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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (May 22, 1944)
MONDAY, MAY 22, 1944 TEE JOTTOIAL, PLATTSKOTTTH, HEBSASEA PAGE FIVE T noents This Page is a regular feature of the Monday edition of the Semi-Weekly THE SERVICE JOURNAL :- Correspondents and ethers having items for the SERVICE JOURNAL will please mark "Service" and place on separate sheet from other items. Service Editor Lt. Leslie Amelang Prisoner Of War Of The Germans First Reported as Missing in Act ion Over Bucharest, Rumania, Now Found as Prisoner Lieutenant Leslie M. Arr-elang, son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Amelang. cf Louisville, who was reported as missing over Bucharest, Rumania, Aoril 14th, is now reported in a message to .he parents as a prisoner of the Germans. The telegram was received at Lo;isille on Tuesday night, and informed the parents of the safety of tbi son altlio held in enemy hands. Lt. Amelang was the pilot of ar. American flying fortress and prior tu his entry in the air service was the manager of a chain grocery flort in Omaha. The news came as a very welcome message to the parents and the many old friends in Louisville and over Cas? county. Receive Interesting Pictures Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Wurl of this city have received some very inter esting snap shots taken in that lit -Me known section cf our globe. Greenland, the great island that un til this war was seldom visited, but now is occupied by American forces Muster Sergeant Robert Wurl, is located on the island and has been there long enough to become much interested in the scenery that is so inajetlic as to inspire one with its giandeur. On a recent trip the American enjoyed the opportunity of visiting at one of the great glac ier "sections of Greenland and to get lictures of -he great rugged moun tains with the snow and ice forma tion, the marches and treks through the deep snows of the far north. Th" party also enjoyed visiting with several of the Eskimo families W al are settled in the bleak region, the Igloos where they make their hemes and ihe families garbed in their best clothes, the elders espec ially dressed, in the usual garb of the mere settled areas of the world. Calls From Virginia A Mother's day greeting sent home was n telephone message from Bron son Timm to his wife and parents in this city. He is i ow stationed ar. Camp Alien. Virginia, awaiting his assignment in the navy. The greet ing was much enjoyed by the rela tives altho limited to a few moments only, due to the heavy demands on the telephone lines for the Mother's day greetings. Returns to Duty J. J. Chovanec, radio operator 1c. who has been here since May 4th, departed today for San Diego, Calif , to report for duty after a very pleas ant visit with his mother, Mrs. Trank Chovanec, and his other rela tives and friends. Joe has had a very e tensive experience in the naval service and his duty has tak en him to nary places over the Pa t if is. VSISTS IN CITY Kenneth Jones. Seabee, who ar rived in Omaha on Saturday to visit Mrs. Jones and other cf th? rela tucs, came down to this city Tues day to visit his mother. Mrs. Edna Jcnes and with his brother, Murl Jones home on a fjrlcugh. They v.-cre entertained at a family dinner at the home of the mother Tuesda3T and later visited with the many old friends in the city. Calls Home Folks Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Iorcnz last evening received a telephone mes sage from their youngest son. Pvt. Jack Lereiiz. stationed in the air corps at Kearns. Uah, where he was transferred from the Lincoln air training center a short time ago. The message stated that he was well and liked the station very much but as to his tenure lie was not certain. EECENT W0ED FROM SON Mr. and Mrs. Albert Seomaker of Weeping Water had received no word from their son, MOMM 2c Carl Schomaker, for several weeks. He-vT- n letter spying that i. . : J, cs-i i:n nil been on two invasions, one to the Marshall islands and ODe to the Gilbert islands. Home From California Tech. Sgt. Elmer Yardley, who has spent tho rast twenty-two months in the service of Uncle Sam's army, is here to enjoy a furlough with his v ife and his mother, Mrs. Alma Yard ley. Sgt. Yarciley is now located at Camp Cook, California, and has the position at this time of cooking for Iho general officers mess at the tamp, a place where the cook can do his best. He previously had snivel as mess sergeant for groups al Camp Pclk, Camp Barklcy, Camp Avis and then to Camp Cook, his present location. His experience and oxcellent con dint of his work laid the way for his present position. Sgt. Yaidley made the trip from the west coast to Omaha by plane, tating breakfast at Los Angeles and the evening meal en reaching home Tech. Sgt. James Schaf er Ready On The War Front Completes Course That Pits Hin for the Service Required Ir. War Fronts An I- i: Force Service Command Station. "Somewhere in England"- TSsrt. James Schaf er, son of Mr and Mrs. OUc Sehfer cf Nehawka. Nebr.. is now overseas and has par ticipated :'n a court'.- designed to bridge the gap between training in the States and soldiering in an active Theater of War. At ens of the Air Service Com mand stations known as Control Depots, TSgt. Schafer was carefully processed by classification experts who made certain that he was well fitted for the job assigned to him. Security training, personal hygiene, a tPlk by a Special Service Officer informing him of facilities for healthful recreation, and a lecture by the Chaplain are all in turn part of the G. I s preparation for his over seas, duty. His next station v. ill be one from which America's fighting planes u;ke off to smash the nazi war ma chine. Before entering the army, he was employed as a farmer by his father. Home on Furlough Pvt. Murl Jones arrived home last night to spend some ten days here iih his wife and children, as well as his mother, and many friends. He h:,s spent several dajs traveling from Camp Blanding. due to the heavy rair.s affecting roadbeds, and was over two hours late :n Omaha last, night. Murl was busy today in meeting the old friends who were, delighted to see him looking so well and feeling in the best of shape physically. He is changing stations and on leaving hera expects to report at Fort George Meade, in Maryland. Hear from Son On Wednesday Mrs. Clyde Jack son of this city, was very pleasantly surprised when a large and hand some bouc.net arrived at her home Hie beautiful gift had been sent by her eldest son, Master Sgt. Bernard Jackson, who is stationed in Eng land. He had cabled for the bouquet for Mother's day but it -was delayed in the arrival but truly appreciated. MS Jackson states that he plans on a trip ;o try and locate an old friend. Tech. Sgt. Howard Dean Mc Failand. who is in Europe m the air service. NAMED AS CAPTAIN Kess'ier Field. M;ss., May 17 1st Lt. Merl V. Kurkholder, air corps officer and U rmer resident of Platts mouth. was promoted this week to the rank of captain. He is stationed at Kecsler Field, Miss., where the Army Air Forces Training Command is training thous ands of future ground crews to ser vice and maintain the B-24 Liberator bombers which are helping carry the war tc the axis. Hears From Son Sunday Mrs. William Kief, resid ing in the south part of the city, received a Hfcther's day greeting , -vh.' :.- j!'.'-- . a iu E;.c kind. The mes-taga came as a wonder ful reminder of the day and especial ly from overseas. Writes of 'Boot' Camp The following letter from Tom Doody, son of Deputy Sheriff and Mrs. Emery Doody tells very inter est nigly cf his work at the "boot" camp at Farragut, Idaho, and the very fine showing that he has made in the swimming tests: May 12, 1944 Tom Doody, AS., Co. 535-4 4 -Camp Scott, U. S. X. T. C, Farragut, Idaho, Dear Mom, Lad and Jim: Well, we v.-ent on schedule this morning and its a five week schedule, to I should graduate in five weeks, talk about that eight-week schedule was just "scuttlebutt." We had little excitement last night. We were starting a fire drill and six prisoners escf. ped, they post ed double guards at all stations. I nas a'Vak-.ned at 2:00 thia morning ana had to guard around the bar lacks till 4:00 A. M ., and then we got up at 4.30. We've been getting vp at 4.00 and 4 ?0 eveiy morn ing. I'm really tirtd tonight. We took our swimming test this morning and there v. as a 3rd class a 2nd class and a 1st class. There were about 15 of us that tried for 1st class, two passed the test, an c taer kid about 20 and myself, cut of 130 in our company. To pass it you had to swim 2' times around the pool which is about 220 yards, and that after you treaded water tor 10 minutes. I w:.s the fifth one lo start and came in first by one length of the pool. Turn we had out tinder water swim. We had to pre tend like there was burninc: oil on the water i r.d we had to swim across the pool under v. ater. coming up for air twice, ihen we had to take life saving, break a hold and carry a victim across tl:e pool, then v.e had to jump in the pool with a pah of pants cm, take them oft, in- j flate them and make th""i so you could float on them. When the rest of the company goes swimmnig now, us tv. c guys will be lifeguards. We also took our typhoid shots today and I can't even lift my arm Sr. me of the guys got sick and had to go to bed. -We've had mostly all lectures since we've been here. Some ol them ate dry and some of them tire interesting. - -- - - - - - I have a "sty" in my right eys. I ve had it for tv. o days. Well, its about time to go to bed. so I'll say Love, Tom Suffers from Pneumonia Mr. and Mrs. Mike Kaffenberger have received word that their son Henry, who is stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, is in the hospital at that place with an at tack of pneumonia. Henry has been with the army engineers since De cember and had just completed his basic training when he took sick. All of his friends regret to hear or his illness, but hope for a speedy recovery. Hears From Son Mrs. Herman Ellington of this city was made very happy this- week by the arrival of a bouquet that was sent by her son. Pvt. Lawrence El liugson, who is now stationed in New Caledonia. French possession in the southwest Pacific. The bouquet bad been intended for the observance of Mother's day, but was delayed in arrival nut nevertheless was the source of much jov. Promoted to Corporal Leonard E. Sikora, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Sikora of this city, has just been promoted from Private First Class to Corporal, the appoint ment effective as of May 15th. The promotion was made througn the Military Police Detachment ot Dist rict Xo. 5, Seventh Service command. Omaha. Cpl. Sikora has been assigned to the military police since entering the armd service. Returning on Leave Glen Woodbury, fcrr.-.rr district court reporter, who is in the armed service as a member of the Seabees, is expected horns on leave the next week. He is rlatio.ed in the east and has been promsied a leave that will enable him to reach Omaha on next Tuesday night where he will be met by Mrs. Wocdbury, the present re- it r rr.d tber. go onto their home fi r;1, . , V-,r v; ;j v :;-f husband and lather is an event thai all of the family is looking to with great anticipation. Posthumous Award Of Purple Heart To James H. Jones Mother of Tech. Sgt. Jones Ee ported as Dead in Action, Notifi ed of the Award of Medal Saturday, Mrs. Edna Jones, re ceived a letter from Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, notifying her that the order of the Purple Heart had been awarded posthumous tc her son. Tech. Sgt. James H Jones, reported by the woi depart ment i.s dead in action over Ger many. The letter from the secretary of war extended to the mother the condolences of the govermient and tlip doop feeling ol appreciation of the heroic services of the son that had given his supreme sacrifice for his country. The av. at d is to arrive soon and v il! be added to the Air Medal and :'.s ak leaf clusters that represent, the bravery of Sgt. Jones in his ser vice in the air corps Gall-Parker Wedding Sunday At Christian Church Immediate Family Witness Charm ing Church Wedding With Mar riage Liues Read by Eev. Taenz ler Mr. and Mrs. Auerust Call announ ce the marriage of their daughter, Aiieen, to Elmer Harold Parker. SM I'.c, at tl.3 Christian huivh, Stm day afternoon. May 14, at 3 o'clock with ?iev. J. V. Taenzler official ing The youag couple were attended by Miss Margaret Klusak and l.te Mclntyre, and the immediate famil ies were present. The bride appeared in black with a shoulder corsage ol red roses and ferns, the gift of the groom. The b'-idesmaid i.lso were black, but her corsage was cf yellow roses. The groom was attired in his Merchant Marine uniform. Following the welding coiemony the paity u,"t er.te: tained at a re ception at the bride's home, leaving from there lor Omaha. The bride plans to leave with her husband for the west coast after his rurlcugh which ends June 2. The bride was graduated from tlu P'attsiuouth High school with .lie class of 1P42. Since her gradua tion she has been a beauty operator at Omaha ard later employed at the Martin Bomber plar.t. in selective service department. Parker graduated from Auburn High school in 1 9 ;i f ai d became a member of the Merchant Marine ir. August, 19 -to. Out-of-town guests were Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Parker and daughter. ICadinc, of Auburn. Xeb.. Mr. and Mrs. .;. L. Stovall, Mr. and Mrs. Mc lntyre and daughter, Mary Jo. Mr. and Mrs. Meas Buck, all cf Auburn and Mr. and Mrs. Htty Ungues and naymend of Omaha. Finds Europe Strange George Bnsch, writing to his mother, Mrs. Fred P. Busch, states that he is now located ir. Europe, having for tiie past twe months been in Italy as a members of the army air ,:orps ground forces. George states that Italy is a land of want due to the Germans in their occupation having cut down the Italians living supply. To the Ameri cans the one noticeable thing was the dirt and the ...ncral condition of the sections that the Americans occupied and the great crying need ot the population seems to be for soap. One of the happy pieces of news given was that George has recently been promoted to the grade f ser geant from corporal that he held for several months in this countrv. Visits in Missouri Mrs. W. A. Robertson departed Sazurday for Marshall, Missouri, where she attended the Mother's day program that was held at the Mis souri Valley college by the U. S. liaral training unit assigned to that school a son, William Grey Robert s';;!, is a srndert ..? '.he school tar ins his training in the naval re serve v. here there are several hun dred of the young men in training. Soldiers and God The following poem ha been sent tc. Mr and Mrs. E. A. Lorenz of this city, fiom their son. Pvt. John Lor enz, now stationed at Kearns, Utah. It gives one the feeling of the men in er ice as they face the supreme tests on battle field or naval bat tle stations. An Unknown Soldier Poet Talks to God Look God, I have never spoken to You, Put now I want to say How Do You Do; 4 You see Gt d, they told me You did n't exist, And like a iool, I beiieved all this. Last night from a shell hole, I saw Your sky, I figured right then, they had told me a lie; H id I taken time to see things you made, I'd have known Ihey weren't calling a spade a spade. I wonder, Cod, if You'd shake my band. Suincho- I feel that You will under stand; Funny, I had to come to this hellish place. Before I had time to see Your Face. Well. I guess there isn't much more to say, :3i;t I'm sure glad God, I met You today; I guess the "Zero Hour" will soon be here, Hut I am not afraid since I know that you're here The rignal -well God. I have to go. I like you lots, this I want you to know; Look now, this will be a horrible fight, Who knows, I may come to your house to-nite. Though I wasn't friendly to you be fore. I wonder God. if you wait at your door; Look I am crying, me shedding tears! I wish I hau known you these many 3'ears. Well I have to go now, God goodbye' Strange, since I met you I am not afraid to die. cThis verse was found on the body of an American Soldier, after a battle soinewhe-e in Italy. The identity of the writer hasn't been determined. The verse was tent to The Chaplain's Digest, by Father Vincent Sekulski. Ed.) Home from Florida Last evening two Plattsmouth young men that have been in train ing in the army in Florida, aVrived heme for a short furlough with their families and many friends. The sol diers were Pvt. Robert E. Sedlak and Cpl. Stephen lvoe, from Fort Blanding, where they have been since last tail in training. The two have been in the same camp all of these mouths but in the midst of the f 0.000 soldiers had been unable to contact each other until going on furlough and then found each other in the same bus they continuing to make the journey home together. The Plattsmouth men had a stop of several hours in Washington, D. C, and made the most of this in sightseeing, visiting the national capitel, where congress was in ses sion, the supreme court building, and past the White House that is heav ily guarded as the residence of the president and his family. One of ;he most enjoyed features was the "itit to the Washington monument and the trip to the top of the tower gave them a great view cf Wash ington and' the surrounding country Pvt. Sedlak is making a change of flat ions and when he leaves here he goes to Fort George Meade, Mary land, to report for further orders. Young Sailor Home Furrian Weight. S l'c, U. S Navy, was 5n the city Sunday to visit at thti home cf his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Jackson he being home on liberty with his parents at Tabor, Iowa. Seaman Weight has just recently returned from a tour of duty in the Pacific with one ot" the naval task forces that have be-m active in the advance ment of th- American forces. He v. " f-''rart fn th-s raids on be Ivu-'.io i&ijua at the north tip of Japan and also in patrol duty in ihat part of the Pacific. Tells of New Guinea Letters received by Mrs. Sam Smith and Mrs. ltoy Ward, of Weeping Water, sisters of Pvt Elmer Joseph- son, have told seme interesting things about the people and the climate of New Guinea, where be is now located as an aerial spotter with the ground crew of the Air Corps. He speaks of the natives of New Guinea as being dark in color, con tented and they seem like one happy family. They take great interest in the Americans and. their possessions. Any kind cf a mirror calls for the greatest admiration from the natives, and a flash light is another curiosi ty which they are very desirous of owning, ,-peaking of tho climate there he said that it is warm ana rainy. The soil is ricn, but shallow. Cocoanuts are plentiful. Bananas are as green as those now found in the states. l't. Josephsen has been in New Guinea for about two months Pleasant Surprises Sunday brought a very rleasant surprise at the homes of Mrs Edna Joues and Mrs. Murl Jones, in tele phone messages from absent members of the familj. Kenneth A. Jones, U. i. Coastguard, who has been locat tcl at Sar. Francisco for the paxt several months, arriving in Omaha lo greet his wife and the mother in this city. Since his return from a long campaign spent in the Aleu tians and Alaska, he has been as signed to the west coast and now will enjoy a visit here and in Oma ha. A telephome message was receiv ed from Pfc. Murl Jones at Fort Blanding. Florida, that he was to anive here Monda or Tuesday for a furlough here with his wife and children and mother. This is his first visit home since he was sent to tho Florida camp from Fort Leaven worth and is an event that is being anticipated with pleasure by all of the family, as well as the large cir cle of friends. Hears from Grandson Mr. and Mrs. B. C. Hyde have re ceived a letter from their grandson, Farl Hyde, who is stationed in Eng land. He slates that he is in gtod health and enjoying the country. He also told of the oddity of traf fic, as they turn to the left to pass instead of the right. He told that it was difficult to get used to the English money, it not being of the ame valuation, but learned fast after being ' gyped" a tints or two. Earl was a former Plattsmouth boy. His wilt and young son live at I'acoma, Wash. Back in U. S. Cpl. Harold E. Stewart, resident here for a number of years and a graduate of the class of 11-37 of the local high school, has arrived back in the United States after a service of over two years in the Panama Canal Zone. Cpl. Stewart ar rived in New Yoik City and has Ven enjoying his ten day furlough in visitjng in the east coast cities. It :s expected that Harold will be i-ble to come west for a visit with the relatives and old friends in this sec tion. Cpl. Stewart is a nephew of Mrs. H. P.. Perry of this city. Calls From Texas Among the families to enjoy tele phone messages from their children in the past few days has been Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Weseott from their daughter, Alice Louise, who is lo cated at Amarilla. Texas, where she is now located as an instruc tor at the air base at that place. Miss Wescot: was formerly at Lin coln, but v ben the status was changed at the air base, she was sent with other instructors to dif ferent fields. Wins Good Conduct Medal A Ninth Air Force Thunderbolt Base, England: Colonel Lance Call cf Houston. Texas, commanding a Ninth Air Force fighter group, has awarded the Good Conduct Modal to l't. Ernest H. Valiery, son of Jess-? C. Valiery, Plattsmouth, Nebr., and Mary C Valiery of Milwaukee, Wise. Pvt. Valiery entered the service in August, 1&2, and left tor foreign service late l&st year. He is fighter group's na-dical section. Ke is mar ried, his wife, Elizabeth, residing at Iihinelander, Wise. Carl Ganz Named Lt. Colonel In The Armed Service Former Alvo Eanker and Attorney Receives Advancement for Work in Judge Advocate Department Cass county friends will be inter ested in learning that Major Carl D. Ganz, formerly of Alvo, has been s.dvanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel in he judge advocate's de partment of the U. S. army. Colon?l Ganz was called into the armed services early in the out break of the war, closing rut hi. legal and banking business to take up bis work as a member of the armed forces and "as assigned to the judge advocate's department of the army. The chi:d'..n of the family have followed the father into service and jusl recently a son, Lieuteuant Dab? Ganz, was home to enjoy a visit wiih the parents at ibeir station in Omaha. Mr. and Mrs. S. C. Boyles, parents of Mrs Ganz, are now at Omaha, also. To Wed May 27th The announcement is being made of the forthcoming marriage of John L. Tidball, III. former resident cf this city, to Miss Sue Grundman of Nebraska City, to take place on Saturday, May 27th. at the Otoe county city AC Tidball is completing his training work at LaJunta, Colorado, where he expects to receive his wings on Tuesday. May lord, and his commission in the air corps. Hu is leaving as soon as possible for Nebraska for the wedding. Mr. and Mrs. Carl Koch of Prpsjue Isle. Maine, now visiting at Seward, ill be here for the wedding as well as Mrs Carter Strand and son, Stephen, of Dayton Ohio, who are arriving on Wednesday. Tne ladies are sisters of AC Tidball. Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Spangle r of this city will also join the party at the wedding. The bride and goom, members of Nebraska families, were college as sociates at Doane college at Crete. Goes to Calif oria Captain W. S. Eaton, who has been home on leave with his lamily after a service of some two years in the South Pacific, lias been ordered to report at Fort Ord,. California. This slation is part of the service com mand unit. Captain Eaton has bean at Ft. Kiley, Kansas, and will enjoy a short leave here with the family before he goes to Caliiornia. Tell of Experiences An American Hospital in Austral ia. May 1;. (UP) Missionaries rescued from Jap imprisonment at Ilcllandia disclosed today that al lied airmen in an attack on an arm ed refugee ship ofi New Guinea, killed 70 ri'fugees but turned aside immediately when they found the nature of the target. Sister Ottcnia, 41, former Mary Kuhall of l-'ffingham. Illinois, said, she and 105 other missionaries, half castes and children were aboard a small luggf: in a convoy en; out to Holiandia in February, when allied aircraft struck. Seventy refugees and many Jap troops were killed on deck before allied airmen saw the women and children and promptly turned aside to destroy another ship, she said. "They could have destroyed us easily," said Sister Ottcnia. "Our ship looked just like any other small Jap costal vessel and had .lap troops and machine guns aboard." Seventy missionaries, including nine Americans are restirg at this aimy hospital regaining lost weight and recuperating after 1" months in Jap hands. They were among the 1?3 missionai ies and mission wcrk i i s rescued w hen American troops invaded Ko,landia. Goes to Denver Mrs. Paul Keil and little daughter, Karen Kay, have gene tc Denver where Mr. Keil is stationed in the air corps at Lov.ery Field, they planning cn remaining there as long as the husbiir.d a r.d father is at the Denver station. They made the trip in the car cl" Mrs. Keil and were ac companied by J. H. Graves, father of Mrs. Keil.