Hometown Pride Is Reflected By Yanks in Reich
By Frank Miles
(Daily Times Herald War Correspondent)
In Germany (IDPA) -- Lieutenant Colonel Stanley N. Lonning, a native of Eagle Grove, was in command of a First army infantry regiment pursuing nazis east of the Rhine when I met him in a storeroom used as a field headquarters.
"I am proud to be from the hometown of Governor Robert D. Blue and Editor Ward Barnes", the tall fighting man smiled.
"And I am proud to be from Fort Des Moines, the hometown of Richard Mitchell and Editor Granger Mitchell," rejoined Captain Charles R. Atwell, of AMG, who was there for a conference. (Richard Mitchell was Governor Blue's opponent in the last election.)
We were on ground where German soldiers had been only a few hours before. Nazi dead by the roadsides and in the fields, abandoned German fox holes and dugouts, scrapped enemy equipment, crashed swastika planes bomb and shell crater, splintered trees and shattered houses and barns were in evidence. The air smelled of battle. All roads were clogged with vehicles carrying American soldiers carrying guns and supplies forward.
"I don't mind any of this except that some of our men and boys must be killed or wounded." Colonel Lonning said. "God, how I hope this can be made the last war."
Outside I asked a captain, who was speeding a convoy, where I might find Second Lieutenant Winston L. Markham, Urban, who had been given a battlefield promotion from sergeant.
"He's a great lad," he replied. "Wish you could meet him but he's not here now. I am from Council Bluffs."
The captain was James Brougham, born in Neola, who was formerly in Company L, of the 168th infantry of the Iowa national guard and has won the Combat Infantryman's badge here.
Colonel Lonngomg's mother, Mrs. Anna Lonning lives in Eagle Grove. A brother, Arthur J. Lonning, Iowa City, is a seaman 3/c in the coast guard in the south Pacific; another brother, Staff Sgt. Donald Lonning, Eagle Grove, was enroute overseas, and a sister, Tonetta, is in the Red Cross nursing corps in Honolulu. The colonel entered West Point in 1929 and now is a citizen of Minneapolis.
Captain Atwell is a son-in-law of Dr. S.B. Chase, Fort Dodge.
Lieutenant Colonel George E. De Bois, Boone, commands the 151st army in north Italy. The organization has fired more than 275,000 rounds from its 195-millimeter howitzers in the Tunisian and Italian campaigns after coming overseas in January of 1942.
Captain Harold Grunsky, Davenport, of the II corps; Sgt. Henry H. Ladehoff, Davenport, of the 85th division; and Sgt. Louis I. Shaner, Mason City, Chief Warrant Officer Cecil L. Stokes, New Hampton, and Pfc. Frank R. Krivohlavy, Mason City, of the 34th division, have been awarded the bronze star for meritorious service in combat.
The Bronze Star for heroic achievement in action has gone to Pfc. Max H. Amber, Lovilia, of the 34th.
Homeward bound after more than three years service in the 34th were: M/Sgt. Anton P. Benda, Des Moines; Sgt. Omer J. Koelker, Dyersville; Cpl. James Thiessen, Hamburg; M/Sgt. Anthony Giarrantano, Marshalltown; Sgt. Edwin W. Children, Council Bluffs; Pfc. Laurence G. McCauley, Mason City; Cpl. Bernard Sieg, Postville; T/Sgt. William S. Burnquiest, Fort Dodge; Pfc. Orville Krukow, Terrill; S/Sgt. Keith Hora and Cpl. Joseph Mattes, Iowa City; Sgt. Forest McGlasson, Fiarfield; Sgt. Elvin H.Lowe, Bonaparte; Pfc. Harold D. Vosburg, Larchwood; Pfcs. Harold Peterson and Jack H. Brown, Modale; Sgt. Garland Wetzel, Cedar Rapids; Cpl. Dallas Hobbs, Morning Star; Cpl. Dave Dillavou, Lockridge.
Homeward bound for 30-day furloughs from the 34th were: Lt. Robert C. Burdick, Sioux City; Walter L. Ranard, Eldon; Sgt. Harlan L. Haan, Aplington; Pfc. Lloyd W. Prichard, Waterloo.
Nurses Pearl M. Satre, Story City, and Iris Pauline Sheirborn, Randolph, and Arnold Lynn Mineck, Cedar Rapids, have been promoted from second to first lieutenants. Lieutenant Satre is of the 36th Evacuation hospital; Lieutenant Sheirborn is of the 94th evacuation hospital and Lieutenant Mineck is of the 85th division.
Source: Carroll Daily Times Herald, May 1, 1945
