USA > Indiana > Lake County > History Of Veterans Of Foreign Wars (1944) > Part 8
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He is shown right, accepting the check from Miss Dorothy Houston, Center assistant with an appreciative audience, left to right, of C. E. Strain, George H. Cofrin, and Mic- hael Kovaly, all stationed at a Chicago navy School. Both Strain and Kovaly are from New Jersey; Cofrin is from Northfield, Vt.
The 1,001st visitor, Sgt. Sarzyniak, extreme right, put through a long distance call to Miss Katy Ellerbee, Zephyr Hills, Fla.
Soltwedel Brothers Promoted
Hammond Times, May 2, 1943.
News of the promotion of their two sons now serving in the army was received recently by Mr. and Mrs. Walter Soltwedel, who lived at 161 - 169th street, Ham- mond, until a short time ago when they moved to Lansing.
Their son, Arthur, who is now somewhere overseas, has been promoted to the rank of staff sergeant, while his brother, Kenneth, stationed at Camp Van Dorn, Miss.,
Soltwedel
was promoted to the grade of corporal.
An airplane mechanic, Arthur has been overseas for about 10 months. Kenneth, who is in the field artillery branch of the army, has been in Mississippi since December, 1942.
Both of the young men attended Edison school in Hammond and Kenneth was later employed at the Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing company's Hammond branch.
Page Seventy-five
PRINCIPALS IN VFW INSTALLATIONS
802
INDIAK
Starr
Meissner
Hamond Times May 2, 1943
Werner P. Meissner, who was 16 when he served with the U. S. cavalry in France during the first World war, will be installed today as commander of Edward H. Larsen Post 802, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Hammond, to cli- max more than a score of years of ex-service activities. He filled the unexpired term of Edward M. Pinney, who resigned in July be- cause of ill health, and was officially elected for the 1943-44 term. He and other officers will be inducted by Adolph Starr, 1928, of Lafayette, commander of the post and a re- tired engineer, at 2 o'clock at the Odd Fel-
lows' hall. Starr also will preside at the dedica- tion of the VFW's war history book prepared by John W. Blume, post historian, with the ceremonies expected to be attended by the kin of regional men with foreign service in World war II. Mrs. Margaret Snowden of Gary, dis- trict auxiliary president, will install Mrs. Lawrence Buckle, new Larsen post auxiliary president, and other 1943-44 auxiliary officers. VFW members and guests will return from the Odd Fellows' hall to the post headquarters at 536 Sibley street for refreshments. Dancing and entertainment are on the program.
HAMMOND MEN WHO HAVE MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE
Hamond Times May 2, 1943
The Hammond public library has furnished the publicity committee of the chamber of commerce with a complete list of Hammond- ites who have lost their lives in the present war, compiling the information from the files of The Hammond Times, according to W. F. Blackmun, chairman of the committee.
Members of the library staff have spent sev- eral hours daily carefully going through the editions of The Times from October 1940 to May 1, 1943 to gather the names of all losing their lives. The names will appear on a mem- orial tablet to be erected on the city hall grounds, according to Mr. Blackmun.
The list as furnished by the library is as
follows:
William F. Biesen, Machinist Mate Walter L. Brown, Staff Sgt. Max L. Bybee, Jr., Sgt. Robert Francis Garr, Pilot Officer O. O. Grove.
Sgt. Conrad Kujawa, Cpl. Charles J. Miller, Staff Sgt. Clarence J. Nelson, 2d Lt. John Sedor, Pfc. Lester C. Simpkins, Staff Sgt. Steve Sopp, Pvt. William S. Spilly.
Richard Steelman, Sgt. Steve Tall, Cpl. William M. Tucker, Pvt. Louis Tyrka, 1st Lt. John R. Van de Lester, Staff Sgt. William Van der Here, Sgt. John Whitaker, Pfc. Sigmund J. Zatorski.
Page Seventy-six
Pvt. j. O'Leary, Hammond Soldier, Missing in Action
Hammond Times, May 11, 1943
In addition to the name of Pvt. John O' Leary, whose wife and family reside at 7416 Columbia Circle East, Hammond, today's list of the names of 766 U. S. soldiers missing in action released by the war department includ- ed three other district casualties.
They are Lt. Bill Wayne Carpenter, whose father is H. B. Carpenter, Gary; Pvt. Leo- nard King Story, whose mother, Mrs. Flor- ence King, lives at DeMotte, and Maj. Donn C. Young, nephew of Vern U. Young, Gary. Pvt. O'Leary was reported missing in the North African action several weeks ago. Car- penter was listed as missing in the Alaskan fighting; King and Young in African fight- ing.
Belinsky in Africa
Hammond Times, May 11, 1943
Sgt. Frank A. Belinsky, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Belinsky, 4729 Alexander avenue, East Chicago, has been in the army for two years and now is somewhere in Africa, having arrived there about six months ago. A graduate of Washington high school, he was employed at the Inland Steel company prior to his induction. Dis- cussing life in Africa, Bel- insky wrote in a recent let- ter:
Belinsky
"As you probably know, the population here is French and Arab. The people treat us swell and they are glad to see us over here. It is a lot of fun to try to talk to them in French and I have managed to pick up a little. Oh yes, the French girls are nice, only give me an American girl any day.
"The Red Cross has a few dances for us once in awhile with a band made up of Amer- ican soldiers. We also have some celebrities here from the States to entertain us. Our boys are doing a swell job and a little entertain- ment always helps to build up their morale. Before you know it this war will be over.
Cpl. Pence in Africa
Hammond Times, May 11, 1943
The 31-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Fleet Pence, 828 Carroll street, Hammond, Cpl. Harry J. Pence, is now with the Army air force in North Africa and has taken to and enjoyed the ancient sport of camel riding.
Cpl. Pence, who started his second year in the army Apr. 16, has been overseas and repairs trucks that carry fuel to the air planes.
The Hammond soldier has expressed high praise for the work being done in North Africa by the American Red Pence Cross. "They are doing wonderful work for the boys over here" he wrote his parents.
Pence and his parents came to Hammond from Chicago four years ago and he was em- ployed at the Whiting refinery of the Standard Oil Co. prior to his induction into the army 13 months ago.
23 Years in Navy
Hammond Times, May 11, 1943
Arthur Eugene Culler, 45, son of Mrs. Lydia Culler, 5553 Walter street, Hammond, has been stationed at Pearl Harbor since Dec- ember 12, 1941-five days after the sneak attack by the Japs, as a member of the first consign- ment of navy men to be sent to the Hawaiian base.
He holds the valuable pos- ition of chief master mech- anic in the ship repair yards at Pearl Harbor naval base. Culler When Mrs. Culler visited her son shortly before his transfer to the south Pacific, it was the third time she had seen him in 23 years, the period of his service with the navy. His wife is working in an Airplane fac- tory in San Diego, Calif.
Page Seventy-seven
LT. BEN LISS KILLED IN AFRICA Hammond Times, May 6, 1943.
The war department today notified Mrs. Pauline Liss, 4815 Homerlee avenue, East Chi- cago, that her son Second Lt. Ben Liss, 25, was killed in action March 28, in north Africa.
Lt. Liss, a graduate of Roosevelt high school with the class of 1935, had been overseas since January. He joined the army in March, 1942, and was sent to Luke Field, Ariz., where he graduated from the air corps school last Oc- tober.
Born on Dec. 7, 1918, Lt. Liss was a crane operator at the Youngstown Sheet and Tube company before he entered the armed forces.
He has a brother, Edward, who left May 3 for induction into the army at Fort Harrison, Indianapolis. In addition to his mother, an- other brother, John and two sisters, Mrs. Joseph Fary, 842 - 171st street, Hammond, and Miss Stephany Liss, survive.
MUNSTER BOY BROADCASTS FROM NAZI PRISON CAMP
Hammond Times, April 30, 1943.
A message from Morris L. Hopkins, a Ger- man prisoner of war, was received recently by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Hopkins, 8433 Kraay street, Munster, from Irwin F. Bender of Oberlin, Pa., who heard the follow- ing message from a short wave station in Berlin:
"I am a prisoner of war. Best of health. Treatment fine. You may send candy in care of the Red Cross. Will write letter later. You write to all. Love, Morris."
The message was the last of 10 from Amer- ican soldiers in a transit camp who will soon be sent to the American war prisoners' camp somewhere in southern Germany, according to the letter from Bender to Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins. He added:
"According to the German correspondents, this is a new camp with the best of facilities. When your loved one reaches this camp he will write to you, giving his prisoner's name, the name of his camp and the number of his barracks, all of which you must have in order to write to him."
The Munster family has two other sons, Charles and Cpl. James, in the armed services. Charles is serving in north Africa and James is attending radio school in Los Angeles, Calif.
The three Hopkins boys were employed at the Lever Brothers company before being in- ducted.
JOHN PAYLO IS WAR PRISONER
Hammond Times May 9, 1943
Captured during one of the major battles with the Axis for central Tunisia, Pfc. John Paylo, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Paylo, 2833 Schrage avenue, Whiting, is a prisoner of the Germans, according to a war department statement.
Paylo
Pfc. Paylo was a member of one of the first American expenditionary forces to go over- seas, being stationed before his capture in north Africa, in Ireland, Scotland and Eng- land.
A member of the intelligence division, Paylo previously has been reported "missing in ac- tion" on Feb. 17. Word of his status as war prisoner came to his parents by telegram, which added that a letter of information from the provost marshal general would follow.
MUNSTER FAMILY GETS WORD SON IS HELD IN GERMAN PRISON CAMP
Hammond Times, May 13, 1943.
Official confirmation of a short wave report that their son, Morris L. Hopkins, was being held by the Germans as a prisoner of war re- ceived this week by Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Hop- kins, 8433 Kraay St., Munster, in a war de- partment telegram which read:
"Your son is a prisoner of war of the Ger- man government. Additional news will be sent to you."
Previously, a message from Hopkins was received by his parents from Irwin F. Bender of Oberlin, Pa., who heard the following mes- sage from a short wave station in Berlin:
"I am a prisoner of war. Best of health. Treatment fine. You may send candy in care of the Red Cross. Will write letter later. You write to all. Love. Morris."
The Hopkins have two other sons, Charles and Cpl. James, in the armed service. Charles is stationed in north Africa and James is at- tending radio school at Los Angeles, Calif.
Page Seventy-eight
Hammond Honors It's First Soldier, Sailor, Marine, World War II Dead
Hammond Times, May 16, 1943
Sgt. Robert Garr, U. S. marines, above, only 20 when he made the su- preme sacrifice, was killed in Wake Island defense.
M. M. Brown, U. S. navy, killed in airplane crash.
Sgt. Conrad Kujawa, 21, U. S. army, first Ham- mond youth to die in service, killed in Japa- nese sneak raid on Pearl Harbor.
An ordinance providing for the perpetua- tion of the memory of the first soldier, sailor and marine from Hammond to lose their lives in World War II was signed yesterday by Mayor G. Bertram Smith.
Introduced in city council Friday night during a special session called to name a suc- cessor to Ald. Roy Sweitzer, who resigned effective as of last Wednesday, the new statute was voted through final passage and adoption.
The ordinance designates the 5700 block of Baring avenue as Kujawa block; the 1100 block of Summer street as Garr block, and 1300 block of North drive as Brown block. Sgt. Robert Garr, U. S. marine corps, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Garr, Sr., formerly lived at 1124 Summer street. Machinist Mate Walter L. Brown, U. S. navy, is the son of William T. Brown, 1336 North drive, while Sgt. Conrad Kujawa is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kujawa, 5733 Baring avenue.
Kujawa First to Die
Twenty-one-year-old Kujawa was the first Hammond youth to lose his life in the present conflict. The soldier hero was killed in the
sneak Japanese bombing of Hickman field at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941. He was with the 98th coast artillery anti-aircraft divi- sion. Sgt. Kujawa had been in service two years.
Also 21, M. M. Brown was killed in a navy airplane accident at Miami, Fla., Feb. 27 of this year-the first sailor from Hammond to lose his life in this war. Enlisting in the navy in 1941, young Brown, formerly was em- ployed at American Steel Foundries here.
Garr Died on Wake
Sgt. Garr was only 20 when he made the supreme sacrifice for his country Dec. 14, 1941, during a Jap bombing of Wake Island. He was the second Hammond youth to lose his life in World War II. Young Garr, whose father is a Hammond post office employe, withdrew from Hammond high school in September, 1939, to enlist in the marine corps.
Although the ordinance provides no date for dedication ceremonies, the memory of the three gallant youths will probably be honored with the formal naming of the blocks on Memorial day.
Page Seventy-nine
Peter Larsen Marks Eightieth Birthday
Hammond Times May 20, 1943
Peter Larsen, Garfield avenue, received con- gratulations from a host of neighbors and relatives on Tuesday, besides being guest of honor at a party arranged for the celebration of his 80th birthday by his daughter, Cath- erine, who entertained 12 guests at her apart- ment on Kenwood avenue in Chicago.
At 1 o'clock luncheon was served at a table decorated with a bouquet of pink peonies. During the informal afternoon Mr. Larsen enjoyed visiting with his relatives and close friends, who remembered him with suitable gifts.
Before his retirement, Mr. Larsen was a rail- road man. He has lived in Hammond for the past 38 years and has another daughter, Jane, and two sons, Peter, Jr., and John, residing here.
FDR SAYS RUSSIA GOT MOST OF LEASE AID
Hammond Times, May 25, 1943.
WASHINGTON - (U. P.) - President Roosevelt, reporting that lend-lease aid through April totaled $11,102,000,000, told Congress today that more lend-lease munitions have been sent to Soviet Russia than to Great Britain and that the United States is "out- building the aggressors in every category of arms."
In transmitting a report covering lend- lease operations through April 30 last, Mr. Roosevelt asserted that arms are accumulating for offensives "that will end only in Berlin and Tokyo."
Great Britain still ranks first as the recipient of all lend-lease shipments - $3,116,000,000 since March 11, 1941. Lend-lease shipments to the Soviet Union through April 1, 1943, totaled $1,822,000,000, not counting "many hundreds of planes ferried by air."
Actual munitions exports to Russia - ordnance, ammunition, tanks, planes and the like - totaled $1,041,000,000, compared with $881,000,000 of like equipment to Great Britain.
The report promised:
1. Unconditional surrender of the Axis.
2. Allied strategy "to win . . . as quickly as possible - in Rome and Berlin and Tokyo."
3. Increased lend-lease to China with re- opening of the Burma road "among the stra- tegic objectives of our forces."
Describing the liberation of Africa as a forerunner of the future, the president looked
SON OF REV. BRIGGS TELLS OF ESCAPE
Briggs
Hammond Times, May 18, 1943.
LONDON-(Passed by naval censor)- A thrillpacked voyage during which his ship escaped a German U-boat pack, has ended for Ensign Frank R. Briggs of Terre Haute, Ind., officer in charge of a Navy armed guard crew aboard a U. S. merchant ship.
Ensign Briggs spent a brief leave in London. He is the son of the Rev. and Mrs. Frank R. Briggs, Sr. of Whiting. The Rev. Mr. Briggs is pastor of the Whiting Methodist church. Ensign Briggs' wife, Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Briggs, and their young daughter, Ann Bur- nett, lives at 945 South 25th street, Terre Haute.
For Ensign Briggs, who was commissioned in the Naval Reserve about seven months ago, the North Atlantic crossing was his first. The calm of the trip was interrupted in mid-ocean when submarines attacked the convoy at night. Escort vessels and navy gunners aboard the merchantmen managed to beat off the U- boats and Briggs' ship ran the gauntlet with- out damage.
Ensign Briggs was teaching journalism at Westminister College, New Wilmington, Pa., when he entered the naval reserve. He pre- viously had taught at Elgin, Ill. high school and at Indiana State with an AB degree in 1938 and won his Master's degree in 1940. For a while Ensign Briggs was a sports writer for the Terre Haute Star.
toward the coming battles for Germany and Japan and placed great importance on "the full support and the full resources of the peoples of the newly liberated areas."
The report emphasized aid sent to the Soviet Union, explaining in one portion that "al- though we have sent a substantial number of planes under lend-lease to the United King- dom, much greater quantity has gone to the Soviet Union.
Page Eighty
PROMOTED IN NORTH AFRICA
Beck
Hammond Times, May 17, 1943.
Miles W. Beck, Jr., was recently promoted to a petty officer with the United States navy where he is serving in North Africa. Beck is a graduate of Washington high school in the class of 1940 and enlisted in July 1942. He received boot training at Great Lakes and was graduated in a course in diesel engineering at the University of Illinois. He is the son of Miles W. Beck, 4031 Butternut street, Indiana Harbor, and was employed at Inland Steel be- fore his enlistment.
Friends Give Calumet City Marine Service Man's Watch
Hammond Times, May 17, 1943
Edward Swanson, Calumet City marine who has been home on sick leave after active duty at Tulagi and Guadalcanal, tonight will take with him tangible evidence of his neigh- bors' best wishes when he leaves Hammond to report to San Francisco, Cal.
More than 100 friends and neighbors con- tributed toward the purchase of a special shock-proof, water-proof, stainless steel serv- iceman's watch, which Mrs. Wanda Winglaire, 677 Forsythe avenue, and Mrs. W. O. Seely, 676 Forsythe, sponsors of the community gift, today presented to Swanson before his de- parture.
Son of Mrs. Leota Swanson, 556 Forsythe avenue, Swanson will report at the Mere Island hospital, San Francisco, where he will be checked for complete recovery and given his next orders.
After enlisting in the marines 17 months ago, he was trained at San Diego, Cal., for seven months and was sent overseas. His recent sick leave was his first vacation from marine duties since his enlistment.
He has two brothers in service, Bertram, in the navy, and John, who left the first of April for duty with the army signal corps.
Former Hammond Man is Cited for Bravery in Tunisia
Hammond Times, May 21, 1943.
A former Hammondite, 1st Lt. Lester D. Matter, Jr., of the 601st tank destroyer bat- talion has been cited for gallantry in action on Jan. 16, during an attack against armed enemy in the vicinity of Fondouk, Tunisia, friends here were informed today. While sup- porting an attack by the French infantry on German positions, the tank destroyer gun was rendered useless by a round which jammed in the breech of the gun.
Admist heavy artillery, mortar and machine gun fire and with complete disregard for per- sonal safety, Lt. Matter climbed up on the hood of the half track and, by means of a rammer-staff, forced the round out of the breech of the gun. His act permitted the gun crew to resume fire on enemy positions and contributed greatly to the success of the French infantry in its assault on the hill, the citation says.
Lt. Matter and his wife lived in Hammond for about four years at 2 Ruth street before entering the service. He was employed by the General American Transportation company Chicago.
His first military station was at Fort Sill, Okla.
IN A MILITARY FAMILY Hammond Times, May 16, 1943.
Sgt. Vesolowski Hammond Times, May 17, 1943
Sgt. Charles J. Vesolowski, Jr., who is serv- ing in the Aleutian islands, is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Vesolowski both past presi- dents of the American Legion post and aux- iliary No. 330 of Calumet City.
Sgt. Vesolowski attended St. Andrew's school in Calumet City and was graduated from Catholic Central high school and enlisted in the service Feb. 16, 1942.
His parents live at 26 - 156th place, Calu- met City.
Page Eighty-one
HAMMOND HONORS SGT. KUJAWA Hammond Times, May 31, 1943.
1
One of the highlights of yesterday's Mem- orial day observances in Hammond was the dedication of three blocks to perpetuate the memory of the first Hammond soldier, sailor and marine to die during World War II. In the above picture, Ald. Hugh D. Studabaker, Jr., who acted for Mayor G. Bertram Smith in dedicating the 3700 block of Baring avenue for Sgt. Conrad Kujawa; Pvt. John Kujawa,
19; Mrs. John Kujawa and Mr. Kujawa are shown (reading left to right). Mrs. Kujawa is wearing the Purple Heart awarded post- humously to her son. The Kujawa's have two other sons, Pvt. Joe, 26 and Patrick, 18, who leaves for army service tomorrow. Sgt. Kuja- wa was killed Dec. 7, 1941, in the sneak Jap attack at Pearl Harbor. He was the first Ham- mond soldier to fall in this conflict.
Four Sons Serve Hammond Times, June 9, 1943
John Victor
Alex Victor
Leonard Victor
Roy Victor
Mrs. Frances Victor, 405 - 155th place, Calumet City, is the proud mother of four sons, all in the army and two on foreign duty. The four, all of whom were employed at the Conkey plant, prior to entering service, are: Sgt. John, 32, in an ordnance division and
stationed somewhere in the south Pacific; Cpl. Roy, 28, in the signal corps and based at Trinidad island; Pfc. Leonard, 21, also in the signal corps and in training at Drew Field, Fla., and Pvt. Alex, 30, with a reconnaissance division at Camp Chaffee, Ark.
Page Eighty-two
Tanks For Buying War Bonds To Smack The Nazi Hammond Times, May 31, 1943.
---
HAR BOADS
STAMPS
Doing a masterful job in promoting U. S. war bond and stamp sales at the Rio theater in Hammond is an M-4 medium tank built by the Pullman-Standard Car Manufacturing company's Hammond plant. Heading the line
of eager bond purchasers is Gus Jablonowski, who is shown buying a bond from Claire Fron. Stanley Lukowski, of Post 168, American Legion, Hammond, at Jablonowski's left, is in charge of the bond sales at the Rio.
LANSING YOUTH LISTED WOUNDED
Hammond Times, June 9, 1943
J. COKENOUR
In Africa since last December as a member of a reconnaissance squadron, John D. Coke- nour, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Cokenour, 18231 Oakwood avenue, Lansing, was seriously wounded in action on May 5, according to a war department message received by his parents.
Pvt. Cokenour enlisted last June. Friends wishing to write should address Pvt. John D. Cokenour, 45th General Hospital, Ward 129, AP. O. 521, New York City, N. Y.
Page Eighty-three
KILLED IN THE PACIFIC
Hammond Times, May 26, 1943.
A gunner in a U. S. army bomber Cpl. Richard S. Czerwinski was killed May 7 in an airplane accident in the Pacific war area, the war department has informed his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Czerwinski, 32 - 155th street, Calumet City.
An only son, Cpl. Szerwinski has been in the Pacific for the last six months. He was employed as an electrician's helper at the Superheater's East Chicago plant prior to en- tering service a year and a half ago. He at- tended Thornton Fractional high school.
STALIN'S PANTRY - Editorial - Hammond Times, May 26, 1943
From Hot Springs, Va., where the gum- shoe inter-allied food conference is going on, comes the illuminating word that Soviet Rus- sia is not getting enough food through lend- lease and must have more groceries to win the war.
This all may be truc, or not true, but Com- rade Joe Stalin does not seem to be in much need of food at his house. We refer to a dis- patch from Moscow containing the menu of the state banquet Premier Stalin held in honor of Joe Davies, President Roosevelt's personal envoy.
The dinner was not one which you would call wholly "dry." They served red and white wines, vodka with hot pepper and champagne. As to the menu, this is all the poor Russians could offer Davies at the dinner, which lasted four and a half hours:
Caviar, back of dried sturgeon, herring with dressing, back of sturgeon in sauce, English style roast beef, cold ham, gelatin, olives and spring salad, radishes, cucumbers and a variety of cheeses, were the opening courses. Then came wild fowl, chicken soup, consomme, Siberian salmon, snipe and fried potatoes, turkey and cauliflower. This was followed by strawberry tarts and vanilla ice cream, candy, nuts and liqueurs.
As a matter of fact, the food conference at Hot Springs, from which the reporters are barred from executive sessions by troops, is supposed to be considering what about food after the war. The Russians, however, want their food now, and if you had no more than Stalin has in his pantry you'd begin to worry about the present, too.
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