Category: World War II – (1941-1945)

News About the Boys in the U.S. Army and Navy

Nisqually Valley News   November 9, 1944

Private Phillip Huret, son of Mrs. Billie Huret, of Rainier is a truck driver at B24 Liberator air base in England, where the Eighth Air Force bombers are serviced and reconditioned.  He aids in transporting the vast quantities of aircraft supplies needed to sustain the air offensive over Germany.  Pvt. Huret was employed as a bus driver with the Rainier Transit Company prior to entering the Army service in January 1943.  He has been overseas since December 1943.

Mr. and Mrs. O. G. Brown were delightfully surprised by the arrival of their son, Robert (Bob) Brown, WT2c, USN, Monday night, after 30 month spent in the South Pacific.  He was accompanied by his fiancée, Miss Dorothy Spencer, of San Francisco.  Robert has a 30 day leave, after which he has to report to school in Philadelphia for advanced training.

Charles Sokolik, son of Mrs. Jane Sokolik, is expected home about the 15^th of November, for a furlough from Camp Robert before reporting to another camp for overseas duty.

S1c Jame Sokolik writes he is again on board ship after a month at a base where he underwent a throat operation.

T5 Leonard Champion has written his mother from somewhere in France that he is well and getting along fine.  Leonard describes the farms over that country.  His mother had not heard from him for more than two months and was somewhat worried.

 

 

 

 

 

Chauncey Grover Nabs Post Office Robber Single Handed

Nisqually Valley News  February 4, 1943

Chauncey Grover, assistant postmaster and man about town in Yelm for many years proved himself a man of  the law early Wednesday home when he was returning home from duty as an air raid watcher.  He noticed the light in the post office was on and went across the street very quietly to see what the trouble was.  On approaching the post office he discovered a man in the office going through the mail with a flashlight. Chauncey went home and brought out his trusty revolver for which he seldom if ever had any use and went around behind the post office, arriving in time to meet the burglar, Delbert V. Scott, of Aberdeen, just coming out of the office.

Chauncey turned the flashlight that he had brought with him on Scott and told him to put up his hands.  Scott very obligingly did this after looking at the wrong end of Chauncey’s gun.  Chauncey said he didn’t know who was the most frightened, him or the burglar, but he had the gun.  Scott objected to walking through mud puddles and wanted to put his hands down, but again Chauncey convinced him that he was very nervous and was likely to let go with the forty-five if he didn’t stay put, besides where he was going to he would have a long time to dry out.

Scott was taken to the air raid shack and help was called for both locally and the sheriff’s office.  J. M. Curry arrived on the scene and handcuffed Scott and then called the sheriff to come and get the prisoner.

While he was waiting for the sheriff, he asked Chauncey if he would do a good job of shooting if he broke and ran for it.  Chauncey told him he sure would, right at the knees.  To those who know Chauncey, there is a suspicion that he was bragging, but the prisoner thought he was a pretty good hot and didn’t attempt it.

 

 

 

This ‘n’ That

Nisqually Valley News   October 8, 1942

Some prankster with a misplaced sense of humor, called a number at random on the new dial phones, very late a few nights ago.  It proved to be the number of an invalid moan.  she was expecting a call from her son who was due to leave any day for overseas service.  She managed to get to the phone only to have the “joker” hand up.  She worried the rest of the night and was really ill the following day.

Wasn’t that funny?

Wonder who it was who played this prank?  Whoever it was should be very proud of himself and his high sense of humor.  What makes him think that telephone calls are jokes.  In these days telephone are used for serious business, emergency calls, and those who use the phones as a hoax, if cause, and calls maybe traced, if it becomes a habit, are subject to severe penalties.  The army air service aks that all public minded citizens refrain from using phones unnecessarily.  This means the young folks as well a the older ones.

In fact, it means you.  Will you co-operate?

 

News about the Boys in the U.S. Army and Navy

Nisqually Valley News  December 7, 1944

Ted Isom was at home last Saturday, December 2^nd, for a 48 leave to visit his wife, the former Miss Betty brand, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Otto Isom.  Ted was in on the invasion of the Philippines.

Lyman Isom, son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Isom, expect to go to the service on Friday, December 8^th, and if he has his choice, it will be the Navy.

Boatswain’s Mate 2c Charles Wilkenson, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Wilkenson, spent a short time with his parents here and relatives in Port Orchard, recently.  He went back to his base by plane from Portland.  He has been overseas for about 10 months before he arrived home.  He is a graduate of the Yelm High School and is a member of the Yelm M. E. Church.

Capt. And Mrs. George Justman arrived in Yelm Thursday to visit his parent, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Justman.  Capt. Justman arrived in Olympia on Wednesday and they visited his wife’s parents before coming to Yelm.  For some Time Capt. Justman was an instructor for the Army in aviation, and later was given a commission and attached to the Air Transport Command and he has been stationed in Cairo for some time.

Another one of the Justman family is Chief Machinist Robert Justman who is in the Coast Guard and has seen plenty of service in the South Pacific, but is now on the east coast.

Former Yelm Boy Lost in Battle for the Philippines.

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hammerscmith of Tacoma, but resident of Yelm for many years, received word on Monday, that their youngest son, Raymond, was seriously wounded November 4^th, in the Philippines, and on Wednesday a telegram came saying he died of wounds on November 6^th.  He was with the 96^th Division in the Philippines, Raymond was a nephew of Adolph Hammerscmith Sr. and Mrs. Ben Kittleman of Yelm, and was born here.

The young man was an outstanding student and athlete at Bellarmine, graduating in 1942.  He played three years of varsity tackle and captained the football team in his senior year.  He was also a four year letterman on the baseball club and won a letter in basketball.

He was salutatorian for his class and was voted the Loyalty Award as the outstanding senior.  He was also a member of the Knight’s club.  Ray went into the Army in March 1943 and studied at the Illinois Institute of Technology before being assigned to the amphibious forces.

News About the Boys in the U.S. Army and Navy

Nisqually Valley News November 30, 1944

Pvt. Ted Detton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Laurance Detton, has been awarded the Silver tar, recently, according to word received here by his parent.  Previous to this he ha received the Good Conduct Medal and the Expert Infantryman Badge.  It is thought that Ted is now on Leyte Island.

Mrs. Roy Bailey has received the Purple Heart, which was awarded to her son. Lt. Bailey, who is in France, but no further information is available at this time.

2^nd Lt. John Vandermay, son of Mr. and Mrs. D. Vandermay, who is a navigator and bombardier on a B26 bomber, was recently awarded the Air Medal by Major General Anderson, who is the commanding officer of his group.  Since the Air Medal was awarded Lt. Vandermay has been transferred and is now with the “pathfinders.”

Seaman Leonard Docherty writes to his mother, Mrs. B. J. Docherty, that he is now stationed in San Francisco at least temporarily.

Sgt. Russell Eide write to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Eide, that he is seeing action in the Philippines and has seen lots of Jap planes shot down.  Say he is spending most of his time in a fox hole.  They have had lots of rain.  Says that they had no hot food when they landed, but it I so wet and cold that he’s learning to drink coffee.   Hospitalized for an infected hand.  Russ is crew chief for a P47 plane-the kind that shoot down so many Jap planes.

Cook 1c Tom Alongi, who has been on the east coast for some time arrived in Yelm Tuesday evening to visit hi parent, Mr. and Mrs. Tony Alongi. Tom is a member of crew of a PT boat.  He has seen plenty of action in the South Pacific and expects to go back there.  His wife left immediately to visit her parents in Olympia.  Tom will have about 14 days before he has to report back.

Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Seaman, of elm have recently been informed of the promotion of their daughter, Ortha M., from corporal to Technician Fourth Grade in the Women’s Army Corps at a forward area in New Guinea.

 

 

 

New About the Boys and the U.S. Army and Navy

Nisqually Valley News  November 2, 1944

 Pfc. Dick Kittleman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Kittleman, is now stationed at his new post in San Francisco.

Albert McMonigle, S2c, in home for a brief visit upon returning from California to Farragut, where he went as cook on a troop train.

Seaman Cliff Kirkland, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernie Kirkland, was one of the crew the ship that took General Douglas McArthur on his return trip to the Philippine Islands.

Ship Inspector 1c Eddie Nelson, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Nelson, leave on Friday for San Francisco, for assignment.  MM1c Art Nelson, his brother, will leave next week some time.

Jack Grinde, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Grinde, was inducted into the Army last week, and was immediately sent to Florida where he will take up ship salvage work.

Pvt. Dick Loutzenhiser and Pvt. Paul Locke, both recently of Fort Riley, Kansas, are visiting their parents in Yelm.  Both boys are with the mechanized cavalry.

Tech. Sgt. Clinton Osborn, of Route 5, Olympia, has been assigned as an instructor at Alexandria (La.) Army Air Field, a Flying Fortress combat training center.  Alexandria Army Air Force, which trains the bulk of heavy bombardment crews for the Army.  Sgt. Osborn served a an aerial gunner with Eighth Air Force on 25 heavy bombardment missions out of England, where he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters.  The 36 year old veteran aerial gunner attended Wallowed by the Kamiah, Oregon, high school, and was formerly employed by the  Kamiah (Idaho) Lumber Company before entering the Army Air Force in April 1942.  He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Osborn.

Ralph Gallant (??), son of . . . arrived this week from Norfolk, Va., for a 35 day furlough with his parent.  He was with the invasion forces in Normandy on D-Day and says it was plenty hot, and he didn’t mean the weather.

DM1c Jack Kelly, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Kelly, is expected home in a few days.  He has gone east to meet his wife and baby and will drive to Washington.  Jack has been on sea patrol for some time.

 

 

News About the Boys in the U.S. Army and Navy

Nisqually Valley News  October 26, 1944

Leonard Docherty arrived home Wednesday evening from his boot camp training at Farragut, Idaho, and is confined to hi bed.  He was in the sick bay when his leave began but made the trip home regardless as his leave only lass to November 7^th.  He is now confined to his home until he recovers.  His mother, Mrs. Amalia Docherty, arrived from the east a week previously to be with her son here at home during his leave.

Word has been received from Winston (Bud) Gallear, that he is now a gunner’s mate third class.  He says the equator is hotter now than any time he has been across it before. Also stated that where he is now in the Southwest Pacific, hunting is good if one wanted to call it good, but not for deer.

In recognition of more than one year of active military service marked by “exemplary behavior, efficiency and fidelity,” the good conduct medal has been awarded to Pvt. Merle McCloud., of Yelm, it was announced today by the Panama Cost Artillery Command.  Pvt. McCloud was cited for “fidelity through faithful and exact performance of duty, efficiency thru capacity to produced desired results, and behavior such as to deserve emulation.”  He is a cannoneer with Col. F. A. Mountford’s harbors defense organization.  He has served with the Coast Artillery forces guarding the Panama Canal since Feb. 8, 1943.  His parents Mr. and Mrs. George McCloud, of Yelm

Cook 2c Louis Alongi , who has been in the South Pacific for the past two years arrived home on an overnight leave Wednesday evening.  This is the first visit home for Louis in a long time.

Staff Sgt. And Mrs. Edwin Nelson (formerly Miss Emily Coates) left Monday for Juneau, Alaska, and were expected in there today. (Thursday) Sgt. Nelson was recently transferred there and Mrs. Nelson was fortunate to be able to go on the same boat.

Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Vancil were made happy this week by a telegram from their son, Glen, stating that he is now located at Menlo Park, Cal.  He arrived recently from a long overseas service.  His brother, Bob and his wife, living in California, visited him a few days ago.

Word has been received from Ted Isom that he had been transferred to another ship and is being sent back to the United States from of the South Pacific islands.  His mother and wife expect him home again before Christmas.

Sgt. Gladys Curry of the WAC, has arrived back in the United States and called her father, J. M. Curry, up on the phone Tuesday evening.  She was unable to say where she was, but will be at Fort Lewis in a short time to get ready for a twenty one day leave.  Sgt. Curry has been in England.

Sgt. and Mrs. Floyd Bean, and their small daughter, arrived this week from Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, and visited his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Brown. Sgt. Bean left the early part of the week his camp, but Mrs. Bean and daughter will stay here as Sgt. Bean expects to be sent overseas.

Cook 1c Clarence Stancil, son of Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Stancil, who has been on sea duty for the past year is now assigned to the new Navy Station in Tacoma.

Pfc. D. W. Crockett, of the U.S. Marine Corps, arrived in Yelm Wednesday to visit his wife, the former Miss Hazel Champion, and baby girl, Carol Gay, who arrived on Oct. 23.

 

 

 

 

 

News About the Boys in the U. S. Army and Navy

Nisqually Valley News  October 12, 1944

 Tech. Sgt. Wilbur M. Brugger, of the Maintenance Department of the Instrument Division at Keesler Field, Mississippi, has been transferred to the Mobile Training Unit division of the Western Technical Training Command.  His headquarters and permanent address are Denver, Colorado.  He is qualified for overseas services and will be attached to a unit of the largest type of bombers.

 Sgt. Campbell Iverson, on of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Iverson of Yelm, who is stationed in England with an Eighth Air Force Fighter Station in England, is one of the Was Bond Purchasers who helped his P51 Mustang station reach a record breaking total of $11,000 in the Eighth Air Fore “Victory Squadron” Bond drive, surpassing all other groups in the Eighth Fighter Command.  Aiming at an original quota of $53,000, he and his fellow soldier members of the fighter group commanded by Col. Harold J. Rau, of Hempstead, New York, more than doubled that figure in a five week all out bond drive.  The money will go towards the purchase of a Victory Squadron of airplanes, bought entirely by personnel of the Eighth Air Force.  Sgt. Iverson is a cook in a fighter squadron which has been overseas for 13 months.

 T5 Cpl. Chet Thompson is now with an Aviation Engineers Battalion in New Britain.  Chet is the son of Mrs. Minnie Thompson and a graduate of the Yelm High School with the class of 1941.

 Mr. and Mrs. Ed. J. Brown have received word from their son S2c Jim Brown that he is now in Australia.

Pvt. Dorsey Longmire left on Tuesday for San Francisco, where ie will report back to duty after a furlough with his parent, Mr. and Mrs. Cap Longmire.

 Don Harstad, of the Army Air Corps, who is now stationed at Santa Anita, California, is expected home on his first furlough in the near future.  Don lived in Yelm for many years and graduated from the Yelm High School with the Class of ’40.  

 Leonard Docherty, who is undergoing boot training at Farragut, Idaho, is expected home on his first leave next week.  Leonard is the son of Mrs. B. J. Docherty.

 Mr. and Mr. Oscar Eide have received word from their son, Tech. Sgt. Rex Eide, that he has been sent overseas from New York.

 Bkr. 2c Robert Moon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Moon, is now home on a 30 day leave after many months in the South Pacific, where he was wounded and spent some time in a Naval Hospital there.  His wife, Mrs. Fern Moon, and small daughter, Madilyn, are now living in Puyallup.

 Pvt. Carl Mitchell and wife, of Camp Barkeley, Texas, spent the past week with their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Lewis.

Woodrow Merz writes to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Merz, that he is now stationed in France.

 Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Vancil received a telegram from their son, Flight Officer Glen Vancil, that he is now in New York, after serving y months overseas.    Glen was wounded on D-Day in France, and is on one of the eastern hospitals.

 Yeoman 2c Keith Bennett, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Bennett, who lived in Yelm for some years, and enlisted in the Navy about two years ago, was in Yelm Thursday evening an called at the News Office.  Keith is in the submarine service and has been in the South Pacific most of the time.  His submarine has successfully completed 12 missions and sunk plenty of Mr. Tojo’s shipping.  He likes the Navy fine and look like a million dollars.  It is understood that wedding bells will ring for him and Miss Anna Elbertson about Saturday of this week.

New Sound Equipment Installed 

Nisqually Valley News   October 5, 1944

A capacity house was present on Wednesday evening at the Yelm Theater, to initiate the new Western Electric Sound System, used for the first time that evening.  A new silver plastic screen was also installed in time for the evening’s entertainment, as were the new simpler picture machines.

According to F. L. Willard, manager of the Yelm Theater, several more of the new seats will be installed as soon as the order has been approved under government regulations.  The new equipment when completed represents an investment of sevral thousand dollars and is made with the assurance of offering the people of Yelm and surrounding communities more comfort and more enjoyment.

 

News About the Boys in the U.S. Army and Navy

NisquallyValley News   October 5, 1944 

Bluejacket Charles R. Haskins, 21, Rt. 1 Yelm, received recognition as eligible to qualify for the petty officer rate of motor machinist’s mate third class during the recent graduation ceremonies at the NavalTraining School (Diesel) on the Iowa State College campus, at Ames, Iowa. Selection to attend the specialty school is based on the results of recruit training aptitude test scores. The course of study includes the use, operation and maintenance of diesel engine theory, electrical fundamentals and machine shop operation. The graduate is now awaiting duty orders to sea or some shore station.

Bos’n Mate 1c and Mrs. Howard Lewis spent the last week with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Lewis. Bos’n Lewis is now in command of a picket boat off the coast.

Staff Sgt. Homer Gritten, who was reported missing in action in August, arrived at the home of his mother , Mrs. Team Gritten, of PacificCity, this week. Sgt. Gritten was the assistant engineer and turret gunner on the Liberator bomber, “Pat,” of the 15th Air Force, which was shot down over Ploesti, Romania, on August 10th. He and five other members of the 11 man crew bailed out, and were taken by Germans to Camp Y Buchresti, where they were fed on black bread and water for 10 days. Upon the surrender of the Romanians to the Russians, the prisoners were released and returned to their home base in Italy, where Sgt. Gritten was presented the Oak Leaf Clusters for the Air Medal and the Purple Heart, and stars for three invasions. Besides his mother, Sgt. Gritten is welcomed home by his sister, Miss Opal Gritten, of PacificCity, and his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Gritten, and many other friends in and around Yelm and Rainier districts, when in his former home.

The publisher received an email letter this week from Pfc. Charles E. Wilkowski, telling of his new address so that he may receive his paper that much faster. His subscription was a gift from his sister, Mrs. Charles Demich, and he says that it really makes it seem like a small world when he reads about the people of Yelm, all over the world, and about the people of Yelm where he spent many of his early summers in the berry fields, and his last four years of school playing basketball, baseball, football, and track against the Yelm High teams. Wilkowski is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wilkowski, of Rainer. 

Cpl. David Hobart, of the Army Air Corps, son of Mrs. Dona Hobart, writes from Assam, India: “This camp, although in the heart of the jungle, is not as bad as we expected. We have running water and straw huts (called Bashas) to live in, and there is a Red Cross canteen here where we can drop in after work for a cup of coffee and sandwich or some doughnuts, which is greatly appreciated.” Dave also sne his mother an Indian one dollar bill (approximately) which at the present rate of exchange is equal to about 30 cents.

Pharmacist’s mate 2c Doyal Gallagher, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. D. Gallagher, returned to his base at the SeattleNavalHospital, this week after a 15 day leave with his parents and friends in Yelm.

Carpenter’s Mate 3c Carroll Trotter, of the Navy Seabees, who has been overseas for the past year and a half, is spending his 30 day leave with is mother, Mrs. Emillie Trotter. Carroll has been in the South Pacific, spending most of his time in the Solomons, Rendavo, and New Georgia. He also spent a 30 day leave in New Zealand.

Lt. Bill Trotter, another son of Mrs. Emillie Trotter, expects to be home on Friday evening to spend a couple of weeks recovering from an appendicitis operation. Bill has just recently returned from a flight to Alaska, but his home station is Gore Field, near Great Falls, Montana.

 Carpenter’s Mate 2c, Robert Cripas, of the Navy Seabees, who is home on a 30 day leave from the South Pacific, is spending a few days at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Schneider, so that he may be able to do a little fishing and hunting. They are old friends and neighbors from Montana.

BKr 3c Chester Engh, son of Mr. and Mrs. Casper Engh, is spending a leave with is parents. He is a veteran of several battles in the South Pacific. 

Charles Sokolik, son of Mrs. Jane Sokolik, has recently received his promotion to corporal at Camp Robert, California.

 Third Class Petty Officer Lee Henricka, a graduate of YelmHigh School is spending a leave with is parents in Olympia.

 Service Folks Married

 Seaman 1c Jack A Iyall, U.S. N. and Spl Celina Garry, an Indian girl serving with the Marina Corps Women’s Reserve, were married at Rockville, Maryland, recently. The groom is the son of Ida Iyall, and had just returned from overseas duty and will now be stationed at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard at Bremerton. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Iqual H. Garry, or Plummer Idaho and is stationed at the Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, D. C>