Our Boys in the Armed Forces
Community support notes and service members from Dalton Riverdale and South Holland. Updates include transfers deployments leaves and homecomings with addresses and contact details for reporting changes of address and news to The Pointer. Multiple servicemen share experiences from Navy Army Air Force and Pacific theaters.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Community Patriotic Council
Dalton
Riverdale
South Holland
South Holland Chamber of Commerce
Ivanhoe and
Dolton
Minnie Pohlers
Jefferson St
Col
George Voss
Harvey
Sgt Harold Matz Wins Combat Infantryman Badge in France
Sgt Harold L Matz of Riverdale Illinois and the 398th Infantry Regiment earned the Combat Infantryman Badge for distinguished ground combat in France with the 100th Infantry Division of the Seventh Army. The division, activated at Fort Jackson in 1942, spans every state and has a storied front line record.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
100Th Infantry Division
Seventh Army
France
Harold L. Matz
Emil Matz
East 127Th Place
Riverdale
Ill
398Th
Withers A. Burress
United States
Carolinas
Louisiana
New York City
War Department
Fort Jackson
S. C
Union
Civilian walkie talkies after the war possible medical link
After the war civilian use of walkie talkies may allow people to call a doctor directly. The note suggests radio communication could connect patients with medical help without formal infrastructure.
Four Kinds of Money in Luxembourg Diary from War Letter
An air mail letter from Harold C. Heinke in Luxembourg recounts battlefield movement from St Lo to Brest and Paris, notes harsh winter fighting, and describes carrying four currencies French German Belgian and Luxembourg. He mentions loyalty of Luxembourgers, beer, and souvenirs including a cavalry sword and a Napoleon era pistol. He also notes bronze stars earned and ongoing air reconnaissance over the area.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Harold C. Heinke
Luxembourg
France
St. Lo
England
Brest
Paris
Fountainblau
Berlin
Belgium
138Th
Wentworth
Tve
Hitler
102Nd
Michigan
Capt Truman Steinko Receives Bronze Star Medal
Capt Truman Steinke now in Belgium receives the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service against the enemy. Maj Gen E R Quesada forwards the award in a letter to his father Albert A Steinke with praise for his devotion to duty and credit to the Army Air Forces. The general adds he is a good boy whom they like a lot.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Truman Steinke
Belgium
E. R. Quesada
Steinke
Albert A. Steinke
Truman
Army
Navigator's Wings Awarded at Selman Field La
Flight Officer Martin A. Schmidt son of Mr and Mrs Henry Schmidt residing Riverdale arrives home on a 15 day leave after completing an advanced navigation course at Selman Field and receiving his wings last Friday He will return to Selman Field to await a crew assignment Schmidt has served in the army since May 1942.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Joan Biiney
Em-1
New London
Conn
Navy
John
R. A. Russel
Riverdale
Martin A. ‘Schmidt
Henry Schmidt
Edbrooke Ave
Selman Field
Schmidt
Local Donors to Blood Center Named
Local donors from the community who recently gave blood at the Blood Center in Chicago are Audrey Petraske from Rivardale making her eighth donation, Mae Mossell from Dalton making her seventh, and Regina Pierce from Dolton making her fifth.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
North
Wabash Ave
Chicago
Audrey Petraske
Attlantic St
Rivardale
Mae D. Mossell
Grant ‘Ste. Dalton
Regina Pierce
Chicago St
Dolton
Varied Marine Missions Across Years Highlight Service
U.S. Marines have undertaken diverse tasks from pursuing seal poachers in the Being Sea to managing uprisings in Samoa. They escorted diplomatic missions into Abyssinia and helped quell riots among coolies in Korea, exemplifying the wide range of duties performed.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
U.S
Samoa
Abyssinia
Korea
Message fondly says farewell and greetings to friends
The speaker writes a warm farewell to home and friends, expresses anticipation for future “The Pointer” messages, and notes eagerness to stay in touch with acquaintances.
Propper Promoted as Captain in 392nd Bombardment Group
Capt Henry M Propper of Dalton Illinois rises from first lieutenant to captain in the 392nd Heavy Bombardment Group based at an England Liberator station. The unit led by Col Lorin L Johnson is cited for completing 200 missions and for distinguished duty on its first 100 missions by D Day.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
England
Henry M. Propper, Jr
Washington St
Dalton
Propper
Lorin L. Johnson
392Nd
William E. Kepner
Second Air Division
Also Mentioned on This Page
Terre Haute
Ind
Donald Wernicke
A. S
Indiana State Teachers College
Columbia University Midshipmen’s School
New York
Elmer Erickson
Erwin PF. Buckler
Hubert F. Hardin
Elmer Hardin
187Th St. Riverdale
Norfolk, Va
Norfolk
South Pacific
Robert Grandmaison
Peter Grandmaison
LeRory
States
Roy
Pfc
Joseph L. Schaefer
Germany
Pvt. Schaefer
Field Artillery
Gen. Patton
Third Army
Norman H. Herman
Pacific
Allan Schaefer
Greensboro
N. C
Palm Springs
Calif
Martha F. Willis
S. A. Willis
Naval Training School
Yeoman-W
Town State Teachers College
Cedar Falls
Women’s Reserve
Russell
Fred Brehm
Rose Marie
Cpl
Robert Henricks
Camp Maxey
Texas
Camp Meade
Eugene Hankey
Walter Ortel
Eugene
Thes
William F. Rampke
Fort Ord
Fort Bliss
Chas. F. Bachmann
Camp Howze
Fort Meade
George Colwell
N. P. Lorenzen
Sgt
Donald Lorenzen
Philippines
Red Cross
Harold Matz
Dalton Medic
Truman Steinko
Henry M. Propper
Willard
Luken’s Dolton Drug Store
Watland Brothers
ROLLS
ILM
Vermont
Blue Island
Chicago Heights
Theodore Johnson & Sons
The
Chicago Road
Ilinois
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!