1944 . . .

The Akron-Register Tribune, May 11, 1944

NAMES TO BE ADDED TO THE AKRON HONOR ROLL LIST

Abrahamson, Clarence Hoffman, George J. Miller, Francis Small, Clayton
Abrahamson, Leonard Jacobs, Alfred Null, Aaron A. Taylor, Robert
Adams, Robert Knapp, Jack R. Olson, Julius M. Trometer, Lowell
Beeck, Henry Klemme, Arnold L. Prothero, Richard Vanderham, David H.
Behrens, Gordon E. Klemme, Leonard Radzig, Joseph C. Warnsing, Robert
Cooper, J. Melvin Lawrence, Harold Radzig, Paul B. Weber, Norman M.
Dreeszen, Merlin W. Lias, Vernon Robertson, Marjorie Weber, Wilmer W.
Dunham, Charles Marbach, Ruth A. Schutt, Phil Weise, Howard C.
Hansen, Ambrose Meier, Clarence Skogman, Donald  
Hansen, Joseph Milbrodt, Clarence Skogman, James  
Harvey, Kenneth B. Milbrodt, Fred Skogman, Richard  

LOCAL MEN IN ARMED SERVICE
The following letter was received by the Register-Tribune editor from Stanley Thatcher, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Thatcher, of Akron, who is in the U.S. Naval service in the South Pacific area, and was dated April 22, 1944:

Just a line to let you know the Register-Tribune is arriving again o.k. I really missed it while it wasn’t coming and I’m glad Mom got my address corrected with you. It really means a lot to receive the home-town paper when one is a few thousand miles away. Believe me, it’s plenty welcome!

Mom tells me there are a few Akron boys in this vicinity, but, so far I’ve seen only one. I bumped into Alvin Parker on the street in Honolulu one day, and we were both quite surprised. I have a cousin here that I see quite often, but he is not from Akron. I hope to see my old pal, Roy Burket, sooner or later, and I’m keeping an eye open for his ship to come in. I don’t expect to be home for the duration, so keep the paper coming.

Best wishes always, Sincerely, STANLEY THATCHER.

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The following interesting letter was received a few days ago by the editor of the Register-Tribune from Bernard A. Markus, Bkr. 3/c, of the U.S. Navy, who formerly operated the Akron Bakery until called into the service:

Hello Ray: Well, Ray, this is Wednesday and I have a little spare time, so will drop you a few lines. I am now in Camp Bradford, Norfolk, Virginia, so they have moved me quite a ways since the last time I was home. It is 3,300 miles from Farragut, Idaho, out here. We are living in tents out here and I think they would make better hog pens than they would places for men to live. We have no water in them and we have to walk about a block to wash or shave. And up to now I haven’t done any baking, but they are going to send me to a baking school out here and that will last from four to six weeks. Then I will have to go on one of the L.S.T. Ships, and, from what I hear about them, they aren’t going to be very nice to be on. They also sure do work a man out here. I have been unloading lumber and cement and digging ditches and that kind of work, and I don’t get along so well, because it is too hard on my hands. We also get more frilling and exercise thatn we did in boot camp, so you can see they keep us pretty busy. From what I hear around here, they are getting ready for a big invasion. That’s why they are making all these L.S.T. Units. They are the ones that open it up in front and haul supplies and troops. They go right to shore and unload. When they go out they stay from 19 to 20 months, and that is a long time to be on the water in one stretch.

I suppose Akron is getting to look pretty empty now, with the young fellows gone. I received a letter from Minnie yesterday and that is the first news I have had from Akron since I was home. My wife has been working for Bill and Opal Peterson in the café at Vermillion, so she hasn’t had time to get to Akron. She is coming down here the first of May, so I will get to see her and the girl before I have to leave, and that also will be nice vacation for them.

Well, Ray, this is all for this time, so will close. As ever, BERNARD MARKUS.

Akron Register-Tribune, May 18, 1944

IOWA WAR HERO MAKING TALKS ON CORN PROGRAM

Lieut. Floyd R. Drake, Iowa war hero, who also holds the Legion of Merit, is making a series of Army talks in several northwest Iowa counties this week—counties from which came many of the Iowa soldiers who served with him in Africa and Italy.

Lieut. Drake has joined the Army’s corn counties tour, to tell the farmers of his personal experiences overseas and also how products from corn are playing a vital part in the winning of the war, being used in some 50 essential war products.

He spoke Monday night at Denison to a large crowd, along with other Army speakers. The programs also are featuring restricted War Department films of the bloody fighting at Tarawa, and in Italy and Africa. These films have never been shown in this area. This week he is talking at several other towns, including Ida Grove, Sloan, Cherokee, Primghar and Sioux Center. Next week he will make talks with the Army team in Lyon, Plymouth, and Clay counties, the schedules to be announced.

All farmers are urged by their County AAA committeemen to attend these meetings and hear Lieut. Drake’s experiences, as well as see vital war films which show how corn is aiding the progress of the war in countless ways.

Lieut. Drake was twice wounded in action, won the Purple Heart and was commissioned direct on the field of battle at Venefro, Italy, last Christmas Day, for heroism.

He won the Legion of Merit for outstanding military achievement in the African campaign.

Akron Register-Tribune
May 25, 1944

LOCAL MEN IN ARMED SERVICE.

The Register-Tribune is in receipt of the following communication from the Fort Worth (Texas) Army Air Field, under date of May 16:

Second Lt. Laverne H. Klemme, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. Emil F. Klemme, of rural route two, Akron, Iowa, graduated this week as a B-24 bomber pilot at Fort Worth Army Air Field.

Lt. Klemme received previous flight training at Corsicana, San Angelo and Pampa, Texas.

This week’s special class of Liberator bomber pilots will either receive assignment as flight instructors on the giant aircraft, or be sent to AAF tactical schools for final phases of pre-combat training.

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The editor of the Register-Tribune is in receipt of the following V-mail letter from Delbert Joustra, S 1/c, of the U.S. Navy, serving somewhere in the South Pacific area, which was written the 19th of April:

Dear Ray: I’ve been getting the paper pretty regularly. Sure is nice to read the news back home. As you see by my address, I’ve moved. Can’t say where, but I can tell you where I have been. On the way over, we spent one night in Guadalcanal, and stopped at New Caledonia and Tutuila. Then we were stationed in the Russell Islands for a month. There’s nothing there but cocoanut trees and mud. It was pretty tought until we got things set up. We live in tents and they are a long way from being winter-proof, so we get wet when it rains. I’m working in the galley here, striking for a cook’s rate. I’ll make it in a couple of months. I had a letter from my brother, Clifford, the other day. He’s a Baker 3/c now.

I’m supposed to be over here for 18 months, so it will be some time before I get back to Akron again. Until then, “Hello” to all the folks back there. Yours truly, DELBERT

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The following V-mail letter was received by the Register-Tribune editor from Pfc. John J. Martin, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Martin, of Westfield, who is serving in the U.S. Cavalry in the South Pacific area. Pfc. Martin is widely known in this section, as he was prominent in baseball circles for several years before entering the service, playing on the Westfield and Akron teams. His letter is dated April 29, 1944:

Dear Friend: I’ve been going to write to you for a long time, and here goes. I’m getting the Akron paper regularly now and it’s so good to get the local news, as I’ve so many friends there and am interested in all the happenings. You’ve still got the best small town paper in the country, and I really mean this, Ray. I never forget the fine baseball teams we used to have and the real co-operation we received from all the business men. I seek Akron still continues to have those good teams, and you are developing very good ball players. Some day I’m going to try and help you continue to have those winning teams. I never dreamed what was in store for me, and I thank God I’m still in the best of health. We are on an island of cocoanut trees all the way across and the blue Pacific is all around us. The worst thing now is the heat and it’s hard to stand. I go in swimming a lot, and the different colors of the water and rock is sure beautiful.

With best wishes to all my friends, and some day I’ll be back to see all of you. JOHN J. MARTIN.