.jpg)
April 9, 1940
BOW VALLEY — All Bow Valley will honor Ralph Burbach, the second son of the parish to be ordained a priest.
April 9, 1940
HARTINGTON—The members of the newly formed Cedar County Whisker Club have produced a variety of whiskers.
Among the more prominent beard growers with the better groomed crop are E.W. Rossiter, a grey supreme court type: Hubert Marks, more than two ordinary fellows could grow: Otto Wiley, he grows grey hair and whiskers very well: Rubin Bird, we didn’t know he could do it: Henry Huppe, prize mutton chops.
April 9, 1940
HARTINGTON—F.G. Bruening, veteran harness shop operator, was elected new Mayor of Hartington.
April 12, 1945
HARTINGTON—Mr. and Mrs. John A. Thoene of Hartington were advised by the war department Wednesday morning that their son, Sgt. Clifford C. Thoene, reported missing in action in Europe March 3, “returned to military control March 27.”
The message said the report reaching the war department in Washington further states “that he is hospitalized in the European area.”
The Thoenes were advised that their son’s new address and further information concerning him would be sent to them directly from the hospital.
The war department message gave no indication whether Sgt. Thoene had been wounded or was ill.
April 12, 1945
LAUREL—Pfc. Gail Carmen, who is stationed at Fort Jackson, S.C., writes his mother, Mrs. Bertha Carmen of Laurel, that he is now one of the guards of a German prison camp there. Pfc. Carmen recently spent a furlough at home after two years at Kodiak, Alaska.
April 12, 1945
BELDEN — Farming in the South Pacific is “a little on the old fashioned side,” according to Lester R. McLain, E. M. 1/c, who is stationed on an island in that area with the Seabees.
In a recent letter home, he wrote: “I expect you are getting ready to start farm work. Quite a lot of the natives have farms around here, but they are a little on the old fashioned side. They use water buffaloes to do a lot of their work. The rest is hand labor.”
McLain, who had a fungus disease on his hands, reported he was much better and had a new job as camp electrician. “I work at night and just have to sort of keep things going,” he said.
“I was over to see Laurence Frerichs (of Coleridge) today and one of the guys in his tent had some pop corn that his folks sent him. We popped it and it really tasted good.” McLain, who has been in the Seabees three years, part of which time he spent in Attu, wrote that he had seen Ernie Pyle, famous war correspondent, who is now in the Pacific.
April 12, 1945
HARTINGTON - Mr. and Mrs. Joe Giesler of Hartington received word this week that their son, Richard, 19-year old marine, was dead somewhere in the South Pacific.
The information came in a letter, received here Saturday, from a marine corps buddy of Dick’s. To date the Gieslers have received no notification from marine headquarters in Washington.
The marine who wrote the letter, apparently believing that the Gieslers had been notified of their son’s death, did not disclose how or where Dick died. With the letter he sent four photographs taken in Hartington which Dick carried with him.
The letter, addressed to Mrs. Giesler, read as follows: “I’d like to express my sympathy along with that of the members of our squad over your loss.
“I did not know Dick very long, but time is immaterial and friends are easily made here.
“In Dick’s pack I found the enclosed pictures and thought that you would like to have them. I also think that your burden will be lightened a bit by the knowledge that Dick suffered no pain whatsoever.
“He and I went to mass and communion just before we went to the front and made a practice of saying the rosary at least three times a day. I firmly believe that Dick went immediately to heaven.
“I sincerely hope that this little scrap of information will help alleviate your great sorrow.”
The last the Gieslers heard from their son, several weeks ago, he was in a hospital on Saipan receiving treatment for a broken toe.
Dick joined the marines last spring shortly after he was graduated from Holy Trinity high school. He left here June 1 for California where he received his boot and basic training. He was home on furlough last August and was shipped to the South Pacific area last November.
Born in Sioux City Feb. 24, 1926, Dick had resided in Hartington since he was 10-months old. In addition to his parents, he is survived by a sister, Dorothy, and a brother, James.
World War II
