for duty on the YMS-429 in Seattle, Washington. Sailed to Long Beach, California. Dont remember what the date was. Spent at least 6 months in the area between Long Beach, San Pedro, Sacra- mento, on shakedown cruises and in dry dock getting repairs after a few mishaps. Ended up in San Diego for more shake-
down cruises. It was there I got in a car accident, ended up in a hospital, and was there when the YMS left for Japan. I was given a 5-day leave home then when I returned, after reporting to Camp Elliot in San Diego. I was sent to Guam, where I was assigned to a submarine base just being built. I worked in the shipfitters shop during the welding, plumbing, and sheet-metal work required to build the new buildings on the base. I was there until June 46, when I was shipped back to the U.S. for discharge.
Mr. Martin served in World War II. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces from November 16, 1942, until January 4, 1946. He was assigned to the 3rd Air Force Squadron M 324 Army Air Forces Base Unit. His rank was Corporal.
Mr.
Martin
was
born
in
1923
in
Ashland,
Wisconsin,
the
son
of
Henry
and
Sophie
Fields
Martin.
Mr. Mattson served in World War II. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces from November 21, 1942, until Sept- ember 15, 1945. He was assigned to the 389th Bombardment Group, 565th Stra- tegic Missile Squadron, based in England. His rank was Sergeant. He served in several battles and campaigns: air offensive Europe; Sicily, Naples-Foggia; Normandy, France; and
the
Rhineland
and
Ardennes,
Central
Europe.
He
saw
air
combat.
He
was
decorated
with
a
Distinguished
Unit
Citation
(Ploesti,
Romania,
August
1,
1943)
and
the
Distinguished
Flying
Cross
and
Air
Medal.
Mr.
Mattson
was
born
in
Mason,
Wisconsin,
the
son
of
John
and
Ann
Mattson.
Mr. Moder served in World War II in the European Theater. He served in the U.S. Army from Nov- ember 16, 1944, until August 24, 1946. He went to boot camp at Camp Walters, Texas. He was assigned to the 84th (Railsplitters) Infantry Division, I Com and HeadquartersConstabulary. He was later assigned to the 7th Army, Head- quarters, Heidelberg, Germany. He was
transferred to the 3rd Army, Headquar- ters, in 1946. His rank was Sergeant. Mr. Moder was born in 1926 in Marengo, Wisconsin, the son of Frank and Pearl Moder. He graduated from Denfeld High School in Duluth, Minnesota. He was decorated with the European- African-Middle Eastern Medal Ribbon with 1 Battle Star.
43
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran
account
(see
below)
I had basic training in Camp Walters, Texas, (called Hells Bottom'). Went overseas on a French liner. Was in England a short time, entered France at Le Havre; joined 84th Division, 7th Army, as a replacement somewhere near Lyon, France. Met the Russians near Berlin. Our division was sent back to Halle about 40 miles from Berlin. Our division captured around 40,000 prisoners. I got trans- ferred to 7th Army HDQ and then to 3rd Army ConstabularyHDQ.
Mr. Nelson served in World War II. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces from January 21, 1943, until November 3, 1945. He was assigned to the 104th Infantry of the Army Air Forces in England. Mr. Nelson received basic training in Florida then attended Radio Mechanic School at Camp Crowder, Missouri. He trained for 36 weeks at the University of
Delaware in the Army Specialized Train- ing Program. He was assigned to the 104th (Timber Wolf) Infantry Division at Camp Carson, Colorado, where he re- ceived intensive combat training. Three months after D-Day, Mr. Nelson landed in France. He saw combat in Belgium and the Netherlands. He was hit in the chest with a bullet (that pierced a Gideon New Testament Bible in his pocket)
44
and
shortly
after
was
struck
with
a
mortar
shell
in
his
leg.
He
was
sent
to
the
hospital
in
France
and
England,
then
returned
to
duty
at
a
B-24
base
in
England
doing
radio
maintenance
work.
He
returned
to
the
United
States
on
the
Queen
Mary
at
wars
end.
His
rank
was
Corporal.
Mr.
Nelson
was
decorated
with
the
Purple
Heart.
Mr.
Nelson
was
born
in
1922
in
Duluth,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Alfred
and
Carrie
Nelson.
He
graduated
from
Duluth
Denfeld
High
School.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran
account
(see
below)
After
basic
training
in
Florida
with
the
Army
Air
Force,
went
to
Radio
Mechanic
School
at
Camp
Crowder,
Missouri.
Then
it
was
off
to
the
University
of
Delaware
in
the
ASTP
Program
(Army
Specialized
Training Program) for 36 weeks. Then it was off to the 104th Timber Wolf Infantry Division at Camp Carson, Colorado, where we received intensive combat training. It was 3 months after D-Day that we landed in France and went into combat in Belgium and Holland. It was in Holland that I was wounded, first with a bullet through my chest and then a few minutes later a mortar shell fragment into my leg. That bullet went through a Gideon New Testament Bible I had in my chest pocket. I honestly believe it deflected the bullet from my heart. After a long time in the hospital in France and England and rehab, I was back in the Army Air Force stationed at a B-24 Base in England doing radio maintenance work. The war was soon over and we came home on the Queen Mary.
I
dropped
out
of
high
school
in
my
junior
year
Jan
1944
to
enlist
in
the
USMC.
Boot
camp
San
Diego
then
shipped
to
Pearl
Harbor.
On
the
carrier
Ranger
with
1,000
marines.
In
awaiting
for
other
duty
I
was
told
being
17
yrs
I
was
too
young
for
combat
so
I
was
assigned
to
HDQ
SER
BN
EMF
PAC
A
[Headquarters
and
Service
Battalion,
Fleet
Marine
Force
Pacific]
MP.
CO.
at
Camp
Catlin,
a
Navy
radar
base
where
I
did
guard
duty
and
also
at
the
Navy
Yard.
I
also
did
patrol
duty
after
attending
Honolulu
Police
School.
After
the
bombing
of
Japan
the
war
ended.
We
were
discharged
June
1946.
Source:
Veterans'
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran
account
(see
below)
45
Mr.
Neveau
served
in
World
War
II
in
the
European
Theater.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Army
from
June
26,
1943,
until
January
21,
1946.
He
served
under
General
Patton.
He
was
assigned
to
E
Company,
318th
Infantry
Regiment,
80th
Division,
3rd
Army.
His
rank
was
Buck
Sergeant.
He
was
decorated
with
the
Good
Con- duct
Medal,
Distinguished
Unit
Badge,
Battle
Honors-Bastogne.
Mr.
Neveau
was
born
in
Proctor,
Minnesota,
in
1924,
the
son
of
Ernest
and
Yvonne
Neveau.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veterans
relatives
account
(see
below)
Dad hasnt talked about the war throughout these years except to a few of his six kids sitting around the campfire. He doesnt consider himself a hero; he is in our eyes and to the nation. Dad says that the real heroes are the ones who didnt make it home. Dad entered service on June 26, 1943, attending boot camp at Camp Walters, Texas. He was sent overseas to England, where he met five other soldiers who became friends. Dad maintained a relationship with these veterans as long as they lived. Only he and one friend are alive now. Dad was in the 3rd Army, 2nd Battalion, 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Division under General Patton. That in itself should speak volumes to the service that Dad has given to his country. Old Blood and Guts our blood, his guts, Dad says. Dad tells us that it was nearly two years to the day going over to Normandy and finally coming home on the Liberty Ships. Dad was in the second wave landing on Utah Beach in Normandy on August 6,
1944.
It
was
at
that
time
that
the
six
buddies
were
separated.
That
was
to
begin
his
march
through
the
first
four
major
campaigns
that
carried
him
through
France,
Luxembourg,
Belgium,
Germany,
and
Austria.
Weve
read
and
seen
many
movies
regarding
the
incredible
job
that
the
318th
was
able
to
accomplish.
I
cant
even
fathom
the
horror
that
they
have
experienced.
Dad
just
shakes
his
head
and
the
tears
come.
He
talks
about
Bastognethe
101st
82nd
Airborne
(what
an
outfit),
the
Ardennes,
crossing
the
Rhine
with
the
boat
shot
out
from
under
them,
Munich,
Bavaria,
Austria,
Luxembourg,
and
seeing
the
concentration
camps.
How
ironic
that
his
daughters
in-laws
parents
were
in
the
camp
when
Dad
came
through
the
area.
He
talks
about
how
horrible
it
was
to
see.
Dad
had
many
very
close
calls,
and
he
shudders
when
he
speaks
of
them,
but
then
he
shrugs
and
states,
It
just
wasnt
my
time.
He
also
speaks
of
the
beauty
of
the
countryside,
the
mountains,
and
the
joy
of
the
people
as
the
towns
were
liberated.
Finally,
General
Patton
gave
the
cease- fire
order.
How
elated
the
soldiers
were
but
then
they
had
to
turn
around
and
start
preparing
for
Asia.
Dad
truly
feels
that
the
bomb
dropped
in
Japan
was
the
only
way
that
this
world
war
was
ever
going
to
end.
Dad
talked
many
times
about
coming
back
on
the
Liberty
Ship
and
the
horrible
storm
they
encountered.
His
ship
was
without
communications
for
24
hours.
He
watched
with
horror
as
the
ship
directly
behind
them
was
torpedoed
and
sank,
thinking
that
hed
been
through
hell
the
last
two
years
only
to
die
while
going
home.
46
A history of the 318th ends with the following: The Second Battalion, with the remainder of the 318th Regiment, expended 923 tons of ammunition and figured in the capture of 28,170 Nazis. With complete victory and proud of their record, the Second Battalion, 318th Infantry Regiment, re-pledged themselves to the Blue Ridgers motto, The 80th only moves forward.
Mr. Olson served in World War II in the European Theater. He served in the U.S. Army from March 1944 until January 1946. He was assigned to Pattons 3rd Army. His rank was Corporal. Mr. Olson served in the Battle of the Bulge, where he was wounded in the hip. He was sent to a hospital in England. General Patton came and visited his ward and his boys. General Patton thanked Mr. Olson for his service and pinned a Purple Heart Medal on his hospital gown. Mr. Olson recovered. He was serving with General Patton in Pizen, Czecho- slovakia (now the Czech Republic), on May 6, 1945, the day the city was liberated. Mr. Olson was born in 1916 in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, the son of Herman and Bessie Olson.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran
account
(follows)
God bless the people of the Czech Republic! Does anyone in Europe remember Americas sacrifice in WWII? The answer can be found in the Czech town of Pilsen (Pizen). I was in town with General Patton on May 6 when the town was liberated. Every five years Pizen holds a Liberation Celebration of their town by Pattons 3rd Army. May 6, 2010, marked the 65th anniversary. They have a monument that says, Thank you America for liberating Pizen on May 6, 1945. Pizen is a town that every American should visit. They love America and the American soldier . . . even 65 years later . . . by the thousands.
47
I was one of Pattons Boys, and I fought at the Battle of the Bulge. I was wounded in the hip, and they sent me to England. Patton came to the hospital to see how his boys were doing. When he stepped in the ward, he stopped at Bed 1. The nurse told him, He cant understand you, hes German. Patton let with about 30 *cuss words, ending with, Get that blankety-blank German away from my boys. You never saw anyone move as fast as those nurses pushing that bed down the hall. I was in Bed 3. He asked about my wound and said he had about nine holes in him. He thanked me for my service and pinned a Purple Heart on my hospital
Mr. Orsund served in World War II in the European and Pacific Theaters. He served in the U.S. Navy from April 15, 1941, until April 8, 1947. He was assigned to the South Dakota-class battleship USS Alabama (BB-60), which served in both the Atlantic and the Pacific. It was a highly decorated battleship that saw combat
against
the
Japanese
in
the
Pacific.
Mr.
Orsunds
rank
was
Gunners
Mate
1st
Class.
Mr.
Orsund
was
born
in
Hoople,
North
Dakota.
Source: Telephone interview with Veterans Memorial Hall staff; USS Alabama (BB-60), Wikipedia entry (see http://en.wikipedia.org /wiki/USS_Alabama_%28BB-60%29)
Mr.
Pearson
served
in
World
War
II
in
the
European
Theater.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Army
from
February
10,
1943,
until
December
30,
1945.
He
was
assigned
to
Battery
C,
263rd
Field
Artillery
Battalion,
the
26th
Infantry
Division,
3rd
Army.
His
rank
was
T5,
Technician
5th
Grade.
Mr.
Pearson
was
born
in
1924
in
Superior,
Wisconsin,
the
son
of
Cameron
A.
and
Josephine
McConnell
Pearson.
48
there.
He
saw
combat,
then
his
unit
pushed
forward
to
Belgium
and
then
the
Netherlands.
They
met
up
with
the
29th
Infantry
and
advanced
toward
the
Siegfried
Line
near
Aachen,
Germany.
They
were
hit
hard,
and
after
heavy
fighting,
the
remaining
19
men
of
Company
E
were
taken
prisoner
by
the
Germans.
Mr.
Pederson
and
the
other
POWs
were
marched
to
a
small
town,
and
were
being
shelled
by
Allied
artillery
along
the
way.
They
were
loaded
onto
trucks
and
transported
to
Bonn,
Germany.
From
there
they
were
put
on
boxcars
and
sent
to
a
POW
camp
in
Lindberg,
Germany,
where
they
stayed
for
two
weeks
and
where
he
developed
dysentery.
They
were
again
put
on
boxcars
and
were
transported
to
Stalag
7A.
They
were
assigned
to
work
crews,
clearing
bombed
out
buildings
in
nearby
Munchhausen
and
repairing
damage
to
railroad
tracks.
In
January
and
February
of
1945,
they
were
not
required
to
work,
but
in
the
spring,
200
men
were
chosen
for
work
crews.
They
worked
on
bombed
out
buildings
in
Munich.
Mr.
Pederson
was
selected
to
cook
soup
and
prepare
ersatz
coffee
for
the
200.
On
April
29,
1945,
American
forces
moving
north
out
of
Italy
liberated
his
POW
camp.
Mr.
Pederson
was
born
in
1921
in
Superior,
Wisconsin,
the
son
of
Peder
G.
and
Dorothy
Pederson.
towards
Germanys
Siegfried
Lines
pillboxes
near
Aachen,
Germany,
getting
heavy
resistance
from
Jerry;
then
evening
came
on,
and
we
started
getting
shelled
from
tanks.
A
few
of
us
took
shrapnel.
But
we
somehow
got
into
an
empty
pillbox.
Then
towards
morning,
the
Germans
moved
3
tanks
into
position
against
us.
There
were
just
19
of
us
left
in
our
Company
E,
119th
Infantry
Regiment,
30th
Division.
Well,
needless
to
say,
we
were
taken
prisoner
of
war.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran
account
(see
below)
We left England and went to Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, on June 19, 1944, as a replacement and joined the 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Division, and went into combat for the first time. We kept pushing forward through the hedgerows and through mountains. Then we went on to Belgium, pushing into the Netherlands. Then was held up for two weeks waiting for 29th Infantry. When they did arrive, we pushed forward
We were herded up out of the pillbox and into some small town. Meanwhile, during our march, we were being shelled by our own artillery. Then there was some kind of work building where we took refuge from shelling. When shelling slowed down, we went on to, I think it was, Aachen. There we went in trucks. The next place we stopped at was Bonn, Germany. From there we got into a boxcar on the railroad and went on into Lindberg, Germany, our first stalag. Bad place: raining, muddy, sloppy. We got fed soup, which was given to us behind the latrine on wet, muddy ground . . . sloppy. They used tin cans to put soup into, not very appetizing. Well, I ended up getting dysentery . . . not very good. Well, about two weeks at this place, then was into boxcars again for about one week. Then we ended up to Stalag 7A, there we were to stay. Then we started going about 40
49
kilometers
into
Munchhausen
.
.
.
working
on
bombed
out
buildings,
etc.
Also,
the
railroad
yards
on
steam
engine
backed
into
a
big
bomb
hole,
which
we
raised
and
blocked
up
until
it
could
be
moved
away,
etc.
We
kept
on
doing
work
like
this
most
all
winter.
Then
during
January
and
Feb- ruary,
they
stopped
working
us.
Why?
We
did
not
know.
But
come
spring
of
1945,
they
took
200
men
on
a
working
party.
We were living in an unused school building where we worked out of, all over Munich, on houses, buildings of all kinds [that] were bombed out. Myself, I was chosen to be cook, to make soup and so- called coffee for the 200 men, etc. This went on until April 29th, 1945, when our troops were coming up from Italy and we were liberated by American troops. I spent 7 months in POW captivity: 1944 October 22 until 1945 April 29.
Mr.
Phelps
was
born
in
1923
in
Good- thunder,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Glenn
and
Gladys
(Annis)
Phelps.
Ms. Ponikvar served in World War II. She served in the U.S. Navy from July 1942 until December 31, 1946. Owing to her command of several languages (Yugoslavian dialects, German, and French), she was trained at a specialized
language school and then assigned to Naval Intelligence in Washington, D.C., where she was involved in cryptography, decoding and encoding messages. Her rank was Lieutenant Commander.
50
Ms.
Ponikvar
was
born
in
1919
in
Chis- holm,
Minnesota,
the
daughter
of
John
and
Frances
(Globokar)
Ponikvar.
She
graduated
from
Chisholm
High
School.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran
account
(see
below);
http://discovery.mnhs.org/MN150/
index.php?title=Veda_Ponikvar
There
were
few
women
on
duty
in
World
War
II,
and
very
limited
serving
in
Naval
Intelligence.
Much
remains
secret,
but
interesting
as
to
what
can
be
shared.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veterans
account
(follows)
Mr.
Rautio
served
in
World
War
II
in
the
European
Theater.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Army
from
September
27,
1944,
until
June
22,
1946.
He
was
a
sharpshooter.
His
rank
was
Corporal.
He
was
decorated
with
the
Good
Conduct
Ribbon,
the
American
Theater
Campaign
Ribbon,
the
European-African- Middle
Eastern
Campaign
Ribbon,
Army
of
Occupation
Ribbon
(Germany),
and
the
Victory
Ribbon.
Mr.
Rautio
was
born
in
1925,
the
son
of
Jacob
and
Nana
Rautio,
in
Oulu,
Wiscon- sin.
After induction, I entered basic infantry training for 15 weeks at Camp Fannin, Texas. After a delay en route at home, I reported to Fort Meade, Maryland, for orientation and equipment. On to Camp Kilmer, N.J. (New York PDE). While there, I came down with sinusitis and pneu- monia, spent 21 days in the hospital. Meanwhile, my group shipped out, along with all my equipment and personal stuff. I was then sent back to Fort Meade for re- equipment and made ready to go to Italy, then to Camp Patrick Henry, Va., shipped out from Newport News, Va., to Italy, landing there on April 15, 1945. After a few days near Caserta near the Volturno River I was sent north for additional training for the 10th Mountain Division. This lasted for 2 weeks, 1 week with mules learning how to load equipment on a mule, etc., 1 week climb- ing mountains, rappelling over cliffs, etc. On April 28, 1945, Gen. Kesselring, the German Commander of German forces in Italy, surrendered, ending combat there. We were then sent to Marina de Pisa (port of Pisa) on the Mediterranean for a time (very enjoyable), then put on a B-17 bomber that had been made into a troop
51
transport
(bomb
racks
replaced
with
wooden
benches
and
seat
belts)
for
a
flight
to
Port
Lyautey,
Africa,
from
there
on
to
Dakar,
Africa,
on
to
Brazil,
to
British
Guyana
(now
Belize),
to
Puerto
Rico,
to
West
Palm
Beach,
Fla.
On
this
trip
we
flew
in
B-17s,
C-54s
and
C-47s
and
one
other
that
I
dont
remember
what
it
was.
This
was
in
July
of
1945.
We
were
given
30
days
R&R
at
home.
I
was
then
to
report
to
Camp
Polk
to
get
ready for the invasion of the home island of Japan. While I was at home on my R&R, the atom bomb was dropped on Japan, ending that war. From Camp Polk, I was sent to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and assigned to the Medical Detachment, W.D.P.C., as a clerk general (I believe my MOS was changed to D55). I spent the rest of my Army career there until my discharge on June 22, 1946.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veterans
account
(see
below)
Mr.
Retherford
served
in
World
War
II.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Army
from
December
13,
1944,
until
November
19,
1946.
He
received
basic
training
at
Camp
Joseph
T.
Robinson
in
Little
Rock,
Arkan- sas.
He
was
sent
to
the
Philippines.
There
he
was
assigned
to
the
90th
Malaria
Control
Detachment
in
the
Philippines.
Later,
he
was
assigned
to
the
67th
and
53rd
I was a draftee, inducted into the Army on 13 December 1944. I received basic train- ing at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas, and was subsequently sent to the Philippines, where I joined the 90th Malaria Control Detachment. I was transferred to Japan in October 1945, where I worked in typhus and other communicable disease control until September 1946, when I returned to the U.S. for separation.
52
Occupation
Forces
in
Japan
from
Sep- tember
24,
1945,
until
December
5,
1945.
Mr.
Rondeau
celebrated
his
18th,
19th,
and
20th
birthdays
in
the
Pacific
Theater;
each
time,
his
birthday
fell
on
a
day
when
the
crew
happened
to
be
aboard
ship.
His
20th
birthday
was
celebrated
on
their
way
to
Japan.
His
rank
was
Corporal.
Mr.
Rondeau
was
born
in
1925
in
Chicago,
Illinois,
the
son
of
Hubert
and
Josephine
Rondeau.
Source:
Veterans'
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran's
account
(follows)
I
enlisted
1
week
before
graduating.
They
asked
if
there
was
anything
I
would
like
to
do
before
leaving.
I
said
I
would
like
to
graduate
with
my
class,
and
they
ap- proved.
The
day
after
graduating,
I
had
to
be
at
the
recruiting
station
bright
and
early
to
be
sworn
in.
After
graduating
from
boot
camp,
a
busload
of
us
were
on
our
way
to
a
train
station
to
go
to
Florida
to
attend
an
amphibious
tank
school.
We
pulled
into
Camp
Elliot
to
have
lunch
and
were
greeted
by
a
unit
that
was
in
need
of
replacements, as they were going out to sea very soon. In short, we never got to the train station. We left the States September 13th, 1943, aboard an escort carrier. The USS Cowpens, which I thought was a terrible name for a ship of the line. We all couldn't fit on the carrier, so some boarded our escort, a D.E., or Destroyer Escort. We arrived at Pearl Harbor 10 days later. The rest can be told better by my commanding officer, Colonel Alfred F. Robertshaw, now deceased, and Sergeant Joe M. Ratcliffe, status unknown. Their story is much better than mine. We took part in the invasion of SaipanJune 15th, 1944 to July 27thand TinianJuly 28th, 1944, to August 1st, 1944after well over a month at sea. Then we went back to Oahu. The main part of the outfit moved over to Maui. Our group was sent to Guam. It was called secure by the time we got there. Anyway, we stayed on Guam until the war ended. The outfit on Maui went to Iwo. From there, we went to Kyushu, Japan, at a naval base at Sasebo, the southernmost island. Participated in the occupation of Japan, September 24th, 1945, to December 6th, 1945. We left Japan on December 6, 1945, and arrived on the West Coast December 23rd, 1945. I was discharged at Great Lakes Naval Training Center 01-17- 46. Had my 18th, 19th, and 20th birthdays in the Pacific area. All happened to occur while we were aboard ship, the 20th on our way to Japan.
53
Machinist
2nd
Class.
In
1946,
Mr.
Russell
joined
the
U.S.
Air
Guard
and
served
until
1953.
During
that
period,
he
was
in
active
duty
from
March
1951
until
November
1952.
He
subsequently
served
at
the
Duluth
(Minnesota)
Air
Force
Base
and
reached
the
rank
of
Technical
Sergeant.
Mr.
Russell
was
born
in
Duluth,
Minnesota,
in
1924,
the
son
of
Harvey
Harold
and
Myrtle
J.
Russell.
Ford
Island,
Pearl,
air
transport
crew
chief.
CASU
[carrier
service
unit]
50,
Pasco,
Washington,
air
mechanic.
MN
Air
National
Guardactivated
21
months
Korean
War.
Discharged
Air
Guard
Duluth.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veterans
account
(see
below);
original
VMH
website
entry
(see
below).
Went
to
boot
camp
at
Great
Lakes.
Navy
Pier,
Chicago,
airplane
mechanic.
Naval
Air
Station
Alameda,
Cal.,
aerial
gunnery.
Harvey H. Russell of Saginaw, Minn. entered the Navy on Dec. 23, 1942. He was an aviation machinist's mate 2nd class working on Naval air transports: R4Ds, R5O, and J2F aircraft in the Pacific theater and in the U.S. He was separated on Feb. 6, 1946.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran
speech
(see
below)
gave
the
speech,
below,
for
the
Veterans
Day
program
on
November
14,
2008,
at
the
Proctor,
Minnesota,
City
Hall.
(Background
information:
USS
Mount
Hood,
a
13910-ton
ammunition
ship,
was
built
at
Wilmington,
North
Carolina,
and
converted
for
Naval
service
at
Norfolk,
Virginia.
Commissioned
in
July
1944,
she
transited
the
Panama
Canal
in
August
and
was
assigned
to
the
South
Pacific
area
to
provide
ammunition
to
the
fighting
forces.
On
the
morning
of
10
November
1944,
while
she
was
moored
at
the
Manus
Naval
Base,
Admiralty
Islands,
Mount
Hoods
cargo
of
explosives
detonated
in
a
massive
blast.
The
ship
was
utterly
destroyed
by
the
accident,
which
killed
all
those
on
board
her.
Damage
and
casual- ties
were
also
inflicted
on
ships
anchored
as
far
as
2000
yards
away.
Personnel
casualties
on
Mount
Hood
and
on
other
vessels
totaled
45
known
dead,
327
missing
and
371
injured.
(The
speech
below
is
an
eyewitness
account
of
the
explosion
of
the
ammuni- tion
ship
USS
Mt.
Hood
(AE-11)
as
viewed
from
the
flight
deck
of
the
aircraft
carrier
USS
Saginaw
Bay
(CVE
82).)
54
On November 3, 1944, we entered the huge anchorage of Seedler Harbor at Manus. This is a part of the Admiralty Islands group. We had just returned from 18 days at sea for the invasion of Leyte Gulf. The weather and heavy seas had been bad; in fact we lost as many planes while landing as we did from enemy fire. It is not easy to land on a small flight deck moving up and down 10 to 20 feet. It felt good to be at anchor in the calm waters and the safety of not being in the forward area. Our purpose here was to replenish all the supplies needed for our next island invasion, wherever it might be. Smaller transfer boats were assigned to each ship to provide a means to get our supplies. (For the benefit of the Navy men here, these were LCMslanding craft mechanized). We were down on everything, bombs, rockets, and ammunitions of all kinds, food and supplies. Oilers would come alongside, top off our oil and aviations gas tanks. Best of all, it was time to have our mail catch up with us. The Navy was very good about pro- viding entertainment in between inva- sions. Some days, we could go swimming off the ship, or go on a two-day beer party ashore. In the evenings we could see movies on the hangar deck and rarely live entertainers from the States. The forward elevator would be raised 6 or 8 feet. It made an excellent stage. Sometimes the natives would come alongside in rickety old boats with torn sails. We would toss coins into the water, and the kids would dive in to retrieve them. A week after we arrived, a work party of ten men was sent to the nearby ammunition ship, the Mt. Hood, to pick up a load of bombs, rockets, and other ammunitions. They left at 7:00AM and returned a couple of hours later. As the work party returned to the ship, it was announced over the PA system, NOW HEAR THIS, we are now at condition Baker, this means a red pendant is flown
from the bridge, there is no smoking or open flames allowed anywhere on the ship. Every man knew we were taking on ammunition on our fantail deck. At the same time, two of our catapult crew- members, Russ and Oky, and myself were on the flight deck, painting new markers for our hold-down-and-release unit. I was standing looking aftSUDDENLY A HUGE EXPLOSION OCCURRED. Black smoke and debris shot up 1,000 feet and, still going, it billowed out sideways, enveloping all of the nearby ships. Some of our pilots fly- ing protective reconnaissance at 3,000 feet said the smoke went higher than that. When the concussion hit and the pieces of the ship began to fall, mass confusion took place at every entryway, because every man on the flight deck knew the explosion was the ammunition ship, but every man below deck thought it was our fantail that blew up. So every man outside wanted to get inside for protection from the falling debris, and every man below deck wanted to get out of what they thought was a sinking ship. Fourteen men from the Mt. Hood had just left the ship just 20 minutes before the explosion to go ashore, some to pick up the mail, and some for other business. They had just landed and were knocked to the ground from the concussion. They had to be the luckiest fourteen sailors in the Navy that day. People on shore 2 miles inland were also knocked to the ground by the explosion. Eight LCMs still loading, plus 13 smaller ships were also sunk, with all hands aboard lost. Thirty- six other ships were heavily damaged, some more than a mile away. We were lucky that the falling debris hit no personnel on our ship, and damage to our ship was minimal. The largest piece that hit on the forward part of the flight deck where we were was a large saltwater shut-off valve; it was twisted as if it was made of soft wax. Our work party had just left the Mt. Hood 40 minutes before the explosion, or they would have been lost also.
55
A call came out for all larger ships to send their doctors and core men to help with all of the wounded. Our doctor was on the way in just minutes. As luck would have it, the Navy had a photography crew to take pictures of all the buildings on the base. They swung their cameras around and caught the entire explosion and damage to the surrounding ships. The pictures also revealed the explosion rose to over 7,000 feet. After the war, the Navy declared the explosion of the Mt. Hood was the largest non-nuclear explosion of World War II in the Pacific. Guess what!!! None of this was reported to the news media back home. This news was not released until after the war. It was the policy of the Navy to not release any information that might be of any benefit to the enemy. Of all our letters back home, everything was censored. We were never allowed to say where we were, where we had been, or where we were going. (What a difference from this tragic war of today in Iraq. When a roadside bomb goes off in the morning, with information of all the damage and how many were killed, it is reported on the 6pm news.) What a difference a war makes. Two days after the explosion, I was on a work party that went to shore to pick up supplies. We had to travel near where the Mt. Hood had been anchored. The bodies and body parts and the floating debris had been picked up the day before. The boatswain mate running our transfer boat still had to avoid hitting some of the larger floating pieces. The nearby ships were really hit hard. Much of the superstructures were all twisted and bent. The one I remember the most was a large tender. This is a mother ship to some of the smaller escorts in harbor service ships. There was a huge hole clear through near the bow. It had wiped out the entire sick bay, killing a doctor and two corpsmen. Another large ship had so many holes in its side it looked like a slat
shaker. We continued on to the shore. A truck was waiting for us to take us to the various Quonset buildings where all the supplies were. After the truck brought us back to the dock, we unloaded it all, and then had to wait until our transfer boat returned. As we waited, and announcement came over the PA system, NOW HEAR THIS, the burial detail will report to the cemetery. I have no idea who this sailor was, but I strongly suspect he was one of the hundreds of men who were wounded from the blast. I felt so sorry for him, to be buried on this speck of sand and coral on the far side of the Pacific Ocean, a million miles from our homeland. Look- ing at this logically, it really doesnt matter what happens once you are dead. Our crewmates had talked about this many times. None of us knew when or if our ship would be the next one to be sunk. It should not make a difference, but for some reason on this day, it did make a difference. Maybe it was because it was still fresh in my mind of all the hundreds of sailors that were lost at Leyte Gulf plus all of the ships that were lost. Two of our sister carriers were sunk plus all the other cruisers, destroyers, and supply ships, and the Japanese also took huge, huge losses in both ships and men. Then the Mt. Hood explosion, in a place a long way from the forward area. A place we felt was so much safer. It made me realize how uncertain and temporary our lives were. And then a bugler sounded taps. All of the men stopped talking. Slowly a pro- found sadness came over me as I visualized him being lowered into his grave. I felt I was losing it. I didnt want to have the other guys see me if I couldnt hold back the tears. I stood up and walked to the end of the dock and pretended to look at the hundreds of ships. It was such a relief when the transfer boat came. I was glad to start loading the boxes of supplies. On our way back to the ship, we were able to see more of the
56
damaged
ships.
It
was
awesome.
When
we
arrived
back
at
our
ship,
we
unloaded
all
of
the
supplies.
It
was
good
to
be
back.
After
all,
this
has
been
my
home
for
over
a
year.
I
welcomed
the
walk
across
the
hangar
deck,
up
the
ladders,
over
the
catwalk
to
the
catapult
shack
to
be
with
my
crewmates
again.
On
this
Veterans
Day,
I
am
sure
you
will
be
thinking
of
relatives,
friends
and
neighbors
that
you
will
be
honoring
from
the
most
recent
wars
of
Iraq
to
Afghan- istan
all
the
way
back
to
WWII.
As
I
look
out,
I
see
the
faces
of
many
veterans
from
many
wars;
we
thank
each
and
every
one
of
you
for
years
of
service.
For
me,
I
will
be
thinking
of
that
day
that
I
was
standing
on
the
flight
deck
of
our
aircraft
carrier
and
watched
the
ammuni- tion
ship,
Mt.
Hood,
blow
up
and
the
deaths
of
hundreds
of
sailors
and
hundreds
more
wounded.
They
had
been
going
about
their
daily
work,
and
then,
without
any
warningin
the
twinkling
of
an
eyethey
made
their
transition
from
life
to
death.
I
will
also
be
thinking
of
that
one
sailor
whose
funeral
affected
my
life
64
years
ago.
He
lies
there
still
in
that
tiny
speck
of
sand
in
the
far
Pacific
.
.
.
he
will
never
come
home.
Max B. Semmelroth entered the Navy on Feb. 10, 1943. He was an aviation boatswain's mate 2nd class and catapult crewman on an aircraft carrier in the Marshall Islands, Leyte, Lingayen Gulf, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Namsei Shoto, Japan. He was separated from the service on April 14, 1946.
Lois and Ernie Spangle, August 1, 1945, New York. (Mr. and Mrs. Spangle were married on July 31, 1945, while Mr. Spangle was on leave.)
Mr. Spangle served in World War II in the Pacific Theater. He served in the U.S. Navy from July 1943 until December 1945. He was assigned to the Cleveland class light cruiser USS Birmingham (CL-62) and the destroyer Harlan R. Dickson (DD-708). Mr. Spangle was aboard the Birmingham in the Solomon Islands, where he took part in the Battle of Empress Augusta Bay (89 November), along with sister ships Cleveland, Columbia, Montpelier, and
57
Denver. Japanese planes struck the Birmingham with two bombs and a torpedo. Recalling these events, Mr. Spangle noted that witnessing a burial at sea is something he will never forget. He also remembered that the ship's gunners shot down seven Japanese planes during the battle. Mr. Spangle recalled that the Birming- ham's captain was always looking for a fight, which could explain the ship's
reputation
as
one
of
the
"fightingest"
ships
in
the
Navy.
Mr.
Spangle
next
served
on
the
Harlan
R.
Dickson.
He
especially
liked
this
ship
and
forged
many
lifetime
friendships
while
serving
aboard.
His
rank
was
Electrician's
Mate
2nd
Class.
Mr.
Spangle
was
born
in
Pontiac,
Michi- gan,
in
1922,
the
son
of
George
and
Agnes
Spangle.
Mr. Spehar served in World War II. He served in the U.S. Army from June 3, 1943, until March 26, 1946. Mr. Spehar was assigned to Company D, Heavy Weapons, 222nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd (Rainbow) Division.
His
rank
was
Staff
Sergeant.
Mr.
Spehar
was
born
in
Duluth,
Min- nesota.
Mr. Swanson served in World War II in the European Theater. He served in the U.S. Army beginning in May 1944. Mr. Swanson was decorated with the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star Medal.
Mr.
Swanson
was
born
in
1926
in
Mason,
Wisconsin,
the
son
of
Conrad
and
Gena
Swanson.
Mr. Taylor served in World War II. He served in the U.S. Army from August 1942 until December 12, 1945. He was assigned to the 776th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion. Mr. Taylor was in Pattons Army (the 3rd Army). He participated in the Battle of the Bulge (December 16, 1944-January 25, 1945). He landed on the beaches of Normandy in the second wave. He was a sergeant and manned an anti-aircraft gun. He was sent to Paris to study the markings on airplanes (as the Americans were shooting down our own in the early days). He has many stories and always is willing to share when asked.
58
Mr. Taylors rank was Technical Ser- geant. He was decorated with the American Theater Service Ribbon, the Belgian Fourragre, and the European-African- Middle Eastern Service Ribbon. Mr. Taylor was born in Duluth, Min- nesota, in 1917, the son of Remington and Ethel Taylor.
He
has
a
star
at
the
Richard
I.
Bong
Veterans
Historical
Center,
Superior,
Wisconsin.
Mr. Valentini served in World War II in China and Central Burma. He served in the U. S. Army Air Forces from August 3, 1942, until October 1, 1945. He was assigned to the 1st Tactical Air Combat Squadron. His rank was Staff Sergeant. He was decorated with the Asiatic- Pacific Theater Service Medal with 4
overseas
service
bars,
the
Good
Conduct
Medal,
and
the
Bronze
Star
Medal.
Mr.
Valentini
was
born
in
1919
in
Chis- holm,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Alphonso
and
Columbia
Valentini.
Mr. Wagner served in World War II. He served in the U.S. Navy from November 15, 1942, until July 21, 1945. His rank was AMM3C (H), Aviation Machi- nist Mate 3rd Class (Hydraulics). Mr. Wagner enlisted in November 1942 in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1943, he had his physical in Des Moines, Iowa. On July 1, 1943, Mr. Wagner enrolled in the V-12 College Training Program at the Univer- sity of Wisconsin. In November 1943, he was transferred to Great Lakes as a candidate for the V-5 Pilot Training Program. In December of the same year, he enlisted for the V-5 Program, which was temporarily closed. That same month, he was sent to Navy Pier, Chicago. In January 1944, he was assigned to Naval Air Station Norman, Oklahoma. He attend- ed gunnery school in Hollywood, Florida,
and
flight
engineering
school
in
La
Guardia
Airport,
New
York
City.
In
the
meantime,
both
of
Mr.
Wagner's
brothers,
who
were
pilots
in
the
U.S.
Marine
Corps,
were
killed
in
action
in
the
war.
Mr.
Wagner
was
assigned
to
the
9th
Naval
District,
headquartered
in
Great
Lakes
Naval
Training
Station
in
Illinois.
His
next
assignment
was
Ottumwa
Naval
Air
Station,
Iowa.
He
was
transferred
to
the
Naval
Air
Technical
Training
Center,
87th
and
Anthony
Avenue,
Chicago,
and
he
returned
to
Ottumwa
as
head
of
the
Aviation
Hydraulic
Shop.
He
continued
in
that
position
until
he
was
discharged.
59
Mr.
Wagner
served
during
World
War
II
in
the
European
Theater.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Army.
He
was
assigned
to
the
151st
Field
Artillery
Battalion
of
the
34th
Infantry
Division
and
served
in
Tunisia,
North
Africa;
and
in
Naples-Foggia,
Rome-Arno,
North
Apen- nines,
and
Po
Valley,
Italy.
Mr.
Wagner
was
inducted
into
the
Army
on
April
17,
1941;
he
was
only
the
second
Minnesotan
of
German
descent
to
be
drafted
into
World
War
II.
Mr.
Wagner
was
discharged
on
June
21,
1945.
His
rank
was
corporal.
He
served
as
a
battalion
agent
and
motor
messenger.
Mr.
Wagner
was
born
in
1919
in
Hermantown,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Henry
and
Elsie
Wagner.
Mr.
Wagner
was
decorated
with
the
Good
Conduct
Medal,
the
American
Defense
Service
Medal,
the
European- African-Middle
Eastern
Campaign
Medal
with
five
bronze
battle
stars,
the
World
War
II
Victory
medal,
six
overseas
service
bars,
and
the
Bronze
Arrowhead.
Mr.
Wagner
is
the
author
of
the
book,
And
There
Shall
Be
Wars:
World
War
II
Diaries
and
Memoirs
(Copyright
2000,
Twig,
MN:
Wilmer
Wagner
and
Lloyd
Wagner
Press).
battalion
from
the
34th
Division
to
have
been
chosen
to
help
with
the
Italian
invasion,
which
took
place
on
September
9,
1943.
We
secured
the
beachhead
with
heavy
losses
from
our
gun
crews
and
were
almost
pushed
back
into
the
sea,
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veterans
account
(see
below);
Lifetime
Hermantown
Resident
Completes
Memoir
of
World
War
Two,
Hermantown
Star,
1999
(see
below)
Veteran
account
1:
I
was
inducted
into
service,
April
17,
1941,
sent
to
Camp
Claiborne
for
field
artillery
training
along
with
maneuvers.
We
were
on
a
ship
heading
for
Ireland
for
more
training
on
the
British
25-pounder
right
after
Pearl
Harbor
by
January
16th,
1942.
Our
first
combat
was
in
the
spring
of
1943,
where
we
helped
to
chase
Hitler
out
of
Africa.
After
a
summer
of
amphibious
training
in
western
Africa
we
were
attached
to
the
36th
Division,
the
only
field
artillery
and if it hadnt been for General Eisenhower to send the 82nd Airborne Division from Sicily and shellfire from some of our ships, we would have been defeated. But we started our long combat north for twenty-one months through everything imaginable. Snow, mud, ford- ing rivers, over pontoon bridges, enemy shellfire, strafing, mined roads, bombing, and working with the Infantry and finally got to the border of Switzerland, where World War II [in Europe] ended early May 1945. My job for the time in combat was that of battalion agent or motorized messenger, on duty twenty-four hours a day and carrying everything from firing orders to anything else that might pertain to a unit in combatand going through five Jeeps in the process.
60
After
our
twenty-one
months
of
fight- ing
north,
they
took
us
back
to
the
Naples
area
in
B-17
bombers
in
two-and-a-half
hours.
I
was
discharged
in
Minneapolis
late
in
June
1945
after
coming
home
all
the
way
by
cargo
planes.
Veteran account 2: Went to Ireland in January 1942 on the first convoy of servicemen to leave the U.S. Took part in the Italian invasion in September 1943 and went all the way to Milan. Drove off an LST [landing ship, tank] with a waterproofed jeep onto the beach. Thankfully no wounds but a steady slugging through the mud, rain, cold, and dust, always going at night with high- priority material and lucky enough not to be hit by enemy fire and getting through the mine fields as well . . . Lifetime Hermantown Resident Completes Memoir of World War Two By L. Edward and Susan Newman W. A. Bud Wagner was the second Minnesotan of German descent drafted into the war. Cook, machine gunner and company agent, Wagner had the privilege of being on the first convoy to make its way across the Atlantic for the European theater. And the good fortune of having survived the duration of the war without becoming a casualty in North Africa and Italy, which included beachheads at Anzio and Salerno. Just over two years ago Bud Wagner went out and bought a computer. He taught himself to type and proceeded to finish a project that hed carried in his heart for most of a lifetime. This summer, at age 80, Wagner has completed his first book, based on his diaries from World War Two. The book, And There Shall Be Wars, is currently under consideration by a leading publisher of military histories. Wagner had several motivations for writing the book. I wanted to put my diary in a concise journal form for the family, Wagner said recently. Ive kept a
diary out of habit since I was a young kid. During the war nobody else did it and I wanted to have it as part of my life experience. Diary writing was rare not only because few soldiers did it, but also because the army had rules against it. When citing the value of diaries Wagner fondly quotes the Chinese proverb, The faintest ink is stronger than the strongest memory. The journal entries were usually quite brief. The book, however, is voluminous, more than 186,000 words (400 pages) because Wagner spent years annotating his notes and writing sometimes ela- borate explanations of the meanings of events and their broader implications. It is this added commentary that gives the book its value. The modest Hermantown market gardener and school bus driver spent a lifetime assembling resources from which to gain understanding of the war and his small part in it. The book has other features which make it more than a family archive. Wagner has assembled maps, war sta- tionery, military documents, citations and nearly 200 original photos, which the author captured in the various regions of his service. The camera, which he also concealed on his person, was supposed to have been turned in when the soldiers left boot camp for foreign service. The book is currently under con- sideration for publication by a major publisher. But even if it is turned down, the book will be published. We have the funds to publish it ourselves and have full intention of seeing the project go into print sometime in the next year, Wagner asserted. How the Book Came to Be. The idea of putting his diaries into book form may have originated with his son-in-law back in the early 1980s. Everyone in the family agreed that the diaries were fascinating and should be made into a book. Several years later, in 1985, Wagner saw some- thing in the paper about a writing class
61
offered by Carol Bly, a nationally known author with Northland roots. She was going to have a writing class by mail on journal writing. I sent a page of my diary. I asked if I should write my diary into a book. She wrote back, Of course you should write it. Theres no question. She also gave suggestions about putting down specific details to help readers feel the accuracy and non-generalness of the writing. Even though more than a decade passed before the project was undertaken with earnestness, this advice from Ms. Bly helped considerably. In 1997, at age 78, Wagner bought a used computer at Renaissance Computer in Burning Tree Plaza here in Duluth and doggedly learned how to type, create files, save his work and find it again. Oc- casionally there were calls for help finding saved files. Over time the use of the computer was mastered and the diary entries, amplified by commentary, be- came bits and bytes of disk space. The next task in the project was the editing. Son Lloyd Wagner, of Saginaw, was the able editor, bringing many assets to the project. With a Masters Degree in Literature and a period of service in Southeast Asia during the Viet Nam War, Lloyd ably groomed the manuscript for clarity and proper grammar without compromising the integrity of the authors own voice. The biggest challenge was trying to put it into understandable English because so much of it was abbreviations, said the younger Wagner who now resides in Laos. The book interested me. The book is written in a way that you feel like youre there. Lloyd asserts that he left the diary portion of the book pretty much as he found it. The diary itself is pretty much the same. I didnt change much. But the commentary I changed quite a bit, putting it in paragraph order, changing sentence order, adding sentences at times or sometimes take them out. Others who have read the manuscript say that the
editing was true to the authors voice and did not in any way alter what was essentially Buds personal life work. Overview. Charlie Jurvolin and Bud Wagner were the first two men to be drafted from Local Draft Board No. 5 in Proctor. April 17, 1941, they were sent to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, and put in the 151st Field Artillery Battalion of the 34th Infantry Division. The two Northlanders were on the first transport of soldiers to go overseas in World War Two. They landed in Ireland in January of 1942, shortly after Pearl Harbor. Though in different battalions, both Jurvolin from Floodwood and Wagner from Hermantown saw action in Africa and Italy. Wagners outfit was attached to the 36th Division and took an active part in the invasion of Italy just south of Naples. During his four years and three months in the service, Wagner was a cook, an ack ack gunner on a mobile 50 caliber machine gun, and finally a company agent or motorized messenger. Wagner is quick to point out that he had an easier job as a motorized messenger than other foot soldiers in the infantry that he closely followed. All this and much more was recorded daily in Wagners diary. The book, when published, will stand as a contribution to both literature and history. Sidebar: After completion of his military service, Wagner received the following citation from Major General Charles L. Bolte: Wilmer A. Wagner (37026777), Corporal, Field Artillery, Headquarters Battery, 151st Field Artillery Battalion. For exceptionally meritorious conduct from 9 May 1943 to 2 May 1945, in North Africa and Italy. During this period Cpl Wagner served as battery agent for Headquarters Battery, 151st Field Artillery Battalion. Cpl Wagner continually drove blackout over unfamiliar roads that were often almost impassable due to rainfall. Cpl Wagner
62
furnished
valuable
information
as
to
the
condition
of
the
roads
and
the
location
and
use
of
short
cuts.
Frequently
the
roads
traversed
by
Cpl
Wagner
were
subjected
to
heavy
enemy
harassing
fire
and
information
regarding
minefields
was
lacking,
but
Cpl
Wagner
never
failed
to
reach
his
destination
in
time
for
operational
changes
and
new
plans
to
be
effected.
Cpl
Wagners
courage
and
devotion
to
duty
reflect
great
credit
upon
himself
and
the
military
service.
After the war, Wagner returned to Minnesota, resumed his occupation as market gardener and developed a greenhouse business, married, built a home and raised a son and two daughters. To supplement his income he drove a school bus. An avid reader, Wagner has remained an active student of World War Two and military history throughout his lifetime.
Germany.
I
was
with
the
9th
Armored
Division.
We
were
the
first
to
cross
the
Rhine
River.
Source:
Veterans'
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran's
account
(see
below)
I was shipped overseas to Europe. Landed in Scotland, down to England, France and
Mr. Watt served in World War II in the Pacific Theater. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from June 1942 until December 5, 1945. He was assigned to the Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron (VMSB-VMTB) 232, Red Devil Squadron, Marine Aviation. Mr. Watt went to boot camp in San Diego, then to aviation school in Jacksonville, Florida, where he graduated
from metal-smith school in February 1943. He returned to San Diego and was assigned to Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 232 in El Toro, California. They boarded a Dutch ship, the S.S. Japara, and left for the Pacific. Mr. Watt participated in the Bou- gainville Campaign (Solomon Islands). For 31 consecutive days, his unit was under Japanese attack from the air and
63
land.
During
this
time,
his
unit
monitored
American
aircraft
for
bombing
raids
on
nearby
islands.
For
this,
his
squadron
received
the
Presidential
Citation.
Mr.
Watt
himself
was
an
airplane
mechanic,
working
with
engines,
landing
gear,
wings,
and
other
parts
to
keep
the
aircraft
flying.
After
making
major
repairs,
he
was
required
to
go
on
test
flights
with
the
pilots
to
make
certain
all
was
well.
Subsequently,
Mr.
Watt
returned
to
the
United
States
for
a
furlough.
He
was
temporarily
assigned
to
Squadron
#143
at
Santa
Barbara,
then
was
again
assigned
to
Squadron
#232,
and
in
late
December
1944,
his
unit
went
to
Guam,
Saipan,
and
Tinian.
When
the
Enola
Gay
left
Tinian
to
bomb
Japan,
the
service
members
were
alerted
and
were
issued
gas
masks.
He
returned
to
the
United
States
and
was
discharged
on
December
5,
1945.
His
rank
was
Staff
Sergeant.
Mr.
Watt
was
decorated
with
the
Presidential
Citation,
Four
Bronze
Stars,
Good
Conduct
Ribbon,
and
South
Pacific
Ribbon.
Mr.
Watt
was
born
in
Duluth,
Minnesota,
in
1920,
the
son
of
Stanley
J.
and
Elise
M.
Watt.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veterans
account
(see
below);
original
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
website
entry
(see
below)
Robert S. Watt U.S. Marine Corps. Enlisted in May, 1942, and was called up in June 1942. Went to Minneapolis and stayed in a bug-infested hotel with two others from Duluth (George Wolff and Gordon Pond). Sent to San Diego for boot training and then to aviation school in Jacksonville, Florida, graduating in February 1943 from Metalsmith School. Was no. 25 in a class of 60. Back to San Diego and was then assigned to VMTB Squadron 2323 Red Devils at El Toro (California). Left for overseas in July 1943 with a stop in Hawaii first on the S.S. Japara, a Dutch ship with tar decks and a large canvas
sock for air to the decks below. Three of us decided to sleep on deck rather than get up at 4:00 a.m. Our breakfast was a roll and powdered eggs, and lunch was powdered egg soup almost every day on the ship. The trip to Noumea, New Caledonia, took 31 days, and some fellow Marines were sick the whole time. From Noumea to Espirito Santo, August 3, 1943, until December 20, 1943, then to Guadalcanal, December 22, 1943. From the Canal to Munda, December 28, 1943, and at that time they were bombing Munda, so we stayed out to sea on the L.C.I. #61 until morning. We left Munda on the L.C.I. #360, January 18, 1944, for Bougainville. While in Bougainville, we were under fire from the air and from the hills for 31 days straight, while monitoring our aircraft for bombing raids on other islands. For this, our squadron 232 received the Presidential Citation. During this time, I was involved in engine-landing gear, wing, and plane parts to keep the aircraft flying, so any major repairs, I was required to go on test hops with the pilots, with flight pay. We did a few fun things also, such as dump used oil on the island of Rota, making rice paddies and fishing unusable. The foothold on Bougainville was very small (2-3 miles wide and one mile long). The landing strip was coral and did not use landing lights at night. At this time, there were some 40,000 Japs on the island. I left Bougainville on May 6, 1944, on the ship Mormac Dove to Espirito Santo on May 13, 1944. Then on the ship Robin Dorcaster for San Francisco. The ship had many wounded and some mental patients, so we were put on guard duty for the whole trip, arriving in Frisco, October 21, 1944. I then had my first furlough in 18 months, thus I had 30 days at home. Went back to El Toro with my friend Don Smith from Doland, South Dakota, whose brother was our C.O. of VMTB 232. (Don Smith was later killed in a plane crash in
64
California.
We
lost
eight
men
in
three
planes
that
day.)
I
was
then
assigned
to
take
Don
Smiths
body
home
for
burial
in
December
1944.
Funeral
was
Christmas
Day,
1944.
Back
to
El
Toro,
but
was
then
assigned
to
a
new
squadron
#143
at
Santa
Barbara
for
a
short
time,
then
back
to
the
#232
for
a
second
trip
overseas
at
end
of
December,
1944.
Went
to
Guam,
Saipan,
and
Tinian,
where
the
A-bomb
took
off
and
was
dropped
on
August
6,
1945.
We
were
all
alerted
and
issued
gas
masks.
During
this
trip,
the
squadron
was
mostly
on
patrol
duty,
so
had
time
to
spare.
We
formed
a
basketball
team
of
ten,
and
we
flew
to
several
islands
to
play
teams.
War
was
over
on
August
25,
1945,
and
left
to
Tinian,
and
to
Guam,
and
sailed
home
to
U.S.A.,
November
15,
1945.
Landed
in
Frisco
and
to
Miramac
for
discharge,
December
5,
1945.
After
four
years
of
service,
retired
as
Marine
Staff
Sergeant
with
four
Bronze
Stars,
Good
Conduct
Ribbon,
South
Pacific
Ribbon,
and
Presidential
Citation
Ribbon.
Robert S. Watt enlisted in the Marines on June 10, 1942. He was a Sergeant with the V.M.T.B. Marine Torpedo Bombing Sqd. 232. He was discharged on December 12, 1945, after his squadron received the Presidential Citation. "It was while on the island of Bougainville at Piva, that we kept the TBF's flying, and hitting gun emplacements, while bombing Rabaul Harbor, although under constant air raids and firing from the hills of Bougainville for over 30 days, that the ground crew and squadron received the Presidential Citation. I was, at that time, in charge of engine repair, and strut and wing replacement."
F.
A.
spent
most
of
their
service
near
the
front
lines
throughout
the
entire
campaign.
Casualties
were
heavy
at
times,
but
after
a
few
close
calls,
we
survived
the
battle.
Mr.
Watts
was
promoted
to
1st
Sergeant
in
April
1945.
He
returned
to
Duluth
in
Sept.
of
1945,
and
remained
a
Lieutenant
in
the
National
Guard
at
the
Duluth
65
He
was
born
in
1922,
the
son
of
Mr.
and
Mrs.
George
W.
Watts.
Mr.
Weinert
served
in
World
War
II
in
both
the
European
and
Pacific
Theaters.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Navy
from
October
4,
1944,
until
December
15,
1947.
After
boot
camp,
he
was
sent
to
Norfolk,
Virginia,
for
landing
craft
training.
While
there,
he
volunteered
into
Scouts
and
Raiders.
After
training,
he
volunteered
out
and
went
on
the
Robert
A.
Callan
(AP
139),
a
troop
transport
ship.
They
trans- ported
troops
to
and
from
France,
India,
and
the
Philippines.
After
the
war,
he
was
assigned
to
the
USS
Corry
(DD
817),
a
destroyer.
His
home
port
was
Naples,
Italy.
He
cruised
the
Mediterranean
until
late
1947.
He
was
discharged
at
Pensacola,
Florida.
Mr.
Weinert's
rank
was
Petty
Officer
3rd
Class.
His
job
was
water
tender.
Mr.
Weinert
was
born
in
1927
in
Iron
Mountain,
Michigan,
the
son
of
Konrad
and
Viola
Weinert.
Source:
Veterans'
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran's
account
(see
below)
I enlisted in the Navy, entered October 4, 1944-December 15, 1947. When I got out of boot camp, I was at Norfolk, Virginia, training for landing crafts. While I was there, I volunteered into Scouts and Raiders. After training, I volunteered out and went on a troop transport ship, the
Robert E. Callan (AP 139). While the war was on, we hauled troops to and from France and India, and the Philippines. I sailed the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, and as soon as the war was over I was assigned to a destroyer, USS Corry (DD 817). My home port was Naples, Italy. I was cruising the Mediterranean until my enlistment was up. I then was discharged from Pensacola, Florida.
66
Mr.
Wheaton
was
decorated
with
the
World
War
II
Victory
Medal,
the
Asiatic- Pacific
Theater
Commendation
Ribbon
with
the
Marianas
Battle
Star
and
the
Ryukyu
Battle
Star.
Mr.
Wheaton
was
born
in
1920
in
Caledonia,
Houston
County,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Ralph
Roe
Wheaton
and
Edna
Marie
(McLaughlin)
Wheaton.
Mr. Wheaton served in World War II in the Pacific Theater. He served in the U.S. Navy from February 1, 1943, until March 1946. He trained at the U.S. Navy Midshipman School at Notre Dame University, and he was commissioned an Ensign on May 27, 1943. He was assigned to a minesweeper in the Pacific. Later, he was an instructor at a Navy base. He was assigned to the 3rd Fleet, serving under Admiral William Halsey, South Pacific. He was then assigned to the 5th Fleet, serving under Admiral Chester Nimitz. In early 1944, Mr. Wheaton was assigned to the staff of Admiral Lawrence Reifsnider, Commander, Amphibious Group 4, Pacific Fleet Task Group 58. In this capacity he was involved in the Navy, Army, and Marine assault on Okinawa. After the surrender by Japan, Mr. Wheaton was assigned to a Navy communications office in Tokyo. His rank at the time of his discharge was Navy (full) Lieutenant (0-3). Mr. Wheaton later served in the Navy Reserve, including two years of active duty during the Korean War.
Ralph Wheaton grew up in St. Paul and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1942. After training at the U.S. Navy Midshipmen School at Notre Dame University, he was commissioned as an ensign on May 27, 1943. He was assigned to a minesweeper operating off the Pacific Coast and later was an instructor at a Navy base. In early 1944, he was assigned to the staff of Amphibious Group Four, led by Adm. Lawrence Reifsnider. In this role he was later involved in the Navy, Army, and Marine assault on Okinawa. He says the number of ships and men involved in the assault exceeded that involved in the D- Day landings at Normandy. There were 1,600 ships and a combined force of 540,000 Army and Marine personnel in the landings. Wheaton was assigned to a Navy communications office in Tokyo after the war and was separated from active duty on Feb. 8, 1946, at the rank of Lieutenant. He later served in the Navy Reserve, including two years of active duty during the Korean War. After the war, he was an engineer for space projects for defense contractors and then worked as a counselor for the Minnesota Employment Service until his retirement in 1986.
67
Mr.
Whitby
served
in
World
War
II.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Army
Air
Forces
from
August
1944
until
June
1946.
He
was
assigned
to
the
20th
Air
Force.
At
war's
end,
he
participated
in
the
Sunset
Project,
returning
B-29's,
B-24's,
and
other
aircraft
as
well
as
troops,
to
the
United
States.
His
rank
was
Sergeant.
Mr.
Whitby
was
born
in
Duluth,
Minnesota,
in
1926,
the
son
of
George
and
Alice
Whitby.
He
graduated
from
high
school
in
1944.
Source: Veterans Memorial Hall, Veteran History Form; HyperWar: Army Air Forces in WWII, Vol. VII, p. 226 (http://www.ibiblio.org/ hyperwar/AAF/VII/AAF-VII-8.html)
Source:
Veterans'
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran's
account
(see
below);
"USS
Yosemite
(AD-19),"
Wikipedia
entry.
I enlisted in the Navy @ MSP, 10/16/42. Basic training at Great Lakes, pre-radio school at Chicago Navy Pier, basic radio training at Bliss Electrical School, Mary- land, Electronic School at Treasure Island SE, USMC land-based radar school at Camp Lejeune, NC, USS Yosemite, Tampa, Florida, Des Pac, Pearl Harbor, Eniwetock, Ulithi, Leyte Gulf, Sasebo, Japan. The Yosemite was a destroyer tender, providing supplies and support to de- stroyers, primarily repairs. I was assigned to the radio and underwater sound shop, working on installation and repairs of electronic equipment. I was discharged at MSP Naval Training Station 2/10/46.
68
Mr. Wollak served in World War II in the Pacific Theater. He served in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to the battleship USS North Carolina. He served in the V Division (aviation unit) as an Aviation Metalsmith 3rd Class. Mr. Wollak was decorated with the World War II Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Area Rib- bon, and the Asiatic-Pacific Area Ribbon. Mr. Wollak was born in 1927 in Royalton, Minnesota, the son of Nick and Josephine Wollak.
Source:
Veterans
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran's
account
(see
below)
I spent 27 months on the battleship BB55 USS North Carolina, which included time in the South Pacific, including entering Tokyo Bay for peace signing ceremonies, and midshipman training cruises after the end of World War II. I worked as an aviation metalsmith AMCon Kingfisher seaplanes. They were used for observation, search and rescue.
Mr.
Wuolle
served
in
both
World
War
II,
in
the
European
Theater,
and
in
the
Korean
War.
He
served
in
the
U.S.
Army
from
October
1942
until
November
11,
1945.
He
was
assigned
to
the
91st
Infantry
Division,
Reconnaissance.
His
rank
was
Corporal.
Mr.
Wuolle
served
in
the
U.S.
Navy
during
the
Korean
War.
Mr.
Wuolle
was
born
in
1927
in
Duluth,
Minnesota,
the
son
of
Oscar
and
Fiina
Wuolle.
Source:
Veterans'
Memorial
Hall
Veteran
History
Form;
veteran's
account
(see
below)
Winchester, England, June 5-6, 1944, was one of my most memorable times of my stay in England. A few days prior, we had evacuated the 8th Station Hospital. We did not know why. We were given a day off, so took off on our bikes but returned because of the heavy traffic, not realizing it was the start of the Normandy Beachhead. We were informed the troops were crossing the Channel to France.
69
That night it seemed like hundreds of planes flew over the Channel with their lights. We had not seen a light after dark
since arriving in England. A few days later we knew why we were there. It was a nightmare.
70