USA > Indiana > Lake County > History Of Veterans Of Foreign Wars (1944) > Part 30
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Paul received most of his education in the schools in Calumet City, Illinois. He enlisted December 15, 1940, and received his boot training at Great Lakes. After completing this training he boarded the U. S. S. Saratoga and remained on this vessel for a year. He was then transferred to the U. S. S. Joseph Hughes and from there to the Navy school at Nor- folk, Virginia for three months. Then to the U. S. S. Harris, on which he is serving at the present time somewhere in the South Pacific area. He has had several promotions and at the present time his rating is a Coxswain.
Both boys are members of the Edward H. Larsen Post and their mother is a member of the Auxiliary of the Post. Their father served in the United States Army for 17 years, but
never left the continental bounds of the United States during a war period.
MRS. JENNIE FRITZ
INDIANA
802
NEW
Mrs. Jennie Fritz
Mrs. Jennie Fritz was born November 19, 1888 at Columbus, Ohio, and was the daugh- ter of William and Clara Poole. Her brother Harvey lost his life in the First World War with the Canadian Army, having served three years before he lost his life, also another brother Jesse A. who served in the United States Navy.
She has three sons: Raymond T., James R. and Paul F. F. and one daughter, Denver C. Freeman of Columbus, Ohio. Her husband was just recently inducted into the United States Navy and is serving his boot training at Great Lakes at the present time.
Mrs. Fritz is a very active member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Edward H. Larsen Post, and at the present time holds the office of Conductress. She is a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post No. 330, Calumet City, Illinois, also was the Chaplin in this organization for the years 1942-43.
Mrs. Fritz ranks second in the sale of the first volume history books for the Larsen Post and the historian appreciates very much the assistance she has given.
Page Two Hundred Ninety-six
MOTHER AND SON
Mrs. Marie McGreevy and Perry Gusic
Perry Gusic was born July 1, 1920 in Ham- mond, Indiana, and received his education here, he is a graduate of Hammond high school. He has one brother Robert and two sisters Miss Louise Gusic and Mrs. Angie Lambrcht of Highland, Indiana.
He enlisted November 16, 1939 and has seen plenty of active service since that date. He has been decorated five times. The last, another air medal on October 25, 1943. His last rating is a Master Sgt. and at the present time he is stationed at Harlengen, Texas as an instructor in the gunnery school.
On page 119 of this book you will find an additional story appearing in the Hammond Times August 6, 1943. The half has not been told, he is to modest to talk about the thrilling experiences that he has had in the service, but if he did open up it would fill many pages of this book.
Yes his mother Mrs. Marie McGreevy is proud of him, and very grateful that he re- turned home safely. She is the daughter of Mitchell and Marie Peyovich of Cetyen, Mon- tegro now known as Yugoslavia. She came to this country in 1912 with her parents making
their home in Chicago, she was but eight years of age at that time.
She has four brothers: Christ Peyovich of Gary, Indiana, Louis of Chicago, Donald of Detroit, Michigan and Milo of Whiting, In- diana and one sister Ann who is still in Europe. She was married to Thomas McGreevy April 6, 1939 and at the present time they live at 242 Clinton street, Hammond, Indiana.
Mrs. McGreevy is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Larsen Post. She sold four of the first volume History books at $5.00 apiece and two of them at $3.00. The His- torian is very grateful to her for this service.
DEDICATED
to
OUR KITCHEN POLICE
The women are working in the kitchen again tonight
Cooking for us men who in the last war did fight
They are the Ladies of the Ladies Auxiliary from Post 802
Some have daughters, sons and husbands in World War II
They sweat and cook in that kitchen to please all of us
But some of us just sit at the bar and drink and cuss
We can please them though if we all try
For in that kitchen they get mighty tired and dry Cooking, cleaning, washing dishes for you and I.
The other night I got mad when I entered the place
One of our women was crying, tears were streaming down her face
Tell me his name I cried who is the bum It's nothing she said just get me a shot of rum I did as she dried her eyes and brushed back her hair
And said I was peeling onions in there.
-WM. KROKOSKI Chaplain, Post 802 V.F.W.
Page Two Hundred Ninety-seven
MILLER BROTHERS
Pfc. Raymond Miller was born March 18, 1916 in Michigan City, Indiana and received his education in St. Mary's school in Michigan City, and St. Joseph and Hammond Tech. high school in Hammond.
Raymond Miller
He was inducted into the United States Army April 10, 1941 from Hammond, In- diana and went to Camp Shelby, Mississippi with the 135th Medical Division.
He left the east coast about March 1, 1942 and went to Australia. He was transferred from there about January 1, 1943 and sent to New Guinea and is still there at the present time -- this date being February 12, 1944.
LT. ALEX J. MILLER
Lt. Alex J. Miller was born August 24, 1919 in Michigan City, Indiana and received his education in St. Joseph and Catholic Central schools in Hammond. He enlisted January 14, 1941 in the 63rd Coast artillery at El Paso, Texas. He was transferred from there to Seattle, Washington. In February, 1942 he was transferred to the Army Air Corps and entered the Pilot training school.
On August 28, 1942 he was sent to Mont-
Lt. Alex J. Miller
gomery, Alabama for pre-flight training. As soon as he had finished this course he was sent to Sumpter South Carolina for his basic train- ing, after finishing this course he was sent to Moultrie, Georgia for advanced training and received his wings there. He was then trans- ferred to Venice, Florida for operational train- ing, then to Blythe, California for Bomber Pilot training, and is now somewhere in the South Pacific area. Just as we went to press, his mother called and said Alex had been awarded the air medal February 15, 1944 for extra ordinary action against the enemy, somewhere in the Southwest Pacific.
These three boys are the sons of Alex and Marie Miller of 422 Detroit street, Hammond, Indiana. In addition to these three sons they have Edward, who is married and lives in Calumet City, Illinois, Roy and Robert who are still at home, and three daughters, Marie, and Rose Marie, and Mrs. Bernice Garner all of Hammond.
RITES MONDAY
Hammond Times, November 18, 1942
Military rites for Sgt. Chas. J. Miller, 27, of 422 Detroit street, Hammond, who was killed in an air crash at Columbia, S. C., last Sunday, will be held at 9 a. m., Monday in St. Joseph's church with Msgr. Francis Jan- sen, pastor, officiating, following short services
Page Two Hundred Ninety-eight
Sgt. Chas. J. Miller
at 8:30 a. m., in the Emmerling funeral home. Burial will be in St. Joseph's cemetery.
Sgt. Miller was an aeronautical engineer assigned to a bombing crew and had just won his wings when killed.
The body arrived in Hammond at 2 p. m., today and will lie at the funeral chapel.
Full military rites will be accorded the young officer, according to George Kunde, past commander of American Legion Post 16, who is chairman of military funerals of the post.
Pallbearers will be Legionnaires and a firing squad will come from Fort Sheridan, Ill., in addition to a bugler.
A brother, Alex Miller, an aviation cadet, has arrived home for the funeral, from Max- well Field, Ala.
Sgt. Miller was born in Chicago March 14, 1915. He received his education in St. Mary's school in Michigan City, Indiana - St. Joseph and Catholic Central in Hammond.
SOLDIERS RECORD THOUGHTS IN POETRY
Man's Inhumanity to Man
The world began, Man was created And soon discovered He was fated. To better Himself by dint of skill To use His intellect to kill.
It all began with Cain and Abel And whether 'tis true or merely fable Exemplifies like nothing can, Man's inhumanity to Man!
The only species with a mind Is genus-homo, called Mankind. Free will, free thought, these attributes All are withheld from other brutes!
Though we are classed superior, Methinks we are inferior, The only species that is known That mass destroys its very own. -Al Miller, Jr.
JAMES BROTHERS
Daniel P. James, Jr. was born April 6, 1923, in Hammond, Indiana and was educated in the Morton, and Hammond high schools and graduated from Hammond high in 1942.
They were the sons of Daniel and Margaret James who reside at 805 State street, Ham- mond, Indiana. Both of the boys are members of the Edward H. Larsen Post, their Grand-
Thomas L. James
mother known by every one as Mother Cath- erine James was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary and a Gold Star Mother of the Post.
Dan was inducted in the United States Army Air Corps, January 20, 1943 and re-
Page Two Hundred Ninety-nine
ceived his basic training at Miami, Florida, he received his gunnery training at Denver, Colorado, his flexible gunnery training at Fort Meyers, Florida, he was then sent to Salt Lake City, Boise, Idaho, Scotts Bluff, Nebraska and finally finished his training at Langley Field, Virginia.
Daniel P. James
He left the United States on December 13, 1943 for Brazil, then to Tunis, and Tunisia, Africa, and is now in Italy. He is a Sgt. in the 455th Bomber group the 741st Bomber Squadron, his serial number is 35580719. He is the first of the family to go into the service.
Thomas L. James was born on February 23, 1921 in Hammond, Indiana. He graduated from Hammond high school in 1938. He en- listed in the United States Army March 4, 1943 from Louisville, Kentucky and was sent to Fort Benjamin Harrison at Indianapolis, Indiana, then to Camp Meade at Baltimore, Maryland, then to Camp Nose at New Or- leans, and left the United States about De- cember 1, 1943 and sailed for England, and is still there.
He is a private first class in the 26th Special Service Company and his serial number is 35697816.
GLENN N. GONDER
Glenn N. Gonder
Glenn N. Gonder was born May 28, 1917 in Michigan City, Indiana. He is the son of John and Adda Gonder who were born in Berrien County, Michigan. Glenn was reared on a farm and attended the grade and high school in Springfield township in La Porte County and graduated in 1935. He was presi- dent of the Freshman and Senior class in high school, and was very fond of athletics, basket- ball and baseball were his favorite sports.
After graduating in 1935 he went to work for the Allis-Chalmers Company in La Porte, Indiana. After working there for a while he decided to take a course in Embalming and
Page Three Hundred
went to the Worsham College of Embalming in Chicago and graduated in June, 1939.
He served his apprenticeship with several large Funeral establishments in Chicago, and passed his State Board examination in Illinois, as a licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director in July, 1940. He came to Hammond, Indiana in May, 1941 and was employed by the Em- merling Funeral Chapel, where he remained until he went into the service of the United States Army.
On June 29, 1941 he was married to Miss Ermyl Alkire. She was a teacher in the LaPorte County school system.
On December 12, 1942 Glenn enlisted in the United States Army and was given the rating as Pfc. and a surgical technician in the 297th General Hospital Unit. This unit was composed of officers and enlisted men from the Cook County Hospital in Chicago. He reported for duty at Fort Sheridan, Illinois on December 21, 1942 - from there to the McCloskey General Hospital at Temple, Texas - which had a capacity of 3,000 beds - he arrived there on December 25th.
He received a furlough on May 1, 1943 for 12 days and he returned to Hammond and Michigan City for a visit with friends and relatives. When he returned to Camp he was promoted to Corporal. He is now in Camp Banning, California and holds the rating of Staff Sgt. His APO is 180 Los Angeles Cali- fornia ready for embarkation destination un- known.
HAMMOND PILOT, FLYING TIGER
Hammond Times, January 20, 1944
Staff Sgt. Charles E. Edwards, 44 Detroit street, Hammond, a member of the famed "Flying Tigers" of the 14th air force, has been awarded the distinguished flying cross for heroism in action, it was announced today.
Award of the cross was made by Maj. Gen. Claire Chennault, commanding the 14th fighter squadron. The general also announced award of a purple heart decoration to Staff Sgt. Albert M. Keene, 29 Illinois street, Chi- cago Heights, Illinois.
SOLDIER WRITES FROM A JAP PRISON CAMP
Hammond Times, March 5, 1943
A Christmas and New Year greeting writ- ten in October and received only recently was the fate of the letter written to Stanley Linke- wicz, 666 Hirsch street, Calumet City, by Leonard S. Kozlowski, who is a prisoner of war in Zentzuji, Japan.
The son of Mrs. Mary Kozlowski, 320 - 154th place, Calumet City, he says in the
Leonard S. Kozlowski
letter to Linkewicz that he had written home but had received no answer.
"How are things back home - still op- erating?" Kozlowski inquires in the letter. "The time passes moderately fast, although it doesn't keep my hair from turning grey. My mind flashes back over thousands of miles and brings back pleasant memories of the past that helps to keep my morale up and helps me to look forward to returning back home.
"Well, Stan, say hello to all my friends, and while I have the opportunity I'll wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. God bless you all and keep you happy."
The letter was written October 20 at the war prison camp and was sent through the International Red Cross organization.
Page Three Hundred One
HAMMOND, EAST CHICAGO AIRMEN BATTLE ON AS FORTRESS 'TAKES IT'
Pair Now Listed Missing Had Narrow Escape Hammond Times, March 3, 1944
A Hammond and an East Chicago airman, recently reported as missing in action, had a thrilling battle with German planes as their crippled Flying Fortress limped back to Eng- land in a mission prior to the flight from which they failed to return.
Sgt. Joseph Mikisch
The two are Sgt. Joseph Miksich, Ham- mond, and Sgt. August J. Lobonc, East Chi- cago, and the story of the thrilling flight told by them and other crew members has been received by their relatives.
Sgt. Bill Nall of Texas, the right waist gun- ner, begins the story.
"In the scrap over Ludwigshafen (Ger- many), number four engine went and the prop wind-milled wildly. The old line went too, shooting oil all over the ship. The pilot couldn't feather the propeller due to lack of oil. We were forced out of formation. Five P-38's hovered around, protecting us, but soon they had to make for home to refuel."
"Then the fun began," interposed Nebras- kan Sgt. John Fees, ball turret gunner. "Focke-Wulfs closed in. Oil from the bad engine number four flew back over my turret just then and I couldn't see a thing."
"Three 190s roared in on us," continued Sgt. Nall, "while two others stayed off to watch the slaughter. The main blow came from a swing around the tail and then a 5- o'clock level attack on my right waist spot. The first fighter started fire and I pumped 20 or 30 shells into him. He broke off then and passed under our Fort. When he did that, our tail gunner (Sgt. Joe Miksich, Hammond) let him have it. Joe only claims a probable though, because we were in clouds and couldn't see very well."
"I had a 7-o'clock high attack too," re- marked Left Gunner Sgt. K. P. Majeski, Wis- consin, "but our evasive action was good. We made cloud cover before the Nazi could do damage."
The radio operator-gunner, East Chicagoan August Lobonc, chimed in: "We soon lost our cover of clouds. Pilot Lt. Don Sharpe of Maryland gave orders to stand by for a crash landing. We all thought we might have to come down in France the way that sick num- ber four engine was acting up. We skimmed the tree-tops and could see people on the ground waving merrily at us as we went over."
Ball Turret Gunner Fees continued the story:
"I got out of my turret and went to the tail," he said. "Just before we got to the Seine river about 35 miles from the coast in the Rouen area light flak and machine gun fire came at us. The sky was full of tracers and flak burst all around us. We followed the river
Page Three Hundred Two
out and at Le Havre we had some real excite- ment.
"In the port there," he went on, "we spotted a German cruiser and three destroyers. We saw their anti-aircraft fire begin and they gave us everything they had. The heavier short batteries struck up the music then too, and did they let loose! The tail was hit and flak tore us less than a foot from my knees. The nose was hit and the plexi-glass busted. The bomb-bays got a good dose and a 20 mm. tore up through the radio room just behind the radio gunner, Lobonc."
"I was on one knee, slushing in oil," put in Sgt. Lobonc, "sending out a message, and I looked out to see who in hell was doing all the shooting. The sky was black with smoke and full of fire from the guns. I got my nose in mighty quick, you can bet. Miksich was at the radio guns, so I went on with my message. I had a devil of a time though," Lobonc con- fessed, "for both pilots were making that ship dance and wiggle all over the place to avoid the ground and naval fire. They did a honey of a job. We didn't get one serious hit. But I was slogging around on that slippery oil, my head hitting the top many times, until I thought the pilots had gone screwy."
Sgt. Lobonc continued: "We were still set to ditch in the English channel. It looked three times wider than it was. Over the interphones I heard the top turret man (Sgt. Ed Dutsch, New York) call out to the pilot, 'What's this we're crossing - the Atlantic ocean?' The pilot then quipped right back, 'Non-stop to New York, boys!'"
A fighter followed their bomber half-way across the channel at 15,000 feet. The Fortress' wing tips almost slapped the waves and they were too low to identify the distant plane as friend or foe. Just as they were about to land in an English sheep pasture another motor went out - no gass.
"We started down - wheels up," Sgt. Fees said. "The pilot ordered everyone to the radio room for the landing and we came in as
smooth as could be. We skidded about 200 yards and wound up in a shallow pond which the pilot (Lt. T. P. Sheedy, 21, Ohio) didn't see because it was hidden by grass around the edges.
"When we hit the pond the nose buckled and the radio room caved in. The bombardier (Lt. O. D. Curley, Texas) got a slightly sprained back. Thanks to him we were all in correct ditching positions or we would have been hurt worse when the ship buckled like that."
Sgt. Lobonc put in, "Miksich got his leg caught just above the ankle when the radio room caved in, and Fees jerked like blazes to get it out. He's all right though, nothing serious, and he isn't even limping."
Only a little while after they landed, a half- dozen ambulances rolled up from a British base nearby. "A group of women in blue and gray uniforms were everywhere," reported Sgt. Nalls, "serving tea, and caring for us. They took Lt. Curley and me to the hospital, bathed us, gave us clean pajamas, put us to bed and then served us supper."
"The rest of us went to a British camp," said Lobonc, "where they took good care of us. The British troops were all hospitality."
S/Sgt. August J. Lobonc, before entering the air corps, lived at 534 Emlyn place, East Chicago, graduated from Roosevelt high school and was an employe at Youngstown Sheet and Tube company. S/Sgt. Joseph Miksich lived at 7349 Parrish avenue, Ham- mond. He came originally from North Lima, O., but lived with his brother in Hammond for three years before joining the service. He was employed at General American Transpor- tation company.
Although the two men are officially re- ported missing, it is believed unofficially that they are prisoners of war in Germany at present.
Page Three Hundred Three
They Spurred Bond Drive in Steel Plant Hammond Times, January 31, 1944
They weren't smiling like this when the Japs saw them!
Heroes all, this trio is pictured after ad- dressing workers at the Gary Sheet and Tin mill of the Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corp. on behalf of the fourth war loan drive. Left to right they are Staff Sgt. John A. Stachowicz, 26, of 634 Forsythe avenue, Calumet City; Capt. Bernard O'Hara, 27, of Michigan City
and Staff Sgt. Charles E. Edwards, 218 Wil- liams street, Hammond.
O'Hara, ably assisted by his two Calumet region sergeants, commanded the famed "Doodlebug," Liberator bombing plane of the Flying Tigers in China. The fliers, awarded distinguished flying crosses, are credited with downing 10 Jap Zero planes and 18 probables in one engagement.
Page Three Hundred Four
DICK WHITE IN ENGLAND
BACK AT FRONT AFTER TARAWA
R. J. White
Hammond Times, January 26, 1944
Recently promoted to the rank of technical sergeant, Richard J. White is serving some- where in England with the chemical warfare division of the army air corps.
T/Sgt. White is the husband of Mrs. Lucille White, now living with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. O. Bogard, 240 Locust street, Hammond, and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred G. White, 250 Dyer boulevard, Hammond.
Dick is a well-known boy around the re- gion, as are his brothers, three of whom are also in the armed services. They are Charles, in Seattle, Wash .; Bob, an air cadet-to-be at Douglas, Ariz .; Albert, an air cadet in Lan- caster, Calif, taking his basic.
Dick has met several Hammond servicemen in England, among them his old golf partner, Eddie Kobeske. Sgt. White thinks the Euro- pean theater of operations is the best place for him; " ... it brings me luck and I like it very much," wrote White.
RAISED TO SGT. RANK
Hammond Times, January 26, 1944
Dr. and Mrs. Robert East, Hammond, have heard the news that their son, Charles R. Hovey is now a sergeant in the medical corps. The new sergeant is at his post somewhere in Australia, where he received his promotion.
D. Bianchi
Hammond Times, January 20, 1944
A star football player learns to do a lot of things and when he joins the U. S. marines he learns a lot more - how to write a letter with a smashed right thumb, for instance.
From the south Pacific today came a letter to his parents from Dominic Bianchi, former captain of the Roosevelt high school, East Chicago, football team and all-conference star. His thumb was injured in the recent fighting at Tarawa, but he is now back in action.
Bianchi, 20, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bianchi of 4742 Tod avenue. Grad- uating from Roosevelt high, he went overseas last March.
ODENBERG SERVES "DOWN UNDER"
Cpl. Oldenberg Hammond Times, January 26, 1944
Attached to the quartermaster company, Cpl. Donald J. Oldenberg, husband of Mrs. Mary Oldenberg of 856 Plummer street, Hammond, has been overseas for two months now.
Cpl. Oldenberg arrived at his south Pacific post in November. He joined the army last Jan. 16. Previous to discarding civvies for the Uncle Sam uniform, he was employed at Super Heater corporation.
Page Three Hundred Five
BLAEMIRE BROTHERS
*1
Robert Blaemire
Robert and Dick Blaemire are the sons of Robert and Sue Blaemire of Hammond, Ind- iana.
Robert was born April 13, 1924, in Fort Pierce, Florida. He received his education in the schools of Hammond and graduated from Hammond High School in 1943. He was quite a football player while attending Hammond High School.
He enlisted in the United States Marines August 7, 1943 from Hammond, Indiana. He was sent to Camp Pendelton, San Diego, Cal- fornia. He sailed for over-seas duty Jan. 1, 1944. He is in Company C. Amphibious Tank Corp and had his first engagement with the enemy on the Marshall Islands.
These boys are the grand sons of Mother Catherine James who was one of the Gold Star Mothers and a charter member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Larsen Post. Mother James made her home with her daughter Mrs. Sue Blaemire before she passed away.
Dick Blaemire was born August 26, 1906 in Hammond, Indiana. He graduated from Hammond High School in 1924. He was em- ployed by the Youngstown Sheet and Tube
Company in East Chicago before he enlisted in the United States Army.
He enlisted in the United States Army en- gineers, April 27, 1943. At the present time he holds the rating of a Sergeant, and is sta- tioned somewhere in England. His serial num- ber is 35139550.
2
Dick Blaemire and wife
He was married to Lucille Bartoszek who is the daughter of Anthony and Margaret Bar- toszek of Hammond, Indiana. While Dick was stationed at Fort Louis Washington, his wife was also stationed in the Camp and she worked as a telephone operator. Dick sailed for England December 27, 1943.
DON'T DISAPPOINT HIM
Hoping for lots of mail, Hugh Wantland sends New Year's greetings from New Guinea and his address: HQ Btry. 98 FA Bn., APO 929, c/o Postmaster, San Francisco, Calif.
He is the son of Mrs. Rae Wantland, 3409 Grand boulevard, Indiana Harbor, and serves with the field artillery on a far-off Pacific isle.
Page Three Hundred and Six
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