Pvt. John "Jack" Petrow, of Company E, 133rd infantry, 34th Division, U. S. national guard, stationed at Camp Claiborne, La., doubtless is undergoing similar experiences of "Private Plink,” the hero of the cartoon which is published daily in the Freeman-Journal. “Plink” Petrow’s articles will be carried at various times in which he will tell of experiences with Company E while in camp. Click on month/year link above to read Private Petrow's Letters Journal. Hope you enjoy his humor & descriptions of life at Camp Clairborne. |
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Sgt. Jack Petrow, home on furlough from Italy where he has been serving with the famed 34th division, is visiting friends in the city. He went overseas in February, 1941 with members of the national guard unit from this city.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, November 20, 1944
TEACHERS RECEIVE SOUVENIRS FROM FORMER STUDENT
Jack Petrow, Lincoln high alumnus, who was here on furlough recently, remembered Miss Ethel Virtue’s Latin classes and Miss Bessie Lyon’s history classes with souvenirs from Rome and other parts of Europe. Jack is a member of the famous 34th division.
The things he brought to the Latin classes are a large pictured map of Rome showing both ancient and modern buildings, two lira coin, Roman or Italian coin used in Vatican City, image of the wolf with Romulus and Remus, statue of Saint Peter, copy of the famous one in Saint Peter’s cathedral-the one revered by pilgrims who have kissed the toe of this statue until it is almost worn away.
Souvenirs presented to Miss Bessie Lyon’s classes by Jack are French, Italian, Arabian, German, English, American invasion, and African paper money; coins from the Hindenburg republic, England, France, and Italy; a silk eagle badge from a German flier’s shirt; belt buckle of a ground crew man; belt buckle of a flier; and a beret with the insignia of the German tank corps.
Source: Published by Lincoln High School as a Section of The Daily Freeman-Journal, December 6, 1944
Staff Sgt. Jack Petrow, who is stationed at Camp Campbell, Ky. arrived here Wednesday to spend a ten day furlough with friends.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, May 2, 1945
S/Sgt. Jack Petrow, who has been in the European theater of war, has received an honorable discharge from the army and is visiting in Webster City.
Source: Daily Freeman Journal, August 13, 1945
Obituary
The funeral for John G. "Jack" Petrow, 81, of Fremont will be 10 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Fremont.
He died Thursday, Jan. 23, 2003, at Fremont Area Medical Center.
He was born Jan. 28, 1921, at Fort Dodge, Iowa. He was raised in Webster City, Iowa, and graduated from Webster City High School in 1938. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the 34th Division in the European Theater.
In 1945 he came to Fremont and worked at the Petrow Cafe and Gerald Sampters Clothing before joining the postal service. He retired as Fremont Postmaster in 1977.
He was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He also belonged to the Fremont Rotary Club and served on the Dodge County Civil Service Commission and the Salvation Army Advisory Board.
He married Madalen Ortmeier June 24, 1947, in Fremont.
Survivors include: his wife; a daughter, Julie Petrow (and friend, Eric Miller) of Lincoln; a son, George (and wife, Cynthia) Petrow of Greenwich, Conn.; two brothers, Chris Petrow of Paris, France, and Henry Petrow of Atascadaro, Calif.; and three grandchildren.
A rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at Lattin-Dugan-Chambers Funeral Chapel in Fremont. There will be no visitation. A memorial has been established to St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
Source: Fremont Tribune, Fremont, Nebraska - Jan. 25, 2003
John George ‘Jack’ Petrow was born Jan 28, 1921 to George C. and Jennie Breitenkamp Petrow. He died Jan. 23, 2003 and is buried in Memorial Cemetery, Fremont, NE.
Private Petrow was a World War II veteran, serving with Co. E, 133rd Infantry, 34th Division in the European Theater.
Private ‘Plink’ Petrow wrote a series of articles, carried at various times in the Freeman Journal in which he will tell of experiences with Company E while in camp.
Source:
ancestry.com
Daily Freeman Journal, Webster City, IA - Weekly Series of Letters, beginning date of Apr. 21, 1941
