USA > Indiana > Lake County > History Of Veterans Of Foreign Wars (1944) > Part 15
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Boswell was reared in Louisville and at- tended school there. He was a graduate of Male High School.
D. E. Best
Hammond Times, August 15, 1943
D. E. Best, coxswain, U. S. navy, brother of V. E. Best, 6644 Van Buren avenue, Ham- mond, is spending a 10-day leave at home from Camp Perry, Va. He believes the leave a pre-embarkation treat. He enlisted in the navy "Seabees" in November and was called to active duty in April. He has completed boot and technical training at Camp Perry and expects to be transferred to California for overseas embarkation on his return to camp.
PROMOTED TO SERGEANT
Karl Eckert
Hammond Times, August 15, 1943
After serving two years and seven months in the Panama Canal Zone, Cpl. Karl Eckert, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Eckert, 715 Logan street, Hammond, has been promoted to a sergeant, according to an announcement received by his parents.
Sgt. Eckert now is stationed at Camp Rucker, Ala. He is a graduate of Hammond Technical high school and has been cited sev- eral times for meritorious conduct.
Page One Hundred Forty-five
FIGHTER KELLY HOME
Hammond Times, August 15, 1943
Donald F. Kelley, 22, is a Hammond marine who loves a fight better than a duck does water. Donald, who is a first class private, returned to Hammond this week after taking part in many of the major battles of the south Pacific. Although the young hero was re- luctant to talk about the south Pacific battles, he did exclaim:
"Sure I'm anxious to get back and take an- other whack at those Japs!" The Hammond marine was hospitalized for malaria fever in a hospital overseas, but is in fighting trim again. Donald is the son of Mrs. J. D. Kelley, 547 Highland street, Hammond. He is a graduate of Hammond Tech and has been on the fighting front for most of the two years he has been away from Hammond.
Proudly displaying the southwest Pacific battle ribbons on his blouse, Donald will re- turn to San Diego, Calif., Sept. 5. He enlisted in the marines reserve five years ago while in high school.
BROTHER, SISTER OVERSEAS
Hammond Times, August 15, 1943
Word of their safe arrival overseas has just come to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rheins of Cedar Lake, parents of Sgt. Francis Rheins and his sister, Lt. Dorothea, army nurses' corps.
Sgt. Rheins, who was with the barrage balloon battalion at Camp Tyson, Tex., is now stationed somewhere in north Africa and his sister, who volunteered in May, 1942, has just arrived in Australia. Prior to going over- seas she was stationed at the Walter Reed Gen- eral hospital, Washington, D. C.
YANK HELPS HUNGRY CHILD
Comforting a hungry and unhappy 14- month-old waif named Josephine, in Palermo, Sicily, is Pvt. Joseph Mole of Jamestown, N. Y. Mole's dad was born in Palermo. The doughboy arranged with relief authorities to care for the child .- Signal Corps Radio- photo.) -(International)
INDIANA AMONG STATES HELPING SOLDIER TAXES
Hammond Times, August 18, 1943
A survey by the federation of tax adminis- trators recently concluded showed that the 44 state legislatures which convened this year have joined with the federal government in granting to service men some form of relief from income taxes.
The survey revealed that Arkansas, Cali- fornia, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota and Wisconsin exempted all pay for service in the armed forces with North Dakota exempting also pay of those in the merchant marine.
Minnesota and Oregon attached limitations of $2,000 and $3,000, respectively, to income tax exemptions for service pay. Maryland ex- empted from its gross income tax all amounts received as a pension, annually or other allow- ances for personal injury or sickness resulting from military service.
Eight states, Arizona, California, Idaho, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Da- kota and Wisconsin, extended the deadline for filing returns on income other than service pay and allowances. The extension was until the service man was discharged or until six months after the end of the war. A three- months' extension was voted in Maryland and a 12-months' extension in Wisconsin.
In Montana and Vermont collection of in- come taxes was deferred if the taxpayer's ability to pay was "impaired" or "materially affected" by the service.
Most states will forgive interest and penal- ties on delayed income tax payments, although Arizona will charge six per cent interest a year.
In the District of Columbia, congressional action is necessary to provide relief for district residents in military and naval service. As yet no hearings have been conducted by either the senate or house district committees on bills pertaining to tax relief.
Page One Hundred Forty-six
SGT. NICK CHINTIS 'SAFE, WELL' AS PRISONER OF JAPANESE NEAR TOKYO
Thomas
Hammond Times, August 15, 1943
Word that one of his two sons in service is well and safe, although a prisoner of the Japs in Tokyo, was received this week by Peter Chintis, 610 - 165th street, Hammond.
The son is Sgt. Nick Chintis, manager of the Hammond high school basketball squad in 1935. Sgt. Chintis' wife, Winifred, is now with the women's marine corps in New River, N. C., and his brother, Thomas, is machinist's mate, third class, in the navy. Thomas now is stationed in San Diego, Cal.
The father said his prisoner-son sent a card from the Jap camp declaring:
"I am well and safe in Japan. My health is excellent. I have had no news from the family since last December. How are you and the family."
Previously, on July 30, a short-wave mes- sage via Tokyo from Ensign Rhodes of Fresno, Cal., in which the ensign asked that the father of Sgt. Nick Chintis of Silver City, N. M., where he attended Mexico State Teachers' college, be notified that his son is safe.
Brother Thomas has been in service for more than a year. He also starred in high school athletics, playing football, basketball and track.
FRANK MASON OF HAMMOND-NAVY VET
Hammond Times, August 16, 1943
A veteran of the navy and World War I, Frank C. Mason, brother of F. W. Mason, 422 Florence street, Hammond, yesterday was re- ported missing in action by Rear Admiral Randall Jacobs, chief of naval personnel at Arlington, Va.
The report added: "The department ap- preciates your great anxiety, but details are not now available and relay in receipt must necessarily be expected to prevent possible aid to our enemies."
F. C. Mason
Mason enlisted in August last year to begin his second period of navy service at the age of 41. Employed as a steamfitter in Hammond since 1926, he was stationed in Scotland dur- ing the winter and has since been on active sea duty.
His brother reports word was received from Mason three weeks ago. He had made his home in Hammond with F. W. Mason, and has an- other brother, Clayton, 32, of Oskaloosa, Ia., who is serving in the army.
CPL. HAMNIK IN ENGLAND Hammond Times, August 16, 1943
Hamnik
John Hamnik, 2719 Kenwood street, Ham- mond, received a letter today from his brother, Cpl. Mike Hamnik, from England. An interesting feature of his letter is that all English drinks are served warm, and this in- cludes milk and beer. He also stated that the English like American cigarettes and "really go to them." Cpl. Hamnik is a cook and says he really can cook some "fancy dishes." His wife, Mary, is a resident of East Chicago. While her husband is overseas, Mrs. Hamnik is doing her bit working in a war industry.
Page One Hundred Forty-seven
TWO HAMMOND MEN ACCLAIMED AS HEROES
Pvt. N. W. Clark
Hammond Times, August 24, 1943
Two Hammond soldiers today were ac- claimed for heroism.
One got himself a German airplane. The second saved a dog.
While news dispatches from Allied head- quarters in north Africa reported that Sgt. William Wright of 5514 Beale street, Ham- mond, was credited there with shooting down an enemy airplane in American aerial raids on the Naples area, another United Press dispatch from the same area old how Pvt. Norman W. Clark, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Flod Clark, 249 Oakwood avenue, Hammond, plunged into churning waters to save a mongrel pup, Queenie the ship's mascot, at a time when even lives come cheap.
It happened in a Mediterranean port, when a ship caught fire near Clark's transport, which was tied to another ship.
The two transports headed for open water to avoid the flames, and, in the excitement, Queenie fell overboard.
Clark plunged into the water between the two ships, varying from 5 to only two feet. Although the swirling waters threatened to suck him into the propellers, he battled until he could grasp the pup and swim to a rope ladder.
His buddies, admirer of the pup are boost- ing him for a medal.
Miss Lora Jean Harlan, 6043 Harrison street, his fiiancee was not surprised at the
tidings. She recalled somewhat with chagrin, when, at a formal dance, he left her side to rescue a pup two boys were about to throw into a lake and drown, back in his civilian life days. He carried the pup home attired in his formal clothing, to keep it until he found a home for the animal. He has a dog pet of his own, now on a vacation trip with his parents, who do not as yet know of his exploit.
STEVE KAMINSKY OF ROBERTSDALE PRISONER OF JAPS
Hammond Tmes, August 24, 1943
S. Kaminsky
After four months of anxious waiting and wondering when their son, Steve, was reported missing in action somewhere in the south Pacific fighting zone, the telegram from the war department received just yesterday by Mr. and Mrs. James Kaminsky, 1539 Myrtle avenue, reporting Steve a prisoner of the Japanese in the Philippines was at that, most welcome.
Steve enlisted in Chicago, Jan. 29, 1941, in the coast artillery and was sent for training to Angle Island, Calif. He was next transferred to Ft. Mills on Corregidor where he was in service at the time of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the Philippines, Dec. 7.
The last word the family received direct from him came April, 1942 and in May of the same year he was reported missing in action.
A student at St. John's Parochial school in Whiting and a graduate of the Hammond Technical high school, Steve was cheer leader for Tech when the high school won the state basketball championship in 1940.
Page One Hundred Forty-eight
HERO OF THIRTEEN BATTLES VISITS SERVICEMEN'S CENTER
Hammond Times, Aug. 25, 1943
Getting well-earned relaxation at the Ham- mond Servicemen's Center when this picture was snapped was Tech. Sgt. Howard Miller of Michigan City, who says he participated in 13 battles in this war, downing 15 Jap planes and wiping out three Jap machine gun nests.
Sgt. Miller, who was visiting friends in Hammond when he dropped in at the center, is flight chief and radio man on a B-25 bomber. Previously he also saw service as a gunner on a B-17 flying fortress.
Miller says he participated in the battles of Tunisia and Guadalcanal and was at Casa- blanca when the president and Churchill con-
ferred on invasion plans. During one battle on Guadalcanal, the soldier said, a B-25 was "shot out from under me." When he bailed out, Miller took a tommy gun along with him and, upon landing, wiped out three Japanese machine gun nests nearby.
He has been awarded the army's medal of honor for saving his captain's life during one of the raids. He is shown playing ping pong with Miss Helen Grills, 6324 Van Buren ave- nue, Hammond, a servicemen's center helper, while Pvt. William Ryckma, 4421 Clark street, Hammond, an M. P. from Camp Sut- ton, N. C., looks on.
TWO HAMMOND AIRMEN GET DFC DECORATIONS
Hammond Times, Aug. 25, 1943
Two Hammond airmen serving overseas in northwest Africa with the army air forces have been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, according to an announcement from the war department today.
They are First Lt. John A. Perrone and First
Lt. Fred J. Wolfe.
The decorations were awarded to air force officers and enlisted men who saw action dur- ing the Tunisian campaign and who made flying missions over Sicily.
Page One Hundred Forty-nine
LEAVES WITH SEALED ORDERS
M. McCready
Hammond Times, August 25, 1943
Monty McCready, machinist's mate 1/C, left Thursday, Aug. 19, with sealed orders for his new station at Great Lakes, Ill. He has been stationed in Panama six years and ex- pected to return there after his 30-day fur- lough. A wire from Washington notified him of his transfer and he received his sealed orders later.
Going into his 17th year of service in the United States navy, Machinist's Mate Mc- Cready has been stationed in California, England, China and on the Atlantic. He has been visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John McCready at 4828 Indianapolis boulevard, East Chicago.
HOME ON LEAVE
- Editorial -
Hammond Times, Aug. 25, 1943
"We get mad when they don't come over."
The speaker was Coxswain Leo Meskis, six feet, two inches of fighting naval navigator and he was talking about the Jap Zero and Mitibushi-99 planes. Having left his ship in the southwest Pacific after 181/2 months of active service, Meskis is home on leave in Calu- met City, waiting until a new ship is ready on the Pacific coast.
"The Japs are plenty tough," he continued, "and when they start after one of our ships they don't care what their losses are. But our boys are just a little tougher and they don't give a hoot either. The American flyer is the greatest combat aviator in the world. Our
men are better than our planes, but the planes are getting better. We will blow the Japs out of the war in two years."
(The coxswain is the son of John Meskis, owner of the Calumet Dairy company, and has two brothers in service, Steve in New Guinea and George in Texas. He has been in two important naval engagements in the Guadalcanal area.
"In New Caledonia," he said, "it was hot in the daytime and so cold at night we slept under two blankets with netting over the bed to keep the half-frozen mosquitoes from crawling under the covers to get warm and even at the same time."
MOTHER AWAITS NEWS FROM SON
Hammond Times, August 25, 1943
A Calumet City mother is anxiously await- ing for news of her son, Joseph, 20, a second class seaman in the coast guard, who was re- ported as one of the survivors following the explosion of a small whale-boat in Delaware bay, off Port Norris, N. J. on Monday.
She is Mrs. Mary Alishio, of 606 Ingraham avenue.
Press dispatches state that the Calumet City youth told police at Port Norris that a com- panion, Joseph Andrews, 25, of Chicago, also seaman second class, disappeared as they clung to driftwood for more than 12 hours after they were thrown into the bay after the motor on the craft exploded.
Alishio, nearly exhausted, dragged himself ashore in the lower Delaware bay. He said the explosion set the boat and the life preservers afire when he and Andrew were returning from a brief liberty.
Reached at her home today, Mrs. Alishio said:
"I am anxiously awaiting word from the Red Cross that my son is safe, but thus far I have had no news except what newspapers have carried."
Page One Hundred Fifty
TWIN CITY FLIER'S HAPPY REUNION BROTHERS MEET IN LONDON
Hammond Times, August 27, 1943
Two sergeants, brothers from East Chicago, put the clock back more than two years when they met for the first time at the American Red Cross Mostyn club in London last month. East Chicago was their main subject of con- versation, club attendants reported, and let- ters from home were shared, read and reread.
Sgt. Ted Romanowski is tail gunner on a very "hush hush" squadron, but his half- brother, Sgt. Casimir Mlodzinski was im- mediately invited to visit his station and take a ride in Ted's pet bomber. "We rode about 500 miles," said Casimir, "and there was I sitting bank up in the nose taking in the view. I'm a mechanic in the air force. I fix the planes and Ted flies them."
These brothers should, by rights, have been on the same station together. It was all a grand mixup and this was the way of it: Casimir's outfit, when they landed overseas, was de- tailed to go to the same station at which Ted is serving. On the platform, in the blackout, they boarded the wrong train and went north instead. Another outfit, which should have gone north, went south that night. So the army decided it wasn't worth while to change things around and let them stay as they were.
Casimir's parents are Mr. and Mrs. Waclaw Mlodzinski of 3919 Deal street, East Chicago, and Ted is a son by a former marriage. There is a sister, Irene Mlodzinski, and a brother, John Romanowski.
Back home both Ted and Casimir go in for high powered motorcycles and burn up the flat, straight roads around home. "It's as big a thrill as flying," said Ted, "because the fences fly by you and you have all that power at your command."
CURTIS ON FURLOUGH
Hammond Times, August 24, 1943
Pfc. Dick Curtis arrived home Sunday morning to spend a 15-day furlough from Camp Bowie, Texas. He will stay with his parents.
SPRINGGATE A CHIEF PETTY OFFICER
R. N. Springgate
Hammond Times, August 30, 1943
An 18-year-old seaman, Robert N. Spring- gate, a son of Chief and Mrs. R. S. Spring- gate, 1838 New York avenue, just received a petty officer rating of aviation ordnance mate third class upon completion of a 14 weeks course last week at the naval aviation techni- cal training center, Norman, Okla. A gradu- ate of Whiting High school in the 1942 class, Petty Officer Springgate is now en route to the naval aviation base at San Francisco, Calif., where he expects to be detailed to ac- tive sea duty. He enlisted in the service Feb- ruary, 1943.
NOW AN ENSIGN
Hammond Times, August 30, 1943
S. Linkiewicz
Recently awarded his wings and an ensign's commission in the U. S. navy air corps at the Corpus Christi, Tex., training station, Stanley Linkiewicz, 23, son of Mrs. Pauline Linkie- wicz, 666 Hirsch avenue, Calumet City, a few days ago, spent a short leave at home. He is one of Calumet City's few ensigns. A Thornton Fractional high school graduate, he has been in service nine months. A brother, Lt. Casimer Linkiewicz, is serving overseas with the marines.
Page One Hundred Fifty-one
WINS OVERSEAS PROMOTION
Sgt. J. Gorski Hammond Times, August 31, 1943
Mr. and Mrs. John Gorski, 6304 Columbia avenue, Hammond, received word yesterday that their son, Sgt. John Gorski, 28, who is now serving overseas, has been promoted to master sergeant.
Sgt. Gorski, who has been in service only 18 months, recently wrote his parents asking them to give friends his address so that they may write to him. His mailing address is 556th bomb squadron, A.P.O. 638, in care of the postmaster in New York City.
BUDDIES MEET IN TROPICAL WATERS
Hammond Times, September 1, 1943
Reminiscences of their school days together in Hammond Technical high school, where both attended the same horticultural class, were exchanged recently by two sailors who met by accident while both were on active duty in the tropics.
They were Virgil E. Groat, son of Mr. and Mrs. V. A. Groat, 4925 Linden avenue, and Patrick Hensley, who is serving with the naval hospital corps. Seaman Groat, who recently received a petty officers' rating of electrician's mate, third class, served in north Africa, later returned to the states and subsequently was reassigned to sea duty somewhere in the south Pacific.
GUADALCANAL VETERAN HOME
Hammond Times, September 1, 1943
Pfc. Elliott Dilly, 579 Gordon street, Calu- met City, who has seen 10 months service with the marines on Guadalcanal, now is spending a 30-day furlough with his parents. He will return to active duty at a marine base in California on Sept. 24.
TAIL GUNNER IN ENGLAND
Sgt. E. J. Heintz
Hammond Times, September 1, 1943
Sgt. Edward J. Heintz, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Heintz, 417 - 154th street, Calumet City, is serving in England as a tail gunner on a Flying Fortress bomber.
A former employee at the General Ameri- can Transportation company, Hammond, Sgt. Heintz has been overseas more than a year. His father is a detective sergeant on the Calu- met City police force.
READY FOR OVERSEAS DUTY
B. Zyglowicz
Hammond Times, September 1, 1943
After completing training aboard a Flying Fortress at Dyersburg, Tenn., and prepared for overseas combat duty, Staff Sgt. Bernard Zyglowicz, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Zy- glowicz of East Chicago, serves as an armored- gunner.
His duties are to keep the guns and arma- ment on the plane in repair and top-notch working order, while as a gunner he may be placed in any of three positions: in the tail, ball-turret, or the waist of the bomber.
Page One Hundred Fifty-two
PROMOTED IN NAVY AT HAWAII
KALWA STAFF SGT. MISSING IN ACTION
Hammond Times, September 1, 1943
Ralph Jaeger
Stationed overseas in the navy, Ralph Jaeger, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Jaeger, 4833 Elm avenue, Hammond, was promoted to petty officer, second class, at Hawaii.
In service about a year, Jaeger was employed at the Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing company, Hammond, before entering the service. He was graduated from Thornton Fractional high school, Calumet City.
SERVING SOMEWHERE IN ALASKA
A. Kulczyk Hammond Times, September 1, 1943
Anthony T. Kulczyk, son of Mr. and Mrs. Barney Kulczyk, 15 - 155th place, Calumet City, has been promoted to a staff sergeant at the army air corps base in Alaska where he is serving as a mechanic. He has been in Alaska since Nov. 2, 1942.
Sgt. Kulczyk, who was inducted on June 21, 1941, was employed by the General American company prior to entering service. He has a sister, Dorothy Kulczyk, who lives at home with here parents.
S/Sgt. H. Kalwa
Hammond Times, September 1, 1943
A telegram from the adjutant general Fri- day informed Wilbur Kalwa, 824 Truman avenue, Calumet City, that his brother, Staff Sgt. Herbert A. Kalwa, has been missing in action over Gelsenkirchen, Germany, since Aug. 12.
An army gunner, the Calumet City staff sergeant served as middle gunner on an Amer- ican Flying Fortress during Allied raids over Axis territory. He was engaged to Miss Marie Glszewski of Calumet City, in nurses' train- ing at the South Chicago hospital, according to his family.
Kalwa, a Thornton Fractional high school student, enlisted in the army air forces about a year ago, was trained at Miami Beach, Fla .; Salt Lake City, Utah, and Pyote, Tex., before shipment overseas to England to begin active duty.
His father, Albert, lives with his brother, Wilbur and family in Calumet City, as does his younger sister Lois. Other members of the missing sergeant's family include two other brothers, Henry at Camp Shelby, Miss., and Donald at Joliet, Ill .; and three sisters, Mrs. Herbert Hart, 32 Harding street, Calumet City; Mrs. John Judd of Chicago Heights; Mrs. Romaine French of Baton Rouge, Fla., formerly of Hammond.
Kalwa was a war plant worker before en- tering the service. The telegram added that if further details or other information of his status are received, Calumet City relatives will be "promptly notified."
Page One Hundred Fifty-three
SON BUYS ONE THOUSAND DOLLAR WAR BOND FROM MOTHER
Hammond Times, September 3, 1943
"Whew-w-w -! " Mrs. Glen Krager, presi- dent of the ladies' society of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen, had reason to exclaim as her son, Pvt. W. E. Krager, 21, and his bride of three months presented cash for purchase of a $1,000 war bond at Hammond's Hohman theater bond
sales booth. The son, who is a student in army engineering classes at Oklahoma A. & M. col- lege, sold his automobile and, with his bride, looking on admiringly as shown above, pur- chased the $1,000 bond with the proceeds. The couple were married May 29 and the bride lives at 721 Mulberry street.
Page One Hundred Fifty-four
ON THE HOME FRONT
Hammond Times, September 3, 1943
Here are Mrs. B. F. Mills of 537 Mulberry street, Hammond, and her five-year-old son, Robin, picking tomatoes from an eight-foot vine growing in the flower boarder of their back yard. If Robin resists the temptation of doing a bit of home-canning on the sly, these tomatoes might well find their way to the canned-goods competition of the Flower and
Victory Garden festival to be held in the Civic Center on Saturday and Sunday, September 11 and 12. However, Mrs. Mills' interest is more than that of an entrant, for she has been named general chairman and has the responsi- bility of planning and organizing the festival, which is being sponsored by the board of park commissioners.
Page One Hundred Fifty-five
FARMERS WEIGH INJUNCTION SUIT "GHOST CITY"
NATIONAL HOUSING AGENCY ADMITS PROJECT FAILURE, BUT WORK CONTINUES
Hammond Times, September 5, 1943
How to stop waste of tax money, vitally needed for the war effort, when Washington has decreed its expenditures seemed to be the issue Saturday as official Washington admitted that Kingsford Heights, the $13,000,000 In- diana "ghost town" 10 miles from LaPorte, is not needed.
A group of farmers in LaPorte county have consulted an attorney as to the legality of seeking an injunction in federal court against continuation of construction work at Kings- ford Heights.
They contend that the government would be compeled to come into court to defend the continued work and that in such a suit rests the only apparent way of stopping the waste of funds. While suit against the government would be impossible, they say attorneys have ruled, legal action may be possible against the contractors and designers. Such a legal action would bring the government into the defense picture as the principal behind the sued con- tractors.
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