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About The Plattsmouth journal. (Plattsmouth, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (March 12, 1945)
b MONDAY, MARCH 12,' 1945 Plattsmouth Coast Guard Has Part In Invasion John S. Slatinsky, Gunner's Mate Third Clasc Participated in the Luzon Invasion ABOARD A COAST GUARD AT TACK TRANSPORT AT LUZON (Special) The thunder of ack-ack fire pouring: upward at the Jap plane swooping over Lingayen Gulf was sweet music to the ears of Coast Guardsman John S. Slatinsky, Run ner's mate.third class, of Platts mouth, Nebraska. Ever since the convoy sailed past Eataan and Corregidor and enemy bombers nippped at its heels and flanks, Slatinsky had been hearing his favorite symphony. He had spent months keeping guns at his battle statio ntuned to con cert pitch. The sights had not pick ed up a flying foe since the invasion of Saipan, although the ship had participated in the Leyte operation. Now, in the embattled gulf, trac ers were spitting upward intermit tently from dawn until dusk. The plane which had been drawing the fire faltered in its flight, appeared to stall, then wobbled downward in the general direction of Luzon Is land trailing smoke. "That's the most rounds we ever got off at an enemy target," the local Coast Guardsman and his ship mates commented as they began picking up the shell casings. "The Nips better steer clear of these babies, because we'r edue to start chalking up a few." The crew's biggest thrill of the initial assault on Luzon came in the early hours of the invasion when Jap torpedo boats invaded the gulf. In pitch blackness the enemy craft managed limited damage before a spotlight caught one in full flight. Tracer bullets converted it into a flaming torch. Two more were simi larly trapped and destroyed. The rest were routed. Slatinsky, 19 years old, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Slatinsky of Plattsmouth. Dinner Party At Kubicka Home Mr. and Mrs. Jack Kubicka tertained on Wednesday, March en 7th, at a dinnner party at their home, honoring a number of out of town guests. Those who were present included Mrs. Dorothy Chapman of Superior, mother cf Mrs. Kubicka, Cpl. W. Leroy Chapman, air corps, a brother of Mrs. Kubicka, enroute from New York to Fresno, California, Mr. and Mrs. John Kubicka, Sr., of this city and Y3c Edward Kubicka, home from Bremerton, Washington, Mrs. Henry Flau, Nebraska City, daughter ter and grandson, Mrs. Lorraine Coates and Tommy Coates, of Ne braska City. Pfc Carl Miller At Hot Springs Pfc. Carl F. Miller of Plattsmouth served 37 months combat duty in the Southwest Pacific and returned to the States last month. After spending a 25-day furlough at home, he has arrived at the Army ground and service forces redistribution station in Hot Springs, Arkansas. One of the installations of the Army service force recently set up by the 8th Service command, the main function of the station is to reassign service men and women, returned from the fighting fronts to the United States under the rotation program. The reassignments are made after careful interviews with the returnees by specially trained in terviewers, many of them overseas veterans themselves, who strive to place the returnees where their com bat experinces will give the Army the greatest benefits. High School Workers Raise $3,165 Fund Plattsmouth high school students early today had turned in $3,165 towards the total Red Cross goal olf $3,200 and Milo Price principal stated that he expected the students to complete the quota by this after noon. It is evident that the freshman class will be the winner in the con test for the largest amount solicited, inasmuch as they have contributed approximately one-half of the amount thus far turned in. This amount does not include the money donated at the Cass Theater, raska company. We spent our meet-post-office and bank or the sum from ing time in arranging things in the the rural districts. I window. Scribe ' Eugene Lester Is Wounded in Action Word has been received here by the members of the family of the fact that St. Eugene E. Lester, former resident here and grandson of J. A. Edgerton of this city, had been wounded in action on Febru- lary 17th, in France. The letter was received by Mrs. Lester who was at .Sioux City, Iowa, visiting with the parents of Sgt. Lester, and stated that he had been severely wounded but was at the time of writing, getting along very well but still being hospitalized. Sgt. Lester stated he was hoping to get back on duty as he had a per-1 sonal matter now that he wanted to' settle with Hitler. Sgt. Robert Dow Prisoner in Germany Friday morning a message was received by the Howard Dow fam ily of the fact that Sgt. Robert Dow, reported as missing in action, Dec ember 1st, was a prisoner of the Germans at one of their camps. This was the first information since the notice from the war depart ment and came in the form of a card from Robert himself, dated December 12th in Germany. The young man has been in the army two years last December and had been overseas since October 1944. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Dow and his wife and little daughter are making their home with Mrs. Anna Hofaker, mother of Mrs. Robert Dow. Sunbonnet Garden Club Has Meeting The Sunbonnet Garden club met on Thursday at the home of Mrs. Chester Wall with all of the mem bers in attendance at the meeting, presided over by Mrs. Earl Shan holtz, the president. The members responded to the roll call by "Childhood's Vision" and was very interesting. Two poems were read, "Next Year's Garden" by Mrs. Shanholtz, and "Collection Plate" by Mrs. Em ma Chovanec. The program committee was Mrs. Alice Shanholtz, Mrs. Michael Duda, Mrs. Chester Wall. Their topic cov ered the care of gardens and lawns' in the spring. The hostesses served a fine lunch eon at an appropriate hour. Dwain Bethards Receives Citation WITH THE SEVENTH ARMY, In Germany Pfc. Dwain E. Beth ards, 20, of Leon, Iowa, has been cited for heroic service in combat on the Western Front with the 42nd (Rainbow) Division. His wife, Do lores J. Bethards, lives in Leon. Pfc. Bethards, was sent out to re establish wire communication on the front in his company's sector near Dauendorf, Alsace, January 27, 1945. Despite enemy rifle and mortar fire he spent the entire day search ing for. breaks and making repairs in the telephone lines. Bethards-, son of Mr. and Mrs. Emric George Bethards of Platts mouth, Nebr., was a machinist at Norfolk Packing Co., before induc tion in May, 1944. He received in fantry basic training at Camp Rob inson, Ark., and joined the Rainbow division last September. NETAB CAMPFIRE MEETINGS Netab campfire group held a meeting at the library on Monday, February 12th with Mrs. Henry Do nat, our new guardian. We conduct ed the meetincr by parliamentary law. We decided not to have a val entine party so Mrs. Donat treated us with cookies and cokes which Ave enjoyed very much. We also played a game. The meeting was closed by the laws. Scribe Netab group met at the library cn Monday, February 19th for the usual meeting, during the meeting we worked on bingo cards which we made with symbols. These will be used for future parties. Scribe A meeting of the Netab campfire group was held on February 26th, in which we finished working on bingo cards. Mrs. Ted Akeson, our past guardian, was present at this meeting. We were very happy to have her. The meeting was closed singing the laws of campfire. Scribe March 5, 1945, the Netab camp fire group did not hold the regular meeting. Instead we displayed some cf the things we have made. They are in the window at the Iowa-Neb THE Senior Students To Have Chance At Scholarship University of Omaha Offers Mem bers of Senior Class Chance at examination. Senior students from riatts-j mouth high . school who rank in the upper one-fourth of their class will now be able to compete for Univer sity of Omaha Regent's scholarships under a new scholarship plan an nounced this week by John W. Lu cas, dean of students and chairman of the committee on scholarships and grants. Regents' scholarships provide for free tuition and will be awarded for the first and second semesters be ginning September, 1945. Eligible students wishing to com pete for these rjJiolarsliips must have the recommendation of their high school principals. Winners will be those who rank highest in the competitive examinations, which are scheduled for March 28 and 29 at Omaha University. If students are not able to participate in these ex- animations at the university, ar - rangements can be made to take them at their high school. Scholarship examinations will get under way in Roonv 438 of the uni - vesity at 1 P. M. March 28 and at 9 A. M. and 1 P. M. on March 29. Students must be present at all three periods. Traffic Cases Are Heard Thursday The police are continuing their war on traffic violations and Thurs day had two arrests, both on charges of failing to stop at the stop sijns as required by the city ordinances. Gradoville 3 Kenneth L. Scharp, of Nebraska Reckard City was charged with going through Livingston 1 the sign at 7th and Main street, and Wolever 2 L. F. Terryberry with failing to Eaton 0 stop at the stop sign at 7th and Pearl! g streets. Tecumseh The cases were heard before Duebler 4 Judge C. L. Graves and each one re-'pjuta 5 tcivcu a iinc vii $0 anu cusis amojiii- ing to $8.25. Cpl. Carl Hofacker Back From Overseas Tuesday evening Cpl. Carl Hof- 1"ciac acker arrived home from overseas Returns to Duty and will enjoy a visit in this city! Pfc. Russen xielsen, who has and vicinity with the many old time been here visitinR. with his parents, friends- 1 Mr. and Mrs. Harry Nielsen at their Cpl. Hofacker has been overseas Jfarm hcme and with the m old twentv-mne months brinr a member j , . , . , " 7 , 01 one 01 in eariy units mvaa.ng North Africa and had a part in this 1,1,1 tu iiu. lie has just been returned home , ,. - , - from India where he has been serv - ing with the American forces along the Burma road. James Dunbar To Midshipman School Judge Thomas E. Dunbar was in the city Wednesday for a few hours enroute to Papillion where .he will old a session of the district court. Judge Dunbar was accompanied by his son, James Dunbar, appren tice seaman, who is home from his V-12 training and goes on east to attend a midshipman school to study for his commission as an ensigTi in the navy. ODAHA CAMPFIRE The Odaha campfire, just recent - ly organied in this city, held their .j X7.. prf of p.. first meeting Tuesday at the kinder- in "SI rart OI liy garten room of the Central building. The sale of the residence pro The officers elected were: Mary perty of Mrs. Frances Kalasek in Jane Harris, president; Deline Cun-jthe west part of the city, to Hector dall, vice-president; Florence Elling- son, secretary; Frances Clinken beard, treasurer; Florence Reed, scribe; Betty Green, telephone girl. Mrs. Winkle and Miss Frances Buell, guardians of the campfire led the singing and also directed the games. The members of the campfire comprise Jacqueline Schubeck,! Charlotte Wantoch, Florence Duda, j Katherine Reed, Deline Cundall, I Mary Phyllis Troop, Janet Leitsch- uck, marie uashus, Lois Schroeder, Helen Fo Nnrm TrQ,,.e Tn, "J a. mvvaOj w van Phillips. Mrs. Frank Rebal Goes to Hospital i Mrs. Frank Rebal departed this; morning for Omaha where she en- tered the St. Catherine's hospital for a minor operation. The operation took place this morning ana it is nopea xne patient . . i may soon be recovered sufficiently to return home in a few days. JOURNAL. PLATTSMOUTH, NEBRASKA Child Suffers Broken Leg Creighton Johannes, 5-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Creighton Jo hannes, Sr., of Nebraska City, sus tained a broken leg Thursday morn ing when he was struck by a car. The child was on his way to the se cond avenue school kindergarten at Nebraska City at the time. The child had ridden part way to school with W. D. Kirtley. get- ing out to continue on the vray to school and scampered into the street in front of the car. The child is the son of the owner cf Joe's New Way store in this city, Louisville, and Nebraska City. Blue Devils Lose To Tecumseh In Tourney 27-25 Tournament Hopes Boys Dashed in a and Close Game of the Local Hard Fought With Duebler and Pluta setting the nace with nine and eleven nm'nta Tecumseh earned its ticket to the state tourney at Lincoln Friday night jwhen they tourned back the Blue ..Devils 27 to 25. j Both teams played heads up ball but the Platters were cold, Sterling (Cole, captain and standout for the locals was held to two free throws j for the evening, while Joe Gradoville set the pace with seven points, f ol- lowed by Reckard and Livingston with six and Wolever with four. Outside of being cold at th: bask et the boys played their best game of the season and we may well be proud of every one of them. The box score of the game: Platsmouth FG FT PF TP Cole j .. 0 2-2 1- 1 2- 2 4-11 0-0 0-0 9-16 1 4 1 1 0 0 7 2 7 6 6 4 0 25 1- 2 2- 3 0-2 0-1 0-0 0-0 3- 8 3 5 2 1 o u 2 9 12 2 2 2 o rnne 1 Yoder l Logsdon 1 Neukirch 0 12 15 29 1 linenas, aepartea rriuay morning for Florida where he Js gtationed in the armed forceg- Russell is one of the is one of the specialized iiiniiiuna ux 1,11c oil CUIUS illiu aillL'C l w; ,.: 1 Luiiipn-tiny ma naming at vnanuie Field, Illinois, has been in the south. Visitors In City at the Courts John S. McCarty, county attorney of Hall county, was in the city to day, from Grand Island, to spend a few hours at the court house looking after the interests of clienls. Attorney Guy L. Clements of Elm- 'wood wag a visitor in the countv court Friday morning to look after ! some estate matters in which he was 'interested. Walter J. Wunderlich, Nehawka banker, was a visitor in the city Fri day to attend to some matters at the county court. , Sells Prnnfrtv Balthazor has been completed. Mr. Balthazor has sold his resid ence property in Louisville to Gail Meisinger and he will move here to make his home as goon as possession of the new property is given. The property purchased in this city embraces an excellent house and a half block of land, located on Maiden Lane between Locust and Oak street. Robert Sitzman r J J A I vv ounaea in Action Word has been received by Mrs. 'Robert Sitzman that her husband, Pvt. Robert Sitzman, has been wounded in action on the German frontier and is now at an English hospital. Pvt. Sitzman suffered a wound in the right thigh being later brought to England where he has been treat- i vt. lib lO xvciilig KJ tttj, 11 W W ttllVl Will soon be over the effects of the in jury. He was awarded the Purple heart for the wound received in action. Nehawka Man Member Of Oversea Unit Pvt. Ralph C. Pender Member of 19th Combat Engineer Regiment in Italy WITH THE FIFTH ARMY,, Italy Pvt Ralph C. Pender, bull dozer operator of Nehawka is a member of the 19th combat engin eer regiment, Mediterranean theater veterans now maintaining roads, bridges and trails for the Fifth army in rugegd mountain terrain before the Po valley in Italy. The 19th has maintained or re built more than 4000miles of road and built or repaired more than 200 bridges in the Italian campaign and has served in combat for more than 550 days, including action at Kas- serine Pass, Tunisia, and Cassino, Italy. The engineers took up defensive positions against a possible Japanese incasion of California early in the war when a Japanese submarine shelled Santa Barbara. While serving in support of a Ranger battalion in the Tunisian campaign, the 19th Engineers remov ed more than 15,000 mines from a single minefield at Sened. The 19th sailed overseas in Aug ust, 1942, served in Northern Ire land, Scotland and Englandand land ed on African D Day, November 8, 1942, at Arzew, Northern Algeria. They went up to secure the left flank of the 1st Infantry Division. When the Algerian fight ended, part of the 19th went to work unloading supplies at the Arzew port. The regiment entered the Tunis ian campaign in January, 1943. In Kasserine Pass, the engineers held the right flank for 72 hours, harass ing German armored columns with 37-millimeter antitank guns and small arms, while American troops withdrew. They again provided cov er for the withdrawal at Gafsa. They supported the 1st and 34th infantry divisions and the 1st Armored Div ision, in the concluding phase of the African campaign. The outfit entered the Italian campaign in October, 1943, and back ed up the 34th and 36th divisions in the push to Cassino. The engineers ferried doughboys across the Rapido River through intense German mach inegun, mortar and artillery fire in January, 1944, cleared mines, built and maintained footbridges and held open approach routes to the water barrier. They supported the First Special Force and the 85th "Custer" and 8Sth "Blue Devil" divisions in the spring offensive to Rome and con tinued to serve in support of the 88th divisions as they bridged the Arno River and pierced the Gothic Line. Students Aid In Red Cross Drive Approximately $2500 had been turned in by high school solicitors for the Red Cross drive Monday, This drive is being conducted through the cooperation of Principal Milo Price, Red Cross chairman in Platts mouth, and the War Activities Com mittee, of which Nick Kavakich is chairman, and Miss Jessie Whalen is sponsor . The drive will last until Friday, and the class which turns in the largest amount of donations by that time will be favored with some spec ial reward. At the moment, the freshman class claims the lead with close to a thousand dollars. Mr. Price urges all who have not been solicited to give their donation to a neighbor boy or girl, who is in high school. In case this is not pos sible, donations are also accepted by the bank and post office. In response to a suggestion of the War Activities Committee, 79 stu dents have volunteered to give a pint of blood to the Red Cross blood bank. Students under 18 can do this only with the permission of their parents. Returns Home From Omaha Hospital t Mrs. John E. Carmack, return ed home Sunday from the Metho dist hospital at Omaha where she has been for the past few weeks. Mrs. Carmack was suffering from a fractured pelvis sustain ed by a fall during the icy con ditions of the streets a few weeks ago. SPEND SUNDAY HERE Mr. and Mrs. James Tilson of this city and Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Jen nings of Omaha .spent Sunday at the Robert Morris home in thia city. Wlwvdodi The lumber office phone No. 2182 has been disconnected for the time being, or until a new location has! been secured. In the meantime calU No. 2331. j Howard Brunkow and family were I in Lincoln Sunday calling on his father who is in one of the hospitals of that place. They found Mr. Brun kow feeling fairly well. Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Gillespie were Lincoln visitors Tuesday after noon . Frank Melvin of Bellevue was a business visitor in Murdock Monday. II. E. Carlson and Louie Wendt were in Lincoln last Thursday night to see E. Brunkow, A. D. Zaar and Paul Kupke, all off whom are in the Bryan Memorial hospital. The lumber yard got in 100 squares of R. C. shingles the first of the week. Mrs. Fred Buell is teaching in the place of Miss Resmussen, for a short time. Mr. Joe Gilmore of Lincoln was a business visitor in Murdock Thurs day. Paul Stock was in Lincoln Wed nesday on business. W. H. Zable was in Omaha Thurs day looking after business. For a short time there will be no regular lumber office and though the manager will be around town most of the time, customers will have to lock him up. They will likely find him at the elevator office. Mr. and Mrs. Everett Lundell were shopping and visiting friends in Lincoln Saturday. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Luetchens were business visitors in Lincoln Monday. Mr. A. D. Zaar was taken to the Bryan Memorial hospital Sunday for treatment for arthritis. Mr. Paul Stock was in Lincoln Thursday on business. O. B. Lupardus was engaged the fore part of the week building counters in the Paul Stock office. L. Rase made a business trip to' Kansas City the first of the week.! Ray Gamlin was in South Omaha1 Thursday with stock. j Mr. H. A. McCully of Lincoln who represents the Nebraska Cement Co., in this district, was in Murdock Thursday looking after the interests of his company. Mr. Ed Wagner was in Friend a part of this week visiting relatives and friends. Mr. and Mrs. Ed Craig went to Lincoln Monday to spend a few days. Mrs. Henry Heineman was home over Sunday from her work in Lin coln. Mr. J. A. Boyd has been busy this week painting the interior of the building he recently bought from John Buck. ine journal representative was out of town the first part of the week and has not had an opportun- tunity to keep posted on local hap penings this week. Marq K. Piatt visited with her mother, Mrs. McHugh, during the week on her way to Grand Island,! where she will work as a professional nurse in their Public Health Depart ment. The past month she was work ing with the Public Health Unit in Bellevue, Nebr. Mr. Frank Melvin of Bellevue was looking after fousinss matters in Murdock Friday. Wesley Rieke spent a few days this week with his parents Mr. and, Mrs. Aug. Rieke, but left Saturday for the west coast and expects to be sent overseas from there. Murdock Basketball team lost out in the first game in the Elmwood tournament. Receives Awards Of Heroic Son Mr. and Mrs. Jame G. Mauzy of this city have received from the war department the awards that had ben won by their son, Lieutent-nt James Mauzy, Jr. Lieutenant Mauzy was a member of the squadron manning tho fam ous bomber, "Chain Gang' that was reported as lost on August 16th 1944 over enemy territory. All of the crew with the exception of one have been reported as dead, the pilot be ing a prisoner of war. The trophies won by the heroic Plattsmouth young man included the air medal with oak clusters, the purple heart amd Lt. Mauzy and the crew had also received the pres idential citation. Ten per cent of the 1942 farm production of the entire United States was produced in California. Nofcth Caroline's Symphony Or chestra is the only one in the coun try supported with state funds. ' PAGE THREE V. C. Rathke Is Speaker At The Rotary Luncheon Former Proml-nent Resident of GIenwoot and leader in Iowa Vet eran Circle William C. Rathke, prominent resident of Glenwood, former past state commander of the American Legion of Iowa and at the present time with the Neraska Power Co., at Omaha, wag the speaker at the week ly luncheon of the Rotary club Tues day. Mr. Rathke has as his topic, "Swords to Plowshares," presenting a very interesting story of the prob lems that will face the post war world and how it must be met. The speaker told of attending the Nation al Association of Manufacturers meeting and from the meeting he had gained the impression of the need of slow action on the recon version of the plants to their pre war activities. There were a number of visiting Rotarians present, W. E. Brown, publisher of the Glenwood Opinion, E. G. Johnson, Glenwood barber and president of the Rotary, Paul Chen ey, Glenwood insurance man and Ed ward Rebal, retailer of Montebello, California. The boys who will be Rotarians for the month of March were pre sented they being Norman Perry, senior and Robert Grant, junior. Dr. Leonard Fitch was the pro gram chairman. ENTERTAINS CLUB Tuesday svening the members of the Shuffle and Daal card club was entertained at the home of Louis Ward Egengcrger. After the cards Mrs. Egenberger served re freshments. High Typographical Recognition Given Fremont Paper The Fremont Guide and Tribune, published by Journal Publisher Les ter A. Walker, Fremont, has been named as third place winner in the Inland Daily Press association sixth annual typographical excellence con test for daily newspapers with cir cuation3 of 5,000 to 10,000. Scoring in the competition, con ducted by the Northwestern univer sity chapter of Sigma Deta Chi, na tional professional journalism fra ternity, wa3 based equally on head dress, body d r e ss , advertising typography, general make-up, and press wobrk of the newspapers. Members of the Inland Daily Press association, leading daily news papers from coast to coast, were eligible for the contest. Competing papers each submitted their issues for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thurs- day, Nov. 14, 15, and 16, 1944. Issoies used for judging were select ed by lot and were not announced until Dec. 19. Only papers scored higher than The Guide and Tribune were the Iron Mountain, Mich., News and the Idaho Falls, Ida., Post-Register. Two Michigan newspapers, the Midland Daily News and The Daily Mining Gazette, Houghton, were given hon orable mention . Contest judges were Charles L. Allen, director of research, Medill school of journalism, Northwestern university; Joseph A. Brandt, direc tor of the University of Chicago Press; and Otto M. Forkert, director of design and typography, the Cuneo Press, Chicago. Award certificates are given the winners by the Medill school of journalism, at Northwestern univer sity. Sgt. Bengen Is Waiting Orders SANTA ANA, CALIF., March 9 Sgt. Russell M. Bengen, son of Mrs. Irene C. Monson of Tallahassee, Florida is currently assigned to the AAF redistribution station No. 4 at Santa Ana army air base. Sgt. Bengen, a clerk with the 15th Air Force in the European, African and Middle Easteran Theaters, en tered the service on December 18, 1941 and went overseas in August 1942. He is entitled to wear the European, African and Middle East battle stars and the Presidential Ci tation. At this redistribution station, an operation of the personal distribution command, combat returnees of the AAF receive complete medical ex aminations, classification interviews and reassgnment to domestic sta tions, of the army air forces.