News blurbs from the Iowa Volksblatt, August & September 1917

~In the recent military call, the following from here were notified to appear: Ace Webster Bush, Robert James Waters, John Edward Welsch, Herman Eiholzer, Oberton Bollman, LeRoy French, Ed Hanson and Carl Schroeder. Rejected for the time geing were B.F. Schultz, Wm. Kozelka, Paul Schmidt, George Willis, Cecil Todd, James Bolitha, Edward Poesch, James Wickham, Louis Martens, C.C. Meyer and Geo. W. Hein.

~Merle (Bill) Cole of Minneapolis, former Postville boy, will enter the Army August 6 and is to go to a camp in the south.

~Walter Gass has notified his parents that he is now stationed at Ft. Deming, New Mexico. Roland Gass will go to Elkader Thursday for army examinations before being sent to a camp.

~Occupational deferments were given to the following from here who had been called for army service: Herman Eiholzer, Ace Bush, J.E. Welsch, Edward Poesch, LeRoy French, Robt. J. Waters and Karlie Huebner.

~Allamakee county sent 67 men and Clayton county 83 men yesterday to Camp Dodge for army induction. From here [Postville] the following went: Ed. F. Schroeder, Omar Frye, Clayton Standorf, E.W. Brandt, John A. Palas, John E. French, Fred Everman, Harry Beucher, Joe Kluss, Paul Schmidt, Henry [? Koepsell], John D. Lawson and Geo. Belle of Allamakee county. The following local boys were from Clayton county: Victor and Lorenz Casten, Bernard Waters, Theo Wettleson, Henry Huebner, Glenn Fonner, Arthur E. Olson, Harry Koth, Wm. Radloff, Fred Rugland and Carl Johanson.

~Harvey Cornell went to Camp Dodge Tuesday to enter military service.

~Joe Kluss has been confined to the hospital at Camp Dodge since his induction and will be sent home as soon as he is able to be moved.

THE WHY OF THIS NEWSPAPER  

As explained last week, the Iowa Volksblatt, a German language newspaper, conducted for several years past by Ronneburger & Klingbeil, was discontinued with that issue, the undersigned having purchased his partner's half-interest in the business and henceforth will publish an English language newspaper under the name of Postville Herald, which makes its initial bow to the public with this issue.  

The cause leading up to this change are so potent to all that explanation of the reasons why are hardly necessary. During the past twelve-month our country has declared war upon a foreign power - Germany - and throughout the length and breadth of our own beloved country the cry has gone forth to cut out the foreign language in our schools and even the foreign language church- not only the German, but all other alien tongues and make the English language universal throughout America. Many foreign language papers have been discontinued during the past year and others are preparing to change.  

We wish also to call your special attention to the inside pages of the Herald, which you will find filled with choice reading matter for every member of the household. A full page installment of one of the latest and best serial stories, a page devoted to latest news features, an agricultural page and features of interest to the housewife. And please note the fact our insides are absolutely add-less - it is all good, interesting reading matter.  

The Postville Herald will be published every Friday, as in the past. Politically it will be independent. We shall spare neither pains, expense, nor honest endeavor to make it a newspaper worthy of your respect and patronage. The Herald will be loyal to its home country - America; to its home state - Iowa; to its home county - Allamakee; to its home town - Postville - and vicinity. And with this brief announcement we offer the Postville Herald to you for your approval. If it pleases you tell your friends about it.   Subscription price - $1.50 per year strictly in advance.   (Signed). Wm. J. Klingbeil, Publisher.  

~Postville Herald, Friday, June 7, 1918
~transcribed by Reid R. Johnson

June 1918 - Thirty Allamakee Men to be Called

Waukon, Iowa, June 11 - A call has been sent out to the exemption board for men to be sent June 24, but have not been advised of the number that are to be sent from Allamakee county. It is not likely that more than thirty will be called. The following list gives the thirty names next in their order of the class 1 men. Including the thirty names following there are about 125 class 1 men in Allamakee county yet to be drawn from before the original class 1 is exhausted:

~Waterloo Times-Tribune, June 13, 1918
~transcribed by S. Ferrall for Allamakee co. IAGenWeb

July 1918 - From Our Soldier Boys - Letter from Merle Cole

The following letter was received by A.J. Phillips of this city:

Somewhere in France
May 31, 1918
Dear Spec: I received your peach of a letter today and am answering in the wee small hours. These watches are lonesome but not half as bad as guarding a picket in the rain. Am operating a switchboard, but it is some different than J.M. Thoma's.

We buried a pal of mine yesterday and it sure was an impressive funeral. As we passed down the street every French soldier snapped up to a salute and young kids and old grey-haired men bared their heads until we passed by. Everyone was mounted but the firing squad and pall bearers. I was a pall bearer and it was a hard thing for me to do. When you bury a friend 6,000 miles from home it is no picnic.

I took my nag out to the creek today and gave him a bath and he looks fine. He didn't exactly appreciate it at the time, but he sure does now.

Postville sure did go "over the top" in the LIberty Loan, didn't she? If you fellows didn't "go over" back there we would be out of luck over here, so go to it. We will give old man Kaiser that pill you were talking about in record time if you keep that up.

"Fatty's" letter reminds me of our times at Camp Mills, when they were taking us out to dancing parties. At the time Brooklyn and New York kept us pretty busy tho' and we didn't appreciate it. I sure would like to dance with an American girl at the present writing tho'.

Coming from the funeral yesterday we met a Red Cross nurse and she said "Hello Boys!" Whoops! but it does send a thrill up a guy's back and makes him proud of being a Yank. The French girls never can compare with our "Distinctly Individual" Americans.

Gee! I didn't think Harold was in the graduating class. It makes me feel as if I should retire and settle down to a ripe old age. I hope we never have to retire. (Joke)

So you and Heck are teaching the rookie squads east? We sure got our fill of that at Camp Mills. Can't you and Heck write a partnership letter? I haven't heard from him since I packed my tooth brush and towel and left Postville and would like to hear from him. So Al and Fat are both Lieutenants? Send me the address of some of those kids that are over here and I will try and look them up.

Your friend,
M.W. Cole
Hdq. Co. 151 F.A., A.F.F.

~Postville Herald, July 5, 1918
~transcribed by S. Ferrall for Allamakee co. IAGenWeb

July 1918 - "Over There" they Go

The following from this locality will go in the July calls to help in copping off the Kaiser:

~Postville Herald, July 19, 1918
~transcribed by S. Ferrall for Allamakee co. IAGenWeb

News blurbs from the Postville Herald, July & September 1918

~Sidney Bowen of Waukon, now in France, has been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

~School superintendent, G.W. Hunt, who by works as well as words proved the faith that is in him -- giving up his position, leaving wife and baby, to enlist, and he is now in France in the uniform of a common soldier, ready to die if need be that his country may not be ravished by the hated Hun.

~Lt. John A. Palas left on his return to Camp Pike, Ark. Tuesday evening.

Great Band Coming Sept. 30

When it comes to getting the big things and the good things Postville is stricly on the map. Word was received here yesterday that the Great Lakes Naval Training Station Band, without a question the biggest and best musical organization in the United States, will visit Postville on Monday, September 30th, and give one of their famous open-air concerts. This Monster Military Band is on a tour in the interest of the Fourth Liberty Loan and is traveling on its own splendidly equipped Special United States Railway Special Train, which will arrive over the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, at 3:45 p.m and remain in our city until 4:25 p.m, during all of which time will be devoted to a Grand Free Open-Air Concert in the City Park. Postville is the only town in Allamakee County that will get this mightiest of all musical organizations, and it is well worth a drive of a hundred miles to hear it. Everybody is cordially invited to come to Postville and hear this great concert by this famous band. And don't forget, it is ABSOLUTELY FREE.

~Postville Herald, Friday, September 20, 1918
~transcribed by S. Ferrall from a photo copy of the ad contributed by Reid R. Johnson

Bullets Sound like Bumblebees

Somewhere in France, Sept 3rd

I received your letter of the 28th of July yesterday, the first mail I have had for some time, and I was very glad to get it.   I didn't miss mail much, as I have done my first turn in the front line trenches and sometimes it was quite exciting. I came through all o.k. without a
scratch.  The machine gun bullets and bits of shrapnel sound something like an angry bumblebee, though they say they are more serious.

I haven't seen Alfred for some time now, but will probably run across him soon. I am in an rest camp now, at least they call it a rest camp.  I've stood everything fine and have never been sick. I sure think of the old Ford when I am on a long hike, and when I get home I'll not walk so much.  I suppose things must be very much different now than when I left. So many of the boys going into service, help must be scarce.

This is French stationery, three envelopes and three sheets of paper costing 20 centimes;  50 centimes equal 9 cents. I got 150 francs last payday. We see but very little U. S. money here, and we don't have much chance to spend what we get.  It is time for another payday and I have more than half of last month's pay left.  I must close for this time, so good-bye.

Love to all,
Pvt. Myron J. Brooks
Co. F, 359th Inf.

~"This letter from Myron J. Brooks sent to his parents back here in Allamakee county was published in the newspaper in Oct. 1918.  I am sure the original has been lost or burnt."
~contributed by Janet Koozer for Allamakee co. IAGenWeb; Myron J. Brooks was her uncle

December 1918

Private Elmer E. McMartin who is with the 47th Company of the 20th Engineers in France writes that he is getting the Herald and notes that we have a scarcity of food back home. He gives the following as the menu at his October 28th dinner: "Roast goose, dressing, potatoes with gravy, bread, butter, jam, celery, pickles, pumpkin pie and coffee. How does that sound for a feed?"

~Postville Herald, December 6, 1918
~transcribed by S. Ferrall for Allamakee co. IAGenWeb

News blurbs, January 1919

~Paul Schmidt is home from overseas service in the army.

~Sergt. Harry Beucher writes from France that he recently met up with Rr. R. E. Glew, former Postville veterinarian, who is also with the A.E.F. in France.

~Postville Herald; January, 1919
~transcribed by S. Ferrall for Allamakee co. IAGenWeb

RETURNED WAUKON SOLDIER IS FETED
Was Shot Through Knee and Narrowly Escaped Losing Leg.

Special to the Times-Journal:
Waukon, Ia. Feb. 18 -- Dr. and Mrs. John Haecker entertained at a 3 course 6 o'clock dinner in honor of George Kelly, who lately returned from France and was home on furlough from the Camp Dodge hospital. George was shot through the knee cap and at one time it was feared he would lose his leg above the knee, at any rate his limb will always be stiff. Several of his soldier friends were guests and the party spent a very enjoyable evening in talking over camp duties and Mr. Kelley gave a fine talk on his work with the army in France.

~Dubuque Times Journal; Tuesday, February 18, 1919; Page 5, Col. 5
~transcribed by M. Durr for Allamakee co. IAGenWeb