USA > Indiana > Lake County > History Of Veterans Of Foreign Wars (1944) > Part 22
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
Army air forces number close to 2,800,000 officers and men and pilots are being trained at the rate of 75,000 a year.
Page Two Hundred Twelve
KEARNS AT POINT OF EMBARKATION
Hammond Times, November 14, 1943
A mixed choir composed of personnel from the military railway service headquarters and the WAC, has been formed in north Africa with Pfc. John B. Myhers of Eau Claire, Wis.
The choir personnel includes M/Sgt. Harold J. Buring, 5256 Ann avenue, Ham- mond.
The group sings regularly on the local Radio France station and the American ex- peditionary station. In addition they plan to accept special concert bookings and will visit hospitals in the fighting areas over the Christ- mas season.
A request to Fred Waring in New York re- cently brought the choir a group of more than a dozen new Ringwald and Churchill arrangements used by Waring on his radio program, Pleasure Time, over the NBC net- work nightly.
R. M. Kearns
Hammond Times, November 17, 1943
Mrs. M. J. Kearns and daughter, formerly of East Chicago, now of Chicago, are proud of their son and brother, Ensign Richard M. Kearns, 23, who now is at San Francisco em- barkation center.
Ensign Kearns has been in service since July. He trained at Abbott hall, North- western university. He is a Purdue graduate.
HITZEMAN ON LEAVE
R. Hitzeman
Hammond Times, November 17, 1943
Ralph V. Hitzeman, torpedoman 3/c, spent a five-day leave with his family, the Ben W. Hitzeman's of Cedar Lake, recently. He was en route to Millerville, R. I.
While in Millerville, he will take intensive training and ultimately will be assigned to duty on a PT boat. He has completed torpedo school training at Keyport, Wash., where he experienced actual firing and retrieving of torpedos.
Ralph is a graduate of Dyer high school and, before wearing the blue, was employed by the Gold Seal Roofing company, Chicago Heights, Ill. T 3/c Hitzeman joined the navy in December, 1942.
GROAT THINKS NAVY IS GREAT
V. Groat
Hammond Times, November 17, 1943
Three rating promotions in the past five months is the record of Petty Officer Virgil E. Groat, electrician's mate 2/c, son of Mr. and Mrs. V. A. Groat, 4925 Linden avenue, Hammond.
He attended Irving and Hammond Tech schools and celebrated his 17th birthday July 7, 1942, by joining the navy. His "boot" at Great Lakes was followed by the Detroit naval electrical school. P/O Groat then saw action in the African campaign.
He was transferred from shipboard to Benton Harbor, Mich., for construction work.
Page Two Hundred Thirteen
JOKE WAS ON SERGEANT
F. L. Paul
Hammond Times, November 21, 1943
The joke was on Tech. Sgt. Francis Lee Paul, 37-year-old marine, whose East Chicago (Ind.) home is at 4719 Drummond street, one night during a Japanese naval attack in the vicinity of his Guadalcanal post last Novem- ber, Paul, who had boasted he was "one of the best communications men on Guadalcanal," saw the lights of a plane which appeared to be headed straight for a crash on his observa- tion post.
"The joke was on me," said Sgt. Paul, "for the lights were two shells from an enemy cruiser. I discovered this too late for the in- stant I spotted them, I dived off the observa- tion stand, nearly wrecking some of our equipment and frightening other fellows with me in my flight. The shells went above us and landed to the rear, harming nothing."
Sgt. Paul is the husband of Mrs. Mary Elaine Paul of East Chicago and the son of Mrs. F. L. Paul of 111 South Cornell avenue, Villa Park, Ill. The Calumet area marine is convalescing at this hospital from malaria. During five months under enemy bombing raids, Paul suffered slight concussion only twice.
HAMMOND SOLDIER REPORTED MISSING
Hammond Times, November 22, 1943
Two staff sergeants, Hammond and Gary men, were reported today by the war depart- ment missing in action. They are William J. Luttringer, whose mother, Mrs. Clara M. Luttringer, lives on Route 1, Hammond, and Nick G. Rukavina, whose mother, Mrs. Gli- ver, of 4636 Garfield street, Gary, was notified Luttringer was listed as missing in the Medi- terranean area and Rukavina in Europe.
CPL. DOWNING RETURNS TO BASE
C. L. Downing
Hammond Times, November 22, 1943
Cpl. C. L. "Les" Downing has returned to his marine base at Quantico, Va., after a 36- hour leave to visit his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Downing, 6731 Caroline avenue, Ham- mond.
Les just returned from overseas. He saw lots of action as an observation gunner in the Italian-Sicilian campaign. Cpl. Downing won three ribbons for his three theaters of war and two stars for major encounters.
In one aerial battle, the tail of his TBF plane was shot away, and a shot creased the back of the seat where he was seated. "Too close for comfort," is Les' comment.
After a short time at Quantico, he'll be off again to-who knows?
LIST LOCAL SOLDIER DEAD
John O'Leary
Hammond Times, November 21, 1943
Presumption of death after being missing a year was expressed yesterday in a war de- partment letter received by the family of Pvt. John L. O'Leary of 7416 Columbia circle east, Hammond.
Pvt. O'Leary, 42, had been but four months in service when he was listed as missing fol- lowing the sinking of his troopship off the coast of north Africa. At home are his wife, Irene, two sons, Tom and Jack, and three daughters, Pat, Kathleen and Lauretta.
Page Two Hundred Fourteen
MADE SERGEANT IN ENGLAND
S. Sliwa
Hammond Times, November 22, 1943
Sgt. Stanley G. Sliwa, stationed somewhere in England, has let his folks in on the good news that he was recently promoted to that rank.
He joined up with Uncle Sam's army a year ago and embarked for overseas duty in June.
Previous to his induction, he was employed by the Junior Toy corporation, Hammond. Sgt. Sliwa is the son of Mrs. Kathryn Sliwa, 932 Ames avenue, Hammond, and has a brother, Sgt. John Sliwa, stationed in Lou- isiana.
FLYING LEATHERNECK FURLOUGHS
C. E. Garris
Hammond Times, November 22, 1943
Cpl. Charles E. Garris of the marine air corps was granted a 30-day furlough after 20 months combat duty in the Pacific.
The flying leatherneck is only temporarily grounded, however, because after he visits parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Garris, 7110 Jackson street, Hammond, he enrolls at Offi- cers' Training school in California.
Cpl. Garris went into service three years ago last May. He has a brother, Lawrence, Jr., and three sisters, Laura, Emily and Ruth.
FORTRESS PILOT
Hammond Times, November 22, 1943
Completing training aboard a Flying Fort- ress at this second air force station and ready soon for overseas duty is 2nd Lt. Charles J. Kurella, son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kurella, 1244 Fred street, Whiting.
A graduate of the army air force training schools, for the past several months, Lt. Ku- rella has been a member of the second air force which trains heavy bombardment crews for aerial warfare.
2 SOLDIERS WOUNDED
Among 268 soldiers reported today by the war department wounded in action are the names of Pfc. Guenther A. Fehlberg, son of Mrs. Minnie Fehlberg, of 818 Morris street, Hammond, and Sgt. Robert E. Field, husband of Mrs. Eleanor J. Field, of 3824 Guthrie street, East Chicago.
The department further announces the award of the distinguished flying cross to Staff Sgt. Edward J. Girman, gunner, of 1621 Atchison avenue, Whiting.
REGANS EXPECT SONS HOME
Hammond Times, November 25, 1943
Lt. (j.g.) William J. Regan, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Regan of 8929 Southmoor avenue, Highland, is in Washington, D. C., on leave from his base in Porto Rico, and is due home to visit his parents in a few days. The Regans have another son, Cpl. Robert Regan, who is taking his basic training in Camp McKane, La. A son-in-law, Pvt. Robert Koch, is home on a furlough from Ft. Knox, Ky. The Regan boys are well-known in the community and are graduates of Catholic Central high school. William also attended Mt. Carmel high school, and graduated from Georgetown university. Robert also attended Mt. Carmel, St. Thomas college in St. Paul, Minn.
Page Two Hundred Fifteen
Hammond Man Finds Brother U. S. Captive- NAZI SOLDIER IN PRISON CAMP Hammond Times, November 24, 1943
The fortunes of war, commonly responsible for the tragedies of separation, today went into a reverse and brought what promises eventually to be the reunion of two brothers.
Fred Neubronner, who runs an upholstery shop at 426 Plummer street, has not seen his brother Richard for 10 years. Today came a letter from Richard from an army prison camp at Trinidad, Colo., where he is a war captive, following his capture by American forces in North Africa. Relations of his war experiences and his reactions thereto, boil down to one pertinent fact - Richard is mighty glad to be out of the Hitler-created mess he was dragged into and glad to be in the United States where, by his own account, he is eating plenty for the first time in a long while.
Richard Neubronner, 37, went into Poland with the first German invasion in September, 1939. Subsequently he fought in Russia, later being transferred to Africa. Here, with the crumpling of Gen. Rommel's ill-fated cam- paign, came the end of the war-for him.
The brothers were born in Bavaria, Fred coming to this country with a third brother, Karl, of Chicago. Fred lives at 117 Mason street, Calumet City.
CUT OFF YANK'S FOOT WITH PROPELLER
Hammond Times, November 11, 1943
As a pilot in the famous U. S. marine squad- ron No. 124 bailed out of his flaming plane, a Japanese airman murderously dived his plane at the chuting figure, cutting off one of the American's feet with the propeller, Capt. Dean Raymond, 24, nephew of Dr. and Mrs. W. H. Davis, 17 Highland street, Hammond, declares.
Capt. Raymond, on a 30-day furlough, vis- ited here, leaving yesterday afternoon for his home in Streator, Ill.
Such Japanese tactics, Capt. Raymond de- clared, has given every American an individual grudge.
"Uncle Sam's soldiers want to fight fair, but if the other guy insists on tossing away the rule book-well he asked for it," Raymond said.
Raymond, credited with blasting two Jap aircraft out of the skies, a Zero and a navy float plane, during the 10 months he was on active duty in and around Guadalcanal, said of the incident in which the Japanese pilot dived his plane at the American:
"I never saw Jap atrocities first hand," but others in my squadron saw a Jap pilot murder- ously dive his plane at one of our pilots, who had bailed out of his flaming plane, and cut off the American's foot with the plane's prop.
"Fortunately the Yank survived. The Jap, also fortunately, didn't. Treachery is costing the Japs a heavy price for no one fights like an American, especially a 'mad' American."
Although restricted by marine corps regu- lation from relating any personal experiences, Capt. Raymond was able to say his squadron was the first of any U. S. service branch to operate from Munda airfield at Guadalcanal. Four days after marines wrestled possession of Munda from the Japs, Capt. Raymond and other members of his squadron were operating from the air base. And Jap troops were less than five miles away.
"The navy sea-bees did a marvelous job re- pairing that field," he said. "Our planes were the first to land there after our ground forces took Munda and it was hard to believe that four days before Japs and Americans fought bitterly over the same ground."
Capt. Raymond believes that Japanese air superiority is on the wane.
"Our boys and planes have always been superior, of course," he continued. "But the Japs had many more veteran pilots and other airmen. Today the Jap veterans are being killed. Their replacements are unseasoned and almost untrained youths."
The "124th" is credited with downing 68 Jap planes and 30 more "probables."
In approximately two weeks Raymond re- ports to El Toro, Calif., where he will instruct recruits in combat tactics.
"Sure, I want to get back 'over there.' There is only one way to get this war over with - and that is by fighting. I expect to be in the battle zone within six months," he said.
Page Two Hundred Sixteen
Cpl. Heisterberg Tells of the Beauty Amidst Filth of Iran
Hammond Times, November 12, 1943
"Even amidst all the filth and ugliness that exists here, the people have an innate sense of beauty and an appreciation of the beautiful," was the description of Iran given by Cpl. E. M. Heisterberg, owner of the Crown Point Transfer company, in a letter to C. W. Haight, manager of the company's East Chi- cago branch.
Continuing the description of the country in which he now is stationed with an army unit, Heisterberg, who was a Crown Point resident until he moved to Chicago about a year ago, wrote:
"Iran, or Persia as it used to be called is a country out of which the history of the world was made, a country through which the cen- turies have passed lightly, leaving little indi- cation of their passage. The natives are a pecu- liar lot, either very rich or very poor, but all seem to travel in filth and grime.
"I have visited a few of the towns and I can honestly say that I have never seen such filth and degradation of the human race. The poor natives are merely hunks of flesh, their features and bodies marred by sores and scars of every disease known to man. The smell in the towns is a mixture of every disgusting and evil odor in the world. It is like a thick syrup that floats through the air, sticking to everything and contaminating all.
"But there is beauty in Iran and one needs only to pass through the bazaar to see it. The varied colors of the material in the merchants' stalls and the colorful paintings done with exquisite charm and craftsmanship seem to us Americans naivete. The silver work when it is done well can hardly be surpassed anywhere in the world. And of the Persian rugs I can only say that it is necessary to look upon them with your own eyes and feel them with your own hands to really appreciate their beauty and delicacy.
"Art and craftsmanship in Persia is not a passing fad. Though it is true that there have been periods in the past when Persian art reached much higher peaks of excellence, the real art of Persia today is nothing 'to sneeze at.
"Comparable to the beauty produced by man is that which God has placed here. It is true that there are barren deserts and that once-great forests have passed into building lumber and food for parasites, yet there re- mains the great ranges of mountains that al- most completely circle the central part of Iran. Snow capped the year around, their steeply rising cliffs guard the heart of this ancient kingdom.
"Not to be forgotten are the flower gardens that one can see almost anywhere. The Persians are great lovers of flowers and one can see that love in the constant repetition of the flower motif in all forms of decoration. In their gar- dens the flowers grow in profusion of colors, and seeing them reminds me of home."
Heisterberg added in his letter that cars in Iran have cost anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000.
SOLDIER REPORTED KILLED IN ACTION
Hammond relatives of two area men who have been serving overseas with the armed forces received notification this week from the war department, one listing a soldier as dead and the other advising a sailor is missing in action.
Listed as a casualty is Staff Sgt. Herbert A. Kalwa, brother of Wilbert Kalwa, 824 Tru- man boulevard, who was reported killed in fighting in the European area. Listed as miss- ing is Seaman Herman Alvin Nowacki, elec- trician's mate, third class, and the son of Walter J. Nowacki, 7428 Van Buren avenue.
Sgt. Kalwa's name was included in a list of 261 soldiers reported killed in action in the Asiatic, European, Mediterranean, middle eastern, North American and Pacific theaters of war. Sailor Nowacki's name was included on a list that listed 18 men as dead, four wounded and nine missing.
McLOCHCLIN CITED ABROAD
Pfc. Leonard R. McLochlin, son of Mrs. B. McLochlin, 5538 Claude street, Hammond, has received qualification of "marksman" in rifle marksmanship.
The army, European theater of operations, reports his score was 172, rapid fire.
Page Two Hundred Seventeen
Letters Tell of Servicemens' Gratitude for Center. Appreciated Gifts and Attention
Hammond Times, November 18, 1943
"Keep up the good work and many mothers will ask God to bless you as I do. ... "
That's the way one letter closes-a letter of thanks from a mother of a soldier, sailor or marine who found a friendly welcome at Hammond's Service Men's center.
There are many of these kind of letters; some of them are from California, others from Maine. Some are typed in imposing formal business style, while others are scrawled on inexpensive note-book paper.
But they all tell a story of touching grati- tude.
Each Tells a Story
Mrs. Georgia Hulsey, the center's super- visor, can spin stories around each of them.
Here's one from Montpelier, Vt., that be- gins: "We are very grateful for your interest in our son. Only this morning we have a letter from him telling of the cake affair .... "
Mrs. Hulsey laughs as she recalls "the cake affair."
"We had baked a cake for Bob," says Mrs. Hulsey. "It was his birthday. He had promised to come and help us eat it. But he over-slept, and didn't show up. He came in the next night looking very disappointed until he found we had saved him some of his cake."
About "Pie-Face"
From Melrose, Mass., came this letter:
"Dear Mrs. Hulsey: I want you to know how much I appreciate your interest in Stan- ley. I know how much it means to him. In his last letter he told me how home-like it was and everyone was so nice to him, and he did mention the nice apple pie. That was always his favorite pie. In fact, I used to call him 'Pie-Face'."
"The next time Stanley came in to the cen-
ter," laughs Mrs. Hulsey, "we called him 'Pie- Face.' He didn't seem to care for the name so much, but he sure did go for that apple pie!"
Becomes Engaged
Another letter tells of a romance that had its beginning in Hammond. This is from a California sailor.
". . . and I think Hammond is a swell place to live. I met a wonderful girl while I was there on leave. You see, I come from Califor- nia, but I still like Hammond best. The girl I met there I even got engaged to, so maybe I have a reason behind it."
Some letters are poignantly sharp with be- tween-the-lines criticism of this world where men settle their differences with their sons' lives. Like this one from Chester, Pa.
Not Sorry He Joined
"Dear Mrs. Hulsey: I received your card today saying Wayne had visited your service men's center. It makes me very happy to know he meets such nice folks as I know you must be.
"I must say I worried a lot when Wayne first joined the navy, as he had never been far from home before. But he seems so cheerful when he writes. In his last letter he said 'Mother, I have never been sorry I joined the navy.'
"He is hoping to get a furlough the end of August and I do hope he can get home for a few days before going to sea.
"I know you must be very proud to know you can do this work for our boys. How I hope and pray this war will soon be over, al- though Wayne thinks he will stay in the navy. Thanking you once more for all you do for everyone."
Continued on next page
Page Two Hundred Eighteen
Writes Home to Mother
Mrs. Hulsey asks each service man visiting the center for his home address, then she drops the parents a card telling of their son's visit. One father in Wallula, Wash., writes:
"Since joining the service last December, Bill has made numerous visits to service cen- ters. However, your card is the first word we have had of such visits. Needless to say, we are deeply grateful. To me, it indicates a serv- ice above average for which you can be justly proud."
Most of the letters are warmly personal, treating Mrs. Hulsey like a really close rela- tive. This one, for instance, asks:
". .. If there is anything he needs will you please let me know. Has he enough warm clothing?"
Letter from Fighting France
Then there was a letter decorated with the poster-stamp of Fighting France-a blue "V" with a red fighting cock's comb on a white field. It was from a mother in London, On- ario, Canada.
"Dear Madame: (it ran) I wish to thank you for being so very good to my son. It was most kind of you to write to me. Glad to hear that Jack was looking well. He is very young to be on his own. Once again, I thank you. P.S. Please excuse errors in my letter as I am French, from dear France, and I am not very familiar with English."
The Hammond Service center is located in the Indiana hotel building, at State and Hohman streets, and has three large rooms with a complete kitchen.
There are 100 volunteer junior hostesses from various local sororities, Illinois Bell Telephone company, Northern Indiana Public Service company, St. Mary's nursing home, Queen Anne Candy company and the YWCA.
In addition, there are 111 senior hostesses from all over the region.
Bread is furnished the center by Continen- tal, State Line and Lansing bakeries; milk by the Milk Exchange; soft drinks by Mayer, Pepsi-Cola and Coca-Cola bottling companies.
BROTHERS IN SERVICE
Hammond Times, November 23, 1943
Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Levens, of 1134 Sibley street, Hammond, have received word from their son, Pvt. Raymond L. Levens, that his address is 899th Ord. H. A. M. Co., APO 4926 c/o Postmaster, New York City, N. Y. Their other son, Roland J. Levens, A. S., is in Co. 1768, U. S. Naval Training station at Great Lakes, Ill. Roland volunteered for officers' training and took his basic training when the school closed and he was discharged. He then enlisted in the navy.
Hammond Times, November 23, 1943
Pvt. William Manley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Manley, 4205 Ivy street, Indiana Har- bor, has arrived safely overseas and is now sta- tioned somewhere in England with his army unit. His brother, Sgt. Harold, has been trans- ferred from the Ephrates air base in Washing- ton to the Ardmore Army air field in Okla- homa. He is the first sergeant in a bomber plane with a crew of 11 men.
ENTERTAIN THREE BUDDIES
To welcome home three servicemen, a party was held for Wilton E. Hall, MM2/c, 2nd Lt. William J. Granger and Cpl. Olin C. Granger, Jr., at the Halls' home, 928 Murray street, Hammond.
MM2/c Hall is the husband of Mrs. Ethel Hall, and the son of Mrs. James Springs. He just returned from overseas duty.
Lt. William Granger, Jr., son of Mr. Wil- liam Granger, Sr., was awarded his pilots wings upon graduating from AAC training at Luke Field, Ariz.
Cpl. Granger is stationed at Camp Crowder, Mo.
KERMIT CLYNE ENLISTS
Enlisting in the army air corps, Kermit Clyne, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Clyne, of 936 Merrill street, Hammond, has gone to Jefferson barracks, Mo. He graduated this year from Hammond high school, where he was business manager of the Dunes, annual school publication.
Page Two Hundred and Nineteen
Hammond Family Blames Neglect in Navy Death of Son at Great Lakes
Declaring they have decided to tell the story of their son and husband's death so that simi- lar tragedies may be avoided, the Hammond parents and widow of Richard A. Aageberg, 31, of 6020 Wallace road, charged today that his death resulted from the "criminal negli- gence" of examining physicians who per- mitted his induction into the navy despite his diabetic condition.
These details of Aageberg's death Nov. 2 in the naval hospital at Great Lakes, Ill., pre- viously were withheld by this newspaper at the request of the father, Adler Aageberg. Since then, apparently, the family has de- cided to reveal the circumstances of the death.
Aageberg, father of a 13-month-old daugh- ter, was ordered to report for induction by his draft board at Plymouth, Ind. His father said a full report of the son's physical condi- tion, telling of the finding of diabetes, was forwarded to the board by his physician, Dr. E. S. Jones. The report stated he needed daily doses of insulin.
James Thomas, chairman of the Plymouth board, has denied that board members knew of Aageberg's illness, declaring there is no record of Dr. Jones' medical report on file.
Aageberg reported for induction in Indian- apolis Oct. 21, and, according to his wife, Gayle, 6005 Wallace road, Hammond, told examining physicians he had diabetes. She said her husband told her no urinalysis was taken to check on his statement.
Aageberg's family was notified of his illness on the evening of Nov. 1 and arrived at the naval hospital a few hours later to find him in a coma, the wife said. He died early the next morning. Mrs. Aageberg said the autopsy re- port showed he died of bronchial pneumonia and diabetes.
Mrs. Aageberg and the dead sailor's parents also blamed his death upon the navy's failure to treat him as a special medical case instead of sending him through the reception routine at the naval station with hundreds of normal inductees.
BAARS HOME FROM ACROSS
Hammond Times, November 23, 1943
Sgt. Raymond H. Baars arrived home from overseas recently. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Baars, 580 Fayette street, Ham- mond.
Since he enlisted in February 1940, he has traveled from coast-to-coast, as well as the Panama Canal Zone, Australia, New Cale- donia, Guadalcanal and the Fiji islands. Sgt. Baars is a member of the 57th Engineers, Bn. Combat.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.