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innovations On Okinawa . . .Director of Plans andManagement Meets NeedCo/. SteinmetzHeads Military Work ForceFuneral ServicesHeld Thursday For Mrs. DeVriesA dual desire: to save taxpayers money and to properly handle, care for and recondition military equipment . . . has prompted many changes at Fort Buckner, a United States Army base on the Pacific island of Okinawa. Responsible for these innovations is the Director of Plans and Management. Col. Rollin T. Steinmetz, a native of Buffalo Center.Perhaps one of the most significant aspects of the research undertaken before the new plans were Implemented is the time saved In repairing damaged military equipment. Col. Sfelnmetx said, Every piece of equipment we can get back here and process quickly and either reissue or put Into storage, properly protected, Is going to save taxpayers money.Research was leveled at private Industry and the mechanics used to recondition, maintain and salvage equipment with a careful eye as to how these efforts could be transferred to the military. Examples found include a new needle scaling gun used in removing rust, scale and old paint from ships.Another new item at use in Fort Buckner is a non-toxic, non-flammable, non-irritant detergent which removes grease, oil, and dirt from surfaces. Its value is that the cleaning solutions previously used had undesirable side effects, whereas the new solution does not.A new abrasive used in sandblasting has been ordered which does not produce dust.The dust resulting from other abrasives affects the lungs and produced side effects in the men who were using the chemicals on machines. This new product does not absorb moisture and reduces cleaning time. Reportedly, it is harder and sharper than sand, and can be re-used many times in other jobs after initial use.Faced with the responsibility of reconditioning and repairing military equipment, some of It from the war zone In Vietnam, has prompted many changes. Not the least of these Is the effort of the men and officers of the 2nd Logistics Command whomaintain the repair shops on the Island. Any effort that results In time saved and expansion of funds allowed for these purposescortalnly must be appreciated.Col. Steinmetz, as the Director of Plans and Management, has lent many hours in researching the problems. A major share of the innovations on the island base have come into being under his command. According to a feature story in the Army base newspaper, “The Ryukyuan Review, these challenges are continuing to be met by Col. Steinmetz and his staff . . . and in the meanwhile, “2nd Log, is gearing its operations to the logistics of the future.A career soldier. Col. Sleln-metz graduated from the West Point Military Academy In May 1942 and was assigned to the Third Army In Europe under General George Patton. Patton and his army gained a worldwide reputation as his tank corps swept across Europe, Into the Battle of the Bulge In Belgium, and on into Germany.Col. and Mrs. Steinmetz have two children, a boy and girl, and have been stationed on Okinawa now going into their third year. He Is tlie son of Dr. Tjode Steinmetz of Buffalo Center.Slt;FiS|Katie Anne DeVries was born June 27, 1885 in a log cabin deep in the Oregon Territory. Their closest town was what is now Chehalis, Washington. Her parents, Carl (Charlie) and Elsa Andersen, had moved to this virgin territory three years before. Here her little brother, Antonie, died the year she was born. Six years later, her father was told to mow to a windy climate because of his health. By this time the family circle included Lars and Mary. Having a brother, Martin, living close to Lake Mills, Iowa, he bought a farm in Grant Township in Winnebago County and here she received her education and grew to womanhood.On March 1. 1905, she was united in marriage to Robert T. DeVries. They farmed in Linden, Grant and Buffalo Townships until 1916 when they moved to Buffalo Center where they have resided since that time. Here in her quiet way she served her church, community and Eastern Star.This was a happy home, which always expanded, in love, to make room for the new baby, the inlaws, the grandchildren, the greatgrandchildren and all their friends.It was their privilege to have nine children born to them: Jim; Ethel Oldaker, Primghar; Elsie Larson; Gladys Becker, Algona; Bob; Ruth Wilson; Charlie; Jack and Dick; thirty grandchildren and thirty-four great-grandch i 1 d r e n with only three grandchildren and her son, James (October 15, 1967) having preceded her in death. She was one of seven children. Surviving are Lars, Fairmont; Nina Alexander, Clear Lake; Clarence Andersen and Minnie Alexander.On the morning of her husband's eighty-seventh birthday, February 11. 1969, she slipped away in her sleep to leave a void which can | G x; filled by no other person. On February 13, final tribute was paid to her memory in a beautiful service of words and song in the United Methodist Church with Rev.' Wayne Wasta in charge. Burial was in the Graceland cemetery.She started her life on the great virgin timberland. saw the bear and deer in abundance with the streams full of salmon. A resident of Winnebago County for seventy -eight years, she came before our town was started, saw the country develop from a raw open prairie into some of the finest farming land in the world. She lived in a log cabin and a sod hut — a pioneer and the daughter of one. She accepted life as it came, was a kind and thoughtful wife and mother; always hospitable, a good neighbor and friend.CcepSolTh(spcWhtioiRe:Coisercoicotselt;tivwi'LepacoGlthUsotrIKWaldorf Enrollment Reaches New HighNever before has Waldorf College had so many students enrolled for the second semester. Figures just released by Mr. Robert Bun-gum, college registrar, show that336 freshmen and 249 sophomores are enrolled, for a total of 585. Comparable figures from last year, the previous high, were 334 freshmen and 247 sophomores, for a total of 561.Suffers Broken Wrist2nd SWorke
Newspaper Details
Buffalo Center Tribune
Buffalo Center, Iowa, US
Thu, Feb 20, 1969
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Josette B.
NE, USA 23 Jun 2017
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