Survivor of Carrier Downing Visits Parents on Leave
Joe Downs 19, survivor of the carrier St Lo, visits Tomah Wisconsin on leave with his parents Mr and Mrs John Downs. He wears the Purple Heart and air, sea and land service stars for injuries in the South Pacific including Guam Tinian and Leyte. Downs earned ten months ship and six months combat duty across 28 missions, with 13 strikes, after ship torpedo hit. His brother James Downs 20, a bomber gunner, was shot down over Austria in 1944 and returned after a 60 day 600 mile trek with local help. The two brothers are reunited briefly before Joe reports to Jacksonville Florida.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Omah
Wis
Joseph Downs
Rea J John
Tomah
Pacific
South Pacific
Guam
Tinian
Leyte
St. Lo
Gruman Evenger
William Brooks
Pasalis
Ene
Sps
Downs
Pearl Harbor
Farragut
Ida
Norman
Okla
Priscilla
Miami
Fla
San Diego
Calif
Jacksonville
LeRoy Thomson
la Crosse
John Downs
James Downs
15Th Air Force
Italy
Austria
James
Miami Beach
Colorado
Joe
Resolutions and New Year Prompts in Local Ad Tone
A breezy column mocks shaky resolutions and urges readers to buy extra war bonds to boost the Sixth War Loan. It promises a Combat America screening at a vocational school for bond purchasers and suggests other local ads for lumber hardware and Balsam Wool.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ladyfingers
Caledonia
Pfc. George Ruetten Wounded in Germany
Sparta native Pfc. George Ruetten, 21, was wounded in Germany on December 12 while serving with the 60th Infantry Regiment of the 9th Infantry Division. Inducted December 21, 1943, he trained at Camp Croft and went overseas last June. he had a May furlough home. His brother Charles works at the Navy docks in San Francisco.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sparta
Wis
George Ruetten
Germany
War Department
60Th Infantry
Ruetten
Camp Croft
S. C
Richards Bros
Charles
Theavy Docks
San Francisco
Calif
Prairie Eastern Star To Install Officers
Prairie Du Chien Wisconsin Special Vesta chapter No 14 Order of the Eastern Star will install new officers on Tuesday evening January 2 for the coming year. Named are worthy matron Inez Druyer worthy patron Clarence Ahrens associate matron Leone Greisbach associate patron George Greisbach secretary Myrtie Higgins treasurer Alma Straad conductress Auarey Benish associate conductress Caroline Wachter warden Sylvia Herold.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Prairie DU Chien
Wis
Vesta
Order of the Eastern Star
Inez Druyer
Clarence Ahrens
Leone Greisbach
George Greisbach
Myrtie Higgins
Alma Straad
Auarey Benish
Caroline Wachter
Sylvia Herold
USO aid director receives gift from France in wartime basket
Mrs. Marcia Wendt, director of the USO Travelers Aid in Sparta Wisconsin, received a package from Major Frank W. Sutton in France. The contents included rare French perfume and a Notre Dame cathedral rosary, packed in a sturdy fruit basket captured from the Germans and sealed with burlap and linen thread.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sparta
Wis
Marcia Wendt
USO
Travelers Aid
Frank W. Sutton
France
Notre Dame Cathedral
Ag Committees Organized In State Counties
County committees include former members, county agents, farm organization reps, service officers, Homemaker's council leaders, PCA and FSA reps, a key county banker, and other farmers. The agent serves as liaison to selective service and veterans. Committees identify veterans seeking farm work, list farms, and ensure rented farms are productive and well located with proper financing and rental arrangements.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ice
County Agricultural Committee
PCA
FSA
Lisison
Selective Service Boards
OPA Officials To Visit Viroqua For Price Regulation Talks
M W Weatherby and O W Robinson of the La Crosse district OPA price division will visit Viroqua on Friday January 5 for a special meeting at 2 p m at the courthouse to discuss price regulations for apparel furniture and hardware dealers. At 7 30 p m representatives of all service firms will discuss regulations governing their sales.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Viroqua
Wis
M. W. Weatherby
O. W. Robinson
la Crosse
OPA
Court House
Construction Engineer Home After Three Years
Elmer Lee Jorgenson returned to the United States after three years overseas as a construction engineer for the war department. He visited his father Fred Jorgenson in Sparta and was accompanied by his fiancee Charlotte Funck and her mother from Joliet Illinois. He served with the air service command in Iraq Iran East Africa and other CBI theater areas.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sparta
Wis
War Department
Elmer Lee Jorgenson
Fred Jorgenson
Jorgenson
Air Service Command
Iraq
Iran
East Africa
Charlotte Funck
Joliet, Il
Pvt Elmer Berg Wounded In France
Blair Wis special report says Pvt Elmer O Berg 32 of Blair was seriously wounded in France on December 11 and is in an army hospital there. A tank destroyer crew member with over two years overseas he is a veteran of African Sicilian and Italian campaigns. He entered service June 1942 trained at Camp Roberts California and Camp Hood Texas and was overseas within six months.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Blair
Wis
Lloyd Hjerleid
Pvt
Elmer O. Berg
France
Berg
Camp Roberts
Calif
Camp Hood
Tex
Teletype Course Completed by Schroeder in Italy
S. Sgt. George A. Schroeder of Tomah Wisconsin completed a teletype course in Italy with a 97.5 average. He was promoted to staff sergeant and has 23 months overseas duty in Africa Corsica and Italy. He will return to his signal corps unit in Corsica to resume duties.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tomah
Wis
George A. Schroeder
Glenn A. Schroeder
Italy
Africa
Corsica
Signal Corps
New Prairie Honor Roll Board To Replace Old South Lawn
A new city honor roll board will replace the old one on the south lawn of the post office. It measures 27 feet by eight feet and will list 489 names with 99 blank spaces. The board will feature 14 gold stars.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Prairie DU Chien
Wis
Movies Give Bum Steer On South Seas Says Sailor
McGregor sailor Frank Breitbach a Petty Officer on a South Pacific supply ship denounces Hollywood’s South Sea portrayal as malaria infested jungles He recalls a combat encounter with Japanese Zeros in which his ship shot down two planes He also notes his nightly baking duties serving pies cakes rolls and cookies while living like kings
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
McGregor lIa
Hollywood
South Sea Islands
Frank Breitbach
McGregor
South Pacific
Baker
Breitbach
Marcel Olson Dies In Action In France
Whitehall Wisconsin Sgt Marcel Olson was killed in France on December 4 while serving in chemical warfare duties after leaving for Europe in August. He was born in Colfax and had lived in Meridean before enlistment. He is survived by his brother W G Olson of Whitehall and five other brothers Raymond Chippewa Falls Clarence Eau Claire Arthur Colfax Rudolph Minneapolis Marvin and three sisters Esther Chetek Gladys Colfax Florence California.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Whitehall
Wis
W. G. Olson
Marcel Olson
France
Olson
Colfax
Meridean
Joseph Olson
England
Raymond
Chippewa Falls
Clarence
Eau Claire
Arthur
Rudolph
Minneapolis
Marvin
Esther
Isaac Stone
Chetek
Gladys
Ingman Iverson
Florence
Melvin Gunderson
California
Obituary: Pvt Lester Eggen Dies in Germany After D Day
Services held for Pvt Lester Eggen of Olmen Wisconsin with roots tracing to Fort Jackson and Camp Pickett. He landed on D day, wounded in France, survived hospital in England, rejoined in Germany where he was killed. Purple Heart recipient. survivors include parents four brothers and a sister.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Olmen
Wis
Rosstes
Lester
Eggen
Fort Jackson
S. C
Camp Pickett
D-day
France
England
Germany
County Homemaker Club Members to Attend Meetings
Delegates from Monroe county homemaker clubs will attend leader training meetings at Sparta, Wilton, and Tomah on January 29, 30, and 31. Miss Helen Pearson of the Wisconsin College of Agriculture leads the clothing construction series. this is the second winter session with strong club participation. Monroe county homemaker council officers are President Mrs. Lute Dot Wilton, Vice President Mrs. A J Liersch of Norwalk, Secretary Mrs. John Lange Kendall, Treasurer Mrs. Dora Ziegler of Sparta, and Delegate-at-Large Mrs. Arnim Gilner of Tomah. All homemaker and 4 H clubs are urged to send delegates.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sparta
Wis
Monroe County
Northern States Power Company
Wilton
City Hall
Tomah
Wisconsin Power and Light Auditorium
Helen Pearson
Agricultural Extension Service
Wisconsin College of Agriculture
Lute Dot Wilton
A. J. Liersch
Norwalk
John Lange
Kendall
Dora Ziegler
R. 5
Arnim Gilner
Missing in Action: Sgt Dennis C Cole from Westby
Mr and Mrs Clarence Cole of Westby Wisconsin report a telegram from the war department stating their son S Sgt Dennis C Cole tail gunner of a B 29 Superfortress has been missing in action over enemy territory since November 26 One other son serves as a chief torpedo man in the navy teaching at the torpedo school in San Diego California
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Westby
Wis
Clarence Cole
Warrime
Dennis C. Cole
Navy
San Diego
Calif
Moden Resigns to Lead Kraft Plant in Hutchinson
Gilmer Moden longtime Houston creamery manager resigns after ten years to join Kraft Cheese in Minneapolis. he will manage the Hutchinson Minnesota plant and expects to start work in February.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Houston, Minn
Gilmer Moden
Houston Creamery
Kraft Cheese Company of Minneaplois
Hutchinson
Minn
Moden
Wide-Awake club hosts New Year’s Eve party in Ettrick
Members of the Wide-Awake club will entertain husbands and families at a New Year’s Eve party Sunday at the home of Mrs. Henry Solberg. Mrs. Lloyd Anderson will assist the hostess.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ettrick
Wis
Henry Solberg
Lloyd Anderson
Missing In Italy
Pfc Ansel Remus of the infantry has been missing in action in Italy since November 11. The information was received by his mother Mrs Frieda Remus of German Coulee.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ettrick
Wis
Ansel Remus
Italy
Frieda Remus
German Coulee
Firearm Collection Of Stanford Thompson Has Great Value
Stanford Thompson a Sparta resident and former janitor born June 17 1875 in Monroe county has built a valued collection of firearms and weapons dating back to 1810 The trove includes muskets pistols and revolvers plus 37 powder horns and dozens of other relics with notable pieces such as a Harpers Ferry musket from 1835 a Civil War era array and a 1810 flintlock gun valued for its age and heritage.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Stanford Thompson
Sparta
Wis
Thompson
America
England
Clifton
Monroe County
Webb
B. E. Evans
East Oak Street
Lizzie Torrey
Harpers Ferry
China
Wilton Man Wears DUB for 12th AAF B 25 unit at Corsica
Lieut Robert C Ducklow 22 of Wilton Wisconsin is authorized to wear the distinguished unit badge for service with the 12th Air Force B 25 Mitchell group. The group earned a War Department citation for destroying Benevento Italy marshalling yards and shooting down 18 attacking planes. The pilot joined the unit four months ago and is based at a Corsican air base with his parents living in Wilton.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
12Th Aaf
Corsica
Robert C. Ducklow
Wilton
Wis
12Th Air Force
War Department
Benevento
Italy
United States
Lieut
Ducklow
W. T. Ducklow
Wounded Victory Soldier Is Better
Relatives report Set John E. Page is improving after serious wounding with the 3rd Army in France on November 19. He is hospitalized in England and expects to leave the hospital soon. Page recently received a promotion from private first class to sergeant and is the son of Mr and Mrs Elmer Page. He enlisted in August 1942 and went overseas in August 1944.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Page
3Rd Army
France
England
Sgt. Page Is
Elmer Page
Victory
Army
Pfc. Donald Snippen Receives Purple Heart
Tomah Wisconsin special bulletin reports Pfc. Donald Snippen awarded the Purple Heart for wounds in France on September 25. He is now in an England hospital with improving condition.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tomah
Wis
Donald Snippen
France
England
Prairie youth Kern Kielley wounded in Germany
Mr and Mrs David Kielley of Prairie learn from the war department that their son Kern Kielley was slightly wounded in Germany on December 13. He trained at Camp Wolters Texas where he earned a camp boxing championship medal. he left the United States in November.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Prairie DU Chien
Wis
David Kielley
War Department
Kern
Germany
Camp Wolters
Tex
Bury Pvt Lyle Hahn In France
Mrs. Lyle Hahn was officially notified that Private Lyle Hahn killed in action in Belgium on September 3 1944 was buried with military honors in an American cemetery in France by American forces.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lyle Hahn
France
Houston, Minn
Belgium
Capitol Appointments Clear for Incoming Session
Benard Findreng and Raymond O Connor receive positions for the forthcoming legislature and plan to begin duties in St Paul on January 2.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Houston, Minn
Benard Findreng
Raymond O'Connor
St. Paul
Local Man Graduates as Army Air Forces Pilot
Donald Cass of Viroqua Wisconsin has earned pilot wings at Blackland Army Air Field Waco Texas as part of the 20th aviation cadet class. He attended Stout Institute and Mississippi State College before enlisting. His brother Alan Cass has been promoted to full lieutenant and is stationed in San Francisco.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Viroqua
Wis
Donald Cass
Ermon Cass
Army Air Forces Training Command
Blackland Army Air Field
Waco
Tex
Blackland Air Field
Cass
Stout Institute
Menominee
Mississippi State College
Alan Cass
San Francisco
Survivor of Ship Sunk in Philippines Visits Caledonia
Lawrence N. Colsch, on a 30 day leave with his parents in Caledonia, returns to duty January 9 at Treasure Island California. He served in the South Pacific and the Philippines where his destroyer was sunk by enemy planes and he spent an hour in the ocean before rescue by another destroyer.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Caledonia
Minn
Lawrence N. Colsch
George Colsch
Treasure Island
Calif
South Pacific
Philippines
Colsch
1640 MP Unit To Hold Dance
The 1640 Military Police detachment will host a New Year’s Eve dance at the newly opened enlisted men’s club at Camp McCoy. Pvt. Dave Collis organized a jam band for music. Women from La Crosse Sparta and Tomah will serve as dancing partners for the eligibles. Married men’ wives will attend the second viewing of the club opened Friday. Col. George M. MacMullin and Lieut. Col. H. I. Rogers attended last week’s opening with about 200 in the crowd.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sparta
Wis
1640 Military Police
Camp McCoy
Dave Collis
la Crosse
Tomah
George M. MacMullin
H. I. Rogers
Vernon County Agricultural Society officials to attend Wisconsin fairs meeting
Four Vernon county agricultural society officials will attend the Wisconsin association of fairs convention at the Hotel Schroeder in Milwaukee on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Attendees include Jesse Sands president Elvin Stevens vice president and O G Seiler speech superintendent. They will select the free acts for the 1945 local fair during the visit.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Viroqua
Wis
Vernon County Agricultural Society
Wisconsin Association
Schroeder
Milwaukee
Jesse Sands
Elvin Stevens
O. G. Seiler
Also Mentioned on This Page
Joe Downs
Carrier
L. H. Seemann
Prairie Eastern Star
North 4Th St
la Crosse, Wis
Michael
Elmer Berg
South Seas
Levi M. Neprud
A. A. Neprud
Americal
Neprud
Marian S. Neprud
County Homemaker Club
Sgt
Dennis Cole
Pitzner
Wilton Man
Robert J. MacMullin
West Point
Set
John E
Kern Kielley
Prairie
Capitol
Ting
Texas
Ng Society
Sume
Tim
Your Cleaners
Main
la Crosse Lutheran Hospital
la Crosse Trust Company
Wisconsin