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This newspaper page contains 30 articles. Subscribers can read the full text of each article.

Newspaper

La Crosse Tribune

Location

La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States of America

Date

Dec 31, 1944

Page

11

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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
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