1945 . . .

LeMars Sentinel
May 4, 1945

FOUR GENERATIONS AT MARY WALSH HOME
Three James E. Walsh’s, James E. Sr., and wife; James E. Jr. and wife and James E. III, arrived Thursday morning from Chicago for a visit with the great-grandmother, Mrs. Mary Walsh, 520 First street SW. Mrs. Mary Walsh is 88 and this is the first time she saw her great grandchild, James E. II, 19 months old. James E. Walsh Jr. is an ensign in the Navy and is stationed at Westerly, R.I., where he is aerology officer and assistant operations officer.

PFC. GEORGE MILBRODT RELEASED FROM PRISON CAMP IN GERMANY
The Herman Milbrodt family have received word from their son and brother, Pfc. George Milbrodt, that he has been liberated from the prisoner of war hospital at Stalag IV-B near Muhlberg, Germany. The 4th Armored Division released this camp on April 14. George wrote that he would have to remain in the hospital for some time yet, but had hopes of coming home soon.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY MEN WITH CLARK
Three Men in Fifth Army In Italy

S/Sgt. Donald L. Bensley, whose wife lives on Route 1 Hinton, survey and instrument sergeant, Pfc. Carl Zimmerman, truck driver, and Pfc. Harley Zimmerman of Kingsley, are members of the 185th Field Artillery battalion, part of the big gun team softening up Germans before Bologna as the Fifth Army’s current offensive got underway in Italy.

The 185th’s 155-millimeter howitzers fired 100-pound shells with a skill acquired through 500 days in combat. They’ve pumped nearly 150,000 rounds into enemy lines in Tunisia and Italy.

The 185th, a unite of the 34th “Red Bull” Division, went overseas in April, 1942, served in Northern Ireland and England and entered combat for the first time February 19, 1943, in North Africa. The battalion served throughout the Tunisian campaign, including battles at Fondouk Pass and Hill 609. AT one time, its B Battery had gun crew operating among the doughboys, a squad of infantrymen serving as security patrol for the artillery positions.

The 185th joined the Fifth Army late in September, 1943, near Salerno, Italy. In 53 consecutive days, the battalion fired more than 15,000 shells at Cassino, where A Battery alone shot up 240 rounds in 10 minutes.

The howitzers were fired with their minimum powder charge last summer in the neighborhood of Tarquinia, where targets were only 2000 yards from the guns. C Battery was subjected to German machine-gun fire in that area and, at one time, the big howitzers were made to change aim in excess of a right angle.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert D. Offer of Washington, D.C., commands the 185th.

FORMER LE MARS GIRL WED IN CALIFORNIA, FEBRUARY 6, 1945
Mrs. Edna Papenhausen of San Diego, California, has announced the marriage of her daughter, HA 1/c Betty Papenhausen Keihn, WAVES, to
George Thomas Schusler, United States Naval Reserve. The wedding took place February 6, 1945, at San Diego where the young couple are stationed.

The Papenhausen family lived in LeMars for a number of years before moving to California. The bride attended school here and was a member of the 1942 graduating class of LeMars high school. She has been in the service about two years.

NORMAN DE JAGER REPORTED DEAD IN PHILIPPINES
Last Week He Was Reported Wounded In Leyte

Mr. and Mrs. Ed DeJager, residing at 227 Second street SW., were notified by the War Department on Wednesday evening that their son, Pfc. Norman DeJager, died of wounds on Leyte on April 14.

Pfc. DeJager entered the service on October 3, 1943, at took his basic training at Camp Fannin, Texas. He went overseas in March, 1944.

Norman DeJager was born in LeMars on July 15, 1925, and was 19 years of age at the time of his death. He attended school in LeMars but left for service before completion of his studies.

Besides his parents, he is survived by one brother, Donald.

Mr. and Mrs. De Jager had been notified by the War Department last week that their son was recovering from shrapnel wounds in a hospital somewhere in the Philippines.

LE MARS MAN WITH VETERAN BATTERY
Helped Drive Nazis Out Of Italy

Corporal Dick Osterbuhr, 29, LeMars, is a member of the 168th “Rainbow” Regiment’s Cannon company, which recently fired its 150,000th combat round across the Fifth Army front in Italy.

Major General Charles L. Bolte, commander of the 34th “Red Bull” Division, which includes the “Rainbow” Regiment, pulled the lanyard to celebrate the occasion. Also participating in the ceremony was Col. H. C. Hine Jr., of Livingston, New Jersey, regimental commander.

The company, composed of two batteries each armed with three 75-millimeter guns, was organized in Tunisia following the battle at Faid Pass in March, 1943, and has since been in combat more than 400 days.

Some of its original guns, which have a range of more then five miles, are still in action. They fire high explosive shells with approximately the investment price of a $25 war bond and time shells worth nearly twice as much. One of the high explosive rounds weigh between 17and 18 pounds.

The cannon company fired 7,500 rounds in four days in support of the 168th 1st Battalion in the action at Pantano, Italy, for which the battalion was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation.

NEWS OF THE BOYS IN THE SERVICE.

HA 1/c Robert E. Schultz, U.S.S. Pennsylvania, left Thursday morning for San Francisco after a 30-day leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Schultz, and other relatives.

Pfc. Wayne L. Brown returned to his base at Mare Island, California, after spending an 18-day leave with his wife at the Guss Herbst home and with relatives at Mapleton.

Wurth Banks of Westfield recently returned from France, has received a 17-day extension on his 30-day furlough. He spent the week-end in the home of his brother, Alvord Banks.

Pfc. and Mrs. Emerson Trulock and family visited in the homes of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Lembcke and other relatives at Hinton last week. Pfc. ErmersonTrulock has been stationed in Newfoundland and returned to the United States recently.

Mr. and Mrs. James Coleman, south of Akron, received word that their son James Coleman Jr, serving in the U. S. Marine Air Corps, has been promoted from second to first lieutenant at San Diego, Calif., on April 2, preliminary to his departure for overseas service in the South Pacific area.

Lt. F. J. Plumer, U.S.N.R. recently received the Secretary of the Navy commendation ribbon from Admiral H. K. Hewitt, N.S. N., commander U.S. Eighth Fleet. Lt. Plumer was commended for his outstanding performance of duty prior to and during the invasion of southern France. He is a son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Brown of Hinton.

Kenneth Rollins, of the U. S. Navy, who has been visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Grover Rollins, in Sioux City, and his sister, Mrs. Raymond Hebeler and family at Westfield, left last evening for New York, where he is taking the V-12 course of training at Columbia University.

Pvt. Aloysius F. Gengler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Mike Gengler of Oyens, who went into the Army April 5, is reported to be stationed at Camp Livingston, La., in infantry training.

Pvt. Fidelis L. Koob, son of Mr. and Mrs. Math. Koob of Remsen and one of the original Co. K boys, who has seen much overseas action duty and was returned to this county months ago, is stationed at a PW camp in California.

Walter Hummel, of Westfield, was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army upon completion of the Officer Candidate course at the infantry school at Fort Benning, Ga. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hummel, formerly of Westfield, but now of Sioux City. Lt. Hummel was inducted into the Army July 22, 1944, and served at Camp Hood, Texas, before going to officer’s school. He is a graduate of Westfield high school. He arrived there the last of the week and is enjoying a furlough with his wife and baby in the E. W. Homer home.

First Sergeant John L. Meylor, of Marcus, has been awarded the Silver Star Medal for Gallantry in action, near St. Servan, France. He is the son of Mrs. Mary Meylor.

From Remsen to the front ranks in Germany is the travel record achieved by Pfc. George Frederes, son of Theo. Frederes, who is reported to be with the First Army over there. Pfc. Frederes, in the Army about three years, was home on furlough last month, and on March 10, left here to report for duty. Last week his wife and his parents received a letter saying he had at the time of writing been in Germany three weeks.

Mr. and Mrs. Roger Leavitt of Marcus are very happy this week to have their two sons, John and Roger Leavitt, home with them. John Leavitt finished his boot training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station and came Sunday to spent a nine day leave at home. Roger Leavitt came Monday from the Winter General Hospital, Topeka, Kansas, and is spending a 30-day furlough here. The two boys had not seen one another since Roger went overseas. Roger has one foot in a cast due to bullet wounds received January 3 in Luxembourg. He received wounds in both feet, but one foot is healed, making it possible for him to be without the aid of crutches.

Leo Mayrose, EM 2/c, arrived in LeMars Saturday to spend a 20-day leave with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Mayrose, formerly of Remsen. Leo has spent almost five years in the Navy, principally in the Pacific. He was a member of the ill-fated Hornet when it sunk. He has been in numerous major battles. He expects to be assigned to shore duty after reporting back.

Another Kingsley home has received one of the dreaded War Department telegrams, “Regret to announce that your son has been killed in the performance of his duty.” Henry Neddermeyer received word Saturday that his stepson, Fred Dorale, had been killed in action in the South Pacific area. Fred Dorale was 29 years of age. He was born at Mapleton, Iowa, and moved to Kingsley at the age of 12 years, where he lived on a farm until he entered the service about four years ago on June 8, 1941. His preliminary training and the first two years of Army life were spent on the east coast, after which he was shipped to the Pacific area, where he took part in the invasion of the Philippines, New Guinea and Luzon. His last letters were written from Luzon so it is presumed it was on that island that he lost his life.

Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Cross spent the latter part of last week with their son, Lt. Donald Cross, and family at Coon Rapids, Iowa. Lt. Cross, who saw service in the U. S. Medical Corps in the South Pacific and was stationed in Honolulu, H. I., before being returned to San Diego a few months ago, will enter the Great Lakes Naval Hospital, near Chicago, for treatment for trouble with one of his knees.

Second Lieutenant Clara Jeanette Lage, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walt Lage of Kingsley, graduated on April 14 from the Army Air Forces School of Aviation Medicine, at Randolph Field, Texas, according to an announcement made by Brig. Gen. Eugene Reinhart, Commandant. She completed the course for flight nurses, one prerequisite toward the attainment of the coveted silver wings of a Flight Nurse. Lieut. Lage entered the Army Nurse Corps, January 27, 1944, having received her nurse training at St. Joseph College of Nursing, Sioux City, where she graduated in 1943. Her present station is at the Army Air Field at Alamogordo, New Mexico.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
May 22, 1945

WAYNE STORTZ DIES IN PLANE CRASH
Was With Army On German Front

Mrs. Clare Stortz of Kingsley received the telegram from the War Department last Thursday telling that her son, Lieut. Wayne Stortz, had lost his life in the battle of Germany on April 30, says the Kingsley News-Times.

Lieut. Stortz was a pilot of a reconnaissance plane, flying over the enemy lines and met his death in a plane crash in the line of duty.

Wayne Stortz was born October 7, 1919, at Kingsley. He graduated from the Kingsley high school in 1937.

He entered the Army May 27, 1942, and took tank training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He received his commission as Second Lieutenant in Field Artillery on February 25, 1943. On May 3, 1943, he received the silver wings of liaison pilot, at Denton, Texas, and on January 18, 1944, was promoted to first lieutenant.

He was married July 5, 1943, at Fort Sill, Okla., to Pauline Faye Fahrenkrug, by Fr. Patrick McNamee. He left for overseas duty from Camp Shelby, Okla., in January 1945.

Death struck twice in less than a month for his wife, Pauline, as her brother Harold Fahrenkrug lost his life in the Pacific theatre of the war, the notification being received during the fore part of April.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel
May 25, 1945

JIM SHERMAN IS SAFE IN ITALY
First Word From Him In Six Months

Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Sherman received a letter Wednesday from their son, Staff Sergeant James Sherman, that he was in Naples, Italy, and hoped to be home soon. Sgt. Sherman had been reported missing November 22, 1944, when his plane was shot down, and this letter was the first word from him since that report. The letter was mailed May 17 in Naples and indicated he had only reached that city.

Jim was a tail-gunner on a B-17 bomber operating with the Air Forces in Italy but on the day he bailed out was acting as radio operator with another crew. They were shot down in northern Italy. Jim’s letter saying he was fortunate enough to find shelter with an Italian partisan family near Carrara. As this was behind the German lines, he had to hide out and could not start to rejoin the U.S. forces until after the Germans surrendered in northern Italy. Six of the crew had previously been reported prisoners and two or three more are still missing. The letter said he was uninjured, feeling fine and hoped soon to be returned home. His hiding place was not discovered by the Germans, so he was never a war prisoner.

The news of his safety was gratifying to his relatives as after six months of uncertainty they had about given up hope of hearing from him again.

LT. KOENIG AWAITS TRANSPORTATION HOME

Mrs. Robert Koenig received a cablegram from her husband, Lt. Robert Koenig, on Wednesday stating that he is now in England which, he said, is one step closer to home.

He has been making attempts to get transportation home via plane but rather expects that he will make the trip by boat. No date was given as to the date he expects to arrive, but he is ready and waiting for transportation.

LeMars Semi-Weekly Sentinel, May 29, 1945

MILTON N. FOLEY MACHINEST MATE KILLED IN ACTION
Body Was Buried At Sea Somewhere In The Pacific

Milton N. Foley, 26, machinist mate third class, U.S.N.R., son of Mrs. Elizabeth Foley of 201 First avenue NE., and husband of Myrna Eilers Foley, was reported killed in action in the Pacific area, date of which was not given.

The Navy department Saturday wired Mrs. Elizabeth Foley, the mother and Mrs. Myrna Eilers Foley, the wife, as follows:

“The Navy department deeply regrets to inform you that your son (and husband) was killed in action while in the service of his country. The Department extends to you its sincerest sympathy in your great loss. The remains were buried at sea with full military honors. If further details are received, you will be informed. To prevent possible aid to our enemies, please do not divulge the name of his ship or station. Signed, Vice Admiral Randall Jacobs, Chief of Navy Personnel.”

Machinist Mate Milton N. Foley was born August 15, 1918, on a farm four miles east of LeMars. He attended St. Joseph school, and prior to entering the Navy was employed for five years by the Wells Dairy. He entered the Navy December 12, 1942, and received his training at the Great Lakes Naval Station. He was promoted to his present rank May 1, 1945.

Mr. Foley was married December 13, 194_, to Myrna Eilers, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Eilers, of LeMars.

In addition to his wife and mother, Mr. Foley is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Hilton Pecks of LeMars, Mrs. Oral Hagge, Gettysburg, S.D.; and one brother, William, of LeMars.